Homeschooling Suddenly

Hey friends!

The world is a bit frantic these days, and although I'm new to homeschooling myself, I still have a bit more of a leg up than many who have been suddenly thrust into the role of teacher at home. So I just wanted a space to gather some thoughts and help for everyone.

STEP 1: Take a deep breath.
This is a season, and we will see it through. Give yourself a bit of grace. 

Remember that our littles are always watching. It's so important to have a level head during times of trial so that our littles can see a healthy way to weather life's storms. Also, take care of yourself. If this is a time where you really are stressing out, take a shower, take a bath, call a friend, find a closet to hide in and eat a chocolate bar! It's ok to take some you time to decompress and process what life throws at you. If you aren't taking care of yourself physically, emotionally, spiritually, then you won't be at your best to take care of the littles that depend on you. 

STEP 2: Start slowly. 

School doesn't have to look like workbooks and desks and No. 2 pencils. If you start digging into the homeschool community, you'll find a whole huge range of ideas on schooling. And the best thing? There's no wrong way! We have homeschoolers who play outside in the dirt all day, and others who do desk work and worksheets, and others who do everything online. We have homeschoolers who sit at a formal desk, who gather round the family table, who sit on the couch or bed to work. It all works. Let me say that again. It. All. Works. So no matter how you choose to impart wisdom to your littles, know that you're doing it right! 

Just spend time with your kiddos and do simple stuff...

• read together
• take a walk together
• (take it up a notch and do a nature study by discussing all the floral and fauna you see!)
• watch a movie together 
• (even have your little practice their narration skills afterwards and tell you the plot and characters and what they remember!)
• watch an educational movie together
• play a game together 
• (hello logic and problem solving skills!)
• do a puzzle together 
• (hello more logic skills...)
• kick a ball outside
• (can we say motor skills?!)
• cook together
• (yes, we're bringing back the long-lost art of Home Ec!)
• play Legos/Duplos together
• (can we say engineering?)
• do MadLibs together
• (easy grammar lesson!)
• do laundry together
• (life skills! Pour the cap of soap into the washer. Unload the dryer into the laundry basket. Teach how to fold pants or hang up shirts.)
• love on each other

STEP 3: Do some research. 

Like I mentioned earlier, there are SO SO many methods of homeschooling that it can be EXTREMELY overwhelming. It's taken me about 2 years to sift through all the knowledge out there and find what will work for our family. And you know what? Halfway through our first year schooling, I threw most of my plans out the window! I got rid of one of the main curriculums that we were using because it was just not a good fit for our homeschool rhythm nor what interested my girls. 

Now, again, don't worry about choosing something that is "right," since, as we established above, there is NO wrong way to homeschool. So just pick things that sound FUN! I know many of you don't have the luxury of time to do a lot of research. Luckily, again over the past 2+ years, my Pinterest game has been strong. And now YOU get to benefit from it! 

Here's a few of my Pinterest boards- I have a bunch more all labeled with "Homeschool" and then different subjects, so feel free to go browse until your heart's content! Or at least until you find a month or two's worth of pins to try, hehe. 

STEP 4: Take advantage of discounts & freebies.
Due to the current state of affairs, many homeschooling mamas are offering up their resources for free and/or deeply discounted! Google has brought us up close and personal to many museums around the globe via virtual tours. More virtual resources across the country (and world!) are becoming more available each day as well. I've listed some favorites below! We are a Christian, early elementary family that loves nature- so many of our curriculum suggestions align with that, just as an FYI!

ALSO- Be sure to check Facebook! Many cities/communities have their own homeschooling Facebook groups and are welcoming new members with open arms.

Starters

• An Intentional Life - great FREE online workshops about homeschooling (for parents!)
• Game Night in a Bag - family fun FREEBIE from The Waldock Way
• Morning Time Plans - a month of FREE "Morning Basket" weekly lesson plans, including prayer and hymns, poetry, music and art, nature study, math, and picture books. All resources are available online with clickable links. A truly easy, relaxed curriculum to cover the basics while school's out!
• A Gentle Feast - more Morning Time resources, try 2-weeks free
• 30 Days of Us: family bonding - FREE printable to bring your family together and give you something to do!
• I've put together a post that is all basic PLUG AND PLAY curriculum ideas
• Usborne Books & More - their QuickLinks website has a TON of subjects with lots of activities to do online and printout at home, they have a weekly email that sends out themed activities as well

Subject-Specific Resources

My list of favorite resources is growing daily and more and more options come online! So to make it a bit less overwhelming (and this page a bit more concise), I've moved resources for each subject into their own pages. Each page has additional curriculums, unit studies, virtual field trips, free printables, and discounts. 

