Mom Phenom

Saturday Mom Blog Hop! Add your blog!

2011-03-12T08:14:00.000-05:00

I decided I'd love to host a weekly Blog Hop! I'm fairly new to hosting a "hop" so forgive me if there are any glitches.Here's how it works...In order to join the hop and add your link you have to first

First, follow the first (2) Blogs on the list AND the last (2) Blogs on the list. Why the first and last? Well normally I see blog hops where you must just follow people at the top, but that doesn't seem all that fun when those never change and there's no guarantee anyone else will get new followers. So I decided to play by my own rules and ask that you follow the top two and bottom two.
Second, grab the code for the linky and create a new Blog post on your blog. Please also use the Cloth Diaper Geek Blog Hop graphic and copy/paste these instructions if you can so that others will know the rules and how to play along.
Optional, it is not "required" but if you'd like other bloggers to follow you back through this Hop then it's suggested that you leave them a comment saying so on their blog so that they know you stopped by.

*To grab the code and place this Blog Hop on your blog you must click the link below that says "Get the code here..."

My very first award ever! Thanks Amy!

2010-07-14T14:26:00.001-04:00

I have ALWAYS wondered how those fancy schmancy Blog Awards worked. Who gives them, who makes them, and how do they work?

Well I got one and I now I know! Thanks so much to my new pal Amy over at The Cheap and Choosy for giving the Versatile Blogger Award to me. I feel special now. :)

Now what?

Here are the rules for receiving the award.

1. Thank and link back to the person who gave you this award.

2. Share seven things about yourself.

I am a fireman's wife and have three kids, two of which are identical twins.
I am an only child.
I never liked babysitting and never imagined that I would ever become a stay-at-home mom.
I own my own business, Earth Angels Diaper Company.
I consider myself an introvert and believe I have social anxiety disorder. But online I come across as very outgoing and extroverted.
I love tattoos and have many.
I would love to go back to school and get a degree in graphic art & web design.

3. Pass thisaward along to fifteen bloggers who you have recently discovered andwho you think are fantastic for whatever reason!

My 15 recommended blogs are as follows…

4. Contact the bloggers you’ve picked and let them know about the award.

2 a.m. and I heard a weird noise...

2010-03-22T15:37:00.002-04:00

The funniest thing happened the other night. I was sound asleep, well as sound as you can sleep when you're a mom... Well I hear this noise in the kitchen, a banging noise, but I'm too tired to get up. So I wait and I don't hear it again. Then I hear another sound, a weird but familiar sound.

I get up and go into the kitchen and Spencer, one of my 3.5 yr old twin sons, is laying on the carpet in the kitchen trying to put his own diaper back on! He's got it all laid out and he's trying to sit on it and fasten the aplix back up but he can't get it right!

It was the cutest thing. Apparently he got up to use the potty in the kitchen and just thought he'd put his diaper back on himself and go back to bed. Too cute!

First Girl Scout camping trip!

2010-03-20T14:35:00.005-04:00

Aside from family members our daughter, who will be 7 next month, has never spent the night anywhere but with a couple different family members. This weekend her Daisy Scout troop was invited to their first Camporee. Not far from our home but still away all day and over night. So many questions came to mind like how many people will be there, who will be in the tent, how many chaperones, how old are all the kids, what are the activities planned, what will they feed her..and on and on.

As expected she had no questions! "Camping trip! Yippee!" and then she dances excitedly all around the house. She's into it and raring to go and has no idea if we're sending her for a week across the country or just a night across town. She's a little dare devil and always down for something adventurous. Go now and ask questions later, that's her philosophy.

Anyhow, the house feels quiet without her and I wonder what she's up to. Probably some arts and crafts, hiking around in the bushes and driving the adults crazy! Hey better them than me!

ETA: They called us at 10:15pm and she said she was homesick and wanted to come home so we went and picked her up!

MISSION: Potty training twins! Almost complete.

2010-03-19T00:01:00.001-04:00

Phew! It literally feels like I began potty training my twin sons a bajillion years ago! I told myself when we started that I wasn't going to stress out because there's nothing more frustrating than trying to potty train little ones who aren't ready. Little by little they showed signs of readiness like taking their diapers off right after they peed, wanting to be changed immediately after pooping, and they showed a lot of interest in peeing outdoors in the grass and such whenever they were diaper-less! (I guess that's a boy thing!)

So we got a small potty. I tried it in the bathroom but that didn't work because I keep the bathroom door closed so they won't go in there all day and mess around. So we put the potty in the kitchen where it was more visible and accessible to them and they began to use it much more.

We finally got to the point where they were in underwear all the time at home. So I took the plunge and started putting them in underwear for short car rides. Well, they weren't ready for that. Every time they would just pee in the car seat, regardless of whether they had just peed or not. So we went back to diapers when we were out.

