Thrift Store Finds

After a busy weekend, we chose to stay close to home this morning and venture no further than the Salvation Army down the street. $6.99 later, we came home with these little treasures!

Matching Seoul Olympic mugs with lids (for steeping tea, I presume?)...For those that don't know, I grew up in Seoul and getting to go to the 1988 Olympics is one of those events that will stick with me for all of my life. I particularly like that the set shows the mascot in wedding dress-perfect his and her mugs!

I don't like to sew with patterns. And I don't have a girl to sew clothing for...

But if I did, I would most certainly make her this dress...

Some summer reading for me...

Some summer reading and workbooks for the kiddo...

How cute is this little vintage book?

{Not pictured: two monster trucks that have been added to the ever-growing collection!}

{Motivation Monday} 5 Modern products to help you go Green

completely un-related picture of a visitor in my garden

{I am incapable of posting a blog entry without including a picture!}

The "green" movement is often known for emphasizing ideas such as "returning to basics" and doing things the way our grandparents would have. And while I absolutely support the idea that newer does not always mean better, I also believe that people will not take steps toward being green if the supplies are not readily available, moderately convenient to use, priced appropriately and actually work. Here are my top 5 items that are either already in your home or inexpensive to purchase:

1. Dishwasher: Of all of the water your home consumes, it is estimated that 20% of is in used in your kitchen. This is one modern machine that actually helps you consume less water and energy than old-fashioned handwashing: according to a recent study, a modern dishwasher can use one-half the energy, a sixth of the water and even less soap than rolling your sleeves up and getting your hands wet. Of course, the same rule applies to dishwashers as the washing machine-always use when running full loads to maximize the effectiveness.

2. Microfiber towels: I will say from the beginning that this one could be controversial. Microfiber is not a natural fiber and the the fibers that do make up microfiber are produced from petroleum: a non-renewable and non-biodegrable resource. However, the life length of a microfiber towel is extremely long making the need to continually purchase new cleaning products almost obsolete. In one study, the life of a microfiber mop is almost 10 times that of a traditional cotton mop and are proven more effective at removing not only dust/dirt but allergens and bacteria! Microfiber towels are so effective at cleaning that almost remove the need to use a cleaning agent and replace displosable dusting devices such as a Swiffer (for floors or furniture.) Lastly, microfiber towels are proven to use less water and energy to clean after using them. While they are not ideal, they are a very cheap way to get a long lasting product that helps you get effective, chemical-free cleaning done in your home.

3. Steam cleaner: More and more steamer cleaners (like this floor-cleaning one from Bissell or this complete home-cleaning version from Shark) are coming onto the market place. With more competition, the prices of these products are becoming more affordable. For people who live in areas with very hard water or other cleaning issues that discourage them away from natural cleaning products, switching to a chemical-free steam cleaner can keep their homes and the envinronment clean.

4. Water Filter: Filtered and bottled water is still very popular, even among my eco-friendly friends. Whether you are motivated by the convenience or concerns about pharmaceuticals in our water supply, a water filtering system along with a BPA-free water bottle can make heading to work with your morning dose of H2O convenient and clean. It is estimated that the most common of filters, a Brita can replace between 300-750 standard sized water bottles (depending on whether you are using the filter picture or the faucet filter.) The filters are made with Number 5 plastic, which is not accepted by many recycling locations however, Brita has drop-off recycling locations (or a mail-in option) for their filters.

5. The Internet: This one if not something you physically use around the house but the green possibilities that exist online are endless. Besides being a wealth of knowledge about green living, you can save countless trees (and often money) by recieving/paying bills online, opt out of paper catalogues and recieve sales/coupon notifications in your inbox instead, or read a book online instead of purchasing a physical paper copy. Of course, it is important to remember that computer usage does use energy so, if you are purchasing a new one, look at Energy Star certified models, utilize power saving modes, and watch your paper data output (think twice about whether you need to print those directions every time you Mapquest something!)

While we all can be challenged to do more, it is important to not get burnt out by ineffective efforts and products on your journey to a more sustainable way of life. Sharing what works for you and trying new ideas can make the difference in whether you continue your journey or not.
What modern-day inventions help keep you on track in your green efforts?

Saturday Sneak Peak

I have been working on new things for the store and was inspired by two things: my complete impatience for the local farmer's markets to re-open and the lovely laundry hanging pictures of Heather Bailey's Nicey Jane fabric. The home owner's association where I currently live does not allow a clothes line but we have pretty roomy screened-in porches, so my clothes line went up in there. In order to jazz it up and to hold my never-organized collection of clothes pins, I came up with this clothes pin bag in spring-y Nicey Jane prints...now I can pretend that I am hanging my linens up in a lovely meadow instead on my concrete back porch!

