It's a Sweet Life

I've used artificial sweetener for as long as I can remember. I have never been a fan of Sweet n' Low, but I have loved Equal. When all of the bad press started I switched to Splenda, but then I found something even better!

Stevia is an actual herb that's sweeter than any supplement I've found. It can't be sold as a named sweetener because the FDA would seize it, but it is sold as a dietary supplement. It's low in carbs and has the same fiber content as the fruit we eat. I love the taste and I only need half a packet in my morning coffee. Considering it has health benefits and it costs about the same since I use half the amount I used to, this product is going to have a permanent spot in my cabinet!

True Clean

Wow!

I've been struggling with my tile floors forever. Since coming to Florida I've never seen so much tile; it's everywhere you look! In Massachusetts I lived with bare wood floors or wood floors covered with rugs. Here? Tile.

So, then came the quest of cleaining them, including the grout, which is colored and that much harder to clean. I've went through product after product. I used a hand held steamer which worked pretty good, but it was tough work! I got a floor scrubber which made the tiles look good, but the grout remained nasty.

I've lived here five years now and the tile floors are the worst part of this house. It's one of the main reasons I don't have people over (well, that and my huge, messy dogs), and it's been on my last nerve for the past few months.

I got an e-mail with an all natural solution and I decided to try it. I hate chemicals in my home and I do my darndest to not even buy them if I can help it, so this was a good thing for me to try.

So, what do you think?

This is before:




AND THIS, is after:




The secret? 3/4 cup of Arm and Hammer and 1/4 cup hot water. Mix it, scrub with a toothbursh, and allow it to sit for a few minutes. Wipe it up, mop it if you want, and voila!!!!!!

More of Less

Just one more reason to hate Wal-Mart. Their "Organic" section? Yeah, what I joke. Granted, I am not a fan of mass-production places as a whole, so I'm sure my opinion is somewhat biased.

BUT:

Wal-Mart's first line of organic dairy is from from Dean/Horizon and Aurora . The pasture access which is a requirement for USDA organic certification is ON PAPER ONLY!!! That makes me sick. I hate the fact that something can pass by because of what is indicated in black and white. It takes away from the legit actions that true organic farmers are going through to ensure the quality of their products, as well as makes a mockery of our very certification process!

They are also outsourcing from China which kind of goes against the whole 'environmentally friendly' aspect of Organics in the first place. Are we really doing ourselves a favor by shipping products thousands of miles, thus creating even more pollution for our poor Earth to handle?

I fear that our local farmers who are TRUE organic growers are not going to be able to compete with the mass market of industry organics. Our prices will go down, but so will quality. I'm sure that the USDA organic certification standards will go down as well in order to encompass this "newly created " line of organic crap too... It's a vicious cycle!

Dating Evolution

When I lived in Massachusetts I did a lot of dating off of an online dating site. The one I used wasnt free but, considering the cost of doing anything in Boston was so expensive, I felt that I was getting my money's worth.

When I moved here to Florida I joined another dating site. Sean and I met on that site so I wasn't on it for long, LOL, but I was a bit irked that I had to pay for yet another dating site, especially since I didn't use it for the full term I paid for.

There are free online dating sites out there but they are few and far between. That saddens me because it was a lot of fun, safe, and I obviously had great success! This online dating site I found the other day looked great. I wish I had known about it before; think of the money I would have saved. I probably wouldn't have met my husband though... Hmmm....

Bid To Win

Have you heard of this new site, http://www.bid4prizes.com/ that offers prizes and cash prizes alike? I heard about it on Fox13 news a month or so ago and I couldn't believe it!

You register (duh) on their site at http://www.bid4prizes.com/, browse what they're offering, and then send a text message with your bid amount. If your bid is the lowest unique bid, then you win it! Isn't that amazing? It's so easy to do with no complicated entry forms or 'trick' small print to follow.

I went to their sweepstakes page today and they have a plasma TV and a Scion XB. Seriously, they do. There are also Playstations, Computers... And it's always changing.

I love it when companies can come up with something new!!!! And, hey, I'm always in the mood for free gifts!

Easter Staple

Well, for some households anyways!

Peeps have never interested me, and my DH cannot stand them. We have done the usual microwave-freeze-hit-with-a-hammer experiments, but on the whole we just ignore the little buggers. However; I have found that some people adore the little guys!

For instance, there are a lot of craft ideas out there that I would never have thought of. The Peeps Website shows you how to make a lovely Flower Topiary (my personal favorite), Mini Spring Treat Basket, or Peeps Party Dippers.

You can even join their fan club where you can enjoy VIP access to all sorts of stuff like e-cards, and you'll be privy to upcoming Peep products. WooHoo!

They even have a Peeps Talk section where you can post your favorite Peeps memories and chat with other Peep-minded people. See, there are a lot of you out there!

Who knew that there was an actual following of these stretchy little fellows? I think I'll pass, but you may find something you can relate to... Scary as that is...

Postitive Spin

It's about time to hear the good about NFL players!

Everson Walls is donating a kidney to his ex-teammate, Ron Springs due to complications with diabetes.

It's nice to hear about the good some of these men do, rather than being bombarded by their aggression and 'entitled' attitudes.