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Review: Downy Unstoppables

In my recent quest to save money and (gasp) go green I have joined many websites and acquired a few freebies. Although I do not keep up with this blog like I should one of my freebies came with a request that I give a review on my blog so here goes! About a month ago (I'm such a procrastinator) I received an unsolicited freebie via Vocal Point let me be real honest here I haven't quite figured out what Vocal point is all about but I'm learning as I go. Anyway, they sent me a bottle of Downy's in wash sent booster, Unstoppables.

Since I started doing my own laundry in college I have tried multiple ways to get my laundry smelling wonderful with fabric softener, even using liquid and dryer sheets for one load (what a money waster). I loved to smell my clothes after they were freshly laundered and to me that sweet smell meant they were clean. I really wish this product would have come out a long time ago because I would have been my favorite laundry product!
So here are a few questions and answers I created that I thought would help me in the buying process:
Q: How does it work?
A: Take off the cap and fill it to your desired strength and toss it into the wash....
Q: Will it stain your clothes?
A: I haven't found any evidence of it.
Q: Does it smell good?
A: Yes, it has a nice scent.
Q: Does the scent linger?
A: Yes, I found a towel I washed with it 2wks later still had the scent.
Q: Would you recommend it to others?
A: Yes.

Now, in the spirit of full disclosure, I decided against using the product anymore. I did use it for several loads so I could give a good review. Why? Well, a few months ago I stopped using fabric softener. (altogether) Instead I use vinegar to keep my clothes static free and soft. I have gotten so used to my clothes having no scent at all that adding sent back to them was a bit of a turn off. While they smell wonderful I just feel my clothes don't need to have a smell. I hope those of you who still like your clothes to have a smell can enjoy this product though! :) 

Back in action

I haven't been very good at this blogging thing but it's about time I get back in action. If for no other reason because I have been requesting all kinds of freebies online and some of them request that you blog about the things they send you so I guess I better fowllow through.

I have spent the last several months trying to find ways of saving money including "going green" (a little bit), couponing (yeah I got one of those crazy binders, but I've never seen that extreamem couponig show--we don't have cable), requesting free stuff, and cutting corners where I never thought I'd cut before. More on all of that to come.

I always get so excited when more free stuff comes in the mail. I guess I'm gonna hafta start taking pics of it and posting it on here. ;) 

Peanut, peanut butter... and Jelly!

Friday Ryan was home from school because of snow... again. I joked with him that morning that since he was home he was gonna have to earn his way by fixing lunch. I was teasing. Really. I was. I figured he's say "awe moooooommmm!" and we'd be done with it. Nope. He apparently thought about this ALL morning. So when my mom was ready to take us to lunch he freaked! He tried to convince her he was "cooking", she tried to convince him I was joking. I finally had to agree to allow him to make himself a PB&J before we left. So Saturday, Daddy and I told him this time he could really make lunch. He's such a sweetie. He put a lotta love in to those PB&J's. I do believe they are the best I've ever eaten. :)

I just love his face in this one. ;)

"As you make your bed, so you must lie in it."-- English Proverb

If you know me you know I'm a little (ahem) unorganized, absent-minded and I procrastinate a little a lot. My bed is rarely never (lets be honest) made, like EVER. Oh sure when I first moved in here, with a new start I vowed to make the bed every morning and I did a pretty good job.... for a week or two. Even the encouragement of my Mom and grandma wasn't enough to keep me on it. Let's be real here... the bed sleeps the same either way. But last week with the influence of pseudoephedrine due to this nasty sinus gunk I hit new levels of organizing and cleaning, even sonic the hedge hog would've wondered what that blur was. During my rampage of medically induced OCD I also started making my bed every morning before I went downstairs for the day. Today I realized I have been doing it for a week (sans the meds)! WOOOO HOOOO! A WHOLE FREAKIN' WEEK! GO ME!!! :)

You'll have to excuse the quality I took it with my phone.
Yes, it's silly but this is an accomplishment for me! :) Here's to another week, or at least... tomorrow. ;)

I've got nuttin!

I have totally lost my blogger go go juice. I've. got. nuttin. I can't think of anything to write about. Maybe I should start that 30 day challenge but I know I won't have a chance to get on EVERYDAY and blog. It just doesn't happen 'round here. I thought about doing a bulleted list of things about me but I can't seem to think of very many interesting facts to disclose. So since I've got writers block I'm sharing a cutsie pic of Ryan and his Daddy reading last night before bed.

