Organization Craze!!

I can't believe Back to School is already just around the corner! I'm not really looking forward to the morning craziness of getting the kids up and ready and still trying to make it to work on time. Mornings are so not my specialty. Matthew will be heading to grade 1 and Connor will be trucking off to his first year of preschool. Yikes! It always amazes me how fast time goes. I will definitely miss having Matthew around on my afternoons off and I know Connor will miss his best play buddy.

For me, getting ready for back to school means getting as organized as possible before the crazziness starts! About 2 weeks ago I started my "10 items a day" project. Basically, I had to throw out or give away 10 items everyday. My initial thought was to do it for 10 days but, oh my, there is a lot of stuff! It can be anything from clothes, beauty products (do I really need 8 tubes of toothpaste?), utensils and kitchen gadgets, old toys...anything! I am thinking I will be at this for a while to come!

Now that Matthew is going into grade 1, I realized I now have to pack him a lunch. I really hate packing lunches. At home, Matthew's only lunch picks are macaroni and cheese or cheese and crackers. I have tried to get him to eat sandwiches but they are not really his thing. So... in searching the net I came across this great soon-to-be-released book called Funky Lunches. Check out some of these pictures!





I am sure this one would be Matthew's pick:



How could he not love sandwiches if I made him one of those? I have ordered the book. We'll see how closely my sandwiches resemble the pictures!

Have a great weekend! I am off for a shopping trip to the States with my mom!

Sno Cone Fun

On my weekend cleaning spree, I came across an ice shaver that I purchased from a Pampered Chef party about 10 years ago. Why I picked an ice shaver I don't know. It has probably been used a total of 2 times over the course of the 10 years.

On a side note, do you know what other stupid purchase I made? An ice cream sandwich maker. Sounds good I know. But, really, do you need a $25 gadget to smush some ice cream between 2 cookies??? Funny thing is, I think my Mom bought one of these too!

Okay, back on topic. I decided that in order to avoid the ice shaver going into the giveaway pile I needed to start using it. So the kiddies and I set about freezing some juice (tyring to be healthy!) for our sno cones. They actually turned out pretty yummy and kept the kids quiet for at least 10 minutes.

So, of course, I had to search the Internet to see if I could come up with some other sno cone fun. Anyone remember these Snoopy Sno Cone makers?



Turns out they still sell them! Wish I had known that before I purchased mine.

Anyways, I ended up coming across these glow in the dark sno cones. Basically, you take a disposable cup, put in one of those glow in the dark bracelets (I got some at the dollar store), and then put a clear cup nestled inside the larger one. Fill up the inner cup with the shaved ice and it has a really cool glow! (yes, you do need to wait until it is dark outside!)

I tried using my healthy juice sno cones to begin with. We did get a glow but it did not look as cool as it did in the pictures. I think the juice was too thick. We ended up making some more using ice shavings and koolaid syrup and the glow was much better. Kind of fun to see the different colour combinations!

Now, koolaid syrup definitely does not qualify as healthy. To make it you need 1 package of unsweetened Kool-aid, 3/4 cup water and 2 cups (yes 2!) sugar. Just boil the sugar and water, add the Kool-aid, and allow to cool.

I did try to get pictures of our glowing cones but it is extremely difficult to get pictures in the dark without using a flash! Totally useless!



Here is a picture from someone with photography skills:


Cool, eh? I gave up on trying to get a good picture of the glow. Turned on the flash and here is Connor enjoying his sno cone:



Let me know if anyone tries any variations of these. An alcoholic version may be fun once the kids are in bed! Have fun!

Tuesday Tidbits

Wow! Is another Tuesday here already? I guess it is time for another Norwex product review. Since I have been on a cleaning rampage this past week, I thought I would talk about the trusty bathroom scrub mitt that I have been using all week.



I'm not really sure why they called it a bathroom scrub mitt. It can really be used anywhere. On one side of the mitt is a plush microfiber fabric and on the other side is a scrub mesh (same as the kitchen scrub cloth). The scrubby half works great for removing any hard water build-up (which we get lots of!), soap scrum, or other grungy spots that require a little more scrubbing (i.e. the bottom of my lovely cupboards that I have been cleaning out). It also worked great for cleaning my grout. (I did this with the cleaning paste as well which I will save for another week!). I'm not really sure if you can tell how dirty the grout was in the before picture but I am still waiting for those photography classes.

BEFORE:


AFTER:


The microfiber side is great for dusting (I had to do the baseboards since I was down there anyways!) and polishing and finishes the job off nicely! There is also a sponge liner in the mitt to add extra absorbency and a handy little hang loop for storage.

Well, there you have it. As always, let me know if you have any questions. The bathroom scrub mitt normally sells for $22.99 and is yours this week for $20.70!

If anyone is interested in hosting a party, there are some fabulous hostess benefits. You can easily get over $200 in free product and I will also give you any item of your choice for 1/2 off! It is a great way to get started on a healthier, chemical free cleaning routine!

Happy Cleaning!

