Monday, June 21, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Cleaning!
So this morning Mr Man took a nice long nap which allowed me to take a nice long shower and clean the bathroom. You'd think something as simple as cleaning the bathroom would be sorta blah and not post worthy, but I'm a gal who likes to have a sparkly clean bathroom! And I'm really particular about my cleaning products.
For those of you who are like uber "Eco" this and Eco that...shoo! This ain't the post for you (or the blog for you for that matter!).
But I'm also mildly OCD and like to clean. I also like doing dishes. And laundry. I just don't always have the time or energy to do all that I *want* to do these days.
So over the last few years I've really narrowed down a few of my favorite cleaning products. These are the staples I use daily and keep my house sparkly clean and keep the germs away!
1. Lysol disinfecting wipes.
Thank you Lysol for this godsend of a product.
If you go into any bathroom in my house - there is a bottle in each one. I use them mostly as the toilet seat/tank cleaner. That way, no yucky sponge to have to keep just for that nasty task.
They're also great for quick wipe-downs/spills in the kitchen.
Or cleaning up cat poop off the floor in the basement bathroom.
Sorry but ya'll know it happens when after a week and papa-bear still hasn't cleaned out their litter box. (I refuse to- they're his cats and therefore the litter box is his duty!!)
2. Clorox Clean-Up
This is my go-to cleaner for the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.
3. Arm & Hammer Scrub Free
This is the best cleaner I've found for the shower. It gets rid of the soap scum on the glass surround in our shower. I've never seen something work so good. I just spray it on the glass doors/tile walls and turn the water on to get hot. I like showering in a clean shower, so I grab a sponge and get in, give a quick wipe to the doors/walls and then shower myself. Its a lot easier all around and when I get out - there isn't a soap scum spot on the doors at all. Its really great!
4. Scotch Brite - No Scratch sponges
These are the blue ones and the ONLY sponges I use. They last for ages, don't scratch anything (I use a lot of non-stick bake ware and bone chine and these are awesome on those) and clean everything great! I'm hooked for LIFE!
5. The Dyson Slim
I got this vacuum shortly after moving here. For two reasons.
One I'm allergic to Sam's 2 cats and want to clean up as much hair as possible. I vacuum every 2-3 days. I also want something easy to carry up and down our tri-level house.
Two - I hate buying filters for a vacuum.
Here's my pet peeve. I had a great vacuum a few years ago from Hoover. There was nothing wrong with it at all. I used it for 2-3 years then I started noticing it was harder and harder to find the HEPA filters (it was a bagless cyclonic, so no bag worries there). I noticed that the 'latest and greatest' took a different kind of filter and that was all the stores were carrying. So, either start ordering the filters online (because I literally could not find a store within a reasonable distance who carried the filters) or get a new vacuum.
I chose the latter. I don't have to worry about any of that anymore. I get a great vacuum and don't have to buy anything else for it...ever! (well, I suppose unless we break something and need a replacement part.)
6. Lysol disenfecting spray
I use this mostly now for the trash cans and especially the diaper pail! Keeps it clean and smelling good :)
So that's it. That's my list of my favorite cleaning products.
For those of you who are like uber "Eco" this and Eco that...shoo! This ain't the post for you (or the blog for you for that matter!).
But I'm also mildly OCD and like to clean. I also like doing dishes. And laundry. I just don't always have the time or energy to do all that I *want* to do these days.
So over the last few years I've really narrowed down a few of my favorite cleaning products. These are the staples I use daily and keep my house sparkly clean and keep the germs away!
1. Lysol disinfecting wipes.
Thank you Lysol for this godsend of a product.If you go into any bathroom in my house - there is a bottle in each one. I use them mostly as the toilet seat/tank cleaner. That way, no yucky sponge to have to keep just for that nasty task.
They're also great for quick wipe-downs/spills in the kitchen.
Or cleaning up cat poop off the floor in the basement bathroom.
Sorry but ya'll know it happens when after a week and papa-bear still hasn't cleaned out their litter box. (I refuse to- they're his cats and therefore the litter box is his duty!!)
2. Clorox Clean-Up
This is my go-to cleaner for the kitchen and the bathroom sinks.
3. Arm & Hammer Scrub Free
This is the best cleaner I've found for the shower. It gets rid of the soap scum on the glass surround in our shower. I've never seen something work so good. I just spray it on the glass doors/tile walls and turn the water on to get hot. I like showering in a clean shower, so I grab a sponge and get in, give a quick wipe to the doors/walls and then shower myself. Its a lot easier all around and when I get out - there isn't a soap scum spot on the doors at all. Its really great!
4. Scotch Brite - No Scratch sponges
These are the blue ones and the ONLY sponges I use. They last for ages, don't scratch anything (I use a lot of non-stick bake ware and bone chine and these are awesome on those) and clean everything great! I'm hooked for LIFE!
5. The Dyson Slim
I got this vacuum shortly after moving here. For two reasons.
