Organizing and Loving What You Have

I am probably the only one on the planet (who celebrates Christmas) who is spending time this week painting kitchen cabinets and organizing closets. I mean, c'mon, lady... don't you have presents to buy and/or wrap, decorations to put up, parties to attend, better things to do???

This is what happens when you spend a semester back in school with little to no time to attend to the daily pile-ups and cleaning chores. It's so bad now that I'm compelled to attend to it. Well, it's not out of control, but I know what's coming in a few weeks to my children.... So, if I don't want things to be completely out of control, I'd best create a space NOW for that new Play-doh tool set, those new toy workbenches, new games, new puzzles, .....

In case you're inspired to tackle some home improvement and organization NOW, during the busiest time of the year, let me offer some suggestions I have learned the hard way:

1. Per Fly Lady's suggestion: only take out what you can put back in an hour. In other words, work on one closet shelf or one set of cabinets or some other small amount at a time. At the end of an hour, you should be done--including having put all the rejects into their newly appointed places or bagged up for trash or Goodwill... NOT piled on the dining room table. Then, if you don't get anything else done this Christmas season, you'll at least have refrained from creating more mess.

2. Focus on urgent needs first: our arts and crafts storage areas are the likely recipients of new gear from Christmas presents as well as the most likely culprits of out-of-date, used-up, dried-up, torn-up supplies that can be trashed. The kids' clothing closets? Don't need to worry about them right now.

3. Strategize: how are you planning to use this particular space or storage area? We've been homeschooling our daughter some this year (hybrid pre-K and K), and there are a couple of books we use daily. I don't need to have them laying around when there's a nice, handy cabinet right next to the table we use. Instead, I'm reorganizing that cabinet so that there's room for school stuff and, um, the baby-books-yet-to-be-finished-even-though-the-"babies"-are-three-and-a-half-years-old can be moved to my closet shelf upstairs....

4. Love (and Use) What You Have!!! Storing some priceless goblets? Use them. So what if one breaks. At least you're enjoying them in the meantime rather than keeping them out of sight for who knows how many years to collect dust. Objects were meant to be used or admired or, preferably, both--not stored indefinitely out of sight.

5. Focus on giving items at Christmas that be used and admired, or objects that promote creative playing and crafting and doing rather than hoarding. What are we requesting or giving for Christmas? My husband has already bought his major gift: a new tool for his woodshop that he's using to make some Christmas presents. I requested for my in-laws to frame a very cool authentic King James Bible page they'd given us the year before. We're subscribing to a few magazines (or people are subscribing for us), giving our kids things like library tote bags, Play-doh tools, games that all three can play together, puzzles, etc.

I need hardly mention that you should make a list of needed organizational items for your Christmas decorations if you've had to hunt all over the house and attic for your tree topper, lights, and ornaments. Then, after Christmas, acquire those organizational tools and pack your decorations up efficiently for next year.

What are your strategies for organizing your home or giving intentional Christmas gifts?

My March Uncluttering Project ...

...has continued into April. But, that's okay--the results are worth it! My counters and dining room table got temporarily worse, much worse, but my closets and attic spaces are more usable and the "stuff" lurking in plain sight will soon be banished to its rightful, easily accessed spot behind closed doors.

In the process of decluttering my house, I've learned some VERY important lessons--ones I hope I never forget.

1. My husband and I have a unique style.

This is a very important lesson to grasp. We often see something in our friends' houses (or our parents' or in a magazine) that we like or think looks neat. It's taken us a while to realize that those things look good partly because they fit the friend's style; the house sort of "works." Too much eclecticism can be a bad thing (bad in the sense of clutter). So, we've really begun choosing items that we enjoy and that also sort of work with our "look" rather than trying to mimic lots of different approaches. We've also tried, in our current house, to really "go with the house"--to decorate in a way that fits the needs/look of this particular house. And... we're starting to get rid of stuff that doesn't work for us, stuff we just don't quite like!

2. Decluttering fits basic design principles.

My mother, being an artist, has a good eye for things in general. I often consult her opinion. Even though we don't always like the same things/colors, I still consult her on how to group things, where something might look best on a wall, and so forth; good design principles fit a multitude of different "looks." Rarely does a cluttered house fit any sense of good design principles.

3. The fewer possessions you have, generally speaking, the more you'll treasure them.

For confirmation of this, just watch your kids play with a toy for 15 minutes, toss it aside and pick up another one, repeat, repeat, repeat. Now, give them one or two toys and see what happens. All day the same toys get played with (or your children get much more creative which is always beneficial to their little brains). We still have too many toys, but I'm learning and being much more picky about what we buy/keep.

4. The fewer possessions you have, the more they will be noticed.

If you have only one set of nice canisters on your kitchen counter instead of a blender, toaster, knife block, utensil crock, coffeemaker, etc., people will notice the canisters when they walk in. If you have the big lineup, they'll just notice a general cluttered look. We removed just a blender from a similar lineup above and even that small change made a big difference. I'm still figuring out a working system for our kitchen counters, but that small change has given me hope!

5. Take a picture to give you a good feel for the way your house looks to visitors:

take a photo of a room, a counter, a closet, whatever. Let it sit for a day or two or even a week. Then, look at that picture. You will notice the "first impression" of that space much more than you usually do. We frequently develop selective blinders to clutter that has "always been there," don't we? We just don't even see it anymore. Taking a picture will show you a bit more of an objective view, especially in regards to overall feel.

