One challenge I am faced with is that I am a packrat. I hate getting rid of stuff, because I find I usually need it after I get rid of it. So I go through periods that the clutter becomes too much and I have to get rid of it. I do a focused cleanup in the spring, but some of my fall cleanup requires me to get rid of stuff as I do my big cleanups. After cleaning out the garage this weekend and waiting for the stuff to sell I am reminded that some people may not be educated on ways to get rid of clutter. So as you do your cleanup in a room make 4 piles, keep, donate, sell, and trash. Now lets go through those piles.
The keep pile should be stuff that you use, will make or save you money, or that you love. If it does not fit into those catagories then get rid of it. Donate is stuff that is in good shape, but is not worth the trouble of trying to sell. The stuff you sell you can do in a garage sale, Ebay, or my favorite craigslist.com. I prefer craigslist because I rarely have a day to just sit there waiting to sell stuff, and in the weather never fits my schedule. Don't forget to seperate the trash into recycle and landfil.
This sounds a lot easier than it is, but you will feel much better after it is over, and hopefully you can turn some clutter into cash.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
Cheap and Fun Mom Time
Every mom needs to take care if herself just as much as she takes care of her family. Yes it is the easiest thing to blow off, but it will also hurt you the most to do so. This is the one area I really struggle in. So here are a few ideas to get you started.
1.) www.meetup.com is a great place to find a group to belong to. It is also a good way to find playgroups. If something does not fit you, make your own group!
2.) Have you husband baby sit and go read somewhere (park, coffee shop, etc) all by yourself.
3.) Arrange with a friend to meetup for coffee.
4.) Shopping by yourself. I love grocery shopping as long as I can leave the kids and husband at home.
5.) Work out. Most fitness centers have child care on site for cheap.
FALL CLEANUP CHALLENGE: Garage. We have a ton of stuff up for sale on craigslist, and just waiting for that to sell before we can put the finishing touches on the garage. My wonderful husband did most of the work while I kept the kids busy.
1.) www.meetup.com is a great place to find a group to belong to. It is also a good way to find playgroups. If something does not fit you, make your own group!
2.) Have you husband baby sit and go read somewhere (park, coffee shop, etc) all by yourself.
3.) Arrange with a friend to meetup for coffee.
4.) Shopping by yourself. I love grocery shopping as long as I can leave the kids and husband at home.
5.) Work out. Most fitness centers have child care on site for cheap.
FALL CLEANUP CHALLENGE: Garage. We have a ton of stuff up for sale on craigslist, and just waiting for that to sell before we can put the finishing touches on the garage. My wonderful husband did most of the work while I kept the kids busy.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Winter and Fall Cleaning?
Yes I know, it is supposed to be "spring" cleaning. Not in my house. I have a fall and winter cleaning. Why should I deep clean my house in the spring when I will not be inside to enjoy it! My spring cleaning is all about getting rid of stuff, but my fall and winter cleaning is about getting the house ready for us to be inside it all the time. My tip is find 1 task to complete extra per week. Spread that work out all winter while you are trapped inside. Scrub those walls, clean out the cupboards, and any other thing you think may need to be done. I will tell you each week what I accomplish and if you dare you can keep up with me. This week was a big fat zero. Just maintaining the house with everyone being sick is my accomplishment! But that is my cleaning tip of the week, do the inside jobs when it is cold out and spread them out.
Flu has hit!
Sorry ladies but the flu has hit my family. It has been crazy. So I am back and coming back strong. But I have a family strong recipe to help you get into the winter mood! My mother's chili recipe that has been passed down her family. This is my comfort food during those cold months. It is cheap to make, and it works great to make a double batch and freeze half for an easy meal later. You can also freeze it in small containers for fast lunches.
Mom’s Chili
2 cans pinto beans
½ large onion chopped
½ green pepper chopped
1 lb ground beef or venison or ground turkey
14.5 oz can tomatoes (I use diced)
8 oz tomato sauce
1 ½ tsp salt
Dash: Paprika
Dash cayenne pepper
3 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
1 - 2 tsp chili powder
Brown onion, green pepper, and meat in a pan. Throw in crock pot and add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Simmer 2 hours adding water if needed. Add beans, heat completely and serve.
Mom’s Chili
2 cans pinto beans
½ large onion chopped
½ green pepper chopped
1 lb ground beef or venison or ground turkey
14.5 oz can tomatoes (I use diced)
8 oz tomato sauce
1 ½ tsp salt
Dash: Paprika
Dash cayenne pepper
3 whole cloves
1 bay leaf
1 - 2 tsp chili powder
Brown onion, green pepper, and meat in a pan. Throw in crock pot and add tomatoes, tomato sauce, and seasonings. Simmer 2 hours adding water if needed. Add beans, heat completely and serve.
Friday, September 4, 2009
Cleaning Tip: vinegar
Vinegar is a great, cheap cleaner.Don't worry if you don't like the smell because it disappears soon after you use it. The only place I know of where you do not want to use it is on Granite or marble counter tops. So here is a list I found at thewomanhood.com .
"Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen has cited numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar such as you can buy in the supermarket kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can't claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, it seems to be common knowledge in the industry that vinegar is powerfully antibacterial.
Here are twenty-seven uses for vinegar:
* Deodorize your sink drains: Pour a cup down your drain, let stand about thirty minutes, then run cold water.
* Unclog a drain: Dump 1 cup of baking soda down your drain and follow it with 1 cup of vinegar. When they mix, they foam and expand, cleaning your drain. Allow a few minutes for the mixture to do it's job, then flush with hot water for several minutes.
* Disinfect and clean wood cutting boards: Rub with vinegar to disinfect and clean. If your cutting board has deep grooves, you can also soak the board in vinegar for 5-10 minutes.
* Cut grease: When washing greasy pans or dishes, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your soapy dishwater.
* Clean the dishwasher: Vinegar reduces soap build up, so throw a cup of vinegar in your dishwasher and let it run a full (empty) cycle once a month or so.
* Clean the coffeepot: Hard water can clog a coffeepot and cause yucky buildup inside it. To remedy this, pour 1 cup vinegar in your coffeepot, fill the rest of the way with water, then run it through a cycle as usual (without coffee grounds in the filter). Rinse the coffeepot out. Fill it with fresh water and run another cycle without coffee to rinse the inside of the coffee maker.
* Loosen food grime and clean the microwave: Place a microwave-safe bowl with 2 cups water, 1/2 cup vinegar inside the microwave and microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes (it needs to boil). Keep your microwave closed for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen the grime, then open your microwave, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe clean!
* Clean windows: Mix 1 cup vinegar with 5 cups water, and you've got a great window cleaner. If you must have blue window cleaner, just a few drops of blue food coloring!
* Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.
* Remove pet urine stains (and smells) from carpet: Mix about 1/4 cup of vinegar to a quart of water. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and blot the area several times.
* Clean kitchen and bathroom faucets: Soak a paper towel in vinegar then wrap it around your faucet to remove mineral deposits.
* Clean and shine no-wax vinyl or linoleum floors: Mix 1 gallon of water with 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket, then mop or scrub your floor with the solution.
* Inexpensive scouring powder: Combine two tablespoons each of vinegar and baking soda for an effective scouring powder.
* Clean the toilet rim: Put straight 5% vinegar in a squirt bottle and use it to clean the rim of the toilet. It disinfects, too!
* Prevent mold and mildew in the shower: Wipe down tile or Formica shower walls with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and vinegar. The vinegar will clean the walls and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.
* Unclog the showerhead: Mineral deposits from hard water can cause a sputtering, clogged shower head. Place the showerhead in a pot, add enough vinegar to completely cover it. Heat the vinegar to just below boiling, then remove from heat. Allow to sit for at least 6 hours. The acid in the vinegar will eat away the deposits. Rinse the showerhead well, and it's ready to go again.
* Get rid of the funky smell in that lunchbox: Soak a piece of plain bread in vinegar, then place it in the lunchbox overnight and the smell will disappear!
* Remove rust: To get rid of rust, soak items in vinegar (do not dilute). This will work on any metals.
* Remove residue and styling product build up from hair: After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 warm water to remove all the build up and get rid of that dullness.
* Eliminate smells: Run a hot tub of water and pour in one or two cups of vinegar. Hang smelly clothes on hangers along your shower curtain rod. This will remove smoke and other tough smells.
* Get rid of stickers, decals and sticky residues: Rub a few coats of vinegar on the area and allow to soak. Then wash off with a wet washcloth and the sticky will rub right off.
* Polish patent leather purses and shoes: Place vinegar on a clean cloth, then rub over patent leather. Wipe dry with another clean cloth.
* Remove stains: Rub a small amount of vinegar gently on fruit, jelly, mustard or coffee type stains and wash as usual. No more stain!
* Clean your glasses: Place a drop of vinegar on the lens, then rub with a cotton cloth.
* Get the smell out of your cloth diapers! Next time those cloth diapers start to smell, add a 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar in your last rinse.
* Polish your car: Rub vinegar on chrome to clean and shine it.
* Remove bumper stickers: Soak a cloth in vinegar and lay it over the bumper sticker. Allow to soak a few minutes. The bumper sticker should peel right off. Rub vinegar over the area to remove the sticky residue, if necessary.
* Next time you have a sore throat, try gargling with cider vinegar! "
And a tip for vinegar of my own is to run it through your coffee maker once in a while to keep coffee buildup from changing the taste of your coffee. Just make sure to run a few pots of water through it afterwards.
"Heinz company spokesperson Michael Mullen has cited numerous studies to show that a straight 5 percent solution of vinegar such as you can buy in the supermarket kills 99 percent of bacteria, 82 percent of mold, and 80 percent of germs (viruses). He noted that Heinz can't claim on their packaging that vinegar is a disinfectant since the company has not registered it as a pesticide with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). However, it seems to be common knowledge in the industry that vinegar is powerfully antibacterial.
