This survey was given to me and I thought I’d share it with you along with my answers.

PLANNING

Do you keep a list of items you need? Mental or written?

I keep a list using my Smartshopper.  Otherwise, I’d be a mess and forget everything and since I live so far from town, I can’t forget!

Thinking about laundry, once an item is on your list, what triggers you to re-purchase? Is it the same for all laundry segments, for instance stain fighters or fabric softener?

Loyalty and sale price.  When it comes to detergent, I’m a loyal user of 3 brands.  I’m willing to try new things but since I’ve used the same ones for so long, it’s just habit to keep buying them.   I always wait for it to come on sale too.  Even if I have 3 bottles, if a good sale is happening, I stock up.  I always Now with stain fighters and fabric softener, I usually go for what’s on sale.

How do you choose which retailer to shop at?

I shop at Wal-mart or Kmart because that is what we have.  There is only one other grocery store that is way to expensive to shop at.

SHOPPING

How do you identify the laundry aisle?

It’s before the beer and after the toilet paper! lol

Do you go to the laundry aisle if laundry isn’t on your list?

No.  Do y’all?

How do you select your laundry items in the aisle? What do you select first, second…? Do you start at one end of the aisle and work down? Only pick up what is on your list?

I always get my detergent first, fabric softener second, static sheets third, and bleach last.  And I only get what’s on my list.  Who wants to spend extra in that aisle? I don’t.

Do you ever stock up on laundry items (buy more than what you immediately need)? Why or why not?

If it’s a great sale, then yes I do.  If I got a coupon that makes it a great price, then yes I do.

Do you spend time in the aisle to notice what’s new or to browse?

I really don’t. Like I said earlier, the last thing I want to do is spend my extra time shopping for something I hate to do.  The best way to get my attention with a new product at the store is to have it in the middle aisle or on the end cap.

Anything that irritates you about the aisle or that would make it a better shopping experience?

Not really. The only thing that comes to mind is when a brand does a new design and I can’t figure out which one it is that I normally buy.  I love the variety of scents though because I like to mix it up, even in the laundry room.

USAGE

Describe your laundry routine?

I have a laundry basket with the 3 bins separating whites, colors, and darks.  My “darks” are our jeans and I have another laundry basket for towels, sheets, etc.  I start with whites always just in case something happens to bleed from the colors.  I move to jeans, colors, then towels.  I use detergent and softener, putting them in the washer first.  Once done, I throw them in the dryer while tossing another load in the washer.  Once dry, I throw them all on the folding table I have directly across from the dryer.  I have a bar to hang up shirts and I fold everything else and leave it on the table until done.  Once everything is folded and hung up, I use my awesome laundry basket, like the ones you find a laundry mats, to take the clothes to their home.  It makes it much easier for me instead of walking back and forth.  The whole process repeated daily, over and over again.  blech

Do you have an HE machine?

Not yet!

Do you have help from other family members?

Yes, my two oldest boys do their own laundry.  I don’t touch theirs.  My oldest is great at it. Washes, puts in the dryer, and puts them up immediately.  My middle son is not as disciplined.  He does the washer and dryer but then throws them on the folding table until I make him put them up.

What products do you use in your laundry routine? What laundry additives do you use? Do you use them in every load?

Every load except whites get detergent, softener and static sheets.  Whites get that and bleach.  Tough stains get pretreated.

Are you happy with the results you get?

Yes, I’ve developed a regimen that works for me and I’m very happy with it.  Our clothes are clean, don’t fade, and smell good.

Do you have any personal tips or tricks that you use to approach laundry problems (ie, tough stains)?

Most of the time, I use coke to get stains out like blood and grease, which is common ’round here.  Coke seems to get out anything.  And yes, even on whites.

Also, I find that having a bar to hang clothes and a folding table really makes it easier. I’m more apt to get them out and put them up right then.  Always keep hangers on your bar.

What problems/stains do you have in the laundry room that you would like help with?

My problem is motivation.  The only help you can give me is a maid that will do it for me.

I’m not a spotless gal by any means!!! I could have totally cleaned this up before taking pictures but I knew I had to keep it real with you guys.  Below is my folding table where we throw everything to from the dryer. Underneath is out dog food, another basket of dirty clothes, and our wet/dry vac.

