As usual, I hope to post more about what we are doing, or at least pictures of what we are doing to keep everyone up to date. Until the next time I post...tomorrow, next week, or next year....be happy, stay healthy, and don't forget to smile at all times!
So Long Summer
The kids are about to start their 4th week of school. Where did summer go??? We were supposed to spend our vacation camping, hiking, and otherwise enjoying frolicking in the hot summer sun as a family, but a busted shoulder from a bike accident put me in an immobilizer for the entire break while I healed from having a "tight rope" implant. While I wasn't quite ready to say so long to summer with only one night of camping and an aquarium visit, we have gotten back into the swing of the school routine much better than I anticipated. #4 starts preschool this week, so the man and I can enjoy our jogging dates which will thankfully be a lot less stressful now that we'll have 3 entire kid free hours, 3 times a week!!! Somewhere in there, I will be finishing up my resolution to read 50+ books (currently on #48), hopefully craft a bit (have a blanket on order, need to make something for the school fundraiser, and Christmas will be here before I know it), and get to work on learning the ins and outs of CO real estate so I can get licensed and begin bringing in some decent income to help contribute to college funds, shoe funds, clothing funds, food funds, debt funds, etc.
2011 Year of Surgery
Here we are in the middle of the year and I am scheduled for my second surgery of the year. At the end of March, I had an inguinal hernia fixed and to my surprise, the doctor found not one, but two.
Two months later, I get back into my exercise routine and am ready to get back into shape, but get derailed after a bike accident. On my way home from a ladies night outing with friends, I clipped a brown trash can in the bike lane. It was dark and there weren't any reflectors on the can. While I had a light, I did not see the can.
I hit the ground hard. My bike helmet suffered a piercing dent around the area of my left temple. I truly believe I would've been in a coma or dead if it weren't for my helmet. Instead, I suffered a bunch of road rash on my knees, hands, shoulder, and face. My right hand was pretty bruised as well as my left hip. And I have a type 3 separated shoulder which means the cartilage between my shoulder joint and clavicle were completely torn. Since there isn't any overlap of the bones, surgery is my best bet for a "full" recovery. The cartilage will be reattached, I'll have 4 weeks in a sling, plus another 4 weeks of physical therapy that I am sure I will need to continue for months.
Here's to hoping I don't see the inside of an operating room for at least another year, but preferably, never!
Back to School!
Summer vacation is quickly coming to an end. We enjoyed a summer of no obligations and it was wonderful. We biked to the new pool at our local YMCA, went camping, built a playground in the backyard, had a few bbqs, and I even snuck out to VA for a visit with my family all by myself!
School starts on Tuesday which will find me with a 4th grader, 2nd grader, kindergartner and preschooler. With homework, swimming lessons and karate in our near future, our lazy days of summer will be a thing of the past.
We are all excited for the new school year and as ready as we'll ever be for the early morning alarms followed by the dressing and eating chaos. My goal for this year is to be on time for school drop off and not to forget a drop off/pick up as I will spend most of my days shuttling kids to and from school and activities.
Bye, bye summer vacation!
School starts on Tuesday which will find me with a 4th grader, 2nd grader, kindergartner and preschooler. With homework, swimming lessons and karate in our near future, our lazy days of summer will be a thing of the past.
We are all excited for the new school year and as ready as we'll ever be for the early morning alarms followed by the dressing and eating chaos. My goal for this year is to be on time for school drop off and not to forget a drop off/pick up as I will spend most of my days shuttling kids to and from school and activities.
Bye, bye summer vacation!
Master Cleanse
I did it!!! Finally bit the bullet and did 14 days of Stanley Burrough's Master Cleanse or sometimes referred to as the Lemonade Diet. It was a fantastic success and I am looking forward to doing it again.
The first 2 days were a bit rough, not due to feelings of starvation like some have had, but just sheer tiredness. Days 3-5 were riddled with leg pain that from what I've read is due to a large amount of toxins being stored in the legs. The most interesting part for me was the whitening of my tongue. The cleanse is done when the tongue is once again pink first thing in the morning.
