tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-64006796638747366002024-03-12T22:08:10.325-04:00Lovely Fluffy MamaHaving fun, sharing recipes, and living life!Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comBlogger53125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-52036088550661025382012-12-27T12:40:00.003-05:002012-12-27T12:40:14.611-05:00Progression Pics and Notes: 37 - 40 Weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">37 Weeks:</u> Where in the world did this week go? It literally flew by! Had a couple of appointments - 1 NST and 1 dilation check (2cm yay!).</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxOOXKJYJic/UMZOJG6K7uI/AAAAAAAAAks/dGmfv_x1epQ/s1600/37+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-uxOOXKJYJic/UMZOJG6K7uI/AAAAAAAAAks/dGmfv_x1epQ/s640/37+weeks.jpg" width="371" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">38 Weeks:</u> This is the final countdown! If I don't go into labor this week/weekend on my own, then I'll be induced next week on my mom's birthday!!</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Had my weekly NST, everything looks good. I'm at 2.5 cm and the doctor did a very "aggressive" exam in hopes of possibly encouraging labor to start naturally. We will see! Either way, she will be here next week!! Eeeeeek!</span></div>
<br />
<div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">39 Weeks:</u> Induction Day!!! Well, she didn't come on her own, so time for the induction! It went great! I was able to get an epidural early, and I must say it was absolutely glorious lol! Got to the hospital at 6:30am, started the pitocin around 8am, epidural around 9am, the doctor came to break my water by 9:30am, and little miss Emily Noel was born at 12:15pm! Super quick and amazing delivery! Thank you God!<br /><br />The night before induction day - 39 weeks :)<br /><img height="640" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/148994_10151115897731362_569410414_n.jpg" width="480" /><br />
<br />
And here she is! Emily Noel, 7lbs, 8oz :)<br />
<img height="266" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/31612_10100241741669885_360103874_n.jpg" width="400" /><br />
<br />
Hanging with the hubs after Emily was born :)<br /><img height="640" src="https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/563822_10151115898971362_102593656_n.jpg" width="561" /><br />
<br />
And one of my favorite pictures, the kids meeting their baby sister :)<br />
<img height="640" src="https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/71667_10151117026646362_839322557_n.jpg" width="480" /><br />
<br />
Thank you for following me on my pregnancy journey!! It's been an amazing experience :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><i>~ Jessica</i></span></div>
<br /></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-3048914280327301812012-12-03T16:24:00.003-05:002012-12-03T16:24:40.933-05:00Progression Notes and Pics: 33 - 36 Weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">33 Weeks:</u> This week I am really starting to feel the pregnancy lol. Very breathless and I can feel babygirl getting bigger and more cramped. I am still walking with my mom in the mornings which helps tremendously! I can really feel a difference if we happen to skip a couple of days or so of walking!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Starting to get more anxious about the delivery. Not necessarily nervous, just getting more and more ready for it to happen haha. <br />
<br />
Had a prenatal appointment this week. Although my glucose numbers looks ok, I am now taking Glyburide at night to help lower my fasting blood sugar.<br />
<br />
I also found out that unless I have babygirl in the next 5 weeks, I will be induced at 39 weeks. Definitely not what I wanted to hear, but I have to trust that God is in control and knows my situation and my heart and I will accept whatever the outcome may happen to be.<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">34 Weeks:</u> This week I can feel a difference in the positioning of babygirl. She has been moving down and feels like she is in a definite head down position - locked and loaded lol :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqBP9NUJ1Qc/UKLRDKSmIDI/AAAAAAAAAkI/fd7Q5S7jOgE/s1600/34+weeks.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rqBP9NUJ1Qc/UKLRDKSmIDI/AAAAAAAAAkI/fd7Q5S7jOgE/s400/34+weeks.png" width="215" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">35 Weeks:</u> This week has been very slow going. BUT, my baby shower is this week so that is very exciting!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Babygirl has for sure dropped this week. I can barely walk most days due to the pelvic pressure and pain and my back is more wrecked than ever before. Heating pad seems to really help, but of course is very temporary. </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Dr appointment next week! She will be checking me for dilation and I will have a non-stress test to make sure everything is going well with the baby's oxygen levels and such. Excited to see if there is any progression :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">I had my baby shower! So much fun with family and friends! Here's me and the hubs, he's measuring my belly for a game :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9PJDJfCei4U/UKqcpKG94YI/AAAAAAAAAkY/Y6fZEEP8WP0/s1600/35+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9PJDJfCei4U/UKqcpKG94YI/AAAAAAAAAkY/Y6fZEEP8WP0/s640/35+weeks.jpg" width="361" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">36 Weeks:</u> This week flew by! Going to the doctor twice a week now - once for NST's and once for regular check ups. I am 1 cm dilated this week and baby is confirmed head down :)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-61505752472340284632012-11-01T13:19:00.002-04:002012-11-01T13:19:59.452-04:00Progression Notes and Pics: 29 - 32 weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">29 Weeks:</u> Took the 3 hour glucose test this week. The doctor said that "no news is good news", so we will see what happens! I go back for a regular checkup in 2 weeks :)<br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">30 Weeks:</u> My doctor's office called about the results of my 3 hour glucose test. She didn't say I didn't pass, but I am to start a 2,000 calorie diabetic diet for the next couple of weeks, and when I go back for my regular appointment next week we will talk about it.</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">I have been trying really hard to change my diet around and add more exercise into my routine so that I don't gain a ton more weight, since I am already at the "reasonable" weight gain for this pregnancy. And I have to say, I feel great! Over the last 2 weeks, I have managed to maintain my weight from my last doctor's appointment :) One more week until my next appointment so I will have the official weigh-in then :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">31 Weeks:</u> I feel better now than I have this entire pregnancy. Having to do the 3 hour glucose test and gaining so much weight so quickly was a big wake up call. It wasn't that I was eating terrible before, but I certainly wasn't really paying much attention to it. And I also wasn't exercising nearly as much as a should have been. I have cut out most carbs/starches/sugars. Added a ton of water and protein. I came to realize that when I eat pasta, breads, drink sodas (even diet) etc...that I end up with a monstrous headache. I never associated it with what I was eating before now!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Had a doctor's appointment this week. Sure enough, I have to test my blood sugar 4x/day, at least until my next appointment in about a week and a half. If my numbers can be maintained using diet modification, then I will only have to to test maybe twice a day (if that) and will need NO medication! Good news is I am finally measuring where I should be (I was always measuring 2 -3 weeks ahead, but this time was spot on 31 weeks!), and I only gained maybe 1.5 lbs between visits (normally I was gaining between 4 - 6 lbs between visits!). </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">32 Weeks:</u> This week has been going ok. My numbers for blood sugar testing have been looking good, and I have figured out how to control it. So, hopefully after next week I will only have to test twice a day! </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;">Halloween was this week :) We had a good time! My parents and sister and her kids came over for chili and then we ventured out into the neighborhood for trick or treating! Lots of walking, which actually felt really good, and I amazingly avoided *most* candy consumption :)</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ctYyV7zf4c/UJKYoDoinNI/AAAAAAAAAj4/xpS5UUoXjIU/s1600/32+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4ctYyV7zf4c/UJKYoDoinNI/AAAAAAAAAj4/xpS5UUoXjIU/s400/32+weeks.jpg" width="262" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
</div>
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-9532074668766413382012-10-06T12:29:00.000-04:002012-10-06T12:30:11.970-04:00Progression Pics and Notes: 25 - 28 Weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">25 Weeks:</u><b style="text-decoration: underline;"> </b>More exercise for me! I've been walking with my mom in the mornings 3x/week and it really helps me feel great, plus I get to spend some quality time with my mom!<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">26 Weeks:</u> This week has been pretty uneventful. Took my glucose test, and I go back to the doctor in a couple of weeks. Still walking in the mornings with my mom :)<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<u style="font-weight: bold;">27 Weeks:</u> The weeks are just flying by! I can't believe it! It is almost the end of September already! I am pretty sure babygirl has moved her way back down again! Possibly even head down at this point. I feel a lot less pressure on my lungs and feeling that low pelvic pressure and pain once again. I gotta be honest, I would rather have the pelvic discomfort than to have the pressure on my lungs - I seriously couldn't breathe!<br />
<br />
Getting a little nervous about the end of this pregnancy/birth - not necessarily the actual labor/delivery, but the madness that will be surrounding it. First of all, my due date is Christmas Eve, so that in itself is already a chaotic time of year to have a baby (although, definitely the BEST gift I could ever ask for!). All the hustle and bustle of the holidays is so much fun, but also a lot to take in, especially being so far along in my pregnancy as I will be. But this year, we will also have a lot of family here!! We already have lots of family that live in town (my parents, Ryan's parents and his brothers, my brother, my sister and her family). But this year, Ryan's grandfather from England is flying in. Also his aunt from England is making a "surprise" visit. His other aunt and uncle (and possibly cousin) from Texas are flying in. And so is his uncle from California. There are always other surprises and surprise visits involving family, so there is no telling how big and burly this season will be lol! But, as nervous as it makes me to have so many people around at such an emotionally draining and trying time, I feel SO BLESSED to have so many people that will be there that really care for me and love me and be excited with me. As a bonus, I will have plenty of help and babysitters available to let me recover! yay!<br />
<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><u style="font-weight: bold;">28 Weeks:</u> Found out at my prenatal check-up that my 1 hr glucose test was high, so I am taking the 3 hour test next week. We will see what happens! I also had to take the 3 hour one with my son and it ended up being nothing, so I am really hoping and praying that this will be the same :)</span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">Measuring around 31 weeks, and I have gained 6 lbs since my last appointment (went from 147 to 153 in a month).</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2a0JhNvXjs/UHBccO7XhvI/AAAAAAAAAjk/zRWbn9ExWo8/s1600/28+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-X2a0JhNvXjs/UHBccO7XhvI/AAAAAAAAAjk/zRWbn9ExWo8/s400/28+weeks.jpg" width="345" /></a></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-67518032644808446972012-08-14T11:40:00.000-04:002012-09-13T10:26:51.067-04:00Pics and Progression Notes: 21 - 24 Weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">Week 21:</u> I am officially past the halfway mark in this pregnancy! Things are starting to set in a little now in my mind - this is really happening! Ahhh!!<br />
<br />
I am somewhat the opposite of a pack rat. I hate clutter, so if something doesn't have a "home" or storage space or if we haven't used it lately or won't use it anytime soon, it gets thrown out or given away. That being said, of course we have NOTHING left of Riley's or Noah's from when they were babies. Well, I think we still have Noah's pack and play, but that's it. I'm not too worried about it - we have time to get things done and it will be fun starting over! And if it doesn't get done, oh well! Things always seems to fall into place when it needs to, I'm not going to stress over it :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been able to feel babygirl moving around since about 17 weeks, but late last night as I was laying there, watching my belly, I realized she is big enough now for everyone else to see and feel the movements! What an amazing show to watch - it never gets old :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have been really mindful of what I have been eating lately. I feel like my stomach is an endless, insatiable, monstrosity of an abyss lately. So, basically, I could literally eat all day and never feel full. This is why I have to make a conscious decision with every single bite that I am eating as healthy and as nutrient dense as possible. I definitely want only the best for this little one, and I sure as heck don't want to have to lose 1,000 lbs after she is born :)<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AK51ng-STk/UCrKaxEEvmI/AAAAAAAAAio/s4dV_tTm8oI/s1600/21+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="231" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-7AK51ng-STk/UCrKaxEEvmI/AAAAAAAAAio/s4dV_tTm8oI/s400/21+weeksedited.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">22 Weeks:</u> Carrying a baby can be killer for your back. Carrying a baby low is just torture lol. Not only does it do terrible things to your back, but it also does quite a number on your pelvic region. There are some days where it hurts to even just stand up. I am hoping she moves her way up a little as time goes on and as she gets bigger. But until then, I ordered <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Medela-Maternity-Support/dp/B0001BUKBC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1346258352&sr=8-1&keywords=medela+pregnancy+support+band">this pregnancy support band </a>that should be arriving this week, so we will see how that works! I'm also incorporating a little yoga into my routine, and I think that will also help :)<br />
<br />
The pregnancy band seems to be actually helping! Pretty comfy to wear and I can definitely feel the difference, especially in my back - yay!<br />
<br />
Starting to narrow down the names for babygirl!! Very Exciting :)<br />
<br />
(this week flew by and I forgot to take a picture!)<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">23 Weeks:</u> I think babygirl is finally starting to move up a little! A LOT less pressure down low, and the pregnancy band that I wear during the day has been helping :) The only downside is that I can feel more pressure on my lungs now, so I am becoming much more breathless these days.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_n_eUrcfAAw/UD1OfYPizJI/AAAAAAAAAjU/1KP9w9AkSaw/s1600/23+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_n_eUrcfAAw/UD1OfYPizJI/AAAAAAAAAjU/1KP9w9AkSaw/s320/23+weeksedited.jpg" width="174" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<b><u>24 Weeks</u></b>: It's hard to believe how fast this pregnancy has been going! Only 16 weeks left!<br />
