Fluff Talk Thursday!

This week's topic: My favorite cloth diaper store

I don't really have one favorite store, so I will list a few of the ones I've purchased from and what I like about them.

1. Abby's Lane always has free shipping!

2. Kelly's Closet has a great blog with a TON of info and great coupons to use in their store.

3. Bum-Ware has one of my favorite diapers.

4. Cute Caboose has some great deals and coupons if you sign up for their newsletter.

If you want to see which stores Beth and others like head on over to Happily Domestic and check them out!

Fluff Talk Thursday Friday

Sorry, I'm a day late, but I've been insanely busy and didn't get around to it yesterday. Better late than never though, right?

This week's topic is Cloth Diaper Accessories. My favorite accessory is definitely the diaper sprayer! I don't think I would have even attempted cloth diapers if I hadn't found out about the sprayers. It is a hose and sprayer (similar to the one found in most kitchen sinks) that attatches right to your toilet's on/off valve and it makes dealing with poopy diapers so easy. No dunking/swirling/soaking, just spray it off and throw it in the diaper pail! If you are looking to get one, Happily Domestic is having a giveaway for one right now! If you don't win that one, I found mine at Abby's Lane for only $31.99. It is worth every penny!

Corn Chopping

Tasty Tuesday! Tuscan Beef Stew

Tuscan Beef Stew

I'm not normally a big fan of stew, but I really liked a recipe I tried a few years ago. Since then, I've modified it a little to make it even more to our liking! I especially love being able to throw it all the crock pot in the morning and have a delicious dinner all ready without much work right before dinner!

Ingredients:
2 cups beef broth
1 can condensed tomato soup
1/2 cup water
2 lbs stew meat, cut into 1" pieces
1 can diced Italian-style tomatoes
3 large carrots, cut into pieces
2 potatoes, cut into pieces
1 tsp Italian seasoning
1/2 tsp garlic powder
2 cans cannellini beans, drained

Mix everything except the beans in a crock pot. Cover and cook on low 8-9 hours. Stir in the beans, turn heat on high, and cook for 10 more minutes.

Fluff Talk Thursday!

Since I've begun using cloth diapers for my kiddos, I've had a few people ask questions about them: why, what kind, how many, how do you wash them, etc. And since Beth over at Happily Domestic is hosting Fluff Talk Thursdays, a weekly meme all about cloth diapering, I thought I would join in sometimes for any of my readers that are interested in learning more about it! After you are finished reading my post, click the Fluff Talk Thursday button at the top of my post to head over to Beth's blog and read what she and others have to say for the week.

This week's topic: Dad's on Cloth Diapering

In the 6 months that I have been using cloth, my husband hasn't changed a single cloth diaper. Until this week, that is. Since M is a dairy farmer, his job is pretty much 24/7, so even when he is in the house or spending time with us, I still take care of the diapering duties. On the few occasions that I have run to town, to the dentist, etc. and he has watched the kids, L hasn't need to be changed. I always set a BumGenius diaper with stretchy velcro tabs on the changing table since they are the easiest to use and tell him that it's there and it works just like a disposable. I guess I should have explained a little more in depth, something more like: it works just like a disposable, lay the end with the tabs under L's bum and fasten the velcro in front. When I got home the other day, this is what I found:

For those of you who aren't familiar with cloth diapers, M managed to put them on backwards! For his first cloth diaper experience, L thought he would break him in good and give him a nice stinky one to change. Actually, I was kinda surprised he even attempted to change it and didn't just leave it for me, so he gets points for trying! He very quickly lost those points though, when I later found the dirty diaper still sitting on the changing table for me. He claimed he "didn't know what to do with it" even after helping me install the diaper sprayer and watching me use it a few times. Being a dairy farmer, he is surrounded by poo everyday, you'd think one little diaper wouldn't faze him!

And for those of you who may have noticed, yes that is a lovely black and white stone fireplace. Very fitting that we have a fireplace that looks like a Holstein cow huh? Unfortunately, our cows are brown Jerseys, so it doesn't really fit in on our farm (or in our family room). If any of you have any great redecorating ideas, I would love to hear them!