Provident Pearls of Living

salt craving

2011-06-02T16:18:00.001-07:00

so i read this in Real Simple magazine and had to share....

what you can learn from craving salt

If you crave salt you may need some stress relief. Your constant search for a salt fix could signal that your adrenal glands, which pump adrenaline and other hormones into your blood when you're feeling anxious, have been working so hard that they're temporarily exhausted. "The adrenal glands produce a hormone that holds sodium in your body, so if they're not making enough of that hormone, you may crave salt," says Susan Blum, M.D., the founder and director of the Blum center for Health in Rye Brook, New York. To keep stress in check, try exercise, meditation, or just saying no to yet another PTA request.

Fascinating. Makes a lot of sense now why I craved salt so much my first week home alone with three kids. :)

personalized piggy banks

2011-04-06T13:48:00.000-07:00

When we got these juice bottles from Einstein's I knew I wanted to make something with them. Ty and I have talked about getting the girls piggy banks so we can start talking to them about saving money and paying tithing...Cam used to have one but it broke so when she found money she would give it to Ty and sure enough it would end up in Ty and my "piggy bank" :) I figured I could use these bottles to make the girls their own personalized piggy banks. Here's how I did it:

First pull off the stickers as best as you can. I used some baby oil on a cloth to rub off anything left behind.

You want a clean slate so you can sand the bottle enough to get it nice and rough all the way around (everywhere you'll be placing paper) You can just place the mod podge directly over the stickers though if you'd like, just recommended not to.

Measure and cut the paper (papers in my case) to the size you need for your bottle. I followed the mod podge directions from this blog since it was my first time using this method. To sum up how it works, I painted a thin layer onto the prepped surface of the bottle (I did one side at a time to assure I could get it flat with no bubbles), then paint a thin layer onto the back of the paper. (Take note that by the time you put it on your paper your bottle should be practically dry) Smooth out the paper working from the center out. Once the paper is securely down all around the bottle let it dry/set for 10-15 minutes. Paint a thin layer over the paper on the bottle. The blog I followed recommended 3 coats for good measure and I completely agree. Make sure to let each coat dry in between. This will take 15-20 minutes...maybe faster if you're using a fan. I was nervous that a fan might create small bubbles if I had applied it too thick (which you are trying hard not to do obviously...thin is better) so I didn't want to risk it. Again, I was very cautious since this was my first attempt with mod podge.

Next I painted the initial of each of my girls to stick on the front of their bottles/piggy banks.

Last but not least I add the finishing touches that make all the difference. I painted the lids pink since the hunter green lid it came with didn't match, hot glued their letters on and even added ribbon around the top with an adorable little bow. The ribbon isn't just a cute finishing touch but was also a bit of a necessity. Because of the shape of the bottle it was hard to get the paper to sit flat on the top without any bunching/overlapping. Being a bit of a perfectionist this drove me insane so I added the ribbon to hide the flaws.

All in all I'm very happy with these. I would still like to cut slits in the top but haven't been able to get around to it yet and was tired of pushing off posting this so I'll add a final picture with the lids actually on the bottles and the slit once I get it...whenever that may be :)

a colorful playful morning

2011-03-24T13:45:00.000-07:00

On St Patrick's Day our girls and I painted some bread for our morning toast. Cam (3yrs) had A LOT of fun with it and painted more than we could ever eat in one morning. :) Andi (18mo) enjoyed doing her first piece and then decided it was more fun to just eat the bread than paint it. :)

This really is such a fun, easy thing to do with kids in the mornings that you can do year round and they'll think you're SO much fun! Those are my favorite projects!

Fill how ever many cups you would like with a small amount of milk and add food coloring to each. Let the kids stir the milk with a popsicle stick (spoon etc) and watch it change colors! Use a baster brush (or new, unused paint brush) to "paint" your bread. (don't forget to buy white bread for this for best results) I recommend using a rubber brush if you have one...they can go from color to color and it doesn't mix. Toast bread and enjoy! For St Patricks day you can add some green dye to butter and sprinkle with "gold dust" (cinnamon).

tip of the day

2011-03-11T14:58:00.001-07:00

use a paintbrush to dust cracks and other small, hard to reach places like corners or items such as phones, stereos, keypads etc. don't know why I didn't think of this one before!

Country Baked Potato Soup

2011-02-22T10:57:00.000-07:00

First off I'm going to give a slight warning that this recipe certainly belongs in your "comfort foods" category, not with your "healthy meals". With that being said, I found this recipe to be the most delightful homemade soup I've ever made. SO YUMMY!!!!

Country Bake Potato Soup

4 large Russett Baking Potatoes
2/3 cup butter
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
2 tsp salt
1 Tbs white pepper (I didn't have white pepper on hand so I used regular and just did to taste...definitely less that 1 Tbs)
8 cups milk
1 cup sour cream
1/4 cup green onions thinly sliced
1/2 pound bacon cooked and crumbled (substitute with Bacon Bits if you'd prefer the easier route)
1 cup cheese shredded, for topping

Preparations
Bake potatoes at 350 degrees for 65-75 minutes or until tender; cool completely. Peel and cube potato's into 1" cubes. You want it to be chunky, but some will break up. (next time i will definitely cube first and boil in water...much faster and easier)
In a large Dutch Oven, melt butter; stir in flour, salt and pepper until smooth.
Gradually add milk. Bring to boil; cook and stir for 2 minutes or until thickened. If you want it thicker, mash a few potatoes against the side of the pot and stir, and it will thicken right up.
Remove from heat; whisk in sour cream.
Add potatoes and green onions. Place back on stove and heat to serving temperature over medium heat, stirring occasionally. Ladle into bowl and garnish with bacon and cheese.

Enjoy!

*I got the recipe from the Big Oven app for the iphone *

leftover turkey tacos

2010-11-30T17:29:00.000-07:00

we used our leftover turkey to make these DELICIOUS tacos that, might I add, are pretty darn healthy too!

