For a Good Cause

For those that read my blog, you know the charity of choice for me is Holt. But I do have other charities I support. One is Locks of Love. I donated my hair many years ago, 10 inches is quite a lot of hair if you measure it. Then a few years later, I donated my hair again.

I've been thinking of doing this again over the years and the one time I was going to chop it off, the hair dresser talked me out of it. I've regretted that ever since. So now it's come up again, should I or shouldn't I? This time around though, I don't want to cut my hair. I know I will have cutter's remorse. I know this is only because I am so used to having long hair.

I don't have a hair style either. I've just let it be long and straight for a long time so I'm in a rut or my comfort zone. I don't get it cut on a regular basis, it's rare I will get it cut professionally. I just have never gotten into doing that.

Now I've made it a challenge to raise more money for Holt thru the Omaha marathon in September. Locks of Love is another charity for the marathon so now I have two charities in one place, so why not cut my hair at the marathon? Because I don't 'want' to cut my hair!

But it's for a good cause, for both charities. I set out the challenge, if Team Holt gets 20 registered walkers or runners for the marathon, I will cut my hair.

I can't back out now! Will I be saying good-bye to my long hair in September? To be continued...

No More Walking on the Plastic

Trail that has been on the stairs, the hallway leading to the guest bedroom, the hallway leading...okay, pretty much everywhere upstairs. We are 'done' with the remodel, at least the big messy parts! All that is left is the hardware on the cabinets and towel rack and so on.

And this will no longer be known as the guest bedroom. My oldest daughter will now claim it as her bedroom. So that must say something about how nice this new addition is! The guest bedroom will now be in the basement.

The finished hallway, looks like it was this way the whole time:


The walk in closet, will soon have shelving and rods:


The new vanity area, this is six feet long so a very nice surface compared to what is in the basement:


The new shower/toilet area. The shower doors turned out nice. I didn't want the clear glass, which is the 'in' thing nowadays, but clear glass on a shower? I would not like that. I need some sort of privacy during a shower so I felt my guests would want some privacy also:


This whole remodel project has been long, but I endured it because I chose to have it done. I've been stuck at home for almost the entire month of July, but it's all been worth it. My kids have endured it with me and they've been great. Especially my two youngest ones, they had to put up with no bathrooms for a few days too.

I hope I don't have another vision for a remodeling project. I don't think so, so I think I'm ok, I hope. This is not to say we haven't had other projects going on around the house. We have had so much traffic of people coming and going for this and that. Some of this is due in part to the storm from June 1st, STILL! And we aren't even done with those repairs.

Gosh, now what am I going to do with my days? I can't speak too soon, there's a lot more going on here...

Handy People...

We are not, but we try our best and work as a team. The remodel, we of course hired the pros. Installing new ceiling fans, we can handle that ourselves..I think. And we did! My hubby and I are not handy around the house. Most projects that are to be 20 minutes are really more than an hour or two for us.

And what a marriage test too, working together on a house project. We are getting better though. I am the one that reads the directions, my hubby is the doer. Most of the time, I am the supervisor, which my dear hubby loves!

Our rule though for doing house projects, if we have the right tools, we can do it. It's when we think we have the right tools and don't, that is when it gets interesting and tensions and patience begin to show their ugly colors.

We have had many 'fun' projects in our marriage. The first major one was hanging a wallpaper boarder for our first born. Yeah, we have been married 20 years so we did make it after that, but we both vowed never again...

We installed a water slide off our dock here...that was an entire family project. You know the saying, 'A family that puts a slide together, stays together'. It did take us 2 1/2 hours to install, but it works AND it was still standing after another storm, though this storm wasn't as bad as the June 1st storm, but still, we were all worried.

I have collected quite a few numbers for people that are considered professionals in their area of expertise, so I can definitely call someone when it comes to the next project around the house.

Holt Picnic

Saturday was the annual Holt picnic in Omaha. I don't do much to help organize it, but I do try to lend a hand where needed. Each year, I think we get better and better and our numbers are growing. I think a big draw is having the Korean meal available. I worked on getting that set up with the Korean Presbyterian Church last year and they graciously agreed to do it again for us this year.

I have to admit, I love our growing numbers, but they worried me this year for the Korean meal. We had 332 Korean meal requests this year with 387 attendees total. This was with people coming without having RSVP'd ahead of time. I have faith in the Korean church and their ability to provide enough food, but still, that is a staggering number when you think of it.

The meal was wonderful, everyone loved it and there was plenty of food to feed everyone. What a lot of work though! The Korean church even had people serving the food so I am even more grateful for this partnership. I am happy to say, they have agreed to provide the meal again for next year!

