mr clean

Not long ago I received an email asking if I'd like the opportunity to review some cleaning products. I quickly responded, yes. I find myself getting confused when it comes to cleaning products. There are so many out on the market. Each one promising to be better than the other. I was looking forward to putting this basket of goodies through the paces.



And the girls.... well they were thrilled with the large box everything came in. That was literally days worth of enjoyment.



So the Glade Noticeables plug in we plugged in right away. After a couple of days Mike was talking about buying another one for the back end of the house. We really liked that it wasn't an overpowering scent. Also because the plug in switches back and forth between two scents our living room always seems fresh. Another great thing is the scents are similar enough it's not distracting. I'm planning on picking up a Christmas scent next shopping trip.

The swiffer wet jet is an incredibly handy tool to have when you live with small children. In seconds you can have a dinner mishap cleaned up without ever having to drag out the mop and bucket and make a whole production out of it. That I like. A lot. Since the cleaning solution is stored in the swiffer wet jet itself, all you need is to hit the button for a spray of cleaner and wipe up any messes with the absorbent pad. What could be easier? It's also handy for those muddy foot prints that get tracked in the back door. Like today's after riding lessons mess.

Not to go into too much detail, but the febreeze spray was a huge help in dealing with the stomach bug Abby had last week. Let's just say accidents occured and things that shouldn't have a lingering scent of vomit, did. Until we febreezed the heck out of them. I also offer the febreeze spray a sincere thank you on behalf of Michael's cow pee soaked work boots. Anything that can make stuff stop stinking of pee and vomit is a must have when you live with kids.

The magic eraser.... well I have a two year old and crayons in the house. 'Nuff said!

The Mr. Clean wipes are perfect for quick little wipe ups. Like the counters when I've been cutting up raw meat. Or the coffee table. What are they doing on that thing that gets it so darn sticky so fast? It's also cut down on the time it takes me to disinfect the bathroom.

The Swiffer Duster spray I really love. It's just a nice light spray with a lovely citrus smell. I am a sucker for anything citrus scented. I don't find it to be waxy like I remember pledge being. And it gives my beat up tables a bit of a shine.

The Dawn diswashing soap I haven't really used yet. I do not wash dishes by hand when I can avoid it, but I have washed my hands with it. A great hybrid product, hand soap and a dishwashing liquid. And it's anti bacterial too. I was actually surprised that it wasn't harsh on my hands when I used it. I have notorioulsy dry hands, especially in the colder months, and I try to be careful with soaps. This one is a keeper.

And finally the thirty hour candle. Mike and I have been buring it on and off since we got it and there's barely a dent in the wax. I am fully anticipating it to last the full 30 hours if not more. Again the scent is not over powering at all, which I like. In fact I think I'm going to curl up on the couch with a mug of tea, the candle and the third book in the Twilight series. A good way to spend a snowy night if you ask me.

so i says to mabel, i says

Today in the mail I finally got the gift cards that were supposed to come with the magazine subscriptions I got for Mike and his Dad for Christmas. The ones that tell them that a gift *is* coming so they don't think you cheaped out on them. Yeah that was timely, thanks a lot giant magazine corporation.

Maya is on the mend, which is great, but the fact that she's remembered how much she used to enjoy hanging out with me for all hours of the night is not. I've forgotten what a pain in the rump it is to try and type with a toddler on your lap. It's worse now because she's realized that the mouse actually causes things to happen on the screen. Like close firefox when Mommy's trying to hijack Daddy's facebook account.

Speaking of which, making ridiculous statements with Mike's status line is mucho mucho fun. The retaliation will be less so. I wonder if it's worth it. Yes. Yes it is. For all of you in Mike's friends list I say enjoy!

At five and a half Abby has discovered that farts are funny. Tonight she purposely tooted on her Dad and then called Papa and left him a message bragging about it. Much hilarity ensued.

The Christmas stuff is not what I would call 100% put away. So don't worry Suze, you're in good company. And yet I find myself knee deep in birthday party planning for the soon to be two years old Maya. We have secured our church hall as we did last year and that's about as far as I've gotten. Oh and the invitation has been sent out via the interwebs. I have promised my guests a family meal, something I did with no true game plan. So suggest away folks.

