Swiffer Update

So, having Swiffered under my sofa, and around my rugs, and under the radiators (hehehe) I am sorry to report that the store brand Swiffer wet pads simply don't measure up. They are a pathetic imitation of the original. It's funny, you would think to look at them that whoever designed them had never actually seen a Swiffer pad. Anyway, my vote is to spend the extra $1.50 and get the real thing which fits the mop better, is wetter, smells better and has little ridges that pick up dirt and a little ruffer strip on one edge.

I have a confession...

I bought another mop. And no, it is not to replace my lovely roller mop. I still love that, and my kitchen and bathroom floors have never been cleaner. In general. Not right now. Right now I should be mopping them.

My NEW purchase is a Swiffer Sweeper. And I feel a little sheepish about it. I have always turned my nose up at Swiffers. Aren't they for...well, you know, Fake cleaning?

But here is the thing: For the last several weeks I have been feeling guilty about my upstairs bedroom floors because since I've lived here (just under a year) I have NEVER mopped them. I do sweep them regularly, but the idea of carrying a mop and bucket up the stairs and mopping around and under all that furniture: beds, rockers, cribs, dressers, etc. was just plain daunting. Last weekend, my in-laws were here helping up scrape wallpaper and plaster the master bedroom which caused copious amounts of dust to be tracked all over the upstairs. Since this project will not be finished for some time, I have plaster footprints to look forward to for weeks to come. As we were looking at the mess and discussing the mop and bucket, my mother-in-law suggested a Swiffer. And that is when it dawned on me. Yes! a Swiffer is ridiculous in the kitchen, but it is just about perfect for wooden bedroom floors!

I bought said Swiffer on Saturday evening (for $10, I didn't realize they were so inexpensive! and I bought 12 replacement, store brand, wet pads for $3.50. I will let you know if I notice a difference.) and had to really fight the temptation to do unnecessary servile labor all day Sunday! This morning I got right on it and was really delighted by how it worked. It was so easy to get all the way under the bed and dresser in the guest room picking up all those little dust bunnies which scamper away from the straw broom. Unfortunately, it works less well in the nursery since that floor is what you might call "distressed" with a coat of red paint slapped on top. I am afraid no mop would work that well in there since the floor is so uneven. However, the Swiffer did get up the fine layer of dust that was settled under the crib, so that was good. I then moved on to the construction zone clearing a dust free path from the door to my dresser, so that I could retrieve my clothes without tracking up the other floors. Yes, I am well pleased.

I think I might go Swiffer under the sofa...This pregnant lady is enjoying her new cleaning supplies!! :P

Today...

I am 38% of the way through my pregnancy and it is 95 degrees outside. I am not sure which of these facts is making it SOOO hard for me to keep my eyes open!

The Stroller Dilema

Having spent more time than I care to admit thinking this question over. I have decided that it is time to share it with the broader public.

Are you ready? ?

**How many strollers does one growing family need?**

You see, I have an umbrella stroller in each car trunk (of which there are two) one of which has a bum wheel (very annoying). I also have a more heavy duty stroller that lives on the porch and is used primarily for exploring the neighborhood. I ALSO have a universal infant seat carrier which is currently living way back in the closet under the stairs, obviously obsolete for my current needs, but with an infant on the way I can't make up my mind to get rid of it.

Now for those of you who can't believe that one crazy woman would actually BUY 4 strollers in 15 months, don't worry! I only paid a total of about $60 for all of them combined. So far, so good, but the problem is that once the new baby comes I'm going to want a DOUBLE stroller right? Should that replace one or two or three that I already have? Or just add to my already surprisingly large collection?

Part of me was thinking that if I found a double stroller I could get rid of the infant seat carrier because you can carry an infant seat in a double stroller, right? Would I want to do that? Is it even safe? What if I wanted to go out sometimes with JUST the infant? Would the double stroller seam cumbersome? Should a double stroller replace the stroller on the porch, assuming that the baby will always join in the neighborhood jaunts? What about the umbrella strollers? Are they pretty well useless with two?

Honestly, at this point I am tempted to keep my eyes out for a nice inexpensive-to-free double stroller AND keep all my other four, but that makes part of me feel acquisitive and selfish, bogged down in strollers! Could one possibly really NEED 5 strollers???

Help! What do you suggest?!

Flying Bananas!! Oh My!

Do you remember my post about how cool it is that you can freeze your old bananas till you're ready to use them?

Well I've gone overboard. My freezer is so full of bananas that I can't open the door without getting pelted, whacked or even showered in frozen bananas!

I think it's time for some serious baking!

I love my new mop

So I thought I would share. I grew up with roller mops. I still remember having mopping races across our dining room kitchen combo. It was great fun. The dining room had a huge table down the middle, at the end of the table was a chimney and on the other side of the chimney (in the kitchen now) was a wood stove. So the rooms were split right down the center. We had two mops and two buckets and we'd race down our respective sides. One girl I raced got very clever and stole my mop to try to get an edge, but she and the two mops ended up in a tangled heap!

Anyway, last week I decided that it was time to buy a mop so I went to the mop isle at Target and spent some time comparing allllll the various types of mops and all the various brands of the various types. Jack thought this was boring but I plied him with crackers. I was determined to make a wise decision. In the end I chose this one. It was one of the two cheaper roller mops and of those two had the rougher sponge, an important feature with babies afoot.

I finally found energy to use it...yesterday? it feels like it was weeks ago, but I'm pretty sure it was just yesterday. I loved it. I enjoyed it. It was easy. My floor is clean; my mop is clean; there were no puddles and all the food stuck under Jack's high chair is history (except the new food from today of course). I am a happy woman and a satisfied customer!

yumm!

Oh My gosh! I just made the best homemade pizza ever!

Have you ever tried slicing a fresh tomato and putting that down instead of/with the tomato sauce you usually use? it is fantastic!

Add some cheese, a little left over bacon bacon (I know that doesn't happen naturally, but it can be planned for!) some sliced red bell pepper and onions and that is one tasty treat!

My husband brags on my homemade pizza to the point that it is almost embarrassing. So go ahead, try it out on your husband, I bet he'll love it too!