By Alonna Friedman for TheNest.com

Shutterstock/ The NestDo you have company coming over? No time to whip your house into tip top shape? No problem! Check out these quick and simple tips to get a clean home in 30 minutes.

Declutter (4 minutes)
Pass through key rooms, picking up the following:
Catalogs, bills, and newspapers
Pets' toys
Handbags and shoes
Sports equipment
Stray DVDs

Wipe Down (10 minutes)
Spray an all-purpose cleaner on your kitchen countertop and wipe away grime.
Remove fingerprints from stainless steel surfaces using a glass cleaner.
Wipe down the dining table (if you have hardwood, just remove dust with a damp rag or microfiber cloth).
Spray the bathroom sink, vanity, and counters with an all-purpose disinfectant.
Wipe down the outer edge of the tub (it's something all guests will see) and pull the curtain or shower door closed.
Clean the mirror with vinegar and wipe with newsprint (it works).
Spritz all outside surfaces of the toilet with disinfectant before moving inside.
Lift

Green foods contain chlorophyll. Who's up for a botany lesson?

Colorful plates are healthy plates! Celebrating "green" is easy in the kitchen and gives us an opportunity to excite our kids about eating healthier. Celebrate Earth Day or Arbor Day this April with these fun and healthy recipes that you can make together. You might even learn something new along the way.

Green Macaroni and Cheese

All kids love macaroni and cheese, and this version adds a healthy bit of baby spinach for a green version just right for Earth Day. Here is some fun spinach trivia you can share with your kids while cooking:

* Medieval artists used spinach to make green paint.

* Crystal City, Texas, which grows a lot of spinach, put up a statue of Popeye.

* Spinach is a member of the goose-foot family. The leaves look kind of like the foot of a goose.

Green Ice Pops

Popsicles are a no-fail way to get your kids' attention. This version uses kale, pineapple, bananas and coconut for a healthier green version that is just as fun to make as it is to eat.

Laura St. JohnFor the first time in eight years, I can sit back, take a deep breath, and gladly say that all three of my kids are in school. Don't get me wrong -- I love spending time with them -- but I am just not one of those moms who's sobbing in the car after dropping off my preschooler. (Not that there's anything wrong with that.) I am walking out that door, with my hand motion of "Yessss!" (...is that terrible?)

Read More: The Language Our Kids Are Learning Without You

Any parent knows, or quickly realizes, that kids cost a lot. My husband and I tossed the idea around whether to invest now into monthly tuition for my youngest, or wait until he is older. Since I often work from my home office, he has gotten in the groove of playing and hanging out while I try to conquer the to-do lists sticky-taped all over my desk. But after much discussion, we agreed it would be good for him, and we considered what we would all get in return.

Read More: Want to Raise a Confident Child? Avoid These Common

Check out these five ways to color your Easter eggsMany of these Easter eggs can be made in less than an hour with ingredients you probably already have right in your kitchen. Just grab some colorful produce, spices, vinegar and fresh eggs, then follow these simple steps:

Pink
1 medium beet, chopped + 2 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

Place all ingredients in medium pot; bring to a boil. Let simmer 30 minutes, or until water turns deep red. Cool to room temperature, remove beet chunks, and pour liquid into a mason jar. Leave a hard-cooked egg in the dye for a few minutes to a few hours, depending upon the color desired.

Blue
1/4 head red cabbage, chopped + 4 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

In medium pot, heat ingredients until water boils; simmer 25 minutes. Cool to room temperature, strain, and pour dye into two small jars. Leave a hard-cooked egg in the dye overnight for a royal blue.

Mustard Yellow
4 Tbsp. turmeric + 2 c. water + 2 Tbsp. white vinegar

In small pot,