To Buy or Not to Buy

So my kid and I went shopping. We definitely too the video camera along. It was super fun. We have a surprise coming up. It was funny.

Today's biggest question was, "to buy or not to buy?" I was torn. The heels are super fantastic. Being the shoe whore I am... 4" of raspberry beauty called to me... Watcha think?

It's a Giveaway!

Yesterday, my kiddo ilinnuc announced on his YouTube channel page that he was having a contest/giveaway. Well... I think it's a pretty good one. The winner will receive 1 of 3 beys. They will get to choose between Bakushin Susanow, ultimate gravity destroyer attack version, and twisted tempo. The contest ends March 3rd. So head over to his channel and look for the video titled, "Comtest and Vlog."

Expanding in to Creativity

So my child, ilinnuc, came to me and told me of a new plan. He is expanding into the creativity of stop motion production. While he has always loved Legos, he has never shown people what he was capable of doing. From a very early age he started watching stop motion videos. He got it in his brain that this was something he could do. Last year he made a small auto crash/accident stop motion. It was fun, not too serious, and people seemed to like it. Well, today he uploaded another one. This time he used Batman. It was really cool. I knew my kid was funny, but this video had a certain level of humor that most people don't have. I am excited to see where it goes.

To view the video follow this link!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2WRFezGrUeY&feature=channel_video_title

It's Basketball Season!

This morning I got to get up at the butt crack of dawn in order to make it clear across town to see my wonderfully new at basketball niece compete in her very first game. I walked into the gym, having missed the beginning lights spectacular thanks to my not so accurate GPS, found a seat next to my sister and her other half of the family. I look out at the court and Girlie-nuc is standing there wide eyed and humming with anticipation and well... fear. Having only had two practices before the big game Girlie was very nervous.

It was 4 on 4 basketball with a set of rules I have never heard of. You couldn't try to steal the ball. If you knocked it out of the court, you got it back, and if you didn't dribble, you got a friendly reminder. It was so... noncompetitive. At first I was taken aback by this. I understand they are really young and need to learn how to play well with others, but this is basketball. Dribbling is a must and knowing that if you hit the ball out of bounds, the other team gets the ball. I'm okay with not keeping score, and letting kids "forget" to dribble, but there was this kid, adorable I will admit, who decided to walk with the ball from one side of the court, to the other side only dribbling once. Girlie-nuc tried her hardest... and made 2 baskets!

Here is the funny part. While playing Girlie wore her grey uniform. The opposing team had on a maroon one. I'm not sure what they were thinking when they chose number colors because the maroon uniform was beautifully adorned with blue numbering. Imagine my surprise... and early morning humor... when the official began screaming, "It's blues ball!" I know. I thoroughly admit that I laughed like a 12 year old prepubescent teenage boy, but it was funny! It took the sting out of waking up on a Saturday morning with the sun still down.

Girlie's father was hilarious. Usually, he cracks jokes that you may not necessarily get but he thinks is hilarious, and we politely laugh at him. This time, in an auditorium filled with less than 50 or so people he started... the wave. All the sudden you hear him yell out... "COME ON EVERYONE! WOOOOOH!" Raising his arms up. Much to my sister's horror. However, the family quickly chimed in carrying the wave around well... a quarter of the auditorium. It was fun. She had fun. She received her "Grace-like" star to iron onto her jersey... which she was very happy with. Girlie made 2 baskets. Learned it's about having fun... regardless of how many people yell, "Hands UP! Get the BALL!" (her mother lol)... It was a fun day!

Changes are a Comin'

The past week has been truly unbelievable. I am so proud of my kid. The biggest change that has taken place this year is that my YouTube kid and I came to an agreement about the mask he's been wearing. I know. I know. I've gotten a lot of questionable comments from certain family members but if I'm honest... Which I always am... It was the best decision I've made yet!

We really thought about it. It wasn't something we went into lightly. The fact is, this decision has been the topic of discussion at our dinner table for several months. What made me change my mind?

I can tell you it wasn't any whining from my kid. He knew the rules and while it was a very big nuisance, he dealt with it.

It wasn't the countless kids who didn't understand the need for the mask. The number of comments about the masks creepiness was endless.

What changed my mind was the outpouring of support my kid had after a not so nice subscriber came down hard on him about a collection update.

In his comment he told my kid that he wasn't humble and was bragging and that he went over to the dark side. It really affected ilinnuc. It saddened him because that isn't the type of teenage boy he is. He is humble and appreciative and thankful and constantly amazed by the support he has received on YouTube. What really pushed me over the edge to allow him to unmask, was how defensive some of these kids got over my child. It was amazing.

There were several people who came to his defense. Not in a nasty, "Shutup! You don't know why your talking about!" kind of way... But an "ilinnuc is kind and caring and really is a good person," kind of way. They saw him the way I see him. And that is what led me to the decision to let him show his face to the people who loyally and proudly support him.

