Q & A

I was hoping to do a post on what on earth the whole "go for the GOLD" daily schedule actually is (click that link or check the tab above as I did expand it quite a bit for you this morning!), but it was brought to my attention that some of you might have some questions for me.

So, if you do happen to have any questions, fire away! Ask as many questions as you please. Don't worry about me thinking your question is silly or stupid. Sometimes it's okay to ask those sorts of questions, anyway - especially if you really want to know the answers to them!!! I will do my best, either in the comment section of this post, or maybe even in a Q & A Part II post, to answer every. single. question. Be fair, though, please! Only PMB related questions allowed!

This should be fun. (I hope...)

For those of you who have absolutely NO questions about Project Mulberry Bush, here is some eye candy for you...

A pretty pair, indeed. This apron and matching gloves can be found here.

Today is laundry day. I got a head start late last night (I can't remember if I got through three or four full loads...), so I may actually get to all of the bathroom rugs, towels, and bedding today, too! Which would simply be miraculous, wouldn't it?

Blessings, Susan

Which is it?

Regarding the welcoming in of yet another new month (are you also in shock that it's February already?!?) as well as the start of another week, my question for you is this:

Do you think on these quick as a whip time flying flash of months of the year and days of the week as a harsh and vicious circles, or simply as more and more opportunities in which to "get it right"?

For me, I say with confidence, "It's definitely simply the blessing of more opportunities to get it right!" Though when I'm feeling grumpy, I do admit that I can inwardly complain that these things can feel like vicious circles. I hope that you can also feel with confidence that these are the blessing of more opportunities to get things right.

And so it is with a smile that I say "hello!" to February of 2010 - the only February we'll have this year, and don't you forget it! - as well as to yet another Monday - which for me (and you, too, if you are trying to follow the PMB schedule found in the column to the right) means a serious laundry day.

May you do something amazing with your Monday, and your February! Here are some quotes on beginnings that I hope you find motivational - whatever your goal may be!

"You will never win if you never begin." ~ Helen Rowland

"Every day is a fresh beginning, Every morn is the world made new" ~ Sarah Chauncey Woolsey

"The journey of a thousand leagues begins with a single step. So we must never neglect any work of peace within our reach, however small." ~ Adlai E. Stevenson

Blessings,
Susan

Just a little reminder to use your time ironing wisely

lovely ironing image found here
where a post about who irons and who doesn't was actually conducted!

(A Poem by Nan Keltie found here)

I can almost see her ironing oh-so-many years ago,
A laundry basket parked nearby, she's listening to the radio.

Her handy water bottle had a stopper-cap with holes,
She always sprinkled every piece before she pressed our clothes.

If ironing unlocks wrinkles, then my Mama was the key!
Our ruffled dresses came out crisp, and shirts were wrinkle-free.

I loved to watch my mother as she did this "work of art," Both hands busy, pressing, turning, smoothing every part.

I yearned to do it just like that, and begged to try that day,
So Mama gave me handkerchiefs and taught me the right way.

I soon moved up to Daddy's T-shirts, pillowcases, too,
We ironed everything back then; it was the thing to do.

My Mama's work of ironing was her way of loving us,
She did it with a joyful heart; we never heard her fuss.

Her old ironing board survived, though it has lost its pad.
It represents those years ago - the simpler life we had.

Back then when life was focused on your home and people there,
I think when Mama ironed for us, she prayed this little prayer:

"Dear Lord, I'm pressing clothes again! I know you will not mind,
There's something special I must ask. Would You please be so kind,

To bless our family of eight? I love each one, you see,
And ironing is my time for prayer, it works out perfectly."

I'm thankful for these memories, how Mama cared for us!
She did it with a joyful heart; I never heard her fuss.

After reading this poem this morning, I thought it would be nice to share it with you. I just love the heart of Nan's mother! What a woman! Ironing is one of my least favorite things to do - though I do love the outcome! - and this poem is a good reminder that time spent ironing can (and should) be used for so much more than simply ironing out wrinkles.

The last six stanzas are my favorite! I love that she irons with a joyful heart and never fusses. I love that her children know that she does this tedious chore out of love for them. I love the line that says, "Back then when life was focused on your home and people there." I love that this mother uses her time ironing to pray for her family of eight!!! (I try so hard to do this, too, and it works so much better at 6am, let me tell you!)

Whether you do your ironing on Tuesdays or any day, I hope that you find joy in your work, and that you do it with the right perspective. And I hope that you, too, will use this time for so much more than simply getting those wrinkly items pressed to perfection.

