I will only run if my life is in danger......

Famous last words right. I SWORE I would never take up running. I hate everything about it,  I am not a small girl in any sense of the word, and running was just plain painful. So how the heck did I end up registering for a 3 mile "fun" run? (two words that should NEVER be in the same sentence in my opinion) So how did running end up in my blog titled "Everything I love?" well I have a cousin, and he has this wife, and she can talk me into just about anything apparently. So we have been "walking" all week. We started out walking and now it is a walk jog situation, and she had the brilliant idea that we would go for the Pear blossom mayors fun run, and the masochist in me said "sounds good!" Now I have to admit that after our work out, I feel great! I am exhausted and sore but damn it I did it! It also helps that I have been put on a pretty strict diet plan by my doctor and I have monthly weigh-ins, so I get to brag to the doctor. I am not the best in regards to will power, or self control for that matter.  Yesterday was day 3 of this torture... er i mean workout, we did 3 miles and of those 3 miles we jogged 1/2 a mile, now keep in mind that the last time I really exercised was about 7 years ago or so, maybe a little longer, so we did the route in about 60-70 minutes. Today was day 4 and we did the same route in 51 minutes, which includes a five minute potty break! I guess the lesson I learned was never say never, and maybe the only way to lose weight and be healthy is to eat healthy and exercise hmm who would have thought??

:)
Tish

The Cleanest Microwave on the block!

Back in my office days a gal I worked with told me about a super easy and cheap way to clean your microwave! I have since tweaked the recipe and it works great!

• Start off with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water in a microwave safe bowl. 
• Add a few drops of your favorite essential oil ( I use eucalyptus for its germ killing power) this provides your kitchen with a nice smell but isn't at all necessary! 
• Microwave on high for 5-8 minutes however long it takes your microwave to boil water.
• Let bowl sit for another 5 minutes to allow the steam to do its work. 
• Simply wipe out your microwave. The hot water and vinegar makes all the stuck on grossness wipe easily away to a sparkling microwave. 

If you have neglected yours for WAY to long like I have, you can use a magic eraser by Mr. clean and it takes the grease off the inside of door.  This works every time for me!  Happy cleaning! :)

:) Tish

Natural Cleaning products!

While surfing pinterest ( I know surprise surprise right?) I found these natural cleaning products I thought I would try them out!  Here is all you need! 

Borax, super washing soda,baking soda, castile soap, white vinegar, and an essential oil scent of your choosing. So here is what I thought... 

I LOVE it! really it is fantastic, I have made so far the all purpose spray, for counters floors etc. I have also made the dishwasher soap. The all purpose spray smells great! (I used lavender oil) You can't smell the vinegar at all! It cleans my counters just as good as the "big boys" and smells a lot better! The dishwasher soap works very good as well! I will link to the blog I got the recipes from at the bottom. So as good as they smell and as well as they work they HAVE to be cheap for me to consider using them long term!! Here is the cost breakdown! 

All purpose cleaner  .38 cents!!! seriously I did the math twice!! 

Dishwasher soap $1. 62 for a batch that does 25 loads! 

I'm in! I can't believe my laundry hanging in the summer "frugal" self didn't do this sooner! now i am going to make the dish soap, furniture polish and air freshener! As promised here is the link to the incredible blog I found thanks to pinterest! She has tons of good ideas and the recipes for all these cleaners! http://amybayliss.com/17-days-of-natural-cleaning/ Seriously people if I can do it! ANYONE can :)

:) Tish

Have to start somewhere!

In December of 2007 The doctors I worked for outsourced their entire billing office. 24 people lost their Job that day. As a mother of a 3 year old and the stepmother of 3 more kids It seemed like the world was falling apart around us. I spent the next year looking for work. I have to admit that I LOVED staying home with my son! I just knew that being his mommy was the best job I could have! However I needed to bring in a paycheck. The following January Fortune smiled upon me and I was a lucky recipient of two  children to begin watching. It was the perfect job for me! I got to stay home and bring in a modest income.  What a relaxing low key way to work... or so I thought. I am currently on my third year doing childcare. As much as I loved my job, I wasn't completely fulfilled. I had what I felt as no outlet for creativity. I have always needed to have a creative outlet, whether it was music or writing short stories and poems, I always needed that outlet.  Running a daycare did not leave much time for instruments and I just didn't have the inspiration to write anymore. ( I suppose after all the angst ridden teenage years, I got it all out.) :) I decided to teach myself to knit. I made several beautiful scarves. I then took up the crochet hook, sadly my knitting needles are collecting dust. I just love to crochet! I have basically become a crazy crafting mama! I will take on any craft project I think may be fun! Pinterest is like my own little drug. As my title states this blog is going to be about everything I love! As a wife, mom of 4,  VP of the PTA, childcare provider, and caretaker of our three fish, two dogs, tortoise and rabbit, I am a busy lady! This will be a labor of love, and who knows where it will take me!

:)
Tish