5 Healthy Contact Lens Habits

According to a recent press release from the American Optometrist Association, nearly 41 million adults in the U.S. (more than one in ten people) and 125 million people worldwide wear contact lenses.  I, myself, have been wearing contact lenses for 20 years, and my husband has them for most of his life.  Obviously when you do something for this long, you have a tendency to develop habits (sometimes good and sometimes bad). Today we are going to talk about the good, as I share 5 healthy contact lens habits. [Read more…]

10 Ways to Care for Your Family During Cold & Flu Season

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10 ways to care for your family during cold season

Fall weather is finally here, and with cooler weather comes the cold and flu season.   As a wife and mom, I always like to be prepared for anything.  That includes working to prevent illness and being prepared to give a little TLC when the colds and flu rear their ugly heads!  Today I’m teaming up with Kleenex facial tissues to discuss 10 ways that you can prepare your family and your home for the upcoming cold and flu season. [Read more…]

Get Through Your Day with SNICKERS®

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

Get Through Your Day with Snickers

You’re not you when your hungry! I know that’s surely the case with me! Do you ever find yourself just needing to take a break from work?  Do you find yourself getting tired, antsy, hungry, or a cominbation of the three?  Do you find yourself suffering through that “3PM slump” every day?  If you do, you’re not alone!

After a day of sitting at my desk blogging or working on other projects at home, I definitely need a break….and yet I don’t want to stop working, because I am FAR from getting everything I want to get done for the day.  Today I’m going to share a few tips to help you get through that 3PM slump so that you can finish your day strong!  And I’m going to show you how to put together a “Get Through Your Day Gift Basket” for yourself, your friends, or coworkers!

[Read more…]

5 Tips to Keep Your Teen Organized + Stomp Out Bullying with FriXion

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

Tips to Keep Your Teen Organized

For the past few weeks I’ve been sharing ideas for to get mom organized and prepared for the new school year, from meal planning to scheduling activities, time management, and more!  But what about the kids?  Do you have a teen, tween, or preteen who needs a little help in the organizing department?  Do they need a little nudge when it comes to remembering tests, assignments, or other important items for school?

Today I have a few organizational tips that I’ve found helpful as a student and that I’m trying to pass on to our teen son. [Read more…]

5 Tips to Green Your Beauty Routine with Tom’s of Maine

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

Azaleas

Spring is finally here!  For the last couple of weeks, the weather has been nice enough for us to sit out on our front porch or back deck, which is one of my favorite activities to do with my husband. Here in the South, we don’t get a lot of mild weather, so we’re trying to enjoy it while we can!   As I look around and think of all my “spring time to-dos,”  I can’t help but think of how spring is truly a time of renewal. As the trees and flowers are coming in to bloom, it is time for us to tend to our yards and gardens, do spring cleaning to renew our homes, and even renew and rejuvenate ourselves with new spring beauty routines, clothing, and more.

While I love to do things this time of year to improve my look, I’ve also been growing more health conscious and am trying to focus more and more on using natural products and products which won’t be harmful to myself and my family.  And as it turns out, a lot of these good choices we can make for ourselves are also good for the environment.  Today I’ll be discussing 5 tips to “green” your beauty routine with a little help from Tom’s Of Maine.

Tips to Green Your Beauty Routine

1. Use Natural Health & Beauty Products.  Check labels to see what kind of ingredients are in your favorite health and beauty items. Are they natural ingredients?  Products made with natural ingredients are not only safe for the environment but also safer for you and your family.  If the product is not made from natural ingredients, then what kind of chemicals are included?

Every day more and more companies are offering natural and organic health and beauty items for our families.  .Tom’s Of Maine is one of those companies.  They have a line of soaps, shampoos, body washes, oral care products, deodorants and more.  I recently purchased their Antiplaque & Whitening Toothpaste, Whole Care Toothpaste, Silly Strawberry Children’s Toothpaste, and Unisex Apricot deodorant.

Toms of Maine

You can find the products in the Health & Beauty section at your local Walmart.

Toms at Maine at Walmart

You can also Save $1 right now on any Tom’s of Maine products with this coupon.

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 2.  Turn off the Tap.  Whether you’re washing your face or brushing your teeth, only run the water when you need it.  Turn the water off while you are actually brushing your teeth or scrubbing your face.  Just use the water at the start and for rinsing. Also, take showers instead of baths, and take shorter showers.

