Ukraine

Many of us are watching the war between Russia and Ukraine. If you are like me , you are horrified by what you are seeing on tv. And if you are also like me you feel helpless to do anything for the Ukrainian people who have lost everything. I pray for those people nightly but I still wonder what can this chubby, grey haired old gal do to help. I am inspired by the courage of the Ukrainian people ( regular everyday people) fighting for their freedom. The beer company that started making molotov cocktails, ordinary shopkeepers and citizens picking up AK- 47 rifles to fight and fathers dropping their families off in Poland and turning back around to fight for their country, They fight for their freedom against seemingly insurmountable odds. And by the grace of God they are holding on and they are showing all of us that freedom is worth fighting for,

As a graduate of Ursuline Academy in San Antonio - I learned the Ursuline sisters are working in Ukraine and Poland to help those still in Ukraine and those who are now refugees in Poland. I also know that money I have donated will go to those in need and not be wasted or used for anything else other than helping to feed, cloth and give medical services to these people who have lost everything. 

If you would like to help - go the Ursuline Sisters Central Province and donate. They would appreciate the financial help and I know the sisters would also appreciate your prayers. Donate at www.osucentral.org.

Operation Interdependence

It is that time of year again, Operation Interdependence. This is when we collect items for the troops. You can help. We have a box in each stores and our route drivers will bring in items. We send these goodie bags to our men and women of the military to remind them that the folks back home appreciate their service. It also gives these brave men and women a little bit of home wherever they are in the world.
Many of you wonder what to put in the box. Well I can give you a few ideas .

Beef Jerky or Slim Jim
Chapstick/ Carmex ( one thing I can't live without)
Crackers - cheese , peanut butter filled YUM !!!
Fast Food Condiments  ( you know how you get loads of these and couldn't possibly use them all -well the troops would love that ketchup , salsa , mayo and mustard) Please put these in baggies .
Deck of cards
Gum
Nuts / Seeds
Pens / Small Notebook - no pencils
Powder drink mix packages
Cookies /Chips
Tea bags
Tuna pouches
Hot chocolate Mix
Travel Size toothpaste , shampoo and conditioner,  any travel size personal products

But nothing that has alcohol in its ingredients ( so check that mouth wash )
Also no hemp, hemp seeds, or hemp oil ( Kashi and Kind bars contain this - so check the labels on your granola bars.)

I always try to find things that I would miss if I were somewhere else in the world. What would I want if I were in a desert or somewhere that didn't have stuff that we all just take for granted. And because I am a girl - I always try to remember they need some girlie stuff like flavored lip gloss. But nothing that smells too strong. ( no need for the enemy to smell our folks coming) Everything needs to be individually wrapped with either plastic or foil from the factory ( paper could be tampered with). And sadly, though many of us may want to bake for the troops - no homemade goods.

And for sure - include a note. Just a few word of thanks and encouragement . You will never know just how much that means to these folks away from home, family and friends.


So stop on by any of our stores and put some items ( and your notes) in the box. I already put some stuff in the box - and will be working on my notes tonight. We have done this for years and because of you - Cowboy Cleaners has been one of the biggest and best donors. We fill 6 boxes every year. So let's you and I try to make it 7 this year.

Christmas, New year and other random thoughts

Does anyone else wonder where exactly 2016 went? I find it hard to believe it is already Christmas. It seems as though I just got used to using 2016 and now I will spend another six months trying to remember to write 17 on everything.

So I have finally purchased and made my last Christmas gift. Spent the night wrapping those gifts and came to  two conclusions - sitting on the floor wrapping hurts my knees ( and not just while I'm wrapping but for days) and don't look at what you thought was the perfect gift and wonder what you were thinking.

I hope each and everyone one of you have a wonderful Christmas. Did you know the first night of Hanukkah is Christmas Eve this year. After this year when we have seen much anger and violence in this world - I believe this is God's way of letting us know - we are all his children. His way of saying 'hang in there things will better for all you."  I believe God loves us all and if you look for simple thing in your life - your husband's hug , your child's smile or just a "have a nice day' from the stranger behind  the counter at a fast food place or local dry cleaners " then we will all have a better year.

So from all of us at Cowboy Cleaners -  MERRY CHRISTMAS and may 2017 ( no matter how long it takes us to finally get used to using it on our checks) be a wonderful year full of love and kindness. May God bless each of you .

Election time

Well ..... it's that time again. Election time. Like most of you I have been watching the debates. I have to admit until this year I never considered the size of hands as an important election issue - but sadly aren't we  all now slyly looking at hands - yeah even the salesman who walks in your office???? And so if hands have a guy thing equivalent - what is the gal thing????

