If you, like me, are clutching at even tiny flickers of joy these days, may I recommend seasonal hand soaps? I know. But I have ordered Everspring’s Clove & Nutmeg, Black Pepper & Balsam, and Vanilla & Mulled Citrus; and, waiting for them to arrive, I have felt flickers of happy anticipation. I take those where I find them. I also ordered a bottle of Method Wild Meadow, because it is Limited Edition and has a cute bottle, and “Limited Edition” and “cute bottle” tick the same box as “Seasonal” for me. And because if we need one million hand soaps anyway, let them at least be INTERESTING TO TRY.
(image from Target.com)
And our grocery stores are still very low on hand soap, let alone fun ones. They had Arm & Hammer and the store brand, that’s it.
I went to the smaller, closer store option today, and they were also very low on vegetarian meat substitutes and they had no hand sanitizer. And no baking chocolate, which is making me a little nervous. But they seemed back to normal on flour, which was nice to see. I am buying ahead a bit for winter. Oh, and they had YEAST! Like, in jars! Also, they had a sign up saying they are allowing reusable bags again, so I will have to get back into that habit. I am so eager to be done with stupid disposable bags tipping and spilling and ripping, and digging their stupid handles into my hands.
Incidentally. Not to cause alarm. But it has been a month or so since my grocery store has had any paper towels—any at all. At first I was not very worried, because for a good number of months before THAT, my grocery store had had ABUNDANT paper towels, to the point that they were stacking them on shelves that used to have all the cleaning supplies that are still out of stock. There were so many, I almost felt I should buy some just as a favor to the store. But now the paper towel shelves have been full of packages of toilet paper for my last THREE trips to the store, and I am getting a little concerned. We have dramatically reduced our paper-towel usage, and dramatically increased our fabric washcloth usage, but I still use paper towels for (1) cleaning up cat barf, (2) cleaning toilets, and (3) anything I clean with bleach. I don’t know if they’ll still be in stock by the time you look, but last night Target had an 8-roll pack of Bounty in stock and available for shipping, so I ordered that along with the soaps.
My Target has not had a reliable stock of paper towels since…July? I noticed at Costco this week they had no paper towels, Kirkland brand or Bounty. It may actually be time to sound an alarm on those.
I feel you on the paper towels. I come from a generation — or maybe just my mom? — that we did not ever have paper towels in the house because they were a wasteful indulgence. Now, I am in love with the “select-a-size” towels and will not buy the regular sheets unless there is literally no other option. And I still feel guilty every time I reach for the paper towel.
As for soap, a few years ago I was in Vermont and discovered Lunaroma foaming hand soaps in a restaurant bathroom. The best smelling hand soaps EVER. I need to go order some online. And, speaking of looking for tiny flickers of joy, I invested in some “Flatiron” pepper flakes, billed as “You’ll Never Go Back To Generic Red Pepper Flakes!” As someone who sprinkles red pepper flakes on a lot of things, I’m looking forward to their arrival!
Things are taking so long to get here these days, it’s maybe even better than ever, because I forget that I ordered something, and then it shows up and I’m delighted that past me placed the order.
I could have written that first paragraph, except take out “wasteful indulgence” and sub in “unnecessary, a waste of trees, and bad for the environment”.
I don’t think I bought paper towels until I was introduced to them by a boyfriend when we moved in together during university.
And I LOVE the select-a-size option too so that I still don’t have to use more than I have to! And when I can’t get that kind I pretty much peel half a paper towel off the roll at a time.
I cannot find toilet cleaner anywhere. I assume the bleach is being used elsewhere, but it is making cleaning the bathroom a bit more challenging.
That is so funny! Out here (MA), that’s the only thing that has consistently been on the shelves- all other types of cleaners have been gone/sold out immediately for months.
This link just showed up in a group I am in. She is an alum of my college clearly putting her liberal arts education to good use sewing adorable and inspiring face masks.
I wish I knew more people in K-12 education so I could gift them the subject-appropriate since/nature masks.
https://www.etsy.com/shop/hobbygirlcrafts?fbclid=IwAR0o7eaiBZZjlMazYct09Z_nmX-gk0usIQ3Ufu_yML7RlgdJNAo0B3eQ1yY
**SCIENCE** I meant to show adorableness, but if this comes across as spammy, please quietly delete.
Yes! I have never bought seasonal hand soaps before, but last week I picked up some Halloween soaps from Bath & Body Works. They have many autumnal scents available, but the two that I liked best were “Purrfect Pumpkin” (pumpkin, cinnamon, vanilla – orange bottle with a black cat) and “Candy Corn Treats” (marshmallow, lavender, candycorn – black bottle with a witch on a broom). They appealed to me because they aren’t sPiCy autumnal scents, but sweet and with just a hint of fall. Also the bottles were more young-child friendly than, say, the “Vampire Blood” soap that was blood red with bats on it.
