Wool and Bamboo Squishiness

Since becoming a cloth diapering mommy - about 4 years ago - I have really come to know the many benefits of wool and bamboo.  I love them so much, I could just swaddle myself in it!

Not only is it sustainable and 100% natural - they are both antibacterial and anti fungal.  If I leave my cotton diapies in the pail too long, they will begin to mold.  Not the case with my 100% bamboo diapers.  Plus they are so easy to take care of.

Bamboo is much more absorbent than cotton, so less layers are needed to get higher absorbency.  So, that makes for what?  Trimmer diapies!  Yes, you still get a cute little fluffy butt - but not as big as a fluffy butt!

Wool, is absolutely amazing.  So easy to take care of, and with lanolin, makes any diaper bullet proof.

Cloth diapering aside, wool and bamboo make excellent choices for pants, shirts, long under ware, blankets and the like.  The high absorbency properties and breathability makes the person wearing it cool in the summer and warm and cozy in the winter.  They are durable and can stand up to the most active rough and tumble play!

It's awesome!  Really.

Check out these hand dyed pants I made from bamboo and wool! 

The Merino wool pants are on the left (natural with a special green trim).  The bamboo and wool pants are on the right (bamboo with a Merino wool upper).

These pants were made from the Apple Dumpling Gear pattern.

L

Happiness is - Week 4

Happiness is....

Being able to do the things I love.

Only with thanks to my Mother, having the ability to build a business.

The Visiting Teaching Program.  Having a visit from Relief Society Sister over a cup of hot chocolate, to deliver a divine message, and to just talk about how we are doing.  We talk about the things that are wrong and right in our lives.  Knowing that (in this world) somebody genuinely cares about me and how I am doing.

 Being able to snuggle with my super squishes in bed.

Getting up  when it's dark (without an alarm) and not having to get ready and rush off to a 9-5 job.  Instead, being able to sit in a nice and quiet house - and ponder the things which make me happy.

Tell us what makes you happy.  What is happiness for you?  Visit Crazy Adventures in Parenting and leave a link at the bottom to a blog post, Instagram photo, Twitter or Facebook Update.  Make sure to follow along using #happiness on Twitter and Instagram.  Don't forget to visit often, click on a couple and like, retweet and share the love and happiness with others. 

Showing Appreciation

The Site of Armageddon after clean up!

 I was awakened by my 8 year old at 2 AM this morning.  He said he had thrown up and was running around (like a chicken with his head cut off) complaining that his mouth was burning.

     <Still not sure what that was, but if you have any insight, please let me know>

Anyway, I calmed him down and laid him on the couch.  I couldn't do any "hazard waste" clean up cause he kept throwing up - and I had to attend bucket duty.  After the stomach pains started, I decided to wake my husband, so he could tend to the bucket while I cleaned up the bedroom floor, mopped, put all the sheets in the washer, call the doctor, etc.

Plus, I was a nervous wreck and needed some support (which I didn't really get).  My husband just kind of sat there in a daze.  I get so nervous when my kids are sick. 

UGH.

So things have calmed down - for the moment anyway - so I decided to sit down and do the blog "enjoying" - which I didn't get a chance to do yesterday.  I wanted to get some sewing done- so I had to choose.

I realized that being up (in the middle of the night) is one of Heavenly Father's blessings.  I read Gilly Cannon's Blog Post and it had a major impact on me.  I am sure that because of the situation (the sick kiddo) that I was really able to digest this post.

You know, with the baby, I don't think I hug the two bigger kids enough.  I just need to hold them closer more, you know?  Not necessarily when they are sick, but all the time.  With the daily grind, running from one place to another or doing school, or whatever - things get lost.  I always have to feed the baby, or hold the baby, or otherwise tend to the baby.  I need to make a conscience effort to make more time for the other two. 

It's important.

I need to be a better mother.  Can you tell me how to do that when I need 30 hours in a day?  And how do you do that on very little sleep?  I'm not asking - I'm begging.  Please do tell me, because I desperately want to know. 

L

January 28th Blog Shoutout Day!

Being a new blogger, I have read many many blogs and many many tweets looking for articles/recipes/crafts that support the "coming together" of families.  These are articles that advocate bringing your children closer together/spending more time with them - or recipes that are easy enough that you could cook together - even with younger children.

You'll hear me say this over and over again - but a healthy happy family life is central to everything.  If your family is sick - all aspects of your life will not work - whether it be work or play.  If you are having problems with your spouse, don't you think it will affect your work?  Of course it will.

So, here are some excellent articles for Mom and Dad and, crafts and recipes for even the smallest of little hands!

Articles
Here is an excellent article from Hip Homeschool Moms eliminating the myth "I don't have the patience to homeschool".  It speaks to the way we view children in our society.  Loving this article.  It's worth reading - even if you don't homeschool.

