Let's talk Mattresses...

(image from Pinterest)

Or better yet, let's talk RESTFUL sleep and the fact that I have been getting next to none!     Why does it seem like things made "today" are made on purpose to fail quickly?   Why are appliances, mattresses and etc NOT like they were when are parents were young and lasted 20 years or more?   Case in point:  John and I have been married for less than 14 years and we just purchased our 4th set.  Doesn't that seem ridiculous?  Ok, well if I am perfectly honest we had 5, but I returned that one after 24 hours.  It felt like we were sleeping on concrete!

   I'm starting to feel like the princess and the pea.  But this is not just a comfort issue, it's a construction issue as well!  The other three, have all had body impressions so deep that you can't stand it. One had body impressions with NO pillow top!  The one we have now is a "plush" and the springs are literally bulging against the side of the mattress!   Seems ridiculous to me that it would do this after 3 years.    

  I am waking up with such shoulder and neck pain that I can't take it.  And my hands go numb almost every single night and from what I have read, it seems as though my bed has no support (which is true) and my back is completely out of alignment.  Some nights I start out in my bed, move to my daughters room and even move to the couch!!    I have scoliosis  and it usually never bothers me, but it is now with this terrible mattress.  

So I did  something radical this time.  I didn't just wing it though.  I have researched until my eyes were burning for many nights and hours online.  I ordered a mattress and two different toppers, of two totally different materials that I have never even touched let alone laid on.   I know this seems completely insane but I am at my witts end!   I ordered a medium firmness latex mattress, a 3 inch latex topper in "soft" firmness and a 2 inch gel infused memory foam topper.  And I am PRAYING this is going to work.  

  I don't require tons of sleep.  Usually 6-7 hours but it needs to be RESTFUL sleep!  I would LOVE to know what you all are sleeping on.  And if anyone has gone through this agony! 

XOXO

Being Green

I recently did a little segment at my MOPS group on being "green". MOPS stands for Mothers of Preschoolers and these groups are all over the place. Just look it up online and find one in your area! Lots of fun and other moms to connect with. Anyway, they really seemed to enjoy it! I started cloth diapering my baby girl when she was about 8 weeks old for the simple fact that NO disposable diaper could contain her explosive poops! The cloth diapers did, and then I went on my journey..........

I changed out little things, like not buying paper napkins anymore. We have 4 sets of cloth napkins so there is enough when some are in the wash. We use them every.single.day. It took a little getting used to, but it's all we use now. We recycle EVERYTHING with a recycle symbol on it. It has reduced our garbage output, which we reduced the size of the garbage can we needed which in turn reduced our monthly fee, yay! If it has a symbol, it goes in the recycle bin. Cardboard, paper and all. I also keep some papers and "junk" mail for my compost pile, which is another great way to "recycle" for my garden. I also use my garbage disposal every day.

When you start your green journey, it snowballs. You want to try more and more ways to be green and save yourself time AND money. I buy a large container of castile soap and use foam soap dispensers in all the bathrooms. Fill it up about half and half, soap and water. This cuts down on the million little bottles of handsoap your buying and then recycling. Also, bar soap is by far very "green" since there is only a little paper wrapped around it, it also causes friction of cleaning your hands faster since you have to lather it on your hands from the bar. And I always use my reusable shopping bags in any store I'm in. Not just the grocery store! Use them ONCE at your grocery store and you will be hooked. Instead of bringing 100 little plastic bags in, you can fit ALL your groceries in 6-10 reusable bags!

I also have started making (and LOVING) my own laundry detergent. It's SO simple. Here is the recipe...

1 cup of Super washing soda

1 cup of Borax

1/2 bar of Kirks soap

shake well

use 1/4 cup for most large loads

some front loaders only need 2 tablespoons but use your own judgement!

I usually make 3 or 4 batches at once. If you enjoy scent you can add essential oils as well. But the kirks soap gives it such a light and clean scent, I think you will love it as is! I was skeptical at first, but was pleasantly surprised how CLEAN and clean smelling my cloths were! So I have been using it ever since! I also use Nellie's Dryer Balls and never even think about using fabric softner or sheets since!
Try it, I think you'll like it! It is VERY liberating to NEVER run out of something..... diapers, napkins, laundry detergent and etc!!!

Crunchy or Crazy?

Yup, that's me these days! Crunchy as in granola mama, tree hugging hippie, or green girly! I decided very early on after I had Madelyn that I would give cloth diapering a try. I recycle everything, I hate buying anything "disposable", although there are a few things (like toilet paper!!) that are NEEDED. But anything that is constantly thrown in a land fill really weighs on my mind lately. And after I read that a SINGLE disposable diaper would typically take 500 yrs to decompose in a land fill, that was IT! Nevermind the chemicals that are in them. And trust me, I didn't always know this. My twin boys were diapered in disposables and Lord knows we went through a TON of them! But I think we are just more aware of the environment now and want to do everything to help. Well, I have become completely addicted to this cloth diapering thing! You can't IMAGINE what is available. These aren't your mama's cloth diapers, yet some of them ARE! I have a "stash" already and I keep building it bigger. Here are some pics of these lovelies. I'm sure by now, you have either stopped reading or deemed me insane. But I just had to show you! :) Oh and of course I had to pick up some environmentally friendly, completely biodegradable detergents to wash them with. I don't know why I ever used anything else! You can use a TABLESPOON of detergent for a large wash. You just can't believe it! Ok, I'll stop now!!! Hee hee, they're coming to take me away Ha Ha !!