Military Mondays: Baby On A (Military) Budget

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of 1 Natural Way, a TRICARE breast pump provider. All opinions are entirely my own. 

Today's Military Mondays post is dedicated to all things baby on a (military) budget. Here's the skinny: babies are expensive. It's amazing how much stuff one tiny little human requires, and even after baby showers, you find yourself having to purchase so many items for your little one on the way. I remember sitting in my nursery a few weeks before my son was born feeling so overwhelmed by how much we already had and how much we still needed. It's just an expensive endeavor, and even though there may not be a way to avoid paying out of pocket for the crib, changing table, and diapers, I did find a secret or two on breastfeeding supplies that I am excited to share with you today. 

Okay, let's talk about Tricare for a second. If you are a military spouse, you either love it or you hate it. Although Tricare has it's downsides, let me tell you... it is amazing when it comes to having a baby. Seriously, amazing. 

Most insurances cover some of the pregnancy and delivery, but Tricare covers all of it. Even if you are on Tricare Standard (I am too), they cover the pregnancy and delivery. I was a high risk pregnancy, so I had more ultrasounds than I can remember and ended up having to come twice weekly at the end for monitoring appointments to check on the baby. I didn't mind all of the extra attention because it was all covered. My pregnancy cost me a whopping $0. For my delivery, I ended up needing a c-section, which is probably a $10K surgery, and I couldn't help but laugh when I received my hospital bill a few weeks later. $30. It cost me $30 to have our son. All this to say, if you are a military spouse and plan to have a baby, Tricare is pretty great. 

Another budgeting item where Tricare really comes through is with breastfeeding. Breastfeeding can be expensive too when you think about purchasing a pump and all of the pumping accessories you need. Tricare covers this too, and 1 Natural Way makes it as easy as 1-2-3 to get. 

1 Natural Way offers the biggest brands of breast pumps (Spectra, Medela, Kiinde) as well as pumping accessories, compression socks, and postpartum care supplies. It takes less than 5 minutes to order your Tricare breast pump thanks to 1 Natural Way. 

Ordering the breast pump is free, but the process can be a hassle because you have to get a signature from your doctor, get that signature to Tricare, and then order the breast pump for free. The cool thing about 1 Natural Way is that they handle contacting both your doctor and Tricare on your behalf. If you are ordering a breast pump, it means you are just weeks from having a baby, and you don't have time to be fussing with insurance and doctor forms. I really like that 1 Natural Way takes care of that for you. 

My last little budgeting tidbit as far as breastfeeding is concerned is to remember that Tricare will cover any supplies you might need. From your pump and pumping accessories to milk storage bags, nursing pads, and lanolin cream, it is all covered, so let Tricare pay for that and you spend your precious dollars elsewhere. 

5 Easy Ways To Save Money At Target

I should probably start this off by saying this post is not sponsored by Target. Target has absolutely no idea who I am, but boy do I love me some Target! Target is just happiness, and I could easily spend 2 hours walking up and down the aisles. I love the dollar section, I love the clothes, and I think I own half of their Fall shoe line. 

If you know me, you also know I love to save money. I like to find the most cost-effective ways to do things and love to feel like I'm getting a deal. Since I am an avid Target shopper, I have figured out a few cost-cutting tricks to help me enjoy my favorite store without the guilt. Here are my 5 favorite ways to save money at this magical place called Target, aka God's gift to women:

1. The Cartwheel App

Please tell me you have heard of the Cartwheel App. You probably have, but it bears mentioning anyway. It's a free app on your smartphone with offers on items you were already going to buy anyway. Items rotate out, but I have gotten 50% off of clothes and shoes, and so many cosmetics, housewares, decorative items, and food are 5-20% off each week. You select the product you are buying in the app, and the app generates a barcode. Have the cashier scan this barcode at the register, and the difference instantly comes off your bill. Download it, yall. 

2. The Target REDcard

Now before you write this one off because you don't want a credit card, listen to this: you can get the REDcard as either a credit or a debit card. With the REDcard, you get 5% off every single purchase plus free shipping at Target.com. Seriously yall... 5% off each trip. It's free money! You also get 90 days to return anything bought with your REDcard, and you don't need a receipt. I don't ever get store credit cards, but I love the Target REDcard debit option. It comes straight out of my account just like a regular debit card would, and there are no annual fees or anything like that. Again, it's free money. 

