Home Maid Simple

Category: review

1000 Bulbs to Welcome Home

Welcome everyone this winter with a walkway that lights the path. I received a rope light from 1000 Bulbs in exchange for my honest thoughts. All opinions are my own.

We woke up this morning to an ice storm. There was fair warning the last few days that it was coming, but after some time here in Indiana, I usually don’t believe the weathermen until it actually comes. Most storms seem to bypass us, but the rare few. I love a good storm, as long as we don’t have to go out in it.

Today I was just grateful I had gotten our lights out. We may still leaves all over the backyard, but our walkway is ready to welcome guests all winter long with the new rope lighting I got from 1000 Bulbs. We haven’t done a lot with lighting our outdoor space over the years. It’s been on my to-do list since we moved in, but until now just hasn’t gotten done. And it got done just in time too!

When I first got the lights I wasn’t sure where we would put them. I tried a few different idea, but after talking it over with Mark, we decided we really wanted to light the walkway. Our neighborhood is pretty dark without street lights, and with a long walk from the drive to the door, we wanted any guests to feel more welcome by lighting their way.

So I laid out the lights and then had to get creative on how to attach them to the ground. 1000 Bulbs sends zip ties and house hooks, but nothing to work on the ground. Our tent broke this summer, but it is still sitting in the garage, so I pulled out the stakes. These I used to hold down the lights. So far they’re working like a charm.

Once I added the snowmen to the end of the walkway, I knew for sure the rope lights were the perfect solution for our outdoor lighting conundrum. They really help welcome us home after a long day out. They will also ease my mind as our friends and family come and go over the holidays – and beyond – knowing they aren’t walking through the dark to get to their cars.

Aren’t my snowmen just adorable? See how to make the wooden snowmen.

Don’t forget to head to 1000 Bulbs to get lights that can welcome you home! Right now you can save 10% off your order with code SAVELED2018. Check out their Christmas lights, and other home lighting solutions.

November 15, 2018
Gourmet Gift Baskets for Holiday Gifting

Nothing quite says “I Love You” like a stack of gourmet goodies. I received Gourmet Gift Baskets to facilitate this post. All opinions are my own.

Check out this years Holiday Gift Guide

If you’ve been around over the years, you know we’ve moved around a lot. I mean a whole lot. 13 times in our 13 years of marriage, and we aren’t in the military. As a result, it means we have family and friends that live all over the country. While we aren’t great at always keeping in touch with them, one thing I like to do is make sure around the holidays they all know how much they mean to me.

Often this is done through a Christmas card and letter updating them on our lives. Admittedly, I’ve been really bad at sending out that iconic Christmas letter the past few years. I mean we’ve finally settled down in Indiana (home for the last 3 years, woot!), so you’d think I’d have it together.

I don’t. Maybe this will be the year I get it together.

The last few years have gotten me rethinking how I gift my long-distance family. Now mind you, there are too many of you to send a Gourmet Gift Basket to each and every one of you – my pockets aren’t that deep. However, there have been a few big moments in my life while living here that people have sent me gourmet gifts as a special little surprise.

Once after I had Harold, and more recently when I had my Gallbladder removal. Having these beautiful packages arrive on my doorstep out of the blue brightened my days and gave me something to smile about. You know who you are, and I thank you for the smiles. In fact, you may just find a surprise on your doorstep this holiday season from me to you.

This particular gourmet gift I’m featuring is the From The Bakery Gift Tower. Full of delicious cookies, brownies, and even whoopie pies, my kids could not wait for me to take those photos. Lincoln helped as best he could since he knew he’d get first pick when the pictures were done.

Truth moment, because of Lincoln’s allergies, I would have let him pick first anyways so he could enjoy a nut-free treat. Mind, we don’t worry about cross contamination with him. Thankfully that’s never been an issue.

Gourmet Gift Baskets have gifts for every budget. So when you live far away, and just don’t know what to send those special people in your life, look at these gourmet gifts. My thoughts are that it doesn’t really matter how much you spend – whether it be $19.99 for the Happy Holidays Snack Gift BOx, or $189.99 for the Dark Chocolate Suitcase. Whoever is the lucky recipient will smile because you thought of them.

