pediped Shoes- My Favorites + Giveaway

As spring and summer seem to be just around the corner - okay maybe a little bit farther away than that- I've been organizing and starting the shift out of winter clothes and into warm weather clothes.  That means it's time to start shopping for swimsuits, dresses and sandals... which I love.  I let my daughter (age 3) pick out her own summer sandals this year and I couldn't be more tickled with the ones she picked.  They are so sweet and so much like something I remember wearing as a child.

[Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post & I have received product in exchange for my post. .  All opinions are and continue to be my own and I only agree to compensation on products that I personally own and trust, so no bull here!  Giveaway items will be sent directly to winner from pediped.]

THOSE. FLOWERS. Eeeee! So cute. I love little girls sandals. Anyways, they are of course pediped shoes, which I have talked about on here before. It's one of my all-time favorite children's companies.  To see what I have had to say about them over the years, check out this post and this post!

[My daughter wearing the FLEX Minnie Glitter from pediped. They make great active toddler shoes!]

For a quick overview of who they are & why they do what they do- keep reading to see what they have to say (and from my experience time & time again is so very spot on!):

First baby shoes are such an important 'step' in the lifetime of foot health and care. At pediped, we dedicate ourselves to creating comfortable, stylish and high quality footwear that is designed to promote healthy foot development.

When looking for first baby shoes, try to look for shoes with soft, flexible soles, and large roomy toe box. Our pediped Originals are ideal because they combine soft leather sole, with soft leather lining and uppers to create the most comfortable crib shoe that will take them from crawling, to walking and then to running. Made with soft leather, they are ideal for indoor and outdoor environments. The soft cushion beneath their feet most mimics barefoot walking while providing enough protection for their feet.

First, you want to check if the shoe is comfortable. Bend the shoe at the ball and see if it flexes easily. Next, look at the materials and construction. is it breathable, is it made of leather or a breathable fabric? These are positive feature for first baby shoes. Try to avoid shoes that are stiff, with a hard rubber sole, or made of materials that are not breathable such as synthetics or plastics. It causes baby's feet to sweat and it also may change the gait on the baby if the shoe is hard.

When children are learning to walk, they like to grip and feel the floor. They also hold on to things and tend to shuffle. Shoes with no hard edges or soles will allow them to easily feel the ground and will not affect their gait.

If you do all these things, you are well on your way for promoting healthy foot development for your little one!

Visit pediped.com for more information about foot development and choosing the proper shoes for your child.

[My son -as a baby!!!- wearing pediped's Originals Norm Grey. These are great baby shoes & the best shoes for new walkers!]

pediped® footwear was founded in 2005 by Angela and Brian Edgeworth. After their first daughter Caroline was born, Angela started to do a lot of thinking about footwear and the kind of shoes that would be best for her child. She wanted a shoe that was comfortable and stylish and that could be worn both indoors and out. Most importantly, she wanted a shoe that was healthy for her daughter’s feet.

After doing a lot of research, Angela discovered that doctors recommended barefoot walking or soft leather sole shoes, but the choices for infants and toddlers were limited. That is when Angela and her husband Brian decided to create the perfect shoe, which would be the "next best thing to bare feet”.

pediped® has become one of the fastest growing children's footwear brands in the U.S. and offers more than 120 designs spanning EU sizes 17-38 (US newborn to 6 Youth).   pediped’s three footwear lines include Originals® (soft soled shoes for children ages birth to 2), Grip ‘n’ Go™ (soft rubber soled shoes for children about 9 months to 3 years) and Flex® (rubber soled shoes for children about 1-9 years). pediped® is sold all around the world.

 [My son wearing FLEX Dani Grey Orange from pediped. I love that they have great shoes for boys that are cute too!]

From my son's first steps, through my daughter's adventurous spirit and into my son's last summer before Kindergarten... these shoes have been with us every step of the way. Every pair we have had is not only darling to look at but has been the best shoes for learning to walk, perfect for all our outdoor adventures, and I am so excited for summer and to see my daughter wear the first pair of sandals we've owned from them.  They are perfect for Easter and I'm excited to have an open breathable pair of shoes for her that has great arch support- that's hard to find in a sandal!

