eyebrows

* your eyebrow should start directly above the inner corner of your eye, peak at the outer corner of your iris, and curve down toward the end

* you should never pluck above your eyebrow when shaping your eyebrow...just some stray hairs here and there

* always use slant edge tweezers for better precision

* try to pluck right after your shower. The heat from the shower helps loosen hair follicles by opening your pores, making plucking easier and less painful

* always comb your eyebrows upward and outward

(I'll go over trimming eyebrows another time when I can take some good pictures to help demonstrate proper eyebrow trimming technique)

Being a Mom

I read this article in American Baby and thought others might enjoy it too!

12 Reasons to Love Being a Mom
Babyhood goes by fast. Stop and appreciate the lovely, funny, or just plain crazy little moments that happen every day.
By Jen Singer

1. You receive a reception worthy of the next American Idol even though you'd only left the room for a minute to get more wipes
2. There's no better exercise program than chasing a toddler through a good-size mall ~ except maybe chasing two of them
3. When was the last time a grown-up hugged you simply for buying cookies?
4. You can't very well put videos of your husband dancing to Beyonce's "Single Ladies" on YouTube. But the baby? Upload away.
5. Babies don't accidentally butt-call your cell phone and they never hog the remote
6. Nothing's sexier than a man holding a baby ~ except for a man changing a diaper.
7. The 100th reading of Goodnight Moon is every bit as good as the first.
8. You no longer look quite as silly dressing up for Halloween. In fact, not dressing up might make you odd mom out.
9. You've got a built-in excuse for RSVP'ing "no" whenever you feel like it
10. Somebody loves you no matter what you're wearing (strained peas on your shirt), what you're doing (prepping yet another birthday party), or how long it's been since you showered (uh, Tuesday? Nah, Monday!)
11. Naptime
12. Alarm clocks are more appealing when they're wearing foot pajamas.

chicken marinade

1/2 cup soy sauce
2 Tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp canola oil
2 Tbsp lemon juice (I actually used lime)
2 tsp red pepper flakes
3 garlic cloves, minced

Marinate chicken in fridge for at least 3 hours before grilling/cooking

Enjoy! {yum yum!}

another Krud Kutter miracle

Krud Kutter does it again!!! It got licorice out of our carpet without leaving a trace. AMAZING!!! Cam got some black licorice (whole other story) and left traces of it all over our carpet then proceeded to step on it. It was in there good....until Krud Kutter came to the rescue! Only wish I had taken before and after photos!

bathroom cleaning

(If only this was my bathroom!) :)

Here are some cleaning tips I have used and have found helpful and productive. Hope they help you too!

First and foremost always keep disinfectant wipes in the bathroom for quick, easy cleaning.

Sink:
For light stains, rub w/fresh cut lemon
For dark stains (like rust) scrub with a paste of borax and lemon juice
To freshen drain, pour 1/4-1/2 box of baking soda down the drain, add 1/2 cup of white vinegar. Pull up drain plug and let sit for a fee minutes. Flush with cold water

Toilet bowl:
Keep toilet bowl ring-free by pouring a half-gallon of white vinegar in it once a month. Let it soak overnight before flushing
Pour 1/4 cup bleach in toilet before leaving. Let sit while you're gone (don't forget to NOT use bleach when cleaning if you have a tank-held cleaner that's released when flushed. The two may react chemically)
To help w/odors, pour one cup of baking soda down the bowl weekly

Smell/odors:
Place fabric softener sheet in the trash can or a dab of fragrance on a light bulb for immediate fragrance boost

Shower curtain:
Before hanging shower curtain, soak in salt water solution to prevent mildew
For plastic curtains, spray with pre-wash spray at the top & let drip/run down to cover curtain. Allow to sit for a few minutes, then rinse it off.