This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes. All opinions are 100% mine.

PartyLite is the world’s #1 direct seller of premium candles and home-fragrance products.   Their products are sold through home parties, on-line in every state, and in 17 other countries.  There’s always a PartyLite party going on somewhere in the world!
 
Nearly 60,000 people worldwide sell PartyLite products and more than 12 million people attend PartyLite parties each year.  PartyLite parties are known as fun parties that can bring together friends and associates, but that’s not why people buy PartyLite candles.  People buy PartyLite candles because they love the way they look, smell and the way they burn.  PartyLite has always offered customers Platinum Quality!  These are very best candles you can buy anywhere!

One of the most exciting things is that when you host a PartyLite party, there are so many FREE products you can earn!  Just by bringing together your friends, neighbors, and coworkers you can redecorate and refresh your home at little to no cost by earning scented candles, candle warmers, home decor accessories, and more.  And on top of that, if you register by December 15th, you get automatically entered into the PartyLite Simple Pleasures Holiday Sweepstakes where you can possibly win 1 of 5 $500 PartyLite gift certificates!

Remember that to win this fun sweepstakes, you must enter by Dec. 15!  I would love to have $500 to spend on the Clearly Creative Collection at PartyLite.  It is my favorite collection they have.

If you like PartyLite on Facebook, you’ll find out about special monthly offers online for party hosts and guests.

Also, the PartyLite Winter/Spring 2012 Catalog launches on Dec. 16.

Here’s a peek at some of my favorite items in the Fall/Holiday catalog:

And it gets better, I have a giveaway for one  Budget Wise Home reader!  One of you will win a coupon code to take $15 off an online order!  That’s FREE money to spend on whatever you like. Yay!

To enter:

Simply “Like” the PartyLite Facebook page and leave a comment on this post.

Hi Friends!  My photo editing system is down right now, but I will post some pics as soon as I get it running again.  Thanks for your patience.

Hi friends!  This is a sponsored post written by window blinds direct.  Thanks for supporting the sponsors that help me keep things running here at BWH.  

October is that time of year when the temperature starts to drop and your home can spontaneously decide that it is going to make you feel very cold. Energy prices have continued to rise and it’s becoming increasingly important (imperative even) that we become more energy efficient. Most of us cannot afford to be frivolous with our money over the winter period, so a few little lifestyle and decoration changes, could make the coming months less likely to result in the breaking of a piggy bank.

Not many of them remain, but if you’ve ever lived with single pane windows, you will be acutely aware of the ridiculous amount of heat they allow to escape and cold air they allow to come in. Installing double pane windows is the obvious and ideal answer, but it is more often than not, a very expensive job. If you live in a rental property, installing double pane windows may not even be an option if your landlord refuses to pay for them.

What I suggest instead, as an alternative method of minimizing this heat loss, is using cellular blinds. The structure of cellular blinds, makes them proficient insulators. Aesthetically, they are very similar to the standard pleated blind, but unlike their close relatives, they consist of small hexagonal “pockets”. Sometimes referred to as “Honeycomb Blinds”, they work by trapping air inside the specially designed pockets, which minimize the effects of convection, keeping your home nice and toasty in the winter.

If you’re not really a fan of blinds, you could use curtains. To make them even more effective, you could line them with a thick inexpensive material. This is an excellent idea for those whose budget won’t stretch enough for high quality, heavy curtains. I used this technique myself when I moved into my first home after graduating. I used a cheap cream cotton canvas material, which helped keep my bedroom a lot warmer during the winter. It is also possible to have a combination of both blinds and curtains. That way you achieve the look you desire, as well as improve the level of insulation throughout your home.

