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Social Calendar by CoSchedule Keeps Bloggers on Track

Jan 16, 2024 · Leave a Comment

CoSchedule is an electronic marketing calendar that I use as a blog planner, social media scheduler and task organizer to help me stay focused on all of the moving parts involved in building my brands.

I receive a discount for sharing my knowledge with this blog post and pay annually which saves me some money. Plus the link below is an affiliate link. If you follow it and decide you love CoSchedule and subscribe, I save a few bucks on my annual fee.

CoSchedule offer a Free Marketing Calendar option, which I highly recommend you try. I started with a free trail and switched to a paid version within 3 days. And it has only gotten better.

Check out the Marketing Calendar from CoSchedule

Free Forever Marketing Calendar

The Free Forever Marketing Calendar is a great place to start. It helps you to visualize and organize your:

Blog Posts
Social Media
Emails
Events
Podcasts

The calendar view let's you customize how you want to view your tasks so you can laser focus on one aspect, see everything at once, or a blend.

Social Calendar

The Social Calendar adds one of my favorite features: Requeue.

Requeue allows you to schedule social media posts to republish automatically. It is easily customizable to make sure you don't overload your social accounts or publish the same content too often.

This plan also let's you create social media templates and schedule your social media posts at the perfect time to get the most traffic.

Content Calendar

The Content Calendar option adds Kanban boards to help visualize workflow of multiple projects. You can even create custom reports for stakeholders.

This is a great option if you have more than one person on your marketing team.

Marketing Suite

The Marketing Suite is built for larger corporate marketing teams including features like digital asset management, request forms and approval workflows. All of the features help teams work together to get more done.

Headline Studio

Headline Studio is a separate plan that helps you to write click-worthy headlines for blog posts, emails and social media posts.

There is a free headline analyzer plug in available for Word Press. The Premium version takes the analysis a step further leveraging AI to create headlines and a competitive analysis to help your headlines get your readers clicking.

CoSchedule has a plan for Marketing Departments of all sizes

Whether you are a solo blogger (like me!) or work with 1 to 50 (or more) other people CoSchedule is the perfect way to keep your marketing plan organized so you can do more.

Check out the Marketing Calendar from CoSchedule

more about CoSchedule

Free Marching Band Cupcake Topper Patterns for Cricut or Silhouette

May 24, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Marching Band cupcake topper patterns featuring a customizable shako and color guard props to use with Cricut, Silhouette or other die cutting machines.

Are you searching for cupcake topper patterns for Marching Band and Color Guard? Here are some free patterns you can cut using your band's colors to celebrate the end of the season, or a birthday or any other reason you may have to serve cupcakes.

cupcakes with marching band and color guard cupcake topppers

I made these for our post State Championships celebration, and the kids, parents and coaches loved them.

I struggled to find a pattern for marching season. All I could find was music notes or a few instruments.

That didn't say marching band or color guard to me. So, I created my own pattern to use with my Silhouette.

One fellow band mom suggested I sell the pattern, or even offer to make them as a custom order on Etsy.

But, who is going to buy it? Other band moms (or dads, or directors or maybe even a band member or two).

As a member of our band's Booster Board I know first hand how precious every dollar is.

Instead of charging for my cut file, I am offering this file absolutely free with two conditions:

SHARE this post. I am sure there are other marching band folks out there looking for cupcake topper patterns like this. Pin the post, share it on Facebook, tag me with a photo of your finished product on Instagram, etc.
Don't sell this file or claim it as your own! If you want to set up a business to make and sell the toppers, I am okay with that. Though it would be nice if you gave me a little shout out saying thanks.

Download the File

The first step is to download the file. It is a PNG file with a transparent background, which should be an easy import to both Cricut and Silhouette software.

click here to download

cut file instructions for marching band cupcake topppers

How to Create the Cupcake Toppers

The rest of this post is dedicated to explaining how to use the file to create the cupcake toppers.

If you already know how, then go enjoy the graphics. Thanks for visiting.

Upload and Separate the Graphics

First step, upload the file:

How to upload to Cricut Design Space

How to upload to Silhouette Studio

Then stretch it to your desired size by grapping the little box in the corner. I used 4.25 inches high by 5.325 inches wide, making the scalloped circle about 2.5 inches. A standard cupcake is 2.5 inches across on the top.

After you have resized the design, you need to separate the pieces:

Silhouette: right click on the design, scroll down and chose "Release Compound Path".
Cricut: I do not have a Cricut, so I searched and found these instructions. I hope that works.

Cut the pieces

Pick the emblem that looks like the one on your shako. This year we had a mirrored diamond, so I actually hand cut some diamond shapes out of aluminum foil.

I usually set up different tabs for each color I am going to cut. Then I duplicate the image as many as I can fit on the page.

Here's an example of the scalloped circles, which I cut on gold for the band and black for the guard.

For the plumes, I folded the circles in half and made diagonal slits leaving about ⅛ inch in the middle.

Assemble the Toppers

Once all of the pieces are cut, assembly is pretty quick and easy.

For the shako, glue the brim half way on the back then fold it up toward the front.

You can make them flat, but I added a little depth with these 3D Foam Squares.

Finally, glue them to a toothpick to stick in the cupcake.

Products I used for the cupcake toppers

3D Foam Adhesive Tape Squares

Red, Black, White, Silver and Gold cardstock (65 pound is fine, I used 100 for the circles)

White Glue - stick or liquid

Toothpicks (plain will be fine - I used these)

Silhouette Portrait 2

Cutting blade

Cutting mat

Cutting tools

I'd love to see what you make with these, please tag me on Facebook (@munofore) or Instagram (@thatrecipe) with a photo of your finished toppers.

More Projects

samples of homemade paper — Homemade Paper

A Big Hug Card craft for kids — Big Hug Card

Blogging: How I got rid of Spam Comments on Facebook

Feb 9, 2023 · 4 Comments

How I stopped SPAM follow for follow comments on my Facebook Business Page.

This post will explain ways to limit and possibly eliminate follow for follow requests and other SPAM comments on your Facebook Business Page.

What is Follow for Follow and Why Is It Bad Business?

Follow for follow is an old method of building a social media following.

The concept is pretty simple: all you have to do is follow a bunch of social media pages as your page and request that they follow you in return.

screen shot of FB page — What do these comments have to do with recipe? NOTHING!!!!!

Rinse and repeat and magically you have thousands of followers and so do they.

So easy! And so worthless.

You have thousands of followers, but none are genuine.

They aren't interested in your page or your posts.

They don't want what you are offering. If you are a blogger, they won't read your posts. If you are an influencer, they won't buy what you are promoting.

They only want you to follow their page so they can pad their stats.

Nothing but shallow comments and empty followers!

FACEBOOK SHOULD STOP SPAM COMMENTS. But, to their algorithm any interaction is a good interaction.

They even make it seem like it is a good thing to use this practice.

It's not. It's a lot of effort for no payoff.

Limit who can comment on Facebook Posts

You can limit who comments on each post individually. Choose the settings for the post and Who can comment on your post?

Then chose Established followers

This forces the individual to follow for 24 hours before they can comment. Most won't bother to come back.

The drawback is it is not a global setting. You have to do it for every single post.

Block Facebook Comments by Words

You can block Facebook comments that contain specific words and phrases, but it is buried deep in the settings.

Log in to your Facebook Business Page, click on your Profile Image to access the settings. Choose Settings and Privacy.

In the next window, choose Privacy Center

Choose Settings, then Facebook Settings:

Hang on! We are almost there! Choose Public Posts.

Then scroll down towards the bottom to finally find Content Moderation and Country Restrictions.

Content Moderation

Add the words the FTF folks are using.

I was also having a huge problem with one company trying to sell necklaces through the comments despite daily attempts to report and block them.

The next time those words appear in a comment they will get blocked.

Blocked comments will be hidden. Only the poster and their friends can see the comments. To you it will appear as greyed out. You can delete, unhide, block or report comments.

Reporting the comment will do nothing. Facebook will just say it does not violate community standards. You can just leave it hidden.

But, for two straight weeks I blocked all of the accounts and deleted the comments to keep them from coming back and bringing others with them.

Block Facebook Comments by Country

Many of the commenters were from countries such as the Philippines and Nigeria. You can block commenters by specific countries if you chose. I have many real followers from the Philippines so I chose not to do that.

You Can Stop SPAM Comments on Facebook

It took several weeks of limiting comments using the method described above. But, after a few weeks it seems they have gone away to harass someone else's account.

I will try to keep this post updated when Facebook inevitably makes changes to this method. In the mean time, I hope it works for you.

How to Age a Powder Coated Metal Canister

Feb 2, 2023 · Leave a Comment

Age a white powder coated metal canister with items around the house in just a few hours. Great for vintage or shabby chic design.

collage of metal canisters with text overlay "how to age a metal canister"

I got this cute coffee canister at a discount store.

I liked the shape and thought the copper handle would accent the other items on the open shelves in my kitchen.

But, it was too new looking for the vintage look of the rest of the pieces. So, with a little research online and some trial and error I fixed it.

Supplies for Aging a Metal Canister

Supplies I used:

white powder coated canisters like these
hammer
coarse grit sand paper
white distilled vinegar
paper towels
zip to lock bag to fit canister
hammered copper spray paint like this

Instructions

How I made a new white powder coated metal container look vintage in half a day.

Start with Sandpaper

First of all the bright glossy coat had to go. I rubbed the whole thing down with coarse grit sandpaper to remove the glossy finish.

Then, I rubbed down to the bare metal places the would receive normal wear and tear: the raised lettering, around the edges, and especially the lid.

I wanted it to look like the canister had been banged, scraped and dropped during years of use.

Hammer Time!

I banged the can and lid in a few places then banged them back out to form some dents.

I really wanted to dent or bend the handle but it was actually made from a pretty hard metal and I was afraid I'd actually pull it off the lid instead of just denting it.

The copper was just a spray paint and not actually copper metal. For the cost of the canister I didn't think it actually was. If it was copper I could have added patina the copper with vinegar and salt (similar to the steps below, but adding some salt to the vinegar before wrapping).

Luckily, I had some hammered copper spray paint that looks like aged copper when dry.

Vinegar to the Rescue

After all of the banging and scraping, I had plenty of metal underneath exposed. Unfortunately, it was bright and shiny, practically screaming "HI, I am new!"

Darkening it to resemble years of aging was simple thanks to one of my favorite multi-purpose household chemicals: distilled white vinegar.

I soaked some paper towels in the vinegar, wrapped it around the canister and put it in a zip to lock bag to prevent evaporation.

canister wrapped in vinegar soaked paper towels

Then, I set it in the sun for 4-6 hours to speed things up.

I could have left it longer, but it was getting dark outside. When, I peaked inside, the canister was dark enough for me.

The Final Result

As you can see the lid dips in the middle, the white paint is matte and worn, and the bare metal is a dull and dark.

A much better fit for my vintage décor.
And for those wondering, yes, I actually use it to store coffee beans in a zip to lock bag for extra freshness.

More Craft Projects for the Kitchen

20 Creative and Useful Cork Crafts for Your Kitchen including magnets, coasters, backsplash, baseboards and a chandelier. — 20 Wine Cork Crafts for the Kitchen

Easy decorated kitchen towels. Hand sewn and colored kitchen towels. Homemade gifts. — Decorated Kitchen Towels

How to Use Tasks in Marketing Calendar by CoSchedule

Jan 13, 2023 · Leave a Comment

CoSchedule Tasks helps keep your team on track and accountable to accomplish more and prevent jobs from slipping through the cracks.

