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Monday, June 17, 2013

Experience the Cascade #MyPlatinum sparkle! #Sponsored

 
Mom Central could not have picked a better time to partner with Cascade! When my package for review arrived I was at my wits end!
A couple of years ago we were flooded…actually most of Middle Tennessee was underwater.   
The recovery was pretty rough but for the most part we dried out and put things back together, minus a few uprooted trees. We were actually pretty lucky and didn’t fare as bad as many of our friends and fellow Tennesseans.
My biggest remnants of the day is really just a nuisance but one that I am very embarrassed by.
Apparently sometime during the flood our city water supply was overtaken by flood waters. In order to ensure consumption safety we had to boil water until the waters receded.
When the recede was complete it was pretty clear that the water supply’s integrity had been compromised. Officials were able to salvage our resources by adding a treatment additive to the primary supply.
I wish that I could say that our pipes were once again free flowing and that we lived happily ever after.
While our consumption safety was restored we were left with filmy water…… it has never been the same. For the most part I don’t notice, that is until I reach for a clean glass or dinner plate. Something in the additive clearly did not agree with my system because our dishes are covered in streaks and a white spotted film. It’s embarrassing when we have company over for dinner or just over for coffee; my dishes look like they haven’t been cleaned or that I just do a really bad job.
I love food. I love a variety of flavors, smells and color….I’m a foodie and I use all my senses to enjoy it. Including how it looks and nasty dishes just ruin the experience for me. So it’s no wonder we’ve gotten to the point that we use paper plates and plastic utensils so that we don’t have to worry about grimy dishes. I know. It’s not green and not good for the environment but honestly it’s the only way that I’ve been able to enjoy what I love. Food. I’m already weird enough about textures and food temperatures so I had to do something. If I turned my nose up at one more meal MUF (Mr. UnFun) would have probably thrown it at me…not really but he’d want to which is okay because I’d want to throw it to.
I’ve tried everything…literally.
I run a cleaning agent through my dishwasher every few weeks, soak my silverware in bleach, rinse my dishes with vinegar, and have tried just about every brand of dishwasher detergent known to man. The Cascade powder has been the only thing that helps but even then it’s just for a few days and I have to run a cleaning agent through my dishwasher again.
It’s been embarrassing, expensive, and extremely frustrating. Not that my machine is great and I probably could use a new one but why bother. If I buy a new dishwasher but it will just be ruined once I started running water through it.
Or will it?
When my review sample was delivered we had run out of paper plates and I was scrubbing a plate for little girl’s lunch. I had gotten the plate useable but then picked up this glass…it was gross. That isn't dried milk and it wasn't dirty. I had just pulled from the dishwasher that I had run about an hour before, it was still warm. Though I should say that it was also still wet and that the water at the bottom had kinda pooled up so the inside isn't as gross as it looks but gross enough.
I wish that I could say that this was just an empty glass that had been left out with milk to dry but it had just come out of the dishwasher and was actually as clean as they would get.
I handed her a juice box instead and ripped open the bag of Cascade Platinum
It looked different so maybe it would work differently too.
I worried about it not having a chance since I hadn’t run a cleaning agent through in a few weeks and probably needed to but figured it would be a good opportunity to see just how tough it was and besides, I could always run a cleaner through later.
I shoved the pans I had cooked lunch in and the nasty glass that I had refused to use for little girls drink into the dishwasher, plopped in a Cascade Platinum pac in the soap dispenser and hoped for the best.
What makes Cascade Platinum different?
Cascade Platinum is a new premium product designed to deliver Cascade’s most
powerful clean while helping to maintain the sparkling look of dishwasher interiors. So basically you have a dish cleaner, rinse aid and dishwasher cleaner in one convenient pac.

