More Reusables

I'll attempt to keep this from becoming a big TMI fest, but it is about menstrual products so beware.

I was a tampon girl since I first got the hang of it.  I always hated pads, hated hated hated them.  That bulky feeling and just knowing that everyone could see the outline through your pants was horrible and humiliating.  It was also probably one of the big contributors to diving head first into the punk/goth scene and embracing JNCOs and other super baggy jeans.

After I had my first child I realized that pads were an evil with whom I had to come to terms.  So I wore them, and I wound up with skin irritations because of the chemicals they contained.  I wound up using some of my son's newborn cloth prefold diapers, specifically for that purpose, they were not mixed up with his, and it was a super bulky relief.

Once I regained my fertility I started searching for alternative options to tampons because while I had some cloth pads, I was not fond of the bulk or the laundry.  It just wasn't a pleasant thing to empty out menstrual pads into my washer, even coming from the dirty hippie chick...it was just gross to me.  I saw menstrual sponges but nixed them because I didn't feel they'd be clean enough and then I found a Diva Cup.

Back in those days, you know the ones, when online shopping wasn't a huge thing and the "green" living hadn't quite caught on...life was tough back then...I had to order my Diva Cup through a private seller, similar to Avon or the like.  Today you can find them in any health food store, but back then I ordered mine from a woman online and it arrived in a lumpy, yet discreet, yellow manila envelope.

I squealed, got excited, and didn't menstruate for another nine months since I was pregnant.

Most women will tell you that the secret to getting pregnant is to order a menstrual cup.

So cue the cloth pads again and months of lactational amenorrhea and finally I got my period again. I wasn't fond of my Diva, it was just too rigid and uncomfortable.  The suction sometimes felt like it was trying to suck out my uterus.  So I hit the internet again and came across what I consider a training cup, Insteads.  They were much more flexible and user friendly, but they leaked.  This is where my handy dandy cloth panti liners came in.  I'd ordered a ton of them years prior and used them, but they were put into full rotation.  So I still had my cup and I was now putting those flannel panti liners to use.

A few years later I got an IUD placed and had to let the Insteads go since they can potentially dislodge an IUD.

Finally, I got my tubes tied and decided to purchase a Lunette cup since I no longer had any fears of hearing that metal *tink* into the toilet bowl.  It was a total impulse buy, I just happened to see it in a natural parenting store while buying laundry detergent, but when I held it I was impressed with how flexible and contouring it was.

I fell in love with my Lunette.  I rarely have issues with leaking or that sucking out my innards sensation and the stem is short, but not too short, so it isn't pokey, and I don't have to...well...fish to pull it out.

Some time ago I realized that all my flannel panti liners had gone by the wayside, I only had one old faithful left.  Then, a month ago, a pagan friend of mine invited me to her twin daughter's womanhood ritual.  They're officially women so they're going to celebrate with a ritual and bestowing gifts that women will need in their lives.  I contacted her with the idea of sewing them some panti liners and she gave me the green light so off I went to the fabric store with coupons in hand and sat down to sew.

A quick picture tutorial on making cloth pads:

I started out by laying my last remaining liner on the fabric, folded in half, and then simply cut around it.  I modified it to be a little bigger, but stayed true to the shape.

 I cut them out (remember, two layers of fabric so they match perfectly) with my amazing rotary cutter.

Lined them up, ready to sew.

I turned the fabric to face itself (wrong side out), being sure to keep the corresponding sides together and then sewed all but the top edge with a basic straight stitch.

I then flipped them right side out (you can see the one that's been flipped and the rest are still waiting to be turned).

Time to sew the top closed.  Simply fold it in to form a 1/4" seam and then topstitch it closed.  Continue the topstitching all the way around the liner to give it more structure and a more finished look.

Place snaps either using a press or a hammer, I used hammer snaps.  Hammer snaps are my preferred for this since my press tends to punch through, but do be careful lining them up properly, I ruined two with misfires and fixed a couple by separating and rebending the prongs to try again.

They're cute!  They're soft!  And they're totally reusable.  The one I used for a guide is probably 12 years old, if I recall correctly, and still kicking strong.  I'm looking forward to my new, cute cloth panti liners, and I hope the gift for the twins will be appreciated.

I'd say the cost for the materials was around $20 at my local big box fabric store (with coupons), and I made 24 (including the two screw ups).  The snaps were the most expensive items and if I make more I'll be ordering online next time.

Reuse It

I'm really big into reusable products.  I usually have a single roll of paper towels hidden under the sink, but I have a big drawer full of washcloths, hand towels, and cloth napkins that are in constant use.  I am not a huge fan of disposable paper products, I feel that they are wasteful, not only of resources, but of money.  While cloth items are a bit of an up front investment, they have saved me so much money over the years.  