<br />
Still feeling good, just feeling fat lol. Huffing and puffing all over the place :) I need to get to the gym - the sad part is, my husband manages one and I haven't been there to work out yet lol!<br />
<br />
Had a prenatal appointment this week. Everything is going great! Glucose screening will be in the next couple of weeks.<br />
<br />
Really looking forward to some cooler weather (hopefully soon!). It is already into the first week of September and still 95+ degrees outside! Come on Fall weather!<br />
<br />
(Again, no photo - oops!)<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-41662161005933775202012-07-26T15:04:00.000-04:002012-07-26T15:04:36.498-04:00Homemade Greek Yogurt<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I had no idea you could make yogurt at home!! And then, to find out how easy it is??!! Amazing! It is quite time consuming, but most of that is letting the yogurt "incubate", which you can do overnight, and you can use your crock pot!!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQJgN56d3I/UBGSf9PSzTI/AAAAAAAAAhg/nyEtEXeY00U/s1600/granolaedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQJgN56d3I/UBGSf9PSzTI/AAAAAAAAAhg/nyEtEXeY00U/s320/granolaedited.jpg" width="219" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></i></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8 cups (1/2 gallon) milk - I used whole milk, but you can use any kind</span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup plain yogurt (this is used as a "starter", so if you have made homemade before, you can use that. Also I used plain Greek yogurt, but I think any kind would work)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u><i>Optional Ingredients:</i></u></b></span><ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1/2 cup to 3/4 cup honey </span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> 1 Tablespoon vanilla extract</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><u><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></i></u></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pour 8 cups milk into crock pot. Cover and cook on low for 2 1/2 hours.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 2 1/2 hours, turn crock pot off (unplug it too). Let sit, covered for another 2 1/2 to 3 hours.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Take out 1 to 2 cups of the milk and whisk with 1/2 cup plain yogurt. Make sure it is nice and smooth. *You can also whisk in the honey and vanilla at this point, if you wish to have sweetened yogurt*. Pour mixture back into crock pot and stir well with the rest of the milk.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wrap entire covered crock pot with a thick towel to insulate. Let sit for 8 to 10 hours - I set mine in the oven with the light on over night, but you can probably just leave it on the counter top.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After 8 to 10 hours, unwrap and uncover the yogurt - if you don't like Greek yogurt, you can just pour this mixture into containers and refrigerate until ready to use. </span></li>
</ol>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /><br /><span style="background-color: white;">**To make it Greek style</span></span></div>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After, 8 to 10 hours of incubating, unwrap and uncover the yogurt. Pour yogurt into a cheesecloth-lined strainer/colander, sitting in a bowl (the bowl is to catch the liquid whey that will separate from the yogurt), and place in refrigerator for several hours to strain. I had to use about 4 layers of the cheesecloth.</span></span></li>
</ul>
</span><div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4bXa8waOYEU/UBGSi4-MLkI/AAAAAAAAAho/YgVBRy_reic/s320/strainingedited.jpg" style="background-color: white;" /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When yogurt has reached your desired thickness, removed yogurt from the cheesecloth, put into containers, and store in refrigerator until you are ready to enjoy! I was ready to enjoy right then!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fj6clCvWIU/UBGSqpZNLaI/AAAAAAAAAh4/Ln1gWqTtpME/s1600/yogurtedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8Fj6clCvWIU/UBGSqpZNLaI/AAAAAAAAAh4/Ln1gWqTtpME/s320/yogurtedited.jpg" width="224" /></span></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">Keep the whey that collects in the bowl!! It is VERY good for you! Loaded with protein, vitamins, minerals, and enzymes!! You can freeze it into ice cubes and put into smoothies! You can also substitute it in its liquid state where a recipe calls for buttermilk (like pancakes yum!). Here is a good link for </span><a href="http://www.salad-in-a-jar.com/recipes-with-yogurt/18-ways-to-use-whey-a-by-product-of-greek-yogurt" style="background-color: white;">18 Ways To Use Whey</a><span style="background-color: white;">. You can always just </span><a href="http://www.google.com/" style="background-color: white;">Google</a><span style="background-color: white;"> it too! There are so many things you can use it for, so don't throw it away, even though it does has a striking resemblance to urine lol.</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zn9trGfKhk/UBGSmSZRMpI/AAAAAAAAAhw/JrWpIE47yTo/s1600/wheyedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6zn9trGfKhk/UBGSmSZRMpI/AAAAAAAAAhw/JrWpIE47yTo/s320/wheyedited.jpg" width="215" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don't forget to save at least 1/2 cup of your homemade yogurt to use as a starter for the next time!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">After I enjoyed a few bites of this yummy deliciousness, I decided to add some granola - YUM!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy your homemade yogurt!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQJgN56d3I/UBGSf9PSzTI/AAAAAAAAAhg/nyEtEXeY00U/s1600/granolaedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-5rQJgN56d3I/UBGSf9PSzTI/AAAAAAAAAhg/nyEtEXeY00U/s320/granolaedited.jpg" width="219" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>~ Jessica</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</span></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-60661599506876408122012-07-23T20:14:00.000-04:002012-07-23T20:14:47.849-04:00Pics and Progression Notes: 4 - 16 Weeks<div style="text-align: center;">
With my first 2 pregnancies, I hardly took any pictures and I never wrote anything down about it. I did journal for a bit after both kids were born - milestones and such. But never anything while I was still pregnant. Now that I have a blog, I want to use it to keep track of this beautiful time in my life with my third (and possibly final) pregnancy. I really should have started taking pictures much earlier, but the earliest I have is from when I was 12 weeks, so I will start there with the photos :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I really don't have anything to report as far as symptoms because I haven't really had any. No morning sickness (thank God). No food cravings yet. Maybe a few food aversions for a short amount of time (chicken was yucky to me for about a week), but now everything sounds pretty good lol. The only thing that stood out for me was between 4 - 7 weeks along, I was extremely dizzy and exhausted. Beyond exhausted. Headaches galore. Breathless. But that all subsided by around 8 weeks. Also around that time (somewhere around the 6 or 8 week mark) my clothes started to not fit anymore! Yikes!<br />
<br />
Here we go!<br />
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>*12 weeks</b>: Feeling great (yet feeling big, and at this point I was not telling anyone about this pregnancy yet)</div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jdKTzW-Cqg/T_HvZPV1DoI/AAAAAAAAAfk/H0eeWCQjiCs/s1600/12+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jdKTzW-Cqg/T_HvZPV1DoI/AAAAAAAAAfk/H0eeWCQjiCs/s320/12+weeksedited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>*Skipped a few weeks of photos and such, sorry :(</b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
</div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<b>*15 weeks</b>: Still feeling awesome! And still not telling anyone about the pregnancy until after our 1st appointment, which will be after 17 weeks :) </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I seriously need some new clothes! NOTHING fits anymore - even my "big jeans" do not fit any longer. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I need some summer clothes! It is HOT! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I'm pretty sure I felt movement - although I'm also pretty sure it could have also been gas lol. With my 1st pregnancy I felt movement at 23 weeks (she was super tiny so it took a little longer to feel her moving). With my second, I felt movement somewhere between 18-20 weeks. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(I apologize for the poor photo quality on this one!)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CyDDIlQId7s/T_H3uz6aWUI/AAAAAAAAAf0/yTOQul154F0/s1600/15+weeks4edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CyDDIlQId7s/T_H3uz6aWUI/AAAAAAAAAf0/yTOQul154F0/s320/15+weeks4edited.jpg" width="196" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<br />
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div>
<b style="background-color: white;"><br /></b></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="background-color: white;">*16 weeks: </b><span style="background-color: white;">Feeling wonderful. I have been intentionally eating as many whole and raw foods as possible. With my first pregnancy with Riley, I ate basically whatever I wanted, but most of what I wanted was good for me - salads, tons of fruit, smoothies, etc. With my second pregnancy, I ate terrible lol! Anything fried, greasy, or spicy was a go! I remember feeling yucky most of the time and I gained a lot more weight than I probably should have. And it also took me forever to lose the weight once I had Noah. So this time around, even before I became pregnant, I have been making a conscious decision every day to eat very heart healthy and drink tons of water, and get exercise when I can, and I can really feel the difference. I still drink coffee everyday and definitely splurge now and then, but overall, I feel much healthier this time around. </span></div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have been feeling definite movement this week! I remember this feeling very well. Mostly at night, or when I'm laying down, or when I eat/drink something cold :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I have my 1st doctor's visit next week and am so excited! It has been hard to keep this pregnancy under wraps when just about everyone else around me has announced their pregnancies!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
(again, with the crappy photo quality)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v6IJTOkMc8U/T_sq93gJd7I/AAAAAAAAAgU/UVQRZVl_iRk/s1600/16+weeks2edited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v6IJTOkMc8U/T_sq93gJd7I/AAAAAAAAAgU/UVQRZVl_iRk/s320/16+weeks2edited.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Find Weeks 17 - 20 <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/07/pics-and-progression-notes-17-20-weeks.html">here</a> :)<br />
<div>
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-88716071921562685102012-07-23T19:50:00.000-04:002012-08-14T18:29:19.175-04:00Pics and Progression Notes: 17 - 20 Weeks<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<u style="font-weight: bold;">17 Weeks:</u> HEARTBURN!!!! Yep. It's here with a vengeance! I had it terribly with my other pregnancies, and this time around doesn't seem to be any different, except that is has started earlier in the pregnancy than usual.<br />
<br />
I FINALLY got to see my doctor for the first time! I LOVE her! I have had female OB/GYN's in the past and had terrible experiences with them, so I was a little hesitant at first when I realized this doctor is female. But she is awesome and I am so glad that I ended up at her office :) The appointment went great - heard the heartbeat a couple of different times during the visit which is always awesome! <span style="background-color: white;">I have gained about 10 lbs so far this pregnancy, my pre-preg weight was 125lbs and I'm about 136lbs now :) </span><span style="background-color: white;">I have an ultrasound scheduled for next week, so I am super excited about that! </span><br />
<br />
(please excuse the tiny mess in the background haha :) )<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnZxnWmHYYY/UAWwDHzt2PI/AAAAAAAAAgg/TvThC6f4ij0/s1600/17+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnZxnWmHYYY/UAWwDHzt2PI/AAAAAAAAAgg/TvThC6f4ij0/s320/17+weeksedited.jpg" width="264" /></a></div>
<br />
<br />
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">18 weeks:</u> Ultrasound day!! Finally went in for our first ultrasound, which also ended up being the gender reveal ultrasound! Ryan and the kids went with me :) Everything looks awesome for our new little PRINCESS!! Yes, IT'S A GIRL!! YAY!<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewHK48kQb8k/UA3PDtxyRnI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Itr4-B1D4dM/s1600/Baby+C+18+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ewHK48kQb8k/UA3PDtxyRnI/AAAAAAAAAgs/Itr4-B1D4dM/s320/Baby+C+18+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And here's me :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7brI9YNE-I/UA3ZvfU_n2I/AAAAAAAAAg8/dZoP8od_6bY/s1600/18+weeks" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7brI9YNE-I/UA3ZvfU_n2I/AAAAAAAAAg8/dZoP8od_6bY/s320/18+weeks" width="315" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
And, we FINALLY told everyone!! Whew! Felt so good to tell my friends and family :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More to come!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">19 Weeks:</u> It has been one HOT Summer!! I already tend to feel hot all the time normally, but add on summer and a pregnancy and it is absolute misery haha! Definitely been having a hard time cooling down during the day, but lots of water and fresh fruit has been helping :)<br />
<br />
The kids are really excited about their baby sister! Noah likes to look at her ultrasound picture :) Riley has been going through her own clothes and said she is keeping the small clothes for her baby sister :) And both of them have been learning how to fold and prep diapers - they like how tiny their sister's diapers are compared to Noah's lol.<br />
<br />
My next doctor's appointment will be next week to go over the ultrasound and such :)<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NBVUvunmJc/UBhkwc8P7bI/AAAAAAAAAiI/oC4k3oOPB2E/s1600/19+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3NBVUvunmJc/UBhkwc8P7bI/AAAAAAAAAiI/oC4k3oOPB2E/s320/19+weeksedited.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not quite 20 weeks yet in this picture, but I loved Noah in this one :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KUnoJl-SuM/UBwYp3q0NbI/AAAAAAAAAiY/V8vdfZdEI78/s1600/almost+20+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8KUnoJl-SuM/UBwYp3q0NbI/AAAAAAAAAiY/V8vdfZdEI78/s320/almost+20+weeksedited.jpg" width="265" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
<u style="font-weight: bold;">20 Weeks:</u> The halfway mark!! Yay! Been feeling really good lately. Definitely need to get more exercise though! Been feeling a tad sluggish, and I know some additional walks around the neighborhood would definitely help. Been thinking about names for babygirl, but nothing solid yet!<br />
<br />
Had a follow up appointment to go over the ultrasound and blood work, and everything looks great! My due date hasn't changed, although I did measure 22 weeks instead of 20 weeks (but that could be because of a million different reasons - nothing to be concerned about). I weighed in at 140 lbs, so I gained about 4 lbs since my last appointment - yikes! I was advised to add some additional walking/exercise time into my week lol.<br />
<br />
