January 9, 2018 Most of us take wonderful photos over the holidays, and it seems a shame to just leave them on the computer, or pack them away in a box. But how can you display your holiday photos besides putting them in a picture frame? Here are a few ideas that may work for…
August 9, 2017 Lights can add so much atmosphere to a yard. Take a look around your own yard to see where lights would make your yard more welcoming. Consider path lights to illuminate your way safely on any walkway. Uplighters, nestled within plants, cast dramatic shadows. Or add twinkling strands of lights to trees,…
September 1, 2017 Pallets are in right now. They come in different sizes and materials, including wood and plastic. You can buy them—or, with a bit of searching, you’ll find them for free. Most large companies send pallets back to distributors for reuse, so you are more apt to find them at smaller companies, hardware…
September 9, 2017 Do you love the soft glow of candles on your dining room table or mantle? It is so easy and fun to make your own candles. Even better, the variety of candles you can make is limitless! Supplies: Wax You can purchase blocks or shavings of wax, including beeswax or soy wax….
September 22, 2017 The fall palette is a stunning one with warm yellow, orange, and red tones. Here are four easy ways to bring those rich colors into your home. Leaf Mobile I love this idea by Michael Partanio posted on Good Housekeeping. Collect different shapes and colors of leaves, making sure the stems are intact….
October 13, 2017 The windows have been open all summer and now dust is everywhere. As the weather begins to cool it’s time for a deep fall cleaning. This includes climbing up on a step stool and trying to wipe the grime off the ceiling fans. As you clean your fans, do you dream of…
October 10, 2017 Everywhere you look, people are using Mason jars to drink lattes, layer salads, and create decadent desserts. Mason jars are both durable and affordable, plus nearly everyone has a few jars—or even a case or two–in their pantry, attic, or garage. Once you’ve used the jars for your coffee, salad, or chocolate…
November 19, 2017 If you don’t want to spend a lot of time decorating for Thanksgiving when Christmas is right around the corner, these DIY decorating ideas will make your house festive for Thanksgiving—and beyond (and yes, you can still use your child’s hand turkey as your centerpiece!). Hanging Pinecones Instead of a wreath, consider…
November 29, 2017 The old adage tells us that homemade gifts mean more because they come from the heart, and this is a idea I’ve tried to pass on to my children. Besides, unless your child is some sort of entrepreneurial prodigy, he or she probably can’t foot an extensive gift-giving bill. But if a gift…
December 6, 2017 It’s time for holiday decorations! The fireplace mantle is adorned with stockings, garlands, and pine cones. The tree is covered in balls and tinsel. Now it’s time to make your front porch inviting for guests! Here are three ways to decorate the front of your home. Small Christmas Trees This craft is…
December 20, 2017 Terrariums are a great way to bring plants indoors. For those who live in a small space—or those who don’t want the hassle of big plants—this is the way to go. Regular plants brought inside tend to dry out fast, especially in the winter when you run the heat. By placing them…
January 4, 2018 The holidays are over and the decorations put away. Relatives have all gone home. Temperatures continue to fall, along with rain or snow. There are dreary days ahead and, for many of us, the winter blues are setting in. This time of year, you’ll be spending more time indoors, so it’s an…
June 29, 2017 My dining room table is in need of some serious love and attention. The top is scratched and water stained, and the varnish is colored in places. There is a darker strip that goes around the table about three inches from the edge and then divides the table in half in the center….
