Cloth Wipe Tutorial

• Use an absorbent fabric, I used flannel.

• For a set of 3, all I needed was 1/8 of a yard.

• Fold your 1/8 of a yard in half, then divide into three sections and cut along the crease. 

• with fabric inside out, sew all edges together leaving enough room for you to pull the fabric back right side up.

• sew closed 

• sew a single line from corner to corner to make an "X" to prevent fabric from bundling.  

Solution is debatable, however, I just use fresh warm water and baby gets a clean butt and NO chemicals!!!

Congrats! You now have cloth wipes!

-If you would like to order a set of 6 for 5$ plus shipping & handling please contact me below in comments-

Mama' Drama: A response to Kara Browns post...

Mama' Drama: A response to Kara Browns post...: Dear Kara Brown, First, let me say how truly sorry I am for this mans family to have to lay their son, brother, and friend to rest. I un...

A response to Kara Browns post...

Dear Kara Brown,

First, let me say how truly sorry I am for this mans family to have to lay their son, brother, and friend to rest.

I understand your points and would fully agree with you if that was the case... However, I have some points I would like to clarify with you and everyone else who seems to think this case was an act of racism rather than an officer being assaulted.

After reading multiple witness reports from different perspectives both time-wise and placement-wise, there are things that show up in every statement.

•  Mike Brown was seen INSIDE the officers drivers side window causing, what looked like, a physical confrontation... Here are some photos that show the physical damage this young man did to this officer.

 Imagine, for one moment... That this officer was an African American officer... would you accept that the brutal force Mr. Brown was using to that said officer was enough to enforce anything necessary to stop him? Is a 300 pound man, punching an officers face while the officer is trapped inside of a vehicle enough to assume this mans intentions was to kill the officer? Do you honestly believe Mr. Brown would have stopped at anything less than death?

Was the officers multiple attempts of yelling "Get back!"- heard by witnesses- enough for any reasonable adult to understand that they, in fact, are being given a warning.

Now please tell me how an officer is suppose to come from a near death experience and not pursue the offender with a weapon in hand. Is is fair to assume after being brutally assaulted this officer has a right to fear his life because of the previous attack, not because of the color of this mans skin?

Now, let me clarify some things in different witness reports...

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/newsgraphics/2014/11/24/ferguson-evidence/assets/interviews/interview-witness-10.pdf

This report was from a man who neither knew the officer, or Mr. Brown, but happened to be the witness who saw the majority of what happened. Like all reports, he sees the confrontation through the window, with Mr. Brown attacking the officer... once the officer is out and shoots Mr. Brown, the witness clarifies how Mr. Brown aggressively runs towards the officer.

Lets step back a moment...imagine being an officer who maybe has kids at home and would like to see them grow up, or would like to tell his wife how much he loves her... Now, imagine a 300 pound grown man running towards you after repeatedly assaulting you... is it reasonable to assume he is going to try and kill you? Is it reasonable for an officer, who is a person like everyone else, to protect themselves?

Please, Ms. Brown... Don't assume Mr. Brown was shot because of his color. Lets take both races out of the equation... do you still feel Mr. Brown was not a danger to this officer?

If this officer was of the same race as Mr. Brown... would you still feel the same?

To My Veteran

With Veterans day approaching, I am faced with my growing son's emotions. He doesn't know his father, and never has. When he was born his father was on tour in Afghanistan and the short R&R he was able to get only lasted a week for the birth and that was the last time I saw him, as him.

I have to explain to my son that his father is alive, but cannot visit. I tried, God knows I tried. The PTSD has taken so much from his mentality though, he cant even dress himself.

I was nervous bringing my son to that park to see his dad for what was to him, the first time. I was told he wasn't well, but he was well enough. They were wrong.

I watched my son glow in excitement. FINALLY, I can see my daddy. But when the car pulled up and this man who was staggering, smoking, had an overgrown beard, and wearing nearly half a pair of shoes came out, I instantly regretted my decision.

I prayed desperately in my head that my son wouldn't recognize him from the pictures, but it was too late. He was scared. All of his hopes and dreams were crushed. This man looked like his father but was terrifying to be near.

This sudden shock. What was I suppose to do? How was I going to fix this?

The truth of the matter is, I cant.

Losing my ex-husband to PTSD is almost harder than if he passed away. Watching this man I once vowed my hand in marriage walk around twitching his eyes and having full blown conversations with himself is torture. I could see my once husband underneath. I could see the embarrassment he had. I could see the hatred for his life and his sufferings being unbearable.

This is deeper than any scar, wound, or brokenness. This man is fighting a war in his head every. single. day. Hes found walking aimlessly in the streets in the middle of the night scared, shaking, and desperate. In all honesty, I don't even think he is capable of going to the bathroom by himself?

