Category: Home

  • Outdoor Patio Set Redo – Creating a Work Zone near my kids

    Outdoor Patio Set Redo – Creating a Work Zone near my kids

    When we decided to rent this house before actually seeing it in person, one of the biggest sale points for me was the fenced in backyard and attached deck. The vision was real – a workplace outdoors where I could enjoy the sounds of nature and let the kids play in a safe area that wouldn’t make my heart pump with anxiety.

     
    We moved in on July 1st, and I started looking for a good patio set. We happened across a yard sale one saturday and found this 2 seater set for only $18. I had to double check with the owner that I wasn’t reading the price upside down and he really wanted $81. Nope $18 was correct! There was no way I could leave this behind, it was perfect!
     

    The first step in redoing this set was picking out colors. The whole family came with me to our trusty Walmart, and together we picked out a nice Dark Purple spray paint. There’s an excess of bugs around these parts, so we wanted a fun color, but not one that would attract the bees. After the purple was chosen, I found this pretty damask upholstery fabric on sale too! There was just enough left for our seats. 
     
     

    While the paint dried on the chairs and table frame, we got to work on the seat cushions. The original seats were so old, there was no salvageable parts. I picked up precut wood rounds from Menards, and the padding from Walmart.

    How to Reupholster patio seats. 

    What you need:
    Wood Rounds
    1-2inch foam padding
    fabric
    hot glue
    staple gun with staples

    Use the wood rounds to trace a circle on the foam padding. Using a razor blade, or sharp knife, carefully cut around the padding. Lay the padding on back side of fabric. I used a permanent marker to measure straight out and leave dots around the seat. I gave myself a good 2 inches extra fabric to attach to the underside.
    Connect the dots, then cut our the fabric. Place padding on the center of fabric, then wood round on top of the padding. At this point it is great to have a second pair of hands helping out. Really push down on the wood as you pull the fabric around, and attach in place with the hot glue. Now the fabric is attached, give it a second go around with the staple gun. Between the two, bugs and inclement weather should be kept out of the seat.

     
    I now have a fantastic colorful work zone outside! It’s also going to be a great place to relax with friends while the kids run around outside. If you’re ever in the area and want to join me on the patio, come on by!
     
     
    When I’m not using the table, I’ve found the kids enjoying it too. This week they were building bubble castles. My vision has come to life, and is now updated to see many many family memories being made around it. 
     
    Do you have an outdoor space to enjoy?
  • Staying Connected to Loved Ones the Cute and Cuddly Way

    Staying Connected to Loved Ones the Cute and Cuddly Way

    This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone.  #CloudPetsForever #CollectiveBias

     

    What do you do when you suddenly find yourself away from a loved one for weeks on end? Changing careers became an obvious choice for us as teaching just wasn’t working out anymore. The change, however, meant Mark had to go to 6 weeks of training before being officially hired. 
     
    6 weeks! The longest we’ve ever been apart is maybe 1 full week for him to play with the band at NCAA…and he was not missing me too much during those trips, nor were our kids old enough to really feel the effect of Dad being gone. 
    This, though. This has been tough. We moved 1300 miles for the job, and then he went off a couple hundred more to train. The kids are missing their dad immensely, and I’ve found it hard to go to bed at a decent hour while wondering if I should check the door locks a couple more times just to be sure. 

     

    One thing the kids have loved (and truly I have too), is that we purchased a very basic television plan. While it’s been fun for them to veg a bit while Mom tries to get work/school/cleaning done, I was not expecting the rush of commercials! 
     
    “Mom I don’t know how to make my bed, I need the zipper sheets” – Let me teach you!
    “Mom I’ll never take a shower unless I can have cool lights flashing at the same time” – Take a bath!
    “Mom we’ll pick up our dirty clothes if it’s a basketball hoop!” – Guess you’ll start to smell stinky!
     
    But then. Then there was the one for CloudPets™. A stuffed animal that combined both cuteness with a special way to receive messages from loved ones. And this is what I heard 
     
    “Mom we really need a cloud pet so we can send it to Dad and tell him we miss him”.
     
    My heart, be still. These kids love and miss their Daddy, and gosh darn so do I. So you know what? We went to Walmart and bought the Kitty CloudPet™. The way this works is you don’t actually send the CloudPet™ as one of my children assumed. No you hang out with it at home, download the free app that goes with it, and invite approved (through the parental controls!), other loved ones who may be far away to send messages to your CloudPet™. Oh and don’t forget to grab the 3 AA batteries it will need.  

