MORNING BASKET

Black and White ABC Cards

Character Cards

Colorful ABC Cards / Manners / Hygiene Cards

Everyday Graces Book

Manners Can Be Fun Book

Connoisseur Kids (Etiquette, Manners Books)

ABC Devotional

Preschool Morning Binder

Primer (Kinder) Morning Binder

Days of the Week Poster

Months of the Year Poster

Apply Study (Nutrition Program for Kids)

Pumpkin Study (Nutrition Program for Kids)

Daily Rhythm Cards (Visual Kid Calendar)

My Online Shop!

MORNING VIRTUES

This is the program we’ll use for Hymn, Bible Verse, Manners, Hygiene and Read-Alouds!

Gentle and Classical Press Primer & Sequence 1

LANGUAGE ARTS

The Good and The Beautiful (We’ll be using preschool, pre-k and 1st grade in 24 / 25

READING / PHONICS

Dash Into Learning Phonics Program – Code: HGG15 for 15% off

Bob Books

WRITING:

Dash Into Learning Handwriting Program

Draw Write Now

Draw / Write Paper

A Reason For Handwriting (We’ll be using level K and A in 24 / 25)

SPELLING

A Reason For Spelling (We’ll be using Level A in 24 / 25)

MATH

Math U See

Good and The Beautiful

Learning To Tell Time Clock

Telling The Time Flashcards

SCIENCE

Good and The Beautiful

Nature Study

HISTORY

Gentle and Classical Press – Sequence 1

Adventures To The New World: Part 1 and Part 2 (Coming Soon!)

GEOGRAPHY

Gentle and Classical Press – Sequence 1

Home Geography Book

The 50 States Book

OUR WORLD GLOBE!

SOCIAL STUDIES

Me On The Map

Art + Music Program

ENRICHMENT

Spanish – First 100 Words Book

Piano – Hoffman Academy (code LEARN for 10% off)

BOOKS

A Child’s Garden of Verses

A Children’s Book of Virtues

Aesops Fables

Mother Goose

The Tree Book

Little Pilgrim’s Progress

The Ology

Stay connected with me on Instagram here!

Disclosure: Many of the links above are affiliate links which means I earn a small commission when you shop through my link! This does not cost you anything extra, rather by shopping through my links or from my online shop here it makes it possible for me to continue to keep create videos! Thank you so much for supporting my small business! Thank you also to A Reason For, Little School of Smiths and Lovevery for gifting us with your programs this year!

These florals are a great way to reduce food waste and are a creative way to use your orange peels! They look beautiful as a table centerpiece whether indoor, outdoor or at a wedding venue.

See below to view or print these DIY instructions! If you make these florals, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what recipes you’re enjoying.

For more HGG recipe ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

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Citrus Orange Florals

Servings 0

Author Healthy Grocery Girl

Ingredients

• Limoneira navel oranges
• Spring flowers & greenery

Instructions

• Cut the tops off the oranges.
• Use a grapefruit spoon to scoop out the insides. Save the insides for a juice or smoothie!
• Select and trim flowers.
• Arrange flowers and greenery into orange bowls making your own floral arrangement.
• Finally, add water into bowls to finish.

If you love this DIY idea, check out these other easy & fun DIY citrus ideas! At Healthy Grocery Girl, we want to help you life a healthy lifestyle and enjoy some affordable, at home family projects!

How To Make A Lemon Floral Vase

DIY Citrus Rosemary Disposal Cleaners 

DIY Natural Bug Repellent

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

We love using lavender and chamomile because they not only may induce relaxation, but also give off amazing all-natural scents without any artificial fragrance.

Benefits To Making Your Own Scrub

A lot of products on the market are filled with toxic chemicals, fragrance and ingredients that either have not been properly tested or have been shown to cause harm to the body, such as endocrine disrupters. Making your own scrub at home can give you the assurance that you are only putting on your body natural and real ingredients. DIY items such as this scrub can also be more affordable for yourself or as gifts to others!

See below to view or print this DIY body scrub! If you make this scrub, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what recipes & projects you’re enjoying.

For more HGG DIY ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

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DIY Beauty Body Scrub

Servings 0

Author Healthy Grocery Girl

Ingredients

• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
• 1 tablespoon Limoneira orange zest
• 1 tablespoon Limoneira lemon zest
• 1 teaspoon dried lavender
• 1 teaspoon dried chamomile Tip: use the contents from a chamomile tea bag

Instructions

• In a large bowl, add all your ingredients and stir to fully combine.
• Transfer scrub to a glass jar with a tight fitted lid.
• Use for yourself as desired or gift to someone you love!

