Fear of Vacuuming

As a child - I was scared to vacuum.  I was scared that I would go over something that I shouldn't and the vacuum would blow up.  I was so motivated NOT to vacuum, I would try to trade chores with my brother to get out of my vacuuming duties.

As an adult, I do not have that fear - you suck up enough strings, bobby pins and other oops items and you get over the fear. Don't get me wrong - I still don't love it - hauling out the vacuum, unwrapping the cord, dancing around trying to get everything, wrapping the cord back up and putting it away. And for me - I don't have room where the vacuum fits anywhere - except the attic.  So it takes me longer getting ready and putting away than it took me to vacuum.

I have two cats that never stop shedding - so ideally, I would vacuum and sweep at least every other day.  (I mean I do hate a dirty house more than the hassle of vacuuming).  Or even worse, when I travel for work and am gone longer periods - I come home to tumble weeds of hair.  Coming home to a dirty house is horrible.

So I made a big purchase.  I bought an iRobot - which is a robotic vacuum.  This purchase has been a game changer in my house.  I can clean other stuff, watch TV, cook, or even leave to run errands or go to work - all while my little robot is busy sweeping and vacuuming my entire house! Rocked my world!

The first time that I ran this - I had to empty the bin 3 times (gross - and this was with me sweeping and vacuuming 2 days before!).  I now can just dump the bin once it is done - running it every 2 or so days.  I still can't believe how much stuff this thing finds every time.  Granted, it goes under tables, beds, couches - things I normally didn't hit with the broom or vacuum. 

My house just feels cleaner.  Now you still have some effort in this cleaning - dumping the bin and cleaning the brushes - but it is minimal compared to my old routine.  Is it perfect - no.  Is it better than my old methods - yes.

Now if I can just teach my cats to ride around on it... 

A Pause in the Happiest Time of Year

I consider myself a very positive and happy person - mainly because, I guess - I am happy.  I love my life.  I have wonderful friends, an amazing boyfriend, a job and career I love, and the best family that I could ever dream of. 

This year, I have started working with my hometowns youth group.  It has been beyond frustrating at times, but for the most part, beyond rewarding.  On top of working with the youth group - I have reconnected with friends from old - through the church's "Young Adult Ministries" group - although I am not sure how "young" I consider myself anymore - but I am okay with that.

All in all, it has been a wonderful year that has flown by too quickly.  I was driving into work today thinking about and running through my holidays lists... the few gifts I still need to get, the groceries I need to buy to make that mac'n'cheese dish for the holiday party tomorrow, and on and on.

But then I paused.  I thought of Pete.  Pete was my grandmother's boyfriend who pasted a few years ago.  I thought of how much I missed him and how, even though he was never "family" marriage - he was a grandfather to me for over ten years.  This naturally led me into remembering my Pop and Meme - I am getting choked up just trying to write about them now...

...

Christmas is suppose to be the happiest (and probably busiest) season of the year.  However, it is hard not to think back to everyone who can't be here with us during this wonderful time and feel a little sad because they are not here to spend it with us.  I try not to linger long on these sad thoughts - I know they would not want me to shed any tears over them.

At this stage in life, everyone has been touched by loss or some unhappy event in their life.  So, I wish for you this holiday season happiness and hope - and a peace within when you do pause to remember.

My Non-Politicial Political Rant

If you know me or notice my few postings on Facebook - you will have noticed that I do not make any political comments, whatsoever.  I do not post or claim any affiliation with any group.

Growing up, I went through a phase when I wanted to be the first female president of the United States.  I have gone from wanting to run for president to someone who refuses to vote for president.  Yes, I will NOT be voting on Tuesday. 

When people ask me who I will be voting for they are shocked to hear my response - my vote is not voting.  I have many reason for this stance - but it is thought out and carefully decided.  I don't take voting lightly - and I think many people do.

While I am proud to live in a country where (essentially) everyone can vote, I am very jaded when it comes to the process, the outcome and most importantly how we vote.

One of the main reasons I do not vote is because I do not feel informed enough to make a sound and educated decision for whom to vote.  I refuse to vote based on any political ad campaign or Facebook postings (or because my parents raised me one way so I will always vote for that party) - as I have often found them to be based on little fact and mostly spin.  I consider myself a well-educated person - so I could educate myself on the topic - but I have decided against it.

As I just put up my antenna to get my free digital television this week (previously only having Netflix and Hulu), I saw my first political commercials this morning.  I was blown away.  Do people actually base their decisions on these commercials?  Are they swayed by the mud throwing?  My biggest fear is that people do - they don't research and check the facts (which are much harder to verify than it should be).  They vote based on commercials and hearsay. 

