DAY 138: Neat Plate

When I was a child, I did NOT like my food to touch.  For instance, I would have a plate for chicken, a bowl for green beans and a separate bowl for rice... and I'd have a fork or a spoon for each food item!  I have always had a "selective palate," so to speak, and one thing that bothered me (and still does) was food running together.  I like plain, simple (bland?) food, and I don't like many sauces or cheeses, so it was always tough for me to enjoy a happy meal (ha-ha), especially when I went to other people's homes for dinner.  "Oh, you're a picky eater," they would say.  "What in the world will we feed you?"  And then they'd set down a plate full of runny meat juices and oozing cheese.  EEK!  Honestly, I don't think I'm that picky at all.  (And I don't use separate vessels or utensils for each food item anymore!)  I just like simple, delicious food!  And I don't want all those simple, delicious foods to blend into one another.  I want to enjoy each one separately.

That's why THIS plate is a pretty ingenious (and neat) invention.  Of course, it's perfect for portion control (anyone dieting!?!), but it's also a clever tool for those of us who like to keep our foods separate.  You can use the old "cafeteria-style" plate or tray, but this is just another fun option for meal measuring and divided dinners!  AND, once you are finished with the plating of your food, you can remove this shield-type device, leaving behind a perfectly proportioned (and separated) meal!

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 96: Supplies and gadgets and doo-dads, oh my!

So... in all my ramblings about cleaning and organizing and getting neater and such, I have had some really great opportunities to share some of my old (and new!) favorite products and gadgets and doo-dads. BUT, I was thinking that, perhaps, you, like me, might want to go on a wee, little shopping spree this spring to kick your spring cleaning up a notch or two!

SO, HERE is a lovely site (and new partner of mine), Organizing A to Z, that has everything a neat freak (or those aspiring to be neat freaks) could ever want. AND, some things are on a deep-discount sale! (Yes, there's a spring cleaning blowout! HOORAY!)


Happy shopping! Hope you find all your neat needs!

Can't choose what to buy? Don't know where to begin? Need any advice? Let me know!

Here are a few of my favorite SALE items! :)




Now, THAT's neat!

Day 91: Do You Roll?

I have several lint rollers. Big ones. "Mini" ones. One in the bathroom. One in my car. And I LOVE them all! They are so handy - a total "must have" for neat freaks! And you can use them on more than just that unsightly lint!

Here are a few more uses:

• craft bits, or "sniglets" as a friend of mine calls them... Ever have those random paper pieces, ribbon snips or fabric threads all over the place after some crafting? Well, a lint roller is a perfect solution for getting those up and out of the way!
• stray hairs... Just roll the back of your shirt, sweater or jacket and remove those "strays" that fall out or fly away after brushing or styling your hair! This is also a perfect tool for picking up those little ends after a bang trim... or after a gray hair annihilation!
  
• pet fur... I roll the couch and chairs, regularly, to remove Rowdy's fur clumps.
• dust bunnies... Hey, if you can't grab the vacuum, roll away those dust bunnies with a lint roller! It's a quick fix. Not a permanent solution!
• lampshades... Oh, yes, these decorative beauties LOVE dust and grime. So, roll over them with a lint roller to bring them back to their old glory! With that in mind, try one out on a curtain or a table cloth! I use mine on the table runner in our dining room when I don't feel like removing the heavy vase and candle holders to give it a good shake outside!
  
• crumbs... Again, this is a quick fix, but a lint roller can be a handy tool for crumb removal! I've used it on counter tops, highchairs and car seats MANY times! I also have used it on baking spills, to roll away some of the flour, sugar or baking mix splatter before attacking with a antibacterial wipe!
  

What do YOU use a lint roller on?


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 86: Get Neat With Wear-N'-Write

Y'all know I enjoy gadgets that help with cleaning and organizing. And I am trying out a NEAT, new product... It's called Wear-N'-Write. Get this: It's a mini, dry-erase board that comes in 2 nifty styles: 1 that you can WEAR on your wrist, and 1 that you can CLIP on somewhere convenient.

