Beauty/ FUN/DIY/ Simplifying

Simple Spring and Summer Style

The older I get, the more important it is to keep my life simple. This includes my style. I’m all about simple basic colors, keeping things classic, and of course, comfort is key! I’ve made a board on Maven showing some examples of all the things I’m loving this summer and spring. They are all super afforedable and can be found at Shopko. Read to the end to learn about Shopko’s Friends and Family event and for a special discount code to use while shopping!

{New Nostalgia’s Spring & Summer Style Wishlist Board on Maven}

Breathable & Breezy Spring and Summer Style

Breathable, breezy styles are a necessity for me right now. I take medications as a cancer survivor, and they can really mess with my body’s internal temperature gauge. It can cause discomfort at times, so it is important for me to chose clothing that does not make my symptoms worse. I need breathable, and I know I’m not alone in this!

We recently attended a dinner party at one of the most beautiful homes I have ever been too. It was a 5- course dinner that was served outside at sunset. I needed a dress that would keep me comfortable all evening, and found the perfect dress at Shopko! It was black, not too short, allowed me to breathe (through all 5 courses!) and had lace in all the right places. I am finding that lace is a great way to add a touch of feminine but still provide breathable coverage.

{hint: want the dress a bit longer? Do what I did…add a black slip underneath for added length under the lace}

Classic Pumps

I finally bought a pair of comfortable, black pumps. Shopko had both shiny and matte in this style, and I choose shiny! I also chose a heel that was not too high, which makes these pumps quite comfortable. Black pumps look great with dresses, skirts and even jeans.

Dainty Necklaces

I used to like a statement necklace, but as I’m getting older, I am less about trendy and more about classic style. I have been opting for simple, dainty necklaces. They are feminine, don’t weigh heavy on the neck, and you can wear more than one at a time. I love how several small chains look when stacked. I recently bought a 16″ sterling silver chain from Shopko and have been wearing it all day every day. I love seeing just a touch of sparkle at the neck when light catches the chain just right. I think it is understated sexy.

Ruffles

Just like lace, ruffles are so feminine. They can tend to be trendy, so I look for styles that are classic or vintage and solid in color, like this adorable, touch- of -vintage ruffly shirt.

Oversized Bags

I’m a bag lover. I love all sizes of bags but especially love a large bag to throw in all the things! For spring and summer, I like a more casual bag that can go from shopping to the pool. The touch of shimmery gold metallic on this bag below makes me smile.

Athleisure Wear

The same medication I talked about above, and turning 40, has caused some dreaded weight gain, so this also influences the clothing I choose. Athleisure wear to the rescue! Athletic wear has come a long way and is not just for the gym–although I plan on spending some time there! A nice soft basic black legging or capri legging, cotton shirts that are breezy and are long enough to cover a bit in the back, and athletic shoes have become my favorite style. I look for shirts that are classic colors and that fit well. I also look for simple details that take them from a plain cotton t-shirt to a shirt with some interest.

Hats

Something I refuse to get too old for is a great baseball cap. I will throw one on for an early morning walk in my neighborhood before the sun gets too high and hot. I will throw one on after swimming at the pool to help tame my naturally wavy locks. I also love them at the gym with a high ponytail.

Comfy Shoes

There is nothing more comfortable than a classic white sneaker. If you get the right pair, like the Adidas Woman’s Cloudfoam Advantage, they can go from your gym clothes to jeans, shorts or capris, and even with a t-shirt dress. Throw a jean jacket over the t-shirt dress for those chilly spring evenings. If you are feeling a bit braver and need some color in your life, I’m crushing on these minty green Puma Leisure Shoe this season.

Shopko Friends & Family Event

So there is my plan! It has been much fun gathering my favorite Sping and Summer Style items on my Maven boards. Everything is super affordable, especially during Shopko’s Friends and Family event!

Use promo code FNF119 at checkout for Friends & Family event (Extra 20% Off Home & Clothing and Extra 10% Off Furniture & Electronics, valid online from May 21 12:01 AM to May 24 11:59 PM).

What about you? What are your spring and summer must-have’s? Do you relate to needing simple, easy, comfy & breezy?

DIY/Crafts/ HOME/ Organizing/ Simplifying

Simple Tips Tricks and Routines To Keep Your Car Clean

“This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and Armor All, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #LessTimeMoreShine http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV”

We bought a new car about a year ago, and have been establishing some good routines to keep it looking (and smelling) like new. I have all kinds of simple tips, tricks and routines to share with you, from using Armor All Ultra Shine Wash & Wax wipes to keeping a lint brush in your glove compartment to pick up all those small things!

