This post is sponsored by Tide. All opinions are my own. Did you know that by washing clothes on a quick cycle in cold water, you can reduce energy use by 80% vs. the normal cycle? That's one of the reasons you should always wash clothes in cold water and here's 4 more reasons too! Do you have a favorite laundry setting? I use the same type cycle for almost every single load of clothes that I wash and it might just surprise you! Even with 2 kids, stained play clothes, soccer jerseys, and my husband's work uniforms, I always have my settings on quick, cold water cycles. Washing clothes in cold water gets them clean. One reason that might surprise you is the myth that washing in hot water results in cleaner clothes. I have to admit, I had always believed the myth myself up until a few years ago when I finally challenged myself … [Read more...]
Eco Friendly Straws: It’s Time to Ditch the Plastic Straws
If you love to drink from a straw, but hate the waste that using disposable straws produces, there are eco friendly straws available for you! Check out the 4 different options that you can start using today and can take with you anywhere you go! I love drinking out of a straw. Give me a cup with a straw and I'll drink twice as much water in a day. I have no idea why, but it's just something I've always preferred. But one thing I don't prefer is the amount of waste that using disposable straws causes. I'm not alone there either. Did you know that some cities have outlawed plastic straws? In fact, there's a bill in the works to outlaw plastic straws in the entire state of California right now. The biggest issue with plastic straws is the fact that they aren't even recyclable. Add to that fact that the average American uses at least … [Read more...]
5 Easy Swaps to Eat Healthier with Natural Food Options from NOW Foods
NOW Foods offers so many products, but their natural food options are a great place to start when it comes to buying health food online. Have a look at these 5 easy swaps you can make to eat healthier now. This post is in partnership with NOW® Foods. All opinions are my own. It's early Spring which means you know what's right around the corner... bathing suit season. If you're dreading it as much as me, then it's time for us to make some healthy swaps in our diet! Here's the thing - I've never been one to go on a diet. I've actually never uttered those words because I know me... as soon as I say "Ok, I'm not eating chocolate." I'll be eating the largest chocolate bar I can find in less than 10 minutes after uttering the words. Instead, I try to make healthier choices and these 5 swaps I'm sharing with you today couldn't be any … [Read more...]
7 Healthy Herbs You Should Be Consuming Daily
This post was created in partnership with Traditional Medicinals. All opinions are my own. We all know the healthy foods that we should include in our diet, but do you know which healthy herbs you should be consuming daily too? Here's a list of 7 that you don't want to miss! Most of us know what foods to eat on a daily basis to maintain good health. But herbs are an important part of daily health too and today I'm taking a look at 7 herbs that you should be consuming daily. When I started researching healthy herbs and which ones I should make a priority in my daily life, I'll admit that I became a little overwhelmed. I am good at eating fresh vegetables a few times a day and now I have to add in this many herbs to my diet too?! But incorporating these healthy herbs into your daily routine is a lot easier than you may think! Why … [Read more...]
The Best Herbal Teas to Drink for Winter Wellness
This post was created in partnership with Traditional Medicinals. All opinions are my own. Are you looking for natural ways to stay well this winter? Drinking tea can not only help you hydrate, but also soothe and provide comfort so you can get back to being your best. Here are my favorite herbal teas to drink for winter wellness. If your house has avoided feeling under the weather this winter, consider yourself incredibly lucky. For the rest of us who couldn’t escape the inevitable, we need all the support possible. I was down for the count in December, my husband followed suit a few weeks ago, and now it's taking a turn on my little Moreaya. If there's one thing I'm ready for, it's the sunshine and warmth of spring! Unfortunately I can't just wish winter away, so I've been preparing and using natural remedies to help rev up … [Read more...]
5 of My Favorite DIY Essential Oils Recipes to Get You Through Winter
Winter and dry weather can wreak havoc on your skin and health. These are my 5 favorite DIY Essential Oils Recipes to help get through Winter and all the dryness that comes with the season. This post is in partnership with NOW® Foods. All opinions are my own. Who else has the Winter Blues? I don't know if it's all the sickness that I am hearing about from my friend's on Facebook, the gray-ness of the cold days we're having here in East Tennessee, or the fact that we're stuck inside unless we want to put on 4 layers of clothes... and no snow! If it's going to be cold, it could at least snow! But enough complaining about the cold and let me focus because today I'm sharing how I deal with it and my 5 favorite DIY essentials oils recipes that help our family make it through the winter... moisturized and healthy! Foaming Hand … [Read more...]