I am carrying super low, which is very uncomfortable. I carried low with Noah as well, and it was miserable! A lot of pressure on the bladder and hips. Although, at this point it is still nice to be able to breathe and not have baby movement all in the ribs and such (but I am sure that will change once she is bigger).<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
One weird thing that is happening (and it may not even be pregnancy related, although I kind of hope it is), is that my right index finger feels like it has arthritis! Every morning, it is super swollen and tender at the joints. I can barely move it or straighten it. It gets a little looser throughout the day, but not really. It has the feeling of when you jam your finger, yet I didn't injure it. Could this be gout? Whatever it is, I hope it subsides soon or at least after this pregnancy.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
OOPS! I forgot to take a 20 week picture! </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Click <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/08/pics-and-progression-notes-21-24-weeks.html">here </a>to read about Weeks 21 - 24 :)</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<span style="background-color: white;">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</span></div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>
</div>
Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-90808132055568175092012-07-23T19:11:00.003-04:002012-07-23T19:18:13.320-04:00Picture Progression: From 12 weeks - 40 weeks<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6jdKTzW-Cqg/T_HvZPV1DoI/AAAAAAAAAfk/H0eeWCQjiCs/s320/12+weeksedited.jpg" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-CyDDIlQId7s/T_H3uz6aWUI/AAAAAAAAAf0/yTOQul154F0/s320/15+weeks4edited.jpg" /><img src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v6IJTOkMc8U/T_sq93gJd7I/AAAAAAAAAgU/UVQRZVl_iRk/s320/16+weeks2edited.jpg" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7brI9YNE-I/UA3ZvfU_n2I/AAAAAAAAAg8/dZoP8od_6bY/s1600/18+weeks" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-R7brI9YNE-I/UA3ZvfU_n2I/AAAAAAAAAg8/dZoP8od_6bY/s320/18+weeks" width="313" /></a><img height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-QnZxnWmHYYY/UAWwDHzt2PI/AAAAAAAAAgg/TvThC6f4ij0/s320/17+weeksedited.jpg" width="265" />
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-87952391134947406532012-07-08T13:03:00.002-04:002012-07-08T18:06:08.248-04:00Review: Scarlet's Naturals SunBlock - Revisited :)<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><img alt="Scarlet's Naturals" src="http://scarletsnaturals.com/private/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/logo3.jpg" />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;">Back in May, </span>Desiree from<a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/"> Scarlet's Naturals</a> sent me a generous, full sized <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-sunblock-4/">Coconut Scented SunBlock </a>to review, just in time for Mother's Day weekend! We ended up spending the day out on the boat and exploring some of the surrounding islands, and for some reason, the SunBlock just didn't seem right - the texture was off, the ingredients were separating, the scent seemed a little off, and it actually didn't work on me (although it worked fantastic on my husband and my kids!). It was odd because I have used some of her other products, such as the <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/hiney-honey-quick-stick-mini/">Hiney Honey Quick Stick Mini</a> and the <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-suds/">Scarlet's Suds</a> laundry detergent, and I absolutely love them and have had no issues with those whatsoever! As it turns out, the SunBlock that was sent to me just happened to be part of a <i>very</i> small few that were a tad faulty. Desiree was so prompt with contacting me about it, and I have to say her customer service is outstanding!! She really cares about her customers and stands behind her products 100%. On top of being super friendly and apologetic, she sent me a completely new full sized bottle of SunBlock! How awesome is that?!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FB2Mxo_j4aA/T_mseUTlgfI/AAAAAAAAAgA/SJmnf3F_pHc/s1600/IMG_2119.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FB2Mxo_j4aA/T_mseUTlgfI/AAAAAAAAAgA/SJmnf3F_pHc/s320/IMG_2119.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">When I received the SunBlock, I have to admit I was a little </span><span style="background-color: white;">hesitant</span><span style="background-color: white;"> to try it again, but I sure am glad that I did! I LOVE it!!!!! It is </span><span style="background-color: white;">definitely</span><span style="background-color: white;"> one of my favorites to use now! I received the unscented this time, and it smells amazing!!! Almost like a light and fresh baby wash type of smell! It is so extremely easy to apply, and even though it ends up going on clear (which I love), it leaves absolutely NO greasy residue!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My kids love to be outside and in the water, so we basically have to use some form of sun protection every single day. To say we have tried a million types of sunscreens and sunblocks and UV resistant clothing would be an understatement!! Or at least it feels that way ;) Scarlet's SunBlock protected my kids for at least a couple of hours with just one application, even with them playing in the water the whole time! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b>What I love about Scarlet's SunBlock:</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>All natural ingredients!!!!</b> With ingredients such as coconut oil and beeswax (made from the bee hives in their own backyard!), you can really feel confident about using this product on yourself and your family!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Ease of use.</b> This is so easy to apply, even on squirmy kids!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>No residue.</b> The SunBlock leaves no greasy residue! It blends right in!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Water resistant/ Sweat resistent with an SPF of 50+!</b> It really stays on and continues to protect from harmful UVA/UVB rays, even while in the water!</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Scent is wonderful.</b> Doesn't leave any weird "after scents". It smells very light and clean, the whole time.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b>Great Size and concentrated.</b> The full size comes in a 6 fluid oz bottle and I think it is perfect! It fits nicely in my beach bag without taking up too much room. And because it is fairly concentrated, a little goes a long way and is plenty for our family and will last us a long time.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>I honestly can't think of any reason to not love Scarlet's SunBlock! You should definitely give it a try, especially if you are looking for an all-natural alternative for sun protection.</b></div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">I am so impressed with Scarlet's SunBlock! I will be ordering more in the future for sure! You can purchase your own SunBlock right <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-sunblock-4/">here</a>! And what is even more awesome is that there is even an option to purchase a convenient, take-along <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-sunstick/">SunStick</a> - perfect for quick application to the body and face!!! Love that idea! </span><span style="background-color: white;">Scarlet's Naturals offers an amazing <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/">line of products</a>! You will not be disappointed, no matter what you decide to purchase! Make sure to also go ahead and become a fan on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scarletsnaturals">Facebook</a> too - be among the first to know about new products, promos, and giveaways!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
A special THANK YOU to Desiree at Scarlet's Naturals for the opportunity to review (and re-review) such an awesome product :)<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><b><i>~ Jessica</i></b></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></b><br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>*I was not paid to do this review. The products were provided to me in exchange for the review. These are my true and honest words and personal opinions.*</i></b></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div>
<br class="Apple-interchange-newline" /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-61452743189520149932012-07-02T14:17:00.000-04:002012-07-23T20:09:49.261-04:00Pregnancy #3 and An Explanation :)<div style="text-align: center;">
After you read my "<a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/07/im-finally-letting-cat-out-of-bag-and.html">A Confession, A Little Venting, and A Blessing in Disguise</a>" post, the info from here on out will make more sense :) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
FYI: This post is a tad lengthy, but I need to explain some things first - by the time you are reading this post, I will be backtracking some, so try not to be confused ;)<br />
<br />
<b><u>A Little Background:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
This is pregnancy #3 for me and my husband Ryan. We have two beautiful little ones - our little princess Riley is 3 and our handsome prince Noah is 2. We always knew we wanted to have at least one more baby, but didn't really know when. My first 2 pregnancies were a breeze. In fact, we got pregnant immediately (on our honeymoon) and weren't even trying! (Well, we weren't exactly doing our best to prevent it either, but you know what I mean hehe). Piece of cake pregnancy - no morning sickness, not a lot of weird cravings (except at the end I drank about a gallon of milk every day - seriously I <i>had</i> to have it!!), <span style="background-color: white;">I didn't even show with that pregnancy until I was almost 6 months pregnant! </span><span style="background-color: white;">I was induced at 37 weeks only because she was tiny and the doctor wanted to be sure she wasn't tiny because of lack of oxygen flow. Turns out she is just tiny, no health issues whatsoever. Labor was extremely short, about 4 hours total, from breaking my water to Riley screaming her little lungs out on my chest :) In fact, it was so short, by the time I asked for the epidural, it was too late! I was already 10cm dilated and she was ready to make her entrance!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My second pregnancy happened when Riley was about 6 months old, and I misplaced my birth control pills while the interior of our house was being painted and we moved out for about 3 days during that time. Again, we weren't really taking the appropriate measures to prevent the pregnancy, but it happened after only missing about 2 days of the pill - doesn't take much! But again, no morning sickness, I showed a little earlier that time around, no weird cravings (except for Nathan's corn dogs and cheese fries, and anything spicy - so nothing weird, just completely unhealthy lol), he was an average sized baby, but I ended up being induced again, only because he went past his due date and I couldn't handle it anymore! Short labor, even shorter than my first one - less than 3 hours total. Severe back labor, but again, I waited too long to ask for the epidural (you'd think I would have learned to ask for it immediately upon arrival after having gone through the last labor and deliver without one), so Noah was also born without any pain meds - WOW! That's all I can say - it is a pain like no other! lol</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So because it has been so easy for us to get pregnant, we really wanted to wait and actually plan for #3. And so we did. We waited for about 2 years to try again. Except this time it wasn't so easy. Thankfully, it only took 3 - 4 months after really trying (I know that's nothing, but for us it seemed like forever, so I really feel for those that have had to wait much much longer and are possibly in the process of still trying and waiting - i.e. my mom and dad tried for 8 years to get pregnant with me!!!). At the time we started trying again, Ryan had a new job and the future was looking great! We were talking about moving beachside (my dream!), and spending Christmas in a new home! It was all just so exciting! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Then, one day, Ryan came home from work earlier than I was expecting. I was actually expecting him home a <i>little</i> early, because we planned on going to a basketball game that evening and he needed to leave a little early so we wouldn't be late. But he came home a few <i>hours</i> earlier than I was even expecting him. He got layed off. Talk about emotional rollercoaster. We went from talking about moving to a beach house, planning our Christmas in a new home, to being jobless and falling behind on our bills, and then finding out about our pregnancy all within a matter of weeks. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><br /></u></b><br />
<b><u>The Explanation (for not telling anyone sooner):</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div>
We originally wanted to tell everyone after my first doctor's visit (which I was planning on being somewhere around 8 weeks), but since week after week I wasn't able to get an appointment, and then it turned out that I wasn't able to get in to see anyone until 17 weeks (almost time for our gender reveal ultrasound), we decided to just wait until we knew the gender to make the announcement. <span style="background-color: white;">There was also just no way I could tell my friends and family about our pregnancy before then. They would be so disappointed in us (self-imposed, negative thoughts). I could feel the judgment already (again, this feeling was self-imposed - I would hope that nobody would truly judge us). The pregnancy itself was going great, but I just imagined our situation being better than it was. Ryan had no job. I had no job. He picked up side jobs with his dad (construction) and other friends (lawn care) and traveled every weekend (it ended up being every Wednesday or Thursday - Monday) selling athletic bands at iron man competitions and marathons. And I have been making/selling cloth diapers in between all the craziness that comes with having 2 young children at home. It was crazy!!! Nothing stable, our income has been all over the place this year. Ryan was working and traveling all the time! Then there was the issue with my insurance! Ahhh! Such a trying time. But as trying as this all has been (and to some, this may seem like nothing), I am so very thankful that my family is extremely healthy and that I have been able to stay home and raise my 2 little ones, even through difficult financial times. And I am also thankful that this pregnancy has been such a breeze for me, with no issues whatsoever. </span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
Meanwhile, I have been trying to keep this pregnancy on the down low, but it has not been easy!! Not telling anyone wasn't the hard part. The fear of judgment from everyone has made it quite easy for me to keep it a secret. Thankfully, <span style="background-color: white;">I have had no morning sickness or any food aversions or cravings, so it hasn't been too hard to keep it under wraps in that sense. </span><span style="background-color: white;">Physically hiding it has been the hard part. I have been showing since I was somewhere between 8 - 10 weeks! Here's my belly at 12 weeks:</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FztUFqgZHnQ/T_Hdih0yAHI/AAAAAAAAAfY/E_LxNAA4NaE/s1600/12+weeksedited.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-FztUFqgZHnQ/T_Hdih0yAHI/AAAAAAAAAfY/E_LxNAA4NaE/s320/12+weeksedited.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Not exactly easy to hide that!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I am now 15 weeks pregnant while writing this, and I have been sucking it in, wearing loose shirts, staying at home, etc. doing everything possible to hide my growing belly until after my first doctor's appointment (which again won't be until I am 17 weeks along) and first ultrasound.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The good news is, Ryan has a stable job now, he has been promoted in the short amount of time he's been there, my insurance issue has been straightened out, we will be getting a decent return from the IRS soon from a mix-up of sorts so we will be able to catch up on all bills and such, there is another possible house for us to move into (not my dream beach location but a great area and much closer to Ryan's work), and I have an appointment to finally see a doctor. God has always pulled through for us, and I know that He always will, but it isn't always easy to see the victory while you are going through the struggle - that's where FAITH comes into play :) Anyway, after our first ultrasound, I will be more than ready and excited to tell everyone the wonderful news!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
