Full & Simple

Shop Small Gift Guide 2018

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Good golly, how in the world is November almost over?!  I still have things about the Bent Arrow Challenge I want to write about!  Ugh!  Oh well, since time has decided that it will continue on whether I'm behind or not, I guess I need to just roll with it.

As you know, I'm super passionate about local and small businesses.  I truly believe that we as Christians have a responsibility to shop small and local whenever we can.  By buying from "the little guy" we help someone live out what their God-given passions are and we get to build community.  When the small shop owner isn't worried about how in the world she's going to feed her family, she's going to be a lot more open to joining you Sunday morning instead of putting in extra hours just to make ends meet.

That being said, for Small Business Saturday, I wanted to share some of my favorite small and local shops.

Stitch & Timber

Stitch & Timber is owned by my college BF, Malia.  When I asked her to share about her business she said, "I have always loved cross stitching and wanted to share my work...I decided to see if any would sell.  Low and behold they do, slowly but surely!"  Malia creates modern finished cross stitch and paper goods for today's home.  I have several of her pieces, including a custom made "Green is the New Black" reusable produce bag (check my IG to see it).

You can find Malia's work on Instagram here and her shop on Etsy here.  Use code FULLSIMP10 at checkout for 10% off orders of $15 or more!

The Mustard Seed Marketplace

This is a relatively new shop to me, but I fell in love with it immediately!  The Mustard Seed Marketplace partners with over 30 artisan groups in 18 countries to create a marketplace for artisans locally + globally!  They carry a curated collection of Fair Trade + Locally Made + Give Back Brands.  And they have something for just about everyone on your list stocking items like jewelry, apparel, home décor, accessories and more!

My kind of shop!  And it is located in northern Indiana!

You can shop The Mustard Seed Marketplace here and follow them over on Instagram here.  You can use the code SHOPSMALL for 10% through 12/31!

I asked for the black Slub Tee for Christmas...so fingers crossed it shows up under the tree!

Freckled Hen Farmhouse

Y'all know I love Freckled Hen Farmhouse!  I cannot get enough of their cute, yet practical farmhouse décor!  Natalie is also awesome to follow over on Instagram.

You can find the Freckled Hen Farmhouse over on Instagram here or on their website here.

Chalk Full of Design

Another small business that I love is Chalk Full of Design.  Last year I got the kids chalkboards from here as their "something to read" gift instead of books and they love them.  We also have the games pack that we keep in the van to pull out any time we are going somewhere with a long wait time instead of always shoving tablets or phones in front of them (which we do still do occasionally).  This year I got Kate her own personalized board so that she could have one like her big brother and sister.

If you need a laugh, follow Lindsay on Instagram here and watch her stories.  I love her!  You can shop her site here and she's currently running a sale of 15% off with code CFDHOLIDAY2018 until Monday!

Aleks Handmade

The last shop I'm going to share with you is another Indiana shop.  Aleks Handmade makes handmade dolls...even custom orders!  We have three dolls from Aleks and I cannot say enough about the quality.  They are soft and no little plastic pieces to worry about coming off.  Plus, they give back in a BIG way!  With their Dolls for Smiles program, they donate one doll for every doll purchased to the orphanage they are working with that quarter.  You have to go see the video of these children playing with dolls that look like them!  It is amazing.

You can shop Aleks Handmade here and follow them on Instagram here.

In full disclosure, I shopped Amazon too this year.  I get it.  But if everyone took the time and money to buy one or two gifts this season from a small or local business, think about what that could do for our communities!  Spending a little more for a gift that is handmade and/or fairly made is even better.  Make 2018 the year you buy less but better gifts for under your tree.

Merry Christmas!

 

Erika

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When You Don’t Have Time to Do It Yourself

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I've been posting recently about reducing our waste...and I promise that the third installment is coming soon!  One of the suggestions I gave was to "make your own."  I talked mostly about making your own food items like bread and spice mixes, but DIY-ing your home cleaners is also an amazing way to reduce waste.

But what about when you don't have time?

I keep seeing posts by other bloggers about having a slow and relaxing summer.  But for me, summer is SUPER busy around here.  That's because I try to grow and preserve as much of our winter food as I am able to.  I try to make all of our own spaghetti sauce, tomato soup, tomato juice, green beans, jams, etc.   There are times I just don't have the time to DIY everything.

And when I don't have time for DIY cleaning supplies, I trust and use Mrs. Meyers products.  Mrs. Meyers products are made with plant-derived ingredients and essential oils.  All of my hand soap containers right now have Mrs. Meyers lavender hand soap in them.  I love the smell!

