SoftBums JUNE Calendar Bums fun & GIVEAWAY!!

The time has come for another cloth diaper giveaway!! I'm blogging along with lots of others in anticipation of the June Calendar Bums release from SoftBums!

I LOVE our SoftBums Omni. It's one of the softest inners that we've ever felt. We have Cowies. I LOVE cowies. Peace-a-phants and Panda Bum sound LOVELY too! I'm a sucker for Pandas. I'm also a big supporter of USA/Canada businesses---SoftBums is a Minnesota-based company, owned and operated by a fellow mama! Gotta love it!

What do you think June will bring for the Calendar Bums collection? My prediction? Something citrus. Maybe mango tango? Maybe tulips? I'd LOVE to see a lawn/grass print. Maybe something to do with lakes/water? I feel like it's going to be summery. 

Make sure to mark your calendars, the JUNE calendar bums diaper will be released JUNE 19TH at 10:00 A.M.

Now for the fun part!!! Several blogs are holding giveaways for a June Calendar Bums shell!!! The SoftBums site itself is giving away $100 in Softbums fluff! I'm going to need you to do a few things:

1) Get excited! Tell me what creative ideas you have for what June might be in the big reveal AND/OR what you might like to see in the future!!

2) ENTER the SoftBums giveaway on their website by clicking HERE. PLEASE BE SURE TO USE MY BLOG AS YOUR REFERRAL -- ADVENTURES OF MOMMYHOOD! I really appreciate it! I'm not compensated at all for this post, but I COULD win a $50 GC if all you wonderful folks say I referred you! :)

3) ENTER MY giveaway to win a June Calendar Bums shell!! 

How, you say? Easy:

Fill out this Rafflecopter form, below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway





***I was not compensated in any way for this post. I MAY be eligible to win a referral contest if my rockin' readers help me out! All opinions are my own.***

We got a few fancy chicks!

We are getting mostly laying hens. For the purpose of not only collecting eggs but also raising some very hands-on "pets" alongside my son. But, since I'm a girl and some things are just so tempting, I had to get six "Fancy" chicks. In fact, I named one Fancy. Lets hope it turns out that that one is a SHE...they were six "straight run" birds, which means there is no tried and true sexing and you run the risk of getting a cockerel. But, that's okay with us too. Probably.

Here they are....

The light-feathered one is a "Frizzy Cochin" as is "Fancy," whom you will meet below.

Here is a Featherfoot. Grey and black with just a dash of brown. I'm thinking "Ruby."

Here again is the so far nameless Frizzy Cochin.

And this is Fancy. Here's her one chance [to be a girl] and not let us down! Oh Reba!

And the whole six pack. 

We have (2) Featherfoot chicks, (2) Silkies, and (2) Frizzy Cochins.

Welcome to the farm little feathered friends!

Building The Chicken Coop ~ Our Backyard Farm

If you build it...they will come!!

We started out with the skeleton of an old ice fishing house. I was not pleased. After 5 minutes of trying to tear off the "rotten boards" we realized we were going to be left with a 2"x 4" and some nails. So, we started from scratch.

Now, I must admit, I was responsible for air-nailing the Blandex to the floor supports. Then, my husband tore it up and put on a new floor. It still counts, right?

I DID pick out the colors and paint it though! And I helped with the overall design & layout. But he gets ALL the credit for it actually being a livable structure for chickens! We are likely going to be adding another row of nest boxes, since I decided to get more chickens than we anticipated!

The whole project of building the coop has taken a week. Each night about 2-3 hours, the entire week. It's not done yet. Rest assured, I'm proud of this puppy, I'll be posting the finished product too!

TIP: I bought the cornflower colored paint at a Habitat for Humanity ReStore. It was just $5.00 for nearly a full gallon. It had a splotch on the lid that led me to believe I was purchasing Cerulean, my absolute favorite color, but hey, for $5.00 -- it's still in the blue family, I'm not complaining!

We had the mustard colored paint laying around.

The trap door is in the back and will open up to a caged in area -- they will be able to free range as well, but we wanted a containment system.