This post will detail how to create Tasks and a Task Template in CoSchedule to help organize your workflow and your team.

What is CoSchedule?

They offer a Free Marketing Calendar option, which I highly recommend you try based on years of personal experience using CoSchedule daily.

I started with a free trail and switched to the paid version within 3 days. And it has only gotten better.

I pay annually which saves me some money, plus the link below is an affiliate link. If you follow it and decide you love CoSchedule and subscribe, I save a few bucks on my annual fee.

Check Out the Marketing Calendar by CoSchedule

NOTE: This article describes features from the paid version which may differ from those in the free version.

How to Create a Stand Alone CoSchedule Task

You can create a task without creating a project to go along with it.

Click on "Create" : select "more options" : then select "task"

To complete task creation:

give your task a name
description
assign it to a team member
add a due date

You can even make it a repeating task so you don't have to reenter the information repeatedly.

Unfortunately, some of my tasks are biweekly, and there is no option for that. So, I duplicate the task over and over then change the date.

How to Create Tasks for a Project

When you have a CoSchedule Project, such as an email or a blog post, you can break down the project into individual steps with different due dates and assign them to different team members.

Simply click on "Tasks" on the right side of the project screen then:

enter the task name,
schedule the due date
assign the team member

If you perform the same tasks repeatedly you can create a task template and apply it every time you need it. I have templates for my two different blogs as well as email creation with different tasks in each.

Select the three dots (ellipses, hamburger menu, shish kebab menu) and choose "task template"

You can create a new task, or select one you have already created.

When you create a task template you will be asked if you want to create based on when your project needs to be complete or when you want to start.

screenshot coschedule task template creation

Then you create each task by:

giving it a name,
establishing the due date (or start date)
assign it to a team member.

Completing Tasks in CoSchedule

Tasks will appear in the assigned team members To Do list and calendar view (if chosen), and they will receive emails with updates.

As each task is completed it can be checked off.

Check Out the Marketing Calendar by CoSchedule

More CoSchedule Tips

Here are more articles on how I use CoSchedule:

Easily Remove Paint from Glassware

May 6, 2022 · 1 Comment

How to remove painted logos from glassware without harsh chemicals or scratching the glass.

side by side of glass with painted label and without and text overlay "how to remove paint from glassware"

Have you ever gone to a restaurant or theme park and purchased an overpriced drink in a souvenir glass with their logo painted on it? And then years down the road the paint is faded and the cup is cluttering up the back of your cupboard collecting dust and dead bugs.

Or maybe you are a smart frugal shopper and scored some cheap glasses at a thrift store or garage sale that someone finally cleared from the back of their cupboard.

So how do you get rid of the painted on logo?

I picked this one up for free from a FUNdraiser for my kid's band, it was my reward for storing half of the donations in my garage for a month.

I often need a nice clear glass tumbler for photographing drinks for my food blog, That Recipe.

Unless I turn the cup around and only use dark liquids, Karl Strauss had to go. But, I didn't want to try to scrape off the paint with a razor blade or scrub it with steel wool and risk scratching the glass.

And who want's to go out and purchase some expensive noxious chemical product for a glass I got for free? Not this cheap lady!

Especially when I have a perfectly good chemical in my kitchen: acetic acid.

Basic household distilled vinegar.

I know. I said I didn't want any smelly noxious chemicals. My husband and son made fake gagging sounds over the smell of the vinegar like they always do when I open the bottle. I think they do it just to drive me crazy.

Vinegar might be smelly but it is safe to use without any hazmat gear.

How to use distilled vinegar to remove paint from glassware

I soaked a paper towel in the vinegar, wrapped it around the painted area and put it in a zip to lock plastic bag to seal in the moisture.

glass wrapped in paper towel inside zip to lock bag

Then I stuck it out in the direct sun to work it's magic for a few hours.

I tried rubbing it with the paper towel and was pleasantly surprised that the paint started coming off with a little effort.

I could have kept rubbing or wrapped it back up and let it sit overnight but I wanted it done.

All it took was a little gentle scraping from a plastic pan scraper on the tougher spots and the paint was completely removed!

After a quick cycle through the dishwasher it is now a perfect prop for photographing drinks like this one:

The Cold Brew Coffee Boba recipe will be up on That Recipe soon.

In the meantime, go dig through your cupboards or head to a garage sale and rescue some poor neglected glasses and breath new life into them.

How to Schedule Emails with the Marketing Calendar by CoSchedule

Jan 10, 2022 · Leave a Comment

This is a sponsored post. I have received compensation from CoSchedule in the form of a discount. The review and opinions are my own. (Seriously folks, I couldn't function without CoSchedule. If you are a blogger or other online business owner go check it out already)

How to use the Marketing Calendar from CoSchedule to schedule emails in Mailchimp and other email marketing programs.

Tablet computer displaying email marketing text with text overlay use coschedule to plan your email campaigns

When I open my web browser, it automatically opens to one of my favorite CoSchedule Calendar views so I can see at a glance what tasks I have coming up and then with one click I can get right to work.

I have written dozens of emails to my subscribers that have never actually been sent. The problem is, I think about doing it while I am finishing up a blog post and then get side tracked and never go over to Mailchimp to schedule them.

I am ashamed to admit it took me far to long to simply schedule my weekly email in CoSchedule so it shows up on my Calendar View to ~~nag~~ remind me and I can get started right from there.

What is CoSchedule?

For those not in the know, CoSchedule is an electronic marketing calendar that I use as a blog planner, social media scheduler and tasks organizer to help me stay focused on all of the moving parts involved in building my brand.

CoSchedule offers a free trial to put it through it's paces and see if it is the right fit for you. And that is a real free trial, not one of those "give your credit card and hope you remember to cancel before you are charged free" offers.

I pay annually which saves me some money, plus the link below is an affiliate link. If you follow it and decide you love CoSchedule as much as I do and subscribe, I save a few bucks on my annual fee.

Check Out CoSchedule Free for 14 Days

NOTE: I have been using CoSchedule for a number of years and am grandfathered in to an old plan, which may offer different features with different plan names than are currently offered.

Use CoSchedule to Create Emails

CoSchedule integrates with several of the biggest email marketing programs out there: Mailchimp, Active Campaign, Campaign Monitor and Constant Contact.

I use Mailchimp, so that's what the images and tutorial show, but the others are similar enough you will probably get the idea of how to proceed.

Create an email template task in CoSchedule

Click Create over on the far right and select Mailchimp (or your email marketing company).

If you use a company other than one integrated with CoSchedule you want to choose Project then change Social Media Campaign to Email Marketing.

Create the project template

Give your project a generic name that is going to appear on your calendar. I have all of my tasks color coded to make organization easier, so I click on that little white circle next to my profile pic and chose the category.

Create a Task

This is how you are going to add a to do item to your task list with a due date. On the left site type in something like "write weekly email" and then click on the word Schedule below it. Decide how far in advance you want your email written before sending. I do 3 days, but you do you.

Duplicate the Task

Once my task is filled in I make a duplicate it. Now, I have a master task that I can copy repeatedly and put on my calendar. The dates will change automatically as you move it around your calendar.

I do this before I enter an email title so I have a clean master copy. I have been known to send emails with the same title twice simply because I forgot to change it. If I leave it blank and forget Mailchimp will nag me.

Click on the three dots and a menu will appear, chose Duplicate. It will put it on the same date as the original with "(copy)" in front of it.

Make lots of copies and move them

I make about 8 copies then switch to calendar view. Then I drag them to the new date and remove the (copy) because it just irritates me. The task due dats will automatically change once you move the project.

Boom! two months of email projects and tasks on my calendar in a few minutes.

You can keep your original in Ideas, or just repeat the duplication process of the last task when you get to it.

Create your email

You can go directly to Mailchimp by clicking the three dots on the project in your calendar. (Click on the project first to make the dots appear.)

I prefer to test some email subject lines before I go to Mailchimp because CoSchedule's analyzer is much more detailed than the one in Mailchimp.

Play with the text until you get a good score and then click on Edit in Mailchimp to head over there and create your email.

Be sure to come back and mark your task as done in Coschedule because that 100% on a task looks so good.

Other CoSchedule Tips

I have posted before about how I use CoSchedule that may help you as you well:

Check Out CoSchedule Free for 14 Days

8 Easy Strength Exercises You Can Do from a Chair

Mar 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Easy strength exercises that can be done while sitting in a wheel chair, at work, or in front of the tv.

woman in office chair exercising with text overlay "easy exercises you can do from a chair"

Muscular strength is of vital importance for your overall health. Strong muscles make strong bones. Muscles are also hungry little buggers, if you develop them they will want to be fed. The result? an increased metabolism! And as long as you don't overeat the muscles will turn to stored fat for fuel.

Getting to the gym can be a challenge for many reasons, but that doesn't mean you can't do simple strength exercises right from your chair, whether it is at work or in front of the tv.

How to Do the Exercises

Do each exercise slowly, concentrating on the muscles being worked. For best results do not use momentum or gravity especially on the return phase of the movement. Moving slowly in both phases of the exercise will work more muscles to control the weight.

Repeat each of these moves 5 times to start and gradually work your way up to 10 then 15 repetitions. Aim for 3-4 times a week with rest days in between, especially if you are new to exercising.

You do not need weights to get a good workout. For some people just performing the movements will be exercise enough in the beginning, especially when done slowly.

Start with a light hand weights (dumbbells) of 1 or 2 pounds. Gradually increase the weight when you can do 15 repetitions without straining. If you don't want to invest in weights to start, use two water bottles or cans of beans. Both are about 1 pound.

The Exercises

Shoulder Press

Sit up straight, hands on your shoulders, elbows down to each side. Push your arms over your head and slowly lower back down.

Think of it like "raise the roof" except arms fully extended.

Chest Rows

Sit up straight, shoulders back, hands at the center of your chest, elbows, forearms and hands at shoulder height. Push your arms straight out in front of you then pull your arms straight back squeezing the shoulder blades together.

Think of it like rowing a boat.

Chest Press

Sit up straight. Bring upper arms to the sides at shoulder height, bend at the elbow so hands are up forming a 90 degree angle. Squeeze the elbows together in front of your chest then slowly return to the sides keeping elbows even with the shoulders at all times.

Think of it like opening and closing swinging windows.

Tricep Extensions

Sit up in the chair, shoulders back, feet planted firmly on the floor. Hold your arms out to each side with palms facing behind you. Bend at the elbow, bringing hands towards the body and then slowly raise them back up. The upper arms should remain level with the shoulders throughout.

Think of it like top down windshield wipers.

Bicep Curl

Sit up in the chair, shoulders back, feet planted firmly on the floor. Hold your arms out to each side with palms facing up. Bend at the elbow bringing hands towards the shoulders then slowly straighten. The upper arms should remain level with the shoulders throughout.

Think of Popeye making a muscle.

Wood Chop

Sit up straight with a weight in one hand. Hold your arm above your head and slowly bring it across your body to your opposite hip then slowly back up above your head. Repeat for the other side.

Think of chopping an axe across your body.

Leg Lifts

Sit straight up, hands on the seat of the chair by your backside. Heels and knees should be together. Lift both legs straight up off the floor until they are level with your hips. Slowly lower the legs back down.

