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Show Nature Some Love by Planting a Tree

May 1, 2013 By 5 Comments

Odwalla Logo

When I see the name Odwalla the first thought that comes to mind is “Healthy Living”.  Then the second is “Yummy Foods”.  And now today after creating a digital tree on Odwalla’s website to help get goodness growing what comes to mind is “Giving back to Nature”.  Odwalla is asking everyone to visit their website and create a digital tree and when you do they will plant a real tree in your name. Plus, they are giving away a $10,000 gift card and a year supply of bars and beverages.

This is such a great idea and a good cause.  It is fun creating the tree and sharing it with others on Facebook and Twitter to get the buzz going so all your friends and family can join in the great cause.

If it weren’t for nature, there would be no Odwalla.  It is such a great idea for a company to give back to nature. It takes a lot of natural ingredients to produce the amazing products that Odwalla makes.  This is the only way to keep things on the right path for the future of everything from healthy eating to healthy living.

Odwalla is teaming up with The Nature Conservancy’s All Hands on Earth campaign to plant up to 100,000 trees.  Join them in this campaign and create your tree like I did.  Take a look at the tree I created.

odwallatree

Between March 20, 2013 and May 31, 2013, Odwalla will contribute $1 for each tree you create to The Nature Conservancy for the planting of trees– no less than $75,000 and up to $100,000.  The mission of The Nature Conservancy is to conserve the land and waters on which all life depends.  More information about the Conservancy is available by mail at 4245 N. Fairfax Drive, Arlington, Virginia 22203, by phone at (800) 628-6860 or at www.nature.org

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Odwalla via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Odwalla”

 

Fill Your House With Goodies #goodiesco #sp

April 27, 2013 By 32 Comments

 

goodies-logoFill Your House With Goodies #goodiesco #sp

Now tell me, who can resist a box filled with full size products that you love, or that you have never tried but always wanted to. ??
Well, if you said you can resist, then you need to be checked by a Doctor because most people I know love goodie boxes and that is what makes The Goodie Co. so awesome!  It is a box of .. goodies!

Now your asking.. how do I get a box filled with Goodies?  Well, all you do is subscribe for $7 a month (no extra shipping or handling fees) to get 5-8 snacks, then when your box comes, rip it open and enjoy all your goodies.  Then, you can visit the website and review your goodies on there to earn points.  At Goodies, your opinion matters, and you get rewarded for it. After you try your snacks, go back to the Goodies website and give a review of your box. By doing this you will earn points to redeem for rewards and free Taster’s Boxes.

To many times than not I have grabbed goodies (snacks) at the store because I saw an ad on TV, or in a magazine or heard from a friend how good it was only to get home and try it and end up hating it.  Well I have thrown out many products and many dollars on things that just were not welcomed in my house.  It is really a bummer because food is not cheap, especially food that is more on the healthy side.   I love sampler boxes for this reason and The Goodie Box is a great one to give a try.

Help spread the word about The Goodie Box.   Goodies Co. is a highly sought after monthly subscription and to get yours, you will need to visit and enter the code BLOGVIP to instantly receive your invitation. Typically, there is a wait list to get an invitation, however through our partnership with Goodies Co. you can skip the line and get right in.

Once you enter the code into the promo page, you will receive 2 emails from Goodies. The first will state you are in line for your invitation, the next will instantly tell you your invitation has arrived. This shows you how you skipped the line!

goodies-cereal goodies-fall-box

Disclaimer ~ This article is sponsored by Goodies Co. All views and opinions are 100% Living Smart Girl’s.

How to cook perfect food on your BBQ every time

April 22, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Gone are the days of burnt sausages and burgers – with the right equipment, such as Weber One Touch Premium BBQs, you can whip up a whole host of dishes that’ll go down a treat with your guests.

I like to try and host the perfect party, and that means serving food that is well cooked and delicious. Below are a few of my top tips about how to get the most out of the meat and veg you throw on to the BBQ.

Go charcoal

Everyone has their own opinion as to what type of barbecue to use, but I think you can’t go wrong with a charcoal one, especially from a quality brand such as Weber. Yes, the coals might take some time to heat up, but I love the unique smoky flavour that these types of grill produce. The food smells and tastes like summer, and while gas is convenient, meat and veg cooked this way is the same as doing it under an oven grill.