Just finished reading Hey Nostradamus by Douglas Coupland last night. Amazing. Why haven't I been reading his stuff before now?

I am contemplating Rogers Portable Internet, anybody out there use this service. If so, thoughts? Good or bad?

My ancient dinosaur like computer will be celebrating it's 7th birthday this year and I've never done a thing with it. I just keep stuffing it full of information and it's beginning to protest. A lot. Last night it suffered, what I was afraid was a fatal crash, but somehow I managed to revive it. I think it's time to wipe the slate clean and give it a fresh start. So this weekend I'm going to attempt to re-install windows. Please tell me it's going to be okay and easy. Oh and wish me luck. I hope it will only be a brief interruption.

telling it like it is

We spill into the house at the end of the day. My arms are laden with snow pants, hats, mitts, a knapsack, my purse, my bag of work necessities, three packages and the junk mail that I liberated from the mailbox. In a blink the girls have disappeared into the house, heaps of winter out wear on the floor is the only sign they've been here. I quickly begin tidying, hanging up the coats and so on. I pause to toss Abby's incredibly dirty snowsuit in the wash and the chorus begins.

Mom

Mommy

Muh ohm meeeeeeeee

Mom!

The two girls are at the pantry door, alternately chanting my name. They are looking for a snack. I sigh, heavily as I walk past Michael.

"Why is it always Mommy? Don't either one of you know how to say Daddy?"

"Nope....... thank God."

do people still fall for this

Now I don't want to brag her, but according to my kind of working email I have been the winner of various European lotteries no less that 8 times in the past week. Yes, yours truly has personally won millions upon millions of Euros. Don't worry I promise not to let being rich and famous change me. I have to tell you I cannot believe my luck. I can't tell you what a feeling it is to walk out on your job. I felt just like one of though Lotto 649 commercials. Oh the freedom.

So winning many million Euros is an amazing story right there. I could wrap this up and you'd be fine with that, but wait, there's more. I guess it's what they say that good fortune attracts good fortune because apparently and I think it's due to being a European millionaire, I am considered trust worthy enough to help out various European and African dignitaries move millions of secret dollars from their country to mine. All I need to provide them with is my banking info and, in one case, $1o5 security keeping fee that will net me a cool $4.5 million. So, really, how could I say no to that? And what better time for all this to happen then right before Christmas. I am a lucky lucky girl.

this and that

Well the final Ride for Africycle total is in. Dave managed to raise $1,000 for the good folks at Africycle. A little short of his $10,000 goal, but I think we can call this a success none the less. Plans are in the works for a Ride for Africycle 2.0 some time next year. Thanks again to all who helped support Dave.

Everybody and I mean EVERYBODY is cross border shopping. How could we not, really? I am currently writing this post and pouring over the Target flyer and compiling a list. So many deals, I don't know where to start.

I have misplaced a Christmas present and I am kind of freaking out about that a little bit. Okay, a whole lot. I got it out to show Robin when she was over and haven't seen it since. I am praying, very hard, that it turns up soon.

Dancing With the Stars semi finals were tonight. I'm putting my money on SpiceGirl Mel B to win. She is incredible. Looks incredible too, she's lost a ton of weight since the show started. Oh how I love her partner Maksim. On a side note, remind me to make Abby an eye doctor's appointment. I asked her tonight if Max was cute and she said no. The girl, clearly cannot see. I mean he's so good looking that even Mike can recognize it.

a funny thing happened on the way to walmart

This fall has been full of some rather unfall-like weather. Temperatures have been down right warm. Unexpectedly warm in some cases, so much so that Mike and I encountered one young man who was trying to "beat the heat" with some newly purchased shorts. Shorts which he then attempted to change into in the middle of the Wal-Mart parking lot. Well to be fair he was discreetly changing behind the safety of his buddy's Honda, which as it so happens was parked right beside our van. Oh and did I mention that his buddy was behind the wheel of the vehicle while he was playing quick change artist outside by the trunk?

