Mircale Diapers is now....The Cloth Diaper Foundation!

~Breaking News~

Many of you are familiar with Miracle Diapers and all the fabulous work they've done assisting families in need. Well now Miracle Diapers will be known as The Cloth Diaper Foundation!

As Miracle Diapers has grown so has the number of families they assist. In 2009, they helped over 450 babies directly, more than 100 babies through sponsorship and local distribution, and assisted other charities with the same mission as well!

To better serve those families Miracle Diapers reaccessed it's structure and practices.

They have:

• New leadership with Roxanna Jolly—CEO and Lisa Johnston—Operations Manager and Board Chair

• Relocated their headquarters to Katy, Texas

• Restructured how they process and accept applications

• Opened a retail store for fundraising

• Founded a new membership program

• Welcomed several new board members from the cloth diapering industry.

In it's fifth year Miracle Diapers wants to continue moving forward and has decided to take on a new name that better describes the organization and it's mission.

Miracle Diapers is now The Cloth Diaper Foundation.

“We felt that a more appropriate name would help the community have a better understanding of who we are, as we have often been mistaken for a diaper manufacturer. Our desire to move forward and build a legacy of support for the cloth diapering community will be reflected in our new name: The Cloth Diaper Foundation.”

-Roxanna Jolly, CEO, The Cloth Diaper Foundation

Monetary donations fell last year do to the economy. Which means there are more families out there for The Cloth Diaper Foundation to help! While diaper donations are always appreciated, we must be able to financially support organizational growth. Let's make this happen together and spread the CD love. Visit http://clothdiaperfoundation.org today to find out how you can help!

Special Offer: To assist in fund raising efforts, in the month of February, Tracy Whittemore and Lisa Adkins from The Cloth Diaper Company have so graciously offered to match, product for product, each Cloth Diaper Company product sold (Drybees, Wahmies, Rocky Mountain Diapers) in The Cloth Diaper Foundation Retail Store with an equal donation to our organization. (Example - Purchase a Rocky Mountain Diapers OS Pocket, CDC will donate our organization a RMD OS Pocket, Drybees for Drybees, etc.)

Elsie's Fashion Show Birthday Party

Elsie's Fashion Show Birthday Party
Saturday February 13, 2010

We are rolling out the red carpet, calling the "paparazzi" and hosting a fabulous Fashion Show to celebrate Elsie's FIRST birthday at the Cotton Babies store in St. Louis.

Jen Myers, from St. Louis radio station Y98, will be broadcasting LIVE from the Cotton Babies store from 10:00 am - 12:00 noon!

We have a fun-filled day planned including the Cotton Babies Fashion Show at 11:00 am. Here are a few more highlights...

• Visit our HAIR AND NAIL salon with your little star and then walk the red carpet to have your picture taken by the Cotton Babies "PAPARAZZI."
• STORYTIME with Miss Melissa at 10:30 am.
• Drawings for bumGenius, Flip and Econobum prize packages. Register for the drawings from 10:00-11:00 am. The drawing will take place immediately after the Fashion Show. You must be present to win.
• Everyone will receive a COUPON at the door.
• ...and what birthday party would be complete without cake and ice cream!

No gifts please.

bumGenius Calendars

The much anticipated bumGenius Calendars are finally here (it is still January afterall)! They are only $2.99 and ADORABLE! Quantities are very limited so do not wait!

The babies featured on the calendar are from a photo contest we held on Facebook this summer. Keep up with Cotton Babies, bumGenius, Flip and Econobum on Facebook by becoming a fan of our pages - and keep your eye out for more photo contests in the future.

Pimp Your Stash Winner #18 - The Jacobsen Family!

Congratulations Comment #60, The Jacobsen Family! You've won Pimp Your Stash 18, a brand new Econobum Onesize Cover & Prefold. Please contact me asap to claim your prize.
Want to learn more about The Jacobsen Family? Head on over to their Blog and see what they'e been up to. Tell them DiaperDiscussions sent you!

Just Julie: It's hard getting back on track!

I am having the hardest time with motivation so far this year. I have ideas out the wazoo but when I have the time to make it happen I feel like I can't make myself lift a finger. Not sure what's wrong with me but I am working on getting back on track now.

First thing I did, which was not on my list of things to do, was re-vamp my personal blog and get it back up and running. I miss getting to post about personal stuff, recipes, sewing and crafts, etc whenever I feel like it. Here I try to keep the focus on cloth diaper related info and limit myself to one personal post per week.

So, here I am. Trying to stay motivated and get all my ducks back in a row.

How do you all stay motivated and organized? How do you stay inspired and keep your blogs going? Any and all feedback and/or tips would be much appreciated.

Thanks for reading guys!

Cloth Diapers to dye for?

We've all been there. You're looking at a site that sells already pricey fitted diapers, usually ranging in price from $18-35.00 each for the natural un-dyed variety. They look so soft, so luxurious, but they're not even waterproof, they require a cover. Can you make yourself do it? Spend so much on one fitted?

Then it happens, you see them, the hand dyed diapers. Same luxurious fitteds dyed in beautiful vibrant colors. Their names are usually just as magical and awe inspiring. Neapolitan, Pumpkin Pie, Sorbet...you begin to drool.

