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Suck it Up with Eureka’s Envirovac

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Cue monster truck rally voice!  What has 8 amps of power?  Is sold exclusively at Walmart and costs only $72?  It’s the Envirovac by Eureka!

Here is what I love about this completely affordable and widely available vacuum.  The 8- amp motor (versus the typical energy monster 12-amps) sucks up 99 percent of all household dust, dirt,pet hair and more for less money than some of the other “designer” vacuums.  This upright vacuum not only cleans like a lean, green grime-fighting machine it also reduces CO2 emissions and uses 33 percent less energy.  The allergen-reducing filter is washable too, which saves you from buying and throwing away replacements.

The Envirovac is one mighty machine that has an easy empty dust cup and it comes in three soothing colors as well as one bright and powerful red version.  That big cardboard box that the Enivorvac comes in is also made from 100% recycled materials.  Eureka has really gone the distance in trying to be more eco-friendly.

You can also save more energy and time by changing up your cleaning routine.  Just by clearing the your vacuum’s path of toys, clothes and household items prior to starting the machine you save a little of both.  Remembering to turn off the machine when you do have to move pieces around will also help out the earth and your electric bill.  Save money and energy?  Your wallet and your planet are applauding you already.

A Steamy Kind of Clean

  • posted September 5th, 2009
  • Home
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I was as attached to my Swiffer as much as the next person when I first started using it. The disposable pads smelled good, and it was great for a good spot clean when I didn’t feel like getting down on my hands and knees to scrub.

Then I came across the Shark Steam Pocket Mop. With three interchangeable mop heads for any angle in your house, and a carpet glider as well, it’s really four products in one. The 2-sided cleaning pockets allow you to clean with one side and sanitize with the other. I never thought I could get my ancient apartment floors clean, but with this product, they actually were shiny once more.

EcoTouch Gets a Car Clean Without Any Harsh Chemicals – or Water!

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It makes a perfect father’s day gift!
It’s not just the wasting of water that gets Girlawhirl’s goat when she thinks of washing a car – it’s all the chemicals that are used to clean both the outside and inside. That new car smell? It truly grosses her out, because she knows it’s full of off-gassing chemicals and other things she’d really rather not inhale…

And with parts of the country already watching their water use, even washing the car at home is out of the question. But eco touch™ Waterless Car Wash + Polish has changed everything – it gets a car, its interior and even the chrome trim clean and shiny, all without harsh chemicals or even water.

Here’s how the waterless wash works – surfactants (that’s what gets the dirt off) from plants – specifically coconuts – work to remove the dirt and grime from the vehicle. Spray the car and a microfiber towel and gently wipe the car’s surface to pick up the dirt. When it looks hazy, just polish it up with another clean microfiber towel. There are specific products for the outside of the car, the dashboard and trim, metal and chrome, carpet and upholstery and the windows.

Eco touch has pulled them all together into a special Father’s Day Kit. Find it online at ecotouch.net.

From our friends at Girl-a-Whirl

Is Your Family Naughty or Nice?!?

  • posted December 19th, 2007
  • Fashion

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I find family holiday stories to be both enlightening and entertaining at times (depending on the story, of course). There are some families who get together for the holidays, have a proper meal or meals together, exchange gifts and leave happy. There are other families who get together for the holidays, have a proper meal or meals together, exchange gifts and a whole lot of drama! So, which family do you belong to?!? Are you brave enough to admit it? :o )

My family typically falls under the second category, but we usually have *interesting* drama. The holidays tend to go one of two ways…a few people drink too much and all the old stories come out. Once the stories hit the table, the room gets loud as people debate and argue over what really happened Christmas of ‘86 (or whatever the topic may be) when the Christmas tree caught fire. What happens more often is that a few people drink enough to be silly and that’s when the fun starts: Grandma sings in Spanish (note: we’re not a Spanish speaking family); we have contests to see who can hang a spoon on the end of their nose the longest; we have dessert eating contests: who can eat the most or the fastest. It’s all very silly, but it’s fun and makes for some good memories.

Thankfully, we don’t have a rogue <insert relationship title here> relative who shows up drunk with a six pack in hand who’s slinging put-downs the moment he/she walks through the door. We used to have someone like that around, but she’s since been disowned. I know, that sounds bad, but there’s something to the old adage that "family is what you make it." It’s true, you can’t choose the family you’re born into, but you can certainly make alterations to the cast of characters. Unfortunately, that means that sometimes you may lose a few that you wanted to keep, but there isn’t a whole lot you can do to control that. Sometimes you do what you gotta do to live a sane life and be happy, right?

