Tips

Here are some ideas for putting the 3 R's to use. Let me know what you currently are doing, are trying or think is plain nuts! I want to hear from you! I do some of these, some I don't but today, I am a messenger so read and glean!

Recycling Tips
1. Kleenex boxes - Store plastic grocery store bags in them. You can then grab the bag just like you grab a tissue out of the box.
2. Envelopes - Carefully open the envelope and turn it inside out, so the address is on the inside. Re-glue or tape the flaps down. Or make your own envelopes out of scraps of paper, wrapping paper, newspaper, old phone book pages, or wallpaper scraps (see below).
3. Happy Meal boxes - Save the boxes, and when your child needs to be cheered up, make them their own happy meal! Add your own nutritious foods and a favorite toy. Or pick up inexpensive items from the dollar store: stickers, special pencils, etc (usually 10 for a dollar) as the toy.
4. Ziplock bags - Wash and rinse bags, then store them in the freezer to prevent mildew.
5. Tennis ball - Split it and hide your valuables inside.
6. Coffee cans (big ones) - Make toy "stilts"! Poke holes (with a can opener) on either side of the can and thread a jumprope through and they can walk on the cans while holding the jumpropes. Cool!
7. Egg cartons - Use to make seed starter trays. If you use the heavy cardboard trays, you can compost the cardboard when you pop the seedling out, or you could bury it next to the seedling to decompose. Use to make extra ice cubes or to freeze soup stock and gravy.
8. Old clothes - Use to make quilts, pillows, and blankets. Always save the buttons.
9. Broken candles - Melt them down to make new candles. Add broken crayons for color.
10. Nylon mesh bags from veggies - Cut the mesh into several pieces and use for plastic scouring pads to clean your dishes. Click here for more ideas: "Orange Bags -- How to Reuse Mesh Fruit Bags and Recycle" I like the idea of getting more life out of your sponge by wrapping it in a mesh bag from fruit, garlic, etc.
11. Used dryer softener sheets - Try cutting them in half!
12. Old pillow cases - Use for laundry bag.
13. Empty paper-towel roll - Store extension cords inside.
14. Frisbees - Use as paper plate holders at a picnic.
15. Mouse Pads - Use as a paint pallet. Use acrylic, oils, or most any paints. Wash when done, and reuse!
16. Newspaper - Use to clean windows, line trash cans, wrap presents. Use in place of peanuts when mailing packages, as fire starter, or as garden mulch.
17. Shoulder Pads - Use them to make padded hangers. Just sew a pad on each end of the hanger.
18. Wallpaper books/samples - Use to make book covers, decorative envelopes, or wrapping paper. Or make your own beautiful envelopes: take apart any envelope you have, and trace the pattern onto the back side of the wallpaper, then fold and glue or tape.
19. Film canisters - Store small items such as buttons, sequins, and small nails.
20. Soap scraps - Mix with water to make soap jelly. Put in sock, mesh, or used pantyhose to use in bath or for scenting drawers.
21. Pantyhose - Use for ponytail holders, to secure plants, or buffing your shoes.
22. Coffee filters - Use to clean and polish, or as a replacement for cheesecloth, paper towels, and napkins.
23. Glass jars & bottles - Use as a vase, for canning, or melt and pour wax in for candles.
24. Plastic grocery bags - Donate to local Salvation Army. They deliver meals on Wheels to elderly and are a non profit organization and need bags to put food in to deliver.
25. Plastic jugs - Cut out the side to make a big scoop or garden shovel, cut off the top and use as a funnel, fill with water and freeze to use in coolers, or cut off top and use bottom to store toilet brush.
26. Baby food jars - Fill with salt or cornmeal and use for paperweight, use for crafts, and for storing small items. Use for Use for individual Jar Mix Gifts: 1 cup of coffee mix, 1 cup of hot chocolate mix, or 1 cup of tea. Decorate jar, glue on ribbon, and attach gift tag with instructions.
27. Broken crayons - Sort by color, melt in old can, pour into molds that come with Jello gigglers, then kids have new crayons in all diferent shapes. **Thanks Susie!
28. Socks - Use in crafts, to hold soaps, or to wash car.
29. Milk cartons - use for potting plants, or fill with water and freeze to make blocks of ice.
30. Soap Wrapper - Place it inside your shoe cabinet or shoe box. It's a cheap way of filling the air with a nice smell.
31. Pill Bottles - Use to carry pins, vitamins, or fill it with vaseline to use as lip gloss.
32. Junk Mail - Put it through paper shredder and use as packing material when shipping gifts.

