Ladies, Do You Ever Get That Not-So-Fresh Feeling?

Tweet Well, I wouldn't know anything about that. You might want to get checked out by a doctor. I just said that to get rid of the menfolk- because I am talking about something feminine today. You know, feminine products.

I have been eyeing these Glad Rags on Hip Mountain Mama for a while now. For those of you who don't know, Glad Rags are reusable cloth menstrual pads, and they come in a variety of styles and colors. I decided I wanted to try them because I hate pads. Really, I hate my period. That may be wrong, since it gave me the ability to bear 3 beautiful children- but I still hate it. I hate cramps. I hate uncomfortable, itchy pads whose adhesive wings get stuck to your thigh. I just hate it all! I want to be pregnant the rest of my life so I don't have any more periods. Since that's not practical, I figured the least I could do would be to get rid of those icky plastic things.

Glad Rags are shaped just like a regular pad, and they're made of multiple thicknesses of soft cotton (and the night pad has a layer of terry for extra absorbancy). They wrap around your undies with wings that secure with a snap. I tried out the night pad, which offers more coverage. It was very comfortable and soft, and I didn't feel weird wearing it at all. There are some additional inserts included which sit behind the wings, and you can use as many as you need.
If you have ever thought about trying a more natural approach for your cycle needs, I highly suggest you try Glad Rags. Not only are they more comfortable, but you'll also be eliminating waste from landfills and keeping gross chemicals away from your delicate lady bits. Glad Rags wash easily by machine, and can even go in with your regular laundry. It washed up great and looked new again (I got the dark purple color). They definitely get Not Blessed Mama's seal of approval.

I did not receive this product for free. All opinion are my own, as always. I am doing this review as part of the Hip Mountain Mama Sisterhood, a group of ladies dedicated to living a better life and supporting a natural and sustainable lifestyle. And all that jazz.


I am also over on one of my favorite blogs today, World's Worst Moms. Go check out my shameful story, and submit one of your own! You'll love it over there. 

Happy Hippie Day!

Tweet Everyone knows that Not Blessed Mama is one of those Earth lovin' tree huggin' hairy legged hippies. Everyday is Earth Day in the N.B.M. household- we do what we can year round. But I realize that today is the day for lecturing the people driving in their Hummers and NOT hugging trees, so I feel it's important to do my part.
So, would you like to know what the environmentally friendly N.B.M. family is doing this Earth Day?
Going shopping.
That's right, going shopping. But not just anywhere- we're going thrift store shopping, one of my favorite past times. If you don't thrift- WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Get on it! There are a ton of reasons to shop second hand (not to mention it's super cool and trendy these days).
-You'll be saving the planet (duh!). My number one rule for being green is to reduce. If I can keep something out of a landfill for a little longer- go me!
- You can buy stuff for super cheap. The cost of everything, including breathing, is expected to go up this year. Don't waste money on a new pair of Gap jeans when you could be saving it for something else- like food. Which is also getting more expensive.
- Many items in thrift stores are as good as new. My Spawn destroy their clothing 5 seconds after they put it on. I'd be very upset to see a new $15 dress stained with mud. A new $2 dress? Eh.
- Resale, baby. At a thrift store once, I bought a pair of Hanna Andersson tights for less than $2. When we were done with them, I sold them on E-bay for over $20. Not only do you get to enjoy name brands for less, you may make a buck off of your purchases as well.
- Take it back! Most thrift stores accept donations on site. When you go shopping, take in a bag of your cast-offs. Now you're being charitable AND green. You're so awesome.

Here's Spawn#3 in a recent thrift purchase: total for the outfit, $.99. 

So get out there and do your part by shopping! Mother Earth will thank you for it.

Finally- My Post About Nuts

Tweet With my three crazy Spawn, I think we all knew that a post about nuts was coming. It was inevitable. There was just no stopping it.
I mean, they get their clothes so dirty! So when I saw the new Soap Nuts from Hip Mountain Mama, I knew I had to try them! (Why, what nuts did you think I was talking about???)

I have made my own detergent before. It's cheap and easy (and made me feel like a virtuous hippie), but it does take some effort. Even though it's minimal, that may be energy I am not willing to spend on laundry. Enter Soap Nuts: these funky looking little dried fruits mainly from the Himalayas.

Ok, these babies are not winning any beauty contests.  

They couldn't be more easy to use- you simply toss them in the washer in the included cotton bag, and wash your clothes! The saponin in the outer shells of the fruit naturally and gently cleans your clothes. They've been used for centuries but are just now becoming popular in the US, and I can see why. Biodegradable, organic, compostable- they're really an amazing detergent alternative.

I used my Soap Nuts in a cold wash even though a warm is recommended when using the nuts straight (wow, does that sound weird). My laundry came out smelling exactly how I like it- like nothing! I did purchase the Lavender Essential Oil to test though, and it gave the laundry a fresh, light scent. And while your laundry smells fresh, the nuts themselves smell kinda funky (you know I am enjoying writing this post!). The few drops of oil on the bag covered that up. If you are looking for an alternative to traditional detergent that you can feel good about trying, then check out these nuts! You can get a sampler bag for only $2.25 to try out, and I have used that to wash 3 loads now- all with spectacular results.

As always, the people at Hip Mountain Mama are too respectable to buy anyone's opinions, so I purchased this product and reviewed it as part of the Hip Mountain Mama Sisterhood. 

RubBits? Why Yes, Thank You

Tweet It's that time again- this month's Hip Mountain Mama product review is for a really super cute product called RubBits. They're all natural loofah sponges for the kitchen, bathroom, car, anywhere! 

