I have come to the conclusion...

I have come to the conclusion that my kids have certain things that they do when they know there is work to be done in the house. A specific thing that they always do to get out of whatever housework currently needs done. I fly around the house, upstairs, downstairs doing laundry, tidying, dusting, vacuuming, sweeping, etc...I must do something that they are aware that I am about to ask for help. Cameron runs off to the toilet because he knows that is one place that I will never tell him to wait. Genin takes the food route, pouring a big bowl of cereal that will sog if he has to do anything besides eat it. Crazy me, I am very concerned about him wasting that food so I let him eat. I need to somehow figure out what it is that I am doing to tip them off that I am about to ask for help...

The choices are:

A. They took notice of my new hand jewelry...broom and dustpan.

B. I am wearing a new scent...Endust.

C. Instead of clothing in a shopping bag, my favorite store sold me dirty clothing in a laundry basket.

D. All of the Above




Hmmm...what would you pick?!

Wacky, Weird, Weekend Grocery Shopping

Have you ever taken the time to really look at a lot of the weird things that are sold in stores nowadays? How about to look at some of the wacky people who frequent those stores?! I went to Giant Eagle for my huge 3 month trip this past weekend. What a trip!

I saw a guy walking back and forth with a loaf of fresh bread, a can of black-eyed peas and a seedless zuccini. I am not quite sure what he was looking for, but he never picked up anything else the whole time he was there.



*Never get the salt water taffy in the bulk candy area...it can be a little too gooey! Sorry kid...tell your mom to buy you some wet wipes.

Giant Eagle in Washington has a huge variety of products available. If you want it, most likely they have it. Even...



*Digestives? Does this milk chocolate cracker snack even sound appetizing to you?! $5.99?! Your money would go right down the toilet along with your crackers!

I can't believe how many ice creams there are to choose from...oh look who's back....



*For goodness sakes, those are for girls...if you have a problem with it, tell your mom to switch them out for the Spongebob fun fruits...oh and quit bothering me kid.

Who knew there were so many fruits that you could make jelly and jams out of. I saw a lady staring for a long period of time at the jelly section...not sure what she was waiting for. Her husband was doing the same thing in the Worchestershire Sauce area...strange. I, myself stick with grape jelly, however, I have been known to buy strawberry, raspberry, even peach, but....



*I don't like guava :( My son and little sister do though ;)

Now to get back to trying to pick out an ice cream flavor amongst the millions of shelves of yummy goodness. I ended up getting $1 off of the already on sale Giant Eagle brand ice cream, the generic form of dippin dots (4 of those), a box of Minute Maid Popsicles and 3 mini cans of Edy's ice cream :) What the....



*I guess he was driving his mom crazy....

I would know, the lovely model for these pics is MY son....take a bow Cameron.

Isn't grocery shopping wacky and weird...or is that just us?!

Lovin Yard Sales!

I had another great weekend of yard sales. The kids and I started out on Friday and I continued on my own (with Matlyn in tow) on Saturday (Greg had the kids in the pool all day) Have I mentioned how much I absolutely LOVE having a GPS system?! It is so much easier to find streets in the yard sale section of the newspaper. Though I have been in this area for 10 years, there are still quite a few streets that I can't find. I have found gorgeous streets that I didn't even know existed thanks to my GPS :)

The first yard sale we hit on Friday took half of my money! Expensive prices...no...they just had so much stuff we wanted that I spent just over $17. I bought unique Christmas ornaments, clothing, knick-knacks, jewelry and a small dresser for Matlyn. The kids each bought a few things as well.

Saturday is when I found some awesome buys. I bought this cute little homemade bench and a chair, only $5 for the pair!



They would be so cute for a child, dolls or even potted plants out front on the lawn!

Check this out! Anyone remember this from the 70's? I think it may have been a few years before I was born, but I did see this Barbie fold up airplane at the Toy Museum in Wheeling. Only paid $1 for it!



It opens up to show the galley area and the seating. Too cool!



I also found 5 old license plates from 5 different states (I have this obsession with license plates)



I have been hanging them up in my 2 car garage. Hoping to cover every wall at one point.

