Grumpy-bumpy

Grumpy-bumpy woke up on the wrong side of the bed, again. He looked around his sun-filled and frowned. "The sun is up again?", he said. "The sun is just too bright and happy looking and it makes me grumpy...", he thought with a scowl. He tried to bury himself beneath his pillow to no avail, the happy warm sun made impossible to block it out. Begrudgingly Grumpy-bumpy, pushed himself out of bed and decided he'd better make breakfast. He opened the refrigerator to look for the milk, only to find it missing. He scanned the kitchen to find his sister, Happy-sappy, using the last of the milk to make a large batch of pancakes.
"Happy-sappy!", he grumped, "You used up all the milk on purpose! Now what am I supposed to make my soggy cereal with?" Happy-sappy just smiled and brought Grumpy-bumpy a huge plate of steaming pancakes and set in front of him. Grumpy-bumpy sniffed, they did smell good! Grumpy-bumpy doused them in syrup and took a taste, they did taste good. With out even realizing it Grumpy-bumpy started to smile. Grumpy-bumpy wasn't grumpy anymore and all it took was a kind act from Happy-sappy.

I know I missed my daily blog post yesterday, but seriously it wasn't for lack of trying. I had many things to do yesterday and many places to be and I started this post yesterday and got too busy to finish it. Eh, it happens! I actually wrote this silly short story to go along with the quote I shared on my fan page yesterday.

"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine." ~Anthony J. D'Angelo

When was the last time you stopped and spread sunshine, just because? You can be happy and kind and appreciative and expect nothing in return. Teach your children this and start a trend, make kindness a trend. You never know who's watching or whose lives you're affecting.

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 230)

source: Good Housekeeping April 2011

                                                    Chic on the Cheap!

For the last couple of weeks, my TiP fOr TuEsDaY articles have been focused on making the most of your wardrobe. Imagine how excited I was when I opened my Good Housekeeping magazine for April 2011 and they had an entire article to dedicated to just that!

Wardrobe Basics: How to Wear 8 Pieces 30 Different Ways

The article shows how you can take 8 basic pieces and wear them 30 different ways and I love, love the concept! For years this has been my focus of shopping (for myself and my kids included) to buy good basics that you can pair with a few fun things and keep your look fresh! The article works with a navy dress, a nautical striped tee, a red shell (sleeveless blouse), a red cardigan, a white blouse, dark denim jeans, a khaki suit, and a white skirt. Let me see what I have of these in my wardrobe....

White shirt, red tank (pretty close) and dark denim jeans

Pink cardigan (again, pretty close), striped shirt, and nice khaki chinos

Navy dress

I know, I know...no white skirt or a khaki suit either. I guess I'll be on the look out for both! Imagine the possibilities though...navy dress with striped shirt, or white shirt over the top, or dark denim and cardigan and striped shirt, or...or...great stuff! Thank you Good Housekeeping for your inspiration this TiP fOr TuEsDaY!

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 229)

Hanes! (no ride up)

Happy Monday morning people of blog-land! Why on earth am I greeting you with underwear this morning? It must be one of my favorite things! I mean seriously it's underwear, right? Well sure, but how on earth could I be super-duper with certain things riding up? Now that WOULD be pretty tough! ;0P
I like to be comfortable, don't you? If I have to spend the day taxiing children, hauling baskets of laundry, braving the aisles of Wal-Mart, I need nothing to stop me! This would include the occasional wedgie (not cool, right?). I have worn these great comfy and long lasting panties from Hanes for years. Breathable cotton comfort, comfy waistbands, no ride up wonderfullness (I don't care if that's not a word, it fits!) that is Hanes! I wouldn't think of buying anything else!
Monday morning, just try and slow me down and with my super-duper Hanes no ride-up panties that won't be a problem! tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe! ;0)

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 228)

J. Lamb 2011

“Fences are made for those who cannot fly.” ~Elbert Hubbard

 Fences are made to keep things in or out. Fences mark boundaries of property or land or political clout. Fences keep us safe and secure when we are young, but should be removed when we learn how to run. ~SNYAM

 Setting limits for our children is a good thing, they need to know you love them enough to keep them safe. Limits should never be applied when it comes to their imagination. If they want to learn and create and do and believe they can do anything when they grow up, let them. Never say "no, you can't". I can tell you that parents of extraordinary children who accomplish great things, have parents that let them believe they can do anything and encourage them to try. What kind of parent are you? Just a thought...;0)

Well read...