Respect.... back on my soapbox!

You may have heard or read in the news that a particular church group has been protesting Military funerals. This has disturbed me for some time but I've kinda put it into the back of my mind. I try to go about life with a "live and let live" kind of attitude, but today I was appalled when I read an article about this group of church goers who are now planning on protesting a CHILD'S funeral! You can read the article here from Fox news.

This really makes me sad. No, not sad, it makes me sick to my stomach! To think that it is appropriate to interrupt the laying to rest of anyone is a travesty but to believe it is ok to picket at the funeral of a 9 year old little girl is an outrage in my opinion! Regardless of how you feel about the deceased or the reasons for their death it is just wrong to put their family through more pain in order to excel your political/religious agendas. I am heart broken for this family due to their loss. I am enraged for this family because rather than mourning their loss they must be concerned with heartless individuals trampling the ground where she will be layed to rest.

Lawmakers in Arizona are trying to push a law through that will prohibit picketers from being within 300 ft of the ceremony.... Bless them! Groups of bikers are planning on being there in order to keep peace and a distance between the mourners and picketers... Bless them! There are petitions going around asking for others to come and make a human chain around those who are mourning the loss of their loved one at this funeral... Bess them!

Some may say that the law that has been proposed is the first step in taking away our freedom of speech. Well, I think it is a monumental step in promoting RESPECT to those who have passed and those who are mourning. Where I come from you show respect to the departed. When I drive down the road and see a funeral procession I make a point to pull over and turn off the radio out of respect.

I just cannot understand how picketing at a 9 year old girls funeral is appropriate in any way. They hide behind their God (who I'm pretty sure is not the same God the majority of American's acknowledge) and justify their actions as bringing awareness or whatever to the American people. Who are they kidding? No God I've ever heard of would appreciate picketing at such a delicate moment to so many. Although I would not condone it, I might be able to understand the rational if the picketing were say... at the funeral of a serial killer or rapist, but it still would not accomplish anything. I just cannot seem to wrap my head around this way of thinking. Bless those helping out and pray for those who are hurting so many.

Ok, I'll get off my soapbox now, what do you think about this? Maybe someone can help me understand.

To read or not to read....

My little bugger is reading. Well this isn't really a new revelation... he's been reading since about the second week of school and he's pretty good at it... when he wants to be. We have a few... shall we say bumps in the road in this journey. Apparently the days of hooked on phonics are gone. It may have been a joke growing up but seriously, a version of the program "worked for me". I understand it doesn't work for EVERYONE. I also know that not every word can be decoded by using phonics but I do tend to miss those days.
Ryan is learning how to sound words out and he's got the hang of it (when he wants to). I've determined he is a lot smarter than he wants us to know. How can he be smart enough to play dumb when he's this young? It baffles me. Anyway I'm getting off track here. The "big" learning tool this year for him seems to be looking at the picture. First we are told to look at the picture, then he's supposed to tell us what he thinks the picture is talking about, then he is to attempt to read it. Here the problem that arises... instead of reading "Susie is sees a cat" he "reads" "that girl is looking out the window at the cat." Sooo (shame shame) Mommy and Daddy have skipped the "what do you think the picture is telling us" part of the lesson and going strait to "read it". Which works out fine until he sees a word he's not confident about then a picture with a the lines "I can make a picture out of sand" becomes: "I can make a picture out of glitter? glue? shiny stuff?" Get the idea? He looks for the picture to give him the answer instead of READING the word. It makes me wonder how many times he's just guessed the word instead of seriously trying to figure it out.
I know he's a smart kid. I'm pretty sure the teachers and staff at his school are completely qualified to teach him how to read and that the methods they are using are appropriate for his age. (After all, the only ones trying to teach me to read in Kindergarten were my parents so I'm sure methods have changed) I'm confident he will learn to read as long as we work with him. I'll hop off my soapbox now. :) Happy reading.