Anybody see where this is going?

Well if you guessed that his buddy drove away and left him standing, in broad daylight I must point out, in nothing but his boxer briefs in the middle of the parking lot, then give yourself a shiny nickel. At this point Mike stopped what he was doing to flat out laugh right at the poor bugger standing there in his skivvies while yelling to him, "you gotta admit that was funny!" Something Captain Underpants was not ready to admit too, probably because he was too busy denouncing his friend as an "asshole".

total success

I'm sure you're all curious to hear how well we did at the Support the Troops fundraiser. Well I am happy to say that after Wal-Mart offered to match what we had already accepted in donations, the Support the Troops committee will be donating over $7,000 to help out our hard working Canadian troops. Thanks to all who showed up and helped make this a raging success.

yeah, that would help

All I can say about this is WOW! and I hope I win!!

Over at Ashwin’s blog, you will find one crazy blog owner!! You can win $2500!! To enter just copy this text and paste it in your blog!! But hurry, this competition will not last long! So get posting!

*Thanks to sognatrice for the 411 on this!

God love 'em

Funny, Robin was over just the other day and we joked about this very thing.....

The Duggars welcome 17th child.

I'm not sure what else to say.

asinine

Okay it's time to come out of the closet. I admit it. I am a Big Brother junkie and since it's just beginning it's eighth season I know I can't be the only one. Now I just have to get something off my chest and then it will be back to regular scheduled programming. If you aren't a BB fan than please feel free to skip over this. Oh and I feel I should warn you that there are spoilers ahead, you know, in case you tivoed it or if you're a Canuck PVRed it.

This is an open letter to Jen,

Okay seriously WTF? I mean really WTF? It's a picture. A *picture*. I think a little perspective is in order. Oh and if I was HOH, no way would you have gotten your key tonight.

Taking care of business.

First off I must offer a very public apology to sognatrice over at bleeding espresso. What with all the barfing, pooping, cleaning up said barf and poop, not sleeping and trying to fix the problem with my blog in IE I totally zoned out on Wednesday and forgot to link to her for What's Cooking Wednesday. I am so sorry for the oversight, especially since this week's recipe was breaded veal cutlets. One of my favourites. Anyway dear readers here is the link, don't forget to stop by and visit my favourite Italian citizen.

Also the peeps tell me there are still issues with my blog in IE, but it's on and off now. Well folks, I'm at my wits end. I've also used up all my tricks. I'm at a loss. I have no idea. So if anybody out there can tell me what the problem is, well now would be the time to speak up. Really. Don't be shJust shout out the answer.

You don't have to be Canadian, but it helps.

There are some things that are hugely popular and/or commonplace here in Canada that just don't seem to translate well across the border and beyond. Things like homo milk in bags, fries supreme at Taco Bell, Glass Tiger and the double-double. I could provide links to all of those, but if you're Canadian you know what I'm talking about and, let's be honest, the rest of you don't care that much.

Now it's not often in your day to day life that you stumble across a celebrity. At least I don't. What with the not living anywhere near a rehab centre where celebrities hang out. So this afternoon when Nancy remarked that a big TV star (by Canadian standards) was in the vicinity, well it was met with a lot of "Yeah right's!" Well Nancy had the last laugh because right there in front of us was Lorne Cardinal better known as Davis (the cop) on Corner Gas. Which could be the greatest Canadian produced television series since The Littlest Hobo. To his credit Mr. Cardinal was good natured about our slack jawed staring and our highly intelligent conversation which consisted of us goading Nancy into asking, "You're him right? The guy from Corner Gas?" To which he replied, "Yes, I'm him." With that aforementioned good natured smile on his face.

I wish I had some sort of physical proof of today's meeting. An autograph or maybe even a picture, but alas I have nothing, but the memory. You see, it's safe to say that I am a Corner Gas freak. I triple love this show. So I hope you can all appreciate how much willpower it took to keep from jumping up and down while gushing about how much I triple love his show. Then before you know it I'd be talking about the other characters like they are actual people. And from there it's just a short trip to reciting dialogue from the show all while hyperventilating. And I can't see that there would be any circumstance in which he'd be down with that.

