Paperless & Going Digital – Revisited

So I have finally gone paperless! So I am revisiting my going digital journey.

I will have to say it is the best choice. I am a bit of a multitasker (I lost my mind and decided to work on creating multiple businesses) and now with my mom’s doc visits and what not writing everything down was not working anymore. I don’t even allow them to give me paper appointment cards or slips. Just email or tell me and boom, saved. There are a lot of apps I try out but the ones I keep going to are below.

SmartNews

This is actually my first stop in the morning. I don’t watch news on TV anymore because it is 90% negative. With smart news I can choose what I want to read about first thing. I choose usually science, health, nature articles. On occasion if I know something major is going on, I will take a quick glance at the “front page”. But I like that I can get a general run down rather quick so I am not too bogged down with negative feelings first thing.

Trello

I love Trello with a passion. I am sure by now you have seen loads of people talk about it. It has truly because my to do list, blog planner, project planner, and so much more. It is every notebook I have ever had in one little place. I use it on my desktop. I used to use it on my kindle but the app is gone. Did you know all the stuff you add to Trello can be easily added to your google calendar! So helpful.

Dropbox

I use Dropbox in a more organized manner. This is where (when I remember) I keep downloadable pdfs for recipes and what not. I also use it as a backup for all blog posts. It is a more organized form of storage for me. I use this app on my laptop as well as kindle so I can have quick access to files when traveling because I no longer take my laptop with me.

Google Drive

Google Drive is my back up mainly. I have one for each email as a means to make up each business. I keep copies of business recipes, important laptop files, copies of insurance/ids/etc. I will also use this when I see something that inspires me or something I need to file later. Since it doesn’t take up much cell phone space I keep this instead of Dropbox, and I just sort later on when I am at the laptop. I use this on my laptop as well as my phone.

Planoly

I was introduced to this through a youtuber and fell in love. I wanted to take my Instagram to the next level and be a bit more organized with it especially since a couple businesses will really need the images to sell. So I added this to my phone and it’s accessible for your computer as well. It really helps you plan and organize your posts ahead of time allowing you too see how it will look once it’s finally posted. Which is great if you want to keep a certain theme or “look”.

MyFitnessPal & Fitocracy

I have stopped trying to track my macros and keep track of what exercise to do and how well I am doing them via paper. It’s just too confusing at times for me. I want to put more time into building my businesses so it makes more sense for me to just put some info in a program and move on. I use MyFitnessPal on my phone mainly because the scan option makes things go faster and tend to be more accurate. I use Fitocracy as a support system for working out. I love the point system to level up and I love that people root you on even if it's small progress.

BlogLovin

So many blogs. So little time. Honestly why would you use any other way to read and keep up with all the wonderful blogs out there!

Evernote

This I use for so many purposes. I have a section for receipts for each quarter for each biz. At the end of the quarter a copy goes to google drive for long term storage. I like using this for my recipes because I can just take a pic. It is my alternative to scanning recipes for tax purposes later. A inspo section. Mostly random notes or pics that are added at random. I also keep my writing projects here. I try my best to write daily. I use this both on my laptop and kindle. I noticed the kindle app is where I tend to do the book writing the most. Those late nights can be full of creativity.

Google Calendar

I have a calendar for each business. I kid you not. This way I can add Trello info to each section and I can choose to see everyone posted on my calendar or just look at each one. I put all and ever appointment in here. This is the only way I remember when holidays are half the time. Lol. I did away with the wall calendars and paper planners. This in conjunction with Trello has been a life changer.

BOIL WATER WARNING

Not too long ago my city had a boil water notice go out. Now my city never had a boil water notice in all the years that I have I have lived here. I wasn't even that sure on why I was really supposed to do. After a couple hours, it got me thinking...

