CEOofMyHouse

Times are a changin

2010-06-23T13:35:00.000-07:00

IN THE BEGINNING...
Being CEO of a household is a career that is both rewarding and stressful 365 days a year, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Cooking, Entertaining, Cleaning, Shopping, Beauty (looking good), Exercise (feeling good), Being a good partner, Listener, Mother(i am not yet a mother but look forward to it). I will discuss my trials and tribulations of a career choice that is often overlooked by those that have a "9-5 salary" career.
NOW...
This was when I was CEO of "his" house. After all he was the one that "paid the bills." Now...I am no longer with him. I will be writing about everything "house" and hopefully a new funny bit about starting over and being CEO of my house. After all, I will still be Cooking, Entertaining, Cleaning, Shopping, Beauty (looking good), Exercise (feeling good) an much much more :)
TO BE CONTINUED...

Great finds for summer

2010-05-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

I found the cutest beach/pool summer stuff at Old Navy for 40% off!!! Inflatable balls...rafts...swimmies :) Pier one is also having a great sale for patio... 25% off. I found some really great things for the Memorial BBQ at great prices!! The decorating is almost complete :)

Have a beautiful day

out and about for a little retail therapy

2010-05-24T14:48:00.000-07:00

We have decided to have a Memorial Day BBQ which means that I get to plan, organize, decorate and shop. I love being creative and most of all I love a great excuse to shop. I love shopping. I love to look, to find great deals and I love the interaction with people in the different places that I visit. For example, people at the grocery store give great tips and some look at me like... "is she really going to cook that successfully?" I am completely consumed with anything for puppy right now... so I could listen for hours at PetCo about dog food (and I have). And the trick to retail are skinny mirrors and a great sales person telling you just how fabulous you look in everything (even though you do not). And we all know that a department store that has chose to use FLORESCENT LIGHTING can ruin your whole day so beware!!! I once said that I think everyone should work at a McDonalds and although I have never worked there I still think everyone should... at least for a day. First for the experience... but most importantly because it is a well oiled machine that is constantly being simplified. Whatever the experience, I just really enjoy being around a mix of people. So I have my list of stores to visit and my menu made for the week. Its time to shop till I drop or I have exceeded my budget.

Have a beautiful day

I do not like green eggs and ham...

2010-05-19T16:26:00.000-07:00

but I love Dr. Seuss. I think that he had such a wonderful take on life.

“Sometimes the questions are complicated and the answers are simple.”-- DR.SEUSS

dog whisperer where are you?!?!?!?!?!?!

2010-05-18T10:16:00.000-07:00

Puppy is in a crazy mood today. It is raining and she has played in the mud, dirt and puddles... into the bath tub she goes :) Fortunately she does not mind taking a shower. However, what she does mind is not being able to go into the garden. She just does not understand and is BORED. She is acting out... the CEO of his business has a gash in his nose and I have a gash around my wrist. Her razor sharp teeth make it look like I tried to slash my wrist open :(
PARVO is a deadly virus for puppies and in our area it is a big problem. So until her last round of vaccinations she is in quarantine. She can not leave our house or go where other dogs go. We do take her places and for rides in the car... but she can not walk around on the ground on a leash. It is sad but only until June 28th that is how the cookie crumbles. She is a good dog and is pretty laid back... but then all of a sudden she snaps and goes crazy sprinting from one side of the yard to the other and growling!! YIKES!! She is already retrieving, knows how to sit, and is down to about one pee pee accident a week (usually my fault). She is very smart so I think that as soon as she understands that NO is a command and not her "name" we will be on the right track :) Wish we were friends with the dog whisperer :)

Have a beautiful day!!

Order or Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder?

