Now that things are slowing down in other areas for me (at least, temporarily), I'm focusing more on Watkins again. I love their stuff! And I'm not just saying it cuz I sell it...
This past year, they came out with a whole new line of cleaners. Now, they had a wonderful line of tried-and-true cleaners, sold fantastic, did better than anything else you can get in the stores (seriously!), so why in the world would they go out and revamp their whole cleaning line?
These cleaners are exceptional. They are "all natural," meaning there are NO chemicals or anything harmful or artificial added to them. They are free of ammonia, benzene, boron, butyl/ethyl, chlorine, dyes, formaldehyde, isopropanal, kerosene, mineral spirits, petrochemicals, phosphates, phosphoric acid, propylene glycol, SLS, and sulfuric acid. I don't even know what most of that stuff is! They are also biodegradable, non-toxic, never tested on animals, safe for all septic systems, safe to use around children and animals, you name it. The fragrances in these cleaners are also all natural, using only plant-based oils (lavender, lemon, orange, and aloe/green tea). For allergy-sufferers, these are great products to use as many allergies, and especially indoor allergies, are linked to chemicals and artificial scents, etc, found in so many cleaning products.
There has been alot of publicity lately, at least in this area, about how research is starting to link behavioral problems in children to things like dyes and artificial scents in laundry detergent and softeners, residual cleaning chemicals left on dishes and other surfaces, stuff like that. I don't even begin to understand all that, although it sounds right to me. There is a greater concern and awareness of "not leaving our footprint" in the environment -- doing our part in not adding further pollution. There has also been alot of attention given lately to anti-bacterial products and if they actually do more harm than good (do a google search...it's amazing how much info there is!) -- and these products are NOT anti-bacterial.
All I know is that I tried each product, rather reluctantly at first. I want to be able to tell my customers HONESTLY what I think about each product. And I'm quite happy with the OLD Watkins toilet bowl cleaner (it does wonders cleaning hard water stains!), bath room cleaner, and laundry detergent. I like my Cascade dish washing detergent and Dawn dish detergent, thank you very much. I still have several bottles of Watkins pine oil that I hoarded before they discontinued it to make room for this new line -- what better cleaner is there for any surface, including the floors? And why would I switch from my streak-free Windex? But, good Watkins dealer that I am, I grudgingly allowed a one-time-only switch on each product to see what the new stuff was like. Plus, the new stuff is chemical-free and safe around kids, two concerns of mine.
The first product I tried was the new tub and tile cleaner. There was actually one evening this summer that I had some free time to take an actual relaxing bath rather than my usual rushed shower. Well, I really didn't have the time, but I really WANTED a relaxing bath. As I lay there soaking in my warm Watkins-scented bath water (the menthol-camphor bath salts are REALLY relaxing!), I noticed that there was some mildew starting around the caulking in the sides of the tub. Yuck! I grabbed the new tub and tile cleaner, sure that it couldn't do the job and determined not to even give it that much of a chance (yeah, great dealer, huh?). I sprayed the stuff on, waited about 30 seconds, then wiped it off. I noticed two things at once. The mildew was gone, and my bathroom smelled great! It's a citrus scent. I was sold immediately on this new cleaner! But would the other stuff work as well?
It does. I love the new dish soap (although in all honesty, it doesn't bubble up alot and what bubbles there are dissipate pretty soon, at least in our hard water) -- it cleans up grease and baked on gunk even better than my tried and true Dawn. And it doesn't dry out my hands like Dawn did. The new laundry detergent gets rid of the ground in dirt and grease that get all over Tony's clothes, especially in the summer time. It also eliminates even the toughest stains on the kids clothes...all without extra products or soaking time. The new toilet bowl cleaner works just as well in getting the rust and iron build up that accumulates so fast here, and the window cleaner is amazing! The dishwasher detergent cleans spot-free, and they have a new hand soap, too, which my kids love to use. And what about replacing my pine oil? The new all purpose cleaner works wonders -- it gets out ground in, dried up food and other unidentified stuff on and under the table (where the kids sit), cleans up the floors beautifully (and with a wonderful scent), takes out spots in carpets, cleans up cars in a flash, you name it...it's "all purpose." They also have these terrific all purpose wipes that are fantastic! They wipe up any spill around, are handy to carry in the car for any kind of mess or accident, are a breeze to use in a public restaurant or restroom, you name it. And the wipes are quite sturdy...no falling apart at the first use of elbow grease!
