Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Our cloth diaper picks

, CottI had every intention of being a much better blogger!  I really am going to get back in the swing of things!!  I've even thought about taking a day off work to go sit at Starbucks and just recipe plan and blog.  Funny, Lee isn't going for it!

I had a friend ask about cloth diapers and that was really all the inspiration I needed to get back on my bandwagon (soapbox).  Cloth diapers have become extremely confusing.  Gerber is now the lowest of the lowest and people pay upwards of $30 for a boutique diaper.  It can actually be quite addicting.  Now spraying diapers still isn't my favorite thing, but I will take them over disposable diapers any day (NEVER thought I'd say that).

What I thought I would do is write a little bit about what we decided to use and how we do things.  My favorite hands down is Bum Genius all in ones.  It basically looks just like a disposable and takes the same amount of time or less to use.  The absorbant soaker is sewn into the waterproof layer.  It has velcro tabs which make it a cinch to use.  It is the diaper I usually grab first for overnight.  The only dowside is they really need to be turned inside out before putting them in the dryer so that they dry in a reasonable amount of time.  They are considered one of the most daddy-friendly and easiest to use.  They're pretty thin, too.

My second favorite (and I think Lee's favorite) is the Bum Genius Flip system.  It's either called a hybrid (because it has a disposable insert option) or and all in two (because there are two parts).  It is basically a cover with a glorified insert.  The best part is that it is super thin and you can reuse the cover over and over (until it gets pooped on).  It also has snaps which are much more durable in the long run.  You only need a few covers and a few more inserts.  It is one of the best options that I've found.

Some of the others that I have tried are Ella Bella Bum (pockets, very trim, much lower rise for less bulk), Dypes by Dixon (pocket, MINKY, minky, minky, so soft, fairly trim but bulkier than some of my others), Doodle Dypes (all in 2 but not resusable insert, the insert lays in the diaper but the water proof layer is hidden so can't be reused as a cover, CUTE, cute, cute, but the soaker/insert has to be folded under which just always folded awkward and made it bulkier in the diaper area), BeBe Britches (very similar to Doodle Dypes, super cute, but the soaker was just too big to be folded under).

Some of the favorites that I have read or heard about from others: Fishnoodles, Bottom Bumpers, Rumparooz, Bum Genius 4.0 pockets.

As always, please leave a comment if interested or if you have questions.  I love to talk about cloth diapers and don't always get a chance in "real life."  Most people think I'm crazy (for good reason!).  Off to put some diapers in the dryer...

Friday, August 13, 2010

Organic websites

This is for my dear friend Cheri, who is pregnant with her first baby and asked about organic co-ops.  I came across a few very helpful resources for finding organic and local produce.

Raw milk is illegal in Georgia for human consumption, but here is an excellent website for finding providers:
http://www.realmilk.com/

Another very useful site is:
http://www.localharvest.com/

Ultimately the site I use the most in my area is :
locallygrown.net.
It is the it where I found my local growers group.  Ninety percent of the growers use no chemicals and the weekly pickup is 10-15 minutes from my house.  I even found a group that sells slow-pasteruized, non-homogenzied, organic milk, honey, lots of produce, and grass fed beef.

Lee doesn't even complain anymore when I go to local growers or Eartfare (well, as long as it's not $$$)!!!

Oh, I amost forgot, one of my favoite sites is orangicdeals.blogspot.com.  She has a lot of organic coupons and deals.

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Upcoming topics...

One day I'll have posts ready to be posted in advanced!!!  I think I might just take a day off and go up to Starbucks (for that oh so "organic" latte...don't worry, Lee, they're free).

I have so many ideas and think of this blog daily.  Here are some of the things I hope to start working on for you...
"Death by Rubber Duck" book review
Shampoo vs. "No 'Poo"
Cloth diaper ammonia troubles
Homemade natural cleaning recipes
Homemade healthy and beauty recipes (toothpaste is next!)
Food Recipes
Know Your Ingredients quizzes
Organic/Green product reviews (dish soap is next)