Happy Valentine's Day WTH?!?

Well, Lilly's class had their Valentine's Day party "special snack" today, which was evidently the equivalent of an entire 5-pound bag of sugar, judging on how much more hyper and ill-behaved than usual Lilly is this afternoon.  :/

When I picked Lilly up at the bus stop a little while ago, she came totin' her little paper bag full of valentines from her classmates.  On our way back to the house, she pulled them all out and showed them to me one by one.  Then, towards the end of the pile, she whipped out this, and my jaw dropped:

Yep, that's right.  A medical blood specimen vial.  With a little rolled-up scrap of paper inside of it that says "Happy Valentine's Day":

The vial also contained a little bit of unidentifiable white powder, which Lilly spilled most of at school.

WHAT?!?!?

SKETCHIEST VALENTINE EVER!

On a different, non-valentine note, Jamie emptied a dumpster today at a place where a mama goat just had 2 cute little babies mere moments before he got there, and he took this video of them.  CUTE!  :D

DANGER! DANGER! No, Wait...False Alarm...!

I picked Lilly up at the school bus stop a little while ago.  When she hopped into the car, she was very serious and seemed worried.  I asked her what was wrong, and she told me that she had found something dangerous on the bus, and that she had it in her coat pocket.  So naturally, I was alarmed, and immediately thought it must be a syringe or some kind of drugs.  I told her not to worry; that I would NOT be mad, and to just show me what it was.  So when she nervously whipped a pair of nail clippers out of her coat pocket, I was instantly relieved, and horse-laughed.  She was still apprehensive, however, and swung the hinged portion aside to reveal the attached nail file.  She had thought that it was a knife!!!  So I horse-laughed again and assured her that it was OK.  Sheesh!  XD

Lilly with the 'switchblade'...LOL!

No Mo' Sno'

Well, the vast majority of the snow is now melted and gone, and aside from school being on (yet another) 2-hour delay again this morning, things are back to normal.

The last hurrah with the snow yesterday was Jamie and Lilly's angry snowman:

There's a story behind the angry snowman.  We make all of our snowmen angry.  The reason why is that several years ago, we made a snowman, and as it melted, its sweet little happy face just naturally transformed to at first being just slightly skeptical, and then it became a little ticked off, and then it got angry, before finally settling at downright pissed.  And so, we commemorate that amusing event in all of our subsequent snowmen.

The last I saw of yesterday's angry snowman, the dogs had eaten its entire head completely off.

I must say, I'm feeling a lot like the angry snowman myself. I absolutely HATE winter with every fiber of my being.  I HATE the cold weather, I HATE being cold, I HATE not being able to go outside without freezing to death, I HATE the house being cold, I HATE having to warm up the car before going anywhere, I HATE having to wear 57 layers of clothes and still freezing to death...basically, I HATE it ALL.

Can you tell I have cabin fever?

I was so happy to see that Punxsutawney Phil determined that Spring would come early this year.  But then my hopes were dashed when I learned that General Beauregard Lee (who is closer in proximity to me than Phil is) predicted that there would be 6 more weeks of winter.

HURRY UP, SPRING AND SUMMER.

HURRY THE %^*% UP.  >:{

WOAH, IT'S SNOWIN'!

WOW!  It's our first snow of the winter!  We don't usually have too awful many snows.  I kind of secretly like it when it snows on the weekend, and it's supposed to all be melted and gone by Monday morning so life can get back to normal.  It's great to just sit around the house, still in your jammies, turn on the gas logs, and watch the snowflakes go falling down.

Now that I think about it, gosh, I believe it's been about a little over 2 years ago when we had our last decent snow.  Last time it snowed, Lilly was ornery and refused to go outside.  But this year, she was super-excited about it, and rip-roarin' to go:

Here's a video of the sledding experience.  Jamie filmed it, and he has a habit of letting the camera run way too long.  But if you stick with it (at about 4 minutes in), you will get to see Lilly accidentally jumping the sled over a log!  :O

The dogs are having a great time in the snow, too!

