Works For Me Wednesday

Two weeks ago, I started Menu Plan Monday. I had bought this weekly pad at the Dollar Store and I was planning on that. I started to think ahead about what I would do when I ran out of these weekly pages and I came up with the idea to laminate them and post them on the refrigerator. So first, I took out my hand laminator and laminated four weeks for monthly planning. I cut them out and I remembered I had these magnets that I was saving for whatever. Well, my original thought was to print pictures that I liked of my kids and laminate them and glue the picture to the magnet.



Anyway these are just magnets that were given to me or that came with the phone book. Ones that I don't need anymore.


I cut and glued them to the back of the weekly pages. Then wrote in our menu for the week with a dry erase marker.

Last, of course, I posted them on the door next to the school lunch menu. The kids were thrilled because now they know what is for dinner too.

I'm thrilled because it was so easy to do and now I can keep track of the menu easier too.

Works for me!

For other tips click here!

Also, if you were here last week for my label tip, I posted them for download here.

Tackle It Tuesday

Ok, I realize it's Wednesday...but if you read my previous posts...you know I had a case of The Stupids and that is why I am posting today.

Last Tuesday I said I was going to tackle curtains and boy did I. Every window is accounted for in one way or another and you know what? I wish I would have done it sooner. It's really nice.

So here's the tour...

I started with the older girl's room. This is a fabric they picked out. This is also my first time making curtains. They were pretty easy.

Here we have the two younger girl's room. I bought these on clearance so that was nice. They love them.

Here are the curtains in the boy's room. I know it doesn't really go well. But I got the valance on clearance thinking I could find the curtains SOMEWHERE. But...no...they were no where. To add insult to injury, I noticed the curtains hanging in a home I pass almost everyday. It's the only way to get to town from where I live. Figures, huh? lol

These are the game room curtains. I made these myself and they weren't as easy as the others. I love the fabric too.Oh and did I mention that I got this fabric and the other curtain fabric for $1 a yard? That makes them even better. lol

The two above are the kitchen curtains. The top are the two windows by the table. I'm on the fence about whether to put curtains on those because the kids walk past there and I am worried they will dirty them or accidently pull them down but it would be really nice to not have to see the neighbor's car cemetary two houses down. So, I'm not sure what I am going to do.

Here is the living room setup. Looks easy but boy was it a pain to set up.

I can't find the pics from the windows in my room and bathroom. I guess I'll just post them with next week's tackle so I can get this posted.

To see other tackles click here.

Finally!

I've been trying to post on blogger for 3 hours! I just cleared my cookies and cache and here I am...wish I would have done that sooner.


Oh well!


Today, I wasn't feeling so great. I was really tired and I'm sad because I've lost all my Tetras and sharks and my albino catfish over the past 4 days. We had 16 tetras, 2 Bala sharks, and Snowball:the sequel. They died of Ick. I feel so bad. I've been treating them but I guess it was too late. It put a strain on me physically to see each one dead. I tried to keep up with them throughout the days so the kids wouldn't have to see them dead.


But around 4 pm when the last one died. I was beat. I had cleaned up everything around the kitchen sink because that is the biggest sink I have. I don't like to use it but I have no choice. I use comet and bleach to clean up. For some reason I left the (Clean) net beside the sink. It was near the crock pot but not next to it. I guess I just forgot to put it away.


Well, at 4 pm I decided I needed a break and I went to lie down for a bit. I woke up at 5:11 pm panicked because I was in such a deep sleep, I hadn't heard ANYTHING. Not hubs, not any of the kids. Apparently they weren't any quieter than usual and I was just really out of it.


I trudge into the kitchen,worried that I might have overcooked the stuffing for the bell peppers to see this...Perfect huh?



I smiled to myself as I slid to the side and reached to pick up what I thought to be the spoon. I start to mix it up and think "Wow, this smells yummy...but why is it gathering like that?" Still not getting it..I step back for a minute because I am short and I wanted to get a better position on my tip toes to see what exactly was going on and that is when I see the spoon resting on the spoon rest.


