This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you with my affiliate link.

They have these in our local pet store -- I was on the lookout for something catnippy for my drug-loving cat to cuddle, and I nearly bought the Organic Catnip Slug - Baby. But when you go shopping with a six-year-old, you often end up with something you didn't intend to get. My son insisted we get the bigger slug (of course -- bigger is always better when you're 6), and I ended up being so glad about it.

I thought my catnip-addicted kitty would love it the most, but it was actually her sister who adopted it, and she'd never seemed to be into catnip toys before this one. She immediately began to wrestle the slug into submission -- and honestly played with it the entire night long.

My cats are big Maine Coons, and the long size was perfect for "hugging" with both her front and back legs and rolling around with it firmly grasped. So, definitely if you have a bigger cat, I would get the Adult Slug for extra wrassling fun for your kitty.

As another plus, the patterns and colors are really fun, and they've got a quaint homemade look to them. If you're going to have a slug decorating your living room floor, might as well be a cute one, right?

This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory entry and optional bonus entries.

Everyday Minerals is offering our readers a giveaway of their award-winning makeup; specifically, a base ($13), a blush ($6-10), and two eye shadows ($5-$9 each), a total value of up to $41.

Everyday Minerals sells organic, vegan, eco-friendly makeup at an affordable price, and in a variety of colors to flatter every skin tone.

From our reviewer, Lauren B., an NPN volunteer:

Since the birth of my daughter two-and-a-half years ago, I've become a stay-at-home mom and have largely given up on wearing makeup. There was just no need for it on a daily basis, and as I went without, my skin improved and I got used to how I really looked. But recently, I've been wanting to try some light makeup again here and there, and my old stash wasn't cutting it. The Bare Minerals make-up I'd been using, which I'd liked, were now a bit too dark and almost gone; when I looked into ordering more online, I was pretty turned off by the price. I headed to the drugstore to see what sort of natural options there were - very few, as it turns out.

I thought, "what the heck?" and just bought conventional makeup. The Revlon product looked good on, but I could only tolerate it for about 10 minutes before it stung and became uncomfortable. Next I tried an Almay product and that was a lot better, but it still made me a bit tingly and didn't look as nice as the Bare Minerals had. I started looking at the Bare Minerals site again, thinking I'd just have to tolerate the cost, but then this review opportunity appeared and I jumped at it.

Everyday Minerals has just as many color options as Bare Minerals, but with better ingredients and at half the price. I chose the Original Glo Base in Linen as my foundation and after describing my coloring, asked them to choose a complementary blush color for me. They sent Shimmer Blush in Pink Ribbon, which was just perfect. I also received two eye shadows: In the Garden in Pearl, and All Spice in Shimmer.

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

		Monkey Butt Junction Price: $0.99 Availability: Includes a free trial and automatic wireless delivery
Honesty, ruminations, and a catchy name!, November 27, 2011 This review is from: Monkey Butt Junction (Kindle Edition) I love how Jenn at Monkey Butt Junction (who wouldn't love that name, by the way?) combines the realness of her everyday natural parenting life with the thoughtfulness she brings to everything. She thinks deeply, and she takes action when necessary. And it doesn't hurt that her kid is super cute. As someone slogging through Couch-to-5K, I also love how Jenn is a proud graduate who inspires me to keep on keeping on with my running! She has many posts devoted to running and fitness that will surely make you want to hit the pavement yourself.  Comment | Permalink

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

			Mom Grooves Price: $0.99 Availability: Includes a free trial and automatic wireless delivery
Enthusiasm galore!, November 27, 2011 This review is from: Mom Grooves (Kindle Edition) I love how vibrant Teresa is, while still being incredibly real. She writes about gratitude, her writing journey, respect for our children, intuition in parenting, and balance in life. She writes with honesty and bravery about even the things she's not so sure she's doing right, which makes you confident she must be doing a whole lot right after all.  Comment | Permalink

