Easy Tips for Saving on Organic Groceries
Are you wanting to prepare healthier meals for yourself and your family? Are you wanting to avoid processed foods, preservatives and additives and chemicals? Have you thought about going to an organic diet? An organic diet would accomplish the things we just discussed.
Many people avoid going the organic route because of the expense that comes with buying organic groceries. Truthfully though, that doesn’t always have to be the case.
Here are a couple of easy tips for you to save on your next organic grocery purchase:
Coupons. I know, I know I harp on this a lot but seriously there are a lot of coupons available out there for organic products of all kinds. You can simply do a Google search for organic coupons, or you can go to the websites of your favorite products to search for coupons there. Plus, don’t forget to check your store memberships for coupons. Lastly if you can’t find any coupons or you simply want more, you can actually write to the companies of your favorite products and ask them if they are willing to send out coupons to you. (This goes toward any products, not just organic.)
Pick your own. If you have the ability to pick and/or grow your own produce do it! This is hands-down the cheapest, easiest and best way to get your hands on organic food. When you grow your own foods, you know exactly what has gone into it, how it was grown and what’s pesticides or lack thereof were used. I have a garden that I typically grow vegetables in in the spring and summer and I love it!
Shop farmers markets and stands. You will often find great deals on local, organic produce and other foods by shopping at farmers markets and food stands.
Discount Grocery Stores. Certain discount grocers such as Aldi, Trader Joe’s, Grocery Outlet and more have great deals on organic produce and other organic items.
The point is, on a wide-scale basis you can eat an organic diet without really affecting your household budget, you just have to be willing to look for the deals.
Do you eat organic foods? How have you found discounts on it?
Cons of Letting Your Child Have a Smartphone
The other day we talked a little bit about the pros of letting kids have a smartphone. We can all agree that there is definitely a debate as to whether or not you should let your child have a smartphone. We already talked about the pros, but you probably would want to be informed about the cons of that decision. Here are just a couple of reasons on why not to let your child have a smartphone.
Here are some cons of letting your child have a smartphone:
- Harmful Apps
There are lots of innocent apps on the app store, but there are also many harmful apps that your children could download.
- Glitchy
All phones could be glitchy at some point, but smartphones are often times more glitchy and more likely to be glitchy than the standard cell phone.
- Addictive
Smartphones can be addictive, especially to kids that have nothing else to do. So when they actually do have something to do, they are more likely to complain more because they could be playing on their phone instead. Plus, kids should be active for at least one hour a day so if they’re always looking at their phones, they often times won’t want to be active at all.
- More Than They Need
Your kids don’t need a phone in general, but it’s nice knowing that if they need to they can get in touch with you, but they don’t need a smartphone for that. They can call and text you on a standard phone just as well.
- Easy to Break
This may not have been proven by anybody, but I know that when I used to have a standard phone, it didn’t break nearly as easy as my smartphone has. I have went through about four smartphones in the past five years. The first two and the last one broke because I dropped it one time then the whole thing shattered. When I dropped my standard phone, it stayed exactly the same. Imagine with kids! They might be responsible kids, but accidents do happen.
- Expensive
These devices are expensive! In both initial investment and monthly maintenance. They cost hundreds of dollars when you first buy them, but then you have to pay for them every month to go on top of that, which really adds up!
So what do you think? Is it worth it?
Reasons to Say Yes to Your Kid Having a Smartphone
Are your kids begging you for a smartphone? Are you trying to figure out whether or not this is the right decision for your family? This decision is a tough one to make, especially if you aren’t quite sure of all the pros there are to letting your child have a smartphone.
So, for those that are on the fence here, we made a list for you!
Here is a list of the pros of letting your child have a smartphone:
- Helps With School
These days, schools use technology for just about anything and some teachers encourage you to bring your smartphone to class for projects. As a parent of a middle schooler, I can attest to this being true.
- Entertaining
Think about it, if you really need to do something but your child is complaining that they’re bored, then it would be so much easier if they could just entertain themselves with games on their phone. Of course, this is not what you want to happen all the time, but occasionally it is a benefit.
- It Can Benefit You
You may not have thought of this, but it could help you a lot! If you are driving and you really need to look something up, instead of breaking the law and putting yourself and others in danger, you could just ask your child to look it up for you and tell you the answer.
- Helps With Homework
Sometimes, your kids need help with their homework and you don’t know how to help them, and that’s okay! It just helps them extra if they have a smartphone that they could use as a tool for homework! Many teachers also suggest that kids use a calculator that they can find online via their phones.
- Pictures and Videos
Normal cell phones often have cameras that take photos, but it’s almost never as good quality as a picture taken by a smartphone.