I love my Watkins cleaners. The price is very reasonable, the results are clean and sparkling, and I don't understand now why all these companies make and market so many cleaners that have all kinds of chemicals and other bad-for-the-environment-and-for-us products in them when all natural stuff works just as well and even better.
Got a question? Email me or post a comment. Want to try some for yourself? Go to my website at www.watkinsonline.com/lindasuecarter or call me to order (I try to keep a supply of everything on hand). Not sure if you want to commit to buying something but really want to try and see what it's like for yourself? If you're local, call me. I have some products I let people sample for a week to see for themselves.
I LOVE WATKINS PRODUCTS!!!
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Third round...
for Susanna...this is getting to be very tiring (at least for my beloved Tony who continues to take over the clean up chores). Please pray for us!!!
Also pray for my father-in-law who came down with the same nasty bug. However, due to his kidney transplant last year and his age, it's hitting him harder. He is getting IV fluids to combat dehydration.
Thanks for the prayers...
Also pray for my father-in-law who came down with the same nasty bug. However, due to his kidney transplant last year and his age, it's hitting him harder. He is getting IV fluids to combat dehydration.
Thanks for the prayers...
Tuesday, January 8, 2008
Catching up
Okay, alot has happened recently and there has been so much I've been wanting to write about, but everything else happening has pre-empted the other stuff (follow?). I'll try and write some random thoughts I've had lately...
Please keep our nephew Andrew in your prayers. He is in Iraq again now and his group of soldiers are dealing with some of the toughest things over there right now (yes, it's all bad, but the area he's in is classified as the worst, and he's got a great team of men over there who are called on all kinds of missions). If you've seen some recent events in the news about stuff over there, it most likely was about his group. They've dealt with the deaths of three men in recent weeks, two of whom he was good friends with. Please pray for his physical, spiritual, and mental health along with courage and wisdom in the decisions he must make and comfort especially in troubled times. Not just for him, but for all our troops. Having someone dear over there just brings it all home even closer.
Our sermon this past Sunday was on being In Communion with Christ. The first Sunday of each month, we have communion served at our church. As the elements are being passed around, we are always reminded of the meaning of the elements as well as of communion itself. However, the sermon on Sunday was a wonderful reminder about all things pertaining to communion. I especially appreciated the comment Pastor Marty started with...about how important it is to stay in communion with Christ individually, setting aside the time in all the hustle and bustle that happens in our lives. It was exactly the reminder that I needed. Things have been so crazy busy lately (like when aren't they?), and I needed the reminder of the importance of having alone, quiet time with Christ. I look back at the things that I did just during December, surrounding Christmas...so many "good" things -- but all so busy and filling up on time. How often did I take the time to spend by myself, refreshing myself in Christ? How often did I take the time, even though I was there and with them, to just sit and visit with family members? How often during the day, even though I'm pretty much with them 24/7, do I spend on my knees, playing with the kids with what THEY want to do? How often do I GIVE of my time, doing what OTHER people want and not what I think needs to be done? Not often enough. But that has changed.
Cameo apples are WONDERFUL! I've heard about them for years now, since we carry many different varieties of apples at the market before closing for the year, but Cameos are a later variety and not available before we close at the end of October. However, when we were in Ohio, I got some to serve with the baked brie at the Toth Christmas get-together. Wow! What a perfect combination...the puffed pastry, the melted brie, the Cameo apples. I was delighted to see them advertised at one of our local groceries and asked Tony to pick some up when he was in town yesterday. I'm on my third one for the day...no brie, but they are delicious plain and even better dipped in left-over dark chocolate fondue sauce, yummy!
