Organic living

March 24th- March 30th -- A free online conference with top health experts.

If you want to start living a more healthy life whatever that may look like to you. You may be interested in the virtual Healthy Life Summit which starts next week!

There are some really cool names on the list of speakers that I recognize.

I had always wanted to start eating healthy and organic but did not know the basic 101 of why I should and where to start. This free conference will help you.

Reserve your free spot here for free: http://bit.ly/Y4i3Si

I am signed up and can't wait to watch.

Cheers.

Cloth Diapering

We are officially cloth diapering and look how cute this little man looks. We have been successfully cloth diapering for the past couple of weeks and its going really well. My biggest surprise is that the hubby has taken to it really well. 

We actually started when Zeke Bear was a newborn right after his umbilical cord fell off. But it seemed everything was stacked against us, he was having major leaks, he developed a rash at the waistband of the diaper and the diapers were getting stained which I did not expect. 

When we were pregnant the plan was to only buy newborn cloth diapers and then buy the one size diapers when he was about 5-6 months. Well, this little man grew to fast and quickly outgrew the newborn cloth diapers by the time he was a month and half. So for a month or so I gave up on wanting to cloth diaper. However, I had all I needed to successfully cloth diaper and plus so much research, time, and money went into wanting to try this out. So, I figured we would give this thing one more shot and just take it one laundry load at a time.

I had read about and had been recommended by a good friend to try Kawaii Diapers they are like Bum Genius just without the price. I was able to purchase 15 diapers for just $100 and some change. That comes out to $6 dollars and some change per diaper and that included three organic heavy wetter cloth diapers. I am sorry but I will give anything a try for $6 dollars. 

Even if we don't successfully Cloth Diaper Zeke Bear till potty training we will have at least re-coupe the cost of these diapers in just 2-3 months in what it would have cost to buy diapers and wipes at Target. Wish us luck.

Cheers to a soft and happy bum.

Cloth Diapering Haul

Vlog learning in progress. I would like to vlog (make videos) more but still need to learn a few things and maybe hire a camera man. Bare with me in the process. Enjoy the over drawn lengthy video and just beware it abruptly stops (that may be a good thing).



Cheers.

Cloth Diapers

My family and I are about to venture into the world of cloth diapers. Some days I feel empowered and feel excited for all the amazing benefits cloth diapers have to offer and other days I feel lost, scared and confused (ok maybe not all three at once). I have talked to many people about this subject and I have found you have either people who are completely for it and would not choose to diaper any other way or the folks that think I am crazy. I have some fantastic friends who have really helped me through this journey of just trying to figure out cloth diapers (mind you I have never actually cloth diapered a child before well for the exception of putting on a cloth diaper once for Ava at a friends house). I am just in the beginning stages I feel lost just trying to figure out the best way to wash the darn things and this is without poop.

I am not putting any pressure on myself to make it to potty training in cloth diapers so I am taking this journey one step at a time. I would like to get through the newborn stage first although we will be using a combination during this time to allow the meconium to leave his body and second because honestly am I really going to be washing diapers every two days during our first weeks home... Right now I say not a chance.

Cloth diapers are a heavy investment but you save so much money in the long term; like anywhere from $1500 to $2000 that is a lot of money from newborn to potty training.

We have chosen to cloth diaper for several reasons.

1. Have you ever felt a cloth diaper it's super soft and who would not want that on their bum?

2. There are reported to be little to no diaper rashes.

3. Saving money.

4. Much better on the environment

5. His bum will look super adorable in cloth diapers and especially sporting all of those cute prints.

Cheers.

Happy Birthday

It's my Birthday!!! I haven't actually given much thought to my birthday this year but here it is. I am 24 years old today I feel like 24 is different from last year  maybe because I am reaching my mid-twenties maybe its because I am pregnant with our second baby, when I figure it out I will let you all know. I do know I am so thankful and incredibly blessed to be alive and healthy and surrounded by so much love.

