Cart Covers

Shopping Cart Fabric Handle Covers

These fabric handles can be snapped onto grocery cart handles while shopping. 

Each handle is triple-layered fabric.  It should fit snuggly over most grocery cart handles.  There is a design on one side and a plain side, so you will be able to tell which part is which.

—Sanitize cart handle as needed.

—Place the cover over the handle.

—Snap below.  

—Don’t forget to take your cover with you after shopping.  You can place it in a small bag and wash when you get home.

You can visit www.keepinthesunlight.com/cartcovers for more info and photos.

Thank you for all you are doing for our community to stay healthy and strong!

Book Quotes

I love, love, LOVE collecting quotes from books.  For me, it’s like a treasure hunt whenever I’m reading or re-reading books.  And, there are certainly so many treasures to be found.  The quotes I collect bring me joy and hope and inspiration and laughter.  I have collected hundreds and hundreds over the years, and I’ve had this driving desire to share them with the world.

I know there are lots of quotes already floating around out there, but I feel like it’s the same ones over and over.  And, sadly, sometimes, even very popular quotes online or in gift shops are absolutely and completely inaccurate.  Winnie the Pooh “quotes” are way more often MISquotes than actual ones.  One of my favorite little posters I’ve seen recently has a picture of Abraham Lincoln and it reads,

“The problem with quotes found on the Internet is that they often aren’t true.” -Abraham Lincoln.

And I love this so much, because it’s almost hilarious what gets passed around as quotations and even makes it onto best-selling products.

…I digress.  I am truly so excited to share quotations, and I am still figuring out just how I’d like to do that and what the legalities are of sharing a current author’s quotes.  For now, though, I’ve started an IndieMade shop of digital downloads.  Making each one takes considerably more time than I had planned as I learn what I’m doing, but it’s fun and such a relief to finally be doing something with my favorite quotes.  I love doing these as digital downloads, as it removes the pressure of mailing, and it allows the customer to immediately access what they’ve purchased.

If you’d like to check out my IndieMade shop, here is a link.

What Alice Forgot

What Alice Forgot
by Liane Moriarty

When Alice comes to after falling and bumping her head at the gym, she’s worried about the baby in her belly.  Alice thinks she’s 29 and expecting her firstborn with her loving husband.  What she comes to find out, however, is that she’s lost her memory from the last ten years of her life.  Alice actually has three kids, is on the brink of divorce, and is about to celebrate her 40th birthday.  When this “younger” Alice starts piecing together her last ten years, she doesn’t like who she’s become.  She’s surprised to discover she has become distant from her sister, is too busy volunteering or exercising to really be there for her loved ones, and is in constant battle with the man she married.  It is only when Alice finally starts to get her memory back that she remembers how and why things are the way they are.

As I mentioned in other posts, I don’t read many novels for adults.  But, I’ve read this one twice now.  There’s “young” Alice with her optimism and naiveté, and there’s current Alice balancing motherhood, self-image, and a failing marriage. But it’s much more than Alice’s story.  We hear from Alice’s sister dealing with years of infertility and miscarriages.  Their mom, who has taken on a new, spunky zest for life.  And then there’s the adopted grandma who is cautiously letting love in after many, many years.

I think what I love about this book is the reflection on how we change over time and how our relationships shift.  How those changes can be viewed so differently by different people and even by ourselves.  I flew through this book both times, finding pockets of moments to read more and more.  I highly recommend it to adults.

 

P.S.  I found myself reflecting on this book again this evening, and I realized the (perhaps) obvious–which is that Alice “losing her memory” of the last 10 years is also very much a metaphor for what happens to many of us.  Whether it’s parenthood or a job or other all-encompassing life situations, sometimes people get caught up in the craziness and lose themselves or their awareness.  Not to say that there aren’t moments of clarity or joyfulness throughout, but I was definitely having one of those moments this evening.  A return to me.  A much-needed big deep breath while I realized that seven years of a lot of all-encompassing LIFE and love and chaos has happened.  What parent hasn’t suddenly looked up and, whether they’ve been present for it or not, asked, How did my baby grow up?  So, I was seeing that perhaps this, more than anything may have been the larger message of What Alice Forgot. Not simply about how we change over time, but how we sometimes get so swept up in things that we forget to look around and be present for what’s happening around us and within.

Masks

For those who have purchased a fabric mask, Thank You!

To fit cone-style masks once purchased and washed:

–Place mask over face
–Pull top loop over head
–Pull strings to tighten while keeping ties over ears
–Tie loose bottom strings behind neck and tie.

Here is a video with photos to demonstrate how to wear your mask, if you purchased the cone-style version.

Other Tips:

Some masks may feel more comfortable sitting right above the ears, while others may feel better resting higher up on the head.  Experiment with what feels best for you and your mask.

Here is another video with some tips for fitting your fabric mask in a way that works best for you.

 

Here are the instructions, if you’ve misplaced them:

Details:

The cone-shaped handmade masks come in four sizes, so please check your bag for size.  (For health precautions, masks cannot be tried on before purchasing.)

—Toddler

—Child

—Petite adult

—Adult

Each mask has three layers of fabric:

—cotton fabric on the front

—flannel fabric inside

—cotton fabric on the back

This is for added protection, but also creates a thicker feel.

Each mask has a string, shoelace, or thin jersey fabric which loops once around the head and ties in the back so it can be adjusted to the wearer.  Please see photos for a close-up, or visit (HERE) for photos and explanation.  The ties are removable if you’d like to replace with your own ribbon, string, or elastic.

All masks have been pre-washed, but I highly recommend you wash before wearing at this highly-sensitive time.

DISCLAIMER:

These masks are NOT surgical masks and are NOT intended to protect against viruses.  Please use caution, social distancing, and other measures to stay healthy at this time.  Information is constantly changing, so please research for the most up-to-date precautions.

Please wash regularly, especially after wearing out in public.

 

*I am not a professional seamstress and there may be slight flaws in masks.  If there is excessive bunching on stitches, I have discounted the masks. 

*For health and safety, masks may not be tried on or returned.  If the mask is not a good fit for you, perhaps you could take proper washing/disinfecting precautions and share with someone who might have a better fit.

 

Thank you for doing your part to keep our community strong.