And right now, when you make your first $20 purchase from The Grove Collaborative, you can get an entire Mrs. Meyers cleaning kit FREE!

Your FREE kit will include:

  • Free Mrs. Meyer’s hand soap
  • Free Mrs. Meyer’s hand lotion
  • Free Mrs. Meyer’s dish soap
  • Grove Collaborative cleaning caddy
  • Free shipping & 60 day VIP trial

How awesome is that?!

I absolutely love Grove Collaborative!  The deliver green cleaning and household supplies right to my door.  And all the mamas said AMEN!  And Grove purchases carbon offsets for every order they deliver!

When I do have time to DIY, Grove still has me covered because they stock products like castile soap and Sals Suds.  Plus, I can purchase other products like Seventh Generation's unbleached toilet paper, wool dryer balls, Bees Wraps and Seed's shampoo all at a discounted price!

I know you will love all that they have to offer whether you are a DIYer or not!

To get claim your free cleaning kit, simply click the picture below!

Disclaimer:  I, Erika Bault, am a Grove Collaborative influencer and does receive compensation from Grove Collaborative for each referral at no additional cost to you.  All opinions are my own and I do personally use Grove each and every month.

Erika

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How to Reduce Waste with Minimal Effort

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Welcome to part two in my reducing waste series!  If you haven't read part one, you can visit it here.  In this series, I'm only sharing ways that we have personally been reducing our own waste over the last couple of years.  I have separated each action into "effort" categories....these are based on how much effort I feel that they require in my day and life.

Alright, here we go!

Bring Your Own Bags

While bringing your own bags takes VERY little effort, it does require you to develop the habit of remembering them.  I try to keep one or two in my van and then keep the majority in my market basket that hangs on a hook by the door so I can grab them all and go as I head out the door.

I love the cotton canvas totes from Grove Collaborative.  Throughout the entire month of June, when you sign up for Grove you can get a set of FREE wool dryer balls!  Dryer balls was one of my super easy steps in part one!

Buy a Bread Maker and Use It!

I'll be the first to admit that I thought a bread make was one of those appliances that just took up too much room and would never get used.  It wasn't until I decided that I wanted to start making homemade bread and realized that I was having the hardest time making soft sandwich that I even considered owning one.  When my grandma offered us hers, I accepted and we haven't bought a loaf of store bread since.

In less time than it takes to watch a football game, I have fresh homemade bread.  All I have to do is add the ingredients and turn it on.  No kneading on my part.  Now, I do still make homemade French baguettes and things by hand, but it is SO NICE to be able to have homemade bread even during busy weeks when I can't stand around and time and knead.

You can even apply the buy secondhand principle from my first post here.  I see bread makers at secondhand stores ALL. THE. TIME!

Make Your Own

One of the very first places I started reducing waste was by making our own spice mixes.  Now I don't buy taco seasoning packets or chili seasoning packets.  I just mix my own.

These are my favorites:

The reason this works is because spices can easily be bought in glass instead of plastic.  Glass is infinitely recyclable whereas plastic is not.  Or you can take your own containers to the nearest store with a bulk section.

We also make our our mayonnaise, coffee creamer, chocolate syrup, and sour cream.  I hope to share more of our recipes for these soon!

Making your own does take a bit of time, but its also nice because you don't have to run to the store as often.  As long as you keep your base ingredients stocked in your pantry, you can easily make whatever you need!

Say No to Plastic Straws

Plastic straws are a real problem for our oceans and marine life.  You can learn more from the Ocean Conservancy.   The great news is that there are SO MANY alternatives!

You can:

We have small silicone straws at home for the kids and I use stainless steel.  I even have this stainless steel straw carrying kit from Marley's Monsters that I keep in my bag for when we're out and about.

Pay Attention to the Fabric

When buying clothes pay attention to the fabric material.  Microfibers from synthetic materials end up breaking off of our clothes when we wash them and make their way to our oceans, so even when buying secondhand, you want to make sure to avoid synthetics.

What are some of these fibers?

  • Polyester
  • Nylon
  • Lycra
  • Viscose Rayon

And while cotton is a natural fiber, regular cotton requires A LOT of pesticides and water.  Try to choose organic cotton if possible or look for clothes made with flax linen or bamboo, which are much more eco-friendly.

If you already have a few favorite items made with synthetics, there is a product to help when washing.  The Guppyfriend washing bag keeps the fibers from entering the water.  I personally, do not have one of these so I can't say how well it works.

Plan The Night Before

So many times, if I don't plan for a trip out the night before, we forget most of our reusables or I don't end up having time to pack them.  (hashtag life with three kids)

I try to prepare and pack our drinks, napkins, straws, utensils and reusable bags the night before so that I can easily grab them in the rush out the door.  This makes saying "no, thank you," to single-use disposable items MUCH easier when we're out.