6. Decluttering is good for our kids.

Check out this little article/blog post from unclutterer.com.

7. Decluttering is good for the budget.

I made more than $100 at a consignment sale on old kids' clothes. I think twice now when I buy stuff, wondering where it's going to go and if we really need it. We pay bills on time because we streamlined that process. I borrow more, lend more, and don't subscribe to magazines I can get online for free!

8. Decluttering is good for your marriage.

Our bedroom looks much more like a restful retreat. We're not tripping over stuff in the study, which only caused frustration that sometimes spilled out onto the other person. Less clutter in the house means less stress overall. We can find things we need a little easier.

9. Decluttering is good for the environment.

I gave away or sold lots of stuff that might otherwise have ended up in the trash after lingering so long, unused, in our closets that it was moth-eaten or too out of date. I try not to buy what I don't need. I use more natural cleaning supplies (like simple green) partly because I can use the same product on everything and have fewer cleaning bottles lying around.

10. Decluttering is good for the soul.

I mean that a bit tongue in cheek, but it is true nonetheless. In small ways: I finally framed some art we bought on our honeymoon (6 1/2 years ago), and it brings much joy to finally see it on the wall and remember such a special time in our lives (instead of carefully moving the rolled up piece of art around on my closet shelves). I have a space again in which to read my Bible in the mornings. I feel more rested living in uncluttered spaces.

Am I done? No. Will people coming over notice much difference? Not yet, but it's coming! But, my habits are changing which is good. I'm enjoying our house more. I have a bit more time for my kids/husband. It's a great process. It took over my life for a bit, but I'm at a point now where I can continue and live life normally at the same time. I noticed this past weekend during our boys' birthday party that it was easier to put up my sewing projects and other paraphernalia because there was a place for them in the closets! (I also realized how far we still have to go, but the point is: we're making progress!)

Spring Cleaning Update--Getting Things Done!

I said I was spring cleaning my life this spring, and boy, have I been hard at work! A quick list of projects completed to date:

• cleaned out one attic section completely (we have three under the eaves of our house): everything that is in there is known by me, boxed/stored appropriately, and organized.
• cleaned out daughter's room/closet
• cleaned out my closet
• cleaned out boys' room and closet
• cleaned off kitchen counters (removing unneeded items, etc.)
• cleaned out games/entryway closet
• cleaned out laundry area
• cleaned off/decluttered large bookcase in office
• cleaned out some flower beds (not just weeded; actually got rid of some other plants because it was too crowded/cluttered looking)
• pictures/art framed that's been sitting in my closet for 6.5 years....
• chalkboard for kitchen bought (I've wanted it since we moved in 3.5 years ago....)
• daytimer bought and now used daily
• kids' clothes sorted and organized
  

Items gotten rid of so far:

• Toys to grandparents' house (they agreed!)
• 125 items to children's consignment sale
• $75 worth of trade credit at local bookstore for books/movies turned in
• large bags to Goodwill, including 25 items of clothing (mine), 2 pairs of shoes, old purses, other truly random things
• transplants of Lenten roses and others to friends who could use them/wanted them
• plain old trash bags of trash taken to garbage
• hand-me-downs mailed to friends' twins
• hand-me-downs mailed back to friends who loaned them to me in the first place
• hand-me-downs mailed to nephew
• hand-me-downs sent to friend's son
• books sent to friend in Peace Corps
  

To do still:

• clean out other two attic sections (a much bigger project than the first--sigh)
• clean out upstairs linen closet (just did this a year ago, so this should go smoothly)
• clean out downstairs linen closet (again, just did this a year ago, so should be quick)
• clean out/declutter office and accompanying closets

I'm on the home stretch!

Teapots and Flowers

Two things I really enjoy: teapots and flowers. I also want my counters to be cleared off, my cupboards more organized, and my kitchen to be warm and welcoming. Can I reconcile all of these?

Because I enjoy teapots and flowers, I have myriad vases and teapots. I do actually use about half of my vases and 2 of my teapots. In my efforts to prune my "stuff," I've given away some of the unused items, but others hold enough sentimental value that I can't part with them yet. 

My friend Lisa came over yesterday and gave me a fabulous idea (why didn't I think of this before?!): to use the teapots I love as vases for flowers. I can now get rid of some of the vases I didn't really love because I don't need them... I have a terrific substitute. Now, how cheery is that?

The Great Gardening Game: the Harvest Continues

From my meager, bare ground beginnings, I'm now reaping a nice little harvest of tomatoes, cucumbers, hot peppers, green beans, and the beginnings of bell/sweet peppers! It's been lots of fun and... family members and close friends may want to sit down for this... I'm learning to like and enjoy fresh tomatoes!!!!!!!

My little garden has necessitated minimal work on my part these past few weeks. I'm only harvesting and pouring over cookbooks to see what new cucumber salad I can drum up or what new tomato sauce we can try. Our current (and very easy) favorite is a simple tomato basil sauce for sauteed chicken, compliments of Joy of Cooking. When I get a chance I'll post that at full tummies. Our cucumber salads and at least one tomato sauce recipe will be posted this week, so check it out!

