Oil spill- send help

Dear loyal readers and super homemakers,

I need your help. A while ago, I'm thinking three weeks now *embarrassed to admit that*, I knocked a bottle of safflower oil off the top shelf in my pantry and when it hit the floor the lid cracked, and before I could stop it, about two cups of oil was everywhere. Being so long ago, I can't recall the details to why I couldn't clean it up "properly" but nevertheless, I made a few bad choices.

Bad choice #1- I yelled to Gabbers bring me two cloth diapers. I was thinking I didn't want to be wasteful and anti-green and use a whole roll of paper towels. Then I asked Gabbers to bring me two more cloth diapers. This was a lot of oil.

Bad choice #2- I did NOT clean up the rest of the oil immediately. In fact, I didn't even finish cleaning up the oil-soaked cloth diapers. I just left them there. For whatever reason I still cannot remember.

Bad choice #3- I forgot to tell Danny when he tossed in a load of towels to keep these cloth diapers separate from everything else.

When the four oil-soaked cloth diapers were no longer in the pantry, I forgot about the oil mess.

Now some evil consequences I am faced with that I need some advice on.

We washed that load of towels on hot with distilled white vinegar approximately 9,238 times. My plushy natural white bathmat (yes the one mentioned here) must've been in the original load. Unfortunately, after the load had only been washed about three times, it went through the dryer.

I've bleached that load a couple times. And still the oil smell permeates the bathmat, every white bath towel we own, and four cloth diapers. Can it EVER come out?

My other dilemma, which I find even more frustrating, is the oil in the pantry splashed onto the bread machines. Now the bread machines and the pantry floor have this sticky oil on them that will NOT budge. I even tried using one of those brown Pampered Chef nylon pan scrapers and VERY hot soapy water.

Please help. :(

WFMW Peanut Butter jar uses

At our base commissary, the 18 oz. Jif peanut butter is usually the cheapest per ounce. So that is the size we have always bought while living here.

This little jar is so handy for holding crayons after the crayon box won't hold the shape anymore.

It's just the right size for a bank- and the bonus is it's see-through and motivating to see all the pennies saved.

You can make "I spy" kits with them and super glue the lid shut.

Store honey. This Fall we bought raw local honey in bulk (150 lbs.) and I've found that these are better for refilling versus our old honey bottle and bear- because they have foil on them and can't go in the microwave. Here in the Frozen North, the honey is constantly thickened to the point of not being able to squeeze the honey bottle/bear. So, we use the cleaned out peanut butter jars and can microwave if we want, or just spoon out the right amount. VERY convenient.

Store stickers and other little odds and ends that five year old girls love to collect.

Store a comb and a package of ponytail holders or scrunchies.

I'm in love with these handy little jars. They definitely work for me. For a myriad of good ideas, visit the Works for Me Wednesday carnival at http://www.rocksinmydryer.net/

Thanks for stopping by!

Some WFMW oldies but goodies:

Cake Box Cookies
ALL OUT Valentine's Day
Mommy Store disciplining lifesaver
No ironing necessary

Two truths and a lie

Pop-tarts are the epitome of gross shelf-stable food.

It would be better for all parties involved if I did not babysit while pregnant.

I will tell your four year old that they are being rude and expect an apology if they exclaim loudly in regards to my nicely prepared food, "That's gross! I don't like that."

Which is the lie?

Answer: The last one. But it was a trick question. The part where it says "I will tell" should actually say, "I will yell at". Yeah, see truth number two. It would be better for all parties involved if I did not babysit while pregnant.

Kiddie Kwip good news

January 19, 2009: Bun (3 1/2 years) after falling down the basement steps while following me to laundry room, "I'm okay! I fell down, but I didn't turn into a skeleton! I'm okay! I'm not a Bun-bun skeleton! See Mommy?"

baking the nausea away

Today, all day long, I fought little waves of nausea- 20 to 30 second waves (some longer). I found that the smell of baking bread soothed my stomach. Who'd a thunk it? I baked 5 large loaves. Then I made a bunch of bread kits. It turns out the smell of bread toasting was also soothing. I had about 4 pieces of toast today. =P I couldn't let those four pieces of toast go to waste; although, it's not very frugal to toast just one at a time to continue the soothing smell.

Random Pic

Or not so random?

Pretend that bun is more like the size of an apple seed. Ahh that looks good. Who puts a frosted cinnamon roll on a plate in the oven anyway? Come to think of it, who has an oven that sparkly too? Carol Brady? I need Alice to move in with me. Maybe that's her secret to sparkling ovens.

No crunching for comments.

Due to technical difficulties, "crunching for comments" will be added back to my blog in September. ;) But your comments are always welcome. Well, except that one lady that left that one comment that one time. Her comments aren't welcome.

Apron supplies

I forgot the bias tape. As soon as I find my ribbon, which I used last time to make kid aprons, I will make an easy walk-through of how to make them.

Here are the basic supplies if you want to gather them:

kitchen hand towel (for the apron body)
ribbon or bias tape (for the ties)
scissors
sewing machine

If you can cut a straight line and sew a straight line- you can make this apron. Details later. Maybe even today! hahaha

WFMW- kitchen towels storage

You know how when you get a great idea you want to share it? Well, I had a BRILLIANT idea that has worked for us. Come to find out, other people have the same idea too. haha But I'll share it anyway- because we are loving how simple and easy it is.

We keep our kitchen dish towels and our kitchen washcloths under the kitchen sink.

Why?

Easier access where we need them most.

We don't keep cleaning supplies underthere.

We don't have enough drawer or shelf space.

Ham is not interested in hauling them off. So they are safe there.