I'm also giving a pair away! pediped was generous enough to let me give someone a FREE PAIR of shoes of the Winner's choice! That means whichever shoe you want, in whatever size you want, in whatever colors you want! Just shop & enjoy!  Enter the giveaway using the widget below:



a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to residents of the United States and Canada ages 18 years of age and older. Contest ends Sunday March 4, 2020 at 12:00AM EST. Winner is chosen randomly via Rafflecopter.org

A look at Pediped + Giveaway!

I don't know about you but this summer has been crazy!  First it took forever to get here (any other Hoosiers here that completely missed spring thanks to our crazy weather?) then once it got here it's been a flurry of activities and appointments and running every which way.  I've been dying to write this post for months now and I'm finally getting around to doing so.

Why have I been itching to write it?  Because I get to feature and GIVEAWAY one of my all-time favorite products! Seriously y'all, we are lifetime customers.

[Disclaimer: I have received free product in exchange for writing this review.  However, as always- all opinions are my own and I am in no way required to give a positive review.  Giveaway items are sponsored by PediPed and administered by Cut, Craft, Create]

pediped is a shoe company for babies, toddlers and big kids that practices their slogan "the next best thing to bare feet".  As a barefoot fan, this first caught my attention. But a couple years and three pairs of shoes later- I have a lot more reasons to love them.


Here's why:

1- Barefoot (or close to it) is good for kids!  Bare feet strengthens and promotes agility from the feet all the way up to the hips.  When we don't wear shoes our feet are able to feel the ground beneath us better and thus learn to respond in a healthier way.  Those tiny adjustments add up and over time improve our balance, movement and posture.  (I mentioned this in my last pediped post here) Sometimes though, we have to wear shoes so this is literally the "next best thing."



2- These shoes are quality.  I'll admit, I'm generally a "buy cheap stuff" gal but when it comes to everyday shoes for the kids, I want quality.  These are shoes the kids play in, climb in, even hike in! I LOVE how flexible they are while also being sturdy.  My kids climb over rocks, scale trees without slipping and simply do everyday play in their pediped shoes. 

[He's checking out the flexible grip design.  Really!  He commented about how they 'bend' ha! Even kids notice!]

3- They are machine washable.  It sounds silly but this is something specifically that I look for when children's shoe shopping and both pairs we currently own are completely machine washable. (I don't believe our baby ones were though so double check before purchasing!)  I've washed both shoes pictured on this post multiple times in our regular washing machine!

[It's hard to see but the silver on these shoes is SPARKLY!  And they continue to stay sparkly after lots of puddle jumps and runs through the washing machine.]

4- They look really nice. There are so many options avilable on their website that you are bound to find one, or two.. or a dozen that you love! The easy to navigate website allows you to shop size (baby/toddler/big kid) plus special deals, gifts and sizing help.  Within each category you can choose the style of shoe you want or even shop by gender or search bar!

[This is the pair we had when my son was about 18 months old]

5- They are easy to put on.  My daughter has the 'silver glitter' "Minnie" shoes and is 2 years old.  She is able to put them on quickly by herself with no trouble.  The elastic strap is not only easy to close but she can even get it through the loop if it comes all the way undone.  I love that she is able to do it all herself because she is Miss Independent in everything she does and this has eliminated a lot of meltdowns from mommy "trying to help".

6- Last but not least- They are a GOOD company. They run all sorts of fun events and giveaways throughout the year.  We actually WON the Dani Grey/Orange that my son is wearing during their online Easter egg hunt for only 1 penny! They gave away dozens of pairs of shoes over a couple of days!  Even more amazing, they send out shoes to customers simply for the sake of 'paying it forward" called the Serendipity Program.  They also offer a ton of vegan material-made shoes so you can buy quality without harming animals!

 [Screenshot taken directly from pediped Instagram story]

If I haven't made it clear yet, I love these shoes and this company.  I think it's a worthy company to support but if you'd like to snag a FREE pair while you shop around- then enter the giveaway below!

a Rafflecopter giveaway 


Contest open to residents of the US ages 18 years of age and older. No purchase necessary. Must complete prompts using widget above.  Winner picks "girl or boy" and size of shoe and Pediped will send a style of their choice to the winner free of charge.

Custom Speed Portrait [Small Shop Shoutout + Giveaway]

Oh. My. Goodness.  I've said it before and I'll say it again. I LOVE small businesses and creative humans.  Not only do I get real quality (versus the mass produced junk you get at box stores) but I find the most creative random stuff. I was scrolling through Instagram the other  day and stumbled upon a very talented woman under the username lucyrosetillcampbell.  Not only does she draw portraits of people, she does these SPEED PORTRAITS (basically 2 minutes per person in the photo).

