I've seen people put pictures up of their diaper stash online, and it's really fun to see. Sometimes it's also shocking to see how many diapers they have. I thought I had a lot, but I've seen stashes that would cover my whole living room floor. Wow...

Not pictured is the diaper my little girl is in right now, which is a Bummis Whisper Wrap with a Chinese prefold and doubler.

Below is a picture of my diaper stash, and beneath the picture, I'll give more information about the diapers:

Starting in the top row, left to right:

The first stack is of three Fuzzi Bunz diapers, stuffed with inserts and doublers. The next stack is of Fuzzi Bunz that are not stuffed, and I use them on occasion, but not full time.

The next diaper over - the dark blue one, is a Dry Bees pocket diaper, stuffed with an insert and doubler. The yellow diaper next to it is a Swaddle Bees pocket diaper, stuffed with an insert and doubler. The stack of diapers - the last ones in the top row, are Bum Genius one size pocket diapers, stuffed with inserts and doublers. I LOVE those. They are definitely my favorite pocket diaper.

The second row:

The second row are all Bummis Super Whisper wraps. The two pretty ones are a Super Brite and a floral printed one, both stuffed with a prefold and doulber. The first ones in the row are stuffed as the night time diapers, so they each contain a prefold, doubler, and a thick night time doubler. The ones on the end (the right side of the row) are unstuffed covers.

The third row, left to right:

First stack - Bumkins wraps, stuffed with Snug-to-Fit fitted diapers and a doubler. Next to those, is a Snug-to-Fit diaper sitting in an open ProWrap diaper wrap. Next to that is a red fleece wrap. Next over, a stack of Gerber pull on vinyl diaper covers that I got from Wal-Mart. They work great; if you don't mind pull-ons instead of wraps. Last in this row, extra doublers of various kinds.

The last row, left to right:

My stack of Chinese Prefold diapers, with two Snappies on top. You can see the red Snappi easily. The other Snappi is hard to see in this picture, because it is white, and kind of blends in to the prefold. Next over is my wipes box, full of my cloth wipes. I don't have "official" cloth wipes - I just use baby wash cloths. Next to that is my spray bottle, which contains water, and a few drops of Diaper Lotion Potion. When I use the wipes, I spray the wipe first, then it's ready to clean baby's bottom.

IN STORAGE

In storage, I have the diapers not in use, which are smaller sized wraps, including a few Stacinators and Bumkins, and a lot of different sized prefolds, including a small amount of Gerber prefolds, which are horrible. :-?

ALSO NOT PICTURED

Where do I keep my stash? Would you believe that all of the diapers in the above picture fit nicely into a Sterilite dresser that I got from the Rubber Made section of Wal-Mart? It's true. :-) I keep that little plastic dresser in our main bathroom, and next to it is the diaper pail. I keep a dry pail, which seals smells in perfectly. It's a trashcan shaped container that I also got from the Rubber Made section. I got it for 5 dollars.

My stash may be modest in comparison to the many I've seen online, but I am very happy with it.

If you cloth diaper, please share pictures of your stash. Whether it be huge or tiny I'd really enjoy seeing it. Please share your pictures. :-)

A TIP

As you've probably noticed from the picture, I have my main diapers pre-stuffed and ready to go. As soon as I wash and dry the diapers (which are washed every 2 or 3 days) I fold and stuff them. Then, they go into the plastic diaper dresser in the bathroom. When it's time for a diaper change, I just need to grab a pre-stuffed diaper, and it goes on baby just as easily as a disposable would.

BTW, my night time diaper setup works better than disposables ever did on any of my children at night. This setup lasts the whole night through, and baby's clothes and crib are still nice and dry in the mornings.

I love cloth diapering. If my current little one is my last one in diapers, then I know I'll be a bit sad, as I will certainly miss cloth diapering. I'm going to keep enjoying it while I still can. :-)

If you don't have much money or much time, but you need a healthy and yummy dinner, consider the below:

The above is Salmon on brown rice, a baked potato, and a nice leafy salad. Here's how to make it:

Baked Potatoes

Wash several potatoes. Slice the ends of the potatoes off, then put them onto a baking pan, and bake them uncovered for one and a half hours at 350 degrees.

The Rice

While the potatoes are baking, start the rice. Put 2 cups of uncooked brown rice into hot water, and set it to a medium boil until the rice is cooked. Drain the water out of the rice. Place the pot of rice on very low heat, and mix in all of the following:

- 3 tablespoons real butter

- 1 and a half teaspoon sea salt

- 1/4 teaspoon pepper

Turn the heat off, cover the rice, and keep leave it there until the rest of the meal is ready.

