Controlling Pests Without Sacrificing Your Family's Health

No one wants an infestation of creepy crawly bugs in their home or yard. In some states, treating the problem can mean a year-round pest control service. Treatment inside and out is applied at regular intervals to keep the bugs at bay. While some insects are poisonous and destructive to homes, gardens and landscape, other insects can are just downright unsightly. When choosing how to treat your bug problem, you may be wondering if all the chemicals are safe. What should you know about conventional pesticides and is there any alternative?

1. Pesticides May Contaminate Ground Water

Chemicals used to control bugs often contain ingredients that may be dangerous to humans and animals. Over time these chemicals may seep into the ground and eventually contaminate the water that ultimately makes its way into the home either for drinking or through the food. There are alternative treatments that have been developed of late with claims of being a child safe pesticide. If you're worried about the effects of traditional sprays, try one of these safer and more natural remedies.

2. Pesticides May Kill Helpful Species

When a treatment is applied, it is intended to target anything it touches. The chemicals used coat grass, spider webs and bugs themselves. Since bugs often eat each other, the spray finds its way all over a predetermined area. The downside is even the good bugs get caught in the crossfire. Species that keep harmful bacteria and larva at bay may wind up being victims thus destroying the natural cycle.

3. Chemicals Don't Always Work

Some pests have become resistant to chemical treatments. They have evolved and have built up an immunity. These bugs are usually the ones you don't want around. Thus, harsher chemicals may do more damage than good. Natural treatments may still work on these pesky creatures.

When controlling the bug population in and around your home, all treatments are not created equal. Do your research to find a company that uses chemicals that advocate for a more natural bug control method.

#CourtingMrEmerson Book Review

Courting Mr. Emerson by Melody Carlson

About The Book:

When the fun-loving and spontaneous artist Willow West meets buttoned-up, retired English teacher George Emerson, it's not exactly love at first sight. Though she does find the obsessive-compulsive man intriguing. Making it her mission to get him to loosen up and embrace life, she embarks on what seems like a lost cause - and finds herself falling for him in the process. A confirmed bachelor, George vacillates between irritation and attraction whenever Willow is around - which to him seems like all too often. He's not interested in expanding his horizons or making new friends; it just hurts too much when you lose them. But as the summer progresses, George feels his defenses crumbling. The question is, will his change of heart be too late for Willow? With her signature heart and touches of humor, fan favorite Melody Carlson pens a story of two delightfully eccentric characters who get a second chance at life and love.

About The Author:

Melody Carlson is the award-winning author of over 200 books with sales of more than 7 million, including many bestselling Christmas novellas, young adult titles, and contemporary romances. She received a Romantic Times Career Achievement Award in the inspirational market for her many books, including Finding Alice. She and her husband live in central Oregon.

My Thoughts:

I enjoy Melody Carlson books. And this one is another great one. Willow is a great character, but I think the professor takes the cake in this one! He is a bit quirky, and I like that! A good read. The kind you do not want to put down because you want to find out what happens next! Love that!

Get Courting Mr. Emerson on Amazon.

 

Happy St. Patrick's Day 2019 #StPattys2019

Just The Cheese

Just The Cheese is more than just a name, it’s a declaration. They take fresh Wisconsin cheese, bake it in the oven, and that’s it! Satisfy your cravings and eat healthy while you do it; these snack bars are perfect for low-carb, Keto, gluten-free and other great diets.

Just The Cheese is a low-carb, high-protein snack that tastes exactly like your favorite cheese, but comes with a crunch!

Check it all out at Just The Cheese on Facebook.

 

#AlmostHome Book Review

Almost Home by Valerie Fraser Luesse

About The Book:

With America's entrance into the Second World War, the town of Blackberry Springs, Alabama, has exploded virtually overnight. Workers from all over are coming south for jobs in Uncle Sam's munitions plants - and they're bringing their pasts with them, right into Dolly Chandler's grand but fading family home turned boardinghouse. An estranged young couple from the Midwest, unemployed professors from Chicago, a widower from Mississippi, a shattered young veteran struggling to heal from the war - they're all hoping Dolly's house will help them find their way back to the lives they left behind. But the house has a past of its own. When tragedy strikes, Dolly's only hope will be the circle of friends under her roof and their ability to discover the truth about what happened to a young bride who lived there a century before.

