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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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.

 

 

 

 



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.

 

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:)



 

Life Lately: 3 Months with Elizabeth

Height/Weight
24 inches/unsure of weight. Last weighed at 2 month appt.
Size Diapers:  Size 1
Clothes:  3 month
Eating: Breastfeeding.
Sleeping: 1-2 hours stretches during then day with one 4-5 hour stretch at night.
Favorite things: Bath time (by far!), the fan in our bedroom, going for walks in the neighborhood, time with her daddy

It's amazing how much things have changed in the last three months.  Dates used to happen at NIGHT, now a perfect "date night" is on Saturday morning at 9:00 AM before her second morning feed of the day while she's napping. The plus side, is that pancakes and coffee are whole heck of a lot cheaper than pasta and wine.

We have officially "survived" the newborn-phase (PRAISE JESUS!) and --for the most part-- have a sweet, loving, curious and feisty little girl. Pace and I are beyond grateful for the love and support of our family, our friends and our St. Louis community. We've been beyond blessed with nice gifts, meals and people who've given their time to love us well during this transition. THANK YOU! 

Before I had Elizabeth, I didn't really know how to "serve" a new mom, but now being on the receiving end of the generosity of other people, I can attest that the meals people brought to us were a huge lifeline.  The "check-in" text messages people sent me really helped me emotionally to know people remembered I existed (crazy, I know... but in the thick of the newborn days, it can sometimes feel like all you will ever do for the rest of your entire life is change diapers). And lastly, to the friends that came over to help or visit... I am so grateful!

4 things I've learned the hard way and the advice I would share with a new mom:

1. Breast feeding is hard. Anyone who tells you otherwise is just plain LYING! I do wish someone had told me that just because something is biological or natural, doesn't mean it comes without struggle.  However, with that being said, stick it out!  Not only are you providing the best nutrients for your baby, you are also saving $$, burning calories and  spending quality bonding time with your little one. I recently read a blog post in the Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/kara-pogue/what-i-wish-id-known-about-breastfeeding_b_4763328.html worth sharing.  I had a nearly identical struggle... and it took me a month and a half to get to the place where breastfeeding became second hat. I encourage anyone struggling with BF to seek the help of lactation consultants or friends as soon as possible. If you live in the St. Louis area, feel free to private message me and I would be happy to share some helpful resources.

2. Be kind to yourself. Before I had Elizabeth, I imagined I would have gourmet meals on the table every night, a perfectly clean house and a baby that was ahead of all of her milestones... because I'd have ALL of this time to do those things. At month two, I felt so disappointed in myself. There were days I didn't even take a shower (!!), my dinners were thrown together and my check-list of things to do around the house never seemed to get done. I asked my friend Nicole this very important question, "Am I a total disaster or did I have completely unrealistic expectations for myself?".  Her response was perfect and completely worth sharing:
The answer to your question is easy actually: it's just this time right now and you had unrealistic expectations. It's hard and you might feel like a disaster, but every week gets easier than the one before, until you get to a point where you realize your life is easier and happier and more fun and more relaxing than it was before when you had fewer responsibilities. And of course your expectations were unrealistic, because you've never done this before!! This is also just a huge adjustment to your life. Be compassionate and patient and gentle with yourself. You'll figure it out and be an expert sooner than you'll believe.
Now as a month 3 mommy, I can say honestly that we have more good days than bad.... but there are still days where I feel like a "disaster".

3. Girlfriends are the BEST lifeline.  I literally read 15 books about babies/childbirth/etc before I had Elizabeth. I soothed my anxiety about babies by reading--and was pretty confident in my ability to keep a baby alive before I had one. And then.... we met Elizabeth. Reading information and applying knowledge are two totally different things... and the "experts" aren't always right. The "3AM Mama Club" (all the new moms on FB at 3AM because they are breastfeeding at that time) always gave me the best advice because they either JUST experienced the same struggle or are in the trenches at the moment. Don't hesitate to reach out to girlfriends you trust for advice, encouragement or to vent.

4. Comparison is the thief of all joy.  I hate when people post stuff on Facebook like, "My baby just walked..... and she's only 6 months old! #proudmom #gifted baby".  It's so annoying! The worst is the morning post, "My six week old just slept through the night!" (eye roll). With that being said, I am completely guilty of doing the same.exact.thing. I've posted beautiful pictures of Elizabeth smiling and happy that don't really tell the whole story (she was probably crying five minutes earlier). Facebook can be a fun way to share moments of joy with others and to keep friends in the loop with your family... but it can also be really dangerous when you spend time comparing your baby to your friends. I've had to limit my time on FB so that I could enjoy Elizabeth where she's at right now and not compare her to others. My friend Morgan reminds me often that my heart should be so set on Christ and the things of eternity that the temporary fades away. I believe this is good wisdom for all of us in any and all situations.

Additional Resources:
* A few posts ago, I shared my registry advice. A friend of mine, Isabel, also blogged about her favorite baby items. She just had baby #3 and has great insight: http://spanglishfamilia.wordpress.com/category/baby-registry/

* One of the ways I try to stay encouraged is by listening to sermons while I am feeding E. One of my favorite pastors to listen to is Pastor George Robertson in Augusta, GA.  All of his sermons are available for free online: http://media.firstpresaugusta.org/video-sermons.