What if this was worse? What if this was a regular thing. Am I prepared? Can I handle boiling water for everything for long periods of time? The answer was no. Which is really shameful seeing that I live in in a state that gets lots of hurricanes. Hell, we even have a football team named the hurricanes. That should let you know how common they are here. I had only a couple bottles that I could keep water in and a big plastic jug in the fridge. That's all. Well, that won't get me far. So I started looking to see what was available. As much as I'd love to not have plastic I have to be realistic here. Plus I need to be able to easily store and access the items. 

I looked around and came across some neat storage containers that stack which is awesome because this will help save space. I also thought camping gear would be of good use just in case power went out as well during hurricane time. Below are just some items that would be useful primarily in a boil water order. Of course, they can be used any other time if you wish.

Camping Shower

I have this one. In a pinch, it's great as long as you have some place high to tie it too. Our shower wasn't high enough to allow the spray hose to work without kinking up. So we had to use it outside. Long term use would get annoying but for a few days, this would work well.  

Mass Storage

Even though I try to not to gt things that can't be just folded away when not in use, I really like these, I like the fact they stack and look easy to fill. It may take some time to fill them when boiling water, with only being 5 gallons each it shouldn't be too bad.  

Pots

If you are able to boil on your stove then go ahead and use the pots you already have. I do not have grill safe pots but this on is pretty nice. Lighter in weight than I expected and get's the job done. I like that it holds a good amount of water. Allowing the process to happen faster.

Water Bottles

For fast access when washing hands or drinking we always have glass bottles around. I swapped out my plastic and metal ones for glass. The glass bottles are a lot stronger than they used to be and the tops are usually bpa free which is nice.

All of these items can be used year round if desired. But they are just really handy when you freak out over a boil water warning like I did. :)

Have you ever had a boil water order? How long did it last? Were you prepared? Do you live off the grid and this is daily living for you? Let me know in the comments and share any other suggestions you might have. 

*pic via: https://www.flickr.com/photos/jamiesrabbits/5678713590

2017 THEME & GOALS

|| 2017 Theme: FOCUS (side theme GROWTH) ||

|| 2017 GOALS ||

• Yoga & Exercise every day for 12 weeks straight.
• Meditate twice a day.
• Write cookbook by the end of Dec 2017
• Be more active and engage others more on IG.
• Read 1 book a month.
• Limit time on social media.
• Learn French.

I don't usually do this but I came across a great youtube video from a wonderful youtuber/blogger/podcaster that I have just grown to love. Aileen Xu of Lavendaire made a video where she discussed here goals & theme for 2017. I thought to myself that this is a great idea and why didn't I do this sooner. You can check out her video here.

I decided on FOCUS as my theme with the addition of GROWTH. They do go hand in hand but I wanted to make sure I gave attention to the growth created through focusing on goals and my needs. By making sure I set easy to follow schedules and mini goals, reaching my ultimate goals is attainable. Before I just kinda winged it or set unrealistic expectations and ended up quitting before anything good could happen. 

What are you goals and or theme for 2017? Have you made theme for the year before? Share with me in the comments below.

SCENT YOUR HOME WITHOUT CHEMICALS

I love having my home smell good. I find it comforting. However one issue I have is all the candles & sprays that are full of chemicals. You don't need all those wasteful items in your home and you certainly don't need those chemicals in your lung. Plus summer rains in Florida certainly doesn't smell like whatever is in those things!
Making your home smell good naturally isn't hard. You probably even have all the items you need already in your kitchen. All you need is some water, pot and various spices.

Here are 3 our favorite mixes that I make regularly.

