Dear Body:
You are much too old to still have zits! Zits are for teenagers, not for someone who is in her ...er... what anniversary of my 29th birthday is it this year? hummm well that's beside the point! The point is I am too old to still have zits!
So clear up!
Don't make me go all Proactive on you! Cuz I will! That Katy Perry says it works so it must work! And I'll get some and scrub til it's raw if I have to!
getting wrinkles and zits sucks! Big time!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
The window installation
I was gonna title that the window finale, but I'm not quite sure that it's all over yet.
Yesterday our long awaited windows came and were installed into my house. Of course that was not without more drama. (why can't anything ever go right???)
We were greeted right off the bat with yet another change to our widows due to our lovely city and their stupid building codes.
As you may remember from last time Window Drama we had to change our order to take out 6 double hung windows and put in 3 2 panel slider windows instead because our local building code requires us to have windows that allow very huge people to escape from our second story windows.
Well yesterday we learned that that same building code considers my main floor office a bedroom because "it has a closet"* and also requires that I replace the existing 2 double hung windows in the office with another 2 panel slider window...again for very large people to escape through the window, when the front door to the house is only 2 feet away.
*the office shares a closet with the foyer. the said closet has a door that opens to the foyer and another door that opens to the office.
So I first called up the city's building dept and begged that I be able to keep my double hung windows. The guy I spoke with was able to look up the permit and know exactly what I was talking about...but unfortunately the only way he was going to let me have my windows was for us to wall in the back side of the foyer/office closet. So I called up my hubby and he was livid! There was no way that he was going to close up the back of the closet just to keep the windows. Luckily the window company had built the window that we needed to keep to code. So they installed that. I was very bummed...at least the window isn't that bad looking.
When the building inspector comes I will very much voice my complaint that 1) there are 8 blooming smoke detectors in this house so there is NO CHANCE of anyone getting trapped by flames in any of the rooms. (okay, maybe if the furnace were to explode...but what are the chances of that happening???) 2) if they were trapped they would never consider jumping out a window from the 2nd story because they would surely die from the fall. I would rather get burned a bit running down the stairs than jump and break most of my bones and possibly my neck. 3) if they were truly that desperate to get out they wouldn't be at all concerned with breaking the window to get out...and these window frames pop out very easily. 4) my office, even though it has a closet would never in anyone's right mind be considered a bedroom...besides if you really needed a home with more bedrooms you would go buy one...not a 4 bedroom house.
I was just chatting with Darly and we mentioned that if she gets any more dolls that she'll need a bigger bedroom...I joked that we could take out the closets between her and the guest bedrooms and then she could have a super sized suite. She loved that idea, but I'm sure hubby won't go for it. However, we just gained a bedroom downstairs LOL!
Today the window guys are working on the outside of our windows...they'll then present us with the bill. stay tuned for that drama!
Yesterday our long awaited windows came and were installed into my house. Of course that was not without more drama. (why can't anything ever go right???)
We were greeted right off the bat with yet another change to our widows due to our lovely city and their stupid building codes.
As you may remember from last time Window Drama we had to change our order to take out 6 double hung windows and put in 3 2 panel slider windows instead because our local building code requires us to have windows that allow very huge people to escape from our second story windows.
Well yesterday we learned that that same building code considers my main floor office a bedroom because "it has a closet"* and also requires that I replace the existing 2 double hung windows in the office with another 2 panel slider window...again for very large people to escape through the window, when the front door to the house is only 2 feet away.
*the office shares a closet with the foyer. the said closet has a door that opens to the foyer and another door that opens to the office.
So I first called up the city's building dept and begged that I be able to keep my double hung windows. The guy I spoke with was able to look up the permit and know exactly what I was talking about...but unfortunately the only way he was going to let me have my windows was for us to wall in the back side of the foyer/office closet. So I called up my hubby and he was livid! There was no way that he was going to close up the back of the closet just to keep the windows. Luckily the window company had built the window that we needed to keep to code. So they installed that. I was very bummed...at least the window isn't that bad looking.
When the building inspector comes I will very much voice my complaint that 1) there are 8 blooming smoke detectors in this house so there is NO CHANCE of anyone getting trapped by flames in any of the rooms. (okay, maybe if the furnace were to explode...but what are the chances of that happening???) 2) if they were trapped they would never consider jumping out a window from the 2nd story because they would surely die from the fall. I would rather get burned a bit running down the stairs than jump and break most of my bones and possibly my neck. 3) if they were truly that desperate to get out they wouldn't be at all concerned with breaking the window to get out...and these window frames pop out very easily. 4) my office, even though it has a closet would never in anyone's right mind be considered a bedroom...besides if you really needed a home with more bedrooms you would go buy one...not a 4 bedroom house.
