Hippies wear Dreads

Welcome to my 400th post! In honor of this milestone, I'm embarking on a new project. Read on:

The tag line for my FB Page is "a slightly crunchy momma sliding down the slippery slope to full-on hippydom." I've been a bit of a hippie for a while and it just seems to get... worse? Ha! And you know what, I have wanted to try out dreadlocks for a long time. I'd been told that "white chicks can't pull off dreads." Pfft. Actually, I worried that it was true. I asked several friends for their opinions on this, including a black friend. Even she was supportive! (I'd read on some forums that it is thought that white people shouldn't have dreads.)

I'd been thinking about them again... began researching them. I brought the idea to my husband again and he was supportive. I even learned that you don't have to shave your head to come back from dreads.

So I knew I wanted to do this dread thing. And I knew I wanted to blog about it. I found and contacted a company that makes all natural dread products. Knotty Boy was willing to sponsor a review / blog project for me. I was giddy! I'd already found a couple of friends willing to participate in a "dread party."

I received a Deluxe Dreadlock Starter Kit plus a few extras.

There are some dreadlock products available on the market that contain some nasty ingredients. If you're reading this blog, you probably prefer to go natural when possible. Not only are Knotty Boy products all natural, all but one of their products are even vegan! (Their dread wax is made with beeswax, which they source from small local beekeepers who treat their bees very nicely indeed.)

How in the heck to get started?! Well, Knotty Boy also offers tutorials that aren't bogged down with too much information (like I found elsewhere). Your friends can watch 20 minutes worth of videos and be ready to dread your hair! But I am getting ahead of myself...

I started by cutting shampoo out of my routine. I started washing with Bee-Washed Pre-Dreading & De-Waxing Soap. I can not seem to figure out a way to describe the scent of this stuff. It almost has no scent. It smells very natural, clean and a tiny bit sweet. I love it! You can absolutely tell that it leaves no residue behind!

Ingredients: Saponified Organic Oils of Palm, Coconut, Castor Bean and Hemp, Red Kaolinite Clay, Organic Essential Oils of Cedar Wood, Fir Needle, Pine and Spruce

I used it for a couple weeks before my dread party, but since I dyed my hair a few days prior, I went ahead and did the recommended double-wash with this soap before the party. I could definitely feel the difference. I think my hair color may have had conditioners in it.

I did that double-wash the day before my dread party. I towel-dried my hair and then I braided it. I think I could have done better with more, smaller braids, but I am terribly inexperienced with braiding my own hair. Plus I already had to steal hair bands from Sasha to hold some of the braids!

I'll leave you with a night-before picture.

I was squinting my eyes like crazy due to the bright sun of the day.

I threw on an upcycled t-shirt head band (just a sleeve) for sleeping and called it a night. Stay tuned for updates and photos!

Mamatography - Week 24

Day 162

(06/10/12)

The entire family walked down to the park with a couple of kites to enjoy a breezy, sunny day!

A Day in the Life of NPN Volunteers

It's that time again! You might remember the great post in December 2011 that highlighted the Natural Parents Network Volunteer's most popular or favorite posts from the year. Or what about March 2012 post which featured Do It Yourself projects, How To's, Tutorials, Recipes, and anything related to a step by step guide or informational how-to from the NPN Volunteers? Well, we are back and this time we are bringing you a collection of posts that focus on what our lives really look like!

Yep - we are giving you a sneak peak into things like a typical day in our life, special or fun outings, or photos which show all of you what motherhood looks like for us. Basically, we are keeping it real!

There are a lot of really wonderful posts here that show that even though we blog about our parenting ideals, we really are just regular moms, getting by one day at a time! So enjoy our typical day in the trenches!

Laura at WaldenMommy: Life Behind the Red Front Door shares "Just Another Monday." This post appeared in March of 2012 and is a typical busy day with the Herd. You can also find Laura on Facebook.

Cynthia at The Hippie Housewife shares a typical day in her life, complete with a blood test, a stop at the thrift store, and lots and lots of books. You can also find The Hippie Housewife on Facebook, Google+, and Pinterest.

Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings shares A Day In The Life: Two Years Old, a photo journal commemorating her daughter's second birthday by attempting to capture a sense of the daily routine at this busy stage. You can also find Vibrant Wanderings on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Laura at Pug in the Kitchen shares A Busy Day in the Life of her family. This post is a whirlwind look at life two children under the age of 3. You can also find Laura on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Momma Jorje shares Typical Visit to the Pediatric Cardiologist + Results. Read her post to see what it is like to take her infant son for regular visits to a cardiologist. You can also find Momma Jorje on Facebook.

A Little Bit of All of It shares Our Last Days as a Family of Three as she, her husband and 3 year old daughter wait for baby #2. She also wrote A Day in the Life of This Mom when her daughter was 2 and she watched a 5 month old. You can also find A Little Bit of All of It on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Jennifer at Hybrid Rasta Mama shares A Hot Day In The Life of Jennifer. This post appeared on a friend’s blog and is a humorous look at a typical summer day for Hybrid Rasta Mama and her sidekick Tiny. You can also find Hybrid Rasta Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Emily at Embrita Blogging shares an Ordinary Day with a pre-crawler from almost two years ago. You can find Emily on Facebook, Pinterest, and on Twitter.

Gretchen at That Mama Gretchen showcases A Day in the Life of her busy summer as she waddles around with a baby in her belly and a toddler in tow! You can also find That Mama Gretchen on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

Shannon at Pineapples & Artichokes shares A day at the Solstice Parade, a picture post about her trip to one of the local summer parades in Seattle. You can also find Shannon on Google +, Flickr, Pinterest.

Lauren at Hobo Mama shows what unschooling looks like in her house through Meetups and play dates. Far from staying indoors or isolated, you can find Lauren or Sam and their kids out at one or other fun and educational activity several times a week. You can also find Hobo Mama on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Kat of Loving {Almost} Every Moment wrote this post after having One Of Those Days. She was pregnant, exhausted and had a lot of errands to do with her two older kiddos in tow. In the end she was reminded of a thing or two...especially to always keep her chocolate stash well stocked!

Joella at Fine and Fair shares A Summer Sunday in Our Life. This day in the life photo project shows a busy Summer Sunday filled with gardening, friends, family, and shared parenting. You can also find Fine and Fair on Facebook and Twitter.

Erica at Childorganics shares And The "Play" Goes On. This post takes a peek of what a whole day of play looks like at their house. You can also find ChildOrganics on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest.

A day in the life of Dionna at Code Name: Mama and family in downtown Independence - from 6 month old EC'ing to the farmer's market to nursing at the Main Street Coffee House. By the way, join us for the August Carnival of Natural Parenting when our topic will be Farmer's Markets!

Amy at Anktangle shows us (through photographs) a glimpse into a typical week in her world. You can also find Amy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Google +.

Mandy at Living Peacefully with Children shares The School Bus Comes Early. She speaks of how unschooling allows her family a flexibility in their lives to accommodate learning. You can also find Living Peacefully with Children on Facebook.

Christine at African Babies Don't Cry shares "A Week With Jesse, in Pictures." This post is one in a collection of posts, where Christine shares the weeks happenings with her son Jesse with a picture for each day. You can also find African Babies Don't Cry on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, and Networked Blogs.

Lyndsay at OurFeministPlayschool shares "Day in Our Life..." This post looks at her family's day and their trip to a museum. You can also find Lyndsay on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest.

Natural Parents Network is a community of natural-minded parents and parents-to-be where you will be informed, empowered, and inspired to live your values. At NPN, you can find articles about Activism, Balance, Consistent Care, Ecological Responsibility, Family Safety, Feeding With Love, Gentle Discipline, Healthy Living, Holistic Health, Natural Learning, Nurturing Touch, Parenting Philosophies, Practical Home Help, Preparing for Parenting, Responding With Sensitivity, Safe Sleep, and so much more!

The volunteers who dedicate their time and energy to making NPN the outstanding resource it is also spend countless hours informing, empowering, and inspiring others on their personal blogs. We hope you enjoy reading these posts as much as we enjoyed writing them. We are always looking for new volunteers so please contact us if you are interested. Just a few hours per month can help other parents in a huge way!

What does your typical day look like? Do you have a similar post to share?

Sunday Surf: Sorry for Lying to your Thirsty Child

This past week had its ups and downs. Saturday I wound up rear-ending someone with paper tags on his car. I swear I used to be a good driver. Now I've sworn off driving!

Hey, Liar, Liar. Four Things To Consider Before You Keep On Lying to Your Child.

