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	<title>Cloth Diapers, Green Living and Going Green with Kids - The Eco Chic&#187; Travel</title>
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		<title>Tips for Traveling with Cloth Diapers</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/11/20/tips-for-traveling-with-cloth-diapers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/11/20/tips-for-traveling-with-cloth-diapers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Nov 2011 02:49:12 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cloth Diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloth diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[With Thanksgiving and the holiday season quickly approaching I thought I would share with you some tips on traveling with cloth diapers.  I&#8217;ve written about traveling with cloth before but as I get more experienced I change my suggestions a bit.  Here are some recommendations and tips: Tips for Traveling with Cloth Diapers By car: [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/05/08/30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers-real-diapers-industry-association/' rel='bookmark' title='30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers &#8211; Real Diapers Industry Association'>30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers &#8211; Real Diapers Industry Association</a> <small>Reason 19: Because it really it one big community working...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/02/14/win-free-cloth-diapers-in-the-diapers-etc-blog-party/' rel='bookmark' title='Win FREE Cloth Diapers in the Diapers Etc Blog Party!!'>Win FREE Cloth Diapers in the Diapers Etc Blog Party!!</a> <small>For the Love of Cloth Diapers!  A Blog Party hosted...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/11/07/saying-goodbye-to-cloth-diapers/' rel='bookmark' title='Saying Goodbye to Cloth Diapers'>Saying Goodbye to Cloth Diapers</a> <small>I have officially been writing about potty training since April...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1192087_airplane.jpg"><img class="size-full wp-image-3857 alignleft" title="airplane" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/1192087_airplane.jpg" alt="airplane" width="300" height="199" /></a>With Thanksgiving and the holiday season quickly approaching I thought I would share with you some tips on traveling with cloth diapers.  I&#8217;ve written about <a href="http://www.theecochic.com/2010/11/16/day-4-30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers/" target="_blank">traveling with cloth</a> before but as I get more experienced I change my suggestions a bit.  Here are some recommendations and tips:</p>
<h2>Tips for Traveling with Cloth Diapers</h2>
<p><strong>By car: </strong>This mode of transportation is the easiest way to travel with cloth diaper because the only limiting factor is how much available space you have left in your car after you&#8217;ve packed all of your luggage.  As you already know, babies require a LOT of extra luggage depending upon what resources are available at your destination.  Any type of cloth diapers can be packed when traveling by car and you can stuff them in any open space that is left.  I found that reusable shopping bags from the grocery store are a good method for packing cloth diapers by car because they are open and easy to access when you need to grab a diaper.</p>
<p><strong>By air: </strong> Traveling by air can be a little more challenging primarily because you are limited by the number of bags you can bring with you.  Since most air carriers are charging for luggage you&#8217;ll want to pack as compact as possible.  Most air carriers will allow you to check your car seat for free &#8211; purchase a car seat bags (<a href="http://www.target.com/s?searchTerm=car+seat+bag&amp;category=0%7CAll%7Cmatchallany%7Call+categories" target="_blank">like these</a>) can be used to protect your car seat but they can also be used to stash some of your cloth diaper stash without having to pay for an extra bag.  (Tip provided by Kim @ <a href="http://www.dirtydiaperlaundry.com" target="_blank">Dirty Diaper Laundry</a>)  Trimmer diapers are best when packing with limited space.  Many people prefer to travel with AIO&#8217;s, flats, and covers due to their ease of use and trimness.  When traveling by air you can always pack less and wash more if you have to.</p>
<p><strong>Disposable &#8211; Hybrid &#8211; or 100% Cloth Diapers?</strong> Which should I take with me?  This really depends on where you are going, how long you are going to be gone, and what your washing facilities will be like.  Disposable diapers were actually invented to make diapering while traveling more convenient.  I will admit that I have resorted to using disposable diapers in the early days when we traveled because I wasn&#8217;t brave enough to try 100% cloth.  If that is what you choose don&#8217;t feel bad or guilty &#8211; feel proud that you use cloth diapers the rest of the time and know that you will appreciate them more when you get home.  Hybrid diapers (like the Flip and GroVia disposable inserts) are a nice option that blends cloth with disposables.  You can use your favorite covers or shells and simply place a very trim disposable insert in the cover.  The <a href="http://www.theclothdiaperwhisperer.com/2011/01/disposables-versus-hybrids-is-there.html" target="_blank">GroVia disposables</a> are actually the trimmest insert that I&#8217;ve tried.  Hybrids are nice to use the night before you leave after you&#8217;ve washed all of your cloth diapers.  Depending upon how long you will be gone for you don&#8217;t want to leave dirty diapers at home if you can help it.  On one of our last trips when my daughter was 1.5 yrs old we took both hybrid and cloth and it worked out well.  I ended up using cloth the majority of the time because I&#8217;m so comfortable using it &#8211; no learning curve.</p>
<p><strong>100% Cloth Diapers with Flats &amp; Covers:</strong> This is by far my favorite method for traveling with cloth diapers.  For starters flats are very trim and absorbent.  They are inexpensive and very versatile.  They are easier to launder and if you absolutely must &#8211; they can be hand washed very easily and dry within a few short hours.  They don&#8217;t take up much space in your luggage either.  If you can wash every night or every other night you will only need to pack 12-24 flats and a set of 6+ covers.  One of my favorite articles on traveling with flats is from <a href="http://realdiaperevents.org/archives/cloth-diapering-in-the-rainforest-a-travel-tale" target="_blank">Heather McNamara of the Real Diaper Association</a> &#8211; she traveled to a rain forest in Panama with her cloth diapers!</p>