Here’s a top tip: burn wood chips for a flavor that your guests won’t believe has come from your BBQ!

Get the BBQ to the right temperature

Charcoal BBQ’s can take around 45 minutes to heat up to the right cooking temperature, but it’s certainly worth the wait due to the beautiful taste your food will have. The Weber One Touch Premium comes with a thermometer in the lid, so you can close it to trap the heat and keep an eye on when it hits the right temperature.

If you don’t have a grill with a temperature gauge, wait for the coals to turn ash grey, while holding your hand a few inches above the grill is another foolproof method – if you can only bear the heat for a second or two, your coals should be good to go.

Make sure your food is moist

While slapping a marinade on to meat is a great way to keep it moist, you don’t want to have to coat everything in a sauce. When buying cuts of meat for your get-together, purchase small ones that have plenty of marbling on them. This means there is lots of fat to dissolve when grilling, keeping your meat moist and helping it to cook more evenly. After all, no one wants a dry burger! Coat your vegetables in olive oil to keep them juicy and to add some extra flavor.

Separate raw and cooked food and their utensils

We all know how to check meat is properly cooked – there should be no pink bits (unless you’re doing steak according to someone’s taste, of course!) and the juices should run clear when pricked with a fork. However, all your hard work could be ruined if you allow cooked food to touch raw produce, and if you mix up the utensils you have used. Prevent cross-contamination by keeping cooked and raw food well apart from one another, while regular hand washing will also ensure none of your guests go away with tummy troubles.

It’s all in the preparation

I need my cooking space to be efficient and organized, so I always have a preparation side table next to my BBQ so I have everything I require. Running back and forth from the kitchen is not my idea of fun and this runs the risk of food burning while I’m away from the grill. Some charcoal BBQ’s handily come with a preparation surface, so if you regularly host outdoor gatherings, this feature might be at the top of your list.

What other cooking advice do you have to offer BBQ enthusiasts?

Time for a New Bed?

April 18, 2013 By Leave a Comment

How do you sleep?  Or should I say, do you sleep?   In need of a new bed, pillows, or mattress topper?   Or should I say, are you in need of a good night sleep ?

Well, Nature’s Sleep can help you get a good night sleep for a low price for the rest of April.

 

 

 

 

Or wait till April 27th and use COUPON CODE: SAVE65 “Spring Savings” Get rid of your springs this Spring – switch to memory foam 65% off entire purchase *excluding adjustable foundations for 24-hours.

 
Nature's Sleep

Share, Love, Celebrate with P&G #PGmostloved #spon

April 17, 2013 By Leave a Comment

shespeaksShare, Love, Celebrate with P&G #PGmostloved
@SheSpeaksUp and @PGeveryday
Disclaimer ~ This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G #spon

p&gI get up in the morning and head for the shower.  I reach for my bottle shower gel and realize that it is a Proctor and Gamble product.   I grab my razor to shave my legs, and guess what? That too is made by Proctor and Gamble.  From my morning shower, to my lotion on my body to the makeup on my face, I am covered in P&G.   I love my P&G products and they love me.

After premping and primping it is time to clean the house.   Again, I have lots of help from P&G.  There are many things a person does, and probably doesn’t realize that they have a P&G product in their hands.  When in fact, there are many items I was unaware of that now I see are made by P&G.  From paper towels, dish soap, laundry detergent, dusting, scented items, hair and body products, shaving, makeup, and more.  I bet if you looked thru your home you could find at least 12 P&G products.

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Take a peek at my swag.  Lots of goodies sent to me from P&G.   My favorite is the Cover Girl mascara.  It is the same one I use every day.  Love the Venus shavers.  My husband was excited to get the mens razor since he was in need of a new one.

P&G is celebrating their most loved products.  These include  CoverGirl®, Olay®, Pantene®, Venus®, Gillette®, Bounty®, Cascade®, Charmin®, Dawn®, Febreze®, Swiffer® and Tide®.   What is your most loved product?    It is hard to pick just one when there are so many amazing products.  But, I have to say mine would be the Cover Girl.