Think of it like kicking with both legs together.

Elbow to Knee Twist

Sit straight up, arms bent so elbows are parallel with the shoulders. Twist your torso lowering your right elbow while raising your left knee. If you can’t reach, just do the best you can. If your lower back starts hurting, STOP! Switch sides, trying to touch left elbow to right knee.

Think of it like the torturous "bicycle" exercise usually done while lying on the ground.

With those 8 basic exercises you can get an overall body workout using most major muscle groups. As you find your strength increasing you will probably want to move beyond these and incorporate other types of movement as well.

The Benefits of Habits and Routines

Mar 5, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Creating routines and habits into your day can reduce stress and help you to be more productive.

boat on water with text overlay "The Benefits of Routine on Your Daily Life"

Does it get harder to make decisions toward the end of the day? Or am I the only one that struggles after a full day of working and momming to figure out what to make for dinner?

Your brain can only handle so many decisions in a day before it just can't handle anymore. Then your stress level increases causing all kinds of mental and physical issues.

Living with a child with Autism, routine is one of our best friends. Without routine, he is lost and anxious. Aren't we are all that way to an extent.

One of the first things tossed out the window in most households during the Covid-19 pandemic was the daily routine. It was great for the first few weeks, and then it became stressful in most households and not just because of the unknowns surrounding the illness.

When we have daily routines we save our brains some decisions every day so those we do need to make are more well thought out and purposeful.

Routines are a great tool that simplify our lives and reduce much of our daily stress.

Implement routines into your day wherever possible.

“A champion doesn’t become a champion in the ring, he’s merely recognized in the ring. His “becoming” happens during his daily routine.” — Joe Louis

Chances are you already have a morning routine, whether it is intentional or not. You get up, get dressed, check email or social media while you are drinking your coffee and eating some cereal before heading out for the day.

If you create a “uniform” for yourself, you don’t even have to think about what to wear. You just grab a pair of pants and a shirt, or a skirt, tights and sweater and you are ready to go. Learn more about creating your own Capsule Wardrobe.

Meal planning helps you figure out what meals to fix and eat. It also helps you make healthier food choices and reduces food waste.

A cleaning schedule can help you stay on track with household chores. Laundry on Mondays, floors on Thursdays, kitchen sink and countertops before bed, etc.

A bedtime routine can help you wrap up your day as well as get ready for the next. Tidy the kitchen, pack lunches and ensure the kids’ school things are ready to go. Then come up with a few calming things that help you slow down and get ready for sleep.

How to Start a Habit of Daily Routines

Sit down with a pen and piece of paper and think about what parts of your day and week you can turn into routines. Write the down and create daily to-do lists for yourself until you’ve established these new habits and routines.

Spending a little bit of time creating routines and habits will make your day run a lot smoother. You might just find yourself less stressed and get more done during your productive hours.

And that’s a beautiful thing. Routines and habits allow you to save plenty of decision making for the fun stuff like figuring out what park to go to, what family movie to watch or what color to paint the dining room.

Create a Customized Triptych for Your Space

Feb 23, 2021 · Leave a Comment

A Triptych collage can add instant style to any wall. Learn how easy it is to design your own at a fraction of the cost of store bought designs.

two images of wall art collages with text overlay "how to create a customized triptych"

A triptych originated as a religious artwork of three images hinged together. It is now a term used for a collage of 3 (or sometimes more) pieces of art that are designed to be hung side by side.

Getting them from an art store can be expensive. The good news is you can easily make one yourself with a computer and a few other supplies.

Supplies

3 identical frames
spray paint (optional)
a high resolution digital image
ruler
scissors
picture hangers

Instructions

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I may earn a commission for purchase through the links at no cost to you.

Pick your frames

I got the rustic country triptych in the photo above when a neighbor had them on the lawn marked "free". The frames were in great shape, but the image was not my style.

You do not have to buy new frames. Go to thrift stores or yard sales and look for frames with matching (or similar) style and size. Even if they aren't the same color, or a color you like, you can just paint them.

Pick your design

To go in my red and black Asian themed room, I found this koi repeatable pattern on DepositPhotos.

You can use your own photograph or search online for free photos or graphics. A few sites I like for free or low cost stock images:

Measure and Design

Measure the finished size of your design. If you bought new frames, you can skip this step. Otherwise, remove the back of the frame and measure the inside.

Mine were 9 inches wide by 20 inches high. So my total design space was 27 inches by 20 inches.

Next, I headed to my favorite design site, Canva. I have a Pro account because I use it for every image you see on my blogs and on social media. But, you can just use the free account or your favorite design software.

You are probably going to need to create customized dimensions for your project. Then select "grids" and choose the one with three equally sized rectangles. Then you will have 3 correctly sized rectangles to design.

My original design was a square, but since it was a repeatable pattern I could arrange it to be one continuous rectangle with 3 parts. I just placed the image in to each rectangle and moved until it looked like the one above.

OPTIONAL: I shrunk the grid slightly and used a black background so I could see how it would look with my frame. When I was satisfied I made it fit the rectangle again and removed the background.

Print Your Design

I imported my design to create my own customized poster on Zazzle. It was quick and easy to do and they constantly have coupons. For a 20 x 27 semi gloss poster plus shipping and taxes, I paid about $20!

koi triptych poster — As you can see, I altered my original design to make the center panel a little different.

You can also have posters printed at local copiers or photo printing stores, so be sure to shop around. You will probably need to buy a slightly larger standard poster to fit your customized design. Just do not choose any "stretch to fit" type options and it should work with a little extra trimming. When in doubt, ask the company.

Cut and Hang

Since my poster was custom sized, all I had to do was cut down the center lines. I recommend a straight edge for this... do as I say not as I did.

I used paper rectangles the size of my frames to finalize my layout to avoided extra nail holes. I probably changed it 10 times before finally deciding where I wanted them.

Eventually, I decided to mimic the angle of the stair wall on the left.

Enjoy your new look

More Projects

Mixed Media Wall Art - cheap and easy wall art with paint, fabric and markers. — DIY Mixed Media Wall Art

collage of beach photos — Shell Collage and Frames

Decorative Solar Lights Add Whimsy to Your Garden

Feb 15, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Use decorative solar lights to add fun to your garden both day and night

Besides plants and water features, I like to have little bits of fun scattered throughout my garden. My garden is rather informal so I can decorate with cute statues, hand painted signs and our Super Mario fairy garden.

These are all great during the day, but at night it is just a vast dark space aside from the pond lights. I could add low voltage lighting, and I may at some point. But, there are a plethora of decorative solar lights that are relatively inexpensive and make their own electricity.

I scrolled through Amazon for some inspiration and thought I would share a few of the more interesting ones with you. All of the links are affiliate links and I may receive a commission at no cost to you for any purchases through them.

Solar Gazing Ball

I love gazing balls during the day, and adding solar lights make them interesting at night too.

more info

Fairy Landscape Tree Lights

I think these look best intermingled with the plants to add pops of lights at night and be a bit hidden during the day.

more info

Sun and Moon with Crackle Glass Globe

The cut outs in the moon and sun create beautiful lighting effects on the area around the light.

more info

Amber Lotus Blossom

What a lovely Zen touch for any yard.

more info

Color Changing Stained Glass Globe

This would make a beautiful centerpiece on any table and it is attractive both day or night.

more info

Rustic Blue Star Lantern

Great for a rustic, shabby chic or patriotic style yard. These can be placed on a table or hung up via the handle.

more info

Solar Powered Tiki Torches

Aloha! Guess what my husband is getting for his birthday! He loves the look of tiki torches, but not the pain of dealing with the liquid and risks using actual flame.

more info

Fireworks Flowers

These kind of fireworks won't disturb pets (or people) with any loud booms. Also available in yellow.

more info

I'm a G-Nome!

For those into garden gnomes (me!) you need to have at least one lighted one, don't you?

more info

Fairy / Gnome House

This little house could be the central focus of a delightful fairy garden.

more info

Peacock Garden Stake

Add a fun splash of peacock blues with this lighted statue.

more info

Flamingo Garden Stake

The peacock above is beautiful, but I have lawn flamingos around my pond. And this one would be a gorgeous addition to the collection.

more info

Yoga Frog Stake

Besides the flamingo statues our pond is inhabited by a bunch (army, chorus, colony, lots and lots and lots) of very vocal live tree frogs. Maybe this fellow can inspire them to chill a bit when people are trying to fall asleep.

more info

I now have a wish list full of decorative solar light ideas that could work nicely in my yard. Now I just need to decide which ones first.

More Gardening Ideas

Repurposed Garden Hose Wreath - festive gardening themed wreath made from an old hose and some colorful kids gardening tools. — Garden Hose Gardening Wreath

Drought Tolerant Gardening with California Native Plants: having a water wise garden doesn't have to be rocks and cacti. — Drought Tolerant Gardening

Want to Get Healthy? Stop Weighing Yourself!

Feb 9, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Weighing yourself every day can be unmotivating and unhealthy. And it actually doesn't mean much.

feet resting on a scale with text overlay "Ditch the Scale, Get Healthy Instead"

Have you ever dieted and/or exercised only to hit a plateau for weeks on end or worse the scale goes up? You think it's impossible to lose weight. You beat yourself up because the scale doesn't say what you want it to.

And then you give up or worse, do something unhealthy just to see the scale go down. You know what I mean: restrictive fad diets, "miracle" supplements, over exercising, eating disorders, etc.

Personally, I am over trying to lose weight. Instead, I am working to improve my health so I can live a long productive life.

My goals, my health, and my self worth, do not involve the scale.

Body Weight Fluctuates During the Day

Throughout the day your body weight can naturally vary as much as 5 or 6 pounds. You can weigh yourself first thing in the morning after you "void" (go potty) then you have breakfast and weigh something else, then you workout and the scale is different again, and then you sit all day and BOOM! another weight change.

Oh, but you weigh yourself at the exact same time, every day, after voiding, wearing nothing. Surely that is accurate.

That's a big fat NOPE!

Here are just a few possible reasons that your weight may differ from day to day.

Possible Reasons for daily weight fluctuations chart

The Scale Only Measures One Thing

Would you build a house only by weighing the materials? Just ignore the length, depth, width, material composition. As long as it weighs the correct amount it'll work, right?

The scale only measures your total body weight. It does not consider your gender, height or the composition (muscle, fat, bones and other stuff).

Men and women have different bone density. Bone density can also vary with activity and age. The scale doesn't account for that.

~~Muscle weighs more than fat.~~ No, a pound of muscle weighs the same as a pound of lead and a pound fat. A pound is a pound.

BUT, a pound of fat takes up more space than a pound of muscle. A cubic inch of fat weighs less than a cubic inch of muscle. And it acts differently in your body too. Fat sits there taking up space, muscles are hungry buggers that eat a lot (i.e. burn more calories).

The scale says I have lost 20 pounds. But, have I actually lost 30 pounds of fat while gaining 10 pounds of muscle at the same time? The scale can't tell me.

The Bogus Measurement Index (BMI)?

The Body Mass Index is a ratio of height and weight.

According to the magic chart, three people weighing 155 pounds with different heights would be classified differently. A 5'0" person would be obese, while a 5'5" person would be overweight and someone at 5'10" is normal.

Based on the BMI, Usain Bolt, the world class sprinter, is overweight. Super Bowl quarterback Russel Wilson is obese. Most supermodels are classified as severely underweight.

