DIY "spell books"

I absolutely LOVE how these "spell" books turned out!

With some old books found at a thrift store, some plastic Halloween toys, paint, mod podge (you can also make your own mod podge by simply mixing water and white glue!) and paper towel, you can create your own spooky Halloween spell books!

Full tutorial found HERE.

Make your own topsy turvey pumpkin ornament

I can't believe I haven't posted this yet! I came across this project on Pinterest last year, and of course I had to try it out! It is SO EASY!  

When I first put this up in my garden, my neighbor rushed over and asked where I bought it! I constantly see people slow down to check it out as they drive by, and just the other night, a knock at the door, it was an older lady who said she drives by my house every day and wanted to stop and ask where I bought my topsy turvey pumpkin ornament! 

I haven't even seen these available in stores...hmm...I may be on to something!

The whole project was less than $10, I even got the mini fall mums free by redeeming airmiles at Rona!

Here is a list of materials you will need for your project:

- Plastic pumpkin pails (I found mine at Wal Mart, $1.25 each) I used 5 but of course you can use more/less, it all depends on personal preference!

- Drill (mine came with a handsome helper!!!) (no just kidding, he was separate but I figured since it was his drill, he would like to use it!)

- Long piece of doweling to thread your pumpkins onto.  (I ended up using a piece of wooden trim, any material should work, the stronger the better since it will be outside)

- Small fall mums (or other plants of choice) to fit into the pumpkins

Directions:

1. Remove plastic handles from pumpkin pails and discard/recycle/do what you want with you don't need them!

2. Drill a hole in the bottom of each pail 

3. Drill a hole in one side of each pail, alternating sides (so on one pail drill on the left, then the next on the right, then the next pail on the left again, this will give it the topsy turvey effect once it's put together! 

4. Place your drilled pails onto your dowel starting at the bottom then through the side

5. Place plants of choice in each hole. I removed the pots that came with the plant just so it was easier to water and they filled the pails out nicer.

That's it! You're done!!!

This is such an inexpensive project that will get you a ton of compliments!

I would love to see how yours turned out! Feel free to comment with photos!

 

Can Dogs Eat Bananas? 10 Toxic Foods, 23 Safe Ones & A Few in the Middle

Are you planning to have a pet dog at home? Before you even say yes, make sure that you are responsible enough to take care of it. Dogs might be fun and playful, but they are also sensitive. This is true when it comes to the food they eat. They are not like humans that can eat almost anything. There are certain foods that dogs just can’t eat.

There are others that may even die of complications due to the content of certain dishes that they have eaten. This is why you need to understand the types of food that dogs can eat and what they can’t. It is extremely important that you pay attention to what you put on their bowl. Otherwise, they might get ill or worse, die.

For humans, eating fruits is totally recommended due to their nutritional value. The same can’t be said for dogs. There are certain types of fruits that are highly recommended such as bananas. Others fruits like apples are allowed, but only in moderation. However, grapes should be totally avoided. This could lead to poisoning.

This is just an example on the types of foods that dogs can eat and what are considered toxic for them. There are many other examples that you must be aware of. To make it easier for you, we have compiled an infographic below to help you out. This explains clearly the food groups.

My 14 day oil pulling experiment

I have recently heard a lot about the benefits of "oil pulling". What is oil pulling? Let's ask Wikipedia:

Oil pulling or oil swishing is a traditional folk remedy where oil is "swished" (kavala graha) or "held" (snigda gandoosha) in the mouth.

Practitioners of oil pulling claim it is capable of improving oral and systemic health, including a benefit in conditions such as headaches, migraines, diabetes mellitus, asthma, and acne, as well as whitening teeth. Its promoters claim it works by "pulling out" toxins, which are known as ama in Ayurvedic medicine, and thereby reducing inflammation.

Seeing how I have a humongous jar of pure, virgin coconut oil in the cupboard, I decided to give this a try! I've read it whitens teeth, boosts energy, improves skin and so much more! 

It's pretty easy, just take a tablespoon, put it in your mouth and swish it around for up to 20 minutes. I know, 20 minutes seems like forever. I do it first thing in the morning while I'm getting ready for work, and hope I don't have to yell at the kids!