Blessings, Susan

A bit of laundry day fun

A long time ago, I'm not sure how many years, I somehow came across this video that made me scratch my head a bit, but ultimately be pretty gosh darn amazed. I'm certain that I must have said, "Wow!" or "How did she do that?!?" or most likely both reactions came out of my mouth.

While I do not fold any of the tees in this house this way (most of ours are hung in our closets), I do remember having to figure out how to do something similar to this during my days as a Charlotte Russe cashier and that involved a clipboard-like tool - far too complicated and clearly unnecessary if you know this simple pinch and fold trick.

Anyway. This video (you have to watch it via that link because the video could not be embedded here) is much easier to understand (not only is it in English, but it is done in a step by step fashion). Perhaps you will enjoy folding your laundry this way.

Fitted sheet image found here.

My all-time favorite laundry folding trick is still from Martha Stewart, though. I am pretty sure I discovered this sometime during the first year of my marriage. I could be wrong, though. In my book, she totally wins with this one!!!

Happy laundry day!

Blessings, Susan

"Try It Tuesday"

How about something new? (And forget the fact that this entire blog is new!) I'm going to call Tuesdays "Try It Tuesdays". At least for today. Ha ha ha.

When my first child was born, I was able to use whatever in the world I wanted to use during bath times, for washing his laundry, for cleaning my home... I figured I'd had it totally made with a kid who it seemed couldn't be in any way bothered with allergic reactions to anything, and so on.

However, when my second little boy was born, my world turned upside down. His precious baby skin, which was much lighter in complexion and seemingly thinner than our first son's skin, couldn't handle Baby Magic baby wash, or laundry detergents or softeners with any fragrances... I had to change so much about how we washed things, including how we washed ourselves!

All in all, the change wasn't too bad, and life easily fell back into a normal groove, with only an occasional eczema patch. And yes, I also took into account his diet and my own.

When my daughter was born, though she seemed to have the same hardy skin as my first son, she had the same allergic reactions to products that my second son had. Fortunately, I'd just spent two years mastering the art of rash evasion, so all was well with us. And, now that I am very aware of the harm that many big name products pose, I am happy to say that we were a little ahead of the game as far as going more and more basic and natural in our home cleaning and self cleansing.

What I missed like crazy, though, was the smell of laundry fresh from the dryer that had been tumbled with a fabric softener sheet. I still had the soft laundry, because I used unscented softener sheets (though I don't even use them anymore for more than a few reasons), but I didn't have the fresh laundry smell.

Enter these babies:

Very recently, during a trip to Trader Joe's, I discovered these little bags of lovely scented lavender. Here are two other reviews on them (one by apartment therapy and one by green clean review who both use the same image I did so I'm not sure who used it first or where it really came from), but in short I will say that they may not completely scent my clothing and whatnot (I always use a low heat when I dry but I am guessing they'd be more effective on a higher heat setting), though my dryer and laundry room smell heavenly the whole time. (Update: adding two of the bags does, indeed, scent your clothing just perfectly - not too much, not too little) They are good for about 10 uses as far as I can tell and come in a pack of 4 for about $3.

If you don't want to buy from Trader Joe's for whatever reason (say you don't have one in town or you'd like to support someone who makes them at home or you want a different scent), how about trying these out:

I found these in lavender and mint on Etsy at a little shop called Soft & Cozy that wonderfully gives old clothing and bedding new purpose through items like these. I like the idea of the mint... At least I think so. They come in a variety of different colors and the seller has great feedback.

If you do try any of these things out - or if you already have - please let me know what you think.

Blessings on this rainy Tuesday afternoon,
Susan

Just ironing out a few things...

Hi all :)

I hope that you are enjoying the new year and tackling your home projects and daily duties with a little extra oomph. I spent a lot of time yesterday washing and washing and washing some more - mostly clothing and dishes. Ever since Christmas Day we have been in and out of our home, with very rare opportunities to wash our clothes and really care for our home. Sadly, our apartment pretty much became a dumping ground and is only just recovering from two long trips and whatnot and whatfor and whatever.

On this eleventh day of Christmas I am happy to say that I am ready to face the new year with confidence about my homemaker/housekeeper role. This morning I woke up bright and early (actually, it was still dark outside, but you know what I mean) and ironed all of my hubby's dress shirts before anybody else was out of bed.

Yes!

