Hi Everyone, how are you?

Here is a tip. Liquid Bar Keepers Friend is PERFECT for cleaning your glass top stove. It works better (faster and easier) than cleaners made specifically for cleaning your glass top stove. How 'bout that? AND, it's WAAAAY cheaper. The downside (isn't there always a downside?) is that it smells atrocious. So wear a nose plug and hope and pray you don't get lung cancer. It also works great for cleaning ceramic casserole dishes and junk like that. I'm hoping my lungs can handle limited exposure.

Since that was so great, haha, let's have another tip. When I took my mother-in-law to Target (well, I had to go and she jumped at the chance to go, too) I splurged on the latest issue of Ladies' Home Journal. I liked the picture on the cover of Laura Bush and her twins (adorable girls). But mainly I liked the looks of the article on De-Cluttering. It's very good, more the philosophy of why we have a problem with clutter, but some practical tips, too. If you have a clutter problem like I do, you might want to go grab a copy, only $2.49.

A couple of good points were that unless your house is in order, you can't really make a whole lot of progress in other areas of your life. I personally can't argue that. And sometimes you slam into the brick wall of Duhsville! Meaning, you realize that the effort required to procrastinate becomes more than the effort to actually set your timer for an hour and tackle the hideous job. Exceptionally true words. Now, how absurd can we get? I don't know about you, but I'm sick and tired of sabotaging myself. Time to do the things that make life worth living. It's not that hard, so why don't we do it? That's what I mean by self-sabotage.

The article wrapped up with testimonials from women who have made the Chuck Plunge and couldn't be happier -- because they feel so light (or is that lite?) and free, all their ghastly burdensome messes rolling off their shoulders and out the door.

So guess what? My MIL is leaving tomorrow, but she will be back in two weeks for two more weeks. Mike will be gone for four days during the two weeks MIL is gone. I am going to read that article every morning and then I am going to do something about it. Today I tried on stuff to wear to the graduation party. And Mike gave thumbs down to three dressy-ish tops. I have a fourth top that was a recent J. Jill big bad mistake. These are going to consignment (hope they don't reject, really, I can't handle any more rejection). A fifth top is in the Goodwill pile all ready, you know, something you just don't feel good wearing. Mike decided he loves the blouse I bought with Val Toad at Nordstrom's. I've decided I love it, too. In fact, everything I've every bought at Nordstrom's is a real winner (on sale, drastic reductions, of course). So, I am doing a purge and will have fun gradually updating my wardrobe with more attractive pieces. Seriously, my wardrobe is kinda sorry. AND, you can always eat lunch at Nordstrom's, which makes it a Win-Win.

Okay, I hope you enjoyed my tips. I am so random.

Happy Mother's Day to EVERY great lady I know, even if you don't have children, you have a motherly influence on someone, so be blessed.

KEM