Turkey Tacos with Avocado-Corn Salsa

1 pkg corn taco shells
1 1/2 cups chopped avocado
1 cup sweet corn kernels
1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved
1 Tbs lime juice
1 pkg reduced-sodium taco seasoning mix
12 oz cooked boneless, skinnless turkey breast cut into strips (yummy when you use chicken too)
3/4 cup water

1. Preheat oven to 250'. Place taco shells on baking sheet
2. make salsa; mix avocado, corn tomatoes, and lime juice in medium bowl. Set aside
3. combine taco seasoning, turkey and water in medium skillet. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5 minutes, stirring occasionally
4. heat shells in oven 5 minutes or until warm.
5. Spoon turkey mixture into shells and divide salsa evenly among tacos

The following is the way I did it using leftover turkey rather than having to fully cook the meat, therefor taking some shortcuts.

Make salsa by following direction #2 above. I just cooked the frozen corn in the bowl before adding the remaining ingredients. Set aside.

Put desired amount of meat in a microwaveable bowl, shredding more if needed as you do so. Sprinkle desired amount of taco seasoning, add a sprinkle of water, to keep moist, and stir. Heat in microwave to desired temperature. I believe I did 2 minutes for mine.

I skipped heating the taco shells and went straight to dishing. We did use soft corn tortillas for the girls...I do recommend you lay a wet papertowel over each and warm in the microwave. Feel free to bring on the hot sauce or any other toppings if you desire, although its not needed. They're scrumptious on their own!

yummy fall breakfast

2010-11-15T15:21:00.000-07:00

this is a perfect breakfast to have on a cold fall morning! bring on the holiday season!!!!!
(this makes more than one batch worth so you'll want a one-quart jar to store it in)

Cinnamon Pankcakes w/Cider Syrup

pancakes:
3 c. all-purpose flour 4 1/2 t. cinnamon
3 T. sugar 1 t. salt
2 T. baking powder

gently toss all ingredients together; spoon into a one-quart jar. (attach following instructions on some cute fall paper and its a great gift to give to a friend or teacher!)

instructions:
whisk 3/4 cup milk, one egg and 2 T. oil together in a medium mixing bowl; add 1 1/3 cups mix, stirring until just moistened. Pour by 1/4 cupfuls onto a hot, greased skillet; heat until bubbles form along the edge. Flip and heat until both sides are golden. Makes 10.

cider syrup:
1 c. sugar 2 c. apple cider
2 T. cornstarch 2 T. lemon juice
1/2 t. pumpkin pie spice 1/3 c. butter

Place first 3 ingredients in a saucepan; stir in apple cider and lemon juice. Heat over medium heat, stirring constantly until mixture thickens and boils; boil for one minute. Remove from heat; stir in butter. Makes about 2 cups.

a good laugh

2010-08-09T09:37:00.001-07:00

everyone could use a good laugh...one of these ought to do the trick.

ENJOY!

Training

2010-08-07T15:49:00.000-07:00

The training is seriously the hardest part for me which is rather lame but true. Although raising the money is slow and takes a lot of work, I do work on it everyday in one way or another where as its really hard for me to find the time to do the training everyday. I do go to the gym everyday (just about), so I'm staying in shape at least, but it's hard to take my time to really "train" because I'm usually having to cut my workout shorter than I would like to get home in time for Ty to leave for work. My goal is to walk at least a half marathon straight at least once this upcoming week...hopefully twice. I did run for 2 miles yesterday which may seem pathetic to some of you but it was a big deal for me! :)

On a side note, during THE walk they have us walking a full circle which I find very symbolic...I love stuff like that! I'm SO excited to do this walk....I couldn't sleep last night thinking about it which for those of you who don't know me well, that's a BIG deal. I usually can always sleep, anywhere, anytime. I can't wait to meet new people and experience something completely new and foreign to me, I just pray I can raise enough money to get there! I keep getting tempted to lower my goal for fundraising but I just can't bring myself to do it. I have to give it EVERYTHING I can, and if I don't meet it I'll be REALLY bummed but I'll know that I did everything I could to raise as much as I could and I'll have learned a lot of lessons along the way to apply for next year.

For those of you who have donated and are continuing to support me by keeping updated....THANK YOU!!!! For those of you who are just supporting me by keeping updated and giving moral support...THANK YOU! BUT, if you would like to now donate....here's the site again. :) Loves to you all. GO PINK! :)

www.JensPinkWalk.com DONATE HERE!!!!

Enduring Rose

2010-08-06T19:55:00.000-07:00

My thoughtful brother-in-law and sister were brainstorming ways they could help raise more money and they came up with an excellent alternative to donating. Bryson, my brother-in-law, and his family own a fabulous company called Enduring Rose and they are going to donate a portion of their proceeds on ANY rose purchase to help me raise money for Breast Cancer Research. They are BEAUTIFUL real roses dipped in gold. A rose that never dies! They have a variety of colored roses, as well as gold and white roses. They are the perfect gift for any occasion - anniversary, birthday, Valentines Day, Mothers Day, holidays, etc. So help a cause and get your loved one a timeless gift at the same time. Please visit their site at www.enduringrose.com and don't forget to SPREAD THE WORD!!! :)

Thank you again Bryson, Katie, and the entire Fish family. Your generosity is touching!

Fix It

2010-08-06T19:37:00.000-07:00

A number was performed on So You Think You Can Dance awhile ago and it has been on my mind a lot lately. Not just the dance but what it represents, or who it represents I guess.

Throughout preparing for this walk I have been focusing more so on those directly effected by breast cancer or who will be effected. Today, I can't help but focus more on those who have watched, are watching, or will have to watch their loved one go through the battle of breast cancer. I can only imagine how badly they must wish they could remove their pain, their cancer, their heartache. Instead, they are left to watch and offer as much moral support as they can, meanwhile, inside I'm sure they are feeling they are not doing enough. LIttle do they know their presence in that persons life at that time is probably enough for the fighter. The patient must know that this is their battle to fight but just to have someone by their side while they do this probably means more to them then any of us will ever fully know or understand.

