I am excited to announce that I will be an ambassador for the ecoStore USA. I will be testing products and sharing my reviews on my personal blog, as well as on their blog. The products that I will be testing are 'No Nasty Chemicals'TM Movement. The ecoStore USA products are 100% plant based, which means...yep, you got it...no nasty chemicals! Woohoo to a healthier environment and healthier air for my family and I. Oh, and of course YOU!
For those of you that have allergies and asthma, much like my family and myself, I am happy to be trying these products out for you, reviewing them, and letting you know my honest opinion of them. So...stay tuned. Reviews will be coming to you soon!
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Monday, October 29, 2012
Planner Organization
Ok, I admit...I am a planner addict. In this busy life of Mom, Wife, Nurse, Thirty-One Consultant and Volunteer; I really need to stay organized. I just switched planners this past week, because on my morning stop to Staples, I fell in love. I am a very visual person, and LOVE color! (Almost colored the cover on this one...lol) I went from this very large planner 8-1/2 x 11
To this adorable, colorful, perfect size 7-1/2 x 9 planner, that will fit much better in my purse :)
This planner is one of the Martha Stewart Home Office products. And, oh my gracious, I have to say that I was so excited when I saw this line of products become available. They are so adorable, and yet functional. This picture shows the inside cover, which has a nice pocket to hold my colorful tear-drop shaped color coding labels, as well as the colorful tab labels. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that this is a 3 ring binder style, because this way I can add all my own favorite areas throughout the planner.
For instance, here are the colorful tabs that I used to label my months across the top for easy viewing.
And, a view of the full month. I love that Martha has included helpful tips on various days throughout the months. (And FYI, Martha is on a first name basis with me now. Unknowingly to her, we have bonded)
Here is another great product from Martha's Home Office line. The business card sheet protectors. I have so many cards from all of the various doctor's that my family has to see, that it is nice to keep them organized in here. I even used my label maker and each family member has their name along the side of the page with their particular doctor's business card information. This makes it very quick and easy for me to access, when needing to contact them.
I still need to make another stop back to the store and pick up Martha's zipper pouch to hold my colored pens. Yes, each family member has a color, which makes my planner even more fun....and understandable 'at a glance'. Oh happy me!
To this adorable, colorful, perfect size 7-1/2 x 9 planner, that will fit much better in my purse :)
This planner is one of the Martha Stewart Home Office products. And, oh my gracious, I have to say that I was so excited when I saw this line of products become available. They are so adorable, and yet functional. This picture shows the inside cover, which has a nice pocket to hold my colorful tear-drop shaped color coding labels, as well as the colorful tab labels. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that this is a 3 ring binder style, because this way I can add all my own favorite areas throughout the planner.
For instance, here are the colorful tabs that I used to label my months across the top for easy viewing.
And, a view of the full month. I love that Martha has included helpful tips on various days throughout the months. (And FYI, Martha is on a first name basis with me now. Unknowingly to her, we have bonded)
Here is another great product from Martha's Home Office line. The business card sheet protectors. I have so many cards from all of the various doctor's that my family has to see, that it is nice to keep them organized in here. I even used my label maker and each family member has their name along the side of the page with their particular doctor's business card information. This makes it very quick and easy for me to access, when needing to contact them.
I still need to make another stop back to the store and pick up Martha's zipper pouch to hold my colored pens. Yes, each family member has a color, which makes my planner even more fun....and understandable 'at a glance'. Oh happy me!
Wednesday, October 24, 2012
Thursday, October 18, 2012
Decorating for Fall
I want to start by showing you this great inexpensive idea for creating Fall front door decor. This idea came from a pin on Pinterest from Nellis Hills Blog. http://www.nellhillsblog.com/?p=1876 Thanks for sharing your creativity!
All year long, I have to find decor to beautify my very dated ugly front door. Google and Pinterest have become my very good friends. Once I find an idea that I like, I save it in a decor folder on my computer, so that I can access it easily in the future. Here is a picture of my door. See, told you it was not pretty!
For this project, I made a quick trip to our local Dollar store and purchased a black 5x7 picture frame, some Fall colored artificial flowers and some pretty ribbon. I rushed home in excitement to start my project.
