Say "hello" to Useless Steve, the worst scarecrow ever! Useless Steve could not keep the dogs from busting into the garden and laying on the cantalope. The crow is ruined. Useless Steve!
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The "How-To" of Every-so-Often Chores
With the kids back in school, I am finally getting around to the ever-growing
“to do” list of things I have been putting off all summer. On the list are the
type of household chores that don’t need to be done daily or sometimes even
weekly, but they are important all the same. Let’s call them the “As needed” or
“Every-so-often-chores.”
When the scrubbing and cleaning and rinsing got started, I found myself wondering, when was the last time I did this? The “Every-so-often” chores are the ones that seem to slip through the grout, so to speak. So I ask, when was the last time you…
Vacuumed your mattress?
This is something I started doing with regularity after I saw a news program about bed bugs in hotel mattresses. Although Secret Agent Man and I, and occasionally Mini Me, are the only ones who sleep in our bed, it’s still a good idea to freshen up your mattress.
Dust, dander, and dust mites can build up in your mattress. I recommend vacuuming your mattress every time you change your sheets, or at least every time you flip your mattress. People who suffer from allergies may also find some relief by making this a regular routine.
Vacuum your mattress using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner or your Dyson, if you have it. Seeing all those particles come out of your mattress and swirl around in the bag-less container is both horrifying and satisfying at the same time.
Cleaned the refrigerator coils?
You already have the Dyson out, why don’t you vacuum the inner and under-workings of the refrigerator?
Dust, lint, and even pet hair can collect on the coils of your refrigerator causing it to run less efficiently or even overheat. Don’t wait until the repairman is twenty minutes away. Make this a part of your “every-so-often” routine by taking off the toe-grill or kick plate and using your vacuum attachment to clean off the build-up. You just might find that your fridge will now run quieter and cooler.
Washed off the outside of your house?
Does your house paint not look as bright as it used to? Are there a lot of bug-filled cobwebs on the walls and windows of the outside of your house? Unless you are going for the Addams Family-look, wash off the outside of your house at least twice a year. Once, as part of your spring cleaning and again at the end of summer when the flying bugs have died off.
Attach a spray nozzle to the hose and spray, spray, spray. I recommend using house water for this job. Irrigation water can leave a residue and spots on your windows. If you want to be an over-achiever rent or buy a pressure washer. There are also products out there made especially for cleaning the outside of the house.
You know me, I like my Feng Shui. This is a chore I repeat regularly especially on the front entry and windows of the house, to send a signal to the Universe that I am ready for more good things to enter into my life.
Cleaned and changed the batteries on your smoke detector?
Did you know that there are more homes with smoke detectors that don’t work than homes that do not have them at all?
Most smoke detector manufacturers will recommend that you change your batteries once a year and check them once a month. Again, when you are changing the batteries, use your vacuum attachment or mini-vac to remove the dust. This chore is performed twice a year in the Payne household. The first weekend of April and the first weekend in October, no fail.
Cleaned out your washing machine?
Are your towels still smelly after laundering? Not removing them promptly from the washer to the dryer could be one reason. The other reason is your washing machine may need to be cleaned.
Here is an easy and effective way to clean your washer:
1. Set washing machine on hot water wash, hot water rinse cycle, largest load setting, longest run time, and start the washer.
2. Pour 1 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into running washing machine.
3. When cycle is finished, run the cycle once more (omitting the vinegar and baking soda) adding a regular size cup of your detergent to the washer for this one. You can run it on the hot water cycle or not, it doesn't really matter much this time--I use the hot again though.
4. While this cycle runs I use the opportunity to clean the outside with an all-purpose cleaner and a sponge. Then I dry it with a soft towel so that it shines like new!
Deodorized the garbage disposal?
That mystery smell in your kitchen could be coming from the garbage disposal. There are many ways to do this. I have read about using lemon peels, dish soap, or bleach, while running hot water and the disposal. There is also the “volcano method” of running the disposal while adding baking soda and vinegar. I have also used some store-bought, disposal-safe, gel-filled balls that you drop in while the unit is in use.
The last step is very important. With disposal turned off, of course, you can use a small brush or cleaning rag to clean under the rubber flange. You might be surprised to find what was lurking under there.
So, if you have an image of me in my black, floral apron eating bonbons on the couch all day while the kids are in school, think again. The pink fuzzy slippers will have to wait until no mattress has gone unturned and every sink has been de-stunked.
Need some cleaning tips for your “as needed” chores? Try these websites:
wikihow.com
realsimple.com
ehow.com
When the scrubbing and cleaning and rinsing got started, I found myself wondering, when was the last time I did this? The “Every-so-often” chores are the ones that seem to slip through the grout, so to speak. So I ask, when was the last time you…
Vacuumed your mattress?