<p><strong>Laundry options while traveling:</strong> This can be the most stressful or challenging part of traveling with cloth diapers &#8211; determining where to wash your cloth diapers.  If you are staying with family or friends you simply need to let your guests know that you&#8217;ll be needing to borrow their washing machine while you are there.  It is courteous to have this discussion ahead of time so they aren&#8217;t shocked when you ask to launder dirty diapers in their machine.  If you aren&#8217;t lucky enough to be staying at a place with a washing machine there are still some additional options:</p>
<ul>
<li>Hotels, cruise ships, and resorts often have laundry facilities on-site.  Some will let you use their machines while others have coin operated machines available for guests.  A phone call in advance can help you plan your wash routine.</li>
<li>Resorts will sometimes have washing machines in the room.  It may be worth the extra money to choose a resort over a hotel.  When traveling with small children resorts are nice because most of them also have kitchens which will help you save money when feeding those little tummies.</li>
<li>Coin operated laundry.  You may need to resort to a coin operated laundry if there aren&#8217;t any other options on-site.  Remember to pack some quarters.</li>
<li>Hand washing &#8211; don&#8217;t be scared to use the sink or tub to wash your diapers in the evening.  If you are traveling with flats they are the easiest cloth diapers to hand wash and will only take about 30 minutes in the evening.  They will dry quickly over night and will be ready to use when you get up the next day.</li>
</ul>
<p><strong>Don&#8217;t forget the laundry detergent! </strong> Regardless of where you launder your diapers don&#8217;t forget to pack some sample packages of your favorite detergent.  You don&#8217;t want to spend your holiday stressing out over detergent &#8211; especially when most stores are closed on the actual holiday.</p>
<blockquote><p><strong><em>Question:</em></strong> How do I ensure that the washing machine I will be using doesn&#8217;t have build up from detergents or fabric softeners?  I&#8217;ve heard that they can transfer to my cloth diapers.</p>
<p><strong><em>Answer: </em></strong> While you can&#8217;t ensure that the machine you are about to use if clean and hasn&#8217;t been used with fabric softeners you can easily do a hot water wash cycle with no clothes to quickly clean the machine.  If you have other laundry to wash you can wash them without fabric softeners to provide a cleanse on the machine.  While 1 cycle may not remove everything it will help prevent most problems that you&#8217;ll encounter with cloth diapers.  When you get back home you may want to strip your diapers really well to ensure that you remove any foreign substances that you may have brought back with you from the machine.</p></blockquote>
<p><strong>Diaper Services:</strong> Another often overlooked option when traveling is to research diaper services in the area you&#8217;re traveling to.  Most diaper services have short term plans just for travelers.  They don&#8217;t normally advertise them on their websites so you may need to call them to inquire about the rates.  With diaper services you normally need to bring diaper covers with you and they supply you with prefolds and a wet bag.  You can arrange to have your diapers delivered to a hotel or wherever you are staying.  When you leave all you have to do is pack up the dirty diapers and the diaper service will pick them up for you.</p>
<p><strong>Regardless of how you decide to travel with your diapers remember that you don&#8217;t want to spend your entire time away stressing about them.  Do what works best for you and your family.  A few minutes planning before your trip will help you travel stress free.  Have you traveled with cloth diapers?  What system worked best for you?  Do you have additional tips or tricks to share?</strong></p>
<p><em>To read my past articles on traveling with cloth diapers:  <a href="http://www.theecochic.com/2010/11/16/day-4-30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers/">http://www.theecochic.com/2010/11/16/day-4-30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers/</a></em></p>
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</em></p>
<p>Photo source: <a href="http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1192087">http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1192087</a></p>
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<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/05/08/30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers-real-diapers-industry-association/' rel='bookmark' title='30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers &#8211; Real Diapers Industry Association'>30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers &#8211; Real Diapers Industry Association</a> <small>Reason 19: Because it really it one big community working...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/02/14/win-free-cloth-diapers-in-the-diapers-etc-blog-party/' rel='bookmark' title='Win FREE Cloth Diapers in the Diapers Etc Blog Party!!'>Win FREE Cloth Diapers in the Diapers Etc Blog Party!!</a> <small>For the Love of Cloth Diapers!  A Blog Party hosted...</small></li>
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		<title>Lessons learned while traveling with kids, dogs, and spouses</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/11/13/lessons-learned-while-traveling-with-kids/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/11/13/lessons-learned-while-traveling-with-kids/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 13 Nov 2011 22:00:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[funny]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Observations from the road trip: 1- My son can&#8217;t say &#8216;pecan&#8217; or &#8216;cotton&#8217; properly! Even being raised in the South he must not hear me say them much. At 8yrs old he says the &#8216;pekin&#8217; and &#8216;coddin&#8217; &#8211; I need to record him saying them. 2. Why are pecan trees always spaced out so evenly [...]