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."  ~Chinese Proverb

Planting the seeds of knowledge through a love of reading. 

I can still remember the day I got my first library card. I was in the first grade and I was so excited because a friend of mine was getting one too. You just had to be able to sign your name and I took my time and printed it as clearly as I could. By the time I was in first grade I had developed a great love of reading and was able to check out whatever I wanted to read in the library. I read all the Beverly Cleary books (and re-read them over the years, many times over). I remember checking out books on cooking and nonfiction and amused myself by reading classics and imagining myself in all settings throughout history.
I was socially awkward growing up and never fit in well. I spent a great deal of time being teased all throughout Elementary school and part of Middle school as well. When I read, I had friends who didn't judge me, I was able to visit places and do things I would never be able to do growing up in our very isolated small town. Going to the library every week became the summertime ritual of me and my best-friend, I would check out 5 books (the limit a week) every single time and would have no trouble reading them all and loving it. When I ran out of those I would read the dictionary, encyclopaedia volumes, and even the phone book!
As I got older and into High school, I decided I didn't care whether people liked me or not and anytime I had free time, I would have my nose in a book. People assumed I was really smart or snooty, but I could read about people and things and not have to interact with them and feel awkward. I could read and never be lonely.
I love that I can read anything and learn. If I don't know how to do something, I automatically read and teach myself to do it. This goes for following instructions on how to operate devices and put things together and I have successfully annoyed my man for being able to read and comprehend directions/instructions in a snap. "How do you know that?"..."Um, I CAN read..." ;0)
Do you spend time reading to your children? That includes babies and up until they are too ornery (or smart, ha!) to listen anymore. My kids love it when I read to them still and they are almost 12, 10 1/2 and 8. I read to them always growing up and even though I encourage them to read to themselves these days, it's still fun to read a fun book to them sometimes. My oldest son refused to read any works of fiction when he was younger (he has Asperger's and is very set in his ways) and would instead be reading large text books on history and space. Today he is required to read certain works of fiction for credit in one of his classes and he has surprised me (and himself) that he kind of enjoys it! He'd probably rather read non-fiction (for instance he's reading and teaching himself to play chess) but, appreciates fiction now. My daughter reads classics and novels and is usually reading at least 3 books at once! My little one has discovered that he can still enjoy Harry Potter when he reads all the books! They all beg me to get a new book anytime I visit the thrift store as well.
Turn off the TV and read. Make reading a nightly ritual. The TV's are off at 8 at my house and when my kids are done cleaning up and getting ready for bed (at 9) they sit in their beds and read. Read to your little ones, teach them that you can do anything if you can read!


P.S. I read the entire Hunger Games series (Suzanne Collins) in 6 days! Feel free to hate me...j/k! ;0)


 

Sew sweet!

 I'm not sure if I mentioned before, but I love to remake things I've picked up at the thrift store. I suppose I'm lucky or we have well-to-do people that donate in our area, but I find some of the best things there! I found a DKNY dress for my daughter, tags still attached, for $2! I mean, unreal! ;0)
These two "sew sweet" projects I made for my itty-bitty baby niece (who's turning one!) are made from things I picked up at the thrift store. The top little dress started out as a 18month sized t-shirt from Carter's. If you've had kids, you know that Carter's is a great brand and holds up well. I loved the little sweet flower embroidery patch on the front and initially I wanted to find green material, with a possible stripe to go with it. I tried a few remnants I had on hand, but wasn't really satisfied with any. On a later trip to my local big box store, I was rummaging through the remnant bin and came up with this great floral fabric. I hadn't intended to use it on the dress, but when I brought it home it worked! I attached the skirt and matching green ribbon and stitched together a simple bow for the front. I found a couple of matching buttons and stitched them to the bow as well. Lastly, I found a pair of adorable green striped bloomers for underneath (50 cents, no lie!) that completed the ensemble.