I had such a great amount of energy, clarity and sheer joy for each day no matter what was in store for me. I was able to do mundane tasks (folding laundry, emptying dishwasher etc) with glee. Waking up an hour earlier than usual without the need for coffee was something I never imagined I would be lucky enough to experience. And to top it off, the scale numbers dropped by 15 pounds! 5 of which came back upon a return to eating a pescatarian diet. But with daily exercise, better eating habits, and the lingering feeling of accomplishing such an awesome task, I hope to get those 5 pesky pounds and more off.
The first 2 days were a bit rough, not due to feelings of starvation like some have had, but just sheer tiredness. Days 3-5 were riddled with leg pain that from what I've read is due to a large amount of toxins being stored in the legs. The most interesting part for me was the whitening of my tongue. The cleanse is done when the tongue is once again pink first thing in the morning.
I had such a great amount of energy, clarity and sheer joy for each day no matter what was in store for me. I was able to do mundane tasks (folding laundry, emptying dishwasher etc) with glee. Waking up an hour earlier than usual without the need for coffee was something I never imagined I would be lucky enough to experience. And to top it off, the scale numbers dropped by 15 pounds! 5 of which came back upon a return to eating a pescatarian diet. But with daily exercise, better eating habits, and the lingering feeling of accomplishing such an awesome task, I hope to get those 5 pesky pounds and more off.
Day 7 P90X - Debating the Benefits
While I have enjoyed an entire week of the P90X program and the way it makes me feel, I am stuck wondering if the benefits of exercising outweigh the amount of stress involved in finding the time to exercise. The older kids are fine with it and often join in, but my youngest child screams and cries at the sight of me doing jumping jacks, downward dog, or biceps curls. Usually he goes down for a nap after lunch and I have just enough time to get in a 60 minute workout, but that is becoming increasingly more difficult. He either fights napping at all or wakes up within 30 minutes as if he is onto the fact that mommy is doing something good for herself and it must be stopped immediately. I would like to continue the program and enjoy the benefits of more energy, a smaller waistline, and maybe even a little muscle definition, but that goal seems to be getting hazier by the day.
Since I got the order mixed up a bit, I ended up doing the yoga session for the first time yesterday. Its a good 1.5 hour program of stretching and balancing, but I found it a bit boring. I am much more fond of Inhale with Steve Ross on the Oxygen Channel and even Sarah Ivanhoe's All Star Yoga Workout (with and w/o weights). Partly due to the moves in the workout, but also because Tony's rambling can sometimes be a bit distracting (and annoying) especially when trying to concentrate on a pose. It was the first time I found myself wanting to quit in the middle of a workout. Since today is a weights day, I am looking forward to a good burn and banishing any thoughts of quitting and sticking to it.
So far, I haven't had a ton of soreness. I tend to be a bit stiff first thing in the morning and later in the evening when I am sitting on the couch, but the minute I get up and move around, any soreness disappears. Still feeling energized and not exhausted, so I definitely want to continue to challenge myself to stick with the program and make it work despite the stress. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.....
Since I got the order mixed up a bit, I ended up doing the yoga session for the first time yesterday. Its a good 1.5 hour program of stretching and balancing, but I found it a bit boring. I am much more fond of Inhale with Steve Ross on the Oxygen Channel and even Sarah Ivanhoe's All Star Yoga Workout (with and w/o weights). Partly due to the moves in the workout, but also because Tony's rambling can sometimes be a bit distracting (and annoying) especially when trying to concentrate on a pose. It was the first time I found myself wanting to quit in the middle of a workout. Since today is a weights day, I am looking forward to a good burn and banishing any thoughts of quitting and sticking to it.
So far, I haven't had a ton of soreness. I tend to be a bit stiff first thing in the morning and later in the evening when I am sitting on the couch, but the minute I get up and move around, any soreness disappears. Still feeling energized and not exhausted, so I definitely want to continue to challenge myself to stick with the program and make it work despite the stress. I think I can, I think I can, I think I can.....