I tend to keep an eye out for clearances, specifically at the end of holidays, for things like cloth napkins.  It seems those are the hardest for me to replace since I prefer cotton and cotton napkins are pretty expensive.  In fact, I've been scouring lately but haven't seen much.  I've lost a good stack of napkins in the past six months to company and kids, it seems people feel that a dirty napkin should be thrown away instead of washed because it's gross.

One of my favorite reusable items is my reusable lunch baggies.  They're just a laminated fabric that's moisture resistant, they have cute prints, and they've lasted me about four years now.  The ones I have are a bit faded, but still kicking strong, but of course I've lost many over the years since the kids throw stuff away on accident or they just get left behind at the lunch table.

Since my budget is strict, and I don't have much money for extras like lunchskins and other big brand reusable products, I've taken to researching into making my own.  I have purchased the needed fabrics, of course finding the time seems to be the hardest task of all.  I do enjoy sewing, but it seems that those around me are not as fond of the idea of me getting lost in the machine for hours on end.  Snacks, homework help, attention, cuddles, and fight mediation are highly sought out in my home and peace is a thing I know very little about.

About two months ago, I lost my trusty Kleen Kanteen that has seen me through two pregnancies and five moves.  I know I've gotten my money's worth out of my investment, but the thought of spending That Much money on a reusable bottle makes me feel a little sick.  So I've gone out and bought one cheaper version after another only to find that the quality and durability is minimal compared to my KK bottle.  Considering the fact that I drink water and coffee, with the rare treat of a fountain coke here and there, and I'm desperately trying to avoid energy drinks, I need another water bottle.  So I sit here, perusing their online store, and quailing at the thought of spending $20 (not including shipping), but I'm going to do it because my KK really was my favorite thing ever and I have noticed a marked decrease in my water intake and an enormously marked increase in my energy drink consumption.

Of course I use reusable grocery bags.  I went a bit hog wild and purchased a ton of envirosax and chicco bags.  While they're great bags, I've found that the bigger ones, similar in size and design to a traditional paper bag, sold at my grocery store for $.99/ea are my favorites.  They're sturdy, washable (a few times), and last quite a long time.  When it comes time to throw them away, well, it was only $.99 and I got at least a year of regular use for groceries and traveling (they make a great night away bags for the kids and myself) out of each one before it's time to let it go.  It doesn't hurt as badly.

I use other reusable products in my life and home, but I'll save them for another post.  Suffice to say, reusable products are great, and I love the fact that I rarely run out, and if I do I don't have to run to the store to pick up another roll of paper towels.  I do still use toilet paper, though I did briefly dabble in "family cloth."  It was a brief foray, I assure.

Snow Day!

The cold frigid northern south has gotten snow for the first time in five years.  This means that life grinds to a halt, everything closes, and we all hunker down with good food, strong drink, and entertainment.  Since I grew up in the very southernmost part of the country, I still see snow as a novelty and squeal with excitement when it starts to flutter down from the sky.  Of course, even sleet and teeny tiny specks of snowflakes are enough to make me jump up and down, but by the time I went to sleep last night I admit that I was feeling a bit of despair as it had been sleeting/icing (not sure what terms to use, frozen precipitation that's not fluffy?) all evening and I'd promised my kids snow in the morning.

Thankfully, oh so thankfully, there was a beautiful blanket of snow on the ground when I woke up early this morning.  Then I realized I'd left my camera at my friend's house after a get together last weekend and I felt a bit of annoyance since I have my camera phone to shoot with.  I made the best of what I have, and even lowered myself to use my boyfriend's Nikon, but I think my phone took better images since I'm unfamiliar with his camera and wasn't sure how to operate it in manual mode.  It makes me feel dirty to use a dSLR in point and shoot mode.

So we woke up to

and there were two very excited children begging to go out.  I told them later and grabbed two very reluctant chihuahuas to take them out for potty time.  My female did her usual dance at the door and jet out as quickly as possible only to stop stock still, leaving little doggy paw skid marks in the snow on the porch, because she had no clue what was on the ground.  My male took a bit of encouragement to even get out the door since he can smell snow and despises it passionately, a well placed slipper got him moving in the right direction.  The poor things had a record-time morning potty break and the male was sent back out several times to "Go Potty!" since I know he'd much prefer to do his pooping the warmth and comfort of a hidden corner, but they did it and then scurried back into the living room and burrowed under blankets and children seeking warmth.

I fixed a hearty breakfast and then sent the children on a scavenger hunt for long underwear, clothing, and winter gear.  After about an hour of "I can't find" and "I can't get it on" we were ready to head out into the cold and snow.

They dove straight into the snow and I hedged my way into the backyard to check on the chickens.  The girls were huddled in their coop with the heating lamp for warmth, but seemed fine so I knocked the ice out of their water dispenser, threw them a double ration of feed, and joined the kids for a snow fight.  

