To My Dear Hubby

Keeping Your House Clean

Do you worry about having a clean house as much as I do? With Riley being in that stage where he will pick up anything and try to put it in his mouth....I have to be really careful!

Thanks to the ladies at Mom Central and Clorox, I was given a sample of the Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes. These wipes are amazing. I have found a ton of ways to use these and keep the house cleaner and the kids safer from germs and dirt!

Clorox® Disinfecting Wipes are the quick and easy way to clean and disinfect. Pre-moistened with cleaners and disinfectants, these handy household wipes are ready to use. Just wipe and let sit for 30 seconds to sanitize or 4 minutes to disinfect. Then toss and you're done.

You might be thinking to yourself "this isn't a new product". You are right- but Clorox has reworked the wipes and each wipe is now thicker and cleans better. It is also bleach free. You can even get it in a new Lavender Scent as well! Lavender has been a favorite scent of kings and queens for centuries. Now we can feel like royalty while cleaning the house! It has never been easier to quickly clean, wipe and leave your house smelling great.

I can't even tell you all the places I have come up with to use these wipes. Here are a just a few:

• toys
• computer
• cell phone (remember the reports that talked about all the germs on cell phones)
• tables when going out to eat
• high chair when going out to eat
• bathroom door handles, etc when going out to eat
• the changing station when you go out to eat
  
• kitchen
• bathroom
• the kids' bedrooms
• potty training seat (when we are ready for that again)
  
• the car
  
• desks at school
• light switches
• garbage cans
  

Honestly- I could keep going on, but I think you get the idea. These are fantastic for when we go out to eat. I was always worried about putting Riley in those high chairs and having his food on the end of the table (you know he will just throw the plate- so the food goes directly on the table). We never got a high chair topper or those mats you can carry with you. So this is a fantastic solution for me! I feel so much better after I have wiped those items down! Just be sure that you wipe the highchair or table with water after using the wipe so they don't get the cleaning solution in their mouth. (if you need more ideas on how to use these wipes, check it out here.)

And the uses around the house are great too. I can quickly wipe down the toys and furniture after one of us sneezes or coughs on it. I love that idea!

Keep in mind:

• better cleaning in a thicker, textured wipe
• low streak formula for use on shiny surfaces like glass or mirrors
• effective against common bacteria (such as Staphylococcus, Salmonella, and E.coli)
• pre-moistened disinfecting wipes that kill germs including viruses that cause colds and flu
• easy to carry with you
• easy to open (I could even open it one handed while holding Riley!)
  

A Rant and Some Good Mail!

I was having one of those days. You know the kind I mean. Alright, I was having one of those weeks.

Twice this week I had to change outfits before I could leave for work. Once Riley peed on me and once he kicked me during a diaper change and smeared Desitin on my pants. I should have changed a third day this week when he used my pant leg as a tissue and smeared his nose across my leg. Only I didn't really notice the snot on my pants until I got to work. Oops!

Anyway- my grumpy sweet little man was less then cooperative this morning. He has been down right miserable lately. Too the point where I asked hubby if colic can happen at 13 months. yeah, I know it isn't colic, but geez, the boy could stop whining or crying long enough for me to hear the voices in my head. My voices are going to pack up and move soon if I don't start listening to them.

So the Desitin smeared pants (which I still can't get off my pants!) and the grumpies didn't start the day off right. Yet, somehow we managed to get out the door - and only a mere 5 minutes late, too. We get to day care and then Ashlyn starts in on the grumpies and miserableness. They are tag teaming me, I tell you! She was fine all morning. What set her off? Who knows. The sun was shining or something crazy I am sure. But that ended in a crying fit which added another 5 minutes to my late factor.

Got to work a whopping 10 minutes late day. (When will someone cut moms a break and just get rid of the whole be at work on time thing....) Then there was the actual work part of the day. I mean, really, who enjoys that? It is, after all, work. If it wasn't work- we wouldn't say we were going to work. We would say we were going to Fun or to Party. But, no, I was going to work.

Manage to get through the day and get to day care to pick up the kids. Woo hoo- Riley is happy to see me. Make a hole in my checking account by paying the day care bill and tell Ashlyn to put her coat on. You would have thought I just asked her to cut off her hair and sell it or to never eat ice cream again. The battle of the wills came to a head by me finally saying she needed to put her coat on or I was going to count (that means if I have to count and you are not doing what I asked by the time I get to 5 you are in time out). She basically stomps her feet, pouts her lip, and whines the whole time she puts her coat on. And the whole way home. And the next 5 minutes after we get home.