Let me tell you that it STILL took me a minute to figure it out and then a minute to say "Awww $#$% HUBS! Guess what I just did?"


Of course he couldn't because not even I could've guessed it. Before I could answer I bent over in laughter because I had USED THE FISHING NET TO MIX THE BELL PEPPER'S STUFFING~!


Kid you not. I alternated between being grossed out, laughing and being slightly upset. Maybe I was in shock or hysterics but after about ten minutes I calmly asked Hubs what he wanted for dinner and I went out and bought take out.


I was surprised that I wasn't so upset about it. Of course, now I have new meat in the crockpot and I've started over because I still have bell peppers that need to be used.


Am I the only one who does such stupid things? *shaking my head*

Oops...

Ok, so yesterday and last night I tried and tried to log in to blogger. It was so sloooooow...

I finally figured it out this morning.

I inadvertently screwed everything up when I was trying to set up FTP to share the labels.

I deleted that out and now here I am.

I know in the next post,which I wrote last night I thought I had fixed it but alas, it didn't really work and I had to give up...

Another episode of The Stupids with me as the main character!

Now back to our regular scheduled blogging....

Menu Plan Monday

Last week was my first Menu Plan Monday. I had to switch it around a bit due to weather . Friday we were supposed to BBQ but it was rainy and foggy. Instead we had pot roast which was so yummy and perfect for the rainy foggy day. We BBQ'd on Saturday instead.

I didn't get around to visiting EVERYONE'S Menus until Saturday but boy was it worth it. You guys are amazing. I now have a ton of new recipes....a couple of which we are trying this week. Hubs was excited with all the yumminess I was showing him. lol

Here's this week's menu:

Monday: Marlboro Man's Second Favorite Sandwich and Potato Salad.

Tuesday: Stuffed Bell Peppers with Tomato Basil and Mozzarella Crostini.

Wednesday: Pizza, Salad, and Green Thompson Grapes.

Thursday: Vegetable Beef Soup in Bread Bowls.

Friday: Orange Chicken and Stir Fry with white rice. ( For this one we are trying a new Orange Sauce we found in the Asian section at the grocery store. I'll let you know if it's any good.)

Saturday: Pepper Jack Chicken Rolls, Green Beans, Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta.

Sunday: Lil Smokies with Ranch Beans and a tortilla.

For more menu planning ideas go visit Laura!

Here's a bonus picture of Sunday's dinner. It was my first time making chicken. I was pretty proud it came out soo yummy.

Seeing as it was the first day of Autumn, I took out my fall items. I for one am glad that summer is over and cooler days are ahead. I know...I know...soon I'll be wishing for warmer days again. lol!

Happy Monday everyone!

Didn't think I forgot about ya...did'ja??

Ok, for those of you coming back for the label download... I think I got it.



Click here for the"Opened On" label link and click here for the "Frozen on" label link.



We used Avery 5895 labels but any 2 1/3" x 3 3/8" label will do.



I write on them before I put them on the ziploc bag. I also put them on the bag first before the food or I make sure that the surface is dry.



I used to use sharpies to write on the bag but they smeared or I was covered in marker by the time I was done.

If you have any problems with the download let me know and I'll e-mail them. I just wanted to make it easier for everyone who asked for them to get them.

Enjoy!

Say Cheese!

So Wednesday before Catechism I took the kids to get their first family picture with all of them in it together.

Let me just say...what in the world was I thinking?

I guess maybe I was thinking because they are 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 they could pull it together and just look at the photographer and smile. Uh...no. They couldn't. The poor photographer pulled them apart and did individuals and then tried again for the group. I felt bad for her. I've taken several pics of them all together and yeah I might have to retake a few but for the most part, it hasn't been too bad . But for some reason it was like a switch was activated in a couple of them that prevented them from taking a picture.