This is something I started doing with regularity after I saw a news program about bed bugs in hotel mattresses. Although Secret Agent Man and I, and occasionally Mini Me, are the only ones who sleep in our bed, it’s still a good idea to freshen up your mattress.
Dust, dander, and dust mites can build up in your mattress. I recommend vacuuming your mattress every time you change your sheets, or at least every time you flip your mattress. People who suffer from allergies may also find some relief by making this a regular routine.
Vacuum your mattress using the upholstery attachment on your vacuum cleaner or your Dyson, if you have it. Seeing all those particles come out of your mattress and swirl around in the bag-less container is both horrifying and satisfying at the same time.
Cleaned the refrigerator coils?
You already have the Dyson out, why don’t you vacuum the inner and under-workings of the refrigerator?
Dust, lint, and even pet hair can collect on the coils of your refrigerator causing it to run less efficiently or even overheat. Don’t wait until the repairman is twenty minutes away. Make this a part of your “every-so-often” routine by taking off the toe-grill or kick plate and using your vacuum attachment to clean off the build-up. You just might find that your fridge will now run quieter and cooler.
Washed off the outside of your house?
Does your house paint not look as bright as it used to? Are there a lot of bug-filled cobwebs on the walls and windows of the outside of your house? Unless you are going for the Addams Family-look, wash off the outside of your house at least twice a year. Once, as part of your spring cleaning and again at the end of summer when the flying bugs have died off.
Attach a spray nozzle to the hose and spray, spray, spray. I recommend using house water for this job. Irrigation water can leave a residue and spots on your windows. If you want to be an over-achiever rent or buy a pressure washer. There are also products out there made especially for cleaning the outside of the house.
You know me, I like my Feng Shui. This is a chore I repeat regularly especially on the front entry and windows of the house, to send a signal to the Universe that I am ready for more good things to enter into my life.
Cleaned and changed the batteries on your smoke detector?
Did you know that there are more homes with smoke detectors that don’t work than homes that do not have them at all?
Most smoke detector manufacturers will recommend that you change your batteries once a year and check them once a month. Again, when you are changing the batteries, use your vacuum attachment or mini-vac to remove the dust. This chore is performed twice a year in the Payne household. The first weekend of April and the first weekend in October, no fail.
Cleaned out your washing machine?
Are your towels still smelly after laundering? Not removing them promptly from the washer to the dryer could be one reason. The other reason is your washing machine may need to be cleaned.
Here is an easy and effective way to clean your washer:
1. Set washing machine on hot water wash, hot water rinse cycle, largest load setting, longest run time, and start the washer.
2. Pour 1 cup white vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda into running washing machine.
3. When cycle is finished, run the cycle once more (omitting the vinegar and baking soda) adding a regular size cup of your detergent to the washer for this one. You can run it on the hot water cycle or not, it doesn't really matter much this time--I use the hot again though.
4. While this cycle runs I use the opportunity to clean the outside with an all-purpose cleaner and a sponge. Then I dry it with a soft towel so that it shines like new!
Deodorized the garbage disposal?
That mystery smell in your kitchen could be coming from the garbage disposal. There are many ways to do this. I have read about using lemon peels, dish soap, or bleach, while running hot water and the disposal. There is also the “volcano method” of running the disposal while adding baking soda and vinegar. I have also used some store-bought, disposal-safe, gel-filled balls that you drop in while the unit is in use.
The last step is very important. With disposal turned off, of course, you can use a small brush or cleaning rag to clean under the rubber flange. You might be surprised to find what was lurking under there.
So, if you have an image of me in my black, floral apron eating bonbons on the couch all day while the kids are in school, think again. The pink fuzzy slippers will have to wait until no mattress has gone unturned and every sink has been de-stunked.
Need some cleaning tips for your “as needed” chores? Try these websites:
wikihow.com
realsimple.com
ehow.com
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
The bird that inspired a blogger
Pictured here are the Clarks cerca 1983. That's me in front with the parakeet on my shoulder. About a week after this picture was taken, my parakeet, Pierre, died. Overcome with the grief of my beloved pet, my dad told me that sometimes when we write down our feelings it helps to ease our pain. So in my very first journal I wrote, "Dear Diary, my bird, Pierre, died today. He was a good bird and I will miss him very much."
Since that time I have kept a faithful journal in one form or another. Today, my blog is one of the places where I share my thoughts, dreams, joys and sorrows, but mostly joys. Thanks, Dad, and thank you, Pierre.
Monday, September 10, 2012
Some dogs are not so amazing.
Today, I am the guest blogger at NewPetPalace.com. Click the link to visit:
Thursday, August 23, 2012
Tuesday, July 17, 2012
Today my blog post is featured at MomsEverday.com. Click the link to find out what the Highly-Tidy know that you don't. Rest in peace and thank you, Stephen Covey.
Saturday, May 19, 2012
6 feet tall wedding cake
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My best friend's mom made this amazing 6 feet tall wedding cake. Bride and groom stood on the table to nom-nom-nom!