And to think that the leadership of our country can be swayed by a vote based on an excellent PR campaign... does it not scare you?

I have a Masters in Economics.  It is enough education to let me know that I don't know anything about economics and that I was not smart enough to go on to get a PhD in it.  So to hear people talk about how to "fix" the economy like they actually have a solution that would "fix" it blows my mind.  Most people have never even had a basic course in MacroEconomics. 

An economy is closer to a living breathing organism than a machine.  The economy is not a car that as been in a crash that we can take to get fixed at a body shop this month.  The economy is like a morbidly obese American - we have been abusing our body for years and thinking that if we lay off sodas and walk for 10 minutes a day for 4 years that we are going to be in Olympic condition.  We can make changes now that will show improvement - but it has to be a lifelong commitment to health. 

If we support a system that calls for our leaders to always keep an eye on 4 years down the road so they can get re-elected - are we going to see that commitment to long-term health?  I would argue probably not.  We are going to see crash diets and fads that end up with us yo-yoing in health.  Please do not see this as an argument for longer terms - it is not.

I am just ready for someone to stand up and say, yeah, I am not going to be popular - but I am going to get us back on track.  So what if you don't get elected again - isn't public service more about doing what is best for the public anyway even if it means losing your job after one term?

I am not sure how that person would be elected.  They would have unpopular policies that I am assuming the majority would not like for their immediate happiness - so they would probably not get the support from one of the Major Two.

So if you took anything away from this - it is to please educate yourself with verified facts before making your mark on Tuesday.

Okay - I think I have reached my maximum for political discussion for the month, maybe year.

Happy Voting (or Not Voting)!

Honestly Fat.

America is Fat.  And getting fatter.  Sadly, I am no exception.

As a child, I grew fast.  By my early teenage years, I reached my adult height of 6 feet.  When you are growing that fast, you can't keep weight on - but you are eating house and home.  I am not sure how I turned into a picky eater - but I definitely had a limited color palate for food.  If it wasn't in the white/yellow realm, I probably wasn't going to eat it (read, I loved starches, and not so much the vegetables).

As my father so kindly pointed out, "Once you stop growing up, you start growing out!"  And out I did.  My own family called me Two Tons of Fun.  I was obese by no means, and I slowly leaned out as I didn't have to eat to keep up with growth spurts.  As a high schooler, I ate like a teenager - fast foods, sodas, junk food, heavily processed foods.  Still limited to a small food palate.

Now something special happened in college.  Add alcohol to buffet style unlimited eating for every meal - you have a recipe for weight gain.  I put on the Freshman 40 (or so I said).  I maxed out at about 199 pounds.  Yes, I just admitted my weight publicly.

There is this magical point were you realize you have to change something.  It has to be  met by a desire and determination to change.  I found it with the help of my family the summer after my freshman year of college.  I don't remember the details of how I got to that point and mindset, but I just remember thinking that I was fat and hating it.

So I started paying attention to what I was eating for the first time in my life.  I learned how to eat salads with broccoli and less cheese/dressings and more vegetables (don't get too excited, I am still a picky eater).  I drank less and cut out the sugary mixed drinks.  I started working out, mainly cardio for about an hour a day, 5 times a week.

My eating wasn't great but my workout dedication was.  In less than year, I was in better shape and health than when I entered college.  I dropped down to around 165 lbs.  Life was good.

I kept most of the weight off.  I found kickboxing as my main source of cardio - and once again I couldn't eat enough!  It was like being a kid again.  As with life, things changed again.  I changed jobs and thereby changed lifestyles.

Traveling 100% for my job left me living out of hotels and on 3 restaurant meals a day.  I would come home on the weekends, not to go to the grocery store or cook, but to eat out more.  An uncertain schedule on the road left me kept me from workingout - in reality only I kept myself from working out.

So, I watched the weight go back up.  I remember last Lent seeing someone post on Facebook a comment that Lent was not about dieting or losing weight - and it dawned on me - people so often just need a good 30 or so days of removing bad habits to get them back on track.

Back in June, I decided that I had had enough with gaining weight again.  I took a "Lent" approach and decided to try to give up "bad stuff" one month at a time.  You can do anything for a month, right?  I only had to do it for a month, and then when I allow it back into my diet, hopefully I won't be craving it, but rather have it in limited quantities.

Here is what I have tried out so far:

June - Nothing fried - this was hard - but it made me realize how much stuff was fried.  Chips - I wouldn't even go out to eat Mexican because I couldn't resist the chips/salsa!

July - No sodas - I found that I switched to drinking more sweet tea - so this month was a wash for me.  I probably need to do it again only without sweetened drinks.

