When Elbow Grease and Microfiber meet

Spit up, drool, spilled water, and who-knows-what-else.  These are all things that have imprinted themselves as ugly spots on our microfiber couch. 

Not long ago I came across a blog from someone who found a solution to get these unsightly and embarrassing spots out of their microfiber couch.  I went to the store and got all my supplies and when to work.

Here’s what I did…..

   

This is my couch before. 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need:

Rubbing Alcohol (alcohol evaporates faster than water and won’t leave a spot.)

Clean Sponges (preferably white so no color will come off on your couch.  I found some neutral colored sponges at Fred Meyer that worked well)

Brush (again – find one with white bristles)

 

Spray the alcohol on the spots and scrub, scrub, scrub!!  I went over some places more than once because the spots were really bad. 

 

Here’s what my sponge looked like afterward compared to a new one….

If there are parts that look stiff and clumped after everything dries, take the brush and, in a circular motion, you can take care of those areas easily. 

 

 

    BEFORE

 

      

 

 

 

 

AFTER

 

 

 

Amazing difference!!!  There is hope for the microfiber in your family!!!

a Small Victory

So here’s the question – do you believe that ultimate success is made from small victories?

A little while back I shared with you that I was going to try to lose some of my stubborn baby weight.  I quit snacking in the evenings, limited my soda, tried to cut out sugar after a certain time in the afternoon, and began doing some exercises. 

It’s hard to actually see results when they happen so slowly.  But here is one of my small victories. 

I needed a new pair of jeans.  Usually I get my jeans at Value Village so they are already worn past their prime, then I get them and promptly kill them.   So I needed some new ones. 

For the first time in probably 6 years I got myself a brand new pair of jeans.  Granted, I’m still too frugal to pay full price so I found a pair on a really good sale. 

Here’s my small victory…….. 

I bought a pair 1 size smaller than I had previously been wearing!!!!! 

Don’t get me wrong, there is still a lot of work to be done and a lot of weight to be lost.  But I’m feeling good in my one-size-smaller jeans (with the bling-bling on the back pockets!).

Snowy Pictures for my Photo Challenge

I can not let a snow day pass without bundling up the kids and heading outside to play.  (Which takes twice as long to get everyone bundled up and ready to head outside than it does to actually play outside)  This week we were outside every day making snow angels, throwing snow balls, taking walks…… we even made a snowman!  I would classify the snow in our yard sufficiently played-in.  For some reason, any smooth, untouched patch of snow just cries out to be jumped in.  And I’m not talking about the kids jumping in it…… I’m talking about ME!!!  When it comes to snow, I’m just a kid at heart. 

Of course I took some pictures and I figured a couple would work to continue with my photo challenge.  So here they are……

 

# 11 Something Fun

   

What is more fun in the snow than building a snowman??  Complete with a Frisbee as a hat.  

 

 

 

 

 

# 15 My Shoes

Snow covered boots, and it looks like snow covered pants as well.  Evidence that this momma had herself some fun in the snow.

(Can you believe I’ve actually owned those boots since junior high??)

 

 

Now to make myself some coffee and enjoy my Friday. 

Have a wonderful day!!!

Our first Snow of Winter

This morning the Pacific Northwest woke up to the fresh covering of new fallen snow.  Granted only a dusting, it was still a beautiful sight to see and I’m completely excited for our forecast this next week – more snow!!! 

I’m a Snow-aholic and I wholeheartedly own the title.   There is something just so exciting about seeing snowflakes falling from the sky and blanketing the earth.  Maybe it’s the way the snow glistens and shines in the moonlight, or how inviting a patch of smooth, undisturbed snow is to jump in, or maybe it’s the fact that with how busy our lives seem to be nowadays it’s refreshing to have an excuse to slow down and pull back from the hectic ness of life.

Being absolutely in love with snow does not exclude me from the precarious situations it can bring.  But there’s a difference between getting frustrated and upset about a situation and being able to laugh at yourself and enjoy the moment.  Today held one of these moments and since I’ve been randomly laughing about it all afternoon, I thought I’d share it with my readers and share the joy and laughter. 

This morning Andrew and I decided to attend the early service at our church which meant we had to scramble a little to get the kids and ourselves ready to leave.  We were running late, I had just finished making my coffee and pouring it in my travel mug when I went on my search for shoes. 

I decided against my tennis shoes because of how worn they look, (although hind sight being what it is, they would have been my best choice).  I tried to find my black heels (chunky heels, not stilettos) which would have looked nice with my outfit but alas, I could not find them.  This led me to grab my cowboy boots.  Looked nice but one step out the door brought to my attention just how little – correction – no tread they had. 

Why do I tell you about my shoes?  You will find out in a minute.  Just remember, I’m wearing my boots with NO tread. 

Service was wonderful as always and we stayed a little bit to chat with some friends until the next service started.  We walked outside and started making our way to our car…. this is where the two-minutes of craziness happened.

I was holding Katie Jo and opened the door to the car to put her in her carseat, which is located in the middle of the backseat with Adam and Emma’s booster seats on either side.  As I lean in to put her in her seat I feel my feet begin to slip on the ice.  I try to catch myself but I’m too late.  I completely slip and fall which causes Katie Jo to plop awkwardly in her seat. 

So there I am, stuck half-in, half-out of our car.  My top half is laying across Emma’s booster seat while my feet are outside the car flailing about, desperately trying to find some kind of traction so I can get up but failing miserably. 

