finally moved

We've finally made the move back to our house in Newton. I'm glad to be there in my own space. It's clean and healthy for B and we hang out outside everyday. We've even made friends with the neighbors who have a one year old boy! B calls him "baby" but i'm trying to get him to call him by his name. We are planning a trip to the zoo tomorrow! Yay! I friend to go to the zoo with!

The weather is finally nice. I'm so excited. I've been hanging my diapers out on the clothes line. Well all my clothes get hung out now. Our dryer door doesn't stay closed so it's a pain to dry clothes in it.

B was moved to a new toddler bed this past weekend. The first night didn't go so well but he slept in it 3 days in a row but last night he got scared maybe and got hystarical so we brought him to bed with us and he slept the whole night. Poor guy. We understand it's a process and it'll take a bit to get used to a new bed and a new room.

We don't have internet or cable at our house, it's kind of nice, but internet would be nice to have. But a local bookstore/coffee shop called Pages has free wifi so I walked there yesterday. It was a really nice but windy walk and took me about 20 minutes. I think i'm going to continue to go there atleast 3 times a week. it's good to walk and be out in the community. Although I have to time it better so B will maybe take a nap.

Anyway, that's what's new with me and B! If there's anything you'd like me to write about or any questions let me know. I can check my blog from my phone, but i haven't figured out how to post from it yet! Maybe someday...

Heather

home made vs store bought

This debate has been in my head for quite some time now. Since I've been getting more and more into the cloth diapering world I see that there are alot of cloth diapers and diaper products made by SAHM (stay at home moms). At first I was thinking, "oh i probably don't want those because they aren't as well made as a more manufactured (or branded) cloth diaper such as fuzzibunz or bumgenious (if these are SAHM too sorry!). But it made me think, why is manufactured better than home made? Why do I want to buy gerber baby food instead of make my own? Why does a chemical cleaner clean better than vinegar and water? Why can't I make my clothing, cleaning supplies, diapers, wipes, anything? Why is it better to just buy it.

Here is my opinion, it's not fact or backed by any statistics, it's just my thought.

I think there are two main reasons.

1. America is lazy. It's true. We would rather someone else do the work and we just go buy it. Heck we have other people buy stuff for us! everything is neatly packaged and ready for us to go buy. There is almost no real thought to what we buy. We just go and buy. We assume it is safe and healthy and a trust worthy product. But really we know nothing about the product. I don't know where gerber baby food is made. I don't know what the facility looks like. Does it look like my kitchen? if so i wouldn't buy their food...lol jk

2. Commercials are in our face 24/7. Companies pay advertisers big bucks to sell their products. maybe even too much. Why do you buy pepsi? is it because Britney Spears endorses it? Or did you buy that sling because Angelina Joli has it? Do we really know anything about these companies? Where does our food come from (i have not watched food inc but i want to). we buy it because we see it and it's convienent. I mean it's all in one store. OUr cloths, food, automotive, sporting goods, toys, all in one place.

So I've come around lately. I currently make my own laundry soap, its cheaper and it works really well! I did notice that when i ran out of my soap (it takes 24 hours to set the soap) i used some store bought soap and it made my clothes smell strong and my throat was burning. I think B was uncomfortable too.
I'm looking into making my own dishwasher soap and household cleaners. They really work just as well and store bought ones and they are more eco friendly because they use natural products that don't pollute the water. YOu also aren't throwing away so many bottles and boxes.

I encourage you to do the math, do the research. If you cloth diaper, look for SAHM's to support. I'm not endorsing any here but if you want some websites, email me.

These are my thoughts. I'm not a writer, i just write what I think.

testing some new skills

click here

i hope this worked Please tell me where the link takes you
email me or facebook me or leave a comment. thanks

wow!!

I have 18 followers!! this morning I had 14. Yay! Maybe when I hit 20 I'll do something specail...or not since i don't know what to do...

Thank you everyone who follows me. I do have so exciting blogs coming up. I'm reading an amazing book called CrazyLove by Francis Chan and everyone should read it.
I have a couple cloth diaper blogs on hold until i can sit down and finish them. And I'm really behind on my recipes.

This isn't a blog dedicated to any one topic. It's a blog about me and my little B (who's not so little anymore) with alittle of my husband thrown in for good measure. I try to write about what I love and what i know. I'm honest in everything.
If you'd like me to write about something or research something for you I will. I love getting feed back. Send me an email anytime

heatherd0584 at yahoo dot com <- i guess you do it this way so you don't get spam...

Thank you all!

