The Push of a Button

I should have realized that S C Johnson wasn't targeting the sharpest market when they thought it necessary to include the following on their bullet list of directions for Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner: "Not a body wash".   I am admitting to you all here today, that, "yes, I bought it".   Why is the "easy button" so attractive?  I fall for it too often thinking that it just might really make my life easier.  So I hang the Scrubbing Bubbles Automatic Shower Cleaner on my shower head and take a shower (fighting the urge to use it as a body wash - ha).   When the shower is over, I simply push the button and in 15 seconds, the sprayer starts coating the inside of my shower with cleanser.  It sprays for about 5 seconds.  My 4 year old son watches with delight while I realize I just spent $12 on this thing so it would spray for me?  So it saved me 5 seconds of spraying and I still have to get in and rinse it off.  Trust me I waited day after day to see if it would clean itself (as the directions stated "no rinsing, no scrubbing").  Finally I just got in there and cleaned it the old fashioned way.  It is just so pleasing to hear things like "Spray and Walk Away" and "Fix it and Forget it".  On that note, I also bought the dishwasher gel packs that have a rinse agent built it.  Now, I actually liked those little dishwashing pillow pouches but are they really easier than pouring some liquid or powder into the little hole?  Not really, but they are way cuter!  It wasn't until I bought a cheaper version of the pre-packaged dishwasher pouches that I realized my quest for making my life easier was getting out of hand.  The cheaper version also came in pre measured packets, but these ones didn't disolve, they had to be unwrapped; and they didn't unwrap easily.  When I finally got the little bugger out and dropped it in it's place I realized that it looked like the chunk of dishwasher detergent that would get stuck in the bottom of the box during the humid summers in NY.  I just paid extra to have someone turn my detergent into the hardened chunks I used to try to avoid.  Somebody help me!  Now there is the Bounce Bar calling my name.  Instead of spending, oh let's see, half a second getting a dryer sheet into the dryer, you just mount this bar on the inside of your dryer and never think about dryer sheets again.  The ad has women telling how much time they save and how they can use all the help they can get when it comes to laundry, blah blah blah.  Saving a milisecond does not count as helping me with the laundry.  When it can sort, fold and put away, then you have a product (or is that a maid?).  I am making a vow not to buy this thing, but feel free to pass on information about a product that really does help, and really does save time and/or money.

This Could Get Dirty

Today, I went to a craft store to buy some ribbon.  While perusing the enormous selection of spools, looking for just the right blue with a pattern that wasn't girly,  I was quite pleased to find that my 4 year old son had found a way to occupy himself.  There he lay on the floor, sprawled on his belly, looking under the display shelf.  He would occasionally report to me the things he'd found; "mom, there's a round blue thing", to which I would reply, "what do you think it is?" and "do you think you can reach it?"  I realize my parenting is often unconventional, but nonetheless, we were both happily engaged in our errand.   It seemed obvious, due to the fact that I was conversing with my child, that I  was aware that  he was indeed on the floor.  It was also obvious, judging by the few disapproving glances that I got from the antibacterial moms, that we were breeching the norm.  With that said, it wasn't a big surprise to me when a saleslady walked by and said to me, (by way of my son) "it's really dirty down there fella, you don't want to play on the floor".  I just smiled and said "yeah, I know,... it's ok".  As long as we weren't in anyone's way, I didn't see anything wrong with my son exploring the underworld of the ribbon aisle.  The opinion of the saleslady was, however, different from my own. I was obviously putting him in danger because she came back down the aisle to restock some spools, and in passing, said to me (directly this time), "you know, the sweeper comes through the aisles but doesn't really reach under there", motioning to where my health hazard child was now squeezing both arms and half of his face.  I continued to respond with a simple, "oh,... ok... thanks", knowing that I am the odd ball; I am on the path less traveled.  I don't expect others to agree with me, but I fall into the school of thought that we need some dirt in our lives to challenge and strengthen our immune systems (see link below).   By this time, I had found 2 suitable spools of ribbon and was ready to go.  Sensing that I had not yet realized the danger in which I was placing my son, and thinking I would probably encourage my baby to lick his hands clean after getting up, the saleslady made one final trip down my aisle.  This time she didn't even have ribbon to restock - she was coming just for me.   Jason and I were up and moving toward the cashier as she called out, "make sure he washes his hands, the floor is a very dirty place".  I smiled and waved goodbye feeling smugly confident that after restocking all of those spools that other people had touched with their coughing, sneezing, nose picking, bathroom going hands, she should be far more concerned about washing her own hands.
Disclaimer:  I do believe it is prudent to wash one's hands often, and I don't encourage touching things that look or smell gross.  A little dust or dirt however, doesn't bother me one bit.        http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/09/070905174501.htm 

