Wednesday, September 21, 2011

Yuck! I can't believe I did that.

Last night we got home from our mini San Diego vaca at around 11pm. Not too late, but it was an exhausting, constantly on the go kind of trip. I changed Baby J, got her some water, went to the restroom and put her to bed. She went down well and Lee and I did, too. 

This morning, Baby J wakes up in a happy mood, which was a bit of a surprise since her schedule has been so off lately. We go about our normal routine: change, snuggle and read some mail, play with toys-(or really items that she shouldn't play with-my cell phone, the on/off button on the TV-but she does because it's early and I'm tired,) eat some breakfast, you know-the whole bit. We are both happy to be at home.

Baby J comes to me after playing with Dad for a few and I change her diaper. It smells like ammonia and I'm thinking to myself, "Why does this diaper smell? Crap, if I have to figure out a new washing routine..." Then I fix her up and put her to sleep for a morning nap. I was amazed she went down well. Again, she's been off and I just haven't been able to figure out her new nap schedule. Yay! I can't get some things done on the computer!

Then I went to put her diaper in the pail. Hmmm...that's odd, it has a doubler in it. I don't remember putting a doubler in it this morning...OH NO!! Gross!! That diaper was dirty when I put it on her. It was the diaper I took off of her last night. Oh yuck yuck yuck! My poor Baby J. :( Not getting the mom of the year award any time soon.

That's my epic fail for the day. What's yours?

Friday, September 16, 2011

Many uses for Microfiber

So you've decided to upgrade your diaper inserts to hemp or bamboo and you aren't sure what to do with all of the extra microfiber you have lying around your house. You could sell it at a discounted rate to other cloth diaperers looking for a deal or you could keep it and use it in a new way. 

I personally have a ton of microfiber inserts. I remember when I first started cloth diapering, my husband, Lee would try to take my inserts to use on his toys in the garage. He would feel them and say how nice they were and when Baby J is potty trained, he would be taking them all for personal use. I, of course, just roll my eyes. 

First, you can buy microfiber for that kind of stuff fairly inexpensively at Costco. Yes, they aren't nearly as plush and nice, but they work for the job. Second, he's not going to mess up and dirty my nice, white microfiber inserts. That's for Baby J to do!

In the last few months, Baby J has decided she likes to be naked and go streaking through the house. More times than not, she decided to freely urinate somewhere along the way. We have a ton of tile, so I've been fortunate for easy clean-ups. The best way to clean this is her extra inserts. That microfiber soaks it right up. Unlike the ShamWow.

Side note: it doesn't work. I saw this awesome demonstration once and the guy spilled an entire soda and up it went into that cool cloth. When I got home, I wanted to show Lee how cool it was (because, yes, I bought it) and proceeded to spill an entire drink on the counter. Needless to say, it didn't go as planned and the only thing I use those Sham Wow things for now is to dry Chloe, our pup, after a bath.

Now, to be honest, there has been a few occasions where Baby J has peed on the carpet. Microfiber nicely pulls it all out and no one would ever know a kid once went to the bathroom there. It's dry right after! 

Recently, I decided it was time to really clean the floors. Our tile really shows every little spot of dirt, so I knew it was needed. I have the Hoover Floor Cleaner and loved it on my old tile, but here at the new house, the tile stays wet longer and with a toddler running around, it's a bad combination. 

I decided to use microfiber inserts and skate around on them to dry the floor. Not only did they dry it quickly and show me how dirty it still was, but I got a great thigh workout! It's my go to way to clean spills now. You might think I'm kidding, but I'm not. It's too hot to get real exercise right now!

Cleaning with microfiber is great because you don't need to use chemicals-the microfiber attracts all the dust and grit. Have you seen the commercial for the new Libman Freedom Mop? It uses reusable microfiber and allows you to add your own cleaning concoction. Sounds like people are catching on.


Microfiber is also used to make clothing, bedding, glass cleaner towels and more. You might be amazed to find how much microfiber you have around your home!

Tuesday, September 13, 2011

Walking the Line (with the HOA)

I've always wanted a pool. I was born a fish-I am a Pisces after all-and I love to swim. As soon as March comes around, I want to be able to get in a big puddle of water and just float around. I know March seems a little early to some, but I do live in Phoenix and even if it's cold, I just can't help myself. The water calls my name. Kinda like chocolate does... 


My absolute most favorite thing about our new house is the pool. Finally! I have my own personal place to swim around. Now that's luxury! However, like most things in life, it does have a downside. When you don't have a clothesline and it's monsoon season in the desert, diapers, wipes and liners just seem to find their way into my swimming area.
A Blueberry pail liner I found floating in the pool a few mornings ago.
This poses two threats: 1. An item could clog the pool filter and really mess things up for me and 2. The chlorine in the pool has the potential to ruin the PUL in my pocket diapers. Conclusion: I need a clothesline. Again, there is an obstacle I have to overcome: our HOA. It clearly states that clotheslines are not allowed. However, even though I'm a goody goody for the most part, I feel that this rule can be bent a bit and it needs to be! So, I bought a retractable clothesline. 
This is how I have always had to dry my diapers.
And the table works great, too.