- Responsibility
Your kids will love their phone so much that it will make them do anything to not get it taken away from them. Which also means they have more motivation to behave.
- Social Benefits
I know you don’t want to be a “keeping up with the Jones’” kind of family but the reality is there. A majority of kids these days have smartphones. The kids that don’t have them are the exception, they are no longer the rule.
Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Wooden Railway Stephen $6.99!
Do you have a little Thomas fan in the house? Amazon has this cute Fisher-Price Thomas the Train Wooden Railway Stephen marked down to just $6.99, from its regular price of $6.99!
- Stephen is made of real wood
- Easy-to-use magnet connects to other engines
- Works great with any Thomas & Friends Wooden Railway set
- Realistic engine details and styling
- Expand your world of Thomas & Friends and create your very own Thomas adventures
This item will ship free for all Amazon Prime members. Or, regular members can score free shipping by adding $49 or more worth of eligible items to your cart. You can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime here.
Macy’s Closing 68 Stores & Sears Closing 150 Kmart/Sears Stores Nationwide. Are Any Near You?
Stores have been closing left and right- Aeropostale, JCPenney’s, Sport’s Authority. Have you heard the news? In 2017, Macy’s and Sears will both close down a good portion of their stores. Sears will be closing down a total of 150 stores with 108 Kmart stores and 42 Sears stores by April. Macy’s will be closing 68 more stores out of the current 730 stores. Both of these stores are nationwide and there is a good chance it will affect you. If your store is listed below, be on the look out for some really great going out of business sales and prices. Here is the list of stores that will be closing:
Macy’s Stores that will be closing in 2017:
- Mission Valley Apparel, San Diego, CA (385,000 square feet; opened in 1961; 140 associates);
- Paseo Nuevo, Santa Barbara, CA (141,000 square feet; opened in 1990; 77 associates);
- Lakeland Square, Lakeland, FL (101,000 square feet; opened in 1995; 68 associates);
- Oviedo Marketplace, Oviedo, FL (195,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 83 associates);
- Sarasota Square, Sarasota, FL (143,000 square feet; opened in 1977; 86 associates);
- University Square, Tampa, FL (140,000 square feet; opened in 1974; 73 associates);
- CityPlace, West Palm Beach, FL (108,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 72 associates);
- Georgia Square, Athens, GA (121,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 69 associates);
- Nampa Gateway Center, Nampa, ID (104,000, square feet; opened in 2009; 57 associates);
- Alton Square, Alton, IL (180,000 square feet; opened in 1978; 54 associates);
- Stratford Square, Bloomingdale, IL (149,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 87 associates);
- Eastland, Bloomington, IL (154,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 55 associates);
- Jefferson, Louisville, KY (157,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 52 associates);
- Esplanade, Kenner, LA (188,000 square feet; opened in 2008; 101 associates);
- Bangor, Bangor, ME (143,000 square feet; opened in 1998; 65 associates);
- Westgate, Brockton, MA (144,000 square feet; opened in 2003; 79 associates);
- Silver City Galleria, Taunton, MA (152,000 square feet; opened in 1992; 82 associates);
- Lakeview Square Mall, Battle Creek, MI (102,000 square feet: opened 1983; 51 associates);
- Eastland Center, Harper Woods, MI (433,000 square feet; opened in 1957; 121 associates);
- Lansing, Lansing, MI (103,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 57 associates);
- Westland, Westland, MI (334,000 square feet; opened in 1965; 106 associates);
- Minneapolis Downtown, Minneapolis, MN (1,276,000 square feet; opened in 1902; 280 associates);
- Northgate, Durham, NC (187,000 square feet; opened in 1994; 72 associates);
- Columbia, Grand Forks, ND (99,000 square feet; opened in 1978; 53 associates);
- Moorestown, Moorestown, NJ (200,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 107 associates);