I was just chatting with Darly and we mentioned that if she gets any more dolls that she'll need a bigger bedroom...I joked that we could take out the closets between her and the guest bedrooms and then she could have a super sized suite. She loved that idea, but I'm sure hubby won't go for it. However, we just gained a bedroom downstairs LOL!
Today the window guys are working on the outside of our windows...they'll then present us with the bill. stay tuned for that drama!
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
Window Drama
who knew that what we thought would be a simple thing back in October would in fact turn out to produce such headaches? oye!
We ordered the windows at the beginning of October but they weren't able to come measure for them until closer to the end of October.
But it took another two weeks for them to realize the first issue...my order had been sitting on hold because changes were made when they took the measurements. We finally got that taken care of and it would take about a month to make the windows.
Then I'm expecting a call any day now to tell me the windows are ready and set up the installation. but NO instead I get a call telling me that my city won't allow me to put in 7 of the windows that I want. AND to add to the stress, the guy didn't return my call! The following is copied from my facebook.
We ordered the windows at the beginning of October but they weren't able to come measure for them until closer to the end of October.
But it took another two weeks for them to realize the first issue...my order had been sitting on hold because changes were made when they took the measurements. We finally got that taken care of and it would take about a month to make the windows.
Then I'm expecting a call any day now to tell me the windows are ready and set up the installation. but NO instead I get a call telling me that my city won't allow me to put in 7 of the windows that I want. AND to add to the stress, the guy didn't return my call! The following is copied from my facebook.
- STILL WAITING! I've called and left 3 messages for this guy. I called and emailed our sales rep (who did get back to me) and I called the main office. seems no one can find this bozo!
- well it is FINALLY resolved. and I'm grumbling.
- the problem: in bedroom windows the building code requires that the opening when you fully open a window to be at least 20w by 24h for escape during a fire.
- the crux: the windows we ordered are only 15 3/4 h.
the window are all 2 & half stories up...there is NO WAY anyone would use those as a fire escape!
we have 5 smoke detectors on that floor and 3 more in the house...there is NO WAY that we ...wouldn't have enough warning to get out through the front door with our animals too!
- why I'm grumbling: I hate slider & casement windows...that's why I ordered double hung windows! AND our window order was due at the end of this week...now we have to wait some more! My Christmas decorations are still not up yet.
- apparently we have to install windows for the next owner's escape.Now I'm still waiting for the window folks to send the addendum paperwork for ordering the sliders and casement window. I should email the guy or my order will get held up again. I DID ask if instead of holding up my entire order if they would install the windows as they are finished so that we could get our tax rebate. We'll see, the guy I spoke to seems to think that they can finish the new windows the same time as the rest of my order...which makes me wonder if they haven't even started my order yet. (can you see my eyes rolling?)The biggest pain in the butt about all of this is that for the installation we have to have the areas around our windows clear of everything...no curtains, no blinds, no furniture...you get the idea. Well it's Christmas time and I can't put up any of my decorations yet because I'm waiting on these bozos. Grumble!Hubby wants to cancel the entire order. LOL! He is just saying that cuz he is having buyers remorse and doesn't want to pay for them.
UPDATE: I got a call at about 12:30 from our sales guy. He said he needed to meet with me to go over the changes for our window order. Luckily he was nearby and offered to meet me at the house...I was at first panicked about trying to drive all the way to his showroom...ack!
So he went over the changes with me and I signed all the necessary paperwork...AND they did reduce the price by the difference of ordering fewer windows. The sales guy asked me to call my hubby a few times to make sure he knew that the price had been reduced...so I believe that DH must have called him and chewed his ear off. LOL! and YES, I see from my email that DH did have a discussion with him about a reduced price. he he
Friday, November 26, 2010
my extra frig!
