The Bitter Truth: 10 Ways to Clean Using Vinegar
I won’t label myself “green” however vinegar is one product I keep in my house for many different reasons. Vinegar is not just for decorating eggs. With it’s high level of acidity, distilled white vinegar is the best, inexpensive way to get your home clean and disinfected. Below are 10 ways I use vinegar to clean my home.
- Mirrors – the best solution for a streak-free shine – uses equal parts white vinegar and water.
- Disinfectant – vinegar is known to kill both salmonella and Ecoli. I clean my wood cutting boards and countertops. I spray full strength on surface and rinse with water.
- Clean diswasher – Once a month I add 2 tablespoons of vinegar with
- Fabric softener – added to my fabric softener (about 2 tsps to my liquid fabric softener)
- Remove hard water stains & mineral deposits –
- Clean Refrigerator – clean shelves and walls by mixing one tablespoon vinegar to 16 ounces of warm water.
- Freshen garbage disposal – pour approxiemently 1/4 cup into disposal, let sit a few minutes then run cold water and run disposal.
- Shine Stainless Appliances – mix one teaspoon vinegar to 16 ounces of water.
- Degreaser – apply to greasy area and rinse.
- Toilet cleaner – pour one cup into toilet water at night before bed – let sit overnight. Scrub in the morning and flush.
Keep The Change ~ Ok…I’ll Take It!
I ashamedly label myself a person who does not like change. I love routine; knowing what I’m doing (before it happens) day in and day out. I faithfully use calendars, lists, schedules and apps to help make my life easier, balanced and in order. For someone like myself who owns a business, the daily unknown happens. How do I deal with it you ask? Well I just handle it, I work well under pressure and I get whatever needs to be done…done – but I don’t like it one bit. Over years of being this way, I discovered I must allocate change into my daily routine somehow, someway.
One sure-fire way that always gets me out of my stubbornness to change my routines are my kids. They are not little-ones any more but non-the-less still want mom to do things when they want them done. Kids (of any age) have a way of teaching us not to be so rigid and structured in our daily life. Putting aside schedules and routines is okay sometimes and I’m learning to do this better everyday.
“To improve is to change; to be perfect is to change often.” ~ Winston Churchill
So today I say bring on the change!
Who Do I Say I Am?
During a recent Thirty-One party I hosted at my home, the consultant asked everyone to say one word about me. I felt very awkward but yet so grateful listening to all my friends and family give one positive word after another about how they saw me. All of this brought back to my remembrance a post I wrote years ago about how I see myself. Below is a revised version of my list.
- Christ is my solid rock – on Him I build my life.
- I try to see the good in everyone.
- I don’t think outside the box – I try to live outside the box.
- I don’t believe people when they tell me I can’t do something. I can do ALL things through Christ who gives me strength.
- I want to leave this world full and empty – full of all the love, joy and memories given to me and empty because I chose to give it all back to those who gave them to me.
- I want people who know me to be better because of me, directly or indirectly.
- I love being creative and using my gifts and talents.
- I am passionate about creating change in myself and others
- I went from being an observer to a doer.
- I thirst for solitude and communion and both in equal amounts.
- I love going on a great vacation with my family.
- I am ALWAYS thinking.
- Being a wife, mother and grandmother have been the best gifts God could give me.
- Being a wife and a mother have been the toughest jobs I have ever had to do.
- I miss talking and being with the special people who God has called home.
- I want my cake and eat it too – on a nice piece of china, with good linen and silverware.
What are your random thoughts about who you are?
~ Lisa
The Classics – Timeless Clothing
When I was younger, I wanted to wear the latest fashion craze. I spent a lot of money trying to keep up with the trends, some of my purchases were well worth the investment, others…not so much. Most (not all) of the stuff I wore has been given to Goodwill or Platos Closet because they were not classic pieces that I can wear today. You’ve seen the man or woman walking down the street who you can’t help but stare at, who makes you want to double check the year you are living in – I refuse to be that person. Now that I’m older (and hopefully wiser), I look for pieces that are classics, so no matter the year, I’m still in style. Oh and I save lots of money!
Below is a list of items I feel are essentials for any closet:
- White blouse – great with a pair of your favorite jeans with heels or flats and also great for slacks or skirts.
- Black tank – this is a universal piece that can be worn under a shirt or alone (not really alone – alone but with pants of course).
- Demin Jacket – you can’t go wrong with white or blue, both will give a classic look to your outfit.
