Tag Archives: Spring

Get Ready for Spring Gardening

Right about now, you may be feeling that winter will never end, but spring is definitely on the horizon — and with it, the renewal of everything fresh and green. Now’s the time to start thinking about preparing your lawn and garden for warmer months of lush grass and beautiful flowers. Here are the things you should put on the to-do list for a gorgeous landscape that will last through the summer. Do what you can when weather permits:

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Start With Your Tools

While it’s still cold or wet outside, you can take some time to get your tools ready.

  • Scrub off dirt. Soap isn’t required, but a stiff brush will help to get all the old dirt out of crevices. Be sure to rinse and dry tools thoroughly.
  • Remove rust. If blades are rusty, soak them in a container of vinegar for a day or two. Most or all of the residue should scrub off with a steel wool pad or rough sandpaper.
  • Lubricate pivot points. Just a few drops of WD-40 or a similar product will keep tools operating smoothly.
  • Sharpen blades. Use a whetstone or knife sharpener on all your cutting tools and mower blades. Dull blades make your work a lot harder and can mangle stems and branches.

Lawn

Prepare the Lawn

Harsh weather and foot traffic on snow-covered lawns can cause the soil to compact and make it uneven in spots. It can also alter the pH, making the soil less conducive to healthy grass and more welcoming to weeds and disease. Work through these steps over a few weekends:

  • Rake vigorously. Give yourself and the lawn a workout to remove surface leaves, debris and dead grass as well as to disentangle matted areas and thatch.
  • Level the surface. To equalize drainage and avoid low spots that will become soggy, take a shovel to lop off raised places and fill in those that are sunken.
  • Aerate the soil. Compacted soil needs to be opened up so oxygen, water and nutrients can reach grass roots. You can rent an aerator at a garden center, but they’re bulky, heavy and difficult to transport and use — better to hire a professional lawn aeration service and get the job done right.
  • Correct the pH. Grass thrives in soil with neutral pH, so use a simple test kit to tell you how yours rates. Apply lime to acidic soil and sulfur to soil that’s too alkaline. But get some expert advice before you use either or you could do more harm than good.
  • Sow grass seed. You can seed bare spots alone or overseed the entire area for a lusher lawn overall. Seeds won’t germinate, though, until the soil temperature reaches about 65 degrees Fahrenheit.
  • Pre-treat for weeds. A pre-emergent herbicide will take care of weeds before they start, but it will also stop grass seeds from germinating, so be mindful of where and when you use it.
  • Feeding your lawn gives it a stronger root system and the energy for a long growing season. Follow directions for whether you have warm or cool season grass and for the part of the country in which you live.

Clean up the Flower Beds

All kinds of old foliage and debris accumulates in the garden during the winter, making a handy home for insects and disease as the weather warms. Clear it all out so your plants have room for a fresh, new start.

Prune Woody Plants

If you haven’t pruned your rose bushes yet, get to it at the first chance you have. As for trees, It’s best to prune branches while they’re dormant but after the coldest weather has passed, though dead branches can be removed any time. For some great information about trees, check out the Arbor Day Foundation.

Divide Perennials

Daylilies, Agapanthus, peonies and other varieties of clumping perennials that have gotten too big for their spots in the garden should be divided ahead of the coming warm weather, so their roots have time to establish themselves.

Start Flower and Vegetable Seeds Inside

Seeds won’t sprout in cold soil, so even in temperate climate zones, starting seeds indoors gives them a head start. Seed packets will tell you how many weeks it will take for each variety to get ready before the optimum time to transplant them outdoors. It’s also fun for the kids to help pot the seeds and watch them sprout.

This is a collaborative guest post. The ideas and views expressed don not necessarily reflect those of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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The 6 Things You Must Do for Your Home This Spring

Many people look forward to spring because it provides a chance to start cleaning their homes after a long winter, and enjoy more fresh air. Remember, your home has been closed up and dealing with winter for as long as you have, so it probably needs a little TLC  to ensure everything is functioning properly. When the spring weather starts to roll around, here are six things you must do for your home, not just for it, but for you and your family as well.

Invest in your lawn.

Spring lawn care is essential to your home and its curb appeal, so it’s important to know how to care for the grassy areas around your house. After a harsh winter, your lawn needs specific nutrients and maintenance to  help it grow lush and thick for summer. Be sure you are seeding your lawn properly and raking away any dead grass, that could be doing more harm than good. Getting a jump-start on this will allow you to target problem areas and repair them before the heat of summer kicks in.

Touch up the exterior.

The harsh winter weather can wreak havoc on your home,  this means siding, windows, screens, roofs, and more could have experienced significant damage. Once the weather gets warmer, take some time to inspect the outside of your home and look for areas that need repairs. For instance, do you need to replace any windows or screens? How does the exterior of your home look? Does your siding need a new coat of paint or stain? Does your roof need to be repaired or replaced? Taking care of these issues in the spring, lets you take advantage of the mild weather to get your house looking spectacular for the summer season.

