2014 Resolutions

Usually I don't make a New Year's Resolution, but this year I have some motivation. Here we go:

1. Continue my running plan that I started LAST January!! Still going strong!

2. Eat LESS processed foods.Good-bye Lean Pocket lunches.

3. Read MORE. I have a tablet and a library card to check out ebooks. I have no excuses.

4. Write MORE. I've been slacking lately.

5. Plan a VACATION. I think we really need to plan at least one non-home trip a year to really get away from it all and stay sane.

There you go! What are YOUR resolutions??

-Listress Colleen

5 Cheap Home Upgrade Ideas

If you're looking for easy ways to update your home, then you've come to the right list. Enjoy!

Paint. This is probably the easiest upgrade you can give to a space. A new paint color revitalizes any space with minimal effort and money. If you don't want to paint an entire room, consider just an accent wall or a door.

New cabinet hardware. This cheap upgrade gives a facelift to the "jewelry" of any bathroom or kitchen.

Add moulding and trim work. A chair rail with picture frame moulding below adds sophistication and class to  room for an easy price. Combine this with some paint and you've really done it! Adding a frame around a mirror is also an easy upgrade.

Upscale, upscale, upscale. An easy way to upgrade your home is to work with pieces you already have. Sick of your nightstand? Turn it into a Lego table or a bathroom vanity. Convert your old dresser to a hallway bench or a kitchen island. Turn one of your old drawers into an end table. The possibilities are endless.

Shop at discount stores. Our favorite around here is Ollie's Bargain Outlet, Habitat for Humanity ReStore, and local thrift stores. Back in our hometown there is also a Building #19 and Ocean State Job Lot. In Tennessee we like Bargain Hunt Superstore. All of these stores carry closeout and heavily discounted items, most brand new and still in the original packaging (except the thrift stores). We've found a ton of home improvement bargains shopping at these retailers.hH

4 unique subscription boxes

Julep - for the beauty queen:
Julep offers a monthly subscription program called Maven. For $19.99 per month (shipping is free) you receive a box with a variety of products (nail polishes, cuticle oil, creams, scrubs, etc.) that suits your style as determined by a brief quiz. The results of the quiz will place you as an American Beauty (that's what I got), Classic With a Twist, Bombshell, It Girl, or Boho Glam. One thing I like about this program is that you have a choice with the products and you're not forced to make a purchase. There is a window of time each month in which you can skip the month without being charged, gift the box it to a friend, change to another Maven style to receive that box, or request for Julep to suggest other items for you. The best part about this is that Julep is currently running a promo where you can get your first month for just one cent! No taxes, no shipping, nothing else. My credit card was literally charged only $0.01, and I'm getting two gorgeous nail polishes and a bottle of cuticle oil.
If you're interested, click HERE. When you checkout, the $0.01 promo code is PENNY.

KLUTCHclub - for the health nut (or wannabe health nut!)
KLUTCHclub is a subscription box geared towards those interested in health and fitness. For $16-$18 a month (depending on which subscription you choose) you receive a box full of products valued at over $50! It's a great opportunity for those who are trying to live a healthier lifestyle because it allows you to sample products that can help get you on your way. For those who are already well immersed into healthy eating and fitness, KLUTCHclub will send you products that will most definitely pique your interest! There is even a subscription specific to men.

To try KLUTCHclub, click HERE.

BarkBox - for the dog lover:

BarkBox will send you and your pup a box in the mail with four or more full sized products and presents for your dog – anything from bones and treats to shampoos, leashes and innovative new gadgets! They tailor the box based on your dog's size: large, medium, or small breed.
Awesome plus: A portion of proceeds from each box goes to a program/charity to help dogs in need.

To sign up for BarkBox and get $5 off your first box, click HERE.

Citrus Lane - for mommies (or daddies!) and babies:

Citrus Lane will send you 4-5 full sized products each month from snacks and treats, to books and toys, to supplies! What you receive is based on your child's age. It's great for first time parents as it shows what's out there, and for seasoned parents it's a new twist and shows the latest items for baby.

