Easy Ways to Give Back With Your Kids [February]

One of my parenting goals for this year is to do more volunteering activities with my 3 year old son. While we have done some activities to give back to the community, I usually need motivation to get execute the activities. Giving Families is a great organization that provides Good Mail Challenges, which are monthly activities that parents and children can do to give back to the community together.

The Good Mail Challenges are sent out on a monthly basis in the form of a newsletter. Each month, there is an activity to give back to the community. Alternative activities are also available in case the main activity cannot be completed for any reason. I really like the alternative options because they do not make me feel like I have to complete the one activity to give back to the community. I have several activities to choose from that fit my family and schedule.

Let's talk about the challenges! The February challenge was to visit a nursing home during "Social Hour." Visiting elderly neighbors allows us to make new friends and bring brightness to their days. Since my son is under 3 and it was the sick season, we decided to look at one of the alternative activities. remember not to take sick kids to nursing homes!

For our February challenge, we chose to bring a meal to a neighbor who was recovering from a medical emergency. We baked banana muffins and prepped a chicken pasta casserole. Then, my son and I took the meal and snacks over to their house. Instead of taking the stroller as we usually do for walks, we both walked on foot because the neighbor lived close. The neighbor was very grateful for the delicious food we brought. On the way back home, we talked about helping friends in need. It was a great activity to do together with my son!

One of the things that I like about the Good Mail Challenges from Giving Families is that I have great suggestions for ways that our family can give back to the community together. I can choose an activity that is appropriate for my son's age and fits without our schedule.

Become a member to receive monthly Good Mail Challenge newsletter (via snail mail). You can even have them sent in your child's name so they can get excited about receiving mail!

Or sign up for a free email newsletter with tips and tricks on raising compassionate and giving kids.

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How to Fill Up Wall Space [ad]

One of the exciting things about moving into a new house is determining how to turn an empty house in a home for your family. Furniture, window fixings, and decor are all options for making a house more personalized. Between area rugs, comfy pillows, floral arrangements, and plants, it doesn't take long before any space starts to look lived in and beautiful. 

However, there is one space that many people struggle to fill. It's a space in every single room and while many people experiment, it doesn't always turn out right. This particular space is the wall. Walls are in every single room of a house and they're very important to the structure. However, many people don't know how to effectively decorate them. Consider these ideas to fill up wall space and create a beautiful living environment. 

1. Mirrors
Mirrors are interesting pieces to add to a wall. Think of mirrors as picture frames with real-time subjects. When most people see a mirror, they gravitate toward it so they can see their reflection. Mirrors are available everywhere from consignment shops and thrift stores to department stores and antique shops. 

2. Murals 
Mural wallpaper gives a sense of elegance to any room they hang in. When many people think of murals, they often think of museums or really uptight boutiques with tons of breakable items. Murals are a beautiful way to transform the walls in a home. Because they are often so ornate and beautiful, a person can use the mural as the main decor and keep everything else in the room monochromatic. Mural Sources sells tons of different mural pieces at a variety of price ranges. There are also lots of different scenes to choose from include ones with an American emphasis and others with a European or Caribbean emphasis. 

3. Paint 
Paint is often the go-to source for many people. It really can make a huge difference when it is used on walls. When dealing with paint, it is important to choose the right color to evoke the desired ambiance. A trend that's growing in popularity is the statement wall. The statement wall is one wall with a strong color pop to really stand as the accent in the room. Many people choose a daring color for the accent wall and then work around it. For a bold statement, some great choices for the accent wall include cobalt blue, sunflower yellow, brick red, charcoal gray and deep plum. 

These ideas are enough to get any person started on their project of filling the walls. With a few picture frames, creativity and dedication, the wall spaces will completely turn a house into a home.

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Personalized Gifts for the Hard to Shop for Person [review]

Personalized gifts have become quite popular over the past several years. More companies and small businesses are offering customization options on just about anything. A personalized gift can be the perfect gift for that hard to shop for person. When I was shopping for my husband's Christmas gift - a personalized bourbon barrel head - I came across Joanna Tate Monograms on Etsy. Joanna offers personalized wooden products, including reclaimed wooden products.

Monogrammed Bourbon Barrel Head       

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

Disclosure: I received a discount on shipping to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest.

