makes me happy Archives • New Nostalgia

Creating a Spring and Summer Hygge Home with Shopko

*This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Shopko. The opinions and text are all mine.

I am passionate about creating a Hygge home all year round. Hygge is not just for fall and winter! Spring and Summer are some of the best times to experience “Hygge.”

Have YOU heard of Hygge?

First off..lets get the pronunciation down. It is pronounced “hoo-ga”…I know, I know, it is not the prettiest sounding word, but I have so grown to love this word!

What is Hygge?

Hygge is a Danish term that is defined as “a quality of coziness and comfortable conviviality that engenders a feeling of contentment or well-being.”

If you know me well, you know I am all about doing that little bit of extra to create a special atmosphere!

My friends and family tell me I’m quite good at it, and I adore doing it. It is just in my nature.

I automatically want to create a homey, cozy, and comfortable feeling for the people that I love when they come into my space. I also am very intentional about using these spaces to slow down when I am alone, too.

ShopKo Stop, Shop, and Drop the Prices Sale

I have a lot of easy ideas to create a Hygge home in the spring and summer, and have found some great items from Shopko to help do it!

Right now is a perfect time to shop, because Shopko is having a “Stop, Shop, and Drop the Prices” sale going on right now–May 6,2018-May 12, 2018. No coupons are required for discounted prices, but if you shop online, you can get free shipping off orders over $99 with the code SHIP99.

Not only is Hygge a great way to love others well and make them feel important and cared for in your home, but it is great for being kind to yourself, too!

Remember, it is all about doing a little something extra to create a special atmosphere, and the feeling that Hygge gives is beneficial whether you are with the people you love, or if you are just nesting in for some time alone.

How to Have a Hygge Home in the Spring and Summer

Create Cozy Nests in Areas of Your Home

My teenage girls laugh at me and tell me I like to ‘nest’ in different areas of our home, and they are right! They may chuckle at me, but you better believe I find them taking over my various ‘nests’ throughout the house.

Whether it is the corner of our living room couch, a chair upstairs in our landing area by the window, our porch swing, my bed or even a chair by the fire pit outside, I LOVE to sit and enjoy a comfortable atmosphere.

I use all types of items to create these inviting little areas of comfort–to create Hygge– and I change it up just a bit in the spring and summer.

A great item to start with is a chair, because who likes to nest while standing up? Give me a chair, or better yet, give me a chair with a throw on it! Just make the throw nice and light for spring and summer.

No matter how hot it is outside, I always like some sort of cover when I am nesting in with a good book or my journal, but on warmer days, lightness is key!

Keep Comfort Items Close

I love having items that are used often, close by and within arms reach of where I usually use them. Items like pens, lip balm, lotion, journal, books, magazines, paperclips etc.

These items can create clutter, and clutter can destroy Hygge, so have some fun baskets or small ceramic bowls on hand to gather all the things.

I like baskets made of materials from nature. Adding a touch of nature is a great way to create beauty and add texture to any home decor.

I like to gather my journals, planner and favorite book in a basket and keep it right by my chair, along with pens and colored pencils.

One of my favorite comfort items is lotion, but I don’t like unsightly bottles sitting around. Instead, fill a pump lotion dispenser with lotion and keep it close and handy.

I have the Morgan Cement Pump from Shopko and chose it because it is neutral enough to go in any room and the quality is great.

Get one for the bathroom and the bedroom or guest bedroom. It looks so pretty sitting on a bedside table or any place you want to practice self-care.

Spring and summer sun can be drying, so apply a good lotion as needed.

When creating a cozy home in the spring or summer, think heart warmth instead of body warmth! I created sweet heart warmth by framing a senior picture of my daughter who is graduating!

She graduates in just a couple of weeks, so this photo definitely warms my heart! This beautiful frame is wood but looks like cement. I love the rawness of the cement, and it is the perfect way to bring a normally outdoor texture to the indoors.

A little healthy snack sitting close is a great way to create the feeling of care and concern for those you love, or just for yourself!

Fill a small ceramic bowl with raw nuts for snacking or to have out for guests to help themselves to. I love, love, love this little navy ceramic bowl from Shopko.

