Views: 0
Pumpkin Spice Everything – 31 Things For The Pumpkin Spice Obsessed
Pumpkin spice obsessed? Yeah, me too. Good news is that it is pumpkin spice season! Woo Hoo! To celebrate Starbucks’ release of the pumpkin spice latte (August 28) I thought that I would round up some of the best, most spectacular, most pumpkin-spiciest things out there. If you are obsessed with pumpkin spice too, then this list is for you. We’ve got a bit of things for you, for your home and even for your dog.
(Pssst! Did you see our pumpkin spice slime?)
Pumpkin Spice For You:
I love a good t-shirt! And the pumpkin spice t-shirts have not failed! Here are a few of my favorites:
Flannels, Boots, Footballs and Pumpkin Spice (above)
My Favorite Season is Pumpkin Spice
Sweaters, Top Knots & Pumpkin Spice Lattes
You Had Me At Pumpkin Spice Lattes
And for your mini….Best Friends Forever Dress
More Pumpkin Spice Picks For You
Pumpkin Spice For the Home
- You Are The Pumpkin To My Spice Sign
- Happy Pumpkin Spice Season Mug
- Pumpkin Spice Latte Candle
- Wax Melts
- Potpourri
- Pumpkin Spice and Everything Nice Pillow (You will need an insert too for this one!)
- Diffuser
- Pumpkin Mug
- Dish Towel Set
- Dish Towel
- If Loving Pumpkin Spice Is Wrong, I don’t Ever Want to Be Right Mug
- Pumpkin Spice Scented Pinecones
- Pumpkin Spice Pillow
Yummy Pumpkin Spice Things To Eat
Pumpkin Spice…For Your Dog
Because, duh, your dog is probably pumpkin spice obsessed too.
Don’t forget to pin our Pumpkin Spice Obsessed List!
Be sure to check out some of our other fall round ups including:
- Fall Women’s Fashion – Both You And Your Wallet Will Love
- Fall T-Shirts Your Closet Needs
- Girls’ Fall Boutique Looks At Bargain Prices
- Fall Decorations For Your Home
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner – The Best Streak Free Window Cleaner!
DIY Homemade Window Cleaner – The Best Streak Free Window Cleaner EVER!
One would think that living with six people would mean that there are plenty of people to clean up the house.
Well, that one would be wrong.
Living with six people…four of which are teens/tweens REALLY means that there is six times the mess, fingerprints, and junk….with one mom yelling and bribing people to help.
That’s just real talk.
But have no fear fellow mom-mers….I put them to work. Sorry, not sorry has become a mantra around this household.
One job that nobody seems to mind though, is washing the windows. Weird. I don’t know why. But they actually will argue about whoever gets to do it. Maybe they love my awesome DIY Homemade Window Cleaner just like I do.
When we started our cleaning business we made the switch to DIY homemade cleaners. One, they were way more cost effective. After all, saving money on cleaning supplies means bigger profits. Also, the homemade cleaners work just as well if not better than the store bought cleaners! Plus, it is so nice if you run out of something to just make another bottle. They take just a minute to make with ingredients that are common in the house or used in many other homemade cleaners.
Ingredients to make DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
- 1 cup vinegar
- 1 cup alcohol
- 2 tbsp cornstarch
- Essential Oils/oil blend of your choice
- Funnel
- Spray bottle (I REALLY love these glass bottles!)
Instructions to make DIY Homemade Window Cleaner
In a jar or bowl, mix together vinegar and alcohol.
Stir in cornstarch and mix well.
Choose your oils! I have done just lemon, a lemon basil, lemon lavender and a pine cedar wood mix. Other yummy mixes include orange or grapefruit.
Using a funnel, pour into your clean spray bottle.
If desired, print out a free label and cut it to size. Using a sticker maker, turn it into a sticker and put on your bottle.
*Note: These sticker makers are awesome! We use ours all of the time for things around the house, art projects and school projects! Totally worth having it!
That’s it! Just give it a quick shake before using. Seriously, this is the best glass cleaner I’ve ever used!
Need more DIY cleaners? Check these out:
Don’t forget to pin our DIY Homemade Window Cleaner and to follow us on Pinterest!
This post contains affiliate links.
