Cleaning post: Take 2

I've been a huge blog slacker, I apologize.  Not like many follow me anyway,  but, you know...

This fall I got some new "toys" to clean with.  One that I got really excited about was my new mop.  I know, I'm a dork, but here it is.

It's a Rubbermaid Reveal.  The squirt bottle attaches onto the wand and it has a trigger at the top so you can squirt the cleaner out.  Kinda like a Swiffer Wet Jet only you use whatever cleaner you want.  The bottle is refillable and the pads are washable.   It only came with one pad, so I made 2 more using my microfiber towels I had purchased for cloth diapers.  I had 2 new ones I wasn't using and turns out they work better than the pad it comes with.  Anyway, great for wood floors bc it doesn't let them get as wet. 

Also still loving the new Method cleaner with Thymol in it.  Favorite is the bathroom one that is spearmint scented.

Onto another cleaning related topic... we had a lot of appliances/household items bite the dust this year.

1. Attic fan #1 (squirrel nesting jammed the fan and burnt the motor)
2. Dishwasher
3. Mower
4. Oven touch panel
5. HVAC blower and circuit panel (actually got wet from a leak from the condensation drain pipes and caught on fire/shorted out)
6. Attic fan #2 (squirrels again... I'm seeing a pattern here.  Maybe we *ahem Brian* should put sturdy wire mesh up instead of screen)
7. Microwave (now borrowing one from Katy and Doug and it's about to die too)
8. Washing machine
9. Vacuum (which I suppose still "works" but has lost 50% suction and has lots of issues and duct tape on it)

No, I don't wanna know what's next because, let's face it, there's not much left.  While I was a bit bummed each time something broke, most of these things have been fixed by Brian with little cost or replaced with the best deal we could find at the time.  The mower isn't replaced yet, but we're waiting till spring to do that.

Without further ado, here's my other new toys ;)

This was a steal with the 30% off coupon they sent me in a paper and my $20 Sears GC from the Coke Rewards site that I won without even drinking one Coke.  This is a Kenmore canister.

This one from Home Depot was 20% off on sale and we got 10% cash back from Discover.  It's an LG front loader.

Overall, I like my new washer a lot.  I have only done one load of cloth diapers in it.  I was leery of using it at first for cloth diapers, but I think it's working fine.  I've found ways to trick it into adding more water so I don't have to keep rinsing.

So it's been a hard year for us and appliances.  Knock on wood, the Volvo is still running smoothly, but is due for new tires soon.  Van has also been reliable and I'm just hoping nothing else breaks!  I'm going to risk sounding old when I say "they just don't make 'em like they used to."  It's totally true.  I feel like nothing lasts anymore unless you spend $$$$$ on it.

Shutterfly Cards

 Update!  This is the front picture of my folding photo card :)  You like?  I don't wanna show the actual card (though I have to a couple people) cuz then it will ruin the surprise.  

These 2 pix are on the inside.

I just love making Christmas cards and usually I just do the photocards that are printed on photo paper, but Shutterfly was SO generous this year for us bloggers and they gave me a code for 50 free 5x7 folded or flat stationary cards printed on premium card stock!  These cards are over $2 each, but with the promo, I only had to pay shipping on them, which was $7.99.  Not bad for 50 cute cards huh?


I love doing photo cards every year.  I used Shutterfly last year for my photo cards once again because they do such a great job.  I was able to put 3 pictures on the card and everyone loved them.  I'm going to be ordering a few things from Shutterfly this Holiday season, but my primary focus is on making the perfect Christmas photo card.

In the past I've created some photo mugs too for my dad and myself to commemorate our 7 mile hike at Crowder's Mountain.  Every time I use it, I remember our trip and how crazy we were to drag 2 kids (4 month old and 20 month old) on a long hike like that!

This year, I also plan to do a cookie exchange in December and have been looking at all the great Christmas invitations that Shutterfly has too.

My favorite thing to make though, are the photo books.  I have created one for each of my children to remember their first year.  I've also been wanting to make a family tree photo book so they can look at pictures of all their relatives.  Whatever your family is into, Shutterfly always has a great way to remember certain events or moments in your life.  Photographs are priceless and I love to show off my 2 beautiful children :).



50 free photo cards for bloggers :)  http://bit.ly/sfly2010