About The Author:

Valerie Fraser Luesse is the bestselling author of Missing Isaac and is an award-winning magazine writer best known for her feature stories and essays in Southern Living, where she is currently a senior travel editor. Specializing in stories about unique pockets of Southern culture, Luesse has published major pieces on the Gulf Coast, the Mississippi Delta, Louisiana's Acadian Prairie, and the Outer Banks of North Carolina. Her editorial section on Hurricane Katrina recovery in Mississippi and Louisiana won the 2009 Writer of the Year award from the Southeast Tourism Society. She lives in Birmingham, Alabama.

My Thoughts:

I could not put this book down. This was the perfect book to come home to after a days work. A book to relax in to. I looked forward to coming home everyday and having my reading time, so I could get more and more into this story and the characters! I loved Dolly. She was great, and her husband Si was a hoot! I believe there could be more to these people, more to their stories - spin-offs? Sequels? I would read more, for sure! A great book!

Get Almost Home on Amazon. 

 

Enclosed - Lingerie Gifts

Lingerie is the perfect, simple, indulgent gift to give to any woman for any occasion from an anniversary to a break-up. Lingerie offers the femininity, delicacy and beauty of flowers without the wilting. In the past, giving lingerie that would both delight the woman and actually fit her, was challenging. The gents have an utterly-understandable reluctance to walk into frilly pink underwear boutiques. Moreover, the gift-giver wants to give something that balances tantalizing with tastefulness so she feels sensual, not trashy. Whether you are a man who wants to show his wife of nine years that she is still the most beautiful woman in the world, a lesbian buying something special for her fiancé, or a friend looking for a memorable birthday present, Enclosed gives you a simple way to delight the woman in your life. Decadent - and fit always 100% guaranteed - they provide gifts that are sensual, intimate, and unforgettable.

Check it all out at Enclosed on Facebook, as well as Enclosed on Twitter.

 

CleverMade SnapBasket Luxe Tote

Eco-Baskets from CleverMade will soon be available in Walmart and Target Stores! Bringing your own bag on your next shopping trip makes it so convenient and easy. You might notice the stores you normally shop at are phasing out free plastic bags to carry your goods out of the store. As retail becomes more committed to sustainable business practices, it’s time to get socially conscious in 2019 and start using more eco-friendly products for shopping trips. From the company that brings you smarter products for easier living, CleverMade has a range of Collapsible Totes that are sturdy, stylish, convenient, and friendly on the environment. These genius products are always available at CleverMade.com but starting in April, you can pick up the Eco-Basket at select Walmart stores or grab the stylish navy striped SnapBasket Luxe Tote available at most Target Stores.

Transport 25 pounds of your favorite goods, groceries, and gear then collapse it flat to less than 1.5 inches to store in your trunk or home with ease! With versatility in mind, CleverMade Totes open and close hassle free with built-in patented SnapHinge technology. Unlike reusable bags of similar design, these totes are structured to be flop-free, meaning your life isn’t about to spill over in a time-consuming mess. Not only are the CleverMade totes perfect for shopping they are great for everyday use, from the office to the gym and any errand in between.

SnapBasket Luxe Tote:

· Chic, stylish and sturdy on-the-go tote

· SnapBasket Luxe is a collapsible yet durable, fully folding, carry-all, perfect for anyone on the go

· Great for toting your belongings to work, your gear to yoga class or everyday errands

· Heavy-duty canvas tote with vegan leather handles hauls up to 30 pounds

· Simply snap open and load up the SnapBasket Luxe for easy toting

· Folds down flat to less than 1.5" and stores neatly with the built-in WrapStrap

Check it all out at CleverMade on Facebook, as well as CleverMade on Twitter.

Get Organized This Spring With Mindspace

Better home organization is a common new year’s goal, but it can be overwhelming tackling items in room after room. Do you ever wish a new year could mean a new home? Before you make any rash moving plans, let Mindspace be your one-stop shop to organize your office, kitchen, and closets with their varieties of cutlery trays, utensil caddies, and a variety of organizers from office supplies to shoes. Start in the office with the Office Desk Organizer. It contains six compartments and includes a pull-out drawer to store those smaller items cluttering up a desk. This organizer is sturdy, made with mesh metal, but lightweight enough to move anywhere you need it.