DIY Unicorn Planters With Magical Cactus Horns
DIY Unicorn Cactus Planters
I used to think that unicorns were mythical creatures that were only heard of, but never seen. However lately, they have been taking over our house….primarily our daughter’s room. It’s apparently a unicorn playground. The most recent inhabitants are these sweet unicorn planters…complete with magical cactus horns.
Ok, so maybe these unicorns didn’t just appear, but we made them. This was such a fun project! Our daughter was able to create it by herself and there is such a huge variety of ways to decorate them so they are just like real unicorns – magical and unique!
Just like you can decorate each pot uniquely, the different cacti, oh sorry, unicorn horns that you can get are also super unique. This was one of our daughter’s favorite parts I think. We went through all of the cactus plants searching for the perfect ones! (And bonus: I’ve heard that cactus plants are hard to kill…which means yay! No green thumb required!)
Want to make your own DIY Unicorn Planter? Here’s how!
DIY Unicorn Planter Supplies:
- 1 terra cotta pot and base
- White acrylic paint
- Black acrylic paint
- Paint brushes – one for details and one general painting one
- Glitter – I prefer the extra fine glitter
- Decorations – We used glitter tulle and silk flowers. Rhinestones would be super fun too!
- Hot glue gun
- Glue
- Foam Sheets – 1 white and 1 pink
- Potting Soil
- Cactus
- Sealer (optional but recommended)
DIY Unicorn Planter Instructions:
Paint your pot and base white. While the paint is still dry, sprinkle it with glitter. Paint dries SUPER fast on terra cotta so you will have to work in small sections. Once everything is glittered, spray with your sealer if you are using one. Set aside until it is dry.
The fun part! Decide how you are going to decorate.
We did one with just tulle and one with tulle and flowers.
If you are going to use flowers, smaller flowers are the easiest to work with!
Rhinestones would be another fun idea to try! Hot glue your decorations on.
Using a fine tip brush, paint on the unicorn’s eyes and lashes. Cut out two ear shapes of white foam. Out of the pink foam, cut out two inner ears and glue to the center of the white foam ears.
Hot glue your ears to the inside of the pot where desired.
Once the glue is dry, fill the pot with potting soil and add your cactus horn. Be careful! Don’t get poked!
Ta da! Aren’t they adorable? Super magical!
If you make one, be sure to let us know! I totally want to see! Don’t forget to pin our DIY Unicorn Planters!
This post contains affiliate links.
DIY Homemade Toilet Bombs
DIY Homemade Toilet Bombs
This is a post all about my favorite way to keep your bathroom clean.
We have five kids.
No more needs to be said on that.
But seriously. I have literally a bazillion other things to do with my day than to clean the bathroom. So to help keep things sparkly clean (and not stinky…that part is very, VERY important) I swear by these DIY Homemade Toilet Bombs!
First of all, they are so simple to make. They only take three ingredients.
Second, to use all you have to do is to drop them into the toilet. The fizz up, clean it and deodorize it.
Third, even the kids like to use them. SCORE!
To make these DIY homemade toilet bombs you will need a few things.
- A silicone mold. You can get fancy if you want, but I’m lame and just used a square one.
- A glass jar. Again, be fancy if you want. I’m lame. I got a big jar at Hobby Lobby for about $3. (Yay for 50% off day!)
- Citric Acid. I totally Amazoned this. To be honest, no clue where you would find that at Target. LOL The citric acid will create the fizzing effect and also help breakdown water stains.
- Baking Soda. You will want the big box! Baking soda is a common household cleaner. It’s also a deodorizer.
- Essential oils. I use a mix of lavender, peppermint and lemon. Different oils do different things, but this mix helps to clean, kill germs and of course, smell good!
How to make homemade toilet bombs:
In a spray bottle, mix the water and essential oils.
Spray the water and oil mix into the baking soda and citric acid. It will fizzle a little bit, but that’s ok. (If you don’t have a spray bottle just be sure to add the water mix VERY slowly!)
Mix around until it is all damp.
Press into mold and allow to sit out and harden for a few hours.
Transfer to a jar or an airtight container. I have ours in a pretty glass jar in our bathroom.