Monday, April 23, 2012
Karen's Superheroes in the Relay for Life
This post in on behalf of
wonderful people with a great cause. This is a family of givers and it is my honor to share their story and fight with you. Below is the the story of Karen Yutzy. Please read and if you feel
inclined click on one of the links below and donate a little money to the
cause.
A great thanks to Rachelle Kreie for providing the following story:
Many of
you have heard of American Cancer Society. Many of you may have also heard of
Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. If you haven't, Relay for Life
is an all-night event where people walk around a track for 16 hours. The
relayers collect donations from people, business, or wherever they can, for
their Relay. All of the proceeds go to the American Cancer Society to find a
cure for cancer. Cancer will affect everyone. Reports now tell us that 1 out of
every 2 men will get cancer and that 1 out of every 3 women will get cancer.
Those are statistics that are right here at home, in the United States. That's
not somewhere on the other side of the world. So, you or someone you know will
hear the words, "You have cancer".
Karen
Yutzy was diagnosed with grade 2 astrocytoma brain cancer on June 6, 2006. She
underwent surgery in November of 2006 for removal of some of her tumor and then
underwent radiation therapy January and February of 2007. The radiation has left
her disabled, with severe dizziness and vertigo among other neurological
deficits. Karen had recurrence of her brain cancer in January 2012 and underwent
removal of more of the tumor in March 2012. They were not able to remove the
entire tumor, and radiation is not an option after a person has had radiation
once. |
| Karen Yutzy with one of her many grandchildren |
Cancer makes the victim feel devastated. It makes their loved ones feel completely helpless. Participating in Relay for Life gives Karen's loved ones a chance to make a difference in the fight against cancer. If you or someone you know has been through cancer, help make a difference in the fight today. Every penny you donate will help to put an end to cancer, to see a world with more birthdays.
 |
| Paul and Karen Yutzy |
Karen's Super Heroes and
Karen's Junior Superheroes would be honored to have your support in this fight.
You can visit their Relay website online via one of the following
links:
Karen's SuperHereos
http://main.acsevents.org/
http://main.acsevents.org/
Karen's Junior SuperHeroes
http://main.acsevents.org/
You can also go to www.grandjunctionrelayforlife.
 |
| The entire Karen's Posse! Relay 2011 |
With your help, there will come a day when no one, not anyone anywhere, will hear the words, "You have cancer".
Join the fight today!
Posted because the Yutzy
Family means so much!
If you
own a business and would like to be a team sponsor, you can have your business
on the back of their team shirts.
If would like to support their
team with a t-shirt sponsor, please contact Rachelle Kreie at 985-2520 or Ken
Kreie at 270-3305.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Orange and Navy: Pinners Delight!
This outfit is gettting me tons of repins on Pinterest! It's official! I am a fashionista!!
Amanda posted toAnnie Payne
Yesterday while getting ready for church I had a dilemma and had to wonder- WWAD (what would Annie do)? I wanted to wear my cute new high heel sandals but my legs are still in winter condition - not ready to be seen in public, yet I can't stand wearing sandals with nylons, there's something about the toes looking like stuffed sausages peeking out of shoes that creeps me out. In the end I went with the sandals and no nylons (the people at church will just have to deal with their nightmares about my hideous legs in therapy). So I ask WWAD?
Thursday, April 5, 2012
The Many Mysteries of Easter
Ever wonder why Reece's Peanut Butter Eggs taste better than Reece's Peanut Butter cups? Me too! If you are a long time reader of this blog, you may remember a version of this blog post appearing here a few years ago. Today, I am a featured blogger at MomsEveryday.com. Click here to read all about how Halloween may spooky, but Easter is the holiday most shrouded in mystery?
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Monday, March 19, 2012
Easy Easter Decorations
I had a great day with an even greater friend. It was one of those days that could only be made better by Hobby Lobby and Chick-fil-a! Together we were able to complete two craft projects. This Easter wreath and a mini Easter garden. My kids were so excited about the garden. They said, "Mom, do we get to keep it?" Valid question. The idea for the garden came from Pinterest. The orignial had grass on the hill, but I couldn't wait for greass seed to grow. I'm too impatient. I wanted this on my table now. So I opted for moss.
The Easter subway art came from a great blog called, "Today's Fabulous Finds." The blog author offers her subway art for free and features severals colors. So nice.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Pinterest Hair..plus some
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Mommy blogger turned TV personality
(Let the horn tooting commence.) My mediocre little blog got me a job with the newspaper, then the radio station, and now I'm on TV. I was just minding my own business, blogging about American Idol, how I rebuilt the Toothfairy's reputation, and how long I could go without shaving my legs until "Secret Agent Man" would notice and now I'm interviewing businesses during the local break of the Today Show about what they do to make mom's life easier.
Check out my first blog post here and then go fold the pets, I mean feed the laundry, I mean...ugh, never mind.
