It's a MIRACLE!

Ok, I'm not one of those high-powered bloggers that blogs several times a day or even once a day.  I'm surprised when I've blogged more than once a year.  LOL!  I'm just a small town girl, but, since joining Pinterest, I've come across some pretty interesting claims, especially for homemade cleaning solutions.  Although other bloggers post that they've tried it and post their results, I tend to believe when I see it for myself.  So here is my first post regarding these claims.

Let me back up and say that I have a HORRIBLE time keeping up with the cleaning of my tub and shower.  With only one bathroom and 4 people using it, It's a chore that I don't get to much because it's often a back-breaking/wrist-breaking chore that I'm not usually up to with the back troubles I have and the wrist issues as well.  So, when I saw a homemade solution "pinned" there that boasted an AMAZING result in getting rid of soap scum, (see post here: The Craft Patch ) I decided this would be my FIRST experiment. 

Now, meet my disgusting tub: (I'm SO embarrassed!)

I've already sprayed the solution on it.  Here are the directions for the mixture:

1 part BLUE Dawn (they said it HAD to be the blue one)
1 part White distilled Vinegar (Although, I read somewhere you could get cleaning grade vinegar to use and it doesn't cost as much, at Walmart)

I used a 1/2 cup of each for one application of the solution.  You first heat up the vinegar in the mircrowave (for a 1/2 C. I heated for 1 minute).  You put the Dawn in a spray bottle using a funnel, and then pour the hot vinegar in, shake it a little bit to mix, then immediately spray it on your shower/tub.  Apparently it's the hot vinegar that makes the difference.   Then, according to the directions I read, it's best to leave it on overnight, but the original poster only left it on for a couple of hours, so I left it on for 2 hours.  I went shopping and got a dog bed for my dogs kennel, and other things.  Finally, 2 hours elapsed.  I grabbed my sponge, the kind with the green scrubby material on one side.  I figured my tub was SO bad, I should probably use that.  You use warm/hot water (as hot as you can stand it) and go to town wiping it down.  I did use the scrubby side, but was TOTALLY amazed at how easy it all came off!  I did scrub in some very hard places that I never could get clean no matter how hard I tried, and all that came off!  My tub has the textured bottom, which is really hard to get clean, but I'm actually impressed with the amount of "crap" that got cleaned.  I bet with another 1 or 2 applications, the bottom would be totally clean!  Here's the results on my OWN shower/tub:

And here's a side by side comparison:

Isn't that AMAZING?? Ok, so maybe not a side-by-side....but you get the idea.  Although my wrists are a little sore, I think if I kept up with this, I wouldn't have to scrub at all, so I declare this a fantastic success of an experiment and pronounce the solution a "Miracle Solution". =)

6/30/12 - I'm editing this to add that the vinegar smell is VERY strong when you spray this solution.  While not toxic, it might be a good idea to open a window or have a fan blowing in some fresh air, just for comfort.  I was coughing when I was spraying it.

6/30/12 - Update!  I decided to spray the floor of my tub again to see if I could get it cleaner....see for yourself! The first picture was taken yesterday after one treatment, the next picture was taken today after a second treatment.

I think if I did it again tomorrow, I might pretty much get ALL the textured part of the tub floor completely clean!   I am just beside myself....speechless really....just completely in Amazement!

Summer is HERE, And the Boys are Blooming!

It's been quite awhile since I last posted on my blog.  I have good intentions, but sometimes life gets in the way.  We just had Justin graduate from High school:

And Nicholas graduated from 8th grade:

Both boys graduated with high honors.  SOOO proud of my two boys, I can't even tell you how proud I am!  It's so amazing to watch your kids grow into young adults, and then into adulthood.  It's also slightly scary.  As proud as I am of them, I still feel like hanging on to them and finding a way for them to stay little for a while longer.  All the parenting books and magazines talk about kids going through growing pains, but I don't recall any that I read talking about the growing pains that PARENTS go through.  With our kids reaching and striving for independence, it makes us feel good that we've brought them up well, and that they are right on track, but it also hurts that we have to let go and LET them have the independence that is appropriate for their age.   How I long for another "Mommy, I love you more than anything!", or the sweet snuggles, hugs, and kisses of the 3yr. olds they used to be.

