Blog Update!
For those of you not following me on Facebook, as of the Summer of 2019 I've moved to Central WA, to a tiny mountain town of less than 1,000 people.

I will be covering my exploits here in the Cascades, as I try to further reduce my impact on the environment. With the same attitude, just at a higher altitude!

Wednesday, April 18, 2007

DivaCup challenge

Male readers: unless you are truly curious, or want to inform your wife or girlfriend or both, you can skip this post.

Ladies. It's been brought to my attention the fabulous environmental nature of the DivaCup. It has quite a few benefits over the usual assortment of tampons and pads used during one's period. The classics are, quite noticeably, not too environmentally friendly. Sure there are some eco-alternatives (no plastic, 100% unbleached cotton, etc.) but in the end you are still flushing or throwing something into the landfill.

Enter the DivaCup. I've seen mention of it on other people's blogs lately but just skipped right on over it. Why? Because, frankly, they kind of freaked me out.

I mean, who wants to drag out some cup filled thang to hand wash? That said, since I'm a Crunchy Chicken and all, I went to the website and read a little bit more about it and have changed my impression about it, in spite of the initial reaction.

So, without going into incredible details on how it works and how to use it and why (I'll defer you to visit their website for that), I challenge you. Yes, YOU. (Unless you are a guy and are still reading this far.) Let's see if we can wean ourselves off of disposible feminine products for three months.

Are you up for it? If so, add yerself to the comments with "Sign me cUp" or something like it.

Raffle!
To add to the excitement (as if feminine products weren't exciting enough!) I'm holding a raffle to all those who sign up for the challenge. In order to help defray the cost of the cup, I'll pick a name from a hat and the winner shall receive a free DivaCup (see comments for more details). The drawing will be held next Monday, April 23rd.

Prizes!
Yes, there's more! For those challenged chickens who make it through the three month trial, there will be another drawing for some fun prizes. I'll announce these prizes next week after the DivaCup raffle.

And what if nobody signs up for the challenge? Well, then, I guess I get my own free damn cup. And super cool prizes.

37 comments:

Crunchy Chicken said...

DivaCup Raffle Rules

1. You can enter only once (please don't add 18 aliases to increase your chances of winning - I'll figure it out... I have my ways).

2. If you win, I'll have the cup shipped directly to you, all factory-sealed and ready to go.

3. The winner will be announced Monday, April 23rd at 2:00 pm PST.

Any questions?

Anonymous said...

Well... I was actually consedering ordering one just yesterday, so I guess I'm in :D That is, if you promise to ship it to Europe if I win... ;)

QT said...

Alright, I'm in - but wary.

Sara said...

Awesome, Crunchy! If I wasn't already a devoted user, I'd sign up :)

One suggestion for newbies - trim the stem!!

Unknown said...

Don't sign me up for the raffle 'cuz I already have a Diva Cup, but I just wanted to add an encouraging word to those about to try it. It is absolutely THE MOST convenient form of menstrual protection I've ever used. I've used of course pads and tampons, cloth pads, those underwear that have cloth pads built in, and now the Diva Cup for over a year. You don't have to empty it as often as you change a tampon, but if by chance you get caught out in public and need to empty it you just dump it into the toilet and wipe off with tp, so if you're at a friend's house no leaving a tampon in her bathroom trash. At first it felt like it would fall out if I tried to run or otherwise exert myself, but after about a month of Kegels that problem disappeared. It did take a couple of months to get used to, but now it's much more comfortable than a tampon. I have a friend who cut the little "pull tab" off the bottom, you'll know what I mean when you get it. Anyway, I'm not a martyr to the environment, but this is one of those perfectly serendipitious things, better for the environment, easier on my pocketbook, and more convenient and comfortable for me.

Anonymous said...

Yay! Sign me up too! I adore this blog, though I'm typically too much of a coward to comment. However, nothing ventured, nothing gained.
Maybe I can change my motto from "saving the planet...one plastic bag at a time" to "saving the planet...one plastic tampon wrapper at a time." Noooo, I think the first one has a better ring to it.

Caroline said...

I don't want to be in the raffle for the cup because I have one, but I will sign up for the prizes! I just got my diva cup last week and have been using it this week... I had a little bit of leakage once and that was it. WAY easier than my usual, and I must add for those considering using it, that it has not been difficult to use. Simple, and I feel much cleaner than with other methods.

Anonymous said...

i hope you get lots of sign ups...i was a bit freaked out when i first heard about the diva cup, but now, nearly a year later, i wouldn't go back to the old stuff! :-)

jmelyn said...

Good God Almighty, I can't believe I'm signing up, but I am.

Seriously. Am I really signing up for this? :)

Anonymous said...

Sure, sign me up! I've been curious about these sorts of cups for a while, so here goes...

Jessica B said...

i have just finished my most hottly anticipated period (since the first) because it was my first with the diva cup! It took a tiny bit of geting used to but by the second day it was all fine! in many ways it is more convenient than tampons as you don't need to carry them with you and anticipate how many you are likely to need, and as previously mentioned you can leave it for longer. it is also kind of cool (in a kind of gross way) to actually see a little cup of your blood rather than just removing and flushing soaked bits of cotton. yay diva cup!!

