Fluffy Mail

So, I got some of my last bits of fluffy mail in this week.  I think I have been temporarily cut off since our stash is big enough to accommodate our single toddler child.  Well, soon I will be posting a review of my favorite brands and features of cloth diapers.  Since I have a collections now I can adequately review.  I will say I LOVE Kelly's Closet and Natural Baby!!  I am saddened by the fact that I keep diligently entering several giveaways and no luck yet!  These two places provide me with convenience, awesome products and support in my cloth endeavors.   I highly recommend these two for CD needs!! 

Flowers, Flowers and More Flowers

I keep reminding myself to post about all the beautiful "crafty" things I have done.  Well, my next step is to learn to sew.  My grandmother so graciously donated my great-grandmothers old sewing machine a few weeks ago.  It is solid metal and could kill someone it is so heavy.  Well, I shall try to learn on this beast soon.  But in the meantime, I will display my recent workings with florals.  Last year, I did the wedding flowers for my father and his wife's wedding...all of the flowers!  And last month, I did the flowers for my grandparents 25th wedding anniversary vow renewal.  I think they all turned out amazing for no experience.  So, I would like to share them with you!

Vow Renewal



I will have to hunt down the photos from the wedding, having trouble locating them currently.  But in the meantime, enjoy the roses!

Bathroom TA-DA!!

SOOOO.....After a lonnnngggg weekend of stinky paint and lots of "time outs," it is completed!  And I am soooo in love with the way it turned out.  I even ventured to tell Jackson that I was going to switch bathrooms with him because of the sirene, relaxing, "spa" like feel to his bathroom.  He just thinks I am crazy and in typical 2 year old fashion, he responded..."NO."  No, even though he had no idea what I was saying his all-time response still resonated.  Well, enough said about that, on to the pictures!

Primer on the walls, all WHITE and crisp. 

This is a "during" photo.  It was after the primer and before the border.

And The Finished Product REVEAL:

Jackson and I also bought big boy towels for him and his guests.  They match beautifully. 

So, yay for creativity and awesome bathrooms!  I did it all by myself....well, with the help of Jackson sometimes he kept running around saying "tools, tools."  Good luck to everyone in your future projects.  We are now trying to match hardwoods to hopefully get rid of the carpet in the living room!

Bathroom Update

Ok so I decided it was time for the UGLY UGLY UGLY, did I mention UGLY wallpaper to go in Jackson's bathroom.  When we bought the house, it was one of the worst features but I told myself, it is just wallpaper, it can be changed.  So, after trying to strip the wallpaper in the downstairs half bath for a week a few months ago, I decided to sand my efforts and paint over it with oil based primer.  That worked amazing and looks great in that bathroom so I didn't even try to strip his bathroom! 

Zinsser is the best oil based primer to seal wallpaper in so I used this stinky stuff again.  When you are using it, you will feel like you are getting high it has such a strong odor!

Well, here is the before picture of his hideous bathroom. It has 2 separate rooms, pocket doors and is a Jack and Jill type bathroom going between Jackson's bedroom and the guest bedroom.  So, not only will Jackson appreciate changing the ugly wallpaper but our guests will not be disgusted!

Up close, the swirly paper with the CHERUB border on top....WHAT WERE THEY THINKING?????  Who does this????

Well, soon it will be a soft baby blue...the color is Olympic Brand "Spa" a beautiful color thanks to Lowe's!

I also changed out the light fixture last night it was brass and silver base but now all silver, more up to date and neutral.  Hopefully it will look better when I am done this weekend.  I will post the pretty blue when it is completed! I just wish I had my partner to help me, but in typical Tabby fashion...I decide impulsively to make changes and have to get them done ASAP no procrastination and of course Matt is leaving this morning to go to Maryland for Richard's bachelor party weekend.  Oh well, I will conquer once again!  One day this house will be just how I want it, and then of course I will change it again, haha!