- Voorhees Town Center, Voorhees, NJ (224,000 square feet; opened in 1970; 77 associates);
- Preakness, Wayne, NJ (81,000 square feet; opened in 1963; 72 associates);
- Cottonwood, Albuquerque, NM (173,000 square feet; opened in 1996; 56 associates);
- Las Vegas Boulevard, Las Vegas, NV (178,000 square feet; opened in 1966; 84 associates);
- Great Northern, Clay, NY (88,000 square feet; opened in 1989; 55 associates);
- Oakdale Mall, Johnson City, NY (140,000 square feet; opened in 2000; 58 associates);
- The Marketplace, Rochester, NY (149,000 square feet; opened in 1982; 77 associates);
- Eastland, Columbus, OH (121,000 square feet; opened in 2006; 73 associates);
- Sandusky, Sandusky, OH (133,000 square feet; opened in 1979; 61 associates);
- Fort Steuben, Steubenville, OH (132,000 square feet; opened in 1974; 59 associates);
- Promenade, Tulsa, OK (180,000 square feet; opened in 1996; 58 associates);
- Neshaminy, Bensalem, PA (211,000 square feet; opened in 1968; 89 associates);
- Shenango Valley, Hermitage, PA (106,000 square feet; opened in 1976; 69 associates);
- Beaver Valley, Monaca, PA (203,000 square feet; opened in 1987; 78 associates);
- Lycoming, Muncy, PA (120,000 square feet; opened in 1995; 61 associates);
- Plymouth Meeting, Plymouth Meeting, PA (214,000 square feet; opened in 1966; 74 associates);
- Washington Crown Center, Washington, PA (148,000 square feet; opened in 1999; 67 associates);
- Parkdale, Beaumont, TX (171,000 square feet; opened in 2002; 67 associates);
- Southwest Center, Dallas, TX (148,000 square feet; opened in 1975; 68 associates);
- Sunland Park, El Paso, TX (105,000 square feet; opened in 2004; 71 associates);
- Greenspoint, Houston, TX (314,000 square feet; opened in 1976; 70 associates);
- West Oaks Mall, Houston, TX (244,000 square feet; opened in 1982; 135 associates);
- Pasadena Town Square, Pasadena, TX (209,000 square feet; opened in 1962; 78 associates);
- Collin Creek, Plano, TX (199,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 103 associates);
- Broadway Square, Tyler, TX (100,000 square feet; opened in 1981; 65 associates);
- Layton Hills, Layton, UT (162,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 72 associates);
- Cottonwood, Salt Lake City, UT (200,000 square feet; opened in 1962; 88 associates);
- Landmark, Alexandria, VA (201,000 square feet; opened in 1965; 119 associates);
- River Ridge, Lynchburg, VA (144,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 60 associates);
- Everett, Everett, WA (133,000 square feet; opened in 1977; 109 associates);
- Three Rivers, Kelso, WA (51,000 square feet; opened in 1987; 57 associates);
- Valley View, La Crosse, WI (101,000 square feet; opened in 1980; 57 associates)
- Simi Valley Town Center (men’s/home/kids), Simi Valley, CA (190,000 square feet; opened in 2006; 105 associates);
- Mall at Tuttle Crossing (furniture/home/kids/men’s), Dublin, OH (227,000 square feet; opened in 2003; 52 associates)
Sears/Kmart Stores that will be closing in 2017
- Jasper Mall, Jasper, Alabama
- 2003 US-280, Phenix City, Alabama
- 3600 Wilson Road, Bakersfield, California
- 3001 Iowa Ave., Riverside, California
- 25 West Polk St., Coalinga, California
- 333 Sierra St., Kingsburg, California
- 363 S. Broadway, Denver, Colorado
- 2809 North Ave., Grand Junction, Colorado
- 45 Shunpike Road, Cromwell, Connecticut
- 1801 NW US Highway 19, Crystal River, Florida
- 501 N. Beneva Road, Sarasota, Florida
- 19400 Cochran Blvd., Port Charlotte, Florida
- 2111 S. Federal Highway, Ft. Pierce, Florida
- 1501 Normandy Village Parkway, Jacksonville, Florida
- 2211 W. Irlo Bronson Memorial Highway, Kissimmee, Florida
- 4955 Golden Gate Parkway, Naples, Florida
- 111 Town and Country Drive, Palatka, Florida
- McGregor Point Shopping Center, Fort Myers, Florida
- 33 W. Montgomery Cross Road, Savannah, Georgia
- 3200 Macon Road, Columbus, Georgia
- 365 Habersham Village Circle, Cornelia, Georgia
- 1601 Highway 40 East, Kingsland, Georgia
- 4561 Salt Lake Blvd., Honolulu, Hawaii
- 2600 Dodge St., Dubuque, Iowa
- 5700 Gordon Drive, Sioux City, Iowa
- 3810 University Ave., Waterloo, Iowa
