Essential Oils and FREE Diffuser Necklace for Christmas

If you're like me, you definitely don't have your Christmas shopping done, you are desperately trying to get any discount, coupon and offer out there, but you also don't ever compromise on quality when it comes to health and wellness.

It's with you in mind that I am offering this gift when you grab your Young Living starter kit of awesomeness and give yourself and your family a gift you will NEVER regret.

I always recommend getting started with the premium starter kit for $160 because it is the best deal and comes with 11 bottles of oil and a diffuser. The diffuser retails at almost $100 - so it's a fabulous deal! BONUS - this month, you also get the Christmas Spirit blend for FREE with the kit!

Not a day has gone by since I got my kit years ago that I haven't been over-the-moon thankful for my oils. Just a few of my favorites from the kit:

• Thieves - we use Thieves daily for boosting our immune system and I love that I can use it topically OR in my diffuser. The diffuser is really helpful to have because I can fight airborne germies that way too! Love it! 
• Lavender - we use Lavender for calming, supporting skin, in our owie roller, and in our Sweet Dreams bedtime spray - it's my most reached for oil! 
• Peppermint -  we love this one for when your head starts pounding, your tummy starts feeling funky, and as a great energy boost in the diffuser. 

I use my oils from the starter kit each and every day, and you can see more in this graphic from my December newsletter below.

When you buy your kit before December 31st, I will also send you a diffuser necklace for you to enjoy with your oils.

Whether you are brand new to oils or have been learning little bits at a time, I am here to help you learn (because you know I can't turn the teacher-in-me off) and walk with you on your journey toward health and wellness. Here we go!

 You can order here. 

Hurry - my offer ends Dec. 31st!

Check out these other posts to get more ideas on how you will be using your oils:

•  Orange Essential oil recipes
• 4 Essential Oil Must-Haves for your home 
• The Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils
• Essential Oil Q + A: How and Why to Use Them

What is REALLY in Your Thanksgiving Turkey?

Have you ever taken a closer look at your Thanksgiving turkey? What is really in that giant bird?

• Do you know where it is grown? 
• Is it allowed to live as a turkey should live - humanely, raised to it's naturally intended weight?
• Is it given antibiotics, growth stimulants or hormones? (hint, hint - why do you think your turkey is so gigantic?)
• What is it fed?
• Is it pumped full of artificial ingredients, preservatives, MSG or other additives?

When looking at conventional turkeys grown and sold as cheaply as possible, you will find some scary stuff. For example, Butterball LLC, which sells about 12 million whole turkeys for Thanksgiving, injects its frozen whole turkeys with a solution to "keep the turkey moist and help prevent it from drying out during cooking, and for flavor," according to the company. Additives include salt, natural flavors, modified food starch and sodium phosphates. Food Babe also has a great article about the dangers lurking in the average turkey.

Ummmm...no thanks.

I prefer to eat an old-fashioned turkey. And yes, you can still find them.

Check out one of the last small, family-owned turkey grower-processors in the United States,  the Diestel Family Turkey Ranch. Their ranching style, family-farming secrets, and strict sustainable standards consistently produce a better, tender and juicier turkey with real, old-fashioned flavor. Sustainably raising turkeys for four generations, all of  Diestel’s birds are:

• Slow grown; raised almost 2x as long and given 3x as much space as conventional birds 
• Raised to their naturally intended weight giving the turkeys exceptional taste and texture
• No gluten, casein, carrageenan, phosphates, MSG, artificial ingredients or preservatives 
• No antibiotics, growth stimulants, or hormones
• 100% vegetarian diet, enhanced with vitamins and minerals, milled and mixed daily on the ranch
• GAP rated; Diestel’s pasture raised birds received GAP’s highest 5+ rating 

Diestel generously sent me one of their organic turkeys, and I am beyond thrilled to serve it to my family. They shipped it to my front door, and it was such a convenient and easy process. You can also find them at Whole Foods and right on the Diestel online store.

Yes, organic, sustainably raised turkeys are more expensive. But I expect that to be the case. The great thing is - Thanksgiving is a special occasion. I am happy to splurge a bit once a year on a quality, healthy turkey that is going to nourish my family.

What do you think? Have you thought twice about what is really in your Thanksgiving turkey?

Thanks to Diestel for providing a turkey for me to try out with my family. No other compensation was given, and this is all my opinion.

4 Essential Oil Must-Haves For Your Home

Let's talk more about essential oils today. If you missed Part 1 - How To Use Essential Oils, make sure to check it out first. Before I tell you about some of my favorite oils and their uses, let me just say that it is important to make sure you are using high quality, therapeutic-grade oils that are in a dark glass container to keep the light from affecting them. Also, as I said in Part 1, use caution when applying oils.