Cascade Platinum Pacs deliver a variety of dish care benefits:
  • Powers away tough, 24 hour stuck-on food
  • Eliminates the need to pre-wash dishes
  • Helps maintain the look of new machines and helps prevent additional hard-water build-up
  •  Delivers exceptional dishware shine
Okay, so my mom ran a central sterile unit in a main artery hospital of the town I grew up in and she ran her house the same way. She would have never let me even think about not pre-washing. Old habits die hard and I could not bring myself to put a caked on dish into the dishwasher so we’re just gonna have to trust the whole “it eliminates the need to pre-wash” notion cause I might keel over or something.
BUT I will say that OMgoodness…my glasses are actually clear! I had forgotten that they weren’t a frosted material. They are actually clear! I could not believe how clean they were…I truly thought I was going to cry.
I knew that my yucky dishes had bothered me but I guess I just didn’t realize to what degree. I know it sounds like a mental health issue, we can blame my mom, she’s the one who ran my childhood home like a central sterile unit but y’all just don’t know how frustrating it’s been. 
I literally emptied all the cupboards and started running load after load. I kept thinking that the next load would not be as sparkly as the first and that the Cascade Platinum had just gotten lucky but to my delight, each and every time I was just a tickled as I was with that first clean load.
Y’all, I made dinner and used real dishes for the first time in months! Somehow everything looked and tasted better than ever. I guess it’s true; we really do eat with our eyes.
That’s what Top Chef  judge and editor of Food+Wine magazine thinks too, Gail Simmons, has partnered with Cascade to discuss why presentation is just as important as preparation.
From prep to plating:
It’s more than just a great-tasting recipe, but also perfect presentation. Sparkling dishes, shining flat ware and spot-free glasses truly let you put your best food forward with culinary creations that pop!



Gail recommends impressing with a Platinum Presentation:
“The easiest recipes pop with unexpected, gourmet presentations. Drizzle bright sauces on sparkling white plates or layer desserts in crystal-clean glassware.  Keep your presentation sparkling with Cascade Platinum, which keeps dishes perfect for anytime entertaining and impromptu guests.”

It’s with this spirit that Cascade has launched the My Platinum contest.
It’s a four-week Instagram contest where you upload photos showing off your sparkly pots, pan and plates for a chance at winning a brand new Whirlpool dishwasher and one lucky grand prize winner will receive a Platinum kitchen!
Enter to win by registering and uploading a photo to Instagram using the #MyPlatinum hash tag and tagging @MyCascade. Each week there will be a new theme and two new weekly winners, along with one final grand prize winner at the contests end.
Week 1: My Platinum Plate (6/3-6/09)
Week 2:  My Platinum Bite (6/10-6/16) Show them your best bite and most creative use of sparkling silverware! 
Week 3:  My Platinum Clink (6/17-6/23) Show them how you serve up creative concoctions in sparkling glasses! 
Week 4: My Platinum Table (6/24 - 6-30) Show them your sparkling tablescape for your most special celebrations! 
Week 5: Grand Prize Winner! (6/3-6/30)
For additional contest information and to enter click here, or visit the Cascade Facebookpage to keep up-to-date with products and promotions.




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Installing @deltafaucet In2ition for the spa boudoir #WomansIn2ition Super easy DIY! #sponsored


A couple of weeks ago I shared my excitement of being a Delta Faucet’s Ambassadors on behalf of Mom Central Consulting. Today I finally had a homework free afternoon and was able to install my new In2ition shower that was given to me as a thank you for my participation.
Prior to being selected, I had been eyeing Delta’s bathroom faucets and showerheads for the longest…..but you know how it goes. Something else always came up before I could make the purchase. Well that and I’ve had quite the list of showerhead demands:
  • I HAVE to have a separate handheld sprayer so showering Ms. Ma’am is a bit easier and I so I can rinse off the shower walls and bathtub.
  • I also didn’t really have to have a chrome finish but I really want it to match my other bathroom accessories and fixtures.
  • I wanted something with a larger head so I felt like I was out in a spring downpour …you know something the make me feel a little spoiled or pampered with a spa or high end hotel feel to it.
  • Most importantly I did not want to spend a fortune.
Call me spoiled or just incredibly picky, I prefer savvy. I know what I like and what I don't.
Why settle? I’ve been slowly but surely trying to make my spa boudoir a reality for a very long time. I work hard at making sure my husband and children have all their needs met and often have no time left at the end of the day to take a few minutes for myself. So I have to sneak my "me moments" in wherever I can and since I shower every morning I want it to count.
Besides, my list of demands did include my daughter. Her physical limitations and my spinal fusion combined have often created challenges around her bath time; getting that very full head of hair a complete rinse is nearly impossible when you’re dunking and dumping a cup over the top of her (sometimes not so willing head) head.
 The lever on the side of the In2ition shower will let us choose the water flow so we can switch back and forth depending on who is using it. We can lessen the spray so Ms. Ma’am is comfortable (and the stretchable hose – up to 82 inches will actually reach her) or I adjust it to drowned out the kids banging on the other side of the door we can adjust what type of spray my husband or I want. I’ll probably be the one taking advantage of the massage and MUF (Mr. UnFun) will more than likely stick with the invigorating spray. 
It’s pretty cool especially now that I understand just how the unique feature of being able to use just the showerhead or just the handshower or you can use both at the same time actually works - I think that is probably my favorite feature. Though I do like the fact that my new In2ition shower also gives two streams of water at once….very nice.
Disclosure: participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for Cascade. I received a product sample to facilitate my review and a promotional item as a thank you for participating.
 Okay, so as promised - I told you I’d tell you if the install was as easy as they claim.
It's not.
It was actually easier!
I've done a lot of DIY projects but honestly with just three parts total, this was the easiest DIY I have done in......forever! By myself, it literally took less than five minutes (to be exact it took 4 minutes and 33 seconds) start to finish!
Really.
I promise that was all.
My video skills are not so great (I'm trying though) and I didn’t have a camera man thanks to the man-child that bailed on me so I had to prop my camera (sorry for the curtain rod view (thank my son), which looks like it needs replaced too) but see for yourself. The video is actually just a bit more than 7 minutes but I also showed included the before dilemma with our old setup and of course had to add my twelve-cents at the end.