Heather and B

Bravado Designs Give Away

Are you a nursing mother? (if not stop reading now) Are you happy with the way your nusing bra holds up? Do you wish it was a little sexier? Lol. I did! White and ugly isn't the only option. I bought a red Bravado nursing bra and a LLL conferene and I felt a little sexier in it lol. But it was a sports bra style. Bravado has just introduced a new style called Sublime and my friend Kim is giving one away on her blog. She gives a wonderful review of it. Check it out here!
http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/bravado-sublime-review-and-giveaway/comment-page-2/#comment-19088

Good Luck

applecheeks swim diaper...

...coming soon

go here to see an amazing reusable swim diaper!


http://diaperingrevolutionary.typepad.com/a_reusable_diaper_revolut/2010/03/splish-splash-just-in-time-for-spring.html#comments

win a Britax Advocate carseat

Did you know that Britax has a new carseat out. It's call the Advocate. It's easier to use than the old style from what I can see because I have an older britax it's it pretty cumbersome! you can go here: http://www.britaxusa.com/car-seats/advocate-cs to check out the new seat. Wow pretty expensive right. but it's worth it. OR you acn go here: http://myweeview.com/2010/03/britax-car-seat-arv-369/#respond to try to win one from My Wee View. That's right she's giving one away! She gives a first had review of the seat too!
God Luck

Hershey Basket for Children's Miracle Network

My very good friend Annie www.mamadweeb.com is participating in the Better Baskets Blog Hop. For every blog post written today and linked up Hersheys will donate $10 to the Chilldren’s Miracel Network! My local television station does a telethon once a year to raise funds and this year I just can’t find the money – but this is my donation. I am really hoping that I can raise at least another $50 for them – are there at least 4 other bloggers that will participate with me?

I am giving this basket to 10 other bloggers and I really hope at least half of you can do a short post for Children’s Miracle Network.
So I'm doing my part to help out this charity!

If you'd like to participate here's how: (i hope i do it right!)

Take some time to browse these great blogs if you have a chance! They are all sweet mama bloggers and I love reading what they right, but I treasure their friendship more!

So, how can you get involved?

“HERSHEY’S BETTER BASKET BLOG HOP RULES

* Copy and paste these rules to your blog post.

* Create a blog post of giving a virtual Easter Basket to another blogger – you
can give as many Virtual Baskets as you want – from just one other blogger to an unlimited number

* Link back to person who gave you an Easter Basket.

* Let each person you are giving a Virtual Easter Basket know you have given them
a Basket.

* Leave your link at http://betterbasket.info/bloghop/
where you can also find the official rules of this #betterbasket blog hop and more
information about Better Basket with Hershey’s.

* Hershey’s is donating 10$ per each blog participating to the Better Basket Blog
Hop to Children’s Miracle Network (up to total of $5,000 by blog posts written
by April 4th, 2010).

* Please note that only one blog post by each blog url will count towards the
donation. ”

30 days of thirsties giveaway

So who wouldn't want to try a thirsties cloth diaper. The name says it all. Night time is the worse time for little B and diapers. I over stuff and layer so he'll stay dry. He also goes through drinking spurt where he'll drink gallons of milk and water a day so I need extra thirsty diapers to soak all that up!
I have heard some may grea things about thirsty diapers. They have fitted diapers and a new diaper called the duo which has two sizes with adjustable rises. I love all in one diapers and if they fit little B for a long time that's great. I'm totally signing up to win one here

http://www.hormonal-imbalances.com/search/label/Giveaways%2FReviews

actaully this is what you win!
FIVE Duo Diapers in your choice of size (which offer the same ease of use as disposables. Dads love them; great for everyday, overnights and travel)
- two packs of Fab Wipes in your choice of colors (to wipe away the mess)
- the Thirsties Prewash and Super Wash (for washing the diapers)
- a 4oz and a 8 oz Booty Luster (for tiny bottoms)

5 diapers! man! how generous are they. I hope I win. I really want to try these diapers!

rumparooz G2 giveaway

Rumparooz G2 Giveaway Sponsored by Diapers Etc!

I really really want a rumparooz diaper! They look awesome and i've read so many amazing reviews about them. I just wish i could afford to buy one myself. So I sign up for giveaways! you can win one too if you want. go here

http://dirtydiaperlaundry.com/rumparooz-g2-giveaway-sponsored-by-diapers-etc/comment-page-1/#comment-18402

but if you win, you have to give it to me because i told you about it!
lol

good luck
heather

saving money/live greener

I recently lost my job and have now been forced to find ways to save money. Forced my be a strong word, but I've always known i need to save money, I just never had a good enough reason to. Now I do. And I know alot of people have been effected by the economy and any way to save a penny is good advice in my book. I actually enjoy finding ways to save, or use less, and even be greener in the process. This is a list in my head that i've created. it's not a top 5 or 10 list. just some tips i've picked up in the last few months (or longer).

