Impromptu photo contest of sorts

As we are getting further along into building twinkietush.com I am in the process of choosing an image for the new site's landing page.  We have a ton of amazing past photo contest entries that we are considering for the site, but I'd love a new, slightly different kind of shot for the landing page.  To that end, I wanted to share a quick impromptu photo submission request.  This won't be a formal contest with multiple prizes, but the winner's photo will be featured prominently on twinkietush.com and the winner will receive an Ultimate Dibs Pass (a Dibs Pass that entitles you to a FREE diaper on preview day!  More info below.)

We'll accept photos from now through August 15th, sent to twinkietush@gmail.com with "photo submission" in the subject line - that means just under 2 weeks to get your photo(s) in.  Then we'll share our top few picks on facebook and ask for community feedback.  We will not necessarily choose the photo with the most likes but we do want opinions to help us make the choice!  The winning photo will be the first thing you see when you go to twinkietush.com once the site is up and running! :)

Now, as for what kind of photo we are looking for: normally with photo contests we encourage entrants to play up the theme of their diaper, which results in some seriously awesome photos.  While we aren't discouraging you from that this time, we want the focus to shift a bit for this specific submission.  We would love to see photos focused on twinkie tush branding, nature, connection, peace, fun, or family.  I highly recommend taking your camera and your little diaper model(s) outside for this one, or using natural light inside. :)  Also, keep an eye on the diaper and make sure it is well featured since that will be something we're really looking for!

*Edited Monday 8/6 to add: the twinkie tush label does not need to be visible in your photo.  It is only important that the diaper is featured well in terms of branding.  A wide shot which includes more image space around the diaper model(s) (nature, a building, etc.) is totally fine!  We would likely lean towards choosing a landscape oriented image for the landing page of the site, rather than a portrait.*

For this contest there is basically no limit on the number of submissions per family (again very different from the usual!)  We are allowing this because we recognize that you may get several beautiful shots and won't be sure which one to send in.  So let's say no more than 10 per family. ;)

Please let me know if you have any questions about this - I know it's very different than our normal photo contest format and you may want clarification on some things.  I am reachable via email or facebook with any questions! :)

Thanks so much in advance for participating!  I am so excited to see what you send in! :)

Please note that we retain the option to use multiple photos throughout the site, both from these new submissions and from past photo contests.  The only photo that will receive the ultimate dibs pass is the one we choose for the landing page.  Over time we may rearrange photos.  Should your photo eventually be shown on the landing page that will not mean that you secure an ultimate dibs pass.  We will only award one (1) Ultimate Dibs Pass as part of this impromptu contest.

About the Ultimate Dibs Pass:

This is like a regular Dibs Pass, but entitles the winner not just to claim a diaper for purchase, but to take it home for free. You can use your Ultimate Dibs Pass for any stocked diaper within the next 3 calendar months including the current month (August, September, October). Further instructions will be provided to the winner. 

How do you use your Dibs Pass? A Dibs Pass is a way to bypass the stocking itself – you need only comment on a preview photo on facebook by 10pm EST on preview day with something to the effect of “I am going to use my dibs pass for one of these diapers”, and then follow up with an email to twinkietush@gmail.com so that we can show you specific cuts and velour options. You will then check out with a private link. (Certain prints may not be claim-able via Dibs Pass or Ultimate Dibs Pass and that will be stated during previews. Additionally with certain prints only one Dibs Pass may be used, on a first come first served basis. Again that will be stated along with the preview photos. )

Dibs passes are non-transferable and hold no monetary value.

The twinkie tush Wish List will be re-opening tomorrow!

I am incredibly excited to say that we are about to re-open the twinkie tush Wish List!  This will happen tomorrow - keep an eye on facebook for the announcement! :)

Our last Wish List diaper was sent to a mama who wished for a beautiful girly print featuring a coral color.  This was the closest print we had to her wish - and we are calling it Coralie, after her daughter!

We are so excited to open the list again and draw another winner!  Please read over the information below carefully for instructions, and check out the original Wish List post for info about how all of this came to be! :)

When we open the wish list, you may send an email to twinkietush@gmail.com with "WISH LIST - (your name)" in the subject.  That part is essential.  In your email you must include the following info, using something similar to the format below:

Full name (again)

Current shipping address

Your wish!  This is where you tell us about your dream twinkie tush diaper!  It can be as specific or unspecific as you like. Please see the examples below for more info.

After we close the wish list (opening and closing times will be announced on facebook and the wish list will always be open for at least 24 hours), we will draw a name at random.  This may happen immediately or a few days or weeks after the wish list is closed, depending on our workload.  We will open that person's email and read about their wish.  If it is something we can do, we will make them their dream twinkie tush diaper!  We will cover all costs, including shipping, and we will not notify the winner that their diaper is on the way.  It will just show up at the winner's door! :)  We will always send a wished for diaper within 3 months of the wish.  Please make sure your submitted address is accurate and usable for up to 3 months after sending your email.  If you have a sudden change of address please email us with "WISH LIST - address change - (your name)" in the subject line.

Bear in mind that the less specific your dream twinkie tush diaper wish is, the more likely we will be to have the necessary supplies on hand! ;)  If you only say "Mutiny with black cv, serged", for example, we might have to draw another winner as we don't have that print on hand at present.  But if you say "Mutiny with black cv would be my ultimate dream twinkie tush diaper but I love anything with skulls!" we could defiintely work with that! :)  Here are some examples of wish list emails:

Name: Henrietta McSquire

Shipping address: 123 Smith Street, Walton, NY 16590

Dream twinkie tush diaper: Mollie with dark purple cv serged!  In addition to that I love all knit girly stripes and am especially fond of purple.

Name: Bilbo Baggins

Shipping address: 456 Smythe Street, Weston, CA 90782

Dream twinkie tush diaper: Any turned twinkie tush night-night

Name: Sven Svenson

Shipping address: 132 W 144th St. Apt. 3F, New York, NY 10030

We will be moving in March and our new address will be 120 W 146th St. Apt. 1A, New York, NY 10039.

Dream twinkie tush diaper: I like funny prints like Impossible Love and How I Roll.  I like serged.

You may only send ONE entry each time the wish list is opened.  If you enter multiple times you will be disqualified.  If you choose, you may use your entry on another's behalf, as in the example below:

Name: Betty Brown

I am nominating Melissa Shank for the twinkie tush wish list.

Melissa's shipping address: 698 Border Way, Lansing, MI 48901

Melissa's dream twinkie tush diaper: She has wanted Crush for so long now!  She prefers cv and turned.  If you don't have Crush I know she also loves Daydream, Spring Awakening, Honeysuckle Breeze, and Sweet Potato.