I'm certain that my husband and I are not the only parents that have lied out of convenience. I try not to do it, but when you have NetFlix (so all her favorite shows are available ALL the time), sometimes you say that show isn't on right now. It is a stupid lie. And what does it teach her?

Ariadne makes a lot of really great points regarding the different reasons and ways that we lie to our kids. Everyone lies at some point, but lets not teach our children to take the easy way out.

I’m Sorry

Speaking of lying, this is a cute little post from Honest Toddler. You're sure to get a chuckle out of it.

Keeping your Children Hydrated

Know the signs of dehydration and keep your children healthy in the Summer heat!

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!

For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.

Happy Surfing!

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex

We talk a lot about nursing. We discuss extended breastfeeding, tandem nursing, nursing through pregnancy, nursing aversions, weaning, etc. Well here is a new one to me. Some women experience dysphoria during let down. It is not the same aversion, nausea, or even postpartum depression with which we've become familiar. It is Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex, also known as D-MER.

To understand the reflex you must know that when a milk release is triggered prolactin levels begin to rise even before milk has begun to flow through the breasts. Dopamine helps control the secretion of prolactin and so dopamine levels must lower briefly for prolactin to rise. Once prolactin has begun it's slow climb, dopamine stabilizes. This happens to every lactating mother.

Dopamine is known for having an effect on moods and in a mother with D-MER dopamine is behaving somehow inappropriately in its drop. It is in this very quick and immediate drop that a mother with D-MER feels her dysphoria. As dopamine levels restabilized, the dysphoria is gone.

~D-MER.org

This problem is not new to the world, but it is newly recognized. If you have this problem, you should research it and get help from your doctor.

• D-MER.org
• International Breastfeeding Journal - Dysphoric milk ejection reflex: A case report
• Kelly Mom - Depression or other negative emotions upon milk let-down

This link from KellyMom is only a couple months old. You know if they haven't had it, the information really must be new! There isn't much on LLL yet, either.

There IS help, this IS treatable. Your doctor may not even be familiar with it yet, so be prepared with resources. There are some natural remedies as well, including placenta encapsulation.

Many women wean earlier than they planned because they can't make peace with their negative feelings when nursing. These women do not realize they are not alone. My heart goes out to these women, one a dear friend of mine, who are dealing with this problem. I'm glad my friend figured it out and got help. I want to help get the word out to other mothers so they can know, too, that they are not alone.

Anniversary of Her Death

Wow, its been a year since I lost my mom. The strangest things make me think of her.

• She didn't like whites in her fried eggs, so every time I scramble eggs... I think of her. I whip the eggs thoroughly, just like she liked.
• She worried that if I drank chocolate milk all the time, I'd have a battle to keep my children from drinking it all the time. Lately I think of her every time I make a glass of chocolate milk... for me or for Sasha.
• Sometimes when I'm playing with Spencer, I think of her and am sad that she never got to know him. She would have loved him so much and would have been so tickled by him.
• My mom was a bit of a germaphobe when it came to sponges and other items used to clean. Sometimes when I use my dish brush, I wonder how it might have bothered her that I couldn't run it through the dishwasher regularly.
• Looking through pictures, it hits me that Sasha has already forgotten her Gran.

March 2010
Gran & Sasha (6 months old)

I went back to read my journal post about the day that we got the call to come to the ICU now. I was surprised that I'd left something pretty strong out of my post. My uncle's wife (a nurse at the hospital) was with my mother at the very end. You know how you hear stories of people that waited to die until a spouse or other loved ones were with them? It was just the opposite with my mother. When they told her we were on our way, my aunt says it was like she let go. She didn't want us to be there, to witness, to deal with her actual dying.

It stands out to me. It means something. I'm not sure what words to place upon it, but there it is. I miss her more than I expected I would. And I know I still have some unresolved issues with her final days. I hope I'll find peace in it some day...

Mamatography - Week 23

Day 155

(06/03/12)

This bunny rabbit is currently one of her top 2 choices for night time lovey. This photo, however, was taken just after she got up for the day.

Can You Spare $1 To Help Baby Sean?

On June 10th 2012, Baby Sean was born. He is truly a miracle baby and both he and his family need our help.

