Review: Tide Pods Detergent

Tide Pods are a simple and easy way to do laundry.  They are your detergent and stain remover all in one.  Just drop them into your washing machine with your full load of clothes and they come out clean.  These are basically the same thing as the dishwasher plastic-like filled pods of dishwasher detergent that have been around for a few years now -- except for laundry.  

PROS                                                    

• Easy to use, kids can help!                          
• Cleans well (like any other Tide)
• Easy to take along if traveling                    
• You can visually see how many more loads you can do before running out of detergent
• Pretty to look at

CONS

• Unable to do different sized loads because the pods are not adjustable.
• Skeptical on the right detergent to water ratio since everyone’s “large” load can be a different size.
• Even though it states it works in any water temperature, I use all cold and had an issue with my water
• draining for a few days and I suspect the Pods are the culprit but I do not know this for sure.
• Expensive
• You can visually see how many more loads you can do before running out

Would I use them again??

Probably not.  I would feel obligated to keep regular liquid tide in stock at my home as well because our whites are not always a full load as well as other clothing from time-to-time.  I purchased my Pods at Sam’s Club so they were considerably cheaper than even Walmart, which made them more affordable for me.  However, I still feel they are overpriced for my lifestyle.  It’s not much more time saving than pouring into a cap and dumping it.  On top of all of that, I don’t feel it cleaned any better.  Cute idea… great marketing.  It’s just not for me.

Baby Food Makin'

After reading all of the reviews out there on all of the different baby food makers, I was really torn.  They all have decent reviews and most of them all have negatives especially in the malfunctioning department.  So I learned one thing, I wanted to buy this item new and not used in case I needed it replaced. 

After all of the mixed reviews for all of the products that are $99+ my decision was sealed when I saw one of the contenders on Kmart’s website on sale for $48!  What a steal!  It was $48 and their site was free shipping with $49 purchase, so I also got Olivia a pair of play shorts for $3. 

The one I purchased is the Baby Chef Ultimate Baby Food Maker by Kids Line.  Unlike some of the other ones, this machine has one place to steam and another place to purée.  I really don’t care about the extra movement of transferring from one container to the next.  This isn’t a big deal for me.   The machine works great and purées to a very fine baby food-perfect thinness.  Of course, the more formula you add or water the finer the puree.  I was able to test it on some sweet potatoes this weekend.  My little Blaine was very appreciative for this step up from the cereal.  I can’t wait until we can visit the farmer’s market for some yummy produce. 

Reviews: Fisher Price My Little Snugabunny Gear

I decided to start writing some reviews of items, mostly ones I love.  When you become a parent there is soooo much information to take in and every few years products change so drastically. 

The Snugabunny line are adorable, plush and neutral.  They have a swing, papasan seat, and a sleeper.  I have purchased both the swing and the sleeper for Blaine.

Fisher Price Snugabunny Deluxe Rock N' Play Lightweight Plush Sleeper

First of all, I LOVE the sleeper concept!!  This is fairly new I believe, they never existed when my daughter was born.  This is the 'deluxe' modle meaning its a little extra soft instead of just cotton.  I purchased this at target for $65 and I absolutely love it.  If we are downstairs and he falls asleep we simply carry him in it upstairs.   

           PROS:

• light weight, foldable (easily carried with one hand)
• extreamly portable
• baby sleeps at a safe incline without propping him up (great for spit up babies or acid reflux babies)
• very affordable
• gender neutral
• made to be bed height and built to be easily rocked by parents hand
• soft, cuddlly, utterly adorable

       CONS:

• I wish it were bigger so he could stay in it even longer

Fisher-Price My Little Snugabunny Cradle ‘n Swing

Every parent knows just how important a great swing is.  This one was perfect for us.  It had everything we felt was essential.  Also, I just feel Fisher Price makes great baby gear!  I bought mine from Amazon.com for $126 out the door, it was considerably more than that at Babies R Us and other local retailers at the time.  This swing is in the same neutral colors as the rocking sleeper as well as the same lucious materials.

PROS:

• has a plug in adapter so you dont need to use batteries, unless you want to
• sound options are music, music + nature, birds, water and several of each
• swings both side to side and front to back
• can be adjusted to sitting up OR laying down
• has a mirror where baby can see himself
• quiet when running and controls are digital

CONS:

• I wish it had a play bar or something stimulating other than just the mobile and mirror
• would rather have more music options and get rid of the bird and water sounds