The blog in which it's an 18" doll tent made from PVC pipe (Tutorial with pictures.)

I don't know how I fell into this, but I did.  Some people are crazy cat people.  I am NOT one of those.  Thank goodness.  However, I might be worse.  I am a crazy "if you can think it up I can make it up with PVC" type of people.  So, at this point, I have created a play house for my son, a doll tent, a table and chairs for the dolls, and a doll bed.  I chose to not make it a bunk bed, but I might tweak it so that it can be either/or.  Seriously, the people at our local hardware stores know me.  They were so thoughtful when they suggested I purchase a pair of PVC pipe cutters ($10 at Lowe's) to work alone, at home, without asking them to re-cut and re-measure, a lot.  I'd like to thank them all by name, but I am sure they are too humble for that accolade ;o)  However, I am grateful for my cutters.  And to that, it's time I share the project with you.  The measurements are my own creation, but you can share and tweak them to your own needs.  These fit my daughter's American Girl doll well, and you will be able to see from the pictures how I pushed my VERY limited sewing abilities on these projects.  I was also considering making a puppet theatre with PVC pipe, but at this point, I am sorta' out of space.  The truth is, the pipe is super affordable.  However, the connections add up since they often cost more than the pipe.  So, I liked using the 1/4" pieces for the doll stuff, but I believe I used the 1/2" on the play house.  All of these gifts are my children's Christmas presents.  We spend up to $100 on each child, and both kids get three gifts each- just like Jesus.  So, the play house cost $35, and is HUGE!  Our whole family plus the dog can fit in it.  The tent was $14.  Shay wanted the real one from American Girl, but it would have been close to $100 with shipping.  So, we did what we could, and we trust that both children will be grateful for what Jesus afforded "Santa's elves" to provide them with.  The PVC table and chairs were from left over pipe, so I only had to purchase the connectors.  ... and the PVC doll bed was under $20 as well.  As for the fabric--- it's all left over from my sewing kit!  (I was big time into making my daughter and her doll those pillow case matching dresses.)  I learned how to sew because of it.  Who can afford the real stuff?

The tent was VERY easy to think up.  I had to play around with the connectors at the store to figure everything else out.  Think Tinker Toys- for adults.  Here are the pictures.  Below you will find the instructions.  It is broken down to ridiculously simple because that is how I like to follow tutorials.  Let me know what you think in the comment section below.  Thanks for checking it out!  *The tutorials on the other projects to follow if there is interest in them by show of comments below.

This is what she wanted.  

This is what she is getting.

Interesting.  I added the sleeping bag and pillow.  Turns out, they sell their's for the doll for $28.  Mine is reversible.  So there.

Coordinating Items- I believe my fabric for my sleeping bag cost about a dollar.  If that.  Have I mentioned that it's reversible??? And that I added a white paint, cookie cutter, American Girl themed "star" to all my "coordinating" items??? Fancy-Shmancy, I know.

Reversible.  

All the pieces in the kitchen garbage bag, next to 18" doll for size comparison.  

You need 6 of these pieces.  One for every corner.   4 base ones , and two on top.

Gives the shape of the tent.  Need 4 for each base piece.   

These bend/tilt pieces just need a little scrap piece to attach to the next piece.  

All the pieces out of a kitchen garbage bag.  Long base and one top piece is 24."  You need five of those and 4 cut to 16 inches.  

My hand drawn plans.  My brain needs visuals.  Even if it comes from my own brain, I needed to see it.  I'm weird like that.

I might even try to spray paint the PVC pipe, depending on if I can do it without the kiddies seeing it before Christmas.  Shay's three gifts from us/Santa are all PVC projects.  This tent set, a table and chair set, as well as a doll bed.  SHHHH- it's a secret.  Don't tell her you saw this.

Please share this with other families you feel would appreciate it.  While I copyright my blog, I feel the savings and fun should be passed on.