Exercise of the Month - September

Hamstring/Glute Bridge

Begin laying on the floor with your feet resting on the ball.  Keeping your hands on the floor for stabilizaiton, lift your hips off of the floor.  Hold for a count of 4, then draw the heels toward your glutes while keeping your hips off of the floor.  Hold for a count of 4.  Contract your abs working on core stabilization in both positions.  Contract your hamstrings and glutes as you draw in.  For an extra challenge, raise your hands off of the floor.  Your abs and hamstrings will tell you how many reps to do.  

"You've Got Nails"

In high school ('83-'87) I drank Knox for Nails gelatin to make my nails grow.  In college, I experimented with Lee Press-On Nails.  I remember waking up with them stuck in my hair instead of on my nails.  As a young professional, I tried the DIY acrylic gel sets and ended up with weird cement lumps permanently adhered to my nails.  I have always admired pretty, manicured nails, but I guess I've never been willing to pay for them, so I have learned to accept my flat, thin, short, manly nails.  Last Christmas we went skiing and my boots were too small (I told the guy they felt small and he said I would want them snug, so I went with it.  What do I know?)  By the end of the first day, my big toes felt bruised so I got the bigger boots - duh.  A week later, my toe nails were black and blue.  A month later, they fell off!  Gross!!!  I did what I always do when I have a medical or other important question; I googled it - "toe nail falling off".  I learned that if I put fake nails on over the new growth, it would help guide the new nail so it wouldn't come in funky, crooked or bumpy.  I fully intended on going to a real salon and having real acrylic nails put on my big toes, but then, I saw it at Target - glue on toe nails!  I thought I should give it a try.  What did I have to loose, another nail?  So I picked out the right sizes for both of my big toes and glued them on and painted them to match my other toes.  Yay!  They looked so good, and stayed on over 7 days; I even wore them in the pool.  My toe nails have grown back perfectly now, in case you're wondering.  So I say all of this to say - You can imagine how excited I was to get an email from Revlon asking if I'd like to try their new "Runway Collection" of glue on nails,  and review them on my blog!  This excites me on so many levels,  first of which is they were free!   Secondly, someone actually found my blog!  Thirdly, they are DIY and very inexpensive!  Fourthly (?), they are gorgeous and go very well with my "lipgloss side".  I put on my first set last night and for my first attempt, they look pretty good.  I've got nails!  I did however glue my fingers together several times over the course of 10 nails.   If you look closely, you can see some air pockets where I either didn't press hard enough or didn't get enough glue.   I still need to see how difficult it is to get them off, and how much damage the glue does to my real nail.  But for now... I like them, except when trying to text (I think I'll file down the thumbs).
Update!!! - I've now tried taking them off and have on my second set.  Everywhere I go, I get compliments so I have to say, I love them.  My second attempt was much more successful considering I didn't glue my fingers together this time.  I also filed down a couple of the nails prior to gluing them on so I got a better, more custom fit.  A friend from high school, who uses these regularly gave me a tip on getting them off too.  She leaves them on until they start falling off on their own, which makes the soaking time shorter, and the temptation to pry them off lesser.

If You're Happy and You Know It...Save The Earth!