Friday, January 20, 2012
Mama's new kicks
I've been a Nike wearer for years. I love my Nikes, because I've never had any sort of foot problems during my workouts or hikes. But, when I saw these babies, I had to give them a try. They are super light-weight and I feel like I get the full range of motion when I run. No more Napolean Dynamite shuffle for me! Aside from the comfort and peformance, they look great. I'm too much of a Fancy Nancy to wear tennis shoes all day, but with my new Reeboks I don't feel like I'm sacrificing fashion for function. This may sound like a paid endorsement, trust me, it's not, but if Reebok would like to compensate me for my glowing endorsement, I'd happily accept a matching running shirt!
Friday, November 11, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Happy Halloween from Flo and Fabrina the Tweenage Witch!
"What? You don't want broomstick insurance?!"Saturday, October 15, 2011
I did it! FHE Magnetic Assignment Board
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Yes! You can make homemade furniture polish.
A few months ago we took a trip down the California coastline. Our journey brought us to Hearst Castle, built by gagillionaire William Hearst in the early 1900's.
In the Refectory, or dining room as the simple folk like to call it, there is a long dining table reclaimed from a monastery. When I asked the tour guide how they got the table so shiny, he replied, "500 years of elbow grease." I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME!
In the Refectory, or dining room as the simple folk like to call it, there is a long dining table reclaimed from a monastery. When I asked the tour guide how they got the table so shiny, he replied, "500 years of elbow grease." I DON'T HAVE THAT KIND OF TIME! 
I've never been completely happy with store-bought polish, so I went to the Internet(s) to see what the clever moms out there were doing to shine their furniture. Two simple ingredients. I couldn't belive it was that easy: lemon juice and olive oil. That's it. I used my microfiber glove to apply the mixture, always rubbing with the grain of the wood, a little tooth brush to get to the nooks and crannies while I was at it, and a soft, clean cloth the remove the excess. Just a few simple steps to homemade furniture polish. Works great, smells even better. Castle living can't get much easier!
Monday, May 9, 2011
Mother's Day Weekend DIY: The house with the blue door
UPDATE: Now I have my flowers planted! I am more in love with my door than ever. Whenever I am feeling "blue," I just go look at my door!
Now that I have retired from writing my Home and Garden column, I finally have time to do some of the things I've written about.
From Mega Greige to...
... Aerospace Blue.
I can hardly stand how much I love this color. It was leftover paint from my upstairs hallway. I hated it in the hallway and painted over it a few months later. I L.O.V.E. it on the frontdoor.
It took me less than two hours, with the bulk of the time being dedicated to taping off the glass and edges. I used sponge brushes for ease of application. My next project? Paint the backdoor the exact same color.
P.S. My blog is not dead yet, it's feeling better. It's feeling happy. I think it would like to take a walk. (Name that movie.)
Sunday, April 3, 2011
Wednesday, March 23, 2011
Monday, March 21, 2011
"Idol, Whooz ur daddy?!" Season 10 Naima Adedapo
Figured I'd better get Naima's possible parentage documented before she leaves American Idol. Bottom 3 for last week, doh! I know she has it in her to go further. Come on, Girl, I'm rooting for you!Tuesday, March 1, 2011
"Idol, Whooz ur daddy?!" Season 10 Scotty McCreery
It's an American Idol tradition and honor to be featured on the Anniethology,
"Idol, Whooz Ur Daddy?!" If you are an American Idol contestant, you know you've arrived if you've been featured on Anniethology. Congratulations, Scotty McCreery!
Thanks goes to my sister, Carrie, for the inspiration for this week's installment.
Monday, February 21, 2011
Annie on the Trends: Blanketwear
I'm all for keeping up with the trends, but this pink scarf from Downeast Basics
...is just one step away from blanketwear.
Look who else loves their pink wo0bie.
But, who am I to judge? Someone who owns this blog, who will go unmentioned, took their pink woobie to college.Friday, February 18, 2011
Monday, January 31, 2011
Book Signing in San Diego this week!
I'll be signing books in Borders this week in San Diego. Not my own books, but I'll be signing them all the same. Bring one of your own for me to sign if you like, I'll provide the Sharpie!
In addition to doing laundry and packing for my "book tour," I am losing myself in this mini-series.
I can't decide which daughter I am more like, Molly or Cynthia.
I can't decide whether Netflix streaming video is the best or worst thing to ever happen to me.
I can't decide whether I should pack boots or flip-flops for San Diego.
Well, probably running shoes, once security catches me signing books, again, I'm gonna hafta make a run for it.
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
"Easy A" Sharpening Pencils
Because you didn't ask and you don't care, here is my second favorite scene from "Easy A."
"I gotta, I gotta, I gotta pocket, got a pocketful of sunshine!"
