Much Needed Update

Well, not so much needed if you don't care what goes on in my life, but if you didn't you wouldn't read this, huh? 

Biggest news of  late--we bought a house!  We were saving up money and then Brendan got an unexpected bonus and we got a tax return and suddenly we had a down payment!  So we started looking at houses, found that we really wanted to stay in our neighborhood, no matter how amazing the houses were on the west side, we want to be by the lake.  So we narrowed our search to Bay View and found a little 3br colonial not too far from where we live now.  Our home inspection is tomorrow, we're hoping nothing major is wrong with it!!  We should be closing the end of April.

I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.  After all the effing moving we have done in the past decade, it will be nice to be settled and really make this our home, instead of wondering if we can paint, do they allow dogs, will the neighbors be too loud for our in-bed-by-7pm kids?  NO ONE WILL LIVE UPSTAIRS!  No one will be doing their laundry beneath our apartment at 3am.  No one will get drunk and be loud on a Friday night (seriously, no one.  We haven't been out in forever.)  I am so looking forward to this!

In other news, Ingrid is almost four.  She is the first on the wait list at the school we want her to go to.  Which hopefully means she'll get in because we did not choose another school for her to do a K4 program.  And I think she's ready for school again.  We have been keeping busy with playgroup at the community center and playdates with neighbors and friends.  It's been crazy nice out so we've been at the park nonstop and of course Ingrid gloms onto some poor unsuspecting kid and they play together the whole time we're there. 

Otis is one and walking and growing like mad.  He's got a ton of teeth and I have to cut his hair because he has a moptop.  He is funny and charming and as big of a ham as his sister.  He loves to flirt with people wherever we go.  He blows kisses now, the old ladies LOVE that.

Brendan is good, loving his job.  He has gotten to bike to work most days because it's been so nice out, which is unusual for March in Wisconsin...  I'm good, loving my many jobs.  Applesauce Crafts is going strong--I have two craft shows lined up for the end of April, early May.  I am doing some consigning at a local handmade shop, the Waxwing.  It's pretty great, if I can ever find time to sew.  We're outside most of the day, and when we're not I'm so damn tired I don't want to look at my sewing machine.  Toadstool Vintage is also doing well.  I haven't had a ton of time to go thrifting but hopefully will do in the near future. 

Now, hopefully I will not be so neglectful.  But with all that's coming up in the next couple months, don't hold your breath.

Sewing for Fun Vs. Money

I've started to think about putting my etsy shop on hold this summer.  I love to make stuff for it, it gives me a great creative outlet, and it makes a tiny bit of money for me to feed my fabric addiction.  But...I've been feeling stressed about it lately.  With a teething baby and a needy three year old, it is hard to come by time for sewing.  And I find myself wishing they'd just shut up for ten minutes so I can get some sewing done, how's that for a great mother?

I have a million friends that are having babies right now and I haven't made a thing for them.  I keep getting distracted by the shop.  Instead of making something for them, I think "Oh!  That would do well in the shop!"  How selfish.  I need to take all my cutest fabrics and make something for friends.  I have a ton of stuff stocked and haven't made a sale in a few weeks anyway, so why do I feel the need to continue producing items for sale? 

I also have not made a thing for either kid in forever!  That was how I got started was by making stuff for Ingrid, and now here the poor kid is with nothing in her size, as she's outgrown everything I've made for her.  And Otis got two pairs of pants this winter and nothing else. 

Okay, I think I've convinced myself--my priorities for this summer and sewing are to make more for my kids and my friends and just have fun with it. 

Sewing and Hormones and Toddlers, Oh My!

Yesterday was a hormonal one...When Brendan went to leave for work I just started crying.  For some reason it felt like too much work to be at home with Ingrid all day long (and night, too, he had to work until past her bedtime) so I just broke down.  And being the male he is, Brendan didn't say much and just left for work with a lame "Hope you have a good day."  Ingrid and I just seem to be butting heads lately, as I am really tired and not sleeping well at night, and not getting any rest during the day thanks to her bugging me the second I lay down.  And she just wants to play and wonders why the hell Mama can't get up off the couch for two seconds... 