Eventually we tried underwear in the car again recently and they have really taken to it. I do remind them constantly "don't pee in your underwear" and they have really seemed to get it this time.

Now our last and hardest phase is getting them to not pee during the night. Mason has been waking up dry every morning and even wakes up at night to use the potty if he needs to. Spencer on the other hand pees throughout the night and if I don't wake him before his morning pee then he leaks all over the sheets and wakes up because of it.

So far we've tried everything. The latest is keeping him in an overstuffed Duo Diaper and making sure to wake him before he wakes up on his own. I also think I need to cut back on how much liquids I give him the evening before. They both literally drink ALL day long.

Anyhow, it's been a long road but I think we're almost there. They will be 4yrs old in October and by then I am sure they'll be fully trained. (knock on wood)

How's it going for you all? Any advice? I've always heard it's harder to potty train boys than girls and I think that's proving to be true for us.

Cake Decorating in Oklahoma City!

2010-02-17T12:32:00.005-05:00

Anyone live in OKC? My friend Iisha, who recently relocated there from Florida, has begun teaching cake decorating at the local Michaels Craft Store!

Anyone local please check out her FaceBook Fan Page Iisha's Sweet Expressions for more info and to sign up!

We're headed on our first official family vacation!

2010-02-01T09:53:00.005-05:00

I am so excited to be finally taking our first official vacation with the kids. I feel like a grown up! In the past we would have just jumped in the car and set off for the mountains. Often we'd just drive around until dark and then try to find a campground or hotel. Sometimes they were full or too expensive and we'd have to keep looking. We'd always say "next time we're going to plan better."

Well this time, since there is a good likelihood that it will be snowing, camping is out of the question. Luckily since it's sort of the off season, small mountain cabin rentals are pretty much the same as the hotels. So we've lucked out and found a cute little cabin to stay at.

I am thrilled to be able to share the mountains, and hopefully snow, with our kids who have never been out of Florida. I can't wait to see the look on their faces when we stop at some of the most breathtaking scenic overlooks. I know they're just going to love it!

I think I'm obsessed with the Dog Whisperer...

2010-01-15T00:01:00.001-05:00

We got a new puppy for Christmas, her name is Lucy and she was 12weeks old when we got her. My husband and I have had dogs before, we treated them like spoiled babies and in exchange they ate our furniture, our shoes, clothes and at the very least nibbled on pretty much anything and everything we owned.

It's sort of like when a family suffers a fire and loses their photos and keepsakes. We suffered through having three dogs and lost a lot of valuable things we would have kept for life.

Since having gone through that we've decided this time we're going to do it right, we're going to crate train her and teach her obedience and routine and hope that this time we end up with the dog of our dreams.

This leads me to the topic of this post, The Dog Whisperer, Cesar Millan. He's got his own show and boy is he awesome. I can't get enough of the show and feel like I've learned and continue to learn so much. It's just unreal how he's so intuitive and connected with the dogs he trains and helps. Everything he does is like an "aha moment!" So simple yet you'd have never thought of it on your own.

Anyhow, Lucy's a great pup so far and we look forward to many years together.

Any other Dog Whisperer fans out there?

Crock Pot Ziti! Yumm-o-la

2010-01-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

So I am trying to turn over a new leaf this year. One of my resolutions is to cook more than I do. My husband loves to cook, which is convenient for me since I am not a great cook. It's not that I can't cook but I don't have a whole lot of experience and so my cooking comes out plain and boring.

A friend turned me on to a Blog, A Year of Slowcooking, and it has really inspired me to try a lot of the recipes. I love the convenience of the CrockPot and since 4-5pm is such a busy time for me already it's fabulous that I can start dinner earlier and it will be ready at dinner time.

The Blog is run by the author of the book Make it Fast, Cook it Slow which you can buy on Amazon or at your local bookseller.

Last night I attempted the CrockPot Ziti Recipe found here. After having read her recipe and all the readers comments I decided to tweak her original recipe.

I used

1 box Penne/Ziti pasta
3 sliced boneless skinless chicken breasts, pre-cooked about half way before use
1 cup shredded fresh mozzarella
1 large jar garlic tomato sauce
1/2 jar alfredo sauce
1 cup of water
diced onions & sliced tomato
parmesan cheese

Instead of allowing it to cook in layers like she recommended I stirred it every 30-40 minutes to ensure that all the noodles were cooked and none got dried out.
It ended up taking 3 hours on low as opposed to 4 hours. If I had left them to cook any longer the noodles would have been way overdone.

Overall it was very tasty. My husband commented that the slow cooking seemed to give it a unique flavor.

This is a must try recipe if you love pasta and have a crockpot!

Trying to get this show back on the road!

2010-01-13T07:06:00.003-05:00

Wow! It has been so long since I spent any time on this, my personal Blog. Since trying to focus more on my business and it's new Blog Diaper Discussions I have spent all my time there. The problem is that after getting into blogging and starting to keep up with all the cool blogs that I follow I have really began to long for a place to blog about personal things, not just cloth diapers.