Some charts adjust for gender and age, but they still ignore body composition. And the classifications can seem like condemnations without perspective.

You can get more info on BMI here. But basically, study after study shows that it is also a poor indicator of an individuals overall health.

Body Weight is Only One Health Measurement

Besides being potentially inaccurate, body weight (and the corresponding BMI) is only one measurement of your overall health.

A few health factors not reflected by your body weight:

resting heart rate
blood pressure
blood cholesterol level
blood glucose level
waist to height ratio
percentage of body fat
muscle strength, flexibility and endurance
cardiovascular endurance
freedom from disease

I could be in the "normal" weight range yet have high blood pressure and not be able to run a mile without keeling over.

But, the scale says I am healthy.

Which is why I no longer have scale goals. I have fitness goals.

Keep it in Perspective or Stay Off the Scale

If weighing yourself daily helps you to make healthier food choices and be more active than keep doing you.

But, if it discourages you not to see the scale move and you are tempted to try an unhealthy, unsustainable diet or exercise program or even give up the solution is simple.

STOP weighing yourself.

Try tracking calories consumed and expended (what you eat and how much you move) for a month. Move more and eat healthier, whatever that is for you, and see if you look and feel better.

Then keep going towards a healthier more fit you.

Random Acts of Kindness Help Yourself by Helping Others

Feb 1, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Performing Random Acts of Kindness not only help make someone else's life better, they have measurable benefits for you as well.

ball with smiley face floating on water with text overlay "Random Acts of Kindness help yourself by helping others

A Random Act of Kindness (RAK) is an act, big or small, that shows kindness to someone else often for no other reason than to show kindness.

My son's Math teacher recently drove out of his way to drop a magazine off on our porch for him (we are still in virtual learning due to Covid). The teacher has been working on mindfulness with the students, and my son isn't exactly buying into it. But, when a teacher goes out of his way to give you a present you pay attention.

Another teacher at the school challenged the students to answer Martin Luther King Jr.'s call to service and participate in a "day ON" instead of a "day OFF" on January 18. Her family took donuts to the fire station. We made cookies for a virtual Cookies for Kids Cancer fundraiser and sent them to a friend that lost his sister to cancer.

Once when I was cycling with my then-preschooler in a trailer behind me up a hill, a woman driving past me rolled down her window and cheered me on with a simple "You go, Mama!". It cost her nothing except a few seconds of her time, but it made such an impact on me that day I remember it 8 years later.

Benefits of Random Acts of Kindness

We often consider how the act of kindness effects the recipient, but the giver also benefits. Here are a few things gained by doing something nice for someone else.

Sense of Gratitude

Doing something nice for someone else can make you feel grateful for your blessings. This is especially true when the recipient of your act is less fortunate than you or in a tough spot. When you realize you’re able to give even the smallest bit of yourself to someone else, it shines perspective on the abundance you have in your life.

Lowers Stress

Stepping out of ourselves in order to focus on someone else is another great way to gain renewed perspective. Plus, doing good just makes you feel better. It releases feel-good hormones and increases your happiness. Suddenly, your troubles may seem a bit less burdensome.

Improved Mood

Numerous studies have shown a positive effect on mood when people engage in random acts of kindness. You’re bound to feel better about life in general when you do good deeds. Improved mood, less anxiety and higher energy levels have all been linked to the performance of random acts of kindness.

Less Pain

It’s been proven that endorphins are released in the brain after doing something for someone else. Endorphins are the feel good hormone and are often referred to as natural painkillers for their pain reducing abilities.

Better Relationships

Random acts of kindness promote good feelings among people and increase connections. These bonds can lead to better relationships and lasting positive interpersonal results.

These are merely a handful of the rewards that come from doing random acts of kindness. Remember, it doesn’t matter how small the gesture. Doing good always makes a positive difference to both the giver and the recipient.

25 Examples of Random Acts of Kindness To Inspire You

Random Acts of Kindness are great for you and the recipient, but where to begin?

Anywhere!

Besides the examples above, here are 25 examples to help you brainstorm ideas.

Some of the activities will cost you nothing and take only a moment of your time. Others will be more in-depth. Choose whatever fits your comfort level and the occasion.

Hold the door open for the person behind you.
Smile at someone on the street.
Give an unsolicited compliment.
Allow the shopper in the grocery line to move ahead of you.
Let the store manager know when an associate gives you exceptional service.
Check on an elderly neighbor or shut-in.
Leave kind notes in the dressing room to encourage body positivity.
Donate your old clothes, household items, phones, etc. to charity.
Tape change to a parking meter or vending machine.
Visit a nursing home just to spend time with those who rarely receive visitors or to bring treats for the residents.
Send a note of thanks to someone who’s made a big difference in your life.
Give the new employee a tour of the building and offer to sit with them at lunch.
Volunteer. At a nursing home, a homeless shelter, a soup kitchen, your kid’s school, anywhere.
Adopt a child or family during the holidays to give gifts to.
Send a get-well card to someone, or even a card for no reason whatsoever.
Ask for donations to your favorite charity instead of presents for your birthday.
Pay for the person behind you in line at the fast food restaurant.
Offer to babysit for parents who really need a night away or to help with the nightly feedings for a new mother friend.
Clean up the trash in your neighborhood or at your favorite outdoor recreation spot like a park or beach.
Make a financial donation to your local school to help pay for meals or bus passes for families that are struggling but don't qualify for aid.
Thank a veteran or first responder for their service.
Shovel the driveway, mow lawns or rake leaves for elderly neighbors or those who may otherwise have trouble doing the job themselves.
Mentor someone entering your profession
Help someone stranded on the side of the road.
Take the time to listen to someone who is having a bad day.

Hopefully you are inspired to begin sharing random acts of kindness with those around you. Pick an idea from the list or one of your own and put it into action. See how you feel. Chances are you’ll be ready to do another one tomorrow.

If you'd like to start your kindness journey the easy way, share this post with friends and family. (Thanks!)

Lovely Lighted Potpourri Jar for Valentine's Day

Jan 25, 2021 · Leave a Comment

This lovely lighted potpourri jar adds a simple festive touch for Valentine's Day.

mason jar filled with potpourri and christmas lights with text overlay "lovely lighted potpourri jar"

Years ago, my sister in law gifted me with a cute mason jar filled with potpourri and holiday lights with Christmas decorations on it. When it is plugged in the lights gently warm the potpourri releasing it's lovely scent.

Since my kitchen remodel I have the perfect place to display it with a plug nearby and thought I'd remake it for all seasons so we can enjoy it all year.

The Valentine's Day themed one has helped combat the drab and dreary January days that usually occur after the Christmas decorations are packed away

These make great gifts for family and friends, or make one or two for yourself.

Supplies

I would normally link to the supplies I used, but they were just things I had in the house.

You can use battery powered or LED lights, but they probably will not produce enough heat to warm the potpourri. If you have ever felt mini lights while they are on you know they are not hot enough to burn anything, but you can definitely feel a slight warmth.

pint or quart mason jar
1 strand 35 light red (or pink or clear) mini lights
potpourri
5 inch cotton lace doily
ribbons, beads and other decorations (heart shaped vase fillers)
white glue or hot glue gun and sticks

Instructions

First I tipped the jar on it's side and slide in some of the vase fillers and about a third of the lights.

Then I put in some potpourri.

Then I pushed in a few more lights, then more potpourri. Rinse and repeat until filled.

mason jar with heart shapes, potpourri and mini lights

Next up, top it with a doily so the light and fragrance can come out the top.

doily tied around a mason jar filled with potpourri

Finally, I decorated the jar with ribbons and mini pearl garland. I had hot glued together.

All that was left was to put it on the shelf and plug it in for some nice Valentine's Day cheer.

More Projects

Love Heart Cross Stitch Pattern - free printable cross stitch pattern of hearts spelling the word LOVE. — Antique Rose Wreath

free valentines font graphic — Fonts and Graphics for Valentine's Day

Use Colors in CoSchedule Marketing Calendar to Stay Organized

Jan 18, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Disclaimer: this is a sponsored posts and contains affiliate links. I have received discounts for publication of this post and may earn a commission for any purchases made through these links at no additional cost to you. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

How I use colors in my CoSchedule Marketing Calendar to keep me organized between three blogs plus their associated social media accounts.

screenshot of coschedule calendar with text overlay "Use Colors in Coschedule to stay organized."

CoSchedule is an electronic marketing calendar that can be used as a blog planner, social media scheduler and tasks organizer to help bloggers stay focused and build their brand.

I am a huge fan of CoSchedule and so glad a blogging buddy encouraged me to try it free years ago. And that is a real free trial, not one of those "give your credit card and hope you remember to cancel before you are charged free" offers.

After only a few days I saw all of the benefits it was going to provide me. And even though I HATE to spend money, especially on blogging tools, I signed up.

I pay annually which saves me some money, plus the link below is an affiliate link. If you follow it and decide you love CoSchedule as much as I do and subscribe, I save a few bucks on my annual fee.

Check Out CoSchedule Free for 14 Days

I hear someone in the back muttering "Oh great, that's how it helps YOU, but is it really going to help ME."

If you are looking to simplify your blogging tasks to one easy to use program, this could be your solution.

Here's just one example of how I use it to help me stay on top of all my deadlines.

Organization at a Glance

My browser automatically opens to my CoSchedule calendar when I log on so I know exactly what posts I have coming up and how far along I am before I start sliding down the slippery slope of distraction known as Social Media.

I get a gentle reminder that I have work to do at a quick glance. Because I am a mom too and sometimes a quick glance is all I get.

Isn't it pretty with all of those lovely colors?

The colors actually serve a purpose besides visual interest.

I have several types of food posts for That Recipe. Here on Munofore I have gardening, crafts, fitness and other posts. By keeping them color coordinated I make sure I am mixing up my content and I can see that I have everything on my calendar.

If you have multiple people you could assign a color to each person, or use them for different tasks (blog posts, video posts, email, etc. ).

There's no rule that says you can't have a color for personal stuff too.

Assigning Colors in CoSchedule

Select your Name in the upper left, then choose Settings and towards the bottom is Color Labels. Pick your colors, type in the label and head back to your Calendar.

You can assign the color at project creation by clicking the empty white circle at the top.

But, if you forget or want to change the color label you can do it after post creation as well.

Bonus Tip: Use "Tasks"

If you look closely at the screenshot of my calendar above you might notice there is a percentage on each job. When I create them I break down the job into several steps and create tasks for each one.

Not only does this make the job seem less overwhelming, it helps me keep track of what I have left to do. Did I create the photos for that one? How about social media posts?

You can assign due dates and task owners if you are working with others.

If you do the same tasks repeatedly, create a task template to save yourself typing the same tasks over and over. Just click on the 3 dots to the right of the completion bar.

My tasks vary slightly based on the job, so I have several templates.

CoSchedule is a Blogger's Best Friend

With just a couple of clicks on the mouse and keyboard, CoSchedule helps you create a blog schedule that gives you all of the information you need to maintain a consistent posting schedule and build your blog.