If you can't do the 20 minutes, try starting with 5 and work your way up to 20.

Swish vigorously every few minutes, you really want to pull all the nasties from in between teeth and gums.

* Do not swallow this because it is pulling bacteria from your mouth, therefore it is very toxic. (Swallowing non-swished coconut oil is completely fine, in fact it has been said to help in weight loss, but that's a whole other experiment!)

When you're finished swishing, spit the oil out into a garbage can, not down the sink, it will solidify once cold and could cause clogs. Brush your teeth with warm water and toothpaste after.

I am going to document my 14 day oil pulling experience just to see what it really does. I will update daily. 

Day 1: Pulled for 20 minutes. Oil has a pleasant, almost nutty flavour. Teeth felt very smooth and my mouth felt clean.

Day 2: 20 minutes. In the evening I noticed my hands were softer than they usually are, teeth smooth and look shinier than usual, overall mouth feels clean.

Day 3: 22 minutes. Woke up and immediately noticed a decrease in "morning breath"! After my coffee I didn't feel like I had nasty coffee breath as I usually do, all day my mouth felt clean.  Also my nose isn't stuffed up anymore like it has been for the past two weeks.

Day 4: 15 minutes. Not much different today from yesterday, teeth feel smooth and look shiny.

Day 5: 20 minutes. Teeth and mouth still feel really clean, and I can feel a difference in my gums, kinda hard to explain, but it's a good difference. My skin feels good and the couple of blemishes I have had on my face for what seems like a lifetime, are starting to disappear! Saweeet!

Day 6: 20 minutes.  Pretty much exactly the same as day 5!

Day 7: (One Week) This morning I thought I'd switch it up a bit and not pull until later in the day...bad idea!  I have coffee breath!  I should have not switched it up and kept my morning routine! Gahh!!!

Day 8: So I didn't end up pulling yesterday at all...BAD idea! this morning I woke up with "death breath" that everybody does in the morning, so I pulled for 25 minutes while I was getting ready this morning.  After my morning coffee, I had coffee breath,
blechhh...uggg...has all my hard, oil pulling efforts this past week gone to waste?  Let this be a lesson to me, to us...you are either committed to a cleaner, healthier mouth, or not...there is clearly no in between.

Day 9: 20 minutes. Mouth starting to feel a lot cleaner after skipping the other day...gahhh...why did I do that?! Teeth look shiny and feel very smooth. Will not skip again!!!

Days 10 - 14: approx. 20 minutes each day. No huge changes from the beginning of the second week; teeth are at least 2 shades whiter, feel clean, smooth and no more disgusting coffee breath!

In conclusion, yes, this is a pain in the butt, but it could easily be incorporated into your daily routine, preferably in the mornings. I am certain after longer use, teeth will become increasingly whiter.

Need helping finding a good coconut oil? Reviews.com tested 6 different kinds of coconut oil and found 2 that taste and feel great.  Click here to discover the best coconut oil! 



I would love to hear your experience with oil pulling, please feel free to comment or send an email!

Money for nothing (well almost nothing....)

I have decided, since it's almost the beginning of a new year, I am going to keep track of how much "free" money I can accumulate in a year, see how much Christmas shopping I can do for "free" next year.

I belong to several cash back offer and survey programs (don't be fooled, some are crappy but the ones I belong to are legit and awesome!) including Checkout 51, Pinecone research, and survey lion and a few others, as well as store loyalty programs such as PC points, which gives me personalized offers every week and cash back on stuff I buy anyways!

The hardest part is cashing out and not spending it, so I will have to figure out how that is going to work!

Beginning next year (which really is only like a week and a half away!) I will post my accomplishments and see how much I can do!

