I use a top loader that does HE with my diapers - the Fisher & Paykel AquaSmart. I love the machine. I use prefolds, polyester/PUL covers, and polyester pocket diapers (I also use a wool cover but I hand-rinse and lanolize it). I use Charlie's soap and Calgon to wash the diapers (we have slightly hard water). I don't do any soaking or bleaching and rarely wash a poopy diaper anymore, just urine ones (I potty my 8 month old and have since 4 months, called elimination communication, infant pottying, etc.). Even when I get a diaper with poop, I just throw it in the washer and do my normal loads. Then again, I'm not completely satisfied with the washing process because none of the preset programs match exactly what I'm trying to do. What I want to do is a simple soak, short agitation, and rinse, all on cold with 1/2 the normal detergent. This gets out the urine and stuff without setting the stains. Then I run a hot cycle with full detergent. What I have to do with this washer, though, is run a full cold cycle with a 2 hour soak (because there's no way to shorten the soak). I usually set this going overnight because it takes so long! I love so many things about this washer, including the delay feature, but I need a shorter cold rinse cycle with maybe 1/2 hr soak. I also love how this washer can flip between HE and conventional. I wash the diapers using the conventional method, which is not too water-piggy compared to true conventional washers. I've been using the hot cycle on my pocket diapers for 8 months and the elastic is fine. I think I can contact the F&P techs to program my own cycle. Anyone have experience with this?

Cupofkindness What has finally worked for me is having daily tasks: I made a table using Word and put the tasks under each day of the week and stuck it on the wall in my familyroom. I don't look at it much now, as I have the routine ingrained. DAILY: clothes meals swish and swipe each bathroom (DD8 often will do the main) clean kitchen after each meal- any dishes that won't fit in the DW are hand washed basic tidy up each day DD8 bedroom tidy up I have certain tasks on certain days: WEEKLY: Monday is the floors Tuesday is change bedding and ironing Wednesday is bathrooms and towels Thursday is dust and cobwebs Friday is floors and ironing Weekends- gardening How I worked out my weekly tasks was in reflection of the day- eg Monday the chn have swimming and we get home late- so I want and easy day. Wednesday is my day off, so I have the time to do the bathrooms. MENU: I follow a specific menu plan which is a six week rotating cycle. (Again, consider daily needs- eg Monday is my busy day so I often choose fish and salad for that day as it is quick to prepare.) DH is a computer nerd and used Access to make a menu/grocery program- each week he selects eg: 'Week 4' and the menu for week 4 generates a grocery list- with a quick check of the pantry/fridge we know what we need. The grocery list also includes store items (eg flour) and cleaning products (eg washing powder). One we check items as a quantity or a zero the program generates a grocery list. Now this is my super nerd hubby- the list is in aisle order and shelf order as you go down the aisle of our local grocery store. Sweet! Sometimes I miss the old style of hit and miss cooking days (... mince... hmmm, do I have a tin of tomatoes? oh a carrot!... any basil? yes! Spaghetti? no... oh well penne will do!). But overall, I love the fact that I can tell you that next Sunday I am having a beef roast with roasted beetroot, garlic, carrots, sweet potato and broccoli. With fruit and yoghurt for dessert! My time organiser is my regular calendar- I bought one with a column for each child (harder for you I realise). I told them all- if it isn't on the calendar it won't happen. School assignments, social engagements, meetings, visitors, family time and anything that impacts on a specific day. Good luck! How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time! In other words- keep goals realistic. Em

When my dad died, I used several of his plaid flannel shirts to make two star quilts - the brown tones for my brother, and the red tones for myself and my sons. With the pockets from the brown shirt in the upper right and lower left of the nine-square wall-hanging, I then put a picture of my dad, my brother, my nephew & his son in the middle. (Representing 4 generations of our family name.) Upper left dark brown flannel had the word "Legacy" embroidered. The lower right had the names of the four generations embroidered - with the year born & died under my dad's name. I gave that wall-hanging to my mom, who lives with my brother. Then, after my mom is gone, my brother has a matching set.

Thanks! Oakley -yay for Aquage! That brush looks amazing. Funkyart which style do you think runs wider? My feet feel much better. My left foot doesn’t hurt at all anymore when I have them on. The right foot still does but I suspect it will take awhile for that foot to settle down. I really need a pair of comfortable (standard work with almost anything black) boots/booties but don’t really like their styles. Theres one that’s ok but I wish the toebox was shaped a little different. Going to order more sandals. Im going to look into some of the other sandals mentioned here too. Thanks Eld. Yeon -The small bottle (they have a large size too) has a dropper and I just put a drop on the applicator and run it along the top. Another drop for the bottom and drop right at the beginning of the spooly brush to use on my brows. It sounds like a lot but I have over half a bottle still. I don’t recommend brushing the oil on the lashes with the spooly brush (mascara wand) because the oil is so thick it just beads up. It’s kind of gunky feeling but doesn’t irritate the eyes at all. I do it right before bed and sleep with it on. In the morning I just rub my eyes. It seems some of its absorbed in because there’s less. ETA - Thanks for suggestions about exercises. I was thinking there was probably stretches or something I could do to help. I'll check it out. Justerrilynn -They look great! And nice ZZ plant too.