2010-05-17T12:19:00.000-07:00

I often hear myself and friends say "I am OCD." Why do we label our cleanliness as a disorder... the disorder should be coined for the messy out of order people that make picking up and putting away a "repetitive behavior." Why did the term OCD start being used so loosely? How did something positive like preferring a clean, uncluttered and organized house get labeled as a disorder. I am by no means knocking anyone that actually has a compulsive disorder... I just think the term is overused. The CEO of his business loves to say that I have "Select OCD," because I like to have everything in its place but some select things can be out of order. First, the objects that are out of order are foreign, temporary objects that have been brought in and do not have a place. Second, I have learned to give time and have a little patience before I start "nagging" or "complaining" about them being being left in a random place (usually right in the entrance of the house)... which has translated to the selective part. Third, I have also learned that a grace period of a day or two is enough before I end up putting them away myself anyway. Thank goodness for the garage which is our storage unit/"man cave." That being said... I also have piles and messes that I make of things before they are ultimately put in there place. And I always love having my "really" organized friends help organize. I like to read tips on how to be more organized and strive to be the person that cleans out my closet often and organizes everything by color. Not because I am obsessive but because I like things to be visually pleasing. My closet is arranged by no sleeve, short sleeve, long sleeve, dresses (by sleeves and length), shorts, skirts, jeans, pants, juicy suits... so there is some order. My shoe closet looks like a work of art... Oh how I love shoes!!! I keep his closet organized by color... but i just think that all of his clothes are easier to keep this way. And the house needs to stay presentable at all times because there are people at our house most everyday. I believe this is order... not obsessive-compulsive disorder.
I have been reading and recommend, "Clear Your Clutter with Feng Shui" By Karen Kingston.

Have a beautiful day

Its not easy being green!!!

2010-05-14T14:06:00.000-07:00

This has had me laughing and I thought I would share with the class :)

It is easy being green... poor Kermit :) These are a few of my favorite green things!! Arcona has a wonderful Green Tea lotion... and my favorite summer drink is the blended Moroccan Mint Green Tea with Boba from Urth cafe. Green Tea has such great properties that makes it easy to be green... tea :) This is the list of benefits of green tea according to Healthmad.com

It is used to treat multiple sclerosis.
It is used for treatment and prevention of cancer.
It is used to stop Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases.
It is used to raise the metabolism and increase fat oxidation.
It reduces the risk of heart diseases and heart attacks by reducing the risk of trombosis.
It reduces the risk of esophageal cancer.
Drinking green tea inhibits the growth of certain cancer cells, reduces the level of cholesterol in blood, improves the ratio of good cholesterol to bad cholesterol.
It is used to treat rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular diseases
It is used to treat impaired immune function. .
Some researches show that, drinking green tea regularly may help prevent tooth decay by killing the bacteria which causes the dental plaque.

Have a beautiful day

a few of my favorite things...

2010-05-13T16:22:00.000-07:00

I was the girl that dreamed of entering my corner office in Manhattan every morning. Getting dressed in the morning started with a nice bath routine. A long marble counter top full of product and girl goodies. Entering my walk in, room of a closet and slipping on beautiful lacy lingerie, then the perfect fitting "power suit," choosing the perfect pair of "power pumps," detailed accessories, and jetting out of the door. Being pampered would be a weekly "task"... not luxury :) Hair appointments, laser, nails, facials, body treatments... everything to keep me in the game. Funny how guys just think we look good effortlessly :)
However, the path I chose was very different. I went to work for a great company that had a very relaxed atmosphere far from NYC, far from dressing up and "power suits"... more like "juicy suits." I do have a great loft right in the middle of the city and a fashion forward group of friends. No room for any relationships... because I just didn't have the "time" nor had I met the right person to "make time" for.
Enter the next stage of life... Meeting the man I had always dreamed about and also being the girl of his dreams. After the proposal, the nesting stage set in and I wanted more than anything to take care of him, be with him and make sure that he was happy... and still do. We both work at home and this is great because we can travel, be spontaneous and be together. However, when he is the breadwinner and it is "his" money how do you ask for the things that make you feel like a pampered lady or just extra spending cash? Just as the dust, dirt and clothes bunched up on the floor magically disappear and become clean, freshly laundered, folded, ready to wear items neatly placed in his drawers... We need time and the means to clean, primp, pamper, dress, and take care of ourselves. I have not yet become completely dependent on the CEO of his business but these are the types of issues that concern me.
So then do you get back in the rat race? Spend valuable time away from your partner? Put baby making on hold? Cancel out any chance of more than 2 weeks vacation a year? Leave the cleaning and taking care of the house to someone else? NO!!! If you are fortunate to be CEOofMyHouse and take care of your family then these are all of the things that you love about being a homemaker...and sometimes love to hate. No matter your money situation, most girls know how to do this on a budget... but we need a budget. When you are the CEOofMyHouse and your income is worth the same as Monopoly money, how do you come to an agreement to have your "own" money and not having to constantly ask. Money is a hard topic to approach and most often uncomfortable. Should the CEO of his business be responsible for making the money and sharing it? Well YES! After all, taking care of your partner, the household, yourself, and family(kids, employees, pets) is a nonstop job and should be appreciated and respected by the "bread"winner. You may not sit at a desk all day and "make" the money but you are CEOofMyHouse and that is a very respectable title filled with many major responsibilities. If you have a successful or unsuccessful story please comment.