How stinkin' cool is that?  I couldn't draw a person that actually looks like a person if I had 200 minutes and she does it in only 2. I contacted her and asked if she could make one for me:

[Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post. I reached out to the artist Lucy Rose Till Campbell and solicited her work for my blog. She did offer me a discount to pay standard price for commercial use rights. All opinions are my own and giveaway is sponsored by the artist.]

Amazing isn't it?  I even asked her if she could add a coffee cup and a pair of scissors for me because I wanted to use this fun portrait on my blog and blog's social media pages.  She was so responsive and willing to make these additions for me and she was SO SWEET through it all! And guys, these portraits actually look like who they are supposed to look like.  Here's one of the photos I sent to her next to the portraits she drew:

The eyes, the nose, the mouth... it's all so good!  And I totally wear sweaters like that all the time (I didn't even tell her that! haha)  I love the sketched look and the way the color fills the picture, especially on the sweater.  Every time I look at this I like it more and more.  Here's a few other examples I borrowed from her instagram page:

That's right.  She does couples, families, backgrounds and even ANIMALS!  And all in just 2 minutes a body (human or animal). For example, the photo on the left with two people and an animal took 6 minutes to create.  Same for the photo on the right with the two adults and baby.  Full disclosure: she actually spent a few more minutes on mine than the standard "2" but I did ask her for some extras to be added!  Either way, her work shows multiple examples of how awesome her art is!



It's crazy affordable too!
Custom work can often be a pretty penny. And generally, I'm willing to pay because it's worth it for quality, personalized creations.  But these portraits are only $4/person.  If you haven't bought custom art before, that is a STEAL! That means you can get a portrait of your entire family for less than it costs to eat at a restaurant (even the cheapest ones!) There's no reason not to get one.


Maybe the best thing of all? She is just so sweet.  I love building my community and because of this brief collaboration, I've made a new friend.  I feel good sharing her page because she does quality work and really seems to be a good quality person.   Also- holy cow, how creative is her idea to make speed portraits?!

I know you want one now, don't you?  Well today is YOUR LUCKY DAY!  She's offering one of you sweets a FREE speed portrait (up to 4 individuals- *people or animals*) of your choice.  It's super easy to enter, just follow the widget prompts below:



a Rafflecopter giveaway


Contest ends 2/26/19 at 12:00 AM.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen.

SMART Goals + GoSili GIVEAWAY!

Can you believe it's 2019? I can't. The years seem to fly by faster and faster.  From the outside, my 2018 probably looked like an amazing year but internally, it was the roughest I've had in memory.  Because of that, I've got a lot of things planned to make 2019 the best one yet.  Call them resolutions, call them goals, call it getting my act together, it doesn't matter. I think we could all stand to make some resolutions in the New Year.

Not a fan of New Year's Resolutions?  I'm neither here nor there on it; but since I'm trying to improve myself anyways, it seems that the start of the new year is a good time to get things in order.

If you haven't heard of SMART goals, it's a simple but powerful way to break down your goals to help you achieve them (because just saying "I want to get this thing done at some point this year" isn't going to happen).  Here's the breakdown:



[Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. Purchasing from these links earns me a small commission at no extra charge to you.  This post also contains sponsored product from GoSili. All opinions are my own and are not influenced by the sponsorship.]

"SMART" goals are:

Specific: What is the specific goal you're trying to accomplish? And be specific!

Measurable: How can you measure your success? Think about how you will know when you've accomplished the goal.

Actionable: What are the actionable steps (aka objectives) needed to achieve the goal? Break the goal into smaller steps. List every step.

Responsible: Who are the people that must support this goal? If you need the support of your manager, co-workers, friends, or family, make note of it here.

Time-bound: When do you want to achieve the goal?

To get started, simplify and take time to sit down and think about your goals.  If you want a planner that helps you work through these goals on a weekly and monthly basis, check out the Passion Planner or give yourself a bit of creative space and try a bullet journal.  Get the kids/spouse/partner/roomate out of the house so that you can think without distraction.  Pour yourself a cup of coffee, tea or whatever makes you happy.

Then make a list of all the things you want to accomplish.  EVERYTHING. Big, small. Just write down everything that comes to your mind. At first, it's doesn't have to be specific or realistic.... just get it on paper.  For me I had everything from blog goals to business goals to personal goals (such as being a better person and more environmentally friendly.)