• Science Resources 
• Geography/History Resources 
• Reading/Books Resources 
• Math Resources
• Music/Art/Cooking Resources 
• Play-based PreK-K Resources
• Bible Resources

Affordable Curriculum Options

• Dollar Tree - I was amazed how many great workbooks and resources they have for early elementary learning! Also great for manipulatives, school supplies, art supplies, and seasonal stuff 
• BrainQuest - Most of us remember doing their flashcards as kids, but they make workbooks for all the grades now! We've used these our first year of homeschooling, super easy and pretty fun. Buy on Amazon or Target
• Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+ - these streaming services have videos on just about every subject you can imagine! tons of opportunities to have a fun day snuggling on the couch while expanding the mind, ask them a few comprehension questions afterwards to work on narration skills!
• AmblesideOnline - FREE K-12 full year curriculum in the the Charlotte Mason style, focusing on God and nature, provides a weekly schedule, booklist, and resources are linked to online, they've even included an Emergency Lesson Plan for those starting out quickly
• Easy Peasy All-in-One Homeschool - complete K-12 Christian online curriculum for FREE
• Scholastic Learn at Home - free site for families and teachers of PreK-6th+ grades to keep up learning
• PBS LearningMedia - videos for every subject and every grade
• PBS Kids has a new weekday newsletter and tons of online resources and free educational app (which we love)! Their Google Drive has educational activities specifically to do at home. 
• Blossom and Root - 30% off through end of April (with code: sprout30), full secular nature-based curriculums from toddler - 3rd grade, also affordable Book Seeds mini literature-based nature units could be their own mini curriculum, full curriculum prices vary but the sale helps!
• Homeschool Garden Morning Time plans - just throw in an English and Math workbook and you've got a full curriculum, each 4-6 week course is $30

Virtual Field Trips

• Boston's Children Museum virtual tour
• Author Chris Field is doing daily field trips the week of March 16th, 3pm ET, on Facebook! Tour with a policeman, kids yoga, go to Africa, art class. 

STEP 5: Write this down. 

So now that you've gathered your materials and Pinterest boards, it's time to put pen to paper and make a plan! Take it easy on yourself- set expectations low, but plan to succeed! What does that mean? 

1. Don't over plan. Aim for English & Math everyday and maybe one other subject 2-3 times a week. Tis the perfect start to ease into homeschooling, and completely attainable! Heck, some weeks still look like that for me! If you don't over plan, you'll have a better chance of feeling accomplished because you'll have completed all your goals for the week! If you feel accomplished, this will go a long way towards your mental health in continuing forward week after week.
2. Now maybe it's time to add a bit more to your week. Print out a plain weekly calendar, and jot down other areas that interest you and your kiddos that you'd like to pursue. Maybe add in 1-2 art projects per week, or even just a simple craft each day. Keep it simple and attainable.
3. Now you're getting comfortable and confident. Maybe you're 2-3 weeks in and getting a into a groove, or you at least have a better idea what is realistic for you to accomplish. Maybe you need MORE to entertain your child all day. Good! Keep them excited about learning, and these weeks will fly by! 
4. Perhaps try loop schedules! So you've got English and Math everyday, or maybe every other day. Then you could loop Nature walks, Poetry readings, Bible study, and Spanish lessons. You can either plan to only do 1-2 of those each day, OR you can plan to keep moving through that list each day until your kids start losing interest for the day (or you need to start dinner). Then you just keep looping through those Loop Schedule subjects however works for you! It's a great system that can provide structure while still being flexible. 

STEP 6: Welcome to an amazing community. 
I love our homeschooling community- whether it's local groups, Insta-friends, or FB virtual groups. You'll find so many cheerleaders and helping hands, just always there to support and encourage. My biggest hope for you is that you enjoy your time homeschooling. Enjoy the extra time spent with your kiddos watching them grow and their eyes light up as they learn something new. It can be trying, and exhausting sometimes, but oh so rewarding. I'll be praying for all you new homeschooling mamas (and papas, and grandmamas, etc!) hehe. Feel free to reach out if you need anything!

Retro Kitchen Inspiration

Hey all!
So! I'm super excited for today's post!! I'm teaming up with Big Chill, an innovator of reproduction vintage kitchen appliances. Our family LOVES the look of the classic vintage stoves and refrigerators, so I was beyond thrilled when I was contacted to feature their products in some dream kitchen ideas!

One of the things I might love best about vintage appliances? Color! Why are appliances only mundane black, white, or grey today. So uninspired! If you're like us, we spend a ton of time in our kitchen- it's the heart of our home, to be sure. So why not make it beautiful and colorful?! Let's see what I mean...

How fun would this shabby chic kitchen be to bake in? You can bring in your own style in in so many ways... 

• a beautiful set of table and chairs in your eat in kitchen 
• a small buffet for a coffee station
• dishes and serveware can be perfect for subtle color, whether you buy it new or check out second-hand options like a thrift store or even Goodwill
• decor like a beautiful clock or herb garden containers
• tea pots and even countertop appliances can be found in beautiful colors! 

Don't forget to bring in color through beautiful fabrics for upholstery, dish towels, even curtains. And, of course, the crowning glory in this kitchen is the pop of pink in the stove and matching range hood! Want some more inspiration? Ask and ye shall receive ;) Here's a vintage farmhouse inspired kitchen with tons of charm and COLOR!

