Update Your Home Without Major Renovations

When you think of updating your home, it may evoke visions of sledgehammers, rubble and rooms being stripped back to the bare bones. Not a pleasant thought. But did you know that there are ways that you can completely change the dynamic of your property, without even opening your tool box?

Update your interior doors

You pass through them every day, and are an integral part of every home. But it’s surprising how many people forget about how much of an impact an internal door can have. If your doors are scratched, scuffed or seen better days, then it may be worth repairing them yourself. Or if you’re hoping to completely change the look inside your home then consider purchasing a new style. You can find a range of internal doors from doorstore to help give you some inspiration.

Create an open space

With formal dining rooms and closed off areas seemingly going out of style, the open plan home seems to be the way to go. How can you do this without tearing out walls, you ask? Making your home seem open and airy can be easier than you think.
Sometimes it’s as simple as getting rid of bigger, bulkier furnishings, or moving furnishings around the room to see what placement gives the most open space. Another trick of the eye that gives the illusion of open space, is mirrors. Mirrors when placed opposite windows reflect light into the room and make the room seem more open.

Introduce new lighting

A poorly lit room, is dark, dim and not very welcoming. It can also be downright depressing! A well lit room can bring out your personality and bring a room to life! After all, who wants to sit in the dark? There are numerous ways to add lighting to your home, the most obvious would be to purchase some high quality floor lamps or table lamps, and place these strategically in dark corners or place them on side tables, in order to give a room that warm and welcoming feeling.

Update your handles and cabinetry

If your kitchen is looking a little dated, or your bathroom is more old fashioned then you would like there luckily there are small, easy changes you can make to bring it back to life and into the current decade. One way to do this, is to update and change the handles and draw pulls on your cabinets, cupboards and door handles.
There are numerous finishes to choose from such as bronze, brushed nickel, aged copper, and shiny stainless.  With so many modern choices on the market it may be hard to decide what best suits your home!

Still uninspired? Then clean!

If this still leaves you a little uninspired or perhaps won’t evoke as much change as you would like, then sometimes it pays to go back to basics. And start, with a good deep clean.
A deep-clean can enhance our mood and make our home more liveable (and more importantly inspire us to do more).

Fall Giveaway $100 PayPal or Amazon

Whoohoo, we are finally heading into the fall season and I am super excited about it! There are so many fun festivals and events already in the works in my city, and surrounding areas that are fall-focused. I know we most look forward to the South Carolina State Fair which Starts in early October. I can already smell the elephant ears and buttery corn-on-the-cob! 

Sticking with the fall theme, I have teamed up with a fabulous group of blog friends to bring you another great giveaway to put some extra cash in your pocket as we head into a new season. Check out the details below and enter today. Good luck! 

How to enter: There are 10 Twitter accounts. Follow one or all but the more accounts you follow the more entries you’ll receive. If you’re already a follower of an account, claim that entry! This giveaway starts September 19 at midnight EST and ends October 2 at 11:59 PM EST. Entrants must be USA residents and at least 18 years old. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The email will come from joannegreco at gmail. The winner has 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The prize is $100 in Paypal or Amazon online gift card, winner’s choice.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Wireless In-Ear Headphones From Audio-Technica Review

Do you find yourself having to take phone calls at the most inopportune times? Although I do not drive as often as my daughters and husband, it seems like my phone always rings when I am behind the wheel. I usually will quickly answer the call and tell the person I will call them back because I refuse to drive with a phone in hand. We have those pesky in-ear corded headphones that always seem to be a tangled mess the day you need them. Those days are now long gone. Now we have the most amazing wireless in-ear headphones with noise canceling technology that are ready for you to have a safer driving experience. 

Introducing the QuietPoint® wireless in-ear headphones from Audio-Technica. They combine their proprietary active noise-cancelling technology with Bluetooth® wireless technology to give you greater freedom and listening pleasure in areas of high ambient noise. 

My husband is the lucky recipient of these headphones and he will be the first to tell you that these prevent nagging from your wife. You see, I always have to get on him about not talking while driving. His line of work requires him to be on the phone for a great portion of the day, even after hours. I feel better knowing that he is hands-free for when he has to work on the go. And let me tell you, the sound quality when he calls me using them is crystal clear! You would never know he had bluetooth headphones on. 

These high-end headphones come packaged beautifully and includes silicone eartips (XS/S/M/L), 1.0 m (3.3') USB charging cable, airplane adapter, and a protective pouch. 

Here are some specifics: 

• QuietPoint® active noise-cancelling technology reduces environmental noise by up to 90%
• Reliable Bluetooth® wireless technology with in-line mic and controls for answering/ending calls, controlling music & video playback and adjusting volume on Bluetooth wireless devices
• 13.5 mm drivers offer a premium listening experience
• Connects to two Bluetooth wireless devices simultaneously; remembers up to eight devices
• Employs aptX® sound-improvement technology, specifically created to yield the best-possible audio performance over Bluetooth transmission
• Included 1.2 m (3.9') cable with 3.5 mm stereo mini-plug allows wired use of headphones when battery has lost charge or in Bluetooth-free zones (e.g., in airplanes or hospitals)
• Lightweight, portable design is ideal for travel
• On a full charge, internal battery provides continuous use for up to 8 hours (Bluetooth wireless and noise-cancelling), 13 hours (Bluetooth wireless only), 24 hours (noise-cancelling only), or 100 hours (standby)

My husband never leaves home without his headphones now. He loves that they are super lightweight and don't look tacky like some of those clunky ones do. That's perfect since he works in a professional environment. He said that they connect with ease and the charge lasts a long time. Of course he loves using them to listen to music and podcasts. 