I long for those days, but I am trying not to look back too much.  The wonderful, responsible, and spiritually-minded young man that Justin has grown into is such a pleasure and a blessing to us as parents.  I honestly don't even know how he got that way, or what we did right, but apparently we did something right, and he did a lot right.  =)

When I think of how much Nicholas has grown, I'm just amazed at all the obstacles he has overcome to become who he is today.  Again, he is a fine young man, who is on the verge of blooming into his "real" self.  He's got 4 years of High school to go through yet, and I am so looking forward to watching him bloom.  Already, he has turned out to be a nice "kid" and while he's not at that "responsible" level that Justin is at yet, I can see little glimpses of it starting to peek out ready to emerge and help him become the young man he is meant to be.  I am SO proud of this kid, it actually hurts and makes me tear up thinking about all he has overcome and accomplished in his young life.

So, there's my mushy post for the year.  LOL!  I am just looking forward to what lies ahead for us as a family as well as for the boys.  =)

What a Year!

Well, it's been quite the year, I must say. Between losing a teacher (and friend) whom we all miss, at the end of the school year, to meeting the new teacher and getting acquainted with her and the way she does things, it's been sort of a wild ride. Not only that, but administration is pressing in on all the teachers and expecting more, it's seriously becoming more of a place that you go to earn money, then a place where you love to go to help children learn. That may just be my take on the whole thing, but I feel like I'm getting burned out at work, and with less and less compensation. It's just been a tough year. My hopes are that the state or the federal government address the issue of education and the funding needed to give the kids what they need, especially those with IEP's. We just do not have enough people to do the job that needs to be done. I realize that their are SOME teachers out there that aren't worth the wages they are being paid, and trust me, I've met some of them when they were teaching my own kids, but for the most part, teachers are not teaching because they can make a lot of money, far from it, the main reason people become teachers is because education is very important to them, and they WANT to help children learn, so next time you meet a teacher, thank them for all they do, because there is SERIOUSLY more involved them being glorified baby-sitters. Teachers are under a tremendous amount of pressure to continually push the kids further and further. This "No Child Left Behind" law might help SOME children, but it is a complete disservice to children with alternate learning styles. It should not be a "blanket" fix, it should be something that can be adjusted for different learning styles, and for different disabilities or abilities.

Ok, I think I'm done with my rant. Just feeling a little under-appreciated in terms of my job lately. LOL!

Anyway, so, on a happy note, Justin will be graduating in June! He is doing so well in school. He got High Honors for this trimester, which is awesome. I am looking forward to all the senior activities. I know Justin can hardly wait to graduate. Nicholas is also in his last year in the Intermediate school and will graduate from 8th grade in June. He is hoping to go to Ellis Tech like his brother. We already put in his application. They usually have something in April for the new kids looking to go there and their parents, so I'm looking forward to that. He is also doing really well at school, he's got straight A's this quarter.

My brother Michael is also getting married in June! I hope and PRAY that I'll be able to get out there for the wedding. It's not looking so good right now, but I guess we'll keep trying to figure out something.

I don't really have a lot of positive things to talk about for this year, it's been a really tough year for all of us, not just us, but our friends as well, and we are all doing what we can to just hang on. I know there are a lot of people out there that are doing the same, so you are not alone. I am going to try to post a little more to this blog in 2012, so it gives me an outlet, and I can also remember more of the "good" things for the year. =) That is my determination....Hope I get the chance to stick with it! LOL! Until next time.

Coming to the end

With all the snow days we had this winter, it seems like this school year is NEVER going to end.  However, I'm not really sure I want it to end.  It will be a bittersweet end.  The special education teacher that I've been working with at the high school is leaving for Wisconsin. 

Amy has been such an asset to the high school.  She is WONDERFUL with the kids, and she is very supportive of the paraprofessionals that work with her.  She will be sorely missed when she leaves.

This past Friday, we all surprised her with a cake and gifts and we took her out to a local Thai restaurant, Thai Basil.  All day long, it was surprise after surprise for her, it was awesome!  But we all had so much fun!  It was great to see everybody laughing and talking and enjoying themselves.  I didn't cry....I'm such a sap, I cry at everything.  LOL!  I did get a little teary-eyed a couple of times, but that's it.  The real test will come on the last day of school.  Our classroom will NEVER be the same.  Next year should prove to be interesting at the very least.  We have no idea who will be taking her place, but they will certainly have big shoes to fill for sure. 

Country Line Dancing...not obsolete yet

Last night my friends and my husband (surprisingly) and I went to a local VFW hall where it was advertised that there was going to be country line dancing for the next 5 or 6 weeks.  Thanks to Jeanne for telling us about it!

