1. 
   
   Clean up after you and yes all your army puke. I was never issued a clothing list so no I DON'T KNOW where it is let along what it is. Pick it up and maybe you will know!
2. 
   
   Do you know how hard it is to clean up baby puke? Let alone chocolate milk out of the carpet?
3. 
   
   Do the dishes, clean the house, make dinner, take care of kids, your army puke, pay bills, clean the cat box, food shopping and more...all this with one vehicle, or two if we are lucky!
4. 
   
   Sick day...WTH is that? I don't get sick days let alone my required 1 hour break from being called mom every 5 min, wait make that every 5 seconds.
5. 
   
   I thrive on coffee and the stimulating conversation of a 4 year old telling me all about the lovely world of Thomas the tank engine.
6. 
   
   Holiday vacation and you know what that means? It means cooking dinner for a mass crowd of hungry people and then cleaning up the mess.
7. 
   
   Have kids and constantly at their demand, some days it's great and other days well lets say isn't school for that?
8. 
   
   Realizing that kids are the greatest treasure in the world when they just want you, a good book, and snuggle time on the couch for hours on end...you can't totally complain!

                                            As you can see from the picture we moved!

Once I get the house in order and all...I will post pictures of each room for you all to see. So till the house is done it will be awhile in posting.

Thanks for bearing with us during this transition!

I love the idea of reusable bags…That’s pro because it keeps the plastic bags out of landfills, but to charge 5 cent per bag in places like DC and Virginia, come on…it cost less to make them bags and people do reuse them. The con is you are forced to buy the reusable bags and let me tell you most the good ones aren’t cheap…I’d rather pay the 5 cent tax and call it day.



Recycling…awesome use for plastic bottles and old newspapers and such. The pro is that plastic bottles can become fleece shirts and more…Who knew! The con is you are limited in some areas for recycling. You can’t recycle plastic tubs even though they have a number that tells you that you can, you can’t recycle tin foil, and your can’t recycle more things that you normally can other areas.



Hybrid cars…great idea and way to lower fuel emissions into the air, but the parts are hard to come by and repairs are costly. Not to mention you pay more for a hybrid than a standard car that can do almost everything a hybrid can do except plug it in.



Organic food and products…there is only one pro about this and that would be people growing their own. I hate seeing how much more something cost because it’s “organic”. The cleaning products get me. Like green works….how is it that something you clean with say bleach, how do you make that organic?



I have posted some links to sites that you can make your own homemade cleaners for cheaper than the store bought product and it cleans just as good if not better.



I just think that like anything else this “Go Green” lifestyle has been a way for companies to cash in on a product that people think is good for the environment but got suckered in by the Big Brother organic companies. Do your research on the product and don’t buy something because it has the little go green logo.

I saw this article in the washington post and have itching to post it so without further notice here it is.

Spring Cleaning- The Basics
This editorial was produced by the The Washington Post special sections department
Author unknown

Start from top down. Dust first and then vacuum. There's nothing more madding than seeing your clean floor covered with dust. Also, if you have rugs, take them outside to shake them before you vacuum.

Some things you can't put off. Sweep the floor and vacuum often. Those little bits of crumbs will attract mice, ants and other vermin.

Use the right kind of cleaners. Don't use furniture cleaner on your windows and vise versa. Never mic cleaning solutions. Some, like ammonia and bleach, can be toxic. Use a lint-free cloth(not all paper towels are lint-free)on windows and mirrors. To avoid running back and forth between rooms, put all your cleaning supplies in a caddy to take with you as you move from room to room.

Wash up afterwards and use gloves. Change your clothing immediately after you've finish cleaning. You've just made your apartment/home spic and span and now those germs maybe on you.

Wash windows on a cloudy day instead of a sunny day. The heat from the sun will make your cleaning solution dry more quickly, causing streaks.

Other Cleaning Tips:

Small holes in window screens can be patched up with clear nail polish.