 

Like my market basket? Click on the pic and use code ERIKA20 for 20% until July!

 

Well, that's it for part two.  What do you think?  Anything from part one or this post that you're excited to try?  What ways are you reducing waste that I haven't mentioned?  I'd love to hear from you in the comment section below!

Erika

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Virtually Effortless Ways to Reduce Your Waste

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A week or so ago I placed a poll on my Facebook page asking what you all would like to see next here on Full & Simple and you overwhelmingly choose "how to reduce your waste."

As I started thinking of all of the ways we've been working towards reducing our plastic use and waste, I found that this post will be the first in a series of at least three.  I'm categorizing the habits and swaps we're using currently into different effort categories.  All of the suggestions in this post are things that I think you can start today and maintain with as little as 5-10 minutes a day of effort.

But before we get started, here is my disclaimer: I AM NOT PERFECT.  We still have plastic in our house.  We are not zero waste by any means.  There are days when my desire for a gas station fountain pop outweighs my desire for zero waste (but then its usually followed with guilt).  I truly believe that any move in the direction of less waste is better than saying, "I can't do zero waste perfectly, so I won't do it at all."

Ok, with that out there, here we go!

Just Say No to Produce Bags

While I'm guilty as the next person to think that I need super cute "bring your own" produce bags like these, really all you need to do is skip the bag.  You don't HAVE to bring your own.  Yes, people may look at you strangely when you put four loose lemons on the checkout belt, but I got over those looks long ago when we started using the Dave Ramsey envelope system.  And I've never had a cashier tell me that I had to get a bag before she'd sell me the lemons.

Pay Attention to Packaging

So you need some more (insert product here)?  Pay attention to the packaging.  When you are shopping try to avoid plastic packaging as much as possible.  I used to be the person that said, "It's ok.  I recycle," but as I've started this waste reduction journey, I've found that recycling isn't good enough anymore.

Why?  Plastic can only be recycled so many times before it can no longer be recycled, at which point it just becomes trash.  Plus, with China's ban on taking recycling from the U.S. and other countries, many stateside recycling companies are no longer taking plastics, OR they're taking them but then shipping them to a landfill anyway.  Here is a great article from the NY Times on the problem we're facing.

For the purposes of this post and for when you first start your waste reduction journey, remember that when buying the grocery items you need, choose the product in metal or glass packaging--which can be recycled infinitely--over the same item in plastic.  I'll talk more about avoiding plastic while shopping later in this post series.

Shop Secondhand

Confession: while I aspire to minimalism and zero waste I still LOVE to shop!  Life seems so much more exciting when I know I have a package on the way...even if it's just mundane household items.  I get giddy placing a new item in its place in my home.  Now when I get the shopping bug, I usually try to look for secondhand first (again, I'm not perfect).

Shopping secondhand not only allows you to save financial resources, but it also allows you to save natural resources which have already been expended to make said item.  And with online sites like ThredUP, eBay, and all of the Facebook selling groups, shopping secondhand first is easier than ever.

Use this link to get a $10 coupon on your first ThredUP order and give me a $10 coupon for referring you!

I love Goodwill baskets!

Cloth Napkins

Buy and use cloth napkins.  They are not as hard to maintain as many of us believe.  Here are a few tips that I have found to make them virtually effortless.

  1. Buy them in a dark color to hide stains.
  2. Use one napkin for the whole day (unless you get it super messy) and just drape it over the back of your chair between meals.
  3. Kids get wash cloths because they can be wetted down easily and kids are messy.  My kids have color-coded wash rags so they know which one is theirs to use all day.
  4. Hang them to dry to avoid most wrinkles, but we're not a five-star restaurant so some wrinkles are OK!  Don't mess with ironing.
  5. Throw them in with clothes you're already washing.  You do not need to do a separate load.

Beeswax Wraps

Use beeswax wraps to replace plastic wrap.  They really only need a good rinse between uses unless you get them very dirty.  I've even sealed a bowl with the beeswax wraps while baking bread and the dough rose just as well as if I'd sealed it with plastic wrap.

You can make your own, buy them online or see if any local beekeepers have made some with their own beeswax.

Bar Soap Over Body Wash

I get that bar soap can seem gross to some. Heck, I used to be one of the some and still sort of am.  I don't use bar soap for everyone to use while washing their hands...partly because of the sharing germs thing that I'm still mentally not able to get passed and partly because I'm not sure a three year old won't be dropping it all over the place.  However, I have replaced my plastic bottle of body wash with bar soap.  Don't want to share bar soap with others?  Give everyone their own bar and you'll still be reducing plastic and waste!  You get extra points if you find a local soap-maker!