Next, write down smaller more attainable goals to help you reach the larger ones.  For example, as I want to make more environmentally safe choices, I plan to start things like: bringing reusable bags to the grocery store, taking my own reusable straws to restaurants and minimize my consumption of to-go drink cups.

That's why I wanted to share (and run a GIVEAWAY for) my favorite silicone product company GoSili. I personally own a ton of their products and I'm a big fan.  I've talked about them before a couple times (here and here) but these are my favorite pieces yet!  I've started implementing their new travel mug  into my daily life as a way of reaching my New Year goals.

As you can see in the collage photo above, I have the blue dotted cup itself as well as both the travel mug lid and the straw lid (the straws are from the same company too!)  The smaller cup you see my daughter holding is their kid's cup, which we have owned for some time now.


The lids are completely interchangeable within all of their cups so my kids and me can share, which reduces clutter in our home (another goal of mine!).  Each style of lid has a sort of non-spiral threading on it which doesn't screw it on but rather helps seal the liquid within it to prevent leaks.  On the contrary, the lids just press straight onto the cups.

My husband commented that it should screw onto the cup so that the kids can't take it off but I haven't found that to be a problem. Our 2 year old can't take it off and our 4 year old hasn't ever tried.  They seal on there pretty tight, we've dropped them several times and the lids don't pop off!

My kids use the straw lid most often but the mug lid would make a perfect sippy cup top.  Both the kids cup and the adult sized cup are made of a BPA, BPS, phthalate, PVC, and lead free silicone and include a stainless steel ring that helps them keep their shape.  You can actually squeeze them and they flex like carry-out plastic cups except they aren't awful for the environment and can be both microwaved and thrown in the dishwasher (I only use dishwasher items!).

Now when I go run errands in town, I pack myself a drink. In places that will let me, I'm using my GoSili cup instead of their disposable ones.  I've got my silicone straws and I'm ready to make some changes in my life and in the world this year! Something I didn't mean to do but has resulted from this little change is that I'm not only leaving the world in a little better shape than I found it, but I'm teaching my children to do so as well.  If they grow up saying "no" to the disposable world, then they will already be steps ahead of where I am now.  And after all, don't we all want our children to be better than we are?

If being a little more smart with your environmental choices is part of your resolutions, or if you just want to make some changes in your life to reduce waste, join me in the silicone revolution!  While you're getting your plans figured out, why don't you go ahead and enter to win a $40 gift package of GoSili products?  Just enter using the rafflecopter below. Make sure you follow Cut, Craft, Create on facebook and on instagram because I'll be posting a video later this week that you can share to earn 5 bonus entries!) 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ErgoPouch [Updated Review] + Giveaway

If you're new here, I'll update you: I am a mama.  A stay at home mama.  My little craft blog has changed over the last 4 years and instead of only sharing household DIYs, I've grown to add a lot of projects that are perfect for families, busy mamas and kids.  I've also opened my blog up to exploring some of the best baby/kids products out there.  It's a whole new world of products and I love being able to tell you the truth about each one of them (and I especially love being able to GIVE YOU FREE GOODIES because I love you guys and want to give you great stuff)

Today is a special treat, because I am giving away an awesome product, but I'm also giving an UPDATED review of this company that I've reviewed in the past. That means I've had a lot longer to "test it out" and I have a few new things to tell you:

{Disclaimer: I have received free product from ErgoPouch in exchange for an honest review of the product. This post contains a link to my initial review as well as my updated views on the product. Giveaway items are sponsored by ErgoPouch}

First things first, if you aren't familiar with how ErgoPouch "layers" sleepwear works, read about it HERE (it's a really cool system they've created).  Next, if you'd like to read my initial review, check it out *here* (it'll give you all my initial feelings about it and details about all the cool features)



Now.. onto my updated review.

I own both the 0.2 TOG and the 1.0 TOG "warmness" both in long sleeves. I'll talk about both here.

There are a few things I've really grown to LOVE even more as time goes on:

1- The 3-way zipper. I thought this was brilliant before but it is the best thing ever if your kiddo is potty training.  Other one-piece pajamas have to be completely stripped off if your babe needs to potty but ErgoPouch's 3 way zipper allows you to unzip and go- yes, even for little girls!!!

