Diaper Dash

My $200 menu

2011-11-07T16:52:00.000-07:00

I wrote about spending $400 per month, but I really broke it into 15 days each at $200 cash for my goal.

So far so good!

Breakfast:
Oatmeal, cereal, Eggs, muffins, french toast, waffles

Lunch:
Leftovers mostly with PBJ, noodle soup, buttered pasta, grilled cheese, rice bowls

Dinner:
Sunday, Spinach/chicken soup with baguette
Monday, Chicken pot pie with dumplings on top
Tuesday, Potato pancakes, apple chicken sausage and applesauce with a salad
Wednesday, BLT's (forgot the tomatoes, but no one missed them!) with Chips and salad
Thursday, Baked Penne pasta with homemade garlic bread and salad
Friday, Homemade pizza with homemade sauce. I doctored up the leftover spaghetti sauce from the night before and everyone said this sauce was the best they'd ever had. Go frugal me! Salad
Saturday, Chicken tacos with homemade tortillas. Huge favorite!
Sunday, White chicken chili with crackers
Monday, Roast chicken, roasted cauliflower/carrots and buttered penne

Earlier today I made a broccoli/potato cheese soup with leftover chicken sausage from the Friday pizza.

Tuesday, Chicken sausage, bell peppers, fried potatoes
Wednesday, Chicken Stir fry from leftover roasted chicken and bell peppers from Tuesday
Thursday, Must go, everything in the fridge is a must go
Friday, Meatloaf, mashed potatoes and broccoli
Saturday, Chicken/rice soup with homemade bread
Sunday, Fried chicken, cheesy rice casserole with salad
Monday, Pasta, salad, homemade garlic bread
Tuesday, Grilled cheese sandwiches, glazed carrots and salad

This should get me before next pay day. I haven't had too many surprises, but I will say, the pace is kind of killing me. I'm devoting so much time to cooking and prep that I think I'm going to have to take that into consideration for the next 15 day segment. Oh and breakfast for dinner is probably going to get swapped soon because I have a crappy head cold. Let me know if you want me to post any recipes.

November Challenge: $400 groceries/6 people

2011-11-02T08:37:00.000-06:00

This has nothing to do with cloth diapering, but I have set myself up for a challenge to spend no more than $400 for the entire month of November. I have 4 growing boys and a hungry husband. My oldest has sensory issues with textures and flavors and a fairly flexible 9yo. I have a 3 yo that turns his nose up at anything and a 2 yo that will eat mostly meat and anything on my plate.

I've been stockpiling for almost 6 months now and I've found that with stockpiling, I'm getting very good deals, but I'm still spending about $800 per month. I live in a fairly medium to high COL area, but as a frugal woman, I'm just appalled at the third mortgage we have created.

I am also a woman who prefers organic and fair trade, I have Celiac (gluten free) and have to stay away from anything with food dyes because of my oldest who is allergic to food dyes.

I inventoried my pantry and fridge and compiled a menu for the next 15 days.

I wrote out my menu and checked my coupons and local sales ads for the local grocery stores. I made my list for what I was going to purchase and where and gathered my coupons. I went to Safeway first and spent $44 ouch! Undeterred, I went to King Soopers where I spent $55. I was hoping to spend $30 at Safeway and $28 at King Soopers, but there were things on my list that I didn't have prices for and I was really off! Oh well, the point was to spend $200 for the 15 days and I was still way under. I went to Sprouts to get all my veggies and fruits and spent $34. now I have about $50+ to spend on milk, bread, eggs or any other essential item until Nov 15th.

Kids are in need of my company right now, but next time I'll post my menu...

Fruit of the Sea Bento

2010-12-02T07:58:00.000-07:00

This lunch was a big giant scoop of joy for me. My amazing friend Julie from Washington State sent me those adorable Japanese picks that I've been eyeing for a long time. They are so precious and my boys loved them!

The main dish was the Shrimp Primavera leftover from dinner the night before. Thankfully the boys have a microwave at school to warm it a few seconds. I got the shrimp for $4.99 in a bag of 50 jumbo shrimp a month ago at King Soopers. I'm almost done with the bag. We've probably had 3 meals from that bag, so that was a good protein value. The upper right box was a mish mash of the end of bags in our pantry. There were some leftover peanuts, multi grain crackers and goldfish. Goldfish seemed to go with the theme. The berry salad was a total steal from Target. They had berries on sale and even though the strawberries were a little pale and sour looking, the boys ate them up. The yogurt was a coupon deal and I think I got the yogurts for $.20 a piece and I'm able to get two servings out of it.

Here is Coopers breakfast treat. He is so picky, but he will eat pretty much anything that is served in cute containers. He was mystified and adoring of the picks. All hail Julie's picks!

Now that I've pretty much emptied out all the fruit and pantry of crackers etc., it's time to go grocery shopping!

I wish I was my Mom

2010-11-09T07:35:00.000-07:00

This was a fun and super easy way to feed the boys today. The salad on the bottom of the turkey rolls was leftover from last night. The turkey was rolled with mild cheddar and held together by a new plastic pic I bought at Hobby Lobby last week. The Chex Mix was on sale with a coupon again (yay!) The fruit salad was a little splurge. I normally just buy what is the weekly loss leader, but they were $.99/lb for the grapes and $3.99 for the strawberries. The blueberries were $2 a pint which felt really high, but oh well. My children love berries and they are the best fruit around. The pistachio's were $3.99 a bag and I had a coupon. I'll probably get 6 lunch sides out of the bag.

I make 3 lunches a day just in the Laptop Lunches. Sometimes I make one for Cooper, but usually he just eats off a large plate that I doll up a bit. Gryffin is still eating like a savage, so I don't bother with him. I really should treat myself to a lovely lunch. Isn't it a Mother's way to take care of everyone else and then grab a bite of whatever you can scavenge in the fridge usually while standing. Then while you are standing over the sink, a little person comes by to mooch off of you? This is just life for me right now. I'm sure I'll be eating at a table one day with no one mooching off of me, but for now, I got little mooches.

Happy Turkey Day Bento

2010-11-08T08:10:00.000-07:00

If you want to subscribe to my blog go to http://diaperdash.blogspot.com/ and click on the link to follow!

In honor of turkey day, I made a turkey bento for my kiddos:

The turkey was a lot of fun this morning. It's a plain old PB&J and I used my new square shaped cutter for the body and the circle shaped cutter for the head. So it's two mini sandwiches. The cutters I got at Hobby Lobby for $3.77 each with 3 cutter sizes per package. So while it wasn't the best deal, I couldn't resist! I could have easily made the square sandwich with a knife and the circle with a shot glass (I've done that before) but these were quick and easy enough. The wattle was made with a strawberry bit and the beak was a fruit leather piece. The eyes were made with food safe black marker and the "feathers' are just apple slices. The upper right hand corner is my attempt at a "Nutri Grain" bar. I made it with all purpose flour and teff flour and strawberry preserves. It turned out well and if you would like the recipe, just comment at my blog and I'll post it for you. I found some turkey toothpicks at Hobby Lobby for 50% off and I'm getting excited for Christmas stuff, but I'm going to wait until closer to black friday when they really discount a little better.

I'm trying to figure out how to make hot lunches in a thermos for the boys. They love hot lunch, but hate the contents. For instance, they love Mac & Cheese, but after a few hours in a thermos, it's pretty mushy and unpalatable. Same with any pasta or noodle concoction. Hot dogs in the thermos are fine (if I cut it in half or squish it into the thermos,) but then I need a baggy for a bun and a container to keep it from squishing and I don't think the kids want to take two thermos's each or two containers just for one meal. We also have a condiment issue with my oldest. He has sensory issues and has to have hot sauce on the hot dog. Not a big deal, right? Well, it's Chalulu sauce and gets everywhere because it's so thin and drippy. Trust me when I tell you that hot sauce is not my friend. So back to hot lunches, I'm looking for a container that does it all. A one stop shop. I'm going to fill out my wholesale license for Citizenpip because it looks as though I can have it all with that system. Comment below if you know of another containment system that would work even better!

Shark Attack!

2010-11-02T14:17:00.000-06:00

I love love love this one!

How else can you jazz up a turkey and cheese sandwich? Turn it into a shark eating Chex Mix of course. The turkey was Foster Farms $2.50 a pack turkey special with $1.00 clearance bagged lettuce and colby cheese I got with a ridiculous coupon. The Chex Mix I can't remember exactly but it wasn't more than $.50 for the big bag with my coupon. The bell peppers were clearance and the blueberry and strawberry pints were $1.50 each. I made the teeth with my slivered almonds and the eyeball is a blueberry with a Chex Mix pretzel circle for the iris. In the small container, I have ranch for dipping. Riley was very excited to eat this lunch today.

Leaks not Leeks

2010-11-01T11:37:00.000-06:00

The one question I get more than any other question since the beginning of my professional cloth diapering career is that of leaks. Leaks are a part of the diapering experience, but particularly troublesome with cloth because there is often a reason behind it and figuring it out can be frustrating.

Cloth diapering is not paper diapering. In cloth, you can't keep a child in a pee soaked diaper for hours on end. It's the dark side of the equation on choosing to use cloth vs. paper. The chemicals in paper diapers are pretty caustic to the body, but they do absorb a crazy amount of liquid. Most cloth fanatics like to gloss over the problems of cloth diapering, but I think it's good to get it out in the open along with solutions.

I change my guys every 2 hours approximately. But I don't think I'd let a child sit in a soaked diaper regardless of the textile choice. Of course, I change soiled diapers immediately. And changing a heavy diaper is crucial to leak prevention.

Why is it still leaking when I change them often enough?? It could be one of a few things. Check your diaper for repelling. If you pour a little water (just a few tablespoons) does the water soak into the diaper? Or does the water run off? If the water runs off, it means that it could be detergent build up, which I'll explain later. If it absorbs effectively, then it could be your diaper cover. The diaper cover is pretty much bullet proof, but the gussets that allow for stretching, contain a lot of bumps and grooves that can detergent can cling to as well.

How to fix detergent build up. Stripping. No, you don't have to get naked. You just need the blue Dawn dish detergent (1 T will be plenty) and add it to the hot wash with your diapers. Rinse, rinse and rinse until all the bubbles are gone.

To prevent build up in the first place, use a good detergent recommended for your diaper. I know a lot of people who go for diaper covers for variety, but unfortunately, it creates more work for you. Figure out the brand you use the most and go to their website for laundering instructions. I know that Bummis has an extensive list of detergents that work really well on their diapers. My favorite is Rockin' Green Detergent and I've never had a problem with it. I just use the recommended amount of detergent for my diaper load and no repelling ever. I know some people who use Sports Wash you get at Walmart, with rave reviews. Country Save and Charlie's soap are usually recommended detergents as well.

Also, a good rule of thumb is to dry the cotton, line dry the plastic. So if it's an absorbing textile? Go ahead and dry it. If it's a plastic/rubber/PUL material? Hang dry to keep it from wearing out faster. Again, check the manufacturers recommended suggestion for laundering and you can't go wrong.