The Salmon

When the rice is ready, and the baked potatoes are 15 minutes until coming out of the oven, take 5 minutes to get a can or two of canned salmon... :-) (Don't worry, we'll make it taste good via the rice.) Remove the Salmon from the can, and put it into a baking pan. When there are 10 minutes left for your potatoes, add the salmon to the oven, so that the salmon is warming for 10 minutes at 350 degrees, while the potatoes are baking for their last 10 minutes.

The Salad

While the potatoes and salmon are baking together in the oven, make the salad. Follow this recipe for Sensational Salad with homemade dressing.

Serving

Serve the warmed salmon on top of the rice. Place a baked potato and a good helping of salad on the plate, and you have a delicious meal. I've served this meal to a guest before (an unexpected, but welcomed guest) and he loved it. :-) This is a meal that I have made on many occasions, because it's cheap, easy, and tastes pretty good. :-D

Congratulations to the Duggar family! Michelle is pregnant with blessing number 18. You can watch a video and read more info here.

The Duggars are such a beautiful family; I'm so happy to hear that they are again being blessed with another arrow for their quiver. :-)

I love my home. When I've been out and about, home is always so beautiful and welcoming to return to. It's my husband's castle; it's my palace. It's a little world for my family, where we can relax, play, and enjoy the blessings that the Lord gives us on a daily basis.

This is my living room:




Here is where we play, relax, watch old Disney movies and black and white Sci-Fi movies. This is where my husband and I enjoy our home dates and precious quiet evenings together. This is where my oldest likes to do his morning Bible reading, and my 3yr old likes to rock back and forth on the couch and sing songs when he first wakes up. Off to the side (not pictured) is my recliner. It's great to kick my feet up after a busy day, and just watch my children play sometimes.

Here is my office area:




We only have two computers in our office area now. We have the children's computer and mine. Hubby likes to use his laptop on the couch in the living room area. I like it that way too, because he often takes some work home with him on the weekends, and he works on his laptop in the living room, where often one of the children will climb onto the couch next to him, and he shows them how to draft and design circuit boards. All three of my boys are very interested in this, and my little girl loves the pretty colors and likes to help type.

Here is the area we lovingly call "the library:"




There is enough floor space in that nook for two of the kiddos to sit in there together. It is a favorite place to sit and read. The bottom shelf houses children's books. The next several shelves up house some of my favorite books (I have other books in my closet, in a storage cupboard in the kitchen, and in storage elsewhere). The upper shelves house our videos, with a big section dedicated to my The Firm exercise video collection.

This is my headquarters - my kitchen:




Families so often end up in the kitchen for various reasons. My family goes to the kitchen table for homeschool, Bible study and family devotionals, to play cards and board games, and of course for meals. There are hours of laughter in this kitchen each and every day. There are three windows (not pictured - they are behind and next to the table) of which we often enjoy watching nature, and many silly cats that like to roam around.

Come on down the hallway, and I'll show you more of my home:




This is my laundry nook:




I praise God for my laundry servants - the washing machine and drier. I wash cloth diapers every two days, and other than that, I have between 1-4 loads of laundry going every day - 5 days a week. I have all laundry done and put away before Saturdays, so that I can enjoy my weekends. That little basket on the drier is where I put dirty dishtowels and washcloths. They get washed as part of Tuesday laundry.

The cupboards are great. They house my linens and also some tools for when we need to do repairs around the house. However, I keep my awesome hot pink tools in their hot pink toolbox in my closet. Those are my tools. :-P

Where do I go to do most of my reading and get my rest? That would be my lovely bedroom. Here's how it looks from the doorway:




That extra blanket is on the bed on the side, because at the time I took this picture, my second oldest was taking a snooze there. My bedroom doubles as one of the nap or quiet time areas for the kids during the late afternoons. My bed is huge - it's a California King Size. We have it on top of two antique twin bed frames. This is great, because with this set up there is no hill in the bed between hubby and I, so I don't end up "rolling" down the hill and crashing into him at night. The bed stays nice and flat. :-D It is also very comfy. The pretty comforter on my bed comes off at night, as it's too hot to use it these days, but I still put it on the bed when I make it in the mornings, because it makes my bedroom look so fresh.

