It’s my turn to share some of my favorite things. I could tell you about my favorite flowers (roses!), my favorite candy (dark chocolate and Peanut M&Ms), my favorite season (any but winter), or my favorite book (can’t pick just one!), but instead, I thought I’d share some favorite things that make my life easier, prettier, or better.
Our nephew moved in with us in September which meant I had two guys spilling stuff all over my tablecloths at mealtime. I tried placemats, but that still meant messes to wash away. I resorted to a plastic tablecloth.
I know. I know!
I was skeptical when I ordered this one, because plastic tablecloths aren’t generally nice. The ones I could find locally were thin, with the tacky pieces of backing that look terrible, and not of good (or even acceptable) quality.
I started searching online and found this tablecloth that had a bunch of good reviews. When it arrived, I was pleasantly and happily surprised. It is super thick, very nice quality. The floral pattern looks exactly like it does in the photo, and the scalloped edging is so pretty. It comes in several sizes and colors. I would not hesitate at all to recommend this to anyone, especially if you are tired to scrubbing BBQ stains out of your tablecloths. Wipe this with a damp cloth and you are good to go!
When we remodeled the kitchen, I bought one of these little silicone trays to keep my soap bottle in by the sink. Then I bought another one, and another one, and …
You get the idea.
In addition to using it by the sink to hold the soap bottles, I use them to hold bottles of stuff that might make a potential mess in a cabinet or pantry, like olive oil bottles, syrup bottles, etc. If they do get dirty, they are easy to wash by hand, or stick them in the dishwasher.
Speaking of silicone, this mat has been so, so handy next to my sink. We live in the country and have really hard water that leaves behind hard water residue everywhere. I have one of these mats right next to the sink on the dishwasher side where water tends to get dripped from hands and dishes. It’s easy to keep clean by wiping it down, and it keeps the hard water from building up on my counter. A big win!
One day last month, I was searching for a box to hold a special gift for a friend. Not just any old box would do. Which is when I found this one that looks like a book. The wooden box is covered in a soft, rich velvety material. I liked it so much, I ended up keeping it and getting a different box for my friend. For now, the box holds a bunch of little promotional booklets from the early 1900s that Captain Cavedweller gave me.
I don’t always have time to exercise, even though I know I should. I was looking for something I could do while multi-tasking, and came upon the DeskCycle. Oh, my goodness. I love this thing! It’s easy to use, has different settings, and it fits beneath my desk. While I still don’t pedal as many miles as I should in a day, it really is fun to use.
So there’s my list of random favorite things for the month of May.
How about you?
What item is making your life easier, prettier, or better this month?
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After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky western heroes.
When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.
I enjoyed your favorite things.
denise
Thanks, Denise! Have a lovely day!
Chocolate is my favorite, daffodils my favorite flower, my cats, and books. As I am left-handed a left-handed can opener makes my life easier.
Those are all great things, David! Thank you for stopping in today!
I love collecting bluebirds!
What a fun thing to collect! Love that!
My daughter is learning to drive. Though a bit stressful right now 🙂 I know it will make my life easier when I no longer have to drive her back and forth to work.
Sending wishes for patience and peace as you help her learn to drive. Hope it goes well and she is soon a safe driver!
Hello my sweet friend. Thank you for sharing all your favorite things. I use Mr. Clean Magic erasers to keep my refrigerator & cabinets (handles and around handles clean), Rob doesn’t mean too, but mustard and Peanut Butter seems to find their way into surfaces when he comes home to make his lunch.
Another thing that helps me with hard water spots is mixing in a spray bottle 1/2 Dawn soap & 1/2 vinegar. It works miracles in my sink and even takes grease off my stove top.
Another thing I found to help me cook macaroni & cheese ( Rob’s fav) is using real butter VS margarine. Butter keeps the cheese from sticking on the sides and helps me not to have ti soak and scrub the pan.
I loved your table cloth and tray, that gives me ideas.
Love & hugs…. Wishing you a Wonderful Wednesday.
Thanks for the tip on Dawn and vinegar. Good to know! I have the magic erasers I use too! Thanks about the tablecloth. I just love the one I got.
And that is a great tip on the mac and cheese (why is that stuff so tasty?!?)
Have a fabulous day, sweet friend!
Hey Shanna! I also enjoy your favorite things and your things that make your life easier! Since I love the yard, most involves it! I purchased colored solar lights to shine on my canna lillies. As you know they grow tall. I love looking out my French doors at night watching the colors change. And I have made several Fairy wands for my potted plants. I’ll have to send you pictures!
I know that isn’t much, but I spend much time traveling during the week. Helping my mother and handicapped brother, that home seems my special place. And that is what makes me happy.
Many blessings to you Shanna!
I would love to see pictures, Tracy! I love what you shared about home being your special, happy place. That’s exactly as it should be! The colored solar lights in your canna lilies sound beautiful!
so Shanna to help with the hard water issue – I just recently discovered dishwasher cleaner tabs 6 for $1.25 at the local Dollar Tree – they can be used when running a regular wash cycle with dishes in it! I always use high heat for sanitizing!!