I have two in diapers currently. I pretty much stick to Fuzzi Bunz and Happy Heiny's because they both fit my children the best. I love love love Rocky Mountain Diapers and Whamies and Kanga's etc. but the two fit on the same setting for the FB and HH it's just easier to stick with those. I have about 35 in rotation and wash every 2 days. I use the microfiber insert from FB mostly because they are a 4 layer insert as opposed to the usual 3 layer from most manufacturers. I have a HE front loading machine from LG. I wash in cold with an extra rinse to get off the extra stuff I can't spray off into the toilet. Then I put 2 T of Rockin' Green Unscented Hard Rock into the detergent receptacle. I do the sanitary cycle with a prewash/extra rinse and that has always worked for me. I put the inserts and prefolds I use into the dryer and take the covers and line them to dry out in the sun on the back porch. The sun bleaches out any leftover stains. When the diapers are done line drying (it's usually as quick as the machine drying cycle out in the Colorado sun) I stuff the diapers with the inserts and put them in a pretty cloth cubed bucket. My other bucket has wipes and wipe solution at the ready. When I need to change a diaper, I separate the insert from the cover and put them into the laundry tote in the laundry room. If it's a poop, I take the laundry tote into the bathroom, toss the wipes and remove the insert and throw them in the tote. Then I spray the cover into the toilet and toss into the laundry tote and then take the laundry tote back into the laundry room. My laundry room is adjacent to the toilet. I should probably just put a door hanger on the bathroom door for the tote, but I only have 2 poops a day and hate to open and shut the bathroom so much to keep the baby from running in there (he is addicted to playing with the toilet paper, sprayer and plunger!)

That's it! If you have any questions, just ask and go see my laundering 101 at www.diaper-dash.com for more details!

School Halloween Party

2010-10-29T08:00:00.000-06:00

Here we are ready to rock and roll for school parties today. My lovable nerd Jack:

Riley looks better in makeup than myself!

Please bento, don't eat me!

2010-10-29T07:57:00.000-06:00

This bento probably broke the bank by being closer to $1.50, but still much cheaper than buying lunch. The apples I squirted clementine juice over them to keep them from browning. I stuck almond slivers in them for the teeth. Yesterday I fried up some pumpkin seeds, so that is what I used for fingernails on the carrots with cream cheese for glue. The ghost was my big project yesterday. It's crispy rice with marshmallow rolled out and cut with a ghost cookie cutter, dipped in white chocolate bark and the face is from melted dark chocolate. The cheese and crackers were filler because I was running out of time because I was in charge of makeup for the rock star. Jack was a nerd and the only thing I did for him was tape his glasses. On Sunday they will be zombies, but school wouldn't let them be zombies. The zombie night will be so much fun because I get to play with makeup!

A Hauntingly good meal!

2010-10-26T12:53:00.000-06:00

OK, inspiration hit me this morning finally, whew! It's been a bit of a drab week, but I feel like today's lunch was really fun.

First off, Frankenstein. He is a peanut butter sandwich with all natural strawberry fruit leather cut out for the eyebrows, mouth and neck plugs. The M&M's for eyes and nose were "glued" on with a little peanut butter. I have a Yoplait yogurt container with a scrapbook paper cut out spider web. The grapes are just plain with a little Frankenstein stick to give a hint as to the sandwiches true identity. The carrot "toes" are almond slices glued on with cream cheese (cream cheese used was less than a teaspoon for 3 lunches worth.) The finger is a cheese stick with food safe markers. The $1/lb. grapes are officially gone (thank goodness because I was getting bored with them!) The yogurt was a 4 pack for $.90 (with coupon.) The carrots were $1 per bag and the bag of cheese sticks with coupon was $2. The almond slices were in a bag for $1.25 on sale and the fruit leather was $3.99 for a box of 8 (I used 1 for all face parts for 4 sandwiches.) The paper was found in my scraps of scrapbook paper. This meal was easily under $1!

Uninspired Bento

2010-10-26T12:45:00.000-06:00

I love the Laptop Lunch Bento 2.0, but it's not always feasible to be creative at 6:30a.m.

Here is a very normal, boring lunch that still makes my family happy:

The turkey was Foster Farm at $2.50 for a package that made 6 sandwiches worth. The cheese was American I got with a $5 off coupon for 5 at $1.50 each, so approx $.50 per package that has 16 slices. The peanuts were just $2 per can and the pretzels were $2.50 per 1 lb. bag. The bread was on special for $1.49 a loaf. I got the DanActive for $.88 for a 4 pack and the clementines were $2.99 per bag. The eggs were boiled from the last day of the freshness date at $.95 a dozen. So the grand total for this meal was around about $1.28. My goal is to spend $1 or under per lunch, but it's so hard sometimes. It has to be high protein and no red or yellow dye because of my son's allergies (the marker is a red dye, but he doesn't eat the decoration one :-P)

Mac & Cheese for lunch

2010-10-26T12:37:00.000-06:00

This was a sick at home lunch, so I had a little more leeway. I used the Annie's Shells and had a spider stuck in it. The raspberry yogurt had sprinkles and the grapes had their usual monster sticks. Nothing too crazy, but the price of this lunch was outstanding. The box of Annie's I got for $1 and it fed three boys. The yogurt was in a 4 pack of Activia I got with coupon for $.88 and the grapes were $1/lb. So for the price of about $.70 for each lunch, it was a crazy bargain! I rounded up for the milk usage and the pack of halloween decor I got on clearance last year. I'll be shopping clearance again this year and I usually wait until its about 75% off and take the last of everything.

Wasteful Lunch

2010-10-19T07:53:00.000-06:00

No pictures today. No bento. The big boys came home with their field trip flyer with instructions for only a "sack lunch." Rich pulled out an old lunch bag of ours to use and I laughed. I had to explain to him that "sack lunch" meant something to trash like paper and baggies. It's so funny how our normal now is to reduce, reuse, recycle and any idea to use something tossable is so foreign! But that's a good thing.

I did use my Pampered Chef pocket sandwich maker for some PBJ and drew a Jack O 'Lantern face and then stuffed it in a sandwich bag. I tossed some Wheat Thin sticks in a sandwich bag too. My clementines were peeled and tossed with some grapes and while it was a whole lot quicker, it felt awful and awkward. I had no joy this morning with lunch making. I threw everything into the brown bag and closed it with a sticker, but still just nothing.

So I guess bento making isn't really about my kids as much as I thought. It's my morning latte that gets my creativity flowing. Sometimes making lunches gives me a giggle when I think of a particularly clever idea. It's also fun to imagine the joy my boys feel opening the Laptop Lunch box. That thought fills me for the day because I can't control anything that happens at school. If Jack gets his feelings hurt, I can't be there to give him a hug. If Riley gets an A on his math test, I'm not there right away to give him a high five. But my lunches are there whispering words of love and encouragement right in the middle of the day. If the lunches could talk they'd say, I see you and I value you.

It reminds me of the feelings I had when Jack was born early and had to be in the special nursery with the oxygen hood and wires all around him. I just stared at him and touched him and worried about him. When they gave me the breast pump, it gave me something to do. It made me feel empowered that I wasn't completely useless to him. If I could pump and produce enough milk, that could help him get out of the nursery sooner. So it was with his nutrition then that demonstrated my love, so it is now when I make the silly lunches.

Mummy and the Blob

2010-10-18T13:03:00.000-06:00

Here at Diaper Dash, I am just having a ball with Halloween and Laptop Lunches!

The "Mummy" is a hot dog wrapped up in a crescent. While it looks more like a doomed hotdog with an oversized sombrero and parka, I found it to be a respectable enough Mummy for the occasion. The clementine could be a pumpkin with a Frankenstein popping out OR a Frankenstein with an orange hoop skirt, you choose. The blob was raspberry yogurt and some orange and purple sugar sprinkles and three frozen blueberries for a spooky effect. I was watching Sandra Lee on the Food Network showing off her hilarious attempt at "scary" cupcakes and it really did make me feel like a professional chef.

Dear Sandra Lee, no matter how much you attempt to use icing for brains, it really is not scary. Please describe it as cute or sweet or silly or seasonal but your cupcakes will never be scary or spooky. BTW, I truly did enjoy the brains icing, but just know that hardly anyone owns teeny tiny miniature cookie cutters the size of a fingertip to cut the eyes and nose out of a sheet of fondant for a pumpkin face. If I had all your kitchen supplies in my kitchen, my kitchen would basically be the size of a small village outside of Boulder. Think about your audience and try to limit your supplies to what is most doable for your audience. Sincerely, Kathy Long.

Dirty finger

2010-10-14T07:44:00.000-06:00

Here's a Bento that sure to totally gross out your kiddos. I took a cheese stick and shredded the joints with a knife and then carved out space for the fingernail. Painted it with the food safe markers and voila, a dirty finger! I wished I had some almond slices because those make fabulous fingernails for carrots "glued" with cream cheese. The "pumpkin" clementine has a little cucumber peel to be the stem. I couldn't figure out what to do with the Nutter Butters as the kids were begging me to put them in the box. If I had more time, maybe they could be bat wings, or a mummy, but I need some white or tan something to wrap around the cookies. In any case, Happy Thursday!

Frightningly Delicious Bento!

2010-10-12T21:11:00.001-06:00

It's October, and what better way to have fun than to make beautiful fun bento boxes for my boys! We have a ghost sandwich with peanut butter and he is laying on top of a Fall hostess type cake. Next to him is a blood moon (a peach slice) with bloody eyes (eggs) and a chocolate eyeball for fun. I skewered the leftover peach parts and put a pumpkin ring on top. The popcorn is covering a haunted house made of cheese. I found a house cookie cutter from Hobby Lobby for less than $.20 so I snagged it and made it scary with food grade dye (the same stuff that made the mouth and eyes on the ghost.)

If I were to calculate the cost of this meal, it was easily under $1.00. The Cheese slices came in a big pack of 12 slices and I had a coupon making each slice $.08. The popcorn was pennies, the peach was $.20, the eggs were on clearance ($1.48 for Free Range organic) so I boiled them at $.12 each. Peanut butter was organic store brand for $1.00 and I had a coupon for the bread making it $1.49 for the whole loaf. The hostess cake was a special for a $1 a box with 10 in a box I think. So about $.10 per cake. So around about $.60 or so for the entire meal. The kids ate every bite and they think the theme is awesome.

The Bento is made in California by Laptop Lunches, I sell it at www.diaper-dash.com for $39.99. These are durable and sizable and I even can pack a full adult sized lunch that satisfies. I love doing these and I'll keep posting!

Mini Shower Review

2010-10-12T09:07:00.000-06:00

Installation was very easy and each piece and part fit perfectly. It was so quick and easy that I failed taking pictures during the install. I opened the package, read the directions and without any tools assembled it in 10 minutes with a 1 yo and 2 1/2 yo trying to climb into my lap and put everything in their mouth. My biggest struggle was keeping the baby from flushing the toilet during this install!

