“The humblest tasks get beautified if loving hands do them”
◆ · By Philip Chow · Published 2022-03-20T09:38:14.644Z
Constructor's Note
This is my submission for Crosshare's monthly midi contest March 2022 (theme: women) - I hope you enjoy 
[Note: to enter a rebus (square with more than one letter), click on the three dots on the upper right corner and click "Enter Rebus" or press the ESC key]
[Note: to enter a rebus (square with more than one letter), click on the three dots on the upper right corner and click "Enter Rebus" or press the ESC key]Checking for previous play data...
… in the NW I had “Ames” crossing “resins” with Ames clued as “Home of Iowa State University”1A
"Fine then, see if I care!"
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Across
- 1A"Fine then, see if I care!"
- 7ASpice in a Pumpkin Spice Latte
- 11AHuman organism formed during the early stages of pregnancy
- 12AOn a cruise, perhaps
- 13AViolin bow applications
- 14A___ Plus (shampoo and conditioner brand)
- 15AMina Kimes and Dianna Russini's network
- 16AOne end of a #2 pencil
- 18AHide and Seek, for example
- 20ATroupe that entertains troops: Abbr.
- 21ACarpet cleaner, for short
- 24AHit the jackpot
- 25AScathing review
- 26A"A Wrinkle in Time" director DuVernay
- 27ABeef bourguignon or bouillabaisse
- 29AWith 28-Down, Louisa May Alcott classic with the quote “Be worthy love, and love will come” (and a hint to four squares in this puzzle)
- 31ABritney's interjection when she "did it again"
- 35ABehind schedule
- 36AIt's all downhill from here?
- 38A___ mess (strawberries-and-cream dessert named after a British prep school)
- 39AWhen a baby might say her first words
- 40ABaby kangaroos and wallabies
- 41AFaithfulness to one and only one partner
Down
- 1D___ or be square ("Everyone who's anyone is attending!")
- 2D"Bouncing Off Clouds" singer Tori
- 3D1/8 of a standard stick of butter: Abbr.
- 4DSqueeze (out), as water from a wet towel
- 5DObjectivist philosopher Rand who said "Learn to value yourself, which means: fight for your happiness"
- 6DQuick-tempered, gun-totin', rabbit-hatin' "Looney Tunes" character
- 7DCalifornia wine region
- 8DExhausts, as a supply
- 9DMother ___ (Peace Nobelist missionary who often said "Do ordinary things with extraordinary love")
- 10DArchenemy of Optimus Prime in the "Transformers" movies
- 17DActress Russo who played Frigga in "Thor"
- 19DChinese Internet slang for 啊我死了 with the sentiment "It’s so cute I'm going to die!" [hidden in puppy paw slippers]
- 21DCalifornia city where Six Flags Discovery Kingdom is located
- 22DEmulate Amelia Earhart or Jacqueline Cochran
- 23DLaser pointer, perhaps (ฅ^•ﻌ•^ฅ meow)
- 28DSee 29-Across
- 30DThey're sought on "Dancing With the Stars"
- 32DNovel set on a whaling ship (whose title is 75% the same letter)
- 33DSignal sent from one computer to another to diagnose network speed
- 34DLike some romance novels
- 37D___ Girl (Marvel superheroine and X-force member with the power of teleportation)