The doors were pretty much all we salvaged from the camper that we bought on last years' Mother's Day adventure road-trip. It was neat to re-purpose some of that purchase a year later, nearly to the day!

We had a door that we upcycled. And some tin for the roof. And some plexi-glass for a small window in front. We have cute a bigger 22" x 30" window in the back and are looking for a window to install.

This ladder was also a dumpster-diving treasure. We are all about salvage here! There you can see the two nest boxes. We will be adding more below and maybe even above.

THERE! A sneak peek at what has been taking up our daylight hours lately! 

Well, it's finally here!

Spring sprung late this year. Like REALLY late. And then, I guess you could say it was gone after 2 days. We went from single digits to near 90 degrees overnight, quite literally. Which not only screwed up my seed starting (cold temps, low light, etc.) but also meant my favorite season was 48 hrs long. Boo!

BUT--- One really fun thing is that we are in full swing of our backyard farming chores, prep work, and gardening! So, what better way to make sure I'm busy from sun up to sun down than to add a little Backyard Farming Series to the mix!?

Now, this is very loosely structured. I will be telling you about everything we do for the next month from starting to raise chickens (with our toddler in mind), heirloom gardening, prepping, outdoor fun, container gardening, and more!

We just finished putting a coat of paint on our new coop last night and we go to pick up our chicks next week! My seedlings are in various stages of fighting for survival. Hopefully with the additional sunlight and warm temperatures they'll perk up!

We are really excited to tell you about the adventures of becoming more self-reliant, and please remember we are AVERAGE. We aren't total bumbling greenhorns but we certainly aren't experts, so if WE can do it, so can YOU!

Stay tuned for the adventures as they unfold!

Ducksday Rainsuit ~ Review and Spotlight on Ollie & Stella Outfitters! Oh...and a sweet Giveaway!

 Everyone knows that the transition of seasons (at least here in the northland of the Midwest) means at least a handful of clothing changes per child each day. Recently, I had the good fortune of finding out about Ducksday--a great resource for active kidswear--and, a place to get the goods--Ollie and Stella Children's Outfitters!

We have a "Ducksday Fleece" seen here (photo from the Ollie and Stella website) which was AWESOME for autumn. We have a down snowsuit for our toddler, but for travel on very chilly winter days in the car seat and for the warmer of the cold days, the fleece suit was IDEAL. It fits easily under the straps and buckles of the car seat, which eases a mama's mind while traveling in a snowstorm or when you are "in and out" of the car several times throughout the day for errands. 

This is the exact color (we have it in a size 2T or 92-98) and it fit our son from about 18 months until now--26 months and he's still wearing it comfortably and like will for another year! 

So, when we were able to try a Ducksday Rainsuit, we were beyond thrilled, having found that we LOVE Ducksday kids gear. We decided on the pattern/color "Groovy" suit in a size 3T (or 98 - 104.) One thing I noticed was there is a LOT of growing room between 2T and 3T -- which is totally awesome, we'll be using this suit to the fullest for a long time to come! So, as you'll see, there is quite a bit of room to stretch in the photos---our son is just over 2 and weighs about 30 lbs.

All kids are drawn to puddles. Heck! I'm drawn to puddles! It's part of the fun in this hemisphere of knowing that winter has lost its' grip on us and spring has sprung! The material that the rainsuit is made from is not like a "slicker" -- ya know, the Gorton's Fisherman yellow banana suits? Yeah. Not like that AT ALL. This material breaths, bends, flexes and rolls with all the punches that my son can throw at it! 

The zipper pulls are easy for little fingers to grab, so even our two year-old can maneuver the zippers and pockets of the suit. You can also see the pattern up close here, super fun--great for boys or girls! There are no way for me to illustrate how great the material moves WITH out child, other than many, many photos and the honest words that it rocks! My husband and I went as far as to wish that there were adult sizes for us to enjoy--since this is just better than our combined stash of rain gear! (We consider ourselves rain gear gurus, since we both spent several seasons working in the temperate rainforests of Southeast Alaska and studying in the tropical rainforests of Central America!) We would be first in line for adult Ducksday rainsuits if they ever became available!