After installation I was gifted with a package from Gryffin, my 1 yo. It was a fabulous mixed consistency blessing that for once made me giddy to dispose of it. For full disclosure, I use Fuzzi Bunz One Size diapers lined with microfleece and a cotton/terry 4 ply insert. I turned the water on just a tiny bit to test out the powerful sprayer action. You really don't need to turn on the water more than a crack. The sprayer hit the diaper with such power that I had to back off the trigger a little so that the spray didn't go anywhere. At this point, I wished for a higher toilet bowl as this toilet bowl is somewhat inadequate for the turbo spray. So I kept the diaper low in the bowl without touching the bowl water and I sprayed in a downward direction to keep the contents heading in the right direction.

My thoughts? While I do think the flushable liners are less messy, they are a bit sticky on the tushy and wasteful. After several poops, I started to get the hang of the sprayer and now I'm picturing myself spraying off muddy Crocs in the toilet too! Let's face it, nothing makes changing a #2 any more pleasant, but the sprayer does make it more efficient than if I had nothing. While it's not as great as a flushable liner, I now will save myself a ton of time and effort from tearing off flushable liners and lining a diaper and then unsticking the liner from the baby's bottom in order to flush them down the toilet. The sprayer is wham, bam, boom, done. It doesn't soak up the water leaving you with a dripping diaper. The water sprays the gunk off and runs off the microfleece. So for a part that costs $44.95, I'd say it's worth it especially if you have more than one in diapers!

Flushable Liners

2010-09-30T14:14:00.001-06:00

I used to have a love affair with flushable liners. I loved the fact that it goes right into the toilet and I never have to dunk or swish. But after many years (I don't remember when I started using them) I'm tired of them. I'm tired of stuffing my diapers, lining them perfectly and then having to readjust them when I put them on the baby (aka squirming toddlers.)

So I'm about to embark on a whole new era of diapering. I'm going to attach the mini shower sprayer that I sell. I have several of them and I've heard great things and I'm just ready. Since I have to dump the poop in the toilet anyway a quick spray will be less time consuming and spendy than buying liners and lining them up every laundry session.

I'll take pictures and post on my next blog piece. Check out the sprayer at www.diaper-dash.com for more info!

Flushable Liners

2010-09-30T13:55:00.000-06:00

For Ladies Only

2010-09-28T20:36:00.001-06:00

If you are male and the mere thought of a woman's menstrual cycle gives you the vapors, just look away now!

For those that have stayed for the bloody blog, welcome.

I hate getting my period. I really do. Before kids, it wasn't too bad, after kids and heading towards menopause? Oh just knock me out once a month because that's about as good as it gets.

But I have a secret to make it less horrifying. Years ago, I had terribly painful periods about right after I had my 8yo. I ended up having surgery for an endometrial mass wrapped around my ovary, la ouch. I went to a homeopath and started researching ways to fix what had seemed so suddenly awful. It isn't really all that common to develop endometriosis in your early 30's. You usually have it your whole life. So what went wrong?

I started using Grapefruit Seed extract, about 8 drops a day in orange juice. I did that for 3 months with some probiotics. I went gluten free after finding I had Celiac. I started feeling amazing. I also did another thing, I stopped using tampons and disposable pads. I read that they are bleached with dioxin which is hormonal interrupter to put in mildly.

I bought cloth pads and started using a reusable Diva Cup. The Diva didn't really work for me and someone suggested Instead Cups--magic! So at night, I'd use these cloth pads and during the day I'd use Instead. I will never go back to paper. All my female issues have completely disappeared. I no longer follow my Celiac diet rigidly and I no longer do the Grapefruit Seed Extract. So it has to be the feminine protection sans bleach and polyacrylate. It really isn't as gross as it sounds, trust me! The pads I use have snaps with wings, just like the paper ones. It protects my panties way better than the paper ever did. I throw it in a cold wash with no detergent and then a sanitary/hot wash with a little bit of detergent and dry in a dryer. I throw mine in with the cloth diapers I use for the babies, so it's not a big deal for me. If I didn't have a diaper pail, I'd put them in a small wetbag. It feels like I'm wearing a little thicker underwear it is so soft. I used paper after Cooper's birth and never used paper after Gryffins, it was so nice. What a comfort, what a difference.

Now the Instead Cup is probably one of my most favorite things in life. It allows me to pretend I'm not having a period at all--talk about the "have a happy period" slogan. It takes a few months to really get it adjusted correctly and *ahem* feel your way in the dark, but it's so worth it.

My favorite cloth pads are from Fresh Moon and they are bamboo/velour. So soft, so absorbent and yes, I carry them at www.diaper-dash.com. I carry others too, but those are the Fan Favorites and I highly suggest them. I won't give out names, but most everyone I've given a sample to has ordered more and one particular person close to me in my family who is the anti-crunchy female in my life loves hers and she is post menopausal. I have so many converts.

They are expensive at about $8-$12 depending on size, but they will last you the rest of your fertile life and beyond. I still have the pads I bought back in 2004 and they look exactly the same as the day I first bought them.

If you want more info, just contact me at diaperdash@gmail.com and I'll give you a special coupon code and answer any questions you have. And yes, you truly can "have a happy period" I promise.

Potty training saga with Cooper

2010-06-09T09:14:00.000-06:00

Cooper is so ready, but boy is he stubborn. The more I suggest it, the more he has accidents. He totally has to own this. He can go a day, even two without an accident. But then he starts getting annoyed with me for reminding him and he doesn't care if he sits in it.

Jack took 7 months to train, but looking back, he wasn't ready until he decided in his head he was tired of diaper changes. Riley trained himself at almost 2 years to the day.

My new strategy is bribery to the older boys. They are usually there laughing when he pees/poos his pants. So I just annoyed that they could get a $50 toy (I'm thinking Mario Galaxy 2 that Rich has in his hot hands waiting for a moment of necessity) if they can keep him dry and train him. They were so flippin' excited. Since Cooper looks up to his brothers, and this could keep them serious on the adventure...I'm hoping this works.

If this does work? Watch for the potty training book for boys to come soon! LOL

Earth Day Celebration

2010-04-22T13:51:00.001-06:00

I feel at one with the Earth. It is firm, raw, powerful, ever changing, round, fragrant and rocky.

My eco journey started in college. Before that I lived with my parents who were the antithesis of green. Styrofoam plates, Lysol happy, plastic cups, velveeta cheese loving people. So when I joined the S.E.A.C. (student environmental action coalition) it was to protest the garbage on our campus, and inside of me something sprouted. I started seeing the connection that we all have to this one Earth of ours. It is ours and if we don't take care of it, we will live in garbage if we get to live at all.

Years went by and I started recycling, how novel an idea! Having children, I got to make several environmental decisions and I chose wisely. I chose to nurse (no plastic containers to dispose of, no manufacturing process to purchase,) cloth diaper (no polyacrolate, no pesticides, plastics or dioxin or large scale manufacturing and disposal and ground water contamination,) and purchase organic dairy, fruits and veggies for my baby.

Having a child with neurological issues and major behavioral challenges several years later, led me down the road of processed food elimination. Reading books like Fast Food Nation, Skinny Bitch, Crazy Makers and watching flicks like Food Inc. challenged me to a better life for my kids.

I am responsible for the health and safety of my kids. I take that job so very seriously. Grocery shopping makes me wince at the check out, but when my kids made their lunches this morning? I smiled. They were so very excited about taking a BLT school. That's organic, uncured, no antibiotic, no pesticide, humanely treated pork. Add the organic lettuce from California, the organic tomatoes from Mexico (ok, that one makes my eyebrow go up,) and the organic, no HFCS 100% whole wheat bread made in Colorado with cage free mayo. They had to pack the grapes (Chilean, non-organic but were so cheap and so huge and juicy, I couldn't resist) along with the organic carrots (whew, another good one,) and some chili peanuts from the bin at the natural food store.

While I watched them pack their lunch I was drinking a cup of coffee from Intellegentsia (Fair trade coffee) with some silk soy creamer (made in Colorado.) The baby was sitting in his exersaucer of plastic made who knows where by children in a third world country (cringe) and Cooper was still sleeping in his hand-me-down crib and non-organic mattress with thrift shop sheets. The boys grabbed backpacks from Lands End and thrift store, hand-me-down jackets and rushed out the door.

My washer machine is washing a load of unbleached prefold diapers with PUL covers (cringe) in an HE washer (yay!) and using Classic Rock Rockin' Green Detergent (yay!)

So as much as I try to be as green as I can and I've evolved tremendously. Just living in this world, it's hard to be as eco friendly as I would like to be. I challenge myself to continue to do better and be that example I'd like to be for my kids. I watch my friends and family do the best they can with what they have. My Mom can't always find a health food store locally with what she wants. She does buy the organic soap I sell, so she is heads and shoulders above what she used to be! I celebrate her!

But at the end of the day, we all do the best that we can. We can't get all our goods and services locally. We can't always eat perfectly, but we can try. And try I will. Happy Earth Day :-)

It's been awhile

2010-03-14T13:10:00.000-06:00

Nursing, diapers, cleaning and fundraising. Oh and soccer season is beginning. So busy!

Lately I've been trying to decide what I want to be when I grow up. I'm 37 and I have so many years of work ahead of me. I love being home with the boys, but soon they will grow up and I will have an empty home to some degree. Jack is 9 1/2yo and Fin is now 6 months and starting solids. Cooper is potty training and Riley is running wild in the neighborhood most warm days (OK, just the park next door, but still without me staring at him every minute!)

The other day I went to pick up Jack and Riley from school. Jack had CSAP testing a few days in row and Thursday was the last day for the school week with a teachers work day on Friday. Of course since Cooper was potty training, I was super paranoid about an accident because he had been so successful the entire day. He was in training pants, so he could afford an accident, right? I even brought his little potty along with a change of clothing and an emergency diaper. And did I mention the dog? Yeah, that was a bright idea for me that day. So we get to the school and Cooper is fussing. I then think it's potty time and have him sit on his little potty. He of course starts pooping before he sits down and the poop is now smearing the back of the pants, ugh. Then Jack jumps in the car sobbing hysterically and the dog decides at that very moment to get excited and stomps on my diet soda (full can) sitting in the drink holder. Soda everywhere, sobbing 9yo and poop smeared toddler. So I'm scowling while cleaning up the toddler and the mess that that brought and trying to figure out why my 9yo is crying. He's screaming that his legs hurt really bad. That he feels sick and that he's felt sick all afternoon. He is like Niagara Falls at this point only take it a few decibels louder and you get my drift. Everyone is cleaned up and the soda is mostly mopped up as best as I could. Thankfully the baby didn't decide to vomit or decide to nurse immediately at that moment, or it could have been even more fun.