    Currently CloudPets™ can be found in select Walmart stores, but will soon be available nationwide! We found the pallet display in the kids clothing section of our local store.

    Meet Darth Kitty – the kids had to compromise on a name since one just wanted to call her Kitty, and the other wanted Darth Vader. We had a lot of fun figuring out how to get Darth Kitty set up to receive messages, and then we sent Daddy a special invite to start sending messages. You can watch a video and see just how easy the Set Up is.

     

    After a successful test run of “Hi Girls…can you hear me? Did this work?” message, he moved on to telling them bedtime stories. He can take time whenever he has a break at work to send the message, and then I choose when to send it to Darth Kitty so all can hear together – usually as a special bedtime bonding time. 

    We were getting pretty sad that Dad is missing their first day of school this year. When he was a teacher it was always fun to send them all off together – school and work. But not this year. I’m hoping we’ll find a special message from Darth Kitty next Tuesday morning with some encouraging words that can only come from a Daddy on the first day of school.  

     

    I have a feeling we’ll find with this new job Dad may miss more of the special events then we’re used to. While in the past his schedule has always lined up with the kids, it will now vary from day to night, and include holidays. I’m pretty sure Darth Kitty will be put to good use during those missed occasions. 

    How do you stay connected with loved ones?

  • Learning to Live Without and Save Money

    Learning to Live Without and Save Money

    This is a sponsored post; compensation was received. All thoughts are my own

    Sometimes I look at my life, and I wonder, how do I do it? How have we continued to make it despite the constant struggle for employment that will cover the cost of living? I’ve been reflecting on that as we begin a new adventure in a city that is literally close to everything you could ever want. The answer for us has been simple

    Live Without.

    You Don’t NEED things. You can live without, and still survive. People do it all the time around the world. There are of course a few basics every human should have – food, clothes, shelter. After that, though, the rest is just to add comfort and adventure to our life. The great news is, you can find comfort and adventure without spending a fortune. In fact, you can get those things while saving money at the same time!

    So I’m here today to tell you how you can save money, and learn to live without, while still enjoying life.

    Skip the Treats.
    This is probably the biggest for us. When it comes to our grocery budget I’m tight. Very tight! People are always asking me how I manage to feed us with our limited budget, and most of the time I honestly don’t even know. One thing though is we skip the desserts and treats. Periodically we indulge, but they are not common in our home. If we have treats, it’s most likely homemade from scratch, like my apple pie burritos.

    Free Entertainment.
    One thing I love to do is find free entertainment. When you’re living on a budget, memberships to gyms, museums.and zoos just aren’t going to happen. So instead, we walk around our local farmers market, take in some free concerts in the park, and get out in nature. Mostly, though, we enjoy hanging out in the backyard, finding new bugs, and swinging on the tree swing.

    Money saving apps.
    Then there are the apps. I love Checkout51 and Ibotta the most. The key to using these apps is not to let it sucker you into buying extra things just to get the money back. Just like coupons, I only use them if it’s something I’m already buying. So I may not have high returns, but every little bit adds up.

    Giving Assistant.
    A new favorite discovery of mine, is Giving Assistant. After living in North Dakota I finally caved to buying more things online out of necessity. With Giving Assistant, I can do my online shopping through places like Amazon (my personal fave!); get cash back, AND donate to charity! You can choose how much of the cash back you get and how much goes to charity.
    Now besides shopping my favorite site, I noticed they also have a deal with Thred Up. I’ve never personally used ThredUp, but I know it’s a way to save money on clothes. What makes that better, oh just getting cash back by shopping through Giving Assistant.

     

    What have you learned to live without? How do you save money?
  • St Patricks Day Coffee Filter Wreath

    St Patricks Day Coffee Filter Wreath

     
    St Patricks Day Coffee Filter Wreath

    I had so much fun putting this St Patrick’s Day Coffee Filter Wreath together while sitting on the floor with the kids. I had made a pink one in February with some friends that I just loved. While we sat there poking holes in cardboard, we surmised how cute a St Patty’s day one would be. This post contains affiliate links and I will be compensated if you click on and make a purchase.

    Coffee Filter Wreath

    This is such an easy craft that anyone can do it. You need a total of 4 items, that you most likely have on hand.
    – green tempera paint
    – Round cardboard – I used the cardboard from frozen pizza.
    – coffee filters
    – skewer

    Supplies needed for a Coffee Filter Wreath. St Patty's style.

