The Honest Company Review

A major step I have taken to more natural living is that I have cleaned out all of my toxic household cleaners and replaced them with either my e-cloth (which I will review a little later) or products from The Honest Company. I signed up with the Honest Company because they had sent me an awesome coupon code in an e-mail. I decided it was now or never if I was going to take the plunge! I had been reluctant to sign up with The Honest Co. because they work on a subscription system. The subscription bundles offer a great discount on their products, but I was afraid that I would be obligated to get a bundle every single month. After further research into it I realized it is not like that at all! You can schedule your bundle to ship whenever you want and they do not charge you until your bundle ships! So, I went with the "Essentials" bundle which allows you to pick form 5 of their cleaning or bath and body products for $35.95. If you use someone's referral code you can get $10 off your first bundle making it only $25.95! I'll leave my referral link at the bottom of this post if you would like get $10 off your first bundle! Considering most of their products retail for $10 or more at Target this is a great deal. Now I usually set my next bundle to ship about 6 weeks from the last bundle, but if I need products sooner or later I can always go in and adjust the date.Their shipping is fast too so I can wait to ship until 2-3 days before I need something. Also, if you have two bundles going even if they ship at totally different times you get free shipping on both! So far the "Essential" bundle products I have tried are:

-Stain Remover
-Dish Soap
-Hand Soap
-Hand Sanitizer
-Soothing Bottom Wash
-Shampoo
-Organic Healing Balm
-Face and Body Lotion
-Fruit and Veggie Wash
-Organic Breathe Easy Rub
-Wipes
-Suds Up Dish Brush and Dish
-Diapers
-Oxyboost Tabs
-Dishwasher Tabs
-Dryer Cloths
-Multipurpose Spray

I also have the shave oil and spray sunscreen, but haven't gotten to try them yet. I also have the new deodarant and air freshner spray on the way! I have loved every product I have tried of theirs! We use cloth diapers so I just used the Honest Co. diapers I got with my free trial, but if I did not use cloth I would definitely go with the Honest Co. diapers. if you would like a more extensive review on any of these products let me know, but overall consensus of their company is they are wonderful! Their customer service is awesome and in my December bundle I received a pack of organic sugar cookie mix with a cute snowflake cookie cutter free!

 I have also signed up for their "Health and Wellness" bundle for my prenatal vitamins and Natalie's vitamins. I will do another review for their "Health and Wellness" bundle too. :)

If you would like to get $10 off your first bundle($10 off is good for any 4 of their bundles) or a free trial of 3 of their bundles (only pay $5.95 shipping) CLICK HERE

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Time For A Change

If you've been following along for a while you will know I've been trying to find the right direction for my blog to go. I thought about a daily blog, but that became overwhelming quickly and most days we just stay home so I never felt like I had anything to exciting to say. I have the heart of a teacher and a desire to encourage others so I want to use this as an outlet to encourage other mothers and maybe help them somehow along the way. I have had so many people encourage me to where I am now through blogs or vlogs so I want to pay it forward.

I am now on a hard core mission to a more natural yet modern life style because I feel that's where the Lord is leading me. I think it will be fun to learn together and also a great place to document my progress. I plan to pass along any wisdom that I may gain along the way!

I would say I began this process about 2 years ago when I started cloth diapering Maddox and it has gradually progressed into other areas since then. It wasn't until recently though that I really felt the urge to jump in feet first so to speak. I've been literally purging my home of anything that contains harmful chemicals from our food to cleaning products to bath and body products. 

Everything in the box contained the word "paraban" in its ingredients, so they had to go.

I just want the safest and healthiest environment for my family that I can possibly give them! 

I just pray my journey can encourage other mothers to first seek God because he gives wisdom liberally to those who ask, but also to go against the grain or the "norm" and really research the conventional products you use in your home and maybe replace them with a healthier, more natural option! 

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Big News! Name Change!

So I have some big news to share and if you found me again you probably already know what it is! I have changed my blog name from "Simply Being Mommy" to "Naturally Being Mommy". I did this for two reasons.

1.I recently found out that the domain name "simplybeingmommy.com" is already taken which means if I ever want to own my own www.com I would not be able to use that name and also because if that name is taken then that means some other momma out there is using that name for her blog already and you can get into some copyright issues there.

