Month

April 2014

5 Practical and Funny Spring Cleaning Tips

 

If you scour
(see what I did there?) Pinterest you can find hundreds of
printables with Spring cleaning schedules, organized lists, and advice for how to
clean and organize your home this time of year. If you follow me on Pinterest, you will see, I am no stranger to obsessively
pinning these types of things. Here is the caveat though, I was finding that
these lists and plans were good in theory but were hardly ever actually put
into practice in my home.
Why?
I discovered many of these lists had few things that made them worthy of my time. Overall, they were missing the mark for what worked for my home and my family. So, I
decided to come up with some SPRING CLEANING TIPS that got our house lemony
fresh just in time for Spring. 

 

1.) Plan a Party: I am the type of person that usually works better with deadlines and
sometimes under some sort of pressure. My family is like that too. Also, whether
the party be big or small, I always invite at least ONE PERSON that a.) it his/her first time to my home or b.) he/she will slightly judge me on the
cleanliness of my home. I realized this is not a time to be having a BBQ with my family
or my best friends who don’t care if there toys strewn about. This helps
up the ante a little bit. Every time I want to give up, I remember so and so is
coming and they haven’t been to our house yet, and I will most definitely
continue on my cleaning journey.

2.) Get the
Family Involved:
When I start on my SPRING CLEANING, I try to make a list of
jobs, and figure out who can do a particular job best. For example: who has the best skills for the
job? or Who will complain the least? I also try and figure out who might be
good helpers for a particular job. Like, my husband complains the least
about bathrooms, so he does them. I complain least about deep cleaning the
kitchen so I get that job. The kids are limber and small so they get jobs like
cleaning under the couches and washing baseboards.

3.) Break Up Each Room Into Smaller Tasks: I really needed to stop thinking that I could get all of my SPRING CLEANING done in one day or even one week. With all we have to do as a family, I really needed to break things up. For example, I know I have to sweep floors anyway, so one day, I took a spray bottle full of 2
TBS Mrs. Meyers Clean Day, 1 ½ Cups Distilled Water and while you swept the floor, I sprayed the baseboards in the kitchen with the solution. I, then, and asked the kids (who were playing on the floor anyway) to wipe them down with a rag. Another example: The next time you
empty the dishwasher, set the timer on your phone for 15 minutes and clean out
the junk drawer in your kitchen. Doing one or two of these little tasks every
day really helped go a long way to accomplish each task on our SPRING
CLEANING list. 

 

4.) Reward
Yourself:
I am the type of person who is more likely to do something if I know
there is going to be a reward at the end. For me, sleep is the ultimate reward.
I love going to bed early. I know it sounds absolutely lame, but for me if I
can knock a few things off the To Do List, I will go to bed and get an extra
hour of sleep. It is glorious and I love it! Next time you have something to do, hold off on watching your favorite show until you complete a
task on your SPRING CLEAN list. Better yet, check off 5 tasks in a week and
allow yourself a night free from cooking. 

 

5.) Don’t
Get Trapped:
When you live in a house with well… anyone, it is easy to get
frustrated and caught up in the clean house trap. I am often catching myself saying things
like, “I just cleaned this place!” or “I’m never cleaning again, what’s the
point?” I have found though, there are a few things that can help in situations
like this: a.) alchohol or chocolate and b.) a little perspective. The alcohol
or chocolate is to calm those nerves and the perspective is to remind yourself
that it is better to be living in a home with people you love that is a little
messy than to be living alone in a house that is immaculately clean.
 

 

There you have it! Five practical and (sorta) funny spring cleaning tips!
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Beaded Bracelets and Just Us Girls

When Coco was born I was bleary eyed for most of her babyhood. I’m not going to lie, there was a guilt that washed over me the minute she was born that I didn’t feel with my older boys. I knew I would be chasing those boys around when I got home, stopping occasionally to nurse Caroline. I knew there would be plenty of love to go around, but would there be enough time? After all, Russell was not yet three, George was a baby himself, and we were living with my Mom and looking for our home. Bringing home a newborn is hectic under any circumstances, but bringing home our baby girl was a whirlwind.

It was as if I blinked and she turned ONE.

In the beginning, I was kind of sad that she had missed the cut off for beginning school. At least then she would be in on the fun with the boys. I saw them bonding in preschool and making the same friends and looking on as they were achieving milestones together because they were back to back in school, and I wanted Coco to share in that fun with them. My three stair step kids are all very close in age, but I couldn’t help but feel that the one year gap in school would kind of make Coco feel left out. Not to mention there is a gender difference, boys share a room, and this was just another thing that would just kind of leave her out of the mix. As a youngest child myself, I know that feeling all too well.

It is no fun to be left behind.