Rosemary & Citrus (this is my every day scent)
-3-4 sprigs of rosemary
-peel of two lemons (or sliced lemons)
-couple of drops of vanilla extract

Festive Fall
-2-3 sticks of cinnamon
-1 tsp nutmeg peel of 1-2 oranges (or sliced oranges)
-1 tbsp whole clove star anise (optional)
*An alternative that works very well is swapping the oranges for 2-3 whole apples*


Winter Delight
-4-5 springs of pine (I ask where trees are sold if I can have some of the broken off pieces)
-2-3 bay leaves 1 tsp of nutmeg



Once you have gathered your ingredients stick them in a pot and cover with water. Bring mix to a boil, then lower to a simmer. You can either leave it on the stove and add water as it evaporates, or you can pour the fresh hot mixture into a mason jar and place around the home. You will have to reheat on the stove or in a microwave throughout the day. When not in use you can save it in the fridge and reheat when needed. The mixture will last about a week before the smell begins to become odd. Once you are all done just toss the mixture into the compost or bury directly in the ground if you don't have a compost.

I like to use the peels so they don't go to waste since the best smell comes from the peels.

What is your favorite scent combination? How do you plan on using this simple room freshener?

HOW I STAY ORGANIZED – WITHOUT PAPER

Let me start off by saying that I love planners and making lists. Like actually writing down lists. So much so that this was probably my most difficult change thus far. I love seeing the tasks at hand written down on paper with various colored inks for organizational purposes of course. Not because I just like the pretty colors....lol.

However, I truly despised the waste of paper. I hated having to tear apart the planners to put whatever was recyclable into their proper containers, and tossing whatever couldn't be recycled. I didn't like the waste as a whole. With all this technology there isn't a need to write it down for most people. I have been a big lover of the bullet journal movement. Oh yes it is a movement! A beautiful one. Have you checked out those planners! I have also been a user of passion planner.

This use of planners, note pads, and notebooks in my opinion is not in line with my desire to have a smaller footprint while living a more simple life. I searched around and tried various programs. Even just the simple notepad on the computer. No matter what I kept coming back to Trello. I finally put everything else aside and just focused on Trello. It can be a little confusing at times but once you get it set up the way you need, it's smooth sailing. I won't go into too much detail on the ins and outs of Trello, they have a bunch of great info on their site to walk you through everything so don't worry about that. Currently I have the following boards:

WEEK AT A GLANCE:

Within this board I have lists for each week of that month. Those lists contains tasks that need to be done sometime within that week. This for the most part is what would be your typical to-do list. What it does, is force me to think about the importance of items. Instead of writing everything down on one paper and trying to work through it all, everything is separate by what needs or can be done this week, next week, etc. This way I don't feel like I have to rush.

Next week have,

TOSO BLOG CALENDAR:

This has been the biggest help. I have a list for ideas, giveaways, guest posts (coming soon I hope), posts in progress, and published posts. Every time an idea pops up I immediately put it in Trello. Each week I go through and see what I'd like to work on. I usually do this on a Saturday or Sunday since my posts only go out twice a week, it is easy to work in some posts. Once I have decided it gets moved over into the in progress list. Now I know what needs to be worked on. I also decide which day I'd like these posts to go out and I mark it in the calendar Trello has. That starts the process of be doing research, finding images, links, etc. I'll into more detail later on about my creating a blog post process. Once the post is done and posted, it is moved to the published list. I can also keep track of all my posts via the calendar or the published list. Much faster than going through the blog itself. It's a great way to keep that organized.

Next we move onto crafting boards. I have one for AtomicMoonpie and TheOldSilverOak. Similar to the blog posts, I have lists in each board for ideas, in progress, and finished projects. This helps me stay on top of things. When going back and forth between two crafting businesses it can get a little hectic and confusing. So far I have been able to completely get rid of paper lists and planners. I use the Trello app on my phone since I do not turn on my computer until later in the day. This lets me have a quick glance and what I need to work on for the day prior to sitting down and getting to work. I am in no way suggesting that you should forget all about paper methods. I am just simply letting know there are great options out there should you find yourself wanting to go paperless.

Do you already use Trello? How do you use it? How are you liking it? Have an alternative to Trello that you'd like to share? Let me know in the comments!