Luckily I was able to turn it around.  I took a cat nap on the couch while Ingrid watched Sesame Street and then we got up and went to the indoor play place.  We stayed for three hours, and would've stayed longer if they only sold lunch.  I get the whole food allergy thing, but seriously, if you can't bring outside food, then you have to serve lunch!  Hungry toddlers are everywhere, not to mention their preggo mamas.

Anyway, Ingrid got to run around and I got to sit and drink coffee.  There was a German speaker's playgroup going on so there were about ten women speaking German all around us.  I swear I am a magnet for the Germans!  Every time I go to a park I hear someone speaking German.  Ingrid was listening to them and knew it wasn't English so when I would ask her a question she'd respond in nonsense, I guess thinking she was speaking German!  It was pretty funny.  I told her the words I knew, but it's been awhile...

When we got home I had an email that the Blue House was looking for new items, so I set out to make my lists and get stuff ready to drop off there.  Ingrid once again got out the felt box and played while I cut more garlands out, and after she went to bed I cut out more things to sew.  Today is going to be a PJ day, as Brendan will take the car for another job interview and we'll be home sewing.  Hooray!

He told me hopefully by next week we'll know where we're going.  I sure hope so, I'm getting awfully nesty, wanting to wash baby clothes and set up an area for the little guy.  Right now everything is in boxes under the basement stairs.  I'd like to see tiny things hanging up, and baskets of tiny cloth diapers!  Patience...

Ch-ch-ch-ch-changes.

I'm almost six months along now, can you believe it??  And just yesterday it finally hit me FOR REAL that we are going to have another baby.  It's been all in the hypothetical up until then.  Yes, someday we'll have a baby, someday these tiny diapers will be put on something other than a Cabbage Patch Kid.  And then yesterday I stood in front of the mirror and looked at my expanding belly and felt little kicks and rolls and it hit me--there is a baby in there!!

Ingrid and I went to Salvation Army and had a great time searching through the kid's clothes.  I found some amazing things for my friend Heather's etsy shop 3RingCircus, I got some new "cozy pants" for Ingrid, and I got a little tiny newborn outfit that has a moose on it, and the feet are tiny moose, too!  It's for bringing wee one home from the hospital.  Again, it hit me that we will go into the hospital with a big belly and come home with a wriggling newborn, amazing!

I have been pretty down lately about not knowing where we'll be going next, as Brendan looks for jobs.  We're not going to be in this apartment for too long, so I don't see the point in making it very homey.  And then I get depressed because there are no pictures hung or curtains or anything.  And I have boxes of stuff for when Otis comes but I can't do anything with them, no nesting at all, because we will either move before he gets here or right after.  It's frustrating.  But yesterday I got over it and decided that I should just do little things to make myself feel at home again, even if it's only for a few months.  So I'm making curtains for my kitchen today out of this cute lemon print fabric I've had on hand.  And I have a matching yellow rug I found in the basement.

I cleaned up the basement finally yesterday--what a chore!  Ingrid used to have her play room down there and then over the summer, because we didn't have a dehumidifier, we got mold.  After cleaning all that up, I just threw stuff down there, and every time I'd go do laundry it would bug me that I wasn't more organized.  And that we had about five lamps from old apartment dwellers that didn't work shoved under the stairs.  And that we got more toys for Ingrid and they were taking over my living room and I really really wanted a place for her to go play again.  SO...a little sweep and mop, throw out old lamps, move baby boxes under stairs, move furniture around, wash rug, and move toys downstairs again, and there you go.  A playroom again!