As a Mom of 3 teen girls, I am in my car ALL THE TIME. Not only do I want to be a good steward of the blessing of a new car and take good care of it, but I also want to be in an environment that is clutter-free and easy to be in, where everything I need has a place.

Intentionality is the only way to keep life from overtaking our car, and routines are the answer! I have found that simple routines are the best way to keep the clutter out, and the interior and exterior of the car clean and shiny!

Simple Routines To Keep Your Car Clean

Routinely take trash and items that don’t belong out of your car

This is the most crucial step to keeping a clean car. If you can’t carry all items in right when you get home, do your best to get the rest either right away or next time you leave your car. The key is making a habit of pushing pause before heading inside to see what you can grab. Remind the kids to do the same as they head out of the car. Do this every time you arrive home and things won’t pile up or get overwhelming.

The simple decision to keep trash bags in the car has truly worked wonders for me. I keep a roll of small trash bags in the glove compartment and whenever I see more trash than I can carry piling up in the car, I will grab a bag off the roll and get rid of the trash in one easy sweep!

Keep items on hand to conveniently clean

The key to keeping routines is to make them as easy as possible. Having the right items on hand is the path to efficiency. I keep a cleaning kit in my glove box for easy grab and go clean for the interior of my car, which I will share below.

There is now grab and go clean for the EXTERIOR of your car, too! Armor All has 1, 2, 3 step system to be used anytime, anywhere. The Ultra Shine Wash & Wax Wipes and Ultra Shine Tire Sponges are NEW Armor All products – all THREE available at Walmart.

These products are pre-moistened and treated, so you literally need nothing else to clean the exterior of your car. These are the perfect go-to for making your car shine without requiring a bucket and hose. Talk about a convenient way to clean!

Rescue car once a week.

My Todd does this for me every Saturday. He brings in any items that do not belong in the car and throws away all trash. I so appreciate his faithfulness in this, and try hard during the week to bring things in to make less work for him. He often will vacuum the car out for me, too, so it is important to me that the car is empty and ready for him to do this. He also fills the gas tank. I am a spoiled girl! This weekly rescue does make a difference!

Make use of sitting time.

Use the time that you are already stuck sitting in the car. As a mom of teens, I am often sitting in my car waiting for my girls to finish soccer practice or socializing at church. Other times I find myself sitting is when I am picking them up from school, or picking one of their friends up to hang out. My girls will go in to retrieve their friend and more times than not take a few minutes to return to the car–teen girls can get distracted! Instead of getting annoyed, I try to use those moments to take a quick but purposeful glance around the car to see what needs to be rescued. This is when I make use of the tools in my clean car glove compartment kit.

Tips and Tricks To Keep Your Car Clean

Keep a small duster in the glove box

It is so easy to grab and quick dust the dash and areas around the driving seat during those periods of time when you are waiting or right when you arrive home. Don’t have a small duster? Coffee filters are great for inexpensive, lint-free dusting or wiping crumbs. I found that coffee filters are even great for wiping fingerprints off of shiny surfaces.

Use a can of compressed air for detailed cleaning.

I personally think this is super fun and satisfying way to banish dust anywhere that it has accumulated, especially in small cracks. Use a blast of air to move those trapped particles out!

Use storage spaces wisely

Decide what you want to keep on hand in your car, then create a space for those items. Use the storage spaces your car comes with, and add your own containers to maximize the usefulness of these areas. I added these small square containers to the little storage space between the front seats of my car.

Notice what makes up clutter in your car, decide what to keep in your car and create a home for it. Example items I like to keep around–lip balm, hair ties, mints, spare change, pens, an extra phone charger and my favorite essential oil to put in my car essential oil diffuser.

Throw carpeted floor mats into the washing machine

I had no idea you could do this until I stumbled upon this tip on the web. They suggested using the gentle cycle and air drying. I have not tried this because my floor mats are rubber.

Throw rubber floor mats in the dishwasher

Bang debris off of your car mats then lay them over the top rack of your dishwasher. A pressure wash that requires no work from you!

Use Armor All Wash & Wax Wipes to keep the EXTERIOR of your car sparkling

Armor All Ultra Shine Wash Wipes are extra large and sturdy, use to simply wipe your car clean. I absolutely love using these wipes for the car exterior and also for the neglected areas right inside the car door seal that tend to collect dirt.

