So is This Mad Hostess Any Better??????

The answer to the question, "Is this Mad Hostess any Better?".....

Yes, I think.

I mean I am still a work in progress.

I love having company and it doesn't terrify me anymore. I don't freak out when people knock on the door any more. I am getting a little better at the cooking thing, although I could use some new recipes!

I know a lot of my "getting better" is because of God and to my family. God because He has answered my prayers over and over again, to please forgive me for being a knucklehead, perfectionist and selfish introvert. Also, God has blessed me with a new found joy in having my house full of people. I really have learned to like it and hope to have many, many, many years of laughter and joy fill my family's home.

Then my family has encouraged me and really pitched in. My girls are getting a little older now, so it isn't so hard to work around them and they love to help. Most of all, they've fallen in love with having folks over. That I believe is one of the greatest gifts of all. Don't you think kids should remember a home full of friends and laughter. Silly games and serious discussions? What about when church folks come and they hear prayers to God beign lifted up...and later how they hear they are answered. This is one benefit of having folks over I would have never imagined...the blessing it has been to my kids.

I still struggle, don't get me wrong...I am who I am. But with God's help...maybe one day this blog will be tittled "The Joyful Hostess". :)

How to take care of a Wood Floor

New house, new wood floors to take care of... so I posted on my Facebook status, how do you take care of your wood floors?

Here are some of the things suggested to me:

Swiffer
Bona
Bruce's Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Dustmop

Tried the swiffer wet, but my husband doesn't like the scent. Swiffer dry works miracles in corners. For some reason hair collects there. My 5 year old is a swiffer working machine!

Bona--I haven't tried yet. Highly recommended to me by our Texas cousins and I trust their judgement. But haven't been able to afford it just yet and I just saw someone returning one to Bed, Bath and Beyond...so little nervous.

Bruce's Hardwood Floor Cleaner and Dustmop- $19.99 for the starter kit at Home Depot. $8.00 for a spray bottle refill. Had it for almost 8 weeks, cleaning the floor two times a week and it is just now needing to be refilled. (SPECIAL NOTE: I do not clean floors this much normally, BUT we have seeded our lawn in from just dirt and it has been a little dusty at our house)

This stuff WORKS.

It is a little more time consuming b/c you have to hold the spray bottle and mop at the same time and can do a 4x4 space. I think the slower process helps me to do a better job. Insert 5 year old...5 year old is great at mopping floors too! :) This stuff really works! I give it a two thumbs up for works well. Mixed reviews on the easy to use part.