Spring Time Activities

Even though summer is my favorite season, spring is the next best thing. Nothing is better than having a few friends over to sit out on my deck, have a BBQ and enjoy a night time bonfire. Getting family and friends together to enjoy the beautiful weather, is so refreshing and exciting.

This weekend it's going to be amazing outside and on Sunday I'm having a few friends over. The first thing I need to do before they arrive is spray off my deck. Right now its full of dirt, leaves and buds from our Cherry Blossom tree. I take my Tornado Tools pressure washer and just give it a quick spray, let it dry and we're ready to go.

Once I get my deck all cleaned off I need to make sure I have enough propane in my grill to cook for everyone. Nothing worse than running out of gas right in the middle of grilling. Luckily I have a propane gas meter that tells me if I'm low on gas just by looking at it. I just leave it attached to my propane tank and fill up when it tells me too.

It is supposed to be really sunny and hot on Sunday in Minnesota and I don't want anyone to feel too uncomfortable to be able to sit outside. So I have an umbrella I put directly into my patio table and keep it open to create shade for everyone. It's easy to remove, so I can always put it down or take it off if we don't need it.

And lastly, I need to make sure my fire pit is all set up. In my city we're not allowed to have an actual fire pit so I got this portable propane fire pit. It has realistic looking logs and is completely self contained. Easy to start, and easy to put out.

March Mania

Every week Heartland America has a contest giveaway. Starting last week there's a new kind of contest giveaway, cold, hard cash. Heartland is giving away $1,000 this month, the contest ends March 30th. Think about what you could do with $1,000?? Remember to sign up for your chance to win.

Entry Form

Rainy Days

The last three days it has rained here in Minnesota. We can't complain because after all, rain is better than snow. But we are definitely in need of some sunshine. In the mean time, here are 3 items from Heartland America that are sure to get you through those rainy days.

This Rain Barrel will help you save money and water!

These Itasca Rain Boots will get you through the mud and the muck.

In case of a really bad storm, this Generator will get your through it.

Spring Break

My family and I are taking a road trip to Florida next week for spring break. I'm actually really excited because I've never seen the Gulf of Mexico before. I've heard it's beautiful, the only thing I'm worried about is the long car drive down there.

It's 22 hours to Panama City Beach and I know it's going to feel like forever. There will be plenty of pit stops on the way, but we're going to try to travel the full 22 hours without stopping to sleep. My back will be killing me, sitting for that long. I found this Memory Foam Back and Seat Cushion, I'm hoping it'll help.

We rented this condo right on the beach so we'll be next to the water the whole time. It'll be amazing, but I'm a little nervous for my son, who has really fair skin. I purchased this umbrella and shipped it down there so it'll be there when we get there. I can set it up on the beach with his beach toys and let him play in the shade, hopefully keep him from the blistering sun for part of the time.

I know we'll relax on the beach a lot, but I'm sure we'll do plenty of walking and site seeing as well. It'll be nice to finally put on shorts, sunglasses and sandals and just get away from reality. Even though it's been nice in Minnesota lately, there's nothing like a good vacation.

Are you going anywhere for spring break?

For the Love of Spring

It has been in the 60's all week in Minnesota and this weekend it's supposed to be in the 70's, it's giving me spring fever. Even though spring is still 4 days away, I am ready to start all my spring and summer activities. This whole week I've been walking outside, enjoying the sun and doing yard work. For us Minnesotan's spring usually doesn't come until mid April, thankfully it came early this year.

Now that the ground is starting to thaw, I can install these Solar Lights and line them along my walkway. They give my front path an antique feel and I didn't have to spend a fortune on them.

With the good, comes the bad during spring and summer. Warm weather brings lots of beauty but it also brings all the little critters back out. And every year my yard gets torn up by underground rodents. This year I purchased the Solar Powered Mole Repeller, its sonic pulse will keep the critters from ruining my lawn.

I just started laying my Canada Grass Seed this week. This 6lb. bag covered my yard with seeds that are sure to grow luscious green grass. Just a few more days and I'll have the best yard in town.

And of course as I'm making sure my lawn looks gorgeous, I need to make sure to get rid of all the weeds that grow around my house. I pull out the Tornado String Trimmer and start ripping at those awful weeds. The 9" cutting path makes it easy for me, so I don't spend my entire day weed whacking.

