What’s your favorite Wallypop item?

I decided to do a quick holiday giveaway. Since I’ve managed to be closed up just before Christmas for two years in a row now, I’m going to just start giving away the holiday and winter Little Leg Warmers I made last year. Wahoo!

To enter, you must do two things:

1. Comment here an answer to this question:

What is your favorite Wallypop item?

2. Like us on Facebook.

Sign-ups end on Wednesday at midnight central time, and on Thursday, I will use random.org to select a random comment number. After I verify that the commentor chosen has also liked us on Facebook, I’ll contact them via Facebook and get their Little Leg Warmers mailed out!

Great Cloth Diaper Change, coming to a city near you. (especially if you live near Des Moines)

Join us to set a world record!
Saturday, April 23 – 11:00 AM – Val Air Ballroom
Cloth diapers have come a long way in past 10 years, and it’s time to stand up and be noticed. Celebrate by joining the International cloth diaper community to set the world record for the most cloth diapers changed simultaneously. Our event here is Des Moines is shaping up to be pretty fun! We’ll have a photographer present, who will not only be documenting the event for Guinness, but who will be able to take pictures of your adorable cloth diapered baby! We’ll have goody bags and door prizes, too!
Do I need to RSVP? Yes! Well, sort of! RSVP is not required, but highly encouraged so we have enough witnesses to fulfull Guinness requirements. RSVP through Facebook, or by emailing me at sarah@wallypop.net what will happen at the event? Please arrive around 11 am. There will be some paperwork to fill out, and we will be distributing ticket stubs to those participating in the event. By 11:30, all participants need to be inside the “diaper change” area. At 11:30, we’ll make some sort of sound and everyone will commence the change. After the diapers are changed, everyone is free to socialize or take advantage of the photographer! who can participate? Babies must be 39 inches or shorter. They must be changed into a cloth diaper. The adult caregiver must be 18 or older. what about my other kids, spouse, etc? Though non-diapered kids, spouses, parents, etc., are welcome to attend, only the baby being changed and one adult caregiver are allowed inside the diaper change area. If you need help watching your older kids during the actual change, please let us know. what diapers “count”? Unfortunately, Guinness will not allow the use of diapers that are not commercially available. If you use homemade diapers that are not available for sale anywhere, you may borrow one of the loaner diapers we’ll have available at the event. Return it before you leave, and you won’t even have to wash it! Additionally, training pants are also not allowed. what about babies who usually wear disposables? Absolutely! Babies do not need to be in cloth when they arrive, and they don’t need to be in cloth when they leave. They just need to be changed into a cloth diaper at 11:30. If you have questions, please don’t hestiate to contact me!! Also, if you would like to volunteer at the event, or if your spouse, mother, best friend, uncle’s roommate would like to volunteer, please let me know. Jobs are super easy, but important!! Sarah Reid – 274-4676 – sarah@wallypop.net

A Merry Fluffy Christmas

This year, we are participating as a sponsor in the A Merry Fluffy Christmas blog event. It’s a blog hop/giveaway, with each participating blog giving away prizes every day of the week-long event (Dec 1-5). We are sponsoring Lauren’s Little Lovies.

Essentially, folks, this is 5 days where you can win a LOT of cloth diapering-related goodies. Go hop on over to Lauren’s blog to learn more about it.

Apron Sewing Class at Prairieland Herbs

Abby and I had a great time at today’s apron sewing class. We didn’t use patterns, we used sheets for fabric, and we started with four students who had very little experience sewing. Three of them didn’t even know how to use their machines. Two hours later, they all had perfectly functional and adorable aprons.

Cutting out the pieces and ironing them.

Pinning.

Sewing

Sewing

Aren’t they great??

Pouches for Event

Here’s a stack of 20 small Snackin’ Bags I made for an upcoming event – the Altoona Hy-Vee Baby Fair. The event is May 15, 10-2, at the Altoona Hy-Vee. See link for details. They’re giving away Swag Bags to the first 20 parents through the door, and these Snackin’ Bags will be included.

Babies movie

So apparently, there’s a new film coming out Mother’s Day called Babies. It follows 4 babies from around the world. I saw babywearing in the trailer! And a stroller that looked like it was in Mongolia, which is unfortunate. Anyway, looks interesting..

Note: I am a Bzzagent, which means that from time to time I receive free product in exchange for telling others about said product. I heard about this movie because of that association.

Yesterday!

I spent the day yesterday talking to two Family and Consumer Sciences classes at a local high school. The topic? Natural Parenting. We covered cloth diapers, babywearing, breastfeeding, natural birthing, positive discipline, and many other topics. The kids seemed really interested and asked some good questions, including:

- Don’t you HAVE to breastfeed for 3 months? (How I wanted to answer that one with “yes.”)

- Why do people eat placenta? (i did not bring this up!!) (this led one confused young man to ask if we were talking about eating our periods. Um, no. I’m very glad you asked, though.)

- Did my husband agree with the way we raise our children. In my answer, I deftly skirted the issue of religious beliefs about the role of husband and wife in marriage, and stuck to “in our family, my husband has delegated all child-related decision-making to me, as the primary caregiver.”

The students were incredulous that an epidural might affect a baby, or that homebirth can be safer than a hospital birth. I encouraged them to research the issues themselves. I hope they do.

Pregnant in America

Last week, our local ICAN group hosted a showing of the film Pregnant in America, followed up by a panel discussion featuring local doulas, midwives, and mamas. We didn’t stay for the panel, but the film presentation was nice. I’d already seen the movie, but it was good to see it again. It’s no Business of Being Born, but I think I cringed less the second time through than I did the first time through. Also, it’s interesting to note, the things that annoyed me about the film (such as the filmmaker’s use of the word “bogus,” didn’t bother my husband at all!

Des Moines Green Gifts Fair

I’m so excited about this! Natural Living Des Moines will be hosting the first annual Des Moines Green Gifts Fair in November!

The fair will be November 15, 10-4, at the Des Moines Social Club downtown. It should be an excellent opportunity to purchase eco-friendly gifts for the holidays – or for any event – or just for yourself!

We are currently accepting vendors for this awesome, unique event.

We are looking for vendors to sell items that are eco-friendly and that would make good gifts. We will be choosing vendors based on the items they plan to sell at the fair. Obviously, items should be eco-friendly in some way. Additionally, we will have a bias towards localism – items made from locally-sourced materials, items made locally, etc – but are not excluding non-local items/materials. Items do NOT need to be handmade, as this is not necessarily a craft fair. Additionally, food and wine vendors are welcome, as long as no alcohol is sold to be consumed onsite. Green service providers would also be a welcome addition, if there is some sort of “gift” component to what you do (even if it’s just gift certificates – who wouldn’t love a gift certificate for a massage for Christmas?).

Each booth will be 10’ x 10’ and will cost just $20. Please just let me know if you’d like an application! (sarahtar1@gmail.com)

First annual Des Moines Green Gifts Fair

The first annual Des Moines Green Gifts Fair will be held November 15, and we are currently accepting vendor applications. You can find out more over at Natural Living Des Moines.