Giving Back

This year, my kids and I are participating in Samaritan's Purse's Operation Christmas Child. It's a fairly inexpensive way to help children in need during the Christmas season. I want my kids to know that Christmas is not just about Santa and getting presents. It's nice to be able to give back.

With OCC, you fill a shoe box (or small plastic box) with small toys, school supplies, hygiene items and other things you think the child may like. Decide if it's for a boy or girl and the age range intended and pay $7 per box for help in shipping. You can mail the box to Samaritan's Purse or drop off at a location convenient to you. (Check the website for drop off locations closest to your zip code.)

We've done this in years past and my kids really enjoy going to the store and picking out items for these boxes.

Back to the Basics

The other day, the kids were off at school, I was cleaning the house and hubby was working outside in the yard. I desperately needed to go grocery shopping but it was lunchtime, so I wanted to eat before going so I didn't buy everything in sight!

I had a package of hot dogs, but no buns, so I cut them up and mixed them with a can of baked beans and wala....cheap lunch.

When hubby and I were eating, we talked about how this meal used to be a staple to us when we were first married and dirt poor. We probably ate beans and wienies once a week. Life was a lot simpler then. No kids, no mortgage, no investment properties or renters to deal with. We wouldn't give any of that up now (well maybe the mortgage if we could), but we loved our life back then. We didn't have two nickels to rub together, but we were happy all the time. Not to say we're not happy now, but responsibility can definitely take a toll.

H1N1

It's crazy how much hype and hysteria is being given to this H1N1 business. We had a confirmed case at Thing 1 and Thing 2's school and it happened to be in Lauren's class. There were several parents in the school that either did keep their kid home from school or thought about keeping their kids home after receiving the note about the case.

It's just a strain of the flu. Yes, we should be concerned and yes, it can be severe, but then again, so can the regular flu. I imagine that next year, H1N1 will be a common strain of flu for us.

There was a brief time that we thought maybe Lauren had it, but she was down for a day and then was back to normal with just a lingering cough. Nathaniel came home from school the next day with a fever, but slept it off with some Tylenol and all is well with him too. Hubby is battling a sinus infection, so right now, I'm the only healthy one (knock on wood). I've stocked up on Vitamin C to help ward off all the cooties around here and I follow behind everyone with a can of Lysol spraying everything they come into contact with. :)

WFMW ~ Mopping Wood Floors

Mopping has always been my most hated household chore. I will find a hundred other things to do instead of mopping, but since it has to be done I begrudgingly do it. You'd think that someone who hates mopping as much as I do would have chosen to build a home with something other than hardwood floors throughout the whole house, but sadly, due to Thing 2's allergies, this was for the best.


After checking out different hardwood floor cleaners/sytems/mops, I decided to try Bona. It's non-toxic and safe to use around pets and family. You have the mop "handle" which you attach a microfiber pad to the bottom and then a spray bottle with the cleaner. I spray an area and then mop. Simple as that. The microfiber pad is reusable and washable up to 300 times.

I did go to their Bona's website and saw they have a new mop similar to the Swiffer WetJet that has the cleaner attached right to the mop. I might need to get that. :)