So to those of you fighting with all your strength, know that there are many people out there wishing they could do more to help you...more to "fix you". And to those of you trying to be the fixer, know that your support is probably more of a help then you think.

Here is the video that touched me so much.

Jens Pink Walk

2010-07-29T17:18:00.000-07:00

Years ago I saw a commercial for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk and I felt impressed to participate. Unfortunately I pushed it off having way too many reasons why I didn't have time for it. Well I have thought about it A LOT in the last few years and finally this year I stop coming up with excuses and actually do it! So on September 11-12th I will be walking with a large community in the Avon Walk Santa Barbara. Walking a marathon and a half! Crazy, I know, but I'm SO excited!!

I figured maybe there were other walks out there I would be equally interested in but the more research I did the more I was impressed with the Avon Walk. To find out more about why, you can visit their website...you'll see why.

To be completely honest, I'm not exactly sure why I felt so inspired to want to participate. Ty's grandmother passed away from breast cancer, this was the first thing I thought of when I saw the commercial for the first time and I have to admit it got me choked up. Sad she had to go through that, that her family had to go through that and that I didn't get to meet her in this life. So I guess that was my first inspiration but I was also impressed with the camaraderie Avon showed and that I've already felt since registering. You really feel like you are apart of something great, something that really means something, something that will make a difference. Maybe, in all honesty, that is what has really kept me so motivated to follow through with this. I will admit that I am also attracted to the idea of doing my part now, before it hits someone I know well. That may be selfish but I just feel like if there is an opportunity to take one step closer to finding a cure, maybe one will be here before I am effected or someone I know all too well, that I should take it...now. For those of you who have already been effected, or watched (or are watching) someone be effected, by breast cancer, my condolences go out to you. I can not relate to you in anyway so I don't even know exactly what to say other then our prayers are with you and I admire your courage and strength.

The thing I look forward to most about this experience is the learning/growing process I know is inevitable to take place. I don't want to do the walk with ear plugs in my ears the whole time...I want to talk to other people, hear their story, learn how they had/have the strength to be faced with such a trial and gracefully make it through. I will definitely be leaving my comfort zone, but I'm eager to take up that challenge and know that my faith, confidence, knowledge, compassion, respect and so much more will grow as a result!

As for the training, I wonder if I'm taking it as seriously as I should. I mean, I go to the gym just about everyday. Do I run (or even walk) anything CLOSE to a marathon? NO WAY! I keep just figuring I'm in pretty decent shape and I am just walking after all, no jogging or running required, so surely I'll be fine, yet I know if I don't practice walking longer distances being in shape isn't going to matter much....my feet will be so blistered and my legs so sore from walking non-stop I'll probably wish I had broke in my shoes a little more. :) So that is my new goal...focus more on the "training" and less on the fundraising. The fundraising, although important and necessary, will all fall into place, I know it will, but the training is completely up to me. No one can really help me with that one.

I'm going to continue to update this blog on a regular basis with my progress along with my thoughts and feelings on this whole process. I hope you'll continue to check in and hold me to all my goals!

Thank you in advance for all of your support!

If you are interested in donating (I have a minimum of $1800 I have to raise but have made a personal goal of $2500) you can visit this site. Thanks again in advance!

loves <3

jenny

Krud Kutter. Again.

2010-07-29T17:17:00.000-07:00

it has come to my rescue once again. pen mark has never come off walls so easily. can NOT promote this enough

Addiction

2010-07-29T17:16:00.000-07:00

Loved this article I read this afternoon in Meridian Magazine. Thought I would share.

eyebrows

2010-06-15T20:35:00.000-07:00

* 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

2010-06-10T21:21:00.001-07:00

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

2010-06-10T21:03:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-10T19:53:00.000-07:00

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

2010-06-10T15:59:00.000-07:00

(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.

Orzo w/Feta & Tomatoes

2010-04-27T21:33:00.000-07:00

3 Tbs extra-virgin olive oil
2 cups cherry tomatoes, halved (I just chopped up Roma tomatoes)
1/2 cup chopped dill (this would be yummy but I left it out because I didn't have it on hand)
1 tsp grated lemon zest (I used lemon juice instead)
1 cup orzo (I used angel hair)
1 1/2 cups crumbled feta (6oz)

Toss together oil, tomatoes, dill, zest and 1/2 tsp of salt & pepper each in a large serving bowl. Let stand at least ten minutes.

Meanwhile, cook orzo in a pasta pot of boiling salted water (1 1/2 Tbs salt for 4 quarts water) until al dente.

Drain orzo and toss with tomato mixture. Add feta and toss again.

The tomatoes in this photo are from this recipe.

Hair Straightener + ironing =

2010-04-22T11:06:00.000-07:00

Making my life simpler!

Some smaller items such as childrens' clothes can be more difficult to iron. Yes, I iron my girls clothes. Not all of them but there are a couple dresses that I prefer the ties to be flat or the front flips up which drives me crazy. I have recently discovered a great way to get the job done without having to break out the ironing board and iron every time. Use a hair straightener! This has made my ironing SO much more simple and fast!

I still use the big iron for the few shirts and skirts that need ironing between Ty and I but I break out the straightener for the girls clothes and use it to get in-between the buttons on any button up shirt.

Hope this helps some of you obsessive ironers the same way it helped me!

H.E.Y!!!!

2010-04-05T20:50:00.000-07:00

A "HEY" snack or meal is a Healthy, Easy, Yummy snack/meal....everyones favorite combination! :)

Broiled Tomatoes w/feta cheese

Cut desired number of roma tomatoes in half lengthwise. Season each half with salt, pepper, Italian seasoning and crumbled Feta cheese. Drizzle with Fat Free Catalina Dressing. Last, top it with dried or fresh basil. Broil it 3 in from the bottom for 3 minutes or until cheese starts to brown. Remove and let stand for 1-2 minutes and ENJOY!!!!!

Other items you can use to top tomatoes: bacon bits, diced cucumber, black olives, fresh cilantro, whatever your heart desires!!!!

i am a mother. i am me.