Please note - we will NOT be opening and reading any emails that come in for the wish list until we do the drawing.  Therefore we will not see what you write unless you win.  Please do not include anything in your email that requires a response, or that you need us to see at all. ;)  Please ensure that "WISH LIST - your name" is your email subject.  If an email is submitted for the wish list without that subject line it will be deleted.  (Wish List does not have to be in all caps for your email to be accepted.)

Please do not send wish list emails outside of the open time periods.  Any emails that come in outside of the time the list is open will be deleted.

We ask that only ONE entry per household is submitted each time the wish list opens.

You must be a fan of twinkie tush on facebook by "liking" our page in order to win.  This rule is in place only because, as I said, this is a thank you to our fans, both long time fans and newcomers! :)

You may enter every time the wish list is opened until you win! :)  Once you win you may not win again.

While it is not a requirement of entry, we hope that winners will share pictures of their dream twinkie tush diapers on the main fan page and/or fan discussion page!  We will not announce winners ourselves.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this and please do not send wish list emails yet! :)  We will open the wish list for the third time tomorrow!  Stay tuned to facebook for that announcement!

Thank you so much!

July Group Custom drawings!

We will be holding drawings for July Group Customs this coming Saturday evening (7/28)!  The entry thread will go up on facebook sometime between 8 and 9pm EST, and will stay up for 5 minutes only.

Please make sure to read last month's blog post (here) for complete Group Custom instructions and policies.

Let us know if you have any questions, and thanks so much!  Can't wait to draw some more groups! :)

About tomorrow's stocking on Big Cartel

As I’ve mentioned previously here on the blog and on facebook, tomorrow’s stocking will be on Big Cartel.  Here is what to expect:

- Diapers will go live at or very shortly before 8pm EST at http://twinkietush.bigcartel.com. Listings on BC must be put up manually, as there is no clock like there is on HC.  Wool will go live one listing at a time starting at 8:15pm EST. 

- Once the site is out of maintenance mode and goes live, you will need to navigate using the sidebar links on the right to see individual diaper and/or wool listings.

- You will then need to scroll to find the diaper or wool you would like to purchase and click on the specific listing.  (Alternatively, you can choose to save the exact URL for the diaper you would like to purchase tonight while the diapers and wool are in preview mode.)

- Once in the listing, click the “Add to Cart” button at the bottom of the item description.

- Once in your cart, please choose your country for shipping (either United States or Canada) and click “Checkout”. Clicking “Update Order” is not necessary as shipping will be automatically added in PayPal. Clicking “Update Order” will slow your transaction potentially allowing another shopper to secure the diaper so you need only click “Checkout” once your country is selected.

- This will bring you to the paypal portal where you will enter your paypal username and password to process payment. Once you've reached the paypal portal your diaper is secure for 30 minutes.

- Once in paypal, please complete all payment steps to receive an order confirmation that completes your transaction.

Please note that the diaper is not secure until you have clicked the “Checkout” button and are taken to the paypal portal for payment. Once at the paypal portal, you have 30 minutes to complete payment before the diaper automatically relists itself.

A few things to remember about Big Cartel stockings:

- We are not able to manually "dump" carts. We wish we were! 30 minutes is a very long time. On HC the carts dump at 10 minutes, for reference. If you cart a diaper you do not wish to purchase, we ask that you please remove it from your cart so that another shopper can cart it.

- We are not able to see who has what in their cart like we are on HC. Therefore until payment is completed we will not know the fate of any given diaper and will not be able to assist with cart issues.

- In terms of longer term consideration, something to note about BC is that we cannot save listings, even on the seller side.  So you would not be able to refer back to listings as you have been on HC.

- If you live in the United States, only First Class shipping without insurance can be purchased on BC. Those who want Priority Mail and/or insurance are asked to email us within 30 minutes of checkout so that we can invoice you for the additional cost. Insurance is not required but is always recommended. We are very sorry that we cannot offer this option at stocking - we certainly would like to be able to.

- If you live outside of the United States: International packages including Canadian shipments can only be shipped via first class mail, no insurance. International customers outside of Canada should simply select Canada and then email us to finalize costs. This is identical to our HC process.

- Drawings are not available on BC and will still be done on HC. Keep an eye on the facebook page - I will remind you when drawings are up!

- Please remember that this is a new experience for us as well! We have only stocked on BC once before now. There may be moments of frustration tomorrow for all of us, but we feel that overall BC is a wonderful temporary solution for us as we continue to build twinkietush.com and we do not anticipate crashes with BC, which is a beautiful thing!

Please let me know if you have questions, either here, via email, or on facebook.  Thank you as always for your support!  See you tomorrow for stocking! :)

Updates on our stocking system and progress towards our own cart

As many of you know, today’s stocking on Hyena Cart was incredibly problematic and frustrating for everyone.  We have dealt with crashes on HC before but this was our worst by a mile.  After so many months of various issues with HC we have decided that we can’t risk another stocking like this.  We have utmost respect for Karen and her site and we have loved being there, but we need to ensure that this doesn’t happen to our customers again.

As I mentioned on facebook earlier today, we have been working behind the scenes for some time now on building our own cart system.  I want to give you more information about our progress there.  In March of this year we selected and began working with a web development company, after many months of meeting with other web developers who were unable to address and solve our specific problem.  We had very high hopes that this company would build us a site that would meet our needs and in fact we planned to launch the new site this month.  In early June we received notice from the company that their programmer was unable to complete the project, and we were left back at square one, frustrated and disappointed. 

We are currently in the final stages of selecting a new web development company and hope to have that selection finalized this week.  We hope and anticipate that the new site will be ready to launch sometime this fall.  Why is it so hard for us to find the right developer?  From what we can tell it is down to the specific needs of our company.  We have a fairly unique problem that requires a unique solution.  While our day to day traffic on the store site is fairly low, our stocking-time traffic is incredibly high and the extremely high refresh rates at time of stocking are taxing on a server.  We need a server that can accommodate that concentrated traffic combined with a cart system that will not allow oversells.  Additionally we need a cart system that will allow us to stock multiple diapers simultaneously in order to give more people a chance to purchase one (instead of stocking one print at a time, giving the person with fastest internet the chance to cart every diaper.)  This isn’t something most programmers have encountered before and requires a highly customized solution.

