Personally, cloth diapering and going green have been a very positive experience. My friends and family were very supportive, and so far I have provided cloth diapers for at least 4 kids in my family, which I was absolutely ecstatic to do. One other mom with two on the way has also committed to using a diaper service for her babies after birth. I love sharing the love! One of the moms is only using cloth as a backup, but two other moms I know have now switched to cloth diapers.
My husband, in the beginning, wasn't as supportive as I would have liked. He didn't want me to invest in cloth diapers. Today, I am pretty sure he would be totally disappointed if I went back to using disposables. We haven't bought any disposable diapers in over a year.
When he wasn't being supportive, I just ignored him. I have the talent (or curse) of not really caring what other people think even if I respect their opinion. So, when my husband was upset over me "wasting" money on cloth I just did it anyway. But, I also have the luxury of having my own account so he really can't tell me what to buy!
People always suspect that those using cloth diapers are too poor to afford "real diapers". My dad asked me if I was having problems buying diapers when I told him I switched to cloth! If only they knew that the investment in cloth and wool that I have made really exceeds the amount I have saved by switching to cloth. Most often, money saving isn't the point of using cloth. Saving the environment is.
I am always curious when moms aren't being supported in their decision to use cloth. My husband is amazing. He washes all the diapers and hangs them out to sun when needed. I don't know if I could have gotten so far without his support. Does your spouse support your decision to use cloth diapers? If not, how do you deal with it?
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Furniture Safety for Babies and Toddlers
I really think that furniture safety is something every parent should know about. I personally didn't think about it until I had #5, and then only because we brought huge bookshelves into our house. I suddenly realized that these shelves were totally dangerous. My husband went through our home and attached everything to the wall using hooks, screws, or safety latches as needed. I know you may worry about drilling holes in your furniture, but nothing is worth the cost of something falling on your child.
These tips can help you attach your furniture safely for the littlest members of your family. Also, don't forget about bedside tables and other smaller furnishings. They may not seem big, but can easily hurt a small child.
- Read the report from The US Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can find it here. There is some good information there on furniture safety for babies and toddlers.
- Don't store items that kids might want to grab, like TV remotes, on shelves that may tip. Always put your television on a very sturdy surface, and then keep it as far back as possible.
- Buy furniture latches. You can find them online at Amazon.com. Here is an example of what to look for. If you are searching through Google, a search like "furniture strap" or "furniture safety baby" can help you find other products to choose from, but there are a lot on Amazon, too.
-Check your straps and safety latches often, especially after your child has pulled on the furniture being held by the strap. It is always recommended that you insert the safety strap into a stud to ensure the strap is being held securely. If you aren't sure how to find a stud on your own, then buy a stud finder at the hardware store. They are only a few dollars, and well worth it when installing furniture safety straps.
Safely installing straps on each piece of furniture in your home doesn't really take a long time, and it is relatively inexpensive.
These tips can help you attach your furniture safely for the littlest members of your family. Also, don't forget about bedside tables and other smaller furnishings. They may not seem big, but can easily hurt a small child.
- Read the report from The US Consumer Product Safety Commission. You can find it here. There is some good information there on furniture safety for babies and toddlers.
- Don't store items that kids might want to grab, like TV remotes, on shelves that may tip. Always put your television on a very sturdy surface, and then keep it as far back as possible.
- Buy furniture latches. You can find them online at Amazon.com. Here is an example of what to look for. If you are searching through Google, a search like "furniture strap" or "furniture safety baby" can help you find other products to choose from, but there are a lot on Amazon, too.
-Check your straps and safety latches often, especially after your child has pulled on the furniture being held by the strap. It is always recommended that you insert the safety strap into a stud to ensure the strap is being held securely. If you aren't sure how to find a stud on your own, then buy a stud finder at the hardware store. They are only a few dollars, and well worth it when installing furniture safety straps.
