The Bluapple Time-lapse Video

We are working on getting different time-lapse videos up for people to see.  Check out this one!  Does the Bluapple work? See for yourself!

Visit our youtube channel to see more amazing videos!

The Bluapple YouTube Channel

The Benefits of Volunteering

I have volunteered for many things in my life, in my community...in my own home.  And sometimes after I make that first initial commitment, I feel regret.  I think of all the reasons I shouldn't have done it, how I don't have time, or how they don't really need me and it is a waste of my time.  And then after I complete it, I have such a sense of satisfaction.  It feels good to help out.  This past month I helped with a project that made sandwiches for the homeless.  We made sack lunches and handed them out next to the homeless shelter. It felt good to help, gave me gratitude in my life that I have my family to love and love me back, and inspired me to just be a better, nicer and more helpful person.

There are always places in need of volunteers.  Local schools need people who can help with reading, tutoring, or office work. Rest homes and community senior citizen centers welcome volunteers to help with food, activities and travel.  Some places will require you to get a food handlers permit, or special training. That will take time as well, time that you volunteer.

Teaching kids to volunteer will help give them a sense of community.  It can open new doors of opportunity for them as they  meet new people and network, as well as trying out different jobs and having different experiences, which can help direct them to a path that will bring them fulfillment out of life.  They may discover that they love to work with senior citizens, or children.  Working at an animal shelter might spark a love of animals that might send them down the path of being a veterinarian.  There are many benefits to volunteering and it is okay to recognize that.


Reasons to Volunteer

Getting Ready for Easter

Do you celebrate Easter? Do you just like bunnies and baby chickens and pastel colors?  I do, but now that my boys are older, they just don't enjoy a cute cut-out sandwich that looks like a bunny like they used to. :)

But we still dye eggs and then hide them. At least they give me that.  When they were younger, we'd have our Easter gift day celebration the day after, because that was when everything was 75% off! I know, I know that sounds cheap, but they understood why and loved it.  They always got tons of candy and we still had a great time.

I still look at different ideas of fun things to do however, because I miss those old days and I still make little promises to myself that I am going to do at least ONE cute Easter thing.  This year it will probably consist of a fun and bright Easter lunch. They like food. A lot. So fresh salads, fresh fruit  and a great dessert seems to be in order.  Maybe you'll find one of the ideas in the link useful, or it will spark something in you.  I think all the ideas are simply adorable.

Easter Ideas

Simply Your Life

I have missed out on things due to laziness. I have missed out on things due to not getting something done on time.  And I have "missed out"on things, due to simplifying my life.  And the third miss is considered a win in my book.

My husband and I have friends that go out almost every weekend dancing, dinner, drinks or a party of some sort.  And I do enjoy going out.  BUT sometimes we skip simply due to simplifying our life.  We don't have to dress up, spend money, leave the kids, get home late, miss out on sleep...we stay home and enjoy each others company.  We might make a special meal or work on a project together, but we take our weekend activity down a notch by choice, and when we do, we almost never regret it.

There are other ways I have simplified.  I no longer own a lot of shoes.  I looked deeply at my life and was honest with myself and the truth was that I wore about 5 pairs of the 20+ pairs of shoes that I owned.  I now own just two coats. One for the winter snow and one for the light chill of spring.  And I no longer have fancy dinner plates. I just have plates. And room in my cupboard for other things.  I am a much happier girl.

Here are some ideas from Real Simple on ways to simply your life.  Maybe you will use a few?  *hint...The Bluapple is one of them.* :)  6 Ways to Simply Your Life

Creative Ways to Repurpose, Reuse and Upcycle

I am not one to go buy something that looks neat simply because it looks neat.  If instance, I use a plastic bag to hold my other plastic bags, rather than a fancy bag to hold my bags.  That is just me.  I find it a waste of money to purchase something simply because it looks cute, if I have an item at home that functions and does the same thing, regardless of how ugly it is.

I came across this website and I find a lot of the ideas silly, but a lot of the ideas interesting as well.  There are no instructions, so if you find something you like, you'll need to figure it out or go deeper into google.  BUT...there are a few that I am going to try this month for sure.  And in a perfect world, I would have an old piano as a waterfall.  That is just plain beautiful. And I don't even play the piano.

50 ways to recycle

What is The Bluapple and How Does it Work?