That’s it! They are so easy to make. Once you use them, I promise you will make sure that you always have a batch ready!
Don’t forget to pin our DIY Homemade Toilet Bombs!
Want more homemade cleaners? Check these out:
- Hands down the best all purpose cleaner
- Homemade Clorox Wipes
Hands Down, The Best All Purpose Cleaner
Let’s play a game. Have you ever played 3 truths and a lie? It’s super easy. I say four statements and you pick out the one that isn’t truthful. Ready? Except this time…it’s cleaning edition.
- We own a cleaning company.
- I hate to clean.
- We have 5 kids and 2 dogs….who all make keeping things clean super difficult.
- I have to do the dishes right after dinner or it drives me crazy.
Do you know? The last one was the lie, but it does drive Dustin crazy so he normally gives in and does them. 🙂
Having a cleaning company means we have gone through a on of different cleaners looking for the right ones. But nothing has ever compared to this homemade cleaner. It really is hands down, the best all purpose cleaner ever! And it’s so inexpensive to make.
Supplies:
- 1 tsp Borax
- ½ tsp Washing Soda
- 1 tsp Liquid Castile Soap
- Warm Water
- Essential Oils – 12-15 drops
- Spray bottle
- All Purpose Cleaner Labels
- Sticker Maker
Instructions to make the best all purpose cleaner EVER:
In a clean bottle, pour the borax, washing soda and castile soap.
Fill with warm distilled water.
Add whatever essential oils you wish to the bottle of your cleaner. I sometimes use just lemon or just orange. But other times, I like to do a mix of grapefruit, orange and lemon or lemon and basil.
Put the lid on tightly and shake.
Print out our All Purpose Cleaner Labels and pick which one you want. Run the label through a sticker maker and attach it to your bottle.
(PS. Sticker makers are inexpensive and so handy to have! I use mine all the time for various things around the house or with the kids for school projects.)
A few important things:
- I REALLY love these glass bottles. I’m not a fan of plastic and we have been trying to eliminate as much as we can in our house. Plus, I feel fancy. And since I hate to clean, I take my victories when and where I can. 🙂 PS If you are worried about them breaking, I’ve been using them for over a year now and we haven’t broke any. (And remember, we have a small army!)
- Get the washing soda at the store if you can. It’s cheaper. I found mine in with the stain removers on the very bottom shelf.
- Don’t like lemon? Use grapefruit! Not a fan? Use orange! Not a fan of any of them? You can make a fragrance free version!
- Distilled water works best. But I’m not going to lie, there have been a few times I used regular old tap water.
- It will keep for a few months, but we go through it much faster than that!
Don’t forget to pin it – Hands Down The Best DIY Cleaner!
This post may contain affiliate links.
41 Things To Declutter And Throw Away That You Won’t Even Miss
41 Things To Declutter And Throw Away
There are several things that I believe in like cute pajamas or that you should never show up empty handed. I’m also a big believer in the fact that a cluttered or messy house can cause unnecessary stress. Even if you don’t realize it! When my house is clean and clutter free – gah – I feel SO much better.
I hate to clean. No, scratch that. I don’t hate it. I clean – when I have to. And when I am in the mood to. When I’m in the mood to – man, watch out. I get in the zone and go to town. Nothing is safe – trash bags come out and the great purge begins. I wouldn’t call myself a hoarder, but I’m a bit of a saver. I like to think it’s my inner hippie. I hate the idea of throwing things in a landfill. But I’ve trained myself to be pretty good about dropping off (lots) of donations to our local Salvation Army. There are a few things that I have a hard time parting with though like books. So believe me, when I say decluttering can be hard…I totally get it! But it is necessary and even if it is difficult, I promise that it is so worth it!
Whether you struggle with clutter or don’t have to ever think twice about tossing it (hopefully in the recycling bin or donation pile!) here is a list to get you painlessly get started living a clutter free life!
Remember to ask yourself questions like
- Do I really need this?
- When was the last time I used this?
- Is there anything wrong with it? (Holes, stains, etc..)
- Will I actually use this?
PS. This book is life changing! Seriously, it’s an easy read and has almost a full 5 star rating … from almost 13,000 people!!!
In the kitchen
- Plastic shopping bags (This will keep your plastic bags organized and looking clutter free!)