In fact, I won't even be publishing this post until after we make the announcement!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
So to all my friends and family that are reading, <span style="background-color: white;">I apologize for keeping everyone in the dark for so long. And </span><span style="background-color: white;">if you have been questioning whether I am pregnant or just simply getting fat and "letting myself go" over the past 4 months, now you know lol! </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
P.S. It's a GIRL!!!!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3yPZcFY1UU/UA3c2LsNKDI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/XT5KGoRQGLU/s1600/Baby+C+18+weeks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="278" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-w3yPZcFY1UU/UA3c2LsNKDI/AAAAAAAAAhQ/XT5KGoRQGLU/s320/Baby+C+18+weeks.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
More pictures and other fun stuff to come right <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/07/pics-and-progression-notes-4-16-weeks.html">here</a>!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">~ Jessica</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-13802229816239910972012-07-02T13:56:00.001-04:002012-07-23T19:21:55.997-04:00A Confession, A Little Venting, and A Blessing in Disguise :)<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u>A Confession:</u> </b><br />
Recently friends and such have been asking me when we are going to have more kids. And I have been answering them with something like," Hopefully sooner than later". Or "We would love to have more kids, we just don't know <i>exactly</i> when yet". The truth is, I have known that I was pregnant since I was about 4 or 5 (at most) weeks along, which makes me almost 4 months pregnant as I am writing this. The day my period was due in April (possibly the day before), I took 3 home pregnancy strip tests - the kind that you dip into the urine sample. I thought they were all negative, until I looked closer. There was a very very very faint line on all 3 tests. <a href="http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/evaporation-lines.html">Evaporation lines</a>. Or so I thought that was what had happened. The lines seriously were so faint that I thought maybe I was imagining it. But I still had that feeling. So a couple of days went by and I bought another test - the kind that reads either "pregnant" or "not pregnant". I wanted the results to be more clear than the lines - and sure enough "PREGNANT". I took the second one the next day just to be sure - "PREGNANT". </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
I'm due December 24, 2012 :)<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b><u>A Little Venting</u></b>:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;">My husband has been self-employed up until recently (now he works for a company instead of for himself). And while we were self-employed, we have had no health insurance for the last 5 years. It is WAY too expensive to purchase privately, and since we didn't work for a company that provided benefits, we have always been able to get coverage through our state (enough coverage for pregnancies and the kids' pediatric services and that's all). BUT, this time around was different. Long story short, it has taken 2 1/2 months to get my insurance coverage straightened out (and another 2 weeks to see a doctor after that), and I have waited this whole time to be able to make a doctor's appointment for prenatal care! Let me tell you, it has driven me CRAZY!!!! All I have wanted to do is to hear the heartbeat, make sure the baby is ok, get my lab work done and out of the way, tell people the exciting news!!! I must have called the doctor's office a billion times trying to make an appointment, and every time I called, I ended up disappointed, because I couldn't get in, because my insurance coverage wasn't "correct". </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
So, today (July 2nd),<span style="background-color: white;"> I </span><span style="background-color: white;">am now 15 weeks pregnant (I know I am back tracking a bit by the time you are reading this), still haven't seen a doctor - I have had a really </span><span style="background-color: white;">smooth pregnancy so far, so </span><span style="background-color: white;">thankfully I haven't had any emergencies or else I would have gone straight to the ER or Health Department. Trust me, I would have rather gone to the ER for anything than the dreaded Health Department - I have never had a good experience there, so I will not go there if I can go somewhere else. Anyway,</span><span style="background-color: white;"> I called AGAIN today to make an appointment</span><span style="background-color: white;">, because I was assured that my insurance coverage was in place and ready to go. DENIED an appointment AGAIN!!!! INSANE I tell ya! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<b><u>A Blessing in Disguise:</u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I was totally heartbroken and disappointed, because I was so excited to finally be seeing a doctor! However, I truly believe in blessings in disguise. God knows what He is doing, especially when it doesn't seem to make any sense to us :) So, I started thinking, "Maybe I am just not meant to go to this specific doctor. Maybe I should look into other doctors in the area". And I did just that. And I found a wonderful office that I had never heard of before, affiliated with the hospital where I would like to deliver (and have delivered my other 2 children). Called them and got the appointment right away! My insurance went through and we are all set for July 17th. Yes, I'll be about 17 weeks pregnant by then, but I am SO EXCITED to check out this office and meet the doctor and get things rolling finally! <b><u>UPDATE:</u></b> I finally went to my 1st doctor's visit and I am SO BLESSED to have found this office! I love it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
P.S. You all won't be reading this until AFTER this appointment, since we are not telling anyone the news until I have had my first appointment or after the gender reveal ultrasound - see the <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/07/pregnancy-3-and-explanation.html">following post :) </a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the meantime, I'll be updating the blog with pictures and such and when the time comes, I will post everything for all to see!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Thank you all for reading and keeping up with me! I hope you will continue to follow me and my pregnancy!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><i><b>~ Jessica</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<br />Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-12950075778292350192012-05-29T11:43:00.003-04:002012-06-20T12:59:34.926-04:00Getting Back To Where I Started<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi all!!! As of late, I have been getting so distracted with making diapers, selling diapers, doing giveaways, sponsoring giveaways, keeping up with all of the Facebook "groups" and such, that I have completely gotten away from using this blog for it's original purpose. I started this blog as a way for me to share my feelings, connect with other parents, and be a positive and uplifting source for those who choose to read. I apologize for getting away from all of that. And to be completely transparent with all of you, I have also gotten away from the joys and responsibilities of being a stay at home mom because I have been so focused on all of these other things.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am truly blessed and grateful that I have been given the option to stay at home with my beautiful and precious children. My husband Ryan is amazing and does everything he possibly can to provide a comfortable lifestyle for us. For a long time, I felt so guilty because I was not providing financially for the family. I have made a lot of changes in order to cut back on expenses, such as switching to cloth diapers, using cloth in the kitchen, using the clothes line more often to dry clothes instead of the dryer, cancelling cable tv, switching to a lower speed internet, making homemade meals and snacks, etc. But I never felt like it was enough. Not because Ryan made me feel that way, but because I made myself feel that way. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Ryan has always found a way to make money. I have never had to worry about that. We have owned businesses, sold businesses, he has had "regular" 9-5 type of jobs, sales jobs, traveling jobs, and he has freelanced as a subcontractor taking side jobs as they came up. He works incredibly hard so that our kids can stay home with me and grow up comfortably in their own environment. If he wanted me to work, he would ask me to find a job. He has never pressured me into making money, and I appreciate that so much. The added pressure on me has been put there solely by me. The whole reason he does what he does, is because he truly <i>wants</i> me to stay home and raise our kids! And you know what? I want that too!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Sometimes people question my decision to stay home: "You have a Bachelor of Science in Nursing degree. Why aren't you using it?" Why on earth would I want to spend 12+hours/day with people who don't care about me, working my butt off doing something that I don't even really like doing? Especially when I don't have to?? It's not that I have anything against nurses or any part the medical field. I wouldn't have gone through college to get a degree in the health/medical field if there wasn't something appealing about it to me. But just because I have the background doesn't mean that my life has to be centered around it. Was college a waste then? No way! College was great! Life experiences, friendships, awesome education, independence - it was well worth it! But, now that I have a family, my focus is on giving my all to them and not giving my all elsewhere. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I understand that not everyone has the opportunity to stay home with their kids. I get it. Everyone has to do what they have to do to provide the best for themselves and for their families. And you better believe that if Ryan ever asks me to return to work, I would and should do it. In fact, after our 1st child was born, Ryan <i>did</i> ask me to return to work when our daughter was about 6 months old. And I did. And it worked out fine. And I was able to return home later that year and haven't been back to work in almost 3 years now. What I am getting at is that I have realized that <i>I am</i> what is best for my family, and I should be taking full advantage of the opportunity that God has given me through my husband, and stop feeling guilty about not providing financially because I am providing a life for my kids that no one else could provide for them. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My babes are 2 yrs and 3 yrs old. They will not be little and young and innocent forever. I want to spend as much time with them as I possibly can. Connecting with them, providing for them, teaching them, having fun with them, supporting them, being there for them. And with all of that being said, I am getting back to where I started with this blog. I will still do reviews, giveaways, sponsor events, make and sell diapers, etc. But all of those things will always come second to my family and what matters most to me and my husband. This blog is getting back to sharing playtime activities, yummy recipes, positive thoughts, family values, "green" tips and ideas, and simply sharing the fun and humor in life!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A big thank you to all who take the time to read my thoughts - I appreciate you! Now, let's all have some fun and get back to where we started with this whole thing!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">~ Jessica</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-7685198090657781012012-05-06T19:16:00.004-04:002012-05-06T20:12:09.346-04:00Sponsor Spotlight: Scarlet's Naturals Hiney Honey Review and Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As I was browsing through some of the WAHM Facebook groups I belong to, I came across a wonderful woman named Desiree from <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/">Scarlet's Naturals</a> (on Facebook you will see it as <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scarletsnaturals">Scarlet's Hiney Honey</a>), looking for a few testers for one of her natural baby skin care products. I volunteered to be a tester, as well as offered to write a review in exchange for the product. I love to review products, so when she asked if I would also review her natural sunblock (review still to come), of course I said yes! </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
(And, since I'm a sucker for anything coconut scented/flavored, I went ahead and purchased her <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-suds/">Scarlet's Suds</a> laundry detergent because I saw on her <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/">website</a> that I could get it in coconut scent :))</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<img alt="Scarlet's Naturals" src="http://scarletsnaturals.com/private/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/logo3.jpg" />
<br />
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Before even receiving any products, I could tell that I was going to like the Scarlet's Naturals product line. My kids have always had very sensitive skin, my son especially. Our decision to cloth diaper Noah was partly because of his skin sensitivities. So when I saw that Scarlet's Naturals products are specifically made for babies and kids with sensitive skin, I wanted to know more. I found out that <b><i>each product recipe uses ingredients found locally to them, including honey and beeswax that is from their own backyard</i></b>! Love it!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The tester was for the <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/hiney-honey-cream/">Hiney Honey Cream </a>in the form of a convenient stick (as of now, this product is available in a nice 4oz tin only, but will very soon also be available in stick form, although I am uncertain at the moment what size stick will be offered for purchase).<br />
<br />
The original 4 oz tin<br />
<img alt="hiney-honey-cream-cropped" height="133" src="http://scarletsnaturals.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/hiney-honey-cream-cropped.jpg" width="200" />
<br />
<br />
The tester stick (chapstick size)<br />
<img src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-zXYos3r8By4/T6b8-c3hjUI/AAAAAAAAAes/FMljl_P8H-0/s200/IMG_1970.JPG" />
<br />
<br />
The Hiney Honey Cream is a wonderful product that can be used for many purposes, such as (but certainly not limited to):</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">diaper rash</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">dry skin</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">eczema</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">irritated skin</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">redness on skin<span style="text-align: center;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