Trina said...

Sign me up. I haven't used disposable products for 3 months now, but I'm using cloth pads. Would love to try the Diva Cup.

Crunchy Chicken said...

Well, it looks like we have a good mix of newbies and some seasoned veterans to help us out!

And for those of you that just started using the DivaCup, you're still eligible for those exciting prizes at the end of the challenge.

Christy said...

Sign me up. I've been thinking of trying it or reusable pads. I've been using pads for over a year (the disposable ones) since I did some reading about the fibers from tampons being linked to cervical cancer.

Anonymous said...

Sign me cUP! I currently use washable pads but man oh man, they can be a bit bulky. I miss the tampon days so I would love a chance to see if the DivaCup would be better than these pads!

Thanks for the blog, crunchy chicken. I'm learning a lot.

my email is ginnylove@alpha1.net

Anonymous said...

So funny -- I also ordered one already and am waiting to try it out and write about it on my blog, but I recently went off the pill (OK, probably too much information) and that time of the month is taking MONTHS to arrive... but my friends have all raved about it and I can't wait. Sign me up for the challenge!

Anonymous said...

I've been mulling over buying one of these for about a week now, after reading about it on a few different blogs. So please do sign me up!

Anonymous said...

I'm up for the challenge! A little nervous, but sign me...

Anonymous said...

Alright, this provides the incentive I need. I have been considering the Diva cup for some time but have been too chicken to try it. Sign me cUP!

Rachel said...

Sign me cUp please! I'm using an Instead cup now (and love it), but I'm interested to try others.

Anonymous said...

Sign me up, too! I've been using the DivaCup for a couple of months now, and I'm so glad I started. I'm thinking of buying DivaCups for my sisters and mom, too!

asha said...

Sign me up! I'm totally terrified, and mildly grossed out, by this whole idea, but I'm willing to give it a try!

Crunchy Chicken said...

juliana - that's the perfect description I think for most of us here!

Lesley said...

I'd love to sign up for the prizes too! I've had one for a couple of months and it's great! I would NEVER go back to disposable products again!

chickpastor said...

Hi, just found your blog through the amazing no-impact man, and I have been using my diva for a few months now. It does have a learning curve, but I would NEVER go back to the 'pons! I agree with "trim the stem" and if I can be so indelicate...make sure the thing is all the way open before you are ready to go...cuts down on the leakage factor. If I'm eligible for fabulous prizes, great, if not, well, just trying to spread the diva word is good enough too.

Crunchy Chicken said...

hey chickpastor - thanks for the tips! I'm sure we'll all need some help as we start using it.

As for the prize eligibility, I'm trying to just keep it to those who have either just started using it (one month or less) or those who have never used it.

The goal of the challenge is to get people to try something a little more ecologically sound for three months.

But for those veterans -- please stick around as I'm sure we'll be needing some input and guidance!

Anna said...

I just wanted to comment...This is great! I LOVE my Diva cup...used it for about a year before I got pregnant...now just started using it again...It totally made my periods more manageable and my flow lighter...didn't believe it would but it did!
Trim the stem...I still don't LOVE to have to empty it in a public restroom but its way better than tampons!
Good luck with the challenge!

Anonymous said...

I'm in! It should arrive in the mail any day. And it's super cheap at www.betterlife.com.

Michelle said...

Oh, what fun!

I'm not up for the challenge though but only because I'm already a happy "Cupper"- for a few years! :o) I've been blogging about them lately too!

Anonymous said...

South Coast Shopping (http://www.southcoastshopping.com) has the Diva Cup on sale for only $16.99! This is the lowest price I've seen.

Model 1 - http://www.southcoastshopping.com/si/10072.html

Model 2 - http://www.southcoastshopping.com/si/10073.html

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I can't take the challenge either because I've been using my cup for 2 years now.

That makes me a winner anyway! *LOL*

Just wanted to let you know how supportive I am of this awesome idea, read about it in Vancouver's Georgia Straight yesterday.

You go girls!

Anonymous said...

I'd love to be in your contest! I've wanted one of these for a long time! "sign me cUP!"

shrlyhe said...

I'd love to try this. Sign me up please!

Angie said...

Yeah! the word is getting out there! :) I've had mine for about 6 months and I started using it to help control horrible cramps. It works like a charm (once I got the hang of it...one cycle!)

T. I. Hope said...

OK - sign me up! Always looking for "crunchy" ways to live. Have been using GladRags for years and years...

Anonymous said...

I already have one so you don't need to sign me up but seriously everyone should consider switching to the divacup. I suggest folding it in half to insert it, you'll be able to see once you get it. Once you get the hang of getting it in it is the most amazing thing ever. I love it and you really do change it only about 2X a day, much better than gross tampons!

Anonymous said...

Thank you for shedding some light on this. Tonight is the first time I've ever heard of it! I'm sorta befuddled at the moment ... were you "what on earth?"ing too when you first heard?