real life Archives - Tatertots and Jello

Ant Infestation at the New House

Jen — Fri, 09 Sep 2016 11:25:19 +0000

We are loving our new home. We live in a huge master planned community and there is so much construction going on. It’s fun because every day something new happens in the neighborhood. The downside is that the construction churns up all kinds of critters.

A couple of weeks after we moved into our home I noticed a dark line by my screen door. I thought it was dirt but it was ANTS!! They were everywhere….

I put my kids and my dogs upstairs and I grabbed a can of Hot Shot® Ant & Roach Plus Germ Killer2. I knew it would do the trick to get rid of the ants.

I made over our covered porch right before this happened and had installed a cute screen door. The ants were coming in underneath the screen door, across the floor and up onto the sink across the room.

I sprayed the ants that were coming in underneath the door, according to the package instructions. The instructions on this product say it, “Kills Cockroaches, Ants, Carpenter Ants, Crickets, Firebrats, Fleas, Silverfish and Spiders (except Brown Recluse Spiders).” I washed the floor with cleaner.

I was really afraid of a re-infestation, so I sprayed underneath the sink and along the family room baseboards and the baseboards on the covered porch too. Be sure to follow all of the package instructions regarding how to apply the product. It also protects against ants for up to 12 weeks on non-porous surfaces – yay.

It’s been a few weeks since our ant infestation and so far we haven’t seen any reappearance of the ants – yay. Hot Shot® products take pride in providing homeowners with solutions that help keep their homes free of pests, at a value price point. As a new home owner, keeping my home clean and well cared for is a top priority for me. A clean kitchen is a happy kitchen. I love that HotShot® products are much less expensive than competing brands.

You can follow HotShot® Insecticides on Facebook. They have a fun Facebook feed with great bug solution tips and sometimes even fun giveaways too! Be sure to check it out!

xoxo

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hot Shot® Insecticides.

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Quite Honestly – My Story

Jen — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 05:31:11 +0000

I’m taking a break from the norm today. I’ve heard there’s power in vulnerability and so I’m taking a leap of faith and telling my story. I hope you’ll read it with an open mind and if it helps one person that would make me so happy.

In a world saturated with blogs and Pinterest, it’s so easy to fall in love with “perfect” images and ideas. I love pretty things as much as anyone. There’s nothing I love more than a beautiful Pinterest page. Sometimes I think it’s easy to get caught up in wanting our lives to reflect those idealistic photos in our feeds. But as I’ve grown older and have experienced more life, I have learned that nobody’s life is perfect. Every single person has struggles. Life is hard. Life can be ugly. I’ve spent the last 8 years sharing the happy, beautiful, fun side of my life on my blog.

Today I want to get real and show you a little more of my not so picture perfect side. As scary as this is for me, I hope my story will help someone else or at least let you know that life isn’t perfect no matter how it may seem online.

The entire story can be read by clicking the link to my sister’s Quite Honestly Project.

Thank you for reading my blog.

xoxo

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Our Puppy and Keeping Your House Clean with a dog!

Jen — Fri, 13 May 2016 10:05:44 +0000

Tips on how to keep your house clean with a dog.

Tips on how to keep your house clean with a dog. We got a puppy at Christmas! Her name is Tourpel (my kids picked the name out) and she is really so sweet. She is a King Charles Cavalier. When my kids said they wanted a puppy I knew that was the breed I wanted. King Charles Cavaliers have a very gentle disposition. They were bred originally as lap dogs and they love to be around people and to snuggle. So they have a very even temper and they are great with kids. Santa brought her on Christmas morning and Ella was thrilled.

One of the very few downsides to a King Charles Cavalier dog is they shed. A lot. This is our second King Charles Cavalier and over the years I’ve learned a few tricks on how to keep the house clean with this type of dog and dogs in general.