Through Paco's Eyes

My dear boy, Paco, loves to take pictures. He does this all on his own and has been getting his subjects for quite some time now. Here, you see, is mommy smiling. He did not want her smiling.

He MADE her make the following face, saying, "Say, boop boop boop, like this!!!" So, I did. It was for art. My blooming budding artist.Because he takes pictures of flowers.
And his unsuspecting sister. He usually catches her with some horrible look on her face as she tries to escape the view finder!
He spies for mommy. "Go take a picture of Reggie for Mommy." And he does. Which also means he's not taking more weirdo pictures of mommy's boop boop boop face.
As you can see, some pictures are good. Some are out of focus. Some turn out. Some don't. Hmmmm, sounds like my picture taking ability.

Happy Earth Day

Isn't it funny all the little holidays we have? I'm all for celebrations, I just need to remember what we're celebratin' people!

Here are 10 EASY ways to go MAD! That's make a difference!

*Shut off the water when they brush their teeth
*Walk, ride a bike or take the bus instead of traveling by car. Even to the mail box!
*Take faster showers or baths in just a small amount of water. Try setting the timer and see who can take the fastest one AND get clean!!!
*Help hang clothes on the line instead of putting them in the dryer. Door knobs work, too, I found out.
*Choose products that are not over packaged
* Lights Out! Turn them off when nobody's there!
* Recycle.
*Compost together!
* Get the reuse part down by buying gifts at the thrift store - TOGETHER! Make it a field trip!
* Craft Time - Make a Grocery Tote! Have fun!

Finally, just get outside and enjoy the earth's beauty. God is Good!

Port-A-Potty

We have a problem. Actually, Paco has a problem. No, it's me - I have the problem. You see, I hate port-a-pottys, port-a-john's, outhouses, whatever you want to call 'em - I hate 'em. They're dirty. Scary. Gross. And just plain EEEWWWHH!

And Paco is facinated with them. All of them. Every single one. He has to "go." Good Friday he went SIX times in 2 hours. Thus, the above photo. I cleaned it up because he got embarassed that you could see his bum bum. (Say it fast, like pom pom.) In fact, he got tired of me sneaking up to catch him going AGAIN that he started doing this:

What can I say? For as much I can't stand these places, he likes them. I will HOLD IT FOREVER if I can so I don't have to use these. I'd rather pee in the wild than use one of these things. So, it's hard for me to pull over at every construction site we see that has a port-a-potty. I draw the line here. I don't pull over all the time but I do sometimes. 'Cause how do you know when he's really gotta go and when he just wants to use the port-a-potty and "terilize my hands?" (That's sterilize in Paco's lingo). He loves the hand sanitizer dispensers, too. So, he can't be all that weird, right? Like's the dirty loo but is at least willing to sterilize his hands afterwards? Good boy.

But For The Grace of God Go I

After a wonderful evening out with a great group of ladies, I came home last night with a heavy heart. I found out that my first "real" boyfriend, meaning I could date at 16 boyfriend, was lost. Physically. Mentally. Spiritually. Emotionally. He is lost to meth. And I'm so sorry.

And then I found out this morning that one of my very best friends relapsed last night. And I hurt. And I'm so sorry.

So, I got out my Daily Reflections book. It's a book of reflections by A.A. members for A.A. members. Here is today's reading:

SELF-HONESTY
The deception of others is nearly always rooted in thedeception of ourselves. . . . When we are honest withanother person, it confirms that we have been honestwith ourselves and with God. AS BILL SEES IT, p. 17

When I was drinking, I deceived myself about reality,rewriting it to what I wanted it to be. Deceiving othersis a character defect--even if it is just stretching the truth a bit or cleaning up my motives so others would think well of me. My Higher Power can remove this character defect, but first I have to help myself become willing to receive that help by not practicing deception. I need to remember each day that deceiving myself about myself is setting myself up for failure or disappointment in life and in Alcoholics Anonymous. A close, honest relationship with a Higher Power is the only solid foundation I've found for honesty with self and with others.