The bottom pillow was put together with all remnants I had in my stash and the insert was a pillow I picked up at the thrift store for $2. First things first, I brought the pillow home and removed the kind of ugly and also torn cover. It was sewn directly to the front of the pillow and as I unstitched it, I nicked it a couple of times along the edges. (ooops!) Next it took a hot water/bleach bath in the washer and a full hot cycle spin in the dryer as well.(Because you can never be to safe, right? ;0)) After it was clean, I whip stitched the nicks closed and pieced together the front of the pillow. I loved how the last pillow I did turned out so much (click here), I decided to see if I could copy it. I love the variegated stripe in the last pillow (it was just an already made pillow I embellished) so, I chose remnants with lighter to darker colors in the same color family. "Breah's" room is decorated in a bee theme and I chose some yellow and charcoal felt for the body and white for the wings. I layered the charcoal and yellow felt together and cut out an oval. To make the stripes I cut the oval (still layered)  into four pieces. I then chose to charcoal and two yellow pieces and they fit together perfectly! After appliqueing the felt to the pillow front, I got to work putting the back together. I loved how the shark pillow was put together like a sham (folded over itself for easy removal) and I did the same for this pillow. Lastly the case was big (intentionally) and the pillow insert was super puffy. I put the case on the pillow and centered it and pinned and stitched the excess material to form a border. The result? How cute is this?! I love how it turned out and altogether was about 3 dollars in material I didn't already have! Cha-ching!

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 225)

                                   Being Chic on the Cheap!

"BASIC" not boring.

Are you ready for another trip to my closet? What was that you said? You don't have a choice? Now what kind of attitude is that?! This is fun! ;0) Haha, today on Being Chic on the Cheap I'm going to show you how you can change your look with just a little change of (my favorite accessories!) your shoes. I started off with a white button down shirt (a must have basic, this one was 4.99 on clearance @Ross), a short sleeved black sweater ($7 dollars clearance @TJ Maxx), and some of my favorite jeans (These I found a couple of years ago on clearance @TJ. I can't remember how much, but they had to be 12.99 or under)! Okay, give me a sec to find my shoes....;0)

This pair is really fun! Fuchsia sequins and a whole lotta sparkle! I love to slap this pair on (Clearance @Ross $3!!!) for a little go to action. SHAZAAM!! A little bit funky with a classic look, I can't complain...;0)

Want a little bit of fun? Try these silver jeweled wedges ($12.99 @Ross). I dug out my silver metal belt for this look too. I like heels, but only when they are comfy (and cute) and this pair fit the bill! Feeling sexy Momma? ;0)

Stupid winter won't go away? No matter, try perusing the clearance sections now...and change up your look and get a start on next year's fun! I love, love these black flocked booties ($9.99 @Ross). They are flannel lined with sneaker soles and have the cutest tie feature in the back! Can you say Adorable?!

Ahh...if you run into me today, I will look just like this! Great multi-strand bead necklace and my fave hot pink chucks of course! Perfect look for sitting and freezing at soccer games later and obvious that I at least "tried" this morning! There is nothing wrong with dressing for comfort and looking good too! ;0)

My Grandma always says, "With the right pair of shoes you can do anything." Absolutely! Did you know that I used to wear a pair of comfy pair of jersey knit pants to my job where I had to dress "business appropriate" frequently and as long as I wore my super nice black loafers with them, no one was the wiser! Just goes to show you with great shoes you really can do anything! That's your TiP fOr TuEsDaY!

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 224)

Gluten Free Bisquick!

Ahh...after a short reprise from the everyday grind that comes with being a Mom, I happy to greet you Monday! Hello! To celebrate the fact that I woke up this morning (on the right side of the bed) here's one of my all time favorite GF products! Gluten Free Bisquick rocks!!
Not only can I make melt-in-your-mouth rocking good GF pancakes with it, I can make GF pizza crust, biscuits, dumplings (think anything you can make with regular Bisquick). Here's the list of recipes from Bisquick's site.
Thank you, thank you to the good folks at Betty Crocker for being sensitive to people with Celiac's (gluten intolerance) and for providing such a great product! tHiS iS DEFINITELY wHaT i LiKe, try it! I'll bet you like it too! ;0)

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 223)

J. Lamb 2011

 No matter how long the winter, spring is sure to follow.  ~Proverb


With the coming of spring brings the opportunity to grow anew. Just as Mother Nature renews and refreshes herself after a long winter, take the opportunity to do the same. Tackle a difficult task with renewed vigor or rethink a process that might not be working. Take the opportunity to enjoy the warmth of the season with your family and renew the fact you love them. Just a thought...;0)

With a little luck...

