Welcome to our very first FAN PHOTO FRIDAY! Today’s topic is “Show off your stash!”. We had some awesome photos submitted by some awesome mamas! Check them out…

This is Jolene’s stash…pretty impressive, huh? Not just due to the number of diapers, but the organization of it is incredible too! She’s says her stash is “proudly displayed in my living room for everyone to see.” Which totally made me chuckle…I would LOVE walking into a friend’s house and seeing this wonderful display of fluff, wouldn’t you?

This is Rebecca’s stash. She describes herself as a “tried and true FLIP stash mama”. Don’t you just love the celebration of cloth in her backyard with the Tibetan diaper flags? So cool!

This is Amanda’s stash. She calls her stash “tiny” and is hoping to grow her stash soon (aren’t we all! ). I think it’s an awesome stash and love all the prefolds. Such a great diaper choice!

This is Megan’s stash. Her sweet little monkey fell asleep before she could snap of photo of him with his colorful diaper stash so she improvised with a stuffed monkey.  Can’t help but smile at this goofy little monkey surrounded by RumpaRooz!

And here’s my stash…yes, I’m keeping it real for you mamas with a snapshot of my dirty diapers! Haha! This is what my stash actually looks like most of the time.

Or else it looks like this:

Occasionally (such as the one time I wrote a blog post about diaper storage solutions) it looks like this:

Thanks a bunch to the mamas who sent in photos of their stash to share! It’s fun to see a variety of stashes because it provides readers and prospective cloth diapering families a feel for how to make cloth diapering work for them! Some families have a rather eclectic stash and others find a favorite and stick to it.

Alright now it’s time to start collecting pictures for next week’s Fan Photo Friday!  And because I have a serious case of baby fever over here, I would love to see some cutie patootie newborn babywearing photos. Anyone have a favorite picture of themselves (or their partner) wearing their wee little baby? If so email it to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com by Thursday, May 24 and include any information you want shared such as age of baby, type of carrier, location, etc.  Then be sure to check back on Friday, May 25 to see some serious cuteness guaranteed to make you go “aaawwwww!”.

-Sarah

While having a low milk supply can be challenging and frustrating, it does not always necessitate supplementation. There are several simple things you can try at home to help boost your milk production.

1. Nurse your baby – Because breast milk production is a supply and demand process, typically one of the most effective ways to increase your milk supply is to increase the frequency at which you nurse your baby. Allow baby to nurse on demand or even offer frequently to assist in establishing a plentiful milk supply.

2. Examine Latch – Of course increasing the frequency at which you nurse your baby is only effective if baby is latching properly. A proper latch results in a more efficient supply and demand process. When baby is latched properly the breast receives adequate stimulation to signal milk production.

3. Nourish yourself – Making breast milk is a lot of work for your body. Be sure you are fueling your body with healthy foods, staying well hydrated, and well rested in order to maintain an optimal milk supply.  Consume foods that are known for increasing a mother’s milk supply such as oatmeal or Brewer’s yeast. Make yourself a yummy batch of Lactation Bars to enjoy. Or better yet, ask your partner or a friend to make them for you so you can focus on nursing baby and resting.

4. Avoid Use of Artificial Nipples – Babies, particularly newborns like to suck. It is calming and organizing for them to do so, hence the popularity of pacifiers. However allowing baby to engage in non-nutritive sucking at the breast as a source of comfort (as opposed to use of a pacifier) can be beneficial to the overall breastfeeding relationship and avoids any potential nipple confusion.

5. Consider Using herbs and/or Medications – If you have tried basic ways to increase milk production (such as the ideas listed above) without a positive impact on your milk supply, you might consider use of herbs and/or medications under the guidance of a health care provider. The most commonly used herbs to help increase a mother’s milk supply are fenugreek, blessed thistle, and alfalfa. There are also a few prescription drugs available to increase milk supply, however these are typically reserved as last resort options if natural methods have not been successful.

Have you experienced breast milk supply issues? If so what helped you be able to maintain an adequate milk supply for your nursling?

-Sarah

PS. Don’t forgot to submit your picture for tomorrow’s Fan Photo Friday!