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

		My First Puzzle: Trucks by Anne Millard Edition: Misc. Supplies Price: $9.99 Availability: In Stock		22 used & new from$5.25
Played with over and over, January 2, 2012 This review is from: My First Puzzle: Trucks (Misc. Supplies) My four-year-old received these when he was 2 or 3, and they're still in perfect shape. They're a nice, substantial cardboard, and they make three trucks when put together. The truck for each puzzle is a photograph, and the puzzle pieces outline it, so you really get the idea of the shape of the truck, with the big tires and other fun features. I think the choice of fire truck, tractor, and dump truck was good. Those are popular vehicles for little kids. I find that the puzzle is challenging for a preschooler without being too frustrating, because there's a finite number of pieces and there's a lot of immediate confirmation about whether the kid has put them together right or not -- as in, does it look like a truck yet? The firetruck is definitely the most fun for my four-year-old, probably because it's the biggest. I'm not great with estimates and don't have the puzzle out right now, but it's likely over a foot long when pieced together. Littler kids can start with the other trucks, because they have fewer pieces to fit together.  Comment | Permalink

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

			TouchstoneZ Price: $0.99 Availability: Includes a free trial and automatic wireless delivery
Mindful mama with a thoughtful blog, November 15, 2011 This review is from: TouchstoneZ (Kindle Edition) The thing I love best about TouchstoneZ is you will always come away thinking. Zoie takes her yoga practices "off the mat," as she puts it, and applies that thoughtfulness to all of her life. She writes about natural parenting, yoga and meditation, postpartum depression, mental health, consensual living, and more. She hosts a monthly Mindful Mamas blogging carnival as well as Letters to Littles. Both are full of great reads and will help you connect to even more like-minded blogs. Zoie is engaging in her writing as well as in her responses to commenters and on social media. You'll like getting to know her, and your mind will expand in the process!  Comment | Permalink

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

				Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining Offered by Bratz In Vogue Price: Click here to see our price Availability: In Stock		48 used & new from$79.99
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:  My go-to carrier for a heavy baby or toddler,November 27, 2011 This review is from: Ergo Baby Carrier Black with Camel Lining (Baby Product) When my first baby weighed almost 12 pounds at birth (surprise!) and got up to 30 pounds by six months, I knew I needed some good, solid help carrying him. Even without the infant insert, we started using the ERGO when he was still a newborn. (Granted, he was the size of a three-month-old, so it worked out fine.) When he had good neck control, I could start carrying him on my back in the ERGO, too. By the time he was a year old (and not yet walking), I was carrying him on my back in the ERGO exclusively. This carrier made us both happy, saving my back and hips and keeping my high-needs but heavy baby content. The straps distribute the weight evenly across my back and shoulders. I also love how it's adjustable for both my husband and me and doesn't take a great deal to switch it between our different sizes. Speaking of husbands, I let mine pick out what color we would get: plain camel. A different color lining, dear? No. Camel. So it was. But the upside is that he loves to wear it, and I see lots of dads using the ERGO so I consider it a nice gender-neutral option for baby carrying. A couple quibbles that aren't enough to make me dock a star: The straps can dig into my armpits if I don't get them adjusted right. And the version I have (I think they might have changed this?) doesn't fit plus-sizes well, meaning that relatives of mine couldn't/wouldn't use it. (Even though I bought the waist extender, I think they thought that was kind of insulting and stayed away.) I also could never get the hood to work for us, but maybe I just didn't try hard enough, or maybe my kid was more sensitive to having anything touch his head. That first baby is now a 50-pound four-year-old (and this kid barely eats!), and we have a new newborn (much smaller, relatively speaking). I've been using the ERGO again with the baby, and it still works great and feels so comfortable. At his urging, I even wore my four-year-old down the street to a restaurant -- hard on my hips now but easy on my back, and hilarious to boot! The ERGO can take it.  Comment | Permalink

This is an unsolicited review I left on Amazon that I'm reprinting for you.

			Diary of a First Child Price: $0.99 Availability: Includes a free trial and automatic wireless delivery
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:  Fascinating & engaging natural parenting blog, November 15, 2011 This review is from: Diary of a First Child (Kindle Edition) I've been reading Diary of a First Child since Luschka had just the first child. (She's currently on her way to #2.) I love how she combines research with her personal take on things and gives us a glimpse into her life. I like to live a little vicariously through her, because she lives internationally to me. Favorite posts on her blog are her recurring letters to Ameli, her toddler, and her Pics of the Week, as well as her many in-depth articles, on topics ranging from breastfeeding to baby-led weaning to natural remedies to pregnancy concerns. Her homebirth story brought tears to my eyes. She also does well-thought-out product reviews and clearly takes herself seriously as a professional blogger, which is great to see. I've had the pleasure of getting to know Luschka online through blogging carnivals and other joint endeavors, and she always comes across as real and accessible -- both knowledgable and friendly. I'm glad to have her blog in my reader! P.S. I think it's so cool you can get blogs on Kindle now!  Comment | Permalink

This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama Reviews and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.