Alrighty, with that said, here are some of my favorites:

Lavender - Lavender is so versatile and so very gentle that it can be used by almost anyone. It is especially great for supporting healing skin irritations or cuts. I really love the smell too. It has a sweet and calming scent, and I love it to put a little on my neck as a natural fragrance. Here are some more uses:

• rub a drop on your palms, bottoms of feet, or smooth on your pillow to support sleep

• add a few drops to a dryer ball to make clean clothes smell amazing

• rub on dry or chapped skin

• use 2-4 drops as deodorant

• put a few drops on a wet cloth and throw it into the dryer to scent clothes, deodorize and freshen the laundry

• apply 2-3 drops to a rash to support healthy skin 

• diffuse in a room or put a drop on a diffuser necklace to support calmness in stressful situations

Lemon - Lemon is so fresh and energizing. I love even just opening my bottle and taking a deep breath of it for a pick me up! The one thing you do have to be careful about with lemon is that you don't want to put it on any skin that will be exposed to direct sunlight within 72 hours. Here are my fave uses:

• Add 1 drop to your glass of water to give it a nice zing

• Rub a drop on a cutting board to cleanse bacteria

• Add 2-3 drops to water and spray counters to disinfect

• Diffuse it to give you a great mood boost

• add to a drop of honey to soothe a cough or sore throat

• apply directly to cold sores for relief

• remove gum, label stickers, and greasy messes from fabric

Peppermint - Peppermint is well known for soothing digestive problems. It has also been studied for it's ability to improve concentration and trigger your sense of fullness after meals. We like the sound of that, right? Here are more uses:

• Rub a drop on temples, forehead or back of neck for headache relief (this is my favorite remedy for headaches)

• Place a drop on the tongue and inhale into the nose and sinuses to relieve congestion from a cold

• Place a couple drops in a cup of hot water and enjoy in place of coffee

• Mix in footbath to relieve sore feet  

• Rub on your stomach or feet to calm upset stomach

• Diffuse during a meal to help you feel full

• Add to shampoo or conditioner for a stimulating hair and scalp massage

Tea Tree - This is another favorite of mine, which we use a lot in my household. Tea Tree is another good one for skin conditions. Here's more:

• put a couple drops in your shampoo to help with dandruff

• put a little on a cut, burn, or insect bites to support healthy skin

• add 2 drops to a bit of carrier oil and spread on eczema

• dab a drop on skin blemishes to support healthy skin 

• combine a few drops with a carrier oil and use to support healthy skin for athlete's foot and eczema

• use combined with salt to scrub your bath or bathroom tiles

These are just four of my favorite essential oils. There are many more out there, and they are a great way to clean, disinfect, and help heal our body naturally, while being safe for our families and the environment! I would love to hear how you use essential oils and which are your favorite. Share, share, share!!

Also, check out:

Essential Oil Q+A: How and Why to Use Them

What is Aromatherapy

The Swiss Army Knife of Essential Oils

Let me know if I can answer more of your questions or guide you in your essential oil journey. I am here to help! If you would like to be added to a free, educational resource full of people sharing how they use oils, ask to join the Apothecary Society. It is one of my favorite places to go to get ideas about how others are using their oils and what they love about them. Everyone is so positive and helpful. I just love it! (And no, nobody will be trying to sell you anything!) You can tell them that I (Cara Nitz) sent you over.

Essential Oil Q + A: How and Why To Use Them

While I have had a long standing, loving relationship with essential oils as you can see here, here and especially here, I had been using them without a huge amount of expertise and only as situations arose that I needed them.

Several weeks ago, Audra Bassett, my wonderful friend with a lot more know-how about oils that I have, wondered if I might be interested in learning more about essential oils and using them on a more regular basis. Learn more about something natural and healthy? Of course!

She sent me this fabulous book, The Essential Oil Truth - The Facts Without the Hype by Jen O'Sullivan, which I read in about a day or two and then re-read several times after. From there, I started using oils and oil blends daily with my whole family. I am super excited to share what I have learned with YOU!

I am going to be doing a three-part essential oils series. Today is the first part, answering your questions about how and why to use them.

Let's get started:

Question #1 - Why would I use essential oils?

I could give you about a million reasons. The biggest and best is because we are in a bit of a health crisis in our country. Much of that is due to unhealthy lifestyles, scary ingredients in the majority of products sold, and people being handed out quick fixes that mask the problem. Symptoms are our bodies way of telling us there is something wrong. When we try to get rid of them with a quick chemical fix that has a slew of side effects, instead of dealing with what is really wrong with our bodies, it often just gets worse and worse.

