Monday, April 28, 2014

8 Reasons Why this Sorority Girl Uses Cloth Diapers

I have several friends who are pretty well-known "bloggers" who I recently asked if they would be willing to write a guest blog for me on a topic of my choosing.  I was excited when my friend Stasia agreed!  I consider her my "go-to" friend on all things cloth diapers.  She (and Lauren) really normalized cloth for me.  Without their good influence, I would have never considered going the cloth route.  Stasia has recently started a side business as a cloth consultant. She's super sweet and helpful... so if after reading this blog you have questions, feel free to message her!  She's great. I hope that you enjoy her post.  If you are interested in doing a guest post for me, please let me know!
-Sarah


Hey!  I am Stasia from Our Life on a Budget.  Sarah and I went to UGA together and are sorority sisters. Blogging has been a fun and easy way to keep connected.  She so graciously invited me over to her blog to tell a little about cloth diapering.  So without further ado...

 "8 Reasons Why this Sorority Girl Uses Cloth Diapers" 

So let's cut to the chase… I pretend to be crunchy, but I am not as crunchy as I would like to be.  We (yes, my husband is on board) have been cloth diapering our baby girl since a week after she came home from the hospital.  I am telling y'all cloth diapers are not hard and I'd even venture to say they are pretty easy :).  


1.  Cloth diapers are SOOOOO cute….  










Of course I would start with how stylish they are.  Pampers has been trying lately with the Sesame Street diapers, but they still don't even hold a candle to the prints on cloth diapers.  I mean just check out a few of my latest favorites.





The non-print diapers… awesome too! They can be used as bloomers, making your life easier with every diaper change .

You might have seen the trendy baby legs around lately… those are also especially cute with cloth, or as I like to call it fluff.

2.  Cloth diapers are as easy to use as disposables...

I tell people all the time.  These are not your grandma's cloth diapers; they function just like disposables. We {being those in the cloth diaper world} call these "dad-proof," "babysitter-friendly" diapers all-in-ones and pockets.  Those are the ones I recommend because they are easy. Directions: Put under your baby's bottom, pull top up, fasten via velco or snaps… that's it.  



3. Cloth diapering does not make your laundry that much harder

Do you have a baby?  Then you have more laundry to do, plain and simple.  Throw in another 3 loads a week, not that big of a deal.  Washing goes like this- throw them in the washing machine, give them a good rinse on cold, and then throw in your detergent of choice (I use Tide, see I am not that crunchy) do another cycle on hot. To make sure I get all the detergent out I sometimes do another rinse and spin.  So basically I have to hit 3 buttons to get them clean.  I like to line dry mine, but I also line dry most of clothes.
4.  Cloth diaper or disposable-  "Poop is still poop"...

But what about the poop? This is usually the first question I get.  Did you know that you are supposed to flush the waste even if you use disposables? 




Source 

Okay so nobody does that, but really the poop can be easier to deal with in cloth.  First of all if you are breast feeding it does not smell and you can wash the diapers as is because breast milk poo is water soluble (fun fact, right?). Once your baby starts eating solid food you have a couple of options:
*plop it into the toilet
*rinse it in the toilet
*or use these super convenient flushable liners


I generally go with option one or three… they are just a little easier!  And the good thing about flushing the waste, is the smell is gone.  No need for a diaper genie, no lingering smells, no "honey, please take the trash out  RIGHT now."  That is what makes me think that cloth is so much better than disposables here… less stink to deal with!

5.  Cloth diapers are accepted a daycares...

After the question about poop, the next comment I usually get is, "I work, cloth diapers aren't accepted at daycare." In most cases this statement isn't true!
Source
The website I listed above is awesome.  It tells which states allow cloth diapers and provides specific links to the regulations for each state!  So, in most cases you can cloth diaper in daycare!  My little wears them to her preschool and the teachers don't mind at all.



6.  Cloth diapers save you money...
Cloth diapers are an investment that will save you money in the long run. I have spent about $400-$450 total on a supply of cloth diapers and all the accessories that will last me from birth to potty training (I also buy quality brands new, you can cloth diaper for cheaper). When you have to shell out that money up front- it does hurt a bit. But when you calculate it out you are saving SOOOO much money- like thousands of dollars.  And if you cloth diaper with a second child, you will save even more by reusing the diapers again!

You can see here just how much you can save depending on the brand.

7.  There are no late night trips to CVS

You have everything you need, in your house, all the time, one less thing to worry about… and as a mom this is HUGE :).
8.  Cloth diapers really do help the environment...

Okay so my last point is completely crunchy, but it is also completely true.  I got into cloth diapers to save money and because they are cute, but this has had a great impact on me since I have started cloth diapering.  I really love that I am helping the environment!


