I’m growing tomatoes and peppers on the porch!
I’ve been an avid gardener for most of my life. By the time March hits, I’m white knuckling my garden tools and itching to get my hands in the soil. In my neck of the woods planting season is in May and, for me, that’s too long of a wait.
It’s not often that you can give back and shop at the same time, but we are always looking for ways to combine the two! This month is Earth Month, and in honor of Mother Earth, several of our retailers are having sales just for you! One of our favorites is Air & Water, giving you $30 off most orders $300+ with code EARTHDAY.
Not only is the sale saving you money, but Air & Water has great energy efficient products! Plus, you get FREE Shipping on select items! Talk about a win/win for you, your family, and nature!
But, HURRY UP — the sale ends today!!
Shop, share, and save (the Earth) with zuuzs and Air & Water!
Sometimes life is hard work, and all we really want are some fun & games! Luckily, zuuzs sells those too! Here are some fun books, games, and toys to enjoy during a long workweek or a fun weekend!
Entertainment
Games
These two categories may seem different, but for a new mother they go hand-in-hand. Women always need something to make their lives easier, be it the perfect bassinet or a great set of bowls. That is why we are hand-picking a set of products for you all the time…to make your life easier! Shop away!
Baby
Cooking
We know that, as lovely as it sounds, you can’t spend money only on clothing, beauty and jewelry. Luckily, zuuzs offers millions of products from hundreds of retailers, so you have plenty of other things to choose from! What with spring cleaning and summer coming up (i.e. kids home and around all day), it makes sense to have plenty of entertainment and cleaning products around to make your life as easy as possible! That’s what zuuzs is here for, after all…
Appliances
Electronics
Yep, that’s right. We are doing another cool thing for our members! This time we are reaching out to all of you foodies, cooks, chefs, and mothers! Along with the help from two of our favorite bloggers, Makobi Scribe and Simply Stacie, we are holding a Grand Spring Recipe Challenge.
Here is how the Challenge will work:
The amazing prizes include Gift Cards totalling $500 for kitchen related wares for the Grand Prize Winner and $200 in gift cards for kitchen related wares for each of the Category Winners.
Check here for the full list of rules and information & get cracking on those recipes!
January can be kind of a drag. Between the weather and the never-ending talk of resolutions and change, it is easy to get stuck in the doldrums. However, one fun thing about the beginning of the year, especially if you are a movie lover, is the awards show circuit! From red carpets, to never-ending speeches, to heartfelt moments, awards shows are plain old fun…so what better way to enjoy them than with a small party? Here are some fun ideas for the BAFTAs, the Razzies, the SAGs, or the Oscars!
Whatever your plans, make sure to enjoy the big night!
Image via Fiskars
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
Almost every commercial on television highlights the upcoming holiday season, but none talk about the very real side effects that come with Christmas cheer—the snow and the cold. Shopping for cozy coats and scarves is all well and good, but this is also the time to think about weatherproofing your home.
Weatherproofing for winter is really all about insulation. Now is the perfect time, before it is too cold outside, to go around your house and check for any areas with excess draftiness. Pay special attention to doors and windows that lead to the outside and may let rain and snow in. Another area to have checked is the roof. Your best bet is to ask a handyman (or a friendly neighbor) to go up and see if there are any small holes or weak spots that could get worse in the cold conditions.
There are inexpensive fixes for these imperfections, but they might only be temporary. Getting them fixed by a real contractor or handyman will ensure that you don’t need to go through this every winter. Make sure you ask them about every defense against snow and ice, which can be deadly to even the most sturdy of homes. Also add checking the latches and covering all outdoor furniture or cars to your to-do list as well!
As far as the inside of your house goes, be sure to stock up on warm blankets and clothing to cut heating costs. Also, have plenty of candles, flashlights (with extra batteries!), and non-perishable food items in case of a power outage. Keep a bin by each door with extra umbrellas, shovels, bags of salt, and spare gloves and hats for those moments when the weather strikes unexpectedly. The best advice for the oncoming weather is to be over-prepared!
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo Credit: BBC.co.uk
So, the weather outside is frightful and the kids are bored and heading for the TV, what do you do? Well it can be really easy to let them play video games and watch television all day; there are plenty of other fun things to do indoors!
One time-tested classic is arts and crafts. On the kitchen table or counter, spread out stacks of blank paper, markers, crayons, and colored pencils. Bonus points for popsicle sticks, glitter, and pipe cleaners, but they are definitely not necessary! Then, have drawing competitions to see who can draw the best house, tree, cat, Santa, etc. Other fun activities are word games, such as seeing how many small words you can make from Peppermint. You can reward the winner with a small prize such as a mug of hot chocolate.
As far as that tasty treat is considered, making it can be an activity in and of itself. Stock up on cute mugs, various flavors of hot cocoa mix (or make your own), marshmallows, and whipped cream. On the side, serve fruit like strawberries and bananas to add some nutrients to the day!
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at www.woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo via Arts & Crafts Ideas
One of the best scenarios for the holiday season is to be the guest rather than the hostess. There are none of the pressures of cooking, entertaining, and cleanup, but be sure to keep in mind the gracious duties of being a guest. First of all, before the party, always offer to bring something (especially if you have any specific dietary needs), and even if they decline, come with a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates.
After your hostess goes all out to make sure the evening is a success, it is proper etiquette to send a gift. The best way to really impress with a hostess gift is to make it as personal as possible. One way to do this is by incorporating the evening into your present. At the party, take as many pictures as possible and try to remember any funny or memorable details. Afterwards, you can turn these memories into a homemade scrapbook. Your hostess will be so honored that the night she worked so hard to make special was received that way as well.
A less involved, but equally thoughtful, idea is homemade treats. If you make great chocolate chip cookies, put all of the ingredients in a pretty jar with the recipe tied on the side. This can also work with hot chocolate mix (be sure to include marshmallows!).
If homemade isn’t really your thing, try going to the hostess’ favorite gift shop or bakery and find something special you know she would like. Make sure to have it gift-wrapped and, if they offer it, hand-delivered. The thought is in the details! If you live in different cities and you aren’t near her favorite place, send something unique from your hometown that you know she would appreciate. The possibilities are endless, and you will definitely be invited back next year!
Dana also writes a vintage fashion blog at woodstockwardrobe.com
Photo Credit: SquawkFox