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Tag: winter

  • DIY Quick Window Defroster and Other Winter Car Tips

    DIY Quick Window Defroster and Other Winter Car Tips

    With winter upon us, and many places covered in snow already, I felt today would be a good time to share a tip on how to keep ice off your car windows, without freezing your hands off. Check out this DIY window defroster I found on Pinterest! This post contains affiliate links and I will receive compensation if you click through and make a purchase.  Defrost your windows in seconds with this homemade spray and other winter car care tips. Related Post: Winter Car Emergency Kit

     

    I find myself often scraping the car windows, gloveless, because I was in a rush, forgot the gloves, couldn’t find the gloves or wasn’t expecting a frosty car.  My poor fingers on those days really don’t like me, and I don’t blame them. While browsing Pinterest, I came across a photo with a tip below it for de-icing car windows in a rush. Keep reading for more tips on dealing with icy windows.

    DIY Window Defroster

    • 3 parts Vinegar
    • 1 part Water
    • Mix together. Spray on the windshield before nightfall as a pretreatment, or after ice forms. Either way should work.
    I was thrilled and immediately told Mark about it. I always worry about putting anything on the car. Mark takes care of our vehicles, and he knows what is good or bad for the car. I didn’t think vinegar would be bad, especially just on the windows, but had to make sure from the boss. He says it’s ok to use.
    So next I went to the source of the picture – Coffee Break with Liz and Kate.   I’m so glad I did too because they answered my next question, how/why does this work?  In their words: 

    “Vinegar contains acetic acid, which raises the melting point of water – preventing water from freezing.”

    Alternative Window Defrosters

    I’ve been reading up on this tip lately, before winter hits again, and have found many of you tried it over on Pinterest. Some found it worked, others were not impressed. Overall it seems the vinegar can leave your car smelling, well, vinegary. Some found the spray would just refreeze on the windshield. Here are some alternatives to try.

    Replace the vinegar with Isopropyl Alcohol. Mix with water in same proportions.

    Replace the water with Dish Soap. Mix with vinegar in same proportions.

    Replace the vinegar with Isopropyl Alcohol and the water with Dish Soap. Keep the 3:1 ratio. 

    I would also suggest after spraying the mixture turn on the car wipers before anything has a chance to refreeze to the windshield.

    Other Winter Car Tips

    Use this spray on the door handles and key lock to open frozen doors.

    Keep hand warmers in the glove compartment. 

    Check your oil and air filter before the cold hits.

    Keep an ice scraper in the car, however, if it breaks or you’ve left it somewhere, credit cards work wonders on the windshield!

    Store a shovel in the trunk for digging out of a snowbank (hopefully you never need it). 

    Did this Window Defroster solution work for you?



  • DIY Snowman Blocks

    DIY Snowman Blocks

    These Snowman Blocks were made possible by Dixie Belle Paints. All opinions are my own. 

    Simple and quick to make, these Snowman Blocks add the perfect decor to your front porch during the winter season. Especially if you’re lacking in the actual snow. 

    DIY Snowman Blocks add the perfect touch to your porch decor.

    I actually made these Snowman blocks five years ago with a friend, but after many moves and different weather extremes, they were looking a little sad. Actually, they were more than sad, they were downright pathetic looking. Most of the buttons had fallen off, and the white paint was no longer a pretty white. 

    Sad Snowman Blocks needed an update with Dixie Belle Paints. ad

    Awe, poor snowman family! I almost didn’t pull these guys out this year, but then I got Dixie Belle Paints and decided to give them a nice update. Well, if I’m being totally honest, I personally didn’t update them. My eye for detail is not always the bet on objects like these. I can add buttons and sew up hats and scarfs, but painting details…not my strongest skill set. So I enlisted Mark’s help.

    Spruce up your winter decor with Dixie Belle Paints. ad

    DIY Wooden Snowman Blocks

    • 4×4 wooden blocks, varying sizes
    • Dixie Belle Paints
    • Santa Hats
    • Plaid Fabric
    • Paintbrush

    To make your snowman blocks we found it handy to already have the Santa hats attached to the snowman. To do this, all you need to do is hot glue around the top of each block, and press on the hat. However, you can also save this step for last. It just made a nice grip for holding the snowman up while painting on various sides. 

    Paint your wooden blocks with white Dixie Belle Paint. This fantastic paint has a fast dry time so that by the time we finished our last block, our first block was dry and ready for the details. Continue adding details with various Dixie Belle Paint colors, to create your snowmen. Each of our snowmen is sporting a fun face, 3 buttons, and 2 gloved hands. Our middle snowman got lucky and received some pockets. 

    Once the Snowmen are painted, cut strips of your plaid fabric to tie around the blocks as scarves. It’s the finishing touch that takes the snowman family from cute decor to a whimsical addition to your home. 

    DIY wooden Snowman Blocks add whimsical fun to your winter porch with Dixie Belle Paints.ad

  • Winter Car Emergency Kit

    Winter Car Emergency Kit

    This winter car emergency kit has been made possible by meori. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own. 