Bring in Nature

Replace bowls of pinecones from fall and winter with vases of fresh flowers for spring and summer. Enjoy indoor potted plants. My favorites are succulents and herbs!

Have a planter that is large enough to not have to water or switch out the plants too often, but small enough that it is portable and can be moved around depending on your mood or where you or your guests will be.

I’ve been known to carry my favorite planter around and change it’s home up often! Keep your planters simple in design so that they complement whatever room you put them in.

Bring the outdoors in, open the blinds and let the sunshine in! Remember, it does not have to be fancy.

Another quick tip? You can cut sprigs from just about any bush or plant outside, stick them in a glass and have instant refreshing green nature in your home!

Make Refreshing Beverages

Pamper yourself! I’ve seen glass carafes with different fruited or herbed waters in upscale spas, and it feels SO special…yet is just a simple touch that anyone can do at any time.

Use an Anchor Hocking Glass Carafe, fill it with water and make it extra special by simply adding a few wedges of lime or fresh berries and a sprig of mint.

A carafe is the perfect size container for serving a special beverage. Bring it out to the porch and enjoy the outdoors with a friend, or if you are alone, keep it close by to refill your beverage throughout the day.

Grab a classic Cooler glass or the Anchor Hocking Lido Clear Tea Glass, fill it with iced cold tea on a warm spring or summer day. The refreshing beverages in the images above are lemon ginger green tea with floated fruit and herbs for flavor and beauty!

Remember…creating Hygge is all about making things just a little extra special in simple ways. Yes, it can be as simple as adding a spring of mint in a simple glass of water or iced tea.

Use Lighter Linens and Throws

No more flannel sheets, fuzzy pillows or heavy comforters. Exchange them out for lighter coverings and crisp, light sheets.

I love a good sheet, and I always go with white in the summer. Nothing beats a breezy white sheet! They are easy to launder, and look and feel refreshing.

Shopko sells the Hotel by Club Brand Sheets that are 1,000 count and feels super soft.

Again, keep throws around, but make sure they are soft and lightweight for spring and summer.

Don’t Forget Scents!

Atmosphere can be transformed by scent. I’m a BIG scent girl, and burn candles all year round! I do like a lighter, more refreshing scent like the Turquoise Sea Scented Candle from Shopko in the warmer months.

I also love diffusing more fruity scented essential oils in the spring and summer, especially citrus oils.

Want to keep it super simple? Just open a window and let the scent of nature drift right in.

Pay Attention to Lighting

When creating Hygge in the winter, cozy often feels like low lights and candlelight. In the spring and summer? Gimme all the bright natural light!

In the evening, cozy lighting is important no matter what season! I have this J. Hunt Fillable Lamp (also from Shopko) and it gives such a nice feeling of light with a classic glass body and the natural wood base.

You can fill the glass base of this lamp or keep it simple and empty. If you choose to fill it, you could use with stones, sand, shells, a black and white photo, or a faux succulent. When seasons change, you could even fill it with ball ornaments!

I topped the lamp with the J. Hunt Home Sparkle Hardback Table Shade. Y’all know I love just a hint of sparkle, and this shade has such a tasteful shimmer which adds interest to the grey.

During the day, let the natural light in. Open curtains, shades, and blinds. Use string lights on the porch or backyard. Put some fairy lights in a mason jar or light a citronella candle when outdoors and the sun starts to go down.

Have a fireplace? Arrange 5-6 different sized pillar candles in it and light them. This will create awesome ambiance without the heat!

Have a fire pit outside but it is too hot to light it? Gather some string lights and place them right in the pit and plug them in. No fire needed and instant awesome atmosphere and light on a summer night.

Create Moments Outside

Remember when creating moments with those you love to be thoughtful and purposeful, but keep it simple.

Lay out a quilt and take dinner outside. Pack up a picnic, even if it is just to take to your own backyard. This is how you create special atmosphere and moments to remember.

Create little moments that feel out of the ordinary. It shows your people that you took a minute to think about creating a special memory…all by simply laying out a quilt in the backyard! So easy!