Oils are different. They are natural - from plants. They are safe. They are effective. And they smell sooooo good. As a mom of four with a lot of responsibilities, I feel comfortable using oils to help myself, my hubby and my children stay healthy.

Question #2 - What are essential oils? Are they safe?

An essential oil is a liquid that is generally distilled from the leaves, stems, flowers, bark, roots, or other elements of a plant. Essential oils are the life-force of the plant, much like our blood. They are highly concentrated, and you only need a little to go a long way. They have been used for centuries, not just for their beautiful natural scent, but for their antibacterial healing properties as well. I love using them for anything from headaches to stomachaches, from an air purifier to hand sanitizer.

They are safe when used properly for people and animals. I recommend that you always start out with a very small amount along with a carrier oil, such as coconut oil or olive oil. Apply a bit to your skin and see how your body reacts. Always do your own research and be responsible. I do not personally ingest essential oils, but if you do, MAKE SURE you use only the very best quality and be very informed about that choice.

Basically, essential oils are natural and very very safe, especially when compared to the alternatives - pharmaceuticals, prescription drugs, etc. But again, I cannot stress this enough - make sure you use only the very best quality.

Questions #3 - How do you use essential oils safely?

See my note on how to use them safely in the above question. But to expand on that, let me share with you the ways I use them. Here is a different post I wrote sharing how I use essential oils.

Oils can be used in three different methods: topically, aromatically, and internally.

Topically - This is applying the oil onto our skin. Oils can either be applied undiluted (neat), or with a carrier oil (which slows absorption). Always follow the directions on the label, and when in doubt, dilute. If any burning occurs or you get it in your eyes, never try to was it away with water. Oil and water don’t mix! “Wash” it off by adding more carrier oil.

Aromatherapy - This is inhalation of the oils. You can use a diffuser (pictured below), place your head over a steaming bowl of water with a few drops added, or directly inhale from your hands or the bottle. When doing so, you trigger aromareceptors, triggering chemical responses in the body.

Internally - This is through direct absorption of the digestive tract. Like I said before, I personally choose not to do this one. I may try it once in a great while, but have not decided to do that at the present time. Surely do NOT ingest any oil that does not say that it can be used as a dietary supplement right on the label. Again, do your own research and make informed decisions. Make sure you know where your oils are grown and how they are handled all the way to the bottle.

Question #4 - Which brand is the best? Why?

I have tried out many brands and you have probably seen me talk about them on my blog throughout the past 7 years. There is one company that I have used throughout my entire time using essential oils - Young Living. They were my first love, and after looking very, very closely at the differences between essential oil companies, I am now ready to say they are my only love.

Let me share with you why.

Did you know that you only need 5% pure essential oil in a bottle to claim it is 100% pure? Unfortunately, that is totally true. So while the labels on that grocery store brand may spout they are "100% pure" it is not what you are expecting in that bottle. Typically it's a little essential oil, and up to 95% additives, fillers, and synthetics - things that will lower the price and quality and result in you needing to use more, or worse, having a reaction to the "other 95%" they added to that bottle. You may notice the other labels say "for inhalation or aromatherapy use only". This means you shouldn't even put those brands on your skin. Some other brands will smell good and work wonders for your needs, but personally, I choose the brand that goes beyond smelling good, and has been tested for use beyond aromatherapy.

Just like I choose high-quality, organic nourishing foods for my body, I want to choose high-quality, organic nourishing oils for my body. I like to know as much about things that go on, in or around my body as I possibly can. My tips for you when choosing essential oils are:

• know where the company grows their crops

• know what they use to fertilize and treat the crops

• know their harvest process

• know their distillation process

• know EXACTLY what they are putting in that bottle

When I use Young Living, I know I am getting the purest essential oil in that bottle, nothing more. No additives, no synthetics, just pure, essential oil goodness. In fact, they have a Seed to Seal Guarantee that is unmatched by any competitor. That is why they work.

P.S. Did you know you can even go to Young Living's farms and help plant, harvest and distill crops? Yup, you can watch and be a part of the ENTIRE process. I think that just rocks!

Not all brands are created equal, and it is up to individuals to determine what is best for their family based on the research they are aware of. Do your research, no matter which oils you choose, make sure you know exactly what is in that bottle and be confident in using it on yourself and your family.

Let me know if I can answer more of your questions or guide you in your essential oil journey. I am here to help! If you would like to be added to a free, educational resource full of people sharing how they use oils, ask to join the Hello Essentials. It is one of my favorite places to go to get ideas about how others are using their oils and what they love about them. Everyone is so positive and helpful. I just love it! (And no, nobody will be trying to sell you anything!) You can tell them that I (Cara Nitz) sent you over.

