Tuesday, August 7, 2012

Um, want to come to my party?

[We interrupt birthdaypalooza to bring you this previously written post having nothing to do with anybody's birthday.]

It all started with a necklace.

Do you ever have one of those days where you're poking around on the Internet, and you click, and click, and click, and the next thing you know you've agreed to host a party for 25 people in your home?  No?  Well, be careful, because it can happen faster than you realize.

Somehow I ended up on the Healthy Child Healthy World website.  I think my landing there had something to do with Dr. Harvey Karp being one of their founding members, because I tend to like his work.  And this was probably on one of the days when I was longing to get out of the house a bit more (click, click, click), and figured, you know (click, click, click), that they'd probably like to have me on their staff, what with all of my relevant experience and everything.  (ha!)

So, then I decide that I deserve a present to myself and buy a necklace, because, it's for charity after all (a portion of the proceeds go to this organization).  But really I just bought it because I liked it.  The necklace reads, "No One Can Do Everything, Everyone Can Do Something".  That's pretty obviously a slogan meant to motivate us all to change the world.  I, however, bought it as a comforting reminder relating to:  housework, clutter, and tidyness.  That's right, I took an inspiring ideology and boiled it down to a hope that maybe my kids can one day pick up a few more armfuls of the crap they drag all over the house.  It's also a reminder to me to chill out, recognize that this is the stage of life we're in, lower my standards, and be happier for it.

But enough about the necklace, because (click, click, click) suddenly I've signed up for a free party kit and agreed to invite everyone over to get some swag and watch a DVD about creating healthy environments for our children by protecting them from all sorts of icky chemicals that no one seemed to have to worry about back in the 70's and 80's.

That was weeks ago, I forgot about the whole thing, and then my party in a box arrived yesterday.

IMG_1804
{Yes, this is just a picture of a box in a messy room, but I'm including it because it accidentally captures Georgia red-handed in one of her current favorite pastimes: dragging Waylon all over the place.}
   
I haven't opened it yet because I have no time to host a party anytime soon.  Also, I have no idea if this will be fun or if the DVD is total fear-mongering.  But please do let me know if you'd like an invite!  Some of you Chicagoans are going to be on the evite whether you want to be or not.  I figure it's a good excuse to get together.  I'm not so good at remembering to get together lately, so perhaps this gimmick is just the kick in the pants I needed.  I apologize, friends.  I'm working my way up to, "Let's grab drinks," without accompanying propoganda.

4 comments:

Beth said...

I love it! And I think that the "Dirty Girl Run" should definitely be followed by a "Clean Home Party"!!

Frances said...

Wish I could go to your party!

Sarah said...

Oh my gosh you are so funny. I wish I could come to your party! That website does look convincing and I'm sure they could use you to further develop their party ideas. Pretty soon you'll have your own co-op, and after that your own business... OR... lobbying firm :)
I'm guessing your party goers will be educated conscientious adults - Maybe you could air drop your box onto the streets of Chicago, similar to political campaigns in war-torn countries. Or maybe the educated conscientious adults will be inspired to do more. The slogan on the necklace is so true (for global warming and domestic cleaning). Can't wait for my invite!

Emily said...

If I come to your party will you do the work to figure out (a) which cleaners I should buy, (b) which toys I should buy, and (c) which foods I should not buy? And maybe when I undertake my next home improvement project you could consult on just how much I'm endangering my health? Because I generally find this stuff so overwhelming that I try to pretend it doesn't exist and refuse to read the scary California-state-required-toxin-warnings on products from the hardware store.