Posts Tagged ‘Monday Mama’
Monday, September 3rd, 2012
Kaylene B. is a mom in her mid-twenties who loves cooking, exercising and in general, living a happy life. She and her husband are expecting a baby boy around Christmas time. Kaylene blogs about her adventures with her cloth diapered, 18 month old daughter, Gianna, at Letters from Momma. She balances her busy lifestyle by staying organized, keeping ahead of household chores and
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Cloth diapers have changed my life by making me aware of resources used to produce disposable products in general. They’ve added to my laundry time, yes, but minimally. They also help me feel better about other areas of my life where I’m not so “green.” And they’ve made me a few friends, too….CD moms tend to gravitate together!
Q: The first I do when I wake up is…
I’m pregnant, so….use the restroom! And then I go get my sweet 18-month old from her room, because I stay in bed as long as she’ll let me.
Q: No matter how much time it takes, I always…
Get chores done early, rather than let things pile up. I’m one of those ‘annoying’ people who keep a tidy house no matter what.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
Hmm…. Liquid silver hand sanitizer? Tiny ‘Pooh’ books to occupy my daughter? Who knows how old smushed cereal bars? What’s unusual with a toddler!?
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
Surprisingly, it’d be a dress, though I usually live in workout apparel. I have this one Michael Kors brown zebra print dress that is so comfy (and washable) that I got on super sale several years ago. It is flattering, cute, and easy to toss on for a fancier look than I’m used to. I’d chose it because I’d feel really out of place if I ever got asked to go somewhere nice and only had my beloved t-shirts and athletic shorts. I think ahead people!
Tags: cloth diaper, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, Monday Mama, pregnancy
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Monday, August 20th, 2012
Melissa Smith and Jeniffer Smith are sisters-in-law and co-bloggers on Sisters in Cloth, a guide to cloth diapering, breastfeeding, babywearing, frugal and green living. Melissa, a mother of four, began cloth diapering her third child and eventually, inspired Jeniffer to do the same when her first baby was born. Together, they are passionate about living and parenting as naturally as possible — from homemade detergent to breastfeeding to…of course…using cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
JS: Using cloth diapers has made me realize how much I depend on companies to provide things I could make at home. I’ve become much more “green” since switching to cloth, and I’ve learned a lot of ways to keep my family healthier. Cloth diapers have been my “gateway green!”
MS: With my first two children I spent so much money on disposable diapers, even buying the “cheap” diapers that didn’t work as well. We were a young, struggling family, and there were many weeks where the money I had to spend on diapers made me wonder how we were going to buy basic needs like groceries. It is so freeing knowing that no matter how tight the bank account gets, my babies have clean diapers, and that I’m not taking money from our food budget or electricity to provide them.
Q: The first thing I do when I wake up is….
JS: Because I’m nearing the end of my pregnancy, I use the bathroom and then get breakfast and coffee made for me and my daughter.
MS: Normally nurse the baby next to me! As soon as my feet hit the floor I am on my way to brush my teeth, or I feel gross and can’t think. After that it’s time to start the coffee pot!
Q: No matter how much time it takes, I always….
JS: Spend way too much time online. The only way I’ve found to curb it is to stay off completely. That leads to me tweeting and checking emails more on my phone than online, but it’s easier for me to get off of my phone than for me to get off the Internet!
MS: Nurse my baby when he asks for it. At eighteen months this isn’t as often as it used to be, but it still happens a lot, and I still sometimes feel like all I do is nurse all day long!
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
JS: I have a sample of laundry detergent in my purse. It was put there after I opened some fluff mail at the post office, and I haven’t used it or moved it since!
MS: At the moment I think it’s a matchbox car. My three year old loves to hand me random toys while we are out and about and they end up living in my purse forever.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
JS: Jeans and a t-shirt. I go for comfort most days.
MS: I’m really not picky about clothes. I love flowy skirts, but I’m just as happy in jeans and a t-shirt. The one wardrobe item I absolutely wish I could wear every day of the year are my flip-flops! I wear them as far into the fall and winter as I possibly can, and at the first sign of spring they are back to full-time use.