2. "Naturally" fits my lifestyle (or trying to be lifestyle) to a tee right now. I am now on a hardcore mission to rid my home and body of anything potentially toxic and I want to take you all along with me on this journey. I feel like this is something the Lord has led me to do and I'm going to follow His lead!

You can now follow me on bloglovin'.com!

Follow Here!

Here's to a beautiful, grace filled journey to natural living and parenthood!

I will update more soon!

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Cloth Diapering Series Day 3: Diapering a Newborn

Cloth diapering in the first few weeks of your baby's life usually requires a little different approach than once they start fitting into the standard one size diapers. Natalie is my first baby I've cloth diapered as a newborn since we didn't starting cloth diapering with Maddox until around 6 months old. There are several different options for diapering a newborn. There are all in ones, prefolds with covers, or flats with covers. I'll give you some pros and cons for each type.

ALL IN ONE- Common brands that have newborn AIOs are Bumgenius Newborns, Fuzzibunz XS, Charlie Banana XS, Lil Joeys by Rumparooz, THX newborns, and Smart Bottoms Newborns.
     PROS:     
    -Most like disposables
    -Grandparent & Dad friendly
    -No stuffing. All one piece

    CONS:
   -Most expensive
   -Take longer to dry
   -Babies grow out of them quickly                                                                                                   

I had about 12 AIOs with Natalie made up of bumGenius newborns, THX newborns, and a Smart Bottoms newborn. I used these at night time because they are easy to put on and take off when you are half asleep! :) But, we were only able to use these for about 2 or 3 weeks before she outgrew the absorbency.

This was the Smart Bottoms newborn diaper we used. I loved the cut out for the umbilical stump!

Natalie in a THX newborn AIO

Prefolds & Covers-Commons websites or brands of prefolds are Green Mountain Diapers (GMD), Diaper Junction, Osocozy, & Cotton Babies. I purchased one dozen of my newborn prefolds from GMD and one dozen from Diaper Junction. Common brands of diaper covers for newborns are Thirsties XS, Imagine Newborn, and some people use Best Bottoms covers from birth too. My personal recommendation are the Thirsties XS. They are the perfect size for the first month or two of a babies life. Using prefolds and cover for newborns was definitely the best option for us. Here's my list of pros and cons.
Pros:                                                                      Cons
-Inexpensive                                                          -A little more of a hassle to put on
-Great Absorbency                                                -Bulkier
-Longer Lasting                                                      -Not typically grandparent/dad friendly

Flats are basically the same thing as prefolds with the exception that you have to fold them into the shape you want. This can be a pro and a con because being able to fold them to the size and shape you want allows flats to be used literally from birth to potty training. You can fold them very small and you can make them big as well. They are also the least expensive option because my personal favorite flat diaper are just flour sack towels from Wal-Mart found in the kitchen towel section. They are usually around $5 for a pack of 5, so only $1 a piece! It could be a con though because it does take extra time to fold it before you put it on and it's not very grandparent/dad friendly, unless the grandparent is 60+ years old and then they will probably know how to put it on better than you and will ask you for some safety pins and rubber pants! 

-Hannah

*Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated or affiliated with the products, brands, or websites mentioned in this post. These are simply my personal favorites and opinions. :)

Cloth Diaper Series Day 2: Cloth Diaper Lingo

Cloth diapering basically comes with its own language and abbreviations. If you are just starting to look into cloth diapers you could become easily confused by all the different terms cloth diaper websites or Facebook groups use. It really wasn't until recently that I learned pretty much all of the cloth diapering terms. So I am going to give you a little glossary of all the terms/abbreviations you may come across in the cloth diapering world so to say! :)

Cloth Diapers (CD): diapers made out of natural or synthetic material...duh ok I really just want to give you the abbreviation for cloth diapers which is CD because that is on a lot of Facebook groups and that way you won't be confused like me and think they are talking about compact discs. 

Pocket Diaper: This is a diaper that has a pocket in the middle of the diaper where you can stuff an insert in. Usually the opening of the pocket is in the back. 

Pocket opening in the back.

All in One (AIO):This is a diaper that requires no stuffing. It is all one piece. These are typically the closest option to a disposable diaper. 

The inserts or flaps are sewn onto the diaper making it all one piece.

All in Two (AI2) or Hybrid Diaper:These diapers are a two part system. Generally you have a diaper cover and then an insert that you just lay inside the cover. After use, you would remove the insert, wipe the cover, and replace with a clean insert. They are called Hybrid as well because you can use an insert made out of cloth or a disposable/flushable insert. 