Since we are looking at a few more months before twinkietush.com is ready to launch, we have decided to go back to Big Cartel in the meantime.  There are some drawbacks to BC, but we feel that it is our best option at this time and we believe it will be a great temporary solution.  Please check out this blog post from the last time we stocked on Big Cartel – some of the information doesn’t apply (like it being a trial, for example) but there is a lot of important and relevant info about BC to look over.  Barring a major stocking problem or other unanticipated circumstance we plan to stick with BC until we can move to twinkietush.com.

We are also working very diligently on a significant production increase.  I will have more to say on that subject in the coming weeks but for now I will just share our excitement at the rapidly approaching changes and improvements we are working on!  As always I am so thankful for the amazing extended twinkie tush family – you and your beautiful little ones – who make all of this possible and who inspire us to be our very best selves and the very best company we can be.

June Group Custom information! :)

We will be drawing groups this Sunday evening for the June Group Custom slots! :)  Please read the information below thoroughly so that you don't miss any important components!   Even if you are experienced with our Group Custom process please read through this post. :)

*If you are new to twinkie tush, welcome!  Please note that this is not the only way to purchase one of our diapers. ;)  Read this page for lots of basic twinkie tush information!

Additionally please note that this process is as complex as it is ONLY in order to meet the needs of customers, both new and returning.  It is designed to be fair, not to be purposefully maddening. ;)

We are planning to post the June Group Custom entry thread on facebook this coming Sunday (7/1) between 9 and 10pm eastern.  (The thread will then be open for 5 minutes only.) 

We ask that for this month you stick to a maximum of 2 groups per household.  We are going to be strict about this - if we notice someone in more than 2 groups that individual will be removed from all groups.  That means that if one of their groups wins a drawing the group win will stand but the individual will be disqualified.  Please help us keep this fair for everyone! :)

When the entry thread goes up on facebook, please comment on the thread to enter your team!  You may only enter on behalf of one group (but may appear in up to 2 groups).  Your entries should look like these, in which the flying whizbees are entering for the first time in the current month and the skullies have entered in two previous months as well as in the current month:

The flying whizbees: 1 month. Kate, Megan B., Amanda, Karen, Jessica, Sarah, Melissa, Henrietta, Pamela, Megan Z.

The skullies: 3 months. Susan, Mike, Allegra, Sarah F., Sarah P., Bess

Also within the alloted time (5 minutes) you will need to send an email to twinkietush@gmail.com. The email subject must read something like “Group Custom Entry: Team Name (eg The flying whizbees)”. Your team name must be included in the subject line of the email and all group members must be cc'ed on this email.

The email must contain a link to a google spreadsheet or an attached Excel spreadsheet (please do not C&P in the body of the email) containing the following information for each group member:

1 - Full member name

2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account

3 - Member contact email

4 - Member paypal email

5 - serged or T&T preference.

If any of those elements are missing (no team name in subject, any info missing from the spreadsheet, missing team member cc's, etc.) your group will not be eligible to obtain the slot. (This is just to keep things fair.)  We recommend reviewing your spreadsheets shortly before 8:30 on Sunday to double-check that everything is present and that your spreadsheet matches your planned facebook entry. :)

Once the entry time has expired, we will review all information and announce the eligible groups for the month. We will then hold 2 drawings as follows:

Drawing 1: Every team that has entered for at least 3 months, including the current month, will be entered in this drawing.

* Each team in this drawing will receive one entry slot for each month they've entered. That means if you've entered for 3 months including the current month, your team is given 3 entries. So for example if there are 5 eligible teams for this drawing and they all have entered for 3 months, with the exception of teams Abby and Darkside who have each entered 4 times, the entry list would look like this:

1 - team Abby

2 - team Abby

3 - team Abby

4 - team Abby

5 - team Boyish stripes

6 - team Boyish stripes

7 - team Boyish stripes

8 - team Cat Lovers

9 - team Cat Lovers

10 - team Cat Lovers

11 - team Darkside

12 - team Darkside

13 - team Darkside

14 - team Darkside

15 - team Elliot

16 - team Elliot

17 - team Elliot

We will use random.org to draw the winning number.

Drawing 2: Every team who successfully submitted their information in full is entered in this drawing, with the winning team again being selected by random.org.

* For this drawing, all teams receive 1 entry slot regardless of the number of months they've entered, giving an equal chance to all who are enter whether they are brand new or have been entering for several months.

Please note that even an attempted entry counts when tallying your group's number of entries. In other words if your group got the email and FB comment in within the alloted time for a given month, it counts even if some info was missing and your group wasn't entered in the drawing(s).

The information below covers general Group Custom policies to keep in mind as you are forming your groups:

* If your group is selected you will then receive a confirmation email in response to the email you sent in. That email will contain a link to your group custom slot, which will be available for purchase at the store. You will have 24 hours to purchase the slot. If a group fails to purchase the slot in time a new drawing will take place using the same list and a second winner will be drawn.

*Anyone from the group can email us, as long as they are willing and able to serve as group rep (the person who collects payments from other group members and communicates with me about velour preferences, etc.) The group rep is also responsible for forwarding information from us to the group as needed and assuring that the group is aware of payment deadlines, etc. Please do not email on behalf of your group unless you are willing to take on the group rep responsibility.

*All members of the group must be copied on the initial email so that we can reach individual members if needed.

*Once the spot is purchased it is reserved and you can send your fabric in as quickly or slowly as you like! The listing will include the cost of the diapers but not the cost of shipping to each individual group member.

*After the group rep pays for the group listing, each individual group member will need to pay individually for their shipping cost. This is not something that needs to be done to reserve your spot but it will need to be done in order for us to ship you your diapers ;) This system is just to facilitate an easier and smoother shipping process on our end which means you getting your diapers more quickly!  After your slot is paid for we will send an email to the group or group rep with a link to a store listing where you can pay for shipping individually.

*After purchasing the slot, the group will send us (at the group's cost) adequate yardage (usually 3-5 yards) of the chosen print fabric and all diapers will be cut from that yardage. All other materials will of course be provided by twinkie tush.  All velour and snaps will be uniform. We will work with the group on velour choice (contingent on availability) and snap and serging thread colors will be chosen by us.

*Should you want any remaining fabric mailed back to a group member or members, please let us know within 24 hours of securing the slot.  We are always very happy to return fabric but we need to know right away to avoid going back and forth trying to determine where to send remnants at a later time.  Please note that the cost of mailing extra fabric will be added to shipping cost(s) and that will need to be determined before the shipping listings can be set up.  Should you decide not to request that your fabric be returned within 24 hours of securing the slot, it will be considered a donation to twinkie tush and will likely be used for stocking at a later time.  We appreciate fabric donations very much, but they are not required or expected.