Safety is always important, and it never hurts to make your kiddo a little more High Vis' -- they disappear so quickly when exploring outside! So, the folks at Ducksday really made life a little easier by adding these reflective strips strategically around the suit. There are also some great features like taped seams, waterproof zippers, and adjustable cuffs and hood for better weather proofing! These suits are waterproof and windproof but might as well be called "weatherproof" since they are great in snow and sleet and really the whole gamut of conditions that the Midwest has to offer!

Here is my hand, showing you the foot stirrups. It may not be the most flattering photo but I can say these stirrups are wicked cool. Slip them over the little one's foot and never have to worry about exposed skin that gets cold. Because, there won't be any! Unlike other suits and snow pants, the legs cannot get bunched over the boot and leave space for snow or water to get in. These stay tucked down for good! 

Just a small but awesome feature--the zipper cover that is fleece. It never gets cold and though it's mostly to prevent a slight discomfort, attention to detail like this totally brings to light the face that Ducksday suits just keep on rockin'! 

Another great feature that many other suits do not offer--the cinched up waist. It keeps the extra material a little more manageable for the youngster to be able to run and play without a lot of extra fabric getting in the way. 

Here are those Velcro adjusters that I alluded to before. They are found on the cuffs and the hood, making the entire suit fully-customizable to fit kids big and small! The suit is very generously sized, so whether you have a stretching string bean like our kiddo or a little more of a chunky monkey, the suit will fit over their base layers for a fun day outside!

Our spring was late. So, we got a LOT of extra snow play this year. We've seen it all in the last month. The suit held up for it all. I am just smitten over this one piece of outdoor kids gear that makes so many situations Mother Nature serves up so much more enjoyable! Gone are the days (mostly) of several clothing changes! We love our Ducksday Rain Suit! (For added warmth, it pairs wonderfully with the Fleece Suits!) The only thing I just cannot figure out is why they didn't have these like 20 years ago when I was a kid! Completely genius--you just cannot go wrong with this rain suit. 

The folks at Ollie and Stella's have great rain suits. And fleece suits. I can swear to that. You know what I'm really excited to try out sometime soon? Like maybe the few WEEKS of summer that we will get this year? The UV protection gear! We DO get sun up here in the northern climes, just not for very long. BUT, I happen to have some very pale ancestors, and I totally inherited the red hair and freckles and pale skin. And, my son is the spitting image of his mama! 

So, the Ducksday Hats and Rashguards would be really helpful to our family! Great for family vacations no matter what the weather is where you hail from, we'd totally gear up our son in the cool UV protection duds that Ducksday offers! Here is another glimpse (courtesy of the Ollie and Stella's site again) of some of the summer sun protection gear they have for kids! (See the hat and rashguard? They've been added to the wish list that the grandparents request each year!)

So you know what's really awesome for all of YOU!?! You can win a Ducksday rainsuit by entering on the Rafflecopter program below! That rocks, right? We really REALLY love our Ducksday gear, we know you will too! So, even if you don't win, check out Ollie and Stella's to see the full range of great kids gear they offer!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

**Disclosure** Many thanks to Ollie and Stella Outfitters for the ability to review a complimentary Ducksday Rain Suit. We were not compensated in any other way for this post and all opinions are our own.**

BOBA makes toddler travel safe and easy! REVIEW

Babywearing is the trendy thing to do it seems, I'm always seeing celebrities sporting slings, soft-sided carriers and packs in the pages of magazines. I don't know about the trendsetting potential in my family, but I do know I come from a long line of baby wearers. My mom used soft-sided carriers in the eighties. Her mom used slings--sometimes even crafted from material that she just "had on hand." One thing that generations of women, and now even men, will tell you is that babywearing makes life easier.

We were so excited to try a Boba 3g. We've been experimenting and transitioning as our boy grows and stretches out and becomes a toddler, we're always on the lookout for a good model for our changing needs. I only wish we had found Boba a few years ago when he was just a wee babe. We did  try Infantino (epic fail for us and our needs - though my husband didn't completely dislike it) and Ergo (worked well during the infant stage) and we love our Kelty backpacks for hiking, but who wants to wear a frame pack grocery shopping? So, the Boba has entered our lives to help simplify toddlerhood!

