My grandmother turned 90 on valentine’s day.  We were supposed to be there for her 90th birthday party, but an uncharacterstic snow storm (one of 2 or 3 this winter) hit the Baltimore area a couple of days before and the party was postponed.  So we’re heading down this weekend to celebrate a month late.  I’m beyond excited, not just for her birthday but also because we are driving down. 

I grew up taking driving vacations when I was younger.  We lived in Colorado and my father dragged us all around the west anywhere from a weekend to week long or even two.  I know some people have no tolerance for being in the car for long periods of time, but I loved those trips.  Since Delia was born, we’ve been on one driving vacation.  We drove down to Virginia to visit my best friend and then went to Chincoteague with my other best friend.  Delia got sick in Chincoteague and between having a 103 degree temperature and some sort of stomach virus ended up throwing up all the way home…11 hours to be exact. 

Needless to say we haven’t been in a hurry to drive anywhere, but we are going to drive this weekend.  Taking the scenic route, my husband assures me.  Staying in a hotel with an indoor pool, the one request Delia had.  I’m working on a scrapbook for my grandmother (and by working I mean I finally got the pictures printed, and there is an empty scrapbook on my desk downstairs, which will be magically transformed before the trip…and hey, 10 hours in the car, can’t forget that extra time just in case I’m running behind) and my father sent me this picture for it.  I just love this picture…I’ll let it speak for itself.

If you know me, you’re laughing…me, addicted to cleaning.  Well, not exactly.  When Aiden was about 3 months (can you believe he turns 1 on Thursday…I know, where does the time go???) I noticed that the dish soap didn’t seem to be washing out of his bottles.  I would go to fill them and there would be suds in there.  If I was making formula, it wasn’t a huge deal, but breast milk…seemed like a crime to throw it away, but I couldn’t really let the baby drink the sudsy milk.  I started looking around for a soap that I wouldn’t be mortified at the thought of the baby ingesting a little.  I’m a bit of a Target junkie, and had always admired those slick Method products, but never considered buying them.  This seemed like a great solution though – if a little was left, it would be OK because at least there were no horrible chemicals.

I was blown away the first time I used it.  I bought the French Lavender dish soap and could not believe how amazing everything smelled as I used it.  Even better than that – it rinsed so easily we never had a problem with leftover soap on the bottles again.  It was one of those things were I just kept wondering how I went without it my whole life… I loved the scent so much I went out the next day and bought the lavender multi-surface spray.  I realized that I could now let Delia clean off the kitchen counters – she was always asking but I never wanted her inhaling all those nasty fumes as she sprayed, or getting the stuff on her hands when she was wiping.  She was thrilled, I was thrilled and every time I cleaned it was like an aromatherapy experience for the whole house.

I was hooked and began replacing all of my cleaners with Method products.  I also tried out some of the Mrs. Myers Clean Day things – which I liked, but I didn’t love them the same way I loved the Method.  I found myself cleaning things I hadn’t cleaned in awhile, like the trash can, just so I could spray the yummy smelling French Lavender spray.  I can’t stand how most cleaners smell, it makes me nauseous and that chemical smell always makes me uneasy.  One of the best things about Method is that it is not that much more expensive then what I was using before.  I spend about 50 cents more on the dish soap, which to me, is well worth the benefits.

My newest love – the Wood for Good floor cleaner.  I’ve never been one to clean the floors a lot, but now that little Aiden is crawling everywhere, I wanted something that was quick and easy and non-toxic so that I could clean the floors a couple times a week.  Most of our floors are wood, so I bought the Wood for Good cleaner and tried it last week.  I was in HEAVEN.  The sweet smell of almond wafted through the whole house as I cleaned the floors.  You just squirt it right on and mop it up – it couldn’t be easier.  I was just going to do the hallway to test it and ended up doing all the wood floors.  Again – if you know me, you’re probably laughing – I’m never one to decide on a whim to clean my floors!  So, go out and try just one of their cleaners -you’ll be hooked and it’s good for your family and the environment!  As for me, well, aside from the products I mentioned, we also have the glass cleaner, toilet bowl cleaner, bathroom wipes, laundry detergent, fabric softener and a room air freshner.  And, I’ve got about $65 worth of other things in my cart at methodhome.com that I found that my local target doesn’t carry…like the baby laundry detergent…hmmmmmm, method anonymous…I may have to join soon.

I have no snappy pictures to post of our beautiful holidays.  They are mostly on my camera, and well, there is the fact that I was sick for weeks so maybe I didn’t take as many as usual – started the week before Christmas and I’m still on antibiotics for an ear infection that doesn’t seem to want to go away.  Aiden is on his third type of antibiotics for a similar ear infection – poor little guy.  Anyway, I’m never very good with New Year’s resolutions – usually preferring just not to make them.  This year I had grand plans for things like -”being on time”, “keeping the house clean” – I don’t know, it never feels right.  I’ve been thinking a lot about my family and my life, and although I try not to use this expression, because I feel like it is overused – I am truly blessed.  I adore my kids, my husband is smart, kind and does laundry (ok, not always the way I want it,  but still…), we have a house, jobs – mine is at home so I can watch my precious little ones grow.  It’s not always perfect – what is perfection anyway?  So, I think the only resolution I need in 2010 is to appreciate what I have.  Really appreciate it, absorb it, be thankful, thankful, thankful…Happy New Year.