We got this machine in October, and have been trying to endure it since then. We’ve resisted the urge to throw it out the window… but have come pretty close a few times. I wish vacuum manufacturers would realize that we consumers don’t want a vacuum with the latest doo-dad, fancy accoutrement, microchip and hard drives that remember our last vacuum session, etc!!! I just want a vacuum that VACUUMS! Simple enough?! Gah!
I bought this particular GE vac because it is lightweight, has a powerful motor, and is bagless. The vacuum directions say to replace the little filter once a month ($10 per filter). But the filters on this thing are teeny-tiny– the size of an index card. And my old house is very dusty (we have a bird and the walls are the original plaster). So guess how frequently I have to replace the filter? ONCE A WEEK. Yes you read that right. ONCE a week. If I don’t, the vacuum will not pick anything up. I’ve had it! Forget it! No more of this.
Anyway, I think I’m going back to bagged vacuum cleaners. My experiments with the filter/bagless models have all failed, and the filters are costing me a fortune. It’s like printer ink– the printers are inexpensive cheapos, but the manufacturers getcha with the cost of the ink. Grrrr.
The other day, I realized I haven’t had a kitten update in quite some time. The horror! I’m so sorry to have kept you waiting like this! After all, she is the cutest little kitty in the whole wide world! How can I neglect her adoring fans like I have!
Livvy is now 7 months old. She was spayed…. kind of. She had the operation, but… the vets found nothing inside. WEIRD. I’m still not sure if the problems is with Livvy’s innards or with the vet’s eptitude. Time will tell.
Anyway, Livvy is just like us, like one of the family. She “talks” to us, too. When we discuss things with her, she makes little meows and close-mouthed “pulses” of kitty sounds, as if she were responding. It’s absolutely adorable. I haven’t had a chance to try to capture it on video yet.
When we are cleaning the house, she is cleaning the house. (She especially likes sweeping the floor– when we are using the broom to gather all the dirt, she gladly comes charging in to scatter it all over the floor again!). And, she likes “helping out” with the laundry.
Two of our kids got Oral B electric toothbrushes and we’ve been testing them out for quite a while. You can read about my review on the Oral B Triumph (which is AMAZING, really!) here. My youngest son- a reluctant brusher- has been dentally-transformed by the Triumph, and we love it!
It’s my daughter who got the Oral B Pulsonic (in the photo above, it’s to the left). She has braces. She had to get braces because they were medically necessary– her teeth were so mangled and snaggly that she was going to have dental and jaw problems if we didn’t straighten her teeth. She’s always had problems with her teeth Read more…
A NEW WARDROBE! Yeah, baby! A number of my girlfriends are returning to the workforce, now that our kids are all older. It’s a great feeling to realize that you’ve (finally) raised the kids and they can now fend for themselves, haha! I haven’t found a new job yet (I am still looking for something, at least part-time), but I am preparing myself by
1.) getting up earlier (hee);
2.) combing my hair every morning; and
3.) looking for a new, “outside” wardrobe.
Which of course means that the fuzzy pink slippers and gray sweats have to go….
How about you? Looking for some classy pieces to add to your wardrobe, but maybe you are a little tight on cash? Check this out: Roman Originals. Classy! Roman Originals has the best selection of tailored skirts and trouser suits I’ve seen. And we’re not talking about the boring old navy-stripe or black polyester stuff, either. I saw this jacket and fell in love. Isn’t that the classiest jacket you’ve ever seen in your life?! It’s charcoal-color single-breasted with fully-lined satin fabric. Gorgeous. They’ve got a terrific sale, too– buy a jacket and get the matching bottom trousers for free! And Roman Originals offers free shipping too, for qualifying purchases (orders over £75). I love the styles, because they don’t make you look like a man– the suits are extremely feminine with feminine styling and fit. Check the site for a free 20% off voucher.
Roman Originals has been in business snce 1957, so they know a thing or two about women’s clothing needs and styles. They’ve got dresses, skirt suits, outerwear, eveningwear, and more to offer. Check them out- the prices are great and the quality is stunning.
… How To Get Your Kid To LIKE Brushing His Teeth. The Saga Begins…
Over the holidays, we got some fancy-schmancy toothbrushes for two of the kids. The Oral B Triumph with SmartGuide toothbrush, and the Oral B Pulsonic. Both toothbrushes come highly rated by our dentists and orthodondist’s office. I decided to try them out, and gave the Oral B Pulsonic to my 16 year old daughter (who wears braces) and the Oral B Triumph to my 12 year-old son, a reluctant brusher. I’ll review my son’s Triumph toothbrush in this post, and give my opinion about my daughter’s Pulsonic in a future one.