Episencial is offering our readers a giveaway of a baby-safe Fun Summer Skincare Kit, a value of $30.

Episencial all-natural sunscreen is chemical-free and newborn-safe.

Here are the products offered in the giveaway:

• Sunny Sunscreen (SPF 35)
• Protective Face Balm (SPF 6)
• Soothing Cream
• plus a creative art project with The Very Hungry Caterpillar from The World of Eric Carle

I was excited to receive an all-natural sunscreen to review. I have very fair skin (I do not tan — it's fish-belly white or lobster red for me!), and I've been trying to cut down on the unnecessary chemical-based products in our home, particularly since I have two young boys: a four-year-old and a newborn. I know it's important to protect them from too much sun exposure — but I also want to protect them from absorbing too many harmful ingredients!

Episencial has created a convenient, kid-friendly, eco-friendly sun solution in this skincare line.

The Skin Deep Cosmetics Database at EWG has highly ranked Episencial's sunscreen products with ratings of 1 and 2, which indicates ingredients with low hazard.

Whereas chemical sunscreens carry warnings not to use on babies younger than 6 months, the minerals in Episencial are all natural and sit on the skin to physically block the sun's rays rather than absorbing into the bloodstream. That makes this a skincare line that's safe for the whole family.


Digging in!

Sunny Sunscreen

The active ingredients in Sunny Sunscreen are titanium dioxide and zinc oxide, which may be familiar to you as white strips on lifeguards' noses in movies. These are powerful mineral sunblockers that give this sunscreen an SPF of 35 — plenty for even us pale people.

What I worried about, however, was if the white chemicals would go on pasty or if they would absorb into my skin the way chemically based sunscreens do.

The texture was a thick lotion, but it spread fairly easily. There was a faint glistening of white as I applied it, but that soon disappeared. I don't know how it would look on darker skintones, but I imagine it would absorb soon enough not to be a problem.

For overall convenience, I prefer spray-on sunscreens, but I know there's a concern about the safety of the nanoparticles in such products. I'll have to take glooping on lotion over causing harm to my family's health, right?

Sunny Sunscreen is labeled water resistant, which is nice. It's still recommended that you reapply after any contact with water.

Some information from Episencial.com:

Have fun in the sun without exposing your skin to harmful UVA and UVB rays or harsh chemical sunscreens using this natural blend of zinc and titanium minerals. Organic ingredients like shea butter, beeswax and avocado oil nourish and soften skin while green tea extract neutralizes sun-induced free radical damage.

• SPF 35.
• Water resistant protection for face & body.
• Environmental Working Group top-rated sunscreen!
• Blocks both UVA and UVB rays.
• Protects sensitive skin with natural minerals zinc and titanium (no harmful nano-particles).
• Milky texture creates a protective layer with no harsh chemicals and minimal white residue.
• Fortified with organic green tea extract to prevent sun-damage.
• Organic sesame, safflower and avocado oils to moisturize and nourish the skin.
• Beeswax and organic shea butter increase water resistance and sun protection without the use of petroleum or chemicals.

Now, the real test was whether it kept me from burning! I'm happy to say that it did. I had to wait awhile on this review until we got enough sun (come on, summer, visit the Pacific Northwest already!) to try it out. I finally was able to wear it to our sons' outdoor summer party — several hours in the sun with few options for shade. I wore a hat as well, but the good news is my skin came home just as pasty white as it was when I left. (Wait, is that good news?)

The other test is whether my four-year-old, Mikko, would like it. He did! He asked for it by name. I think it's because the bottles have the Eric Carle Very Hungry Caterpillar designs!

I have acne-prone, oily skin, but I didn't have a problem with grease or blemishes when using this sunscreen on my face, even under (mineral) makeup.

One downside would be the manufacturer's suggested price of $14.99 for 4 ounces. However, you are paying for all-natural ingredients from a smaller, eco-conscious company.

