A happy toilet

I need to get something off my chest: I like cleaning toilets. In fact, that may be one of my favorite chores. Is that strange? I'll ponder that someday. I like that kind of cleaning because it's immediate and you can clearly see a difference. Unlike sorting through clutter...easily (EASILY!) my least favorite task. Gag. Shudder.

I've become very interested lately in finding chemical-free strategies for cleaning my little home. I'm convinced that breathing in all those fumes can't be good for you. Plus, many of those cleaners aren't cheap, and I'm all about saving pennies. I've been using white vinegar/water solution in a spray bottle and baking soda for a while with much success, but I feel like a toilet and a tub need a little more scrubbin', know what I mean?

Enter: my new cleaning arsenal...

Borax and lemon juice. That's it! Just pour 1/4 cup of borax in the toilet along with some lemon juice (I used a half). Let sit for a while and then scrub it out. I couldn't get over how well it worked and how nice and fresh it smelled. So much better than those fakey "mountain meadow spring" smells in some cleaners.

Give it a shot! It's better for you. It's cheaper. It makes you feel delightfully old-fashioned, which is always fun. Plus, it makes your toilet happy. Who doesn't want their toilet to be happy?

I found this idea and oodles of others at Make It Do, a treasure trove of little tips like this one. Just a great site that I found and wanted to share with yall!

A minefield of randomness

A minefield, I'm tellin' you. Watch your step!

1. I need somebody to come do lesson plans for me. Somebody...anybody. I've got 28 sweeties showing up at 7:30 tomorrow expecting something to do, and I'd rather go outside or take a nap than plan. Help a sista out!

2. The 2011 "Take A Bunch of Fifth Graders and Their Parents to Our Nation's Great Capital for a Week" trip is rapidly approaching, and this teacher is excited about making trip #2. Catch up on last year's trip here: (the "I'm too tired to recap right now", Day 1, Day 2, Day 3, Day 4, Day 5). I'm completely aware that this may not be interesting to anyone but me; humor me! This truly is a magical trip, and I am PUMPED about going again. Last year I spent most of the week battling a sinus infection and suffering as the antibiotics waged war on my poor stomach. I'm hoping to be functioning at more than 46% this year! I'm also thrilled to be able to take my new (well, bought in November) camera along. I got two of my favorite shots ever last year, and I'm not sure if I'll be able to top these:

3. The weather this weekend has been sunny and breezy in the high 70s. Absolute perfection. I've practically lived outside, only coming in long enough to use my NetiPot (and, you know, sleep). Pollen is the bane of my springtime existence, and the NetiPot is my weapon of choice. Bring it, pollen.

4. I watch this video at least once a day. The baby's reaction is so very precious. If you think I wouldn't blow my nose all the time if this were my baby, you are sorely mistaken.

5. These little jewels are my new favorite snack.

I like Greek yogurt better than regular yogurt because it has more protein and calcium. These three are the best, in my opinion, but the lemon is my all-time favorite. It's like sunshine on a spoon. Really, really, ridiculously good. I've got a mango flavored one hanging out in the fridge, so I'll report back on that. Try not to lose sleep over it until I do!

6. Does anybody know how to move my categories, followers, and archives up closer to the top of the page? Right now, they're close to the bottom where you can't see them until you scroll way down. I just taught myself how to embed a YouTube video, but can't manage this one. If anybody knows, I'll give you a virtual high five for helping me figure it out. Who doesn't want a virtual high five?!

7. We sang "Amazing Grace" at church this morning. Not much lifts my spirits on a Sunday like singing "Amazing Grace". Delight.

8. I still need someone to take care of my lesson plans. See #1.

Happy new week, yall!

Happiness in a jar

(Excuse the weird lighting. I live in a cave.)

I've always been charmed by the simple functionality of Mason jars. In looking to upgrade my hodgepodge of had-'em-since-college plastic cups, I was inspired by this post and this one. I'm now the (very) proud owner of 12 beautiful, half-pint Mason jars. I christened one this morning with some cranberry-pomegranate green tea and, quite honestly, it made me smile.

I love smiling.

And I love my new upgrade.

Get you some!

Vitamin E oil, that is.

