Do you remember reading the back of the cereal box when you were a kid? Or maybe you still do? I know I read the back of any box – whether it be cereal, macaroni and cheese, or cake mix – heck there isn’t much I won’t read and I always love the little details. I love companies that  go the extra mile with their packaging and really wow you with their cleverness and wit. I love, for instance, that the Trader Joe’s flyer always has cute little asides and stories – the last one I got even came with instructions on how to turn the flyer into a paper hat – which in all my twenty five years I’d never done before, until this week. My son thought it was pretty much the most awesome thing ever. We of course took pictures:

Sometimes you forget to look – who knows how many packages we throw out that had awesome little gems like that – little moments to make memories of out of ordinary minutes. If I hadn’t read every inch of that flyer, drooling over the idea of chocolate peppermint covered peppermint Joe Joes… I might have missed that and I still would never have made a paper hat before – and we wouldn’t have that cute picture, those memories.

This morning I glanced at my son’s cereal box (which I’ve always thought was kind of old man-ish cereal – I’m a bit of a kid at heart I guess and would rather see my son eating Kid’s Cereal – because it’s FUN! Just none of that super sugary junk – Kashi makes an excellent children’s cereal – Mighty Bites – but MM has been getting bored of Mighty Bites, just like you’re probably getting bored of this post) but so to cut to the point, proof that my son has been eating Old Person Cereal, here is what was on the back of his cereal box:

Helpful Household Hints

Freshen a Garbage Disposal

Sprinkle baking soda and a few drops of dishwashing liquid in the disposal. Scrub with a brush, getting under the rubber gasket and all around the inside. Rinse thoroughly with water. For a citrus smell, run some cut up lemons or limes through the disposal afterwards!

Mildew on Laundry

You can remove mildew from clothes by rubbing the affected area with half a lemon that has been dipped in salt. Then wash clothing as usual.

Make Your Own Glass Cleaner

Fill a spray bottle with vinegar, spray window, then wipe clean with newspaper.

Red Wine On Carpet

Treat the stain immediately after it happens. Sprinkle salt over the wine until most of it is absorbed. Wash the area in cold water with regular detergent. If the stain persists, try dabbing some hydrogen peroxide on the stain and wash as directed above.

Remove Ink From Clothing

There are a few methods to try to remove ink from clothing. You can try dabbing rubbing alcohol on the stain to lift it right out. Hair spray can also be helpful in taking ink out of your clothing. Soaking the garment in milk is also another way to get rid of the ink.

Make Heat Marks and Water Rings Disappear

Mix equal parts of baking soda and regular white, non-gel toothpaste. Dampen the corner of a clean, soft white cloth with water and dip into the paste. With circular motion, gently buff the marks for a few minutes.

Remove Candle Wax From a Tablecloth

Candle wax can be easily removed from fabric. Simply place two pieces of paper towels on either side of the stain. Then use a warm iron to run over the paper, which should absorb the wax from the cloth.

Take Crayon Off Walls and Wallpaper

Spray wallpaper with a multipurpose lubricating oil and wipe gently, using a paper towel or clean white cloth. If the mark is not being removed with the lubricating oil, sprinkle a little baking soda on a damp sponge and gently rub in a circular motion.

I’m just wondering what kind of shenanigans they think I’ll be letting my two year old get into with wine, candles, multipurpose lubricating oil and mildew? I mean the crayons I get – but really? I think my point as been made – Stop and Shop’s Honey Crunchin’ Oats with Honey is clearly not a children’s cereal. I doubt you’d find those (admittedly clever and useful) tips on the back of a Lucky Charms box. And there wasn’t even a toy inside!