So things will change, as they always do, and I have to remind myself that I can roll with it, deal with it, it will all work out.  Some days I just want to be settled somewhere, to know we're going to be somewhere for awhile.  And others I realize we're still in the early stages of our marriage and family, and this is what we'll look back on and laugh at how young and carefree we were.  Someday.

Handmade Nation

There was a little gathering of crafty ladies at Blue House tonight to watch the documentary Handmade Nation.  It's funny I've never seen this, because it's from a lovely lady I know from Milwaukee!  But I had never seen it before, and when I dropped my goods off at Blue House today, Siobhan told me they were showing it.  Usually I am so tired by the end of dinner, I can't think of leaving the house and being coherent.  But I figured why not, it's a nice night out and Mama needs a break from the stress that is bedtime around here!!

I'm so glad I went!  It was about ten women, some sangria, beer, cheese, and a big tv playing a documentary about crafters, what could be better?  It was a little intimidating because everyone seemed to know each other already and they had already been doing things together for a few months it seems.  But I'm not one to be too shy, so I just jumped in and asked people's names and asked what things they've done and hopefully I'll get to know some people better.

It's funny, though.  I enjoy making my stuff, and I have to admit that when someone went to the shop part and saw the little baby slippers I'd made and oohed and aahhed over them, I felt pretty good to say yep, that's my stuff.  But I don't know that I'm into it enough to make it an actual factual business...Like there are tons of craft shows and other things going on, which sound fun, but I don't know.  I just don't ever have that motivation needed to continue on with things.  I like to blame it on Ingrid and the fact I have to do my sewing around her schedule, which is true to a point.  But I know I could be creating things in her down time, or nap time, or after bed, or really focus on the weekends when Brendan is home.  And I don't.  I go in spurts--I'll get all into it and make about 10 bibs and five blankets and then be done with it for weeks.  Or I'll try a new pattern and make 7 of the thing and then I never look at it again.  Is this normal or am I just lazy?? 

Whatever the case may be, it's nice that I can sell stuff on consignment and through etsy and have a reason to make things.  Sometimes you find an old Star Trek sheet and you just know a blanket has to be made from it, but really does your daughter need another handmade blanket?  No, she doesn't, but the blanket still has to be made!  This way at least I have an outlet for those urges!

Blue House Ann Arbor

Awhile back I got an email from a woman who was starting a cooperative craft center.  She was wondering if I'd be interested in selling some of my goods there, but since I thought we'd be moving I told her no thank you but good luck.  Then the other day Brendan and I were taking a walk in our new neighborhood and we passed this cutest building--an old blue house that had a sign out front saying it was an artists space.  I said hmmm, I wonder if that's the same lady that contacted me last fall?  Sure enough it was!

I went over to talk to her on Tuesday and it was so amazing!  The place is an old house, the front room has goods for sale from local artists.  Some photos, some jewelry, some sewn goods, a little of everything.  Then there's a sewing room, and upstairs are two studios.  They have classes and events, host birthday parties, and will be taking part in the local art fair this summer, which is a huge ordeal around here! 

And the best thing is, they want to sell my things!  I am so excited to be doing this, it's another way to get my stuff out there.  When we were moving and I had boxed up all my sewing stuff, I realized how much I love to sew.  I love to make things, and I love to sell them, just to know others like it, too.  But I'm not really interested in making a ton of money, just enough to support my fabric addiction!  And to be able to join a group of local artists and have the support of a community will be really nice, too. 

So, if you're in the Ann Arbor, Michigan area and need a bib, blanket, or baby shoes, be sure to stop by Blue House Ann Arbor! 

Itching to Be Done

Living with half your life in boxes sure does suck.  I wanted to be prepared and have things boxed up well before the day we moved but I'm realizing now how much it wears on my nerves to want to do something and find the supplies are in a box. 