I know we live in a day and age of fancy phones and electronic what-nots, with technologically advanced ways of taking notes, but how many times have you been searching under the seats in your car for a pen or a crayon and a receipt or even a gum wrapper to jot down a phone number or a quick note? And think about people who work outdoors... or in hospitals! What about contractors, waitresses, nurses and carpenters? This little, note-taking wonder is perfect for wearing "hands free" or for clipping on a car visor, a tote bag, a backpack, etc, etc.

My daughter is already chomping at the bit to steal a Wear-N'-Write from me and use it for her own imaginative projects, but I am envisioning clipping one to my cleaning basket so I can jot down things that I need (like: buy more Lysol wipes) or stuff that I notice (like: change batteries in smoke alarm) while I am doing everyday chores from room to room! Hey, I could even clip one in every room of the house... I could write down my kid's chores on them. Or, we could jot down messages to one another or mention necessities that are required... or missing (i.e. need toothpaste, running low on laundry detergent, need more toilet paper, or must have clean-and-dry basketball uniform for Saturday!). It's a perfect solution for anyone who is already busy... with always more stuff to do. And it's a great gadget for any neat freak! ;)

I've already tried the wrist version on, too... just for fun! I like that the marker (that comes with it) not only has a neat little place to attach to the board, it has its own eraser! So, no dirtying up your sleeves, fingers or whatever else is handy at the time!


It will be fun testing these out, here and there, and everywhere! Oh, and best of all... while I am giving this new product a whirl, YOU, too, can try out this little gadget for yourself! Just go to the Wear-N'-Write Facebook page and click on "like." The first 10 people who post the comment "Wear-N'-Write makes my busy life EASIER!" and mention that they saw the product on the "Get Neater" blog will win FREE products! Yep. It's that easy! (And, hey, just because you're not one of the first 10 folks doesn't mean you can't like their page! "Like" them, and get details on what they are been up to and what they have to offer!)

GOOD LUCK!

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 76: The Little Things

I love little gadgets and tools... and anything that can help keep things neat, clean and organized! And a fun stocking stuffer that *yours truly* received fits the bill perfectly!

It's called "Fuzzy Fingers," and it's a little, pink, fluffy thing that slips over two or three fingers, allowing you to brush/sweep/wipe clean small things like computer keyboards, frames, phones and other items! It might sound kind of kooky, but it's a handy, little thing that does not take up much room. So it's great to keep in a desk drawer and use when those cookie crumbs in your laptop are getting in the way! :)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 64: A Cleaner Crock Pot

I already love my crock pot. I don't have an unhealthy obsession with it or anything, but I LOVE to use it and try out new -- and easy -- recipes! I mean, what's better for a busy, overworked neat freak than the opportunity to dump a bunch of ingredients into a slow cooker before an overly full day... and come home to a ready-to-eat meal!?!? *sigh....

That being said, I was talking with a friend the other day about crock pot recipes, and she reminded me of a perfectly neat product I have been meaning to try: crock pot liners!

That's right, there are LINERS you can put IN your crock pot so it's easier to clean up when you are done! I used Reynolds slow cooker liners, as pictured here.


And, boy, was it simple! Just place the liner in your crock pot (as directed) before adding ingredients. And after all is said and done (and your delicious meal has been devoured by a grateful family), pull the liner out and toss it away (or, keep everything intact and store it as is in your plastic container of choice!).

I loved not having to scrub and scrape off baked-on food bits! I simply rinsed out and wiped off my crock pot and put it right back into the cabinet! These liners are such a savings of time, energy and sanity! :)


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 54: The Shower Door... & More SonicScrubber Cleaning

"WARNING: You will get wet."

Ever been at an amusement park and seen those signs, posted ominously at the start of a line for a water ride? Well, I think we need those signs for the shower. And I don't mean for taking a shower. (That's a given.) I'm talking about for cleaning the shower! And I should know better by now, but it's really pointless to attempt to clean a shower if you are on the dry side. It's dumb, really. Because countless times I have sprayed the shower and gotten myself covered in cleaning products. And just about every time I've used any kind of product with bleach, of course I've splattered it all over my favorite pajama pants... and made polka-dotted pajama pants! ;)

Well, today was no exception. I decided to try out my new SonicScrubber again, this time on my gross shower door. I used the velcro attachment thing and selected a disposable, non-scratch pad (AKA: "the yellow one;" they're color coded!!!).


