Saturday, June 30, 2012

Something off the internet ACTUALLY WORKS!!!

You've heard me talk about the state of my carpet before.
I am always looking for someway to clean it, hide it or ways to ignore it.
So far, I have been unsuccessful.
 (Asking guests to wear my sleepmask over their eyes isn't received well....)
I was on Pinterest a week ago (anyone else getting bored with Pinterest?) and saw a stain remover blog.
I figured I would give it a whirl.
People.
It.Actually.Worked.

 Remember the syrup stain?
I tried a handful of things.
Nothing worked.
Then, the Heavens opened and this blog fell into my lap with it's amazing remedy.
Ammonia, hot water, clean rag and your iron.

 Can I get an Amen?!
This has not been photoshopped or altered in any way, shape or form.
I am too dumb to do any of that and don't even know if I have it on my computer.

Wanna see more?


 
Still not a believer?
Here's another.

These stains have been attacked with a "professional cleaning" by L& N (they were terrible), a carpet cleaner I bought with a bottle of $14 cleaner and a stiff brush with some Lysol.
Nothing worked until I used straight up Ammonia, microwaved some water til it was almost boiling and my hot iron.
Dear internet,
I am now a believer.
Whatever you say, I will now believe.


Wednesday, June 20, 2012

They grow up so fast.



Sometimes being a parent rocks. 
You get to flex your "I'm in charge here" muscle.
You get to do what you want with......



....haircuts!! 

A glimpse at what your future wife will get to wake up to, boys!
I am thinking....an 18x24 canvas at your Rehearsal dinner.

They grow up so fast, don't they?!

Friday, June 15, 2012

Happy Father's day, Chicken Freak!


I stink at keeping surprises. 
I am not sure how I did it for 4 months but I did!
Happy Father's Day, babe.
Here's your gift.......

Wait for it, wait for it......



Waiting....wondering who the heck these 2 guys are and what is getting pulled out of the back of their truck.

"Mom, there is a man here! "
"Really, son?"



It's a Chicken! 
I commissioned this wonderful chainsaw artist to make a chicken for Farmer Andy. 
I left him a note on a stump at Flowerland on 28th st and this is what we got!
Fantastic!!!


This is the artist on the left, Jack Eppinga and his dad....Jack Eppinga's dad.
Instantly liked them. 

Spoiled.....


A man and his kingdom......thank the good Lord he likes simple things. 
A cold Mt Dew, lukewarm pizza, healthy kids, and chickens.....oh, and me. (What? I can be simple....when he does what I want, when I want, how I want it done. Simple!)

Super thrilled with the outcome. 
Mr Jack has some pieces around town. If you are on Thornapple River and see some carvings on the way to Ada....it's his work. 
or his website @ http://www.bearclawjack.com/

Momma? Momma?!

Happy Father's Day, honey. You are so loved.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

U-Pick strawberrries...no, really, YOU pick them....

There is a fabulous resource here in Grand Rapids called grkids.com. It's run by a mom named Melody. It is busting at the e-seams with wonderful things to do and see for kids of all ages. We have used this quite a bit to feel like good, non-lazy parents get the kids out and experience some fun stuff.
I was "catching up on the news" as the boys call it when I got up the other morning and saw a list of places that have "U-Pick strawberries".
I had a sudden hankering for freezer jam.
This was going to be our day.
Andy got that "Oh, goody...." look when I filled him in on our plans.
Off we went to Ed Dunnebeck's farm in Alpine Twp.


This girl worked like a machine. She never once picked a green strawberry.

Pick, pick....

Fill the bucket....

That'a girl!
My little farmer in the making.

The boys.....they had fun.
They asked me EVERY BERRY THEY PICKED if it
was red enough.
"Ahhhh!!! For the love of all! Just put it in the bucket. It's like when your father puts away silverware or pans or socks or facecloths.....I will find it and put it where it really goes. I will pick out the hard, green nubs of strawberries before we pay. I ain't paying for those...."

My sweet Cole. I told him I could still see white on the bottom of his bucket and he needed to keep picking....He turned the bucket over to see the white at the bottom of his bucket.
Sigh....

Logan.
My sweet boy....You got time to lean, you got time to pick more berries.
Now, get on it.
How am I supposed to be all "mom of the day" making homemade jam if I have no berries.
Get going....pick!! Pick, I say.
What? You haven't peed on a tree here yet? Well, son, we can't have that now.
Off to the apple orchard you go.
Boys......

Yep, we got a ton of berries, made a few memories and some delish jam.
Next time we do "u-pick" it will be more like....."u-pick the flat of already picked berries in the air conditioned store while your kids stay in the car with your hubs".
What next grkids.com?
Bring on the fun!


Sunday, June 10, 2012

Pizza Hut P'zolo review


A guy at work ordered some Pizza Hut and I figured I would throw him $3 and try the new P'zolo.
I ordered the Steak and cheese.
It comes with either Ranch or Marinara for dipping.
I ordered the ranch.....
hmmmmm, their Ranch is a funny color......

 
How was it?
It was good. I really enjoyed it.
The commercial says to ditch the foot long (or something) and get a P'zolo.
Yeah, not so much. It was tiny.
Like 4 bites and gone, tiny.
It was hot with a crispy outer crust sprinkled with Asiago cheese that had a delicious saltiness.
The inside was adequately filled with mixture of steak, cheese and onions and peppers.
I didn't find it greasy. I don't know if I would have noticed. I was starving!
Shocking, I know.
I would have preferred to have the ranch dipping instead of the marinara but, again, it didn't stick around too long!
I would get it again.
I would order the 2 for $5.
Ok....I would order 4 for $10....my kids would prolly like a bite.