I can’t believe January is over and we are already a full week into February! I was thinking back today on all the things I enjoyed and was thankful for this past month and my warm mist humidifier was at the top of the list. The nights I forget to fill it up and turn it on, I really notice it the next day because I don’t sleep as well and I wake up more during the night. Thankfully, I rarely forget to run it. If you find the heat running in your home dries out your sinuses, try a warm-mist humidifier and see if you notice a difference. This is the one I use in my home studio and my bedroom, and it’s available here: Warm Mist Humidifier.
My daughter-in-love and I are pretty obsessed with UGG Tasman slippers. She had a little mishap recently with a brand-new pair she had just opened and put on. One of my grandsons accidentally spilled mouthwash on her brand-new UGG Tasman slippers. I remembered that UGG makes a cleaner for suede slippers and ordered a bottle to see if it would help. I heard back that it worked beautifully and her shoes looked just as good as new. If you own suede shoes or boots or shoes that need a bit of cleaning, check out the UGG suede cleaner here: UGG Cleaner and Conditioner. UGG makes a full cleaning kit that includes cleaner, protector, a brush, and a suede scuff eraser here: UGG Care Kit.
Speaking of UGG slippers, I just purchased another pair in this pretty brown color. I have them in Burnt Olive, Chestnut, Black, and now, Burnt Cedar. They seem to be constantly sold out everywhere, so if you find them in stock in your size, don’t wait! Even the actual UGG store online is usually out of stock. So frustrating! The only place that seems to have them in stock right now is here: UGG Tasman Slippers. That’s where I purchased a pair for one of my grandsons last week. We all love them!
I’ve been seeing these fire blankets all over Instagram. They are supposed to come in handy if you have something cooking on the stove that catches fire. I know someone who had that happen a couple of years back in his beach condo. After seeing these recommended on IG, I purchased a set for my son/DIL and a set for myself. I like how easy they are to use because I know if something like a fire happens, I’ll probably be freaking out and not thinking logically. The instructions on how to use the blanket to put out a fire on a stove were clear and easy to understand. Hopefully, I won’t ever need it, but if I do, I have them stored in a cabinet just as you enter the kitchen so they will be easy to access. I placed them in with where I store my paper towels so I will see them every time I reach for those. That way I won’t forget where they are stored. This was the brand fire blanket that I purchased after reading the reviews, and you’ll find it available here: Fire Blanket.
I always like to give my grandsons something for Valentine’s Day. They get plenty of candy at school on V-Day, so I wanted to send them something other than more candy. I love these LEGO Creator sets because they are very budget-friendly (only $10 each) and each box/set makes 3 different objects! For example, this set will make a dragon, a phoenix, or a fish, and their body parts actually move. I purchased two sets and mailed those along with Valentine’s Day cards to my grandsons a few days ago. If you’re looking for an alternative to candy for Valentine’s Day, you’ll find this fun Creator set here: LEGO Creator Set.
I have so missed the weather station that is normally in my kitchen. I took it and the weather station that normally lives in the basement up to the Dollhouse since I rely on it so much, but now that I’m back in Georgia for a few months, I wish I hadn’t taken the kitchen one away. Each day when I head out the door to fill up the feeders, I catch myself looking over at the desk in the kitchen to check the temperature, and of course, it’s not there. Arggh. I’m on the verge of ordering another one so this awesome weather station had to make the January Favorites list since I’ve missed it so many times this past month. You’ll find this attractive and incredibly handy weather station available here: Weather Station.
The new wheels I purchased to replace the old wheels on my desk chair had to make my January Favorites list—they are working so well! They were almost working too well when I first replaced the old wheels. They are fast! Ha! Initially, I had to be careful that I didn’t bumped the chair when sitting down or the chair would go scooting across the room! I figured that would stop once they had a bit of use/wear and thankfully, it has. They still roll really easily, but have calmed down a little now. If your desk chair wheels are not working as they should, check these out here: Chair Wheels, Universal Fit.
Eric Ross is one of my favorite designers/decorators and I enjoy following his work on Instagram. I’ve often thought of buying his book, Enduring Southern Homes. I finally took the time to order it last month and it’s just as great as I thought it would be. If you love traditional decor, I think you’ll enjoy this book. You’ll find it available here: Enduring Southern Homes.
My son, DIL, grandsons and I are all going skiing next month, so I’ve been thinking about travel needs over the past few weeks. I’ve been reading online that the airlines are getting super strict about carry-on luggage size and baggage weight. I already have one of these little devices for weighing my suitcase and have found that it gives me tremendous peace of mind. There’s no getting to the airport and realizing my luggage is overweight. So I purchased one for my son’s family since I thought it would come in handy for this trip and future trips. I very much recommend getting a luggage scale like this if you have any trips coming up. You’ll find the one I always use here: Luggage Scale for Travel.
You best believe I’ll be using my trusty Travelon bag on our upcoming trip. You may remember when it saved me from credit card/identity theft during a trip to Egypt. (Read more about that crazy adventure here: How I Foiled a Pickpocket Thief in the Khan Al-Khalili Bazaar in Cairo.) This is my favorite Travelon Bag. It’s nice and roomy inside, has RFID pockets for credit cards, passports, and a ton of other built-in security features. I love the side pockets that are perfect for holding a water bottle. You’ll find this bag in several colors here: Travelon Bag.
If you prefer a smaller bag, this was the first Travelon bag that I purchased. It has all the same great security features. You’ll find it available here: Travelon Bag.
Hope you found this list of January favorites helpful! Do you have any upcoming trips planned for spring?
Happy Weekend!
I really appreciate your “favorite things lists” (although I find they cost me a bit – LOL). Every Christmas, I get my children small box of my “favorite things” as a surprise. This past Christmas, it included the fire blanket you mention in this post. I sure hope we never need to use it but it gives me peace of mind! Thank you so much for your research and honest reviews. I look forward to your blog.