Next post, I will be talking about how oils have helped me when I am suffering from stress and headaches. Stay tuned...

4 Tips to Make Fall Cleanup Enjoyable

 I received products for review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Have you seen those beautiful colors outside? Wow! God is the most amazing artist! Too bad the gorgeous leaves do not last longer. Before we know it, they are scattered all over the place, and it is our job to clean them all up. Instead of thinking of this as a bummer chore that you have to do each fall, how about enjoying the process and getting it done easier?

• Did you know that the design of the basic rake hasn’t changed for more than 100 years? Until now! I just received the awesome Groundskeeper II rake, which features unique wire-like tines that are adept at grabbing and gathering leaves with a single pass, and the head is 21 inches wide for quickly cleaning a large yard. Because of the aggressive angle of the tines, using the rake requires little or no downward pressure. You can stand straight up while using the rake, thereby reducing the pressure on your back and making the job easier. Whoa! Dare I say life-changer?

• While you are raking with this awesome new rake, enjoy the smells, sights and sounds of fall - squirrels chirping, birds singing, geese honking as they fly south, the intricacy of the very leaves you are raking. It makes a difference when you are looking for things to appreciate instead of things to complain about. Don't forget - since the Groundskeeper II weighs in at less than two pounds, is super durable and takes the pain out of raking, you will naturally be enjoying this chore more. Find yours at http://www.best-rake-ever.com.

• Once you rake up all those leaves, now it is time to jump, jump, jump. It is easy to act like a kid when you have kids. But, even if you don't have little ones running around, you can still act like a kid. Rake up a big leaf pile and jump away. I bet you will be smiling and laughing and making great memories!

• Now, how about using those leaves to benefit your gardens and trees by turning the yard and kitchen waste into rich, natural fertilizer? Ever tried a compost pile? We have. But it is pretty ugly. Now, we are using the Compost Sak, which is a bag made of breathable fabric, which allows air flow to the contents inside the bag, and aeration promotes the microbial activity that is the key to successful composting. As you can see below, it looks a lot nicer than our current compost pile, plus it keeps away critters and can be transported easier. Just fill the bag, which is 30 inches wide and 38 inches tall, so it comfortably holds up to 100 gallons of yard waste, with yard waste and kitchen scraps, mix it around a bit with a broom handle or long-handled tool, and let it turn into fertilizer. The Compost Sak is cheaper than other compost bins at only $39.95. Find it at garden center stores and online at http://smartpot.com/compostsak/html/buy_sak.html.

Time to turn these chores into a joyful time to enjoy nature and all it offers us!

New Fall Books for Kids

I received books for review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

As the weather gets colder, it is the perfect time to snuggle in and read to the child in your life. I treasure those times with my children, and I know I am helping them develop a love of reading and so much more.

Check out these new fall books from Dawn Publications - one of my favorite companies for educational, entertaining, beautiful kids books.

 We love raw honey in our home. In fact, I would love to have a few beehives in our backyard. Honey is a sweet gift from nature. Did you know honey is linked in a very real way to dandelions, earthworms, mushrooms, the old oak tree and even the blue jays squawking in its branches?
If You Love Honey by Martha Sullivan and illustrated by Cathy Morrison explores how nature is connected and how we get our delicious honey - a great lesson for our kids. The author fell in love with bees as an amateur beekeeper, and then learned to appreciate flowering plants – even ones she once considered weeds – as an important nectar source. And then she realized how the plants were connected to insects and soil. Throughout the book, you and your children will learn a lot about how nature is connected. A simple but accurate diagram in the back of the book also explains how bees make honey and also pollinate plants, as well as the role of beneficial insects and decomposers. Make sure you also check out the activities and recipe for children. You can spend a whole week built around the fun you can have with this book!

Mighty Mole and Super Soil by Mary Quattlebaum and illustrated by Chad Wallace is a beautiful story about the little-known mole. Below your feet, Mighty Mole is on the move. Like a swimmer in dirt, she strokes through the soil. Her tunnels are everywhere! She finds food, eludes a predator, has a family, and helps to make Super Soil. Moles live almost everywhere yet are rarely seen. Similarly, soil is a largely invisible ecosystem and yet is vital to the health of the world. This book is not only very informational, it is beautifully illustrated! The pictures appear almost lifelike, truly gorgeous. Following the story, make sure you check out two “Explore More for Kids” pages, which offer a matching challenge and a review of some of the remarkable traits that make moles “mighty.” Two additional pages of “Explore More for Teachers and Parents” offers activities in visual and language arts, science, technology, and math.