When I show tribute to my fellow troops, I don't forget about the ones we lost to this mental war and I don't forget to honor a little four year old boy who has watched his father pay the ultimate price.

Thank you for your service, Jeret. I wish you didn't have to fight this fight!

To the man with the EBT card.

I saw you there, in line. We both had our kids in tow and could tell we attracted attention. I saw the guilt in your eyes when your son put soda on the cart. I could tell you care and you are fighting the fight of parenthood between balancing peace and needs.

I've been there... where the tantrum wins. I don't judge you.

I know you looked to see if we were looking when you pulled out your EBT card. Please don't. Understand that most of us have been there ourselves and understand the fight.  Please don't grasp your hand around the card when you swipe it so no body can see it. Please don't be embarrassed when the cashier asks if its EBT or Debit, you don't have to lower your voice in shame.

Do not be ashamed of living in a time where the average full-time job doesn't even cover rent. I understand how demanding kids can be, its okay to buy a treat.

I know what it feels like to get a coffee in front of someone who knows of that EBT card. Ignore the glare. Ignore their ignorance. You are allowed to buy a coffee.

Ignore the looks of other customers when they see you on your smart phone after paying with your EBT... they were not there when your Uncle gave it to you as a gift. Ignore the looks they give you when you have cash in your wallet but pay with EBT... they do not realize that it is paying rent this month.

It's okay if you have soda in your cart, they don't understand that's your children's treat. Don't feel guilty for holding up the line with WIC checks. Don't feel ashamed. You are doing the best you can.

Why I chose to Cloth Diaper.

I will admit it... I always felt left out when I saw other moms cloth diapering. "Wow, she really has it together" I would think to myself...

I took the risk and paid $150 for 24 gently used cloth diapers... and I will never go back.

Granted, I cant speak for formula fed baby poop, but breastfed baby poop is water soluble...
Dont understand? yeah, either did I. What it means (to me..and, in real life) is that you can throw poo and all into washer and it wont ruin it.

After much trial and error I came up with a good routine..

I do NOT wait and do my diapers all at once, found out the hard way that the few diapers you had set aside is NOT enough to last until new diapers are clean, so I wash throughout the day.

I first put load into washer (duh) add soap and do a "pre-wash"

Then, I do a complete cycle on hot with soap, twice. Then I do one more pre-wash to make sure there is no soap left behind.

To dry- in summer I use a line, in cooler weather I set machine to low heat.

It is so incredibly easy I honestly wish I did this all along with BOTH kids.

If you have wanted to try cloth diapers, just do it because you wont regret it!

The famous question of "What to do with leftovers?"

I am fortunate enough to be apart of a Facebook mothers group that has some VERY wise mommas. Of course, the question of what to do with leftovers came to light... here are some wise comments I thought I would share...

"You can freeze cooked lasagna. Just save it for next week!"

" Freeze or put into muffin tins top with extra cheese and cook that up!

A lot of other dishes and salads etc to use leftovers I just wrap up in tortilla and drench in hot sauce lol."

"can I just say -first world problems. Take it to share with a coworker maybe or anything to avoid just tossing perfectly good food."

" We make dinner Monday through Thursday, or Friday and eat leftovers on the weekends. Anything that isn't eaten by then either gets frozen or eaten on Monday or until it's gone. We waste very little food at my house. If it's something we have a lot of that we know won't get eaten we freeze it right away."

" We roast a chkn on Sunday, use it throughout the week, and turn the carcass into broth for soup... We only cook meals, maybe every other night during the week and rotate for lunches/ other dinners. I'd freeze the lasagna in serving amounts for "emergency" lunches."

"I roasted a chicken and used part to make burritos for the freezer for days we don't have enough leftovers for lunch or just want a fast dinner. The the rest of the chicken we ate with a fresh veggie and baked potatoes and then ate the rest for lunch. I guess my point is maybe make something simple for the initial meal that you can transform into something totally different later. I've also used left over chicken to make Giada's baked chicken and kale risotto, it's so yummy!"

"I was going to suggest a meal exchange! I did that weekly when my kids were little and it meant only cooking once or twice per week"

"I make tacos one night then use the leftover meat for chili another night. Spaghetti sauce I reuse for pizza later in the week. Roast chicken i pick all the leftover meat off and either freeze it, use it in a casserole or chicken salad for lunches later in the week. Just some ideas to help you out."

"Over time I've learned aprox what amount my family will eat in one night. I tend to double the amount on nights I cook things like lasagna, casseroles, spaghetti, chili, enchiladas etc. and freeze the other half for a quick meal on another night. This way we rarely have leftovers and on nights I don't want to cook I'm all set! For soups, I freeze flat in a gallon ziplock for easy dethaw. Casseroles get frozen in small metal tins from dollar tree."

Can you say, "Christmas gift"?

