All posts by Nichole

Stowaway

10/25/2008 Nichole

We were driving home. It was dark. Very, very dark. Which is why I didn’t see it until the headlights from a car going the opposite direction illuminated our dashboard and, with it, the mouse that was scurrying around in front of me.

The mouse. In front of me. In the van.

I screamed, the kids woke up, and I nearly jumped into Rockford’s lap. I don’t think Rockford believed me the first two times I saw it. (And screamed.) (And nearly jumped into his lap.) But then he saw it himself. He was not phased. By the time we got home, I was in the back with the kids and Mr. Jingles was running back and forth in front of Rockford, hiding under his hat and sniffing a little stuffed soccer ball in the window.

Rockford found this amusing. I remain horrified.

I will not be getting in the van again. Not until Mr. Jingles moves out.

Screen time

Poppy’s first review

10/24/2008 Nichole

Parent Bloggers Network hooked me up with a DVD to review. Well, it’s more for the kids. But you can click on over to the Reviews section to find out what Poppy and I both thought of “My Baby A to Z: Come Explore Shapes with Me.” And you can win a copy for yourself. How’s that for a Friday morning treat?

Domestic Blitz

It's stinky, but it works

10/22/2008 Nichole

While on a little “green” streak awhile back, I tried to make my own household cleaners. I still haven’t kicked the commercial cleaner habit, but I did learn something interesting when I was trying to go green: Vinegar is awesome. You can use it to clean just about anything in the house, and it’s cheap. (That’s my favorite part.)

The Vinegar Institute has a great list of ways to use vinegar. Here are a few I’ve tried:

Garbage disposal cleaner. Garbage disposals may be kept clean and odor free with vinegar cubes. Vinegar cubes are made by filling an ice tray with a mixture of 1 cup of vinegar and enough water to fill the ice tray and then freezing it. Run the mixture through the disposal, and then flush it with cold water for a minute or so.

Coffee maker cleaner (automatic). White distilled vinegar can help to dissolve mineral deposits that collect in automatic drip coffee makers from hard water. Fill the reservoir with white distilled vinegar and run it through a brewing cycle. Rinse thoroughly with water when the cycle is finished. (Be sure to check the owner’s manual for specific instructions.)

Clean the microwave. Boil a solution of 1/4 cup of white distilled vinegar and 1 cup of water in the microwave. Will loosen splattered on food and deodorize.

Rockford hates the smell of vinegar, so I was a little hesitant to use it so freely. The smell dissipates pretty quickly, though, so I can use it in the morning while he’s at work and the smell is gone by the time he gets home.

Visit Rocks in My Dryer for more Works for Me Wednesday tips!