A Multi-Colored Bottom

I'm one of those moms.


Some of our cloth diaper supply.

Which moms?

Those cloth-diapering moms.

Before Lane was born, and I think even before I was pregnant with her, we (ok, I) had decided that we wanted to use cloth diapers. You may think I'm insane: my mother certainly did! But, let me assure you, cloth diapers have come a long way since we were babies! Gone are the days of having to change the baby every single time he/she pees. Gone are the days of pre-folding. Gone are the days of soaking diapers in a bleach solution.

Nowadays cloth diapering is easy. There's an outer shell which is waterproof, so it prevents leaks and mess from getting on baby's clothes. There's an inner layer which absorbs liquid. And there's a fleece lining that goes against baby's bottom and wicks away moisture. And they come in cool colors.

Yes, it's still messier than disposables. It's a little stinkier. And it's definitely more time-consuming. But it's a whole lot cheaper. And it's better for the environment. And we can use them with kiddos number two, and three, and four, and so-on.


Clean diapers, ready to be snapped and stuffed.

Lane has 27(!) cloth diapers (we registered for them on cottonbabies.com instead of lots of other stuff since we were moving overseas). That's enough to last her almost an entire week, or at least six days (or, if we have another baby close to Lane and they're both in diapers, it'll be enough for three days for both of them). We usually do put a disposable on her at night (lessens the likelihood of diaper rash) and when we know we're going to be out for more than a couple of hours.

When we put a diaper into the dirty-diaper bag, we hold our breath for the 20 seconds it takes to untie the bag, toss it in, and tie it back up (pee-yew!). Once a week I breathe through my mouth while stuffing the washing machine with the diapers and then spray some air freshener. I wash them once on cold with 1/4 the laundry soap of a regular load. Then I was them on a longer, hot, cycle, with 1/4 the laundry soap of a regular load. Next I hang them out to dry.


Diapers, diapers, everywhere!

After they're dry I toss them in the laundry basket and snap and stuff them as I have time: while watching a movie, keeping an eye on Lane, or catching up on my blog subscriptions. Rarely do I feel compelled to snap and stuff them immediately, although if we washed all of them I may do a few right away so that Lane can start wearing them again.


Easy as pie: Bumgenius one-size diapers which grow with your baby: velcro for girth and snaps for rise.

Shortly after we arrived in Istanbul on the 4th of July, we bought three packs of diapers (they were on sale: buy two, get one free). We used them exclusively the first two weeks since we were living with five other people, but since then, we only use them at night or when we'll be out for a long period of time. We still have half of the disposables left. We spent $20 on diapers five weeks ago and still have half of them left. I can hear Lane's savings account accumulating change that I didn't and won't spend on diapers.


Is that a blue diaper peeking out from under Lane's bib?

I love the feeling of being responsible and taking a few extra minutes to save loads of money and waste. I hate the five minutes of stinkiness I deal with every week and that some of Lane's outfits don't fit her correctly (this is getting better as her booty (and the rest of her) gets bigger!). How about you? Do you use cloth diapers or would you ever consider it? What do you like or not like about them?

Bargain Shopping

In light of recent conversations regarding our grocery budget and people wondering how we eat on so little, I thought I'd do a post on grocery shopping. This week, I spent $35.54 on groceries. Granted, I didn't buy any meat because we have plenty in the freezer and I'll be gone all weekend (hence nothing will be getting cooked, just eaten). I also did not buy a lot of fresh fruit because we already have some grapes, apples, and grapefruit. But I think that even if I had needed to buy meat and fruit that I could have come under our $50/week budget. Here's what I got this week:


The goods.