Have you ever noticed the discrepancy of energy levels between a mother and her children? In other words, kids seems to have endless amounts of energy while most moms are operating on rather low energy reserves. One easy way to BOOST your energy levels is through FOODS! Try this smoothie recipe for a quick, healthy, PURE energy boost. This smoothie is a perfect way to start your day in place of caffeine or for when you hit that 2:00pm slump we are all too familiar with. It only takes minutes to make and can turn your day around in an instant. What gives this smoothie an energy boosting kick? Well actually ALL of the ingredients do! Check it out…

Ingredients:

1 cup of water

1/2 ripe banana

1 generous Tablespoon almond butter (preferably raw)

2 dates (be sure to remove the seed)

2 Tablespoons Hemp Seed

2 Tablespoons Cacao Nibs

2 ice cubes

Blend for two minutes and enjoy! This recipe makes one generous serving (you’ll find this smoothie surprisingly filling) so if your kids are going to want some (like mine always do) you might consider making extra.

What helps give you an extra energy boost? Would love to hear some more ideas from readers!

-Sarah

We all know the importance of regular exercise, yet when you have small children finding the time and space to exercise can be a challenge! Over the years I have had to adapt my exercise routine to the ever-evolving needs of my family. Here are some tips I have picked up along the way:

If you are exercising at a gym:

Select a gym with an awesome childcare – If the announcement ”come on guys, let’s go to the gym” is met with excitement from your little ones, it’s much easier to have motivation to actually go to the gym. If they complain about going to the gym and it’s a struggle to get them ready to head out the door, you are less likely to feel like going. Choosing a gym for their childcare might mean going to one that is a little further away or even a little extra money a month, but it is worth it in the end if you end up using it more frequently.

Find out the schedule of your favorite childcare attendants – Some of the attendants will interact with your kids, have fun with them, and be silly with them. Some of them will hold your baby when he/she wants to be held. Others will park themselves in a chair their whole shift and think no ones knows that they are playing with their cell phone the entire time. It is typically this attendant that will come get you at the slightest fuss your baby makes rather than attempting to comfort baby. Find out the work schedule of the attendant your children like and see if you can coordinate your schedule with theirs.

Consider your child’s daily rhythms – To help ensure an optimal experience for everyone aim to go to the gym during your child’s playful time of the day. Avoid going when they are tired or hungry.

If you are exercising at home:

No equipment, no worries – If you are accustom to working out at a gym, sometimes the transition to working out at home can be difficult as you might be unsure how to workout without equipment. An easy first step might be to get exercise DVDs and books from the library. Another option is if you subscribe to Netflix, check out their exercise video options. Even youtube has some great videos that demonstrate basic exercise techniques. Here’s one my kids really enjoy!

Keep it simple – If you do want to invest in equipment, keeping it simple is usually best from both a space and budget standpoint. One piece of equipment I love that is inexpensive, takes up virtually no space, and provides an excellent workout is a jump rope. Plus it’s actually a lot of fun to jump rope! Another friend of mine has empty water jugs that she fills up with water to use as weights. Be creative and resourceful using everyday objects as part of your exercise regimen.

Seize the moment - Currently this approach seems to work well for me to incorporate exercise into my life. I call it the “Seize the Moment” plan. Basically when an opportunity arises I squeeze in a set of lunges, planks, squats, burpees, etc. It may be in the kitchen while I am waiting for a pot of water to boil or in the bathroom while watching the kids in the bathtub. You may not have an uninterrupted hour block of time to devote to working out, but by incorporating it throughout the day you can maximize the small chunks of time you do have.

Use the Park as YOUR Playground – This is hands down the easiest way for me to get exercise. My kids are always happy to go to the park and I know I can get a decent workout in while we are there. Pick a park with a nice grassy area so you can do sprints, bearcrawls, walking handstands, etc. Get over worrying about looking silly and just enjoy the feel of the grass, the fresh air, and the sunshine!

Play with your kids  – Chase your kids at the park. Kick the ball around with them. Climb on the equipment along with them. You are sure to get your heart rate up just mimicking whatever your kids do at the park. Engage with them and have fun with it!

Make it fun for the whole family - Walks, hikes, bike rides, and even runs are all possible with little ones. You might need to be creative in adapting these activities to include the whole family. The benefit is that you can enjoy exercising together and it models for your children the importance of a healthy, active lifestyle.

How do you fit exercise into your life? Would love to hear some tips from other mamas!

-Sarah

PS. Check in tomorrow for my current favorite smoothie recipe! It’s sure to give you a burst of pure energy.