The blog in which I love you, but let's not hug.

Do we have to?  I really only like to do it with about no more than eight people.  First, my mom. I really love doing it with her.  She is good at it.  She's squishy in the right places.  Geoff.  He makes me feel really good when he does it.  Then, my kids.  That is four.  Next would be my nieces and nephews, but some of them don't like to do it either.  That leaves me with my dog.  He is amazing at it.  But that is it. I don't like to hug other people.  I certainly don't want to kiss them, either.  Oops.  I forgot Aunt Carol and Uncle Bill.  They get in the action, but only because my Grandma and Grandpa died, and that left two openings.  You're welcome.

Truth is, I just don't feel a need to hug people.  What's wrong with me, you wonder?  Nothing.  I just get enough of it from the right people, and hugging the lady doing check in at the YMCA or other places, seems weird.  I love them, in the way that I love ALL people.  (Lest we not confuse love and like here.  I am told to love.  I don't have to like.  Most of my family luck out because of my faith.) See?  I am not sure why "some" people still harbor angst regarding my religion switch.  If it weren't for that, I would not continue to love you, pray for you, and ACCEPT you for who you are.  Hmmm.  Interesting.

I am close with lots of people.  But can't me just wishing a Happy Thanksgiving be sufficient for you?  Must you step out from behind the counter, hang up on that customer, or walk ACROSS. THE. STREET to hug me for a ridiculous holiday we celebrate the time we stole land from the natives?  COME ON PEOPLE!  I'm not really that great a hugger.  And, I don't like this holiday.  It just gets in the way of my three month long celebration of the birth of our Savior.  Plus, there isn't any great music for it, and as you can see, it causing me a bit of anxiety trying to dodge all those un-freakin'-necessary hugs people feel they need from me.

I wonder if it's because I am short?  Seriously.  Think about it.  I am not of average height.  At exactly five foot tall, a mere sixty inches, EVERYONE must bend over to hug me.  My mom is the same height as me.  Easy to hug.  Geoff is only about four inches taller than me, and I love his hugs.  My face rests comfortably on his chest, his arms fall in just the right spot... ahhhh... Then the kids... I get to bend over to them.  Brody will occasionally stand up and hug me.  Or I will snuggle on the floor or on his chair with him.  All that is great.  But it's the rest of you normally bone length ed people that throw my comfort level.

I'm a fantastic hand shaker.  But that would be awkward, eh?

The blog in which I accidentally read an erotic book to my migits.

Everyone knows of my love affair with the media center at the migit's school, right?  I am scheduled for a couple of hours every Monday morning in there.  However, I am in the school doing different things on different days of the week, and always find myself meandering in the direction of the  media center.  On occasion, someone is out, and I jump in to shelve books, check out books while the media specialist is with a class, or just walk around looking at possible books for my own two.  Recently, I found that many children are checking out this series that has been around since the early seventies, yet, is in the young section with low AR values.  That is a good thing since we should only be checking out 1's and 2's at this point, for both of them.  So...  I got it.  The first in the series.  "Nate the Great," written by Marjorie Weinman Sharmat.  Fairly long book, with very little illustration, and great reading material for emergent readers.  Not necessarily masculine exclusive, although, I have a feeling this was written in a porn'esque style.  What?  Not a word?  Pftt.  It is now.  Deal with it.

Why might I bring so much controversy to such a classic, you wonder?  Well, I didn't.  I merely read the book to the migits this evening, and found that it was not very secretive with it's intentions.  Here's the story line-  Nate introduces himself as a detective.  Incidentally, he LOVES pancakes.  I am not sure why there was so much talk of that nugget of information, but it was strategically placed, throughout the erotic, err, uh, I mean, children's book.  He receives a call from a girl.  Annie is her name, and he goes on to describe her in detail; hair color, eye color.  Look, guys don't notice that stuff unless they are hot and heavy.  He EVEN mentions that she smiles a lot. Look.  I am 36 years old, and if there is one thing I know...  Right.  It might be the ONLY thing I know a lot about, but at least I know enough to recognize it, whereas, where have the parents been since the seventies on this one?  I know you all can not still be stoned.  Unless you live in Colorado.  In that case, all the parental units of that state get a freebie here.  But I am not sending you pot-heads anymore Twinkies!  (Well played, Obama.)