Safely installing straps on each piece of furniture in your home doesn't really take a long time, and it is relatively inexpensive.
Wow- What a Season!
Every winter we end up battling colds and coughs. My youngest daughter has allergies, so its a double battle with her. This year we have switched to mostly homeopathic medicines and guess what? No winter-long cough! For the past three or four years she has coughed all winter long, despite trips to the Dr. I don't feel comfortable giving them Clartin or other over the counter medicines on a daily basis, plus they made my son have a terrible stomach ache. So, no thanks to that.
We used natural honey and peppermint when we did have a cough. And lots of Four thieves oil. I added some 4 Thieves essential oil to a bottle of sweet almond oil and let them rub a dime sized drop on their chest before bed when the had a flu bug. It seemed to work, they were all 95% better the next morning. Of course, we did visit our doctor and I recommend everyone else do the same if you have symptoms of the flu.
I also use Four Thieves oil in my oil burner during the whole time they were sick, and neither me, my husband, or Little Wiggler got sick. I'm totally giving that to the Four Thieves, since I always get sick when the kids do.
What are your favorite homeopathic or natural remedies? I would love to know!
We used natural honey and peppermint when we did have a cough. And lots of Four thieves oil. I added some 4 Thieves essential oil to a bottle of sweet almond oil and let them rub a dime sized drop on their chest before bed when the had a flu bug. It seemed to work, they were all 95% better the next morning. Of course, we did visit our doctor and I recommend everyone else do the same if you have symptoms of the flu.
I also use Four Thieves oil in my oil burner during the whole time they were sick, and neither me, my husband, or Little Wiggler got sick. I'm totally giving that to the Four Thieves, since I always get sick when the kids do.
What are your favorite homeopathic or natural remedies? I would love to know!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Zobha Contest for Yoga
There is a cool free yoga stuff giveaway here: http://blog.zobha.com/index.php/inspiration/how-would-you-use-free-yoga-gear-in-2011/
I personally love yoga, and I know a lot of other Moms do, too. They have some pretty cool stuff on the website, including clothing and accessories. Here is my list of faves from the site.
Top: The Grace V Tank in black and Moroccan blue.
I really like tops that have a V neckline.I also like a lot of their pants, especially the Harlem capris in black. They look perfect for yoga. I think the colors used on the top are very relaxing, and the pant and shirt combination is perfect for moving smoothly in yoga class.
I don't know if you have ever worn a regular tee and sweats when doing yoga, but trust me, sometimes your shirt ends up over your head! The top from Zobha is the perfect solution since it is tight enough to stay in place but also comfortable and stretchy enough for the fluid motions of yoga.
The contest also includes a hoodie, but I love the Lounge Wrap in black! Stylish enough to wear anywhere. I really am starting to like more feminine "girly" styles, which is kind of weird if you know me.
Zobha also has an awesome yoga bag, called the City Bag in pink and brown. Brown is defiitely my favorite color and I love it pair with bright colors like pink and aqua. A yoga bag is a must have when you are going to classes! I also have trouble keeping up with stuff, so a bag could help me get way more organized and ready to go.
They are also giving away a silk eye pillow filled with lavender. I don't know how much you love lavender, but let me tell you it is amazing! Real lavender is one of my favorite scents. If you haven't smelled the buds yourself then you don't know what you are missing. Zobha offers a silk eye pillow filled with lavender, definitely worth it if you want to relax. I also use lavender for helping my kids relax at bedtime! I know that a lavender eye pillow would be so relaxing to use, I would probably use it way more than necessary just because I love the scent so much.
These are all my favorite styles from Zobha, but they have lots of other yoga supplies, too! I am just getting started with yoga on a daily basis so I don't have all the gear yet. I would love to win the contest that Zobha is offering! All you need to do is make a blog post like this one and link back to the Zobha website with your favorite pieces from the site. They have some really cool styles, too, so you are going to find lots of things you love right away!
