Springing Into Action

Last year I started a landscaping project, next to the driveway. When we moved into our house almost nine years ago, this space was a beautiful butterfly garden. Over the years, the monkey grass took over! The first thing I did was clear the plot, it quickly turned from a simple project into a monumental task. And that was just clearing!

After nearly a week, I finally got my plot ready to be transformed. And it's still waiting. It's spring again, and I'm ready to get the job done. I would love for it to look like the second picture, or something similar. To be honest, I don't know what I want it to look like. What I do know is, I want it to be pretty, and inviting to butterflies again. Anything is better than exhibit "A."

I've said before, I DO NOT posses a green thumb, but I'm willing to try. Calling in professionals is not an option. I want this to be a DIY, project I can be proud of... even if it takes me all summer. Stay tuned! 

Still... No Green Thumb

Last Spring, I shared that I Do.Not.Have.A.Green.Thumb. In 2011, nothing has changed. I still don't have a green thumb, and that picture is proof!

We received the plant this summer and it was beautiful, full and green. Now it's missing several leaves, and as you can see... dieing slowly. Many plants before it have met the same demise. But I told myself, this time I would do better. And I've tried, really I have.

I have two other plants, both philodendron's. They're no nonsense, and are like roaches. No matter what I do, or don't do to them they just won't die. I love that about them. Now, I'm on a mission to save this poor defensive plant. I'm open to suggestions.

I don't know, why I'm not a plant person. If it were a child, it would be a total different story. Maybe if it cried, talked, or pooped, it would get more attention.

In 30 Days

I forgot to mention, one of my favorite books, and movies is "Where The Heart Is." Years ago, Oprah was raving about the movie, and the book had been on her book club list. What drew me to the book... Nova Lee, the main character, lived 6 weeks in a Wal-Mart!

Since reading the book, and watching the movie, I've wanted to stay at least a few nights in Wal-Mart. I think I'm adding that to my bucket list!

How often do you visit your favorite store?

No Green Thumb... But I'll Try My Hand

Our house is heavily landscaped, (it came with the house), and I've had NOTHING to do with it. It's very beautiful, and really adds curb appeal. I learned that from HGTV!

Since we moved in nearly 8 years ago, all I've had to do is wait for Spring. The flowers, and greenery just come back. It's done so well without ANY HELP from me, and I'm so grateful.

Last Spring, one area started looking a little... hmmm... how do I put it?! Over grown, maybe? It started becoming over run by everything but pretty.

This Spring... see for your self!


There are a few trees sprouting. Do you see the in the middle of the picture? It's just sitting there like it BELONGS! In addition to the tree, rogue monkey grass, and weeds are taking over. And in the mix there are a few perennials.

Perennial fighting to stay alive. Poor thing!

This year I'm going to make that plot pretty again! This is where I should confess. All but two plants I've EVER had, have died on me. The two that haven't died, I have now. They're not alive because of me. I think they have a STRONG will to live.

Mr. Husband keeps the yard well manicured, and looking very nice. Actually, he's anal about his grass! We CAN NOT walk on it! And I'd like to make a contribution to the beauty of our yard.

I consulted my friend "P," who's is a home and garden expert. She gave me a few tips on beautifying my plot.

• Pull up monkey grass
• Mow & hoe
• Spray Grass Be Gone, and wait a few days
• Add pete moss
• And plant!

Sounds simple enough right? We shall see!

Who's The Test Monkey, Now?!

It's American Heart Month, and this week I had an echo cardiogram, (ultra sound of my heart), along with a nuclear stress test. How odd is that!

Monday, I was scheduled to do both, but before I went to the hospital for the test, I had a sip of Coke. Okay, more than a sip, but it was only a half a cup. No one called, or wrote to tell me caffeine is a no-no. I had the echo, and rescheduled the stress test for today.

Male nurse explained all that would take place, gave me an injection, and sent me on my way for an hour. I found my way to the cafeteria, where I started writing this post, people watching, and observed the omelet lady.

I'll save my people watching for another post. You wouldn't BELIEVE what I saw!!!

Finally, it was time for me to go back to the waiting room. A huge semi MRI looking machine took pictures of my heart, while I laid on a table, with my arms over my head. I could move my arms, and my feet, just not my chest. What?! Keep very still, in other words.

Do you know how hard it is to lay in that position without moving? An itch was growing on the inside of my thigh, and then my shoulder started to hurt. I wanted to fall asleep, I tried to fall asleep. As soon as I dozed off, the scan was over.

I was then sat in the hall, to wait for the stress part of the test, and was nervous as hell. Five years ago, I had a nuclear stress test, OMG! I was injected with the medicine, and my heart went from 0 - 60 in the matter of seconds. This lasted for about four minutes. I thought my eyes would pop out of my head, and I would pass out! A nurse held my hand, and talked to me the entire time. So I was not looking forward to that again!

Male nurse, and a nice young lady nurse were attending to me, but there were also two others lurking. After I was all hooked up, and Male nurse explained the process. Female lurker went on to say, today's test wouldn't be as stressful as the past stress test. There is a new medicine, that does the same thing, but with less affects. Today was the first time the hospital was administering this medicine for the stress test. She and the other lurker were there to over see the procedures today. Had I not had that Coke Monday, I would have gotten the almost pee in your pants, stress test.

