Every morning we have a little routine. I take a shower, and Annika plays in her crib with a bucket of toys. Usually by the time the bucket is empty, I'm redressed and looking frightful with my wet hair. Well, today, I finished my shower and was a bit surprised to find Annika like this...

I don't have any more pictures. But, I do have a few money saving tips that might help a few of you out.

     Tip #1. Target brand diapers. They're more absorbant than Huggies and don't leak. Unless you leave them for 12 hours overnight, but the huggies diapers leak at the 6 hour mark, so they're still far superior. Also, the fasteners are nice and they have a good fit. Now, if you really want to save money, buy a bunch of chinese prefold cloth diapers and 4 or 5 Bummis Diaper Wraps. But, it seems many moms aren't interested in 5 extra minutes every couple days to launder diapers. If you're willing, the tree hugging cloth diapering freaks out there have really made things easy these days. I can offer a few tips if you're interested in giving it a try.

     Tip #2. Don't use HE (High Efficiency) Laundry detergent. This tip is for anyone with a front loading washing machine that has the cute little "Use HE Detergent ONLY" sticker. It's the biggest racket ever. You just need to understand how the whole thing works. Here's the deal: Most front loaders adjust the amount of water used to the amount of clothes put in. So, with less water, you need less soap. Also, the tumbling action of the front loader causes soap to foam more. So, if you were to use the full cap of regular detergent in a front loader, you'd have suds running out your laundry room door. Instead use 1/3 (or less) of the recommended dosage of regular laundry detergent. A bottle of regular detergent costs the same as the HE stuff, but now one bottle lasts 3-4 times as long. (A little experimentation with the quantity will tell you what works best in your machine.) The front loaders do a much better job of getting things clean and use less soap and less water. So, if you're in the market for a washing machine, consider a little bigger investment up front (get it? up FRONT? hehe.) and discover how those nasty gray socks really can come out white again. (Can you tell I'm in love with my washer?!) Best of luck with those Gold Toes.

     Tip #3. Like foaming soap pumps? Save money on refills! You do not need to buy the special "Foam pump refill" liquid. Instead, mix 1 part regular handsoap with 4-5 parts water. Shake it a little to mix it up. Make sure the soap dissolves fully in the water before dispensing.

Boy, I'm just full of good ideas today. I might have to start a page for the frugally-minded. Do feel free to share any of your tips with me.