$38!!! This is not a drill! 50% off Force of Nature, for two days only.
use code wowsave50
This price includes the generator and 25 refills, really awesome deal. I’ve been an affiliate for several years and never seen such a low price. The bundle is only $38 and includes 25 refills….AMAZING deal. Am thinking about buying a second for backup, really! If you have any questions, let me know!
Thanks for shopping with me!
This post contains referral links. Thank you for helping to make my dreams of writing for a living come true!
During this difficult time, a lot of people have been looking for cleaner that will kill Corona Virus. A lot of cleaners that are typically recommended: Lysol, Clorox, and even bleach have been out of stock locally and online. It’s even been difficult to find rubbing alcohol! Fortunately, my cleaner of choice is in stock and still available for order (although shipping may be delayed).
Because our family has asthma, allergies, and autoimmune issues, I have been very careful about what cleaning products I bring into our home. I’ve replaced Clorox wipes, windex, lysol, and other all purpose cleaners with ONE safe, effective, and affordable natural alternative. I have been using it for almost 2 years and absolutely love it. It has also been approved by the EPA to kill COVID-19.
Click here to check out Force of Nature!
It’s as effective as bleach but so much safer!
What exactly is it? Force of Nature miniaturizes the electrolyzed water technology from the industrial space. Salt, water and vinegar are converted to electrolyzed water when an electrical current changes the chemical composition of the solution into germ killing magic!
Is it effective? To be EPA registered, Force of Nature was tested using EPA testing protocols, in EPA approved labs, across multiple microbes. It can be used as a disinfectant and sanitizer in hospitals, schools, veterinary clinics and restaurants.
Want to see it in action? When I first got my Force of Nature starter kit, I created a video to share with my followers. Watch it here.
So it kills Corona Virus? YES. Here is the EPA link to check it out for yourself. Just type “Force of Nature” into the search box to see the results.
How can I get a deal? You are in luck, because there are some great coupon codes available right now. Click here and use the following discounts to save!
Get $40 off & free shipping on Starter Kits with the code:
SAFEHOME
25% the already discounted price on Year Supply Bundles with the code:
BUNDLEPLEASE
These codes should be active through the end of April. If you have any questions about Force of Nature, you might want to check out the FAQs or feel free to leave me a comment.
Stay safe and well!
I’ve been using e-cloth for cleaning for a couple years now and just had to share this deal with you! Right now, get this 3 piece household cleaning set for only $7.50……plus you should be able to save $10 using this referral link:
Click here to save $10 on ecloth!
Then click on the overstock clearance tab at the top to find the 3 piece deal and several other amazing bargains. I’m sorry I missed out on a couple other steals, but I did buy FOUR sets of these because I know I will use them daily.
E-cloth is an affordable alternative to Norwex cloths and they work GREAT. You can clean with just water or use them with mild cleaners (I use mine with Force of Nature). I especially love the polishing cloths for glass and at this price it’s a NO-BRAINER.
I’m not sure if the $10 off will work with clearance, but it’s worth a try!
If you know me, you know that my “beauty routine” is super minimalist and I really use only a handful of products. Today I’m going to show you how to make one of my very favorites, and it will take you like five minutes! This is the PERFECT product for holiday gift-giving and is one of the best multi-use items in my stash!
Please note this post contains affiliate links. Today I’m introducing you to Plant Therapy, my favorite Essential Oils Company with great quality standards, careful safety guidelines, unbeatable prices and free, fast shipping each and every time!
Click here for Plant Therapy Essential Oils!
This sugar scrub is smooth and smells AHHHMAZING. I’ve made this recipe for years but recently discovered a couple tips that make this product even better. You can use any essential oils that you want, but I’ve used Peppermint Oil in the past because of it’s fantastic, invigorating scent. Click here to buy Peppermint Oil, Lavender & Lemon Oil from Plant Therapy. Today I’m using Immune Aid to give my family a little extra immune support during this particular season! Click here to buy this fantastic organic blend for only $9.95 with free shipping!
DIY Essential Oils Sugar Scrub
5-10 drops of your favorite Essential Oils
Equipment: Hand or stand mixer, Stainless Steel bowl and spoon, Silicone Squeeze Bottles. (These bottles are what have taken this DIY recipe from a nice handmade product to my very favorite travel-friendly, shower-friendly, convenient product that I can carry anywhere. You can squeeze the sugar scrub right out easily and it works just perfectly. Great for shower, purse, etc. Right now they are only $10 for a 3 pack….awesome deal!)