So we get moving and as we are driving, I'm getting more concerned about Jack. He is shrieking that his legs hurt. His legs have been hurting off and on for a year and we are on the waiting list to see a Neurologist in a few weeks finally (we've only been waiting for 2 1/2 months at this point, but I digress.) I ask if he thinks it's serious enough to go to the Urgent Care and he says yes. At this point, Cooper decides he wants to use the potty again. And the dog decides that maybe since I'm mad at her, she needs to be in my lap so I can remember how great she is (all 45lbs. of her.) We pull off to the side of the road, I help Cooper out, put him on the potty and he laughs and says that he is all done, except he poops the tiniest of the tiniest turds. So I wipe him and now just throw him back in the backup diaper as the day is going to shit, literally. I rush the dog home, grab some quick drinks and snacks and yes, another diaper and backup outfit. I ditch the potty because I'm so done at this point. We head to the Urgent Care and now the baby poops. So I take Cooper and Gryffin into the restroom and change Gryffin. Cooper decides he wants to potty, so I let him and he tinkles, yay! I'm so flippin' frazzled and just throw him back in the dry diaper. We clean our hands and head back to the waiting area with Jack and Riley to eat some snack. Within 5 minutes Cooper poops (during which Gryffin needed to be fed, thank God for my milk filled breasts.) Who knew that child could poop that flippin' much??? So I grab Riley since Jack is super out of it in pain and have Riley sit on the floor of the bathroom holding wiggly Gryffin while I change Coopers diaper. I get that taken care of just in time to see Riley lay Gryffin belly down on the floor of an Urgent Care bathroom. Germ horror abounds in my head and I try not to do the howler monkey scream and grab Fin immediately and disinfect everyone's hands.

We leave the restroom and Jack is playing with my iPhone app with his legs curled under him and totally animated with delight. Hmm. I'm thinking the leg pain is gone. The nurse comes out at that moment and I ask Jack if his legs hurt and he says, nope. So I tell the nurse we are leaving and we head out of there. They'll just refer me to the neurologist we are about to see in a few weeks anyway, so why bother.

This is why I want to go back to school. This is why I need "me" time. I am so overwhelmed being a Mom some days it will be nice to get to know myself again after all this time. I love my kids and I love my adventures and after the day I had? I laughed. So now it's time to do some research and figure out what else can bring me some personal joy to share with my family in a positive way. Wish me luck!

Laptop Lunch Review

2010-03-01T10:18:00.001-07:00

Several years back I had received a link to www.laptoplunches.com Jack was starting 1st grade and I wanted to save money, so I put aside my laptop lunch wish list and went to Target for something cheap. I spent $15 on the container and another $5 in ice packs. I bought a thermos for $4.99 and some juice drink bottles for about $2 a piece. After about $30 plus tax, I was totally ready to go. At the time, the laptop lunch system was $37.99 for the original bento system, so I saved $8 + shipping, right?

Within two months, Jacks Target container started ripping, I had gone through a box of plastic spoons/forks and countless ziplock type baggies. He broke one of the juice drink bottles and I think I used the thermos maybe two times before he lost it. I ended up replacing the container twice that year and by the end of the year, remembered all about Laptop Lunches. Hmmm.

So with Riley starting 1st the following year with Jack in 2nd, I decided to buy two Laptop Lunch systems. They looked more sturdy and had easily replaceable containers and silverware with bottles that fit all in one. I crossed my fingers and took the plunge.

When I received the Neoprene case with a rubber attachable ID tag, I was immediately impressed by the quality of the casing. I opened the case to find the bento box and had Jack and Riley try to open it. They opened it without any trouble at all. Inside were the containers (two of which have lids) and a set of fork/spoon reusable silverware. Accompanying the case, box, containers and silverware was a long rectangular water/juice bottle and a book with lunch ideas. The containers were the perfect size for small appetites. It allowed me to put in the four food groups and a snack. There was a learning curve with sizing food to accommodate the smallish containers, but the presentation was inviting and the kids were always happy with the laptop.

Fast forward this year to Jack in 3rd grade and Riley in 2nd. It has been 1 1/2 years with the Laptop Lunch system and the neoprene containers still look new. The bento box is in perfect condition and the inner containers are still in tact. I did buy an extra set for each kid in case they lost them, but with writing on the containers with a sharpie, we haven't had any replacement issues. The silverware have had to be replaced by the 100% stainless steel Laptop Lunch silverware (the old version had a plastic handle, the new version is all stainless, so it is just holds up better.) They have never lost a set of silverware either! The juice/water bottles have had to have one top replacement from Jack biting it too hard, but that's a small price to pay. So all in all, it has been far economical to purchase the Laptop Lunch system.

Now Laptop Lunches is phasing out the original Lunch System and introducing Bento 2.0. I bought a Bento 2.0 to try out at home for my husband Rich because the original system was on the smallish side for a grown man. I am pleased to say it is perfect and often, I have extra space in the box because it is roomy enough for the four food groups which Rich doesn't necessarily always have time to eat. For an even bigger option, they have the Power Lunch box which is perfect for two original bentos or a Bento 2.0 with a large thermos of coffee or hot cocoa or whatever. This would also be perfect for a lunch outing with my four boys with room for plenty of snacks, drink bottles and wipes.

The new colors they've introduced are gorgeous. Purple Party makes me wistful for a girl while the Aliens are on my sons wish list. Unfortunately for them, the laptop lunch system they have now is going so strong they probably won't be getting a new one for a long long time!

We have a school fundraising program for the Laptop Lunches that give 10% from the sales of the products back to the school. Plastics are a health concern and for this reason, they manufacture the lunch containers in California using plastics (polypropylene and polyethylene that are FDA approved for food use. None of the products contain phthalates, bisphenol A (BPA) or lead. So you can feel good with this product.

If you would like to order a Laptop Lunch, mention this ad and I'll send you an ice pack free with your order! If you are wanting more information on the school fundraising program, contact me directly at diaperdash@gmail.com. I give discounts to groups orders as well, so contact me at my email for any and all questions regarding this product or any other I sell.

www.diaper-dash.com

Rockin' Green Laundry Detergent Review

2010-01-22T18:17:00.000-07:00

I've been hearing about this new laundry detergent for some time, but I thought a lot of the sensationalism was maybe overblown or people just excited about a scented detergent safe for cloth diapers.

Oh.my.God.

I washed a load in my HE washer today using the recommended detergent amount from Rockin' Green. I used Fresh Linen scent. Opening the bag was an experience. It made me happy. Just smelling the lovely clean scent really was refreshing compared to all my unscented laundry detergent I normally use. I did a cold wash, then used 2 Tablespoons in a hot sanitary cycle with an extra rinse. When I pulled the covers, inserts and diapers out of the washer, I thought I was seeing things. I thought maybe my husband changed the lighting on me. My stained diapers were clean! I wouldn't say the stains are completely gone, but way reduced and I know if I soaked them? They would probably look even better! The stained inserts are no longer stained and we are talking some of the stuff is 9 years and 4 kids worth of nasty. I held the diaper up to my nose and I smelled absolutely nothing. Nothing at all. I wasn't disappointed that the Fresh Linen smell dissipated in the wash, but I was impressed because I smelled no smell. No smell! One more time, NO F'IN SMELL!!!!!!!!

This was where the clouds parted and the sun shone on my diapers and I felt such a happiness that I'm disappointed I don't have any more time to play with the detergent and diapers for today. Now I totally want to soak and try again to see the stains go away, but I'll have to wait until after the weekend. I'm going to attempt to do a few loads of the boys grass, oily, fruit and the Lord only knows stains this weekend. Who knows, I might actually start to enjoy doing laundry.

I do sell it now and I'm so happy that I get to sell yet another product I totally believe in, life is great!

Cloth Diapers to Haiti

2010-01-14T13:57:00.000-07:00

Pass along this message to everyone you know!

On behalf of Happy Heinys (one of my accounts) I am gathering donations for the babies and toddlers in Haiti.

Happy Heinys works with a few orphanages in Haiti and the facilities have been decimated by the earthquake. They have direct contacts on the ground in desperate need of new or used reusable cloth diapers (in good condition,) new or used baby or toddler clothing and small baby and toddler items that we can distribute. A lot of donations are being sent and used directly in Port Au Prince City, but the outskirts (where the orphanages are) will get the help last.

These supplies will be delivered to California where Missionaries will take these items in suitcases when they are able to enter the country to help. I will take any monetary donations and send it directly to Happy Heinys to purchase new diapers and childrens clothing at cost to send to that area.

Cloth diapers are essential to the area because without them, they sit the babies on the chamber pots from anywhere to 10-12 hours a day!

So please consider helping. I need donations no later than Monday evening so I can ship these out on Tuesday to the missionaries to distribute. I have a Paypal address for my company that I will use to collect diaper donations and pass along to Happy Heinys.

Happy Heinys is an award winning company known for their charity work and responsiveness to needy families.

Kathy

Giant Enormous Whine ahead (you've been warned)

2009-11-20T09:00:00.001-07:00

Sleep. Oh sleep how I miss you so much. I've never been one who has needed much sleep, but my sleep deprivation is at an all time high. I get maybe 3 hours broken up each night and that is not enough.

I get dizzy these days just doing my normal chores. The other day I got so dizzy, I was about to pass out. So for some really messed up reason, I jumped up to run into the other room and slammed my arm against the corner of the wall and fell to my knees. My brain feels completely fried and I don't feel at all like myself these days. My thyroid function is fine, I'm fine, I just need sleep. Cooper didn't start sleeping through the night until I was about 7 1/2 months pregnant with Fin. Then I couldn't sleep because I was so uncomfortable. Now Fin needs to eat every two hours at night and Rich is a total bear if he doesn't get sleep--so I really don't want to wake him if I can help it. He seriously is major grouchy (sorry hon, but it's true...) and I'd rather be sleep deprived than deal with the super grouch. And even if/when I get Rich to help me, inevitably the baby makes so much noise and ends up wanting to nurse yet again so I'm back on call.

Sure I could pump a bottle for a feed at night, but then my breasts would explode at some point making it pointless. I've tried sleeping right after putting the older boys to bed for an hour or so while Rich has the baby downstairs, but with our schedules, I usually have too much to do that makes going to bed at 8:30p doable.

Four kids has really pushed me over the edge. Thankfully Fin is a doll baby and I know that once he is out of his giant spewing, gassy tummy phase, he has the markers of being a sleeper like Riley. But until he is a bit more matured, the smaller more frequent feeds will just have to do. So I don't need advice, just understanding when I step out the door with two different colored shoes on and yesterdays t-shirt with spit up on it. And if I try to make a joke that totally misses the mark? Laugh anyway so I feel less alien like.

And if you are the praying type? Pray that my toddler stops thinking the dog food bowl is his own personal play dough. Or that my makeup is just like his crayons. Or that if he doesn't like the food that is served it becomes a baseball game towards the wall. Because that doesn't help when I'm in a fog.

Coupon bonanza 11/5/09

2009-11-07T19:18:00.000-07:00

I saved $114.17 which was 66%!!! I felt like such a stud I tell you. I even shouted out a "whoo hoo" at the check out line and the people who'd been waiting an hour for my coupons to get entered clapped for me.

Some of my free stuff: free bacon, free english muffins, free eggs, free orange juice, free pasta sauce, free pasta, free croutons, free salad dressing, free Kleenex and free Progresso Beef Broth.

It was so time consuming though. I got the circulars on Tuesday and started scoping and planning. I matched coupons to the ads at both Safeway and King Soopers and decided to head to Safeway due to the better deals they had going on for this week. I had to have the paper spread out for a few days on the island taking up room that I normally use for food prep. I went online and checked the coupons.com site for the weekly specials from the paper. I also went through the Safeway shopper rewards stuff to add coupons savings online. For instance I got an Au Gratin potato box coupon from the coupons.com site, but I also added the same coupon onto my Safeway rewards card too. So it was double the savings.

