30 Days of Me: Day 1

I have seen this on other blogs, and thought it was a fun idea. It is called 30 Days of Me. Every Friday (or at least once a week or more), I am going to answer one of the following prompts about myself. Hopefully this will better my writing and give my readers a little more insight into my life.

Here's the list:
Day 01 → Something you hate about yourself.
Day 02 → Something you love about yourself.
Day 03 → Something you have to forgive yourself for.
Day 04 → Something you have to forgive someone for.
Day 05 → Something you hope to do in your life.
Day 06 → Something you hope you never have to do.
Day 07 → Someone who has made your life worth living for.
Day 08 → Someone who made your life hell, or treated you like shit.
Day 09 → Someone you didn’t want to let go, but just drifted.
Day 10 → Someone you need to let go, or wish you didn’t know.
Day 11 → Something people seem to compliment you the most on.
Day 12 → Something you never get compliments on.
Day 13 → A band or artist that has gotten you through some tough ass days. (write a letter.)
Day 14 → A hero that has let you down. (letter)
Day 15 → Something or someone you couldn’t live without, because you’ve tried living without it.
Day 16 → Someone or something you definitely could live without.
Day 17 → A book you’ve read that changed your views on something.
Day 18 → Your views on gay marriage.
Day 19 → What do you think of religion? Or what do you think of politics?
Day 20 → Your views on drugs and alcohol.
Day 21 → (scenario) Your best friend is in a car accident and you two got into a fight an hour before. What do you do?
Day 22 → Something you wish you hadn’t done in your life.
Day 23 → Something you wish you had done in your life.
Day 24 → Make a playlist to someone, and explain why you chose all the songs. (Just post the titles and artists and letter)
Day 25 → The reason you believe you’re still alive today.
Day 26 → Have you ever thought about giving up on life? If so, when and why?
Day 27 → What’s the best thing going for you right now?
Day 28 → What if you were pregnant or got someone pregnant, what would you do?
Day 29 → Something you hope to change about yourself. And why.
Day 30 → A letter to yourself, tell yourself EVERYTHING you love about yourself.

So of course, Day 1 starts off on a sour note (booo!): Something you hate about yourself.

Well, I guess there are a few things about myself that I'm not completely fond of, but the first thing that comes to mind is that I get so consumed with trying to maintain a perfect household and raise the perfect children that I fail to appreciate everything in my life, or nurture my relationships as well as I could. I find that I am "too busy" to make the time that I have with my kids as quality as it could be. Or I get so frustrated with my neverending list of chores that I take it out on my husband. I'm constantly working on this, because I am cognizant of it, however sometimes just realizing you are the way you are isn't always enough to put a stop to it. Now that summer is coming...it's hit me that this is the last summer before Tanner starts school and by the end, Breckin will be one year old. Time has flown so rapidly with these boys and it breaks my heart that I haven't always made the most of that time with them. I want to learn to let go a little bit and realize it's OK to have dirty baseboards if it's because I've been too busy playing at the pool with my boys. I can get to it later! Or it's OK to be behind on laundry if it's because I decided to go to the beach with my family all day instead. So this is something I'm still working on, but I'm definitely looking forward to changing this thing that I don't like about myself. I want to be happy and free and enjoy my family...even if it means I go weeks without mopping my floors. :)

Cleanin' Green

As you know, I have embarked on a journey to become more green. The recycling bins are set up in the garage, the cloth diapers are on baby's bottom and I've made all of my cleaning concoctions. I thought I would share with you some of the cleaner recipes I am using. So far, so good - they work great! And vinegar is a natural disinfectant, so don't worry about not getting those germs out of the way! Here's a list of recipes - take from it what you will, and ENJOY!

All-Purpose Cleaner
1 cup vinegar
½ gal. water
1/2 cup lemon juice (I added this to weaken the vinegar scent)
Directions: Spray of surface and wipe clean with a dry cloth (let sit longer for heavily soiled areas)

Disinfectant
¼ cup baking soda
4 tbsp vinegar
3 cups hot water
¼ tsp castile soap
Directions: Spray and wipe down. You will want to go over again with a cloth soaked in hot water so there is no baking soda residue leftover.

Toilet Bowl Cleaner
½ cup baking soda
1/8 cup castile soap
10 drops essential oil
If possible, make this in a cleaned out ketchup or mustard squeeze bottle. Squeeze out along rim of toilet bowl then spray with pure vinegar, allow to foam for 10 min., flush. No scrubbing needed (unless extremely soiled)!

Glass Cleaner
1 cup rubbing alcohol
1 cup water
1 tbsp vinegar
Directions: Spray and wipe clean. This so far has not left any streaks for me!

Wood Floors
¼ cup vinegar
30 oz water
(do not allow vinegar to stay on wood, make sure it is rinsed properly.)
Or
¼ cup olive or vegetable oil
¼ cup vinegar
10 drops essential oil
Directions: Use microfiber mop to apply and go over again with damp cloth with hot water to get vinegar off.

Dusting – Wood
1 cup olive oil
½ cup lemon juice
Directions: Rub in with cotton or microfiber cloth using wide strokes. My wood has never looked so good!