March 8, 2018 Decades ago people use contact paper—also known as adhesive film—to line the drawers and shelves in their kitchen and bathrooms. This versatile product has had a change of fashion and function and now allows for dozens of new uses. The designs range from flowers to wood, granite to marble. You can cover…
March 30, 2018 Do you have boring wooden picture frames lying around the house and you’re not quite sure what to do with them? When I was little, my Grandmother had a stand that was covered with photos of family members—everyone from second cousins to great aunts and uncles. There must have been a dozen…
April 15, 2019 Have you ever wondered what to do with broken jewelry besides toss it? I’m sure we’ve all been there. Your favorite bracelet snaps and you lose half of the beads. Or, your costume jewelry ring loses the stone. It’s not really valuable enough to have it repaired. So, what do you do…
May 9, 2019 My teen’s newly discovered favorite activity, bullet journaling, may or may not be a miracle on paper. Bullet journals mix a planner, journal, scrapbook, sketchbook, and health guide into one individualized book. A good portion of the fun of these books is creating the content into something ideal for you. People can…
March 31, 2020 Hippity, hoppity, spring is on its way! The Easter Bunny hops into town on Sunday, April 12, 2020. Though he usually brings a few sweet treats, moms and dads sometimes help him shop for small, basket-worthy gifts to greet kids the right way on Easter Sunday morning. Here are eight fun Easter…
March 26, 2020 Are you wondering what you can do with your plastic Easter eggs after Easter is over? Or, maybe your kids have decided they’re too old for plastic Easter eggs. And, you have a huge bag of eggs you’ve been collecting over the years. Either way, here are a few ideas that you…
June 4, 2020 It’s almost Father’s Day and you have probably started thinking about what the kids can get Dad this year. While many people will shop online and get him a new tie or a box of his favorite candy, why not have the kids make him something special? Children are young for such…
June 16, 2020 With summer here, and some of the quarantine restrictions lifting, it’s time to get outside again! Put a spring in your step with some canvas shoes, and up it a notch by decorating them. A white pair can be decorated to match your outfit or a party theme. Check out these fun…
September 21, 2020 Fall lovers are in their glory! And face it, most of us really do love all fall offers—from the visual beauty to the fun things to do. This year some activities may be limited or closed but there’s no reason we can’t have an old fashioned fall at home with the kids….
October 13, 2020 Whether you want to decorate your kitchen table or a side table in the living room, here are some easy Halloween centerpiece ideas to inspire your creativity. Decorating your home is just one way to really get in the mood for the holidays. And, Halloween is no different. So, grab that box…
December 7, 2011 I adore the holidays; the sights, smells and the warm fuzzy feelings. With the current economy, now is a great time to bring back the real reason for the holidays (which is not retail shopping). Our children’s favourite things about the holidays are not the gifts … no, really! Their favourite things…
October 1, 2019 It’s fall y’all and that means pumpkin spice has returned to the grocery shelves. If you’re in love with pumpkin spice lattes, pumpkin spice coffee creamer, and anything else that is pumpkin spice scented, you’re going to love these easy DIY projects that all smell like pumpkin spice. This easy pumpkin spice…
October 5, 2019 I’ll be honest right upfront and admit that our family has a costume addiction. For us, costumes are not just for Halloween. We use them for parties, conventions, open nights, and more. We’ve taken every possible route to costuming—everything from slaving for months to create an exact replica to buying something straight…
October 22, 2019 Once, maybe eight years ago, I had the perfect Fall. The kids were tiny and easily excitable. We decorated. We made special placemats. We even scavenged a cool looking branch outside, cut out paper leaves, and did a daily gratitude activity. For years, I tried to recreate that golden slice of time,…
November 7, 2019 There’s nothing like cozy scents to add cheer and warmth to your home. While it’s easy to grab a spray or plugin when you shop, they just don’t compare to natural scents. Plus usually they are full of chemicals. There are better ways to add a delightful fragrance to the house. Some…
November 19, 2019 Whether you’re making your personal gift idea list for family, or you are shopping for a co-worker or friend, most women love a little extra pampering at this time of year. With tight budgets, spa and beauty products often are not affordable for many women who have bills to pay and families…
