10 cleaning hacks that work

So I have tried many different things and like most I tried so many pins and different things these are 10 of the things I have found to work for me.

1. Downy sent booster  (like 4 of the small balls) in a spray bottle with hot water mix until disolve you have fabric refresher.

2. Rubbing alcohol in a spray bottle with water.  I use 1 part alcohol to 2 parts water.  You have a disinfectant.

3. Mix a few drops of dawn in a spray bottle with water and you have a good counter top cleaner.

4. Mix equal parts of dawn and vinegar in a spray bottle for a great stain remover.

5. If you have pets in the house you know the struggle with hair on your chairs and stuff for this I take a lint roller and go over them really quick and it works great.

6. Bathtubs are hard to clean but if you mix equal parts of dawn vinegar and water you have a great bathroom clean.  Spray it on and let it sit for 1 hour then rinse clean no more scrubbing.

7. For my windows I use a little vinegar in water and then spray it on.  Here is where a microfiber cloth is your friend use it to dry it and you will have no streaking.

8. Carpets are not your friend when you have kids or pets or both.  I have both so I mix up equal parts of dawn and club soda and take it to any spots that I find.

9. We have all done it left the clothes in the washer over night and they get that smell to them a few drops of essential oil and a little vinegar in the washer run a rinse and spin cycle.  This will remove the small then rewash as normal.

10. I have a lot of tile in my house my entire basement is tile as well as laundry room, kitchen, and bathroom so I have found the best way to clean this is 1 cup of vinegar to 1 gallon of water. 

I know I use a lot of vinegar but really my house does not smell like vinegar or anything like that when it drys it smells normal and with my fabric refresher I spray on my house smells clean and fresh.  I hope these have helped let me know what works for you or if you have any great cleaning hacks.  I always love to try new things.

Canning tomatoes

Disclaimer I made this video two years ago. 

So I wanted to share with you today a quick and easy way to can tomato juice.  I have to say I do not use this juicer anymore I bought the attachment for my kitchen aid stand mixer just for ease sake but it works the same as in the video.

Ingredients
Salt
Tomatoes
Jars
Lids
Rings
Water for boiling

Directions
Cut tops off tomatoes and cut into forth no need to core them.  Place them in a pot and boil till mostly juice siting often.  No need to add anything in when boiling they will create their own liquid.  Once they have boiled down pour small amounts into your juicer and crank the handle or turn on how ever yours works. The juice comes out between the stand part and the end and all the peals seeds and cores come out the very end.  Once you have done this with all your tomatoes you can put the juice in jars I use quart jars but you can use any size you want.  Next place a tsp of salt in each jar and cap with the lid and ring.  Place the jars in a pan of water and turn on to boil.  Boil for 25 to 30 min then place on a towel on the counter to cool.  They will pop to let you know they have sealed.  It's as simple as that.

I hope you have enjoyed this.  I have a video to go with this I will link it here check it out to see step by step how I did it

How to make homemade salsa

Disclaimer:  I made the video that goes with this a few years ago, but nothing has changed I still do it the same way.

So her we go this is going to be one of the most simple things you can make.

Ingredients:

Tomatoes I am not sure how many but I say about 5 to 10 pounds will make 5 pints.
Ms. Wages salsa packet (click to go to page to buy it)
1/2 C Vinegar
Hot peppers optional

Directions:
Wash you tomatoes and cut off the tops.  I also cut out any bad places that I see and put the good parts in a large pan.  After they are all cut up then you place them on the stove on high heat to boil down.  The tomatoes will produce juice just stir often to keep them from burning.  I usually boil them for about 10 min.  but I like runny salsa if you like a thicker one just do not boil them as long.  Once they are boiled then you need to measure them out to 5 pints.  Then place them in a food processor or some other for of chopper. (A blender will even work for this work with what you have.)  Chop them for a few seconds then place them back in the large pan and add in the Vinegar and peppers if using peppers.  I usually use one or two but I like mine kinda mild. Brin to a boil then turn back on to a simmer and cook for 10 min.  While this is cooking I like to wash my pint jars and put them in the oven on low to heat up we will not be putting them in a pressure caner so they need to warm up or you can put them in a warm bath.  After they have finished cooking pour them off into the jars and let them seal.  Most of the time I do not put them in hot water to boil because the jars are hot but that is up to you.  If you prefer not to can them you can let this cool and place in bags and freeze it as well.  See I told you supper easy.

