The Diaper Factor

I recently was given the opportunity to guest blog here.  It was a lot of fun!  And it was my first foray into guest writing for anyone.  I have to admit that I get some funny looks sometimes when people see that we use cloth diapers and other times I get questions.  I have to say I'll take it either way especially since it's summertime and I'm putting Baby in just tee-shirts and diapers.  I figure I've got two children with fluffy butts why not show off the cuteness on one of them while it's still ok.  I mean, come on, how many people get to run around in just their underwear and not get the side eye?  Very few, unless you're an underwear model on a billboard or runway.  And even then it generally sticks to those two venues.  So, I'll take advantage of showing off the cuteness.

When I was pregnant with Tot I started looking at the idea of cloth when we were trying to figure out how to keep expenses at a minimum because I had been laid off for the second time in a little over a year.  The layoff while pregnant came as completely unexpected at 14 weeks.  I was upset and angry because all I could think was who was going to hire a pregnant woman?  Yes, yes, I know.  Discrimination based upon pregnancy is illegal, but let's face the fact that it happens.  No one wants to hire a pregnant woman 99% of the time.  I mananged to find something but it was still stress inducing.  So, as I looked more and more at our budget I all saw cloth diapers as a way to save some money especially when I looked at the cost of disposables.  That cost was just an eye bugging moment every time we walked into the store and saw the prices and wondered how people can handle throwing money in the trash on a regular basis.  I mean, I had a pair of jeans that I wore because they were my favorite.  They were finally laid to rest during my sophomore year of college.  I had them since 6th grade.  They were faded and falling apart at the seams.  My newest pair I've had for the better part of 6 years now and they still fit after two children.

Hubs took a little convincing to get on board with the idea of cloth.  He was even talking to his family about it and that was where some of the negativity towards cloth started.  All that was thought of was rubber/plastic pants and old-fashioned diapers.  Hubs wore cloth because his skin was too sensitive to wear disposables.  However it took little convincing once Hubs saw what cloth was like now as I had purchased a few "daddy friendly" BumGenius diapers.  Tot was in disposables for the first two months because the diapers were one-size but don't really fit until 10 lbs or so.  Tot went into cloth and it was amazing.  I still had user error but I wore less blowouts even with our lack of getting the right fit while we were figuring out this whole new world.  I remember the turning point of saying I absolutely hated disposables and wanted to start using cloth asap.  Tot was around 8 weeks old and he was a poop machine and that's putting it mildly.  We were still getting the breastfeeding thing down and I was still overwhelmed in my new role as a mom.  But, Tot decided to just clear out one particular day.  His 8th blowout of the day (seriously) happened 5 minutes before Hubs walked in the door from work.  I was a wreck!  We got his clothes off of him but not before we really got poop all over him.  Then Hubs grabbed a trash bag and we carried Tot into the bathroom and proceeded to change him over the tub with the trash bag underneath him.  Then we had to hose him off.  Thank goodness for handheld shower heads!  Needless to say I was not pleased.  That was the day of 15 outfit changes because he spit up so much and had so many blowouts.  It was a very dark day.  But, it lead me to a resolve that we were going to use cloth and make it work.

Well, here we are over 2.5 years later and Tot is still in cloth.  We got the usual naysaying of "it won't last" and "why would you want to do that?"  And now Baby is in cloth and I have to say she has one of the cutest bums out there because it's covered in cloth.  But, I'm biased.  So, why do I want to use cloth....? 

1.  MONEY!  I have saved over $3000 in diapering and this includes water/electricity usage. 
2.  The skin factor....My kids get rashy in disposables.  Plus, I've recently seen photos of rashes that are happening to children using one very popular disposable brand.  My kids wake up with beautiful smooth skin and that makes me happy.  I don't have to waste even more money on expensive petroleum based creams. 
3.  No late night runs to the store.  I just throw the diapers in the wash and I always have a rotation of diapers on the table ready to use.  I really am the laziest person out there.  I hate even carrying paper towels into the house and am switching away from their use as well.
4.  No chemicals/synthetic fragrances against my kids skin.  I'm not the only one out there that hates the weird purfumey smell of disposables.  It's is an immediate headache inducing, nauseating smell.
5. Money.  Did I mention that?  It's a pretty important one for us. 
6. Less disposables in the trash to "decompose or biodegrade."  Sitting in a landfill diapers, nor other matter will break down.  At least not in my lifetime or for several generations after my great-grandchildren will come and pass.  The Earth is not of unlimited resources.  And those chemicals along with human waste leech.  And in case, you didn't know you are supposed to dispose of solids in disposables by flushing the solids in your toilet before throwing them in the trash.  But, I know many people do not take this step.  They simply roll up the diaper and put it in the trash.  Blech!  Then that reaches the water table.  Ok, enough soap boxing there for now. 