I love this cream (although after trying it, I would call it a "balm" rather than a "cream") because one of the ingredients is coconut oil (love it), and is used to safely calm and clear up red and irritated skin. A barrier or liner is not needed when using Hiney Honey on your baby's bottom, because all of the ingredients used will be completely rinsed out of the fabric in the wash. This is something that is very important to me, as I have damaged and stained many cloth diapers and liners due to treating diaper rashes and irritations with products that are not cloth diaper safe.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
I have not had the pleasure of using this product in the original tin that it usually comes in, but I will have to say using this product as a stick has been super convenient and pleasant. A few of the many pros that I have found are:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">Convenience of tossing it into my purse or wetbag or diaper bag.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">The consistency is great. The product stays firm enough to allow you to dispense as a "solid stick", but melts nicely and easily as you apply to the skin</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Non-greasy, non-oily. This product absorbs into the skin without leaving any sticky, oily, or greasy residue feeling.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">No overwhelming scent. There is no fragrance. However, you may smell a light coconut fragrance due to the coconut oil used, but most likely you won't even notice. (But as I have already stated, I am a sucker for anything coconut, so I really like the very slight coconut scent).</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">Very quickly calms irritated skin. I personally have a couple of areas on my hands that get extremely irritated and my skin flares up several times a week. I use the Hiney Honey Stick on my hands and feel almost instant relief to the irritation, and the redness begins to calm and clear up just as quickly.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">No residue on fabric. The Hiney Honey Cream didn't leave any kind of residue on my son's diapers. The product washed out completely.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">All natural ingredients, including some of my favorites. Beeswax, cocoa butter, and coconut oil are a few. I feel confident that I am using a safe, all natural, and effective product on my family.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I had a hard time coming up with any cons, as I really like this product. But if I <i>had</i> to come up with something, it would be:</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">When I had the Hiney Honey stick outside (inside my wipes container that was inside a diaper bag) at the park, ants got into the bag and went straight for the stick. It was the only thing the ants ended up getting on. This may have been a fluke of sorts, and maybe they were attracted to one of the ingredients that the cream is made out of, but that really is the only negative experience I have had with this wonderful product.</li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br />
<br /></div>
</div>
<div>
All-in-all, this is a great product! Especially for someone who has a child with skin sensitivities/allergies. I appreciate all of the work that Desiree and her family puts into their products for Scarlet's Naturals.<br />
<br />
You can purchase your own tin of Hiney Honey Cream <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/hiney-honey-cream/">here</a>. (Also make sure to "like" her on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/scarletsnaturals">Facebook</a> as well so you can be one of the first to know when the stick is available for purchase.)<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
Desiree has also agreed to sponsor my giveaway in the Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event and Blog Hop! You can win a full size Hiney Honey Cream as well as some of her other great products that she is giving away in a gift set! Just click on the picture to enter to win a Scarlet's Naturals gift set, as well as some other awesome products I am giving away.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/04/mothers-day-cloth-diaper-giveaway-hop.html"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/7LfUq.png" /></a>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i>* I was not paid for this review. The products were provided for me in exchange for this review. These are my own true and honest words and opinions*</i></b></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-33932611548276634282012-04-22T12:04:00.002-04:002012-05-07T14:51:43.496-04:00Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Event and Blog Hop!<div style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, I am so excited to be a part of this phenomenal event!! This is my first year blogging, and I have been having so much fun getting to know other bloggers and connecting with all kinds of awesome people and companies! What a wonderful experience!</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok, back to the giveaway event ;) </span></div>
</div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/1300-cloth-diaper-grand-prize-giveaway" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank"><img alt="" height="300" src="http://i.imgur.com/7LfUq.png" width="235" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<em><span style="background-color: white; color: green; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mother's Day is almost here and we are celebrating
with our love for cloth diapers!</span></em></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome to the <strong>Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop</strong> hosted by <a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/" target="_blank">Daily Mothering</a>! Nearly 100 blogs have linked up to bring you dozens and dozens of exciting cloth diaper giveaways.<strong> Enter my giveaway below and then hop to the other blogs listed at the bottom of this post to enter their fluffy giveaways too!</strong> Each blog has a cloth diaper prize valued at $15 or more, and many blogs have prize packs worth over $100. And, don't forget to enter the <a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/1300-cloth-diaper-grand-prize-giveaway" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><strong>GRAND PRIZE</strong></a> giveaway at Daily Mothering for your chance to win this amazing <strong>$1300 Cloth Diaper Prize Pack</strong>! </span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/1300-cloth-diaper-grand-prize-giveaway" rel="nofollow" style="background-color: white;"><img src="http://i.imgur.com/qkMf5.png" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I am so super excited to be hosting a giveaway as part of this event! I have some really awesome sponsors that have offered some of their amazing products for this event, including <a href="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Greenie Beanie Bottoms</a>, <a href="http://www.hyenacart.com/lovelyfluff" style="text-align: left;">Lovely Fluff</a>, <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/mandismenagerie/" style="text-align: left;">Mandi's Menagerie</a>, <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/HipsterFluff/" style="text-align: left;">Hipster Fluff</a>, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kittystop2bottomdiapersnmore" style="text-align: left;">Kitty's Top2Bottom Diapers n' More</a>,<span style="text-align: left;"> </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/NaturesKeyes" style="text-align: left;">Nature's Keyes</a>, and <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/" style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">Scarlet's Naturals</a>. These companies have been such a pleasure to work with. I will be giving away an awesome Cloth Diaper Package from these sponsors, valued at nearly $150! The package will include these products:</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 <span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><a href="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/item_9/Tiny-Tush-Elite-One-Size-Pocket-Diapers-SALE.htm">Tiny Tush Elite One-Size Pocket Diapers</a> (winner will choose colors) from <a href="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/">Greenie Beanie Bottoms</a> - valued at $29.95! ($14.95 each)</span></span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: -webkit-auto;"> </span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/">Greenie Beanie Bottoms</a> is a wonderful Economical and Earth-Friendly company, offering many different brands for all your cloth diapering needs.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img alt="Tiny Tush Elite One-Size Pocket Diapers -SALE!" src="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/images/KellyGreenSnap200.jpg" /><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img alt="Tiny Tush Elite One-Size Pocket Diapers -SALE!" height="200" src="http://www.greeniebeaniebottoms.com/images/KellyGreenSnap200.jpg" width="193" /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 One Size AI2 Diaper with a 5 pack of matching Flannel/Cotton Velour Wipes from <a href="http://www.hyenacart.com/lovelyfluff">Lovely Fluff</a> (winner will receive this exact set) - valued at a total of $32!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.facebook.com/lovelyfluff">Lovely Fluff</a> is a mama owned and operated, home-based business. Offering custom, hand-made, quality baby and mama cloth.</span></div>
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZngLLimzKM/T5WF-BR-p2I/AAAAAAAAAek/vrcw9lQfo20/s1600/giveaway+dipe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FZngLLimzKM/T5WF-BR-p2I/AAAAAAAAAek/vrcw9lQfo20/s320/giveaway+dipe.jpg" width="256" /></a></div>
<a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/558735_303085199760184_249554301779941_774030_922531924_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/534453_309523752449662_249554301779941_793350_205401979_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/534453_309523752449662_249554301779941_793350_205401979_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/mandismenagerie/index.php?c=74"><span style="line-height: 14px;">First and Last</span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 14px;"> (F&L)</span></a><span style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px; line-height: 14px;"> </span>One Size Bamboo Fleece Diaper from <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/mandismenagerie/">Mandi's Menagerie</a> (winner will choose <span style="line-height: 14px;">boy/girl or gender neutral snap & thread color</span>) - valued at $17!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/mandismenagerie/">Mandi's Menagerie</a> is a mama owned and operated business, offering beautiful, one-of-a-kind, quality, hand-made diapers and more! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><img height="240" src="http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x263/mandicourt/Feb%2015%20stocking/100_9056.jpg" width="320" />
</span></div>
<ul>
<li><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">1 custom fitted or AI2 diaper (winner's choice) from </span><a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/HipsterFluff/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;">Hipster Fluff</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: left;"> - valued between $22-$25!</span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/HipsterFluff/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hipster Fluff</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a mama owned and operated company, with focus on super cute, comfy, and quality AI2 and Fitted Diapers for your little ones :)</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<img height="257" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/426420_333710553346621_313857588665251_67071922_1962209794_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 beautiful wet bag from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kittystop2bottomdiapersnmore">Kitty's Top2Bottom Diapers n' More</a>. Will hold up to 4 - 5 diapers! - Valued at $8!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/Kittystop2bottomdiapersnmore" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kitty's Top2Botton Diapers n' More</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is your cloth diaper specialist. A wonderful, home based business, offering a variety of cloth related products. Including wet bags, diapers, dryer balls, mama cloth, nursing pads, and many other personalized and custom items.</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><img height="240" src="https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/539986_329808200384750_100000667190635_519797_319013212_n.jpg" width="320" />
</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 custom wet bag (winner will choose fabric) from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/NaturesKeyes">Nature's Keyes</a>. Will up to 5-6 diapers! - valued at $15!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/NaturesKeyes" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nature's Keyes</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a home-based business, offering a variety of handmade products for mom and baby. Including diapers, trainers, swim pants, wipes, pads, nursing covers, baby slings, blankets, rice heating pads, mama cloth, and more!</span>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><img src="https://s-external.ak.fbcdn.net/safe_image.php?d=AQBR13apa20IYiOY&url=https%3A%2F%2Ffbcdn-profile-a.akamaihd.net%2Fhprofile-ak-snc4%2F277046_264961623524841_1490415017_n.jpg" />
</span><br />
<br />
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 package of Sweet Lil Soap Bits for cloth wipes solution or bath time from <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SweetCheeksLaundry">Sweet Cheeks Laundry</a> at <a href="http://www.etsy.com/shop/myposhnest">My Posh Nest</a> (winner can choose from her many <a href="http://www.etsy.com/listing/98936256/current-available-scents">fabulous scents</a> or choose unscented). - valued at $4.50!</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My Posh Nest is the home of the Sweet Cheeks Laundry natural product line. At <a href="https://www.facebook.com/SweetCheeksLaundry">Sweet Cheeks Laundry</a>, "everything is made with love by a stay-at-home mom". </span></div>
<img alt="Sweet Lil Soap Bits - Natural Cloth Wipe Solution - Choose your scent" height="320" src="http://img3.etsystatic.com/il_570xN.318955387.jpg" style="text-align: left;" width="238" /><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/shop/scarlets-gift-set/">amazing gift set</a> from <a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/">Scarlet's Naturals</a>, which </span>i<span style="text-align: -webkit-auto;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 20px;">ncludes a 2oz Honey Wash, 2oz Honey Lotion, a full sized order of Hiney Honey Bites and a full sized Hiney Honey Cream! (See my review of the Hiney Honey Cream <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/05/sponsor-spotlight-scarlets-naturals.html">here</a>.) (winner will choose Lavender, Oatmeal Milk and Honey, or unscented) - Valued at $22.00!</span></span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://scarletsnaturals.com/">Scarlet’s Naturals</a> is an all natural line of baby products that are gentle for kids with sensitive skin, and cloth diaper safe. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">They</span><span style="color: #424242; font-family: Georgia, Times, serif; font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;">believe in using simple, natural ingredients that are safe for delicate skin. They use natural local ingredients when possible, including using the hives from their own backyard!</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px; text-align: justify;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><img height="212" src="http://scarletsnaturals.com/private/wp-content/uploads/2012/03/homepage-cropped1.jpg" width="320" />