So, Nate dutifully writes his mother a note, stating his intentions.  See the evidence below-

Whew.  At least he was safe.  Smut.  It's what we read to our kids. 

And for the record- both of my kids are read to, daily.  We read about 8-10 AR books each week for testing, and the rest is just for fun.  (Upwards of 25 per week are read via many sources.)  We take reading very seriously- unless it's erotic- then we try to explain away some of the nuances.  I just tried to cover it up with , "Oh, honey... Those are "rubbers."  You know.. a type of shoe???"  Sure they are.  Wink, wink.  

The blog in which I have a small bladder and don't like Twinkies.

Are they still talking about this?  I mean, it was newsworthy, but not in the way that it's coming across. I am no stranger to the appreciation of cheap junk food that can withstand the Apocalypse, but I'm over finding this on the homepage of my news source, still.  (AOL- isn't that where everyone gets their news?)  Not that I know who Kim Kardashian is dating, has dated, or is making her latest sex tape with, but it's probably because someone is failing me at my news source.  Yes, AOL.  I am not devastated about Hostess.  I think it is a shame that the government doesn't waste its' time micromanaging the chemicals and hazardous materials added to our food and drinks.  (Remember, I am the mom that has recovered a child from autism with a crazy-clean diet and biomedical treatments.)

While I believe that the drink size limits are somewhat scary, I kinda' think that we Americans need someone to tell us that a 96 oz soda might be unnecessary for, um, ANYONE.  I don't even drink that much in a day, but I am not kidding you, I saw a huge, obviously, insulated mug-like thing at a gas station one day, next to the soda fountain.  96 ounces.  Is that really necessary?  I wanted to stand right there and wait to see what sort of person makes that purchase.  Then, I want to invite them to a drinking contest, just so that I can see that party trick.  I think my bladder is about 9 ounces.  I would have to drink that sucker in the bathroom.  I'd have my phone with me there, so that I can follow the latest on the Hostess debacle.

First, I was born in NY.  We only appreciate true bakery goods and Drakes Cakes.  A refrigerated Devil Dog would cause me to orgasm.  If you merely mention it, I might wet myself.  I swear- I have a tiny bladder.  Let's just talk about it in the bathroom.

Second, there are many other companies struggling, and I don't feel like the focus is where it should be.  I started my news tolerance level at the same place I did yesterday, and every day that ended in day since I was capable of understanding news.  (Which might have been last week, since I am not a news type of gal.  I think I clarified that when I stated that I got my news from the AOL homepage.)   If I could dictate what news I would like to see reported on, it would be fairly simple.  I'm not a super complex chicky.  I would start with a blooper reel.  Then, I might move on to weather.  Then I would proceed to weatherman bloopers.  Following that, would be local happenings, and rounding out the newscast would be a live shot from the local animal shelter offering a furry face to find a home in the viewing area.  I might be what's wrong with the world, but honestly, I just don't want to hear it anymore.

I just want to drink less ounces than my head weighs each day, and I want to eat a baked good that has ingredients that I can pronounce, and I want to know that the overpopulation of animals is NOT because stupid people over breed animals and can't properly care for them.  *Before we go further on that- I respect responsible breeding, but you know what I am talking about.  The term is "puppy mills." I am forever grateful for my collie.  He is my third child that I am grateful I did not have to vaginally deliver.  Enough said on that.