If you love this DIY idea, check out these other easy & fun DIY beauty citrus ideas! At Healthy Grocery Girl, we want to help you life a healthy lifestyle and enjoy some affordable, at home family projects!

Orange Lavender Tub Tea

DIY Lemon Toner

Whipped Lemon Lotion

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

These DIY place cards can be made from flowers outside and whatever paper you have, making it so you don’t have to go out and buy anything. Making fun and beautiful things from what you already have is a great way to celebrate and save money!

See below to view or print these DIY instructions! If you make these place cards, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what recipes you’re enjoying.

For more HGG recipe ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

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Lemon Place Cards

Servings 0

Author Healthy Grocery Girl

Ingredients

• Limoneira classic lemons
• Spring flowers
• Name / message cards
• String / twine

Instructions

• Start by punching a hole in your name cards.
• Then, tie string around each lemon.
• Add your card to the string and tie to secure.
• Add flowers to the inside of the tied string and your cards are ready to be used!

If you love using citrus for every day items, check out these other easy & fun DIY citrus ideas! At Healthy Grocery Girl, we want to help you life a healthy lifestyle and enjoy some affordable, at home family projects!

DIY Citrus Gift Tags

Dried Citrus Rose Bouquet

DIY Lemon Toner & Lemon Sugar Scrub

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

Why is sustainability important? One of the biggest reasons is for us and future generations to have clean environments to live in! Within our own communities, we want to have clean air, a non-toxic environment and clean resources. Simple sustainable practices within our homes, such as minimizing food waste is a great place to start!

5 Sustainable Meal Prep Tips

Use Vegetable Scraps to Make Soup Stock

Do you ever feel like you throw away so much vegetable scraps throughout the week? Did you know that you can save money and prevent food waste by using those scraps to make a soup stock?

Freeze Overripe Fruits to Use in Smoothies

Produce can be expensive and it’s never fun to throw away fruit. Overripe fruit is perfect in smoothies, so simple freeze your fruit and use in your next smoothie! Remember, this is for overripe fruit, not moldy fruit.

Juice Lemons to Use All Week / Save Juiced Halves to Zest / Use Juiced Lemons with Baking Soda to Clean Hard Water Stains

Lemons are extremely versatile, which is why we have three different ways you can use your Limoneira Lemons! Juicing them to use in recipes all week is a great way to keep track of how much you have before they go bad. With your leftover lemon peels, zest thing for added flavor into recipes. You can also use your juiced lemon halves with baking soda to clean hard water stains in your sinks, tubs and countertops!

Make Multi-Use Sauces Such as Lemon Pesto for Pasta and Salmon

Every recipes needs a good sauce! Having a go-to that you can use throughout the week saves you time and prevents waste. Lemon pesto is one of our favorites because it can be used on pasta dishes and salmon dinners! Here is our pesto recipe from the blog.

Freeze Leftover Smoothie to Make Smoothie Cubes – Add Cubes into Future Smoothies

Ever get full before you can finish your smoothie? Instead of wasting any of your delicious drink, simply add into ice cube trays and freeze to make smoothie cubes! These cubes are the perfect nutritious addition into future smoothies and will help add more creaminess to your drinks!

If you use any of these sustainability tips, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what recipes you’re enjoying.

For more HGG recipe ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

If you love this blog, see below for more sustainability uses! As always, Healthy Grocery Girl aims to help you and your family live a cleaner, non-toxic lifestyle!

5 Simple Sustainability Tips

Summer Activity For Kids – DIY Lemon Boats

5 Uses For Lemon Peel

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

Check out our YouTube video showing the present and gift tag come together along with a tutorial on how to make dried citrus!

Other Uses For Dried Citrus

Dried citrus can be used for so many things from mantel decoration, to Christmas tree ornaments, to decorating baked goods or even stored as a powder to add into recipes! Check out more HGG blogs using dried citrus below!

See below to view or print these DIY instructions! If you make these Citrus Gift Tags, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what projects you’re enjoying.

