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26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life

26 Tips and Tricks To Simplify Life
I have been collecting all kinds of clever tips to make life just a little bit more simple. Here are some of my favs! 1. 10. 19. Simple Lemon water. Want to be eco-friendly but not have to mess with cloth diapers? More From New Nostalgia:

How to Make Homemade Peppermint Extract Part of the reason that I decided to grow mint this year was so that I could try making my own peppermint extract. Jesse and I are pretty much obsessed with mint (especially mint plus chocolate) so we go through a lot of mint extract. Even though I buy my extracts through Azure Standard, they’re not exactly cheap, so making my own seemed like a great way to save some money. I finally got down to it last weekend. The extract has only been sitting for a few days so far so I can’t tell you how it came out, but I wanted to share the method now in case anyone else has an abundance of mint just begging to be used for something. How to Make Peppermint Extract I did a quick Google search and found a multitude of recipes, all of which followed the same basic outline. Harvest a bunch of mint leaves from your mint plant. Harvested mint leaves Remove mint leaves from stalks (if applicable) and pack leaves into a measuring cup to determine how much mint you have. Mint leaves ready to be rinsed

My Cleaning Process and a $500 Give Away! I get a lot of emails asking about my cleaning schedule after I wrote about my typical day on Joanna's blog. I truly do not love cleaning, but I know that I'm so much happier with life when my house is clean. Don't you feel the same way? A couple years ago, right after I had Claire and when Gracie was old enough to really start doing some damage, I was feeling like I would never have a clean house again. Then one time I was visiting a friend's house who had three rambunctious toddler boys. I copied her chart and have been using a slightly tweaked version ever since. It looks like a lot, but I think even on the most intense days I'm only spending 30 or 40 minutes in aggregate cleaning (though we live in a 1500 sq ft apartment, so your home might require a little more time). So the basic idea is this: there are daily chores - easy things you should take care of almost habitually in the morning and in the night, and then there is a single special chore of the day.

Homemade Vanilla Extract I love the scent of vanilla in anything from candles to soap and the flavor of vanilla in baked goods and desserts is second to none. If a recipe calls for one teaspoon vanilla extract, I use at least two; but likely more and use a slow, heavy hand when pouring. All that pouring makes my food taste amazing but my wallet doesn’t like it. Storebought real vanilla extract is pricey and I can make extremely fast work of a two- or four-ounce bottle that sells for $8.99 to $10.99, and up. Homemade vanilla extract saves money and even if it didn’t, when it comes to taste and flavor, there is just no comparison. The only thing special that’s required when making vanilla extract is patience. To make vanilla extract you need vanilla beans. When selecting beans, they should be soft, pliable, tender, and flexible. Next, you need alcohol (at least 35% by volume) in order to extract the vanilla from the vanilla beans, thus the name, vanilla extract. Ingredients: 5 vanilla beans, split lengthwise Notes

Homemade Fabric Softener (DIY) - $.01/Load! If there is one thing I hate buying, it's fabric softener! I will admit, because the lack of great sales I find on it, I rarely use it! I love to use it though, so I had to come up with a Plan B! Homemade Fabric Softener! I was excited when I found a recipe for homemade liquid fabric softener, especially when I read the main ingredient: hair conditioner! Items you will need: (2) cups of hair conditioner (3) cups of distilled white vinegar (6) cups boiling water (1) Mixing utensil (1) Bucket/Pail/Pot (1) Empty Bottle (I used an old clean bleach container) First of all, you will notice in my picture I only have a 12oz bottle of conditioner! STEP 1. STEP 2. STEP 3. STEP 4. This whole process took me about 4 minutes! Instructograph Version of (DIY) Homemade Fabric Softener Softener Back in the day (read: 1800's), doing one's laundry means walking to the nearest riverside, while lugging around the clothes, the good 'ol washboard and the washing bat.