To the kids who defended him: You are all absolutely amazing and wonderful people. We wholeheartedly appreciate everyone of you!

We are looking forward to letting you all get to know ilinnuc and the nuc clan more as the year progresses. Like I said before thanks for coming along for the ride. I hope it's as much fun for you as its been for all of us! ;)

The Awkwardness of Some Explanations

Some of you may have heard that we have a resident creeper. While I normally could care less about what you do that makes you happy... I do draw the line in some instances.

Look close... the panties are on the STEERING WHEEL!!!

A little while back ilinnuc posted on Facebook a story about seeing a man sniffing women's underwear while going beyhunting. What he neglected to mention was the very awkward conversation I was forced to have with my small one, lil'innuc. How do you explain that a grown man enjoys the delicacy of dirty undies? Ilinnuc was quick to point out that this guy didn't look like the type to get these undies willingly from a woman. Which means what, I ask all of you? It means he went and stole them from some poor woman, who is now frantically searching for her black and hot pink lace bra and underwear. Ew.

The conversation with lil'innuc went something like this:

Lil'innuc: "What is he doing?"
Ilinnuc: "BWAHAHAHA!"
Momma-nuc: "Oh my god!"
Lil'innuc: "What is he doing?!"
Ilinnuc: "BWAHAHAHA!"
Momma-nuc: "Nothing! Just look the other way!"
Lil'innuc: "But what is he doing!?"
Ilinnuc: "I'm gonna pee! BWAHAHAHA!"
Momma-nuc: "Oh God!"
Ilinnuc: "Speed up I need a picture!"

It went like that for nearly 5 minutes! It was like this guy was determined to show my kids just what he was up to! Ugh. Lil'innuc knew he was weird. I think he has this extra sensory perception skill where he can spot a creeper a mile away.

I wish I could tell you that I did a great job explaining it... But honestly? All I said was, "He had some laundry he just forgot to clean. So he decided to air it out on the steering wheel... To make sure it was better, you know cleaner he had to smell it." Ilinnuc promptly died laughing... But it was a good enough excuse for lil'innuc because he followed it up with, "Can I get a Beyblade if they have a new one?" Which I said,"Of course!"

Moral of the story... If your gonna smell women's underwear... Do it in private.

IT WORKED! A great homemade laundy detergent!

Yesterday I blogged about my attempt at preparing homemade laundry detergent. I have seen several variations online and I think I found one that is pretty amazing. I was skeptical, I must admit. The idea that this little amount of ingredients would render the same quality of detergent as store brands had me raising an eyebrow. Well... I am a convert! Thanks to the amazing talents of MiMi-nuc (my mother and ilinnuc's grandmother) we were able to create something that smells amazing... and totally works!

Here is how we did it!

Ingredients:
20 Mule Borax
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda
Fells Naptha
Ivory Soap

Tools
2 large boilers
5 Gallon Bucket with lid
large plastic spoon for stirring
*optional: Power Drill and large mixer attachment

Step 1:

Place 4 Cups of water in a boiler along with the shredded or grated Fels Naptha and Ivory soap.  Heat contents over low-medium heat until soap has melted. It should have a custard like appearance.

Step 2:
Fill a 5 gallon bucket half full with hot water. My water doesn't heat up enough so I bring it almost to a boil on my stove top and add it to the bucket.


Step 3:
Pour the melted soap mixture into the 5 gallon bucket.



Step 4:
Add 1/2 cup of Borax and 1 cup of washing soda to the water and melted soap mixture.
                                                      Step 5:
Thoroughly mix the concoction. I used a power drill and mixing attachment I had. I just refinished my bathroom and used it to mix up the grout. =)

Step 6:
Fill the bucket with hot water until the bucket is full. Cover with the lid and... walk away. It will take 24 hours to set up.
Step 7: 
After 24 hours fill a container half full with the detergent and half full with hot water, and SHAKE! You must shake the detergent before every use.

Tip:
I used an old detergent container I had. I waited to make this until I was almost out of detergent. It works PERFECTLY!

The detergent has a lemon scent that smells clean and wonderful. If you like you can add 20-25 drops of essential oil into the mixture after you add the melted soap. Scents I recommend are lavender, orange or peppermint. Peppermint is a strong essential oil so only 15 or so drops are needed.

Cost breakdown:
Fels Naptha: $0.97
Ivory Soap (3 pack): $1.33
Borax: $3.39
Arm & Hammer Washing Soda: $2.98
5 Gallon Bucket with lid from Lowes: $4.32

Each batch costs roughly $1.60. It makes with is 10 Gallons of detergent. I don't think that sounds TOO bad!!! =)