In Review: Buttons Diapers

When we had our first baby

we decided to use cloth diapers for a variety of reasons.

After much consideration,

being overwhelmed with options,

we went with gDiapers.

Mainly because they made sense to me and 

they were manufactured in Portland where we were living at the time.

Since then I have been on the gDiaper bandwagon

and wouldn't be swayed off of it.

Friends would rave about their diaper of choice and I stood firmly by mine.

Until...

I put Button Diapers on my second born.

My dear friend uses them on her babes

and she kept telling me how much I'd like them.

I nodded and smiled,

not wanting to make another investment on more

cloth diapers and happy in my gBubble.

Then one day she brought some over and put them on my baby.

And that was when I fell in love.

They are so easy to use,

come in great colour and pattern choices,

and the liners are so soft.

My babe loved them and so did I.

{Photos belong to Just An Ordinary Family. Please do not duplicate or use without permission.}

Soon after I went online to check out their prices.

I was so pleased to discover that they are incredibly affordable.

How refreshing!

Finally cloth diapers that don't break the bank.

Soon my shopping cart was stocked with some essentials.

Once they arrived in the mail I immediately 

through them in the wash to start using them.

The are easy to soak, wash and dry.

Low maintenance, my kinda laundry.

My youngest is the only one in diapers

and she seemed pleased.

She didn't even soak through during her two hour nap.

The size is one fits all without being big and bulky.

She can still wear the right sized clothes over top.

One of the bonuses about using cloth diapers 

is that babies don't get diaper rash,

and these soft inserts are perfect for protecting

their adorable tushy. 

All it took was 5 minutes to sell me on the product.

For a mom buying essentials for her precious baby,

I think that says enough.

Check out their website (and see our Jane in pink!) at buttonsdiaper.com

If you're unsure about making the leap

you can order a Trial Pack.

If you have any questions about Buttons Diapers, or cloth diapering in general,

feel free to leave a comment!

{images by Michelle Cervo Photography. Do not duplicate or use images without permission from photographer first.}

Women In Business: Simply Mel & Co

{photo courtesy of Simply Mel & Co's etsy page}


Today we are featuring an Etsy shop 

on Women In Business.

Simply Mel & Co sells great

accessories for the woman and little woman in your life.

She has some great pieces so that Mama and her little princess can coordinate,

or simply make a statement alone.

A couple of months back I ordered some

stand out pieces for my girls and a pair of earrings for myself.

Simply Mel & Co was also gracious enough 

to answer some questions for me about starting up her own business.

The pieces arrived and I was so pleased.

Not only was it packaged so pretty

(I really am a sucker for great packaging!)

but she included a sweet card and an extra pair of earrings!

Thanks Simply Mel & Co! 

{photo courtesy of Simply Mel & Co's Facebook page}

It is hard to pick a favourite,

but I do absolutely love Buffalo plaid and the headband fit both my girls,

so I think it won first place.

It it is so adorable on them!

My darling eldest daughter 

has questionable clothing taste these days.

She often pairs her Adidas track pants with 

a floral blouse and a tiara.

Or her oversized Thompson Rivers hoodie with a floofy skirt

and rubber boots.

She's three, I am sure you get the picture.

I was so thankful when she was willing to 

work her new plaid scarf into the mix! 

She loves it.

and so do I.

 {Cardigan by Wheat Canada and t shirt by SHE IS Clothing }

The earrings are so sweet. I have worn them often

and they don't hurt my ears.

Each time I wear them someone asks me where I got them,

and I happily tell them Simply Mel & Co.

Supporting small businesses is important to me.

I try to buy local and support small businesses whenever I can.

I love that Mel is a stay at home mom and works from her home in Kamloops.

She communicates well, puts her family first and I love that about her. 

Here is a little Q and A with Simply Mel & Co!

Just An Ordinary Family: Did you work before Simply Mel & Co?

Simply Mel & Co: I worked for my mom's company Tracycakes. 

JAOF: What lead you to start Simply Mel & Co?

SMC: I am a major busy body and since I have becoming a SAHM [stay at home mom] I know I needed something to keep me occupied during naps and early bedtimes. Life slows down a lot when you have kids and having this business gives me something to do other than being mom. I love creating and crafting items so I thought I would open a Etsy shop and give it a shot! Having my own business allows me to stay home with my girl. Both my parents own businesses so I've always had a entrepreneurial mindset.

JAOF: Who or what inspires you in your work? 

SMC: I'm inspired by trends, seasons, and making women feel a little extra pretty when they wear something I've created.

JAOF: What is it about Simply Mel & Co that makes you get up in the morning and do it all again?

SMC: Being creative has always been something I've been passionate about.

JAOF: What advice would you give to other women who are hesitant in making that leap to being their own boss and following their passion?

SMC: Just give it a shot! You never will know where your dreams will take you unless you try. My mom is a big inspiration to me. 

JAOF: How do you find working from home?

SMC: Working from home is great during naps and bedtime! Other than that it's a bit of a gong show. It's hard to craft or sew with a busy toddler running around and climbing on you.

JAOF: Balancing being a mom, wife and a job can be tough. What's your secret?

SMC: I take on more than I can handle. If I have too many orders I close my shop so I can catch up. I always put my family first!

JAOF: What would be your top 3 tips about growing a business?

SMC: Make sure to market your product through social media and be consistent and engaging with your followers. Stay passionate and true to yourself.

Thanks so much Mel for sharing with us!

We love your products and we wish you well in your future endeavours!

To purchase Simply Mel & Co visit the Etsy page here.

You can also follow her on Facebook and Pinterest.

All photos are property of Just An Ordinary Family.
Please do not use without permission from JAOF first.

Motherhood

Happy Friday!

It is a long weekend here in B.C. Canada

and my wonderful husband took today off work to make it a 4 day weekend.

We are off on a little get-away to spend some 

time together as a family.

Really looking forward to lounging in my yoga

pants and sharing diaper duty! 

There have been many articles the past 

while floating around the internet.

Moms pouring their hearts into words

about the reality of motherhood.

You are familiar with it I am sure,

even if it was many moons ago.

The reality of a blissful,

sleep deprived, emotional rollercoaster,

cheerios mushed into the  carpet,

spilled milk,

sticky kisses and big squishy hugs 

motherhood.

Dear friends,

I write to you from the trenches of this reality.

And oh my gosh I love every single bit of it!

These are the days I longed for and already they are too quickly passing.

We aren't even done our family yet and 

already I feel is slipping from my fingertips.

When I was in grade 3 I distinctly

remember my teacher asking the age old

"What do you want to be when you grow up" question.

To which I confidently replied,

"A mom."

I wanted it to be my full time job.

I didn't yearn for a career,

anything before or after would just be a job to me.

What I wanted was to have babies,

mother them, play with them, be creative with them

and love so hard on them. 

Over time I began to feel that 

this response was inadequate.

Why, in a world that we worked so hard

to get to a place where women can thrive and excel in the workplace,

would I choose the life of June Cleaver?

This iconic version of a 1950's housewife seemed so silly.

Not that it is exactly what I wanted.

But, yes, I did want to stay at home with my kids.

Take them to and from school,

be a chaperone on field trips and volunteer in their classrooms.

I did want to be at home to bake and cook

and make meals for not only my children but my husband, too.

I wanted him to be taken care of because he goes to work

so that I can stay at home and do what I wanted to do too.

My husband chose his career not only because of his passion

but because I could stay at home.

Before everyone gets their knickers in a knot,

please do not thinking I am pointing out 

those who must go to work

or want to go to work.

I am not talking about that.

(That is a whole other area of Judgey Mom syndrome I really don't want to get into.)

I am talking about what I wanted growing up,

and how now I am so blessed to be able to live out that dream.

Anyway, back to what I was saying.

Soon I began to realize that choosing to be a stay at home mom 

was an inadequate response to that particular question.

I got giggles and snickers and so I changed my answer.

I said I wanted to be a teacher.

Not realising at the time that teaching is indeed a gift.

After a few months of volunteering and many tears later

I realized I do not possess that gift.

I guess what I am trying to say is that 

yes, like any other job,

motherhood is very hard and at times very isolating.

Other moms blog about the realities of motherhood

because it makes other moms feel understood.

That there is so much beauty in that sticky job,

in the simplicity of our days and long nights.

That when we put our hearts into these words

it gives other moms a little bit of encouragement to keep on keepin' on.

Here are two other blogs I have read recently 

that have greatly encouraged me. 

The Most Powerful Thing You Can Say to Another Mom

by Denise Stirk on PopSugar

Motherhood is Underrated

but Elissa Joy Watts

on Professional Amateur

I hope you enjoy them as much as I did

and even mutter a few 

"mmhmm" and "Amen, sister" phrases like I did.

Happy Weekend everyone!

If it is Family Day Monday like it is here,

I hope you enjoy some fun activities together!

xo,

Michelle

Tea Party

Sweet M turned 3 last week! 

So hard to believe these girls are growing into little women.

M's birthday wish was to come to Claire's house

to wear princess dresses and have a tea party.

So of course Claire and I helped make that come true.

The next day the Cervo's came to our house

and the girls transformed into fairytale princesses and we had a tea party!

These two have been friends since the beginning of their lives.

So sweet to watch them grow up together and watch a true friendship form.

The night of M's birthday Claire prayed and thanked God for M's curly hair

and said how much she loved her.

Melt.My.Heart.

Judge Free Parenting

In other posts, in other status updates,

I have voiced my opinion of people

who judge other parents.

There are so many avenues in which we choose to bully as adults.

Breastfeeding, bottle feeding, vaccinations, diapering, discipline, coddling, co-sleeping...

So many reasons to judge, so little time.

I am guilty of it, you are guilty of it.

And if you are sitting there thinking,

"I've never done it."

Wrong.

You have.

"Oh boy, if that was my kid I'd..."

"These days kids..."

"I can tell you one way to get that kid to behave."

Fill in your own blanks.

Recently I was talking to a friend of mine

who just became a mom and mentioned the stares and rude comments 

she gets when she bottle feeds her baby.

Yes, it is breast milk in that bottle.

Even if it wasn't, whose business is it but hers and her partners?

We are so quick to judge, give a dirty look and even say things that 

are so incredibly hurtful. 

Some parents are witty enough to come back with a smart comment.

But there are others, like myself, who are stopped in their tracks

 always think of the best things to say way after the fact. 

Lately it seems like other parents have been taking a stance against this bullying.

You don't have to agree but you do have to be nice.

Didn't Thumper from baby once say,

"If you don't have anything nice to say, then don't say anything at all."

(photo from Disney Wikia)

A few weeks ago I read this great piece in the Washington Post online

about a mom who said she feels the need to explain to people why she can't breastfeed.

Even the lactation consultants at the hospital when her baby was born were pushing her to try.

It exhausted her. She was sick of explaining herself.

She felt the need to give her whole story just to make people shut up about it.

Her reality was that she was a breast cancer survivor.

If she had enough breast tissue left to be able to produce any milk at all

that was a very scary reality for her as it meant there would be a chance her breast cancer could return.

Yikes.

Another great add I saw by Similac was this video they made

about the "Sisterhood of Motherhood".

It is so true. 

To each his/her own,

but when it comes down to it we are all parents just trying to do the right thing.

Let's bring it back to the Word, always. 

What does the Bible say?

"Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; 

make the most of every opportunity.

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt,

so that you may know how to answer to everyone."

Colossians 4:5-6

"Do not grumble against one another, brothers"

James 5:9a

Sleep When Baby Sleeps/Currently

This morning I should be following this advise,

considering Claire (and I) were up at 5 a.m.

Instead I am sitting here reading blogs,

going on Pinterest and listening to my tummy growl.

Inspired (challenged?) by Tanis' blog Currently,

I am going to do my own!

Here goes...

Obsessing over: 

Trader Joe's Ginger Molasses Cookies. They are so gingery and go perfect with a cup of tea. I am still trying to eat clean, but twice so far I have made an exception for these and not once regretted it. 

photo via traderjoes.com

Working on:

unloading the dishwasher. Sounds exciting doesn't it? Lately, it feels like every time I tidy up it takes about 15 minutes for my little monster to come along and untidy it all in about 5 seconds. So unloading and loading the dishwasher is something I can do that contributes to a clean up that she can't undo (yet).

Thinking about:

moving home. The logistics of it. Where will we live? Will I have a baby bump? When will it be? How do I live as a wife of a career man? (He's been a student the entire time we've been together.) It's still a long ways off, but the end is in sight. Crazy.

Anticipating:

Christmas! I LOVE this time of year. September 1st to January 1st. Coloured leaves, pumpkin-everything, peppermint-everything, festivities, warm scarves and coats, yummy smells (I love candles too Tanis, especially cinnamon-y, spicey, pumpkin-y ones!) This year Claire is old enough to participate in Christmas activities. I am excited to take her to Zoolights, bake cookies, use her advent calendar. I have all kinds of things up my sleeve! 

Listening to:

Some Nights - Fun

It is such a FUN song. Claire and I dance to it often. She rocks back and forth, spins around and laughs and laughs and laughs. 

Eating:

Clean. (Except for those cookies!) It is a difficult adjustment. There are times we fall off the wagon and cave to cravings, or convenience. But we aren't hardcore into it. We are just stepping back, and taking a real look at what we are putting into our bodies. Even if we think its healthy, we are just trying to eat things that come in its original form as much as possible. 

Wishing:

That I could take my little family and we could escape to a secret place for a few days. Where its just us, nothing school related and just enjoy being together. Have dance parties, watch movies, play games, cuddle under blankets and listen to music. 

Dissing:

The rain! I want to take Claire trick or treating. Normally I really don't mind the rain. It doesn't bother me too badly, but I just want it to hold off for a couple of hours this evening. 

Laughing at:

This picture.

Photo credit thanks to Michelle Cervo Photography

Michelle and I took the babes outside so she could take a couple photos of them in their costumes. Of course my babe just couldn't sit there and smile at the camera. She loves the rain, so she ran in the rain while Michelle snapped a coupe photos. She got wet, and looked a little disheveled, but she had a bit of fun. 

There you have it...my currently. 

Happy Halloween!