I spent $61.23 and got $175 worth of groceries. I got brown sugar, flour, box mashed potatoes, croutons, dressing, pasta sauce, pasta, onion powder, two boxes of juices for the soccer team thing, butterscotch chips, beef broth (2), V8 Fusion, Caribou Coffee was a steal at $2.99 lb.--I had two coupons so I got two of them, Kleenex (3), Eggs, milk (.99/gallon) OJ, Pizza, Butter (2), choc chip cookie dough precut, english muffins, loaf of wheat bread, bagels, turkey for Thanksgiving ($6.88) Bacon, 4 bags of grapes.

So I had a successful trip, but what do I serve this week for food? Spaghetti with a salad (have some lettuce leftover from last week,) omelet and bacon for breakfast tomorrow. I have chicken from last week to grill and I'll marinate it in the salad dressing. I used the mashed potatoes tonight to go with the ham I bought last week and some peas. We'll have some blueberry pancakes for dinner (I didn't make them last week and I've had some begging...) and I'll get started on my Christmas cookie baking for gifts for teachers. I'll still have to head over to King Soopers and/or Sprouts for some meat (the shrimp I was going to buy was published as $4.99/lb but came in a two pound bag, so my coupon wasn't good enough for it to be affordable.) I have plenty of fresh fruit and veggies, so I'll be scanning the fliers mostly for protein sources, so not more than $20.

What I've learned. Take all the coupons with you. I left a bunch behind that didn't present as specials on the flier, but there were several good deals I knew I had coupons for that weren't listed. Focus on the cost per meal. I think that deals are great and exciting, but if you have too much flour/sugar/butter/cereal, it's not going to feed your family adequately. If I focus on the per meal cost, it is so much better. We had a meal last week that cost approx $.80 per person. It was fajitas and had vegetables and protein and calcium etc. THAT was a good deal. My chili last week? Cost about $.75 per person. We stretched that for 4 servings of leftovers after the dinner, a total win on cost.

I'm all stocked on baking items, and pantry supplies. I really need to make sure I'm saving money on the healthier whole foods as well.

RIP Shelly

2009-11-06T10:25:00.000-07:00

I met Shelly several years back on the about.com Frugal Living forum. I was a new Mom and found it easy to cruise online while nursing my son a dozen times a day. She and I then moved to the Delphi Living Frugally forum and were moderators and enjoyed talking about how to save money. She and I shared several things, one being Catholic yet a Democrat, which is pretty rare for a Catholic to be a Democrat out loud. I actually left the Church for a few years feeling so much like an intruder every Sunday. I came back because of Shelly and a few others I had met that made me realize the Church has room enough for everyone.

Shelly and I would scrap it up during the election seasons and I would find myself nodding in agreement with her on everything.

She leaves behind two Sons, two Granddaughters and a dearly loved Husband. She loved the Beatles almost as much as the Catholic Church and she had a great sense of humor. She was a fierce Momma bear and I get that.

Speaking of the Beatles...I was crying this morning when I found out Shelly had passed. My son Jack told me that he understood my pain. He said that he was just as sad when his pet grasshopper "Jude" died. Knowing Shelly's love for the Beatles and remembering the song "Hey Jude" made me laugh out loud. It was like God was using Jack to cheer me up and to know that my friend is in heaven with our heavenly Father.

My mission for the next few months

2009-11-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

So that whole coupon clipping, $4 a week grocery bill thing had my brain working overtime this weekend. I did a little research and I found a few more pieces of information. I had never heard the term Catalina before used for couponing. That's a big part of getting your groceries for cheap. From what I understand, a Catalina is your cash rebate to put towards your next round of groceries. So if you buy 2 Pillsbury pie crusts, you get $2.50 towards your next grocery bill. That's how you pay for the more expensive groceries that can't be whittled down enough by coupons. Also, if the coupon doesn't have a size specific, you can purchase travel sizes to make money off the coupon.

The problem with buying smaller product amounts or travel sizes to me is environmental. Buying 10 travel size Dove antiperspirants goes against my moral philosophy of living lightly off the land. I personally can't buy a dozen containers to throw into a landfill, I feel too guilty.

I did buy a newspaper on Sunday (felt a wee bit guilty for all the paper waste, but I did recycle...) and clipped like crazy. I also signed my savings card online for Safeway--less paper waste, yeah!

So my goal for the next few months is to see if I could get down to $100 a week for groceries. That's less than $1 per person per meal, not including snacks. I can't even imagine getting that low, but with coupons, catalinas and buyer reward programs, I know I can save money. It will be a matter of how much I can save.

My grocery shopping expose

2009-10-31T18:23:00.000-06:00

I saw a Good Morning America video blurb of a woman (Mother of 6) that spends $4 a week on groceries for the week. Yes, I wrote 4 US DOLLARS!

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Parenting/mom-feeds-family-week/story?id=8463295

In the spirit of my No Impact week and also trying not to spend money, I decided to see what I could do to get the weekly grocery bill down. I try to shop once a week if possible because I find if I shop more than that, I impulse buy. This way I make a menu, make a list and stick to it.

Only this time I brought along coupons I found off the internet. Specifically I went to http://print.coupons.com/CouponWeb/Offers.aspx?pid=13306&zid=iq37&nid=10 and also my local grocery stores had links for online coupon printing. There was also an option to put coupons directly on your shopper card from Safeway and King Soopers, so I did that too. I also visited my favorite products website and found coupons to print off.

Every Wednesday we get the grocery store circulars, so culled through the 3 grocery stores I frequent the most and put coupons against "sales" also known as "loss leaders." This whole ordeal took up about 1 1/2 hours of my time and here are my results.

At King Soopers (usually where I get the best deals for non-produce/non-meat items) I saved $46.93 in coupon savings for a total grocery bill of $102.51 after coupon savings. Clearly not $4, and I'm still scratching my head at how she did it. I had a 32% savings off my groceries but some of it I would have saved anyway because I always shop loss leaders.

Unfortunately, I came home with my bounty and knew that I still had to buy meats and produce as well as use up my freebie coupons at Safeway before they expired.

Off to Safeway where I've stopped shopping as frequently because their prices always seem a little higher. So with loss leaders (and my pantry and trip to King Soopers) in mind, I'm making chicken fajitas, hamburgers, tilapia, chili and chicken stir fry this week. I saved $64 in coupons with a total after coupon bill of $46.78! That's 59% savings. I had received free item coupons as a frequent shopper, so I got two bags of brown rice, a bottle of salad dressing, tortillas, tortilla chips, salsa and a free bag of frozen veggies too! I felt so much better after this shopping trip.

However, I'm still low on fruit for the week and need to head over to Sprouts. But at Sprouts, I just need some grapes ($.88/lb) apples ($.77/lb) and pears ($.77/lb.) and in the end, I doubt I'll spend more than $10 for fruit for the week for 5 people. I'm going to wait to go until Wednesday because we have some bananas, apples and pineapple to get through and Wednesday is double discount day there...so you get the sales from this week and next all in one day. I might find a few veggies or fruits to round out our week. The boys go through an obscene amount of fruit and I hate saying no and really, they'd just nosh on expensive yogurt and cheese if I didn't.

So for almost $150, we should be good for the week and then some. I bought ahead on several items like toilet paper, cereal and some Thanksgiving stuff like pie crusts etc. We eat so healthy that $150 a week is actually pretty good for me. But do I feel like I did well? No.

I think what she does is coupon collect constantly. Then she waits for the best price on something and does the double coupon thing and gets it practically free. But I don't think she did it overnight and imagine it took 6 months to get the rhythm going. I'd be interested in those sorts of questions as opposed to how well she does each week. I mean, it's a great story, but if you don't share the tools on how you got to the point, who cares really.

Anyway, trick or treat to all my friends and a Happy Halloween!

Printable Coupons

2009-10-29T20:39:00.000-06:00

Printable Coupons

No Impact Week part 2

2009-10-29T13:15:00.000-06:00

I have stayed away from buying anything unnecessary, but I can't really claim success. I sent Rich to the store to buy some pretzels (we were running low on carb snacks and even the popcorn was down to the last of the kernels,) knowing full well the man can't help himself in the snack aisle. He came home with Fritos, Cheetos AND pretzels. So if you know money is going to spent, then one can't claim total innocence.

BUT I did do well with not eating out on Tuesday. I was running around all day and instead of making a run for the border, we ate leftovers. I also made my own baby wipe solution (I do this all the time, so it's not new) and had a significantly cheap bean/rice meal on Wednesday. I'm still eating the leftovers and feeling smug and superior in my frugality. Dave Ramsey, eat your heart out.

The boys have done a terrible job on turning off lights. I really need to work on that with them. We've used less water this week for certain and I've been just very aware at all the ways I waste resources, which should count for something.

Today is a snow day and the TV is off and the big boys are playing with Legos. I'm contemplating making a pizza today, but totally cognizant on how much easier and less messy takeout pizza can be. I have to finish icing the sugar cookies from yesterday and preparing the crafts/games for the Halloween Party tomorrow for Jacks class. If I can finish that and finish laundering the whites and diapers, I will make dough. It isn't hard, it's more the mess that makes me feel weary. I just have too much mess as it is and that is what is so hard about homemade stuff.

Day One of No Impact

2009-10-25T17:53:00.000-06:00

OK, I made an impact.

I made lots of impacts unfortunately, but hey, it's day one. I could go on with what I did wrong, but that's the perfectionist in my talking. So I'll just go on with what I did right.

I made refrigerator dough on Thursday and used it to make cloverleaf rolls, a loaf of bread and then this morning, coffee cake. The loaf of bread didn't turn out that great for sandwich bread, so I sent Rich out for bread and milk. Crap, I forgot eggs. Oh well. Anyway, like I was saying, what I did right this week...

Last night I made chicken with noodles and veggies with butter sauce. I used 2 of the breasts from a package and today, I took the other two breasts and boiled it in chicken broth. Then I made pie crust and made a chicken pot pie. It's baking right now and I'm really looking forward to it. I had a lot leftover from the creamed chicken with veggies, so I'll freeze that and use that for a baked potato party in the future. It's so good on baked potatoes or with pasta.

I'm off my gluten free thing for now due to the finances, and feeling pretty crummy, but that's temporary. For the rest of the week, I'm going to go gluten free by doing without at meals that I have gluten for the family. But that's a personal side issue I need to work on.

I also made a batch of popcorn because it is so cheap (microwave popcorn is expensive and doesn't taste that great anyway.)

I washed/dried a load of diapers today, so thats another frugal/low impact thing to do--but it isn't like something new for me so does that really count?

The rest of the week menu will be black bean soup with rice, pasta (always cheap and a pantry staple,) leftover pot pie, blueberry pancakes/fruit salad and homemade pizza. I have everything I need for those. For me, I'll have to use up my gluten free pasta, I'll make gf crust for the pizza and make eggs along with the pancakes to eat instead and eat leftover pasta or bean soup on the leftover pot pie night! I'm going to double up the pancake batter batch and freeze for breakfasts and double up the pie crust and freeze for another day so as to help with time and effort.

