Category Archives: Home

Favorites, Home, Minimalism, Organization

My Kitchen Makeover (New Product Share!)

 

I wanted to share a new product that I am really enjoying! Since getting into minimalism, I have tried to be very, very intentional about purchases. That often means I go for a long time waiting to find the right thing. Years ago I eliminated plastic from my kitchen and I’ve been also trying to eliminate lead and other toxins. We have a family history of some complicated health issues which make it difficult for our bodies to detox, so this is a little more on my radar. I recently found #sweese and they were kind enough to send me a beautiful set of mugs. Sweese is made from a type of premium LEAD-FREE and NON-TOXIC ceramic, chip-resistant and more sturdy than stoneware. I love the design of these, the beautiful colors and the fact that they are really sturdy which is a must for my clumsy mornings. Most important, I trust the company to be SAFE for my family, so we have ditched our random collection of mugs from here and there. Sweese also makes stackable mugs (LOVE!), beautiful butter dishes, serving platters and more. Check them out here (and thanks for shopping through my affiliate links)!

Want this beautiful Mug Set for yourself? Click here to check it out!

Deal Alert, DIY, Friday Favorites, Home

Best Price Ever on my Secret Weapon for Cleaning!

$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!

DIY, Health, Home, Minimalism

How I kill COVID-19: Discount & Review

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).

Force of Nature

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!

Everything Else, Home, Minimalism

Your Future Self & Travel

When I first heard the phrase “take care of your future self” I thought it was a little strange. I had never thought about self-care in that context. (And honestly, the whole self-care thing gets a little old). However, I have found this idea extremely helpful as I plan out my schedule and work towards simplicity. A little work now takes away stress in the future, and I need all the help I can get with my future stress!

A great example of how this has worked for my family is when we travel. Can you imagine the luxury of having a maid or butler to take care of your home while you are away? This idea is so far removed from my life situation, that it truly is a great reach….however I do have a good imagination!

Picture arriving home after traveling. Whether you were traveling for business or pleasure, chances are you are coming home at least a little tired, right? Imagine walking through the front door and being greeted by freshly scented air, vacuumed floors, fresh towels and sheets, and everything neat as a pin? It would literally be a breath of fresh air right?

This might sound a little unrealistic. Travel is after all a frantically busy time for most families. No matter how hard you plan ahead, there always seem to be last minute details to take care of. But if you can work one hour of time into your schedule to take care of your pre-travel reset, you will find the rewards will be incredibly enjoyable and well worth the time and effort. If you can get your home into a routine of neat and clean, then the following steps truly will be quick and easy to take, leaving you with a beautiful clean space to come home to!

Remember, as I’ve said so many times, organization and cleaning are really not something that come easy for me. Believe me! I have to put a lot of effort in which is why I know that you can do this too. If this isn’t something you can manage yet, it might be that you still need to pare down the stuff to make your job easier. Click here for some of my other posts on Minimalism! 

The best way to tackle this Pre-Travel Reset is after you’ve packed your car, one hour before you plan to leave.

One Hour Pre-Travel Reset!

  • Kitchen:1) Quick fridge clean out. This is just a chance to quickly throw out food that won’t last and maybe wipe down the shelves quickly. Also deal with produce & baked goods. For example this week before leaving, I tossed some bagels into the freezer and threw away a couple of stale pieces of bread. One lone banana also got the chop.
    (5 minutes)

    2) Quick Clean up. Wipe down all the counters, rinse coffee pot (don’t forget to toss the old grounds…..they will mold if left behind!). I’m not including dishes in this reset because hopefully you’ve gotten in the habit of taking care of these after each meal!
    (5 minutes)

     

  • Trash: This really doesn’t need any clarity, right? Don’t forget to gather trash from all over the house and put it in the dumpster so that you won’t be greeted with any unpleasant odors when you return home!
    (5 minutes)
  • Plants: If you have any house plants, you definitely want to water them before you take off. If you have difficulty keeping houseplants alive, I totally recommend  these self-watering planters! They have made plant care possible for me.
    (5 minutes)
  • Vacuum: Quickly vacuum all the rooms. It might seem like a huge pain right now, but when you walk back through those doors you will be LOVING it. It’s so worth the effort, believe me.
    (10 minutes)
     