Or, what about the relative who shows up to every holiday function with a different date?!? Do you have one of those in your family? I suppose there’s nothing really wrong with it, but it’s a family function and these occasions should be reserved for family and really close friends, etc., not the "flavor of the week." I don’t know, what do you think?

Overall, I would say that my family is nice during the holidays. The real drama quotient is typically low and we have fun together. Chime in and tell us about your family!

Happy Holidays,
Payton

Must Have Tools for the Home

  • posted September 5th, 2007
  • Fashion

Tool_box Over the holiday weekend, I had aspirations to complete a few home projects. However, when I went out to the garage to get some tools out of the toolbox, I found that it was mostly empty. How’s a girl to do projects without tools?!?

I started thinking about all the tools that are used regularly around the house. Then, I started thinking about the best way to organize them to help encourage everyone to replace them after using them. I really don’t know where they all disappeared to because the house is clean and they’re not lying around in the garage. I wonder if someone put them in the dryer (you know, that’s where all the socks disappear, right?). Anyway, I wrote out a shopping list of all the tools that are needed regularly for household projects and here’s what it looks like:

1. Hammer
2. Screwdriver set (philips & flatheads)
3. Wrench set
4. Pipe wrench
5. Socket set
6. Utility knife
7. 25 ft tape measure
8. Hack saw
9. Putty knife
10. Vise grip
11. Needle nose pliers
12. Allen (hex) wrench set
13. Cordless drill
14. Drill bit set

In addition to the tools listed above, I think it’s necessary to have a few key supplies on hand in order to get projects done around the house.

1. Duct tape
2. Nails
3. Screws
4. Picture hangers
5. Thumb tacks
6. WD-40
7. Goof Off
8. Mr. Clean’s Magic Erasers
9. Spackle/putty
10. Sandpaper/sanding blocks

So, here I am with some handy lists and hardly any tools to work with. I gave up on trying to get any projects done over the weekend. Instead, I went off and rode my horse. Priorities, meh! It was a holiday weekend…I had a right to play. Meanwhile all the projects are still waiting for me. So, now I need to replenish my tool box and supplies and get some stuff done. Wish me luck!

Happy Searching/Shopping,
Payton

What Back to School Really Means

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Going back to school marks the official end of Summer, even if the calendar tells you differently. Kids are both sad and excited during this time of year. Some experience both feelings: pangs of regret that their carefree days of sleeping in and having fun in the sun are no longer; thrills of excitement in starting a new school year and not knowing what to expect. While others are either happy that their boring Summer has ended and now they can return to the routine they know and love or they’re forelorn over the schedule and expectations that are forced upon them. Regardless of how any one individual feels about this time of year, the end result is that it’s time for change. As we know, for some people change is good and for others it’s not.

Even for those who don’t like the end of summer/start of school-time, I imagine that the thrill of buying new clothes, a new backpack, new school supplies and a new lunch box is enough to get anyone excited. I know I always enjoyed it. Now that I’m on the other side of the credit card, it’s not as thrilling for me, but the shopping part is still fun.

The real bummer about everyone going back to school is the fact that traffic is back in full force! Everyone’s back from vacation, the kids’ schedules are back in place and everyone’s driving to work again. BUMMER! This change affects everyone regardless if you have kids or not. I suppose it doesn’t phase the retired folks as much unless they’re hitting the freeway during peak traffic times, but something tells me that they’re wise enough not to do that.

On the flipside, everyone’s schedule’s are back to "normal." The previously regularly scheduled dinner time is back, kids are playing organized sports again, and homework is back with a vengeance. Ahhhh, life is chaotic, but organized once again. The days of getting up at noon and eating dinner at 9:00pm are no longer, but that’s probably better for everyone anyway.

What does back to school mean to you? Do you have any specific routines that were abandoned over the Summer? What will you miss now that Summer’s over?

Happy Schooling/Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Finally, Lotion that Men Will Use Too!

Skin_md The search for the perfect lotion is officially over folks! Skin MD Natural is the ultimate lotion. In fact, it’s a formulated shielding lotion that actually protects your skin from irritants that dry it out in the first place. This allows your skin to repair itself naturally and to replenish it’s own moisture. Other lotions add an unnatural moisturizers to your skin that causes two unwanted issues: 1) they’re greasy and slimy upon application and 2) they trick your skin into thinking it’s moisturized which actually dries it out more after all the greasiness dissappears. This lotion soaks in so fast, you forget you put it on.