Mainly I'm talking about sewing.  First I was sick, so I didn't feel like doing anything anyway.  And then the etsy shop was super quiet, I made one sale the whole month of April.  I was pretty over the whole thing, thinking about not doing etsy anymore even!  Then I got home from the hospital to find three orders.  And in the past week I have had three different conversations about custom orders.  And I have been thinking of things I want to make for Ingrid's new room.  And I forgot about a birthday present owl I had to make and I packed the stuffing away! 

So, I'm itching to get sewing!  I want to make bunting for Ingrid's birthday party, something like this.  I love Candace's choices of fabric!  I also have some more motivation to make things for the shop.  And of course I have to outfit our new house with curtains and pillows!  So much I want to do and all my fabric and supplies are boxed up. 

You know what really bugs me is that we can get our keys tomorrow but President Obama is making a speech at the UofM commencement.  It's taking place at the stadium which is exactly one block away from our new house.  So...all the roads will be blocked off and there's no way I want to try to get through that traffic!!  I could be moving tomorrow, I could be getting things settled again, and instead I'm going to be stuck at home without Brendan (who will be in Chicago at a friend's wedding) wanting nothing more than to be getting into our stinkin' new house!! 

I am so impatient.  What's one more day?  I should quit my complaining and just go pack up the rest of the house.  Or play outside with Ingrid, it's supposed to be in the 70s today! 

Sewing Like a Real Person

Usually my philosophy on sewing is that it's going to just be for me or a friend and who cares if it's a bit wonky?  But since I've started selling things on etsy, I have to make sure it's worth the money I charge, you know?  I don't charge much simply because I know I have a long way to go before I would feel comfortable saying they deserve tons of money...But awhile ago I got a book from the library, the Sewing Bible I think it was called, and it was so interesting to read about sewing.  Like a real seamstress like person. 

Patterns were never my thing, I eyeballed everything and slapped them together and it came out pretty cute but I was always jealous of things like darts, gathering, and fancy things I couldn't figure out how to do.  I just opened a pattern I'd had forever and tried it and holy cow!  It worked!  And it turned out so cute.  I still have to get a serger so I can make the inside seams look nicer but as it is, they look way better than they used to. 

So I got brave and tried yet another pattern, this one with lots of different new things. I had to do buttons and button holes, sew on bias tape, do gathering stitches.  As it was my first and just for Ingrid anyway, I did do it a bit wonky, as usual, but it's practice and I learned what to do better next time.  And apparently it turned out cute, because after I posted the picture to Facebook, I had three people ask me if I could make one for them!  (You can see the pics here.)

We are off the library again today and I'm looking forward to getting that book again and perusing to see what other little tips I can glean.  And one of these days I'm going to get a pattern from oliver + s or heidiandfinn and make something really adorable and I will be so stinkin' proud of myself!

Hey Fans of Applesauce Crafts!

Hi everyone! I'm not entirely sure about the new Facebook giveaway rules, only that you're not allowed to do them unless you buy like $20,000 of ad space or something ridiculous like that. So...welcome to my blog giveaway instead. Which has ~nothing whatsoever~ to do with Facebook :)

I'm so pleased people are enjoying the things I make for Applesauce Crafts. I love to do it, it really gives me a good outlet being a sahm. And it gives me a reason to load up on ridiculously cute fabric.

So...thanks to all that are my fans on Facebook, that have hearted me on etsy, and that have made purchases. If you haven't done so yet, why don't you head over to one of those places and fan me/heart me/or buy something?

I would like to say thank you by giving away a bib or a Wee One of your choice to one lucky winner. Just leave a comment with your favorite bib from my shop, or a suggestion of something you would like to see, or the color combo of the owl you think would be a keeper. I'll randomly draw a number Friday, February 5th, and let you know who won!

Again, thank you guys so much for supporting handmade and my little corner of etsy!!

Daydreaming about Fabric

Is it stupid that I'm totally daydreaming about all the fabric I'd buy if I had the money?  I love love love to look at fabricworm.com and see what's new, what's on sale, and think about what I'd make with the fabric if I bought it.  Here are some of my new faves: 

Aren't they so cute???  Maybe if I actually sell some stuff I can justify buying more fabric, but right now I know I shouldn't.  Dang it.