Spruce up the landscaping.

Aside from your grass, the rest of your home’s landscaping will need some love too. Spring is the time to clean up any debris or dead leaves that have used your yard to hibernate all winter. You should also purchase some extra mulch or rock to freshen up your landscaping, especially if those areas have been damaged during the winter. In addition, you should plant more flowers and trim bushes around your home. Doing this will get your home ready for outdoor living and make your yard look spectacular..

Give the inside a deep cleaning.

It’s not just the outside of your home that needs some TLC after the long winter. The inside of your home does too. Be sure to give your home a deep cleaning, whether you do it yourself or search for cleaning services near you that can tackle the job.  According to Amazon Cleaning near Atlanta, “A thorough deep cleaning of your home gets rid of harmful debris that lives in your home, which can improve your overall health and well-being.” Thoroughly cleaning your home and opening  the windows, will air out your home and improve the air quality inside.

Get organized.

Beyond  cleaning, you should also use the spring to get your home more organized. Go through all the rooms in your home, and make different piles: things to keep, things to donate/sell, and things to throw away. Doing this will allow you to get rid of the items you don’t use or don’t want. Getting rid of all that stuff will make it easier to organize what you are keeping. You will love the results and appreciate the fact, that you will be able to find the things you need quickly.

Clean the fridge/pantry.

Don’t forget to tackle your fridge and pantry. Sometimes people get so wrapped up in cleaning and organizing rooms, they forget about these things. It may have been some time since you really cleaned them out, so you probably have a lot of food or items that are expired and need to be trashed. In addition, you may find some items you forgot you had. These new-found products may mean you can make some new recipes  without having to go to the grocery store.

Spring is the perfect time to start fresh and tackle things inside and outside of you home. With that behind you, you will find cleaning is easier, your house looks better and you have more time to have fun with your family.

This is a sponsored post and does not necessarily reflect the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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The Legend of the Easter Robin #Giveaway #EasterRobin #FlyBy

Surprisingly up until last week the weather in Upstate New York has been mild. January 31st was like a spring day and we missed the snowstorms that dumped a few feet of the white stuff to areas less than 60 minutes from us. In fact, we have no snow on the ground at all. We did experience bone chilling cold temperatures of  -6 degrees Fahrenheit last weekend. It has warmed up, but nowhere near the early spring like temperatures we were having a few weeks ago.

Christmas day was so warm we had dandelions blooming but ironically, Mother Nature wants to give us a taste of winter before spring rolls in. It looks like the next 10 days will only bring us highs in the 30’s and 40’s along with some snow showers.  Oh well, it can’t last that long, at least I hope it won’t. I am eager to see the first Robin Red Breast of spring. Speaking of spring, I have a great book to share with you. The Legend of the Easter Robin is a great book that is perfect to share with your own child or any special child in your life to captivate and teach them about compassion and faith.

the Easter Robin

In the center of the nest lay one perfect egg, the color of a spring sky. The father robin sat on a branch nearby, guarding his family. Tressa spotted raccoon tracks below and a blue jay eyeing the nest. “Gran, how are we going to keep the egg safe?” “We’ll have to leave that one to the Creator,” Gran said. Robins have built a nest on the window ledge at Grandmother’s house! Tressa is thrilled―and concerned. What will happen to the sky-blue egg laid by the mother robin? As more eggs appear, Tressa witnesses the daily drama of the robins’ nest and learns how God cares for all creatures. Besides watching the birds, there are Easter eggs to color. And there is a very special story to hear―a tale of long ago about one small bird with a very big heart. How did the robin get its red breast? Tressa is about to find out as Gran tells her the story of the Easter robin. Brought to life with colorful, tender illustrations, The Legend of the Easter Robin makes a perfect Easter Gift!

Giveaway

 

Would you like to enter our giveaway to win a copy? I thought you would, just enter below using the Rafflecopter widget.  Please read our rules below. Good Luck!!!

The Legend of the Easter Robin Book Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller / FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days, you are not eligible to win. If you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification. Open to residents of the USA and Canada only.

 

 

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Staten Island Chuck or Punxsutawney Phil? Who Should I Believe? #GroundhogDay

It’s Groundhog Day! Living in New York but close to the boarder of PA, it’s hard to know which groundhog to trust.  Do I listen to Staten Island Chuck or Punxsutawney Phil?