SIMPLE LIVING – DAILY ROUTINES

One thing about creating a daily routine, is it always keeps you focused. It subconsciously and consciously take action towards your goals. Creating a routine also helps prevent a the what do I do moments. Sometimes we can be a little frantic in the morning, at least I am. I feel like a lost zombie when I wake up. Having my morning routine in place brings a sort of calm to the chaos.

I've also noticed something, I find that my day tends to be more productive and upbeat when I stick to my morning routine. Granted I have a general routine for my entire day to a certain extent but the morning routine is what really sets me up for success each day.

Now I do not live some crazy life where I am having to get kids off to school at a certain time, then rush to work, etc. I do however have a busy life and that is because I have goals I am determined to meet. I know in order to do that I need to set routines up and stick to them other wise I will find myself all over the place without totally completed projects. I run multiple small internet based businesses. Having my routine set into place has helped me become more organized, focused, and calmer.

I don't know if it's because I am a creative person so my mind is in chaos all the time that causes me to hate doing things at certain times. I seem to work better in blocks of time. For example, when I am working I have between 10/11am & 4/5pm to do what needs to be done. Most of the time I do that in 20 min intervals , but that is not concrete. It varies depending on what is on the to-do list for that day. Even though I am talking about routine and this is still a routine, it doesn't feel like one. I still feel free but I feel organized. That is important to me. My evening routine isn't as important as my morning in my personal opinion. But it does relax me and helps create a restful sleep.

Any who, onto my morning routine.

MORNING ROUTINE: 6AM – 10AM

• Wake Up
• 10-15min Meditation
• Stretch
• Get coffee or tea started
• Let the cats and dog out into the yard
• 7-10 min workout (I use the app 7min workout on android)
• Ear a light breakfast with my tea or coffee outside while the animals play and chill
• Once everyone is inside, I go over my to-do list
• Wash any dishes from the previous night
• Sweep (when you have a home covered in tile you sweep daily..lol)
• Shower (morning shows really wake up the system, especially with my coffee scrub)
• Check emails, social media, orders
• Then I get to my to-do doing the 20 min intervals

EVENING ROUTINE: 9PM – 11/11:30PM

• Write up the to-do list for the following day
• Stretch, light exercise
• Let dog out last time
• Meditate (in bed)
• Stretch (in bed)
• Read for 30mins (it is my goal to get a minimum of 30mins a day I usually get some done in the afternoons but I always make sure I do 30mins at night this way I never miss it)

My routines aren't too constraining or difficult which is great. So far this has been working wonders for me. What routines do you follow? Do you do a routine for morning, night or both? Let me know in the comments.

SIMPLE LIVING – LAUNDRY

One thing I was so excited about when moving to a house was the clothing line. I have always wanted a clothing line. I have always wanted my clothes out in the sun drying with the breeze. I didn't really know why until I got older. To me it meant freedom. Seems silly, but it meant freedom from going to the laundromat, getting tons of quarters and spending close to $20 per trip. (wash and dry) Sometimes more if the dryers were set to low temps which some crappy places do. It meant I could take advantage of the sun. I could have my cloths flow in the wind and sway like the trees. It was freedom. I truly enjoy hanging my clothes on the line. Granted most of the time it's really hot outside but hanging the clothes and gathering them has become some what of a form of meditation for me. It has become my calm. Plus it saves a lot of money.

I have happily been able to stop using the dryer. I strictly line dry. Sometimes fence dry if I have a lot....lol. I am working on not using the washing machine and getting some other option but I am not there yet. I have stopped using regular fabric softeners like Downy. I only use vinegar. I don't even need to add any scented extracts. The smell of the vinegar rinses out. Which I figured it would because I've been using vinegar as a hair rinse for a couple years now. I am also hoping to stop detergent soon. I want to invest in some soap nuts. I keep hearing about them and want to give them a go.

Not only has this process made me feel like I am doing something good for the planet. It has also saved money on electric bills. You should give a go. I understand it can be faster to put your stuff in the dryer. But what's the harm in hanging some clothes on the line and watching them dance in the breeze. Don't be afraid to dance right with them.