You might consider putting in a garden next summer if you didn't this year. It's been quite rewarding! It's also been a good reminder that the Lord does indeed provide our food--when I just buy it at the supermarket, that's easy to forget. When I'm hoping for rain and trying to imagine what life would be like were I actually dependent on the garden for my food, then I remember that the Lord is indeed in control of our food and the curse was a real curse! (to work by the sweat of our brow)

Super Fling Boogie: Linen Closet

The Fly Lady issues a "super fling boogie" occasionally and that simply means that you go through your "stuff" and get rid of the unnecessary clutter. Well, that's what I'm doing to the various closets in our house; there's a lot of unnecessary stuff taking up some valuable storage real estate (which is why, in turn, my counters and hallways are so cluttered). This experience has been rather humorous so far--why, I repeat, WHY do we not only save such random things but then actually box them up and move them from house to house?! Craziness.

Here's what I threw away (or donated to Goodwill where appropriate) from my linen closet and regular clothes closet:

• 5 half-used bottles of foundation (I haven't bought any foundation/makeup in 5+ years, so this stuff was all definitely old...ditto for rest of the makeup listed)
• 6 mascara samples
• blush/makeup brushes losing bristles
• sponge rollers that didn't work the first time
• lipstick I can't believe I ever wore
• random blush and eyeshadow supplies
• lipliner
• various other makeup items (nail polish in nasty colors, etc.)
  
• extra long twin sheets from college (those who know me and my family will laugh at this: why I EVER thought I'd need extra long sheets for any of my family members is beyond me...)
• random hand towels that are tacky
• shoes I haven't worn in 4 years
• a pile of t-shirts, sweaters, skirts, and blouses that I wore when I was teaching school but now are completely unnecessary to my current existence as a stay-at-home wife/mom or are just too ratty to keep around
• baby gear that I've not used for the three babies I've had...so am unlikely to use for another should the Lord decide to bless us with another baby
  

Incidentally, I found it amusing to look at what I kept versus what I tossed (tossed makeup, nice/dry clean only clothes, and high heeled shoes). I kept: first aid stuff, extra towels, extra sheets, easy care clothes-->I suppose this is evidence that my career has changed from professional/work place to home and child care.

My next closet project: my downstairs hallway closet that is housing china, crystal, silver, and other "finery" that I received as wedding gifts, some of which Ihave never used and am not likely to in the near future..... (I do use my china, crystal, and silver patterns occasionally when I entertain; the myriad candlesticks, crystal bowls, vases, platters, and the like might be up for grabs.)

Going Green, part 10: Final Thoughts

I firmly believe the Lord has given us the responsibility of stewarding (exercising dominion over) his marvelous creation. Therefore, I think it's worth considering how we can be performing this calling to the best of our ability.

It's easy to point out the "big" and obvious sins, such as stealing, adultery, murder, etc. But, since we are all sinners, we all sin. And Scripture makes perfectly clear that greed, gluttony, and laziness are just as out of place in the Kingdom of God as stealing. I rather think that America, as a nation, has made convenience, acquisition, and over-consumption the norm rather than the exception.

Don't get me wrong: I can't imagine a picnic without paper plates. How did people pack school lunches before the invention of plastic, particularly Ziploc bags? And I'm ever so grateful for modern toiletry products. I think there's a time and place for convenience. Holidays and special celebrations have always been times of feasting. It's not wrong to give presents and to buy things. We're certainly going to be feasting this Friday for the 4th of July (and using plenty of paper products in the process).

But, there's always room for improvement in our stewardship of the Lord's creation. For instance, I need to be better about filling the sink up with water instead of simply letting the tap run whenever I wash dishes. I could take shorter showers. I end up wasting food. I throw away lots of paper when I'm too lazy to find the recycling area. But, viewing the earth as the Lord's and our role in it as stewards puts a different spin on the going green movement. In that mindset, I've tried to think of ways I can cut down on, say, my earlier massive paper towel use.

Being a good steward of something inevitably involves at least a little bit of work and sacrifice. Otherwise, people would have no trouble stewarding Creation. Frequently, being a better steward in the short run will reap rewards in the long run, so those little sacrifices and work will pay off in some way (think of farmers--they certainly put in the work upfront in order to reap a harvest!).

How can we, as stewards, manage our world better? What areas in your life are full of extravagant use or needless waste simply because you're lazy? Is there an area in which you can be a better steward of the portion of Creation the Lord has entrusted to your care? I hope this little series has encouraged you to think of something you can change or improve in this area.

Going Green, part 9: Technology

Technology can be a great aid in our efforts to reduce waste, recycle certain products, and reuse others. It can also be a great drain on resources, particularly power sources and the needless printing of documents just to read the latest version. Here are some things to consider as you try to practice the 3R's (reduce, reuse, recycle) with your technology use.

1. The Internet v. Regular Mailings: What a great tool to help us reduce our paper consumption and clutter! Use cyberspace wisely (especially as regards identity theft issues), but feel free to use it! Often a free service, you can have your bills and statements emailed to you or view them online at any given institution's website. I subscribe to very few magazines anymore because most of what I wanted is now available at the magazines' websites for free or for a reasonable subscription.

2. Digital File Storage: This can be on a website somewhere, your hard drive, or CD-Rom's. We've begun scanning in old financial statements/bills, converting them to PDF files, and then copying them to CD's. One CD can hold the same amount of information in so much less space than the paper versions. Now, we get our statements emailed to us and we can simply copy them over.