Spring Cleaning tips

Spring has officially sprung here in the south, how about where you live? With the arrival of spring (aka. mud season!) our home was due for a bit of spring cleaning. I'm teaming up today with the Mesothelioma and Asbestos Awareness Center to share with you some of my favorite tips for cleaning up around the home- I like to err on the natural side of cleaners for the most part, as you'll see here shortly!
(below contains some Amazon affiliate links)

A Family Valentine's Day (on a budget!)

Coming up rapidly is Valentine's Day! Now this is typically my least favorite holidays- all about mandatory affection and buying go chocolates and candy. Not my thing. And then I had kids! Hehe... but we celebrate as a family! There's so many ways to celebrate love- the love of family, the love of Christ, the love of close friends.

Today I'm teaming up with Personal Capital to bring you just a few ideas of how to celebrate Valentine's Day without breaking the bank! We are saving up for an upcoming family reunion trip as well as working towards becoming debt free, which leaves very little wiggle room in the budget! Personal Capital has great tools for helping with your financial planning, so be sure to check them out! Whether it's a goody bag for the kids or a family movie night, we keep Valentine's Day celebrations  small, fun, and on budget! Here's a few ideas to get the wheels turning...

(1) Create goody bags for your kiddos 
Use Target's Dollar Spot, the Dollar Tree, or consignment stores to keep costs low! Don't be afraid to include practical items too- our goody bag this year includes fruit snacks and a diaper cover for our young toddler, and a second-hand shirt and stickers with notepads (to be used also for homeschooling!) for our preschooler!  Last year I shared some ideas for a Toddler Goody Bag and joined with The Twinery to embellish the Canvas Valentine's Bag you see above!

(2) Crafting bonanza
A fun way to celebrate might just be have a full day of heart-themed crafting! Make a handmade card for your the wee one's grandparents, friends, and of course dad! Create heart garlands to string up around the room or mantle. Hang red and pink balloons from the ceiling, door frames, etc. String up red & white crepe paper. Create an art masterpiece with stickers (maybe even sneak in a little counting practice while you're at it... "this tree needs 3 hearts, 4 in this tree, 1 in this tree")

(3) Do a family Bible study
Focus on finding all the way God shows his love for us. Discuss "agape" love.

(4) Have a family game night
Just make sure it's a game all members of the family can play, of course! Chutes and Ladders, Go Fish, Candyland are just a few games that kids of nearly all ages can enjoy :) If you have really little ones, maybe make a fun obstacle course instead! Whether it's a true test of skills (maybe even working on motor skills!) or just creating some tunnels and tents with couch cushions and blankets, it's sure to be a hit with kids of every age!

(5) Have a family movie night
Disney movies are rather perfect for a family movie night- Lady & the Tramp, Snow White, Sleeping Beautfy, Frozen, Lilo & Stitch- all great love stories! From puppy love, to a true love's kiss, to the love of sisters, to remembering that Ohana means family. Check out some of our own Family Movie Nights here to get ideas- decorations, food themeing, and of course the cinematic feature! Or maybe you just have "Tea for Two" (whether it's you and your spouse or you and your wee one!) and watch Mary Poppins or Alice in Wonderland- make your favorite finger sandwiches, brew a cuppa, and snuggle on the couch. Another staple in our house is Charlie Brown- there's quite a few Valentine's/love themed episodes to choose from there!

I hope this gives you a few new ideas how to have fun on Valentine's Day while keeping it family-focused and easy on the budget. Don't forget to check out Personal Capital for great tools to help organize your own finances, too!

Cloth Diapering: Newborn Stash

Hi Friends~
Today I'm continuing a mini series all about how I cloth diaper! This post will be how I cloth diapered our 7 lb 3.5 oz newborn along with reviews of my choices and some tips and tricks! Again, this is just MY personal stash and opinions- some may work for you and some may not. So be flexible when you start to cloth diaper your newborn :)

Personally, I generally love snaps and natural fibers. You'll notice a lot of cotton, hemp, and a bit of bamboo in my stash. I lean towards snaps on my covers, but some hook & loop (aka. velcro) since it's so adjustable, especially at the super tiny NB phase!

Supplies: 
2 diaper pail liners
diaper pail
6 newborn covers
12+ fitted diapers
4+ doublers
2 dozen flat diapers
3 dozen cloth wipes
spray bottle (filled with water/witch hazel blend)
small container (filled with coconut oil)
EcoNuts Baby powdered detergent
Scentsy (warmer or room spray)