Scentsy Sunday

I have been a busy girl this weekend doing work, work, work around the house. My new scrapbooking paper and treats that I bought last weekend are still sitting in their bag taunting me! **sigh**

I was hoping to get down to the dikes for some blackberry picking today but got caught up with the housework and building my sons' HUGE trainset (it does look pretty cool though!). I will have to settle for sitting here with my Blackberry Bushel Scentsy melting beside me!

I just wanted to update everyone on the discontinued scents. They will be available until August 31st and then off to retirement they go. Here is the list:
*cutiepie cupcake
*caramel spice
*green tea smoothie
*cinnamint
*orange dreamsicle
*cinnamon cider
*oxford
*pretty in pink
*casablanca
*mountain retreat
*mineral springs
*cherry limeaid
*go-go-goji
*sugar
*mayflower
*calypso
*sweet clemintine
*plum delicious
*mad about mint
*grape granita
*coconut palm
*tangerine tango
*plumeria
*spring clean
*red candy apple
*tranquil waters

If you would like to order any before they are gone just let me know. There will be lots of new fabulous scents taking their place on September 1st!

Here is a peak at the September warmer of the month. Is it really that time of year already??

letter organizer

I saw this letter organizer over at noodlehead and thought it was just what I needed. Mail tends to pile up around here.



There are some great instructions on noodlehead but I had to make a few adjustments for mine. First of all, I couldn't figure out how to get the pattern printed out to the right size. I even tried the enlarger at work. Finally, I scrapped the pattern and just free handed it. Turned out fine and I could have saved myself an hour of fiddling around. Sometimes I strongly dislike computers.

Secondly, I can't sew. At all. After about 1/2 an hour trying to figure out how to thread my machine, I decided it would have to be a no sew project. I did have to do some hand stitching to get the pocket and the liner stitched together at the top (and it was an absolutely terrible job I might add). Thankfully you can't see it at all when the project is finished. I also bought the iron on grossgrain and saved another sewing step.

The rest was all put together with my handy quick grip glue and a stapler. I strongly recommend using an upholestry stapler. Since my pockets were a little mis-measured I totally went overboard on the staples.

And here is my finished project (sorry, the picture is terrible):



Too bad the rest of my house isn't this organized!

I linked up with Organize and Decorate Everything.

phone message board

I picked up this phone message board kit from Treasury of Memories. I think it's super cute and it only took about 1/2 an hour to make (and I am slow!).


Here's what you need for materials:
6x12 canvas
paper to cover canvas (mine is October Afternoon)
letters for title
paint for sides of canvas
adhesive (my favorite is quick grip)
clothes peg
note paper (I have old library cards in mine)
And you are ready to go!

1. Paint the sides of the canvas and about 1/2 an inch onto the canvas itself.
2. Cut out desired paper as you wish to cover canvas and adhere.
3. Add letter stickers.
4. Adhere clothes peg and...Voila! You have yourself a cute little message center!

Happy Crafting!

Tueday Tidbits

I'm back again for my Norwex Tuesday Tidbits. The product of the week this week is the exciting Sanira Toilet Brush System. Whoo! Hoo!

Okay, maybe it's not that exciting. But, I do love this as much as I can love a toilet cleaner. I have four guys around this house (one of which is learning to potty train!) so the bathroom is always in need of some TLC. Here are some of the highlights of the brush system:
1) The brush has a unique channelling system for the cleaner and does not contain any cavities where bacteria can grow. There are also no metal components. This means no grimy disgusting brush!
2) The cleaning solution is vegetable based with coconut oil and a naturally occurring sugar surfactant. It has a nice light citrusy smell rather than the strong chemical smell of other cleaners. I like it because I can actually smell if I have cleaned properly rather than just having the smell covered up for the short term by chemicals.
3) The disinfectant is biodegradable and breaks down within 48 hours (compared to 30 days for most other cleaners).
4) This brush system uses 10 times less solution (only 3-4 ml!) compared to traditional cleaners.

The Sanira System is really easy to use since everything you need is right there. Just press the brush into the holder and count about 4 seconds to fill the brush with the disinfectant. Scrub it around the toilet and let the solution sit on the surface for 10 minutes before flushing away. Simply rinse the brush after each use and place into holder.

The Sanira solution is also a disinfectant and mildew remover and can be used anywhere. Just mix it with water (1 part Sanira with 3 parts water) to use as a disinfectant. This can be used anywhere such as other areas in the bathroom, cutting boards, change tables (a small spray bottle would be great for the diaper bag!), or for disinfecting toys. It is also a great pre-soak for any micro-fiber cloths that are starting to get that "stale" smell.


The Sanira System (including brush, holder and disinfectant) is $49.99 and will last you 1 year if you clean your toilet twice per week. For this week it is on sale for $45.00.


The Sanira refill costs $15.99 ($14.40 for this week) and will also last you for 1-2 years (depending on how diligent you are with cleaning your toilet!).

Questions? Just let me know!

Fabulous Fintry

Oh my! It is HOT out today. Our place is like a greenhouse and I am sweltering. Thank goodness for basements!