So I came here, dusted off this old dusty blog, and here I sit. Hopefully with a new name and layout it will feel and look much better. I look forward to getting back on track with both my blogs and connecting with new blogs and followers.

:) Julie

Donate $5.00 or more to Miracle Diapers & receive a $5.00 off coupon to Earth Angels Diaper Co.!

2009-07-16T09:08:00.000-04:00

Earth Angels Diaper Co. proudly supports Miracle Diapers and their continuing efforts to provide needy families with cloth diapering and natural parenting items.

Currently, the gals at Miracle Diapers are trying to make the move into a more comfortable office/warehouse environment. They need our help in raising the money they need to fund their move.

Earth Angels Diaper Co. will be providing a $5.00 Coupon Code to anyone who donates $5.00 or more to Miracle Diapers as a THANK YOU for your generosity and support. The coupon code will be automatically sent upon completing the donation through PayPal.

Please donate through one of the links at Earth Angels Diaper Co. to take advantage of this offer.

And, as always, Miracle Diapers is also accepting donations of cloth diapers, accessories, and other natural parenting items.

Thanks for reading!

The Fresh Air Fund's Dollar for Dollar Gift Match Program! Only 10 days left!

2009-06-18T16:49:00.002-04:00

There is only a week and a half left in The Fresh Air Fund's dollar-for-dollar gift matching program. Help a child in need by making your donation today!

THE FRESH AIR FUND, an independent, not-for-profit agency, has provided free summer vacations to more than 1.7 million New York City children from low-income communities since 1877. Nearly 10,000 New York City children enjoy free Fresh Air Fund programs annually. In 2008, close to 5,000 children visited volunteer host families in suburbs and small town communities across 13 states from Virginia to Maine and Canada. 3,000 children also attended five Fresh Air camps on a 2,300-acre site in Fishkill, New York. The Fund’s year-round camping program serves an additional 2,000 young people each year.

Creating a memorable baby shower gift!

2009-05-07T08:43:00.013-04:00

I recently hosted a Baby Shower/Blessingway for my friend who is expecting. Our moms group wanted to collaborate on a gift for her. One friend had the idea to each create a quilt square and then she'd collect them and sew them into a cloth baby book for the new baby to play with. It turned out just fabulous and I wanted to share the pics!

It turned out really durable and I am sure it will provide great fun for the new baby since it includes a variety of textures. On the last page, just inside the back cover, we all signed our names and wrote messages to the mom-to-be!

I would highly suggest this idea if you're trying to plan a creative Baby Shower for a friend or family member.

Girls Day Out @ Disney!

2009-04-29T10:45:00.002-04:00

Well my daughter completed her "Sleeping Poster" after sleeping in her own bed, alone, for 50+ nights in a row. Her reward was to be the super-mega-ultra-special reward of her choice. So we decided I would take her to Disney for her birthday and hubby would stay home with the boys.

We had a great time and although she's only just turned 6 she was more than willing to ride anything they had, no matter how scary. She also got a kick out of the Haunted House and pointed out how fake everything was throughout the ride! lol It was too cute.

It was nice to get to spend some one on one time with her since I always have my sons with me and it prevents her from getting the quality attention she used to before they were born.

It was definitely a trip we will not soon forget and the videos I got of her riding the roller coasters are priceless!

Totally Awesome New Blog Template!

2009-04-29T10:32:00.001-04:00

I was in total need of a new template. A makeover gets me inspired to write more, so I visited http://www.giselejaquenod.com.ar/blog/ who offers some adorable free blogger templates! Hope you like it!

The Fresh Air Fund is in need of host families!

2009-04-22T08:34:00.003-04:00

In 2008, The Fresh Air Fund's Volunteer Host Family Program, called Friendly Town, gave close to 5,000 New York City boys and girls, ages six to 18, free summer experiences in the country and the suburbs. Volunteer host families shared their friendship and homes for two weeks or more in 13 Northeastern states from Virginia to Maine and Canada.

The Fresh Air Fund is in need of hosts for the Summer of 2009. Click Here for more info!

Making every penny count with SwagBucks!

2009-03-10T09:13:00.003-04:00

As if I don't already have enough to do, I have been frequenting the SwagBucks site. If you aren't familiar with it, it is like a search engine that randomly awards you with SwagBucks for searches. There are other ways to earn SwagBucks as well, by referring friends, finding secret SwagCodes, and shopping through their affiliate links.

SwagBucks do build up fast for little to no effort on your part, and can be redeemed for various prizes and gift cards. I redeemed my first 45 bucks for an Amazon giftcard and within 3 days the giftcard code was in my inbox.

Gift it a try! You'll be hooked. Click here to join SwagBucks!