Reviews:
The top picture I've laid out kind of in order, my top choices down to my second-string newborn diapers & newborn covers. So here's what we've got, in order...
Imagine NB Diaper Cover (bright green): One of my favorite newborn covers. Three rise settings and four waist snap settings. This fit well past my other newborn diaper covers. No leakage issues, and the gathered elastic in the front mean no issues with the umbilical cord stump.
Thirsties XS Sized Cover (light blue): Thirsties is my go-to brand for covers, and their XS is perfect for the newborn phase. No leaks and good room for extra nighttime stuffing. The hook & loop closure, which includes a crossover tab, allows for a great custom fit.
Thirsties Size 1 Duo Wrap Cover (pictured below): my go-to for once they're a touch bigger - you can see it pictured below, it's just a bit bulky for my NB, and didn't leave ample room for the umbilical cord, but was in our regular lineup within the first month. I also only use the snap closure on this cover- their new version of hook & loop, while super sticky, is just really thick and I noticed it left angry red marks on my little ones (who have a tendency to have sensitive skin like their mama!) because it IS so sturdy and thick.
Imagine NB Bamboo Fitted Diaper (light yellow): This is my favorite favorite newborn diaper! I love fitteds in general, as they keep breastfed poop contained really well. Imagine's are super soft, wash well, fit great, and have an umbilical cord snap down too. This is one that I ordered extras of after our initial purchase!
Organic Caboose NB Snap Fitted Diaper (natural with black tag): This one fits great for the early weeks & months. It's the thinnest diaper in my line up, bamboo, and is nice and trim. I always add a doubler under it just to be safe though. A great fit and includes an umbilical cord snap down. I think it was the first to be outgrown of the fitteds, but I got a lot of use out of it.
Cloth-eez NB Organic Cotton Workhorse Fitted Diaper (orange trim): A great diaper! My first experience with Cloth-eez brand, but I can highly recommend them. A close second favorite, after my Imagine fitteds. They have a crossover snap, so they work well even for the tinniest of waisted newborns! They wash well, and are just as nice as when they came home. Made exclusively for Green Mountain Diapers, which is a Christian cloth diaper store!
Thirsties Size 1 Fitted Diaper (white): Again, I love Thirsties. Their fitteds hold a good amount, and I used them with a booster as my overnight diapers. They do great for a half night- I'm always paranoid about letting newborns go all night without a change, for fear of leaks or diaper rash or just generally being uncomfortable. Sadly these don't stay quite as soft as when I first bought them, but still plenty comfy. My husband's exact words when we first bought them, "I wish they made underware like that for ME!" lol. They have three snaps in the rise, and include a crossover snap at the waist, so the waist is super adjustable, but you can see in the picture below that there's a bit of a gap in the legs on my ~7 pounder!
Bummis Super Brite NB Diaper Cover (bright pink): The only reason this is part of my "second string" is because they were the first to be outgrown out of all my covers. They are perfect for the NB phase though! Since they really are so small, and have the adjustable hook & loop closure, they fit even tiny ones super well. I'd probably get a few more for our next go around honestly- they just worked THAT well for the earliest newborn days. They really are pretty trim, so a trim fitted diaper or flat diaper works best under them, in my experience. This was actually the first cover that my littlest ever wore! With crossover tabs too, this could probably fit even premies.
Little Bee Size 1 Hemp Fitted Diaper (natural with yellow/red tag): This brand went out of business a while back, and this fitted is leftover from my first babe. You can still find these kicking around on the secondhand market usually. Made well, but the hook & loop closer is so thick that I don't know how comfortable it is for little ones. It washes well though and stays pretty soft & smooth, so it's a solid second string fitted. It tended to be a nighttime back up diaper for me.
Kissaluvs Size 0 NB Cotton/Hemp Fitted Diaper (natural with tan trim): Another one that I really wanted to love. They're a great American brand, Christian too, and sadly just went out of business. , and I love the snap down umbilical cord closure, but it's so bulky and not that soft, so it is never the first one I reach for... though it IS my backup nighttime diaper for the NB stage. Very absorbent, especially with an added doubler. There's also a ton of snap options on the front of this diaper- I honestly don't even know how it's supposed to snap up, but it gives a lot of options of how it can fit! Hehe. It also lasted the longest of my NB fitteds.
Rumparooz Newborn Diaper Cover (dark teal): I really wanted to like these because they come in SO many cute colors & patterns. While they're almost the same as Imagine's NB diapers, these only have 3 snaps in the waist, and it seemed like my wee one was always just in-between snap sizes. So these were typically the last covers I reached for, sadly.

Infant/Newborn Unbleached Prefolds (not pictured): These were a little too bulky really for the first few weeks, but around 10lbs or so I started using these, just trifolded in cover. I have both Bummis and OsoCozy unbleached ones- both great choices.
OsoCozy Unbleached Flat Diapers (pictured below): These were our travel diapers for our oldest, and washed & held up so well that we ordered a second stash for our youngest. As a NB, we used the origami fold to create "fitted" diapers with these when we ran out of regular fitted diapers. A solid second-string choice! Personally we skipped a fastener since NBs don't really move around a ton! We now use them as our primary diapers (just pad folded) since she has now outgrown the NB prefolds.
EcoNuts Baby Powdered Detergent (not pictured above): This is my go-to detergent. Most mainstream detergents are not cloth diaper safe- they wreak havoc on the elastic and PUL in the diapers. I've used this not just on my diapers but our regular laundry too! We have hard water AND highly chlorinated, and this takes care of all those issues when it comes to diaper laundry. We've used EcoNuts Soap Nuts as well, which worked great in normal water, before we moved. If you're interested, (shameless plug) Scentsy's Laundry Liquid is also cloth diaper safe!!
Rumparooz/Kanga Care Diaper Pail Liners (pictured in "Our Setup" below): Even though I wasn't a fan of their NB diapers, I love their pail liners! Built sturdier than other brands I've tried (Thirsties lasted about 3 years, and GroVia has lasted a year but starting to show wear) and they come in most of the super cute colors & patterns that their covers come in!!