</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So that's 5 diapers, 2 wet bags, a set of 5 wipes, 1 set of 28 soap bits, and a 4 product gift set!!!!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Look for a couple of Fluffy Sponsor Spotlight product reviews from me during the week!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've made quick and easy entries for you!</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Good luck, have fun, and don't forget to hop to the other blogs to enter their giveaways! You can see all of the participating blogs below the Rafflecopter entry form :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<a name='more'></a><script id="raflin-40d1413" type="text/javascript">
/*{literal}<![CDATA[*/
window.RAFLIN = window.RAFLIN || {};
window.RAFLIN['40d1413'] = {id: 'NjQ1MGFkMDE2YTYyNTFiNWEzMjQ3MWQwMDBlZjljOjM='};
var url='//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/static/js/raflcptr/build/raflcptr.min.js', head=(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]);
(function(d,n,h){if(!!d.getElementById(n))return;var j=d.createElement('script');j.id=n;j.type='text/javascript';j.async=true;j.src=url;h.appendChild(j);}(document,'rsoijs',head));
/*]]>{/literal}*/
</script>
<a class="rafl-powered" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rpow-40d1413" style="color: #999999; display: block; font: 10px sans-serif; text-align: center; width: 100%;" target="_blank">a <i>Rafflecopter</i> giveaway</a>
<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript>
<br />
<div id="wpImg130577">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpview.php?id=130577" style="background-color: white; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.inlinkz.com/wpImg.php?id=130577" style="border-bottom-width: 0px; border-color: initial; border-image: initial; border-left-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-top-width: 0px;" /></a></div>
</div>
<script src="http://www.inlinkz.com/cs.php?id=130577" type="text/javascript">
</script>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-48860038852226063732012-04-17T10:44:00.001-04:002012-04-17T10:44:12.700-04:00Lovely Fluff 120 Fan Cloth Diaper Giveaway<div style="text-align: center;">
Hello! As many of you know, my company Lovely Fluff is having a cloth diaper giveaway! I am putting the rafflecopter entry form on this blog as well as on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lovelyfluff">Lovely Fluff Facebook page</a>, so that even if you are mobile or accessing FB via tablet, you will still be able to enter the giveaway :)</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The winner of the giveaway will receive one free custom fitted diaper or one free AI2 diaper of their choice! This giveaway will go until Monday, April 23rd, and I will announce the random winner on the <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lovelyfluff">Lovely Fluff facebook page</a>. You can view some of the previous customs <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.302147626520608.70477.249554301779941&type=3">here</a>, or at the Lovely Fluff <a href="http://hyenacart.com/stores/LovelyFluff/">store</a>, or simply browse some of the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.302385503163487.70514.249554301779941&type=3">wall photos</a> on the FB page. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Good luck everyone! Thanks for your support!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><script id="raflin-40d1412" type="text/javascript">
/*{literal}<![CDATA[*/
window.RAFLIN = window.RAFLIN || {};
window.RAFLIN['40d1412'] = {id: 'NjQ1MGFkMDE2YTYyNTFiNWEzMjQ3MWQwMDBlZjljOjI='};
var url='//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/static/js/raflcptr/build/raflcptr.min.js', head=(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]);
(function(d,n,h){if(!!d.getElementById(n))return;var j=d.createElement('script');j.id=n;j.type='text/javascript';j.async=true;j.src=url;h.appendChild(j);}(document,'rsoijs',head));
/*]]>{/literal}*/
</script>
<a class="rafl-powered" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rpow-40d1412" style="color: #999999; display: block; font: 10px sans-serif; text-align: center; width: 100%;" target="_blank">a <i>Rafflecopter</i> giveaway</a>
<noscript>&amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;gt;.</noscript>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-75935808890986251852012-04-10T11:33:00.005-04:002012-04-10T11:33:53.534-04:00Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Info<div style="text-align: center;">
Hi all! I've been off the grid for a minute, but I'm back again! I am super excited about an upcoming cloth diaper giveaway event, hosted by <a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/">Daily Mothering</a>! <a href="http://dailymothering.com/">Daily Mothering</a> is such a fun blog! She features hundreds of <a href="http://dailymothering.com/category/reviews/">product reviews</a>, <a href="http://dailymothering.com/category/giveaways/">awesome giveaways</a>, and wonderful <a href="http://dailymothering.com/category/deals/">daily deals</a>. You can also keep up with her via her <a href="https://www.facebook.com/DailyMothering">Facebook Page</a> :) </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
From May 1st - 12th, the Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop Event will be featured on over 100 blogs, including this one! Each blogger will be doing a cloth diapering product giveaway. Check out the <a href="http://dailymothering.com/blogger-sign-ups-mothers-day-cloth-diaper-giveaway-hop/">list</a> of participating bloggers so far! If you are a blogger, you can still <a href="http://dailymothering.com/blogger-sign-ups-mothers-day-cloth-diaper-giveaway-hop/">sign up</a> to participate! All of the giveaway items will be cloth diaper related - diapers, wetbags, wipes, detergent, accessories, etc, valued at minimum $15 (most will be valued at a lot more than that for sure)! And some blogs will also be giving away mama cloth and other mama related items! Many blogs will be featuring giveaways worth well over $100! There will also be a Grand Prize Giveaway, featured on <a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/">Daily Mothering</a>, valued at over $1000!!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You won't want to miss out on this amazing event! I will be hosting a giveaway for this event, right here on the blog! Keep an eye out here for some sneak peeks of some of the products that I will be giving away, and learn about some of the companies that will be sponsoring the giveaway. Your chance to enter my giveaway will be here on the blog, starting May1st. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am really looking forward to this event! It is going to be so much fun! What a great way to see different companies and blogs that love cloth, and to have a chance to win some wonderful cloth diapering products! I will give notice on <a href="http://www.facebook.com/lovelyfluffymama">facebook</a> the night before the event goes live (April 30th), with a link to my giveaway, so that you will have a heads up! Hope to see you all enter the giveaway!</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br />
<br /></div>
<a href="http://www.dailymothering.com/"><img alt="Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop Event" height="320" src="http://dailymothering.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/02/MothersDayClothDiaperButton.png" title="Mother's Day Cloth Diaper Giveaway Hop Event" width="249" /></a><br />
<br />
<b><span style="color: magenta;"><i>~Jessica</i></span></b>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-35489123675235530502012-03-13T19:37:00.002-04:002012-03-13T20:18:28.080-04:00Whole Wheat Turkey Lasagna<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV6aO_SH31c/T1_V2StoCqI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AMVbZ9FHoG4/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV6aO_SH31c/T1_V2StoCqI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AMVbZ9FHoG4/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My husband specifically requested for lasagna to be on our menu this week. So, I am making a healthier version (or at least a little healthier) of the classic recipe. I also made it<i> without</i> cooking the pasta first - and I didn't use the "no cook" specific pasta! </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not gonna lie, I was very nervous about trying this recipe without cooking the pasta first. I had never attempted this before. But, I love to try new things and new ways of cooking, so I went for it!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pretty simple to put together.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven 350*F</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brown the meat, drain, return to skillet, add <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-marinara.html">sauce</a> and water, then simmer for 10 mins.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlTTxdpCUV0/T1_OhpXWzmI/AAAAAAAAAds/EShDS8Ep2h0/s1600/IMG_1428.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MlTTxdpCUV0/T1_OhpXWzmI/AAAAAAAAAds/EShDS8Ep2h0/s320/IMG_1428.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">While the sauce is simmering, combine the ricotta, 1 cup mozzarella, parmesan, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper in a medium bowl.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKoXJJ-9SIE/T1_PVnNyyqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/4pGhavJUOXs/s1600/cheeses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kKoXJJ-9SIE/T1_PVnNyyqI/AAAAAAAAAd0/4pGhavJUOXs/s320/cheeses.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now, time to start layering.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pour 1 cup sauce into the bottom of a 9x13in baking dish. Then arrange 3 pieces uncooked pasta on top of the sauce. Then add another cup of sauce on top of the pasta. Then spread 1/2 of the cheese mixture on top of the sauce.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Repeat layering lasagna, sauce, and the remaining cheese mixture.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then top with remaining 3 uncooked pasta pieces, remaining sauce, and remaining cup of mozzarella cheese.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usdWyDGSzFY/T1_Qu-EBGpI/AAAAAAAAAd8/mWFAoYqZJng/s1600/IMG_1433.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="203" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-usdWyDGSzFY/T1_Qu-EBGpI/AAAAAAAAAd8/mWFAoYqZJng/s320/IMG_1433.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cover with foil and bake in the oven for 45 min. Remove foil and bake another 10 mins. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remove from oven and let set 10 minutes before cutting and serving.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9tFDnHHm6k/T1_SfSxS1rI/AAAAAAAAAeE/wLxABjGs1wY/s1600/IMG_1435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_9tFDnHHm6k/T1_SfSxS1rI/AAAAAAAAAeE/wLxABjGs1wY/s320/IMG_1435.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Enjoy!!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV6aO_SH31c/T1_V2StoCqI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AMVbZ9FHoG4/s1600/IMG_1442.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="245" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-rV6aO_SH31c/T1_V2StoCqI/AAAAAAAAAeM/AMVbZ9FHoG4/s320/IMG_1442.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We all really loved this recipe! The pasta was cooked perfectly.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Even my husband loved it, which was extra important to me since he was the one who requested lasagna :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Jessica</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Whole Wheat Turkey Lasagna</span></u></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Makes 6 large servings or 9-12 smaller servings.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b><br />
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 lb ground turkey</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">3 cups pasta <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-marinara.html">sauce</a> (or use 26 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 1/2 cups water</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 3/4 cups (15oz container) ricotta cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 cups shredded mozzarella, divided</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup parmesan cheese</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 eggs</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 cup chopped parsley</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 tsp salt</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/4 tsp ground black pepper</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">9 pieces of whole wheat lasagna, uncooked</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Directions:</span></i></b></div>
<div>
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 350*F. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brown ground turkey in skillet over medium high heat, drain, and return to skillet.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Add sauce and water to the meat and simmer for 10 mins.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, combine ricotta cheese, 1 cup mozzarella cheese, parmesan cheese, eggs, parsley, salt, and pepper. </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pour 1 cup of meat sauce into the bottom of a 9x13 in baking dish. Arrange 3 pieces of uncooked lasagna over the sauce, then cover with 1 cup of sauce. Spread 1/2 cheese mixture over the top of the sauce.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Repeat the layers of lasagna, sauce, and cheese mixture. Top with a layer of lasagna, the remaining sauce, and the remaining 1 cup of mozzarella cheese.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cover with foil. Bake 45 minutes. Remove foil and bake another 10 minutes, or until the cheese is hot and bubbly.</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let stand 10 minutes before cutting and serving.</span></li>
</ol>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-9150713078588259852012-03-07T20:28:00.000-05:002012-03-07T20:28:11.206-05:00Cheeseless Pasta Bake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5lDKiWgNyU/T1gK3i8OFdI/AAAAAAAAAdk/nd9tg2lbW6Y/s1600/IMG_1392.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-O5lDKiWgNyU/T1gK3i8OFdI/AAAAAAAAAdk/nd9tg2lbW6Y/s320/IMG_1392.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Recently, I came across the <a href="http://www.modernparentsmessykids.com/2012/03/poyel-six-week-meal-plan.html">Modern Parents Messy Kids 6 Week Meal Plan</a>, and decided to give it a try. She has made it so easy! All the meals are already planned out with grocery lists and links to the recipes for directions on cooking them! I am not following the plan exactly day by day, but I am planning my dinners according to the recipes found in each week. I pull about 5 or 6 recipes from the week and decide which day that each meal will work best for my schedule and family. Tonight, I decided to make the <a href="http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/cheeseless-pasta-bake">Cheeseless Pasta Bake.</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very simple and not a lot of ingredients to deal with which is exactly what I was looking for! I made the <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/01/homemade-marinara.html">pasta sauce</a> ahead of time and stored in a glass jar in the refrigerator until ready to use. Or you can use your favorite store bought sauce. As I was making this, I realized the original recipe only yielded 3 servings, so I doubled the recipe to suit my family's size and appetite :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Cheeseless Pasta Bake</u></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adapted from<a href="http://www.healthytippingpoint.com/cheeseless-pasta-bake"> Healthy Tipping Point.</a></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients: (this is my version that has been doubled)</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px; list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; margin-bottom: 20px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 20px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 35px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 cups cooked whole wheat pasta (I used rotini pasta, but you can use whatever floats your boat!), boiled per package directions and drained</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">8 eggs, beaten</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 cup hummus (I used a white bean hummus)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup red pepper, chopped thinly</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">20 leaves of fresh basil, chopped (I used 2 tablespoon dried basil instead)</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 large handfuls of grape tomatoes, chopped</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">pepper to taste</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">salt to taste</span></li>
