Under The Kitchen Sink Organization

Do you have areas in your home that no matter what you do they seem to just collect clutter?  Well, that is how it has been under my kitchen sink for way too long, and I decided to do something about it!  

I keep cleaning products, paper towels, & garbage bags under my kitchen sink.

Here is a before picture, just to show you what a cluttered mess it was.  I turned it black and white so it is a bit easier on the eyes! You are welcome.

I took a trip to our local dollar store to buy some containers.  I have been on a recent kick of making my own homemade, chemical-free cleaners, so I picked up some spray bottles & scrub brushes.  I got all of this for around $15.00!

Those green dish clothes are great.  They come 2 in a pack for a dollar, and are super absorbent.  They save us lots of money as I use way fewer paper towels when I have these on hand.  I use them wet for washing dishes and because they are so absorbent, I also use them dry to dry dishes.

I mounted an inexpensive tension rod to hang my soon-to-be homemade cleaners.  I saw this idea on Pinterest and had to try it for myself.  It works wonderfully!

I used the containers to hold the dish clothes, scrubbers & to corral my different cleaning products.

I am super excited to have this area organized.  I am much more motivated now to pursue my desire to get rid of as many chemicals as I can and make cleaners that are healthy and effective.  In fact, I was so motivated that made a glass cleaner that works wonderfully! 

Homemade Glass Cleaner

1 cup distilled white vinegar

2 cups water

1/2 tsp dish soap

10-15 drops essential oils

Put all in a spray bottle and shake.

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I have been using just vinegar and water for my glass cleaner, but I missed having a cleaner that smelled good.  This recipe caught my eye because it uses essential oil to add scent.  I chose grapefruit essential oil and it smells so good!

 I plan to make an all-purpose cleaner, homemade dusting spray, disinfectant spray, and weed killer all in the next week or two. 

Staree-Share Photos, Make Money

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

I was very excited and intrigued when I read about Staree, a new photo and video sharing service from IZEA, the makers of SocialSpark.com and SponsoredTweets.com.  I have personally worked with IZEA, actually, I am working with them by writing this very post as a matter of fact. Their goal has always been to help social media users monetize their content, creativity and influence.  My family and I have been super grateful for the opportunity for me to stay home and make money doing what I love--writing.  IZEA has helped me immensely in this endeavor.

Because of this, I can't wait to be a part of Staree which is their most recent launch.  Staree allows you to make money with the photos and videos you share to your social network through the Staree website or mobile apps. The more your photos are viewed, the more money you make.  You can also make money by taking photos with products you love.

How it works:

Apply-users can apply by going to Staree.com.  You apply by connecting your Twitter and Facebook account.

Snap-use Staree as your photo and video app.  You can post through Staree.com or through mobile apps on iphone and android.

Share-share your photo to Facebook or Twitter.  You can share to both or just one.

Earn-the more traffic your content generates, the more money you will earn.  Your earnings are displayed inside of Staree.com. If you become popular and take great photos, Staree will reach out to you with advertisers to take photos with their products, if it is a product you believe in.  Cool!

I don't know about you, but I am going to join today.  I just got a new camera and I have been having all kinds of fun taking photos.  The idea that I might be able to make a buck off of some of those photos is pretty exciting!  

Celebrity's are already on board with Staree.  I have a feeling it is going to get big fast, so be one of the first and sign up!

Earn Points with MyPoints, Get Free Stuff!

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

When I was invited to check out MyPoints, I was intrigued.  I love getting a good deal, and there are some Great Offers and Deals at MyPoints What drew me in was the idea of making points to save money by just doing what I already am doing online.  I am a person that is pretty "plugged in" to the viral world.  I spend time connecting with friends and family near and far through social media, writing this blog, satisfying a midnight shopping urge, all the while streaming my favorite music playlist.  

Mypoints will allow you to save money while browsing the brands you already love: Target, Toys R Us, Walgreens, Sephora, JCPenny, Sears and over 1,000 more.  You earn Points for shopping at the sites you already might frequent, and at the same time discover a few great new ones. 

How it works:

~Members can register for their free accounts on MyPoints using: name, zipcode, gender, date of birth and an email address.

~Members earn points for responding to email offers, taking market research companies' surveys, shopping online at the MyPoints website, playing  MyPoints branded online games, clipping and redeeming coupons, booking travel, and engaging in other activities.

~Redeem your rewards points in the form of: gift cards from top merchants like: retailers, theaters, restaurants, airlines, hotels, PayPal and Facebook Credits.   You can even use your points for charitable donations!

___________

I just got done registering at MyPoints.com and it was a simple process.  I liked that is was easy but still thorough enough to get to know who I am to provide me with the best offers.  I love that they encourage you to use social media to earn Points, which makes it easy to tell your friends about it and earn even more points.  For each friend you get to sign up, you earn 750 points, plus you get 10% of what your friends earn as Bonus Points.

As a special offering going on right now, if you sign up with MyPoints, you will Earn Points Twice as Fast.  New MyPoints Members receive Double Points for whatever they make in the first 30 days.  Nice!

