Blissful and Domestic- Thrifty Living and Big Smiles

FAQ: Does Green Cleaning Really Work?

2013-06-19T03:00:00.000-07:00

I often get asked if green cleaning really works. Does it actually leave the house clean? Can it actually make a bathroom sanitized? Does it clean up after raw meat? Well the answer is Yes!Yes!Yes! That is why I love it so much. My favorite green cleaning solution has got to be the citrus cleaner. It is my go to for everything and I mean everything!

For example, I just finished cleaning the bathroom and boy did I need a shower afterwards. This thing was pretty bad. I don't know how two little munchkins can make such a mess. Well actually it is one munchkin in particular. The little girl. She is little, but oh man she is a Messy Nessy (her nickname, which she loathes).

Ready for a story about how messy and grouse this little girl can be? Alright if you are eating you might want to put the snack aside. This may get a bit dicey here:) The other night Keagan came to tell me that the kids bathroom's toilet was nasty. His exact words were "Libby blew up the toilet, I will not use that bathroom again". Home girl is only 6, so how can she blow up a bathroom?... Oh wait do we all know what that means? Think of the scene in Daddy Day Care where Eddie Murphy goes into the bathroom after that little brown haired kid. Can you picture his look of horror as he took all the pooh and stuff in? Well that is what blowing up the bathroom means. I bet you didn't know you would be educated on bathroom talk this morning huh? Your welcome:)

Anyways I was definitely feeling the horror when I peaked into this bathroom. I was ready to pack up and move. The thought of cleaning that mess was a little too much for this mama. Part of me wanted to grab a hazmat suite and run to Target for some bleach. I wasn't sure if my homemade citrus cleaner would hold up to the Miss-Priss-is-one-messy-child stink.

Well let me get real with ya'll.... It took some scrubbing, ALOT of baking soda, and a generous amount of my citrus cleaner, but that bathroom is one clean jama.

So if this cleaner will hold up to my six-year-old's-truck-stop-bathroom-mess, than I know it will hold up to all the stinks, spills, and messes that will occur in your bathrooms and kitchens.

So try out some green cleaners today! They cost very little to make, are safe to use around children and pets, and they will leave your house fresh and clean.

Now that I have done my domestic duty of cleaning today, I think I deserve a little vanilla yogurt with granola and blueberries treat. Oh and I guess I should catch up on some Master Chef. Gordon Ramsey scares me, but I love him!

Have a fabulous day lovelies!

XO Danielle

Blogging For Books: A Way Back to You by Emily Clawson + A FABULOUS GIVEAWAY

2013-06-18T03:00:00.000-07:00

A few weeks ago I received a fun littlepackage in the mail. It was right up this book nerds alley. DeseretBook sent me a few goodies to enjoy and then share with you. How sweet are they!? The first book I want to share with you is A Way to You by Emily Gray Clawson. Oh my heck girls this is a good one. It is like Seventeen Again, ya know with that Efron guy. It is a fun, can't-book-down-the-book read. Annabelle's character drew me in from the beginning, starting with the “it had been one of those two-year-old-screaming, dead-battery-at-the-grocery-store, pile-of-bills-in-the-mail days”. Seriously! That's like everyday of my life, except my two year old is now six and still tries to throw a tantrum in the store occasionally...and yes I pretend I don't know her and walk away...the crying usually stops after that. Annabelle has been having a hard time. She is now a single Mom to her littles and has still not grieved over the sudden death of her husband. She has lost all hope and can not see a future without her husband. Life has become too hard to bare. My heart was into this story by the middle of chapter 1. My heart ached for Annabelle. I know how much I love my husband...it is a whole bunch in case you were wondering. As I read this story it reminded of when my hubby had a stroke. For a brief moment the guys in white coats thought it was a tumor. They told us we should be prepared for that outcome. They did tests and while we waited for the test results, I fell to my knees and cried in the bathroom. I didn't know how I could ever go through this life without my husband. He is my rock, my world, truly my best friend. These memories came flooding back to me as I read about Annabelle and how the lost of her love had blown her world completely apart. The only difference was my hubby's test came out negative for a tumor, he was going to be ok..... Annabelle's husband did not.

Anne then hits rock bottom, and with a friends help, is able to have a weekend alone. It is during this time that she becomes 16 again (I told you it was like Seventeen Again). Being in high school though brings “unforeseen changes and frustrations, but when she remembers her husband, Mitch, has just returned from a mission and is living on the other side of town gives Anne hope”. While Anne mends relationships with friends and family, she realizes she is stronger than she ever thought possible and that there is a future ahead of her...a future that will bring her more joy than she thought possible after the loss of her hubby.

This book had me laughing and crying. In fact my hubby walked in on me when I was reading the very ending. I had cried because the ending was perfect...no joke. As hubby stumbled upon my book nerd moment of tears, he didn't know what to do. It was one of those awkward moments where he stood half frozen in the doorway, not sure if he should enter or retreat. It made me laugh and then I of course had to tell him all about the book. He lovingly listened, even though I am sure there were a hundred others things he would have rather been doing, but he sat down and let me gush about this book. That man of mine is so dang sweet! Love him to pieces!

So who is ready to read this book? I have loved it, but I want to share my copy with one of you lovelies! Below is a few simple ways to enter this giveaway. It will run till Saturday at midnight.

Don't want to wait for the giveaway? Head on over and get either the paperback or Ebook version from Deseret Book (both happen to be on sale this week). All of their books are PG rated, which I love! No scandalous stuff going on there :)

Deseret Book Giveaway

Go to DeseretBook.com and tell me what book is now on your summer reading list.

Follow Blissful and Domestic in anyway

(each way counts for an entry)

Leave me a comment for EACH thing that you do.

Good Luck Lovelies!

XO Danielle

Thrifted Fashion: Hand-Me-Downs

2013-06-17T03:00:00.000-07:00

Shirt: hand me down -Layering Shirt: Shade Clothing
Pants: Yard Sale - Sneakers: Target Clearance- bracelet: Target clearance

I love getting hand-me-downs. Whether it is from a friend or my mom, I love it. I love being able to find new ways to work an item into my wardrobe. Recently my friend Jen donated quite a bit to my closet. I have a huge re-purpose pile and have been able to add some staples into my closet as well. This shirt was one that my friend no longer wanted. I saw the ruffles and said "heck yes I want that". I mean seriously! You can't go wrong with ruffles. They are super flattering and go great with my hot pink skinny jeans I got at a yard sale a few months ago. I rarely wear jeans, but when they're pink you just can't go wrong!

What deal have you scored lately at yard sales/thrift stores?

P.S.
Don't you love it when your 6 year old takes a picture of your stink face (see picture #3) and that dang wind was not co-operating when we took these pictures -insert sad face-

Find More Thrifted Fashion Posts HERE

XO Danielle