A fellow blogger with the Natural Parents Network shared Baby Sean’s incredible story with us and asked if we could reach out to our friends and fans. Jennifer of Hybrid Rasta Mama is hoping to raise $1,000 over the next several days to help both baby Sean and his family as they face the lofty challenges in front of them.

Please take a moment and read a little about Baby Sean’s journey and needs as shared by Jennifer.

From 2001 until June 2011, I was fortunate enough to have five of the most caring, uplifting, generous and supportive people caring for my grandmother who suffered from dementia. This family literally fell into our lives and because of their selflessness, my grandmother lived 94 wonderful years. Without the care and support she received, I doubt that my daughter would have had the opportunity to spend two years with a great-grandmother who loved her, even when she did not have a clue who she was.

Caroline was my grandmother’s main caretaker but her entire family (husband Tony and their three young children) did everything that my family could not. They bathed her, they cleaned up her bathroom accidents, they fed her nourishing foods, they told her stories, they took her to concerts, they took her camping, they took her to family events, and the list goes on. They lived with her 24 hours per day, 7 days per week with no time off. They embraced her and together, they become an expanded family.

After my grandmother passed away in June 2011, I not only mourned her death but I mourned the loss of my extended family. Although I knew we would keep in touch, it would still be different.

Fast forward to the end of May 2012. Caroline had been experiencing a headache that defied words. She decided to go to the hospital, knowing that something serious was going on. A short while after her arrival, she learned that she was 26 weeks pregnant and in a major health crisis. That headache was the result of preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. Both Caroline and her unborn baby were in serious trouble.

Caroline was put on hospital bed rest where a fabulous team of doctors and nurses did all they could to keep Caroline’s baby where he should be…in his warm, watery womb. Unfortunately, Caroline’s placenta was too thick, her baby was not getting nourishment, and his life was in danger. After his heart kept stopping, Caroline underwent an emergency C-section to save both her baby’s life as well as hers.  

15 days after walking into the hospital for a headache, Caroline gave birth to a 1 pound 10 ounce baby boy she and her husband named Sean Feleti Jeremiah Mokofisi.

Baby Sean is a miracle. He is a fighter. And he has a long road ahead of him. However, Baby Sean is already breathing well on his own, a miracle and something pretty rare for a baby only 28 weeks gestational age. He has had some significant health challenges since his birth but has fought through them with the help of a wonderful and talented team of doctors.

Baby Sean is not able to be held or breastfeed but Caroline is pumping milk and the hospital has been very supportive of her through this. They are also open to supplementing with donor milk, knowing how crucial breastmilk is to a premature baby.

Caroline has had some health challenges as she recovers from not only the C-section but the preeclampsia and gestational diabetes. However, she is expected to be released from the hospital soon. Baby Sean is not so fortunate. His stay will be quite lengthy.

This is where YOU come in.

Caroline and her family were already at a financial disadvantage before this incredible journey began. They work hard, they are generous people – giving to those even less fortunate than they are. They give everything they have to care for their children and give them the best life possible. But the economic cards have been stacked against them and the financial impact of such a lengthy and complex hospital stay for both Caroline and Baby Sean will be devastating to them.

Once Caroline is released from the hospital, she will have to travel 45 minutes each direction to see her baby daily. The cost of gasoline is going to make this near impossible. On top of that, Caroline needs to begin preparing for Baby Sean’s arrival home and literally does not have the resources to purchase the most basic of baby supplies let alone some of the special supplies a premature baby with Sean’s health needs might require.

Today we are reaching out to you. Could you donate $1 – just ONE DOLLAR – to help Baby Sean? Your donation will go towards clothes, cloth diapers, a car seat, and other premature baby essentials. In addition, it will help this beautiful family make the daily trip to bond with and bring breastmilk to their precious son.

If you aren’t able to donate, perhaps you know someone who could. In lieu of a donation, we are asking for help in spreading the word.

We know that in these tough economic times, it is difficult to know when to give and what cause deserves our hard earned dollar. This baby needs our help now! Imagine if this was your baby and all you needed was a little financial cushion so you could start your baby’s life out right?

Caroline, Tony, their entire family and Baby Sean are already deeply grateful, humbled, and moved to tears by the mere fact that we are raising funds to assist them in their greatest hour of need. So thank you for your help. It literally will make a world of difference in this family and child’s lives.