Bonus, I love that I don’t have to worry about shipping this gift around the holidays. One more company keeping me out of the post office and home with my family.

What Gourmet Gift Basket would you like to see on your doorstep?

November 8, 2018
2 Player Games to Encourage Sibling Bonding

Sibling bonding time has been provided by Pressman® Toy. All opinions are my own.

You may also enjoy: Encouraging a Natural Sibling Bond with a New Baby

Ah siblings. I grew up loving spending every minute of my free time with my siblings because we loved each other so much!

That is until we didn’t. We had a lot of great moments, but we also had a lot of fights and bad attitudes at times too. That’s perfectly normal for every family. I try to remind myself of that when my kids are fighting.

Thankfully, there are some fun ways to encourage sibling bonding. Recently we’ve found that having a few 2-player games has helped the kids bond one-on-one with each other. They aren’t games I particularly enjoy playing with them, which is perfect because then they must play with a sibling.

The first one I’d like to share with you is called MasterMind. I had never heard of this game until Mark picked it up at a yard sale one day. Apparently, it was his favorite childhood game and he was stoked to find it again. Now the kids love challenging each other to break their color codes.

I love this game because it teaches them how to analytical thinking. Each move reveals some piece of a code the other player has created in secret. It takes careful thought on both sides of this game because one wrong answer could throw the whole round out.

The next game the kids have recently come to enjoy is Hydrostrike. It reminds me of air hockey and pinball. The goal is to hit the ball just right in the other players home to make the lever spray them with water.

My kids have been all over this game. Some of them think it’s so fun to get wet, that they will intentionally make the water go off on their own side.

What I love about this game is the immense amount of laughter I consistently hear when this one is pulled out. I think instead of those extra large “get along shirts” when my kids are fighting, I’ll insist they challenge each other to a game of Hydrostrike. There’s just no way they could still be fighting at the end of it.

What are your favorite 2 player games? I’d love to have more resources to encourage the sibling bonding!

October 9, 2018
5 Things to Watch Out for When Reading Mattress Reviews from Puffy
You probably have heard of different mattress brands; assuming you’re not the nature traveler who finds better nights at the boot of a car or in a sleeping bag. After having difficulty sleeping some years back and getting help through a great mattress, I started doing mattress reviews. And one particular brand stood out from the rest with hundreds of daily customers giving positive feedback; Puffy mattresses have been the go for quite a number of people for several years now.

In that light, I decided to enlighten especially as to what to look out for when going for a Puffy Mattress. But first, it’s crucial to know whom it’s best suited for before we even review it.

Puffy Best Suited for…
- Although it’s worked for people with all kinds of sleeping positions, Puffy reviewed and found back and side sleepers benefitting most from it. This is in regard to its medium-level firmness.
- If the traditional high-quality memory foam turns you on and gets your blood running, you should make that order right now.
- You probably find it freakishly weird getting all sweaty all night. Worry no more; Puffy works for the cool
- You don’t opt for a surface too soft or too firm. As mentioned, Puffy comes with a medium hardness, that’s why it works for both sleepers.
- You want a bed that offers flexibility in terms of placement position; good for you. Puffy isn’t choosy and will comfortably fit even on the floor.
Who it’s not for:
- Do you hopelessly find yourself sleeping on your stomach? Maybe a habit since you were young? You might need to turn some other way and consider other options.
- You are a heavyweight who really wants it firm on the edges for extra support, go no further.
- If alternatively, you don’t fancy the bed-in-a-box design that accompanies Puffy packaging, try other alternatives.
Puffy mattresses tend to be motion-transfer-oriented. Therefore, if you are looking for the buoyant feel, you might be quite disappointed.

What to Look for When Reading Reviews

Brand Warranty and Sleep Trial Period

Puffy comes with a 101-free days trial period where your product can be taken back at no extra cost. This is of course if the satisfaction wasn’t achieved. What’s more, as long as you are the original buyer, you have a life-long warranty assurance.

