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  Stop!  I see you trying to run away from my post!  But you will be oddly compelled to read it.  So before you go running away in terror...at least hear me out!  You are permitted to laugh till you cry and share with all your friends like I did about reusable pads, especially if this is your first time hearing about this concept.  ;-)

My 3 starters I made using 100% cotton print tops, terry interior, and fleece backing.  Then added snaps to the wings.  I spent a total of $4.00 on prints which yielded 20 pads in addition to other prints to start my 'stash'.

Reusable Sanitary Pads

  You might be wondering, why in the world would I use such a thing!?!  That was my first reaction, followed by uncontrollable laughter.  But to tell you the truth, this is what really opened my eyes over a year ago to commercialism, and opened my eyes to how I've spent years being a sucker for name brands.  I've always had an issue with being a fact and figures kinda girl.  After laughing and joking with my besties about reusable pads, the thought kept rolling in my head of how much money could I save if I took the little bit of time time to do this.  As much as I laughed like a hyena, when talking to my European friend, again - she laughed at my amusement for being a close minded American.  Her mother taught her to use and make reusable since she started as a young girl.  To her I'm the weird one.  I actually sat down with the calculator and worked it out like this.  I unfortunately got my first visit from Aunty Flow the Sunday before my 12th birthday.  Currently, I'm 35.  I worked it out like this:
  35 yrs.
-12 yrs.
  23 yrs. x 12 bleeding months = 276 month - 27 months (3 9 month pregnancies that I didn't get my period) = 249 months
  I usually spend about $5.00 on Kotex/month, usually more, but I wanted to go with under budgeting base figures.
249 x $5.00 = $1,245 (at minimum what I've paid out this far!)  So, visits from Aunt Flow really add up.

 What else could I buy or invest with an extra grand?  You can imagine how happy I am to have given birth to 3 boys rite now, ha-ha!  Not to mention the piles of pads and pons that I've contributed to filling a landfill.  So sad.  Then I spent months researching how much chemicals are in pads/tampons and all I could do was shake my head.  I took the leap and I've stopped throwing money away on disposables.  Now, I've invested into heaven for my precious lady parts!  The first reusable pad I tried is called a Minky.  Less bulky for a pad, SUPER SILKY SOFT, and it did the job very well.  It was like losing your virginity, (except this time it was a good experience). I was so excited calling all my besties to tell them, "Guess what, my period finally came this morning and this pad feels so good!!!"  I wish I could have given myself this spa like experience from the beginning...but, my 'Susie' is going to be lavished in the life of cloth pads from here out.

Advantages of Cloth menstrual Pads

• Cloth mentrual pads are less likely to cause rashes, contact dermatitis, as well as helping women afflicted with certain types of vaginitis.  Women with sensitive skin and allergies may prefer cloth pads more of undyed organic cotton.
• Cloth menstrual pads, like all menstrual pads, remove the risk of TSS associated with tampons.  

Easy To Clean:
When you're out and about - fold up and place in a 'wet bag' just as if you were cloth diapering.  Then treat when you get home.

When home - keep a small bucket of cold water {add your favorite cleaning agent if you would like to} and let soak overnight, or for a couple days depending on when you feel like doing the wash.  Drain the bucket water in toilet, then wash.  They can be machine, or hand wash.  I prefer to hand wash, just for fun.  If you get a stain, {which rarely happens, unless you let them sit for days without cold water treatment} you can use baking soda and an old tooth brush to scrub the spot.

I find it odd when asked by ladies that worry about staining, but seriously...you're using them to bleed on, rite? 

Yes, this is my Manly Welding Husband, still wearing his weld cap.  Like all projects...he enjoyed jumping in and making some fem pads too.
{Not only did he make one, he engineered my template using AutoCad Program!}.  So, he gained himself some serious extra credit on his man card!  =)

My starter set.  See the bottom left how they fold up into a nice neat square and snap shut when not in use? :)
Pictured above is 2 overnights, 5 regulars and 1 liner.