HOW TO HELP

To donate to the Help Baby Sean fund, please click the DONATE button below. You will be taken to Paypal where you can donate even if you do not have a Paypal account.

If you prefer, you can purchase a copy of Jennifer’s eBook, Coconut Oil For Your Skin, for $9.95. This increased price will be in effect June 20th and 21st and all sales from those days will go directly to the Help Baby Sean fund. Click the BUY IT NOW coconut below to purchase the eBook.

Together, we WILL be able to help Baby Sean and his family get off to the best start possible. Again, thank you and many, many blessings for your generosity!

Winner of the Making Mama's Milk Lactation Cookies Giveaway

Chelle!

Making Mama's Milk & More is a small business started by a real mother that experienced milk supply problems herself. She wants to help other women avoid this pitfall of nursing relationships. They make their cookies by hand; no factory processing here!

You can purchase your own 30 days supply of Lactation Cookies at Making Mama's Milk, for $45 excluding shipping. And, when ordering a subscription you get 40 cookies instead of 30 per month and FREE shipping.

Don't forget to:

• Like Making Mama's Milk & More on Facebook.
• Visit the Making Mama's Milk & More website.
• Follow Making Mama's Milk on Twitter.

Monday Minimalist: Email

How many emails do you have sitting in your inbox? If you're anything like I was, you've got literally thousands! Cleaning out your email inbox can be a very daunting task. I've always done it in chunks when I felt motivated enough to do it.

I've slowly been unsubscribing from newsletters that don't interest me. If I have several unread editions of the same newsletter in my inbox, I apparently don't find it interesting enough to actually read. If every time I get a newsletter I file it away, archive it, or delete it... I apparently don't have the time to read it. That is one good place to start. Just occasionally, when you receive one, open it and find the "unsubscribe" option.

I have always hated the idea of switching email accounts. It can be a huge hassle and there are so many people to update! It can, however, be a great way to clean out your email hoarding habits and start with a clean slate! This is exactly the approach I wound up taking. I wanted to use my email associated with my blog domain (MommaJorje.com).

I am awful about reading an email and then just holding on to it... with the intention of responding later. You know when you get to such emails? Never, that's when!

My current new inbox has, count them, two messages. Both messages are regarding an order I have not yet received. Since I'm using gmail now, I can also archive everything if I want and not have it slow down my mail system. I have a lot of saved emails on my old system, including a section for sentimental messages. I still need to clean things out and a couple of regular mailings I still need to switch over to my new address, but overall I've been happy with my behavior on this new system. I've been on it for 3 months and still... only 2 messages sitting in my inbox.

You can do it, too. If you'd like more ideas on how to keep your inbox empty, check out Inbox Zero: Better Practices for staying (near) zero. Now, tell me again, how many emails do you have sitting in your inbox?

Let me know if you have a Monday Minimalist post and I'll share it on my blog.

Click the icon to grab the button for your MM posts or for details on how to join the movement.

Sunday Surf: Daughters Reading about Guilt

I hope you & yours are having a great Father's Day! Here are my pick from... well, recent weeks.

10 Things I Want My Daughter To Know Before She Turns 10

This one might require some tissues. I think I'm going to go share this with my 13yo son right now...

Ronni (then 5 years old) reading to Grandpa

50 Inspiring Children’s Books with a Positive Message

Especially with Summer Reading programs going on, what books do you choose for your children? I always let Sasha choose some books for herself, but I try to request books I think she'll enjoy. Here is a good list of books. Now if only my library had all of them!

Mommy Guilt~The Human Factor

We tell each other, "be gentle with yourself." We advise not to be too hard on ourselves. I think for us (my husband and I), we sometimes get uncomfortable if our child isn't "behaving" in public. Parents tend to feel that it is a direct reflection on their parenting skills. This article reminds us that our children are not just mirrors of us. They are their own individual beings and we shouldn't feel guilt over their personalities and temperaments. Great article!

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!

For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.

Happy Surfing!

A Daddy by any other name...

When I was very young, I called my mother "Mommy." As I got a bit older, I called her "Momma." (I've only seen a few people online spell it this way, but it is the way I grew up spelling it.) Eventually, I got old enough to call her "Mom."

Ronni & his Poppa

My ex-husband didn't want to go by "Daddy." He chose for our son to learn to call him "Poppa." It was endearing and I rather liked that he had a name different from other kids' dads. He did, eventually, start referring to him as "my dad" to make things simpler in conversation with his friends. I have a friend who's child calls the parents "Mama & Papa."