Reading the label on these babies is amazing- simply by purchasing a cute lil bucket of kitchen sponges, you are ensuring that farmers in under-developed countries have a sustainable crop to help feed their families in addition to earning an income. Did you have any idea that young loofah is an edible vegetable? You learn something new every day! Loofah can be harvested several times in the growing season before the final loofahs are left on the vine to dry and be turned into these brightly colored, fun scrubbers. And Loofah-Art also provides educational support to their workers children, helping the kids to stay out of the fields and in the classroom.
And if you really needed ANOTHER reason to purchase these guys, they work really well. They are thick and sturdy, and can be used just about anywhere (I've used them on dishes, counters and the floor so far). I like having the assorted colors so my husband doesn't scrub the dishes with the sponge I used to scrape marshmallow off the floor (which he will anyway). When you're finished with the scrubbers, they're bio-degradable and compostable. While I can't guarantee that cleaning will be any more enjoyable (because we ALL know how I feel about that), Not Blessed Mama definitely gives them two thumbs up. 

As always, these words are my own and not bought or paid for in any way. Although if someone wants to buy and pay for my opinions, seriously, let me know!

Mukluks??

Tweet I'm sure my lovely loyal readers will recall my commitment to review my favorite purchases from an environmentally friendly, family-run small business- Hip Mountain Mama. Well here is November's December's installment!
There are always a ton of new things added to this awesome site, and great sales too. There are many things I'd love to order, but as soon as I caught sight of the Mukluks I knew I had to get them. Spawn#2 had these slipper-moccasin-sock-hybrids when she was a wee lass and they were awesome. These Mukluks (I am not the only one who didn't know what Mukluks were, right???) from HMM only come in adult sizes, which was perfect for Spawn#1- did I tell you he's a giant? He's a giant. 
So anyway, they arrived and they are perfect! There are some really cute colors but also neutral ones that are great for boys. 

They're warm, thick and toasty and they stay on very well. Since they're 100% wool they are a little scratchy, so you will need to wear socks with them. I may actually just tack a sock inside of them so they are easy for Spawn#1 to wear. 

And remember (as always), when you purchase from Hip Mountain Mama you are supporting hand-made and fair trade practices. It's not often that you get to feel good about purchasing something these days, and I am always happy that the quality items I order from HMM are contributing to the lives of others. 


And pssst! Check out HMM on Facebook, they are always having sales and specials for fans. They ship daily, so hurry, you still have time before Christmas!

Not Blessed Mama's Christmas List

Tweet It appears that the Christmas rush is officially upon us. Less than 3 weeks to go! Somehow time has passed me by again. While I'm distracted with my Christmas shopping, I thought someone might be able to pass my list on to Santa. I have been a (reasonably) good Mama this year, and I think they're very reasonable requests.


Dear Santa, I've been nice! Can I have:
1. A manicure. Santa, have you seen my hands? They look like I dig trenches instead of raise children. 
2. 18 hours of straight sleep. For some reason I am convinced that all life's problems would be solved if I just got to sleep for a day. Or two.
3. Meal delivery service. Do you have any idea how many more things I could get done in a day if I wasn't spending half of it in the kitchen?
4. A bathroom that doesn't smell like pee. Yes, I can have that now, but I'd like it without having to scrub the toilet. And the floor. And everything else. 
5. Clothes with no stains on them. It's bad enough that the Spawn must go around town in clothes covered in dirt, paint and whatever else they get on themselves. Must Mama look like a bum too? That stupid homemade slime. Knew it was a bad idea.   
 6. A Roomba. What? Those things are cool!
7.  A big ol' tricked out mini-van. Ok, I know this one is asking for a bit much... but Santa, I have been soooo good and I want a mini-van sooo bad! I have 3 kids! And you know how much crap they have- you've given them half of it, so I feel you are a little bit responsible here. I want one with a cooler in the floor for drinks and removable seats and DVD players and and and.... all that good stuff. Any color is fine. 
I anxiously await your decision, and thank you for your consideration.
Love, Not Blessed Mama

What Does your Clothing Say About You?

Tweet Normally, my clothing says, "I was made in Vietnam by a man who doesn't earn enough money to feed his family". Really rather depressing, isn't it? I have been making a big effort to buy as much of our clothing used as possible. It's quite easy for the kids. But I am a plus-sized mama- and since I don't wear muumuus, options at the thrift store for me can be limited. Recently I told you about my new endeavor with Hip Mountain Mama- she was looking for mamas with a commitment to the Earth who were interested in sharing their experiences with her products. I recently ordered the 4 Tiered Lace Skirt and I LOVE it. I am definitely a skirt and dress girl- they're easy, comfortable and cute. Plus, if you get them long, people don't stare at your natural (not shaven) legs!

The skirt is lovely- well made, gorgeous, with a nice cut and feel. It's made by Gypsy Rose, and reading the tag warms your heart- "This garment was hand crafted in the peaceful mountain Kingdom of Nepal, where the mountains are high and the air is pure." Gypsy Rose's goal is to ensure that the environment is not harmed and they pay their workers fair wages (no child labor!) and provide clean , safe working conditions. Now, if you had just gone to Wal-Mart and bought a $5 shirt, an angel would be crying. Well, probably. 

Gorgeous, hand made clothing made by a company with morals- sold by a family owned business committed to the environment? Win, win! Please check out Hip Mountain Mama for amazing green products for your entire family. 


I was not paid to do this review- all views are my own and are completely true!