I don't know about you - but maybe we ought to have a lottery for President. Throw every one's name who meets the Constitutional requirements  for President in hat and then draw a name. So hey - your name gets drawn - tag you're it!!! Can that actually be any worse ???

But while the rest of the country was listening to all these debates - I was watching. Do you want a President with a wrinkled shirt??? Or badly pressed lapels??? Think not !!!! How about a stain on the tie??? And maybe it's just me - but I like the fact the Carley Fiorina wears skirts that skim nicely on her derriere and legs and doesn't wear a snug Kardashian skirt that one could not possibly sit down in or eat a bite of food.( we can fix that in our alterations department) Hillary wears a nice pant suit - did you notice the crease in the pants ???Well I did and it was nice and sharp. As was every crease in the guys pants. So do you think if you saw any of those guys up there with  a big old stain on their coat or tie that you would not notice ?? OF COURSE YOU WOULD!!!! Maybe it would be subtle - you might think to yourself "HMMM there's just something wrong with that guy or gal" but more than likely you would notice and say to yourself" Geez- if he or she can't even get their clothes to cleaners how can they run a country?" Who wants a President who looks like the last prune in the box??? NO ONE!!!!

So there ya have it - my election notes. And just a reminder to you - make sure you look presidential (maybe my lottery idea will come pass and you will need too.)While we say we judge people by their hearts and minds - let's be honest - we do judge on other less noble things. So make sure your pants are creased, your lapels are rolled, shirts not wrinkled, no clothes too tight and no stains waving a big hello to folks. And if you look presidential - then heck the only thing you will have to worry about is your hands ( or feet or as Donald Trump said  your whatever coming out your wherever ).Oh come on - no one really believes that stuff anyway - RIGHT??Just in case keep your hands in your pockets ( and if you need those repaired - yep I can do that too!)

I'm Dreaming of a ........

Yes, it is Christmas time again. Living in South Texas "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" is serious dreaming. I've been doing it for ( a woman never tells her age) so let's just say quite some time. But it's time for all the Hallmark movies ( watching 'em every night much to my Hubie and sons dismay), songs, candy canes and pumpkin everything ( pies, cookies, coffee and whatever else someone thinks can handle a dash of pumpkin). So while you are humming along with Nat King Cole rushing through the store and totally freaking out what to give that dang near impossible person on your list - take one moment to remember it Christmas and really all you need is family and friends .The best memories you have ( really we all have them) are not of the perfect Hallmark Christmas or a Norman Rockwell Christmas. Or for my Jewish friends a perfect Hanukkah /Chanukah ( and why is that spelled differently for the same holiday - feel free to let me know ). The best memories are of the imperfect Christmas - yes you know what I mean the year all the pies turned into charcoal or your sister decided to dye her hair blond and it was Bozo orange or the dog knocked over the Christmas tree and after the initial screaming and tears - everyone ended up laughing - well those are the best memories. So all I'm saying is yep we all want the perfect Christmas but the best ones and the ones we really remember are the Christmas' that went awry.

So here's some things to keep in mind while shopping this year for gifts and for the perfect outfit for all those Christmas parties ( you know the ones where the ugly Rudolph sweater just won't work). First when buying clothes - READ THE CARE LABEL!!!!!!!( and yes I did mean to YELL. Don't but anything thing that says Do not wash Do not Dry Clean Spot Clean Only - what does that mean??? It means throw it away after wearing because you can't spot clean only. If you want to see Grandma ( after she got runned over by the reindeer) wearing your gift for more than one year - buy one that she can actually clean .So READ THE CARE LABEL !!!!!!

COWS DON"T COME IN PURPLE !!!! ( or blue, red , black, white or any color other than skin color - yucky but true). So as you look at leather - remember all leather is dyed and after cleaning will need to be re-dyed because ........cows don't come in purple. Also all leather is not cow . What???? yep, some leathers are pig skin ( yeah yeah just like the footballs). So how do you know cow or pig and should you care? You can tell pig skin because you can see the pores on the skin . Should you care ? Well yes and no . Pig skin is a tougher skin , doesn't dye as well and tends to have more imperfections. After cleaning , a pig skin tends to show those imperfections even more . Sometimes the manufacturer will fill in the scars and after cleaning you will see those scars.I know we all think well heck if a cow can stand in the rain and run through fences it must be tough and can take a licking and keep on ticking - NO !!! Skin dries out ( ask any lady why she puts cream all over her face) and needs to be re-oiled to avoid cracking. Skin is not the same thickness all over your body and guess what - yep neither is a cows . So if a garment is made from the same animal or maybe even from numerous animals the skin will be different thickness. Plus let's face it how many times did you scrape your knees when you were a kid??? Well you can darn bet ya - the cow did too! So the skin will have scars - just like yours. And if you are thinking you want fur - some things go for fur. Animals will have scars and you need to re-oil the skin to keep from splitting the skin. Great stuff leather - but must be properly cared for to keep for years. So even though the cow or rabbit was out in the rain - they were wearing live skin and not tanned skin. Now you are thinking - maybe I will just buy faux. Ok by me . But when buying faux  leather or fur - what should you do ? Did you say - READ THE CARE LABEL ? If you did - a candy cane for you !!! If the faux leather says do not wash do not dry clean wipe with a damp cloth - you are wearing a tire !!! Come on that is plastic junk - get something you can actually clean .( and I don't mean hanging it off your fence and spraying it down with your garden hose ).