Here's another way-too-long, Jamie-made video of the dogs playing in the snow, if you care to partake:

And here are some more pictures that Jamie took of the snowy scenes around the house:

It started snowing at 11:30 this morning, and it's now about 6:30 in the evening, and it's STILL snowing.  As of right now, I think there's anywhere from 3 to 5 inches of snow on the ground.

When Lilly and Jamie finally came back in the house for the last time for the evening, Lilly angrily flung her gloves in the floor, because she was mad that she had to stop having fun in the snow to come in.  Ironically, this is how one of her gloves just so happened to land:

Well played, glove.  Well played.  Captured Lilly's sentiments exactly.

LOL!

Maddie Will Danse 4 Sellery :D

I was cleaning out some leftovers from the fridge a while ago, when Jamie came home from work.  I handed him a bunch of old celery sticks and a bowl of rice and asked him to give them to the dogs. Here's the outcome:

I am certain that the hit tune "Maddie Will Danse 4 Sellery" is sure to hit multi-platinum, and the new dance craze "Doin' the Celery" will be sweeping the nation overnight.

LOL!

Goin' GREEN! Part 2 - Cheap & Easy Cleaning Solutions

As you may recall, Part 1 of my "Goin' Green" saga occurred a couple of weeks ago, when I was touting the healthy miracles of the green smoothie.  But then I blew up my blender, and decided to abandon the effort for now.  :/

But now, Part 2 of my continuing "Goin' Green" saga is more of what you would expect it to be -- using natural cleaning agents.

Now, before you scoff and tell me I need to go hug a tree, there are more reasons to "go green" than just Saving The Planet, and if you adopt these 'green' tactics, you won't find yourself being drawn to floral-embroidered bell-bottoms, or inexplicably reeking of patchouli (at least not against your will).  Sure, Saving The Planet is a noble and worthy cause in and of itself, but Saving Money probably captures people's attention a little bit better.  Maybe instead of the phrase "go green", they should change it to "save green", and then more people would probably be interested.  (Get it?  Save Green = save yourself some money)...oh dear...

Anyway, I guess it all began back early this month when I was looking through the free Kindle book offerings for green smoothies, raw food diets, and what-not.  Intermingled between those types of books were all kinds of other books about being frugal, tips & tricks for saving money, household uses for items you can find in your pantry, etc.

Well, this intrigued me.  I always hated having to buy cleaning/washing stuff; I always seemed to run out of everything at the same time, and even if I shopped for the items at the dollar store to get everything for a cheaper price, it still drove up my grocery bill for the week.  That, and since I am a newly, self-made, stay-at-home mommy now, and our last electric bill was the highest it has ever been in the entire 12 years we've lived in this house ($195), I decided that it was high-time to cut down on anything and everything, to save as much money as possible.

On a related side note, I think that the #$%^&*# electric company drives their prices up in winter, and lowers them back down in the summer, which should be against the law.  Additionally, the electric company also charges more for electricity used during the daytime, and lowers their prices during the night, which should also be against the law.  It makes me so mad, and makes me wish that I could just fill up my yard with windmills and solar panels, and flip the #$%^&*# electric company the bird.

But since that's never gonna happen except only in my dreams, I have devised an experiment to see if the wacky, energy/money-saving ideas that I am implementing will work to lower my next electric bill; and if so, by how much.  (Hopefully a TON)!

So here is a list of things that I am currently trying:

• Keeping the thermostat on 65 (we have an electric heat pump), and using our gas logs along with the heat pump during the day, so the heat pump doesn't have to work as hard.  Sometimes when we're feeling too cold, we will bump the temperature up to 68, but not very often.  (I'm a pretty mean Thermostat Hitler)!  ;)
• Keeping the doors shut to rooms we're not using at the time.
• Closing all the window blinds in the house when the sun goes down in the evening, and opening the blinds back up again when the sun comes up in the morning.
• Keeping all lights in the house off, unless they're absolutely needed.
• Keeping everything unplugged that is possible (within reason), until needed, and then unplugging again after use.  Even if the item you have plugged in isn't turned on, it still uses energy.
• Turn off and open the dishwasher when it is just going into its drying cycle, and let the dishes air-dry.  This saves electricity, and adds warmth and moisture into the dry, wintertime air in the house.
• After using the oven, leave its door open to allow the heat to come into the room, instead of being wasted.
• Not using the clothes dryer; hanging up our laundry on the clothesline instead (luckily, our clothesline is under our covered porch, so we don't have to worry about the rain).  We also have one of those wooden drying racks that we use inside the house, too.
• Washing the clothes in Cold water instead of Warm or Hot.