So, to bring about some closure to this, I think I will provide you with an early gift.  This is my homemade brownie recipe I share as gifts.  (I actually give the dry mix out as a gift.)  It's that amazing.  All you have to do is add 2 eggs, 1/2 cup oil (you know that oil can be substituted with apple sauce, right?) and 1 tsp. of vanilla.  I call them three ingredient brownies, however, I have to throw the flour, sugar, salt and baking powder and cocoa together first, so it's technically an eight ingredient recipe, however, you can substitute sugar with the natural sugars, and gluten free flour, organic vanilla, etc.  Not that they are a health food, but I swear they have got to be healthier than those Twinkies that are causing mass hysteria on AOL right now.  As for the work force losing their jobs-  Trust me.  It's just the beginning.  It's time to start changing our mindset- think small business.  And if that is a lemonade stand selling a 96 oz. lemonade, by all means, belly up friends!  And then purchase toilet paper like it's going out of style.

The blog in which I am frugal in everyday life. (PHOTOS)

And how else do I save money?  Well, it's not until I sit and compile a list like this that I realize how much money we have potentially saved over the years.  While my husband works incredibly hard to provide for our family, pulling overtime most weeks, we are a single income home, not living off food stamps or other supplementation, even though we qualify for assistance based on our annual income.  We simply live within our means- and our children value and trust what we have, and will learn by our example.

I fried something about two months ago, and can't stand to throw the oil away.  I  used a strainer and poured it into this glass jar for next time.  

This reminded me to share with you our flu-preventative.  (It was near all the other things I was taking photos of on the counter this morning.)  Anti flu shots in our home, and this is one tiny drop, flavorless, and so great or mood!  Please look this up for flu prevention.  LOTS of scientific research to back up our own experience.  

I reused the cocoa container and it holds one whole dry brownie mix I make!  Dry erase marker to remind me  later what I need.  Always nice to have a quick batch on hand for the unexpected need to bring or give to someone ;o)  I am renaming these brownies "PMS reducer."  

No, we don't lie them down like that.  That was for your benefit to see our initials.    Need to go grocery shopping later.  

Extra jars.

Why yes, I do have a Keurig coffee maker, however, I don't buy pods anymore.  I have some for when I have guests and we are making multiple cups in short order.  Daily, I use this filter and use it for regular, decaf, and the occasional "mocha" I make where I put coffee in the filter, and a touch of that bulk hot chocolate to the cup ;o)  

Sorry blurry.  But I use the sugar and flour canister all the time.  Reused the spaghetti jars, and spray painted one top and added cheap-o knobs with glue gun.  

I use larger microfiber towels for the kitchen sink and then every other day wash them after I grab it to dust .  Those and fleece socks dust the best!  

Best brownies ever.  It fit inside the can too!   I make the dry mix and then  you only need to add 2 eggs, 1/2 c oil and 1 tsp. of vanilla.  So easy to put together, and no extra unknown ingredients.  

I used a can opener on the bottom of the can so that I could sneak a gift inside for the recipient to open with the pull tab.

Top of can, unpopped.  

The kids have a few Legos hanging out for fun in their soap dispenser.  ;o)  

To show how I store a dry "water droplet towel."  If wet,  it is left opened and hanging from sink as to not sit and breed more bacteria.  Kinda' looks phallic.  Tee, hee, hee.  

