WHAT Kind Of Freezies?!?!?!?!?

'Hey Mom! Can you please get more of those dildo freezies today?'

..................UM.  OMIGOD!  WHAT DID YOU SAY?, is what sliced through my brain.  

Yes, all in caps.

I just ... wasn't expecting those words to come out after an innocent, 'Hey Mom! Can you please get ...'

Thankfully, (if there IS a thankfully in these types of situations), it came from the 16yr old, and not the 12yr old.

What I actually said, was something more along the lines of ...

'Um.  Pardon me?  WHAT kind of freezies?!?!?!??!

'You know,' he replied; while looking in the freezer, 'those weird looking freezies you got last week.'

And then, he turned to me with a huge grin and a, 'the ones that look like dildos'.


Oh, crap.

Think. Think.  Think.

Suppress the laugh, that's NOT Motherly, Kimberly!



And the worst part ... I knew exactly which ones he was talking about.

Look innocent enough ... don't they?

And then, when you take them out ...

I don't remember exactly how the conversation went after that.  

I sort of blocked it out after dildo, I think.

But it was along the lines of  ...


'ALEC!' 

'WHAT!'

'How do you even know what a dildo looks ....' 


Pause. Blink. Blink.

'MOM! I know what a dildo looks like!', he said laughing.


Sigh.  Eyes close. Shaking of head. Hand up, STOP!



'Nevermind. Yes.  I'll get more today.'

'Thanks, Mom' ... still laughing.





I guess I should have expected that I would eventually have a conversation with him, containing the word 'dildo'.


I just didn't expect it would be in the context of ... freezies.


My apologies to the Ice Pops people.  This was by no means a product review ;-)



And please, everyone, keep in mind ...  

The opinions expressed by my Children, are not necessarily those of their Mother!!!. - Thank you.

K. 

Little Girl Lost

Dear Dad;

Two days ago, it was the 10^th anniversary of your death.

How have ten years gone by in the blink of an eye?

Adam was only 2 and Alec 6 when you left us.

And now, they've grown into smart, handsome, funny, charismatic young men of 12 and 16.

And you've missed so much.

You missed Adam starting school.

You missed Alec having his first girlfriend.

You missed Adam sooo excited and looking SO cute, because he was going to his first pre-teen dance.

You're going to miss Alec getting his license soon, and he graduates in a couple of years.

And I know, without a doubt, you would have thrown him the BIGGEST grad party!

You would have been so proud of your grandsons when it comes to sports!

Alec has become an awesome basketball player!

Adam likes and plays it too, but his true talent is gymnastics.

You've missed so many playoff games, where I KNOW you and mom would have made the drive to Halifax, to be sitting in the stands, cheering them on, with me.

Alec wants to play professional basketball and hopes to get a scholarship to play someday.

Adam may still be a long way from deciding his future plans, but he's still adamant he'll be a police/FBI officer.

I think you would have supported any of their hopes and dreams and would have done what you could to help them achieve them.

You've missed the fun stuff, like taking them to parks, water-slides, movies, mini golf, ball fields and so many more activities I KNOW you would have enjoyed with them.

OK, maybe not the ziplining.

But, I've taken them skiing the past couple of years.  I think you would have enjoyed that.
 

Every summer, I try to make sure to make time to throw the ball in the backyard with them.

For you.

And you've missed the serious stuff.

Before I made ANY major decision in my life, I ALWAYS called you (and mom) first.

I had to run it by you, to see what you thought. I may not always have agreed with what you told me, but I always respected and needed your opinion.

You weren't there for the biggest decision of my life. And for that, I was SO angry.

I needed my dad to tell me if I was making the right decision, when I decided it was time for a divorce.

You weren't here to talk to.

I did go home, and talk to mom, but it wasn't YOUR input.

It wasn't my daddy's advice, and I needed that.

I made one of the hardest and biggest decisions of my life, without your words of wisdom ... on my own.

And here we are, ten years later, and I STILL reach for the phone sometimes, forgetting you're not there, to give me the advice I so desperately need.

Or to give me that hug, and pick me back up, when I screw up, or feel the fists of life, beating me down.

You're not there to tell me things will be OK.

I can't call you when I need help fixing things I can't fix.

This is the second summer I don't have a clothesline, since it broke.

I know it would have been one of the first things you would have fixed on your next visit.

Along with whatever else I had on my list.

But you would have been proud of me! I've handled flooding basements, I tackled fixing my dryer, and handled having my water tank decide to up and die all over the basement floor.