It's Gonna Be a Great New Year!!

I'm not one for new year's resolutions, but I have been finding myself thinking of goals for this next year.  2010, it sounds so futuristic!  I made some joke about Ingrid doing college spring break the other day, but I stupidly said "woohoo, spring break 2013!"  Brendan pointed out that's only in three years, and that hopefully Ingrid won't be on spring break getting drunk at age 5.  Let's hope not.

Anyway, goals for the new year.  First and foremost, I'm excited to get back to sewing for my etsy shop.  I have big plans in my head for the future of Applesauce Crafts.  I've been reading sewing books, trying to get better and make my things look a little more professional.  I still like the wonkiness of homemade, but it would be nice if they looked a bit...straighter?  I got more business cards, and return labels, and I'm getting sew on labels printed.  I have a list of the ten things I want to have in my shop, and I have a really good stash of fabric hiding in my closet that I can use.  Other than batting and thread, I think I have everything I need to whip up some good items.  Except time, that is...

I also would like to lose some of my butt.  Brendan was putting together a dvd of old Ingrid videos and I cringed to see how small I was a mere six days after giving birth to Ingrid.  I'm larger now.  A year and a half later and I'm feeling enormous.  I have never been one to care about weight in numbers, but when I can pinch a few inches of back fat and my pants stop fitting, it's time to rethink what I'm doing.  Or, what I'm not doing...which is exercising.  I used to run and lift weights and I was so in shape!  And I know it's just an excuse, but it's hard to exercise with a 19 month old!!  I tried to lift weights the other day and she came and sat on me, and when I tried to move her she screamed and cried.  And the stupid snow makes it nearly impossible to go walking--my one tried and true form of exercise taken away from me because our town does not do snow maintenence on sidewalks.

I think this new year is going to be great.  Brendan's going to get a jobby job and we're going to move for real, like to the town we'll be living in for more than a year.  Our credit cards are almost paid off, aside from the occasional toothache, we're healthy.  Ingrid's a joy to watch grow and learn.  Things are good.

Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, Sleep, Sleep.

Hey guys.  It's me, talking about sleep...again.  And remember how I just posted how cozy cosleeping is?  I still believe that, if it's only me and Ingrid in the bed.  Add daddy, though, and it gets a little crowded.  I guess the old saying that three's a crowd was coined by someone in a small bed with a toddler kicking them in the stomach all night...

So, the very same night I wrote about how cozy cosleeping is, Ingrid ended up in our bed again.  This time, though, both Brendan and I were in there.  She snuggled up between us and it seemed really nice.  Then she would wake up and cry every time Brendan rolled over.  And he rolls around in his sleep a lot.  And Ingrid is a mover, too, so she was trying to sleep sideways in between us, hitting Brendan and kicking me.  And crying.  After an hour or so of this, I finally decided that it wasn't working.  She can't sleep in our bed if both Brendan and I can't be in there.  I refuse to kick my husband out of his bed!  So back into her crib she went, and she slept just fine.

Now, three or four nights later, she's doing really well.  She gets up a couple times between 7 and 11, wails for mamamamama, I go in and hug her and then put her back in her crib and she sleeps until 8am.  Cross your fingers this is a lasting thing! 

In other news, things are festive and cheerful around here.  We have our tree and it's twinkling nicely in the corner.  All presents are bought, we're just waiting for some to get here from Amazon.  I found the cutest talking Lola doll for Ingrid!!  I'm probably more excited about it than she will be...And I finally cracked and bought her the Plan toaster I've been wanting FOREVER!  It's just too cute not to have.  And Ingrid loves playing with our toaster so she obviously needs a play one, right?