Thanks for the cleaner tabs! Will have to look for them here.
I like those trays you’re using for bottles! I ride my exercise bike twice a day for half an hour each time, and never did I think I would like riding, but I do!!! I actually get bummed if I can’t ride it twice a day, when “life” gets in the way!
The bikes are addictive! So fun you have one to enjoy, when life doesn’t get in the way!
Right now one of my favorite things is my pool. The pool deck is my happy place. I will have coffee and lunch out there and take my Bible to study. I swim at least 30-45 minutes a day, when the weather in upstate New York cooperates. My husband and I are working on getting in better shape before we take a trip to Kenya for 3 months to minister to pastors and leaders.
Hi Elaine!
That is so wonderful you have a pool to enjoy, and the trip sounds amazing. I hope you’ll enjoy every minute of it! <3
I loved your ideas. I am thinking of the machine due to neuropathy in my feet. They say those machines or ones similar help.
Hi Debby! I’ve noticed it is helping with my chronic hip pain.
Hi Shanna – great ideas you’ve shared with us! Spring always call me outside – everyday when it’s not raining. As you know, I’m a huge dahlia grower. Well, to make my life easier, Ron cut me up knee pads out of thick styrofoam for me to kneel on while planting tubers. Now that’s love! ??
That is so neat about the knee pads, Kathy, and it IS love! So sweet of him to make those for you. Such a great idea!
Shanna – What a fabulous list of practical items! I think I might need those little silicon trays. I have a honey bottle in my cabinet that has leaked once or twice. I’m curious about that desk cycle too. I walk on a treadmill most mornings, but I could use more exercise during the day. Interesting idea!
I LOVE those trays, Karen, and they are far sturdier than I thought they’d be. Honey is another culprit that makes messes in the cabinet here too! 🙂 And the desk cycle is really fun to use!
Hi Shanna, wow, I love your table cloth it is very pretty and keeps stains out, very nice! Thank you for sharing your favorite things, it sure sounds like it makes everyday chores easier. We walk our pup every day and that alone makes it nice because we get some fresh air and we get to see all the new cacti flowering and the wild flowers blooming also not to mention the little critters out there. I am looking forward to seeing some baby quail one day. Have a great day.
That’s so fun you take time to enjoy the world around you while walking your pup. Hope you see those baby quail. They are so adorable!
And yes, I’m all about what makes life easier!
Books, of course, crafting with my Cricut, swimming, although I don’t get to do much of that and spending time with family.
Sounds like you have plenty to keep busy this summer, Carol. I’ve been thinking about getting a Cricut. They just look like such fun!
With summertime approaching, I love to get some flowers planted. I love the beauty it brings to the outside. I have 3 round planters I try something different every year in as well as my usual hanging fern. It wouldn’t be summer without that fern. It is very nice to get out in the fresh air on the back porch and read a good book. With a good cup of coffee, of course.
Those planters of flowers are so cheerful, aren’t they? I just got a bunch of planting done this afternoon. Still a few pots left to fill, but it’s fun to add new flowers each year! Your porch for reading sounds lovely! I hope you enjoy it all summer!
I have a couple of nice plastic tablecloths for when the when nieces and nephews were small. I still use the Christmas one now and then.
They sure are handy when you want to avoid cleaning up messy messes! Have a great end of the month, Kathleen!
Thanks for sharing Shannon these items sound amazing!
Thank you, Sarah! So appreciate you popping in today!
Oh my laaaaand I love your table cloth!!!!
Geeze idk what makes my life easier. Maybe my Bath and Bodywork’s Moisturizing Antibacterial Sanitizer Living in the west my hands are dry add sanitizer and they are rough. I like the quality and variety of fragrances.
Those hand sanitizers are so nice! My cousin’s wife uses the spray sanitizer from B&BW and loves it.
I love that tablecloth too! So pretty! <3 Thanks for popping in today!
I agree with you on dark chocolate and peanut m&ms. That desk cycle looks amazing. Lavender essential oil and yoga on you tube helps me relax and stay clam.
Nice tablecloth
An item that makes my life easier is the old fashion clothes pin that is rounded at the end not clip kind if you put it in boiling water, it keeps it from splattering and it works and yes you can leave it in boiling water along with like corn on the cob and it really work, I love this hack
My wheelchair accessible van is making it easier for me to be able to go to appointments and errands. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
So glad you have that and can get around easier. That is wonderful! Blessings to you!
I love this table cloth. I now have the set of round and rectangle on my wish list. A new garden stool/seat is my newest favorite thing. We had one, but it is now being used by my husband in the vegetable garden. I got a new one with a nice cushioned seat. For the amount of time we spend in the gardens, it is a necessity.
That’s so fun you both garden, and you have a nice, cushioned seat stool to use! Enjoy your garden time this summer!
Beautiful tablecloth.
It is so pretty! Have a great day, Barbara!