I shared my bottle of Skin MD Natural with several friends and we all agree that this lotion is awesome! I know many men who will not use lotions and moisturizers because they don’t like the way they feel and smell. I had a few men that I know who strongly object to putting products on their skin and they truly liked the product and the results! I am highly sensitive to smells and this lotion has a very faint aloe scent. A couple of my friends couldn’t even detect a scent at all. That’s a huge bonus by my standards!

Happy Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Hairspray Crazy — Use It, Abuse It, & Clean It Up!

Hairspray_2 Hairspray is one of those things that many of us use everyday and never think twice about. You style
your hair, spray it with hairspray and run out the door, right? What else do you do with it? Anything??? If you’re not, you might want to consider a few of these options…

1. Remove ink or lipstick stains from clothing (not suggested for silks and delicate fabrics). Saturate the stain and let it sit for several minutes, scrub the stain until it disappears and wash as directed.

2. Comb through eyebrows for a more controlled look.

3. Spray on drawings to help preserve them.

4. Spray on the insole of any shoes that your feet slip around in to prevent slipping.

5. Help preserve fresh by spraying the underside of the leaves and petals. To dry and preserve flowers, hang them upside down in a dark closet until they dry. Once dried, spray the top of the petals and leaves.

6. Stiffen the end of thread to easily thread through the eye of a needle.

7. Spray Sunday comics with hairspray to create a shiny homemade wrapping paper.

8. Make static cling fall away by spraying the clingy spots with hairspray.

9. Tame static-infused hair by spraying your brush before using it in your hair.

10. Use hairspray as a quick-dry for nail polish. (This works best with an aerosol hairspray.)

After all this hairspraying, you may find that you need to remove it off surfaces in your house. The best way to remove hairspray from walls and floors is to use Goof Off, Goo Gone and/or Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser. Be sure to test an inconspicuous area to ensure that the paint does not come off in the process.

Do you know of other uses for hairspray? Let us know!

Happy Spraying/Searching/Shopping,
Payton

Best Friends Week — More Things to Do

Okay, so yesterday I introduced the concept of this week being "Best Friends Week," right? I gave a few ideas of things to do with your best friend. Well, now it’s time to get down and dirty and create a list of things to do with your best friend! You’re welcome to comment to add to the list (and I will), so please feel free to contribute!