Winter normally leaves my hands rather reptilian, and regular ol' lotion just doesn't cut it. I'm a big fan of the Vaseline and socks routine, but I've added something new this winter. I've been mixing several drops of vitamin E with my Vaseline before the socks go on at night, and it's made such a difference. Not once this winter have my hands looked like crocodile hands...paws...talons. What is it they have? Whatever. I've been mixing a few drops in with regular lotion, too. My skin looks better than I ever remember it looking during the wintertime. A little bit goes a long way, too. I've had this little bottle for almost two months, and it's level with the top of that label. Worth your bucks!

Meet Nikki

Ain't she purty? I've been saving since August for Nikki, and now she's finally mine. I am most excited about her. She has a strap, a pop-up flash, and, get this...a lens cap. A lens cap! I have officially made it to the big time. She makes cute noises and does lots of cool and fancy things. In fact, she's far, far too cool and fancy for me, but I'm trying to catch up as fast as I can. I see lots of adventures in the future for Nikki and me.

A scattered Saturday morning

I'm in love. With a gum...Ice Breakers Ice Cubes: Cool Lemon. This gum is like chewable Toomer's lemonade; how can you go wrong with that? I bought a new pack the other day and was upset when I reached into my purse after lunch yesterday and found it empty. I dug around in there thinking it had spilled out into my purse. Nope. I chewed it all. In two days.

I saw something outside last night that made me desperately unhappy. It was one of those vile creatures whose name starts with an "r" and rhymes with "coach". I almost looked up a picture to put in this post, but then I wouldn't be able to come back here anymore. And that would be a tragedy. Do these nasty things serve a purpose? And if they do, isn't there anything else that can do whatever it is they do, just without the grossness? Thankfully, the thing was outside and not inside...that gives me the heebs like just about nothing else. My chivalrous neighbor kindly squished it for me and said he would leave it there as a warning to all the others. I hope they see their fallen comrade out there on the sidewalk and go hang out somewhere else for the summer.

I want to sew something today. It's been a while since I've had the time (or honestly, desire) to sew, so I'm going to take advantage of this. I don't know yet what I'm sewing...I'll get there when I get there. But I'm sewing something.

I made something really good the other night. It sounds weird, but it tasted amazing. Chicken+Amy's Chunky Tomato Bisque+Frank's Red Hot+sauteed onion+kidney beans+whole wheat rotini+a little shredded cheddar on top=seriously tasty.

I've finally given in and started watching "Friday Night Lights". When it first premiered, I remember thinking that it looked like a show I would enjoy. I made a concerted effort not to watch it, because I don't like being a slave to the TV. The new season started a couple of weeks ago and I watched it. And I'm hooked, just as I knew I would be. Not only am I now a slave to my TV, I'm going to have to spend my summer renting the previous seasons so I can get caught up. Sigh.

I heard this song on my drive home from Mobile last weekend. It made me laugh. Not that there's anyone I feel this way about (hmm), but if there was, I'm sure this would sum it up nicely :) Jaron and the Long Road to Love, "I Pray for You": http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFJu8DCH_b0

Thursday is the last day of school. This year has flown by; of course, there were times when it seemed to drag but overall? Poof! Flown by. The kiddos are so excited about moving up to 6th grade, and I'm excited for them. I'm more sad about this year being over than past years...I think because I'm not going to see them next year. I've loved this class and even though we've had some less-than-perfect moments, I'm going to miss them a lot. Whether they know it or not, they've taught me so much. I've put my heart and soul into teaching this year, and I hope my darlings are just a tiny little bit better for being in my class.

I don't know if I've ever been so excited about summer break. I've got places to go, sights to see, friends to visit, weddings to attend, books to read, movies to watch, things to sew, a life to live...can't wait to get on it!

a love/hate relationship

Today was one of those ridiculously wonderful early spring days: warm enough for short sleeves, enough of a breeze to keep the temperature really nice. I love spring. I love the nicer weather, Easter, flowers blooming, grass coming back to life, baby animals, baseball...all that good stuff. On the other hand, I hate spring for what it does to me. Congestion, headaches, itchy eyes, sneezing...it happens every year, and leaves me wishing spring away.


Spring has been a little easier to handle, though, since this little guy came into my life:

My mom was introduced to the NetiPot several years ago and couldn't stop raving about it. She tried and tried to get me to try one, but hardheaded as I am, I wouldn't do it. She finally gave up and just bought me one. I tried it very reluctantly, and as grumpy as I get when my mom is right (FYI, she usually is), it's amazing. I'm hooked on the Neti. If I wouldn't look like a hardcore weirdo, I'd buy one for everyone I know. Seriously...it's that good.