How about investing in a hammock for more Hygge moments outside and a great outdoor ‘nest.’ Bring a portable speaker out and play some ambient music, or simply notice and listen to the birds or sounds of nature.

Think Outside the Box

When thinking of Hygge, you probably wouldn’t automatically think of a fan, but in the Spring and Summer, creating comfort for me — looks like a fan!

I love a good ceiling fan and you can now find ceiling fans are not as unsightly as they used to be. I like a more modern, sleek design that does not draw too much attention to itself.

A tower fan tucked in a corner can keep your guests nice and cool all summer long, is portable, and take up very little space.

What about you? Do you like the idea of Hygge? Do you like to create a special atmosphere and is it something that you think about? Do you find it is harder to do in the Spring and Summer?

HOME/ Homemaking/ Sponsored

How To Make Laundry Work Without Working Harder

Laundry is just one of those things in life that will never go away. It is here to stay, so I like to look for ways to make laundry work without working harder. I have found some ways to make laundry easier, look great, and smell amazing– and THAT makes me happy! Let me share some of those ways with you:

~Use sturdy, pretty baskets.

The top picture was taken before I had my oldest 2 start doing their own laundry. As you can see, I had 3 smaller baskets where I would fold and put each child’s clothes, and they would put their own clothes away. I folded in the living room so the clothes would not sit. If they are out and about in my way, I will remember to tell the littles to put their clothes away. This system worked well when they were younger. The larger basket was for Todd and I. The medium basket held all socks. They are all quality, sturdy baskets that are pretty and fun to use.

~Buy a laundry sorter.

I have one like this one and I love it! I do NOT sort according to color. I sort according to each person in the family. Mark it clearly so everyone knows where to put their dirty clothes. I have mine labeled with each person’s name. I keep in a central location (in the main floor hallway) where I can keep an eye on it, and where it is easy for everyone to bring their dirties when asked.

~Kids 12 and older do their own.

This has changed my life and my relationship with laundry. My two oldest do their own now. It has saved my sanity and our relationship! Now, if clean clothes are on the floor, it does not affect me or my sanity, as I am not the one who will have to re-wash them. They now take much better care of their clothes. The occasional times I surprise them and do it for them, they are much more grateful. Kids who are grateful that their laundry is done = winning!

Method_Detergent_031315_Spring_Garden_040x

~Use laundry detergent that works…

There is nothing worse than paying for laundry detergent that does not work. If I’m going to pay for detergent, I want everything that my new favorite detergent, method, has to offer. I’ve been using method brand and have found it to be everything I need it to be. Here are a few of those things that are important to me:

*Concentrated –NEW 4x concentrated laundry detergent-naturally derived cleaning power that is tough on dirt and stains

*Naturally derived cleaning power– proven to remove tough dirt + stains

*Keeps colors bright + whites white

*Works great in cold water so you use less energy for every load

*Biodegradable and hypoallergenic formula

*Can also be used as a really effective pre-treat for stains

I especially love the last point. I’m all about saving money by not having to buy pre-treatment for stains!

Method_Detergent_031315_Fresh_Clover_128x

~…and makes you happy

What makes me happy is bright colors, bottles that are designed well, and delicious fragrances. Method brand brings a range of fragrances to the laundry aisle that tends to be filled with the same old, common laundry scents, but not method! They have a super unique and fun fragrances for everyone, and I love them all! The free & clear is great for those like my oldest daughter, who prefers that her clothes do not have a scent, but if you are like me and love clothes that smell good, check out these fun fragrances!

Fruity {ginger mango}

Floral {spring garden}

Herbaceous-Woody {beach sage and fresh clover}

Free + Clear {no fragrance}

The design of the method bottle also makes me very happy. There is no handle, which makes the bottles 100% recyclable and made with post-consumer recycled materials. Usually the handle on bottles is what makes them not fully recyclable, so instead of a handle, method includes an easy-to-use grip on their cute bottles. Brilliant!

PHOTO: COURTESY OF METHOD X ASOS

Speaking of design, method has collaborated with ASOS and came up with a super happy spring lineup.