The boy and the 7 year old were driving me crazy. The boy could not just relax and smile. For some reason he was really tense. Like someone threw a bucket of cold water on his back tense. At one point we had a perfect picture with the exception of just him. He looked like Bush ...for real. I'm not trying to offend anyone but we all know that Bush looks less than intelligent sometimes. I said we couldn't let it go like that. The photographer agreed and quickly took another shot. The 7 year old kept looking to us (for approval, I guess) right before the photographer would snap the picture.

Finally about 10 minutes until Catechism started we were done. I kept apologizing to the woman with the toddler who had been waiting because of how long my kids were taking.

I have the printed black and white proofs. I think for all that we went through they came out pretty good. I'd love to post them when they come in but I don't think I will. It sucks because there are certain people that I am trying to protect the children from. Because we are related, this can't be a totally closed adoption so I'm sure at some point those people will find me. Instead of respecting my wishes, I know they will do whatever they can to sabotage what we have going now. That's why I can't ever be as free as I'd like to be and I can't share many of the things I would like to.

It's hard to know what's sharing too much. It's also funny in a way that I don't mind sharing with "strangers" but rather with the family members that I wish would just go away.

Maybe some how down the line, I will be able to figure out how to share with those that I want to and how to keep my family members out.

Until then, it's walking on egg shells.

The one where I can't even speak English well...

I've been so busy. I've had about 6 hours of sleep over the past three days. As I mentioned my oldest started violin lessons. Well, it just so happens they start at 7:30 am. That means I have to get up early (5 am when I just get to bed by 3:30 am), get Hubs up and ready, then get her up, then get the other four up. Drop her off, then come back and finish getting the others ready and on the bus. Then go back and pick up the violin because it's on borrow from the school and even if it wasn't I don't even really want my kids on the bus so there's no way the violin is going on the bus.

I get home and it's a mad dash to get as much as I can done before I hear the school bus pulling up to drop them off.

Today, we went grocery shopping at 3 different stores in the rain. Each time I had to stand in the rain to get Hubs in and out of the van. It takes 15 minutes each time and it's pretty physical to put the tie downs on his chair. I was soooo tired when I got home and I had only put away the cereal when the kids came bouncing in the door. ARGH!

After I had gone through all the backpacks and put the groceries away and got dinner started, I sat down to talk to Hubs... we talked about these potstickers that we had sampled at one of the stores. When I am exhausted I start to make up new words or forget most of my vocabulary for some reason (or drone on and on apparently. lol )

Well, I told Hubs that I had thought the man had made them in a microwave but he had actually made them on a skittle. Hubs turned back to me and said "What did he make it on Sweetie?"

I looked at him and I said very matter of factly "He made them on a skittle."

Hubs said "ok" and he turned around to face the other way. I could hear him trying to laugh quietly.

I said "What, don't tell me! I didn't use the right word." But for the life of me I couldn't remember the right word. I kept repeating skittle. When it dawned on me that I was talking about candy. I told hubs that I thought it was an orange skittle, "You know like the color of fire." I mean I already sounded stupid so why not make it concrete right?

I actually had to ask hubs what word I was looking for....he told me Skillet.

I asked him," You were just going to chuckle to yourself over there and not even tell me were you?"

He's a smart man. He told me he just thought it was cute.

For the rest of the day I've been hearing the word skittle in my head and it sends me into fits of laughter.

I'm losing my mind, aren't I? Has this ever happened to you? C'mon don't be shy...share your embarrassment. It's healing *smirk*

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I don't know if anyone will come back, but if you do...I've had some requests for the labels. I'm going to try to figure out how to put the word doc up so you can download them from my blog. If anyone knows how to do this already I would appreciate some help. If not, look for them by Saturday at the latest either on the blog or I will e-mail it to those who requested it.

Works For Me Wednesday

When I was cleaning behind and under the refrigerator a few weeks ago, I discovered that we had water access behind the refrigerator.

I actually have two refrigerators: one in the kitchen and one in my laundry room. They both desperately need to be replaced. But the one in the laundry room has an ice maker. So I decided when I had the time, I would switch them out.

