Arbonne ABC Herbal Diaper Rash Cream

I can honestly say that I don't know much about diaper rash. Even with 4 kids, I had never had to deal with it until my latest, Moses, was born 4 months ago. Since the day he arrived here on this earth, he has had a red bottom. We have tried all kinds of creams, powder, and lotions, and most have worked pretty well. But today I would love to share my favorite!

Arbonne Baby Care (ABC) Herbal Diaper Rash Cream smells so great. The scent reminds me of a cup of hot green tea, but very mild and not too froo-frooish. (My hubby hates girly-smelling baby supplies.) While the only ingredient listed is the Zinc Oxide found in most other baby rash creams, there is definitely some other stuff in there that can only be described as light and fresh. The cream itself comes out more like a thicker lotion instead of a paste, so it is easy to smear on. Just a thin layer will do well, so no need going overboard. It protects well, and while it does act as a barrier to future wetness, it absorbs a little into the skin too!

And is it horrible that I also just love the look of the packaging? The adorable design on the tube, along with the fact that it looks like a lotion container instead of a tube of hemmorhoid cream, really makes me feel stylish as I pull it out of my diaper bag.

Contact your local Arbonne rep (1-800-ARBONNE) or visit ARBONNE online to see how to order this or any other item in their ABC line!

Sesame Tahini Recall

CONSUMER ALERT *********************************************************

Whole Foods Market announced Tuesday a voluntary recall of 16-ounce jars of 365 Organic Everyday Value Sesame Tahini.The company said in a recorded phone message that the product could be contaminated with salmonella, which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, the elderly and those with weakened immune systems.The jars were distributed nationally through Whole Foods Market stores.

No illnesses have been reported.

Real Simple MicroFiber Mop

Applesauce, candlewax, juice, something else I'm not familiar with...

What do all the above items have in common? They are all stuck to my kitchen floor AS I TYPE! I think, however, I have found the American Idol of mops - Enter the Real Simple Microfiber Squeeze Mop!

Details:

The Real Simple Microfiber Squeeze Mop works wet or dry. Think of the mop head as a spongecake with a cool microfiber cloth frosting. And its handy scraper insert offers a smart way to defeat stubborn, sticky spots. (Like there is any other kind of spots?)

The insert gets put back into the handle when you are done, so it is one less handy tool you'll never find again at the back of your utility closet. (By the way, it takes candle wax off of laminate like a dream...) It is made of a lightweight aluminum, so it is sooo easy to push. It also has a smaller head than some mops, so it is perfect for getting behind toilets and under highchairs!

The mop itself ( $14.99) is found at Target stores and select online retailers. The replaceable mop head runs about $4.99, but I found that I can prolong the life and cleanliness of the mop head by throwing it in a load of laundry and NOT drying it.

I will not go back to another mop again.. Anyone else tried this beauty? Comment below, and while you are here - Please visit a sponsor or two and keep Lille Punkin' writing super handy reviews for our favorite products!

Gerber Organic Rice Cereal

PLEASE CLICK HERE for details of a recall involving this product! And for information on future recalls, subscribe to our RSS Feed!

Update on recall: "We examined the situation and determined that it was caused by a manufacturing issue and not related to product ingredients or formulation," Shukovsky explains, emphasizing that safety has been Gerber's top priority throughout its 80-year history. "To ensure we are providing the best products to parents, we upgraded our manufacturing processes used to make our Organic Cereal product."

So you may be wondering how I may do a review on something so basic as infant rice cereal. A taste-test may not be the most appropriate means to do so, I agree. But there are factors to consider when comparing the original Gerber Rice Cereal for Babies and the new Organic variety.

Here is how each measure up in nutrient value:

While both had the same daily values of Vitamin A and C, Calcium, Iron, Vitamin E, Thiamin, Riboflavin, Niacin, Vitamin B6, Folate, Vitamin B12, Phosphorus, and Zinc -

The Original Rice cereal had 2% more of the daily value of Protein (5% compared to only 3% in the Organic variety)

They were equal in fat and calories, but the Organic variety had 45mg of potassium, compared to only 20mg in the Original rice blend.
Also, the Organic rice had no measureable sugars, while the Original rice had 1g.

The main ingredient of the Original Rice cereal was rice flour, while the Organic variety has "Organic whole grain brown rice flour" listed as it's first ingredient.