• When my children were babies, I didn't buy or feed one jar of baby food.  I worked back then too, so don't even say that this stay at home mommy thing lends itself to that.  I was a "working, breastfeeding, cloth diapering, baby food makin' mommie."  
• I don't recycle, but that is because I don't want to spend the extra money each month to do it, and we have a history of scary mice/snakes and recently, a roach that have deterred me from wanting to keep any thing around that needs me to use more water to clean to dispose of without risking more unwanted creatures.  (We re-use the heck out of things.  We re-use all the plastic bags we get, and I made reusable bags out of old tee shirts last summer.)  
• I use toilet paper rolls to help keep my wrapping paper together.  
• I don't buy paper towels.  I have a ton of washable towels/ to wipe down and dust with.  Each bathroom has a specially designated "water droplet" towel as well.  I will not delve into the "water droplet" obsession, but if you come to my home, I will demonstrate how easy it is to spruce up your sink areas with a simple swipe of the droplets after each use. 
• I have recently had it with those sponge wands that cost a ton and you need to spend a ton to replace the pads on them.  And, most of the time, you waste a ton of soap using them!  SO, I bought a foaming dish detergent pump dispenser and when it was finished, I added about 1 part liquid dish soap to 3 parts water, shake it up, and viola, you have more foaming dish soap and I just pump a little onto my regular old fashioned sponge and clean my dishes.  Then, each week, I grab a pot and boil it a few minutes to take the smell out and kill the germs/bacteria.  I suppose the microwave would work as well, but I haven't tried boiling it in a cup yet.  
• I make all our hand soaps that way, too.  One part of any bulk liquid hand soap to 3 parts water in any foaming hand soap dispenser, and done- money saved, stretching your soap to last much longer.  I would say we are truly healthy on a whole, so I don't believe it affects the cleaning part of it.  
• Our glass containers are reused and even gifted!  I use spaghetti glass jars as decorative canisters for sugar and flour.  I am going to make one for brown sugar since I use that a ton in my cooking.  One day I was going to throw away the plastic peanut butter jar, and Shay came up with a great use for it!  Dog bone holder! It has a really nice, wide mouth to the jar, and it lends itself perfectly for that.  See, while we don't recycle in the traditional ways, we reuse the heck out of stuff.  I use my newspaper in the garden, for arts and crafts, and painting.  I don't mind bringing extra to a recycle drop off, but I refuse to spend $5 a month for the city to pick up my recycling.  Metal cans like veggies and soup ones, are now re purposed into gift containers.  I started making homemade baked goods and giving the dry ingredients as gifts and now, my mom had a great idea to try to use the metal pull top containers I was using as containers as the gift container for the mixes. (You have to NOT open the pull tab portion and instead, use a can opener on the opposite end of the can. ) Nice one, Mom!  I will decorate this nicely with tissue paper and ribbon.  Although, the possibilities are endless with some paint, streamers, etc.  Finger print reindeer, bugs, etc?  Hmmmm.  My creative juices are flowing... 
• No TV service.  No bill.  
• No home phone.  No bill.
• Discount Internet, but it supplies all our wifi devices sufficiently, and I still stream my two TV shows online with it. (Modern Family and Parenthood)  I use Clear Internet and spend $27.50, with tax, each month.  It does not work everywhere, and they make sure you are going to receive service prior to allowing you to purchase service from them.  I have been using it over two years now!  
• We rent about one or two movies from Redbox a month, if we get a freebie code or a 50 cents off promo.  Less than $2 a month for a movie night with the fam.  
• We don't eat out.  I don't consider the Subway or Wendy's night's eating out.  First, I calculate what I am spending per week on groceries.  Some dinners are about $10, and the sub night cost $10.12 for our family to have a sandwich with lots of veggies and then I add a container of Lays Stacks and we have an easy meal once every two weeks.  Sometimes I have a coupon, and it's buy one get one free.  About twice a month, we will eat hamburgers.  I run by and grab the Jr. Bacon Cheeseburgers (about $5 for all four of us) and pair that with a salad and tator tots from our freezer.  I would have spent more if I had to buy the hamburger meat at the store to prepare.  And we would be eating that much more red meat.  (We are by no means vegetarian, but we eat about 85% chicken in our dinner rotation.)  Sunday nights we try to do steak, assuming I can get the flat iron steak for under $10.  On average, our grocery and essentials budget is no more than $70 a week. I spent $71 this week.  That means no pizza this Friday night.  (I have to calculate that into the grocery spending.)  We might -