Here are twenty-seven uses for vinegar:
* Deodorize your sink drains: Pour a cup down your drain, let stand about thirty minutes, then run cold water.
* Unclog a drain: Dump 1 cup of baking soda down your drain and follow it with 1 cup of vinegar. When they mix, they foam and expand, cleaning your drain. Allow a few minutes for the mixture to do it's job, then flush with hot water for several minutes.
* Disinfect and clean wood cutting boards: Rub with vinegar to disinfect and clean. If your cutting board has deep grooves, you can also soak the board in vinegar for 5-10 minutes.
* Cut grease: When washing greasy pans or dishes, add a few tablespoons of vinegar to your soapy dishwater.
* Clean the dishwasher: Vinegar reduces soap build up, so throw a cup of vinegar in your dishwasher and let it run a full (empty) cycle once a month or so.
* Clean the coffeepot: Hard water can clog a coffeepot and cause yucky buildup inside it. To remedy this, pour 1 cup vinegar in your coffeepot, fill the rest of the way with water, then run it through a cycle as usual (without coffee grounds in the filter). Rinse the coffeepot out. Fill it with fresh water and run another cycle without coffee to rinse the inside of the coffee maker.
* Loosen food grime and clean the microwave: Place a microwave-safe bowl with 2 cups water, 1/2 cup vinegar inside the microwave and microwave on full power for 3-4 minutes (it needs to boil). Keep your microwave closed for a few minutes to allow the steam to loosen the grime, then open your microwave, carefully remove the bowl, and wipe clean!
* Clean windows: Mix 1 cup vinegar with 5 cups water, and you've got a great window cleaner. If you must have blue window cleaner, just a few drops of blue food coloring!
* Remove grease from kitchen walls: Put straight vinegar on a dishcloth to wipe grease off kitchen walls, or the stovetop.
* Remove pet urine stains (and smells) from carpet: Mix about 1/4 cup of vinegar to a quart of water. Soak a washcloth in the mixture and blot the area several times.
* Clean kitchen and bathroom faucets: Soak a paper towel in vinegar then wrap it around your faucet to remove mineral deposits.
* Clean and shine no-wax vinyl or linoleum floors: Mix 1 gallon of water with 1/2 cup vinegar in a bucket, then mop or scrub your floor with the solution.
* Inexpensive scouring powder: Combine two tablespoons each of vinegar and baking soda for an effective scouring powder.
* Clean the toilet rim: Put straight 5% vinegar in a squirt bottle and use it to clean the rim of the toilet. It disinfects, too!
* Prevent mold and mildew in the shower: Wipe down tile or Formica shower walls with a sponge or cloth dampened with water and vinegar. The vinegar will clean the walls and inhibit the growth of mold and mildew.
* Unclog the showerhead: Mineral deposits from hard water can cause a sputtering, clogged shower head. Place the showerhead in a pot, add enough vinegar to completely cover it. Heat the vinegar to just below boiling, then remove from heat. Allow to sit for at least 6 hours. The acid in the vinegar will eat away the deposits. Rinse the showerhead well, and it's ready to go again.
* Get rid of the funky smell in that lunchbox: Soak a piece of plain bread in vinegar, then place it in the lunchbox overnight and the smell will disappear!
* Remove rust: To get rid of rust, soak items in vinegar (do not dilute). This will work on any metals.
* Remove residue and styling product build up from hair: After shampooing, rinse your hair with a mixture of 1/2 vinegar, 1/2 warm water to remove all the build up and get rid of that dullness.
* Eliminate smells: Run a hot tub of water and pour in one or two cups of vinegar. Hang smelly clothes on hangers along your shower curtain rod. This will remove smoke and other tough smells.
* Get rid of stickers, decals and sticky residues: Rub a few coats of vinegar on the area and allow to soak. Then wash off with a wet washcloth and the sticky will rub right off.
* Polish patent leather purses and shoes: Place vinegar on a clean cloth, then rub over patent leather. Wipe dry with another clean cloth.
* Remove stains: Rub a small amount of vinegar gently on fruit, jelly, mustard or coffee type stains and wash as usual. No more stain!
* Clean your glasses: Place a drop of vinegar on the lens, then rub with a cotton cloth.
* Get the smell out of your cloth diapers! Next time those cloth diapers start to smell, add a 1/2 to 1 cup of vinegar in your last rinse.
* Polish your car: Rub vinegar on chrome to clean and shine it.
* Remove bumper stickers: Soak a cloth in vinegar and lay it over the bumper sticker. Allow to soak a few minutes. The bumper sticker should peel right off. Rub vinegar over the area to remove the sticky residue, if necessary.
* Next time you have a sore throat, try gargling with cider vinegar! "
And a tip for vinegar of my own is to run it through your coffee maker once in a while to keep coffee buildup from changing the taste of your coffee. Just make sure to run a few pots of water through it afterwards.
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