At Harris Teeter:
FREE 2 10-oz bottles Worcestershire
$.39 French's spicy mustard
$4.00 2 lbs of butter
$.19 Country Crock spread
FREE 2 tubes Colgate
$.50 Ricola cough drops

The Worcestershire was on sale for $1 each and I had 2 $.50 coupons which doubled, making those free. The mustard was on sale for $1.89 and I had a coupon for $.75 off which doubled, making it $.39. The butter was just a good deal...$1.99 a pound. The Country Crock was $2.39 but buy one get one free (BOGO) which means it rings at half price. So...it was $1.19 and then with my $.50 off coupon that doubled it was only $.19. The Colgate was on sale for $1.50 a tube and I had 2 $.75 off coupons, so got those for free. Then the cough drops were on sale for $1.50 and I had a $.50 off coupon, so they were only $.50.

Total before store savings and coupons: $22.91
Coupons tendered: $8.50 (3 x $.75, 2 x $.50, all doubled and then 2 x $1 not doubled)
Store savings with loyalty card: $9.35
Tax: $.35
Total out of pocket (OOP): $5.41

At Lowe's Foods:

$.16 Eggo waffles
$3.26 4 boxes Frosted Mini Wheats
$.30 small container of Quaker oats
FREE 1 gallon 1% milk
$1.30 JFG coffee
$.79 small Skippy peanut butter
$1.49 Crest sensitive toothpaste
$2.00 pint blueberries

The Eggo waffles were on sale 3 for $4.98, or $1.66 a box. I had a coupon for $.75 off which doubled, so they were only $.16. The Frosted Mini Wheats were on sale for $1.69 a box. I had 2 coupons for $1 off one, so I got 2 boxes for $.69 each. Then I had another coupon for $1.50 off the purchase of 2 boxes, so I go those 2 boxes for $.94 each. Then the store was running a special where if you bought 4 boxes of Kellogs cereal you got a gallon of milk for free. Yay for free milk. The Quaker oats were on sale for $1.50 a box and I had a coupon for $.60 off which doubled, making them only $.30. The JFG coffee was on sale for $2.50 and I had a coupon for $.60 off which doubled making it $1.30. We've never tried this kind of coffee before, but for $1.30 I figured we could try it out. The Skippy peanut butter was on sale for $1.99 and then I had a coupon for $.60 off which doubled making it $.79. Shannon has to use sensitive toothpaste so I'm always looking for a good deal on it. It was on sale for $2.99 and then with my $.75 off coupon which doubled I got it for $1.49. And we love blueberry pancakes, so for half-price I got a pint.

Total before store savings and coupons: $36.48
Coupons tendered: $10.10 (2 x $.75, 3 x $.60, all doubled and then 2 x $1, 1 x $1.50 not doubled)
Store savings with loyalty card: $16.66
Tax: $.43
Total OOP: $9.72

At Kroger:

Kroger is running a special where if you buy 10 of certain items, you can get $5 off your order. That basically ends up to be $.50 off of each item. I'm going to post the prices with that $.50 taken off.

$1.00 2 Pace picante salsa
-$.23 Rotel tomatoes
$1.49 large Coffeemate liquid creamer
-$.50 2 Green Giant steamers frozen vegetables
$1.70 box of Triscuits
$1.38 2 boxes of Orville Redenbacher popcorn
$2.22 3 boxes Fiber One granola bars
$2.00 2 boxes Quaker Simple Harvest instant oatmeal
$1.00 2 bags Cheerios snack mix
$.38 2 boxes Kleenex with lotion tissues
$2.98 2 8-oz bags shredded mozzarella cheese

These things were not in the "buy 10, get $5 off" special:
$2.27 10 bananas
$.73 2 Roma tomatoes
$1.79 dozen large eggs
$1.00 4-pack Dannon Activa yogurt
$1.25 2-liter Dr. Pepper