With 24 oversized pockets, the Over Door Shoe Organizer has more versatility than organizing just footwear. Use it to hold toys, accessories or cleaning supplies in any room of your home. In the kitchen, Mindspace’s Condiment Utensil Caddy is just as versatile. Use it to hold your condiments, seasonings, kitchen supplies, or gadgets. Its lightweight steel construction and sleek mesh design look great on any table or countertop and it’s just as easy to move where needed.

Unlike some forms of organization that come in a box with instructions to put together. Mindspace eliminates this stress with no assembly required for their products.

Check it all out at Mindspace on Facebook, as well as Mindspace on Twitter.

 

Happy 11th Birthday, Callan

One Tough Bitch - New Jewelry Line

Remember those old fashioned friendship bracelets or necklaces? We are adults now. We have upgraded. One Tough Bitch fashion and accessories brand created a line to empower other women, and they have a line of best friend jewelry. Buy one and you get a second included to gift to your best friend!

One Tough Bitch Dual-Sided Bracelet and Necklace - One Tough Bitch is more than a brand, it's a movement. By recognizing the unique emotional challenges all women face in our cultural climate, One Tough Bitch offers the reminder of inner strength and honors a woman's bravery in the face of adversity, whether that be illness, grief, divorce, etc. The symbol featured on the One Tough Bitch accessory line is a triangle with an upward facing point representing the mind, body and soul; the inner strength of each woman wearing it. 10% of the royalty proceeds will be donated to Give Her Camp, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which offers women's empowerment weekends. Give Her Camp offers scholarships to women who can't afford it. In particular the donations from the sale of One Tough Bitch products will be for the benefit of scholarships for Breast Cancer Survivors.

Check it all out at One Tough Bitch on Facebook, as well as One Tough Bitch on Twitter.

365 Devotions To Love God And Love Others Well

365 Devotions To Love God And Love Others Well

About The Book:

In our culture, where social media "friends" trump real-life relationships, people have never been more isolated and lonely. 365 Devotions to Love God and Love Others Well helps us experience God's perfect love for us and enables us to love others in a meaningful, honest, and profound way. Everyone wants to love and be loved, but we lack the time and the intentionality to forge lasting relationships. We go about our days feeling battered and broken, lonely and solitary, despite the fact that we’ve been relentlessly adored by our Creator. This devotional gently shares with us that God already calls us beloved, and He desires that we love others just as He loves us. 365 Devotions to Love God and Love Others Well reminds you daily that in God's eyes you’re priceless beyond measure, and your intrinsic value doesn't change one bit regardless of what kind of day, week, or even year you're having. God has called you irreplaceable. This is the love He has for you and the love He has called you to extend to those around you. Savor this yearlong journey into God’s limitless and far-reaching love.

My Thoughts:

This is a nice way to start each day. Not only does it build you up, it helps you to find ways to help build others up as well.

Get 365 Devotions To Love God And Love Others Well at The Faith Gateway Store.

#BUSHSChiliBeans Giveaway & Coupon

 Monday, February 18th at 12:00 AM PT to Friday, February 22nd at 11:59 PM PT.

Ten (10) winners will receive a $50 gift card from Walmart. Users enter the giveaway by heading to the Walmart page on Savings.com and submitting their email address on the form at the top of the page. The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Monday (2/25) via the email address they used to enter.

Shopping for Accessories to Complete Dress Outfits

You may take a lot of time and care to make sure your children look their best. You select clothing that fits them well and is made from durable materials. You also take care when it comes to mixing and matching patterns and colors for their outfits.

However, no outfit can be complete without accessories that match or complement the look for which you are going. You can shop for belts, ties, and boys leather shoes that will make your children look their best on the website today.

Shopping for Comfort

As much as you want your children to look like a proverbial million bucks, you also want them to be comfortable. If they are not comfortable in what you have them dressed in, it could just be a matter of time before they take off their clothing and run around in their underwear.

Rather than face that kind of embarrassment, you can shop for shoes that will be comfortable for your children to wear. The shoes sold on the website are made from soft but durable materials that are designed to last for years. They also are crafted to be spacious enough for your children’s feet to fit into without cramping or pinching while they are being worn.

Your children may be inclined to leave their shoes on for longer without demanding to take them off. You can enjoy having your children dressed up and looking nice without the worry that they will kick off their shoes and refuse to put them back on later.