Tags: cloth diapers, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, jeniffer smith, melissa smith, Monday Mama, sisters in cloth
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Monday, July 30th, 2012
Cristy S. is a stay-at-home mom to a fast-growing six month old daughter, Amalia and two stepsons, ages 4 1/2 and 2 years. Cristy loves spending time with her family, cooking, crafting and figuring out ways to cut down her growing family’s budget…including using cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?There are so many ways! It of course, has been a huge money saver. We always planned on cloth, but started out with disposables because cloth was so bulky on our newborn. We saved some in the beginning with Amazon mom, but transitioning to cloth is now definitely saving us in the long run – once those tiny disposables were gone the larger sizes are so much more expensive.
Cloth diapering is also a conversation starter with other moms, whether you meet a kindred cloth spirit when they spot your baby’s cute diaper, or introduce a mom to the new and improved cloth diapering systems out there. So many women stick to disposables with prefolds and pins in mind, and are really thrilled to find out there are cloth diapers like FuzziBunz out there that are so easy to use, and fashionable to boot!
Not to mention, by way of researching cloth, I discovered attachment parenting, babywearing and so many more things that I had no idea existed that just felt instinctually right to me, and which we practice with our family.
Finally, I have met so many people, online and off, that I would never have met if not for cloth who are amazing people!
Q: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…
Italy, hands down. My father’s family is from Northern Italy and Sicily and I have always wanted to visit. I grew up hearing the Italian language, eating my grandparents’ regional foods and hearing the comparison to the cultural differences between their generation and our Americanized Italian culture. I would love nothing more to explore it all in person, where our roots came from! And of course, eat the food!
Q: What do you think is the best invention of all time?
The internet. No seriously. It sounds cliche and silly, but the internet is an extremely valuable tool that allows us all to connect to people all over the world in real time, for minimal cost. So much of what the media portrays is the internet being this scary place where danger lurks around every corner - and you certainly do have to be careful - but there are communities and support for every single person, every issue and every cause. There is a wealth of information out there for anyone to find and educate themselves. As a new mom, I am especially thankful for the internet. Without it, I would never have discovered alternatives for prefolds, breastfeeding support, communities of women going through our pregnancies together, and so on. You get instant information on every product imaginable from reviews to recalls. The entire world is now at our fingertips and we take it for granted!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
That one pair of comfortable Gap jeans and a black v-neck fitted t-shirt. I like classics and a really nice quality T-shirt can be very versatile. That sounds so incredibly boring, but I am definitely a jeans type of girl. You can look casual, chic, trendy or bummy depending on what you add or remove from the outfit. Sneakers and a studded belt? Pumps and a dressy jacket and necklace? Boots and a flowy sweater? Yes, please.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Be flexible, Be flexible, Be flexible! You can make all of the plans and decisions in the world when preparing for your baby, but just like life, babies are unpredictable. Some of your plans will fly right out the window! I was so black and white about everything I planned on doing, but once Amalia was born, I realized that she was a little person and some things needed to change or compromised. But also remember, if you are passionate about something that becomes difficult for you but you really want it to work, stick through it! I was determined to cloth diaper, became exhausted and intimidated by it in practice and kept falling back on disposables. But…I kept going, using diapers that I was uncomfortable with and trying new types. Once I found pocket diapers and AIO/2′s, everything finally fell into place.
Tags: cloth diapers, how to use cloth diapers, Monday Mama
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Monday, July 23rd, 2012
Ilissa K. is the blogger behind Everything Up Close. She is mom to a beautiful baby girl and enjoys spending time with family & friends, blogging, baking, trying new recipes, crafting, sewing and camping (seasonally). She also has a keen interest in natural living and natural parenting, as well as a particular passion for pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period…and of course, you guessed it: cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
It took us 8 months to start using cloth diapers with my daughter. We had always thought it would be ‘too much work’ and worried it wouldn’t work for us. We decided to take the plunge and haven’t looked back! Using cloth diapers makes me feel great because I know that with every single diaper change, I am saving the world by preventing more non-biodegradable waste! Using cloth diapers has been surprisingly easy after we got used to the new routine. I encourage every one I talk to try cloth diapers.
Q: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to….
I would love to tour Europe. I have always been amazed by different cultures, languages, and old world architecture. Visiting Europe, particularly France and Italy would be a dream come true!