Check Out CoSchedule Free for 14 Days

More CoSchedule Tips

clock inserted into a piggy bank with text overlay "How CoSchedule's Placeholder Groups Help me to do more in less time." — Using Requeue and Placeholder Groups

How to Calculate When to Plant in Your Area

Jan 11, 2021 · Leave a Comment

Calculating when to plant in your area is a crucial step for a successful vegetable garden. It involves a number of variables, and can never be 100% accurate, but this post will take some of the guesswork out of the equation.

hands planting a plant with text overlay "How to Calculate When to Plant Your Garden"

"Equation? That's a figure of speech, right?

You don't actually need math to plant a garden do you?

It's not algebra is it? Please say it isn't algebra. EEEK!"

Take a deep breath and go to your happy place.... imagine yourself walking through your beautiful garden filled with ripe produce just waiting for you to harvest.

Are you feeling calmer now?

In order to get to the vision of your garden of plenty, you need to do a little research, make some decisions, and count backwards on a calendar.

It isn't a perfect science, but it will help you get a better idea of when to plant for maximum success.

Step 1: Determine your Frost Dates

Your vegetable growing season will fall loosely between your anticipated last spring frost and the first hard frost in the fall. Think of these two dates as virtual bookends around your prime vegetable growing season.

Unless you have a crystal ball, it is next to impossible to predict these dates with absolute certainty. Fortunately, there are some valuable online resources you can check for general guidelines.

The Old Farmer's Almanac has compiled weather data for 30 years based on zip code and averaged it out for you.

Search for your zip code here and you will get the average date of the last spring frost date and first hard frost in the fall of the nearest climate station. The data for my zip code says February 15 through January 3.

I could get into math right now and explain that the dates are a 30% probability and what that means and explain that past weather cannot predict an unexpected late season snow storms or unseasonably early cold temperatures in the fall. Blah blah blah!

Dave's Garden gives more detailed information including the information that I am almost guaranteed not to get frost from March 8 through November 18

All of the dates are estimates, but they give you a starting point for planning.

Step 2: Determine what you are going to plant.

Gorgeous Greens - Spring Garden Photos - strawberries, grapes, peas, manzanitas, coffeeberry

What fruit and vegetables are you going to plant?

Are you planting seeds or transplants?

Once you figure that out, you need to find the "days to maturity" on the seed packet or plant tag. This number tells you approximately how long it will take until that plant is ready to harvest.

This is important to know because some vegetables reach maturity much faster than others. For example, radishes, lettuce and baby carrots can be ready for harvest just 30 days after they are sown as seeds. On the other hand, some pumpkin varieties can take a full 120 – 160 days before they reach maturity.

Step 3: Plan your planting times

So, you know you might not want to risk planting in the ground before your first frost date.

Now look at the days to maturity for your plant varieties to get an idea of how early you need to get that plant into the ground if you want it to reach maturity before your first hard frost date.

The first hard frost date isn't the only date to consider though. If you want ripe tomatoes for your July 4th picnic or pumpkins ready for Halloween carving you will need to count backwards from those dates to know when you need to get them in the ground.

I usually try for at least a few weeks before. So, if I want pumpkins for Halloween, I want them ready by about October 15. So counting backwards, I would want to plant a 120 day variety by July 15.

How to get an earlier start

I can usually start plants outside about April 1. But in northern climates it is much later. My buddy in Pierre, SD has a last spring frost date of May 8. That's not a lot of time for tomatoes to grow from seeds before July 4th.

However, if you start seeds indoors or protect your plants from cold temperatures with mulch, cold frames, row covers or mini-hoop houses, you can extend your growing season even further.

Yes, I have posts for that.

Learning when to plant vegetables in your area is worth the effort. Knowing when your prime growing season begins and ends – and how you can get the most out of it – will make you a much more successful food gardener.

Refresh a Room the Easy Way with a Wallpaper Mural

Jan 5, 2021 · Leave a Comment

This post is sponsored by Photowall. I have received compensation for this project and post. The thoughts, work and photos are my own.

Install a wallpaper mural to easily makeover a room in just a few hours.

Our entryway is a rather dark and dreary space even with a glass front door and a sidelight. It's always just been there.

Until I finished the project I didn't realize how many times we passed through here every day. There's a bathroom to the left and the stairs are behind the angled wall on the right.

When Photowall approached me for this post, I decided it was finally time to breath some life into this space.

Get 25% Your Photowall Order

Inspired to add a wall mural, wallpaper or canvas print to your space?

Photowall is offering 25% off your order with coupon code munofore25 (good until January 31, 2021)

Choosing the design

This was the hardest part because Photowall has so many choices! And that's not even including the option to use your own photo.

I narrowed it to about a dozen and my husband and I further winnowed it down to these two choices. Then we couldn't chose between them.

Crowdsourcing time!

Our son liked the Redwood Forest. My brother and his wife liked the Mossbrae (a waterfall in northern California). Finally, I asked a friend whose design opinion I trust and she said two things that tipped the scale: the waterfall photo is darker and the energy flows down, while the energy in the redwood flows up.

Measuring and Ordering

Measure the wall in two or three places because walls aren't always square. Add a few inches to the length and width to be safe. Easy peasy.

I plugged my measurements into the order form, cropped the image to fit and made one last design choice.

Since the door and side light are on the left of the mural, I chose "mirror image" to put the light in the image on the left side instead of the original right.

It is a subtle thing for this image, but it does look more natural. Your design choice may not need it, but click the option under "settings" to try it out before deciding.

Add the wallpaper kit if you have never wallpapered before and don't have the tools. Trust me it will make your life so much easier!!! And I am the woman that uses whatever tools I have on hand for 99% of my projects.

I placed the order (during holiday time, no less) and a few days later it was on it's way to me. Speedy delivery, good notification. Double thumbs up.

Installation Day

Let the fun begin!

I blocked off my entire morning to do this because I wasn't sure how long it would take. It looked easy enough from reading the instructions and watching the video online. But, I am notorious for unforeseen disasters and things taking far longer than they should.

Clean the wall and space.

First step, clear out the table, sweep and remove the switch plate covers. Wipe down the walls, fill nail holes, etc.

Prep the mural and gather materials.

Roll out the mural and cut between the strips where indicated. I left the numbers on top, even though I only had four strips.

I stacked them in order with the first strip on top and within a few moments the curl from being rolled up was not an issue.

Gather everything on the instruction list so you aren't running around trying to find things. Yes, for once, I actually did this and my life was easier.

Measure out the first strip.

If the first strip is correct, everything else will fall into place. Take your time to get this right and the rest will be easier.

Measure the strip then measure the wall marking the width of the strip in several places. Make a faint line about 1-2 feet long and make sure it is level. When it is PERFECT, make a line the full height of your mural.

Mix up the wallpaper paste.

collage of wallpaper paste mixing — They give you plenty, the photo on the right is the LEFTOVERS!

TIP: Do NOT try to take a photo while pouring in the powder with your opposite hand so you can sprinkle it around the water. It all ended up lumped in the middle.

I smashed up the big lumps as best I could. They give you so much paste that a few lumps here and there were not a problem, I just made sure they didn't end up on the wall.

Liberally apply the paste.

The paste will thicken up a bit after mixing, so wait about 5 minutes. It should resemble cream of wheat (grits, polenta) when it is ready. Food blogger thoughts.

Brush the glue on liberally (there is plenty!). Go about 4 or 5 inches over the line you drew. Look at the wall from different angles to make sure every last little bit of wall has paste on it.

Hang the paper.

Deep breath. Relax. It is far more forgiving than you might think.

Start at the top and align the paper so that it runs right along your nice level line on the right.

Don't panic if you don't get it exact the first try. You can gently lift it off of the wall and reposition it. You can also wiggle it on the wall by pushing against it and nudging it as needed.

If you have a switch or outlet you will need to carefully cut it out as you go. Use the cutter, and slice around the wall cut out. Make sure the paper is actually cut before tugging away the scrap. Seriously, go slow here or you can cut too far or accidentally rip the paper. Learn from my mistake.

Once the first piece is in place PERFECTLY, press it down with your hands from the middle out. Go over it with the wallpaper brush to remove every single bubble.

Repeat: apply paste to the next section of wall then place the next piece aligning the left edge so that it pushes right up against the previous piece.

Press it down with your hands, go over it with the brush, then use the seam roller to make sure the seams are flat and snug against each other.

Cut the Excess

Use the straight edge and cutter to slice of the excess from the top, bottom, and right sides. Go both ways with the blade and pull off the extra paper gently to make sure it is cut.

I went back over the edges one more time with my hands and brush to make sure they were firmly in place after cutting.

Finally wipe off any excess paste from the mural. I actually wiped the whole thing down to be safe.

Enjoy your new mural

collage of before and after photos of wall mural installation

From start to finish it took me 2 hours to do just over 5 feet of wall. This included pauses to wipe my hands and take photos several times.

The wall was dry by the next day, less than 24 hours. But that will vary based on heat and humidity and the amount of paste used.

We see it every time we go to the bathroom or the front door or up and down the stairs. It is visible from both rooms downstairs. And it still makes me smile every time.

Get 25% Your Photowall Order

Inspired to add a wall mural, wallpaper or canvas print to your space?

Photowall is offering 25% off your order with coupon code munofore25 (good until January 31, 2021)

before and after of wallpaper mural installation with text overlay "Transform Your Space with a Wall Mural"

Six Simple Hacks To Help Build New Habits

Dec 9, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Simple ideas to help you build new habits and turn your dreams into your reality.

woman raising her arm in the sunlight with text overlay "6 hacks to help you build new habits"

Am I the only one that starts a self improvement plan with lofty dreams and then isn't able to follow through a week or more later?

The crowded gyms the first week of January only to be empty a few weeks later tells me it isn't just me.

As of this writing I have exercised every day for 125 straight days. It wasn't easy to do that first month, but now it is such a part of my daily routine that I get fidgety if I have to wait to get started.

This post isn't just about physical fitness.

It could be any habit you are trying to establish like reading for 20 minutes a day, or praying every night before bed or maybe something business related.

Remember how challenging the first few weeks of the school year were while you were trying to adjust to the work load after a break?

Once you established a routine, things got easier.

The same is true with new habits. Try one or more of these six tricks until you’ve internalized your new positive habit and don’t need them anymore.

Put It on Your Schedule

Sometimes we forget to do that new thing we were trying. Maybe we forget that we’re supposed to be having eggs for breakfast instead of a stack of waffles, or that we need to get that daily walk in.

Schedule your new habits or make them part of your daily to-do list until they become something you do automatically.

You might need to literally plan out time in your day and write it in your planner and even set an alarm.

Share Your Goals

Let family and friends know what new habits you’re trying to establish. They can help keep you on track.

You may consider sharing it publicly on social media or writing a blog about your new journey. Knowing that others read it and know about it might be just enough to keep you going when you feel like throwing in the towel.

I get it. This one may not be for everyone.

Some people do not have a good support system. If you fear the response will be negative, DO NOT LET THEM RAIN ON YOUR PARADE!!!! Keep it to yourself until it is done.

I am a rather private person. Yes, I know that is rather ironic considering my profession.

I prefer to post after I have accomplished something, like telling people that I have worked out everyday for the last 125 days versus saying on January 1st I am going to post a picture of my morning cup of coffee every day for a year.

But, when I did a coffee a day Project 365 on Instagram a few years ago people would text me or ask me at school pick up if I forgot to post that morning.

Piggyback On A Habit You Already Have

Whenever possible, add the new habit to one you already have. If you have a cup of tea or coffee at 4 pm, and you want to get in the habit of taking a daily walk, make a new ritual to go for your walk and then come back and enjoy your tea.