"Easy A" is easily the best comedy of 2010! I watched it three times. I love counting the 80's teen movie references. This was my favorite scene. Thanks Aubrey Annie for leading me there.
Try getting this out of yer head. Yer welcome!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
My final column for the Home and Garden section of The Daily Sentinel
I’ve kept a faithful diary since I was thirteen. Over the years, for better or worse, my diary has morphed from book form to electronic- now consisting mostly of my blog, my Facebook wall, my Twitter account and this column.
When it wasn’t laced with teenage angst, my diary is a reminder of lessons learned. It’s been invaluable for me to look back and read some of the “bread crumbs on the trail of life” I have left for myself and my posterity.
I would like to share with you today (but it’s actually more of a reminder to myself), some of my best Home and Garden advice.
“When motivation is low, set a timer for 15 minutes and get to work.”
This advice is especially appropriate for this time of year when the “winter gloomies” set in. Sometimes household tasks can become too daunting. Setting a timer for fifteen minutes and committing yourself to stop working when the time is up keeps you from becoming too overwhelmed. Sometimes you find that once you have started working, you get into a zone and you don’t want to stop until the task is finished.
You would be surprised how much can be accomplished in a few fifteen-minute flashes of effort.
Kids are motivated by the timer, too. It becomes a fun competition for them to see what they can do in that amount of time. Speaking of kids…
“Household maintenance is not a one-woman show.”
This has become truer for me in the past few months. Transitioning from SAHM to working mother, I’ve had to rely more on my 12-year-old twin sons and their 9-year-old sister for the day-to-day upkeep of our home. Cleaning the kitchen is now (almost) solely their responsibility, along with the cleaning of their rooms and bathroom. Mom works, dad works, the kids need to work too.
Teach children early that they are a part of a family and as a part of the family they have responsibilities in the family home. As toddlers I had my kids mopping floors, folding towels, and running little errands for me in the house. I now reap the rewards of having helpful, independent, older children.
“Life is not a Pottery Barn Catalog”
One of the goals of my column has been to bring the joy back into homemaking, which includes reminding people that home doesn’t have to look like, as I like to call it, a “Lottery Farm” catalog.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from purchasing things from the “Lottery Farm,” I would just like to dissuade someone from thinking that they have to, in order to be happy. An item for item recreation of page eighty-six is not necessary.
That picture of perfection is not real. It’s a set. It’s as real as an airbrushed cover girl. She is not that thin, her hair is not that full and her skin is not that flawless.
Real homes, happy homes, practical homes are not that clean, not that orderly, and not that perfect, because what is missing from that photo set is the family.
What makes a house a home isn’t the over-sized glass decanter filled with corks. It’s not a couch covered with so many pillows there is no place to sit. It’s the people that eat, sleep, laugh, and leave their socks on the floor that make it a home. It’s the people that bounce the basketball in the kitchen. It’s the people who leave a trail of backpacks, coats, and shoes from the front door to the couch that make a home.
“Quit while you’re ahead.”
The dishes are done, the laundry is folded, sure, the pantry could use some organization, but as my mentor, Erma Bombeck, so famously said,
“Cleaning the house while kids are still growing is like, shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.”
There are always going to be chores to do, but your children aren’t always going to want to play video games with you. Know when to say “when.” Stop and enjoy the family and home you have now.
And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
This will be my last article for the Home and Garden section. It’s time for me to turn the page of my diary and enjoy a little more the family, home, and life I have right now. I want to thank my faithful readers for their love and encouragement over the past four years. Perhaps I’ll grace the pages of The Daily Sentinel again someday, but for now…
Dear Diary,
Today is going to be a good day.
As seen in the Saturday, January 22, 2011 edition of The Daily Sentinel
When it wasn’t laced with teenage angst, my diary is a reminder of lessons learned. It’s been invaluable for me to look back and read some of the “bread crumbs on the trail of life” I have left for myself and my posterity.
I would like to share with you today (but it’s actually more of a reminder to myself), some of my best Home and Garden advice.
“When motivation is low, set a timer for 15 minutes and get to work.”
This advice is especially appropriate for this time of year when the “winter gloomies” set in. Sometimes household tasks can become too daunting. Setting a timer for fifteen minutes and committing yourself to stop working when the time is up keeps you from becoming too overwhelmed. Sometimes you find that once you have started working, you get into a zone and you don’t want to stop until the task is finished.
You would be surprised how much can be accomplished in a few fifteen-minute flashes of effort.
Kids are motivated by the timer, too. It becomes a fun competition for them to see what they can do in that amount of time. Speaking of kids…
“Household maintenance is not a one-woman show.”
This has become truer for me in the past few months. Transitioning from SAHM to working mother, I’ve had to rely more on my 12-year-old twin sons and their 9-year-old sister for the day-to-day upkeep of our home. Cleaning the kitchen is now (almost) solely their responsibility, along with the cleaning of their rooms and bathroom. Mom works, dad works, the kids need to work too.