1. Cloth diaper! I got cloth diapers for my baby shower (i wanted them) and was able to cloth diaper B for the first 2 months then our daycare wouldn't do it so I CD'ed part time. Now that I'm home, I cloth diaper full time. Green too because you are creating less waste

2. Cloth wipe. Makes sence when you cloth wipe. who wants to pick out poopy wipes from the poopy diaper. Make your own out of flannel or fleece. i made about 35 out of a yard. but i doubled mine. Green too because you are creating less waste

3. cloth wipe solution-go here for a ton of recipes-its i use water, baby wash and baby oil. stuff i already had http://www.zany-zebra.com/cloth-wipe-solution.shtml
Green too because you are creating less waste


4. make your own laundry soap-i make mine...does it work...i wash my cloth diapers and wipes in it. they are definatly clean. if it can clean poop off a diaper then it works. go here for the recipe. you can also google the Duggers. they have one too
It was probably like 7 dollars for all the ingrediants but the ivory soap came in a three pack so i was able to make 3 buckets of laundry soap for 7 dollars. how much do you spend on laundry soap. I've made three buckets, one per month. it can do about 64 loads.
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.thefamilyhomestead.com%2Flaundrysoap.htm&h=d9cb53dd9a55a80935f093b140ba35ac
Green too because you are creating less waste


5. Thank you Margaret for this tip. Put olive oil in your hair before you shampoo then you won't need conditioner. and it's all natural so it's ok to wash down the sink. She also uses it as lotion. she mixes it with tea tree oil.
Green too because you are creating less waste

6.I get recipes in my email from parentsmag.com. it is great because they are usually fairly simple to make and don't take alot of time to make either. And alot of them use items you may already have, or are inexpensive to make. I've printed out about 20 so far that i keep in rotation and some of them call for the same ingrediants so it's easy to shop too. I spend less money at the store too, because I know exactly what i need. I can spend $50-$80 a week on groceries!

7.Sign up for giveaways on blogs. you can win free stuff or get coupons or ideas on other way to save money. The Mom Blogospere is amazing. It's mom's reaching out to mom's. it's a great way to meet new moms in the same situation you are.

8.Participate in a consignment sale. I made $80 by selling B's old clothing and toys. And I'm doing another one this week. It can be better than a yard sale because you set the price and the buyers can't ask for less.

9. shop at the dollar tree. Do you really need to spend 10 dollars on shampoo and conditioner. Like i sad before, you wash it down the drain.

10. Look for ways to mak your own of things. Invest in Dining on a Dime cook book. there are tips on how to save money on grocery bills and the back has recipes for homemade everything (margaret and I made leg wax...ouch) But seriously, you should check it out!


So I guess that's all I have for now. It was a top 10 list after all. I do all of these except use olive oil, because I seriously just bought new shampoo and conditioner (from the dollar tree).
If you do things to save money email me heatherd0584[at]yahoo[dot]com

fun giveaway...really!

i have a fabulous friend who is a mom, who creates amazing custom handmade jewlery, and is having a giveaway! i do have a few of her pieces and I love them! she does amazing work and is very creative. you should check out her online store:

http://therustedchain.bigcartel.com/

AND go to her blog and check out the giveaway!

http://pamperingbeki.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-jewelry-and-giveaway.html

good luck...if you win you have to give it to me because I told you about it ;)

this was really yummy!

I took a risk fixing this for dinner because Mitchel doesn't like sweet potatoes. But I did because it made 10 servings and was cheap to make. I did everything the same in the recipe but I used 15 ounce cans of beans. 1. because I'm not big on beans and 2. I could only find 15 ounce cans at the store. I also used regular ground beef. I don't know if that different that ground round steak or not. Oh, and I guess I for go the ground cloves. I just noticed that. Oh well.

I had to run off to a LLL meeting so Mitchel had to finish cooking it. It turn out really yummy. Mitchel even liked it! So I will be cooking this again.
The only items I had to buy for this meal were, chick peas, white beans (great northern beans?), and sweet potatoes. Everything else I had in my pantry. I hope you try this. It could also be vegetrian if you leave out the beef. I don't know about the cheese though. I know some who eat cheese and some who don't.

Ingredients

1 can (19 ounces) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
1 can (19 ounces) white beans, drained and rinsed
1 can (19 ounces) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
1 pound ground round steak
2 teaspoons sugar
1 teaspoons salt
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/3 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
4 sweet potatoes (about 2 pounds), peeled and cut into 1/8-inch-thick slices
2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese
Directions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat 4-quart casserole with cooking spray.

2. Combine beans, ground round, sugar, salt, cinnamon, allspice, pepper and ground cloves in a bowl.

3. Layer one-third of sweet potato slices in casserole. Spread half of bean mixture over top. Sprinkle with third of cheese. Repeat layering again. Place remaining third of sweet potato slices on top. Cover with foil.

