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Happy April Fools Day! The best of the day.
After starting off by offering the classic game Snake on Google Maps over the weekend, it’s now claiming to have a physical Screen Cleaner feature in the Files app that uses software to identify dirt and smudges and magically clean your phone. It then creates a “long-lasting non-stick shield” on the surface of your phone. (source: The Verge)
Yeah, this is IGN's own April Fools' prank for 2019, but we think it's pretty great. See everything coming to Switch in the video below. (source: IGN)
Wayfair had fun with a new link on their site as a wedding registry for dogs. No, not a real thing. Yes, they put a lot into making this look completely legit.
NEW YORK (Apr. 1, 2019) – Muuna, an award-winning cottage cheese brand, fully embraces the plant-forward dairy trend by introducing its newest flavor, Muuna Cannabis Cottage Cheese. This new limited-edition variety, using milk from grass-fed cows, is available in Muuna’s distinct snack-sized, single-serve cup starting today. (source: Muuna)
No ‘pagne no gain, isn’t that what they say about beauty? We’re talking add some bubbly to your routine! So, before you pour the rest of that bottle of Champagne down the hatch because we don’t waste the good champagne… DON’T. Champagne contains resveratrol, a potent plant compound found in grapes that is said to be the antioxidant behind clear toned skin and eternal youth? And gummy bears contain collagen, an essential protein that plumps the skin and fights fine lines. Put them together and whad’ya get? Champagne-infused gummy bears, which might just be the answer to all our perfect, dewy, youthful skin prayers! (source: Sugarfina)
You can Taste the Fun with your favorite flavor of Dippin' Dots ice cream, and now you can Smell the Fun with NEW Dippin' Dots deodorant! It starts out colorful, and stays cool! Dippin' Dots deodorant comes in three delicious smelling scents: Bubble Gum, Strawberry, and Cotton Candy. Dippin' Dots deodorant is now available in stores nationwide, so grab your favorite scent today and Smell the Fun! (source: DippinDots)
I could go on and on with the number of funny things I saw on the net today. Just hoping you enjoyed these.
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Sending home lunches to school with your kids or to work with your spouse is wise for budget purposes and wise for nutritional purposes.
But what do you use to send those lunches in. A flimsy pouch or paper bag?
Time to send lunches in lunch boxes you can trust for quality, and wonderful designs. One of my pet peeves is a compartment lunch box/Bento box with compartments that leak into each other. I also have a pet peeve of the lunch "bags" that collapse and smash the contents so that they are barely recognizable.
In searching for the lunch boxes, I found a company (finally) that is sturdy, the compartments don't leak, and the box is sturdy and won't smash the contents. With Bizz Travel Bento Box lunch boxes, they also come with utensils, and can be used in the microwave. The tray is also safe in the dishwasher. They come in a 2 packs. These awesome lunch boxes are reusable and BPA free. 
The larger option is great as well. Actually, it's my favorite. There is a clear separation between the compartments that doesn't leak. It also comes with a spoon. These are the lunch boxes that I use for meal planning, being on the Keto diet and they work awesomely.
Above shows the actual size of the larger lunch boxes. I love these lunch boxes!
There are other lovely items available from BIZZ and they are awesome! I love the quality and the variety. I am so impressed with these lunch boxes that they have become my staple containers for meal planning. Check out all of the lovely items that BIZZ sent me in the video below.