Teach children early that they are a part of a family and as a part of the family they have responsibilities in the family home. As toddlers I had my kids mopping floors, folding towels, and running little errands for me in the house. I now reap the rewards of having helpful, independent, older children.
“Life is not a Pottery Barn Catalog”
One of the goals of my column has been to bring the joy back into homemaking, which includes reminding people that home doesn’t have to look like, as I like to call it, a “Lottery Farm” catalog.
I’m not trying to dissuade anyone from purchasing things from the “Lottery Farm,” I would just like to dissuade someone from thinking that they have to, in order to be happy. An item for item recreation of page eighty-six is not necessary.
That picture of perfection is not real. It’s a set. It’s as real as an airbrushed cover girl. She is not that thin, her hair is not that full and her skin is not that flawless.
Real homes, happy homes, practical homes are not that clean, not that orderly, and not that perfect, because what is missing from that photo set is the family.
What makes a house a home isn’t the over-sized glass decanter filled with corks. It’s not a couch covered with so many pillows there is no place to sit. It’s the people that eat, sleep, laugh, and leave their socks on the floor that make it a home. It’s the people that bounce the basketball in the kitchen. It’s the people who leave a trail of backpacks, coats, and shoes from the front door to the couch that make a home.
“Quit while you’re ahead.”
The dishes are done, the laundry is folded, sure, the pantry could use some organization, but as my mentor, Erma Bombeck, so famously said,
“Cleaning the house while kids are still growing is like, shoveling the walk while it’s still snowing.”
There are always going to be chores to do, but your children aren’t always going to want to play video games with you. Know when to say “when.” Stop and enjoy the family and home you have now.
And that’s exactly what I plan on doing.
This will be my last article for the Home and Garden section. It’s time for me to turn the page of my diary and enjoy a little more the family, home, and life I have right now. I want to thank my faithful readers for their love and encouragement over the past four years. Perhaps I’ll grace the pages of The Daily Sentinel again someday, but for now…
Dear Diary,
Today is going to be a good day.
As seen in the Saturday, January 22, 2011 edition of The Daily Sentinel
Thursday, January 20, 2011
Even CNN thinks growing grass in my sink is newsworthy!
Click here to see my local news story that made it to the big time!
This is the "after" shot. I no longer have grass in my sink, but our happy little story
just won't die.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
This blog has not been abandoned...
...it just looks like it has. But, just like the spring rains bring life back to the desert, American Idol will breathe life back into this barren wasteland of a blog once again.
I present the continuation of Anniethology's most popular posts, "Idol, Whooz Ur Daddy?!" created exclusively for and by anniethology.blogspot.com.
Here is a look back at some of our greatest hits!
P.S. JLo, I love you. You are forever my flygirl. See you tonight.
Saturday, December 18, 2010
Anniethology Holiday Gift Guide for Homies
One of my greatest pleasures is to recommend something I that I love, and have the “recommendee” love it too.
Allow me to recommend to you this gift guide for the “Homie” (Home and Garden enthusiast) on your life. I have created two lists: A list of things that I love and a list of things I would like to love.
Things I Love
· The Dyson has been my vacuum of choice for seven years. Many family members, friends, and readers have purchased the Dyson on my recommendation, without regret, despite the $400-$500 price tag. That may seem like a lot, but if you take into consideration the years of highly effective, nearly maintenance-free operation, it’s well-worth its cost.
Recently, though, my Dyson has suffered a setback and will need a trip to the Dyson doctor. I have yet to coerce a confession from the Payne children-perhaps a brighter light bulb in the interrogation lamp is needed- but all I know for sure is that someone in vacuumed up something wet and sticky, which is not recommended for optimal suction and contrary rules of regular operation. I am hoping for good news from the Dyson doc; I’ll let you know the prognosis.
· Would you like to take some of the drudgery out of cooking and cleaning for your favorite homie? How about making her look and feel adorable as she cleans the toilets or chops the veggies?
I recommend an apron and coordinating rubber gloves from “Diva Aprons.” Feminine styles, fun fabrics, and the fact that they are reversible, set them apart from other aprons. Use one side of the apron for cleaning and then flip it around for when you do the cooking.
Michele S., creator and head seamstress extraordinaire of “Diva Aprons” has combined with purveyor of handbags, belts, and jewelry, Amanda B. of “The Western Diva” to form a unique boutique store-within-a-store called, “The Two Divas.” Their boutique located inside of Real Deals on Hwy. 6 & 50, has its grand opening today. Talk about a one-stop holiday shopping for the domestic diva in your life.
· Being a woman who hates to have a lot of miscellany on her countertops, I recommend, the Caldrea Kitchen Caddy from Target. This simple, yet sophisticated cleaning caddy priced at $20, comes with hand soap, counter cleaner, and dish soap. It’s available in several scents, but I recommend the citron ginger. With its simple styling and kitchen friendly fragrance, you won’t mind it gracing your countertops.