Biting the P90X Bullet - Day 2
One of the benefits I hoped to get from our move to CO was a healthier lifestyle thru biking, hiking, walking, and jogging. Well, that hasn't quite happened. I have enjoyed a few family hikes and the occasional work out, but have managed to push the scale and my waistband in the opposite direction.
So, I am giving P90X a shot.
I started yesterday with the back/chest exercise session consisting of push ups and pull ups. It was a pretty hilarious experience. There were definitely more giggles than actual push ups. My arms were toast within the first few minutes and shaking more than a leaf in a gusty wind. At the end of it, I went on to attempt the ab ripper which was just as entertaining.
Day 2 was yoga like stretches which is right up my alley, so it was a thoroughly invigorating hour long workout without the hilarity of yesterday.
Both workouts have left me well energized and not exhausted. I feel the work of what I have done without feeling like I need to collapse. This helps to keep me interested and curious to see what the next day has in store. I am enjoying the challenge and hope it continues to peak my interest long enough to get some serious results. I am not looking to be ripped...just able to fit in my pre-kid clothes and not look like a muffin in my jeans.
There are times I feel like I should be the poster child for ADD since it can be hard to hold my attention and that doesn't bode well with most workouts. I have done many varied workouts on and off over the years, but not necessarily for the benefits of muscle confusion, but more so out of boredom. Here's to hoping P90X has the ability to keep me entertained and interested enough to stick with it and succeed in beating this doughy hamburger bun body into flat bread.
So, I am giving P90X a shot.
I started yesterday with the back/chest exercise session consisting of push ups and pull ups. It was a pretty hilarious experience. There were definitely more giggles than actual push ups. My arms were toast within the first few minutes and shaking more than a leaf in a gusty wind. At the end of it, I went on to attempt the ab ripper which was just as entertaining.
Day 2 was yoga like stretches which is right up my alley, so it was a thoroughly invigorating hour long workout without the hilarity of yesterday.
Both workouts have left me well energized and not exhausted. I feel the work of what I have done without feeling like I need to collapse. This helps to keep me interested and curious to see what the next day has in store. I am enjoying the challenge and hope it continues to peak my interest long enough to get some serious results. I am not looking to be ripped...just able to fit in my pre-kid clothes and not look like a muffin in my jeans.
There are times I feel like I should be the poster child for ADD since it can be hard to hold my attention and that doesn't bode well with most workouts. I have done many varied workouts on and off over the years, but not necessarily for the benefits of muscle confusion, but more so out of boredom. Here's to hoping P90X has the ability to keep me entertained and interested enough to stick with it and succeed in beating this doughy hamburger bun body into flat bread.
Our Puppet
Now that Conner is beginning to speak, the kids and I are having fun saying words for him to repeat.
Boo-Boo
Conner tried eating a lightbulb yesterday as a lovely Easter treat. Then today, he took a dive into the basement door and split his forehead....5 stitches.
Hoping the rest of the week is much more boring.
Long Time No Blog
Wow! It has been a seriously long time since I did a darn thing with this blog. Well, since September, life has been busier than our usually chaotic existence. We sold our house in VA and are now enjoying life in CO. Packing and moving over the holidays was quite a challenge, but we surprisingly survived the madness and after 3 days on the road with 4 kids and 2 dogs, we are now unpacking in our new home.
The kids love the fenced in backyard so they can freely play without mom or dad hovering nearby, especially the 2 year old. Thanks to the fence, we don't have to worry so much about coyotes. We seem to have traded our VA tick problem with the CO coyotes (mountain lions too).
The trip out here went as well as can be expected. Our first night in a hotel was pretty nasty. It smelled like cat pee, there were #2 splatters on the toilet seat, the hot water didn't work and to top it off, my key card crapped out leaving me stuck in a downpour with two dogs trying to figure out which window to knock on to get the hubby to open the door for me. When I tried to get a credit, the guy tending the desk that day apparently wasn't able to authorize a refund so we'd have to wait 3 days to contact the office manager. Needless to say, we haven't had any resolution to this problem...travelers beware of Best Western in Lexington, KY!!!