Source- And that is just one year… just multiply those disposables by 2 or 3 and make them dirty...

If this girl can cloth diaper (and love it) you can too!  Interested and want to know more? Want me to help you get started?  Just have a question?  I would love to hear from you!


stasia08 [at] gmail [dot] com

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Wednesday, April 23, 2014

Travel like a Local

Traveling like a local means experiencing a new location just like a local would: immersing yourself in the culture, doing what they do, eating what they eat, and avoiding the cookie-cutter tourist experience. Sure, trying out the neighborhood coffee shop instead getting your standard Pike's Place Roast at Starbucks is definitely riskier--but I would argue that your reward is greater than your risk.

Would you rather sip on a cup of Joe here... or here?


  
 
The picture on top is of the Oxford Exchange in Tampa, FL.  It is one of the coolest coffee and tea shops I've ever been to. How did I know to try out this unique establishment? A few minutes of time on the following websites can mean the difference between a hamburger at Chilli's for dinner or a hand-crafted BBQ Bacon Burger from a neighborhood restaurant.
 
Some ideas:
 
Yelp.com:  Yelp is hands down one of my favorite websites.  In fact, I am not embarrassed to admit that I am an Elite Yelper (meaning I've written enough reviews that Pace and I get invited to Elite city events). Never heard of Yelp? According to American Express, other than Google, there is no other website more critical to the success of a local business than Yelp with 78 million website hits per month (source).  Yelp has a mobile app that allows you to search for "best Chinese food" and will give you a list of nearby options along with helpful reviews. I recommend sorting your search by either "Elite" reviews on top or "Most Reviewed" instead of the standard "Best Match".
 
Every major city has a weekly city newspaper.  St. Louis has several including the Riverfront Times and Sauce.  Before making a trip, browse the local alternative paper for unique events, road races or restaurant openings.  For example: if you are in St. Louis this weekend, be sure to check out all of the Earth Day events at Forest Park.  Apparently St. Louis has one of the world's largest Earth Day celebrations in the world! http://www.saucemagazine.com/blog/?p=35916
 
Know what you like... and know where to get it!  For example, if you like BBQ, make it a priority to find the best BBQ on your trips. Travel and Leisure came out with a guide to BBQ in 2009 with their favorite smokehouses.  I've known foodies to literally build trips around food! 
 
If you like to shop, find out where the local markets are and avoid the malls! St. Louis has one of the oldest public markets still in existence  (I'm really making a push for people to come visit me in St. Louis). My favorite Saturday involves fresh donuts and an OJ with a splash of a little something extra at the Farmers Market.
 
Many cities have unique markets--including Charleston (although there's can be really touristy!), Chattanooga and Kansas City.
 
And lastly, if you really want to feel like a local... take the local transportation!  Boston, New York, Denver... all have great public transportation systems.
 
 
 
 


Wednesday, April 16, 2014

How to Travel on the Cheap

I just looked up the weather on my phone. 53 degrees. In. The. Middle. Of. April. BLAHHhhhh! This has been the longest winter EVER. Days like today make me really miss college Spring Break beach trips.  Ooooh what I would do to be in a lounge chair on the beach right now.

While I daydream about tan lines and pina coladas, I would love to share with you my money saving tips for travel.  For the last few years, I worked as a fundraiser for Washington University where I travelled a lot for my job.  I've travelled enough to earn gold status at Marriott and Starwood Hotels, A+ Status on Southwest Airlines and Yelp Elite. Here are some of my best suggestions:

Rental Cars:
I'll be honest, this is an area where it doesn't always save you money to go with the cheapest option.  Priceline's "name your own price" used to be my go-to for rental cars, but TRUST me, their pricing model is deceiving  and the frustrating forty-five minutes you spend waiting for the car at the counter isn't worth the $10 you think you might save. I am a very big fan of Hertz Rent a Car and am a "Gold" member (it's free to be gold. Just sign up online: https://www.hertz.com/rentacar/member/enrollment). When you rent a car as a gold member, most airports will let you by-pass the long rental car line. They will have your car and paperwork ready and your name literally in lights above your rental car. The Hertz at Hartsfield in Atlanta is truly the best.

 You can save an average of $10 a day by saying "no" to the optional rental car insurance. According to USA Today, 34% of consumers surveyed by telephone bought a rental car company's insurance just to make sure they were covered. For most of you, this is a waste of money.  It is likely that the credit card you are using to secure your rental car provides free rental car insurance. If this is a new concept to you, I recommend reading this: http://thepointsguy.com/2013/03/maximize-monday-choosing-the-best-credit-card-for-car-rental-insurance/

Many car rental companies offer incentives for casual weekend travelers.  Enterprise Rent-a-Car (my second favorite car rental company) offers a $9.99 a day Friday through Monday special http://www.enterprise.com/car_rental/deeplinkmap.do?bid=002&cust=MSWSRTA.