If you haven't already, you should get the Checkout 51 app, it's available in Canada and the US and gives you  cash back for stuff you buy anyways, all you do is upload your grocery receipt!  Easy peasy!

iPhoneography

 I have always loved photography, ever since my high school photography class with Mrs. Forrester! I don't have the time (or patience!) to carry around a traditional camera, so I use the next best thing, my iPhone!  I am a bit behind in the times as some would say, as I only have an IPhone 5s!, before that I was using a 4, what are they up to now, 7? 8? Who knows! The photos I am posting have ALL been taken with my iPhone, and a little help from Instagram filters. That's it! I am not an expert, I am not a professional, I don't consider myself to be a photographer by any stretch, but I have taken some pretty great photos with my iPhone and I get a lot of comments on them, I was even a finalist in a local photo contest and nobody could believe it was taken with an iPhone, that one in particular, my 4s. There are way too many awesome photos to post at once, so I will post some for now, and many more another time!

There are way too many awesome photos to post at once, so I will post some for now, and many more another time!

 

 

12 Fun Ways to Burn 100 Calories

I found this great infographic created by Chobani with 12 fun ways to burn 100 calories!


Who'd have though SHOPPING could burn calories? (OK it makes sense now that I think about it; the running around the store, the burn in your arms as you insist on carrying everything rather than use a cart!)

Don't underestimate these everyday routine activities that burn calories; they count, and you've earned it!  Be sure to log these babies in your calorie counter/fitness app if you have one!

Eating right also contributes to a healthy lifestyle, my biggest weakness is snacking, and boy do I have a sweet tooth!

Chobani wants inspire all of us to make healthier choices, and have created a whole range of delicious, naturally sweetened Greek Yogurt products, full flavor and satisfaction for just 100 calories.

This is awesome for me; my sweet tooth is satisfied thanks to flavors like "Strawberry Chocolate Truffle (Right!!!) and much healthier than my "just grabbing a chocolate bar for lunch" habit (I know, it's terrible, don't judge me!)

Chobani has some great info on their website including healthy recipes, nutrition information, and so much more. Check it all out HERE.

Now, to clean the house, or go shopping....the more shopping I do, the more calories  I burn! :)

I'd love to hear your healthy tips!

Standing up for what you believe in - A guest blog post by Denny

Standing up for what you believe in even if it means standing alone

Standing up for what you believe in is not always the easiest thing but it is very beneficial. Make sure you know what you believe in and make sure it is a good cause, standing up for good cause can make a world of difference for you and for anybody else involved. Believe you can make a difference despite how others may try and put you down.

The benefits of standing up for what you believe in are:
1. This build your confidence.
2.It gives you a sense of self.
3. It makes you develop self respect. 
4. This builds your integrity.
5. Helps you be more independent

From now on make your stand and believe you can make a difference despite the odds.

For more inspirational and motivational posts, visit Denny's blog HERE

Would you like to be a guest blogger?

I am currently accepting guest blogger posts! You choose the subject! If you are interested, send me a message chalene8@yahoo.ca 

Bring back the bees - FREE pack of wildflower seeds

Bees are quickly disappearing from all over the world, and it's time to do something about it! Honey Nut Cheerios is offering a free pack of wildflower seeds to Canadians to help with this serious problem. Bees need wildflower pollen and nectar to stay happy and healthy, so planting wildflowers is a fun, easy way to help the bees.  Click HERE to order your FREE pack of wildflower seeds and help #bringbackthebees

Easy silk tie dyed Easter eggs

Here is  fun new way to dye Easter eggs, using silk ties from thrift stores! These are so cool and each one turns out different! Let's get started! Here is what you'll need:

- Eggs (full or empty. Blown out eggs last way longer) (I'll explain how to blow out an egg later)

- 100% silk ties (must be 100% or this won't work! Check the label before buying, I purchased mine at thrift shops for next to nothing)
- White light weight cotton material such as an old pillow case, tee shirt, I used an old receiving blanket
- Pot of water

- Twist ties

- 1/4 cup of white vinegar 

*Start by cutting the ties apart into sections large enough to cover your egg 

*Wrap egg carefully but tightly in in the material with the good side touching the egg (so the part  that would be facing out of you were to put the tie on!)

*Next secure the material with a twist tie 

*Wrap your little bundle in a piece of the light weight white cotton and secure with another twist tie

*Carefully place your tied up packaged into a pot of water so they're covered. then add your vinegar, bring to a boil

*Continue boiling for 20 minutes 

*Remove with tongs 

Please try and let them cool before you unwrap them! I know it's EGGciting, but believe me, those suckers are hot!
That's it! You're done!
You can find the exact post I followed here 



Here is my favorite one, I call it "Eggvas" lol!