* When I first found out I was pregnant, my friend Ciara told me to find my "flock" of mother hens to hang out with. Luckily, I have wonderful friends through WUMCHA and my church for playdates.  Here are some great national organizations to look into: http://momsclub.org/  http://www.mops.org/ http://www.llli.org/

* I posted on FB a few weeks ago, but my friend Claire gave me a really great piece of advice... Download the app Wonder Weeks. It's based on the best selling book. It maps out kids developmental milestones and also their growth spurts. It helps you predict when your child will be difficult and tells you how to cope. I've found it to be spot on!

* My friend Mary e-mailed me some great websites worth sharing to help with meal planning:

http://onceamonthmeals.com/menus/paleo/

http://moneysavingmom.com/2010/03/how-to-plan-a-menu-on-a-budget.html

 

http://goodcheapeats.com

http://moneysavingmom.com/downloads/freezer-cooking-planners

 

I'm feeling a little granola... Literally!

After gaining an undisclosed amount of weight during pregnancy, I have been very motivated to lose it (...and breastfeeding only does so much!). I've found that having bars on hand is quick and easy and they are relatively filling. Many of the popular store brand granola and protein bars are packed with added sugars and fillers making them less healthy than their marketing lends you to believe.

 

My favorite store bought granola bar is the Kind Bar. The bars taste great and "feel" healthy. They are loaded with fiber and have 17 grams of whole grains per bar. The only problem is each box is kind of pricey (around $.75 per bar) and not many stores carry the brand.

 

I started eating several bars a day and at 75 cents a bar, our grocery bill started adding up. When I looked at the list of ingredients, I realized that the reason I love the bars is that they are SIMPLE.  Here's my own version of the Kind Bar:

 

 

Ingredients

1 1/4 cup rolled oats (use gluten free oats for a gluten free version)

1/4 cup of any combination (uncooked millet, quinoa, amaranth and buckwheat)

1/2 cup rice crispies cereal

3 tablespoons cornmeal (If you do not have cornmeal, you can use grits or regular flour)

Pinch of salt

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 cup honey

1/4 cup of unsweetened coconut flakes (optional)

2 tablespoons coconut oil (canola oil can be substituted)

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 tablespoon brown sugar (I used sucanat which is dried cane sugar)

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Line an 9x9 (8x8 can be used) inch square Pyrex dish with parchment paper.
2. Combine the oats, rice crispies, cornmeal, salt and baking soda in a medium size mixing bowl. In a glass measuring cup or microwave safe bowl mix the honey and canola (or coconut oil). Place in the microwave for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Stir to melt the coconut butter then add the vanilla and brown sugar. Whisk to combine and then mix the wet with the dry ingredients. Transfer the oat mixture to the prepared Pyrex dish that is lined with parchment paper, and press down hard. I used a piece of parchment paper to press firmly.  It is very important that you really apply pressure and pack the mixture down.
3. Place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. The bars will be golden on top. Remove the bars (if your bars seem a little loose, I like to push down again on them to make sure the bars will hold together) and let the bars cool in the pan for 10-20 minutes then remove from the pan and then cut while the bars are firm, but still somewhat soft. Place on a cooling rack to cool completely. Store in a sealed container or wrapped in plastic wrap.

 

Side notes:  I bought organic finely shredded coconut from Trader Joes and it works really well in this recipe. I think finely shredded coconut is best.

 

Buying the buckwheat, millet, quinoa and amaranth was pricey (probably $17 total) but since I am using a small amount of the ingredients in each batch, I know they will last a while.

 

If you do not want to use the buckwheat, millet, quinoa and amaranth, substitute 1/4 cup of  rolled oats.

 

For chewier bars, use the 8x8 Pyrex.

My Favorite Things: Baby Registry Stuff

 I've decided...Babies are on par with weddings in terms of the ratio of stuff the internet says you need to stuff you actually need. Such a racket.When it was time for me to actually register, I looked at the registries of my detail oriented friends and pretty much copied exactly what they requested.  I figured since they were so meticulous about researching baby products, I could spend my time reading pregnancy books or ... sleeping! (Yes, if you are pregnant now or even thinking about getting pregnant... Stop reading this and SLEEP NOW!) 

I've been in Babyland now for just about six weeks.  Here are my top recommendations:

Things to buy or register for:
 1. Swaddling is amazing!!! We have several SwaddleMe blankets. Because they have Velcro, they are very user friendly--especially with a newborn.  However, my little Houdini figured out how to escape at week #3. I highly recommend registering for 2 Miracle blankets. Why 2? You will be amazed by how many blow out diapers your baby will have and if she gets one dirty you don't want to have to wait for the laundry to be able to put her to sleep. The blankets are a little pricey at $30--- if you are on a budget, you could definitely get this item used on Ebay or at a consignment sale.