Hairspray can be used to  kill flies,

Use paintbrushes and cotton swabs to dust hard-to-reach cracks (in stero systems, on a computer, in the crevices of cabinetry, etc.).

Car wax can be used on a door that sticks.

Line the bottom of your oven with tin foil; it'll catch any spills.

Clean your shower and fixtures after a steamy shower or bath. The steam will loosen dirt and grime.

Sick of your plasticware getting stained from red sauces? Before you store marinara sauce, spray your plastic bowl with cooking oil or wipe it with vegetable oil. The oil will prevent the food from soaking into the plastic.

Get rid of those stinky sponges! Sponges breed bacteria abd should be tossed every couple of weeks. In the meantime, throw them in the dishwasher after each use to keep them as clean as possible.

Sorry I took a mini vaca and man did I need it...but unfortnate for me my house went to crap on me. Well that's the way the cookie crumbles...now I have to vacuum it up.

Living Room/ Dining Room
1. Vacuum
2. Clean tables
3. Clean dining table
4. Dust and wipe surfaces down
5.Clean front door 

Kitchen
1. Dishes put up
2. Wash dishes
3. Make coffee
4. Sweep
5. Fold laundry and out away
6. Dinner

Bathrooms
1. Sweep
2. Clean tubs
3. Clean toilets
4. Clean mirrors

Bedrooms
1. Change sheets
2. Straighten up
3. Kill that backroom...clean like no tomorrow
4. Vacuum

I soo love Anne Taintor's housewife humor!

Living Room/Dining Room
1. Get rid of donation boxes
2. Finish dining room table

Kitchen
1. Sweep
2. Dinner
3. Laundry
4. Put clothes away

Bathrooms
1. Clean tubs

Bedrooms
1. Make beds
2. Straighten up

Phone Calls
1. Call USAA to seperate DD savings and create another one
2. Other

Gotta love this vintage/ retro housewife humore from Anne Taintor!

Living Room/ Dining Room
1. Clean tables
2. Purge
3. Clean hand prints

Kitchen
1. Clean counters
2. Put dishes away/ wash dishes
3. Dinner
4. Fold and put laundry away
5. COFFEE! 3x iced because of heat

Bathrooms
1. Clean tubs
2. Empty trash
3. Clean surfaces

Bedrooms
1. Make beds
2. Straigten rooms
3. Put clothes away

Errands
Good will
WIC
Other

A bucket 1 box of 20 Mule Team Borax  1 box of washing soda  5 bars of soap


Directions:


Grate the bars of soap. If you are using Ivory or another soap that is very soft, you will want to let the grated soap sit out and harden for a couple of days. Dump the soap, borax and washing soda into a bucket. NOTE: Pour and mix this outside as it can cause a dust in the air (similar to pouring cat litter).

Mix it up however necessary. Use a long, wooden spoon and/or put the lid on the bucket and shake it really well.

USE:

Use one tablespoon of detergent for regular loads, two for large or heavily soiled loads. Do not go overboard. A little of this goes a long way - that's what makes it economical. This homemade detergent is natural, so it can be used on baby clothes.
Now once I am done I will show you all the power of TIDE vs the Awesomeness of HOMEMADE and we will see who is the winner....and if the winner is Homemade guess what I got bottle of tide brand spanking new if you want it!

Hahah I found this to be funny and the fact that I live on coffee it fits: http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2CA3ao/www.cafepress.co.uk/retrobettie/5774243

Living Room/Dining Room
1) Vacuum
2) Clean up little hand prints...yes more than one hand set made them
3) Put things in their homes

Kitchen
1) Sweep
2) Spray barrier for ants...damn you commie bastards
3) Laundry
4) Dishes
5) Thaw out dinner

Bedrooms
1) Make beds
2) Put clothes away
3) Straighten DD room

Bathrooms
1) Sweep
2) Clean tubs
3) Clean toilets

Projects
1) Homemade detergent
2) Get short cake
3) Homemade whipped cream
4) Update notebooks
5) Order school books and get old one ready to ship out

I have to say I love the coasters at cafepress.com...you all need to check them out!