To get $10 off when you try Citrus Lane, click HERE.

4 non-academic things your child should* know before entering school

This may be surprising, but children often don't know these important (and sometimes life-saving) pieces of information:

1) Your home and cellphone number and the phone number of at least one other trusted adult, (preferably someone that you put on their school emergency contact form). They should have these numbers memorized.

2) Your address.

3) Your last name and the first and last names of another trusted adult (again, preferably someone that you put on their school emergency contact form).

4) Any life-threatening allergies they may have.

*When I say, "should," I mean it would be ideal if your child knew these things. It is to be understood that children have varying abilities and some may be unable to know such information by the suggested age.

4 Easy Ways to Make Your Veggies More Enjoyable

Here are 4 easy ways to spruce up your veggies.

1) Roast them with olive oil, garlic, and balsamic vinegar. This works particularly well with cauliflower, brussell sprouts, and asparagus. Wash, cut, add ingredients, roast. Easy and delicious.

2) Make a dip with light sour cream. We all love to load our raw veggies with dip, but, dips can be mighty high in fat. Remedy this by taking a container of light sour cream and adding a packet of dry ranch dressing.

3) Make kale chips. Remove the ribs from kale. Cut or tear leaves into 2-inch pieces. Toss lightly with olive oil and salt. Bake until crisp, turning the leaves halfway through, about 20 minutes. The result is a delicious and nutritious crunchy treat.

4) Make them saucy! Bake some zucchini and add your favorite marinara sauce. Or try spaghetti squash...bake it, shred it, add sauce...it's almost like eating a bowl of pasta!

-Nicole

15+ toys my New-to-being-Two Toddler Loves

My son turned two a month ago and his toy choices grew with him. He's in a weird age group where he wants to play with more complex toys than "baby" ones, but he's not quite old enough for some of the three year old toys. Here are his favorites at 25-months-old:

Craft Kids Adventure Castle. We grabbed this one when it was the Kids Woot deal of the day. He loves to color it with crayons.

Fisher-Price Little People Wheelies Loops 'n Swoops Amusement Park ...  or any other car ramp.

Apps on my tablet. Specifically Dinosaurs for Toddlers. This was a free app but I upgraded it so he could have all 120 dinos.

Toolbox and tools. I think he has watched us use so many tools renovating the house (shameless plug to our DIY blog) that he knows exactly how to use each one in his set. I added a measuring tape from the Dollar Tree and I did remove some of the smaller pieces (nuts and bolts) that came with it since it is 3+, but the tools themselves are a perfect size for a two year old.

Trains. Especially his Christmas train from Fisher Price. We got it at Kohl's, but it is a season, exclusive special.

Fun Years The King's Castle Play Set. We got this one from Toys R Us and it comes with good size figures for a two year old to play with.

Musical instruments. He is currently rocking out a xylophone, drums, keyboard, tambourine, cymbals, recorder, maracas and another full instrument set.

Riding toys without pedals. He's too young to really understand how pedals work, but he can sure push himself around with his feet, Flintstones style. He likes his new Pirate ship.

Flashlights. He likes all flashlights, but he especially loves his Tick Tock Croc from Jake and the Neverland Pirates. It's a flashlight that ticks, tocks and makes a gator chomp swallowing noise when his mouth closes. It also projects a cool skull and crossbones image when you shine it on the wall.

Tonka trucks. Any kind, he loves them all.

Crayons and coloring books.

Balls. Football, baseball, basketball. He's not picky. Balloons are also a big hit, especially the punching ones. He calls them "boom booms."

Shovel. He loves digging in the yard.

Books. He's stopped ripping pages of books that aren't board books. However, pop up books are the exception. He still rips out all the pop ups.