3. Digital Photo Storage: Many photo processing websites will also let you store photos for free on their website. We have ours stored on our hard drive and backed up on CD. We also have a number stored at our favorite processing site, where we've created photo books and calendars instead of having individual photos mailed to us for the "old-fashioned" albums. The books look great (and we've had hard copies of the books mailed to us)!

4. Media Storage: Wow! All our CD's are now on our computer thanks to my genius of a husband (who's an electrical engineer...). The CD's themselves are in the basement (we don't want to get rid of them because we feel like we're violating copyright laws). New music we've acquired through Mp3 format is also on our computer. Movies--same thing. In fact, through programs like Netflix, you can stream a number of movies and TV shows right to your PC.

5. Media "Hardcopy": CD's and DVD's can be resold much more easily than cassettes and VHS because they are more durable. When you're through with something, resell it or donate it so someone else can enjoy it!

6. Electronic Books: As a confirmed bibliophile (in one room alone of our house, we have 500 volumes...), I will never, ever want to have only e-books as an option. That being said, audiobooks can be acquired in Mp3 format; of that I heartily approve.

7. Libraries: Use them! You don't need to own every book (believe it or not, we do use discretion in which books we buy....).

8. Time Wasted...: I'm one to talk now that I have a few blogs going, but I do try to limit my computer time. When my husband has to work late and the kids are in bed, I'll "whip up" a couple of future posts and schedule them all. Sometimes, I'm not on the computer again for several days even though different posts will appear on schedule. Use all the latest technology well, but don't let it consume all your spare time. We must be stewards of our time as well as this earth.

9. Power Consumption: It's true. Even when they're in "standby" mode, our TV's, computers, DVD players, etc. all consume power. Anything with a clock in it and/or a remote control will be using power all the time simply to maintain those features. We've begun turning our computer off at night; my mathematically oriented husband has estimated this could save us as much as $30/month!

10. Resources: The Internet is full of wonderful resources to help you practice the 3R's--solutions for everything from homemade cleaning products, gardening help, facts and statistics on power usage, schedules for public transportation, homemade food products (instead of buying pre-packaged stuff all the time), electronic bill pay and magazine subscriptions as mentioned above, the yellow pages, stores from which to order things--or even simply the ability to look at a given store's inventory ahead of time (instead of driving all over town looking for one item), ...the list could go on and on. Make use of this resource if you have internet capability at your home. It can save you time and money as well as helping us conserve petroleum and other eco-friendly practices.

Still in Play

I wrote about beginning the Great Gardening Game a few weeks ago. Well, we're still in play! We discovered our first tomatoes on... Friday, the 13th! Begone, ye superstition!

At any rate, we felt like parents all over again--our first little tomato babies. Now begins the really hard work--watching over these little guys and monitoring bugs, weeds, growth, etc. It's a lot like watching over wee people now that I think about it (except that the tomatoes will grant me a full night's sleep).

We didn't buy our starting plants and seeds from the organic aisle, but we have always tried to stick to organic means of maintaining our edible plants. We practice companion planting (flowers and other veggies with bug repelling properties), soap sprays, and old-fashioned weeding. Our flowers are seed-started this year, and a bit late at that, so I'm not sure they'll be flowering in time to do us any good! Oh well...we'll see. Maybe I'll end up writing a series of organic posts someday when I'm not slaving away in my little back 40 (feet, that is).

My toddler "helped" me sow some beans recently. I kept telling myself that the experience of being in the garden, handling the seeds, playing with roly-polies, and blowing bubbles is all more important than whether or not I end up buying green beans in the stores later this summer because our seeds fail to germinate.

Phase 0 was getting the ground ready (letting leaves compost there over the winter).

Phase 1 was planting.

Phase 2--they're growing! Peppers on the left, tomatoes in center and right. Cucumbers are in little hills scattered around, as are various herbs. Beans will (hopefully) be climbing the fences soon.

Stay tuned for the next phase: our first edibles!

Going Green, part 8: Lawn and Garden

Of course your lawn and/or garden are green, aren't they? Or are they?

Here are some tips to make the most of your natural resources and to reduce further, needless waste.

1. Xeriscape (I used to think this meant use gravel for mulch and plant only cacti, but it's really more aesthetically pleasing and common-sense oriented than that. In a nutshell, xeriscaping is planting plants and grasses that are native in your area because they are already well adapted to your particular climate--in particular, the amount of precipitation you get. For instance, hostas and lenten roses LOVE our yard. We transplant new ones/divide up older ones all the time; once they're established, we never have to water them again.)
2. Recyclable Pots (peat pots are commonly available now at most home and garden centers)
3. Water Wisely (covered under xeriscaping, too, but this is simply watering in the evening or EARLY morning when there is less chance of water evaporation)
4. Edible Gardens (sort of a no brainer--plant some food for you and your family to eat! Can, freeze, or give away excess)
5. Compost Yard Waste (we compost leaves and grass clippings in particular; both can provide great mulch and/or green matter for your garden. Some mowers and blowers come with mulching attachments)

Going Green, part 7: Toiletries and Cleaning Supplies

No, I'm not advocating only buying chlorine free toilet paper and all-natural toothpaste (although there are plenty of people who have chosen these means and love them). But, I would like to encourage you to think through what you can reduce, reuse, or recycle in this area of your life.