I've been wanting an extra refrigerator forever. There are just so many times when it would be handy to have some extra room for food here. However, my hubby says NO! and probably with good reason. :(
See I have this tiny problem. I buythings food when they're it's on sale. I had to scratch out the things part cuz I'm really good at controlling my spending when it comes to just things. However if it is food and it's on sale...well WE NEED FOOD! But the reason this is a problem is there is usually some food on sale nearly every week...and I tend to fill up the freezer and keep buying more food...CUZ IT'S ON SALE! sigh! Hubby thinks that if he were to allow me to have an extra frig, I would fill it up to the brim and then forget about my stash...and continue buying.
and alas... he is probably right. sigh
However, when the holiday season approaches...I NEED the extra space that having an extra frig would give me. I mean you can't find anything in our frig when it is full of a turkey and all the trimmings.
BUT we live in Colorado. And in Colorado, most years it gets darned right cold around the holidays. Which means my garage is as cold as a walk in refrigerator! ding! ding! ding! ding! ding!
So in years past and this year too, I've used my garage to store all the extra food we have. And it is awesome! This year I used the garage to cool down my turkey brine quickly by setting the pot directly on the concrete. I don't think that the frig could have done that. I also am able to put our turkey in the garage while it sits in the brine. I could never fit it in the frig.
And this year, instead of filling up the frig with still warm food (and possibly spoiling the milk) I put all the left-overs in the garage! Hubby was so happy about this...as he doesn't like spoiled milk for his cereal.
I suggested that we put some shelves in the garage for me to put the food on...and hubby agreed! (course, who knows how long it will be before I can actually get my shelves.) but one day I will have shelves in the garage for extra food storage!
and now I've just come up with an idea for what to get hubby for Christmas! woot! He is getting shelves for the garage! he he
See I have this tiny problem. I buy
and alas... he is probably right. sigh
However, when the holiday season approaches...I NEED the extra space that having an extra frig would give me. I mean you can't find anything in our frig when it is full of a turkey and all the trimmings.
BUT we live in Colorado. And in Colorado, most years it gets darned right cold around the holidays. Which means my garage is as cold as a walk in refrigerator! ding! ding! ding! ding! ding!
So in years past and this year too, I've used my garage to store all the extra food we have. And it is awesome! This year I used the garage to cool down my turkey brine quickly by setting the pot directly on the concrete. I don't think that the frig could have done that. I also am able to put our turkey in the garage while it sits in the brine. I could never fit it in the frig.
And this year, instead of filling up the frig with still warm food (and possibly spoiling the milk) I put all the left-overs in the garage! Hubby was so happy about this...as he doesn't like spoiled milk for his cereal.
I suggested that we put some shelves in the garage for me to put the food on...and hubby agreed! (course, who knows how long it will be before I can actually get my shelves.) but one day I will have shelves in the garage for extra food storage!
and now I've just come up with an idea for what to get hubby for Christmas! woot! He is getting shelves for the garage! he he
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Getting ready for Thanksgiving
Today is prep day for Thanksgiving...usually where I pull out all my supplies and realize how much stuff I forgot to buy.
I've already started roasting the pumpkin and butternut squash. I found a great new trick for getting those seed cavities cleaned out...don't know why it has taken me this long! I grabbed my melon baller that I never use and it worked wonderfully! woot! Have to remember that for Halloween too. :D
Then I went to go make my turkey brine and realized that for all these years I've been making it with not nearly enough vegetable broth. I usually just grab 4 14oz cans and go with that...and the bird has always come out just fine...but this year I decided that I should attempt to make it right. Of course I didn't decide that until today so I only have 4 cans of veggie broth. So I decide that it can't really be that hard to make veggie broth...I've made chicken broth, should be close. But remember this is a house where 2/3 of the human inhabitants are picky eaters, so it doesn't pay to have many "normal" things on hand. sigh
Your typical veggie broth calls for things like onions (I had some frozen onions!), carrots (check), potatoes (oops, I forgot to add one of those, brb!) (check), greens (ummm will these brussel sprouts do?) (toss em in!), zucchini (ummm I have a bag of mixed veggies that have zucchini in it) (toss it in too!), and celery... well I don't have any celery. But I do have celery salt! so I put some of that in and let 'er rip! note: although the recipe calls for salt, I didn't add any cuz of the celery salt...I figured I can add some later...and there is salt in the brine.
I'm sure it will be just fine as the broth is for the Turkey's brine and I have about half of the broth I need...this is just flavorful filler. I suppose it is a very good thing that cooking is an art and not a science like baking is.
after this simmers for an hour, I'll add the rest of the ingredients for the brine and then let it cool. Hopefully I can get the bird swimming by this evening.