I've made quite a few etsy sales the past couple weeks, which is exciting.  I just love opening my email and seeing that someone bought something from me.  I wish I had more time to sew more stuff--I have tons of the cutest fabric ever just sitting in a closet but I haven't had much time to do anything with it.  Once the holidays are over I'm sure it will be easier.  Yesterday Ingrid was really good and just played in my box of scrap fabric while I cut out quilt pieces.  She's going to grow up to be a lover of fabric, too, I can just tell.  As soon as I get it out she runs over to it and lays on the soft minky, and touches the felt and goes through all the rest and looks at it all.  I can't wait to teach her how to sew :)

Wanna Win Something?

My first etsy giveaway has started!

http://taketimetosmelltherose.blogspot.com/2009/11/applesauce-crafts-review-giveaway.html

Chari over at Take Time to Smell the Rose has a review/giveaway of my etsy shop. Check it out, enter, win something cute!

Etsy junk

Stuff is happenin' at Applesauce Crafts!! I'm getting ready for the holidays by making some cute Christmas jumpers, and possibly snuggly flannel pants if I ever get back to Joann's for more flannel. Two blogs will be featuring reviews and giveaways from my shop, which is pretty exciting. Around the first of November Chari over at Take Time to Smell the Rose is hosting a giveaway, and sometime soon after that, Emi at the Cloth Diaper Report is doing her review. I am very excited and so appreciative of the opportunity to promote Applesauce Crafts and get the word out that I'm making cute things :) If anyone needs any Christmas gifts that are one of a kind and ridiculously adorable, check out my etsy shop!

Oh, and also, I'm thinking of adding these reusable cup holders for all the coffee and tea drinking mamas. What do you think? Part of me thinks if you want to be green you'd just bring your own mug, but on the other hand, this is way easier to carry with you than a travel mug, and every little bit helps. Hmm, help me decide, does the world need reusable cup holders??

Baby Fever

Yesterday I went nuts cleaning and rearranging the furniture. I moved the dresser from Ingrid's room, which meant I had to put all her stuff somewhere else, I moved a couch, I organized closets. It was insane. During all this madness I came across three things that induced a severe case of baby fever.

Number one: a packet of pictures my friend had taken throughout my pregnancy. It starts at 14 weeks where I actually look better than I do now (sad but true...) and goes all the way to 38 weeks when I'm rockin' a bikini. I just love pregnant bellies! I have always had a flabby belly so being pregnant was the only time I've ever liked my shape, because I didn't have to suck it in!!

Number two: my journal from that year. It starts a few months before I got pregnant, when I was so worried I wouldn't be able to get pregnant, when I was talking about Clomid and adoption, when I was worrying over the timing with Brendan finishing school and all. Then there's the time when I was pregnant but didn't know it, to the day I simply wrote "4:30am, two blue lines. I'm pregnant. Holy s**t!!" And then throughout the pregnancy, feeling the baby move for the first time, finding out it was a girl, all the names we called her before settling on Ingrid. And finally up to the week before she was born where all I could think about was getting her the hell out of me so I could meet her already!!

Number three: teeny tiny baby clothes. I went through all her clothes to see what I wanted to keep and what I wanted to get rid of and all these memories just came flooding back from when she was that small. Oh, small babies, you are so cute! Ingrid is definitely more fun now than when she was a tiny lump of baby, but she was pretty darn cute as a four month old...

So all in all I'm having major baby fever. And yet at the same time I'm so excited for my etsy store having opened (and I got my first order!) that I can totally see just having Ingrid and starting to really focus on a business. It's a blessing and a curse that I can see the positives of most things, I swear to god.

Wow, that was easier than I thought!

I opened my etsy store. Applesauce Crafts is now open for business!

www.amberliddle.etsy.com

Yea!