Check it out: ASOS X method.

~If you have younger kids, use baskets or buckets for their soiled clothes

I have a dirty clothes bucket in their room for dirties and another for clean clothes that need hung up. The goal is to keep clothes off the floor. If your kids are old enough, teach them to hang up the clean clothes. Give it as one of their 3 daily chores.

~Use hooks in closets for things like robes, coats, jackets.

These things are a pain to hang up on hangers and kids will struggle with that. If an item is used almost daily, have a hook for it.

~When you see a part of the sorter get full, you know whose turn it is to do laundry.

My laundry sorter has 4 bags hanging from it. One for my 14-year-old, one for my 12-year-old, one for my 10-year-old, and husband and I share one. A full bag makes a perfect-sized full load. I only have to worry about 2 of the 4, as the older two girls do their own. I keep our sorter on the main floor in the hallway.

~Don’t sort laundry.

Unless we have a new item of clothing that I know will bleed when first washed, I don’t sort. I think it is a waste of time. I like to do loads according to person, not according to color. It makes the folding and putting away so much easier when loads are according to person. I’ve never had a problem, but do this at your own risk!

~Have a hook for each person in the family to keep their towel.

I only wash towels once or twice a week. I just grab them from the hooks in the bathroom and throw them right into the washer. Yes, I wash the white towels with the black towels. It works fine, but make sure to wash separately when brand new a few times. We only have one bathroom with a shower, so the girls towels are the three on the hooks…they know what color is theirs. Todd and I use white towels on hooks behind the door.

~Keep a sock basket.

Keep the sock basket in a central location, where all mismatched or found socks go. Occasionally grab the basket and have child match any socks as a chore.

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So what do you think? Do some of these laundry tips make you happy?

What do you think of some of those amazing new scents from method?

Want a $3.00 off online coupon? Click here and use coupon code THREEFORME.

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

Counting Gifts/ FAMILY/ Featured

My New Way Of Counting Gifts

Thanks to Ann Voskamp’s book One Thousand Gifts, I have been counting gifts for years.

The most helpful time to count gifts was when I was going through cancer treatment. I know during that trying time it helped immensely to focus on the blessings in life. I even got my girls involved and we together we looked for ‘treasures’ to count. The good even in the bad.

When I become mindful of all of the wonderful things there are to discover in a day, it changes me. It changes my attitude, my heart, & my perspective. It is hard to have a bad day when you are looking for gifts to write down.

I love having and using tools to help this process. The camera in my phone is one such tool. I often take photos of things I see as blessings, big or small, and store them on Instagram. I call them ‘Captured Life Tidbits‘ –they are just all the ‘goodies’ of life that I find beautiful. I have also used the notes app in my phone to list gifts, but I found I’m more successful when they are written on paper.

I’ve been thinking a lot about listing the gifts and being faithful in keeping track of them day by day. Because it has been on the forefront of my mind, I was delighted to find the perfect tool for listing all the wonderful tidbits of life.

Enter Moleskine 2015 Weekly Diary/Planner

I am a huge Moleskine fan, and have over 10 Moleskine journals that I have written in throughout the years. They are a well-made classic. I know there are so many cute journals out there, but I’m a pretty simple girl who loves plain & classic. I picture how a journal will look lined up on a bookcase, and I always end up grabbing a simple Moleskine.

I’ve always bought the hard cover journals, but lately I’ve been crushing on their soft cover journals that come in a package of 3. I keep them in my bag. I use my phone note app for a lot of things, but for certain things (like my Christmas list) I like having a paper journal to write in.

The 2015 Moleskine Weekly Diary/Planner

It has the perfect amount of space to list gifts each day. The new 2015 journal gives you a few days before the new year to start, which I have taken full advantage of.

I will pull it out of my bag during the day when I am at home, and have it in a central location or close by to jot down a gift when I notice one. I will also take it with me in my bag for on- the- go gift listing, but if I forget to grab it, I use Siri to help me list the gifts while I’m on the car or out and about. I then grab my journal right before bed and transfer any lists of gifts that i mad during the day on my phone. It then is right there by my bed when I wake up, ready for me to find my perspective for the new day.