August - No meat - I actually am sticking with a vegetarian diet - I loved this and found that I ate healthier, less fried, and virtually no fast food when I do this.  I like the taste and the options for vegetarians.  I found it to be cheaper (with the higher costs of meat) and that I get more protein as I am conscious of what I am eating.

September - No alcohol - I hated this month.  I enjoy my glass of wine with dinner or with a group of friends.  I found that I substituted desserts or snacks for a glass of wine.  The good news - well, bad news for my gas bill, I was able to be the DD for all of our events this month.

Next month - I am thinking about requiring myself to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day.  Who knows - I just try to think of what I should be doing, but not a great job of doing and that is my goal.

So while I am not my college weight and I will never be a size 2 - I am exercising more and eating healthier.  I will never be the girl that doesn't eat cake or survives on rabbit food (salads only).  I am going to enjoy chocolate and good wine. 

What I have realized through all of this... weight management and health is a life long process - I don't think that you can "diet" and reach an end goal.  My 30 day challenges make me stronger and help me focus on my health - it really takes will power.  Life is about balance and learning about yourself - and being happy with it!

A Thousand Words

I love to read.  I always have.  My parents used to yell at me to stop reading at night to go to bed.  Granted, mandated reading during grad school stopped me from leisure reading for even a year after I graduated!  Now especially that house work has calmed down - I have been enjoying my porch swing and good books again.

I do not have a standard MO for acquiring reading materials - I use the Kindle (both bought books and using the lending library), the public library, and buying used books from Amazon.  Reading over a book a week, I prefer free and cheap is a second best. 

With Amazon Prime, you get a free Prime book every month - while the selection is not great, they now have the full Harry Potter series as Prime. 

For Atlanta-Fulton County Library systems, you can "check-out" electronic library books for a period of up to 14 days - they have a growing collection (downside - they also have a growing population of readers so the wait times can be lengthy).

Next, I turn to used books on Amazon - for older books, I can usually find them about $4-$5 a piece. 

For the new books, I generally turn to the Kindle.  I am not known for my patience, so when I am in the middle of a series, waiting for the next installation, I have to get in on my Kindle the day it comes out. 

I resisted buying a Kindle or any type of tablet/e-reader for a long time.  However, a mix weekly travel with the need to take at least 2 books with you for the week - need for space won me over.  I now actually prefer the Kindle to actual paperbacks.  I can use one hand and you can see it well in most lights (no glare).  I prefer it over my iPad - for reading. 

So what have I read this month? 
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azaban
Fifty Shades Darker
Fifty Shades Freed
Shadow of Night
Harvest Moon (Virgin River Series)
Dead Reckoning: A Sookie Stackhouse Novel

What is upcoming on the reading list?
More Harry Potter
Divergent
Insurgent (if I like Divergent)

Check out my Library Page for my reviews and fav reads. 
Let me know if you have any suggestions for must reads!

Cork It.

Hi. My name is Suzanne. And I have a Pinterest problem.  Pinterest makes me feel as though I can build, cook, or create anything cheaper and just as cute (or tasty) as something that I could buy.

Sometimes it costs just as much.  Sometimes it is WAY cheaper.  Sometimes it tastes awesome.  Sometimes we get Chinese takeout.  Sometimes it is cute.  Sometimes it goes in the trash.

Even though I have had a few failures along the way - I love trying.  I like the satisfaction of making something, maybe I get that from being raised on a farm.

So when I needed a cork board to pin up things that didn't need to be filed away immediately in my office, and the cheaply framed cork boards were not an option, but neither were the super expensive ones - I turned to Amazon and Pinterest.

I originally planned on just buying cork squares and spacing 4 of them out (without frames or anything).  I ordered a pack from Amazon (I love Amazon).  After getting them and starting to place them, I didn't like the idea.  Now I have all these cork squares, no plan and still no cork board.


Then, I remembers that I had this old piece of art - I was going to donate it or sell it, but I decided to re-purpose it.  I mean if I messed it up - I wouldn't really be out anything, right?

I unscrewed and pulled out all of the nails/backing for the frame.  I removed the print and the glass.  I replaced the print section with the cork squares (I had to cut them down).  I put the backing back down and went to town on it with my staple gun (every girl should own one).

Project: Success!  I love the frame plus matting look around the cork board.  I put post-it notes on the matting part.  I now have a really cute cork board that looks nice enough to have it in front of me all day while I work.  And, the best part, it was under $10 and only took about 30 minutes to make!

Poop!

Did you know... Premium kopi luwak coffee is made from coffee beans isolated from civet poop. Civets are small mammals from tropical parts of Asia and Africa.