Well, I didn't exactly have the time but I switched them out anyway. In the process of switching we discovered many items that we couldn't identify in the freezer. Even worse, between the two refrigerators there were items that we had no idea when they were opened or even that there was one opened to begin with.

So I asked Hubs to create a simple calendar type label for me and this is what he came up with:

He used word to create the calendars and simply printed them on Avery mailing labels. The labels pictured above say "opened on" because as I mentioned above how many times have you opened something that there are multiples of (i.e. milk, OJ) and then found that your kid or someone else opened another and you have no idea when or which is which or how long it's been sitting there. Or really anything in general. I also liked the "opened on" idea for salad dressings and BBQ sauce. Just stuff that I'd like to see dates rather than chunks or something when I pour it. I know there are expiration dates on things but I've also noted that some things don't last as long as they should after they have been opened or if you can't remember how long it's been in there and it only has so many days to begin with. (* I hope I'm not rambling too much and that I am making sense...I'm beat! lol *)

Can you identify what's in the bag above? Probably not...and even though I cooked it and bagged it, chances are I wouldn't be able to identify it either.

Plus Hubs eats buffalo steaks and ground buffalo. I do not eat buffalo and I wouldn't want to mix that up with my beef.

The labels really make the whole freezer process less of a hassle.

Works for Me!

To see other tips and ideas go visit Shannon!

Tackle It Tuesday

So this is my first time doing Tackle It Tuesday. When I read the description I just knew this was the motivation I needed to keep going.

I always feel like I'm not being productive but I've still been pressing on. I can see the "little" things I've done around the house but when I look at the big picture, it just looks like one big mess.

Originally, I was going to tackle making and hanging curtains around my house but halfway through it I realized I needed more hardware. So tomorrow I will be off to buy what I need so that curtains can be next week's Tackle It Tuesday.

So, without further ado... I decided my very first Tackle It Tuesday would be *drum roll*

MY CREDIT REPORT *tada*

(is that crickets?...maybe some looks of mortification?)

I've been putting it off. There are SEVERAL discrepencies on my credit report. I know I have to file the form above to get them removed but for some reason the whole credit deal...well who likes it really?

After I reviewed my 3-in-1 credit report. I noticed that there were two items that weren't mistakes. Well, one that I know for sure I have to pay because although I paid my mother the cash when she wrote a check for me, apparently she didn't put the moolah in the bank or "something". So, I have just sucked it up that I will have to pay that one again.

The other, I wasn't really sure about. It was to the gas company. The amount seemed about right for a bill. I wondered if maybe I didn't pay a closing bill or something?

So listen to what I do, the genius that I am... I call the electric company to try and pay the gas company. For some reason the electric company's phone number was listed on my report under all the lists of previous creditors and my mind just thought "oh, that's the number"

See I'm quick like that.

I call, give them the account number and the amount I owe. They have no record. I insist it is on my credit report. The person asks me for previous addresses, I give. Still no record. Then she asks me family members names. I give her my mom's and all of a sudden she's like "oh yes, you owe an obscene amount." Well, ok, she didn't exactly say that. But she might as well have.

huh?

She explains how the system cross references last names and "some how" my bill had rolled over to my mom's account but my mom contested it and now I am listed as the responsible party.

Did I say "huh?"

I asked how that was possible and that amount was waaay too high. She tells me she has an address but I have to give it to her. I've given her my addresses and no match. So I start to give her my mother's previous addresses. I ask her if they match...nothing.

I'm on hold again.

At this point, I'm fuming with my mother. I'm not on speaking terms with her but ARGH! How can they do this?

The rep comes back on and says she has to pass it to a Supervisor because they don't really know what's going on...at least that's it in a nutshell. They'll call me back.

So, I go fuming to Hubs and break down the call and everything to him. Apparently, back in the day my mom and him were talking about crooked companies or something and she had told him that the electric company had tried to roll my bill over to her. At least when she called to find out why her bill was so much, they had told her they rolled mine on to hers.