There is more for the diaper factor.  But, for now Baby is happily smacking her lips at me to get her fed.  Have questions about cloth diapering?  Ask me.  I'll be happy to compile a list and do some posting about them!

Too much time away from the serger!

I finally got to sit down the other night and make a fitted for Baby that had been sitting on my table mocking me for a few weeks.  I haven't gotten much time to do more than a quickie project here or there since Baby arrived.  She's a demanding nurser to which I'm happy to oblige.  But, I started out using the VeryBaby.com pattern with some modification.  It turned out great for my very first OS (one sized) fitted.  I can't wait to finish the other 10 or so sitting on the table.  They're laughing at me right now.  All those cool prints are laughing at me that I didn't tackle them as soon as I cut.  I give them the evil eye back.  It's a two way street, right?  I just need to add snaps one night this week and it's ready to go.  Ok, so here's the fluff love!

Skillet Cooking Part II

As I stated previously USE YOUR NOGGIN (aka common sense) when cooking with your electric skillet.  Emergency services should be on speed dial and proper fire extinguishing methods should always be readily available.  And if you don't have common sense get off of blogger and go have a talk with someone who can help you learn some.

Ok, down to business.

I decided to also try making hard boiled eggs in the skillet.  Again fill just over half way with water and your eggs. The eggs won't be completely covered but that's ok.  Put the lid on and let it boil.  Once boiling let it boil for about 10 minutes.  You'll need to keep adjusting so it doesn't boil to vigorously and crack your eggs.  I only did this with a couple eggs to try.  But, after ten minutes turn off the skillet and let the eggs sit there in the hot water for another 10-15 minutes.  When that's done take the eggs out carefully since the water is still incredibly hot (this goes with the common sense explanation above) and put in cold water.  Then peel and eat or stick in the fridge until you're ready to make something with them.

Mmmm....Guacamole

I used to hate the stuff.  For good reason. I hadn't had good guac.  A travesty for sure.  It had mayonaise in it.  Who does that?! Crappy restaurants, that's who.  Then I tried Wholly Guacamole and it's pretty good but it gets expensive for not a lot of snack.  So I made my own for about the same price but more of it.

Here's what you need:
3 ripe avocados
1/2 large tomato seeded and diced
1/4 large red onion finely chopped
The juice of one lime
A generous pinch of kosher salt
1/4 of a small jalapeno chopped finely
A couple leaves of cilantro very finely chopped
1 garlic clove mashed into a paste or 1/4 tsp garlic powder
Salt to taste

In a small prep bowl put in the lime juice and salt and set aside.

In your serving bowl put your avocados in and start with a couple mashes.  Then add the rest of the ingredients except for the lime juice and salt.  Mash it together until it's almost to the consistency you want.  When it's almost there add your lime juice and salt and mix in.  Add any additional salt to your particular tastes.  Serve with chips.  It shouldn't last past the snack time, it's so good.  I apologize for the poor pic.  I'll have to get a better one next time.  I couldn't resist snacking!  :-)

I went and edited the amount of jalapeno because using the whole one is very spicy.  If you don't want hot and just a good flavor try it amended.  It is fantastic!

Skillet Cooking Part I

So with where we're living I'm not comfortable sharing spaces.  It's been a hard road for us with this and that's a whole other story and not fully the highlight of today.  And a part of my hermit-like nature has been to figure out how to cook some things in an electric skillet.  One of my favorite things to eat is pasta.  And this is one of the things I've had to go use the regular kitchen for.  That was until I tried it in my electric skillet.  I don't recommend this as an everyday method but for once in a while when you need just a little bit of pasta it actually worked.  And I shouldn't have to tell people to use common sense, but PLEASE USE YOUR NOGGIN if you do this and have proper fire extinguishing methods available or at least 911 on your speed dial!

I filled up my skillet just over halfway with water and salt and set it on high to boil.  I stayed watching this like a hawk and it took a bit to boil.  When it boils add your pasta (only enough for one or two servings!) and put the lid on.  It's enough to feed the starving lactating lady and tot.  Cook for the desired time.  You'll need to keep an eye on everything very closely for the 7-12 minutes your pasta is boiling.  It will steam up your kitchen or cooking area.  When it's done turn off the skillet and carefully drain the pasta.