Friday, January 4, 2008
The Apronista: The Apronista Vintage Apron Giveaway
Love aprons like I do, especially vintage aprons? Head over to The Apronista for The Apronista Vintage Apron Giveaway. Also check out some of the archived posts. You'll be in apron heaven!
Cleaning Products I Love
I've known about the Mrs. Meyers line of cleaning products for quite some time, but never did try them, partly because I never saw them in stores around my area and didn't want to buy them online. Then a couple of weeks ago, I was in Westlake Ace Hardware and saw several items in that line of products. They had the dishwashing liquid, the countertop spray, and the concentrated all-purpose cleaner. The scent choices at the store were Lemon-Verbena or Lavender. The lemon-verbena was a very bright and cheery scent, but lavender smelled so lovely that I picked a bottle of the concentrated cleaner and the liquid dish detergent. I was skeptical, because in my experience, the biodegradable, environmentally-friendly products typically don't work as well at cleaning.
I'm a big Dawn user, because it works great, keeps the suds and is easy to find. But after using the Mrs. Meyers dish liquid for a week, I'm a convert! My hands are so much nicer looking, no more cracked skin, dry beyond repair cuticles and snagging dryness. Plus, the dishes are just as clean, I use less dish soap and the suds remain for the entire washing. And the scent is so pretty and it isn't too overpowering. I have also made up a spray bottle of the all-purpose cleaner and am very happy with it as well. I can't wait to try the laundry products next! The line also includes surface wipes, hand soap and lotion, surface scrub, bar soap for cleaning, dishwasher soap, toilet bowl cleaner, and much more (even pet products)!
If you've been wondering about the Mrs. Meyers products, I highly recommend them. The price is a bit higher than your typical grocery store product, but they seem to last longer, take less to clean and are better for the environment too. Try it!
I'm a big Dawn user, because it works great, keeps the suds and is easy to find. But after using the Mrs. Meyers dish liquid for a week, I'm a convert! My hands are so much nicer looking, no more cracked skin, dry beyond repair cuticles and snagging dryness. Plus, the dishes are just as clean, I use less dish soap and the suds remain for the entire washing. And the scent is so pretty and it isn't too overpowering. I have also made up a spray bottle of the all-purpose cleaner and am very happy with it as well. I can't wait to try the laundry products next! The line also includes surface wipes, hand soap and lotion, surface scrub, bar soap for cleaning, dishwasher soap, toilet bowl cleaner, and much more (even pet products)!
If you've been wondering about the Mrs. Meyers products, I highly recommend them. The price is a bit higher than your typical grocery store product, but they seem to last longer, take less to clean and are better for the environment too. Try it!
Thursday, January 3, 2008
7 Random Things About Me & A Blogging Award
I got tagged by Susan at Not Quite June Cleaver for this little award going around. I've read several of these just today and the answers are so much fun to read.
Here are the RULES:
Link to the person that tagged you, I did, Not Quite June Cleaver.
Post the rules on your blog. (doing this now)
Share 7 random and/or weird facts about yourself on your blog. (see below)
Tag 7 random people at the end of your post and include links to their blogs. (to follow)
Let each person know that they have been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog. (will do)
7 random and/or weird facts about me
1. I can touch my tongue to my nose. Some of you know this about me, as it's a favorite feature of mine, and I've shared it before.
2. Hi. My name is Karla and I'm a purse-a-holic. I am addicted to purses and I change my purse out at least once a month, sometimes more. Thankfully I buy most of my purses at thrift shops, but still it has to stop somewhere, right?
3. I haven't taken a bath in over a year. Gotcha!!! I only take showers because my garden tub is being used for storage purposes for our Christmas tree and ornament boxes. The tub is located in an alcove sort of area in the bathroom, and I've hung curtains up there to hide the secret.
4. I rarely finish a drink of any kind. Not sure why, but I run out of thirst long before the drink is empty.
5. I have a relative several generations back who is her own ex-daughter-in-law. She married a man, then divorced him and married his father, whom she had a child with. So she and her child are actually related to themselves, in a twisted sort of way.
6. I sing on my church's praise and worship team once a month and absolutely love it. Thankfully we go to a small church that doesn't have high standards, otherwise I wouldn't be up there. I've wanted to sing on a worship team for ages, and finally get to!
7. I love Food Network but can't stand Rachel Ray. Her voice is like fingernails on a chalkboard to me. I'd rather watch just about anything else than watch her show. Call me cold-hearted but keep her away from me!
Now to pass this along:
Wednesday, January 2, 2008
Resolutions?
If you are struggling with coming up with any reasonable resolutions, or are sick of having the same ones everyone else has every year, check out Chili's list of Obligatory Resolutions over at Don't Try This At Home. Now she's got the right idea!