Did you know... The types of food animals eat can change the color of their poop. Penguins leave white or gray droppings after eating fish, pink droppings after eating krill and yellow droppings after eating squid.

Did you know... Some coprolites (ancient poop) have mineralized over time and contain beautiful swirls of color. Some of them are polished for jewelry.

Poop - enough said right? Never! Poop is a fascinating subject - if you say no, you are in denial. 

I had a "poopy" birthday this year.  Tim and I visited Fernbank for the Scoop on Poop exhibit - "the #1 exhibit on #2".  The exhibit had some fun facts, but it was really geared for a younger audience - we still had a great time. 

Tim then gave me the CitiKitty - a potty training system for my cats - as a part of my birthday gifts! That is right, we are now training my two cats how to use the toilet.  No more cleaning the litter box or having litter all over the bathroom!

I was so excited!  The first week, it was great and the cats had no problems using it.  Then, the next step when you punch out a ring (see 2 Train in the photo above), things went down the toilet - except not literally.  The cats wouldn't poop in the toilet.  I knew they were holding it and to my horror - they decided to use my bed instead of the toilet.  Vomit and triple washing my sheets.

I hoped it was an isolated incident.  It was really a revolt.  After another bed poop and then a poop in my dirty laundry - I was done with potty training.  But, end the end, Tim and I decided that we would not let the cats win.  So, we locked them in the bathroom (with plenty of food and water and toys). 
They are finally using the toilet again.

I think this process will take several more weeks to actually get them through training as we don't move to the next level (a larger and larger hole in the training ring) until both cats successfully use the toilet repeatedly without being locked in.

I feel like a parent, monitoring my cats bowel movements to make sure they are going - knowing when they are holding it - and then cleaning up the messes. 

Hey - but if I ever have kids they can't be more difficult to potty train than two huge cats, right?

This is Suzy Homemaker, keeping you posted on the poop!

The One Year Itch

I feel so cliche when I comment on how fast time seems to be flying - but it is really mind blowing for me.  Like, I just got a notice for my high school's 10 year reunion.  Granted, I am happy high school is well behind me - I would consider it at the bottom of an amazing ride up in my life.  But, 10 years, really?

Next month, I will celebrate the one year anniversary of buying my house.  Since I bought it in nearly perfect condition (fresh paint, recently renovated, nice lawn), I didn't have much to do house project wise. 

Now, if you look back on my blog, I have done several small projects: staining the fence and back porch, glazing the bathroom windows, painting my porch furniture, creating storage spaces, etc. 

I have also done some things that haven't made the blog - like cleaning out most of my junk - from cleaning out flower beds to organizing paperwork in my office to cleaning out my closet and attic.  If you hurry, I am sure you can find a TON of my stuff at the local GoodWill stores!

I guess I am officially settled into the house. 



So, what next?  I have been here a year, and... am bored.  I was so used to moving every year or two - but I am home now.  And my home doesn't need anything other than cleaning, ugh!

Here's to 1 year and being a happy homeowner!

Squirrels: A Rant

My yard nemesis.  Rats with fluffy tails. Squirrels.

They have taken over the neighborhood. 

They constantly chew off little branches off of my trees (which I constantly have to pick up out of my yard). 

They dig holes throughout my yard - I swear just to annoy me.

They obviously allow snakes in the yard - the supposed one benefit of having these rats around.

I hear them running on my roof and watch them run along my fence and power cords - laughing at me.

I have tried cayenne pepper and other critter solutions that should deter them away from my yard.  The squirrels haven't been deterred.

Now, back in the country - Dad would just take out a screen and shoot them from the house.  Oh, sometimes I do miss the country.

If you have any ideas on dealing with them - pass them along, please!

Squirrels - 1.  Suzy Homemaker - 0.

Call me Picasso!

I like Pinterest - and I actually do many of the pins that I re-pin.  This is where I got some of my homemade cleaners, laundry detergent, and organization tips (like putting folded sheet sets in one of the set's pillow cases to consolidate and keep together or putting magnetic strips in your bathroom door to collect your million spare bobby pins) that I use in my own house.

I also try out many of the recipes - some turn out great (like the Butterfinger pies I made for holiday gifts) and others have been gag-worthy (like the mac-n-cheese I made earlier this week).

But Pinterest can also lead down a spiral of pins and dreams that will only live on your online board (or they are out of your price range or above your skill level - read any of the hair styles or nail decorations).  Like recipes - there are several of my pins that I have a feeling that if I tried, I would fail.

But earlier this week, I took a chance.  I saw 2 separate pins on DIY painting using paint tape - so no drawing/painting skills were really needed.  I decided that I could use an old canvas that someone had given me - plus a bunch of acrylic paint and brushes from a time when I thought I was more artistic than I really was - to try this.  I went out and bought some painters tape (which I figure is good to have on hand anyway).