- Extra coffee mugs or drinking glasses that you don’t use
- Things in the refrigerator that are expired or won’t get eaten (Check out our 5 ideas for organizing your refrigerator here!)
- Cooking utensils you don’t use or have multiples of
- Appliances that you never use (sorry sandwich maker….)
- Tupperware without lids…or lids without containers. (This gadget is awesome for organizing those pesky lids!)
- Old spices
- Magnets
- Empty or close to empty bottles (Remember to check your cleaning supplies too! If a bottle is close to empty, you may be able to combine what is left in a new bottle.)
- Take out menus (Usually you can get them online anyways!)
In the bedrooms
- Worn out, faded or stained bedding
- Old pillows
- Socks….mismatched and worn out (We use these to organize our socks. LOVE them!)
- Clothes that are no longer in style, worn or fit
- Old promo t-shirts
- Old underwear – (I subscribe to Splendies which sends out 3 new pair of underwear each month and I love it! It’s super affordable, you can stop anytime and they have plus sizes too if you need it. As soon as a new package comes in – I toss a pair of panties that need to go or one that I tend not to wear often for whatever reason.)
- Old bras (Adore Me is one of my favorite places! Did you know they also have PJ’s and swimwear? LOVE it! And the prices are amazing!)
- Broken jewelry … or that costume jewelry you bought but never wore
- Shoes – worn out or just ones that don’t get worn (the shame…)
- Dresses….you know the one you probably paid too much for or bought to wear to your sister’s best friend’s cousin’s wedding and it hasn’t seen the light of day since. There are some great organizations that take fancier dresses and give them to girl’s for things like prom or if it is business attire, to women who have left abusive relationships and are entering the workforce again but can’t afford business clothes.
The bathroom
- Shampoo, conditioner, body wash bottles (This gadget comes in handy so there is no clutter!)
- Old razors that aren’t as sharp
- Sample sized makeup you’ve never used or opened
- Towels that are scratchy, worn or faded
- Old makeup (Did you know mascara expires after 3 months?)
- Old toothbrushes
- Hair ties that lost their stretch
- Nail polish that is almost empty (not enough to paint a full set with) or colors that you won’t wear
- Expired medicine
- Lotions (how do I accrue so many?!)
The rest of the house
- Your purse
- Old receipts
- Greeting cards
- Old magazines
- DVDs (Do you watch them anymore? We Netflix, Prime and On Demand everything!)
- Charging cords that no longer fit your devices
- Old devices – sell or donate those old phones, tablets, cameras, etc
- Old textbooks (I know they were stupid expensive, but are you ever going to read about finite math again?)
- Junk mail, catalogs, old paper work, unused coupons
- Toys that are no longer played with
- Loyalty cards (Can you just use your phone number instead? Or an app?)
There you have it 41 things that you can easily declutter that you won’t even miss! Don’t forget to pin our simple things to declutter on Pinterest!
This post contains affiliate links
Summer Snack Ideas (And The Best Deals To Stock Up!)
Late last night, I came across an idea that I thought was just genius and I shared it on our Facebook page. Apparently y’all thought it was genius too because I got several messages and comments about it!
This mom purchased an over the door shoe organizer (you can get one for cheap here!) and filled each pocket with a day’s worth of snacks. In the morning, the kids are allowed to pick one pocket for the day for their snacks. Why is this genius? Well, if your house is like mine, your kids are eating everything! I feel like I can’t keep food in the house as fast as my kids are eating it. This is a great way to keep portions in check as well as your budget! Snacks are expensive! (Keep reading! I have some awesome snack ideas and deals for you below!) Another thing that I think is genius about this: the shoe organizer will hold enough for 24 days. That means in just a few minutes, you can have almost a month’s worth of snacks divided up!
I love that this idea goes beyond summer snacks. This will make packing lunches super simple for the school year too!
I just ordered our shoe organizer so I can recreate this at our house. I plan on filling it with snacks (like the ones below!) and telling my kiddos that after their snacks are gone they can have as many fruits and veggies as they want if they are still hungry.
Is this something that you would implement in your house?
