The Pins for the Rest of Us

SO....it's been a really long time since I've blogged.  I think I just got overwhelmed.  I set some really high standards for myself by wanting to blog everyday and it turned into a full time job.  I already had a full time job homeschooling 10 kids (not mine) and I just didn't have time.  But now, I am recommitted and ready to plow on....

This blog isn't just about dishes.  Really it's about the fact that I am just a real life wife and mother.  We live in a real home with real dirt.  It's in the sink, around the sink, and under the sink.  I am responsible for ALL of that dirt.  Not that I created all of it, but that it is my job to remove it.  AND it is a very real and true statement that there is NO DISH FAIRY.  I believe in Santa Claus and the Tooth Fairy, but the Dish Fairy is an urban myth - kinda like Big Foot.

This blog is about doing life without a Dish Fairy.  Some days I do a really good job and some days I don't.  This blog will be about that finding ways to help myself and maybe some of you be a real wife and mom and housekeeper and survive - maybe some days we will even thrive.

Soooo, why is this post titled "The Pins for the Rest of Us"?  Well, yesterday I cleaned out my closet. It was WAY overdue.  Way. way. way. overdue.  I didn't just find a dust bunny, I found all of her children too.  And even worse - I was holding on to clothes that fit 10 years ago.  That's a lot of pounds ago and ALOT of fashion ago.  But, I was HOLDING on to the hope that they would fit again.  Why?  Beats me.  If I lost a bunch of weight I'd be so excited that I would go shopping and not in my 10 year old, dusty closet.  So, I pulled everything out and put the clothes that did not fit into big black garbage bags and hauled 6 bags to a donation center.

Then, I distracted myself and decided to look on Pinterest for ideas about how to organize my unstuffed closet.  Here is what I found.  Some people are pretending.  I think that people sneak into Ikea late at night, take pictures, cut and paste matching containers into their closet and then take a picture and put that on Pinterest.  There is NO WAY that these people live a real life.  I mean who has that many white shirts and nothing else????

Well, maybe they do only have white shirts because they spend so much money on matching hangers and containers that they can't afford anything else.

I turned off my computer and cleaned my closet and organized my closet and did not spend a penny.  In fact, I needed a container and so I dug a shoe box out of the trash.  I am proud to admit that it does not match anything else in my closet.

Now, don't get me wrong....I love to match.  But, let's be realistic about where we should match and when we should spend money on matching.  I choose to match outside of my closet.  I have a real life closet.  It is clean and organized.  My husband can hang up my clothes without consulting a color wheel to make sure he has all the shades of red in the right order.

And I am proud of my work.  It is not Pinterest worthy.  It is a Pin for the Rest of Us.

Here is a picture of my clean and unmatched unPinterest closet.

Chores for kids

I was cleaning out a cabinet last week and found this chore assigning tool.  I don't even remember how old the kids were when we used it.  I doubt they even remember it.  But, the more I thought about it, the more brilliant it became.  It was free to make, could work for any size family, and the chores could change with the season and abilities.  Wow, at some point, I was smart!

How to get blood out of carpet

I've been off the grid for a few days, so I was unable to post.  But, now our kiddos are moved to college and I have internet again, so here is how to get blood out of carpet.  I hope you never need it.

Disclaimer:  There are no pictures.

I have a lethal food processor.  Well, that's not fair.  It's not the food processor that's lethal, just the blade and that sucker is SHARP!  But, for some reason, I have trouble remembering that when I drop it into soapy water.  (I'm betting you already know the rest of the story.)

Friday's Fab Five - Tater Tot Casserole

Another super easy dinner to freeze...

When you find those big family packs of ground beef on sale, stock up.  You can cook five meals out of 5 pound pack and freeze them in freezer ziplock style bags and it takes up VERY little space.  Then you can pull one out and have dinner on the table in a jifffy and not have to clean a skillet!!!  Woohoo!!! 

Breakfast Cookies

I started making these cookies earlier this summer and now I am totally addicted.  They keep me full until breakfast and make me feel like I'm being somewhat healthy.  They made from nuts, fruits, and quinoa and have no added sugar. 

Bonus:  I feel like a kid...sneaking COOKIES for breakfast!

Cleaning a Stainless Steel Sink

My friend has her house on the market and I've been giving her hints about keeping it "show" ready.  Not because I'm an expert.  I've only sold one house and it was on the market 3 days and 2 of those I was out of town.  No, I give her hints because I tend to be bossy and I have a little more time to think about these things. 

So, when I was browsing through Pinterest one day, I saw a pin for cleaning your sink with baby oil.  Now, I'm thinking that might work (after all I found it on the internet and the internet is ALWAYS right - said in a sarcasm font), but when your house is on the market, do you really want your kitchen to smell like babies???  I think that might be the best scent for some people.

So, I got to thinking...what do I like to smell? 

Discounts for Teachers

This post may not apply to you if you are NOT a teacher, but I bet you KNOW a teacher and you could bless them by sending this post to them!  You could even give it as a "first day of school" gift for your child's teacher.  Maybe attached to a bottle of bubble bath, a great coffee mug, or go old school and give it with an apple?