Things I Would Like to Love
These next two items come highly recommended from a friend and fellow “homie.” If I am a good girl, perhaps next year they will make it onto the list of things I already love. (Note to Secret Agent Man: This is the part where you should make the most of your photographic memory.)
Allow me to recommend to you this gift guide for the “Homie” (Home and Garden enthusiast) on your life. I have created two lists: A list of things that I love and a list of things I would like to love.
Things I Love
· The Dyson has been my vacuum of choice for seven years. Many family members, friends, and readers have purchased the Dyson on my recommendation, without regret, despite the $400-$500 price tag. That may seem like a lot, but if you take into consideration the years of highly effective, nearly maintenance-free operation, it’s well-worth its cost.
Recently, though, my Dyson has suffered a setback and will need a trip to the Dyson doctor. I have yet to coerce a confession from the Payne children-perhaps a brighter light bulb in the interrogation lamp is needed- but all I know for sure is that someone in vacuumed up something wet and sticky, which is not recommended for optimal suction and contrary rules of regular operation. I am hoping for good news from the Dyson doc; I’ll let you know the prognosis.
· Would you like to take some of the drudgery out of cooking and cleaning for your favorite homie? How about making her look and feel adorable as she cleans the toilets or chops the veggies?
I recommend an apron and coordinating rubber gloves from “Diva Aprons.” Feminine styles, fun fabrics, and the fact that they are reversible, set them apart from other aprons. Use one side of the apron for cleaning and then flip it around for when you do the cooking.
Michele S., creator and head seamstress extraordinaire of “Diva Aprons” has combined with purveyor of handbags, belts, and jewelry, Amanda B. of “The Western Diva” to form a unique boutique store-within-a-store called, “The Two Divas.” Their boutique located inside of Real Deals on Hwy. 6 & 50, has its grand opening today. Talk about a one-stop holiday shopping for the domestic diva in your life.
· Being a woman who hates to have a lot of miscellany on her countertops, I recommend, the Caldrea Kitchen Caddy from Target. This simple, yet sophisticated cleaning caddy priced at $20, comes with hand soap, counter cleaner, and dish soap. It’s available in several scents, but I recommend the citron ginger. With its simple styling and kitchen friendly fragrance, you won’t mind it gracing your countertops.
Things I Would Like to Love
These next two items come highly recommended from a friend and fellow “homie.” If I am a good girl, perhaps next year they will make it onto the list of things I already love. (Note to Secret Agent Man: This is the part where you should make the most of your photographic memory.)
· The Shark Easy and Light Steam Mop enables you to clean quickly and simply and sanitize your hard floor surfaces. It’s available at Bed Bath and Beyond for $69.99. More expensive models are also available for the over-achieving gift giver.
· The Rowenta Pro Compact Steamer, also available at Bed Bath and Beyond and costs $50, takes wrinkles out of clothes and curtains with this lightweight, easy-to-use steamer. It heats up in just two minutes. No more excuses sending the kiddos out the door in wrinkled t-shirts and jeans. Just fire up the steamer and blast the wrinkles into oblivion. Not recommended for use while the kids are wearing the clothes, by the way.
Whether you chose one of the products I love for your “homie” for Christmas or one of the products I would like to love, one thing I know for sure is that no one has ever regretted taking my advice.
For more information about “The Two Divas” check out their websites: Domesticdivaaprons.com and Westerndivahandbags.com.
If you have Home tips, topics, or projects you would like to share with Annie Payne, please contact her at annie.payne@bresnan.net.
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
The More the Merrier: What to do with multiple Christmas trees.
As seen in the Home of Garden section of The Daily Sentinel, Saturday, December 4, 2010. Sorry, no pictures, from the actual article; the newspaper owns them.
A year ago I wrote a column entitled, "What does your Christmas tree say about you?" Said column brought me instant fame and glory; in Manitoba. It also acquainted me with Darrell Jones. He sent me an e-mail to inquire if he had multiple Christmas trees, what did that say about him? Multiple personalities?
When you think of someone who puts up more than one tree each year, perhaps you think are cuckoo for Christmas or a tree hoarder, and those types of people are out there, but Mr. Jones is not one of them. After visiting his home this week, I would consider him a prime example of how to do multiple trees in a classy, understated way, if decorating multiple trees in your house could be called, “understated.”
The decision process to put up more than one tree is not that different from whether or not to have pet. Can you afford it? Do you have room for it? Who will take care of it?
Speaking of pets, Jones’ dog, Jagger, doesn’t seem to mind the extra company during the holidays, when I asked Jones about it, he said that his faithful Golden Retriever never bothers his collection of trees.
Jones has nine, in fact; four trees in the house and five trees outside. He started this tradition several years ago, when he was working as a building manager and was decorating trees for the building lobby and tenants. The habit just sort of stuck. Friends, co-workers, and now columnists, appreciate his efforts as he hosts several holiday parties during the Christmas season to show-off his collection.