With so many people in attendance, it is hard for me to talk to everyone, though this year, I worked the registration table so I did meet most of them as they came in. I figured that was the easiest way for me to see everyone. Then as the day goes on, families approach me and tell me I was their greeter for when their child came into Omaha. I'm always baffled as to how they remember me, but I guess it's easier for them to remember me as opposed to me remembering all the families I have greeted for since 1998.

I had one family come up to me I had greeted for seven years ago when their son came home...wow! Seven years?! I see them as babies and to see them grown, amazing. I feel so lucky to have such a volunteer job as the greeter for families. The flights have been more scarce lately, but the feeling of witnessing such an event is always exciting.

I am also lucky enough to stay up to date on babies I have escorted home to their families. Facebook is great to keep up with them, but I get to see some families in person at the picnics. I know the babies don't remember me, but I will always remember them and our journey home on the long flight. I get to see how happy they are now and how happy their parents are. So heart-warming, so amazing.

I feel so blessed for all of my opportunities, amazing grace.

Cleaning Granite

Most people know that the kitchen is the heart of the home. Everyone hangs in the kitchen, even when company is over. Nevermind the great furniture in the living room, the kitchen is the place to be.

Everyday, I clean my granite counter tops. Trust me, I have tried a lot of products. Windex, I am not too crazy about the smell, kind of leaves dull streaks also. Clorox wipes, I used them a lot in our old house. Now they tend to leave the dull streaks on the granite too. I'm picky, I know but I like to look at my clean counter tops and enjoy how great they look.

This is part of the Method cleaning products:



I spray this all over the counters and wipe clean with paper towels. This one smells like cucumber. I didn't think I would like it, but it is actually a nice smell. Previously, I had the grapefruit cleaner, love the smell of grapefruit, it smells so clean!

This cleaner is an all surface cleaner, but I use it only on my counter tops. Method also makes a specific granite cleaner, along with a specific microfiber cloth just for granite. I love this granite cleaner's smell, but I figured for everyday use, I would use the all surface cleaner. Once I am done with the specific granite cleaner, I will stick with the all surface one to save money.

This bottle of cleaner is pretty big so it lasts me quite a long time. Great for saving money. As for the microfiber cloths, I think I got sucked into buying each specific microfiber cloth. I know I could use one microfiber cloth to clean every surface. They get ya with making each cloth a different color and they match the specific cleaner color.

Cleaning Products

I have mentioned before that I used to clean houses as a teenager and was also housekeeping at a Holiday Inn. Wow, such glamorous jobs huh? I have also mentioned that I like to keep my house tidy and clean and presentable. Not that I am obsessive or anything...really...uh huh...

Over the years, I have tried a gazillion cleaning products for the house. So I thought I would start sharing some of my top picks.

With my new house came stainless steel appliances, which I was not thrilled with at all. I know, I know, that is what EVERYONE wants and that is what everyone is saying is the 'in' thing to have in a kitchen nowadays. But the upkeep of stainless steal is a pain. Unless you don't mind having finger prints or smudges all over them. Yes, I sound obsessive now.

I am also one to not want to spend a lot of money. Once again, that doesn't look like it from someone looking in from the outside, but I am a true penny pincher. That is how I got to where I am today!!

I have digressed, here is the product for cleaning my stainless steal appliances:



The key is to also have the microfiber cloth. As a money saving feature, I spray a tiny bit of this cleaner onto the microfiber cloth, wipe the front of the appliance, then buff with a dry area of the microfiber cloth. And bingo, you have a very shiny and clean stainless steal surface!

I was told to use just plain vinegar and water for stainless steal, that works also, but the smell, phew! I can't stand that smell, BUT vinegar and water is THE BEST for cleaning windows and trust me, I would know, we have A LOT of windows here. When you clean your windows, wipe clean with crumpled newspaper.

Do I like cleaning? Not really, it just seems like I have been cleaning all my life..

Whistle While You Work...

I have posted about my vacuum on Facebook quite a lot, but never got around to posting a picture of it. Well, here it is, my backpack vacuum. Isn't it cute?!:



It really is a handy little thing and fits me just perfectly. My family just laughs at me when they see me using it, but that's ok. I don't want to ruin my wood floors with a regular vacuum. My floors are walnut and they drive me crazy! Can you picture my hubby using this? Ya, he's used it...he looks like a giant wearing it on his back. My youngest daughter thinks I look like I'm going to camp. Hi ho, hi ho, it's off to vacuum I go...

I make myself sound like I am a clean freak, really I'm not. I just like to keep my house tidy as can be because I love it so much! I take pride in what I own. My house, my car, my clothes, my shoes...you get the picture. Everything pretty much is in an orderly condition. Orderly does not make one obsessive compulsive or a clean freak. Just makes life easier.

Remember, I also cleaned houses when I was a teenager and I was also housekeeping at a hotel during that time too. I KNOW how to clean!