When I told Tommy I was going to start working out, he laughed.
Hard.
Then he went, “But you hate that. Didn't you say working out was akin to being friends with Teresa from Real Housewives of New Jersey?"
Okay. So he didn't say that last part. (It's still true though.)
But he was right about the first part.
I hate working out.
But I’d like lean legs again. And to not have to grunt to pull my pants up. It’s not attractive. Sometimes I’ll be doing that and Natalie will overhear me and shout, “Say excuse me, Mommy,” because she thinks I’ve farted.
It also doesn’t help that there is a mother at Natalie’s PreK class who is skinny as a stick. Plus, she recently had a baby. The last baby I had was 4 years ago. Why don’t I have genetics that allow me to drop all the weight after I’ve given birth? (It could be my love for chocolate too…)
I decided to check out the gym on base when both kids were in school. Forcing myself to go to a gym is not easy. And, I didn’t even know what I should wear. I almost walked out of the house in flip flops. FLIP FLOPS! Then I realized as I sat behind the wheel that you can’t work out in flip flops. So I came back in and pulled on some sneakers.
I felt awkward at the gym as though everyone could tell I didn’t belong.
“She hasn’t worked out in years!” I imagined the buff guy lifting weights shouting.
“She looks lost,” the girl on the elliptical would chime in. Totally not out of breath. I always marvel at the people who can speak normally while working out. My voice comes out in puffs. "I'm.........go.....gonn......gonna.....d....d....die..."
I felt lost. Should I do the elliptical? Or the bike? If I got on the bike, I’d be able to sit. But then my legs would feel like they might break off. The elliptical burns more calories. But what if I get so tired that I fall off?
I chose the elliptical. Mainly because I felt ridiculous just standing there. Most people who go to the gym have a purpose.
“Hello,” I said to the guy beside me.
He didn’t respond.
Rude.
Then I realized he had earphones in his ears and he was listening to music.
MUSIC!
I forgot music.
Oh well. I’d focus on other things. Like non-jiggly thighs.
Five minutes into the work out I felt like I wanted to die. Sweat was dripping off my forehead. I gazed around the room in astonishment. Why didn’t anyone else look like they were about to keel over?
Then I realized I forgot my water.
My mouth got dry. I worried I was going to pass out in the middle of the floor. Would people help? Or would they not even notice because they were busy listening to music? Would people just be like, “Oh, sweet, a free elliptical,” and calmly step over me?
I did the elliptical for ten minutes. I couldn’t go any longer than that. Then I found a water fountain and slurped at it in a very unladylike manner. I felt like a horse. A woman walked past me and did a double take as water dripped from the lower half of my face.
I left after that.
I mean, I had no music.
No water.
And my legs already felt like they wanted to break off.
“I’ll get better,” I mumbled to myself. “The first day is always the worst.”
Please tell me it gets better.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
Am I Half Empty or Half Full
16 I ask the Father in his great glory to give you the power to be strong inwardly through his Spirit.17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in love and be built on love.18 And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's love—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that love is.19 Christ's love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.20 With God's power working in us, God can do much, much more than anything we can ask or imagine.21 To him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus for all time, forever and ever. Amen." (New Century Version)
School has begun again. It is this 2011/2012 school year and a year closer to me retiring and just like years in the past it takes a while for me to get back into the swing of things. I have a tendency to either do things wide open....or dead stopped. It is when I have been working wide open that I sometimes find myself dinging because there is nothing in my tank and I am running on empty. This is especially true if I am giving out a lot of me to other things. I know it seems hard to believe bu giving my time or talents, leaves me feeling quite drained, especially if I haven’t takn the time to stop and ‘full up’. That is the one good thing about my hour ride in the morning.....I have one hour from Rock Mills down Hwy 22 to come before God and be filled anew with the Holy Spirit. The greatest thing is that not only do I have one hour coming to school each morning to be filled and prepare myself for the seemless onslaught of people wanting a part of me.....but I have that same hour on the flip side to rid myself of things that have bothered me during the day. I like this because for the most part...when I get home....Frank does not have to suffer my day with me. Now, don't get me wrong....there are times that I could drive to Alaska and still have issues.....but they are far and few.