What I didn’t realize was that at this very moment Adam decided this would be the best time to attempt to make a snow angel and Emma was too busy trying to brush every speck of snow off the car. 

So picture my family if you will….  Katie Jo crying, I’m stuck halfway outside the car with my feet flailing about on the ice, Adam is on the ground making a snow angel, Andrew is trying to get Adam off the ground and Emma is just concerned with cleaning the car.

This is one of those situations when I wish there was someone who had a camera who could have snapped a picture of my family at that moment. 

Kid Talk

Today at lunch time I asked the kids the question, “Who is your favorite famous person?” just because I was curious to hear what they would say.  Here’s how the conversation went:

Me – “Adam, who is your favorite famous person?

Adam – “My favorite famous person is Uncle Rob”

Me – “Why is Uncle Rob your favorite?”

Adam – “Because I love him and he tickles me”

Me – “Emma, who is your favorite famous person?”

Emma – “Robyn”

Me – “Why is Robyn your favorite?”

Emma – “Because I love her”

Me – “So what does ‘famous’ mean?”

Both – “I don’t know”

Me – “How does a person get to be famous?”

Both – “I don’t know”

Me – “But Uncle Rob and Robyn are famous?”

Both – “Yes”

A new Beginning

Tomorrow marks the beginning of my road to an accounting certificate.  Eek!!  I’m definitely the type of person who doesn’t cope well with change of any kind – whether good, bad or indifferent.  Whenever anything around me changes I feel uneasy and out-of-sorts for a couple weeks until my routine establishes itself again. 

But here I am about ready to change things up a bit.  I’ve enrolled in the accounting program at City University so for the next 5 quarters I will be plowing through accounting classes, business law, taxes and finishing it all off with auditing.  Although it’s nerve wracking to a certain extent,  I’m excited for what my future holds with this new chapter in my accounting career. 

So if you think of it the next couple of weeks, please keep me in prayer.  Please pray that I can keep my wits about me and dive right into my schoolwork with a good understanding of my material and good time-management between my school, Adam’s homeschool, MOPS, weekly activities, and motherhood.   

A Smaller Me for 2012

I debated whether or not I was going to do this post because by writing this post I will be making myself accountable to all my readers therefore, binding myself to my weight-loss goal. 

This was me 8 years ago -  

 

I was married at a mere 110 pounds.  I realize that being 5’8” in height, 110 pounds is extremely thin - to the point where I could comfortably put a glow stick necklace around my waist - but I felt confident in my own skin.  I want to add right here that I did not have an eating disorder by any means.  I ate everything!!!  I just had an extremely high metabolism. 

 

8 years and three children later equals an extreme change in body image.  I’m not going to post a picture of me now because it’s just too depressing for me.  I would have to say that weight issues would be the one point in my life that depresses me more than anything. 

I have a wonderful marriage and great kids.  My relationship with the Lord is thriving and I have wonderful friends who love and support me.  But the one area in my life that causes me the most grief every single day is when I look in the mirror. 

I joined Curves four years ago and went faithfully and started losing weight when, lo and behold, I got pregnant with Emma.  After Emma was born I joined Urban Fitness and again started losing weight and wha-lah!  Katie Jo came along.  I kind of laugh and say to myself, “you better watch out, Krista!  You start losing more weight now and you’ll end up with child number 4.”

I’ve made the decision though and this time I’m going for it again.  So here’s what I’ve been doing thus far:

Soda is my vice but for the past week I’ve limited myself to only one soda (or none!) per day and I have very little to no sugar after 2pm.  I’ve also been drinking a lot of water (at least 75oz per day).

One of my other pitfalls was snacking in the evenings.  How easy it was to put the kids to bed and sit down to relax with an episode of The Office with a bag of chips.  NO MORE!!!!  I have started having only a cup of tea in the evenings. 

MOPS was great this week with our Baby Boot Camp demo.  It gave me some great exercise tips and examples that I’ve been able to begin doing here at home.  My thighs, arms and rear end are constantly sore but I know it’s a good-hurt and will hopefully render positive results. 

This spring I’m also gearing up to finally purchase a bike trailer so I can finally get back out on my bike like I use to.  It’s been difficult being able to ride my bike when I have no where to put the kids but a bike trailer will definitely help.  Emma and Katie Jo can ride in the trailer while Adam rides his own bike with me.  I’m really looking forward to this.

So now that I’ve shared all this with you I hope you can count on everyone to support me on my journey to a thinner me in 2012.  Eventually I’ll post pictures and I’ll  be sure to keep you all updated on what I’m doing each day to achieve my goal. 

If losing weight is something you’re also wanting to do in 2012 I’d love to hear from you and support you in your progress as I’m walking on the same path. 

Happy New Year!

 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot,

And auld lang syne!

Auld Lang Syne!  One of my favorite songs of the holidays.  I look forward to New Year’s nearly every year, not just because of our awesome New Year’s Eve party, but also because I get an excuse to listen to this song over and over again. 

Auld Lang Syne which translates to Old Long Since (or Old Long Ago) is a song which celebrates the opportunity for a fresh start.  Saying goodbye to the old and welcoming the new.  Not dwelling in the past but pushing on to the future.  In a way, it reminds me of a verse in Philippians 3:13-14 -

“Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, ¹⁴ I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

So whether it be in the matter of pressing forward with a new goal to accomplish this upcoming year, regaining or rebuilding relationships, or keeping focused on the prize for which God has called you, let us keep in mind that the past is history and our focus is the future. 

Should auld acquaintance be forgot and Auld Lang Syne.

Happy New Year 2012!!