Paint'em Pretty ~ Finger Paints Brushstroke Blush



This should actually be Colors of the Weeks!

Finger Paints ~ Brushstroke Blush

or as I call it ~ Baby Girl Pink ;) 

It's just shy of 3 weeks, which is my own personal best. LOL

It just happened I was so busy over those weeks,

I never had the time to change out.

I wasn't easy on them either.

2 coats did the trick topped with 1 coat of

 my fav top coat Sally Hansen's Megashine,

but I was still amazed at how long this lasted

without chipping.

My first time trying dots, fun and they turned out great.

Til next time ~ add some color to your life!

Every Little Drop Counts!

More Drought Tips

Can we ever have enough? NO!

Stricter regulations will take place July 1 for our area.

1st offense: warning

2nd offense: fine

3rd offense: your water will be shut off

Those of us going through this are scared, very scared.

Water has become top priority.

Our farmers are leaving a lot of their fields fallow

due to the cut backs of their water allotment.

Food prices will rise since our rich fertile land "feeds"

people all across the United States.

People who have wells are praying they don't run out of water.

Those of us in town are being very water wise.

Some counties have employed a bounty program.

You can turn in a water waster and your name will go into a drawing with a cash prize.

Serious, very serious.

So I've researched more ways to save water to share with you

and educate myself on more ways also.

Some are obvious, some our home has done for some time.

But we can always learn more.

Unfortunately, I'm not in a place where I can go out

and purchase new energy/water efficient appliances.

But at least they aren't very old, so that helps some.



In the Kitchen

1. Don’t use running water to thaw food. Defrost food in the refrigerator.
2. Keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator instead of running the tap.
3. If you accidentally drop ice cubes, don’t throw them in the sink. Drop them in a house plant instead.
4. Use the garbage disposal sparingly. Instead, compost vegetable food waste and save gallons every time
5. Select the proper pan size for cooking. Large pans may require more cooking water than necessary
6. Soak pots and pans instead of letting the water run while you scrape them clean
7. Wash your fruits and vegetables in a pan of water instead of running water from the tap
8. When washing dishes by hand, don’t let the water run. Fill one basin, with wash water and the other with rinse water. Or better yet  containers, so you can use the water to give your plants when done.
9. Run the dishwasher only when there is a full load. Or better yet, use paper plates. When done, toss paper plates into compost pile.
10. Use gray water to water plants. This is a biggie! Even with a water softener I've been using our gray water. The plants seem to be doing fine. Once a month I water to leach out the salts.

In the Bathroom

1. Turn water off when brushing teeth or shaving. Save: Approximately 10 Gallons/Day
2. When washing your hands, turn the water off while you lather.
3. Install low-flow showerheads. Save: 2.5 Gallons
4. Take five-minute showers instead of 10 minute showers.
Save: 12.5 gallons with a low flow showerhead, 25 gallons with a standard 5.0 gallon per minute showerhead.
5. Put a bucket in the shower with you to catch spare water. Use to water plants
6. Turn off the water while washing your hair. Save: Up to 150 gallons a month
7. Washing dark clothes in cold water saves water and energy, and helps your clothes retain their color.
8. Use the washing machine for full loads only to save water and energy.

Outside/Garden

1. Water early in the morning or later in the evening when temperatures are cooler. Save: 25 gallons/each time you water
2. Invest in a water broom which attaches to your hose but uses a combination of air and water pressure to aid cleaning. Water brooms can use as little as 2.8 gallons per minute (gpm) to remove dirt, food spills, leaves, and litter from concrete and asphalt while a standard hose typically uses 5 to 20 gpm.
3. Water deeply but less frequently to create healthier and stronger landscapes.
4. Don’t overwater – learn more about evapotranspiration (ET) to understand how much water your landscaping really needs.
5. Choose a water-efficient irrigation system such as drip irrigation for your trees, shrubs, and flowers. Remember to turn it off when it rains. Save: 15 gallons/each time you water
6. Check your sprinkler system frequently and adjust sprinklers so only your lawn is watered and not the house, sidewalk, or street.  Save: 15-12 gallons/each time you water
7. Use a broom to clean driveways, sidewalks and patios.
Save: 8-18 gallons /minute
8. Plant drought-resistant trees and plants. Save: 30- 60 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.
9. Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants to reduce evaporation and keep the soil cool. Organic mulch also improves the soil and prevents weeds. Save: 20-30 gallons/each time you water/1,000 sq. ft.