    You start by dyeing your coffee filters in the tempera paint. I poured a few tablespoons of the tempera paint in a glass bowl, then added some water. The water helps the coffee filters soak it up better. Dip the edges of the filters in the paint, and then flip over to dry. I let mine dry overnight and well into the morning the next day.

     
    dyed coffee filters
     
    Once the coffee filters are dry, it’s time to do some poking! Using the skewer, poke holes through your cardboard. They don’t need to be very close, about a 1/2″ to 1″ apart. and then just kind of scattered around the cardboard. Most likely you’ll skip filling some of the holes even. 
     
     
    Now that you have the holes made, you can start filling them with the dyed coffee filters. To do this, gently wrap the filters around the skewer again, and push it through the hole. Grab the skewer on the back side to help glide the filter through. This was the most time-consuming part, but it was something I could do while the kids played next to me. Princess R colored me some pictures, while little Prince built towers with the LEGO’s. It was a kodak moment I tell you!
     
    To finish off the look, and to avoid it being just a green blob, I added some festive “Happy St Patrick’s Day” ribbon – that I bought eons ago, knowing one day I would use – and some little shamrocks. Confession, I did take apart the kids Shamrock necklace so I could add them to the wreath. They only curiously asked what I was doing though, so I believe we’re safe. 
     

    May the Luck of the Irish be with you!

    Easy St Patricks Day Coffee Filter Wreath. Use items around the home to make the day more festive.
     


  • Light Up Your Look and Your Home

    Light Up Your Look and Your Home

    This post contains affiliate links. When purchasing through them, you support Home Maid Simple. Thank you!
     
    As I continue to work on Finding my Fashion, I’ve realized it’s similar to decorating the home. So why not match my fashion to my home’s fashion? Or vice versa – match your home’s fashion to your fashion.
     
    I’ve been dreaming of chandeliers in our home, because they are just so gorgeous. They don’t just add light, but they add a whole style to your room. I’ve found a few favorites around Wayfair and Amazon that match some of my favorite jewelry from Cents of Style. Have you ever tried matching your fashion style to your home’s decor? 
     
    If you have a room that’s pretty dark, that you want to really light up, I would go for a classic chandelier. One that will really grab the light and spread it through the room. Something like this crystal chandelier.
    Dash 1 Light Crystal Chandelier
     
     
    To match my style, I’d pair this with Cents of Style’s Tina Necklace set. The large clear jewels will help brighten an old outfit. Cents of Style is often adding and changing their jewelry, so browse around and see what necklace will fit in with your home’s lighting. 
     
    What do you do if you have a really bright room though, and you want to tone it down a bit? I love the angles on this light from Amazon. It fits perfectly with a lot of the jewelry I like to wear and really helps give light, but keep it toned down a bit too. 
    A perfect jewelry accent for this light would be the vintage Napier Triangles Necklace. I could easily see myself wearing this Necklace out on the town with Mark. Simple but with flair that pulls attention right to it’s smooth angles.  
     
     
    When you match your home’s lighting to your favorite piece of jewelry, it adds a pleasing bit to the eye when you have no reason to get all dressed up.
    What jewelry would you pair with your home’s lighting? Or would you change up your lighting to match your jewelry? 
  • Outdoor Living Spaces to Last the Whole Year Through

    Outdoor Living Spaces to Last the Whole Year Through

     

    Summertime brings a greater desire to be outside and spend time in our yards. Saturdays mornings are spent at home improvement stores and the afternoons are spent working on our many projects to make our yards a place to show off. But depending on where you live, these days quickly end and we are forced back inside, unable to enjoy our hard work until the backyard season returns. Here are some ideas for summer projects that can help you take advantage of your outdoor living space all year round!

     
    Tips for creating an outdoor living space that will last all year long.

    Fire Pit

    Whether you are roasting marshmallows under the stars or keeping warm on a crisp fall night, a fire pit is a perfect addition that will make you the talk of the neighborhood. Build it with seating options around such as stone, wood, or plastic benches. There is the option for a good, old fashion fire or you can make it natural gas fueled. The latter will give you the benefits of a fire without making you and all your guests smell like smoke every time you want to do some roasting.

     

    Grilling Caddy

    If you are a master of the grill, you probably want to be able to continue to show off your skills even when the weather cools down. Consider building a grilling caddy to keep your favorite grilling necessities close to the cooking station but safe from the elements. It can be used to store your tools, favorite seasonings, and even platters. Put wheels on the bottom for added ease of transport should you take your grilling to another location.