     - Please note that we will price diapers made with donated fabric according to the cost of the fabric (Euro knits will be priced at $40, domestic/average cost fabrics will be priced at $35, for example).  This is something that has been requested of us by previous groups and we recognize that it is the most fair way to handle donated fabric.

* Group size can range from 5-10 people. Each group member will choose between a serged or turned diaper. We do not recommend serging with woven fabrics. The price for this SYOF order will be $33 + shipping per each diaper.

*We are now opening up the Group Custom entry process to groups that are seeking SYOF twinkie tush night-nights.  Your group will need to provide several yards of velour (7 yards for a group of 10, as an example).  While we are not able to help groups extensively in the search for cotton velour or organic bamboo velour we will require that your velour choice be approved before it is sent in.  We require this to ensure that it is of the highest quality so that we feel comfortable using it to make twinkie tush night-nights, and can stand behind the absorbency.  The cost per person for a Group Custom twinkie tush night-night will be $36 plus shipping.

*All diapers will ship out to the group members 4-6 weeks after we receive the fabric (pending shipping payments of course).

As always, please let us know if you have any questions about this, and thanks so much! :)

June Photo Contest details! :)

Good morning! :)  As promised, we are holding another photo contest this month and we’d love to give you the details so you can get ready to send your entries in!  Photo contests are one of our favorite things – it is amazing to see your children rocking our diapers and wool, and so awesome to watch your little ones grow from one contest to the next and of course to “meet” all the new twinkie tush kiddos!  Thank you in advance for sharing your photos with us!!

Here are the photo contest details:

The contest will be open for submissions from today, 6/3, through Sunday 6/24.  That gives you exactly 3 weeks to get your entries in!  The winners will be announced on Wednesday, June 27th, at 10pm EST. Please read below for important details on how to win. There will be a first place and a second place winner as follows:

- First place takes home a FREE custom twinkie tush diaper of their choice (based on availability of desired fabric, and SYOF is of course an option as well). Shipping of the diaper is also free. (Please note that the custom diaper will ship 4-6 weeks after a final print decision is made or SYO fabric is received.)

- The second place winner will be awarded a one time "dibs pass" which will allow them to choose a single diaper to purchase at regular price on any one preview day between 7/4/12 and 1/4/13 without having to attend the stocking.  This prize also includes free shipping! (Please note that occasionally there is a print offered that is not able to be claimed by a dibs pass, but that is rare.)

- We will also draw an additional dibs pass winner at random from all photo contest participants at the close of the contest!  (This random.org dibs pass entitles the recipient to claim a diaper during previews and purchase it prior to stocking at regular price and with regular associated shipping costs.)

So now that we’ve covered prizes, here is the process:

To enter, simply submit a photo of your little one(s) in a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie tush wool. Hair clips and headbands by Hello Charlotte James for twinkie tush, twinkie tush/Hazelbee dress collaborations and/or T shirts by Peanut & Pumpkin for twinkie tush are of course welcome to be part of the photos, however a twinkie tush diaper or twinkie tush woolies must be featured.

Feel free to be as creative as possible - extra consideration will always be given for creativity! (Try to play off the "theme" of your diaper or woolies - you can use accessories and props to really amp it up - a guitar, an alien toy, a bouquet of flowers....) A simple approach is fine as well - creativity is just one of the things that will be considered.

Photos can be sent to twinkietush@gmail.com. Please type PHOTO CONTEST in the subject field. By submitting a photo you are giving twinkie tush permission to use your photo to promote or represent twinkie tush diapers and/or twinkie tush wool on this blog, the twinkie tush shop on Hyena Cart, the soon to be launched twinkietush.com, twinkie tush advertisements on HC and elsewhere, and the twinkie tush facebook page.  Please do not submit a photo if you do not agree to these terms. :)

Submissions will be closed on Sunday 6/24/12 at 11:59pm EST. On Monday 6/25 we will upload all submissions to a photo album on the main twinkie tush facebook page called "June 2012 photo contest!" At that point, the contest really gets exciting!

First place will be awarded to the photo *in the "June 2012 photo contest" album* that we feel best reflects the spirit of twinkie tush and the spirit of the individual diaper(s) pictured. Creativity, photo composition, brand reflection and of course FUN are some of the things that will be considered. :) Mike and I will choose the first place winner, and we will announce the winner at 10pm EST on Wednesday, June 27th.

Second place will go to the photo in the "June 2012 photo contest" album that receives the most "likes".  Please note that "likes" on photos outside of the specified album will not count as votes for that photo. You, and your friends and family, may "like" multiple photos if you choose (you don't have to pick just one). Comments are welcome of course, but will not count towards a photo's "tally". Since it is possible to "like" and then "unlike" something on facebook, we will go with the count as it is at exactly 10pm EST on Wednesday, June 27th.

An important note: you cannot win both first and second place ;) While the number of "likes" a photo has will neither ensure a first place win nor preclude it from taking said prize, fan feedback is something that Mike and I may take into consideration to at least some extent in making our decision on a first place winner. In the event that we choose the "highest likes" photo for first place, that photo is no longer eligible to take a second place win. In other words if photo A has the highest number with 200 likes and photo B has 199 likes, and we choose photo A as our first place winner, second place will go to photo B. If we choose photo B, or any other photo in the album, as our first place winner, second place will go to photo A.  Please feel free to ask questions about this if it is at all unclear! :)

Please note that you may enter only ONE photo per household for this contest. Also note that photos must clearly show your twinkie tush diaper(s) and/or twinkie tush wool and must not be offensive in any way (obviously). Please send full size or web adjusted images rather than "email" or "thumbnail" sizes.

If there is a problem with your submission you will receive an email response with suggestions on how to resubmit if applicable. If your submission is accepted you will receive a confirmation email within 48 hours. If you do not receive a confirmation email within 48 hours please email again to confirm receipt, in case for some reason your initial email did not come through successfully.

We are looking forward to your submissions! Thanks so much!! :)

Customs, Group and individual

We have a couple important announcements concerning customs, both group and individual.

First of all:

We will be drawing groups this coming Monday, Memorial Day, for the May Group Custom slots! :)  We are going to follow the exact same process we have the last few months - please read the information in the April post thoroughly so that you don't miss any important components! :)

We plan to post the May Group Custom entry thread on facebook on Memorial Day evening between 8:30 and 9:30pm eastern.  (The thread will then be open for 5 minutes only.)