I've come to realize I'm a terrible mom when it comes to dealing with sickness. Well, not just any sickness, but (as the Carter side calls it) "erps." I can deal with headaches. I can deal with chicken pox. I can deal with owies. I can even deal with bandaging up little fingers who get the bottom of the finger nail cut clean across by a folding chair smashing it like I did to my son today. I can take out splinters, deal with rashes, put up with grumpy-grouchies when they aren't "just right." I cannot deal with erps or cleaning up the erps. Thankfully, I have a husband who can deal with it (even though nobody ever wants to). It is hard for me to even hold and rock a child, MY child, when he or she is dealing with the flu or bad tummy problems for fear of them erping on me as I would probably quite promptly return the favor. Are there any other moms out there like me, or is it just me? Even if you aren't like me...just make me feel better and agree that you're the same!
Today is another gorgeous day outside -- yesterday and Sunday were in the 40s, or very close to it, I believe, which is extremely odd for this part of Minnesota. While no one really felt like taking advantage of this nice weather the previous two days, the kids and I had a blast outside today, sliding down piles of snow into the ditch, climbing up the mountains of snow Daddy had bulldozed out of the way last month, and just throwing snow at each other. The added benefit was it wore 'em out and they both fell asleep quick at nap time!
Tonight the plan is to have supper out with Uncle Dwight. He is one of the many beloved uncles -- Dwight is the second oldest in Tony's family, the only remaining bachelor of the bunch. He has an extensive farm in Guatemala raising everything from different fruit trees to noni to talapia and I'm sure much more. He has another business with a friend down there where they supply old dairy equipment from the States to dairy farmers down there. This brings him to the States at least twice a year, summer and winter, to pack up a load to ship back down. And Luke and Susanna LOVE when Uncle Dwight is here. Today Luke was walking around all day with a beat-up old hat on his head "I'm Uncle Dwight!" (you'd know what I mean if you knew Uncle Dwight). And Dwight loves his nieces and nephews. He showed up at our door Sunday afternoon just to play with the kids. And they loved it!
We got home from Ohio and I think Luke somewhere along the way got a huge dose of testosterone. I cannot believe the "boy" things he has been doing. Hitting. Kicking. Pushing. Pinching. Just because. Thankfully, no damage has been done except to his backside, and I'm not sure if it was his bout with the flu or the above-mentioned damage that has slowed him down (or a bit of both). We'll see within the next few days. Susanna has learned the fine art of self-will and temper tantrums along with the ornery words "I DON'T WANT TO!" It's confusing as to where she learned this as she did not see it displayed anywhere in our travels or here at home. Oh yeah! That whole human nature, fallen man thing. Hmmm. Well, that's in the process of being dealt with, too. She knows the limits, the expectations, and what isn't acceptable...and has learned that just because her attitude and/or words change before Daddy or Mama reach her with the spanking stick or before she's put in the naughty spot doesn't mean it pre-empts her from those consequences. She's also been thanking us for the discipline meted out, along with gifting us with big hugs and kisses afterwords (although "I'm still just a little bit happy and a lot of sad.").
For today...my rambling is done. At least to you!
Please keep our nephew Andrew in your prayers. He is in Iraq again now and his group of soldiers are dealing with some of the toughest things over there right now (yes, it's all bad, but the area he's in is classified as the worst, and he's got a great team of men over there who are called on all kinds of missions). If you've seen some recent events in the news about stuff over there, it most likely was about his group. They've dealt with the deaths of three men in recent weeks, two of whom he was good friends with. Please pray for his physical, spiritual, and mental health along with courage and wisdom in the decisions he must make and comfort especially in troubled times. Not just for him, but for all our troops. Having someone dear over there just brings it all home even closer.