If I won I would definitely feel more comfortable in yoga. I totally love the colors from this company. Very modern and sleek, but also timeless enough to last for quite some time!
I personally love yoga, and I know a lot of other Moms do, too. They have some pretty cool stuff on the website, including clothing and accessories. Here is my list of faves from the site.
Top: The Grace V Tank in black and Moroccan blue.
I really like tops that have a V neckline.I also like a lot of their pants, especially the Harlem capris in black. They look perfect for yoga. I think the colors used on the top are very relaxing, and the pant and shirt combination is perfect for moving smoothly in yoga class.
I don't know if you have ever worn a regular tee and sweats when doing yoga, but trust me, sometimes your shirt ends up over your head! The top from Zobha is the perfect solution since it is tight enough to stay in place but also comfortable and stretchy enough for the fluid motions of yoga.
The contest also includes a hoodie, but I love the Lounge Wrap in black! Stylish enough to wear anywhere. I really am starting to like more feminine "girly" styles, which is kind of weird if you know me.
Zobha also has an awesome yoga bag, called the City Bag in pink and brown. Brown is defiitely my favorite color and I love it pair with bright colors like pink and aqua. A yoga bag is a must have when you are going to classes! I also have trouble keeping up with stuff, so a bag could help me get way more organized and ready to go.
They are also giving away a silk eye pillow filled with lavender. I don't know how much you love lavender, but let me tell you it is amazing! Real lavender is one of my favorite scents. If you haven't smelled the buds yourself then you don't know what you are missing. Zobha offers a silk eye pillow filled with lavender, definitely worth it if you want to relax. I also use lavender for helping my kids relax at bedtime! I know that a lavender eye pillow would be so relaxing to use, I would probably use it way more than necessary just because I love the scent so much.
These are all my favorite styles from Zobha, but they have lots of other yoga supplies, too! I am just getting started with yoga on a daily basis so I don't have all the gear yet. I would love to win the contest that Zobha is offering! All you need to do is make a blog post like this one and link back to the Zobha website with your favorite pieces from the site. They have some really cool styles, too, so you are going to find lots of things you love right away!
If I won I would definitely feel more comfortable in yoga. I totally love the colors from this company. Very modern and sleek, but also timeless enough to last for quite some time!
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Five Steps to Weight Loss
Ready? You can lose weight with these five EASY steps. No dieting required.
Step One: Let your nine year old cook. Do you really need an explanation here?
Step Two: Cook stuff you always forget about, like pot roasts and casseroles, in the oven and simultaneously try to convince the three year old it's not OK to take his penis out inappropriately while breastfeeding a baby. There is almost a 100% guarantee that dinner will burn,and be inedible. If you do this often enough, weight loss is guaranteed.
Step Three: Take all the kids grocery shopping. By the time you leave the store you will have three boxes of crayons and some baking soda, but will be so anxious to leave before the baby has a meltdown over jelly beans that you forget to buy food. Serve ranch, ketchup and one box of mac and cheese for eight people that night.
Step Four: Skip dinner and go right to wine. After one glass, eat the baby's Gerber puffs you found under the high chair. Not only are they tasteless enough to discourage eating, but they are also low cal!
Step Five: Take all the kids out for pizza when they complain about the crappy mac and cheese with ketchup. Spend the whole time trying to convince the three year old food is good, and trying to keep the one year old from putting pizza in his hair. Add in the fifteen times you get change for arcade games and you have your workout for the day in! You don't have time to eat so you end up grabbing the lonely tomato left from last weeks salad when you get home.
Good luck Moms!
Step One: Let your nine year old cook. Do you really need an explanation here?
Step Two: Cook stuff you always forget about, like pot roasts and casseroles, in the oven and simultaneously try to convince the three year old it's not OK to take his penis out inappropriately while breastfeeding a baby. There is almost a 100% guarantee that dinner will burn,and be inedible. If you do this often enough, weight loss is guaranteed.