I am not in the habit of replacing all my favorite baby staples with organic simply because they are out there. But with the extra cost for Organic being minimal, and the potential benefits being really reassuring, I think I'm making the switch on this one. My son is just 4 months old and only just began eating rice cereal. He seems to love it, and certified organic from the brand I have always trusted (Gerber) sounds like a great deal!

Treasured Toys

"I remember every detail of my favorite baby doll when I was growing up. Her name was Elizabeth (named after my favorite character on the Waltons). She had straight black hair, big brown eyes and a soft, cuddly body. She was my best and truest friend.

Elizabeth went with me everywhere: to the park, to friend's houses, on trips, and best of all...to sleep. Elizabeth knew every facet of my life. I told her secrets, shared my fears, my tears and my dreams. She was my most treasured possession.

Now, as a mother of 3 boisterous boys, I don't have many dolls in my life. Fischer has a stuffed Dalmatian named Pizza and Henry has a plush Beagle named Basketball. Every night I watch my boys wrap their arms around their best friends and hear them whisper the secrets of the day and can't help but feel just a tad jealous. Although I long to be part of these private conversations, I'm sure it's far more healthy that I'm not!

A favorite doll or stuffed animal not only teaches your child how to be a good friend and promote imaginative play, but most importantly these toys make memories that last a lifetime. Are we ever too big (and old) to play with dolls?"

- Memory shared by our friends at Warm Biscuit Bedding Company. All bedding is made in the U.S. by moms and grandmoms, and is made from carefully selected high thread count, all-cotton fabrics! TOY SALE! Save up to 60% on classic and vintage toys, games and baby gifts - www.WarmBiscuit.com/Sale Please take a moment to check out their adorable selection of children's toys and novelties!


(Patchwork Elephant: above, $29)
(Sadie Fabric Doll: Top of page, $55)

Yogi Tea - Mother to Be and Nursing Mom

If you are not a tea drinker, there is no better time to start! Teas have come along way, and several all-natural teas are on the market offering better health with their various combos of herbs and spices.

Recently I was lucky enough to sample Yogi Teas 2 varieties for mothers, specifically the "Woman's Nursing Mom" and the "Woman's Mother to Be." Both varieties offer specific natural treatment for various symptoms of pregnancy and nursing.

The Nursing Mom variety contained:

Fennel Seed, Fenugreek, and Anise - thought to help support breast health and milk production
Chamomile - aids in digestion and comforts stomach upset
Lavender - stress reliever

This tea tasted mild with a definite anise (think black licorice) flavor. It was a nice tea, and I would drink it for it's flavor and fullness, regardless of any health benefits.

The Mother to Be variety contained:

Rasberry Leaf - used for centuries to strengthen and prepare the uterus for childbirth
Spearmint, Peppermint, and Anise - aids in stomach relief
Dandelion - maintains proper water balance
Nettleleaf - known for helping keep energy levels

This tea tasted good as well, although the dominant flavors were the rasberry and peppermint. It had a stronger flavor.

Both teas contained all organic ingredients, and while the FDA doesn't endorse any herbal ingredients as treatments or cures of any symptoms or nursing or pregnancy, they certainly can't hurt! I have been a tea drinker for a long time, and if you are simply looking for a flavorful, relaxing variety of tea, these are great for the mom in your life!

You can request a free sample of their tea at their website. Or you may purchase online at Amazon.

Munchkin Disposable Bibs

If your kids are like mine, they are messy eaters. Even my careful 8-year-old daughter can't escape the crumbs, drips, and splatters that come with eating choice foods such as spaghetti, crackers and salad. And while eating out is a fun treat in my family, it is often accompanied by embarassment at the amount of food I am left to clean up in order to spare our waitress extra work.

While nothing can completely eliminate all the hazards of mealtime, disposable bibs are a viable option for most families. Long gone are the days when every child booster seat was sanitized and prepared with a fresh wet-wipe and plastic bib. Parents need to be ready with their own bibs and cloths, and so we take a look at the Munchkin line of disposable bibs.

Featuring 3 protective layers to help absorb liquids and prevent leaking through to the child's clothes, the bibs are rather comfy and soft to the touch. A fun, quilted design is printed on the front, and several popular characters are available, including Dora the Explorer and Spongebob.
Unique to the Munchkin bib is the crumb-collecting pocket, which I didn't quite understand at first. The pocket is located on the backside of the bib, which means you need to flip the pocket inside out to have it turned up on the front. This helps it to hold its cup-like shape.