Click her to see the video of how I did this from start to finish.

1. how to can salsa

Horse lessons smores and the first days of school

We needed a fun day before the kids went back to school so we decided to have one. Jayden had ridding lessons so we went there.  I filmed so clips and will link a video here for you.  After that we needed our fun so off to the river we went for smores and play time.  Today was the first day of school and everyone was so ready to go back.  Mommy was sad to have to miss it but I was scheduled to work.  They all manged to get up and ready and off to school time thanks to some help from dad and a family friend. 

S'more and ridding

Dr office check ups, shopping, and school open house

Hello to all.  We made our trip down to Nashville to do a little shopping before our check up at Vanderbilt children's hospital for Jayden.  If you do not know back in January she got strep throat and it did not happen in her throat it was in the glands on her neck she had really large bumps and was very sick.  It was a few days after we found out she had this that she started to have urinary problems and we were back in the Dr we got antibiotics that didn't seem to help and she woke up so swollen she looked like she was going to pop two trips to the er later we were sent to Vanderbilt and she was diagnosed with post strep gn.  The strep had went to her kidneys and caused the filter to not work properly and she will spilling blood and protein in her urine.  This was a very scary time and we had lots of nights that we were back and forth with hospitals.  She is doing much better now but still have some signs that she is not 100% yet so every 3 months we make the trip down to get checked again.  We like to make it a girls trip and go shopping and out to eat or something while we are here. Dr office went well kidneys are fully healed and her infections are from her bladder so,she will be referred over so we celebrated with some shopping and food from Johnny rockets. Then we finished off the day with open house at the school we went and seen the kids teachers and everyone is excited for the first day of school on Thursday.  I hope that you enjoyed a look into our day and the history that went with it.  Please leave me comments of any questions or suggestions for me. 

Weekend review 8/7-8/9

Well this weekend was full of ups and downs but mostly ups.  Matt said he was going to put the boat in the water to test it and when I got off we would go out. I cleaned on the boat and got it water ready just to find out it was not ready it was still getting hot.  As me and the kids wait to hear from him our hearts drop when he says not this weekend.  Then it happened the kids broke down the tears came and daddy gave in the boat went in the water the next morning and the fun begins.  We played in the sand swam in the water hung out with friends watch some corn hole games.  Went boat ridding and best of all we spent the night on the boat anchored out in the water. and to top it off while dad made minor a just men's to the boat before it hit the water we had breakfast at long John silvers. Man it was blast.  So here are a few pictures of the fun we had.

The balancing act

Life is a balancing act.  As a mom and wife the balancing act is even hard.  You feel the need to be super woman and work a job care for the kids take care of the home cook supper and all the other jobs that come with being a wife.  I really struggled with this after I went back to work.  I went back to work after being a stay at home mom for 6 years.  This was a big adjustment for me and it took some time to adjust to this.  I had to get into a routine that I could stuck with.  Now granted it has to be flexible because my schedule is not always the same.   I started out on second shift and fount really quick that it was not going to work for me so as soon as there was opening for a day shift position I took it.  Now I have a schedule down that works for me.  I know the night before that I have to have things ready for me when I get home from work to start supper and work on the house.  I had to learn that I am not going to be able to do it all and to ask for help.  I enlisted the help of some family and friends to help with the after school and running of sports on a few days but I do push myself to be able to do this. I do not want to miss out on my kids I want to see them grow up and be there for them even as I am back in the workforce now.  I learned that it is okay to ask the kids for help and give them a few chores for a weekly allowance.  We are all working together as a team and things are coming together.  My husband has been a great support he has taken on the role of getting the kids up and ready for school and even taking them to school.  It took him a bit to get the hang of the ponytail but I think he has it now and that takes a load off me to.  I have to leave before anyone else I'd up most of the time by 4 am to be able to be off for after school running.  We did not give up things because I have a job we still do come prion cheer and competitive horse riding.  We do art classes and enjoy family time.  You just have to find a schedule and male it work for you don't make it sit in stone let it change as you and your family do.