- 2851 Belt Line Parkway, Alton, Illinois
- 3655 Nameoki Road, Granite City, Illinois
- 750 Indian Boundary Road, Chesterton, Indiana
- 1460 West State Road 2, La Porte, Indiana
- 4820 S. 4th St., Leavenworth, Kansas
- 4200 W. Kellogg Dr., Wichita, Kansas
- 191 Outer Loop, Louisville, Kentucky
- 2815 West Parrish Ave., Owensboro, Kentucky
- 1501 Paris Pike, Georgetown, Kentucky
- 14662 N. US Highway 25 East, Corbin, Kentucky
- 1710 W. Highway 192, London, Kentucky
- 3010 Fort Campbell Blvd., Hopkinsville, Kentucky
- 2945 Scottsville Road, Bowling Green, Kentucky
- 115 South Airline Highway, Gonzales, Lousiana
- 1400 S. Clearview Parkway, New Orleans, Louisiana
- 688 Hogan Road, Bangor, Maine
- 222 North Point Blvd., Baltimore, Maryland
- 1130 Newport Ave., South Attleboro, Massachusetts
- 9 Plaza Way, Fairhaven, Massachusetts
- 29600 Ford Road, Garden City, Michigan
- 3555 O’Neill Drive, Jackson, Michigan
- 1396 South Main St., Adrian, Michigan
- 5400 S. Cedar St., Lansing, Michigan
- 1501 E. Apple Ave., Muskegon, Michigan
- 40855 Ann Arbor Road, Plymouth, Michigan
- 17580 Frazho Road, Roseville, Michigan
- 3541 Highland Road, Waterford, Michigan
- 165 Wayne Road, Westland, Michigan
- 6455 US 31 North, Acme Township, Michigan
- 1305 Highway 10 West, Detroit Lakes, Minnesota
- 1477 State Highway 248, Branson, Missouri
- 2304 Missouri Blvd., Jefferson City, Missouri
- 1003 S. Bishop Ave., Rolla, Missouri
- 3101 S. Glenstone Ave., Springfield, Missouri
- 6650 Manchester Ave., St Louis, Missouri
- Rio Mall, Rio Grande, New Jersey
- 1468 Clementon Road, Clementon, New Jersey
- 645 Highway 18, East Brunswick, New Jersey
- 800 Black Horse Pike, Pleasantville, New Jersey
- 4645 Commercial Drive, New Hartford, New York
- 10405 S. Eastern Ave., Henderson, Nevada
- 545 Concord Parkway North, Concord, North Carolina
- 1931 Skibo Road, Fayetteville, North Carolina
- 201 N. Berkeley Blvd., Goldsboro, North Carolina
- 102 New Market, Madison, North Carolina
- 815 S. College Road, Wilmington, North Carolina
- 1500 Coshocton Ave., Mount Vernon, Ohio
- 185 Upper River Road, Gallipolis, Ohio
- 1005 East Columbus St., Kenton, Ohio
- 225 West Avenue, New Boston, Ohio
- I-70 & Mall Road, St. Clairsville, Ohio
- 3515 N. Maple Ave., Zanesville, Ohio
- 1284 Brice Road, Reynoldsburg, Ohio
- 4 East Shawnee St., Muskogee, Oklahoma
- 5820 Shaffer Road, Dubois, Pennsylvania
- 1320 E. Grandview Blvd., Erie, Pennsylvania
- 1890 Fruitville Pike, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
- 5600 Carlisle Pike US 11, Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania
- 120 Mall Blvd., Monroeville, Pennsylvania
- 100 Crossroads Plaza, Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania
- 3801 Clemson Blvd., Anderson, South Carolina
- 254 Highway 72 Bypass, Greenwood, South Carolina
- 8571 Rivers Ave., North Charleston, South Carolina
- 3020 W. 12th St., Sioux Falls , South Dakota
- 305 W. Economy Road, Morristown, Tennessee
- 1120 McRae Blvd., El Paso, Texas
- 9484 Dyer St., El Paso, Texas
- 1101 Fort Hood St., Killeen, Texas
- 3061 S. John Redditt Drive, Lufkin, Texas
- 1153 W. Highway 40, Vernal, Utah
- 2010 N. Main St., Layton, Utah
- 1419 Hershberger Road NW, Roanoke, Virginia
- 3655 Plank Road, Fredericksburg, Virginia
- 6101 N. Military Highway, Norfolk, Virginia
- 1355 West Main St., Salem, Virginia
- 5132 Sixth Ave., Tacoma, Washington
- 250 Three Springs Drive, Weirton, West Virginia
- 731 Beverly Pike, Elkins, West Virginia
- 1050 Division St., Parkersburg, West Virginia
- 1425 E. Highway 151, Platteville, Wisconsin
- 2211 S. Green Bay Road, Racine, Wisconsin
- 1840 Dell Range Blvd., Cheyenne, Wyoming
What do you think about this news?
Spending Quality One on One Time with Your Kids When You’re Busy!
We are constantly going! Between school and work schedules, sporting events, family functions, errands and on and on there is little time in our schedule to squeeze anything in. But spending quality time with our kids is important. And although it would be nice to take them out on a date that’s not always possible. Don’t worry, you can spend quality time with your kids without having it consume your time or cost you money!