I had to deal with Adam being hospitalized, and Alec suffering a serious concussion, that whole double-lung surgery thing I had right after you died, and many of life's other curve balls, all on my own.

But I did it.

Because I knew you were there. Looking over my shoulder. Making sure things would be OK.

That's what gets me through the day all these years later.

Knowing you're my angel, always on my shoulder.

I knew it when that log fell off the logging truck in front of us, on that slippery, snowy, windy road in New Brunswick, and we came out OK.

I knew it when the boys and I hit a deer. Twice. And all came out OK.

I knew it when I hydroplaned on that wet road a couple of years ago, and should, really SHOULD have ended up into and flipping over that concrete barrier, but didn't.

I know it EVERY time we have a near miss. You're there. Protecting us.

As you always did, when you were here with us.

Mom and I are taking care of each other.

She always was, but has become even moreso, my best friend.

I know she misses you too.  Alot.

Especially with Nanny being so sick lately.  I KNOW she could really use your support through this.

Do you know, whenever Nanny sees Mom now, she looks at her and says your name.

And what a good man you were.

I think you're there with Nanny, in the hospital where she is now.  I think you're watching over her and I know she feels you.

She's not quite ready to leave us yet, but I know when she does, it will be YOUR hand, along with Grandads reaching out to take hers when she gets there.

I'm finding my way through life without you, Dad.

Some days though, it's really tough.

I may be a 40yr old woman, but sometimes, without you, I'm just a little girl lost.

However … that's not what the world sees.

You made me strong.

You and mom made me the person I am, and I like to think that's a good one.

Someone who WON'T back down from ANY challenge (unless it involves a spider of course).

Someone who CAN handle anything that life decides to throw at me.

Including raising these two boys, on my own, and having them turn into the good men I know you'd want them to be.

The world sees the strong, confident, intelligent, won't take shit, woman that you made me.

Never the little girl lost.

And for that, I hope you'd be proud.

It hasn't been easy all these years.

I miss you.

I miss your advice, I miss your humour, I miss your no-nonsense, I miss watching you and mom together.

I miss the house I grew up in.  Home isn't home anymore. 

I miss seeing you play with the boys.

I miss you introducing me as your favourite daughter, even though everyone knew I was your ONLY child.

I miss SO MANY things, but mostly, I miss your love. 

It seems like just yesterday I left you at the house that last time.

I think we both knew, it WAS the last time I'd be able to tell you everything I needed you to know.

I'm glad I got that, at least.

I'm glad I was with you in those last moments at the hospital, holding your hand.

I'm glad you opened your eyes, and looked at Mom one last time before you left us.

And I'm glad I have so many wonderful memories you and mom made for me.

I hold them close.

They're all I have now.  Since, I'll never again, have you.

Miss you, Dad.

Every.  Single.  Day.

Love always,

Your favourite daughter.  xox

The MOTHER Of All Reviews!

Crrrreeeeeeekkkkk ....... 

Hello?

Helloooooo - ooooooooo - ooooooooo - ooooooooo - ooooooooo -


I realize I've been gone awhile.  Anyone still kickin' around in the Korner? 

OH!  Hi!  Yeah, I see you, curled up over there, trying to look inconspicuous, blending into the beanbag chair ... thanks for sticking around! 


Ahhhh.  I’ve missed my blog

I’ve missed my readers.

I really have no good excuse for not being here.


Nothing traumatic, or wonderful happened to keep me away from the Korner.



Just LIFE, getting in the way. 


Leaking basements.  Again.

  

I took this from across the room.

Yes, that's one little dry spot, over in the Korner.

Disappearing contractors.  Again.

 







  

Never hire a friend to do work for you.Period.

Getting robbed.  Having Adam's bike stolen.

Yeah. Been robbed before too.  

Thanksgiving, Halloween, Alec getting a serious concussion, the ex coming home from Australia for 5 months, then moving back, Christmas thrown in there, and of course, basketball every weekend for both boys from Oct - May! 

It never stops around here. 

I just don't seem to have time to tell you about it! 



Of course, I can't ignore the fact that I have been raising my boys for the past (almost) 2 yrs without the 'every second weekend' visit to their father's. 

Those always provided me with two days of unlimited blogging hours lol. 



And then there's work.

There was a time when I would gladly stay up until 2am finishing a blog post. 

Now, I spend too many 2am nights updating spreadsheets, to even think about starting a post. 


And to be honest ... once you've done something for so long, like blogging for five years, and you're away from it for as long as I've been (as long as I've EVER been away from my blog!), you start to wonder if you CAN go back. 