Secondly:

As we continue to grow as a company and to work on increasing production without sacrificing the quality and customer service you have come to expect from twinkie tush, we have had to evaluate efficiency at every stage of the diaper-making process.  We have always loved being able to offer individual customs, both in stock and SYOF.  At this point we are confronted with the additional time that goes into each unique custom diaper.  From the ordering process through diaper completion, a single diaper in any given print takes considerably more time than one of several in a given print.  We feel we can better serve the community and meet the demand for our diapers by focusing on offering as many ready to ship diapers and groups slots (both mini and large) as possible.  For this reason we are going to take the next 3 months (June, July, and August) off from stocking individual custom slots.  We may have occasional custom slot drawings on facebook or Hyena Cart, but we will no longer offer 3 or more slots every week.  At the end of the summer we will evaluate and decide whether to bring back occasional stocked individual customs.

We hope that you can understand why we feel this is the right decision at this time, and as always we appreciate your support more than we could ever say!

Please note that we will stock custom slots per usual this coming Wednesday, 5/30, and the changes will go into effect with the 6/6 stocking.  We will continue to offer mini group slots at stockings and may increase them over time. :)

Please let us know if you have any questions about this, and thanks so much! :)

April Group Custom drawings will be this weekend!

We will be drawing groups this Sunday evening for the April Group Custom slots! :)  We are going to follow the exact same process we did last month - please read the information below thoroughly so that you don't miss any important components! :)

*If you are new to twinkie tush, welcome!  Please note that this is not the only way to purchase one of our diapers. ;)  Read this page for lots of basic twinkie tush information!

Additionally please note that this process is as complex as it is ONLY in order to meet the needs of customers, both new and returning.  It is designed to be fair, not to be purposefully maddening. ;)

We are planning to post the April Group Custom entry thread on facebook this coming Sunday (4/29) between 8:30 and 9:30pm eastern.  (The thread will then be open for 5 minutes only.)

We ask that for this month you stick to a maximum of 2 groups per household.

When the entry thread goes up on facebook, please comment on the thread to enter your team!  You may only enter on behalf of one group (but may appear in up to 2 groups).  Your entries should look like these, in which the flying whizbees are entering for the first time in the current month and the skullies have entered in two previous months as well as in the current month:

The flying whizbees: 1 month. Kate, Megan B., Amanda, Karen, Jessica, Sarah, Melissa, Henrietta, Pamela, Megan Z.

The skullies: 3 months. Susan, Mike, Allegra, Sarah F., Sarah P., Bess

Also within the alloted time (5 minutes) you will need to send an email to twinkietush@gmail.com. The email subject must read something like “Group Custom Entry: Team Name (eg The flying whizbees)”. Your team name MUST be included in the subject line of the email. All group members must be cc'ed on this email.

The email must contain a link to a google spreadsheet or an attached Excel spreadsheet (please do not C&P in the body of the email) containing the following information for each group member:

1 - Full member name

2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account

3 - Member contact email

4 - Member paypal email

5 - serged or T&T preference.

If any of those elements are missing (no team name in subject, any info missing from the spreadsheet, missing team member cc's, etc.) your group will not be eligible to obtain the slot. (This is just to keep things fair, as the Group Custom drawings are pretty competitive.)

Once the entry time has expired, we will review all information and announce the eligible groups for the month. We will then hold 2 drawings as follows:

Drawing 1: Every team that has entered for at least 3 months, including the current month, will be entered in this drawing.

* Each team in this drawing will receive one entry slot for each month they've entered. That means if you've entered for 3 months including the current month, your team is given 3 entries. So for example if there are 5 eligible teams for this drawing and they all have entered for 3 months, with the exception of teams Abby and Darkside who have each entered 4 times, the entry list would look like this:

1 - team Abby

2 - team Abby

3 - team Abby

4 - team Abby

5 - team Boyish stripes

6 - team Boyish stripes

7 - team Boyish stripes

8 - team Cat Lovers

9 - team Cat Lovers

10 - team Cat Lovers

11 - team Darkside

12 - team Darkside

13 - team Darkside

14 - team Darkside

15 - team Elliot

16 - team Elliot

17 - team Elliot

We will use random.org to draw the winning number.

Drawing 2: Every team who successfully submitted their information in full is entered in this drawing, with the winning team again being selected by random.org.

* For this drawing, all teams receive 1 entry slot regardless of the number of months they've entered, giving an equal chance to all who are enter whether they are brand new or have been entering for several months.

Please note that even an attempted entry counts when tallying your group's number of entries. In other words if your group got the email and FB comment in within the alloted time for a given month, it counts even if some info was missing and your group wasn't entered in the drawing(s).

It is also important to review the information below, which covers general Group Custom policies:

* If your group is selected you will then receive a confirmation email in response to the email you sent in. That email will contain a link to your group custom slot, which will be available for purchase at the store. You will have 24 hours to purchase the slot. If a group fails to purchase the slot in time a new drawing will take place using the same list and a second winner will be drawn.

*Anyone from the group can email us, as long as they are willing and able to serve as group rep (the person who collects payments from other group members and communicates with me about velour preferences, etc.) The group rep is also responsible for forwarding information from us to the group as needed and assuring that the group is aware of payment deadlines, etc. Please do not email on behalf of your group unless you are willing to take on the group rep responsibility.

*All members of the group must be copied on the initial email so that we can reach individual members if needed.

*Once the spot is purchased it is reserved and you can send your fabric in as quickly or slowly as you like! The listing will include the cost of the diapers but not the cost of shipping to each individual group member.

*After the group rep pays for the group listing, each individual group member will need to pay individually for their shipping cost. This is not something that needs to be done to reserve your spot but it will need to be done in order for us to ship you your diapers ;) This system is just to facilitate an easier and smoother shipping process on our end which means you getting your diapers more quickly!  After your slot is paid for we will send an email to the group or group rep with a link to a store listing where you can pay for shipping individually.

*After purchasing the slot, the group will send us (at the group's cost) adequate yardage (usually 3-5 yards) of the chosen print fabric and all diapers will be cut from that yardage. All other materials will of course be provided by twinkie tush.  All velour and snaps will be uniform. We will work with the group on velour choice (contingent on availability) and snap colors will be chosen by us.

*Should you want any remaining fabric mailed back to a group member or members, please let us know within 24 hours of securing the slot.  We are always very happy to return fabric but we need to know right away to avoid going back and forth trying to determine where to send remnants at a later time.  Please note that the cost of mailing extra fabric will be added to shipping cost(s) and that will need to be determined before the shipping listings can be set up.  Should you decide not to request that your fabric be returned within 24 hours of securing the slot, it will be considered a donation to twinkie tush and will likely be used for stocking at a later time.  We appreciate fabric donations very much, but they are not required or expected.