Here are 7 tips that will help you keep your home clean with a dog:

The first tip is brush your dog frequently. If you have a dog that sheds brushing them every day is a good idea and it cuts down on dog hair everywhere.
Put a towel or sheet over your dog’s bed and take it off and shake it outside once a day to shake off pet hair.
Get an electrostatic mop to mop up dust that your dog brings inside and dog hair. It works better than a vacuum.
Keep a lint roller handy for dark clothing. Everything I own is black so having a lint roller is essential if I want to be seen in public.
If your pet sits up on the furniture with you, get a special blanket for your pet and put it on a certain spot on your chair or couch. Train your pet to sit on that blanket and it will cut down on wear and soil on your furniture.
Keep a towel near the door where you pet goes in or out. When your dog comes in, train them to sit by the door and get their feet wiped off if it is wet or snowy outside.
Bathe your pet regularly. Our puppy loves to get in the shower or tub with the kids. When you are washing your dog, use a washcloth and a gentle shampoo and work from the head to the tail. Then let the shampoo set into the dogs fur for a couple of minutes before rinsing them off. This will keep your pet clean and also your home. Bathing your dog regularly also cuts down on the hair in your home.

While we all love our furry friends, pet hair is hard on drains. I like to use Liquid-Plumr Full Clog Destroyer to stay ahead of clogs. I love that Liquid-Plumr maintains your drains, helps prevent new clogs, and keeps them smelling fresh. And, it won’t add a lot more time or expense to your routine, Liquid-Plumr Maintenance is, easy-to-use and safe for all pipes. Perfect. Be sure that pets are completely out of the tub and away from the product at all times.

Tips on how to keep your house clean with a dog.

Tourpel has a pretty mischievous personality. One of her favorite things to do is steal the toilet paper rolls in the bathrooms and take them outside and chew them up. She did this the other day and then rolled around in the dirt. By the time I checked on her she had pretty much toilet papered the entire back lawn.

We put her in the tub for a quick wash. It’s hard to get upset with her when she has a face this cute.

Visit liquidplumr.com and join the conversation online with hashtag #DogsComeClean and #LiquidPlumr.

Do YOU have pets?

Do you have any tips on how you keep YOUR house clean with your pets?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Liquid-Plumr. The opinions and text are all mine.

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Happy Holidays: Naughty or Nice Bucket

Jen — Fri, 20 Nov 2015 12:00:00 +0000

Hi guys! I am Stephanie from Somewhat Simple and I am excited to share with you a darling (and EASY!) Christmas craft — a naughty or nice bucket.

This bucket certainly comes in handy if you have kids that need a little “reminder” that Santa brings presents to nice kids only. It has helped end a tantrum or two in my home- hopefully you’ll find it just as useful! Here is how to make it:

Naughty or Nice Bucket

double-sided bucket -or- 2 separate containers
wooden stick figures
craft paint in various colors + paint brush
letter stickers
scissors
ribbon
dry floral foam

*All the supplies listed above are available at Hobby Lobby

Paint your craft sticks to resemble each child. Add their names with stickers, or free-hand this with paint.
Tie a ribbon around the bucket. Add the words “Naughty” and “Nice” to each bucket.
Trim the floral foam to fit inside each bucket. Stick your stick figures into the craft foam.
… and that’s it!

Merry Christmas!

I’d love to have you stop by Somewhat Simple and see what else we have going on!

*****

Thanks Stephanie! What a cute project, and if it works to keep the kids cleaning up their rooms, even better!

She has such amazing projects on her blog. Here are a few more I think you’ll love:

Christmas Eve Traditions for Couples || Christmas Treats in a Can || Christmas Stockings for Couples

Visit Somewhat Simple and

Follow Somewhat Simple on Pinterest

Follow Somewhat Simple on Instagram

Follow Somewhat Simple on Twitter

Follow Somewhat Simple on Facebook

Follow the HAPPY Holidays Event at Tatertots & Jello

all through the holidays with awesome tutorials, recipes, decorating ideas and more from some amazing blogs!

xoxo

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Guest Project — 3 Tips to a More Organized Day {and organization giveaway}

Jen — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:48:00 +0000

I’m Jenny from the blog, Planner Perfect and am excited to be here on Tatertots and Jello! I’m a homeschooling mom of seven and love keeping my home and life organized.

I’d love to share 3 different things I do in my day that create amazing results!