All these things and more, as I said, LIFE, have kept me away. 

For that, I'm sorry. 



But, today, that changes. 

And as of now ... THIS moment ... I AM back!  

With a vengeance!

........... where is that Elton John music coming from ..........  ??? 



I have promised myself that I will not come back with unfinished blog business. 

Meaning reviews.

Since ... that's really the only business I do on here, other than spouting my own opinions ;-)

I can't bring myself to blog about ONE NEW THING, until I take care of what's long, looooooooong overdue.


You might want to grab a coffee and get comfy, people, cause it's going to be ...






The MOTHER of All Reviews!

So, let's begin with a company who has been very good to me the past few years, P&G.

Last year, I received some AWESOME packages from the Febreze reps, and I've yet to tell you about these!

First, a new bottle of Febreze, Linen and Sky, for Fabrics, Carpets, and Air.

This particular rep was very thoughtful. 

God luv 'er!  She even taped the squirter shut for me!

Thank you!

It came at the perfect time. 

I had received some great couch covers from the Bestie, and had vacuumed out both couches before putting them on. 

Seeing as it would (hopefully) be awhile before they were uncovered, I also wanted to freshen them up. 

So, I washed them down with a handheld scrub brush, then just before they were dry, sprayed them with the new Febreze, Linen and Sky. 

It worked.  Smelled wonderful.  Clean!  Did NOT smell like Belle. 

Mission accomplished. 

For fabric and carpet, I would say SURE!, it's great! As long as you don't have breathing sensitivities to those products. 

For air ... if you don't have carpet, and have hardwood ... not so great. 

Sorry, P&G people, but it's the truth. 

When you spray this product in the air, as an air freshener, when it lands on the hardwood, it makes it slippery/wet for awhile. 

Same on ceramic. 

If you spray this in the air, in a bathroom with ceramic tile, it will surely bring about a 'MOM!' from the first person whose socks hit it running ... then sliding across the room.  

But thank you, I did appreciate the air freshener, 'it did exactly what I needed it to do, and smelled really good doing it!'  

Then, a few months later, this arrived ... another box of P&G products.

WOW!  Thank you nice Febreze Rep!!!  :-)

It's the Febreze jackpot, Baby!!!

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!

 

While I do appreciate the vanilla scented, Febreze Swiffer Sweeper, Wet Mopping Refills ... sadly, I don't own a wet mop :-(

I would love to own a wet mop, but alas, it hasn't been meant to be.

Yet.

The air fresheners

You already know what I think about the Fabrics, Carpets, and Air freshener.



























This other bottle, the Linen and Sky Air Effects, freshener, now THAT one is for AIR!






This is the one that stays in the bathroom.  It doesn't lay on the ceramic, making it slippery like the fabric freshener.


It definitely has a nice, clean scent, but I have to be honest, there are other scents that I prefer in the Air Effects™ collection.

My favourites?  The exotics! 

Hawaiian Aloha,  Brazilian Carnaval , and  Moroccan Bazaar.


Would LOVE to try Thai Dragon Fruit  sometime too!




They even included the 'down and dirty' of the cleaners in my box of treats!

 

I'm not too picky about my dish washing soap.  Most of the dishes go in the dishwasher anyway (yup, we're getting to THAT too!) so as long as it WORKS, I'm happy.

DAWN® works very well.

This particular scent is New Zealand Springs.

It was nice, but once again, maybe not the scent I'd choose for myself.

I've always been partial to an apple, or lemon scent if I really HAVE to do dishes.



The Mr Clean® / Febreze Disinfectant combo?  LOVE Mr Clean®!  I have tried other products, but always seem to come back to the Mr Clean®.

This particular scent?  Citrus and Light.  Don't like it!  At all.

For me, personally, it doesn't have enough of that 'clean' smell that makes me go, 'Oh Yeah! Floor is CLEAN!'.

Sorry, Mr Clean®/Febreze people, just not a fan of this one.

These, on the other hand, Febreze Meadows & Rain, Febreze Lavender Vanilla & Comfort (40 oz only) ... I do like.


And of course, the Exotic collection :-)




Now, the 'just smells nice, doesn't clean', items.

Which, of course, are my weakness!

I'm a fan of all the candles.

They burn for a LONG time, ALL of it burns, and I love pretty much any scent that isn't pine or peppermint.

This particular one was New Zealand Springs.  Nice.  Not overpowering.