The feature I think I might use the most is the coupon option.  Earn 10 Points for every coupon you print and redeem.  Plus, earn 25 Bonus Points when you print and redeem 10 or more coupons.  Here is an example of a coupon from Target.

 Another feature I plan to use is their gift card option.  I love to buy gift cards for birthday and Christmas presents, so now I will be purchasing them through MyPoints.com.  They have every retailer I could possibly need.  I will also be checking out the Awesome Daily Deals at MyPoints.

So what do you think?  Does this excite you?  Would you use a shopping rewards system like MyPoints?

 I am excited about it and will keep you all informed on how it is going!

Just Breathe

{source}

Have you ever been at a point in your life where all you could bring yourself to do is just..breathe?

There is so much pain in this world, and someone I love very much has had more than her share.  My recent whispers to her?  Keep on breathing.  Breathe in.  Just breathe.

As I have been part of walking through this pain with my loved one, I just keep thinking of how pain brings perspective.  Her pain makes me realize the depth of my love for her, the importance of being there for those whom we love through thick and thin, and what an amazing gift it is to love someone so much that it hurts.

I've also learned that the tears we cry for another are some of the most precious and cleansing.  Pure love.

I pray this song brings some comfort and relief to someone out there.  It is a simple but profound message.

Just breathe.
Where there is breath, there is life.
Where there is life, there is hope.

Anti-Procrastination Tuesday #101

Goals This Week:

~play play play

~swim swim swim

~keep my patience while my girls get used to being around each other all day everyday!

~keep up house without being a perfectionist

~keep up laundry and dishes each day

__________________

Have you checked out our Giveaway for this week yet?

It is an awesome "Radiant You" starter kit.

Click Here to enter.

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Last Weeks Most Clicked On Link:

Organize with Kits @ Domestic Bliss Diaries

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Be Inspired, Be Encouraged, and Get Something Done!

Saturday Giveaway // "Radient You" Starter Kit From Jackson & HInes

Today's giveaway from Jackson & Hines is such a fun one - one reader will win a "Radiant You" starter kit from the world-renown, all-natural Dr. Hauschka Skin Care line!

The kit contains Lavender Bath, exfoliating Cleansing Cream, Clarifying Toner, and Rejuvenating Mask--a great introduction to the wide array of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care

Continuing with gentle cleansing, we are including a bar of Laurel and Olive Savon D'alep from Aleppo Soap, which is gentle enough for all skin types without unnecessary chemical exposure.

Follow-up with the luxurious L'Occitane en Provence Almond Milk Concentrate Moisturizer and best-selling Shea Butter Foot Cream. With the gentle scent of almond blossoms, the Milk Concentrate is a dream in a jar! Not only is this a light and creamy drink for your skin, it also uses the almond protein for gentle firming (perfect for bikini--or, for real women, cover-up season!) The She Butter Foot Cream is the perfect gateway for summer serenity; the soothing shea butter will calm even the most flip-flop exposed feet.

You have the makings for a girls'-night-in-pedi-party, including FACE Stockholm's "Three-Free" nail polish (contains no DPT, Tulene or Formaldehyde) in Classic Red. Finally, complete the experience with T O C C A's Giuletta Solid Perfume. All things to help you find and celebrate the beauty within!

Whew! What an amazing giveaway!

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Benefits of 100% Natural Florida Orange Juice

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

Just recently my little one asked me if I would buy her some orange juice to have around in the morning for her breakfast. I smiled to myself thinking "how great is it that she is asking me to buy juice from an orange instead of candy or junk food!"  She is my little citrus lover, so her request didn't surprise me.  She has also been waking up with a dry throat due to what I hope is allergies and not a cold, and said that orange juice really helps soothe it.

Makes sense to  me.  I know orange juice is full of vitamin C, so it would be the perfect thing to give to her to boost the immune system.

Here are some health facts about Florida Orange Juice according to Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD: 

~One 8‐ounce serving of 100 percent orange juice is a good source of potassium and folate and an excellent source of vitamin C. These are three important nutrients that are under consumed in the United States, according to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

~One serving of 100 percent orange juice is more nutrient dense than many commonly-consumed 100 percent fruit juices. A refreshing glass of 100 percent orange juice has no added sugars or artificial sweeteners, which may be found in many fruit juice cocktails and sports drinks.

~A key recommendation of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans is to increase fruit intake. One 8-ounce glass of 100 percent orange juice provides half of the USDA-recommended daily fruit intake for most adults, based on a 2,000-calorie diet.

Nutrition expert Kathleen M. Zelman, MPH, RD also has some great healthy tips:

Jumpstart your morning with a nutritious meal that includes protein, fruit and energizing nutrient-dense carbs.

~Think you don’t have time for a complete breakfast? Blend your favorite fruit with 100 percent Florida orange juice and low-fat yogurt for a convenient, on-the-go smoothie.

~Want to jazz up your weekend breakfast? Substitute 100 percent Florida orange juice for water in your pancake batter to give your meal a zesty, new taste.

When looking for a snack, think outside the box before trying to satisfy your cravings from roadside convenience stores or airport kiosks.

