Favorite Fluff Fridays – Fuzzi Bunz Review/Giveaway - Closed

Welcome to a new Meme done by yours truly. I love using Cloth Diapers and have been Cloth Diapering for over a year now. Through the last year I’ve come up with tons of diapers that I absolutely LOVE and other’s I’m not so hip about. Every mom who starts Cloth Diapering wants to know what the best products are out there, so we see out other mom’s who have been through it to help us find our way!

Enter Favorite Fluff Fridays! I will be reviewing & suggesting some of my favorite Fluff products!! Here we go! :)

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A while back when I went on my search for Snap Diapers instead of Aplix I came across Fuzzi Bunz. Don’t get me wrong it’s not like I’d never heard of them. When I first heard of them I thought to myself, Snaps??!? really? Why would I want to try to snap diapers onto an already squiggly, wiggly, baby.

When Kaitlynn figured out how to get her Aplix diapers undone & they started to show wear I decided it was time for snaps. First let me tell you, Snaps are SOOO much easier than you think they might be. Even with a squiggly baby you can get them done!

I contacted Fuzzi Bunz to see if they would be interested in having me do a review. Fuzzi Bunz was nice enough to send me 4 Perfect Size Diaper (1 size Medium & 3 Petite size) and 2 One Size Diaper. When the package arrived, I was pleasantly surprised at how soft they were on the inside. I also noticed they had a VERY large pocket opening for the insert. However they do not have snaps for the insert to be used smaller, but do come with a Newborn insert (on the one size). Not to mention the fact that they have SOO many colors to choose from as well as a few cute prints!

Fuzzi Bunz is new though to the One Size Diaper system. For years they have had their Perfect Size Diaper(sized diapers), but recently came out with the one size. Their One Size diaper is unique in the fact that there are no rise snaps. Instead there is elastic on the inside with buttons to size (think kids jeans with the elastic waist you can cinch up.) At first I thought that would be a problem. After trial and error I was able to find the fitting that fit the best for Kaitlynn. Would I recommend them to mom’s who have more than one child in diapers? Probably not. If you just like to grab a diaper and then size it, this is not the way to go. But if you have different diapers for each child then GO FOR IT!!!

The Perfect Size diapers are a sized diaper that you can buy in many different sizes as your child grows out of them. At first I didn’t think this would be a “smart” way to go about Cloth Diapering, but after receiving these diapers I might actually try it. We received one diaper in the Medium Size about 6 months ago when Kaitlynn was barely 20 pounds. She now only weighs about 25 pounds, but can still wear this diaper 6 months later people!!

We also received three of the petite diapers as well. When I told them about Kaitlynn’s measurements and fear of her being so tall/super skinny they recommended the Petite’s. I’m not exactly fond of these diapers just because they don’t fit Kaitlynn well. I think they would be better for an older child who weighs slightly more, and may be too tall for the Perfect Size Diapers.

Overall I LOVE these diapers!!! The Perfect Size diaper surprised me at how well they fit, and how long they'll last in just one size! I also liked the One size diaper for just having one baby. They have no snaps down the front, and so they make for a fluffier cuter picture taking diaper!

Want to get your hands on one?? Fuzzi Bunz has graciously offered up one Perfect Size Diaper to one lucky reader!!!

Mandatory Entry (must be done before any extras) : Go to Fuzzi Bunz website and let me know what size diaper and color you would choose. Also tell me what your favorite feature of the diaper is!

Extra Entries: (1 entry unless noted, please comment for each entry)

*Follow my blog
*Follow me on twitter @amongthemess
*Follow Fuzzi Bunz on twitter @fuzzibunz
*Tweet about this giveaway, come back here & give the link (twice per day)
*Tell me your favorite Cloth Diaper Tip (up to 5 entries)
*Do the Hookie Pookie with your kids (2 entries) (and I will know if you did this :P)
*Suggest me your favorite diapers(with links) to Review on Favorite Fluff Fridays (up to 10 entries)
*Comment on any other post on the blog (be sure to leave a comment here telling me where)

Give away ends Wednesday February 3rd at 8pm Central time, with winner announced Thursday February 4th.