Snuggle up on the couch for a good book, and then learn along with your children as you explore more in the many activities. Find more fun ideas for learning further at www.dawnpub.com.

Sustainable Stylish Sunglasses

I was provided product for review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are my own.

How many pairs of plastic sunglasses end up in our landfills? I don’t actually have a number for you, but judging by how many sunglasses most people go through in a lifetime, I am guessing it is a lot!

What is the alternative?

How about sustainably sourced and repurposed men’s and women’s sunglasses and RX eyewear?

Woodzee is a company that offers just such products! And now, they are going one step further and offering their first Woodzee collection that is made in America, thanks to their collaboration with Maker’s Mark.

They are going against the grain of overseas production with an American-made line of wood sunglasses produced in collaboration with Maker’s Mark, the name in small-batch bourbon whisky. Maker’s Mark barrels are recycled by Woodzee to create unique, hand-charred sunglasses. Wow! What a pair of sunglasses! Take a look.

As the proud owner of a pair of Woodzee sunglasses, I know the quality and care that goes into each pair. Not only are they durable and well-made, they are also unique and earth-friendly. I am very proud of Woodzee for crafting these right here in America. The entire production of these collaborative sunglasses is completed in California, where Woodzee designs, manufactures and ships the finished product. With a factory in the company’s hometown of Chico, Woodzee is able to ensure high standards, fair wages and exceptional manufacturing. These sunglasses are made with nontoxic materials from sustainably sourced American woods, yielding an overall better product. Taking production to the next level, this line of sunglasses also introduces science into the equation with patent-pending IsoShok^TM technology and high-quality polycarbonate lenses.

"It's not just made in the United States, it's made better," Luke Winter, Founder.

If you want a pair of sunglasses that combine style and nature, you will love Woodzee sunglasses. I know I sure do!

Woodzee’s Maker’s Mark sunglasses are available at www.woodzee.com. There is one style available of the Makers Mark line, with more styles debuting in the New Year. Size options are small/medium or medium/large. Make sure to check out their other lines, as well.

Tips for Harvesting Your Garden

I received product for this review. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own.

After the hard work you have put into your garden this summer, it is time to enjoy the fruits (and veggies) of your labor! What I love most is being able to take just a few steps down my deck to pick fresh produce to add to all our meals. It is the MOST fresh, delicious and healthy part of our meals. 

Here are some of my favorite tips and gardening ideas:

• Tips for Eating Locally
• Get Your Garden on this Winter
• The Lovely Edible Weed, Purslane
• Recipes for Garden Veggies
• Health Benefits of Gardening
• How to Get Your Child Involved in Gardening
• Epsom Salt: The Unknown Gardening Friend
• What Are the Dangers of Pesticides?

Now, let me share a few of my new, favorite products to make harvesting your garden even more enjoyable!

• Having trouble digging to find your potatoes or other under-the-ground produce? We have spent many hours trying to find our potatoes in our garden or even growing in our compost pile, and it is much easier with a sturdy digging fork. If you do not have one yet, I would recommend the one we have, the Joseph Bentley Stainless Steel Digging Fork. Not only is it helpful for harvesting your garden, it is also the perfect tool for turning over your soil (yes, we prepare our garden soil all by hand - no tiller for us!), aerating your flower beds, or just breaking up clumps of dirt. Trust me, you need a super sturdy fork, and this one is just that! It has stainless steel tines that will last forever! It also has an extra-long steel shaft joined to a wooden handle made of solid ash. The grip of the handle helps you do your gardening with just a little more ease. Highly recommend getting yourself a quality digging fork like this one if you do any sort of gardening. Look for it at www.homedepot.com and www.amazon.com.

•  See those pesky, sharp edges on my squash plants? If you find yourself with little prickers or cuts from your cucumbers, squash, thorny weeds, or rosebushes, then make sure you have some protective gardening gloves. These Jackson and Perkins Rose Gloves are one of my favorite garden products. They provide all the protection you will need, since they climb all the way up your forearm. Plus, they feature a lightweight, synthetic leather padded palm and reinforced fingertips, so those thorns will not sink through the glove material, like many others I have tried. When the gloves get dirty, they can be machine washed on a gentle cycle and line dried. Find them in two sizes—medium and large from www.jacksonandperkins.com.