See. Told ya. 4 minutes and 33 seconds. By myself.
In case you don’t have sound or video viewing. The process was easy.
  1. Remove old head (you'll need a wrench)
  2. Wrap threads with plumber’s tape (not included)
  3. Secure large head (I also used a wrench for this)
  4. Attach house to larger head (no wrench required)
  5. Attach hose to handheld (still no wrench)
  6. Lock handheld into larger head (the magnet will lock it in)
  7. Run shower to ensure there are no leaks (mine was good on the first go...whoo hoo!)
  8. Finally, start showering! (I'm so ready to see what this thing can really do!)
I haven’t had a chance to actually use it yet (which is pretty obvious in the video) because I just installed it but I will be giving it a thorough review and of course will let you know my thoughts :0)
 So what do you think? What is your favorite feature? What would you love about having one of Delta’s bathroom faucets and showerheads?

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Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Graduation, Birthdays, closets, shelves, paint, attics, cords and Oh my! DIY



I’m still here!
I’m so sorry I’ve been MIA as of late….so much is going on in my off-line life that I can’t seem to find the time to catch up with y’all. So here goes:
In all the busyness that comes with the kids getting out of school for the summer break, Ms. Ma’am celebrated not only her birthday - 
Thank you to my friend at Sweet Serenades for making my vision a reality. Cupcakes and very girly shoes...life is so good!
but ............
She also graduated from high school! Now my oldest son begins the process; he’ll be a senior in the fall…. trying to keep up with my own doctoral studies has become quite the challenge.
In the mix of it all I am still determined to take back my house…..conquering the clutter is a never ending battle but even if it’s just one small thing, I’ve vowed to make sure I do at least on project every week.
The week before Mother’s Day I built shelves in my attic to store all of our junk holiday items and memorabilia. It’s been several years since I have been able to even walk through the walk-in closet that leads to the attic so the shelves were a HUGE accomplishment.
 
The shelves were not all that hard – I wish I had taken pictures of before so that y’all could see that if I, at 5 feet tall and 104 pounds could do it on my own, then anyone can…though I suspect that there aren’t too many women that requested a Skill Saw for Mother’s Day. I’m pretty lucky to have a husband that might not “get” me but humors me anyway :0)
Last week I painted the upstairs guest bathroom and put in new rugs, towels, and shower curtain…all a little more girly than the rest of my house where the boys rule.
Yesterday, I put together this shelf and hung it along with a towel ring. 
 
And I FINALLY took charge of all those cords.
 
 Come on, y’all know you have cords piling up that you can’t get rid of. So they end up shoved in a box or strewn and shoved from one end of your house to the other…..mine were shoved in every nook and cranny before I started the take back. I had been sticking them in a box but they quickly filled the box and ended up in a big mangled pile on the floor.
At first I was going to put them in an over the door shoe organizer but of course couldn’t find one so I settled on a craft organizer that I found on eBay. 
It took about two hours to sort and untangle them all but it was totally worth it. I wasn’t going to label them but then I envisioned one of the boys digging through them….just the idea was enough to break out my label maker.

 
For my next project I hope to try and tackle some of the laundry room….paint, a few shelves and a serious cleaning.
Okay, now you're all caught up with me! What are you working on?



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