All the above photos were taken within about a week of birth, right around 7 lbs

(Top-Bottom Left-Right)

Rumparooz cover, Imagine fitted, Thirsties fitted

Imagine cover, Organic Caboose fitted, Bummis cover (put on a bit too loose here)

Thirsties XS cover, Thirsties Size 1 cover, OsoCozy flat diaper (origami fold, no fastener)

Tips:
- Do your research! There are so MANY options and brands, so read through Cloth Diaper 101 articles to see what you think may work best for you and your lifestyle!
- Order a few different styles in different brands- there are many places where you can sell your diapers second-hand if you find a particular brand or style doesn't suit you or your baby. You'll find that different brands fit different baby body types- from long and lean, to short and chubby, but there IS a brand & style for everyone!!
- Check out your local cloth diaper store or online store- many offer newborn packages where you can try different styles, often with great return policies once you decide what you do & don't like!
- Rent newborn diapers! Some stores offer newborn packages that you can rent for a few weeks so you don't have to spend as much for a full newborn diaper stash that you only use for 2-4 weeks. We plan to have future babies, Lord willing, so it made sense for us to invest in a full newborn stash! We also did not buy newborn diapers for our first baby as we didn't plan to start cloth diapering until a few weeks/months in (we started her at 2 months, our youngest we cloth diapered from birth at the hospital!).
- Nickis Diapers- my favorite online cloth retailer, check them out! Great selection, reasonable shipping costs, prompt shipping, and great rewards program! I truly can't say enough good things about them (and no, I'm not paid to say that, hehe), but we've been using them since the very beginning of our cloth diaper journey about 4 years ago and plan to continue using them for a long time to come!


Our Setup:

   

Here's just our personal set up. I find the regular size changing tables to be way too small, especially for cloth diapering. So we just used a regular size dresser, popped the changing pad on top along with some of our essential cloth diapering supplies in a small basket, and there ya go! We use a Simple Human tall trash can as our diaper pail. Regular pail liners fit perfectly. (You see two pails here because we had two girls in cloth diapers for about 8 months, and I separated their diapers.) Below is a close up of what I keep on top of our changing table. In each drawers, I have separated out cloth wipes, everyday diapers, overnight diapers, diaper covers, etc. This JUST fit our complete stash when we had two in cloth diapers- and in the bottom photo, you can see that I had little labels on all the drawers to remember which girl's stuff was in each drawer!!

Water & Witch Hazel spray bottle = spraying our cloth wipes to wet them as we use them
Honest Co. Diaper Cream = our personal favorite cloth-diaper safe cream for really bad rashes
Olive Oil (or Coconut Oil) = our go-to for minor rashes & irritations
Face Wipes/Washcloths = for boogers, dirt, etc!
Scentsy Warmer = an essential, in my opinion! Because it warms at just above body temperature (unlike other wax warmers on the market), it's safe for kids & pets. Both my infant and preschooler have plopped their hands in the warmer with little more than a startled whine. My oldest even poured the hot wax down her bare chest, then proceeded to ask me straight faced "what happened, mama?" LOL. Anyhoo, I turn it on after changing a poop, or sometimes leave it on all day! A Scentsy room spray would work fantastically too- and the bottle lasts a really long time!! OK, yes, admittedly I'm a bit biased since I'm a Scentsy Independent Consultant, but seriously, I love these products in the nursery!

Cloth Diapers: at the Hospital

Hi Friends~
Tonight I'm starting a mini series all about how I cloth diaper! The best thing I can tell you is to do your research! Cloth diapers have come a LONG way in the past few decades- they're no longer just pinned diapers with plastic pants! Hehe. There are MANY options- with my first little one, I ordered a few different styles in different brands. After she was born, I figured out which worked best for our lifestyle, and which brand fit her build best. Check out your local cloth diaper store or online store as some offer newborn packages where you can try different styles!

Anyhoo, so that's some starting advice! Today I'll focus on how I cloth diapered our little one, starting right from birth at the hospital! When you tour your personal hospital, ask how receptive they are to cloth diapering. Different places have different rules, so hopefully yours will be open to it!

Supplies: 
2 large hanging wetbags
small wetbag 
6 newborn covers
3 dozen flat diapers
3 dozen cloth wipes
travel-size spray bottle (filled with water/witch hazel blend)
travel-size container (filled with coconut oil)
Scentsy Scent Pak (in Winter Pine)