Here's the rest of my list of chores for today:
make dessert
make dessert for pot luck at Church tonight
make brine for Turkey & get turkey ready to brine
clean cooler to brine turkey in
make sure all dishes I need for tomorrow are clean (not hiding in the frig)
laundry - but okay if I put it off
mail bday gift for mom - but okay if I put it off
feed kittehs
clean kitchen countertops so I have room for all this
I guess that means I should get off the computer and get busy. I'm also going to ask Darly to see if she would like to help make dinner and learn how to do it.
We're having:
Turkey (of course!)
stuffing substitute -sauteed mushrooms (I'm the only one who will eat stuffing and I don't need it, so I'm subbing with something equally yummy but less fattening!)
Gravy (Darly won't touch this!)
Mashed Potatoes
Green Beans (steamed) (hubs will eat green beans but not gb casserole, Darly won't touch this!)
Corn
Yams (I won't eat the yams, so I'm having see below)
butternut squash (DH & Darly won't eat this!)
Rolls
Pumpkin Dessert - a family recipe that we like better than just pumpkin pie
I hope that you and yours all have a wonderful Thanksgiving with plenty to be thankful for. I feel so blessed to know you all.
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Shameless plug!
We signed up for and Darly prepared her audition. She was really excited and worked really hard... The song she chose to sing for the audition was Impossible!
and she got it! :D
Darly has an ensemble part in CYT’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella! Woo Hoo!
Of course this means that Darly & I are now busier than we ever imagined. The play will be at the end of Jan & early Feb. If you’re in the area, please come see it…these kids put on an awesome show!
Wednesday, November 10, 2010
Harry Potter #7!
I didn't even get to see the entire movie that day because we went home before it was over. So I quickly hopped onto my local library’s website and reserved a copy of the movie so I could finish watching it. And then I also checked out the second movie. It was during the second movie…checking out the deleted scenes that I realized that I was missing parts of the story and it was time to read the books. And so I started reading the books. And I loved the stories.
Soon I got to be a book snob and hated what they were doing to the stories when they turned them into movies. I guess the worst was in Goblet of Fire when they deleted major portions of the story (Dobby the house elf!) and put in stuff that wasn’t in the book (Harry’s flight scene where he is hanging off the roof of the school with the dragon in hot pursuit.) For the other movies I had to remind myself that the movie was not the same as the book. I still get upset with the liberties that the movies take.
However, I’ve been watching the trailers for the HP#7 part one movie and I have to say that for at least one scene that I’m happy with a change that has been made. I just grabbed my copy of the book and checked it to see how different they’ve made it…but yes, I’m still happy. I won’t spoil the scene for you here…Let’s just say that I’m looking forward to seeing the movie and I sure hope that any other changes make me just as happy.
Oh and one more thing…they sure are showing a lot of sneek previews for this movie…wondering what we’ll see when it’s all together.
Tuesday, November 09, 2010
I need to be at the gym.
Here I sit, in my workout clothes...yet instead of going to the gym, I'm procrastinating by blogging. You know it must be bad if I'm blogging because I hardly ever blog anymore. sigh!
Going to the gym really isn't that bad. I like it once I get there. I can even do it solo. It is just getting me out the door that seems to be the problem.
I think a huge part of the problem is that with a few tiny exceptions I like how I look now. Sure it would be nicer if I fit into my old jeans better...but the newer jeans are all loose. kinda weird being between sizes there. I'm sure its that "value sizing" thing, where my larger sized jeans are really two or three sizes bigger than the old jeans.
Sigh, I don't want to go buy new smaller sized jeans which are really larger than the smaller sized jeans in my closet. Are you confused? lol
I've even considered taking in the larger sized jeans. Crazy huh?
Okay, okay...I'll go. Check the widget on my sidebar to see if I really went or not.
Going to the gym really isn't that bad. I like it once I get there. I can even do it solo. It is just getting me out the door that seems to be the problem.
I think a huge part of the problem is that with a few tiny exceptions I like how I look now. Sure it would be nicer if I fit into my old jeans better...but the newer jeans are all loose. kinda weird being between sizes there. I'm sure its that "value sizing" thing, where my larger sized jeans are really two or three sizes bigger than the old jeans.
Sigh, I don't want to go buy new smaller sized jeans which are really larger than the smaller sized jeans in my closet. Are you confused? lol
I've even considered taking in the larger sized jeans. Crazy huh?
Okay, okay...I'll go. Check the widget on my sidebar to see if I really went or not.
