After watching The Emmys last night I came to the realization that I never, ever share the brilliant and hilarious music I listen to! So enjoy, and laugh, and sing along. Through the laughter of course.
This is quite possibly the ONLY song featuring Michael Bolton you will ever see me associated with. Just saying.
I've only spent 2 months cloth diapering, and while I LOVE it and would never go back to disposables, I've been dealing with the stinkies for a month now. Half the time I've been cloth diapering. I've been blogging my ordeal, updating when I've tried something new to share the results, venting my frustrations, and to beg for help! After trying literally dozens of different wash routines, soaking, adding water softener, etc. help finally came in the form of Rockin' Green Hard Rock Laundry Detergent!
As soon as I received my samples of Rockin' Green Hard Rock, and a sample of Funk Rock Ammonia Bouncer I got to work! Okay, so the Funk Rock is so new that the sample I got wasn't in any marked packaging so I instead of doing the smart thing and contacting customer service I decided to just follow the directions that were on the Hard Rock detergent. I started with a tub full of super hot water. I threw in 4tbsp. of the Funk Rock, and then added some water I boiled on the stove for good measure. Then I threw in all my dipes for a good long overnight soak. The next day I wrung, rinsed, then did a cycle with the Hard Rock detergent. I was SO excited to use the diapers and see if it worked! Sadly, it didn't. It didn't work. And I wanted to cry. The ammonia was STILL there.
Immediately I did what I should have done in the first place, I emailed Rockin' Green's customer service. {May I add that they have amazing customer service?} I told them my issues and everything I had done. I received a reply almost immediately saying what I had done wrong and instructions on what to do next. Lesson 1: DON'T do overnight soaks with Funk Rock. Lesson 2: Don't mix Hard Rock and Funk Rock.
I cleaned all of my dirty CD's and put Grayson in a GroVia shell with a BioSoaker insert and got to work. I started, per their instructions, "1. Soak your diapers in hot water between 130-150 degrees for several hours, with no detergent or funk rock added.". Done! I then wrung all the water out and threw them in my washer for several hot wash/cold rinse cycles to help rinse out anything "lingering". {I always struggle with just how many "several" really is. I don't know why.} I did four detergent-free wash cycles, and felt that was plenty. I then moved the dipes back to the tub for Step 3: "Complete a one hour soak in hot water between 130-150 degrees with up to 4 Tbsp of Funk Rock (this is good for up to 20 diapers). Complete this step only if you are working on removing ammonia build up from your cloth.". {Which is exactly what I was trying to do.} DONE! I then wrung the diapers out, AGAIN, and moved on to Step 4: " After the one hour Funk Rock soak, complete an full regular wash routine: initial cold rinse or wash, hot wash with regular amount of detergent, 1-2 final cold rinses.". Step 5 was simply, "Dry like normal.".
I don't think I've ever been so nervous in all my life over diapering. I couldn't wait to put a diaper on Grayson and have him pee in it. Never in my life would I have ever imagined wanting to SMELL a pee'd in diaper. {Seriously, what have I become?!} I put him in his last Biosoaker overnight while the diapers dried and waited 'til morning. First thing I put him back in a BumGenius 4.0 and waited. We fell back asleep for a morning nap and when we woke it was time to change him and time to see if my efforts had paid off!
Verdict?
GOD BLESS ROCKIN' GREEN FUNK ROCK! After over a month of battling, the ammonia monster has been defeated! I could seriously jump up and down for joy. No burning hot smell, just PEE.
For anyone battling ammonia, diaper stinkies or even just smelly laundry, mildewy towels, etc. I HAVE to recommend Funk Rock.
About Rockin' Green:
Rockin' Green is an eco friendly detergent that comes in 3 CUSTOM designed formulas! Soft water? Hard water? Middle of the road? Rockin' Green has you covered! Their detergents are dye free, come in several yummy scents {and an unscented version for sensitive skin}, no fillers, no enzymes or optical brighteners, they're 100% phosphate free, vegan, are great for sensitive skin and much more!
Rockin' Green is NOT just a cloth diaper detergent, in fact they're doing a really cool thing right now that they're calling:
You can sign up and receive weekly cleaning tips via email, OR text messages sent straight to your phone! The once a week tips will include laundry tips, household cleaning tips, stain removal, and dish cleaning tips! You can sign up {HERE}.
Now for the best part! One lucky reader will WIN your own 45/90 load bag of Rockin' Green detergent in your choice of formula and scent!!
Disclaimer: Even though I was given free samples for review, all opinions are mine and mine alone, and I have not, nor will I ever receive compensation for this review. Thank you to Rockin' Green for providing the product for this review and giveaway! Top Mommy Blogs - Vote for us @ TopMommyBlogs.Com!
Grayson is 11 weeks old today although I stopped saying his age in weeks almost 2 weeks ago. I go by months. 2 months, 2.5 months...etc. I can't believe he's going to be 3 months old. He's been an awesome baby.
The kids sleeps like that's his job. I hope that doesn't change. Leah was a good sleeper too until around 4 months and then she gave up the sleep thing and ruined my life. I'm hoping Grayson doesn't do that and I'm hoping to get him in his crib this weekend.
He LOVES being swaddled, and I recently bought a swaddling blanket. When he's fussy we wrap him up like a little sushi roll and he's just happy and content as can be. Mel calls it his straight jacket. I call it awesome sauce. It helps me eat dinner every night!