How to:
- I hung a sign (with washi tape, or masking tape) on our bassinet that stated "cloth diapers only: no disposables please!" so that the nurses were on board with our diapering choices. Since our wee one only left my sight once (for the discharge hearing test, blood test, etc), I didn't really have to worry about anyone else diapering her.
- I hung a wet bag inside the private bathroom that my hospital room had, which is also where I hung the Scentsy Scent Pak! They're great for covering up the "hospital" smell as well as any diaper smells and just the general funk from after giving birth! ;)
- I used the spray bottle to gently wet the cloth wipes. Another option I use when away from home sometimes is The Honest Company's wipes. When I first started cloth diapering, I just used Viva brand paper towels and a spray bottle of water & witch hazel. I then moved over to cloth wipes, which is really convenient when you're already cloth diapering!
- I used the "origami fold" for the flat diapers, which in effect created a faux "fitted" diaper! This fold fit well under my newborn covers. We didn't use any fasteners, but feel free to purchase some if you'd like! I didn't both since I knew we'd be switching to a "pad fold" or "trifold" as soon as the wee one got a little bigger.
- The little pot of coconut oil was for any diaper rash flare ups. It also helps in removing the sticky first meconium poops, and helps keep future sticky poops from sticking to the bum! I did not have any problems with meconium staining our diapers, by the way- nothing a little sunshine couldn't bleach out. If you're concerned though, you can purchase some fleece or disposable liners!
- Be flexible! Your birth may not go quite as planned, so even if all your cloth diapering dreams don't come true while you're in the hospital, don't fret. You can start up at home when you're ready! Our oldest didn't get any cloth diapers until she was 2 months old, when I felt ready to tackle it.

Next post, I'll show you our whole Newborn set up at home! Can't wait to share with ya'll :)

31 Days: To Nap or Not to Nap at Disney

Hey friends!

I'm back to continue and finish up our 31 Days of Disney World with kids! We just got back from a trip this past week, but of course the wee ones brought home some germs and have been sick, so I'll try and finish up this series as frequently as I can manage to get to the computer :)

So today I bring you a few tips with regard to the important topic of napping while at Disney World! 

(1) Strollers

Get them. Use them. Every child of course is different, but even those not generally inclined towards napping in the stroller may be so tuckered out from fun that they'll get in some naps while at the parks during the day. Our oldest, who doesn't always take a nap, often took two naps this past trip. I'll admit, there are some die hards that refuse to bring strollers, and I do get the hassle of schlepping it all over, but I definitely think it's worth it! You can bring your own, rent the standard hard plastic ones at the park, or rent from an outside stroller company (there's many good ones in Orlando).

(2) Carriers

The above picture is from our trip last week, and how my little one mostly napped throughout the week! If your wee one is used to a carrier, bring it along. Especially young ones may get over stimulated from all the excitement and just want a snuggle. Our youngest has napped in the carrier on me, dad, Grammy, and Grandpa! If your wee one has not tried a carrier before, try them out before the trip and not during the trip for the first time! Some kiddos just don't like them. I'm blessed that both of my little ones love them!

(3) Resort Room

Get a feel for how your little ones are doing over the first day or two. It might work best for you to head back to the resort early afternoon. Young kiddos can get a good nap in their beds. Older kids can hit up the pools. Everyone can grab lunch or a snack, and you'll skip the busiest hours at the parks, not to mention the hottest hours of the Florida sun!

(4) Rest Days

Sometimes all your little ones need is a break from the parks. We plan two days on and one day off (from the parks) on our trips. Whether it's a short week-long trip or longer 10-14 day trip, we always schedule "down days." These days mean heading to the pool, maybe letting off some steam at the miniature golf courses, just chilling in the room (getting schoolwork done, playing games, going on a tour of the resort, etc) or maybe going to Disney Springs for some shopping part of the day. A day with minimal car rides, and stroller time, and just generally being cooped up! Even with older kiddos, you may find this is just what is needed to help recharge the batteries after non-stop days at the park!

31 Days: Tinkerbell Gifts at Disney

Hi friends!

Today I am excited to share with you the idea of "Tinkerbell Gifts" - festive gifts that "Tinkerbell" leaves your children before or during your trip! You can gift these at all different times... 

• surprise them with the trip by giving them a gift saying "we're going to Disney World!" 
• give them a gift when you leave for the airport (for use on the plane!) or leave for the car ride road trip down to Disney World
• gift them each morning when the kiddos wake up (that's what my cousin and I are doing for our littles on our upcoming family reunion!). If you're *Disneybounding*, theme the gift to the character you're dressing like that day!
• arrange with your hotel to have them waiting in the room when you arrive
• have your spouse take the wee ones to the pool or walk around the resort while you zip into the room and set things up!

Pick your packaging!

Start from the bottom up- figure out what you want to present your gift in! This can be anything from a bowl to a bag to even a lunchbox for the wee ones to use to bring snacks and lunches to the park during your trip! If it's a smaller gift, choose something like a small glass, sippy cup, or new water bottle! If think is gifting before the car/plane ride, maybe use a new (or even fill up a current bag!) backpack as your child's carryon or you bag for the road trip!

Add some snacks!

Whether it's a whole lunchbox full of Disney-themed goodies, or just one tasty goodie, some princess or pirate goodies are sure to be a hit.

Dress them in style!

Whether it's a new t-shirt, fuzzy comfy socks, bracelets, or new PJs, some new clothes or accessories are a great addition to Tink's gift!

Make learning fun!

Whether you're a homeschooler like us, or pulling the kids out of regular school, you'll likely need to squeeze in some homework during the trip. Make it a bit more fun by Disneying their learning tools! Whether it's a new notebook and pen or flashcards, puzzles, and worksheets- make learning fun!