How do you incorporate simple living in your laundry time? Do you use vinegar or soap nuts? Tell me about it in the notes below.

MIYM – UPCYCLED SHELF

So I had a raised garden bed. Had being the keyword here. The ants ruined it. It was made of ceder planks so I thought I'd be okay concerning bugs such as termites which are big around these parts. I never once thought about the ants. I did think about the big carpenter ants when get but they don't like cedar, I truly never thought that regular red ants would wreck havoc on my raised bed.

Before: Rot & Bug Stuff Galore

They ate and dug away so much of the raised bed it looked like termites ran through it. When I gave it a good look, no termites. Just ants. Finding shelter from rain. Perfect place for them. Sigh. I was upset and sad because I was getting ready to clean it out and put new soil in for new seedlings. But there was nothing I could do. So I kept the planks just wondering if they can be salvaged. Luckily I was able to save 7 out of 8 planks. I decided on a shelf. I have been wanting one for my craft table to house finished products and use for photos. Instead of spending $30 and up for compressed saw dust ones, I have an opportunity to make my own. Now, I have never built anything before. I have followed instructions and put stuff together, but never actually built something. Here was my chance. It isn't perfect my any means, but I love it. I love the rustic look, I love how it looks against the white wall, I love that I did it on my own. It could have been done in a day for someone who is familiar with this kind of stuff but I was new to it and was feeling a little under the weather so it took the whole weekend. Which I still don't think is that bad for a newbie.

You don't have to use old planks you can easily visit your hardware store and get some new ones, but it's kinda nice to prevent something from going into the trash.

Here are the dimensions for my shelf. There really is not right or wrong way to put this together. So don't worry about instructions.

30 in x 20 in x 7 in

I have shelves at the 10 inch, 20 inch and 30 inch (top) mark

Quick Info:

I used a regular wood saw, wood screws, and sand paper

Planks are 3 ½ inches wide. Adjust your shelf according to how deep you want it to be based off the width of the planks your choose.

Side Planks (4) – 30 inches long

Shelves (6) – 20 inches long

*Shelf Supports (4) 7 inches x 1 ½ inches : You can opt for L brackets or no supports if you won't have heavy objects on it.

After: Cleaned & Cut

Tips:

Measure twice! One thing I learned is the saw will cut away more than you think. So for the shelf to be 20 inches be sure to mark a second line at 21 inches less or more depending on the thickness of your saw.

Sand EVERYTHING before putting it all together. It's so much harder to do it afterwards. If you decide to paint do one coat prior to putting everything together.

Pilot holes are you friend. Trust me. It will really help screwing the pieces together. Makes the process much faster.

That's really it. Just decide how you want your shelves to be and that's it.

What have you upcycled recently? Share some photos with us in the comments below!

FREEDOM FROM PLASTIC – MY GLASS COLLECTION

So in my journey of living a simpler life I took notice of how often we use plastic as a means of “convenience”. For awhile I have been cutting back on living a disposable life. It has been hard but once I truly started taking it seriously I was amazed at how simple has been confused with convenience which in reality is just a way to justify the just toss it and don't worry about it lifestyle. Think about it. It's easy, simple, fast to just take a small mac & cheese cup and toss it into the microwave for a single serving. Look at how much time you've saved, and you don't even need to do the dishes! But, all you've done is add to the trash pile and add to the amount of chemicals in your body. Is that really better? I don't think it is. Can it be time consuming to make a fresh batch of mac & cheese? Sure. But you get to control what goes in it, you get to control what you store it in and yes you can make single servings. Take a look at meal prep folks and freezer cooking folks. I'd love to go into my love of meal prep and freezer cooking but this is not what this post is about. This post is about my ever growing collection of plastic free/less storage.

Glass. Glass. Glass.