Top o' the mornin' to ya and a Happy St. Patty's day! Aside from wearing green and sporting a little Irish heritage what does St. Patrick's Day really mean?

Saint Patrick's Day (Irish: Lá Fhéile Pádraig) is a religious holiday celebrated internationally on 17 March. It is named after Saint Patrick (c. AD 387–461), the most commonly recognised of the patron saints of Ireland. It is observed by the Catholic Church, the Anglican Communion (especially the Church of Ireland),^[1] the Eastern Orthodox Church and Lutherans. Saint Patrick's Day was made an official feast day in the early 17th century, and has gradually become a celebration of Irish culture in general. (source: wikipedia)

Huh, so why do we wear green?

Wearing of the green

Originally, the color associated with Saint Patrick was blue. Over the years the color green and its association with Saint Patrick's day grew.^[10] Green ribbons and shamrocks were worn in celebration of St Patrick's Day as early as the 17th century.^[11] He is said to have used the shamrock, a three-leaved plant, to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish, and the wearing and display of shamrocks and shamrock-inspired designs have become a ubiquitous feature of the day.^[12][13] In the 1798 rebellion, in hopes of making a political statement, Irish soldiers wore full green uniforms on 17 March in hopes of catching public attention.^[10] The phrase "the wearing of the green", meaning to wear a shamrock on one's clothing, derives from a song of the same name. (source: wikipedia)

So, why do we pinch people not wearing green?

According to WikiAnswers:

Ireland is known as the Emerald Isle. Green is traditionally worn on St. Patrick's day to honor the Emerald Isle. Tradition holds that on that day, people who do not wear green are pinched as a reminder to wear green to honor the Emerald Isle.

 Huh, so who knew?;0) Here's wishing everyone a happy and safe St. Patty's day! I'll be thinking of the history associated with the fun as I munch Shepherd's Pie (prepared by my sister) this evening! ;0)

Just turn it off!

 

We did something big here at the "not so average" house. Something even a bit extreme to others. Even though I begged for such a thing to happen for a while, it's been a bit of an adjustment for the kids. We turned it off. The cable TV has been eliminated from our home, yep we turned it off. I, for one, couldn't care less! I don't watch it...I haven't been a big TV watcher for several years. There are a few shows I got in to the habit of watching with my man, but with me busy and him busier, the practice has gone to the wayside. Don't get me wrong, I love to keep up with current events and watch the news and I love me some HGTV on lazy weekends, but I can keep up with both easily! How? Read on!:

-Get a digital antenna. It just so happens that one of the previous owners of our house had a satellite. It was attached to the back of our house and made for optimal placement of our antenna. We even went as far as calling up one of the local cable companies to find out where the translators are and we able to aim the antenna directly at them. Awesome! We pick up the local channels clear as day and in crisp HD quality too. I never miss out on my local news either. 

-Think Netflix and Hulu. Both for about 10 bucks a month and I can stream HGTV (with Hulu) on my laptop with HDMI output directly into the TV (in the bedroom). As for the family room we have a Blue-ray player with a internet connection and we can watch so many different kinds of movies and all of the kids' favorite TV shows from Nick and Disney Channel on Netflix. Pretty cool huh?

-Take the opportunity to encourage reading. Since the kids no longer have cable in their bedrooms, they spend their quiet time before bed reading. I love it. I am convinced that true knowledge is born from a love of reading.

The ups? No more drooling lumps before the TV having their little brains turned to mush. No more arguing when asked to something because "I was watching that!!" I can sequester them to their rooms when I need a time out and I come back to find them reading or doing something creative.
The downs? They are all out here watching Netflix next to my computer....loudly. Um, yeah. That's only this week though...next week they'll be back in school!

