My Favorite Double Stroller (and it doesn't cost hundreds of dollars!)

I finally found a double stroller that I like!  We've tried a couple different ones and I've read lots of reviews, looking for just the right thing.

First we had an older Graco DuoGlider that I found at a garage sale for $25 when I was expecting Julia.  It served its purpose and saw plenty of use, but I grew to hate it.  It was kind of a beast to push - it felt long and hard to steer.  Also, the worst problem was that whenever a child wanted to get in or out, I had to yank with all my might to get the snack tray off, and then kick it to get it to snap back into place.  To get a child into the back I would lift them up and then kind of slip their legs under the tray, but that wasn't easy either.  I did use this stroller up until I was pregnant with our fifth and decided that it was worth finding something better.

Graco DuoGlider

I loved my Graco Quattro Tour single stroller, and went back to using it whenever I could.  Usually though, I ended up with two kids wanting to ride.  I would be cranky because I really preferred to push the single stroller, but the kids wanted the double along.  The Quattro Tour single pushed so smoothly, and had a nice little latch that opened up the snack tray easily to let kids in and out.  I decided to look for a double stroller with some features like this.

Looking at double strollers gave me sticker shock.  I'm sure there are some great options out there, but I needed to stick to a smaller budget than most of what I saw.  Eventually I realized that there was a Graco Quattro Tour Duo.  I was drawn to the easy in and out trays, the handles looked nice for ease of pushing, and it was a Quattro Tour just like the single that I loved!

Graco Quattro Tour Duo

I found one on Craigslist for $100 and decided to go for it.  At first we liked it, but unfortunately there were still some problems.  The stroller was okay to push, but still pretty heavy and big.  The child in the back could hardly see, and the basket kept falling down.

Graco RoomFor2 Stand and Ride

After reading more reviews, I decided to try one more - the Graco RoomFor2 Stand and Ride Stroller.  I looked at the Joovy Caboose and several others and eventually decided on this one.  Diapers.com had a sale and I snagged it for $103.  (And yes, when it arrived, my husband said, "How many strollers do we have now?")  With one caveat, we absolutely love this stroller!  It solved some problems that I didn't even know I had.

folds up pretty small 

The Graco RoomFor2 is easy to push - it compares much more in size to the single stroller than to the doubles.  It folds up small, and is easy to lift in and out of the van.  The front snack tray has the handy release button, and the best part: the back is so easy to climb in and out of!  I realized that I liked having my youngest in the front seat so he could see, but that meant that I was constantly LIFTING the older ones in and out of the back seat when they wanted to ride.  Duh!  The sit and stand concept is perfect, the older ones can climb in and out on their own.

We have a Graco infant seat that I haven't tried yet, but is supposed to fit with this stroller.  Note: I did look at the Graco Ready2Grow, but there seemed to be some things I wouldn't like about it.  Reviews say it is big and bulky and people talked about kicking the stroller when they tried to push it.  Also, I wasn't super concerned about the infant seat and using it with the stroller.  Tiny babies get worn in a baby carrier on me anyway.  :)

 see that latch?  magic!

The only negative to the stroller is the tiny basket that is hard to access.  I bought a mommy hook at the mall and that really helps for when I need to carry extra shopping bags.  I just leave the hook on the stroller at all times.  To access the basket, I pull down the elastic on the side and stuff my diaper bag in.  Its not easy, but it works.

My diaper bag does not fit through that opening between the seats.

I can pull down the elastic side and stuff things in this way, diaper bag included.

I sold the Graco DuoGlider on Craigslist for $25 and the Graco Quattro Tour Duo for $100 (exactly what I had paid for each one!).  Now the only amount I had spent on strollers was the $103 that the RoomFor2 cost, not bad at all.  I don't know why I had never considered a Sit N Stand type stroller before, but I'm very happy with this one.

This is not a sponsored product review in any way.

Elk Antlers!

There are many different things for a puppy to chew on: shoes, the rug, the kids toys...

In researching what to buy for Poca to chew, I came across this article, and purchased a few Wholesome Hide rawhides.  She chewed through the chips too quickly, but one of the larger rolls lasted her quite some time.  On further searching, I saw "bully sticks" recommended.  Oh. my. goodness.  I could not even believe what those are made of.  Lets just say its much worse than a pig ear, which is nasty as well....