Sasha & her Daddy

Sasha & Spencer's Daddy is fine with "Daddy." It has its own sweetness. It is what I called my own father for a very long time. I'm sure our littles will eventually grow to call him "Dad."

Me & my Daddy

I chose to go the same route as my own mother, having my children call me "Mommy." I do not appreciate being called "mother." It just sounds too impersonal. Likewise, I would not like my parenting partner to be called "father," though these terms are fine in conversation with others. "My mother..."

I'm finding that it can get tricky when you have children at different stages. Ronni calls me "Momma" or "Mom," but then has to correct Sasha when she copies her. At least she hasn't started noticing that Ronni calls her [Sasha's] daddy "Elmo!"

What parental terms have you taught your children to use? What is your reasoning behind your choice?

Mamatography - Week 22

Day 148

(05/27/12)

Out for our evening walk, Sasha is chasing a ball. I love giving her an opportunity to get some fresh air and RUN. Doesn't she look happy?!

Birthing Dreams & Realities

Welcome to the June 2012 Carnival of Natural Parenting: Embracing Your Birth Experience

This post was written for inclusion in the monthly Carnival of Natural Parenting hosted by Code Name: Mama and Hobo Mama. This month our participants have written about at least one part of their birth experience that they can hold up and cherish.

***

I gave birth to my firstborn child when I was 17 years old. I had absolutely no choice in where I gave birth. I was, however, allowed to say that I didn't want drugs... even at 17 years old. I'll admit here that I got a shot of Demerol for back pain right before she was born. I still claim that birth as natural because I didn't receive the drugs until it was too late.

Jorje as a new 17 year old mother.
I was not forced to have pitocin after birth since I could get up and get to the bathroom on my own.

Monday Minimalist: Towels

How many towels does a household need? Some people feel the need to wash their towels after each use. Some of us are comfortable using towels more than once (and don't want to wash tons of towels!).

We have 8 towels:

• Daddy - 2
• Mommy - 2
• Ronni - 1 towel in his favorite color
• Sasha - 1 baby towel
• Spencer - 1 baby towel
• Extra - we have 1 beach towel we keep in the truck for emergencies.

We generally hang our towels up after our showers. I do laundry every other day when I have to wash diapers anyway. Sometimes we have to use our towels for EC misses, too. If the babies' towels aren't clean when we shower, we share our towels with them.

We have no "guest accommodations" in our home, so we have no need for guest towels. How many towels do you have for how many people in your home?

Let me know if you have a Monday Minimalist post and I'll share it on my blog.

Click the icon to grab the button for your MM posts or for details on how to join the movement.

Sunday Surf: Parenting, Non-Parenting, and icky stuff

It was a normal week, with a few appointments. I found a bunch of links, though. I like limiting my list to 3 links, though, so here are 3 of them... I should already have material for next week!

What Everyone's Missing in the Attachment-Parenting Debate

Attachment parenting isn't about breastfeeding or babywearing or cosleeping. It is about responding to our children. This article shares some history - from before the well-known Sears book. Its pretty cool!

An open letter to all parents from a non-parent.

You might have already seen this one since it is making the rounds no Facebook, but it is just too funny to miss - if you haven't already seen it. It might even be a good one to share with your non-parent friends to help them understand why you might not have quite as much of an attention span for them these days.

FDA Asked to Take Ban Use of Pesticide for Head Lice

This was coming people, I knew it was coming! I've posted before, Lindane is bad! I have lots of posts about lice and how to treat it naturally.

Consider this: The EPA banned the use of Lindane in pesticides, but the FDA still allows it to be used on children's scalps! It is seriously scary stuff. Go read the article! I'll be so glad when the news reports that Lindane HAS been banned completely!

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!

For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.

Happy Surfing!

Fat Bottom Babies Review

Have you ever made a new friend in a comment thread on Facebook? Well that is how I met Tabatha, the mom behind Fat Bottom Babies. We discovered right away that we had a lot in common and we decided that a diaper review would be mutually beneficial. Yay for free diapers!

I was so excited when my package arrived! I received 1 adorable cloth diaper cover, 1 double snap insert set, a set of 3 velour doublers, and a tube of diaper cream.