Normally I wouldn’t buy seasonal hand soaps because we don’t go through them fast enough to warrant it, but now that all four of us are home 24/7 we’re going through a lot more soap. And like you said… we have to squeeze joy out of every single opportunity.
We bought a huge number of these towels back in the spring when paper towels were first scarce.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01IG8X9E6/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
They work really well, super absorbent, durable and washable. It’s a good thing to have on hand until the paper towels return.
And ooooh! seasonal soaps!
I am really interested in ideas for little flickers of joy or cheerfulness. I spent $10 on three satisfyingly hefty glass suncatcher prisms from Amazon. I hung them in my sunniest windows, and the little scattered rainbows have been periodically boosting my spirits for a week or two now.
Anyone have more happy little ideas?
(Brand name was SINEHE if anyone else wants to check Amazon.)
Scattered rainbows are indeed heartening! I sort-of-recommend Kikkerland rainbow machines: it’s a solar powered set of gears that SPINS the crystal, thus making the rainbows dance around the room. Very charming. But suction cups never, ever work, so mine eventually broke from falling off the window too many times.
I’m so glad you mentioned the brand because I was on my way over here to ask!
This is SUCH a good idea! Adding to cart…
Same here on the paper towels (midwest). Target has had store brand paper towels the last couple of months and that’s it. So now I have a ton of toilet paper and I’m down to 3 rolls of paper towels.
Yes, seasonal hand soap!! I’ve been fretting for a few months because my favorite brand (Mrs Meyers) is out of stock of almost alllll scents I love (my favorite scents are typically not sold in stores such as Target, Home Depot & Lowe’s). Amazon does have some limited availability of my favorites but at a significant markup (one regular size bottle for $15). I was contemplating going to Bath & Body Works to investigate their seasonal offers and then, lo and behold, my most favorite seasonal scent (Apple Cider) appeared at Target! Yay!!
I’m staying with my grandma in a very small town in a remote part of the US and when I went to the store (after quarantining and Covid testing) there were Clorox AND Lysol wipes on the shelves! I almost screamed but instead gasped loudly, looked around frantically (no idea why), and bought 2. JOY
Score!I I still haven’t laid eyes on any Lysol, and I have only seen wipes one time while visiting my sister in the mountains.
My husband delivers ice and while we are in a mid-sized town in Central Illinois, he delivers to many surrounding rural towns. His hot tip is to check Dollar General, esp in a more rural area. Not the dollar store, but the general stores which, ahem, are putting mom and pop real general stores out of business. They had tp when no one else did and now he found a 3-pack of Lysol spray.
I really love Bath and Body works soaps and I also love their candles. I have already bought a fall one and a Christmas one. I read an article the other day about preparing for winter in a pandemic. One of the things that stuck with me was Twinkle lights. It will be dark and depressing, and you will be home, so you should adorn your indoor space with twinkle lights. I have some curtain-style ones in my Amazon cart now.
Yes! I usually skip the Bath and Bodyworks small sales and only go for the big semiannual sales. Now I eagerly check my email for soap and candle deals. They do make me happy. My other way to test myself is fun patterned masks, since I’m a teacher currently teaching in person.
I love the twinkle lights idea! Going to try to find curtain-style ones that are the right size to hang in front of my fireplace. It’s a remarkably ugly fireplace and we never use it, so twinkle lights should cheer me up every time I walk by!
Last year I started buying seasonal dish soap scents. Since I am chief dish washer, it makes that job quite pleasant to have a fun scented dish soap to use. I use Mrs Meyers, and I actually use very much less soap with her formula. (Like 1/4 less.) I buy it at the hardware store.
Yes! Our hardware store also has Mrs Meyers! Thank you for reminding me!
I just got some of the Target Clove & Nutmeg and I love it — and I am not usually one for seasonal scents because they tend to be strong or cloying. This one smells kind of like the Thieves Oil blends, which might not be for everyone but is something I find very soothing. I actually just ordered a second bottle because – why not? Plus I am still scarred from difficulties buying soap, so it feels very reasonable to stock up just a bit now that I can.
I am HERE for this discussion. My Costco sells four-packs of these really pretty hand soaps, assorted scents. Typically they are available in the fall and I was worried that they wouldn’t be available THIS fall but what do you know? They have them and I have obtained them! Yay! Right now I have the most amazing Meyer Lemon scent in my kitchen.
We have been buying paper towels and toilet paper directly from Georgia pacific online. You buy a case at a time but it is making me feel less anxious about my supplies.
I too love seasonal hand soaps and candles. They’re bringing me joy right now. Based on things you’ve shared I’m making the assumption that we do not live in the same geographic area (although since I don’t actually know where you live, I could be completely wrong….) Anyhoo, were I live (central KY) there also seems to be a sudden lack of paper towels. Because my husband is “worst case scenario man” He’d purchased a couple of huge packs at Costco a few months ago, so we’re fine but it’s weird to now see a lack of paper towels.