Let's all do our part to make it through this devastating drought!

US Drought Monitor

Quench Your Thirst and Give Your Water a Kick! #infuserwaterbottle

I drink a lot of infused water during the Summer.

Why?

Because I'm trying to get my healthy back

and stay away from soda.

Let's face it, water can get pretty flat tasting
after a while.

I do OK at home, but when I'm out and about,

that large $1 soda from Micky D's calls to me... LOUD!

I was contacted by Big Easy Brands and asked to review their

 FlavFusion 25 oz. Infuser Water Bottle

with Locking Flip Top Lid.

I nearly flipped my lid.

Perfect for on the go!

Make your own Delicious and

Refreshing Fruit Flavored Beverages.  

Fill with water, cut up some of your favorite fruit,
pop it in and your ready for the road!

I had Nectarines on hand so in they went!

Strawberries, Raspberries, Pineapple,
Lemons, Limes, etc. Cucumbers are also great.
Close the Lid, Shake and ENJOY!
Leave it in the refrigerator overnight
for an Intensified Infusion!

I really like that it is made of
 Triton Plastic which is BPA free. 

 It features a flip top sipper lid for easy drinking,

 with a locking feature that means no more spills.

It fits nicely in my van's cup holder.  The bottle has a large opening for easy filling and cleaning. The loop at the top provides a great way to carry it.  My hands seem to be always full, using the loop at the top I can grab it with just a finger and go.

 And you know what?
When my drink is gone, I open it up and snack on the fruit...
my tummy gets grumbly when I don't have time for lunch ;)

You can find Big Easy Brands
 FlavFusion 25oz. Infuser Water Bottle
with Locking Flip Top Lid
On Amazon.
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free or a discounted price from Big Easy Brands. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Keeping Your Jewelry Sparkly Clean



I have a guest post today!

I am so pleased to present to you Anna Aamone.

She currently runs a small company 

Domestic Cleaners Abbey Wood 
in London, England

and loves to share her experience.

Today she is sharing with us how to make our own

 Natural Jewelry Cleaner. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Effective Natural Jewelry Cleaner Recipe

It is great that the market offers such big variety of cleaning products for the home. When it comes to the jewelry, however, it can be really hard to find an effective product or method for cleaning. No matter from what kind of material your precious possessions are made, they also need special care from time to time. There are people who prefer to wear rings, necklaces and earrings all the time, which will inevitably lead to the appearing of unpleasant spots on the surface of the jewelry. Instead of wasting money for professional cleaning, you can just take care of this task yourself. There are different effective recipes you could try, which require only natural ingredients and will certainly give good results.



source

If you want your jewelry to be always sparkling clean, you will have to start paying more attention to the cleaning. It is easy to forget about your jewelry when you are wearing it all the time. You will need to get used to the cleaning of those objects, the same way you got used to the disinfection of the different areas of your home. This will guarantee the good looks of your jewelry and you won't have to worry about the appearing of any dark spots in the future.

 

Here are several useful recipes for a natural cleaner, which will definitely work.

• Baking soda and hot water – Baking Soda can help clean pretty much everything in your home, not just your rings, earrings and other jewelry. Baking Soda is a natural but powerful cleaner and does not scratch surfaces. This makes it the perfect cleaner for the sink, the toilet, the tub and every other similar surface you can think of.  As for your jewelry, you can put one or two teaspoons of baking soda in a cup and add hot water.  Then add your silver necklaces, rings, bracelets and other jewelry. Leave them soak for a couple of hours. After that all you have to do is rinse them thoroughly and they will be like new.