  • Surfaces: I don’t take time to do any scrubbing or serious cleaning (we’re on the clock, here). However, I do spritz Force of Nature Cleaner on all my counters, sinks and showers before leaving. This means that everything has been sanitized and any hard-core stains gets a nice long soak while I’m gone. Killing germs while you are traveling seems like a great plan to me.
    (5 minutes)
  • Towels. Put out fresh towels in the kitchen and bathroom. You’ll feel like you’re walking into a posh hotel room that’s ready for relaxation and rest!
    (5 minutes)
  • Diffuse. If you are into Essential Oils (and in my opinion, you should be) add some oils to your diffuser and set it on intermittent so that your house will be getting some lovely aromatherapy while you are away. It will kill germs and keep things smelling lovely. 9 times out of 10 I’ll choose Relax by Plant Therapy but another great option for killing germs is Germ Destroyer.  Both are Kid-Safe!
    (5 minutes)
  • Details. Make one last walk-through and close closet doors and dresser drawers, open all the bedroom doors, make the beds and neaten up throw pillows.  Check the thermostat. Turn off lights and leave on a couple of lamps. Be sure none of the toilets are running or faucets are dripping!
    (5 minutes)

Total minutes: 50 (let’s say with any minor distractions you still come in under an hour).

Have an awesome trip and enjoy the knowledge that a clean home is ready and waiting for your return!

Everything Else, Home

Awesome Find: Hybrid Planner!

Leave it to me to find the perfect planner in the middle of February when everyone has already purchased their calendars and books for 2019!

I had been looking for a new planner for awhile. For the last couple years I have been using the Happy Planner plus my bullet journal, but I really was only utilizing the calendar piece of the Happy Planner. I thought about refilling it, but the options were really overwhelming and I was still hoping to find a book that would combine my calendar and bullet journal without me having to jump through a lot of artistic hoops.

I’m creative when the need arises, but I am not naturally artistic and I don’t have any interest in making my planner pretty. For me, it’s just utilitarian and the main function is keeping my anxiety under control. Brain dumps help me stay on top of the crazy in my head while accomplishing at least a few of the tasks that are hanging over me! Which is why I love my bullet journal. If you aren’t totally sure what a bullet journal is, here’s a post I wrote on the topic.

 

After some fruitless searching, I finally came across this little gem that seemed to meet most of my criteria: undated calendar, undated weekly layouts, empty pages in the back, pen holder, bookmarks, stitched cover so it will lay flat. This will solve my problem of combining my calendar with my bullet journal lists in the back!

Now that I’ve handled and tried the Perfect Planner by Bullet Keeper, I’m super happy with all of its features! It’s smaller than my previous planners so it will be a little less bulky to carry around.

One last feature: I am happy to relay that the pages in the Perfect Planner are quite thick and the ink does not bleed through using my Papermate Flair pens!

Awesome right? If you are interested in seeing a video of the book in person, I will be doing a review on my Facebook page later today and will post on youtube for anyone who is interested!

✔ STRUCTURE YOUR LIFE, YOUR WAY! This personal organizer features flexible structures that allow you to keep track of daily tasks. Use it as a planner, organizer, academic agenda or note pad.

✔ UNDATED DAILY, WEEKLY, MONTHLY CALENDARS. This planner is a fit for daily and long-term goal setting and tracking

✔ VEGAN LEATHER HARDCOVER. Luxury and stylish thanks to its leather hardcover soft to the touch. We’ve sourced the materials meticulously to make sure the cover is eco-friendly and long-lasting.

✔ ELASTIC CLOSURE & PEN HOLDER LOOP. This compact A5 notebook planner comes with an elastic band closure and pen holder loop on the side.

✔ BONUS FEATURES! To assist with organizing bringing productivity to your life. We’ve included some additional items: a 6” ruler, 2 bookmarks and a back pocket along with 2019-20 calendars for reference on the back page.

This post contains affiliate links.


Home

Relax: Quick DIY Essential Oil Roller Bottle Tutorial

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience.

I just noticed I have run out of my favorite essential oil blend ever: Relax by Plant Therapy! This is a blend that I absolutely cannot be without.  I just love it and use it basically everyday. This is one I keep in my kit, keep in my purse and keep a couple other spots around the house as well as giving it away to others who need help relaxing! (Basically everyone, am I right?)

Click here to get the 10 ml bottle of Relax for only $9.95!

Relax is also KIDSAFE for children over 2 which is fantastic (my kids have their own bottles also). Plant Therapy’s Kidsafe line has been approved by Robert Tisserand, one of the world’s leading experts in aromatherapy. I feel so much better about using oils that are approved as Kidsafe! A 10 ml bottle of Relax is only $10 (or get a 30 ml bottle for only $15.95….now that’s a savings!) on Amazon and you can DIY your own roller bottles like I do to make them SO cheap. Here’s very simple directions on how to make the roller bottles at home, along with links to what you’ll need.

DIY Relax Roller Bottles

This is barely a tutorial, since the steps are so simple but I know that before I made them I was intimidated about filling up roller bottles, so hopefully this helps!