* Group size can range from 5-10 people. Each group member will choose between a serged or turned diaper. We do not recommend serging with woven fabrics. The price for this SYOF order will be $33 + shipping per each diaper.

*We are now opening up the Group Custom entry process to groups that are seeking SYOF twinkie tush night-nights.  Your group will need to provide several yards of velour (7 yards for a group of 10, as an example).  While we are not able to help groups extensively in the search for cotton velour or organic bamboo velour we will require that your velour choice be approved before it is sent in.  We require this to ensure that it is of the highest quality so that we feel comfortable using it to make twinkie tush night-nights, and can stand behind the absorbency.  The cost per person for a Group Custom twinkie tush night-night will be $36 plus shipping.

*All diapers will ship out to the group members 4-6 weeks after we receive the fabric (pending shipping payments of course).

Please let us know if you have any questions about this, and thanks so much! :)

Wish List update and plans for re-opening the list! :)

I am so excited to report that the first twinkie tush Wish List diaper has been delivered!  Wished for by a mama who proclaimed a love for guitar prints, here is Hard Rock!

With the Wish List diaper safely delivered we are already making plans to reopen the list in the next few days!  Please read over the information below carefully for instructions, and check out the original Wish List post for info about how all of this came to be! :)

When we open the wish list, you may send an email to twinkietush@gmail.com with "WISH LIST - (your name)" in the subject.  That part is essential.  In your email you must include the following info, using something similar to the format below:

Full name (again)
Current shipping address
Your wish!  This is where you tell us about your dream twinkie tush diaper!  It can be as specific or unspecific as you like. Please see the examples below for more info.

After we close the wish list (opening and closing times will be announced on facebook and the wish list will always be open for at least 24 hours), we will draw a name at random.  This may happen immediately or a few days or weeks after the wish list is closed, depending on our workload.  We will open that person's email and read about their wish.  If it is something we can do, we will make them their dream twinkie tush diaper!  We will cover all costs, including shipping, and we will not notify the winner that their diaper is on the way.  It will just show up at the winner's door! :)  We will always send a wished for diaper within 3 months of the wish.  Please make sure your submitted address is accurate and usable for up to 3 months after sending your email.  If you have a sudden change of address please email us with "WISH LIST - address change - (your name)" in the subject line.

Bear in mind that the less specific your dream twinkie tush diaper wish is, the more likely we will be to have the necessary supplies on hand! ;)  If you only say "Mutiny with black cv, serged", for example, we would have to draw another winner as we don't have that print on hand at present.  But if you say "Mutiny with black cv would be my ultimate dream twinkie tush diaper but I love anything with skulls!" we could defiintely work with that! :)  Here are some examples of wish list emails:

Name: Henrietta McSquire
Shipping address: 123 Smith Street, Walton, NY 16590
Dream twinkie tush diaper: Mollie with dark purple cv serged!  In addition to that I love all knit girly stripes and am especially fond of purple.

Name: Bilbo Baggins
Shipping address: 456 Smythe Street, Weston, CA 90782
Dream twinkie tush diaper: Any T&T twinkie tush night-night

Name: Sven Svenson
Shipping address: 132 W 144th St. Apt. 3F, New York, NY 10030
We will be moving in March and our new address will be 120 W 146th St. Apt. 1A, New York, NY 10039.
Dream twinkie tush diaper: I like funny prints like Impossible Love and How I Roll.  I like serged.

You may only send ONE entry each time the wish list is opened.  If you enter multiple times you will be disqualified.  If you choose, you may use your entry on another's behalf, as in the example below:

Name: Betty Brown
I am nominating Melissa Shank for the twinkie tush wish list.
Melissa's shipping address: 698 Border Way, Lansing, MI 48901
Melissa's dream twinkie tush diaper: She has wanted Crush for so long now!  She prefers cv and T&T.  If you don't have Crush I know she also loves Daydream, Spring Awakening, Honeysuckle Breeze, and Sweet Potato.

Please note - we will NOT be opening and reading any emails that come in for the wish list until we do the drawing.  Therefore we will not see what you write unless you win.  Please do not include anything in your email that requires a response, or that you need us to see at all. ;)  Please ensure that "WISH LIST - your name" is your email subject.  If an email is submitted for the wish list without that subject line it will be deleted.  (Wish List does not have to be in all caps for your email to be accepted.)

Please do not send wish list emails outside of the open time periods.  Any emails that come in outside of the time the list is open will be deleted.

We ask that only ONE entry per household is submitted each time the wish list opens.

You must be a fan of twinkie tush on facebook by "liking" our page in order to win.  This rule is in place only because, as I said, this is a thank you to our fans, both long time fans and newcomers! :)

You may enter every time the wish list is opened until you win! :)  Once you win you may not win again.

While it is not a requirement of entry, we hope that winners will share pictures of their dream twinkie tush diapers on the main fan page and/or fan discussion page!  We will not announce winners ourselves.

Please let us know if you have any questions about this and please do not send wish list emails yet! :)  We will open the wish list for the second time this weekend!  Stay tuned to facebook for that announcement!

Thank you so much!

Group Customs, stocking, drawing, and auctions! :)

Lots of stuff going on this week! :)

1 - Today is stocking day - make sure to check out previews on facebook!  Stocking is at 2pm EST, with wool at 2:15.

2 - Today is also the last day for the MS Society charity auctions - the bidding so far has been utterly amazing.  It has far exceeded our expectations and we can't thank you enough for helping us make a difference this way - as always we are in awe of the generosity and giving spirit of our customer family.  As I write this the total bids are at $1,126.

3 - Tonight into tomorrow we will hold another custom slot drawing - make sure to check out the FB page for info this evening! :)

4 - And finally - we will be drawing Group Customs this week!  See below for full info! :)

March Group Custom details - please read carefully

We will be drawing groups this Friday for the March Group Custom slots! :)  We are going to follow the exact same process we did last month - please read the information below thoroughly so that you don't miss any important components! :)

*If you are new to twinkie tush, welcome!  Please note that this is not the only way to purchase one of our diapers. ;)  Read this page for lots of basic twinkie tush information!

Additionally please note that this process is as complex as it is ONLY in order to meet the needs of customers, both new and returning.  It is designed to be fair, not to be purposefully maddening. ;)

We are planning to post the March Group Custom entry thread on facebook this coming Friday (3/30) between 7:45 and 8:45pm eastern.  (The thread will then be open for 5 minutes only.)