3. The Ibotta App

This smartphone app is not specific to Target, but it can be used at Target. It actually applies to nearly all grocery, convenience, pharmacy, etc. stores. You earn cash back on items you were going to buy anyway and can get a gift card or paypal credit once you hit $20. This is another one that's just free money. One of the ways to cash in your earnings is a Target gift card... yes please. 

4. Know the Target Markdown Schedule

If an item is on clearance, there is a chance it will be even further marked down. If the clearance price ends in an 8, it will be marked down again. If the price ends in a 4, that's the lowest it will go. This can always vary, but as a general rule of thumb, here is the markdown schedule:

Monday: electronics, kids' clothing, accessories, stationary, books, and baby

Tuesday: women's clothing, pets, and food

Wednesday: men's clothing, health & beauty, garden, and toys

Thursday: housewares, shoes, toys, lingerie, sporting goods, decor, and luggage

Friday: cosmetics, auto, hardware, and jewelry

5. Shop The Holiday Clearance Section

Target has the cutest holiday stuff. I gush and gush over their Christmas section each year! One of the best times to buy holiday items is the week after the holiday because it's all so marked down. It may not be as fun to buy Christmas decor the last week of December, but your wallet will thank you and it'll be waiting for you next year!

1 Day After The Holiday: 50% off goods, 30% off candy and food

3-4 Days After The Holiday: 75% off goods, 50% off candy and food

1 Week After The Holiday: 90% off goods, 50% off candy and food

Are you as obsessed with Target as I am? Please tell me you have seen how cute their Halloween-themed dollar section is right now!

Bloggers: How To Add Instagram To Your Blog The Right Way

I am by no means an expert on blogging gadgets and HTML coding, but when I figure out a cool trick, I want to pass it along. This post is for bloggers, so if that's not you, feel free to skip this one. We will be back to our regularly scheduled programming tomorrow. ;)

Several months ago, I posted a tutorial for bloggers to add the Instagram widget to your sidebar. This is becoming increasingly popular and is a fun feature for all types of blogs.

Yall, I have to apologize. That tutorial I shared months ago will work, but it's not the optimal way to go about this. You see, that method uses intagme, which lets readers see your pictures, but it doesn't enable them to like pictures or follow you. What's the point, right?

Inefficient. Doesn't let readers connect with you. Let's fix it.

We want the Instagram gadget to take readers directly to Instagram, where they can follow you, see your feed, and like your pictures.

Today, I am going to show you how to add Instagram to your sidebar the right way.

Step 1: Head over to lightwidget.com.

Step 2: Enter your Instagram username where indicated and a hashtag if you have one. You will probably leave the hashtag blank, but if you're an Etsy shop or participate in a linkup, then you might want to enter a hashtag.

For the GRID effect:

- Select GRID
- Enter the number of columns you want
- Enter the number of rows you want
- Select your image hover effect
- Click "Preview" and then "Get Code!"

For the SLIDESHOW effect:

- Select SLIDESHOW
- Enter your desired number of photos that can be shown (I recommend 60)
- Select your image hover effect
- Click "Preview" and then "Get Code!"

For the COLUMN effect:

- Select COLUMN
- Enter the number of columns you want
- Enter the number of photos you want to be shown at a time
- Click "Preview" and then "Get Code!"

Now you are ready to install your code!

Since I use Blogger, I am not sure how to add the code to Wordpress blogs. However, for Blogger, here's what you need to do:

- Select Layout on the left side of the page
- Click "Add a Gadget" on your sidebar

- Click "Add HTML/JavaScript"
- Paste your code, and click "Save"
- Your Instagram gadget will now appear at the top of your sidebar. Drag the gadget to the position you want it to appear on your sidebar, and click "Save Arrangement"

Done, done, and done! Let me know if you have any questions. I am happy to help!

To follow me on Instagram, click my Instagram widget at the top of my sidebar or go here. 