The kids know where they go when helping to put laundry away.

It's very simple, and yet very handy for us. But if we were to have a pipe burst, that would be another story. ;)

Tune in tomorrow for dish towel kid aprons. SOOOO easy and cute!

Dear Journal, sorry about yesterday.

Dear Journal,

Once, when I was the secretary in Young Women's (at church), we had a lesson on gratefulness. I recall this lesson quite vividly because whoever taught- and I honestly can't remember, had a list of ways to see the gratitude in every situation. Right off, Neighbor Jane Payne comes to mind. She's just one of those people who is happy and positive, and grateful, and thinks before she speaks. Anyways, I digress, in the list I remember one thing being, "I am grateful my husband leaves his socks laying around the house- because this means I HAVE a husband." And of course, I can't remember the other things to share. But they were like, "I'm grateful I'm 5 or 10 or 20 or (ahem *cough* 70 *cough*) pounds over-weight, because this means I have enough food to eat and don't go hungry.

It was a ridiculous list but very effective in teaching gratefulness- and not whining.

I am grateful to be living in a sub-human zero climate so that our school district feels the need to send a bus to every child's house to pick them up for school.

I am grateful that they sent a list describing the exact minute the bus would arrive and leave. 8:41 arrive, 8:42 depart.

I am grateful for people who make New Year's Resolutions including the bus driver who I am SURE decided she would never be late again. That's a good goal. Really. And one of my goals too this year. She (bus driver) was early today. She came during that minute that I was crouched down helping Pookie put his boots back on. And she was gone before I knew she even came.

I am grateful for kind and patient staff at my son's elementary school. They were very patient with me when I called and said, "Do we have late start today for school? Cuz the bus should've been here 14 minutes ago." Christy replied, "Well the roads are a little bad. Perhaps they're a little behind." I said, "Okay, we'll just watch for it. Thank you so much."

I am grateful for a patient and obedient husband. hehe When I called him at 9:20 a.m. and said, "The number to Pookie's school is ______ please call and ask them if the bus is still coming," he did.

I am grateful for Christy at the school who when I called and said, "I'm still waiting for the bus. We have been looking out the window since 10 minutes BEFORE the scheduled time." Christy said, "All the buses have arrived. Here's the number for transportation. You can call and ask them what happened."

I am grateful that transportation didn't pick up the phone when I called in tears, so upset that Pookie was going to be considered tardy- and still not knowing we had missed the bus. And I'm grateful for answering machines- though not for the message I left. It was hasty-sounding and I'm sure my voice was raised.

I am grateful for the next-door neighbor who even though I knocked on the door until she got out of the shower, answered it kindly and explained the bus arrived at 8:39 a.m. today.

I am grateful for the several inches of snow I had to shovel off the van today. At least we aren't having a drought.

I am grateful that all my children have coats and boots to where.

I am grateful that all my kids were excited to go out in the fun snow to take Pookie to school.

I am grateful for Danny's massive boots that I wore into school looking like "that mom" with all "those kids" as I signed Pookie into the office. Otherwise, my feet would not be with me now.

I am SO grateful they didn't make Pookie feel bad for being late.

I am grateful I had all the kids packed in the van- because then I was prepared to go to the commissary.

I am grateful the transportation office still didn't pick up their phone when I called with an apology about the previous message.

And half-way to the commissary I thought of Susan saying to turn on all the lights- let the light in! I cried tears of joy, because through what I thought was an insane morning so far- I got sunlight streaming through the tears and I felt better.

When I took the groceries in the house and came back out, I had a lapse of memory and forgot we had a step. Maybe it was because of the snow as high as it- whatever the case...

I am grateful I stepped right off that step not remembering it was there and jarring my back a little, because I CAN walk, and I have a healthy strong back that has since forgiven me.

And still forgetting I was wearing mammoth mountain-man boots making me taller, and that the snow packed under my feet was also making me taller...

I am grateful I smacked my head on the open door of the van while taking out groceries, because it knocked some sense into me.

I have groceries! I am so grateful to have them. This could've been an awful day. The bus could've been on time (haha not early) when we looked. And I might not EVER have left the house. And had all these aha! moments.

Thanks for listening Journal. ;)

Nikki

P.S. And I am grateful that BOTH underwires quit their job today and came out of my bra. They were uncomfortable anyway.

ugh

Dear Journal,

It wasn't until I was diagnosed with post-partum depression after Bun was born, that I realized I must've had it after Gabbers too.

Maybe I'm thinking about this all because the glimmer and glitter of the holiday season is behind us, and there's still several feet of snow, but I think I'm depressed. And I think I have been for at least the month of December.

Last night I cried and cried because I feel like a failure as a mother, as a sister, as a friend, as a visiting teacher, and as a primary chorister. I feel like I've let everyone down. We missed church nearly the entire month of December due to sick kids and half of November. Last minute nearly EVERY Sunday, I've called my sweet friend Jill and asked her to pick up the sacrament bread to get it to church on time. She always does and so kindly.

I only had one sister to visit teach the month of December- and I didn't get around to it. I had a message and a gift for her- and I just never called.

My kids are acting whacko because they need more attention, structure, routine, family scripture, etc. At least we're still having family prayer.

When Danny's grandma passed away last week, I cried for about an hour straight. I felt so guilty that I didn't say good-bye. I didn't even make a call in time. Today is her funeral, and I'm 1000 miles away.

I haven't taken the Christmas tree down. I don't know if it's laziness, business, or just because I don't want to let go of a season I didn't really enjoy.

I am sad Journal. Why do you only get these kind of entries?

Nikki