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 220)

Being Chic on the Cheap!

Howdy partners! Today's tip comes from the depths of my closet and emptiness of my pocketbook. It's no secret that money has been tight around here, but that doesn't mean I don't look good! (Well, you be the judge!) And even though I haven't had a lot of extra cash for clothes, I want to share with you some tips for making what you have stretch a little further. Join me...to the closet we goooooo. ;0)

One of the best things to do to stretch your wardrobe is to make sure you have some fabulous basics. The top I have above is from Banana Republic, purchased at TJ Maxx for 5.99. (Thank you Mommy for the gift card!). It's a classic black and fitted at the top with a V-neck and loose at the bottom. Super cute and super comfy!

The first look is great for warm nights (think date night!) or looking nice during the day. I paired it with a pair of super comfy stretch jeans (another TJ Maxx find, 7 dollars on clearance) rolled up into cuffs and had a little fun with my super cute and comfy hot pink wedges (Ross $9.99) and matching pink beads (seriously Wal-Mart clearance for $3!). Grab a blazer if it's nippy and look how cute this is!

This second look is one of my favorites! I paired the top with a snappy black and white striped cardigan (Ross clearance $8) and paired it with a pair of comfy faded stretch jeans (TJ Maxx clearance $8.99). Black and white is so graphic it's really fun to add a punch of red! I added the red shiny necklace (Target $1 section!!) and my favorite red and black leopard print ballet flats (Ross 9.99). Black and white stripes are very in right now and I love, love this look!

Look #3 is conservative, but super cute! I paired the top with a pretty lavender basic comfy tee (Target 3 bucks on clearance) and my charcoal colored light weight wool military inspired capris (Old Navy clearance 5 bucks!) and my favorite comfy black ballet flats (Ross $12.99). My purple purse (TJ Maxx 12.99 clearance) and purple and silver necklace ( I made it myself!) make great accessories!

 

The last look would be the most likely candidate for a day like today. My kids are out of school and they want me to take them to the playground. Doesn't mean you have to wear sweats, right? Right. I paired the top with my comfy cargos (Target $6 on clearance) and my pinstriped short sleeved blazer (TJ Maxx $5 clearance!). Along with my signature cons (in sky blue and $24.99 at TJ Maxx) and my great retro denim cap ($7 clearance Target) I am fabulous! Wow, I just realized that my entire outfit cost less than my shoes! Awesome!
So let's recap: 1. Have great basics....check!
                      2. Make sure to accessorize....check!
                      3. Don't be afraid of a little color....check!
                      4. Have great shoes....check, check!
                      5. Don't spend a lot and look great too? I think I've got it down! Happy good lookin' TiP fOr TuEsDaY! ;0)

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 219)

Claritin!

Here we are on the first Monday of Spring Break! I didn't get to sleep in (I was rescuing a friend instead), but it hasn't been too bad. My kids are getting old enough to be exceptionally lazy on breaks, so other than not getting them to do anything at all...okay, that in itself is kind of annoying. ;0P Oh well...what was I talking about? Oh yeah, Spring. Yep I love it, even if my allergies beg to differ!
Allergies? Ick. Spring with warmer temperatures and colors to brighten the landscape, cool! I love my Claritin though and it makes the warmth of Spring that much more enjoyable!  I developed some serious hay-fever as a late teenager and have tried many, many things for a little relief and nothing has ever been so effective as Claritin. It zaps my itchy eyes, my runny/stuffy nose, it clears out the allergy fog and it's non-drowsy! Yep, it makes me feel better without slowing me down...awesome!
Spring = Awesome! Allergies? Yeah, not so much. Not to worry though, I'm armed with the power of Claritin! Take that allergies and hellooooo sunshine! ;0)

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 218)

J. Lamb 2011

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing". ~Camille Pissarro

The world is how you perceive it. Things and people and reactions and inaction vary greatly with upbringing and circumstance. No two people will view the same circumstance exactly alike. A memory shared by two people could be thought of entirely different to each. People feel how they are going to feel and people see things as they see them or even as they wish them to be. Questioning the feelings and perception of someone else or forcing your views on others is both counterproductive and cruel to an extent. Once we all accept the differences of each other, peace on earth would abound. Just a thought...;0)

Here we sew again!

