Jennuine

  I can't think of a better kind of project than one that allows you to be creative, support education, and be good to the earth at the same time.  When I heard about this Bag It Forward campaign from Elmer's, I jumped at the chance to support my local school and the Glue Crew Recycling Program . Using Elmer's foam board and a mini basketball backboard from Walmart, I created this fun recycling box that shows that "Recycling is a Slam Dunk for the Earth"!   You'll find step-by-step photos and instructions below, but first, I'd like to share 3 ways to do good with Elmer's:    1.  Bag it Forward (Anyone can do it) :  "#BagItForward is a movement and a call to action. People across the country have joined together to help provide quality school supplies for the children and teachers in their local communities. On average, teachers spend $356 of their personal money on qualit...

The SodaStream is a wonderful way to add a little "sparkle" to your life! Have you heard of the SodaStream ? It's an easy, convenient and money-saving machine that turns plain old tap water into sparkling water in less than 30 seconds!  It requires no electricity, little counter space and doesn't leave you with any clean-up.  You can enjoy the freshness and convenience of homemade sparkling water and sodas and be kind to the earth at the same time because  SodaStream bottles are reusable  -- no more wasteful and heavy bottles to lug home from the store!   I had long coveted the SodaStream owned by a good friend.  I envied the way she was able to produce sparkling water and custom sodas on demand when last minute guests showed up.  I sought out this review of the SodaStream knowing that it was a product that my readers would love.  Thanks to the generosity of SodaStream, I've been enjoying my Genesis model machine all summer long....

If you love to cook or bake, chances are you appreciate quality kitchen tools. Recently, my family and I had the opportunity to review the Stress Less line of kitchen tools from Trudeau .  These ergonomically designed tools bring a new joy to cooking by reducing the stress often caused by traditional  kitchen gadgets .  The forward thinking line of products from Trudeau use a patented 4:1 gear ratio engineering that alleviates the strain often put on one's joints. We created a delicious Sweet Potato Foccacia with Toasted Pine Nuts using the Trudeau Stress Less tools, and I'll be sharing the recipe on Rook No. 17 tomorrow!   We found the tools to be easy to use, easy to clean, and loved the fact that Trudeau stands behind their products with a lifetime warranty .  My girls had fun doing their own "cooking show" where they showed how easy it was for them to help in the kitchen using Trudeau's Stress less products! ...

This is a story about how my family went from no grill and no plans to a stress-free Sunday summer barbecue In less than 24 hours Grilling is Happiness indeed. For me, the name Sears conjures up memories of childhood and Christmastime. In the Christmases of my childhood there two things I anticipated above all others: Santa and the Sears Wishbook. Fast forward thirty plus years -- The Wishbook days are long gone. I'm married and have two kids of my own. The closest Sears is a 25 mile drive away. Thanks to the Grilling is Happiness campaign from Sears and Collective Bias , my love of Sears has been renewed.  In these times when shopping can often mean a high stress experience, it's a rare pleasure to walk out of a store with a smile on your face and a spring in your step. This past weekend, my family and I had the opportunity to peruse the Sears Online Catalog , purchase a brand ne...

I'm delighted to be introducing a new Rook No. 17 sponsor and fellow California creative, Marilyn of beiFIORI . Marilyn and I share a passion for things of the past. She loves to decorate, hunt for treasures at thrift shops, yard sales, & flea markets. She's translated her love of vintage textiles into an Etsy store, beiFIORI where she sells the beautiful pillow covers and other hand-made decor she's fashioned out of burlap, linen, and osnaburg. In the beiFIORI Etsy store you'll find... Osnaburg Pillow Covers Faux Grain Sack Pillow Covers Burlap Pillow Covers And lovely Ruffled Pillow Covers GIVEAWAY! To celebrate beiFIORI roosting here in the rookery, Marilyn has generously offered to give one lucky Rook No. 17 reader $25 to spend in her Etsy store! A winner will be drawn at random and announced on Saturday, April 28. In an effort to make entering my giveaways easier, I'm giving rafflecopter a go. Let me know how yo...