I just love going to yard sales. You can find so many unique things that you could never find in a store. You don't even realize how many items there are out there! I pick up brand new items to put away for gifts all the time and save a ton of money!

I just zone out during yard sale season...it is my sanctuary of peace!

Top Ten Greatest Characters

Entertainment Weekly recently listed their top 100 greatest characters. Out of those 100, I have picked my top ten favorites and the lines that made them great!!

10. Rachel Green (Friends):

Rachel: Wha... married?
Ross: Well, yeah, I think we should get married!
Rachel: What? Because that's your answer to everything?

9. Forrest Gump (Forrest Gump):

Bubba: My name's Benjamin Beauford Blue, people call me Bubba.
Forrest: My name's Forrest Gump, people call me Forrest Gump.

8. Rose & Jack (Titanic):

Rose: You used this woman several times.
Jack: She has beautiful hands, see?
Rose: I think you must have had a love affair with her.
Jack: No, just with her hands. See.
[turns page]
Jack: She was a one-legged prostitute. Ah, she had a good sense of humour though

7. Woody (Toy Story):


Woody: Tuesday's plastic corrosion awareness meeting was, I think, a big success. We'd like to thank Mr. Spell for putting that on for us. Thank you Mr. Spell...
Mr. Spell: [mechanically] You're. Welcome.

6. Napoleon Dynamite (Napoleon Dynamite):

Napoleon Dynamite: Well, will you do me a favor then? Can you bring me my chapstick?
Kip: No, Napoleon.
Napoleon Dynamite: But my lips hurt real bad!

Deb: What are you drawing?
Napoleon Dynamite: A liger.
Deb: What's a liger?
Napoleon Dynamite: It's pretty much my favorite animal. It's like a lion and a tiger mixed... bred for its skills in magic.

5. Jerry Maguire (Jerry Maguire):

Rod Tidwell: I feel for you, man. But a real man wouldn't shoplift the pootie from a single mom.
Jerry Maguire: I didn't shoplift the pootie.
[Rod gives him a long Look]
Jerry Maguire: All right. I shoplifted the pootie.

4. Roseanne Conner (Roseanne):


Becky: Cindy Clark's mom lets her stay home alone!
Roseanne: YEAH WELL CINDY CLARK'S MOM IS A DRUNKEN SLUT!
-Roseanne and Becky


becky- cindy clark's mom pays her two dollars an hour to babysit
roseanne- well cindy clark's mother is a RICH drunken slut



3. Cher (Clueless):

Mel: Do you know what time it is?
Cher: A watch doesn't really go with this outfit, daddy.

2. Truman (The Truman Show):

Truman: What are you gonna do? Dice me, slice me, or peel me? There are so many choices


1. Allie & Noah (The Notebook):

Young Allie: Why didn't you write me? Why? It wasn't over for me, I waited for you for seven years. But now it's too late.
Young Noah: I wrote you 365 letters. I wrote you everyday for a year.
Young Allie: You wrote me?
Young Noah: Yes... it wasn't over, it still isn't over
[kisses Allie]

Who is your fav movie/tv character?

Fun with Food!

It is a "Thrifty Thursday" and check out what I picked up!



They are shaped sandwich cutters that I picked up at Deals for only $1 each! This is such a fun way to liven up your sandwiches. My kids get especially bored with lunch in the summer because they basically get either sandwiches or soup (hey, I have to spend time cleaning up after them so no time for gourmet lunches) This adds some much needed excitement to the sandwiches. I already own the Pampered Chef Cut n Seal which cuts the sandwiches into a circle and seals them shut so nothing drips out the sides. These don't do the sealing part, but they do create the fun shapes :) Kaplyn loves the star! The square one cuts the sandwich into 2 triangles while cutting off the crust...how simple is that for the busy mom?!

These would also be great for get-togethers! Not only can you cut the bread in these awesome shapes, but you could do any other soft things such as meats and cheeses. What a great cold cut tray you could make! I am so tickled over this find :) Very practical and fun!

Go Fruit Picken'

What to do Wednesday: Go fruit picken'

I love to go fruit picken' in the summertime. It is a tradition that I started with my kids 5 years ago when we bought our dream house. I have peach trees, apple trees, blueberry bushes, blackberries and raspberries that grow right in my yard :)

I love the serenity of picking fruit. Our house sits on a very quiet road so it is very easy to clear your mind and just listen to the tree leaves blow in the wind. I like to sit in the grass while picking the blueberries, getting every last ripe one off of the branches.



