Lunapads

At this point I have just a few cloth pads to my name and being that Lunapads teamed up with AFRIpads for their "One for Her" program I had to try Lunapads first.  That program ensures that for every pad for you that you purchase, be it throught the Lunapads site, through Amazon or Drugstore.com a pad is given to a schoolgirl in Africa.  One for you, "One for Her"...Brilliant!

Lunapads are constructed of two separate pieces. One is the pad base that is water resistant. This piece wraps around your panties with a snap and has a top and bottom piece of elastic to hold the inserts in place (the second part of the pad). Now I think this is an ingenious way of making pads! Not only will Lunapads contribute a pad to Afripads with each pad purchase, but you save money in the long run as well because you don't have to buy 30 pads.

With this system you can wear the same pad base all day (comfortably, I might add) while changing out the inserts when they become filled.  When I got my Lunapad I got a used postpartum pad with the postpartum inserts.  The inserts seem thin upon first inspecting but are surprisingly thirsty, even for someone with a very heavy flow.  Good for my daughter for sure! I thought that with her sensitive skin she would be bothered by the elastics but they don't bother her at all.

A great pad system for a good price and a good cause! You surely can't beat that!

As my Dad would say "I love it when a plan comes together"! Here the first picture was in Tanzania when a group of rural schoolgirls were given their menstrual kits. One lovely young girl was moved to tears at the time. Amazing stories, huh?!

There in the third picture is a information booth to teach about AFRIpads. There was a lot of interest.

Please give today by donating on this site (it costs $7 per menstrual kit), purchasing Lunapads (or Moxie pads)  and remember no amount is too little. It is easy to be thankful when we have so much here in America!!

Donate to Afripads!

I love my position being able to use and review different reusable menstrual products for my reading crowd, but their is another passion I have that is related to that; Afripads. Afripads is a social business thats main goal is to provide RUMP to african girls so they may be able to continue their education while on their period and participate in social life in a more normal way.  They also provide jobs to disadvantaged women in villages in Africa by employing them in their workplaces making the pads.  I support the vision and mission of Afripads and I hope you will too by using the Paypal Donation option at the bottom of my blog so that you too can be a part of the solution for these young girls and women who need the employment!  I embedded a video about Afripads on the bottom of the blog for you to watch to learn more and you can also go to their site to learn even more.

AFRIPADS
A monthly challenge, a sustainable solution.

Please donate today. Even a dollar is not too little to give!  :)

The Fluercup

Now although my job is to test out new cups and review them for you I must admit I am a bit biased because my first cup was a Fluercup.  Fluercups are soft cups, easy to fold, easy to insert, a bit tougher to remove but all in all a very high quality cup.  They come in two sizes, now the small has a capacity of 20 ml and the large has a capacity of 30 ml.  Another great t hing about this cup is that it makes a great first cup for teens starting their cup adventure. Both the small and the large can be used by a lot of teens and young women. The large is manageable and recommended for teens and younger women who have a heavy flow. They are a bell shaped cup with a flared rim and good sized slanted air holes.  There are no markings so it is very easy to clean.  It has a flat flexible stem that you can trim (and file) to your desired length.  You can purchase the cup through Feminine Wear and on their website

Feminine Wear Fleurcups

Fluercup Company

The Juju Cup

Most exciting news!  I just heard from the Director at Freedom Products, Katryna Dickson, about their Austrailian born Juju Cup.  They are currently working on FDA approval in order to sell in North America and expect this in the next month.  At that time they are sending some cup samples so I can do a video reviewing their cup for all of you! Stay tuned for more about Juju!

Why reusable feminine hygiene products?

There are a host of reasons that many women choose to dive into the waters of reusable menstrual protection to manage their periods. With me and my two teenage daughters all subscribing to that "monthly magazine" we decided recently to cross this proverbial threshold. Here are a few reasons women go reusable (with the menstrual cup or mama cloth). Here are a few great reasons to make the change!

1. The ikky stuff that is in that disposable pad or tampon! There is cancer causing ikk in these products .Here is a report on all that called Chem - Fatale.

2. The monetary cost. Here is a savings calculator for you to see how much you can save on mama cloth. Savings Calculator And should you decide on a menstrual cup that is a one time purchase that lasts up to 10 years!

3.Comfort! Let's face it friends, pads and tampons are not a day at the spa. But a properly chosen cup and soft minkee cloth feel so much better!

4. The environment.  I don't have to elaborate too much here but it's been said that after everything else breaks down in our landfills, alas, there will still be fields of disposables.

5. The cute prints in mama cloth (or making your own), and all the cup brands and colors to try. Of course if you get crazy with #5 it will nullify #2 so be careful.

6. No risk of toxic shock syndrome with menstrual cups as with tampons.  In the 80 plus years menstrual cups have been around there hasn't been one reported case of TSS.