A Tale of Two Rings

For Christmas this year my husband and children gave me a coupon for a ring made by our friend at S/ Custom Cowboy Hardware.  The coupon also stated that I was to be CHILDLESS when I got to order and pickup the ring, which, let's be honest... was a good portion of my excitement level.

Ordering the ring and waiting the few weeks for it was a breeze.  I went to pick it up this week and the entire drive home I could not get my mind off how special this ring was as I compared it to the joy and elation I felt when I received my engagement ring and wedding band from my husband over a decade ago.  

The wedding ring was, and still is, perfect, shiny and unblemished.  Much like you expect your marriage to be in the beginning.  Sure, other folks get divorced, but they must not have been trying hard enough - right?!  Sure, other folks have trials and tribulations, but they must have forgotten to smile - right?!  Sure, other folks are short with their spouse, but they must have just woken up on the wrong side of the bed for once - right?!  A wedding ring is shiny and perfect and great for those blissfully ignorant enough to think those trials and tribulations only happen to others.  I absolutely love my wedding ring and all it symbolizes about what I thought it would bring in my future.  

...And then there is this ring.  I feel it better represents where we are in our marriage after several years, several miles, several kids, several cattle.  

It has character, no doubt.  There may be a slight imperfection if you study quite closely.  If you just glance at surface level you'll never see it, but it probably still exists.  It may rub a little on my adjoining finger.  Not enough to make me divorce it or take it off forever, but just enough to slightly irritate me at times.  In another day or two I won't even remember what it was that ever bothered me.  

This ring will be able to get dirty during the realness of everyday life and then shine up just fine in time for church Sunday mornings.  This ring will fit perfectly into my chore gloves and tag along just fine while I haul buckets of water to calves each morning.  This ring will be covered in dirt when I dive my hands into the cool spring soil to plant tomatoes my family will devour.  This ring will get covered in sticky dough each time I make cheesy biscuits for supper or sausage balls for breakfast. 

I love my two rings, but for two entirely different reasons and they two very different stories they tell.  

New Diaper Bag

I've been in the market for a diaper bag for several months now.  I decided that if I'm going to be a professional, full-time mom I could at least treat myself to a nice looking diaper bag.  (Why do I need a nice looking diaper bag if I refuse to put on makeup, fix my hair and wear 'town clothes' like the rest of society?  Good question, but that's not germane to our discussion today.) 

Behold, my new diaper bag:

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this bag and the business I purchased it from, Charlie 7.

I found Charlie 7 on Facebook, and they also have a business page on Etsy that shows a variety of different types, styles and materials to completely customize your own bag.  The owner, Karen, was wonderful to work with and humored me when I wasn't able to coordinate fabrics quite to my liking.  (I'm the woodworker, not the quilter, in my family.  Red oak and cherry lumber?  Boom.  Good combo.  Fabrics?  Not a clue.)  She gave me several helpful suggestions and steered me towards the bag that would best fit my needs.  

What are my needs, you ask?  In my initial email I specifically told her: 

I am needing a diaper bag that someday can transition to an everyday bag. I love leather you include on your bags, especially the flap and bottom. We ranch in the flint hills of Kansas, so it needs to be tough, durable and not show dirt. It must be able to withstand going to the pasture and processing barn. I like fabrics that are ranchy/Aztec/western/rustic, which I saw on some of your bags and loved. I prefer structure on a bag versus a 'floppy' bag (I hope that makes sense). And a few pockets would be helpful as well. A changing pad isn't really necessary as I have one from my current diaper bag. I hope this gives you a bit of direction.

Karen at Charlie 7 created a perfect bag for me. She even included a handwritten thank-you note in one of the pockets which was just icing on the cake for me. Who does that? Wonderful small business owners, that's who.

Please go check out her work - you will love it!

A Review: Norwex Laundry Soap

Within the past year I have become acquainted with the Norwex brand of cleaning products.  Have you heard of them?  If not, you should.  They are pretty awesome.  

My friend Stephanie is a Norwex independent sales consultant.  Recently, she ran a promotion and asked for guinea pigs willing to try Norwex products for free, as long as we agreed to write a review of the product.  She had me at free.  My favorite four letter F word (now that I'm out of college and a mother).  

Here's the long and the short of their laundry detergent: I love it.

She sent me a little, quart size plastic baggie of detergent.  There couldn't have been more than 1 cup of detergent in the baggie.  I made a mental note that I would write a review as soon as the detergent had been all used up.  Problem is, I'm still working on using that little bag.  I use one TEASPOON of detergent per load to get my clothes clean.  That's right, folks.  Teaspoon.  The littlest scoop in your kitchen utensils.  

I have used this powder on darks and could not detect any fading or residue left behind like I feel sometimes happens when using a powder.  Also, I feel like the detergent did a great job on Wesley's dirty work jeans.  I must admit, though, that I cheated on the super-sized load of work jeans and I put in two teaspoons of detergent.  Whew.  Glad I got that off my chest. 

Overall I have been nothing but pleased with this product and would highly recommend it to others.  To place an order, please look Steph up on Facebook:  Stephanie Huser: Norwex Independent Sales Consultant.  

Over the past few months I have ordered other products from her, including: a dusting mitt, window cleaning cloth and enviro cloth (for general cleaning).  

Company coming over in 30 minutes?  I grab my handy-dandy dusting mitt and do a quick once-over on all my bookshelves.  I'm not sure why I feel the need to have my furniture dusted when there is a sink full of dirty dishes in the kitchen, but there are my priorities.  Wood > food. 

The window cleaning cloth has restored my faith in the entire cleaning process.  All those conversations I normally have in my head as I grumble about stupid cleaning tasks like cleaning mirrors and windows are gone.  Why am I doing this if no one can tell the difference afterwards?  Which is worse - a clean window with streaks or a dirty window with rain spots?  The window cleaning cloth + water = magic.  No spots, no streaks.

The enviro cloth is a great general cleaning rag for counter tops and table tops I've found.  Yes, there are still times when I bust out paper towels and bleach after cutting chicken and some drops fall off the cutting board, but in between those times this is the cloth I reach for. 

There you have it, folks.  Norwex - good stuff. (I'm in the process of trademarking that phrase so don't y'all steal it.)