Disclaimer : I was provided Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers to use as part of this review.

Fluff Talk Thursdays

I’m a little late on this one, and I see she’s already found a solution to her question, but I just wanted to Jump in!

Topic is: "How I Store My Cloth Diapers"

When Dahrran was a baby we got a “hand-me-down” changing table from family. It was nice, and I’m not going to complain but we NEVER used it. Ever. I’m the type of person who just grabs a diaper & wipes, and plops down on the floor/couch/where ever. Of course we’ve always kept the changing table, and used it to store our diaper accessories and what not. I think I maybe used it 10 times will all 3 of my kids, plus the occasional baby we watched here and there over the years.

The changing table sat in my living room, taking up space and was ALWAYS full of crap, and looked horrid. When we started cloth diapering the changing table was still sitting in my Living Room, but I was mainly using a Sterilite 3 drawer Tote to store our diapers. One day when I was in a HUGE cleaning spree I decided I was done with the changing table and we put it in storage. 
 
We now use the Tote to store the diapers. Top Drawer has all of our clean diapers in it. Second drawer has all of the newborn inserts that came with my Bum Genius 3.0 diapers, and a few extra inserts for my Smarti Pants diapers (I know I really should branch out and get some new inserts/prefolds!) as well as a few diaper liners, extra wet bags and such. Bottom drawer has my reusable shopping bags, hats, gloves, dog leashes, and any other things I think should just be shoved in there!!

I used to have a trash can with pail liner, but have found that my travel (was used at daycare this summer/fall) wet bag worked better at keeping smells at bay. Believe me Kaitlynn’s diapers can be wretched smelling and I was having a hard time keeping the smells away. Since I don’t have any place to hang it, it usually sits on top of the Tote. We also have the green basket which holds Bum Genius odor remover spray (which works wonders, but I think it ate away the liner of my pail liner), Cloth Diaper safe rash ointment, & diaper liners (which I hardly use anymore). Oh, and those disposables on the top of the tote??? Yup those are for grandpa’s house! I got tired of my diapers getting ruined or left there without me realizing it.

So there you go! Our Cloth Diaper storage in a jiffy! We love Cloth Diapers and can’t get enough!! I just wish I’d found them when Dahrran was a baby instead of Kaitlynn!!

Come on back tomorrow for a new featured event!!!! I’m super excited!

Word FULL Wednesday – A Recipe

The kids always love Pancakes, but we usually don’t have pancake mix in the house. For the longest time I would buy the premade mix and keep it in the house. It seemed like we never went through it, and it was always getting buggy before I used it all!

That was before I started making my own pancake batter/mix. I know what you’re all thinking, make your own when it’s so cheap!?! But really you probably have EVERYTHING you need to make your own pancake mix in your cupboards right now. If you make cookies from scratch you’ve got it all!!!

Buttermilk Pancakes
1 cup all-purpose or whole wheat flour
1 Tablespoon Sugar
1 Tablespoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg
1 cup Buttermilk or Sour Milk*
2 Tablespoons cooking oil

1. Combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center of the flour mixture; set aside. Combine the egg, butter-milk and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to the flour mixture. Stir until just moistened (batter should be lumpy). If you’d prefer a runnier mix add more buttermilk.

*Note: Make sour milk using regular milk. For each cup of sour milk needed add 1 Tablespoon of lemon juice or vinegar in a glass measuring cup, add enough milk to make 1 cup total liquid. Let mixture stand for 5 minutes then use.

We usually make a triple batch for our family, with few leftovers. The kids also are always looking for a fun way to “play” with their food! After making Rainbow Cake a while back we’ve been looking for other fun ways to make Rainbows!

Mix up your batter as directed & divide into bowls. Mix colors wanted.

Put batter on pre-heated griddle iron as you would like. We did actual rainbows. These made big pancakes.

 

Take pictures of your ADORABLE kids while you wait!

Admire finished product, then devour!! The kids just love them, and now they are begging to make more!