We ask that for this month you stick to a maximum of 2 groups per household.

When the entry thread goes up on facebook, please comment on the thread to enter your team!  You may only enter on behalf of one group (but may appear in up to 2 groups).  Your entries should look like these, in which the flying whizbees are entering for the first time in the current month and the skullies have entered in two previous months as well as in the current month:

The flying whizbees: 1 month. Kate, Megan B., Amanda, Karen, Jessica, Sarah, Melissa, Henrietta, Pamela, Megan Z.

The skullies: 3 months. Susan, Mike, Allegra, Sarah F., Sarah P., Bess

Also within the alloted time (5 minutes) you will need to send an email to twinkietush@gmail.com. The email subject must read something like “Group Custom Entry: Team Name (eg The flying whizbees)”. Your team name MUST be included in the subject line of the email. All group members must be cc'ed on this email.

The email must contain a link to a google spreadsheet or an attached Excel spreadsheet (please do not C&P in the body of the email) containing the following information for each group member:

1 - Full member name

2 - Member name as it appears in paypal account

3 - Member contact email

4 - Member paypal email

5 - serged or T&T preference.

If any of those elements are missing (no team name in subject, any info missing from the spreadsheet, missing team member cc's, etc.) your group will not be eligible to obtain the slot. (This is just to keep things fair, as the Group Custom drawings are pretty competitive.)

Once the entry time has expired, we will review all information and announce the eligible groups for the month. We will then hold 2 drawings as follows:

Drawing 1: Every team that has entered for at least 3 months, including the current month, will be entered in this drawing.

* Each team in this drawing will receive one entry slot for each month they've entered. That means if you've entered for 3 months including the current month, your team is given 3 entries. So for example if there are 5 eligible teams for this drawing and they all have entered for 3 months, with the exception of teams Abby and Darkside who have each entered 4 times, the entry list would look like this:

1 - team Abby

2 - team Abby

3 - team Abby

4 - team Abby

5 - team Boyish stripes

6 - team Boyish stripes

7 - team Boyish stripes

8 - team Cat Lovers

9 - team Cat Lovers

10 - team Cat Lovers

11 - team Darkside

12 - team Darkside

13 - team Darkside

14 - team Darkside

15 - team Elliot

16 - team Elliot

17 - team Elliot

We will use random.org to draw the winning number.

Drawing 2: Every team who successfully submitted their information in full is entered in this drawing, with the winning team again being selected by random.org.

* For this drawing, all teams receive 1 entry slot regardless of the number of months they've entered, giving an equal chance to all who are enter whether they are brand new or have been entering for several months.

Please note that even an attempted entry counts when tallying your group's number of entries. In other words if your group got the email and FB comment in within the alloted time for a given month, it counts even if some info was missing and your group wasn't entered in the drawing(s).

It is also important to review the information below, which covers general Group Custom policies:

* If your group is selected you will then receive a confirmation email in response to the email you sent in. That email will contain a link to your group custom slot, which will be available for purchase at the store. You will have 24 hours to purchase the slot. If a group fails to purchase the slot in time a new drawing will take place using the same list and a second winner will be drawn.

*Anyone from the group can email us, as long as they are willing and able to serve as group rep (the person who collects payments from other group members and communicates with me about velour preferences, etc.) The group rep is also responsible for forwarding information from us to the group as needed and assuring that the group is aware of payment deadlines, etc. Please do not email on behalf of your group unless you are willing to take on the group rep responsibility.

*All members of the group must be copied on the initial email so that we can reach individual members if needed.

*Once the spot is purchased it is reserved and you can send your fabric in as quickly or slowly as you like! The listing will include the cost of the diapers but not the cost of shipping to each individual group member.

*After the group rep pays for the group listing, each individual group member will need to pay individually for their shipping cost. This is not something that needs to be done to reserve your spot but it will need to be done in order for us to ship you your diapers ;) This system is just to facilitate an easier and smoother shipping process on our end which means you getting your diapers more quickly!  After your slot is paid for we will send an email to the group or group rep with a link to a store listing where you can pay for shipping individually.

*After purchasing the slot, the group will send us (at the group's cost) adequate yardage (usually 3-5 yards) of the chosen print fabric and all diapers will be cut from that yardage. All other materials will of course be provided by twinkie tush.  All velour and snaps will be uniform. We will work with the group on velour choice (contingent on availability) and snap colors will be chosen by us.

*Should you want any remaining fabric mailed back to a group member or members, please let us know within 24 hours of securing the slot.  We are always very happy to return fabric but we need to know right away to avoid going back and forth trying to determine where to send remnants at a later time.  Please note that the cost of mailing extra fabric will be added to shipping cost(s) and that will need to be determined before the shipping listings can be set up.  Should you decide not to request that your fabric be returned within 24 hours of securing the slot, it will be considered a donation to twinkie tush and will likely be used for stocking at a later time.  We appreciate fabric donations very much, but they are not required or expected.

* Group size can range from 5-10 people. Each group member will choose between a serged or turned diaper. We do not recommend serging with woven fabrics. The price for this SYOF order will be $33 + shipping per each diaper.

*We are now opening up the Group Custom entry process to groups that are seeking SYOF twinkie tush night-nights.  Your group will need to provide several yards of velour (7 yards for a group of 10, as an example).  While we are not able to help groups extensively in the search for cotton velour or organic bamboo velour we will require that your velour choice be approved before it is sent in.  We require this to ensure that it is of the highest quality so that we feel comfortable using it to make twinkie tush night-nights, and can stand behind the absorbency.  The cost per person for a Group Custom twinkie tush night-night will be $36 plus shipping.

*All diapers will ship out to the group members 4-6 weeks after we receive the fabric (pending shipping payments of course).

Please let us know if you have any questions about this, and thanks so much! :)

Another special charity auction

While we don't plan to run many charity auctions directly on our site, this month there happen to be 2 special causes we feel extremely strongly about.  A couple weeks ago we ran a March of Dimes mini group custom auction - see the blog post below for more information on that event.  With the incredibly generous bids put forth by the amazing mamas who participated in the auction, over $500 was raised for March of Dimes.  We are so grateful to have been a part of something so meaningful and can't thank Danielle, Kylee and Taina enough for their truly incredible generosity.

We are now prepared to hold another charity event, which will run from tonight through Wednesday night.  This set of auctions will be for the benefit of the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  All funds raised, minus paypal fees and shipping costs, will be donated directly to the MS Society.

The following was written by Mike, to shed some more light on why this cause is so very important to us.