I have these bamboo holders, which are compostable, to keep my bar soap from just sitting in a pool of water in the shower.

Buy Compostable

When replacing items like loofahs, tooth brushes, and dish brushes, replace them with compostable items.  Brushes made with natural fibers and wooden handles can easily be composted.

Now here is another disclaimer: We don't compost.

I tried creating a compost pile, but my chickens and cats eat all of the scraps and spread it out to the point of things not actually composting.  So until I can build some sort of containment system, the chickens and cats take care of our food waste...which is still a good system in my opinion.

HOWEVER, we have a woods near us that I can toss that wooden handle into along with all of the other fallen trees and sticks and it will eventually break down.  Whereas packing it into a landfill will not allow it to break down.  So if you are going to buy compostable items figure out a way to get it back to nature when it's served its purpose and don't throw it in your regular trash.

My favorite sources for wooden cleaning tools are:

Get a Reusable Coffee Filter

Yes, we still use a coffee maker.  No, we aren't cool hipsters that have a French press or Chemex.

Buying a reusable filter really added no extra time for us.  We were already hand-washing the pot and insert anyway.  Cleaning the filter literally takes less than 2 minutes.  The grounds usually get added to the food scraps or I'll dump them by a plant or bush, like our blueberries, that like acidic soil.

Reusable Nursing Pads

Reusable nursing pads are probably one of my favorite changes so far to reducing our waste.  I wish I had known about them three kids ago!  I would have saved at least $80-$100!

I purchased my pack of 10 from Marley's Monsters on Etsy and customized them to be mostly white.  Now I just toss them in a lingerie bag and wash them any time I'm doing a load of towels or light colored clothes.  There is no extra worrying because I'm already doing the laundry anyway.  And I found a really cute basket at Goodwill to store them in.

Wool Dryer Balls

Stop using fabric softener sheets and get some wool dryer balls.  A clothesline would be best, but the weather doesn't always permit outside drying and a lot of the time we still use our dryer.

Wool dryer balls do speed up drying time which saves energy plus they reduce the waste of the dryer sheet...which contain nasty chemicals.  I leave mine in the dryer so I don't even have to think about adding them in each time.  If you still want to have a fresh scent when your clothes are done, experiment with adding drops of essential oils to your dryer balls.  I personally love lavender on mine.

And for the month of June you can get a FREE set of dryer balls when you sign up for Grove Collaborative!!!  Just use this link to find out more about this offer!  And if you want to hear why I love Grove, visit this post.

Slow Down

My last piece of advice in this post is to simply slow down.

Do less.  Be less busy.  Commit to less.

Living a busy and frantic lifestyle makes it much easier to choose the disposable items over reusable or the prepackaged, processed food over whole foods.

Do all of your errands on one day instead of constantly running out of the house to do this or that.  Resign from clubs, committees or roles that don't fulfill you or that no longer align with your life goals.  People grow and change, it is okay to move on to make room for who you are now or want to become.

Well, that's it for today.  I hope that you can find one or two options here that you want to start implementing today or this week.  The next post in this series will include habits and suggestions that may take slightly more effort to implement, but that are still easily doable for anyone trying to live more eco-conscious.  I hope you'll come back and read that post as well!

Find Post Two Here!

 

Disclaimer:  The above post does contain referral and affiliate links.  This means that I may be compensated if you purchase using this link at no additional cost to your self.  This compensation allows me to pay for the maintenance of running Full & Simple. 

Erika Bault is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Erika

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How to Make a Gift Basket for a Homesteader

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It's officially December and the Christmas season is upon us.  I really do love Christmas and giving and getting gifts.  But as I've tried to embrace simplicity of heart and home these past few years, my gift-giving and wishes have changed a bit.  I want to give and get more intentional presents that are well-made and practical.  So I thought I would share with you all how to make a gift basket for the homesteader, gardener, farmer or even zero-waster in your life.

Full and Simple How to Make a Gift Basket

1. Basket

The first thing you need is a basket.  I personally love shopping at thrift stores for little baskets.  You can find them pretty cheap.  The one I have here was 99 cents!  Plus, I love the idea of reusing an item so that it isn't thrown away.

2. Glass jars

I love glass jars!  And while I know many low-waste families like them because they're better for the environment than plastic, my reasoning is a bit more selfish....They're dishwasher safe!!!  Ain't nobody got time to handwash a bunch of plastic containers. LOL!  I personally love Weck brand jars.  They are beautiful and functional.