Thursday, October 28, 2010
TC's Christmas list
TC said...
Oh, this reminds me I should send you my list. :-D
- personalized return-address labels (I really love the square ones on The Stationary Studio)
- stamps, photostamps
- fondue set
- "The best day of someone else's life" - Kerry Reichs
- "Hungry Girl: 1-2-3" cookbook
- "Weight Watchers: Take-out tonight!" cookbook
- "Where Men Win Glory" - Krakauer
- Video-editing software
- "My Boys" Seasons 1, 2 and 3
- Gift cards: gas, barnes & noble, victoria's secret, noodles, sonic, qdoba, wal-mart, target, applebees
- neck pillow for flights
- Hoops 'n YoYo apron
- Long button-up sweater to wear over stuff
- good electric toothbrush
- Socks (not "funny" ones, but more work ones. Including some tall - knee high - ones. Not trouser socks, though.)
- tri-fold black wallet
Oh, this reminds me I should send you my list. :-D
- personalized return-address labels (I really love the square ones on The Stationary Studio)
- stamps, photostamps
- fondue set
- "The best day of someone else's life" - Kerry Reichs
- "Hungry Girl: 1-2-3" cookbook
- "Weight Watchers: Take-out tonight!" cookbook
- "Where Men Win Glory" - Krakauer
- Video-editing software
- "My Boys" Seasons 1, 2 and 3
- Gift cards: gas, barnes & noble, victoria's secret, noodles, sonic, qdoba, wal-mart, target, applebees
- neck pillow for flights
- Hoops 'n YoYo apron
- Long button-up sweater to wear over stuff
- good electric toothbrush
- Socks (not "funny" ones, but more work ones. Including some tall - knee high - ones. Not trouser socks, though.)
- tri-fold black wallet
Friday, October 22, 2010
Darly’s Christmas Wish list
1. A Basket ball
13. Josafina’s books 3-6 (AG) note: I only linked one of the books here.
15. Ski gear (AG)
Please let me know if you're getting Darly any of this, so I know what I don't have to buy her. Honestly even though she said this was her last list, I know there's more. ugh! and NOPE, I'm not buying all of this. LOL, she can keep on dreaming.
Dannon Cups of Hope
In case you’ve been living under a rock somewhere or something, October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. There are some really simple things you can do to help out. First, check your “girls” on a regular basis. Ya wanna make sure you know what healthy is so you also know what’s different.
Another thing you can do is if you like Dannon Yogurt you can enter the codes under the lids to help support Cancer research.
Throughout September and October, a variety of Dannon products will help support the cause, not only by raising money, but also by increasing awareness for a disease that affects women and families at a staggering rate - with more than 290,000 women diagnosed every year. Dannon pledges to donate at least $500,000 dollars to the National Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation, but they hope to increase that donation to $1.5 million dollars this year.
Under the lid of specially-marked Dannon products you will find a unique code. With each code entered at www.cupsofhope.com by November 30, 10 cents will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. ® (NBCF). The money raised will go to the NBCF, to provide women free mammograms and support breast cancer research nationwide.
Under the lid of specially-marked Dannon products you will find a unique code. With each code entered at www.cupsofhope.com by November 30, 10 cents will be donated to the National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. ® (NBCF). The money raised will go to the NBCF, to provide women free mammograms and support breast cancer research nationwide.
I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour campaign by Mom Central on behalf of Dannon. In addition, I received a gift certificate and products to thank me for taking the time to participate.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
Weekend update!
In the tradition of many of my blogger friends, I've decided that I should do a weekend update. So that you can all see the fun that is the fefyfomanna house. LOL!
So our weekend began bright and early as Darly had a Girl Scout thing to go to, on the other side of town. Supposedly… See the info we received said that the even started at 9am but to please be there early to check in at 8:30AM! The location of the event was 45 min away. ARGH! So I inhaled my coffee and off we go. We arrived early, cuz I’m just that good…and then we learned that the info THEY had said that we were supposed to check in at 9am, and start at 9:30! WHAT? I could have slept another half hour??? Argh! I could have been on Facebook for that half hour, I could have done a lot of things with that half hour…alas, it was not to be. Oh and guess what! The gal from Girl Scouts didn’t even show up (said she was sick) the poor venue had to deal with us all by themselves.