These little foot straps are what made us want a Boba 3g for sooooo long! It is the perfect way to make our toddler just a little more comfortable being worn. The kiddos can have a little tension on their legs, helping to alleviate and distribute their weight more evenly, since they are obviously heavier and "leggier" than the babies. The carrier is super versatile. The only part we didn't LOVE about them was that my son being a hulk was able to straighten his leg and pop the snaps, so until he learns to calm down (and since he thinks this new trick is funny) we roll without the straps for now.

Here is a picture of our carrier that shows the straps and belt as well as the "hood" for sun and weather protection, or just to give your sleeping wee one a little privacy. I am smitten over the "Tweet" print. Being a family of bird nerds, this super uni-sex print was just made for us! It's actually a little more of a dark brown in appearance, though this photo looks like it's black fabric.

We liked the generous material and the fact that the straps are a little more comfortable than the straps of similar carriers. Our son LOVES the carrier and it's been a lifesaver in grocery stores and in situations where I need my son safe but need my hands and the ability to concentrate on the task at hand. 

Here you can see our toddler is able to look around while comfortably riding on dad's back. This is the usual way that we wear him now, as he's about 28 lbs. and is not extremely petite, so the front style makes doing things like dishes or other chores hard! Plus, he's really wiggly and active and wearing him on the front is a good way to get walloped by accident as he's pointing excitedly to something he sees in the store or outside!

Here is about as "still" as he gets. He and dad were actually running around the house with the Boba on -- it's a new game they've invented and as long as he never confuses us and thinks that mom is going to run around like that, it's all good! Haha! We intended to be able to hike a ton on our latest outdoor adventure but we ended up being in the middle of the Midwestern Snow Storm that hit in the last week (and it's snowing right now as I type this...) so we ended up using our Wagon Stroller for the trails so that he could be packed in blankets. So, these aren't the most adventurous photos, but we did find out that on trails with a lot of stairs, a Boba cannot be beat! It's hard for toddlers to walk safely down outdoor hiking trail type stairs and carrying them freestyle makes it dangerous for BOTH of you, since you don't have full range of view or motion to grip rails or catch yourself. Having the kiddo on your back while hiking stairs is IDEAL!

Here's a quick shot of the front style, our son doesn't mind it, but it's not his favorite way to ride anymore. He did however nap like this on our trip, because naps got REALLY screwed up, so he was tired a lot and we still had to keep our dinner reservations and such, so it was a lifesaver! We love our Boba! If you want to buy one you can go to the Boba Family website and peruse all the styles and patterns available--they also have organic cotton as an option. The new Boba Air is super packable and lightweight--great for traveling abroad and wanting to bring a carrier!

***We received a Boba 3g for the purpose of completing this review. All opinions are honest and I was not compensated in any other way. ***

5 Small Ways to Change Your Life in a Big Way! (and be a better role model for your kids!)

5. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier. You will feel 15 times better the next day.

4. It's true...get in a walk everyday. Walking works! Even if it is just walking further to work from your car or taking Fido for an extra stroll at night. You'll feel better.

3. Kick the caffeine. You don't have to nix it all, but if you keep it to ONE cup of coffee, tea or soda, your body will thank you. Even better...replace the missing ounces with WATER!

2. Be more positive. Listen closely to what you say all day long tomorrow. Is most of it negative? Take a mental pause before speaking this week--if it's negative, spin it to be positive. If you can't do that, maybe just keep it to yourself. It's easy to fall into a negativity spiral. No one likes that. Not even you!

1. Throw a grocery bag full of "stuff" away from each room in your house. Donate it. Sell it. Repurpose it. Whatever you need to do. But almost all of us have extra clutter which not only makes us stressed, it is just sitting there. If you haven't used it in 6 months...try to let go! It's even better if you can find a few bag loads from each room!

There! Small things that add up to BIG change!