Mama Loves: Dryer Balls

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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Loves to check out:

• Give your little ones (and Mama) confidence in the water with these.  
• Songs that kids and parents can love to sing along to!

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A few months ago, I found Nellie's Dryer Balls.

  

The cloth inserts we use in cloth diapering were taking at least two hours to get all the way dry in the dryer.

The dryer balls promised to:

• Dry clothes in less time
• Soften clothes naturally
• Reduce lint and wrinkles in clothing 
• Replace the need for fabric softeners or dryer sheets (which you can't use on cloth diapers anyway)

I figured since they're supposed to last up to two years, they would be well worth it, from a financial perspective. 

So far, I have to say that I'm pretty darn happy with them!

We just keep them in our dryer for every load. Clothes come out feeling soft. And the number of times I've had to add more time to the dryer has decreased significantly.

I really like the company's mission to provide:

...non-toxic, hypoallergenic, and environmentally friendly cleaning products that reduce consumption and allow you to use only what's needed.

Happy Saturday! Can't wait to see what you're loving, but before I go-----you all know this mama loves books! Please check out my friend Mandy's giveaway from Usborne books! We love our Usborne books around here!

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Hitch in Our Giddy-Up

With all the determination that Miss Brynne uses to keep her sunglasses on her face, even as they slip down her tiny little button nose...

...she and her sister used that same willfulness to fight naps all week long.

It's hard to be thankful when there's been such a big hitch in our giddy-up.

But...

I have wonderful mama friends who listen, and offer their wisdom and experience to me as I try to figure this napping thing out (1219)---and who give me permission to change up the schedule a bit (1220).

I have a friend who listened to me sob over failed naps and poor parenting for over an hour (1221), and then called to check on me the next day (1222). And then she wrote this. (1223)

I have a husband who gave me an afternoon off, so that I could get a massage and a hair cut (and made dinner too!) (1224)

I have a patient friend who lets the girls and I come over, so that I can learn to sew (1225). I have two dresses for the girls that are half-done (1226)-------so excited!!

That same friend was so encouraging at church yesterday when my girls were melting down (1227).

I have a garden full of color! (1228)

Brad and I have a great community group family, that prays for us and encourages us (1229), and blesses us by letting us pray for them too (1230).

I have Brynne, who loves music so, so, so, so, so much! (1231)

I have Hadley, who determinedly mastered a new puzzle in one afternoon.(1232)

And---the girls went right down for their nap today, and slept for three hours (1234). So, there's that.

Thank you, Jesus!

Mama Loves: Sweaty Bands

Welcome to another week of Mama Loves! I'm so thrilled that you stopped by!

Not sure what Mama Loves is? Check out the Mama Loves page for the scoop on what Mama Loves is all about.

Also---to see all the amazing ideas that have been shared here, check out the Mama Loves Pinterest page. So many crazy-good ideas there!
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• This hand-held vacuum might just "complete you".
• Two great toys that these busy two-year-olds love!
• Maybe this will encourage you today, Mama.

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So. This is funny:



These keep popping up on facebook and Pinterest, and some of them are hilarious and totally relatable. This week, I relate to this. Laundry and parenting. Laundry and sewing too. Whew!  
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I'm really excited about today's Mama Loves!

My brief stint as a model left me with hair that was too short to pull back in a ponytail, which is less than ideal when I'm doing burpees at boot camp. Hair sticking to my sweaty face is so annoying!

To combat the "hair in the face" issue, I have a drawer in my bathroom filled with lots of different hairbands. I think I've tried most kinds on the market---some of them are so tight I feel like my brain might ooze out my ears. Others are designed with rubbery stuff on them that's supposed to catch (and yank) my hair to keep the band in place.

None of that really matters though. My hair is pretty strait, not a whole lot of texture going on.

So. Even the hair bands that say they don't slip. Guarantee they won't slip. Squeeze my head, yank my hair, so they won't slip.

Yeah.

All of those slipped out of my hair (!!!), unless, of course, I used barrettes to hold my hairband in. At 5:30 A.M. I just can't be bothered with remember to put on all that hardware---this mama just wants to get her workout in!

So, you can imagine my joy when my friend introduced me to Sweaty Bands.

Mamas, you need a Sweaty Band----or two or three or a dozen! I'll tell you why: they don't squash your head, or yank your hair----they're pretty stinkin' cute (I'll show you in just a second) and they absolutely, positively, I promise you: do.not.slip.

It's glorious!

See? Cute, right?!

Sweaty Bands come in just about every style/color/width/pattern/cause/team/school/club/holiday/sport/texture you could possibly imagine, and if they don't have it, you can customize it!

Obviously, they're not just for sweating.

They pretty-up a ponytail, or just pull your hair back while you're chasing after kiddos.

Check them out! I think you just might love them too!

Can't wait to see what you're loving!

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