And, yes, these will be in the store very soon!

They will be sold right along with these fun produce bags! I will combine designer fabrics (this print is from Kate Spain's fabric line Verna-which celebrates the Vernal/Spring Equinox!) and both mesh and guaze fabrics for a sturdy bottom but breathability for your fresh fruits and veggies...

I am so excited about putting some fresh, local produce in these and checking out all the goodies at my farmer's market-just a couple of weeks now to wait!

Friday Favorites-Cloth Diapers!

1. Rowdy Robot Set from Tweedlebee Tweedlebum

2. Organic Bamboo Velour prefolds from Wooldins

3. Monster Wool Longies (diaper cover pants) from Mmmarmalade

4. Wool Newborn Lacey Skirted Bloomers from Pickle Boutique

5. Ice Giraffe One-Size All-in-One Diaper from Junktique

6. Hot Diggity Dog One-Size Fitted Diaper from Wooly Bums

7. Construction Bamboo Fleece Fitted Diaper from Zinnia Flower

8. Custom Print Cover Bundle from The Eli Monster

9. Slim Ooga Booga Bamboo Velour Fitted Diaper from Banana Bottoms

10. Dewdrop Bamboo w/ Zorb Pocket Diaper Inserts from Dew Drop Handmade

11. Nighty Nights Bamboo Nighttime Diaper from Green Sprout Baby

12. Sailor Stripes Wool Longies from Knit Wit Knits

Green that Baby-Cloth Diapering thoughts

When people find out about many of the "green" things our family has implemented in our lives, none drew the "I could NEVER do that..." comment as much as cloth diapering. And since I am a bit sassy, I usually countered with the question: Why not? The reasons are many and many are legitimate. However, many are based on misinformation (or a lack of information.) I am sharing what worked for us and share some secrets that may help you if you desire to start the cloth diapering journey. (For information on WHY you should consider using cloth diapers, check out 3 Great Reasons to consider Cloth Diapers from Simple Organic.)

At the time my son was born, I worked a job with swing shifts, 24/7 on-call requirements and a husband that was about to deploy to a war zone. My son attended a state licensed day care center and cloth diapering wasn't allowed without medical approval. I also knew not one other person in real life that used cloth diapers (with the exception of my dad and he could only tell me horror stories about actually pinning the cloth diaper to my baby sister.) I would say that due to my schedule, legal requirements and a lack of resources, I was NOT the poster child to start cloth diapering. However, since it was all I had seen growing up and was seeing the growing online resource base, I felt that this was a move I wanted to make. Here are my secrets (or not so secret) that helped our cloth diapering journey work for us:

My son rockin' a space-themed prefold during the one and only month he ever had any chub on him...

Know your options: First and foremost, the plain rectangular cloth diaper and pins are not how cloth diapering is rolling these days. Now, as I learned and became more confident, I eventually used the rectangle kind (called a prefold and pictured embellished with designer fabric above) but I never used a pin (the Snappi is the modern tool of choice!) There are a million and one companies making modern cloth diapers that look and function like a normal disposable but I would recommend bumGenius or FuzziBunz. Yes, they are the more commercialized of the options, but that makes them easier to find, in my opinion. I never thought I would see the day where I walked into a Target and see cloth diapers on the shelf but bumGenius made that happen in some stores. (While I am typically anti-mainstream, I am prone to completely support when beloved things like cloth diapers and babywearing are going mainstream because I feel like it helps put resources in the hands on those that may not normal seek it out on their own.) My skinny hips and thighs little man still fits into the medium FuzziBunz we bought when he was 3 months old and has fit into the bumGenius (which are one-size-fits all due to adjustable snaps) his ENTIRE life so far. I recommend this article from Simple Mom on 4 Cloth Diapering Options Defined to understand what options are out there.

Matching outfit to go with the above space-themed prefold (um...if super cute handmade outfits weren't one of my top 5 reasons to cloth diaper, they sure were a good bonus!)

