Cleaning with Kitchen Cupboard ingredients!

I cleaned my bathroom today. Big deal right? Well it kind of WAS a big deal. You see Lil Buckaroo has started getting mobile, which as every mother knows means "into everything he isn't supposed to be"!
Well, because of the cleaners I was using, I was able to have him in the hallway next to the bathroom and not be worried about what fumes he (or I) was breathing in! (I also didn't have to panick the million and one times he tried to join me in there, although I did of course put him back where he started because, after all, I don't clean what isn't dirty! LOL)
Anyway I'm sure by now you're curious as to what I was using so here goes.
1) Baking Soda
2) White Vinegar
3) Orange Peel
4) Dawn Dish soap
5) Thieves Essential oil (for extra antibacterial muscle)

The main thing I used was a jar of orange peels with white vinegar poured over them that I've had sitting in my cupboard for a few weeks. I added 10 drops of Thieves to the jar this morning for extra muscle.

I made a paste of Dawn and baking soda then poured my orange oil into the bowl and dipped my sponge into the mixture and used that for the sink, floor and toilet!
I just made more of the mixture as needed.
Now my bathroom is clean and smells good too!

Fluffiversary

WOW I am so excited and honoured to have been asked to spread some super cool news!
My all time favorite cloth diaper store (you know, the one where if someone asks what the baby needs you reply, "a gift certificate to..." ;) ), Kelly's Closet is turning 14 today!
To celebrate they're giving stuff away!
Today Kelly's Closet is adding one Wolbybug One Size Cover! Eeek!
If you haven't already, scoot on over to The Cloth Diaper Whisperer and enter the giveaway!!!

Here's the information you need to know, then scoot over to The Cloth Diaper Whisperer to enter! But come back here next week because I get to tell you what one of the gifts is!

Help us celebrate 14 years of cloth diapering with DiaperShops.com and Kelly’s Closet! Kelly’s Closet first opened its doors back in April 2001.  This was well before bumGenius, Rumparooz, GroVia and Thirsties even existed.  Kelly’s Closet is now home to almost 100 brands of cloth diapers, diapering accessories, and eco-friendly products for the entire family.  Kelly’s Closet is a small family business that reaches through the computer screen and engages with customers every day, providing cloth diaper education and support to thousands daily.For the next 14 days, Kelly’s Closet has partnered with some of their favorite brands and bloggers to bring you 14 days of giveaways, fun and prizes!  Each day there will be a new item added to the giveaway posted on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer and shared via our social fans.  Each giveaway will end at midnight ET on April 14th.Be sure to follow them both Kelly’s Closet & Diaper Shops social media pages for more chances to win.
Facebook: Kelly’s Closet - DiaperShops - Cloth Diaper Support Group - The Cloth Diaper Whisperer
 Twitter: @DiaperShops #kellyscloset #fluffiversary #clothdiapers
Instagram: @DiaperShops #kellyscloset #fluffiversary #clothdiapers
Pinterest: DiaperShops
YouTube: DiaperShops1
Be sure to thank the following brands for sponsoring the Fluff-iversary Celebration with their prizes.  Rumparooz, AppleCheeks, BALM! Baby, Moraki, Logan & Lenora, Tidy Tots, Rockin’ Green, Imagine Baby, Geffen Baby, aden+anais, WolbyBug, Sweet Pea Diapers, Kissaluvs, Funky Fluff, Smart Bottoms, Thirsties, Pink Lemonade and Lillebaby.
  Learn more about the bloggers and social fans that we’ve partnered with by following them below:
Amanda - The Eco Friendly Family
Sally - Exploits of a Military Mama
Meridith - Diary of a Nerdy Wife
Jenny - Cloth Diaper Revival
Mindy - The Inquisitive Mom
Allyson - Little and Loving It
Maria - Change Diapers
Ruth - Cow Girl Mama
Karla - Running on Eagles Wings
Tricia - Kelly’s Closet Staff
Stephanie - Kelly’s Closet Customer, Fan and Blog Contributor
Kim - Dirty Diaper Laundry
Ashley - Mabe with Love
Krystyn - Really Are You Serious?

#LifeHacks from a Cowgirl Mama

*Redneck spray shield*
As a cloth diapering mama whose lil Buckaroo just hit the "peanut butter poo" stage my new diaper sprayer is much appreciated!
Well, unless you feel like cleaning the bathroom after each time you spray diapers, a spray shield is required!
Last night Cowboy installed my new diaper sprayer AND made me a spray shield to go with it!
Ready? Take two 5 gallon buckets (that will stack) . Cut the bottom out of one.
The bottomless bucket is your spray shield, the other bucket is your storage base!
Eventually we want to add clips to hold the diaper but I used it this morning and just held the clean edge of the diaper.

*Sheet on highchair*
I got tired of trying to get crumbs out of all the tiny crevices of lil Buckaroo's highchair this morning. So I grabbed one of the sheets I was given for the change table mattress and fitted it around the chair! Works like a charm!

*Wear an apron*
Sounds funny I know, but it helps!
I'm starting to try to grab my apron when I walk into the kitchen. It saves me steps! I mostly use it for a towel LOL but it also works to (obviously) protect my clothes, and carry stuff (laundry, garden veggies etc)

*Bleach tablets*
My whites always get bleached but I was having trouble remembering to add the bleach after the washer filled with water!
Enter bleach tablets! After putting the clothes in the washer I place a tablet on the agitator. Once the washer has filled, the agitator starts moving and the tablet falls into the water and dissolves! Presto!

What are your favorite #Lifehacks? I'd love to hear them!

How I Went From Ewww to Proud

My journey into the world of Cloth Diapers. Guest post on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer

Antics In The Pasture Photography Contest

Hey y'all! We were out feeding today (like most days) and the calves were having so much fun I just had to snap a couple pictures and it sparked an idea.... we're gonna have a photography contest!
Now the only prize I can offer is a mention on my blog, but I still thought it'd be fun!
So! From now until the end of March post your #Calving15 photos on Twitter or Instagram and tag me ( @CowgirlAmerica ) and use the hashtags #AnticsInThePastureContest & #Calving15
On Facebook, post the pictures to RJ's Fun Stuff.

Don't have pictures to post? Thats ok, you still have an important role in the contest! I need YOU to go through and vote for your favorite pictures!
Vote as many times as you like.
At the end of the month I'll post the 3 pictures with the most likes / favorites on the blog with your name.

I Needed To Be Spoonfed

I was tired this morning. Lil Buckaroo kept us up most of the night, and then spent most of the morning demanding to be held. Cowboy was able to occupy him for a bit before going to work and I slept then (which I SO appreciate! ) but I was still tired. With that tiredness came frustration. I have piles of laundry and counters of dishes that need doing, and its hard to do those when you're holding a complaining infant!

At some point this morning I posted this in my mommy group on Facebook :

I got some really good replies that I'll share in a bit, but of course those replies weren't instantaneous. I scrolled my newsfeed for a bit to see if I'd get replies and saw this:

from Smithspirations (by the way, if you're on Facebook I highly recommend that you follow her, I've been blessed many times by her daily scripture passage and old hymn!) There were some really good comments there.

I was still needing a boost so I headed for Google.
I'm sure you've noticed I didn't head straight for my Bible. I thought of it, but didn't know where to start, I wanted a list of encouraging passages, and my Bible doesn't have a book entitled "Encouragement for tired mothers" LOL
So I went to Google. I typed in "Scriptures for tired mothers, kjv" and came up with a list of blogs. One of the first in the list was MY JOY FILLED LIFE where I found this post

(I received all 20 cards, along with others, as a thankyou for subscribing to their email list)

I read through these passages, drinking them in, and then my favorite scripture started running through my head:
Isaiah 40:31
"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint."

I needed to be spoonfed this morning. I didn't have the mental energy to go searching the Scriptures for encouragement but I knew Scripture was what I needed. I needed to be spoonfed and My Father supplied my needs.

Scriptures from my mommy group:

What's YOUR favorite passage when you're feeling tired and need encouragement?

Fluff In The Field

I'm excited to announce that a post I submitted was chosen to be published on The Cloth Diaper Whisperer! check it out here!