Whew, I didn't get the whammy stress test!

When a new restaurant opens, I wait... and let them master the dishes. When a new tech product comes out, I wait... and let others work through the bugs. Today, I ended up the test monkey!

For information on living heart healthy, visit the American Heart Association's website.

Not For Hands!

For as long as I can remember, my hands have been rough. I've never had soft feminine hands. With the recent cold weather, along with the hundreds of times a day I wash my hands, they've gotten worse. My hands were not only dry, but cracky, peeling and scratching every thing I touch!

I had this great idea! I have them from time to time, and some times... they really are great ideas. Other times not so much. Any who.

Dr. Oz said, exfoliating and moisturizing is the key to younger looking skin. While in the mirror doing my morning ritual, thanks to Dr. Oz, I saw Mr. Husband's Ped Egg. This is when the light bulb moment hit me. Why not Ped Egg my hands?!

Wow!!! I was amazed at what was coming off my hands. And I continued. But... I was careful not to over do it. I didn't want my hands sore and all. Finally finished, I washed my hands and moisturized. Soft, and feminine. Mr. Husband even said so. Then...

I started dinner. While in the kitchen preparing dinner, I washed my hands a few times, without moisturizing. Soft, and feminine quickly turned to prickly, and scratchy. And my thumb was sore!

Since then I've used the sand paper bottom of the Ped Egg, and have gone through an entire travel tube of Cocoa Butter lotion. It's not easy keeping your hands moisturized when you're next door to being a germ-a-phob, and wash your hands a lot. Not obsessive, but a lot.

There should be a warning on Ped Eggs. NOT FOR HANDS!

Skin Rejuvenation

I love watching The Dr. Oz show. It's full of information, the everyday person can take away, and actually use. Last month I decided to take him at face value, literally.

Dr. Oz claimed it took only nine days to get younger looking skin. At 41-years-old, I would like to look as young as I possibly can, for as long as I can. The process is simple, use an exfoliating cleanser to remove dead skin cells, and moisturize.

I've said before, I look much younger than 41. In my mind, I'm more like 26. Again, I'd like to remain as young looking as I can! Actually, I've been fortunate to have great genes.

Background:
My ritual, until recently has been washing my face with Dove soap, and using my body lotion on my face. That's it. There's no method to my madness, just chasing away dry patches. The area between the eyebrows that tend to flake up, is the worst. Anywho... Dr. Oz says, by removing dead skin cells, our skin looks brighter, and reflects light better. It also allows the regeneration of new skin cells.

Method:
I kept it simple! Armed with an Olay coupon, I purchased their Regenerist, daily regenerating cleaner. In plain sight it read exfoliates, that's what I needed. For the moisturizer, I picked up Wal-Mart's version of Oil of Olay, Equate Beauty Lotion, with an SPF of 15.

Results:
I know it's now more than nine days, more like a month. No one I see on a day to day basis, my students, children, or Mr. Husband, has stopped me to say I look younger. But I have taken notice of some changes of my own. My skin is softer, and those dry patches at my eyebrows, haven't been as dry. The pores on either side of my nose that were getting bigger, and bigger, at least in my eyes, have gotten smaller.

For the record, I do think I look younger, maybe 24ish. That's knocking off two years. Will I continue this process? You bet! By the time I turn 50, who knows, I might look like a teenager again.

I like to call this, my skin rejuvenation experiment. I didn't have to go to a pricey spa, or spend a lot of money on ground breaking serums. And I'm thankful, my skin rejuvenation process didn't end like Sammy Sosa's! Oh, MY!

Photo Credit: msnbc.com

Household Experiment

My daughters friend has three very adorable children. 'The Babies,' are two girls, three and one and-a-half, and a six month old boy. When I'm in need of a baby fix, we (my children and I) pick them up, and love on them for a few hours.

Saturday, like always my children were smothering, and fussing all over them. The oldest wanted to color, and Baby Girl, gave both toddlers crayons. The three-year-old colored on her paper, and the other on the wall.

Immediately, I got on the Internet and searched, "How to remove crayon from walls." Clicking on the first item that popped up, it suggested three methods of removal. And the science experiment began.

#1 Finger nail polish remover:
Finger nail polish DOES NOT remove purple crayon from walls. What it does remove is PAINT!
Now there is a brown patch, (the wall), where blue paint used to be. BUSTED

#2 - A hair dryer, and dish washing liquid:
The dryer should have melted, or softened the crayon, making it easy for the soap to just wash it off. That didn't happen either. The heat only caused the crayon to run. BUSTED

#3 - Mr. Clean Magic Eraser
While I tried numbers one and two, my oldest daughter went to the store to buy Mr. Clean Magic Eraser. Just as the name boasts, it works like magic! I didn't have to use a lot of elbow grease, or stand on my head and scrub for 20 minutes. It worked quickly, and like a charm!
From now on, Mr. Clean Magic Eraser will be on hand for the tough stuff! WORKED

Shortly after removing the crayon, I redecorated slightly! That ficus tree that I wanted to get rid of is no longer in the den. It has now taken up residence in the library, covering the naked spot on the wall. And Mr. Husband, who was at work, is none the wiser. SHhh!