- Khaki pants – flat fronts will give you a casual yet classy look. Add that white blouse I spoke of above, a cute sandal and jewlry and you’re ready!
- Jeans – fitted jeans that flatter your curves, a nice dark colored bootcut is always good. Skinny jeans are no longer just a trend but a wardrobe staple.
- Wraps – You can’t go wrong with a nice wrap, period.
- Flats – practical, sophisticated and a great break from heels without loosing your polished look.
- Pumps – black and taupe are a must in any closet. This shoe can take you from the office to a night on the town.
- Black dress – need I say more.
- White t-shirt – long or short sleeve.
- Black t-shirt – long or short sleeve.
- Open front cardigan – in a neutral shade can go with just about anything.
- Trench coat – timeless and classy. An essential piece to the coat closet.
And lastly, there are certain colors that are just as classy like navy, black and gray – you can’t go wrong with these.
~ Lisa
This Bag is Made for Traveling – Business on the Go
I have owned my gift basket company www.thepersonalgiftbasket.com for over eleven years. When I need to be away from my home office; networking at a local chamber event, or out doing my weekly errands, I want a system that has everything I need to better serve my clients and perspective clients. I created my traveling office to help me be prepared to take an order or give information about my company anywhere I go. The bag is not only functional but cute (which means a lot too) as well so I don ‘t feel awkward carrying it.
I ordered my bag from Thirty-One, I like it because it’s big enough to hold everything I need. Inside my bag I have the following:
* Blank order forms – I’m always prepared to take that order
* Neat Receipts scanner – this comes in handy when I am making purchases I can scan the receipt right to my laptop.
* Promotional postcards and brochures
* Business card
* Clip board – when I need a hard surface to write.
* Paper clips & stapler
* Journal and blank paper
* Mechanical Pencils & lead refill
* PayPal – credit card plug-in (again always prepared to receive the order)
* Post-it notes – in all sizes.
* Travel mug
* Calculator
* Sample of a delicious product – I try to keep a sample of one of the many products I put inside our gifts with me to give out.
Simple and functional.
~ Lisa
Aspiring Cook: Tater Tots Casserole (Pintrest Recipe)
I love Pintrest and I can always find great meals that are quick and easy to make during our busy week days. I pinned this recipe from craftcookcoupon.blogspot.com and made it for dinner last night…delicious!
Ingredients:
1 can of cream of mushroom soup
1 to 2 pounds of ground beef
1 bag of tater tots
1 bag of cheese – your choice of cheese
Brown ground beef and drain any fat. After draining fat, place ground beef back into the pan.
Add the can of cream of mushroom soup to your ground beef, stirring until well combined.
Add the soup and ground beef mixture into a casserole dish.
Add half the bag of your cheese to the top of the ground beef.
Add the frozen tater tots on top. Place in 350 degree oven for approximately 20 minutes.
Add remaining cheese on top of tots and place back in the oven to melt.
With the casserole, I prepared a garden salad with bell peppers, slided almonds, strawberries, onions and cheese.
Enjoy!
~ Lisa
Adventures of my Week in Review (May 20th-26th)
Not a busy week for me, so I thought this would be a great time to start a new segment of my blog that recaps my week. Most of this past week was dedicated to our children since Friday was their last day of school. The kids could not be more excited, as for my husband and I…not so much. As I’ve stated before, I have two kids still at home, a 17 year old – who is officially a senior and an 11 year old is is officially a 6th grader. The kids have busy, fun summers ahead of them and I’m expecting great things to be learned and experienced by them both. On Tuesday, Jada (our 11 year old) was not happy to have to get two cavities filled. She did well even when she had to get the shot to deaden the area, I was so proud of her. I think she held all her tears until she got in the car – and she sobbed all the way home. She promised to brush her teeth twice a day for the rest of her life. Wednesday, Jada graduated from 5th grade – no more elementary school. The ceremony was very nice and it was great to see Jada being honored for her achievements. We celebrated by taking Jada to her favorite place to eat…IHop for pancakes (at 8pm).
Saturday my family and I spent the day with my older sister to celebrating her birthday. We ate at Pappy’s Barbecue in St. Louis. I had never been before, however it is very tasty and pretty cool atmosphere (down home southern style) – well worth the fifty minute drive from my home.
As I stated, not a busy week, but it was fun to be around family and friends.