Finally I saw elk antlers recommended as a great choice for dogs to chew on.  I read about antlers on a few forums and then saw them in the local pet stores as well.  Antlers, phew, I can handle that.  Evidently elk antlers are the premium choice - deer antlers can splinter, but elk are just right.  Antlers are the perfect chew toy because they are naturally shed by elk and readily available.  There are no preservatives or crazy ingredients in them either.

I found Mountain Dog Chews and was really impressed with their website and philosophy.  They agreed to send some Elk antlers for us to try out - Poca could hardly wait for us to get them out of the package for her!

She has had these antlers for almost four months now (she is definitely not this tiny anymore!), and they have held up amazingly well.  She LOVES them and chews on them quite often.  Antlers are one of the only things that I am comfortable leaving in her crate with her because I know that she is not going to ingest too much or break them.

Mountain Dog Chews staff was very helpful with figuring out what type and size of antler to get Poca.  We  got some that were split down the center, allowing her to get to the yummy middle part without too much work.  This is one of her well loved antlers:

You can see that she is in no danger of swallowing or breaking it; its simply worn down all over.  Antlers can be pricey, but considering how long they have lasted her, they are well worth it.  I highly recommend picking some up for your dog, and highly recommend the quality and good service we received from Mountain Dog Chews.  Has your dog tried antlers?  They even come in some enormous sizes for those power chewer dogs!

Disclosure: We received a package of elk antlers in exchange for our honest review.  Poca gives them two paws up!

Safe Paw Ice Melt

Although winter is nearing an end, we are still getting snow here in Michigan!  It has been a winter full of snow, ice, and more snow and ice.  With Poca needing to go outside multiple times a day, I went searching for a safe ice melt for our back steps.  

 (see the lamp post?  totally buried!)

Poca is funny - she's scared of steps.  It took her the longest time to actually walk down the couple of stairs we have in the back.  At first she was so tiny that we carried her to where we wanted her to go potty, but we eventually had to coax her down the steps.  She still won't go down the back stairs into our basement without lots of encouragement.  As you can see, I really didn't want the steps to get icy and traumatize her further!

I looked up many different kids of ice melt and settled on Safe Paw.  Salt is actually not a good option for ice melting - it damages the environment and causes pain and irritation to pet paws.  Some companies take rock salt and simply smooth off the jagged edges, which doesn't really solve anything.  Others market chemicals mixed with salt or products that still contain hefty warnings on them.

I am not a scientist by any means, but in all my searching, Safe Paw came up as a winner each time.  It is guaranteed safe for children, the environment, pets, and your property.  It is also safe to use on my wooden steps.  I still used it sparingly because I didn't like Poca tracking it in - Isaac thought it was candy and would try to pick up the little pieces.  However, when I really needed it, Safe Paw seemed to provide just enough traction and melt that Poca could safely get down the steps.  I used it on our front sidewalk a few times also when it got too icy.  I'm happy we've found a safe brand to use!

Safe Paw sent us a jug of their ice melt to review.  Check out their FAQ for more information.

Stork Stack

The package arrived on a grey and rainy day while my two year old was in her room screaming "I hate this day!" over and over.  No kidding.

What is it?

A Stork Stack!  A bit of serendipity on my doorstep.  Okay, so I stole the word serendipity from their website, and I had to look it up to be sure what it meant.  "the accidental discovery of something pleasant, valuable, or useful"  Agreed.  My Stork Stack was definitely a pleasant spot in my day, like getting an awesome care package from a friend.

Stork Stacks are a monthly subscription, each box including 5 products hand selected by the Stork Stack team.  I received a package for review and could not be more excited!  The package included a friendly note along with these fun products:

a monkey Wubbanub
organic BabyLegs
Earth Mama Angel Baby Body Butter
Earth Mama Angel Baby Happy Mama Spray
a reversible Baby Banz sunhat
three Milkin' Cookies

I love that they took into consideration my baby's gender, his age, the season, and more.  I absolutely LOVED everything in the package!  Wubbanubs are a big hit around here, and I'm excited to have another one for Isaac.  I've mentioned before that we are huge Earth Mama Angel Baby fans.  (They are rated zero in the Skin Deep database.)  