Recipes
Jungle Trail Mix from Living in the (mom)ent 

Nutella Donuts from Crazy Adventures in Parenting   

Crafts
 The Do-It-Yourself Inspiration board by There's Magic Out There

Tell me what you think of these.  Do you like them?   Please tell me, cause I do want to know!

L

Thank you Crazy Adventures in Parenting for the Good looking picture!  YUM!

Pinewood Derby - a Happy Ending

Yesterday, my little Wolf

had his Pinewood Derby race.  (Like the pink Wii remote?  That right there tells a lot about him!)

He worked on his car with his Dad.

His is the one with the nickles on it.  Dad figured out the attachment with the Velcro that we got at CVS on our way to the race.

People are really crazy about the Pinewood Derby.  Really crazy.

Fancy, eh?

Before the race, I had the "talk" with Hadyn.  I tried to explain that it's not winning that is important - but the process.  He spent a lot of time with Dad making and painting the car.  Both had a lot of fun with it.  That's what's important.

So, when it was our time to race, all the other cars made it down the track, Dad got very nervous.  He wanted our car to do well.  Well, our car stopped dead in the middle and looked like jumped the track.  All the other cars made it to the end - in record pace, of course. Needless to say, Hadyn came up to me with sad eyes.

       <Here we go>  UGH.

So, they raced the cars again changing tracks, and our car still stopped in the middle and jumped the track.

Haha!  I thought it was funny.  Dad was sad.  Hadyn had sad eyes.  Everybody was trying to comfort Hadyn.

So funny.

So, they ran his car a few times by itself to see what was wrong - which was really nice of them to do.  One Dad thought it might be the wheels, so we had a pit stop during the race to see if we could work on the wheels.

Once they worked on the wheels, we ran the last race.  The person who started the race gave our car an extra little push...and we came in second!  Dad with yelling, Hadyn was yelling and cheering!  Everybody was cheering for our car.  Everybody was happy.

I just took in the moment, looked around and smiled.

Hadyn got a blue ribbon for the most improved car!

A happy ending to a very poor beginning!

Initially, I was extremely hesitant about participating in this race.  So much competition.  I believe in cooperation not competition.  In reality, you can't get anywhere in this world alone.  But, it was cooperation which got our car down the track - the best lesson of all!

See, there was really no need to worry.  Although, next time, I need to make sure I have the "talk" with Dad.

What do you think about competition?  Should I have been worried about the race?  Would you have been?  Please comment and tell me - because I really want to know!

L

Roger Federer

He is handsome, isn't he?

Oh...la...la!!!!!!!!!!!

This blog is going to be everything positive about family.  Strengthening the family unit is what is important to me.  In my opinion, it is whats going to save this world.

So, what does a handsome tennis player have to do with family - you might ask.

Glad you asked!  I am going to tell you!

Roger is 31 years old, and number 2 in the world.  He's on the top of Men's professional tennis - and undoubtedly the best to ever play the sport. He is a great ambassador to the sport and for the world at large.

How do you think he's able to achieve that?

      <Inquiring minds want to know>.

Inherent talent?  Yeah, that probably has something to do with it.  I can't imagine he would be anywhere in tennis without some degree of talent.

Who do you think is sitting in the front of his players box year after year, country upon country - cheering him on?  His wife and his children.  9 times out of 10, Mirka is there cheering for him.  She has been ever present in every stage of his career - the wins - the losses - the everything.  His Mom and Dad are also always there.  If not both, one is always representing.  He has the undeniable support of his family.

And at 31 years old, he is still winning grand slam titles.

Interesting how that works, isn't it?


Where ever they go, Roger ensures that his family is comfortable - by renting nice houses and such.  Yeah, no doubt he has the money - no denying that!  But, he puts forth the effort.  It's not easy traveling with kids, even with nannies.  So, it's a two way street - as relationships should be.

How can anybody be successful without the love and support of the people who are closest to them?

So, tell me, how your family supports you in what you want to do.  Please do tell, because I want to know!

L

Planning and Designed Obsessed

My wedding biz is called Elegant Event Planning and Design - and there is a reason - that has just been made clear to me.

I'm planning and design obsessed. 

Totally!

I so love embarking into unknown territory.  This blogging thing has become all brain encompassing.  Truly.

Can I tell you how excited I am about the design?  I was thinking about posting it, but nah.  I want it to be a surprise!  YAY!  When the designer sent me a few concepts - it was a EUREKA moment!  It's just want I was thinking - with a few slight tweaks! 

So now the the designing part is well on it's way, the planning part comes into play.  So I got this...

Editorial Calender from Amazon.com.

So, I am going to spend the weekend and next week planning out my posts.

With sewing and planning - I'm not going to have much time left!  But this is exciting!  I have never been afraid of starting new things.  I have always embraced the road less traveled - in exchange for a better life down the path.

How about you?  What new adventures are you excited about?  What unknown roads have your traveled or want to travel? Please do tell, because I want to know!

L