Here’s my washer and dryer. I keep the detergent on the dryer and the bleach, softener, stain fighters, and static sheets up in the cabinet. You can see my bar, with hangers.

And this is my favorite laundry basket. It’s just like the ones at the laundry-mat! lol  It was here when we moved in and I ain’t givin’ it up!  It has dirty sheets and stuff right now but normally it’s filled with clean clothes to be put up.

So, these are the things that work for me.  To recap:

• Do at least one load a day.
• Have a hanging bar for when clothes come right of the dryer. Prevents wrinkling too;)
• Use a folding table.
• Use a laundry basket with bins so that your clothes are already separated.
• Make your kids do their own laundry! lol

What are YOUR habits??  What tips can you share with us about the way you do laundry?  Share your favorite brands and why you love them or tell me the ones you don’t like and why.  Lemme hear it!

Tyler, my oldest, has sorta always felt like my brother in a way.  I mean, I did have him at 17 after all so we kinda grew up together in a sense I suppose.  He always gave me a hard time from the early newborn days until about 14.  I remember waking up at 2am trying to soothe him with no luck at all and my husband walking over, patting him on the back and him falling right to sleep.  He’s always been a daddy’s boy.  He was also the one carving on saddles, writing his name with a marker under out dinner table, acting up in class, and hiding all sorts of snacks in his room.  He’s now almost all grown up it seems.  He’ll be 16 in September and he’s a good young man.  He’s so very polite and respectful.  He has this unbelievable work ethic, something many teens lack these days.  He’s been breakin’ horses since he was 7 or so and he’s still doing it, only now he’s earning a man’s wages.

He’s just waiting for the day he can leave home to go daywork on other ranches.  I can’t imagine him leaving home though.  He’s just like me whether he wants to admit it or not.  He’s silly and is always cracking me up.  He’s my best friend now.  I know I still have a few years left with him but God how I’ll miss him when he’s gone to live out his cowboy days.

Disney Family.com is offering an “On the Road With Family.com” kit to one lucky reader! The kit promises to keep children comfortably entertained during car or plane trips this summer and will put an end to the dreaded “Are we there yet?” questions while allowing families to share their favorite family vacation destinations.

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HOW TO ENTER

You can enter the contest by leaving a comment about your favorite family vacation destination spot!

It’s that simple!  Ends on July 3rd!

This has been made possible via the lovely ladies at Mom Generations;)

Anyways, little man loves to be with dad and becomes quite the helper during the works.  I think he needs some leggin’s though don’t you?  He also needs a horse, bigger socks, and some new boots.  Anyways, after “helping”, I saw him just standing there, either takin’ a break or playing boss-man..not sure which but he looks just like his dad standing there when he puts that thumb in his pocket.  Cute. I could squeeze them both.

Hope you guys have a great weekend!

1947-2009

While my man loved her for her beauty & her role in Charlie’s Angels, it was her movies that touched my heart.  She will be missed.

3 of my  favorite movies she made.

• The Substitute Wife –LOVE this movie. I could watch it everyday.  A farmer’s wife has cancer and seeks out a new wife for her family for when she becomes an angel.  Funny & touching.
• The Burning Bed –What a movie huh.  Having seen a woman at the hands of abuse like this, it hits my heart.  I hope that any woman that finds herself in an abusive relationship learns to understand that there are people out there that will help!
• Small Sacrifices –Movie makes me cringe but one that I watch every time it’s on.

All these movies can be found at Amazon or ebay.  I’m not putting any affiliate links or any links except to Farrah’s home page, out of respect for her.  Sadly, I’ve seen people use someone death to gain traffic and it sickens me. Hopefully she’s reading this and doesn’t do it this time around.

I’m adding an extension onto my food blog which I’m really excited about.  It’s been in the works a while now but hopefully it turns out like I expect and is useful and fun for everyone.  It’s also getting a little makeover so expect a new design.

I’m one of Frito Lay’s Fab 15 and they made this cute little badge for us that represents each of us.  I think it looks just like me, don’t you??