I’m glad you posted about the humidifier .. I ordered one last year but I’ve hesitated using it because I’m
Concerned the mist will damage my wood furniture. Have you found this to be an issue??
Once I ordered a regular cool mist humidifier and that left a white film on nearby furniture when I ran it. I’ve never had that issue with my warm-mist humidifiers. The moisture just disappears into the air. I always place my warm-mist humidifiers near the edge of a table/desk so the mist goes out into the room. Hope that helps. Just make sure it’s a warm-mist humidifier. Also, don’t place it on nice wood furniture just in case some water drips off the humidifier from where you have filled it.
That white film that your cool mist humidifier left was hard mineral deposits from using regular tap water. The water evaporated on the furniture and left the mineral deposits behind. Using distilled water in your humidifiers is an easy solution to the problem. Back millions of years ago the Midwest was covered in water, a regular ocean of water. The shells from the water creatures that died fell to the bottom of this ocean and built up into Limestone and calcium deposits. Our current well-drilled water in the Midwest has dissolved some of this lime and calcium causing our water to be “hard”. A lot of Midwesterners have water softeners to reduce the “hardness” of their water.
For some reason, it doesn’t happen when it’s a warm mist humidifier. The water at the Ohio house is hard water and I have a large water softner machine in my basement. Everyone in that area has one in their basement due to the hard water. I noticed when I ran a cool mist humidifier, that left the film on things, but as long as I use a warm-mist humidifier, that doesn’t happen. I guess a cool mist humidifier doesn’t dissolve the minerals in water well enough, not sure.
Thanks, Linda!
It’s the difference between hot water and cool water. Hot water mist is the result of heating the water to a steam, which separates minerals from water and leaves behind the minerals. Cool water mist is the whole water and minerals mixture thrown out into the air. Some of which could also be a very tiny bit of the softener salt from the water softener. When the cool water mist lands on everything in a house, it eventually, and usually quickly, evaporates the water portion of the mist, leaving behind whatever minerals in the water. It’s a constant battle with hard water. Worst cases can end up clogging up pipes in a house over many years.
Exactly. That’s why I have to clean the minerals off that accumulate on the heating element about once a month…for the humidifiers here in Georgia. I don’t have to do that in Ohio since I use a conditioner…but I do get some salt build up on the element. Our water is pretty balanced here in Georgia, but it’s def hard water in Ohio.
As always, great recommendations. I put several things on my wish list. Thanks, Susan. Have a wonderful time skiing. My sister, my bro-in-law and their youngest (my niece) going skiing next week for a nice long weekend with friends.
Will be a lot of fun for them. My skiing days are long over.
Thanks for your recommendations. I bought that Travelon bag after you recomendation and have used it many times and loaned it to friends. It holds SO much.
Thanks Susan, I used the link to buy dragon for my grandson. He loves dragons lately. Hopefully my stepson will help him build it.
Oh, my – Just purchased those fire blankets and feel good knowing one is hanging in my pantry, ready to go it I need it. Love Travelon – have the one you showed and a black one, too. Feel super confident traveling with them – even ordered a small one that just holds phone, credit cards and a lipstick for when I don’t need a lot. Glad your humidifier is helping you – we did the whole house steam unit recently and LOVE it. Really feel the difference! Have a great February!
A word of caution on the fire blankets: my husband’s best friend is our fire chief. He does not recommend those blankets as you have to dig them out of a cabinet and then return close enough to the fire to use it. First priority is to get away from the fire. We’re about to do a kitchen remodel and he recommends we mount a fire extinguisher on the garage wall next to the door coming into the kitchen. We could pick up the extinguisher on our way out the door and still be close enough to spray the stove with the extinguisher. Just something to think about.
Yeah, I would only use a fire blanket if it were a small stove-top fire, like a pan fire. You have to use common sense and realize when a fire blanket is not going to be enough. I have mine stored in a cabinet that I go in constantly (so I’ll remember its there) that’s on the other side of the kitchen away from the stove. It doesn’t take up a lot of room, so I don’t mind storing it there.
The thing I don’t like about fire extinguishers is they don’t last and you have to remember to keep rebuying/replacing them. I found 3 in the house in Ohio when I moved in, and they were all showing dead/empty. Fortunately, I found a place in a nearby city (Centerville) that would take them for recycling since no one would take them in the city where I live in Ohio.
When I got back to Georgia, I pulled out the two fire extinguishers I have here and they were both expired/empty, as well. I can’t find anyone here who will take them, so I’m going to take them with me in my SUV when I head back to Ohio so I can recycle them there. I was surprised to see they were no longer any good, but I have had them for quite a while. I wonder how long they are designed to last. I guess I should buy a couple more.
The other thing about fire extinguishers is I do not like how they look so I was forever moving the two I had in Georgia around from closet to closet since they were always in the way. Honestly, if a fire had happened, I wouldn’t have had any idea where they were. That’s a great idea to mount it on the wall in the garage. I like that idea, especially since the garage is right off the kitchen in both the Georgia and Ohio house.
Thanks for that info about where to mount them, Heather! I really hate to mess up my newly painted garage walls, and I hate having to look at a fire extinguisher every time I enter/exit my home, but I guess it’s a good idea for safety reasons.
I know what you mean about dead fire extinguishers. Evidently there is a kind you can recharge, so that’s what we’ll be getting. Will just have to make a note of the recharge.
You might like to know Eric Ross has a second book scheduled to be released April 15th: “Embracing Southern Homes”. It’s available on his website and Amazon. I have a rather large collection of home interior books and his first one, “Enduring Southern Homes” has long been my favorite. I just wish I didn’t have to wait so long for this next one!