~Lisa
Thankful Thursday #4
Yesterday, my daughter graduated from 5th grade. As I sat in my chair, inside the gymnasium at our local high school, waiting for my daughter to walk in with her classmates to Pomp and Circumstance, I realized…that I will never sit in these chairs again for a 5th grade graduation for one of my children, she is the last one. As pictures of my daughter dashed across the screen of her kindergarten graduation and fun times with her classmates through their 6 years at the school, I began to think that just as quick as these first 6 years went, the last six will go even faster. I thought about how next year, my my second son will be graduating from the very school we are sitting in, and how my first son just completed 2 years of college – life is but a turn of a page.
So this Thursday, I’m thankful for new beginnings in my children and my life.
Congrats to the future class of 2020!
Thankful
~ Lisa
Thankful Thursday #3
Hope you all have had a productive week so far and looking forward to the upcoming weekend. As always, I am thankful everyday and I deliberately try to make the best of everyday I am given. I love the simple things, things that don’t always cost money but are just as valuable, so that leads me to my third segment of Thankful Thursday. Today, I am thankful for the beautiful spring-time days. I love being able to get outside and work in my yard or just sit in my back yard and read a good book or hang out with my family. I love the coolness of the mornings and evenings and the not-so-hot heat in the afternoon. I’m thankful for being able to see all my flowers burst into their beautiful springtime colors and greet me with such aromatic fragrances. I love being able to use my grill more to prepare simple dinners for my family (on paper plates : ). Spring and Fall are my two favorite seasons, I love the renewing and revitalizing of spring and I love the colors and weather of fall. Looking forward to getting together with my family and friends to enjoy this beautiful weather before it gets too hot.
So there you have it!
Thankful,
~ Lisa
Keeping It Real…Clean!
I love spending time at home with my family, but one thing I don’t love is a dirty home. I cannot function when there is mess or dirt so I have a daily schedule that has worked for me for many years. I purpose to do these tasks while on my two 15 minute breaks or my lunch break from my job (I work from home).
Monday:
- Laundry (clothes) – I start the day off putting a load in before I start working and from there I consistently wash and dry until I am done.
- Clean Master Bath & First Floor Restroom – Since I have children who are responsible for cleaning their own bathroom, I clean mine and the first floor restroom. This includes the tubs, toilets, floors, sinks and baseboards.
- Clean Dish Washer – After the dish washer has been emptied from Sunday night, I mix 1 cup of vinegar and 2 tablespoons of salt, then I pour the mixture into a short wash cycle. Vinegar is a wonderful household staple for so many reasons. I will write a separate post on all the ways I use vinegar in my home.
Tuesday:
- Laundry (towels & sheets) – Once everyone is gone from the house that morning, I remove all towels and sheets from every room and bathroom. Once a month, I take our comforters to be professionally cleaned and I wash our mattress and pillow protectors.
Wednesday:
- Surface Cleaning – My eleven year old is responsible for a portion of this, mainly our upstairs so I normally do the downstairs. This is surfaces that can be cleaned by dusting, mopping, vacuuming or wiping. Windows, floors, furniture, baseboards, etc. This process takes a little longer so I do this in stages throughout the day.
Thursday:
- De-clutter – I file, sort and discard. I also use this day to straighten up things like underneath the sinks, closets, etc. Take up the 20 pairs of shoes and gym bags that have been thrown in the hall closet by my awesome off-springs. Truthfully, this is not a lot because I do try to do this daily.
Friday:
- Surface Cleaning & Dusting – I go through the house with my swifter and damp towel and dust TV’s, furniture, pictures, anything that dirt could have accumulated on since Wednesday. This is normally something I can do fairly quickly.
There are certain things that happen everyday in our home that I did not want to duplicate on the schedule, but I have added them below:
- Make bed (the kids make their own bed…sometime) – there is nothing like getting in a fresh-made bed every night.
- Clean Kitchen – no dish left in the sink overnight is my motto. This includes dinner table cleared and cleaned off, and kitchen floor swept. I do the dishes because I know they will be clean and put up the way I want them. Everything else in the kitchen is handled by the kids.
So that’s it! I try my hardest to stick with this schedule, however there are times when my work, business and/or personal schedule will not allow me to, and that’s OK. I start where I left off and on some days when time allows me to do multiple tasks, I do it. Also, I have older children who contribute to house cleaning as well, so that makes life a little easier for me.
Clean life, happy wife!
~ Lisa
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