Thursday, December 28, 2006

TEA TREE OILS ETC

Since several asked...and my friend Heather posted this on her blog today....here you go....

From Heather's blog: First of all I am really loving the essential oils. I never knew how many wonderful uses they had. Our favorite two oils are Tea Tree and Lemon. Tea tree oil is not only a disinfectant, but has anti-fungal properties as well. It can be used on Acne, sinus congestion, skin irritations, athletes foot, as well as a multi-purpose cleaner. Lemon oil also has disinfectant qualities and smells terrific when using it for cleaning. I recommend going to www.teatreeoiluses.com or www.naturesgift.com for more information. Also, by clicking on the TITLE to this post (Healthy Home), you will be directed to a website that has many natural recipes for cleaners and other non-toxic remedies for household problems and maintenance.Here are just 2 of my favorite homemade cleaning solutions.

Disinfectant spray:In a clean spray bottle, combine 4 oz distilled water; 15 drops lemon essential oil; 3 drops tea tree oil. Shake well. This is primarily what I use instead of Lysol.

Window Cleaner:Mix equal parts distilled white vinegar and distilled water with 1/4 tsp natural dish soap (like Ecover) Shake well & use as you would windex.
We have a plan!!!

Do you remember the society matron mouse in "American Tale"? She stands up and announces, "We have a plan" in her NY accent and then life moves on (or at least the movie). This line has become my personal line. My family tease me with it and I make fun of myself with it. I MUST have planning sessions and I end them all by saying in my best imitation "We have a PLAN - e pluribus unum".

A very dear local friend has hinted that I'm "anal" about being on time. We've talked about it and this has stemmed from leadership roles. A leader can't be showing up late...and since I've been in leadership roles for the past 20+ years....I've learned to make myself be on time.

This goes along with what I'm about to confess. :::drum roll::: I cannot be on time without a WORKING PLAN. I live for plans. I drive my family crazy with my obsession with "the plan". It's sad. I've worked on this. I need to know what we are doing. I can't relax without a plan. I think being on time is hard for me and I've learned that a plan is essential for me to be on time....LOL Or maybe I've always been psychotic - Mom could comment on that.

Regardless, I'm always asking the family for "the plan". I woke up last night at 4 a.m. and realized that I had NO PLAN for what we were doing with the girls' visit. It makes no difference that we are 1/2 way through the visit...I need a plan. We may forget something important without a plan. Mike tends to be a late riser, he is content to take the day as it comes. I feel like the day is 1/2 - 2/3 gone by the time we DISCUSS what we're going to do with it. I've learned to be a bit more laid back...and my family has learned that they need to give me a plan. Which they do with much eye rolling and good natured teasing. Often Mike will tell me Friday night, "We're going to sleep in tomorrow until we wake up, we're going to laze around until lunch and then we'll go geocaching." AND I'm content with a plan. LOL

Mike called today when we were in the middle of our "planning session". He added his .02 to my plan mania. LOL One of the girls laughed at me when I said "we need a plan". They know me so well. Our plan can be as simple as "today we are going to stay home and do nothing"....I only need to know that we PLAN to relax...and then I can. Without that, I'll worry that we aren't doing something we should be doing. ::snort::

How does this gel with the persona of a person who "jumps into things?" Well - I am quickly able to switch plans...but I must have a plan. I can't move without a plan.

Our plan:

Today - Krista took the boys out for a treat - her Christmas gift to them. I called Don and got the computers working - the upgrade to IE7 had done BAD THINGS to my computer because they were clashing with Fire Fox. Bre will watch the littles and the rest of us will go see the Nativity. We'll play games and such tonight. I need to also check about cashing checks....I don't want to use my credit card again for a month. We pay it off monthly but I don't need the airline miles and I need to figure out what they are doing with limits and charges etc.

Tomorrow we have speech and produce co-op. We'll spend the afternoon playing games, visiting, maybe caching if it is nice.....and packing the girls up.

Saturday - we'll do any shopping I need to do for the girls before they leave, and get a package off to Mike.

Sunday - The girls have to be at the station by 11:00 and leave at noon.

"We have a plan.....and I can rest." ::snort::