This morning Staten Island Chuck, in a new Plexiglas enclosure made his prediction. Chuck said we would have an early spring. I want to take the word of  Chuck, really I do, but I saw some shadows under him on the video replay.  The prediction of early spring is a bit ironic on the day of the first major blizzard we have seen this year.

staten Island Chuck

 

It is snowing like crazy outside right now, so Chuck’s prediction was very welcome, not sure how realistic though.  However, I decided to embrace Chuck’s prediction.  That was until Punxsutawney Phil had to see his shadow and predict 6 more weeks of winter.  I should share that old Phil has quite a track record of calling for more winter, he has predicted more winter 102 times and early spring a measly 17 times.  Chuck has a track record of being right for the last 5 years.

punxstawney phil groundhog

So while I want desperately to believe Chuck, that negative Nelly Phil is probably right.  On a side note the new enclosure for Chuck was thought to be a safer alternative given what happened last year when Mayor de Blasio dropped Charlotte (the unlucky Chuck stand in), several feet.  Poor Charlotte died a week later of internal injuries, however the Staten Island Zoo has not officially declared that it was a result of the fall.  Come on now, we all know that Mayor de Blasio has Charlotte’s blood all over his hands.  Speaking of hands, back in 2009 Chuck bit then Mayor Michael Bloomberg on the hand.

Not to throw any more puns in but back to the question at hand. Who do I believe, fellow New Yorker Chuck or my friend in Pennsylvania Phil?  Phil or Chuck, Chuck or Phil?  I think I will go with Phil and hope to be pleasantly surprised to learn that Chuck was right.  I just can’t get those shadows I saw under Chuck out of my mind.

What do you think?  Let me know who you think is right.


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It’s National Painting Week! For Inspiration, Check Out Some Color & Project Ideas at Sherwin-Williams!!! #SWPaintingWeek

#SWPaintingWeek

Happy National Painting Week!  Are you working on any painting projects?  You know I have a bunch in the works with all the home improvement we are doing.  Next on the list  for me is to pick the paint color for the new master bath and master bedroom projects.  I will update when I make a decision but in the meantime check out Sherwin-Williams helpful tips, color ideas and projects at SWPaintingWeek.com.

#SWPaintingWeek

Sherwin-Williams Color of the Month April 2014

Sherwin-Williams Color of the Month April 2014

#SWPaintingWeek Sherwin-Williams-National-Painting-Week


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See The Hottest Spring Trends on Kohl’s Spring Fashion Google Hangout!!! #SpringAtKohls

“I participated in a campaign for Mom Central Consulting on behalf of Kohl’s. I received a gift card as a thank you for participating”

#SpringAtKohls

Kohl’s is my go to department store.  I love the brands they carry, the low prices and the super Kohl’s sales and stackable coupon codes they offer.  Whether I am shopping online or in store I know I am getting the best prices on high quality merchandise.

Spring is officially here even though in most parts of the country it still feels like winter.  If you are wondering about new spring fashion trends, styles and colors; Kohl’s has got you covered!  Take a few minutes to check out the video on the Kohl’s Spring Fashion Google Hangout to find out the fashion scoop.

I will give you a hint, pink is red-hot this spring.  Whether you use it as an accent or a bold statement, pinks are what’s in.  I think pairing pink with some of the denim is the perfect way to incorporate it in my wardrobe. I also love these Pink Lauren Conrad Cutout Ballet Flats.

#SpringAtKohls

 

So check out Kohl’s Spring Fashion Google Hangout and let me know what you think.  What styles and trends appeal to you the most.  Let’s talk spring style together!


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Margery Williams’ “The Velveteen Rabbit”, Deluxe Gift Edition Review & Giveaway!!!

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A few weeks ago the little ones and I began to add Spring and Easter bedtime story books to our routine.  Experiencing an Arctic blast here in the Northeast, I found it very promising to read stories about springtime.  Many of the stories were about bunnies, ducks and the rebirth experienced each spring.

Along the bunny theme we recently were sent the beautiful Deluxe Gift Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit.  The first time we read it, my little guys were all ears (no pun intended). They wanted to know why all the boys things needed to be burned because of germs, and wondered why they couldn’t just wash them.  They were very glad to know the Velveteen Rabbit was not burned and was made real because he had been so special to the boy.  This is a delightful story to share with your children or to give as a gift.  Would make a beautiful addition to put in an Easter basket!

The Velveteen Rabit Gift Edition Random House

 

A deluxe gift edition of one of the most beloved children’s stories. With illustrations remastered from a 1922 first edition and a beautiful cloth binding with gold accents, this lovingly reconstructed classic is the ideal collectible gift for baby showers, birthdays, and holidays throughout the year. Includes a book plate for personalizing your gift.

At first a brand-new toy, now a threadbare and discarded nursery relic, the velveteen rabbit is saved from peril by a magic fairy who whisks him away to the idyllic world of Rabbitland. There, he becomes “Real,” a cherished childhood companion who will be loved for eternity. Treasured for generations, here is a timeless tale about the magic of boundless love, newly available with the luminous color of the original edition.

