6 SIMPLE Ways to Help Save The Environment!

This post was sponsored by NEW! Tide purclean as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

I'll admit it, I'm a bit of a "hippie". While I'm not claiming to be the most eco-friendly, tree-hugging person on the planet, I do like the idea of doing my part to help save the earth and I love the notion of keeping this planet "green" for future generations. While we haven't gone as far as growing our own produce or composting yet... I am trying to make sure my family and I make little changes in our lives that will help our planet in the long run.

From choosing to cloth diaper while we are at home, to buying used clothing, and even choosing environmentally conscious cleaning products, we're doing our best to help this planet stay a little greener. Today I want to share a few different ways that we can all do our best to help this planet stay a little greener, especially if your a mama-to-be or a new parent:

As I mentioned one way we plan to do our part is cloth diapering while we are at home, once our babe arrives, of course. I'm sure it is going to be an adventure, I've been told to steer clear by a few people but I know in my heart of hearts that this is the best choice for our family. I think there will definitely be a learning curve but I'm looking forward to saving the earth one little clean booty at a time! If you're interested in learning more about the cloth diapering world, I highly suggest you check out some of the awesome CD groups on facebook!

The next way we do our best to keep the world green is buying used clothes. While this may not have a HUGE impact on the way the world works, it is one less item bought that warrants a company to manufacture more items. I love the idea of buying used when there is plenty of good merchandise on thrift store and consignment store shelves. I'll be honest and share the fact that we have bought our little princess plenty of new clothes... but most of my maternity clothing and a majority of her wardrobe have come from resale stores and I'm proud to say that! It's easy to find great deals on adorable items when you look for them and I think finding balance between buying new and used is a great way to help save the planet, even if it's just a small way of helping.

Another awesome way that we try and keep things green is buying our fruit and veggies locally - again, this may not have a huge impact but every little bit helps. While we stock up on our favorite produce, we're helping our local farmers and farmers markets flourish and in turn giving back to our area instead of large farming corporations that sell the same items in stores. It's not going to change the world overnight but if everyone shopped at farmers markets, it might change the world just a little bit.

We're also big advocates for recycling in our house! I receive LOTS of packages as a blogger so all of the cardboard we get goes straight into our recycling bin, with the occasional box being reused and sent off to a friend or family member! We also recycle boxes that our food comes in, bottles, papers, and anything else labeled as recycling friendly. This may be our biggest contribution to the environment and luckily, the neighborhood we live in provides us with a recycling container so it's easy as pie to set it out on the curb once a week and do our part!

Protect & Improve Your Skin with Receutics

This post was sponsored on behalf of Receutics. All opinions stated are my own.

I talk about the benefits of living in Florida often... I mean with the beach just around the corner, amusement parks galore, and all kinds of other fun activities - it's easy to see why I love it here. One thing I don't normally address is what the Florida sun is capable of; While the sun is, in fact, the sun no matter where you live, it seems to beam a little brighter in these parts. I used to go without sunscreen when I lived in the midwest, spending hours tanning with friends without a burn in sight, but in Florida after a few harsh burns I realized that lifestyle isn't possible here, at least without protecting my skin!

That's where Receutics comes into the picture. My first few years I lived here, when I would go without sunscreen, I did more than a little damage to my skin. While the added freckles are cute, we can all agree the sun spots, weird peeling spots, and blotchy skin isn't so adorable. I'm loving that I finally found Receutics Active Skin Repair Sun Care to help improve the look of my skin, while I'm also protecting it with professional-grade sunscreen - which is what I should've been doing all along... but I guess you live, you learn!

Over the last month or so I've spent a few seconds each day applying a thin layer of Receutics Advanced Sunscreen before I head outdoors, whether I'm heading off to the beach for an all day adventure or just taking my pups for a stroll around the neighborhood I make sure I apply my sunscreen.

I'm glad to say that my small efforts have benefited my skin greatly! I had weird patches of skin peeling near my eyebrows before and the "beginning" stages of wrinkles were starting to show, now I have nothing but clear skin and a couple of freckles and nearly perfect skin for a 27 year old mama-to-be!

Are you looking to up your sunscreen and skincare game? Receutics Advanced Sunscreen shields your skin from the sun's UVA/UVB rays using powerful antioxidants that protect and even your skin tone - something any woman (or man) with aging skin can appreciate! Not only does Receutics make awesome sunscreen, their line of skincare items include Intense Hydration and Repair Treatments, Acne Clearing Systems, and more and it's all available at your local Rite Aid!

If you haven't tried Receutics yet, now is the time... if not now, then when?! Tell me in the comments below about your skincare problems and how you think Receutics can help you repair and renew your skin!

Find Inspiration for Your Baby's Nursery & Give Back with Lorena Canals Rugs

Big Thanks to Lorena Canals for sending over this beautiful rug to include in my Baby Shower Gift Guide,
regardless all opinions expressed below are completely my own!