First off, I want to say that I am a freak of a mom, when it comes to brushing. The Wrath of Mother may come down from the Heavens if my children do not brush with frenetic fervor. You see, I had terrible dental hygiene as a kid. I rarely brushed, didn’t see a dentist until my late teens and subsequently I have seven teeth missing from my set (and a gold crowned tooth, which is very cool to show off to kids, lol). ANYWAY, as a mom I was determined that my kids would not be in the pain and agony that I was– they were going to have good teeth. My two daughters have marvelously clean teeth (the 16 year old has never had a cavity). I slacked off with my sons (too much candy flowing around here) and they have had cavities. Plus, my youngest never liked brushing very much. It IS a dull chore, I know….
So… what do you do with a kid who hates boring chores like toothbrushing but loves electronic gadgets? Blend the two! That’s what Oral B did, and I have to hand it to them– they did a fantastic job with this toothbrush. No longer do I have to stand over the sink like a vulture, watching my son to make sure he does it right and brushes long enough. Oral B does it for him, and makes it fun to do. It’s really cute, they must have had kids in mind with this.
I just LOVE browsing this store, Gemz N Gold. The deals are just phenomenal. I’ve been looking for a new gold chain for my pendant, and saw… THIS!
Wowee. That’s a 14-carat gold and natural garnet necklace, on sale for $42.52! It’s drop-dead gorgeous, don’t you think? It has earrings to match, too. You can see this collection here. Be prepared for some serious drooling– cover your keyboard, k? Maybe I’ll skip that gold chain and go for something nicer… lol.
Gemz N Gold is a top-of-the-line wholesale jewelry store. They are based in Los Angeles, California, and all their jewelry is made right here in the USA. Their prices are fabulous and they are a top-notch company with great customer service. What else can a girl ask for?
Well, how about a great deal?
HA! I thought you’d never ask.
Gemz N Gold is having a holiday special until December 22– get 15% off your entire purchase using this coupon code: e2g9i. Type it in the discount code box during your checkout. 15% in this economy is a good savings, especially when the deals are already so good at Gemz N Gold. Check them out– you will be impressed!
I don’t know why I am so focused on air fresheners lately; perhaps it is due to the cold weather settling in, and we are indoors all the time? If there’s one thing about old houses, they do tend to smell. I have a very sensitive nose, so the smells of old lathe-and-plaster, 150-year old mouse nests in the walls, and the wet basement smells drive me near crazy every winter. I’m always trying out new fresheners. I can’t bake apple pies and zucchini breads every day, now can I? On really cold days, besides baking, I sometimes simmer orange peels and cinnamon bark on the stove. There is something really wonderful about oranges and cinnamon on cold, snowy days; but I don’t always have a fresh supply of either.
I saw this hilarious video at Dine-o-meter blog. Oh my word, this is terrific! It’s all a funny spoof, but making the air freshener is for real. The video is done by Jolene Sugarbaker, and it’s great! LOL. I checked out Jolene’s site (is it just me, or is Jolene really a GUY??) and “she’s” been doing this since 1993! How could I have possibly missed this?! This is really fun. My son watched the video, and this looks like a really fun craft project.
I haven’t seen any of those scented oils at the Dollar Store; but then again, I haven’t ever looked. This look like a frugal, fun way to make your own scented air freshener! LOL. I also like Jolene’s suggestion of prettying up the jars with baubles, kind of like how kids decorate hoto digital frames with sequins and such. Maybe I’ll have the kids make a video of them doing the craft, and I’ll post about how our version runs. I am curious as to how well this sceneted freshener would work– my house is pretty big and pretty smelly…
OMG OMG OMG!! We are celebrating in the house today!! We won first place with PayU2Blog’s “My Hometown” video contest!! I am absolutely flipped, totally totally thrilled! This was such a fun contest and I have to laud my children who did a great job with the skit! Here’s our video in case you didn’t see the earlier post.
Thank you so much, PayU2Blog, for having such a terrific contest! You guys are GREAT!
After all, she is the cutest little kitty in the whole wide world! How can I neglect her adoring fans like I have!
How about you? Looking for some classy pieces to add to your wardrobe, but maybe you are a little tight on cash? Check this out: 
