Easy Hacks To Make Your Bedroom a Sleep Haven

There are so many studies that confirm that the environment that we sleep in has a big impact on the quality of the sleep that we have. But even when we all know this, there are so many of us that still sleep in super cluttered, messy, and uncomfortable bedrooms. So here are some easy hacks that you can do to make a change to your room, to make it a proper sleep haven. Try them and see the difference for yourself.

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Eliminate Natural Light

Natural light is all good for our Instagram snaps, but when it comes to sleep, we want to have the room as dark as possible. When you have a dark room it will mimic the natural setting of the sun, so it will help your body and your brain to give a signal that you should be ready for sleep. You could choose some thick drapes or curtains, as well as blackout blinds to help to mimic this. It can make a massive difference. [Read more…]

5 Must-Do’s in Your New Home

 For most of the population, no matter what country, buying a house is most probably the most costly and important purchase of their lives. Although this has been the case for quite some time now, within the last decade or so, the prices of properties in big cities have been skyrocketing to absurd amounts. In cities like London, you can find yourself paying as much as a whopping one million Dollars for a mere 25.2 square meters of space, making some houses cost around 14.75m British Pounds. Keep in mind this is not the price of a giant villa with an enormous garden, just a nice house somewhere in Belgravia. With prices like these, it is no wonder that the large majority of the population can only afford to buy one house within their lifetime. Now with such a costly purchase out of the way, chances are you want to keep your house in the best shape possible, as long as possible. Like an expensive MacBook, maintenance is possible, but usually costly, let’s have a look at some things which are a must-do for everyone who finally possess their very own piece of the world.

 

Image source: Pexels

House Recon

No matter how well you thought you might have checked, no matter how much you saw through the tricks of whoever was selling you the house, some imperfections are eventually going to show after daily life in your new home. While this may be inevitable and just a part of buying property, there are things you can do to minimize the long term damages. [Read more…]

Hashbrown Casserole and Clean Up with Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScrubWithDots #CollectiveBias

With the holidays right around the corner, it’s time to brainstorm recipes and menu ideas and prepare for that big holiday grocery outing.  While preparing your shopping list, it’s just as important to add cleaning products and tools that you will need.  Enter Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots Previously I’ve written about the Scotch-Brite™ Brand and how their wide range of products helps me with my household cleaning.  Recently I purchased their new Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots sponges and dishwands.  Today I’m going to share these products with you and show some examples of the products at work in my kitchen, including how I used Scotch-Brite® Scrub Dots to clean up after making a Hashbrown Casserole. (Recipe included!)

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Instant Savings on Huggies® at Sam’s Club + Baby Changing Supplies Organizer

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #MoreHuggiesMoreSavings #CollectiveBias

As many of you know, my Simply Sweet Home will be even sweeter about a month from now, as we welcome our newest member, Baby Thaxton!  I am currently 35 weeks pregnant. As you can imagine, I am in the middle of final baby preparations: cleaning house, packing hospital bags, purchasing last minute supplies, and getting everything organized.  Phew!  One thing I don’t have to worry about right away is diapers and wipes.  Thanks to Sam’s Club, we have stocked up on plenty of those for a while!

Sam’s Club is THE place to stock up on must-have supplies for your family or small business.  In the past, I’ve saved a lot of money on health and beauty supplies, pet items, office supplies, and cleaning products.  Now that I’m pregnant, I get to take a peek at the must-have items for baby!  Sam’s Club has everything from baby toys and clothes, to essentials like diapers, wipes, and formula!  Today I’m going to talk about why Sam’s Club is a great place to shop for baby essentials. I also have information on an instant savings deal with Huggies® at Sam’s Club and a tutorial to help you organize your baby changing supplies! [Read more…]

Clean Air for a Healthier Pet-Friendly Home

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Are your pets safe in your home? You probably already know that you need to keep harmful materials like cleaners stored where your animals can’t reach them. One of the most important things you must do to keep your pets happy and healthy is to provide clean air. You may not think about it, but the air you and your pets breathe inside the home every day can affect everyone’s health.

Performing regular maintenance on your heating and air conditioning systems is an effective way to create a healthy environment in your home. Find a trusted, local HVAC service provider that offers affordable maintenance plans. That way, you’ll know that your system will always provide clean, fresh air for you and your pets. Routine maintenance includes cleaning the ducts and changing filters. Ask your HVAC provider about air cleaners that continually circulate fresh air throughout your home. HEPA air cleaners can also remove allergens like pet dander from the air.

Other ways to create a pet healthy home include checking your landscaping and houseplants for any species that are poisonous to your four-legged friends. Household items you use every day can also hurt different animals that share your home. Did you know that non-stick cookware is unsafe for birds? Other common items like string and yarn should be kept away from dogs and cats. Taking some simple precautions can help you create a safe environment for all of your pets. Check out the following four steps to a pet-friendly home.

4 Handy Plumbing Tips for Homeowners

Being a homeowner can be a great joy but also quite a headache. You never know when a problem will surface which is why it is a good idea to identify professionals before you need them. This way, you can have them on speed dial in case a problem was to arise. However, sometimes the problem is not that easy or there is not extra room in the budget to hire someone to come over and fix the issue. There are times that as a homeowner, you have to get your hands dirty and do the work yourself. This article will provide some handy plumbing tips for new homeowners.

Turn off the water. If you notice a leak and you want to explore the problem, be sure to turn the water off to the area. This can save you from adding to the problem with additional leakage. This will also allow you to look for the leak without worrying about getting soaking wet or wasting additional water.

