Well, recently Walmart starting sharing a series of videos to help you with your to-do list…Projects Made Simple. All of the supplies you need can be found at Walmart.

After browsing through the videos to see which one I wanted to share with you, it didn’t take me long when I spotted the How to Repair a Running Toilet, after all…it’s been on a list for WAY too long.

We hopped in the Jeep and headed to Walmart to grab what we needed…

Supplies to Repair a Running Toilet

• Flush Valve Flapper
• Sponges
• Scissors

Doug made a video to show you just how easy it is.

I never thought I would be excited about a toilet that works properly. I’m hoping this will cut our water bill down a bit, and I also won’t have to hear the toilet running during the night.

Here is a the Projects Made Simple Video from Walmart, so you can see exactly what type of Flapper you will need for your particular toilet.

You can also find other Projects Made Simple like…

• How to Repair a Wall
• How to Install a Towel Bar
• How to Paint an Accent Wall

and many other projects. Stay tuned as we share easy projects to help you with your home improvement projects.

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Inspired by Mike Rowe’s show “Dirty Jobs” on the Discovery Channel, My Dirty Jobs, LLC has launched a line of Heavy-Duty cleaning products to get tough on America’s dirtiest jobs.

As a Walmart Mom, I was recently asked to try the Dirty Jobs Cleaners and put them to the test. So with the All-Purpose Heavy Duty Degreaser and a rag in hand…Doug headed out to see if the grill would come clean. And let me tell you…it was going to need something really strong!

Oh yes…see I told you! I’m almost ashamed to show you!

But look at it now! Wow! It almost looks brand new!

The knobs on the front came clean…

and the tray on the side too!

There are seven Dirty Jobs Cleaners to choose from…one for every tough job you have…

• Dirty Jobs Fresh Citrus Heavy Duty Multi-Surface Cleaner
• Dirty Jobs Complete with Oxygen Power Heavy-Duty Stain Remover, 32 ounce
• Dirty Jobs Complete with Oxygen Power Heavy-Duty Stain Remover, 52 ounce
• Dirty Jobs Heavy-Duty Laundry Spot & Stain Remover
• Dirty Jobs Heavy-Duty Foaming Bathroom Aerosol
• Dirty Jobs Heavy-Duty Bathroom Cleaner with Bleach
• Dirty Jobs All-Purpose Heavy-Duty Degreaser

Look for all of these products at Walmart!

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

We recently received several of the Seventh Generation Cleaning Products and were asked to replace the products we were using in our home with the Seventh Generation products for a little Spring Cleaning.

Dr. Seuss’ The Lorax shows us the importance of protecting our environment and the consequences of when we don’t. Just like The Lorax, Seventh Generation aspires to design products that protect us.

During the Winter months it’s pretty cold around here, and the last thing I want to clean are the door ways. So with our Seventh Generation products in hand, we put them to the test.

Our front door gets lots of traffic, and as you can see, was very neglected.

After a quick sweep with the vacuum, Doug put the Multi-Surface Cleaner to work.

And in no time…the door way was clean and shiny. We have also been using the Dish Soap, but since the kitchen was a HUGE mess from cooking and baking, I decided not to shock you all with that.

Our thoughts on the products…

• They work…really well! Now, I’ll have to admit, I’m not crazy about the smell, but I also know that the cleaners that smell good are full of chemicals that are not good for us or the environment. So, I will take the Seventh Generation products over the others any day.

And now we have more time to enjoy The Lorax Cupcakes…

Check out Seventh Generation.com to learn more about their products. Celebrate Earth Month with The Lorax and Seventh Generation by entering their Sweepstakes on Facebook!

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation and product for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Tomorrow and the rest of the week will be filled with giveaways too! I know how you all love to win! We have some special giveaways lined up from Betty Crocker, the new cupcake book from What’s New Cupcake authors and of course you can win MY new book too…Cupcakes! 12 Months of Happiness!

A little while back, I shared our Home Goals List with you, and told you about how the office really needs to be finished. Specifically a new desk {currently I’m working on a folding table} and also an area to organize paperwork.

I have been looking for some inspiration and trying to figure out just how I wanted Doug to build a new Office Desk for me. I’ve been adding some ideas to my Pinterest DIY Board and came across a couple that inspired me.

This desk is part of an amazing Craft Room shared by Being Brook.  She used the instructions from another great blog that is new to me, Ana White Homemaker, she has amazing ideas with lots of instructions.

