Homemade Baby Wipes!

I've been experimenting with making my own baby wipes a bit, because I saw the idea on Pinterest and thought it looked cool.  After reading several different recipes (which were all basically the same), trying one and then making several changes in order to make it work, I have finally come up with the solution.
The first thing I learned is that the only paper towels that work are Viva.  Anything else - even the famed Bounty - will rip and tear like crazy when it gets wet.  Viva is the way to go.  Also, I originally wanted to use the "Select-a-size" towels, in order to get a quarter-towel sized baby wipe.  Now, maybe I'm delusional, but it seems to me that the original sized Viva paper towels are thicker and stronger than the select-a-size ones.  Any mom, dad, or babysitter can tell you that it is very important that a baby wipe does not rip while wiping.  That's just all kinds of undesirable.  
So, here is what I used:

 You will need paper towels, some baby soap, baby oil, and a tightly-sealing container that will hold half of a roll of paper towels.  I used the baby soap and oil that I happened to have on hand.  Any variety should work.
The first thing to do is to cut the roll of paper towels in half.  This is the hardest part.  Use a bread knife and saw away, turning the roll as you go.  It will not be a clean, even cut.  It will look like this:

Go ahead and pick off as many of the fuzzies as you can get from the rolls.  Unless you want them on there.  That's fine too.
Next thing is to remove the cardboard thing from the center of the roll.  I found it fairly easy to just push my finger in between the cardboard and the paper towels all the way around and on the top and the bottom, separating the little bit of glue that's holding the towels on there.  Then the cardboard came right out. Next just stick the roll, fuzzy side down, into the container.  
Now, grab a good sized measuring cup or bowl and put one cup of water in there.  Microwave it for a minute until it is just starting to simmer.  The heat will help your other ingredients blend into the water.  Add to the hot water 1/2 to 1 Tablespoon of baby wash (I used around 3/4 TB) and 1-2 teaspoons of baby oil. If you use too much baby wash, your wipes will be super soapy and leave bubbles on baby's bum. Believe me, I tried it.  
Stir the mixture a little, then pour it on your wipes, right on the paper towels and not so much in the center of the roll.  
It's going to take an hour or two for the paper towels to soak up all the moisture.  It may seem like there is not enough in there, but there is.  If you really want to you could add another 1/4 cup of water.  The first recipe I tried had 2 cups of water and that was above and beyond way too much.  
Make sure your container is sealed, so they don't dry out, and there ya go, wipes!

They will pull right out of the center where the cardboard used to be.  

For easier reference purposes, here's my recipe:
1 Cup hot hot water
1-2 Tablespoons baby wash
2 teaspoons baby oil
1/2 roll of Viva paper towels.

Making my own wipes has not turned out quite as cheap as I had hoped because of the differences I found in the regular Viva and the Select-a-size variety.  I have only been able to find the regular ones sold in individual packages or with seasonal designs on them, so I'm paying 1.50-1.99 for one roll.  However, it is still cheaper than buying them, and easy enough for me to justify spending my time making them.  There are plenty of people who will tell you that homemade are better for baby's skin as well.  I'll believe those people :)
So, let me know if you try it and how it works for you!

It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like . . .

Christmas!
Even though I don't particularly care for that song.  Oh well.  
I had a post planned today about making your own baby wipes . . . but the pictures are on the camera's memory card in Wyoming with my husband.  So that post will have to wait until later.  
Instead, I would like to share some Christmas cheer.  Today, it will be in the theme of Angels.

Normally, I would share a scripture, but basically every scripture I would want to share is touched on in this talk by  Jeffrey R. Holland

I recommend reading the whole thing, of course, but here are some of my favorite parts:

 

"When the time for this Savior’s advent was at hand, an angel was sent to announce to Mary that she was to be the mother of the Son of God. ³ Then a host of angels was commissioned to sing on the night the baby Jesus was born. ⁴ Shortly thereafter an angel would announce to Joseph that the newborn baby was in danger and that this little family must flee to Egypt for safety. ⁵ When it was safe to return, an angel conveyed that information to the family and the three returned to the land of their heritage. ⁶

From the beginning down through the dispensations, God has used angels as His emissaries in conveying love and concern for His children."

". . .I have spoken here of heavenly help, of angels dispatched to bless us in time of need. But when we speak of those who are instruments in the hand of God, we are reminded that not all angels are from the other side of the veil. Some of them we walk with and talk with—here, now, every day. Some of them reside in our own neighborhoods. Some of them gave birth to us, and in my case, one of them consented to marry me. Indeed heaven never seems closer than when we see the love of God manifested in the kindness and devotion of people so good and so pure that angelic is the only word that comes to mind."

So at Christmastime, not only do I like to think about and reflect on the angels who heralded the birth of our Savior,  but about all of the angels in my own life.  There are so many of them!  

Also, for your listening enjoyment, a lovely Christmas Angel song!

(I know it's not the best video quality ever, but it's still worth watching and listening to!)