So, If you have a Facebook you more than likely have seen this AWESOME tutorial on a knitted infinity scarf that takes....wait for it.... 30 MINUTES TO MAKE!!!

All the women and children in my family will get this as a gift this year... (sorry if you are reading this!) and to top it off, It cost me about 8 bucks to make.



This YouTube video helped me...

Are We Entitled to Dignify Our Own Death?

If you have a Facebook, TV, or even the internet you most likely have seen the news of the recent self assisted suicide. Although I respect her decision, I absolutely do not agree with it.

For one, I feel there was no effort to TRY and treat it. I know the odds were against her, but in my opinion...life is so far from being understood, who knows how fast a treatment can be found. Why give up when you still have life in you?

I am not super religious but what I have noticed is she is completely comforted by the fact of dying, what about after death? Is she not concerned that the higher power will feel her lack of a fight as suicide? Does she not fear the sin she is committing as her last dying wish? I am to fearful of my God to test his reasoning and as a family member, I would be terrified she lost her invitation to whatever golden gates you believe in.

I would not be able to say goodbye to my family by choice, if I am forced to leave this world forever I will go out kicking and screaming. Why does death have anything to do with dignity? Do we live in such a selfish world we have to look and be our best even at the most terrifying part of our life, a part we are all destined to? Is death a statement we feel we have to make, a signature we sign by how well we go??? I am so saddened a person felt they had to "die with dignity". Dignity is for the living, not the dying.

Are we all so ignorant we forget that our days are all numbered? That its not about how long we have to live, but how live those days until nature calls us. Are we so entitled that we feel we should have the right to decide our own dying fate? In that case, lets all choose our date of death now, so we can all "die in dignity" out of fear of the unknown.

Life is so much more than living and dying, we don't get a choice as to why we are here and how long we will stay. It is not good to play with the cycle of life.

How I Get By

1) I do laundry continually throughout the day.
     If the washer isn't going, its because I am not home. Seriously, if the baskets are empty I move along to blankets, curtains, etc. I don't wait until things get dirty and ESPECIALLY don't wait for certain days to do laundry... it would be an inevitable chore that I would dread...plus... you usually run out of underwear before you realize you need to do the laundry and by that point...well...its too late.

2) I allow things to just wait another day.
     I am the type of person that has to have the house constantly clean and organized for me to feel relaxed. That's a deadly trait. I have learned that picking up the toys now, means I will just have to do it again, so I wait until the end of the day to put things back in order... and if I am exhausted, then it can wait until morning.

3) Don't let others have the power to judge your home.
     If you are my guest, and I just never had time to set aside to fix my house up tidy and neat, i'm not sorry. Instead of assuming I am a slob, remind yourself I am making time for my kids and their needs. DON'T let someone else make you feel uncomfortable in your own home.

4) Don't fall into the trap of judgy parents.
     I have learned that more times than not, a parent judges other parents. STOP! Remind yourself that YOU are the best parent for YOUR kids. I refuse to let someone else' perspective influence my instincts on what I feel is best for my kids. When you catch yourself judging another parent, think again and remind yourself that THEY are the parent to their kids, not you.

5) Get a day planner.
     Seriously, best way to remember things,

6) Buy pre-seasoned meats and pre-prepared meals.
     If you are living a busy life, dinner can be a chore. To keep the hot and healthy meals coming, go to the raw meat section at your grocery store and get the "ready to cook" meats. they are already seasoned and put together...all you have to do is cook it. You can also find healthy pre-made sides at the deli.

7) MAKE MORE PLANS!!!!
     I know, crazy right? NO! keep pluggin away, the minute you stop making plans is when your kids become bored and you become less stimulated. its healthy to be busy, so start making play dates!

8) Last but by far the least, hire a housekeeper once a month.
     I budget a housekeeper once a month for three hours at ten dollars an hour.... I have yet to find anything more valuable. I hire her to do all the deep cleaning, spider web hunting, and just plain dreadful cleaning needs. This service keeps me sane, and helps me worry about more important  things.

 

Sneaky Veggies!!!!

So if your child is anything like mine, veggies can be a problem!

I came up with a few smoothie recipes that he loves and has NO CLUE veggies are involved.

Handful of butternut squash
Handful of split peas
A pinch of wheat grass
A (long) pour of a veggie puree (Safeway has some)
Three or four large scoops of Greek Yogurt (any flavor)
Handful of frozen blueberries and strawberries
A banana (I use overly ripe ones because its a much stronger taste)

Blend and serve! I have mixed the veggies up some with sweet potato and kale to add variety. I have also added tofu for protein.


_________________________


4 or 5 leaves of (any green leaf veggie)
Colored assorted carrots
"Naked" brand of veggie smoothie
Greek yogurt
Berries
Banana
wheat grass (very little, strong taste)