Our sermon this past Sunday was on being In Communion with Christ. The first Sunday of each month, we have communion served at our church. As the elements are being passed around, we are always reminded of the meaning of the elements as well as of communion itself. However, the sermon on Sunday was a wonderful reminder about all things pertaining to communion. I especially appreciated the comment Pastor Marty started with...about how important it is to stay in communion with Christ individually, setting aside the time in all the hustle and bustle that happens in our lives. It was exactly the reminder that I needed. Things have been so crazy busy lately (like when aren't they?), and I needed the reminder of the importance of having alone, quiet time with Christ. I look back at the things that I did just during December, surrounding Christmas...so many "good" things -- but all so busy and filling up on time. How often did I take the time to spend by myself, refreshing myself in Christ? How often did I take the time, even though I was there and with them, to just sit and visit with family members? How often during the day, even though I'm pretty much with them 24/7, do I spend on my knees, playing with the kids with what THEY want to do? How often do I GIVE of my time, doing what OTHER people want and not what I think needs to be done? Not often enough. But that has changed.
Cameo apples are WONDERFUL! I've heard about them for years now, since we carry many different varieties of apples at the market before closing for the year, but Cameos are a later variety and not available before we close at the end of October. However, when we were in Ohio, I got some to serve with the baked brie at the Toth Christmas get-together. Wow! What a perfect combination...the puffed pastry, the melted brie, the Cameo apples. I was delighted to see them advertised at one of our local groceries and asked Tony to pick some up when he was in town yesterday. I'm on my third one for the day...no brie, but they are delicious plain and even better dipped in left-over dark chocolate fondue sauce, yummy!
I've come to realize I'm a terrible mom when it comes to dealing with sickness. Well, not just any sickness, but (as the Carter side calls it) "erps." I can deal with headaches. I can deal with chicken pox. I can deal with owies. I can even deal with bandaging up little fingers who get the bottom of the finger nail cut clean across by a folding chair smashing it like I did to my son today. I can take out splinters, deal with rashes, put up with grumpy-grouchies when they aren't "just right." I cannot deal with erps or cleaning up the erps. Thankfully, I have a husband who can deal with it (even though nobody ever wants to). It is hard for me to even hold and rock a child, MY child, when he or she is dealing with the flu or bad tummy problems for fear of them erping on me as I would probably quite promptly return the favor. Are there any other moms out there like me, or is it just me? Even if you aren't like me...just make me feel better and agree that you're the same!
Today is another gorgeous day outside -- yesterday and Sunday were in the 40s, or very close to it, I believe, which is extremely odd for this part of Minnesota. While no one really felt like taking advantage of this nice weather the previous two days, the kids and I had a blast outside today, sliding down piles of snow into the ditch, climbing up the mountains of snow Daddy had bulldozed out of the way last month, and just throwing snow at each other. The added benefit was it wore 'em out and they both fell asleep quick at nap time!
Tonight the plan is to have supper out with Uncle Dwight. He is one of the many beloved uncles -- Dwight is the second oldest in Tony's family, the only remaining bachelor of the bunch. He has an extensive farm in Guatemala raising everything from different fruit trees to noni to talapia and I'm sure much more. He has another business with a friend down there where they supply old dairy equipment from the States to dairy farmers down there. This brings him to the States at least twice a year, summer and winter, to pack up a load to ship back down. And Luke and Susanna LOVE when Uncle Dwight is here. Today Luke was walking around all day with a beat-up old hat on his head "I'm Uncle Dwight!" (you'd know what I mean if you knew Uncle Dwight). And Dwight loves his nieces and nephews. He showed up at our door Sunday afternoon just to play with the kids. And they loved it!