Firmness Feel

With firmness levels rated at a 6/10, this falls as medium firmness. You’ll, therefore, sink in just enough to provide the desired comfort. It also comes in as an exclusive way to keep motion transfers under control thereby creating amazing sleeping conditions.

Cooling Cloud

This is a 2.5-pound high density foam that’s specially infused with gel. It, therefore, offers a reliable airflow. Using concepts of convection and convention, you can rest assured of a really chill night – chill in the nicest way possible.

Pressure Adapting Cloud

The mattress is packed with a 1.5-pound dense base offering back support, durability and longevity. With pressure greatly controlled, you get to enjoy joint pain relief, better blood circulation, heightened energy levels and a natural spine alignment.

Mattress Construction

This is basically what makes a mattress awesome even before reviewing the price. With two layers: the first 3-inch layer acts as the coolant as it disperses heat evenly; the second 7-inch layer uses Insta-Firm tech to improve on response time and offering a solid base for the mattress.

So apart from the mattress construction, other qualities that you really need to consider when checking Puffy mattress reviews include the temperature regulation system, the firmness levels and hence pressure controls, and the exclusive trial periods, delivery systems and warranties attached to it. Have it the Puffy way!
July 21, 2018
Simba or Emma Mattress, Which is Better to Sleep On?
Having a good night’s rest is not something we want; it is one thing our bodies need. A necessity rather than just a mere want. What constitutes good sleep? Having a proper workout? Eating healthy and at the right times? A good companion to see you through the night?

Sure, all these things may fall in peoples list of a good night. But what could be a better companion than a good mattress that offers you the support and comfort you deserve? What could be a better company than a good bed which will stand and hold for years?

Hence, deciding on a mattress becomes a crucial decision; one that will determine our health levels. And with new brands popping every day, you might find yourself spoilt for choice. Having reviewed a variety of mattress brands over the years, Emma Mattress and Simba Mattress brands particularly impressed me. Their unique composition and simplicity make them stand out as top notch and a definite choice for most people.

But even with these two, some may prefer one to another. So let’s have a light review on both of them.

You may also enjoy reading A Comparison Guide of the Top Online Mattress Dealers

Simba Mattress

Did you know the word ‘Simba’ is African Swahili for ‘Lion’? This 25 cm thick hybrid mattress has been optimized to give you the sleep you so much longed for. Some qualities I found after a Simba mattress review include:
- A sleek cover with a stretchy polyester fabric that allows for airflow.
- 4cm thick synthetic latex cover.
- Pocket spring coils to improve on contours and offer a bouncy feel.
- 5cm thick responsive memory foam layer that eliminates pressure.
- A high density of 33kg/m³ sure to add on stability and ultimate durability.
Whom It Suits Best

You will opt for a Simba mattress if:
- You either sleep on your back or side as lightweight stomach sleepers may experience pressure spots and end up uncomfortable.
- Prefer a cooler sleep with hot spots reduced.
- Seeking pressure relief with its composition assured to deliver just that.
- Looking for a hybrid as Simba is a composition of synthetic latex, memory foam and coil springs; combined, you’ll wake up wanting to carry your mattress with you to your 9-5!
However, you shouldn’t opt for Simba if you are looking for an organic option as the foam is CertiPUR Certified. Also, if you desire a real firm feel, Simba may not work for you as it falls under soft mattresses with a medium firmness.

Emma Mattress

With a firmness valuation of 6/10, Emma best works for hybrid lovers who prioritize support and comfort. What’s more, it supports various kinds of sleeper; the stomach, back and side sleepers who opt to keep it cool during the night. This is as a result of the microcoils, foam and cover designed to allow for breathing space. It also has a traditional bouncy feel that breathes new life each morning making it one of its most exclusive features.

Nevertheless, Emma mattress is not suitable for people weighing more than 130 kilograms. This lot might experience support issues, ending up uncomfortable for most of the night.

