Maplebean Diapers

I have come across the most amazing, addicting, squishiest, beautiful diapers ever made! I 

know, I know, some of you are thinking "So what? Theyre a poop catcher." I don't care they 

are the cutest poop catchers ever! It thoroughly feeds my addiction! There will be no room 

for potty training over in this house! Nope nope nope! I used to be a cotton and wool snob! 

Really I was, I would only buy cotton fitted, prefolds and flats. Then when I was looking for 

something different for nights I started with Bububebe. Cute prints, thick, soft, they were 

great! BUT THEN,....Then I came across a picture of my friends baby in her cloth diaper and 

it had a little gray elephant on it! I had to know right away what that cute diaper was. 

MAPLEBEAN Guys! Maple....beans!!! 

They are amazing! I was able to snag one used. . It had Curious George on it! I had to have 

this for my lil Gowg luvin boy! When George arrived, I was  jaw dropping, eye bulging 

amazed! It is so cuddly soft and so squishy!  They weren't only adorable but they fit both 

my 7 month old and my two year old. AND! they work for days and for nights!!! BOOM! 

WINNER WINNER CHICKEN DINNER! You cannot get any better than that! MORE 

PLEASE!

What are Maplebeans?

Maplebeans are handmade in Canada professionally embroidered, one size hybrid fitted diapers. Maplebean Diapers feature a soft minky outer, a hidden layer of water resistant blizzard fleece, and a cuddly cotton velour layer next to babies skin.  The 6 layer soaker is comprised of organic bamboo fleece topped with cotton velour.

What is Maplebeans sizing/fit?

Maplebeans are One size and fit babies ranging from 15 - 35lbs and adjusts using a fold down rise.

 >>>>>>Click here to see all of her pictures.<<<<

Isnt that cute!!

unsnapped.

folded down for a little baby

Do you see how soft they are?

Snap in doubler in place

under the doubler

under the first doubler layer

Without the doubler. One can still add as much as you need but you really don't need any extra but its nice to have that option. 

I've drank the water, I'm addicted. Melanie and her husband Mike are the makers and owners of Maplebeans. They are two amazing people. They have outstanding customer service. 

• They called me when they had a question and to help me understand something that I had not understood in its entirety. 
• They post on their facebook page updates and converse back and forth with us.
• They ask for our opinions and happily integrate our wishes into their decisions.
• They go above and beyond with kindness and are always trying to make sure I am a satisfied customer.  
• I know that by writing this blog many people will probably want to buy from them. Although I want them all to myself I also want to share what works! I want to shout from the roof tops!
  
  MAPLEBEANS! WANT ALL THE MAPLEBEANS!

  

  CRAWL WALK HUNT

  

  PRETTY BLOSSOM BUM

   

  

  My current stash

  
  

Where did our summer go?

Do you remember as a kid summer vacation was so fun. We were so carefree and living each day playing with neighborhood friends while our imaginations were up somewhere in the clouds. It was fun to be off, and it was very fulfilling. Then as we got into the higher grades we started to realize wow- we only have THREE months off of school?--wow, how did that feel like an eternity as a kid? Now as an adult to 6 kids I feel like I'm racing time and its gone with the blink of an eye. It was just winter! There is no way its already Sept! No stinking way! HOW!? Last year we went to the beach a lot, or to the pool. We went to the parks every week with my close friends, where I could have that fellowship. We went to church every Sunday. We went to the library. We went to the Farmers Market once or twice a week. We went strawberry picking. We preserved everything possible. Strawberries I made into Jam, as well as canned lots of applesauce, tomatoes, and peaches. We used to eat raw foods all summer; and oh-corn on the cob! mmmm!!!
I was making my own lotions, soaps, and savs. This year, we have done nothing! We have had corn on the cob only twice! We are home all the time. The kids are making their own memories playing with their neighbor friends every day. Part of me says well I can interfere with their play and just take them somewhere. But then I feel guilty because even though we are not doing what I remember to be fun. THEY are having fun with their neighborhood friends, and their imaginations are up somewhere in the clouds. They have a pool and a trampoline here to play in. They have their neighbors tree house to play in. They have their bikes to ride. Most importantly, their perception of time hasn't had the plunge of reality kill it yet. So I guess even though my summers is gone and not spent as ideally as I would have liked to. I know my kids don't see it that way. Along with the older kids, I do still have two kids under two. I have to believe that this too is a season of life that too shall pass.
That doesn't mean I'm ready for leaves to change and snow to come here devilishly early though. 

ELF ON THE SHELF

Everyone ready for a new month of Elf on the Shelf? My kids loved this so much last year. We are getting ready for Eddies arrival. I thought I'd share some of the ideas that we did last year.

He ate all the cookies out of the cookie jar.

He had no reindeer so he used my daughters whale. (she got a big hoot out of this one)

After eating so many sweets at the NP he wanted to brush his teeth.

Hes a lil graffiti guy.

He was captured by our boys army men when he tried to return.

He wanted us to make pancakes with sprinkles for breakfast

Just playing a game of candyland.

He got bored and decided to decorate our tree some more.

Snow angels!

Decorated our light fixture and was found upside down.

Mustaches for all...