I guess I lost my mojo

I've been away too long. Part of it was because of Christmas. I was spending so much time with the kiddos and family that I didn't take the time to blog. Then the something awful happened.... on new year's eve I was robbed of some very sentimental pieces of jewelry. :( I have literally thrown myself into the detective work it is going to take to help the police find the guy who did it all the while knowing I probably won't see the precious pieces of jewelry my Daddy gave me. I'm dealing with it a lot better today. I have decided that just because something bad happened (before the ball dropped mind you) on New Years doesn't mean I will have a bad year. In fact this is going to be a good year, a great year even! I will not let the actions of another bring me down.

Merry (late) Christmas

Well, I've been away from blooger-verse for a few days because of Christmas and I've been under the weather. The family and I had a WONDERFUL Christmas. :) I wish I felt like writing about it but instead I'm going to share a few photos. Hopefully I'll be feeling better soon. Until then I'm gonna cuddle up with my new Colts snuggie (thanks to Momma Deb and Danny) and a Sunkist and veg out for a while.

First up is Christmas Eve @ Meme's (My Mom's):

KK and Ryan making piggies in a blanket

The boy's eating (Alan, Tristin and Ryan). I think T was trying to feed his eye.

Meme reading the Christmas story from the Bible

The Boys

The Ladies

Holy Christmas paper batman.... it's THE BAT CAVE!!!!

Next was Christmas Morning at home:

SANTA CAME!!!

Police man stuff

 

My personal favorite.... a trunk with iron man, spider man and wolverine costumes!

Daddy Clause

Yay! Ben10 shirts!

and they match... good luck convincing strangers they aren't twins!

oh yeah. the cowboy is in

Ironman Ryan

Ironman Tristin

Watch out bad guys! Tristin is on duty!

I LOVE my family! <3

That would be wolverine!

Nothing brings brothers together like the batcave!

Finally we were off to Nana and Papa's (Matt's mom and step-dad):

You have no idea how hard it was to get the close enough to take this picture.

ixl! no more asking for a dsi! This thing is AWESOME!

..... the best part? Nana and Papa got one for both boys! yippie!

The theme of the night for the adults was: "You must be cold". lol Matt, Jake, Uncle Rick and I all got NFL snuggies!!! I love mine! It's soooo fuzzy! :)

Brothers:)

 As you can see we had a great Christmas. The best part by far was spending it together! I hope everyone out there in blogger-verse had a wonderful Christmas as well! (Now is it time for spring??? JOKING... well maybe a little bit)

Kristmas Kindness

I really wanted the kids to do something giving for Christmas instead of simply receiving. So this afternoon my mom (Meme), the boys, and I set out to my grandmother, Memaw's, assisted living home with homemade cookies. We played bingo, drink eggnog and passed out the cookies to some of the residents. The boys thought it was pretty fun and let me tell ya, those ladies that showed up to play thought the boys were something else. Ryan approached each one as they were sitting down and said "Merry Christmas, would you like a cookie and some eggnog?" Mostly Tristin ran around and looked cute. Ever once in a while he'd run up to someone, cookie in hand and hollar "here, you want a cookie?!" Too cute! We had lots of fun socializing and playing bingo.

How mischievous is that? Double Dennis The Mennis?

Offering Memaw a Cookie

Yum.

They thought they were slick didn't they? I honestly
lost track of how many cookies they ate. I could regret this...

Ryan playing Bingo

I'm not sure if he's excited because he got one or pray that he'll get one

Patiently waiting for a number to be called

This boy was busy. He helped TWO people cover their boards!

In other news: we baked cookies the first few days of the week. And by "we" I mean me, other than one batch.

Making peanut butter blossoms, my second favorite cookie.

I can assure you we've got more sweets than we know what to do with. And then Memaw gives me carmel apples with dark chocolate chips on them.... This is insanely sinful!

OMG! I'm pretty sure 5lbs is not gonna be all I'm gonna gain instead of loose this season.

