The Bum Blog

The #1 Reason to Cloth Diaper...

2008-05-01T09:27:00.003-05:00

The following was posted on my mom's group DFW Area Moms which is affectionately called DAM to those around here who belong to the group. We talk about many things, but this one made many of us more than chuckle. If you havn't been convinced to cloth diaper before, here's another anecdote to help you along! Thanks to Jacki for permission to use this!

"Ok, I have to say that disposables are just GROSS!!! When you open the diaper to change even a WET one, it smells like dirty cootchie, and the POOP ones! OMG! It's terrible to try to get the poo off and into the toilet! ACCKK!

I NEVER get poop on me with cloth and I've gotten poop on me EVERY freaking day trying to dump the poo! Now I know why 'sposie users are afraid of the cloth poop rinsing/dumping. Let me tell you, cloth is easier: the poop mostly just rolls off into the toilet. NOT SO with the disposables. GROSSS!!!!

And the pee wet diapers are strangley squishy like those stress balls?? It's makes me throw up just a little....
Also those wipes are terrible: they are so smooth you have to use a like a whole tree's worth just to clean one poo!

I think disposables are not for me...."

Lots to Blog About

2008-02-17T13:52:00.005-06:00

This post was written a while ago. I decided that it is time for me to publish it.

News, news, and more news!

I just want to thank everyone for putting up with us only being open on Saturdays. This is truly allowing me to do some soul searching and to do the things I need to do to get to where I need to be on a personal level.

DETERGENT UPDATE!
Since finding a good detergent with which to wash your diapers is so important, I make it my personal little mission to stop at new grocery stores once in a while when I'm out and about running errands, and I like to check out the laundry aisle to see what is available. This last week, I went to the Kroger store at 544 & Los Rios in Plano, TX, and I found PLANET ULTRA and SPORT-WASH, both of which seem to be ok for cloth diapering. I havn't personally tried the Sport-Wash, and since water is different in each locale, it may not matter if it works here in Garland, TX, but Planet Ultra is a good one around here! If you're not from around here, then check out your local grocery store and share with other cloth diaper-ers what you've been able to find. It is really nice if there is a local source for detergent, as it is very heavy, and therefore expensive to ship!

Lastly, but not leastly.....
It is taking everything I have to write this. I am so incredibly sad to have to make this announcement, but unfortunately, I am going to have to close my brick & mortar shop and focus more on online sales. No one could ever possibly understand what has gone into making this decision for us. I don't feel like I should have to explain why I'm going to do this, but just know that it really truthfully has NOTHING to do with a lack of interest in diapers - because that is just simply not the case. In fact, it is just the opposite. If you have been (or known someone who has been) a small-business owner, you'll know that when you work for yourself, things are a lot different than when you work for others. We've never had a problem making our sales goals, we've never been worried about "not making it" - but what I thought would work for my family just didn't work for my family. Many of you have met my beautiful daughter, and know that she is just a joy in my life. And I am a huge workaholic. But I've gotten to a point where there is so much to do at the store that I can't take care of her and be HER MOM and still do everything I need to do at the store. I am, quite honestly, feeling like I've put her on the back burner - and that's not fair to her. The stress that I've been under for the last couple of months was mostly due to the fact that I could not afford to put my daughter in daycare so that I could run the store, and because I did not WANT to put my daughter in daycare so that I could run the store. And yes, there have been a couple of other bumps in the road that added to my stress, but this is the bulk of it. I've been suffering from a vast depression because of this, and I feel like I am finally coming out of the fog and realizing what has to be done, for the GOOD OF MY FAMILY.

So what have I learned from this experience? Lots.
Hard work doesn't equal success. You can't really get ahead unless you have money floating around. What I mean is, if I had already been a stay-at-home mom with nothing to do and plenty of money from my dear husband's job, then I could open a huge store. But I don't. I've also learned about PR. I am very sad to know that when I see a new product or service on the news, it's not because the media thought they were newsworthy - it's because their PR firm got them on the news. I had no idea. I guess money really does make the world go 'round. Secondly, you can't trust anyone in business. Period.

I have also learned a lot about myself. I know that my workaholism is something I need to work on. I have been working on learning how to balance my stress load and how to balance my home life and my work. Being a "new" mom (having a child under the age of two) is hard enough to adjust to, but having a new business AND being a new mom is even harder. Because your life changes so much when you have a child. Not in the beginning necessarily, but over time, gradually, so that it sneaks up on you (ha! :))

Lastly, I've learned that there are a LOT of really wonderful people in this world that I can call friends - that I can truly count on, and that I am proud to know.

We'll still be around online. We are doing this for our family - not because we don't think there is a need for cloth diapers. I'm sure someone will recognize the need and bring a local solution to Dallas in the near future!

A new year!

2008-01-24T00:21:00.001-06:00

So many things to talk about!

It's 2008, a new year. We have a new blog template (it's pretty...) a new shopping cart, and a chance to sort-of start fresh. After all, that's why we make a big deal about the 'ol calendar flipping over, right?

We're making a few changes to the store. One of which is that we are currently only open on Saturdays. We're really sorry to do this to you, but I've been a bit stressed out, so I am taking some time to relax and de-stress. We're sure you'll appreciate this, as we hope to have better inventory levels, faster shipping time, and overall better service because of this respite! We'll update you as things get better! But basically, I needs to take care of myself for a bit, and once I'm feeling better, we'll update you!

I am truly looking forward to returning to operating Bree's Bums and HAVING FUN doing it. I lost sight of a couple of goals of mine, and had to take some time to re-think what my goals truly were. So, here they are!

1. To help moms & dads who want to use cloth diapers decide what will work for them
2. To contribute to the community by educating parents on cloth diapering

I have lots to say this time, but I'm going to divide it into several posts, so feel free to read all of them, or only what you're interested in! :)

Change is good...

2007-07-26T00:37:00.000-05:00

Well, I think that change is a good thing. But change can be stressful! Being a one-woman show is not as easy as it used to be. This must mean that we are growing. That is a good thing, but growing is often painful. I'm glad that our customers are exceptionally patient with us as we grow and change.

We're moving...countdown is ticking...
One week, two days. We still have to finish painting, install flooring, put up curtains, build a counter.... and then there's the whole moving the store thing. But we'll make it!! And it will be great once it's done! :)

I hope you will all consider coming out to our grand re-opening party! 10am-6pm on Saturday the 4th of August. Please see our website for our new address.

More to come soon - just wanted to establish the new blog and see about getting some pictures of the store on here!

Bree