Simply Earth Essential Oil Starter Box Review

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. I received products to facilitate this post. The opinions are my own.

Last year I had the honor of reviewing the Simply Earth Essential Oil Recipe Box!  This is a subscription program where you get 4 bottles of essential oils each month, plus other supplies and recipe cards that teach you fun and unique ways to use your essential oils.  (If you missed these posts, please scroll down to the bottom to find links to all my reviews!)

Here are a few quick facts about this amazing subscription box!

  • Cost is just $39 / month.
  • Each box has 4 bottles of essential oil, recipe cards to help you use your oils in fun and unique ways, plus other materials you need to make the recipes.
  • Each box is specially curated with a unique theme in mind.
  • Each box is a $150 value!
  • When you subscribe you get a cool BONUS box for FREE!
  • You also get a $40 gift card for FREE when you use my referral link and coupon code:  SSHOMEFREE!

Rather than reviewing the January box, this month I had the opportunity to review their new STARTER BOX!  Check it out!

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4 Handy Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

Being a homeowner can be a great joy but also quite a headache. You never know when a problem will surface which is why it is a good idea to identify professionals before you need them. This way, you can have them on speed dial in case a problem was to arise. However, sometimes the problem is not that easy or there is not extra room in the budget to hire someone to come over and fix the issue. There are times that as a homeowner, you have to get your hands dirty and do the work yourself. This article will provide some handy plumbing tips for new homeowners.

Turn off the water. If you notice a leak and you want to explore the problem, be sure to turn the water off to the area. This can save you from adding to the problem with additional leakage. This will also allow you to look for the leak without worrying about getting soaking wet or wasting additional water.

Fix the running toilet. We have all been there, whether you have lived in an apartment or in your own home, it is inevitable that you will experience a running toilet at one time or another. Before trying to fix the toilet, make sure that it is not clogged with debris, toilet paper, or waste. Once you have confirmed that the toilet is clear, lift the lid off of the tank. Check the flapper to make sure that it is still intact and in good condition. Believe it or not, they do wear out from time to time and need to be replaced. Another thing to look for is if the water is very high in the tank. If the water is high, turn the valve off that is below the tank and take off the rubber flapper. Dry the area and install a new flapper.

De-clogging drains. A clogged drain can happen to anyone. Over time soap builds up in a drain along with hair, lint, or other debris. A clogged drain can be easily remedied by purchasing a plastic snake-like tool from your local hardware store. Simply place the snake in the drain and dig out the contents that are causing the clog. It may be tempting to dump drain-o or other plumbing solutions down the drain but try to avoid doing this as it can have a negative effect on your plumbing.

Take good care of your garbage disposal. It may sound strange but your garbage disposal can malfunction or quit working at any moment. Take care of your disposal by cleaning it often with garbage disposal cleaning solutions that can be found at your local hardware or grocery store. In addition, keep silverware, bottle caps, and other metal objects out of the drain as they can damage the blades or cause the disposal to not work at all.

If you have tried all of these tips are you are still having trouble, we recommend this plumber that can help you out.

 

Saving Money with a DIY Oil Change + 5 Things You Should Buy Online

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DotComDIY #CollectiveBias

Do you shop online?  Surveys and studies show that more and more people are turning to the world wide web to purchase gifts and a whole host of personal items.  My husband and I are definitely two of these people.  Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy walking down the aisles of Walmart and check out the latest things they have to offer, from seasonal decor and clothing to beauty supplies.  But I also love the convenience of online shopping, and I love the time and money that it saves me!  Today we are going to talk about how buying your Pennzoil oil online for a DIY oil can help you save money, plus I will share 5 things you should be buying online if you want to save money. [Read more…]

5 Simple Tips to Transform a Room

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’d love to make this room look better, but I just can’t afford it,” then today’s post is for you!  As a homemaker, I love improving the look of our home, and as a girl on a budget, I’ve learned to embrace simplicity and find easy and affordable ways to transform the rooms in our house.  Today I will share a few tips to help you get started.

bedding set
Photo Credit

Bedding – The main focal point in any bedroom is the bed.  A new bedding set can dress up even the oldest set of bedroom furniture and completely change the style of your room.  Consider changing your florals to a modern chic pattern (as shown below).  Or change your plaid bedding set to some trendy chevron stripes or a fun bohemian pattern.

A lot of bedding sets (like the one above) are reversible / two-sided, so if you have a reversible bedding set, you can simply flip over the existing bedding set to get a whole new look.  Adding a decorative throw or extra throw pillows to your bed can also add color, warmth, and coziness of your room. [Read more…]

Tips to Make DIY Projects Safer

Tips to make diy projects safer

 

As you know, I always love a good DIY project. Any time my husband and I can fix or build something ourselves, we try to do it, and since we live in an older house, it seems like there is always something to do.  In the past few years, we’ve replaced light fixtures, painted and replaced porch rails, had plumbing repairs and installation, assembled furniture, upcycled old furniture, and started a bathroom remodel.

