I'm Bringing Home a Baby Bonsai Tree, and Surprise Flowers From My Hub

Ok, actually I already brought it home a few days ago. I'm kind of nervous about it because I used to have whatever is the opposite of a green thumb. I seemed to have a magic gift for making those tiny white bugs that look like dust appear and surreptitiously devour all my houseplants. I know, gross. But in the past couple years I decided to just take the plunge and buy more plants anyway because I just love the way they brighten up my house. My most recent acquisition may be the most ambitious of all- I bought a Bonsai! Does this word conjure up images of The Karate Kid for anyone else? Anyway, I've heard that these adorable miniature trees are quite hard to care for- needing just the right amount of water, sunlight and pruning to grow and thrive. I'm quite intimidated about it, considering my special, plant-killing gift. I hope I can make this thing live. I've already Googled the heck out of the subject, and I'm still not sure what to do, but here she is:

Isn't she cute? Keep your fingers crossed for her, I'm not sure how long I can make her last...

On a more positive note, my husband brought me some just-because-I-love-you flowers from the grocery store the other day when he was picking up some bread. I was very touched. Remember, little gestures like this give big love

I Didn't Know You Could Do That!

Happy Monday! Did your kids drive you crazy trying to get out the door this morning? No, really? Yeah, mine neither...not.

For today's post I'm sharing some helpful household hints that I've gathered from various sources, hope you can benefit from them:

1. How to get those lingering garlic and onion cooking smells off your hands:
Your leftover-from-the-holidays Bath & Body Works Candy Cane Bliss hand soap isn't even going to the trick but what will is if you rub your soap-laden hands along the length of your stainless-steel faucet tap before you rinse. Now, I once fell for a marketing ploy and bought a soap-shaped piece of steel just for this purpose, but when I lost it in one of my family's various moves (we are a mobile Army family) my mom suggested this idea and, what do you know? It's free, and it works.

2. You can replace your baggie clips with cheap, old rubber bands:
I loved baggie clips but when one breaks, on its own or purposely taken apart by your curious four-year-old, you have to buy new ones. I tried to buy the cheap ones you can find in the dollar store, but those break in an instant. I know that extra clothespins can easily double for this purpose, but I haven't had the luxury of hanging my clothes out to dry...ever, so I don't have any of those lying around. What I do seem to find around the house all the time are rubber bands. You can stretch those babies around most chip/cookie/cracker/salad (you know I had to throw something healthy in that mix for good measure) bags, and you're good to go. Plus, you don't feel bad if they break because you can get them super cheap (I saw a box of 425 for $1.98) or for free, like from a bunch of yummy asparagus (well, I think it's yummy but I'm still trying to convince the kids.)

3. Heat up leftover pizza in a skillet/frying pan:
If it were just me eating, I would scarf up that pizza straight out of the fridge. I love cold pizza, BUT the rest of the family does not. So, take those slices of pizza and heat them up in your frying pan on medium heat. The crust will get a little crisped up again, and the cheese will get melty. Mmmm...pizza.

4. Empty food containers are great organizing tools:
Maybe you've already seen a crafty example of using a purposefully cut cereal box into a magazine file but did you know you can also use it to rally your boxes of sandwich and freezer bags, plastic wrap and foil together? I did this at home, and you can, too. Find out how to make by clicking right here.

Also, if you need a canister for holding onto your cooking utensils, may I suggest using an empty oatmeal box? You can get super crafty and decorate it with Mod Podge and pretty paper, if you like.

5. Simple Shower/Tub Cleaner Idea:
Does anyone else hate scrubbing out the bathtub? I know I do. But this method I saw at Joyful Homemaking sounds pretty easy and doable. All you need is vinegar, (Dawn) dish soap and a soap-dispensing dish-washing wand, and you can do it while you're already in the shower. I'm trying this out ASAP.

A Messy Choice- Would You Rather Be Clean or Green?

I try to do my best to teach my kids how to better take care of our planet. We recycle. We reuse scrap paper for art projects and homework. I've been using a distilled vinegar and water solution as an all-purpose cleaner for at least three years now (although just this year I broke down and bought a prettily scented bottle of Method All-Purpose cleaner just for the dining table because I had just had enough of the vinegar everywhere smell- even though it does dissipate eventually). I use a Pur Water filter instead of stocking our fridge with BPA-infused plastic water bottles. I buy non-toxic, earth friendly versions of glass cleaner, shower spray and anti-bacterial bathroom spray. I also re-purpose various bought food containers for storage around the house. However,  here's my BIG BUT...

BUT I also buy tons of paper towels (the recycled kind, usually!). I love my Clorox Toilet Wands with the disposable foam heads (I always hated that disgusting toilet brush soaking in that nasty toilet water all the time...). I also sometimes have to bust out the bleach based cleansers for tough messes. And, of course, there is my all time favorite- the Swiffer. Oh, Swiffer how I love thee! I just have the original green, telescopic-handled workhorse. I have a bulk box of the dry dusting cloths and a bulk box of the wet mop cloths. I use them all the time, and not just on the floor. I take the individual cloths dust my furniture (or my six-year-old does- even better!). I wipe down the outside of the doors of my kitchen cabinets with the wet ones. And then I throw each un-environmentally-friendly, un-biodegradable miracle worker in the trash. And I feel guilty BUT my house is cleaner than it was, it made something that I would have put off much easier, and that is worth it for me.

We all make choices in our lives. One of mine is do I want to be clean or green. The answer for me is both, most of the time. But sometimes, when the choice is to use a product that's not green or put off cleaning a mess because I just don't have the convenient tools I need, I'm picking the convenient product almost every time.

Happiness Is Always In Bloom

You know that feeling you get when someone gives you flowers? That rush of endorphins that just brightens up the moment...You can give this to yourself!  Buy yourself some flowers every week. If this doesn't fit in your budget, buy some every two weeks, or at least once a month. If you see some beautiful wildflowers and there's no law preventing you from helping yourself- pick some of those. Put them in a vase, a jar, an old wine bottle, a cup, it doesn't matter. Flowers act like a light in your home, brightening up the darkest spaces. They are a symbol of beauty and growth.

I love orchids, tulips, ranunculus, even affordable Gerbera daisies (see above), and ubiquitous carnations. And, even though I find them kind of boring, sometimes I receive the perfect rose:

When I get flowers, I always trim the stems on a diagonal and add the plant food packet that comes with the bouquet into the vase water. Don't forget you can personalize an arrangement you bought or received as a gift: Trim the stems to make the flowers the most flattering length(s) for your container. Also, you can remove any blooms that you're not fond of. Sometimes I have to just throw them away but usually I'll turn one big bouquet into two or three smaller bouquets (try putting flowers of the same color in each container) and put one on the dining table, one in my room and one in my daughter's room!