Shopping on a Budget

 You also may have a limited budget for picking out your children’s shoes. When you do not have a lot of cash but want nice shoes for your children, you may find what you want on the website.

The website offers shoes on sale as well as clearance. You can also use the promo code found on the website to take off discounts on the final price. You may get accessories to complete the look you are going for by using the available savings found online today.

 

3 Ways To Celebrate the Beginning or End of the School Year

In just a few months, another school year will be at its end. Then, a few months after that, a new one will begin again. The beginning and the end of the school year can be exciting and emotional times for both you and your kids. Nothing lasts forever, and these benchmarks serve as an opportunity to embrace change and look with positivity toward the future, whatever it may bring. Here are some fun ideas to celebrate the end of this school year and/or the beginning of a new one.

1. Give a Personalized Present

A gift with your child's name on it will let him know that you value him as an individual and is likely to be treasured for years to come. A gift that your child can also get some practical use out of, such as a boys leather belt, is a great idea.

2. Take a Commemorative Photo

Every year, the first and last days of school are momentous occasions. Each represents a rite of passage for your child. One of the best and simplest ways to preserve these memories forever is to take a picture. In the future, you and she both will look back at these photos and remember these precious days of childhood.

3. Throw a Party

A back-to-school party is a great way to help kids reconnect with friends after summer vacation, as well as allowing them to burn off some of that nervous energy before school begins. On the last day of school, you can meet your kids at the bus stop with balloons and treats to celebrate their accomplishments over the last school year.

No matter how you choose to commemorate the first or last days of school, be sure to make it a positive experience. When you foster a belief that the upcoming season, be it the summer or the school year, has great things in store, it has the potential to become a self-fulfilling prophecy for your child.

Hemp Oil by White Cedar

Cannabidiol (Hemp Extract) is the concentrated extract of the hemp plant. Hemp extract contains thousands of medicinal compounds which are highly beneficial to the human body and spirit. Scientific and clinical research show that this extract has the potential to treat a wide range of conditions, including a relief from inflammation, pain, anxiety, psychosis, seizures, spasms, and other neurological disorders.

I was lucky enough to try some of the oil from White Cedar Naturals. Cinnamint Flavoring: made with a wonderful blend of organic cinnamon and peppermint extracts for a smooth intake. Full Spectrum Extract: 100mg Extract (3.3mg per serving). This hemp oil is made from the full hemp plant including the leaves, stalks, and flowers in order to attain all the nutrients of this medicinal plant. Great for pain, anxiety, and stress relief. Blended with organic hemp seed oil for optimum absorption and bioavailability. Reduces: Joint Pain, Swelling, Inflammation, Anxiety, Symptoms of Arthritis, Symptoms of PMS and Menstrual Cramps. Improves: Sleep, Immunity Levels, Health of Skin and Hair, Energy Levels and Metabolic Rate, Organ Function, Cardiovascular Circulation and Function, Recovery of Muscles After Exercise.

Check it all out at White Cedar Naturals on Facebook, as well as White Cedar Naturals on Twitter.

 

Moving Made Easy

Moving is never an easy job, but there are ways to simplify the process. Whether you are single, have young children at home, or have finally reached your retirement dreams, relocating is often stressful and filled with hard work and confusion. Use the following tips to make the entire process easier for you and your family members.

Familiarize Yourself with the New Location

Moving is hard enough without frantically trying to locate businesses you need at the last minute. Plan a weekend getaway to your new location ahead of the actual move. Scout out grocery stores, retail shops, doctors, banks, and other important businesses. This can remove confusion and settle the nerves of the entire family. You can even search for fun places like a favorite chain restaurant, local parks, and area attractions.

Keep It Simple

Take advantage of offers from friends and family to help you pack up and get all of you belongings to the new house. Many hands will make light work. If you are in a situation where all of this work is just to hard, consider using the services of one of the Livonia, MI movers to alleviate the stress. If you are getting older, have limitations, or have young children, this can be a lifesaver.

Celebrate a Job We'll Done

Throw yourself a good old fashioned house warming party once you are settled. This gathering of friends and family serves two important purposes. It is a great way to thank everyone that helped you out during the move, and it is a wonderful way to get to know your new neighbors. Everyone will also love to see the new place.

Just the act of breaking down the moving process into steps will simplify the process. Having your first step be getting to know your new neighborhood can take away many of the fears. Next, hire a moving service to handle the heavy work, and finally, celebrate the fact that you have finally arrived in your new location.