3. Wine Glass Writers

If you are someone that makes a lot of your own foods or cleaners and then puts them in those beautiful glass jars, you need labeling to know what and when you made whatever it is in those jars.  I LOVE Wine Glass Writers for this for several reasons.  I can change labels on jars whenever I change the contents.  No need to make new plastic or sticker labels.  I can easily wipe off the label from the old contents with a warm wet towel.  Wine Glass Writers are the only certified non-toxic wine glass writers on the market today, so they're safe to use around food.  AND they pay the people making their product a living wage and make sure they are provided safe working conditions.  You know that this is near and dear to my heart!

3. Bees Wraps

Most homesteaders try to be low-waste in general, so giving products that help them live low-waste is always welcomed.  Not to mention that you are helping them relieve a financial burden as many reusable products are pricier upfront to purchase than their disposable counterparts.  We love Bees Wraps and have been using our first pack for over a year!

4. Beeswax Candles

With all of the talk of Hygge, I think that candles have become even more of a must for the winter.  I've always been a "flowers in the spring/summer and candles in the fall/winter" kind of gal anyway, but I didn't really pay attention to what is in my candles until recently.  True beeswax candles are all natural and non-toxic, which means they emit little smoke.  And not only do they not add to pollutants in the air, but they actually purify the air as they burn!  Try to find a local beekeeper or candle maker to truly make an impact.  I also love Honey+Fern on Etsy.  She is pretty local to us, and I love that all of her wax comes from beekeepers local to her.

4. Cloth Napkins

Again, homesteaders generally like to live low-waste.  We have switched to cloth napkins most of the time.  However, I'll admit that there are days we still use paper towels because life happened and we didn't get the napkins washed.  I don't have just a ton either since they are more expensive to buy at first then a roll of paper towel.  And if you think that cloth napkins are something that you intended receiver would like, think about un-paper towels or some other reusable item.  Even wooden dish brushes would be nice.

5. Something from You

You may be thinking, "This whole basket is from me!"  But what I mean is, add something you grew or made yourself.  I'm so proud of our garlic harvest this year that I am adding heads of garlic to many presents.  And we plan to make homemade cocoa mixes and marshmallows for some people on our lists.  I think this just adds an extra special touch.

6. Make it Pretty

Once you have all of your items, add some filler to the basket.  I like this natural filler since it is made with recycled paper in the U.S. and can be added to compost or reused by the receiver.

Arrange your items so that they all are seen.

Last, add a pretty bow and name tag.

You're done!  And now you have a gift that the receiver knows you put thought and love into.  Plus, you've given them something that won't sit and collect dust.  You've given a purposeful and intentional gift.

And TODAY only (December 1, 2017) you can enter to win Wine Glass Writers for yourself and to add to a gift basket.  Simply head over to my Instagram account to find out more!

Erika Bault is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Erika

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How to Make the Most of Your Target Baby Registry

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I am a member of Collective Bias® Social Fabric® Community.  This content has been compensated as part of a social shopper amplification for Collective Bias and its advertiser.  All opinions are mine alone. #RegisteringForBaby #CollectiveBias

how-to-make-the-most-of-your-target-baby-registry #shop #ad

In just a few weeks we will welcome our third little bundle of joy to our family.  And as I've been nesting for this baby, I've been able to look back at what has really worked for us when we bring a baby home and what needs tweaked.  This is especially true since we already have a son and a daughter, so we have seen what it is to have dolls and trucks and pink and blue enter our home.

This is why I'm so glad to have been able to work with Target and their baby registry service to share tips with you. Read on to see how to make the most of your baby registry so that bringing baby home is a simple and joyful experience.

1.Register!

The first thing that I recommend is to actually take the time to set up a registry.  Don't leave your family and friends guessing as to what you want and need for baby.  Target makes registering simple by giving you three ways to register: online, in-store or via their registry app that is compatible with iPhone or Android.  And to make your registry even easier, all registries pre-populate with a few new mom essentials.

  • Johnson's® Bath Discovery Set
  • Aveeno® Baby Daily Moisture Regimen Pack
  • Infant TYLENOL®

Click the image below to get started on shopping for baby!

I registered in-store and found the process very easy.  I simply went to the customer service area, filled out my information on one of the touchscreens, and then spoke with a Target employee that walked me through using the scanner to add items to my registry.

how-to-make-the-most-of-your-target-baby-registry #shop #ad

2.Register for What You Want

Many times new moms will avoid pricier items fearing that they will offend family and friends.  I understand this.  BUT, don't register for a cheaper version of something just because you feel guilty.  You don't want to be stuck with something you don't want, especially if you plan on having multiple children.  I think that family and friends realize that they don't have to get you something that they can't afford.  Plus, I know of many friends that will all chip in to buy you one gift that you will love and use if it is a more expensive item.  PLUS, Target offers a coupon to all registrants 8 weeks prior to baby's arrival to help you purchase any items on your registry that haven't already been purchased.

