Good Golly Miss Molly! A Hand Soap Review! :)

Hey everyone!  Guess what?  I am once again trying out for a new gig.  As you might know, I reviewed for the TOS (The Old Schoolhouse) Crew for three years and loved it, but this year I decided it was time to take a little break.  Things are getting crazy (okay, crazier) around here with six kids still being homeschooled, as well as all of them growing up and getting involved in millions of activities.  Okay, so it's nowhere near millions, but some days it feels like it.  I feel like I pretty much have the homeschooling down to a science; it's the housework and cooking that suffers.

Enter Molly Green.  Who is Molly Green, you might ask?  She's the ultimate frugal, creative housewife!  She's the head of Molly Green/Econobusters, a sister company TOS, but she focuses more on the home ec side of things rather than the homeschool side of things.   So, I thought this just might be the perfect fit.  If I end up on the review team, I'll be reviewing things like cleaning supplies, household items, and maybe even some food.  Yum!  (Oh, and I might also add that Molly is a cartoon!  LOL)

So "Molly" asked if I'd post a sample review.  I decided to share about a homemaking product that we all absolutely love.  It's Family Dollar aloe vera moisturizing hand soap!  (The bottle actually says that you can compare it to Softsoap (R) aloe vera handsoap.)  I hadn't used liquid soap for years assuming my kids would go crazy with it and waste it.  A few months ago, I decided to go ahead and give it a shot.  So, I picked up a 7.5 oz bottle one day for a dollar.  (Be still my frugal heart!) I was thrilled to find it because it's one of very few handsoaps I've found that is not antibacterial.  I'm allergic to anti-bacterial soap, and it makes my hands break out. So I was a happy girl.  (And the kids have actually been good with it!)

I love this soap because it's definitely not cheap and runny, has a pleasant scent, and makes my hands nice and soft.  I wash my hands a lot, and I love that it doesn't make them dry.  When we recently ran out, I bought another brand that was just awful.  It was very thin and runny and just didn't do the job.  Well, maybe it did, but it sure didn't feel like it.  Okay, so I'm not a scientist, but there is something about having nice, thick, soapy bubbles that makes you feel clean.  :)   I can vouch for the fact that the Family Dollar aloe vera soap does clean amazingly well.  Sane Man has been working on our vehicles a lot, and the soap cleans all the grease and oil off his hands like a charm.  Normally he has to use a special mechanic's soap when he works on cars, but so far this has been all that he has needed.  He was really amazed at how well this soap works! 

We've also found that this soap is great at getting stains out of clothing.  I don't know if that means it's harsh, but it doesn't seem to be.  Since our laundry chute is in the bathroom, every time one of us gets something on our clothing (you know, like once or twice a day, lol) I just clean it really well with the soap and throw it down the chute.  So far I've had great success.  I've even tried it on a few set in stains.  I can't say it works every time, but I've had at least as much success with it as I've had with any other stain remover. 

We love Family Dollar's aloe vera handsoap so much that we are now buying the 64 oz. refill bottles.  I pick up all they have of it in stock when we get down to one bottle, and my husband told me to see if I can order a case!  So, yeah, we like it.  :)

I'd also like to add that Family Dollar actually sells other handsoaps including clear, antibacterial, milk and honey, and shea butter.  I cannot vouch for any of the other soaps, not having tried them, but I am thinking of trying the shea butter as I have used other shea butter products and love how they feel.  If I find something else to love, I'll let ya know!

Recap:

The product:  Family Dollar aloe vera handsoap

Where to get it:  Family Dollar  :)

The pros:  This soap in inexpensive, but feels like an expensive soap, leaves your hands soft and clean, has a nice scent, and even gets stains out of your clothing!  Also, for those who don't want an antibacterial soap, this is a great choice!

The cons:  I find nothing not to like about this soap; however, it is not antibacterial if that is something you prefer.  (They do carry an antibacterial soap, but I have not tried it.)

The bottom line:  The pump bottle is only $1.00 and the refill is only $3.65.  What a bargain!  :)

Rating*:  Home Run!

Check it out yourself at a Family Dollar near you.  To find the nearest location, click here.

"Disclosure of Material Connection: I bought and paid for this product myself, have no connection to Family Dollar other than the fact that I shop there, and have received no compensation for this review.  I just liked it so much, I thought I'd let you know."

*Rating Scale

Home Run!  This product is totally awesome, and I'd recommend it to anyone!

