Reconnecting with old friends on FaceBook

I am amazed by how easy it is to reconnect with people from your past via FaceBook. I graduated from high school with 92 people, 52 of whom are now on FaceBook. One of my classmates formed a group with our high school name and graduation year and voila...instant reconnect. I find myself conversing with people that I haven't seen in *ahem, over 16 years. We can see eachother's families and keep abreast of what is going on in their lives with amazing ease. Who needs a high school reunion?


Through my former classmates, I've found two friends what moved away when we were in elementary. I've reconnected with them, and coincidentally I am going to be in Florida this weekend, just 30 miles from each of them. One friend I haven't seen since the 2nd grade and the other since 6th grade. the technology just blows me away.

Sending a BIG THANKS to the FaceBook creators for fostering long lost relationships.

LolliDoo Update...

I am so excited that in addition to our All-In-Ones and Pocket Diapers, we are also offering LolliDoo For You Diaper covers. More info to follow...here is a sneak peak at an updated (but not completed) diagram.




Click on the diagram to zoom.

How Much Do You Know About Maternity Care?

Take this quiz to find out:

http://www.consumerreports.org/health/medical-conditions-treatments/pregnancy-childbirth/maternity-care/maternity-care-quiz/maternity-care-quiz.htm

The Duggars: Not As Eco-Threatening As I Originally Thought

Originally when I had the thought to write about the Duggars, I reflected on their carbon footprint and frankly I viewed them quite negatively. After doing a little research into their lives I discovered that although they aren’t as eco-conscious as I would like everyone to be, they are taking steps.

The Duggars may buy reused items to save money, but they are also making a huge impact on the environment considering that they are now a family of 20. Michelle Duggar said on her website,

“We have lived very frugally, and our family motto is to “Buy used and saved the difference!” We shop at thrift stores and garage sales.”

My biggest issue obviously is their disposable diaper use. According to Discovery Health, the estimated number of Duggar diapers to date is 90,000. 90,000 diapers! Whoa! That is a lot of poop and pee that is still in our landfills and leaching into our water.

The Duggars like to be frugal, so lets talk money. If they spend $40 a month on disposable diapers, then their total costs to use disposable diapers so far are approximately $ 25,920. If they used cloth diapers and passed them down their cost would be around $1100. Their total financial savings with cloth diapers: $24,820

What if the Duggars took that $40 a month and instead of buying chemical laden disposable diapers, they invested it. The future value of $24,820 invested at 4% for 18 years is $50,280.77. That figure astounds me and I am baffled why anyone would not pay close attention to it.

On another note, Michelle Duggar said,

“I would say the greatest change that I have seen in the field of obstetrics, and I might add that it is very troubling to me, is the idea that once you’ve had a C-section you must have a C-section for any other pregnancy. It is much healthier for mom and baby to avoid major surgery and all the complications that go along with a C-section if possible. Granted, there are health situations that would warrant such, but for years obstetrics encouraged TOL (Trial Of Labor after previous C-section) with many successful healthy vaginal births. It was quite alarming to be told that I could no longer have a vaginal birth due to hospital or insurance companies regulations. It appears that what is best for the patient is not the priority with this decision. I feel our health care is being jeopardized by this unhealthy approach. Doctors are having to tell their patients that they no longer offer VBAC assistance due to hospital regulations and some might even state to the patient that they are not safe so as to avoid confrontation. Statistics prove much differently. For the many women that find themselves in this situation, ICAN is an organization that is very helpful in gaining more information on this topic. One of which I believe will be reversed in the near future as more women make a clear statement to health care providers and insurance companies as to how they would prefer to deliver there babies in a safer, healthier manner. (Now I will step off my soapbox!)”

You tell them Michelle, you’ve won major brownie points from me. I don’t think it’s too late for the Duggars to switch to reusable products, mainly diapers and dinnerware, and I truly hope that they make the switch. In the end, their babies will be healthier, the environment will be healthier and they will save money. Sounds like a win-win solution.

There are maggots in my compost!

I don't know what to do.

