Smart & Easy Spring Cleaning from SC Johnson

I am a buzz agent for this website called bzzagent.com . They recently sent me a kit from SC Johnson to try out some of their new and reinvented products.

The first one here is the Glade Limited  Edition Spring Collection jar candle. The scent I received was Sparkle of Spring. And boy do I feel like spring in my kitchen!! The scent is just right for my kitchen area. I didn't want the scent too intrusive for my kitchen area, like I was baking cookies or even vanilla-I feel that should be for Christmas time. This smells just like you walked into someones kitchen and they just spring cleaned everything in it. Smells sooo fresh and again clean.
 
The second item is the Glade plugin scented oil refill, and the scent is crisp waters. Now the catch with the scented oil is that it IS really strong, not bad, but can be too much for a small room. It's better for a living room, maybe a larger bathroom or really STINKY one, or even an entry way for that WOW feeling someone will get when they walk into your home and smell freshness. I placed mine in the dining area because it is connected to my living room and kitchen. A lot of people seem to pass this general area. I have a smaller entry, so I didn't want to over do it. Well all I can say- is this is a great way to get a strong smell in your home. In my past experiences, they last about 3 weeks and then you should get another refill.

The third item is Pledge lemon clean aerosol spray. I don't know about you, but Pledge is a classic in our home. Who doesn't have pledge in their home? I have been using this since I was a kid, of course with a different label but who knew you could clean sooo much with it. I only knew it to clean wood growing up, but OH NO not anymore! This can is such a versatile can! I use it to clean my stainless steel appliances-and yes no streaks. I use it to wipe the dust off my washer and dryer, of course dust wood around my house. On the can it also lists you can use it for your marble/granite and leather. I personally do not use it on my granite because my kitchen counters need to be disinfected ,not just shined, but I also like it for my leather. I used a white rag to wipe down my cream leather couches and you wouldn't believe how brown that rag turned just from dirt and grime sitting on my couches.

The fourth item is the scrubbing bubbles Mega shower foamer with extend-a-clean.NOW, I have tried this product before and went back to regular scrubbing bubbles because it did cost more and the regular did just as good of a job. I am a big Scrubbing Bubbles fan because it really does work for soap scum. Soap scum just seems to be an issue in our shower because I guess my husband and I and our two boys all jump into this shower daily. The major benefit to this product is that it foams large areas which is such a plus when you have a bathtub shower or a large walk in shower. So if you ask me I would get this product again, but with a coupon.

The last item, it is the Scrubbing Bubbles toilet cleaning gel kit with dispenser and gel discs. Now I know there are people who dread cleaning their toilets and (especially in that guest bathroom) that their bowl  has not seen a scrubber in months. I have seen this product before from my sister. She slapped one on her previous home and I thought what the heck is that. You are suppose to place it under the rim so no one sees it, and well she didn't at that time. So it makes since to me now. I placed mine in the front,under the rim...made sure no one could see it. I can smell a difference, but for the rings I'm not sure because I try to keep my toilet clean often. It lasts up to 4 weeks. That should be worth every dollar there because I have to clean my toilets weekly, especially with 3 boys using mine.

So thumbs up all around to SC Johnson for making sure I have a fresh smelling clean home!

I want to know your Best Frugal Idea!

I know with the economy, the best ideas of being resourceful are right in your own home. Anything from growing your own vegetables to saving mason jars to use as drinking glasses. I want to know your best frugal idea! The best one and funniest one I have heard so far is dumping out their vaccuum bag full of dust and dirt and reusing the bag. Maybe not the cleanest but definitely frugal!!

Pull-Up's Potty Dance Day House Party

I'm so excited to have you join me for this exciting venture! Those of you that have received a potty dance instructional mat, a coupon book, a Big Kid DVD, reward stickers, Enjoy the Ride Rewards Points, Pull Ups fact sheet, and a coloring sheet. I can't wait to hear all about your venture with your little one! Check back to see the link for Ralph's World concert airing live on March 5th.