<li style="list-style-image: initial; list-style-position: initial; list-style-type: disc; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pasta sauce to top</span></li>
</ul>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="line-height: 22px;"><b><i>Directions:</i></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<ol>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Preheat oven to 375 degrees and grease casserole dish.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a large bowl, combine all ingredients except for pasta sauce.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pour mix into casserole dish and bake at 375 degrees for 45 minutes or until egg is firm. (The original recipe calls to cook for 25 mins, but mine was finished in just under 45 mins, rather than doubling the time to 50 mins. You will need to just check so you don't overcook.)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px; line-height: 22px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Remove from oven and drizzle with pasta sauce.</span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So easy! Enjoy!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-31263080457464830092012-02-29T16:12:00.002-05:002012-02-29T16:15:58.963-05:00Seeing Green<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">No, I'm not talking about money, although seeing a little more of that couldn't hurt ;) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I'm talking about being more "green" - you know, eco-friendly, non-wasteful, "crunchy", and so forth. As you know, (or at least you will know now), I already use cloth diapers, cloth wipes, and mama cloth. (We do not currently use "family cloth" a.k.a. cloth toilet paper, and we may never get to that point.) And I typically don't buy or use paper towels or napkins, my husband does. I usually use a kitchen towel or microfiber cloth to clean up messes and such. But recently, I have come across a lot of info about using "un-paper towels" and cloth napkins.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My mom has always used a lot of cloth napkins (she still does!), even when I was younger. Most times, they were just for special occasions (we had a lot of special occasions. Every birthday, holiday, big accomplishments, etc. was a special occasion at our house). Every now and then we would use them for a regular meal. But I definitely have always associated the use of cloth napkins with either a special occasion or a fancy shmancy restaurant. It never occurred to me to use cloth napkins for every meal at home. But I think it's a great idea!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only time I never used paper towels in a kitchen was when I worked at Chick-fil-A (yum!). We used regular, washable, reusable kitchen towels for clean ups in the kitchen. Of course, we had paper towels to dry our hands with. But in the kitchen I grew up with at home, we always used paper towels for clean ups and even for drying hands many times. Now thinking back, I was so wasteful! Even in recent years, living in my own places, I have used paper towels for everything! Any kind of kitchen clean up for sure, windows, mirrors, cleaning the inside of my car, dusting, wiping down counter tops and tables, drying hands, cleaning little hands and faces, etc. Never really thought about using a reusable towel for cleaning up until more recently. So, when I started seeing "un-paper towels" all over the internet, I thought that it made complete sense. Especially since I am already using a lot of cloth in the kitchen these days.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, I came across a couple of blogs (I can't remember them now, and I didn't save them so I can't refer back to them - sorry!), and these ladies had goals of making cloth napkins and un-paper towels for their families to use. One lady had a goal of making 30 - I think she was mostly referring to unpaper towels. Another lady had a goal of 40 - I think she was making 20 unpaper towels and 20 cloth napkins (5 napkins per person in her household). I really like this idea a lot, and I am also going to make a goal for myself to make my family some of these money-savers. (I hate buying paper towels and napkins, so this is going to be fantastic!) </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My goal is to start off by making 10 un-paper towels and 12 cloth napkins by the end of April. That gives me 2 months to get it done. I am giving myself plenty of time so that this is a realistic and attainable goal for me to accomplish. Hopefully, I will have them done a whole lot sooner than this, but at least I have set a time limit for myself to complete it, since I am a huge procrastinator. If we need more, or I have finished earlier than April, then I will just make more!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, I will be posting pictures of my completed work - I may even post a quick and easy tutorial later on during my progress :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Do any of you use cloth napkins and/or un-paper towels? How did you find out about it? Did you make them yourself or did you purchase them already made? What fabrics do you like for your cloth usage?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>~ Jessica</i></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-73170178793387834632012-02-27T15:12:00.000-05:002012-02-27T15:31:57.477-05:00Giveaway from Lovely Fluff!<div style="text-align: center;">
I am happy to announce a giveaway from Lovely Fluff (me!). If you don't already know, I make baby and mama cloth, and opened up an <a href="http://www.hyenacart.com/lovelyfluff">online store</a> a few weeks ago. I currently use cloth diapers on my son, some of which I have purchased and some I have made for him. I recently wrote a post about <a href="http://lovelyfluffymama.blogspot.com/2012/02/i-did-it-for-money.html">why I chose cloth diapering</a>, and I would love the opportunity to share the love I have for cloth with you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I will be giving away this One Size Pocket Diaper in this cute Elephant Walk print.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUyIxFcd0kI/T0ut8i0sklI/AAAAAAAAAco/6m05BKFMAdM/s1600/IMG_1317.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MUyIxFcd0kI/T0ut8i0sklI/AAAAAAAAAco/6m05BKFMAdM/s320/IMG_1317.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It is super cute and made by me :) It features 2 rows of snap down front rise snaps for adjustable sizing, a hook and loop closure system, laundry tabs for easy washing, and crossover waist tab for a snug fit. </div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eqo9pq1Y-Fw/T0uyxP4PyoI/AAAAAAAAAdI/EkwEfy-GFNc/s1600/IMG_1314.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-eqo9pq1Y-Fw/T0uyxP4PyoI/AAAAAAAAAdI/EkwEfy-GFNc/s320/IMG_1314.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
The leg and back casings ensure a great fit and leak protection.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
It will fit approximately 10 - 30 lbs.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Comes with a standard microfiber insert.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I love it!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q9ekSJ5x5oY/T0uwjq5CUTI/AAAAAAAAAdA/dfbqh1Mxm9w/s1600/IMG_1315.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-q9ekSJ5x5oY/T0uwjq5CUTI/AAAAAAAAAdA/dfbqh1Mxm9w/s320/IMG_1315.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
I will randomly choose a winner at the end of the giveaway! Good luck and thank you all for your support!</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="color: magenta;">~ Jessica</span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<a name='more'></a><script id="raflin-40d1411" type="text/javascript">
/*{literal}<![CDATA[*/
window.RAFLIN = window.RAFLIN || {};
window.RAFLIN['40d1411'] = {id: 'NjQ1MGFkMDE2YTYyNTFiNWEzMjQ3MWQwMDBlZjljOjE='};
var url='//d12vno17mo87cx.cloudfront.net/static/js/raflcptr/build/raflcptr.min.js', head=(document.getElementsByTagName('head')[0] || document.getElementsByTagName('body')[0]);
(function(d,n,h){if(!!d.getElementById(n))return;var j=d.createElement('script');j.id=n;j.type='text/javascript';j.async=true;j.src=url;h.appendChild(j);}(document,'rsoijs',head));
/*]]>{/literal}*/
</script>
<a class="rafl-powered" href="http://www.rafflecopter.com/" id="rpow-40d1411" style="color: #999999; display: block; font: 10px sans-serif; text-align: center; width: 100%;" target="_blank">a <i>Rafflecopter</i> giveaway</a>
<noscript>&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;a href="http://rafl.es/enable-js"&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;You need javascript enabled to see this giveaway&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;lt;/a&amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;amp;gt;.</noscript>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-53834171989345467422012-02-14T13:59:00.001-05:002012-02-14T15:16:01.700-05:00I Did It For The Money<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ok. So I've definitely been slacking on this blog, aside from the occasional recipe post or craft post, and I do apologize. It has been a whirlwind of a month so far: 4 birthdays - with parties of course - the Super Bowl, doctor's appointments, a wedding at Disney, my husband working extra long and late hours all last week (he sells sports memorabilia, and his company manufactures the Super Bowl flip coin, so the week before and after the Super Bowl was kinda huge for them), and Valentine's Day is today. All of this happening in the last 2 weeks, plus all the "regular" craziness that happens around here with my 2yr old and 3 yr old, while striving to maintain a livable and enjoyable home! Oh, and I have managed to contract a cold in the midst of it all. So, needless to say, spending time blogging hasn't been my top priority lately. It didn't even make the list.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, I'm back! And I wanted to write about cloth. Yes, cloth. Since I am often asked "Why on earth would you use cloth diapers?", I will answer the question with a question - Why <i>not</i> use cloth? - And I will explain my story.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> I was never an advocate for "green" living - not that I was against it - it just wasn't something I really cared about in the past. The "convenience" of disposable everything meant more to me than the condition of the environment. However, what I didn't realize is that being more "green" could also mean saving more money! The thought just never occurred to me.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That is, until about a year ago. Both my son and daughter were in diapers. My daughter was in the middle of potty training and we used a lot of pull-up disposables with her - I still consider those diapers. Expensive diapers at that! And it seemed like we had to keep buying these expensive poop and pee holders every time I turned around to change one. I hadn't worked in a few years at that point, and my husband was running the physical labor part and customer service part of our pool business, while I maintained the billing end of it. The thing about owning a traditional business is that you don't have a boss anymore. No, you have <i>multiple</i> bosses (customers) running your life for you instead. Which is good and bad. You can choose who your customers are, but you can't really control who pays and who doesn't pay. So, while you "control" your income, you really don't. And that was what was happening to us. We had enough customers to have a nice and smoothly running business - when our customers decided that they would go ahead and pay that month. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The economy seemed to hit everyone pretty hard that particular year, and our customers just weren't paying up. We had to drop some of them and replace them. And this went on and on until we ended up recently selling the business. No big deal - it's just part of life and how business works. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I say all that to make the point that we needed to cut back on some things. There were things we were already doing that were helping - making home cooked meals instead of eating out, cutting back on cable tv, controlling the a/c better, hanging clothes outside on the line instead of using the dryer, etc....but one thing we couldn't stop spending money on was the diapers! They were a necessity. I ended up being able to potty train my daughter Riley fairly quickly (once I actually started training "for real" and being persistent and consistent), so we eliminated diapers from one child. That was a huge help for sure. But when you get to the point where you have to choose to either buy diapers or buy food or buy medicine for your sick child, and not buy all three, something else needs to change. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And so I began my research. I looked into using cloth diapers for Noah. He was 13 months old at the time, and I had no idea where to even begin. The idea of cloth diapering sounded gross and exhausting to me. I didn't understand how it all worked. Until then, the cost of buying disposables was worth the "hassle" and nastiness of dealing with cloth diapers. But when the money just isn't there anymore, the "hassle" starts becoming more valuable and worth looking into. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The only cloth diapering system I had ever heard of, but didn't know anything about, was the <a href="http://www.gdiapers.com/">gDiaper</a> system. I loved the idea of using a liner. I loved the fact that they offered a flushable insert. I loved the idea that the outer component was waterproof. And I loved how cute they were. But I sure as heck did not like the price point on these babies. Almost $20/diaper, which did not include any extra inserts or liners, etc. I understood that they will be used over and over again, and I have heard wonderful things about that diapering system, but when you are struggling financially, spending $20 on one diaper just isn't going to happen. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I researched some more. After a ton of <a href="http://amazon.com/">Amazon</a> searches, mom forums, baby forums, international cloth diaper brands, homemade cloth diapers, etc. I discovered an overload of info. It was so confusing to me and there was so much information out there, and terms that I had no idea what they meant (i.e. prefolds, flatfolds, AIO's, pockets, covers, doublers, sized, one-size, diaper sprayers, and the list goes on and on). It felt like my brain was about one second away from explosion. There were just so many options and I didn't know what to properly invest our money into.