Spring is officially here and it’s time to start thinking about sprucing up our patios and balconies! Sometimes we can put a lot of effort into planting gorgeous flowers only to have them wilt on us weeks later! Here is a list of annuals that are low maintenance that you can use to brighten up your pots and window boxes this year!
<strong>Begonias</strong> are a favorite with many gardeners because of the durability and low maintenance. You can put them in full sun if the soil stays moist or have them in the shade and they’ll flourish.

<strong>Coleus</strong> is an old favorite among gardeners for both indoor and outdoor gardens . The leaves of the plant are the most exciting as they will add texture and vibrancy to your garden.

<strong>Impatients</strong> are a great addition to your pots if you’re patio or balcony gets a lot of shade. These pretty little flowers don’t need to be trimmed or pruned. They will flourish with very little maintenance.

<strong>Petunias</strong> are great for a garden that gets a combination of both sun and shade. They come in vibrant purple and pink hues and as long as their “dead heads” are plucked every so often they will survive through the season.

After a LONG winter we all may feel a little sluggish but it’s time to get our energy back! Did you know that there are ways that living in an apartment can benefit your exercise routine? Keep reading to learn our tips for living a healthy lifestyle in your apartment home!

1. Use the stairs! If you live on a floor above the ground floor try using the stairs instead of the elevator. Even doing this just once a day will benefit your health.

2. Use your apartment gym! Does your apartment have a facility with exercise equipment? Take advantage of it! Most gym memberships cost around $25 a month but when you live in an apartment sometimes you get this benefit for free!

3. Organize a workout group! Does your apartment have a common area? Maybe recommend to the staff that they offer weekly Zumba classes or even get together with some of the other residents and try yoga together!

4. Walk! The great thing about living in an apartment is that you always have neighbors around! Plan a walking route around your apartment area and get together with neighbors to walk in the evenings or on the weekend to get some exercise in.

Watch the video below to learn how to make your own colored succulents to spice up your apartment decor!
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dOwBgdJz2B4&w=560&h=315]

They say we should all drink 8 glasses of water a day and sometimes plain old drinking water can get boring! Check out these ways to spice up your drinking water the natural way!

1. Add lemon and lime to give your water a citrus flavor without extra sugar.

2. Want a cool refreshing taste? Consider slicing up a few pieces of cucumber and muddling in your glass.

3. Try flavoring your ice cubes. Freeze some herbs like rosemary or mint and drop them in for a unique taste.

4. Make a pitcher full of frozen fruit. Add raspberries and blueberries for a delicious combo and keep refilling your glass to get your essential ounces during the day!

5. Crushed ice may sound boring but it can give your normal glass of water a new texture and you can chew on the ice when you’re done for even more h20!

We’ve all heard of the coupon craze but there are other ways besides clipping coupons to save on your grocery bill!

1. <strong>Stock up</strong> – if a perishable item or toiletry you buy every week goes on sale, stock up! You can store these items in your pantry and save in the long run.

2. <strong>Substitute for bargain brands</strong> – sometimes we enjoy buying brand-name items but check the price difference compared to the bargain brand! Sometimes the items within the packages are exactly the same but the brand name price is almost double.

3. <strong>Don’t buy prepared meals </strong>- Yes sometimes it’s more convenient to buy that pre-made dinner or frozen pizza but if you do the math, it’s usually cheaper to purchase all of the ingredients and make these meals yourself from scratch.

4. <strong>Use your drugstore points</strong>- Have a CVS or Walgreens card? Usually you’ll get coupons and points when you use them. If you’ve stocked up some credit at drugstores, buy some of your weekly items at these places rather than letting your coupons expire.

5. <strong>Substitute ingredients</strong> – Does tonight’s dinner call for an ingredient you don’t already have and will probably never use again? Before buying it, do some thinking and see if you have something in your pantry that you can use as a substitute instead of wasting the cash.

Right now it’s dark outside when most of us get up in the morning for work. It can be hard to get out of bed and usually in the mid afternoon our energy crashes! Spring is right around the corner and sunnier days are ahead! Until then here are some ways to boost your energy during these last days of winter.

<strong>1. Get up and move!</strong> If you work in a job where you are required to sit at a desk, try your best to move around. Maybe go for a walk during lunch or take a few extra trips to the water cooler for breaks.

<strong>2. Get a good laugh!</strong> Have a funny friend? Enjoy reading silly articles on Buzzfeed? These things can help your energy. A good laugh raises your blood pressure and boosts heart rate, too, which can pump you up when you’re feeling sluggish.

<strong>3. Surround yourself with bright colors!</strong> Hues like bright reds and oranges can keep you alert in your cubicle. Maybe keep some bright-colored flowers on your desk for a visual boost.