Also under this tip, I want to remind you that you do not have to add something because your mom, your best friend or the nosy neighbor says that you "just have to get _____."  If you are trying to live a more minimal impact lifestyle, you will want cloth diapers.  If you are going to be working, you may need a different breast pump.  Maybe there isn't room in your 600 square foot apartment for a crib and a play yard.  You know your lifestyle, so register for the items that you believe will fit best within that lifestyle.

3.Storage and Organization

We all get caught up in the cute clothes and newest gadgets, but don't forget to register for storage and organization helpers as well.  Babies do come with quite a bit, and it will save you so much sanity if you know where all that stuff goes and can find it quickly.  Drawer organizers are great for little bows and socks.  Cute baskets are great for diaper and toy storage.  And don't forget those tiny hangers!

how-to-make-the-most-of-your-target-baby-registry #shop #ad

4.Think Neutral

And I don't just mean gender neutral.  Look for outfits that can interchange.  Nothing is worse than having to get rid of a complete outfit because of a blowout stain on one piece that just won't come out and nothing that matches the other stain-free pieces.  Plus, having clothes that interchange makes doing laundry that much less of a headache.

how-to-make-the-most-of-your-target-baby-registry #shop #ad

You also need to realize, that as much as you may want or try, your house will be overtaken by baby and kids.  There will be toys in rooms other than theirs.  They will leave sippy cups lying around.  Registering for storage containers and toys that can be gender neutral, and ALSO fit in with your home decor will probably save you a bit of sanity, at least it does for me.  I can handle a mess so much easier if the mess at least sort of goes with the rest of the decor in the house.  Shallow?  Maybe.  But again, I just know what works for us and a happy momma is able to handle crying a lot better!

5.Talk with Friends and Family

It is important that you express to friends and family what you really want your baby's nursery to look and feel like as well as what your priorities are for baby's stuff.  This will help them understand WHY you registered for the items you did AND it will save you from getting a lot of items that weren't on your registry.  Should you have this heart-to-heart with everyone invited to your shower?  No, but your close friends and family want to make you happy and baby feel loved.  Communicating with them about how to best do this, will make bringing baby home that much simpler and more enjoyable for everyone.

Get Started Now

There has been no joy greater in my life than becoming a mom.  But this doesn't mean that I don't lose patience or have anxiety about bringing home another baby.  However, learning that I'm a happier momma when I keep things organized and simple, does allow me to be a better mom.  I hope these tips will help you as you prepare to bring your sweet baby home.

You can get started creating your very own baby registry at Target here.

 

Erika

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Essential Oil After-Shower Spray

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I don't know about you, but I hate taking a shower in a dirty shower or tub.  We have hard water, so lime and build-up can happen pretty quickly.  That's why I started making this  essential oil after-shower spray.

It's easy to make and even easier to use!

Take your Grove Collaborative glass spray bottle and fill it one-third of the way with white vinegar, add 5 drops of lavender essential oil, 5 drops of lemon essential oil and then fill the bottle the rest of the way with water.

To use, simply shake the bottle and spray all over you shower.  The vinegar and lemon oil will help prevent that lime build up and hard water stains.  And I just love the smell of lavender and lemon together.

If you want to get your own Grove Collaborative spray bottle, for FREE, along with Mrs. Meyers spring scented products, then have I got a deal for you!

 

 The Grove Collaborative is a monthly delivery service of earth-friendly home and personal products.  But more than that, they are a certified B corporation and have an amazing mission.  This means that I can shop their site knowing that anything I pick, is a sound environmental choice.  They even have a list of "dirty ingredients" that they guarantee are not in any of the products they offer.

And their customer service is THE BEST!  Once I received my package with a broken candle, and they not only shipped me a new candle free of charge, but they also gave me a store credit for the next month!  These guys and gals go above and beyond to make sure you are completely satisfied.

To get started with your FREE spring cleaning kit, click below.

Already a Grove Collaborative customer?  Then this deal is for you!  Simply click the image below to get your glass spray bottle for half off.

Disclaimer:  I am a Grove Collaborative customer, but I am also a Grove Influencer.  I receive a commission for all purchases made using the above links.  Thank you for supporting Full & Simple and helping me stay as ad free as possible!

 

Erika

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Tips for Waste Less Grocery Shopping When You Don’t Live Near a Bulk Food Store

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One thing that I've noticed while working on this Contentment Challenge is how much less trash and recycling we have.  I'm actually kind of shocked at how much less...  This has led me to wonder how we could reduce even more of our waste.  While we will probably never become wasteless, I do want to become a family that wastes less. (See what I did there? LOL!)

