BOUNCE TO THE RESCUE!!!

Who knew that dryer sheets had so many uses? Yes, they make your laundry come out of the dryer without static cling and smelling fresh, but here are some novel uses for them that you may not have known, according to Reader’s Digest and an email making its way around Cyberville:

• Repel mosquitoes. Tie a sheet through a belt loop when outdoors during mosquito season to keep them away.
• Remove fur. Rub a sheet over furniture and upholstery to eliminate unsightly pet hair.
• Perfume the room. Put a sheet in the vacuum cleaner bag to add a fresh scent to every corner of the house.
• Discourage deer. Cut sheets into one-inch strips and tie them onto tree branches in your yard to repel plant-eating deer.
• Eliminate static electricity from your TV or computer screen.

• Put a sheet in your suitcase when traveling; it will help keep mites or any other critters out of it.  While you are at it, travel with several sheets and run them up and down your bed linen before getting into bed.  That will cause all the critters already in your bed to run. Keep a sheet in your suitcase even after you have unpacked to protect your suitcases from bugs nesting in them.

• Eliminate static electricity from Venetian blinds. Wipe the blinds with a sheet to prevent dust from resettling.

There you have it! The many uses of dryer sheets. Now you know!

Karen

HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY!!!

Here are my kids visiting their Grandpa George, a veteran of WWII, at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery. Unfortunately they never had the opportunity to know him, but while there, my husband told them many stories about their grandfather.

Here’s to all the veterans out there who never knew their grandkids, or saw their own kids grow up. We owe you.

Karen

Monday Madness- At LEAST 48 hours notice, please

We returned home from our trip late last night, The Hubs and I. To say that today was hectic and overwhelming would be an understatement. I always try to plan for it, but it always bowls me over. There's simply too much to take care of in a 12 hour period. Or maybe my expectations of myself are a little high (Hmmmm.... now we're on to something!)


But I pretty much wanted to cry when I found out that swim practice got bumped up from 6:00 to 5:15. WHA?WHA? I found that out at 4:30. Which would mean I was supposed to be leaving in 15 minutes. I mean, could I have at least had 48 hours notice? I checked the email. They sent it last night at 10:30. Because, you know, everyone is checking their email that late at night for swim practice times. So that leaving in the ext 15 minutes thing?


Uh, yeah. Didn't happen. And I need to be okay with that.


I'm learning it's okay if we don't get there on time sometimes. And it's okay if we just need to sit some things out because, well, sanity is more important. 


It's okay if he scores poorly on one test.


It's okay if dinner is cereal once in a great while.


It's even okay if I let the laundry sit so I can read to them before they go to bed. We found a great book of Hans Christian Andersen during our travels. Amazing fairy tale writer from Denmark. You know- The Ugly Duckling, The Princess and the Pea, The Emperor's New Clothes and The Little Mermaid to name a few. As The Hubs is of Danish descent, and Z1 wants to be a children's writer, the book was a must have. I thought they might be getting to old for me to read to them before bed. To my utter delight, I was wrong. YAY!


No matter the madness, it's okay. We'll all get where we're supposed to be sooner or late. 


Yours, Knowing it's okay,


Melissa

Friday Funny- Self Discipline?

So the other day I was in the kitchen. My Z1 came into the room. He must have been feeling a little full of himself, having just returned from a Boy Scout Camp Out where he learned to shoot a rifle. (Yes, I worried all weekend, but that's another blog entirely). 


"Mom," he says,"I've thought of a new name for the dog."


We weren't exactly pleased with the Lolanator, as she had dust chewed through some running gear, including a heart monitor strap. 


"What is it?" I asked.


"BDD," he stated flatly.


"And that stands for...." I led.


"Big. Damn. Dog." 


"SON. Meet me in the bathroom," I said.


"That's okay," he says. "I'll just get the soap and do it myself."


In fact, he did a better job than I would have. 


God love that boy!


Yours, still giggling over the bubbles,


Melissa

5th GRADE GRADUATION. HUH?

When did “graduating” from 5th grade become such a big deal? In my day, we went to grade school through 6th grade, Junior High until 9th grade, then High School until 12th grade. Now it’s Elementary School through 5th grade, Middle School through 8th grade, then finish off with High School. Okay, that’s fine. But we had no celebrations until we actually graduated. You know, High School. 12th grade. On to college or work or whatever. Adulthood.

My kids are completing 5th grade this year and you’d think they were at the end of their schooling, what with the huge deal we’re making over this! Don’t get me wrong, I’m a little teary-eyed over the fact that they’re going to Middle School next year and they’re not my little babies anymore. But all this celebrating is just a little over the top if you ask me. Which obviously nobody did!