Upon trying the bib, my kids screamed at first. They hate putting anything over their heads, including clothing, so this was going to be a challenge. After seeing the characters on their Dora bibs, however, they were excited to give it a try. A removable paper tag revealed a sticky surface that held the two ends of the bib together. Once on, there was no taking it off without adult help.


It worked well to catch crumbs, and absorbed most spills. If only the bib extended down to their ankles, where most of their food ends up anyway. At $6-8 for a box of 16, I couldn't afford a new bib for every meal, but they are a nice courtesy for dining out or for keeping church clothes nice during a potluck.

I would recommend the bibs as an item to tuck away into a purse pocket or diaper bag! Click here to order this product!

We Have A Winner!

Congratulations to FIDGET! She was the lucky number 18 picked by the randomizer this morning! Email me Fidget to claim your prize! Thanks to everyone that participated, and we will be having another contest in the coming weeks, so check back often!

UPDATE: Fidget has claimed her prize! Congratulations, and I'm sure you will enjoy your assortment of Huggies Disposable Washcloths due to arrive at your home in the next week! Please comment when you receive them. We would love to hear how they are working for you and your beautiful family. (For those who haven't had the pleasure, Fidget has an amazing blog of family life that you really should check out!)

Please keep checking back for more great contests from a variety of sponsors! And while you're here, please visit a sponsor or two! We hope to stay online for a long time, and we need your support! Also, if you are looking to win something special, send me a link to the sponsor, and we will see what we can do!

ARE YOU A SPONSOR LOOKING for a way to get your product seen before the readers at "Lille Punkin' Reviews?" We would love to host a sponsored giveaway! Just email me for more information! Thanks!

Times Running Out!

Today and tomorrow are your last chances to enter for the Huggies Bath Products Giveaway! Simply click here to read the review, and post your comments to be entered. The winner will be announced on Monday! So far your odds are really good, so get your entries in!

Good luck!

(And while you're at it, pick up some freebies at a great new site "5-Minute Finds!")

Any other bloggers out there?

Ok, so I am experimenting with different ways to publish my Blog, and it comes to my attention that there are many different products and websites out there for bloggers, especially parent bloggers like myself. Every once in a while, I will review one of these services, along with other web services, and will share my findings.

Today I took a look at a site called Blogsvertise. While it is tricky to spell, and even more difficult to pronounce, Blogsvertise looks to be promising. Offering payment for mentioning sites within articles and product reviews, Blogsvertise may be a way for small and beginniner bloggers to earn something off of their blogs.

I will update you on the program as it progresses! In the meantime you may check it out yourself, or if you have experience with Blogsvertise, leave a comment! Thanks, and good luck with your blog!

UPDATE: Yes, people, Blogsvertise is for real. Just a member for a few days, I have already received writing assignments for my blog that they will pay real cash for (or Paypal anyway.) Please visit if you are interested in doing "reviews" or just chatting about various subjects under the some for some extra chicken scratch. Click the link to get started!

gDiapers: Are they for your family?

Maybe you are looking to help the environment. Or, perhaps you are just a trendsetter looking for the newest alternative to cloth diapers. Of course, you could just be unable to resist the most adorable styles of diaper covers and happen to impulse shop any chance you get.

Whatever your reason for looking at the gDiaper for a diapering option, there are a few things to know before getting started. First, the basics:

A flushable insert (made of tree pulp and other biodegradable fibers) fits into the snap-in liner of the colorful 'little g' pants. The liners are made of a plastic material meant to keep wetness away. Spare liners accompany each cloth pant, and both the pant and liner are washable. The inserts can be either flushed away in your toilet, or put outside on a compost pile (pee diapers only please.)

The idea is genius, and the diapers are adorable. We tested them on my middle son to see how they measured up:

He looked adorable in his little diapers, and they were easy for me to remove for changing. (They come open with little velcro tabs). As hard as he tried to get his diaper off, however, he couldn't do it (bravo!) Peed in diapers were heavy and relatively easy to flush away. Just rip the sides of the insert (yes, this means touching them with your hands) and dump into the toilet. Swish around with the little plastic stick (included in the beginner pack), and flush!

Poop was not quite as easy. Assuming that it stayed only on the insert and nowhere else (not possibly for my squirty children), you still have to handle it to rip open both sides and dump in the toilet. I'm not a fan of touching poop any more than I have to. The environment can't make me enjoy it, either.