The Good	The Not So Good
Reclaimed wood
Professional designs
Custom made
Ready to hang

I ordered a bourbon barrel head with a simple monogram of our last name (similar to the design above) and the year we were established (married). We have one child for now, so I did not want to add his name in case we have more children. I also did want to just include our names because it is more than just us in our family. I wanted a heirloom gift that can be passed on to our son.

The personalized bourbon barrel top came as promised by Joanna. The box was quite large and had a Fragile sticker on it, which is good for shipping purposes. The barrel top was packaged well inside. It was protected well.

I was giving the monogrammed bourbon barrel top as a Christmas gift for my husband, so I wrapped it in the box that it arrived it. When my husband opened his gift, we were both impressed! The size of the barrel top was quite impressive and the design was very professional. The barrel top is stained and has a clear finish. The design and the look was just what I expected after browsing the selection that Joanna Tate Monograms offers.

 

A personalized bourbon barrel head is a great gift for a bourbon enthusiast! Joanna Tate Monograms reclaims bourbon barrel heads and turns them into beautiful artwork to display in your home!

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Ozeri Wind Fan [Giveaway]

Ozeri is sponsoring a giveaway for a 42 inch wind fan! Take this portable fan with noise reduction technology anywhere in your house. Enter below for a chance to win!

Deliciously Savvy is Hosting a Giveaway in Which 1 Lucky Winner Will Receive an Ozeri Ultra 42" Wind Fan ~ Adjustable Oscillating Tower Fan with Noise Reduction Technology ($130 ARV)! I Love This Fan & It Is Definitely an Awesome Prize that Anyone Can Use! Enter Today & Good Luck!

Read My Review of The Ozeri 42" Wind Fan Here.

Sponsored By: Ozeri ~ Moderna

Hosted By: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted By:

Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // Forever Dreamin' // My Silly Little Gang // Michigan Saving and More // Heartbeats ~ Souls Stains // IMHO Views, Reviews and Giveaways // Box Roundup

PLUS a Big Thank You To All Other Bloggers Helping To Promote This Giveaway! You Are The Best :)

Giveaway Dates ~ 12/11 9 PM EST through 12/27 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only.

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 12/27/2015.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

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It's the Balm Organic Sunshine [Giveaway]

I love discovering new natural body care brands! It's the Balm contains natural ingredients and offers a variety of products for every room in your house. Enter below for a chance to win the Citrus Bundle!

Deliciously Savvy is Hosting a Giveaway for 1 Lucky Winner to Receive an It's The Balm! (ORGANIC SUNSHINE) Fresh Citrus Prize Pack Bundle! I LOVE Organic Sunshine's Products and I love the results of going Organic! Read a Review Of The Citrus Gift Lovers Gift Set Here!

Sponsored By: It's The Balm! Organic Sunshine

Hosted BY: Deliciously Savvy

Co-Hosted by :

Amy & Aron's Real Life Reviews // Better on a Budget // Heartbeats~ Soul Stains // The Homespun Chics // IMHO Views, Reviews and Giveaways // My Silly Little Gang // Michigan Savings and More // Capri's Coupons

PLUS a Big Thank You To All Of The Blogs Helping To Promote This Giveaway By Sharing It With Their Amazing Readers! Thank You :)

FACEBOOK ~ TWITTER ~ PINTEREST

1 Lucky Winner Will Receive All Of The Products Pictured Below:

This luxurious Citrus Lovers Gift Set has everything you need to uplift your spirits and pamper your body. Made with pure and natural ingredients, it makes a great gift! The body products comes wrapped in a luxurious reusable Muslin Gift Bag.

Each product is scented with pure, therapeutic grade essential oil for an uplifting experience. Made using natural ingredients, these products will uplift your mind, moisturize your skin and keep you smelling fresh and clean.

What comes in the Kit: *Fresh Citrus Foaming Hand Soap (8 oz.) *Citrus Body Scrub (4 oz.) *Fresh Citrus Lotion (4 oz.) *Fresh Citrus Body Mist (2 oz.) *Key Lime Lip Balm

Giveaway Dates ~ 11/28 9 PM EST through 12/13 11:59PM EST

Entrants must be 18 years old to enter and giveaway is open to US residents only.

Any Questions Email Me At mcushing7 (at) hotmail (dot) com.

This giveaway is in no way endorsed, affiliated or associated with Facebook,

Twitter or any other Social Media Networking Site. This giveaway is valid only

in the United States. Entrants must be 18+ years of age to enter.