Triple!  This product is great, and I think almost anyone would like it.

Double! This product is good, and it would probably work for some people, but not everyone.

Single!  This is an okay product that some people might like, but I wouldn't recommend it for most people.

Strike Out!  This is not a good product, and I could not, in good conscience, recommend it to anyone. 


Happy lathering!  :)

Hoarder/Keeper Challenge. I FORGOT!!!

Oh, no!!!  Yesterday I did some shopping and started organizing stuff for the coming school year, AND I FORGOT TO GID RID OF MY WAL*MART BAG OF STUFF!!!  So, today I have to do two. :)  So, what am I doin' on  here talking to you?  I'd better get going! 

How are YOU doing with our little challenge?

The Homeschool Hoarder/Keeper Challenge!!!

I have decided to take a suggestion from another homeschool mom, Jennifer, to make a goal for myself to get rid of one Wal*Mart (or other store) bag full of stuff every day.  I have set my own goal for this week.  I did fill a bag yesterday, and I have started a new bag today.  I am going to go for six day straight, so I'll end on Saturday.  Maybe I'll even do it again next week!

Will you join me?

I'm not saying you have to get rid of a bag of stuff everyday.  You can, if you'd like.  Or create your own goal!  If you blog about it, post the link in my comments, and I'll create a special post with the link (or links if more than one does this.) 

So clean, de-clutter, post, and link.  That's it!  :)

Happy homemaking!

Yikes! I Just Watched Hoarders! (Part 3)

Okay, it's been a while, but I am finally back to write some more about hoarding.  Well, not so much hoarding, but just, uh, let's call it "keeping."  I like that because that makes me a keeper, as in "Crazy Mom's a keeper."  LOL

Before I get to the today's topic at hand, which is how being frugal leads to hoarding, uh, keeping, I thought I'd explain the above photo.  This is one of my little hoarder pockets.  You see, my son had cleaned out the van.  Now, when my kids or Sane man "clean out" a vehicle, what they really do is contain the mess in garbage bags which they bring in the house for ME to sort through and put away.  So, in reality, I am cleaning out the van, though they don't see it that way.

So, anyway, my son Dode Man cleaned out the van and left everything in a laundry basket.  Then he did it again and put it all in a bag.  There were a couple of other bags from other such endeavors and they were in my dining room.  Appetizing, huh?  Well, they had been there for a while, so I thought I'd condense them all into an overflowing basket, take a picture, and show you one of my little projects.  My initial intent was to also take a pic of the empty basket, but I never did.  I'm sure if you try very hard you can imagine what it looked like.  LOL

Now onto the frugal thing.  :)

So, I came out from the womb frugal.  It's in my blood, and it's just the way I am.  It's the one good thing I actually picked up from my mom.  You see, my mom is thin, energetic, organized, and in ten times better health than me, and she is 82 years old.  I figure I was born backwards so I got the reverse of everything she is.  That's my theory, anyway.  However, the frugal thing must have already been transmitted to me through the umbilical cord, so frugal I am.

Now, being frugal is normally a good thing.  Because I'm frugal I don't go out and buy tons of stuff.   I think my sister got that one.  If she finds a shirt she likes, she'll buy it in every color.  She gives me bags of hand-me-down stuff and there will be like eight black sweaters in the bag only slightly different.  And this is the stuff she is getting rid of!  BUT, she is also neat and organized and has a huge walk-in closet, so it's not really a problem for her.  I do like a good sale though.  I do sometimes stock up on things, like today I bought 12 deodorants because they were 99 cents, but that isn't really my problem either. 

So if I'm frugal, and don't buy loads and loads of stuff, how have I become a "keeper?"  Well, I have a really hard time getting rid of stuff!  I mean, you know, I might use it some day.  For example, I have a really hard time getting rid of clothes.  If it has a stain or tear, it can still be "work" clothes.  If' it's a tad small, I'll lose the weight.  (Yeah, right!)  Now, like I said, I don't buy tons of clothes, but over the years I have gotten bags and bags and bags and bags of them.  Even when my kids had more than enough of them, I'd still take them.  After all, I have eight kids, right?

And books.  I love books!  But I have only two large bookcases and a storage cabinet.  I also have about five bookshelves worth of books.  The bookcases are where I keep most of my curriculum, but I have baskets and Rubbermaids (c) of books everywhere.  Of course, if I actually want to read one, I haven't a clue where it is.    So, what do I do?  I sign up to do book reviews!  LOL  So now more and more books show up my mailbox on a regular basis.   