Protective Face Balm

I was a little confused at first about what the Protective Face Balm was for. At first I thought maybe the Sunny Sunscreen wasn't for faces, but it is. I finally realized it was less a sunscreen and more of a moisturizer and protectant for skin that was already irritated, whether by the sun and weather or by conditions such as eczema. It has a mild SPF of 6, to give skin a bit of everyday protection, which is essential if skin is already sensitized and raw.

The balm goes on smoothly but has a slight white tinge from the zinc oxide. A little goes a long way.

I have horribly cracked lips, and I've enjoyed using this on them. It protects them and feels soothing, while helping shield them from the sun when I'm outside.

From Episencial.com:

Insulate baby's vulnerable skin from wind, sun, and the ravages of runny noses and drool-y chins with this organic licorice extract and raspberry butter infused, intensely hydrating facial balm. Also protects chapped skin with zinc derived SPF 6 and shea butter.

• Provides all-over relief for chapped skin & lips — SPF 6.
• Organic aloe vera, coco butter, and shea butter, for soothing protection for dry, chapped skin.
• Zinc [oxide] for healing protection from sun, wind, and pollution.
• Fortified with vitamins A, D, E, and C to help restore and repair skin balance and texture.
• Packed with organic raspberry juice, cranberry extract, and grape seed to revitalize skin.

I imagine this could work for diaper rash, too, since zinc oxide is a common diaper ointment ingredient. Though granted the SPF will be wasted if you put it where the sun don't shine…

The price of $5.99 for 0.75 ounces seems reasonable for a face balm of this quality.

Soothing Cream

I thought the Soothing Cream was lovely — an easily spreadable milky gel. It's supposed to be ideal for eczema and other itchy, bothersome skin conditions.

From Episencial.com:

Bring comfort to dry, itchy, irritated skin with this intensely nourishing multi-purpose moisturizer featuring an organic blend of calming calendula, oat extract and borage seed to enhance natural lipids and restore moisture balance. Acidophilus and neem boost immunity while oxysomes protect skin from harsh elements. Perfect for after-sun too!

• Helps relieve eczema, itches & bothered skin.
• Fortified with probiotics (acidophilus and bulgaricum), organic cucumber extract and aloe vera to help soothe and comfort bothered skin.
• Organic borage seed oil, jojoba seed oil, and oat extract to hydrate and restore natural lipids to help relieve itchy skin.
• Organic safflower helps protect from the sun and elements, restoring skin balance and moisture.
• Organic green tea, neem oil, and calendula extract to naturally boost skin immunity and help heal from eczema.

I tried this on my lips, and it stung where the skin was broken. However, in poking around reviews, I've seen glowing recommendations for use on eczema and sunburns. I'd simply be cautious in using it on broken skin, particularly with little ones. The active ingredient is oat kernel extract.

The full-size tube retails for $10.99 for 4 ounces, which might be pricey for some families. (Note that the giveaway tube is a smaller travel size of 0.75 ounces.) I'm sure the price is worth it for families who need soothing skin relief that's safe for even young children.


A nice bonus was this Eric Carle artwork to color!

Episencial

Episencial is committed to making green products that are targeted toward families and children. The founder, Kim Walls, is a mother herself who wanted products that were safe to use for her own family.

The company's goals are to make high quality skincare that is affordable, all-natural (with most ingredients organic), and safe for the most sensitive skin of young children, ages 0 to 5 — though the products are perfect for ages up to 150! There are no fragrances, but juice extracts give a pleasant and mild scent. It is not a strong scent at all — just natural and faint.

The company manufactures products using solar power. The products are packaged in recycled and sustainable materials with inspiring art. The products I reviewed are proudly made in the USA.

BUY IT!

You can use the Store Locator to find Episencial products in a retail store near you.

You can also purchase Episencial skincare items at various online retailers such as Diapers.com or Drugstore.com.

Besides sunblocks, Episencial also sells other bath and skincare items for children and families.

WIN IT!

For your own chance to win a Fun Summer Skincare Kit from Episencial, enter in the comments below. The winner will receive one 4-ounce tube of Sunny Sunscreen, one 0.75-ounce tube of Protective Face Balm, and one 0.75-ounce tube of Soothing Cream. Contest is open to United States mailing addresses.

MANDATORY ENTRY: Visit Episencial.com and tell us one thing you have learned about the company or the products there!

Leave a valid email address in your comments (the line where it says "email address") so we can contact you if you win. Email addresses are not made publicly visible.