A few months ago, I went to a friends house with another friend of mine, to make a simple YouTube video about how The Bluapple works.  What I didn't expect was to make a video that would end up being sent to different stores around the country for people to watch, learn, and hopefully...enjoy.  I thought I'd tell you how it all came about.

I was looking through YouTube one afternoon and was disappointed in there not being a well done video about Bluapple.  And so on a Friday evening, I decided that I would make one.  I called my actress friend and asked if she'd come on over and do it with me.  She was happy to help.  I then called my camera running, video editing, script writing, movie making friend Joe.  He was happy to help film and do the editing on this "simple" YouTube video.

Tuesday morning came and we all met at Joe's house to make it happen.  My husband helped with the video running while I directed the video.  Amy was brilliant and Joe ended up editing the video to perfection.  It turned out so well that we made it into DVD's and offer it for free to stores who would like to run a loop DVD to inform potential customers of The Bluapple on how it works and why they need to get the product.

It took about 13 hours from start to finish and we are all quite proud of it.  My favorite line in the video is, "these cute little apples." Because they are cute.  But I love how Amy says it.

If you haven't seen the video, click on the link below.   It will take you to our website where we have put the video as well.

The Bluapple Video

The Produceology of Produce Storage

In case you missed it, I wanted to post again about our website has a link with valuable information on how to properly care for almost 200 different types of fruits and vegetables.  It is easy to use.  Either scroll down and look for the type of produce you are looking for, or use the search bar at the top of the page and type in what you'd like to find.  Chances are, we have it.

Just go to www.thebluapple.com and click on How it Works and then the Produce Storage Tips tab (or click on this link http://www.thebluapple.com/storage-tips).  We call it "The Produceology of Food Storage."

I'd suggest saving the page in your bookmarks or leaving the tab open for when you come home from the grocery store and start to put away your produce.  If you are using  Bluapple in your crisper drawers, they are going to absorb the ethylene gas from your produce, helping it to last up to three times longer.  But the way you store your produce in regards to temperature and humidity control are important too, and our website will tell you how to do it!

Hope your day is fantastic!

How to Start Tomato Seedlings Indoors

I LOVE fresh salsa.  It really is my favorite food item. I will eat tomatoes purchased at my local grocery store, but I am not very pleased about it.  And I like to purchase them when they are grown locally by the neighborhood kids in my area.  They set up a table with a poor but cute sign, selling Tomatoes at $1 each.  And to be fair, they are worth that $1 until my own tomatoes are ready to be devoured.

BUT this year I am going to get the jump on these kids and make sure my tomatoes are ready to start being turned into salsa by mid June.

I came across this website with step by step instructions on starting tomato plants early.  I have never done it. I usually start around July.  I procrastinate and just never make it happen early enough.  Not this year though.  This year, by the end of April, I will have these beautiful little plants to put in my garden in the back and be making salsa and margaritas in no-time at all!

Starting Tomato Plants Inside

Heart Healthy Foods

I love fresh food.  A plate of fresh fruit and my favorite vegetables can hit the spot much better than a plate of fries and burgers.  There is just something about eating something that is from the earth, that is colorful and pretty, that makes it taste even better to me.

Woman's Day Magazine online has a list of heart-healthy foods.  But I'll be honest.  The photos alone make me want to go home and raid my refrigerator right now. :)

Heart-Healthy Foods

Reduce Your Carbon Footprint

What is a carbon footprint?  It is the amount of carbon dioxide and other carbon compounds emitted due to the consumption of fossil fuels by a particular person, group, etc.  The less each individual emits, the better.  We can all help in small ways to make a big difference.

Bluapple works to absorb ethylene gas that produce naturally emits, which is what brings it to spoil.  Bluapple will extend the life of your produce and leave more time to consume and less food to throw away.  By using Bluapple, you can reduce your carbon footprint.  Food that doesn't spoil before you can eat it means you are making less trips to the store to buy replacement produce. This saves you time, money and of course, less trash on the curb come trash day. 

There are other ways, easy ways, to reduce ones carbon footprint as well.  Using a filter for your tap water rather than buying water bottles, recycle your paper and plastic, unplug appliances when away on vacation, take the bus or train, carpool, wash your clothes in cold water and line dry instead of a dryer.  If we all do a little, it can really add up to a lot.  Below is a link with a few more easy ways to help make the planet a better place for all of us now, and for the future.

Ways to reduce your carbon footprint