My Etsy Dream

For awhile now people have said I should start an etsy shop. I've really wanted to but just never had the motivation. I thought it would take too much time, and with me being at home with Ingrid it just wouldn't be possible. But lately I've been sewing a LOT and making dresses for people on swapmamas. I realized I've made like 10 dresses in the past week or so. And I've made at least 5 owls, a baby blanket, and a couple bibs. Hmm, either I'm getting better about working while Ingrid is napping or I'm neglecting her. Or a little of both?

I don't want to neglect Ingrid, that's my biggest fear, that I'll get so wrapped up in my sewing that I'll stick her in front of the TV or I won't take her outside as much as I should because I have three dresses needing to be hemmed, or I'm just finishing up an owl and need to get it done. Really, Ingrid is very good about being by herself in the mornings, she actually prefers it. If I try to read to her or play with her, she pushes me away or goes into another room (nice and subtle...) So most mornings I do get an hour or so to get things done while she plays in her room. And then it's nap time and I can really get crackin'.

So I made a list today of what I want to have made for my shop.
I want 2 dresses in each size done,

five or six owls,

and five bibs.

I also would like to try to get two blankets done since I have the fabric for it, but I don't know if that will happen or not.

Plus I would like to get cards made to send along with purchases, and I'd like to get some pretty tissue paper to wrap the items in. I just love when I get something in the mail that is nicely packaged! And I'm working on a name for my store, but that's taking time. Everything sounds so stupid when I try to think of something! I really want a German word but I haven't come up with anything good. Any ideas??

It just seems so amazing that I'm finally doing this! It really feels good that A) I've had so much motivation lately, and B) I've gotten so much positive feedback from people. As soon as I've posted a dress on swapmamas I get three people asking me if I can make one for them. And same with the owls, people have really liked them. I post things to my facebook page, too, and also get people asking me if I'm going to sell my stuff. The weirdest thing is people say I have talent. I have NEVER had a talent before! Other people would act or sing or play an instrument, or they'd be really into something like art or science. I always just floated by not knowing what I wanted to do, kind of dabbling in things but never really having a talent for anything. It's like I'm finally finding out what I want to do, which is very strange. I'm a late bloomer :) At 32 years old I finally know what I want to be when I grow up. Cool.

Stay tuned, I should hopefully have a couple names you'll have to help me choose from. And then by October hopefully I will have a link to my super duper etsy store!

Possible TMI

Sorry, everyone, this may be too much information. BUT--I have to share. After using cloth diapers I see how it's really not as gross as I thought it would be. Or else I'm just desensitized to poo and wee. But it got me thinking about other paper products that I use and could get rid of. I already stopped buying paper napkins and paper towels, we just have a big stash of cheap-o washcloths from Target we use. I got rid of disposable diapers, I would LOVE to get rid of toilet paper and use family cloths (but fat chance of that with Brendan, I don't think he'd go for it!) And then I said wait, pads! I use pads! I throw them away! They must go!

So, off to etsy I went, and after a little browsing, I found these cloth pads. I ordered a starter pack of 5, got them in the mail, washed them with Ingrid's diapers a couple times, and then waited (and waited) to use them. When it was time, I was so excited! A) because I thought I might be pregnant and DID NOT want to be, and B) because I had these really cute flannel pads sitting in my drawer waiting to be snapped into my underwear!

It's been a couple days now and the verdict is in: I LOVE THESE THINGS! They work so much better than even my best name brand pads, I haven't had a single leak even at night, and let's face it, they are so much cuter than looking at white plastic that has god knows what chemicals in them...After using them you just rinse them out in cold water, keep them wet until you wash them, and then I just threw them in with the diapers. Easy peasy and they're ready to use again today.

At first I was grossed out because it's...blood. But then really, I deal with so much poo from Ingrid, is it really that much worse?? To be honest, dealing with raw chicken grosses me out way more than either of those bodily functions. So if you're squeamish, it may not be for you, but if you already cloth diaper or have a strong constitution, try them!! I just ordered more from this lady and now I'll have a complete set for around $60. I'm so pleased!