A Resolution To Keep My Home Company Ready (Giveaway)

Thanks to The CLEAN-X® Family for sponsoring this post.

I’m not what you would call a “suzy homemaker”. With three kids, including a newly turned toddler, living in a small home plus my time taken up by this blog, my three other part-time jobs  and my various other commitments in addition to parenting, most of the time my home cleaning task list ends up low priority on the to-do list. It’s not that I don’t want a clean home, but more so that I’m trying to squeeze all that I do into the limited hours I have each day.

Being that it’s the New Year I thought about resolutions and goals and decided to set a few simple ones: to spend more time with my family, to make my physical & mental well-being more important, and to keep my home company ready. And by company ready I don’t mean that it’s going to be spotless because I’ve accepted that’s not realistic. Instead, I want to be able to invite a friend over when they are having a hard day, to be able to host more family events, and to be able to be the mom that says, “yes, have your friends over” whenever my kids ask (and not just after we’ve spent hours cleaning!) I want to be that home that is always open and welcoming when our friends and family need a place to go instead of vowing to have people over “when the house is cleaner and looks nicer”.

I know I’m not alone in feeling this way. I recently read an article in praise of scruffy hospitality and not waiting until our homes and furnishings were looking Pinterest-perfect to have guests over and it really resonated with me. So that’s something I’m focusing on in 2020. Here’s how I plan to attain a company ready home so I can welcome people into my home without reservation or embarrassment:

Do a quick cleanup before bed & use Invisible Shield® Products by CLEAN-X for a wipe down of the hard surfaces  (Read the Clean-X Story)

Waking up to a mess is the worst! We live in a small home and my daughter doesn’t have her own bedroom so all the toys are in the living room. We’ve been making it a point to pick up all the toys before bed so I can have a few minutes of toy free bliss before she inevitably pulls all the toys out again. We also try to do a quick bathroom and kitchen pickup daily. We can’t seem to keep up with the dishes (how many families with multiple kids can?) but a few dishes in the sink is a lot better than an overflowing sink-full of dishes. 

Use cleaners that protect surfaces, making them easier to clean in the future

Last year I wrote a post about Invisible Shield®, a cleaning line I’d just been introduced to and started using (see the post here). I was so impressed with this line because, not only did the products work amazingly well, but they minimize cleaning time in half… (yes!) by protecting against re-soiling and stains without the use of harsh chemicals and  with its unique “Shielding” benefit. It’s “2 in 1” technology products both clean & shield surfaces in 1 step! Surfaces stay cleaner longer which means less time cleaning for me! My favorites in the line were the Invisible Shield® Water Spot & Stain Remover and the Invisible Shield® Protective Glass & Surface Coating that let me tackle one of the most difficult and time consuming areas to clean- the bathroom- with ease. They specifically help with the shower, removing stains and protecting the build up from coming back. Just look at the difference in the post above… it only took minutes to clean! When you go back to clean the next time, you’ll notice far less soiling and spotting and once protected, a simple wipe with a damp cloth is all I need (I’m all about saving time when it comes to cleaning the grossest room in the house!)

Invisible Shield® had new products come out recently that I was excited to try. The new products in their line are:

  • Invisible Shield® Toilet Spray Cleaner & Protectant- 
    • Clean & protect toilets, urinals & bidets
    • Maintains an “invisible shield” against the buildup of hard water minerals, fecal matter, urine and stains without dulling the surface
    • Prevents the growth of odor causing bacteria, mold & mildew stains with the power of hydrogen peroxide
    • Automatically renews the invisible water, soil & stain repellent barrier coating for easier cleaning… with just a simple flush or occasional brushing
  • Invisible Shield® Refrigerator Cleaner & Protectant-
    • Keeps refrigerators sparkling clean and smelling fresh inside and out
    • Cleans with the oxidizing power of hydrogen peroxide
    • Maintains a protective barrier with each cleaning to prevent odor causing bacteria, mold and mildew stains
  • Invisible Shield® Cooktop Cleaner and Protectant-
    • New- dual-action cream cleanser formula removes stuck-on food spills without scratching cooktop surfaces
    • Deep cleans glass ceramic and metal cooktop ranges & protects with a water, soil & stain repellent coating

I was really looking forward to trying the kitchen products. I already love using their Marble & Granite Cleaner and Protector because it makes my kitchen counters shine so I knew their refrigerator and cooktop cleaners would work to clean and protect my appliances just as well. A while ago my oldest and I spent a good couple hours scrubbing down every nook and cranny of our fridge and I wish I would have had this Invisible Shield® Refrigerator Cleaner & Protectant then because I think the process would have went a lot quicker! I used it now though- and wow! Just a couple wipes and the sticky juice spots are gone. Plus, just a little of the cleaner makes my fridge smell fresher when we open it hours later.

Invisible Shield Products are Patented user-friendly surface care-green compliant and free of harsh chemicals! The CLEAN-X family is offering one winner up to a $75 value in Invisible Shield Products for 1 full year! Enter below. 

