Trying again!

I've tried to write this post several times today and it keeps getting eaten. So, here goes...again.

I bought a laptop today. It was something BF and I discussed getting when we thought we were getting more back from our refund. We decided to try fixing the laptop he's had for a while that should only need a new hard drive, instead, and save some money. We checked prices online and locally and I even transferred funds to my Paypal debit card to buy the hard drive. I had care packages to mail off today and then BF wanted to stop off at Office Max for some red pens and graph paper. Six hundred dollars later, we walk out of there with a laptop and warranty, pens, and no graph paper. I don't think I've ever spent that much at one store! On the up side, I should be able to actually update this blog more often, take some of my surveys, work on balancing our check book ledger, figure out our budget, and find more crochet projects to work on.  :)

I've been looking into "crunchy" options for items we use that could possibly be converted to cloth. I already cloth diaper. I've been hesitant to try cloth baby wipes because we don't have a washer/dryer in our apartment. A friend found a hand operated washer online for $50 and I've been using that on the diapers with great success. Now that I have an alternative to using the washers downstairs, I'm ready to forage into new territory. I checked out etsy for different cloth item options. There are some really great deals on there and I was really tempted to buy them. I have a sewing machine that I've been lugging all over the country for close to a decade now. I might as well figure out how to use it.

I went to the fabric store and let Big A help pick out a flannel pattern she liked for toilet paper and baby wipes. I picked out a different pattern for paper towels and tissue. I'm excited!! BF helped me pick out some coordinating thread for the flannel we picked out.  :)  I've even got an idea for setting up the cloth toilet paper on the roll so it's where the old tp used to be. I should be able to get the fabric cut into the sizes I need, but I'll need help from BF to get everything sewn together. I don't even want to attempt sewing with my machine while Little A is running around. Sewing machines and toddlers aren't a good mix.  :p 

There are a couple of other items I will probably purchase from etsy. I don't want to attempt making breast pads. There is a really cool looking set on etsy for $20 (plus shipping) that should actually work for me. I only need the pads for my left boob and it's $20 for four. I've tried other reusable breast pads in the past and I just leak right through them or milk runs right down the bottom. A friend found a set made from three layers of hemp. Worth a shot. If they don't work, I guess I have more coasters.  :p  If I can't get back on Depo, I'll probably also end up looking for some cloth pads. My friend currently uses them and really loves them. She was never a pad person, so that won me over.

So, here begins my foray into cloth items.