For more HGG DIY ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

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DIY Citrus Gift Tags

Servings 0

Author Healthy Grocery Girl

Ingredients

• The present you need to wrap
• Wrapping paper
• Dried Limoneira oranges
• Holly berry décor
• Twine
• Gift tags

Instructions

• Wrap your present with your wrapping paper.
• Then, wrap the twine around both sides of the present and tie a knot at the top. Make sure there is some extra twine left after it is tied.
• Lace the gift tag through the twine then place the holly berry décor in the center. Tie a knot around the stem securing it into place.
• Finally, poke a hole in the dried oranges and lace through the twine. Tie a knot to secure in place and finish off by tying the twine in a bow.

If you love using dried citrus, check out these other easy & fun DIY dried citrus ideas! At Healthy Grocery Girl, we want to help you life a healthy lifestyle and enjoy some affordable, at home family projects!

DIY Orange Christmas Tree Ornaments

DIY Dried Citrus Rose Bouquet

Dried Lemon Peel Powder

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

This is Aaron, Megan’s husband. If you’re reading this blog post it’s likely because you watched our “DIY Shiplap Electric Fireplace Build with Mantel” video on YouTube! From that video, we have received a lot of questions and requests for a plan to download / purchase to build a similar fireplace.

DIY FIREPLACE BUILDING PLANS

I’m sorry to say, we do not have a building plan! I designed our project as I went, made a few mistakes and did not write down any of my measurements because I didn’t build with the intention of creating or sharing a plan. However, since so many have asked for one I wanted to write a follow-up blog post for this project and do my best to answer some my thought process on this project, supplies I used etc in hope that is at least a little helpful!

So while we don’t have a step-by-step building plan to sell, I do provide a lot of free tips and insights in the building process below! Hopefully these tips are helpful as you begin your own project!

Before You Get Started… Measurements & Dimensions

Before building your own fireplace you’ll need to take into consideration the following:

– How high you ceilings are

– How big the fireplace you’ve purchased is, ours is 57 inches. The fireplace we used has a new model that you can see on Amazon and Home Depot, it is virtually the same but has a different frame, one that is a little thinner and is not removable. This is actually an upgrade since our kids often knock the frame off of ours, which is attached with magnetics that are strong, but no match for toddlers!

– How wide you want your total project to be

– Size, type and height of mantel

Our Fireplace Dimensions

This is the size of our project…

108 inches tall

78 inches wide

14 inches deep

These dimensions work for our ceiling height and room size. However, always adjust measurements so it works for your space and ceiling height

Supply List for DIY Fireplace

Here’s what you’ll need to build this project! I’ve listed everything below and added links. I altered the design to correct the two mistakes I’ve listed above.

• (11) 10ft – 2×4” 
• (2) 8ft 2×6” 
• (1) 8ft – 1×8” 
• 3” wood screws 
• (14) 12ft Shiplap Boards 
• Nail Gun
• Nails
• Drill / Driver
• Miter Saw
• Oscillating Saw
• Paint Roller
• Foam Rollers
• Paint Tray
• Spackle Kit
• Latex Caulk
• Sanding Sponge
• ECOS Paints
• ECOS Matte Paint: White
• Fireplace: Dynasty Harmony 57″: NEW MODEL: Amazon and Home Depot

Photo Process of FIY Fireplace Build

Below are some photos during the build process with text and measurements added to help guide you through my build and thought process!

Mistakes I Made On This Project

Two things I would probably do different next time are…

– I used a combo of 2×4 and 2×3 lumber. I did this because I was trying to make the framing lighter in weight and save a few dollars, but it really just caused confusion.

– I changed part of the design during the build which meant a lot of the lumber I bought at 8ft length would have been better to buy at 10ft.

FAQs

How to fill gaps at the edges… I used this spackle to fill nail holes and gaps and this latex caulk around the edges where the shiplap touches the ceiling/wall.

Where does the heat go? Since this fireplace is electric, it produces no heat if you just have the flames turned on. When you use the heater function, a blower pushes the heat out the front from along the top edge of the glass.

Outlet Access: I left one piece of shiplap, down low on the right side, easily removable, so that I can reach the outlet.

Mitering the Shiplap Corners: I used a chop-saw to cut the 45 degree corner for each piece of shiplap. Honestly that was the toughest part of the project as the shiplap were not all 100% flat and something about the saw blade made it difficult to get perfect corners. It is possible a table-saw would have worked better.