<strong>4. Eat nutritiously!</strong> A lunch full of greasy foods can leave us all feeling a little tired and sluggish. Nourish yourself mid day with foods full of omega-3 fatty acids. They help improve mood and brain function.

Ever considered growing your own cooking herbs indoors? Some are more difficult than others but we’ve put together a list for you of five easy herbs to grow right in your kitchen!

1. <strong>Lemongrass</strong>
When looking for a stalk of lemongrass at your local grocer, look for one with plenty of stem. Trim the top and place the stalk in a couple inches of water. The stalk will produce roots and dozens of new shoots.

2. <strong>Mint</strong>
Start your peppermint plant with seeds in a small pot full of potting soil. Peppermint will thrive in shade, but make sure it’s in a spot where it gets at least a little bit of light each day.

3. <strong>Chives</strong>
Grab a bunch of chives from an established plant (including the roots), place it in a small pot half-full of potting soil, then cover the roots up to the crowns with more potting soil. Cut about one-third of growth off the top to stimulate new growth.

4. <strong>Parsley</strong>
Parsley doesn’t require much light or maintenance once you get it started. Plant your seeds in soil but keep in mind, though, that this plant is a fairly slow grower, so initial clippings will not harvest a lot.

5. <strong>Oregano</strong>
All oregano requires six to eight hours of sunlight per day, so a well-lit window is best for growing this well-liked herb.

We all wash our clothes and vacuum our floors on a regular basis but there are many items in our homes we tend to neglect! Here are five that you should keep on your radar when planning your Spring cleaning this year…

1. <strong>Bed Pillows</strong> – We all wash our sheets but the bed pillows tend to get forgotten. Throw them in with your next load of laundry.

2. <strong>Dishwasher</strong> – Every once in a while it’s important to grab a cloth and remove all of the debris and food particles from the bottom of your dishwasher. You can set a glass of vinegar on the top rack and run a cycle with hot water to get it really clean!

3. <strong>Kitchen Sink</strong> – Leftover food or bacteria can get into a sink that hasn’t been cleaned. Try plugging your drain and fill the sink with warm soapy water to give it a good rinse.

4. <strong>Bathroom Rugs</strong> – Just like your pillows, these can be put in the washing machine. Just hang them to dry and they will be ready for use!

5. <strong>Couches</strong> – Next time you are vacuuming your carpets, use your vacuum attachment (or handheld vacuum) to give your couch a once over. This will help remove any dust and dirt that has piled up.

Safety in the home is important. Besides having risk detectors and fire extinguishers, it’s important to also have your own first aid kid in case of emergency. Check your house to make sure you have these essential items and if not, pick them up the next time you are out shopping!

(List created by the <a href=”http://www.redcross.org/prepare/location/home-family/get-kit/anatomy”>Red Cross</a>)

Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together, make sure it has all the items you may need:
•
• Include any personal items such as medications and emergency phone numbers
• Check the kit regularly.
• Make sure the flashlight batteries work.
• Check expiration dates and replace any used or out-of-date contents.
The Red Cross recommends that all first aid kits for a family of four include the following:
•
• 2 absorbent compress dressings (5 x 9 inches)
• 25 adhesive bandages (assorted sizes)
• 1 adhesive cloth tape (10 yards x 1 inch)
• 5 antibiotic ointment packets (approximately 1 gram)
• 5 antiseptic wipe packets
• 2 packets of aspirin (81 mg each)
• 1 blanket (space blanket)
• 1 breathing barrier (with one-way valve)
• 1 instant cold compress
• 2 pair of nonlatex gloves (size: large)
• 2 hydrocortisone ointment packets (approximately 1 gram each)
• Scissors
• 1 roller bandage (3 inches wide)
• 1 roller bandage (4 inches wide)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (3 x 3 inches)
• 5 sterile gauze pads (4 x 4 inches)
• Oral thermometer (non-mercury/nonglass)
• 2 triangular bandages
• Tweezers
• First aid instruction booklet

It won’t be long before we all start our “spring cleaning.” Why not get a head start and prepare the inside of your home for the next season that’s heading our way!

1. Start buying bins/bags to store your winter clothes. Vacuum seal bags are great space savers and can be stored right under your bed when it’s time to pack away winter clothes.

2. Figure out what clothes you want to donate. With only a few more weeks (hopefully) of winter weather it’s time to start deciding which winter clothing items are going to make the cut.

3. Clean out your pantry. When the weather warms up the last thing you’ll want to be doing is sorting through the pantry checking expiration dates! Toss anything that has expired and consider donating any unwanted can goods to your local food shelter.

4. Stock up on cleaning supplies. Have a coupon for cleaning materials now? Buy them in preparation for your big “spring clean.”

5. Pack up the seasonal decor. Yes it’s almost March but some of us still haven’t put our holiday decor! Pack it up in boxes that are labeled so you can easily find them when the time comes again.