Related posts:<ol>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/07/16/weekend-getaways-florida-ichetucknee-springs/' rel='bookmark' title='Weekend Getaways Florida &#8211; Ichetucknee Springs'>Weekend Getaways Florida &#8211; Ichetucknee Springs</a> <small>The past few weekends we&#8217;ve ventured out of comfort zone...</small></li>
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>Observations from the road trip:</p>
<p>1- My son can&#8217;t say &#8216;pecan&#8217; or &#8216;cotton&#8217; properly! Even being raised in the South he must not hear me say them much.  At 8yrs old he says the &#8216;pekin&#8217; and &#8216;coddin&#8217; &#8211; I need to record him saying them.</p>
<p>2. Why are pecan trees always spaced out so evenly in rows?<br />
<a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-113438.jpg"><img src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-113438.jpg" alt="20111113-113438.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p>3.  When traveling with a dog your only options for food is fast food and I&#8217;m SICK of fast food!! I&#8217;m dying for a real meal!! The closest I got was a Wendy&#8217;s baked potato; however they forgot to put the butter in the bag so even that didn&#8217;t satisfy me.</p>
<p>4. Kids can fall asleep anywhere! </p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-113345.jpg"><img src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-113345.jpg" alt="20111113-113345.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p>5. I don&#8217;t like driving my husbands car because the left arm rest is too high and is uncomfortable.  Since he drove most of the trip I&#8217;m not complaining. </p>
<p>6.  Foursquare thinks my husband&#8217;s my BFF because we spent the last 3 days checking in together. Awe! </p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-170844.jpg"><img src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/20111113-170844.jpg" alt="20111113-170844.jpg" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
<p>7.  Cars need to come with power strips these days! We had a total six items all fighting for the 2 plugs in the car. </p>
<p>8.  My kids get along sooooo good!  It wasn&#8217;t until the last 30 minutes that the were loud, cranky, and annoying.  Why is it that every rhyme, song, and joke they tell one another has to include pee, poop, underwear, or eating brains?  </p>
<p>8.  My cat had a party, got drunk, and threw up around the house!  </p>
<p>I&#8217;m glad to be home!  What things do you learn when you travel with your family?</p>
<p><em>Published from my iPhone!</em></p>
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		<title>A Day in Pictures &#8211; BlogHer &#8217;11</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/08/04/a-day-in-pictures-blogher-11/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/08/04/a-day-in-pictures-blogher-11/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 04 Aug 2011 14:09:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
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		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
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		<description><![CDATA[It&#8217;s way too early for iPhone photos but here are my best friend and I on the plane at 6am ET. View from our room at BlogHer &#8217;11.  Marriott Marquis &#38; Marina &#8211; San Diego The packages that arrived from our #HauteGreen Sponsors The fish taco restaurant that it took us an hour to reach [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-7.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3413" title="photo (7)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-7-225x300.jpg" alt="" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">It&#8217;s way too early for iPhone photos but here are my best friend and I on the plane at 6am ET.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3403" title="photo" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-225x300.jpg" alt="View from Hotel" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">View from our room at BlogHer &#8217;11.  Marriott Marquis &amp; Marina &#8211; San Diego</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3404" title="photo (1)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-1-225x300.jpg" alt="BlogHer" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The packages that arrived from our #HauteGreen Sponsors</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-2.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3405" title="photo (2)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-2-225x300.jpg" alt="BlogHer " width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The fish taco restaurant that it took us an hour to reach on public transportation because our stop was closed for construction.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-3.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3406" title="photo (3)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-3-225x300.jpg" alt="Fish Tacos" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The shrimp and tuna tacos were worth the trip!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-4.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3407" title="photo (4)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-4-225x300.jpg" alt="Petco Field" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Did you know I love baseball?  Enjoying  a Padres (v Dodgers) game with my hubby!</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-5.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3408" title="photo (5)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-5-225x300.jpg" alt="Padres" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">I&#8217;m only awake because of the Starbucks I had before we got there but this is us after a day of traveling.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-6.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-medium wp-image-3409" title="photo (6)" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/photo-6-225x300.jpg" alt="Gaslamp District" width="225" height="300" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">The Gaslamp District &#8211; across from the Convention Center &amp; Hotel.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">And that is how we spent day 1 (arrival day) in San Diego for BlogHer.  I&#8217;m sure I won&#8217;t see my hubby much after this afternoon once I find all my blogger friends so it was nice to have a day with him and our friends before the madness begins.  I got a pretty good amount of sleep but I still woke up at 6am PST so I may need a nap this afternoon to keep up tonight.</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">&nbsp;</p>
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<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/06/30/gearing-up-for-blogher-11-one-month-out/' rel='bookmark' title='Gearing Up For BlogHer &#8217;11 &#8211; One Month Out'>Gearing Up For BlogHer &#8217;11 &#8211; One Month Out</a> <small>My countdown clock has been rolling along very quickly and...</small></li>
<li><a href='http://www.theecochic.com/2011/07/11/10-ways-to-green-your-blogher-11-experience/' rel='bookmark' title='10 Ways to Green Your BlogHer &#8217;11 Experience'>10 Ways to Green Your BlogHer &#8217;11 Experience</a> <small>Last year I was honored to be on the BlogHer...</small></li>
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		<title>Weekend Getaways Florida &#8211; Ichetucknee Springs</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/07/16/weekend-getaways-florida-ichetucknee-springs/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/07/16/weekend-getaways-florida-ichetucknee-springs/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 16 Jul 2011 12:47:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local - Florida]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Local - Tampa Bay]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Florida]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hideaway Cottages]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ichetucknee Springs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[kids]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[local]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theecochic.com/?p=3274</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The past few weekends we&#8217;ve ventured out of comfort zone (pool, beach, shopping at Target, etc) and visited parts of Florida that we wouldn&#8217;t normally visit.  We&#8217;ve gone outside and enjoyed the natural beauty that surrounds us and haven&#8217;t had to go very far.  I&#8217;m hoping this new trend will continue and we&#8217;ll see more [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>The past few weekends we&#8217;ve ventured out of comfort zone (pool, beach, shopping at Target, etc) and visited parts of Florida that we wouldn&#8217;t normally visit.  We&#8217;ve gone outside and enjoyed the natural beauty that surrounds us and haven&#8217;t had to go very far.  I&#8217;m hoping this new trend will continue and we&#8217;ll see more natural Florida with the kids.</p>