Hanging on the wall there are hubby's jammy pants, and some white leggings for me, for whenever I need them. That door in the background leads to hubby's and my private bathroom:



Hubby loves that we have our own bathroom. My joke is that it's his private throne. ;-)

Before we leave my sanctuary bedroom, I'll show you where my little girl sleeps at the moment:




That is an antique wooden playpen with a brand new mattress. It fits perfectly in that nook. I don't know if you can tell from the picture, but she has her own section of the bedroom, and the wall by her crib works so well, that it's almost like she's in her own little room. I'm not sure what I'll do with that nook when she moves to the youth bed in the Children's room. Perhaps I'll put an extra dresser over there or something. :-)

Leaving my room and going further down the hallway, we come upon the other bathroom:




I love the mirror. This picture just doesn't do its beauty justice. Over to the side, notice the red Sterilite dresser and blue container. That large container is the diaper pail, and the red dresser is where I keep cloth diapers. Next to the diaper pail is another door (not pictured). That door leads to the children's room. Therefore, they can get into this bathroom via their own door, or through the hallway.

Now let's go into the children's room, where lots of toy cars are driven amongst dinosaurs and Legos:




You can't tell from this picture, but that bunk bed has three twin beds on it, - not the traditional two. The top bunk is one twin bed, but the bottom bunk is two twin beds next to each other. I recently put different colored bedspreads on the two bottom beds, so that It's easier to see that there are actually two beds there. In this picture you can't tell, because the bottom beds have matching bedspreads. :-?

Here is where my youngest will soon be sleeping:



It looks like 3yr old(second to the youngest)was playing on it, then literally fell asleep in the midst of playing. :-) There is more room in that area than is pictured. For some reason I zoomed in on the bed. I should have zoomed out so you could see all the space. :-? Oh well. :-) When my youngest moves to that bed, I'll probably put up a privacy wall, and anchor it to the side of the tri-bed bunk bed. Another option I'm considering, is to move the tri-bed bunk bed to the side of the room, and put up a wall, and make the children's bedroom into two separate rooms. That bedroom is huge, so it could easily be walled into two rooms.

Besides the closets, there were two rooms not pictured: My pantry in the kitchen, which is a small but lovely pantry, and the utility room, which houses our hot water heater.

Now as you come back down the hallway, you'll find yourself back in my living room. Take a seat and relax a while before you go. :-)

Not all may agree that this is the best meatloaf in the world, but I think many would agree that it at least comes close. Below is my recipe for my favorite meatloaf:

INGREDIENTS:

- 2 pounds thawed ground beef

- 1 medium onion - diced

- 1 carrot - peeled and chopped into small pieces

- 1 stalk of celery - chopped into small pieces

- 4 tablespoons real butter

- 1/4 teaspoon chili powder

- 1 teaspoon pepper

- 1 teaspoon sea salt

- 2 slices of Ultimate Amazing Bread, crumbled into crumbs

- 1 cup of homemade buttermilk

- 1 omega 3 egg

- 1 tiny can of tomato paste

HOW TO MAKE IT:

1. In a large bowl, combine all of the above ingredients, except for the tomato paste.

2. Mix with your bare hands. Squish it all together, and make sure it is mixed well.

3. Put the meat mixture into a 9 x 11 ungreased baking pan. Spread it evenly in the pan.

4. Spread the tomato paste on top of the meat mixture.

5. Bake at 350 degrees for an hour and a half.

Side dishes

If you'd like some side dish ideas to go with this meat loaf, consider washing several potatoes, and poking holes in them, or slicing their ends off, and then put those into the oven on the other rack, and let them bake at 350 for an hour and a half while the meatloaf is in there. - Baked potatoes. :-)

Then, make a big bowl of Sensational Salad as a second side dish.

You may want to also set out a plate of Ultimate Amazing Bread slices, with a little container of homemade yogurt cream cheese to spread on the bread.

A complete meal - meatloaf, baked potatoes, sensational salad, and homemade bread with homemade cream cheese to spread on top. :-D

As many long time readers know, I exercise regularly to exercise videos put out by The Firm. The Firm guarantees visible results within 10 workouts, and I personally know this to be true. However, those who want to start doing The Firm, may not know that there is usually special equipment that you'll need to obtain, in order to properly do a Firm workout. Through the years, The Firm has used the Tall Box, the Fanny Lifter, the Firm Box, and now the Transfirmer. Thankfully, if you just get the Transfirmer, you'll be able to do pretty much any Firm tape, since the Transfirmer can do anything that the previous listed items can do, and more.