Free things make me happy!  Last year, the city of Plano rolled out an experimental recycling program with RecycleBank.com. Our recycling bins were fitted with a UPC type label so all of my recycling efforts could be recorded and rewarded.   Our neighborhood pick up area is grouped together and we are rewarded with points based on the total weight of our recycled trash.  The program also sent out a detailed list of acceptable items, including plastics #'s 1-7!  I taped the list to our "in-home" bin and explained to the kids what should go in.  About every month I get an email from RecycleBank letting me know I have points, then I go "shopping".  It doesn't take much for me to get excited, so my monthly coupon for a free hand soap or salad dressing is all it takes to keep me going.  Between the beefed up recycling and our compost bin, I am amazed at how much trash I am NOT making.  Check it out for your neighborhood!

Exercise of the Month - August, Part 2

             This is the modified "monkey deadlift".   With a "monkey" on your back, hinge forward from the hip, (placing your hands on thighs for extra support) until you feel a stretch in your hamstrings.  Stand up using your glutes and hamstrings.  Keep your back flat and abs engaged throughout.   

Exercise of the Month - August Part 1

         I call this move the "Monkey Squat".  If you've got a few monkeys around the house, enlist them to be your personal trainers and count out your reps.  My monkeys love doing these moves (which usually makes me do more than I would do on my own).   With this extra weight on your back, you should place your hands on thighs for extra support.   Place feet hip width apart, hands on thighs.  Lower body, sitting back, keeping weight in heels.   Raise body by sqeezing glutes and quad muscles.

Eyelash Envy

I have a problem!  I have "Eyelash Envy".   Everytime a new mascara comes out at the drugstore, I am convinced that it will be "The One".  The One that makes me look like the model on the package, The One that won't clump together, flake off or smell funky (Sheer Cover smelled super funky!).  I know full well that the models have false eyelashes, professional make-up artists, photographers and photo editors.  Even so, I buy the new mascara thinking that it will somehow fulfill my lash fantasy (Revlon Lash Fantasy, btw: 2 step application and ended up flaking under my eyes by the afternoon).  CoverGirl Exact Eyelights was supposed to bring out the natural beauty of my hazel eyes (blah blah) and Rihanna said it would make my eyes "4X brighter".  I'm not sure they were brighter...how do you measure eye brightness? Well if I can't believe Rihanna, can I believe Drew Barrymore?  I decided to take the risk and see if CoverGirl Lash Blast would "max out each lash" and remain smudge proof.  Well, I thought I'd share  a picture since, so far, this is my favorite.  (It's kinda scary, beware.  Maybe I could have smiled eh?) I still want to try Maybelline's Stilettos mascara to see if I can "grasp each lash" to get "provocative length".  I'll keep you posted.  Meanwhile, please let me know if you've found "The One".  (See why I don't really fit in at the composting workshops?)

Planting with Jason

Yesterday, I remembered to  s l o w  d o w n.  I bought a beautiful urn planter and plant to put by our front door to welcome visitors.  I think I could have re-potted it in 15 minutes, so when Jason (4yr) asked if he could help, I thought "this is gonna get messy and consume the better part of the afternoon".  But...how could I resist such a teachable moment to spend with my precious son.  It was so enjoyable to work with him and see his enthusiasm while shoveling dirt and filling up the water can and making the world a little greener.  

Suburban Kids Go To The Farm

I took the kids to the Heritage Farmstead Museum last week so they could experience life before TV, washing machines and ChickFilA.  It was a great (hot) trip and well worth the sweat.  The Farmstead docent took us on a tour and introduced us to basic chores children would have done over 100 years ago.  We did laundry, ground corn to feed chickens, milked a "cow", gathered apples and firewood, beat rugs, churned butter, planted corn, rode in a covered wagon and then played in the water down at the creek.  Avery said she wished she could do laundry, by hand, all day.

www.heritagefarmstead.org

Butter as Health Food? Yes! ; )