I took the canvas, randomly (although random is hard for me, since I like things to be symmetrical and even) put the paint tape lines on and started painting.  As it was almost dry - I removed the tape and... honestly, I was impressed with myself - the painting really worked!!

I am hanging it in my loft/den area (which is how I determined what colors to use).  I was really excited to have wall art in the right colors and size for this space - not to mention that it only cost me about $5 for the tape I needed since I had all of the other stuff laying around.  Oh, and it took less than 2 hours to paint!  I think I may do a few more...

A Good Stain

Parties and spilled drinks, rainy days and muddy shoes, flour on the floor from your latest cake, plates of sloppy spaghetti and a bit of wasted, splashed wine... a good life is often a messy one.  Mess in your house can often be cleaned - but sometimes a stain sets in.  If you are lucky, you can flip the couch cushion or angle the rug under the chair, or pre-treat the tablecloth.  Maybe just a quick wipe up or a little elbow grease.

But sometimes the sweating cup has done its damage or the spill has been concealed and the stain is set in.  I have quite a few in my house - from a cup ring that I hide under a box of tissues to towels that I have just dedicated as work or non-guest towels. 

Hey, stains happen.

My most recent project has been all about staining - on purpose. Like the people who spend too much time in the sun with no protection - they looked weathered and older than their age.  So, after enlisting the help from my dad (again) - we decided to stain and seal the fence and deck.

Now, the whole project could have gone the way of Tom Sawyer painting the fence - except I didn't have any friends that I could con into helping me - so we went country on the project.  Dad brought up a sprayer that we typically used to spraying weeds - we cleaned it out and filled it up with stain.

Dad sprayed - I smoothed it out.  We got my entire fence in less than 3 hours.  Then came the back deck.  While the floor could be sprayed - the railing and detail work had to be hand stained and sealed.  The deck took about 4 or so hours - I won't lie - it was painful.  But at the end of the project, I looked out into my backyard and I was proud of what I had accomplished.

In about 7 hours and less than $200 later, my back yard was transformed and protected.  The deck looks awesome and the fence has new life.  You can't tell much from the pictures as you can in real life.  I am just glad to have something other than weathered wood surrounding my house - and I know that it will last longer now that it is sealed.

Before:

After:

 

And It All Comes Crashing Down!

You are stilling in a meeting and your cell rings.  The caller is someone would not typically try to contact you at work, so you know it must be important.

I got one of those calls last week.  It is mid-morning and I look down at my phone.  Tim is calling me.  He knows I am in meetings all day and can be reached by email.  So I excuse myself and take the call. 

The conversation starts normally, so I cut to the chase - "Is this an emergency?"

"Well..."  So in the second or two that he takes to respond, I have rapid fire gone through the scenarios of what could be wrong.  He is hurt.  Something happened to the cats.  My car was stolen... and so on.

"We had some storms last night and apparently..." I jump to car damaged, house is damage, shed is damaged...

"And a tree fell" on my car... house... neighbors house...

Finally, I find out that my neighbor's tree (from 2 houses up) had fallen through the next door neighbors yard, neighbors behind me yard, and my yard.  Honestly, I can't picture how a tree could fall and hit so many peoples yards and not a house.

The tree, whose root ball was over 7 feet wide, fell diagonally and 'touched' 5 yards. 

Lucky for me - it only took out about 5 feet of my fence.

Luckier for me - my Dad came up with his chainsaws and some tools to help me fix it.  In less than 2 hours, we cleaned up the tree, hauled off the debris, and re-built the fence.

Now, don't let the pictures fool you, I got my hands dirty on this one too - I couldn't let my Dad and Tim have all the fun. 

And, I learned a few things.  First, I know now how to put up a wood fence (I knew how to do the ones on the farm with the barbed wire). Next, if an "act of God" damages your house/property - regardless of where the damaging element comes from, it comes out of your homeowners insurance (if you chose to claim it). 

Lastly, I have amazing neighbors (well, I already knew that).  I lived in an apartment for many years before I bought this house.  I never knew who lived next door to me even though I would see them several times a week. But now, I know my neighbors and would call them a friend. 

We were all outside working together- it isn't something that I thought I would get living in a big city, knowing my neighbors and hanging out with them- but I have it here.  I am really thankful and grateful to have it.

(And really grateful the tree didn't actually hit my house!)

Spring Cleaning - DIY Style

I recently was having lunch with a Vegan.  I personally am a red meat kinda girl - I enjoy eggs in the morning and steak at night with plenty of other animal products along the way.  I respect anyone that is Vegan/Veggie - I know that I could not be that dedicated - heck, I can't even turn down a doughnut. 