My husband installed it the other day, and I was really ready to use it-I already had clean diapers that needed to be dried, unfortunately, I didn't have any clothespins, so out on the lawn furniture they went. 

When it's not in use, I can fold it against the wall. The HOA can't hate on this, right?

When I'm ready to use it, I just turn the line holder out.
Then I pull out the line and attach it to the hook on the other end of the patio.

I was able to get to the store that day and get my clothespins. I had also bought groceries and happened to bring home some delicious gyros for dinner. On the way home, Lee, my husband observed the clouds over the mountains and I wished for a storm to come-a good TX style storm with thunder, lightning and some heavy rain. He laughed at me and said that will never happen. I shrugged, knowing he was probably right. 

When we are home and sitting down to eat, I notice the wind has really started to pick up. From my seat at the table, I looked towards the front of the house and it looked liked another haboob was coming our way. Lee and I decided to go take a look out back. Holy smokes-the wind was crazy and all of a sudden the hail starts coming down. Wow! I got my wish. Then I notice my poor diapers getting blown around and hailed on. I say, "Oh no! My diapers!" and Lee says, "Screw your diapers! The Jeep!" as he runs out to the garage.


Oh. Our new car that hasn't been parked in the garage yet because it's been overtaken by Lee's toys is getting hailed on. Crap. 

Well, ten minutes later, the Jeep is in the garage and the storm is over. We finish eating our dinner and then go out back to assess the damage. My diapers are everywhere. There's a lawn chair in the pool and the floaties are missing. We find one on the side of the house and another is in the neighbors backyard. I still haven't headed over there to ask for it. You'd think they might just toss it back over...

As I collect my diapers to be washed again, I am just excited that I will finally get to hang them on my own line and look at the cute cloth drying in the sun!
The next morning.


The grill moved about 10 feet closer to the lawn furniture during the storm.

Monday, September 12, 2011

Meet Me on Monday Week 14

Meet Me on Monday Week 14

Blogging is a funny thing...we tell our most intimate thoughts for all to read and yet most of the time I find myself sitting and wondering, "who is this person!?" I know them...but yet I don't know them! I want to know who the person is behind all those words so I thought of a great way for all of us to "meet" each other! 

Every Sunday Never Growing Old will post five get to know you questions that you can copy and paste into your own Monday post and we can all learn a little more about each and every one of us!! Java will add a linky so we can follow who participates and get to know them better!! Be sure to link the POST and not just your whole blog!! 

Questions:

1.  What are you wearing right now?
Well, since it's late at night I'm only wearing a shirt and some panties. :) Oh, and my glasses. If I only could have a glass of wine...
(I'll let you use your imaginations on this photo...)

2.  Do you have any freckles?
Yes, on my shoulders from the sun.
This is not my shoulder, but it's similar enough.

3.  What is your favorite Lifesaver flavor?
I haven't had a life saver in years! I used to love them. I have no idea what the flavors are, but I would go with red.
Now I wish I had some...

4.  What is the last movie you saw in the theater?
Fast Five. Yes, it's been awhile since I've been to a movie. I wouldn't have normally seen that in a theater-I would have waited until it came out on video, but I had a babysitter and I wanted some popcorn!
Best theater popcorn! Plus, if you buy a $25 gift card, you get a free medium popcorn coupon. Then use your giftcard to pay for your movie and drinks. We just reload our giftcard each time and therefor save $5. Oh, and Harkins has the Loyalty Cups-only $1 refill! That's my way to save! :)

5.  Would you rather live without TV or without music?
TV without a doubt! I love music! My life is a song that hasn't been written yet. :)


Saturday, September 3, 2011

"You'd want to poop on this!"

Yes, my husband actually said this to a computer technician that came to our home. I was shocked and embarrassed. I was even more horrified when my husband took the microfiber insert that Baby J had been carrying around-not in her diaper-and made him feel it. Yes, it was clean, but I would assume most 20-something guys don't go around touching things that have been peed in and pooped on everyday. But, then I think back to the time when hubby was in the air force and remember some of the guys we were around...

I thought of this incidient last night when I showed my hubby my new shipment from Sweet Pea Diapers. I thought the flannel wipes and the bamboo soakers were so soft, I wanted him to feel them. I am one of those people that need to touch things when shopping, especially when they look soft. 
Flannel Wipes-8ct. $5.95


He was surprised by the wipes, but then he took the bamboo soaker from me and he said, "Now, you'd really want to poop in this thing."
This is so soft you will want to rub it on your cheeks! The cheeks on your face...:)
When we first moved to our new home in August, I obviously didn't have much time for blogging. Earlier this week I began this post remembering back to that poor computer technician who was forced to feel our daughter's microfiber insert.


Luckily, he was very cool with it. He actually knew a little bit about cloth diapers and started asking my husband about it. I'm not sure if he saw my business cards on the desk or how the conversation started, but I inched my way into the discussion. He didn't have kids and he looked younger than us so I was surprised when he said he knew they were better for the baby and the environment. He told us he was engaged and his fiance had told him about them. I think it's pretty neat how word is getting out about the new generation of cloth diapers. 


I remember when my husband looked at me like I had gone off the deep end when I told him I wanted to use cloth diapers, and now he is my biggest supporter.