2. A swing. They can be kind of pricey (ours was around $120)... But man is it worth it! The swing is the Hail Mary when Elizabeth won't stop crying. And I know many a parent who has put their kid in the swing for nap time just to get a little shut eye! We are big fans of Dr. Harvey Karp's book, The Happiest Baby on the Block.  He also recommends swings as a way to calm a colicy baby. http://www.babycenter.com/0_harvey-karps-happiest-baby-method-for-baby-sleep-and-soothin_10373838.bc


 3. The Chicco car seat is probably the best purchase I made. It's SO easy to install and it makes getting in and out of the car a breeze. I don't think you need the whole travel system, but the $99 snap and go stroller is perfect for when they are under 3 months old. If you live in St. Louis, the Safety Stop is a free service at BJC Children's Hospital.  They installed my carseat for free and taught me the correct way to strap Elizabeth into her seat. The lady who helped me confirmed my purchase of the Chicco by telling me it is her favorite carseat.  Experts recommend buying new carseats, I recommend buying the stroller used.


 4. Most people who gave us clothes gave us 3 month clothes. No one gave us 6 month wear. You need warm fuzzy pajamas for the winter months!! Target has a bunch on end of season sale now for around $6.00. I'd buy at least 4 pairs of warm footie pajamas for your little one.

 5. When you buy a sound machine-- and trust me you'll need one-- make sure you like the sound. We are only six weeks in and the sound machine already annoys the crap out of me.

 6. If you needed to cut a big ticket item, I don't think a bassinet or a rock-n-cradle is as much of a necessity as people make them out to be. Elizabeth sleeps wherever we lay her down... If a Baby can sleep in those uncomfortable beds in the hospital.. They'll sleep in their crib at home. With that being said, having the rock-n-cradle has been nice in some ways because it means her bed is portable. If you have multiple floors in your home or plan to go back and forth between grandparent houses it might be worth getting. I would not buy this used. Elizabeth has already spit up in hers like 6-7 times and I think they are a beast to clean.

7. I love my Baby K'Tan carrier.  Elizabeth loves it and it allows me to soothe her by walking around the house while also freeing up my hands so that I can do laundry or dishes.  I walked her to Target in the K'Tan before the snow and was able to keep her warm and cozy on my chest and also prevented people from being able to touch her. I've seen new K'tans on EBAY for around $20.

 8. As far as baby bath tubs go-- I registered for the fisher price "whale of a tub". I have no complaints or strong opinions. It's kind of bulky so you'll need to hang it in your bathtub. Again, for the budget mama, this is definitely something you could get used.

 9. I thought that I would be an anti-pacifier mom. In fact, I proudly proclaimed "we are not going to use pacis at our house". Two weeks of no sleep will quickly cause you to cave! The Happiest Baby on the Block book recommends paci use up to six months of age as a way to sooth your baby. Believe it or not, you have to "train" your baby to take a paci! There are different brands and not all babies like every kind. Elizabeth likes the Dr. Brown's pacis. I would also register for this giraffe stuffed animal attached to a paci. It's amazing!! We use it in the car and she hardly ever drops it out of her mouth because I can tuck the little animal into her car seat.

 10. You want to get a DOUBLE breast pump! Pumping is a complete pain, save time and do both boobs at once. The Cotton Babies store sells Medela pumps AT COST for $199. Everywhere else this exact pump is over $300. They also sell pumping bras for $30 at Buy Buy Baby. They allow you to do hands free pumping. Register for one. If you don't get it and don't want to spend the money, I bet you could make one out of a normal sports bra. Remember: not all pumps are made the same! Some are not as good at extracting milk. I was banking on my insurance to provide a pump on the new Obamacare/Affordable Health Act plan... The pump my insurance would pay for really stunk.

 11. If you are planning on exclusively breastfeeding, it's hard to imagine needing formula or giving your new baby a bottle. Trust me... You never know! Elizabeth did not gain weight at the beginning and we had to supplement with a formula bottle for a few days. I was so glad that I registered for the Dr. Browns natural flow bottles. They are GREAT! They did a great job of restricting the milk flow so she didn't suck milk too quickly. Even if you don't have to supplement with formula, having bottles on hand is a great idea so that you can pump on occasion for your husband to take a night feeding. Also-- I've been going to a breast feeding support group and have learned a lot of women have trouble breast feeding and have to feed exclusively by pumping and bottle feeding. If you needed to save money, I don't think that the bottle drying rack is necessary and you definitely don't need a bottle warmer.

 12. The nosefrida is another random registry must. I've been surprised by how boogery babies can be and using the bulb is tough!

13.You don't need a Boppy or MyBreastFriend.  I know a lot of people recommend them... however, I worked with a lot of lactation consultants during our difficult feeding time and NONE recommend Boppys because too many women get dependent on them and then don't know how to feed their babies without them.  The greatest part of breast feeding is the fact you can do it ANYTIME so why limit yourself?  There are a lot of breastfeeding tools you may need if you have difficulty-- but again-- can save that for a private e-mail later if you need it.

 

 My friend Nicole's recommendation was to register everywhere because most places give you a free gift when you register (like a bottle or wipes container) and they all give you a completion coupon about six weeks before your due date. That said, this is also a great way to waste a ton of time online. I found it a highly useful distraction from times of emotional instability or physical discomfort.