A thirty-something gal from Pennsylvania who loves her chihuahuas and blogs about simplifying life, organizing your home, getting your finances in order.
Click the links below to learn more about me or figure out where to start. Keep scrolling to see my latest blog posts!
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I love Fall Fashion mostly because I love cardigans!
Cardigans let you layer a look with the possibility of taking a layer off if the weather allows.
This cardigan is from Adorn Apparel! I love it! They have such cute stuff but I really loved this cardigan when I saw it. I love that it has a hood on it and the way it drapes in the front. It's very flattering!
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If you've been following me on social media lately you see that I'm enjoying making my own meals at home now for dinner. But trust me that isn't easy. I've sliced myself 2 times so far, one was really scary because I almost passed out. There are so many close calls now that it takes the fun out of food prep. Anyways, here are some kitchen hacks I use to make my life a little bit easier.
1. Pepper Tool
Peppers can be a royal pain to try to core and get the seeds out of. In fact, that's what caused one of my knife mishaps. So I got a Pepper Tool from Kitchen IQ. The Pepper Tool is easy to use by inserting it into the end of the pepper with the stem and turning it 360 degrees. Then you pull it out to remove the core and seeds. There are 2 different sizes in this tool so you can use the smaller one for jalapenos and the larger one for bell peppers. This saves me sooooo much time (and injury!).
2. Veggie Slicer
Another annoying thing in the kitchen is slicing small veggies. When I go to slice Cherry Tomatoes they fly all over the place and the juice seriously travels disturbingly far. So now I use this Veggie Slicer from Kitchen IQ which lets me put the veggies into place by dropping them in the end and then putting my knife in the slot and slicing. I don't even run the risk of chopping my own finger off anymore. Hooray! 3. Cut Resistant Glove
So there are literally 3 different times I've sliced my hands and fingers in the past 2 months. I guess I'm just clumsy at times. Maybe I'm just so dang hungry that I rush but now I have this amazing Cut Resistant Glove from Microplane that is machine washable and fits both hands. It's already saved my finger twice!
4. Ultra Coarse Grater
Let me tell you that my Ultra Coarse Grater from Microplane has allowed me to do much less cutting myself and it makes meal prep much quicker.
5. Rectangular Step Can I can't stand touching the trash can when I'm doing food prep so this Simple Human Rectangular Step Can is so fun for me. It's even got a liner pocket that stores and dispenses liners from inside the can so it goes faster and you don't have to get your hands dirty. The liner rim grips the liner and keeps it hidden. And there's no inner bucket so there's more space for trash. The pedal is easy to push and has a nice quiet close.
6. Sensor Pump Soap Dispenser The biggest pet peeve of mine is when I'm working with something icky, sticky, and raw and I go to wash my hands and I have to touch the soap dispenser. The next time I use it I'm worrying about what I had on my hands when I touched it last. That's why this Simple Human Sensor Pump Soap Dispenser is a great kitchen hack! It's touch-free (obviously) and it's great for small spaces. The pump quickly dispenses soap in just .2 seconds and it's very easy to refill it! This is a blessing to me!
7. Kitchen Scale I can't tell you how great my Ozeri Digital Kitchen Scale is! It's so lightweight and easy to store when not in use. It really helps me weigh out ingredients for a recipe. It's great because it has antimicrobial protection that stops the growth of bacteria. And that protection works for the life of the scale. I love the touch sensitive buttons and how easy it is to use and to tare something. The LCD screen has a blue backlight and it's really easy to read. And you can change the metric system if you'd like. And it uses 2 Lithium batteries and even provides a low battery and overload indicator. And if you are forgetful like me that's alright because it automatically turns off after 2 minutes of inactivity to preserve battery life.
Now, this may not be something for in
the kitchen but let me tell you - after you stand on those feet all
evening preparing things in your kitchen your feet need a bit of TLC.
So I use this gem from Transform Your Soles.It's a Paddle Foot File and it really does a great job of getting rid of the rough callused parts of my feet. The handle is very comfortable to hold and it's easy to use!
So if you suffer from the same clumsy issues that I do you are in luck because I'm offering the Veggie Slicer and Pepper Tool from KitchenIQ to one lucky winner!
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For years now garden stools have been a great addition to any home. There are so many ways in which you can use it and so many rooms you could place it in. I am super excited that I now own this Blue Round Stool from Wilford & Lee Home Accents. If you are looking for any kind of decor for around your home you should really consider Wilford & Lee. Not only do they have furniture but also accessories and furnishings for your bathroom, living room, and even gift items! Seriously it's like a one stop shop! Garden stools are often used on a patio which is a great idea but our patio isn't in yet (probably next year) so until then, let's take a look at the 5 ways I used this garden stool in my home.
|End Table in Porch| Yep, how cute is this as a little end table in the screened-in porch? It's great for a wine glass, a plate of food, a book, a tray with a cheese plate on it, and much much more. It's so nice because it isn't super bulky and the style is great. Everyone loves the holes and I love the color because it goes with the theme of our entire home!
|Extra Seating in Porch|
But what if I need extra seating in the porch when we have guests over and are entertaining out there? This makes a nice sturdy and comfortable seat.
|Plant Stand|
Right now I use this as a plant stand in the porch because it keeps plants up off the ground so the dogs can't get them but also so that they can get some sunlight through the windows. But in the late Fall and Winter I will need to bring my plants inside and as a minimalist I don't own a ton of random furniture to display items so I love that I can just bring this fabulous stool inside and keep a plant on it.
|Entryway Decor|
When you walk into our home you are already in the living room but I consider the space along the wall part of the entry way so I like to keep it simple yet still pretty. This stool is PERFECT there and it even doubles as a place to set my handbag if need be!
|Corner Decor| This corner of our dining room was bare for the longest time. I didn't mind it being like that but it always looked like something was missing. And would you look at that...the color of the stool matches the theme of the wall decor and Buddhas! I love decor that is fully functional as furniture. What's your favorite way to use a garden stool?