Living Room/Dining Room
1) Clean off tables
2) Vacuum...come on there has to be more than vacuuming
3) Clean windows...yuck!

Kitchen
1) Clean out fridge
2) Wipe down fridge and freezer
3) Wash clothes and put dry ones away

Bedrooms
1) Make beds
2) Pick up dirty clothes that hubby can't put in the hamper
3) Other

Bathrooms
1) Clean mirrors
2) Clean tubs

Phone calls to make
1) Apria for DD
2) My PCM for BC refill
3) Other

The pic came from cafepress.com again and the recipes came from http://www.eartheasy.com/live_nontoxic_solutions.htm you should check them out!

All-Purpose Cleaner: Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.


Another alternative is microfiber cloths which lift off dirt, grease and dust without the need for cleaning chemicals, because they are formulated to penetrate and trap dirt. There are a number of different brands. A good quality cloth can last for several years.

Air Freshener: Commercial air fresheners mask smells and coat nasal passages to diminish the sense of smell.

• Baking soda or vinegar with lemon juice in small dishes absorbs odors around the house.


• Having houseplants helps reduce odors in the home.


• Prevent cooking odors by simmering vinegar (1 tbsp in 1 cup water) on the stove while cooking. To get such smells as fish and onion off utensils and cutting boards, wipe them with vinegar and wash in soapy water.


• Keep fresh coffee grounds on the counter.


• Grind up a slice of lemon in the garbage disposal.


• Simmer water and cinnamon or other spices on stove.


• Place bowls of fragrant dried herbs and flowers in room.

Bathroom mold: Mold in bathroom tile grout is a common problem and can be a health concern. Mix one part hydrogen peroxide (3%) with two parts water in a spray bottle and spray on areas with mold. Wait at least one hour before rinsing or using shower.

Carpet stains: Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a few hours. Vacuum.

Chopping block cleaner: Rub a slice of lemon across a chopping block to disinfect the surface. For tougher stains, squeeze some of the lemon juice onto the spot and let sit for 10 minutes, then wipe.

Coffee and tea stains: Stains in cups can be removed by applying vinegar to a sponge and wiping. To clean a teakettle or coffee maker, add 2 cups water and 1/4 cup vinegar; bring to a boil. Let cool, wipe with a clean cloth and rinse thoroughly with water.

Deodorize:

• Plastic food storage containers - soak overnight in warm water and baking soda

• In-sink garbage disposal units - grind up lemon or orange peel in the unit

• Carpets - sprinkle baking soda several hours before vacuuming

• Garage, basements - set a sliced onion on a plate in center of room for 12 - 24 hours

Dishwasher Soap: Mix equal parts of borax and washing soda, but increase the washing soda if your water is hard.

If you want to use a commercial dishwashing soap, try Ecover Ecological or Trader Joe's powders, which contain no bleach or phosphates.

Dishwashing Soap: Commercial low-phosphate detergents are not themselves harmful, but phosphates nourish algae which use up oxygen in waterways. A detergent substitution is to use liquid soap. Add 2 or 3 tablespoons of vinegar to the warm, soapy water for tough jobs.

Disinfectant: Mix 2 teaspoons borax, 4 tablespoons vinegar and 3 cups hot water. For stronger cleaning power add 1/4 teaspoon liquid castile soap. Wipe on with dampened cloth or use non-aerosol spray bottle. (This is not an antibacterial formula. The average kitchen or bathroom does not require antibacterial cleaners.)

To disinfect kitchen sponges, put them in the dishwasher when running a load.

Drain Cleaner: For light drain cleaning, mix 1/2 cup salt in 4 liters water, heat (but not to a boil) and pour down the drain. For stronger cleaning, pour about 1/2 cup baking soda down the drain, then 1/2 cup vinegar. The resulting chemical reaction can break fatty acids down into soap and glycerine, allowing the clog to wash down the drain. After 15 minutes, pour in boiling water to clear residue. Caution: only use this method with metal plumbing. Plastic pipes can melt if excess boiling water is used. Also, do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener--the vinegar can react with the drain opener to create dangerous fumes.