Have a beautiful day

Dinner time

2010-05-12T18:57:00.000-07:00

This time the CEO of his business will be preparing my favorite meal!! Italian :) I just love nights like these!!! I appreciate it sooooooo much!! It was so thoughtful of him to go to the Italian deli and bring back all of my favorite things to cook and has promised to clean!!

R-E-S-P-E-C-T

2010-05-11T12:21:00.000-07:00

"Respect denotes both a positive feeling of esteem for a person or other entity (such as a nation or a religion), and also specific actions and conduct representative of that esteem. Respect can be a specific feeling of regard for the actual qualities of the one respected (e.g., "I have great respect for her judgment"). It can also be conduct in accord with a specific ethic of respect. Rude conduct is usually considered to indicate a lack of respect, disrespect, whereas actions that honor somebody or something indicate respect."-- Wikipedia

As CEOofMyHouse I think that it is time that the important things are defined... yesterday appreciation, today respect, tomorrow there will be another one. Having respect for someone and showing respect can often be difficult. It seems that so many people (if not everyone) have such a struggle within themselves. We have a difficult time saying what we mean, meaning what we say and/or doing what we say. I do think that we have so many ways of communicating... that at the end of the day if you respect or have positive feelings of esteem for people then the attitude behind what you say or how you act will show through. If you have not been such a respectful person in the past, I do believe that you can become respectful... and if you have been respectful most of your life, I believe you can become bitter. Wikipedia does not say anything about respecting yourself... I think that if you have a positive feeling of esteem for yourself (not to be confused with a cocky ego) and life, your attitude will be positive. Finding or having someone or many people to respect is a blessing often taken for granted. Try being a positive role model, respect yourself and others, be open to new things, educate yourself, communicate with others, respect others point of view. If you find all of this overwhelming... then just smile!! After all... "A smile is the universal welcome." ~Max Eastman

Have a beautiful day

to appreciate

2010-05-10T10:19:00.000-07:00

Appreciate means to be grateful or thankful for anything (wikipedia)... and yesterday there was a lot of appreciation for mom from children but was there appreciation for mom from partner? There was an article that explained that the day after mothers day is one of the days that women cheat (or sign up on a discrete dating service). They say that the day after Valentines and New Years Eve are first and third. They also go on to explain why... saying that men cheat because they are looking for sex and women seek attention that they're not getting at home making them feel undesirable and unvalidated. And for many women that already suffer from lack of appreciation, these days are a continuation of neglect and disappointment.

I have to say, in the first place, that appreciation works both ways. Communication and recognizing the differences between men and women also helps. Positive feedback increases positive feedback... negative feedback increases negative feedback!! And asking for what you want usually leads to getting what you want... not saying anything and expecting your partner to read your mind (unless they really are a mind reader) will get you no where. If you are feeling lonely then you should write a letter, sit, talk or "make whoopie." Why in the world would you want to seek someone or something else? You married, or are with, the man/woman of your dreams so why wouldn't you appreciate them and make them happy. How can cheating make things better? It is an awful band-aid that covers the wound with negative, makes you feel bad about yourself in the long run, and in turn can only make everything worse. If you are not happy and have given up on the relationship do yourself and everyone around you a favor and end the relationship before you start another. I am so sick of hearing about cheating. When trust is broken... you can't take that back. It sounds so easy and really it is... love the one your with!!! Relationships are hard work and are worth it, to have a great relationship with the one you love. When I ask the people who have relationships that I admire, "why they think they have such a good relationship?" they always say the same thing... respect, appreciation and love. They make good partners and they work together. There are tough times but with respect and appreciation you can make it through and trusting that you will be there for each other is key. Please say out loud or write a sweet note to the one you love today :) Smile at them and ask for something that you want! Appreciate them and give something in return!!!