I started by removing the glass that came in the frame and set it aside for another project. I then pulled all the flower heads off the stems. Using my hot glue gun, that I love so much, I applied glue to the bottom center of each flower and placed it onto the frame. I worked my way around the frame, making sure that all of the flowers were slightly overlapping each other. I continued until the frame was covered.
While the glue dried, I got the ribbon and estimated the length, according to how long the decor would hang from the top of my front door. I proceeded to cut the needed length. Once the flowers were dry, I wrapped the ribbon under the top of the frame and then tied a bow in the top. I then added a couple long 'streamers' and secured it to my door with magnets. Here is the finished product. (It is hanging straight now, but not in the picture)
All year long, I have to find decor to beautify my very dated ugly front door. Google and Pinterest have become my very good friends. Once I find an idea that I like, I save it in a decor folder on my computer, so that I can access it easily in the future. Here is a picture of my door. See, told you it was not pretty!
For this project, I made a quick trip to our local Dollar store and purchased a black 5x7 picture frame, some Fall colored artificial flowers and some pretty ribbon. I rushed home in excitement to start my project.
I started by removing the glass that came in the frame and set it aside for another project. I then pulled all the flower heads off the stems. Using my hot glue gun, that I love so much, I applied glue to the bottom center of each flower and placed it onto the frame. I worked my way around the frame, making sure that all of the flowers were slightly overlapping each other. I continued until the frame was covered.
While the glue dried, I got the ribbon and estimated the length, according to how long the decor would hang from the top of my front door. I proceeded to cut the needed length. Once the flowers were dry, I wrapped the ribbon under the top of the frame and then tied a bow in the top. I then added a couple long 'streamers' and secured it to my door with magnets. Here is the finished product. (It is hanging straight now, but not in the picture)
Final cost of project $5. Oh happy me!
Here is a peek of the front door from the outside, with the help "oops" from my son opening the door while I was taking the picture.
Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Taking time today
Today I was able to enjoy getting outside in the 70 degree sunny weather. It is supposed to be in the 50's here in a few days, so had to jump at the opportunity to get my daughter's senior pictures taken. I decided that I would take them this year (with my new camera), and try to save some money. I can actually say that I am proud of myself. I think they turned out really nice.
And here comes my soapbox....Seeing my beautiful almost 17 year old daughter growing up so fast, pulls at my heart-strings. Where has time gone? How could 17 years go by so quickly? I still remember her standing on her pink and white rocking chair in her blue plaid skirt with pink shirt, giving me a big chubby cheek dimple smile....knowing that she was not supposed to be standing on the chair. Now, she has grown up into a beautiful teenager. I took the time today as I was taking her pictures, to recall those memories of her being just a little baby girl. Now as I look at her, still as my baby girl, but also a beautiful, strong, kind-hearted, caring young woman. my heart is filled with joy. Here are a few of my favorites~
And here comes my soapbox....Seeing my beautiful almost 17 year old daughter growing up so fast, pulls at my heart-strings. Where has time gone? How could 17 years go by so quickly? I still remember her standing on her pink and white rocking chair in her blue plaid skirt with pink shirt, giving me a big chubby cheek dimple smile....knowing that she was not supposed to be standing on the chair. Now, she has grown up into a beautiful teenager. I took the time today as I was taking her pictures, to recall those memories of her being just a little baby girl. Now as I look at her, still as my baby girl, but also a beautiful, strong, kind-hearted, caring young woman. my heart is filled with joy. Here are a few of my favorites~
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Does someone hear crickets (aka:cricuts)?
Hearing cricuts (crickets) is a joke of mine with my hubby. I have been begging hoping for a cricut machine to start making really dreamy vinyl projects. So each time he would send me a text message, I would ask him if he could hear the 'cricuts'. He caught on pretty quick. Well, I can certainly say...Score! I found a cricut machine on a resale site. One great thing, is that it was priced right. And secondly, it was for sale right in my neighborhood. I think it was meant to be. (girly smile) Another added bonus, is that it is pink. (batting eyelashes and giggling like a little girl).