November 21, 2019 I love the winter holidays, but, there is no denying that they can be overly commercial and rather wasteful. Americans throw away 25% more trash during the holidays than at other times of the year. And, that amounts to 25 million tons of garbage. You can learn more here. If Americans wrapped…
December 4, 2019 It’s time to check your list and start your Christmas shopping if you haven’t already. While you probably won’t forget a gift for the kids or your significant other, what do you do about gifts for unexpected visitors? I don’t know about you, but it never fails that someone unexpected stops by…
March 3, 2020 If you received a few scented candles over the holidays, you probably want to make them last as long as possible. I thought I’d share a few of my favorite tips as I’ve learned … if you’re careful, they can last for quite a while. The type of candle determines how long…
October 25, 2016 I love fall and all of the changes that happen outdoors during the season. Instead of buying plastic pumpkins, ceramic scarecrows, and pumpkin spice-scented candles, I’d much prefer to bring nature inside to help decorate my home. Here are five simple ways to decorate with nature. Pumpkins and Gourds You don’t need to carve your pumpkins…
December 8, 2011 I will admit it. I am as frugal as they come and I’m always on the look-out for great deals on clothes, shoes, food, and definitely on my holiday decorating. I am not willing to put out $50 for a beautifully decorated wreath, so we make our own. We also make wreaths for…
September 27, 2019 It’s the beginning of the craziness of holiday season. October is a great month to do any or all of the following! Plant seeds to plan ahead for spring! Plan a family planting afternoon with tulips, daffodils , hyacinths and anything else you’d like. Spring will be in full bloom before you…
December 14, 2011 With the holiday season officially underway, it’s important to embrace opportunities where we can spend creative quality time with our kids. If you still feel the need to get your craft on after all the Halloween and Thanksgiving projects, making your own Christmas decorations is a great way to slow down and…
December 21, 2011 Need a quick last minute holiday gift for someone your list? We’ve got the perfect craft – just grab your kids and some of your old holiday cards. People spend so much time, effort, and sometimes money to pick out or make their holiday cards, only to have them packed in boxes…
April 5, 2012 When I set out to find eco Easter egg dye options, I was surprised by the many kitchen items you could use. It is easy to forego the chemical-laden food colorings and teach your kids the joys and uses of nature used in easy egg coloring recipes. Dye Recipe Instructions for Eggs: Select…
July 16, 2012 Stuck inside because of summer heat? With the temperatures soaring outside play can become limited to early morning and just before dinner around here. So what to do with all that extra time in between to keep the kids entertained? There are so many fun and creative things that can be done…
June 8, 2012 It’s that time of year when High School and College Seniors are saying goodbye to school and hello to the real world. They’ve finished their studies, threw their graduation caps in the air and are ready for the next chapter in their lives. It’s an exciting time and one that deserves to…
February 6, 2017 Over the past year I have completed several projects using milk paint. I turned my bedroom furniture from a light-golden oak color to a rich dark-brown shade. This task involved painting two towers on either side of the bed, two dressers, and a TV stand. Without the milk paint, this project would have taken weeks, because I…
February 21, 2017 It’s the time of year that everyone starts counting down the days to spring and sunshine. We are all tired of the snow and ice and cold weather, tired of having to bundle up just to make a quick trip to the grocery store, and hoping for a warm day so we can…
March 3, 2017 I am one of those people who loves at least a little bit of holiday decor displayed at my house all year ’round. We are the crazy neighbors who have thousands of Christmas lights flashing to blasting music. Of course, it gets expensive to buy inflatable decorations and outdoor bulbs for each and…
April 5, 2017 Bath bombs have become a rave with teenage girls. Once you try one, you’ll also be a fan! But buying bath bombs can be expensive. This do-it-yourself version is easy and cheap. Keep the bombs you make for yourself, or give them as gifts. Ingredients: The amounts may vary depending on the recipe….
June 2, 2017 Do you have extra picture frames that you’re not using? If you’re one of the rare people who do not, you can always find frames at garage sales or swap meets, or buy a few at the dollar store. When you see a frame, grab it. There are so many picture frame…
