I’ve been thinking of the little things that have changed since I was in my 20’s. I wonder if it is experience, or more cash (gotta love those broke days!), or more time at home? Just things that make me go, “hmm”.

Here’s things I do differently that make my life easier:

Monay! We pool it, and I let him deal with the stress. And NO, I”M NOT WORSE at it. In fact I’d say I’m better at the finances. (and he’d say that too) But who gets to be treated better - the chauffeur - or the passenger? Hmph. My point exactly.

In the bed: Personal lubricant is not just for nursing and post-menopausal women.

Tools of the trade: If this woman has to wash floors, her supplies will be pretty (personally, I’m a fan of Vileda.) And they all match. that makes me so happy. But not that happy. It is a mop, people.

Storage: Look up! the space between the shelf and the ceiling is the most un-used and probably biggest square footage storage space. That is NOT the place for your anvil. Try the humongous bag of chips or toilet paper, and that fondue pot that hasn’t been used in 7 years.

Chores: Who says that extra chores (for consequences) can’t be actually helpful chores? My favorites to dole out are cleaning the toilet, and wiping handles and handrails. Because I hate those chores. And I have children. Get it?

Laundry: I’ve learned that if my hubby picks up a chore and “owns” it, I need to keep my nose out of it.

Abrasive Cleaners: work better. And are cheaper.

Hypo-allergenic Cleansers: another word for baby soap ($1.99/ bottle).

Dining Room: food sweeps up better when it is old and dried.

Kitchen: Dishwashers are right up there with air, water, and nutrition. And vinegar works just as well as Jet Dry.

I have a feeling this is only volume I. Maybe this will be my daughter’s wedding present, in 20 years.

You know those flowers that are just everywhere in your region?  For me, it is wild roses - and they get to be a pain!  But aren’t they gorgeous?

For my pre-teen’s birthday, we displayed difference roses (that I was going to throw away) in different containers as a centerpiece.  Here is a pic of them up on the window sill after the party.

Here’s a couple tricks I use to decorate the table with flowers (even wild flowers or weeds can look pretty!):

Cluster of Vases

• any sort of flower will do - even ones pretty close to retirement.
• any clear container would work too - tupperware, drinking glasses, vases, shot glasses for small flowers, etc.
• select one flower for each container.  Here I also had a large vase that I could fill with roses too (how lucky am I?).
• trim the stem on the flower so that the flower will float on top of the water - the stem in most cases can be cut right off.
• place the containers randomly in the middle of the table, by random I do not mean symmetrical!
• and ta da!  Isn’t it purddy?

Floating Candles & Flowers

• one big large casserole dish or container that will hold water (at different times I’ve used a punch bowl, or a 9×13 baking pan.)
• Fill to nearly the top with water, so floaty things pop up above the rim of the container.
• fill with random sizes & colors of flowers, and 3 tea lights (any tea light candle will float if you remove it from its container!)
• You can also fill with sand, leaves, and berries.  Some will float, some will decorate the bottom of the container.
• Pretty!

And for Christmas, I also cut tips off the christmas tree to float in the containers, with bright red cranberries (which also float).

Tips to safely cut a child’s hair:

• PLAY VIDEO on portable DVD player on dining room table
• Set up high bar stool/ chair so that you don’t kill your back.
• Spend $2 on the re-usable hair apron thingy, instead of a garbage bag.
• Always hold hair in one hand (with some give) and cut with the other hand. This way when the child moves around you don’t loose your nice section of hair. And of course there’s the added advantage of not paying for therapy whilst your child recovers from the stabbing.

Thick Hair: Emma has really thick hair, so I cut it in sections across the back.

For fringed sides:

• Do NOT cut across like you would straight bangs.
• You have to start at top of head and select section of hair only 1/2 inch wide, from top of head down to neck.
• Cut on an angle from the shortest hairs (top) to the longest hair(bottom).
• Didn’t quite get a picture of this.

