Vinegar...That's What's Up!

Oh my goodness, the many uses of vinegar.  I never knew how useful this cheap item could be (under $2.00 a bottle)!  First of all, I have never used a window cleaner that has done a better job.  No streaks on my mirrors...amazing!  I guess the easiest way to share all of the wonderful things I've learned about this product is to make a list.

• As a cleaner-  1cup vinegar to 3 cups water.  I put this in a spray bottle and use it to clean windows, glass tables, counter tops, and especially mirrors.  Vinegar is super cheap and safe, and it works better than any cleaner I have EVER used.  NO STREAKS.  Am I really getting that excited about this?  Sheesh.

• To remove rust- Oh yeah baby, you read that right.  It takes rust out of carpets!  I have a lovely set of patio furniture (thanks mom), which sits on a beige rug.  With time, and rain, rust stains began seeping in turning what made my patio look AWESOME to...yucky dirtiness.  I poured vinegar over the stains and let them sit.  Since my carpet is light, I didn't have to worry about bleaching.  Dark carpets take heed!  Anyway, I then got some paper towels and pressed them into the areas I covered.  It freaking pulls it out.  Don't expect to tackle this quickly though.  It takes time. Lots of time.  My carpet laughed at the other products I used.  It was a little victory, no matter how long it took!

• LICE-UGGHHHHH   Anyone with school aged kids knows what it's like to fear these creepy, nasty, tough as nails little buggers that can hold their breath under water and spit it back out at you. Really though, they actually hold their breath under water.  But they don't like vinegar!!  Take some vinegar and a little bit of water to dilute and place it in a light colored bowl (this is so you can inspect what you've gotten out of the hair).  Then go ahead and dip the fine toothed comb in vinegar, run through hair slowly, dip it in the vinegar to see what you've got. Repeat. Repeat again.  And again. Every day for at least one week as many times as you can.  It works.

• Bird Poo- Yep, I said bird poo.  Vinegar takes it away easily, particularly when tweety takes aim at your windshield.

• Those annoying stickers...You know the ones-they are the price tags you can't get off of your pretty, new vase.  It makes me want to scream.  Why do manufacturers do that anyway?  Vinegar. 

• SMELLS- Put some vinegar on a rag and run around the room waving it over your head.  Goodbye nasty, smoky smell.  

• SALT BE GONE- You know that nasty, white ring you get around your shoes in the winter?  Tackle it with a rag dipped in white vinegar.  

• Keep your flowers fresh longer-  Add a tablespoon or two and a bit of sugar to that vase.

Garden Bugs and Pests? Take back Your Garden!

For the last two gardening seasons I have fallen in love with Bayer Garden products.
I'm an avid gardener with an abundance of roses that are supposed to be pest and disease free. They are far from it (see picture above). The first year I planted my roses they were so eaten up by insects they were just twigs sticking out of the ground. A landscaper suggested I pull them out and throw them away. Yea,  not a good idea for what I paid for those roses. Plus, I really wanted them to be beautiful and thrive. I researched and found I had sawflies, Japanese Beetles, Aphids, etc..

I tried Bayer Advanced All-In-One Rose & Flower Care.

This stuff works!!! I used to spray EVERY day and now I just put this at the base of the plants and shazam... Deed done. Give me a nice cold tea and a hammock I can rest in for the next few months. This stuff keeps working that long. I put this on my Oak Leaf Hydrangeas when I saw they were getting black spot. It stopped it dead in it's tracks and the leaves looked flawless the rest of the season. I love this stuff. It is so effective AND easy.
From personal experience I would suggest following the storage temperature suggestions. I left mine in the shed in this northern climate and it wasn't quite as effective this year. I bought a fresh bottle and it worked as good as ever. I find if I put it on during the time of new growth it is even more effective.

                                                                 Treated rose foliage

http://www.bayeradvanced.com/insects-pests/products/all-in-one-rose-flower-care

Since the product for the roses and shrubs worked amazingly well I checked out other Bayer products for the garden. For my trees I chose the systemic treatment they call Bayer Tree and Shrub Protect and Feed. This one is even easier to apply than the one for the flowers. Japanese Beetles used to plan their meet and greets in my trees every year. Not any more! In fact, I don't have issues with any pests at all now. How about another gallon of iced tea and a cabin on the lake because this stuff lasts for a full 12 months! At first I thought it was a bit pricey but when I thought about it I only apply it once a year and it works great.Again, with this product, it seems to have worked best during the time of new growth.
Now for the feeding part. My house was built last in the row of five homes. Thus, my Crimson King Maples were the smallest. I put this product on them this year and they are NOT the smallest anymore!! I'm amazed every time I drive by the row of trees. I could almost see them growing. They are now the same size as the neighbor's trees which were planted three years earlier than mine. I plan to put it on again next spring. The goal is to get them even bigger than the neighbor's trees!