I was reading a copy of Mother Earth News the other day and it had an article about butter.   I have always preferred real butter to any other yellow mass of goo in a tub, but I had no idea how many types of "real" butter there could be.  It turns out I have been using the substandard, mass processed type, not realizing that it would be better if the milk came from organic, grass fed cows during the months of May-September.  I also errantly believed butter was made from cream and fat, and that was that.  Oh no, it can be so much more if it comes from said cows. The butter from these cows have CLA (conjugated linoleic acid), higher level of antioxidants and both Omega-3 & Omega-6.  Yes, butter as health food!  Anyway, I bought some today on a quick trip into Sprouts and spread it on a piece of bread as soon as the yogurt and half and half were safely refrigerated.  YUMMY!  It was so... buttery (I know, really helpful description).  It was rich and spreadable and golden and nutty and, well... so wonderful I don't think I can go back to plain ol butter.    http://www.organicvalley.coop/products/butter/pasture/ 

http://www.motherearthnews.com

"What do you mean...'crunchy'?"

I use the term all of the time to describe someone who is very, ya know, "granola", or somewhat of a tree hugging  Birkenstock wearer.  Apparently, it's not a very well know way of expressing  it because several of my friends have asked, "what do you mean, 'crunchy'?"  So I thought I'd explain myself better.  You'll never catch me letting my hair color and style grow out naturally and I don't do prairie skirts.  But, I'm kinda crunchy, more like the chewy type of granola bar.   If I can recycle something into my town recycling program, I will.  But I still forget to bring my reusable bags to the grocery store. I compost all of our household produce waste, but have very few plants to use it on.   I buy most of my groceries at Walmart, but look for organics.  Are you getting my drift?  I want to do more for the environment and for my family's health, and in fact, I am doing more than I was last year.  These small simple changes will affect the environment and my family's health for the better, but there is a deeper reason and motivation.  There is a spiritual development when you care for others; when you take care of what you have and practice good stewardship and moderation.  I have a tendency toward consumerism and consumption, but I want to grow in consciousness, thoughtfulness and contentment.  Little by little I am changing, so, I'm crunchier...but still wear lipgloss.

Exercise of the Month - July

When I travel, I just pack this small exercise tubing with handles so I can squeeze in a little conditioning wherever I am.  I even use it in the car (in the passenger seat of course).  Start holding handles with elbows close to the body and one foot on tubing.  Contract your core muscles and keep your standing knee "soft" (slight bend).  Next, contract your Glutes on the working leg and push your foot down and back.  Move slowly, counting at least 2 counts out, 2 count in.  For a more advanced alternative extend the arms at the same time, keeping wrists strong and straight.  For an easier modification (not shown), place hands on a wall for balance.

My new "Tuperware"

Last year, I learned about the possible adverse effects of using plastic ware to store food.  The whole BPA thing scared me enough to get rid of all my Rubbermaid/Tuperware-like food storage containers.  I found a few glass and metal containers, but they were expensive.  Then one night while pouring some pasta sauce out of a jar, it dawned on me that the solution was literally "at hand".  Genius!  

Healthy foods that my kids love (me too)

This will be a list of foods that I consider to be both healthy and kid friendly.  2 of my 3 kids are very picky eaters and they love the following:

• Phillipine Brand dried Mangoes - I found them at Costco first, then my local Walmart started carrying them.  Now, dried fruit of any kind is calorie dense and full of sugar, but I think its better than candy or chips.  Don't even bother trying any other brand of dried mango, I've tried them all (Whole Foods, Sprouts, etc) and they all taste like shoe leather.  This brand however is fresh and delicious!
• Bob's Red Mill 5 Grain Rolled Whole Grain Hot Cereal with flaxseed - everyone in my family loves this.  Super hearty, chewy yummy-ness!  Of course we put brown sugar on it.
• Horizon  Tuberz, or Stonyfield YoKids Squeezers (like Go-gurts).  I put these in the freezer and the kids eat them like frozen yogurt popsicles.
• Simply Fruit, Fruit RollUps.  So far, I can only find them at Target.  My kids don't like the Twisted Fruit by Cliffbar or Fruitabu.  I was so happy to find these that they liked because I refuse to by "Fruit" snacks.