I’m headed to Houston to visit my parents on the 2nd-7th, then leaving to Michigan for the National Cherry Festival on the 8th, 9th, and 10th.  That means I’ll have about 10 days to recooperate, pack, and get caught up online before I head out to Chicago for 5 days!. I can’t believe it’s almost here.  I’m dying to meet so many people that I can’t stand it!!  Are this excited??  Are you taking swag?  I had planned on taking swag but I’m not sure if I’m still going to. Would you like swag or could you care less?  Let me know!

I also have an exciting secret I get to share in July, hopefully at Blogher.  A secret I’ve been having to keep in for months.  Wish I could say more, but I can’t.

I haven’t been taking that many photos lately because my camera is still dying.  The colors are coming out terrible, sometimes it won’t shoot, and it’s dirty. I’ve cleaned it twice but there are still spots. ugh  Hoping to get a new camera soon.

And finally, a thank you to some of my sponsors for the months of May/June.

• T-Mobile –Where you can take a fun quiz & they have a cool feature to help your teens stay within budget!  A phone allowance so they learn to be responsible and don’t spend all day texting.
• Skype –The way I make ALL my long distance calls and chat with my family & friends.  LOVE this.
• Crystal Light –One of my two favorite drinks and the little portable ones are awesome!
• Clarisonic –My face feels like it was at a spa after using this. LOVE IT, LOVE IT!  So worth the money because I was buying peels ALL the time.
• SeaWorld –Wow, what a place.  I honestly thought it wasn’t gonna be a big deal or more for kids but it’s one of the best places I’ve been. The interaction with the animals is amazing and you’ll fall in love with them and the employees.

What news do you have to share?? I would love to hear it and see what’s going with all of y’all. I miss you guys.

Literally a higher power eh? Meet the mack daddy turbine.

P.S. My camera is crappy and dirty……sorry.

Cowboy bedding is not cheap by any means so when we buy something, we gotta make sure it’s somethin’ we’re gonna love! I have some ideas for a mirror and prints but not sure about the colors yet. Trying decide which fits our personally the most.

We do have a cedar post bed that is just beautiful so whatever we buy will end up looking rustic.

Lemme hear your 2 cents!

A little bronc ridin’ action! Very cowboyish but my concern would be blending colors in the room so that it doesn’t end up too dull.

Very plain and yet colorful but does it limit my color blending in the room? What do you think?

Cowboy Bunkhouse Style…….

Brands are always popular in the cowboy way of living.

Not sure this one is my style but I thought I’d add it anyways!

Pictures and sets from Rod’s and Ebay.

Me:  “Tyler, is Truett over there?”

Tyler: “Yeah Mom, he’s with me.”

Now imagine Tyler pulling up to our end of the barn about 5 minutes later, on the four-wheeler, without Truett.  My heart immediately started pounding and the fear set in.  We started hollering for Truett.  Screaming actually, with no response.  30 seconds of yelling and looking all around the barn, I start to freak out.  My man jumps on top of the barns screaming for Truett.  I make Tyler go to the house and make sure he’s not there and then I head towards the water tank which is right by the barn.  I walk up the stairs that lead to this 6ft+deep water tank, still yelling for Truett, and look down in the dark water praying to God that I won’t see him in there.  Praying that if he’s not in there, I’d make sure that I’d never let him out of my sight again.

He wasn’t there, thank God.  I kept trying to yell for him but was crying so hard that  I just couldn’t get this words out.  After about 10 minutes of yelling frantically and running around everywhere looking for him, he was found at the house, watering the plants.

When they told me they found him, I just broke down even more, dropped to my knees and cried.  You see, I’ve always had this dream that Tyler drowned in a pond when he was around 4 or 5. What if that dream was really about Truett all this time and not Tyler.

Tyler was upset to say the least. He really thought Truett had walked back over to us but instead of asking if he was with us, he just assumed.  He won’t assume again, I can guarantee that.  I don’t blame Tyler or ourselves and yet I do blame all of us.  Truett is quick and tends to roam and while it is our job to know where he is at ALL times, it only takes a minute for him to disappear.

My biggest fear could have came true, but it didn’t and I thank our loved ones above.

P.S.  There will be a block put up first thing tomorrow so that little man cannot get past those stairs you can bet that he won’t be leaving our sights from now on.