A little applique action

A little closer up for detail

This turned out so cute, I just had to share! I made this pillow for a birthday party last week my kids went to. Money has been extremely tight (not that I'm complaining at all) and this has forced me to be a little more creative. With a 5 dollar budget for a present getting something "good" is impossible though, right? Au contraire mon ami! This stinkin' cute pillow only cost 5 bucks in material and about an hour to complete. Here's how I did it!:

I scoped the clearance section at Ross (gotta love Ross!) for an inexpensive pillow with a removable case. I found this one for 3.99. "Taite" loves sharks and was having a shark themed party, so the variegated blue and white striping was perfect for water. Next I hopped on over to Michael's and picked up 3 sheets of felt in charcoal, white, and red for 29 cents each. When I got home I drew the letters on the red felt with a Sharpie and cut them out. I knew I wanted a Jaws-like shark and drew and cut out a head (think upside-down U) and a fin (just a long triangle). I wanted the teeth to stand up and be loose. I took the red and the white and cut out a circle for the mouth (I just layered them together to be the same size). I then took the white circle and folded it in half and started cutting zigzag "teeth" in a semi-circle (being careful to not cut the entire white circle in half). Once I was done with the cutting of the felt I got to work sticking the shapes and letter down to my pillow.
Did I mention that felt is the easiest material to applique? It's so true! If you use a lighter weight fabric you have to iron on your fusible webbing (wonder under) to the material and the pillow. This prevents bunching and wrinkling of the fabric. With felt I just eliminate that step and I just tack my letters and shapes down with a little Quick Dry Tacky Glue. Felt won't bunch or wrinkle over time and as long as you stitch it down tight, it'll stay put too! Since this is a pillow for a little guy I knew it was bound to loved a little hard...I stitched it down good! ;0)
After I finished sticking the shapes and letters down (I let it dry for about an hour) I got out some matching yarn and my yarn needle that I already had. I stitched around the shark and around the mouth with a blanket stitch. I had glued down two small circles for the eyes and I knotted and stitched in "pupils". I loved the texture this provided, but it was time consuming. The case was removable, but it overlapped in the back like a sham and this made machine stitching tricky. I finally turned the case inside out and the flaps folded over the front instead. This made it so I could machine stitch the letters on. I just pushed the flaps out of the way and stitched in a little window (think like embroidering in an embroidery hoop).
Super inexpensive and not very much time to make and I guess he loved it! His Mom said he was carrying it around with him. I love it!

ShE's NoT yOuR aVeRaGe (SOCCER) MoM

It seems to be that time of year. Yes, winter is melting fast and the buds and allergies and soccer balls are flying! Spring soccer season is upon us and MoM is perfecting her taxiing skills. My daughter had taken full advantage of me not being a productive member of the workforce and has participated in as many things as she possibly can. She joined the Safety Patrol at her school, she sings in the choir, plays the bass xylophone, and the violin. She attends a music after school program and now is playing girl's soccer with the local rec center, phew!
I've decided that if my kids want to participate in organized sports, playing through the rec center is the way to go. The program emphasizes teamwork and fun over competition and I love the laid back vibe. My brother played soccer for many years and my Mom was the coach for many of them too and I remember how heated the matches would get. The boys would trample over each other without a thought. I love the girl's style though! Two little girls each trying to get the ball and one accidentally kicks the other and then apologizes! I love it!
Okay, so it seems that the mini-van driving, soccer practice attending, taxiing children for 1/3 of the day days of spring are in full bloom! Being present for my kids as they grow up? Priceless. ;0)

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 215)

Strange tips that work!

As I was thinking of a "tip" segment for today, I came to the realization that some of things I do are a bit unconventional. How I vanquish the sickies or comfort colds or even how I clean some things aren't what you could describe as "normal". Ha! I mean, what do you expect from ShE's NoT yOuR aVeRaGe MoM? Exactly!

-Got a sore throat?