This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama Reviews and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only, and we'll be recording IP addresses to ensure that there are no duplicate entries. That said, please do visit and enjoy both sites!



BONUS ENTRIES:
Complete one or more of the following to increase your chance of winning after completing the mandatory entry above. Leave a separate comment for each so we can count them all.

• Tell us about another item you like in their store.
• Tell us who will enjoy your new skincare products.
• Use the Store Locator to tell us of an Episencial retail location near you.
• Subscribe to the Episencial Blog.
• Sign up for Episencial email updates (enter your email address at the bottom of the page next to the green "Subscribe" button).
• Follow www.HoboMamaReviews.com publicly through Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to the Hobo Mama Reviews RSS feed in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
• Follow www.HoboMama.com through Google Friend Connect, or subscribe to the Hobo Mama RSS feed in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
• Subscribe to Natural Parents Network in a reader or by email (1 entry for each).
• Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway article at Natural Parents Network and tell us which post (comment on separate posts for up to 3 entries total).
• Leave a relevant comment on a non-giveaway article from HoboMama.com and tell us which post (comment on separate posts for up to 3 entries total).
• Like Episencial Skin Care on Facebook.
• Like Hobo Mama on Facebook.
• Like Natural Parents Network on Facebook.
• Follow @Episencial on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
• Follow @Hobo_Mama on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
• Follow @NatParNet on Twitter and leave your Twitter name in the comment.
• Tweet about this giveaway (up to 5 times total, at least 24 hours apart). You can tweet this text: #Win @Episencial all-natural sun and skin care from @Hobo_Mama & @NatParNet! #Green summer #giveaway: http://tinyurl.com/3sdtqj3 {8.24, US}
• Post this giveaway on your Facebook page or wall and leave the link (1 entry). You can use this status update: Protect your family's skin naturally! Enter to win an @Episencial Skin Care summer sunscreen kit from @Hobo Mama and @Natural Parents Network. Contest ends August 24 and is open to US addresses.
  Be sure to attach the contest URL to your update! (This is not part of the status text!)
  http://www.hobomamareviews.com/2011/07/giveaway-episencial-natural-sunscreen.html
• Enter another of my current giveaways or the giveaways on Natural Parents Network (1 extra entry per giveaway — check back for more!).
• Put my Hobo Mama button on your website or add http://www.HoboMama.com to your text blogroll for 2 extra entries each. The HTML code for the button is in the sidebar to the right. Leave your site URL in the comment.
• Put the Natural Parents Network badge on your website or add http://NaturalParentsNetwork.com to your text blogroll for 2 extra entries each. The HTML code for the badge is in the sidebar to the right. Leave your site URL in the comment.

RULES

• Contest open to U.S. mailing addresses.
• Contestants may enter at either Hobo Mama Reviews or Natural Parents Network but not both. Entries will be combined for the drawing of a single winner.
• Leave each entry as a separate comment so we can count them all.
• For actions like following and subscribing, if you already follow or subscribe, just let us know in your comment.
• For tasks that garner you multiple entries, you can copy and paste the comment with a #1, #2, etc.
• You don't have to do any of the bonus entries, but you do have to complete the first mandatory one.
• We will pick the winner through Random.org after the contest closes and send an email notification. Leave a valid email address as you comment so we can contact you if you win. If we can't reach a winner or don't hear back within a couple days, we'll draw a new name. Entries will be added together from both sites. If there are 50 entries from the non-NPN site and 65 entries from NPN, we will count the non-NPN entries as numbers 1-50 and the NPN entries as numbers 51-115.
• After giveaway closes, a representative from NPN will contact the winner. The winner will have 48 hours to respond by email; otherwise, NPN will select another winner.
• Any questions, let our giveaway editors know: ShannonR {at} NaturalParentsNetwork {dot} com and Amanda {at} NaturalParentsNetwork {dot} com

I was excited when BlogHer offered me the chance for a Walgreens post, because we already shop at Walgreens for health and wellness products, and I'm a huge fan of buying store brand. I've found that most store brand products have the same active ingredients as other national brands, and Walgreens brand products are no exception.

Considering how much over-the-counter medications, first aid products, and other health-related items can set a family back in these days of rising healthcare costs, it's worth saving on these essentials if you can be assured of their quality. I found out Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Products are Walgreens pharmacist-recommended and have a 100% satisfaction guarantee. So there's nothing to lose by trying them out in place of any highly advertised brand that's virtually identical. Why pay more for the same quality?