But I digress - so we are at lunch and somehow get on the topic of chemicals.  Now, this person is a green cleaner - with no harsh chemicals.  It is a green thing for them.

Me?  I actually am not longer using any store chemicals for cleaning either - but not necessary for the "green cause".  While it has the benefit of saving the world, I find that DIY cleaners are MUCH cheaper and work just as well if not better.  I don't think I would be willing to convert if they didn't - for example - I do not use DIY dishwasher detergent - my dishwasher just doesn't clean as well with it. 

What does work for me?  DIY Clog Clearers (think Drano), DIY soap scum scrub, and DIY universal cleaner.  What are you going to need for all of these?  Baking Soda, White Vinegar, and Water - easy right?  Start buying in bulk!

DIY Clog Clearer - I LOVE this - even Drano doesn't work for me all the time - this has always worked for me.  Feed about 1/2 a cup of baking soda down the drain.  Then pour 1/2 cup of vinegar down the drain and immediately put a cup/bowl over the drain (it will foam like a science experiment and the cup forces it down the drain to work on the clog).  While your science experiment is working its magic, go boil some water (a big pot - around a gallon).  After it is boiling (think about 15 minutes) - remove the cup/bowl and pour the water down the drain.  Watch it flow right down - clog cleared!  All of this for under a $1 (compared to over $4 for a bottle that *may* work)!

DIY Soap Scum Scrub - I have used this a few times in my tub - I just sprinkle baking soda directly on the surface (or on my rag) and then spray on my Universal Cleaner and wipe away.  For really bad situations - I let it set for a few minutes and then wipe away.  Again - pennies to use!

DIY Universal Cleaner - My favorite and every day cleaner.  One part vinegar, one part water.  Mix in a spray bottle (Dollar Tree has great industrial ones with different handle colors for a $1 - this is nice to help distinguish what is in what bottle if you use them for many things like I do).  Just spray and wipe this stuff.  I use it on my tubs, toilets, sinks, kitchen counters, windows, mirrors, for spot clean up on my hardwoods, I spay on my tiled floors and wipe off too - it really is universal.  Again - pennies to use!

What is the catch?  Okay - these don't smell like roses - we are using vinegar here!  So what is the resolution?  First, the smell dissipates quickly - like in a minute or two - and I personally, don't find it offensive as some of the harsh cleaner's smells.  OR - you can do what I now do - follow up immediately with my DIY Frebeze (so like in the bathroom I will spray on my rugs or towels).  Then you have a clean room with a fresh scent! 

Suzy Homemaker DIY Cleaners - saving your wallet and the world - one project at a time!

Spring in the Hair

At first I thought it was fluke - all of this warm weather so early- but then again, we didn't have a really cold bitter winter like we had last year here in Atlanta.  Now, I hope it spring is here to stay.  I have been enjoying my back porch and my front porch swing.

But with the perfect warming weather, we get allergies, bugs, and yellow pollen.  I have decided that I can handle the itchy eyes and yellow car.  What is driving me insane - my cats shedding.  It is like a wild west show in my house - rolling tumbleweeds of fur no matter how much I sweep.  My cats should be bald right now due to their severe hair loss.

Aside from my hair issues - I am loving my first spring in my house.  This past weekend my parents came up and we power washed the back porch, cut down trees, re-mulched the backyard, extended my drainage pipes, cleaned up my front flower bed, removed my back flower bed, and planted lots of new stuff - transfers from my parents and grandmas house.  It is beautiful - I can't wait to have cookouts and play in the backyard!

I am Suzy Homemaker - with a green thumb!

Hiding Out in the Open

My house was built in 1922 - I think it gives it a ton of charm.  It also means that closets were miniature - just like the stairs.  And 90 years later, we in general are bigger as are our wardrobes.  Many people just say we have become slaves to consumerism and fast food.  I am not here to change those things (although I am celebrating 5 months of being "sober" from McDonalds!) - but to offer what I found to be a creative alternative to shrinking your wardrobe.


First, I am my mothers child, I do not feel the need to hoard or hold onto things.  If I haven't wore it or used in 6-8 months, it is sold, donated, or thrown away.  That said, I still have more clothes than fit in my tiny closet.

Now, you have the traditional shoes under the bed, out-of-season clothes in the attic, etc.  This solves part of the problem - but here in the south, the only thing that I truly can store is my bathing suits or heavy sweaters.  Weather can swing too much in given week during any time of the year.  Between this and travel to different regions - I needed to be able to access the majority of my clothes without having to crawl into my attic.