<p>Last weekends trip was to Ichetucknee Springs (don&#8217;t ask me to say it because I butcher it and sound like a redneck!) in Fort White, FL near the Florida/Georgia border.  From the S<a href="http://www.floridastateparks.org/ichetuckneesprings/">tate Parks website</a>:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>The crystalline Ichetucknee River flows six miles through shaded hammocks and wetlands before it joins the Santa Fe River.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>The pictures show just how crystalline the water is but it doesn&#8217;t show you how cold it is!  Year round 73F &#8211; which for Florida water is down right FREEZING!  You loose your breath when you jump in but you feel so alive!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-52-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3279" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (52) - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-52-Copy.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee Springs" width="320" height="240" /></a></p>
<p>A picture of the Blue Hole &#8211; you can actually dive down inside the hole (I didn&#8217;t attempt this).</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-39-1-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3278" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (39)-1 - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-39-1-Copy.jpg" alt="Blue Hole" width="240" height="320" /></a></p>
<p>Random beauties&#8230;</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-57-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3282" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (57)-1" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-57-1.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee" width="240" height="320" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-56-1-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3281" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (56)-1 - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-56-1-Copy.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee" width="320" height="240" /></a></p>
<p>If you get there early enough you can even tube down the river.  They only allow 750 people on the river each day to help preserve the natural beauty and people started lining up before 7am (they don&#8217;t open until 8am).  Plan to show up early (and only during the summer &#8211; Memorial Day through Labor Day) and rent a tube (or bring your own) at a nearby local store (there are tons of options).  The tubes will cost you about $5-10 per tube.  You can choose from a single tube, a double tube, and a closed bottom tube for the kiddos.  You can even rent inflatable rafts (boats) if you don&#8217;t want to get wet.  Don&#8217;t worry though, if you&#8217;re not the tubing type you can always swim at the springs too.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/270325_2106304250940_1045531180_2439804_4344516_n-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3275" title="270325_2106304250940_1045531180_2439804_4344516_n - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/270325_2106304250940_1045531180_2439804_4344516_n-Copy.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee" width="320" height="186" /></a></p>
<p>The park really does a great job at keeping the river pristine and won&#8217;t allow you to bring food or drinks down the river either.  If you can&#8217;t take trash you can&#8217;t leave it behind!  Eat a hearty breakfast because you&#8217;ll be on the river for 2-3 hours before you get to the mid-point.  You can get off at the mid-point and eat lunch (your car is actually parked here) then continue down the river if you want to.  We only made it to the mid-point because we&#8217;d been up with friends talking and drinking around the campfire the night before (well actually until about 3am for some of them).</p>
<p>We rented cabins nearby at the <a href="http://www.ichetuckneehideawaycottages.com/">Ichetucknee Hideaway Cottages</a> and absolutely fell in love.  It was like camping but with a cabin.  They are actually manufactured homes and have one bedroom, one bathroom, a kitchen/dining room, and living room.  There are 6 cabins on the property and each one comes with a screened in front porch, a fire pit, a grill, and a swing.  We had 4 of the 6 cabins rented with our group and it was a perfect place for families.  Once you put the kids to bed you can hang out by the firepit and chat all night long.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-6-1-Copy-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3276" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (6)-1 - Copy - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-6-1-Copy-Copy.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee Hideaway Cottages" width="240" height="320" /></a>A sneak peek of cottage #2 on the inside.  Very clean and tidy.  Fully stocked with plates, glassware, silverware, and other essentials that you&#8217;ll need.  If you don&#8217;t feel like cooking or grilling out you can also visit the corner pub, The Keg Room.  The boys had fun hanging out with the locals one night while that ladies chatted around the fire.</p>
<p>This weekend Lil&#8217; B mastered the skill of climbing a ladder on the playground.  Don&#8217;t laugh &#8211; I think this was her first time going up a ladder on a playground!  She did great!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-22-1-Copy-Copy.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3277" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (22)-1 - Copy - Copy" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-22-1-Copy-Copy.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee Hideaway Cottages" width="240" height="320" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-22-1-Copy-Copy.jpg"></a>She also mastered S&#8217;MORES!</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-70-1.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-3283" title="Ichetucknee_July11 (70)-1" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-70-1.jpg" alt="Ichetucknee" width="320" height="240" /></a></p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/07/Ichetucknee_July11-70-1.jpg"></a><strong>Do you have a favorite local spot to visit in Florida?  We&#8217;re always looking for new places to venture off to. </strong></p>
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		<title>Moon Set</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/03/28/moon-set/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2011/03/28/moon-set/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 28 Mar 2011 19:33:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Life]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[flying]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[moon]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theecochic.com/?p=2822</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[I&#8217;ve watched many sunrises and sunsets but I can honestly say that I experienced my first &#8216;moon set&#8217; while on vacation. Shortly after takeoff I looked out the plane window and noticed the most beautiful full moon over the water.  The reflexion was a pale red on the water and the sky was dark.  Noting [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>I&#8217;ve watched many sunrises and sunsets but I can honestly say that I experienced my first <strong>&#8216;moon set&#8217;</strong> while on vacation.</p>
<p>Shortly after takeoff I looked out the plane window and noticed the most beautiful full moon over the water.  The reflexion was a pale red on the water and the sky was dark.  Noting else was visible.</p>
<p>To my right side I could see the sun rising through the clouds.  The colors were pale orange, pink, purple, and blue.</p>
<p>I shifted my eyes back to the moon which looked bigger and brighter than it had before.  As time passed the sky shifted from black to navy as the moon slowly lowered in the sky.  A few moments later the moon changed colors from bright white to an intense ball of fire.  The intensity grew stronger as the sun rose on the other side of the plane.</p>
<p>Then slowly and softly the moon sunk lower and lower in the sky until it was barely visible in the dawn sky.</p>
<p>&#8230;and then the sun rose and <strong>the moon set.</strong></p>
<p><strong><br />
</strong></p>
<p><em>I love watching the world from the plane window as I feel like a bird flying above the clouds.  You gain a new perspective when you look at things from above.  Have you ever experienced anything this beautiful from a unique perspective?  Underwater looking up?  That would be interesting too.  This was just the beginning of our trip to Costa Rica. </em></p>
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		<title>Day 4 &#8211; 30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/11/16/day-4-30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/11/16/day-4-30-reasons-to-love-cloth-diapers/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Nov 2010 02:38:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[30 Reasons to Love Cloth Diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cloth Diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[challenge]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloth diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natali Morris]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[Day 4: Have cloth, will travel (most of the time)! With the holidays fast approaching you may be curious about how to travel with your cloth diapers.  I&#8217;m going to be honest with you &#8211; there are times when we&#8217;ve chosen NOT to take our cloth diapers with us.  We are a very mobile and active [...]