What I have to remember is that I cannot continue to give of myself until there is nothing left inside to give. I have a tendency to try and do just that. I don't want to let anyone down. I want to be all things for all people. I push until there is no more. When I do this it only causes me grief, exhaustion,and stress that personally I don’t need. I think this is the quickest way to burn out on anything. So, over the summer I decided that this summer I was going to take care of Karen. I was going to feed her spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I needed this. The last 22 months had taken their toll on me and I was empty to the point of being stranded by the roadside with no gas to take me any further. It was time for me to come in for a ‘full up’ of the Holy Spirit. It was time for me to just spend some quality time with God in peace and quiet. It was time for me to revitalize and refresh. I read a lot of books by Patsy Clairmont, Lisa Harper, Sheila Walsh and felt the gas hand begin to move from the dreaded E to an F. I spent some time on Marcies porch with friends, I attended a Women of Faith conference with my daughter, I went on the infamous SMAK girl's trip to Nantucket....and then....it was time for school to start.....but...I was prepared...I would not be starting out my year running half empty. I have a full tank and am ready to take on the world. I am back having my daily Hwy 22 prayers....and loving it. God is so good....all the time!
School has begun again. It is this 2011/2012 school year and a year closer to me retiring and just like years in the past it takes a while for me to get back into the swing of things. I have a tendency to either do things wide open....or dead stopped. It is when I have been working wide open that I sometimes find myself dinging because there is nothing in my tank and I am running on empty. This is especially true if I am giving out a lot of me to other things. I know it seems hard to believe bu giving my time or talents, leaves me feeling quite drained, especially if I haven’t takn the time to stop and ‘full up’. That is the one good thing about my hour ride in the morning.....I have one hour from Rock Mills down Hwy 22 to come before God and be filled anew with the Holy Spirit. The greatest thing is that not only do I have one hour coming to school each morning to be filled and prepare myself for the seemless onslaught of people wanting a part of me.....but I have that same hour on the flip side to rid myself of things that have bothered me during the day. I like this because for the most part...when I get home....Frank does not have to suffer my day with me. Now, don't get me wrong....there are times that I could drive to Alaska and still have issues.....but they are far and few.
What I have to remember is that I cannot continue to give of myself until there is nothing left inside to give. I have a tendency to try and do just that. I don't want to let anyone down. I want to be all things for all people. I push until there is no more. When I do this it only causes me grief, exhaustion,and stress that personally I don’t need. I think this is the quickest way to burn out on anything. So, over the summer I decided that this summer I was going to take care of Karen. I was going to feed her spiritually, mentally, and emotionally. I needed this. The last 22 months had taken their toll on me and I was empty to the point of being stranded by the roadside with no gas to take me any further. It was time for me to come in for a ‘full up’ of the Holy Spirit. It was time for me to just spend some quality time with God in peace and quiet. It was time for me to revitalize and refresh. I read a lot of books by Patsy Clairmont, Lisa Harper, Sheila Walsh and felt the gas hand begin to move from the dreaded E to an F. I spent some time on Marcies porch with friends, I attended a Women of Faith conference with my daughter, I went on the infamous SMAK girl's trip to Nantucket....and then....it was time for school to start.....but...I was prepared...I would not be starting out my year running half empty. I have a full tank and am ready to take on the world. I am back having my daily Hwy 22 prayers....and loving it. God is so good....all the time!
Hey, It's Okay Tuesday!
I got this idea from Glamour magazine. They have a section called Hey, It’s Okay and will list a bunch of things to be okay about. You're welcome to join in and do something like this on your diary. Doesn't have to be on a Tuesday either.
----------------------
To not be surprised that Kate + 8 was cancelled. All it showed was the kids going somewhere or getting MORE stuff for free.
To love most of the drinks that experts say you should avoid since they contain over 1000 calories. Oops.
To hope I can go for a consultation on Lasik. I’m leaning towards ClearSight since it has fabulous reviews.
To think the DVR was the greatest invention. Ever. I mean, after electricity of course.
To really want to eat at Hell’s Kitchen. I’ve said this before but I think I’d crack up over Gordon yelling. Plus, you don’t totally starve. You have a bread basket. I’ll just load up on carbs and watch the show.
To love my pizza spicy. I add crushed red pepper and drops of tobasco sauce to mine. It’s even rumored that spicy foods help your metabolism.
To worry about Tommy’s spelling. It’s atrocious. I always said I didn’t want kids who didn’t know the difference between your and you’re.
To hate when all I get in the mail are bills.
To not have a fall/winter/spring/summer wardrobe. It’s all clothes. And they all stay in my closet. I don’t change much up aside for long sleeve vs. short sleeve. Does that make me boring? Or practical?
----------------------
To not be surprised that Kate + 8 was cancelled. All it showed was the kids going somewhere or getting MORE stuff for free.
To love most of the drinks that experts say you should avoid since they contain over 1000 calories. Oops.
To hope I can go for a consultation on Lasik. I’m leaning towards ClearSight since it has fabulous reviews.
To think the DVR was the greatest invention. Ever. I mean, after electricity of course.
To really want to eat at Hell’s Kitchen. I’ve said this before but I think I’d crack up over Gordon yelling. Plus, you don’t totally starve. You have a bread basket. I’ll just load up on carbs and watch the show.
To love my pizza spicy. I add crushed red pepper and drops of tobasco sauce to mine. It’s even rumored that spicy foods help your metabolism.
To worry about Tommy’s spelling. It’s atrocious. I always said I didn’t want kids who didn’t know the difference between your and you’re.
To hate when all I get in the mail are bills.
To not have a fall/winter/spring/summer wardrobe. It’s all clothes. And they all stay in my closet. I don’t change much up aside for long sleeve vs. short sleeve. Does that make me boring? Or practical?
Monday, August 22, 2011
The Gift Of Touch
Phillip Yancey says, "God's arms are always extended; we are the ones who turn away." All weekend I have been thinking about touch. I come from a family of touchy-feely people....and I don't mean that in a perverted sense. My mom's family are all huggers. We love to hug. We hug when we are sad, happy, glad to see you....or just because we think you need one. I grew up in this family....and am all about hugging. I think a hug can cure anything. We are not just huggers though....we are massagers. When we get together....we sit around and rub each other's shoulders....my cousins Missi and Linda are the best shoulder massagers ever. There is something about being with people you love and having the stresses that are stuck too you eased away by the loving hands of someone. My daughter, Kat is 31 and I still love to hug her, hold her hand...it gives me great pleasure to do this....and it makes us both smile. She is a hugger too....check out her blog, Zambeste, and you will see. Back to me...I love to touch wood. I love to see a beautifully done piece of furniture or art....and run my hands over it. I love the snesory skills. But....everyone does not like to be touched.....for whatever reason. I have a friend....who did NOT grow up in a house of touch...and I remember very well the first time I hugged her (uninvited). I felt as if I was holding an ice sculpture. I immediately released her and moved out of her intimate space....and did not return for many years. Oh, we remained friends.....I just did not attempt to hug her again. One day I discussed my touchy-feelyness with her and she explained her position.....When my mother-in-law died....she actually let me hug her when she went through the receiving line. I was shocked....she did not feel like an ice sculpture....and she actually closed her arms across my back and squeezed lightly. I knew there was hope. Later in our journey of friendship....she actually hugged me first...and it was an awesome hug! Come on people....God wired us for touch! Even the medical profession will tell you that touch can save your life. Jesus liked to touch people. He would embrace, nod, touch, and even hugged a leper. He performed many healing miracles. One of my favorite miracles he performed is found in John 9:1-11 when Jesus rubbed paste made from clay on a blind man's syes and he SEES! Jesus used His hands and healed people...can't we use ours and touch a life? You never know when that person is starving for some human contact...skin to skin. In Lisa Harper's new book, "Stumbling Into Grace"( a must read) she has questions at the end of each story/chapter. One of the chapters is on touch and the first few questions are, "On a scale of 1 - 10 how comfortable are you with physical affection - one is ice queen and ten is hugging fool. What would you say your favorite (nonsexual) form of physical affection is? Who gets most of your hugs?" If you are a hugger....or semi-hugger....hug someone today. If you are not a hugger....shake someones hand. Hey...it is still touch! Happy Monday and to quote Women of Faith's, Lisa Harper, "Get Your Squeeze On!"
It's Confession Time
I have a confession.
It’s ridiculous, really.
Most people will be like, “Uh, really?”
But.......
I don’t like driving on Interstates. Or highways. All the vehicles freak me out. Like REALLY freak me out.
In Wyoming, I didn’t have to worry about them much.
In Oklahoma…
…that’s a different story.
Lucky for me, I managed to find ways to get to places without going on the Interstate. And most of the areas I frequent don’t even require getting on one.
But on Friday, my luck ran out.
See, my best friend Jennifer is in Oklahoma visiting her family. She called and asked if I wanted to meet her downtown.
Lucky for me, I knew how to get downtown without getting on the Interstate so I agreed.
Tom was taking Tommy out to the new Transformers movie (it was showing in the base theater—it’s cheaper there but the seating usually sucks and the floor is always sticky—still, for 3 bucks a ticket, beggars can’t be choosers…)
This meant I had to take Natalie with me.
I was nervous because I had only been to the area once and it was when my Mom was doing the driving. I knew it was a straight shot down a street so I did that—and then I saw the signs for road closed again.
I kept driving.
Lalala, surely the signs don’t apply to me.
The signs DID apply to me.
There were barriers all over up ahead. For a brief second I thought about driving through them and pretend I was in an action movie. But then I saw Natalie in the backseat and knew I couldn’t risk hurting her.
I knew I had to go on the Interstate.
“It’s fine,” I breathed, pulling out my GPS. “It’s just the Interstate. Charlie Sheen probably drives on the Interstate. If he can do it, so can I.”
My GPS cheerfully told me to get on I-40 like it was no big deal.
I was gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles were white.
Sweat was beginning to form on my brow.
“What are you doing?” Natalie demanded. She knows I don’t like the Interstate. Her eyes went wide when she saw me driving towards the entry.
“Mommy has to go here,” I said. “Mommy hopes we don’t die.”
You know I like a person if I go on the Interstate for them.
I really like Jennifer so Interstate it was. Plus, I hadn’t had any girl time since I last saw her in New York City in May. I haven’t really met anyone here.
I was so nervous being on the Interstate that I got off on the wrong exit.
Still, the GPS helped me find my way even though I made the snotty lady on the GPS go, “Recalculating,” in this rude voice. It’s like, you know what GPS? Recalculate this (and then my middle finger goes up.) (Only I didn’t do this because Natalie was in the back.)
I made it downtown in one piece. I was a little shaky, but I was glad I survived.
I ended up having a good time and Natalie really liked playing with Jennifer’s daughter.
Driving on the Interstate at night was a tad scary, but I figured it out.
Would I say my phobia of the Interstate has been cured?
Not really.
You’ll still see me trying to find back roads to avoid the Internet.
But at least I know I can do it.
If I absolutely cannot avoid them.
It’s ridiculous, really.
Most people will be like, “Uh, really?”
But.......
I don’t like driving on Interstates. Or highways. All the vehicles freak me out. Like REALLY freak me out.
In Wyoming, I didn’t have to worry about them much.
In Oklahoma…
…that’s a different story.
Lucky for me, I managed to find ways to get to places without going on the Interstate. And most of the areas I frequent don’t even require getting on one.
But on Friday, my luck ran out.
See, my best friend Jennifer is in Oklahoma visiting her family. She called and asked if I wanted to meet her downtown.
Lucky for me, I knew how to get downtown without getting on the Interstate so I agreed.
Tom was taking Tommy out to the new Transformers movie (it was showing in the base theater—it’s cheaper there but the seating usually sucks and the floor is always sticky—still, for 3 bucks a ticket, beggars can’t be choosers…)
This meant I had to take Natalie with me.
I was nervous because I had only been to the area once and it was when my Mom was doing the driving. I knew it was a straight shot down a street so I did that—and then I saw the signs for road closed again.
I kept driving.
Lalala, surely the signs don’t apply to me.
The signs DID apply to me.
There were barriers all over up ahead. For a brief second I thought about driving through them and pretend I was in an action movie. But then I saw Natalie in the backseat and knew I couldn’t risk hurting her.
I knew I had to go on the Interstate.
“It’s fine,” I breathed, pulling out my GPS. “It’s just the Interstate. Charlie Sheen probably drives on the Interstate. If he can do it, so can I.”
My GPS cheerfully told me to get on I-40 like it was no big deal.
I was gripping the wheel so hard my knuckles were white.
Sweat was beginning to form on my brow.
“What are you doing?” Natalie demanded. She knows I don’t like the Interstate. Her eyes went wide when she saw me driving towards the entry.
“Mommy has to go here,” I said. “Mommy hopes we don’t die.”
You know I like a person if I go on the Interstate for them.
I really like Jennifer so Interstate it was. Plus, I hadn’t had any girl time since I last saw her in New York City in May. I haven’t really met anyone here.
I was so nervous being on the Interstate that I got off on the wrong exit.
Still, the GPS helped me find my way even though I made the snotty lady on the GPS go, “Recalculating,” in this rude voice. It’s like, you know what GPS? Recalculate this (and then my middle finger goes up.) (Only I didn’t do this because Natalie was in the back.)
I made it downtown in one piece. I was a little shaky, but I was glad I survived.
I ended up having a good time and Natalie really liked playing with Jennifer’s daughter.
Driving on the Interstate at night was a tad scary, but I figured it out.
Would I say my phobia of the Interstate has been cured?
Not really.
You’ll still see me trying to find back roads to avoid the Internet.
But at least I know I can do it.
If I absolutely cannot avoid them.
Guest Post: Simple Solutions to Life's Everyday Annoyances
Simple Solutions to Life’s Everyday Annoyances
We’ve all been there – enjoying the day one minute, and cursing our luck the next. The most irritating things always seem to happen when we have the least amount of time to deal with them, and often no clue what to do. Keep calm and carry on! Here we present a list of simple solutions to everyday annoyances so that the next time life tries to throw you a curveball, you can think back to this post and throw one right back.
A few things you should always keep on hand:
· Lemons
· Vinegar
· Peanut Butter
· Old cotton t-shirt
· Newspaper
Last night’s supper just exploded in the microwave – A dirty microwave might be an eyesore but it really isn’t as tough to clean as you might think. Combine the juice of one lemon and a couple of cups of water in a microwave safe container and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Let things sit for another 5 minutes before opening the door – you’ll be greeted by the scent of fresh lemon and previously stuck on grime will easily wipe off. Dirty microwave no more!
Amber’s microwave after the hotdog incident
You forgot towels in the washing machine, and now they smell like crap – Musty towels are horrible. No matter how many times you wash them or what temperature water you use, the smell always seems to creep back after a few days. I had tried everything short of throwing the towels out to deal with the problem when I came across a solution that actually works – ammonia & vinegar. Throw your mildew-y laundry in the machine and wash as usual, adding equal amounts of ammonia and vinegar to the rinse cycle. Dry on the hottest setting possible or leave your towels out in the sun for at least 6 hours and things should smell as good as new.
That piece of gum from the bottom of your shoe is now stuck to the carpet – There are a few different methods that work pretty well for removing gum that has taken up residence in your carpet. The first and probably best-known involves ice; put some in a baggie, freeze the gum and chip away at it with a dull knife. The second method requires a bit more elbow grease but can be more effective; smear the spot with peanut butter and gently slide the gum off the fibers. Of course, now you’ll have to deal with a little PB in your carpet, but most people will agree that’s a bit easier to deal with. Some dish detergent and a bit of vinegar should take that right out.
The brand new mirror you just bought had the price tag stuck right in the middle, and now you can’t get the sticky stuff off – I often wonder who makes the decision to stick price tags on the glass part of a mirror, instead of on the back - it makes no sense! Luckily, these few tricks make it pretty easy to remove. Before trying anything else, grab a pencil eraser and rub away at the residue for a few minutes. This works great on some plastic surfaces but not so well on others. If this doesn’t help, heat the sticky stuff with a blow-dryer for a few minutes and then apply some baby oil. A few good rubs and you should be sticker free. If you’re STILL stuck with marks, pour some vinegar on the spot and let it sit overnight or purchase some Goo Be Gone and let it soak. These last two options might take a little more time but require the least amount of effort in the end!
You start folding your freshly dried laundry only to realize a rogue tissue got washed as well – There really isn’t a quick fix for this one, but you don’t have to sit and pick the pieces off all day long. Remove the big chunks, put the clothes back through the rinse cycle and dry as usual. Anything remaining should come right off with a few good shakes.
A perfect white circle marks the spot on your wooden dresser where last night’s tea was forgotten – Or, if you’re like me, in a rush to get out the door you ironed your shirt on a towel on the kitchen table and left full iron marks on the wood. Regardless of how they got there, those white stains come right off with an iron and an old cotton t-shirt. Set the iron to a medium heat and turn on the steam, cover the stain with the shirt and slowly rub over the spot for 15 seconds (don’t let the iron sit still or you’re in for bigger problems). Remove the shirt and viola, a stain free table.
Your fridge smells like something died inside – Smelly fridges can be an everyday annoyance or an ongoing thing. There are a couple things you can do to keep foul food smells out of your kitchen. The first thing you can do is to keep an opened box of baking soda inside the fridge, which will quickly absorb bad smells and it lasts for quite a while. If you’ve been noticing an odor for a little while now though and nothing in your fridge is to blame, the culprit might be the drip tray, located below most modern fridges. Follow these directions to remove and clean the tray, and banish that nasty smell.
No matter how many times you Windex the mirror it’s still streaky – This can be so frustrating, especially if you have guests coming over and want things to pristine. Instead of using a name brand cleaner, combine 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar in a bottle, spray on your glass and wipe off with newspaper or coffee filters. The textures of these two materials remove streaks with hardly any effort and leave your windows and mirrors squeaky clean.
I hope that the next time you’re forced to deal with any of life’s little annoyances you’ll remember these simple solutions and won’t let anything get in the way of your day!
This guest post was brought to you by Jessica from PartSelect, Appliance Parts retailer and complete online resource for the do-it-yourself repair market.
We’ve all been there – enjoying the day one minute, and cursing our luck the next. The most irritating things always seem to happen when we have the least amount of time to deal with them, and often no clue what to do. Keep calm and carry on! Here we present a list of simple solutions to everyday annoyances so that the next time life tries to throw you a curveball, you can think back to this post and throw one right back.
A few things you should always keep on hand:
· Lemons
· Vinegar
· Peanut Butter
· Old cotton t-shirt
· Newspaper
Last night’s supper just exploded in the microwave – A dirty microwave might be an eyesore but it really isn’t as tough to clean as you might think. Combine the juice of one lemon and a couple of cups of water in a microwave safe container and microwave on high for about 3 minutes. Let things sit for another 5 minutes before opening the door – you’ll be greeted by the scent of fresh lemon and previously stuck on grime will easily wipe off. Dirty microwave no more!
Amber’s microwave after the hotdog incident
You forgot towels in the washing machine, and now they smell like crap – Musty towels are horrible. No matter how many times you wash them or what temperature water you use, the smell always seems to creep back after a few days. I had tried everything short of throwing the towels out to deal with the problem when I came across a solution that actually works – ammonia & vinegar. Throw your mildew-y laundry in the machine and wash as usual, adding equal amounts of ammonia and vinegar to the rinse cycle. Dry on the hottest setting possible or leave your towels out in the sun for at least 6 hours and things should smell as good as new.
That piece of gum from the bottom of your shoe is now stuck to the carpet – There are a few different methods that work pretty well for removing gum that has taken up residence in your carpet. The first and probably best-known involves ice; put some in a baggie, freeze the gum and chip away at it with a dull knife. The second method requires a bit more elbow grease but can be more effective; smear the spot with peanut butter and gently slide the gum off the fibers. Of course, now you’ll have to deal with a little PB in your carpet, but most people will agree that’s a bit easier to deal with. Some dish detergent and a bit of vinegar should take that right out.
The brand new mirror you just bought had the price tag stuck right in the middle, and now you can’t get the sticky stuff off – I often wonder who makes the decision to stick price tags on the glass part of a mirror, instead of on the back - it makes no sense! Luckily, these few tricks make it pretty easy to remove. Before trying anything else, grab a pencil eraser and rub away at the residue for a few minutes. This works great on some plastic surfaces but not so well on others. If this doesn’t help, heat the sticky stuff with a blow-dryer for a few minutes and then apply some baby oil. A few good rubs and you should be sticker free. If you’re STILL stuck with marks, pour some vinegar on the spot and let it sit overnight or purchase some Goo Be Gone and let it soak. These last two options might take a little more time but require the least amount of effort in the end!
You start folding your freshly dried laundry only to realize a rogue tissue got washed as well – There really isn’t a quick fix for this one, but you don’t have to sit and pick the pieces off all day long. Remove the big chunks, put the clothes back through the rinse cycle and dry as usual. Anything remaining should come right off with a few good shakes.
A perfect white circle marks the spot on your wooden dresser where last night’s tea was forgotten – Or, if you’re like me, in a rush to get out the door you ironed your shirt on a towel on the kitchen table and left full iron marks on the wood. Regardless of how they got there, those white stains come right off with an iron and an old cotton t-shirt. Set the iron to a medium heat and turn on the steam, cover the stain with the shirt and slowly rub over the spot for 15 seconds (don’t let the iron sit still or you’re in for bigger problems). Remove the shirt and viola, a stain free table.
Your fridge smells like something died inside – Smelly fridges can be an everyday annoyance or an ongoing thing. There are a couple things you can do to keep foul food smells out of your kitchen. The first thing you can do is to keep an opened box of baking soda inside the fridge, which will quickly absorb bad smells and it lasts for quite a while. If you’ve been noticing an odor for a little while now though and nothing in your fridge is to blame, the culprit might be the drip tray, located below most modern fridges. Follow these directions to remove and clean the tray, and banish that nasty smell.
No matter how many times you Windex the mirror it’s still streaky – This can be so frustrating, especially if you have guests coming over and want things to pristine. Instead of using a name brand cleaner, combine 2 parts water and 1 part vinegar in a bottle, spray on your glass and wipe off with newspaper or coffee filters. The textures of these two materials remove streaks with hardly any effort and leave your windows and mirrors squeaky clean.
I hope that the next time you’re forced to deal with any of life’s little annoyances you’ll remember these simple solutions and won’t let anything get in the way of your day!
This guest post was brought to you by Jessica from PartSelect, Appliance Parts retailer and complete online resource for the do-it-yourself repair market.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Project 365 - Volume 34
Sunday, August 14th
Monday, August 15th
My little bee friend was so busy getting nectar that he did not pay a bit of attention to me when I snapped this picture. All of his other bee buddies all flew away....but not this guy....he was focused!
Tuesday, August 16th
Sunrise Tuesday morning from Daviston, AL. I actually pulled over, got out of the car, and took this one. It was just so gorgeous. Seeing this makes me wonder how people can say there is no God?
Wednesday, August 17th
John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible. I found something photo worthy in Daviston again today.
Thursday, August 18th
Perryville Baptist Church had a great sign this week too. I am usually lucky to find one....this week there was a plethera of signs on my Hwy 22 adventure.
Friday, August 19th
I loved this sign! It made me want to shout...."AMEN!"
Saturday, August 20th
The mystery of my plant(s) is partially solved. One of the plants has produced this.....a watermelon! The second plant....still not sure. It almost looks like a cantaloupe.....sort of. We went to Lagrange today to see one of our neighbors/church members and she told us that they planted watermelon and cantaloupe....and the deer ate most of them....do you suppose that is how they got in my flower bed? Could they have beem blown here by the tornado in April? I guess we will never have the answer to that question....for now...I am just enjoying watching them grow and trying to figure out what they are. Have a wonderful Sunday! See you next week...same bat time....same bat channel!
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