The long and short of it is this... If you already use cloth and want something a little more flexible for options, this is the way to go. Flushing poop is much better than soaking it in a pail and then washing it. But if you are a die-hard disposable fan, don't expect miracles. It is still a cloth diaper. You will have to deal with leaks, drips, and the other. And at a price of $25 for the starter kit (two machine washable, water-resistant "little g" pants; ten super-absorbent, flushable refills; one swishstick) and $15 for a refill pack of 32, they are not as cheap as your middle-of-the-line disposable diaper.

If you are undecided on which way to go, the sight of your tiny one's bum in the baby blue or sea foam green cloth pant with a "g" printed on the back may convince you to try this creative approach to diapering.

You can always give it a whirl, and if it doesn't work out, pass them on to your eco-friendly sister-in-law.

Huggies Disposable Washcloths

So you're working in the garden and turn around just in time to see your two toddler boys rubbing charcoal briquettes all over their legs. It has only been an hour since you bathed them, and you are dreading the process being repeated yet again.

Today's parents are offered all kinds of choices for bathing the little ones. Foaming cleansers, bar soaps, shampoos, bubble potions, salts, creams, and washes are abundant. However, I really would like a child-safe pressure washer.

Until that day arrives, I will use with great passion Huggies Disposable Washcloths. Thick and softer than a regular washcloth, they come pre-soaped for a very sudsy foam when water is added. They are then thrown away after being used!

The cons are obvious: Disposable cloths are viewed as not good for the environment. At a cost of about $4 for 14 cloths, they could really rack up a cost for 4 kids times 2 baths a day.

The pros, however seem to win out. If you use the heads first, bottoms last method of washing, you can use the same cloth for hair, body, and bums. This eliminates the need for a separate shampoo. They come in several great-smelling choices (which are all better than the smell of boy after a hot summer day.) They come in an extra sensitive variety for those with perfume sensitivities.

I would recommend these to anyone who wants to get a dirty bath done easy. I would make a suggestion to those with larger families or anyone wanting to pinch a few pennies: Cut all the cloths in two immediately after opening the box. They are large enough to work at half-strength, and 28 cloths are a great buy for the money!

Find the review useful? Post a comment and you'll be entered to win an assortment of Huggies Bath Products! You have until Friday, May 18th to give me your take. The winner will be posted and has 48 hours to email me to claim their prize! Open to U.S. residents ages 18 and older. Good luck!

About Me...

I am always out for the next best thing when it comes to making my life easier. Cleaners, diaper gadgets, the latest "how-to" books all make me salivate at the thought of a breezier way to do the mundane. Lille Punkin' Reviews wants to give you our views on just those products. A free resource for parents and friends of parents, Lille Punkin' will offer regular, unbiased opinions of a variety of items!

All of the products that we review have been tested personally by my family and other designated "testers." We do not accept payment for our reviews. All reviews are clearly labeled by the post title, "Review of...." and these are never compensated. (We are sponsored by select companies for some of our other posts.) We will also let you know of interesting promotions, savings opportunities, and useful article info as we find it!

We hope that you have found us to be reliable and trustworthy in your search for the best family-friendly products!

Linsey B. Knerl, the Mom behind Lille Punkin' Reviews, would love to talk to you about your next Gift Guide, shopping segment, or parenting seminar. Public speaking is a joy of mine, and I'd love to help you reach your audience!

Linsey's mentions are numerous, and include such outlets as The Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times online edition, The Boston Globe, The Buffalo News, LifeHacker, The Simple Dollar, The Consumerist, and NPR's The Real Life Survival Guide with Bruce Barber.

Email Linsey to chat about your next media event! (For more information on Linsey, please see her bio page at http://www.linseybknerl.com

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I'm Linsey B. Knerl, a Work-at-Home (except when I'm running errands), Homeschooling (I prefer to say Home Educating), mother of 4 beautiful children ages 10, 5, 3, and 1! Life is hectic as we remodel our old farm house and learn the ropes of parenthood and adulthood. I have a new passion in blogging, writing, and social media consulting after working as an Account Executive and Project Manager in my past life.

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As a freelance writer, my stuff can be seen many different places. WiseBread and ParentingSquad are just two of the blogs I write for. Additionally, I am a featured writer at Consupo and Red Plum! You can see more of my work at The Work-At-Home Mom Magazine, Tom's Guide, and American Greetings. I've also just begun a new advice column for parents who want to integrate technology into their family life -- It's called, "Ask Linsey!"

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