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<p><strong>Day 4: Have cloth, will travel <em>(most of the time)!</em></strong> With the holidays fast approaching you may be curious about how to travel with your cloth diapers.  I&#8217;m going to be honest with you &#8211; there are times when we&#8217;ve chosen NOT to take our cloth diapers with us.  We are a very mobile and active family and we&#8217;ve mastered traveling with kids.  We haven&#8217;t mastered traveling with cloth diapers though &#8211; but that doesn&#8217;t mean I&#8217;m giving up either.  I kinda like the challenge but only when it doesn&#8217;t send me into a panic attack.</p>
<div>The easiest trips of course are the day trips.  Going to the mall, the grocery store, out to dinner, to play groups, church, etc.  Packing a cloth diaper diaper bag for a day is really no different than packing a disposable diaper bag.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Day trip packing list:</strong></div>
<ul>
<li>small wet bag (zippered works best)</li>
<li>cloth diapers (number depends on length of trip)</li>
<li>wipes (either disposable or cloth &#8211; we&#8217;ll talk about wipes another day)</li>
<li>changing pad</li>
<li>change of clothes</li>
</ul>
<div>The only difference with day trips is that you&#8217;ll be carrying your dirty diapers with you.  This is why a good wet bag is essential to keep both the wetness and the odor on the inside.  The dirty poo can be shaken off in the toilet just like at home.  <em>We ALWAYS use flushable liners on day trips to make poo a little easier to deal with.</em>  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Once you&#8217;ve mastered the day trip you are ready for a longer outing or vacation.  <strong>When traveling with cloth diapers you actually have to think ahead.</strong>  Some questions you&#8217;ll want to ask yourself before you leave:</div>
<div>
<ul>
<li>What mode of transportation are you taking?</li>
<li>Do you have any restrictions on the number of bags you can pack?</li>
<li>Will you be staying with friends or family? Or in a hotel/condo/etc?</li>
<li>Will you have do-it-yourself laundry facilities available at your destination?</li>
<li>Do they have pay laundry services available?</li>
<li>How many days will you be gone?</li>
</ul>
<div>By answering these questions you can better prepare for washing your diapers.  It&#8217;s not as complicated when you are staying with friends and family who have laundry in their homes &#8211; it&#8217;s actually just like at home.  As a courtesy you may want to let your host know what your laundry needs are in advance.  I don&#8217;t like to ask permission but I do like to let them know that I will be needing to use their machines to wash our baby clothes and diapers.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div>If you aren&#8217;t staying where you have laundry facilities available there are still a few options before you rule out cloth diapers.  </div>
<ul>
<li>Is coin laundry available nearby?</li>
<li>Do they have a cloth diaper service in the area that has a vacation rental program? (Many offer delivery and pick up at your destination as part of their service.)</li>
<li>Hand washing &#8211; while not exactly my preferred choice some diapering experts have mastered the hand washing using pre-folds or flats.</li>
</ul>
<blockquote>
<div><strong>TIP: When traveling with your cloth don&#8217;t forget to take along your favorite cloth diaper detergent.  </strong></div>
</blockquote>
<div><strong> </strong></div>
<div>Trips we&#8217;ve taken with our cloth diapers (successfully I might add) include Grandparents (both mine and hubbies), other relatives, and Disney World.  Our hotel trips have been limited to 3-4 days and we&#8217;ve carried our dirties back in the car with us.  When staying with family we&#8217;ve used their washing machines.  </div>
<div> </div>
<div><strong>Trips that would terrify me to travel with cloth diapers:</strong></div>
<ul>
<li>Flying AND staying in a hotel/condo &#8211; limited space in our luggage and no laundry facilities would become a burden on our family.  It&#8217;s not impossible to do if you have a coin laundry nearby and have the time to spend at the laundry.  For this option we would probably choose a diaper service if it were available; otherwise I&#8217;m afraid we&#8217;d have to use disposables.</li>
<li>Trips out of the country with no self laundry &#8211; again limited space and no laundry would give me a panic attack.  Add the fact that you are in a different country and I wouldn&#8217;t know where to begin.  It can be done if you don&#8217;t mind hand washing pre-folds or flats or if you don&#8217;t mind looking for a coin laundry.  </li>
</ul>
<div><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cruise-ship.jpg"><img class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-2338" title="cruise ship" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/cruise-ship-300x159.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="159" /></a>Our upcoming trips include a cruise during the holidays.  I&#8217;m having a mild panic attack over this one.  For starters there is no coin laundry on the ship we&#8217;re taking.  The thought didn&#8217;t enter my mind when we booked it or I would have researched the boats better.  If we want to take our cloth diapers we will have to do laundry because we&#8217;re going on a 5 day trip.  Our only option is to send them out with the regular laundry for a small fee.  This frightens me for several reasons.  My stash is valuable to me; what if they ruin them or loose them?  What if they refuse to take them to launder?  Then I&#8217;m stuck with no diapers!  What if they use the wrong detergent? Worst case I have to strip them when I come home.  <strong>But the thought of using disposables is sending me into a panic attack too! </strong> I have no idea what size she wears or how many I need to buy.  If I run out I&#8217;m sure I&#8217;ll have to pay a premium on the boat for diapers and will have to use whatever they have available &#8211; I&#8217;m not even certain if they sell them on-board.  And the thought of having to deal with blowouts &#8211; ugh!  Lastly &#8211; we don&#8217;t own any pre-folds or flats so hand washing really isn&#8217;t an option for our family.  I still need to research this one a little more -     </div>
</div>
<div> </div>
<blockquote>