More Qualities

Just like Simba, Emma mattress is 25 cm thick with 4 different layers. These are:
- The cover which is 100%polyester making it very stretchy.
- 4cm thick top comfort layer made of responsive Airgocell foam.
- 2cm contour layer which consists of the conical pocket spring system.
- A transition layer made of 3cm thick Viscoelastic memory foam that deals with pressure and pain relief.
- A 16cm thick foundation.
Having given you the different qualities of these two unique mattresses, the ball is in your court. Choosing between these two identical mattresses is totally based on choice and preferences. However, as highlighted above, lightweights might opt to go for an Emma mattress as there will be no restrictions on the positions they decide to sleep with. So which mattress entices you personally?
July 13, 2018
Star Map Art from Modern Map Art to Celebrate 13 Years

We’re celebrating 13 years of marriage with an eternity to go this year. I received a Star Map in exchange for my honest thoughts.

I grew up in the country, where lights didn’t touch the sky, and the heavens were always clear for star gazing. Many summer nights were spent on our back lawn, listening to Dad identify the constellations. I could always find the big dipper, but for some reason, I struggled to find all the stars for the little dipper.

Then one day, I discovered Orion. His 3-star belt became my own little connection to the world. He lived outside my bedroom window, and during times of preteen and teen angst, he was my constant. It didn’t matter how bad the day was if I could look up to the night sky and find those 3 stars.

When I heard of Modern Map Art and their addition of the Star Map Art, there was no question that a piece would become part of our home’s decor. My connection to the stars has been lifelong, and will continue to the eternities.

With Modern Star Map Art, you choose the location and the date, and then you get a beautiful piece of art showing the night sky at that date and location.

Obviously, I chose the most important date to our family – the day Mark and I got married. What you see here is what the night sky looked like on that very special day almost 13 years ago, from the location of the Mount Timpanogos LDS Temple.

As I was creating our Star Map Art, I wasn’t sure what I wanted the bottom to say. It would have been easy to just put Mr + Mrs Priddis, but it just didn’t look right. As I discussed it with Mark, agonizing over the perfect saying, he did what he does best and got the perfect saying.

Sealed In Heaven

I loved it. See, in the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, when we marry in the temple we call it a sealing. Instead of marrying until death do us part, we marry for “time and all eternity.” We believe very literally that we are partners forever. This life and beyond.

Life is not always easy, and marriage is plenty hard in itself. When those rough patches come, I know I don’t need to look outside at the heavens anymore because this Star Map Art will be there day and night. With the Sealed in Heaven phrase that Mark added, it’s a reminder that we have committed to more than just this life together.

Our trials and heartaches, they are just mere moments in the eternities of heaven. And on the days that are really really good, I see this and my heart flutters like it did 13 years ago.

Art in the home should speak individually to the owners, and this Star Map Art does just that for me. They come in different sizes, and in poster or canvas. Making it art fit for every budget.

June 20, 2018
Skeeter Syndrome and a Thermacell Patio Shield Giveaway

Have you ever been afraid to enjoy the outdoors because of the fear of mosquito bites? If so you might have skeeter syndrome. I received a Thermacell Patio Shield in exchange for this post.

I came across this syndrome recently as I was looking up why Venice gets a bug bite and it turns into a large welt, while the rest of us have almost no reaction beyond a little itching. Turns out, she’s probably got skeeter syndrome.

All it means is that her body is more sensitive to the proteins in the mosquito’s saliva than others. You can read more about different reactions to mosquito bites in this article. The first time it happened, we thought maybe she had a spider bite. They were hard welts, and very warm to the touch. It wasn’t until I knew she’d been bit by a mosquito and watched it swell that I knew she never had a spider bite.

While her reaction is more severe than the rest of us, mosquito bites are pretty annoying for all of us. We keep a bottle of bug spray by the back door, and we never leave the house without one during our summer adventures.

