Vinegar; Who Knew?

A few uses for vinegar. I happened upon this on accident when searching for techniques to do a river rock mosaic on the fireplace. See how distracted I get? Suddenly I feel the need to share with all of you on my blog. Am completely off track from my original mission. Funny. Nevertheless, vinegar clearly can do many things I never knew it could. My MIL thinks you should gargle vinegar when you are getting sick but I digress....

• Cleaning drains: Pour 1/2 cup baking soda in the drain, followed by 1/2 cup vinegar; the mixture will foam as it cleans and deodorizes. Use every few weeks to keep drains clean.


• Mildew on plastic shower curtains: Put the shower curtain in the washing machine with light-colored towels; add 1 cup white vinegar to the detergent and wash.


• Soap scum on shower: Spray on vinegar, scrub and rinse.


• Toilet hard-water rings: Shut off water at the tank and flush to remove as much water as possible. Spray vinegar on the ring, sprinkle in borax and scrub with drywall sandpaper (really are there such rings that need borax and sandpaper? I don't want to know...)


• Shower head deposits: Pour white vinegar into a plastic bag, tape to the shower head and leave overnight. Brush the shower head to remove remaining deposits.


• Softening laundry: Fill dispenser with 1/4 cup white vinegar to soften laundry without leaving odors.


• Cleaning vinyl floors: Add 1/4 cup vinegar to 1 gallon hot water for spotless floors.


• Cleaning windows: Mix 50 percent white vinegar with 50 percent water in a spray bottle. Spray glass surfaces and wipe dry.


• Neutralize pet odors: Mix 1 part white vinegar to 3 parts water. Pour on stained areas and blot; never rub to remove stains and odors.


• Greasy dishes: Mix 2 tablespoons white vinegar to liquid dish soap to boost its cleaning power.

Connected Souls

And just like that, in the blink of an eye, he sauntered over to me and asked me to marry him. With all the butterflies in my tummy and a yummy kiss, we made up.

You can be in a silent battle, or an all out argument but incredible how it can wash away with a snap of the finger. With us, it usually does. That's love.

Tiny Disclaimer: That is not us above. It does represent our essence and where we are right now. Very much so.

Age

Now that my birthday has come and gone (safely) for the year, I can reflect a little. It's hard for me to wrap my mind around the fact that I'm 39 years old. I certainly don't feel that age but there it is, I'm 39.

When I look backwards and think of the path I've taken and the ups (lots of them) and downs (they were really down) overall the balance is healthy. I can say that and mean it. I sometimes have to remind myself that I "think" I'm wiser than other folks because not always (lots always) is that the case. I can say that and mean it.

I've learned that kindness goes very far and is quite impactful. Simple things more so than big things. It has to be the kindness where nothing is expected in return. I've learned to be myself first but when that isn't work, fall into the ranks and flex it out. I've learned to try to say how I feel but at the same time, quiet works wonders too. I've learned that love conquers all, and it really does. I'm not just a hopeless romantic, I really know that is true. This past year has been proof of that. More proof of that really. If you have love with someone, you can get through anything. I have learned that.

I want success in this year. I want it to be a true precursor and a small successful skip into year 40. Because this year and that year, well, they will be very telling. I do believe all that I've learned up until this point will bound forward with tons of energy and positivity. A lot of talk, I know and the proof is in the pudding. If you do more giving than you do getting and you live simple and without much 'material', it's very rewarding. I have come to learn this too. I'm thankful for this life we have built and the way we live it. Call me altruistic, call me a dreamer, but I have become pretty comfortable in this skin of mine. I'm liking it and it fits me pretty well.

-J

Mack Daddy Prize; Quick Kid Clean Up

Who knows where this idea came from. My brain. In the deepest, darkest, depths of my brain. I really think it came from desparation. I looked around the downstairs of our house and realized there were tiny toys, big toys, toys everywhere. I.had.had.enough. I got two big tupperware bowls out and I called the troops in. Oldest and Littlest, come here. Blew the whistle and gave the command.


"There will be a contest" I declared.


They came running (really, they actually did). I gave the rules.


1. You have two minutes to pick up as many toys and items that you can. If its on the floor, you can pick it up. DVD covers, paper, it all counts.