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Disclaimer ~ This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G

P&G Conserve It All – Green Gardening for my Home and Family

April 15, 2013 By Leave a Comment

shespeaks

P&G Conserve It All – Green Gardening for my Home and Family
@SheSpeaksUp @ProcterGamble

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post for p&gSheSpeaks/P&G.
All opinions are views are 100% Living Smart Girl’s.

I love to garden, but here in Minnesota our winters are long and so my gardening plans don’t always go how I want them to.  I decided to do things different this year than I have in the past.  I think this year I will start my garden indoors and then move it outside when the weather permits.  But, I have not had a chance to start my indoor garden just yet due to a surgery I just had, so I will share with you my ideas on how I will combine my gardening ideas with P&G Conserve It All Campaign.

We have always recycled, everything.  If it can’t be burned in our wood stove to heat the house then it is washed and recycled.  We try to buy things in containers that are recyclable or burnable.  We even burn food scraps in the winter since we can’t get to our compost pile.   It takes a bit more time when shopping to make sure I buy the right things but I know my extra time is helping save the planet.

I buy my eggs and milk in cardboard and this year I am going to use those containers (instead of burning them) for my plants.  I will start my garden indoors in my egg and milk cartons.   I have my seeds, and my dirt and now just need to use up my eggs and milk and wait a few more weeks and then I can start my indoor green garden.

Using a milk carton is perfect for starting my tomato plants.   My egg carton is perfect to use as a starter container for just about any of my veggie plants.  And, what is perfect with using an egg carton is that I can just cut apart the egg compartments when it is time to plant them in my garden and put the whole thing in the dirt.  Easy Peasy :)

So, we will be using some of our recyclable goods for a green garden.   And, we have also started using more bulk items.  That is our goal to bring our home into a more green living state. Buying in bulk when we can, buying only things in containers that can be recycled, or burned or reused and growing our own garden indoors with recyclable containers.

Like I said, I haven’t been able to start any of my green garden yet due to many reasons, but wanted to share some of my houseplants with you.   I love my indoor plants and never buy new containers to put them in.  I use old items I find at garage sales or just have laying around.   Here are two of my house plants.  My Easter Cactus and my Shamrock.

Cactus Shamrock

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post for SheSpeaks/P&G.  All opinions are views are 100% Living Smart Girl’s.

Clean out the Community with a Group Yard Sale

March 29, 2013 By 12 Comments

Spring is in the air and that gets more than just birds chirping, and fresh new things stirring outside. It get’s me stirring inside and cleaning out closets, drawers, the basement, the garage, etc.  What does all this mean?  Well, it’s time to get rid of stuff I don’t need!!   I always wonder where does all this stuff come from?  Seriously, I have a huge pile of stuff in my basement that I have been adding to over the winter and I just am baffled.  Do I buy that much?  Oh Lord!!

 

yard-sale

Well, a few months ago (ok, like 6 or so) I was sitting in my house looking at all the stuff I wanted to list on an online auction for sale and thinking to myself, what a pain that is.  Then I was on Facebook and looking at some stuff a friend had for sale and it hit me.  Hmm..how about an online group for locals to sell their goods.  So, I opened up the Two Harbors Swap and Shop.  I started to invite local friends and before I knew it the group was filled with tons and tons of goods for sale.  It was crazy!!  So, I also created one for just clothes, shoes, purses, hats, etc., and one for all kid/baby stuff.  That keeps the groups all clean and easier to look thru.   The groups keep growing and growing and it makes me feel so good that I was able to help out the community I live in to clean out their homes and earn money.  It also helps those who love to shop for deals and sales find great items cheaper than buying new.  In today’s economy buying new is not always easy so this helps in many ways.

In the group I asked one day, if I was to find a place to do it would anyone be interested in a community yard sale once a month over the spring/summer/fall months.   Huge response!!  So, I started to call around to see what kind of a venue I could find to do this.  Well, sad to say that not one place in my area would donate their building or space to help out the community.  So, I went to my Mother in Law who lives in a very large building that has a huge basement that is not used.   She can have yard sales there so we talked and will be able to use that area.   I was looking at a small fee of $5 per table to help cover the cost of local advertising and everyone was fine with that.  It makes me feel good to pull something like this together.