To purchase product click here and receive 10% off your order – Use Promo Code: MTFM 10% off entire order -Active from today until Feb 29. The CLEAN-X Invisible Shield cleaning products are also available on Amazon

Have a home for everything (and -this is important- make sure everyone knows where it is)

So many times a new item has come into our house and I have made a home for it but neglected to tell my family members exactly where that home was. You can probably guess what happened….that item got used and then was left on a counter, on the table, on a book shelf, or whatever flat surface that was nearby. Now do my husband and kids always put things away after they use them? Of course not! BUT they surely aren’t going to put something away if they have no clue where it goes! I find once I show them they are a bit more likely to put it back in the future and it’s one less thing cluttering up the counters.

Make a list of what’s really important to clean and do those essential things first

Sometimes I have this idea in my head about what a clean house should look like and, if I know people are going to be coming over, I want everything deep cleaned but it’s unlikely that anyone that comes into my home (or your home) is going to be looking at our baseboards or opening up our kitchen cabinets to see if they are organized. I am really trying to focus most of my attention -and time- on the three places people spend the most time in- our living room, our kitchen, and the main bathroom.

How do you keep your home company ready? Chat with me on social and help me make this 2020 resolution of maintaining a company ready house a reality! Also, make sure to enter the giveaway below to win a year of Invisible Shield cleaning products (a $75 value!)

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New Products From Ecovacs Robotics {Giveaway}

Thanks to Ecovacs for sponsoring this post.

I had the privilege of going to the International Home & Housewares Show on Monday and checking out the line of cleaning products from Ecovacs Robotics. Let me just say, if you don’t have a robot helping you clean then you need to get one because they are a lifesaver for busy parents! {And make sure to enter the giveaway at the bottom of this post for a chance to win one!}

Ecovacs debuted three new floor cleaning products at the Housewares show: the Deebot Ozmo 930, Deebot Ozmo 610, and Deebot 900. They also had their WINBOT on display which cleans windows which I thought was pretty awesome!

Here’s a video of some of the new products in action:

I wanted to share more about their new DEEBOT OZMO 930 that is coming out in April because it has so many great features and I believe it will be the most impressive robotic cleaner on the market when it comes out!

First, lets talk about the biggest feature…. the fact that the DEEBOT OZMO 930 both vacuums and mops the floor for you! No need to buy two separate products!

Also, the OZMO 930 is the first robotic vacuum that can change cleaning modes based on its current function. This is great for those who have multiple floor types in your home because, with the revolutionary Adaptive Floor Sensing, this DEEBOT can alter its cleaning pattern on the fly based on whether it is in vacuuming or mopping mode. When it’s on carpet the vacuum will increase suction power automatically for a deeper cleaning.

And let’s talk about the mopping feature! The DEEBOT OZMO 930 has the latest mopping technology. OZMO is a complete system with an electronically-controlled water pump, sensors that monitor water flow, and controls to stop the flow to ensure a consistent cleaning result. It also learns to avoid carpeted areas when mopping so you don’t have sopping wet carpets and rugs!

Another feature that makes this vacuum unique is it’s laser-based navigation that scans and maps cleaning areas so the DEEBOT learns and constantly adapts to your home, enabling efficient cleaning. Precision technology allows you to draw virtual boundaries or pinpoint specific areas to clean or avoid. This is a great feature for parents because you can tell it to avoid the kid’s bedroom (that most likely has tiny shopkins or legos strewn about!) and tell it to spot clean around the kitchen table area after dinner time.

Ecovacs also has an app that lets you effortlessly schedule cleaning times and set cleaning modes, monitor the cleaning status, and enjoy all the convenience of automated housework. My favorite part about the app is that it has a map of your home’s floorplan and lets you see what areas have been cleaned and which ones still need to be vacuumed or mopped.

And guess what? There are even MORE great features to learn about. You can visit the Ecovacs site to see all the other features that make this robotic cleaner a must-have item for busy parents. Before you head over there though, make sure to enter to win one of the not-yet released DEEBOT OZMO 930 Robotic Floor Cleaners! Good luck!!!

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Tips To Make Cleaning With Kids Easier

Thanks to On-Cor for sponsoring this post and offering quality, multi-serve entrées that everyone loves.

Whether your family has set chores daily or has a cleaning day once a week, it’s important to get the whole family involved in keeping the house tidy. Sometimes I feel like getting kids to help with the housework may seem more like a chore than the actual cleaning task does. Because of this, I wanted to share some of our favorite ways to make cleaning with kids easier, including ending the day of cleaning with a special family night featuring one of our favorite On-Cor entrées.

Make it fun

Doing anything with kids is immediately easier when you find a way to make it fun. We love to turn on some music that everyone likes and dance arround as we clean (especially Lucas who always seems to be dancing whether there is music on or not!) The kids also like when we make cleaning into a game. Since my boys can make anything into a competition – as many siblings do- a lot of times just making cleaning up a race gets them excited. Whether they are racing to see who can pick up an area first or who can be the first to put away 10 toys- competitions and games make cleaning time a lot more fun!

Let them help make a cleaning list

One of my secret (or not-so secret now….) goals as a mom is to help my sons grow up to be men who help with the housework. Whether it’s helping with dinner (like heating up convenient, quality dinner solutions from On-Cor that are perfect for busy nights) or cleaning, I want them to be able to identify things that need to be done and do them which is why I love the idea of having kids help create a cleaning list. On a weekend morning when everyone is pitching in to clean, or right before having company, kids can walk around and make a list of what things they see that need to be done. I’m proud to say that Jacob is really great at identifying what things need to be picked up and cleaned and doesn’t need me to constantly tell him what to do next. Plus, I feel like having a list is a good way for kids to visually see what things still need to be done and cross the tasks off as they get completed (and who doesn’t love the satisfaction of crossing something off a to-do list!?)