2010-03-09T22:55:00.000-07:00

i just finished watching Julie & Julia. i cried at the end. ok, truth be told i got choked up several times throughout the movie, although the few glistening tears weren't shed until the end.

so many thoughts are going through my head, some that contradict the next, that i can hardly keep them straight.

i love being a mother. the book "i am a mother" is a favorite of mine. i read it often and it always helps remind me how blessed i am. i wouldn't trade it for the world....but there are moments when i wish i was more than just a mother. i wish when the girls were tucked away in their beds that i could turn into someone else for a bit. a wonderful writer, a phenomenal cook, an excellent blogger, a brilliant seamstress, etc. what is stopping me really? i certainly have the support from my AMAZING husband. i have the ability to learn a talent and begin to perfect it but i suppose it is the determination i lack. or the fear of failure. yes, i think that is it more than anything else. why is it that fear can be so paralyzing? stopping you in your tracks from accomplishing something worth your while?

i like to blame not accomplishing things on lack of time, that seems to be my choice of excuse, but in all actuality i suppose it is fear far more than time. i could make the time. i will make the time.

first, i must organize myself. there is nothing i hate more than feeling unorganized. i have a hard time working or enjoying myself in a messy environment. (this may come as a shock to some who have seen my house, but none the less, it is true) :)

yes, i will focus on organization for awhile. and continue to blog. whether people are reading or not is not relevant, what is important is that i feel accomplished. i have an escape from reality for a bit. and that i feel i am not ONLY a mother. but oh so much more. i'm still....me.

Quote

2010-03-06T11:29:00.000-07:00

You can tell more about a person by what he says about others
than you can by what others say about him.
~Leo Aikman

a kind act

2010-03-06T11:14:00.001-07:00

send a text message to 3 people complimenting them. enjoy the gratification it gives you knowing you just brightened someone's day!

Modest Bathing Suits

2010-02-21T23:12:00.000-07:00

this will be my first summer in THREE years that I will have "my body" back. The last three years I have either been pregnant or recently had a baby. Ty said I could get a new bathing suit or two since my body has changed in the last three years. (boy is that an understatement!) :) anyway, i started doing my research so i could make sure i found a modest swim suit that i loved rather than settle for and i came across this website....

these are THE CUTEST modest bathing suits!!!! <3 i'm in love <3

i picked two. and i couldn't be happier!

i dare you to not want to buy one. :) enjoy!

nail polish in carpet

2010-02-18T21:20:00.000-07:00

i was painting Cam's nails the other day when the red nail polish I was using tipped over. I tried using Krud Kutter to get it out but this is the first time it didn't work. Well it got some of it out but left the carpet a little pink. So I looked up what could get it out and the two that had the best reviews were vinegar and windex. The winner? WINDEX!!! Took it the remainder out without ANY problems. There were a couple different spots and I tried a couple combinations and this is my recommendation to you if you ever need to get nail polish out of your carpet:

use vinegar or krud kutter FIRST to try to lift as much as possible. then use windex to get the rest out. if you don't have vinegar or another stain remover product to use first, windex will work all on its own, it just takes a little bit more dabbing/scrubbing.

Brown Sugar Meatloaf

2010-02-16T10:25:00.000-07:00

tried this for dinner on Valentines Day...YUM YUM! SO easy and delicious...not dried out like most meatloaf I've had.

1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup ketchup
1 1/2 lbs lean ground beef
3/4 cup milk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper
1 small onion, chopped
1/4 tsp ground ginger
3/4 cup finely crushed saltine cracker crumbs (about 10)

1. preheat oven to 350F. Lightly grease a 5x9 loaf pan
2. press the brown sugar into the bottom of pan and spread with ketchup
3. in a mixing bowl thoroughly mix all remaining ingredients and shape into a loaf
4. place loaf on top of ketchup
5. bake in a preheated oven for 1 hour or until juices run clear
6. serve with mashed potatoes, buttered corn and brown-n-serve dinner rolls.

Dusting

2010-02-15T22:11:00.000-07:00

A dryer sheet makes a wonderful dust cloth. Using one will not only pick up dust, it will also eliminate static making it harder for dust particles to adhere to the surface in the future.

Don't forget to dust the ceiling, especially the corners and blinds. Attach a cloth or sock over a broom stick and use it to reach high places.

Baseboards collect a lot of dust and are often forgotten during the dusting process. Take an extra couple minutes in each room and wipe those baseboards down today. You'll just might be surprised at the difference it makes!

hiding vegetables

2010-02-13T16:39:00.000-07:00

sometimes its hard to get your kids to eat their veggies so we are always told to "hide" them in other foods or come up with creative names for them that make them seem fun. i'm guessing the "fun names" game doesn't work on all kids, but if you are like me you don't know where to hide the veggies. here is one idea. awhile ago i posted a recipe for some homemade meatballs. add to that ingredients list finely chopped celery and shredded carrots. make sure you mix them in real good before forming the balls!

Chili Coke Roast

2010-02-13T16:36:00.000-07:00

1 beef roast, 3-4 lbs
1 can of coca cola
1 package onion soup mix
1 bottle chili sauce

1. place all ingredients in crock-pot and cook for 7-10 hours depending on size of roast
2. the beat will flake apart when done
3. serve over mashed potatoes

Frugalicious Giveaway!!!

2010-02-12T11:46:00.000-07:00

Click here to sign up for a free giveaway of a $5 gift card to Quiznos. YUM YUM!!!