1. Shop online (at TheFind.com, of course!)
2. Shop at the mall
3. Try a new restaurant/cuisine
4. Go to the movies (try a premier or opening night of a really hot movie)
5. Check out a "B" movie
6. Get a makeover
7. Go to the salon together for new hairstyles
8. Clean out your closets and swap clothes (donate the rest to charity)
9. Buy new furniture and assemble it together
10. Have a garage sale
11. Host a tea party
12. Go out and support your favorite local band
13. Attend a concert
14. Try a new sport
15. Join a yoga class
16. Join a gym (and actually go workout regularly)
17. Go ice skating or roller skating
18. Learn how to play ice/roller hockey
19. Go rock climbing
20. Train together for a running, walking or cycling race
21. Train for a triathlon
22. Join Weight Watchers or a diet center of choice
23. Attend a monster truck show
24. Go check out Nascar
25. Get in the driver’s seat and race go-carts
26. Hang out at the beach
27. Host a bon-fire party at the beach
28. Adopt a puppy and enroll in puppy training
29. Take your dogs to the dog park (after they’re trained)
30. Buy a right hand ring
31. Go wine tasting
32. Go beer tasting
33. Hang out in a biker bar
34. Take tennis lessons
35. Take cooking classes — sushi anyone?
36. Take a jewelry making class
37. Take a pottery class
38. Volunteer at a soup kitchen
39. Tackle house work (or spring cleaning) as a team
40. Write a story or book together
41. Go golf or learn to golf
42. Make fondue
43. Go out and sing karaoke at a bar
44. Play laser tag or paint ball
45. Have a TV or movie marathon at home
46. On a rainy day, go out and stomp through puddles
47. Learn how to knit or crochet
48. Join an online community and get involved
49. Join a dating service (if you’re single)
50. Go on a blind double date (again, if you’re single)
51. Have a spa day
52. Go for a manicure & pedicure
53. Be an animal/mammal trainer for a day at a participating zoo
54. Go on a ride-a-long with a cop
55. Tour a fire station
56. Have a sleep over and stay up all night
57. Host a game night (play all night, if you can)
58. Go to San Francisco and play chess or checkers against someone on the street
59. Play pool with pool sharks
60. Go to Coyote Ugly and dance on the bar (among other things)
61. Go out for a nice dinner and a play/musical
62. Go out for a nice dinner and the opera or ballet
63. Go to the flea market and haggle ’til you get what you want
64. Sell things at the flea market
65. Host a "Cook for the Cure" dinner (Susan G Komen foundation)
66. Take a trip to the wine country
67. Go camping in the Sierras (or destination of choice)
68. Go horseback riding
69. Make crafts and sell them at a craft fair
70. Host a cookie exchange
71. Paint ceramics and give them to one another
72. Sneak "drinks" into a movie theater (21 and over only, pls)
73. Create match.com profiles for one another
74. Brush each other’s hair
75. Shop for engagement rings
76. Ghost or Guest blog on one another’s blogs
77. Redecorate a room in one another’s house
78. Host a poker party
79. Create a time capsule
80. Scrapbook together and/or host a scrapbooking party
81. Go to farmers market
82. Create a secret sorority or fraternity
83. Give each other nicknames
84. Make a comic book of your adventures
85. Host a pleasure party
86. Host a fake bachelor/bachelorette party
87. Learn how to fly a plane/helicoptor
88. Go skydiving
89. Take a beer or wine making class
90. Visit a convalescent home (take your dog)
91. Have a belching contest
92. Make Christmas ornaments
93. Take a Santa picture together
94. Make chocolate truffles
95. Scrap each others cast off clothes and make a quilt
96. Shop for books for one another in a used book store
97. Find a festival (music, art, wine) to attend
98. Go hot tubbing and/or skinny dipping
99. Take pole dancing classes
100. Take a spontaneous trip without luggage
Reader Contributions start here…
101. Hang out drinking a great bottle of wine
102. Go surfing
103. Watch sports on TV all day long

So, what do you think? I’m sure there are plenty of things on the list that you have done, but are there any you haven’t done? Do you have more ideas to contribute? Comment now and let us know!

Happy Adventuring/Searching/Shopping,

Payton

Spring Cleaning — Fun for Kids

As promised, I’ll take you through some fun things you can do with your kids during the Spring Cleaning process. I probably don’t need to say that you should be cautious with chemicals and young children. They’re usually not a winning combination. Older children can usually help out with milder cleaners, just make sure the room is well-ventilated (end disclaimer).

Kids can be a great help. They may not always be the fastest cleaners, but they can handle some chores that can really help you out. All you need are some extra rags and a bit of patience. Are you ready?

1. When you’re sorting through things to put in the designated boxes, let your child be your "box runner." It’s like a "go-fer," except in this case they’re taking the item from you and delivering it to the box. This will save you time from walking back and forth, etc. Label the boxes with numbers, colors or shapes, whichever is easiest for your child to recognize and keep straight.Gym_socks

2.
Put some old gym socks on your child’s hands and let them help you with the dusting process!

3. Teach your child how to vacuum the base boards. They’re closer to the ground than you are, so this is a natural task for them!

4. If you’re child’s not too young, you can probably put some latex gloves on him/her and let them "erase" all the muck from the walls with Mr. Clean’s Magic Eraser. It’s the opposite of coloring on them!

5. When you’re in the kitchen and you need to clear out the cabinets that are near the floor, ask your child to help you with this task. Make sure that the cabinet they’re clearing out doesn’t contain Bball_hoopanything breakable.

6.
Encourage many rounds of "trash can basketball!" Anytime you need to throw away garbage, ask your child(ren) to shoot a basket into the garbage can.

Want to add some more fun to the process?!? Hide some goodies for your kids around the area you’re working in. It would be fun for them to find little "treasures" along the way, like candies or small toys to reward them for their help. It also creates a distraction and give them a break so the task doesn’t become too long and daunting.

Set up races between you and your child (or amongst the children). The race can be the first one to complete the task or the first one to beat the timer. If you have more than one child, set a timer or play music. When the timer or music turns off, have the children swap tasks.

Do you have any other games or tasks that you give to your kids? Please comment and let us know. We’d love to learn more!

Happy Spring Cleaning with Kids,
Payton

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