Fabric softener: To reduce static cling, dampen your hands, then shake out your clothes as you remove them from the drier. Line-drying clothing is another alternative.

Floor Cleaner and Polish:

Vinyl and Linoleum: mix 1 cup vinegar and a few drops of baby oil in 1 gallon warm water. For tough jobs, add 1/4 cup borox. Use sparingly on lineoleum.

Wood: apply a thin coat of 1:1 vegetable oil and vinegar and rub in well.

Painted wood: mix 1 teaspoon washing soda into 1 gallon (4L) hot water.

Brick and Stone tiles: mix 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon (4L) water; rinse with clear water.

Most floor surfaces can be easily cleaned using a solution of vinegar and water. For damp-mopping wood floors: mix equal amounts of white distilled vinegar and water. Add 15 drops of pure peppermint oil; shake to mix.

Furniture Polish: For varnished wood, add a few drops of lemon oil into a 1/2 cup warm water. Mix well and spray onto a soft cotton cloth. Cloth should only be slightly damp. Wipe furniture with the cloth, and finish by wiping once more using a dry soft cotton cloth.

For unvarnished wood, mix two tsps each of olive oil and lemon juice and apply a small amount to a soft cotton cloth. Wring the cloth to spread the mixture further into the material and apply to the furniture using wide strokes. This helps distribute the oil evenly.

Laundry Detergent: Mix 1 cup Ivory soap (or Fels Naptha soap), 1/2 cup washing soda and 1/2 cup borax. Use 1 tbsp for light loads; 2 tbsp for heavy loads.

Lime Deposits: You can reduce lime deposits in your teakettle by putting in 1/2 cup (125ml) white vinegar and 2 cups water, and gently boiling for a few minutes. Rinse well with fresh water while kettle is still warm.

To remove lime scale on bathroom fixtures, squeeze lemon juice onto affected areas and let sit for several minutes before wiping clean with a wet cloth.

Marks on walls and painted surfaces: Many ink spots, pencil, crayon or marker spots can be cleaned from painted surfaces using baking soda applied to a damp sponge. Rub gently, then wipe and rinse.

Metal Cleaners and Polishes:

Aluminum: using a soft cloth, clean with a solution of cream of tartar and water.

Brass or Bronze: polish with a soft cloth dipped in lemon and baking-soda solution, or vinegar and salt solution. Another method is to apply a dab of ketchup on a soft cloth and rub over tarnished spots.

Chrome: polish with baby oil, vinegar, or aluminum foil shiny side out.

Copper: soak a cotton rag in a pot of boiling water with 1 tablespoon salt and 1 cup white vinegar. Apply to copper while hot; let cool, then wipe clean. For tougher jobs, sprinkle baking soda or lemon juice on a soft cloth, then wipe. For copper cookware, sprinkle a lemon wedge with salt, then scrub., A simpler method is to apply a dab of ketchup on a soft cloth and rub over tarnished spots.

Gold: clean with toothpaste, or a paste of salt, vinegar, and flour.

Silver: line a pan with aluminum foil and fill with water; add a teaspoon each of baking soda and salt. Bring to a boil and immerse silver. Polish with soft cloth.

Stainless Steel: clean with a cloth dampened with undiluted white vinegar, or olive oil. For stainless cookware, mix 4 tbs baking soda in 1 qt water, and apply using a soft cloth. Wipe dry using a clean cloth. For stainless steel sinks, pour some club soda on an absorbant cloth to clean, then wipe dry using a clean cloth.

Mold and Mildew: Use white vinegar or lemon juice full strength. Apply with a sponge or scrubby.