The Velveteen Rabbit Inside of Book

Excerpt From The Book:

“What is REAL?” asked the Rabbit one day, when they were lying side by side near the nursery fender, before Nana came to tidy the room.  “Does it mean having things that buzz inside you and a stick-out handle?”

“Real isn’t how you are made,” said the Skin Horse.  “It’s a thing that happens to you.  When a child loves you for a long, long time, not just to play with, but REALLY loves you, then you become Real.”

“Does it hurt?” asked the Rabbit.

“Sometimes,” said the Skin Horse, for he was always truthful.  “When you are Real you don’t mind being hurt.”

“Does it happen all at once, like being wound up,” he asked, “or bit by bit?”

“It doesn’t happen all at once,” said the Skin Horse.  “You become.  It takes a long time.  That’s why it doesn’t often happen to people who break easily, or have sharp edges, or who have to be carefully kept.  Generally, by the time you are Real, most of your hair has been loved off, and your eyes drop out and you get loose in the joints and very shabby.  But these things don’t matter at all, because once you are Real you can’t be ugly, except to people who don’t understand.”

Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!  One lucky blog reader will win their own Deluxe Gift Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit!  Thank you to Random House for the review book and for sponsoring this beautiful giveaway on Mommy Ramblings!!!  Open to US residents.

Deluxe Gift Edition of The Velveteen Rabbit Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Habé Natural Cream For Hands, Feet & Body Review & Giveaway!!!

Disclosure: I got this product as part of an advertorial.

habe Naturals Logo

Saturday is one of my most favorite days of the year!  You may wonder if it’s my birthday or anniversary but it’s not.  The reason for it being one of my favorite days is because it’s the first day of February and the first time  this year that I can official say that Spring is next month!  By this time I am through with Winter and wanting to have my feet in some sandals or in the grass.

With the brutal weather most of the country has been affected by, it’s seems truer than ever for me.  If your feet or hands have been feeling the effects too then you may want to try HabĂ© Natural Cream for feet, hands and body.  This soothing cream is more like a balm and is 100% natural made from the finest natural ingredients including olive oil, coconut oil, tea tree oil and beeswax.  This head to toe body moisturizer will help restore your dry skin and bring softness and healing to cracked feet and hands.

Habe

This cream comes in a 2 oz tin that is handy to keep in your purse or pocket and is great for travel.  Just apply and you will notice the improvement quickly in you skin, using Habé Natural Cream now will help you have soft, moisturized skin you will want to show off come spring and summer.  That reminds me, spring is on its way!

Habé is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings and one lucky blog reader will win Habé Natural Cream for hands, feet and body! To enter please use the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!

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Favorite Little Golden Books for Springtime Hardcover Box Set Review & Giveaway!!!

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It is spring despite Mother Nature still thinking it’s winter here in the northeast.  Little Golden books are books we all grew up with, just seeing one of the classics brings back so many memories for me.  A perfect gift for any child’s Easter basket or just a springtime treat is the Little Golden Books, Springtime Box Set.  This set contains a delightful cast of bunnies, baby animals, and gardening children, this classic set is sure to provide you and your child will lots of read aloud fun.  Set contains Home for a Bunny, Where Do Giggles Come From?, The Little Red Hen, Two Little Gardeners and Baby Farm Animals.  Now please Mother Nature can you give us some spring weather to go along with these books!

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Random House is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  One lucky blog reader will win their own Little Golden Books, Springtime Box Set!  Thank you Random House for the review books and for sponsoring this great giveaway on Mommy Ramblings.  Open to US residents.

Favorite Little Golden Books for Springtime Hardcover Box Set Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Please enter the giveaway using the Rafflecopter widget below.  Good Luck!!!

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Spring???

Where did you go???  Last week was so beautiful.  I was able to fitness walk outside instead of on the treadmill, but than wham we got slammed with some snow.  I am not really bummed because it is Spring, it is the end of March and we are moving into April.  How long can it last?  Even today was mild albeit snowing at some points.  Oh, and I did get to see the flowers bloom.  Crazy, you think I am crazy?  I really am not that far gone yet.  : ) My Hibiscus tree (inside) is blooming and it just gives everyone a taste of Spring, even my husband, who usually will complain about my houseplants.  He complains because he is often the caretaker who gets stuck watering them.  However, today he pointed the beautiful blossom out to me.  The dogs enjoyed romping in the snow and the kiddies enjoyed playing in the fresh air on the porch.  We have a few cool days but they will be nice and sunny.  I am hopeful next week we will see higher temps and greener pastures.  Until then I am enjoying the crackling fire and feeling cozy with my family.

Don’t forget our Scentsationals give-away ends soon so be sure and get your entries in.  I am warming some cinnamon vanilla now and it smells so good.  We have so many great reviews and give-aways coming up so make sure you subscribe to the blog and like us on Facebook so you don’t miss any.  Happy Spring everyone!!!


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