I also appreciate that Walgreens is giving back to the community with the Way to Well Fund: A cent from the purchase of every Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness Product, up to $3 million annually, will support bringing preventive wellness services to local communities.

Keep reading to hear about my adventures in reviewing Walgreens Brand items and to learn how YOU can win a $100 Walgreens gift card of your own from BlogHer.

The assignment for the review was to buy three seasonal products from the Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness selections. No problem — except for the narrowing down! There was plenty I could use for the summer.

And I didn't have too much time to shop, given that I was due to give birth to my second child at any minute. As it turned out, I bought my items just in time, and now I'm writing this review on the other side of the birth!

My friend Amy had come up to help me prepare for the birth, so we headed out to one of my many local Walgreens stores with our boys along to help us shop. My four-year-old, Mikko, is a whiz at displaying products, as you can see.

Forgive the cell phone pictures — I had to seize the chance I had to shop and didn't have a nicer camera along. I figured it was good that I got it all taken care of, considering I went into labor two days later! I hadn't even waited for my sponsor-provided gift card to arrive before buying my products — good thing, huh?

A note on the prices: I was given a $50 gift card to buy three products, and my three choices came to only about $11. I think it's fabulous when it's hard to spend $50 at a store.

Watershield Adhesive Bandages

We headed first into Mikko's favoritest section of any drugstore: the bandage aisle! He can't get enough of first aid products. For himself, he prefers rolled gauze and tape. For others, e.g. his father and me, he loves adhesive bandages — and lots of 'em. It doesn't really matter whether you have an owie or not, truth be told.

He picked out flexible fabric ones first, then these large Watershield bandages. I thought those looked the most intriguing so slyly swapped them out for a variety pack. I like having clear bandages — looks less goofy and noticeable. And the idea that they might be more water-resistant than regular bandages appealed to me.

My take

Fortuitously (I guess), I had two hangnails — one on each index finger — that were giving me some pain. I figure it was due to all the extreme nesting I was doing at nine months pregnant, including having installed a toilet that day. (Because you know that makes sense to do when you're super-pregnant.) Usually I would put a dab of a liquid bandage on a hangnail, but I was trying to avoid extra chemicals due to the little one within, so I got to try out a bandage on each finger instead.

The good news is, they were entirely like other bandages I've tried, both store brand and brand name. The bad news is, the Watershield promise was overstated — they didn't stay on any better than any other bandage (or any worse). I found it rather humorous that the box even suggested changing the bandage if it got wet. Oh, well!

I'm still glad to have them around, both because I like the clear bandages and considering how quickly we go through them with a four-year-old nurse-in-training to dole them out. The price was right. And I would definitely buy Walgreens brand bandages again. I think next time I'd just look to see if there was a regular version that cost less than the Watershield and go with that if so.

Super Moleskin Plus

I headed to the foot care section next. Being at the end of pregnancy, I very much appreciated the warmer weather that had come through for seemingly the sole purpose of allowing me to wear my comfiest sandals outdoors. I had tried to wear some lighter shoes (read: prettier) the day before, and they chafed on my winter-tenderized feet (wusses), leaving a couple blisters. This recalled to me the necessity of stocking up on padding to make it through the early days of summer, in which I train my feet to build up some calluses and quit complaining about going sockless!

Walgreens to the rescue! I love moleskin padding for anyplace a shoe pinches: the toes, the straps, the heels. The adhesive means you can stick it in place and have all-day comfort. The neutral coloring doesn't match every (any?) skintone, but it has that don't-pay-me-any-notice vibe. And the rectangular sheets mean you can cut out any size or shape of padding you need.

I love using moleskin (NB to the queasy: not made of actual moles or actual skin) in new shoes, for sandal weather, and for jogging. I have a bad habit of always buying running shoes too small, so I need the padding to make it through.

My take

Now, I am not currently carrying out my running routine — nor have I been for some months — but I do plan to ease back into it this summer, so having the moleskin on hand is essential.

And I absolutely plan to wear sandals all.summer.long, so I need to make sure my wimpy feet can handle the pressure.

Since I'm not allowed, by midwife order, even to walk down the stairs at the moment, I can't exactly test the moleskin to its limits, but I did give it a nice feel and a tug on the adhesive. The padding is very soft, and the adhesive feels quite strong. It feels, in fact, exactly like a name-brand version I've used before. I think it will do exceptionally!