I literally threw some Comet on the shower door, splashed a little water on it... and went to town with the SonicScrubber.


Now, this door was pretty much covered up with soap scummy goop. It's supposed to be a privacy-glass door, with just a little touch of that can't-quite-see-through look. As you can see in this before shot, however, it's more like that haven't-really-cared-to-clean-in-a-while look!


Now, be warned... the SonicScrubber spins. I covered that in the last post, right?!?! (Think giant electric toothbrush.) So, of course, as I started to clean the shower door, I promptly sprayed Comet all over my hair, my arms, my knees, the floor, the rug... Oops! I am so bad at the prep work. I could have removed said items, and, as mentioned before, I could have done the smart thing and cleaned the shower from the wet side, while I was actually in the shower. (Pre-shower is usually a good time.) No harm done, though. And, as you can see: it was well worth it for this kind of clean!!!! Ta-da!


That little cleaning pad sure did its duty -- In fact, I may have overused it a bit! :) It looks pretty worn out here! Funny, though, I did not have to use much pressure or effort.


If you would like to clean without using much effort, don't forget to enter the contest to WIN a SonicScrubber of your very own! The giveaway ends tomorrow, and I will randomly draw for a winner! Just click HERE to add your comment to the SonicScrubber post from the other day for your chance to win!


Now, THAT's neat!

Day 53: The Beginnings of a SonicScrubber Super Fan (and a Get Neater GIVEAWAY!)

I was lucky enough to very recently receive a SonicScrubber to test out and review for my "Get Neater" blog... and I agreed -with elation- to try out this very handy little cleaning tool this weekend!


And now that a SonicScrubber is in my possession, I must ask: Where in the world was I that I did not know about this clever and amazing tool!?!?! (I suppose it could be that we haven't had cable TV in our home for 3 years, so I may have missed out on a commercial or two.) But, boy -- am I glad that I have access to one now!

Just to fill you in, the SonicScrubber is like a giant electric toothbrush... with WAY more power.... and way more options!


And I suppose you could clean your teeth with this rotating, power-cleaning wonder tool, but the manufacturers recommend using it for other items... like doors, walls, tile, grout, pots, pans, windows, counters, floors, appliances, furniture, fabric, carpet, toys, baseboards, ovens, grills, and YES... even (and especially) the kitchen sink! *whew!*

With just a twist of the wrist, you can switch the rotating tool or add special, disposable cleaning pads for just about whatever you can think of that needs cleaning! That means I am going to be a very busy (and very happy) cleaning whiz... for quite some time. (I can see this turning into a regular segment! Can't you?)


At any rate, to test out my new SonicScrubber tool, I decided to tackle the stove top. My hubby had recently used it, and that meant a dirty, crusty, splattered mess was left behind. See for yourself! (You can click on the photo to see it in more eeeewy detail!)
BEFORE:


Well, I squirted on some stove-top cleaner (the same Cerama Bryte cleaning product that I always use), twisted on the correct SonicScrubber accessory and non-scratch pad... and attacked that cooked-on, stove top gunk. Now, it took a few minutes to work through that cleaning paste, but with barely any effort at all, I had beautiful results. Check it out!
AFTER:


Typically, I spend about 15 minutes of hard, wrist-wrenching scrubbing to get a clean like that! But this suped-up toothbrush did all the work... with much better results! LOVE IT!

I am on a mission now to try the SonicScrubber on everything in my home! Ok, not everything! My 8-month-old son might be a messy eater, but I promise not to SonicScrub the greenbeans off his little chinny-chin-chin! So... just be sure to check back for more posts on this great cleaning tool as I work through my entire house!