The second step is Armor All Ultra Shine Wax Wipes, simply wipe and go. I was amazed that it only took one wax wipe for my entire car. I was also amazed at how shiny it left my car.

I will share the 3rd step —Armor All Ultra Shine Tire & Trim Shine Sponges— below, where you can see my hubcaps and tires shine! So simple. So easy! You can find all of these wipes at your local Walmart.

Use a foam brush to clean vents

Foam brushes are a great item to have handy in the glove box. They fit perfectly into the little slats of air conditioning vents. You can buy them at your local dollar store.

Use a trunk organizer

I LOVE my trunk organizer. It has 3 compartments that hold my groceries nicely, and also a detachable cooler that I take right into the grocery store with me. It is so convenient! This organizer has a zipper pouch on the end for storing an emergency car kit, maps, and my Armor All Wash & Wax wipes.

Keep a roll of small trash bags handy

I shared this tip earlier. You could also use plastic grocery store bags, but a roll is nice and compact to fit in the glove box for a quick grab.

Have tissues on hand to wipe up small messes as they happen and for multiple uses.

I like having items in the car that can have more than one use. These are great to use if my coffee drips, to wipe my hands if I’m putting on makeup in the car (can’t beat all that natural light!) or to blow my nose during allergy season.

Shine up those tires & hubcaps

This is an area I neglected all year until I discovered Armor All Ultra Shine Tire and Trim Shine Sponges. I had no idea my hubcaps were so dirty and how easy it would be to wipe them down with these sponges. It also made my tires look brand new again. I’ve been amazed at how my tires now seem to repel dust and dirt.

Vacuum from the top down.

Don’t forget the car ceiling! Make use of those detail attachments on your vacuum.

Use upholstery cleaner.

Along with a microfiber cloth, upholstery cleaner is great for spots on the ceiling (how do they get up there?) or on seats or even seat belts. They also can be used on a child’s car seat.

Use a toothbrush

Brush dirt and grime out of seat cracks with an old toothbrush. Use it with cleaner to get dirt that has embedded itself in the textures of your vinyl.

Use a wooden skewer.

Wooden skewers and a cloth to remove dirt from small crevices. This allows you to do your own detailed cleaning.

Keep a lint brush handy.

A roller-type sticky lint brush is a great to get crumbs from upholstery and carpets in between vacuuming. It can also be used on a child’s seat. These are fun to use! Hand them to your kids to do some cleaning for you as they hang out in the back seat!

Get those vacuum attachments out.

Use a vacuum attachment for sucking up dirt as you dust cracks and crevasses. Have the vacuum attachment in one hand, and a brush in the other, vacuuming the dust right up as you brush it out of all the nooks and crannies.

Move those seats.

Slide all your seats way forward to get all dirt and debris behind them.

Roll the window down a bit before cleaning.

This gets the very tip top edge of it clean, too.

Keep it smelling clean

I love using a car essential oil diffuser. It plugs right into the car lighter which gently heats it and sends the scent throughout the car. I store a bottle of essential oils right in my car, usually something citrus which is super uplifting and smells amazing. Hint: don’t use relaxing lavender oil in the car…you want to stay alert!

Play music while you clean

This is a must. Play your favorite tunes while you clean and keep those windows rolled down if it is nice out and let the fresh air in!

Glove Compartment Car Cleaning Kit Items

tissues

roll of small trash bags

lint roller

foam brush

coffee filters

mini microfiber duster

old toothbrush

wooden skewer

small brushes

toothbrush

microfiber cloth

essential oils for car essential oil diffuser

——–

What about you?

Do you have routines that keep your car clean?

Would you like to purchase your own Armor All Ultra Shine Wipes? If so, shop your automotive section in Walmart and use this $2.00 off any one (1) of the Armor All Ultra Shine Wipes coupon while supplies last!

Christmas/ Holidays/Parties/ HOME/ Simplifying

How to Slow Down & Cozy Up While Online Shopping

I have a cozy chair in my bedroom that I have found myself sitting in quite a bit lately. It is a new experience to be sitting so much during gift-giving season, but online shopping has given me the gift of slowing down and cozying up in my chair, while buying for those I love. It has been so wonderful!

You would grin at all the things I surround myself and my chair with while I shop. The chair is up in our bedroom and my Todd will peek his head in and just smile at me sitting comfy in my chair surrounded by all the things I love. He knows I am all about marinating in good atmosphere!