 

Under Construction

As if you haven’t all noticed a couple weeks ago, I kind of took my blog down to nothing. Bare naked. And then decided I wasn’t really ready to handle the “remodel” that needed to happen. Right now I’m leaving it up to the professionals, and hope to everything back in order soon!

Also I know it was a bit of a shock to some of you to read my last post. Just know after talking with the doctor we have come up with a plan, and hopefully we can figure this all out soon. I’m tired of just having these “bad” moments!! If you’re friends with me IRL (in real life) feel free to call me and just check in. Know I don’t want to push anyone away. In fact I really could just use a play date or girls night out. Things to just keep my mind going, and my body busy!

I do have a few fun reviews coming up, and hopefully a give away or two!! Stick around and I promise I’ll get back to “normal” soon!!!

Admitting

It's hard to admit when you need help. Help with little things like doing the dishes. Help with big things like what's going through your mind.

Friday night was a scary night for me. The things going through my head hadn't been there before, but they were making me afraid of myself. It has been one month since we found out we lost baby #4. When I realized it, I just lost it. Somehow though I knew before I "knew" what day it was. I was having panic attacks most of the afternoon, and when I realized what day it was they got even worse.

It's hard to explain to someone who doesn't know what you're going through. I had a hard time talking to Joel about it, in fact he was upset because I wasn't talking at all. Sometimes you just don't know how to explain it. How to tell someone what is going through your head when you don't even know what is going through your head.

On Saturday morning I admitted what was going through to him and to myself. I realized that I needed help. I couldn't keep going on with the thoughts in my head. Thoughts I couldn't control, thoughts that scared the hell out of me.

So today I admit to you all that I needed help. Help fighting against what my mind is telling me to do. Help from my family & friends to support me in this fight. Help knowing I'm not the only one going through this, and the strength to move on.

Edible Snow Men

This week I searched the internet for new crafts we could do. Sure the girls love coloring or painting, but I wanted to find something Snow related since there is so much of it, and it was so cold.

During my search I came across lots of Homeschooling blogs, and I love the idea, but I know it’s just not for me. Granted we are doing “home school” as far as preschool goes, but it would be a lot different having Dahrran home all day as well….okay I' know I’m not on subject anymore. In my searches I came across Confessions of a Homeschooler. She has AWESOME ideas for crafts, games snacks, you name it. She had these really cute snowmen edible crafts! They’re perfect! Snack and craft all in one! The only problem is finding a time when Kaitlynn isn’t napping and it’s not to close to a meal to make them!

Super easy, and you probably have most of the ingredients in your house!!! She suggested using royal icing, but I couldn’t find any so we just bough caned icing that was on clearance. (thank you Christmas) The girls loved putting these together. The only thing I had to do was use the icing. They let me know where they wanted it!

 

The girls couldn’t wait to eat these! And of course pretty much ate them up! Super easy, and they felt like they were part of making snack!
 

Easy Bake…Whatcha gonna make?

MacKenzie got an Easy Bake Oven for Christmas. She was pretty excited about it. Me, well I guess I was excited. I never had an Easy Bake Oven as a kid, so I thought it was going to be fun, and something for us to do together!

Sure it was fun to make the dough up. And it was fun to see her smile and have a good time.

It’s all fun, until you do this! Second pan in, and we get it stuck! It wouldn’t move. I ended up having to get a pair of pliers out and pry it out. It was stuck pretty good and even took me a while with the pliers to get out. Oh, and did I mention there was another pan in the oven with mix in it. While trying to get the pan out, I didn’t think about the pan in the oven. OOPS we ended up with a half moon cookie!

She had a great time making the frosting and eating this one cookie.

When she realized it took 10 minutes for ONE cookie to bake, she ran off to play. Which left me alone time while baking 6 cookies in 60 minutes!

Overall I’m not impressed with the Easy Bake Oven. Really?! I guess though what was I expecting when you’re cooking with just a light bulb. I called my dad today to inform him that it would’ve been cheaper, easier and tastier if he would have just bought the ingredients for us to make cookies instead.

And not the greatest quality, but I couldn’t get the video of MacKenzie baking to come up. Sorry you can’t see Kaitlynn, but you can hear her and that’s all that matters! I love that girl!

