With my husband in East Lansing, Michigan calling games for the MHSAA Boys Basketball Finals today at the Breslin Center, home of the Michigan State Spartans. I am taking advantage of the weather and the empty house to get a jump start on spring cleaning today.
I don’t know about any of you, but some of my favorite cleaning products are simple, affordable, and complete the tasks which need to be tackled. Tackled, ummm, is that a tackle box for fishing or tackle football? We can ponder the thought later.
Some of my favorite cleaning products: baking soda, vinegar, Simple Green, water, rags, and elbow grease.
I use baking soda practically every day. It’s great for the litter box, the garbage can, sprinkling on the carpet before vacuuming, sprinkle on mattresses before vacuuming, and putting into each laundry load, placing the open boxes inside the freezer, refrigerator, closets, etc. You can make a paste with it to scrub stains out of the counter or the like and it won't scratch the surface. It is a great cleaner for scrubbing the inside of the refrigerator and freezer using the paste first, then going back over with a warm, not hot, water rinse. Your refrigerator and freezer will look and smell great inside.
Vinegar can be used in the fabric softener dispenser as a rinse. It is a great item to have on hand at all times. Sure you might scrub the carafe and basket from you coffeemaker, but how often do you clean the inside of the machine, the build up? I do it at least once a month. You need to refer to your manufacturer’s formula, but it does wonders. The coffee tastes so much better. Vinegar is great for cleaning the inside of the dishwasher. Again, check the manufacturer’s formula, and you will have a clean and great smelling dishwasher. Vinegar is a great floor cleaner and great for cleaning litter boxes. You can take apart your fans and clean the dust off of them with a vinegar and water solution.
Many of you are probably wondering why bleach hasn’t been mentioned. I find bleach useful for many cleaning tasks. It’s great in a diluted formula to use as a sanitizer in the kitchen. It’s great for the bathroom. One of my favorite uses is to run a bleach cycle through the wash machine once a week. It cleans out any bacteria and such left behind from the week’s washing. I do this first thing Monday morning.
I hope you have found some of these tips helpful. I will carry on with my cleaning. Off to vacuum my mattress and clean my fans. Have a great Saturday !!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
March Sadness
All of my teams are out, Wisconsin, Marquette, Michigan, and Michigan State. Last night, I was pulling for the Bobcats to upset the Tar Heels. It went to overtime, and shortly after, the Bobcat’s dream came to end. I give them credit for getting to where they did. I am a sucker for the underdog. I can’t help it. I suppose I will still watch the tournament. However, I will no longer have a vested interest emotionally. Good Luck to the teams still in it! Elite Eight here we go!!
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
NCAA Tournament
This past weekend was a great time for the underdogs in the world of college basketball. Lehigh upset Duke. Norfolk State upset Missouri. VCU upset Wichita State. North Carolina State beat San Diego State and Georgetown. Ohio upset Michigan. South Florida beat Temple. Cincinnati beat Florida State.
I was glad UDM (Detroit) made it to the tournament, but I figured it would be short lived. I give them credit for working hard and making it there. I was happy to see VCU get to where they did, but I was sad to see them go. Ohio University has taken a special place in my heart; where else can you go and celebrate in a dorm room with a hot tub?
Also, it doesn’t hurt that I was at Michigan with my husband the day of the selection party where the Wolverines were matched up to play the Bobcats. He was covering it, and I was waiting on the sidelines so to speak. We had attended a memorial luncheon for a friend whose mom passed, had our taxes done, and we were almost to Ann Arbor. At which point my husband said he would ask, and they let me in. It was great to see the players and Beilein speak in person. I don't know when I will get a chance like that again.
That being said, do I like Michigan? Sure. Did I attend any games during the regular season? Absolutely! I attended what is affectionately called the Mustard v. Ketchup game at our house, aka Michigan v. Wisconsin. I was slated to attend the Mustard v. Relish game, aka Michigan v. Michigan State, but those plans fell through. If you had seen the contrast of the uniforms in person, you would understand the condiment analogy.
Unfortunately, my first game to the renovated Crisler arena, or should I say Crisler Center, was a great game for Michigan, not so great for Wisconsin. Being from Wisconsin, I will follow Michigan and Michigan State, but the Badgers are my team. Wisconsin played terrible, not a stellar game in my mind. Let's just say they left much to be desired. Now, they are in the Sweet Sixteen. I am not sure they will push past Syracuse, but a Badger fan can hope.
I am thrilled the Big Ten still has a good presence going into the Sweet Sixteen. We have Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and, dare I say, Ohio State. I am thrilled for my hubby, my great friend Kari, our friends John and Chris, and all the other Spartan fans out there. Sparty on!! I like Izzo as a coach. I just don’t like when they beat my Badgers.
I was really pulling for Purdue to pull off the upset on Kansas, but they fell short in the final few plays of the game. That was painful to watch. I was glad Marquette won as well. Since they are from my hometown of Milwaukee, I have to cheer them on, it’s in my blood. So, right now I can’t complain too much. We will see what this coming weekend brings.
I was glad UDM (Detroit) made it to the tournament, but I figured it would be short lived. I give them credit for working hard and making it there. I was happy to see VCU get to where they did, but I was sad to see them go. Ohio University has taken a special place in my heart; where else can you go and celebrate in a dorm room with a hot tub?
Also, it doesn’t hurt that I was at Michigan with my husband the day of the selection party where the Wolverines were matched up to play the Bobcats. He was covering it, and I was waiting on the sidelines so to speak. We had attended a memorial luncheon for a friend whose mom passed, had our taxes done, and we were almost to Ann Arbor. At which point my husband said he would ask, and they let me in. It was great to see the players and Beilein speak in person. I don't know when I will get a chance like that again.