So... I hide them out in the open.  With a smaller bedroom, I didn't want it walled up with cabinets or more wood furniture - it would just make it seem even smaller.  Then it hit me - I would used shelving and my clothe boxes.

After some measuring, I realized my boxes would fit perfectly on the wall behind  my door.  Now that the measuring was done, it was off to Lowe's to see what they had.  $80 and some metal cutting later (by a helpful Lowe's employee), I left with everything need to put up my wall shelves.

In less than 30 minutes these shelves were up!  I love that they are partially hidden by the door - but not all the way - after all - the boxes are really nice.  I found that jeans, workout clothes, socks, shirt, scarves - just about anything fits into these boxes.  They are really easy to grab down and then put back up.

Since the shelves are adjustable, if I need to update the room, I can just get new boxes and adjust as needed.  Excellence use of a corner, right?

Bright Lights in the Big City

Lately with work, I have ended up on some late night flights.  If you know me as a traveler, you know I am a window seat traveler - even though I am 6 feet tall.  What can I say, I like to look out the window at everything below.

Getting in this late at night is a newer experience for me.  My first thoughts when I saw Atlanta lit up in the black sky was of the Nazca Lines in Peru.  The Nazca people created these geoglyphs (think ground sculptures) that could be viewed by the gods above.  This was nearly over 1500 years ago.

 Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazca_Lines

What they created was so amazing - no airplanes or satellite imaging.  And I look from my airplane window at what we, modern society have created.  While it is also amazing, it is also a bit disheartening.  The bright lights go on forever, but they are strictly for our utility - not for the beautification of our plant or in honor of anything.  I can see subdivisions - planned to maximize land space.  Roads that carve into the landscape.  Clusters of shopping centers and parking lots.

I am not by any means saying we should have focused our building and planning so that God above or airplane passengers would have had a pretty scene to gaze down on...  but maybe as we move forward we should think more than the local impact of our usage of this place.  The simple lines that the Nazca put on the ground are here over a thousand years later and are still beautiful.  Can we say the same about what we are creating today?  Will people still care a thousand years from now?  Will our cities one day be considered a wonder of the world or just ruins to clean up?

As far as my home relates, know I have been replacing my "bright" lights with the newer compact light bulbs that require less energy.  I have also strove to keep the lights off when possible.  I may not be able to change the hardscape of our city, but at least I can be more conscious of the resources I am using.

And as far a beautification - people from a plane can't see this and it will not stand the test of time -but I have decorated my fireplace with my 'bright lights', which I think are beautiful.  I thought this candelabra was a great addition for the house since the fireplaces are no longer functional.

 I am Suzy Homemaker - see me shine!

Can't Escape the Snakes!

Okay - I really am believing I live on a snake bed at this point.

I raked up leaves a month or 3 ago, but never quite got around to bagging them - we still had leaves falling and blowing around - so what was the point?  Then we got rain so I didn't want to bag wet leaves... and let me honest with myself here - I just didn't want to bag them but was unwilling to pay someone else to do it.

So finally, the weather has gotten nicer and I was going to start having spring cookouts - so the leaves had to go.  Now, if you recall, the last time I raked leaves, I raked up a snake - still alive.  It gives you this paranoia about raking leaves.  But, I had on my big girl panties and my thick gloves, so I was committed.

Tim opted for the manly way, bare hands and elbows deep into the leaf piles.  I cautioned him about snakes and he informed them that they would be hibernating and that they generally hibernated in large groups - so we would know by the first scoop.  I am still not sure if that was true... and I don't know if it was more calming to think we would definitely know if there were snakes or more terrifying to think that there could be multiple to deal with if they were hibernating in my piles.

So we approach the last pile.  He start scooping and I spot one.  That is right - there is a snake in my leaf pile again! It looks dead, but then again I have never seen a hibernating snake and I don't want to take chances.  We scoop it onto the rake and take it to the sidewalk.  As much as I am not cool with snakes, I wanted to see it more closely.  It didn't seem to move - but was in perfect condition - no indication of death.

We poked at it like little kids on the beach with a jellyfish.  Maybe it slightly moved.  Maybe it was my mind playing tricks.  Either way, it got a brick to the head.

We tossed it and I went back to bagging leaves with my gloved hands.  Tim opted to use the rake.

I am Suzy Homemaker, snake wrangler.

So Fresh and So Cheap Clean!

Pinterest fever has struck the nation and I have a bad case of it!  It is a DIYer's dreamland.  I mainly started with recipes because it was around the holidays.  I made amazing homemade Almond Joys and an awesome Butterfinger pie.  Breakfast casseroles, salads, you name it - there is a recipe for it.