It’s much easier to amend an existing habit or ritual than creating an entirely new one.

Break out the Money Jar

Here’s an oldie but a goodie.

Put a jar on the kitchen counter and each time you forget your new habit put five dollars in the jar. Donate the money to charity to help take the sting out of missing the mark.

If your new daily habit is something like making coffee at home instead of overspending at the uber trendy coffee house, put the money saved into a jar so you can see it add up.

People often say that motivaiton doesn't last. Well neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily.

Find A Partner

Find someone with the same or similar goals. This could be a workout partner or a diet buddy. Keep tabs on each other and encourage each other to keep going. It’s much harder to skip a walk if you know someone else is depending on you to be there.

I have a blogging accountability partner. We check in on each other if we notice the other hasn't posted on social media or our blogs in a week. We offer support, bounce ideas of each other and challenge each other to do the things we don't like to do, but know we need to do.

Find A Group

If one accountability partner is good, a whole group is even better. And they don’t even need to be local. There are loads of online support groups that can be a wonderful resource of strength and knowledge.

My blogging buddy and I met (virtually) through a few larger blogging groups. And as for working out, I couldn't have gone this far without the support of an online group. We each post our workout for the day, cheer each other's successes, console each other when things get tough (blankety blank burpees!) and check in when someone hasn't posted in a bit.

Harriet Beecher Stowe: Never give up, for that is just the place and time that the tide will turn.

Just Keep Going

While these tricks may seem simplistic, sometimes that is all you need to get through the first few weeks of establishing a new habit.

Once that habit is established you will be that much closer to your goals.

How to Make Outdoor Lighted Christmas Presents

Dec 3, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Outdoor Lighted Christmas Presents add a fun touch to your holiday decor and are easy to make yourself.

Christmas gift decorations on display in front yard with text overlay "DIY outdoor lighted Christmas presents"

A few years ago I picked up some cute outdoor lighted Christmas presents at a garage sale. But, after a few years in the bright southern California sun, they were a "bit" faded.

faded green Christmas present decoration

So, I set about deconstructing them and refreshing them to add to our Christmas light display again for years to come.

I was lucky enough to have existing wire boxes, but if I were to do it again, I would make a box using inexpensive wire shelving pieces like this and either zip ties or twist ties.

Other options I have seen are wood, PVC pipe or chicken wire. All would be simple to do and inexpensive, especially if you can repurpose materials.

Lighted Christmas Present Supplies

wire boxes
strings of mini lights
indoor/outdoor fabric
wired ribbon
velcro (optional)
zip ties or twist ties
scissors
hot glue gun and glue sticks

Lighted Christmas Present Instructions

Step 1: Attach the lights

Wrap the lights around the box, placing the plugs towards the bottom for easy access. Attach with the zip ties or twist ties.

Be sure to leave plenty of lead wire for plugging them in. Ours were designed to plug into each other in a row and one of the boxes only has about 8 inches to plug into the next one.

Step 2 Cover the Boxes

What should I cover them with? I have seen this question asked numerous places with no answers. You want a fabric that can handle the elements, but not be so thick the lights won't shine through. But you don't want it transparent so you can see the box inside either.

My solution... a shower curtain! The one I picked was a little more expensive than I would have liked, but it has a beautiful opalescent shine to it.

cutting holiday fabric — Cut the fabric at least 2 inches wider than you need.

I covered around the sides in one long piece, wrapping the ends over and hot gluing it. Then overlapped with another piece on top with the ends folded in.

Another option would be to make the top piece large enough to fold down the sides of the box about 1 inch with the edges tucked under to resemble a box lid. But, I didn't think of that idea until just now.

gluing holiday fabric — Glue the fabric to the box.

hot glue gun velcro and ribbon — Glue the ribbon to the box directly, or use velcro on the under side to make it removable so you can store the ribbon inside the box.

Step 3: Put Them Out and Enjoy

Christmas gift decorations on display in front yard

More Outdoor Christmas Projects

collage of tomato cage Christmas trees — 10 Ways to Use Tomato Cages to Make Christmas Trees

This Winter White Wreath features glitter covered silk poinsettias and contrasting green and red holly sprigs to greet family and friends this Christmas. — Winter White Wreath

Easy DIY Outdoor Lighted Holiday Sign

Nov 25, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Make your own Lighted Holiday Sign from scrap wood with little to no carpentry skills.

Obviously I made these for Christmas, but you can easily use the idea for any occasion. The project was simple, but there was a bit of waiting for the paint and shellac to dry.

You can probably make it in a day, depending on the weather. It was hot and dry when I made it so the things dried quickly.

Supplies

I upcycled four cabinet doors I salvaged from my kitchen remodel, but you can use just about any flat piece of wood that can get wet. No particle board! If you aren't sure, test a scrap of the wood by soaking it in water before going to the trouble to make it.

wood for sign
sand paper
sander (optional)
wood filler (optional)
paint
paint brushes
polyurethane
2-3 strings of mini lights
drill (optional)
staple gun
small hinges
yard stakes

Prep the wood

3 stages of repairing holes in cabinet door

Repair any holes with the wood filler. Directions are on the package, but basically you dab it in the holes, smear it flat (ish), let dry then sand.

cabinet door being sanded with mouse sander

Since I used upcycled wood I needed to sand it first, especially with the peeling glossy finish that was on my cabinets.

Paint the sign

I used two coats of leftover white high gloss interior house paint (door and trim paint). I knew I was going to cover it with several coats of shellac, and knew it would hold up to our mild winters.

I made stencils for the letters in Word and painted them on with red and green acrylic paint.

Finally I sprayed several coats of glossy polyurethane, letting each coat dry completely.

Add the Lights

I went the easy route and stapled the lights to the top of the signs with plenty of extra lights between each letter to drape down the sides.

Another option is to drill holes into the sign the size of your mini lights and then push the lights into the holes from the back. I might do that next year to spice them up a bit more.

Stake the Sign

The cabinet doors were light so I used mini hinges to clamp down two inexpensive metal yard sign stakes in the middle. This allows me to move the stakes to different angles to brace the signs.

Another option would be to attach wooden stakes to the back with wood screws or nails.

Put it Out, Light it Up, Enjoy!

These sat out for a month last Christmas and held up just fine. No signs of fading or wear from the rain/sprinklers.

They are out again this year. And hope I won't have to touch them up for a few years.

More Outdoor Holiday Projects

halloween sign hanging from porch — Scrap Wood Halloween Sign

collage of skim board garden sign — Garden Sign

Reversible Outdoor Holiday Pillows Add Easy Seasonal Spirit

Nov 19, 2020 · Leave a Comment

DIY outdoor holiday pillows add some seasonal fun to your outdoor space at a fraction of the cost of store bought pillows.

images of fall and halloween pillows on a bench with text overlay "reversible outdoor seasonal pillow covers"

I like to have seasonal pillows on my front porch bench. But even the cheapest ones I could find in the stores were $10 each. And there is the storage space required for all of the out of season pillows. {Can you hear my husband grumbling "Do we really need all of these ____ pillows?" in the background?}

So, I decided to use the ones I had as a base and make some simple pillow cases for them with different holiday decorations on each side so I just have to flip them around and BOOM! new season, fresh look. And since they are reversible I'd have to sew half as many pillow cases. 😉

Reversible Outdoor Holiday Pillows Materials

I planned on people being able to sit against the pillows so I opted to sew the seams with heavy duty thread, which was probably overkill, but I had it leftover from another project. You can sew them by hand, or use iron on hem adhesive and make this a no sew project.

I used my Silhouette Portrait to make the stencils and iron on designs, but you can easily buy a stencil, create your own with Word and print it on cardstock then cut it out, or free hand it if you are artistically inclined.

Drop cloth is a made from a sturdy neutral material. Since my pillows are on a covered porch I thought it was an inexpensive alternative to outdoor fabric.

pillow forms, old pillows, etc.
drop cloth or other material suitable for outdoors
sewing scissors
heavy duty thread
sewing machine (or sewing needle or iron on hem adhesive)
acrylic paint
paint brushes
stencil material (optional)
heat transfer vinyl (optional)
die cutting machine such as Cricut or Silhouette (optional)

Step 1: cut the drop cloth

Measure your pillow forms along the seams if you don't know the size. Mine were 18 inch squares, but I wanted to squish the stuffing a little so I cut a length of drop cloth 18 x 36 inches for each pillow, with a ¼ inch seam that gave me 17.5 inch cases.

Step 2: sew the pillows

I folded the fabric over to make the top of the pillow case, sewed down the two sides and hemmed the bottom, but left it open. Basically just like a normal bed pillowcase. In hind sight, I would have made it a bit longer so I could fold and tuck the bottom better.

All of my seams were ¼ inch with a zig zag stitch.

Step 3: Decorate the pillows on both sides

For the Halloween and Autumn pillows I used my Silhouette and cut out designs in stencil vinyl.

I am a huuuuuge fan of this stuff. It is strong enough to hold while you are painting, but peals off easily. It even has enough adhesive to reuse the stencil at least one time.

You can use the stencil as the outline and paint inside, layering as desired.

Or you can paint over the stencil and when you remove it the design will be in the fabric color.

Or you can cut the design in heat transfer vinyl and iron it on without messing with the painting. This is what I will be doing for Christmas and will add a photo here when I get them done.

As you can tell from the image below, I reused both pumpkin designs twice and might have been able to do it a third time. I wanted two leaves but it became a tangled mess when I tried to remove it.

I like how they came out and folding up the pillow cases takes up a lot less space than storing 6 pillows.

Other Outdoor Projects

Halloween decorations on a prch with text overlay "Falimy Friendly DIY Outdoor Halloween Decor" — DIY Outdoor Halloween Decor

Fun Garden Sign - repurpose an old skim board into a whimsical garden sign. Garden Art. Upcycle. DIY. — Garden Sign from Skim Board

Free Festive Christmas Printable to Deck Your Halls

Nov 11, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Festive free Christmas Printable to brighten your home or someone else's day. No sign ups, no strings, just a free "Merry and Bright" printable file for you to use as you wish... except for selling it because that would just be RUDE!

Merry and Bright sign on a mantle surrounded by Christmas lights with text overlay "Free Christmas Printable"

Here is a fun free printable to help you celebrate the season.

Use it to:

frame and place on wall or mantle
decorate holiday cards
decoupage onto a board
shrink it down and make it into a tree ornament
use a print on demand service to create a mug, sign, or other item
use your Silhouette or Cricut to make a t-shirt or banner or sign

I printed it and put in a pretty gold frame with a burgundy mat to make it stand out.

I also popped it onto a tote bag on Zazzle, if you want to purchase a finished product.

Merry and Bright Tote
by AVHDesigns

Download Your Free Christmas Printable File

There are two sizes, 8x10 and 7x5.

two printed Merry and Bright" signs with text overlay "two sizes, 5x7, 8x10"

And I have included both pdf and png format in case you want to import it to your Silhouette or Cricut software.

More Christmas Projects

wood slice ornaments on a tree — Wood Slice Ornaments

Pasta Angels: christmas ornaments made with uncooked pasta. Use as a tree decoration or on Christmas presents. Kids craft. — Pasta Angel Christmas Ornaments

DIY Pallet Planter: 2 Ideas

Sep 9, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Pallet Planters are easy to make; with just a few tools add a rustic shabby chic touch to your garden.

collage of pallet planters with text "DIY pallet planters: 2 ideas"

As you can see from the photo above, there are a few ways you can go about turning a shipping pallet into a feature piece in your garden.

