I know, I know…you all need a pedicure. This foot scrub came highly recommended and my girls and I made it this past weekend and it is a winner!! You can easily use this everyday for a therapeutic and pampering foot spa treatment!!! Most of the items you already have around your house. And the more you use it, the softer your feet will be. Keep a jar in your shower and you will be amazed with the results!!! And during this quarantine, who does not love a DIY!!!!!!!!
INGREDIENTS
adapted from Family Savvy
- 1/3 cup Listerine (the green version is recommended for color and smell)
- 1/3 cup white vinegar
- approximately 2 cups white sugar
- 1 TB melted coconut oil (optional but helps moisturize)
- a few drops of peppermint oil (adds A tingle and fresh smell)
INSTRUCTIONS
- Pour sugar into small glass container.
- Mix vinegar and Listerine in small bowl; stir well.
- Pour vinegar and Listerine over sugar; stir until combined.
- Add coconut oil and peppermint oil.
- Add more sugar if needed to reach desired consistency.
- Use daily for soft, smooth, sandal-ready toes
While spending a lot of time at home things around the house can start to feel a bit old and tired fast. You may decide that it is time to do some renovations. It’s a great way to add value to your home and make everything feel more welcoming again, but improvements can be expensive. Many people find themselves in a tough situation because they want to improve their home but they don’t want to spend a lot of money. But what if you could make the changes that you want without breaking the bank? As long as you follow these tips, you can save a lot of money on home renovations.
Repair Instead Of Replace
If you are renovating a room like a kitchen, for example, you may decide that you are going to replace all of the appliances in there. But that is going to get expensive very quickly, so you need to find another way. The thing is, those appliances are probably fine and if they do have any small issues, they can easily be fixed by an appliance repair company, which is a lot cheaper. As long as you take care of your appliances properly, there is no need to replace them every time you do work on your home.
Clean Instead Of Paint
In some cases, when paint is peeling off the walls, it’s best to strip it back and give the walls another coat of paint. However, when it comes to the exterior of your home, there may be no need to paint the walls because they may just be dirty. Moss and grime builds up over the years and even though your walls don’t look great, the paint underneath is actually in good condition. If you use a house washing service to clean the walls off, you may find that they look as good as new. This will be a lot cheaper and quicker than stripping back and painting your entire house.
Compromise On Materials
Imagine you’re looking at some new tiles for the bathroom and you find some that you fall in love with right away, then you check the price tag and realize that they are very expensive. If you are not willing to compromise, your renovation budget is going to be stretched. The thing is, you can get budget versions of the most expensive materials that will give the same end result. The only difference that you will be able to notice is the big difference in price, so be willing to compromise. You can also save a lot of money if you use reclaimed materials in your home instead of buying brand new.
Set A Budget And Stick To It
If you start shopping for materials and making plans without a budget in place, your spending will spiral out of control in no time at all. But if you draw up a clear budget so you know exactly what your top limit is, you will find it a lot easier to stay under budget and work out where to spend your money.
As part of your budget, you could consider asking for help from at least one professional in your home renovation journey. You don’t want to get the construction team in to do it all for you, and we get that/ however, there are some jobs that you shouldn’t do yourself around the home, and it’s these that you should budget for a professional. For example, you could clean out your gutter yourself, but replacing the gutter systems? That should probably be left to a team of experts who know exactly what they’re doing. This is the time you should budget that little extra so that you can afford to have someone who knows how to work a ladder check out your gutters and give you some feedback. Home renovations don’t have to be mega expensive: you just have to know when to ask for help!
Follow these simple tips and you can cut the cost of home renovations in a big way.
At the beginning of the Pandemic, I promised my readers that I would use any proceeds that I received from my affiliate programs to help those in need during this health crisis. Over the past 12 weeks, I have been able to donate to so many organizations, thanks to the loyalty and support of my many readers. From the Maryknoll Sisters community, which has been devastated by the Coronavirus, to essential workers from New York, Westchester, Connecticut, and Boston, and a handful of other worthy organizations. We have been able to HELP and MAKE A DIFFERENCE. As always, I so appreciate all of you and you will never know how much all of your kind words, emails, texts, and feedback has helped me get through this very difficult time. We really are stronger together!!!
Following is the list of organizations that we were able to contribute to during the Covid 19 crisis…
South Shore Hospital Health Foundation
Let Love Grow Thank You Westchester Essential Workers
St Vincent’s Hospital Westchester Nurse Appreciation
Thrift & Tell Covid 19 Charity Giving
NYC Restaurants Hospital Workers Food Fund
Private Donations to help NS Lifestyle Reader’s Families in need via Facebook
A year ago we received the most wonderful package from my daughter’s friend, a box of the most delicious chocolate-covered Oreos with the Georgetown University logo on them. I had to get to know a little more about the company that makes them, Fully Dipped. Debbie, the owner, who creates all of the amazing cookies will personalize the Oreos for you. She will make a fabulous box for Father’s Day or a special group with a college logo for your favorite graduate. She also makes Birthday cookies Get Well, “Thinking Of You” cookies or ones with many designs that you can choose from. For more information or to create your own box, contact Debbie, by filling out this FORM.
I predict we are going to have A LOT of picnics this summer, with the uncertainty of dining out upon us. But I am actually looking forward to it. I love getting together with my friends. I miss them so much right now. A picnic lunch sounds so divine. Just sit, unpack and talk….wipe the past 11 weeks away and make up for lost time. I think I will make these Greek Salads. I read that there is a special way to assemble these jar salads so they come out just right. First, you add the dressing and any “Juicy” ingredients, then the heavy more sturdy ingredients and finally the delicate lettuce on top. Seal your jar and you are good to go!!! Bon Appetit!!!
adapted from Simply Nourished Living
3 oz Turkey breast, roast or grilled chicken
4 peppadew peppers chopped
1/4 cup Grape tomatoes
1/4 cucumber
2 cups Romaine lettuce
4 Greek kalamata olives
2 tbsp Lemon Tahini (they sell this at whole foods) or Greek Dressing
2 tbsp Feta cheese
Most of my house has a chinoiserie look to it. While I have been sheltering in place, I started thinking that maybe I should carry that look out to the patio. It is work in progress, as is everything around here, but I am going to show you what I used as my inspiration and will hopefully have a finished product of my Chinoiserie Chic patio soon!!!