Last year I gave away my birthday and raised $500 dollars to support missions in South Sudan. I plan to give away my birthday every other year so this year I could actually receive presents like my wonderful hubby gifted me with a new camera and we are going to Founding Farmers in D.C. tomorrow for dinner. So excited to try out this restaurant that I have been wanting to try for three years now. The chefs at the restaurant use locally raised food and they have great organic, vegetarian and vegan options on their menu. I will fill you all in once we go. I can't wait for tonight.

This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it. Psalm 118:24

I am so glad God choose August 7th for the day he created so I would be born. Thank you Abba Father for all the unconditional love, grace and mercy you give me everyday my cup runneth over with all of your many blessings. 

Cheers

Organic Eggs

Thought this was hilarious. Please watch.

I cant believe its not butter!

So there is this really long story I would like to share, however it is to long for tonight and so I just want to share this.

Over the last two months God has done a huge change in my heart in the way my family eats. We don't eat "terrible " but then we don't eat fantastic either. What I mean by fantastic is super ubber healthy. I have always had the desire to eat healthy and organic I just didn't know where to start. I have fantastic friends who have helped guide me along the way. But it wasn't until one my heart was ready to take a holistic approach and understand that everything is connected that God did a transformation.

God is so amazing and when we truly place everything in His hands is it then that things happen the way they were intended to.

I am almost done reading my first book called "Seven; an experimental mutiny against excess" by Jen Hatmaker that God rocked my world in February. I mean like truly rocked it!! Again God is so awesome. This is one of the first books I have started since not reading anything for more than year after reading the Bible (more on that life transforming journey later)

One of the areas to tackle in this battle of excess and consumerism was "Food" for the entire month of February, Matthew and I only ate 7 items of food everyday except Sunday (A day of rest). We did fall and once or twice or maybe three times but overall it has taught me so much and brought out a lot of ugly truth.

Though God started this whole process when he opened the door for a new friendship this past summer. Every time I would go over this friends house she had made something super ubber healthy and I just wanted to learn. This area in her life of eating healthy is huge part of her prayer for her and her family. She has held my hand and has taught me so so much. I am forever eternally grateful. I joined her farmer co-op and I go grocery shopping with her every Thursday.

Her husband and herself were part of our food council in month one, they were there for questions, support and most importantly prayer.

This was not supposed to be a long post but a simple realization,impifiny post.

So the way I look at food is so drastically different basically I feel like Paul when God removed the scales from his eyes. I have not shopped inside of a conventional grocery store in two months.

Looking at an ingredients list is so alarming to me. I have a couple of rules when it comes to food. This list may grow or change but this is where it is as right now;

1. I don't eat food with a longer shelf life than I do
2. I don't anything in a box, can or bag that list ingredients that I cant say.
3. I am limiting items in our home made with GMO's (genetically modified organisms).
4. We are eating sprouted breads, pasta, and tortillas.
5. Eating organic fruits and vegetables

Now my number one rule *I am not an organic snob* We still eat out but inside our home we make wise choices.

So now for the feature presentation.

Two butters, simple enough right? Wrong!

Country Crock's ingredients list has more than 20 somethings items. I have bought this butter out of ignorance. I just didn't know any better. When you think of people churning butter do you think they used all of these ingredients? Nope.

This Butter only has ONE ingredient. What a difference the smarter I feel I am getting about food the more simple it's becoming. : D 

I will be doing a regular blog post about food and what decisions we are making for our family.

In Love,

C 

Near Perfect Day

Ladybird and Baby Bear

Since the hubsters and I have been married one of us has been in school or both of us. Actually this is true since the beginning of our relationship from friendship to marriage and a baby carriage ;D. Our weekends have never belonged to us they are mostly always dedicated to homework. Hubby has just started his graduate degree at Johns Hopkins and I am finishing up my last year of my undergrad.

But... this is not what this post is about. On Saturday we had a fantastic day where the homework monster did not rule but instead our Saturday happened organically. We enjoyed family time but we were also very productive in getting things done around the house. 

It all started with a picnic and kite flying at Belle Haven park on the Potomac River. After fun in the sun we walked from the park to Old Town which is 2.4 miles and then we walked back. It was so great it was a near perfect day!

Hubby putting together our dollar store kites

My new favorite way to pack lunch and eliminate waste

The only picture I took with Babayy and I :D