4. Bake in 350 degree F oven for 1 hour. Sprinkle remaining cheese over top. Bake, uncovered, another 30 minutes or until potatoes are tender. Let stand 10 minutes before serving. Makes 10 servings.

dearforms slippers/boots

Have you ever needed to run outside for just a second but it was cold or snowy, or if your not like me you need to put shoes on, but don't want to lace up tennis shoes. well check out dearfoams.com
they havea huge selection of slippers and indoor/outdoor shoes. OR you can head over to:
http://niftynappy.blogspot.com/2010/03/my-comfy-feet-dearfoams-reviewgiveaway.html and check out her review and giveaway!

Also check out her other giveways and reviews too!

craigslist...not cool people

Wow, So I thought I'd sell some items of craigslist to make some extra money to get a new sewing machine. Yeah...people expect to get something for nothing. I was trying to sell two accustic guitar for $75 each. You'd think I was stealing from them! I got hounded with so many pointless questions. I didn't think it mattered so much what the make and model was. I would just be happy to be finding one for that price. I finally relisted them for $60 for the pair because I felt so bad about pricing them so high. Oh well. They sold so I have $60 dollars.

I also sold a digital camera for $30 because it was alittle banged up and i'd had it for three years. One person emailed me asking what was wrong with it and that I should sell broken things...it wasn't broken! I nice girl bought it who didn't ask me a million questions!

And, now i get spam like nothing else.

Anyway. It is kinda worth it to get a little extra money i guess

Thanks Annie!

You should check out her blog too. Here's the link where she spotlighted my blog! I blushed a little when i read it...lol. She has like 300 followers and I have a humble 14. I'm just getting into blogging, but I love it. For some reason it's easier to write online that in my personl journal...maybe it's because B can't grab the pen out of my had and I can just backspace his "scribbles". Anyway. Thanks to my 14 followers for following me. It makes me happy. And thanks Annie for spotlighting me!

http://mamadweeb.com/2010/03/spotlight-saturday-betcha-dont-know-these-wonderful-mamas.html/comment-page-1#comment-9057

everyone should read this blog

it's so beautiful....

http://www.kellehampton.com/

why i started cloth diapering

Before I was even pregnant with Brighton I started listening to this podcast on my ipod called pregtastic and it was basically a round table of 3-5 pregnant moms at different stages of their pregnancy talking about their experiences. They would have different topics each week about pregnancy, babies, birth, after birth things and pretty much anything you would want to talk about rguarding this subject. I really enjoyed listening to them because it was realy women talking candidly. This is podcast also made me decide to breastfeed. They had a many episodes about nursing, but they also had episodes about formula too which i liked because it gave both sides.

So anyway, they had a podcast about cloth diapers and featured the founder of happy heinies cloth diapers and I became in love with the idea of cloth diapering. They talked about the enviornmental impact of disposables and the impact on baby's skin and body and how much it costs to diaper a baby using disposables vs cloth. In my mind cloth was the way to go. So i began researching cloth diapers and couldn't find anywhere that sold them near me until I moved to Newton,KS and came across the Healthy Baby Boutique. I went in there and Kendra (the owner) had a whole huge wall dedicated to cloth diapers and I felt like I was in heaven. She was so helpful and told me all about cloth diapers and helped me pick out the best ones to buy. She gave me her own personal experience with them, good and bad. I made it known to some close friends and women at church that I wanted to cloth diaper and they seemed to be on board and I received most of the stash from them. and I my loving Aunt bought me some too! I love changing Brighton's diaper knowing that I'm saving money, helping the enviornment and also and I'll save even more money when I have another baby, because I won't have to buy any diapers! Well maybe a few...lol

SO anyway. There's why i started cloth diapering. I don't know if they still have that podcast, but you should listen to it if they do!

what do you do?

Brighton has not been feeling well for the past, like, 4 days. He's been extremely fussy, hasn't been sleeping well, and just a real grump. He is getting teeth in, but he has been really needy too. He always wants hugs and kisses and wants to be held. Yay! but it can be too much sometimes. I have been frustrated with him, but he doesn't really know any better. He's telling me what he needs the best way he knows how.

So I have two ring slings that go over one shoulder and they were great when he was little, like a new born, but now that he weighs 25 pounds the ring sling doesn't distribute his weight well anymore. I looked into other options for slings but they are just too expensive right now. Enter free box of fabric! I got a free box of fabric and it had this really long piece of blue polyester fabric. Kind of ugly and not the ideal fabric for a sling, but it was free and it was plenty long enough for me to make a wrap. So i did. It's close to a moby wrap.

I don't know why I didn't think to put him in the sling sooner. He loves being in the sling and he was totally quiet and content, and I wasn't breaking my back trying to hold him. I could move around easily and I was meeting his needs.

So if you have a clingy baby wrap them up in wrap or a sling. Its so much easier to hug and love on them and still get around the house or where ever you are.