Q: What do you think is the best invention of all time?
The internet. It has made communication around the world much easier and more affordable. I also think it has allowed people to become better educated by encouraging them to research the products they buy, the things they consume, etc.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
Probably a pair of yoga pants, a comfy fitted (yet not too fitted) 3/4 length shirt, ankle socks and a pair of runners (all stylish selections of course). It would be easy to go anywhere and be active with my daughter.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
When it comes to parenting…don’t worry about doing everything the ‘right way’. There is no right way; there is only what is right for you and your family. Follow our heart and your intuition.
Tags: cloth diapers, Monday Mama, reasons to cloth diaper
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Monday, July 9th, 2012
Sarah F. is an army wife, as well as mom to eight-month old son Boston and two half-chihuahua/half-dachshunds that she adopted at only 7 days old. She blogs at Dogs, Dogtags and Diapers about raising (and cloth diapering!) her son. She began cloth diapering when she discovered how much money she could save by forgoing disposables…and how much cuter cloth diapers looked on her little one!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
I didn’t start cloth diapering until my son was 3 months old. I had heard about them before, but never seen anyone use them in person, so always imagined that they were all prefolds with a pin. My close friend has a daughter who is one day older than my son and showed me her adorable cloth diapers, they were not at all what I was picturing! She let me borrow a few of them for a few days, and I instantly fell in love. That same day I put in a big order to a co-op and bought a few used diapers from a friend. It’s been an addiction ever since.
Cloth diapering has changed my life by saving us so much money. I have a fairly good sized stash of diapers, and I have only spent approximately what 2 months of disposable diapers would have cost us. Plus, they will last until he potty trains as well as for any following children. In the end it will be a HUGE savings. It’s also a good conversation starter – when it’s warm out, I like to dress my son in a cloth diaper as his “pants” with a t-shirt over it. So many people have asked me about them and complimented me and I’ve even convinced quite a few moms and moms-to-be to convert over to cloth diapering.
Q: If I could travel anywhere, I would go to…
If I could travel anywhere, I would go to Russia. All of the pictures that I have seen of the buildings in Moscow are just amazing to me and I would love to see them in person. Quite a few books that I have read are also set in Russia and that makes me all the more interested hearing about the great landmarks that are all over, especially in Moscow and St. Petersburg.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would probably be just jeans, a blank tank top and my purple Converse sneakers. That is my favorite outfit and it’s very comfortable. I have had those Converse for quite a few years and they’ve seen better days, but I love them!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Trust your instincts! There are so many people who are going to give you advice, whether you want it or not. Family, friends, doctors, strangers. But YOU are the parent, and you know best. No matter what books say, or what other babies are doing, or what your mom tells you, if something doesn’t seem right to you then you are probably right. Don’t measure your babies’ progress by those around you, as every baby is different. If the doctors are telling you to start feeding solids and you know your baby isn’t ready, trust your instincts! It applies in almost any situation regarding your child.
Tags: cloth diapers, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, Monday Mama
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Monday, July 2nd, 2012
Amber R. spent six years working with various non-profit organizations that focused on adult home living support, foster care, youth group homes and family-based services. Now a stay-at-home mother to a baby girl, she blogs at Empowering Ellie to help support women in their roles as wives and mothers, especially by providing practical, application ready and research-based information. In her spare time, she enjoys knitting, photography….and of course, cloth diapering!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Our family decided to use cloth diapers to save money. Until we started using cloth, we had no idea how much we would appreciate our decision. We enjoy not having to budget each month for disposables. We also never have to concern ourselves with running out of diapers; they are always in the house. Finally, we never get concerned that we are “wasting” a diaper if it is only slightly wet. Having a baby changes your life and budget. This was one way our family eased into the financial transition.
Q: What are you most looking forward to this summer?
This summer I am looking forward to our family “staycation.” We decided that this year we are going to spend a week at home rather than a week traveling. When we travel to new destinations, we feel pressured to “see it all” so a week at home will be magnificently relaxing.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
A cash envelope system. Our family doesn’t use credit cards and rarely uses a debit card. Staying debt free is important to us and we pay in cash so that we stick to our budget.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
An Adidas track suit. It’s not too sloppy, but super comfy!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Don’t rush the end of your pregnancy, enjoy it. As soon as the baby comes, your world will change. Go on dates with your husband, take naps and go out for ice-cream. You may feel uncomfortably pregnant now, but once a new baby comes you will cherish the time you had before the baby came!