Provide kid-friendly cleaning tools

If kids are going to help with the chores they need tools they can easily use. Wet wipes are aweome for every day cleaning. They also make child-sized cleaning tools that are fun for young children to use (like these ones pictured…aren’t they adorable?!) Rags with non-toxic cleaning products can be used by older children for more heavy duty cleaning.

Give children specific tasks to do

Sometimes kids can complete a larger task (like cleaning their room) on their own but often times, children need larger, overwhelming tasks broken down into smaller steps. I have one of each type of child and it’s something I try to keep in mind on cleaning day. For example, I can tell Jacob to clean his room and he completes the task while Lucas needs to be told what to do next (ie. pick up the superheroes, put your laundry in the hamper, etc.) A checklist with the steps to larger tasks broken down can be helpful and your child’s age and maturity can determine whether this is done with text or photos and how many steps that tasks need to be broken down into.

Have them work towards a reward

Nothing is more motivating than knowing there’s a reward at the end for a job well done. After a long afternoon of cleaning, reward kids with a special family night. We love to have dinner and then let the kids pick out a movie to watch or game to play. Spending time with family is the best thing and it’s even more fun when we can enjoy it in a room that’s spotless!

Since I don’t want to have to clean up the kitchen (again) after I’ve been cleaning all day, I like to make meals that are quick and easy and don’t make a lot of dirty dishes. We can have at least one night of no pots and pans in the sink, right?! That’s why I love On-Cor meals- they are just a freezer away for an always easy, always satisfying and always ready solution because life’s demanding enough. Dinner shouldn’t be! On-Cor does the prep work, so you can take care of other to-do’s and spend more time with your family!

From hearty entrées to microwave favorites, convenience has never tasted so delicious. No frills, no fancy. Just really, really good food. The boys love the Penne Pasta & Meatballs with Tomato Sauce entrée and I love that it makes pasta night easy. Plus, it now has 25 percent more meat so there’s more meatballs for everyone to fight over lol.

For your next family meal, head to the freezer aisle of Jewel-Osco or check out the store locator at www.on-cor.com to pick up one of On-Cor’s entrées. What tips do you have for making chore time with kids easier? Let me know in the comments below and make sure to enter to win a fun On-Cor prize pack!

Giveaway prize package includes: (1) Coupon Valid for One Free On-Cor Entrée (1) Organizational Glass Containers, (1) Scrub Brush, (1) Kids Cleaning Set, (1) Set of 4 Kitchen Towels, (1) Sink Caddy (ARV: $150)

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of On-Cor. The opinions and text are all mine.

Realistic Cleaning Tips For Busy Parents

Thanks to Unelko Corporation for sponsoring this post.

Out of all the things that I have to do as a mom, cleaning definitely tops the list of my least favorite tasks (with listening to my kids whine as a close second lol). Nevertheless, cleaning is something that must be done so today I’m sharing some of my top cleaning tips for busy parents. The best part? These are all realistic! I’m not giving you a list of 20 things you need to clean in a day or expecting you to make cleaning your house a full-time job. After all, we all have errands to run, kids to love on, and a few dozen shows we’d love to binge watch. Whether you are in the season of motherhood known as the toddler years, your kids are finally back in school after the flu ravaged your home, or you just can’t seem to keep your house tidy even on the best of days, read on for cleaning tips that will work for you!

The room-by-room cleaning method

We are going to start with one task that will work on even the messiest of homes- pick a room that is the easiest to clean up (or parents of littles may want to start with a room the kids don’t frequent often) and tackle that room at naptime, after the kids go to sleep, or (if you have older kids) on the weekend when they can help. (BTW- the entry of your home can totally count as a “room” here!) Personally, I have found this is the best way to clean because you can actually see the progress which creates momentum, unlike cleaning a little bit here and there throughout your home and then an hour later it looks exactly the same. This motivates me to not only keep it clean but makes it easier to tidy up.

When doing this room-by-room cleaning method I start by moving stuff that belongs elsewhere. I don’t put it away but instead just drop and run back to the room I was working on (because we all know that story about the mouse who wanted a cookie and ended up doing a million other things….) Those who have a large home may want to just gather up anything that doesn’t belong into a laundry basket so you aren’t running around and wasting time. I put away and tidy things up and then sweep or vacuum and clean surfaces. I don’t organize drawers. I don’t pull everything out of the closet and start an organizing project. I pick up and tidy what can be seen and save the projects for another time. After all, I just want my house to be presentable should someone stop by. Once I’ve gone through the above and done this for all rooms, I mop the floors. This may take a few days but then you can start my next steps with a semi-clean home.

