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It’s here. . .it’s finally here. Spring has sprung, and I’m not sure I could have waited much longer. It’s an awakening, a time to refresh. It’s a time to dig out of the hole I crawled into soon after the first snow. It’s an opportunity to open the windows again and let the fresh air into my home.

I look forward to this time even more than the start of a new year. The beginning of spring holds with it the promise of more quality time spent outdoors, extended daylight to get more accomplished, and long walks in the evening, just to unwind.

What are some of your favorite ways to unwind?

Beyond walks at the end of the day, I love lounging around just about anywhere with my iPad, a cool drink, some snacks and a good magazine in my hand. That’s MY ideal “me time.”

I know you’re wondering why the iPad AND the magazine? Because as I find things I like in the magazine, I pin them on Pinterest in real-time so I can refer back to the information whenever I want! Pretty great idea, right? It sure beats just folding the corners of the pages over, and most of the time you can get even more detailed information on products and ideas you like and want to know more about!

I was so excited to run to Target and pick up the spring issues of All You and Real Simple. I’m always hungry for new ideas, for my home, my blog, and my family. This time, as I paged through the magazines, I really focused on some new ideas for. . .me. Ways to refresh, revitalize, rejuvenate and get out of this winter rut. 

So today, I’m sharing 10 Ways to Refresh This Spring – I’m bringing 5 of the most inspiring ideas from EACH of the magazines right to you!

Before we begin, I have one more surprise. . .right now you can SAVE $2.00 at Target when you buy any TWO (2) participating magazines titles (All You®, Real Simple®, PEOPLE®) from 3/15-3/28 while supplies last. NO COUPON NEEDED!

Wanna’ know what I found inside? Let’s do this. . .

All You – March 2015

Create a windowsill herb garden {Page 39}
Fresh herbs are SO delicious and can bring color and beauty into your kitchen. Having your own little herb garden can save you so much money compared to buying fresh herbs from the store. According to All You, a basil plant can produce nearly $80 worth of leaves each year!

Go ahead and snack. . .but make better choices {Pages 52-61}
All You editors taste-tested over 150 snacks, in search of tastiest, healthiest and most portable options. This spring, no matter what you’re craving, whether it be salty, sweet, soft or crunchy, there are healthier options out there than that bag of potato chips you often resort to when you’re feeling stressed. I love being able to sit down and have a snack without feeling completely guilty or discouraged after-the-fact. I was so inspired after seeing all of the options that I ran to the store to pick up some of the snacks right away! Guess, what? Even my hubby likes them!

Clean somewhere you haven’t cleaned in months {Page 66-70}
Tackle the most dreaded cleaning jobs, head-on. One of the jobs I tend to put off is washing down the walls, especially in the bathrooms. If you look closely at my walls there are specks of hairspray and deodorizing spray debris. I mean, come on. . .I have two kids. They’ve been known to use half a can of deodorizer in one trip to the bathroom. The cleaning solution you’ll need to confront this challenge is 1 cup white vinegar in 1 gallon of water – simple, affordable and produces great results.

Spend quality time with a furry friend {Page 89}
Believe it or not, our fur babies have the ability to inspire, motivate us and even get us through our darkest moments. Take time to re-connect this spring with some outdoor playtime in the warm sunshine. I can’t wait to take our new puppy, Belle, swimming up at the lake this summer! If you don’t have a pet, visit a friend or family member who does. While you catch up with them, show lots of love to their furry family member. You’ll be amazed at how great you feel after the visit. NOTE: If you suffer from allergies, check out pages 34-35 for some smart allergy advice before you plan your visit!

Plan a date night. . .at home {Page 92}
Turn your deck, patio or sun room into an inviting dining space this spring and enjoy a special meal with your significant other {that the two of you prepare together}. If you have children, arrange for friends or family members to take them for the night or even for just a couple hours so the two of you can spend some quality time together. Smart, fun AND affordable.

Real Simple – March 2015

Find new uses for old things {Page 32}
Let’s face it. We all have bins and boxes full of things we haven’t looked at or used in years. If you’re not ready to part ways by donating or selling the items, find new uses for them! You can even find new uses for items in your home you use on a daily basis. I love, LOVE the ideas I found for re-purposing a wine glass. Turning a wine glass and bowl into a dip server was only one of the four ideas shared in the magazine. I adored them all!

Take some time to. . .breathe {Page 56}
When you’re stressed, your breathing is shallow because you’re not fully emptying your lungs. Too often I feel like I’m wound up so tight from worry and anxiety. I welcomed the breathing exercise shared in the magazine. It walks you through everything step-by-step. Page 56 is now hanging on my office wall. I’m thinking about framing it. 😉

Track your spending {Page 116}
Although this sounds like a chore, learning exactly where your money is going, turns out to be a big relief! Once you’re armed with that information, it makes it a lot easier to put together a strategy that will help you achieve your financial goals quickly!

Start a skin care regimen – no matter what your age {Pages 122-131}
This is something I certainly need some coaching on. In the mornings, I literally throw some standard fragrance free lotion on my face as I step out of the shower, and that’s about it. This spring I want to give my skin a “re-do” and come up with a personal skin-care strategy, starting with a commitment to applying a sunscreen of at least 30 SPF to my skin daily.

Beat the Sunday blues {Pages 144-147}
It’s okay to admit it. Around 4 P.M. on Sunday afternoons, we all start to feel that little gray cloud looming above our heads. We begin to dread the week ahead.  STOP the cycle and take control of your Sundays. There are so many things we can do to ease out of the weekend and into our work week without too much heartburn.

Real Simple Facebook fans shared their own personal strategies for fixing the Sunday blues. My favorite was, “I plan next weekend!” Now, how brilliant is that? If we always have something to look forward to, it helps us get through the week successfully!

There are so many ways to refresh this spring! The inspiration may come from magazines like All You and Real Simple, but the motivation can only come from YOU! Make it a point to schedule some “me time” this spring and really think about what you’d like to accomplish. Then leverage that new found energy to get out and do it!

Make a beeline to your closest Target store to pick up your own copies of the magazines to read more about all of the ways you can refresh your own routine and self this spring! Don’t pass this deal up!

You save $2.00 off the purchase of TWO (2) participating magazines titles (All You®, Real Simple®, PEOPLE®)!

In addition to the $2.00 off,  you can also save 15% on select special issue magazines which include PEOPLE® Crimes of Passion, National Geographic® 100 Journeys of a Lifetime, TIME® Mark Twain, LIFE® Lincoln while using the Target Cartwheel app. This offer is available until 4/17/15, while supplies last.