I guess when I really think about it, most of my "keeper" issues are with clothes and books. 

Soooo.....  here's how I am dealing with it.  :)

As far as clothes go, I have made a new rule for myself.  I no longer accept bags of clothes.  Recently I made the mistake of letting someone give me some clothes for my girls.  Now, I had pretty much only been given boys clothes, because I have six boys.  So I said I'd take them.  Well, what I got was like a dozen bags of clothes!  It took quite some time to get through them all.  I mean, I was blessed, for sure, but wow, I just was way overwhelmed.  So, when someone offers me clothes I ask if them have what I specifically need, or if possible, I go through the bag, get what I want, and give the rest back.  I just don't have the space or time to sort through a lot of clothes.  Also, I have been trying to bag up as much as possible that we don't use.  I need to be the one giving the clothes away!

As for books, I simply have decided the make full use of the library.  My son loves a series on Christian heroes which I just assumed the library wouldn't carry, so I've been buying them up.  However, on a whim, I decided to see if I could, in fact, borrow them.  Well, surprise, surprise!  They have the books.  Now to get rid of the books we no longer need.  This will be a seriously long and arduous task.  It must be done, however, and I'm going to do it.  One day.  :)

Oh, I did think of one more thing I have trouble with.  It's with throwing away things that seem valuable, but that I don't need.  For example, those ever so versatile margarine tubs, or a nice pickle jar.  I didn't have to make any rules about this one, however, because my city recently started an awesome recycling plan.  I mean, I'm no greenie, but I LOVE recycling.  I can throw stuff away without really "wasting" it.  We actually fill up a 96 gallon bin of recyclables each and ever week.  Yeah, it really, really, helps.  I mean, I did throw the stuff away before, but it always felt somehow "wrong."  Now, it feels so "right."  Yes, I do realize I'm a bit odd.  ;)  (Okay, really, really, odd.)

So, that's it.  I am frugal, and it makes me a keeper.  Are you frugal?  How does it work for or against you when you are trying to clean and organize your home?  Any tips to share with the rest of us?  Please do tell!

Searching for Buried Treasure!!!

You know the commerical that asks, "What's in your wallet?" Well, I'd like to ask you, "What's under your couch cushions?"

I used to try to keep things clean under my couch cushions. Several years ago I had a weekly meeting in my home. Each Wednesday I would make sure to dutifully clean and even vacuum under each cushion. There was one time I didn't get to it, and wouldn't you know, some friends brought their sick kid to the meetin who proceeded to throw up right in the corner of my couch. It was clean up the puke myself and avoid letting them see what was lurking under there, or let them do it and expose myself. Well, in that case, I chose the latter, but any other time I would be just horrified if anyone saw what was actually under there. That is, until now. I see the junk under the couch cushions in a whole new light!

It's amazing how helpful it has been to keep that treasure trove just as it is! The other day I needed a pencil. I reached my hand in the cushion and "Voila!" there was a pencil! Then my husband yelled that his comb was missing as he rushed to get ready for work. I reach in my trusty treasure stash, and "Tada!" there was a comb! The other day my daughter had a great time. She decided to reach in to see what she could find. Wouldn't you know, she came up with two miniature Mr. Goodbars and a Starkist candy! What fun! So you see, you have to look at things in a different light. Now, whenever I need something, a pencil, comb, nail clippers, ponytail holder or midnight snack, I just reach on into my trusty couch and I am never disappointed. Just don't bring over any sick kids.

Take that cleanies!!!

~The Crazy Mom

Yikes! I Just Watched Hoarders! (Part 2)

So, I think I struck a nerve.  I am not the only homeschool mom out there with hoarder tendencies.  As a matter of fact, if you read the comments from my last post, you'll see that I have come up with a new idea for a reality show called Homeschool Hoarders.  LOL  It does seem that we homeschoolers have a little more hoarder in us than the average mom.  Not all of us, of course, but how many homeschoolers do you know that don't seem to more books then they have space for?  Seems to be a pretty common problem.  Homeschooling means you not only have a home in your house, but a school too.  Then consider that there are many homeschool families out there that have bigger than average families, and, well, you have the makings of a perfect storm.

So, after thinking about I have added a few more reasons why I have to fight against hoarding.  Here is my now updated list.