After the day long drive through flat, dry, not so exciting Kansas, we were so excited for the kids to see the mountains. Well, we pulled into town to see a beautiful sunset and moonrise, but unfortunately there wasn't enough light for the kids to enjoy the amazing view of the mountains. They forgot all about the mountains when they woke up to 6 inches of snow! It was a beautiful way to be welcomed to Colorado. That and our amazing friends who insisted we stay with them with their 3 kids and 1 dog (yes, that meant there were 7 kids, 3 dogs, and 4 adults under one roof). We hung with them for 2 days until we had access to our new home and our Pods arrived with all of our stuff.
Conner's bedroom is now done (it was a loft that we had closed in) and now that the unpacking is almost done, I get to start painting. As soon as there is enough order in this place and we figure out where the camera is, we'll take pics and post them. As motivation to get it all done, we have set up a dinner party this Sunday.
The kids started school today. I was very excited until I went to say goodbye to Marin and she wasn't in her classroom. I asked the teacher (who was beginning the day with the rest of the class) where she was and she said she was wondering the same thing...but obviously not doing anything about it since she had the class in circle time on the floor and was continuing with the day. Panicked, I ran out to the playground where the class hangs out before lining up and going to class. There was Marin with a "stranger" (parent or school employee thankfully) walking her to class. The poor thing was fighting off tears after being left all alone on the playground. Yes, I had to fight back tears too! I gave her a pep talk in the hallway that seemed to chase the tears away. Adam on the other hand, pretty much ignored me the minute we walked into his classroom.
45 minutes left until I pick up Marin and hopefully find out the rest of her day went well without her being left behind again. I'll just keep telling myself over and over that it will all be okay. She already wants to go to another school (which we are trying since they have open enrollment here, but unfortunately we won't be able to get into it until next Fall). Something tells me she will be more adamant about going to the other school after today.
The kids love the fenced in backyard so they can freely play without mom or dad hovering nearby, especially the 2 year old. Thanks to the fence, we don't have to worry so much about coyotes. We seem to have traded our VA tick problem with the CO coyotes (mountain lions too).
The trip out here went as well as can be expected. Our first night in a hotel was pretty nasty. It smelled like cat pee, there were #2 splatters on the toilet seat, the hot water didn't work and to top it off, my key card crapped out leaving me stuck in a downpour with two dogs trying to figure out which window to knock on to get the hubby to open the door for me. When I tried to get a credit, the guy tending the desk that day apparently wasn't able to authorize a refund so we'd have to wait 3 days to contact the office manager. Needless to say, we haven't had any resolution to this problem...travelers beware of Best Western in Lexington, KY!!!
After the day long drive through flat, dry, not so exciting Kansas, we were so excited for the kids to see the mountains. Well, we pulled into town to see a beautiful sunset and moonrise, but unfortunately there wasn't enough light for the kids to enjoy the amazing view of the mountains. They forgot all about the mountains when they woke up to 6 inches of snow! It was a beautiful way to be welcomed to Colorado. That and our amazing friends who insisted we stay with them with their 3 kids and 1 dog (yes, that meant there were 7 kids, 3 dogs, and 4 adults under one roof). We hung with them for 2 days until we had access to our new home and our Pods arrived with all of our stuff.
Conner's bedroom is now done (it was a loft that we had closed in) and now that the unpacking is almost done, I get to start painting. As soon as there is enough order in this place and we figure out where the camera is, we'll take pics and post them. As motivation to get it all done, we have set up a dinner party this Sunday.
The kids started school today. I was very excited until I went to say goodbye to Marin and she wasn't in her classroom. I asked the teacher (who was beginning the day with the rest of the class) where she was and she said she was wondering the same thing...but obviously not doing anything about it since she had the class in circle time on the floor and was continuing with the day. Panicked, I ran out to the playground where the class hangs out before lining up and going to class. There was Marin with a "stranger" (parent or school employee thankfully) walking her to class. The poor thing was fighting off tears after being left all alone on the playground. Yes, I had to fight back tears too! I gave her a pep talk in the hallway that seemed to chase the tears away. Adam on the other hand, pretty much ignored me the minute we walked into his classroom.
