Spring Clean Your Life

The practice of ‘spring cleaning’ your home can be traced back to ancient times, when everything in the house would be cleaned before religious occasions. After the long winter, the spring weather would allow doors and windows to be opened to let fresh air in without freezing its inhabitants!

Thankfully, modern cleaning products and household gadgets mean that we can maintain clean, tidy homes all year round. However, it’s still a great idea to give your house a thorough top-to-toe blitz once a year – and spring is the perfect opportunity!

Throughout life, we naturally accumulate all sorts of possessions that end up being shoved into cupboards, never to see the light of day again. All those unwanted Christmas gifts and clothes that no longer fit us, along with sentimental items that we feel obliged to keep forever.  Although it’s nice to keep memories, sometimes it’s time to face reality and admit that it’s time to let go. After all, will you ever wear that mini-dress again? Would you re-read all those old novels? If you haven’t used it in years, it’s unlikely you ever will!

Clearing out your cupboards can be immensely therapeutic – once you start, you might find you can’t stop! Sell all those unwanted items on eBay and you’ll be surprised how much money you can make from items lying around in your loft or garage.

Spring cleaning is not just about creating space – it’s important to regularly give your house a deep clean to remove accumulated dirt and germs. Freshen up your carpets with Spot Shot carpet cleaner to give your floors a face lift.

Make over your bathroom with Tilex spray to remove unsightly mold. Disinfect dingy toilets with Clorox toilet bowl cleaner and clog removing gel. A cleaner, fresher bathroom will instantly lift your spirits and encourage you to continue your spring cleaning throughout the rest of your home. While you’re in a cleaning mood, give your car the once-over with Armor All protectant.

Stock up on detergent and make the most of the dry weather by washing those cushion covers and curtains. These can accumulate dust but are often difficult to wash and dry during the winter. Choose a dry, windy day and hang your washing outdoors for a lovely fresh finish.

Spring is also a good time to fix those pesky jobs around the house. With a Helping Hand screwdriver you can cross all those little jobs off your to-do list.

Once you have finished scrubbing and polishing your house to perfection, ensure it stays smelling fresh with Febreze scented oil refills that alternate fragrances throughout the day, so you won’t get used to the same perfume. Keeping a fragrant atmosphere is especially important if you have dogs – visiting guests will love to be welcomed into a home that smells clean and fresh.

How to… Save money

Forget dieting and exercise – the top New Year’s resolution in 2013 was all about saving money. In these difficult economic times, we all have to tighten our belts and try to reduce our spending where we can. With redundancies and unemployment on the rise, it’s always wise to stash away some savings for those unplanned emergencies. There are lots of easy ways to spend less and save more, without losing out on quality of life.

Shop around

Many items, particularly electrical goods, are cheaper to buy online than in stores. But don’t leap in to click ‘Buy’ too soon – there are heaps of discount code websites that regularly advertise free promotion codes that can be used for major retailers. It’s always worth taking a quick look – you might end up with 50% off, or free delivery.

Buy in bulk

Household goods, such as cleaning products and toiletries, can be ordered online in large quantities to save money. You can take advantage of some great deals this way, as well as saving gas money from multiple shopping trips.

Make do and mend

Before you chuck something out, see if it can be fixed. Sometimes all it takes is a drop of multi-purpose oil or household glue to breathe new life back into an object. Furniture can be spruced up with a coat of paint or freshening spray. Carry a spare can of Fix-a-Flat in the trunk for those flat-tire emergencies and save on costly call-out charges.

Picnic time

Save money on eating out by getting your friends and family together for a fun picnic. Drive out to a scenic spot with a portable grill and enjoy delicious barbecue food without restaurant prices. Wrap leftovers in aluminum foil so nothing gets wasted – cold meats make a great sandwich the next day. For all those half-full soda cans at the end of the day, invest in some soda can bottle tops – a great little invention that makes an open can easier to transport or store in the refrigerator.

Get crafty!

The recent craft revolution means it’s fashionable to make hand-made gifts for your friends and family, instead of spending a fortune at the department store. Get the whole family involved in making fun crafty cards, painted pots, customized bags or home-made cupcakes. The results will not only save money but will also be a truly unique and special gift!

Be offer-savvy

Always look out for money-saving offers all year round. Buy summer holiday staples when they’re being sold off for half price during winter – they’ll keep for next year! Picking up gifts throughout the year is also a great way to spread the cost of Christmas and prevent a whopping credit card bill in January!

Pack your lunch!

Bringing your own packed lunch to work can save hundreds of dollars a year. Instead of buying your morning coffee from that trendy deli, buy a portable coffee cup and take your own – these savings will really add up!

Here’s another way to save money.. use the Discount Code: MADNESS on your next Stockn’Go purchase!

Did you know that the single most important thing you can do to improve your health is to quit smoking? No wonder it’s always top of the New Year resolutions list!

Smoking is the number one cause of preventable disease and mortality in the world. Every year, over 400,000 American lives are lost to smoking-related diseases, both directly and indirectly. Quitting smoking significantly decreases your risk of suffering a heart attack, lung cancer, heart disease…the list goes on. It’s never too late to stop – even those that quit during middle-age halve their chances of dying from a smoke-related disease.

The health impacts of smoking are well-known – but if that’s not enough to discourage you, think of the other advantages to quitting:

Quitting smoking could save you thousands of dollars per year! Put that money towards something fabulous – a holiday, weekly massages, a whole new wardrobe or even a car?

You will smell nicer! Stinking of stale smoke is not attractive. The smell lingers in your hair, clothes and fingernails for hours afterwards – not to mention your house, if you smoke indoors. Even though you probably won’t notice it, others will.

Food will taste better! Tobacco dulls your sense of taste, but most people find this improves after just a few days of quitting smoking.