For a while now, I have wanted to update my powder room. Years and years ago, I painted this little room navy. Here's the before and after, the process and what I did.  Here's where I started. It's a dark color, but at time, it was a fun thing to try with very little risk. It was a fun color and I did it on a whim.  I was also playing with poster prints and some pieces that I distressed myself. So, I had to first take those items down. and get them stored. I also had to patch the walls.  I picked a paint...really just picked one on the spot. It has primer and color in one and really good coverage. Going with the lighter choice seems like the refreshing option.  Next, I took off the light switch cover, and the outlet cover, as well as the towel rack.  The first thing I painted was around the edges with a paint brush. I also painted the smaller nooks and crannies.   The next step was of course painting the rest of the bathroom. It did take two coats, but it is so worth it. What a refreshing color. Just enough color for there to be a contrast with the trim. A note on the cabinets, I will be painting them white at some point, but not during this month.  I then touched up the trim. It needed it.  I bought 2 eight foot long primed MDF boards from Home Depot to frame the mirror. No, the angles were not pre-cut. My husband (who is amazing) cut the pieces (approx. 42") and did the angles perfectly.  After cleaning the mirror and making sure it was dry, I secured the first piece of the frame on the bottom of the mirror with liquid nails.  Next, I secured another section, this time one of the side pieces. I made sure that the angles were tight together. I pressed again on the bottom piece so that it would continue to dry as close to the mirror as possible. I then repeated those steps on the right side and the top. Once the pieces were secure, I used a clear seal across the seams. To do this, I added the seal in a small line, and then moved it with my finger. My finger was moistened, by-the-way.  While the mirror finished setting and the sealant set, I taped around the frame so that I could paint it. A note on the paint, I painted the inner edges (including the edges of the under side) prior to installation so that the reflection of that part of the underside would look finished.  As far as the paint choice, I used the same paint as I used on the trim so that the contrast would match.  For this project, I got some stick-on tile from Mosaic Tile Outlet online. I took measurements and then started to secure the sheets of tile to the clean wall.  I ordered 15 sq ft for this job, which wound up being perfect. At first, I was installing the sheets one-by-one and it was somewhat hard to line them up properly using this method. So, after the first row, I fit the sheets together with the measurements I made. There are areas that overlap and that makes it super easy to do. mosaic tile outlet I cut out measured areas for the outlet and the towel rack (super easy to do).  I used a rag to push down the sheets so that they attached well to the wall. I also used the handle end of a screw driver along the outer edge to secure the sheets so that there would be a seal.  Framing the mirror really made the powder room so much more finished, but the tile really gave the room the pop I was after. Here are the before and after shots side-by-side. Pretty dramatic! mosaic tile outlet
Leave it to me to be given a product to collaborate on and turn that collaboration into a project that encompasses an entire room. Here's the product, the project, and the before and afters.
I'll show you the product I built this project around in a minute.
First, let me show you a couple of "before" shots. I had not yet gotten around to redecorating following the holidays. It really needed to be refreshed. I had new picture shelves and some other new items that I received as Christmas gifts, but had not yet used them to redecorate. 
Pretty boring. Nothing hung on the walls. No character or interest on the mantle. Definitely not the way I like things.
The item I received is from Coastal Faith, a GORGEOUS Reclaimed Wood Succulent Candle Display (SHOWN BELOW, candles not included). 
Of course, when I received this gorgeous planter, I had to make it a focal point of the room. So, it needed to be on the mantle.
Piece by piece, my mind started going through various scenarios of how I should layout the room. How much should I put on the walls? Which pieces should I show? But first, I had to patch the walls where nails had been and touch up the paint. Not a hard job, but one that needed to be done. 
Next, the question was roaming through this rather large head of mine...should I repaint the mirror's frame? It's not exactly farmhouse. But, neither is the fireplace mantle, or the media center. There had to be some way to tie the various styles together.
I already had all of the pieces I would need to pull the room together. However, I had to be selective because I didn't want it to look like I threw up decor. I wanted it to look like I carefully curated the decor and painstakingly placed it in specific locations. Plus, I have turned into a kind of a minimalist, so there's that.
First, where should I place the clock? I really didn't want to add it to the wall. I didn't think it would look good to the side of the mirror. Where would it look good? Hanging in front of the mirror! Yes! There had to be some way to do this without taking down this huge mirror and without having a cable hanging down over the mirror. Solution! I found some "Contact" Velcro hangers. I was able to hang this right on the front of the mirror. Now, I had a floating clock! Brilliant!! 
Next, I laid all of the other components out on the floor to evaluate the layout for the wall above the love seat. This way, I could envision the way and make as many changes as I wanted before installing.
I have some pretty, antique books that I placed over on the right side of the mantle, along with a small apothecary that I filled with natural twisted balls and painted natural items that I had on hand. I made sure to include natural browns, grays, and some pieces with pinks and burgundy colors.
Also added are the three candles on the item by Coastal Faith. I did purchase them, from Walmart. They smell like jasmine and vanilla...yum! 
Now that the mantle is complete, the rest of the room looks like a disaster. So, time to get that whipped into shape.
To better envision the placement of the decor on my wall to the left of the mantle, I did some measurements and then used sticky notes...yes sticky notes...to show where the items would be placed. That way, I could stand back and visualize it more clearly. 
Next, I placed light markings with pencil to show where to drill for the shelves and where to place each piece of decor. This way, I could wipe down the wall after I was finished installing, but actually have a plan so that hardware wasn't placed unnecessarily, wiping out the work I had done to patch and paint the wall.
Then, I anchored the shelves and installed them, and placed each item as planned.
One piece that I was particularly excited to install is this shadow box. I received it as a Christmas gift, and asked for it to display something very dear.
This little song book was my husband's grandmother's. We were able to take possession of it after she passed away many years ago. I have had it covered up, in a safe place, waiting to figure out where to put it. Now we have it protected, but on display. Wonderful!