Know thyself: Knowing my time restraints, I utilized a no-nonsence approach to using the diapers. In my son's bedroom, the diapers were kept in baskets under the changing table. Next to the changing table was a large plastic garbage pail with a large water proof bag called a wetbag inside. All diapers came off the kiddo and straight into the pail, which did NOT have a lid. I never sprayed, dumped or dipped anything off the diapers. People often tell me that they could never cloth diaper because the thought of dealing with the poop grosses them out. So, I say, don't play with the poop! What about the smell, you ask? The open pail allowed smells to dissapate and, in my experience, weren't really an issue. I took a cloth wipe and put some tea tree esssential oil on it and dropped it in the pail and sprinkled baking soda in if I smelled any urine and I wasn't ready to do laundry. I did laundry, on average, twice a week. I simply dumped the dirty diapers out of the wet bag into the washer, put in the wet bag and washed. I used a squirt of blue Dawn, about a cup of baking soda and white vinegar in the fabric softener dish, washed on as hot a wash I could and did an extra rinse every other time I washed. I had a HE washer and never had any problems. If you do get a stain, putting the still partially wet diaper outside in the sun to dry will clear up the issue in one afternoon. That is it- no magical time consuming potion, no expensive cleaning formula and no extra steps. (There are some great looking washing products out there and I might try them out if I ever have a baby in diapers again but it is hard to beat the ease and inexpensive of this method!)

(Small time out to say: If you do any reading around cloth diapering websites (like Diaperswappers), many people will toot the horn of how wonderful breast-fed poo is, how it is water soluable and doesn't stain. Let me go on the record: poop is poop and I can say with certainty, formula poop is water soluable and doesn't stain if you use the proper cleaning procedure. (And for the sake of over-explaining: I had a double mastectomy prior to having my son, so he was fed formula from the very beginning...) That said, no matter what you feed your kiddo, not playing with poop is an option, if you want to.)

Know those around you: Worried about how daycare will react? What about the husband? Or your family? I did have to get my pediatrician to write a note to our daycare for it to be "legal" for us to cloth diaper my son there. And for their sake and my husbands, they got the easiest diapers to use. (It is hard for them to argue with them being more difficult if they are shaped exactly like a disposable, utilize velcro and don't require any dumping of poop!) I utilized smaller wetbags while out in public and often brought along my cutest diapers to show off when I had the chance. (And if you don't know what cute cloth diapering options are out there, stay tune to tomorrow's Etsy Friday Finds!) People have less opportunity to criticized or be bothered by something when you show them how easy something is and how not-so-out-of-the-ordinary it is. (And to be honest, I personally ENJOYED being the crazy person doing something different, but that is my personality, I know that flying your freak flag wigs some people out.)


Are you considering cloth diapering? Already a lover of all things fluff? What are your tips and tools that help YOU? Share your information (or ask questions!)

I am one of THOSE people...

I own a Toyota Prius, we cloth diapered our son, use cloth wipes for wiping noses, and I am thrilled that so many people have been reducing their waste by purchasing cloth napkins from my new store. Recently, when someone found out these things about me, they said to me "So, you are one of THOSE..." I responded "Proudly!" Since I am not sure EXACTLY what was meant by that, I have my ideas and felt that the topic needed a little discussion.

My desire for Camp Cupcake (and my home!) is to share "Sweet Sustainability." But what does that mean? Some of my friends can tell you that I have often gone a little overboard showing how easy and cute cloth diapers can be. My husband can tell you about all my crazy antics to get him to use only kitchen towels instead of paper towels. I believe strongly that many people don't make an attempt to be green because they think that it is a) too hard or b) have some crazy idea that it is some ugly burlap way of life. I have made it my personal and business goal to share how fabulous green can be! To be honest with you, I am not sure that the world will implode from global warming (and since the world will die by a large Mayan lizard god in 2012, it probably won't matter-ha!) I have read what seems to be quality research that supports doomsday fears and research that speaks against it. I don't know if I "believe" in alot of what many of my fellow "greenie's" talk about. My reasons for being eco-friendly is much more simple: I don't believe in waste. It may seem ironic for someone who wants to grow her business in 2010, but I believe strongly in the phrase "Waste not, want not." I, personally, want to WANT LESS in 2010. I want people to buy products that allow them to waste less...whether that is by creating less trash at dinner time or by putting less waste back into the eco-system.

How can YOU live green? Use reusable products. Use products that are ALREADY made and in the consumer marketplace (VINTAGE goodies would be my personal favorite way to do this!). Recycle what you DO use. UPcycle by reusing items in a new way (be crafty!) Go old-school in your cleaning (No need to buy pricey high-end "green" cleaning products: baking soda and vinegar are REALLY efficient and SO inexpensive!) And, yes, I will say that supporting handmade is a good way to "go green." Resourceful handmade artists often produce less waste than large commercial operations. And they are incredibly creative with their ideas to help YOU produce less waste.

Some of my favorite "green" products right now:

1. fine art nature photograph

2. cloth wine gift bag

3. upcycled grocery notebook

4. reusable PVC-free snack bag

5. all-natural laundry stain stick

6. reusable envelope organizer