Did you know that Mom’s Milk Boutique now carries aden and anais crib sheets? Yep, another awesome product for the eco-minded mama offered by Mom’s Milk Boutique! What makes the aden and anais crib sheets so special? They are made from 100% cotton muslin which is a nice, soft and breathable fabric. In fact the more you wash them, the softer they get. The open-weave of the muslin allows liberal airflow providing year-round comfort. Your baby will keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. They fit a standard crib mattress (50” x 28”) and come in a variety of cute prints. Your baby is sure to have a night full of sweet dreams sleeping on their very own aden and anais crib sheet.

Enter this week’s giveaway today for a chance to win an aden and anais single crib sheet!

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“Leap and the net will appear.”

~ Zen Saying

Welcome to FAN PHOTO FRIDAY!

What is it?

Fan Photo Friday is a chance to show off your adorable wee one(s) in some cute fluff. Or perhaps to show us your favorite baby carrier. Basically it’s an opportunity to share a small glimpse of your beautiful family with us. Because let’s face it, you’ve seen enough of my kids It’s time to showcase some other cute kiddos rockin’ the world with their cloth diapers, mama’s milk, and slings! I hope you will join in the fun!

How Does it Work?

Each Friday I will post a request for photos related to a particular topic. All you have to do is email your photo to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com. Then on the following Friday all submitted photos will be displayed here for our awesome readers to enjoy!

The first topic is…

“SHOW OFF YOUR DIAPER STASH!” Now I know we have some mamas on here with a slight addiction to cloth diapers ….we want to see those piles of fluff! I am willing to bet many of you have a stash that will put my own to shame. So show us what you’ve got! Email your photo to sarah@momsmilkboutique.com by Thursday, May 17 and then be sure to check back on Friday, May 18 to see some serious cloth diaper stashes.

Happy Friday all,

Sarah

When you go to change your baby’s diaper and find their bum covered with a diaper rash it can be an upsetting discovery. Often the skin looks so irritated and uncomfortable that you are eager to try anything that might provide soothing comfort to baby’s sensitive skin. Sometimes a quick slab of a quality diaper rash cream is all it takes to clear it up. However sometimes diaper rashes can be stubborn and difficult to eliminate. Those persistent and/or frequent diaper rashes often require a little extra care beyond diaper rash cream. Here are a few suggestions to try:

Nakie Time  - Let’s face it, what baby/toddler doesn’t want to be naked?!? Let them go diaper free to get fresh air and keep the irritated skin nice and dry. You’ll probably want to do nakie time when baby is unlikely to poop. So if you know baby’s pooping patterns plan accordingly for nakie time. Or watch them carefully for signs of needing to poop and rush them to the bathroom as needed (you can even do this with wee ones).  Pee is a bit trickier to time (or observe cues) so you might consider having baby on a towel or other easy to clean surface during nakie time.

Breasmilk – Breastmilk really is the magical cure-all! Simply express some breastmilk and cover the affected area with it. Allow bum to air dry.

Strip Your Cloth Diapers – There might be some build up , residue, or bacteria on your cloth diapers that baby’s skin is reacting to. Doing a heavy-duty stripping can help eliminate any irritants contained in your diapers. You might consider adding a few drops of tea tree oil or grapefruit oil to your wash as both have anti-bacterial/anti-fungal properties.

Tea Tree Oil – Tea Tree Oil is a definite must-have item in your medicine cabinet because of its diverse and plentiful uses including treatment of diaper rash. All you need to do is mix a few drops in a palm sized amount of a carrier oil (such as olive oil) and apply to baby’s skin.

Change Baby More Frequently – Some babies have extra sensitive skin and need to be changed more frequently than normal.

Examine Diet – Sometimes diaper rash can be an expression of something internally disagreeing with baby (as opposed to an external topical irritant) so examining babies diet might help identify the source of the irritant. For example when oranges were in season and soooo delicious we over-indulged in their sweet juiciness and baby got a fierce diaper rash. Ouch! Sometimes new foods can irritate baby’s bum too so be aware as you introduce new foods into your baby’s diet.

Change Laundry Detergent – There are many great options to choose from when it comes to cloth diaper friendly laundry detergents. Experiment a bit to see what works best for your baby’s skin.

Revamp your Stash – This is a last-resort ‘I have tried everything and my baby’s butt is still constantly bright red’ option. Sometimes certain fibers simply don’t agree with your baby’s skin. I have a friend who battled intense and persistent diaper rashes with her son until she finally decided to sell her existing stash and invest in some new fluff. Viola, no more diaper rash!