So let's say this is the year - you decided to be ambitious and make your Christmas gifts . If you are making clothes or stockings or a tree skirt - ask about the materials . At the end of each bolt of fabric are.......wait for it ...THE CARE LABELS. So do not mix a dry clean only fabric with a washable or do not dry clean fabric. Make sure whatever you make will last for years. FELT is not your friend .... don't spend the time making a beautiful tree skirt or stocking and using felt - it pills and falls apart and cannot be cleaned. If you are going to put a lot of work and love ( and in my case blood from all times I stick my fingers with the needle) make sure it will last forever and can be cleaned.

SO GO..... hit the mall armed with knowledge, You can hum Nat King Cole and feel good that as a saavy care label reader -you will buy a gift that will last forever.

Have a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. If you are with family and friends - well the burnt pies, Bozo hair and dog trashed tree just do not really matter. As for me , I will be thankful for the people I love and will remember the ones who I have lost. It is hard not to be some what sad to know it is another Christmas without my Dad. I use to make oatmeal- raisin cookies for him each year and I still make them but it's not the same. My dad use to love to put candy canes on the Christmas tree - so as I hang them each year I think of him. ( someday maybe I'll tell ya the dad and candy cane story - this one is goes in the burnt pie and dog trashed tree category). But I wish you all a wonderful holiday - enjoy - eat ,drink and be merry. May God bless you and may God keep you and your family.

The Little Things

Today I had a great lesson in the little things that really matter. And as you guessed at some point I will make this cleaning related - just not yet.

I received two emails that I need to share with you - but due to security for these folks ( gosh this sounds a lot like Hillary's emails) I won't share the names of the writers .But since many of you helped us make Operation Interdependence such a success - you should know this ( and give yourselves a huge pat on the back or grab the person next to you and tell them I said to hug you) If you don't know or don't remember this was when we collected small food items and toiletries for the troops. I know this is probably the one of my favorite things to do. Of course the biggest problem we have is finding great stuff that will fit in baggie. I always try to find things for the ladies in the military. The way I see it - the government always puts things out to bid and the lowest bidder wins. Can you imagine the shampoo or soap that won that bid???? Does bad hair day everyday come to mind? So I try and find some nice travel size shampoos and conditioners. Then I guess maybe since my daughter is studying Public Health and I have heard more disease horror stories - anti bacterial hand gel is always top on my list . Goodness knows where these folks are located and what icky bacteria or viruses are there. But this year I found mini ( cause you know how big they are - since they are always at the gas station register) Slim Jim's - does that say home or what??? But I know many of you -had just as much fun as I did picking things for the troops. I saw cookies, toothpaste, soap and Twinkies (which we all know will last for centuries LOL). And this year we included and asked you to include notes to the troops So here is what you need to know

"My team received your care packages, They are a real morale booster. My guys loved going through them and trading items. They were just like kids. We put the notes up on our wall ."

and then the second email came

"The 4ESC received a few boxes of goodie bags today and I have to say , it was quite a treat! Things like that are exactly what reminds us of home,our families and our supporters:) ....I would just like to to say thank you for the treats and most importantly, your support.

So will you ever look at a Twinkies quite the same?  I would like to thank all of you for helping us make this collection such a success, And next year we will partner once again with KTSA radio and collect items for the troops. But this time I think we all will look at those items we donate and realize that sometimes the little things we do really mean a lot.