And then of course after I hit publish, the video of MacKenzie shows up! So here you go! :)

Baby it’s Cold Outside

I know, I know. It’s cold every where right now. But honestly it’s super cold here. Never this cold, super cold! To prove my point…..We live in Nebraska. Smack Dab in the middle of this good ole map.

I Live about where it says oh, say, –10. Yes people this is actual air temp right now. I know why am I complaining? There are places that are WAY colder than that with actual air temps.  But you haven’t seen this map yet? Have ya?!?

See that, –24 there on the map. That’s what it feels like outside! YUCK. I know, I know. There are a few more places that feel colder. But people, it’s NEVER this cold in Nebraska! NEVER!!!! Okay so it is, but maybe only on the ONE rare occasion, and it doesn’t happen again for a few weeks/months/years. Here lately it’s been just plain cold all the time. For the last month it’s been cold.

We’ve had snow, lots of it. About a foot every 2 weeks for the last 6 weeks! And in all actuality it’s been too cold for them to play outside, comfortably. Unless they BEG A LOT, they don’t get to go outside. Dahrran got mad at me, before they headed back to school this weak from break, because they hadn’t been able to play in the snow at home!!! Such a mean mom I am! Unless they’re at grandpa’s house.

Cause you see Grandpa has THIS. HUGE. SNOW. PILE! And well after this week’s snow, I’m not sure where he’ll go with the rest. Cause this snow pile is at it’s full potential…and then some!
 

So when it’s cold outside what do we do?? You may remember this? But when it’s cold outside, I’d rather settle up with a nice bowl of soup. Potato Soup to be exact. . . Have I made it in this cold spell….no :( I haven’t bought the ingredients. Actually I haven’t been going out to the store much with the cold.  Anyway I’m rambling. So here’s the recipe!

SUPER delish Baked Potato Soup
*1 medium Onion
*1lb bacon
*2TBS Butter
*2TBS Flour
*2 cups Chicken Stock
*1 quart Half/Half
*6-8 med. potatoes

Cut up Onion & bacon into small pieces to your liking. Fry bacon until crispy but not too crisp. Remove some for garnish if you choose (I don’t). Do not drain grease from bacon, it adds to the flavor. Add butter and add onion. Sauté onions until soft. Stir in Flour to thicken. Mainly you’re just using the flour to soak up the grease.

Stir in chicken stock, making sure there are no lumps from the flour. Add half & half. You can use milk instead, but it doesn’t thicken as well, and makes for a runnier soup. Bring to a boil. Peel & dice potatoes to your liking. DH likes smaller pieces, I prefer larger pieces. When boiling add potatoes, and salt & pepper to taste.

When potatoes are cooked and tender enough to put a fork in, your soup is done.

Serve with crackers of your choice, and top with bacon, cheese, and green onions.

*You can also make this with left over baked potatoes, but DH and I prefer this way. Seems too mushy.

Signing on

Things have been quite heavy here lately, but such is life.

This blog was supposed to be about our life. But instead it's just become a "sometimes" place where I write. You see instead of documenting our life, I've been slacking! After watching the Movie "Julie & Julia" last night I realized I want to be a better blogger! I want to set a goal and stick to it.

Here's to me. Signing on to blog daily (or every other day it seems) this year. I want to have something I can turn into books and have our children go back on. I'm setting goals for weekly themes, and setting my sights high for things we NEED to do around here.

More fun, less grouchiness is my motto right now!

Goals for the year!
*Make & blog one recipe every week that is new. (with pictures of course)
*Make & blog one craft every week. (hopefully with video's as well!)
*Share the "real" life that goes on around here instead of JUST the happy times. (Guess I've been doing good about that the last few weeks)

That's it! Simple. Motivation!

Not the way you planned

I got this from a Friend today and I’m thankful for her. You see it was a friend I’ve never “met”, but we’re best friends and talk on the phone every day! You see God sends these people into our lives for reasons unknown to us, but one day he shows us just why he sends them to us.

Someday we will understand the path we’re lead on.

But until then………….

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Tale of Trees:

Once there were three trees on a hill in the woods.