Becoming The Talbot Sisters

Becoming the Talbot Sisters

By Rachel Linden

About The Book:

Twin sisters Waverly and Charlie Talbot have drifted far apart as they pursue opposite dreams of stardom and service to the poor. On an astonishing journey across Central Europe, they must come together to face their fears, find their courage and fight for what they love.

Celebrity chef Waverly Ross has built a successful career with her home-entertaining show Simply Perfect. Yet she and her husband, Andrew, have never been able to realize the true desire of Waverly’s heart: to become a mother. Meanwhile Waverly’s twin sister, Charlie Talbot, buries her bitter disappointment and shattered idealism beneath a life spent serving others as an international aid worked in Budapest, Hungary.

When the beloved aunt who raised them passes away, Waverly and Charlie come together in their grief after living years on separate continents. Struck by a fierce desire to bridge the distance between them, Charlie offers Waverly and her husband the selfless gift of surrogacy. But soon the sisters find they are each in danger of losing their jobs, seemingly putting their dreams on hold once again. When Waverly shows up unannounced in Budapest with a plan to rescue Simply Perfect, the sisters embark on an adventure across Central Europe that could save them both from occupational hazards. Though the twins haven’t had to rely on each other since childhood, an unforeseen dangerous turn in their journey across Europe forces them to stand together to save their careers, the baby, and each other.

Disney’s The Nutcracker and the Four Realms

Disney's dazzling adventure "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms"- inspired by E.T.A. Hoffmann's classic tale and the beloved ballet "The Nutcracker"- carried audiences along with 14-year-old Clara (Mackenzie Foy) to a magical, mysterious world with breathtaking performances by Misty Copeland plus sweets, snowflakes, soldiers, scurrying mice...and no shortage of surprises. Destined to become an annual viewing tradition for adventurers of all ages, the film arrived home instantly with never-before seen extras and deleted scenes on Digital and Movies Anywhere, and on 4K Ultra HD, Blu-ray and DVD Jan. 29th, 2019. Bonus features include a discussion with American Ballet Theatre’s Misty Copeland about her role as the enchanting Ballerina Princess, her personal history with “The “Nutcracker” ballet, and her inspirational and historic rise within the world of dance. Extras take viewers on the set of “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms” to meet both new and re-imagined characters, and discover how the Land of Sweets, Land of Snowflakes, Land of Flowers, and the mysterious Fourth Realm were created to such dazzling effect. Deleted scenes provide a look at magical moments that didn’t make the final version of the movie.

In “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms,” Clara travels along a golden thread, presented at Drosselmeyer’s (Morgan Freeman) annual party, eagerly searching for a one-of-a-kind key that will unlock a music box that holds a priceless gift. When she enters a mysterious parallel world, Clara encounters a Nutcracker soldier named Phillip (Jayden Fowora-Knight), a gang of mice and three Realm regents, including the Sugar Plum Fairy (Keira Knightley). Ultimately, she must brave the ominous Fourth Realm, home to the tyrant Mother Ginger (Helen Mirren), to retrieve the key and return harmony to the unstable world.

The stunning feature film will be packaged and released in several different formats, giving families the flexibility to watch it on a variety of different devices. Viewers can instantly watch the film in Digital UHD, HD and SD, and bring home a physical copy of the film as the Ultimate Collector’s Edition (4K UHD, Blu-ray and Digital Code), Multi-Screen Edition (Blu-ray, DVD and Digital Code) or a single DVD. 

 

#ToryBurchAtMacys Giveaway

Friday, February 1st at 12:00 AM PT to Wednesday, February 6th at 11:59 PM PT.

Ten (10) winners will receive a $50 Macy's gift card. Users enter the giveaway by heading to the Macy's page on Savings.com and submitting their email address on the form at the top of the page. The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Thursday (2/7) via the email address they used to enter.

 

#ZalesForVDay Giveaway

 

 Tuesday, January 22nd at 12:00 AM PT to Thursday, January 31st at 11:59 PM PT.

Five (5) winners will receive a $100 Zales e-gift card. Users enter the giveaway by heading to the Zales page on Savings.com and submitting their email address on the form at the top of the page. The winners will be chosen through a lottery drawing and notified on Friday (2/1) via the email address they used to enter.