Ping Pong

Well I'm admittedly a little tardy getting my first post up here. You see, I've been very busy getting ready for my departure from sanity (as some may see it). What a strange time in my life. The good, the bad and the unknown all intersecting. All of my life I've been striving to 'get there' and I finally did by definition. The house that's too big with a mortgage to match, great credit score, respect, title, beautiful kids and fun, beautiful grand-babies, and a whole bunch of stress. I've lived like a candle in the wind while not really living at all. I've lived backwards (more about that later). Somehow I guess it all turned out okay as observed by outsiders. But what is success anyway? Is it following along with all the other little worker bees flowing into the industrial parks every morning? I find myself following along in the line each day and thinking....since when have you ever been one to color in the lines anyway?  For quite some time I've had a feeling that things don't quit fit. I'm at a stage in my life where I am comfortable with me and less stressed about what others think. I'm not so reactionary. Not so afraid of failure.  So....I'm about to take a flying leap away from the attained goal. I'm getting out of that line of cars buzzing along to work. Yep, my autonomy score of 99.9% is rearing its head. I gave my 30 day notice (still playing safe and responsible) on May 4, 2012. I had 30 days to plan how to come out of it a raging success or at least still be able to pay my bills and never touch a Ramen Noodle. 30 days to squeeze all the doctor visits in ( yep, soon the insurance will be history), to figure out what happens to my 401K, to start a business of my own and a zillion other things. What did I get into? All because I wasn't digging the corporate coloring within the lines gig?   You betcha!  I'm going to start my own business!! Oh crap.....

Okay it's nearing the end of June. I've sunk an impressive amount of money into this new business adventure so it's too late to turn back now.  I've got everything moving along nicely and in the back of my mind is a voice asking...Are you crazy? You've never done anything like this line of business before. It is totally unlike healthcare which you have been in since age 18 and you are a hundred after all so what the heck? Did you not have enough sense to at least go into something similar? Then the same voice says...well it is nice to do something totally different. But how the heck do you know it is good to do something different since after all...you haven't done anything remotely like this EVER.  How's that for circular thinking? At least it is the same voice and not multiple voices right?  I have no idea if I'm going to like what I'm going to be doing but I'm pretty sure I will like not doing it for someone else or some corporation. At least I own myself for the first time.
So for now my money is dwindling on the gamble it will multiply in the future and in the end buy me some emotional zen. Life is chaotic in every corner of my life.  All around me is one drama or another outside of my control and involving people important to me. It's like a train that never ends. One car, attached to the next, attached to the next and they keep on coming. I am blessed with never ending tenacity which keeps me pushing ahead as the trains threatens to run me over.  I get that from my mother.
But anyway....I wanted to put in an update to let you all know I'm hanging in and still moving toward the goal of professional independence. School will start mid-July. May the force be with me!

No Water Shampoo...for the love of oatmeal

While pondering the many uses for baking soda, I realized I could make a waterless shampoo to help out my gramma.  It is simple and effective!  I just took some oatmeal and put it in a food processor to make it very fine.  Then I added an equal amount of baking soda and mixed them together.  The key really is to make it super fine.
Here is what it will look like...

When I was done I got a mason jar and put a bow on it.  All she has to do is put some of the mixture in her hair and brush it out.  EASY!  This recipe is great for people who are bedridden or otherwise unable to get to a bath.

I also set aside some oatmeal and placed it in a mason jar by my kids' bath.  I sprinkle some in for soft skin.  AWESOME.

DIY Kazoo

This post was inspired by something I ran across during one of my craft browsing sessions.  It is so very simple and my kids loved that they made this strangely musical contraption.

You will need:

A toilet paper roll

embellishments -- stickers work well.  We also glued some small foam pieces on.  

Wax paper 

A rubberband

I found that I needed to leave a space open in the wax paper (I just moved the rubberband until I had a small space where air can get in) because it made a better sound.  The hard part was getting them to HUM into it!

My daughter's has a bit more bling.

Paper Towel Art

When I first saw art done with cardboard rolls, I thought it looked so cool.  I also thought it was easier!  I learned some things as I messed around with making one for my daughter's room.

The idea is simple.  Cut pieces off of paper towel or toilet paper rolls, arrange them prettily and glue.  It does sound simple, right?  Maybe it's me.  I have a way of complicating things at times!  So...

Here are some tips from my experience:

• Try to cut the pieces to the same height.  If you do not, when it is hung on the wall, it won't stay put.  Also, it just looked careless.

• Painting, I thought, added to the look of this wall art.  At first I thought I could just throw together colors. That looked way too chaotic for me.  I redid my piece using one color for each flowers, and mixing it up that way.

• Play around with your arrangement before gluing.  Try different things and pick what looks right to you.

• Using paperclips to hold the pieces together while the glue dried worked nicely.

• Scrapbooking scissors gave the flowers a nice textured edge-I should have made all the leaves flat and all the flowers scalloped.  Be careful though!  The scrapbooking scissors are usually pretty small, and it works way better if you can cut in ONE single line.  Otherwise the cardboard frays and tears.  Again, just looks messy and careless.

