i’ll be honest with you:  i tend to go with the easy route.  after 6 years of being in business for myself, part-time homeschooling, and being mama to 3 kids (can i still call them little?  please say yes.), one area of my life that severely lacked attention was the cleanliness of my home.

i can tidy up quick, and even do a speedy wipe down of the bathrooms before guests come over, but i have either done few and far between deep cleanings, or simply relied on the chores my kids do to help around the house (which deserves another post of its own).  but now that i have a little more time on my hands after closing my shop, and a LOT more mind space, i feel like i actually have margin in my life to try things like making my own cleaning products!

my good friend jeannett has been making her own laundry detergent for years, along with a few other cleaning products, so all this organic, homemade stuff is not just for hippies ;)

becky, from clean mama, a long time wonderful sponsor of mine and blog expert on cleaning, has written a book called the organically clean home!  i have loved her printables to organize my life, and now am so excited to use her recipes to try to make some of these products myself!

i’m specifically looking forward to a few things: 1) to be able to save a little money making my own cleaning products.  who doesn’t like saving money? 2) to make safer products for my kids to use, because really, they do more cleaning than i do.  3) to make mopping cloths to replace my disposable ones!  (only 3 ingredients, one of them being water, i think i can handle that!)

becky’s book is released this friday, but you can pre-order now!

would you like to win a book of your own?  you know you do!  go ahead and pre-order your own, and try to win one for a friend (not a requirement, just a suggestion)! enter via the rafflecopter below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

there’s nothing more fun than giving away wonderful treats to my readers, especially when i get to support small businesses and give away amazing products!  this group giveaway is valued at almost $400 – woohooo!

GWEN DELICIOUS

gwen delicious is such a fun shop – i am loving my teeny tiny gold state necklace!  just in time for mother’s day, they are offering this adorable silhouette necklace with 2 charms – how sweet is that?

giving away: choice of two charms (2 boy charms/2 girl charms or 1 boy & 1 girl charm) for their necklace in bronze or silver plated white bronze. valued at $52.00

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TRAVELING STITCHES

raechel, from traveling stitches, is a former stitch market vendor – yay for locals!  i am loving this embroidered clutch – the pretty linen fabric contrasting with the leather strap is so fun!

giving away: Tiny Bows Embroidered Wristlet

Retail: $48.00

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CLEAN MAMA

this is the mother load of all kits!  i have this massive kit of downloads and i especially love the budget one – not only is it comprehensive and helpful, but really pretty, too!  every little bit helps to motivate when it comes to budgeting, right?

giving away: the simplified life everything kit

valued at $45

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KINDERTYPE

this sweet etsy shop is filled with prints you will want to cover your kids’ walls with!  not only are the graphics adorable, but i love the modern combination of colors (i’m a sucker for great colors!).

giving away: choice of any 11×14 size print from their shop

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JENNIFER DAHL DESIGNS

jennifer has been such a wonderful sponsor over the years – love her classic style, her necklaces go with everything!

giving away: the “Mom loves to the moon” necklace

valued at $41

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RED LETTER WORDS

i love it when my sponsors are real life friends!  dee is such a wonderful person, and it shines through her artwork!  i get tons of compliments on my canvas of hers in my entry way!

giving away: any 12×12 size gallery wrap canvas

valued at $100

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THE VINTAGE HONEY SHOP

this shop blends the best things: pretty fabric, adorable accessories, and function!  these sweet teething necklaces are so great for mamas of teething babies – just another one of those things that make me think “why didn’t i have one of those when i had babies?!”

giving away: a $25 shop credit

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LOVE THREADS

love threads is owned by nicole, who left the world of brick and mortar retail and eventually found her way to online retail – and we’re so glad she did!  her shop is full of unique items that i would love to add to my closet!

giving away: day into night jacket
valued at $45

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URBAN PEACH

this shop is packed with on-trend items, all at really great prices!  i am a sucker for great statement necklaces, and they have so many to choose from!  and i’m eyeing a couple pair of earrings and a sweet gold watch…

giving away: metallic beaded necklace

valued at $18

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one lucky reader will win ALL of these!  yay, so exciting!  (US residents only)

a Rafflecopter giveaway