Favorite things

I see so many blogs that do this, and though I don't have lots of people reading this, I think it WILL be fun to look back in 20 years and see how crazy, uncool, and retentive I was (or smart, I choose the adjective smart here...just go with it, people.)  
Instead of doing my favorite things for the entire 18 months of my mommy-hood, I choose to do my favorite things of right now, having a crazy, messy, active, fun 18 month old...maybe I'll do a more inclusive list later...maybe.

I'll seperate my list into two categories, seeing as how the hippies won me over here in Seattle with their crazy hippy magic, yet I'm still a Hoosier.  Don't see it as hypocritical, see it as open minded and starting to err on hippy-hood...or just see it as a identity crisis after living here for 3 years!

Hippy list

1. To go anywhere with a toddler, and to fit in with the PNW mommies, you MUST have one of these:

An Ergo carrier.  Awesome, for the most part, pain free, and if your toddler is ESPECIALLY ornery, you can strap her on your back so she stays happy/can't hit you in the face out of frustration.  NO, I'm NOT a baby-wearer, but those mama's use these because they are pret-ty comfy.  Plus, now I fit in with the hippy moms out here ;)

2.  Toddlers are a stink MACHINE (meaning, they can make anything stink whenever they want.)  Ruthie's FAVORITE game of the moment is going to the couch and taking her sippy (all but one are leaky) and shaking the milk onto the couch.  That stuff stinks in just a few moments.  I'd say just Febreeze it, but what's in that stuff?  I dunno, but I do know whatever I put on the couch, Ruthie will soon follow, wipe it with her hand and taste it.  So, I use this:

Pure Ayre.  It's FOOD GRADE ingredients, and I have YET to find anything that actually works this well...seriously.  I go through about a bottle a week.  (plus, it tells me on the bottle to directly spray the dog if she starts smelling between baths...I'll TAKE IT!)

3.  I'm into disinfecting (mama loves me some bleach,) but I'm NOT into my child eating bleach (like I said, she REALLY interesting in tasting what I'm cleaning, and according to Martha Stewart, I don't need it.  She's yet to let me down...so, I'm pretending trying to wean myself.) I love love love this product:

7th generation All purpose disinfectant.  You can even use it on their high chairs.  Score!

4.  So, SOMEONE (ahem, Danny) has been against me cloth diapering, or even hybrid diapering since the beginning, so until I can break him convince him of my earth friendly ways, I thought I'd at LEAST choose a diaper that is better for the my child's hiney (albeit, it will STILL be in the dumpster in 50 years, DANNY.)  It took me a good 7 months to find a good diaper.  I found some I loved, 

Attitude.  They are compost-able (when wet, and only the inner part, but it's something,) made of cotton, and chlorine free.  They are also really pricey, and I can only get them online...which doesn't work when I'm a busy mama...I need to be able to pick them up at the grocery.  


So, I found these: 

Pros:  chlorine/dye free, she doesn't leak, and it is tan (so she can wear really cute white outfits without Whinny the Pooh (don't get me started) or Minny Mouse (seriously) to shine through.)
Cons:  she ALWAYS looks like she has a dirty diaper...because, like I said, they are tan.  They drive my sisters crazy.  

5. California Baby products.  The shampoo/wash is amazing, and when I use the Calming lotion on her, I want to put a wick on her and use her as a candle!  (not really...kinda) 

There are tons more here, but I don't want to over due it.  These are just what I'm using the MOST of this particular(ly messy) week.
 
Non Hippy list

1. Hot Shot Spider Killer:  Just don't let you kids play in it, unless you want a sick kid...or grandkids with 2 heads in the future or something.  But, it works, it kills spiders, and the Lord knows I hate those things (really, He does.)

2. This toy, "blue."  Stilllllll obessed.

  3. She has loved this for months...and I don't see it stopping:

Why are my hippy favorites outweighing my non-hippy?  Does that mean I need to get the heck out of Dodge?  I'd say so, but I don't think I'm too bad, considering I label them "hippy" and not "normal," and I WILL take some of my magical tricks back with me (when we go) to the other side of the country and win others over...watch me! 

And now for a shot of cuteness, because, let's be honest, that's why you are here.