The Biggest Hurdle

One of the biggest hurdles for us to become wasteless is the fact that we do not live near a grocery with a bulk food section like Kroger or Whole Foods.  The nearest is probably 45 minutes away.  The time and gas for that drive are not feasible for us on a weekly basis.  So, I will still shop my regular grocery and the closer Walmart most of the time, only going to a bulk section once or twice a month to stock up on pantry essentials like flour, grains, beans and spices.

The Solutions

Even with most of my shopping being done at a regular grocery, I have come up with a few ideas to help us transition to a lifestyle where we are wasting less on packaging.

Make it Homemade

I've started to make a lot of items from scratch.  I make baguettes, noodles, mayonnaise, fries, and whipped cream from scratch always now.  But there is so much more that I would like to try.  Why not make a cake from scratch instead of using a box mix?  Making homemade pasta could be a fun family or date night.  I love making homemade pizza with my canned pizza sauce on Friday nights too.  Making homemade can take longer, but if you start small and choose one thing to master at a time, you could make a big difference in your grocery bill and your waste.

Grow Your Own

I realize that not everyone has a yard where they can grow most of their own food.  However, everyone can grow something.  Even if you live in a tiny apartment you can grow your own herbs.  A lot of herbs at the grocery come in those little plastic containers, so growing your own would prevent that waste.  You don't even have to start your own seeds if you don't want.  Buy a plant that is already started!  Tomatoes and peppers are some other plants that do well in containers.  I love this idea below from Better Homes & Gardens for growing your own lettuces or spinach!

Shop Your Farmers Market

Buy what you can from your local farmers market.  Not only will this give you better quality food in most cases and help your local economy, there is less waste from most farmers market vendors.  However, some still use those plastic produce bags.  Which leads me to my next solution.

Buy Reusable Produce Bags (Or Don't Use Any)

Because I'm working on the Contentment Challenge and can't buy anything new right now, I've been just forgoing produce bags all together.  Cashiers don't really love me when I'm checking out with oranges all over the conveyor belt, but so what.  For some veggies, like celery, not having bags doesn't really matter, but because I do buy things like loose apples and oranges, I plan on buying a few reusable produce bags once the challenge is over.  I really like these from Amazon.  They're even biodegradable!

Bring Your Bag (Or Basket)

Our local grocery doesn't provide bags, actually.  You either bring your own or you can buy some at checkout for ten cents each.  We always take our own, most of which were free from various fairs or events.  However, I do love my market basket from Freckled Hen Farmhouse for shopping, and I can't wait to use it at the farmers market this coming season.  If you want something a little cuter than a free bag with advertising on it, take a look at Etsy.  I really love this bag from Magnolia Roots.  Or the one below that from The Oysters Pearl.

Shop the Outer Perimeter

We've all been told to shop the perimeter because that is where the majority of the real, whole foods can be found.  But the perimeter is also where you can find less packaging (mostly) as well.  A lot of your processed foods come in boxes with even more wrappers and plastic on the inside.  Not only will you have less trash shopping this way, but your waistline will probably thank you too.

Replace Disposable Items with Reusable

A few disposable things that I'm contemplating replacing with reusable items are:

  • Coffee filters:  I could get a reusable one on Amazon for less than $4.
  • Plastic Wrap:  We've already started replacing some of the plastic wrap we use with these reusable Bee's Wraps and I love them!  Hopefully I can make some of our own when we harvest our beeswax.
  • Napkins: During the Contentment Challenge I've really tried to "elevate" dinner.  I think its important to make the everyday special too, and not doing so can sometimes lead to discontent.  I've started putting food into serving dishes (normally saved for company) instead of just the pans.  We listen to records on my record player.  I think that cloth napkins would be great to continue the mood that I want to set, which is that dinner with my family is important.  Plus, we already switched color-coded was rags for the kids instead of paper towels.  Just doing that has significantly decreased the amount of paper towel we use.

Do you have any other tips or tricks that you use around the house to decrease your waste?  I'd love to know!  Just leave me a note in the comments below!

Disclaimer:  Erika Bault is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com

Erika

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How to Host a Fall-Inspired Girls’ Night

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This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #LoveAmericanHome #cbias#CollectiveBias

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Fall for me is a time to gather.  Gather food and gather friends.  Some of my girlfriends and I created a book club about a year ago, and I can't tell you how much I look forward to our meetings.  There is always good food and great discussion.  It's a guaranteed girls' night once a month and I love planning for it when its my turn to host.

