house o'lantern!

family fun magazine had this fantastic last minute idea that you can pull off for decorating your whole house for trick or treating!

create your own house o'lantern!!! full instructions HERE...

it's super simple and fun...take cardboard and fit to the window in your house. cute out the "face" and cover the opening of the cutouts with orange paper {construction or tissue paper}.

set the new creation inside your window and tape it in for trick or treating...and make sure to light up the pumpkin with your room light! viola...

your very own house-o'lantern!

danyele @ a thorn among roses

shopping list, geek style

i'm a self professed geek {engineer by degree}, so i love techie stuff that makes my house run easier. i have some serious shopping list love for the smart shopper. i have had this beauty in my house for the last year and i love it.


not only is it smart, it's fun and that means that the actual grocery needs get added by the kids and hubs as necessary. need milk? press "RECORD" and say "MILK"...3 selections will pop up for you to make your choice. press "SELECT" for your choice and it's all done.

when it's time for the grocery trip, you print the list...and the your list is automatically seperated into categories just like the grocery store...produce, baby items, meats, frozen foods, etc.

even better, if you want to play party games, try taking turns to see who can say the "ketchup" and get the funniest results...sad, but we do this at dinner time some days. it's a lot of fun...and if you actually need to add a special item or to re-identify the way you say a canned word, it can do that too! this thing is a like a little list miracle!

there's a new version in 2009 that is available from smart shopper and it has a cute little integrated kitchen timer and it's been restyled. if you wanna see more, take a look here.

come and see me and my clan over at a thorn among roses.

white vinegar cleaning

undiluted white vinegar is a miracle cleaner...i hate the way it smells, but it cleans like a banshee!

use it straight form the bottle to remove hard water deposits and soap scum. no harmful chemicals in your kids bathtub or showers.

Got clogs??? Clean shower heads that have been clogged with mineral deposits. Place 1/4 to 1/2 cup vinegar in a plastic food storage bag, and secure the bag to the shower head with a rubber band. Let stand for 2 hours to overnight, then rinse and buff the fixture to a shiny finish.

sensitive skin laundry tip...

Add one cup of undiluted white vinegar to the laundry rinse cycle instead of commercial fabric softener. White vinegar softens clothes and cuts detergent residue. wanna see more of me and my clan...we're at a thorn among roses.