Hi y'all! I know my blogging regularity is spotty at best.  I might have blamed these 3.

but honestly it's because I haven't been managing my time well.  I've struggled on and off for years with time management.  Yes, I keep a calendar (multiple ones actually).  I make schedules and list of things to do but unless it's absolutely essential sometimes it just doesn't get done.  Many things are pushed off until the last minute before getting accomplished.  

This cycle creates stress...LOTS of stress.  Stress causes me to be snappy, sleep deprived and constantly playing catch up.  Bible studies are not done 1st thing in the morning because Farmgirl & Farmboy2 have tagteamed throughout the night, I overslept again, couldn't find clothes to wear and now the Farmboy must be at school in 45 minutes.  It doesn't end when I get to work, and sometimes at 7:30 I'm asking what's for supper while I stand peering into the fridge half hoping a meal will hop out and make itself while I remove the toddler from the table, inform the 7 year old that homework is not optional and try to nurse the baby.

 Life is hectic...which causes me to feel overwhelmed...which leads me to shopping...and that puts stress on my already "snug" budget.

So what's a girl to do?

1st I have to drop to my knees and pour our my heart to the only one who can save me.  I have to humble myself before God, thank him for my abundant blessings, and then beg for guidance.  My confidence needs to be in him not myself!

I've gotten to that point already!  Have you ever been there?  Honestly pouring it out to the Lord frees both my heart and my mind....it restores my hope and my soul.

After this experience I then realized I have to focus (I might be a tad ADD).

Focus on my

Faith

Family

Farm

Those are the 3 most important things in my life and I need to put them before EVERYTHING else!!

Meaning I start my day with God, my family becomes before another civic commitment and I find ways to be more active at the farm.  

So while they may be late those are my goals for the new year...did you set any?

Today we are talking about folding and closing flats :) 

This is my favorite part of flats!  I love experimenting with all the different folds and finding out what works best for us.  FYI if you are just starting out your favorite folds will change as your baby grows.  Some folds that I loved when our LO was a newborn just didn't cut it 3 months later.  Some folds I loved last year don't work this year.  So don't get discouraged if what was working all of a sudden doesn't work any more.  

So what are my favorite folds? 

Classic Pad Fold- this is the easiest to do!

Origami

Kite Fold (This has been my absolute FAV this go round)

Need more ideas

Here's a table with links to 15 various folds

My Flat Fold Pinterest board is full as well.

Until we meet again...may God bless you and keep you!

Caci

Today's topic is how do I travel with flats when running errands...

I don't think using flats when running errands is any more difficult than any other diaper, especially if your toddler is like mine and constantly moving!  

For me no matter where we are, what kind of diaper we are using, changing a diaper is a challenge!

To make life easier and diaper changes quicker I pre-load one cover (typically a Flip) with a pad fold prior to leaving the house.  I also make sure I change him just before leaving.  If I think he might fall asleep or I might be gone a while I will add extra absorbency to this diaper.  

I use a flannel flat or a receiving blanket in the origami fold and then pad fold a flour sack towel on top (this is also our overnight solution).

Typically I don't need to change him prior to getting home.  However if I do I always carry around a wet bag.  After the change I stuff both the diaper and the cover in the wet bag.  As soon as I get home I will toss the flat into the wash bucket it and rinse the cover if it's not soiled.  Once the cover is rinsed I hang it to dry.  

Now let's say it's Sunday and I'm going to leave home at 9 to head to Sunday School followed by church as 10:30, lunch with the family at 12, hanging out with my farmer, taking the kids to the park, and then heading to my Sunday night group at 6...what do I do???

I prepare!  I take at least 2 extra covers and 6-8 diapers (you never know when he's gonna blow).