The night I broughther it home, we spent hours getting to know each other. I discovered so many fun fonts and options on this machine. It is going to take some practice, however, I think I can handle it. I cannot wait to get some vinyl and start making some fun decor. And, the OCD in me wants to vinyl label everything in the house. My family is so lucky (they are probably rolling their eyes about now).
Here is a picture of my new addition:
The night I brought
Here is a picture of my new addition:
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Summer-time flash back
Can I just start by saying....my gracious. Where did the summer go? Yes, I look back now and realize that I pretty much took the summer off from writing my blog. Not a good idea, when I have been hoping to gather more friends :) Now I have ALOT of catching up to do!
Alot changed over the summer for me. I resigned at my full-time nursing job of 5 years, and accepted a new opportunity working as a nurse on the weekends and from home. This allows me to be home with the kids during the week, as well as see my hubby more often. It is a win-win! Well, actually it was a bitter-sweet decision. I really LOVE the girls that I worked with, and knew that I would miss them. However, I was ready to fulfill my joy of being a Mom! And, as a bonus...I still see the girls that I worked with at least once every month or two. We do motor-home shopping road trips, and it is so much fun. Alot of laughter, mommy talk and memories are made on those trips. Sorry, don't think the girls want me to share our stories on here.
Well, since having a bit more time on my hands over the summer, the kids and I went to a couple different beaches (one being the BIG lake...yes, Lake Michigan). We have lived here all of our children's lives, and have never taken them to Lake Michigan. (Bad, I know). We also enjoyed time with cousins at the John Ball Zoo, tried different ice-cream places in order to determine our favorite flavors, played games, went swimming and made crafts. It was a nice summer, but went by just a bit to quickly for me. I love having my kids home.
Now that routine is back in our lives with the start of school, and I am home during the week (did I already mention that), I get to have 'me' time during the day, which I never had before. I am able to clean, organize, exercise, bake, make crafts, paint, read...or even take a nap. I am even able to volunteer at Kaidin's school aka: 'little Bubba', and go on field trips with him. The teenagers don't want me on field trips. Oh wait, that was the school bus, not the field trip bus?....oops, sorry kids. (Just kidding).
Anyway, right now in my life, I am finally feeling fulfillment in my mommy duties, and I am loving every minute of it.
Stay tuned for some of my project postings. I have had time to do some fun things and have great ideas to share.
Alot changed over the summer for me. I resigned at my full-time nursing job of 5 years, and accepted a new opportunity working as a nurse on the weekends and from home. This allows me to be home with the kids during the week, as well as see my hubby more often. It is a win-win! Well, actually it was a bitter-sweet decision. I really LOVE the girls that I worked with, and knew that I would miss them. However, I was ready to fulfill my joy of being a Mom! And, as a bonus...I still see the girls that I worked with at least once every month or two. We do motor-home shopping road trips, and it is so much fun. Alot of laughter, mommy talk and memories are made on those trips. Sorry, don't think the girls want me to share our stories on here.
Well, since having a bit more time on my hands over the summer, the kids and I went to a couple different beaches (one being the BIG lake...yes, Lake Michigan). We have lived here all of our children's lives, and have never taken them to Lake Michigan. (Bad, I know). We also enjoyed time with cousins at the John Ball Zoo, tried different ice-cream places in order to determine our favorite flavors, played games, went swimming and made crafts. It was a nice summer, but went by just a bit to quickly for me. I love having my kids home.
Now that routine is back in our lives with the start of school, and I am home during the week (did I already mention that), I get to have 'me' time during the day, which I never had before. I am able to clean, organize, exercise, bake, make crafts, paint, read...or even take a nap. I am even able to volunteer at Kaidin's school aka: 'little Bubba', and go on field trips with him. The teenagers don't want me on field trips. Oh wait, that was the school bus, not the field trip bus?....oops, sorry kids. (Just kidding).
Anyway, right now in my life, I am finally feeling fulfillment in my mommy duties, and I am loving every minute of it.
Stay tuned for some of my project postings. I have had time to do some fun things and have great ideas to share.
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