Now, let me take a moment to ask, has this ever happened to anyone? Is this even legal?

Back to the story, sorry it's so long, She said she had straightened it out.

I'm thinking. Who else have they "crosslinked" to us and what bill are they trying to get me to pay?

The facts...

They couldn't link anything to me and really had no record of me owing them a cent.

There is nothing on my credit report that says that I owe them a cent.

I don't leave bills hanging, I don't believe I owe them a thing.

I wonder what story they are going to concoct to get me to pay whoever's bill.

The moral of this story.

If you are going to tackle something. THINK and call the right people! lol

Next week, really something simple, curtains.

Click here for more Tackle It Tuesday!

Menu Plan Monday

Now that I have my pantry all clean I've decided to start planning menus around what we already have in the house (isn't that an original idea! lol)

So here goes my first post for Menu Plan Monday:

Monday: Taco Salad

Tuesday: Shredded Beef and Potato Burrito- Basically shredded beef and potatoes simmered in green enchilada sauce in the crock pot all day.

Wednesday: Homemade Lasagna, salad and French Bread

Thursday: Chicken Taquitos and Spanish Rice

Friday: BBQ Steaks and Burgers; potato salad and corn on the cob.

Saturday: Breakfast for dinner. Usually eggs, bacon, hash browns (in a burrito or regular) and OJ

Sunday: Fried Chicken, Mashed potatoes and gravy and Mac and cheese.

What I love about this week's menu beside the yumminess factor is that the shredded beef in sauce is already done, I only have to chop up some potatoes and toss them in the crockpot.

Hubs made an extra lasagna tonight so we will only have to reheat it while the bread is baking killing two birds with one stone which is great since that is catechism night and I also made an appointment for photographs to be taken before catechism.

The chicken just needs to be thrown in the crock pot with some green chilies some time before Thursday. It's just incredible to me. I wish I would have done this sooner.

It's going to be an easy week for me!

For more menu planning ideas go visit Laura!

Flash back

When I was 11 I used to play the violin in the Orchestra. My mom was totally against it. She used to tell me to stop making all that noise and to put it away. Then she thought it was funny if I had any issues to say that she would play the violin for me.

I still loved the violin and I've always wanted to buy one.

Fast forward to now. My oldest is 11. She came to me asking if she could play the violin. I was so proud. We went and picked up her instrument and bought a few things for it. I was as excited as she was to get my hands on it. Believe it or not. I still have my music. Stickers and everything from back in the day. That's how much I loved it.

I was worried that my oldest had chosen the violin because of me. I asked hubs if he thought I had pressured her into playing the violin. He thought I was crazy because all I ever said to her was that I used to play the violin and I missed it. He said she had already talked to him about it before she even asked me, so I was relieved. I didn't want to be one of those parents you know?

Here's my confession: I've been practicing in my room when she goes to bed. I feel like a hole in my heart is now being filled. I can feel the music through my fingers. The music sucks...but I feel it nonetheless. LOL I've forgotten how to read music and I've never known how to tune the violin so I'm playing it out of tune. Hot Cross Buns, Mary Had A Little Lamb, the Star Wars theme.

I feel like a weirdo but tonight when we took out the violin I was so relieved that I could actually help her with it. Boy does she need help. LOL But I'm kind of proud that I can be a supportive parent and not be like my mother. As I watched her clenching the violin under her chin and pushing the bow so hard against the strings. I couldn't help but try to keep this memory tucked away in my mind and heart. I'm so proud of both of us.

I love this stuff

Ok, so last week hubs and I went to Olive Garden on a "date".

I *heart* Olive Garden to death!

I really do love their salads. I can practically eat a whole one by myself.

I told hubs we would have to figure out a way to make it ourselves. So later that night I did a search for copycat recipes when what to my disbelieving eyes appeared???