Through this process, I realize that I need to get some large portraits printed of my family. We have recent ones, but they are all digital. So, that is a future project (like I need more of those).
Actually, I have another project that will be complete by the middle of this week, and revolves around some more collaboration products. This house is getting whipped into shape and I love it!
Ah the joys of winter. The fresh snow. The enclosed, tight spaces. The runny noses. The coughing. The sneezing. Etc. Etc.
How do you keep your home germ free? Pretty impossible. In our house, I have a compromised immune system due to late-stage Lyme disease. So, I take extra special care to keep things super clean and as germ free as possible. 
Surfaces of every kind in my home are cleaned nearly daily. I am kind of a neat freak, kind of anal about clean. But, it generally pays off.
When spring comes, I will be opening up the doors and the windows and getting outside in the fresh air. Meanwhile, I am sick and tired of being sick and tired. Good news/bad news, I have had family sick and at home with me...not that I wish that on anyone.
Okay everyone. Have you started on the cleaning schedule challenge?
You should be recording what you do and what you need to do (that you may not be doing), and composing a schedule that works with your available time.
Refer to this post HERE for all of the deets.
Sound. There's nothing like good sound. Whether you are playing video games, watching a RedBox movie, or watching sports, if there isn't as much entertainment if the sound quality isn't good.
Entertainment deserves good sound. A good soundbar will enhance your entertainment experience exponentially.
A good bass sound. The ability to hear vocals, dialogue. Good sound effects. Surround sound. 
A good aesthetic is also important. If the speaker doesn't look good, you won't want it displayed. This WoHome Soundbar is mountable (comes with mounting kit), or you can place it on your entertainment furniture.
This speaker is a 38" long soundbar, which is perfect for a 40" or larger TV. It can be used as a bluetooth speaker or connected through cables, and has an easy to use remote. 
Four sound modes.
Bluetooth range is approximately 30 feet. Remote control range is 16 feet. Unfortunately, this soundbar is not compatible with the TV remote or the universal remote. That is definitely a downside. The sound is great. The look is great. I love a good soundbar. It's one of the things I love about entertainment. Looking for a good soundbar? WoHomeShop.com is a great place to obtain the sound you need.
Note: This is the review of the WoHome Soundbar with sub woofer, a product I was gifted for a review. The information is about their product and my opinion on that product is my own.
So, you are probably thinking...Valentine's Day gifting ideas with a cooler?!
Oh yes! This is not just an ordinary cooler. This is a Kelvin Cooler. It's a backpack cooler that is so well made and versatile that you can use it for so many things. 
First, here is a list of the magical features.
Seriously, this is so well made. The feel of the zippers, the feel of the seams, the strength of the straps. Really so well made.
Now for the ideas for gift giving this Valentine's Day. Kelvin Coolers can be used for all kinds of gift giving. 
Baby Take A Hike...With Me
Include:
Smoochin' S'mores
Include:
SweetHeart
Include:
Let's Stay In
Include:
Beautiful As A Rose
Include:
Let's Stay Warm Together
Include:
Sophisticated Romantic
Include:
This week's challenge is cleaning, decluttering, and organizing your kitchen cupboards.
Details HERE 
Have you gotten to the declutter challenge yet? Yes. The pantry. You have only 1 more day to get it done by the challenge deadline.
I finished mine and found an awesome app that I used to inventory all of the items in said pantry. See the before and after pictures here. Also, see my screenshot of the Pantry Check app. I'll be using this for my cupboards and my cold storage in the basement, as well as fridge. It is going to be key in planning my meals and in saving money by knowing what I already have so that I can plan my meals around those items. 
Above, see the screenshot of the Pantry Check app. I was able to set up areas so that I will know where the items are (pantry, cupboard, basement, etc.) This app will let me know when I am out of something, as well as when things expire (I think;)
Above is my before picture. Things have just gotten out of control with it having been almost 8 months since I had done a reorganize and clean of my pantry. Pretty embarrassing.
This above picture is the after. I have items on the top shelf that we don't have to get to all of the time, and items on the floor that are super heavy. Otherwise, I have it all in alphabetical order with labels on the shelves. It starts with baking, then beans, then bread, breakfast, broth, etc. It works well. I think I will still work on it a little more, but for this go around, my project is complete.
I deep cleaned the shelves and the floor, so it's all in good shape. This time round, I only had one small garbage bag full, so I figured we have been doing better at rotating the food and using what we have. This is how we save money.
Now get on your pantry to get that project out of the way so you can move onto the next project with me. |
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