I have been to a total of four blog conferences.

Twice I went to GleekRetreat; a small local conference where I met some of my closest bloggy friends. I went to the first ever Midwest Moms Media event, another small conference where I connected with other bloggers in this geographic region. One was BlissDom, where I spent the majority of the time confused about how best to form these amazing blog friendships I hear so much about while there were 750 people running around the Nashville Bio Dome {aka the Opryland Hotel} hugging each other.

I have nothing against big conferences. In fact, later this year I am attending BlogHer; the behemoth, gigantic conference in the blogging world. I expect to meet some people in real life that I only know online already, but I don’t expect to meet anyone new. It’s just too overwhelming.

The environment for connecting with other people, for me, is small and local. When (in)Courage announced that they were having a ‘virtual’ conference; with video content provided for small groups all across the country I was smart enough to know the best of both worlds when I see it.  I am proud to be a local hostess for the (in)RL where I hope to spend a day with other local bloggers while learning from and being inspired by being part of a worldwide blog conference.

We have room for 25 people.  Would you like to join us on April 28 at 1:00?  We’ll be at the Factory, and you can sign up here.  It’s only $10!  No hotel fees.  No driving for hours or spending hundreds on airlines.  No worrying about getting a sponsor.  Just you. And 24 other people, learning and being inspired.  And then hitting the fabulous town of Grand Rapids when the conference is over, if you choose!

Once you have signed up, check out the local meetup page and RSVP so I know you’re coming.  I would love to see you – In (Real Life)!  Not in Grand Rapids? You can look for another meet up closer to you – and host one if there isn’t one scheduled yet

My Six Year Old: Mom. Gross.  No one wants to see our compost.

Me: Dude. YOU ARE SIX.

Sorry to all of you, assuming she is right.  There is nothing special about our compost, except for two things.

1. I finally gave up on my paperwhite bulbs, that I dutifully planted at Thanksgiving and they still haven’t bloomed.  RIP, paperwhites that never were.
2. There are cleaning wipes in my compost.

I use a lot of cleaning wipes.  I compost. I have an affinity for Clorox.  You would think that these truths would have intersected before, but you would be wrong.  I had absolutely no idea that Clorox Green Works Natural Cleaning Wipes were compostable.

Now what an irony! I compost; but I don’t use ‘green’ cleaners.  Also, I love wipes.  The truth is that I secretly don’t trust home made cleaning mixes {I’m sure yours work brilliantly.  I have issues.  I own that.}.  And I actually clean more when I have wipes instead of a spray bottle and a cloth.  I don’t want to throw the cloth I wiped up raw chicken juice with in the laundry, so I keep it in a plastic bag until I wash it.  There is nothing environmental, or efficient, (or sane) about that.

No; I have to use cleaning wipes for some things or my house stays dirty.  At least I have a fighting chance if  cleaning is fairly easy.  To learn that Green Works wipes are biodegradable? And they actually work? Very exciting!

I actually didn’t even notice at first.  But there it is, right there.  “Compostable”.

Maybe this should be in really, really large font for people like me.  Or maybe I just need to be more label-observant.  And give up on flowers that are never going to bloom earlier.  And stop putting rags in plastic bags.  But I wouldn’t even know who I was anymore. The retail price for a 30 count container is about $2.89.  The plastic container itself can be recycled.  They don’t actually contain bleach, but I try to ignore that part because they do actually work really well and if I think about it too hard, I’ll convince myself otherwise.

Greek Works Natural Cleaning Wipes Work For Me!

I received product samples to facilitate my review.  All opinions are my own.

The DTE Heritage Festival is this weekend at the Grand Rapids Public Museum from 9:00 to 4:00. Visitors will receive free general admission to the Museum to enjoy music, dance, crafts, displays and food representing various ethnic groups that call West Michigan home. The Planetarium will present Everybody’s Sky: Star Stories from Around the World at 11 am, Noon, and 1, 2 and 4 pm for free.

We’ve been to this several years in a row; check out our video from last year to get an idea of what you’ll see.   We usually have to dig ourselves out of 2 feet of snow to attend, so be thankful that we don’t this year!

There is a LOT of fun to be had this weekend for free! Since it’s so nice out maybe check out the programs at Blandford or Calvin this too.  I have a full listing of February fun!