Hi all,
As I manage this season of my life wherein I have a toddler, 3 older kids and a big day job, I’m not, ahem, doing much posting on the blog. This won’t, I hope, be an “always” kind of thing as I love Penelope Loves Lists more than ever. But, I have benefited from taking a break while I pay attention to this other stuff and will continue to do so for a while.
In the interim, if you’ve stumbled across the website and want to get some Penelope goodness, here’s what I recommend:
1) Find out if you’re a Penelope by clicking here and finding more about the site.
2) If you are, or are just interested in what Penelopes obsess over, read some of the archived posts.
3) I do a MUCH better job of keeping up my Organization P*rn board on Pinterest. Follow me!
4) And I do a pretty good job of regularly posting to the Penelope Facebook page. Like me! (I love saying that in that commanding sort of way.)
Until I can get back to more regular posts, please do feel free to direct message me on Facebook – I love hearing from Penelopes.
Looking for the perfect book for your good friend? Or, a unique hostess gift for that holiday party you’re attending?
You can cross that item off your list because I’ve got the answer: Happier at Home: Kiss More, Jump More, Abandon a Project, Read Samuel Johnson, and My Other Experiments in the Practice of Everyday Life by Gretchen Rubin.
You all know how much I loved her first book, the break out hit “The Happiness Project”. I was totally surprised, then, when I liked her new book even more. That so rarely happens, right?
But I did. I think that’s because her books, and Happier at Home especially, are so darn applicable. They’re chock full of things you can do now to improve your home or mood in minutes. Every time I’d read a chapter, I’d walk away thinking “why didn’t I think of that?” or “I’m going to try that.”
And how I love Gretchen’s writing style. She’s so approachable. Nothing preachy here. Just an account of different strategies she’s tried to improve her level of happiness. She’s someone I feel I know and a total Penelope. When I read her books or her blog, I like to imagine if we met in person we might be friends.
So, there you go: my one gift recommendation for the women in your life who you adore this holiday season. I promise it’ll make them happy.
And, because I know you want to WIN A COPY FOR YOURSELF, Gretchen has graciously offered not one, but TWO copies to the winning Penelopes.
Just comment below with “I love Gretchen Rubin!” and you’ll be entered to win. I’ll select two random winners by Thursday, December 6th at 4pm PST.
UPDATE: And the winners are...ShannonS and MB. I have emailed both the lucky people directly so I can get them their books. Thanks to everyone who entered. If you didn’t win, I still highly recommend you get the book. Totally worth the (small) price, and a great gift, too.
You know how you have both a practical side and a slightly ridiculous side? Isn’t it great when one product pleases both?
Like, when you find a great notebook with a gorgeous cover. Sure, the notebook helps you do your work. Practical. But that cover. It’s so pretty! Slightly ridiculous how much I care.
I’ve found a cleaning product that does both. Cue grateful tears.
I’ve been obsessed with Orla Kiely for a while (I have this notebook and it’s one of those that I love the cover as much as the usefulness inside) but I just discovered that she has designed some pretty Method cleaning products, too.
My favorite is this one. It’s Method’s All Purpose Spray in Pear Ginger.
See? The bottle? It’s so pretty! Why aren’t all cleaning products pretty? It makes me want to clean my counters.
But the best part is that the stuff inside both works well on several surfaces (you know, to do the job it’s intended to do) AND smells great – like Pear Ginger. It makes my new granite countertops (and even my ceramic cooktop) gleam and my kitchen feel fresh.
Bonus. Happy dance.
And yes, I just posted about a bottle of cleaning product. OMG. I’m so glad this blog enables my Penelope Geek Moments.