What’s your secret weapon against stubborn diaper rash? Would love to hear some more useful tips!

-Sarah

We have declared Sunday nights as PIZZA NIGHT in our home. But wait, do vegans eat pizza? Yep, we sure do! Although not your traditional pizza that is covered with mozzarella cheese. Nor do we attempt to mimic regular pizza by using fake cheese or fake meat substitutes. Instead we use a wide variety of fun flavors, yummy sauces, and unique toppings to make delicious vegan pizzas. By “we” I mean my hubby and I. We prepare Sunday dinner as a team. He usually takes on the role of head pizza chef and I act as the sous chef.  Why does he get to be head chef? Because he makes the most incredible homemade pizza dough without even looking at a recipe! While I do more of the munching, er I mean chopping of the pizza toppings. We like the challenge of using whatever we have on hand in the fridge or pantry to inspire the pizza. A recent favorite was a Thai inspired pizza with a peanut sauce that had a little bit of a kick to it.

A repeat favorite is a lentil, kale, sweet potato pizza that bursts with color AND flavor! Now let me be honest in that this is a pretty time consuming pizza to make. Although don’t let that you scare you away from experiencing it’s awesomeness. It’s easy enough to make, just be aware that there are several steps involved in the process. I like to think of these vegan pizzas as almost little pieces of art so genuinely I appreciate the process as much as the end product.

Ingredients:

Your favorite pizza dough

Olive Oil

3 cloves of garlic, sliced

1.5 cups of dried lentils, rinsed

1 medium sweet potato

1 onion

1/2 bunch of kale

1 avocado, sliced

cilantro to taste

salt and pepper to taste

sprinkle of sugar (to caramelize the onion)

Directions:

1. Saute garlic in olive oil for 2-3 minutes. Add dried lentils and 3 cups of water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and cover. Allow to gently simmer for 40 minutes. Check water level and add water as needed.

2. Slice onion and caramelize in pan on stove top. Set aside.

3. Peel and chop sweet potato. Boil in water on stove top until soft, approximately 15 minutes. Strain water and set aside.

4. Prepare Kale by removing stem and ripping into bite size pieces. Steam kale in pan on stove top. Set aside.

5. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Roll out dough and assemble pizza. Use the lentils as the “sauce” and the sweet potato, onion, and kale as toppings. The key to awesome home cooked pizza is using a heated seasoned pizza stone sprinkled with a bit of cornmeal . However if you don’t have a pizza stone, a regular pan will do too. Bake in oven for approximately 15 minutes. Remove from oven and allow to cool for a few minutes before adding sliced avocado and chopped cilantro, plus salt and pepper to taste. Enjoy! And then flip a coin with your partner to see who gets to clean up the kitchen.

Do you have a speciality pizza you like to make? What are your favorite pizza toppings?

-Sarah

Hard to believe that hot, sunny, summer days are right around the corner! Do your summer plans include splashing at the pool, building sand castles at the beach, or relaxing by the lake? If so you’ll want to be sure to invest in a cloth swim diaper for your wee one! One awesome option for a cloth swim diaper is the Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper. I can personally attest to their awesomeness because I have a Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper that my one year old uses almost daily. We love it!  It’s super light weight and trim which is perfect for a busy little body both in and out of the water. Most importantly it is effective at containing poop thanks to the coated nylon layer on the inside. The hook and loop closure also ensures a perfect fit each time. The Bummis Swimmi Swim Diapers come in three sizes and super-duper adorable prints including gender-specific and gender-neutral options.

Next on the “must have list” for summer water fun is a high quality, water-resistant sunscreen product for baby’s delicate skin. One great product to try is Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35. It effectively blocks both UVA and UVB rays with the use of gentle, all natural ingredients such as:

• Organic green tea extract to prevent sun-damage
• Organic sesame, safflower and avocado oils to moisturize and nourish the skin.
• Beeswax and organic shea butter increase water resistance and sun protection
• Zinc and titanium to protect sensitive skin

With ingredients such as these, Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35 is well rated by the Environmental Work Group.

This week’s giveaway is for both of these AWESOME products and just in time for some summer fun! Be sure to enter today for your chance to win a Bummis Swimmi Swim Diaper and bottle of Episencial Sunny Sunscreen SPF 35.

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