Hotels:
I have so much to say on this topic and would be happy to answer any of your individual questions.

For the casual vacationer, I have a few favorite sites:

BetterBidding.com is one of my favorite websites.  Their primary goal is to promote informed bidding on Priceline and Hotwire.com.  You can search their active message boards to get a good idea of how much hotels are going for in your search area. For example: Hotwire.com listed a 4 Star St. Louis Ballpark area hotel with a 95% rating for $59 a night. According to BetterBidding, it is likely the Hilton as several recent travelers purchased a similar deal.

Travelzoo.com is another website I often refer to when booking personal travel.  They not only list great deals from other travel websites (their free weekly e-mail has the Top 20 Travel deals each week) but they have great local deals--similar to Groupon--but often much better!  Check out this list of Fort Lauderdale deals as an example: http://www.travelzoo.com/local-deals/Fort-Lauderdale/deals 

When traveling for work, I do not recommend using a discount website like Priceline because they will not let you cancel your reservation if your trip plans change.  My recommendation is to pick a brand--Marriott, Hilton or Starwood-- as the loyalty travel perks really are worth it! In my opinion, Starwood is the most generous with their loyalty travelers.  Once you reach gold status, they will upgrade you to the best room available, offer free Wi-Fi and an alcoholic beverage at check-in, free breakfast and their hotels are generally in fun areas. If the idea of "earning" your gold status sounds exhausting, try calling their customer support line and explain that you will be traveling a lot for work and want to be a loyal ___ customer.  Ask if they will extend gold status to you in exchange for your promise to stay at their hotel when you travel (it worked for me!). The downside to Starwood is that their hotels are usually only in larger markets (i.e. Dallas, Orlando, Chicago) or resort areas (Scottsdale, Fort Lauderdale, Vail). There is a Marriott hotel in just about every city in America in some form or fashion (Renaissance, Courtyard, Residence, etc.).

If you work for the government, you likely qualify for a state or federal government discount. This can save you A LOT of money!! If you are traveling for work and you work for a 501C3, you likely qualify for the state government discount at hotels. For example: If I want to book a room tonight at one of my favorite Atlanta Hotels, the JW Marriott, it would cost $299.  If you qualify for the government discount, the room rate is only $133 a night. Big difference! Even though I was never questioned or carded, I only used the government discount when traveling for work-related travel.

Sometimes, you can actually get a better price or a more unique experience if you stay in a Bed and Breakfast instead of a hotel.  For example, when I travel to Dallas, one of my favorite places to stay is about $100 cheaper than a comparable area hotel (http://www.baileysuptowninn.com/). Innkeepers are also more willing to negotiate on the price if they you make last minute reservations. For a directory of B&Bs, check out: http://www.bedandbreakfast.com/.

If you are traveling to a town with a university, don't discount the university hotel.  In my opinion, these are sometimes the best! The Georgia Tech Hotel is located on 5th Street in midtown Atlanta and is often half the price of the nearby Marriott Courtyard.  I can vouch for the university hotels in Durham, Athens, Ann Arbor and Atlanta.

If you are traveling alone (especially if you're a female!) I recommend staying at a hotel near or inside a mall. The Westin at the Houston Galleria is one of my favorites!  The reason for this suggestion is 1) it's nice to be near a mall if you forget something  and  2) after a long day of travel, I enjoy working out or going for a walk.  It's not always a safe idea to walk/run outside by yourself in an area you're not familiar with. If you stay at a hotel connected to a mall it's easy to "power walk" the air-conditioned mall floors. Many malls even have security during the wee-hours of the morning in case you decide you want to run the stairs before the mall officially opens.

This post is getting rather lengthy... later this week I will blog about finding great restaurants on the road, site-seeing on a dime and will give you more advice to help you plan a budget trip.

 

Monday, April 7, 2014

How to Travel with your Bebe

I almost had shirts made. Our trip was THAT epic.
As many of you know, we took our first family trip to the south.  Pace had some work-related stuff he needed to do and I thought it would be a fun adventure to travel with him. Traveling with a baby is not relaxing... AT ALL. My first tip is to ask yourself, "do I really need to take this trip-- and if so, does my baby really need to go?". If the answer is still yes, proceed.

Elizabeth was actually a really sweet baby--but she loves her routine (as most babies do!) and traveling completely rocked her little world. I think our travel adventures would have gone a lot smoother if we had just stayed in one location (like a beach house or Grandparents). With that being said, I know that we have lots of future trips ahead of us. I think/hope that next time will only get better.