If you're just starting out, you may not want to yet get a Transfirmer. For this, I have found a Firm tape that doesn't use any equipment, except for the basics. This particular workout is also very challenging, so it will give good visible results in a short amount of time. The only equipment necessary, are optional 1 -1.5 pound hand weights, some light dumbbells (I use 5lbs, but if you're just starting out, try 3lbs or lighter), some medium dumbbells (I use 8lbs, but if you're just starting out, try 5lbs or lighter), and heavy dumbbells (I use 10lbs, but if you're just starting out, try 8lbs or lighter).

If you are not used to exercising, then don't use any weights for the first several times you do the tape. The tape also uses optional toe weights and ankle weights. I don't use toe weights, but I do have and use a set of ankle weights. Ankle weights are also optional, and should not be used by beginners.

If you're just begining then don't use any weights with the workout.

The tape I'm talking (or blogging) about is called The Firm: Body Sculpting Basics. It's an older video, and is getting harder to find, but I've noticed that there are several sellers selling used copies of this tape on Amazon.com. To see a list of prices for used copies of this tape, click here.

If you choose to get this tape, and you are going to use it to put together an exercise routine, then I suggest you do this tape every other day. On the days you are not doing this tape, do a half hour of cardio or aerobics. Take Sundays, or both Saturdays and Sundays off, to let your body rest.

I have several different types of cloth diapers for my little girl. I have Fuzzi Bunz, Bum Genius, Dry Bees, Snug-to-Fits, etc. All of those diapers are nice, and I like to use them from time to time, but my favorite is good ole' prefold diapers with a sturdy cover. That is basic cloth diapering. Some people use a type of cloth diaper, called 'flats.' A prefold is a flat diaper that is already prefolded partially for you.

One could use large safety pins to pin the prefold on, or they can fasten the diaper with a neat pinless gadget called a Snappi. I have two Snappis. If I get behind on diaper laundry, then I just Snappi on a prefold, and put a Wal-Mart purchased Gerber pull on diaper cover over it. This works just fine for my little girl.

However, my favorite way to cloth diaper my little one, is via prefold diapers, doublers, and Bummis Whisper Wraps for the diaper cover. Here are some pictures, so that you can see how simple it is:

Putting Together a Cloth Diaper

Pictured below is what you'd need to put together a basic cloth diaper, without the need of safety pins or a Snappi. In the below picture you'll see a doubler, a prefold diaper, and a diaper cover:




Trifolding the Prefold

Watch how easy this is...

First, lay the prefold out flat, then fold in one side (length-wise):




Then fold in the other side, so that the prefold looks like this:




I'm showing you my favorite method, which requires no Snappi, and no pins. Hence, you're done folding. The prefold is folded and ready. Next step...

Getting Diaper Ready for Baby

Get a diaper cover. I'm using one of the best - a Bummis Super Whisper Wrap. The Bummis wrap has a little pocket in it, so that I can put the end of the folded prefold in it:




You could stop here, but if your baby wets a lot like mine does, then you can add a doubler on top of the prefold for extra absorption:




Yes, that doubler has light staining. I got it used (but very clean!), and I've been using it on baby for quite a few months now. The doubler still absorbs great, and that's what's important. ;-) I have LOTS of doublers, so I could have used a newer, unstained one for the picture, but oh well. :-?

The Diaper is Ready

Now the diaper is ready to either be put on a baby, or folded over and put away until needed. I put all of my cloth diapers together like the above right after I wash and dry them. Then, when I need to change my little girl, I can just put the cloth diaper on her quickly, as if I were using an all-in-one, or a disposable.

Here is a picture of the diaper put together, folded over and fastened, and ready to be put away, until a diaper change is needed:




That white thing sticking up is just the tag. :-)

What Kind, and Where?

You can get a dozen high quality prefold cloth diapers for 14-36 dollars from here. NOTE: You must wash and dry brand new prefolds 3 or 4 times before you use them, or they won't be very absorbent. The washing and dryings activate the absorbency, and quilt up the prefold. Below is a picture of a new unwashed prefold, next to a washed and dried prefold that has properly quilted up:



The above picture was taken from my favorite cloth diapering website - Green Mountain Diapers.

If you want to use doubles in the cloth diapers like I do, you can get an 18-pack for around 17-18 dollars from here.

The most expensive part of the cloth diapering set up, is purchasing the diaper covers. I use (and highly suggest) Bummi Super Whisper Wraps. You can purchase these types of diaper covers starting at around 11 dollars per cover. You can start off with just three covers, if you can't afford more. The wet covers don't need to be washed each time, they can be rinsed, and hung to dry. Only wash the covers containing soiled diapers. Buy more covers as you can afford them.