Think about it: our toiletries and cleaning supplies come all nicely packaged in containers we throw away when we're finished with said products. Toothpaste comes in tubes, shampoo and conditioner in bottles, deodorant in special deodorant containers, lotion in pump dispensers or tubes, and dental floss in little plastic dispensers. That's a lot of package waste when you think about it.

Before you throw everything out and make all your own toiletries, here are some easier "start-up" ideas to consider:

• buy shampoo/other hair products and cleaning supplies in bulk at beauty supply stores/warehouse clubs; keep a user-friendly amount in an old regular-size bottle
• don't buy what you won't use (don't keep trying random face creams, lotions, etc. that will only sit in your medicine cabinet or get thrown away)
• recycle what you can: plastic bottles, boxes from toothpaste tubes, etc.
• reduce the number of products you use (for instance, my husband and I both use the same kind of shampoo/conditioner; we now use Simple Green for just about every cleaning need--and vinegar, baking soda, ammonia, etc. will clean just about anything! See here or here for a sampling of ideas/formulas--note that I haven't tested all of these out yet, but they sound promising)
• use biodegradable products when you can (shampoos, dish soap, and such will list "biodegradable formula" on the back--you'd be surprised how many mainstream products fall into this category)
• buy toilet paper that doesn't waste paper (we all know that there are quilted, cushiony brands and the more boring, efficient Scott tissue--which, as you might expect, we use because it's cheap and is very septic-tank friendly (we used to have a septic tank))
• cloth rags as opposed to paper towels (many stores sell cleaning rags; old t-shirts, baby blankets, and cloth diapers also make great multi-purpose rags. We, of course, use blue towels for any and all uses! We also keep a stash of baby wash cloths in the kitchen to wipe off grimy hands/faces after meal times.)
• feminine hygiene products: believe it or not, there are options out there from cloth pads to chlorine-free biodegradable tampons (actually, an insightful article on the various options was posted at Wisebread.com); you might at least consider staying away from plastic tampon applicators and the like (and I'm certainly not giving up my disposable products for cloth in this category any time soon!!)
  

Going Green, part 6: Cloth Diapers

To see the first "Going Green" post and links to subsequent ones, click here.
This post is dedicated to my friend Lynn who first gave me the inspiration to try cloth diapering! Thank you, Lynn!

We use cloth diapers and love them! In case you've never considered them, let me offer some reasons.

1. Cheaper! We use some of the more expensive kinds, but still we are saving so much money!!! Even with buying an extra stash to have enough for twins, we will still be saving money. This is assuming the fewest diaper changes, potty training by 2 1/2, cheapest disposables we can find (Sam's brand): we will still be saving a minimum of $1300 over the course of diapering our twins. We have a high efficiency washer/dryer, so that helps keep our laundering costs down. (Note: even Sam's brand diapers have gone up in price since I first wrote this draft, so now, we'd be saving even more!)

2. Healthier. For all three of our kids, we've found that cloth diapers have all but eradicated diaper rash. We have never bought a tube of diaper rash cream. We still use the same tube of Butt Paste that was a baby shower gift for our first child, now 2 1/2 years old. When we switch back to disposables for a trip or other temporary use, frequently diaper rash begins to crop up. But a no-fail cure for that is to put that baby back in a Fuzzi Bunz with a little Huggies Liquid Powder... no more diaper rash almost immediately! There is also some research that suggests that baby boys are benefited in particular since disposables may raise the temperature enough next to the scrotum that sperm count is affected later in life. Haven't read a lot on this issue, but it's come up on some diapering websites occasionally.

3. Less Waste. This is a no-brainer and the number one reason for most cloth diaper advocates. However, if those first two reasons weren't so dramatic for us, I have to say that this would be a hard sell. It's a great side benefit, though, to our use of cloth diapers. We have very little trash to take out when you consider how many diapers we use a day. (And, the "word on the street" is that one baby contributes 1 ton of landfill waste during his/her first couple of years--the majority of it being diapers.)

We're not so hardcore that we don't ever use disposables. We often use them for church, overnight trips, and other temporary needs.

Our System

If we hadn't discovered such an easy cloth-diapering system, I don't think we'd have made the commitment. We use Fuzzi Bunz and Mommy's Touch pocket style diapers. Fuzzi Bunz are the best in my opinion. Both of these diapers are lined on the inside with fleece, so the baby's skin stays dry. The outside is a PUL fabric that is waterproof but breathable. There's a pocket between these two layers that we stuff with the liner of our choice (all kinds of absorbency levels here depending on whether the diaper needs to go for all night or just an hour or two during the day; we use Green Acres Designs one-size inserts and Happy Heiny's Hemp Stuffins). We shake off solid waste into the toilet (you can even buy flushable liners so there's hardly ever a need to scrape/rinse your diapers), throw all diapers into a "wet bag" (looks like a big waterproof duffel bag), and then throw the bag and the diapers into the wash at night. No soaking, rinsing in the toilet, or anything. The diapers are snapped on, so there are no pins. Very, very easy to use and care for. Right now, our boys are leaking out of some disposables at night, but no leaks with our Fuzzi Bunz! And they're so soft!!! Check out these websites if you're curious:

Cutie Tooties (where I bought my latest stash from--she's even placed special orders for me for products she's been temporarily out of--great customer service!)
Cotton Babies (where I first bought Fuzzi Bunz, but they no longer carry them; they do have an interesting diaper grant program for missionaries and other needy groups)
Sunshine Diapers (free shipping on Charlie's Soap--a natural detergent; great introductory diaper packages)
Kelly's Closet (great money-back offers on some popular diapers if they don't work for you)
Mother-Ease Diapers (more like the old-style cloth, but with snaps and such; my friends Lynn and Megan swear by them but they're a touch more work to care for then the lazy ones I use)
Real Diaper Association
diaperpin.com (reviews of every product related to cloth diapering--check it out before you buy!)

