Classify this one under I *am* old!

Actual exchange between two teenage girls heard while just out running some errands:

Girl 1: OMG, like what is it with all mom's thinking Johnny Depp is so hot?!

Girl 2: I know, he's like 50 or something...Ew.

Jen's Cleaner Recipes

Just in case you don't check the comments section, I thought I'd give this one it's own post...Thanks, Jen!

I'm really glad I asked for your tips...Keep them coming.

--

I LOVE the all-purpose spary, the tub cleaner, the toilet cleaner and the scrub.

I still use windex for glass and once in a while I find I do need the strong stuff but these are much easier on your lungs and wallet because you can make a lot of cleaner with one bottle of castile. And you can find most of these at the grocery store now, mostly in the whole foods section. happy-er cleaning!

The other thing we've just done is to buy the canvas bags for groceries.

All-Purpose Antiseptic Soap Spray

Liquid soap (castile)
Purified water (have never used!)
Tea tree oil
16 oz squirt or spray bottle (old, clean cleaner bottles work)

Fill bottle almost full with water THEN add 3 Tbls castile to prevent bottle from sudsing up. Add 20-30 drops tea tree oil. Shake to mix.

Toilet Bowl

Vinegar
Tea tree oil
16 oz squirt bottle (i'm using the ole castile bottle)

Mix 16 oz vinegar and 8 drops tea tree oil.

Tub/shower

8 oz peppermint
castile soap
4 drops tea tree oil
8 oz spray/squirt bottle (i use an old dish soap bottle)

Squirt around tub and scrub. you don't need a lot and use a very wet rag.

Scouring Powder
1 cup baking soda
¼ cup dried rosemary (antibacterial)
¼ cup dried rose petals (scent) (colored roses will stain rag)
shaker

I got a shaker like they use for parm at papa ginos. You really don't need the roses and even just baking soda does wonders if you let it sit overnight

Furniture Polish

Olive oil
White distilled vinegar
(Lemon) pure essential oil or vanilla extract
8 oz flip-top bottle

Put ¾ cup oil into bottle. Add ¼ cup vinegar. Add 50 drops or ¼ cup lemon oil or ½ tsp vanilla. Test on small area. i don't really polish my furniture so...


Glass Cleaner

Club soda in spray bottle (make sure to dry)
OR Lemon juice and purified water
16 oz spray bottle
1-2 tsp lemon juice to 16 oz water (fresh lemon juice works best but strain well). Lemon juice will spoil so refrigerate.

Floors
2 Tbls castile
15 drops sweet orange essential oil
8 drops lemon essential oil OR ¼ cup lemon juice

Add ingredients to 1 gallon hot water. No rinsing needed. If you have a wood floor, murphy oil soap is great. it does work on other surfaces too. Not sure how 'natural' it is...it says 'pure vegetable oil soap'...I didn't know vegetable oil came as soap naturally!

mother earth

Recently, I made the switch to all Seventh Generation (http://www.seventhgen.com/) cleaning products. You guys are probably already doing this, and this line of products is not news to you. But in case it's not, check the link. I started doing some research and learned that most laundry detergents are made from PETROLEUM-based cleaners. Gulp - who knew? Not me. I've been thinking about making the switch for some time now, but had it in my head that "environmentally-friendly" meant these products wouldn't work for shit. Wrong. They actually work.

I'm also becoming more mindful about how much I drive and am trying to condense trips. Oh, and I practically chase Adam around the house, shutting lights off behind him...

I'm making more and more of an effort to be a little kinder to our environment. But, I know I could be doing more. In the comments section, let me know what you do to be a little kinder to the planet. Give me some tips, peeps!

avett brothers

If I was going to quit my life, it would be to follow these boys around.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Si7mESo_vg

I suggest turning it up and dancing around your living room.

Then go get their new album "Emotionalism."

Sharing the Love

Inspired by Gary to share the love of music, I made a new mix and if it sounds like you might like it, let me know - I'll burn you a copy and send it out. p & l, amy

Talk of the Town - Jack Johnson
You Give Me Something - James Morrison
Get Out the Map - I. Girls
All My Days - Alexi Murdoch
Shout Out - Amos Lee
If It's the Beaches - Avett Brothers
Digest - Ben Taylor (yum)
Have a Heart - Bonnie
Red Light - Jonny Lang
Amazing (acoustic version) - Josh Kelley
Today - Joshua James
Hallelujah - Brandi Carlile
In the Journey (Live from Chicago) - Martin Sexton
Butterfly - Mason Jennings
Last Request - Paulo Nutini
Imagine - Jack Johnson
Exploration - Karminsky Experience (if you haven't heard anything from them, worth it for this song alone)

A thing that made me go, hmmm.

