Weekly Goals

Last weeks goals:

Around the House

• List one thing on Etsy
• List one thing on Craigslist
• Complete my weekly cleaning list
• Clutter Busting Challenge
• Flats and Hand Washing Challenge 

Personal

• Work out 5 days this week
• Memorize Proverbs 31:15

Family

• One night spent as a family, playing games, going for a walk, doing something all together
• Read a chapter each night from a chapter book as a family
• Reading the 4th Arthur Chapter Book 
• Missed a night because they were not listening at night and got it taken away. 

In the Kitchen

• Try a new recipe 
• Get one freezer meal completed and in the freezer
• My new recipe was also a freezer meal. I made some wonderful BBQ meatballs found over at Money Saving Mom. I have two BBQ meatball meals in the freezer for later.
  
  

This weeks goals:

Around the House

• List one thing on Etsy
• List one thing on Craigslist
• Complete my weekly cleaning list
• Clutter Busting Challenge

Personal

• Work out 5 days this week
• Memorize Proverbs 31:16

Family

• One night spent as a family, playing games, going for a walk, doing something all together
• Read a chapter each night from a chapter book as a family

In the Kitchen

• Try a new recipe 
• Get one freezer meal completed and in the freezer

 

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge: Day 6 What the fold?

 

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry: 
For one week I use only flat diapers and any accessories that can be used with it. All diapers are hand washed and hung to dry. 

The one thing I do find frustrating with flats is finding the best fit. Before this challenge I used 2 folds. Most of the time I use the pad fold because it is easy for my husband when he does change the diapers. When my daughter has bad diaper rash I have to use another fold to keep it in place so it doesn't rub. For this I use the origami fold. 

Since there has been a lot of talk about folds on the Facebook page I decided I should try out the different folds to see if there are any other I like more. Since my daughter is 21 months and on the chunky side it has been a little more difficult trying to get some to work.

Here she is with the Kite fold with the Birdseye flat and a hemp flat pad folded inside for nighttime:

It stays pretty well, but as I said she is on the chunky side and if she is being her normal stinker self, it can be hard to get it on her no matter the fold. The flaps meet in the middle making it a nice fit in the front and when the legs are rolled, they are nice and snug there too. I plan on using this fold again in the future.

Here is the pad fold inside my cover. Super easy for the hubby and 
Grandma to handle. I do adjust the cover by snapping it to the middle or medium position so the flat stays a little better.

 

The origami is still a favorite of mine because the wings are much longer then the others and larger babies need that to hold it on. I can over lap the wings and get a good fit. 

The front is much tighter than some of the other folds and after rolling in the legs, it is a really good fit.

The diaper bag fold is not one I will be returning to. I may try this on my nephew some day as he is only 10 months. I really had to try hard to get it to fit. The middle had to be widened and the back fanned way out to get it all the way around to the front of her.

 It was not a great fit and just takes too long to try to get it to fit decently. It did not work for us at all.

The last fold is the Jo fold and like the diaper bag fold it is hard to get it to fit her. When she wiggles around it comes unfolded and it was not a good experience. This I'm sure would work great with a smaller baby. If I get a chance to use it on my nephew I will update this post. 

These opinions are all my own and what works for my little one may not work for yours. I encourage you to give them a chance and see what works for you. It does take practice in folding and putting on baby. Don't get discouraged the first time. You will figure it out. 

If you are looking for some great tutorials on folds and other information on flats check out Dirty Diaper Laundry for more information.

Kid's Shorts Tutorial

As I get ready for summer and inventory my 4 year olds clothes, I discover that there are only 2 pairs of shorts. She has plenty of skorts, but I like her to wear shorts under her dresses when she is playing and 2 pairs is just not going to cut it. My mom suggested I make some shorts for her. I decided to give it a try. The cheapest I was going to find them was $6.00 a pair anyway.

So I went shopping with my daughter and she picked out three different prints: ladybug, pink polka dot, and print you will see in this tutorial. 

Materials list: 

• A yard of fabric will make 3 pairs of shorts for a 5T size and smaller
• Scissors or cutting tool
• Elastic (I used 1/2 inch but it really is a preference)
• Pattern 
• Sewing machine
• Matching color thread

First you need to make a pattern. The shorts I modeled after are Carter's brand. They are much shorter than I wanted and are tighter than what I wanted. I just adjusted taking into consideration the seam allowance and the casing on the top of the shorts.

When you look at your shorts, you will notice the back is slightly different than the front. The crouch is slightly longer.

Cut two front and two back

Put front right sides together and sew the crouch together. I surge but I would zigzag if you don't have a surger.

Do the same for the back sides

Open to look like shorts

Pin right sides together at crouch area after opening up

Surge or zigzag crouch

Pin right sides together and sew down the sides. I again surge but a straight stitch is fine.

Hem the leg openings

Iron a casing for the elastic. Make sure your elastic will fit. I then sew an embroidery stitch on one layer of the back so my daughter can find the back. Make sure it's just the top layer or you won't be able to put your elastic through.

Sew the casing. Leave a small opening to put your elastic in. I put a safety pin on the elastic to help weave it through.

Once it is weaved through I sew the elastic together and close the casing. To keep the elastic in place you can do a small straight stitch on the sides

She loves her new shorts!

Flats and Handwashing Challenge: Day 5 The Ups and Downs

 

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry: 
For one week I use only flat diapers and any accessories that can be used with it. All diapers are hand washed and hung to dry.

  

When I signed up for this challenge I really had no idea how it would go. I knew it would be easy for my daughter to be in flats all the time because she already is almost everyday. I was honestly a little nervous about washing the flats and having them be clean. 

