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Frugal Reviews

How To Have An Easy Laundry Mat Visit

Laundrymat

How to Have an Effective, Economical, Easy and Eco-Friendly Laundry Mat Visit Disclosure: Sponsored post.  There are so many reasons to go to the laundry mat.  I go whenever my washer or dryer is out-of-order or when I need to wash something large.  Even though my machine says “heavy duty”, a small bath rug or comforter can’t be washed at home.  Many times I’ve gone to the nearest laundry mat with my heavy load of comforters.  To make your visit to the laundry mat the best possible, I’ll offer you four big E-words that I hope will help you. Effective The main reason you go to the laundry mat is because you have dirty things that you want cleaned.  Yes, I don’t know anyone who really wants to do laundry.  Do you?  You’ll want to know that you are going to a laundry mat that has the best, state-of-the-art machines.  You’ll want a place that’s clean, safe, comfortable, and has plenty of machines to effectively launder your clothes.  Economical Laundry mats (like everything else) cost more to use than they did in the past.  It’s important to check around and find the best price.  Because you’ll need to take all your supplies with you, it’s important to budget carefully for laundry needs.  We wash clothes every week, so check to see how you could save on detergent, softener, and dryer sheets. The easiest and lightest weight detergent to take with you is probably the detergent pods.  Using store brands will save a good bit of money, and are often cheaper than a name brand with a coupon.  If you use powder or liquid,  make sure to take enough for your needs.  To save even more, make your own detergent.  There are many recipes online.  Here’s one from DIY Natural.  Don’t forget any of your supplies, because those sold at laundry mats will cost more.  The big savings come if you use the large machines, which will also save you time. Eco-Friendly Most of us like to use eco-friendly products.  Using concentrated detergent helps with reduced packaging.  Look for Phosphate-free and biodegradable laundry detergent and skip many of the dryer sheets. Phosphates can bring about the awful algae blooms that I’ve seen in the news.  You may be able to find eco-friendly dryer sheets or you can just toss in a dryer-ball.  If you have laundry stains (and who doesn’t) here’s an easy recipe: Add 1/2 Cup White vinegar, 1/4 baking soda, and 4 Cups water to a spray bottle.  This should be sprayed on the stain before laundering.  Just using a laundry mat can save energy, because the large efficient machines should use less energy. Easy Doing laundry can be easy?  Well, it’s important to plan your trip to make it as easy as possible.  If you’re like me, you should make a list.  Write down everything you need and pack your car.  If you have little ones to take with you, make sure to bring plenty of things to keep them busy.  Usually before going to the laundry mat, I go by the bank for rolls of quarters. I’ve found a new laundry mat in my area that makes things very easy.  It’s called, The Clothes Spin.  Here are some of the ways The Clothes Spin can help you have an easy time: The machines take coins, but you can also use the Clear Token App.  The Clear Token App works on your smartphone, and you can leave your coins at home.  This App works on iPhone and Android.  Using the app instead of coins is my favorite feature. The Clothes Spin has a variety of machine sizes.  Above each machine, is a sign that tells you the capacity.  The largest machine washes 8-10 loads.   Hours of operation: It never closes.  It’s actually open 24/7 so that you can do laundry any time!  What a great idea!  This is handy and easy! Safe and clean – The Clothes Spin has surveillance and staff to keep you safe.   The waiting area is clean with tables and chairs.  You and your children can sit and entertain yourself with a good book or activities. Vending machines provide snacks and cold drinks.  You can also purchase detergent and fabric softeners. Free Wi-Fi will help you keep up with your work, email or social media fun.   Because our area has so many colleges, the laundry mat is in a central location. The Clothes Spin is the newest, first-of-its-kind laundry mat in Lynchburg, Virginia.  With the 24/7 hours of operation you’ll be able to wash and dry day or night.  Students can pull an all-nighter and do laundry at the same time.  This safe laundry mat offers 22 washers and 24 dryers.  The variety of size machines will help you to do a little laundry or a lot. So, if you want to have that perfect place to wash your clothes, check out The Clothes Spin! @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

