{California Girl}

Yesterday we made the most of the sunshine and lunched in the backyard. There's nothing quite like a picnic in January! 

 

Cloth Diapers: A Review

 These past few weeks I've had several friends ask me how cloth diapering is going. And it seems that just about everyone who noticed them on our little one is curious. So as promised, I wanted to give you curious minds my thoughts on cloth diapering so far.

In a nutshell, we LOVE them! Seriously would not change a thing about the diapers we went with or the decision to go cloth (more on that here)! They are impressively easy to use and have even made believers out of the biggest doubters we know.

My only complaint is that we had to wait until she was two weeks old to start using them because they were too big on her. Those two weeks quickly made us aware of how many diapers she was going through a day and how that expense can really add up. Thankfully for us, the hospital sent us home with enough to get us through those first two weeks!

As far as maintenance goes, I wash a load every 2-3 days. The addition of laundry is honestly so minimal that I hardly notice the few additional loads. Which brings me to how happy I am that we have thirty. It gives me plenty to get through 2-3 days and still have a few extras in her room and diaper bags just in case! That also means that each one is getting slightly less wear, extending their lasting power for additional kiddos:)

There are a few accessories that I would highly recommend if going this route. While of course not necessary, we have been completely grateful for our diaper sprayer! It makes cleaning out poopy diapers a breeze (even for the faint of heart:). We also purchased two wet bags from Planet Wise, a large one for the bathroom and a medium one for the diaper bag. They are brilliant at keeping odors at bay and fit an impressive number of diapers. These simply get tossed in with the diapers and washed every couple of days.

While we use cloth diapers exclusively day-to-day, we did opt to use disposables while we traveled for five days. I'm sure we could have found a way to wash them, but we decided it just wasn't worth the hassle while on vacation! With that said, I know several people who make it work while traveling, so it can definitely be done.

So there you have it, my brief version on how much we love using cloth on our little one! If you ever have questions please don't hesitate to email me!
 

Master Bedroom: Closet Progress & A Tour

So much for accountability, huh? Remember when I said we were going to finish our closet in September? Yeah, that didn't happen. We started strong and then the hassle of deciding to build a closet organizer or purchase one got the better of us and we moved on, putting the disaster we call our closet on the back burner-again!

Luckily, with some nudging from my friend who was curious if we had ever finished, we started back up and I am happy to say it is almost complete! I know, I know, it's about time!

Here's where we are today:

• Our clothes have been purged and a large trip to Goodwill was made.
• We took down the wooden rod that was admittedly bowing from the weight of my clothes and two metal rods were added to accommodate both mine and Chris' clothes. Not only does that make them more sturdy, but it's a far more efficient use of the space!
• And finally, after pricing out materials, we decided it was actually cheaper to purchase the 5x5 Expedit shelving unit from Ikea (which we scored for $179 with the Ikea family discount this month!). It fits like a glove, making the most of our closet space.

We are so happy with the progress so far! Now I just need to find the perfect fabric to cover both closets and this project will be closed-thank heavens!

Click here for a glimpse at the before.

And while we're on the Master Bedroom, I thought I would give you a little tour of its current state (something I realized I have never done!).

On our list to complete the bedroom:

• Replace ceiling fan
• Purchase and possibly refinish nightstands
• Upgrade to a Cal King bed
• Get a full size mirror (like this one)
• Eventually put up crown molding
• And I'm still playing with the idea of building a headboard

I'll keep you updated! Happy Monday!!

{Gluten-Free} Double-Chocolate Brownies

When you experiment in the kitchen, as I frequently do, you have your share of failed dishes. But then there are those times when you stumble upon perfection and friends, those make all the other failed attempts worth the hassle! Just yesterday I discovered a recipe that has me swooning!

I love a good brownie, but because of their outrageously high caloric and fat content, I keep my consumption of said treats to a very rare occasion. It's just the way it's got to be when you're trying to keep a clean diet! But I came across this gluten-free recipe and while I was skeptical about its minimal ingredients and lack of flour, butter and sugar, the raving reviews peaked my curiosity. And since I had all 7 ingredients on hand, I decided to give them a shot.

Holy goodness, the results were awesome! No, make that AWESOME!! They are rich and gooey and chocolatey and completely outofthisworld!

Don't be fooled, I am not claiming these are "healthy" and to eat the entire batch, but they are certainly a healthier alternative to the classic brownie. With ingredients like nut butter, natural sweetener and cocoa powder, they are certainly a worthy replacement for traditional baked goods. And because these are gluten free, they are a suitable treat for those with a wheat intolerance!

If you're looking for a decadent Valentines treat, these are just the ticket! 

Double Chocolate Brownies
Borrowed from A Home in the Making

Ingredients:

16 oz of almond butter, creamy or crunchy
2 eggs
1 cup honey or agave nectar
1/2 cup cocoa powder
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
5 ounces dark chocolate bar, chopped, or chocolate chips

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. Mix almond butter, eggs, & honey. Mixers work better than a whisk. Add in cocoa powder, salt, & baking soda. Fold in chopped dark chocolate/chips. 
3. Spread into a greased  9×13 pan.
4. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes. Let cool before cutting.

images via

Guest Blogger at Bushel and a Peck!

Happy Thursday, friends! Join me today over at Bushel and a Peck! I am a guest blogger for Christie who has been doing a challenge throughout the month of January to kick unhealthy habits! She's awesome and her challenges rock, so be sure to pop on over there!

Worth A Thousand Words

I've had a few followers request that I post some recent pictures of Claire (beside her monthly photos)! So I thought I would take one or two Wednesdays a month to share some recent pics. Here are a few of my Love Bug last week:) 

Enjoy and Happy Wednesday!

P.S. I've got some great posts and updates coming soon!

Best Hair Ever

Some happy for your Tuesday! Seriously though, does that hair not kill you?