Can you see why I need something that is well made and durable? This book will be by my side and on the move all year!

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So there is my plan.

What do you think?

Have you ever counted and listed the amazing goodie- tidbit gifts of life?

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Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links.

FUN/DIY/ Holidays/Parties/ Thanksgiving

It’s My Birthday I Can Do What I Want To

My birthday landed on Thanksgiving day this year, just like the day I was born. My Mom tells the story every Thanksgiving with a twinkle in her eye, how I interrupted her Thanksgiving meal with my untimely arrival. We’ve heard it a million times and it never gets old.

I did get to do what I wanted to this year. Having my dear family in my home on Thanksgiving Day to celebrate all that we have to be thankful for is exactly how I would choose to spend my birthday. We had Thanksgiving Day brunch, something we have never done. It was my idea; a way to get out of peeling those dreaded potatoes. Have I told you that potatoes make my hands break out and itch? It’s awful. It was also a way to get out of making turkey. Not that it is hard to make a turkey, but I just don’t quite enjoy handling a raw turkey. Blech. It really was a great idea, as we had eaten and dishes were done by noon! It left the afternoon to just chill, play games, and enjoy each other.

We had turkey breast sandwiches & potato casserole in place of the whole bird and mashed potatoes. Trader Joes has a whole turkey breast that is fully cooked, all you have to do is heat it. I also made a breakfast egg casserole, potato casserole, stuffing, jalapeno cranberry sauce drizzled over a block of cream cheese with pita crisps to dip (another great food item Trader Joes!) & a mac -n- cheese corn casserole. My little sis Laurie, made some amazing mini apple pies–they were adorable–and Pioneer Woman’s cinnamon roll recipe, which was A-MA-ZING. My Mom brought a pumpkin pie and my older sister brought corn casserole, pecan struesel topped sweet potato casserole, some amazing chocolate drizzled kettle corn, & cinnamon beer bread (heaven). Last but not least, my next-to-youngest sister, Kathy of Nudge Media (I have 3 sisters) brought fruit, Lucky Charms cereal, & a Twinkie cake. As you can tell, Kathy is a favorite aunt with my kids, as she is known for having sugar in her pockets & bringing the stuff that kids like best; like the time she made a pyramid out of McDonald’s cheeseburgers for our family Christmas pot luck. Yeah–that happened–and they were the most popular food item there!

Kathy’s Twinkie cake was hilarious. She is an amazing cook, can handle a grill the best of anyone I know, and makes a mean Pad Thai, but I don’t know if baking birthday cakes is something she should continue to pursue. Don’t get me wrong; her Twinkie cake–actually, make that a Twinkie Jello Poke Cake–was delicious. Her downfall was in the decorating. She used black–like the color of tar– for the lettering. She then drizzled red glaze over the top for pretty; except the glaze was too runny, and her cake ended up looking like a murder scene. I laughed so hard. I was so touched she took the time to make a cake, and I loved that wherever Kathy goes, laughter follows. Hers was my favorite birthday cake to date–by far.

Having my little niece and nephew (2&4) around for the holiday & my birthday was another by-far favorite. They are just so precious and amazing. They bring such joy as only little ones can.

My Mom-in-Law came, too. Her calm presence is always refreshing and she is such a server. I can’t tell you how many times she has done my dishes. She also spoiled me with two new chairs for a small table I recently put in my dining room–I will show you them soon. It is my new favorite place to sit with my morning coffee.

My sisters & mom also spoiled me with gifts. My mom got me some kitchen accessories & a much-needed new front door mat. She always knows the things I need and will love. My oldest sister gave me a super sweet necklace from Origami Owl. The packaging was beautiful and the message that came with each charm was chosen specifically for me. I just love it. My sister Kathy brought me a rosemary plant in the shape of a Christmas tree–I’ve eyed them and so wanted one. It makes the whole living room smell amazing! My lil’ sis gave me a super soft scarf, some makeup & nail polish and a great CD that I am now crushing on called The Undoing by Staphanie Gretzinger.