So, together with the online groups and the community yard sales I will be putting together I think I will be helping many people in many ways.  It takes a lot to hold a yard sale on your own, so this a person doesn’t have to stress out about getting everything set up and putting an ad in the paper and all that.  I will do it all, they show up with whatever they have to sell that day and that’s it.  I know this is going to help huge and hope we can even do a couple during the winter so people can keep things cleaned out, and maybe make a few bucks to help with expenses over the long cold winters we have here in Minnesota.

I love organizing things like this.  Love seeing all that I can do to help out.   Back in March of 2012 I started another business called Northland Diva and I did a local expo.   I rented a small venue and charged a small table fee and had 19 girls who have small businesses join in.  It was so much fun, and very profitable for many of the vendors that myself along with a friend of mine decided to hold another one.  We help a larger one in a larger venue and had 40+ vendors.   That one was held over opening deer season and did well.   We even made it on the news.  We are planning another one for the same time this year.  It helps small business owners show their goods, grow their business, make sales, gain customers, and get in touch with people they might not ever be able to.   Things like this are what small communities need to keep things working smoothly.

What type of community stuff do you do?

Aveenologo

 

 

Now, it’s actually healthy to wash your hair every day. AVEENO® PURE RENEWAL lets you renew your hair to its naturally balanced state daily. Unlike ordinary shampoos, these sulphate-free formulas have Balancing Seaweed Extract; bringing hair back to its naturally healthy, most balanced state with each wash, for beautifully healthy-looking hair.

Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Aveeno via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Aveeno.

Remodeling Is A Pain

March 27, 2013 By Leave a Comment

In the you know what!!   Hubby and I have been in remodeling hell for 10 years now.   We always wanted to live on a lake and when we got the chance we jumped at it.  We knew the house we were buying was in need of some serious TLC.  But, what we didn’t know was the level of TLC that our home needed.  Not only did the roof leak, and the shower leak, and the siding beginning to crumble and fall off, but the whole inside of the house turned from one project to another.  Oh, what a disaster we are in!

remodeling

This is my my living room, or what is left of a wall in my living room for one of the projects we started.  We had a very small living room with a small bedroom off of it.  We decided to take the wall out between the two.  A project we thought would be a couple week thing. Oh No, it turned into about 4 months or more of projects that we are still working on.  I do think we would have been better off to build a new house!

Aside from all the remodeling we are doing I get to redecorate each area of the house when we are finished.   Interior designs bachelor degree is not something I have and I think I might just need it!   I love to decorate, but life is busy and I just get overwhelmed so wish I knew more or could just find someone to do it for me.   I decorate mostly with lodge decor adding in some vintage and primitive items.  I love my decor, but sometimes get overwhelmed because we are always remodeling and I always have a mess.  So, making my home a nice pretty place just always gets put on the back burner for now.

Do you like to decorate?  What is your decorating style?

Making a modern home

March 25, 2013 By Leave a Comment

Making a modern home: tips to bring your property up to date

I’m sure you know the feeling of looking round your house and thinking that it needs a revamp. Rather than simply concentrating on redecorating, though, consider bringing it right up to date by adding some modern features.

Here are just a few suggestions of changes you can make to give your property a lift and turn it into an even nicer place to live.

Replace the windows

If you don’t already have double glazing installed in your home, definitely consider doing so. Replacing tired, old windows will do much more than simply make your house look better from the outside, though, as it will also cut your energy bills, reduce the draughts in your property and mean you hear less noise from the street. This isn’t the cheapest of jobs to undertake, but it’s well worth it in the long run.

Speak to several companies in your area to get quotes for the work. This will help ensure you don’t end up paying over the odds for your new windows. Another option is to repair your existing windows. This may be more appropriate if you live in a period property and want to keep the original fixtures in place. If this isn’t something you’re comfortable to try yourself, get in touch with an expert in your area who can offer assistance.