 Happy playtime!
-Listress Colleen

8 Things "She" Could Have Ordered Instead

We all need to laugh. Luckily for me, my husband and I do that together, and often. He had me cracking up one day when Paris by Jay-Z and Kanye was on the radio. There's a line Kanye raps that goes, "What she order, fish filet?" All of a sudden that part comes on and hubby goes, "What she order, goose paté?" After that little gem we spent some time coming up with other foods that rhymed with "filet" that would fit nicely into that line. So, here are 8 things "she" could have ordered instead.

1) Goose paté

2) Duck flambé

3) Special K

4) Cheese soufflé

5) Peach sorbet

6) PB J

7) Crème brulée
8) Juice frappé

Can you think of any others? Bon appetit!

-Nicole

6 Ways to Improve Your Time Management

Time management is a learned skill that is welcomed in workplaces and life in general. Organizing your time efficiently can reduce stress and boost productivity. Here is a list to get you started:

6. Keep a planner: digital, written or both. Personally I keep a Google calendar and a written planner. Google calendar has alarms and reminds me of appointments and tasks even when I don't have my written planner with me. My planner helps me keep track of side tasks and makes a month easy to glance at.

5. Prioritize. If you have too many tasks on a daily basis, do the most important ones first.

4. Keep a to-do list and cross tasks off when completed. I like to keep my list on my phone. Being able to cross an item off can give you a boost and make you feel productive.

3. Delegate or ask for help. This is a small weakness of mine, but trust me, you can get a lot more done when you enlist reinforcements to help.

2. Know your limits when setting deadlines. Can you realistically accomplish your entire to-do list in one day? Probably not. Don't set yourself up for disappointment by putting too much on your plate.

1. Keep paperwork organized and filed. If you know exactly where you are keeping a bill, form, or other paperwork you need, you will spend a lot less time looking for it if you keep a file box or cabinet that is clearly labeled. Less time shuffling through papers means more time getting tasks crossed off the list.

Happy organizing!

-Listress Colleen

8 Things to know for college

Here's a list of things to know before attending an undergraduate college:

8. You're paying for classes. If you fail you have to pay to take them again.

7. Be ready to spend a lot of time in the library or your "quiet" place.

6. Get a laptop. You will use it for everything.

5. Apply for scholarships.

4. Don't take 8am classes. Ever.

3. Get to know your professors. You need them to write graduate school recommendations for you.

2. Make sure you attend a school that is regionally and nationally accredited.

1. Get involved and have fun. Extracurricular activities at this level can turn into networking opportunities to land a job after graduation.

Happy learning!

Listress Colleen

8 Tips for a Happy Marriage

Here's a short list of tips to keep your marriage a happy one...

8. Don't interrupt your husband/wife while he/she is talking.

7. Clean your hair out of the drain.

6. Let go of small habits that bother you about your spouse. For example, my husband won't stop twirling his beard and it drive me batty, but I just let it go because really, what does it matter? It's not hurting anyone.

5. Don't keep score. Winning separately isn't what it's all about. Win together.

4. Compromise. A little give and take from both sides keeps everyone at least moderately happy.

3. Keep giving compliments. Even on your 50th wedding anniversary. Compliments never get old.

2. Take lots of vacations. They renew the soul and your marriage.

1. Care about each other, even when you're mad. Even if my husband were mad at me and I needed help with something, he would be there in a second.

6 Reasonable and Tasty Wines

I asked my good friend Jeff who works in a local liquor store to help me with this list: 6 (very) reasonably priced but delicious bottles of wine.
I thoroughly enjoy visiting wineries and participating in wine tastings. That being said, I’m no expert. I know there are excessively expensive bottles of wine out there, and I’m sure trained taste buds may be able to testify as to why they are so pricey, but for me personally, I have had plenty of enjoyable wines that did not require me to take out a loan to purchase them! Here are 6 enjoyable bottles of wine that are under $10.

Reds:

1) Bogle Merlot

2) Mirrasou Pinot Noir

3) Ravenswood Zinfandel

Whites:

1) Bogle Chardonnay

2) Mirrasou Riesling

3) Ruffino Lumina Pinot Grigio

Cheers, list lovers!

-Nicole