Five minutes ago you were trying to talk yourself either into or out of buying an $18-35 dollar diaper. Now you can't stop your mouth from watering at the site of their even higher priced dyed versions. You tell yourself every babe deserves at least one "special" (a.k.a exspensive) diaper, right?

The truth is, hand dyed diapers are hard to resist. They're like a work of art that your kid poops in. But they don't have to cost you an arm and a leg, you can learn to dye your own diapers.

From cotton prefolds to bamboo velour, there are tutorials and dyes for every fabric imaginable. I've decided to post a link for you all to check out in case you're thinking of dying your own diapers.

All About Hand Dying Addresses issues like The Dyeing Process, How to keep the tag from getting dyed, What types of dyes to use on which fabrics, and much more. This is a really informational site and it will really give you a good idea of what's involved so that you can decide if it's really something you'd like to try or something you'd like to leave up to the experts.

Did you even know that you can purchase some of your dyeing supplies on Amazon?
Don't forget to check with the diaper manufacturers warranty before dying your diapers if you are concerned with the possibility of voiding their warranty. Some companies such as DryBees specifically state that the use of Procion Dyes does NOT void their warranty.
Hope you all found this information helpful! Have fun dyeing.

Pimp Your Stash #18 -Econobum Onesize Cover & Prefold CLOSED

This week's Pimp Your Stash Winner will receive a Econobum Onesize Cover & Onesize Prefold! The Econobum is a fabulous new product that makes cloth diapering easy and affordable and it's crested by the makers of BumGenius!

This weeks mandatory question for your first entry is "Have you tried the Econobum? If so, what do you like most about it? If not, what do you think you'd like most about it?"

Guidelines for Entry
-In order to participate in our weekly contest and validate all extra entries you must first answer the weekly question.

-Please, be sure to be logged into your email account when you post your comment for us to be able to contact you if you win (that is with the option called OpenID). If you have a blog, be sure to be logged into the account linked to your blog for an easier way to contact you....

-Each contest runs from Sunday 12am to Friday 9pm.

-Winners are chosen using random.org, notified on Saturdays and winners name also posted on Blog.

-Winners have 7 days from contest end to claim their prize.

-Participation is open to mamas and papas worldwide! Anyone and everyone is welcome to join in the fun, however we are not responsible for lost packages and prizes that do not reach their destination will not be replaced.

-How to earn extra entries:
* Become a FAN of Earth Angels Diaper Co. on FaceBook
* Subscribe to our New Newsletter
* Join DD on Flickr & add photos! 1 entry for each photo, up to 5 per week.
* Follow Us on Twitter
* Become a Fan on FaceBook
* Follow Diaper Discussions Blog
* Place the Diaper Discussions Animated Banner on your site or Blog
* Tweet About the Giveaway (use #clothdiapers in the tweet and link to the GiveAway) comment with a url to the tweet.
* Advertise our Giveaway in your blog, facebook, forums or website (post with your comment the direct link where you posted about it).
* Contribute an Article, Product Review or relevant story regarding Cloth Diapering. 10 extra entries are given for contributions submitted during the week of the contest. (Please do not contribute articles that were already published elsewhere.)
* Comment to any post on the Diaper Discussions Blog (one entry per each comment)
* Register (or being already registered) in our Affiliate Program (please specify where you placed your affiliate banner).

--- Please post a separate comment for each extra entry and let us know which you've chosen to do in that comment ---

Good Luck!!

My Cloth Diaper Story

Reader Submitted Article

When I found out I was pregnant, I started thinking about cloth diapers. I don’t even remember why, but I thought I wanted to use them. At the time, I didn’t know much more than prefolds because my mom had used those and flat birdseye for me and my sister (30+ years ago!). I started doing some research and found Fuzzi Bunz. Originally, that’s what I thought we’d use. But, we went to Babies Bottoms and More in Dallas, TX, to see what all was out there. The sales person showed my husband (a semi-willing participant) and me all the options, including prefolds & covers, pockets and all in ones. In the end, we decided on prefolds because they were cheapest and we could use them to stuff pockets, should we ever decide to go that route. We bought 24 infant prefolds and 4 x-small Thirsties covers (in gender neutral colors because we didn’t know if we were having a boy or girl).

We prepped the diapers and waited. When our daughter was 1 month old, we started using cloth. (We moved when she was 11 days old, so disposables were much simpler for the first month!) I’ve loved not having to buy disposables all the time, like we did for the first month. I’ve continued using the prefolds (up to the premium size) and Thirsties covers (up to mediums now!) and I still like them.

In March, I won the Fluff Friday contest and won a bumGenius one size diaper fleece in ribbit, a bumGenius one size diaper snaps in grasshopper, a Blueberry one size Deluxe Diaper in Green aplix and bumGenius Babylegs in Sweet Greens. (I had just bought a bumGenius one size diaper in grasshopper from DiaperSwappers when I found out I won!) I like the one size because they always fit. I have had pilling issues with the fleece diapers because I wash them with my prefolds. However, they still hold in the mess!