Easy Chicken & Cheese Enchiladas

2010-02-11T23:37:00.000-07:00

1 can (10 3/4 oz) cream of chicken soup
1/2 cup sour cream
1 cup Pace Picante sauce
2 tsp chili powder
2 cups shredded chicken
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
6 flour tortillas (6in), warmed
1 small tomato, chopped (about 1/2 cup)
1 green onion, sliced (about 2 Tbs)

1. Heat the oven to 350'F Stir the soup, sour cream, picante sauce & chili powder in a medium bowl
2. Stir 1 cup soup mixture, chicken & cheese in a large bowl
3. Divide the chicken mixture among the tortillas. Roll up the tortillas and place seam side up in a 2 qt shallow baking dish. Pour remaining mixture over filled tortillas. Cover the baking dish
4. Bake for 40 minutes or until the enchiladas are hot and bubbling. Top w/tomato & onion

yum yum! enjoy!

tip: if you want your enchiladas slightly more spicy add a can of diced tomatoes with green chilies to your meat mixture or on top

random facts and ideas

2009-11-17T09:22:00.000-07:00

store your plastic wrap in the freezer. this will avoid the annoyance of sticking to itself, making it much easier to wrap up your holiday goodies!

often times broccoli stems go to waste due to people wanting to eat only the "tree" part of the broccoli. next time, save the stems and puree them, then add to a pesto or marinara sauce. a sneaky, delicious way to get your kids, or even just yourself, to eat vegetables!i

if you are trying to watch how many carbs you are eating but still love to indulge in a bowl of pasta now and then, here is a delicious, healthy way to do so. shred some zucchini then barely saute it until it just starts to go limp. this helps you eat less pasta and more vegetables! i do half pasta, half zucchini.

author of Empowering Your Health, Asa Andrews, MD, tells us how we can get more energy first thing in the morning. i do all three and noticed a difference once starting this routine. 1. have a big glass of water. after sleeping for several hours you have lost a significant amount of fluids. "Hydrating yourself will perk you up" 2. do jumping jacks. just a few will help increase blood flow, which gives you a huge burst of energy. I jumprope for the same purpose. 3. eat up. don't skip breakfast! having the right foods in the morning kicks energy levels and metabolism into high gear. some things recommended in Womans Day magazine is plain yogurt (protein), a handful of almonds (healthy fats) and an orange (carbohydrates and vitamin C) Avocados also have healthy fats and peanut butter not only has high amounts of protein but peanut butter is proven to help kick your metabolism into high gear. A little bit on some whole grain toast will do the trick!

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-16T23:56:00.000-07:00

This is a family favorite. Was never a huge pork chop lover but thought I would give this recipe a shot and am SO glad I did!

Polynesian Pork Chops

4 boneless pork chops, 3/4 inch thick
1 tsp garlic powder
1 Tbs vegetable oil
1 medium onion, chopped
1 can Campbell's Golden Mushroom Soup
1 can (8oz) pineapple chunks
1/4 cup water
3 Tbs soy sauce
1 Tbs honey
2 cups cooked rice
sliced green onions

1. Season chops with garlic. Heat oil in skillet. Add chops and cook until browned. Add onion.

2. Add soup, pineapple with juice, water, soy sauce and honey. Heat to a boil. Cook over low heat 10 minutes or until done.

3. Serve with rice and garnish with green onions.

makes 4 servings prep/cook time: 20 minutes

Recipe of the Week

2009-11-09T23:30:00.000-07:00

This recipe is probably my new favorite. It is SO yummy and extremely easy to make. AND, sense everything is homemade you feel like such an amazing chef by the time you are serving the meal. :)

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

1lb ground beef
1 egg
1 onion, chopped
1 cup dry bread crumbs (I use seasoned but you can use plain)
salt & pepper to taste
1 cup water
1/2 cup vinegar
1/2 cup ketchup
2 Tbs cornstarch
1 cup brown sugar
2 Tbs soy sauce (I actually used 3 Tbs so it wouldn't be too sweet and I think it turned out just right)

1. In large bowl, combine beef, egg, onion, bread crumbs, salt & pepper. Roll into meatballs about 1-1 1/2 inches in size

2. In a large skillet over medium heat, saute the meatballs until browned on all sides

3. In a separate medium bowl, mix together the water, vinegar, ketchup, cornstarch, sugar & soy sauce. Pour over the meatballs, and allow sauce to thicken. Continue to heat until the sauce just starts to bubble

Serve over rice and ENJOY!!! Serves 5 and takes about 20 minutes total, to prepare and cook

mom,mom,mom,mom,mom,mom.....

2009-10-23T15:10:00.000-07:00

Why is it that kids feel the need to repeat things SO many times? Cam repeats the same word or sentence about 10 times before I even have a chance to answer her. I wonder why. Did I once ignore her and now she feels the need to have to keep repeating until she knows she has my attention? It seems to be a habit I see in a lot of young children though. Do we unknowingly ignore them? Or is it just something that is instilled in them somehow? I wonder....what are your thoughts?

Recipe of the Week

2009-10-22T10:21:00.000-07:00

This is an amazingly delicious dish that we eat regularly here....one of my husbands favorite.

Chicken Asparagus Gratin

1 can (10 3/4 oz) Campbell's Cream of Asparagus Soup
1/2 cup milk
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/8 tsp pepper
3 cups hot cooked corkscrew macaroni (about 2 1/2 cups uncooked)
1 1/2 cups cubed cooked chicken or turkey
1 1/2 cups cooked cut asparagus
1 cup shredded Cheddar or Swiss cheese (4oz)

1. In 2-quart casserole mix soup, milk, onion powder and pepper. Stir in macaroni, chicken, asparagus and 1/2 cup cheese
2. Bake at 400'F for 25 minutes or until hot
3. Stir. Sprinkle remaining cheese over chicken mixture. Bake 5 minutes more or until cheese is melted.

Makes 4 servings

Tip: for 1 1/2 cups cooked cut asparagus, cook 3/4 pound fresh asparagus, trimmed and cut into 1-inch pieces, or 1 package (about 9 oz) frozen asparagus cuts.

*Recipe taken from Campbell's 1-2-3 Dinner recipe book pg 21. Enjoy!

Baby Poop Decoder!

2009-10-22T09:43:00.000-07:00

If you're anything like me you wonder about your babies poop sometimes. It's like a surprise everytime you change their diaper, what color is it going to be this time? :) Well after changing an orange diaper yesterday I decided to look into it and found this site which I am now fond of. Check out the poop decoder....it may help you too.

