Going Green & Saving Green

                                                                      

We all know that “going green” is the “chic” thing these days.  Most of us recycle, some of us up-cycle, and even fewer of us make huge lifestyle changes to help protect the earth, like installing solar panels in our homes, or switching to electric cars.  Realistically, going green can often be extremely costly, and although it sounds nice in theory, it isn’t always accessible.  The upfront cost of some of these projects is often way out of reach.

So, how about an option that not only helps you go green (without shelling out a ton of cash up front), but also saves you some green. 

Cloth diapering is making a comeback in a big way.  I know…it sounds pretty awful.  But trust me, it’s really not that bad.  I used disposable diapers with my son, and at the time all of my friends used them as well.  By the time that I was pregnant with my daughter, I had quite a few friends using cloth diapers and raving about them.  I was still super hesitant…it seemed like a diaper service to clean them would be very expensive in my area, and I really wasn’t sure how I felt about all that poop in my washing machine.  I was also scared that I would do it wrong.  It seemed kind of complicated!  I didn’t know if I needed inserts, or liners, or covers, or all-in-ones.  I didn’t know what a “wet bag” was, or where to get one.  There were so many brands, with so many types of diapers that I felt overwhelmed, so I stuck with disposables until my daughter was about 6 weeks old.

Out of nowhere, she came down with a terrible diaper rash.  The worst I had ever seen.  The poor kid cried uncontrollably every time that I changed her diaper.  I tried over the counter lotions, prescription lotions, I left her without a diaper whenever I could, I even skipped wipes as much as possible and used warm water on a wash cloth to clean her, but nothing helped.  I was desperate!  I had a gift card from my shower that I still hadn’t spent, so I ordered two cloth diaper covers and a dozen inserts, and within a week her bottom was all cleared up and she was happy as clam.  As soon as she was feeling better, I ordered enough cloth diaper supplies so that she would never have to wear a disposable again.

One of the best brands that I found was Bambino Mio.  The covers are soft and slim fitting, the inserts are pre-folded, and the brand sells everything that you need to cloth diaper, including nappy detergent, diaper pails, and birth to potty training sets that set you up for as long as you need diapers.

They also have super cute designs, and let’s be honest, that’s important too!

Check out these adorable covers.  

Cloth diapering is not for everyone, but the benefits are extremely appealing.  There are huge savings to consider, less diaper rash, reports that cloth diapers lead to earlier potty training, and of course, less waste filling up our landfills and harming our earth.

So, if cloth diapering is something you do, something you are considering, or something that you want to help a fellow mommy get started with, check out the new Bambino Mio supplies that ODIZ Baby Supply is carrying.

I originally published this blog post for ODIZ Baby Supply at http://odiz.biz/blog/2011/12/02/going-green-saving-green/ .

A Little Something for My Fellow Disney Fanatics

I apologize for another Pinterest post, but I saw this and just had to share it for all my Disney loving friends.  My only complaint is that they use the word "even" in the title...it should absolutely be omitted!!

Definitely some of my favorite movies and characters, but I must say, becoming a mom has made these all a little more real for me.  I cried when I watched The Lion King the other day.  A lot.  I do NOT remember it being so sad!

Before I start thinking about it and the water works start again, let me share some exciting bloggy news.  Valco Baby sent me an awesome package today, with a fun new product for me to review, and one for me to give away!  Woo hoo!  My semester is almost over, and as soon as I am done grading all of the papers piling up on my desk, I will have not one, but TWO giveaways coming to you!  With that being said, I am off to browse some online stores get some work done.  :)  Goodnight all!

More from Pinterest...'Cause I Just Can't Get Enough

I seriously can not get enough of Pinterest because I often need to be reminded of things like this

or this



so that I can be this

.

What a fabulous invention Pinterest is.  I can go spend five minutes looking at all kinds of beautiful people, places, and words, and feel inspired for the day.  I love repinning all of these amazing little finds and keeping my own log of how I want to be, where I want to be, and why I need to stop and enjoy every moment.

I'm thinking that I need to post about my Pinterest finds a little more often, but don't worry, I won't always make it serious.  In fact, most often I'll probably be sharing things like this...



With a dash of things like this

.

You know, just to keep things even.  ;)

Kiinde Kozii

I originally wrote this post for ODIZ Baby Supply, but because the Kiinde is so amazing, I had to share it here as well! Enjoy :)

When my son was 4 months old, I had to return to work for 8 weeks before becoming a stay-at-home-mom.  I am extremely blessed in the family department, and my parents were able to save all of their vacation days to stay with my little man during that time.  They were so wonderful about all of my first time mom neurosis and did everything I asked when it came to feeding little P.  My biggest concern was always how they warmed up the hundreds of bags of frozen breast milk that were taking over my freezer.

My first rule was always NO microwave!  I had done my reading and I knew that the microwave could leave hot spots in the baby’s bottle, and that it could destroy all of the nutrients that I was trying so hard to get into my baby’s tiny tummy.   I was also adamant that they not use the bottle warmer.  This was right around the time that all of the information about BPA was coming out, and in addition to that worry, I still was super concerned with keeping the milk full of all of its natural nutrients.

Because they are so unbelievably wonderful, they listened to me, agreed with me, and warmed the bags of milk that I left them in little glass bowls of warm tap water.  If you have ever tried this, it is painstakingly tedious.  You have to replace the water with fresh warm water every 30 seconds or so, and it takes about 15 minutes to get the milk to about room temperature.  (15 minutes can feel like 15 hours when you have a hungry baby on your hands!)

Oh how I wish that when P was little the Kiinde Kozii was around! 