I also have a few Noticibles™ kicking around, and I like them, but they're an extra expense on the grocery trip that I can't necessarily always justify, when a can of Air Effects, on sale, will do in a pinch.

Comes down to a want vs a need.  Would I like to have one in a few rooms, going at all times, yes.

Can I always afford to do so, no.

Lastly, there's the Set & Refresh in Hawaiian Aloha.  I had never tried this before.  I like it.  I don't find them overly strong.


In fact, I thought the one in the bathroom had stopped working, until the best friend told me, 'oh no, I can smell it.'

Because the P&G people ARE so good to me, I can say I use many of the products that you see here, on a regular basis.

I like them.

Keep in mind.  These won't be for everyone.  But if you like the Febreze brand, they're definitely worth giving a try. 


Thank you kind Febreze Reps! 

You've definitely kept me in great smelling cleaning products over these past few years.

Now, if I could just find the time to use them more OFTEN ... !!!! 




Next, there was the book review. For, Unto the Breach. By Sidney Gale.

Sort of.

I was asked if the boys would like to read his book.

YES!  Books over electronics are a GOOD thing!

However, I have to apologize to Sidney Gale.

As much as I WANTED my boys to read Unto the Breach, I can't say they both read it, in it's entirety.

They tried.

Believe me, I forced them to lol.

Mr Gale is targeting the pre-teen boy audience, and I thought the book would hold the interest of many, with it's action and suspense.

Unfortunately, not so for my boys.

It's not you, Mr Gale.  It's them.

I just can't get them to pick up a book, unless it's something like a basketball magazine, Guinness Book of World Records, Ripley's Believe it Or Not etc.


However, when it came time to do a book report for English class this year, one of the boys chose ... Unto the Breach.

YES!  He read it! 

And in his words ...  

"I really liked it once I got into it.  There was lots of suspense after they got out on the water, and the characters were great.  I don't want to tell you what happens though, cause I know you're going to read it too!" 


The book report was accompanied by a powerpoint and verbal presentation, and questions.

Final mark?  97% 


Thank you very much, Sidney Gale, for giving us the opportunity to enjoy your work.

I say 'us', because I know my younger one will read it eventually.

And, it's on MY reading list, too.


Unfortunately, there are others on that list also, and I'm a little OCD that way, in that I read my books in order of how I acquire them.

So it'll be awhile yet before you get MY review ;-) 


..... Oh shut up, people!  We all have our issues!!! 



So, not only did I receive cleaners for the house, I ALSO received cleaners for ME too!

Skin, lips, face and hair.  OH.  YEAH.  BABY!


I was asked if I'd be interested in trying some all natural products.

Now, I'm not a high maintenance girl when it comes to facial cleansers, masks and girlie pampering in general.

Soap.  Water. Cream.  That's it.

Other than the cream, that's about as all natural as it gets.


But ... I do LIKE the girlie pampering stuff, even if I don't have time to DO it, or money to buy it, so I said, SURE!

A few days later, I got .... 

Burts Bees™ ... I NOW LOVE THIS STUFF!!!

 

 

Well ... most of it.


I had never tried the Burts Bees™ products until this box of goodies arrived.

Now, I'll definitely be going back for a couple of things.

Like this beeswax lip balm!

This worked REALLY well.  I used it on Adam over the winter, when his lips were very chapped and starting to peel.

This arrived at JUST the right time!

He put some on before bed, and the NEXT DAY there was a noticeable difference.

This works!





The anti-blemish clarifying toner?  AWESOME!  LOVE THIS!

I've used it on my face.

Do I think it makes me look younger?  Unfortunately, No.

This is skin toner, people!  Not sacred liquid from the fountain of youth!

However, I did notice that it DOES make the skin feel clean, clear, AND smooth.

And it's one of those easy things you can apply before bed!

The hand cream?  Sorry Burts Bees™ people, perhaps I used too much at one time ... more than once ... but I just found this too waxy.

It seemed that no matter how hard I rubbed it in, I couldn't get the 'film' off my hands.

Having said that, I think people who suffer from very chapped hands in the winter time, would LOVE this product, because it would provide a nice coating.

The Deep Pore Scrub, I really can't give an honest review for, because I only tried it once.

Remember, I'm the soap and water girl.  That's more water, less soap.

I just don't like having 'stuff' on my face.

Or my hands for that matter (see comment above lol).

Even IF the end result is supposed to make it more healthy.

Thanks so much, Burts Bees™, for giving me the opportunity to try your product for the first time!

I'll definitely get more of the toner and lip balm.