This snow isn't snowball snow.  I've never seen snowball snow in the six times I've been in the snow, but powdery stuff that doesn't compact isn't snowball snow, even I know that.  So we made do with scooping up handfuls of snow and chucking it at each other.  I, of course, was the victor until I gave up when two neighborhood kids joined in over the fence and it was four against one.  Even I know when the odds are stacked against me and when it's time to wave the white flag.  So I tooled around the yard, shooting with the boyfriend's camera, and fiddled with stuff in the yard.  Girl and I played together and ran around, played on the swings, and then we moved to the front to go for a walk and scout out potential sledding hills.  I grabbed a lid to one of my storage bins, just in case.

Well, the storage bin failed, but we found a spot and headed home for lunch.  After some screen time, lunch, more screen time, sewing (for me), and playing, I finally succumbed to the pleas and took the kids out for a second time.  I inflated a tube we use at the lake in the summer and we headed to our hill.  We spent about forty five minutes tubing before I begged to go inside.  I was wet from kneeling on the snow to fling kids down the tiny hill and getting very cold.  For some reason it just felt so much colder the second time we were out.  The kids had a blast and I had fun too, I even slid down the hill several times and only shoved the kids down to get an extra turn a few times. 

I feel I set a fine example by making a running jump onto the tube, jarring my neck and shoulders, and showed them exactly why we don't do such wild things.  It was still fun, though my neck and shoulders disagree.  Back in our yard I cleared some snow from my car, filled a bowl with the clean snow underneath, and set it on the porch for a snow cream carrot to dangle when they got unruly.

Then we just laid about and vegged.  I did some laundry, we watched another movie, we played some games, and we plugged in.  Girl and I got into a heated game of Jenga while Boy watched and cheered me on.  I fixed beef stew for dinner and once I successfully bribed them into eating a satisfying amount, I pulled out the snow and snow cream fixings.

Snow

1/2 C sugar

1 C milk

1 1/2 tsp vanilla

I mixed the milk/sugar mixture earlier in the day to let the sugar dissolve and just stored it in the fridge.  I spooned the snow into the bowl to fill it about halfway and poured the mixture over it until it was just slightly wet.  At first I whisked it together, but grabbed a spoon since it wasn't doing a very good job.  It took about two minutes to stir it up properly, but once it was ready it was delicious.  Very creamy and very vanilla.  The kids loved it.  I didn't use much of the ingredients so I put the snow outside again and the mixture back in the fridge for tomorrow.

The snow really compacted down when mixed up and I now understand why the recipe I found online called for a full gallon of snow for 1 cup of milk and 1 cup of sugar (I halved the sugar).

After snow cream, the kids sort of devolved and I'd reached my limit by that point.  Boy brought in a huge load of wood and then I sent them to brush their teeth in the hopes of signaling a wind down and beginning a quiet evening by the fire.  It was not to be as they screeched and howled at each other since one decided that the toilet lid was a fine seat to use while brushing and the other felt it was their seat first.  I ignored them for a while, but finally reached my breaking point and screamed that the day was over and it was time for bed.  Cue much wailing and gnashing of teeth as fingers were pointed and blame was shifted.

Then they went to bed.

They're off school tomorrow too.  I had to shift my work schedule to be home with them so I'm off as well.  I hope we make it out alive.

What Is "Crunchy" and Why?

Ten years ago I found out I was pregnant.  As I scoured the internet for information about childbearing, childrearing, and the like I came across a website that sucked me in and changed my life in many ways.  I've always been a naturally-minded person, but suddenly there was this whole new world of organic, chemical free, and natural living opened up to me.

I ate it by the spoonful, licked the bowl clean, and begged for more.

Looking back now, I do realize that I took it to quite the extreme as I'm wont to do when I find a new shiny, but over the past ten years I've evolved into a rather moderate person with a motto that follows the everything in moderation mindset.

Still, I strive to be healthy, happy, and wholesome in the ways that I can.  I understand now that I will never be perfect and I will never be able to live that dream lifestyle of a gentle mother rearing her children in flower covered meadows viewing the broad vistas of a mountain range.  I yell.  I scream.  I've even spanked my kids in my lowest moments.  But I make the best of what I have and I do the best I can, which is all that people can do in this life.  I do, however, try to always do better the next time and when I do, I rejoice.  When I don't, well...I try not to beat myself up too badly.

After years of practically killing myself to be the perfect attachment parenting mother, the perfect housewife, and the perfect...well...perfection, I guess, I've learned to temper myself with doses of reality and I admit that I feel much happier most of the time.

I am now a single mother working a full time job and a part time job while attending online classes to just Get An Education!!! so I can Get Ahead.  It's exhausting and draining, but I try to keep life fun for the kids and for myself as well.  It's certainly a juggling act to balance jobs/kids/home/social life all at once, and sadly I do let some things go from time to time, but it's always a work in progress that I must focus on at all times.

I'll be posting many things that I do in my day-to-day life.  I don't want this blog to be an emotional brain dump for me, I want it to be fun and to showcase the fun things we do in our home, but I also don't want to promote this illusion of a perfect mom and perfect family.  Finding balance there will be hard, I'm sure.  I look forward to starting this up and keeping it going.