After Neutrogena Products

3.  Simplify Your Hair Routine.  If you wash your hair every day and then cover it in mousse, hair spray and other products, consider skipping this.  Just pull your hair back with a clip, put it in a bun, or wear it down with little or no styling.  This way you are putting less chemicals on your head. You are also consuming less, and your hair will be cleaner and more manageable.  You also won’t have to wash your hair quite as often.  This will help you save water and also save energy, as you won’t have to use the blow dryer and other electronic styling products as much. (It will also do less damage to your hair in the long run.)

Neutrogena Makeup

4.  Skip the makeup and use homemade skin care products.  Since I work from home, I go without makeup most days.  I only wear it if we’re going out or if I have a lot of errands to run. (On short everyday trips to the store or single errands I just skip it.)  By not wearing make up, you will use less products; it’s good for the environment, and it’s good for the skin.  And while you’re improving the look of your skin by using less make up, you can also refresh your skin with natural facial cleansers or make your own natural ones.  (Here’s a recipe for an Oatmeal & Brown Sugar Scrub that I enjoy.)

Toms Facts

5.  Find products and companies that have a record of environmentally friendly practices.  Look for products and companies that do not use animal testing or animal ingredients. (Animal testing makes my furbabies sad.)  Also check the labels to find companies who use recycled materials and have other sustainable practices.  If you don’t find information on the product packaging, you can probably find this information online.

 

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Do you consider yourself to be green?  Are you trying to improve your lifestyle by using more natural products or help the environment by greening your lifestyle?

Please leave a comment and tell us a change you’ve made in your household to work toward these goals.

 

Toms Deodorant
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5 Ways to Show Your Cats You Care with Fancy Feast and Litter Genie

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group®, Litter Genie® and Fancy Feast®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #Catparents http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV

5 Ways to Show Cats You Care

When I’m not blogging, I am a full time Cat Mommy and part time member of the Cat Paparazzi!  Anyone who knows me knows I’m in love with my cats, and they pretty much run the show here!  For those of you aren’t familiar with the Simply Sweet Home cats, let me introduce you! [Read more…]

5 Ways to Have a “Me Moment” + Induldge with Müller® Ice Cream Inspired Yogurt

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

5 Ways to Have a Me Moment

During the holiday season I was swamped with things to do (tons of Etsy orders, blog posts, Christmas activities, etc.).  And since the start of the year I’ve been working to clean, organize and get my house back in order on all levels!  With the all the stressors I encounter, I definitely need a  “me moment” sometimes.  Don’t you? 

Finding time for a “me moment” can be quite challenging.  For me, I struggle to find even a small amount of free time.  AND when I do try to do something fun, I think about all the things I should be doing INSTEAD. (I have a post to write! I have laundry to do! Just look at this mess!)

But, in fact, taking a break from work and having more “me moments” in 2015 will actually help your overall productivity.  When you spend too much time working, you get burned out.  You’re tired; you can’t focus as well, and over time, your work can come to a grinding hault if you aren’t careful.  Taking a break can help you to recharge, refocus, and gain a fresh, new perspective when you’re ready to go back to work.

Here are just a few activities, I recommend to help you have a great “me moment.” [Read more…]

Tips for Immune Support + Gift Basket Idea

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias and its Advertiser. All thoughts and opinions are mine and mine alone and should not be construed as medical advice. #24HourEsterC #CollectiveBias

Immune Support

We had a sensational October, weather-wise.  Here in the south, the fall season is usually a bit unpredictable.  It’s either really hot or really cold, and there’s no in between.  You can be wearing shorts and a tank top one day, and then the next week you’re breaking out a sweater and a wool coat.  Seriously! For the entire month of October, Noah wore shorts every day and only had to break out a light jacket last week, and then BAM! On Halloween night the low was 33 degrees!  Eek!  With this drastic change in weather, my first concern is immune support and staying well.

Immune Support [Read more…]

5 Tips for Preparing Your Home for Cold & Flu Season

Disclosure: I am a compensated 3M-sponsored blogger. Opinions are my own and additional products used in the project were selected by me. The post also includes affiliate links. The opinions are my own.

5 tips for preparing your home

Cold and flu prevention starts at home.  While it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle through, complete with a well balanced diet and exercise routine, hydration, rest, and a multivitamin for health & immune support, there are so many other things you can to maintain your home this winter to further promote your family’s overall health. [Read more…]