I will admit upfront that this was a bit manipulative on my part, but it worked! For some reason, my son would either fib and tell me he washed his hands after using the restroom when he actually hadn't, or he'd pass just the top digits of his fingers through the cold water without soap.

I was getting frustrated and nagging him a lot. We'd had the talk about using the restroom and germs.

I was even considering getting one of those kits with the glow in the dark powder to demonstrate how germs spread. But the solution turned out to be a lot easier.

I'd stocked up on foaming antibacterial hand soap during a Bath and Body works sale. I use foam instead gel soap because otherwise my son leaves little snail trails all over the sink.

One day, after he came out of the bathroom, I asked if he'd washed and he said, "yes, see?" and turned his hands back and forth in front of my face. He was so close, I could smell the lingering scent of the soap (I think it was Sweet Pea) and I thought A Ha!
The next time he used the loo, I asked again about the washing but this time said, "I don't believe you." He got a little upset and I took him into the bathroom.
Me: You know why I don't think you washed your hands very well?
Drama Kid: No, why?
Me: Because I can't smell anything.
DK: [looks totally confused]
Me: Here, let me show you.
I wash my hands really well, scrubbing both sides and dry them.
Me: Now smell my hands. Can you smell the soap?
DK: [knows he been caught] Yes, I smell it.
Me: These soaps I buy all have a different smell. So if you tell Mommy you washed your hands, but I can't smell anything, I'll know you were lying. And lying is a what?
DK: A big no no in our house.
Me: That's right, now wash again please.
So now, he knows I'm checking for the smell! And he gets in trouble for lying, not the poor hand washing. Kinda sneaky, but he washes better and I don't sound like a broken record anymore.
Is handwashing another sore spot in your house? How did you deal with it?

*Don't forget to enter my contest before this Friday!
For more tips head over to Shannon's

I Need a Support Group and My Food Journal

Last Friday I went down into San Diego for my every-eight-weeks hair appointment (see photo, the bangs are new). Since I was allll the way down there, I decided, as usual, to go to my happy place, my nirvana, a little slice of heaven on earth:


Fashion Valley Mall. Sigh. I love that mall. It's so full of shopping promise. Granted, pretty soon I'll only be able to shop in the JC Penney wing (we're getting an H&M!!) because of all the high end stores that are coming (Jimmy Choo! Kate Spade!) but I don't care.

I can happily browse for hours surrounded by all the pretty things. Add a piece of cheesecake from Cheesecake Factory and it really is like a drug high for me (although, never having done drugs I'm not sure I can really say that, but you know what I mean). And despite me saying to myself, "No more spending! Budget! Budget! Budget!" I didn't leave empty handed.


In my defense, Bath and Body Works is having a massive sale (the sugar scrub? 75% off!). AND I needed the hand soaps for tomorrow's Works for Me Wednesday. AND my current MAC face powder is so old it's making me break out. (Are you buying it? No? Well it's the truth, so there!)

I have zero impulse control! Zero! Why can't I not control myself when it comes to green leafy veggies? Or housecleaning? Or spontaneous s*x with Drama Dad? Any of those would be much better financially (and make DD really happy!) than my secret shopping. Sigh.

I HAVE to get better at not spending. Which means I'll be at home. A lot. To minimize the temptation.

On another note, I realize I haven't posted my food journal in a few days. I saw a neighbor friend over the weekend. She said I look a little thinner. Yeah! I have to say, the food journal at least makes me pause a little because I know I'll have to write down whatever I'm about to eat AND post it here. So, here's what I've eaten since Monday 6/9:

Monday
Banana
Strawberry smoothie from Panera Bakery (love that place!)
Bagel with peanut butter
Lean Cuisine
Tazo Apple tea
Grande Skinny Cinnamon Dolce Latte
100 Calorie Oreo pack
100 Calorie Chips Ahoy pack

Tuesday
Banana
Steak
Rice (2 helpings, I'd rather eat all the sides than the main)
Corn
Mike's Hard Lemonade (the redder the better!)
1 piece of Godiva

Wednesday
Chai tea latte
Banana
Peanut butter cracker
Small cake sample at Costco
15 Goldfish pretzels
Bottled water with Lipton To Go
3 Hershey's Bliss chocolates
4 Gummy Bears
Pasta with marinara sauce
Peas

Thursday
1 bowl of Cornflakes
My smoothie
Chick fil A (free fried food rocks!)

Friday
Granola bar
Jamba Juice breakfast meal
Hamburger Helper with ground turkey (won't do that again!)
Bottled water with Lipton to Go
Skinny Cow Vanilla Caramel cone

Saturday
Odwalla bar
Mini cheese pizza from Trader Joe's
2 bowls of cereal (Capn' Crunch with Crunchberries and Golden Grahams)
Bottled water with Lipton To Go

Sunday (Father's Day, hubby made breakfast)
Sausage
Pancakes
Steak
Baked potato
Corn on the cob
Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie with vanilla ice cream (thanks Bakearella, it was really good!)

Monday
2 bowls of Golden Grahams
Jamba Juice breakfast meal
Chicken mini tacos from Costco (SO good!)
Refried beans with shredded cheese
3 Redvines
1 package lemon creme cookies
Chai tea latte

Is anyone else keeping a food journal? How's it working for you?

*Don't forget to enter my contest before Friday!