Having worked in shipping I can tell you pallets take quite a beating and some are not built to last more than a use or two. But, even the single use pallets can be used to make a planter with a little effort and some paint or stain.

The only power tool you will want for this is a cordless drill/driver. It may not be necessary depending on the wood used to make the pallet, but it will definitely make life easier, especially when it comes to hanging it.

DIY Pallet Planter #1

This method can be used with just about any style of pallet.

supplies needed

pallet
paint or stain plus brushes
metal plant holder rings and screws
cordless drill driver
pots, potting soil and plants
hanging hardware (see below)

instructions

Paint or stain your pallet as desired.

Attach metal plant holder rings to pallet with wood screws, leaving space between them for the plants to grow. You may need to drill a pilot hole before attempting to attach the screw.

Attach hanging hardware to pallet, then hang pallet.

Add plants to pots and arrange in the plant holder rings.

Pallet Planter #2

This works well with pallets that have only three boards on the bottom, removing boards can be a pain.

pallet
paint or stain plus brushes
¼" chicken wire
landscape fabric
staple gun
cordless drill driver
potting soil and plants
hanging hardware (see below)

Paint or stain your pallet as desired.

Cut the chicken wire to make a base on the bottom of the planter "shelves" and along the back, if needed. Secure with staples.

Line the interior of the planting pockets with one or two layers of landscape fabric and staple in place.

Attach the hanging hardware and hang from wall or fence.

Fill pockets with potting soil and plants.

How to Hang Your Pallet Planter

There are several ways you can hang your finished planter:

eye bolts and chains, hooks or wire
L or J brackets
window box brackets
wood screws

Whatever you use, it will need to be able hold the weight of the pallet (30-48 pounds), plants, soil, pots and water.

You will also need to consider what you are hanging it on (wood fence versus concrete wall, for example).

Once your planter is hung and planted take the time to enjoy your work, while you plan your next project.

collage of gas grill turned into planter

Positive Coping Strategies for when Life is Overwhelming

Sep 2, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Life can feel overwhelming at times. Adopting positive coping strategies is important for your emotional and physical health.

woman with head down on table covered with papers and computer

They say the makings of a great movie will make you laugh, cry and fall in love all at once. Psychologists call this plethora of emotions within a short amount of time a blended emotional event.

While those emotions make for a cinematic masterpiece, dealing with profuse emotions on a regular basis can be overwhelming.

As I am writing this we are in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic. Life is "a little" stressful between work, school, technological issues, parenting, special needs parenting (autism), maintaining the house, technology, the weather, the news, menopause and did I mention tech troubles?

I could go on, but you get the point. We are all emotionally and physically exhausted. As pretty much everyone else in the world, I imagine.

Some people turn to alcohol or drugs as a coping strategy. But alcohol is a depressant and other drugs will at best mask the situation for a limited time and are more likely to exacerbate the helpless feelings.

Others may turn to negative coping strategies such as over-eating, passive-aggressiveness, laziness or avoidance. Unfortunately these strategies rarely help in the long term.

Instead of allowing your emotions to overwhelm you, it’s wise to develop positive coping strategies that will help you endure the tough times.

Here are five positive strategies to help you effectively cope when life is overwhelming.

Talk to a Trusted Friend

two friends talking and looking at a book

Releasing your emotions through communication can often provide a quick resolution to your momentary struggles. A good friend, with your best interests at heart, can be the rock you need during harsh times.

Confide in someone you trust to alleviate stress and receive suggestions. Sometimes, others have experienced the same trials and can offer reliable information that can help you.

My mother-in-law and her best friend used to meet once a week at a coffee shop for "therapy" for 35-40 years. Raising 11 kids between them while being married to small business owners, is it any wonder they needed some time away to decompress?

Get a Hobby

collage of paint brushes, camera, yarn with knitting needles and guitar

There’s nothing more satisfying than creating something new in the face of challenges. If you’re experiencing problems, it’s wise to spend your time doing something productive. This gives you a sense of purpose without dwelling on your issues. Such hobbies include art, sports or cooking. Sometimes the act of engaging in an activity is therapy in itself.

So many people discovered the joys of cooking these past few months, as evidenced by the huge spike in traffic on my food blog (they loved my Vanilla Caramel Blended Iced Coffee and Sourdough Soft Pretzels).

I have been busy gardening and crafting, and am slowly getting those projects posted here (like this Summer Hat Wreath).

Meditate and/or Pray

woman with eyes closed bowing head in prayer with text overlay "Unmotivated? try meditation!"

Although it may seem counterproductive to do nothing in the face of distress, often times this gives you the clarity you need. Meditation and/ or prayer encourages you to allow thoughts and emotions to come without judgment.

This gives you a clear mindset to effectively deal with challenges. After your mind is clear, you’re able to take control of your problem and develop a positive solution. This post has more information.

Exercise

athletic shoes, water bottle a towel and small hand weights

Engaging in regular exercise is scientifically proven to release problem solving endorphins. You’re releasing energy that would ordinarily be used worrying and converting it into something productive.

If you’re dealing with minor to major issues, consider increasing your exercise routine to provide your mind with some much-needed clarity.

While many people are spending too much time bingeing on social media or Netflix and bemoaning the extra weight they have gained during the pandemic, I chose to go walking. Not only is my waistline decreasing but I am finding it easier to cope with all that life is throwing at me.

Seek Professional Help

two people sitting at a table with one taking notes

Sometimes certain problems are so overwhelming, they need the guidance of a trained professional. Never be afraid to seek help for your toughest challenges. A trained counselor or therapist will never judge or reveal what you share with them. They’ll be able to offer constructive advice that you can implement into your daily life.

We often meet with our autism "team" (psychologists, speech therapists, reading specialists, etc.) to help us help our son. Sometimes they work with him in school to teach him coping strategies and sometimes they give us strategies for us to cope as well.

person standing on cliff top with quote "In times of great stress or adversity, it's always best to keep busy, to plow your anger and your energy into something positive." Lee Iacocca

Life is not always rainbows and unicorns. When it gets to be too much, it is important for our long term well being to find ways to cope that do not make the situation worse. Positivity is contagious. Even making a few small changes can start you on the path to better mental health in no time.

Use this Gadget To Motivate You to Move More

Aug 26, 2020 · Leave a Comment

A pedometer can help motivate you to move more, which will help you increase your fitness level and prevent many chronic health conditions.

woman walking in woods with text overlay "this gadget can motivate you to move more"

The Center for Disease Control recommends adults get at least 150 minutes of moderate exercise a week. That's five 30 minute workouts a week.

We all lead busy lives; between family and work, fitting in a workout is just one more thing to add to your to do list.

What if I told you that you didn’t have to dedicate a set block of time for your walking workouts? What if you could get the same health benefits by working in a little more activity here and there throughout your day?

What if there was a fun little gadget that helped you keep track of it and motivated you to move more?

There is: it’s called a pedometer.

What is a Pedometer

A pedometer tracks how many steps you take on any given day. That 150 minutes of moderate activity works out to about 7,000-8,000 steps per day.

By counting and increasing the number of steps you take every day you can sneak in exercise in little spurts throughout the day.

Maybe you start your day by parking a little further away from the office and walking a couple hundred extra steps. Then you take a quick stroll during your lunch break. You wrap up your day by walking around the park while your kids play. And just like that you’ve gotten your exercise in without having to block out any additional time.

You will be amazed at how addicting it is to watch your step count go up on a daily and weekly basis.

What Kind of Pedometer Do I Need?

You can pick up an inexpensive model like the one below for about $15. It only measures steps. It is small enough to fit in your pocket plus it has a handy clip to attach to a belt loop, lanyard, backpack, shoe lace, etc.

More deluxe models can go for around $150 but they have significantly more features. This one tracks your steps, miles, minutes, heart rate, sleep, calories, etc.

Or you can go the free route, like me, and use your smart phone. Most models have a pedometer built in. All you need to do is download a free app and you’re good to go.

I have a Samsung, so I use the preloaded Samsung Health app linked to Map My Fitness because I like to view the data on a bigger screen.

The only drawback is it only counts steps when you are carrying your phone. I know I miss about 500 steps a day when it is in the charger or when I put it down to do weight training, so I adjust my goal accordingly.

How do you use a pedometer?

The first step is to wear it all day, or carry it if using your phone.

Start by tracking your steps for a few days and get a baseline of how much your regular activity gives you.

Set a goal to increase your number of steps by about 1,000- 2,000 a day. In a few weeks, up the goal another few thousand.

Forget About the 10,000 Steps a Day

10,000 steps a day is often touted as the ideal but, like anything related to fitness, that number is highly variable based on the weight of the person, the pace of the steps (brisk walk, running, etc.), the elevation change of the steps (flat ground versus hills or stairs) and more.

If you are curious, walking 10,000 steps a day burns approximately 2,000 to 3500 calories or the equivalent of 1 pound a week. And it is a nice round easy to remember number.

Instead, focus on increasing your average number of daily steps by a 1,000 or so every week or two. You may find yourself at 10,000 a day before long. But don't feel you need to do that from the start.

Keeping track of your steps is very motivating. Looking at your pedometer and realizing you’re 2,000 steps away from your daily goal may be just the motivation you need to head out for that after dinner stroll. And who knows, maybe getting in those steps every day will motivate you to make other positive health changes.

Creative Ideas to Extend Your Growing Season

Aug 19, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Helpful ideas to extend your growing season so you can grow more produce throughout the year.

There are natural limitations to when you can grow vegetables outdoors. In the spring, you should wait until the threat of frost has passed and the soil is actually warm up enough to dig up. Then, before you know it, shorter days and cooler temps will return to signalling the end of your outdoor growing season.

I live in sunny inland southern California. We can grow something pretty much year round. I have even grown basil outdoors as late as January. But most winter gardens usually consist of greens and root vegetables around here.

While you can't fight Mother Nature completely, there are a few creative ways to extend your growing season.

While you can’t prevent late spring frosts or early blasts of winter, you can mitigate some of the damage by being prepared to provide adequate protection for your tender plants when the need arises.

Mulch Around Plants

Adding a heavy layer of mulch is the easiest way to provide protection for your plants. Mulching helps hold in moisture in the warmer weather (always a plus) and it provides a layer of insulation for the soil when temperatures dip too low. Yes, it will break down and need to be replenished, but it provides nutrients to the plants as it does break down.

There are many types of mulch available, including shredded leaves, wood chips, grass clippings, and straw. My brother uses pine needles in North Carolina, but here in fire prone California that would not be the best idea.

Do a internet search or contact your local cooperative extension to find what is best to use in your area. Whatever type of mulch you choose for ensure it is free of chemical pesticides and herbicides.

Cold Frames Keep Plants Cozy

A cold frame is simply a structure used to trap in heat from the sun to keep plants warm when temperatures drop.

Most cold frames are large enough to cover many plants, but I use clear plastic soda bottles to cover seedlings and transplants in the spring. This protects them from the cold but more importantly the daily winds that like to snap the tender shoots. I leave the cap off, and will uncover the plants in the warmer part of the day then cover in the afternoon before the winds kick up.

You can build your own cold frames a variety of different ways.