Whoops I ate all of your candy.

Wanted to be apart of snap crackle and pop!

Found a reindeer!

Oh and bob cat was festive too!

Exit night back to the north pole with a letter I wrote.

Crockpot freezer meals and more

My most recent goal for myself was to start doing freezer meals. I have done 30 so far, and I have 13-15 left more to do. I have the ingredients but ran out of freezer space so I'm on a freeze. teehee Any how, I didn't know that others would be so interested in this as well.

I mostly followed this link. 40 meals in 4 hrs. I didn't make them all though, as we have so many roasts already frozen, I figured they'd be a quick crock pot meal already in itself. Also she has another page called 20 meals in 2 hrs. After I made these at home. I went to my friend Shannon's house, where 5 of us did some more freezer meals. We each brought home 6 meals, and it wasn't work at all it was all fun! 
Here are the 5 recipes: (6 as the potpie is for two recipes):
5 more recipes

Chicken Potpies

4 C cubed cooked chicken

4 C frozen cubed hash brown potatoes

1 package (16 oz) frozen mixed veggies

1 can (10 ¾  oz) condensed cream of onion soup, undiluted

1 can (10 ¾ oz) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted

1 C milk

1 C sour cream

2 TBSP all-purpose flour

½ tsp salt

½ tsp pepper

¼ tsp garlic powder

1 package refrigerated pie pastry

Directions:

In a large bowl, combine the first 11 ingredients. Divide between two 9-inch deep-dish pie plates. Roll out pastry to fit top of each pie. Place over filling; trim, seal and flute edges. Cut slits in middle.

Cover and freeze up to 3 months

To back: Remove from freezer 30 minutes before baking. Cover edges loosely with foil; place on baking sheet. Bake at 425 for 30 minutes. Reduce heat to 350; remove foil and bake 50-55 minutes longer or until golden brown.

Each pie yields 6 serving (directions make 2 pies)

Chicken and Rice

1 c. long grain rice

3 c. water

2 t. bouillon granules

1 cancr of chicken soup

1 16 oz bag broccoli

2-3 chicken breasts, frozen

¼ t garlic powder

1 c. grated cheddar cheese

Directions:

Combine all ingredients in freezer bag, label and freeze.

On cooking day, cook on high 3-4 hours.  Once cooked, chop up chicken breasts.  If too runny, remove lid from slow cooker for 15 minutes while cooking on high

Slow Cooker Lemon Garlic Chicken  ( I think this one is also in recipes above so I may have two)

Serving Size: 8 serving

    2 lbs boneless chicken breasts

    1 t dried oregano

    1/2 t Lawry's Seasoning Salt

    1/4 t ground pepper

    2 cloves garlic, minced

    1 t dried parsley

    3 T lemon juice

    1/2 cup chicken broth

Directions:

Place all ingredients in freezer bag

 Cook 6-8 hours on low depending on your slow cooker.Serve over rice or buttered egg noodles.

Ranch Chicken

6 chicken breasts cut in half

1 can cream of mushroom soup

1 packet ranch dressing seasoning

5 large potatoes diced

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a gallon freezer bag.  Seal getting as much air out as possible.  Place in freezer and forget it!  On cooking day, place contents of bag in your crock pot.  Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is no longer pink and potatoes are tender.  Enjoy!  I like to serve this with a side salad and breadsticks.

Italian Chicken

6 chicken breasts cut in half

1 can cream of chicken soup

1 packet Italian dressing seasoning

1 can green beans drained

1 1/2 cups mini carrots

Wide noodles cooked to package instructions

Directions:

Place all ingredients except noodles in a gallon freezer bag. Seal getting as much air out as possible. Place in freezer and forget it!  On cooking day, place contents of bag in your crock pot. Cook on low for 5-6 hours or until chicken is no longer pink and carrots are tender.  Serve over cooked wide noodles.  Enjoy!  

For the Chili, I tweaked Cozy Country Living's recipe. I added everything on the list but instead I did one large can of crushed tomatos, one large can of stewed tomatoes, and one large can of tomato sauce. 1 small can of kidney beans, one small can of pinto beans, and one small can of black beans all drained and rinsed, and then one can of chili beans (whole can undrained). I didnt add the corn either. 

Allow it to cool if you precook anything (which you shouldn't have to) I divided the two pots into 2 bags each so 6 total bags. freeze flat. 

My lasagna: I just put small amt of meat tomato sauce on the bottom, (I already have a tomato sauce with the garlic's and herbs.- use what you like) Layer 4 noodles, spread with ricotta, spread more meat sauce over it, small amt of mozzarella cheese, and layer another layer the same way. Whats nice about lasagna is that you can eye ball it and not screw it up. Froze in a foil pan. (some will freeze in foil pan then take it out remove from pan and place into freezer baggy.) I just put foil over the lasagna itself, and then covered again with more foil around the pan. I wanted to make 3 lasagna and 3 Shepherds Pies (recipes) but my freezer is full!! I am attending a Wild Tree party next month too where I will make and bring home 10 more. Good grief whats a mama to do?

As for how they all taste I have absolutely no clue... I bagged them in freezer bags, and sealed the air out by hand. Froze them flat so they're easier to stack on each other.