• I don't buy a ton of prepackaged foods.  LOTS of fruits and veggies, and VERY little juice.  I allow Tang since I have to mix a medicine in it for Charlie each morning.  He likes milk, however, I only allow about 4 ounces of a liquid each day other than water.  WATER ALL DAY!  They get plenty of sugar in foods and eat tons of fruit, so juice is just a cavity causer, and there's no need for milk really since both kids get congested with it.  So, I allow the calcium intake in cheese and large container natural yogurt- no more ridiculously overprices yogurt tubes.  I know they drink chocolate milk at lunch, but they barely drink that.  Snack at school is generally a fruit.  However, occasionally, I will buy and send in a gummy treat, peanut butter crackers (no severe allergy students at our school), or other granola bar.  But that is the extend of the occasional prepacked snack.  
• I got desperate a few weeks ago with napkins. I buy the least expensive napkins, and when my weekly budget didn't allow wiggle room for napkins that week, I cut them in half.  Most of the time, the kids barely use them, but I insist for habit's sake, that they have one for each time they eat.  Well, for a proper meal, I used whole napkins, and for the bagel breakfast, the half was sufficient!  Yep.  I stretched those out to this week and see that they will go another week, if not two!
• I don't by cards anymore.  I let the kids make them.  I don't appreciate the expense of cards, and would prefer to have more money for the gift than for a piece of paper a person will throw away. Unless they are a hoarder.  Then, I feel like I am an enabler to their problem.  So, no cards for anyone.  On occasion, I will print out a free picture card online with the kids.  There are a ton of sites for that.  That costs in ink, but it doesn't feel as expensive for some reason.  (I know, ink is the most expensive liquid in the world.)  
• I generally give $25 gift cards to teachers for Christmas and end of the year.  Well, Charlie has speech therapist(s), a special ed. teacher, Shay has two teachers, we have the bus driver, the gymnastics coaches, etc.  This year, I will package up some money saving samples for each one with directions and hope they appreciate the money in their pocket if they chose to try any of it.  I don't have the money this year, but my heart is truly grateful for each of them.  
• I reuse wax paper with my chocolate/cake pop making and I reuse tin foil, too, sometimes ;o)  
• I use a clean, balled up tin foil in the dryer to prevent static electricity. 
• We reuse our water bottles- for weeks.  I even squirt some foam dish soap into the top, add a little water, recap, shake, and rinse out to reuse.  I put each person's initials on the top, therefore, we all have a water bottle accessible in the fridge at all times!  
• We don't vacation, but we focus three days a week on doing special things with our family.  Friday, Saturday and Sunday, even if Geoff is working, we arrange something.   We play homemade games, invite friends to share time with us, and feel like we have "gotten away" if we take a 7 minute drive to a local park and have a picnic.  At least I didn't have to clean the dishes after a picnic ;o)  (We have taken ONE vacation in the 10 years, and it was to Disney World a year ago.  We don't anticipate another splurge like that for at least another 5 years.)  We do go to my parent's cabin, which is under two hours away from our home, in the North Georgia mountains.  Honestly, the gas is the expense, but worth it for a scenic view to roast our marshmallows on.  ;o)  (We only go once or twice a year, however, now that our dog is welcome, it will be easier to make it up there.)  
• I began making my own cleaning supplies.  From the bathroom/kitchen all purpose cleaner to the bulk laundry detergent, I am seeing the savings and really appreciating the cleaning power of both products.  I have tutorials on both in my blog.  The laundry detergent one is from September, and the the newest cleaner got its' blog this past week.  I am very honest about each one.  The cleaner is being tweaked by watering it down a tad so that I might have less vinegar smell, and less bubbles.  The laundry detergent it simply effective, smells great, mostly natural ingredients, but grating bars of soap took about 15 minutes and was the worst part of that process.  
• I hope for all of my friends to learn how to make their own finances stretch a bit farther, to be able to have some security in knowing that you have the means to "find" money in your budget the way we have, and for our children and the future generations to learn to live within their means. EA adventureswithahrens.blogspot.com