Mothballs: The common mothball is made of paradichlorobenzene, which is harmful to liver and kidneys. Cedar chips in a cheesecloth square, or cedar oil in an absorbant cloth will repel moths. The cedar should be 'aromatic cedar', also referred to as juniper in some areas. Cedar chips are available at many craft supply stores, or make your own using a plane and a block of cedar from the lumberyard.

Homemade moth-repelling sachets can also be made with lavender, rosemary, vetiver and rose petals.

Dried lemon peels are also a natural moth deterrent - simply toss into clothes chest, or tie in cheesecloth and hang in the closet.

Oil and Grease Spots: For small spills on the garage floor, add baking soda and scrub with wet brush.

Oven Cleaner: Moisten oven surfaces with sponge and water. Use 3/4cup baking soda, 1/4cup salt and 1/4cup water to make a thick paste, and spread throughout oven interior. (avoid bare metal and any openings) Let sit overnight. Remove with spatula and wipe clean. Rub gently with fine steel wool for tough spots. Or use Arm & Hammer Oven Cleaner, declared nontoxic by Consumers Union.

Paint Brush Cleaner: Non-toxic, citrus oil based solvents are now available commercially under several brand names. Citra-Solve is one brand. This works well for cleaning brushes of oil-based paints. Paint brushes and rollers used for an on-going project can be saved overnight, or even up to a week, without cleaning at all. Simply wrap the brush or roller snugly in a plastic bag, such as a used bread or produce bag. Squeeze out air pockets and store away from light. The paint won't dry because air can't get to it. Simply unwrap the brush or roller the next day and continue with the job.

Fresh paint odors can be reduced by placing a small dish of white vinegar in the room.

Rust Remover: Sprinkle a little salt on the rust, squeeze a lime over the salt until it is well soaked. Leave the mixture on for 2 - 3 hours. Use leftover rind to scrub residue.

Scouring Powder: For top of stove, refrigerator and other such surfaces that should not be scratched, use baking soda. Apply baking soda directly with a damp sponge.

Shoe Polish: Olive oil with a few drops of lemon juice can be applied to shoes with a thick cotton or terry rag. Leave for a few minutes; wipe and buff with a clean, dry rag.

Stickers on walls: Our children covered the inside of their room doors with stickers. Now they are grown, but the stickers remained. To remove, sponge vinegar over them several times, and wait 15 minutes, then rub off the stickers. This also works for price tags (stickers) on tools, etc.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner: Mix 1/4 cup baking soda and 1 cup vinegar, pour into basin and let it set for a few minutes. Scrub with brush and rinse. A mixture of borax (2 parts) and lemon juice (one part) will also work.

Tub and Tile Cleaner: For simple cleaning, rub in baking soda with a damp sponge and rinse with fresh water. For tougher jobs, wipe surfaces with vinegar first and follow with baking soda as a scouring powder. (Vinegar can break down tile grout, so use sparingly.)

Wallpaper Remover: Mix equal parts of white vinegar and hot water, apply with sponge over the old wallpaper to soften the adhesive. Open room windows or use a fan to dissipate the pungent vinegar smell.

Water Rings on Wood: Water rings on a wooden table or counter are the result of moisture that is trapped under the topcoat, but not the finish. Try applying toothpaste or mayonnaise to a damp cloth and rub into the ring. Once the ring is removed, buff the entire wood surface.

Window Cleaner: Mix 2 teaspoons of white vinegar with 1 liter (qt) warm water. Use crumpled newspaper or cotton cloth to clean. Don't clean windows if the sun is on them, or if they are warm, or streaks will show on drying. The All-Purpose Cleaner (above) also works well on windows. Be sure to follow the recipe, because using too strong a solution of vinegar will etch the glass and eventually cloud it.