The event was a field trip & tour of a local Vet’s office. The girls were going to learn about pet care, talk to a woman vet, talk to a woman vet tech and get a tour of the vet’s office. This isn’t your normal vet’s office either…it’s one of the major offices that provide care for pets who’s owners cannot afford to pay full price. The rest of the money is supplied by donors. The girls were all asked to bring in donations of supplies…they got a nice haul.
Our group got to tour the office first. We got to meet a poor puppy with a broken leg, a cat who was in for blood work (no touching please!) and a lab who had had a very large abdominal mass removed and was having her bandages changed. The girls got to see jars of stuff removed from pets (blech!) and read some radiographs (x-rays). The vet tech told us where she went to school and about her job, what a typical day looks like…etc. It was very cool.
Then it was time to talk with the Vet and learn about how she became a vet, via being a Country singer. She didn’t go into details. LOL! She also told us that she has 7 dogs, a cat, & 14 birds…but didn’t tell us how many pets she’s allowed to have where she lives. I bit my tongue about how that many pets is an occupational hazard for vets. ;)
Since we started our tour so early, we decided to go with our friends to one of our favorite museums. I was worried that it might be crowded, but it wasn’t that bad. Started off in the health section of the museum and learned about the sugar content of some cereals. Then Darly wanted to do the age progression simulation. She wasn’t happy to learn that she might look like her great grandmother. He he
Then we headed to the IMAX to see Under the Sea in 3-D! That was very cool. I thought I might have nightmares from the sea snakes, but it wasn’t that bad. :D Next we went for a visit to the Amazon exhibit. They had REAL piranha that we could watch…looked like normal fish, although these were the kind that will swarm.
Then it was time to head home…we beat DH home.
Well that was Saturday.
On Sunday, Darly had to Acolyte at Church…so we had to be there early…(what’s up with all these early mornings???) We get there and there’s a man outside taking pictures. I didn’t think too much of it and we went inside. A minute later, he comes in and introduces himself. Seems his friends invited him, but he got there way too early. So I show him around…he’s quite the talker. After I managed to ditch er get him someone else to talk to he somehow found his way to DH too! After Church service he ended up taking our picture. Ne ne ne neeeeh!
We had brunch at Egg & I, and went to the library. And that’s about it.
See so very exciting here.
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Help Stop MRSA Now
Like all parents the most important thing is keeping my child safe. And there are so many things out there that we need to protect our kids from. Some things are really scary and life-threatening. Our kids get exposed to so much even when we have them in our site all the time. I’m of course, talking about things like germs and infections. I feel so fortunate that Darly is so conscientious about germs. Okay, okay I’ve managed to train her to be another germophobe! But…
Skin infections like MRSA, a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph infection, are the cause of 56 percent of all outbreaks of infectious diseases in competitive sports in the U.S.
Luckily, simple preventative steps like scrubbing hands frequently, wiping down hard surfaces with a bleach solution (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 gallon of water), covering cuts and regularly cleaning, laundering and disinfecting sports equipment can reduce the spread of bacteria. And funny enough, these steps also help stop the spread of other germs like the common cold and the flu!
S.T.O.P. MRSA Now Coalition, Swap Me Sports, professional basketball star Grant Hill, who was affected by MRSA, and The Clorox Company are teaming up to educate families and coaches through Equip Them Well, a program to help teach families and sports teams about practical MRSA prevention steps . Through the program, parents can also collect, disinfect and donate used youth sports equipment to communities in need.
Plus, each individual who enters the sweepstakes on www.StopMRSAnow.org will score a chance to win a trip to Phoenix for a Suns game and an exclusive “meet-and-greet” with Grant Hill.
Professional Basketball Star Grant Hill Coaches Parents in MRSA Defense
--Stop MRSA Now Coalition Member Focuses on Disinfecting Sports Equipment and Other Shared Items to Help Prevent the Spread of MRSA--
September 13, 2010 WASHINGTON – Skin infections like MRSA, which spread through skin to skin contact as well as contact with equipment and shared items, are the cause of 56 percent of all outbreaks of infectious diseases in competitive sports in the U.S.[1],[2] – but simple steps parents can take can help prevent the spread. MRSA (methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) is a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph bacteria that has increasingly been found in community and youth sports settings.3
The Stop MRSA Now Coalition in partnership with The Clorox Company and SwapMeSports.com, has teamed up with professional basketball star Grant Hill to launch Equip them Well, a program to help teach families and sports teams about practical MRSA prevention steps, such as washing hands and disinfecting equipment with a bleach solution. Like so many others who have been affected by the threat of MRSA, Hill understands the importance of prevention, both in the locker room and on the court.