These diapers look different than pretty much everything else on the market. There are some seriously cute options available that I've never seen elsewhere. The color coded snaps are a feature I've often wished my covers had! Do you hate counting snaps every time you change a diaper? I do!

Here is Spencer sleeping in the Fat Bottom Babies diaper stuffed with a big prefold. A lot of my prefolds are too big for him.

I've never been a fan of snap-in inserts and tend to use prefolds myself. This cover works just fine with prefolds, but I was amazed at the absorbency of the snap-in inserts! They did take longer to dry than my prefolds, though.

With the number of snaps and the layout, the sizing seems infinite. You could definitely put a little newborn into this thing! And I absolutely love how trim-fitting it is! This sucker is snug in all the right places without cutting into my little man's legs!

Two rows of snaps at the waist secure the diaper and will not curl, twist or roll. Offset the top row for chubbier/skinnier bellies and offset the bottom row for skinnier/chubbier thighs. Cross over snapped wings allow a fit to be adjusted from very small to very large.

Tabatha, the mom behind Fat Bottom Babies, holding Spencer... in his FBB diaper!

One thing I hate about cute diapers: they require covers. Why on earth would you make a diaper adorable and then have to cover it up with something else? Well not so with these puppies! These things are cute and you can show them off! I usually keep Spencer in onesie-style outfits, but I want him in t-shirts with this diaper just so I can show it off.

How about a discount?! Use the code MJ0615P between now and July 31st for a 15% discount!

Disclosure: I received a free cloth diaper for review.
I only seek out products that I believe will be of interest to my readers.
If I don't like a product, I won't be recommending it to you.

Angry Birds & other iStuff

I have a smart phone. I have a smart phone that isn't quite smart enough to require internet service. I just can not justify the expense. I've read articles about all sorts of crazy apps from games like Angry Birds to an app that translates your baby's cry so you know what they need.

Angry Birds on the iPad

Mamatography - Week 21

Day 141

(05/20/12)

Ronni had a friend over to spend the night. They slept in his tent at the back of our travel trailer.

Monday Minimalist: Economy

In our family, we've minimized our income. It isn't that we don't like nice things. We can even appreciate huge beautiful homes. We simply placed value of our time together over the "finer" things. That means sometimes we have to scrape by. That means sometimes we don't get to have extras we'd really like.

Can going without money hurt the economy? Check out this story of one man's quest to be penniless. He has even had a book written about him (see affiliate link to the right).

How do you think quitting money would impact the economy? Do you think you could do it?

Let me know if you have a Monday Minimalist post and I'll share it on my blog.

Click the icon to grab the button for your MM posts or for details on how to join the movement.

Sunday Surf: Motherhood & Obedience on Facebook

Lots of appointments this week! Still managed to do a little reading...

Rebirth: What We Don’t Say

This might make you cry. It might give you a major AHA moment. Maybe it'll help you explain motherhood to someone. I've never seen it said so very well!

Are you Damaging Your Child by Demanding Obedience?

I think "discipline" can be really rough for all parents. Add to that working out an opinion upon which you can agree... This is a piece you might find helpful in discussions over how to manage discipline. I'm planning to read it to my husband.

Momma Jorje on Facebook

I really only have two awesome links to share this week, so I thought I'd make sure you knew about my fan page. You can find some fun links shared there throughout the week. I also ask for advice to get different input on common issues (like how to wash cloth diapers or soothe a teething babe). Sometimes there are other fun questions, like what it would look if your child ruled the world. If you're not a fan, please come join us and join in the fun discussions.

I'm joining Authentic Parenting and Hobo Mama for Sunday Surf. Share your best reading of the week, and link up your post at either blog!

For more great reading, visit Hobo Mama or Authentic Parenting for the latest Sunday Surf and linky.

Happy Surfing!

My CosPlaying Son

My teenaged son is a CosPlayer. It is his passion. He'd love to make a living at it! He is involved in several groups around town that get together to do CosPlay stuff. This is how he spent a recent Thursday afternoon:

This "CMV" (CosPlay Music Video) was based on a show called Hetalia: Axis Powers. The series' main presentation is as an often over-the-top allegory of political and historic events as well as more general cultural comparisons. Characters are personifications of countries.

I think it is cool that these kids are playing with history in their free time. My son CosPlayed the part of England.

What are your kids' hobbies?