And on the subject of laundry, I have begun making my own laundry detergent, and other cleaning supplies.  I have gotten many free Kindle books containing all kinds of different recipes for all different kinds of natural cleaners and stuff.  The good thing about these cleaners is that they're cheap, healthy to use (no weird, super-toxic chemicals like the stuff you buy in the store), they work just as good as the expensive store-bought stuff, and yes, they're better for the planet.  (You wouldn't dump all kinds of toxic waste inside your own house, would you?  Well, why would you allow toxic waste to go down your drains?  Sure, it leaves your house, but it doesn't really leave for good; it just goes right outside and pollutes the ground, water, and air; and the planet is still your home!  You can never really throw things away; there is no 'away')!

But enough of that crazy talk.  Here are some recipes for some cheap, easy, good, healthy, home-made cleaning solutions if you'd like to give them a whirl:

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***NOTE:  'washing soda' is NOT the same as baking soda.  You can find washing soda and borax in the laundry detergent aisle of the grocery store.***

Powdered Laundry Detergent:

1 cup borax

1 cup washing soda

1 bar of Ivory soap, finely grated

Mix all ingredients together, and store in a container.

Use 1 Tablespoon of the mixture for regular loads,

Use 2 Tablespoons of the mixture for heavily soiled loads.

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***The recipe below is similar to one I have tried.  I tried it first because I already happened to have a large empty liquid laundry detergent container, which had a spigot on it, to use, which is what I would recommend you use, if you're going to try this particular recipe.***

Liquid Laundry Detergent:

1/2 cup washing soda

1/2 cup borax

1 bar of Ivory, Dial, or Irish Spring soap (you can basically use any kind of soap as long as it is NOT moisturizing soap, such as Dove), finely grated

Put the grated soap into a large pot, along with 6 cups of water.

Heat the grated soap and water over Medium heat, until the soap is dissolved.

Stir the washing soda and borax into the pot with the melted soap, until it is dissolved.

Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a large empty liquid laundry detergent container (with a spigot on it).

Fill the container the rest of the way up with hot water, and shake it to combine the ingredients well.

Shake the container before each use, just to make sure it's still mixed up, and that nothing has settled.

Use 1/4 cup for Small loads,

Use 1/3 cup for Medium loads,

Use 1/2 cup for Large loads.

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***NOTE:  If you use these laundry detergent recipes, be aware that they won't make suds, like you're used to with store-bought detergents, but it doesn't matter; they clean just as well.

In addition, your clothes will come out having little to no scent at all, but they will be clean.  If you would like for your clothes to be scented, you could put in about 1 teaspoon (give or take, depending on your preference) of essential oil (lavender, tea tree; whatever you like) to your jug of home-made detergent, which is completely optional.***

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Fabric Softener:

All you need to use is plain White Vinegar.

Small loads = 1/4 cup vinegar

Medium loads = 1/3 cup vinegar

Large loads = 1/2 cup vinegar

I PROMISE your clothes WILL NOT stink like some kind of rancid salad.  You will probably catch a faint whiff of the vinegar when you first open the lid of the washing machine after the cycle is done, but the vinegar smell WILL NOT be on your clothes.  Trust me on this.  ;)  I do it all the time, and nobody has ever mistaken me for salad dressing.

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So why stop with laundry?  Well, you don't have to.  Below are some more recipes for other kinds of home-made cleaners.  I haven't tried all of these, but I definitely will.  I've mostly been waiting until I run out of whatever store-bought cleaner I have before experimenting with the home-made versions (mainly so I can re-use the bottle or container).