{view from my cozy bedroom chair}

Ways I Slow Down & Get Cozy While Online Shopping

~comfy chair (of course) with feet up

~twinkle lights hung on our bedroom window, lights low so they can show off

~a small table next to my chair to hold all- the- things within arms reach

~a bluetooth speaker for ambient Christmas music

~a warm drink by my side, always!

~an electric mug warmer to keep my drink warm – a birthday gift from my Avery and I love it!

~ journal & favorite sharpie pen to jot down notes & check my Christmas list

~my laptop

~ phone close and on the charger, to keep the world at my fingertips

~ a soft, fuzzy blanket & fuzzy socks on my feet!

~my favorite new diffuser from Frankie & Myrrh to bring a calm scent to the room.

Online Shopping with Frankie & Myrrh

I generally buy gifts for others while online shopping, but I did find just a couple for myself along the way! One of my favorite purchases was from a little shop called Frankie & Myrrh. How great is that for a shop name?

They are a small business who is known for ‘aromatherapy made fun.’ Yes, they know fun and showed on their website, in their products and in the packaging. I am just now getting into aromatherapy, so I just couldn’t resist making a purchase for myself.

a·ro·ma·ther·a·py | əˌrōməˈTHerəpē | noun. The use of essential oils and natural plant essences to achieve balance, harmony, and psychological and physical well-being.

Products

I bought their Bamboo Diffuser and 3 Essential Oils –Cinnamon, Serenity Now Blend, and Frankincense.

I sprinkled some of the cinnamon essential oil on pinecones in our enclosed porch, to welcome my holiday guests. It smells so festive! ‘Serenity Now’ is a calming blend that has spruce, orange, and frankincense is amazing when diffused my new Bamboo Diffuser and makes our home smell like Christmas! I’ve been mixing the Frankincense oil with some grapeseed oil and using it on my face as a moisturizer. I love it!

Frankie & Myrrh have what they call ‘rollies’ (essential oil mixed with a carrier oil and in a small glass jar with a roller–so convenient to just roll on!

They also have aromatherapy sprays with really witty names like:

“Serenity Now” with frankincense, spruce and orange for silent, restful bliss

“Study Buddy” a peppermint and rosemary spray for mental focus

“Hello Sunshine” a citrus and rose -a feel good spray

Their shop name and fun product names and offerings had me, but when the box came in the mail the packaging make me fall for them even harder. This is something I love about a small business shopping. Their attention to detail and their appreciation for each and every costumer really is priceless. This sure was the case with Frankie & Myrrh.

{HOW DID THEY KNOW?! (snicker)}

Packaging

I opened the box and the sticker on the bubble wrap made me laugh. It said “Reduce Your Stress, POP ME!” I then saw a note that was signed by hand. While I was admiring the note, a wonderful scent hit me. I pulled a little sachet full of dried lavender out of the package, a free added touch that made me so happy! Everything in the box was packaged carefully and cute; it just felt so personal. The labels on each essential oil made me smile, as did the witty little suggestion on their bubble wrap. All of these touches made me eager to send an order from Frankie & Myrrh to one of my friends so they could experience all of these touches, too.

PayPal

Frankie & Myrrh made it super easy to shop them. One thing I’m always looking for when online shopping is PayPal paying option, and of course, Frankie & Myrrh had it. They seem to think of everything! When I’m online shipping, the last thing I want to do is get up and get my wallet or credit card, so I especially love it when small businesses offer PayPal.

PayPal has an option called One Touch that allows you to pay for items in your shopping basket without having to enter credit card or billing details. Do what I did, and activate it here, then you won’t have to get off the couch, out of bed or out of your own comfy chair to find your wallet!

My Todd and I have been using PayPal for years now. It is easy to use, fast, painless and has always been a safe way for us to shop online, send money and receive money. We love it! PayPal always goes the extra mile–example? This holiday season, PayPal is offering free return shipping called Return Shipping On Us on its up to $30 for up to 11 purchases. So convenient!

How About You?

Did you do your Christmas shopping online? Do you have any small businesses that your love to support? Did you buy anything for yourself? Have you tried aromatherapy? Are you a PayPal fan?

Share with me in the comments!

{FOR YOUR PINNING PLEASURE!}

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of CLEVER and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

Decorating/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Simplifying

Tips For Redecorating and Simplifying A Small Sunroom

Thank you HedgeScapes, for sponsoring this post. Visit HedgeScapes to find your perfect artificial decorative hedges capes that are 100% maintenance free.