This has got to be one of my favorite tips and one I follow religiously. Say you have a sore throat or you have that obnoxious tickle in it that means you are coming down with something...get out your Listerine then and gargle! I gargle my sore throats gone always and it really works too! My kids are even old enough to do this too. Just get a little Listerine in your mouth and lean your head back as far as it goes and gargle for as long as you can stand. If I do this 2 to 3 times a day, I can get rid of the sore throat withing a few days and it even helps diminish my colds. We can always use less time feeling yucky, right? Exactly. ;0)


-Stuffy head/ cough at night?

My kids catch colds of course, ick... and my daughter even had the croup this winter, double ick. I was so surprised when the pediatrician suggested this, but it really works! Put Vicks VapoRub on the souls of their feet and put on socks for bed. Weird, huh? Wow, I was so surprised when it worked though! My kids slept easier and coughed less and got over their colds a little faster because they were well-rested! Who'd a thunk it? Simple too! ;0)

-Quit scrubbing your shower!

What? You're kidding, right? Nope. I actually rarely deep clean my shower, but it isn't disgusting. Want to know how? Easy! I have some anti-bacterial body wash in my shower (it's great for armpits) and an old scrubby poofy and I have a clean shower. How? About once a week, while I'm showering, I put a little anti-bacterial on the old poofy and scrub wash the floors and the walls and the rest of the surfaces. The anti-bacterial soap helps control the mold/mildew growth and makes it so I don't have to spend a lot of time scrubbing unnecessarily! Cool, huh? I also keep the glass doors clean by squeegeeing them after the shower.

-Don't throw away your used paper towels!

Really? Isn't that kind of gross? Not really. I mean don't throw away the ones you wiped your hands on. They are just wet right? Not necessarily dirty. My man has the habit of leaving his paper towels on the counter tops when he is done with them, not a bad thing though. I grab them to wipe up spills and I grab them to wipe the floor. It saves you from wasting so many paper towels and give something to grab and wipe up spills! Win, win if you ask me! ;0)

So here's a few of my unconventional tips...Listerine for sore throats, VapoRub and socks for colds, anti-bacterial soap for showers, and reuse of paper towels. Sounds good, right? That's your tip for Tuesday! ;0)

tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe (post 214)

Listerine!!

Happy Monday folks! Why do I always have more things to do than time on Mondays? Ahhh! Anyway, here's one of my favorite germ killing, morning breath zapping, great oral health promoting products...yes, Listerine!
I remember the thought of using Listerine as a child and cringing. You only had the one icky flavor and the thought brings back that old gag reflex...blech! That is totally not the case now! You have so many choices in flavors and protections...you have no excuse not to try it! I personally love the Advanced Citrus (pictured above) but, there is Cool Mint, Fresh Burst, Cinnamint and antiseptic, anti-cavity, tarter protection...wow, why haven't you tried it yet?
Out of bed in the morning I wash the sleep from my eyes and swish and gargle a little Listerine. Canker sores, sore throat, hot date? Better hit the Listerine my friends! I floss and use a little Listerine before bed and it's my go to remedy for a sore throat.
Zap those Monday morning, rush around blues with a little Listerine! tHiS iS wHaT i LiKe, you should try it too! ;0)

Weekly Giveaway!

http://weeklygiveaway.blogspot.com/2011/03/wg-subscribers-giveaway.html

Come check it out, Weekly Giveaway is at it again! Click the link or tap the button (in the right hand corner) and win yourself an awesome cosmetic bag! It's easy!! They're super cute too!

ThOuGhT fOr ThE dAy (post 212)

"An act of goodness is of itself and act of happiness. No reward coming after the event can compare with the sweet reward that went with it. ~Maurice Maeterlinck

Absolutely! When you go out of your way to do something nice for someone else it feels so good. Don't think about a possible reward, just go and do and serve your fellow man. Be happy doing good. Just a thought ;0)

Wishing for Spring!