We got home from Ohio and I think Luke somewhere along the way got a huge dose of testosterone. I cannot believe the "boy" things he has been doing. Hitting. Kicking. Pushing. Pinching. Just because. Thankfully, no damage has been done except to his backside, and I'm not sure if it was his bout with the flu or the above-mentioned damage that has slowed him down (or a bit of both). We'll see within the next few days. Susanna has learned the fine art of self-will and temper tantrums along with the ornery words "I DON'T WANT TO!" It's confusing as to where she learned this as she did not see it displayed anywhere in our travels or here at home. Oh yeah! That whole human nature, fallen man thing. Hmmm. Well, that's in the process of being dealt with, too. She knows the limits, the expectations, and what isn't acceptable...and has learned that just because her attitude and/or words change before Daddy or Mama reach her with the spanking stick or before she's put in the naughty spot doesn't mean it pre-empts her from those consequences. She's also been thanking us for the discipline meted out, along with gifting us with big hugs and kisses afterwords (although "I'm still just a little bit happy and a lot of sad.").
For today...my rambling is done. At least to you!
Monday, January 7, 2008
He's FOUR!
January 7, 2004 -- birth day
Five years ago at this moment, one of my most pain-filled times was almost over. The partial epidural was taking effect, and Tony was still wondering if I'd ever be okay. Luke decided to make an early appearance, forcing an early delivery by breaking my water three weeks before his due date. Being induced is NOT a fun thing, and it is even less fun as your husband tells you how much a human delivery (medications and all) are like bovine deliveries. At least he didn't bring a rope to the hospital, as the husband of a friend of mine did (he's a vet...and it was a very unappreciated joke. At the time....) 
January 7, 2005 - age one
Luke has been a joy and delight and a sometimes cause for frustration, ever since. There are times that I have to turn my back or walk out of the room so he doesn't see me laughing at something he shouldn't be doing or shouldn't have said. There are times I'm sure everyone is sick of my bragging on him (but don't worry...it'll continue!). There are times he just amazes me, listening to what his brain comes up with. There are times he brings tears to my eyes -- listening to his prayers, watching him share his most favorite things with his friends and sister, feeling him step on my back as I lay on the floor rather than walk around me....
January 7, 2006 - age twoI look at this little man and his sister and feel so inadequate in the repsonsibility God has given to me with them. I wonder if I'm going to totally screw up in raising them. Scar them somehow for life. And I'm thankful God has also given me with a wonderful husband who was also blessed with those two amazing children. I'm also thankful God has given us both good humor and is helping us both extend our patience levels.
January 7, 2007Today Luke is four. Right now, five years ago, Dr. Fredell said, "congratulations, you have a baby boy!" Right now, today, Luke is taking a nap. He's not having the best of birthdays...yesterday morning it was his turn for the flu bug to hit (I'm pretty certain now, that hotel room incident stemmed from a definite mild concussion and not the flu that we have all experienced now). He's feeling better but much more subdued than usual, having spent the most of the morning going between playing with birthday presents and laying on the couch. We had his party Friday evening so that the Blake cousins could celebrate with us before returning to the Philipines Saturday morning. As usual, I don't have my photos from the party yet....but it was a blast for everyone, I think!
July 2007
You'll see birthday photos soon. He was thrilled with his David and Goliath-themed evening. You'll read more bragging, I'm sure, as the days and months continue...
Saturday, January 5, 2008
Now for the boys!
Here are Nathanael, Joshua, Caleb, and the whole clan....you can't see Josiah David yet...he won't be showing his face for another few months!
More Photos...Ron's Family
Here are some shots of Ron's family...since I can only post 5 photos at a time and there are seven children, we'll do this in two rounds! The girls are here...Hannah, Moriah, Tabitha, and Lydia (with Mama Tammy).
Friday, January 4, 2008
A few more photos...
Okay, here are a few more before I finish getting ready for Luke's party!
The kids in bed at the hotel the first night (before Luke woke us all up), a photo of all the Toth cousins at Papa and Grandma's house, Daddy and the kids decorating Jesus' birthday cake, me with my Grandma Toth and Luke & Susi, and three of the little princesses (Susanna, Tabitha, and Moriah).
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