Finished Project!

This project is actually not completely done! I will be adding lower cabinets on both side of the fireplace. This will provide more living room storage and complete the entire look. However, here are some photos of the completed fireplace and how we’ve style it over the year for various Holidays and celebrations!

You’ll really wow your family and friends with this gorgeous mantel! We can’t wait to see all your creations!

How To Make Dried Oranges 

Click here to learn how to make dried oranges to create a garland, ornaments or even gift toppers!

You can also purchase dried oranges here! Dried oranges will darken over time, so if you save and re-use them year after year you’ll notice the shade of orange darken.

How To Store Dried Oranges

Once your beautiful orange garland is ready to be put away, you may be wondering how to store it to use for next year. Storing dried citrus can be done by placing it in an airtight container and stored in cool, dry place. If stored properly, your orange garland should last for approximately two years.

See below to view or print these DIY instructions! If you create this Citrus Holiday Mantel, please share a photo on Instagram and tag me @HealthyGroceryGirl so I can easily find and like your creations! It’s so fun to connect with you and see what projects you’re enjoying.

For more HGG DIY ideas you can also visit the HGG YouTube channel here! 

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Citrus Holiday Mantel Decor

Servings 0

Author Healthy Grocery Girl

Ingredients

• Green garland
• Limoneira dried oranges
• Twine
• Snowball garland
• Vintage bells
• Bottle brush trees
• Wooden skewer

Instructions

• Using a wooden skewer cut in half, tape twine to skewer.
• Pierce through dried oranges with skewer and pull twine through. Continue with all dried oranges making an orange garland.
• Decorate mantel with green garland, snowball garland, orange garland, bells and trees!

If you love this decor, see below for more easy & fun DIY ideas! At Healthy Grocery Girl, we want to help you life a healthy lifestyle and enjoy some affordable, at home family projects!

DIY Orange Christmas Tree Ornaments

DIY Shiplap Electric Fireplace Build with Mantel

Easy DIY Holiday Decor

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel! 

To celebrate National Lemon Juice Day, here are 10 ways to incorporate lemon juice into your everyday routine!

Hot Lemon Water

Simply pour juice from a lemon into a coffee mug and fill with hot water.

Cold Lemon Water

Juice a lemon into a glass of cold water and enjoy! Add ice to keep cold for longer.

Add To A Smoothie

Add lemon juice into your favorite smoothie recipe for an extra citrus kick! One of my go-to morning smoothies is lemon juice, frozen banana, spinach, ground flaxseed, cinnamon, vanilla protein powder and plant-milk! 

Make Lemonade

Simply combine sugar, a full pitcher of  hot water and lemon juice together for a delicious lemonade! Let chill and enjoy! Here is one of our favorite HGG lemonade recipes! 

Make Snack Bites

Snack bites are the perfect mid-afternoon treat! Head here to find our Lemon Almond Cookie Dough Bites recipe made with lemon juice!

Make Popsicles

These Pink Lemon Raspberry Popsicles are perfect for summer and made with Limoneira pink lemons!

Homemade Salad Dressing

Making salad dressing from home is quick, easy and void of processed chemicals and ingredients! Head here for 3 dressings made with lemon juice including a creamy Lemon Tahini Dressing!

Add To Soup

Adding lemon juice into soup right before serving is a great way to get additional flavor! Here is our Lemon Chicken Spring Soup made with lemon juice!

Kill Bacteria On Cutting Boards

Refresh your wooden cutting board by scrubbing with antibacterial lemon juice!

Clean & Remove Orders From Microwave

Add sliced lemon to a glass measuring cup filled with water. Microwave for 3 minutes and then wipe down grim in microwave with a towel! 

This video was created for the Limoneira YouTube Channel! Megan Roosevelt, RDN is the Spokesperson for Limoneira. To see all our tips & videos makes sure to visit & subscribe to the Limoneira YouTube Channel!  

Since Aaron is the master builder he is going to share with you the details of this project below. If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments under our YouTube video here and we’ll do our best to reply to them as soon as we can!

 How to design a kitchen hood cover

We considered a few designs for our hood box, including trying to match the cabinetry. Ultimately we decided against this because if you are attempting to match design, materials and color you need to get it exact or it would look off. We also had left over shiplap from our DIY Fireplace and Kitchen Nook, so a simple shiplap box made the most sense.