Going Green, part 5: Reusable Grocery Bags

To see the first "Going Green" post and links to subsequent ones, click here.

This post is dedicated to my neighbor, Karen, who faithfully uses reusable grocery bags!

I (Betsy) used to think that people who took reusable bags to the grocery store were a little nutty, more "earthy" than I had time to be. Well, I'm slowly coming to the conclusion that reusable grocery bags are the way to go most of the time. Here's a short list of my conclusions:

Pros:

• hold more stuff (they're bigger)-->fewer bags needed-->fewer trips to unload
  
• stand upright in the car (the ones you can buy in the grocery store)-->cans don't go rolling around the floor
  
• won't break if a sharp object/can is too heavy
• more eco-friendly (duh)
• easier to carry in the house/larger straps
• more child friendly! No longer do I have to worry that my three little ones are going to start playing in the bags while I'm putting groceries up because the reusable bags won't suffocate them

Cons:

• have to remember to take them to the store... (some people leave them in their cars so they won't forget when they leave the house)
• some things (like meat) are best put in plastic bags you can throw away (you can always put them in a plastic produce-type bag at the store and then in your reusable bag)
  
• some things (like fragile produce) are best put in smaller bags so they won't get crushed

It's definitely worth it to acquire some of these bags (or use extra tote bags lying around your house--any of you teachers? You should have plenty of these lying around!). Use plastic when you need to for certain items, but get in the habit of using reusable bags as often as you can.

Going Green, part 4: Appliances

To see the first "Going Green" post and links to subsequent ones, click here.
AAaahhh.... the (very low) hum of my high-efficiency washer as it gets load after load after load of clothes, blankets, and cloth diapers clean is music to my ears. My new dishwasher, also quiet, is cleaning my dishes as I type--dishes I didn't have to pre-wash in the sink. I just scraped off food and put them in! And my freezer, in the basement, is full of meals, bread, and other various and sundry food items--keeping them frozen for far less money than its predecessor.

It just so happens that, during this past year, we've had a number of appliances break on us. Our dishwasher gave out when I was pregnant with my twins. When we bought our new one, we learned that most of the newer models wash dishes well enough that you don't have to pre-wash/rinse them in the sink! Our dishwasher has done a pretty good job of this; stuck on egg and cheese do not come off well, nor does the silverware get as clean without a pre-rinse. Everything else does just great. This is helping us reduce our water usage!

Our washing machine broke the first week we brought our first twin home from the hospital! His brother was still in the NICU. Well, newborns can produce more laundry than the rest of the house together. So, getting a new washer was pretty urgent. We took the plunge and bought a high efficiency front loader and have been so thankful!!! The amount of water these things use compared to the top loaders is quite remarkable. An average top loader uses about 50-70 gallons of water per load. Front loaders: 14 gallons per load!!!! Our water bill shows us a bar graph of water usage over the past year. The month we added cloth diapers for two newborns showed a bar graph equal to the month before the boys were even born! That was proof enough for me. If I could do that much laundry and still not be using any more water than before my newborns even contributed their immense wash load to the rotation, then my new washer was indeed saving us money and water!

The photo at the top is from the sticker inside our freezer. It's hard to see, but in the bottom middle, there's a phrase saying "energy performance certified." Most appliances that are more energy efficient than their counterparts will advertise themselves as "energy star certified" or something to that effect. It's worth considering these more efficient appliances if you're in the market for a new (large) home appliance. They might cost a little more money up front, but they really do work well at saving energy (and your utilities bills) compared to the more in-efficient models. Do some research, check the ratings, and bring home a new energy-efficient appliance. Our next appliance needing replacing is a water heater.... dare we go tank-less?

Going Green, part 2: Children's Clothes and Toys

To see the first "Going Green" post and links to subsequent ones, click here.
This post is in honor of my sister who has been a great example and enabler of recycling/reusing children's clothes and toys.

When I (Betsy) got pregnant with my first child, I didn't register (nor did I with my twins). My friends couldn't understand why not. Well, the answer was simple: we didn't need very much stuff. Why not? Because we were given a boatload of hand-me-downs: walker, stroller/carseat, pac-n-play, crib, changing table, rocker/glider with ottoman, clothes, toys, etc.

Well, we must just have had really generous friends, right? That is true in part. However, those items came from many different sources, including my in-laws (my children have all slept on my husband's crib and been changed on his old changing table!) and my sister, who loaned us some stuff in between her own children needing it.

If you're expecting a child and/or already have young children at home, consider some of the following strategies for reducing, reusing, and recycling your children's stuff. Remember, your young children, especially, won't know the difference between brand new and used. Your older children can benefit from having parents who refuse to run out and buy the latest, greatest whatever and instead choose to get it (usually in the same condition) a little later from someone else. Keep toys and baby gear to a minimum (which is hard to do, I know--even a few toys seem like a lot when they're scattered across the floor).