The Kiinde Kozii is made specifically for warming breast milk!  The Kozii uses a water bath that is specifically designed to thaw breast milk safely in any type of bottle or bag.  Yes, a “bottle” warmer that can defrost your milk in its storage bag without destroying the nutrients or exposing the bag (or bottle!) to dangerous steam or microwaves!  The Kozii uses water that is equivalent in temperature to warm tap water, but doesn’t compromise the speed of the defrosting.  Because the bag sits in a circulating bath, the milk is warmed evenly, without creating hot spots. 

Another feature that amazes me is that when the Kozii timer goes off, the warming is stopped completely because the bath water is drained into the reservoir.  So, if you put a bag of milk in, and then your baby has a blowout diaper, blowout tantrum, or any other kind of blowout, and you forget that you began warming the milk, it’s no problem!  The milk will still be safe, your house will still be safe, and your baby’s meal will be waiting for them.

I love the instructions that Kiinde provides on their website.

So simple!  Even your husband can do it! ;)  (I kid, I kid!  I promise!) So anyway, why am I telling you all about this amazing product???  Because ODIZ is about to start carrying them, and as one of our fabulous Facebook fans or blog readers, (**Or if you are kind enough to read my blog!**) you are going to get a chance to grab one before anyone else!  Even better – you can get your hands on one for a lot cheaper than anyone else! ODIZ will begin selling the Kiinde Kozii to the public on December 1st, but between now and then, you can order one by calling us at 770-755-9086 or emailing Christine at admin@odiz.biz .  The Kiinde retails for between $70 .00 - $120.00, but with this special one week offer, you can grab it for $59.99!  Unfortunately for me, both of my children are past the bottle stage, but you can guarantee this will be going on my must have baby shower list!  Quantities are limited and this is not valid with any other offers or promotions.  Remember, this deal is only good until December 1, 2011.  Happy Holiday Shopping! **PS:  A little secret for my friends and family out there reading this...Saturday is Small Business Saturday and ODIZ is a participating retailer...if you order this Saturday, and use your AMEX, you will get a $25 statement credit from American Express, which means, you will be getting this bad boy for $29.99.  That is an unbelievable deal!!**

Oh, yes, she is my daughter...

My house is currently overflowing with Christmas gifts.  I can say I am OFFICIALLY done! 

(Well, probably.  Maybe just one more thing for the hubbs...or the kids..if I see a good deal.  Okay, FINE!  I bought something else on Amazon today!  But pllleeeaaassse don't tell Jeff!)

Anyway, I am running out of space to keep things, so this weekend, when I bought two gifts, one from Pottery Barn, and one from Coach, I had them wrapped.  They do a much better job than I do, and I figured, if they are wrapped, and they sit out, oh well.  I was wrong.

I may have left both of those bags in the entrance way to our house.  Like I said...we have NO space left!  So, as I sat here this morning, writing a blog post for ODIZ, drinking my coffee, and trusting that my kids were fine in the living room, Bean decided that the present in the Coach bag was for her.  So she opened it, put it on her little wrist, grabbed my old cell phone and my keys and said "Bye Bye!"  At this point, I started paying attention. 

Yup, completely unwrapped.  Bow, tissue paper, and box dismantled.  But she looked sooooo cute!!! I am so mad at myself for not getting a picture, but fear not.  As soon as I took away the Coach bag, she claimed my new MK clutch.

My favorite part about this picture is that she totally knows how to hold it!  Ha!  Good thing I only have one daughter, because I have a feeling she is going to be expensive!  

Random Friday Thoughts...

I have been so negligent when it comes to this blog, but honestly, I can't find time to breathe lately!  Luckily, the semester is almost over, and when this class ends, and I have graded all of my finals, I will have a month off.  (Phew!)  Anyway, I have been racking my brain all day and can't come up with one specific topic for a post, so here are some of my random thoughts today.

I am dying  to see Breaking Dawn!  I have had plans quite a few times to go this weekend, and something keeps coming up.  Hopefully I will get there tomorrow.  I used to laugh at all of the crazy vampire lovers out there, but I admit it, I am one of them now, and have been for some time.  Oh well.  We all need a little escape now and again.  (And by the way, I'm not really Team Jacob or Team Edward...it seems to change with every movie, although I was a die hard Edward fan after reading the books.  I guess now I just can't decide because no one will ever be a better vampire to me than Eric Northman.  **Swoon!**)

We booked our tickets to Aruba!  I can't wait!  I wish I was there now.  It's not Disney, but a little sunshine is going to do me good.

I am in LOVE with my new stroller liner that I got for Bean.  It's made by Tivoli Couture and is literally a sheet of memory foam.  (Heaven!!  Trust me, I sat on it before I put it in the stroller!)  I was so excited to see that they now sell them on Amazon.  We have the Filigree print front with the hot pink back, but I am really digging the Zebra right now.  Gorgeous!!  This really gave my boyish stroller a face lift for my little Bean.



I am pretty much done with my holiday shopping and I am actually really excited to start wrapping!  Unfortunately, thanks to the ridiculous weather that we have been having in New England, we have a basement filled with mold from the floods and leaks and what-not.  That means no storage.  No storage means having to shove holiday gifts everywhere and anywhere and I'm just not willing to wrinkle all of the pretty packages.  Soooo - I guess I'm not wrapping.

Bean is currently throwing a fit because she wants to take a bath.  What kid begs for a bath?!?  She is standing at the door to the bathroom screaming "Bubble!  Bubble!  Bubble!"  I should probably go give her a bath.  I'm sure there will be a time when I am forcing her in kicking and screaming...might as well take advantage of her willingness now.

I'm exhausted. 

Happy Weekend!!!

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