Create a cleaning plan that works for your schedule

I found a daily/weekly/monthly schedule works best for me and suggest that you create a cleaning plan that works for your schedule. I have a short daily list that consists of two 15 minute pickup times (one in the morning after my kids have gone to school but before I start my work day and one in the evening) and some basic bare-minimum cleaning. I have a weekly list that are things I don’t need to do daily but at least want to do once during the week, along with larger deep cleaning tasks and organizing projects I have on a monthly list. Some days I’ll get one or two weekly or monthly tasks done, other days I just get the daily basic tasks completed and then there are the days when I’m trying to meet work deadlines or am too busy to even enjoy my coffee and nothing gets done. It happens to us all and honestly, if your kids are fed and happy, just call the day a win and realize that tomorrow is a new day to try again!

Use Invisible Shield® cleaning products because they work well and minimize future cleaning time

If you are spending time cleaning you want to use products that work well and make cleaning easy. I love the line of Invisible Shield® products that shield and protects glass and other surfaces because not only do they work, but they minimize cleaning time in the future by protecting against re-soiling and stains without all the harsh chemicals. When you go back to clean the second time, you’ll notice far less soiling, dust and spotting and how effortless it is to go over the surface. The Invisible Shield® Marble & Granite Cleaner and Protector even leaves a lustrous shine that will last longer than any other Marble or Granite cleaner! Their products also prevent corrosion around water areas such as faucets, sinks, shower doors, wall tile, and tubs, extending the life of hard surfaces & fixtures. Anything that protects our home investement and lets us spend less time cleaning the shower and more time cuddling on the couch with the kids is a must-have if you ask me!

While all the products are amazing, my favorites in the line are the Invisible Shield® Water Spot & Stain Remover and the Invisible Shield® Protective Glass & Surface Coating that let me tackle one of the most difficult and time consuming areas to clean- the bathroom- with ease. They specifically help with the shower, removing stains and protecting the build up from coming back. Just look at the difference below and it only took minutes to clean! Plus, the protective glass & surface coating saves valuable time because it reduces the need to squeegee and keeps glass cleaner longer.

I love the brighter appearance that cleaning with these products give all my surfaces because shiny glass, counters, and more make my house look cleaner, even when there are toys strewn about the floor as my kids play!

Keep a list of quick tasks you can do when you have a few minutes

When you are a busy parent you need to utilize every second of the day to the best of your ability. So often I’d find myself checking my phone or just standing around as I waited on hold or for the water to boil or any of the other times I’d find myself with a few minutes. I suggest making a list of quick tasks you can do in 3-5 minutes of time so when you find yourself with a few extra minutes you can complete something on the list. Things like cleaning a mirror, wiping down the baseboards in a room, or throwing a load of laundry in the washer can all be done in minutes. Five minutes may not seem like a lot of time to get something done but if you had just 10 minutes a day to do a quick task or two, you’d have about 60 hours of “extra” cleaning time each year!

Ask for help

As much as we think we can do it all, we can’t. Don’t be afraid to ask your partner or kids for help with cleaning. I know it often seems like there is so much to do around the house and we get frustrated when they can pass up that stuff on the step waiting to go upstairs or the overflowing trash can, but sometimes our family members just need us to be clear about what we need from them. They aren’t mind readers after all! Start by giving them specific tasks or asking them to do something on a daily or weekly basis to take some of the cleaning responsibilities off your to-do list.

You can purchase the Invisible Shield products on Amazon and they even have bundles like the Household Spray Cleaner Combo (which includes the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface Cleaner & Stainless Shine and Marble and Granite) and the Glass Essentials Combo (which includes the Invisible Shield Glass & Surface cleaner, Water Spot & Stain Remover, and Protective Glass & Surface Coating).

Do you have any cleaning tips to share? I’d love to hear about them in the comments below but before you go, enter the giveaway to win some of these amazing products yourself!

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A Cute Way To Declutter Your Kitchen Counters

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CleanMyWay #TeamSponge #CollectiveBias

We are still in spring cleaning mode here so I’ve been organizing and cleaning everything. My focus this past weekend was on our kitchen. Since it’s the most used room in our home it’s the hardest to keep clean. Every time I think all the dishes are done I discover another one in the sink!

While spending all that time in my kitchen I dreamed of one day being able to update it. I’d change up the color palette to reflect my style, update the appliances and add more counter and cabinet space. I’ve been entering contests (like this Scotch-Brite™ Scrubstakes one where someone will win a $20,000 kitchen makeover for sharing if they are team sponge or team dish cloth-I’m team sponge btw!), in hopes that I can update my kitchen sooner rather than later. There are so many things I’d want to change but in the meantime I have to make do with the kitchen space I have.

Yesterday one of the things I worked on was cleaning and organizing my countertops. A lot of things tend to get left on the counters, from cups to mail to items bought at the store that never found their way in to the pantry. Since we have such a small home, our counters get crowded very quickly. To declutter the sink area and make it look nicer I used a metal cake stand to hold things that needed to stay out. Now, instead of things just sitting on the counter, they had a home and were part of the decor.

The first things I did was put dish soap in a pretty container instead of setting it out in the bottle it came in. I used a mason jar with a pump on the top and added some decorative ribbon to it.

Along with the dish soap I put out some sponges in a sponge holder that would keep them upright and allow them to dry. Sponges have always been my kitchen cleaning tool of choice. I used them as a child when I did my chores and I still prefer them now as an adult because they make cleaning up messes so much easier. I really love the ones that have scrubbing sides so that I don’t need to use as much effort to wash the dishes or scrub the stove top.