Have a beautiful day :)

http://shine.yahoo.com/event/mothersday/why-moms-cheat-on-their-man-the-day-after-mothers-day-1410231/

Vibrate please

2010-05-07T11:13:00.000-07:00

Phone etiquette... why is it that someone does not make some rules about this. I was in a nice restaurant enjoying a great dinner with friends when this high pitched, ear piercing, ring tone from a phone kept beeping. One time ok...maybe they forgot to turn it down but multiple times... not ok!! I got up from the table, walked over and politely asked her to silence her phone. P.S. if you are in a nice restaurant, or anywhere for that matter, you should not have your phone out anyway... you should be enjoying the people that you are with or what you are out doing. If you do need your phone then please put it on vibrate :) you can still know who is calling, texting or emailing but others do not have to hear it. I do not know what happened in the last 10 years that now everyone thinks the world might end if they do not have their phone with them, out on the table and on the loudest possible ring. Your friends will not unfriend you on facebook... promise. There are always emergency situations and exceptions... but please turn your phone to vibrate or silence when you are out in public :) keep your ring tones for your personal enjoyment.
On a side note... I had no idea that children are using text so much that they are not speaking or socializing anymore. This may seem funny at first because they sit around and type, but it is really sad. There is a fear that they will not learn proper social skills and so on. They will not be the ones with the ringer on but they will not be making eye contact, communicating verbally or sharing active moments. An acquaintance of ours was saying the other day, that he asked his daughter why she was not using any minutes? He had bought her an iphone and her bill was $0.00. She replied she uses her phone all of the time... but not to talk. He looked through the bill and saw 15,000 texts!! That is insane.

Have a beautiful day

great for mothers day and any day :)

2010-05-04T14:36:00.000-07:00

I just found www.spoonsisters.com and think it is great!! Fun gift ideas and cute things for friends, entertaining, home, and even man gadgets :)

Have a beautiful day

little miss sunshine

2010-05-04T13:07:00.000-07:00

I got bogged down with settling in, learning my way around, moving 3 times in the last year, new jobs, new friends, new relationship, new responsibilities... Finally I am going to come up for air. With everything changing the only thing constant was "nesting" and it is a lovely but dangerous comfort zone. I am no stranger to moving and have been lucky to find good friends in each place that I have lived. I am from Georgia (three different towns and college), lived in Paris, moved to Salt Lake City, and now live in California. I moved to "his" town and miss my family and friends from all across the US very much. I found that because I got so wound up in being CEO of my house I forgot to make time for my"self" and relationships with friends. I love the CEO of his business very much and I enjoy being with him most of the time(we both work from home)... but taking time to nurture other relationships is very important as well and I pushed that to the side. As CEO of my house I choose to invest in my"self" which in turn will raise the stock of this business... It is amazing how an hour or two girl talk can snap you right back into shape. You can't make others happy if you are not happy... So it is important to keep your"self" happy. In honor of Sex and the City coming out at the end of the month... I would just like to say thank you to all of my girlfriends (especially mom)!! Thank you for being wonderful!!! Please come visit or if you live in this town... Let's have lunch!!!
"And remember, no matter where you go, there you are." ~Confucius

Have a beautiful day

Its in his kiss... thats where it is!!