Include them in making dinner. Sometimes we get in our routine of making dinner as soon as we get home from work or while the kids are working on homework. Give them a little break from homework and ask for their help in the kitchen. Not only will you get lots of time together but they’ll be learning vital skill they’ll need in the future.
Read with your children. My children are required to read 20 minutes a day as part of their homework. And although I can get a lot done in those 20 minutes of reading, they love it when I sit down and let them read to me.
Listen/Talk to them while driving. We have had many interesting conversations in the car when I shut off the music and we just talk. And sometimes they leave me laughing at the cute and funny things they say. We spend a lot of time in the car and those are precious minutes we can use to talk to our children about how they’re doing in school, who their friends are and maybe talk about stranger danger and what to do to stay safe.
Watch short clips together. There are so many awesome youtube videos or short clips out there that you could watch with your kids. I love showing my kids the previews to new kids movies coming out. Or they’ll want some funnies home video clips with them. Just hope on a find a channel you love or search for a fun topic.
Include children in errands and household tasks. This is also a great teaching opportunity. Maybe you find you need to repair a small leak, or the car needs the oil changed. Let the kids be there to help. Even at a young age children love to help out when mom and dad ask. And what a great way for them to learn something new.
Give your child a hug. Appropriate physical touch is a great way to show love to your children. A hug can make a difference and allow your child to feel safe, protected and loved all in just 5 seconds of your time.
Exercise together. My middle daughter is always asking when the next Pound class is. She loves going to exercise with me and the fact that she’s seeing we can have fun while moving and taking care of ourselves is awesome. You don’t have to take them physically to the gym to exercise with them though, checkout some videos and do them together at home. Or take up a sport and help them practice when it warms up outside.
Do chores together. Kids hate it when they’re told to go clean their room or vacuum the family room. But when you do it together there’s a huge difference in their attitude. So next time you’re having to empty the dishwasher have a couple more hands come and help get the work down.
Rock out to their favorite song in the car. Probably my most favorite. There’s just something that happens when their favorite song comes on and you hear the excitement in their voice as they start belting out the words. Turn it up and start singing along, they’re going to love it.
Don’t stop including your kids in things you do every day. They love to spend time with you and there’s not much of it until they’re off on their own. These little acts will help them get that quality time with you that they need.
Most Efficient Ways to Heat Your Home
Is it cold where you are? Here it is freezing and we are getting much more snow than we normally do. This has me kind of stressed out about what my heating bill is going to look this month. The thing is, I have an electric furnace. If I were to have built the house myself I probably would have went in a different direction, but it is what it is. We are planning to put a new home on our property soon, so now I am thinking about what direction we should go in the new home and what sources of heat we should have.
In my research I have come up with some really interesting numbers as far as an average of how much each heat source will cost throughout the span of year:
Wood Heat. A wood stove, fireplace or wood furnace burns wood. Firewood sells on average for $200 per cord (of course this can fluctuate depending on where you live). Most people will use roughly 6 cords of wood throughout the year, therefore your average is $1200. Not too bad at first glance, right?
Oil. Although it can change quickly, oil is, at this time, a very expensive way to heat your home. It costs roughly $2700 per year to keep your oil tanks filled.
Propane. Propane prices are different depending on which region you live in. The average yearly cost of propane heat is anywhere from $1500 to $2300.
Natural Gas. Natural Gas is among the lower costing heat sources. The average yearly cost of natural gas heat is right around $1000. Natural gas costs less than half of what oil does and has grown in popularity as oil prices have risen.
Electricity. Over a third of all homes in the US use electric heat because it is easy to install, however many homeowners are not impressed by the efficiency of the heat source. Electric heat costs, on average $1500 per year. Not terrible, but not as efficient as some of the others.
What heat source do you use? What would you choose if you were building a new home?
Cut back on Diaper Costs with These Tricks
Do you have a baby at home? If you said yes, then you know how expensive it can get to diaper your little one! Not to fret though, diapers are one of the easiest things to save money on. Here are some tips and general rules that you can follow through on that will help you cut back on your diapering budget.
- Use coupons. Okay, you knew I was going to say this, but for real. USE COUPONS. Coupons can cut down on your diaper costs exponentially. Especially when you see high value coupons available. For example, there was recently a $3 Off Huggies coupon available to print out. You could then take that coupon to most big box stores (Walmart, Target, etc.) and grab a Jumbo size of Huggies diapers for less than $5, which is a great buy!
- Buy in bulk. Not everything is better bought in bulk, but diapers are. Think about it, you know you are going to need a lot of diapers anyway and they are always cheaper when you buy boxes of them.