The sunhat is great - reversible and adjustable.  Isaac decided to model it right away.  It is super cute with room to grow all summer.

BabyLegs are perfect for cool sumer evenings and easy diaper changes.  We had plenty of pink ones around here, but no blue yet.

The price of these products individually would be well over the $28 Stork Stack fee.  The smile and fun brought to my rainy day was definitely worth it!  I'm already thinking about who I can send a Stork Stack to someday.  I can't wait to see what is in the July boxes.

Stork Stack says this about themselves:

We like to think of it as serendipity delivered monthly to a mom’s doorstep.  We do the research, you get the benefits.  No hassle, no fuss, just great products at a good value along with some helpful information and encouragement along the parenting journey.  In the end, our goal is to make a mom’s life easier so she can focus on the most important part: her little ones.

I love it!

Math Mammoth Review

I like math.  Really, I do.  I want my kids to like math and understand it.

We've been using Singapore math so far (first Earlybird then 1A and 1B).  I liked the idea of it, but feel like we need more practice and explanation.  Lucy was able to complete the math pages with lots of prompting from me, but wasn't understanding the concepts fully.  Heart of Dakota has some hands on ideas we enjoyed that correlate with 1A and 1B.  Even so, part way through 1B we just couldn't go any farther.

I'm not sure how I came across Math Mammoth.  At first I was just looking for some additional practice or help, knowing that we couldn't move on to 2A yet.  I also didn't want to stop math for the summer and have Lucy forget these concepts she was barely hanging on to.  Cathy Duffy gives Math Mammoth a great review.  She compares it to Singapore Math in some ways, and really praises it.  After looking into it, I purchased their level 1 and began right away.

We just started, but so far I love Math Mammoth!  It seems to explain concepts thoroughly and from different angles.  Each page has plenty of problems on it, but remains uncluttered looking.  The beginning of each section contains helpful notes to the teacher, games to play with your child, and links to internet sites with online games relating to the topic.  The teacher/ child games are occasionally scheduled in the textbook also, which is great.

Math Mammoth is available as a download, or as purchased books.  I bought the physical books: worktext 1A, 1B, tests and reviews, and the answer key.  I like that the instruction is contained in the worktext.  (They call it a worktext because its both the textbook and the workbook together.)  We have found it very easy to use.  Even after getting through Singapore 1A and most of 1B, Math Mammoth's level one is a good place for Lucy to be.  She is able to complete the math pages, but it takes some thought.  I'm glad we did not keep going with Singapore Math.  I feel like with Math Mammoth she is going to thoroughly learn the concepts.  If she struggles, I appreciate the additional resources - games, websites, and even an online worksheet maker for additional practice.  Maria, the author, was also quick to respond to an email from me with a question that I had.

If you are interested, definitely take some time to browse the Math Mammoth website.  I found some good information, including how to use an abacus as a teaching aid, and great kindergarten math ideas.  The emails they send out are informative and fun as well.  Homeschoolmath.net is also run by the author of Math Mammoth and is an amazing resource worth checking out too!  I am very impressed with Math Mammoth and all that it has to offer.

I purchased Math Mammoth on my own and did not receive anything in exchange for this review.

See The Homeschool Curriculum Review Roundup for more reviews.

Princess Legos!

Two of the favorite things around here are Disney princesses and Lego Duplos.  I literally gasped out loud when I saw this in the store!  Lego has a new line of Disney princess Duplos!  We actually got  a chance to review one of the small sets.

Sleeping Beauty's Room comes with the princess, her skirt, bed, blanket, chair, fairy block, and some castle pieces.

Sleeping Beauty is very cute.  She has a crown on, and can play with or without her skirt.  The girls enjoyed putting her to bed and covering her up with the blanket.

I'm fairly certain we will need to own all three of the other sets - Snow White's Cottage, Cinderella's Carriage, and Cinderella's Castle.  Unlike so many other things, Legos are quality toys that are safely made and will last a long time.  I love that Legos encourage creative play - I can just see my girls acting out endless princess stories with these.