Do you have spring fever yet?

Early St. Patrick's Day Price Drops

Do you know that the Irish have observed St. Patrick's day for over 1,000 years? Even though most Americas celebrate St. Patty's Day with cabbage, green beer and cloverleafs, the holiday is actually an Irish religious celebration. Since St. Patrick's Day is right around the corner, Heartland America wants to celebrate the Irish by doing some exclusive price drops.

Check out some of these new low prices...

Yamaha Home Theater System Was $222.21, now $179.99*

Pentaz Optio 16MP Digital Camera Was $219.99, now $199.99

Pocket Saw and Wrench Kit Was $19.99, now $11.99

Electric Heater Was $129.99, now $69.99

Walnut Suntech Heater Was $219.99, now $119.99

Miracle LED Bulb Was $29.99, now $24.99

Reactor Gaming System Was $49.99, now $29.99

My Spring Cleaning Shopping List

Spring begins March 20th and I cannot wait. My house has been looking awful lately and I can't wait for that nice warm day to open the windows and just clean. This year I'm going to invest in all the right things to help me get my house the way I want it to look.

My dog starts to shed like crazy right around this time of year, his winter coat ends up all over my house. I need a good vacuum to suck up all his fur. The Eureka Pet Vacuum is number one on my list, I know its specifically made for households that have pets, so it'll be perfect for picking up all of Bubba's hair.

It seems like I can never keep up with the laundry. There's always something dirty in the hamper. And these days I cannot afford the expensive name brand laundry detergent. I need something to get me by. The Eco Friendly Laundry Ball is perfect! Its negative ions and minerals work together to get clothes super clean, just toss it in and no more laundry detergent necessary. I can't wait to get my hands on this!

With Spring comes mud and boy does the mud get drug in from outside this time of year. I feel like I can't keep up with it. My floors constantly have dog foot prints and mud everywhere. I need a good mop that I know will get all the nooks and cranny's. This mop spins 350 degrees, it'll do the work for me. No more getting on my hands and knees to scrub.

And lastly, I need something that's going to help me out with all the heavy duty cleaning. The oven, the windows, even the toilet! The Handheld Steam Cleaner will do all those jobs, and more. It uses its 275 degree heat to steam clean all those disgusting spots in your house. I can even take it outside and use it on my car wheels.

Only 13 days until spring, are you ready to clean?

Daylight Savings Time

Spring is just around the corner, you know what that means? Clocks jump ahead. Daylight savings time begins this Sunday. Nights will get shorter and days will become longer, a sure sign that winter is about to come to an end.

Here are some of Heartland's most popular clocks...

Atomic Digital Wall Clock
It tells you the indoor and outdoor temperature!


12 Inch Cuckoo Clock
Where can you find one of these now days?


The Atomic Projection Clock
You'll know what time it is the second you open your eyes.


Vollmond Cherry Mantle Clock
This will look beautiful resting on your mantle.

A Late Winter Storm

I know I've blogged about Winter items before but I feel like now is more relevant than ever consider Minnesota just got hit with its only large snow fall this year. Some parts of the state saw up to 20 inches of snow, with blizzard like conditions. Luckily here in Chaska only about 4 inches fell, but the roads were horrible and no one seem prepared for it.

But, were Minnesotans and of course we see all kinds of weather. I know I personally was prepared. After last years crazy snow falls I knew better and purchased the Snow Joe Snow Blower, there was no way I was shoveling my driveway this year. Plus, with the gas prices as high as they are ($3.54/gallon in Chaska) I knew I needed an electric blower.

It wasn't so much the snow that threw everyone off guard it was more the ice. Rain was falling all day Tuesday and then it froze into the night before the snow fell, so under our 4 inches of snow there was a good inch of ice. Before I left for work yesterday morning I made sure I was bundled up in my good winter boots and warm coat.

I always hear those horror stories of people going into the ditch and no one finding or seeing them for hours, stuck in their car, freezing. That terrifies me. You're told from the day you start driving in Minnesota winters to carry a safety kit in your car. With blankets, flashlights and a small car shovel to help dig yourself out if you can.

You can never be too sure in these Minnesota storms, it is always better to be over prepared. The weather man says were getting more snow tonight, hopefully this time everyone will be a little more ready for what is to come, and have their Minnesota winter essentials ready.