Step One: Pour your Coconut Oil into a bowl and beat with your mixer for about 5 minutes until it’s smooth and fluffy. (This is what keeps your finished product from separating and gives you the lovely, store-bought beauty product feel!)
Step Two: Next stir in your sugar until combined.
Step Three: Finally, add your essential oils and blend on low until combined (about 15 seconds should do the trick).
Step Four: You’re done! Add your sugar scrub to a shallow, wide glass jar like this or the silicone travel tubes.
Hint, it’s not super easy to add the scrub to the tubes. One sort of easy way is to use a ziplock bag to squeeze it in (cutting off the corner like an icing bag). Just take your time and you will LOVE how easy it is to squeeze the scrub out once you’re done!*
Note: This recipe filled up all three tubes and left at least 3 oz left over
This sugar scrub is awesome for hands, feet and face! I love to keep some by the kitchen sink, in the shower and of course for travel. It’s also the first thing I grab after chopping onions or garlic and I even like to use it on my legs before shaving to prevent ingrown hairs and get a smooth shave. My hubby actually loves this product too! Enjoy!
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Although I have made this recipes tons of times, I have only used the silicone tubes twice. The first time, it worked perfectly but I have just realized that I’m having trouble squeezing out the scrub this time. My suggestion is to increase the amount of coconut oil to get a thinner consistency, particularly at a colder time of year. A squirt of fractionated coconut oil or even olive oil might help make your scrub more squeezable also!
My Bullet Journal is one of my favorite things and I love that I won’t be worrying about ordering an expensive planner for this school year. If you struggle with organization, don’t feel like most planners fit your lifestyle, or simply want to have more control over the options, Bullet Journaling could be your perfect planner-match! Keep reading for a super easy and free bullet journal hack that I’m excited to implement for this season!
I have been thinking more about optimizing my bullet journal as I’m gearing up for Homeschooling the Prescott Kiddos for Fall 2016. (“Gearing up” in this case means looking for spare change in the couch cushions to buy curriculum that we probably don’t need anyway). If you are new to Bullet Journaling, check out my post for BargainBabe to get started. It’s an incredibly flexible and forgiving scheduling and list system. All you need is a notebook and a pen!
The one thing I was wishing for was a calendar option for the bullet journal, so I found a free printable and started adding it to my BuJo. That was just what I needed to take it to the next level! I just cut it out and pasted it in. Even though a “pretty” bullet journal hasn’t been on my radar, I did take some leftover washi tape and decorate the edges for a little extra glitz. That’s pretty much all you can expect from me in the artistic arena. 
Have you used Bullet Journaling? Share your tips in the comments!
I’m sharing my budget “tween” shared twin room makeover because tweens are a tricky demographic. They want to be grown up, but they don’t bring in their own income! They want all their toys, but they also want their room to look sophisticated. Don’t forget to check out Budget Tween Room Makeover In Progress (Part 1) & Budget Tween Room Makeover Part 2 if you missed them!
Things are shaping up nicely over here. Although we totally had a DIY-fail this week involving a vintage lamp and spray paint, we found some adorable accessories that we are excited to add to the room. As we planned, we sold our Ikea Kura (we will miss it, such a fun versatile piece; but our other Kura is still serving us well in my son’s room) and took a family trip to Ikea for a more grown-up alternative, finally settling on this:
I was considering a metal bunk bed (we love the clean lines of this one by Walker Edison), but my husband felt like a wood version would be more sturdy. He was able to put the Mydal together in about two hours with tons of family interruptions. I’m happy to report I didn’t hear any angry outbursts or loud crashes so I think the experience was relatively painless for him. If you ask him, assembling furniture could be his least favorite task in the world. Hopefully the girls realize what a labor of love this was for him to work so much on their room during his “vacation” week.
He also installed two picture ledges/shelves for the girls from Ikea. These appear to be the perfect solution for a few bedtime essentials (clock, book, water bottle) without the clutter of a bedside table (or the challenge of height for the top bed). We also bought a couple of these for under-bed storage, which we promptly filled with out of season clothing. (Nine year old identical twin girls sharing a closet is no joke, folks).
Our next quest was for new bedding that would match the new dorm room vibe. I started googling “bunk bed bedding” and here is the resulting shopping rabbit hole I ended up heading down. I will update soon with the bedding that we ended up choosing, but the girls are thrilled with the results.