I can hardly wait for an excuse to purchase this castle!  Maybe I can talk someone into a princess birthday party this summer.  :)



We received this Lego Duplo set for review.  All opinions are my own.

Silisipper Glass Tumblers

My bigger girls use glass cups at home, but Esther hasn't quite managed drinking from an open cup yet.    I was happy to discover the Silisipper that would allow her to use a glass cup too!

Esther was thrilled to have her own special cups to try out!  We received both the Picardie and Gigogne tumblers with lids to review.

We've been using them for a couple of weeks now.  Sometimes Esther ends up splashing water on herself.  I think it is because she tips the cup up before her mouth is on the hole.  Sillisippers do not have a valve or spout.  I'm actually fine with the small spills, because it is teaching her how to use a real cup.  These are very easy to clean and assemble.

I prefer the Picardie tumbler because it is narrower around and easier to grasp.  Silisippers are made of food grade silicone and extra durable glass.  There are four fun colors available to choose from.  You can also purchase glass bowls and plates to match.  The cups can even be used without the lids when the kids are older. 

We give Silisippers two thumbs up!

We received Silisipper tumblers for review.  All opinions are my own.

Bamboobies Nursing Pads Review and Giveaway

Bamboobies... the name cracks me up.  They are washable nursing pads made with ultra soft bamboo.  I've been trying some out for the last few weeks.  Bamboobies come in two varieties- regular and overnight.

The regulars are very thin and leakproof.  Their cute heart shape allows them to bend and not be all wrinkly and lumpy under a shirt.  They have a waterproof backing on them to help prevent leaks.

The overnight nursing pads are much thicker, although still very soft and plush.  They do not have a waterproof back to them, their thickness stops leaks though.  These tend to get lumpy in the dryer, but can be smoothed out a bit.

Both have worked well for me.  They have leaked, but only after being completely saturated.  One thing to note is that these do not have a stay-dry layer.  If you leak alot, you will need to change them frequently as it is not a good idea to keep that wetness next to your skin for a long time.  I much prefer washable nursing pads over disposables.  (Although I don't like other cotton pads, they leak too easily.)  These are soft and comfortable, and of course save money.  

Have you tried reusable nursing pads?  Would you like to win a pair?

Bamboobies is giving one of you a $16.99 credit good toward any product in their store.  There are three different ways to enter.  Leave a separate comment for each one:
- Check out Bamboobies website and let me know what you would order if you win.
- Follow Bamboobies on Facebook and let me know that you do so.
- Follow or email subscribe to my blog and let me know that you do so.
You may do any or all of these entries.  Be sure to leave an email address so I can contact you if you win.  The giveaway will close on Saturday May 5th at noon EST.

Can't wait?  Order now with the Bamboobies coupon code WORD20 for 20% off.
Thanks, Bamboobies!

I received Bamboobies for review.  All opinions are my own. 

MadeOn Hard Lotion Review

In this post, I mentioned a few of our favorite bath products from MadeOn Hard Lotion: diaper rash cream, hard lotion bars, and beesilk jr.  I just had to give them their own post and rave about them a bit more!  (Click here to visit MadeOn Lotion.)

diaper rash cream:  This is one of the best rash creams I've come across!  It contains zinc oxide, but not the nasty fishy stink and chemicals that other rash creams have.  A huge plus is that its safe for cloth diapers. I've used it for quite some time now and haven't had any issues with the diapers.  Usually one or two applications of this cream quickly clears up any redness.

hard lotion bar:  This is the first product that I ever bought from MadeOn Hard Lotion.  Lucy gets really red chapped hands in the winter.  We've tried plenty of creams and lotions, and this one works best.  It is nice and thick as it goes on, and really soaks into the skin and just works so well.  I've raved about it to others, and gave some to my mother in law for her sore cracking fingers.  At Christmas, I got each of my girls their own tiny hard lotion bar in a tin.  They like having their own to carry around (and I like that its perfectly safe for them).

beesilk jr:  Esther gets dry bumpy skin on her legs.  Beesilk jr is similar to the hard lotion bars, but easier to coat sensitive baby skin with.  We rub this on her after a bath, and it really helps.  Like the hard lotion, it stays on the skin and absorbs really well.  This is the perfect lotion for babies and little ones.