Attempting to earn money by completing surveys...

2008-10-28T13:12:00.002-04:00

Usually something like earning money by completing surveys seems like a concept too good to be true. So when someone referred me to CashCrate I was pretty reluctant to give out my info and sign up to another site. So far in less than 2 weeks I've earned almost $20.00 for about 30 minutes of my time spent combined, filling out surveys and clicking my mouse. Their payout is monthly and you only have to earn a minimum of $20.00 to receive a check each month. Many of their offers are actually rebates for trying free products and promotions.

So I think that if $20.00 will fill my gas tank up half way or buy me that blouse I've been wanting then it is worth my time after all.

I suggest you give it a try too! click her to join CashCrate

A Better Birth Way

2008-04-30T16:16:00.004-04:00

If you are an expecting mother or know someone who might benefit from the help of a Doula, then you should check out A Better Birth Way in Central Florida. What is a Doula? By definition a Doula is a professional labor and delivery assistant, who provides support, care, and friendship to both the mother and her family. They are also very knowledgeable in areas surrounding childbirth like childbirth education, lactation, nutrition, parenting, physical/emotional/psychological issues, and more.

For more information, Contact Jamie at Jesa2448@aol.com or call her directly at 407-436-2287.

Dr. Seuss Breastfeeding Rhyme!

2008-04-26T09:03:00.000-04:00

Author Unknown

Dr. Seuss for Nursing Moms

Would you nurse her in the park?

Would you nurse him in the dark?

Would you nurse him with a Boppy?

And when your boobs are feeling floppy?

I would nurse him in the park,

I would nurse her in the dark.

I'd nurse with or without a Boppy.

Floppy boobs will never stop me.

Can you nurse with your seat belt on?

Can you nurse from dusk till dawn?

Though she may pinch me, bite me, pull,

I will nurse her `till she's full!

Can you nurse and make some soup?

Can you nurse and feed the group?

It makes her healthy strong and smart,

Mommy's milk is the best start!

Would you nurse him at the game?

Would you nurse her in the rain?

In front of those who dare complain?

I would nurse him at the game.

I would nurse her in the rain.

As for those who protest lactation,

I have the perfect explanation.

Mommy's milk is tailor made

It's the perfect food, you need no aid.

Some may scoff and some may wriggle,

Avert their eyes or even giggle.

To those who can be cruel and rude,

Remind them breast's the perfect food!

I would never scoff or giggle,

Roll my eyes or even wiggle!

I would not be so crass or crude,

I KNOW that this milk's the perfect food!

We make the amount we need

The perfect temp for every feed.

There's no compare to milk from breast-

The perfect food, above the rest.

Those sweet nursing smiles are oh so sweet,

Mommy's milk is such a treat.

Human milk just can't be beat.

I will nurse, in any case,

On the street or in your face.

I will not let my baby cry,

I'll meet her needs, I'll always try.

It's not about what's good for you,

It's best for babies, through and through.

I will nurse her in my home,

I will nurse her when I roam.

Leave me be lads and ma'am.

I will nurse her, Mom I am.

Get $25.00 Absolutely FREE, until April 15th!

2008-04-09T06:45:00.002-04:00

I admit I was a skeptic on the whole RME thing but I finally took the plunge. Here's the link to sign up if you are interested Revolutionary Money Exchange Sign Up

Basically it's a payment processing and online account like Paypal, only since they are pretty new everything is completely FREE, no fees yet for sending or accepting money. Until April 15th they are offering $25.00 FREE when you sign up. I joined and moments later I had $25.00!

*If you sign up, make sure you check your account afterwards and click on the "Accept" button to accept your $25.00.

Happy Shopping!

One of my all time favorite songs

2008-03-01T07:38:00.001-05:00

Bittersweet

2008-02-18T07:43:00.002-05:00

My husband and I were some of the lucky ones who purchased a house in 2001 when the market was normal, the prices would now have seemed dirt cheap and unbelievable. The problem is that even though we bought at the right time we knew we could never afford to buy a new home because the costs have quadrupled and even if we sold for a profit, we couldn't afford the mortgage on the cost of a new home at the recent prices.

Well recently foreclosure rates in our area have skyrocketed, prices have dropped, and interest rates are low. We saw this as a chance to jump on the opportunity to buy before prices went back up. The depressing thing is that virtually all homes in our area are being sold by banks who have foreclosed on local homeowners. House after house we toured looked abandoned and I could picture the families who had lived there no longer being able to afford their mortgages and 2nd mortgages, upside down in their payments, no longer seeing their home as an investment and deciding to give up. Here we were looking to purchase at a fraction of what they owed. Doesn't really seem fair but I guess it's the way the cookie crumbles.

The Library Lady is after me!

