by Kati Kiefer | Mar 21, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
It was her confrontation that led me to the best dryer sheets I could find. Although I love my mom dearly, she is a natural guru. She loves and uses all things natural and she confronted me about using dryer sheets. Since there are tons of chemicals in dryer sheets,...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 19, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
We all know that I have boys…smelly, stinky boys and in order to survive another car trip I needed to find the best car air freshener with essential oils. On our recent car trip, we decided to stop for dinner and then get back on the road. A half hour...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 18, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
I needed a homemade fabric refresher with essential oils like last week because my car became so smelly. My boys get smelly, very smelly. They play disc golf outside in the Florida heat. And then they get rained on and they accumulate mud as well. So not only do they...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 17, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
You know I have a big family with lots of kids and cats, and that means I am constantly trying to learn how to deodorize carpet and rugs… fast! Usually right before guests are about to stop by (because being prepared is no fun!). And usually, like the mad momma...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 16, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
Have you seen the prices of ammonia free glass cleaner lately? Wow! It is so expensive. Over $4 for just one bottle! I was astounded the last time I had to purchase a bottle and my gut just sank. Buying my family good quality food is something we really strive for, so...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 15, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
There are several furniture pieces in my home that I love, my leather sofa and my leather office chair. While they are great, they seem to get the most dirt, and I'll admit, coffee spills from me especially on my office chair. We paid the extra money to buy the bottle...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 13, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
They say “judge not, lest you be judged”… so please remember that when you look at my “before” pictures of using my DIY wood furniture cleaner. You see, my name is Kati Kiefer, not Martha Stewart. I do not have a cleaning crew nor a maid....
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 12, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
You know that I love to use old jars but I needed to find the best adhesive remover to get those sticky labels off the front. Spaghetti, salsa, and jelly jars are prime examples of jars that I love to save and reuse. After my kids kept breaking the good drinking...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 11, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
It was cleaning day and I ran out. I simply ran out of stainless steel cleaner and polish and I didn't want to run to the store again. I was going to have to make my own homemade stainless steel cleaner and polish if I was going to get my cleaning done. I'm sure you...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 10, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
Does your laminate floor cleaner work well? The floors throughout my entire house look like wood, but they are actually a laminate. I love them because they are so strong. They don't show scratches and they are easy to clean. You know that I am a crazy cat lady and I...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 8, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
I had just peeled a second orange for James to take with him for lunch at work and I was lamenting about throwing the peels away when an idea popped into my head – Why can't I make some kind of vinegar citrus cleaners with these peels? You see, I've been on a...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 6, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
With six people in our house, we were in desperate need of the best toilet bowl cleaner around. Plus we have guests…lots of them. I wondered why the toilets were always in bad shape, but then I counted how many times the toilet is used in just one week. Over one...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 5, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
While it's a fact of life that we all go poo, my toilet time is not something I want to share with the world. But it happens… the smell… no matter how healthy you eat, it's there. The one thing you don't want to happen is for your toilet time smells to...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 4, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies
I was in need of the best shower cleaner to keep my shower clean. Desperate need. You see, I kept forgetting to clean it. I know, it's gross and I realize the reason it got so gross because I kept forgetting about it. You know that “out of sight, out of...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 3, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies, Reader Favorites
I have been on a quest to make cheaper things for my house and it was on my list to learn how to make Castile soap – the liquid version. Just in case you didn't know, Castile soap is natural and free of toxins! Plus, it's environmentally friendly. Now, who...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 2, 2022 | Easter
Let me suggest some candy-less things to do on Easter. When did Easter become surrounded by candy? The Easter Bunny is more famously known as the rabbit who delivers all things sweet. However, Easter doesn’t have to bring the same sugar high as Halloween. You can...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 2, 2022 | DIY, DIY Cleaning Supplies, Reader Favorites
12 hands that need washing several times a day requires some kind of natural soap. I'm a couponer, but I was so tired of trying to find the latest deal on a natural soap. Trying to figure out if I had the coupons or not and how many I could actually buy, even with the...
by Kati Kiefer | Mar 1, 2022 | DIY
Living in the sunshine state sure can cause some serious sunburns, and a secret trick to hurry up and make them turn that sunburn into a suntan is to make a spray using essential oils for sunburns. In seconds your sunburn will have some relief. During the summer, we...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 11, 2022 | DIY, Recipes, Trim Healthy Mama, Valentine's Day
Have you ever enjoyed biting into your own creation of DIY Chocolate Covered Strawberries? The hard outer chocolate exterior melds with the sweet juicy strawberry on the inside. It's a little bit of heaven right here on earth! Years ago my Mom and I would take the...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 9, 2022 | Spend Less, Vacations
It's hard to find cheap spring break trips for families…but I've got the best ideas to get your spring break trip started! Spring break is right around the corner so it's time to break out the bathing suits and sunscreen! And you might be looking to do something...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 7, 2022 | Spend Less, Vacations
If you are looking at how to save on your spring break vacations, then I've got some tips for you! Spring break is one of the largest travel seasons of the whole year. With students ranging from elementary all the way up to college age off all at one time, competition...
by Kati Kiefer | Feb 1, 2022 | Budgeting
We’ve all used the excuse of “I don’t have enough money” when creating a personal finance strategy. I've been there myself, so I know where you’re coming from. It feels like no matter how much we plan there is never enough time or money to do all the things we want to...
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 29, 2022 | Meal Planning
If you're wondering should you pay for a meal planning service, let me help you decide. It’s more challenging than ever to find the time and the money to prepare healthy and tasty meals. We are all so busy during the week that when we get home, having to decide what...
by Kati Kiefer | Jan 28, 2022 | Meal Planning
If you've heard what’s for dinner for the last time, then it's time to find the best way to meal plan. If I had a dollar for every text message or request I got asking “what’s for dinner?” even before 5 o'clock, I’d be rich! I’ve been planning my meals for years now....
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 18, 2021 | DIY
After making this DIY organic lip balm for my family as a creative (and wildly successful) Christmas Present, I thought it would be fun to share with you how easy and inexpensive it is to make your own Organic Lip Balm (aka chapstick). You can whip up a batch in about...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 16, 2021 | Christmas
Despite our best planning and intentions, by the time the Christmas season rolls around, our bank account is squeezed just too thin. If you are on a tight budget this holiday season, you can still create an enjoyable and even a magical Christmas season for you and...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 15, 2021 | Christmas
Is your house holiday celebration central? Our house is too! Everyone always gathers at our house for all the holidays. The holiday season can be a time of unexpected events and expenses, instead of being very merry and bright. They can also leave you and your wallet...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 15, 2021 | Christmas, DIY
Are you looking for a DIY holiday centerpiece vase project for Christmas? One that also is very cheap to make? You're in the right place! With Christmas right around the corner, we're sure you’re preparing your home with all the Christmas decor, Christmas trees,...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 14, 2021 | Christmas, DIY
Are you needing some cool Christmas gifts? It’s getting down to the wire for Christmas shopping, isn’t it?! And I honestly think the closer it gets the less creative my brain gets also! Thankfully for both of us, I wrote this article when I was of sound mind before...
by Kati Kiefer | Dec 14, 2021 | Christmas
Hanukkah and Christmas are two very special holidays. Christmas is my absolute favorite holiday, and I look forward to the holiday season each and every year. Just a few short years ago was the first year I'd ever celebrated Hanukkah with friends who are Jewish. Our...