I've been turning off all the lights and had a family meeting with the boys. They are to turn off all the lights and not run water etc. etc. and whoever does a better job of it (I have lists on the fridge) will get a little prize. I have a Bionicle I've been saving for a bday party, and will give it to the winner.

I'll do an hour of TV for Cooper tomorrow (I NEED some TV time for that child to get a shower and clean dishes without him climbing into the dishwasher!) I'll soak the beans tonight and

I won't be using paper towels, baggies or anything else not recyclable or reusable. Also, after I buy eggs (and I have to buy eggs!) I will use up all the groceries and not shop for anything else except maybe milk. We can do this!!

Soaking dishes

2009-10-24T13:49:00.000-06:00

No impact week is still in the planning mode...

I attempted to soak dishes in soapy water and I really think I waste more water that way. If you rinse your dishes soon after using them, you really don't need to soak them. It took several minutes and a ton of water to fill up the basin. Then you run out of room for all the dishes and it was gross sticking my hand in cold dirty water. Then I had to rinse off the soap before putting them in the dishwasher. The thought of having one basin for soaking and one basin for rinsing is even more wasteful of water in my experience.

Lesson learned.

Getting ready for my own "no impact" week

2009-10-23T08:20:00.000-06:00

I have been reading some really good suggestions and had a few to share.

1. When waiting for hot water, set a bucket to catch excess water. Now I've heard this one many times, but the suggestions are to water plants and while I aspire to owning plants one day or even a tree that will live more than 24 hours in my yard, it just doesn't happen. BUT I've heard to use the water to flush with or to add dish soap to soak dishes.

That leads me to the next tip:

2. Get a sink full of soapy water and just set your dishes in their throughout the day instead of rinsing each and every dish as that wastes water.

My other preparation for this week is to tune up all my appliances:

3. Wash the electronic air cleaner and change out the humidifier pad and clean the filter on the heater.

4. Make sure the hot water heater is set to 120F

5. Clean out the dryer vent and scrub down the washer inside and out.

6. Clean the back of the refrigerator with the vacuum and check for dust bunnies all around.

If you have any tips for me, subscribe to my blog and comment here. It's much easier to keep up with the comments here than on Facebook. On Facebook, I get too distracted by all the wall comments and different apps. I'm like a cat with a flashlight there :-)

No Impact Week

2009-10-22T13:01:00.001-06:00

Inspired by Huffington Posts "No Impact Week" I'm going to have my own week of "Saving Money" week.

No impact is part of it, but also working to save as much money as possible goes hand in hand with living lightly off the land.

I already use cloth diapers for the kids and we have zero waste at lunchtime (I sell Laptop Lunches in case anyone is interested!) by using reusable containers and water bottles. We also recycle and reuse via hand-me-downs as much as possible.

I'll start on Sunday, but I'll be taking today through Saturday to gear up for it and get the family ready to do it. It's really hard to train kids to think about our resources with every action, but I'm willing to give it a go this weekend. We are going to turn off lights when leaving a room, maybe even candlelight for dinner (how fun is that??) I also want to eliminate television and use our bikes to get groceries. Speaking of groceries, I'm going to take inventory of what I have in the pantry and see what I can make throughout the week with what I have. If I can't use something in the pantry, I'm going to donate it to FISH (local food bank) so that someone else can use up that can of full fat refried beans that I bought on accident.

I have a recipe for refrigerator dough for bread that is sitting in my fridge so that is one less thing to buy this week. Breakfast will be oatmeal I already have and the occasional french toast or pancakes depending on the egg bounty.

Also with saving money is exercise and now that I finally have the green light, I'm getting excited to start running again. I'll probably bike and walk for several weeks and work up slowly to running, but I can't wait!

Meeting with the Realtor

2009-10-18T14:11:00.000-06:00

We met with our realtor yesterday and the news was better than we had hoped. I've known Ken for 10 years and we served on our HOA together for the past 4 1/2 years. So I know he's good at what he does and he is fair. He thinks we can get a lot more for our house than we thought and that we won't have to put any more money into it to get it sold. We are ecstatic!

Now I've been checking out rentals in the area we are interested in just for fun. There really is a lot out there and although moving twice will be a hassle (one to the rental and the next to our forever home) I just am not ready to settle quickly on a house in an unfamiliar area. I'd rather rent for a year and get to know the area and look around for a place that fits our needs. In the meantime we can work on building up our savings again and maybe even save up money for a new van. I like paying cash for vehicles because that monthly payment totally sucks.

So let's hope we can put the house on the market and it sells quickly!

First snow

2009-10-10T17:37:00.000-06:00

Today started way too early. Last night is a blur right now, but I handed off the baby at 6:30a to Rich to get Cooper (age 21mo.) We got downstairs and I could see the delicate little snowflakes falling and Coopers eyes got really big and said, "snow!" It was hard not to smile. We let Sky outside to do her business and get up close to the freezing cold 19F and shiver. Cooper got down out of my arms and went window to window looking in complete marvel at the seasons change.

I forgot to call the guy to blow out the sprinklers, crap.

On the stove is a new concoction. It's like a wintery stir fry with chicken sausage (with apples,) rice, butternut squash and delicata squash. I threw in some butter for good measure after baking the squash in the stove, added some salt and pepper too. It smells good and it's making me miss home.

A high school classmate wrote a post today on Facebook about a cold Coke at a hardware store. I knew exactly what he was talking about and it took me back in time. My Dad is a handy sort and always had a weekend project. We would head out to Bierce Hardware and he'd give me a dime to buy a Coke to keep me occupied while he would shoot the breeze with men he knew. It seems so nostalgic now. The taste of that cold Coke in a glass bottle is one of the best experiences in the world. In fact, I mentioned the post to my husband and he relayed my story back to me. I guess I already told him about Bierce Hardware at some point in our relationship. He then told me the story about his professor and dry ice and trying to quickly refrigerate beverages and I listened, but I had already heard that story a half dozen times too. It's amusing to me that we have beverage stories that we have both shared more than once.

I think I have a Coke in a can made with "real sugar" or something. Maybe if I crush ice to drink it down with it will be a close facsimile? Meh, I doubt it.

Selling the house

2009-10-08T10:12:00.000-06:00

It's been long overdue. With Rich losing his job twice in the past several years and getting a pay cut each time, this house has become too expensive. We don't eat out, we don't take vacations, everything is budgeted tightly and I'm so tired of living this close to the edge. I don't think that his pay will improve enough in the next five years to make the mortgage worth it.

Plus, now that we are sending our kids to a school 15 minutes away, I'd rather cut the commute anyway.

So now we have to fix up the house to sell. I so dread this. If it wasn't hard enough to just maintain the laundry, the kitchen, the carpets, the bathrooms...now I have to find time to paint, patch and replace. But after this is said and done it will be so nice to pay significantly less on a mortgage and start living again.

Childcare is relentless

2009-10-03T09:53:00.000-06:00

Last night, at the end of a very tiring busy week, the crib broke. Poor Rich. He just looked so defeated. We still had to feed the kids, clean the kids, clean the kitchen, bath kids and put said children down to sleep. Plus, we had to get the toddler out of time out for never ending high pitched screaming and get the boys to clean up all their Legos that were spread throughout the carpet.

The baby still gets up every two hours to feed and when he erupts with spit up out his nose, it can take an hour to get him back down. So needless to say we are getting a good 4-5 hours of sleep every night.

So when the crib broke, I really though Rich was going to pack a bag and take off last night. But he didn't.

We then went through our orchestrated nightly ritual in unison and we didn't die. I nursed Gryffin down to sleep then put Cooper in a bath while Rich put up another crib (this was Finn's crib, but he is still in the pack n play in our room.) Jack head butted Riley in the jaw as I was dressing Cooper in PJ's as he was attempting to escape my clutches during the white ointment on the bottom treatment. Oi. I finally rassled Cooper into the diaper and jammies and fetched an ice pack for Riley. Jack and Riley brushed their teeth and Jack read to Cooper while I straightened up the bathroom and bedroom. Rich finally finished the bed to go clean the kitchen (he still hadn't eaten dinner and it's 8p) I nurse Cooper down and the big boys are in bed reading. The baby fusses, Rich fetches the baby and abandons the kitchen. I come out from Coopers room and grab the baby and try to settle him down. Rich finishes the kitchen and eats (I'm assuming because I didn't see him do any of this and at this point he is mute.) At about 9:08p I still can't settle Gryffin and need Rich to come get the baby so I can sleep for a few hours. He comes up and I'm out like a light.

Thank God its Saturday.

Potty training

2009-09-29T12:28:00.001-06:00

So it's that time again.

We bought a "frog" potty a few months ago in anticipation of this momentous event. My girlfriend Michele donated some tiny underwear for the cause and they have been sitting on a shelf collecting dust so that when that window opened, I could take that opportunity and snag it.

The window is open I think. He's been talking about peeing on the potty and pooping on the potty for a few months now. This last week, he's almost been obsessed by it. So I looked for the signs: 1. staying dry for a few hours--CHECK! 2. showing interest in the potty--CHECK! 3. able to remove his own clothing--CHECK! 4. hating diapers--CHECK!

With Gryffin in diapers and Jack and Riley in underwear using the potty, I think he is putting it all together. Plus, with cloth diapers, I think they feel it more and just want to move up to dry thin cotton quicker.

So yesterday he tells me he has to poop on the potty. I undress him and we do some heavy reading on the potty. He doesn't pee, but he toots a few times. He reads for awhile and then I recognize he is not really in the frame of mind anymore. I dress him and put him down for his nap. No biggie. He ends up pooping after his nap, so it was a false alarm.

Today? Tells me he has to poop on the potty again. I undress him, this time Gryffin is down for a nap so I can give him undivided attention. We do some heavy reading and he toots. Fine. He then reads some more and gets back on the potty with a new book and pees! Jackpot! So then I'm excited and he says he has to poop again. Fine. He just toots. But I know he is pushing and I know he knows the process which is 1/2 the battle. Gryffin cries and I go in and stick the pacifier back in. He is running around his room looking at books etc. I run downstairs to get a drink of water for myself (he's got his cup already) and I post a message to my husband. I run back upstairs and see Cooper going through books still. Next thing I know he poops on the floor. He runs to the potty, but it's too late. I should have known! I missed it. That sucks. So we were so very close and tomorrow is another day. I wiped everything off and put it all in the potty and flushed it down (with his help) in the big potty. Gave him some gummies throughout the process and I know he is excited to try again when the time comes.

I'll keep you posted on the process as it evolves. Jack took 7 months after showing promise the first time, Riley took 1 week to potty train himself. Who knows what Cooper is capable of, but both boys potty trained a 2 1/2 yo and 2 yo respectably.

My laundry had babies

2009-09-28T13:11:00.001-06:00

It was a classic story of colors meets towels. It was a forbidden love as they had been warned that mixing would create temperature conflict causing nothing but misery. They didn't listen. Next thing you know the whites got involved and it created a care triangle based on bleach fears.