Alright - this is the cleaners blogs after all so I am sure you are asking - what could she possibly find to relate to little things. Just this - many of you have items of clothing or household items that have special meaning. It might be a quilt your grandmother made by hand, a wedding dress , your child's first teddy bear. Many times we just put them away and don't give them much thought. But , make sure before you put them away they are clean - bugs love to eat old stains. Put them in a box to keep out the air. And I know they are disgusting ( but there is a reason they have been around so long) moth balls will keep out the pesky bugs. Also to avoid fading make sure it is fully covered so no light can fade it. ( and this means all light not just sunlight) There is nothing as awful as finding your grandmothers quilt is now full of holes and faded. And yes, I am aware that it is just stuff - but I am a sentimental slob and that "stuff" means more to me than fancy new store bought items. My daughter has all of my dad's sweaters and every winter when she pulls them out to wear - you can damn betcha she thinks of her Grandpa .I have the flag that was draped over his coffin ( He was Air Force - Strategic Command and very proud of it), I put that flag in an air tight frame with special glass to avoid fading. So remember these are the little things that really matter - take care of them and make sure that the next generation of your family can have them too. I promise you that your family will love them much more than a Picasso hidden in the attic ( not that I have one - so I may be off on that ) But they will appreciate the love those items have connected to them and treasure them, So just make sure those things are in the best condition and they will be there to pass on .

Thoughts for the end of 2014

Well, another year is coming to an end. Like most of you I wonder where the time has gone. Plus here we are wondering again what to give the guy or gal on our list that every year is challenge. ( a Cowboy Cleaners gift certificate is not a bad idea - I'm just saying) But we also look back at the year that was and what we can hope for or expect next year.

So ... some thoughts. This year we had no meat dresses or any other such nonsense. WHOO HOO!!! Does that mean we are all going to be thrilled with the 2015 "looks". Oh I think not. So for those of you wondering what does 2015 look like fashion wise well... here goes
1. Street wear - brightly colored, form fitting (UGH),sporty outfits featuring mix and match patterns, loud prints, big logos and provocative sayings.
2. Swinging 60's - miniskirts. thigh-high boots and shift dresses emphasizing op-art and retro-futuristic accents such as mohair and vinyl. Think Nancy Sinatra and "These Boots Are Made for Walking".
3.Knits - Head to toe Knits. Yep loose knit garments that drape all the way to the floor..
4. Fur - real and faux !! This year over sized and multi-colored patchworks of alpaca,shearling fox and astrkhan. Plus bright faux furs.

So when you go out looking for new clothes - that is what you expect to see a lot of this year. And the official 2015 Pantone color of the year is .........Marsala!!!! Leatrice Eisman, executive Director of Pantone Color Institute says" This earthy red has wine and a very warm brown underneath, which gives the feeling of groundedness,strength and confidence,It has a richness that lends sophistication. When you wear it it is a self-fulfilling prophecy - you'll find you get positive reactions from others and it builds up your confidence" All that from a color - heck Chicken Marsala is pretty good to eat so who knows maybe you can get that all from a color. But expect to see Marsala everywhere - clothes, shoes , lipstick and paint colors.I may go for the clothes,shoes and lipstick but I'm going to stop at repainting the living room

Maybe as we get older and start to contemplate our mortality we start to wonder where we are on the old life expectancy chart. I kinda avoid those charts mainly because I figure they don't include the random hit by a bus or rolling off a cliff - both of which I am trying to avoid.My theory is when it's my time then it's my time - I just don't want to be on a plane with someone else whose time it is and go with them like collateral damage. So let's get off our own mortality and discuss the mortality of your household stuff. Don't you love it when I transition back to clothes and such? But for those who are wondering what to get folks for Christmas - this might actually help. Did you know your bedspread and comforters have a life expectancy of 6 years? So maybe if someones bedspread is over 6 years old - get them a new Marsala bedspread !!! Blankets have about 5 years except wool that can last up to 10 years. Curtains and drapery sheers have 3 years. Draperies about 5 years - if you are lucky you can switch out the drapes and bedspread for Marsala this year and 2019 get new ones in the Pantone color for that year. Sheets and pillowcases only will last about 2 years.But towels will last about 3 years. So look around the house boys - this may be the year to get the your gal some lovely new bedding etc. OK not as good idea as a nice Marsala gemstone ( diamond ,ruby or garnet) but surely much more useful.

So those are some thoughts from 2014.Here is a few for 2015 - maybe this year will be less tumultuous.  Maybe , and not to sound all Pollyanna , we could stop calling each other names and actually listen to one another. I hope we all realize that being polite is just way easier for everyone. A simple please and thank you could change some one's day. Thank God ( or whatever deity or lack thereof you believe in) for your family and friends because without them life would be dull, boring and just plain sad. Take a moment each day just to be grateful for your life, the people around you and (even though at time you may wonder if it isn't going to hell in a handbag) this country. If we all could just for a moment realize how greatly we have been blessed - then maybe 2015 will be a great year. Here is wishing you a happy, healthy, prosperous and blessed 2015.