Step Three: Take all the kids grocery shopping. By the time you leave the store you will have three boxes of crayons and some baking soda, but will be so anxious to leave before the baby has a meltdown over jelly beans that you forget to buy food. Serve ranch, ketchup and one box of mac and cheese for eight people that night.
Step Four: Skip dinner and go right to wine. After one glass, eat the baby's Gerber puffs you found under the high chair. Not only are they tasteless enough to discourage eating, but they are also low cal!
Step Five: Take all the kids out for pizza when they complain about the crappy mac and cheese with ketchup. Spend the whole time trying to convince the three year old food is good, and trying to keep the one year old from putting pizza in his hair. Add in the fifteen times you get change for arcade games and you have your workout for the day in! You don't have time to eat so you end up grabbing the lonely tomato left from last weeks salad when you get home.
Good luck Moms!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Being a Work at Home Mom
Being a work at home mom is a LOT harder with two little ones than I had imagined. My baby, Little Wiggle Worm, is very time consuming even when my three year old is entertaining himself. It doesn't really pay to depend on my husband or his older siblings to help out, either, just because they usually have their own projects going on.
Are you a WAHM? If so, what things do you to to ensure you have enough time in your day for your projects and your kiddos?
Are you a WAHM? If so, what things do you to to ensure you have enough time in your day for your projects and your kiddos?
Monday, January 17, 2011
Going Green
Going green is really a bunch of little changes that add up to a lifestyle change. I really try to make everything I do as green as possible, but there are some things that I struggle with. Like Pine Sol. I freakin' LOVE the smell of Pine Sol. Seriously. Sometimes you can find me in Wal-Mart just sniffing a bottle because I stopped buying it. But I still love it!
Pine Sol is probably what heaven smells like, but I'm sure its all organic and chemical free there.
Anyway. So, now I just use tea tree oil, lavender and water. It smells pretty good and it get things clean so I can't complain. My next step is switching to all stainless steel water bottles for me and the kids. I stopped buying bottled water because of the pollution factor but now I just don't want to drink water. I also found some pretty cool filter bottles from Bobble (BPA free) that I am considering.
I also love makeup, and not the organic, bug free, all natural kind. I like really good waterproof mascara. But I don't mind mineral makeup, its actually pretty good.
My goals for this year are pretty simple as far as going green:
-grow a 100% organic garden with my kids that is more productive than last years
-Don't buy any more throw away batteries, but get the rechargeable kind for EVERYTHING. Which is a lot of stuff around here.
-Try to buy second hand whenever possible.
-Don't buy plastic (like dishes) and don't buy bottled water unless absolutely necessary.
What are your going green goals in 2011? I think I have a really good start this year. We are planning on buying clothes, games, toys and books secondhand and already have some plans for the garden!
Pine Sol is probably what heaven smells like, but I'm sure its all organic and chemical free there.
Anyway. So, now I just use tea tree oil, lavender and water. It smells pretty good and it get things clean so I can't complain. My next step is switching to all stainless steel water bottles for me and the kids. I stopped buying bottled water because of the pollution factor but now I just don't want to drink water. I also found some pretty cool filter bottles from Bobble (BPA free) that I am considering.
I also love makeup, and not the organic, bug free, all natural kind. I like really good waterproof mascara. But I don't mind mineral makeup, its actually pretty good.
My goals for this year are pretty simple as far as going green:
-grow a 100% organic garden with my kids that is more productive than last years
-Don't buy any more throw away batteries, but get the rechargeable kind for EVERYTHING. Which is a lot of stuff around here.
-Try to buy second hand whenever possible.
-Don't buy plastic (like dishes) and don't buy bottled water unless absolutely necessary.
What are your going green goals in 2011? I think I have a really good start this year. We are planning on buying clothes, games, toys and books secondhand and already have some plans for the garden!
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