    Water Features

    Garden fountains are great additions to any yard that can add a sense of serenity and calm. Even if you are not able to use them in winter months, they can still add to the beauty of your yard. In the warmer months, misters are great to hang around decks, patios and anywhere else seating is available for a refreshing cool down.

     

    Outdoor Pizza Oven

    What better way to expand the culinary opportunities in your yard than to build your own outdoor pizza oven. These can be made from brick or stone. During the summer months, you can bake a pizza without heating up the house and during the winter, the fire is still covered, so you can continue to enjoy wood fired pizza year round regardless of poor weather.

    Waterproof TVs

    Whether you want to host an outdoor movie night or watch the big game without the fear of spilling salsa on the couch, waterproof TVs can give you the edge to be the most popular backyard on the street. Mount the TV on the outside of the house or create a weather resistant entertainment center to help add another level of protection for your technology. You might even consider mounting the TV into a window opening and using a cover to keep the television protected when not in use.  Waterproof TVs are made to withstand even the worst rain and snowstorms.

    Glow in the Dark Planters

    Potted plants can help you add variety to the foliage you may already have in your yard. One fun way to mix it up is to paint the planters with glow in the dark paint. This will allow you to enjoy the beauty of the plants in the daylight and as the sun goes down, your yard transforms with glowing night lights. You can even paint designs on the planters, creating patterns throughout your yard.

    Rope Lighting

    Especially once it starts to get darker earlier, you will want have lights set up to find your way safely through your yard. Use rope lighting to line paths in your yard or around your garden areas. These can be protected through waterproofing and can even be put on timers to keep your yard lit at the optimal times year round!

    The summer is more than half way over, but there is still plenty of time to get these projects into place before the weather takes a turn for the cooler. In the end, you will spend more time admiring your creations and have plenty of opportunities to have friends and family over to show off your hard work. If you need more encouragement, as this article explains, these types of projects also increase the value of your home. So what are you waiting for? You have work to do!
     
    About the Author: Alyssa Craig is a Salt Lake City native who loves hiking in the mountains, running, frozen yogurt, and quick wit. She is a professional writer and loves perusing the many posts in the blogosphere. In her free time, you can find her escaping the world on her hammock, or wathcing re-runs of “Friends”. 

     

  • 4 Reasons to Invest in Handcrafted Furniture

    4 Reasons to Invest in Handcrafted Furniture

    Do you want a property that looks the same as everyone else, or a home that stands out from the crowd and makes a statement? Furniture is an essential part of your home, but it’s not just about form and function, it should be beautiful as well. Your furniture should make a statement about who you are. When you invest in handcrafted furniture, that’s exactly what you’re doing.

    If you buy your tables, chairs, wardrobes and cabinets from the high street, you’re purchasing items that were made on a furniture production line. There’s still a wide range to choose from, but somehow they all look very similar. You can walk into a friend’s house and identify that their furniture came from Habitat or Ikea. Is it time that you made a real change in your home? Here are just some of the reasons why handcrafted furniture is right for you:
     
    • Turn your furniture into a talking point
    • Enjoy exceptional quality of work
    • Keep traditional crafts alive
    • Cut down your carbon footprint
    Let’s take a look at why handcrafted is so much better than mass produced.

    Let Your Furniture Do the Talking

    Do you like to entertain house guests?
    Dinner parties are a great way to share beautiful food, fine wine, and of course, catch up on all the latest news about the community. What happens while you’re spending time in the kitchen? Your guests start to examine your house more closely. The topic of conversation changes from who’s going to marry whom, to how stylish, or not, your home is. When you invest in beautiful handcrafted furniture, you’re instantly getting one up on all your guests. In the nicest possible way, of course. Sit your guests down around a bespoke rosewood dining table, or invite them to take a decanter from your teak drinks cabinet. When the furniture is handcrafted, it stands above everything else.
    Don’t worry about fitting topics to bring up during the evening, your furniture itself will become the talking point of choice. Handcrafted furniture is
    saying something important about you. It’s saying, ‘I enjoy the finer things in life, and through hard work, I’ve reached the point where I can have them.’