Anytime we start a new project, there are a number of things to consider: What does the project involve?  What are the materials needed?  How much will it cost?  How long will the project take?  What are the potential roadblocks to the project? Answering all of these questions can help us to better plan the project and ensure that the project is completed in a timely and efficient manner.

But beyond these questions, you should also consider the risks associated with the project.  Does the project involve any health risks?  What safety precautions should be taken to avoid injury or other bodily harm?  As an expectant parent and a pet owner, I have to take extra precautions to make sure everyone in our home is protected.  The following infographic gives us a a little insight into the views of fellow DIYers and it details some of the risks involved with home improvement and do-it-yourself projects.  Check it out! [Read more…]

Friday Favorites Linky Party – Week 347 + a Christmas Giveaway from LeroyLime

Hello everyone! Welcome to this week’s Friday Favorites party!  This week we have a very special edition.  Not only have our hostesses picked some fantastic holiday ideas for you to take a look at, but we also have a giveaway for you this week! Yay!

The giveaway is for something that’s handmade…it follows under the category of holiday decor…and it comes to you from our friend and Friday Favorites hostess Dawn of LeroyLime.  Dawn has been hosting Friday Favorites with me for nearly a year, and she was a regular visitor to the party long before then.  She is also an avid crafter with her own Etsy shop, and I’m very excited to feature her shop here today!

Please check out the giveaway below; you can get 5 entries just for linking up a post this week!  But if you don’t have a blog, that’s okay too!  There are a lot of other entries that don’t require you to participate in the party (although we’d love to have you!).

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Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet HomeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Christine at Light and SavvyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Jen at Creatively HomemadeTwitter | G+ | Pin

Dawn at LeroyLimeTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

Maisy at Becoming AliceFB | G+ | Pin

Sheree at Stage PresentsTwitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst

Lisa at Condo BluesTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Amy at A Day of Small ThingsPin

Penny at Penny’s PassionTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst

Kelly at Under a Texas SkyTwitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL

If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

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You can show your love for this week’s favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!

And if you love all of this week’s favorites, please pin, share, and invite your friends to this week’s linky party! [Read more…]

DIY No Sew Pet Blanket and Pet Stockings with Purina

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ToPetsWithLove #CollectiveBias

diy-no-sew-pet-blanket-and-pet-stockings-with-purina

When I go out shopping these days, the aisles are decked with Christmas decorations and great gift ideas.  I can’t help but get in the spirit of the season and start planning my holiday shopping list.  And as I get ready to prepare my gift list, I always include my four legged family members!  The Simply Sweet Home dog and cats get a stocking each year, filled with food, treats, and toys.  And we have a good time watching as they receive these gifts.  Today I’m going to show you how a few products from Purina can help you to make your pets Christmas merry and bright!  And I’m going to share a tutorial for a DIY Pet Blanket, the perfect handmade gift for your dog or cat.

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Steps to Maintain Your Car

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CambialoConQS #CollectiveBias 

steps-to-maintain-your-car

We recently got a car for our 16 year old, and from school to work, to back home, and everywhere in between, he’s already put a couple thousand miles on it.  Then we have a family car that my husband drives to work and we use for shopping, and running errands. (And till this year, it was also the car I would drive to take Noah to school.)  Needless to say, having our cars in tip top shape is very important to my family.  Luckily my husband is an expert of fixing practically anything, and he’s great at working on cars.  Today I’m going to discuss a few steps that you can take to make sure your cars maintained. [Read more…]

Friday Favorites – Week 331 – With Decor Projects

Hello all. Welcome to this week’s edition of Friday Favorites.  This week for my features I’ve chosen some really great decor and decor projects.  As someone who loves making improvements and buying new things for my home, I love seeing everyone else’s projects.  It gives me so much inspiration.  I hope you get inspired by these ideas as well!
Friday Favorites Banner 2016 3

Hosted by:

Simply Sweet Home
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MustLoveHome

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Creatively Homemade

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Our Secondhand House
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Homemade & Yummy
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LeroyLime
Twitter | Facebook | Google + | Pinterest | Instagram | BlogLovin [Read more…]

Friday Favorites – Week 330 – With DIY Projects

Greetings everyone! Welcome to this week’s linky party! This week I have some really great DIY projects to share with you.  I love all of these because they all involve a lot of creativity and craftsmanship, and they are all woodworking projects.  Hope you like them as much as I do!

Also, I wanted to let you know this is the last week I’ll be taking applications for Friday Favorites Hostesses.  I wanted to give my current hostesses a chance to post the notice on their blogs, and since they are doing that this week, I’m posting the form here one final time.  So if you’d like to sign up to host with us each week, please feel out the form.  You’ll find it at the bottom of the post.

And one final thing…I just added a giveaway for a $25 Visa card and coupons for Arnold Bread.  This giveaway will only be open for a few days, so please go over and enter: Arnold Bread Giveaway.

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