2008-01-06T15:45:00.000-05:00

So, after the birth of my twin sons I felt I needed to get motivated, get over my fear of taking three kids out in public alone. I decided to go to the library, hadn't been in ages, in fact wasn't even sure I still had a card.

I arrived and it was awesome! The Childrens section was amazing and I felt so guilty for not having taken my daughter sooner. We played checkers and the librarian in that section explained a program where my daughter would get prizes for reading books, all we had to do was check out as many as we'd like, read them together, bring them back and she'd get to win prizes. So I was feeling all happy and proud that I'd taken the kids out and all, so we checked out at least a dozen books, they are FREE after all I thought to myself.

Weeks passed and we returned the books a few weeks late but my daughter was still able to choose some prizes. I paid no attention at all to the fact that I'd accumulated a late fee. I thought late fees were like .01 per day per book or something...

Well a couple months go by and I get a letter, from a collection agency, stating that I owed the #*!##!* library over $50.00 in late fees! I was speechless. I still am speechless. How can they charge me more per book then the books were worth? Shouldn't I have been told that the price would be the same at this point whether I returned the books or not? I mean, I could have kept them.

So I have been putting off the inevitable, a confrontation at the library. No doubt they'll treat me like a criminal for owing them money. I am just so ticked that I let this happen.

Two Identical Babes with Opposite Personalities

2008-01-04T09:50:00.000-05:00

I used to worry about whether or not my little guys would be treated as individuals, as separate and unique people, but now I think I may not have to worry about that. Mason and Spencer have personalities on opposite ends of the spectrum. One is crazy, mischievous, always on the run, even eats standing up in his high chair. The other is mellow, content, and cautious about taking risks. They're only 1, but I am sure that the traits I see developing now are a preview of what the future might hold.

FREE Diaper GiveAway!

2008-01-03T14:50:00.000-05:00

This month every order placed, for any brand and any amount, gets you entered for a chance to win a FREE KnickerNappies Disposanot Diaper with LoopyDo Insert! Winners will be chosen weekly so don't miss out on your opportunity to start the New Year off with a FREE Diaper!

It's freezing outside!

2008-01-03T14:07:00.001-05:00

Last weekend we were on the boat in our bathing suits, and the last couple of days we actually had to turn our heat on! I am sure that Northerners would laugh out loud if they watched our local weather channel. You'd think by the way the weatherman is acting that we're going into the next Ice Age! lol But seriously, it was pretty cold for Floridians, got into the low 30's last night. People actually go out and put sheets and blankets over their precious plants and everyone rushes out to buy up all the space heaters at the local stores. We just can't take the cold around here, it's just not natural!

Beautiful Artwork...Must Have...

2007-12-30T21:02:00.000-05:00

This amazing piece is by James Browne. I stumbled upon it on another persons blog and just had to save it for my own post so that I can look at it all the time. I will definitely be saving up to buy a nice poster size print of it.

Went on a date!

2007-12-30T08:54:00.000-05:00

About once a month my mom is able to offer to come over and sit with the kids. She usually offers to do it at night and I always tell her I prefer daytime so we can spend time outdoors. So yesterday we went out on the boat. As usual we didn't catch a thing! I tried using reverse psychology on the fish "no, don't bite my hook. i don't want to catch a fish..." But alas, it did not work.

The silence was really nice and I got some sun on my skin. It's amazing that while most of the country is freezing, we're able to put on our bathing suits and go out on the boat snorkeling, fishing, surfing, etc.

Now the wait begins until the next time we get to go out together.

Blogging with my 4 yr old

2007-12-28T21:08:00.000-05:00

So my daughter and I are Blogging together. You can click on my profile to find her Blog. So far it's been fun but I more or less have to interview her and then type exactly what she says. She starts to lose interest pretty quick but we have fun and it's nice to spend a little computer time together rather than her seeing me on it without her. Hopefully when she's older her Blog will have grown and she'll appreciate me having started it for her.

I recommend you start one with your kid too. Just type what they speak. It's pretty entertaining to read.

A cruel joke...

2007-12-28T21:04:00.000-05:00

For those who don't know, I have a daughter who is 4 yrs old and talks non-stop. When she runs out of things to say she makes stuff up, english, spanish, marshian...as long as she's awake she's talking.

So for Christmas someone got her a fake guitar with a microphone and stand. Guess what? Now she's talking non-stop through a speaker! plus she realized that trick where you put the microphone up to the speaker and it makes that awful screeching noise!

I swear, it's enough to drive me insane!

Discount Codes for WAHM Stores

2007-12-26T08:18:00.000-05:00

The WAHM Mall has created the Mall Pass. It's a collection of WAHM Stores and their Discount Codes. Simply checkout with the FREE Mall Pass at The WAHM Mall and you will be emailed the Discount Codes for the participating stores. Check it out, it's FREE!

If you are a business owner this is a great way to get FREE Advertising. By contributing your Discount Code to the WAHM Mall you receive a FREE link and listing in the Mall Pass item description. It's a great way to get your business name out there.