Please comment your pictures of your little one and your feedback or any questions with help for potty training your little one.

Do You Know Who You Can Claim as a Dependent?

I was asked this scenario- I have a disabled friend who lives with me, receives social security benefits, but I support her. Can I claim her as a dependent?

The first part you need to look at is the Relationship Test: (It's more than just a child)
-Lineal Ascendents (ex. parents, grandparents)
-Collateral Ascendents (ex. uncles, aunts)
-Certain In-laws (ex. son-, daughter-, father-, mother-,brother-, and sister-inlaw)
**The relationship test also includes unrelated parties who live with the taxpayer (ex. members of the household). This is not available if your relationship with the taxpayer violates local law (if you know what I mean) or anyone who was a spouse during any part of that year.
*Note that not all relatives apply- if you notice the cousin grouping is not there

The second part is they can't make more than the exemption amount, $3,650 for 2010 (income from Social Security is not counted as part of this total.) Meaning taxable income.

The third part is over one-half of their support must be furnished by the taxpayer in other words they need to receive half of their income from you. Supprt includes food, shelter, clothing, toys, medical, dental, education, and even fair market rent for the room that they stay in.

Another note- if the person does not spend funds that have been received from ANY source, the unexpected amounts are not counted towards the support test. For example, $5,000 was received from working at their local Walmart as a greeter, but all of it was placed in a savings account and has not been touched.

So the answer to the above question would be, yes, as long as half of their income was from you.

Decorative Bouquets from Little to Free

Who knew you could make such an impact on your own home decor my being a little creative and for little to no money by taking branches from trees or shrubs and putting them in vases. Since it is time for everyone to cut their crape myrtles, I used my old branches from mine to make a neat and different bouquet. If you cut them fresh, you will have a bouquet that lasts about a month-way longer than your fresh flowers from the florist or store. And you can even have a little more fun with them and add a string of lights around the branches.
Here is the pic of my crape myrtle bouquet:

This is an example of a peach tree bouquet

Did you Know?

In my house we have changed every lightbulb to the now more efficient Energy Star ECObulb's. EXCEPT...my boy's night light. I recently went to Lowe's and bought a 4 pack of night light bulbs. The night light they have has an on/off switch and we hardly remember to turn it off sometimes. So this 4 pack of bulbs lasted about 4 months with the last one going out tonight. My 3 year old panicks when there is not night a light in his room. He will get desperate and leave his closet light on all night. So they were watching cartoons, and I told my husband that I need to run to Wal-mart to go get more bulbs before my children realize the light is out. I said to him before I walked out the door, "they need to make LED nightlights". Wow!!! Was I surprised to see them!! There before me was a LED nightlight with no light bulb to ever replace with a lifetime guarantee and it only uses 0.3 watts!!! I was the happiest person standing in that aisle. If you only knew the excitement that came over me- I bought two at only $1.97 each!! I couldn't believe it to be true that it has lifetime guarantee. But there by Meridan written on the back, says: "If light ever burns out, please do not return to the store, send to .... for a free replacement." And the second best thing on there is that it is automatic, on at dusk and off at dawn. So if you have little ones this would be awesome for their bedroom or even your hallway like I will be using for my second one.

Just a thought??? I feel like this product represents the stride commericals perfectly-what happens when everyone buys these awesome night lights with lifetime guarantee and won't need to buy anymore of their product?

Magic in a Bottle

I'm sure many people have experienced trying to remove old dry erase marker from a dry erase board. With my recent experience....it only takes a day for it to stick on my laminate cleaning checklist- and this works wonders! Look familiar?

I find that alcohol with a high vol. ( I used 96) works wonders! Now see:

AND did you know that it not only cleans dry erase boards!! It cleans off pens and markers off leather! Just be careful because if the leather is a dark color it can remove some of the color. I have a cream leather couch and it has gotten plenty of pen marks off for me!