I'm feeling like this is just a day from a fairly hot and unpleasant place and we haven't even hit supper time yet.

That is when I notice it on the table. It is some good mail! The fabulous Mamarazzi sent me some good mail! How did she know I needed a pick me up RIGHT now?? I'm telling you, it couldn't have come at a better time. It turned my mood right around! What was in my good mail you ask? Take a look and see.....How awesome....a little pedi pampering for me! And a hand written note! She took the time to write me a little note! I am feeling the love!

In case you are wondering....it is almost 10 pm and Ashlyn is still awake whining that she really wishes Daddy were home so she could tell him things.....anyone want to take bets on my day tomorrow since she is still awake??

I'm off to soak away my worries and paint my nails! ;) I can feel the stress melting away!

Random Recipes

Welcome to the next edition of Random Recipes. This week the challenge was to post a picnic recipe in honor of Memorial Day. What better way to kick the weekend into gear then with some fabulous food recipes, right?

This week I have a top secret family recipe for you! Don't ya feel honored? I know you do- you can thank my by sending checks in the mail to me, no amount is too big or small....hee hee hee!

My recipe is my brother's pasta salad recipe. Anytime we have a family gathering, it is his job to make and bring this dish. Then I beg for the leftovers. So he finally just told me how to make it. Seriously though, that is way too much work- I prefer for him to make it and me to eat it!

What? You are tired of my ramblings and just want the freaking recipe already? Okay, okay....here it is!

Pasta Salad
Need:
2 bottles of Italian Zesty dressing
1/4 lb hard salami
1/4 lb ham
1/4 lb provolone cheese
1/8 lb pepperoni
1 large box rigatoni pasta (or your favorite kind)
2 stalks celery
1/2 jar olives (go on last)
2 large tomato
1 pack dry Italian mix

Directions:
Cook noodles (let cool before mixing with other ingredients). Dice ingredients. Mix 1 large Italian zesty dressing and pack of dry mix. (I pour dry mix into dressing bottle and shake it up to mix it together) In large container, combine noodles, diced ingredients, and mixed dressing. Be sure to mix/toss ingredients well so everything is coated with the dressing. Let sit overnight. About 2 to 3 hours before serving, add olives and the other bottle of dressing.

So, what random picnic goodies do you have for us this week?

Desitin Remote

Tonight, I sealed my fate to never win the World's Best Mommy award. But I had fun anyway!

I was combing Ashlyn's hair after her bath. Riley was playing with the tube of Desitin. Being a male - he immediately held it up to the tv like a remote. At the same moment, I used the remote to turn on a show for Ashlyn to watch. Total coincidence. Ashlyn didn't see me with the remote since she was in front of me so I could comb her hair. She thought Riley changed the channel with the Desitin. This was the funniest and greatest thing to her. So she decides to give it a try herself. She takes the Desitin and points it to the tv. You know, being the good mommy that I am, I used the real remote to change the channel. She has no idea it was me. She tries again, I change the channel on the remote again. And so it goes. Each time she pushes the Desitin, I change the channel. Each time she thinks she found this magical tube of rash stuff. She is loving it. I am nearly peeing myself laughing. I seriously had tears in my eyes. It was too fun. Yes- she went to bed still thinking the Desitin changes the tv channel.

You Know You're In Trouble

You know you're in trouble when your 4 year old comes down the steps at 1 am and says "Mommy, I think I have pee pee in my pull up" and she isn't wearing a pull up! (and hasn't for months!)

We were doing much better with the night time accidents. No accidents for about 3 weeks - that was great! Was is the the key word. The last three nights she has had an accident. sigh........

Today- not so much my favorite day. I'm tired. It rained and was cold and miserable all day. I'm realizing just how much I have to do to pack up my classroom and change districts. I still believe I made the right decision, but the reality of it may be sinking in finally. Did I mention that I hate being a woman and having period induced headaches and grumpiness? Hubby and I had a fight today too. Not to be all girly, but I hate that. I hate fighting with him. I still can't get the internet to work on my laptop. I wish I could figure that out because I do everything on that thing.

But hey- in a few hours it will be Wednesday and that means I have made it to the half way point of my last full week of teaching! Woo Hoo!

Reminder

Just a reminder that this Friday is Random Recipes again....hope you will join in!