2010-04-30T12:46:00.000-07:00

So in the movie date night, another reoccurring theme was "lighting it up." And how at the end of the day when you have worked, cleaned, cooked, cared for children... just getting yourself in bed takes every last bit of energy. Much less "Lighting it up." We can all get stuck in routine sometimes but just doing something completely different , even something small, shows that you are making an effort to light it up. What may work for me and the CEO of his business may not work for you and your partner. For example, I have found that just changing my "PJ's" or lack there of... has "lit him up." I am not talking about trashy just simple... classy lace or tad see through. It is pretty... I feel pretty... and he tells me just how pretty he thinks I am :) I have always said that I am more the "funny girl" and less the "kitten"... but he finds funny girl sexy so there you have it!! Listen to what he wants... maybe he does NOT want you to wear a lot of make-up, maybe he wants you to wear make-up, maybe he likes a certain outfit, maybe just dress up for no reason, maybe he likes a massage, a fun text, or a love note. Whatever it is... as "CEO of my house" it is your responsibility that your partner gets a proper ROI (return on investment). Just as he should light it up for you and do special things that you like... flowers, communication, massage, surprise spa day, a cute little note, a fun text, a lovely love affirmation... And please do not forget to kiss each other!!! My friend told me once that kissing just did not happen anymore after 5 years of marriage and it scared me. As CEO of my house I put kissing in the "mission statement" and am keeping my fingers crossed that it stays an important part of our relationship.
Visit Victorias Secret, by a new shade of lipstick, use a new perfume, break out the markers and make a love note. Whatever you do, it is springtime... get some pep in your step... wake up and smell the roses :)

Have a beautiful day

When the moon hits you eye like a big pizza pie... That's amore

2010-04-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

We went to see the movie Date Night last night...it was funny!!! There was a reoccurring theme in the movie... he never closed a drawer and she let it all out about the day to day things that are done around the house. In this house, that also seems to be a reoccurring theme :) Why is it that we are always closing drawers/doors, picking up clothes and tidying all of the time... because we care!!! I feel that this house and its appearance is a good representation of my"self"... ourselves. I feel that often there is a fine line between being a maid and being "CEO" and that fine line is you don't get paid and you don't get to leave :) All kidding aside, the fine line is pride, maturity and getting respect from your partner. After all, if he treats you like a maid then you probably are... "perception is reality." I am proud of the CEO of his business and the roof that he puts over our head. I want people to feel comfortable and be in a clean environment when they visit... we are all grown up and don't live "frat house" style anymore. Respect and appreciation from your partner makes you feel great... similar to positive reinforcement you get from coworkers or your boss. However there always seems to be some left field comment the CEO of his business can come up with like "Why did you use my brush and not put it back?"... Ummmm hello "why do you use everything in the house and not put it back?" Some may say we are OCD but I am not sure why we need to make everything a disorder or disease... why can't we just be clean, organized and proud of what we have big or small. In the movie another couple was shown in living a completely different lifestyle arguing about the same stuff. My friend once said "We have similar emotions just different lives." It always seems that there is a "breadwinner" and a "homemaker" one from Mercury the other from Pluto. "Agreeing to disagree" and "meeting in the middle" are very much terms to live by when you are with another individual who will not always have the same views, perspectives and/or opinions and that is OK!!! If we all thought the same way life would be boring. This goes for friends too... there will sometimes be arguments but with a little compromise and respect... the love is there no matter what.
THAT'S AMORE!!!!

Have a beautiful day

comfort food

2010-04-27T17:12:00.000-07:00

The weather has been cold and gloomy here and that really calls for comfort food. The CEO of his business loves Shepherds Pie and Rachael Ray makes the easiest and best version. I also added an easier step that makes this a fabulous recipe.