    With winter, comes the potential for an emergency situation where you are stuck in the car. From minor accidents like fender benders to larger ones such as sliding off a slippery road and getting stuck in a snowdrift. With a winter car emergency kit, you and your passengers will have the comfort needed in any crises. 

    Be prepared this winter with a car emergency kit! Here's everything you need. ad

    Thankfully I’ve never been in a terrible accident, but  I have had my fair share of winter emergencies where this emergency kit would have been extremely handy. I’ve tried to keep things both practical and useful. After all, who wants to carry extra ‘stuff’ in their car all winter long. Not me! Four kids and all their ‘stuff’ that seems to end up in the car is more than enough extras. 

    So I’ve gathered everything you might need in an emergency – whether big or small – and compacted it into the meori foldable box with two compartments. I love that meori has CAR printed on it already, making it easy to see for everyone, including the husband, that this box belongs in the car.

    Prep your winter car emergency kit before bad weather hits. ad

    So what do I have in my winter car emergency kit? Let me tell you. 

    We fit everything but the blankets into a backpack for ease of carrying if we actually have to leave the car somewhere. So far that has not occurred, thank goodness! The backpack itself then fits nicely inside one compartment in the meori box, while the other side fits 4 fleece blankets. Together it all fits snugly in the bag of my Honda Pilot. If you know anything about the pilot, the trunk space is probably the only downfall. Being able to store a fully loaded emergency kit with room leftover is quite impressive. 

    Winter car emergency kit in the meori foldable box. ad

    The meori box has proven to be quite durable. ait’s quality made and holds up well to a large semi-unorganized family. The car box has been fantastic, but that’s not all they have. I’ve used meori to organize inside the house too! Just check out these other uses for inside your home. 

    meori Filing Box

    Organize your work files with meori filing box. ad

    Winter Gear Storage

    Keep hats, gloves, and scarfs organized with meori. ad

  • Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Creamy Milk Chocolate combined with Pumpkin Spice make the perfect mug of Hot Cocoa to warm up with this season. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    I’m sitting on the couch right now, watching my son play Just Dance, and notice that it appears to be half snowing half raining outside. I start to feel the chill in my bones that cold brings and the excitement just builds from there. 

    I LOVE SNOW! It’s cold, it’s wet, the sun rarely shines during these months – what could there possibly be to love about this weather? Perhaps most of my childhood memories are rooted around winter time. Building forts with my brothers, throwing snowballs with friends, and sledding down the hill into the forest with my parents. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Maybe it’s the clean beauty white adds to our world. From a green summer, to a colorful fall – winter brings us a fresh canvas to restart and refresh. I may not spend as much time outdoors as I did as a kid these days, but my ideal spot would be curled under a blanket with a cup of hot cocoa next to a window facing a winter wonderland. 

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa

    Enjoy this Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa, and smile at the beauty that comes with winter. All you need is your favorite chocolate bar, some Pumpkin Spice Syrup (affiliate), milk and whipped cream for a delicious warming drink.

    Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
    Serves 1
    Your favorite chocolate bar + Pumpkin Spice lead to a cozy mug of this Creamy Pumpkin Spice Hot Cocoa
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    Ingredients
    1. 2.5oz favorite chocolate bar
    2. 1 cup milk
    3. Whipped Cream
    4. Pumpkin Spice Syrup
    Instructions
    1. Over low heat, mix the milk and chocolate bar until chocolate is completely melted.
    2. Pour into your favorite mug.
    3. Top with Whipped Cream and Pumpkin Spice Syrup.
    Home Maid Simple https://www.homemaidsimple.com/
  • 5 Tips to Prep Your Home for Winter

    5 Tips to Prep Your Home for Winter

    Before winter hits, there are some things you should do to prepare your home and family for the colder weather.

    These 5 tips will guide you through some simple steps any home owner can take. From keeping the pipes from freezing, to removing unneeded clutter, I hope some of these will help you have a more enjoyable winter.

    1. Have your furnace serviced.

    Hiring a professional to service your furnace just before the winter months will ensure you and your family aren’t stuck inside a cold home with a broken heater. If you have a fireplace, this would be a great time to have your chimney cleaned as well. Not only does soot build up create a fire hazard, but animals like to build nests in chimneys as the weather starts to turn – ask me how I know that one! Amazon Home Services is a great place to find qualified pros for any home project.

    2. Clean the outside of your windows.

    Clean windows in the winter can be a mood lifter.

    Winter to some is known as the depression months, and for some people it goes as far as an actual disorder known as SAD. Sunlight can greatly effect our mood for the better.  An easy solution for this, is to open the window blinds. If you’re windows are dirty though, you won’t want to. You most definitely will not want to clean your windows in the snow either. So get out there while the sun is still shining and clean the windows before the snow falls. Now every time you open your curtains this winter you’ll find satisfaction in a clean window, and get a mood lift from the sun. I know it’s cold, but go ahead and open that window for 5 minutes too. The fresh air will change your whole house!