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Dishwashing Powder (to use in your Dishwasher):

2 Tablespoons baking soda

2 Tablespoons borax

Mix together and put in the powder dispenser of your dishwasher.  

Then splash 1 cup of white vinegar into the bottom of the dishwasher.

Run the dishwasher as usual.

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All-Purpose Spray Cleaner:

2 cups water

2 Tablespoons lemon juice

1 Tablespoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon dishwashing liquid

1 teaspoon borax

Put all ingredients into a spray bottle.

I PROMISE that the lemon juice WILL NOT leave a sticky residue on anything!

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Toilet Cleaner:

1/2 cup white vinegar

1/2 cup baking soda

Dump the baking soda into the toilet, and pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda.  Let it foam for 10 minutes, then scrub.

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Soap Scum Remover (great for cleaning showers/bathtubs):

Use equal parts dishwashing liquid and white vinegar.

Put in a spray bottle.

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Glass/Mirror Cleaner:

3 drops of dishwashing liquid

1 cup of water

1/4 cup white vinegar

Put in a spray bottle.

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Mold Buster:

1 cup hydrogen peroxide

1 cup water

Put in a spray bottle.

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Drain Cleaner/Freshener:

1 cup baking soda

1 cup white vinegar

1/2 gallon boiling water

Pour baking soda in the drain, and pour the vinegar on top of the baking soda.  Let it sit for about 5 minutes.  Then pour boiling water down the drain.

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Liquid Hand Soap:

3 bars of any kind of soap you like, grated

6 cups water

Heat the grated soap and water over Medium heat until dissolved.  Pour into a container so it can cool, and allow it to set up for 2 days.  Then you can pour it into your hand soap dispenser.

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Leave-In Hair Conditioner:

1/4 cup hair conditioner

2 cups water

Put in spray bottle.

I am definitely going to try this on Lilly.  One day I told her she had "rectangle hair".  She said "why do you think I have rectangle hair"?  And I told her "because it's a WRECK and it's a TANGLE"!

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Natural Bug Repellent Body Spray:

Combine equal parts white vinegar, water, and dishwashing liquid in a spray bottle.  Use as needed.  Apparently, once the vinegar has dried, it won't stink.

~also~

To Prevent Bug Bites:

Drink 1 to 2 spoonfuls of any kind of vinegar (white, apple cider, etc.) every day to keep biting bugs away.  (Or, I suppose you could mix it into a drink).  Supposedly, the vinegar causes your sweat to have a repellent effect on bugs, but it doesn't make you stink to other people.

I CAN'T WAIT for summertime to give these a try!  The stupid bugs eat me alive every year!  >:{

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There are numerous recipes on the internet for all kinds of home-made concoctions.  From cleaning supplies, to beauty supplies, and beyond.  Next time you are about to run out of something, look it up, and see if it's something that you can make yourself.  It's fun, fast, and frugal, and a great way to STICK IT TO THE MAN!  :D

And while we're on the subject of Tips & Tricks, here are some I ran across while I was surfing the web today, which inspired me to write this post.  We've all been cooped up in the house all day since work & school was closed due to the icy road conditions (GEEZ, I can't wait for spring and summer; we've all got cabin fever sum'n' fierce)!!!  >:{

Good Luck!  And Happy Frugalizin'!  :D

Up On The Roof: It's Deana's Turn!

Here we go again!  But this time, it's DEANA'S turn to be Up On The Roof!  :D

Since Dad's store roof's been leaking on down
And Deana was not gonna go to anyplace
I climbed way up on the top of the store
And Dad held the ladder for me, just in case

On the roof, it's awesome as can be
Now where's those bolts, oh there they are, I see
Let me seal 'em now
When Deana woke up, she was bored as could be
Then Dad asked me to help him now real sweet
(Up on the roof)
I got to sit high above the crowd
And got to watch the traffic down on the street
(Up on the roof)

On the roof's the only place I know
Where all the leaks are at; you gotta go
Let's go up on the roof
(Up on the roof)