Practical gifts can be fun too!

Your wee ones will still need to do mundane things, so make it fun! New Disney toothbrushes or potty training tools, wash cloths or hand soap  can bring a little extra magic to the trip!

Just for fun!

Of course, we have to throw in some toys for fun! Something to keep the littles occupied on the plane, bus ride from the airport, or just during stroller rides around the park- the possibilities are endless here!

Here's a sneak peek at what our preschooler might be getting one morning during our next trip!!!

31 Days: Road Trip (Planning Edition)

Hi friends!

So! Tonight I'll share with you my best planning tips when it comes to road tripping, especially to Disney World! So let's just dive in... 

So, when I plan, I include as much info as I can in our itinerary- it just helps make me feel prepared. Below is a peek at our last trip's itinerary for our driving days- the rows are as follow....

day of the week

hotel for the evening

date

event for the day/final destination

breakfast (where & what we're eating)

morning plans

lunch

afternoon plans

dinner

evening plans (hotel reservation #s)

And we've already discussed a few topics earlier in the series, like- 

TOYS: how I organize and plan for the road

FOOD: my favorites for the car and storage ideas 

So here's a few other tips and tricks to consider when planning out how you'll be road tripping...

PLAN:

My first piece of advice? Make sure you do plan ahead of time! Road tripping with kids is a big undertaking, no matter the age, so make sure you set aside time to plan out the details!

Get an early or late start:

Some of the best times to travel with kids are early in the morning and late at night. In the morning, the kiddos will be fresh as daisies (hopefully!) and less irritable. Maybe they'll even go back to sleep for a while if you get out early enough! Bring a portable breakfast for the road, like dry cereal, granola bars, or drinkable yogurt. 

If you're night owls, drive at night when the kiddos will be sleeping mostly. This way, they'll have spent most of the morning/afternoon NOT being cooped up in the car, and thus hopefully again not irritable yet! Bring a portable dinner to eat on the road, or plan to stop for dinner 1-2 hours into the trip. Also bring night-friendly activities for any kiddos that'll stay up after the sun goes down- book lamp for reading, iPad games/movies, or glow sticks!

One day, two days, three days, more:

We've done our 12 hour trek to Disney in one day and two days. When we knew we wouldn't be guaranteed an early start, we decided to break up the drive into two days. On the way home, when we hoped that the little one would be tuckered out from a whirlwind vacation, we did the whole thing in one day. Ironically, the straight shot drive was better than the two-days (due to a variety of unavoidable factors)! So just don't be too daunted to try and do it all in one day- it CAN work, if it's your only/best option! Just know that it'll be a long day, there will be delays, so just be prepared to go with the flow :)

Rest stops:

You'll be making them, so try and plan some fun ones! We planned stops at battlefields along the way (we're history buffs!), zoos, and "Diner, Drive-ins, and Dives" restaurants! Does your family have a hobby- baseball, hiking, etc? See if there's any stadiums along your trip, or awesome state parks! Parks & battlefields are also great places to have picnic lunches and let the kids run off some steam, kick a ball around, or just stretch out on a blanket and nap or read. 

Hotels:

There's kind of two schools of thoughts here- (1) make reservations in advance or (2) when you've decided you're done for the day, find a place with vacancies in the nearest town. The OCD planner in me always goes with option #1! While it's often not necessary, I always like to call the hotel and let them know if we'll be rolling in late at night- it's not unheard of for reservations to be given away. If option #2 is more your thing, just be prepared to drive around a bit. You never know if there's a big local event going on and thus no vacancies in town, so you'd have to keep driving. So just be flexible!

31 Days: Holidays at Disney

Hi friends!

Today I wanted to share with you some fun stuff that happens around the holidays at Disney World! Aside from decorating the parks beautifully and festive cupcake goodies available everywhere, Disney has special events that really enhance the magic of your visit! I'll talk about some of the big events here- lots of extra fun for the littles :)

New Years Eve

If your wee ones are night owls, Disney of course puts on a spectacular fireworks display. The crowds at the parks (particularly Magic Kingdom) are a bit insane, but certainly an event to remember! Select restaurants also offer NYE reservations. I'd highly recommend California Grill- you can view the fireworks show from the top of The Contemporary Resort- a view that can't be beat!

Valentine's Day

Special dinner reservations are available to share an intimate meal with your spouse, or make it a special event for the whole family and share the love! Be sure to keep an eye out on Disney's website for when these reservations are made available- not all restaurants participate. 

Saint Patrick's Day

Be sure to head to Disney Spring's Raglan Road for a true taste of Ireland and some incredible Irish Step Dancing performances and other traditional Irish bands. One of our family's favorite eateries year-round! They even bring some little ones on stage to learn a few dance steps- too cute!

Spring

Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival- Epcot is transformed with topiaries and gardening delights all over the place! See your child's favorite character created entirely of plants and flowers! Also, like the fall event at Epcot, you'll find food booths set up around the park to indulge in many unique eats! Also enjoy interactive play areas for kids, tips for gardening at home, and concerts!