Getting Delainey's room together has been an adventure and we're not even closed to finished yet... We went from thinking we were going with a "Where the Wild Things Are" theme whenever we first found out we were expecting to deciding on a feminine mermaid theme once we knew our babe was a girl. We've went through a handful of different color schemes, because let's face it, I can be a bit indecisive at times. We've looked at a variety of furniture and finally decided on the pieces that we needed to be a part of her room; but one I item I knew was perfect from the get go, oddly enough, was the rug I found from Lorena Canals. Adding one of the washable rugs they make is a must for any nursery or children's room!

While it's true that most rugs for kiddos are soft and they are often used for tummy time, these beauties are washable and similar to a blanket in many ways yet they stay put and add the perfect stylish touch to any kid-friendly room! Plus, they get major bonus points from this mama to be because they fit in most standard washing machines! So there really are no worries when baby has a little spit up mishap during playtime, all you have to do is toss the rug into the wash during nap time and it'll be clean and ready for round two of playtime before baby even wakes up!

With a classic design that'll match her room through out the years, our Lorena Canals Mix Ramlal rug is going to be the perfect addition to all the changes her room undergoes through out the years. I love it's simple coloring and the fact it's uniquely made, just like all of their rugs... plus, since it's washable we don't have to worry about mishaps with finger paint or other fun adventures while she grows!

These rugs obviously aren't just your plain ol' big box store option though... Lorena Canals rugs undergo an extensive handmade elaboration process based on the selection of the best raw materials, the use of only natural dyes, the control of non-child labor in the production process, and the compliance of quality and safety standards for children - making these beauties even more unique!

The best part about Lorena Canals rugs though, is the fact the company provides schooling for children in Northern India! With the purchase of a Lorena Canals rug, you will help a child attend school. Lorena Canals believes that education is the key to mobility and vital to breaking the poverty cycle so they give back whenever possible. So not only are you rewarding your babe with an awesome new rug when you buy a Lorena Canals rug, you're rewarding another child with an education!

Sold in over 30 countries and promoted by so many amazing people including one of my favorite celebs, Chrissy Teigen, Lorena Canal rugs are the answer to spicing up the look of your nursery, no matter what them you choose.

Are you decorating your little darling's room in a pineapple theme? They have a rug for that.

What about a desert theme? They have a cactus rug you'll be gaga over.

With Ombre rugs in shades of emerald and coral to lavender blends, it was a little difficult to narrow down my choice between all of the beautiful options... but the classic look of the Mix Ramlal rug was the perfect choice for us and our nursery that I'll be officially unveiling soon! Are you looking for inspiration for your nursery? Check out these adorable baby rooms enhanced by a gorgeous Lorena Canals rug and leave me a little message sharing your favorite look in the comments below!

Interested in finding more awesome items for babies and new mamas?
Click here to check out my Baby Shower Gift Guide!

7 Delicious and Unique Summertime Lemonade Recipes

It's officially July and that means the heat of summer is real, at almost 30 weeks pregnant I can tell you right now - it's friggin' hot, all day long.

While I love a good beach day and spending time by the pool, those luxuries sadly aren't part of my daily life lately. One thing that I have been partaking in to try and cool off is a nice big glass of lemonade. From berry and vanilla infused lemonade to a mojito-ish mint lemonade, I've found a variety of different ways to make one of my favorite drinks and luckily, these refreshing beverages have been helping me stay cool.

Are you looking for a few new ways to mix up some lemonade? Here's 7 different, delicious recipes to inspire you, because when life gives you hot, hot heat and lemons - you make homemade lemonade, right?

1. Watermelon Raspberry Lemonade - If you're all about summertime, you'll be all about this lemonade blend from Gourmande in the Kitchen! Made with some of the best classic summertime flavors, this coconut water based lemonade is so refreshing it's a recipe inspired by perfection.

2. Vanilla Berry Lemonade - This heavenly smooth lemonade from Baked Bree is a great mixture of everything I love as of lately. Vanillas and berries combine perfectly with lemonade making for sweet and not-so-tart lemonade, the best way to still enjoy summer while embracing sweets!

3. Blueberry Lemonade - This super simple recipe from Damn Delicious is, well, damn delicious! It's easy to make and so flavorful, the perfect combination.

4. Mint Lemonade - This recipe satisfies my sinful craving for mojitos without involving any adult beverages. It's the perfect mixture of mint and lemonade and so refreshing on a hot summer day, if you're a non-drinker like myself this summer but you're craving something that reminds you of your favorite adult beverages, I highly recommend this recipe from Martha Stewart.

5. Carrot Lemonade - This funky blend from Better Homes & Gardens is the perfect way to sneak some veggies into your diet and still feel refreshed. Packed full of Vitamin A and bright, brilliant orange shade, this lemonade is the perfect way to celebrate a sunny day this summer!

6. Lavender Lemonade - This violet lemonade from Eat Yourself Skinny is not only beautiful and delicious, it also is said to help ease anxiety! Made with lavender as an ingredient, you're bound to be relaxed while sipping on an ice cold glass of this concoction!

7. Fresh Peach Lemonade - If you're looking for a unique twist on lemonade then you'll love this peachy recipe from Taste of Home. It's sweet and a delicious southern twist, perfect for sipping while watching fireworks with your family.

So tell me, which lemonade recipe will you be trying first?