We were sent diaper rash cream and beesilk jr so that we could share with you just how much we love these products.  I have also purchased these on my own before and truly do enjoy them.  I am also an affiliate for MadeOn Hard Lotion, so clicking through my site to make a purchase helps.  Thanks!  Click here to visit MadeOn Lotion.

Rainy Day Fun - Hello Hanna Paper Dolls

With a new baby in the house, I've been doing my best to think of things that will keep my girls occupied and happy.  Thankfully the weather has been nice, so they've been playing outside quite a bit.  On a recent rainy day they really enjoyed playing with Hello Hanna Paper Dolls.  We received some of these to review, and had a friend over for a paper doll playdate!

Hello Hanna paper dolls are great in that they include a thick cardboard doll, a dog and doghouse, two sheets of clothing, a sheet of stickers, and a stencil so that you can make more clothing!  (We saved the cardboard left over from punching out the doll and dog so we could use that as a stencil too.)

After dressing their dolls in the clothes provided, they spent the afternoon cutting out more and playing with the dolls.  Lucy used some patterned scrapbook paper to make clothes and added some of the stickers for embellishments.  Julia's doll moved into the Playmobil house and lived there.  Esther enjoyed playing with her doll a bit too, even though she was too young for most of it.  Our little friend went home and cut out a bed and pillow for her doll.

I love that the dolls encourage creativity.  Having some clothes already made, along with the stencil and stickers is a great combo.  They got to play and dress the dolls right away, and then the stencil and stickers provided another whole level of play and thought.

The dolls include several outfits, one of which is a karate outfit, which kind of made me laugh.  My girls have no idea what karate is and ended up using that for a bathrobe.  Lucy was happy to see that the dolls all had glasses stickers to wear just like her.  Julia's only issue with the dolls?  She thought they should have a nose and asked Lucy to draw one on for her.  :)

We thoroughly enjoyed our Hello Hanna paper dolls and recommend them for any little girl.  Thanks, Hello Hanna, for keeping my girls entertained on a rainy day!

Seventh Generation Training Pants (Includes Giveaway!)

Esther is potty training ...sort of, kind of.  I really wanted her out of diapers and tried putting her in panties one day.  After cleaning up a few messes we were doing okay, but by the third day she would just cry when she peed.  She also happened to run a fever that day and felt miserable, ending our panties trial.  I put the panties away for now, but I do sit her on the potty several times a day.  I figure its a good start and she will catch on more when she is ready.

Because her cloth diapers are pretty worn out, we've been using disposable diapers when we leave the house.  She is at the point where she pees a TON and ends up soaking through a cloth diaper fairly often.  If we're home I just change her clothes, but that is harder to plan for when we are in the car.

I was excited to have the chance to try out Seventh Generation's disposable training pants.  At this point, they are great for Esther.  She still needs the absorbency, but wants to be able to sit on the potty and pull up her diaper by herself.  She likes wearing them and we call them her "silly guy" diapers because of the Lorax on them.  The stretchy tear away sides are nice for when the diaper is messy.  The training pants have an absorbent core made with more renewable plant-based materials.  I also really like that Seventh Generation Free and Clear baby products do not contain chlorine, fragrance, petroleum-based lotions or latex, and are hypo-allergenic.

Seventh Generation recently decided to feature the Lorax on their diapers as a reminder of the environmental message of sustainability.  The pictures on the diapers are a bit hard to see, and the book is over Esther's head.  We are big Dr Seuss fans around here though, so her older sisters have enjoyed reading The Lorax.  It has a great message and an inspiring ending.  You can even register for a free The Lorax themed scrapbook with the purchase of three Free and Clear diaper products, while supplies last.

