No Average Mom

In general I am not a very picky person. There is one thing that I am really particular about and that is the bed that I sleep in. Lately my bed just doesn’t seem as comfortable as it used to. I would love to have a sleep number bed but that isn’t going to happen in the near future. I am debating about trying different linens and maybe a new pillow. I have this problem where I buy a pillow and hate it. As a result of this I have amassed a fairly large collection of pillows that now live in our attic. I don’t know what I need to do but I need to find some comfort somehow.

I used to sell Girl Scout cookies at a house that smelled like Tuna Casserole. I only visited them for 10 minutes every year, 20 years ago – and I can still remember it. It was a lovely, clean, charming home – but it STANK!

We just got back from the In-laws for 4 days and our “house smell” is getting in my nerves! I’ve noticed it before, but now I want to do something about it. Thankfully we don’t have pet smells, or cigarettes, or even mildew to deal with.

70% of the house’s floors are hardwoods – and the big carpeted room is in the way back of the house. The same “way back” room is the only one w/ upholstered furniture. They even have slip covers that are washed often (thanks to grimey kids). Despite this “the smell” hits me as soon as I walk in!

It’s a dusty kind of yucky refrigerator smell. Not rotting food or old garbage – just that kind of stale, air smell you get sometimes in a fridge or an old cooler. It smells not like I would want it to smell.

I’m going to do a thorough mopping of all the hard floors, wash the curtains I can – but we have no way to shampoo the carpets w/o renting a machine.

We regularly have all the windows open to air it out – no houseplants w/ old soil to stink, no central air to be blowing stale smells.

I think it’s just our regular family “stink”, but ideas to finding another source of the smell are appreciated.

Without repainting the whole house – any way to “Change our Family smell”?
Candles, potpourri, boiling pots of spices? I just want it to smell fresh and clean!

Help!!

When I want something I never seem to be able to find it! I have spent the day looking for old pictures and just can’t seem to find them. I have found everything from video cards to baby clothes but not a single picture. I know they are here somewhere packed safely away. I love the feel of a real picture in this digital age but am so thankful for flash drives and SD cards. I can always find my digital pictures when I want them right on my computer.

My ds will be 3 in August. He has never peed or pooped in potty chair or toilet. He refuses! He likes to sit there but won’t even think about actually using either.I think he has seen me go 1 too many times because even though he isn’t actually going he asks for paper(toilet paper.) Any ideas on how to get him to actually use either of them and not insist on using toilet paper? My ds is almost 9 and if I remember correctly he was fairly easy to potty train. Please help!!!

We have a 5 month old puppy that we absolutely adore. We have had a couple of dogs in our married life and I just can’t say they were wonderful pets. This little dog however is the perfect addition to our family. She is as happy sitting on the furniture as she is the floor and just loves to be held. The weird thing is she loves to chew on the corner of our kitchen cabinets. She has every dog toy known to man and yet goes for the cabinets. In fact every dog we have ever had has done this and not in the same house. What is the deal?

I noticed at the many thrift stores I frequent, many of the same type items, always coming through there, usually these are little used and good condition. I thought I’d compile a list, for easy reference, I added the prices my local stores charge. I try to always think, thrift store – dollar stores – wal mart. In that order, when I shop. I can usually get a better product than what I could afford new, this way. Also if you stumble across something like new with tags or not, you can send them to a resale store and make some $$
1. toaster ovens $5.00 and under
2. coffee makers $5.00 or less
3. britta filter pitchers ( dishwasher safe ) $75. to $1.00
4. charger plates ( usually less than $.75 )
5. themed coffee mugs (sayings and holiday cute ones ) $25 to $.50
6. casserole dishes ( good for taking dishes somewhere, that you may not get back etc. ) $1.00 to $2.00
7. crockpots $5.00 or less
8. breadmakers $5.00 or less
9. rice cookers $2.00 or $3.00
10 tea kettles $1.00 or so( boil water in them, while hot add some vinegar, let set overnight and rinse, you can clean the outside by running through the dishwasher )
11. knives $1.00 or less ( good also to “take ” somewhere and you won’t loose one to your set )
12. simmering pots $1.00 or less ( for making the house smell good )
13. george foreman grills $5.00 or less ( most barely used )
14. rubbermaid and tupperware items $25 and up, ( even if the T. items have a part missing, you can always get a replacement for free from your local T. dealer )
15. odd flat sheets $75 for $1.00 ( work for quilt backing after washing
16. blankets $1.00 or so ( washable, can be used for the middle of a quilt you make )
17. throw pillows $1.00 or less ( again run through the washer )
18. toys always less then $2.00 ( especiall plentiful, right above and right after Christmas ) holidays they always put out the themed items for that holiday.
19. Stuffed animals, $1.00 or less for the 15 to 18 inch ones. sometimes they still have the tags on them and look new! A lot of the Christmas ones have been discarded cause the “year” embroidered on the bottom of the bears foot, is not current. Those threads can easily be removed, ( seam ripper ). ( I put them through the dryer with a dry cleaning sheet )
20. shopping bags $.25 – $.50 (canvas reusable ) most are really nice, hardly used, trip through the washer does the job )
21. candle warmers $1.00 or so ( also work for keeping coffee/tea hot )
wicker baskets $1.00 or less ( many flower shops get theirs there )
22. hair dryers $1.00 or so, I got a expensive one with a dial type heat setting on it so you get like 50 different levels of “warm ” for $1.00 It was a matchabeli or something like that.
23. purses usually under 2.00 ( I got a Brighton purse, cell holder and billfold that matched. It had never been used.
24. backpacks also, some have embroider of some company, threads can be removed with seam rippers, most are like new, received at work and didn’t want.
25. luggage $2.00 – $5.00
26. winter coats are always cheaper than new ones. $5.00 and under I either wash them or take them to the dry cleaners, whichever they need.
27. robes $1.00 – $2.00

This year I am really trying to go out of my way to make Valentine’s Day special for my older son. This is his first year of being home schooled and I don’t want him to feel like he is missing out on anything. I have sent him some online greeting cards and am putting together a little party. He loves getting cards wherever they come from. We also sent cards to several children who attend the same cyber school as he does. Cards are such an easy way to show someone you care without breaking the bank. In today’s world we are all being reminded how simpler things can be truly special. I hope he will look back at his time at home and remember how his family made many special memories together. I personally love looking back over all the sweet greeting cards I have received over the years and recalling those special moments in our lives.

We do so many things to save money I hardly know where to begin. We shut off all the lights – all the time. Our house has fairly light colored walls for just that reason, so the light coming in the windows reflects off the walls keeping the rooms bright enough by day that the lights can be off. Almost all the light bulbs in the house are CF’s now, and it’s actually is noticeable on the electric bill. We also try to keep things not in use unplugged, and use timers on things like the Christmas tree lights etc.

We’ve added lots of insulation to the attic, plus we also gutted the house 10 years back and put new insulation EVERYWHERE. That alone cut the winter heat bills by more than half. We’re also on the budget plan with the utility companies, so we never get a big fat surprise in the winter. We also have a programmable thermostat and keep this house pretty chilly at night, it also dips below 65 during the afternoon when the baby is napping and it’s just me awake and wandering around. I can do 67 no problem, but 65 requires another layer of clothing and a physical activity.