• Cleaning with white vinegar – White vinegar is another great product, which can be used for the effective disinfection of all parts of the home and of your jewelry as well. Place your rings and other jewelry in a jar and then pour several drops of white Vinegar and one of Tea Tree Oil. These two combined make the perfect disinfectant. Close the jar and leave  overnight. The next morning you can rinse them with cold water. Before you remove your jewelry from the jar, check if something is floating in the liquid (body oils). This is a clear proof that the recipe worked.

• Dishwashing liquid and salt – For this recipe you will also need water, which you can heat up in the microwave. In a small bowl add the jewelry you want to clean. Add a little baking soda, salt and dishwashing liquid. You can leave the jewelry in there for five or ten minutes, then thoroughly rinse with cold water.

It is very easy to keep your jewelry always sparkling clean. It is simply enough to do one of the previously mentioned natural cleaning recipes every few weeks and you won't have to worry about your special possessions at all. As you can see, you don't need expensive cleaning products which are filled with dangerous chemicals. By mixing several natural and safe ingredients you will be able to achieve excellent results, which will last for a long period of time. Don't wait any more and start organizing your jewelry box to see which objects need to be cleaned immediately.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Thank you so much Anna for sharing all these wonderful homemade solutions with us!



Interview with Home Improvement Blogger Deb Newton

I was recently interviewed by Danielle Lehman from

 Floor Coverings International.

Thank you Danielle, I'm honored. 

~*~*~*~*~*~*

At Floor Coverings International of Winter Garden, we love bringing you creative insight and new perspectives. Today we have an interview with Deb Newton, home improvement blogger at Dragonfly Treasure.

1. Please tell us a little about yourself.

I have always loved to make things. Growing up I used my imagination to create things for entertainment. Living on a farm far from any other children, my friends were the animals. Daisy crowns for the Cows, Berry Bracelets for the Chickens, even a collection of empty snail shells from the garden, decorated and painted with nail polish.

I love taking items and re-purposing them in new ways. I probably get this from my Dad. If he needed a tool for example, he made it from what he had. Up-cycling is environmentally friendly and endless fun to me. I’m a big DIY’er. I adore anything old and try to incorporate it into something useful for my home or garden.

2. Why did you decide to start a blog?

At first it was to connect with people through like minded interests; gardening, treasure hunting, crafting, etc. Then it became a way to keep my spread out family up to date on my families happenings. It has changed over the years to reviewing products for companies, but is still peppered with the above.

What do you enjoy about blogging?

It has become a sort of therapy for me. Recently I went through a life changing event, which can leave you feeling like no one else could possibly understand. Being able to talk to others, who have been through a similar event, gave me the opportunity to glean from their experience, which can be invaluable.

3. How would you describe your design style?

My home is Vintage Eclectic Cottage, is that even a style? LOL I am lucky to have items from my parents and grandparents that I incorporate with more current, but comfortable Cottage styles. Any item, be it furniture or accessory has to make me smile or it’s not welcome. I need to be able to walk through my front door and smile that I’m home.

4. Where do you find most of your inspiration?

Pre-Pinterest – I try to look at things differently. It may take a while but eventually it comes to me.  What to do with that ugly thing I just new I could make beautiful, I picked from a garage sale!   I like to make something out of nothing. Grab a bunch of odds and ends, found items, whatever and sit down and create something marvelous. AND I do love magazines! which can give me more ideas in my head than I have time to make.

Since Pinterest started, I’m on inspiration overload! Addicted? Most definitely!

5. Tell us about a recent project you’re proud of.

I’m torn between two. Basically the same technique but one done outside, the other inside.

I painted faux brick on my front walkway. I mixed all the reds, browns, oranges and like colors from my craft paints to get the color I wanted. It had to be close to the old mismatched brick I hauled from the farm, that I lined my front gardens with. I used a sponge to stamp a brick pattern onto the cement and sealed it. I love the crooked way it turned out! Just like my crooked lined gardens.

The other project was to paint my cement floor in my bedroom. I chose white and when it was done it looked plain. I decided to find an image I liked and used my Dad’s old carbon copy paper to use to trace it on. I then used felt tip pens, nail polish, paint, and whatever else I had on hand to color the design. It was then also sealed.  The design I chose describes what I’m currently going through.  Dandelion seeds floating on the breeze that turn into birds.  I am currently learning “to fly free.”