~Plan ahead and take a cooler with portable, smart snacks that fit your on-the-go lifestyle like nuts, hummus with veggies, granola bars and 8-ounce cartons of 100 percent orange juice that will help give you the energy and nutrients you need to get through your travel day.

Love those tips. One of my favorite things to do with orange juice is to simply pour some into small paper cups, then freeze. Little ones love eating this 'orange slushy' with a spoon! So refreshing on a hot day.

Another way I love to use orange juice is in Chilled Melon & Citrus Soup with Kiwi Salsa. This is such an easy & healthful recipe, and the presentation is so pretty! I poured leftover soup into popsicle molds and froze it for Melon & Citrus Popsicles.

Chilled Melon & Citrus Soup with Kiwi Salsa

Serves 6

 

1/2 cup diced, cantaloupe (or watermelon)

1 kiwi, peeled and diced

2 good-sized mint leaves, chopped (optional)

1 medium sized ripe cantaloupe, peeled, seeded and chopped (about 3 cups)

6 ounces plain dairy or soy yogurt

6 ounces peach or vanilla dairy or soy yogurt

1/2 cup 100 % Florida Orange Juice

11/2 tsp agave nectar or honey

1/4 teaspoon kosher salt

 

1. In a small glass bowl, combine the diced melon, kiwi and mint.  Cover and refrigerate until ready to serve.

 

2. In a blender, blend half of the cantaloupe, half the yogurts, and 1/4 cup of the orange juice on medium speed until very smooth.  Transfer to a plastic or glass container.  Repeat with the remaining half of these ingredients.

 

3. Whisk in the agave nectar and salt until all soup is well mixed.  Cover and refrigerate for 1-2 hours.  Serve garnished with the Kiwi salsa.

 

If you would like more creative ways to incorporate orange juice into your diet, make sure you follow Florida Orange Juice on Facebook and Florida Orange Juice on Pinterest. 

Sponsor New Nostalgia In June!

Can you believe it's already almost June?! My girls are out of school in 2 days and summer fun is just getting started - and with it is sure to come lots of great posts.

I'd love to have you on board as a June sponsor for all the fun! Head on over to my Sponsor Page to learn all the details - how much an ad costs, giveaways, and so much more!

Teacher Appreciation Gift Ideas

*a post from the archives

S'mores Love @ Domesticated Lady

"Mint" To Teach @ A Place Called Joy

"Aw-some" Teacher @ The Rachel Barry Blog

For A "Tea-Riffic" Teacher @ Domesticated Lady

Pencils @ The Rachel Barry Blog

Bloom @ Skip To My Lou

Treat Bags @ Did Someone Say Party?

Thanks "A Latte" @ Skip To My Lou

"Thirst For Knowledge" @ Lisa Storms

Graduation Party Decoration Plan

Tis the season for graduation and graduation parties!  This year is a special one for us. My husband is programs director for an organization called City Impact.  He has the privilege of working with some pretty cool youth.  He has led a group of boys the last few years and 3 of those boys are graduating this year.  It has been amazing to watch them grow up into great young men who we know are going to make a difference in their community and in this world.

One of those guys is T.J.  We are super big T.J. fans around here. He just has a gentle way about him, he is kind and smart and his smile lights the room.  He has always been so great to my girls, he tops the list when they talk of all the "big brothers" they have.  T.J. and his family are super special to ours, so I was really excited to help decorate for his graduation party.

I love making social gatherings beautiful, and I really love challenging myself to do it in a simple way that doesn't break the bank.

One of the first places I checked out was our local dollar store.  Working with T.J.'s mom and between the two of us, we were able to find all kinds of fun stuff there - from plates & napkins to a grad mug.  They even had a fun poster to be signed by all who enter the party.

{gathering my supplies}

T.J.'s school colors are black and white, so that was super easy to work with.  The decor we found at the dollar store had a bit of grey on it too, so working off that I decided to add bits of silver to add some shine to the party.

We will have 4 large round tables that I need a centerpiece for, and of course T.J.'s memorabilia table.  He is a football player and has been very active at school so I have lots to work with for that table.

The centerpieces we got at the dollar store came with gold tinsel.  I didn't like how it looked and gold is not a color I wanted to add, so I bought some silver star tinsel and will work with that to make the centerpieces more what I want them to be.  

{not what I wanted}

{that is better}

The venue that we will be having the party at provides black tablecloths, and I am putting a square of this awesome silver glitter wrapping paper I found at Michael's Craft store in the center of each table, which will ground the centerpieces.

I am rolling up paper and tying black ribbon to make simple diplomas at each centerpiece.  We also will have small mason jars with water and silver star confetti floating in it, along with a candle.  T.J.'s mom found some black and white wrapped candy, so we will sprinkle that around each centerpiece for guests to help themselves to.  I hope it turn out as cool as it looks in my head.  I'm sure it will!

T.J. had some awesome poster sized photos of himself that we will place around, one on a mantle in the party room and a couple on easels.  No one will question who we are celebrating, that is for sure!


For his memorabilia table, I plan on flanking the back of the table with white and black helium balloons, like in this photo.  

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I will take photos at the party and let you all know how it turned out!

Congrats, T.J.!  Thank you for letting me be part of your day.  We love you and are very proud of you!