- Shop Amazon. Amazon Family is a great program that gives you an additional 20% off of the cost of diapers. Plus, they often have clippable coupons available and most of the time you can also use Subscribe and Save to save an additional 5%. As a general rule, Amazon is where I typically find the best deals.
- Check out Goodwill. Goodwill?! Yep, that’s what I said. In most areas of the country, Goodwill buys Target overstock items and oftentimes you can find rock bottom prices on diapers, wipes and more. I recently spotted a 72 count pack of Pampers for just $6.99. That is an extremely good deal and one that you won’t often find. This is a hit and miss kind of deal, so there are no guarantees, but if you are planning to stop by Goodwill anyway, it is worth checking into.
I have always set a rule to never spend more than $0.10 per diaper. And I stock up at anything $0.08 per diaper or less. What about you? What is your magic number for diaper prices? Can you think of any other great ways to save?
Women’s Short Leg Warmer Crochet Boot Cover $6.20
I love a cute set of boot covers! Amazon has these Women’s Short Leg Warmer Crochet Boot Cover for just $6.20!
This item will ship free for all Amazon Prime members. Or, regular members can score free shipping by adding $49 or more worth of eligible items to your cart. You can get a 30-day free trial of Amazon Prime here.
7 Tips & Tricks to Beat the Winter Blues
It’s Winter time, which can be hard on a lot of people. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression related to changes in seasons. A lot of people can experience this during the winter months. You may find yourself a little more tired or moody. I’ve learned that you really can enjoy this season. It does require a little extra work, but it’s definitely worth it. Here are 7 tips & tricks that might just help you beat the winter blues.
Learn Something New. When your body and mind are put to work, it helps you feel like you have accomplished something. Think of a hobby or sport that you have wanted to get into but just haven’t done it yet. Now is the time to do it. You can start by signing up for a class and actually learn how to do your hobby the right way. Or, ask a friend or neighbor who knows how to do it and have them teach you. Some examples could include: swimming, skiing/snowboarding, playing the piano, guitar or other musical instrument, decorating cookies and cakes, sewing or an exercise class. Whatever it is, put your body and mind to work and do it!
Get Outside. The first thing we think of when we see the snow or rain falling outside is how much we want to stay in our pjs and lounge around inside all day. This could be fine for a day or so, but when you do this consecutively over the winter, depression could set in. Get outside no matter the weather. If it’s just for a walk to the mailbox and then around the block, that’s fine. Getting outside gives you the fresh air that you are craving but just don’t know it while you are inside. Another idea is plan a drive through the mountains or other scenic drives. Stop every once in awhile and step outside to breath in the fresh air. We all need it and it feels so good.
Serve Others. When we forget about ourselves and think of others, our moodiness suddenly disappears. We are focusing our thoughts and energy onto someone else. You will probably also notice that other people have struggles too and sometimes they are far worse than your own. Look around in your neighborhood and community. Where could you volunteer your time and talents? Who is sad and lonely? Even a nice homemade cooked meal for someone who is struggling is a big thing. If you can’t volunteer on a regular basis. Try making a goal for once a week to help someone in need. This will direct your focus outwards instead of keeping it on yourself.
Exercise. You hear it all the time, right? You need to exercise. It’s so true though. Exercise can be different for a lot of people. Taking a walk with friends around the neighborhood, or signing up for the swim class you’ve wanted to. There are many ways to exercise and you will definitely feel a difference in the way your body feels. If you’re like me and you are a social exerciser, grab your friends and plan a set day of the week that you will exercise. Then stick to it! The feel of peer pressure is so good to get you going!
Get Ready for the Day. You might be thinking… what?? This one might sound funny but it helps me so much. I have a rule that every morning I have to take a shower and get my hair and makeup ready for the day. I find that the days I stay in the comfy clothes and don’t shower, I tend to lounge around the house, I’m more tired, and I tend to get snappy at the kids. When I’m actually dressed and feel good about myself, my day goes a lot better. Plus, then I’m not running in my room to get dressed the second the doorbell rings! We’ve all been there right!? 
Be Social. We all need friends…especially women. We need to talk and eat…talk and eat. It’s just in our nature. So why is it when the colder seasons come along, we suddenly stop getting together with our friends? It doesn’t have to be that way. Plan lunches with your friends, go to a museum, hit the mall and let the kids play in the play area, start a book club, or just take turns hosting a get together. You may have to put more energy into actually going, but once you are there, you will notice how much you crave that friendship and conversation.