• Some people say Elmer's glue or rubber cement worked.  Not for this chick.  I used Mod Podge because after having the first one fall apart several times from the weight of it hanging on the wall had me mumbling under my breath.  I didn't want to have to put it together yet again.

Overall, I like the way it turned out.  I would like to try it again.  Maybe decorate a frame in this way...but I need a break.  I will think on it, and go back to it at a later date.

Trash to Treasure Yard Sale Decoupage

We just LOOOOVVEE yard sales!  The kids have become keen observers on these outings.  If we tell them what to look for, they can spy it from a great distance!  Amazing.  We are usually on the hunt for particular items, but there are some constants (like aquarium equipment) so I make it a game-the buggers enjoy it immensely.  My son will even scout cute dresses and toys for lil' sis.  Yes, I taught him well!   A few weeks ago I picked up an ugly, old suitcase looking thing.  It was part basket, part leather-ish.  Again, ugly.  I had no clue what I was going to do with it, but I couldn't help thinking it could be cool...somehow.

Here is how I started............................>>>>>>>

As you can see, the old, weaving and pleather combo left much to be desired.  I start playing around with the top.  I added pieces of scrapbook paper...stepped back and realized that the weaving HAD to be covered.  I knew that the scrapbook paper was a bit too stiff.  It wouldn't hold well, and it would have looked terrible.  I need something that I could push into the cracks and crevices.  TISSUE PAPER!  I grabbed some complimentary colored tissue paper, or so I thought, and some Mod Podge.  I spread crinkled pieces of tissue paper up and put them on with loads of Mod Podge.  I also some pieces of scrapbook paper to bring the top and sides together.  As it turned out, the one color I chose was way too bright, but I was not about to give up.  I would not allow myself to rip it apart.  I pushed on.

Honestly, the picture doesn't do it justice.  It actually looks quite cute.  I would change the colors if I had it to do over, but I will take this information with me to the next project.  It was worth the $1.00!!

TWIGGY-A great craft for kids and mom

My family loves to romp through creeks and such.  Today, as we were doing just that, we found these cool twigs and I got inspired.










Baby girl had fun scrunching up the tissue paper and pinching it onto a twig.  A little Elmer's Glue-you can't go wrong.  It looks great, and it is such an easy, fun craft.

Although I love the deep pink, next time I will go for a softer, cherry blossom look.  It is amazing how something so simple can look so lovely.

Swheat Scoop - Natural Wheat Litter

• 
  Swheat Scoop

  If you have a cat you have to try the wheat litter. It is a little more expensive than regular litter but it lasts forever!!! I got it two weeks ago and still haven't had to change the litter box. It clumps so hard that all of the waste is removed when I scoop and still is at 2 weeks. With typical grocery store litter I had to dump the box weekly at the tune of $15/wk. I'm already spending less because this litter still looks like I just put it in fresh. I used corn litter before. Disgusting. So I was hesitant. I AM NEVER USING ANYTHING ELSE. I'm a clean freak and pretty picky. - Mom
  
  So I tried this stuff too, and I can honestly say I noticed a difference immediately.  There is no artificial smell, no weird dust flying all over.
  
  Another product that I love is Tropiclean.  I recently tried this Cat Odor Removal liquid.  Cat urine makes me gag.  A certain someone in my family brings a large dog over and she scares Dwight-last time she scared Dwight all over my lovely sofa.  It took 2 coats, but it is gone!!!  I am SO happy.
  

  

  Tropiclean...check it out HERE

PIXIE DUST POWER

A couple of years ago I had a thought that has helped me tremendously.  For all the moms and dads that have bedtime troubles, this is for you.

My kids just love the Tinkerbell movies.  A have to say, at first I made a bit of a face and poo poo'd them, but my girlfriend's descriptions made me cave.  I have found them to be delightful; clever and thoughtful.
Although I think making the fairies look like little girls would set me more at ease.  I mean, have you seen the "make-overs" of all the old favorites?  Strawberry Shortcake-one of may favorites.

Strawberry Shortcake

Still cute, but somehow she is much, um, older??

Make-over

Okay, so back to the pixie dust.  To sooth nighttime fears, I placed Johnson's Baby powder (lavender scent...somehow it is a bit more magical) into a mason jar.  I tied a bow around it and told the kids that the faires fill the jar for me.  Right before I leave their room at night, I place a small pinch in my hand, enough for a good effect, and say the magic words:  "Pixie dust, pixie dust keep bad dreams away from me. Make them all just LEAVE ME BE!"  Then I blow the powder over them (avoiding their faces...powder in the lungs-not good).  I tell them that they glow at night, just like in Peter Pan.  When the powder works its magic, it shines like gold. Of course, this always puts a smile on their faces.

Pixie Dust

One last comment before I end my post...

LOOK AT WHAT THEY DID TO RAINBOW BRITE!  I have an old, original doll (thanks mom).

Rainbow Brite

Make-over

REALLY????  Just sayin'.

"Beachy" Picture Frame

This frame came from inspiration I got while cruisin' Pinterest. See Beachy Frame HERE