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I finally decided that I would start out basic. Nothing fancy. I wanted a prefold and a cover. I came across <a href="http://www.realnappiesusa.com/">Real Nappies</a>. It was exactly what I was looking for. Basic, white, waterproof covers, that I could wipe and use multiple times before washing. Amazon had them on sale - I could get <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Real-Nappies-6-Pack-Diaper-Covers/dp/B003FPQKAQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1329241453&sr=8-2">6 for $36</a>, plus free shipping since I signed up for a free 6 months of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/mom/signup/info">Amazon Mom</a>. Seemed very reasonable to me.</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Then I</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> found prefolds, also on Amazon, 60 cotton flannel contoured prefolds for $30 </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(but sadly these are not available any longer - maybe ebay?)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Later on, I found another great basic diaper system, </span><a href="http://econobum.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Econobum</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, which comes with a waterproof cover and a prefold for about $10, plus other starter kit options. And while I have tried and currently use many different brands, these offer some of the most basic, affordable options I have come across.)</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> After a couple of months of saving up money for the Real Nappies and cotton flannel prefolds, I made my purchase. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My whole world was changed. An entirely new way of thinking and living opened up for me. Cloth became my obsession, if you will. And so did other green, money saving, healthy, and environmentally friendly options. I started using reusable sandwich and snack bags, microfiber towels to clean the kitchen instead of paper towels, at times reusable grocery totes, many times cloth napkins for meals, eating more whole foods instead of processed, and have even switched over to using "mama cloth" - a whole new adventure that I experienced while doing my cloth research. I love cloth, and I never thought that I would be a person who does. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cloth diapering works for me and my family. It helped us save money while we were going though a short financial struggle. It is just as convenient (if not more convenient) to use cloth as it is to use disposables. I will never run out of diapers or wipes - yes, we use cloth wipes too. (One of my pet peeves was having to go to the store for diapers and/or wipes - we always seemed to run out of them at the worst times.) They wash and hold up extremely well. They are easy to travel with. The "poop factor" isn't a big deal if you diaper properly - I suggest using fleece or flushable liners if you can, the mess just slides right off into the toilet. As gross as that may sound, it really isn't a big deal. It's not like you are picking the mess up out of the diaper and dropping it into the toilet using your hands. That would be gross. And very unsanitary. I haven't had one single blowout (whereas, with disposables we had a blowout at least once a week). I honestly don't have any cons about cloth, except that it may seem like an expense during the first few purchases. But when you start using it, and you realize you haven't had to buy diapers for a year, that "expense" turned out to be a wise investment. And I have to say, most cloth diapers are super duper cute!</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Granted, I am not a hippy, tree-hugging, organic food garden growing (although I would love to have a garden someday), "crunchy" mama just yet (though I respect anyone who lives that way). Noah still uses disposables with certain babysitters and family members, we still buy paper towels (for the husband mostly), we still buy toilet paper (haven't convinced the husband into using "family cloth", and probably never will haha), we still eat fast food occasionally, I now use the dryer more often than I use the clothes line outside, we have a large SUV that eats up gasoline and is horrible for the environment. I could keep going, but I think I have made my point in saying that we are regular people and enjoy the many conveniences of life, good or not so good for the environment. And although I am passionate about cloth diapering (passionate enough to start sewing them myself and selling them), I do not look down on anyone or judge anyone who chooses not to use cloth. Everyone is different and I respect whatever system works for you and your family. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, while I ultimately did it for the money, cloth diapering has been a wonderful experience for me and my family, and I hope that if you are on the fence about it, that you will go for it! You won't go back and will be happy you made the change :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Over and out.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Lovely Fluffy Mama</span></b></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-12694985565089274232012-02-06T15:52:00.000-05:002012-06-20T13:05:16.864-04:00Butterfly Hearts<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now that we made it through the Super Bowl (we are HUGE football fans here), we can start focusing on Valentine's Day! Today we did a simple craft of making butterflies using cut out hearts :)</span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> We used construction paper hearts, fuzzy pom poms, pipe cleaners, glue (either the stick or the bottle - whichever works best for you), craft sticks ( not pictured here), and ultimately ended up needing scotch tape :)</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wmjtfq_Joo/TzAlbphV7QI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ahCJlblUD4I/s1600/IMG_1173.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-7wmjtfq_Joo/TzAlbphV7QI/AAAAAAAAAbU/ahCJlblUD4I/s320/IMG_1173.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glue together 2 hearts of any color combination.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LsJ8bhKMS_0/TzAmaIEaJLI/AAAAAAAAAbc/xzH8m9yDRUE/s1600/IMG_1175.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LsJ8bhKMS_0/TzAmaIEaJLI/AAAAAAAAAbc/xzH8m9yDRUE/s320/IMG_1175.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Glue a craft stick to the back.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Coc5ftw9jWI/TzA7MAEUx6I/AAAAAAAAAbs/dUyI3tS5TQU/s1600/IMG_1178.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Coc5ftw9jWI/TzA7MAEUx6I/AAAAAAAAAbs/dUyI3tS5TQU/s320/IMG_1178.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Then tape on some pipe cleaner antennae and glue down a pom pom head and body.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Set aside to dry.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWHaBX6EssE/TzA8YcQi5nI/AAAAAAAAAb0/AJvtze-IHUA/s1600/IMG_1179.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-QWHaBX6EssE/TzA8YcQi5nI/AAAAAAAAAb0/AJvtze-IHUA/s320/IMG_1179.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And now we have a butterfly and a happy (and proud of herself) 3 year old :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ER4NV95Z8MU/TzA9AIkqwVI/AAAAAAAAAb8/SGNkYYHUfgE/s1600/IMG_1180.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ER4NV95Z8MU/TzA9AIkqwVI/AAAAAAAAAb8/SGNkYYHUfgE/s320/IMG_1180.JPG" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have fun!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>~Lovely Fluffy Mama</i></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span id="goog_1703093140"></span><span id="goog_1703093141"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-24614061291660034392012-02-06T13:01:00.003-05:002012-02-06T13:01:46.923-05:00Homemade Laundry Detergent<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">My go-to laundry detergent is <a href="http://www.amway.com/abney/Shop/Product/Product.aspx/Legacy-of-Clean-SA8-BIOQUEST-Concentrated-Detergent?itemno=107856">Amway's Legacy of Clean SA8 Concentrated Detergent</a>. It really is the best and super concentrated so it lasts for a long time. But, there have been times when I was in a bind and was completely out of laundry soap, and this recipe for Homemade Laundry Detergent turned out to be wonderful. I love it so much that I currently use it when washing my son's cloth diapers. And for those times when I am out of the <a href="http://www.amway.com/abney/Shop/Product/Product.aspx/Legacy-of-Clean-SA8-BIOQUEST-Concentrated-Detergent?itemno=107856">Legacy of Clean SA8</a>, I most certainly use it for laundering our clothes and linens. It also is concentrated so very little goes a long way.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Very simple recipe. All you need is Borax, Washing Soda (not baking soda), and a bar of soap.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbTT1ImM75g/TzAMt1jDG5I/AAAAAAAAAas/fGdSnEWldls/s1600/IMG_1151.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pbTT1ImM75g/TzAMt1jDG5I/AAAAAAAAAas/fGdSnEWldls/s320/IMG_1151.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Cup Borax</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Cup Washing Soda</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1 Bar Soap (grated)</span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">*<span style="text-align: center;">As an option, you can also add 1/2 cup of OxiClean (or I like to use </span><a href="http://www.amway.com/abney/Shop/Product/Product.aspx/Legacy-of-Clean-Tri-Zyme-Concentrated-Detergent-Booster?itemno=107874" style="text-align: center;">Legacy of Clean's Trizyme Concentrated Detergent Booster</a><span style="text-align: center;">) to this recipe. I usually leave it out, but if you feel the need to add it, go for it!</span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you aren't comfortable using Borax, there are tons of recipes on the internet that don't use it. I don't have a problem using it, so I do :) </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Also, don't get too hung up on the soap. I like Kirk's Castile, but I have used Ivory, Fels Naptha, Dr. Bronners, etc. Heck, I have even used Dial bar soap with no issues. So, whatever soap makes you feel comfortable and that doesn't irritate your skin, go with that one.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I usually double this recipe, but you can start with the basic 1-1-1 ratio (or you could even half that) to test it out and make sure you like it before making a decent sized batch.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a large bowl, combine the Borax, Washing Soda and grated bar of soap (you can just use a basic cheese grater for the soap).</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Give it all a really good stir, making sure everything is completely combined.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cU1o2inwwwU/TzAPWlm--MI/AAAAAAAAAa0/ROPRiX3aTQ8/s1600/IMG_1155.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-cU1o2inwwwU/TzAPWlm--MI/AAAAAAAAAa0/ROPRiX3aTQ8/s320/IMG_1155.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">That's it! You can stop at this point and store in your favorite container.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">BUT, since I am a little OCD at times, I like the detergent to be completely integrated and powdery. So, if you have a food processor (mine is just a mini and works great), add the detergent to the food processor and pulse until smooth, fluffy, and powdery.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FgC9vTcq9zI/TzAQ_EZ6-RI/AAAAAAAAAa8/t-L1wpS1HuA/s1600/IMG_1157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-FgC9vTcq9zI/TzAQ_EZ6-RI/AAAAAAAAAa8/t-L1wpS1HuA/s320/IMG_1157.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And NOW you can store in your favorite container :)</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D3HadakA-nA/TzAR2FsR62I/AAAAAAAAAbE/9uNt0ZM2wTM/s1600/IMG_1172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-D3HadakA-nA/TzAR2FsR62I/AAAAAAAAAbE/9uNt0ZM2wTM/s320/IMG_1172.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You don't need much of this detergent to get the job done. Use 1 or 2 Tablespoons (maximum), depending on the size of the load. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZZ_lIl-9H0/TzAS-EAHaAI/AAAAAAAAAbM/zDdXqg-NPeA/s1600/IMG_1163.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="179" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GZZ_lIl-9H0/TzAS-EAHaAI/AAAAAAAAAbM/zDdXqg-NPeA/s320/IMG_1163.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Easy Peasy!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<i><b><span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~Lovely Fluffy Mama</span></b></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6400679663874736600.post-23375793249461843892012-02-06T11:23:00.004-05:002012-02-06T11:23:53.090-05:00Baked Potato Skins<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">These took some time to make, but was well worth it!! You will not be disappointed with this one!</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-70D-S_KVUfU/Ty_5HNid2AI/AAAAAAAAAak/sWj34GGIouk/s1600/IMG_1143.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-70D-S_KVUfU/Ty_5HNid2AI/AAAAAAAAAak/sWj34GGIouk/s320/IMG_1143.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Baked Potato Skins</u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Adapted from <a href="http://simplyrecipes.com/">Simply Recipes</a>.</span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ingredients:</span></i></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1; line-height: 16px;">6 small to medium sized russet baking potatoes</span>
</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;">Olive oil</span>
</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Canola oil or grapeseed oil
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kosher salt
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Freshly ground pepper
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">6 strips of bacon
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">4 ounces shredded cheddar cheese
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">1/2 cup sour cream
</span></span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 16px;"><span style="background-color: #fef9f1;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">2 green onions, thinly sliced</span></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><i>Directions:</i></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></span></div>
<div>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Preheat oven to 400*F. Scrub potatoes clean and pat dry with a kitchen towel. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Lightly rub olive oil on potatoes, sprinkle with kosher salt, and bake for 1 hour directly on oven rack - make sure to flip potatoes over after first 30 mins. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a skillet about 10-15 minutes, until crispy. Place bacon on paper towels to drain and cool. Once cooled, crumble.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Remove potatoes from oven and let cool long enough to handle. Increase oven temp to 450*F. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Cut potatoes horizontally and scoop out inside (save the insides for another time), leaving about 1/4 inch of potato in the skin.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Brush or rub canola or grapeseed oil over potato skins, inside and out. </span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Place skins on baking rack in a roasting pan or broiler pan. Bake for 10 minutes, flip skins and bake another 10 minutes. Remove skins from oven and cool long enough to handle them.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Sprinkle insides of skins with pepper, cheddar cheese, and crumbled bacon. Return to oven for 2 minutes or until cheese is bubbly. Remove from oven.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 16px;">Serve warm with a dollop of sour cream on each potato skin, and sprinkle with green onion.</span></span></li>
</ol>
</div>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: magenta; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i>~Lovely Fluffy Mama</i></b></span></div>Lovely Fluffy Mamahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17034298077340812721noreply@blogger.com