A link to Olive Garden with a question asking if they sold their salad dressing. As bad as this might sound, I actually said a little prayer before clicking on the link to the answer.

The answer was...

YES!! (Can you hear the hallelujah music playing?)

I was so nervous when I walked into my local Olive Garden because the answer really said that only some locations sell it and with our luck, I wasn't getting my hopes up too high.

I'm not kidding when I say I really LOVE this stuff. LOL I know pretty pathetic huh?

Are there any restaurant must haves you wish you could have or make at home?

Works For Me Wednesday

Kitchen Organization

Ok so, My tip is about labels.

See my hubby and my oldest tend to cook dinner together because they both like to cook. Don't get me wrong, I love and appreciate when they cook dinner but it drives me crazy because they don't put anything back. So I decided since I got the new P-touch I could label things to help make it easier for them.

I bought one of those tiered organizers for the spices and I labeled each shelf. Putting most used spices in the front. I put extras in my spice rack that is above the stove. I don't use it much because I can't reach it very well. It took about a half hour because I also wrote down all the spices I had and how many so that I can begin to make a master grocery list.

The other thing my kids like to do is "help" unload and put away groceries. I'm now sure it's more about spying on the goods than actual helping. I'm embarrassed to post this pic but I hadn't really looked at my pantry because the kids not only put them away but they usually want to help when I am in the kitchen and so I ask them to get me things that way no one gets burnt or cut. This time, I happened to need a case of soda and I almost died when I opened the door. ARGH!

So I decided to label in there too. It was pretty easy but time consuming because once again I inventoried everything for the master grocery list. But this is what it looks like now. (above and below)

It's great because the kids love it and they know where everything goes or where to find things right away.

I love it because when they help me it will be a snap for them and I can see at a glance what I have for meal planning (another new task I am taking on.) But most of all because I hate clutter and love when everything has it's place. Since the kids came, my house has been all about clutter. Yuck!

Such a simple thing makes such a big difference and it works for me!

For more tips and tricks go visit Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer.

Mile Marker 4

This morning's breakfast + a glass water. I really can't believe how filling this is. I love those frozen limeades! So, today I worked my way up to 4 Miles. I found out it's only 7 more minutes than doing the 3 mile dvd. But boy...those 7 minutes...well, actually the workout itself has 90 seconds intervals, those are, uh... interesting. I think there are 5 in the whole workout.

They are so short though that when you feel you might have to stop...they are winding down already. I can't believe how fun it is to walk. I've lost six pounds but to be truthful, DH and I splurged a little last week going out to the Olive Garden (YUM~!) one day for our date and then driving through Wendy's one day when we were running errands and found ourselves starving.

In my defense, not that I need one...just because I am going to brag...lol, I only had the baconator, no fries or soda and that was all for the whole day because it was so filling I wasn't hungry until bed time and I decided just to go to bed. Boy was that baconator good though.

Anyway, short story long, I am happy with my results so far and being able to really eat what I want. I've noticed even though the weight loss is minimal, I am toning big time and I can feel my muscles pretty strong in my legs, back and tummy now when I walk around anywhere. I'm not talking like sore. But more like strong, tight and working.

Who would have known walking was just as good as tae bo but a lot easier and still just as fun!

At times, I can't believe it lasted that long...

Thirteen long years... I so carefully researched it back then and was so proud because it was purchased by me with scholarship money I had earned myself.

I have to admit I was shocked, I had put a cup of DH's tea in to reheat and when I came back I thought it was done. But, when I pulled out the cup it was only half warm. I assumed that I had put it in for too short of time but then I realized when the light didn't turn on when I opened the door something was wrong. I tried the plug...nada.

I have to admit this happened last week and I was in a state of denial. I mean I knew it was 13 years old but... I still have it in the kitchen. I have been putting off throwing it out. It was part of my first "major" purchase for the rest of my life. (Major because I was a teen buying appliances, Ohmygosh! )

Believe it or not this microwave helped me find my voice. I stood up to my suite mate (yep, not even my roommate but a girl who stayed across the bathroom) over it. It was the beginning of the end up people stepping all over me and I remember purchasing it at Montgomery Wards and I remember everything the day I used my voice for that first time.