And I can't help but think; "There but for the grace of God; go I." I looked up what it means in the idiom dictionary: something that you say which means something bad that has happened to someone else could have happened to you.

The first of the Twelve Steps is: We admitted we were powerless over alcohol that our lives had become unmanageable. Then there are 10 steps in the middle before reaching number 12. Having had a spirtitual awakening as a result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to alcoholics and to practice these principles in all our affairs.

A.A. or N.A. are tools and lifelines for those struggling with an addiction. Today I hurt for my friends and family fighting their addictions. And I am reminded how quickly I could fall. Without warning, the devil is waiting, buying his time to swoop in and attack. Six years ago I took the steps and God, MY Higher Power, led me to believe that He could restore me to sanity. (Step 2) and that I made a decision to turn my will and my life over to the care of God as I understood Him. (Step 3)

I'll close with what I need to hear today. Taken from the chapter, "Acceptance Was The Answer" page 11.
"And acceptance is the answer to all my problems. today. When I am disturbed, it is because I find some person, place, thing or situation---some fact of my life---unacceptable to me, and I can find no serenity until I accept that person, place, thing or situation as being exactly the way it is supposed to be at this moment. Nothing, absolutely nothing happens in God's world by mistake..." (From the Alcoholics Anonymous Big Book
Pp 417. A. A. World Service, 2001, N. Y. )
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
God grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
and Wisdom to know the difference.
Thy will, not mine, be done.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Hot Burrito!

I made "breakfast" burritos for my boys to eat at their track meet. I ask DH, el mexicano, why they are called "breakfast burritos" if it's night time.

"Sausage."

Sausage?

"Si, sausage. They are breakfast burritos no matter when you eat them."

Always? What if I just want a burrito with sausage? Do I have to call it a breakfast burrito?

"Mama mia! It's a breakfast burrito, already."

So, I needed to know how to keep 'em hot so they tasted good by 5:00 that night in a different city - well the only real city around but our county is getting better.


How do I keep 'em hot?

"Well, my love.... you wrap them in foil and lay them across the dash with your defrost on high and that, my dear, will keep the burritos hot all the way there."

ON MY DASH?!?!?! As in all six of 'em lined up?

"Si."

This my friends, is what I did. All the way there. Thankfully, it was cold and the full blowin' heat wasn't too stiffling.

So, I send DH this picture. He immediatley calls me:

"What happened? Are you okay?"

What do you mean? Did you get the picture I sent?

"Si, that's why I'm calling! What happened to the van?"

What van?

"The van you took a picture of." (Frustration in his voice...)

Oh, that. Well, you see my dear, it was a picture of the burritos. I did just as you told me!

"Wull, yeaaahh, so they stay hot."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So, I was thinking the whole way there, why Pampered Chef doesn't have something to keep to-go food hot during transport, when it hit me. They do. And I own it.

But then, I wouldn't have this to share with you and that my friend, would be a shame.

UPDATED: DH is Darlin' Hubby when he's a good boy and Doofus Hubby when not. I try not to say Dumb Hubby but I probably think it sometimes. Sorry dear, just being honest. :(

A Few of My Favorite Things: My Dad

Morning Lovins

I love my Dad. But more than him being a great father, he is the BEST granddad! Now, some of you have arguing rights but I'll fight for his award any day of the week. Here's why.

1) He sees his grandsons every single day. Usually multiple times a day!

2) He arrives at my house each morning at 7:30. What for? To get sweet Javier out of bed.

3) So, they can have coffee together! Yes, coffee and yes, every morning.

I realized yesterday morning when Granddad couldn't be here but was at the cafe with Paco that things were really getting out of control. You see, I didn't make the coffee right. That's right. My dad is spoiling my baby. He adds just enough coffee to one particular mug, then his organic whole milk, then creamer. The creamer is very important.

Yesterday, I made Javi his coffee how I think Granddad does. He sucked it down. All of it. To the last drop. Gone. So, I made another cup. Only this time I thought, does he really care if I don't add creamer??? Oh my stars. He not only SPIT the coffee out of his mouth, he THREW the mug of coffee to the floor!

I quickly picked it up and added creamer. Forced his poor little lips open, apologizing the entire time, til he could taste that mommy fixed it and it was now fit for his royal lips.

He drank it. And another.

4) He does this every morning. And changes his all night diaper to boot. And he holds him while they do this. Every morning. He doesn't plop him in the high chair like the mean lady who gave birth to him does.