Football Party Prep On The Fly

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ScoreMoreFans #CollectiveBias

We love hosting in our house. Like, really really love it. We are always trying to think up excuses to have parties or invite people over for a random Friday night get together. I am convinced the sixth love language is feeding people, and that is definitely mine. Hosting =  feeding people = happy Chelsea. 

Thanks to football season, there is always a reason to throw a party. Pick any weekend, and there is definitely going to be a big game on that people want to watch. Great news for us! I think one of the reasons I love hosting is because I feel like I have it down to an exact science, as my Nana always says. I know what food to make that will take the least amount of preparation and yield the happiest guests. No host wants to spend the whole party in the kitchen!

Today, I thought it would be fun to share a few tips and tricks on how to prep for your football party on the fly. With the big game coming up, we could all use a few shortcuts to keep the prep to a minimum!

Tip #1: Choose snacks that can be prepared in minutes. 

We all know that we come to the football parties for the food. Oh, you're the one that actually wants to watch the game? No problem. Don't mind me as I devour all the food. Food should be easy to whip together and not yield a huge mess at the end. Enter: Creamy RITZ® Cracker Bites. 

These Creamy RITZ® Cracker Bites literally take 5 minutes from start to finish but taste absolutely divine. That is my kind of football party treat! The best part? It's super easy to make a lot or a little depending on how many guests you will have. The below recipe will make about 12-15 RITZ® Cracker Bites. Double or triple it if you feel so inclined!

Ingredients:

1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1/2 cup mayo

1/2 cup chopped pecans

1/3 cup thinly sliced green onions

RITZ® Crackers

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl, combine all ingredients but the RITZ® Crackers. 

2. Stir together, and then top a tablespoon of cheese mixture on top of each cracker. 

3. Serve and enjoy! So simple!

So, to recap, serve food that is quick and simple to prep. Period. End of story. Just do it. 

Tip #2: Choose inexpensive decor that can be quickly crafted to fit the event. 

Decor adds a personal touch to the party. It lets your guests see you went the extra mile and really got into the theme of the event. Since we are talking about football here, I want to highlight my favorite decor trick for the big game that can be completed in... you guessed it... 5 minutes. 

I have a thing for mason jars right now as does the rest of the world, so I chose a fun craft around that. Enter: Football Glasses

Supplies:

Mason jars or the glass of your choosing

White electrical tape

Coke Zero 6-pack

Directions:

1. Cut one strip of white tape slightly shorter than the length of your mason jar and place vertically in the center.

2. Cut 4-5 smaller strips and place horizontally so they intersect your center line.

3. Fill the jar with Coke Zero to give it the final "football" look! Boom. Done. 

Bonus: All Coca-Cola 500ml 6-packs are currently 2 for $5!

See how simple that is? Simple is just better when it comes to throwing football parties. We all know you have enough on your plate as the host, so it's all about not overcomplicating things. 

To recreate these tips for the big game, head on over to Walmart and look for a RITZ® Cracker display at the front of the store and Coke Zero 6-pack in the drink aisle. 

What are your favorite tips and tricks for happy hosting? I'd love to hear! Do you have any fun recipes using Coke Zero and RITZ® Crackers? Be sure to check out more football party ideas with Coca-Cola and RITZ® at SnacksandSips.net. 

Saving Money 101: 10 Things You Should Buy At Dollar Tree

If you know me, you know I love a good deal. You won't ever see me on Extreme Couponing (mad respect for people who have that much patience), but I love to save a dollar where I can. I've figured out some of the best places to buy things on the cheap, so I thought it was time I share my tips and tricks with you all. One place you can get a killer deal: Dollar Tree. 

While I wouldn't necessarily buy everything from Dollar Tree (the $1 steaks leave me a little uneasy), there are some things you definitely should be buying. So today, I'm sharing my 10 favorite things to purchase at Dollar Tree.

1. Greeting Cards- If you only listen to one item on this list, make it this one. Greeting cards can be upwards of $5, which is a little excessive considering people read them once and stow them away forever after. We purchase all birthday cards from Dollar Tree, and some of them are even 50 cents. 50 cents!! They have a great selection too. 