So when Andi was having green poop for awhile I looked into it and like the above site says there is nothing wrong with that, especially for formula fed babies, but if you are breastfeeding and they are having consistent green diapers it could mean that they are not getting enough hind milk so make sure they completely drain at least one side every feeding as to make sure they are getting the proper fore milk/hind milk ratio.

A Challenge for All Moms

2009-09-25T20:24:00.000-07:00

So lately I have talked to a handful of moms about how discouraging it can be when it comes to feeling like you are accomplishing anything. I have read a lot about this lately due to me feeling the EXACT same way and I've come to this conclusion....I don't think there is a single mom (or stay at home dad) out there that doesn't feel the same way.
After talking to lots of moms and reading lots of articles I have decided that really what it comes down to is that we need to change our attitude/expectations as to what we are "suppose" to be accomplishing everyday. When it comes down to it (in my opinion) there are 4 things that should be on your checklist everyday. They are: 1. housework (this includes dinner) 2. time with the kids 3. me time and 4. couple time. If you can do SOMETHING in each category everyday you are doing AWESOME!
Housework is pretty explanatory, couple time can be something as simple as just sitting down and sharing each others day without any distractions (kids, computers, cleaning etc) to playing a game or cuddling on the couch while watching a movie. The two harder things (again, in my opinion) are "me" time and kid time. As mothers we tend to feel guilty if we aren't spending every second with our children and even guiltier when we feel frustrated with them and feel like we NEED the break. What type of mother needs a break from her children?! Answer: EVERY mother. And the truth is the children need a break from you too...even if they don't know it yet. I try to look at it this way, when I'm not on the floor playing with my daughter or reading with her, I'm teaching her. Teaching her to be independent, teaching her to use her imagination, teaching her its ok to not have to be entertained constantly, etc. "Me time" is hard because, again, as women we seem to feel guilty when we take it, but, if we are honest with ourselves I think we could admit that we are much better (for me, MUCH more patient) mothers AFTER taking some time for ourselves. Maybe its only for a half hour while we check blogs and emails or maybe its an evening away, whatever is needed to rejuvenate and feel up for the challenges of motherhood again.
I have found it is much easier for me to mentally handle everything if I make a WEEK to do list rather than a daily one. My daily one is just to check off each of the four categories...spent time with my daughters...check to kid time! Dusted, picked up house AND cooked dinner (wow, look at me go!)....check to housework! Hung out with hubby when he got home....check to couple time! Took a bath and read....check to me time! As for my weekly list, I have to remind myself regularly that although it would be ideal to accomplish everything on that list by the end of the week it may not (and probably won't) happen. I can transfer whatever didn't get done to the next week....what really matters is that my kids are happy and healthy, my marriage is strong and I'm staying sane....most of the time. :)
So I challenge all of you moms to try to be a little easier on yourself this next week. Try to pat yourself on the back a little more often and find a little more time for yourself...free of guilt. And if you ever need to just vent to someone, or know that someone understands what you are going through look around you and remember that every mother is feeling the same way you are...hoping others can relate to her so she can feel a little less guilty.

Oooh, that smells nice!

2009-08-13T23:40:00.000-07:00

Here are some odor controlling tips:

If your fridge stinks but you don't have a box of baking soda try soaking some cotton balls in vanilla extract and place it in your fridge to help banish the odors.

You do a load of laundry and then forget all about it until a couple days later. Of course at this point your clothes/towels wreak of mildew. Run the load again adding some white vinegar this time which will absorb the stench, leaving your clothes smelling as if they had just gone through the wash for the first time.

Newspaper is a great way to help control odor. Wad some up and place it in the foot of your shoes when you aren't wearing them or put a couple sheets at the bottom of your trash can.

To clean a rancid garbage disposal you can "pour in 1/2 cup baking soda and 1/2 cup white vinegar. After it's done fizzing, pour a teapot of boiling water down the drain. The concoction will clear out clogs, too!" (as taken from Woman's Day magazine) After doing this I ran some lemons through to help leave a fresh aroma throughout the kitchen.

Worse Mother of the Year Awards

2009-06-08T12:45:00.000-07:00

I really do try as hard as I can to be the best mother I can be. I keep a constant prayer with me that I will be guided through every decision, I read to Cam, we play games, we wrestle/have tickle fights, I feed her (well, i try really hard, she isn't the biggest fan of this) I teach her and introduce her to new sights, sounds and activities but through all of this I still fall short of being the "best mom". My humbling moments I call my "award moments"....when I receive the "worse mother of the year award" because that's what I feel I deserve. Of course, after all is said and done I can look back and laugh and admit that not only did that just happen but things similar to it is sure to happen yet in due time. I know I'm not the only mother who has felt this way either. Here is the story of when I received my first award...