I've been turning the compost, putting dirt in and covering it. Today I opened the lid and was greeted by maggots.



Here is the entire pile, it's in a plastic bin and I wonder if that's the cause.



A closeup of the grodiness, blech.

Thoughts? Solutions? Help!

How Aunt Flo Managed To Sneak Up On Me

****WARNING GUYS I AM GOING TO DISCUSS MENSTRUATION****

My mother gave me these patches called Y-Age from a company called LifeWave. The patches go on your acupuncture points to boost glutathione and cardosine. The point of the patches is to elevate my antioxidant levels, repair cell damage, release stored toxins and to supercharge my immune system. The patches are stickers and they are relatively easy to use. One a day alternating the glutathione and cardosine patches.


My intention was to detox and loose weight. I was shocked when Aunt Flo snuck up on me. Typically I have severe PMS; bloating, cramps, mood swings that make my kids run and hide. My husband always knows when Aunt Flo is scheduled for a visit by my behavior. I had NO SYMPTOMS this month, none.

Chuck and I were both pleasantly surprised when Aunt Flo came without warning, without quarrelling, bitching, crying and most importantly without pain.

I am now a believer in the Life Wave patches and I highly recommend them to everyone, because let's face it, we all need to detox.


You can order them at:http://lifewave.com/alisonmanes ID#668442

If you have questions, email my mommy at: mbeck333@earthlink.net

LolliDoo is a Toy Man Favorite!

Periodically I Google LolliDoo, Go Green Sustainable Industries and Melissa and myself to see what people are writing about us. I was estatic to find that the The Toy Man™ Awards: An INTERNATIONAL PARENTING institute™ Project, gave us 5 stars!




Here is the link if you'd like to check it out:)

http://www.thetoymanawards.com/article.php?p=ABC%20Kids%20Expo%20Closing%20Day%20-%20Successful%20Results

Tye Dying at the Manes House

Last night we had "girls night". I batik often and the girls wanted to tye dye. I made the mistake of doing it in the house. As you can see, I made a HUGE MISTAKE by doing it in the house. They tye dyed the floor, my table and themselves.











Zoe had the most dye on her, she turned the bathtub brown.



This is Talia's very first tye dye and I have to say that I am impressed, I didn't help her at all, hence the dyed floor.



The kids made these for Chuck



One of my BFF's is having a baby, so I made this for her but I'm not happy with it so I am going to batik something instead.



I made this for myself, something I rarely do.



Zoe's collection, she did a pretty good job, I think more dye was on the floor then her shirts though.



Rylee made these for Ashton




I batiked a little once they were down for the night

OOH Another Sneak Peak at the All New LolliDoo Two!

This is the much anticipated laundry line loop. As you can see it's simple, just snap it on the line and the all-in-one dries in MINUTES. Excuse the icky tye dye laundry line that it's hanging on.



It's hard to capture the adjustable inner layers of the all-in-one One Size diaper. I tried though, you can see how it snaps to fit underneath. You can also see the laundry line loop serving it's second function; holding the innards of the aio nicely in place.




This diagram is NOT finished, but it's a good indication of what we are about to offer. As you can see here, you can't see the layers of the all-in-one when it is flat.


There you have it, stay tuned for more information.

Please Vote For My Daughter's Ecomercial

My daughter Jordan filmed and starred in the one entitled "Waste", bottom left corner. It's just 30 seconds, so please take look and vote for her.

Thanks!





http://www.desertmuseum.org/yes/vote.php

For Jen-Two More Sketches

This is a tattoo that I drew, it is not on my back, see below. The symbol is for mother and child and it includes the birthstones of all my kids.














This sketch I did a few years ago and it was me, how I was feeling at the time. The green icosehedron in the center is sacred geometry mainly for healing.

I was going through my old sketchbook

Talia will be turning two in a few weeks and I've been reflecting on my life without a baby, although is still very much a baby, she is my last. It's a bittersweet time for me.

Anyway, I was rummaging through my old sketchbooks looking for blank pages when I ran across this sketch I did of my belly when I was pregnant with Talia and I wanted to share. I hope it moves you as it does me.