They were discussing their hopes and dreams when the first tree said, 'Someday I hope to be a great treasure chest.  I could be filled with gold, silver and precious gems. I could be decorated with an intricate carving and everyone would see the beauty.'

Then the second tree said, 'Someday I will be a mighty ship. I will take Kings and Queens across the waters and sail to the corners of the world. People will feel safe in me because of the strength of my hull.'

Finally the third tree said, 'I want to grow to be the tallest and straightest tree in the forest. People will see me on top of the hill, look up to my branches, and think of the heavens and God and how close to them I am reaching. I will be the greatest tree of all time and people will always remember me.'

After a few years of praying that their dreams would come true, a group of woodsmen came upon the trees. When one came to the first tree he said, 'This looks like a strong tree, I think I should be able to sell the wood to a carpenter, and he began cutting it down. The tree was happy, because he knew the carpenter would make him into a treasure chest.

At the second tree the woodsman said, 'This looks like a strong tree.  I will be able to sell it to the shipyard.' The second tree was happy because he knew he was on his way to becoming a mighty ship.

When the woodsmen came upon the third tree, the tree was frightened because he knew that if they cut him down his dreams would not come true.  One of the men said,'I don't need anything special from my tree, I'll take this one,' and he cut it down.

When the first tree arrived at the carpenters, he was made into a feed box for animals. He was then placed in a barn and filled with hay. This was not at all what he had prayed for.

The second tree was cut and made into a small fishing boat.  His dreams of being a mighty ship and carrying Kings had come to an end.

The third tree was cut into large pieces, and left alone in the dark.

The years went by, and the trees forgot about their dreams.

Then one day, a man and woman came to the barn. She gave birth and they placed the baby in the hay in the feed box that was made from the first tree. The man wished that he could have made a crib for the baby, but this manger would have to do. The tree could feel the importance of this event and knew that it had held the greatest treasure of all time.

Years later, a group of men got in the fishing boat made from the second tree.  One of them was tired and went to sleep. While they were out on the water, a great storm arose and the tree didn't think it was strong enough to keep the men safe. The men woke the sleeping man, and he stood and said 'Peace' and the storm stopped.  At this time,the tree knew that it had carried the King of Kings in its boat.

Finally, someone came and got the third tree.  It was carried through the streets as the people mocked the man who was carrying it. When they came to a stop, the man was nailed to the tree and raised in the air to die at the top of a hill. When Sunday came, the tree came to realize that it was strong enough to stand at the top of the hill and be as close to God as was possible, because Jesus had been crucified on it.

The moral of this story is that when things don't seem to be going your way, always know that God has a plan for you. If you place your trust in Him, God will give you great gifts.

Each of the trees got what they wanted, just not in the way they had imagined...

We don't always know what God's plans are for us. We just know that His Ways are not our ways, but His ways are always best.

Please keep this moving....... Pass it on, so God may inspire more people on the way.

May your day be blessed. And until we meet again, may God cradle you in the palm of His hand.

The whole Story

We found out we were pg October 27. My grandma had just passed away the day before, and I was tired of Joel begging me to take a test, when I knew my period wasn't due for a few more days. We'd been trying for 6 months with no success. I took the test shortly after lunch, and it said positive. I was so excited, but was bound and determined I was going to tell Joel in a FUN way. So knowing I only had a few hours until he got home MacKenzie and I headed to the basement to make a shirt for Kaitlynn. We painted and labored away, and before I knew it Joel was on his way home. Kaitlynn was still sleeping, so we had to wake her up, and unfortunately she was running a temp. She wasn't in much of a mood to wake up let alone change shirts and go to her daddy.