2. Halloween Candy- Why oh why is Halloween candy so expensive? If you live amidst a lot of kiddos, you could easily spend $100 on Halloween candy. Or, you could buy 10 large bags of Halloween candy for $10 and call it a day. 

3. Seasonal Items- I actually have a good friend who is a buyer for seasonal items at Dollar Tree, and they have a really good selection. You may still need to purchase a few items at Hobby Lobby, but if you're in the need for some cheap holiday decor, check out Dollar Tree.

4. Packaging Supplies- I just discovered this one and am so glad I did. You can purchase boxes and bubble envelopes from Dollar Tree for half the cost you would spend at the post office.

5. Gift Wrap- Let's face it: Nobody wants to spend $10 on a gift bag and tissue paper after they buy a present. It's just going to get discarded anyway, so buy it on the cheap at Dollar Tree. 

6. Toothbrushes & Toothpaste- Colgate and Crest toothpaste for $1? Yes, it's true!

7. Picture Frames for Crafting or Gallery Walls- If you're just going to spray paint the picture frame or use it for crafting, buy it at Dollar Tree.

8. Plastic Storage Bins- If you're looking to organize your pantry or a closet, you can buy these little plastic bins for a fraction of what they would cost at The Container Store.

9. Cleaning Supplies- This is a broad one, but you can buy all-purpose cleaners, glass cleaners, scrubbers, and the like all for $1. Glass cleaner is glass cleaner, so you might as well buy it on the cheap. 

10. Paper Towels- If you're like me, paper towels are your most used hoousehold product. We go through rolls by the truckload, but I don't feel too guilty about that since I can get them for $1.

So there you go! Just some money saving tips from one frugal noodle to another. What are your favorite tips to save a few bucks?

7 Ways We Stopped Wasting Food

When Parker and I moved into our new house, we set a goal to stop wasting food. It's been a struggle since we got married to find the right balance of having enough food around the house without wasting it, and we were ready to take the bull by the horns. 

I've always planned out our meals. I would go to the grocery store once a week (usually every Sunday) and buy stuff for the dinners I planned for the week, lunches, snacks, etc. When we first started out this whole married life adventure, I was planning 5 meals a week. 5! I wanted to be the perfect wife that had a fresh, warm meal on the dinner table every night. 5 may not sound like a lot considering there are 7 days in a week, but almost every meal yielded at least enough for 4 servings, and there are only 2 of us. Our refrigerator was stuffed with leftovers, and we couldn't eat them fast enough. 

4 years into marriage, we realized something had to change. I hated wasting good food and money, and so did Parker. We started talking about ways we could make sure we eat what we buy and came up with 7 strategies to implement going forward. Yall, it has made a world of difference! Not only are we spending way less at the grocery store each week, but we are actually eating what we buy. 

1. Make more frequent grocery trips. I wanted to only go once a week, so I would overbuy just to ensure I didn't have to go back. Only buying the minimum of what we actually need may mean I will have to make another trip later on in the week, but it will also mean less wasted food.

2. Don't plan 5 meals a week. This sounds extreme, but I now only plan 2 meals a week. Most meals make 4 servings or more, and since there are only 2 of us, that will feed us at least 2 nights. Plus, things just come up and life happens. If someone invites us to dinner or we decide to do an impromptu date night, I don't have to feel guilty about all the food we are wasting. If 2 meals isn't enough, I'll just make another quick trip to the grocery store later in the week.

3. Look in your freezer before grocery shopping. I sometimes buy meat in bulk when it's on sale and put it straight in the freezer. That's cool, except then I forget that it's there. I now make a point to look at what meat I have sitting in the freezer and plan meals around that.

4. Buy the smaller milk carton. I used to buy the full gallon each week and we were wasting so much milk. We aren't huge milk drinkers and only use it for cereal or chocolate milk after a workout, so we just couldn't drink it fast enough before it went sour. Plus, I switched to almond milk recently, so Parker doesn't come close to finishing the real milk on his own. I buy the half gallon now, which is the perfect amount to get us through a week.

