4.28.2022

3 Ways to DIY green cleaning in your home



Have you ever wondered what's actually in your cleaning products? Whether they're safe to use around children and pets, or the impact they have on the environment? Green cleaning is a phenomenon that focuses on the ingredients used to clean and making sure that they are safe and biodegradable to protect the earth's longevity. To help, we've found a few tips to help you not only save money but be sustainable at the same time.


1. Incorporate household ingredients like lemon, baking soda, vinegar, and more.

Make your own DIY cleaning spray by combining lemon rinds and white vinegar in a glass jar for a week. After a week has passed, strain and pour the liquid into a spray bottle, dilute with water and start spraying!

2. Use reusable cleaning cloths instead of paper towels.

Instead of creating more waster with single-use paper towels, opt for reusable microfiber cloths to wipe down your children's toys and storage. When they get dirty, give them a wash with your laundry and reuse them.

3. Try making your own air fresheners with essential oils.

Powerful and natural, essential oils serve many different purposes from destressing to deodorizing. Take 1 tablespoon of baking soda and mix it with 5-6 drops of your favorite essential oil. Then, pour your mixture into a spray bottle and fill the rest of the bottle with water. Shake and spray!

For more tips on how to clean in an environmentally friendly way, check out this infographic from Hive Brands.


12.16.2021

Home for the Holidays

It's that time again! Time to lug those bins filled with pretty shiny things out of your attic, garage or closet. Time to put away your everyday decor and fill every nook and cranny with shiny ornaments, green sprigs, berries, stockings, holiday trees, winter fun and more! 

Time for baking, daily Christmas music, cozy sweaters, Hallmark movies, hot cocoa, blankets on the couch. Traditions, shopping, wrapping, list making, holiday parties, Christmas performances, that fill our days sometimes with stress but hopefully more smiles than frowns. 


A time to rejoice, reflect and take moments to just be still. Don't forget to take those moments because all the hustle and bustle is only there if we let it consume us. Remember what this season is really about, it's oh so easy to forget. As much as we like to give, Jesus gave it all! Happy Birthday to Jesus and Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you! 


Please enjoy this festive photo dump! 















12.06.2021

3 Festive Drinks for Any Holiday Get Together

 

We always focus on the food at holiday get-togethers but I think it’s time to give some appreciation to the beverages! Drinks are always overlooked at holiday parties, even though everyone loves a good hot chocolate or latté. 


Today, I’m going to give you three drink topping ideas to take some holiday classics to the next level and impress your loved ones this holiday season.


Holiday Drink Topping Prep

For several of the drinks that we’re going to discuss, you’ll need to do a bit of prep to get them looking picture perfect. Luckily, this prep is simple and is used for all of our toppings!


You’ll need:

  • Whipped cream or frothed milk

  • Chocolate or caramel sauce

  • A squeeze bottle or small plastic snack bag


Many good fancy warm drinks are topped with frothed milk. If you’re going this route, whole milk works best because milk with lower fat contents don’t froth up as effectively. 


You can also use whipped cream if you don’t have a frother. For your dairy-free friends, I’d recommend using a dairy-free whipped cream. 


When you’re using whipped cream, spray some into a small bowl and stir it smooth before starting.


For best results, you’ll want to transfer your chocolate or caramel sauce into a squeeze bottle. If you don’t have one on hand, you can put it into a small plastic bag and cut off a corner, as if it were a piping bag. 


You should refrigerate your sauce a bit before starting because this texture will make it easier to do your designs.


For Secret Santa Exchanges

Chai is the ideal beverage for your secret Santa exchange. Its warm spices are the perfect blend to get you and your friends in the holiday mood


Chai is traditionally made from simmering milk, water, and spices on the stove then brewing black tea in that infused milk. Everyone’s spice mix is a little different, but most people make chai with a mix of cardamom, star anise, cloves, cinnamon, fennel, and ginger.


To level up your chai, try topping your drink with a flower design in your froth. For your flower, spoon your froth onto your mug, draw three concentric circles with your sauce into the milk, then drag a toothpick lightly through the circles starting from the center, as if it were sun rays.


For Impressing New People

When you really need to impress, like when you’re meeting a significant other’s family for the first time, try leveling up their lattés. A vine and cinnamon design looks like you spent hours perfecting your latté art but it only takes minutes.


For your vine, draw a zigzag shape in your foam with your sauce. Then, draw a slight curve through it with your toothpick. Trust the process here, the zigzag will look like a vine when you’re done!


A real upgrade to this design is if you try covering half your mug with a sheet of paper then sprinkling some cinnamon or pumpkin pie spice on it. This creates a clean line between your vine and the spice and turns your latté into art.


