Cloth diaper pros and cons

I feel proud to say I'm a cloth diapering mama, but let's not get confused its hard work! Before I even had my first I decided I loved it.  I bought the supplies and set up everything, watched all the blogs and thought to myself that the pros far outweigh the cons.  It's true it's a long list: cheap, good for the environment, not overflowing your garbage can each week, and much better on the skin so better for baby.   

Fastforward to now, with two in diapers and Yes I have changed my opinion, but not much.  I still value them and use them, but with two in them, gosh my diaper bag was stuffed to the top and so hard to stay organized with all the bulky cloth, plus you don't just throw them away when you're out you have to stuff them in a wet bag and carry around stink with you. And yes it stinks through the bag and  you may have no choice but to put it in with your clean stuff in your diaper bag, so ugh. Also it is a little more challenging buttoning them in a cloth then just pulling the tab on a disposable especially when you have a cranky or wiggly baby or toddler. (Frown face) 

My solution for now cloth at home and disposable when we are out.  A compromise for sure! I know there are cloth diaper mamas that would send disappointing vibes my way, but I'm trying.  Life is hard, complicated, and full of surprises. Often I have to remind myself not be a control freak, tell myself to enjoy life, and try to not get down on myself for what I'm not doing. 

So yes cloth diapering is wonderful and frugal and better, but finding balance in your life is the most wise thing you can do. Don't take on more than you can handle. Figure out what's right for your family. Your kids won't care if you did or didn't when they're twenty.

Jake and the pirates party for my two year old!!

I have more pictures if only I could find them, ugh. Story of my life. Anyways, just wanted to post about our awesome kids party from over the summer.  My goal is to have a fun kids party each summer for my kids. Something fun to look forward to and to invite new kids each time so they can widen out and make new friends. Also it was a huge highlight of my childhood and I want to share! So this was the first of many to come.  Let me just say it was a blast! My daughter was two and my son just 6 months, but we all got involved! 

Number one rule I made very clear, everyone had to dress up. No party poopers here! It really added a lot of fun to have the adults including the Mimi and papa in costume! 

So I made the invites myself, for almost nothing.  I had bought a few dollar store jake items that inspired the party, plus my daughter was obsessed with the show, but I cut out the jake logo and put it on brown, treasure map looking, paper and wrote in my best calligraphy to invite the kids to our ship, our house!!! They were so cute!

Next I stalked eBay looking for party supplies. I found a woman selling left over supplies from her sons party. It was such an awesome find. I price checked all she had included and it was a fraction of the cost. Amazing!!! Plus I sold what we didn't use and didn't get messed up and made a lot of the money back.  

I made the cake myself, like you couldn't tell, but it was a lot of fun and my daughter loved it! The cup cakes were a hit and easy for the littles to eat! 

As the kids arrived they colored jake and izzy pictures, which you can print for free from the Disney website.  Once everyone had arrived we played pin the treasure on the map.  I had a wall covered with an oversized map and a gigantic X where the chest should go! Then we played, Captain Hook pretzels, the kids had to see how many pretzels they could get out of the bowl using a hook. (Tip: make sure the hook fits you may need large pretzels).  Next was snack time: including goldfish, fruit snacks, cupcakes, fruit and drinks.  Finally we went outside for the kiddos to walk the plank, my husband built out of some supplies we had, and they dug for treasure in a small sand box filled with plastic coins!!! We also had a kiddie pool and bubbles!

Would have been perfect except it started raining forcing all to go back inside, but no worries they all enjoyed a jake episode while mom came up with plan B:) a last minute puppet show starring dad and an older guest!! 

All in all we had a blast, kids were tired and we can't wait to settle on a theme for next summer! 

Did I mention I'm in love with my crock pot?!?

This is going on right now in my kitchen! While I'm checking off the todo list dinner is cooking and allowing a beautiful aroma of fantasticness to fill my house! I love my crock pot! Have I mentioned that? Who invented this amazing cooking savior because they deserve a hug. I use it for everything. I mean you can seriously name a meal, breakfast, lunch, dinner, dessert, and I can make it in a crock pot. I might sound nuts, but it's true.  With two kids, two and under, it saves my life.  

Like everyone else, we are on a serious budget and eating out just isn't in the plan. I looked last month and I think we spent $1.50 eating out the whole month.  And don't get me wrong it's not because we are against making things simple, but anything not bought at the grocery store really adds up fast. I mean crazy fast.  Try it sometime, keep a log.  I did and it was scary.  Trying to be a stay at home mom really makes you set priorities and here's mine. Healthy food, I know what's in it ( I washed my hands, which is a lot more than I can say for a lot of restaurants), and being the guardian of our funds,

it's the best solution.  There are zillions of amazing recipes out their on Pinterest(I'm obsessed), allrecipes.com, and blogs.  My advice is read other peoples reviews not just the person putting the recipes out there.  Also after you've made months worth of dinners in the crock pot you start to get the hang of things and can get creative.