One I'm allergic to Sam's 2 cats and want to clean up as much hair as possible. I vacuum every 2-3 days. I also want something easy to carry up and down our tri-level house.
Two - I hate buying filters for a vacuum.
Here's my pet peeve. I had a great vacuum a few years ago from Hoover. There was nothing wrong with it at all. I used it for 2-3 years then I started noticing it was harder and harder to find the HEPA filters (it was a bagless cyclonic, so no bag worries there). I noticed that the 'latest and greatest' took a different kind of filter and that was all the stores were carrying. So, either start ordering the filters online (because I literally could not find a store within a reasonable distance who carried the filters) or get a new vacuum.
I chose the latter. I don't have to worry about any of that anymore. I get a great vacuum and don't have to buy anything else for it...ever! (well, I suppose unless we break something and need a replacement part.)
6. Lysol disenfecting spray
I use this mostly now for the trash cans and especially the diaper pail! Keeps it clean and smelling good :)
So that's it. That's my list of my favorite cleaning products.
Lists are good!
I've always been a list person. For a little while now, I've gotten out of the habit of writing lists. But ever since Mr Man has been born, I'm realizing I need to get back into the habit of it. I keep forgetting everything!
So some days my lists are as simple as:
1. Take shower
2. Do dishes
3. Do Mr Man's laundry
4. Take junk on main level upstairs/to basement.
5. Go to bed early!
Even mundane things that get done that day, with a list, makes me feel like I accomplished something. Plus, it helps me not get sidetracked (which is easy and happens often) and if I do get sidetracked, the lists often help me get back to what I was doing faster, rather than trying to recall what it was I was doing.
But in addition to daily lists, I have lists to accomplish in the broader spectrum. Like things I want to do this summer, this year, within 5 years, within 10 years, before I die, etc. Some of this list making I've just always done but some of it I learned when I worked at the financial planning firm (Waddell & Reed, for 8 years).
It helps me strive towards them by keeping me accountable. Especially when it comes to stuff that takes finances.
For instance here's a small snapshot of a few of my lists:
To do this summer:
1. Swim with Max- lessons ideally
2. Little Gym 7 week classes
3. Organize the home office
4. Finish hanging pictures/artwork around the house.
5. Master and implement meal planning -either weekly or monthly and stick to it!
To do this year:
1. Figure out the minivan/SUV situation - either buy this year or figure out when to do it for next year
2. Paint the basement
3. Get the basement ready for Mr Man as a playroom
4. Change out the 'guest' bath decor to be more kiddo friendly and get it ready to be Mr Man's bathroom
5. Master couponing/grocery cycles to and track spending so that by the end of the year, I have a finite budget and can make it all stick!
To do in 5 years:
1. Be able to say we're debt free (minus the mtg) - which includes the last of my school loan + whatever minivan/SUV we're getting this year (or early next year)
2. Hopefully we can say we have 3 kids?!
3. Move out of the townhouse into a house with more bedrooms and bigger kitchen (ours is plenty big overall and we really like it, but it is short on bedrooms and the kitchen is teeny tiny).
4. Start homeschooling Mr Man and then other future kids as well
To do in 10 years:
1. Take a big family vacation each year
2. Go to Hawaii for a vow renewal on the beach
3. Go to Disney-world in Orlando for a week (with Sam's family too?!)
So some days my lists are as simple as:
1. Take shower
2. Do dishes
3. Do Mr Man's laundry
4. Take junk on main level upstairs/to basement.
5. Go to bed early!
Even mundane things that get done that day, with a list, makes me feel like I accomplished something. Plus, it helps me not get sidetracked (which is easy and happens often) and if I do get sidetracked, the lists often help me get back to what I was doing faster, rather than trying to recall what it was I was doing.
But in addition to daily lists, I have lists to accomplish in the broader spectrum. Like things I want to do this summer, this year, within 5 years, within 10 years, before I die, etc. Some of this list making I've just always done but some of it I learned when I worked at the financial planning firm (Waddell & Reed, for 8 years).
It helps me strive towards them by keeping me accountable. Especially when it comes to stuff that takes finances.
For instance here's a small snapshot of a few of my lists:
To do this summer:
1. Swim with Max- lessons ideally
2. Little Gym 7 week classes
3. Organize the home office
4. Finish hanging pictures/artwork around the house.
5. Master and implement meal planning -either weekly or monthly and stick to it!
To do this year:
1. Figure out the minivan/SUV situation - either buy this year or figure out when to do it for next year
2. Paint the basement
3. Get the basement ready for Mr Man as a playroom
4. Change out the 'guest' bath decor to be more kiddo friendly and get it ready to be Mr Man's bathroom
5. Master couponing/grocery cycles to and track spending so that by the end of the year, I have a finite budget and can make it all stick!