This giveaway will end at 11:59PM (EST) on 12/13/2015.

Good Luck! Enter Below

Also we all “love it if you like us” on Facebook!

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Fennel Essential Oil for Asthma [review]

Essential oils are a big part of my life, especially during the flu season. I mainly use essential oils for healing and boosting immunity. I also use essential oil to deodorize my home and for use in homemade cleaning products. When our Pediatrician told us that our has Respiratory Affective Disorder ("pre-asthma"), I started researching how I could use essential oils. We were already eating clean and organic, using homemade and natural cleaning products and body products. There was really nothing but whatever allergens were outside that were causing his respiratory issues. After a lot of research, I found out that there were many essential oils that were targeted at respiratory issues and asthma. Simply Earth Fennel Essential Oil is a high quality, unfiltered, undiluted essential oil with many beneficial uses.

Simply Earth Fennel Essential Oil            

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Pure and undiluted	Not certified organic
Comes in dark amber glass bottle
Euro dropper cap
Bottled in the US

Simply Earth is a small  family company that strives to provide eco-friendly products. They offer a number of natural products for the home, including a line of unfiltered and undiluted essential oils.

Fennel Essential Oil (foeniculum vulgare var. dulce) has an anise-like, peppery aroma. It is pressed from seeds and has a medium strength odor. The country of origin is Spain. The oil is bottled in the US. The bottle is 15ml and is made from dark amber glass. Storing essential oils in dark glass bottles is the best way to keep the high quality and protect them from going rancid.

The benefits of fennel essential oil include being supportive and restorative. Fennel essential oil has expectorant properties, which helps with respiratory disorders. Fennel essential oil helps with excessive mucus in the lungs, chronic coughs and cold, and asthma.

Usage: The main ways I have been using fennel essential oil is diffusing it on the first floor open living space. I add about 5 drops in water to the essential oil diffuser. I also plan on using fennel essential oil (diluted) as a chest rub.

Essential oils are very concentrated and it is recommended that it be diluted for any topical uses. If applied directly to the skin, essential oils must be diluted in an appropriate oil (Jojoba Oil and Grapeseed Oil make the best carrier oils, but can also use Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil).

Results: I have really enjoyed diffusing fennel essential oil. I was a bit skeptical at first because I"m used to fennel as a culinary spice and did not quite know what I would think about my house smelling like fennel, but I have liked it! The odor is medium strength and it lasts for a very long time. With some essential oils, the scent tapers off after a while, but the fennel scent is present until the diffuse uses all the water up. I really like that the scent is long lasting!

I love the generous 15 oz bottle and the long lasting scent of the Fennel Essential Oil. Everyone in our family has had a cold or outdoor related allergy coughing over the past 2 weeks. I have been diffusing this oil every day and feel like it has helped us to heal quicker. With the high quality and affordable prices from Simply Earth, I would recommend this company!

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. All opinions are my own and are honest. These statements have not been evaluated by the FDA and I am not a medical professional. Please consult your physician regarding using essential oils for any medical condition.

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Garden: Tomatoes DO Grow Under Black Walnut Trees

Last year, we have been blessed with volunteer sprouts from the compost. After watching them every day to see what they would grow into, touching the plants helped me to identify that infamous tomato plant smell on my hands. I had never planted tomatoes in the garden area because it was located close to a Black Walnut Tree and that was a no-no in the garden world. Black walnut trees secrete a chemical that is toxic to tomatoes, so they either grow just a little or do not grow at all. But here in our little garden oasis, we had 10-15 tomato sprouts! Right under a black walnut tree!

This year, we were blessed with even more tomato sprouts! I counted 15-20+ tomato plants just in the garden. Plus, my husband spread compost in some areas of the yard and the tomatoes were growing there also!

While this might not come as a surprise to most seasoned gardeners, I find the little tomato sprouts a huge blessing every year. In the early summer months, I check every morning for little tomato sprouts. I am always amazed where they grow. I have transplanted them into the garden and thinned out a grouping of 10 plants to spread throughout the garden.

The tomatoes have grown very well in the garden cage, underneath the black walnut tree. They have even grown better than the tomatoes in the container garden in front of the house. Some say it is all about the soil. Other says it is about the location. I say, it is about little blessings! One gardener grows some things well and another gardener grows other things well. That is what it is all about! We grow what we grow well and we share.
 