5) Why else is my Dad my first "A Few of My Favorite Things" post? He takes Paco to preschool two times a week. And picks him up three hours later. Every week. Twice. And if for some reason he can't, he's sorry. And tries to work it out so he can be there to do this.

6) Friday mornings they have breakfast at the cafe. Just the two of them. Paco and Granddad.

7) He takes him to work with him. Often. Really often. Calling on people, mowing the lawn, roofing with his Daddy, working at the church, shopping, eating, napping and watching movies.

8) He takes him on the motorcycle. And camping, just the two of them.

9) They both love Golden Corral and Golden Dragon.
10) They have secrets. Like eating icecream together. Buying things they don't need. Driving. Yes, Paco drives, too. He drives to the end of our drive and from the end of our drive. It's their thing. And it works for them.

Reading "The Devil in Texas"

11) I could truly go on and on. Swim lessons, track meets, football games, hunting, target practice, reading, praises for their academic achievements, patience, gentleness... he prays for my kids. Not just my two babes, but for all of them. He cares. He loves. He gives his time.
12) He disciplines Paco and Javi. He has a way of making Paco mind. And if Paco gets in trouble at home and I have him call Granddad to tell him what he did, well, it's not fun. It's awful for the kid. Just tears him up inside. That's why I do it, too. He cares what Granddad thinks. And that's good stuff, people.

I know I'll end this and keep thinking of all the more reasons he's the best Granddad in the whole-wide world. But I'll end it with.....

HE JUST IS. If you don't believe me, Ask Paco. He'll tell ya.

Meal Time

We had company over for supper on Saturday night and I've been wanting to try out this new lasagna recipe I found over at The Pioneer Woman's site. I made The Best Lasagna! It was delicious and not the hard, time consuming meal I remember my mom complain about. Also, I've always thought of it as an expensive meal to prepare and was happy to find a recipe that fit our budget!

Let me know if you try it! I made it in my Pampered Chef rectangular baker and it stayed hot the entire time - well, til it was finished off completley!!!

That and my chocolate sheet cake is getting asked for more and more often!!! It truly melts in your mouth. For those of you who really know me, I don't add the nuts. And it's still the best ever. Really. Just ask anyone around me. They LOVE it! Poor Paco was begging for it last week. I caved and made it Sunday morning before church. It was perfect. He was happy. He wanted it for breakfast. That's when you know it's good - when a 3 year old wants it for the meal and not dessert.

3 R's

"The 3 R's" by Jack Johnson

Three it’s a magic number

Yes it is, it’s a magic number

Because two times three is six

And three times six is eighteen

And the eighteenth letter in the alphabet is R

We got three R’s we’re going to talk about today

We’ve got to learn to

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

If you’re going to the market to buy some juice

You’ve got to bring your own bags and you learn to reduce your waste

And if your brother or your sister’s got some cool clothes

You could Try them on before you buy some more of those

Reuse, we’ve got to learn to reuse

Go here for a cool video with the music!

How does one start? What's an easy first step.
1) Reduce what you use. Turn lights off when you're not in the room! Try your hand at composting! You don't have to have a garden - any flower or herb pots will benefit.

2) Resuse things!

Pictured here is an old toothbrush holder that you can resuse to dry ziplock baggies on! You can use any kind of sticks or chop stix add a neat flare, depending on your decor. Just wash your baggies and hang them upside down on your "dryer!" Talk about an easy way to reuse!!!
3) Recycle - Get your family involved. Take your kids with you to the recycle place and let them be in on all parts of the collecting and recycling. Save the money earned for a fun family outing! Or, donate it to a charity that is close to your families' heart.

We'll talk about more little ways we can make a big difference! Let me know what you're doing, if anything, to make a difference in our environment.

Green Moma III

If there was only one cleaner I could own, I would choose this. It is the best cleaner! Since it is a natural cleaner, I wash our fruits and vegetables with it, besides using it as a normal cleaner. And one of the best things for me? If for some crazy reason one of my kids decides it looks yummy and drinks it - they might get sick but they will NOT be poisoned or die. Do you want a safer home? That's huge for me. I don't have locks on my doors because I know I have a safe home. Remember, I don't own bleach, ammonia or any other caustic chemical! Not only are they bad for us, they are bad for the environment!!!

