New Gum'mer

I'd like to introduce you to Benjamin Michael Rubio born today at 2:46pm. He weighed in at 7lbs 12oz and 20inches. Please continue to pray for mama's recovery and for this new family of 4!

Happy Mother's Day!

To each of you mother's. To my friends, and confidants, to my encouragers, inspirers, role models, commiserators and co-horts. THANK YOU. On this mother's day I want to thank you for being there, encouraging, sharing, loving, teaching, guiding, playing, talking, laughing, loving, crying, dancing, singing and crafting with me. You make each day brighter, easier, and more fun. I couldn't do it without you! Happy Mother's Day!

Cleaning Commiserating

Let me just say that this big conversation on cleaning, sparked my cleaning bug. I came home got the kiddos situated with lunch and then attacked my bathroom. Now we never use this bathroom (its just a 1/4 bath off our bedroom), and it needed some serious attention, and its been on my to-do list for months.

So I picked up what had migrated there over the last ... (I'll plead the fifth on how long its been since I've cleaned this bathroom) and put those things away and picked everything off the floor. This bathroom also houses the cat food and water, not sure why, but it does. So I picked the cat food dispenser and water bowl up too and sat them on the edge of the since and on the toilet respectively.

Then I pulled out my wet vacuum, which scrubs, squigy's and vacuums up all in one (love it!!). Cleaned up the floor in a jiff (why don't i do this regularly??) and then promptly knocked the entire dispenser of dry cat food on the floor. Sigh. So then I vaccumed up that and wiped it all down with my clorox wipes and by now the girls wanted in on the action so they each got a baby wipe and helped clean the sink and wipe down the toilet. (Yah!! Setting good habits now!!)

So there you have it, I cleaned the bathroom twice because of this mornings GUM conversation.

So how about the rest of you? Were you inspired enough to come tackle some big cleaning job? What recently happened to you while cleaning? Got a favorite product or tip you forgot to share this morning? Post a comment and share with us!

Cleaning Tips

If you missed it, here's the sum up (Karen-style) from this mornings focus on cleaning. I mean there's so much of it, its always good to take a little time and commiserate, encourage and pass on tips.

First up: Melissa's Corner, where she shared some of her favorite cleaning tips and products.
1. SOS pads for cleaning the grime on stove tops and other tough cleaning jobs.
2. Magic Eraser used to scrub anything dirty, soap scum in the bathroom and sinks, clean the microwave with a little disinfectant spray.
3. Toothbrush and Toothpaste used to clean your jewelry.
4. Dreft Laundry stain remover for stains of all sorts.
5. Microfiber towels for dusting!

Then Judy shared with us about teaching our children responsibility (doing what has to be done, when it has to be done), especially in the area of keeping a tidy home. Check out Titus 2, tucked in there among those virtues is keeping a tidy home. This brings new meaning to cleaning with a smile - but I'm giving it my best go, and I'm teaching my kids along with me.

Some of Judy's tips:
Start giving chores early. Even little ones can help with something and it should be daily. Keep in mind small responsibilities should be given to small children and big responsibilities to big children.
Start an allowance at age 8. It doesn't have to be much and should be age appropriate. With that you can charge for having to pick up after your children.
Start a Box Lunch tradition. This meant taking the child out once a year and introducing a new responsibility. If the child mastered this responsibility by the end of the year, a new one was added. If not, repeat the year. Ideas include keeping your own room clean. And this was recommended at age 13.

My new motto: Pick up, clean up, throw away.

Remember what she said about her mother using vinegar and baking soda? These products still work today! (yes I'm pro-green!) So I'm putting my own plug in here. Save money, the environment and don't live with all those chemicals. For more green cleaning tips, check out this site with Natural Healthy Home Cleaning Tips.

Judy also recommended DisneyFamily.com which has a good size parenting section where I came across this article on Green Cleaning and Clutter Busters

These are just the things that caught my fancy. I'm sure there are things that stuck with you, and I already know several of you went home and did some cleaning. Post a comment and let us know what I've forgotten that was shared or other tips you have!!