    3. Winterize pipes.

    As a victim of a burst pipe in our first home, I beg you on my hands and knees, winterize those pipes! Make sure the hose is turned off inside the house, not just at the hose. According to this post I found on Winterizing homes from the Comfree blog, you should also drain the hose, and if you’re expecting an extreme cold winter, you can install some Styrofoam insulation at the spigots.

    4. Pack up and store summer clothes.

    You know what I hate? Opening my kids drawers and finding them full of shorts in the dead of winter. If you child is old enough to dress themselves, you most likely will find them trying to wear shorts no matter the weather, or they may just throw them on the floor, mixing them in with the dirty laundry. You can save yourself a lot of extra work, by packing these all in a box, and storing them out of the way until the warm months return.

    5. Know where emergency supplies are. 

    Finally, and I think this is something a lot of people are prone to forget, is have and know where your emergency supplies are. You never know when a winter storm will leave you without power.  A few things you should have on hand

    • flashlights
    • candles
    • matches
    • simple tools. ie, hand wrenches, screwdrivers
    • warm blankets

    I currently keep a bag of these on hand in my car (you never know when you may end up stranded on the road). Although I can easily grab it and bring it inside, it would be best to have an emergency kit inside your house as well. 

       

  • Keep Mice out!

    Keep Mice out!

    *This post is sponsored by Fresh Cab. All opinions are my own*
     
    There once was a grasshopper who didn’t save food for the winter. When the cold weather set in, he looked to the ants for food and shelter. 
     

    What does that have to do with mice you may ask?  Well, the weather is getting colder, and the mice of the world are looking for someplace warm to hole up for the winter. They will find the holes in your walls, vents, and any other way to get into your house, and storage and make their nest. Mice are NOT FUN!  I kid you not, I have had my fair share plus some, of mice in the house.

    Our first experience was when a mouse died under our fridge. We didn’t know, and it brought ants. Lots of ants. The more I tried to get rid of them, the worse they became (including sprouting wings) until we finally found the mouse. YUCK!

    Last fall we were renting a house next to a huge overgrown field. One morning I woke up and found our cereal boxes chewed through and droppings all over the top of the fridge. From there they escalated. I was still nursing Prince L at the time, with frequent late night feedings.  As I would sit there feeding Lincoln, I could hear the mice scurrying around the walls, and even watched some leap over boxes and come way too close to my feet for comfort.

    One day I was relaxing on the floor with the Princesses during some quiet time, and I literally played peek-a-boo with a mouse around one of the walls. He’d poke his head out, I’d stare daggers and laser-beams – he would duck his head back around, then pop it out again.

    This year I am not taking any chances! We have a storage shed on site, and are renting a storage unit as well while trying to purge our things and fit into 1300sq feet. We have kids clothes stored, my fabric stash, and all our holiday decorations and books. I really don’t want these things to be ruined so I’m taking some precautions, including putting everything into plastic bins, and then using Fresh Cab to detract mice from coming in.

    I am really enjoying the Fresh Cab Botanical Rodent Repellent. It is completely safe to use around kids and animals. Made out of all natural fibers and oils, Fresh Cab repels mice simply by scent.

    The mixture containing Balsam Fir smells so amazing! It’s like walking into a forest. the Balsam Fir is a natural pesticide, which keeps the mice out. Once you can no longer smell the the fragrance, you know it’s time to change the pouch.

    I’ve been using Fresh Cab for about a month now in our storage shed, and have not seen any traces of mice. I hope this keeps up all winter. I’d be happy if I never saw a mouse again.

    What do you do to keep mice out?
  • Wooden Snowmen

    Wooden Snowmen

    Way back in June, I got inspired by Krystal at Sassy Sanctuary (she always inspires me really), to make this adorable Uncle Sam porch decor.

    Mark had bought some wood to make dice for his class, and had a little extra. So I decided to improvise my own version of Uncle Sam, making it much simpler, with items I had on hand. Well, June turned into July, which turned into August and September, October, November and finally December.  I still had the wood block Mark cut me, but they hadn’t even been sanded yet!
    Well Saturday, Mark was outside fixing our fence from a crazy hurricane level windstorm we had last week. Since he already had his tools out, I asked if he would sand my blocks (cause face it, using a big electric sander got the job done a lot faster than by hand!)  Finally I was ready to use these blocks, but I decided it was too cold for Uncle Sam. Instead they turned into some cute Snowmen!
    Aren’t they just adorable?! It was so easy to make too!
    A fun little fact, I made these today while my friend Krystal was over doing some crafty stuff as well. This Krystal is not however the same Krystal from Sassy Sanctuary. But I sure appreciate both of them for inspiring me, and helping me create some really fun winter decorations! I bounced a lot of the little details off Krystal, because sometimes I just guess, and what I picture in my head, does not come out how I would’ve liked!