*** GIVEAWAY ALERT!!!!!
Oh... and YOU can try the SonicScrubber in your home, too! I have an extra cleaning tool for this fun - and very first - Get Neater GIVEAWAY! To enter, just leave a comment on THIS post telling me how YOU would use the SonicScrubber to make YOUR home neater! (And get an extra entry if you follow this blog.) You can check out the SonicScrubber website by clicking HERE to get some more information and ideas! GOOD LUCK!
(The winner will be chosen by random drawing on August 31, 2010. Check back on September 1 to see if YOU won!!!)


* NOTE: Products were provided by the manufacturer, but all opinions are my own, and NO payment was received for this post! These are purely my own rantings and ravings, as always!


Now, THAT's neat!

DAY 36: As The Milk Sours

Sorry about all these random product mentions, but I was surfing the Internet today and just stumbled across something that really struck a chord with me: a kitchen gadget that tells if your milk has gone sour!!!!

Now, apparently this new-fangled milk jug is currently still in the "research and development stages," so isn't available for purchase just yet. But I assure you, I will be one of the first in line if and when Cravendale gets this out for public consumption -- even if they are located in England!!!

I am so neurotic about milk; I smell the milk before every use! In fact, I’m so careful about milk that I’ve probably dumped tons of perfectly good milk down the drain before. WHY!?! Well, because like many of you, I've gotten burned by sour milk before. You know, you sit down to a nice big bowl of cereal, and EEEWWWWWW! ACK! Sour milk. Or, even worse, you just take a BIG swig right from the jug, only to realize: the milk has gone bad! VERY bad!

At any rate, when it arrives on a planet near you, this sour-sensing milk jug will feature a LCD display that will either read "fresh" or "sour." It determines the milk's freshness through a sensor at the bottom of the jug. When milk goes bad, it’s more acidic, so the sensor looks for a drop in pH.

So no more sniffing, sipping or accidentally downing a huge gulp of nasty, sour milk. And no more dumping perfectly good milk down the drain! Hooray! Bring on the magic milk jug!

Now, THAT's neat!

Day 15&16: A Neat Gadget -- for the kitchen... and more!

Tired of your spouse pulling a sinister-looking jar out of the fridge, shoving it toward your unsuspecting nose, and saying, "Smell this. Does this smell funny to you? Does it look kind of greenish? Moldy? Alive?"

I stumbled across a gadget not too long ago that got me really intrigued. "Days Ago." (That's the name of the gadget, by the way; that's not when I discovered them. Are y'all feeling a "Who's on first" kind-of thing here, or is it just me!?!?) Has anyone else heard of this thing? It's a digital day counter that has a really great function in your kitchen: it attaches to food containers (by magnet or suction or band) and counts exactly how many days ago you put that leftover chicken casserole in the fridge or that extra batch of sugar cookie dough in the freezer. (Ooohh...I'm hungry now!)


I don't personally have any of these fancy, new-fangled contraptions just yet.... but it sounds like a good fit for a neat freak!

Beyond just keeping track of your food before it grows legs and walks away (Ok. no longer hungry), these little counter things can be used in other ways. Put it on your medicine bottle -- or on your pet's medicine -- to keep track of when you (or your four-footed pal) last took that pain pill. Speaking of pets, we have a 55-gallon aquarium with lots of happy little fish. To keep them happy, a digital day counter would let the whole family know when they were last fed... so we don't under- or over-feed them!

I don't know; I guess you could get a little crazy with these things, if you chose to!

• How about a digital counter on every smoke detector in the house, so you know when to change the batteries... BEFORE they start beeping in unison at 3 in the morning;
  
• One in the car to track that last oil change (when you don't want the sticky plastic square melting to your window shield);
• Put a doo-dad on your plant containers to know for certain when they last got watered. (I probably need to do this. Sadly, green things and I don't seem to coexist very well.);
• One on the toilet bowl, so you can't put off cleaning it anymore, thinking, "it was just last weekend when I tackled that!";
  
• How about one on your designer purse so you know when you are due for an upgrade!?!;
  
• Maybe I could suction-cup one to my baby boy's head so I can be sure when he last ate! Ha-ha! ;)

I digress....

I just thought I'd share a neat thing I found. If you've tried this gadget out, please let me know your thoughts! Or, perhaps, we can put our collective minds together and come up with our own handy invention....

Now, THAT's neat!