 

However, when the boys were at school, I noticed all the little things my girl and I were getting to do together. Just us. We had time to eat breakfast together, run errands, go to the park and make play dates. Just us. It was as if I was getting the chance to spend extra minutes with her that were missed when she was a wee one.

It then occurred to me that I had another lady in the house with me, and I had extra time just with her. So, while the boys are in school, and for the next two years while they are in “big kid” school and she is only attending half day preschool, her and I have plenty of time for fun girly activities. Activities like afternoon tea, painting our nails, playing dollies, and making beaded bracelets.

A few months ago, I found a huge bag of larger beads on sale and I thought they would be fun for stringing. After a few attempts at stringing them with yarn, I realized that for Coco’s age, it was too hard, so we started stringing the beads onto pipe cleaners and making bracelets, necklaces, tiaras, whatever struck our fancy. This is one of those activities that is cheap, age appropriate, and is conducive to girl chat.

 

Sometimes, I know Coco squeezes the boys extra tight in the morning before they leave for school because she misses her playmates, and I cannot help but feel a little sad of her. However, I get out the beads, and I know that I am thankful for this time that we have together.

 





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6 Ways To Use Leftover Hardboiled Eggs

Easter has come and gone! Leftover candy is easy to deal with, but leftover hardboiled eggs, not so much. Let’s face it, once hard boiled egg is yummy, knowing that you have two dozen more in your refrigerator is daunting.

We had a great time decorating our eggs, but I spent the weekend eating chocolate and thinking what to do about my leftover hardboiled eggs. Here’s what I came up with!

1. Garbage Salad – make a salad and add a sliced egg for some added protein. My favorite is a “Garbage Salad” which includes any fresh veggies left in the fridge spinach, peas, tomatoes, peppers, carrots, cucumber, zucchini. A little cheese like feta or mozzarella. Whatever protein available some chicken or in this case hard boiled eggs. Then, I top it off with balsamic vinaigrette. This is the perfect lunch!

 

2. Eggs Benedict Arnold – this is a cheater version of a classic Eggs Benedict, but is perfect  to use up leftover hardboiled eggs, and is much quicker than going through all the effort for real eggs benedict on a week day. Take a toasted English muffin, place a some baby spinach on the muffin, a slice of leftover Easter ham, sliced hard boiled egg, some salt and pepper, and your favorite cheese. I use swiss. Place under the broiler for 1 minute until bubbly and serve with some fresh fruit. Pretty fancy for a weekday.

3. Egg Salad –  is a classic standby for all of those leftover hardboiled eggs. Ask your Mom, aunt, grandmother or best gal pal for their favorite recipe. Every family has one. Mine is 2 hard boiled eggs chopped, 1 or 2 stalks celery finely chopped, 2 tablespoons mayo, salt and pepper to taste. I put it on whole wheat bread with lettuce and tomato. Ta Da!

4. Deviled Eggs –  again this is an old standby and everyone has their favorite recipe. My family’s is finely mashing the egg yolks with some mayo and paprika salt and pepper.

 

5. Nicoise Platter – this very traditional French salad is one that is perfect now that the weather is getting warm. Boiled potatoes, fine green beans, olives, tomatoes, hard boiled eggs, and a nice piece of grilled tuna arranged beautifully on a platter is an easy dinner for a warm night.

6. BLT and E – with Easter comes brunch, and with brunch comes bacon. If you are like our family, you may have some of that leftover as well. Add some sliced egg to your BLT. You won’t regret it.

There you have it, a run down of the best way to use your leftover hard boiled eggs. How do you use yours?

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Thirsty Thursday: Peach Bellini (With and Without Alcohol)

‘Tis the season of brunch! If you want my honest opinion, it is always time for brunch, but with Easter almost here and the weather making it easier for us to dine al fresco, brunch is where its at. This week for THIRSTY THURSDAY, I thought I would tackle my favorite brunch cocktail (next to mimosas and bloody mary’s): PEACH BELLINIS. I also thought it would be nice to have two options for guests, so I made both an alcoholic version or a non alcoholic version.

For the non-alcholoic version I used peach nectar, which I must say was not easy to find. If you are having trouble finding it, there several juices at the supermarket such as peach mango or peach berry that would work just as well.

 

Virgin Peach Bellinis (makes 2 large bell inis)
1 1/2 cups frozen peaches
1/2 cup peach nectar or juice
1 can lemon lime soda
(you can add more ice to blender to make it more of a slush consistency)

 

 

In a blender, add peaches, nectar, soda, and ice. Blend until smooth and poor into glasses with a straw. I used Mason jars. Serve with straws immediately.

For the Traditional Peach Bellinis I thought it would be nice to add an additional kick, so I added some Peach Vodka, which can be easily found. Go figure.