We have things going on for the entire next week for our kiddos: a memory book with a page that everyone filled out with questions and pictures (do NOT volunteer for this – believe me on this one!), a CD with pictures set to music, a musical and a half day celebration with a pizza party, just to name a few. (But for some odd reason, our school actually doesn’t have a graduation ceremony, although other elementary schools in our district do, so I don’t know what’s up with that.)

So I just want to know, why didn’t I get anything like this when I was growing up? I feel very deprived!

Karen

Monday Madness- So Close and SO Far

It's Monday. The second to last Monday of the school year. I have called the secretary every day for the past week with transportation changes. I have triple scheduled myself 3 out of the last 8 days. I turned in my grades a day late, one of which I don't even have a grade for one of the students.


YEP.


I'm right on schedule.


How is it that May always hits me as if it is hitting for the first time? I've really got to fix this. 


Right after I finish this blog, fold the laundry, start another load and get the schedule for the week straightened out.


Yours, still thankful in the midst of the madness,


Melissa

Monday Madness- Because I love My Kids...

It's Monday.


Because I love my kids, and because I know you love yours too... YOU MUST READ THIS: http://www.handsfreemama.com/2012/05/07/how-to-miss-a-childhood/


I'm guilty of some of these things. And I'm ready to make the change...


Yours, disconnecting in order to reconnect,


Melissa

Whose Idea Was It To Go Back To Work?

Don’t get me wrong, I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE my new job at Weight Watchers, but it is SERIOUSLY getting it the way of my personal life! Every day I work a lunch meeting so that virtually eliminates lunches with my girlfriends, unless they want to wait until almost 1:30 to eat with me. And I’m finding out they are NOT that patient!

It’s also getting in the way of exercise program. I finally had to put my gym membership on hold. By the time my kids get on the bus at 8:45, I don’t have time to get to the gym to do a full work out, get home, shower and get to work on time. So I either just use the treadmill at home or walk the dog. Not quite the same. Once the kids start Middle School next year, they’ll get on the bus much earlier so I’ll be able to get back to a regular routine again.

And then there are days when I sub for other leaders. Last week, I had one day when I led 4 meetings. By the end of the day, I was so sick of hearing myself talk, I couldn’t stand it!

For the first time in years, I actually have to hire a babysitter this summer. (Good thing I have The Caregiver Organizer!) (On sale NOW!) I hope I end up making money after paying her!

Yes, I still love my job, but I sure do miss my goof-off time! (Yep, I TOTALLY know I was spoiled!!!)

Karen

Monday Madness

Happiness is... finally sleeping in, even if that means only until 7.


Happiness is ... sipping coffee on the back deck while you watch your husband pitch balls to your son and your daughter catch them in the outfield. 


Happiness is... biking to the doughnut shop and splitting glazed doughnuts.


Happiness is... finally getting handles installed on your kitchen drawers.


Happiness is... a place for everything and lots of things in their place.


Happiness is... knowing you are loved no matter what.


Happiness is... having to attend an event every night in May because it's the end of the school year and May is busier than December!


Happiness is... changing your entire weekend because family came in town. Even though it puts you incredibly behind, it's still good to be with them.


Happiness is... understanding how fortunate you are to work places where creativity is not only valued but promoted.


Happiness is... learning to find happiness in this chaos called life.


Yours, continuing to make my list, continuing to find happiness,


Melissa

Saturday Sass- So, so white....

Hello Good Readers~


I know. Both Karen and I missed blogging this week. It's not that we had forgotten, it's just been THAT kind of week. I'm in the last week of my semester, helping my sister (in-law) with the death of her father, putting my kitchen back together and Karen has been trying to catch up from vacation and leading extra Weight Watchers Meetings. All things considered, the fact that we've made it through with relatively little bloodshed and no broken bones? I'm ready to call that success! 


So my son has been asking for tap dancing lessons. Just out of the blue, for the last 2 months, he's been telling me he needs tap lessons. He's always been a busy boy. Doesn't like to sit still. Always tapping his fingers or feet. He tells me that he wants to learn so he can keep control of his body. I get it.


But here, at the moment is the visual... a white boy... a very white boy, all 5th grade elbows and knees, skinnier than a beanpole, putting on his dress shoes and trying to dance in the kitchen. It's not quite tap. It's a little more  rap meets Irish jig. I'm trying to be a good, straight faced mom... After all, he is expressing himself. And I encourage that greatly, being a musician. 


I have, however, encouraged him to not do this publicly or for friends until we get him some lessons this summer (or at least really learns the Just Dance game!). 


He's doing the worm now....


Yours, celebrating every moment of life,


Melissa