Product Review:

Party In My Pants

Nothing can ever truly make a period "happy" (sorry, Always), but some things can help.

Some women are cheered up by bright colours and pretty patterns. Other women light up at the sight of animals. For some, power tools really get their motors going.

All of these things can be found in patterns used by Party In My Pants, a company that takes a happy and eco-friendly approach to that dreaded time of the month.

PIMP is a woman-owned company that hand-makes cloth menstrual pads. The pads have a cotton top layer, an absorbent cotton core and a leak-proof nylon bottom shield.

The funky patterns will put a grin on your face, as will the soft textures of the flannel or cotton pads. (They even have organic cotton patterns for the hippie-chic!)

The best part about these pads, though, is that they have a far less harmful impact on the environment than disposable feminine products.

According to thechicecologist.com, a typical woman uses somewhere between 8,000 to 17,000 disposable menstrual products in her lifetime. That's a ton of trash. Cloth pads can last from five to seven years, if you take good care of them.

I wasn't entirely sure about these products when I first heard about them. I ordered a few different sizes for a trial run before I was ready to make the switch.

The pads arrived in a discreet brown box — not emblazoned with the company's name, as I had expected. The box ships from "Luci Daum Design LLC," so for those who are shy about what others may think, people probably won't be able to tell what you ordered from looking at the package.

The pads come wrapped in lovely light brown tissue paper with leaves printed on it. Along with the pads, the box contained a thank you note, care instructions and a small piece of dark chocolate. I'm not one to buy into the whole "emotional women need chocolate" stereotype, but come on — who doesn't love chocolate?

Overall, this was definitely the nicest presentation of pads I've ever seen, but do they work?

Hell yes.

They're thin and not bulky — not to mention comfy and cozy — which made me feel pretty good. When I thought about how much money I was saving — close to $240 over five years, according to the PIMP savings calculator (http://partypantspads.com/savings- calculator) - it improved my mood even more.

The pads have wings with a small snap. Though the pads are not adjustable, you can order a free wing extender if you need a little extra room. Cloth pad newbies are probably better off ordering a few different sizes for their first time, to find out which sizes fit most comfortably.

Washing the pads — the part that most people are uncomfortable with — was not a big deal. The website and care instructions both outline exactly how to care for the pads to make them last as long as possible. Rinsing is optional — you can just toss these into a washer with warm or cool water and regular detergent. You can dry the pads by hanging them up or by popping them into the dryer on a low or medium setting. Being blasted with hot water and air can damage the pads' nylon shield, making them deteriorate more rapidly.

I'd recommend PIMP to every woman I know. They may not make your period "happy," but it'll definitely liven it up.

Visit www.partypantspads.com for more information.