When we went to Des Moines last summer for the state fair, we stayed with my friend Sally. We’ve visited her and stayed overnight many times since we all graduated from college (a few years ago), and I’ve learned a thing or two during those visits.
- First, I can expect Sally to cook something delicious, and I’ll ask her for the recipe. Which I’ll never use so the dish will forever remain something I only eat at Sally’s house.
- Second, Mark and Sally’s husband will crack inappropriate jokes in some contest to see who can make the wives roll their eyes more.
- Third, I will admire Sally’s Fiestaware and wonder for the umpteenth time why I didn’t register for those colorful dishes when we got married.
- And finally, I will search high and low for a box of Kleenex – and come up empty.
See, what I’ve learned in my young (and not-so-young) adult years of road trips, weekend visits and slumber parties is that we all have our own house quirks. I may have miles of things in common with my closest friends, but growing up in different families inevitably means we make our homes a little differently.
Case in point: Sally buys fancy toilet paper and paper towels, so she doesn’t have to bother with tissues or napkins.
So last summer, I was so proud of myself when I (finally) remembered to pack a box of Kleenex in my bag! The funny thing about that? (Other than the fact that I am so particular about my nose-blowing needs?) Sally actually remembered my “quirk” of needing Kleenex – and bought some before our visit!
If you don’t have chronic allergies or the tendency to burst into tears at a moment’s notice, you might not understand why I have so many tissue issues. (I know. It rhymes. I couldn’t stop myself.) But for those of you who have ever found yourself sitting in church after a big sneeze or a convicting sermon without a Kleenex, you know what I’m talking about.
For years, I’ve bought Kleenex tissues exclusively and have often said, “I should buy stock in this stuff.” So when I got an e-mail – from Kleenex! – offering to sponsor my trip to Blissdom this week, I was in shock.
Happy, happy shock. (And, I’m just saying, that if – in theory – that happy shock produced a few happy tears, you KNOW I grabbed a Kleenex to sop them up!)
Seriously, I am honored and proud to represent Kleenex at this year’s Blissdom Conference. I wasn’t surprised at all to learn that in a recent blind study, consumers voted Kleenex the softest tissue of all regular tissue brands. And as Kleenex says, that kind of softness is worth sharing!
That’s why Kleenex will be at Blissdom this week, handing out packages of Kleenex – and sending one to a friend or family member with a personalized note. It’s part of their Softness Worth Sharing campaign, and it’s just one way they’re bringing people together. They’re also putting a custom Share Package in each Blissdom bag with the Twitter handle of a fellow Blissdom attendee. So for all of you worried about now knowing anyone, Kleenex just might introduce you (via Twitter) to your first new friend!
Oh – and one more thing! Stop by the Kleenex booth (#15) to enter to win a luxurious gift basket filled with super soft goodies! They’ll even handle all the shipping to make sure it gets home safe and sound!
Now, I’ve got to stop gushing about Kleenex and finish (okay, START) packing! Note to self: Don’t forget phone charger, extra socks, curling iron, laptop cord and Kleenex!
Kleenex is sponsoring my registration, travel and lodging for Blissdom, but all opinions shared in this post are my own. (I really DO use that many Kleenex tissues!)
I love it Mary! What a wonderful sponsor… I so love, love, love Kleenex. I do not leave home without it! :) Have a wonderful time at Blissdom!
That’s funny… I’m the same way when it comes to my Kleenex’s. I have always been picky about which ones I use and I love the Kleenex brand…LOL. Have fun at Blissdom… I so wish I could have gone.
Wow! Kleenex is your sponsor made in heaven! I’m so honored to be (sort of) the subject of your post. My family, especially my little brother, thinks I’m crazy for not always having kleenex on hand (they have allergies, too). I guess it’s just depressing for me to spend a lot of money on paper products, and it seems like toilet paper can do the job just as well. Cory is not good at conserving, so if I do buy a large box of kleenex, he uses it in a week. And I actually do buy Kleenex and not generic because lots of times it’s the same price or cheaper per tissue than Target’s Up and Up brand.
Thanks for spinning my not so hospitable trait into an otherwise hospitable girl who is just a little weird about Kleenex. You didn’t even mention that the vent was closed in your room last time you stayed so you got really hot in the middle of our sweltering Iowa August night. I guess that’s what good writers do: spin things so we like reading them!
Wouldn’t that be awkward if it was a different Sally? :)
You are very hospitable. Just weird. :) (Although I can understand the frustration with someone who does not conserve, as Annalyn is going through tons of kleenex and wipes these days – as toys. Grr!)
Your post made me stop and count the number of open Kleenex boxes I have in my home and office. That would be 9! Just in our master suite I have one at my bedside, on my desk and on my vanity. Oh, wait – my car, too. Make that 10. Have a great time at Blissdom!
You have even more boxes of Kleenex than me! I say that means you’re prepared! :)
This is by far my favorite line in this whole post: “If you don’t have chronic allergies or the tendency to burst into tears at a moment’s notice, you might not understand why I have so many tissue issues.” And not just because of the rhyme, actually, although that was definitely part of it. :)
Sally is funny about her tissues and napkins, isn’t she? But I thought that was awfully like her to remember them for you that time. :) But not ironic. Just coincidental. I think. :)
Something else that I often find when I travel is that several people just don’t have ice because they drink tap water without ice. So wrong…
Kleenex IS a perfect sponsor for you. I would definitely take it as a sign that I was meant to be at that conference! ;)
Well, I drink tap water without ice, but Mark doesn’t. So we almost always have ice (even though our ice maker broke)! Mmmm…tap water without ice….
We have Kleenex boxes in almost every room in our house and each car. I must say I’ve spoiled our noses by only buying tissues with the lotion in them. Every think else seems rough! My mother has no tissues in her house and I’ve taken my own there. I loved this post and certainly relate to it. Have a great time at Blissdom
Thanks, Lynnet!