Find more from Deb on her blog at Dragonfly Treasure.

**************

20 Common Household Odors and How to Remove Them Fast

Farm Junk



 Farmers of South Dakota,

if you see John Lopez going through your garbage,

please let him continue to do so.

In his hands, what was unfixable or

unwanted to you becomes art.

Not just any art, though.

Big, striking sculptures that celebrate the American Old West.

 The kind of stuff you’d probably like!
 At the very least, you’ll be impressed by his work.

Who wouldn’t be?

Take a look for yourself

(even if you’re
not a farmer from South Dakota)!

  

BBQ Time! How To Keep Your Grill Clean #AlphaGrillers



Summer time is here!

For me that means a whole lot of BBQ'ing and fun times!

But I always hate "the cleaning of the grill".

 I've had BBQ grill brushes in the past, but they didn't do a very good job. It was hard to get between the bars on the grate.

It often left a lot of bits behind and the brush bristles gunked up.  Needless to say they never lasted very long.

Well not any more!  

Introducing Alpha Grillers Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush.

I was excited to review this grill brush when asked

 because I hoped it would solve the past problems and actually get my grill clean after cooking.

This grill brush features:

''-18 inches long
- Stainless steel bristles
- Heavy duty
- Safe for all grill types
- Bonus ebook included

Looking for a New Grill Brush But Want to Avoid These Common Problems?

- Flimsy shaft bends under pressure..
- Bristles quickly flatten down and gum up with grease..
- Leaves scratch mark on your delicate porcelain coated grates..
- Burn hands when cleaning because the handle's too short..
- Can't clean between the rods and along the sides..

All these issues can be avoided with 

Alpha Grillers BBQ Grill Brush, The Best Grill Brush on The Market:

- Strong plastic reinforced twisted wire shaft that will not bend under pressure
- Stiff stainless steel bristles than won't flatten - much stiffer than brass
- Safe for use with porcelain coated grills grates. Won't scratch your Weber grill
- Long handle (18"): perfect length to keep your hand away from the heat without losing pressure and control
- Innovative spiral bristle design allows you to easily clean edges, corners and deep between the grates

So what's so good about the spiral design?

The bristles in most brushes point in the same direction. This means they can only be held horizontally.
With the Alpha Grillers brush, bristles point in all directions so you can hold it at any angle and easily clean
all parts of the grate.



Before you can clean your grill you need to get it dirty right?

Well to help you manage that we are including a FREE DOWNLOADABLE E-BOOK full of delicious and easy

 to prepare BBQ recipes!
To make it even more of a no brainer, buy today and you will receive our 1 YEAR 100% MONEY BACK GUARANTEE.''

The Alpha Grillers Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush. 

did as promised. I followed the directions that were easy peasy!

After turning the grill off, while it was still hot I sprayed the grill with water from a squirt bottle. I scrubbed back and forth in the same direction as the bars. The water created steam when hitting the bars which made the scrubbing easier and totally cleaned my grill!

Before

After

It was amazing to see the sides cleaned as well as the top.

Then to clean the brush I brought it into the kitchen and washed/swished it around in hot soapy water 

 

And it cleaned up in no time.

Look how clean it got!

Such an easy solution to something I hated to do!

I do have to warn you, the bristles are sharp so be careful

and only hold it by the handle.

You can find Alpha Grillers

Stainless Steel BBQ Grill Brush on Amazon. 

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free or a discounted price from Alpha Grillers . Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

Boost Your Nutrition Intake with #AztecGold Chia Seeds

I love Chia Seeds!

So when I was asked to review Aztec Gold Chia Seeds I was excited and intrigued. I've only eaten one brand of Chia Seeds.

So I was anxious to compare the two.



Chia Seeds have become the new hot topic for health, due to their exceptional nutritional value....