Politically Incorrect

Happy Holidays! I hear so much ranting and raving this time of year about the correct way to wish someone a pleasant time during this season. So many people get bent out of shape when someone says "Happy Holiday's". Meanwhile others get upset when someone tells them "Merry Christmas" because they do not believe in Christ. Well, I say to each their own! Darnit! I usually say "Happy Holiday's". It's not in A-N-Y-W-A-Y because I'm afraid I am going to offend someone who does not believe in Christ. I say it because I like having a quick short and sweet way of saying "Merry Christmas and Happy New Year". So if I wish you a happy holiday, I truly hope it doesn't offend you, but if it does, that is your own fault for allowing yourself to be upset about it. That being said, if I was speaking to someone who I knew didn't celebrate Christmas but instead celebrated only Hanukkah, I might be inclined to say "Happy Hanukkah", although I do believe Hanukkah is over now. Really is it wrong of me to change my greeting to be accommodate someone else? I defiantly do not say it to try to be politically correct. I believe it is a nice gesture.

It is necessary to co-exists no matter what your religious beliefs. These days many people who are not Christians celebrate the Santa side of Christmas with a tree and decorations. Did you know that he Christmas tree was used in Pagan celebrations before Christianity decided that Christ's Birthday should be celebrated on December 25th? Yep. The Christmas tree and Santa have a way of bringing together many different "religious" people as well as those who lack a religion all together. Rather than fussing about who celebrates what and how they wish others merriment maybe we can all just come together and celebrate life, love, family, friendships and our own personal beliefs all together. Believe it or not Santa doesn't care what your religious background is. For one day out of the year, everyone can together celebrate good will toward men, family and friends.

Now, I am in no way condoning taking "Christ" out of Christmas... but I also don't want the fight to keep the name intact to take kindness toward our fellow man out of Christmas either. Each of us have a special reason for celebrating Christmas or other winter Holidays this December, for some it is the birth of Jesus Christ, for other's it is simply a time to celebrate Family, Santa, love, joy, kindness ect. Why should we burst other people's bubbles? Happy whatever you celebrate. Let’s all just get along and enjoy the Winter Holidays. We have a Christmas tree and celebrate Christmas, in my house. If you have a Holiday Tree and Celebrate Santa that's fine with me too.

I think I'll step off my  soapbox now.

Merry Christmas, Happy (Belated) Hanukkah, Pleasant Yule, Happy Kwanzaa, Ho! Ho! Ho!, Happy New Year and please forgive me if I left out your holiday greeting.

Quicky

Just a quick note today since I've been a little absent. There's a million and one things going on in this Crazy household so we're gonna keep it short and sweet today.

Ryan and Tristin with their gifts when visiting Santa:

Ho. Ho. Ho. Merry Christmas!

Slickery Days

Well Friday was another snow day and Ryan and I very much enjoyed each other's company. We actually enjoyed each other's company all week. I didn't get as much done around the house as I normally would have with Ryan at school but that's ok because we had such a great time bonding! When we went outside Friday to "ice skate" again there was a light dusting of snow so it wasn't slickery anymore. That's ok though. Ryan's neighborhood buddie came over and the two of them swept a skating rink off in the parking lot and a strip of sidewalk. They had a blast running and sliding. :)

After all the cold weather the boys came inside for some hot chocolate and video games. Not long into the game time I heard Ryan say "Hey, lets go play with my toys!" Ahhhh! My heart be still. I was stoked! I couldn't believe my ears. I thought about sneaking up there and taking a pic to prove it but then decided if I did I might jinx it. So you'll have to use your imaginations. :) 

Speaking of how AWESOME Ryan is... he can count to 100. And I'm not just talkin' "1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100". All the way to 100. Actually he can count to 110, but then he says 1,000..... 100,000. He thinks he can count to 100,000. I've tried to explain that's not how ya do it but I was the one that taught him "1, 2, skip a few, 99, 100" soooo I suppose it's kinda my fault.

We wrapped Friday up by going to get Tristin. It makes my heart so happy to have both them and Matt all under one roof. I'm so excited for Christmas this year. It will be the first we've all woken up on Christmas morning together. :)

Wowsers, they had some crazy eyes goin on this morning for breakfast! And they weren't even eating fruit loops.

After breakfast we went to get Ryan registered for Basketball, an early Christmas gift from Memaw. Then headed to Lowe's to finish Ryan's 3 part train project. Today they made an engine so it wasn't a big deal that T-man didn't have the rest of the pieces made.

Setting up

Ready to hammer

parts everywhere

Hammering away

tap tap tap

that's some serious concentration

cock your head to the left it works better ;)

I think Tristin thought he was making a gun?

The Finished Project

Judging by the pictures, Lowe's musta been the highlight of our day. :)