At a loss for things to fill your snack station up with? Check out these ideas:
Drinks
- Tropicana Orange Juice (This set of 24 bottles is a great deal! Only 44¢ each)
- Gatorade (This set of 24 bottles comes out only to 44¢ each)
- Mini Soda Cans of Soda
- Crystal Light Drink mixes (Get this set for only 16¢ each)
Healthy (Or Healthier!) Snacks
- Black Bean Chips
- Nut Blends
- Granola Bars (This variety pack is just 18¢ a bar!)
- Fruit Leather (This pack is a great deal!! Only 22¢ each)
- Jerky
- Popcorn (This set is less than 50¢ a bag)
- Cracker Sandwiches
- Goldfish Crackers
- Fruit Snacks
- Pretzels
Sweet Treats
- Cookies (This set of chocolate chip cookies are only 32¢ each)
- Pudding Packs
- Candy
- Snack Cakes
- Rice Krispie Treats
- Chips
Don’t forget to pin our Summer Snack Ideas For Kids!
Boho Living Room Decorating Ideas
I’ve been called a hippie more than once in my life. And if you saw my house then you would definitely say that my ‘hippie vibes’ have carried out into my interior design. I love the boho look. Eclectic, but with lots of naturals woven in there isn’t a lot that can go wrong. Woods, jute, batik, and lots of greenery! If you are looking for some boho living room decorating ideas – this is your post!
Our first set of boho living room decorating ideas was created on a budget – exclusively from items from Amazon! Yay! That means free shipping which is always a perk! I’m pretty much obsessed with the rug and the lamp from this room! And that wood wall hanging – how awesome?!
- Lamp
- Couch
- Blue Pillows
- Throw
- End Table
- Chair
- Pillow
- Coffee Table
- Succulent Planter
- Lotus Candle
- Lantern
- Succulent Planter
- Rug
- Wall Hanging
Need more looks and boho living room decorating ideas? Check out these other boho living rooms that we found! And check out some of our favorite pieces to recreate the look at home!
I really am a huge fan of navy. It’s one of my favorite colors. Mix that with all of the light woods and you have a winning boho living room. And don’t even get me started on the giant cactus. 🙂
The furniture in this room is amazing. I love mid century style furniture. I found a great one on Amazon, but one of my favorite places to pick up awesome vintage furniture isn’t Amazon – or even antique shops. It’s at auctions! You can find some amazing things … for super cheap!
I’ve never wanted to mount my TV to the wall so badly before now. It’s been added to my to do list – just so I can have a mini jungle under it!
Don’t forget to pin our boho living room decorating ideas!
Guide To What Laundry Care Symbols Mean
My closet is packed full of treasures. And I really mean that wholeheartedly. I have jeans that I know I can put on without fail that make me feel like a million bucks. I have a favorite dress that is my go-to for girls night out. I have t-shirts from concerts that immediately bring back memories.
There are so many times when people ask me how I met someone or if I remember when we did so-and-so together and when I think back I often can visualize us in that moment. Even down to what I was wearing. My clothes aren’t just for throwing on. For me, they really do hold special memories.
So the last thing I ever want to do is to ruin them by simply trying to take care of them. (How ironic right?) But I will confess, if I were to list out all of my talents I’m not entirely sure that domestic goddess would necessarily be listed. So when my mom bought me a gorgeous new top for my birthday and I went home to wash it I will be the first to admit that I was a little confused on the do’s and don’ts. I’ve seen the laundry care symbols on clothing tags for ever. But I honestly never knew what they meant.
So in an effort to preserve my new top and my favorite vintage concert tees I decided that now that I’m in my 30’s, this was probably something I should figure out.
When you see the open circle on your clothing, then you know that item is meant to be dry cleaned. Want a tip: Use Dryel! Save the time and hassle of going to the dry cleaners (why go when you can do it at home!) and get your clothes safely washed. Bonus: It saves you up to 90% of the cost of dry cleaning! WIN!
Each starter pack comes with 4 packs, spray, bag and instructions. How does it work? The heat of the dryer releases a steam inside the garment bag that cleans your clothes and removes odors. The Dryel Booster Spray can remove stains and add freshness. But you don’t just have to use Dryel for your dry cleaning items. Use them on your favorites that you want to preserve too. That awesome one in a million pair of jeans? Don’t let them fade! Wash them in the Dryel bag! My favorite vintage concert tee? You bet that it gets washed in Dryel! You can find a retailer near you here.