When Joel got home I had Kaitlynn meet him at the back door wearing her shirt that said "Big Sister in Training" and holding the test. I kept telling her give it to daddy. He just stood there shocked. Staring at her. It was priceless, and I'll never forget it. This was the first time I've surprised him. *With Dahrran I just told him scared, b/c I was still in HS he was in College. With MacKenzie I told him over the phone b/c I was so excited/scared, we were supposed to be getting married, and she was due 1 week before our wedding date. And well with Kaitlynn, he told me. I'd taken a test and it was negative, so I threw it away (after a year/months of trying I was tired of neg test) 2 hours later he goes in and takes it out and it was positive.*

Things went smoothly and we decided to wait until Thanksgiving to tell our families. This was the longest we'd ever waited to tell anyone. It got easier as the days went on, except when I wasn't feeling well. The pg hormones were kicking in and I was feeling more pg than ever. We told our families on Thanksgiving, and everyone was excited. At this point I still hadn't went to the doctor, but had taken the required OB class through the hospital so I could see my doctor. Everything was going good, so I wasn't in any hurry to get in. My dr doesn't usually see you until you were 10-12 weeks along, so I scheduled my appointment for 11 weeks.

At my dr. appointment on December 15, Joel & the girls went with me. My Dr. had a medical student working with him, and she came in first. She tried to find the heartbeat, but couldn't. We figured it was just because I'm a heavier girl, and she is new. When my Dr came in he went ahead and looked for the heartbeat first. After 15 minutes and still no heartbeat, he decided maybe baby was just being uncooperative and maybe after some messing with me during my PAP would help. He send DH and the girls out and we did all the girly stuff.
Dr. said my uterus was tilted (which I still know nothing about and why it's like that) and that he after better feeling he thought baby was in a certain spot. He went ahead and tried to find the HB again. After a few more minutes he said to me "It's early, and so I could just not be able to find it yet. We can have you come back in two weeks, you'll be 13 weeks then and it should be easier to find then." He went ahead and went out so I could get dressed and sent DH back in. When I got dressed, and he came back in he said "If you guys don't mind, I have one more patient, and then we could go down and do an u/s just to make sure things are okay." Of course we said yes, and waited.

We went in for the ultrasound and my bladder wasn't very full, and he couldn't see anything but the Gestational Sac. We were given the option of an internal ultrasound or eating lunch and coming back. Having the girls with us, and it being 12 (apt time was 10:45) we opted for lunch and filling my bladder. An Hour & full bladder later, we still couldn't see anything. They sent the girls out while we got the internal u/s ready and let the girls come back in. We then could see the little one. Baby was measuring 8w4d, and I was 11 weeks. Dr said well maybe your dates are off. I was 100% certain on my dates b/c I'd written them down.

He turns on the heart rate thing where they listen. Nothing. No heartbeat. Just whooshing. Nothing. Then he turns on the colored part where you can see the heart. Nothing. No color on the baby.

He goes ahead and tells me let's schedule another u/s in two days with the u/s tech and go from there. He was still saying something about my dates being off, but it was possible I'd miscarried. I was unsure what to do/say. We walked out and tried to schedule the appointment when he wanted it but couldn't b/c they were booked. I took the soonest appointment to when he wanted me there and left crying. A nurse from the clinic called me about an hour later and had set up and 8am appointment on Thursday December 17.

We showed up 10 minutes early for the u/s and waited. I had a full bladder but the u/s tech couldn't see anything but the Sac again. We opted for the internal u/s again, and then saw the babe. Baby was measuring 8w6d. So we had hope. The baby had grown in two days, and we had hope. Until we turned on the little color part. There was still no color. The u/s tech ended the u/s then, and said I'm so sorry, patted my knee and told me where the things were to clean up and to leave the door open when I was done.

Just like that.

I was sent home, and told my doctor would call. Joel & I didn't say 5 words the whole way home.

When he called he told me that after looking over my numbers it was certain that I was miscarrying. He prescribed me Cytotec and told me how to take them and what not. He told me the things I needed to do, and I vaguely remember what he said. All I knew is I was supposed to take these pills, and within 24 hours it would be over.

It’s now been almost 3 weeks since we first knew something was going on. It’s been hard. It’s been rough, but at the same time I thank God because I’m alive, and this too shall pass. God knows my path in life, and knows which road I should take even if I don’t believe him right now.

I’m not going to try and be a downer this New Year. I’ve got some fun posts about our Christmas, and such coming up so please stay tuned. I mainly wanted this here for reference. So I don’t ever loose it!