Boy am I surprised at how this challenged is going. The only struggle I had was drying them the first few days since it was raining the entire time. I had diapers drying constantly. Which of course means little girls pulling them off the chairs and running around with them. 

I found that by doing 3-4 diapers at a time, they will all get dry no matter where they hang in time for me to use them. My wash routine is very simple compared to many others and it really is working for me. (my wash routine)

It has changed my perspective on how hard it must have been to keep up with diapers before the wonderful invention of the washing machine. I won't take my washing machine for granted, that's for sure. I also need to thank my husband more often for standing in line on Black Friday in the freezing cold to get me the wonderful washer and dryer for an extremely good price.

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge Day 4: Hand washing

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry: 
For one week I use only flat diapers and any accessories that can be used with it. All diapers are hand washed and hung to dry. 

 

This is a very interesting challenge because you are not only asked to use flat diapers and only flat diapers, but also hand wash everything. When I first signed up for this challenge I didn't think washing and drying would be too hard. I always hang them to dry on the clothes line this time of year. 

 

The challenge started out a little rough in the drying department as many I know have had a similar weather experience. Monday was raining, Tuesday was raining, Wednesday was raining, and finally today we had sun and a nice breeze. Monday and Tuesday I would hang the diapers out between rain showers so the excess water could drip on the grass instead of in my laundry room. Then I would bring the flats and covers in and hang them on the backs of chairs.

 

I now have established a very nice routine that has worked very well. I do about 4 diapers at a time. So I am washing every day for sure. My flats don't take long to wash and come out smelling clean. 

 

Covers are rinsed out with a little soap in this tub.

Flats are soaked in hot water, rinsed, soaked in hot water again. I do this 3 or 4 times. By then I smell no urine or poo.

Using my nice wash sink and wash board I scrub the diaper in homemade soapy water.

Takes about 10 minutes to scrub 4 diapers and wipes.

Today I finally got to hang them on the clothes line. My favorite thing about summer.

 I am very surprised at how easy it is to wash the diapers. I am thinking about changing up my washing some especially if I end up with just diapers at night within a few months. I may hand wash so that I don't have diapers sitting for a week.

Clutter Busting Challenge: Day 18

 

This morning I got down the 6-9 month tub of clothes. It took only took me 10 minutes or so now that I know what kind of things to save and get rid of. 

Pile for the future neices

Pile to sell 

The pictures look a little deceiving. The sell pile is really more than twice the size of the sell pile. Most of the niece pile is pj's. 

What did you get rid of today?

Clutter Busting Challenge: Day 17

 

Today I spent some time throwing away a few of the odds and ends in the playroom, including pieces of a game they destroyed a few weeks ago. I even ended up throwing away a carpet square my daughter peed on because I really didn't want to try to clean it. It of course soaked completely through. 

What did you get rid of today?

Flats and Handwashing Challenge Day 3: Severe Diaper Rashes

 

Flats and Hand Washing Challenge hosted by Dirty Diaper Laundry: 
For one week I use only flat diapers and any accessories that can be used with it. All diapers are hand washed and hung to dry. 

Today I figured I'd talk a little about diaper rash. It has been one thing I have been dealing with for over 2 years. My oldest never had a bad rash ever. The closest was a little red after a diaper change and with a dab of cream it was gone.

When my middle was about 6 months, she started getting a really bad rash. She had just started on solids and was teething. Her poops were very runny and appeared to be diarrhea. Her rash turned into open and bleeding sores. Since we had just started using cloth I didn't know what I could use on her butt and found many used coconut oil. After using a prescription for a week I put her back in the cloth and started using coconut oil. The rash started clearing up within the next day.

Every time she would cut teeth we would start it all over again. Then my youngest was born and when she started teething, the same thing happen again to her. I started searching for answers. After a lot of trial and error I have finally found what works. It still takes time to get the bottom totally healed up, but it does heal.

Here is what I do to prevent and heal it as quickly as possible:

• Wipe solution of 1/2 gallon water, squirt of baby soap, and a few drops of tea tree oil. 
• For diaper cream I mix a few tablespoons and few drops of tea tree oil
• I also use some Burt's Bees - Baby Bee Diaper Ointment with either my flats or a disposable insert once a day. It seems to heal faster when I use something different on the butt. I only use this when it is really bad. 
• Everyday I give her a quick soaking bath with baking sodato clean out the sores
• After baths she will get some air time to run around. This is also a good time to put a flat on and let them run around without a cover on. I do both.
• Change the diaper often. Check it often.

With in a week I usually see a major difference and see definite healing on her bottom. It is extremely frustrating but now that we are almost done teething, the breakouts are far and few. 

If you have had a similar struggle with diaper rashes I'd love to hear what has worked for you.

Clutter Busting Challenge: Day 16

Today I spent a little more time in my closet. Most of my clothes are pre-baby which makes them 5 years old. My body has changed so much since then because of being pregnant or nursing for 5 years straight. I have just come to the conclusion that I am better off getting rid of them and finding a few nice outfits I can mix and match that fit my body right now. 

Here are 6 shirts I am getting rid of and one of my husbands that he hasn't worn in almost a year.

Cute Summer Dress Pattern

I love sewing clothes for my girls. When I came across this free pattern from The Cottage Home I knew I had to try it. It was so easy and took me about an hour from start to finish. I did have to tweak the pattern to make it bigger. I needed a 5T size. The pattern is for 12 months to 4T.

I made two of these. The first was out of fabric my mom had given me. I didn't have enough for a ruffle so I had to buy some extra fabric. My daughter requested yellow and that her dress touch the floor so I tweaked the ruffle to accommodate her requests. 

The second dress is pictured above. It turned out great but I will never buy that kind of fabric again. They have little sparkles on it and you can't iron it directly. I had to place a towel on top to iron and it was a pain.