Plan a Vacation/Have Something to Look Forward to. I’m a planner, I need it. I love looking at the new year and thinking of all we can do and explore. It gets me excited. We all need that feeling of something to look forward to. So, if you don’t have any trips, outings, dates, or adventures planned yet, get going. Look into a new camping spot for the summer, or a winter wonderland you can go visit now. It doesn’t need to be big, it just needs to make you happy and give you a change in your everyday routine.
Hopefully these suggestions will help you feel motivated and ready to beat the winter blues. What do you think?
Do you have any other suggestions to add to these?
Car Safety Tips and What Should Be in Your Car Emergency Kit!
Isn’t the weather crazy? If you live anywhere that gets snow you’ve probably been getting a lot of it lately but that doesn’t always mean you don’t have to go out in it. There’s still work to get to and kids that need to get to school. So here are some car safety tips you can use to stay save during all kinds of weather, not just in snow!
- Keep your gas tank full – my mom always told me you want to keep it at least above half. And I always do what my mommy says
- Windshield wiper equipment – make sure you maintain proper washer fluid levels and that you repair any problems
- Tires – you either want good winter tires to get you through the snow or make sure the treed is still good
- Anifreeze levels – make sure they are sufficient to avoid freezing
- Do not drive through a flooded area – you never know how deep it really is and just 1 foot of water will float many cars
- Be aware of areas where floodwater have receded – roads may have weakened and could collapse under the weight of a car
- Brakes – check for wear and fluid levels. If you’re not sure how to do this, take your car to your local auto shop and I’m sure they’d be willing to help you out
- Oil – check the level regularly
- If a power line falls on your car you are at risk of electrical shock, stay inside until a trained person arrives and instructs you on what to do
There are situations in which you could need additional supplies in which case you’ll want to make sure you have an emergency kit and supplies in your car. This should include:
- Jumper cables
- Flashlights
- First Aid Kit
- Food
- Manual Can Opener
- Water
- Basic Toolkit
- Radio
- Cat Litter
- Shovel
- Ice Scraper
- Clothes
- Blankets
- Charged Cell Phone
Most of these items you already have around your house. Just grab an old backpack and gather everything together. And if you don’t have them, put a list of what you need together and grab one thing off that list every time you’re at the store. Hopefully you’ll all travel safe in your cars and be ready in case of an emergency.
Keep Your Hands Smooth this Winter with These Tips
Do you have problems with your hands cracking in the cold weather? I don’t remember it ever happening as a kid, but as an adult, my hands are in terrible shape during the winter. But I have been following some tips and over the last couple of years it has been much better!
In case you are in need of some tips yourself, here are some of the things I do to keep my hands smooth in the Winter:
Use gloves when cleaning. This goes for typical housework as well as when you are hand washing dishes. Household chemicals are full of chemicals, tough on skin and very drying. Also, dish soap is “tough on grease” therefore also tough on our natural skin oils. In addition to this, the acids from the leftover foods on our dirty dishes are extremely drying. Using gloves prevents this from happening. Alternatively, when you are doing dishes, add several tablespoons of baking soda to your dish water, as it holds in the moisture (just be sure to rinse the dishes well).
Use cooking oil in the bathroom. Well that sounds funny doesn’t it? Seriously though, keep a jar of coconut oil or a bottle of olive oil in your bathroom to use for moisturizing purposes. I have been doing this with coconut oil for a while and I absolutely love it. Plus side, you smell amazing afterwards! You can actually use this on your hands, face and more! (I actually use coconut oil for removing wax after doing my eyebrows too.)
Skip the hand washing once in awhile. We have all gotten just a little bit obsessive about washing our hands. While it is for good reason (no one likes to be sick), we really don’t need to wash our hands quite as often as we are. If no one in your house is sick, refrain from those “just because” hand washing sessions. Of course, you still need to wash your hands when you use the restroom and before and after handling food, but even then you can look for less harsh soaps. Be on the lookout and avoid soaps that have sulfates. Those are typically more harsh on your hands.
Do you have any other tricks to keeping your hands silky smooth? We would love to hear your ideas!
Health Benefits of Drinking More Water
With the new year beginning, why not set a goal to drink more water. Why? Well, there are countless reasons really, but let’s start with some basics facts.
The human body, is in fact, made up of over 50% water, therefore consuming water each day and the amount that you consume is very important. Doctors and other experts have long recommended that you drink between 8 and 10 glasses of water each day for maintaining good health.
So unless you are already surprising your goals in drinking adequate water each day and most of us aren’t, increasing your water consumption is a great way to make you healthier!! Here’s how:
Helps with Weight Loss
Increasing your water consumption helps with weight loss in several ways. Here are three:
- Being properly hydrated increases the rate that you burn fat and calories.
- Water is a great replacement for soda and juice, allowing you to cut down on the sugar that comes with those other drinks.