 

Time flies...

Wow, I haven't been on here since mid April! I have good reason though; within the past couple of months I have changed jobs AND purchased and renovated my first home! So, yeah, I've been extremely busy! 

I hope everyone is having a great summer, despite all the stupid rain we've been getting, but I guess as everyone says "we need the rain"...no, we NEED the sun!!! lol

I will be on here more frequently now, and will post some before and after pictures of my renovation adventure!

How to save $1,378 Almost effortlessly, and what you can buy for that

I used to always want to try to save $1.00 a day, then after a year, I would have $365! I tried, and I failed...I didn't always have $1 on me, so I would "owe" myself, sometimes putting in $5.00 after 5 days, and it was hard to keep track of. One time,I even tried taping loonies to each day on the calendar so I knew I had saved for that day.(Stop laughing!) The calendar became heavy and it just didn't work, so I gave up!
Recently, somebody had posted on Facebook, about a "52 Week Money Challenge" It's SO easy...for 52 weeks (1 year) you deposit the dollar amount for whatever week you're on (so if you are on week 10, you deposit $10) into a separate bank account, and week after week, watch it grow! I am currently on week 16 and haven't missed a deposit!

I have made my deposit day, every Monday. I have this chart printed out and beside my desk at work, and every time I complete my deposit, I use a highlighter and put a line through the week!
So...after a year, if you are faithful and don't go spending your almost effortlessly saved money before the year is up, you will have $1,378 ! (plus a little accumulated interest!) What can you buy for $1,378 ???? Well I have done a little research and here is what you can buy for exactly that amount:

A Mori Lee Wedding Dress ( I know, I've never heard of them either...but just sayin'!) Or how about a Citizen Men's BL5446-51H Signature Collection Eco-Drive Perpetual Calendar Chronograph Watch (Say that 5 times fast!) Or how about a Coach tour through the Canadian Rockies???
The possibilities are endless (well...almost!) So give it a try! Save for a rainy day, a well-deserved vacation, whatever you like! Good luck and happy $aving!!!!

Did you know...you can get items FREE or discounted if the price scans in wrong???

Yep, that is right! it's called Scanning Code Of Practice, or SCOP!
It is actually a federal law to visibly demonstrate retailer commitment to scanner price accuracy!

What does this mean? Well, say you are out shopping and you purchase something that is on sale for $5.00 and it rings in at the register at a higher price...well because it was advertised on sale for $5.00, you get that item FREE!!! yes FREE!!! OR if the item is over $10, you would receive $10 off!

Believe it or not, but this actually happens quite frequently and most people don't notice or they do but don't know about SCOP. Most times, cashiers won't voluntarily tell you about SCOP or offer the item free, so you have to mention it to them if you see an error. Make sure you say "that item scanned in wrong" then I usually wait for them to verify that it did come up wrong, then I say "that means I get it free because of the scanning code of practice...right?"  after that, everything is usually pretty good, occasionally you get a cranky cashier that gets all defensive, but usually they're ok!

For more information about SCOP you can go right HERE to the Government of Canada website and check it out for yourself!

So...pay close attention to those monitors next time you shop! You never know when an item scans in wrong!

Well, here it is, April 1st...April Fools' Day! I could tell  you I'm hosting a huge contest where everybody's a winner, or I could scare the crap outta my friends and family by announcing I am pregnant with twins, or I could put sarran wrap on the toilet seat...but those things are just plain cruel!  Sure I've had my share of jokes and pranks in the past, but now that I'm older, I'm not really into it. I think jokes and pranks are more funnier when you least expect it! And April 1st, everyone's walking around all paranoid that something will happen to them!
I dunno...maybe I'm boring, or dull, but it's just not my cup of tea. Sure I'll be surprised and laugh if I'm pranked...depending on what it is..I might get really pissed off and offended too! But regardless...It is April, it is the beginning of Spring and no matter of you celebrate this day of fools or not...have a great day!