Make Your Own Reusable Peppermint Kitchen Wipes In case you haven’t noticed, I really LOVE making my own homemade cleaning products. ;-) It’s just so comforting to know EXACTLY what is in the products I’m spreading around my home, and I get a thrill knowing how much time and money I’m saving as well! The Environmental Protection Agency cites artificial fragrances in cleaning products as an indoor irritant and pollutant. A single fragrance can include as many as 600 petrochemicals—all within the word “fragrance” on the label. The more I learn about, and experiment with, natural cleaning products (such as baking soda, castile soap, vinegar, etc.) the more I am convinced there really is no need to buy any of the expensive brand names that line the shelves of the cleaning aisle at your grocery store. The good old fashioned stuff our grandmothers and great grandmothers used is EFFECTIVE! Period. Pairing these natural cleaners with essential oils only enhances their cleaning value and leaves behind a pleasant, natural scent.

Homemade Liquid Dish Soap A lot of people seemed to be having problems with the original recipe I posted that I found on another blog. So I did some tweaking and the new results are much much better!! Plus it’s organic and antibacterial! Can’t get much better than that! The total cost for 32 oz of homemade dish soap was about $1.20. Homemade Liquid Dish Soap Ingredients: 1/2 cup grated soap (I used Dr. Directions: Grate bar of soap. Side note: I used the citrus kind for the smell and because citrus helps cut grease! Thats it!!! This recipe will not create lots of bubbles! Are you as excited about this recipe as I am???? I party here…

DIY Naturally Scented All-Purpose Citrus Vinegar Cleaners I've been on a quest to rid our home of toxic chemicals for both health and environmental reasons. Did you know? According to the Environmental Protection Agency, indoor air can be 10 times to 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. One of the culprits is common household cleaners emitting toxic fumes. UGH! After my recent post about using fruit, herbs, and spices for making natural home fragrances, it occurred to me that I could use some of those same scent combinations for making natural cleaners with vinegar. These scented cleaners don't completely eliminate the vinegar scent when first sprayed. THESE MAKE COOL, INEXPENSIVE GIFTS. HOW TO MAKE NATURAL CLEANERSwith vinegar, citrus, herbs, and spices Assemble these ingredients: view on Amazon: essential oils, bulk pricing on cinnamon sticks, whole cloves Assemble these supplies: Jars or other sealable containers. view on Amazon:half gallon mason jars, quart mason jars, spray bottles,jar funnel, mason jar lid strainer, wire mesh strainer 1.

* Maria's Self *: DIY Toilet Bombs - Deodorize & Kill Bacteria! Just Drop One in the Bowl;-))) Remember I told you in my previous post that the next product in my store will be an "outside the box" one? Well, you've been warned;-))) I came up with the idea of Toilet Bombs a few months ago. At first I thought it would be embarrassing to make a post about them but I fell so much in love with these toilet bombs that I just HAD to share the idea with you - I'm seriously addicted! When I drop them in the toilet bowl they start fizzing (= exploding;-) and not only do they smell amazing they also deodorize, kill the bacteria (including the odor-causing ones!) WHAT I USE: (for approx. 24 bombs) --1 1/3 cup Baking Soda - amazing for all-natural cleaning AND deodorizing! --1/2 cup Citric Acid - (low-strength acid that exists naturally in fruits like lemons & oranges) - used in many kitchen & bathroom cleaners for its cleaning, whitening & deodorizing properties *** All three oils I use have great antimicrobial properties and kill odor-causing bacteria PLUS this combo smells heavenly!!!