Of course, I had my complaints about it too. The popcorn button was always not quite right with the time (but which ones are?) after the kids came it was waaaaay to small. I couldn't even fit a small sized mixing bowl in it.

So, I finally broke down and bought a new one. Meet the new one:

It's HUGE!, shiny, beautiful, and has all these cool settings. (That's what happens when you get something from the latest decade, I guess.) I was hesitant to make the purchase because it wasn't in my plans or budget. But... I heat up DH's tea everyday. I make TV dinners on Wednesday's for the kids because they have catechism. I wanted to make a hot ham and cheese sandwich on the last croissant and I couldn't. We started to realize just how much we counted on my dear old microwave.

I just set it up this morning and have yet to use it. I've been staring at it and I am in awe of its size. I could fit an entire turkey in there! I'm sure the novelty of it will wear off and the size won't be such a big deal, but for now...please excuse me while I go force myself to throw out the old one and reminiscence over my single days where dinners were Popcorn, Success Rice, Cup o' Noodles or Budget Gourmet .

A kitchen conversation...

Recently I discovered a radio station that plays oldies and songs from the 80s. Cool thing, I'm like a genius... I know every song they play. Sad thing, I'm pathetic, I know every song they play. These are songs from my middle school days and I'm shocked that I even remember them!



I had the kitchen radio on while I was cleaning up and I was dazzling everyone with my knowledge of Pebbles, Jody Watley, Boys 2 Men, Bobby Brown, etc... When DH pipes in that he hated music from back then.



DH: It's all just keyboards set to repeat the same mix.

Me: (for some reason slightly defensive and annoyed (maybe because I can't stand his music)) Oh, yeah you like the guys with the big hair and tights.

DH: They are not tights

Me: *muttering* they look like tights. All gross and sweaty.

Eleven year old daughter: Did you know they don't wear underwear?



*Stunned silence--crickets chirping*



*my hand slamming down on the counter*



Me: THAT'S RIGHT!! I have NEVER seen any of those guys with a pantyline! I've never really looked but I've never seen it!



DH: *just sitting there*

ME: That's what you like big haired guys in tights with no panties?

DH: silence.



The next song starts and I smugly announce "Thin Line Between Love and Hate" and then we are off again to try to figure out if it's the Isley Brothers, which sends us on a tangent about the Isley Brothers.



We are sad old farts. lol

Back to School Night and P-Touch

Thursday was back to school night. 5 classrooms in an hour. I'm barely recovering.

I thought it started at 6:30 but I was wrong it started at 6pm. With the "extra" time we had I broke out our brand new p-touch. I've been wanting one of these for ages... Seriously, since like '97 or something. I loved the one at my old job. Anyway, I digress.

Of course, after I got the machine up and going I could not remember much less think of one thing that I had wanted to label. So I decided to label my hubby. After much ohhhing and ahhing and securing the label to my hubby. We now realized that we were going to be late (still not knowing that we were already late.)

So we scramble out the door and finally get to the school. Where I realize we are, indeed, late. We go from classroom to classroom by location. In each classroom, DH is greeted heartily by his name. Now, I know one teacher knows him, but the others is a mystery because although he was with me at registration, he stayed behind with the kids while I ran like a wild woman from room to room.

Finally, we are in the last classroom. Which happened to be the teacher we are very familiar with. We are talking to the teacher and the boy (who I might add had just gone to the bathroom less than 20 minutes earlier) is standing there. Not a peep, nothing. That would be because he is standing there peeing on himself.

I freak out because I'm like "Stop all ready!, Why are you standing there still going!?!" So here comes the lesson...

Did you know? Boys and men can't stop peeing once they start. I had no clue. At least that's what DH told me.

I was like, "Ok, time to go!" As we are heading out the door, I see it. I see the label with DH's name on it. I pull it off. DOH!