<div><strong>Confused?</strong>Aren&#8217;t I suppose to be telling you why I LOVE cloth diapers?  I love the challenge of researching options to take our cloth with us everywhere.  We&#8217;ve actually lucked out on several of our planned trips (BlogHer) and my parents ended up watching the baby.  And even though I&#8217;m an advocate for cloth diapers and a supporter that cloth diapers should be used 100% of the time that doesn&#8217;t mean that it&#8217;s feasible for everyone all the time.  Every family has to set their own limitations.</div>
</blockquote>
<div><strong>Be sure to read some of my previous posts on traveling with cloth for additional tips.  </strong></div>
<div><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/2010/08/05/can-you-really-travel-with-cloth-diapers/">http://www.theecochic.com/2010/08/05/can-you-really-travel-with-cloth-diapers/</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/22/cloth-diapers-travel-to-grandmas-without-mommy/">http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/22/cloth-diapers-travel-to-grandmas-without-mommy/</a></div>
<div><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/2009/09/29/cloth-diaper-carnival-iii-traveling-with-cloth/">http://www.theecochic.com/2009/09/29/cloth-diaper-carnival-iii-traveling-with-cloth/</a></div>
<div><strong>And some from my friends:</strong></div>
<div><a href="http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/100/100-campaign-travel-tips.php">http://www.realdiaperassociation.org/100/100-campaign-travel-tips.php</a></div>
<div><strong>One of the most motivational posts about traveling with cloth diapers &#8211; wish I was this brave!</strong></div>
<div><a href="http://realdiaperevents.org/archives/cloth-diapering-in-the-rainforest-a-travel-tale">http://realdiaperevents.org/archives/cloth-diapering-in-the-rainforest-a-travel-tale</a></div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
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		<title>10 Reasons to Breastfeed</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/08/05/10-reasons-to-breastfeed/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/08/05/10-reasons-to-breastfeed/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 05 Aug 2010 12:31:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Breastfeeding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[breastfeeding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[pumping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[working]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[World breastfeeding week]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theecochic.com/?p=1990</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Today marks the 578th day of breastfeeding my little tot!  Well to be clear &#8211; I&#8217;m not actually breastfeeding her today because she is at Camp Grandma/Grandma while I am flying (yes &#8211; right now) to NYC for #BlogHer10!  But &#8211; we are still breastfeeding and my pump (Thanks Hygeia) is packed securely inside my [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>Today marks the 578th day of breastfeeding my little tot!  Well to be clear &#8211; I&#8217;m not actually breastfeeding her today because she is at Camp Grandma/Grandma while I am flying (yes &#8211; right now) to NYC for #BlogHer10!  But &#8211; we are still breastfeeding and my pump (Thanks Hygeia) is packed securely inside my luggage.</p>
<p>Many of you may remember the adventures I had while traveling to Miami for a week &#8211; without a tot &#8211; and without my handy pump!  I had a mommy moment while packing then and left the pump in my closet all alone!  Enter my introduction to hand expression and jokes from my hubby and friends!</p>
<p>There was a question as to whether I should continue to breastfeed when I returned or let her be weened since she had been off mommy milk for a whole week.  Two hours after our reunion she kindly asked for mommy &#8211; and I couldn&#8217;t say no.</p>
<p>Once again &#8211; I will continue to pump while away and I&#8217;ll let her decide if it&#8217;s time to ween or not.  It seems almost fitting that she would ween this trip because she is now 19 months AND my son weened while the hubs and I were vacationing in NYC over 6 yrs ago (he was 11 months &#8211; 3 weeks &#8211; and 3 days!).  It would be kinda neat to have NYC be both of their weening times.  But only time will tell &#8211; she is quite fond of our time together.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/wbw2010-banner-234_60.jpg"><img class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-1991" title="wbw2010-banner-234_60" src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/08/wbw2010-banner-234_60.jpg" alt="" width="234" height="60" /></a></p>
<p>In honor of World Breastfeeding Week I just wanted to share my (continued) story in hopes that I can encourage you or someone you know to keep it up for as long as it is beneficial for you and your child &#8211; whatever age that might be.  While the WABA has their own 10 steps for successful breastfeeding I&#8217;m going to give you my modified list!</p>
<p>1.  Have <strong>faith</strong> in yourself, your body, and your baby &#8211; the rest will come naturally.</p>
<p>2.  <strong>Trust your instincts</strong> &#8211; and don&#8217;t ALWAYS listen to the &#8216;professionals&#8217; (i.e., your doctors, nurses, friends, and family).  I remember with my son a nurse ordered me to have a mammogram for a cracked nipple and instruct me to quit nursing immediately! I&#8217;m SOOOOO glad I didn&#8217;t listen to that nurse and trusted my own instincts instead!</p>
<p>3.  If it hurts or doesn&#8217;t feel right <strong>ask for help</strong> &#8211; a certified lactation consultant should be available at your local hospital or birthing center.  Reach out and don&#8217;t be afraid to ask for help.</p>
<p>4.  <strong>The first month is the hardest</strong>!  You are emotionally and physically exhausted &#8211; don&#8217;t be discouraged in the beginning.</p>
<p>5.  There is <strong>nothing easier</strong> to do than breastfeed your baby!  No bottles to warm up, no formula to buy, nothing to mix, and no water needed!  Oh &#8211; and you can&#8217;t leave the milk at home if you breastfeed &#8211; one less thing to tote in your diaper bag.</p>
<p>6.  There is <strong>nothing more nutritiou</strong>s than mommy milk for your baby &#8211; it&#8217;s the perfect food for every age!</p>
