Tip Tuesday: Muddy Boots in your Car!

Recently we got a new car. Since our Ford Escape was past the 200, 000 mile tune up and the bearings were making sounds we decided to upgrade at the end of the year with a Toyota Highlander. We can actually hear each other talk now. And even though we are still a one car family, at least we can make sure we have a more reliable car.

This car is a Limited hybrid with leather interior. The only bragging I am going to do, however, is put a plug in for my husband who managed to talk the sales guys into taking off almost $5, 000 off this 2007 used gray vehicle.

The only problem to date (knock on wood) with our new car is making the purchase smack dab in the middle of winter. MUD...SAND....SALT....your freshly cleaned car does not always keep so clean then.

Yes, we put the rubber shoe mats down for every seat. And we keep the car clean in between snow falls with wet, slushy streets.

So what is the problem, you ask? MUDDY, SOAKING WET, FILTHY WINTER BOOTS!

We have a 3 1/2 year old with muddy boots that has seemed to grow a little taller to reach the back of the new leather seats. He likes to kick the seat and even though we work on trying not to kick the seat, what little 3 1/2 year old remembers every time. Plus if he gets himself into his own car seat, he cannot manage on his own unless he uses the seat for a step stool.

Sounds all to familiar, right. More than kicking my back as I am driving, I find myself upset about the new leather seats. I know they can be wiped off but still every parent has high hopes that something will last longer than it really will. So I should get over it, right. But we just got it.

So I keep telling my husband to put plastic over the seat. His reply: "And how do you propose I do that (as he complains about getting it to stay or ruining the leather)?"

Well, we have yet to try it but what about those disposable table place mats that you can by at Walmart. The sticky removes easily making a permanent attachment unlikely or leaving marks. The picture would be fun for the kids. The place mat lays flat over the covered surface intended. And you can always replace with limited hassle. I think I might try it.

Tip Tuesday: Battle the Dry Air

Last week my husband blamed me for dripping hair color (purple) on our bedspread. I thought I had been really careful about it. I guess I wasn't.

And then I found a variety of dark red spots on the tile in our bathroom floor. Again, I didn't think I was that crazy with the hair color...but I guess I was.

And on Saturday, the real culprit reared his little furry head. As I was getting ready for our housewarming party, Beckett, our cat, came in and used his litterbox. On the way out of the swinging door, he sneezed. Blood sprayed everywhere. I screamed for my husband and he came running, holding the cat in the bathroom so he wouldn't drip blood on the new (cream) carpet.

"Gimme some cotton balls," demanded my husband who was holding Beckett down as Beckett continued to sneeze and spray blood.

I went to the "stockpile" in our closet and grabbed the first thing that made sense. A maxi-pad. It IS what it is for. So here's my husband, holding a feminine pad under our cats nose as he continues to sneeze and spray blood. Still.

"Cottonballs," yelled my husband. I finally found them and he did get the bleeding to stop...but it took about 20 minutes. My husband, who notoriously gets bloody noses in the winter, informed me that he had one a few days before.

We love the new house but it is so big that it makes it hard for a pot of boiling water to humidify the air...unlike the apartment.

So I've been air drying the items I know my husband isn't picky about and trying to occasionally boil water. I also leave the bathroom door open when I shower to help by getting some of the humidity into the house.

After the last big nose bleed of the cat, my husband put some Neosporin on his nose. That seemed to help....that and what I've done to put some humidity in the home.

At least I know it wasn't my hair color.

Tip Tuesday: Yak Trax

It's coming. The four letter S-word...snow. It's in the forecast for tonight. I am thankful that I'm not pregnant this winter...but I've managed to survive two snowy Iowa winters pregnant.

When you're expecting, your balance is off. It's normal. And falling is not good for pregnant women. However, I did find that owning a pair of Yak Trax always helped.

While putting the Yak Trax on and off of my shoes was a bit of a challenge, it sure beats slipping and falling and injuring baby or myself.

Food Friday: Tim's Pot of Homemade Chili!

The weather turned cold this week. Wednesday was the really first damp, rainy day and last night the temperature dipped down into the twenties. Brrr....

If you are not ready for winter (like me), then make yourself a pot of chili this weekend to warm you up. Tim, my husband, came up with his own recipe several years ago, making a family favorite.

Add some shredded cheddar cheese on top with corn chips. Make some tasty, golden cornbread from scratch. Or dip a peanut butter sandwich in this delightful, filling dish. At any rate, fill your tummy and then curl up with a good movie with the family this weekend.

Cook Together
1 pound of ground beef
1/2 onion finely chopped
2 green peppers finely chopped

Add 1 package of McCormick Chili Seasoning with additional chili powder to taste. Let simmer into meat for a couple of minutes.

Add
14 oz can Hunts Fire-Roasted tomatoes
16 oz can light red kidney beans
16 oz can dark red kidney beans
28 oz can Hunts crushed tomatoes

Stir all together and let simmer. Add more chili powder to taste if needed. Cook until ready to serve or make in the crock pot to serve later in the day. Add V8 original juice to make the pot go further.

Wash Wednesday: Winter Clothes

I couldn't believe it. I even had to check the local news website. Still didn't believe it. So I checked out the Weather Channel. Yep. Snow was in the forecast.

So I find myself pulling out the snow pants, heavy coats, gloves and hats. I know I washed them before I put them away...but they just...smell.

So what did other mom's do so you're not re-washing the winter gear before it hits? We don't have a smoker in the house and other than our handi-cat who doesn't get into the tote, what can do you do make it not smell--for lack of a better word, icky.