2 pounds potatoes, such as russet, peeled and cubed
2 tablespoons sour cream or softened cream cheese
1 large egg yolk
1/2 cup cream, for a lighter version substitute vegetable or chicken broth
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil, 1 turn of the pan
1 3/4 pounds ground beef or ground lamb
1 carrot, peeled and chopped
1 onion, chopped
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1 cup beef stock or broth
2 teaspoons Worcestershire, eyeball it
1/2 cup frozen peas, a couple of handfuls
1 teaspoon sweet paprika
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

Skip making the potatoes and pick up mashed potatoes in the deli section (whole foods has a mind blowing truffle mash!!
Boil potatoes in salted water until tender, about 12 minutes. Drain potatoes and pour them into a bowl. Combine sour cream, egg yolk and cream. Add the cream mixture into potatoes and mash until potatoes are almost smooth.
While potatoes boil, preheat a large skillet over medium high heat. Add oil to hot pan with beef or lamb. Season meat with salt and pepper. Brown and crumble meat for 3 or 4 minutes. If you are using lamb and the pan is fatty, spoon away some of the drippings. Add chopped carrot and onion to the meat. Cook veggies with meat 5 minutes, stirring frequently. In a second small skillet over medium heat cook butter and flour together 2 minutes. Whisk in broth and Worcestershire sauce. Thicken gravy 1 minute. Add gravy to meat and vegetables. Stir in peas.
Preheat broiler to high. Fill a small rectangular casserole with meat and vegetable mixture. Spoon potatoes over meat evenly. Top potatoes with paprika and broil 6 to 8 inches from the heat until potatoes are evenly browned. Top casserole dish with chopped parsley and serve.

Have a beautiful day

Bright Ideas

2010-04-26T15:06:00.000-07:00

I am constantly amazed at everyday inventions that make our lives so easy. When "why didn't I think of that" crosses my mind... It often makes me wonder who did!! For example I was thinking about the fitted sheet and I looked it up... Giselle Jubinville, a Canadian, invented the fitted sheet in 1990!! YES... 1990!! I was so amazed at this fact and how new the invention was that I thought is was definitely blog worthy. A major linen company paid her $1 million for her idea. Your ideas could be great too!!

Have a beautiful day

for those of you who still shave....

2010-04-24T08:53:00.000-07:00

I will never use a lady razor again!! Men's razors are made so much better... and I am not sure why that is?!? I understand packaging to women and men and that is wonderful. We want to feel feminine and they want to feel masculine... but cant we have the same razor? The CEO of his business has a Mach 3 and I LOVE IT!! It is about 500% better than my Venus razor... so I finally broke down and bought my own :) Now we can by the 100 packs at Costco and use them up together and every time he wants to shave his face it will not be dull from me :)

Have a beautiful day

Staying cool in the hot seat...

2010-04-21T09:50:00.000-07:00

"Tension is who you think you should be. Relaxation is who you are." ~Chinese Proverb
Every CEO (home and business) should "clock out" and enjoy life. It is hard to let someone come in and stir things up especially when you know that you are going to have to clean up the mess. But without life's little blunders... what would give you experience? A new CEO is like someone with new money. They want to flaunt the power and ego uncontrollably... unknowing that they could loose what they have at any minute. An experienced CEO has grace and moves fluidly without haste or bother... seamlessly getting the job done. These are extremes of course and I think the greatest CEO sits right in the middle "controllably uncontrollable." Everyday you are still learning, but are able to show what you have learned. I have grown up watching and being very close to successful CEO of the house and business... and as a new CEO I am learning how stress and attitude gets you nowhere fast. I have had a very stressful last two weeks with people in the house, new puppy and travel. I have lost my cool on occasion and realize that if I had it all to do it over again... I would have taken a deep breath, put on a happy face, and ENJOYED life a little more. My fault and greatest attribute is in planning and details. When it involves our home, I completely fall apart when something is not prepared or I have not had time to think about it and organize the basics. Today is a new day and I am starting to be recharged and things are getting back to "normal." I work great under pressure because I am prepared... but stress is not a friend of mine.

Forbes.com Battling CEO Stress (side comments provided by CEOofMyHouse)
1) Find an outlet (shopping, exercise, beauty...something for you)
2) Get a massage (yes!! mani/pedi count... go pick color!!)
3) Get your zzzzzzzzzzz's
4) Have a sense of humor (laughter is the best medicine)
5) Lead a healthy lifestyle
6) Have an understanding spouse or partner (appreciate each other)
7) Learn how to delegate (we all need help)
8) Make money (CEOofMyHouse may or may not bring home a "paycheck" but our work is priceless... especially when you raise children)
9) Meditate (even if it is when you are putting yourself to sleep)
10) Schedule vacations (if you do not have a large budget have a day vacation... it cuts down on hotel bills and travel expenses)

Have a beautiful day

girls just wanna have fun

2010-04-20T17:26:00.000-07:00

I was in Sur la Table and spotted these shoes across the store... immediately ran up to them and said are these for real?!? The guy that works there said... you would be surprised how excited some women get!! I replied... I am definitely that girl!!