I have built up to 10 of these covers, and have two more on their way, so that I have a good dozen. This way, I can use a new cover at each diaper change, and wet or soiled, - all covers get washed every other day, instead of my having to rinse and reuse the wet ones. ;-)

Another option is to instead use the Gerber vinyl pull-on diaper covers from Wal-Mart. I use these on occasion as well, and really like them. However, if you use these as your covers, you will need to either use a Snappi or diaper pins (diaper pins can be purchased at Wal-Mart as well) to fasten the diaper on.

You can learn more about diaper care, using prefolds and covers (via trifold, snappi, or pins) from this tutorial with pictures on the Green Mountain Diapers website.

get this picture here

What's most important in home keeping? Ah yes, the happiness of your family. Home should be a place of comfort and peace. Do you feel comfortable and at peace with papers and crayons scattered all over the floor, with your trash cans overflowing, and with dishes piled high in your sink? Probably not. You probably look around, and think I'm so tired, but look at all this mess.

Want to know a secret? Tasks rarely take as long to get done as we imagine. How long will it take you to get the dishes out of the sink, and into the dishwasher, for example? If you first put hot water is the super messy dishes, you can let those sit for a few minutes soaking while you work on the easier to rinse dishes, then everything goes into the dishwasher - 5 minutes maybe?

How long does it take to pick up stuff off of the floor, and put them away? 10 minutes, if it's really messy. What about laundry? Just throw the dirty clothes in the washer and get it started - it won't wash itself. :-P

However, there are seasons in a lady's life when she is just not able to sew, make everything from scratch, garden, or keep a pristine house. This is especially true of the pregnant woman, or of the busy mother of a young baby. In situations like these, what are the basics?

Keep things in perspective

1. Put things away when you're done with them, and teach/train your children to do the same.

2. Always wash dishes after each meal, and quickly wipe down the counters and table, and sweep the kitchen floor.

3. Keep the living room floor picked up. It's fine if the children are playing, but when you say it's time to clean up for dinner, they should put all of their toys away - promptly. If your children don't do this, then start telling them to. It's time for them to create a new habit.

4. Do 1-4 loads of laundry each day. Start your first load after you get up in the mornings. Keep rebooting the laundry, until it is all done. Put it all away in the afternoon, if you didn't do it earlier.

There's the basics. Shall we review?

1. Put things away when you're done with them.

2. Dishes

3. Keep floors picked up.

4. Laundry

Stick with the basics, then when you're feeling better, you can start adding more stuff in, like serious cleaning and organizing, for starters. Meanwhile, just do a bit of cleaning around the house each day.

A little bit done each day makes a big difference by the end of the week. ;-)

Here's a picture of me, holding a rose hubby got me:



First I unwrapped my Mother's Day presents that the kids got me:



They gave me a glow stick, the Guinness Book of World Records, and a cuddly stuffed animal puppy dog.

Hubby gave me a beautiful yellow rose. I've never had a yellow rose before, and I must say it is really pretty, and smells so good. :-D

We had a beautiful service at church. Early in the service, the church recognized mothers for Mother's Day. My good friend and myself were the youngest mothers in attendance, so we both were given a set of scented candles. I love scented candles. I like to light them and put on some classical music during the late afternoons.

The oldest mothers got a gift as well, then all mothers were handed a gift - a nice curved glass picture frame. I needed one of those as well, since I need to print out a new family picture, and now I have a nice frame to put it in. :-)

Here is a picture of my scented candles, the glass picture frame (just an ad in it right now; no picture yet), and the yellow rose hubby got me:



Hubby also got me some of my favorite ice cream, which I will be enjoying later. :-P

I also got to host a lunch celebration for hubby and his co-worker today, because of a good breakthrough they had with their project at work yesterday. Since today is also Mother's Day, the lunch feast doubled as a Mother's Day lunch as well. :-) I got up at 3:00am this morning to get the feast cooking, then went back to bed... We had leg of lamb (slow roasted for 10 hours with low heat - very yummy), some mint chutney to have with the lamb, a fresh green salad with homemade salad dressing, roasted carrots, roasted potatoes, and black berry pie for desert.

Now everything is cleaned up, and the kids are all down for quiet time/nap. I'm going to get some reading done. Our supper tonight will be light, since we feasted at lunch. After I tuck the kids in tonight, hubby and I are going to watch some old black and white Sci-Fi together. :-P

Take it easy this weekend. Curl up with a good book, play with your children, enjoy this life the good Lord has given you. I am going to have a wonderful weekend, and I hope you will as well.

Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. -Proverbs 3:5-7