So I changed Cam's diaper and it was a STINKY one so I needed to run it out to the trash outside. That morning had been trash day so I had to run it out the front door rather than going through the backyard like i usually would. Now, you need to know that our front door has one of those handles that even if its locked from the outside you can still open if from the inside. So I left the door slightly opened so I could get back in. I'm still not sure if it just continued to close on its own some how or if Cam came over and pushed it close the remainder of the way....all I know is that as I was stepping off the front porch step I heard a click behind me and my heart skipped a beat. I ran back to the door and tried opening it, praying that I had heard things but the door didn't budge. "OH MY GOSH I JUST LOCKED MY ONE YEAR OLD IN THE HOUSE!!!!" was all I could think. I ran around back still praying but this time that the back door would be unlocked, although I knew that would be a miracle because we NEVER (at that time) would leave that door unlocked. I tried the door and every window to no avail. I tried looking inside and my heart fell...I couldn't see Cam but I could hear her crying which broke my heart. I ran from neighbor's house to neighbor's house pounding on their doors yet NO ONE was home, or so they wanted me to think. I heard a car coming down the street so I ran after it until they stopped. I started crying as I explained the situation and asked if I could borrow their cell phone. The husband was NOT happy about being so inconvenienced but the wife insisted on helping and staying with me until I got in. Long story short I ended up having to call 911. The operator was sweet and tried calming me down but really it just pissed me off. After I explained the situation and she called for the fire department and police she asked me "Why are you crying?" WHAT? What do you mean "why am i crying?" Did you NOT just hear what I just did?! I felt horrible! But she tried reassuring me that this wasn't the first time a mother had done this and that accidents happen and I do appreciate her efforts. She said police should probably be arriving there first and should be there soon and we hung up. I went back to the backyard to try to see Cam again. I knocked on the sliding glass door and yelled out Cam's name trying to get her to come to me so I could make sure she was ok. She came around the corner from our bedroom and stopped crying as soon as she saw me. From this point on she was fine, never cried again, just stuck her face against the glass and made faces and laughed as if this was all some sort of funny game we were playing. Now at this point I'm already feeling like a bad mom but little did I know that feeling was about to intensify. Cam leaves the room and goes back in our master bedroom, to my horror she comes back around the corner with a match in her hand! WHAT?! I couldn't believe it! Where did she get that?! We only have matches in the bathroom (a necessity of course :)) but we keep that door close. Luckily she drops that pretty quickly and walks back over to the sliding glass door but only to reach up and grab the cord to the blind and drape it around her shoulders. Luckily it wasn't around her neck....YET! I started to panic and cry again trying to calmly ask her to drop the cord somehow she seemed to understand and took it off and dropped it. Right about that time is when the police officer got there. He walked in the back yard and saw me, this grief stricken mother, and started laughing! He asked "What's going on here?" and i hurried to explain the situation. He was so confident he would be able to quickly and easily open a window but really he quickly discovered that he couldn't. It seemed like forever but the fire department finally got there and got to work trying to bust in without breaking anything. Cam this whole time is LOVING the attention. She is still busy making faces, smiling and waving at everyone....so proud of what she has accomplished, or so it seemed. :) It took them a good 10 minutes to finally get in. They tried taking off part of the sliding glass door yet couldn't seem to accomplish that so they tried two other windows still to no avail. Finally, it took three of them on one window to finally get in. They kept joking with me about how at least I didn't need to ever worry about someone breaking in. One firefighter stayed with me the whole time trying to distract me. He was asking me about our backyard landscape and why I like palm trees and all sort of random questions. I tried to be polite and answered all his questions but never took my eyes off of Cambyrn. When the firemen finally got the window open one of them climbed in to open the sliding glass door...as he walked towards Cambryn he started talking to her in this baby type of voice thinking she would be scared of him. Instead, she walked up to him and gave him a high five. "Way to finally get in stranger!" :) We all laughed and he opened the door, I rushed in and picked up Cam crying hard all over again. The firemen immediately started walking away, another rescue completed but they didn't leave until they made sure I had my keys on me. :) I felt horrible. Not only for locking my child inside (or myself out) but for wasting their time. All while they were working there I heard calls coming in like "drug overdose in circle g", "domestic abuse at ______address" and I kept thinking about how there are all these very serious things going on and this particular squad is busy letting a silly mom into her house where her one year old was stranded. I'm sure they were looking at my little forming bump (at the time) and hoping that was from eating too many doughnuts and not another baby growing...after all I seem to struggle at times with one! :)
I called my mom shortly after and was crying while telling her....she just started laughing. Next thing I knew I was laughing with her as I finished explaining everything. Good thing I didn't call her (or my siblings who also laughed when I told them) while it was happening or I would have been REALLY upset that they were laughing. All that night and for days following Ty would say to me "Remember that time you locked our daughter in the house?" and we would laugh. Thank goodness for the ability to laugh!

My second award came when I was chasing her around the mall waiting for Tyson to get done with his shift. She would run, I would chase her and she would squeal and laugh with delight as I captured her. This was a wonderful fun, funny game that was helping us pass the time until I picked her up and pulled her arm out of socket. Elbow to be exact. It was BY FAR the most heart wrenching experience. She just held her arm limp at her side and try holding it with the other arm and just CRY and CRY AND CRY. Needless to say I cried a lot with her I felt so guilty. Guilty because I had accidently caused this pain and guilty because I couldn't fix it. No kisses on her elbow would fix this problem. We took her to the urgent care where they did xrays and then put it back in place. They didn't want me going with her to get the xrays done because I was already crying and they didn't think watching them twist it to take xrays and making her scream louder would help me. So Ty took her by himself. She was tough and even calmed down while we waited for the dr to look at the xrays. He came back in and set it in place. She screamed while he did it and I sat silently crying while watching it. Ty was brave of course and was holding her and comforting her. As soon as he set it she reached for me and I held her and cried. She stopped within 45 seconds. The Dr gave us instructions on what to do with her and then told Ty to make sure I got some ice cream and a foot rub when we got home because it was probably more traumatic for the mother than the baby. I agree. :) She will never remember that whole experience yet I will never forget it.

I think the lesson to be learned through all of this is that no mother is perfect. We never will be. Not only will we make countless little mistakes we will back some pretty big ones too including some big, unforgettable accidents. I know this blog is long but hopefully it helps you realize there is always someone out there doing something worse than you! :) j/k Loves to all you mothers for your bravery and love!

My hands are full with one....