Green Everywhere This Holiday Season
This post was inspired by a collaboration with prAna and Avocado Green Mattress. All opinions are my own. Most people think that the New Year is the perfect time to start a new journey whether it be eating healthier, getting more active, or living a green-er lifestyle. And while a new beginning is a great time to do all of those, the Holidays can be too! Ok, so maybe eating healthier while being surrounded by delicious baked candies and cookies might not be the easiest of choices, living more eco-friendly definitely is! In fact, it's a great time to #GreenEverywhere in your life - by giving [and hopefully sometimes receiving too] green products. When most people embark on a green and more sustainable lifestyle change, they often think of switching to organic food and non-toxic cleaners. While those choices definitely are more green, … [Read more...]
Softbum Diapers: A True One Size Cloth Diaper
A lot of cloth diapers are called one-size diapers, but the Softbums Diapers truly is. Check out how this Softbums Echo cloth diaper system can fit a newborn as small as 6 pounds to a toddler that is 35 pounds. I received a Softbums Cloth Diaper to review. All thoughts are 100% mine. I've had lots of Softbums in our stash over the last 3.5 years of cloth diapering and I've reviewed them a few times too [see those reviews below], but it HAS been awhile since I've seen a Newborn Diaper, I seriously forgot how teeny tiny they are! That's the very reason that I did a double take at the package when I pulled the diaper out. I thought that Softbums must be making a new newborn diaper and accidentally sent it to me instead of their One Size. Seriously, y'all! It's been that long. Then I saw the OS and remembered just how tiny these … [Read more...]
3 Reasons to Choose ENERGY STAR® Laundry Appliances for Your Home
The reviewer has been compensated in the form of a Best Buy Gift Card and/or received the product/service at a reduced price or for free. Most households are always looking for ways to save money and choices that can help your family save energy too are definitely a win win. One easy way to do both is to look for appliances marked as ENERGY STAR® appliances. Let's look at 3 reasons you should choose ENERGY STAR Laundry Appliances for your home. Better for the Environment ENERGY STAR® certified products reduce energy usage, which is good for the environment. Reduced energy helps to preserve more of the Earth's natural resources and reduce carbon emissions and pollutants. For example, clothes washers that have earned the ENERGY STAR use 25% less energy and approximately 45% less water than standard models. Over the lifetime of the … [Read more...]
6 Ideas for Natural Menstrual Cramps Relief
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #PeriodConfidence #TryTheDivaCup #CollectiveBias If you're a woman who is plagued with menstrual cramps, I feel for you. I was there once, but thankfully found natural menstrual cramps relief with these ideas that are truly life changing and you can too! I have been plagued with bad menstrual cramps my entire life. I remember as a young girl in high school missing school because my stomach hurt so bad. The cramps I experienced were intense and relentless the first few days of my period. As I got older, my cramps were just as intense. I started looking for alternative ways to deal with them since I didn't want to take so many over-the-counter pain medicines. That's ultimately what lead me to switching to a menstrual cup! I read … [Read more...]
5 Ways to Reuse KCups
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LuminousWhites #CollectiveBias Drinking a cup of coffee from a one cup brewer is convenient, but what about all those disposable pods? Here are 5 ways to reuse Kcups in your home. Coffee is one of my life's pleasures. There, I said it. I enjoy sitting in a quiet house, or on a quiet front porch, before everyone else gets up to enjoy my thoughts and my cup of caffeine. I don't think it's just the taste, it's the entire experience... calm, quiet... are you sensing a theme here? Life is so chaotic for everyone that it's good to enjoy a daily activity for yourself and my morning cup is mine. I also enjoy the convenience of a one cup coffeemaker, but hate the waste of those disposable Kcups! That's when I started thinking that … [Read more...]
Cleaning Without Harsh Chemicals – Is It Really Possible?
This is a sponsored post on behalf of Aquavert. All opinions are my own. When you make the decision to begin cleaning without harsh chemicals, it doesn't mean you sacrifice how clean your home is. Using the right products will help you have a clean home without harmful chemicals. Wouldn't it be nice to be able to clean bathrooms while still being able to breathe safely at the same time? It IS possible and if you're still using harsh chemical cleaners to clean your home, it's time to stop. Not only can harsh chemicals damage surfaces, they can damage your health as well. My family started on a journey to limit chemicals, especially harsh chemical cleaners, when Sophia was born. I decided then that I didn't want to risk her getting hurt by coming into contact with dangerous ingredients so it was best to do away with them … [Read more...]