I asked my FB friends for their best travel advice and I got a lot of great suggestions (thank you!).  Here's what I learned:

What to pack:
  • Just enough diapers and wipes to make it to your destination.  You don't want to haul unnecessary items and it's just as easy to stop by PUBLIX (yes, I've missed you old friend!) and pick up a pack.
  • A nursing cover, hand breast pump (way easier to transport than electric), a few bottles, a couple of extra pacies,
  • Your child's birth certificate! They will not let you fly without it.
  • An ergo or k'tan or another baby carrier.  It's so much easier going through airport security wearing your baby
  • A car seat and snap-n-go stroller.  I thought it was easiest to bring this with me through the airport.  I checked the stroller at the gate (super easy!) and brought the carseat with me on all of the flights except one.  (see side note at bottom)
  • I checked a large suitcase and had room for a carseat base.  This made getting in and out of the car SO much easier.  It would have been more ideal if we could have borrowed a base at our destination but definitely worth the hassle for us.
  • Airport entertainment: E likes her teething rattle, her picture cards that I bought at the Dollar Store and I loaded the iPad with her "jams".
  • A sound machine and swaddle/sleep sack for the hotel
  • A swaddle for the plane! (see note below)
  • A sheet for the pack-n-play

What to wear when traveling:
Moms: Wear something comfortable and practical.  I am a big fan of wrap dresses-- they give the impression you made a little more effort than good ole' stretchy pants but wrap dresses make discrete feeding really easy ( In case any of you La Leche Leaguers are curious, I use a cover).
Baby: Most people would suggest putting baby in something practical and easy.  I however, would suggest dressing baby in one of your favorite outfits. Call me vain, but I think people will show you more sympathy when your baby is screaming if they at least think your baby is cute.

What you don't need to pack:
Don't deal with having to haul a pack-n-play.  Marriott hotel chains have pack-n-plays and sheets that they will set up in your hotel room free of charge.  If you are staying with a friend it's likely that they will have one you can borrow. 

Do not pack a roll-on carry on. Like I said, pack light.  The less you have to bring with you through security, the better. Instead of packing a roll-on, consider packing a bookbag in addition to your diaper bag/purse. In my bookbag I packed Emergency stuff. A change of clothes for me, (in case I got puked, peed, etc. on) A third change of clothes for her and medicine.

If you have time:
E surprised me and was a really great flyer (at least on this trip!). I was extremely nervous before the flight and made goody bags with candy and a cutesy note for the other passengers.  The very last flight of our trip was delayed 3 hours and E was tired and cranky.  I gave out goody bags to the people sitting around us.  They LOVED them and seemed more kind and patient after seeing the effort we were making.  Fortunately, E went to sleep soon after the plane took off and didn't make a peep. (I would be happy to share the template I made)

Getting through security:
This is tricky, but don’t worry, it will be over in a couple of minutes. First unload everything from the stroller. The stroller and the car seat have to go through the scanner (upside down). The last thing you want to happen is for "the magic paci" to fall from the carseat onto the moving belt. Yuck! Remove your electronics from your diaper bag and your shoes. I found that wearing E in the Ergo was the easiest way to get through security. You are allowed to bring breast milk and frozen cooler blocks.  Just be sure to notify security before sending it on the belt. Have your ID, birth certificate and boarding pass in an easily accessible location (like the front pocket of the Ergo) so you don't hold up the line.

The  2nd best piece of advice:
Bring a swaddle on the airplane.  I sat next to the window and the noise from the plane sounded a lot like the white noise machine in her bedroom.  Once I put her in her swaddle she fell right to sleep and slept on all four flights.

To check or not to check?
There was quite a bit of debate on my FB page about whether or not to check the carseat.  Some of my friends expressed concern that the carseat might take a beating. Ironically, one of my FB friends  oversees the logistics of airport baggage in St Louis and other airports across the country.  He read my post and wrote me this very helpful response, " I would suggest you make sure the ticket agents put your car seat in a tub if you check it. The tubs do a pretty good job of protecting the seats. The airlines also have plastic bags to put the seats in to keep the dirt off of them. Make sure they use it because of the rain and dirt. The manufacturer of the seats have specific requirements that you should abide by".

One other thing to consider, if the flight has open seats, they will actually let you bring the car seat on the plane.  I loved not having to hold E during the flight and she slept really well next to me in her carseat.

Where to stay?
Staying with friends with babies is really nice because they understand (our friends were so kind!! Thank you!!). If you aren't able to stay with friends or family, hotels with handicap bathrooms are nice because they are larger and you can put the pack-n-play in the bathroom.  Another good option is a Homewood Suites--they usually give you two separate rooms.


And the best advice? 
Pray! Babies are babies... you can be the most prepared mom in the world, but that doesn't always matter.  Thank you to my sweet friends who prayed for our trip. You are the best:)