Next I had this “brilliant” idea to re-paint my old lamp from college that for some reason was still stashed in the attic. We used Krylon Shimmer Metallic Black Spray Paint and I love the color. It’s nothing close to glittery, just black with a little extra “something”. It was a little tricky covering the base because it’s so narrow and I did end up with some paint drips, but keep in mind that I am also fairly careless with craft projects (just being honest, ya’ll). I plan to cover it with a clear protective spray to keep the finish nice. Sadly, my brilliant plan started to deteriorate when I realized spray painting the translucent shade wasn’t quite possible. The resulting splotchy light was pretty gloomy and depressing. On to Plan B…
As most folks know, I tend to cling to a project idea until it is pretty much pried from my lifeless, paint-stained hands, so I refused to give up on the lamp (which is really illogical since I know for a fact I paid only $8 for it at Walmart in the year 2000). I tried purchasing a new shade at Lowe’s only to realize I was the semi-confused owner of two half-circle wall sconces. (Thank you Lowe’s for easy returns).
Finally, I went to Michael’s absolutely determined to solve the lamp problem. I came home with some gorgeous gold washi tape and proceeded to tape and tape and tape. Washi tape lampshades are all over pinterest so I was confident this idea would be a success. (Misplaced confidence is also part of my DIY-er profile).
This was my first experience with Washi Tape and it turns out that it’s not as tape-y as duct tape. Soon I realized that the stick alone was not going to hold this project together. So I whipped out my Mod Podge (this $8 sixteen-year-old lamp was racking up a tab of upwards of $50 but good thing I made nearly $1.40 yesterday on Amazon Affiliates. Blogging my way to the top, ya’ll)
So I started haphazardly slapping sticky Mod Podge all over the lamp and tucking the ends over the edge (forgetting that not everyone is short like me and the inside would be visible to the naked eye). A couple coats later and ta-da! My eighteen hour, four shopping trips later, simple DIY project was complete! And the results are:
Ok? Not bad? Better than dumping the lamp in a landfill? Semi-functional? Good enough for now?
Our fun find of the week was these two large letters with the ampersand for my “S” girls. The total for all three was about $7 thanks to major markdowns! We plan to hang them on the wall once we figure out the perfect spot. There are tons of different letters in all colors and sizes for 70% right now at Michael’s from the Alphabet Train line, so check it out in your local store!
I would love to thank Brooklyn & Bailey (teen youtube stars & identical twin girls) for their fun and cute videos about their shared room. I could tell my girls were really impressed to see cool older girls who enjoy sharing a room and can make it look so awesome at the same time. I really appreciate their positive sibling dynamic and great example!
Twin Tweens
I’m sharing my budget “tween” shared twin room makeover because tweens are a tricky demographic. They want to be grown up, but they don’t bring in their own income! They want all their toys, but they also want their room to look sophisticated. Check out my first post to see what we started with.
Here’s our purple progress so far!
I have to get started by apologizing. I realized today that yesterday’s post was a little misleading because I really didn’t post any budget tips! I promise I wasn’t trying to create click-bait…I was just trying to break up the post into reasonable pieces and the room is, like I said, a work in progress. But I promise I do have some budget tips, and I’m going to jump right into them today. My first tip is probably not going to surprise anyone!
I don’t want to sound like a broken record (it literally *just* occurred to me that readers are going to start wondering what that phrase means! whoa. That along with blogging about having tweens is definitely making me feel old….) but thrifting is such a great way of filling in the gaps with awesome unique decor with way less investment! When you walk through a thrift store lookout for items that are perfect for:
I like this one, Rust-oleum Chalkboard Spray Paint. $3.95 as an add-on item is an awesome price for this also! We have used this paint for shelves, coasters, and redoing old art into chalkboards. It’s got great coverage and is really easy to use!
I plan to order this one, Rust-oleum Bright Coat Metallic Finish. I can’t wait to try this on some knick-knacks we already have around the house.
Think about what items you *need* for your home and try to imagine how bargain items could serve the purpose.
Here is an example of a outdated 90’s style kitchen basket that we spray painted with Krylon CoverMaxx in Gumdrop. We applied about three coats (probably due to my extremely haphazard spraypainting style) but the basket turned out perfect for our purposes. I mean, tacky stuff in bright colors is just what nine year olds are drawn to, so really why would you pay a lot of money for something you can easily make yourself? (Of course, in retrospect, I really wish I had done this in gold because I think it would have turned out awesome but we already had the purple so it is what it is.)
Check out my Pinterest board for all kinds of thrifted DIY ideas with tweens in mind. I will be back with more tips soon!