{Yes, she's actually going potty. The zipper is unzipped all the way in the back and as far in the front as you can see in the photo. SO much easier than standard footies!}

2- The different TOG numbers really do matter.  I can feel a physical difference between the 0.2 and the 1.0 TOG pieces that we own.  I love that we have a "warmer" option for those nights where it's a little more chilly.  They also make a 2.5 TOG for those extra cold nights!  And of course, the entire layers collection allows for you to mix and match pieces to perfectly dress your child in any season.

3- They have the most beautiful prints. In my first review I featured the adorable "clouds" fabric but as it's gotten colder outside, we've been using the one that we have in the print called "spring leaves". I found myself just staring at the colors and design on it the other day, it's so beautifully made.  These would not only make quality gifts for someone but are simply beautiful too.

4- The fold over "mitts".  I'll be honest, we have to fold the feet mitts over before putting them on my daughter or she refuses to have them closed off.  However, I love that we have the option for those on especially cold nights when her little feet get cold.  We don't use the hand mitts but especially for younger babies, these would be life savers!  We went on a "doughnut run" the other day in our jammies and since she had the mitts over her feet I didn't make her wear boots in the store (judge me all you will.  She's taking advantage of being able to do this while she can!)

But wait...

There is something I don't like as much as I thought I did before:

- The 3 way zipper.  (huh? I thought you said that was your favorite part you crazy lady...) Yes, I love it for potty training and I *thought* I loved it for diaper changes but it turns out that most nights it's just as easy for me to take the pants all the way off that it is to work around the partial opening from the zippers. This is just my personal experience and maybe since I used to like it I'm just doing something wrong now.

Either way, I wanted to be upfront with y'all on that change in my opinion.

Would I still recommend these?  For sure. These are legit quality jammies (sleepwear) and they are so adaptable to a variety of sizes, temperatures and needs.  And as I said before, they are cuuuute!


Why don't you go ahead and enter to win a pair while you are here? Just follow the prompts on the widget below:


a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

SOHO "Kenneth" Diaper Bag Review + Giveaway

As many parents do, I have been on a several year hunt for the best baby products. I try out all kinds of items- some winners, some losers. One area that I've personally struggled in finding that "perfect fit" has been in a good diaper bag.  I know- it seems silly but unless you are head over heels over your current one (or if you are currently expecting and in the hunt- congratulations!) then hear me out.

Here's what I've always struggled with:
1- Size. Why are diaper bags so freakin' huge?

2- Zipper/Closure. I didn't think this was going to be an issue. It is.

3- Pockets/Storage. Limited pockets means everything is thrown on top of everything else.

I was introduced to this company and had to try it out. And you guys- I. Am. Hooked. It's my favorite. Let me show you why and oh... I'll be giving one away too!

[Disclosure: This is a sponsored post. I was given free product from Soho Babies for an honest review of their product. All opinions are my own and I only positively review products that I personally love. Giveaway item is sponsored by Soho Babies and will be shipped directly from them to the winner.]

I'm going to get real with y'all. In the last 3.5 years I have used around 6 different "diaper bags". I discussed my issues with them above and I'll mention specifically why it was a problem and why this diaper bag solves all those problems. Did I mention it's also crazy affordable and comes in different colors? 

Issue #1- Size.

The classic "diaper bag" is gigantic. I have no idea why. I think because as new parents we all think that every single baby item we own needs to fit inside of it? Because that's exactly what I did. If I have a huge bag, I'm going to fill it. It's the law of big bags (okay, I just made that up but it really does happen!) I had 2 large diaper bags in my rotation and eventually replaced them with a small women's bag I already owned because carrying a large one everywhere was just unrealistic. 

I'll get into why that bag was a dud in the next point. This bag is the perfect size because it's got room for everything you'd need but it's a much smaller "backpack" style bag that's easy to carry and doesn't take up much space on your person, in the car, restaurant booth, etc.

Because it's a backpack, that also makes it HANDS FREE! I don't know why I never tried a backpack before but y'all it's the way to go. Especially if you have multiple kids and need both hands in a parking lot or busy store...

Or if you just want to use your hands for other things...

[Photo credit to my 3.5 year old son. Also- I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever actually used the phrase "FTW" (for the win). I try to be cool- ha!]

Issue #2- Zipper/Closure.