For a Cozy Night In

Whether you’re stuck inside for a snow day or just need some time to relax from all the holiday shopping, hot chocolate is the perfect treat. But sometimes, you still want to dress up your comforting hot chocolate. 


For a simple grid design that you can do without a ton of effort, draw three lines on your foam with your sauce then drag your toothpick in different directions to intersect those lines.


You can mix and match these topping design tips with any festive drink, but these suggestions are a good place to start if you don’t know how to level up your next holiday party. For more unique and festive holiday drink ideas, check out the visual below from Redbubble!

11.04.2021

How to Plan a Block Party to Meet New Neighbors

 Less than one-third of Americans know most of their neighbors. If you’re looking to break that statistic, a block party is a way that you can get involved in your community and meet your new neighbors.

Whether you’ve recently bought a home or you’re just trying to make some new friends, these ideas can help you get started. The hardest part about moving for your kids can be meeting new friends, so these block party ideas can start them off on a positive note.


Use Your Amenities

Take advantage of your surrounding environment for your block party ideas. If you have access to a pool, everyone loves a good pool party! If you have backyard space, games such as tag, freeze dance, and limbo are fun for all ages and require very little planning.


Even if you just have sidewalk or street space to work with, you have plenty of options for block party activities. Grab some sidewalk chalk for doodling or tracing out games like hopscotch and four square. 


If you live on a quieter street, you can even set up a game of kickball. Just be sure to have a couple of adults on the lookout for any approaching traffic.


All these activities require minimal planning, so you can focus on grabbing some snacks and enjoy meeting your neighborhood.


Plan Around Food

Everyone loves a good barbecue. To make sure that no one walks away hungry from your block party, plan a little grilling competition to see which family makes the best burgers.


The kids can sample and judge their favorites, which gets even the little ones who can’t help out with the cooking involved.


Finish off the night with a campfire and s’mores! They’re easy to put together and campfires are always a good bonding experience.


No matter what you plan to do for your block party, download these printables below to get you started. This block party pack includes a welcome sign, game location sign, and name tags so that you’ve got the decor covered.



It’s difficult to adjust to a new neighborhood, especially for kids. After the stressful process of buying a house, now you’ve got to start building a new routine in an unfamiliar neighborhood. 


These tips will help ease you into your new community and relax after you’ve finally finished unpacking all those boxes. These block party ideas will help make those first connections with your new neighbors to build lasting friendships.


9.21.2021

Inspiring Lunchbox Notes to Share With Your Kids This Year

With back to school in full swing, it’s going to be a huge adjustment for most kiddos. After a year of at-home learning, going back to in-person can be exciting, but may also be challenging for some. Many children, and parents at that, have gotten used to this new remote way of doing things. With so much time spent together over the last year, it can be easy to miss them throughout the day now that they’re back in school. 



Because of this, writing sweet lunch notes to your child can let them know you’re thinking of them to add a little pick me up to their school day. The five printables below are the perfect sweet surprise to add to your child’s school bag this year.  

Inspiring Lunchbox Notes

These three lunchbox notes have inspiring messages to send to your child, guaranteed to make them smile. Feel free to color in the images more or add any other messages you see fit. 


Download the inspiring lunchbox notes here

Prompted Lunchbox Notes 

These lunchbox notes include two different prompts you can fill in to send a sweet message to your child. Once you’ve printed them, use the prompts to help you write a personalized message to your kiddo. Let them know why they inspire you and what your favorite things about them are—a sure way to put a smile on their face. 


Download the prompted lunchbox notes here


A simple lunchbox note can really go a long way in making your child’s day. The inspiring messages help boost their self-esteem, while also strengthening the bond you share with them and will continue to share with them throughout their life.


View more lunch box notes here.

9.07.2021

Create a Mug Herb Garden: DIY Crafts For the Whole Family to Enjoy

You can never have too many coffee mugs — until you realize your cupboard is packed to the brim and you find yourself praying they don’t come crashing down every time you open the cabinet door. When it's time to declutter and get organized, find a new purpose for those unused mugs by making a coffee mug herb garden.



This is a great way to repurpose old dishes while keeping fresh herbs in your kitchen ready to be used for delicious meals. Get the kids involved and make it a fun DIY party that they are sure to enjoy! Read on to find out how to make your own mug herb garden and find inspiration for your next project.

Gather All of the Necessities

With a few simple materials, you can create an atmosphere where your herbs will thrive. These simple mug herb garden materials will create long-lasting herbs that you will love all summer:


  • A fun mug

  • Soil

  • River rocks

  • Decorations if you feel like giving the herb some character

Locate a Sunny Spot

When thinking about what spot in your home is best for your herbs, consider a few options before closing in on one space. This area of your home could be your kitchen, a windowsill, or anywhere with proper access to sunlight. 