Tags: cloth diapering, Monday Mama
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Monday, June 25th, 2012
Carissa M. is a mother to 1 year old twins and a very energetic 3 year old. Though her days are packed with bottles, bathing and cloth diaper changing (she even schedules her showers!) she loves to spend time playing with her brood and sharing her daily experiences on her blog, Mommy2Multiples.
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Cloth diapering has changed my life in so many ways! Since they were born, my twins have never once had diaper rash and I credit that to their cloth diapers – especially for my son who has eczema and extremely sensitive skin. I think cloth diapers are just as easy to use as disposable diapers especially with pocket style cloth diapers.
Q: This summer I am looking forward to…
Taking the twins to the beach and Sea World for the first time. They love to explore and see new things as much as I love the look on their faces when they are really taking something in.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…
I would say Hot Wheels cars, because for some reason my kids will stop crying and start playing with them whenever they are upset. I have learned I usually need to have at least a couple for entertainment or to stop meltdowns.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…
Jean shorts, tank top and flip flops. When keeping up with my kids I am all about comfort — no more spending hours getting ready or making sure I am fashion-forward. By the end of the day, I usually wind up covered with some kind of food or stains on myself from my twins.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
No mommy or daddy is perfect and you’ll always learn new things that work for your family as you go along. You get into a routine and before long, it becomes second nature, whether it’s shopping with your kids or by yourself for groceries or making sure you have everything you need in your diaper bag for a day out. You learn as you go along.
Tags: cloth diapers, fuzzibunz cloth diapers, Monday Mama, multiples, twins
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Monday, June 18th, 2012
Ashley Reynolds, The Reynolds Mom, is a stay-at-home-mom in California who has a son obsess with Disney, trains, balls, Elmo, stars, numbers and letters. Ashley has adapted a natural approaches to parenting, sleeping, diapering and disciplining over the past several years. Though she primarily shops organic when possible, her family believes in awareness and moderation…and of course, cloth diapers!
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
A: We looked into cloth diapering after my son developed a rash from a new version of a popular disposable diaper brand. As a result of making the switch to cloth, we’ve not only saved a lot of money but it also encouraged me to become more health- and safety-conscious when it comes to my son and what I expose him to. It’s prompted me to more carefully evaluate the chemicals and ingredients in the products I choose to buy so that we can make smarter choices for the sake of our health.
Q: This summer I am looking forward to….
A: Moving to a new house!! We’re currently in the process of buying a short sale which might take a longer than we think, BUT, I’m hopeful by the end of summer we’ll be in our new home with a lot more room for our son to play and our family to grow.
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
A: Hmmmmm. I just had to look. Actually, I have a kind of candy from Japan called Hi-Chew in my purse. It’s similar in texture to taffy. Since my step-dad lived in Japan for a couple years, he is very fond of Japanese culture and foods so recently he gave me a pack of Hi-Chew! I hope they’re natural but it’s all in Japanese so I have no idea!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
A: My favorite jeans, a basic t-shirt and flip flops!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
A: Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Trust me, you’ll need it and your friends and family are more than willing to give you a hand.
Tags: cloth diapering, diaper rash, Monday Mama, natural parenting
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Monday, June 11th, 2012
Amber Edwards is the lead writer for JadeLouise Designs. A known book-a-holic, avid crafter and movie lover, Amber is a homemaking mother of 3 children, including 2 boys and a little girl, Jade Louise.
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life? I first switched to cloth diapers because my husband was finishing his military career and going back to school full-time. We were going to be losing an income and we needed to cut monthly living costs as much as possible. That is when I finally listened to my sister about cloth diapers. It has been amazing, because not only has it saved us a lot of money, but I have loved how the cloth diapers work so much better than the disposable diapers worked!
We have far fewer leaks with cloth diapers, thus my daughters clothes last a lot longer, and I don’t have to wash her laundry as often! I was surprised that it wasn’t as hard as I originally thought, and I’m not always a slave to cloth diaper laundering! I have fallen in love with all the different colors and print options that are available through cloth diapers – they are much more fun than regular disposable diapers.
