It was brought to my attention that I haven't written a blog post in some time (you know who you are...) and unfortunately I am very guilty of this. I've had a lot of my mind, and what better place to lay it all out there than on a blog. This blog will be a recap and update of most of the posts I've had recently since there is just so much going on!
First, I need to vent about something that is a constant struggle. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about static cling (I know, First World Problem....). I've tried several things to get rid of static cling, but for some reason it just keeps on clinging. I use the Bounce Dryer Bar, and while it makes my clothes soft and smell great, it doesn't really do anything for static cling. This shouldn't surprise me as I was using dryer sheets before this amazing invention, and regardless of how many sheets I threw in there was still static cling. I did some research and found some tips and have tried them, but to no avail.
The first thing I tried was a ball of tinfoil. I found several posts online about how easy, cheap and effective it is for getting rid of static cling. Well, it sure didn't work for me. From what I read, it didn't matter what brand was used. All you had to do was crinkle up some tinfoil into a ball and throw it in the dryer. And the same ball could be reused in every load. I tried it in about 5 loads of all different fabrics, including towels, bedding and regular clothes. I even tested if the tinfoil had to be in a tight wad or loosely crumpled. Didn't matter. The static cling remained.
The next thing I triehttp://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4893420851954377642#editor/target=post;postID=7148313248345081857d was a tennis ball, which is something my mother-in-law uses as well. While it didn't seem to have an impact on static cling, it did help separate the clothing in the dryer, causing them to be less tangled and therefore dry quicker. Since they were drying quicker, I was able to cut down on the heat setting and run the dryer for shorter periods of time, thus saving energy. Making sure not to over-dry clothing was another tip I found online about fighting static cling. This did seem to help, although it didn't get rid of it altogether. I realized there simply wasn't a reason to use the hottest and longest dryer setting and that not only was it wasting energy, but it wasn't good for my clothing and fabrics, either. Regardless of static cling, I would suggest using a tennis ball in the dryer and also cutting down on the heat intensity and time frame for drying.
The last thing I tried was vinegar. I had a lot of hope for this one as vinegar is one of my go-to products for just about everything. Hey, if it can get rid of stains and soap scum, why can't it get rid of static cling? According to various internet sources, you're supposed to use it like fabric softener and add it to the washer so it can be used during the rinse cycle. Of course you don't need a lot - a few tablespoons at most. Since I don't have this feature on my washing machine, I followed the advice of one user and poured the vinegar into a Downy ball, then threw it into the wash. The good news is that my clothes didn't come out smelling like vinegar. The bad news is that the static cling persisted. Another idea down the lint trap.
Likewise with the vinegar, it was advised to add baking soda to the washing machine as well. The directions said to sprinkle in a few tablespoons directly into the washing machine. Well, I was already doing this and it hadn't done anything for the static cling. It does, however, help my whites shine a little brighter and also makes my clothes incredibly soft. It also helps with smells, especially for those fabrics that tend to get very dirty and smelly, like, say, sheets from the bed of a potty-training toddler. I also recommend using baking soda in the washing machine.
After trying all those, I surrendered (for now) to static cling. The good news is that the weather has changed and my clothesline is now set up outside. Also, it's not as dry as it was during the winter, so I don't have to fight with static cling for a few months now.
And now for an update on the bulk shopping experiment. I've had a membership to a bulk shopping store for about 3 months now. I now have shelving in the storage room in the basement. I've cleared out the pantry, although it's not organized (that is a kitchen wide project that will wait until I have time and enthusiasm). After the first shopping experience, I was concerned if it would be cost effective. I am happy to report that by the third shopping trip, the amount spent was cut in half. There are a few reasons for this. First, I've been doing price matching and I now understand what is cheaper and where. Second, I became very aware of what my family needs in bulk quantities. Cereal? Sure! We eat a lot more cereal now. That giant box of garlic bread? Not so much. It's frozen, so it will keep, but it's going to take us a long time to eat it all, and that's if we don't get sick of it. Our eating habits have also changed and the bulk shopping has allowed us to add a lot more fruits and vegetables to our diet. I always have the basics on hand, so I'm able to be more creative and feed my family actual homemade meals instead of relying on something from a box. All in all, the bulk shopping is turning out to be the right move for my family, and now that I know the layout of the store and the selection, I'm able to be more creative with new meal ideas.
Speaking of food, last weekend I made an amazing Cinnamon Applesauce bread. The recipe, which came from my new low-cholesterol cooking cook book, called for wheat flour and wheat germ, things I had never used before. I didn't have walnuts, so I substituted almonds. The bread turned out moist and full of flavor, just sweet enough but not sugary. The best part? It was homemade and I knew how healthy it was, even though it didn't taste "healthy." I've been cooking a lot more and paying a lot more attention to what goes into food. Due to cooking more, I'm eating out less during the week at work since there are always left overs. Also, instead of running to the vending machine for a bag of chips, I'm reaching for fruit or nuts or other healthy snacks. My next challenges? Making healthy homemade snacks that can be kept around the house - like cookies full of fiber that taste good or homemade granola bars. I'm also going to start making more vegetarian meals, which is an entirely new concept for me and my family. I made a lovely pasta casserole the other night that didn't involve any meat, only to realize that it was the very first vegetarian meal I'd made for my family. Even when I used to make Mac n' Cheese for Jackson, it usually had some form of meat in it or on the side. Once I realized that, I also realized that I was missing out on an vast majority of meals and that this would have to change. I'm still working on convincing my carnivorous caveman husband that meat doesn't need to be present to constitute a meal, but it's just upped the challenge for me. The day I can get him to eat - and enjoy - a vegetarian meal, I have won.
Lastly, I want to do a little self promotion. I am very appreciative of everyone that follows and reads my blog. It's such a wonderful creative outlet for me and the response I've gotten has been nothing but positive. Because of this, I was strongly encouraged to (finally!) publish a book. I've been a writing all my life and always dreamed of being a published author. Well, now I am, and it's been such a fantastic experience and I've gotten so much love and support that I'm going to continue writing and publishing.
If your interested, check me out on Amazon.com. The title of my book is "Beneath the Battered Oaks" and it's a digital book selling for $2.99. You can download it onto your Kindle, iPhone or iPad, Android device or your computer. It's my debut novel, but there will be plenty more to come - in fact, I plan to have at least one more book published and available by the end of the year.
Thanks Everyone!