Don’t miss my other posts in this series!
Budget Tween Room Makeover Part 1
Budget Tween Room Makeover Part 3
Bunk Bed Bedding Reveal
I’m sharing my budget “tween” shared twin room makeover because tweens are a tricky demographic. They want to be grown up, but they don’t bring in their own income! They want all their toys, but they also want their room to look sophisticated.
In case I haven’t made it clear, EVERYTHING we do is on a budget. As a one income family (let’s face it, I’m not exactly raking in the dough as a blogger) money is always tight and our poor old house is ALWAYS in need of something. Just when you think you have a little extra cash to work with, the van needs repairs….but let’s not get bogged down with reality.
A decade ago we found out we were having twins. At that moment, the doctor could not tell us the genders of the babies. We weren’t sure if we would find out in time, so we had to go ahead and paint the room for them. I chose a “guacamole green” thinking it would work for boys, girls, or one of each. Once we found out they were both girls, we put up sweet little animal wall decals, butterfly growth charts and a sign that read: “Thank Heaven for Little Girls”.
My sweet girls have shared the same room with the same cutesy baby decor up ever since and they were really hoping for a change. Actually, they were hoping not to have to share a room but again….reality. So with much discussion and debate, they chose a color. With a funny twist, it is very similar to the color I chose for my first “tweenage” room two decades ago. Appropriately, their new color is called”Sassy Lilac” from Valspar.
My husband painted this week (on his vacation from work….what a loving Daddy!) and it is just as purple as they dreamed! When I asked them what they hoped for from a new room one of the big wishes was: more space. It’s an understandable request, they are homeschooled identical twin girls sharing a very small space and they spend a lot of time together.
So we tried to clear out the area as much as possible, eliminating clutter and editing down the American Girl world that had become much larger than life. Seriously, this was their 18″ doll dollhouse before:
The KidKraft 18″ Elegant Doll Manor is on Amazon if you want to take a look. They really do love it.
Notice how what used to be two bookcases became an addition to the 18″ doll home? I’m telling you, those dolls have much more space than our family. Also, here you can see the “guacamole” paint and understand perhaps why they wanted to go for something a little brighter.
Next we wanted to find a cool piece of art to tie the room together. Exploring Homegoods, we found this black, white & gold print with “Do everything with love” on it. The girls and I decided then and there that the accent colors for the room would be white, black and gold against the backdrop of purple walls. (And it was only $18 on clearance).
We are pretty happy with the direction the room is going in. I will post more updates as we go.
Check out more posts in this series!
I know you have seen tassel necklaces all over pinterest just like I have. There is something about a long tassel necklace that is so flattering and can go with almost anything. I feel like they simultaneously make me look taller and more sophisticated at the same time (maybe that’s just in my head though). I think these are the perfect summer accessory, so I wanted to share some affiliate links from Amazon. Of course, the one I always drool over is the Kendra Scott Rayne Necklace. But I really love some of these budget-friendly alternatives as well:
This is a really easy DIY project that includes two of my favorites: crafting and thrifting come together to make a gorgeous on-trend tassel necklace! My girls loved making these last summer.
https://everywomanblog.com/2015/09/10/5-minute-fall-necklace/
This week has decidedly not gone how I’d hoped. I was nauseous all day Monday until Monday night, when things went downhill, but I’ll spare you the details. Thankfully, no one else seems to have been infected, and thankfully I am finally feeling nearly normal today. On top of the vomiting, (whoops, I said no details), I was feeling truly horrible because I couldn’t stomach coffee (or anything much) until this morning. If you know me at all, you know that a lack of coffee is not compatible with my lifestyle.
But no one wants to hear about that, so I thought I would quickly share some of the things that help me feel better when I am under the weather. In the interest of full disclosure, please realize that I have become an Amazon partner, so I will receive a small (really, minuscule) compensation for any items purchased through my links. As ya’ll know I have been shamelessly raving about my favorite things for years, I just thought I would finally try to get a little cash flow from my role as consumer enabler.
One day I was having a horrible migraine and couldn’t keep any meds down. My husband ran out and brought home these and they have been a life-saver. They aren’t recommended for kids, but there is a children’s version (which I have not purchased). I admit I have cut the adult size ones in half for feverish kids and they have helped but that’s obviously not medical advice from me. You would never receive medical advice from me. Never.