Since we go through a lot of sponges I like to buy the multi-packs so we don’t run out. We bought our Scotch-Brite sponges at Food 4 Less in the cleaning aisle. Make sure to grab the coupon below from coupons.com before you head to the store! You can save $1 on any two packs.

There are a variety of sponges and I recently learned that each has different uses and is designed for specific surfaces. I used to use the same sponge for everything not realizing that I was ruining my non-stick pans and porcelain sink with materials that weren’t meant for those surfaces.

Now we mainly use two different types of sponges- Scotch-Brite® Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges and Scotch-Brite® Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges.

Scotch-Brite Heavy Duty Scrub Sponges (the green ones) are great for the kitchen, garage and outdoors. They can be used on pots, pans, oven racks, grill racks, tools, tires and sinks. They also clean tough, baked-on messes 50% faster than other competitive sponges.


Scotch-Brite Non-Scratch Scrub Sponges (the blue ones) can be used on Non-Stick cookware, counter tops, cook tops, tubs, shower tile, windows, and dishes. They can safely clean non-stick cookware without scratching surfaces.

I’d love to hear how you keep your kitchen clean and organized. Share your tips in the comments below.

Find more kitchen tips and inspiration here.

DIY Decorative Jewelry Tray

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #StreakFreeShine #CollectiveBias

Spring is one of the most beautiful seasons. From budding flowers to pretty lace dresses to sparkling pastel colored jewels, beauty is all around us. As the weather starts to warm up and the sun starts shining a bit more, I love being able to admire the new growth of flowers and watch the birds sitting outside my window.

That very first sunny spring day though, when I open up my curtains, I am reminded of the one chore that gets a little neglected during the colder months- cleaning my windows. It’s amazing how dirty they get over the few months we are stuck inside while the sky is gray and the trees are barren. I grab my Windex® Original Glass Cleaner from under my kitchen sink and, as soon as I spray it on my windows, I start to see the dirt fading away. A couple swipes of a paper towel later and my windows are shiny clean and I can see the beautiful spring day through them.

I also like to bring the beauty of spring indoors and I do that by decorating my home with seasonal decor and fresh flowers. To bring a touch of spring into my bedroom I made a decorative jewelry tray to hold some of my favorite pieces. It was easy to make and doesn’t require a lot of materials so I wanted to share the tutorial so you could make your own.

Materials needed:

  • Round tray
  • Glass or mirror a little smaller than your tray
  • Glue or adhesive
  • Beaded necklaces made for craft projects

 Directions:

Put glue/adhesive in the middle of the tray, spreading it out the width of your mirror.

Place the glass or mirror piece in the middle of the tray and gently press it down to adhere it to the tray.

To see how long your string of beads will need to be you can put it along the bottom edge of your tray. You’ll want it long enough to go all around the bottom of your tray but not overlap. I had to tie two beaded necklaces together and then take some beads off the one end because, as you can see in the picture, it was too long.

Use your adhesive/glue to glue your beads onto the tray along the inner bottom edge of the tray. If you still have space between your beads and your mirror/glass, you can glue on a second string of beads.

This tray will get a lot of fingerprint smudges on it but it’s easy to clean with Windex® Original Glass Cleaner.

Windex® Original Glass Cleaner is my favorite product to use on glass because I know that it will always leave my glass surfaces with a streak-free shine. Thanks to its formulation with Ammonia-D®, it starts working on fingerprints, dirt, and other messes even before you wipe. Whether you need to clean the smudges on your bathroom mirror, your windows, or the glass of your jewelry tray, you can trust America’s #1 glass cleaner to get the job done!

I found Windex® Original Glass Cleaner and Windex® Vinegar Multi-Surface Cleaner in the cleaning aisle of my local Food4Less store.

Now you can see the beauty of spring outside (thanks to your clean windows) and inside, sitting on your jewelry tray.

What is your favorite thing about the spring season? Get more spring cleaning ideas here.

How To Get Your Bathroom Ready For Holiday Guests

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #GetUnderTheRim #CollectiveBias 

The holidays are coming and, for many, that means entertaining friends and family. We started a new tradition last year of having family over on Christmas Eve so, being the Type A person that I am, I’ve already started planning for it. I generally have always decorated my home for Christmas before the holiday chaos begins anyways, but I’ve also started planning the menu we will have and deep cleaning our home. I also like to get ready for any overnight guests I may have, like my younger siblings who need a place to stay when they come to town.

One room on the list to tackle is the guest bathroom. Since we live in a small home, we only have two bathrooms and our “guest” bathroom is also the bathroom that everyone in our home uses. Living with three males I’m sure you can imagine the mess I have to deal with in there. Generally Sinisa cleans the bathroom but when we are going to have guests over I like to clean it so I know everything is completely clean.

When getting the bathroom ready for guests I have a three step process. The first thing I have to do is clear the clutter. Even though the bathroom has plenty of storage, there always seem to be things left on the counter that don’t belong there.

Once the bathroom is picked up it’s time for some deep cleaning. I take down the shower curtain and put that, along with the bath rugs, in the washer. I then clean the sink and counter and shine the faucet. I scrub the tub, wipe down the walls and mirror and then move on to my least favorite part of cleaning the bathroom- the toilet.