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Home

5 Benefits Of Having Plants In The Bathroom

plants in bathroom

This is a sponsored post.  For more details see my disclosure. Adding live plants to the home has always been a way of accessorizing your decor.  But, placing live plants can also offer many benefits.  We spend a good bit of time in our bathrooms each day, so it’s design is important.  Bathroom design has grown increasingly sophisticated.  With all of the plants to choose from, it’s important to see which plants will thrive in the bathroom. Many plants love humidity, and there is no room more humid than a bathroom.  With all the steam from the shower, lots of people are actually adding plants inside their shower.  That may seem like a strange place to add a plant, but it’s becoming very popular.  They can be hung above the shower in hanging baskets, hung from the shower rod, or in a windowsill.  If you’re lucky enough to have a high ceiling with skylights above your shower, plants that need some light will grow well hung from this location.  And, of course, placing potted plants around your tub will be wonderful. Plants are beautiful and add style to the room.  The huge variety of shapes, colors, and sizes means that you can add plants to many areas in your bathroom.  The textures of the leaves can vary and will be sure to finish off your frugal decorating scheme.  Plants don’t have to be expensive.  Shop around for good deals and a great variety of styles.  Now, with the popularity of the Bohemian style, plants are key to the design.  So, go ahead and get those adorable and trendy Succulents.  Whether you use a solitary potted plant or turn your bathroom into a tropical paradise, the benefits of plants will surround you with beauty. Plants actually bring with them health benefits.  Plants release oxygen and they help to purify the air from toxins.  Bathrooms often have many chemicals (cleaning products and hair styling aids and skin care products), which plants will help to filter.  Some plants actually rid the air of carbon monoxide, benzene, and formaldehyde.  And, who wants to breathe those awful chemicals?  Newer homes have more emissions from building materials, so it would be very helpful to add the following plants to your bathroom: Spider Plant, Aloe Vera, Orchids, and Boston Ferns.  Plants thrive in the humidity, but they also help us to thrive.  Plants are a mood-booster.  Just as being in nature helps us to relax, so does the presence of green plants provide a calm and relaxing atmosphere.  The National Institutes of Health reports a study that wanted to see the difference in interactions with computers vs plants.  They found that the “the subjects felt more comfortable, soothed, and natural after the transplanting task than after the computer task.” (https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4419447/) Plants can help to increase your energy level.  I’m never really awake until I have my morning shower.  Adding plants in the bathroom can help to boost your energy level.  Some people add Eucalyptus in the shower, because the oils are released as you bathe. Plants smell good and they can also absorb bad smells.  Some plants have a wonderful fragrance or leave the room smelling like a spa.  Plants can also help to rid the bathroom of the stinky smells that can be found there. Some of the best plants for the bathroom include: Ivy, Bamboo, Jasmine, Philodendron, and Orange Jessamine.  The most elegant bathrooms feature marble.  White marble is the perfect backdrop to lovely plants.  The professionals at Carrara Marble will help you as you choose a gorgeous countertop for your bathroom or kitchen.  You’ll be happy to have them guide you as you select from their huge inventory.  If you stop by the showroom you’ll be entering a fun and educational zone.  You’ll be able to make an appointment to work one-on-one with a design consultant.  They’ll take the time to discuss the project, show you all the possibilities, and take a tour of the facilities. After you select the stone that you want to use, the consultant will go over all the steps, fabrication, and installation timeline.  The Lifetime Warranty on Craftsmanship is also very impressive. Premier Surfaces has locations in 10 states with a selection of high-quality materials.  Whether you’re looking for quartz, natural stone, engineered marble, or solid surface, they have it.  Let the design experts help you create your oasis.  Then, you can finish it with the perfect plants! @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