45 minutes left until I pick up Marin and hopefully find out the rest of her day went well without her being left behind again. I'll just keep telling myself over and over that it will all be okay. She already wants to go to another school (which we are trying since they have open enrollment here, but unfortunately we won't be able to get into it until next Fall). Something tells me she will be more adamant about going to the other school after today.
Living the "Green" Life - My Favorite Non Toxic Products
Ten months ago, I began my quest to transform my household and lifestyle into something greener and healthier. After ridding the house of all toxic personal care/household cleaning products, I scoured the internet for all things non toxic that were within my budget (i.e. basically anything that didn't break the bank and cause my husband, the sole income earner, to have a heart attack when the credit card bill arrived).
Not only was I interested in safer ingredients, but I also wanted the products I use to be cruelty free, fair trade, and from a company giving back to the environment or otherwise doing their part to ensure the future of our planet and its ecosystems.
After months of research and scouring the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to find the best products that were as close to food grade quality as possible, smelled good, and actually did a good job cleaning, I present to you my list of favorites:
Miessence Garnet Exfoliant (normal skin) - the best scrub with a wonderful texture that doesn't feel too much like sand paper and delicious citrus scent
Tahitian Breeze Roll On Deoderant - Great scent and the only "safe" deoderant that doesn't leave me stinky on hot sweaty days or after a workout, but bear in mind, it will not keep you dry which is a good thing because you are supposed to sweat, it is your body's way of releasing toxins and cooling off
Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castille Magic Soaps - Peppermint and Sweet Almond, and looking forward to trying new Citrus. This stuff is so concentrated, I dilute it with lots of water so it lasts forever even for a family of 6...just don't use the peppermint in areas that are sensitive to the tingling mint sensation. I use it as a body wash, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo (follow with the Citrus Skakai Hair Rinse and Peppermint Hair Creme). I also fill my foaming hand soap pumps with water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner's for a great smelling, cheap, and non toxic hand cleanser.
Aubry Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner - I love the scent of this stuff and the conditioner is amazing on my frizzy, dry locks! Its pretty thick, so it helps to add a touch of water to make it a bit easier to get out of the bottle.
Aubrey Organics Ultimate Moist Unscented Hand & Body Lotion - Thick, super moisturizing (I occasionally add a bit of almond oil to thin it out) and no icky scent.
Jaffa Lip Balm - my favorite lip balm because it actually works and has a great citrus, vanilla scent/taste
Ecover Dishwasher Tablets - combined with Wave Jet (below), is a terrific non toxic choice. I tried Seventh Generation but had a lot of murky film and food pieces left, but after 2 months of using Ecover, I am super pleased with my squeaky clean dishes.
Earth Friendly Products, Wave Jet Rinse Aid - Auto Dishwasing Spot and Residue Eliminator, this stuff works beautifully with the Ecover tablets to leave my dishes clean, streak free, and food free. I will soon be testing it in conjunction with Seventh Generation dish powder to see if it improves the film and food particles I was experiencing.
BioPure Probiotic Household Cleaner Concentrate - I love using this to clean my hardwood floors. It uses probiotic bacteria, antioxidants, and enzymes to break down grease, grime and dirt while neutralizing odors with a wonderful light vanilla scent.
BioKleen Bac-Out - contains live enzyme-producing cultures and lime peel extract that clean tough stains and odors while leaving the wonderful non toxic aroma of fresh limes...great on carpets, in bathrooms, and my top choice for use on cloth diapers with #2
Charlies Soap - Love this stuff! I was a Tide and Bounce addict until I converted to this miracle laundry soap. One tiny scoop seriously cleans an entire load of laundry and leaves it fluffly and smelling clean without harsh additives or fabric softeners. I highly recommend the big bucket...you won't have to buy more for at least a year and you can reuse the bucket for mopping, car washing, or storing toys.