When Thermacell reached out to see if I’d like to try out the Patio Shield and give one away too, well I jumped on that! The Thermacell Patio Shield creates a 15×15 foot mosquito repelling zone in minutes. It is virtually odor free – something we’ve all been waiting for with bug repellant, am I right?

The Patio Shield works with a butane cartridge and repellent mats. The cartridge heats the mat to disperse a mosquito repelling solution. Each mat lasts up to 4 hours.

It’s easy to use, and it works! With school getting out soon, we’ll be spending any nice day in the backyard – a place mosquitos have loved hanging out in the past. This year it’s going to be different! It can be for you too!

One lucky reader will receive a Patio Shield from Thermacell to start their summer festivities mosquito free. All you have to do is enter on the Rafflecopter below.

Open to US 18+. Ends June 3, 2018.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

May 24, 2018
Hygge: Learning to Relax and Enjoy the Simple Things

Hygge: pronounced hoo-guh.

The Danish word means feeling cozy contentment while enjoying the simple things that life has to offer.

When I first heard of hygge, I pictured myself curled up on our couch, a fire blazing in our non-existent fireplace, a good book in my lap, and a cup of hot cocoa in my hand.

Hygge will look different for everyone. Some people may enjoy hygge while out walking. Others may enjoy it while surrounded by their friends and family with the noise of conversation and laughter.

I find hygge more in the silent moments. Moments of reflection. Sometimes while watching my children play from a distance, though most often I find it in the simple accomplishments of my day to day activities.

Many of you may recall when I first began writing I would show you before and afters of my very messy and disorganized home. Those posts brought me a feeling of contentment. As I took the time to organize our home into the cozy space I desired, I could enjoy the little moments of my life more.

So in honor of finding hygge, I’m going to share another before and after.

I love this desk. We acquired it for free when some friends moved across the country and didn’t want to take it with them. It sits under the east-facing window in my bedroom and gets a beautiful morning glow across it.

It is also easy to cover it with ‘to do’ and ‘take care of later’ items. Basically rendering it completely useless for anything I’d like to use it for. Last week on my kids’ chore list, I had them clean off their desks. They were atrocious and unusable. I wonder where they got that from….

Obviously, I couldn’t be a hypocrite of a mother, so I went to work cleaning off my desk as well.

Now that the space is cleaned off, I can enjoy more intentional moments of hygge. Whether it’s reading a book, coloring in my Hygge Happy coloring book, or planning my spring garden – I’ve now got the space to do that. Just looking at this cleaned up area brings a little of that cozy contented feeling into my life.

Hygge Happy: Coloring Pages for a Cozy Life

The coloring book featured in this post is full of beautiful artwork that you get to color! Each page is inspired by something that could be a source of contentment in someone’s life – maybe yours. On the back of each coloring page is an idea on how you can add a little bit of that hygge feeling to your daily life.

Check out the artists at Robin Pickens Blog and April Heather Art. Then purchase a copy of Hygge Happy on Amazon today.

March 30, 2018
Stop Wasting Money on Fresh Herbs + Tomato Basil Egg Recipe
I have a problem. I waste money on fresh herbs almost monthly.

Grab a $1 off Dorot Gardens

I buy those little packs of herbs, as small as I can get, in hopes I’ll use it all before they start to go bad, but it never happens. I use a few leaves here and there, but it’s never enough. Most recipes I need fresh herbs for usually only call for a few teaspoons at most.

Now I really hate wasting money. Every time I throw something out from the fridge I cringe. It’s also caused a weird relationship with my food, as I find myself nervous to buy anything fresh, because ‘what if we don’t eat it in time!’

Besides not being healthy for the mind to think like that, it’s not really healthy for the family either. It means we tend to buy the highly processed, shelf-stable foods much more often than the good for you fresh stuff.

Well, thanks to Dorot Gardens, I’m now buying fresh herbs again that won’t be wasted! The price is on point for what I spend on those little packets of fresh herbs, but now I won’t be tossing anything in the garbage. You can find them in the freezer section at your local Kroger.