Then, I moved over to the DIY/crafts page - and hit the jackpot!  First, I made my own Febreze.  With the real stuff costing around $5 a bottle, I was ready and willing for a cheaper alternative.

You need 4 things:
1.  a big spray bottle (I used my latest empty Febreze bottle)
2. 1/8 cup of liquid fabric softener
3. 2 tbsp of baking soda
4. hot water

Just add the fabric softener and baking soda then fill the rest of the bottle with hot water and shake.  I have used this on my curtains, furniture and clothes.  No residue, no damage - only freshness!  Besides how cheap this stuff is to make - I love that you can decide what scent you want - you get to pick out the fabric softener.

Okay - now my current obsession - Homemade Laundry Detergent!!  Now, this one takes a bit more effort than Febreze.  You will need the following:

Required: 1 box of Borax, I box of Washing Soda, 4 lbs of Baking Soda, 25-30 oz of Fels Naptha bar soap
Optional: 3 lbs of Oxy clean or the like, 1-2 bottles of dry fabric softener (Purex Crystals)
Tools and et cetera: Grader, huge bucket - preferably with a lid

Attention all shoppers - I could only find all of these ingredients at the grocery store - I could not find the soap or washing soda at Target.  That being said, if you are going to add Purex and the Oxy Clean - unless they are on sale, it is usually a dollar or two cheaper to get these at Target or Walmart.  And as you see from the photo - I don't care about brands - so I often use the generic if possible.

Once you have everything - grade your cheese soap - it definitely looks like cheese, but is more of a pain to grade.  Use the fine grader to keep the soap pieces small.  It took me about an hour to grade all of the soaps.  This is the hardest part.

Next (and finally) mix everything together.  2 notes about this - I would mix it outside if possible - there will be dust and I can't imagine that it is good to inhale that stuff.  Next - I would layer - pouring parts of everything in so that mixing is easier.  Once everything is in - mix it up.  I found having a lid and just shaking the bucket was easier than trying to mix it by spoon.

You are done.  Start washing your clothes - they are going to smell wonderful and be just as clean as the stuff you pay an arm and a leg for.

It only takes about 2 tbsp of this stuff to wash a load of clothes.  I have washed it with all blacks in cold/cold and it left no residue.  Now, I will start the water and add the detergent then add the clothes - but I have always started laundry this way.

You will see that this recipe makes several pounds of detergent.  Cost-wise, I spent less than $20 on everything to make it.  At 2 tbsp a load and 1-3 loads a week - this stuff could last me nearly a year (if I wasn't giving out samples to all of my friends to try).

So, if you are interested but want to try it out first - let me know - I will give you a "sample"!

I am Suzy Homemaker - keepin' it clean!

New Appreciation for My Maid

Okay, so I don't have a maid.  At times I definitely wish I had one.  Keeping my apartment clean when I had one was not a huge deal, so I didn't think my small house would be much more.  I was very wrong.

As a child, my mom would constantly tell my brother and I that "she was not our maid".  Every weekend we would have certain chores so that the house could be cleaned every week.  I never understood this - the house was not constantly dirty - why were we always cleaning?!

Now I know.  The house was dirty - but I didn't see it as a child or as a teenager.  Maybe I didn't see it in my apartment because it wasn't my own.  Now that I have a place that I am responsible, I see every piece of dirt, every speck of dust, every blemish on and within my house. 

Even when I travel all week, I still have to clean my house on the weekend.  How does it get dirty when nothing is happening?  No children, no parties, yet dust and dirty accumulate everywhere!  Now, I am my own maid.

Life can be messy at times- it is only fitting that my house is too. 

Coming Home

I often travel for work.  I enjoy "coming home" now that I actually get to come to my own home - not some apartment - where I always felt like a visitor waiting on the next place to move to or struggling to find a real home to call my own. 

It is great to drive up and see "my house" - I guess the newness hasn't worn off even after a few mortgage payments, a lockout, a busted pipe and a few wild snakes.

This has been an especially long week (traveling coast to coast every week has begun to wear on me) and I was especially eager to get home tonight - and especially since it was midnight.  Instead of whipping into my driveway - I get cars - cars everywhere - cars blocking my house and my drive and no sign of anyone. 

I always try to be sensitive when I street park - to make sure that I don't park illegally - including blocking driving or by fire hydrants.  Apparently, this is not a concern everyone has.

Unfortunately, this story does not have a fun ending - there was no surprise welcome home party for me (which would have made a better story).  Instead I got to park up the street, haul my luggage into the house and be greeted only by my 2 cats and you get to read my complaints.  Coming home is still leagues better than going to the hotel!

Welcome home and welcome to city living.