• What if your garden is already almost done being harvested? Do you have to wait for fresh food until next year? No!! Check out your local farmers market, find a local farmer near you that you can buy direct from, or try growing some food in your home during those cold winter months. We love growing herbs year round in small pots throughout our home. And this year, we are going to try to grow sprouts right on our kitchen counter. Organic sprouts can be easily grown on your kitchen counter, and they are low in calories, high in fiber, and packed with nutrition. Alfalfa sprouts are one of the most popular sprouts due to their ability to be added to salads, sandwiches and many other dishes. They have a sweet, fresh taste—and alfalfa sprouts are an excellent source of vitamins including vitamins A, D, E, and K. Mung bean sprouts, which have been cultivated in Asia for thousands of years, have a crisp nutty flavor that can be stir-fried or eaten raw in salads. Today, “bean sprouts” are virtually synonymous with mung bean sprouts, and the popularity of this nutritious sprout continues to grow. They are a good source of protein, fiber and vitamins. We are using Sungarden Sprouts, which offers Alfalfa and Mung bean seeds for sprouting, plus Broccoli, Clover, Wheat, Spicy Mix, Crispy Mix and Bean Mix… most available organically! All seeds are thoroughly tested to be free of human or plant based pathogens. Sungarden tests its seeds for good germination and prints the results on every package. I love these! They are another great way to get your veggies into your diet and teach your kids about healthy eating and growing their own food. Find these varieties from www.harrisseeds.com.

What are your tips for harvesting your garden? Favorite recipes with fresh veggies? 

5 Things You Need For a Successful Garden

I received products to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

It is Spring! That means it is time to get those gardens growing. Here in Minnesota we have to wait a few more weeks to really feel safe about it not frosting overnight, but we have already started our planting indoors. If you are on the fence about whether you want to put the effort in, here are five benefits of gardening you may not know!

This is our 5th year having a home garden, and we have learned a lot along the way. Let me share with you a few tips and a few products that will help you to have your best garden yet!

1. First of all, you need somewhere to plant. Maybe you do not have a big backyard. That is okay. You can still garden. I love using the Big Bag Bed when I run out of room in my garden space or if I just want raised beds. The Big Bag Beds make raised bed gardening so easy! Just unfold the bed, fill it with soil and plant—no construction is necessary. 

They are made of a porous fabric which is great for keeping your plants at the perfect temperature - warming in spring and releasing excess heat in summer. They are durable and weatherproof, lasting for years and providing many seasons of delicious produce, herbs, or beautiful flowers. We are currently using our Big Bag Beds for herbs: cilantro, chives, basil. One more tip: these are also great to put any place where you want to mat down your grass and not have to cut it.

The circular Big Bag Bed is available in three sizes: Original, Junior and Mini. We keep our smallest one right on our deck, so I can go pick fresh herbs anytime of the day to use in my cooking. Everyone can garden with Big Bag Beds. You will love them! Prices for the award-winning Big Bag Beds range from $14.95 to $48.95 depending on size and color. For more information got to www.bigbagbed.com.

2. Next, it is time to start planting your seeds. Like I said before, we have to wait until the end of May to get our outdoor garden all planted, because of the chance of frost. But, you can always start plants growing inside. I love using Botanical Interests’ Recycled Paperboard Pots to plant early inside. They are made from 100% recycled, food‑grade paperboard, using low-water and low‑energy methods. 

Simply “pop” open the small paperboard pot, fill it with soil and plant your favorite seed variety. We planted our tomatoes and squash early in these, since they take a longer time to grow. I love that the pots have a perforated bottom that tears away easily, allowing you to place the entire pot in the ground, minimizing root disturbance when transplanting seedlings. Then, the remaining paperboard breaks down in the garden soil or compost pile. Genius, right? Find these awesome paperboard pots in packs of six for $2.99 at local garden centers and on their website.

3. It is time to fertilize! Most of the time our backyard soil is not the best to grow a successful garden with. We have dealt with really sandy soil, dry, with not enough nutrients. We have used our compost over the years to try to make our soil healthier. It has made a difference, but if you want really healthy plants, sometimes you need more. This year, we are trying Worm Power, a premium-quality organic fertilizer made by millions of earthworms. Worm Power Organic Plant Food increases soil fertility and improves plant vigor, root growth and nutrient availability. We have been having trouble with our tomatoes the last couple of years, and I have high hopes that this is going to help!

You can add Worm Power fertilizer to your outdoor garden, and I think it works especially well added to old potting soils to revitalize the tired, depleted soil. It works naturally and effectively on vegetables, flowers, fruit trees, grape vines and house plants. We are even adding it to our rhubarb, little apple tree, and blackberry bush. It is safe, easy to use, and will make a difference in your soil. In fact, Worm Power delivers a guaranteed NPK analysis of 1.5 - 0.7 - 1.5, plus abundant micronutrients and a robust community of beneficial soil microorganisms. To give you an idea of how much you need - one pound of Worm Power fertilizes up to 16 transplants and can be mixed with potting mix at a 10-15% ratio. Find it in 1-pound, 3-pound and 15-pound packages for $6.95 to $29.95 from Harris Seeds.