    It’s All In the Detail

    Quality of workmanship is everything. Mass produced furniture may look okay, but it doesn’t have the wow factor that artisan
    made furniture has. The fact is that modern furniture manufacturer isn’t about a craftsman who has spent decades honing his craft, it’s about a person
    programming a computer to tell machinery what to do on a repetitive basis. When you buy handcrafted furniture, you’ll be getting a level of detail that you won’t find in retail chain outlets. The materials used will be more durable too. Large scale furniture suppliers are, understandably, looking to reduce costs and maximise their profits. One way they do this is by buying wood in bulk at bargain prices. Artisan furniture makers, however, place quality as the number one priority. They use high-quality natural wood, and this not only gives it a striking appearance, it makes it more durable and less susceptible to knocks and scuffs. Whether you’re buying vintage chairs, or modern hand made tables, you’ll still receive the same exceptional quality that’s stood out through the centuries. It can cost less than you think as well. Find handcrafted pieces at competitive prices on Wayfair ~affiliate link.

    Preserving Skills for Future Generations

    We live in a consumer-driven world, but it’s also becoming less patient. The average consumer wants something right now, and at as cheap a price as possible. It’s for these reasons that mass produced furniture is becoming increasingly predominant, to the detriment of hand made furniture.
    Discerning consumers, however, realize that patience is a virtue and that it’s worth paying just a little more to have an item of true quality. The skills used in the production of handcrafted furniture have been passed down through the generations, for hundreds of years. Traditional methods of wood carving, furniture turning and carpentry can’t be learned purely on the Internet, they have to be absorbed from a master in the trade. If these skills die out, then they can never be learned again. By purchasing handcrafted furniture, you’re helping to preserve these techniques for your children and grandchildren’s generations.

    Make Your Furniture Greener

    The weather is becoming ever more predictable, and we’ve all seen the devastating results this can bring. Climate change is happening right here, right now, and we need to do all we can to slow it down and then reverse the effects. One of the ways we can help is by reducing our carbon footprint. A great way to achieve this is by buying local whenever possible. Another way is by buying handcrafted goods. Because they are made using traditional methods, handmade furniture consumes much less power during production and there is much less waste of natural resources such as wood. Even if you buy handcrafted furniture online, you’ll be doing your bit to create a more stable and sustainable environment.

     

    About the Author: Paul Moore is a professional writer and blogger, who loves writing on a myriad of topics. He specialises in areas like disability, home improvement, etc.

  • Dream Vanity Mood Board

    Dream Vanity Mood Board

    *this post contains affiliate links. Thanks for supporting Home Maid Simple!*
     
    Design has been on my mind lately! Last week I had a decorator from Bassett Furniture come in and help me get ideas for our front room that we do everything in. It was so much fun just chatting design with another adult woman, that I started looking around my house at other things I’ve wanted to update, or redesign. 
     
    One area has always been my side of our bedroom. Though I love the nightstand look, I’d really love to have a vanity. I hate that word though, makes me feel a little vain…ah who am I kidding. I think everyone needs a nice special place for their things. There I go getting off track again. Anyways, I got to thinking, and then talking to a nice lady over at One Kings Lane, and decided to make a mood board of my dream vanity. 

     

     
    I started by checking out the vanity, or dressing table makeover, I pinned a year ago, that still gets frequent repins. The light from the window gives a nice comforting feel to me. I felt the overall simplicity of this design is what I liked best, but looking at it again now, I feel it’s a bit too cluttered….though I’m not sure cluttered is really the word I’m going for here. What do you think? 
     
    dressing table makeover
     
    There are some key aspects of this vanity however, that I do still really like. They are probably why I pinned it in the first place. I like the white desk, and straight lines. Stool – perfect for not spending too much time being vain, but padded so still comfy. Lamp a must, and the wonderful natural light from the window. 
     
    So how am I going to accomplish this in my dream board? I have to take into account where this would actually be able to go in my room. No sense in dreaming something if it can’t actually ever happen. Since I would not be able to put my vanity in front of window, the next best option is a wall mirror.
    One Kings Lane Pinesdale Mirror
    I absolutely love oval mirrors. They frame your face nicely while eliminating background noise. The gold in this particular mirror spoke to me, and feels like it would just help capture the sunlight from the patio door across the room, giving me the natural light we all love and need. 
     
    Now that we’ve got our mirror and focal point for my vanity, it’s time to dream up the rest!  
    One Kings Lane Vanity Dream board
     
    Don’t you just love it?! I could spend all day browsing the sales at One Kings Lane. You can find a match for just about anything there. Here’s what I added to my Vanity Board. 
     
     

    What would be on your dream vanity mood board?If you’re new to One Kings Lane, you can get a $15 credit just for signing up! I used my credit to buy some cute storage bins for Prince L’s room a few years ago, and still love them!