I am also a huge fan of a good heating pad, and I really love this one. Is it weird if I admit I use it like everyday? I don’t truly have chronic pain thankfully, but as a busy mom I feel like I am always in some kind of pain and this thing gets hot, fast. I actually ruined our bed because I used a heating pad too frequently when I was pregnant, but that’s a story for another day. For the kids, we like rice filled heating pads that you can make yourself and heat up in the microwave. Little Blue Boo has a great easy tutorial and if you haven’t checked out her blog-world, it’s amazing! If you want to make these heating pads therapeutic with Essential Oils please check with my friend Jessica, she can definitely help you! They also love this stuffed bear that we were gifted and it has held up great for three years of use. Thanks, Diane! These Anti-Stress eye pillows are also fantastic and I keep one by my bed (if only the microwave was there I’d be all set).
I have never used Goody’s powder until this year, but I will always keep a stock of it now. Especially for those with a caffeine addiction, this is amazingly effective and quick. I thought it was weird to take powdered pain reliever, but results are results. We really have a lot more health related recommendations, but my morning blog time is coming to a close and it’s time to face our homeschool day. Thank you Lord for coffee and beautiful Fridays in the springtime! 3 John 1:2 “Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well.“
Have a great weekend!
Once again, I ask, how did folks homeschool before the advent of Pinterest??
When I feel particularly overwhelmed with the clutter, I tend to browse the internet for the magical cure. Sometimes I get distracted by how to catch mosquitoes in a two liter bottle, how to decorate a mug with a sharpie, or the best way to dress for your body type. Other times, I find something truly helpful that I implement right away like this idea for a homeschool mom bag*…I love it and it has really helped me keep life organized!
This method works great for me because we have a fairly small home with limited dedicated school space, I want to be able to homeschool “on the road”, and I’m not the world’s most organized mom to begin with. All you need to make this work is a Thirty One Organizing Utility Tote**, (look at all the pretty color options!), an open top file box, file folders, and your basic craft/office supplies (the things you want to keep close at hand for school).
No instructions are needed, you simply fit the file box into the bag, add the file folders, and fill the outside pockets with supplies. Here is what I keep in my bag:
When we are at home, this bag lives on top of a rolling cart in our kitchen. If we are traveling, I can remove the file box portion and fill the heart of the bag with workbooks, notebooks, readers and whatever else we may need. It makes it so easy to homeschool on the go! I’m still not great with organizing, but with this bag, I can totally fake it! I’d love to hear any of your ideas!
*I originally found this idea at IHeart Organizing!
**Please note, I am NOT affiliated with Thirty One Bags in any way, and in fact had never owned any of them until I found this idea. As it happens, I purchased my tote on ebay, but if you’d like to find a consultant in your area, look here.
I probably won’t be sharing a ton of recipes here, because cooking is really not my forte (I’m not sure what my forte is, but I’m sure I will one day discover it). This recipe however, is one that I’ve made many dozens of times and tweaked enough that it barely resembles the original I came across years ago. It also has a wonderful flexibility in quantity and ingredient that has made it a go-to breakfast at our house for years. You just can’t fail with this “Magic Oatmeal Cake”. It’s easy, versatile and healthy. It’s great to reheat on cold mornings, or sometimes I will make it the day before and have my husband throw it in the oven before he goes to work so it is ready when the kids get up.
Each time you make a purchase through one of my affiliate links, you help keep my little blog-boat afloat, so thank you!
Magic Oatmeal Cake
Combine:
4-5 cups of oatmeal
1-2 cups of yogurt
2 cups warm water
Let this sit on the counter for a few hours or until you get around to baking it. Sometimes it sits on my counter all day long.
Preheat oven to 350*
Combine in a separate bowl:
1 cup sweetener: sugar, honey, molasses, turbinado, or whatever you want
3/4 cup oil (applesauce may be substituted)
4 eggs
1 Tbls cinnamon
1 Tbls baking powder
2 Tsp. vanilla
Add the above to oatmeal/yogurt mixture, then add:
1-2 cups of milk to desired texture: more milk makes it custardy, less makes it cake-like.
1-2 cups fruit of choice (fresh, dried, frozen)
Dump it in a 9″ x 13″ greased pan, bake for 1 hour. Let cool, then keep in fridge, you can reheat or eat cold.
Ideas for add-ins: frozen blueberries, cranberries, raspberries, strawberries, bananas, applesauce, chopped apples, pears, peaches, raisins, golden raisins, canned pineapple, walnuts, almonds, wheat germ, bran, flax seed. Dessert version: cherries and mini chocolate chips (we love Enjoy Life chocolate chips because they are allergen-friendly!)
Enjoy!