Sheer Sunscreen Roller

I am pale. Really, really pale. Scandinavian and Celtic pale. Like, when Sam and I visited Cornwall in England in the late spring, I was the one who ended up at the chemist's trying to explain to them how on earth I could possibly have a sunburn and heat rash. And that was among generally pale people. So I rely on sunscreen, among other protective measures, to keep myself from turning into a lobster in the summertime, even up here in the mild coastal northwest.

So this roll-on facial sunscreen spoke to me. It said, "Laaauuuren! I will be so much easier to smear on your face than a goopy tube of sunscreen. I won't clog your pores and make you look all greasy or chalky. I will be easy to rub in. You will want to put me on before a day in the sun — and even throughout the day!"

I heeded the call.

The thing with sunscreen is that I'm conflicted between going all-natural (zinc oxide, titanium dioxide) versus using the formulations that make me apt to apply sunscreen in the first place, and then reapply it as needed to keep my protection up. I am not the kind of person who develops a protective tan — never, ever, ever happens, despite my most fervent attempts from elementary through high school — so I really do need to rely on commonsense, clothing and hat cover-ups during the summer, and also a nice thick layer of sunblock or sunscreen, particularly if I'm going to be out all day or during the hottest part.

My compromise so far is, for everyday coverage, to use mineral makeup that contains natural sunblockers, and to try out some natural body sunscreens for my hands, arms, chest, neck, and ears. But if I'm going to be out swimming or on the beach, I like to use a spray sunscreen that covers all of me more easily.

However, my face is still a sticking point. Quite literally, I don't like having it be all sticky. So finding an easy way to apply a liberal amount of sunscreen across my features? Golden.

My take

I haven't hung out at the beach since buying this to have thoroughly tested its sunblocking powers, but the active ingredients are the same as in my go-to body sunscreen. I was hoping the roll-on application would be easy and comfortable — and it was! It smoothed across my face in a nice, fairly even coating. I still had to rub it in — it didn't go on so evenly that it just instantly absorbed or anything — but I found the rubbing in to be low-stress since the coat had been spread so thin for me by the roller.

The SPF 55 might be overkill for any normally toned people, but I'll take the highest protection factor I can get. I like the idea that nothing's getting through that barrier.

While I was outside that day, I didn't notice any excess shininess, and I didn't get any stinging to suggest I was sweating it down and irritating my eyes. I think this will be the perfect roll-on to tuck into a beach bag or purse for a day out in the sun. It's the type of sunscreen you can reapply without a mirror without fear of ending up with goofy white lines where you didn't blend it enough.

If you have sunscreen-averse family members and kidlets, something like this that's fun and easy to apply might just be what's needed to convert them.

Bonus!

You never know what else fun you'll find at Walgreens. Mikko picked up this suh-weeeet, patriotic carabiner that then prompted us all to head over to Home Depot to buy some fake keys for the boys. Yea for the clearance bins!

You'll be happy to know that I really, really thought it would be funny to buy and review laxatives for those pesky postpartum issues, but Amy in her wisdom talked me out of it and I will keep mum on my ordeal… I did, however, determine that the active ingredients were indeed the same as the pricier name-brand options, so I would go with the Walgreens Brand if given the choice.

And Amy and her little one picked out some Walgreens Brand flushable wipes that were cheaper than the ones she usually buys at the grocery store.

And some other goodies might or might not have found their way into my bag…

See — you'll find it hard to resist doing a little extra shopping once you go in for your health and wellness items! There really are a lot of great deals there.

So there you have it. Try Walgreens Brand Health & Wellness products. Visit the site for more information.

A big congratulations to the winner of the Knickernappies Stackable Menstrual Pad Set giveaway co-sponsored by Knickernappies and Fluff Envy — #201!

Julie

Julie says:

"I would also love to try their nursing pads!"

This was a joint giveaway with Natural Parents Network, so entries were combined and one winner drawn. The winner entered at Hobo Mama Reviews.

The Knickernappies Stackable Mama Cloth menstrual pad set is made of a waterproof fleece shell with two absorbent microfiber and velour liners, and is a reusable, eco-friendly solution to your period.

If you were not the lucky winner, you can buy Knickernappies Stackable Menstrual Pads at Fluff Envy and receive a terrific discount when you do so!

