Housekeeping Tip #5: Scratched CD/DVD

You can buy a scratch remover, or you can use my friend, TOOTHPASTE.

Use a dab and polish with a soft cloth. You can polish in circular movements around the CD (like the going around the circumference from inside to out, like the disc reader would scan it.)

Take a damp cloth to remove the excess and wipe dry.

This also works on hairline scratches on glass surfaces. (I've tried this, require A LOT of elbow grease to make it work.)

Note: If your fingernail can catch in a scratch, it is too deep to repair.

Housekeeping Tip #4: Polishing Silverware.

You can buy different polishes and special buffering cloths, or you can use Handy Dandy TOOTHPASTE.

Use a dab and polish with a soft cloth. It will lift the tarnish and shine like new.

Take a damp cloth to remove the excess and wipe dry.

There are other safe methods, but I like this one the best.

Housekeeping Tip #3: Removing Permanent Pen

Last year, little Elliot took a nice black Sharpie permanent marker and wrote all over my iMac (the screen and white border of the screen), as well as my white keyboard and mouse. They also did it to my hubby's laptop with a blue pen. When I found this I flipped. You would never see such a manic.

WHY DO KIDS LOVE DRAWING ON THINGS????

I searched the web and tried almost everything I could find.

The best was TOOTHPASTE.

1. Take a small amount of toothpaste (plain white, not gel or a weird special kind)

2. Proceed to GENTLY (very important! it can ruin your surface and leave scratches or bleaching) rub with a sponge (yellow side) or cloth in a circular motion.

For surfaces that were not completely matt or even (ie. my keys on the keyboard) I used the scrubby side of the sponge.

This method works great for any plastic surface or glass, and it must be a non-porous surface. Otherwise, it will be unsuccessful. I did this method on my powder-coated steel desk...left a white bleached stain mark. Works great on linolium too!

I Want Good Old American OTC Drugs.

So we are sick, YET again. I don't know how often I write about it, but seriously it has to stop. I think it is every other week.

We got the case of the sniffles, sneezing, coughing, and sore throat. Little Perry is like Stan on South Park and randomly barfs a tablespoon. Since he is only 9 months he thinks it is amazing... and smears the whole thing everywhere before I can catch him to wipe it down.

I am running out of my American kid's medicine, for example, tylenol cold for kids. There isn't much a selection in Sweden, so I usually stock up when I visit NY. I am down on my last few tablespoons... and I am trying to use it only in emergencies.

I miss having Sudafed. I need some Sudafed! WHY DON'T THEY SELL IT HERE! I always have to fly solo without medicine. Asprin keeps me sane so I can at least take care of the kids without passing out.

I just hope it will clear up before this weekend since I have to work.

Here is a pic of Puke Perry, haha (just realized it sounds like Luke Perry)

Housekeeping Tip #2: Oiling Indoor Furniture

My kitchen table is an unfinished oak table. Every few weeks I have to oil it in with some kind of wood oil treatment. I've bought a few cans before but they cost a good $15 each can. A can can last maybe 3 months?

First of all, I like to be thrifty and use the things I have at home. It is a plus if it is a safe product for the kids.

Olive oil is great! I use it for many different things, but using it to oil down my table works wonders.

Pour the needed amount on the table and just wipe it down with a good paper towel or cloth. I use a nice yellow kitchen sponge since it is easy to clean out and it doesn't waste the oil.

Let the oil settle in over night, or at least a few hours. Then in the morning, wipe it dry with a dry paper towel.

The table will look like new.

Here is a picture of my table soaking in the olive oil.

Housekeeping Tip #1: Stainless Steel Appliances.

Do you own any Stainless Steel Appliances in your kitchen?

They are a hassle to polish or to wipe off. If you have kids, fingerprints will drive you crazy. Also, it can be expensive to buy any special polishes, not to mention, dangerous to the environment and to your children if ingested.

My trick is to use a little olive oil.

Use a good cloth or rag; I prefer Microfiber clothes.
Pour a dab, maybe a teaspoon size, on the cloth and wipe down the surface until it is wiped clean. If needed, add more and continue.

This will maintain the shine of the stainless steel, as well prevent any mild fingerprints. It also lessens the frequency to dust.

The Line up.

Today was a calm day. No major incidents or accidents.
I figured that I would do a fun test.

I find that my boys all look the same when they were young.
Can you tell which is which?

Elliot's gonna knock you out!

After daycare today, I picked up Elliot and Morgan, and the thing most parents dread...happened.

I was told that Elliot punched a boy in the eye.

There is no real good response, when a teacher gives you a report like that. What do you say? Sorry? I'll talk to him? He's 3 and understands things to a degree. He knew he did something wrong, cause when I asked him if he was a good boy today at the daycare, he nodded his head "no".

Morgan explained later, that they were play fighting, and Elliot took it to the next level. He didn't know any better but he did land a nice punch in the poor boy's eye, which made him cry and want to go home immediately.

I felt awful, since there is so much one can do. Plus the guilt is crazy since the parents on the other side usually are furious. It really gives Elliot a bad reputation. He becomes the boy who hits. Morgan was the boy who bites, at that age.

Any ideas? Time outs, punishments, and explanation works to a degree, but the only thing that I noticed is that they have to grow out of that phase.

I made a "sorry" card and stuck a lollipop in it for the other boy. Elliot signed it and drew a stick figure.. hopefully it'll help make the boy feel better.

Hydrangeas Part2

So as you know, I bought a hydrangea this past week. I noticed that there was some spoiled foliage at the base of the plant, and I found some mold, probably from all the dampness in the plastic packaging.

I tried to dry it up by placing it in the sunlight and removing most of the dead and moldy leaves, but the past few days my poor little guy got sadder and sadder.

I am scared that it is a fungal disease and not root rot. I hear that they won't die of fungal disease, but they will be sad for a long while. Does anyone know any good tricks to perk up the little guy?

On a side note, I think the kids trampled on my hydrangeas I planted in the front of the house. Mainly because the snow kinda hid it, and when they are playing in the snow, it is hard to notice. I hope they survive, but one really got battered. *sigh*

Kalles Kaviar (Kalle's Caviar)

In Sweden, you can eat tubed Caviar called Kalles Kaviar.
It is a paste made of cod and sej? (dunno what it is called in English) eggs, with a mixture of potato starch and other misc ingredients. I find that it tastes bizarre, and prefer the real thing, but my children love it.

Elliot eats it every day for breakfast. I mean EVERYDAY! The gross part is that he doesn't just eat it on a piece of toast with butter. He wants (in this order) butter, caviar, slice of cheese, and a slice of bologna (lördagskorv). It is a disgusting combo, even my Swedish friends agree.

But that is how he likes it, and that is how he eats it everyday.
Good thing I have a semi-normal child, Morgan. He eats his toast with cream cheese. HAHA!