<p>7.  <strong>It&#8217;s free</strong>!  Whether you have lots of money or no money &#8211; breastmilk is always free.  Sure you have to continue to eat a healthy diet but we should all do that anyways &#8211; regardless of our financial status.</p>
<p>8. <strong> It&#8217;s better for the environment</strong> &#8211; nothing is artificially manufactured, packaged, or shipped to get your baby this perfect food &#8211; and there&#8217;s no waste!</p>
<p>9.  <strong>Yes, even daddy and caregivers can participate</strong>.  That&#8217;s my breastpumps were invented!  And don&#8217;t be scared of those either &#8211; you&#8217;ll get the hang of it.  It&#8217;s worth it!</p>
<p>10.  <strong>Lastly &#8211; because your baby deserves the very best</strong>!  And the breast really is the best!</p>
<p><strong>How many days have you breastfeed your baby?  What problems or misconceptions are you dealing with?  Do you know where to go for help?  Let me know &#8211; I can point you in the right direction. </strong></p>
<p><em>PS &#8211; I&#8217;m a working mom and I have to travel from time to time without my baby.  If I can make it 19 months I have faith you can make it to your own personal goal! </em></p>
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		<title>I&#8217;m Going to #BlogHer10</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/07/07/im-going-to-blogher10/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/07/07/im-going-to-blogher10/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 08 Jul 2010 03:35:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blogging]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlogHer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[BlogHer10]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conference]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NYC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.theecochic.com/?p=1882</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In less than one month I&#8217;ll be packing up my family and we&#8217;ll be headed to NYC for BlogHer 10!  I am going to be completely honest with you &#8211; I&#8217;m horribly nervous! I&#8217;ve been blogging on The Eco Chic for almost 3 years now and I&#8217;ve never been to any type of blogging conference.  [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p><a href="http://www.blogher.com/blogher-10"><img class="alignleft" src="http://assets1.blogher.com/files/BH2010_G_125.gif" alt="I'm going" /></a>In less than one month I&#8217;ll be packing up my family and we&#8217;ll be headed to NYC for BlogHer 10!  I am going to be completely honest with you &#8211; I&#8217;m horribly nervous!</p>
<p>I&#8217;ve been blogging on The Eco Chic for almost 3 years now and I&#8217;ve never been to any type of blogging conference.  I attempted to sign up for Disney Moms last year but missed the deadline before they sold out (by minutes &#8211; seriously!).  I&#8217;ve been hesitant to enter &#8216;that world&#8217; where other mom bloggers will be &#8211; judging me and my blog.  I know that sounds really insecure but what if someone criticizes me or my blog?  It&#8217;s my baby!  But &#8211; it&#8217;s also my hobby (and my passion).  I work on it every chance I get &#8211; which as a full time working mom of 2 is very little time! </p>
<p>Anyways &#8211; I will hopefully leave my insecurities behind and walk into the conference with confidence in who I am!  I am really looking forward to meeting some of the awesome ladies behind my favorite blogs and tweets.  I&#8217;m looking forward to learning a few tips and tricks to help me on my blog.  I&#8217;m looking forward to networking with companies.  And I&#8217;m really excited to visit NYC with my family.</p>
<p>I fear that I will be so busy trying to balance the conference and the family &#8211; but it&#8217;s part of our vacation and I will make it all work out!  I can&#8217;t wait to see what all the excitement is about &#8211; parties, swag, networking, networking, networking!  I think I&#8217;m a little overwhelmed!</p>
<p>In the coming weeks my blog I will be sharing some exciting things with you &#8211; including some awesome giveaways and contests for my non-BlogHer attending readers!  I have a few wonderful sponsors who are helping pay some of my expenses.  I&#8217;ll be announcing those very soon! </p>
<p>I&#8217;ve also been working with the BlogHer Green Team to help the conference organizers ensure that the event is an environmentally responsible event.  If you&#8217;ve been following BlogHer in previous years there have been lots of controversy over sponsors, recycling (or lack of), and swag overload.  I feel like my time on the Green Team has been more educational to me &#8211; and I honestly feel that our voices are being heard.  I will be sharing some of those efforts with you soon as well. </p>
<p>What about you?  Are you going to BlogHer 10?  Have you ever been to a blogging conference?  What tips can you share with me?  Now &#8211; off to find eco-friendly (and inexpensive) business cards!</p>
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		<title>What is the strangest cloth diaper converstation you&#8217;ve ever had?</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/22/what-is-the-strangest-cloth-diaper-converstation-youve-ever-had/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/22/what-is-the-strangest-cloth-diaper-converstation-youve-ever-had/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 22 Jun 2010 17:16:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Cloth Diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Environment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Natural Parenting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[cloth diapers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[conversations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[modern]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[natural parenting]]></category>

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		<description><![CDATA[After you read today&#8217;s post I REALLY want to hear your stories &#8211; leave your comments below so we can all laugh along together! For my day job I frequently have to travel around the country and I tend to spend A LOT of time in airports on those days.  Yesterday was no different &#8211; [...]