2009-05-28T21:36:00.000-07:00

So I have decided to start doing 2 new things....1) I will actually start to blog on here regularly again 2) I'm adding another element of what I will blog about. I have decided to have posts about the joys and challenges of motherhood. This obviously goes along with the whole "how to survive/better being a house mom" theme I have going on here. The point of this is to A) have a place I can..well, vent I guess. I don't know if that is necessarily the word I'm looking for but either way I'll go with it and B) hopefully give other moms hope/realization/encouragement that they're not alone in their happiness, frustrations and moments of thinking they are a bad mom. So here goes the first of many:

I decided to go the grocery store today while Ty was at work. I really don't do this too often due to not having the car and because Cam can be a little difficult at the store at times. However, today I thought I would give it another try because we really need milk and Ty would be home too late for me to go after he got home and still be back in time to feed Cam and get her to bed at a decent hour. Well, lets just say I will probably never do this again. She gets harder the older she gets and though its not HORRIBLE (she just has her days) it is MUCH harder when I'm trying to keep her in check and get our groceries all the while having trouble walking due to my sciatic nerve problem getting worse as I get larger with the pregnancy. As I was trying to steer the shopping cart and hold my 16 month old daughter who was throwing a very large tantrum it dawned on me that in 3 short months I would have another child here with me while dealing with this. I became rather overwhelmed and that is when I decided maybe grocery shopping would work best when I could go by myself after the kids have gone down for the night. I know this won't always be possible though so to all of you mothers out there who already have multiple kids here is my question: Where do you put the older one? I mean, I'm guessing the baby is in the car seat in the front, the groceries are in the back of the cart and although I could put Cam back there I know I would then have all of the eggs being dumped on the floor....but I also see it being a problem just letting her walk because then she gets really upset when I don't let here pull everything off the shelves onto the floor...or she refuses to leave an aisle and move on to the next one. If I put the car seat in the back and Cam in the front then where do the groceries go? I'm hoping this complicated problem will be resolved after I have the baby and my "motherly instincts" kick in to high gear. Or that ya'll have some great advice! :) I hope that this post doesn't come off as me complaining too much about my "angel baby" as people have referred her to. Don't get me wrong, I know I am SO lucky....Cambryn really is SUCH a good little girl...there is just something about the grocery store and tantrums that seem to go hand in hand in her little mind. :)

Healthy AND Yummy!

2008-11-01T15:57:00.001-07:00

Here are some healthy, flavorful foods that are sure to satisfy any hunger pains without over doing it!

* FiberOne Bars - chocolate is my favorite. You can get a great deal at Costco...huge box for cheap
* Skinny Cow Ice Cream Sandwiches - tastes just like an ice cream sandwich. You would never guess it's healthy!
* Ritz Whole Wheat Crackers - if you like the original Ritz you'll love these too!
* Laughing Cow Cheese Wedges - very good on whole grain mini bagel, english muffin, or whole wheat crackers
* Honey-Wheat Crackers - my favorite snack!
* Good Start Egg Substitutes - can't tell the difference yet MUCH healthier
* Quaker Rice Cakes - love all the flavors
* Grilled Chicken - I grill a weeks worth at a time. That way when I want to add some chicken to a salad, casserole, corn tortilla or anything its already cooked and ready to go! Rather than putting mine in a freezer/storage bag I already have it portioned control in little sandwich bags
* Back to Nature Organic Stoneground Wheats. Baked with wheat & flaxseed crackers - YUMMY! You get them at Costco. SOOO yummy with the Laughing Cow Cheese
* Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies - ok, really there is nothing healthy about this, BUT I do make a make (really whatever cookies, mine just happen to be pumpkin chocolate chip this time around) and I freeze the cookie dough. Then, when I'm REALLY craving something sweet and warm, like a cookie, I bake only how many i'm going to allow myself to eat. I usually do two or three SMALL cookies. Helps you not overeat the sweets.

Since I started watching what I was snacking/eating and slimming down my portions I have lost 13 pounds. And haven't cut ANYTHING out of my diet that I don't like to eat. Just smarter about it. Anyway, hope some of these healthy snack ideas help you out with losing weight or just staying healthy. I have to add one last thought/lecture....DO NOT convince yourself that by just skipping eating all together you can lose weight and "get back on track". Then once you start eating again it will be harder to keep it off...just do it right the first time and make good habits!

these are a few of my favorite things...

2008-10-16T20:39:00.000-07:00

Here are a few of my favorite cleaning supplies that I make sure I always have in our house:

Krud Kutter - This wins the gold star in the cleaning product department in my book. This product can take just about any stain out of anything, and I know because I have used it on just about everything. I've taken out blood stains, pen stains, hair dye out of clothes, gum, lipstick, scuff marks, even paint out of carpet and thats just to name a few things. The best part is that it leaves the area looking as good as new! I LOVE this product! Some places I know you can find Krud Kutter is Lowes, Home Depot and Wallpaper Warehouse. Here is their webiste to learn more, including everywhere it's sold http://www.krudkutter.com/ Its a little pricey but as I say, it may cost a pretty penny but it's worth every dime...and don't worry, it lasts a long time because a little goes a long way. Tip: If it's a bad stain I usually spray some on the stain along with add a small amount to the wash. Either way, try to spray and wash the garment or area as quickly as possible.

Olive Oil - Put some olive oil on a cloth or paper towel (my personal preference) and rub on your stainless steel appliances/items to have them shiny and streak free (including no fingerprints...finally!) Tip: Yet again, a little goes a long way. Start with a smaller amount and then add more to the cloth if needed...if you get too much it will be super slippery.

Old Sock - An old sock is a great and easy way to dust your blinds & its MUCH quicker which is always a plus in my book. Just make sure you use the proper cleaning solution, if one is even needed. Some blinds specifically want you to just use a dry cloth while others allow you to use a dusting spray or a damp cloth (or in this case a damp sock) Tip: When you go to wash the sock get it wet with the water pouring into the machine, wipe down your washer and dryer and then throw it in the wash. Then you get in the habit that every time you wash the sock you also wash your washer and dryer and help the area look nice and clean!

Swiffer - I love the swiffer products. I have the mopping one and the dusting one. They are the perfect tool when you need to get the dusting or floor mopped quickly yet efficiently. Maybe guests or coming over or you have a busy schedule but still want to squeeze in some housework. I pretty much always use the dusting one and when it comes to the moping one I use it frequently...until I have the time to get on my hands and knees and really scrub the floor. Tip: If you are out of the mop swiffer wipes that you attach to the mop but you really need to get the job done, get a paper towel wet with water and a little Pine Sol..it will hold it over until you can go buy more and help the place still smell good!

Hope some of these tips have been helpful! See you next Thursday!

Below is a picture of my containers before and after using the olive oil rub down technique :)
Before:

After: