Summer Ailments

can be such a bummer, no fun, a train wreck on a "fun day".

Earlier this week, Monday I believe, I woke up with one heck of a lower back pain.  Did the rounds of ibruprofen, heat, ice, and a tiny bit of stretching.  Tuesday it felt way better, but still tender.  Kept things up to have my back worse on Wednesday.  Went to urgent care and got some medicine to help the muscles relax.

Last night, I actually slept in the Living Room as we have a spare twin mattress that I absolutely love the feel of for sleeping.  Never had a bed more comfortable.  Did this, knowing that one or both of the boys would be sprawled all over it come today.  The dog even took a turn or two.


Drats! Can't find the camera cord to upload the cool picture I took of kid, dog, and mattress on the floor. Should it be found, I'll add the photo!

The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Just finished reading "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett yesterday.

I really enjoyed the book, it was a fairly easy read,  and easy to "get into" the characters and their lives.  I enjoyed how it was written from different women's point of view, that I really felt like I was getting to know the character.  The Help had me reading more each day as I wanted to know what was going to happen.  Not sure how well a second book would do, but I'd be interested in "reading" what happened to all the characters after a period of time.
 

Hurrah for Apple Cider Vinegar!

Yes, the cousin to white distilled vinegar is Apple Cider Vinegar. It's greatest asset, besides better tasting for cooking, is a natural fruit fly trap! Four simple things to create a fruit fly trap.

All you need is:

• a small jar
• Saran Wrap (or other brand)
• rubber band
• Apple Cider Vinegar

Pour enough vinegar in jar to fill about 1/3 to a half of the jar.  Use enough Saran Wrap to cover the top of the jar.  Put the rubber band around the jar to hold the plastic down (I prefer a jar with a bit of a lip so rubber band doesn't slide off!)  Poke a few wholes in the top and then set your trap near where most of the fruit flies are swarming.  They are drawn to the smell and can't figure out how to get out.  If you only have white vinegar, I might put a piece of fruit in to, to make it a bit more sweet.

Here is my current trap and it is already drawing the flies in.  Cool, right?  I think so!


P.S. There are many additional uses for Apple Cider Vinegar as well.  One I use is is about a tsp. of it in 10 - 12 oz of cold water to help settle acid reflex or a queasy stomach when yogurt doesn't help.  I tend to drink it fast and it does the trick.

Vinegar ~ a natural wonder!

You know the stuff; plan, white, distilled vinegar.  We tend to buy in bulk from Costco, because I'd known it was good as a rinse for laundry to keep soap ding away as well as doing a rinse for wall to wall carpet.  I've used it to clean wood as well and help unclog drains with it's friend baking soda (also a good effect in home made volcanoes)!   Knew it made an effective weed killer as well.

Within the last few weeks, came across MORE homemade cleaning products on Pinterest.  These cleaning products are a combination of vinegar, Blue Dawn (and yes name brand counts here), hydrogen peroxide, rubbing alcohol, and optional essential oil for scenting. 

So far I have tried the 50% Blue Dawn/50% hot vinegar mixture to clean our shower pan.  It works like a champ, the lingering vinegar smell is not nearly as harsh as bleach, and has worked WAY better than any store bought, pre-mixed cleaner.  I will be trying more of the various combinations I've found to see how those work as well.

Adding Blue Dawn Detergent to my arsenal of cleaning supplies.  Just about time to check my home made cleaning supplies and go shopping, but before I sign off today, I'll leave a few links to home made cleaners.

• hardwood cleaner
• home made clorox wipes
• Blue Dawn recipes

Happy Cleaning!

 

Summer Bucket List ~ what is on it?

I have not formally made one, but ideas are running through my head!  So far, it would include some of the following:

• reading from the tabs I created on the main page ~ I've crossed one off my list as I just couldn't "get into it", have moved onto "The Help" which I am enjoying!
• get to reading with the boys ~ we need to make more time during the day as our nights have been crazy busy with baseball and year end activities!
• did you see my post on May 9th with a list of fun activities ~ will start adding those very soon
• a for fun, baseball mini league for Thing Two, just not sure when this starts.
• VBS for everyone.  This is the first year, in a long time, that we've only had one in VBS.  Think the last one 2005 ~ only 7 years.  
• July also brings another Boy Scout Camp - third year that Thing One has gone.
• hope to get a fun  vacation in sometime

What would be on your list?  Care to share?

Play a game of Catch-up!!

in the last nine days we've:

• Thing Two has has played in two play off games and Red Sox's have won both games.  Should they win on Tuesday, they win it all.
• This past Tuesday, June 4th, Thing One finished up all requirements for Second Class in Boy Scouts and has begun the meetings with the Scout Master and others.
• Saturday, Thing One tested in Tae Kwon Doe and passed to earn his Advanced Green Belt
• This week, I've been working on repainting the main level powder room.  We just need to take a bit of time to put things back in.  The walls need a lot of work, so we took the tank of the toilet and the sink out o make the work easier.  Everything that need to be bought, has been, and needs to be installed.
• There has been a close out bash for Quest Kids (5th and 6th graders) on Friday and "closing remarks" during Sunday school, so they officially move up to 7th grade this next Sunday.
• Also on Friday, I spent a few hours in Richmond, VA at the HEAV convention.  Picked up a few things for school next year.
• Tonight, we go to a year end party for Grace Group.  6th graders get recognized (as well as 8th graders and graduating seniors, if there are any),  Thing One has been looking forward to this since last year's party!!!!!!!!  =]

Think that's just about it!  Not a whole lot else blog worth to mention.  Hope you have a wonderful Sunday afternoon.

HEAV Convention in 3 hours

Think I may have spent more time on the road this year, for the HEAV convention, than I actually did shopping (and no time for speakers!)

First up, given the time I got there, parked, and got my name tag ~ the used curriculum sale.  Fortunately, I brought my wish list from Rainbow Resources and a mental note of new at Math-U-See.  I was finding things, in used and kind of okay condition, for more $$$'s than I could pick up at either place.  Hello?!?!  I can walk down the hall and get it for less.  IF they don't have it, they'll ship it for free.  I did find three hardback books, with dust covers, and spent a whopping $4.72 with tax.  Two, I'd been looking at for awhile to pick up and the third was a FIAR title.  Here's my lovely finds:

 So Kevin didn't even bat an eye lash at me when I said,
"I know we're finished with Volume 1 - 3, but I couldn't pass it up

in really good condition for $1.25".

 No joke, had tried to put it on my Rainbow Resource list

the night before, but they don't carry it.  Amazon had it for over $10.00.

Hello $2.00, you are coming with me!

 Another book I keep checking out and meaning to purchase.

$1.25, no brainer.

Headed over to the vendor hall.  Was a bit confused, this year, my 5th year down, Rainbow Resources and Bread Beckers were not at their usual spot.  These two companies have always been "anchors" either center back or far, right, rear corner as you walk in.  You get your barrings from their locations.  Actually had to look up Rainbow's vendor number to find them.  Anyway, so nice to be able to pull out my wish list and say that this is what I am looking for and can't find.  Was in and out of that section quick.  Not with everything, but free s/h on items not found.  MUS actually didn't bring their stock with them, but offered free s/h.  Well thank you!  I don't need the stuff anytime soon and I now don't have to carry it with me ~ BONUS!!!

Breezed through through the place to find one other booth, grab lunch, and see if I could find an all day parking spot that was inexpensive.  No luck so I headed home.  I so wanted to sit in some of Kathy Kuhl's talks and Bread Beckers, but no luck this year. 

Oh well!  Maybe next year will be better!

 

June 1 brings . . .

lots of rain, tornado warnings, lightening, canceled ball games, pizza party, last Quest event, and general rainy early summer weather.  It's a day that the dog doesn't want to be outside (not fun)!

The pizza party brought a trophy for AA Division Champs!