Condo Blues

Tuesday, March 6, 2018

6 Ways to Use Less Plastic without Going Crazy

Many folks in the United Kingdom are looking for ways to live plastic free or with less single use plastic for the 40 days of Lent. This is as part of a national Plastic Free (Less) Lent Challenge influenced by the BBC TV program Blue Planet 2: Seas of Life (this show has such gorgeous nature photography and information that I have no problem recommending it to you and using my affiliate links to do it!)

So far, the folks I’m working with are excited when they find a plastic free bamboo toothbrush (read more about it here) or their grocery store allows them to use reusable cloth produce bags and that's fantastic! 

But as they have been living awhile with the low plastic challenge, there are many people who are becoming overwhelmed, or are too time poor to DIY plastic free everything, or worse, being shamed when they admit that they can’t afford the perfect plastic free option. That’s not cool.


6 Ways to Go Plastic Free without Going Broke or Crazy
Pin this list of ideas for later and share it with your friends!


I feel for ya, because I think I am the only person in the world who lives in an area where my farmer’s market, bulk food bins, and fresh vegetable summer CSA subscriptions are typically more expensive than a conventional grocery store. I want to do my bit but I don’t always have the time to regularly grocery shop at three or more markets every other week when one conventional grocery store has everything I need.

Thursday, March 1, 2018

Friday Favorites Linky Party 414

Let's get this party started! Time to link up and share your fantastic craft and DIY projects, recipes, tutorials, and ideas! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us this week. 



Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin
Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst
Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL





If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing! 

Lisa from Condo Blues chose
Floating Bathroom Shelves from Turtles and Tails


Jerri at Simply Sweet Home chose
German Potato Pancakes from All That's Jas


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Amy at A Day of Small Things chose
Matcha Cheesecake from Kiku Corner

Maisy at Becoming Alice chose Cold Kicking Shower Melts from Busy Being Jennifer


This authentic barbacoa recipe is a simple slow cooker meal that makes the most tender, flavorful, delicious barbacoa beef.
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky chose
Barbacoa Recipe from To Simply Inspire


Do you want to relax in a tub of homemade lavender bath salts? Learn how to make the best DIY lavender bath salts recipe.  
Penny at Penny's Passion chose How to Make Relaxing Lavender Bath Salts from Happy Mothering

Friday Favorites Button

Thanks so much for partying with us this week! Please add your links below.

All family friendly posts are welcome, including recipes, crafts, decor, household tips, and more!

And please support your fellow party goers by visiting other posts linked up to the party!


Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.

Thursday, February 22, 2018

Friday Favorites Linky Party 413

Let's get this party started! Time to link up and share your fantastic craft and DIY projects, recipes, tutorials, and ideas! I can't wait to see what you have in store for us this week.



Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin
Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst
Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL





If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!




Lisa from Condo Blues chose
How to Install a Beadboard Kitchen Backsplash from Artful Homemaking




Jerri at Simply Sweet Home chose


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Amy at A Day of Small Things chose
Antique Key Art from Not in Jersey

Maisy at Becoming Alice chose Traditional Irish Soda Bread Recipe from 5 Minutes For Mom


chalk paint vs milk paint
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky chose
Chalk Paint vs. Milk Paint from Repurpose and Upcycle


Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake in a Jar -- popular dump cake with a fun twist by baking and serving in cute mason jars! #12Bloggers
Penny at Penny's Passion chose Cherry-Pineapple Dump Cake in a Jar from Home Cooking Memories


Friday Favorites Button

Thanks so much for partying with us this week! Please add your links below.

All family friendly posts are welcome, including recipes, crafts, decor, household tips, and more!

And please support your fellow party goers by visiting other posts linked up to the party!


Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.

Thursday, February 15, 2018

Friday Favorites Linky Party 412






 I added a new Lost Bobby Pin Trinket Tray to my store LNWCreativeGifts to help you keep track of and organize your bobby pins, hair ties, and little daily bits. Check it out!


Lost Bobby Pin Trinket Tray
It makes a great gift too!



Please support and follow our lovely blog party hostesses:

Jerri at Simply Sweet Home - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Maisy at Becoming Alice - FB | G+ | Pin
Sheree at Stage Presents - Twitter | FB | Pin | Inst | Inst
Lisa at Condo Blues - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Penny at Penny's Passion - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky - Twitter | FB | G+ | Pin | Inst | BL





If you are featured this week, be sure and grab a featured button for your blog!

You can show your love for this week's favorites by going over and commenting on the posts and by pinning or sharing!


Jerri at Simply Sweet Home chose
Gender Neutral Nursery from Health, Home, & Heart

Maisy at Becoming Alice chose

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Amy at A Day of Small Things chose
Banana Split Brownie Pizza from Poinsettia Drive

Craft room organization - ideas from a blogger that will work in any space!
Kelly at Under a Texas Sky  and Lisa at Condo Blues chose 
Craft Room Organization from The Country Chic Cottage

Make your own coffee sleeves with customized designs! So simple with your Cricut and EasyPress! Get the cut file for the good morning coffee cup sleeve as well!
Penny at Penny's Passion chose DIY Coffee Sleeves from The Country Chic Cottage


Friday Favorites Button

Thanks so much for partying with us this week! Please add your links below.

All family friendly posts are welcome, including recipes, crafts, decor, household tips, and more!

And please support your fellow party goers by visiting other posts linked up to the party!



Did you enjoy this post? Get more like it by subscribing to the Condo Blues RSS Feed or to Condo Blues by Email.

Tuesday, February 13, 2018

How to Refill a Car Vent Clip Air Freshener

It is not very green or eco friendly, but I use a Fabreeze type vent clip air freshener in the car.

Yes, I know, I know. I’m fully aware of the questionable synthetic ingredients in plug in air fresheners like Glade, Air Wick, Yankee Candle, and the like but I was driving around in a car that smelled like wet dog and gym socks and it was too cold to clean out the car.

Feel free to yell at me and tell me what a horrible person I am in the comments below if you must.

DIY Car Air Freshener How to Refill a Vent Clip with Essential Oil


Pin this post and share it with your friends!


Sunday, February 11, 2018

10 Easy Ways to Lower Winter Heating Bills

In 2008, my family went on a year long experience to try lowering our heating bills by %20 thinking it was a lofty goal we may not meet. a slew of Greenzillas swore up and down that the only solution was to trash everything that came new with our house (and was working great) and replace it by buying new top of the time super energy efficient everything. Replacing working and still fairly new things didn't seem very eco friendly. Instead we focused on changing old habits and a few inexpensive home improvements.

And we beat our goal by reducing our use and bill by 32%.

10 years later and we’re still using less energy to heat our condo than comparable energy efficient rated homes in our area – and we’re toasty warm doing it too!

10 Super Simple Hacks That Keep Your House Warm and Your Heat Bill Low