Slipper Genie Microfiber Cleaning Slippers for $12.95. These are practical and so much fun... I love sliding around from room to room on them!!

V is for Vinegar

2010-04-19T14:47:00.000-07:00

White distilled vinegar is a must have for your home!!! My dad always used vinegar to clean the floor and although it was not the greatest smelling at first it always got the job done. Now I am learning why he thought so highly of it in the first place. I have been seeing a trend in how often I have been using vinegar in very different ways. When I started looking up more ways to use vinegar... I was amazed. Vinegar works with laundry, garden, cleaning, your health, cars, pets, and cooking. Because of the high level of acidity, vinegar kills most mold, bacteria and germs. Vinegar makes things shine, deodorizes, removes stains, build up, and even removes stickers and decals off walls and doors. Vinegar works with pets!! There are a number of ways that vinegar can be used for training your pet not to bite, to help with housebreaking and to stop barking. White distilled vinegar is becoming my household "go to" product. If I were "mayor of my house" I would give vinegar a key to this city.

Have a beautiful day

Skin soooo Soft

2010-04-16T09:42:00.000-07:00

The secret to soft glowing skin is exfoliate, circulate and moisturize. You can not moisturize dry skin!!!! You must remove it and protect the healthy skin. I have worked at some of the best spas in the US and I can promise you this is secret information. You do not need to buy the real expensive gadgets to get the skin you have dreamed about. Use a dry brush before you get in the shower. Work in the direction of your heart... feet to chest, fingers to chest, neck to chest. The dry brush works double time because as you brush each stroke (same stroke as shaving) toward your heart you create friction which causes circulation. Circulation brings fresh nutrients to the surface of your skin...tightening, toning and increasing cell renewal. We take care of our face by buying fancy creams and exfoliating, but leave our body "hanging." As CEO of your house I know that time is valuable and the benefits from this 3 minute addition (every other day) to your morning routine will be priceless.
My favorite treatment in the world is the Body Enzyme treatment from ARCONA. This is an amazing product that will leave your skin soft like butter and glowing for weeks. At home, try a sugar scrub (once a week) from the store or make one yourself.
Do your body a favor and pick up this brush the next time you are at the drug store. It is summer and you will want to show off your glowing healthy skin!!!

Have a beautiful day

sponges should be for sponge cake

2010-04-15T12:16:00.000-07:00

I can hear my grandmothers voice in the back of my head as I pull the paper towels from the roll... "why don't you just use a sponge." I know in this day and age it is not very "green" of me to dislike sponges BUT... I feel as if I am just wiping bacteria all over the counter. The smell after a couple of days is just gross and then it stays on your hands even after a good washing. People say put it in the dishwasher (and this seems to be the best method) but I just do not like sponges enough to give them all of this special attention. I love the scrubby brushes with the dish detergent in them and a nice paper towel. I will use a sponge for certain things but i toss them after a couple of uses. I keep a sponge that is just dedicated to the wooden cutting board (no meat on the wooden cutting board) and use salt (and sometimes lemon) to keep the cutting board clean.

Have a beautiful day

finding a rhythm method

2010-04-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

So the song "Money" by Pink Floyd keeps going through my head!! Not the lyrics but the beat. I keep going from one thing to the next to the tune of the cash register in that song. Chez "my house" is under construction!!! Unpacking from such a wonderful trip, still potty training the pup (who is getting into everything) and making sure the future mother-in-law is having a lovely visit. That translates to lost of laundry, cleaning, organizing, folding, putting away, and cooking!!! At least I have found a rhythm for this project... thanks Pink Floyd!! I think music helps so much when taking on a larger than normal task around the house!!

have a beautiful day