Other Cloth FAQ's
Why use?  They are better for the environment, easy on the pocket book, and so much more comfortable than paper and plastic pads.  No more sweaty, itchy, rashes, chafing pads.  Instead you can use comfortable, soft cotton, fleece, velour, or other soft cloth pads.  No more adhesive sticking to your skin or hair.  No more running out of pads at the worst possible time.  You'll have a fresh set of comfortable, clean and ready to use cloth menstrual pads at hand with just a simple load of laundry.
Q.  How long do the cloth pads last?  With proper care, as long as your favorite pair of soft jammies!
Q.  What do I do with them when I'm out and about?  Discreetly put them in a 'wet bag' or Ziploc bag.  'Wet bags' can be rinsed out and reused.  Clean pads can be carried with you in your purse, or whatever you would normally carry pads in.
Q.  How often do I change a cloth pad?  As often as you would change a disposable pad.  Every 2-6 hours as needed depending on your flow day.
Q. How comfortable are they?  I would compare cloth pads to soft flannel jammies vs. those awful scratchy paper gowns at the doctor's office that don't fit rite and make you feel uncomfortable the entire time.
Q.  Will cloth pads really save me money?  Using cloth pads will save money and time.  If you have an average flow, the average woman spends about $10-15 a month on disposable products.  You will need from 6-24 reusable menstrual pads in your stash, depending on your flow and how often you do your laundry.  After taking a poll, most women use 8-12 cloth pads during their cycle.  You can make them yourself, or pay out about $120 for a stash.  Average cost of 7 years worth of disposable pads $10-15/month.  Cost of 30 years of cloth pads is your initial $120 (plus more if you want new prints over time)...Cost of 30 years of disposables: $3,600-$5,400

   Treats by Tanya has teamed up with Willow Tree Cloth to give you the opportunity to snag

  2 FREE Pads to add to your collection, or get it started!  The Winner will be mailed a 8" and 10" Pad!  I already placed my first order with Willow Tree Cloth too ~ and can't wait for my order!

A portion of Willow Tree Cloth's Selection 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

And My Custom order from Willow Tree Cloth just came too!  :D 

I just love the guns and 2nd Amendment <3

Voilà!  Fold up and snap into a nice little square after use!

Environmentally Friendly Toilet Paper

  Call me nuts - but I'm not alone!  If you've never heard of cloth diapering - from this point out your are going to think I'm some kind of nut case...though this may be, I still would like to share with you another environmentally friendly concept that is by far not new.  Just forgotten perhaps.

   American's have been flushing money for decades now, but before that - what did they use for centuries?  REUSABLE TOILET PAPER.  This little bit of fabric can save you a lot of green over time, and leave you feeling cleaner with a softer wipe.  If you talk to a veteran cloth rump wiper, they will tell you how annoyed they get when going out in public and resort to the use of abrasive cheap paper.

Some call it family cloth, reusable wipes, reusable toilet paper...but no matter what you call it - it's such a cleaner and softer alternative.  I chose flannel for ours.  Yes, ours.  My sons' are hooked as well.  My middle son that the specialists' claimed would not make it to see his 1st birthday - is totally hooked.  He was diagnosed failure to thrive, and has severe Encopresis.  He is now 11.

  For less then $10, I was able to buy 3 yards of flannel.  (You can also use cotton, for hypo allergenic...they wash fine and you can sun dry them to remove any stains too).  With what I got, I made 55 TP sheets in the size of 4"x8".  I cut them down to this size with the idea that they would fit nicely in a thin baby wipe container to take with us on the go. {So we won't have to resort to unfriendly dry paper}.

Small pile in basket above the Toilet

  I also wash these by themselves rather then with our regular laundry.  After each use, I've a bin in each bathroom that has some vinegar water and there is NO SMELL.  Shocker rite!?!

  Sometimes they're used for #1, #2 or just for drying.  If you're not cracking up yet and still reading, here is a picture of the portable bidet I bought for cheap on Amazon.  And yes, it's used just like that!  As hygienic as we Americans are about washing hands and using harsh chemical hand sanitizers...you would think there would be more attention to detail when it comes to our valuable rumps., after all - it's our chair we take everywhere lol.  

  The first thing {I hope to purchase} when we buy a house is a bidet!  Or, at least modify our toilet with a bidet add-on kit.

Yep, it's used just like that!

  My first reaction was "Ewwww!  I could NEVER do that!"...but after trying it with an open mind, it's rather refreshing!  I think the thought was so appalling to me, I couldn't let it go.  Why did I get squeamish when thinking about my hygiene but wouldn't think twice about cloth diapering a baby?  For a #2, flush...and swish out your reusable TP and drop it in the bucket.  AND, if you have a healthy diet - #2 isn't greasy or messy to begin with.  I've taken so many measures to try to 'save our planet' and teach my children the same respect I have for it.  I started adding up all the money our family spends out monthly and yearly.  After talking to a few of my out of country pen-pals, this is normal.  You can find lots of sellers online making 'family cloth' rite now and check out their sold sections!  Aside from saving money, we're lessening our carbon footprint.  Except for my husband...he still refuses to try it.  So if you come to visit, don't worry - you have options ;)

*Also note, you don't have to run to the fabric store to buy new material.  You can up-cycle old flannel shirts, or flannel bed sheets.  From a fitted and flat sheet you can yield A LOT of TP.  *insert giggles, but have fun saving green - from your wallet to our planet!  Every small step helps.

  So what do you think?  Are you already a 'Cloth Wiper', would you consider it, or totally grossed out by the thought?  I can't wait to hear all your responses and check back for our giveaway for those interested in getting started with a sample pack!