My Todd and girls shopped for me the night before and bought me some of my favorite things from Trader Joes, like flowers and chocolate covered coffee beans. They also picked up a paperweight bulb kit and I cannot wait to watch it grow.

As you can see, I am a very spoiled girl. Today, it continues.

This morning my mother-in-law, Kathy, took me out to breakfast at the Green Gateau. It is only opened for breakfast on Saturday’s, and they sure know how to do it right. She gave me a card with money in it, which they do every year. It is so much fun to take the money and shop!

Tonight Todd and I will join his brother and wife and my other mother-in-law. Yes, I’m spoiled enough to be loved on by 2! His brother and I have birthdays very close together, so our tradition is Sharon treating us all to dinner at the restaurant of our choice. Can’t wait!

Yep, very spoiled. I feel so very loved.

I pray you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Know that I am so, so thankful for each and every one of YOU! Thank you for your support of this blog and caring about me and my story.

FUN/DIY/ HOME/ Homemaking/ Sponsored

Streaming Music From Your Showerhead

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Kohler Co. for SocialSpark. All opinions are 100% mine.

I thought there was nothing better than a great showerhead with a steady stream of hot water, until I found out about a shower head that streams both water and music!

Meet Moxie. Cute name, right?

It is the new, brilliant, music -streaming shower head from Kohler.

KOHLER Moxie is a shower head + wireless speaker that will give you a new way to sing in the shower. Sync a streaming source enabled with Bluetooth technology of your choice (my choice is my iphone, my daughter’s choice is her Kindle Fire) with the wireless speaker from up to 32 feet away.
Streaming your music playlist is just the beginning! You can stream audio books, podcasts, live news…whatever you are in the mood for.

The speaker offers up to 7 hours of battery life before needing to be recharged. It pops right out of the showerhead to recharge.

Here is the cool thing. Not only can you use it in the shower, but you can also use it as a wireless speaker. You can take it poolside, slip it in your car drink holder, or just take it out in your backyard as a way to provide music for all to enjoy.

My youngest girl takes it to the art desk with her to listen to an audio book as she creates. I take it into the laundry room with me to listen to my Daily Audio Bible app while folding laundry. I also use it while I take a bath, keeping it tucked into the shower head so I no longer have to worry about dropping my iphone into the tub!

I’ve used it to play romantic music in the bedroom; I’ve put zen music on while doing yoga –the possibilities are endless.

I must say, my favorite way to use it is in the shower. There is nothing like listening to Viva La Vida by Coldplay to wake up in the morning while showering. I plan on playing a few practical jokes with it, too. Since you can stream from up to 32 feet away, I will stand outside the bathroom door and sync Madesa’s ‘Good Morning’ song when a grumpy someone is needing a little morning pick-me-up. I’m sure it will make them jump out of their skin!

I am super impressed with the sound quality of the speaker, and Kohler certainly did not compromise quality in the sprayface feature. The spray is perfection. Installation is a breeze.

My middle daughter likes to take long showers, so I plan on using the shower head as a sort of timer for her, reminding her that 3-4 songs should be long enough. My youngest daughter takes the worlds fastest showers, so to make sure she stays in there long enought to smell good when she comes out, she has to stay in there for at least 3 songs.

The cute factor does not end with its cute Moxie name. The colors you can choose from are Chartreuse, Navy Blue, Cherry Red, Retro Blue and Original White. I prefer Original white to match my simple grey and white bathroom. My daughter went bananas over the Retro Blue.

Make sure you follow KOHLER on Facebook and on Twitter to see how others are using it, and learn little fun tidbits of information–like the fact that KOHLER Moxie was inside this year’s Grammy gift bags!

What do you think?
What color would you choose?
What would be your songs of choice for the shower?
Would you use the speak outside of the shower? How?

Drinks/ FUN/DIY/ Healthy Eating/ RECIPES

My New Favorite Way To Drink Lemon Water – The Aqua Zinger

If you have read my post, 5 Reasons To Drink Lemon Water In The Morning, you will know I’m a HUGE fan of lemon water. I feel like I can’t function well in the morning without hydrating with lemon water, and I always have it before my cup of coffee in the morning.