Smoking causes premature aging as the skin is starved of oxygen and vital nutrients. The skin becomes wrinkled and takes on a haggard appearance. Just one month after quitting, you will see a visible improvement in the condition of your skin. Give it a boost with a good moisturizer, such as Olay Total Effects, to fight the signs of premature aging.

Replace lost vitality with Hair, Skin & Nails supplements to provide essential nutrients that will improve your appearance. Smoking causes yellowing of the teeth – so use Sensodyne Extra Whitening Toothpaste to restore a healthy white sheen and improve your dental health.

Some people find that they snack more when they quit smoking – if you’re worried about gaining weight, chewing sugar-free gum can provide a useful distraction without piling on the calories. If you find yourself drinking more coffee to fill the void that smoking left, try switching to Splenda sweeteners to keep the calories down.

Spring clean your house to remove old smells – it’s surprising how they linger in curtains and soft furnishings. Use Lysol Summer Breeze disinfectant spray to freshen up and destroy stale odors. Throw away old ashtrays, lighters and anything that reminds you of your previous smoking habit. Make a fresh start!

Quitting is not easy and requires plenty of willpower. Set yourself small goals to keep you going – treat yourself to a new lipstick or perfume every time you reach a milestone. As each month passes, you will feel happier and healthier – not to mention richer! Counseling and nicotine replacement products can increase your chances of quitting for good. It may take several attempts but it is worth persevering – so don’t give up on giving up!

What does it mean to be disorganized? Well according to Thesaurus.com the synonyms of disorganized are  to be “all over the place, not properly planned, chaotic, cluttered, dislocated, disordered, messed up, messy, scattered, scrambled, sloppy, unarranged, unkempt, unsystematic, untidy” and the list goes on.

Hectic, cluttered, confused, not properly planned.  Is that what you want to be? Most likely not.  ”Getting Organized” is the #3 New Years Resolution for a reason.  It can decrease stress levels, make you more efficient in personal and work life, and offer a happy and healthy environment overall.  So where do you start? In the words of Jenny Craig “It’s not what you do once in a while; it’s what you do day in and day out that makes the difference.”

Everything should have its place – Bins, Bags and Boxes will become your best friend! As well as LABELS.

1. Keys, purse, coat, gloves, mail should all have a place (not thrown on the counter) as soon as you walk in the door.

2. Organize your cabinets and create labeled bins or designated drawers for things such as:

• medications, vitamins and supplements
• to go cups, coffee mugs and water bottles
• makeup, hair and nail products
• kids crayons, markers, crafts
• batteries, tape, tools, etc.
• spices

3.  Make your bed as soon as you crawl out of it and pick up your room on your way out.

4.  Wipe down the counters and do this dishes as soon as you are done cooking.

5.  Stop hoarding – get rid of the stuff you don’t use its only causing clutter! At the beginning of every season your should go through your clothes and get rid of the ones you haven’t worn for years.  You should go through your pantry and cabinets and get rid of the food that is collecting dust on your shelves or the junk food that isn’t doing you any favors by being in your house.  Clean out the garage, if its junk then get rid of it.

6.  Do you work from home? Check out these great ideas to organize your at home office space from Destination Design.

7. Lastly – store things where you need them.

• Bedding and sheets in a bin: under the bed
• Keys, coat hangers and kids bins: by the door
• Dust pan and broom: in bathroom, kitchen and anywhere there is a hard wood floor
• Cleaning supplies: under the kitchen and bathroom sinks
• Remote controls in a basket: by the TV
• Extra Blankets: under the beds or in a storage ottoman by the couch

Shop Stockn’Go.com today to get 20% off your first order of $25 or more!

Believe it or not there is a way to enjoy a delicious Thanksgiving dinner with out all the guilt and potential weight gain! Traditional Thanksgiving foods such as mashed potatoes, jellied cranberry sauce, bread stuffing, creamed corn, green bean casserole, and pumpkin and apple pie’s are filled with unhealthy carbs and sugars that spike your insulin levels and get stored as FAT!

Simple substitutes like cauliflower or sweet potatoes instead of white potatoes, fresh made cranberry sauce, corn bread stuffing, and roasted or root vegetables and green beans can make a world of difference in your caloric intake, provide additional nutritional benefits and in many cases taste better and serve as a new and exciting dish to put on the table.  Check out the healthy recipes that we found on Pinterest for Thanksgiving appetizers, dinner and dessert!

Essie’s fashion-forward colors are always chic and elegant.  Not only does Essie offer fun and fashion forward nail colors but the company has won many awards for “Best Nail Polish”, “Best Bright Polish”, “Best Long Lasting Polish” and more! Check out the selection of Essie colors at Stockn’Go and get an extra 30% off!

The fall is officially here…and Halloween is just around the corner! You don’t want to find yourself waiting until last minute to pick out a costume and be forced to scour half empty store shelves for not only a costume that you or your child likes but for a costume that fits!  Make this Halloween less stressful by selecting any needed costumes now and addressing other trick-or-treat issues that might come up.

To help you be prepared, Stockn’Go has put together a few questions for you to think about…

• Do you have time to make your child’s costume or do you plan to purchase one?
• Do you plan to put any constraints on your child’s costume selection?
• Does your child have a bag to carry the candy? Flashlights and comfortable shoes?
• Depending on how old your children are, should they be trick-or-treating WITH or WITHOUT adult supervision?
• How do you plan to disburse the candy once Trick or Treat is over? Will you put a limit on consumption?
• Have you made a plan to go over safety tips with any children going off on their own? Stay tuned for an upcoming Stockn’Go post that will highlight some important safety tips for you and your children to know!

Stockn’Go can help you cross an item off that list with our huge selection of Halloween Costumes.  We even offer FREE SHIPPING on all orders over $39.00!