No surprises for me...

2007-12-21T23:21:00.000-05:00

I guess the concept of keeping a secret and/or keeping something a surprise is a little over my 4 yr olds head. My husband bought me a shiatsu massage chair for Christmas and not two seconds after they walked in she said "Mommy we bought you an exercise chair that massages your back!" lol Luckily my husband didn't hear so I could attempt to pretend that I didn't know. This same scenario has happened with everything we've bought for eachother or family so far, she tells them right away what we bought for them...Oh well, it is kind of cute.

really disturbing

2007-12-17T23:27:00.000-05:00

Apparently these panties were being sold in the Juniors Dept. at Wal-Mart...It really is hard to believe that anyone would produce such an item. I wouldn't even want my daughter reading them as she walked down the isle, much less wearing them.

I dream of snow...

2007-12-15T15:59:00.000-05:00

It's a real bummer never getting to see snow. But this site SnowDays is really cute and you can design and dedicate your very own snowflake. Check it out!

Cloth Diapers for Low Income Families

2007-12-13T00:14:00.001-05:00

If you are interested in using cloth diapers and are afraid you cannot afford the initial investment needed to get started, you should consider applying for assistance with some of the great organizations listed below.

Miracle Diapers Miracle Diapers has assisted those in need all over the world. They accept donations and put cloth diapers and natural parenting items in the hands of needy mothers.
Lend A Hand Diapers A non-profit organization dedicated to assisting low income families who wish to cloth diaper their children. Our organization also promotes cloth diapers as a mainstream diapering solution by providing the public with accurate information on their ease of use and many financial and ecological benefits.
Grandma Jacquie's Diaper Barn Seeking to collect donated cloth diapers and accessories and place them in the homes of low-income families in need of assistance.

A Mom's Letter to Santa

2007-12-11T13:10:00.000-05:00

(too funny, and so true)

Dear Santa,

I've been a good mom all year. I've fed, cleaned and
cuddled my children on demand, visited the doctor's office
more than my doctor and sold sixty-two cases of candy bars
to raise money to plant a shade tree on the school playground.
I was hoping you could spread my list out over several Christmases,
since I had to write this letter with my son's red crayon, on the
back of a receipt in the laundry room between cycles, and who
knows when I'll find anymore free time in the next 18 years.

Here are my Christmas wishes:

I'd like a pair of legs that don't ache (in any color, except purple,
which I already have) and arms that don't hurt or flap in the breeze,
but are strong enough to pull my screaming child out of the candy
aisle in the grocery store.
I'd also like a waist, since I lost mine somewhere in the seventh
month of my last pregnancy.
If you're hauling big ticket items this year I'd like fingerprint
resistant windows and a radio that only plays adult music, a
television that doesn't broadcast any programs containing talking
animals, and a refrigerator with a secret compartment behind the
crisper where I can hide to talk on the phone.

On the practical side, I could use a talking doll that says, "Yes,
Mommy" to boost my parental confidence, along with two kids
who don't fight and three pairs of jeans that will zip all the way
up without the use of power tools.
I could also use a recording of Tibetan monks chanting "Don't eat in
the living room" and "Take your hands off your brother," because my
voice seems to be just out of my children's hearing range and can
only be heard by the dog.
If it's too late to find any of these products, I'd settle for enough
time to brush my teeth and comb my hair in the same morning, or the
luxury of eating food warmer than room temperature without it
being served in a Styrofoam container.
If you don't mind, I could also use a few Christmas miracles to
brighten the holiday season. Would it be too much trouble to
declare ketchup a vegetable? It will clear my conscience immensely.
It would be helpful if you could coerce my children to help around
the house without demanding payment as if they were the bosses
of an organized crime family.

Well, Santa, the buzzer on the dryer is calling and my son saw my
feet under the laundry room door. I think he wants his crayon
back. Have a safe trip and remember to leave your wet boots by the door
and come in and dry off so you don't catch cold.
Help yourself to cookies on the table but don't eat too many or leave
crumbs on the carpet.

Yours Always,

MOM...

P.S. One more thing...you can cancel all my requests if you can keep
my children young enough to believe in Santa.

I sleep at the foot of my own bed :(

2007-12-08T15:29:00.000-05:00

I have actually gotten quite used to it and find a little comfort in feeling six little feet along my body as I sleep. I am not sure if there is really any other way for a parent and three kids to co-sleep in a king size bed. If you have any suggestions I sure would love to hear them.

One day I hope the boys and Guinnevere will be able to find comfort in sleeping with each other, but for now we cherish their company and attachment to sleeping by our sides.

Christmas last year, 2006

2007-12-08T13:13:00.000-05:00

Just came across this pic of the kids last year. They have grown so much. I'm not even sure that their Santa hats will fit again this year. I'll take a current pic and post it as soon as I can.