After realizing small bags were the way to go, I started using random bags I already owned. Purse style bags, tote bags, even reusable shopping bags! These had two problems: First, they had limited or no pockets (I'll get to that next) and Secondly, everything would fall out when the bag tipped over. Which was all the time. Everytime we got out of the car, the contents of my "diaper bag" would be spilled out. Not to mention all the times it gets knocked over when we are out and about.

I needed some closure. (hehe, get it?). When we traveled on airplanes I packed my large diaper bag because it had a zipper but well, again- big bags are no fun.

The Kenneth bag (the style I own) has multiple zippers as well as a large back "pocket" and 2 cup/bottle sized pockets on the outside to keep everything from falling out. The inside has multiple compartments that close up as well. Check out my facebook page to see a video of me emptying out our bag (to be posted Sunday, 8/26/18) to see all these pockets in action AND earn an extra giveaway entry!

It even has a snap that keeps the handle straps together and tidy. I like the look of it closed but it's also handy to have the straps already together if you are going to be picking it up/carrying it by the handles.

Issue #3- Pockets/Storage.

I touched on this already but the Soho Kenneth bag has a ton of awesome pockets. Not only are many of them zipper closed, others have elastic to keep the items firmly in place and there are even two thermal insulated pockets. You heard me right. That means those bottles stay cooler (or warmer) for longer.

I love these pockets located on the outside of the bag. Because of their elastic opening, they fit a variety of bottle sizes, all the way up to our favorite water bottles! (This is a big deal because these bottles don't fit anywhere- even in our nice car seat cup holders)

[See it peeking out there? I still can't believe it actually fits!]

Oh, and trust me on this whole pocket thing. I loved the small size of the bag I was using just prior to this review but it had no inside pockets. Here's the very raw honest look at how it was put together.  What a mess! Nothing had it's place and I had to dig around for everything.

Bonus Features:

Here are a few things this bag has that I didn't even know I needed but I love!

When you buy the diaper bag, you also get a cushioned changing pad, 2 stroller straps, a personal purse, and a compact diaper bag dispenser with 30 bags included.

[1-diaper bag. 2- changing pad. 3- purse. 4- plastic bag dispenser.]

The changing pad folds up to 1/8 of it's size and fits easily in an inside pocket. I like to use the personal purse to store a pack of wipes and 1-2 diapers plus some money in the front pocket for short term times when I won't need the other items.  I also didn't think I would probably ever use the plastic bags but I clipped it on my bag anyways.  Turns out, when we went to the (very muddy) park and the kids covered themselves in water and mud, those little plastic bags saved us by giving me a place to store all of their soiled clothes and shoes for the ride home.

They also work great for storing used diapers when you don't have a place to throw them away and don't want to risk them busting open in your diaper bag!

We never use a stroller anymore because my kids are only interested in walking (or occasionally being held) so I also thought I wouldn't have any use for the stroller straps. But again, they were already on the bag so I left them there. Turns out, they work awesome on shopping carts as well! I loved having the bag right in front of me to grab things out of but not tossed into the cart being sat on by the kids and buried under merchandise!

I'll admit, our bag was pretty loaded full this day and it was HEAVY. I thought the straps might not hold but even with just one it didn't fall! The Velcro was surprisingly strong.

These can be removed by the clip if you want but they aren't at all in the way so I just leave them there all the time.

Last but not least, these bags look nice. They have a lovely quilted pattern on the front and the straps, fabric and zippers are all very nice material.  They come in 3 colors: Tiffany Blue, Black and Gray. I almost got the Tiffany Blue because it is beautiful but opted for a more neutral color, thinking my husband might be more likely to use it if it was.

I was right...

I also need to point out that my husband is very picky when it comes to any kind of product. He believes in buying nice (i.e. often expensive) products because he believes they are simply better quality.  When my order arrived and we opened it, my husband surprisingly said "this is the one you're reviewing? Wow... this is really nice."  He then continued looking it over and repeated how nice it was.

This is extra funny to those who know him personally. Want to know the kicker? This diaper bag costs 3x less (THREE TIMES LESS!) than the regular backpack he bought to have for his coaching/teaching job. I swear to y'all this is true and I really think he might steal it to use himself!

This is a brand for parents, by parents and they make high quality items at a very reasonable price because we all know, we don't have a bunch of extra money to spend! Even if I hadn't received this item for review, I would definitively purchase it at retail value. This diaper bag is perfect for new parents, parents of toddlers, preschoolers and I'll be honest.. I'll probably keep on using it for myself when the kids no longer need me to carry around their stuff!

