Reusable Shopping Bags

         "Worldwide an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used. Even though these plastic bags can be recycled, less than 3% actually are. The rest end up in landfills, oceans, and as litter."

                                                                                            -www.reusablebagsdepot.com

Billions and billions of littered plastic bags? I can't imagine a billion of anything, and to think that we are filling our planet with BILLIONS of this waste! And, this is JUST plastic bags.
How can we help reduce the usage of plastic shopping bags, you ask? Reusable shopping bags! Not just for groceries and shopping, but for everyday use! There are many uses for reusable shopping bags:

• Shopping (the most obvious)
• Picnics
• Day Trips
• Carrying Baby Items
• Sleep Overs

Just about ANYTHING you could use a bag for. And most are machine washable! 
We need to do our part and help reduce the amount of waste we put into the Earth. Remember, what we put into the Earth, we put into our bodies. 
Some stores will also discount your purchase for using your own bags. Hey, who doesn't love to save money!?
While we are on the subject of saving money... 
You may get plastic bags from supermarketts free of charge, but actually the cost of the bags is included in the prices of the products you buy. 
If you find that you are at the cashier and you had forgotten your bags with all the chaos from walking out the door, not a big deal! Ask for paper instead plastic. Paper is biodegradable, and can be used for all types of things at home. A favorite would be using it as craft/painting paper with the kids!


Do you use your own bags?

Cloth Diapering

Before my son was born, we went back and forth about a lot of things-- as many parents probably do. One thing we were on the fence about were cloth diapers. We ended up choosing against it, but months passed and we realized that babies go through A LOT of diapers (LOL). 
So, long story short, we started using cloth diapers about 3 months ago. We absolutely love it. Yes there are those awful stinky messy diapers, but soap and water never hurt anyone. :)
We still do use disposables here and there, but I'm still trying to get used to them and frequent diaper changes.
By the beginning of Spring I hope to be fully cloth diapering him. We are really big in supporting local and home based business (and work at home moms!). For our cloth diapering needs I go through a very good friend that owns Baby Bleiu & Mama, Too. I love her designs, fabric, and her prices are extremely fair! We don't like buying from/supporting big corporations. We like to support our local friends and family, but that is a whole other blog post. Click "Read More" for a list of Pros and Cons that I have found with cloth diapering!

PROS

• No chemicals
• Saves money
• Nothing going to a landfill
• Cute and custom designs
• No bulging when wet

CONS

• More frequent changes
• Sometimes messy
• Large initial investment

Do you use cloth diapers? Do you like it? Not use cloth diapers? Why?