5. Buy lunch meat from your local deli instead of the prepackaged stuff. The prepackaged lunch meat is fine, but it usually only comes in quantities of a pound or larger. We don't eat enough sandwiches during the week to eat a pound of lunch meat quickly enough. Instead, I started buying meat and cheese from the deli in 1/2 pound or even 1/3 pound quantities. It's fresher, tastes better, is cheaper, and we don't waste it. 

6. When the bread is about to go stale, start serving it as a side of toast with dinner. Another thing we have trouble eating fast enough is a loaf of bread. You can't really buy bread in smaller quantities, so I throw a couple of pieces in the toaster and add butter for a dinner side, or I'll put it under the broiler for a few minutes with some butter/garlic/cheese for variety. Either way, it's a great dinner side and will help you eat the bread before it goes bad. 

7. Leftovers are your friend. I wanted to be superwife when we got married and have a new meal on the table each night. I now see that's not realistic. When we have leftovers, we will eat those before I cook again. You can even use leftovers as part of new meals so you don't have to eat the same thing all week. Last week, I threw some chicken/salsa in the crockpot for chicken tostadas. It made way too much, so I took some of the leftovers and made chicken quesadillas for lunch. Get creative and eat those leftovers. 

These are just the tips that have worked for us! What are some of your tips for not wasting food?

Mama To Be Care Package

This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and healthy mama® , but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #gethealthymama  http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV
Since the title of this post could lead you to think otherwise, I'll start by saying that I am not pregnant. But, I think the rest of the world might be. We are in the season of life where many of our friends are having babies, and it's such a fun, special time. Four years ago, it seemed like everyone was getting married, and now, it's babies!
I remember how simultaneously thrilling and terrifying pregnancy can be. There is nothing quite like knowing you are growing a life, but honestly, sometimes it feels like that's all you know. Being pregnant for the first time is a whole new experience that brings on a slew of unknowns. Count on pregnancy to bring out the hypochondriac in you. 
With all of this in mind, I decided to put together a mama to be care package. These are all items that I think are so helpful, especially in the first trimester. The first trimester is filled with tons of questions, anxiety, and changes, and hopefully these items will bless that new mama while she grows her sweet baby. 

So what's in the care package? I went with a few items that were life savers for me as well as some new products that will be perfect for the new mama to be. I found most of these at my favorite store (Target, of course) along with about 10 other miscellaneous items that crawled into my cart when I wasn't looking. A Saturday morning spent at Target is a Saturday morning well spent. Am I right?

1. Prenatal vitamins. This one is a given. A pregnant mama needs her prenatal vitamins. 
2. Water bottle. When you are pregnant, you basically need to be drinking water like it's your day job. A cute new water bottle will make becoming a human camel a little bit easier.
3. healthy mama® Tame the flame. I discovered healthy mama® this past Target run and grabbed these for heartburn relief. Heartburn during pregnancy is no joke, my friends. 
4. healthy mama® Boost it up. This is a caffeine free protein energy drink specifically formulated for pregnant and nursing mamas. This is a great pick-me-up when a nap might not be feasible. I experienced the exhaustion more in the second trimester, but I think I was weird on that. Exhaustion typically peaks in those first few weeks of pregnancy, and Boost it up will become your close buddy.
5. Journal. I love this "Rejoice & Be Glad" journal I spotted at Target. Such a good reminder, especially if pregnancy sickness has taken over. Plus, the journal will be perfect to jot down bumpdates and fun pregnancy memories. If you don't, the memories may disappear forever. Pregnancy brain is a real thing, yall. 
6. Sports bra. This padded sports bra is perfect. Not only are your boobs growing faster than the speed of lightning, but they are oh so sore. A comfy sports bra with a little added support will go a long way. 
7. Rubber bands. Call me crazy, but this is one of my favorite early pregnancy items. When your belly is growing but not quite big enough to warrant maternity pants, the rubber band trick will be your new best friend. This is where you take a rubber band and loop it through the button hole of your pants and around the button to give yourself a little more room to expand. When I was pregnant, I wore 3 rubber bands on my arm at all times. One was for my hair, one was for my pants, and the other was in case one of the first two got lost. Now that I think about it, 3 might have been overkill. 
8. Coconut oil. This can be great to keep those stretch marks at bay. There are a thousand stretch mark remedies out there, but I like that this one is natural and on the cheaper side. 
9. A good book. When you are pregnant, your most important job is to grow that sweet baby. That means taking it easy and listening to your body when it needs a break. Kick up your feet and dive into a new book. 
One thing I noticed this past weekend at Target is that they now have a Pre/Post Natal Care section. healthy mama® has developed a variety of remedies for nausea, aching, heartburn, lethargy, and more that are all included in this new section. I love that these products are specifically designed for pregnant and nursing mamas and are all united under one brand. 

