Still stuck Spring Cleaning? Don’t worry, because many of us are! For a quick and easy Spring Cleaning, check out some of our handy tips from the professionals at Merry Maids.

First, recruit a team. Everyone should be helping Mom clean. Turn on some jams and begin assigning tasks. It will save you time and teach your children how to pitch in and do chores.

First, I want to admit that I often make casual references to being OCD, but I recognize that this is a very real disorder that many live with. I don’t mean to take it lightly. I have always wondered, though, whether this disorder has a spectrum and whether I’m on the higher end of the OCD spectrum.

I’m laughing as I write this blog. In a giddy sort of way no less, and I’ll tell you why. (Lexi helped me with the title...can you tell?)

Several weeks ago, I received an email from the SCOTT brand of paper products asking me if I would be willing to join the SCOTT Naturals 4 Week Test Drive, which meant switching my paper products for the entire month of April. By using their hybrid paper products, my family and I would be taking small steps towards being more environmentally friendly.

For the month of April, I am making a conscious effort to focus on all things green.  Today’s green feature will be about going greener effortlessly with your personal care and beauty items.  I’ve blogged about sample boxes before (I’m kind of a beauty product junkie, if you couldn’t tell) and I find them to be an affordable way to try out a large variety of products. As a busy mom, I think they are also convenient because they save me time researching new items and running all over to specialty stores trying to find them.

With Earth Day looming on the horizon, I started thinking about ways that we as a busy family could incorporate greener habits into our routine. Besides the obvious ones (buy/support local farmers, turn off tv and lights when not being used, recycle) I was stumped. It’s not like I hadn’t thought about doing things in ways that were more Earth-friendly, it’s just that a lot of these changes just weren’t practical/easy/affordable for us. Just because something works for one person, doesn’t mean it’s the right fit for everyone. And then it hit me!

Here we are, nearly four months into a new year. How are you doing with your resolutions? I like to check back in with all those people who declared that this year would be the one: the year that they got healthier.

Earth day is a month away; April 22, 2012 to be exact.  I’ve mapped out a way I could be green, economical, and physically fit.  Starting on April 1st I will begin taking public transportation into work. This will not only reduce my carbon footprint, but also reduce the stress of rush hour traffic.  My job has a commuter pass that is automatically deducted from your paycheck monthly.  This spring and summer I plan on taking full advantage of the benefit.    

What better time of the year to go green than on St. Patrick’s Day! Which was also the perfect time for me to try out the goodies from my White Apricot Green Grab Bag.

What is it?

White Apricot’s Green Grab Bag is a monthly beauty sample subscription service with a twist: all items are natural, organic and vegan. For $15 a month, you get a completely green bag full of different guilt-free beauty items to try.

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