Menu Plan for 7-4 through 7-12

No, I haven't dropped off the face of the earth. Currently, I am 35 1/2 weeks pregnant and sick with a head cold. My husband and son are out watching fireworks without me. But despite my dropping appetite I still need to feed my family. And if I hit an energy spurt and decide to fill my freezers I need some meal ideas that freeze well.

Here are some ideas I have for dinners as I mentally scan my cupboards, freezer, and storage.

Chicken Curry/Hawaiian Haystacks
German Pancakes and fruit salad
Veggie Enchiladas and Jello Salad
Sloppy Joes and Green Beans
Family bbq
Garlic chicken
Mac N' Cheese and nectarines

Teriyaki Chicken

Iceberg Drive-Inn

And for Baking:
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Mother's Milk Cookies (frozen dough for postpartum)
Cake in a Mug

Freezer Cooking
Meatloaf
Lasagna
black bean soup
chicken pot pie

We do have family visiting so there will be some impromptu family get togethers but I hope this will keep me accountable.

Day 3 & 4 - Flats and Handwashing challenge

You are probably wondering what a flat is and if I have lost my ever loving mind.
First of all here are a few pictures of flats:

I am using tea towels you can get 4 for 3.99 at Target.  You can also use old receiving blankets or old towels.  This can cause some people to get really creative (:

I have decided that through this challenge I have felt like a pioneer.  I have thought about my ancestors, people in third world countries, and those experiencing natural disasters.  I have thought about what it means to be prepared; and what I would do if my washer went out.  Hopefully, have enough money in savings to replace it or fix it.

But to tell you the truth it really hasn't been that hard besides the handwashing part (that really gives you an arm workout).  Taylor wets less diapers and not for a lack of me checking him.  And I've noticed he is now often letting me know when he is wet!

Another benefit to these diapers over pocket diapers are they are alot less bulky.  His everyday clothes fit him better.  And flat diapers clean alot better; I am frustrated with the microfiber stink.

Anyways, Saturday will be my last handwashing day and then I go back to using my washer.  Yeah!

Day 2 - Flats and Handwashing Challenge

Ok, handwashing was harder than I thought. Bending over the tub at seven and a half months pregnant doesn't help.

I've decided that since I have enough flats I am going to wait two days to wash. And I will wash in the morning so that they can dry faster outside.

I don't have a drying rack; so do you think my neighbor would mind terribly if I hung some on the backyard fence? She will be at work. (:

I will rinse the pee diapers out every night and let the poo diapers soak seperately I read that on another blog post. I think that will help them get cleaner when I wash them. I noticed when I was folding the diapers this morning there were some stains on them; I hope they come out with the sun.

Here are the rules to this challenge and lnk-ups to some of the 300+ people participating in this challenge.

Day One - Diaper Challenge

It's Monday and it's raining outside; good thing we got our gutters cleaned and the back downspout extended. Now for quiet day at home.

I'm not complaining too much because the longer it waits to get hot the more bearable these last few months of pregnancy is going to be. I am a little more than 10 weeks from my due date. And I feel like it's going to go by fast.

Today I start the first day of the Flats Handwashing Challenge. My first step is to hide all the fancy cloth diapers so we don't cheat. And it does say you can use another overnight diaper so I'm debating over using a disposable or a prefold wrapped in a flat.

Other than that the day should go on the same as usual. Most of the time, Tator Tot will still fight diaper changes.

I can't believe that in a few months I will TWO bums to change. But I love my kids and am so blessed to be their mom.

Flats and Handwashing Challenge - How I am preparing

A couple months ago there was an article about mothers leaving diapers on their children too long and even washing them out and reusing them.  Diapers are a necessity but are not covered by either WIC or Food stamps.  Food banks are always looking for diaper donations; so if you are fortunate to be able to give I would encourage you to do so.  

The cloth diaper community wants to empower low income families with another diapering option. It is diapering with flats (large square of fabric that can be folded to fit various size babies). With this type of diaper, a Snappi, and a few modern waterproof covers a family can start for as little as $60.  You can even handwash flats since they are easy to wash and dry fast.

Kim Rosas, the creator of Dirty Diaper Laundry, shows her readers how to make a camp style washer.  This is great for emergency preparedness for washing clothes and flat diapers.  And for those who don't have a washer and dryer who want to cloth diaper.

Wish me luck May 23rd- May 30th as I attempt this challenge.  Mind you, it is just for a week (:

Cloth Diapering is coming back.

Although, approximately 80% of American families use disposable diapers today many mothers are choosing to use cloth diapers. I started CDing (cloth diapering) when my son was about two and a half months and he is now almost one and a half.




Isn’t he cute?

The #1 reason I chose to cloth diaper was MONEY.

- To diaper one child in disposables for 2.5-3 years it would cost 1500-3000. This includes wipes, diaper rash creams and Pull-ups.

- Cloth diapering will cost you anywhere between 400-1200 depending on which diapers you chose and how many diapers you buy. This includes detergent, utilities, diaper pail, and all other accessories. When you use these diapers on subsequent children your savings multiply.

I am expecting our second, a little girl, in August and will have two in diapers. So I will to have buy a few more diapers. But fortunately if ever didn’t need my diapers and wanted to sell them, cloth diapers have a 50-80% resale value. Cha-ching!

So in celebration of Earth Day on Friday, Heidi let me share a little on a greener way to diaper that will leave a little more green in your wallet.

HAPPY EARTH DAY!


To ask questions about cloth diapering and learn more follow my blog.

Conference Reflection

Today was the last day of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints' General Conference.  Twice a year we gather via the airwaves to watch/listen to inspired speakers.  The two days seem to pass by so fast and then you have to sit back and let it sink in.  Was that message for me?  What can I take from this? 

Elder Holland said that none of the speakers are assigned a topic beforehand; they are simply suppoused to speak from the heart what the Lord wants them to say.  It is interesting when several people speak on the same topic.  I liked when Elder Holland said that if we are trying our best we can give ourselves high marks.  I remember a couple times in college when we got to grade ourselves in a religion class.  I was always hard on myself and could never give myself an A.  Maybe I could've given myself more credit.  No being a Latter-Day Saint isn't an easy path most of the time but it is the right path, where eternal truth lies, if we seek it, and continue in it. 

Yes, I can do better but in other areas I can give myself  "high marks". (when I just wrote that it made me cringe, I'm working on it.)