"My Mom was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis about 30 years ago. As a young child, I didn’t really have a clue what that meant other than that my mom would need more help carrying in the groceries than my friends' moms did. And sometimes she would need to go into the hospital for a few days. As an adult, MS is still as puzzling even with all the research and studies they've done. MS presents itself in so many different ways. And for most it’s progressive. For my mom it first affected her right side; initially showing up as blurry vision, then difficulty holding a pencil, and then trouble using her leg.  She was a career middle school teacher for as long as she could stand in front of her class, and then a private tutor until that too was taken from her. As her MS progressed it spread through her body and today she needs constant care and attention.  She’s gone through several types of treatments including daily injections of potential slowing agents, but at this point nothing can cure MS. She uses a motorized scooter to move from room to room and needs assistance doing all the tasks I often take for granted.

My mom’s spirit cannot be matched. She brings her loving and incredible energy everywhere she goes. The day I married Gretchen, it was an honor to kneel in front of my mom with You Raise Me Up playing in the background in lieu of a traditional mother/son dance. My mom is truly my rock and has always provided me with what I most needed - a constant source of love and understanding that I would always be taken care of. Being a grandmother, or YaYa as she is called, brought an even greater zest for life to her. The proud YaYa doesn’t even begin to describe how she feels about M&D. She adores them beyond words. M&D feel the same way about her, and often wish I had a chair they could ride around on. :) While MS has made it impossible to do some of the traditional YaYa things I know my mom wishes to no end she could do, she showers her grandchildren with never-ending love and support.

She is the reason why the national MS Society has such an important place in our hearts and we are honored to take a part in raising funds and awareness for this cause."

Since this event is so important to us, we are bringing back some favorites for the auction:

1 - Je T'Aime.  

This is probably my absolute favorite print, ever.  I have been saving some scraps of this fabric for almost a year, and have enough for what I believe will end up being 2 diapers, both seamed midway.  This diaper, with pink cv and a single seam as visible in the photo, will be up for auction for the National MS Society beginning tonight.  (The second diaper will not be auctioned, but will be up for drawing or stocking at a later date, TBD.)

2 - Any Colour You Like.  

This wildly popular and totally amazing print is another favorite which will make an appearance for this event.  We will auction a custom ACYL - you choose velour and finishing style (serged or turned).  This is a print which we also have plans to restock in the next few months, for those who are not able to participate in this auction.  

3 - When in Rome.  

This truly lovely print is a favorite of many and is even more gorgeous in person.  We will auction a custom When in Rome - you choose velour and finishing style (serged or turned).  This is also a print which we have plans to restock at some point in the future, for those who are not able to participate in this auction.  

4 - twinkie tush night-night 3-pack.  

This will be a slot for 3 semi-custom twinkie tush night-nights.  You can choose to coordinate with others for this slot or you can go it alone in order to build a stash of night-nights.  The diapers do not all have to be the same - we will try to accommodate velour choices and will ask that you give us your top few so that we can choose from what we have in stock.

5 - Custom slot.  This slot can be used for any single diaper - in stock, send your own fabric, or twinkie tush night-night.

The listings are up now and will run for 48 hours.

Thank you so much for helping us make a difference.  We are so grateful to be a part of something so special.

A couple very special charity auctions

Hi everyone! :)

As you may already know, Mike and I are very committed to helping with charity events as often as possible.  We allocate a certain number of diapers each month for charity auction donation and we feel truly honored by how often we are approached for donations.  We believe that it is part of our purpose as people and as a company to give back and to raise awareness as well as funds.  Of course we are limited in the number of donations we can participate in each month, as much as we would genuinely love to do everything that we are asked to do.

This month will be the first time that we will host charity auctions ourselves, via our HC store.  We are incredibly excited about this, as we are working with two charities that are incredibly near and dear to our hearts.

We wanted to give you a heads up that these events are on the way, as they may require some planning for those who choose to participate.

Today we will be listing an auction at our store for a 3 person mini group custom slot.  The final bid amount, minus only shipping and paypal fees, will be donated to the March of Dimes via Team Three Cheers for Babies.  Our good friends Brooke and Joe DiGiuseppe run this team on behalf of their triplets, Charlie, Lily and Annaleigh, who were born 15 weeks premature.  The triplets were two weeks old before Brooke and Joe were able to hold them.  Machines breathed for them for the first month of their lives.  They were fed with tubes because they weren't strong enough or coordinated enough to suck.  They received the best possible care, for which Brooke and Joe could not be more grateful.

Charlie and Lily, who weighed 1 lb 8 oz and 1 lb 13 oz at birth, spent 95 and 99 days in the NICU before coming home with their parents.

Lily

Charlie, with Joe's wedding band

Tragically, Annaleigh did not come home.  She passed away at 8 weeks old from NEC, which is an intestinal infection found in premature babies.

Annaleigh, 6/27/2009 - 8/22/2009

We mourn her loss and we hold her in our hearts each day, while simultaneously celebrating with a deep awe the miracles that Charlie and Lily are - now thriving, strong, healthy, and happy as a result of the wonderful care they received after birth.  They are amazing in every way, and we are so blessed to know them and to count them among M&D's very best friends.

Charlie and Lily

Lily and Charlie as Princess Peach and Mario and M&D as Bonnie and Clyde, Halloween 2010

Every year, half a million babies in the United States are born too soon, too small and very sick - that's 1 in every 8 babies. Since 1981, the rate of premature birth has risen 30%, and in half the cases it is not understood what went wrong. The March of Dimes is leading the fight for answers, and ultimately, prevention.  We are honored and excited to be raising money for such an incredibly worthy cause.

The auction will be up later today and we will announce it here and on facebook.  If you would like to participate, please make sure to look over the auction information carefully - this is a mini group custom slot (3 diapers to 3 addresses).  It will require coordinating among 3 people, with one person bidding on behalf of the group.  Your bid will reflect the total for all 3 mini group members, not a per person amount.  In other words if everyone in your group would like to donate $100 to the March of Dimes via this auction, your bid would be $300.

Later in the month we will be hosting another charity auction event and will have details for you very soon.  This event will benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society.  This charity is very close to our hearts.  Mike's mother was diagnosed with MS 30 years ago and battles the effects of this horrible disease every day.  She is a truly amazing woman, mother, mother-in-law, and Yaya (Greek for Grandma).  We will be running the event in her honor, and in honor of National MS Awareness Month.  We will have full details for you very shortly.

We are so grateful to be able to use ourselves and our skills to benefit these causes, and so grateful for the generosity and charitable spirit of our customer base.  We can't thank you enough for helping us contribute in any way we can. :)