I start at home by using the doubled up diaper and have one cover pre-loaded and ready to go with the pad fold so whoever changes him in the church nursery can just throw everything into the wet bag.  Once we leave church he typically falls asleep so we are sure to change as soon as possible after we pick him up.  Since this typically happens at the barn where I have access to a sink and such I will grab the snappi from the earlier diaper and the cover.  This gives me a chance to wipe out the cover (rinse if soiled) and for it to dry before I need it again.  Then our day goes on normally just as if we were at home.  

You see flats aren't difficult....they are really quick and easy to use.  If you aren't into fancy folds the pad fold is as basic as you can get and gives you 12 layers.  Think it's not enough?  Add an extra layer...it might be a little bulky but it works.  

Until we meet again may God bless you & keep you!

Caci

Washing diapers is similar to washing any clothes.  

It's important that you are using enough detergent to get them clean but no so much you are leaving a residue.  If you are like me an live in an area where you have hard water this makes it even more challenging.  

I love Fluff Love University!  It's a great resource no matter if you are handwashing or using a washer and dryer.  When I first started using cloth diapers there were so many places on the web saying to add extra rinses, just a teaspoon of detergent and everyone had their own homemade concoction that "worked."  The scientist in me questioned this often...but I was sure these ladies knew what they were talking about...they had been doing it for years.  I found that just because it works for them doesn't mean it works for me.  

So what have I been doing this week? 

I washed in the sink using a make shift wash board on Monday & Tuesday.  But honestly that made my back ache and seemed to waste a lot of water.  So halfway through the week I changed.  I grabbed a 5 gallon bucket (we only have 1,000) and washed it out really well.  Bought a new plunger and some Foca detergent.  I keep borax at home.  

I used our cordless drill to drill a hole in the top of the bucket just big enough for the plunger handle to fit through.  I also drilled holes in the plunger itself.  

Handwashing Routine

Cold Rinse- place bucket in bathtub and dump in diapers and covers (fill the bucket 1/2-3/4 full) add cold water until about an 1 inch below the top of the bucket.  Plunge the diapers 50-100 times wait 5 minutes and plunge again.  Remove diapers from bucket, set aside. Dump water.  

Hot Wash #1- add hot water (about 1") then add 2 TBSP detergent, 1 TBSP Borax swish it around to dissolve.  Plunge the diapers 50-100 times wait 10 minutes and plunge again.  Remove diapers from bucket, set aside and dump water.

Hot Wash #2: Repeat hot wash #1 but this time as you remove the diapers from the bucket wring them out well.  We do an assembly line (if the boys are "helping").  The little one grabs a diaper or cover and gives it to our oldest who "wrings" it out and then he passes it to me and I actually make water come out of the diaper.  Yes including them takes longer but they enjoy helping.  

Dump water and rinse the bucket well. 

Cold Rinse- place diapers back in bucket and fill again until it's 1" below the top.  Plunge 50-100 times wait 5 minutes and plunge again.  Remove diapers/covers and wring out thoroughly.  At this point I put the wet diapers into a laundry basket so I can carry them to our porch to hang to dry.  

From start to finish it takes about an hour.  I will say there are days that ours sit a little longer than the 5-10 minutes or get more/less plunging than others.   It all evens out.  If I am at home I will fill the bucket up about 1/2 way with cold water after the mornings first diaper change and drop the flats into the bucket as I got throughout the day.  This seems to work well for us however this only happens about once a week so I am sure the diapers could use a soak.  

I adapted my routine from Fluff Love U.  Here's a link to their instructions which includes a video. 

Blame it on the 2 year old, 

blame it on the 32 week pregnancy brain...

blame on the weather...

whatever it was I completely skipped posting yesterday about this year's Flats & Handwashing Challenge.

Yes...with a very active 7 year old, a wild monkey of a 2 year old, 32 weeks pregnant and helping out around the farm, while working 10 hour days, and trying to maintain some semblance of order in our house....

I decided to take Dirty Diaper Laundry's 5th annual challenge again this year!  (Read about last years Day 1, Day 2, Day 4&5)