Part 1: Diaper Cover

Part 2: Insert

Flats:These are like the diapers our grandparents used to use. People still use them today because they are tried and true. Some options are Birdseye cotton, bamboo, or hemp. 

Prefolds:These are basically flats but already prefolded. These come in all kinds of varieties from bleached to unbleached. There are organic options and prefolds made of different materials such as cotton, bamboo, and hemp. 

Fitted:This is a diaper that is already folded up like a diaper. Most have snaps on them, but they still need a cover over them. So you would put on the fitted and then put on a diaper cover. 

PUL:This is what makes diapers and diaper covers waterproof. It's the shiny slick lining inside your diaper.  If this is cracked anywhere on your diaper it could cause leaks. 

Snappis:These precious babies are what have replaced diaper pins. They are rubbery and stretchy and have plastic claws to hold together a flat or prefold. They are safe and comfortable for your baby. 

The plastic claw

Doubler: This is an insert that you would stuff in your pocket diaper in addition to the normal insert to give you more absorbency. These can be made of microfiber, bamboo, hemp, etc. 

One Size (OS):This is a diaper that fits from birth to potty training. Generally 8-35lbs, but if you ask me they really don't start fitting good until 10-12lbs. 

Velcro, Aplix, or Hook and Loop:This is a type of closure on a cloth diaper. You either have snaps closure or Aplix closure (Velcro or hook and loop). All three of those terms can be interchangeable. 

This is an Aplix closure.

Now I'll give you some abbreviations commonly used on the Facebook buy,sell,trade groups because that's a language all its own!

ISO-in search of

FSOT-for sell or trade

FSO-for sell only

FTO-for trade only

PPD-paid postage domestic. This means shipping is included in the price of you live in their country so someone may price something $10ppd. 

HTF-hard to find. This is a diaper print or color that is hard to find. Generally these go for above retail. Yes cloth diapering for some is like collecting baseball cards.

BG-bumGenius 

CB-Cotton Babies (cottonbabies.com)

Hope this helps you guide your way through the cloth diaper websites and understand the terms being used!

-Hannah

*Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated or affiliated with the products, brands, or websites mentioned in this post. These are simply my personal favorites and opinions. :)

Cloth Diapering Series Day 1: An Intro To Cloth Diapers

I decided to switch things up a bit and do a series. When your a stay at home mom (and for me I literally mean stay at home) most days go about the same. So today, I am introducing a series on cloth diapering based off my most popular post "The True Cost of Cloth Diapers". I have come a long way since writing that post and I feel like I have some wisdom I'd like to share for someone who may be thinking about cloth diapering to someone who may be wanting to try something new, but want a little more info about it first. So, during this series I will be reviewing every type and brand of cloth diapers that I own and also my cloth diapering accessories. I will also be doing posts on troubleshooting for different issues that may arise with your cloth diapers and basic to advanced "how to's".

We started cloth diapering Maddox (now 2 years old) when he was 6 months old. I had seen Charlie Banana diapers when I was in Target one day and I thought those are so cute! So I purchased one with the idea that he could wear this one every once in and a while,but I never dreamed it would actually be the start of a completely different lifestyle we live today. After I realized how cute he looked in it. I began to research more about them and I talked to a friend that had just started cloth diapering as well to get some advice of where to begin. Because of the plethora of info there is out there, I was overwhelmed, but my friend thankfully pointed me in the right direction. You can see my full story and first stash of cloth diapers in this post.

So now almost 2 years and 2 kids later, I am ready to lay out all I know about cloth diapers to hopefully encourage anyone thinking about using cloth diapers or are having a hard time with the ones they have or just looking to try something new because we all know no stash is ever really complete! ;)

Question #1: Where do I start?
The first question to ask yourself when you are considering cloth diapers is "What is my budget?" This is a huge factor in determining which way to go next. I had an initial budget of only $200 for everything (diapers, wet bags, laundry soap, etc.) and with that budget I was able to get 20 Alva brand diapers, 2 Wet bags, and all the laundry supplies I needed. If I had to do it all over again I would pay the extra money up front and go with either all Bumgenius or all Best Bottoms diapers and a few more accessories, just for simplicity because they will last through 2-3 kids. To do this would run you in the neighborhood of about $500 new for everything. Keep in mind the average person spends approx. $2,000 per child on disposable diapers from birth to potty training at age 2. So $500 for 2 to 3 kids from birth to potty training is a good deal!