After I clean the outside of the toilet I have to tackle the inside of it. Thankfully I’ve discovered the perfect tool for the job. The new Scotch-Brite® Disposable Toilet Scrubber is uniquely designed to reach messes under the rim that competing products miss. It also has a built-in bleach alternative cleaner with pumice that scrubs away rust & hard water stains. When I’m done cleaning the toilet I simply press the button on the handle to dispose of the scrubber and then set the handle into the holder until the next time I need it.

Once my toilet bowl is sparkly clean, I sweep and mop the floor, take out the trash, wipe down the trash can, hang the shower curtain up, put the rugs back on the floor, fill the soap dispenser and stock the toilet paper. I also make sure I have clean towels ready for our guests.

It’s then time for the fun part- decorating! Our guest bathroom has red walls so the room is already festive to begin with. I chose to add some cream, green and gold accents to the room.

I wanted to do something special for overnight guests and set out some toiletries for them in case they’d forgotten anything they needed. I had a glass hurricane to use for this project but you can use a large jar or any glass canister you have. The only other thing you’ll need to make the container is letter stickers. I used some gold ones since they would coordinate with my holiday decor but also look nice in the bathroom throughout the year.

I used the letter stickers to spell out “be our guest” on the glass. (To make sure the letters were being put on the glass in a straight line, I used a piece of paper edge to make myself a line to follow.) I then filled the glass hurricane with travel sized toiletries I had collected while traveling including shampoo, conditioner, lotion and soap. I travel often so I have tons of hotel toiletries but you could also buy travel sized toiletries at Target to fill your container.

Speaking of Target, that’s where I bought the Scotch-Brite Disposable Toilet Scrubber and Scotch-Brite® Disposable Toilet Scrubber Refills (along with a number of holiday decorations and some cute holiday pjs!). I found them in the cleaning aisle with the toilet brushes, in between the trash cans and the sponges. Right now there are some great deals on these products at Target. Look for a “Try Me Now!” Instant Redeemable Coupon on each product to save $2. There is also a Cartwheel offer to save 15% off these new products (11/6-11/12).

Now I’m ready for the holidays and for my guests! Want to see how other bloggers are getting ready for the holidays? Check out their posts here. How do you prepare your home for holiday visitors?

What Matters Most During The Holidays

I have received information about the TYLENOL® For What Matters Most™ campaign from McNeil Consumer Healthcare Division of McNEIL-PPC, Inc., the makers of TYLENOL®. The opinions stated are my own. This is a sponsored post.

The best part about the holidays is all the quality family time and traditions it brings. I can still remember Christmas mornings growing up. As a kid I loved the gifts but I loved our family Christmas morning ritual even more.

We’d start by waiting at the top of the steps for everyone to wake. Once we woke our parents up we’d race downstairs (in our pajamas) to dump out our stockings to see what Santa brought. This was followed by a big homemade breakfast that my dad made. We’d get dressed while he cooked and then enjoy eating together while we talked.

After breakfast we’d sort the presents into piles by the number written on them, since my mom never labeled them by name, all the while guessing which number we were and which numbers our siblings were. When all presents were sorted we’d open our cards that revealed what number we were that year and those are the presents we’d open. After everything was unwrapped we’d spend the rest of the morning opening packages, eating popcorn, listening to Christmas music and spending time together.

Since my {step}mom has passed away, keeping those traditions are even more important to me now and I try to keep my favorite ones going with my boys. When it comes to Christmas morning I want to give them those same magical memories my parents gave me. This means special Christmas pajamas, no opening presents until after breakfast and a tin of popcorn to share. I’ve also started incorporating new traditions such as the Christmas Pickle, the one gift from Santa being unwrapped, and appetizers to snack on the whole day (or two!) we spend at home with nowhere to go.

I hope my children will look back on Christmas mornings with joy and happiness. I like to think how they will continue our traditions when they get older and have their own kids. While I enjoy our traditions, and plan to continue them, the best part is really just spending time together.

I think no matter the dynamic or makeup of a person’s family we can all agree that family matters most. To celebrate the holidays this year, the makers of TYLENOL® created the ‘For What Matters Most™’ campaign and decided to put a modern spin on Norman Rockwell’s classic holiday painting Freedom From Want, to help illustrate how modern families come together to celebrate what matters most during the holidays.

I encourage you to visit the TYLENOL® website and also to pin the below picture or another picture that depicts your family spending time together during the holidays.

My family values time together, traditions and Faith. What special things does your family value?

10 Ways To Get Children To Help With Chores

How to Get Children to Help With the Chores

 

How We Split The Household Responsibilities In Our Home {Swiffer Giveaway}

(Disclosure: This conversation is sponsored by Swiffer but all thoughts are my own.)

I love watching “reality” shows about families. One thing I find really interesting is how they split their household responsibilities. Some families have the children do most of the chores (which is how I grew up), some have only mom or dad responsible for them, and some split the responsibilities.

I believe that every family has to do what works best for them but in our home we split the responsibilities. As a working mom there is no way that I’d be able to handle all of the household chores myself. My least favorite chores are cleaning the bathroom and doing the dishes so Sinisa handles that. Other things Sinisa handles are the trash, the yard work, and most of the cooking. Sinisa hates putting away the laundry so that is something I try to do {though the boys’ clothes get put away more regularly than our clothes do}. I do most of the picking up around the house, general cleaning and organizational tasks.