2. Whoever collects the most items in this bowls gets a Mack Daddy Prize (imagine four little eyeballs lighting up).

3. Ready Set Go!


And they were off. It was like a miracle. It was Heaven to my eyes. They were happily and very quickly picking up their mess; unwittingly and without yelling or forceful voices they were cleaning up the little blah blah that is always part of the scenery around here. At the end of the two minutes, the downstairs looked like a normal house. Sort of clean, void of all the little 'cratcha' that you get used to in the day to day sometimes when things are busy. Just like that. In two minutes. Like magic. Then I panicked. OMG what will the Mack Daddy Prize BE? I had no idea. Think quick. It can't be a hug or kiss (like normal) they'll be FURIOUS. It can't be a piece of chocolate. This first time was so successful, I had to set a precedent. So in the FUTURE I could give a hug or kiss or piece of chocolate as a prize THEN. I had to make it good so when we do this really productive very fun task AGAIN, they'd be more apt to cooperate. :) And on cue the Littlest was latching on to my leg, "Mamma, Mamma, what is the Mack Daddy Prize do I get a Mack Daddy Prize????" This all happened so fast, I did not properly think ahead. To buy time I made a big to do about sitting down and counting the items to see who "won" (and think fast on a prize). First I made them give me their eyes, made sure I had their attention, and told them what they just did. Do Daddy and I play with toys? No! Who plays with toys, raise your hand. Their hands go up in 1.2 seconds. Yes, that's right kiddos, you guys just picked up your own mess, that you made, with your own hands. Grin! Again, it all happened so fast, they barely knew what they were doing and it was all dawning on them now. Grins all around. A huge 'aha' moment for them.

So then I begin counting the items in each bowl. Lo and behold, they each picked up 25 things. 25 things!!!!!! There were 50 little things here and there, tucked in corners, under chairs, in plain sight, all throughout our downstairs. That is amazing to me! Back to reality, now I realize I had to come up with 2 Mack Daddy Prizes. Thank GOD in the car, I had a bag of goodies which was supposed to be for a work meeting upcoming ( I know I need to replace them, no worries :)) and I ran out to get them. Came in and saved the day with a prize in each hand from the Dollar Tree. Happy happy joy joy all around. I have two bowls of little tiny toys that either need to be put away or tossed out (at my discretion if junk) but I love that I have two bowls of Already.Picked.Up.Toys.

Oh I can promise you, we WILL be doing this little task frequently around here. It works for US! My husband shot me a "great job" when all was done. That just sealed the deal. :)

Great Black Wasp Part II

Somehow, every year, usually in summer, one gets in our house. Is this normal? Usually we first notice it by the fireplace. Dear God do not tell me we have a wasp nest in our fireplace and that they will slowly feed into the house this summer. I think, no, I know, I will have a heart attack. With all the drama I can muster up, I will surely have a heart attack. It's the same as last time, I go into freak out mode. I just know they want to kill me. I just know they are coming and making a *beeline* straight for my throat or heart, probably my heart.

Hands in the air, screaming for a man to help me (last time it was my Dad, remember?) and save me, I run, no bolt to a completely different part of the house, go into the bathroom with the Littlest and close the door till I hear all is safe to come out. Now, Dear God, I know for a fact I am teaching my children fear, but I truly cannot maintain my composure during these ordeals because I AM MORBIDLY AFRAID of bees, wasps, things that sting and fly. I cannot help it. No joking, all kidding aside, I really turn into a ditzy woman when confined in my own home with a wasp. My husband saved the day, I heard the deed and the throaty yell from him as he did it and then, I came out a composed, normal woman who happened to be holding the hand of my scared little three year old. Yep. I did.

Once when I was little, I was mowing the grass in the back yard, maybe I was ten or eleven, and a bee started chasing me (no, really, it wasn't just in my mind, he really did) and I let go of that lawn mower and ran for my dear life straight into a wire from a laundry line and about decapitated myself. Dead, right there I could have been all because a bee was chasing me.

God help me if one of these things actually stings me one day. I mean I really do not know what I'll do. I'm sure it won't be pretty.

Randomy

My favorite thing about summer is grilling out (ok, well maybe it's the beach and sitting in the sand making sandcastles and soaking up the sun but it's a close second). Grilling makes ANYTHING taste WONDERFUL. I'm trying my hand at beef ribs that my husband said would probably not be great on the grill. Here's what I did to them. Crock pot for 2.5 hours with beef stock/salt/pepper/soy sauce. Took them out and rubbed them down (like a serious rub) with brown sugar/paprika/garlic/chilli pepper and after spritzed light lemon on them. Put them in the oven covered with tin foil on 'warm' very low setting and getting ready to grill them now. They look FABULOUS. The color and rub look perfect and I can't wait to get them on the grill.

The Littlest passed out on the living room floor after a late night and early morning (sleepover with his brother which he thought was the coolest thing in the world (again) and swimming in the very frigid waters of our pool. He kept yawning, well, several times today. After a bath and he was warmed up, it got really quiet up front and I went to check him out and lo and behold, snoring there lay my passed out little bubba sprawled out and gone to the world. I will take a picture. The Oldest saw he was asleep and turned off the TV and covered him with a blanket, went up to his room to leave him be. Sweet boys. For now anyway. ;)

Cut my first flowers from the yard. They don't match but who cares. They're from my yard. I love growing things but you know this already.

Off to the grill! Nummy!