Our sunroom has been on my list to simplify and redecorate for quite a while now. It is the first room that any visitor to our home sees, and I want it to be a warm, inviting and welcoming space.

I have found this area to very easily attract clutter, as it can be a place where we dump items from the cars that go in the house. We also seem to put things that need to be delivered (like a box for donation or to mail) and instead of taking those items all the way to the car, they get left in the sunroom. Well, not anymore! By keeping it picked up and beautifying it, we are much more purposeful to put things where they go instead of leaving them in the sunroom.

It was also time to simplify the decorations. My tastes change over the years and I wanted a rug that would ground the eye and be a calming center. As you will see in the photo below, I had a rug that was pretty and bright. It was gifted to me years ago and I loved it, but it is more of a decorative statement and one that was appropriate for spring and summer, but felt a bit too flowery during the fall and winter months, and I wanted a more minimal look.

I decided to give our sunroom a mini-makeover, by purchasing a new rug, new pillows, some fun new lights, adding a topiary, and rearranging items.

Simple Color Scheme and Simple Patterns

The above photo clearly shows all of the new items I bought. I wanted to keep just a hint of bright color and did that through the red pillow and the red ribbon on the chalkboard hanging. Red is a great color for all seasons. Grey is the other accent color, which is quite neutral. I love having two pillows, in the same pattern but in different colors.

Add Texture

I added texture to the room with the fuzzy, striped white pillow, the patterns on the other pillows, the rug and also plants. Texture can give a simple, small room some much-needed depth and interest.

Add Greenery

My favorite new addition to the sunroom and just outside on the porch are my new 100% maintenance free HedgeScape Topiaries. I ordered them from HedgeScapes and they arrived in no time, which really made me happy and motivated me to get on with decorating my sunroom. I love that they do not need water or care, but look amazingly real. I had a real hanging fern in the before pictures, and it was not happy with me! I never got the watering right and it was losing its leaves all over my sunroom floor, but no more! Now I have these lovely topiaries. There are so many different types of topiaries on the HedgeScapes website, and I love the ones I chose!

Add Ambient Light

My new obsession are these battery-operated fairy lights. I am sticking them in jars and vases all over my home. This one in the sunroom is a great way to welcome guests who come in the evening, or to turn on when I want to relax on the swing at night. Candles are a great way to add ambient light, and I love choosing scents to match the season. Pumpkin for fall, Evergreen or Cinnamon for winter, Berry or Fruity scents for summer and Floral for spring. The lantern on the hook has a little battery operated tea light in it. Our sunroom is now magical with everything lit up in the evening!

Hanging Lights

I love that these lights can be seen from the street, welcoming my guests even as they drive up. I have another string of globe paper lanterns on the opposite window, which you can see from inside our living room, that cause me to turn down lights inside in the evenings, light more candles and enjoy the globe lights while watching television in the dark. It makes me so very happy!

Edibles

I love keeping edible plants and potted herbs in my sunroom where they add some life and are conveniently located for cutting. They give such a fresh look to my sunroom. I have found parsley to be the easiest to grow in small pots on the window sill.

A Touch of the Season

These little pumpkins add a touch of fall. I will replace them with three little evergreen trees or maybe a nativity for Christmas. In the spring I will put bulbs in vases, and the summer it will be flowers or succulents. I used to add a bunch of seasonal decor to our sunroom but it was always so hard to clean around. The minimal me now just adds a touch.

Use Chalkboard

I hung this little chalkboard and wrote a friendly greeting on it. I may add a simple little pumpkin drawing under the ‘hello’ for October and November, a star or tree in December, a heart drawing for Valentines Day, a flag in July. It is a great way to add a touch of holiday without adding more items to dust, store or keep up with.

So those are the steps I took to simplify, minimalize and redecorate my sunroom.

What do you think? Do you like what I did with it? Do you have a sunroom or porch you would like to do a little mini-makeover on?

I’d like to thank Hedgescapes for sponsoring this post. Content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Visit them at their Website, Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, LinkedIn, & Google+ .