- Higher than flax seeds in OMEGA-3 & 6 essential fatty acids
- Provides 18 amino acids including Lysine and Arginine
- Helps with skin and scalp care because it is a source of Proline, the major constituent of COLLAGEN.
- Great source of Calcium, Magnesium, Potassium, and Phosphorus, plus the trace elements Zinc, Copper, Manganese, Iron, Boron and Strontium.

Here's a great article on 7 Health Benefits of Chia Seeds

Aztec Gold is a premium source of Chia  - they supply straight from the farm manufacturer and offer these benefits versus other brands:

Proprietary cleaning process

- we reject 70% of all seeds delivered to factory
- 99.99% pure
- Only the cleanest handling and shipping container procedures
 Fully Certified – each lot is lab certified so you get repeatable, high quality Chia seeds 

- ISO 9001:2008
- Certified Kosher
- One of the only Chia manufacturers with BRC Global Standard for Food Safety Certification
- Each individual shipment is tested by an accredited US laboratory before it is released from their facility.
 Product of the original and premier Chia growing region – Jalisco, Mexico

-  High altitude, rich climate and red soil – the best combination for high quality Chia
-  Direct from farm source– packaged where it is grown
-  North American local – not sent via sea so no salt water contamination
-  Optimum grain size – minimal seed discoloration



Not only did Aztec Gold Chia Seeds surpass the Chia seeds

 I have been eating with their premium benefits,

 but they tasted much fresher too.

They come in small packages,

 since you use them up quicker

than larger bags they don't go stale.



I have yogurt for breakfast each morning

with Chia Seeds sprinkled in.

Just mix them up and your good to go.

YUM!

I like the texture and crunchiness they add.

I also like them sprinkled on salads, just about anything really.

A more natural way to boost your nutrition intake than pills.

The smaller packets are convenient to slip into your purse

if you'd like to add some while eating out.

You can find Aztec Gold Chia Seeds

on their website.

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free or a discounted price from Minimus.biz . Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

#reachergrabber Reach it Grab it - reacher grabber pick stick Review

Reacher Grabber Pickup Tool

I was excited to be chosen to review this product.

I'm 5' and have trouble reaching just about anything above the lower shelf of my kitchen cabinets.

 I even teeter over the side of the washer

to grab that last piece of clothing!

At the store? Well, I climb the shelves to

get the item I'm looking for,

which seems to almost always on the top shelf! LOL

But most of all I wanted my daughter to have this.

She has been diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis

and it's very painful for her to bend over to pick things up.

She loves it!

The  Reacher Grabber Pickup Tool has been a Godsend.

It works flawlessly for her.

It's easy to operate with the strong

grip handle.

The swivel head makes it so easy to

pick up items in tight spaces.

This product is a lifesaver for someone

who has difficulty reaching or bending.

It's construction is very durable

and can easily pick up large to small items.  

The non-slip jaws are simply amazing!

You can even pick up coins you've dropped on the floor!

Between the two of us, I'm definitely

 going to need to buy one for me :)

Product Description



The secret to eliminating hand, arm, back and knee strain... Finding it a struggle to reach, stretch and bend? If simple tasks are no longer so easy 'Reach it Grab it' is the perfect solution. It's firm and accurate grip, allows you to pick almost anything, in fact its so accurate it can pick up a cent!

The best multi-purpose reacher grabber that gives you the easy way to pick up and clean up!
• Easy to use, perfect for the old and young
• Strong grip with and non-slip jaws
• Reliable smooth mechanism made from high quality precision components
• Sturdy construction for years of happy grabbing
• Easy to use ergonomic design

Benefits of 'Reach it Grab it' 
• Improves quality of life for people with back pain including spinal injuries, arthritis, knee, hip and joint pain that would otherwise be too difficult or too painful.
• Picking up objects dropped/lost in tight spaces can be difficult even when using a normal reaching aid. Our 'Reach it Grab it' has a swivel head, that offers a full 90 degree turning angle, almost anywhere is accessible.
• High grade aluminum construction means that it won't rust, making it suitable for all outdoors work including removing pond debris and litter picking.



You can find the Reach it Grab it 

 on their website or on Amazon     

I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free or a discounted price from Calibre Products. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.