These wireless in-ear headphones by Audio-Technica would make the perfect gift for new drivers, college students, or for spouses who think you nag (giggle). They would make the perfect gift for the holidays. I feel confident that anyone would love them. You can purchase them here for $129.99. If you spend $49 or more, you can receive FREE* shipping! *applies to standard-priced goods only. 

Holiday Season Prep And Saving Money On Gifts

This is a sponsored post in partnership with CouponDash.com. All opinions are my own. 

It's so crazy to think that in a couple months, the holiday season will begin. We have a tradition every year where we go and hang out on Halloween with close family-friends and we call it our 'kick-off to the holidays'. After that it seems like we all get into go-mode and the holiday hustle and bustle gets real. There is usually so much going on for all families with school events, football season, and family gatherings.

I find myself cooking and baking a whole lot once the weather gets cooler. There is something about that autumn air that gets me in the mood to be in the kitchen even more. Last year I bought an electric pressure cooker from Amazon and it has been my go-to appliance. I have been strongly considering getting a second one since I cook multiple foods for one meal most times. This would be extremely helpful during the holiday entertaining season as well since I can only cook so many dishes at one time on a four-burner stove. I am pretty sure I will be hosting Thanksgiving, so I will have to throw around a little *hint, hint* to my husband to get me another one of these beauties. 😍

I am so happy that I have Amazon Prime so I don't worry about paying for shipping. If you don't have it, be sure to take advantage of this free 30-day trial of Prime. Aside from cooking and baking during the holidays, I stock up on off-season goods. It's amazing how much marked-down merchandise is available in stores, especially one of my favorite places, Kohl's. I love using their shopping passes and getting Kohl's cash throughout the year. I get a thrill out of buying $800 worth of merchandise for as little as $200 and sometimes, even less! Also if you don't feel like weeding through the clearance racks, you can shop online and even get free shipping. This has become my new favorite way to shop! 

The great part about clearance shopping is that some of the items can be given as gifts for the holidays. I am always down for saving money and spending as little as I can for gifts. I also like giving home baked goodies to friends and neighbors each year. They always look forward to what I send over every year. You can say that it has become a tradition! I am already looking at decorative mini loaf pans for some sort of pound cake. I know it seems so early to be thinking about all of this, but it's best to prepare early so you can fit some relaxation time in. After all, you don't want to miss out on quality time with your family and friends because you are making the mad dash at the last minute. Speaking of dash, be sure to stop by CouponDash.com for savings from tons of well-known retailers like K-Mart, Best Buy, Michaels and more. You can find pretty much any brand you are looking for and they have the coupons savings already set up for you.

Do you get ready for the holidays early? Do you have any good shopping techniques that are helpful? Please share below in the comments. Thanks for stopping by today.

10 Ways To Keep You Strong For The Transitioning Season

Fall is right around the corner, which means it’s time to bundle up and prepare your body for the cool weather to come. The immune system is a large collection of different cells that have a primary goal to protect your body and attack foreign organisms or matter. Keeping these natural defenses strong is very important for transitioning into the new season and involves a variety of strategies. Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O., a New York City Osteopathic Physician board certified in family and anti-aging medicine is sharing his top 10 ways to keep you strong for the transitioning season.

1. Exercise on a daily basis: The minimum should be a half hour of walking continuously so as to increase oxygenation to tissues as well as deliver vitamins minerals and hormones to these cells. 
2. Be sure to get good deep restorative sleep: This should be at least six hours every night. Sleep deprivation not only makes us tired, but decreases function in almost all organs. 
   
3. Keep chemicals and preservatives out of the diet: We should eat as organically as possible, with the diet comprised of a variety of vegetables, fruits and good protein sources.
4. Test your blood for vitamins, minerals, and hormones: Thousands of studies over many years have described that vitamin deficiency is correlated with degenerate disease we can give me in response among many others. This test will guide you as to exactly what nutrients you're deficient in, and what you should take. “There is no better test than this,” says Dr. Calapai. 
5. Do not smoke cigarettes: This is a no brainer for most, as they contain thousands of dangerous chemicals, which can lead to a low immune system. But if you can't quit smoking completely, give one of these trendy vape devices a shot. 
6. Be careful with exposure to alcohol: This can have the variety of effects that are hurtful to the body if done in excess 
   
7. Maintain a clean home environment: In areas where you spend the most time, make sure that surfaces are cleaned with products that can kill germs or viruses. Use HEPA filtration systems to capture particulate matter including dust, allergens or organisms that can make you ill. 
8. Wash your hands thoroughly and a few times during the day and avoid other people that have chronic infection, flu or a virus. 
   
9. Try to minimize stress, anxiety and irritability: Taking a break for a few minutes during a stressful day can make the stress response much less progressive.
10. Lastly, be sure to visit your doctor for routine testing and physical exam inform: This ensures you are constantly aware of what is going on with your body.

About the doctor:  Dr. Christopher Calapai, D.O. is an Osteopathic Physician board certified in family medicine, and anti-aging medicine. Proclaimed the "The Stem Cell Guru" by the New York Daily News, Dr. Calapai is a leader in the field of stem cell therapy in the U.S. His stem cell treatments have achieved remarkable results in clinical trials on patients with conditions as varied as Alzheimer's, arthritis, erectile dysfunction, frailty syndrome, heart, kidney and liver failure, lupus, MS and Parkinson's. He has worked with Mike Tyson, Mickey Rourke, Steven Seagal, and Gotham's, Donal Logue; and as a medical consultant for the New York Rangers. Connect with him via twitter @drcalapai or at www.drcal.net