Sometimes my cat will walk by brushing me with her fur as she watches me pick. I love the look of ripe peaches on the tree. My mouth waters as I see the perfect shades hanging above my head.

Blackberries and raspberries line the acreage of my entire yard...what an abundance of this gorgeous fruit! All of our fruit has produced this year..thank you Mother Nature :)

Tip Tuesday! Clean and Save

I clip coupons for cleaning supplies constantly due to the price involved in all of the different items you need to keep your house in tip top shape. Wouldn't you like to find a cheaper way to do it though? Sometimes, I run out of an item and do not want to have to leave what I am currently in the middle of to chase it down. I came across an article in "All You, Issue June 18, 2010" It substitutes know-how for expensive products (and takes the weight off of the old wallet!)

Make your kitchen sparkle!

1. Eliminate odors: Try coffee grounds to keep your refrigerator smelling nice and fresh, just as you do with an open box of baking soda. Place them, new or used, in a bowl and remember to replace them every month or two. (I have always used baking soda which eliminates any odors, but does not actually give the fridge a nice smell..will definitely try this one!)

2. Wash the dishwasher: To clean the inside of your dishwasher, fill the detergent cups with whichever one of these four products you have on hand: 1/2 cup white vinegar or a few tablespoons of powdered laundry bleach, Tang or lemon-flavored Kool-Aid (lemon is the only flavor that works). Then run the empty machine through a complete cycle. (What a great idea using lemon-flavored Kool-Aid!)

3. Chill out: Use ice to cleanse the blades in your garbage disposal and break up the grease that collects on the rotors. Every few weeks, toss in a handful of cubes, turn on the disposal and run cold water. Add some orange, lemon or lime peels to ward off odors. (Who knew?!)

4. Soften up: Get baked-on foods off pots and pans with a dryer sheet. Just place one in a pot, fill with water and let sit overnight, then sponge off the next morning. The antistatic agent weakens the bond between the stuck-on food and the surface of the pan, white the fabric softener works its loosening magic. (And I thought dryer sheets were only for the laundry...)

5. Absorb it: Cover the bottom of your trash can with old newspapers to soak up leaks and odors. (Who knows why I didn't think of this one before...would have saved me a lot of time having to soak the inside of that disgusting trash can!)

6. Wipe away: Make scuffs on vinyl flooring disappear by applying a little baking soda with a damp sponge. (This one I knew about :)

7. Gather shards: Pick up tiny slivers of broken glass-the ones you don't notice until you've stepped on them-by gently pressing a piece of bread or a piece of Play-Doh on the area. Be sure to wrap the glass up carefully before throwing it away--you don't want an animal to eat it or a child to play with it. (This one I didn't know, my feet always did the job of the bread..Ouch!!)

8. Nuke' em: To keep bacteria from taking up permanent residence in your kitchen sponges, rinse them with water at the end of each day, squeeze, then put in the microwave for 3 minutes. Let cool before touching. Do the same with your cutting boards, if they are microwaveable. (I don't use sponges much because of the germs and expense involved...now I can :)

9. Get fruity: Harness the power of citrus to clean your microwave: Cut a lemon in half, squeeze juice into a small bowl of water, add both lemon halves and place in the microwave for 5 minutes. The fresh scent eliminates cooking odors, and condensation from the steam loosens random splatters that have hardened. Wipe with a damp cloth. (I always used a bowl of vinegar for this job, but then have to listen to my kids say, "Yuck! What is that horrible smell?! Guess I will visit the produce department more often to cover this job!)

10. Bring back the bling: Polish tarnished copper with this natural solution: Fill a 16 oz spray bottle with white vinegar and 3 tablespoons of salt. Spray onto the copper, let sit briefly, then rub clean. (Don't have an copper, but this is an easy idea)

11. Floss often: Remove debris from the cutting disc on your electric can opener with dental floss. (I spent an hour once trying to clean my can opener, of course it was during spring cleaning mixed with my pregnancy nesting...someone bring me the floss next time!!!!)