Runners up:
Dr. Bronner's Hair Rinse and Conditioning Cream - while I love the scent of the Citurs rinse and Peppermint cream (haven't yet tried the Lavender) it can tend to leave a slight greasy like residue.
Bumble & Bumble Defrizz - the safest rated defrizzing shine goop I have found and a little goes a long way
My favorite places to order these products:
http://paigeye.mionegroup.com/
http://www.iherb.com/ coupon code: SAG078 for $5 off (October $1.99 priority mail shipping fee, always FREE shipping for orders over $60)
http://www.drugstore.com/
** Stay tuned for the next edition with my favorite products for kids **
Not only was I interested in safer ingredients, but I also wanted the products I use to be cruelty free, fair trade, and from a company giving back to the environment or otherwise doing their part to ensure the future of our planet and its ecosystems.
After months of research and scouring the EWG's Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database to find the best products that were as close to food grade quality as possible, smelled good, and actually did a good job cleaning, I present to you my list of favorites:
Miessence Garnet Exfoliant (normal skin) - the best scrub with a wonderful texture that doesn't feel too much like sand paper and delicious citrus scent
Tahitian Breeze Roll On Deoderant - Great scent and the only "safe" deoderant that doesn't leave me stinky on hot sweaty days or after a workout, but bear in mind, it will not keep you dry which is a good thing because you are supposed to sweat, it is your body's way of releasing toxins and cooling off
Dr. Bronner's Magic Pure Castille Magic Soaps - Peppermint and Sweet Almond, and looking forward to trying new Citrus. This stuff is so concentrated, I dilute it with lots of water so it lasts forever even for a family of 6...just don't use the peppermint in areas that are sensitive to the tingling mint sensation. I use it as a body wash, laundry detergent, toothpaste, shampoo (follow with the Citrus Skakai Hair Rinse and Peppermint Hair Creme). I also fill my foaming hand soap pumps with water and a few squirts of Dr. Bronner's for a great smelling, cheap, and non toxic hand cleanser.
Aubry Organics Honeysuckle Rose Shampoo and Conditioner - I love the scent of this stuff and the conditioner is amazing on my frizzy, dry locks! Its pretty thick, so it helps to add a touch of water to make it a bit easier to get out of the bottle.
Aubrey Organics Ultimate Moist Unscented Hand & Body Lotion - Thick, super moisturizing (I occasionally add a bit of almond oil to thin it out) and no icky scent.
Jaffa Lip Balm - my favorite lip balm because it actually works and has a great citrus, vanilla scent/taste
Ecover Dishwasher Tablets - combined with Wave Jet (below), is a terrific non toxic choice. I tried Seventh Generation but had a lot of murky film and food pieces left, but after 2 months of using Ecover, I am super pleased with my squeaky clean dishes.
Earth Friendly Products, Wave Jet Rinse Aid - Auto Dishwasing Spot and Residue Eliminator, this stuff works beautifully with the Ecover tablets to leave my dishes clean, streak free, and food free. I will soon be testing it in conjunction with Seventh Generation dish powder to see if it improves the film and food particles I was experiencing.
BioPure Probiotic Household Cleaner Concentrate - I love using this to clean my hardwood floors. It uses probiotic bacteria, antioxidants, and enzymes to break down grease, grime and dirt while neutralizing odors with a wonderful light vanilla scent.
BioKleen Bac-Out - contains live enzyme-producing cultures and lime peel extract that clean tough stains and odors while leaving the wonderful non toxic aroma of fresh limes...great on carpets, in bathrooms, and my top choice for use on cloth diapers with #2
Charlies Soap - Love this stuff! I was a Tide and Bounce addict until I converted to this miracle laundry soap. One tiny scoop seriously cleans an entire load of laundry and leaves it fluffly and smelling clean without harsh additives or fabric softeners. I highly recommend the big bucket...you won't have to buy more for at least a year and you can reuse the bucket for mopping, car washing, or storing toys.Runners up:
Dr. Bronner's Hair Rinse and Conditioning Cream - while I love the scent of the Citurs rinse and Peppermint cream (haven't yet tried the Lavender) it can tend to leave a slight greasy like residue.
