KEEPING HOUSE CLEAN THE CLEAN WAY

Easier said than done with a little one running around and a schedule that only leaves you 7 hours to sleep.

I’ve found that giving different tasks a specific day helps and some products make life a heck of a lot cleaner than clean. 

Granted I’m no fool, and I do believe in the power of bleach. I also know that white vinegar does wonders for your floors and coconut oil can help keep your stainless steel appliances clean.

If you haven’t heard coconut oil is pretty much a homeowner’s liquid gold. This stuff is priceless! The list of things you can do with it are endless, but here are a few:

• Clean Leather
• Clean Stainless Steel
• Clean Shower Scum
• Detail Your Car
• Insect Repellant
• Sunscreen
• Anti-Itch Cream

Some of these uses include a mixture or steps with another product, but for the most part can be used alone with fantastic results.

Those of you with pets and/or little ones around cleaning your floors with vinegar will keep the ones in your family closer to the floor much healthier. Plus it will eliminate any funky smells that may be in your home.

Have you ever had a not-to-delicious smell come from your sink? Maybe the children or your other half like to put food in the sink, which ultimately sits in the pipes? Well, here’s a fun experiment for little ones to enjoy while fixing the smell and problem:

Unclog and De-Stink the Sink:

Poor some baking soda down the drain. Now add a little vinegar.

Remember the science fair special? Hello volcano!

While you still have to find the time to do this stuff (sorry I can’t help you there), you can at least get it done without you or your family gasping for air or comprimising their health or safety.

NEW TERRAIN

My other half was kind enough to give me a little weekend time to myself. I hopped on a flight with my sister-in-law and met our mother-in-law in the mountains of North Carolina.

Every time I’m there I feel the need to be outdoors. It’s a far cry from Florida’s constant heat and flat land. It’s refreshing.

Hiking is much more exciting when you can indulge in the views of a lakes, wooded forests, and waterfalls all in one trip. Much less mundane than the constant pine trees and dying grasses on the trails around my part of Florida. Much more demanding, as well.

The sounds and atmosphere of North Carolina’s DuPont State Forest commands your attention. Mother Nature painted everything in such detail that you can’t help but appreciate all of the vibrant greens, deep browns; the freshness of the air is almost breathe taking in itself.

You don’t have to be submerged in the more wooded areas of North Carolina to appreciate the arts and awareness of nature that the locals feel every day.

 Once in a while it’s nice to get away from the hustle and bustle, or maybe just that daily routine that’s started controlling your every move. See something different. Enjoy it. Just dive right in.

MY LATEST ADDICTION: WALTER & ROSIE

I can remember cuddling up when I was a little girl and watching every Disney movie at least 500 times! Even when my mother was about to snap from hearing ‘A Whole New World’ for the millionth time, she still let me watch it.

Getting to spend weekends at Walt Disney World was rivaled by no vacation. Even when I was about seven years old, and Chewbacca scared the life out of me. Those Wookies have sneaky feet.

And when you can share a moment from your childhood with your own children it truly hits home. 

I wanted to be able to capture these moments and relive them every second of the day, forever. And I can, so I am!

Art by: Sam of Walter & Rosie

I was cruising the internet, window shopping, and came across a little shop called Walter & Rosie serving up Disney-Inspired candles. I was able to meet the remarkable owner, Sam, and learn about her creative process, her candles, and her dedication to her work.

Sam started making basic scented candles in April of 2013, selling primarily to family and friends as more of a leisure activity. It wasn’t enough! Sam’s eagerness to create led to combining her love for Disney and her hobby. In January 2013, Sam started a shop named after her two fluffy bunnies: Walter & Rosie adding the ‘Mouse-Inspired’ line.

Sam prides herself in her ingredients as she should. With a shop named after her beloved fur-babies and her own vegetarian lifestyle, she’s taken great strides to ensure that her fragrances are cruelty-free. Comprised of 100% soy wax and vegetable prime wicks, these vegan candles can be enjoyed by everyone from all walks of life. And enjoyed they are!