Nursing two little men

2007-12-07T14:16:00.000-05:00

Many thoughts enter my head while nursing my two sons at the same time. When they were younger tandem nursing was uncomfortable, they had to be held to the breast and there never seemed to be that perfect position. Now that they are older, I am able to nurse them together comfortably and I look forward to our bedtime nursing session. I watch as they touch each others faces, feel each others ears and eyes, and I think about what impact there might be on a man who had been nursed as a baby and toddler. I tell myself I should Google it sometime, maybe I will today.

Last month in Mothering Magazine there was a great poem. Here it is...

the raspberry boys 

The nipple huge in the baby's mouth,
like a well gummed butt of an old cigar,
the baby's hands squeeze the flesh,
he pulls off every few seconds to smile
at his mother or turn to see what else
is out here. And then one brother blew
huge raspberries on the baby's belly,
the baby pulled off again, guffawing,
then the other brother blew raspberries
into the air, there being no more room
on the belly, that worked just as well,
child laughter squeaky as old pumps,
young spittle covering the scene,
then, for encore, the holy valve closed
a second late and the baby's face
was sprayed with warm milk, more laughter,
the raspberry boys waving their hands
to feel the spray as if it were a first snow,
boys who lost their privileges at their
mother's breasts not long ago,
though they remember none of it as they
won't even remember this by tomorrow,
and so I take it down for them.

Peter Waldor

Suck My Lolly

2007-12-06T11:29:00.000-05:00

Well, what do you think? I absolutely adore this new template and cannot believe I found such a cool site with such cool free and affordable templates. Suck My Lolly has the coolest selection, I only wish I had found her site sooner, before I wasted all my time looking at generic templates.

Oh, and I changed my Blog name. Just wanted to make it more general in nature, not just about my business and announcements.

The WAHM Mall

2007-12-06T00:05:00.000-05:00

Recently the opportunity arose for myself and three other amazing WAHM's to invest co-operatively in a website that was for sale. The site is The WAHM Mall. If you would have seen it the day we bought it, you'd know that pretty much the only thing we haven't changed is the name!

Katie owner of KT Naturals Mineral MakeUp, Kayli owner of Nekkie Blankie, Kayla owner of Kayla's Cloth Kits, and yours truly, all have our hearts and minds set on becoming the ultimate online resource for new and existing WAHM's. We provide affordable, creative marketing and exposure for WAHM run businesses and we are developing our Forums where we hope WAHM's from around the world will congregate, connect, share, and learn from eachother.

Stop in and say Hi!

Cloth Diaper News

2007-12-06T00:00:00.000-05:00

I have been a contributing writer for the Cloth Diaper News and I must say I am having so much fun. I tell everyone I feel like a real reporter. If you are a part of cloth diapering community, a retailer, customer, etc. then you should think about either becoming a contributing writer or guest writer. Here's the link about becoming a writer. It's very easy and articles can be as simple as announcing the release of a new product, a promotion, a press release, or a topic of your choice. The perks are that you gain more exposure for yourself and your business, if you have one, by including links in your byline.

Give it a try! It's fun.

New Hyena Cart Design

2007-11-22T20:04:00.000-05:00

Today I put some finishing touches on my newly redesigned Hyena Cart shop! Another marvelous job by Cicily of August Afternoon Design. Now my HC is like a little mini-version of my main site.

Check it out! Right now I am hosting a FREE Lottery for a Free Business Directory Listing at The WAHM Mall.

We got a makeover!

2007-10-06T15:56:00.001-04:00

So I had been racking my brain, trying to find a way to obtain a new site since my old site was not very customizable. I stumbled upon an auction on Hyena Cart. The auction was a collaboration between August Afternoon and Elemental Muse. It was for a Website Design / E-Commerce / Hosting Package. Basically everything I had been dreaming of. Let me just say, I stalked that auction like none before. I think I must have hit the refresh button about a thousand times and at the last minute I bid and I WON! So many thanks to Cicily & Michele for my gorgeous new site. I couldn't be happier and look forward to doing more business with them in the future!

Check it out Earth Angels Diaper Co.!

Exclusive Toile Print Diapers are here!

2007-10-05T20:38:00.000-04:00

They're here! Custom made Toile print Just Ducky Baby diapers are now in stock. Made exclusively for Earth Angels Diaper Co.

Cloth Diapers on a Billboard?!

2007-09-08T20:16:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to Sandra and Maya! Sandra's daughter Maya is featured on the DryBee's Billboard in West Virginia. I'm willing to bet it is the first Cloth Diaper Billboard in the world! To see a picture and to see how cloth diapers are growing more and more popular in Malaysia visit Mia Bambina and check out Sandra's beautiful Blog and Store!