Fall is also the time for candles.  When the garden flowers start to disappear, I replace them around the house with cozy fragranced candles, so I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that Yankee Candle® brand created a line of candles that is carried by Walmart.  Now picking up candles from a brand you trust is even more convenient.

 

My mom always bought Yankee Candle® brand candles when I was growing up.  She loved the quality and all of the fragrances.  I have great memories of her lighting candles after a full day of cleaning.  To this day, there is just something cozy and peaceful to me about having a clean house, with the dishwasher or laundry going in the background and candles lit.

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American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand candles bring the quality that we've learned to love to the convenient everyday location, Walmart.  Plus, there are several fragrances to choose from.  I decided to try burning two fragrances at one time to create my own signature fragrance.  I choose Creamy Pumpkin Cupcake and Sweet & Salty Caramel.  My house smelled amazing!

Full & Simple American Home Fall Inspired Girls Night (6)

 

When you are using American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand candles to host your own girls' night, keep these things in mind:

  • Light your candles a earlier than you are expecting your guests.  Allowing you candles time to develop a fragrant pool of liquid wax on the top layer will get you the biggest, boldest fragrance possible
  • Always place your candles on a heat resistant surface
  • Cut the wick to 1/8" to ensure that your flame isn't too big
  • Keep candles away from drafts and never leave them unattended
  • Let your candles go when you only have about 1/2" of wax left
  • Always follow American Home™ by Yankee Candle® brand candle's directions

Once you've decided on the fragrances you are going to be using to create a cozy atmosphere, you need to think about other things to help your guests relax and feel welcomed.  For me, that's extra throw blankets and throw pillows on chairs and the couch.  I don't know about you, but I feel like conversation flows so much more freely if my guests feel at home.  We can have real, heart-to-heart moments when someone comes into my home and lets their guard down.  Throw blankets and pillows add that extra layer of comfort that allows for that sort of ease.

Add a little fall decor by using mini pumpkins or, really, any seasonal produce.  Maybe a bowl of pears or a basket of apples.  I love using produce to help me decorate because it uses less storage space and is much more useful to us in the end.  Either we will eat it, the chickens will get it as a treat or we will add it to the garden compost pile.

Full & Simple American Home Fall Inspired Girls night (3)

Ok, on to the yummy stuff!  I've always wanted to create a cheese board, but have been intimidated by choosing and pairing the fruit, cheese and wine.  Thank goodness for Pinterest!  Upon further research, I learned that the process can be as easy and casual as you like.

I chose two cheeses, two types of fruit, two "vehicles" (bread and/or crackers), one type of nuts, one type of meat and I added some local honey.  I chose apples for one of my fruits because they are a perfect option for fall.  When I went to choose wine, I decided that having a red and a white option was probably best since not all palates are the same.  However, I got off course and bought a white and an apple wine, again because of the season.

Full & Simple American Home Fall Inspired Girls Night (4)

The last thing you need to set the mood is music.  I love to play Frank Sinatra or Dean Martin in the background.  Their music adds a level of sophistication to any event and it isn't music that easily drowns out conversation.  If you aren't a Sinatra or Dean Martin fan (Can I ask why not?!), consider instrumental music like jazz or classical.

Full & Simple American Home Fall Inspired Girls Night (12)

Download my free checklist for your fall-inspired girls' night here.  And don't forget to check out the American Home™ by Yankee Candle® Brand Page and their page on Walmart.com to see all of the amazing fragrances available!

 

Erika

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Indiana Blogs Fall Tour: The Blog Bloom

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It's the last day of our Indiana Blogs Fall Tour.  I hope you've enjoyed it as much as we have.  I couldn't be prouder to be working with this group of amazing women on this.  I feel truly blessed to know each one of them.

We may have saved the best for last too...donuts!

But first, let me introduce you to Claire.  Claire and I lived on the same floor in Windsor Hall our freshman year at Purdue.  We remained Facebook friends and one day I saw that she had a blog.  I started following her and I love her approach to food, gardening and farming.

It was Claire that actually made me think about starting to blog myself. Before reading her blog, I never thought that I could do something like this because "real" peple don't blog...right?  But Claire was instrumental in helping me get started and pointing me in the right direction.  I still pester her with garden and chicken questions, but she is beyond kind and always helpful.

This year, Claire had her first baby and she and her husband started their own farm, Bent Arrow Acres.  If only I lived closer!  I did, however, buy my seed garlic from her this year.  I love supporting the women in my life when I can!

But back to the donuts I mentioned...Claire is sharing a spiced apple cider donut recipe that is baked instead of fried so you don't have to feel guilty about having seconds.  I'm going to stop talking now and let you go get started on those donuts.

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Erika

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