Another goal I had was to not alter the cabinetry too much, in case we ever wanted to remove this box and go back or do something else. The only permanent change I made to our existing cabinetry was to remove a small section of the moulding. In designing our new hood box, I used the manual to figure out the exact measurements. All 30” hoods are likely to be very similar in dimensions, but no guarantee, so I have learned to always follow the manual.

The finished dimensions of our shiplap hood box are 29.5 inches wide and 42 inches tall. The inner frame is about 28.25 inches wide, but only 36.5 inches tall, because there is no framing behind the first row of shiplap, where the hood fan is.

Demo and Hood Box Frame

The first step in the project was to remove the current cabinet doors, hinges and finally the old hood. 

Next was to put together the basic frame pieces. I first made a H shape out of 1×3’s to use as the connection for my Hood Box to the cabinets. Once I had the H piece installed, I then constructed the rest of the box frame on site – versus building the whole thing in my garage and then installing it.

Our new hood fan does not screw to the underside of the cabinetry, like the previous one. All the connection screws are along the front, sides and back, but we have tile backsplash where the back screws line up. Because of this I added some thin ¼ inch wood strips. If I were to do the project again, I would use ½ inch plywood. Filling the entire back wall behind the fan, instead of small strips. I also added a few pieces of 3/4 inch by 3/4 inch square wood dowel along the bottom edge of the box frame. I did this to add extra surface area when nailing the shiplap to the frame.

Kitchen Hood Fan Upgrade

We replaced our builder grade hood fan with the Zephyr Monsoon Mini 30” which we got from Build.com (More Power! Argh-Argh-Argh). The hood fan comes with both a square and round baffle to fit whatever your cabinetry needs, I used the square.

Originally I was going to build the shiplap box and then install the fan. But I realized that it might be difficult to get the box exactly right with the corners lined up perfectly doing it this way. So instead, I screwed the first layer of shiplap to the hood fan first, then lifted the fan in place and attached the shiplap to the frame. Now that it has been installed, if I need to remove the hood fan, I can unscrew it from the shiplap and drop it out.

Shiplap Installation

Once the hood fan was level and secured in place, I installed the remaining shiplap. When installing shiplap I always use a nail gun, it is so easy and leaves only small holes. I then filled in the nail holes with spackle and caulked the edges and large gaps. Finally we painted using a basic white from our favorite ECOS Paints.

Kitchen Appliance Upgrade

We have also updated the appliances in our kitchen. The original range was always a temporary one until the range we really loved was available. 

A few of the reasons why we love the GE Profile Collection range is that it has five burners and an edge to edge cooktop. We can load it up with pans for when we are cooking multiple things at once. BUT, the best feature of all and why we chose this range is the two ovens!

Sometimes we only need to cook one item in the oven such as a sheet pan of sweet potatoes. Heating up the entire oven for one sheet of food feels like a waste of heat and energy. Having 2 smaller sized ovens is perfect for when we are cooking one item at a time. It’s also nice for when we want to make multiple dishes at the same time at different temperatures! 

How to Avoid a DIY Fail

When doing an electrical connection, you should always have access to that connection. Because my hood box does not open like the previous cabinetry, I cut a small access door through the side kitchen cabinet. This way I can reach the outlet and unplug the hood when I need to.

Supply list for DIY Shiplap Range Hood Cover

Here is a list of all the supplies needed to complete a similar DIY shiplap range hood cover. Simply click on each item for a link to shop! 

(2) 8ft 1×3
(1) 8ft 2×2 
(1) ¼” Oak Board 
(1) ¾” x ¾” 
#8 Screws 
Wood screws 
(3) 12ft Shiplap Boards
Nail Gun
Nails
Drill / Driver
Miter Saw
Oscillating Saw
Paint Roller
Foam Rollers
Paint Tray
Spackle Kit
Latex Caulk
Sanding Sponge
ECOS Paints

BEFORE…

AFTER…

MORE HGG DIY HOME PROJECTS

If you loved this project check out our other home projects….

DIY Kitchen Island Upgrade

How To Make A Large DIY Framed Chalkboard

DIY Shiplap Wall with Floating Shelves

DIY Shiplap Electric Fireplace Build with Mantel

SHARE WITH US YOUR DIY CREATIONS!

If you make anything similar, we’d love to see! Tag us on Instagram @HealthyGroceryGirl