Seventh Generation is giving one of you a prize package containing one new Free and Clear diaper product and a copy of The Lorax book!  To enter you may do any or all of the following:

- leave a comment letting me know you follow my blog via email or Google Friend Connect
- leave a comment letting me know you are a fan of One Little Word She Knew on Facebook
- leave a comment letting me know: Which Seventh Generation Free and Clear diaper products are you most interested in trying with your family in an effort to be more eco-conscious?

You have a total of three possible entries.  The giveaway will end on March 9th at midnight (unless I'm having a baby that day!).  Be sure to leave an email address so that I can contact you.  :) *Now closed.  Congrats, Heather.*

Disclosure: The Seventh Generation Diapers prize pack, product, and information have been provided by Seventh Generation through MyBlogSpark.

Children's Xylitol Toothpaste

We're trying out a new toothpaste!  I've read a bit about the benefits of xylitol, and was excited to come across Branam children's toothpaste with xylitol.  We avoid flouride in toothpaste (and our drinking water), but xylitol seems like a great natural way to help fight tooth decay and reduce bacteria.

The girls love using the toothpaste.  It comes in fun flavors: bubblegum and grape.  You can also choose between a gel (for younger children) and a paste (a bit more abrasive, for older children who are used to brushing).  So far the bubblegum gel is a huge hit.

Branam children's toothpaste:
- Is made with 30% xylitol.  (Other brands include just a token amount of xylitol for marketing purposes.)
- Is made in the USA.
- Uses xylitol from the USA, sourced from non-GMO corn or birch.
- Is endorsed by Healthy Child, Healthy World.
- Was developed by a pediatric dentist - Dr Steve Branam.

I like that my kids are using a toothpaste that I can feel good about.  Its worth browsing the Branam website for more information and to see other products that they carry.  They also have a couple of fun coloring pages and stories posted.  For more about xylitol, see here.

Thanks Branam!  Two thumbs up from us!


(We received toothpaste from Branam for the purpose of review.  All opinions expressed are my own of course.)

SmartWool Review

I'm a SmartWool convert!  At first I thought it was crazy when I heard about these expensive socks and how much people love them.  I'm convinced now.  Ross picked up a pair on sale this Christmas and raved about how they kept his feet warm instead of clammy and cold like other socks do.  Soon after that, I was able to try some out for review.

Some background on my sock wearing habits: I always get adorable printed socks from my mother-in-law for Christmas, and I love them.  But I never wear them.  I hate how synthetic fibers feel on my feet.  They make me sweaty and claustrophobic.  This is how my feet normally look:

Comfy, but not very pretty.  I suppose plain white cotton socks are okay around the house, but with certain outfits or when you go to someone's house and take off your shoes and everyone sees your socks... yeah, the bright white sticks out a bit.  Enter: SmartWool socks!

SmartWool socks are made of wool (obviously!), and are quite comfy on my feet.  Unlike other socks, they allow my feet to breathe, and keep them toasty warm at the same time.  Thus I have successfully ended the bright white sock embarrassment factor in my life.

Esther got to try some SmartWool socks too.  I'm happy to say that she too loves SmartWool and will never have to grow up with sock embarrassment.  She likes to look for the little SmartWool guy on her socks:

Hers have gotten a little fuzzy from being worn on our wood floors, but that doesn't seem to bother her.  She does slip when she is wearing them, so grippers on the bottoms would be a nice addition.  My kids enjoy wearing printed colorful socks (ie synthetic socks that make me want to gag).  We'll definitely be buying more SmartWool for them instead.

It hasn't been a very cold winter so we haven't used it much, but we were also sent an adorable hat and mitten set.  Esther loves it!  The mittens do not have any thumbs in them, which is a great idea and makes getting them on super easy.  I love the patterns on everything that we were sent too.

Ok, my pregnant feet aren't quite that chubby, this pair is padded for more warmth outdoors.  We also received a couple of SmartWool undershirts (which don't fit over my enormous belly....).  Ross wore one to work and said that it kept him toasty warm.  The seams inside are nice and flat and the wool is very soft (not itchy at all).  I refused to let him wear it again though because I want to wear it once my belly shrinks a bit.  ;)

What about you?  Have you tried SmartWool?  Have you heard more than you ever wanted to know about my sock habits?

I'm so excited that I can now wear cute socks!  Thanks SmartWool.