The Pace salsa was on sale for $1.99 each. I got $.50 off each jar from the special and then I had a $1 and a $.50 coupon which doubled, so I got 2 for $1. The Rotel tomatoes were on sale for $.87. I had a coupon for $.30 off which doubled and then with the $.50 off from the special they were actually -$.23. Coffeemate was $2.99 but with a $.50 coupon that doubled and the $.50 from the special it was only $1.49. The Green Giant frozen veggies were on sale for $1.49 each. With 2 $.50 coupons that doubled and the $.50 off each from the special they were free. Plus I had a coupon loaded to my Kroger card worth $.50 off, so I made $.50 on the veggies. The Triscuits weren't on sale, regular price of $2.20 but with the special I got $.50 off to make them $1.70. The Orville popcorn was on sale for $1.99. With 2 $.40 off coupons and the $.50 off each from the special I got it for $.69 a box. Fiber One granola bars were $2.49 a box. I got $.50 off each box from the special, had 3 $.50 coupons which doubled to make them $.99 a box. Plus I had a coupon loaded to my card for $.75 off, so I got 3 boxes for $2.22. The instant oatmeal was on sale for $2.50 a box. I got $.50 off each box from the special and then had 2 coupons for $1 off, making them $1 a box. The Cheerios snack mix was on sale for $2 and with 2 $.50 off coupons doubled and the $.50 off each box from the special, they were $.50 a box. Kleenex was on sale for $1.49 a box. With the $.50 off from the special and 2 coupons for $.40 off, I got each box for $.19. The mozzarella was on sale for $1.99 per 8-oz bag and with the $.50 off each from the special they were $1.49 each. The other stuff was normal sale price (no coupons), except for the Activa yogurt which was on sale for $2 and I had a $1 off coupon making it $1.

Total before store savings and coupons: $65.03
Coupons tendered: $22.15 (10 x $.50, 4 x $.40, 1 x $.30 all doubled, plus 4 x $1 not doubled, plus 1 x $.75 and 1 x $.50 loaded from online onto my Kroger card, plus the $10 from buying 20 items from the sale)
Store savings with loyalty card: $22.47
Tax: $.99
Total out of pocket (OOP): $20.41

So...there's a little bit about how I shop. It sounds really complicated, but I guess I started small and have worked my way up. This week I bought $124.42 worth of food for $35.54. That's 28% of the normal price. And I didn't have to deal with Walmart. 3 stores, 2 hours, and 36 coupons (worth $30.75). Free milk with cereal combined with coupons and buying things that are on sale with a coupon and then a store coupon are things that help make my grocery budget work. I wish I didn't have to do this...but I'd rather save the money that would have been spent on food and, I don't know, go to Hawaii or something this summer. :-)

Anyone out there have any other good tips for saving at the grocery store?

10 Easy Ways to Go Green

I'm in the process of trying to get our school to allow the City of Raleigh to put recycling "bins" next to the dumpsters in all of the apartment complexes. I wouldn't call myself "granola" or anything, but I do care about our environment and think that as Christians we should do our best to take good care of it. I believe the same about taking care of our bodies, just in case you're wondering. Anyways, I think that Shannon and I do a lot of small things that are good for the environment that many people overlook. This may be somewhat from living overseas, or it may be because I was an Environmental Science major in college for awhile, or it may be because my youngest brother calls me a hippie for wearing Birkenstocks. I'm not exactly sure where this passion came from, but I wanted to give all of my readers a few easy ways to "go green." They're small steps, and I have taken all of them and can testify that they're not that difficult to do, but if we all did them they would make a huge impact on the earth.

1. Recycle! If there are recycling facilities within say, five miles of your house, or if the garbage man picks up a bin along with your trash, there is really no excuse for you not to recycle. Sorry if I offend you, but if you refuse to recycle when facilities are easily accessible, you are basically saying, "I'm too lazy to take care of the world God put me in." Ouch. Plastic NEVER decomposes. Neither do glass or styrofoam. Did you know that your shampoo bottles, milk cartons, cereal boxes, glass pickle jars, tin cans, aluminum cans, shaving cream containers, laundry soap bottles, newspapers, magazines, and old books are all recyclable? Simply rinse out your shampoo bottles in your dishwater or bathwater after you're finished. Take the plastic film out of pasta boxes. There is no reason to put these things in a landfill when they can be used to make something!

