library heaven?

“I have always imagined that Paradise will be a kind of library.” 

Jorge Luis Borges

inspiration: dishes

One day, I want to have a large, wooden, farmhouse-style table.  A table that gathers friends and family.  On that table, go dishes, centerpieces, serving dishes, glasses of wine, sweet tea, and the delicious food.

When it comes to the dishes, I have fallen head over heels for mismatched china.  It's crazy.  I love it.

So, some inspiration photos!  I started my collection this weekend with a single dessert/salad plate and I could use a little inspiration to keep the vision in mind. 

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washing pillows

I'll tell you a secret about me: I absolutley HATE changing the sheets.  I don't know why, I just don't like it.  I love the feel of clean sheets.  I like to have clean sheets.  I even suck it up and change them (when hubby will help me) without too much fuss.  But I really don't like it.  And I really don't know why.

So, the first time someone mentioned cleaning their pillows to me, I thought, "Why on earth would I want to spend MORE time cleaning bed-related things?"

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While thinking about pillow-related topics and how I probably wasn't being a good wife by not cleaning our bed pillows enough, I decided to do some internet research and found a couple of blog posts about washing/cleaning pillows.

This one suggests washing, then either hanging to dry or drying in the dryer on hot.  Sounds easy and wonderful, except that we live in an apartment building with less-than-stellar dryers.  It would take two dryer cycles to get them dry.  However, it's probably the best post on cleaning pillows that I've found so far!

Good Housekeeping says we should throw them in the washer if they start to smell. Ew. Smelly pillows.  Gross.  They also have ideas for cleaning foam pillows and feather pillows.

Of course, Martha always has the answer.  Apparently, I should be doing LOTS more with my pillows.  Dryer cycle once a month...wash them often... But, to be fair, I'm not nearly as concerned with pillows that sit perfectly fluffed on my bed as most people.  Perfectly fluffed pillows are not one of my top priorities in life.

Jillee over at One Good Thing managed to get the yellow off of her pillows, but I think if I just add a little extra Borax to my homemade laundry soap, it should take care of it.  Especially with newer pillows.  I'm not much of a bleach girl anymore.

This post on SleepBetter.org says we should throw out pillows after 18 months, but that seems like a very short amount of time.  Surely, if I'm better about cleaning them, I don't need to throw them out that soon.  However, that does mean I have to be better about cleaning.  Have you seen this infographic they did?  Color me disgusted. 

We've had our pillows for...a while.  After I told him about all these things, hubby volunteered to go to Target and get us new pillows.  I think I may have worried him with all the dirty pillow talk (hah!).  We can start over with these pillows and try regular washing.  Oh happy day?

Does anyone out there wash their pillows on a regular basis?  Am I the only one that didn't know I was supposed to wash them THAT often?

you learn

"Experience: that most brutal of teachers. But you learn, my God do you learn."

C. S. Lewis

Happy Fourth!

We'll be spending the day with a few of the presidents watching some baseball! 

Happy Fourth of July!