The blog in which I share my inexpensive bathroom cleaner.

I feel a little cheated.  So, these so called "friends" on Facebook are holding out on me. I posed an open question a few months ago as I began seriously considering our budget and how to streamline it.  I found a fantastic laundry detergent recipe that I made and have have been using and sharing with anyone within arms' reach over the past couple of months.  I knew that I could probably come up with other housecleaning supplies through the same sort of "make it for less with less harmful ingredients" style if I just asked my frugal momma friends.  Well, I was wrong.  I got nothing.  Well, I got a generic "Try using vinegar."  "I use baking soda."  "Try the two together."

Look people- that did not help me.  I didn't know how to use it.  I needed more than that, and while I love Pinterest, there wasn't a super "recipe" that "sang" to me.  (Yes- I need to be crooned by my household cleaners.  It's a character flaw.  I recognize that.)  The baking soda is great, but not easy to dispense and can get costly if using on showers.  The vinegar STINKS!  Well, you all know I am really a clean freak.  I love a clean house, and a couple of years ago when "steamers" were all the rage, I invested in a top of the line steamer, that used all $500 of my Discover Cashback award bonus.  Yes, and just a few weeks ago,  we loaded it into some passerbyer's trunk as we shoved other "Take it-It's all free to the first person who wants it!" It was a ton of work and time working with that "detail your car worthy" piece of junk that had attachments to only clean a section the size of your thumb nail at a time.  Would their ever been a real answer to less chemicals and less money for cleaning my bathrooms?

Yes.  I am living proof that there is a Santa, Virginia.  Oh wait.  Wrong story.

Yes, I found it on Pinterest, but I am modifying it, and after I posted on Facebook yesterday asking if anyone had heard of this "recipe," you mo' fo's crawling out of the woodwork to share you ongoing relationship with this cleaner.  WTH?  Whatever.  I will share the good, the bad, and the stinky with you now.

First, I walked up to the Family Dollar with the fam. and purchased the largest blue Dawn they had and one spray bottle.  I had the vinegar at home.  (It's old, since you only use so much of that each Easter when decorating eggs.)  Never the less, we had enough to mix up a batch.  So, I spent $4 and walked my tail home and got started.

Directions say add one part of each white vinegar and blue Dawn.  (It actually said 12 oz to 12 oz, but I am going to make larger batches, therefore, you do the math.)  It said to heat the vinegar in the microwave and at to a SPRAY BOTTLE.  Then, add the Dawn, and the heat will help to mix the two when you swirl it a bit.  Okay, then spray, and using a scrubby type of brush, gently clean and rinse.  Okay, the whole thing seemed really simple, and cheap, so even if it didn't work, I wouldn't get my panties in a wad over a few bucks.

First job I tackled was the kitchen sink.  The before and after's were gorgeous.  Where are they?  On my Facebook page.  Sorry.  Was it smelly?  Yes, but not too bad that I wouldn't use it.  Next, the master bathroom.  Sink and shower.  WHEW!  That shower part was overwhelming.  I had to cover my nose with my shirt.  The little hair in my nostrils singed a bit.  It's all okay.  As soon as I posted about that, April jumped in with, "I use that and I water mine down a bit."  Wait the F up!  Where were you earlier in the day?  I needed this input PRIOR to my facial hair shriveling up without chemical warfare!  I'd have to say though, Lindsey came in with the best tidbit of info when she shared that while it was effective, it did produce a lot of suds.  True that sista'.  I like to rinse away my Scrubbing Bubbles and see the immediate fruits of my lack of labor when I rinse that stuff away.  But after working with this, I'd have to say that leaving each of the sprayed surfaces for five minutes was equivalent to my time spent working on a "Scrubbing Bubbles" surface, and while I had a sudden desire for potato chips, when I got some of the solution on my hands, I did not immediately become frantic like I had a chemical on my hand.  Each surface cleaned provided my "shiny"look I so love.  Another FB'er commented on how she leaves the solution in her shower and just uses one of the wand sponges that she just wipes down the shower surface with when she is done.  I am not a fan of that smell sticking around, so I am not as excited about that, but THAT was exactly the type of feedback I was looking for.

