Piddle Puddles and No Solution...

No cleaning solution, that is!  In my last post, I told you all about the awesome $1 Handy Shammy from Dollar Tree as a reusable cleaning pad for the Swiffer WetJet. I, Cherish Anderson, am in love.  With the WetJet.  I use it ALL the time around the house!  This leads me to my current post.  There's only so much cleaning solution in those little bottles, and the refills are not cheap.  So, I set out on the internet in search of a way to open the bottle to put my own cleaning solution in.  Of course Swiffer doesn't want people refilling the bottles, because they'll lose money that way, but I knew there was a way to get it off.  I found an awesome tutorial on Youtube.  You can pretty much find anything on Youtube.  I must give credit where credit is due, so here's the video.



So, carefully stick the cap of the bottle into boiling water for ten seconds.  Use a dish towel to twist the cap off.  It worked like a charm!

I decided to fill mine with white vinegar diluted with a little bit of water.  It's known for its disinfecting and deodorizing qualities.  I twisted the cap back on and popped it right back into the Swiffer.  I cleaned up the floors.  They sparkle!  Once it dried, it didn't smell like vinegar anymore.  In fact, it didn't smell like anything, which is just the way I like it.  I'm also not afraid to use it on the floor and let Sprocket go in there after.  It's just vinegar, after all, so it won't hurt anything.  Awesome!  Way cheaper than going out and buying the refills.  I'm not sure how many times you can refill the bottle, but if it works a second time, I'll be sure to let you know!

Piddle Puddles and a Handy Shammy

Guess what!  We got a puppy!  He's a pug.  We (I) named him Sprocket.  He's adorable.  As you know, puppies are a lot of work.  Sometimes, they have accidents in the house.  We've been training Sprocket to go potty in the bathroom just in case he can't hold it and we're not home to take him outside.  He has piddle pads, but he misses more often than he makes it on the pad.

A few months ago, we decided to get a Swiffer WetJet.  It's pretty awesome!  It's way easier than mopping on hands and knees, and you don't have to move a mop and bucket of water to each place that needs to be mopped.  As you can imagine, with piddle puddles on the bathroom floor, I've been Swiffering a lot more often than I used to.  The refill packs are a little bit too expensive for my frugal tastes.  While perusing the Dollar Tree a few days ago, I stumbled upon perhaps one of the greatest finds ever: the Handy Shammy.

I though to myself, "Hmm.  I wonder if that would stick to the WetJet.  It's only $1, and if it doesn't, I can still use it around the house."  I decided not to pick it up at the moment.  After cleaning up several more puddles, I asked my husband if he would go back to Dollar Tree and pick one up.  I cut it to fit the Swiffer.  Guess what.  It stuck!  

The Shammy towels are big enough to cut two pads for the WetJet.  Bryce purchased two of them.  I LOVE them!  They absorb the cleaning solution really well, and they pick up more dirt than the original WetJet pads.  The best part about them is that you can throw them in the washer and reuse them!  Wash them in warm water with no fabric softener.  Lay them out to dry.  The directions are right on the packaging.  They're more durable than microfiber cloth, too.  So, there you have it, $2 for a total of four reusable WetJet pads.  Every thrifty bone in my body rejoices!

Spit Happens

Annabelle learned how to make spit bubbles.  As you may already know, this is a valuable skill for every 11-week-old.  This is what we do with our Friday nights, and we wouldn't change a thing.

Plights of a Stay-at-Home Mom

 I have been blessed.  I have a beautiful baby girl, and an amazing husband.  He works so hard to provide for our family.  Because of him, I've been able to stay at home with our baby to tend to her needs and watch her grow.  Even though I wouldn't change a thing, I do miss him terribly while he's away.  When I worked outside of my home, I still missed him, but there weren't constant reminders that he was away.  At home, it feels a little empty.  Anyway, enough of this.  I'll be a blubbering idiot if I keep going.  I'll just share a song.  I can't wait for the end of the day to come.

Sunday Stroll

Today was such a beautiful day!  We decided to take advantage of the lovely weather, so we packed up the diaper bag and went for a walk.  It's only 1.3 miles from our house to Grandma and Grandpa's house.  Baby Belle enjoyed the ride there so much that she took a snooze.  We didn't stop and smell any roses.  We just trekked over.

She spent some time with Grandpa Phil.  She also played with Aunt Meg and Grandma Terci, but we didn't get any pictures.  We will next time!

We had a lovely time on the walk home...

...and then a neighbor tried to start her car.  Yikes!

I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday than with family.

Sock it to Me

Yesterday, I grew up just a little bit more.  Do you know what I did?

Guess!  Come on, just GUESS!

Alright.  I'll tell you.  I matched my socks.  Yes, every single sock is now with its "proper" mate.  Any sock without a match went where all single socks go: in a sack, in the trash can.

My mother would be proud.

In a Nutshell

Well, since I'm such a TERRIBLE blogger, I must update with my life in a nutshell.  Here we go!

February 14, 2011 - Bryce, my boyfriend, became my fiancé.  He proposed, and I said, "Yes!"

This was absolutely NOT posed. They pulled me out of bed. :)

June 29, 2011 - I married Bryce, the man of my dreams.  It's was the most beautiful, perfect day.  We even got a little bit of rain.

My family!
(Little Sis, Mom, Me, Bryce, Dad, Little Bro)

WE'RE PREGNANT!  I'll spare you all of the pregnancy details.  It had its ups and downs, but it was SO worth it!

Ready to pop! 40 weeks pregnant.

February 13, 2012 - Today was my sister's birthday.  I gave her the best present ever, a niece!  Our princess, Annabelle, was born at 7:58 P.M.  She weighed 8 lbs. 2.5 ounces, and she was 19.5 inches long.  We were so happy to finally meet her, and she was absolutely perfect.

Just a few minutes old

February 15, 2012 - We had our first family portrait taken.

February 16, 2012 - We got to go home!

March 4, 2012 - We got to give her her first real bath in Grandma's sink.  She loved it!

April 6, 2012 - We caught her first BIG smile.

April 18, 2012 - She fits into 3-6 month clothing. Oye!

And here's me!

I promise to do better at blogging!  Now that I have more to blog about than just boring, ol' me, I think it will be easier.  I would love to have you along for the ride!