I love your posts about what’s at the grocery store. I can say that around here, I am having real trouble finding canned pumpkin. I use it this time of year in all kinds of things so like to keep it. I had to go to three stores last week to find some. I am normally very loyal to Libby’s brand and won’t consider anything else. However, in a pandemic I’m willing to be less picky. However, even generic store brand canned pumpkin is not there! For those of you that only use it on Thanksgiving, I’d suggest looking now and grabbing it if you see it.
I also live in central Kentucky and concur about the apparent paper towel shortage in stores. I ordered some from Target last night.
On the topic of pandemic grocery/comestibles shopping, but only tangentially related: why will Target or Amazon not ship the quart sized packets of powdered drink mix? Why will it ship the individual sized pouches or “water enhancement” flavorings, but not a container of 6 quart sized packets? Is this a secret ingredient in meth or something that I did not know about?
TL; DR: I forgot to get drink mix at Kroger the other day and now no one will ship it to me.
I can’t tell if we are, like, so easy to please! Even a scented soap can make our day better! or if, instead, life is so grim that these small pleasures are all we can expect. Sigh.
My favorite hand soap is from Ulta and it’s called Blue Agave and it’s buy one get one half off right now. They also have MANY appealing scents, including Rosemary Mint and Pink Grapefruit. Not seasonal, but lovely and they DO help. Especially since we are all washing our hands a million times a day.
I find it very disheartening that the supply chain issues that seem to have resolved themselves can just… fall right apart again. WHO KNOWS WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE AT ANY GIVEN TIME?! NOT ME! AUGH! Anyhoo. I just ran out of paper towels this week and was also surprised to find hardly any at the store, and 99% store brand. I thought it was a fluke; am now regretting not buying the only 18-roll pack of the type I like.
I was JUST thinking about pumpkin this week as well; will be sure to stock up as I see it in the coming weeks! I also love fall baking w/pumpkin (BEST EVER pumpkin ginger spice cookies, don’t really taste like pumpkin, just like the most amazing ginger snaps except soft and pillowy instead: https://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/pumpkin-gingersnap-cookies/ )
I’ve noticed air fresheners have disappeared from our stores. I don’t buy them often but there is a Febreeze Air scent I really like and its usually available in the fall. But even the usual glade sprays aren’t on the shelves.
We’ve had the same issues with paper towel availability. The same thing with rice a roni. Some weeks the rice shelf area will be fully stocked with all the varieties of rice a roni. But then it’s like the store waits until even the least desirable flavors are low before they order/stock back up. My ASD kid eats only a few foods, one of which is the Rice a Roni Rice Pilaf. We had a bad scare back in May where we were driving to several stores to snatch up the only box on the shelf. So when stock started to improve, I started buying several boxes whether we truly needed it or not. So far, knock on wood, we have been able to keep ahead of the feast/famine Rice a Roni cycle at our local stores.
Also, I noticed on the last 3 grocery trips to the big store that there were many, many cartons of chicken broth not in their usual place. I realized they were very low on all the ramen noodles and were using the cartons to fill in space. I live in a college town so maybe the store was low because college kids were buying all the cheap ramen.
Your seasonal soaps are my scented/pretty candles! In the last 5 days I’ve ordered an expensive ‘FIr’ candle (it’s eucalypus, pine and cedar’ from a luxury store here in the UK. Only in the tiniest size because I can’t legitimately spend half a weeks grocery bill on wax, but still. And then! I googled ‘pick and mix dinner candles’ and found a Buddhist supply store on the other side of the country, and picked out 6 pairs of different colour dinner candles including orange and black for Halloween, pale pink to match my living room and various other colours just because they look fun. You’ve got to find joy in the small things right now!
I always have pumpkin on hand to make my family’s favourite muffins:
(I was asked for the recipe so many times I posted it here: https://tastykitchen.com/recipes/breads/pumpkin-chocolate-chip-muffins-egg-free-option/)
The only hand soap I’ve found that doesn’t dry out our hands is Method foaming brand (not the gel-ish normal liquid soap kind, which is harder to rinse off and so the extra rinsing has an extra skin-drying effect), so I generally buy refills of the orange and the grapefruit scents, but I have been known to get seasonal ones at Christmas for the powder room downstairs because they’re pretty.
I made these muffins, they turned out great and my kids loved them, thanks!
Hand soap junkie here 🙋♀️ I just ordered and tried Gelo Foaming Soap pods – LOVE them! The scents are amazing and my kids loved dropping the pods into the bottles of water (I let them each pick a scent to try). I had saved some Dial foaming soap bottles so we just used those instead of buying Gelo’s.
I follow another person who suggests that instead of decor that needs to be stored that we buy seasonal consumables – like hand soap, among other things. I have been mulling on that for the past week and this post will probably tip me over into buying some seasonal soap. I just need to find something that isn’t too strong.
I haven’t noticed a shortage of paper towels here’ but then, I haven’t needed any. I almost wish they would disappear long enough to break The Husband’s indiscriminate use of them. I really use them to clean the toilet and a few other gross jobs; he, on the other hand, uses them for EVERYTHING. He makes me crazy.