Surprising Cleaning Hacks: Mayonnaise

Posted on July 19, 2023 by msw blog

Koch suggests using mayonnaise to remove the water stains and rings on wood that happen when moisture penetrates the protective finish – like when someone neglects to use a coaster on your coffee table. After testing a small area, spread a layer of mayonnaise on the blemish and let it sit overnight.

“The oil displaces the moisture and makes the mark go away,” she writes. (Applying vegetable oil itself won’t work because it dries too quickly.) In the morning, wipe the mayonnaise away with a dry cloth.

If there are any remaining marks, you can also lay a cloth over the surface and place a hot iron on top, using the steam feature. After a few seconds, pull the iron away and wipe the area; the heat removes moisture caught underneath the finish. Feel free to use both methods to address the most stubborn stains.

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Advice from a (Broken) Fortune Cookie

Posted on July 18, 2023 by msw blog

What happes when we can’t get a hold of them?

Positively Purging-I welcome your feedbacks in the comments and your likes and passing the real life wisdom on to others as I embark on this new venture of “positively purging“, as I know each of these pieces represents something…

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Physical Apperance

Posted on July 18, 2023 by msw blog

What does it mean (if anything) when a husband cuts off his facial hair, such as a goatee and or beard, and his wife doesn’t notice for a day or two, even when you are together?

– Baffled

Dear Baffled: My mother had a friend who decided to test her family’s attention by appearing at the breakfast table wearing a full-on ski mask.

No one said a word.

The point is that families sometimes stop seeing one another. Proximity can inspire invisibility.

So yes, this lack of attention means something, but it doesn’t mean everything.

This may have hurt your feelings, however, so discuss it with your wife, and be emotionally honest.

You should both ask yourselves how “present” you are in your daily lives. Do you notice positive changes your spouse has made, and acknowledge them?

When you do notice and remark on changes – little or large – you are quite literally saying, “I see you.”

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True Generosity

Posted on July 18, 2023 by msw blog

True generosity is when you give as much to yourself as you give of yourself.

A gift you purchase that you can’t pay off in full when the credit card bill arrives is not generous.

Spending money on gifts when that means you don’t have any money to put toward building your emergency fund, or retirement savings is not generous.

Giving money to family members, or a charity, because you know they need it, is not generous if it puts your own financial security at risk.

Giving your time when you could use some quiet time for yourself is not generous.

My wish for you this holiday season is that you find a few quiet moments to think through how you can be truly generous.

If you can buy presents without falling behind on financial goals, that’s great. Just remind yourself that what you spend is not at all reflective of what matters: The connection to that person.

That’s not selfish. And don’t you dare be ashamed. You are standing in the truth of what is real for you today! And c’mon, you know there are so many other ways to gift. Volunteer with an organization you support, if you have the time to give. Offer your time to a friend or family member. Make it a fun gift certificate, for whatever you come up with: X hours of babysitting. X hours of yard/gardening help. Or create a set, scheduled ritual: We will go out for a walk every week at X time. Or meet for a coffee. The idea here is to let the other person know you want to carve out real time with them, and that will only happen if you both make it a part of your schedule.

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Privilege of Travel

Posted on July 17, 2023 by msw blog

Travel is an enormous privilege. As a writer and a professor, I get to move through the world in a way that was out of reach for my ancestors and is still out of reach for many people. I’m grateful my life allows me to do these things, so in turn, I do what I can to help the people I meet feel seen. I read name tags and call staff members by their names; if I don’t know how to pronounce one, I ask. I open myself up for small talk. Sometimes people I meet want to know about the world that I’m from, and I listen as they tell me about theirs. Because regardless of what someone does for a living, they’re a person—each with their own stories and dreams.

Some folks just want to do their jobs and aren’t in the mood to chat with guests. Maybe they’re too busy to care. I know I’ve had those days. But I have also seen that a thoughtful compliment can make somebody’s day. At the end of a hotel stay, I mention to the manager the people who provided impeccable service or paid meticulous attention to detail that went above my expectations.

Before I leave my hotel room for the day, I also write a few lines to housekeeping. “Thank you for providing me with a safe, clean place to stay,” I jot on a piece of hotel stationery, which I put on the TV stand along with my daily gratuity, usually between $10 and $20 on the days I request housekeeping. If I order in-room breakfast multiple days in a row, I leave compliments for the cook in the margins of the menu before I place my order on the doorknob. I don’t expect anything when I leave my notes and tips. This is just my way of telling the people I don’t see face to face that I appreciate them. – Latrice Graham

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