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Reviews

Readers.com Has Your Perfect Style

eyeglasses

Disclosure: Product was received in order to review.  Affiliate link included. When I turned 40 I realized that my eyes had changed.  Even though I’d worn glasses and contacts for over 30 years for near-sightedness, now I couldn’t read well with them on.  It was time to get myself a pair of readers. Before I was to see the eye doctor, I went to the drug store and checked out the available styles and strengths there.  These weren’t very attractive; they were black and silver.  Ten years have past, and now readers have really changed! Finding Readers.com has been wonderful!  I was happy to review my choice of readers recently and I love them!  There are so many adorable glasses there.  Any style that you could want can be found at Readers.com.  Choices for men or women include a huge list.  Classic, modern, retro and other styles will make you just as happy as I was. The Signature Collection are handmade and have thin lenses.  These quality glasses, made from premium acetate, come with a protective case.  If your eyes don’t quite match, you can order custom readers, with each eye just right for you.  With these made-to-order readers you can choose from bifocal or fully magnetized lenses. Do you like to read out of doors?  You’ll want to check out the high-quality polarized Sunglasses.  They will reduce the glare and come in 4 styles and a variety of color choices. If you are in front of a computer all day, like me, you’ll want to block those rays with the Optical-quality computer glasses.  The Blue-Light Blocking glasses will help to reduce eye strain, headaches, dry eyes, and fatigue.  Doesn’t that sound helpful? My choice was the Buttercup style.  I selected the Purple Floral, because it was so pretty.  The pink and purple frame is a good shape for my face and it comes in strengths from 1.00 to 4.00.  There are 4 color choices for this frame.  The frame is plastic with spring hinges.  It’s a well-made and fully magnified.  With the low price, you may want a pair in each color. If you shop now, you can save 30% on the Spring Sale through March 19th.  Make sure to use the code: SPRING30.  I know you’ll love whatever style that you choose.  @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Beauty Reviews

ERA Organics Review

ERA Organics Anti-Aging and Eye Cream Review Since becoming a Grandmother, I’m in a lot of pictures.  I’d like to see my face in these pictures looking youthful and wrinkle-free.  I’ve been using a skin cream that’s designed for sensitive skin.  But, I’m not seeing any changes.  Maybe it’s not really a good anti-aging product? When I was selected to review an Anti-Aging Moisturizing Cream, I was excited to do so.  ERA Organics is a company I’ve worked with before.  I loved theFace and Body Wash and expect great things with the Anti Aging Moisturizing Cream, too.   Most products sell a different moisturizer for eyes and face, but this beauty cream works on both.  This saves time and money!  We all want to look our best, but that doesn’t mean we want to spend too much to do so.  I love the easy to use bottle, that allows me to squirt just a little at a time.  This saves money and reduces waste. ERA Organics is known for giving us organic and natural ingredients that are needed for sensitive skin.  The list of ingredients doesn’t include awful things like paraben and fragrances.  It’s also vegan-friendly, cruelty-free, and non-toxic.  And, if you’re not happy you can use the 60 day guarantee! Many natural ingredients, above, will nourish your skin:  Hyaluronic Acid, Sunflower Seed Oil, Kiwi Extract, Argan Oil, Green Tea, Moringa Seed Oil, Vitamin C, Vitamin A. These natural ingredients will restore balance and moisture to your skin.  Even with all these good things added, it still feels light and not greasy on your face. Renew can be used by men and women to help with fine lines, wrinkles, and rejuvenate aging skin.  Don’t buy a separate Day vs Night Cream, because this cream can be used both times.  And, you can’t beat the price!   Begin the process of restoring and strengthening the skin on your face with ERA Organics. @2019, copyright Lisa Ehrman

Categories
Frugal Moms

How To Make Frugal Living A Family Affair

Piggy Banks

It’s not enough for Mom to live frugally.  Although Moms are the family member who often makes the majority of the shopping decisions, each member of the family must join in on the frugal lifestyle. Frugal living can be more than just a choice to save money.  It can be fun and some folks even make it more of a competition.  Choosing to see if you can save more than you thought possible gives you a goal to reach.  When you include your children and husband in this frugal competition, you’ll find that saving becomes easier, too. If you have family meetings, it would be good to plan one to teach frugality lessons.  Just taking one topic at a time means that the children won’t be overwhelmed.  Here are some things to try with your family: Buying used clothes – Show them how they can save by getting some of their things gently used.  Show them some of the clothing that Moms have purchased (just like new) and how more clothing can be purchased for the same amount of money.  Encourage children to think ahead.  If they will need a special dress or suit for an upcoming event, they can be watching ahead when the family shops.   If you wait until the last minute, it’s harder to find a good deal.  Buying used toys – Gently used toys are just as much fun. Buying used tools and cars – Dad and Mom can shop for big-ticket items that are used.  Checking Craigslist, online groups, and the newspaper can help you find great savings! Explain to the family that all the money saved by buying used could now help the family take a fun vacation (or some other desired thing).  When a family has a goal that leads to a great reward, you should see a big difference in their attitudes toward saving. Frugal living is all about joyful, simple living.  Frugal life can be done through rules and nagging, but it will only bring negative attitudes and resentment.  My goal is to make it a fun and painless experience.

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