Who else is ready for Spring? I know I am! I live in an area that usually has mild winters. It's not unusual for it to be in the fifties all winter long. Not the last couple of years though and I've had enough! It snowed twice here this winter, it has been in the single digits during the night and day on several occasions, and the sun has hidden it's face for far too long! Seriously, I live here for the beautiful weather and being so cold this year has been a bummer.
Thank you for the warmth of the day (it was 68 when I was just out there) and thank you mother nature for hinting that maybe warmer weather will be here more often.
What do you like to do for Spring? I like to take my family to the park and I will be spending the weekend outside pulling weeds! (Thank you silly rain!) I enjoy walking through my neighborhood and traveling to see family too. I could live without the allergies that are bothering me now, but honestly that's a year round occurrence!
Feel free to remind me of this post when I'm complaining that it's 110 out this summer, but for now I'll look forward to Spring! ;0)

Happy Birthday Dr. Suess!

 

"Today you are you, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is youer than you." 

~ Dr. Seuss

We all grew up reading the silly stories of Dr. Seuss. The Cat in the Hat, One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish, Horton Hears a Who...all beloved tales of wonderful author. The world of reading has been a more fascinating place since Dr. Seuss started filling the minds of young readers with visions of star-bellied sneeches and green eggs and ham. I learned ho to rhyme via Dr. Seuss and I love that the school children of today celebrate his life through reading goals and "Striped Hat" days. My kids will be eating green eggs and ham for lunch today as well!

"The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go." ~Dr. Seuss

The key to knowledge is through reading. If you develop a love of reading while you are young...no one will ever be able to stop you. Thank you Dr. Seuss!

TiP fOr TuEsDaY (post 209)

Keep it clean! (With very little effort!)

I like a clean house just as much as anyone. Yep. Do I like to clean it? Nope. I've never claimed to have this gorgeous spotless house, I mean we LIVE here. Someone is in the house almost all the time! It will not ever stay clean on it's own and I like a clean house. I somehow keep it clean though and it really isn't that hard! Here's a couple of tips I use and they work!:

Keep your front room clean.
If you are lucky, you have a room that everyone comes into when they come through the door. (I do!) The rest of the house, eh...it's not always that clean. The front room has no clutter, the pillows are nicely arranged and the kids don't hang out in there. That's key! I don't let anyone leave their things in that room either. It gets vacuumed first when I vacuum the house. I take the time to dust off the surfaces (actually, I am lazy and allergic to dust so, I just vacuum ALL surfaces with my hose attachment). The kids (and let's face it, your spouse) can dirty the rest of the house for you instead! ;0)

Never leave dishes in the sink. Period.

I love this habit! I can't stand washing dishes. Nope. My sister and I were subjected to washing large sinks full disgusting dirty dishes frequently as a form of punishment and I know this is where my disdain for the chore comes in. Yuck. Solution: Never leave dirty dishes! I have a dishwasher and I have kids and I two hands. The kids automatically rinse and place all dirty dishes in the dishwasher (as do I). My man washes his dishes by hand as soon as he's done with them. I take all pots for cooking directly to the sink when I'm done with them and take a minute to rinse them out. If they are really gross, I'll fill them with soapy water and soak them while I eat and then wash them when I'm done. See? Very little effort and no yucky dishes in the sink! ;0)

Use bleach (It's your friend!).

Ahh...bleach, you are great for killing germs, whitening my whites, and making my cleaning tasks a little easier! Smelly sink? Run a little water and a couple of caps full of bleach down the drain. Take that smell! Yucky sponge? Fill the sink with enough water to cover the sponge and a couple of caps full of bleach. Zap! Sanitized sponge! Also, take a minute to wash the sink with the bleach water, clean sponge, and a little dish soap. This works great for the back of the sink (you know where it grows stuff? yuck.) and the germy spigot. Also, if you work or you have kids that leave for at least part of the day, use bleach to clean the toilets too. Before work pour a little bleach in the potty and leave it for the day or if you have school aged kids, do it when they leave for the day. Come back later with the brush and gloves and a rag (or paper towels) and wipe the inside of the bowl with the brush and dip your rag (or paper towel) and take it to the surfaces. Relax, you just sanitized the water in the bowl! You might as well use it to clean the rest of the toilet! Kapow! See ya germs! ;0)

When I take the approach of cleaning without a lot of effort, it never seems like I spent all day doing something for nothing! I mean, the kids will make a mess again when they get home anyway! I have more of these types of tips, so stay tuned! That's your TiP fOr TuEsDaY! ;0)