To do in 5 years:
1. Be able to say we're debt free (minus the mtg) - which includes the last of my school loan + whatever minivan/SUV we're getting this year (or early next year)
2. Hopefully we can say we have 3 kids?!
3. Move out of the townhouse into a house with more bedrooms and bigger kitchen (ours is plenty big overall and we really like it, but it is short on bedrooms and the kitchen is teeny tiny).
4. Start homeschooling Mr Man and then other future kids as well
To do in 10 years:
1. Take a big family vacation each year
2. Go to Hawaii for a vow renewal on the beach
3. Go to Disney-world in Orlando for a week (with Sam's family too?!)
Friday, June 18, 2010
The Blues
Not sure why but lately I've had the blogging blues. I have a whole bunch of posts/topics in my head all day, every day, but once the evening comes and it is the time for me to sit down and write...I'm lazy and just put it off.
I have a bunch of pictures and catch-up posts to write...soon!
Until then...cutie pics:
I have a bunch of pictures and catch-up posts to write...soon!
Until then...cutie pics:
(seriously, look at those chunkum legs!)
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Also, as an aside. Shortly after Mr Man was born, my mom shared one of her favorite Bible passages with me. I can see why- I love it now as much as she does.
Psalm 139 (the whole Psalm is good but 13-16 is the best part!)
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,
16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Just a quickie
I got this at Target today for $8. Yep $8.
I used a TON of coupons and had a little luck.
Luck being that a $1 off coupon didn't scan and the cashier was flustered so it looks like instead of overriding it with the $1 she entered $3.18, which was the cost of the item. That makes up for the fact that a different cashier didn't enter in my B1G1 item amount, thus negating the 'free' item I was supposed to get.
More later on this but all in all, it was a successful day at Target. In the previous transaction, I spent $81 but saved $90. Not bad. And it is all on stuff we use often/daily with long and/or no expiration dates (paper and cleaning products mostly). Hurray for cheap, cheap stockpiling.
To learn more about some of the target deals, go here. Scroll down a bit and you'll see about the Scrubbing Bubbles deals.
Also, go here to use the Coupon Database. It is very simple. Just enter what you're looking for in the description field and hit search. Or watch the tutorial listed above the database.
And remember, at Target you can use their coupon + manufacturer coupon for the same item, and can buy multiples of those same items/coupons in the same transaction. Makes for some good, good deals. To find the Target coupon section go to www.Target.com and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main page. Under the bold Target Stores title you'll see the links to the Weekly Ad and the link to the coupons. Wahlah!
Happy shopping!
Luck being that a $1 off coupon didn't scan and the cashier was flustered so it looks like instead of overriding it with the $1 she entered $3.18, which was the cost of the item. That makes up for the fact that a different cashier didn't enter in my B1G1 item amount, thus negating the 'free' item I was supposed to get.
More later on this but all in all, it was a successful day at Target. In the previous transaction, I spent $81 but saved $90. Not bad. And it is all on stuff we use often/daily with long and/or no expiration dates (paper and cleaning products mostly). Hurray for cheap, cheap stockpiling.
To learn more about some of the target deals, go here. Scroll down a bit and you'll see about the Scrubbing Bubbles deals.
Also, go here to use the Coupon Database. It is very simple. Just enter what you're looking for in the description field and hit search. Or watch the tutorial listed above the database.
And remember, at Target you can use their coupon + manufacturer coupon for the same item, and can buy multiples of those same items/coupons in the same transaction. Makes for some good, good deals. To find the Target coupon section go to www.Target.com and scroll all the way down to the bottom of the main page. Under the bold Target Stores title you'll see the links to the Weekly Ad and the link to the coupons. Wahlah!
Happy shopping!
Thursday, June 3, 2010
7 Months!
Well yesterday, 6/2/2010, Mr Man turned 7 months old!
He celebrated by officially crawling.
He's been scooting and sorta rocking on his hands/knees for about 1.5 - 2 weeks now. But up until yesterday he hadn't put all the pieces together.
Boy oh boy can he move around quickly!
Lets see, at 7 months Mr Man:
He celebrated by officially crawling.
He's been scooting and sorta rocking on his hands/knees for about 1.5 - 2 weeks now. But up until yesterday he hadn't put all the pieces together.
Boy oh boy can he move around quickly!
Lets see, at 7 months Mr Man:
- Can crawl
- Can roll from tummy and back
- Eats rice cereal/oatmeal and other 2nd foods, in addition to his mommy-milk
- Just tried the rice 'puffs' thingamajig- mixed reviews. He frowns upon putting one in his mouth, then smiles a bit later with tasting it. I think the texture throws him off at the moment.
- Wears size 9mo clothes comfortably, some smallish fitting 12mo clothes
- Eyes are still blue
- Hair is a dark blonde - with some strawberry tones in the right light
- Loves to laugh
- Has no teeth still
- Can sit independently - but cannot sit up (from a laying position) or pull himself up (thank goodness)
- Takes roughly 2 naps per day and still isn't sleeping through the night (oh how I can't wait for that)
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