That being said, do I like Michigan? Sure. Did I attend any games during the regular season? Absolutely! I attended what is affectionately called the Mustard v. Ketchup game at our house, aka Michigan v. Wisconsin. I was slated to attend the Mustard v. Relish game, aka Michigan v. Michigan State, but those plans fell through. If you had seen the contrast of the uniforms in person, you would understand the condiment analogy.
Unfortunately, my first game to the renovated Crisler arena, or should I say Crisler Center, was a great game for Michigan, not so great for Wisconsin. Being from Wisconsin, I will follow Michigan and Michigan State, but the Badgers are my team. Wisconsin played terrible, not a stellar game in my mind. Let's just say they left much to be desired. Now, they are in the Sweet Sixteen. I am not sure they will push past Syracuse, but a Badger fan can hope.
I am thrilled the Big Ten still has a good presence going into the Sweet Sixteen. We have Michigan State, Indiana, Wisconsin, and, dare I say, Ohio State. I am thrilled for my hubby, my great friend Kari, our friends John and Chris, and all the other Spartan fans out there. Sparty on!! I like Izzo as a coach. I just don’t like when they beat my Badgers.
I was really pulling for Purdue to pull off the upset on Kansas, but they fell short in the final few plays of the game. That was painful to watch. I was glad Marquette won as well. Since they are from my hometown of Milwaukee, I have to cheer them on, it’s in my blood. So, right now I can’t complain too much. We will see what this coming weekend brings.
Thursday, March 15, 2012
Health Awareness
March has many health issues to be aware of for a day, week, or the entire month. There are three this month which are near and dear to my heart. National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month, National Kidney Month, and National Endometriosis Month. Please do your part and learn something about each of these diseases.
Here are a few links:
http://fightcolorectalcancer.org
http://nkdep.nih.gov/get-involved/kidney-month.shtml
http://www.endometriosisassn.org/
Here are a few links:
http://fightcolorectalcancer.org
http://nkdep.nih.gov/get-involved/kidney-month.shtml
http://www.endometriosisassn.org/
Disclaimer
This blog is entitled “The Sport’s Widow”, however, I believe the true nature of this blog is the life of one. That being said, I believe it is also a platform for sharing my thoughts on various topics. These may or may not be sports related. Therefore, some issues close to me will deviate from the sports world. These may vary from health issues, news stories, working out, cooking and baking, our pets, being a domestic engineer etc. I appreciate any and all feedback. Most of all, enjoy the ride!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
An Interesting Life
Many people I meet hear that my husband is a sports radio reporter/producer/freelancer and think that must be the most amazing, fun job in the world. He has a great thing going for him. He loves sports and is working in a field he loves. He is "living the dream" as a friend of his likes to say.
For me, as the spouse, it is an interesting life as well. It's difficult to plan things ahead on a regular basis. We even planned our wedding around baseball. When people ask when he is going to be around, I ask them to refer to the Tigers, Lions, Wings, Pistons, Michigan, etc. schedules. We don't have a regular dinnertime every night like when I was growing up. However, you get used to it.
I actually embrace the time I get alone. I get the house to myself. It's quiet. I can watch a game. I can read a book. I can pile the dog in the car and go to one of my favorite parks. I write. I sew. I scrapbook. I volunteer. I love sports!
Yes, I said it! I love sports. Okay, maybe not to the degree of reckless abandon of which my husband and many of his close friends embrace. However, I love them! In there lies the conundrum. I would love to go to more games. I just don't have many girlfriends who enjoy sports. I don't get in to go for free, and I rarely get to sit with my husband.
His first love is baseball. I love football and NASCAR. I said it. I love NASCAR! I love basketball and hockey as well. Basketball has a special place in my heart because I used to play basketball. Frankly, anything mentioned on ESPN's Sports Center will grab my attention for awhile.
I am a Packers fan. My husband is a Lions fan. I am a Wisconsin fan and my husband is a State fan.
I look forward to adding more about my life and my love of sports in the weeks and months to come. I know this weekend I will have something to say about NCAA March Madness.
For me, as the spouse, it is an interesting life as well. It's difficult to plan things ahead on a regular basis. We even planned our wedding around baseball. When people ask when he is going to be around, I ask them to refer to the Tigers, Lions, Wings, Pistons, Michigan, etc. schedules. We don't have a regular dinnertime every night like when I was growing up. However, you get used to it.
I actually embrace the time I get alone. I get the house to myself. It's quiet. I can watch a game. I can read a book. I can pile the dog in the car and go to one of my favorite parks. I write. I sew. I scrapbook. I volunteer. I love sports!
Yes, I said it! I love sports. Okay, maybe not to the degree of reckless abandon of which my husband and many of his close friends embrace. However, I love them! In there lies the conundrum. I would love to go to more games. I just don't have many girlfriends who enjoy sports. I don't get in to go for free, and I rarely get to sit with my husband.
His first love is baseball. I love football and NASCAR. I said it. I love NASCAR! I love basketball and hockey as well. Basketball has a special place in my heart because I used to play basketball. Frankly, anything mentioned on ESPN's Sports Center will grab my attention for awhile.
I am a Packers fan. My husband is a Lions fan. I am a Wisconsin fan and my husband is a State fan.
I look forward to adding more about my life and my love of sports in the weeks and months to come. I know this weekend I will have something to say about NCAA March Madness.
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