A Cloth Diaper Blog for New CD Mamas

2007-09-08T20:12:00.000-04:00

I have begun a cloth diaper blog for new and existing moms who are interested in cloth diapers or who have questions about them. The Blog is Diaper Discussions and it is a compilation of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers, most of which have come from my own customers and friends.

I hope you find it helpful.

Local Natural Moms Gathering

2007-08-05T10:20:00.000-04:00

Tuesday August 7th at 11:00am is the official first meeting of the Natural Moms Club that I am organizing. It can get a little lonely when you feel like your the only mom who breast feeds, cloth diapers, co-sleeps, etc. Hopefully this group will help other "Odd" moms meet and get to know each other. If you are a local Brevard County resident and are interested in joining us, send me an email for more information. The group will meet every other Tuesday beginning on August 7th. Meetings will be in the Melbourne area.

Subscribe to Mothering Magazine

2007-07-29T13:37:00.000-04:00

We are pleased to announce that we are an official WAHM re-seller for Mothering Magazine. Monthering Magazine is a must have for any new or current mom, and is loaded with tons of useful natural parenting tips, articles, recipes, product reviews, and more. It is the only remaining independantly owned, natural family living magazine in the world.

Why you should support WAHM's

2007-07-23T09:49:00.000-04:00

Not long after starting my business and creating my website, I realized the importance of supporting other WAHM'S (work-at-home-moms) and other Small Businesses. The first few weeks, ok the first month, was really slow. The internet is a big place, they don't call it the World Wide Web for nothing, and it takes a while for your site to start showing up in searches,etc. Many times a day I'd check my email, "refresh" -no emails, "refresh" -no emails, "refresh" -no emails. It was depressing, all those dreams and ideas, all the inspiration, it was hard to keep my chin up and keep on keeping on. And then it happened, "refresh" -"A New Order Has Been Placed." My first order, it was as if the clouds had parted, the angels sang out. The amount of the order didn't matter, it was the fact that someone visited my site, my store, my baby...and made a real purchase! You know what? Many months and many sales later, I still check my email way too often, and I still get that giddy feeling when I see that someone's placed an order.

The difference is that now I know how it feels to struggle, to have a dream, to own a small business, and I want to support others who are in the same boat as I am. I want my order to give some other wahm that excited feeling, I want to imagine them packaging my order with care while holding their babe on their hip. I want my $10-20-30+ dollars going into their bank account and contributing to their success. I want their dreams to come true just as I imagine and hope for my own dreams to become a reality.

So, I hope that you'll remember my little story and imagine the small business owners appreciation of your business next time you're shopping for a gift or looking to make a purchase. You could be making someone's day and not even know it!

Check out http://www.pinpack.blogspot.com and visit the links of some of my WAHM friends. You'll find great products and even discount codes for some of their sites!

About Me

2007-07-23T09:18:00.000-04:00

I am 29 and holding...I can't believe that. I feel 19, and sometimes still get carded for beer so that's a good thing right? My husband and I met when I was 19 and he was 17. We eloped 5 years ago on top of Grandfather Mountain in gorgeous North Carolina. Someday we'll retire there. My husband Matthew is a musician and works as a Firefighter/Paramedic locally. We have a 4 yr old red-headed, freckle faced daughter named Guinnevere, and identical twin sons Mason & Spencer who are 9 months old. I am an only (lonely) child who always begged for siblings. I love to create things, paint, craft things, imagine things, but I have a serious problem following through with my ideas. If something doesn't happen easily or perfectly on the first try then I usually give up. Recently I've been attempting to sew. The problem is that I want to cut some stuff out and sew a masterpiece like I envision, but I don't want to take the time to measure, make patterns, use pins, or read directions. So, my first attempt at sewing yoga pants ended up with the legs sewn together. The wearer would have had to waddle like a penguin! Now I have resorted to sewing things that only require sewing in a straight line....OK, I am rambling now.

Back to business...I have always had a passion for retail and always knew that I'd love to own my own store. But for the past ten years I've had trouble figuring out just what I'd sell. Then the boys came along. We were so blessed to have literally received a truckload of disposable diapers at our baby shower. That supply was due to run out about 4-5 months after they were born. My husband and I discussed how expensive diapers were going to be. Believe it or not he said "what about cloth diapers?" Funny thing is that I had recently met some cool mamas online who use cd, I just never thought he'd go for it. So I said "yesssssssssss!" I price shopped online that night and literally (no lie) woke up the next morning and told my husband we were going to use cloth diapers and open our own business selling them.

And here I am.

A Conversation with myself

2007-07-23T08:37:00.000-04:00

Leave it to me to find one more thing to do, like create a blog first thing in the morning, rather than work on the pile of all the other things that need my attention. Hopefully this blog will help me organize my thoughts, help you get to know me, and help people looking for answers to questions about cloth diapers, support for their addiction to cloth diapers, and support and encouragement for life in general. It always helps knowing your not alone in the world.