What are some items you would include in a mama to be care package for first time mamas?

Blogger How-To: Adding An Instagram Widget To Your Blog

I recently redesigned my blog, and one of the features I was excited about adding was a rotating Instagram widget. I love pictures and Instagram is easily my favorite form of social media, so I thought it would be fun to show some of those Instagram photos on my blog. 
I didn't have a clue how to do this, but thanks to a little Googling (how did we survive pre-Google?), I realized it really is quite simple. I thought I would share a step by step tutorial in case any of you fellow bloggers out there are interested in doing the same! 
Here we go...

First of all, what exactly is an Instagram widget? Well, it's this.

I chose a slideshow widget, which means it rotates through pictures on my Instagram feed every few seconds. You also have the option to showcase your pictures in a grid, whereby it will display several pictures at one time. It's up to your personal preference. Either way, it will only take a couple of minutes, so let's get started.

1. Go to http://www.intagme.com/.
2. For the first three entries, enter your Instagram username, leave the hashtag field blank unless you have a specific hashtag you use regularly, and select either slideshow or grid. Slideshow will give you the rotating effect (like I have). Grid will display multiple images at one time.
3. Select your thumbnail size. You want it slightly smaller than the width of your sidebar.
4. Select whether or not you want a photo border around each picture.
5. Select a background color if you wish- I left mine transparent.
6. Preview your settings. If you like what you see, click "Get Code".
7. Copy the code. Then, go into your layout tab (Design-->Layout) in blogger and add an HTML/Javascript gadget. Paste the code into the gadget.
8. Preview your new page layout. If you like what you see, click "Save Arrangement".

The widget will update each time you add a photo to Instagram, so once you paste the code initially, you are done. Feel free to let me know if you have any questions!

A Couch Potato's Guide To Greener Living

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #BringingInnovation #CollectiveBias
I really like the idea of recycling and living a greener life, but I'm just not the type of person that wants to go to a lot of effort to do it. I once saw a family being interviewed on the news who was able to fit all of the trash they threw away in an entire year in a small jar. They composted/recycled everything. I had two thoughts: 1) Wow, that's so cool. 2) Wow, I could never do that. After I eat a banana, I just want to throw it away. I'd rather not go dig a bunch of banana peel graves in the backyard. 
That said, I have found there are some easy ways I can go green that don't require extensive effort on my part. For anyone who is, let's say, less motivated to go green but still likes the idea, this post is for you. I've put together 5 simple steps to go green designed specifically for the couch potato in us all. 

1. Donate Old Clothes We all have old clothes that we don't wear anymore. I try to do a closet clean-out a couple of times a year (nothing makes you want to get rid of things like moving does). There were times where I would want to get rid of a shirt and just throw it away out of laziness. Yes, I have been guilty of this once or twice. Judge away, my friends. But, I recently discovered that there are charities that will come pick up your donations from your house! You just leave clothes, housewares, etc on the front porch and schedule a pick-up. Genius. I've done this several times, and it couldn't be easier. I've always used Purple Heart Pickup (www.purpleheartpickup.org), which benefits military veterans and their families. 
2. Go Paperless I am in charge of paying the bills in our casa, and I've tried to make as many bills paperless as possible. If you go to the website for your bill, there will probably be an option at the bottom to select "Go Paperless". Your bills will be emailed to you, and you can just pay online. Super simple stuff, but it will save some paper!