Nursing is still going great, but it's really one of those things that once you got it, you got it. He still turns his nose up to bottles, but I'm working on finding the right fit for him. Right now he prefers my breast, his paci, and most of all I think, his hand. I'm really beginning to wonder if he'll be a finger sucker. Once he got his thumb in, and once he got his middle and ring finger in, but other than that it's mostly just been his entire fist! He will literally shove the whole thing down his throat hole and gag himself.
He is SO happy and at that age where he'll smile at anything. He lights up in the mornings, I love it. He's beginning to show what he likes, and what he doesn't like.
Likes? Pacis, boobs, fists, in his mouth. Music and moving, bouncing, swinging, not being still. His "straight jacket". Sleeping. Bright colors on the tele. Cloth diapers. Being lifted up in the air. Blowing spit bubbles.
Dislikes? Being hungry. Bottles. Being in his car seat and not moving. Being in the car. {Unless it's moving and the radio is on.} Being put down. Loud, sudden sounds. Dirty diapers.
His personality shines more every day and I love him more each day. He's an amazing person and definitely makes my life better. He's so cute, I could just roll him up in a tortilla and nibble away! He's BIG too. Although I'm not sure how big. I just know he basically skipped 3-6mo. clothes, and even though I put them on him, 6-9mo. is a better fit. I'm excited to find out how much he weighs and how long he is at his next check up. His 2 month check-up is coming soon!
Okay, so ever since Grayson's "Hello Baby" meet-the-baby party I've been somewhat obsessed with...I actually don't really know what to call it. I wouldn't say party planning, so much as party design maybe? I had so much fun designing all of the little favors, decorations, and doo dads for G's party I couldn't wait for Joshua and Leah's upcoming birthdays! Joshua was SO indecisive and in the end decided to ditch the birthday party all together and just have a day of fun with his dad. But I still had Leah and her party to pull together!
From the get-go Leah had a really hard time deciding between Olivia and Yo Gabba. I would spend almost every evening searching Olivia and Yo Gabba parties, showing her pictures of birthday cakes, and decorations. Finally, she made her decision and went with Olivia and I was SO excited to get to work!
My original plan was to just order the birthday set online, with the cups, plates, napkins, balloons, etc. and only make a few things to add. Well with extremely low funding it came down to either a birthday present or ordering a super expensive party kit online. Obviously I'm going to go with the birthday present. {Plus, I kinda sorta ran out of time and shipping would have been out the rear end for the supplies to be here in time.}
I had already put together a few things. A banner with Leah's name, and cupcake toppers. But the party would definitely need more than that to be a true Olivia birthday party! I made another, longer banner for the table, treat bag labels, straw labels, and a little 5x7 print for the table. That combined with blue and red balloons, table clothes, bowls, plates, and napkins and it turned out PERFECTLY!
I was so worried about it being "Olivia" enough, but I think I was able to pull it off...
{This image is a FREE PRINTABLE that you can download and print by Eye Candy Event Details. Please visit Laura and tell her thanks for the freebie!}
My sister posted on Facebook this morning, "If you asked me what I was doing last tuesday, I couldn't tell you...but I know exactly where I was Tuesday September 11, 2001.".
I think that rings true to everyone today. No?
I remember, I was up so early to babysit my next door neighbor and best friends daughter. We were watching Barney {maybe?} when Breaking News broke through, I remember trying to change the channel, but because they didn't have cable it was on EVERY channel. Finally I gave up and watched and when I finally paid attention to what the news was announcing, I couldn't look away...
It's hard to remember all the little details. If I remember correctly I believe that at first they weren't even sure it was terrorists, but then hearing of the other planes going down, and then of course WATCHING the second plane hit, we knew. We knew our country was under attack.
I remember for the first time not being able to call anyone. All circuits were busy. That had never happened before. I remember watching people falling, many jumping to their deaths to escape the burning building. For some reason my mind can't put my memories in order, so I can't remember if I tried calling my mom before or after the second plane hit, I don't remember if the Pentagon was hit first, I don't remember when the news reporter I was listening to broke down into tears, I don't remember when things happened, but I will always remember that they did happen, even if I can't remember when and that I watched them happen.
I remember trying to explain to the 3 year old little girl what was happening. How do you explain that? I remember wondering if anyone I knew was in New York, I remember wondering if we were in any danger. Would there be more attacks? Most of all I remember thinking, "This is the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA! We're safe here, stuff like this doesn't happen! It doesn't happen..."
I can't believe it's been 10 years.
Where were you September 11, 2001?
Edited to Add: The towers fell. I don't know how I could forget the horror of watching the towers fall. One by one. Everything I witnessed that day will always and forever be engraved into my memory. Watching shows about 9/11 will always and forever give me chills. As I write this goosebumps are raised on my arms, and a lump holds strong in this throat. So many loved ones lost their lives over something so incredibly senseless.
I swear those lost will never be forgotten, and those responsible will never be forgiven...
I have been wanting to print my blog since my first blog anniversary. It ended up being a lot more expensive than I was expecting and I've had to put it off. The longer I put it off, the more there is to print!
A custom illustration of my family by ♥The Paper Mama. I have been in love with Chelsea's illustrations for some time. I would LOVE for a huge one of my family to put above the mantel.
Lens bracelets from Photojojo! I think any photog needs these. They're fan-freakin-tastic.
A family necklace with all of my babies names and birthstones! I've always wanted something with all of the kids birthstones, but the rings and necklaces I've always seen were either gaudy or cheesy. This is perfection.
The Walking Dead comics volumes 4-15 I have 1-3 and have been dying to get my hands on the 4th for-EVER!
Canon 18-55mm Lens. Funny enough, this it the kit lens that most people don't use and usually sell to upgrade to something better. But I want one.