I know you want one now, don't you? How about I give one away? Just follow the rafflecopter widget below and complete the tasks to enter! Contest is open to US residents only. Contest ends 8/31/18 at 12:00AM EST    

***Make sure you're following Cut, Craft, Create on facebook because I'll be posting a few "bonus" entry options throughout the week!***

a Rafflecopter giveaway

ergoPouch Layers Review + Giveaway

For those who don't know me personally, I have been on a several month mega-purge of all things not completely useful (or truly meaningful) in our home. Over the last couple of years my husband and I have gotten rids of HUNDREDS of articles of clothing.  It's ridiculous we owned that much to begin with.  Having kids has only added to the amount of "things" we have.  That's why when I had a chance to try these pajamas, I jumped on it.

Wait, I got more pajamas during my purge?  Hear me out. You'll want a pair (or two or three) of your own too.

[Disclaimer: I have received free product in exchange for an honest review of them. I do not write things I do not personally believe and all opinions are my own. Any endorsements are of my own opinion. Giveaway items are sponsored by  ergoPouch and will be sent directly to the winner from them and not myself]

So what? They look like regular pajamas. Cute ones yes, but just like every other.  WRONG! You guys, I'm telling you... they are so cool!  Here's why:

First off, here's a little blip about the company just to give you some background:

Now onto why I like them so much:


First off, they are called "layers" for a reason. They are designed to be layered on and off for varying temperatures. Why do I like that so much? Instead of buying a bunch of say- summer pajamas and then only being able to wear them for a couple months, these pajamas can be worn at the basic levels in the warmer months and layered up for the cooler months. That's more bang for your buck and less stuff lying around.

Every single piece from the new collection comes with it's own room thermometer (really!) and guide to help you know quickly and easily how to dress your child for the temperature. I love this because I play the "guessing game" all the time (Is she going to be too cold in this? Will he get too hot in this?)

[The layers piece I have pictured on my daughter is the long sleeved 0.2 TOG]

Secondly, and maybe my very favorite part is the 3-way zipper. This is so cool. I was intrigued but skeptical about it until we had a chance to really try it out. There are 3 separate "pulls" along the zipper, which runs from the very top of the chest all the way through the legs and up to just as the waist in the back. 

This allows for the child to stay completely zipped up through their torso and yet we can unzip the bottom for mid-nighttime diaper changes.

This is helpful not only because stripping a baby down in the middle of the night, half asleep is no fun for anyone but also because they can stay warmer during the colder months since they will still have a majority of their body parts covered. No exposed legs or chest.


There is a zipper "cover" in the back where you can easily tuck in your zipper pulls, although I have found that we both prefer the pulls to be in between the legs. Personal preference but it's there if you want it!

"Yea, that's cool but my kiddo doesn't wear diapers anymore."  you say? Guess what? These are great for potty training and night time bathroom visits! Although we have not officially started potty training my daughter, she self taught herself starting a few months back so we will probably give it a "real" go here soon, which may include night time potty trips!  I'll keep y'all updated on how that goes but it seems like this zipper would make it a whole lot easier than other full body jammies!


It also has a zipper cover at the chest as well which not only looks nice but keeps the zipper pull from scratching and catching.

Thirdly, these pajamas really do adjust well to various temperatures. The 0.2 TOG that I have is about the thickness of a standard t-shirt but the long sleeves gives it a little extra warmth. As it gets cooler I can layer up but I can ALSO make adjustments to the pajamas themselves. The sleeves have fold-over hand mitts (also helpful for baby fingernails- ask me how I know!)  for added warmth...

aaaaand.... the feet have them too! I've seen them on the sleeves before but this is the first pair of sleepwear we've owned that has had them on the feet, which I love. We will use that a lot during the winter months! Way better than separate socks.

Let's recap: Made with natural sustainable fibers, made to last through various seasons for longer lifespan, great for diaper changes and using the potty, and includes hand and foot mitts to keep your child warmer and have less socks getting lost in the washer?

That makes me pretty happy.  How do you like them sweet girl?

They also come in some really great prints and are apparently very comfortable because we not only sleep but play in them too.  I'd love to hear what you think of this cool new layers collection and what about them you are most excited about.

Win a pair!
Oh yea, and they said I could give one of y'all a pair of your own. Who wants to win? Just complete the tasks in the rafflecopter widget below to enter! You pick the layers item, size and TOG if you win.

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