Using Cloth Wipes - Easy DIY cloth wipe dispenser

When Benjamin was born we decided I would stop working to stay home full time. Our first money saving choice was to use cloth diapers. In recent weeks I decided to use cloth wipes.
Now, I'm not that crunchy mama you can hear from across the play room floor talking about how much fluff mail she received this week. But... I do like the idea of saving money and the environmental benefits are a bonus. We will still use disposable wipes when we are out of the house.

Here's how I set up my cloth wipes for easy use!



Find a left over wipes dispenser from your disposable wipes. Now you can fold the cloth wipes so they come out just like a disposable.

1. Place the first wipe down flat. Place the second wipe so it covers half of the first.

2. Fold the first wipe back over the second wipe

3. Lay the third wipe over the folded side.

4. Fold the second wipe back over the third wipe.

Continue folding like this from side to side until your stack of wipes is complete.

Place the stack of wipes in the container and feed the lose end through the cover.
I purchased a spray bottle for water at the dollar store. I like my wipes to be moist. You can add olive oil or another oil of your choosing to the water.
Happy cloth wiping! (sounds fun eh?)

 

 

Benjamin's 1st Birthday! (Construction Themed Birthday)

 I put a lot of thought in to how we would celebrate Benjamin's birthday. I wanted to keep it small... but then how big is a one year old's world anyway? So, that's when I thought "What the heck? Let's do 'er up big!". (remembering big also has a budget)

I saw a picture of a cake on Facebook which inspired a construction theme. The decorations were purchased at the dollar store. I spent a few evenings tracing, stenciling and coloring with a large permanent marker --- and wa-lah!

Main living room wall

More homemade construction signs!

Bristol Board with caution tape

The Cake!  Daddy did such a great job decorating.

I was thrilled with how easy this cake is to make. I used a fluted tube pan. The tractors were purchased at the dollar store. Chocolate cookie crumbs over the side - professional steam rolled by Daddy along the cutting board, of course. It's so precious and will hopefully go down in history as one of Mommy's best birthday cakes when 'the kid(s)' grow up.

Birthday boy! Ben

Ben sported a new suit from his Oma and Opa (Grandma & Grandpa on Daddy's side)

Food!!!

  I over think food any time I am entertaining more than two people. One year old children drink milk and every parent has a different idea of what is "good for them" in terms of solids. So I let go of the rules of what should be and went for birthday party food! 

• Egg Salad Sandwiches
• Tuna Salad Sandwiches
• Cheese Cubes
• Rainbow Jello cups (how-to blog post coming!)
• Fruit tray
• Hot Dip with chips (for the adults)
• Homemade lemon cupcakes
• THE cake
• Puree organic fruit bags
• Meatballs in the slow cooker (not pictured)

Birthday Party Food - What worked for me

Bad News first - Jello cups were not a hit! Maybe too sweet for one year old children?

Every thing else went really well. Sandwiches were snapped up - easy for the kids to take a bite of and filling. The meatballs were also a hit - something hot and comforting.

The best food item for the kids were the squeeze fruit bags! I think every child had one... especially at that "going to melt down moment" the Mom's grabbed them to keep blood sugar levels up!

Happy Birthday Benjamin!

Mother's Day Picnic Dinner

Yesterday was my first Mother's Day. After a fun lunch out at East Side Mario's we didn't need much for dinner. Benjamin, our son, napped late and we needed an activity to wear him out by bedtime.

Naturally, we decided to take him outside in the fresh air. It was dinner time so I packed a picnic... Tuna sandwiches, banana slices, pretzels, graham crackers, and chips. We walked about 5 minutes to the local high school and sat in the sun. Benjamin loved every moment. I was shocked that a (almost) one year old ate straight-up tuna sandwiches and not a blade of grass within arms reach.

It was a cheap, fun, and heartwarming way to spend time together. It just happen to be on Mother's Day.

My Dates

Selfie

Ben and I