Question #2: Where do you buy cloth diapers?
This depends on what diapers you are wanting to buy and how you feel about buying used diapers. I hope by the end of this series I will have reviewed a diaper or diapers that you think you will like. So I am just going to hit the high spots of where to buy cloth diapers, but I will go into greater detail of where to buy specific diaper brand when I review that diaper. So, first place I would look to buy diapers if you are on a tighter budget like I was is on eBay. They definitely have the cheapest diapers that are new. Other places to buy new cloth diapers are Kelly's Closet, Diaper Junction, Cotton Babies,or Nicki's Diapers. Those are just a few of my personal favorite websites to buy from. Some of those sites have reward points or reward dollars where if you spend so much you get so many point/dollars which will translate to real dollars to spend on their site! If you don't mind buying used diapers (which I was opposed to at first, but it really saves alot of money and there is a way to sanitize used diapers at home when you get them so you know they are safe to put on your baby) then I suggest Facebook Buy, Sell, and Trade groups. Just about every brand of cloth diapers have at least one if not more groups on Facebook where moms from all over the United States, Canada, and even parts of the UK buy, sell, and trade their diapers. Just search "cloth diaper bst" or "Bumgenius BST" or whatever brand your looking for. I will make a post that goes into greater detail about buying diapers on a Facebook group. This is where the majority of my stash today has come from. You know my motto I go by, "buy used and save the difference" :).

Question #3: How many diapers do I need and what kind of accessories do I need?
If you are only cloth diapering one child, I personally recommend 20 one size diapers and 24 diapers specifically designed for newborns (if you plan to cloth diaper from the start). With cloth diapers you do have to change a little more frequently than disposables just because they are not filled with that gel made of who knows what that can hold a gallon of urine. I have used the "two hour" rule ever since I started cloth diapering and have rarely had a issue with that. Obviously, you would want to change sooner than two hours if they have had a bowel movement just as you would in disposables. So with this rule of thumb, you can expect 8-10 changes in a 24 hour period because you most likely won't change every two hours at night when they are able to wear one size diapers. As far as accessories, the options are limitless. My personal recommendation is at least 2 wet bags, a diaper sprayer (I will make a post that goes into more detail about this), Snappis (if you plan to use flats or prefolds), cloth wipes or baby wash cloths, cloth diaper safe rash cream, a diaper pail, 2 pail liners, and hemp doublers for night time.

These are just a few questions I get asked alot and will get you pointed in the right direction, but I hope by the end of this series you will feel confident in making the decision to cloth diaper or if you already cloth diaper will learn something new and/or be encouraged. Tomorrow we will dive into the world of cloth diaper lingo and all the different cloth diapering options you have in today's time. Cloth diapering doesn't have to involve flats, rubber pants, and safety pins anymore! ;)

-Hannah

*Disclaimer: I am in no way compensated or affiliated with the products, brands, or websites mentioned in this post. These are simply my personal favorites and opinions. :)

Diligence Is Not My Strongest Quality

 Hello again! So things like this remind me of how diligence is not my strongest quality. I have the hardest time staying dedicated to things. I guess my attention span plays a good role in that. I had a friend in high school who literally carried the same Coach purse the whole 4 years we were in high school and I really admired her diligence to that purse. I think how many times you change purses says a lot about your diligence or attention span because me I switch purses/diaper bags ALL the time. So, anyway I'm back, but I can't make any promises as too long or frequent I'll post because life happens and I'm easily distracted! 😊 

I always feel like when I take breaks I spend a week just trying to play catch up, so I'm just going to make this update brief!

Natalie: She is now 3 months old, chunky, and teething. She is such a little blessing to our family and is definitely the calm child. She still sleeps soo good which I am so very thankful for. 

Maddox: He has just blossomed into this little boy that just says everything that's on his mind. The things he says just blows my mind sometimes because he just talks about things that I didn't even know he knew anything about. He has highs and lows everyday. He is definitely a two year old. He is such a good big brother. He likes to rock his sister while singing "Rocking my baby" (Aka Rock-a-bye Baby).  

Hopefully I can get back in the swing of my daily updates because that is so fun to look back on. I've contemplated getting into some vlogging too, but I have the worst country accent and can't stand to hear myself talk on video so that might not be a good idea haha. We will see! 

-Hannah