When applied, I am in a fabulous mood, have cleanliness, order, and spiritual and mental renewal. Planner Perfect is set-up to keep me on top of my game by harnessing these pinnacle epiphanies in the days when I need them. Written statements of intent create personal growth…and I need to make these 3 disciplines, habitual…as I have the propensity for scratching my planned days to blog with my pajamas on ’till noon. Of course, I have regret once I look at the aftermath of my neglect… messy dishes scattered throughout the kitchen from children helping themselves to breakfast, Skillet, booming through speakers of an upstairs bedroom, and smaller children blissfully making snow angels out of packing peanuts on my living room floor.

Was pursuing my interests at the expense of chaos worth it? Hardly. No matter what keeps you off track… heed these disciplines and make them a habit because these are 3 habits all Planner Perfect women must keep!

Get up before your children. If I can get some coffee in my system before my 2-year tells me his plans for the morning–I’m starting off well. It is important for moms to have alone time and it is important to plan for it. Also, as you all know, being a mother means you need to always adjust, as things usually never go as planned. Have a plan B such as planning the time for yourself at night when children are asleep.

My initial plan is to have my devotions, look over my planner, and have some coffee in the morning before all seven children come down and hit the ground running. Get it written down, your statement of intent for the day…it’s what sets apart the truly organized and the, not-so-much…

Plan a morning routine and stick to it! Make breakfast, take out the clean dishes out of the dishwasher, and clean up breakfast dishes…don’t forget to recruit your children to help. The kitchen is the main hub of the house, keep this room functioning at it’s best and it will keep you feeling organized. Get dressed, make beds, and whatever else you want your family to get done in the morning. Make it a team effort and write these morning routines in your planner to show you’re serious. You’re half-way there when you write it down. Planner Perfect, harness life plans, beautifully and keeps you organized… it’s all in the details.

Plan time in your day for your interests. Do you ever have that stressed out feeling in your busy days that you’ll never get to that project you’re working on? Feel that stress no more! When you plan your time slot for yourself…you know it is a saved slot just for you. Depending on where you put it in your day…you could plan to have it out at a coffee shop and arrange babysitting, you can dive in at home and have your kids watch their favorite movie (just make sure they don’t find a box of packing peanuts!), or wait until evening when they are in bed. Whatever energizes you, however you want to achieve it, you won’t be able to without a plan. Plan out in detail not just when in the day you’ll get it done, but how.

Do a quick pick-up of the house before bed. Ever wake up in the morning to a house that looks like you’ve thrown an all-nighter? I have, and it’s a nightmare. One hour before bed, recruit the kids to help, and get the main areas of your home picked up. Make this a habit and your morning just got better.

There you have it! 3 fundamental habits Planner Perfect women must keep.
With just these three…you will be set-up for success in your days.

You can do it! (me too!!)

I am trying to get more organized in 2011 — so this is great advice!!

Jenny’s is a mom of SEVEN — and her blog has tons of great organizing ideas!!

Like:

{Organizing your back entry}

{Laundry Organizing Tips}

{Organizing Snow Gear}

{Organizing your Tupperware}

Plus — Jenny has a food blog Planner Perfect Meals — which is dedicated to the tricks and tips on creating homemade foods from scratch, simply.

Jenny has also created — Planner Perfect, a planning system that helps people stay organized for life!

And she has a great ebook which shows you how to make your own Planner Perfect system.

Wow – she is a busy lady!!!

Jenny is giving a FREE copy of her
Planner Perfect ebook
to one of you!!

e-book giveaway

Planner Perfect’s downloadable e-book will get you organized. I give tips from party planning, keeping your home clean, relationships, to utilizing you strengths and talents. Planner Perfect harnesses a life that lives to the fullest. Let Planner Perfect be a springboard for your aspirations and dreams.With over 40 beautiful pages, it is a complete guide that takes you step-by-step on how to become all God has designed you to be as well as complete instruction on how to create your very own Planner Perfect.

Learn how to become a master life planner with Planner Perfect’s downloadable e-book. Start today, to become all God created you to be and making your dreams a reality.

Here’s how YOU can win:

All you need to do is leave a comment with YOUR #1 Organizing Tip!!

And if you want an extra entry, go over to Jenny’s blog, Planner Perfect and follow it or leave a comment!!

xoxo

PS — I’m off to Blissdom!! I’d love to meet you if you are going too!!

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