How do you make something smell like Disney? Sam has truly mastered this art all in the not-so-spacious workspace known by most as her apartment kitchen. Think of a favorite movie, ride, food, or character. Got one? Good. What would you imagine it smells like? Now take a shot at testing it against Sam’s candles. I searched through her entire line and she was spot on with every last one! Wilderness Lodge: Pine Trees and Campfires. Beauty & the Beast: Roses. One of the newest Disney movies, Frozen: Iced lemon with Airy Menthol, Woodland Moss, Spearmint, and Fresh Water. There is so much detail and attention paid to each flavor, it is rivaled by none.

Sam’s enthusiasm for her business doesn’t stop at her own ideas. She was more than willing to help create a new scent, Splash Mountain, for me. A little floral, a splash of woody, and a heap of fresh water… Voila!

Along with Splash Mountain, I’ve received an order of Wonderland, Mirror Mirror, Hunny, Pixie Dust, and Mango Beachwood (this one is from her basic line). Sitting down with my other half, we opened our package and got all giggly over sniffing each one.

My still favorite movie, Alice in Wonderland, replays in my mind while I breathe in the subtly sweet aroma from this candle. The smell of berries and florals dance around with vanilla musk and coconut making me smile from the inside out. It’s like I’m five years old again, cuddling with my blankie, and having pretend tea parties of my own. ‘Have a very merry unbirthday to you. To me? To you!’

Walter & Rosie is my new addiction and I will be back, Sam!

If you love happiness sprinkled over top of quality, you’ll love Walter & Rosie too!

Art by: Sam of Walter & Rosie

For all of my readers who want to enjoy Walter & Rosie products, enjoy a 10% off coupon code from Sam herself: SUNRAYSBLOG

Please leave a comment below with the scent you’ve decided to try!

SECRET: I DON'T WASH MY FACE

Eww, gross! Yea I get it. 

My face is one of the few that overreacts to products no matter how organic or vegan they may be. I'm an adult who will be plagued with blemishes galore if I even think about washing my face. Strange, yes. But I know I'm not the only one out there. 

While I was searching for remedies to clear up my face after I dared to touch some dreaded soap/cleanser to it. I came across a blogger who didn't wash her face either (see, I'm not the only one). I took her advice and purchased a little brush and even invested in Burt's Bee Radiance Night Cream (I chose the night cream since we live in different climates, and Florida's humidity doesn't play well with moisturizers). Although I'm not dedicated enough to commit to application of the cream religiously, I try. And as a result my face does look much better. 

I splash warm (or as my other half calls it: scalding hot) water on my face and scrub lightly with my facial brush. After patting my face dry, I'll apply a light dose of moisturizing cream. All done!



Ever so recently, I have had the very occasional issue with blackheads on my nose. I recently found another Burt's Bee's item that I absolutely adore! 100% natural and I couldn't be happier. 

So, I guess I kind of do wash my face...on a very rare occasion.

A RECIPE FOR FLOWER SOUP

If you ever doubt how creative your child can be, provide them with a bucket and some water. They'll do the rest. 

I'm lucky enough to have a little boy with the most creative personality! I'm astounded by some of his ideas and games that he creates. His new favorite gets us outside and makes all the pollinating insects go absolutely mad: Flower Soup! 

I was designated the Sous Chef, and as the underling I was instructed to find the bucket, hold the hose, and assist in picking the flowers. I have to say my boss was very generous with compliments of how well I was doing! 

The bucket had to be filled with cold water, which luckily the well was able to provide, and lots of flora, grass clippings, and dirt. The kid made certain that the grass was cut and not pulled. Flowers had to be plucked and not torn. Dirt had to be the dirtiest dirt in the yard! 


Here is The Kid's Recipe for Flower Soup:

Ingredients

• Cold Water from a Hose
• A 5 gal. Bucket
• A Plastic Shovel
• Dirt -- Dirty Dirt
• Wild Flowers of a Wide Variety

Directions: 

Fill the bucket half way with cold water. Add dirt. Add flowers. Stir. 

Fill the bucket until mommy says "that's enough." Add dirt. Add flowers. Stir. 

Repeat until you lose interest (about 30 minutes) and then start playing with something else.

One little bug was overly excited about all of the flowers and continually tried to dive in. Luckily for him, the kid was on point and wouldn't let the little guy drown. Later dubbed Flapper, the kid decided he was safer on the other side of the property. We needed a thirty minute break (as stated in the directions above) from slaving over our concoction anyways, so we left the soup to cook as instructed by the head chef.

The pups needed some love anyways.