Before my oldest son, "J", was born, (almost 17 years ago) I used to go out every week with my mom and sister to various places to take line dancing lessons.  I've always loved dancing, so it's an excellent form of exercise for me.  Even when little "J" was still growing fingers and toes, I was out there dancing, it was so much fun!  But now that we are in the "new milennium", country line dancing is all but forgotten.  Rarely do you see any club, restaurant or studio advertising line dancing lessons.  So I was THRILLED when I heard about this!

Last night, I must admit, that as an overweight 40-something woman, trying to move my body like that was pretty difficult.  The brain isn't quite up to par for remembering the steps like it was when I was younger.  LOL!  But....all that said and done, I had a BLAST!  Not to say that I wasn't frustrated at some points, but I'm really proud of myself for sticking with it and trying to work it all out, because I think I finally got all 4 dances that were taught...at least for last night.  We'll see how I do next class.  LOL!  I came home last night sweaty, stinky and SORE as all get out, but, It was SO much fun, so I'm planning to go again next week.  I think I still have all the handouts for the dance steps for a ton of line dances when I was going way back when I was going BK. (Before Kids)  I am sore this morning, but not as bad as I thought I'd be.  So I think I'm going to survive.

I was remiss....

Yesterday, I was not feeling well, mostly due to bad seasonal allergies and sinus issues.  But in my post I did forget to mention that yesterday was an anniversary of sorts. 

On June 4, 2009, my husbands father, Neal, passed away.  I will never forget that day, it was a tough one for all of us.  He was a good man, and I will miss him.  My faith teaches me that I will be able to see him again, and I will look forward to that day. 

Now, because I don't like leaving people with something that is not pleasant to think about, I wanted to say that I am SO excited about tomorrow!  Tomorrow evening, a bunch of my friends and I are going to go to Country Line Dancing!  I know....that was SOO 90's, but I used to do it back in the early 90's and I loved it.  Well, I just love to dance, period. LOL!  So I am really looking forward to doing this tomorrow.  I'm sure I'll be telling you all about it later.

As for today, well, there are no real plans as far as I know.  I have to do some laundry, dishes, and prepare everything for us to go to work and school for the week.  But aside from that, whatever the day brings us, I guess.

How Old am I...REALLY?

Yesterday, I had more fun than I've had in a long time!  After working a half day at the high school, my boys and I participated in National Donut Day by going to Dunkin' Donuts for an iced coffee and a free donut.  Our friends daughter, "K" works there, so we also went to say hello to her.  She was having a "Game Night" at her home and had invited a bunch of friends, including "J", but also said our whole family was invited.  Later, I asked "J" what time it was supposed to be for.  He told me 4pm.


Ok, so fastforward.  I had to pick up mail for a friend who was out of town, so we left a little early so I could do that, then run to the store so "J" could pick up some soda for the party.  Then we drove over to our friends house.  Apparently she had told everyone else 4:30, so we were a little early.  No big deal.  I didn't want to leave "J" and "K" alone at the house, so I stayed.  I wasn't planning to stay, I figured I'd go back home for awhile, and then when my hubby got home we could go over together.  So anyway, I stayed until one of the other friends showed up.  "K" was going to take "J" and the other friend to go pick someone up, but just as she was getting ready to leave, a whole bunch of other friends showed up.  LOL!  Her parents weren't home yet, so she didn't know what to do.  So I told her to go pick up her friend and I'll stay at the house until she got back.  I have to say though, before I go on, that I just LOVE this whole group of friends, such a great bunch and lots of clean fun and laughter.  So it was a pleasure to hang out with them for a little while. 


"K" got back with the friend, but I decided to go ahead and stay until her parents got home anyway, just to help out to get things set up.  I am so glad I did.  Erin (the mom) and I got things going once she got home, she was thankful for my help and told me so.  All the "kids" went downstairs to play games, it was SO fun to listen to them all laughing and talking and just having a blast.


Well, long story short, when it was getting dark, we had a bonfire outside.  It was so fun.  We just all sat around talking and laughing, but then the REAL fun started....MARSHMALLOW FIGHT!  I don't even remember how it got started to begin with, but everyone was throwing marshmallows at each other, and just about dying of laughter.  I felt like a teenager, just goofing off and having fun and laughing until my stomach and my head hurt. Like I said earlier, this whole group of "kids" (ok, lets say young adults because some of them were in their 20's and 30's, but they are still kids to me) is such a wonderful group, I couldn't ask for better friends for my kids.  We didn't leave until around 11pm.  PHEW!  By the time I got to bed it was 11:30pm.  Wiped out, head hurting, stomach hurting, but very happy and content.  Can't ask for a better day than that, now can you?