  1. First, open the roller bottle using the tool included in the set (it will just pop right off).
  2. Then add the amount of oil drops from the Relax bottle based on a dilution chart. I use this one: Plant Therapy Dilution Chart. I add 15 drops of Relax to each roller bottle.
  3. Then, I fill the bottle the rest of the way with a carrier oil. With the pump, you can just pump it right into the roller without needed a funnel or anything. SO easy!
  4. Put the roller top on the bottle, using the included tool. These bottles can be re-used also, so they are really a great value.
  5. Add a label or create your own label. I have tried doing this a few different ways and have had trouble with some of my labels sticking. For my last batch, I cut out a piece of scrapbook paper, added a written label or printed label from my label maker, and then secured it really well with packing tape onto the bottle. These labels have stayed on better than any others have!

That’s it! Apply this whenever you are feeling anxious or stressed. I use mine all throughout the day. Last night I used it when I woke up in the middle of the night and it helped me fall right back asleep. Relax Synergy by Plant Therapy is a mixture of: Lavender, Marjoram, Patchouli, Mandarin, Geranium and Chamomile. I’m just telling you, it smells AMAZING and calms me right down.

Want to get your hands on a roller bottle right away? You can buy it ready made for only $8.95! Don’t stress, just relax!

What’s your favorite essential oil blend? Maybe I’ll add it to my Christmas list!

 

 

Deal Alert, Everything Else, Home

Win a FREE Force of Nature Starter Kit!

This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. I will receive a commission from items purchased. Thank you for supporting my little blog and allowing me more time to write!

It’s time for another amazing giveaway! I’m really excited about this one because this is a product that will definitely make your life easier and less stressful, particularly at this time of year. Are you excited?!?

I have been using Force of Nature for a few months and I am SO happy with the product. Like many of you, I know that most cleaning products have a lot of dangerous ingredients, so for years I have been trying to improve my cleaning routine and make it safer for my family. Unfortunately, in the past my efforts meant ditching conventional products like Clorox or Windex for “green” brands like Mrs. Meyer’s or Method. A few years ago I started learning that even those brands had dangerous fragrances and additives! It’s frustratingly difficult to protect yourself from dangerous substances.

If you want to read more about dangerous ingredients in “Natural Cleaners”, click here. 

In my family we have tons of allergies, asthma and a history of auto-immune disorders. So it is SERIOUSLY important for me to minimize every possible risk to protect our already compromised health. 

After being disillusioned with Mrs. Meyer’s and Method cleaners, my next step was to try Young Living’s Thieves Cleaner. I know so many people who love this product but I still wasn’t super happy with it. It was definitely an improvement on other products, but I still had concerns. I have read medical research that suggests these oils are not safe for young children or asthmatic and immune-compromised individuals.

Here’s a helpful article that talks about the risks with thieves blends used around children. 

Please note that I love and use essential oils, including Young Living brand and I still have a bottle of Thieves cleaner that I’m finishing up. I just didn’t think that was where I would land as a permanent cleaning solution! I finally found a cleaner that I have no worries or concerns about and that is Force of Nature Cleaner.


So what is Force of Nature, exactly?

 

electricity + salt, water, vinegar = electrolyzed water

Electrolyzed water is an industrial technology that’s commonly used for its efficacy yet lack of harmful chemicals, fumes & residues. The active ingredient, hypochlorous acid, is even used as the active ingredient in wound, eye & veterinary care products. Force of Nature creates electrolyzed water by using electricity to change the chemical composition of salt, water & vinegar.

Don’t miss the AMAZING coupon code at the bottom of the post and save 50% on the starter kit! 

Well, is it safe? 

 

Absolutely! Click here to read more about the safety and efficacy of the product.

Now, to the giveaway! 

Force of Nature has generously offered a free Force of Nature Starter Kit to one of my readers. Sign up for the Giveaway Here:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

What exactly will you get if you win?

You’ll be getting this package: Force of Nature Starter Kit

Force of Nature can save you up to 80% on every ounce vs typical natural cleaners. At just $.07 per ounce, it can save you money within the first year, even after buying the Starter Kit. The Starter Kit comes with:

  • 5 Activator Capsules, enough to make 5 bottles
  • Activator Base
  • Power Cord
  • 12 oz Spray Bottle
  • Quick Start Guide
  • User Manual

Each Force of Nature Capsule makes one 12 ounce bottle of multi-purpose cleaner, disinfectant & deodorizer that lasts 2 weeks. Light, clean scent and no added fragrances. We promise you’ll love it – 100% Happiness Guaranteed.

This giveaway will only be open for four more days so please don’t miss this opportunity! Thanks for entering and good luck!

Feeling UNLUCKY? Even if you don’t win the giveaway, you can still score an awesome deal on the Force of Nature starter kit. Just click here and use code FALLSAVE to get it for 50% off. You’ll need to hurray, because this coupon code is good only through the end of October so there are only a few more days to take advantage of this deal!