“We need to get more kids in the game with youth sports – but I also know firsthand that MRSA is a tough opponent that many young athletes may face,” said Hill, MRSA survivor and Stop MRSA Now Coalition member. “That is why I am excited about the Equip Them Well program to inform parents and coaches that we all play a part in MRSA prevention.”
Donate Used Sports Equipment and Score a Chance to Meet Grant Hill
In addition to educating parents about MRSA prevention, the Equip Them Well program is committed to providing the resources necessary for kids from all communities to take part in youth sports. Parents can collect, disinfect and donate used youth sports equipment to communities in need through the Equip Them Well page on StopMRSANow.org.
Each family that visits StopMRSANow.org and enters the sweepstakes will score a chance to win a trip to Phoenix for a Suns game and exclusive “meet-and-greet” with Hill.
Equip Them Well – With Simple Equipment Wellness Steps
MRSA is generally spread by skin to skin contact and by touching surfaces that have come in contact with a person’s infection. The following steps can help prevent the spread in community settings:
- Scrub up – Wash hands frequently with soap and warm water for at least 15 seconds or use an alcohol-based hand rub sanitizer.
- Wipe it down – Use a disinfecting bleach solution to wipe down and disinfect hard surfaces. (1 tablespoon of disinfecting bleach diluted in 1 gallon of water or as directed on label)
- Cover your cuts – Keep any nicks or wounds covered with a clean, dry bandage until healed.
- Keep to yourself – Do not share personal items, like towels or razors, that come into contact with bare skin.
- Use a barrier – Keep a towel or clothing between skin and shared equipment.
- Don’t play dirty – Wash children’s athletic clothing after each use, using the warmest wash recommended and adding bleach when appropriate.
All teams know that sports equipment is often shared among teammates. That makes “equipment wellness” another important part of preventing the spread of MRSA in youth sports settings. It is important to:
- Regularly clean and disinfect sports equipment like balls, racket grips and bats.
- Pay particular attention to disinfecting or properly laundering sports equipment that comes into direct contact with the skin of the players, such as headgear/helmets, mats, and body armor. [3],[4]
- Avoid using tape to wrap gripping areas of rackets, bar bells, or to repair rips and tears on other sports equipment. This may provide an environment for germs to thrive and may interfere with the disinfectant process.
About STOP MRSA NOW
STOP MRSA Now is a coalition of community members who have experienced first-hand the threat of MRSA and MRSA experts who are committed to working together to reduce the spread of MRSA in community settings and to educate community members on MRSA prevention.
MRSA is a potentially life-threatening antibiotic resistant Staph infection. The MRSA bacteria is carried by up to 5 percent of the population, especially in younger people.[5] According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in 2005, nearly 19,000 Americans died from MRSA infections.[6] During the same year, there were 134 cases of MRSA in children.[7]
About SwapMeSports.com
SwapMeSports.com is a free community website that allows parents to buy, sell, trade or donate used sports equipment. The organization facilitates the donation of equipment to organizations, schools and leagues through its community giving program. All donated equipment benefits the many children who would like to participate in sports but cannot afford to. SwapMeSports.com’s sponsorship of Equip Them Well encourages families and teams to collect, disinfect and donate used sports equipment, while educating them on MRSA prevention. For more information, visit www.swapmesports.com.
About The Clorox Company
The Clorox Company is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer products, with fiscal year 2010 revenues of $5.53 billion. Clorox markets some of consumers' most trusted and recognized brand names, including its namesake bleach and cleaning products; Pine-Sol® cleaners; Green Works® natural home care products; Brita® water-filtration systems; Burt’s Bees® natural personal care products; Kingsford® charcoal; Hidden Valley® and K C Masterpiece® dressings and sauces; Glad® bags, wraps and containers; Fresh Step® and Scoop Away® cat litter; and Armor All® and STP® auto-care products. Clorox is committed to making a positive difference in the communities where its employees work and live. Founded in 1980, The Clorox Company Foundation has awarded cash grants totaling more than $80 million to nonprofit organizations, schools and colleges. In fiscal 2010 alone, the foundation awarded $3.5 million in cash grants, and Clorox made product donations valued at $8.8 million. For more information about Clorox, visit www.TheCloroxCompany.com.
The Clorox Company sent me information about the Equip them Well program not intended to solicit product claims.
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