Get 10% off Knickernappies and Mama products
at FluffEnvy.com through May 15!
Enter code HOBOMAMA at checkout.

This giveaway is now closed. Stay tuned for the announcement of the winners. Thank you all for entering!

This is a joint giveaway cross-posted on Hobo Mama, Hobo Mama Reviews, and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.

In honor of Mother's Day, Sacred Rose is offering our readers a box of the hand-blended, organic herbal tea Matri: Tea of the Mother to FOUR winners!

I had the opportunity to review four blends of Sacred Rose tea, and Matri intrigued me as being one of the most herbally pertinent for my life right now.

Matri is called "Tea of the Mother" because it contains herbs that have been used traditionally for centuries to bring women through their childbearing years and to prepare their bodies for childbirth. As the website puts it:

"Matri was blended to breathe women in birth in the most high and loving way."

As I enter my ninth month of pregnancy, I appreciate any tea that can do that!

This giveaway is now closed. Stay tuned for the winner announcement. Thank you all for entering!

This is a joint giveaway with Hobo Mama Reviews and Natural Parents Network. You may enter at one site only. Please find the section marked "Win it!" for the mandatory main entry and optional bonus entries.

GREEN YOUR PERIOD special event: We are featuring a series of reusable menstrual products for review and giveaway. Go green, no matter what time of the month!

Knickernappies and Fluff Envy are offering my readers a giveaway of a Stackable Menstrual Pad Set! This Knickernappies cloth pad set is made of a waterproof fleece shell with two absorbent microfiber and velour liners, and is a reusable, eco-friendly solution to your period.

Knickernappies sent me the same microfiber set plus two extra pad liners for review. I had been using a reusable menstrual cup but with disposable pads and pantyliners as backup, and I was eager to try out greener cloth options.

Knickernappies innovations

I love the idea of the Stackable Mama Pads. They're a unique 3-in-1 system that will fit absorbency needs from pantiliner to regular pad to heavy flow. That way, you can adjust the absorbency throughout your menstrual cycle without having to buy several different pad sizes.

My favorite aspect of the stackable design is that you can reuse the shell throughout the day as long as it doesn't get soiled, just swapping out the pad liners as you need them replaced. That means you need only a few shells for your whole cycle, and you can buy extra pads (liners) separately.

One smaller liner works well for light flow. One larger liner is comparable to a standard pad. Snapping on both liners at the same time provides coverage for heavy flow.

The shells and liners are consistently the same sizes so any future shells or liners you buy will fit any other set.

The outer shell is very thin, waterproof fleece. The larger pads are made from microfiber, hemp, and cotton/poly velour (76% combed cotton/24% polyester — the polyester is used on the backside as a stabilizer). The smaller pads are microfiber and velour. The soft velour sits against the skin, and the workhorse microfiber is highly absorbent.

The shell with the pad(s) snaps up into a little bundle so you can toss it in a bag or even your pocket (it would be a little bulky there, though!) and take it with you. I doubt anyone would know what it was (unless they actually did know what it was — in which case, they'd just be applauding you for being so dang cool and environmental).

My experiences

Knickernappies set laid out: small pad, large pad, shell. Everything snaps together, and the wings snap under your undies.

SafetyTat temporary tattoos is offering TWO of my readers a giveaway of a sample pack of the SafetyTat Quick Stick Write-On! temporary tattoos (the packet to the left in the picture below).



I was intrigued by the benefits SafetyTat tattoos provides when traveling or attending a busy place with your child. The SafetyTat Quick Stick Write-On! tattoos are a temporary sticker-like tattoo on which you can write your phone number. It can be easily applied to your children's arm or hand, and it will stay on for up to 2 weeks — that way, if your children get separated from you (heaven forfend), they don't have to remember or be able to say their phone number; it will be printed right there to be seen by a helpful adult.

I envision these being a safety measure for pre-verbal children, or children and others with special needs who might have difficulty recalling or conveying a phone number. You could also write a message about allergies or medical conditions. I'd love to have one of these SafetyTats on Mikko as we were going through an airport, sightseeing in a busy city, or visiting a theme park, children's museum, zoo, or similar crowded attraction. They would be an extra layer of protection before sending your child off on a field trip or camping excursion. It could even make things less stressful during a day of errands or shopping, particularly if you have a child who loves to run off.