4. Garden without all the hassle. I cannot tell you how many times I go out to garden in my sandals, only to find, when I am done, that my feet are now black with dirt. Instead of having to use a hose and clean my feet off outside, it is so much easier to have garden-friendly shoes to wear for gardening or playing outside with my kids. Sloggers are the perfect waterproof shoes and boots, and they are super cute too!

I love how easy these are to slip on, and yet they still keep your whole foot clean. They have deep treads to help you move around without slipping on mud or wet grass. I also love the tall boots, which are perfect for puddle-jumping with the kids, walks in the rain, or slogging around your muddy garden.

They are both very comfortable! The best part is that cleaning them is super easy - just hose them off! I also love that the sole contains up to 50% recycled material. When you’re finished with your shoes or boots you can send them back to Sloggers and the company will recycle them in the making of a new pair. I only wish all shoe companies offered this!

Women’s shoes and boots are available in full sizes 6-10. (Half sizes should round up and order a pair of “Half-Sizer Cut-to-Fit Insoles” to make any Sloggers^® boot or shoe ½ size smaller.) You will love all the fun styles and patterns you can choose from. I personally love the polka dots, zebra print, and houndstooth patterns. These awesome Garden Shoes sell for $34.99 and boots sell for $39.99 in garden stores and on their website.  

5. When you have your awesome garden planted and growing, you need to be prepared for pests! Our biggest pests are bunnies and hungry deer. While I love the wildlife coming to visit us, I do not like how they destroy my garden. Last year, they ate my cucumbers, squash, apple tree blossoms, and peas. Not this year!! I am ready. I have Summit Deer Ban repellent capsules to keep those deer, and maybe even the rabbits, away!

No worries! These are very simple to use. Just set out the capsules on the ground every 10 to 20 feet around the plants you want to protect. Then water the capsules to release the active ingredient for up to 90 days of protection. When activated by water, the polymer gel releases the scent of predator urine, which keeps deer away. The scent is odorless to humans, and your hands never touch the active ingredient. There’s no messy spraying, and no mixing or measuring. Since the active ingredient is activated by water, you do not have to worry about it washing away in the water. Find Summit Deer Ban in packages of 20, 50 and 150 capsules at fine garden centers and on their website.

Now that you have some great gardening tips and products that will help your garden succeed, it is time to get outside and grow your own food and flowers. There is nothing like working hard in your garden and then reaping the benefits!

BerryBreeze Review

I received a product to review. No other compensation was given. All opinions expressed are 100% my own.

Do you have any idea how much we Americans waste? According to a report from August 2012 by the National Resources Defense Council, the average American tosses about 25 percent of food and beverages purchased. For a family of four, the money wasted could total from $1,365 to $2,275. Yikes! Can you imagine what people who struggle to put any food on the table think of that?


That is why I got really excited when I heard about the new product, BerryBreeze, an eco-friendly kitchen gadget that works around the clock to defuse all ethylene gasses that speed up the rotting of your foods.

I know that you are trying to eat healthy when you buy tons of fresh fruit and vegetables, but too often those good intentions turn into a moldy, rotting mess. With the BerryBreeze, you can minimize your food waste while keeping your fruits and veggies fresh for up to two to three times longer. With stainless steel vents to time-release activated oxygen, BerryBreeze neutralizes microbes and bacteria to keep foods in a living state, rather than wasting away in your fridge.

My family recently got a membership to Costco, and we have been buying even more fresh produce, because it comes in bulk. The BerryBreeze is so great at helping keep our produce fresher longer, so we are not wasting any of that good nutrition. To give you an example of how well it has worked for us - we have a huge bulk bag of organic carrots that we bought 3 or 4 weeks ago, and they are still crunchy and fresh like we just bought them today.

All you have to do is put the BerryBreeze back in your fridge and check the smell the next day! You will know it is working by the change in smell in your fridge. My husband described it as fresh. I thought it smelled like cold, if cold has a smell. Either way, it does a great job of sanitizing the air in your fridge and eliminating bacterias. I would recommend the BerryBreeze if you find yourself throwing out any produce and wasting your money when things go bad. 

Are you ready to preserve your produce and spend less time spring cleaning the rotten smelly foods out of your fridge? I think we all are! Find BerryBreeze online.

7 Ways To Celebrate Earth Day Every Day!

I was provided with product to try out. I am an independent Shaklee distributor who loves their products and cannot help but recommend them to others. No other compensation was given. All opinions are 100% my own.