• I'm frugal.
• I'm sentimental.
• I procrastinate.
• I'm disorganized.
• I'm a people pleaser and just WAY too nice.  (Here the kids snickering?)
•  I homeschool.
• I have ten people living in a small house.
• My house is dysfunctional.  (I mean the actual house.  LOL)

You'll notice, I added that my house is dysfunctional.  I have an old house that doesn't really have much closet or storage space.  The only closet on the main floor is one small closet in my room.  This means no coat closet and no linen closet.  The bathroom is tiny and consists of a tub, sink, and toilet.  There is no vanity.  There are no cabinets.  In other words, there is very little space to organize stuff.  It's Hoarders waiting to happen. 

I do do some things right.  Some things are done every day.  For example, in the kitchen, the dishwasher is loaded and unloaded twice (at least) everyday.  The counters are wiped down, the sink in cleaned out, the floor is swept, and the trash is taken out.  Two loads of laundry are done, that is washed, not necessarily folded and put away.  :)  In the bathroom the sink is wiped out, the faucets are shined, the floor is cleaned and swept, and the trash is emptied.  The couches and chair are cleared in the living room,  the hearth straightened up, the table cleared, and the floor swept/vacuumed.  The dining room floor is swept and the dining room table cleared (usually, unless there is laundry on it, which has been the case lately.)  My bed is made and the floor is cleared and swept on Sane Man's side per his request.  (He doesn't like to get crunchies on his feet after taking a shower, go figure.)  But all this seems to be undone as fast as it's done.  Actually, about ten times faster.  It also seems to consume a considerable amount of time every day.  This means the other areas of the house become neglected.  This is where the little "hoarder pockets" start to grow.

So the plan is this.  I will take each of the items on my list and blog about how I am conquering in this area.  I will also be looking for input as to how to do better in that area.  I want to hear your ideas.  Let's do this together!!! 

The next post will be about how being frugal, while a great thing, can lead to hoarding.  I hope to post it at the beginning of next week.  So, please think about this and come back so that you can comment with your ideas.  Also, if you happened to post about it on your own blog, leave the link and we'll all learn from each other! 

Well, I suppose I'd better get back to my little hoarder pockets now.  Maybe I'll even take some pics!  Ewwww......    :)

Yikes! I just watched Hoarders!

Have you seen Hoarders?  It's a reality show on the A & E Network about, well, hoarders.  LOL  In other words, these are folks who take messy to a whole new level.  Now, I don't have cable, but we recently bought a BLU-RAY player which came with a free subscription to Netflix.  I'd always wanted to see the show, and Netflix has it as an instant download, so this was my big chance to watch it. 

Wow.

I thought I was a messy gal.  I AM a messy gal.  I have messy kids.  But I am not a hoarder.  I don't have a house full of expired food, empty wine bottles, rotten pumpkins, or dead cats.  So, watching Hoarders should make me feel better, right?  WRONG!  Know why?  Because I see that I have great potential!  LOL  What drives these people to become hoarders lives in me.  Yes, I have self-diagnosed myself as having hoarder tendencies.  Here's a list I've come up with as to why I feel this way.

• I'm frugal. 
• I'm sentimental.
• I procrastinate.
• I'm disorganized. 
• I'm a people pleaser and just WAY too nice.  (Hear the kids snickering?)

Because of these things I tend spend hours cleaning with little tangible results.  Now, if I have a few hours I can make this place fairly presentable for company.  The four main rooms on the main floor pretty much get cleaned every day.  They never get so bad that we can't tidy them up with a little concentrated effort.  That being said, I still rarely have anyone over.  It's just too darn stressful for me. Another problem I have is that I tend to put off fun stuff, like getting together with friends, visiting relatives, or just going to the park because "I should really just stay home and clean."  My house is like a ball and chain that keeps me tied down.   I need to really take a look at that list above and figure out a way overcome these issues so that I can be free.  My house should serve me, not the other way around. 

Will you join me for this journey?  Maybe you're have a little bit of hoarder in you too, or maybe even a lot!  Or maybe you used to and have overcome.  Or maybe you don't get this at all and can just be here to encourage me to keep on keepin' on!  My plan is to do a little series on what is causing me to be a messy and what I can do about it.  I have no real plan, I'm just winging it, but I do plan to check in a few times a week to let you know my progress.  I do hope you'll come along beside me.  I always work better with a friend.  :)