One of my old standbys is just plain chicken breasts with taco seasoning, diced tomatoes, sliced onion, and bell pepper. It's a throw everything in kinda meal. I heart easy food. Then when it's time to eat just grab tortillas and your favorite toppings add a side of rice, beans or whatever you got. Yum! 

Gosh I could go on forever about this, but you get the idea. Instructions include: step one distract the kids, step two throw ingredients in crock pot, step three make sure it's plugged in and turned to low, step four go about your day! Done! Check that off your list, I did!

It's been two years, what?!

My loves 

So where have I been and what's been going on? I think the picture sums it up! A two year old, a one year old, and life. How do people find time to blog and finish the ever looming todo list? I don't know, but I know I'll be sad if I don't start documenting our crazy life with or without my todo list finished.  So here I go, another attempt. So much happens each day. I not only want to be present mentally, but also enjoy the chaos that sums up my life. 

Home Schooling food for my mind

I know, I know we are nuts are little girl is just about to turn 6 months and I'm already reading up on schooling. I guess I have an obsession with knowing ahead of time and being informed, plus there is so little we have control over in our lives that I like to have some when I can(control freak:) Just got a few books from the library today after story time to see what I could learn. My first impression before having a baby of my own was NO WAY, but now that's she's here and I've worked in the school system for more than five years. I know what the average day looks like, and I know it could be better and more fun plus a hundred other reasons, but here I go beginning a journey into these books for now;)

 Crafty Project Coming Your Way!!!

 So it's been forever.....right!!! I'm back and been loving all the crafty project time I've had since being home with our new baby :)   I've got so many crafty and delicious cooking coming your way, I'm so excited!  So this all started when i saw this awesome calender idea on pinterest.  I liked it and made it my own with what I had on hand.  Total cost $0 :)  Which is right up my alley since I'm staying home with baby now days!
So Step one:  Find a really ugly old picture frame, mine was just saved from a garage sale pile that I've been collecting for an upcoming sale :)

 Next play around with which direction you'd like it to go.  It really depends on
 your space.  Find all your crafty supplies and get to work.  First you need a
                                          really cool background.  I used tissue paper from a baby gift I had received, but you can use wrapping paper or wall paper or anything you like really.  Then secure it around the cardboard backing for the frame very tightly with tape.
Next customize with stickers, postcards, places to write notes for yourself, etc.
Make sure you have a easy to read space to write your calender!  Paint the frame, if you wish, I had to paint the pink was not gonna happen.  Then after it dries put the whole thing together.  The most awesome part is next.  You get to write with your favorite markers on the glass.  Write out your calender for the month and then next month take a damp cloth and wipe it clean and start over.
I was just about to go buy one of those white board calenders to put up in the kitchen to get us organized well I much prefer this and $0. Organization here I come!

American Sign Language

Wow, It's been a long time! I have a zillion excuses, but nothing too interesting...just busy. I got a new job and now I'm completely obsessed with sign language once again. I wasn't sure if I'd ever get back into it again, but here I am. I work with two first graders who are deaf and I'm their aide and interpreter...I love it most days :) They have a lot of energy, but I love to sign so it's worth it. I love story time and the light bulb moments when they realize that I'm telling them exactly what's happening. When they come running to me because I understand what they want and what they mean...I'm their link to the world and it's awesome.

Most recently a teacher and myself are doing a deaf awareness week, an after school program to teach the kids sign language and I'm so excited. I have laid out a basic itinerary and I'm excited at how many people are interested in coming. On a daily basis I have kids stopping me all around the school asking me how to sign whatever and this way I can answer all their questions without taking away from the school day. Now all I need is a deaf bible study and I'd be happy as a clam. Last week I did have a woman ask me to give her private lessons in ASL, whaoo a side job. I could definitely use the money and the practice :)

Other than that we've been working on house projects, which I plan to post before and after pictures on a future blog, I love house projects especially finished ones. We've met some new friends while Jonathan was giving the out going talk and that was awesome. Also we have been planning our anniversary trip which is only a month away now!!! It'll be 5 years and we are so excited...wow time goes fast! That would be another good post is pictures from our trip to the beautiful smoky mountains :)

Well that's all for now....more videos soon...I've been interpreting a lot of different songs lately so if anyone has any requests I'd love to sign them :)

Thanx all