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The entryway is the first thing a person sees when they enter your home. Even if you have a house like ours where the living room starts immediately when you walk in the door, there's still a space I consider an entryway. So to give it the best visual appeal and keep it functional here are some tips to get a perfect entryway. |LIGHT| A small stylish lamp is practical and adds a personal touch to any entryway. Since we don't have an overhead light (you may have one though) we got a little mini bookshelf table to use in our entryway which is where our lamp sits. |FUNCTIONAL STORAGE| I keep a little porcelain bowl on the top of our table in the entryway where I stash Rocky's leash and his doggie bags for when I take him outside. There's not enough space to keep mail and random items on this table so it eliminates the possibility for clutter. The bottom part is perfect for shoes if my guests choose to take them off or if they would like to place their handbag in there.
|DECOR| If you have a smaller entryway like us, it's a great idea to keep the decor minimalistic. I was stuck for months on what to put here. If you read my blog already you may remember my awesome porch rugs from Fab Habitat. Well they now have wall art on their website so I fell in love with the Soaring Seagulls. I love that they are 3D and stick out just a bit. They add such a classy touch.
Don't cheap out and make a hasty decision with your entryway decor. Remember it's the first thing people see so it can set the mood for your entire home! What do you like most about YOUR entryway?
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DIYOilChange #CollectiveBias I love my car. James loves his car. I have had my car since 2006 and she's been paid off since 2011. I seriously have a strong attachment to my car. I can't even imagine life without her. Yep, it's a her!
We make it a special effort to keep our cars clean and well maintained at all times. Sometimes this means doing it ourselves. Taking care of your car gives you a sense of pride and accomplishment and it's beneficial to both the car and the driver. Here are a few ways to give your car the TLC it needs.
1. Wash and Wax Washing the exterior of your car and properly waxing it can help maintain the life of your paint. I've seen cars that were never washed or waxed and they have cracked and peeling hoods and bumpers. If you don't want to do it yourself you can always go to a drive through car wash or take it to an auto detailing service.
2. Tires Your tires will need rotated from time to time and in order to prevent flats you want to make sure your tires have the right amount of air in them. I make a note on my calendar every month to check the air levels. If you don't have a gauge at your own home you can always stop at a gas station that has one. If your tires are low you can fill them up easily. And if you don't know the level of air for your tires check your owner's manual or sometimes the inside of your driver's side door has a sticker on it that gives you that information. And if all else fails you can call your local dealership to ask. 3. Clean Interior I see so many people that let the interior of their car, especially the backseats become a dumping ground for trash. I keep a little trash bag in the front and I keep my car spotless on the inside. If you always have things on the floor it could lead to a spill or a leak that could stain the interior. I also keep the interior vacuumed and I wipe down the dash. No one wants a car full of dust right?
4. Oil Change I can't stress enough how crucial the oil in your car is and how it can prolong the life of your vehicle. I use Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic motor oil on my Honda Civic. Pennzoil Platinum motor oil gives you a better fuel economy and on average you can get an extra 550 miles per year. You can also get excellent performance in extreme temperatures because this motor oil provides faster low temperature oil flow and protects in extreme heat. And did you know that this motor oil can even keep your pistons up to 40% cleaner than the toughest industry standards. There are so many benefits to Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil and it really does give my engine complete protection.
You can always have a professional change your oil but I do mine myself with the help of James of course (a lot of help - wink wink).
Here's a quick tutorial on how to change oil based on how I change mine.
Please use standard safety procedures when changing your oil. You should always refer to your own car's manual before changing your oil.
1. First things first you will need to make sure you are parked on a flat, level surface and your car is turned off. Make sure your parking brake is engaged. Some people like to put their vehicle up on a jack stand. 2. Pop your hood and find your Engine Oil Dipstick and remove it. 3. Locate your engine's oil pan which your owner's manual should show you the location of and find the oil drain plug. 4. Place an oil catch pan under the drain plug and loose the plug by using a 6-point socket or a box end wrench. Do this slowly so that when you remove the plug you can ensure the pan is underneath it. The oil will start to drain out and it may take a few minutes. 5. When it's finished draining, replace the oil drain plug and make sure it's tightened. Then locate the oil filter (once again if in doubt of anything check your owner's manual. Loosen the oil filter and make sure the catch pan is underneath to catch any oil that may drain out. Then remove your old filter and replace it with a new one.
6. Now under your car's hood you will locate the oil fill can and pour in Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil. Depending on what the manual says you may have to use several bottles of it. Make sure you use a funnel because this can get messy.
7. Replace the oil fill cap and start your engine for about 30 seconds. Make sure you check that there are no leaks. Then shut the engine off again, put your dipstick back in to check to make sure you have the proper oil level and if you do then you are done!
I found Pennzoil Platinum Full Synthetic Motor Oil at AutoZone.
So tell me... does your car have a name? Do you adore yours as much as I love mine?
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Flannel will always be my favorite thing to wear. It feels good, it looks good, and it's easy to layer. But if it's too warm for the top, you can always tie it around your waist.