An old t-shirt Woven wool blanket (or anything you have on hand that will stick to your mop head) Disposable pad that comes with your mop Pencil Freezer paper Iron Ironing board Scissors or rotary cutter Pins Sewing machine Thread

step 2: Trace Your Pattern

Trace your disposable pad twice onto the paper side of a piece of freezer paper. Trace your disposable pad once onto another piece of freezer paper.

step 3: Adhere Freezer Paper to Fabrics

Place the freezer paper plastic-side-down onto the fabric. Iron the paper to the fabric using a low heat and no steam. It will only take a couple seconds. Iron the freezer paper with two tracings to the t-shirt. Iron the paper with one tracing to the blanket. You could also pin the paper to the fabrics. I just find this to be much easier.

step 4: Cut Out Your Fabric

Cut along the lines. Remove the freezer paper after you have finished cutting. Remove all the paper (check the second picture in this step). You should have four pieces of t-shirt fabric and one piece of blanket.

step 5: Layer and Pin the Fabric

Layer them as such: 3 pieces of t-shirt, 1 piece of wool blanket, 1 piece of t-shirt. Pin along all of the edges leaving a 3-inch gap. You will not be sewing this gap at first. You need a spot to turn the fabric out-side-in.

step 6: Sew It: Take 1

Line the fabric up to the edge of the foot of your sewing machine. Sew along all the edges leaving a 3-inch gap of unsewn fabric (this is the hole you will turn the fabric through).

step 7: Turn the Piece Out-Side-In

Turn the single piece of t-shirt fabric over, pushing all the fabric through the gap and using your finger to poke out the corners. You should now have four layers of t-shirt fabric all stacked on top of one another with a piece of blanket fabric on top.

step 8: Sew It: Take 2

Pin the gap and sew once along all of the edges of the piece making sure you close the gap. Then, sew vertical lines approximately 1- 2 inches apart. Now, sew horizontal lines approximately 1 - 2 inches apart.

step 9: You're Done!

In a small pot, bring just enough water to cover the cap to a boil. Once you've brought it to a boil, place the bottle, cap first, into the water. After about a minute and a half, remove the bottle from the water, and give the cap a good, hard twist. It should pop right off as the boiling water will have softened the plastic cap.

step 2: Making the Cap PERMANENTLY Removeable.

When you get the cap off, you'll see that it has a number of prongs which cause it to catch on the bottle. With a pair of finger nail clippers, remove these prongs. You could also use an exacto knife, or even a razor blade, but I had a pair of clippers sitting around when I thought about doing this.

step 3: Refill the Bottle

Now you're ready to refill the bottle with your cleaner of choice. Vinegar and Water, Pine-sol, or anything else you may want to clean your floors with. Place the cap back on the bottle firmly and you're good to go. Hope this saves you some cash in the long run.

Another tip that was given is as follows

1. Get a pair of channel-lock pliers.


2. Adjust the pliers to the width of the bottle cap so that you won't crush it when you apply pressure.

3. Twist off the cap.

4. Fill the bottle with floor cleaner.

5. Replace the cap.

The cap will screw back on without a problem and you won't need the pliers to remove it the next time.

Living Room/Dining Room
1) Clean front door again
2) Sweep front door area
3) Clean base boards
4) Vacuum
Kitchen
1) Sweep kitchen
2) Clean fridge out
3) Thaw out dinner
4) Put dishes away

Bathroom
1) Wipe down door handles and doors
2) Clean base boards
3) Scrub toilets
4) Wipe down surfaces

Bedrooms
1) Vacuum
2) Vacuum window sills
3) Make beds
4) Other

Ahh another day and more chores to do...housework is never done. Here is the link for this cute chore sheet. http://www.merlinsbox.com/Do-Your-Chores-Pad-Chore-Checklist-p/13-12041.htm


Living Room/Dining Room
1) Dining room table...I really need to get cracking on this one
2) Clean baseboards
3) Vacuum out window sills

Kitchen
1) Sweep
2) Laundry
3) Dinner thawed out doing left overs tonight
4) Clean the fridge out
5) Wash dishes that hubby didn't do as usual
Bedrooms
1) Make beds
2) Put Laundry away
3) Get Dh to put dirty clothes in the laundry room

25 Mac & Cheese Recipes by Gooseberry Patch

I hope you all enjoy this as much I enjoy their recipes!