3. Stop Paper Junk Mail From Coming To You This is one that is good for both the earth and your sanity. I'm not a fan of all of the junk mail we get on a daily basis, and it's such a waste of paper because all I do is throw it away. There are many websites out there that will allow you to opt out of receiving junk mail. An example is optoutprescreen.com. 
4. Stop Using Water Bottles Parker calls me a water snob. He's kind of right. I like the purified stuff, I like it fresh, and I like it cold. I am a big water drinker and could go through 5 water bottles a day pretty easily. Not only is this financially a waste, but it's a waste of plastic. Instead, I've started carrying around a cup with a lid and a straw everywhere I go. This cup is always filled and always with me, and I like knowing that I am saving some plastic in the process.

5. Use Energizer EcoAdvanced Batteries This is the first battery on the market to use recycled batteries/materials. I use the AA most frequently, but they come in AAA as well. These batteries are the epitome of taking something old and creating something new. I'm pretty sure if you looked it up, that's how Webster would define recycling as well. Even though this is a new product, it's Energizer's longest lasting alkaline ever. Innovation station.

We picked up these bad boys at Walmart on a display near the check-out counter.

Before you go, enter the GuiltFreeEnergy Giveaway for the chance to win $1000 in gift cards. Good luck!

GuiltFreeEnergy Giveaway - $1,000 in Gift Cards

5 Life Hacks To Make Your Life Easier

I really like the saying "work smarter, not harder". There are obviously areas of life where this doesn't apply, but in may ways, you can save yourself a lot of time and energy by figuring out a better way to do things. My favorite example is modern technology. It's there to make our lives easier. I use my phone to navigate pretty much anywhere and everywhere. I've learned that if my Google maps app tells me to take a left when I usually take a right, I should probably do it because it's likely navigating me around traffic that I'm not yet aware of. Why drive 10 minutes when I only need to drive 5? Work smarter. 
I thought I would share my 5 favorite life hacks to make your life easier. I feel like I am basically the poster child for all of these because they are so simple yet SO effective! I like saving time. Saving time usually leads to saving sanity.

1. Seville Cutting Board Set
My mother-in-law introduced me to this. She actually brought it to a gift exchange over Christmas, but I thought it was just a normal cutting board and immediately wrote it off. Later that evening I saw her using it, and my opinion instantly changed. There are little chopping mats that fit on the top of the cutting board for you to use if you need to cut multiple items. I dislike having to use 3 different cutting boards if I am cutting meat, veggies, and bread, and this set solves that problem. The best part? The mats are dishwasher-safe, so I just stick the mats I used in the dishwasher and never have to worry about washing the giant wooden cutting board. If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, I cannot recommend this product enough. You can buy it here. 

2. Crockpot Liners
Many of you have probably heard of these, but they save SO much time cleaning up that I thought they were worth highlighting. Cooking in the crock pot already really simplifies things. Dinner is ready when you get home and you don't have to worry about tearing your kitchen apart in the process. The one downside of the crockpot is I usually have to soak it for a day or so before I can get it clean. Enter: crockpot liners. Line your crockpot before you pour in your ingredients, and then you can just remove the liner and throw it away when you've finished. I quickly rinse the crockpot, and it's good to go for another meal. Easy peasy. 

3. Chef's Planet Clip & Drain
My mom introduced me to this one, and I love it. I don't like having to drag out the strainer every time I brown meat or cook pasta, and this clip means I don't have to. You just clip it to the side of your pot, drain it over your sink, and throw the clip in the dishwasher. It's small and easy to store, but it has worked on every pot I've used it on and doesn't cause the meat or pasta to spill out. You can buy one here. 

4. Purse holder
I was given this as a bridesmaid gift back in 2012, and it has been a game changer. It rests on the edge of a table, and you can hang your purse from it. I don't like to set my purse on the floor at restaurants or bother with having it in my lap, so I use the purse holder and hang it next to me on the side of the table. I've had this for almost 3 years and wish I knew the exact place my friend ordered it from. She got it off of Etsy, and there are hundreds of vendors out there who sell these. Of all of the life hacks, this one is my favorite.

5. Tab on the Tape
This one won't change your life, but it will save you some frustration when you cannot get the edge of the tape to come up. We always have packing tape lying around since we move every other minute, and I feel like I waste so much tape breaking it into little strips when I am just trying to get a piece. I place a tab like the ones you find on bread at the end of the tape, and my problem is solved. 

What are some of your favorite life hacks?