Car seats...and vomit

If you have a small child, at some point, he or she will vomit in your car. It's the most dreaded parent task you will ever have...cleaning out the car seat. Yesterday, my youngest came down with the latest daycare pukey bug and of course, she managed to vomit less than five minutes from home in her seat. After getting her home and in the bath, it was time to clean the seat. Here are a few tips you might find helpful:

1. Get yourself some long dishwashing gloves, if you have some available. The vomit will get on your arms and, frankly, it's pretty gross. They help.

2. Remove the car seat cover, pads, etc. to take to washing machine. Try to clean the undigested pieces off the cover before throwing it in the washing machine because otherwise, you will find these pieces in your machine. Yuck.

3. Use vinegar in the wash. It helps get the smell out.

4. Get yourself a good pet enzyme spray and drench the heck out of the car seat. The enzymes eat the vomit bacteria and help get rid of the smell. Use toothbrushes or old chopsticks to remove vomit from the crevices.

5. Repeat with pet spray as many times as necessary to get the vomit smell out of the straps, etc. it helps to let it fully dry and then you can tell if you need to do another round.

6. Put car seat back together once clean. Pray you never have to do this task again. Curse car seat makers that do not allow car seat straps to go in washing machine. Curse car seats for being so expensive that you can't just throw the whole thing away and buy a new one every time your child vomits in it.

7. Relax and try to enjoy your day off with your sick pukey child.

How to get your children's clothes clean

I'm not sure how kids do it, but if there is a mess to be made, then it somehow ends up on their clothes. Now that my oldest wears uniforms, this means white polo shirts some days that are filthy. I thought I would offer a few tips.

1. Use an enzyme based pretreater. 

I've tried a lot of pretreatment cleaners out there. In my experience, the best one out there is the Resolve cleaner. It even seems to get out set-in stains. I keep the stain sticks or the sprays in each of my girl's bedrooms. I pretreat before throwing in the hamper and let them sit till I can wash on the weekend. I buy it on Amazon.

2. Use Oxiclean in the wash...at least 2-3 scoops.

If you do use it, make sure to fill up the washer with detergent and water first before putting in the clothes. Also, a second rinse often helps because sometimes Oxi cakes on your clothes.

3. Try good old fashioned blue Dawn on oil based stains

I've used dish detergent many times for oil based stains. Some people like chalk on oil stains, but it hasn't worked as well for me.

4. Use a fabric color catcher in the wash

I use the Shout brand. I think these are crucial if you don't always sort by color. Since I usually wash their clothes on hot, these fabric sheets often catch the bleeding colors.

5. Try soaking in Oxiclean for a week

Before I discovered Resolve, I resorted to week long soaks in a bucket. This saved a few items.

6. Chlorine bleach when needed

If I have a mostly white item that is going to be otherwise unwearable, I'll resort to bleach as a last resort. I recently got some blue ink off of a mostly white My Little Pony shirt for my youngest. It didn't really ruin the other ponies. 

Hope you found these tips helpful!

August 2015 Stitch Fix Review: Beautiful Blues

It's my favorite time of the month and my Stitch Fix box has arrived! As usual, I did my sneak peek when I got my email, and everything looked great! I asked Connie for more maxis and Bermuda shorts.

My first looks revealed that I had received lots of items in blue! As you know, I love blue. I loved the various shades. I couldn't wait to try on everything.

41Hawthorn Lisbon Stud Detail Blouse

I have several blouses in this style and I loved the rich blue. 

I loved how this blouse fit. I always like the blouses that are tapered to my waist since they can otherwise be too blousy. I paired it with some pants I have that are similar to Margaret M pants.

I know the lighting is terrible in here. Sorry! The pans are a lighter shade of blue. I decided this shirt was easily a keeper!

41Hawthorn Veria Cross Over Knit Top

I have a similar shirt by Pixley, so I was excited to see this top. 

Here's a close-up of the pattern and color. I liked the Aqua, but wasn't sure if it would be too light for me.

I paired the shirt with the next item Connie sent me:

Kut from the Kloth Haiden Straight Leg Jean

As you can see, the style card has a shirt very similar to the 41Hawthorn shirt. Connie sent these pants because there were not any Bermuda shorts available.

Because I'm only 5'3", I folded the pants up one more time as they are supposed to be Capri length.

The lighting is still not great in my other daughter's room, but maybe it's a bit better. I liked the fit of both items, though I do have fabric tape on the shirt in the bust area. I might wear a thin tank or cami under it if I wear it to work. The jeans were very comfy. So, in case you haven't guessed, both items were keepers!

Market & Spruce Randall Scoop Neck Polka Dot Tank

It's a nice basic piece with an interesting element on bottom.

It's ok on, but it's tight in the bust and it is not doing anything for my waist. I think I look pregnant in it. 

I decided to send this item back. 

Gilli Mitchel Maxi Dress

I didn't receive the style card for this dress. At least, not the right one. I had pinned this dress, so I was excited to try it on. Unfortunately, it was a bit too tight in the waist and WAY TOO LONG. So, back it went.

All in all, I kept 3 items this month. Not too bad! As always, I look forward to seeing what Connie sends me next month!

Mommy, I feel "nervousited."

"Nervousited," I ask? 

"Yes, "my 5-year old says. "That means I feel nervous and excited about starting Kindergarten. "

Boy does that describe how I feel about her starting Kindergarten!  I explain to my daughter that both of those feelings are very normal and that most of the other children are probably feeling that way,  too. 

She doesn't start Kindergarten for two weeks, but today is her first day at the new daycare she will attend after school.  Because she's attending a charter school,  they don't have after school care available.  So,  she will be moving to a daycare closer to her school that can pick her up afterwards.  At 9:15, I phone my husband to see how the drop-off went. Good,  he says.  At 10:00, I phone the daycare to check on her.  All is well, of course.

My Mama Bear instincts are in overdrive right now as I worry about the older kids at the new daycare and my barely on the chart petite daughter.  I try to remember that there are teachers there to supervise and different isn't always bad.  It's just different.  My doesn't worry about anything husband reminds me that everything will be just fine. Of course,  I also remind myself, we can remove her and find a better option if things don't work out.  Phwww! When did becoming a parent become so hard?