2. Switch to cloth bags. When you go to the grocery store, bring your own bags. Leave them in your car and when you get home and unload your groceries, put them by the front/garage door so that you'll remember to take them back to the car on your way out. Not only do cloth bags save you from having a million plastic bags at your house, but they're also stronger and you won't have to worry about the bags breaking. If you do end up with plastic bags at your house (which we all do), use them or recycle them! Use them for trash bags in the bathroom or office, or take them back to Walmart and let them be recycled!

3. Get a water-saver kit. You can go to Home Depot and for $10 buy a kit that includes a new shower head and three sink aerators. These are simple to install and reduce the water outflow from your faucets and shower head by at least 50%. And they still give good water pressure.

4. Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs. But make sure to take them to a proper disposal facility, as they should not be put in the trash with the rest of your garbage. If every American switched just one of their light bulbs to a compact fluorescent bulb, we would save enough energy to light three million homes for an entire year. HOLY COW! Compact fluorescent bulbs save energy, last longer (up to ten times longer), and don't cost that much more. Yes, they are more expensive, but not by much. Buy one pack the next time you need light bulbs and replace the bulbs in the room where you turn the light on the most. Then the next time you need to buy bulbs, buy another package. Buying them in small increments will not break the bank!

5. Reuse plastic baggies. Even if you only use each baggie one extra time, you will cut the number of baggies you throw away in HALF. If you use them for something like chips, there's no need to wash the bag after every use. If you use it for a sandwich, wash it and turn it inside-out to dry. Not only will you save the environment, you'll save money.

6. Walk when you can. Say you're at a shopping center and you're going to pick up your drycleaning and go to the store. Park at the store and walk down to the drycleaners. Walk back to your car, hang up your clothes, grab your cloth shopping bags, and go to the store. You'll get some exercise, not emit as many fumes into the air, and save money on gas. Amazing!

7. Save water. Turn off the water when you brush your teeth or shave. There's no reason to let good water run down the drain while you're brushing your teeth. Turn it on to rinse out your toothbrush. You can also collect water from the sink in a gallon-jug while you're letting it warm up to do dishes, wash your hands, wash your face, and so on. Leave this jug in the refrigerator and use it for drinking water. This way you don't have to let the water run while you're waiting on it to get cold. Or just use ice! Get a bucket to collect water in the bathtub while you're letting the water warm up. Use this water to water your plants, or dump it in the washing machine. We can fill our washer about halfway up once for every 2 loads we wash!

8. Don't throw things away. There is usually a use for something. Hold a yard sale and make some money. Take wearable shoes to Goodwill. Tear up old shirts to use for dust rags, or keep a couple for those times you're going to paint, work on the car, etc. You can usually recycle computers, printers, and old electronics. Refill your ink cartridges instead of buying new ones. Try to find a use for things before throwing them in the trash. And think about how long you'll actually use something before you buy it.

9. Carry a water bottle or coffee cup with you. When you go to church and get your coffee you can eliminate the need for a paper cup with a plastic lid by having your own cup. It's stronger, won't clog landfills, and will keep your coffee hot longer. Invest in a good water bottle and keep it in the car. Then when you go to the mall, church, or out for fast food, you can bring your own bottle in for water/juice/soda. You'll save yourself money on buying water while out-and-about (fountain water generally tastes the same as bottled) and you won't end up throwing a plastic bottle/cup in the garbage at the mall or restaurant.

10. Don't buy styrofoam cups or plates. When you're having a picnic, buy paper. No, they're not as strong. But they'll disintegrate within the year. Styrofoam? Never.

So there you have it. Michelle's simple guide to green living. It's a far cry from organic clothing and furniture, but they're easy steps to take. Try to start doing at least one new one. When you're used to it, adapt a new one. Soon they'll be natural, and you'll be a greenie just like me!

Triple Time!

Shannon's back! It's been so good to have him back. While I got a lot done while he was in Ukraine, it's very good to have my hubby back! We've been catching up on things (bills, sleep, etc) and just enjoying some time together, although we have both been busy and not resting too much. Perhaps that's why I'm catching a cold and Shannon wasn't feeling too great today. Oh well, maybe the weekend will help us relax!