Now that I know about this awesome water bottle called AquaZinger, I have been drinking lemon water all day long!

This is really the coolest thing. It is a water bottle that has a built in grinder in the bottom. It also has a filter, so seeds and chunks stay at the bottom.

You simply start by cutting a lemon in half. I’ve learned that by cutting off the very end of the lemon, it makes grinding a whole lot easier! When I first purchased my water bottle, I felt frustrated at how much muscle it took to do the grinding. Now that I watched the below “tips” video and know the tricks, it is easy and I love it!

You then take the filter piece and push it down into the fruit.

Like so…

…then you take the water bottle part and twist it on. The twisting action is what grinds the fruit.

See? Isn’t that so nifty? It really is easy.

Here is a view inside the AquaZinger bottle. That filter keeps all the seeds and chunks of fruit from going down your throat!

Add cold, filtered water. Then give it a little shake.

I refill it all throughout the day, and usually only use one lemon half a day, sometimes two if I am extra thirsty and find myself filling it up more often.

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5 Reasons To Drink Lemon Water Every Morning

Number 1

It balances pH–Lemon is an acidic food, but once metabolized, it becomes alkaline. I work very hard at keeping my body alkaline. Why?

To put it most simply, alkalies help keep the oxygen in our blood at a safe pH level, and this helps our body heal itself, assimilate nutrients and fight off unwanted sickness.

-Nicole Bennet

Number 2

It keeps skin clear and glowing! I have noticed this. Hydration from drinking lemon water is great for moisturizing our skin from the inside out. Lemon also contains lots of Vitamin C, which helps with wrinkles and blemishes.

Number 3

It kick starts the digestive system–a big glass of lemon water is a great way to start the day. It encourages the liver to produce bile which in turn aids in digestion. It increases urination which helps purify it. It also helps with heartburn and constipation.

Number 4

It helps with weight loss–I have read that keeping the body in an alkaline state helps people lose weight faster. Lemons are high in fiber pectin, which helps keep one full, longer. They also have a diuretic effect, which helps with water weight gain.

Number 5

It helps control the coffee habit–I will drink coffee sometimes, but only if I have had my entire glass of lemon water. Many days I feel like the lemon water wakes me up more than coffee does…

…which brings me to bonus Number 6:

It helps kick the pop habit--I have found that adding lemon to sparkling water and adding a whole lot of ice satisfies any soda craving I might have. I gave up soda pop the minute I was diagnosed a year ago, and I really don’t miss it. I don’t think I could stand the sweetness of it now, but I DO miss the fizz, so my “Lemon Spritzer”–lemon +sparkling water+ice–is the perfect solution!

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My sister-in-law has the Citrus Zinger and loves it. I may eventually get one of these, too, but I have really grown to love my Aqua Zinger. I like that it grinds the lemon peel up, too, so the lemon flavor is extra strong and I get the benefits of the essential oils in the peel. If you watch the video below, you will see that the Aqua Grinder is not just for lemons, but for any type of fruit. I have not experimented much with other types of fruit, but when I do I will let you know!

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To purchase the Aqua Zinger & Citrus Zinger – Click here.

To purchase the Aqua Zinger- Click here.

To purchase the Citrus Zinger – Click here.

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FUN/DIY

Hey Girl Hilarity

So I find myself home alone on Saturday morning. My oldest girl is at a sleepover with her cousins at Grandma’s house, and my Todd took the younger 2 to piano lessons, as he does EVERY Saturday for me. Love that man.

I made a great cup of coffee and sat down at the computer, feeling in a super thankful mood and thinking deep thoughts about how great it is to be alive and have the life I do. I decided I wanted to share those deep thoughts with you, but then…Pinterest.

{wanna follow me?}

I got very distracted with Pinterest, and my deep mood turned to silly delight as I got stuck on reading “Hey Girl/Ryan Gosling” pins. Have you seen these? I had to share some of my favs..

{all photos from here}

Cracks. Me. Up.

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