When it comes to our children we split responsibilities there, too. I watch the boys while he is working and he watches them on his days off. He is the bath giver and meal maker. I pick out their clothes, make sure they have what they need when they need it, and drive them around to their sports and activities.

As our boys grow older I definitely plan on having them do more chores but for now (at ages 4 and 5) their chores consist of helping pick up their toys and living areas.

I love the above video of Lee and Morty, the stars of Swiffer’s new commercials. They are such an adorable couple and I love how Lee uses the products to show Morty how easy it is to clean and he jokes it’s like he’s dancing. Sinisa likes how easy it is to use the Swiffer Wet Jet, too!

Want to win some products that will make cleaning easier for you and your family? Enter to win a Swiffer prize pack below!

GIVEAWAY:

One lucky reader will win a #SwifferEffects kit ($20 value)

HOW TO ENTER:

 {Do any or all of the following. Leave a separate comment for each you do.}

1) Tell me which chore is your least favorite to do

2) Share this giveaway on a social network

3) Follow Swiffer on Twitter

4) Follow me on Twitter

5) Comment on another post

Giveaway ends August 21, 2013 at 11:59pm Central time. Must be a US resident 18 and older to enter.

Shrimp Alfredo {Recipe}

(Disclosure: I was given a gift card to buy ingredients for this meal but all thoughts are my own.)

Palmolive reached out to me and challenged me to create a meal with the colors of their new line of dish soap. The colors were white, green, and pink. After thinking about it, Sinisa and I decided on shrimp alfredo with broccoli. Asparagus would also work well in this recipe if you aren’t a fan of broccoli. Below the recipe you will find my thoughts on Palmolive’s new line of soaps that I washed the dishes with.

Ingredients:

  • 2 pounds of fully cooked shrimp
  • 2 tablespoons of olive oil
  • 1 tablespoon of chopped garlic
  • 2 tablespoons of basil
  • 1 cup of broccoli
  • 1/2 pound of rotini pasta
  • 1 jar of alfredo sauce
  • 1 tablespoon of parmesan cheese
  • 1 tsp of red pepper
  • 1 tsp of Italian seasoning

Directions to make Shrimp Alfredo:

  • Cook your pasta according to packaging directions, drain, and set aside
  • Saute garlic in olive oil until garlic is golden brown
  • Add shrimp and saute while stirring shrimp until shrimp is fully cooked
  • Stir in brocolli and saute for 3 minutes
  • Add seasonings, sauce and parmesan cheese
  • Let simmer for about 7 minutes
  • Add sauce mixture to pot of cooked pasta and stir well
I love Palmolive’s Fresh Sponge dish soaps so I was looking forward to trying their soft touch brand. They have three scents: coconut butter, Aloe, and Vitamin E. The coconut butter is my favorite scent so I used that to clean the dishes.
The dish soap made a lot of bubbles and using the soap with hot water made it possible to quickly wash my dishes {which, by the way, is my least favorite chore}. Less time doing dishes means Sinisa and I have more time to relax at the end of the day. The bonus is that my hands were still soft so he wanted to hold them while we sat on the couch together. Thank you Palmolive!

6 Ways to Keep Your Hardwood Floors Looking New

When you have nice hardwood floors, it’s worth putting in a little work to keep them looking like new. Follow these 6 tips so your hardwood floors will always have the beauty that you enjoy today.

Doormats Are a Deterrent

Knowing how to clean your floor properly will keep it in great shape. It’s even better to keep dirt and water off your floor by using two doormats. Keep one outside and one inside so people can wipe their feet well before stepping on the floor. It also helps to get a walk-off mat for the inside. These mats are usually four to six feet long. The longer it is, the cleaner your shoes will be when they hit your hardwood floor.

Vacuum Your Floor

Even if you make everyone take off their shoes before coming inside, your floors might still get dirty. If the dirt accumulates, it can turn into grit that will scratch the wood’s surface. Vacuum your floor at least once a week to prevent dirt buildup.

Avoid Water and Liquid Cleaners

Never expose your floor to water or liquid cleaners. They can soak into the wood, causing damage that’s difficult to repair. You’ll end up spending a lot of money hiring one of the Tucson flooring companies to fix a problem that you could have easily prevented.

Instead of using liquid cleaners, opt for a no-wax wood cleaner. You can pick it up at any home supply store. Keep it in a handy place, so you can clean up spills and dirt immediately.

Area Rugs Prevent Damage

Image via Flickr by Wonderlane

High-traffic zones are most likely to get damaged by daily wear and tear. Putting down an area rug will protect your hardwood floor. Common high-traffic zones include hallways, doorways, and stairs.

It’s best to use an area rug that doesn’t have a rubber backing. The rubber can trap humidity against the floor, which causes the same problems as cleaning with liquids would.

Clean Your Furniture With Care

If you have wooden furniture, then you want to take special care when you polish it. The polish might make your wood furniture glow, but it can leave a cloudy residue on your floor. Try spraying the polish on a cloth instead of directly on the furniture. That will give you more control.

Know How to Care for Your Floor’s Finish

Your hardwood floor might have a finish made of polyurethane or shellac. If it does, you should never wax the floor. It will create an extremely slippery surface and can damage the original finish.

