Now that quarantine rules have relaxed a bit, we've been going out a little more. I finally got to go grocery shopping again, and it almost felt like a vacation. Mom says it's because I'm a textbook extrovert.

The slightly-relaxed rules have given me a chance to test out the heap of different hand sanitizers Mom has collected lately (some people have a shoe problem, my mom has a hand sanitizer problem).

Not sure what sanitizer you want? Here are a couple of my favorites!

One of the biggest bottles in the bunch is a CHI brand sanitizer. The CHI was one of the first 'cool' sanitizers that was brought home, and I like it because it doesn't have an overpowering smell, like some of the generic ones. The best part about the CHI hand sanitizer- Mom picked it up right here in Waitsburg, at Blush Salon.

My Ama brought us liquid hand sanitizer from a place in Walla Walla, the 2nd Street Distilling Company. I'm pretty sure if any virus survives this sanitizer, it deserves to live. It's strong, and it means business. This hand sanitizer is watery, so we put it in spray bottles, and a spritz or two was all I needed. Mom laughs and says she hopes she doesn't get pulled over after using it because it smells like whiskey-whatever that means. The smell only lasts a couple of seconds, and your hands don't feel sticky or dried out after using it (plus it clears out your sinuses). Many stores in Walla Walla carry it, we've seen it at the Plaza Safeway.

Azure Mountain Botanicals in Dayton makes the best smelling sanitizer I've tried yet. It's scented with a Thieves-type essential oil blend. Did you know that the popular EO blend got its name from the Black Plague days? A group of thieves was robbing the sick and dying, but they never fell ill. The thieves lathered up in a secret blend of essential oils that supposedly helped keep them healthy. Shame on them for stealing from the sick, but the scented legacy they left is appreciated. The highly-recommended hand sanitizer can be found at the Blue Mountain Station, in Dayton. They even have a refill station so you can reuse your bottle and only pay for the sanitizer.

While the pandemic has been tough on many, my family and I have enjoyed seeing the creativity and flexibility of companies like 2nd Street Distilling and Azure Mountain Botanicals. They've changed up their models to help keep us safe, and Mom says the best hand sanitizers are made right here, in our little valley.