Sustainable & Creative Living
I’m back at it again with hand and footprint cards this Mother’s Day. The last few cards I’ve made were with J’s footprint because I couldn’t quite get him to be still enough to use his handprint. He was always squirming around or fighting to get out of my arms and play with the paint. Somehow the feet were just quicker and easier to capture. [Read more…]
If you only have the time or desire to try 1 DIY project right now, be sure to try these Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods. Not only are these laundry pods super simple, they’re also inexpensive to make and they save so much money on laundry costs.
Another big benefit to these Quick and Easy DIY Laundry Pods is that their ingredients are much safer for your family and the environment than the standard laundry detergents we’re all so used to using. With so many perks to these DIY laundry pods, why not give them a try. I know I love them so much, I can’t imagine ever going back to using regular detergent.
Using too many paper towels around the house is my biggest vice when it comes to lowering my carbon footprint. Every time I swear I’m going to do better, I end up slipping back into my old bad habit. Then I give up for a while and concentrate on other eco-friendly practices that, for me, seem easier to adopt.
I don’t really know why the paper towel habit has been so hard to kick. Years ago I practiced eco-friendly habits like using cloth napkins and canvas grocery bags before it became popular. Then owning and running a business along with raising three kids consumed all my physical and mental energy and those practices got put aside. While I’ve gotten back to my old eco-friendly practices, this paper towel thing has been, I like said, a hard habit to break.
As a kid, some of my fondest memories are from when my mom and I would do art projects together. She would gather her crafting supplies and we’d sit at the dining room table for hours painting, coloring, gluing, and making everything sparkle. Mostly I remember making holiday decorations and crafts—painting Christmas ornaments (which we still do) were our specialty. And now that my son is getting to an age where he likes to color and paint, we can finally start using the Creative Kids Art Station I designed for him. [Read more…]
I’m always looking for ways to soften and soothe my tired feet. Still, I often have a hard time sitting still to let my feet soak—even if I happen to be watching T.V. I want to be able to jump up at any time and run and get a drink or find my phone—or whatever. So, if I’m going to confine myself to one spot for 30 minutes, there has to be a worthwhile payoff. This Lavender Peppermint Foot Soak is an excellent way to take care of my feet and relax at the same time.
I’m always trying to come up with fun activities for my 2-year son to do while I’m at work. This Mini Construction Site Sandbox is a perfect tabletop activity that can help develop his sensory and motor skills.
If you’ve read some of my other posts, you know that I bring little J to work with me every day. He’s been coming with me since he was 6 weeks old! As he’s gotten older, I’ve had to come up with new and exciting things to stimulate his little mind. Right now he’s into PlayDoh, coloring, painting, cars, and soccer. [Read more…]
Decluttering possessions is something I tend to do on an ongoing basis, and I do a lot of it right after the holidays. It’s the perfect time to declutter, of course, because with so many new items to put away, old ones have to go. This is so true when you have small children and they receive a barrage of new toys for Christmas!
This January I’ve done a lot of decluttering. Even though I’ve always done my usual decluttering, this year was different. For the past several years, my extra time has been taken up by health issues surrounding my [Read more…]
On December 9th, 2017 I got married! If you’ve been following along with our blog, you know it’s been a long time coming. I’d been planning for over a year, and now I want to share it all with you! So if you’re interested in some nerdy barn wedding ideas or just love wedding stuff like I do, you are in for a treat!
Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts make tasty treats for Valentine’s Day or for any special occasion. They also make nice hostess gifts or party favors. They’re so simple to make that you can actually make them anytime at all—because they’re so delicious.
Any nut or combination of nuts will work for this simple recipe. I chose walnuts, pecans, and cashews but all nuts are tasty and healthy. Nuts are full of healthy fats, protein, fiber, and a wide range of nutrients like vitamin e, magnesium, and selenium. These Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts make healthy and filling snacks. They also smell so delicious—the last time I made them everyone who came into the house kept asking, “What smells so good? Is that Cinnamon?” These Cinnamon Sugar Candied Nuts were definitely a huge hit!
Recently, after making some face mists, I learned how versatile and beneficial rose water can be. Rose water is a super simple DIY beauty tonic that anyone can make in a hurry. In less than an hour, you can have a multipurpose beauty potion that is both functional and fun.
Face mists are a great way to hydrate your skin all year but are especially refreshing during dry weather season. Not only do they soothe and calm irritated skin, but with their pleasant scents, they’re also a great mood and spirit booster. I love the way mists relieve my dry skin and make me feel refreshed. After inadvertently spending $17 on a face mist for oily skin, I decided to start making my own mists. I’m so glad I did – they’re more cost effective and I can tailor them to my own skin and the scents I love.
I tend to save scraps and odd pieces that are supposed to be discarded. I always think, “Hmmm…could I make something out of this?” That’s how I came up with these Snowman Ornaments. They are made from Ashland candle jar lids from Michaels (but you can use anything circular).
Every time I get a candle with a lid I [Read more…]
Every year I try to incorporate as many eco-friendly practices as I can into my gift wrapping routine. This time of year is already a stressful time but that doesn’t mean we put our eco-friendly practices on hold. It just means that we get a little more creative with our holiday wrapping.