Everything's better dipped in chocolate.

"Hey! Be careful! Don't get your sister covered in chocolate."

~ What you don't want to hear when you're trying to sleep in and Dad's holding down the fort on his own.

Put your right foot in.

Now that Abby's has moved from her toddler bed to a twin sized bed most evenings you can find the two of us stretched out on her bed rehashing her day. Just a little girl talk to round out the day.

Abby: Miss M has a "unhappy voice".
Me: What does that sound like?
Abby: Oh no! Hands on head! She demonstrates, copying her teacher's somewhat stern tone.
Me: Then what does she say?
Abby: Who made this mess.
Me: Did she use her unhappy voice with you?
Abby: No. You know how you can tell when you're kids are "skewing" the truth?
Me: Really? Let's see your forehead. She thinks I can see a red dot if she's not telling the truth. Thank you Rosie O'Donnell for that idea!
Me: What do I see?
Abby: A dot.
Me: Yep, so did Miss M use her unhappy voice with you?
Abby: Yes. I didn't tidy up after making my bunny.
Me: Why didn't you tidy up?
Abby: very seriously Because I was tired from gym and the hokey pokey.

We have a winner and it's me.

Well life just got easier for me folks. No more struggling with those pesky roll up cups. Now I can find out that I won the opportunity to play again in like half the time it used to take me. I am the grand prize winner over at Postcards From the Mothership. YES! I won my very own rimroller. I will be envy of... well of Mike. Thanks for the great contest Dani!

He's funny.

Since I'm quite skimpy on the posting tonight I'd like to direct your attention to a very funny post by my very funny brother over at the WinterBeard.

The Rimroller

To my Canadian friends - ever have a hard time rolling up your rim? Then head on over to Postcards from the Mothership and check out the Rimroller. Don't forget to enter for a chance to win one of your very own. Or you know, you could buy one here.

Transcript of a potty break

Abby: Mom I need help.
Me: With what?
Abby: With my bum bum.
Me: Mike can you help her?
Mike: Sure.
Abby: No! I want Mommy.
Mike: Abby I know how to wipe bums.
Abby: Stinky bums?

What's Cooking Wednesday - Cabbage Soup

Well what's a party without food? Now granted it's not traditional party food per se, but what can I tell you, I ate all the Smartfood while watching Iron Chef America, which had a Canadian challenger tonight. So woohoo, go us! Welcome to all the Ultimate Blog Party goers who have stumbled in, pull up a chair and dish yourself up a bowl of cabbage soup. Next time I'll have chips, I promise.

So I've been on a real soup kick lately. I'm not exactly sure what's up with that. I've never really made soup before or really had the desire too. Turns out it's pretty easy. Who knew? This soup is my Mom's recipe and it's always been one of my favourites, but surprisingly enough I've never made it myself. I don't think I've ever even helped her make it, so I had to call her up and ask for the recipe.



Mom's Cabbage Soup

2 lbs ground beef
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium sized head of cabbage, chopped
1 large can tomato juice
cayenne pepper to taste

In a large pot brown ground beef and onions on medium heat until beef is no longer pink. Add chopped cabbage and enough water to cover cabbage in pot. Bring to a boil. Add tomato juice and cayenne pepper and simmer until cabbage is cooked through.

Recipe Notes: I have found in my recent soup making experience, and this applies to chili as well, that it is best to make the soup the day before you want to eat it. Let it rest in the fridge over night and reheat and serve the following day. Extra bonus any fat in the soup forms a nice hard film at the surface, very easy to dispose of. Well I didn't make any changes because it's my Mom's recipe and hey you just don't do that with Mom's recipe. Well you can but I wouldn't recommend blogging about it afterwards. Have we learned nothing from Dooce? What I can tell you is what I've heard about this soup. You know, the word on the street. Some people have been so bold as to add a grated carrot or two, some celery, can of stewed tomatoes and/or have served it with a dollop of sour cream which make it vaguely reminiscent of borscht, one Polish dish I never have acquired a taste for. That and kielbasa.