I kept entering cloth diaper giveaways and was surprised to find out that, in October, I won again! I won a Baby Beehinds One Size Hemp Diaper, a Baby Beehinds One Size Bamboo Diaper, and Baby Beehinds Wool Cover. I love these for overnight because they are much trimmer than double prefolds or even fully stuffed pockets. I’m slowly using fewer inserts to see just how trim I can get it without leaking.

Since receiving my pocket diapers, my husband has told me that he’d help out with diapers more if we had more of “those that go on like ‘regular’ (disposable) diapers.”

So, when I found some HuggaBuns pockets on clearance for $5 at Maine Cloth Diaper Co., I jumped on it. I bought 4 for just $25, including shipping.

Through the Great Cloth Diaper Hunt, I found Diaper Discussions. They have a Pimp My Stash giveaway each week, so I started entering. Just a couple weeks later, I found that I’d won there too. I won a Happy Heiny's Onesize Diaper. I love that the suedecloth doesn’t pill!

Also, now that I have pockets, I’ve decided to start using cloth when we’re out and about. (I bought a Planet Wise wet/dry bag to use when we’re out instead of the plastic grocery bags I’d been using!)

My sister loved using my pockets when we were home for Thanksgiving, calling them “cheater diapers” and said that she might consider cloth diapers when she has kids, now that she’s tried more than just my prefolds!

In total, we’ve spent just over $450 on cloth and only $175 on disposable in the last 19 months since my daughter was born. Considering we won't have to spend much more on cloth for another baby, I'd say it's well worth the investment!

Reader Submitted Article by
Heather
babyratliff.blogspot.com

Congratulations....Tamara of The Szogedi Home! Winner of our December Blog Contribution Award!

Congratulations Tamara of www.szogediek.blogspot.com for winning our December Blog Contributor Award! Her contribution Wipe Out! was an excellent tuturial on cloth wipes! We look forward to many more contributions from her in the future! Tamara please contact me asap to claim your prize!

What does she win? She's the lucky recipient of a $20.00 Gift Certificate to Earth Angels Diaper Co. and she's won this snazzy little award to place on her Blog.

Would you like a chance to win? Simply use our Blog Contribution form to submit your articles or product reviews. The more you contribute the more likely you are to win! Plus for each approved contribution you receive 10 extra entries into the current Pimp Your Stash GiveAway!

So what are you waiting for? Submit your articles today! Have a question or need ideas on what to write about? Contact me for more details.

Going Green in the New Year

It is the first week of the new year, so of course the topic of conversation is New Year's Resolutions. If you are resolving to "go green" this year, here are a few simple ideas to get you started:

• One of the easiest, and probably most obvious, is to buy products made from recycled items. Many products are even sold in recycled packaging. Manufacturers are marking their items when they are made with recycled products or sold in recycled packaging, so while you are shopping, keep your eye out for them!
  
• Reusable grocery bags are fantastic, inexpensive and easy way to start your green resolution. I have a few reusable bags that fold up into a smaller bag that I can just throw in my purse or keep in my car. That way I always have a bag ready to use for groceries, library books, etc.
• Set up a recycle bin in your home and office. Put it next to your trash can, so you are reminded to recycle before you throw something in the trash. Get your kids involved - and once you really get into the swing of things, I think you will find that you have more recyclables than you do trash!
  
• Buy locally grown fruits and vegetables. These usually require much less (if any) packaging, and they do not need to be transported across the country. They are usually fresher and you are supporting your local community - which is always a plus!
  
• If possible, find a carpool buddy for commuting to work. You are taking one more car off the road and (hopefully) enjoying the company!
• Walk! This can contribute to your green resolution and your exercise resolution all at once! When the weather allows, walk to the local produce stand (to buy your locally grown fruits & veggies), walk with your kids to your next play date, walk to the park, you get the idea - just walk! You are cutting down on air pollution & traffic congestion - and getting some exercise and fresh air! Right now, we are experiencing single digit temps, so this might not always be feasible!
• Buy fewer disposable products... including using cloth diapers (you knew this one was coming!). There are so many options out there, you are sure to find an option that works for your family. Give it a try with Econobum, a very affordable option that will let you give modern cloth diapering a try.

So... what is your New Years Resolution? What are you doing to make sure you keep it this year? Are you going green in 2010? What tips would you add to the list?

The Yummiest Cloth Wipe Solution!

Do you use cloth wipes? Well you should! They make perfect sense when used with cloth diapers. No more having to separate your dirty wipes to throw in the grabage while your cloth diapers go in the laundry. With cloth wipes you simply toss them in with your diapers and voila! It's that simple.

Sammy's Wipe Beans are the perfect cloth wipe solution. Available in a ton of yummy scents you're sure to find some of your favorites. Each wipe bean yields 1 cup of wipe solution.

Directions: Simply dissolve 1 wipe bean in 1 cup of hot water, let cool and use!

Sammy's Wipe Beans are 100% natural, made with natural glycerin base, natural vegetable oils, purified water, and premium essential oils. No animal testing or animal products are used in the making of this product.

Each wipe bean order is custom made and ships within 1-3 days.

Available in Small or Large bags. To order Click here.