Popular Herbs to Grow 

While you may not be an expert on growing herbs, there are a ton of easy, fast-growing plants that you can choose from. As long as you have the proper nutrients and a supportive atmosphere, your herbs will be growing in no time. 


Make sure that you choose a mug that will support the growth of the herb. For instance, tall herbs like basil need a deeper mug while bushy herbs like parsley thrive in wider mugs. Here’s a list of some of the more popular herbs to grow indoors:


  • Basil

  • Mint

  • Thyme

  • Cilantro

  • Rosemary

  • Parsely

  • Chives

  • Dill

Pick your Mug

Time to choose your favorite mug that your herbs will be growing inside. This can be an engaging part of the growing process if you choose to purchase a mug or use a mug that has been pushed to the back of your cabinet. It’s all up to you! 


Plant Your Herbs

Add your soil to the mug about half an inch from the top. You will want to make sure that this is evenly distributed throughout the mug to prevent the mug from tipping over. 


Tease the roots of the herbs if you are using baby herbs and add a bit of water after the roots have been planted. River rocks will add a bit of irrigation for excess water. 

Decorate and Label Your Herbs 

With your location chosen and your herbs budding, you can decorate this area or decorate your mug however you choose. You can go crazy with paints or designs on the outside of the mug as long as you do not disrupt the herb. 


Your kids could even take turns coloring the outside of the mug and grow their own herbs to be used in your famous dinner dishes. Use these printable herb labels that you and your kids will love and look forward to growing more plants this summer. 


9.03.2021

Downsizing Checklist: Steps To Staying Organized While Moving

The idea of downsizing can seem like a stressful process at first. Well, you’re in luck because we created a step-by-step guide to help you through the process. 


We have the best tips and tricks to make your move as easy as possible. Our guide even includes a downsizing checklist to help you stay organized along the way.


Downsizing Benefits

Downsizing is increasing in popularity and with good reason. Here are some of the many benefits of downsizing your home.


  • Reduced cost: Downsizing allows you to spend more money on hobbies that you love instead of spending it on higher bills and mortgage payments.

  • Less environmental impact: Downsizing allows you to start using less gas, electricity & water than you did in your larger home.

  • Reduce clutter: Downsizing will force you to declutter and simplify your life for a more stress-free living situation.


Now that you know the benefits, it’s time to go over our best tips for keeping you organized during your downsize.



Take inventory of your belongings

It’s important to take a step back and look at what inventory you have in your current home to gain perspective on what is actually important enough to take with you. Once you take inventory you can start to imagine what will actually fit in your new home.


Measure your furniture

How are you supposed to know what furniture you can bring to your new home if you don’t measure your furniture and new home? Measure all of the items you’re planning on taking to make sure they will even fit in your new space.


Focus on one room at a time

Imagining tackling your entire house all at once can seem like a daunting task, but there are ways to make it feel less daunting. Focusing on one room at a time can help make the entire process more manageable.



6.29.2021

Moving to a New Place: Tips on Who To Call

Everyone knows that when you are moving from one house to the next, there are lots of things to do and people to tell. Whether these people are your old neighbors or government agencies, notifying everyone of your address change is an important part of the moving process. If you are taking the leap and are planning to move in the near future, here is a checklist to help you cover all of your bases, call all of your friends, and reach out to your family.

USPS

Ensuring that your mail will make it to your new address will keep you organized and allow you to receive packages that you are expecting. You don’t want your packages to end up at the wrong house, so establishing the address for your house or new apartment will ensure that they end up on your doorstep. Setting up mail forwarding online will allow you to receive packages for up to a year after your scheduled move.


Banks and financial institutions

Important notices are often delivered through the mail, so you must let your bank and investment companies know that you have a new mailing address. Your credit card companies will also need to know where your new mailing address is in case you need a new credit card and for billing purposes. Change your address online using online banking, or contact a representative at your financial institution.

Insurance

Notifying insurance agencies that you utilize for necessities like health insurance, car coverage, dental insurance, and life insurance are important. This ensures that you won’t have to make changes to any policies especially if you are moving to another state. 

Friends and family

Although your close circle of friends and some family members may know about your upcoming move, they may not know your new address. Send out a quick fun message with your new address so your friends and family know where you are and where they will be visiting you. 


There are tons of transitions that come along with moving to a new place. Following this guide will help you to feel secure in your big move and get excited about what the future holds for you and your family in your new home! Click HERE to print out a scavenger hunt for your kids or HERE to welcome your new neighbors to the street! Happy moving!