1. Consignment sales (these are becoming more and more abundant; consign your old stuff and buy the next batch/season's worth of stuff for your children; I have gotten some amazing deals on some beautiful clothes this way!)
2. Trade (we trade back and forth with some of our neighbors all the time; our children are all stair stepped in age, so when one child is through with a toy or item of clothing, it gets passed to the next one in line--and sometimes back to the original family when their next child is old enough. This has worked so well that this past winter, one neighbor and I actually just swapped winter wardrobes. My daughter wore her older daughter's last winter things, and her younger daughter wore my daughter's last winter things.)
3. Borrow (we've borrowed my sister's walker, for instance, and are about to give it back!)
4. Hand-me-downs (this can work for everything from a cherished, hand made Easter dress to a pac-n-play to junky play clothes; these are things you don't intend to get back/don't have to give back to the giver)
5. Online Used/Consignment (Craigslist and ebay are two models of this; I got my boys an entire matching wardrobe for spring/summer off of 2 craigslist postings this year!)

Note: car seats are not good items to buy from an unknown source in case they were in a car when the car was in an accident. Also, some states have laws for the age of the car seat.

Laundry Triple Threat

After our birthday festivities this weekend, here's a short list of stains I treated this morning: ketchup, green and blue icing, chocolate, Cheeto crumbs, baked beans, ..... I've worked out a laundry triple threat for stains that almost always works (it doesn't work great on grease, but that's about it). ALL of the above stains came out--even from solid white shirts. Here it is: pre-treat with Stain Stick (or the gel variety). Wash clothes in warmest water they can take with good regular detergent* and a generous scoop of Oxy. Ta Da! Stains come out! Anyone else have a system they'd like to share?

My neighbor swears by a healthy pre-treatment of dish soap (worked into the stain vigorously) on grease stains; I've had moderate success with this treatment and think I just need to work the soap in a little more. Simple Green is another laundry booster, similar to Oxy, that supposedly works great. Haven't tried it yet--anyone else out there tried this one? With grass stain and popsicle stain season fast looming, we need to get our strain treatment strategies in order!

*I've been a die hard Tide user for tough stains/laundry needs, but just recently switched to the Sam's club brand (Member's Mark); the container looks the same as Tide and I believe it's their comparable product. So far, I've had great success!

Going Green, part 1: The Blue Towel

For the first "Going Green" post, click here.
This post is dedicated to my in-law's for their example in the 3R's, and for introducing me to the wonderful blue towel! (They also keep me well-stocked with said blue towel.)

The blue towel to which I refer is none other than the humble, ubiquitous blue towel used in hospitals. For some reason, like the little striped newborn blankets, they are the same in every hospital. The only difference, I've been told, is that they're white in the cardiac wings of hospitals. This towel, for those who may never have seen one in person, is about the size of an ordinary dish towel, is coarsely woven cotton--also like many dish towels, and is cobalt blue. Conveniently, they're my favorite color.

But the charms and uses of the blue towel go far, far beyond its nice color. How do I, a stay-at-home mom, come by bags and bags of blue towels that can be used for any number of occasions? My father-in-law is a nurse anesthetist. Therefore, he is in surgery all day at his hospital. When the nurses open a box of these blue towels (they come 10 to a box), the unused towels must be discarded since they are no longer sterile. My father-in-law takes the unused ones home, thus practicing the 3R's in one simple act: reducing trash, reusing the towels in another way, and recycling these towels in a sense because they get used over and over and over again. You may not have access to blue towels, but surely you have some old hand or dish towels lying around. Consider using them instead of paper towels or other wasteful products for some of the following we've discovered: (we do throw away blue towels when they get nasty--they've still been used for more than they would have been had they been thrown away unused).

• drying dishes
• hand towels in kitchen
• prep towels to wipe your hands on during food prep
• cleaning up spills
• cleaning up vomit
• cleaning up pee (when you're potty training a child, you clean this up a lot!)
• cleaning up wet paint
• cleaning dirty animals (dogs when they come in from the rain)
• cleaning baseboards
  
• cleaning windowsills
• cleaning tops of door frames
• cleaning cabinet surfaces
• spare towels in your car (in case your children or car need some clean up)
• oil rags when checking car's oil
• work shop rags
• burp cloths
• "warmers"--wrapped around dishes to keep them warm in transit
• "insulators"--wrapped around frozen food to keep them cool in transit
• "cloth" napkins--yes, we've even done this!
• folded up under faucets that leak
• the list could go on and on and on.....
  

Going Green: An Introduction and the 3R's

This series is dedicated to the humble, but wonderful "blue towel."

In my (Betsy's) family, with three children ages 1, 1, and 2 1/2, we don't mean "reading, writing, and arithmetic" when we refer to the "three R's." Instead, we are referring to "reduce, reuse, and recycle." There is a lot of information out there these days about "going green" and being environmentally friendly. Have you noticed that frequently this involves buying yet another heavily marketed product or perhaps includes suggestions that just won't work for your family (i.e. growing all your own food or converting fully to solar energy). I must confess that my husband and I are eco-friendly enough to think these ideas are cool; however, we do not possess the means to do either of those ideas as of yet.