We head out only to be stopped in the cafeteria. See back to school night was also ice cream social night. When we came through the first time it was jam packed and I told the kids we had ice cream at home. But with their long faces on the way back... I had to weigh the situation... pee'd brother or ice cream. As gross as it was, I gave into the girls. Because another little known fact (to me only I guess) the boy was dry as dry in the back, just wet on the one side in the front and we rinsed him down.

So, there sat our row of kids, munching on ice cream quietly. *sigh* And THEN we were off.

What a mess we are! But from what the teachers told me the kids are doing in great so far.

Tidy Desk Competition

Marcia over at Organising Queen has challenged us to a Tidy Desk Competition. I've checked my competition and I fear that I just might've been the messiest of the bunch. *blush*

Here are the befores:
Close up of the mess. I 'm not even going to pretend like I knew where everything was.

After:

But in the end, I bought that wonderful bill organizer at Target and I just love it. I can see at a glance if something is due and the calendar is new. I have to figure out a way to hang it up. But having it right next to the bill sorter and right in front of my face is perfect.

Thanks Marcia for the tips to get this done. I love it!

Works For Me Wednesday: Brand Loyalty

Wow, I didn't realize that I was a brand junkie until I uploaded these pictures and saw the brands.

Apparently, I love Clorox. I know I LOVE this spray. It takes anything off of almost anywhere. I've bought generic bleaches but I still keep coming back to Clorox. It's just the best. I don't really eat mayo. But when I am making macaroni or potato salad it's Best Foods only. I tried generic before...blah..it separated and was soooo gross.

I've tried other oils but I really prefer Wesson oil for liquid oils. Just checked the rest of my oils and they are Wesson. Funny thing is I use Crisco in the solid form for my deep fryer and such.

What can I say about Tide? It's the best. I love the smell of my laundry room. Mmmm. I was given Tide in a going off to college basket that my coworkers gave me back in '94 and I've never used anything else.

Oh and I love Snuggle. I have to admit it was the bear that pulled me in. I forgot to take pictures of the matching dryer sheets. Actually, I've tried other fabric softners but they just weren't the same as my cuddle soft.
This is the only green enchilada sauce I will use. period. It's not watery and it has a lot of flavor and chunks of green chili in it. Yum!
Coke! How do I love you! Let me count the ways. When it comes to a cola, I only drink Coke... Just Coke, none of the diet, cherry, vanilla, zero, vitamin crap...just straight Coke.

Heinz Mustard...not French's, just Heinz...Same goes for Ketchup (or catsup) Heinz only...Hunts...bleh.
This multi surface cleaner is great for my wood table that I don't want the kids to polish. Just clean. A little goes a long way. Good stuff here.

Oh and although I am oh so loyal to Tide. I have to use Dreft on my hubby's clothes. Being that he's a quadriplegic and sits all day. There is something like walnut shells or something like that in Tide that just doesn't agree with him. Dreft is the only thing that doesn't irritate his skin...HOWEVER...if you noticed in the picture above...I had liquid Tide coldwater. I've used that on his clothes and he had no reaction...sooooooo....





Oh..two words. Pine Sol...LOVE the smell. A bathroom isn't clean unless it smells like Pine Sol. My mom used this stuff and now I use it. I don't love it as much as she did (She used to want to drink it when she was pregnant.) But I still have a soft spot for it in my home.

Do you think I like Electrosol much? LOL I didn't realize I had this loyalty until I was poking around and noticed I have three of the canisters and another box of the powder on the otherside. We have two places for soap in my dishwasher. We put powder in the first cycle space and a tab in the second space with the door.
Spray and Wash. Another product my mother used. Works for me. I just spray the areas and wash and it's all gone.





When I first started gathering stuff for this post, I was thinking "I'm not loyal to anything." Guess I was wrong. lol At any rate, they all WORK FOR ME!

For more tips and great ideas go visit Shannon over at Rocks In My Dryer.