FAMILY/ Kids/Family/ Simplifying

A Deal On Glasses From JCPenny & Back-To-School Shopping Tips

Back-to-school shopping can be something that most Moms dread, but it doesn’t have to be. I’ve learned some things throughout the years, so keep reading for some tips and a great deal on glasses from JCPenney. (60% OFF 1 PAIR! GOOD THROUGH 9/9)

Focus In On One

Something I have loved doing the last few years is to take each of my 3 girls back-to-school shopping separately. I take them to buy clothes, school supplies, glasses and shoes. This creates a lovely opportunity to spend quality time with them before school starts. It is so much easier for me to focus in on one of my girls, AND it keeps my sanity. I know they appreciate not having to listen to unsolicited opinions and advice on what to buy from each other. I make sure I have a good chunk of time to spend with each of them, and remind myself to slow down and take in the moments. We usually take a nice shopping break by going out for lunch, which really makes it feel special. Who knew that back to school shopping could end up being great memory-making with my girls?

Not Too Many New Clothes

I saw a Mom that I admire post on Instagram recently that her kids just get one new outfit for back-to-school. They have fresh new outfit for the first day of school, but don’t end up breaking the bank and going overboard with unneeded clothes. I love this idea! Our seasons change a month or so after school starts, so really my girls can continue wearing their summer clothes for a while, and then start to layer their clothes as fall hits. This would free up the budget to buy back- to- school items other than clothes.

Glasses

Everyone in our family wears glasses, except my youngest, and I’m sure one of these days she will need them. Affordable glasses are a MUST for our family, and I use back-to-school time as a great time to evaluate and see who is ready for an exam or new pair of frames, including Mom! With teenage girls, their faces grow and change almost as much as their fashion tastes, and JCPenney Optical is a great place to keep up with it all. They have fashion forward eyewear at a great value. especially right now with their Labor Day sale going on! 60% off 1 pair, offer good through 9/9!

Do you have multiple people in your family wearing glasses? Not only do we have 4 different people wearing prescription glasses, but 3 of us love our prescription sunglasses, too. They used to be an adult-only thing in our home, but then my Teagan started driving, so it became a safety necessity to have prescription sunglasses. She was a lifeguard this summer so again, it was necessity for her to be able to see and save lives!

If you are a Mom of kids or teens who wear glasses,you can probably relate to finding pairs of glasses lying around the house. This used to stress me out and I often get into lecture mode. Not anymore. Now I designate one place in our home as the place for everyone to find their glasses (aka the place that Mom places them after picking up after everyone!) Gather them on a platter that is centrally located (ours is in our living room) where glasses are easy to grab on the way out the door.

Specific Shoes

We usually plan on getting each of my girls one new pair of PE shoes, especially my runner girl who runs cross-country. She wears out her running shoes within a few months with all of the miles she runs. We also get them one pair of fall boots. They fill in with summer sandals and flip-flops until the cool months hit, and then they pull out the boots.

Lunch Boxes

I wrote a post about the containers we use to keep us from buying plastic baggies, which saves us quite a bit. My girls pack a lunch almost daily so we usually end up buying new lunch bags for them every school year. I make sure I have enough ice packs and a thermos for each girl, and stock up on napkins and disposable spoons for the days I send a thermos full of hot soup.

School Supplies

Lists are key here. I have each of my girls make a list, and then I am mindful of what we already might have sitting around here at home. Oftentimes I have notebooks, folders, erasers and extra pencils in our home office that I can distribute to my girls. I also shop for their school supplies at the same time I take them individually to shop for back- to- school clothes, shoes and glasses. It always feels so good to get home and know they have everything they need.

Haircuts

Back-to-school is a great time to get all trimmed & styled up, especially as school pictures are usually taken shortly after school resumes in the fall. I am a licensed cosmetologist, so I do all of the haircuts, trims & highlights in the family. We did not get this done before school started this year, and just this morning my oldest asked me if she could please, PLEASE get her hair trimmed. They usually think it is pretty handy that their Mom can do hair, but I’m sure waiting around until I have time can be a drag — or a lesson in patience!

My girls went back-to-school prepared for whatever the school year brings. I sigh with a bit of relief and a bit of sadness as I watch them go. Another year down! Now to figure out how to keep them from growing up any further!

What are your best back to school tips?

How many people in your family wear prescription glasses? How do you keep track of them all?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

FAMILY/ Kids/Family/ Simplifying

10 Awesome Back-To-School Hacks For Moms

These 10 back-to-school hacks are to help Moms survive the back-to-school whirlwind that is taking place in many of our homes right now! You will find a few specifically for Moms of teens, as that is the season I am in right now. If you don’t have teens, you will before you know it–don’t blink!