I would have done the job for Dad for free
But 40 dollars, Dad gave it to me
I keep a'tellin' you
Right smack dab in the middle of town
Too bad that all the roofs aren't trouble proof
(Up on the roof)
So if your roof starts leaking on down
We'll have another fix to do
Up on the roof
(Up on the roof)
Up on the roof 
(Up on the roof)
Oh come on Deana
(Up on the roof)
Oh come on with Dad
(Up on the roof)
Everything is sealed right

I must admit that I was fully expecting to crash straight down through the roof, since the name of the sealant Dad was having me use was actually called "Through the Roof"!  Oh how ironic that would have been (and just my luck, too)!  But Dad assured me that it was impossible to go crashing through the roof.  And thankfully, nobody was injured today, and me and Dad were even using the rickety, cursed ladder that he fell off of and was hospitalized with a messed-up back thanks to several years ago.

See all of those bolts?  There are 6 of them all together positioned on either side of the pointed ridge, within each panel.  I glopped each and every single one of them with sealant, using a little bitty paintbrush, for 4 hours straight (aside from when I had to get down briefly to take a break and pee into a little bucket while Dad ate a snack).  It was AWESOME!  (No, I'm not being sarcastic; it really was awesome)!  I love being outside, especially since the weather was finally nice and semi-warm today (after it's been raining Noah's flood for days & days & days, and being so cold).  Plus I actually love doing 'mindless' work, because I can just sit there and think about a million other things while I do my thing.  It's great!  :D

And, luckily, me and Dad still have more work to do on it, so I'll be back Up On The Roof again with him sometime probably later this week, when it's not too windy or raining.  And hopefully the cursed ladder will continue to hold up, so my next post won't be from a hospital bed!  ;)

The Dumpster Chronicles, Episode 2

Well, Jamie came home from work a while ago, all excited about what he found at the dump today.  He told me that I would probably hate it, and that I would probably wish that he had left it at the dump.  But he was super-excited, so I trudged behind him, out in the cold, out to his truck to see what in the world it was.

Well, here it is, folks:

Yep, that's right.  A gas mask with a rubber Halloween mask stuffed inside.  Question mark?  Yep, folks, that's exactly what it is.  

*note Jamie's unbridled excitement*

And, as an added bonus, as Jamie was fiddling slightly with the mask...

(Maddie is just as bewildered as I am)

...out randomly popped a wrench extension tool-thingie!:

S'prize!

And Jamie was even MORE pumped about it!  

*SWEET!  FREE TOOL!*

All I could do, on the other hand, was simply facepalm, and trudge back into the house.

WTH!!!  Really?!?

Jamie can't wait to store the thing with all his other crap in the crawlspace under our house.  Stupid junk!  It's not like it's useful anymore or anything:

'Use By' date of 1975...hellooo...

And that's too bad, because if it still worked, I sure could use it for when Jamie gets the farts!

UHH!

LOL!

So Jamie drug the stupid 'thing' into the house, and sat it in the floor, against the wall, next to the dining table, which is his favorite place to sit useless garbage for some unknown reason.  I had forgotten about the damn 'thing', and after a while, I traipsed into the kitchen to grab a snack, and on my way back to the living room, I spotted it, and it scared the hell out of me.  Then when I sat down in the living room with my snack, after a few minutes, I heard a loud 'bang' coming from the area of the 'thing'.  I figured the stupid 'thing' had fallen over.  But when I passed it on my way back to the kitchen yet again, it hadn't moved in any way at all.  It just sat there, staring at me ominously.

So now I'm the not-so-proud (terrified, actually) new owner of some kind of haunted-ass ol' gas mask.  

Heaven help me!

O__o

OK, so we just dissected the gas mask to see exactly what kind of Halloween mask was inside of it, and this is what we discovered:

A sketchy chimpanzee mask.  Good grief.

But wait, there's more!  See how the mask also has eyes inside of it?  And what, pray tell, would that be?:

Why, it's a bonus cheap plastic skull, which someone embellished with magic markers!  How cheap weird scary creative!

BTW: to whoever decorated that thing, I know that feel, bro; I used to wish my boss was nothing but a skull too!  

;)