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GoPure Lavender Essential Oil [Review]

Essential oils have become a good part of my life over the past few years and especially recently as I try to reduce my son's reaction to outdoor allergens. I love using essential oils to boost immunity during the flu season or to help  me stay more calm and relaxed during a challenging day. Not only are essential oils great for keeping your body healthy or for treatment of conditions, but they are also great for natural scent and homemade cleaning products. Lavender Essential Oil is one of the most commonly used essential oils and is a great starter essential oil.

GoPure Lavender Essential Oil            

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Pure and undiluted	Not certified organic
Comes with eye dropper lid	Dropper plastic absorbs oil and lets scent through
Generous size bottle will last a long time

GoPure Naturals Lavender Essential oil is 100% natural and undiluted. The country of origin is Bulgaria. The oil is bottled in the US.

I have lavender essential oils from several different brands. From my experience, essential oils will smell different based on the country of origin, the land they are grown on and even the time of the year that they are harvested. No two lavender essential oils are going to smell the same unless they were grown in the same location and harvested and processed at the same time. Nonetheless, this lavender essential oil smells strong and floral. Just what I would expect from a therapeutic grade, pure lavender essential oil.

The main benefits of lavender essential oil are:

1. Improve mood
2. Fight insomnia
3. Calm the mind
4. Neutralize stress and anxiety

Usage: The main ways I use lavender essential oil is to add to homemade body products like facial scrubs, to diffuse 5-10 drops in water in the essential oil diffuser when I feel stressed and on edge, and to put a few drops on my pillow at night to help me sleep. Since this oil is 100% pure, it is very concentrated. A little goes a long way.

Essential oils are very concentrated and it is recommended that it be diluted for any topical uses. If applied directly to the skin, essential oils must be diluted in an appropriate oil (Jojoba Oil and Grapeseed Oil make the best carrier oils, but can also use Sweet Almond Oil or Olive Oil).

Opportunities for Improvement: The soft plastic part of the dropper top seems to let the scent of the oil through. The bottle only comes with the dropper top, while other brands ship their oil with a hard plastic cap. I like having the dropper top and would like to see the company invest in a better quality top. I have two other 4 oz bottles of essential oils with the dropper caps by 2 different brands. One of the brands does not let the oil scent through. The second brand lets the scent through and the essential oil actually started to crystallize on the dropper top. The essential oil scent stays on my fingers when I use the dropper and even made my whole fridge smell like peppermint essential oil. Not too bad for freshness, but my food started to smell and taste like peppermint essential oil. I assume this is what is going to happen with the dropper top because they seem to be similar in materials.

I love the generous 4 oz bottle of the Lavender Essential Oil. This bottle will last a long time. I plan on using the lavender essential oil for home made body products and in the diffuser. I would like to see GoPure Naturals move toward organic certification to ensure no pesticides or unwanted chemicals in the lemon oil. The price is reasonable for the quality and the amount of essential oil.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers. All opinions are my own.

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Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap [Review]

One of my favorite all natural products to try are soaps. There are so many different brands of natural soaps available now, even soaps specifically made for men! Natural soaps offer superior quality and leave your skin feeling clean, soft, and moisturized. Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap is a classic combination of bay leaf and cinnamon spice with a hint of lime. The rich lather helps the razor glide across the skin. Bentonite clay and wheat germ oil protect the skin.

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap      
Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
All natural ingredients	Contains Fragrance Oil (potentially toxic)
Great lather
Doesn't leave skin feeling dry

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap is specifically designed to be used for shaving. Although this soap is targeted at men, especially with the manly scents like bay leaf and cinnamon, I can see women using this soap for shaving their legs. The ingredients, especially Bentonite clay and wheat germ oil protect the skin and allow for a safe shave.

I have been using natural soap to shave for quite some time. I do like that the ingredients are selected specifically for protecting and moisturizing the skin for shaving. Let's look at the ingredients.

Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap Ingredients
Saponified Oils of Olive, Coconut, Castor, Shea Butter, Bentonite Clay, Glycerine, Wheat Germ Oil, Fragrance Oil, Essential Oils, Tocopherol T-50 (Vitamin E), Rosemary Oleoresin (a natural antioxidant).