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    Refinish a dresser with 1 simple change

  • DIY Clarinet Lamp

    DIY Clarinet Lamp

    Music lovers will love this tutorial for a DIY Clarinet Lamp. Make a matching pair to really stick out in your music room. This post contains affiliate links and I will receive compensation if you click on and make a purchase. 
     
    Last summer Mark took an old Clarinet we had and mounted it on some particle board, then threaded a lamp cord through it. He left it as is, and as much as I loved the idea, I kept telling myself I would update the lamp to look a bit nicer. 
     
    Finally this month, I made the time. Finding the right lampshade was half the battle, but once that was found, I knew that not only would this be a Clarinet Lamp…it would also be a stage for some little Musicians we’ve had laying around the house.
     
     
    We went through a number of lampshades before finding the right one. I believe this one above was #2. It was just a little too small for the overall feel though. I couldn’t wait for the right lampshade before I started updating it, so out came some paint, and I gave that base a new look. 


     
     
    I was worried about the particle board showing through, and taking in too much paint, so I gave it 3 coats before calling it good. I’m still debating putting a chalkboard layer over it – what do you think??
     
    I went back to our local thrift store to see if I could find a better shade, and this time, they had it! A nice square, to offset all the circles going on, and that’s when it hit, that this was going to be a stage. 
     
     
    Some stencils quickly made using Picmonkey, a razor, and some white paint, made a simple, anyone can do it, musical shade. I used scrapbook glue dots to hold the stencil on the shade. 
     
     
    There are obviously some extra bumps of paint, but I think it just adds a nice rough look to the shade. Plus, from far away, you can’t even tell. 
     
    Time for the final touch, the little Musicians – aren’t these just awesome?!
     
     

    DIY Clarinet Lamp 

    What you’ll need: 
    • Old Clarinet
    • Screws
    • Circular particle board base
    • black paint
    • lampshade
    • light bulbs – I prefer GE LED Bulbs
    • lamp kit
    Drill a hole through the center of the base. Carve out a section for the lamp cord to lay safely under the base. Paint your base black…or any color you prefer.  Thread your lamp wire through the clarinet, and the base. Attach the clarinet to the base using 2-3 screws. Add a light bulb, and shade. Plug in, and enjoy some musical ambiance. 
     


  • Upcycled Garden Center – Healthy You, Healthy Earth

    Upcycled Garden Center – Healthy You, Healthy Earth

    This post is part of the HEALTHY ESSENTIALS® 2014 program by Johnson & Johnson Consumer Companies, Inc. and The Motherhood, who sent me a box of products and compensated me for my time. Opinions, experiences and photos shared here are all my own, and I hope you enjoy them.
     

    Earth day is coming up April 22nd! It’s one of my favorite non-holiday holidays to celebrate. Perhaps because I have fond memories of picking trash up around our neighborhood with my mom, and piling it in our driveway to see how much we collected. My kids and I now enjoy finding ways to upcycle our otherwise garbage, like we did with these go-paks. They love their Upcycled Garden Center. 

    It was one of those days that was just perfect. We had friends over, it was sunny, and we were doing something good for mother Earth. My family was never big on recycling, probably because there wasn’t a service to pick it up for us like the trash, but we did do our best to keep the earth clean and healthy. 

    Find a Recycling solution near you

    Learning how to garden has had so much meaning in my life, and something I’ve been excited to share with my children. My kids LOVE these Go-Paks! of cookies, so I’ll periodically buy them as a special treat. The last time we got them, I looked at those empty containers and thought – gosh those would make great window planters!

    Aren’t they so cute? Last year I let the girls plant some flowers in milk jugs, so this year I let them branch out and pick some herbs if they wanted. I thought it would be a great lesson in sustainability as well.  We’ve got 1 cup with basil, 1 with spearmint, and 2 with Marigolds. The kids have been checking every morning and after school to see if anything has sprouted yet. Definitely an experience they will always remember.

     
    When you look hard enough, it’s actually easy to find ways to recycle, upcycle, and live a more sustainable life. I love visiting the Healthy Essentials Website, because other than savings they’ve also got so many tips and knowledge on how to live a Healthy Life while also keeping our Earth Healthy. 
     
    Watch this video to see how Johnson & Johnson employees feel about sustainability. I just love this company!
     
     
    Don’t forget to also check out the Healthy Essentials website for some amazing deals on products that are also Earth friendly. 
     
     

    Are you ready to give back even more this Earth Day? Download the Donate a Photo App from J&J – for every photo you upload in the App J&J will donate $1 to a list of charitable causes.

    Share your tips on having a Healthy You and Healthy Earth!