Atlanta Braves Spring Training- Is your family a baseball fan? Call the ATL your home? Is your little one a sports nut? Be sure to check out ESPN's Wide World of Sports and catch a game!

Star Wars Weekends- Throughout the month of May, be sure to check this out! Featuring everything Star Wars. From celebrity guest appearances to special dining experiences, Jedi Training Academy to a special parade- Hollywood Studios is all things out of this world!

Easter

Check out Epcot for an Easter Egg Hunt around the World Showcase.

There are 2 Catholic Masses & 1 Protestant service at The Contemporary Resort on Easter Sunday.

Easter brunch reservations are available at select restaurants.

Fourth of July

Of course Disney puts on a huge fireworks display- not to be missed!!

Night of Joy concert in front of the castle!

Fall

Night of Joy- A truly blessed experience! A two-day Christian concert featuring the most popular Christian artists in the business! A separate ticketed event at Magic Kingdom, which means you can enter the park as early as 4pm and regular guests are required to leave by 7pm. Most of the major rides are open with relatively LOW wait times! There are three stages located throughout the park featuring different groups throughout the evening- each band plays roughly a half hour set. If your favorite band isn't playing, be sure to check at Universal Studios, as they host a Christian festival that same weekend, so your favorite may be playing over there instead!

Epcot International Food & Wine Festival- Ok, so this isn't so much for the kids, but it's a huge perk for the adults!! Set up all around Epcot's World Showcase are food booths where you can get appetizer portions of foods and drinks from all around the world. It could actually be a great way to stretch your meal budget, as the portions are kid-friendly (so you only spend a few bucks on your child's meal instead of buy a whole meal!). Definitely a must-do if you're visiting during this time! Throw in some extra learning and take the chance to learn more about the different cultures represented from around the world! Don't forget to catch the concerts featuring well-known bands!

Wine & Food Festival portions from the Ireland booth

Halloween

Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party! This is a separate ticketed event at Magic Kingdom. That means that the park closes to regular guests at 7pm, and if you don't have a party wrist band, you'll be directed to leave the park. If you have a party ticket, you can enter the park as early at 4pm that day- so just relax that morning at the resort or Disney Springs and then head to Magic at 4pm and save your regular park ticket for use on another day- it's a great way to stretch your tickets and practically get a whole extra day at the park! There's dance parties, trick or treating trails, special event-only merchandise, the major rides are open with relatively LOW wait times, and it's your only chance to see the spectacular Halloween parade- arguably Disney's best parade!

Thanksgiving

There are special dinner reservations available at various restaurants. So if the only time you can visit Disney is over the holidays, you can still get your fill of turkey and stuffing! Check the Disney site frequently for when the reservations open up- holiday meals are only available at select restaurants. 

Christmas

Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party! This is another separate ticketed event at Magic Kingdom. That means that the park closes to regular guests at 7pm, and if you don't have a party wrist band, you'll be directed to leave the park. If you have a party ticket, you can enter the park as early at 4pm that day- so just relax that morning at the resort or Disney Springs and then head to Magic at 4pm and save your regular park ticket for use on another day- it's a great way to stretch your tickets and practically get a whole extra day at the park! There's dance parties, free cookies & hot cocoa, special event-only merchandise, the major rides are open with relatively LOW wait times, and it's your first chance to see Disney's Christmas parade before it debuts at the park during normal hours!

Holidays Around the World- Epcot's World Showcase includes special performers and storytellers at each country to share their country's holiday traditions! Really neat if your kids are old enough to sit through the stories (or they're napping in the stroller, you can sit and listen hehe). Might be fun to purchase ornaments from each country to commemorate your trip!

Candlelight Processional- This one holds a special place in my heart as it truly conveys the reason for CHRISTmas to me. This is an event at Epcot that takes place a few times each evening throughout December. A celebrity narrator reads through the Scriptures highlighting the life of Christ, accompanied by a full orchestra and choir performing some of the most well-known holiday hymns and songs. If you can, grab a "Candlelight Processional Dinner Package" reservation available on the Disney website- this gets you a ticket to the show so that you don't have to wait in line for hours to try and get into a performance! Yes, it's really that sought after. So if you get the dinner package, you only have to line up about a half hour early in order to secure your seat. 

Osborne Family Spectacle of Lights- No, we're not talking about Ozzy here. This is an entire street in Hollywood Studios lined from top to bottom with Christmas lights that "dance" in sync to the music! So grab some hot cocoa and spiced nuts, enjoy the light show, and be sure to stay for the snowfall! Not to be missed! SO festive! This is the last year that they're having it, unfortunately, but there's rumor it may appear somewhere else in Disney in years to come, so fingers crossed!

Gingerbread Houses- If you have some down time (maybe a stray afternoon thunderstorm, or a day off from the parks), be sure to pop on the monorail and over to Disney's Boardwalk! The resorts on those two lines feature some incredible gingerbread displays, and you can purchase your own gingerbread there too! Really incredible displays from a moving carousel to a 10 foot tall house! This is an underrated Christmas experience, but we really love it!

Gingerbread Carousel at Beach & Yacht Club Resort

Christmas Tree at POP Century Resort