I love the simple ingredient list that is made from mostly natural ingredients. I would like to see the Moose Bay Rum Soap be made with 100% organic ingredients, or at least use 100% essential oils instead of Fragrance Oil.

Fragrance is rated as Highly Hazard by EWG's Skin Deep Database. I recommend avoiding this ingredient in any product. I will reach out to the company to get more information about the actual ingredients in their Fragrance Oil. Since they are marketing the product as a natural soap, then it should not have one of the most toxic ingredients in it.

Castor Oil is rated as 2 (Low Hazard), so I would try to limit my use of products with Castor Oil.

I do like that the preservative is a natural one (Tocopherol/Vitamin E and Rosemary Oleoresin).

Usage: Wet the soap and rub directly on the skin or on your hands and then on your skin. Let air dry in a soap dish.

Results: The soap lathered well and stayed somewhat lathered on the skin while my husband shaved his face. The smell was pleasant and not overpowering. A little soap went a long way and rinsed cleanly. My husband had a pleasant experience with the soap. He does not usually use soap to shave, but said that his experience with it was better than expected.

For the price point of Moose Bay Rum Shaving Soap, I would expect 100% natural, if not 100% organic ingredients. If Moose removes or substitutes Fragrance Oil, then I would recommend this shaving soap.

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest.

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Ava Shower Filter [Review]

Let's be honest! Our water supply is not as clean as it used to be. Just because water looks clear doesn't mean that it is clear. Among chemicals dumped down drains, prescription medications flushed down the toilet, run offs from chemical plants, etc., we must take steps to clean out pollutants and toxins from the water in our houses. A shower filter that fits right on to the shower head is a great way to remove chlorine, fluoride, hard water and other contaminants using a patented KDF shower filter system.

Ava Shower Filter     

Rating: total green check marks out of 5.

The Good	The Not So Good
Easy installation (need Teflon tape)	No filter replacement indicator
Filter lasts 9-12 months before replacement	Does not work as promised!

The Ava Shower Filter is an quick and easy way to filter the water coming out of your shower. The plastic covered system is easy to install and the filter lasts about 9-12 months (regular use). This shower filter claims to filter out 99.9% of Chlorine, Algae, Dirt, Fluoride, Lead, Chloramine, Bacteria, Arsenic, Chromium, Zinc, Copper, Selenium, Mercury and Heavy Metals and many more chemicals. The shower filter also reduces scum build-up using kdf.

To install the shower filter, you remove your existing shower head, wrap Teflon tape (not provided in my package) on the filter thread on the water pipe thread, screw the shower head on to the threads and connect the swivel collar to the water pipe. Basically, the shower filter goes between the water pipe and the shower head. Once hand tightened, use pliers to tighten the swivel collar until the shower filter is firmly in place.

We installed Ava shower filter in the basement bathroom. The positioning of the threats on the shower filter does not really change the height of the shower head, but it does move the shower head farther away from the wall. Since our master bathroom has an enclosed shower (no bath), we did not have much room left for the shower head to stick out about 3-4" more. For a bigger enclosed shower or a shower and bath combination, this would not be an issue.

Installation: The installation of the shower filter was not too difficult. My husband is not a plumber by any means, but he was able to install the shower filter within about 30 minutes, taking his time to ensure proper placement and seals. The Teflon or plumbers tape is very important to ensure a good seal and prevent leaks. I had to purchase Teflon tape because my package did not come with it (though Amazon description says that it does).

Results: The filter does NOT filter out contaminants! The shower filter claims to filter out 99.9% of the chemicals mentioned above. There have been mixed reviews on Amazon, even with those who tested their water before and after. I had a couple of water test kits that I received from free from a local hardware store. I thought I would try these first, using one before the shower filter was installed and one after the shower filter was installed. Basically, the results were about the same - no change in water purity.

We use a Brita pitcher, which is effective and does make the water taste better by removing water contaminants. I tasted the shower water before and after and there was no change in taste. This is another reason that I feel like the product does not work as expected.

It is questionable whether the filter filters out the contaminants as promised. The initial cost is $59.99 and the replacement filter costs $49.99. Since the filter makes up most of the system, I can see the higher cost for the replacement filter. Filtering shower water for chlorine and fluoride will cost about $50/year with this system. Since the product does not work as promised, I would not recommend purchasing this product.

 

Disclosure: I received the product to facilitate this review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are my own and are honest.

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