Bangs: Don’t cut more than just above the eyebrow line. As you can see here - it is TOO short! lol

Also, I find it helpful to ignore the pouting preschooler until the need for reprimand becomes intolerable.

To get it even across the back: push the hair against the neck and pull out in a C shape. My top finger is holding the top hairs down into a C shape, and allowing the bottom ones to be pulled straight out.

And that pretty much sums of my morning. Oh, that, and a new design for your blog! Check out the Diva design here: www.tibbles.net/designs

Enjoy!

PS - this is totally not, uh-uh, no-way professional advice. Just a mom who’s learned the hard way.

You can find more Tuesday Toot’s (mommy’s tooting their own horn!) here.    And if you are looking for more Works for me Wednesday stuff, click here.

And possibly a bit sarcastic. Some of you may not know that my hubby has celiac disease so a couple years ago we changed everything in our kitchen and diet to be gluten free. And I operate www.Strawberries are gluten free.com to record my successes and failures.

Well, today this totally classifies as a Tuesday Toot - I made my first slideshow for that site! (gifted, I tell you!) “How to core an apple” - not exactly rocket science but until I started doing it this way, I would avoid recipes that called for cored apples. It was just such a pain!

So I took the pictues, it was a tad tricky since the 4 year old can’t aim it very well, and well, I need my right hand for the knife… Just picture a couple hands and a foot on the counter, knives and spillage, and you’ve got a pretty similar scene in your noggin.

Anyhow, I got the pics, and I uploaded to my first photobucket account and even got it in a slideshow! AND I managed to upload family pics AND create a PRIVATE account for them! Isn’t that cool?

Go check it out - and only say nice things. lol (the link is in the left sidebar)

If it is too long to load or something let me know. That part of techy stuff is outta my league.

Oh and for the beautiful part, check out these WHEAT FREE pancakes & biscuits! I deserve awards for these, man!

Have a great Tuesday Mommies - and join our Tootin! You deserve it!

To store or not to store.  (Gosh, I’ve been wanting to quote that book for a long time. lol)

Anyhow, to the point.  This Tidy Tuesday is about the grape-turned-raisin in my fruit crisper.  And the celery stalk that looks like a Frenched green bean.  Yelk!  So here’s the freezin’ method for those old m’hem, not rotten fridge contents.

Veggies

• lettuce - it keeps for ages if you wash it, or at least rinse it, and wrap it in paper towel, put back in plastic bag and back in the crisper.  I swear it stays crisp and lasts twice as long as usual.
• carrots, um - as far as I’m concerned they last forever.  When they were regular size carrots and they now look like baby carrots - that’s the time for STEW, ladies.  It hides a multitude of sins.
• bell peppers, any variety.  I usually buy these in season only.  As up north they get pricey in the winter time.  But, they are awesome when you core them, cut them in half, and stash in a baggie, and freeze!  They cook up just like fresh and we get bell peppers out of season now!

Fruit

• Apples - applesauce (puleez - who has time?)  If you are a martha type (I admit, I’ve done this a time or two) you put the ENTIRE apple in the blender - seeds, core, skin, everything!  Add enough water to blend nicely, add sugar and cinnamon if desired.  Bring to boil in saucepan.  Simmer a minimum of 5 minutes - voilá!  This is very yummy on french toast!
• Bananas - toss, peel and all, in the freezer and defrost in microwave for baked goods.  (I have the BEST banana bread recipe on my Strawberries site.)
• Oranges - cut in half and simmer with cloves and cinnamon for a very yummy room pot pourri.

Deli Crisper Stuff

• Deli meats - after 3-5 days, cut up in cubes or squares, and freeze in baggies for pizza toppings or soups.
• yucky-ish cheese - cut off green fuzzy stuff (being careful not to leave it on the knife between slices), shred and freeze in baggies for pizza or casserole topping.  - not the fuzzy stuff silly, the leftover non-fuzzy cheese.

Thanks to my resourceful sis, Christine for some of these great tips!