Install energy-efficient heating and cooling devices

One of the best ways to modernize your property is to replace an inefficient, old boiler with a new, condensing model. This kind of boiler is more energy-efficient because it is able to recover more heat than older versions.

While you’re looking into replacing your boiler, you should also consider whether you’d prefer to change the fuel it uses. Gas is one of the most commonly-used options, but you can replace this with a wood-fueled heating system if you prefer. Choosing this kind of heating system could not only save you money on your utility bills, but will also reduce your carbon emissions significantly, according to the Energy Saving Trust.

During the summer, you may want to cool rather than heat your home, in which case fitting an air conditioner could be advisable. Make sure you choose a model that has an A on its Energy Rating Label to ensure you have the most efficient equipment available.

If you’re not sure whether an air conditioner will benefit your home, you can always hire one for a few weeks before taking the plunge and installing your own. You’ll find more information about renting such equipment here.

Replace old kitchen appliances

One room that can often do with a bit of modernization is the kitchen. By simply replacing old appliances with new, more efficient ones, you will not only make it a nicer space to cook in, but also make it look more modern and fresh.

Start by looking at things like your oven, microwave and dishwasher. Check to see what Energy Rating Label they have and go from there – if the ratings are towards the bottom end of the scale (E to G), consider replacing them.

Buying new appliances will do more than just revamp your kitchen’s appearance; they will also save you money on your energy bills. It’s worth checking what a product’s estimated running costs are per year, as some models will use more power than others, even if they have the same energy efficiency rating.

New Life Breathed into my Bedroom #Threshold #sp

March 19, 2013 By 8 Comments

Target Logo

My Bedroom is one of those rooms that always seems to be the last on the list for an update. Why?  Most likely because it is upstairs, nobody sees it but us, and it seems silly to worry about a room that nobody see’s.  Well, I have been daydreaming about adding a few new touches to my room and finally was able to do it.  Thanks to Target and Threshold I got some new life breathed into my bedroom.

I love the country/lodge look and that runs thru pretty much my whole house.  I decorate with a lot of tans, browns, hunter greens, dark reds, etc.  You will find things like deer heads, fish, pictures of wolf, bear, deer, moose, fish, eagles, etc., on my walls.   Anything to do with nature, I am loving it.

One of my favorite things in my bedroom is my bed.   In about 2001 I had told hubby I wanted a log bed, and we went looking at furniture stores for beds. Well I found one I liked, but hubby didn’t like the price. So, one day upon arriving home from work I pulled into my driveway to see the most beautiful bed I had ever seen!!  Hubby had built me a log bed, with his own twist on it.   Not the traditional log bed, but more of a split rail fence bed.  It has been the center of my room since.   I have for years looked for the perfect bedding to compliment my bed, and finally found it.  Threshold has such a nice selection and I found the perfect stripped duvet with pillow covers.

Aside from the bed, I love my floor.   Mostly because it is hard wood and easy to keep clean.  But, after years of having throw rugs here and there I wanted a larger area rug that fit perfectly in front of my bed that I could leave there when I exercised.   See, I use my bedroom as my exercise room since it is very large and generally am moving rugs when I exercise.  No more!  I found the most awesome rug that fits my style, and my space perfect.

Here is my bedroom before my makeover.

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As you can see my bedding is a camo duvet (I made), with throw pillows and the floors just have throw rugs.

Here is my bedroom now.

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As you can see just some new bedding and a rug make a huge difference in the look and feel of a room.  I love it!  Even hubby is happy and he isn’t really one to noticed changes to a room. The duvet brings out the colors I use in my room, and the rug is a perfect color to tie everything all together.

I could have gone bonkers at Target with the Threshold collection because there is so much to choose from and a lot of it is just my style.   I saw a few wood mirrors I want to get to add to my room and will grab those soon too. Right now, I am happy with my changes, and the fresh new life breathed into my bedroom.

It’s the right mix of classic and modern. An effortless elegance. Beautiful, yet affordable. Designed for a lifetime of housewarmings. It’s everything you’ll love about your home.

“Disclosure: Compensation was provided by Target via Glam Media.  The opinions expressed herein are those of the author and are not indicative of the opinions or positions of Target”

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