It wasn't long before I walked in on this tryst and realized to my horror that there were more piles all over the laundry room. Who knew they were that fertile? Not only that but sheets were sleeping with rags, and duvets partnered with delicates. It was Sodom and Gomorrah.

When women give away the store

2009-09-27T09:54:00.001-06:00

When did this happen? At what point did I let everyone else dictate decisions for my life?

Today I was asking Cooper (my 21 mo)to give me some privacy in the bathroom. I also asked him if he would come in from wanting to play outside so I could eat. Yesterday, I was picking out cream cheese and realized that I hadn't bought my favorite flavor in like forever because my kids don't like vegetable cream cheese. I went ahead and bought some veggie cream cheese and it was damn good!

Last week I made Bruschetta along with some pasta with spinach and chicken. I hesitated making it because Rich and Riley dislike tomatoes and isn't a fan of spaghetti in general, and no one eats spinach but me. But I did it. And you know what? They liked it. Mind you Riley wasn't pounding down the bruschetta, but they all ate the spinach pasta and even Rich gave it two thumbs up.

In a family of 6, where I am outnumbered by sheer volume of testosterone, I'm going to make sure my voice is heard from now on. I do the shopping and they can like it or move out!

I hate myself for this

2009-09-23T12:30:00.000-06:00

I find myself completely obsessed with entertainment news about the Gosselins, you know from Jon & Kate Plus 8 on TLC?

I have never felt a consuming need for entertainment info on anyone in my life. What makes this story so compelling to me? I think it goes back to when I first watched it, I was never a big reality TV fan to begin with (OK, truth time, I did get into the first two The Bachelor series, there, I said it.) But J & K? I thought she was a little too type A for me and he was such a weak man and those two personalities on a TV series just didn't cut it for my limited time with the TV.

But then the divorce and subsequent scandals! I picked a side in the beginning. Team Jon. I mean, she was such a shrew and so mean sometimes. Then the press started talking about cheating and his drinking etc. and I watched bits and pieces on a weekend marathon of J & K. I started seeing for myself how she didn't start out to be a PITA. She was actually kind of nice to him and light hearted at times. Then there seemed to be a major shift in the middle. She grew to be impatient and easily annoyed by him. I know that I'm overwhelmed with four all different ages and I'm pretty laid back. How hard would it be to have 6 the same age with an OCD weakness? Then I noticed how Jon always pitched in and did whatever she asked (which was great!) BUT, he had to be told what to do in every instance. He never came up with the ideas and he never took the lead. He seemed to me to be giving her the lead so that he wouldn't be blamed if it went bad. That's so weak and passive aggressive.

So whatever, they each have their issues and need to be apart, right?

They were just a blip on my radar then. Another celebreality non-story about a couple divorcing.

And then, it got interesting. I was in a Doctors office waiting and I picked up a magazine with Jon on the cover with another woman--on a yacht. He's not even divorced yet and he's on vacation holding hands with a woman that looked barely out of high school. I'm totally intrigued. Mostly because he just isn't attractive to me. I mean, what super young girl would date an unattractive, balding man with a paunch who has 8 children and isn't even divorced yet?? He's a passive aggressive 32yo with a beer gut that rivals Will Ferrells (and at least Will is funny.) There is nothing remotely "catchable" about this guy. Yet he has been linked with several women so far. And his wife, while promoting the show and her career, is pretty evasive about all topics Jon. She is taking the high road and this guy is just flaunting himself all over the world. He isn't special. He is a Dad on a reality show on a low rated television cable channel for goodness sakes! He's acting like he is Brad Pitt or something.

So now I try to watch it, but when Rich comes in the room, I change the channel. I'm surprisingly super embarrassed to be caught watching the train wreck. It's like my own private perversion--although not so private now that I've blogged about it! ha!

Oh and I'm totally team Kate. As long as she keeps me appropriately at bay on her issues with Jon and keeps up her "perfect, loving Mother" persona, I'm golden. I even let the public spanking and dog give back go. Thank God she has good publicists or I would have to find some other drama for my domestic escape.

10% Discount on SleepWraps with free shipping!

2009-09-22T13:58:00.000-06:00

This is my friend Barb's husband Bob, isn't he a hot babywearing Dad? Anyway, this week is International Babywearing week and I'm celebrating Bob and the countless parents who wear their baby close to their bodies keeping the baby cozy and safe. If you have a baby, but no carrier? I'm offering a 10% discount and free shipping for the SleepyWrap carrier. It's a gorgeous carrier and I use it myself for Gryffin and before that, Cooper.

Makes a great baby shower gift for the Mother who has everything and is soft, stretchy and helps distribute the baby's weight for your backs sake.

Enjoy!

Goodbye Dairy

2009-09-19T11:28:00.000-06:00

Farewell dairy, it's been a fun ride. I have to give you up because you disagree with Gryffin. So goodbye cream cheese, so long sour cream, hasta la vista cottage cheese and see ya later ice cream.

Hello weight loss!

Laundry

2009-09-18T17:59:00.000-06:00

I'm really trying to get caught up and keep caught up on the laundry that never ends.

But I have to say that I witnessed (but forgot to take a picture) the worst stained shirt in my lifetime. It had chocolate, something yellow, something red, something pink all over the front, down to the midline and into the base of the shirt. The back? Had fingerprints that somehow thought it was acceptable to wipe chocolate all over the back of the shirt with accompanied red something or another. The culprit? My almost 9yo.

I can't even mention his underwear. Seriously.

I had him take the Shout bottle (my emergency stain remover as the Bac Out, just can't touch food dyes at all) and spray the crap out of the shirt. His hand hurt really bad (*sniff* OK, who am I kidding, I was cackling inside) and made him repeat the mantra, "my shirt is not a napkin."

He had to do the same for his underwear *shudder*

Thank God for Prefold diapers

2009-09-17T09:18:00.000-06:00

I have a secret to share. I used paper diapers for the first few weeks after Gryffins birth. I know, I know, but I have a diaper service, I sell diapers, think of the environment!!!

But honestly, after the homebirth and with my Parents visiting and the new school starting for the older boys and all the piles of laundry, I just couldn't do it. I just couldn't manage another load of laundry when we were hot dogs, frozen pizza, grilled cheese and cereal for dinner!

So now that I'm more caught up on laundry (not totally caught up, because how can a family of 6 ever be totally caught up??) I started back with my prefolds again. Thank God. Now I realize another reason I choose cloth over paper. Sure I have to launder a few more loads a week, but the money I am saving and the cuteness of the covers with the amazing absorbency of cloth? Well, I apologize to the world for my small disposable product lapse and promise to never go there again.

I don't judge others who feel overwhelmed and go with paper over cloth, but I judge myself and know better. I know how easy it is to cloth diaper and I won't go back, I promise.

Newborn Narcotic

2009-09-17T08:45:00.000-06:00

http://www.doublex.com/section/kids-parenting/katie-roiphe-my-newborn-narcotic?page=0,0

I especially like this part:

"People often compare having a new baby to the early days of a love affair, which is true as far as it goes, but one’s physical fixation on, and craving for, a newborn is much stronger and more intense that that. How often in a love affair can you literally find yourself in tears because you were away from a man for three hours?"

I sit here with my Gryffin in my lap as I type and I can smell the new baby smell from the top of his head and feel his fuzzy little hair tickle my chin. He scrunches up his body and makes a creaky moan and I kiss his delicious chunky cheek. This is so temporary. This is so fleeting. A newborn is just a newborn for nanoseconds in my life. I've enjoyed four instances of this newborn intoxication and I'm so very lucky.

My tummy looks like a Shar pei

2009-09-15T14:16:00.000-06:00

OK, maybe it looks like a very pale chunk of whale underbelly? Then you pair it with the giant breasts and it is so far from my teenage years as to be unrecognizable. At some point, vanity will rear it's ugly head and if I can't manage to get my belly back to some sort of normalcy, I'm going under the knife. I don't need to have a 6-pack and I'd settle for a little pooch. But after 4 kids, it is a kangaroo pouch that can house a 12-pack and a case of Patron.

I'm being sarcastic, but it is so gross and wrong. But I did get some pretty cool prizes for my efforts.

As for the breasts? I'll have to wait and see what happens to them. Right now they are nice looking fun bags. After nursing? Um, yeah. I'll probably need to invest in some seriously expensive bras that mold, shape, lift and hide in perfect unison.

Homebirth

2009-09-08T09:06:00.000-06:00

The story of my homebirth really starts with my first birth.

My first Son, Jack, was born in the year 2000. I took a Bradley Course and really felt prepared for anything. I wanted to go all natural and in my 34th week, ended up in labor. I wasn't quite prepared for going so early, and had a Doula to guide me through labor along with my "Coach" AKA husband Rich. It was a 22 hour labor and I started labor with an amniotic leak. Labor didn't really kick in for several hours. I ended up at the hospital 6 hours later to get started on antibiotics and get a cervical check etc. Any contractions I had immediately stopped at the hospital. I guess I have what they call "white coat syndrome." I'm frightened of hospitals and not a fan of needles. They gave me some synthetic prostaglandin which hurt more than I can explain. Contractions started picking up and piggy backing on top of one another. I still wasn't progressing quickly enough for my Doctor and ended up asking for the epidural after the Pitocin was administered. Pitocin sucks ass. Jack was fine, I had a second degree tear and he only had to spend a week in the NICU, but it still wasn't quite the birth I had hoped for.

Then I got pregnant with Riley. Hope springs eternal. I thought this time would be so very different. I did get to 37 weeks with him (whoo hoo!) but I woke up with a strong leak at 2a.m. Contractions didn't really get underway for about 12 hours and I had to go in to the hospital for antibiotics again. This time, I took a HypnoBirthing course. It was using self hypnosis to relax me during labor. I got to the hospital and again, my contractions stopped. I walked all over that damn hospital trying to kick start labor. Finally, my contractions started up again and after several hours, they checked me and found that I was still stuck at 7 cm and my cervix was swelling up as I felt an incredible need to push. They wouldn't let me push and my water broke, but that didn't do anything to open my cervix. At this point, I was probably in labor around 20+ hours and exhausted. They had to do an amniotomy which is putting water back inside of me because Riley's heartbeat was varying too much for them. I eventually begged for an epidural because they wanted to start Pitocin. Pitocin so sucks ass. So 31 hours after labor officially began, I birthed Riley with a second degree tear. Again, not the birth I envisioned for myself.

After Riley, I had lots of female issues with endometrial cysts and had a cyst removed through a laparotomy. At this point, I was told that I probably wouldn't be having any more kids. I went to a Homeopathic Doctor who diagnosed me with Celiac disease and tweaked my Thyroid meds (I became Hypothyroid after Jack.) I started to feel so much better and my cyst issue disappeared.

I had two miscarriages in between Riley and Cooper.