Jones starts out with a theme. This year, his trees are white, each with a different color of ornaments and lights. The largest, and most impressive, tree stands in the center of the front room. It has gold ornaments with white lights. One of the most eye-catching is a sunburst ornament he picked up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The tree in the corner of the kitchen has red ornaments, including chili peppers, and red lights. The tree in his dining room, the smallest of the four, has green and blue ornaments with green lights, and finally the tree in the boudoir, which strays from the theme because it’s green, casts an inviting glow with gold lights and white ornaments.
When I asked if there’s a possibility of more trees in the future and where he would draw the line, he answered,
“I don’t think there is a line, as long as it doesn’t look cluttered. He added,
“If there is a line, I just don’t know where it is.”
Jones has a no-furniture-moving policy when it comes to setting up the trees or deciding where they will go. This keeps the collection under control.
Here are some of Jones’ tips for setting up multiple trees and creating your own winter wonderland:
Start off with a small cluster of trees where you would usually set up your single tree. Perhaps that would be a little less intimidating than trying to decide which empty corner to fill in your house.
To keep the trees from looking overloaded he suggests making sure each ornament has room to hang properly as opposed to sitting on the branch below.
He takes a stand-back-and-look approach, when hanging the ornaments. Hang a few, then stand back and look, and make adjustments as needed.
Jones also suggests making sure the lights are hung uniformly with equal distance between each row of strands. When asked if there was anything he absolutely would not put on his trees, the answer was “blinking lights.” He thinks they look cheap.
The final bit of advice Jones gave is to not let Christmas decorations linger longer than they should. He carefully stores is trees and ornaments on January 2nd. No fail.
So what do Darrell Jones’s trees say about him? They say, as long as it’s done in a tasteful way, “The more the merrier.”
A year ago I wrote a column entitled, "What does your Christmas tree say about you?" Said column brought me instant fame and glory; in Manitoba. It also acquainted me with Darrell Jones. He sent me an e-mail to inquire if he had multiple Christmas trees, what did that say about him? Multiple personalities?
When you think of someone who puts up more than one tree each year, perhaps you think are cuckoo for Christmas or a tree hoarder, and those types of people are out there, but Mr. Jones is not one of them. After visiting his home this week, I would consider him a prime example of how to do multiple trees in a classy, understated way, if decorating multiple trees in your house could be called, “understated.”
The decision process to put up more than one tree is not that different from whether or not to have pet. Can you afford it? Do you have room for it? Who will take care of it?
Speaking of pets, Jones’ dog, Jagger, doesn’t seem to mind the extra company during the holidays, when I asked Jones about it, he said that his faithful Golden Retriever never bothers his collection of trees.
Jones has nine, in fact; four trees in the house and five trees outside. He started this tradition several years ago, when he was working as a building manager and was decorating trees for the building lobby and tenants. The habit just sort of stuck. Friends, co-workers, and now columnists, appreciate his efforts as he hosts several holiday parties during the Christmas season to show-off his collection.
Jones starts out with a theme. This year, his trees are white, each with a different color of ornaments and lights. The largest, and most impressive, tree stands in the center of the front room. It has gold ornaments with white lights. One of the most eye-catching is a sunburst ornament he picked up in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
The tree in the corner of the kitchen has red ornaments, including chili peppers, and red lights. The tree in his dining room, the smallest of the four, has green and blue ornaments with green lights, and finally the tree in the boudoir, which strays from the theme because it’s green, casts an inviting glow with gold lights and white ornaments.
When I asked if there’s a possibility of more trees in the future and where he would draw the line, he answered,
“I don’t think there is a line, as long as it doesn’t look cluttered. He added,
“If there is a line, I just don’t know where it is.”
Jones has a no-furniture-moving policy when it comes to setting up the trees or deciding where they will go. This keeps the collection under control.
Here are some of Jones’ tips for setting up multiple trees and creating your own winter wonderland:
Start off with a small cluster of trees where you would usually set up your single tree. Perhaps that would be a little less intimidating than trying to decide which empty corner to fill in your house.
To keep the trees from looking overloaded he suggests making sure each ornament has room to hang properly as opposed to sitting on the branch below.
He takes a stand-back-and-look approach, when hanging the ornaments. Hang a few, then stand back and look, and make adjustments as needed.
Jones also suggests making sure the lights are hung uniformly with equal distance between each row of strands. When asked if there was anything he absolutely would not put on his trees, the answer was “blinking lights.” He thinks they look cheap.
The final bit of advice Jones gave is to not let Christmas decorations linger longer than they should. He carefully stores is trees and ornaments on January 2nd. No fail.
So what do Darrell Jones’s trees say about him? They say, as long as it’s done in a tasteful way, “The more the merrier.”
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