My all time favorites are kai (ONLY the lotion or oil, the EdP loses a GREAT deal of the charm) for summer and Jalaine's Patchouli for winter. I qualify for perfumista, as I could also give you my top thirty, and own about 150. I will SO be trying Spring Fever today. Any perfume that inspires such loyality is a big gap in my sniffing hobby! A quick search on my perfume forum Note- Artemesia, mandarin, apple, watermelon, marigold, linden blossom, cypress The quick thing I find you might like also, is a travel exclusive from Estee Lauder called Emerald Dream. Top Notes * Tangerine, Apricot, Honeysuckle, Blue Basil. Middle Notes * Mediterranean Mimosa, Violet, Blue Florentine Iris, Emerald Orchid, Plum, Marigold, Cyclamen. Base Notes * Beach Skin Accord, Blue Cypresswood, Sandalwood, Hawaiian Kamani Wood. I've never smelled either one of them, but I know blue basil won't give you quite the aromatic bite of artemsia, and the apricot/cyclamen won't give quite the wet fruit appeal of apple and watermelon. The violet/iris is going to give some powder but who knows to what extent. Notes like "Beach skin accord" probably means a clean, salty musk. The mimosa is what might get you--similiar in feel to linden, a green floral note of spring. And of course the wood heavy base. Overall, I'd guess a bit more of an attempt at 'Early Summer Fever'? If you ever get a chance, try Mimosa pour Moi by L'Artisan. It's spring in a bottle to me--but not wet or woody. The base is vanilla musk.

She ended up with the perfect parents for her after all! her story is inspiring! Amazing girl! See if there are any volunteering opportunities that might work with her physical limitations by looking online at volunteer match. Maybe answering phones or sitting at a receptionist desk for an organization could work. Joining a book club or how about taking her to bingo? Churches might have some young adult activities. Many have websites now so you can check on those. I'm not really sure, but hospitals seem to have volunteers running the visitor desk. She might like that atmosphere since her dream was to be an MD. Not sure if being there would be risky health-wise? Micheals offers craft , cake decorating and sewing classes.

MamaP it is so nice to hear how your family celebrated you. I love the cards in many different places. May this year be happy, healthy and worry free for you.

Waking up to laundry talk is the best way to start the day;) Mamapinky, I do add the ammonia to the LFS dispenser. I read a great thread on here that involved you, I believe, several others, and also a person in dry cleaning. That post and the one about Lysol Laundry Sanitizer (tried once and done) are what sent me into a happy laundry tailspin:) For some reason I came away with the idea that ammonia strips out some of the oils, etc., and likely thought that meant also stripping out the gunk, for lack of a better word, that liquid detergents leave behind. This was before I leaned about powder detergent, which I've now ordered. Also, I was thinking that using ammonia as the last product in my wash cycle is helping keep my s****y FL washer clean/mold free. I have also tried running a short cycle, adding maybe a 1/2 c. or less ammonia only (in the detergent tray) and then doing a regular or sanitary cycle with a small amount of liquid det. on certain items. Ammonia on the front end to lift any oils so the detergent may do its job a bit better. I know the stuff to never mix together - chlorine bleach & ammonia, obviously - but have likely gone a bit wild on the ammonia b/c it's the first product that has left all of my laundry smelling truly clean. Towels stay fresh much longer instead of starting to get that "smell" after using once or twice. I'd love to know what to change. So, my main objectives are: 1. Truly clean laundry (not masked by scents, although I love a light fresh scent - the kind you used to be able to find - not the ones available now that remind me of what they've done to poor Oreos, if that makes sense;) 2. A FL washer that stays clean and does not contribute to bad laundry smells. I will always maintain it - wiping rubber gasket in all the nooks, taking out dispenser to dry at the end of the day, leaving door open/wiping down/cleaning filter every month, etc., but want to make sure the products I use aren't fighting that endeavor. Our family does not mind if clothes are a little "crisp," and we prefer towels and sheets that way. I only used Bounce sheets over the summer, and it was an effort to make stuff smell a bit better. I'm now shoving the leftovers in my son's smelly cleats;) All that to say, I don't need to add LFS to my routine. So, I was thinking I'd start a new routine with powdered detergent (this first foray will be with Cheer HE) along with the correct amount of STPP. From what I've learned, here, this will work toward keeping my FL clean, and it sounds like powder is preferable to liquid for a variety of reasons. Keep using the ammonia, but in the correct way - I look forward to hearing what that is. I know I'm WAY too ammonia-happy right now! Try the Oxydol mentioned in this thread (has Biz in it and some enzymes, I think) for what whites I do have and also try sodium percarbonate and ammonia with it if not overkill, or try the latter two products with the Cheer. I don't want those baseball pants too white...no one on the team likes a try-hard, ha ha. Dawn/hydro. peroxide or Fels Naptha pre-treating works great for me on grass stains and clay/dirt. I think I'm done with chlorine bleach for whites. Again, I have few whites to speak of, and strongly discourage my son and husband from purchasing white clothing. I'm still recovering from my red-piped white baseball pants fiasco of 2016;) I will run a "clean" cycle with bleach as needed, but just don't need it otherwise at this point. On another note, I have tried many natural methods. Essential oils, vinegar, grapefruit seed oil, and more. None worked for me the way ammonia did (which is also natural;) I know people love white vinegar, and I keep it on hand, but I've never had the kind of success with it that others seems to have. Thank you, Mamapinky and all on here. I look forward to being helpful to others the way you all have helped me! -Vas