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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>After you read today&#8217;s post I REALLY want to hear your stories &#8211; leave your comments below so we can all laugh along together!</p>
<p>For my day job I frequently have to travel around the country and I tend to spend <strong>A LOT of time in airports</strong> on those days.  Yesterday was no different &#8211; I left my house at 5:30 AM and didn&#8217;t get home until almost 10:30 PM.  With my little ones I hate to stay overnight if I don&#8217;t have to.  As I&#8217;m sure you can all relate <strong>most people I encounter have never seen a MODERN cloth diaper</strong> and have the old fashioned pre-folds and pins in their heads when I mention them.  Unless I&#8217;m around someone who has a baby or is pregnant I really try NOT to reveal that side of me too much because I know (that while I know it seems like we ALL talk about cloth diapers) the majority of <strong>Americans don&#8217;t really like to talk about DIAPERS!</strong>  We are rare folks who actually enjoy talking about fluff, inserts, fabrics, styles, washing, traveling, and sorting our diapers.  Most people prefer to use them and toss them and NOT talk about them - after all who really wants to talk about disposable diapers anyways?</p>
<p>Back to my story &#8211; yesterday I actually entered into the cloth diaper conversation with 2 people at work (who don&#8217;t have babies &#8211; both have older kids) and one person on an airplane.  The man on the plane and I struck up a conversation about what we do for work which lead to lots of talk about the environment. <strong> That naturally lead to me revealing my secret identity &#8211; The Eco Chic.</strong>  It&#8217;s actually quite amusing to begin a conversation about being a mommy blogger &#8211; <strong>never mind a cloth diapering, natural parenting mommy blogger</strong> &#8211; especially with a young (<em>and quite nice looking</em>) man on an airplane.  <strong>Funny story though &#8211; he and his wife are trying to conceive and may be pregnant right now at this very moment!</strong>  We talked all about cloth diapering, blogging, Twitter, BPA, phthalates, Food Inc, organics, EWG, and SOOO much more.  Seems he&#8217;s from California and he&#8217;s actually already heard about many of the natural parenting topics that I write about ALL THE TIME!  Anyways &#8211; as a (hopefully) soon to be daddy &#8211; now he knows all about cloth diapers and has a new place to visit (ok &#8211; his wife does) on the Internet to find answers.   </p>
<p>Last week I spoke about cloth diapers with a few other people I work with &#8211; one of which has a sister who is expecting twins (who is NOW completely excited about learning more!).  A few weeks ago I spent several hours with a friend from church (who is expecting #3) going over ALL the fluffy details about how to pick the right cloth diaper for her family. </p>
<p><strong>It seems that everywhere I go now I find myself talking FLUFF &#8211; and people are listening!</strong></p>
<p>Of course my friends whom I love ohhhhh so dearly (my BFFs in real life) no longer have babies so <strong>they think I&#8217;m a little wacky!</strong>  Last Thursday night we spent several hours laughing at all my fluffy talk, the names of cloth diapering blogs (for some reason the title<em> The Cloth Diaper Whisperer</em> seemed quite amusing to them), the mommy blog drama that exists, which cloth diapering brands/companies I like and don&#8217;t like, the drama that exists in the cloth diapering world between the brands (oh I wish I knew all the stories), breastfeeding (extended bfing to them is odd), Twitter parties, and blogging conferences - I&#8217;m sure you can all relate!  Then it dawned on me last night after reading a few tweets from some friends &#8211; <strong>WHAT AM I GOING TO DO WHEN Lil&#8217; B is POTTY TRAINED and WEENED?</strong>  What am I going to talk about then?  She&#8217;s our last baby so there won&#8217;t be another addition to our family.  I guess I will always be an expert on what I know NOW &#8211; but things will continue to change and new brands and products will be revealed.  Only time will tell.</p>
<p><strong>So what about you?  Do you talk fluff all the time?  Who is the strangest person you&#8217;ve talked fluff with?  Tell me your funny stories &#8211; I want to know!  What about your real life friends (and family) &#8211; do they enjoy your fluffy addictions?  Or do they (lovingly) laugh <span style="text-decoration: line-through;">at </span>with you?  </strong></p>
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		<title>Wordless Wednesday &#8211; Sunrise</title>
		<link>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/16/wordless-wednesday-sunrise/</link>
		<comments>http://www.theecochic.com/2010/06/16/wordless-wednesday-sunrise/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:33:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Calley</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[wordless wednesday]]></category>

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			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="pinit-button-wrapper"><a href="javascript:exec_pinmarklet();" id="PinItButton" title="Pin It on Pinterest"></a></div><p>Sunrise from South Beach</p>
<p><a href="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/l_2048_1536_E6A938E8-6CA1-4DA2-B363-EA94DCD224E2.jpeg"><img src="http://www.theecochic.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/l_2048_1536_E6A938E8-6CA1-4DA2-B363-EA94DCD224E2.jpeg" alt="" class="alignnone size-full" /></a></p>
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