Then, in hopes of "ironing out" a few other issues, I drove myself to the store before 9am (kids in tow - one in pajamas) and purchased a giant office desk calendar which I plan to use to keep me on track with my PMB duties and my trusty GOLD V.

Speaking of calendars... Have you seen this one??? I LOVE it so and wish that I could have one of my own. I saw it on Fallon's sweet blog and am wondering how on earth I could have possibly NOT known about it's Anthropologie origins until now. I totally thought that she - in all of her amazing house making skills - made it herself. Maybe I will step up my inner craftista and make some of my own.

I am mentally working out the changes I'd like to make to the PMB schedule, as well as to the GOLD V stuff. I'll share them soon. I hope you are doing well. Did anybody else have luck with their yellowed whites and the aspirin trick?

Blessings, Susan

An ode to Irving Berlin and Bing Crosby

(I'm sure they'd be proud - ha ha ha)

I'm dreaming of truly white T-shirts
Just like the ones I used to know
Where no yellowing is present
No neckline stains to resent
To victoriously wash and feel like a pro...

Gap undershirts image found here

I know that I am not the only person who deals with this issue. While my white shirts don't suffer from crazy underarm stains - they have other issues: cooking oil stains, because I've failed to put on a protective apron, pasta sauce stains from when I'm just too tired to care if my shirt gets dirty and pull my daughter out of her high chair without wiping her hands and face first, and so on - my husband's white undershirts... Well, they - like the undershirts of most men, I'd wager - need some serious tender loving care. Especially if they've managed to last longer than a year.

I've tried various things.

I've soaked them for prolonged periods in Oxy Clean Versatile Stain Remover (the powdered and "free" version), which always does wonders for other staining issues, but does nothing for this underarm stain problem.

I've soaked them in hydrogen peroxide as recommended by Martha - pitiful results. It's a good thing that stuff isn't expensive!!!

I've scrubbed them by hand and attempted to use citrus and baking soda/borax combos... and so on.

One day, I don't remember when, an issue of Lucky magazine arrived in the mail. Little did I know that the answer to my troubles would be in this fashion/shopping magazine! While perusing through it, I happened upon a little mini article by Karen Reinitz and Abigale Levinson. They are the designers behind the line AKA New York, and according to the little snippet, they swore by a certain tip for freshening up yellowed T-shirts.

I ripped that page right out of the magazine... and then set it aside and completely forgot about it for a while. Anyway. I happened upon it again while trying to make sense of my bedroom, and wondered to myself how I could have possibly left this seemingly easy and cheap trick of the trade left untried. To make a long story short, I tried it and IT WORKED!!! I am not kidding around, my dears. (Important note: after some "study", I found that nifty trick also helps with any color shirt that has underarm issues like stiffness and so on)

My husband even recently put on one of his old shirts and said something like, "Hey. Didn't this used to have crazy stains???" And I was finally able to say, "Why, yes. Yes it did..." To which he replied, with a sly smile, something like, "Why? Did you try... aspirin???" He had clearly seen the article I left lying around. Rats! There goes my mysterious laundry wonder woman allure... Just kidding.

Back to the point of all of this... That's right, my friends. Aspirin! All the mysteries to my problem were answered with one tiny tablet of aspirin.

I personally used Target's aspirin, which is why I chose to picture it here.

I still find it unbelievable. I am still in shock, albeit thankful. Victory! Yes!

Here's what you'll need (this is about a $2.50 project if you don't already have aspirin somewhere in your house): One tablet of aspirin and a washing machine. Oh, and some nasty yellowed shirts, too. Don't forget about those.

Here's how the magic happens (and I am copying this directly from the magazine - thank you, Lucky, Karen, and Abigale!): "Put your discolored tees in the machine and let the water start streaming in (temperature doesn't matter*); add detergent as usual. Drop in one aspirin when the basin is filled with water, close the door, and let the cycle finish. 'White tees really do come out looking whiter than ever,' says Levinson."

Yes, indeed. They sure do! (Note: this is mainly for underarm yellowing issues but does help with other things. If yellowing is severe, wash a second time. Let me know if this works for you like it did for me!)

It's Monday again, and this is the way we wash our clothes :O)

Do you have any awesome laundry tips? Check out this Lucky link here, too. It has a super cheap and easy way to remove yellowing in the neckline of dress shirts and whatnot. I haven't tried it out, personally, but I'm really feeling... lucky right now...

Blessings,
Susan

*I used hot water.