Ice Cold Water Bottles

My girls love taking water bottles to school and like them ice-cold. To keep them cold until lunchtime, fill half way with water and place the water bottle on its side in the freezer over-night, then fill the rest with tap water in the morning.

Snapshot School Schedule & Locker Combo

Learning a new schedule can be easy if you keep it front and center on the first day. Have your teens take a snapshot of it and use it as their phone or screen saver. Have them take one of their locker combination, too.

Use Google In A Unique Way

Google is amazing, but to research information for school essays, try using scholar.google.com for more relevant information. When your kids are finished with an essay, have them copy and paste it into Google Translate, and listen to it. This is an easy way to find mistakes.

Refrigerator Chia Oats To-Go Breakfast

If you have not ever had chia oats, back-to-school is the perfect time to try them. They are filling, healthy–and if made in a mason jar–portable!

Keep School ID Or Library Books In Back Pack

Encourage your high schoolers to put their student ID right into a side pocket of their backpack when that take it off. It is usually in the care when they discover they forgot it, and it will be right there in their backpack, ready to put on. The same trick will work for those library books. If they are always stored in the back pack after reading, they will always be ready to be returned!

Protein After School Snack

Hard boiled eggs are a great way to get some protein into your kids as part of their after-school snack. They would also make a great addition to an easy breakfast. Have you ever tried to bake your hard-boiled eggs? I have not but I keep seeing that it is a thing!

Freeze a Wet Sponge

Sponges are an inexpensive way to keep those lunch boxes nice and cool. Icepacks can produce quite a bit of condensation, which can leave things soggy. Instead, freeze a wet sponge. Because the sponge absorbs liquids, it won’t leak while in the lunch box.

The Good Sandwich Guide

Tired of overlapping lunch meats with edges hanging off the sides of the bread? Use this trick to reduce overlapping and allow for a good bite even in the corners! Cut 2 slices of circular lunch meat and cheese and cheese in half. Lay on top of a piece of bread with rounded side facing in, so the straight edges fill the bread. Top with another piece of bread and slice down the center. I personally don’t buy circular lunch meat, as most of those have nitrates in them, but we do buy circular cheese, so I like this hack!

Pomodoro Method For Studying

Help your older kids take the most of those studying sessions. Encourage them to follow this guide.

~25 minutes hard work

~5 minute break

~Every 3rd break = 15 minutes long

Use PayPal App

If you need to pay a tutor on the spot, want to school supply shop while laying in bed, and donate to your favorite charities with a click, you must use PayPal.

We use the PayPal app all the time, and I truly don’t know what I’d do without the convenience it brings! We use it to pay our tutor, with just a push of a button I can hear her phone ding right when I send it, which makes us both smile, knowing she is getting her payment before she even leaves our home.

PayPal One Touch:

When Back-to-School shopping on an app or website that allows you to pay with PayPal, there is no need to type in credit card information or re-enter usernames an passwords. Personally, the fewer passwords I need the better life is, and I am always relieved when I see a website allows you to pay with PayPal, which I find on many sites! You can log in and then are given the choice to opt-in to “stay logged in” for the same device and browser combo, across eligible PayPal merchants. Easy shopping, paid with a click, while lying in my bed? Yes, I will take that.

Charitable Giving

I just learned that with the same easy click of a button, PayPal helps support our favorite causes with the in-app donation feature called the PayPal Giving Fund. 100% of the proceeds go to selected partnering charity organizations, such as Let Girls Learn, YMCA, and Boys & Girls Clubs of America. My Todd works for a non-profit charitable organization, so I know how amazing this feature is both for the charity and for the giver.

You can donate to your favorite charities, whether responding on the spot to a natural disaster or simply supporting a local cause, in-app donations is a quick and secure way to discover and donate to certified charities around the world with just a click using PayPal.

During back-to-school season, and donations made through the Pay Pal Giving Fund will receive a 1% match from PayPal! Pay Pal is partnering with select charities dedicated to providing access to education and extracurricular enrichment to children from August 12-August 31, 2016. Learn more about the PayPal Giving Fund & how to donate by going to paypal.com/givenow

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Are YOUR kids back-to-school yet? Do you have teens?

Do you shop for school supplies online? Are you familiar with the PayPal App?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

HOME/ Homemaking/ Simplifying/ Sponsored

Kitchen Savings Tips

7 Kitchen Savings Tips

I love spending time in the kitchen, but if I’m not careful, it can go from a place where we eat to a place that eats up my time and money!