Earth Day is coming up on April 22nd, but I think we should all get started celebrating today and keep celebrating all year round! After all, keeping the Earth healthy and clean has to start with each of us making habits that preserve this great planet we live on!

Here are 7 very easy ways to do just that (and save yourself quite a bit of money):

1. Start replacing plastic with other things! Get a few cloth bags to use instead of wasting grocery bag after grocery bag. Use a BPA-free reusable water bottle instead of buying bottle after bottle of water. Money saved! Happy Earth!

2. Start using concentrated, naturally safe cleaning products in your home. Did you know you are not supposed to throw conventional cleaning products away in your garbage? You need to find a TOXIC WASTE site! Why would you want to use something so dangerous in your home? About 7 years ago, we switched out all of our cleaning products for Shaklee's Get Clean products. These products are not only safe and natural, but they are going to save you tons of money!

For instance, Shaklee's Basic H2 organic super concentrated cleaner, which my family has been using for over 4 generations, will literally save your family THOUSANDS of dollars over traditional cleaners AND any other “Green” cleaners available. For instance, one bottle of Basic H2 equals the cleaning uses of 5,824 bottles of 26 oz. Windex, and its not as dangerous to your health as Windex is. It works as well and even better than the other cleaners on the market (traditional and “green”). And yes, there are clinical studies to prove this.

Here are a few of the ways you can use the Basic H2:
I use it to wash my fruits and vegetables (it is that safe) but I also use it to clean my hardwood floors,
clean my tile floors, clean my vinyl floors, use it on my garden as a safe alternative to pesticide, use it to run moles/voles out of my yard, my husband uses it to shave, clean my wood cabinets, dust all my furniture, clean my kitchen counters, remove spots from our carpet, clean my bathroom, use as a mosquito repellant, use it to soothe and treat burns and many other uses!

3. Think about where your fish comes from. I am a huge advocate for eating healthy fish, like Alaskan salmon, sardines, anchovies, even responsibly caught tuna. While a great source of lean protein, Omega 3 and other vitamins and minerals, some fish also have high mercury levels, and if eaten often enough can cause a mercury build up in the body leading to unwanted side effects. One type of fish with potentially high mercury levels that has been an American favorite for generations is canned tuna. We love tuna in our house, but have cut it out for so long, because I wanted to stay away from mercury, BPA laden cans, and did not approve of the fishing methods that are often used.

Now, for the first time, Safe Catch is a new company that is the only 100% mercury tested tuna on the market and it is also cooked using a unique method that seals in more Omega 3s than other brands. Their tuna is traceable from sea to table, and they buy from captains whose catch methods minimize environmental impact. They are very passionate about keeping oceans pure and protecting our Earth. You can pre-order your Safe Catch tuna today!

4. Reduce your disposable tableware use or replace it with sustainable products. Although I do not use disposable plates and cups often, I know there is a time and place when they save you a LOT of time and hassle. You will save a lot of waste if you only use them during those occasions. Plus, what if you could use guilt-free tableware made from plants? I love the whole Repurpose line of innovative, green, single-serve tableware made exclusively from plants.

Their cups, bowls, plates, forks, spoons and knives are made from corn, sugar and bamboo, all of which are annually-renewable resources. They are also BPA-free, chlorine-free, petroleum-free and use only soy-based inks. And unlike traditional plastic or even paper items, all Repurpose products are 100% compostable in an industrial composter. Yay! Plus, Repurpose products are not flimsy or easy breakable. They are high quality products that get the job done!

5. Lower your electricity bill. Turn down your heat in the winter just a few degrees and add a layer of clothing. No, you will not die a frozen Popsicle. In the summer, open the windows and try to save the air conditioning for when it is really, really hot. Turn off all lights in the rooms you are not using. These are all great habits to get started today!

6. Pick up trash that you see on neighborhood walks. Too gross for you? If you can pick up your pets poo, then you can pick up an empty bottle, can and other trash that is polluting our world and could be causing harm to the animals. It just takes a second, but has a great impact.

7. Make a difference with your purchases. When you are shopping at the store, the choices you make and how you spend your money makes a difference! The more healthy, sustainable food and products you buy, the more will be made. We can transform what companies make by what we buy! One company that walks a green walk is Annie’s. In fact, they have purchased 42 Million pounds of organic ingredients, have reforested 296 Acres of degraded land with NativeEnergy via the Oka Trees of Hope Project. Plus, more than 90% of Annie’s packaging (by weight) is recyclable and $459K will be donated this year to organizations supporting a sustainable food system. My favorite organic product is their Annie’s Organic Grass Fed Mac & Cheese - which is made with 100% real cheese from grass fed cows. Awesome!

Enjoy your Earth day, making small changes that will have a BIG impact on our planet!