To swim diaper or not to swim diaper

When little prince charming got too hot at the local church pool party I stripped him down to his diaper, and all the ladies asked if he was going swimming too. They assumed that this cute softbums omni in sprout was some type of swim trunk. I then got to explain our current cloth diapering love and how we do it as cheaply as possible by buying only a few covers like this one and using mostly homemade fitted diapers and inserts. I also have some homemade covers that work pretty well, but ever since I discovered softbums they have been my favorite because of the great fit I get on my rolly polly baby. The slide to size system they use is great!!!! I'm so happy with them actually I have yet to try to duplicate it.

But onto the topic of swim diapers. I did not bring one for prince charming that day because I didn't plan on him getting in the pool since I wasn't. Hubby decided to put him in the water a bit~ it was his first time in a pool~ I guess we couldn't resist. I had just changed his diaper so we put him in cloth diaper and all, and well let me tell you if you didn't already know, about a gallon of water came out of the pool with him, and then drained all over me...

So next time I will be using one of his snug fitting homemade pocket diapers without an insert inside. I've read this will work just as effectively as a disposable swim diaper, because all they are designed to do is hold the solid waste. Mama's cloth can do that!

Gift giving 101

One way that I find it easy to save $ for the family is to buy ahead. When I find a deal on a product I use, I buy as many as I might need in the next 6 months or so if I have room for that many. Luckily I have several extra cabinets in my half bath that I use for my pantry and personal hygiene stock pile. Some may think this is strange, I know my husband did when he first saw where I was keeping the cereal, but in a small home you've got to use storage where you can find it!

Another way I save is buy keeping a gift stock pile, which I store in the attic. Our local Dirt Cheap Stores are one place I find a lot of these items for as cheap as 80% off retail. When I find something that fits our usual birthday party crowd, I pick up as many as I'll need for a year or so. I also sew a lot of my gifts for children's parties and adults alike. Sometimes I ask the mother what item they would like, but more often I just surprise them with something. I do this so often, I think they pretty much expect a homemade gift from us. I enjoy making them and they are just as nice, if not more so than a store bought present.

 

For today's party I almost hate to disclose what I actually paid for the gift, but I guess I will.

The birthday girl and her sister are going on a beach vacation in July, so I pulled 2 beach towels out of the attic and monogrammed their names on them. I paired this with a store bought Melissa and Doug toy that I purchased for 70%off at a local shoe store that has a huge yearly sale - I LOVE the Watermelon Patch!- and viola. Birthday girl gets a fun toy and personalized beach towel, with one thrown in for her sis as well, for only... Wait for it.....$8 plus tax!

Now if I went to the store yesterday and bought just the toy it would have been $20 plus tax. That's why I love my stock pile and why my husband has learned to love it too, even if it is in the bathroom!