Bumble & Bumble Defrizz - the safest rated defrizzing shine goop I have found and a little goes a long way
My favorite places to order these products:
http://paigeye.mionegroup.com/
http://www.iherb.com/ coupon code: SAG078 for $5 off (October $1.99 priority mail shipping fee, always FREE shipping for orders over $60)
http://www.drugstore.com/
** Stay tuned for the next edition with my favorite products for kids **
YARD SALE/OPEN HOUSE
8am-12pm Saturday August 23rd
517 Clagett St SW, Leesburg
Glider - great condition
Cloth Diapers - lots of Nikky's covers with contoured prefolds
Fisher Price Soothing Motions Infant Glider
Double Bed Rail
Graco Stroller
Baby Clothes - Carters, Gap, Old Navy
Fisher Price Shake and Go Race Track w/ 2 Cars
Medela Single Pump (with equipment for a double)
Avent Hand Pump
Child Storage Bench - cloth and metal
Books
Shoes
Toys
and much, much more!!!
Come check it out and get a kick start to your day by treating yourself to some FREE cookies, coffee, and iced tea!
We look forward to seeing you on Saturday!
Our Summer So Far...
At the Glen Echo Carousel w/ Metzi
My Bday
Marin in my hat
Conner @ 4th of July Parade in The Neck w/ Nana
Conner in his monkey suit
Adam (aka Mowhawk Boy) and his new summer do
Riley being Riley
Roasting Marshmallows
Eating smores and generally having a great time
Easy Chemical Free Cleaning
My mother still has some of the best advice to offer. This time she has completely wowed me with an amazing cloth that can clean just about any hard surface...windows, trash cans, counters, fridges, dishwashers, mirrors, floors, doors, car dash/seats...you get the idea. All you have to do is provide the cloth with a touch of water (works best if you wring out as much of the water as possible and clean well in between uses) and less elbow grease than a Mr. Clean sponge requires. I have been actually enjoying cleaning kid art and fingerprints off the walls now that I am not left with a messy residue that Mr. Clean used to leave and an arm that hasn't turned to jiggly jelly. This amazing cloth won't rid you of all stains, but it sure does better than anything else I have tried.
Of course, there is a catch...just one catch...you can wash the cloth, bleach it, whatever...just DO NOT dry it! If you are like me and tend to lose track of no dry items when transferring laundry from the washing machine to the dryer, don't shed any tears...if you accidentally dry it, it will still work. It just won't be as pretty and a tad bit shrunken.
I highly recommend getting several and marking them with a permanent marker so you don't clean the toilet with the same cloth you clean the kitchen counter.
Check out this website to stock up on this super duper cloth.
Happy Cleaning!!!
Of course, there is a catch...just one catch...you can wash the cloth, bleach it, whatever...just DO NOT dry it! If you are like me and tend to lose track of no dry items when transferring laundry from the washing machine to the dryer, don't shed any tears...if you accidentally dry it, it will still work. It just won't be as pretty and a tad bit shrunken.
I highly recommend getting several and marking them with a permanent marker so you don't clean the toilet with the same cloth you clean the kitchen counter.
Check out this website to stock up on this super duper cloth.
Happy Cleaning!!!
Monday, Monday
I should've known it would be a challenging day when I couldn't get my tail out of bed this morning.
Poor Riley officially entered the head injury club today by splitting the outer corner of her eye on the swingset. While I didn't see the actual event unfold, I did get a good glimpse of blood gushing down her face as she ran to me with her older two siblings screaming at the top of their lungs. I think the older siblings actually freaked out more than her. She was such a brave soldier. She stopped crying by the time we got inside the house.