Since I am very interested in ways we can make our house/family/lifestyle more eco-friendly, I thought I'd start a little mini-series on our blog to encourage anyone else with similar goals. I'll tell you about the strategies we've adopted, the goals/habits we'd like to begin, and the wonderful nature of trading with friends and neighbors. First, though, I'll explain a little bit about why these ideas are important to us.

My husband and I believe strongly in the idea of stewardship: God has created a beautiful world and placed mankind (made in his image) on earth to exercise dominion over it. We are supposed to be filling the earth and subduing it. I do not believe that means using up the earth's resources as fast as we can; in other words, the Lord did not put us in charge of the rest of the planet so we can take, take, take. Rather, I think we are to view the earth as his creation--a gift here for our enjoyment, sustenance, and, thanks to the fall, sanctification. Because of the entry of sin into the created order, our world is fallen. Disease, pollution, greed, etc. all play their part in the fallen creation; our calling as Christians, people made in God's image, is to bring restoration to the world as God equips us. We cannot recreate Eden, fully erasing the effects of sin. But I do think we have a responsibility to tend this earth with the mindset that it is a gift for us to take care of and to use for God's glory--not a gift meant to be mined willy-nilly for whatever might benefit us in the moment. God told Adam he would eat by the sweat of his brow; part of the consequence of the fall is that we will have to work to tend this earth, to eat, to glean its benefits to us. So, don't throw out all "green" suggestions as just another hippy idea. Take some time to think through the ramifications of stewarding God's creation as he has equipped us--each of us in our current situations.

My family's current situation involves two kids in diapers, one in diapers part-time (nap/nighttime), baby food (a necessity which is fast waning!), a big gas-guzzling SUV, the necessity for my husband to drive to work, a decent yet still finite income, and the willingness to use lots of elbow grease to fix up our old (80 years old) home. All of these factors, plus many more (like living in a medium-sized city in the Southeast) play a role in what we can do or choose to do in our stewardship of God's creation. Stay tuned for the methods we've adopted, the habits we'd like to change, and the suggestions we've heard from others.

Part 1: The Blue Towel
Part 2: Children's Clothes and Toys
Part 3: The 3R's for Food
Part 4: Appliances
Part 5: Reusable Grocery Bags
Part 6: Cloth Diapers
Part 7: Toiletries and Cleaning Equipment
Part 8: Lawn and Garden
Part 9: Technology and the Paper Trail
Part 10: Final Thoughts

Spring Cleaning: the Car...

I took out the car seats and what to my wondering eyes did appear?
A lost sippy cup, crushed animal crackers, dried up apple, and a smear....

Is it spring cleaning time for your car, too? Our twins are about to turn one and it's time to flip those car seats around. I took out all three car seats (toddler's too!) to wash them and loosen straps (all are a bit snug, even without bulky winter coats!) and noticed a plethora of random trip trash. We traveled quite a bit over the holidays and haven't really cleaned out the car since. If you're in that boat, too, then seize one of these nice spring days, pull out the car seats (wash them!), and clean out the car. It really doesn't take much: picking up trash, rescuing winter hats and various cups lodged under the seats, and straightening the toys/books you keep in the car for long trips (we have a small stash in the pockets behind the front seats--within easy reach for yours truly to hand back to cranky kids while Dad is driving). Voila! Clean car! If you're really inspired, you can vacuum the whole kit and caboodle. Ours deserves at least that. Since none of our kids can reach the windows, we don't have any messy fingerprints to clean off yet.

Spring Cleaning

This was posted by accident Friday; I'm re-posting it, but some of you may have already read it.

AAhhh.... the smell of the Easter lilies on my countertop are heavenly. So are the fresh smells of the daffodils now blooming like crazy in my yard. And the warm breeze...delightful. But my house is a wreck! Dusty, dirty, neglected during sickness (i.e. the whole month of February), stale-smelling, cluttered. There are even old Christmas cards still lingering on the kitchen counter because I might decide that we need to save them forever. Does this sound familiar?

The Time Has Come

There's something about the new spring air, the fresh flowers, and the extra daylight that's inspiring; seize the moment. If you're super organized and have been following a system such as the Fly Lady's, then your need for spring cleaning will be greatly reduced. But, if you're a wee bit behind on your cleaning, now's the time to plunge in! Easter is over, and it's time to get to work....

Spring Cleaning 101

Real Simple magazine has a great website where you can find many of the past articles from the magazine. I recommend checking out their cleaning guides; this handy Spring Cleaning 101 guide has links to all the best articles on cleaning. Check out their "Quick Solutions for Every Room" in the left margin. In addition, they list cleaning products, ideas for organizing, and many, many more resources.

Make a Plan

For me, the plan involves two high school girls who help me clean my house for extra spending money; they came Friday for 4-5 hours, and they helped clean this place from top to bottom (they did baseboards, windows, bathrooms, vacuumed and mopped all floors--including scrubbing the kitchen floor by hand, dusted, and cleaned our fans!). I realize that this is a luxury many people don't have, but you'd be surprised at how reasonable it can be--particularly when you hire middle or high schoolers. Many would love to earn some extra spending money, and they can certainly help you make a dent in your house cleaning. They might not be "professional," but neither are you! If you can't afford any extra help, enlist your children's help in anything they can do. You can also plan a Spring Cleaning Day. The garage/basement is often in need of as much decluttering as your home. Perhaps you and your husband can tackle the home one weekend and the garage/exterior of your home the next. It will be worth it!