I found out I was pregnant with Cooper, Son #3! I didn't want to have a replay of Jack and Riley's birth and ended up at a free standing Birth Center. The pregnancy was full of apprehension at first with me on Progesterone so I wouldn't miscarry. I had terrible morning sickness, but otherwise, it was an uneventful pregnancy. My Midwife suggested I take Fish Oil, which wasn't suggested to me with my other two births. At 39 weeks 5 days, I went into labor with Cooper. It started with the Midwife stripping my membranes and later that afternoon, my labor was off and running. I was feeling really good for being in labor and this time, I used techniques from the HypnoBabies home study course. This course was much more comprehensive than HypnoBirthing IMO. I kept track of my contractions on the computer, but didn't even really feel like labor other than a few squeezes here and there. At 6p we packed our bags and dropped the boys off at their friends house for the night. We made it to the birth center around 8p and my contractions stopped! As usual. Rich ran to get me a sandwich and after he got back, and I ate, I started feeling something. Around 9p, contractions started up again with gusto and I felt great through them up until about 7cm. My Midwife checked me and told me my cervix was swelling because I felt the incredible need to push, but I shouldn't because I'm not totally dilated. I was so upset. I thought my cervix was going to burst and I couldn't stop needing to push. I couldn't breathe through them and felt so defeated. She got this worried look on her face and that worried me. Then she asked if I wanted to go to the hospital and I said yes because I thought I was going to explode or die or something. The EMT's get there and the one guy was such a jackass. I got really annoyed with him and wanted to kick him (honestly, I can't remember now what he said, but I remember my anger!) and that is where Rich said the cervix dilated. I thought it was the bumpy ride to the hospital, but anyway...I'm in the hallway and I thought that I must have a hemorrhoid about to burst because something was coming out of my bottom and I was totally freaked out. It wasn't a hemorrhoid. It was Cooper's head crowning. I got into the hospital room when I realized that I had in fact dilated and I was pushing a baby out at that moment. The nurses were so busy and thankfully my Midwife caught him just in time. The Doctor wasn't even in the room yet. So a 5 1/2 hour labor with a crazy ambulance ride and there I was in a crappy hospital yet again. This was very close to my ideal birth (no meds, no tears, no interventions except for the membrane stripping,) but not quite.

We were done having kids at this point.

Cooper was 11 months old when I found out I was pregnant again, SURPRISE! LOL I guess we weren't done yet.

Anyway, I was so apprehensive of giving birth again. It just seemed too tedious to even think about. Part of me wanted a C-section and knocked out to just get the labor over with. Part of me still wanted to try for my ideal birth. I had lost confidence in myself along the way. My friend Michele talked me into a homebirth. She made so much sense to me that day and I decided to just go for it and not analyze it anymore.

I met a few Midwives and settled on Flame Dineen in Boulder. She had almost 20 years experience and her Birthday was the same as Coopers, so it felt serendipitous as Jack would say. The pregnancy was so beyond uneventful. Very little morning sickness, in fact, I didn't even notice the pregnancy much until the end. This baby was a week late!

On the 27th of August, I woke up, nursed Cooper and felt a gush down below. My first thought was oh shit. Like, my water broke and now we are back to Jack and Riley's birth, right???!!! Well, I didn't really leak much the rest of the day, except maybe some bloody show and mucus. I walked, I ate, I napped, I nursed and my contractions never really got going. I had some really strong ones, but nothing that would keep up at the same level. My Midwife was so easy going and said that I wasn't on a time limit. I just had to keep anything out of the Yoni and all was fine with her. She came over around 7p or so and hung out for several hours. My friend Michele came over too and we went on a walk. Around 10p, I was tired and my contractions all but disappeared. I felt so deflated and told everyone they can go home, false alarm. They all left around 11p or so and I went to bed wondering when this show would get on the road. The show got on the road around 1:30a when I woke up to a very sharp contraction that left me stinging and shivering. I ran to the shower to see if that would chill it out so I could get back to sleep and I had three more in succession. I knew this was it and called out to my husband who didn't hear me. I then started calling him every bad name I could think of because he wouldn't wake up! Finally, he heard me and rushed in and I told him to call the Midwife back.

Then the details got hazy on me. We went down to the main floor where I got my water and brought my pillows down and got ready for the Midwife to arrive. When she got there we greeted and laughed about the labor and I had several more contractions that caused me to really pause. I had on my HypnoBabies MP3 tracks and tried to relax and get into the groove. We went down into our finished basement because the contractions were pretty close together and I just wanted to be where I knew I would land. I held my husband a lot during the contractions and relaxed and gave in to the sensations. My verbal relaxation cue was the word "peace" but at some point the word wasn't helping. I remembered that in the book, "Spiritual Midwifery" Ina May Gaskin, the worlds leading Midwife said that saying the word "love" completely relaxes the vaginal sphincter and opens you up. So I started a mantra "I love you, I love you, I love you..."to Rich. It felt so good to say and to give to him during this process and at some point I started saying it to Gryffin. I told him how much I loved him and wanted to meet him. The contractions never did get too close together and I had some rest time between them the entire labor. My Midwife never checked my cervix for dilation and I just labored for awhile wondering if I was in active labor yet. Several hours later I asked Flame if I was in active labor and she laughed. At some point I asked to get in the tub and spent several hours in water. A few times I got out to shower for a change of scenery and to see if that would help feel better, but it honestly was so intense, there was no letting up. I just had to get through it. There was about 40 minutes of what must have been transition where I started shouting that I was done and that it could stop and I just wanted to escape the sensations. It's incredibly powerful and overwhelming. Finally, there was what must have been a 5 minute lull and I crashed with my head back on the tub and napped. I woke up to a crazy popping sensation and bubbles coming out my Yoni, it was then that I knew my water had officially and totally broke. It wasn't too long before I started feeling the need to push, but it wasn't overpowering. It was manageable. I got nervous and asked Flame to check me and she refused. She kept telling me that I was doing great and to trust myself. That was the best gift she could have given me. I started pushing, but he was so far up still. I wanted to see how much farther I had to go and felt for his head. I felt that he had hair and it was wet. I got so excited to know that he was coming. It took about 30 minutes of pushing to crowning. The last two births, I barely pushed when I was finally given the approval before they shot out of me. Gryffin was tough though. I was very tired pushing him out and every time I felt him slip back in, I would get so put out. I really wanted him out bad at this point. Once I pushed his head out, Flame had to help maneuver his shoulder and I felt his last kicks as he did his final descent. Immediately I felt like an empty, but very much relieved vessel. I was on all fours and had to step over his cord and grabbed him tight. I had just a skid mark, so no stitches for me again!

It was so empowering and amazing and magical and I was on such a high afterwards. Every woman has her story, whether it be adoption or labor or deciding not to have children and travel instead. My life has been full of exciting wonderful stories, but nothing feels as though it defines me like laboring with Gryffin. Gryffin may have been a surprise and throughout the entire pregnancy, I felt trepidation. Was I going to be able to parent four boys equally? Would I be able to juggle the needs of so many? But with the birth going so well, bonding started immediately and I fell in love before he even descended, I know I'm going to be OK. I needed this experience. I needed to learn to trust my body, to trust my husband (he was the rock that grounded me throughout) and I feel like such a strong woman now. I'm even starting to imagine myself as a Midwife or even just a HypnoBabies instructor. Maybe that is where my self discovery will lead me.

For right now, I'm nursing a gorgeous little man on my lap and realizing the world is just a slice of alright.

The babysitter

2009-07-09T09:36:00.000-06:00

I have a Mother's helper that comes every Thursday morning so I can get some housework done without a toddler undoing my work.

She is 12 years old and adorable.

So is it a coincidence that my 6yo now bounds quickly out of bed every Thursday, changes into his nice outfit, brushes his hair and teeth and runs to see her before even eating (and if you know my Riley, he doesn't do anything without eating first.)

I'm totally thinking that this might be his first crush. He is so helpful and follows her so closely as to be her shadow. I would never say this to him, but how cute is he??

The IRS

2009-07-06T18:38:00.000-06:00

My husband and I live close to the edge with regards to withholdings for our personal taxes. This year, we owe the government a pretty good chunk of change and it totally sucks.

But I just received a notice that I overpaid for my business taxes and for some reason, it feels like I hit the lottery. I ran upstairs to tell my husband because I just can't believe it. We are fortunate in many ways, but money has never been where our fortunes came to fruition. So when we find we are getting a little extra anywhere? Well, we are over-the-moon. This will be so awesome because I totally need to get some new Fuzzi Bunz One Size diapers for the store anyway! I was going to wait, but why not put that money back into the store? Plus, I could sure use some diapers for the new baby too.

homeade pizza

2009-06-26T20:29:00.000-06:00

I made the homemade pizza tonight: 1 1/2 C flour, 2 1/4 T yeast, 1 C warm water and mix well. Add 2 T olive oil, 1 T salt, another cup or two of flour (until the dough is pulling away from the bowl in the Kitchenaid, but not when it's rubbery either!) Spread out on a floured surface, knead and let rest for an hour. After resting, cut in half and place each in an oiled bowl in a non-drafty place for another 1/2 hour. Heat oven to 500 F degrees. Spread each pizza on a pan and then add your sauce, cheese and toppings.

After I had made the dough, I realized that I forgot to buy pizza sauce. I've always bought pizza sauce because its so cheap and I can always get a good deal on a can of that stuff.

What's a pregnant uncomfortable, stain-on-the-tank-top girl supposed to do with three boys in the middle of an insane dance off?

I found a can of tomato paste and went online to www.hillbillyhousewife.com and found a recipe for pizza sauce using, you guessed it, a can of tomato paste. The boys raved about it. Said it was the best sauce ever. Now, I can get a can of tomato paste for about $.40 a can. A can of pizza sauce is $.99 at the cheapest. And even though I used salt, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder and oregano, I still think it couldn't have been more than $.50 a recipe (and I made three pizzas with leftover sauce for one more pizza at least!) The $.99 can would have given me enough for two pizzas, no leftovers. So I'm thinking that approx. $.125 per pizza, my tomato paste is a steal!

No more store bought pizza sauce for me again, ever. I'll make my own TYVM and that just satisfies the frugal gal inside of me.

The baby in my belly

2009-06-26T20:24:00.000-06:00

I've already started a diaper stash for baby #4. Do I need one? Um, no. Since I service cloth diapers to the Northern Colorado area, I have enough covers and delicious prefolds to carry this and many other baby's through potty training. But the fact of the matter is that I WANT to have a little stash for this little man. Every baby should get a new diaper or two, right?

So no matter how frugal I am (and I can be pretty frugal) I just had to bust the Rocky Mountain One Size Ice diaper out of inventory (and no Rich, it isn't a girlie color!) and I think I'm going to grab a Happy Heiny's One Size Peace Bear too. Cooper (age 18 months) has about 5 days worth of pocket diapers, several which are One Size diapers...so I'm assuming they will fit baby #4 when the time comes. I really need to stop. But the call of microfiber and colors is too strong to resist.

Whine and Diapers please

2009-06-26T20:06:00.001-06:00

I'm 32 weeks pregnant with my fourth son and lately, I've been tempted to stray. The thought of dumping another heavy load of diapers in the washing machine has made me wince about my back pain. But I'll survive and continue doing what feels right. I'll just visit the chiropractor more often.

And on the Midwife front today, I didn't have to get weighed. I love my Midwife.