I love all the storage under this desk from Between Naps on the Porch.

So we headed to The Home Depot, looked around and got some prices and figured out what we wanted. Then Doug and Andrew headed over yesterday to pick up the wood.

Stay tuned for the DIY instructions, update and then the big reveal!

What has inspired you this week?

I bought cranberries on sale, measured 2 cups into each bag for Cranberry Bread and sealed them with the FoodSaver. We will enjoy using them all Winter long.

As part of the FoodSaver Challenge, we were asked to come up with other ideas to save money. As a Mom of three boys, we have our share of injuries, especially sports injuries. Gel Ice Packs can be expensive, and using regular ice can be uncomfortable.

These homemade Gel Ice Packs are super easy, and inexpensive…

Gel Ice Pack Supplies:

• 2 cups water
• 1 cup rubbing alcohol
• Liquid food coloring
• Resealable bags
• FoodSaver System bags

Instructions:

1. Mix 2-1; 2 parts water to 1 part rubbing alcohol. The rubbing alcohol does not allow the water to freeze.
2. Add a few drops of food coloring and stir
3. Pour liquid into a resealable bag.
4. We tried using just the FoodSaver bag and for some reason {we think the alcohol}, it wouldn’t seal all the way. But if you place the liquid in a resealable bag first, then seal the FoodSaver System, it makes a durable, secure ice pack.

Thru the end of December 2011 go to SmartSource.com to find coupons for $10 off on a purchase of a FoodSaver System and $2 off on your purchase of FoodSaver bags.

Disclosure: This post is part of a campaign I am participating in with the Walmart Moms. Walmart has provided me with compensation  for this post. My participation is voluntary and opinions, as always are my own.

Linking to…Weekend Wrap up Party,Made by you Monday

A little while back I told you about the DAP Seal Your Home Blogger Challenge. Funny how these little challenges force you to get things done. There were several things on our list, and we are still working on a couple, but wanted to share with you some tips so you can start weatherizing your home.

Don’t let this first project alarm you, I almost fell over when Doug showed me this hole on the outside of our home. And YES you could see all the way through to the basement..gasp!

Doug filled the hole with plastic bags (a great way to re-purpose all those shopping bags) and then filled it with DAP Multi-Purpose Foam Sealant. It was quick and easy, about a 5 minute job and it will definitely keep cold air out of our home!

The next project is also on the outside of our home, not quite so drastic though.

Doug used DAP Acrylic Latex Caulk Plus Silicone and a caulking gun to complete this job. It was very simple, just remove any loose debris and old caulk and apply a bead of caulk where the siding and pipe meet. Smooth out with your finger or you can use any number of tools available at your local hardware store for just such a job.

Next we headed inside to get some of the outlets filled with foam sealant.

I’m behind the camera today and Doug is sharing with you how easy it is to fill the holes around your outlets.

AND don’t forget to enter the DAP Seal Your Home and Win Contest, all you have to do is tell them how you saved energy in your home. Four lucky grand prize winners! Each winner will receive a check for $2,500 to use towards their annual energy costs!

Remember: Always read and follow the directions on the products for the best results.

Disclosure: DAP partnered with bloggers such as me to participate in its “Seal Your Home” Blogger Challenge.  As part of that program, I received compensation.  They did not tell me what to purchase or what to say about the products used for the “Seal Your Home” Blogger Challenge. DAP believe that consumers and bloggers are free to form their own opinions and share them in their own words. DAP’s policies align with WOMMA Ethics Code, FTC guidelines and social media engagement recommendations.

Not only is it dark and hard to take photos in, it’s also very manly.

See…it says “A Man Has To Do What A Man Has To Do”…seriously?

And the walls…yes, an ugly burnt orange color!

So this is where you…my much loved readers come in…

What color should I paint?

Glidden has graciously offered me some paint to give my ugly office a makeover! AND check out this little button below {it’s also in my sidebar}…the one that says..”Click Here for a Valuable Coupon”…go ahead! Click! You will get a coupon for $3 off per gallon or try a couple of the Glidden testers for $3 off!

And here’s where you all come in…

• Tell me what color would be good…keep in mind I need to shoot photos of food in the office
• Do you have a DIY desk that Doug could make for me?
• What are some fun accessories?
• Remember the French Cottage Office I designed for the Apartment Guide Sweepstakes? Should I copy that?

I REALLY appreciate your feedback!! You all ROCK!!

This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. As always, the opinions are my own.