Sustainable & Creative Living
With the fourth of July just around the corner, I know a lot of us will be visiting family and friends for pool parties, cook-outs, camping, and probably fireworks. Ahh fireworks!! As a kid, I loved them and always looked forward to the family outing at the local mall where our town gathered to watch the beautiful display of what we, as Americans, associate our Independence Day with. But as an adult and new mom, I’ve come to [Read more…]
Now that summer is in full swing, many of us are spending a lot more time outdoors enjoying picnics, beach days, and just hanging out in the backyard. Unfortunately, outside activities can expose us, and our loved ones, to all kinds of dangerous situations—some minor and some not so minor.
One of those situations that may seem minor, but sometimes isn’t, are Mosquito bites. Mosquitos carry and spread all kinds of diseases such as malaria, dengue, yellow fever, chikungunya, West Nile virus, and Zika—to name a few. Over one million people worldwide die from Mosquito-borne diseases. Mosquitos also transmit diseases and parasites to dogs and horses.
Since my son was born almost 2 years ago, I’ve made handprint or footprint cards for loved ones on every holiday. My sister makes jokes that I don’t have to buy a greeting card ever again.
Of course, that’s not entirely true; I’ve yet to make a Mother’s Day card for my mom with my own footprint. For babies and toddlers, on the other hand, there’s no better way to show how much they care than with a handmade card. For older kids, this DIY Father’s Day Space Ship Footprint Card is a fun way to use their imagination while expressing their love for Dad.
Watching our babies grow up is an inevitable part of life. It’s exciting, sad, happy, fun, terrifying, and occasionally heartbreaking. Basically, a bag of emotions that we sometimes have no words for.
Sometimes just a smile tells the whole story. Other times, laying it all out on the table to anyone who will listen is what really tells the whole story. Either way, watching our babies grow up is one of the most rewarding, gratifying and yes, difficult gifts we as parents are given.
For those of you who have read my previous posts, you know that I got married 7 ½ years ago on beautiful Sanibel Island. Naturally, it’s a moment in time that my husband and I will cherish forever and always remember fondly. Every summer we [Read more…]
Coffee Made Me Do It! It’s true, there’s something about the way it smells, tastes, and makes you feel. The instant “ahh” moment right after you take a sip will have you slurping lattes all day long. Before you know it, you’re 10 cups deep, on edge like a junky looking for [Read more…]
When my son started teething at around four months old, my first instinct for natural pain relief was to let him chew on chilled teething rings (a go-to for most moms). When these classic favorites didn’t do the trick, I tried what seemed like every teething toy imaginable. I now carry around a gallon size zip lock bag in my diaper bag filled with what I refer to as [Read more…]
I am so excited for this year’s Easter egg hunt! My son, who is 20 months old, is at the age where is he loves opening and closing doors, containers with lids, toilet seats, cabinets, bottles with caps, etc. Just about anything with a hinge or a lid is like the coolest thing in the world to him. If only his standards [Read more…]
Spring is here! The birds are chirping, snow is melting, and the days are feeling longer. This is a true sign that Easter is just around the corner. If you’ve got kids, then you’re probably already shopping for Easter basket stuffers, planning the great Easter egg hunt, and stashing away your pennies for the post-Easter dental visit.
These Easter Egg Bunnies are a great spring project that can be [Read more…]
One of my favorite DIY crafts is candle making. I love to burn candles…especially at mealtime. Whether it’s breakfast, lunch, or dinner, there’s nothing like the light from a burning candle to give any meal a special ambiance.
I used to make candles from paraffin wax, but now I only make soy wax candles. Do you ever notice the black around the rim of candles? That’s what you’re [Read more…]
After a long and treacherous winter (just kidding), Spring is finally here and that means it’s time to start planting flowers and veggies, cleaning the house, and decorating for the new season. Which means my weekends are filled with [Read more…]
Baking soda is one of the safest, simplest, and most gentle cleaning products available. It has so many different uses that it’s also one of the most versatile products you’ll ever buy. While it’s effective and inexpensive for many home cleaning chores, it also an excellent useful and a versatile personal care product.
Baking Soda (Sodium Bicarbonate) regulates and neutralizes pH. It cleans, neutralizes, and deodorizes. The best part is that when it washes down the drain, it won’t pollute our water supply.
You probably already have a box or two in your cupboards, but after reading this you’ll want to stock up!
Spring is here and Easter is just around the corner. That means it’s not only time to break out the Claritin, but also get out your plastic eggs and ceramic bunnies. Pastel is in full bloom and I love it!
I always look forward to decorating my house for every holiday, but Easter is one of my favorite. I love the soft undertones that Easter colors bring, the look of shabby-chic fabric bunnies, and warmth of Spring in the air. Decorating my large dining room table is my most favorite. It’s one of the focal points when you walk into my home and though it doesn’t get much use on a daily basis, I know it gets its much-needed attention during the holidays. So, it’s gotta be all dressed to impress! If you’re looking for a Pottery Barn “esk” table centerpiece, but not looking to spend the Pottery Barn bucks, [Read more…]