Green products that I love

I will keep a list here about different products that I love that are considered "green" and that are also priced competitively.  I consider myself light to medium green because in order for me to consider a product that is better for the earth and/or for myself, it has to work great and be cost effective.  For instance, I tried cleaning my house with vinegar and baking soda and it stunk!  Sure it was healthy for us to get rid of all the chemicals, but my house stunk!  

• Green Works (Clorox) natural dilutable cleaner.  I mix it myself in a labeled spray bottle.  I think I only paid about $3 for 28 ounces.  Since only use 1/2 cup to 1 and 1/2 gal of water, it is not only healthy, but more cost effective than vinegar.  It is coconut based with lemon oil (smells fresh) and is biodegradable.
• White Cloud Green Earth toilet paper.  This is made from 100% recycled paper and is as soft as the other stuff I was using.  It is priced very closely to it's non-recycled competitors - sometimes more, sometimes less expensive. 

Things that I really want to do (suburban hippie speaking)

• Build and plant a small raised bed garden - I already have an awesome self-contained, rotating composting bin.  I just need something on which to put my compost.  
  
• Raise a few egg laying chickens in my suburban back yard.
  
• Make and sell my reSnackle bags to save the world from plastic baggie abuse.
  

I'm not the most ambitious person around and this may take a few years.  We'll see how it goes, but with small kids still at home and my part time job as a group fitness instructor, I don't have a lot of spare time.  In Fall of 2010, my youngest will start school full time and then maybe... I'll get around to doing a lot more of what I dream of.

Reduce Reuse ReSnackle

I grew up with semi-hippie parents.  My dad had every issue of "Mother Earth News", they gardened, raised chickens, goats and other animals, and my mom would grind her own wheat to make bread, can vegetables and make jam.  They definitely lived by the motto "Use it Up, Wear it Out, Make it Do or Do Without".  Any plastic bag that entered the house was used to wrap up sandwiches for lunches or stuffed into snow boots for extra water proofing.  It was bound to happen.  I now have an enormous sense of guilt if I don't wash out and reuse a good Ziploc bag several times.  When my kids started bringing their own lunches to school,  I had to do something or end up with some psychological disorder.  So here is my homemade solution...the reusable baggie.  I call it the "ReSnackle Bag".    I've made one for each of the kids and they love them.  The inside is lined with PUL, a food safe, poly-coated fabric, so you can pack things like grapes or carrots.  I usually use them for pretzels or cookies.   It is machine washable.  The strap opens so you can velcro it around a stroller or grocery cart for younger kids.  I still use a plastic baggie every now and then, but this has cut down my waste and my guilt, tremendously.

Retin A - The "Before" photo

Well, it happened...I turned 40 last April 24, 09.  I have totally embraced it and actually feel pretty stinkin happy about where my life is right now.  I have my health, a happy family and I can still fit into my wedding gown.  OK, there are a few things I'm not exactly raising the roof about - massive amounts of funky gray hairs that stick straight out of the front of my head, and "smile lines" all around my eyes and mouth -wrinkles, wrinkles, wrinkles.   So, I'm coloring my hair and trying to decide, "highlights, or no highlights"?  But yesterday I got my first prescription for Retin A; magic in a tube.  I put it on last night after getting a little freaked out about all the possible adverse reactions (here's to hoping I don't get a rash or crusty pustules, or lose pigment in treated areas...)  Every magazine I read says 40 and over skin needs a retinol cream, so...  here I go.  The good news here is that my original prescription for Renova was going to cost me $180.  When I asked if there was a generic, the derm said he could change the scrip to a low dose Retin A and then I could ask for a generic.  Yay!  Now it only cost $59!  Still a whole heck of a lot more than I've ever paid for a face product.  Crossing my fingers.