MAD IN CRAFTS: Stenciled Watercolors (for People Who Can’t Paint) I love abstract floral watercolors. I think they are so lovely and soft, but they also have a graphic punch. I tried to recreate that look with the watercolor curtains in my daughter’s bedroom, and I wanted some artwork to match. To make Stenciled Watercolor Paintings, you will need: Some of the following links are affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you choose to make a purchase after clicking through. watercolor paper watercolor paints (mine were kids paints from the dollar store!) paintbrush small bowl of water stencils stencil adhesive It’s important to use watercolor paper for this project. Add in more colors, using the water to blend them together. Remove the stencil and admire your artistry. When I say that this tutorial is for anyone who can hold a paintbrush, I mean it. The more colors used, the better. These make beautiful place cards or greeting cards too, just fold the paper in half. Look how pretty the prints look matted and framed! Did you like this post?

Making Glow Jars | The Gold Jellybean Yesterday Sydney and I had a major art and craft day, and also experimented with making glow jars. They have been floating around Pinterest for awhile now and look like so much fun! However, there is one tutorial that frustrates me. The image is clearly Photoshopped, and I think it’s very misleading. So, I decided to make a couple of our own jars so we can share our experience and method with you. You will need a glass jar, glow sticks (I picked some up from the dollar store), rubber gloves to protect your hands, scissors, I recommend protective eyewear, and a piece of tulle (optional). If you are using the tulle, cut a piece slightly larger than the jar, and place inside. Now, put on those rubber gloves. Next, stir and shake the cut glow stick around inside your jar. Once you have the desired amount of glow material in your jar, replace the lid and shake it up. Here are all three jars we made. Now turn off the lights and watch them glow! And here is the jar with the white tulle.

DIY Natural Room Scents Don't miss my follow-up post to this one withNATURAL ROOM SCENTS FOR DIY GIFTS & CENTERPIECESCLICK HERE This post was featured in the April 2013 issue of Woman's Day magazine. Here's the thing. Turns out that King-Man may just be ahead of his time. But, the air in my house gets stale sometimes. There is a simple, all natural, truly lovely solution. Keeping the supply list simple. How to Make Natural Room Scents Fragrant items for naturally scenting your home: citrus -- I've tried other fruits. view whole spices on Amazon: cinnamon sticks, anise stars, allspice, cloves, vanilla beans Five Natural Room Scent RecipesThese are all scents that my nose likes. General procedure: Combine the ingredients in a 2 cup (pint) jar or container, or in a pan on the stove top. view on Amazon: ♦pint jars ♦plastic lids for jars Scent #1: Oranges, cinnamon & cloves (allspice and anise are optional). Scent #2: Lemon, rosemary, & vanilla. Scent #3: Lime, thyme, mint & vanilla extract. view on Amazon: Microplane

Love Stencilled Pillow - Free "Love & Life" Template Love Stencilled Pillow – a quick and easy way to breathe new life into a plain pillow. Love Stencilled Pillow – Free “Love & Life” Template - I’ve been on the search for the perfect pillows for our living room for over a year now. As you can see, it’s a very monochromatic room (which I like in this instance) but it really needed a pop of colour. I picked the blue colour from a painting that’s on the wall over the piano on the opposite side of the room. I picked up some fabric paint, created a template for the words ‘LOVE” and ‘LIFE” in Adobe Illustrator and got down to business. Material: Instructions: Download the printable template (above). About the author By Jamey Ekins ~ Being imaginative, crafty and artistic is just like breathing to me. Like this: Like Loading...

Valentine's Day Frame Art DIY Valentine's day is coming up, and that means some cute lovey-dovey DIY's for you or your special friend :)! I was approached by DecoArt to try some of their products, and I thought that their glass paint would be perfect for this DIY. I have never used glass paint before, because it just doesn't always fit in my budget and I never knew if I would like it. So this was the perfect opportunity to try it out, and see if it was worth it to use in the future :) I used the glass paint to restyle an old picture frame. And I am so happy with the result! Here's how: You will need: Glass paint (I used Gloss Enamels Metallic Gold from DecoArt), FREE Template Printable, spray paint,sandpaper,glue stick, glue gun, sponge, alcohol or ammonia, Scissors, Printer. 1. 2. 3. 4. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. All done!

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