Or ... ahem ... you know ... ahem ... they'd make great stocking stuffers ...ahem ... Mom ...



This same representative also gave me some Green Beaver!

... Stop that!

I know where some of you were allowing your minds to go.

... I said STOP THAT!



I was sent a bottle of certified organic, gluten free and vegan (among other things) shampoo and body wash ...

 ... from Canadian company, Green Beaver™.

The shampoo?  Loved the scent.  It was light and sort of fruity. Left my hair feeling soft.

And all natural is always good.














It took me awhile to get used to the fact that it doesn't lather up like most other shampoos, but it definitely left my hair feeling clean.

The down side?  I have long hair.  That's alot of shampoo and at $10+ a bottle ... sadly, not something I'd buy for myself very often.

Sorry, Green Beaver™ people, it's just not in the single mom's budget right now ;-)


The body wash?  I use sparingly because I LOVE IT!!!!!

Again, all natural, and with an awesome fruity/tangy scent!

I've seen these products in the 'all natural' section of the grocery stores, so if you'd like to give them a try, I KNOW you can find it there.



From hair ... to food ... (just as long as it's not IN the food ...)

Got an email one day from the Hidden Valley® people, wanting to know if I'd be willing to try (and distribute among friends) a variety of their The Original Ranch product.

Ranch is one of the very few salad dressings I like.

That, Italian and Caesar are the only things that make a salad bearable!

So of course, I said, SEND IT!


And she did.

A whole boxload of it!

Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch

18 bottles worth to be exact!

Original, Light and Fat-free

Because I always have products delivered to the office instead of my house, it was my co-workers who benefited from my blogging perks that day :-)

I sent out an email, letting them know they could have a bottle if they provided me with their feedback.

I also left a couple of bottles in the kitchen for ALL to use.

Heard that one of them ended up on someone's desk ... somehow ...


Anyway, between the co-workers, mom, the best friend and of course, myself and the kids, everyone who DID provide the feedback liked or loved it.

And no, not everyone provided feedback. 

You know who you are ... stop trying to hide behind the plant over there!


There was only one person who found it 'too tangy' for their liking.


Overall though, I received comments such as: 

"This dressing is wicked….and it’s fat free! Who knew that was possible!!!" 



For the boys and I, we tried a few things.

Cooked some chicken and peppers in the oven and poured the Hidden Valley® The Original Ranch dressing over it ...

Poured that mixture onto wraps, added cheese, lettuce, tomatoes and sour cream and voila ...

Hidden Valley Ranch chicken wraps! 

THEY.  WERE.  AWESOME!!!! 


And of course, it wouldn't be steak and salad without dressing to smother the salad in!

And finally ...

Yes, there IS an end in sight!



After all that good food dirtied up those plates, the natureclean® people wanted to clean my dishes!

I've tried many dishwasher detergents, and have found few ... within my price-range ... that I like and work well.

So since it was something I hadn't tried yet, and it was eco friendly, and the best price possible, I absolutely said, 'YES!  Please send it!'.


And she did.

A bag of their Automatic Dishwasher Pacs.

Of course, this meant I was going to have to take pictures of my dirty dishes ... again.

Just what you wanted to see, wasn't it?  ;-p

I made sure not to rinse anything.

Left them good and dirty ...

Dried barbeque sauce kind of dirty!

 

And ... they came out sparkling and spotless!

Everything except the egg ...

All in all, a good product.  It can definitely handle the tough stuff.

Just ... not this particular egg.


Three things I found interesting about these pacs:

• Unscented and hypoallergenic, you won't experience the irritating odours you can with other auto dish pacs.

• Not tested on animals and contain absolutely no animal ingredients.

• Did you know? The plastic seal on some dish pacs contain tallow (animal fat -yikes)! Ours is completely tallow free. In fact these pacs are completely VEGAN (they're Kosher too).

 Taken from the natureclean: Automatic Dishwasher Pacs website

Thank you, natureclean, for sending me your Automatic Dishwasher Pacs. 


If you're into non-toxins and would like to try these, they're also in the 'all natural' section of the grocery story.

Overall, I was happy with it.

Would I use it on a regular basis?  Sure, as long as it's within the budget.


Mental note ... make sure to rinse the egg off first. 



THAT'S IT! 

I'm caught up!

I'm done. Finished!


But only for now.  There will be no more ... breaks.

It feels too good to be back.


Oh ... and have no fear, my friends ...  This Bitch IS back! 


.......where is that Elton John music coming from .........?!???! 

K.