So, while I don't have all the before and after's here, you can try it yourself and let me know how it works for you! Oh wait!  I found one "after" I hadn't deleted yet.  I'll throw you a bone.  You're welcome!   This is a TEN YEAR OLD ruined fiberglass shower.  Ruined from years of cleaning with harsh, abrasives that I didn't know would couse damage ;o(  Pretty shiny, eh?

The blog in which I became enraged by a compliment. I am tired.

So, I get this random compliment on Facebook, and it really had me seething.  First, not at the person, or at the compliment, but on the undertone to it.  For me, I am an in your face type of gal, and will blast you, intentionally, if I think I might change just one person's perspective.  Sadly, I don't think this was the appropriate person to blast on this issue, but I did, in hopes that the appropriate type of people, namely, people with vanity issues, would perhaps glean some shred of humility from the rebuttal to the "sincere-yet-I-took-offense-to-comment."

What happened?  I put makeup on.  I straightened my curly/frizzy hair.  I looked like a clown who didn't pass the base coat lesson of applying make up.  However, it evened my acne and rosecea  red spots so that I didn't look so much like a teenage cockatiel bird in need of a facial.  Then, I was at the bus stop with my migits, and grabbed the chicky who was prepping to play the part of a turkey in the Thanksgiving play today.  She looked like a cross between a Pilgrim and an Indian, and she looked     F-A-B!  I grabbed her close to me and flung my arm in front of us and snapped a self portrait with my phone's camera.  I posted it on Facebook, and that's when my claws sharpened.

First, a bus stop friend commented on the make up.  I quickly explained that I did that because I was going to a school function, and it was special.  Well, then, the nerve of him.  Gordon writes...."Wow, you look a lot different with make up!....like a teenager or something :)"  Bastard.  I mean, "bless his heart."  Okay, so I truly know that he was being kind.  Recently, his wife must have lost weight or something, since she looks like a teenager and amazing in their pictures together.  I made a similar comment about her, and it must have made her feel good or something, and he thought he could use it back.

Not.So.Much.  See, that's the whole problem.  I don't want to look like a different person.  I love my ever graying head of hair.  I even love that after I forget that I am old and out of shape, I can do a cartwheel, and feel every muscle that is yelling at me for the following three and a half days!  I don't want to look like something I am not.  I want to be me.  Warts and all.  Truth is, I am wart-less, but darn this polycystic ovary syndrome and the excessive body hair, acne and insulin resistance with the occasional migraine and multiple miscarriages.  Yeah.  All that.  Good times.

More than that--- I want my children to love their selves, inside and out.  I want the next generation(s) to dig deeper than the skin, and feel confident in who G-d made them- in His own image.  I don't know where this confidence comes from, but I know who I am, and I guess I am happy with me.  Unless I am tired.  Then, I'm not happy with anyone- especially that mo' fo' that tried to say something nice to me this morning.  Sorry, has been a rough few nights.

This is the picture that spawned a day of thinking.  If you don't know me- picture me like this, but not.  I'm old, obese, have crazy hair and horrific skin.  Don't be jealous.  I'm what they would call, "a work in progress."  Better yet, "a beautiful mess."  (I am wearing foundation and powder over that.  That is all.  I put on Chapstick. Fancy, right?)  I thank G-d every single day that both my children look like my husband's side of the family.  They are a good looking family tree, and for that, I am grateful.

At least she didn't get the part of the popcorn.  I would have laughed the whole time.  We were all spared.  t