Fix the running toilet. We have all been there, whether you have lived in an apartment or in your own home, it is inevitable that you will experience a running toilet at one time or another. Before trying to fix the toilet, make sure that it is not clogged with debris, toilet paper, or waste. Once you have confirmed that the toilet is clear, lift the lid off of the tank. Check the flapper to make sure that it is still intact and in good condition. Believe it or not, they do wear out from time to time and need to be replaced. Another thing to look for is if the water is very high in the tank. If the water is high, turn the valve off that is below the tank and take off the rubber flapper. Dry the area and install a new flapper.

De-clogging drains. A clogged drain can happen to anyone. Over time soap builds up in a drain along with hair, lint, or other debris. A clogged drain can be easily remedied by purchasing a plastic snake-like tool from your local hardware store. Simply place the snake in the drain and dig out the contents that are causing the clog. It may be tempting to dump drain-o or other plumbing solutions down the drain but try to avoid doing this as it can have a negative effect on your plumbing.

Take good care of your garbage disposal. It may sound strange but your garbage disposal can malfunction or quit working at any moment. Take care of your disposal by cleaning it often with garbage disposal cleaning solutions that can be found at your local hardware or grocery store. In addition, keep silverware, bottle caps, and other metal objects out of the drain as they can damage the blades or cause the disposal to not work at all.

If you have tried all of these tips are you are still having trouble, we recommend this plumber that can help you out.

 

Why You Need Biz and Why Biz Works

Disclosure: I am a brand ambassador for Biz and have been compensated for this post. The opinions are my own.

Biz

As a wife and mom, I like to send my family out in to the world, not only feeling but also looking great.  For me, looking great starts with clothing.  I know that people often get initial impressions of us based on what we are wearing.  Even people we’ve known for a while will take notice when we get dressed up or wear something new.  Whether you’re wearing a dress shirt or an old tshirt, the key is to have on clothing that is bright and clean.  In our house, I achieve this objective with Biz.

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Saving Money with a DIY Oil Change + 5 Things You Should Buy Online

Disclosure: This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #DotComDIY #CollectiveBias

Do you shop online?  Surveys and studies show that more and more people are turning to the world wide web to purchase gifts and a whole host of personal items.  My husband and I are definitely two of these people.  Don’t get me wrong; I enjoy walking down the aisles of Walmart and check out the latest things they have to offer, from seasonal decor and clothing to beauty supplies.  But I also love the convenience of online shopping, and I love the time and money that it saves me!  Today we are going to talk about how buying your Pennzoil oil online for a DIY oil can help you save money, plus I will share 5 things you should be buying online if you want to save money. [Read more…]

From Outdoor To Office

If you work from home or find yourself looking for a space to work in peace a lot of the time, it can be hard to make sure that you’re working to your full potential. With the distractions most homes bring, it can be hard to get a lot of work done when you’re working from one. Of course, using a room as a dedicated office is a nice idea, but a lot of people don’t have the resources to pull something like this off. Of course, though, if you don’t have a room; you can always make one. To help out with this, this post will be going through some ways to turn your outdoor space into a brand new office.

To start, you first have to identify the space you’re going to be using for your work. In most cases, it’s best to have this in a rear garden, as this is more likely to have fences or hedges to protect it. Along with this, your space also needs to be big enough for a shed which can fit your desk and other work essentials into it. Finally, and most importantly, though, you have to make sure space is safe to be built on. In some cases, it could be best to have a professional surveyor come to make sure the ground in your area is strong enough.

With a plot of land figured out, you can move onto thinking about the building you’re going to be using. If you decide on metal and you need a larger work space, steel building kits, like Armstrong steel barns, can be a good and easy option. For most people, a budget will be the biggest driving factor here, and you’ll want to find a shed which not only offers what you want but also the security you need. The best options are ones which are designed to be used in this way. So, it’s worth doing plenty of research before you buy your shed.

In a lot of cases, you’ll be able to start building your shed by yourself, and will only need the help of a couple of friends to get it built. A lot of shed companies will offer building services. So, if you need some help, you can pay a little extra to get it done. A shed won’t make much of an office without the right components, though. To start, you will need the help of a residential electrician to wire up the place and get it powered. Along with this, though, you may also want to have some install water and gas to provide you with heating and a way to have a sink.

Hopefully, this post will inspire you to start working on a new home office. You don’t need huge amounts of space to improve your working life like this. Instead, a little bit of work and clever building should be enough to secure yourself a place to work. Of course, though, you could also look into some other options like shared office spaces.

5 Simple Tips to Transform a Room

If you’ve ever found yourself saying, “I’d love to make this room look better, but I just can’t afford it,” then today’s post is for you!  As a homemaker, I love improving the look of our home, and as a girl on a budget, I’ve learned to embrace simplicity and find easy and affordable ways to transform the rooms in our house.  Today I will share a few tips to help you get started.

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Bedding – The main focal point in any bedroom is the bed.  A new bedding set can dress up even the oldest set of bedroom furniture and completely change the style of your room.  Consider changing your florals to a modern chic pattern (as shown below).  Or change your plaid bedding set to some trendy chevron stripes or a fun bohemian pattern.

A lot of bedding sets (like the one above) are reversible / two-sided, so if you have a reversible bedding set, you can simply flip over the existing bedding set to get a whole new look.  Adding a decorative throw or extra throw pillows to your bed can also add color, warmth, and coziness of your room. [Read more…]