Tuesday, January 1, 2008
A New Year, A New Me
I'd like to start this new year by introducing you all to someone new. It's me!
When I started this blog, there were some people I didn't particularly want to know that it was me writing. I have always loved the name Grace, so that's the name I picked as my pen name. I had great fun writing under a pen name but then this year the longer time has gone by, the more complicated it's gotten to write under an assumed name while interacting as my real life self on the internet at the same time. As I've gotten to know people in the blogosphere, and registered for giveaways and swaps, I've had to give my real name in order to receive the mail they are sending. After all, I don't really live on Rose Cottage Lane, and the post office knows there is really no one named Grace at my address. I also have friends from message boards I've been a part of since before I started this blog, where I use my real name, who come here and see my pen name, and sometimes it is simply a hassle to have to explain and then ask them not to use my real name. It's become too much to remember and keep straight. Let's just hope I never have to enter the witness protection program as a result of my husband's mob ties (we got him The Godfather video game for Christmas and he has very quickly risen to a rather high rank in the Corleone family).
So, after much debate, I have decided to reveal my true identity because I don't know of any good reason to remain "hidden", and plus it's been bugging me. I know lots of bloggers who use pseudonyms to protect their identities, and lots of others who have always used their real names and I think whatever you decide to do is probably what's best for you. I'll still use my husband and daughters' pseudonyms, simply because that's how you all know them and no one who doesn't know us already needs to know who they are. Feel free to continue calling me Grace, or call me by my real name. It's truly up to you and I'll answer to both.
When I started this blog, there were some people I didn't particularly want to know that it was me writing. I have always loved the name Grace, so that's the name I picked as my pen name. I had great fun writing under a pen name but then this year the longer time has gone by, the more complicated it's gotten to write under an assumed name while interacting as my real life self on the internet at the same time. As I've gotten to know people in the blogosphere, and registered for giveaways and swaps, I've had to give my real name in order to receive the mail they are sending. After all, I don't really live on Rose Cottage Lane, and the post office knows there is really no one named Grace at my address. I also have friends from message boards I've been a part of since before I started this blog, where I use my real name, who come here and see my pen name, and sometimes it is simply a hassle to have to explain and then ask them not to use my real name. It's become too much to remember and keep straight. Let's just hope I never have to enter the witness protection program as a result of my husband's mob ties (we got him The Godfather video game for Christmas and he has very quickly risen to a rather high rank in the Corleone family).
So, after much debate, I have decided to reveal my true identity because I don't know of any good reason to remain "hidden", and plus it's been bugging me. I know lots of bloggers who use pseudonyms to protect their identities, and lots of others who have always used their real names and I think whatever you decide to do is probably what's best for you. I'll still use my husband and daughters' pseudonyms, simply because that's how you all know them and no one who doesn't know us already needs to know who they are. Feel free to continue calling me Grace, or call me by my real name. It's truly up to you and I'll answer to both.
So, without further ado, may I introduce you to - me...Karla!
Ringing In The New Year
Yes, I was awake at 12:00 a.m. to ring in 2008. However, it wasn't intentional. Apparently the power had gone out at some point and my alarm clock had never been reset after it does that automatic thing where it sets at 12:00 a.m. So the alarm went off at midnight while I was in a deep sleep from having gone to bed at 10. My husband finally had to nudge me awake to even hear the thing blaring. Interestingly, the alarm hasn't gone off all week, because I've not even had it set, so it must have been knocked to "on" when I dusted the bedroom yesterday. Sounds like a good excuse not to clean, if you ask me. I mean, after all, I can't have that sort of thing happening on a regular basis. I need my beauty sleep, people!
Monday, December 31, 2007
Resolutely Peaceful
I've decided not to do any New Year's resolutions this year. It's not that I don't want to be better in the coming year, and it's not even that I don't want to set myself up for failure. It's simply that I only want one main thing for this coming year - peace. It sounds trite, perhaps, to wish for such a lofty thing. But this past year has been such a whirlwind of "stuff" - from family issues that have chipped away at my heart a little here and a lot there, to business issues that have meant lots of changes, albeit good, but still changes. I want a little peace, and quiet, within my own heart and mind. I want to love myself enough to not berate me when I make a mistake. I want to feel peace, knowing that God is in control, even during the nearly constant times when my family of origin seems to be the very definition of chaos. I want the peace of knowing I am caring for my body and my health the best way I can by eating healthy and exercising regularly. I want to know I'm caring for my home and family in ways that bless them, without setting unrealistic expectations for myself. I want to know God so much more closely than I do now that there are no doubts and no questions about my faith in Him.That's all I want. It's so little, and yet so much. May 2008 be a year of peace, both here in my heart and all around the world.
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