We have awesome biodegradable wipes that are great for quick cleaning jobs or to wipe down a grungy high chair, shopping cart or table! If you have wipes, check and see if they are really biodegradable or just disposable. Because, disposable does not = biodegradable.

Pictured above is my Tough & Tender spray bottle. It costs $1.49. You buy as many bottles as you want for your home - ONE TIME. I've had it for years. Another thing I love about Melaleuca...they don't ship water. One bottle (below) makes at least 4 spray bottles full or a whopping 96 fl. oz of cleaner!!! Just add the cleaner to the "fill line" then fill with water from your own tap!

I buy the pantry pack which consists of two bottles and pay $9.74. Full-price through Melaleuca is $14.00. I did not log on as a customer so these links should work for you to learn more about the products I use, if you so desire. Now, if you want to find out how to buy these yourself and have them delivered to your door at a reduced rate and earn 10% back on everything you buy, just ask me.

What else does Tough & Tender do?
*spray lightly on rose bushes, fruit trees and vegetable garden plants to keep insects from destroying them and maintain your organic environment! Just hook up one of those garden hose spray bottles with Tough & Tender it and start spraying!
* Saves money - who doesn't love that part?
* Removes road grime, bug juice and grease from your cars - just wash!
* Use in your window washer for the fluid! Works better than commercial cleaners, saves money and doesn't harm the environment.
* Can use concentrated for really tough jobs.
*Obviously, if it's safe for us, it's safe for pets.
*Add a little to the bath water and it eliminates the ring around the tub! I always add it to Paco's bath water. I think it helps loosen the grime off him, too. :)
*While all who use this have their own secrets, here are mine. The list goes on and on. It can't hurt to try it on something!!!

My Boyz

I love my boys. They are SO easy. Cheap pizza and brownies, well now, they want The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake Ever, and the PS2 and they are set. in fact, I can just toss the pizza into the room, shut the door and not hear from them again - for the rest of the night!!! It's wonderful. And I love them. For many reasons but that is a big one. Food. They love my cookin' and I love cooking for those who love to eat it! So, we get along well. I cook + they eat = happiness.

It's always been a blessing that Brady and Troy hit it off well. They've been close since the get-go. Partners in Crime. Then we got Reggie and we all wondered how it was going to work. If it was going to work at all. And it did. It works very well. It can be the three big boys or any combo thereof and it works.

We went and got senior pictures a while back and asked Brady to come along. We wanted to get a few shots of them all together. Who knows what next year will bring but I have a feeling these three will survive and remain close. Being cousins in a close family will help! Who is Brady? My nephew. My OLDEST brother's youngest son. Actually he's my youngest nephew, at 18. He's many things but I'll stop there, lest you get bored with all the things he is.

I almost have a football team, if we play 8-Man.

From L to R: Brady, holding Javi; Reggie, Paco, Troy.
We told them not to smile - don't ask how Javi knew what that meant!!!

The big boys
For some weird reason, the picture tilts to the right.

BTN = Bad Team Nachos

So, You Wanna Be a Rock Star??

It was a cold dark night when 16 of our youth group made their way over to our shag carpeted basement for an evening of...

Pictured above is one of our four Rock Bands. On the bass guitar, far right, is Youth Pastor Roy. Our rockin' girl drummer is Edna, playing lead guitar is Reggie and Nigel is our singer!! (He was so happy about it, I've included better picture of him singing.)

From the look on Nigel and Michael's face, you'd think it was a pretty sound. Let me tell you...it wasn't. No offense, Nig. He's smiling becasue he's really trying to be super awful. And Michael was enjoying that.
Roy takes his playing very seriously. He'll even get super mad if you are talking and mess him up. It's hiliarious!!!

Here are funny guys Troy and Nig. Or perhaps Nroygel. Troy's arms are running the stix while Nig is running the bass foot pedal. They think they are so cute. Or funny. Or talented. It doens't matter because they're the only ones who think it!!! Laid back B-Rad is a great singer. Think he was singing "I'm Wanted...Dead or Alive." He would've made his pappy proud. Here's a great shot of Michael jammin' and Rachel belting out a tune. Some don't "get into" rock mode very much but Rachel - well, she's a natural.

And so you don't think I was hiding behind the camera...

I will NOT post the picture Roy took of me dancing. I refuse. And you should thank me for that.