Traditional Peach Bellinis (makes 1 cocktail)
2 oz chilled Absolut Peach vodka
2 oz chilled peach nectar
4 oz chilled sparkling wine
Sliced or frozen peaches for garnish

 

In a champagne or wine glass, add vodka and peach nectar. Using a small straw or stirring stick mix the vodka and nectar. Top with chilled sparkling wine. Serve immediately.

 

If peaches are not your thing, but beverages are, check out the THIRSTY THURSDAY page for recipes for all kinds of drinks, cocktails, and all things drinkable!

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Italio: A Build Your Own Italian Experience

While I was compensated for this post, the thoughts and opinions are my own.

Being a youngest child, I am very much in tune with my inferiority complex. In the course of my life I have been known to say things like, “but I never get anything!” and stomp my feet. I haven’t done this recently as I am now a mature adult trying to set an example for three children.
However, once you are a youngest child, you are for life. So, I am also highly attune to unfairness, injustice, and when I don’t get my way. Therefore, there have been times in my adult life when I am slightly jealous when other areas of Chicagoland get a cool store or restaurant before the southland. This time though, Italio, picked nearby Orland Park to place a restaurant, and I couldn’t be happier (no whining or stomping here).
A few weeks ago, all five of us made our way to Italio for dinner and we enjoyed every part of our meal. From the salad to the pasta, from the bread to the canoli chips there wasn’t one part of the meal that we didn’t like. 
Italio can only be described as a build your own Italian experience. There are different options on the menu like chicken or meatballs, different sauces and other toppings to mix in with your white or whole wheat pasta. If pasta is not your jam, you can make a custom salad complete with fresh vegetables, protein, and delicious italian cheeses. There are also wraps called piadinas that look delectable and would be perfect for a picnic dinner at the soccer field. 
In the past I have talked about how sometimes my kids can be picky. If you have that kind of family, Italio is wonderful as you can customize each person’s dish to what’s suits him or her (this also contributed to no whining or stomping from my children). Everyone was so friendly and accommodating and was willing to offer an extra set of hands with carrying or dinner to the table. 
We will definitely be heading back.
Thank you Italio for a wonderful and much needed night out!
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Years of Wisdom Acquired in 72 Hours or What I Learned at The Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop

If you follow me on Twitter (if you don’t, why not?) you would have seen that I attended the Erma Bombeck Writers Workshop at the University of Dayton.

Over three hundred and fifty writers converged on this university, which, by the way, had just experienced some NCAA Basketball success by making their way to the Elite 8 this year. Gooooo Dayton Flyers!
UD knows how to party and upon making it to the Elite 8, the president of the university was crowd surfing among students on campus. How cool is that?!
The only surfing I’m familiar with is channel surfing.
This isn’t the only reason, though, that UD knows how to party. Inviting over 350 humor writers biannually to converge on your campus to learn how to be more funny, not only shows you know how to party, but shows you have a pretty amazing sense of humor yourself.
In just 72 hours, I walked away from this experience with what seemed like years of wisdom, a renewed sense of purpose, and new ways to hone my hilarity. I made some new hilarious friends. Also, being the good little nerd that I am, I took copious notes at every session and workshop, so I have those too.

 

And it all started with a woman named Erma. She had three kids just like me. She wrote what she knew, just like me. Thank you, Erma. Women, humorists, and writers everywhere thank you!
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Spring Bucket List: The Clean Edition

Yesterday, I talked about my Spring Fun Bucket List and how we came up with it and displayed it. It has almost everything we will be up to now that the weather is finally nice.

Notice I said, almost.

I made a little to do list for myself for the spring!

There are a few things on my Spring Cleaning Bucket List. Sure, for some, this list is not as fun as flying kites and bike rides, but, for me, there is nothing better than a clean house so that I sit back and enjoy the nice weather!

 

Over the winter time things pile up, what projects are you anxious to get done?

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Spring Fun Bucket List

HAPPY SPRING! I know the official start to spring was over two weeks ago, but to be honest, after the winter we had I was afraid to utter the words for fear I would put some weird jinx on the weather. It hasn’t been incredibly warm yet, but we have been able to enjoy some simple pleasures so far like: we have resumed walking to the bus stop, spend our afternoons after school outside, we have reduced the layers of clothing we wear, and have even enjoyed a little bit of ice cream.

 

With Spring on our brains, we took some advice from my friend Christine at The New Abides who did a new activity and wrote about it every day for a year (yes, 365 days), and created a Spring Bucket List! We each contributed a few things that we wanted to do this Spring, and are hoping to check off while the weather and conditions are perfect for these kinds of activities.

One night at dinner we talked about Springtime holidays and weather, and that helped us come up with our list. I put it together in PicMonkey, and now it is hanging on our Art Wall. Now there is no reason to be bored. We have a list of things to do.

 

For a printable version of the list CLICK HERE!

This isn’t the only bucket list we will be working on this Spring.

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