The next piece of advice I like to offer is to get some draft stoppers; the most efficient and less costly way of fighting drafts. If you know how to use a needle or thread (or even better, a sewing machine) you can create your own. Simply sew a long cylinder the same width as your door and then stuff it full of insulating foam. You could also have a little fun and make draft stoppers that look like snakes. This can often be really fun for the kids. You can be even more frugal by filling them with rice or sand, which results in a nice tight fit. If you can’t afford to do that, or don’t feel confident enough sewing, you could just roll up old blankets and stuff them under the doors. This is particularly useful when you go to bed, as it will trap the heat in your bedroom, making it less necessary to leave the heat on.

If the main heating technique in your home is radiators, you could get the most from the heat being produced by putting aluminum foil behind the radiators to reflect a greater quantity of heat into the room. This may sound ridiculous, but you can actually buy specialized kits for this. But since the nature of this article is to be frugal, it is just as effective to take some corrugated board and cover it with common baking foil. You then stick this to the wall behind your radiator using adhesive strips or tape.

Today is truly the start of a wintery season for my family and I.  It is so dark and gloomy and rainy and cold outside.  I was hoping to take some great pictures of my dining room, but there is no light.  I’m going to have to work some magic with my images on the computer.

I’ve also got my oldest son home sick from school today and I’m so not ready for the cold and flu season to begin.   It seems like my kids always get sick no matter what.  It’s just part of being a kid and being surrounded by other kids, toys, and germs.

Here are a few things I try and do during the season to keep my family healthy and clean and sick-free.

1.  I always have tissues with me.  I’ve got a small pack in my purse and a small box in the car.  They are handy wherever we go and this is a huge help.  I also keep a box on the kitchen counter where my boys can reach them.

2.  I keep a good stock of Lysol disinfecting wipes.  These are my favorite cleaning product.  It makes cleaning every day surfaces a breeze and I love that I can just toss them when I’m done.  I frequently use them to wipe down by kitchen and bathroom counters, doorknobs, light switches, and to quickly clean the most used toys.

3.  I try to have everyone wash their hands regularly.  I think is one of the best defenses against getting sick.  I’m far from perfect here, but I do my best to make sure they at least wash after the potty, before snacks and meals, and before bed.

4.  Get a flu shot.  We were slackers last year on getting our flu shots, so this year I’m changing that.  I’m setting up appointments today to get them next week.  I don’t know if I’m completely sold on flu shots because I feel like we all get sick no matter what, but I’m sure it’s better than not getting one.

5.  Plan healthy meals.  The key here for me is to plan ahead.  I try to tentatively plan out the week’s meals on Sunday so I’m not left wondering what to cook every day.  My kids are the worst, most pickiest eaters so I really have to make an effort to make sure they are eating right.  I’ve become a master at hiding the veggies in our meals.  I have a turbo mini chopper that I use to finely chop vegetables.  If I’m making something that has a sauce, like spaghetti, I dump the veggies into the sauce with the meat.  They don’t have a clue and will usually eat.  It’s a lot of work to  get my kids some good nutrition, but I know it is worth the effort.

How are you guys keeping your families healthy this season?  I would love to get some more helpful tips.

I wrote this blog post while participating in the SocialMoms and Lysol blogging program, for a gift card worth $40. For more information on how you can participate, click here.

OK everyone, today I’m keeping it real and letting you have a peek at the state of my office and craft closet.  I am knee deep in clutter and trying to juggle the kids, school, blogging, and reorganizing this mess.

I’m trying to balance it all and today I’ve fallen a little behind.  So please forgive me–but don’t worry because I DO have another back to school tip for you.  I just need to run to the store to get something to finish the project.  So check back this afternoon to see a great long term storage solution for your kids homework and art.

Thanks so much for reading this blog and taking time out of your busy day to stop by.  I am so grateful for you and appreciate you readers SO SO much!!

Summer time is crazy and so fun right now.  All my family is in town and I’m out of the office today.  But I promise I will make up for it with a bonus post tomorrow.  I’m a little behind on finishing my projects, but I’ve got something great going on in my kitchen.  Check back tomorrow to see my almost finished island. 

These pics will give you a clue.