I’m so super excited to announce that I am working with Dryel this year! Their products are so simple to use and have really saved me so many times in time, money and from ruining some of my treasured items from my closet. Be sure to be on the look out for some clothing hacks and tips on keeping your wardrobe in perfect shape all year long!
Disclosure: I am a paid ambassador of Dryel. All thoughts and ideas are 100% my own.
18 Easter Hacks
Easter will be here in just a few weeks! Can you believe it? I feel like it has completely crept up on us this year. Even though there are just a few days until the big day, there is plenty of time to implement some of these awesome Easter hacks! These easy tips will not only simplify your day, but help make this Easter the best ever!
1. A Scavenger Hunt From The Easter Bunny
Your kiddos will be so excited to get a list from the Easter Bunny! Plus, no more worrying over the eggs getting evenly divided! Problem solved!
2. Use a whisk to help keep dying Easter Eggs clean and mess free.
How great is this idea? No more dying your fingers! This tip will keep your eggs the only thing that are getting dyed!
3. Dye Easter Eggs with Kool-Aid!
These eggs are not only pretty with gorgeous colors, but I would think that the Kool Aid would make them smell (well, better than eggs smell!) 🙂
4. Make sure everyone gets an even amount of eggs.
I thought this idea was so smart! Each child gets a specific color to hunt. No more arguing over who has the most eggs!
5. Decorate Eggs with Beauty Supplies!
These pretty eggs were made with shaving cream! Can you believe it?
6. Minute To Win It – Easter Style!
We love Minute to Win it games! And these 10 Easter inspired games are no different!
7. Check your refrigerator for decorating inspiration!
Don’t these floral arrangements look amazing? Who knew that your veggie crisper could be hiding the perfect props!
8. Make gorgeous eggs with….men’s neck ties!
Who would have ever guessed? No mess, no boiling the eggs prior….just vinegar, water and a silk tie. Time to hit up the thrift shops!
9. Nail Polish Easter Eggs? Nailed It!
See what I did there? 🙂 I know, I couldn’t help it! But seriously – these eggs would make great teacher gifts or would be perfect for filling baskets for tween/teen girls!
Amazon is a great place to get nail polish!
10. Plant Jellybeans to grow a Lollipop garden!
This is such a fun and magical tradition. Have your kids plant Jellybeans and watch their excitement as lollipops grow in their place!
11. Fill cupcakes with Easter candy!
Think of it as a box of chocolates – you never know what you will get! Add different candies to cupcake batter and it turns a box mix into something super special!
12. Proof the Bunny was here!
Bunny prints are so easy to make! Plus, aren’t they cute?
13. For the 21 and over crowd….
I always loved chocolate bunnies, but I admit, my heart would sink when I found out they were hollow chocolate bunnies. But now, after this Easter hack, I’m second guessing that!
14. Glow In The Dark Easter Egg Hunt
We have been doing this for a few years ago! This is officially the way-to-make-hunting-Easter-Eggs-Cool-for-tweens Easter Egg Hunt. Glow sticks! The kids love em!
Bonus: It’s cheaper to fill eggs with glow sticks than it is to fill them with candy! 🙂
15. Add a puzzle piece….
This is one of my favorite ideas! Usually at our house the kids get their eggs, dump them and count up their candy. Then the parents go through counting eggs (usually two or three times) to make sure we don’t have eggs that get stranded outside. While you are filling up the eggs but one puzzle piece in each egg. Then, once the kids find the eggs they can take the puzzle pieces out and put the puzzle together. If the puzzle is complete, they have found all the eggs!
Check out some great puzzles here!
16. What to do with those Peeps?
Make S’mores of course! Peep S’mores are the best!
What flavor Peeps do you love the best?
17. Fill the eggs with coupons (everyone loves coupons!)
These cute coupons are free to print and would be a great candy alternative for filling up Easter Eggs!
18. Impress the kids (and the adults!) with this trick!
This is one cool trick and only takes 5 seconds! After all nothing says Easter like a little egg trick!
Don’t forget to pin!
This post contains affiliate links.