I love glass. I love the sound it makes when they clank together. I love hearing rice & beans pour into it. I love the fact the smell of old herbs don't linger in the container. Trust me. You don't want your peppermint suddenly tasting/smelling like oregano. Plus if they break it's okay. Make it into something else or just recycle it. It's glass!

My collection is an ever growing one. I am a huge fan of Pyrex and Anchor Hocking because they are durable and inexpensive. However my favorite source of glass storage is jars. Jars from jelly or pasta sauce (I haven't gotten to a point of making and storing it myself, yet.). I've also been given containers from friends (those are the best kind of friends).

Here are some great sites that share ways to go plastic free as well as waste free!

TREEHUGGER | TRASH IS FORTOSSERS | ZERO WASTE CHEF

Do you have a glass storage collection? What other ways to do reduce your plastic usage? Tell me about it below.

MY LIFE IN INTERVALS

Well I guess I should really say my work life in intervals. 20 minute increments at that. Now this might seem silly or impossible. I thought it was ridiculous and just not really a way to function. I mean I have so much stuff to do every day. That is the problem. We force ourselves to do too much stuff each and every day.

Here is the thing. It is totally possible to function in increments and be highly productive. As with all things, this may not work for you. Would it hurt to try? Of course not. Still unsure about all this? Here is some inspiration. Anthony Trollope published 47 novels, 18 works of non-fiction, 12 short stories, 2 plays, and more all in 38 years. Crazy right? Not really. He did it by creating a routine that worked for you. 15 minute intervals for 3 hours a day. (Via: Anthony Trollope)

I gave this a try not too long ago and went through various amounts of time. I finally decided on 20 minutes on and 10 minutes off. Not including lunch. Now you can't just jump into this. There needs to be prep. That prep for me begins at the end of each week. I'll take you through my day.

Sunday Evening – I make a list of tasks that should or need to be completed sometime in the following week. Minus the typical house chores because well we know these need to be done regularly.

Monday – I do my simple morning routine. There will be a post on this later. However part of my morning routine is to decide on the tasks that should, could, need to be completed on this day. I try to keep it around 3 – 5 tasks depending on importance and ease. Then I go through the day completing the tasks in 20 minute intervals. I do not do anything else but the work. I find music that keeps me focused for the task at hand, and I work. Once those 20 minutes are up I take 10 minutes to do whatever. Check mail, Facebook ,etc. I repeat this till I am either finished or it is 4:00/5:00 PM. I run my work life as the business it is. So I choose not to work weekends for now and I don't work past 5:00 PM.

One thing that made a big difference for me, is getting away from the need to check off a list. It was more important that there was progress. So even if a project isn't finished, it's okay. Why? I made progress in those 20 minute intervals. That's what matter. Progress.

So far this has been working very well for me. I am comfortable and I am being more productive that I have ever been. I also don't feel drained mentally or physically at the end of the day. Which leaves me time to take care of my home and myself. I am always able to get in a second round of meditation, some reading time, and other activities that are good for me. This was a pleasant surprise.

How do you make progress every day? Are you following something similar? Share it with me in the comments below.

FACEBOOK DETOX – IT'S GOOD FOR YOU

Facebook has provided a place for people to connect from all over the world. Those we've lost touch with and new people. That's great. I've befriend many awesome women through groups on Facebook. People share advice, their new babies, family vacations, and things that just don't need to be shared. It's brought people closer. However it has also created a crutch of sorts. We depend too heavily on the social life of others. We depend too heavily on the approval of others through the simple click of a like button. I understand the convenience of social networking. I've been subject to it's habit forming ways for awhile now. Yes, it's great to be able to connect with a long lost loved one, or to find our birth parents or siblings. But when you are on vacation? Or when you are at work? What about when you are on a date?

Facebook for me personally has been the biggest drain. You end up not living, not enjoying life because you are too focused on what someone else did in their life. You end up waiting for the likes to come in. It's an addiction. Along with this, you also are opening the doors for the creeps to step in. So many people have been robbed, stalked, harassed. Who needs that kind of mess.