So how was my first attempt making kapusta (that would be Polish for cabbage)? Well I'm not exactly sure, you see for the second time this winter I find my sinuses packed full of cement or possibly concrete, it's hard to tell. So my ability to taste is somewhat impaired. Mike assured me it tasted just like Mom's, but I thought it might be a bit watery. I may have had my water to tomato juice ratio off because my life-long cook of a mother neglected to give me an actual measurement. Also, and this is entirely Mike's fault, I used no name tomato juice because that's what he brought me home. Now that part, well let's just keep that between us because if my Mom found out... oh boy. Remember this is the same woman who had vapours because I had no name baking powder in my house, oh and artificial vanilla. I really hope it tasted okay because I sent a big bowl of it home with Kaffy today.

Still hungry?

Risotto with Pancetta and Peas at bleeding espresso...

Vegetable Lasagna at Virtually There

Ribs over at Delores' Space

Sausage, onions and peppers on a bun at Nose in Ear

Want to play along? It's easy! Post a recipe and pictures on Wednesday. Don't forget to link back here and let me know you've played so I can add you to the list.

Just a little bit extra for Lynn.

Well we finally got around to booking an appointment for the girls to get their pictures taken. They go on Saturday at 9 am and today at 3 pm this happened:



Hello black eye. Is there any way you think you could be cleared out of here by Saturday morning about 8:30? Hmmm? Could ya? 'Cause that would really help me out.

Thanks, Maya's Mom.

Coffee table meet face. Face meet coffee table. So yeah a shiner for picture day. Mike wants to cancel the appointment, but I say go ahead. It's not really all that bad. Actually it's a fairly small and light coloured bruise. I'm pretty certain the swelling will have gone down my then.

What's Cooking Wednesday - Carmelized Pork Slices

I stumbled across this recipe in a cook book my Mom had given me ages ago. I wasn't too sure about it, but I thought I'd throw caution to the wind and give it a whirl. Now it's fair to say when it comes to rating my recipes Michael is very much like a disgruntled Russian Olympic Skating Judge. Those high scores don't come easy. I nearly fell off my chair when he declared this dish to be "a little slice of heaven".



Carmelized Pork Slices

1 lb pork tenderloin
2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
2 tbsp packed brown sugar
1 tbsp orange juice
1 tbsp molasses or maple syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp pepper

Cut pork into 1/2 inch slices. Spray non-stick skillet with cooking spray, heat over medium high heat.

Cook pork and garlic in skillet 6 to 8 minutes, turning occasionally, until pork is slightly pink in the center, Drain if necessary.

Stir in remaining ingredients. Cook 2 - 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until mixture thickens and coats pork.

Recipe Notes: Yep that right there is a little slice of heaven on a plate. I used maple syrup because I'm not a real huge fan of molasses. It reminded me a lot of the sliced pork you can get at Chinese Buffet restaurants. You know the one? In the sticky red sauce. The sauce had the same consistency. This time I made no changes, it was great as is. 5/5

Still hungry? Check out more What's Cooking Wednesday:

Ham and Cabbage Soup at bleeding espresso

My honey Delores' very first What's Cooking Wednesday!

Saffron Risotto with Butternut Squash at Virtually There

So Darlene, are you next?

Want to play along? Here's the deal; on Wednesday post a recipe along with a picture of the dish. And don't forget to link back here, the home of What's Cooking Wednesday. Then drop me an email or leave your link in the comments so I know you've played too! Happy cooking!!

Just for Lynn: Today Lynn and I talked about having perogies for dinner. She couldn't believe that we would just eat perogies and nothing else. I tried to point out that I was Polish, but she countered with the fact that although she's Irish she doesn't often eat just potatoes for dinner. Yes folks, she is that funny. At home I repeated the story to Michael who stared at me for a moment before declaring that she was 100% correct. So Lynn you'll be happy to know the perogies came with a side of salad.