- It has been proven that drinking two glasses of water before meals helps you to eat less because you feel more full.
Flushes Out Toxins
Increasing your water consumption increases the rate at which you sweat and urinate. This may not sound like a good thing, but in reality it is. This is how you release toxins from your body!
In increasing urination and bladder function, it also increases the productivity of your kidneys, which helps to rid your body of excess sodium, kidney stones, uti’s and more!
Decreases Headaches (Both in number and duration)
I suffer from migraines, so this is my favorite side effect of drinking more water. Studies have shown that many headaches are caused by dehydration. Drinking adequate amounts of water will lower your chances of developing a headache. If you still end up with a headache, studies have shown that those that are hydrated have shorter duration headaches with less pain, than those who are not hydrated.
Improved Moods
Did you know that being dehydrated even in a small percentage point can negatively impact your mood? So if you are wanting to stay on the chipper side, keep a glass of water on hand.
I know there are more benefits out there, but I don’t have time to list them all. 
What are your favorite benefits to the wonder that is water?
New Years Eve Family Friendly Party Ideas
New Years Eve can be a little tricky with kids. There comes a point during the night when they get grouchy and super tired. So staying up until midnight just might not be doable for you at this time. However, you can still party it up until you are ready to put the kids to bed. Here are a few suggestions to make your New Years Eve awesome with the entire family.
Celebrate the New Year Early. If kids are really young you can just tell them it’s time to ring in the New Year at what ever time you want. If they are a little older, you may want to set your clocks ahead a few hours so they can get the whole feeling. If you have Netflix, you can even get a New Years Eve Countdown and show that whenever you are ready to end the night. Just search New Years Eve Countdown and your choices will show up. So fun!
Reverse Charades. Have you played this game? You can download the app here. It’s FREE and so much fun. Basically it’s like Charades but one person is guessing and the rest of the group is acting it out. It can be pretty funny. We split up into teams, making it even with younger and older kids. Get ready for some laughs!
Fireworks or poppers. Who doesn’t love some good fireworks? This is a fun excuse to grab a few fireworks and enjoy the lights. If you don’t want to do the full fireworks show, just buy a few snaps/poppers and have a smaller show.
Have unique snacks and drinks. To set this night apart from the rest get some yummy, unique snacks and drinks. We love getting out our fondue fountain and also making Italian sodas. We don’t do those often, so the kids look forward to these occasions.
Karaoke/Dance party. While ringing in the new year, you need some music. If you have a Karaoke machine that would be even better. But never fear, if you don’t, just grab a wooden spoon and you are set! Turn the music up and have some fun. You can even make a playlist ahead of time of 2016 best hits. You can also get a few favorite songs from each person. That way when their favorite comes on they will be excited.
Slumber party. Put on your pjs, grab your pillows and blankets and get a fun movie to watch together. You can even make a blanket fort and watch it from there.
Make a 2016 Family Time Capsule. You can do this in many ways. One way would be to actually get items that represent what you have done and accomplished this past year. A more simple way, would be getting a big piece of butcher paper and make a big picture of those things you have done this past year. This is a fun time to talk together as a family and reminisce on those vacations, team sports, and other things that have been achieved this past year.
What do you do on New Years Eve that is awesome? Comment below and let us hear your ideas!
New Year’s Resolutions For 2017 – Start Off The New Year Running!
We are about to celebrate a new year and I’m sure you’re getting ready for all the parties that are going to be happening. And while that is great and exciting it’s time to start thinking about some New Year’s resolutions. Now in the past I’ve had a hard time with these because for one it’s difficult for me to stick to them because they’re usually the traditional lose weight and get more organized. But this year I’m thinking outside the box and have come up with other resolutions that I might add to my list. (And don’t worry, those first two will still be on there until I get them mastered.)
- Set out to learn something new
- Save at least $50/month (or any other amount that sounds reasonable to you)
- Meet someone new
- Find a way to serve someone different at least once a month
- Break a bad habit
- Stretch every day
- Watch less TV
- Drink more water
- Read more
- Find some way to relax
- Have more patience
- Spend more time with my kids
- Try a new style of exercise (yoga, biking, cross fit, etc.)
- Floss your teeth daily (please say I’m not alone)
- Take a full day off from Social Media once a month
- Start a gratitude journal
- Double the time we spend outside
- Work on our emergency preparedness boxes
- Always use sunscreen
- Organize my phone/photos
- Send more homemade cards in the mail
- Lower my sugar intake
- Take more pictures & video
- Be honest with myself
- Simplify my life
Have you come up with your New Year’s Resolutions yet? If so I want to hear what you’re changing this year! Let us all know in the comments below!