The biggest benefit of cloth diapers is not having to worry about the chemicals in disposable diapers. We don’t have to deal with diaper rash quite as often as when my daughter was in disposable diapers, so I wish I had used cloth 8 years ago when my oldest son was a baby. I will definitely be using cloth with all future children, as cloth diapering has made a vast change in my outlook on child raising and I no longer think that what everyone else is doing is always the best choice.
Q: This summer I am looking forward to….
Allowing my daughter run around in a shirt and diaper! With the warm weather, I won’t have to wrap her up in a lot of layers to keep her warm, thus we can show of her adorable cloth diapers more. When people actually see the diapers, they start to think maybe cloth isn’t so bad! It’s a great conversation starter. My kids are probably most excited to bring out the swimming pool, sprinklers and water guns and have a lot of outdoor water fun!
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
You mean besides the constant supply of fruit snacks, diapers, wipes, little diaper bags to wrap up the dirty diapers, little treats and toys to keep my daughter entertained anytime we leave the house? Yes, I have both my purse and diaper bag stocked with all of that at all times! I’d probably have to say the 6 different lip balms, as I am always misplacing and losing them! I have to keep a large stock with me at all times because my lips are always chapped in our dry Idaho weather. Plus my daughter has to always have some herself when she seems me applying lip balm, so she has one special just for her that is chemical free and safe for digestion.
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be…. My pajamas! They are quite comfortable, and fit very well. I love being comfortable, yet at the same time, they are cute so I don’t feel so self-conscious!
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Don’t close your mind off to options when raising your child until you have done your research – even if you are advised by someone you trust! Always do your homework when it comes to your choices on raising your children. With my oldest boys, I refused to consider cloth diapers, certain brands of baby gear and even refused some methods of feeding but I regret it now.
I wish I had been more open minded and did more research on brands, products, and even parenting methods. Looking back, a lot of what I refused to use with my oldest boys are now my favorite brands/products and methods with my new daughter, because they have worked very well, saved us money and are more reliable. I could have saved myself a lot of money and headaches if I would have just done my research myself instead of listening to all the advice that strangers and even family and friends gave me.
Tags: cloth diapers, FuzziBunz, Monday Mama
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Monday, June 4th, 2012
Britney Major is a mom of three children under five years old and lives with her family in Idaho. Since she became pregnant with her third child, she has been passionate about cloth diapering and runs a video blog where she provides information and helpful tips to inspire other families to cloth diaper.
Q: How have cloth diapers changed your life?
Cloth diapers have changed my life by not making me feel guilty about diapering another baby. I have three kids under five and had been buying diapers for too long! When I found out I was pregnant with number 3 I vowed to never buy another pack of disposables. Aside from two small newborn packs of disposables that we received as a gift, we have only used cloth diapers on our daughter, who is now four months old. I think the diapers have paid for themselves already! We even went on a 1,800 mile road trip to see family and never once used disposables even on the road!
Q: This summer I am looking forward to….
CAMPING! With three little kids camping is always fun and adventures. We are hoping to go on a two week long camp trip this year and of course cloth diapering the whole time!
Q: The most unusual thing in my diaper bag or purse is…..
I am pretty crazy about keeping my diaper bag cleaned out and organized but I would say the most unusual thing would be coconut oil. I’m not sure if its unusual or not but I use it for EVERYTHING! I use it as moisturizer, diaper rash treatment and prevention, in my hair to make it shiny, as makeup remover – anything!
Q: If I could live in one outfit for the rest of my life, it would be….
A jersey knit maxi skirt and nursing tank top. This is pretty much my daily uniform – it’s so comfy and easy but at least it looks like I “tried” to get dressed.
Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to a new mom/dad, what would it be?
Enjoy your first baby and pregnancy. Having multiple children is wonderful but there is nothing like being able to devote all your attention to one chid. Once you have more, there will be no more afternoon naps with your new baby. Also, co-sleeping and breastfeeding have been a life saver. I have hardly had any sleep deprived days with this baby and I really think it has a lot to do with the fact that I am not getting up to make bottles all night.
Tags: cloth diaper, FuzziBunz, Monday Mama
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