We are just returning from a camping trip up in the Okanagan. It was a fabulous trip with the kids. Lots of fun swimming in the lake, relaxing by the campfire (roasting marshmallows of course!), and just getting some nice family time in. I am generally not much of a camper but a few days I can handle!

Well, you can't have a great trip without learning some great life lessons. Here are mine:
1) It is generally best if you know where you are going before you leave the house. Vague ideas in your head don't work out too well especially in the dark with a not-so-happy wife sitting beside you. Arriving at the campsite after the park gates have closed is never a good idea.

2) If the kids are playing nicely in the car where the junk food happens to be stashed they might be up to something. Bye-bye gum drops, licorice and marshmallows. Oh, and is that chocolate on your face?

3) Floating around in a boat (even the blow up kind!) is extremely relaxing.

4) It is probably not a good idea to let the kids jump around your air mattress in the tent. Kids have fun. Parents end up blowing up their air mattress at 2:00 in the morning.

5) Jumping off lighthouses can be fun!



More pictures from the trip:

We took a hike up to the waterfall - only 207 steps. Last thing I needed was another 35 lbs. added to my body! Little tired here.




There was this one lone hay barrel in the middle of a huge field. Great photo-op but the kids weren't too interested. We had fun anyways!



We got these cute little chairs from my sister-in-law (thanks Carol!). The kids loved them and they looked so cute!


Did I really get three kids to look at the camera and smile at the same time???

Oh, and I have to add I found these really cute shoes. They're from Lindsay Phillips. The strap is velcro and can be interchanged with other straps. Love them!

Tueday Tidbits

My Norwex product of the week this week is the Ultra Power Laundry Detergent.

There are many reasons why I love this detergent but my top reason actually has nothing to do with cleaning clothes. Has anyone else had stinky washing machine syndrome? My front loader used to stink! I really did try everything to get rid of the odor. I left the door open between loads. I used vinegar. I didn't leave wet clothes in it. I even tried those new Affresh tablets. The smell would go for a few days but it always ended up returning.

Upon further research, I discovered that front loaders don't completely drain every time a load of laundry is done. The volume of suds produced by regular detergents acts like sludge to water draining out of the tub. The fragrances also mix with the mildew-y water. The result? My nice stinky washing machine!

So I am sure you can guess my favorite thing about this detergent. Yes, the smell is gone! After about 1 week of using the Norwex detergent the smell left and has not returned!

Okay, enough of about my washing machine. There really are many other great aspects of this detergent.
1) The detergent is super concentrated with no fillers which means that there is less detergent needed. Top loaders require 1-2 tablespoons (80 loads) and front loaders only need 1/4 -1/2 tsp. . This gives you 400-600 loads from a single bag!
2) The Norwex detergent has absolutely no fillers and no perfumes. This is great if you have any allergies or skin sensitivities such as eczema as the fillers and perfumes are usually the cause of the reactions.
3) No fillers means less wear on your clothes. The fillers from store bought detergent actually stay in your clothes and contribute to fiber breakdown and fading.

And, finally...yes, it actually does a great job of cleaning your clothes!!!



If you are interested in ordering any of the detergent of have any questions, just let me know. It is 10% off for this week only. 400 loads of laundry for only $24.30!

Five Things I Am Thinking About

My brain is kind of all over the place today so I thought I would post my top 5 things that came to mind today.

1) I woke up this morning and had my first follower on my blog! A big thank-you to Ms. Cupcake over at Cupcakes and Ruby Slippers for her Sweet Blog Award! And I came home and had another follower. Check out Jessica at Sea to my Heart!

2) I really need to try and focus more on what my kids are saying. On our 45 minute drive out to Chilliwack this morning Matthew talked the whole way (and I mean the WHOLE way). I think I heard about 5 minutes of it. Somehow his voice turns into Charlie Brown's teacher (whomp! whomp! whomp!) and my mind wanders to what I need from the grocery store and what bills I forgot to pay. I hope I didn't agree to take him to Disneyland on the weekend.

3) I would love my own personal getaway. Somewhere to go to unwind. I have this one in mind:





What do you think my odds are?

4)I had the first day of my pediatric course today. It is confirmed...I really don't know what I am doing. I played "wedding" for an hour. I pushed a cart loaded with kids for another hour. I am sore. I better learn a lot in the next four days or I am in trouble!

One of our first topics of the course was to set out with Intention and I loved this definition.

Intention
-the act of stretching and bending the mind toward an object
-to act with design and purpose

So I will now make an effort to start my day out with intention. Will that make me better at playing "wedding"?

5) I love how my boys come up with something funny everyday. A couple of days ago the boys and I were looking at our scrapbook albums. It is so much fun looking at the old pictures with them! We came across a picture of Matthew hugging my belly while I was pregnant with Connor and he explained to Connor that he was in my tummy. Connor turned to me and asked "Why did you eat me?". I didn't quite feel like getting into that conversation so I just kind of left it.

Well, I should have known that kids never forget things (unless it is in their best interest of course!). Tonight when I was putting Connor to sleep I was pretending to eat his hand. He suddenly pulled it away and said sternly "Don't eat me Mommy because I will end up in your tummy again and turn into a baby!". Too funny!