I have decided to severely decrease my time with Facebook. I only allow myself so many minutes on Facebook to thank folks for their advice, laugh, and congratulate others. I do 60 minutes total a day. In 20 minute increments, more info on this in another post. Then it's bye bye Facebook until the next day. I removed my business page from there because I just didn't keep up with it and felt it wasn't needed for where I want to go with this blog (i.e. simple living, minimalism, cutting back, etc). I am actually happy with my choice. At first it was hard to not check every few minutes. Over time I noticed I was getting more accomplished. You should try it. What could it hurt?

Did you do a Facebook or social media detox? How did it go? Considering it? Tell me about it in the comments below.  

BREAKFAST - QUICK & HEALTHY

We don't always have time to sit down and have a big breakfast. That doesn't mean we can't have something that is jam packed with goodness. One thing I have learned recently is how important it is to try and sit down and enjoy the moment in the mornings. The days get so hectic it's important to set yourself up for success as soon as you get up. Now I understand some folks have different schedules and morning for them is really evening and this still works. The point is to sit down, enjoy your breakfast. After all, breakfast is not something specific to mornings. You are BREAKING the FAST. Whether you do that in the morning or night doesn't matter.

This is totally adjustable to what suits you. I have been trying different ways to get flavor with my breakfast. I am very much a eggs and toast kind of gal, but it can get boring after awhile. So this created a party in my mouth and perked up my morning.

Ingredients:

2 whole eggs (egg whites is also great!)

2 slices of bread (the recipe for the bread I made coming soon)

1 glove of garlic (adjust to your taste. You can never have too much garlic!)

Handful of spinach

Salt and Pepper to taste

Butter (optional)

Now I don't fry my eggs in a traditional way. This is where the healthier methods come into play. Take a couple tablespoons of water and add to a hot pan. Immediately crack your eggs into the pan. Cover with a lid or foil. It's up to you. Let that cook. It goes pretty quickly so check it often. While that is going, toast your bread. Or don't, this is your breakfast after all. Be a rebel, do what you want.

If you'd like you can add a little butter to your toast. Once the eggs are done, put them to the side and pour out any excess water in the pan. Chop or slice up your garlic and put into the pain with a little salt and pepper. This is optional. The garlic is so flavorful you don't need to, I happen to like it. Once the garlic as heated up add your spinach. Now don't walk away this heats super fast. Once done, top your bread with the spinach and garlic mixture. Add your eggs to the side and topped with a little salt and pepper. Voila! It's done. I like to cut off some of the egg white and top the bread with the yolk. I eat the remaining afterwards.

See quick and simple. Maybe 10mins to make. 2mins to eat. Super simple, flavorful and healthy!

Enjoy!

BAKING SODA REVAMP

Awhile back I did a post on baking soda. You see, I truly love baking soda. I use it as much as possible in my home. I even bathe with it. I wanted to bring this post back to remind you all of how great baking soda is! It's not just for baking folks! Plus if you are wanting to simplify your life baking soda is definitely something you want to keep on hand.

Here is a list of some ways I use baking soda.

• Cleaning my hair
• Bathing
• Brushing my teeth (I add peppermint extract)
• Deodorant (I add different extracts for scent and combine with talc-free baby powder)
• Jewelry cleaner
• Fruit & Veggie cleaner
• Abrasive cleaner for pots & pans

This is only some of the things I use it for. It's easy to swap about the nasty chemicals for baking soda. Give it a try!

Here is a couple photos of some jewelry I recently cleaned only with baking soda and a little water. Make a paste using a small amount of water and just rub it into the jewelry, then rinse. And voila! Beautiful jewelry without the nasty chemicals.

 

Here are a couple other great articles you should read on the power of baking soda!

• CLEANING WITH BAKING SODA BY: Garrick Dee Tan 
• 11HEALTH BENEFITS OF BAKING SODA

 What are some ways you use baking soda in your home? Drop me a comment below!