I’m all about saving money and still giving my family meals they can enjoy. Thanks to these perfectly portioned cubes of herbs and garlic, I can take our meals to a new level again. Since breakfast has been my big focus lately, I tried these first in a Tomato Basil Egg Skillet.

Best Breakfast Places in Carmel, Indiana

Breakfast at our house has to be fast to make, and full of flavors everyone will enjoy – which is why the kids usually just end up with cereal. Eggs are my favorite way to go, but sometimes getting all the components together for truly delicious eggs, can take a bit. Washing, cutting, and then cleaning up any fresh herbs is just a pain. Dorot Gardens takes all that away!

This Tomato Basil Egg Skillet is ready in 5 minutes and is so much better than regular old scrambled eggs. From Dorot Gardens you’ll need the garlic and basil varieties.
Tomato Basil Egg Skillet

2018-03-05 06:31:40

Serves 3

Enjoy a simple Tomato Basil Egg Skillet with Dorot Gardens Fresh Herbs

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Ingredients

4 eggs

1 cube Dorot Garden’s Basil

1 cube Dorot Gadren’s Garlic

1 Roma Tomato, chopped

salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Whish eggs in a small bowl.

Heat a non-stick skillet on medium-low heat. Add basil and garlic. Crush with a spoon, and stir around for about 30 seconds to 1 minute.

Add eggs and tomatoes to the pan. Stirring periodically to scramble. Cook until eggs are no longer runny.

Season with salt and pepper.

Serve warm.

By Home Maid Simple

Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/
This is the kind of breakfast I could make and eat every morning. It only takes a minute or two longer than opening a box of cereal, and it’s obviously so much better for us.

So stop wasting money and go find Dorot Gardens fresh herbs to elevate your plate.
March 5, 2018
Meal Planning Made Easy with Innit

Through discussions with friends, I’ve learned that there’s one thing we all dread. Meal planning.

We want to make healthy, well-balanced meals for our family. We have good intentions. But the act of sitting down, and planning it out every week, and then doing the shopping, and then the cooking – it gets overwhelming. Many nights I have no idea what we’re eating until 5 o’clock when I start rifling through the fridge.

The problem with cooking this way is while we’re trying to save money, we are losing money by tossing out food that’s gone bad because I had no specific plan to use it.

When Innit reached out and asked me to try out their app, I was on board. With a new year, I needed something to help me plan better meals, and that made the shopping part easy too.

Pro’s to Meal Planning with Innit

There are a lot of things to love about Innit. When you first download the Innit App, it will ask you a series of questions to get to know your dietary preferences, including the top 8 allergens. Having a son with allergies, this was very important to me.

Within each recipe, you can change some of the main ingredients to fit your lifestyle. Not a fan of chicken, but the recipe looks good? Trade the chicken out of steak, turkey or salmon!

My favorite part of the app is the shopping list. As you go through and add each meal to your menu plan for the week, the ingredients are added to a shopping list. No more pencil and paper. No forgetting to write something down. Plus you can check off each ingredient as you add them to the cart.

With the Innit App, you will cook smarter too. The app times everything to cook so each portion of the meal is ready at the same time. I have really enjoyed watching the videos for clarifying steps. These are found right inside the app as you are cooking!

Cons to Meal Planning with Innit

With a few tweaks, I can see Innit becoming the go-to meal planning app. My biggest issue was trying to figure out where to find the recipes, and especially recipes I was interested in making. However, that may have been a personal problem.

I would love to see the shopping list organized by department. Currently, the list is scattered depending on how the recipes were added to your list. It would make shopping easier if they were listed by produce, pantry, frozen, and dairy.

Finally – variety. There is not a large variety of recipes with Innit. This could really go in pros and cons, depending on your preference. Having a few recipes, that you can customize, may be exactly what some families need to get back on track with meal planning. I personally love the variety and struggle to have the same thing over and over again – even if we just change the protein or starch. Mark, however, loves when I remake favorite meals, instead of constantly trying new things. So it’s really just a matter of preference here.

February 27, 2018