Harris Teeter is having triple coupon days again, and I did the best I have ever done between yesterday and today.



2 bottles Windex
5 bottles Shout
1 Scrubbing Bubbles
1 24-pack Luzianne tea bags
1 lb brown sugar
5 lbs white sugar
Hungry Jack pancake syrup
JIF peanut butter
2 Suave deodorants
1 Suave conditioner
4 Zone nutrition bars
1 50-count Ziploc baggies
1 Pilsbury cake mix
4 boxes Barilla whole-grain pasta
Snyders chips
Skintimate shaving cream
2 peaches
1 large coffee creamer
1 California Pizza Kitchen "Pizza for One"
1 watermelon

Total: $12.71 (and 4.99 of it was the watermelon!)
Total before coupons/sales: $79.62
Coupons tendered: $48.73

Add this to my Kroger trip for the day:

1.7 lbs yellow squash
2.3 lbs grapes
8 oz mozzarella cheese
8-pack Kit Kat
8-pack Reeces
Total: $6.98

And my Walgreen's trip for the day:

20 sq. feet Reynold's Wrap
3-pack Scotch Brite sponges
Total: $1.35

Total for the week's groceries (thus far): $21.04

And...I didn't even use all my coupons! But we're going to Asheville tomorrow for Bele Chere and I won't be going shopping. So...the savings end here! It sure was fun though...especially my first transaction...my balance due was $.62. That was fun. :-)

Coupon Queen

Ok, so maybe I'm not a coupon queen. But I do have to say that thanks to my friend Kate, I am much more able to make our $50/week grocery budget work. I have learned valuable lessons and am still learning, but I think that I've come to a point where I definitely feel like this is a skill that is very useful for helping make the most of what we have.

Yesterday through tomorrow at our local Harris Teeter they are tripling coupons. Usually they double them up to $.99 (as do Kroger, up to $.50 and Lowe's Foods, up to $.99) but about once every 2 months they triple. So, that means that a coupon that's usually worth, say, $.75 is actually worth $2.25 on triple days, where it's worth $1.50 at aforementioned stores any other day. Example: this coupon says save $.55. But yesterday it was worth $1.65 off my grocery bill. Since Teriyaki sauce was on sale for $1.50, I got it for free, plus an additional $.15 off my bill. A lot of people will buy as many as they can to get the extra money off their bill...I personally think that that is going a bit too far. But we didn't have Teriyaki sauce, and now we do! So, how does it all work?

Shannon and I get the Sunday paper for $1 an issue, delivered to our door. Shannon's dad has also been kind enough to start mailing us the coupons from their Sunday paper. Every week when I make our grocery list I check the sale papers with the coupons I have, checking for anything that's a great deal that we might need later (eg: hand soap that I bought today for $.30, using a coupon), or that we need now that I can get for a better price than I can by going to, say, WalMart. Anyways, when triples happen you really have to plan what you're going to buy, because you're only allowed to go to the store once per day and you can only use 20 coupons. So, on Thursday I made my list and then yesterday I went to Harris Teeter at 9 am. Here's my loot:

A breakdown:
Honey Nut Chex
3 boxes Barilla pasta
2 boxes Special K granola bars
2 packages Ortega taco seasoning
1 loaf Arnold's bread
4 packages Uncle Ben's brown rice
Snyder's pretzel pieces
Kikkoman teriyaki sauce
French's spicy mustard
Tea bags
KC Masterpiece BBQ sauce
Joy dishsoap
2 cans of Gillette shaving cream
Dove deodorant
3 toothbrushes
Colgate sensitive toothpaste

Total time spent in stores: 1hour, 10 minutes
Number of stores visited: 2
Coupons used: 22
The grand total: $7.84
Coupons tendered: $52.64
Money saved between coupons and sales: $63.95

I think I paid for our newspaper subscription for a year. At least.