If you don’t know whether you should use a wax, polyurethane, or other type of polish on your floor, spot test a small area and check for damage. Give the area a couple of days before you polish the rest of the floor. It takes time for damage to present itself.

Do you know other ways to keep hardwood floors looking like new? Or perhaps you’ve tried some restorative methods that did more harm than good. Tell your story in the comments below.

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Guest post by Amanda.

Dyson Housewarming Giveaway

Welcome to the Dyson Housewarming Giveaway event. This took months in the making and Mom to Bed by 8 and the Iowa Mom are proud to bring you this fantastic home essential and offer you the chance to win one too! I am so jealous because this vacuum looks amazing and I wish I could win one for myself!! Big thank you to our lovely co-hosts How to Have It All, Mark Your Savings and GiveAway Bandit.

Dyson DC23 TurbineHead Canister Vacuum

Delivering 220 airwatts of suction power, this canister vacuum cleaner features advanced Level 3 Root Cyclone technology to ensure thorough, efficient cleaning with no clogging or loss of suction. It also offers a TurbineHead brush bar that’s ideal for cleaning medium and short pile carpets and can be turned off for hard floors. Certified asthma and allergy friendly by the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, the unit expels air that contains up to 150 times less mold and bacteria than common breathing air thanks to the vacuum’s money-saving, lifetime washable HEPA filter. Plus, Dyson’s Bactisafe screen traps and kills bacteria, mold and allergens on contact, preventing them from re-entering the air.

The Telescopic Wrap System allows the hose and wand to be compressed, and ensures that the Dyson DC23 can be stored away neatly and compactly, with no loose components or wires to get tangled. It comes with a stair tool for focusing on dust and dirt from stairs and stair carpets, a brush tool with long bristles to dislodge cobwebs and for delicate cleaning, and a high-velocity airflow crevice tool that’s ideal for cleaning base boards, picture frames and in-between furniture. Other features include a clear bin with 0.44-gallon capacity, 21.6-foot cord length, and easy-to-maneuver fixed wheels. The vacuum measures 13.9 x 19.3 x 11.9 inches (HxWxD) and weighs 19.5 pounds. The Dyson DC23 TurbineHead is backed by a 5-year warranty.

Open to worldwide, ages 18+. Giveaway ends on June 15th.

**ENTER VIA RAFFLECOPTER OVER AT MOM TO BED BY 8**

Good luck to all!

(Disclosure: I received no compensation for this publication. My opinions are my own and may differ from those of your own. Making Time For Mommy is not responsible for sponsor prize shipment.) 

Spring Cleaning Challenge {With Big Prizes!}

Need some motivation to get Spring cleaning done? I know I do and I have found the perfect challenge with awesome prizes to motivate me to get our home back in order after being cooped up inside for months.

The areas that need the most attention in my house are the master bedroom {aka the catch all room}, the master bath {overflowing with beauty supplies, lotions, and a plethora of other toiletries}, and our kitchen cabinets/drawers. If I have extra time I also hope to tackle the boys closet, the laundry room, and the black hole under our couches where all the little toys disappear. At the end I hope to get rid of a bunch of items by selling things online and donating them to Goodwill.

Want to join me in the Spring Cleaning Challenge? Head on over to ‘I Dream Of Clean’ and find out how you can participate and have a chance at winning 2 washer and dryer sets from GE Appliances, a Shark steam mop, and a closet organizer from the Stow Company!

(Disclosure: I was not compensated for this post but I am writing it in hopes of having a better chance of winning one of the great prizes mentioned above- like the Shark Steam Mop which I desperately need around here!)

I am not a homemaker…

I am not a homemaker. I have been fine with this, even joking about it, until recently. After reading other “stay-at-home mom” blogs in the past weeks I’ve begun to feel guilty and I’ve realized that I really could be doing more than I do. Before a couple weeks ago I rarely cleaned and I almost never cooked. One of my goals for 2009 that I shared with my mom’s group was to “cook once a week”. It’s not that we eat out all the time (though we probably do that more often than we should), it’s that I eat a tv dinner or something else easy to make or Sinisa cooks when he comes home from work. I really am going to try to make an effort to cook more this year. This is my next step in becoming more “domesticated” (is that even a word?)

Right now though, my focus is on keeping my house “company ready”. Before I could never just invite people over when I felt like it because I always had to “prepare” my home for visitors. For the first time this past weekend I was on the phone with someone and said “why don’t you come on over?”. Let me tell you how great it felt to be able to say that. Granted it was only family (my sister in law) but before I had never felt comfortable enough to say that and the thought of someone coming over unannounced gave me anxiety. Even though my house has stayed clean, I am not following my “daily” and “weekly” lists that I made for myself so that is one area I would like to improve on.

I’m off to get some things accomplished now. My to-do list for tonight includes:

-Putting laundry away that’s in the dryer

-Update “goals”

-Going through my email inbox and deleting some old emails (my inbox has over 3500 emails in it!) My goal is to delete 500 tonight…

-Write up a monthly budget (or at least start it)

-Post some pictures of Jacob on facebook

Of course I also am going to watch tv, including the Bachelor. Should be interesting tonight because it’s the “women tell all” episode…