Our Life With Cloth

If you were to ask me 2 years ago if I were planning on using cloth diapers with my son, I would have said…No. However, when our first and only son was 22 months old I decided that it was something I was very interested in pursing. My interest began when we were planning on a family vacation to the beach and swim diapers came to mind. What was a frugal alternative to Little Swimmers? What could our son wear that I wouldn’t have to spend so much money on to throw in the trash? And in research, I decided to try a cloth swim diaper.


After reading a friends blog, I found she was cloth diapering and selling homemade products at a local store I did not know existed. The store provides amazing natural alternatives to baby products, some manufactured by local individuals and companies. I just HAD to go there to visit and get advice. I knew that once I saw cloth diapers in person, and had a professional explain the products, I would commit fully or resist. Well, before I made the trip I had to discuss this financially with my husband. When I brought up the concept of cloth diapering, he resisted 100%. He stated that we sacrificed in so many ways to save money and that this was not of interest to him. So, I further explained the swim diaper to him and he was much more open to try a cloth swim diaper than using them for all day, every day use. I did tell him I wanted to buy a few for our up coming vacation to try for myself, he apprehensively agreed to that.
Prior to my trip to the store,my research lead me to one size pocket diapers. They seemed most economical for our family. They sold a small variety of bumGenius, Flip, Econobum, and a few other items. Their major sellers were BG and Flip. I settled on 1 BG pocket, and a day pack of the Flip Stay-Dry System. I also purchased a Bummis Swimmi Diaper. I was so excited to have that soft fluff in my hands and be able to try this new world out. I went home and immediately began to prep the diapers. When they were all prepped and ready to apply to my little one’s bum, I was more excited than Christmas morning. He looked so adorable with his colored bottom and soft little tush! However, I always joke about how he needs to grow a booty, and this was the answer. Fluff gave him the bottom he has always needed.
In the month we have been cloth diapering, I have convinced my husband it is a great thing and can be economical with moderation. Our diaper stash has expanded to include more pockets, which are used for nighttime, Flip covers and many inserts, a few prefolds, Hemp Babies (which are amazing), and the newest addition…the Knickernappies diaper sprayer (best thought of invention since sliced bread). My husband is on board now and excited with the prospect that we are purchasing more diapers for an additional child in the future. He has wanted another baby for a while and this is a way to convince him that his dreams are in the closer future than originally thought. Our family is new to cloth diapering and we love it!

Return to "Normal"

So...the Lovelace clan has returned from vacation as of last Saturday.  And so far life has been busy, chaotic, sickly and always a blessing from God.  First of all, Jackson had pink eye, thank you very much beach house! Secondly, we all came back with sinus crud! I thought we were all equal in our symptoms but it is looking like mine is progressing to be worse.  I am pushing through, but in typical fashion the Nurse Practitioner at work said "you look like you have allergies."  I am beginning to think she isn't certified to give any other responses to employee problems that are somewhat upper respiratory related.  Then she continued to say..."but having said that if you develop facial pain, tooth pain or pressure in your face when you bend over, it could be a sinus infection, so since it is July 4th weekend and I don't want you to have to pay an ER bill, here is a prescription for Amoxicillin...but don't get it filled unless you have those symptoms and come back to me next week if you do fill it."  Well, guess what???????  Facial pain and pressure started TODAY! And no where to fill it until tomorrow!  YAY!  But the blessed CVS opens at 10am, and this little mommy will be sitting there waiting patiently because this is too much to deal with.  I kept up with the NP's original concoction of allergy meds...Allegra and Flonase, and no luck!  Also, if the post-nasal drip, runny nose, obvious congestion, cough, sneezing, sore throat, puffy face across the cheekbones, and swollen lymph nodes weren't enough for her....I will self diagnose SINUS INFECTION, probably induced by allergies! Afrin, you are my best friend!

Well, in the mean time Jackson's pink eye is worlds better and he is busy, and a definite handful the last few days! Funny story behind that is Matt swore cloth diapering was a horrible idea and by washing poop in the washing machine we would have pink eye!  HAHAHAHA....and someone did get pink eye without washing poop, no doubt!  But funny none the less.  I love you, honey!

Hope everyone has a wonderful July 4th, Happy Independence Day to all!