I was doing some research about Florida National Forests today and I found the following warning about alligators rather humorous, particularly the last line:

Alligators are present in this forest. They are an important part of Florida’s ecology and may be found wherever there is a body of water. They have a natural fear of man, but may lose that fear by being around people especially if they are fed. When this happens alligators can be dangerous. For this reason alligators should not be fed or molested in any way.

Molested? What kind of sick-o is gonna "molest" an alligator?

Ninja, Ninja, Ninja, Ninja Turtles!

Among other things, we did some walking around the 'hood this weekend. It was the weekend of the turtle, not the ninja variety. But they were still cool and were everywhere!

This one: not so happy about having his picture taken.

This turtle didn't seem to mind us snapping shots of her while she was busily laying some eggs.

All Kinds of Excited

Saddlebreds - hands down - are the best breed of horse.

They're versatile, beautiful and most of all FUN! Since all of the handful of readers of my blog are family, you know that I grew up riding and occasionally, showing horses. You may not know though, that after an insane amount of time without riding, I've started again.

I decided to jump on back in over the winter, in the middle of the deep freeze - because I thought I was going to lose my mind. We have to drive 2+ hours to do the other riding (snowboarding) and I needed something to get my juices flowing. I was hesitant to start horseback riding again...Hmmm...Isn't this something that little girls do?...Will I look silly starting again as an 'old lady?' Do I really want to do this?

See, I stopped because it just wasn't fun for me anymore at the time. At one point, I thought I was going to be a horse trainer, even went to a college specifically for this in Missouri. I only stayed there a year because I decided it wasn't what I wanted to do for a living. It's a hard life, ya'll. I have the utmost respect for the hard working horse trainers in the industry. When I came home from Missouri, I just stopped - cold turkey.

So this winter I decided to get back involved, but slowly. So, I did some searching online and found a saddlebred farm only 15 minutes from my house. I remembered the name of this farm from back in the day. My only hesitation - they are a pretty well known, high end show barn...They show nationally and are always in the top ribbons. I thought they may be snooty, and I wanted to be up front and let them know - Hey, I wanna start riding again, don't know if I'll show - I really just want to do it for fun and see where it takes me. If I got the eye roll, I wasn't gonna do it.

Their response? SURE! Come on down, your first lesson will be free, see what you think of the place and then decide. Well, my new instructor is amazing and I'm having the time of my life. I ride once a week, and usually on a different horse which makes it so challenging. I fell off during my second lesson, and jumped right up, ready to hop back on my horse. My instructor had this look of horror on her face, thinking I was going to be upset. But I started laughing...and she said, "Oh yeah, we're gonna have some fun!"

So, I'm going to my first show in years this weekend. Not to ride, just to go and see the people in my barn ride and hang out. It's local, so I can slip over for a few hours here and there. Adam's going to come along - he wants to see these horses in person (he thinks they're crazy looking). I can't wait!

Never seen a saddlebred before and want to? Check this video out (warning, there's music):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60DFjMenFNI

Now, if I could only win Powerball...

What Have I Become?!

Today I had to go make some copies and drop some manuscripts off at FedEx (see, Jeff...I do work - sometimes!). I brought my coworker, Kobe along - because who doesn't love to go for a car ride?

Anyway, it's a nice day and I decided an ice cream cone would be a tasty treat on my way back...the only place that was along the way was the big golden arches, so I pulled up to the drive up and what did I do?

I ordered myself a cone and my coworker a hamburger.

I ordered my dog a hamburger.

To some, this may seem like no big. But it is. It has been drilled into my head from birth that dogs do not eat 'people food.' Adam and I have had many a fight (not real ones, just me going, AAADDDAAMMM, stop feeding Kobe pepperoni/pizza crust/steak, etc.). Finally, I gave up - cause he kept feeding him the stuff...But he really likes it has always been his response.

Not only have I given up, I have given in. Sigh.

Dayum!

Every time I hear her voice, I'm just mesmerized...I'm talkin' bout Lauryn Hill. There's something so raw and beautiful and honest about her music. Don't believe me? Download "Adam Lives in Theory" from her MTV Unplugged session 2.

I was in the mood for listening to the ladies last night, so I put together a girlie mix for myself and that song made the list. Here are the others:

Big Girls Don't Cry: Fergie (my first Fergie song ever, as I told Mag earlier in the week...I dig it!)
Break Your Heart: Natalie Merchant
I Don't Wanna Talk About It: Indigo Girls
Complicated Melody: India.Arie
Dirt & Dead Ends: Indigo Girls
There's Hope: India.Arie
Love is Blind: Eve
Mona Lisa's and Mad Hatters: Indigo Girls
Like a Star: Corinne Bailey Rae
Powerless: Nelly Furtado

Pretty mellow list...I'm in the mood for something a little less heavy for my next list - you know, some fun, thank God it's summer, get up and dance music. Any suggestions for the next mix?