It was fairly small, but due to the location, it was gaping so I loaded her up in the car and a sleepy Conner who was in the middle of his nap and drove to the doc office...while my sister in law's wonderful friend stayed and watched the older two romp around with her son...who I was supposed to be watching while she ran over to my sister in laws to catch up kid free. Riley ended up with a cool, liquid band-aid and spent the rest of the afternoon acting as if nothing happened...except asking for a band-aid at least once an hour.
Adam earned his entrance into the bloody head injury club when he was speared by a renegade curtain rod. Marin got bonus membership...a rock to the head compliments of her younger sister and a sword (vacuum attachment) to the eyebrow compliments of her older brother.
Thankfully all the cuts have been small, but boy do they bleed!
Conner has recently made several attempts at membership...2 face plants on the driveway in the last 2 weeks, but has only manage some nasty looking scabs that make strangers look at me like I beat my child.
Off to bed to rest my weary head and prepare for the adventures that Tuesday have in store for me.
Poor Riley officially entered the head injury club today by splitting the outer corner of her eye on the swingset. While I didn't see the actual event unfold, I did get a good glimpse of blood gushing down her face as she ran to me with her older two siblings screaming at the top of their lungs. I think the older siblings actually freaked out more than her. She was such a brave soldier. She stopped crying by the time we got inside the house.
It was fairly small, but due to the location, it was gaping so I loaded her up in the car and a sleepy Conner who was in the middle of his nap and drove to the doc office...while my sister in law's wonderful friend stayed and watched the older two romp around with her son...who I was supposed to be watching while she ran over to my sister in laws to catch up kid free. Riley ended up with a cool, liquid band-aid and spent the rest of the afternoon acting as if nothing happened...except asking for a band-aid at least once an hour.
Adam earned his entrance into the bloody head injury club when he was speared by a renegade curtain rod. Marin got bonus membership...a rock to the head compliments of her younger sister and a sword (vacuum attachment) to the eyebrow compliments of her older brother.
Thankfully all the cuts have been small, but boy do they bleed!
Conner has recently made several attempts at membership...2 face plants on the driveway in the last 2 weeks, but has only manage some nasty looking scabs that make strangers look at me like I beat my child.
Off to bed to rest my weary head and prepare for the adventures that Tuesday have in store for me.
From the Mind of a 6 Year Old
Here is what making "infinity and beyond dollars" can do for you:
I have no idea where this came from, Adam finished his very last day of 1st grade today and within minutes of arriving home (and getting a little hopped up on a celebratory ice cream cone)...he dressed up, started talking differently and asked that I film him...you should see what I got with the video camera (he made up a song that included instructions as to what and when I was to shout out during the production)...that and Riley jumping up and down yelling "ice cream cone" everytime the camera was pointed at her.
I have no idea where this came from, Adam finished his very last day of 1st grade today and within minutes of arriving home (and getting a little hopped up on a celebratory ice cream cone)...he dressed up, started talking differently and asked that I film him...you should see what I got with the video camera (he made up a song that included instructions as to what and when I was to shout out during the production)...that and Riley jumping up and down yelling "ice cream cone" everytime the camera was pointed at her.
Shower Curtains
Have you ever had a shower curtain look so grungy, it made you wince? I have, but the thought of the headache inducing smell of a new curtain has left me wincing even more, especially after reading the latest EWG Enviroblog entry, that says the new shower curtain smell is caused by toxic chemicals like phthalates and VOCs. One shower curtain that was tested released 108 different volatile organic compounds!
I'll be keeping an eye out for PVC free shower curtains hitting store shelves. In the meantime, I have opted to wash my curtain and it looks brand new.
Happy Showering!!!
I'll be keeping an eye out for PVC free shower curtains hitting store shelves. In the meantime, I have opted to wash my curtain and it looks brand new.
Happy Showering!!!
Congratulations Marin!
Marin is officially a preschool graduate and off to kindergarten in the Fall. She had a lot of fun over the last 2 years and will miss her classmates a lot since they will be scattered around the area in different schools.
Posts