I’m all about simplicity, efficiency and saving money, and a kitchen is a place that offers many opportunities to practice all of these things! Below are 7 of my favorite tips saving in the kitchen.

Use Quality Trash Bags

Hefty Ultra Strong is the trash bag for me. I have ditched cheaply made bags and now use Hefty Ultra Strong trash bags because of their outstanding quality and their new, lower price. Their name says it all, they are ultra strong are tear and puncture resistant, which means no more ripped trash bag disasters!

This saves money in the long run, with no need to double up on bags. I love a strong trash bag, but my favorite thing about these trash bags is that they use Arm & Hammer odor neutralizers– they smell great! I love opening my trash cupboard and catching a whiff of an invigorating, clean scent.

My favorite scent is their Citrus Twist. For those of you who prefer unscented, Hefty Ultra Strong offers that option, too.

Want to try them out too? Here is a Swagbucks offer for you..purchase two or more Hefty trash bags at Walmart and earn a $10 Walmart gift card!

Freeze Lemon Slices For Instant Lemon Water & To Keep Them From Going Bad

I always buy organic lemons, as I don’t want pesticides swimming around in my water. I have noticed organic lemons do seem to go bad faster than non-organic.

My solution? Slice the lemons, stack them in a mason jar, and freeze them. It keeps them from going bad, it makes your lemon water nice and cold, and they can be used in teas & cocktails, too.

Prefer limes? I have found limes super refreshing in a glass of sparkling water with just a touch of real organic maple syrup. It is like making your own healthy lime soda, and limes can be sliced and frozen, too!

Tomato Paste Saver

Most recipes call for only a small portion of tomato paste, using just a tablespoon or two, and the rest often goes to waste.

To prevent this, open both ends of the tomato paste can. Remove ONE end, BUT LEAVE THE OTHER IN PLACE. Store in a mason jar in the freezer overnight.

The next day, use the metal end to push the paste out of the other end. Slice into one-ounce disks, place back into the mason jar and store in the freezer up to 3 months.

Use Mason Jars For Storage to Save Money on Plastic Bags or Containers

I have very little plastic in my kitchen, thanks to mason jars! I use them every day for food storage and boy, do they make me happy!

Food looks pretty in them, I don’t have to keep buying plastic that just gets thrown away, it is easy to see what is in them when they are in the refrigerator, & glass does not stain like plastic containers do!

I keep all lids and rims in one big bowl & the jars on a shelf in the cupboard.

Make Your Own Taco Seasoning

Never buy over-priced, way-too-much-salt, sometimes ‘msg added’ taco seasoning packets again! This taco seasoning mix is so easy to make and tastes so much better than store-bought packets!

It gives a much richer, “homemade” flavor to every recipe I use it in. I have used it to season ground beef for tacos, nachos, and taco pizza. I have used it to season refried beans or lentils for vegetarian tacos. It is great to season shredded chicken, too!

Taco Seasoning Recipe

Taco Seasoning

Prep Time

5 mins

Total Time

5 mins

Save money by making your own taco seasoning. This tastes much better than any seasoning you will buy. It is worth making your own!

Recipe Type: Main Course

Cuisine: Mexican

Keyword: taco seasoning

Ingredients

1 tablespoon chili powder
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
1/4 teaspoon dried oregano
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cumin
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Mix all together & store in an air-tight container. I use--yep, you guessed it--a small mason jar. Use 3 teaspoons (more if you want a stronger flavor) per pound of meat. Add 2/3 cup water and simmer down until water is absorbed.

Use Cloth Napkins

I have two dear friends who taught me to do this by doing it themselves. Whenever I would go to either of their homes, even just for coffee and snacks, they would set out their beautiful printed, cloth napkins.

I loved that they gave a bit of a fancy, special feel to our little get-together, & the prints that each of them chose showed off their individual personalities.

Cloth napkins are so pretty & one can save a bunch of money by not having to buy paper napkins over and over!

Simple Curtain Hack

I’ve featured this Simple Curtain Hack here at New Nostalgia before, but it is so good I gotta share it again! It is so inexpensive & easy.

All you need is a tension rod, two tea towels, and some drapery hooks. No sewing or tools required!

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{For Your Pinning Pleasure}

So there you have it, my 7 top Kitchen Savings tips. Do you think you will use any of them? Do you prefer scented or unscented trash bags? Which Kitchen Savings tip is your favorite?

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own.

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