Use hula hoops and plastic sheeting like Thistle Down Farms:

Use old windows like Old World Garden Farms

Grit shows you how to make one from PVC pipe.

Or you can buy one like these online:

Greenhouse Those Potted Plants

For many gardeners, a huge walk in greenhouse is the ultimate gardening dream. Just imagine a permanent year-round space to nurture and grow your favorite plants that also serves as a beautiful focal point for your property.

Unfortunately, hiring a contractor or purchasing a high-end kit to build a permanent greenhouse can get pretty expensive. Plus, you may need to pay to heat the structure part of the year in colder climates.

While cold frames and greenhouses achieve the same objective, they have slight differences. Cold frames are designed to cover plants in the ground or in raised beds and then be removed when the weather is better for growing. Greenhouses are structures unto themselves, usually built to protect and grow plants in pots year round.

Ana White offers free plans for this beautiful DIY Greenhouse.

For those of us with limited woodworking tools and skills, there are plenty of kits available ranging from about $50 to $700 and beyond.

Mini Greenhouse 1.5' x 2.25' x 5.25'

Hybrid Hobby Greenhouse with Plant Hangers, 6' x 8' x 7'

With a little planning, these three methods can extend your vegetable growing season. Once you get started, you may be surprised by how much more productive your gardening efforts become!

DIY Summer Beach Hat Wreath

Aug 12, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Easy DIY Summer Beach Hat Wreath you can make at home for in about an hour.

Decorated summer beach hat hung on a door with text overlay "Fun in the Sun Summer Sun Hat Wreath"

My Summer Fun Beach Towel Wreath was looking a bit faded, so I decided it was time for a new summer wreath. While I was rummaging around my craft supply closet I stepped on my old beach hat and inspiration struck.

So I gathered a few more things and ordered a few (anyone need 33 silk hibiscus?) and then got crafting.

Summer Sun Hat Wreath Supplies

wide brimmed beach hat
low tack vinyl stencil masking film (or card stock)
acrylic paint
paint brush
14" flat wire wreath form
needle and thread
3" foam piece (or batting)
hot glue gun and glue sticks
silk flowers

Instructions

Since I got my Silhouette Portrait in December I have been putting it to pretty good use. And stencils are so much easier and cleaner with the vinyl stencil masking film. You only need a little bit, especially if you make sure the design and film are both facing the same way.

I used two free fonts called Beach Resort and Unconditionally then cut them out on the masking film. The sun I created with an arc and some triangles.

Alternatively you can use card stock and either tape it down or use repositionable adhesive spray (sometimes called temporary adhesive or basting adhesive).

Then I dabbed on the paint to prevent bleed through under the stencil.

Of course, you may want to spin the hat around to paint instead of reaching over the previously painted area.

Once the paint was dry, I removed the stencil.

To add structure to the back side, I sewed on a wire wreath frame.

And I stuffed the head portion with some leftover upholstery foam. Use batting, an old t-shirt, whatever you have lying around that will help it keep it's shape.

hat stuffed with a piece upholstery foam

Then on to the fun part, decorating! I tied on a ribbon with a simple overhand loop.

pink ribbon tied on a hat in an overhand loop

Then I glued the two ends higher up on the left side so they would drape nicely instead of falling straight down.

And then I glued on some silk flowers to complete the look.

hand placing silk flower in glue on a hat

I didn't even bother to add any wire to the back for a hanger and just hung it straight off of the wreath frame in back.

decorated sun hat hanging on a front door

The most expensive piece of this project is the hat, if you buy it new but thrift stores or yard sales should let you find one in good condition for a few dollars. I had everything except the flowers ($5) and the wide ribbon ($2), and I still have plenty of flowers for my next project or luau.

I like how it came out and think it makes a festive welcoming addition to my front porch until it is time to bring on the Autumn decor.

You Gotta Have Friends, Especially on the Autism Spectrum

Aug 5, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Friends make life easier, especially when you have Autism.

kids swinging on a tire swing with text overlay "You Gotta Have Friends - especially when you have Autism"

As a child enters the school years their parents begin to think about what kind of friends he or she will have in school. We wonder if the friends our child chooses will be the ones we'd chose for them. Will my son hang out with the nice kids or will she be one of the mean girls?

As the parent of a child on the autism spectrum, I don't worry if the other kids will make fun of my son. I worry how he will react when he gets made fun of.

Because I know it is going to happen.

He is different and that makes it so easy to be the butt of jokes.

Friends Accept You

He spent almost two years in Special Day Preschool plus a few hours of ABA (specialized one on one training) and did so well that the decision was made to place him in a regular kindergarten class with an aide.

I had no idea how the other kids would react to him, but I knew we needed push him out of his (and our) comfort zone. Will they accept his differences? Can he overcome his socialization challenges to be a friend to them? And on and on.

One day a few weeks after the school I was volunteering in his class and saw his interaction with his classmates first hand. When it was time for his group to rotate to a new table he started to wander to the computers. Before his aide or I could react, his table mates steered him back to line and told him "We are going to the teacher table first then computers." And he listened... without throwing a fit!

joyful woman with outstretched arms on a path in the middle of yellow wildflowers - kids with Autism need friends

They GOT him!

After only two weeks in class together these five year olds understood and accepted J for who he was.

He had several "little mothers" that always made sure he was where he was supposed to be and doing what he was supposed to do. The boys invited him to play their games and then let him do his own thing. That special group of kids, plus more added through the years, have continued to look after him whether they have been in the same class or not.

Friends Want Others to Accept You

Last week, I was reminded of how amazing his friends are.

The story, as relayed to me by one of his little mothers:

All of the third grade classes have Physical Education together first thing in the morning.
J was playing in the mud instead of participating in the kickball game.
He then wiped the mud off his hands onto his shorts.
Two students from another class started making fun of him. J reacted by yelling "Leave me alone!" {that actually means "I got caught doing something I shouldn't be doing"}
J's friends who are in the class with the teasers immediately told them to stop. {She then rattled off a list of names and I only caught about half.}
A few of them ran off to find his aide who was making copies. She involved the assistant principal who was passing by.
As the teasers were being forced to give their apologies to J (giggling the entire time) the classroom teacher noticed the commotion and was appraised of the situation.
She praised the students that came to J's defense and told them they could move their clips up (reward for good behavior) and told the culprits she would talk to them later.

My first reaction was not necessarily happy. "Were you playing in the mud instead of participating in class?"

Hey, I am a former Physical Education teacher in a family of teachers. Of course my first thought was "why weren't you following directions".

When I asked him if he was laughed at by the other kids for being muddy he thought for a minute, looked completely puzzled, and said "No".

boy scratching his head in confusion - kids with Autism need friends

It didn't even register to him that these students were making fun of him.

Since he wasn't fazed by it I could have let it go but, as a former teacher, I chose to "catch them being good".

I hopped on to Facebook to let the parents of his friends know their awesome kids had come to J's defense. The response I got stunned me.

All of the parents already knew about it.

The 10 or 12 friends that had come to his defense were still so upset by something that happened at 9 a.m., it was the first thing they told their parents on the way home. The kids reactions ranged from disappointment to frustration to anger.

I felt bad for the other students because they were so moved by what happened to J, while he was oblivious.

We used this as a teachable moment and explained how lucky he was to have great friends to defend him and gave him some talking points that he could use to be a better friend (How is football going? When is your next play? Did you get a part in Nutcracker? etc.). Friendship is a foreign concept to him and we are all working to teach him, especially his friends.

"A friend is one who overlooks your broken fence and admires the flowers in your garden" quote on image of flower garden

I could focus on the two teasers, or how bullying is a problem in our schools today, or how children on the autism spectrum are more likely to be bullied. But I won't.

First of all, I always try to focus on the positive in any situation. Secondly, look at the numbers. Two eight year olds made bad choices, at least ten chose to be a friend. The adults immediately swept in and pointed out good and bad choices. Praise was given by parents, teachers and administrators for the good choices.

Realistically there will always be mean people in this world. But with true friends by our side, we can handle just about anything. Even the challenges of autism.

Walk Your Way to Better Health (Physically and Mentally!)

Jul 29, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Walking is a gentle way to improve your physical and mental health. It’s easy to do, you don’t need any special equipment and you can start at your current fitness level.

street level view of woman walking with text "Walk Your Way to Better (physical and mental) health"

I lost over 30 pounds by walking, watching what I ate and light weight lifting. No gym membership or personal trainer, just a pair of athletic shoes and some free weights.

Then I got pregnant and the kid still doesn't sleep through the night 12 years later and I got plantar fasciitis and then the pandemic hit and ...insert more excuses here... I have gained it all back and then some.

I am tired and frustrated and depressed with how I look and how I feel. Sound familiar?

Exercise improves mental health

Studies have shown aerobic exercise can improve your mental health. It is believed that it increases blood flow to the brain which causes all sorts of great things from increased memory and cognitive function as well as positive impacts on mood.

Additionally, doing something positive for your health increases your self image and self esteem. Exercise can also help improve your sleep, and when you sleep better everything just seems better.

Jogging, dancing, cycling, and swimming are all great aerobic activities. But jogging and dancing require more stamina and a higher fitness level than some of us have. Cycling and swimming require special equipment.

If you haven’t exercised in a while and are looking for something easy you can do every single day, give walking a try.

Walking is a good workout regardless of your age or physical ability.

My father-in-law started walking after he had a heart attack in his 50's and he walked daily until he got too sick from cancer 40 years later.

My mom had crippling arthritis and she still made it a point to walk around her complex for 15 minutes on most days. When the weather didn't cooperate she just did laps in her building. She used her walker and her pace was slow, but she was moving which was great for her physically and mentally.

No fancy equipment required.

The only equipment you need for walking is a comfortable pair of shoes. You don't need the $200 ones with fancy technology or a pro athletes name on them, but you do want something with a bit more cushioning and arch support than the $5 discount store model that is not much thicker than a piece of cardboard. Your shins and feet will thank you.

Getting started walking is easy.

If you’re not in the best of shape (hand raised), start by going for a 10 or 15 minute walk at an easy pace and work your way up from there. As your fitness level increases you can increase your speed and incorporate some hills and stairs.

Find a local park with a nice path for walking. Concrete sidewalks are usually flat. Dirt and decomposed granite paths may not be even, but they are softer on the joints.

If the weather doesn’t permit walking outside, head to your local mall or hop on a treadmill.

You can even walk in place at home in front of your TV. Get up during commercial breaks and march in place until your favorite TV show comes back on (that's about 4 minutes on network TV). If you’re streaming, make yourself walk in place for 10 minutes in between episodes.

Ways to keep it interesting

While my father in law walked around the tennis court in their back yard, lap after lap after lap for decades, most people would get bored with that pretty quickly. And if your routine is boring you are less likely to keep going.

A few ways to keep walking interesting:

Mix up your route and walk in different areas of town, or visit different parks.
Invite a friend to come along with you to walk. It’s always nice to have someone to talk to and having a walking buddy can keep you accountable.
Grab your phone or MP3 player and listen to music, podcasts or audio books as you walk.

The main thing is that you get out there, move around, and get some exercise in a way that’s gentle on your joints, your heart, and the rest of your body. Give it a try and see if you don’t start to feel better, happier, and stronger after a few weeks of regular walks.

20 Ideas to Reuse Brown Paper Shopping Bags

Jul 22, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Reuse brown paper shopping bags into useful items around your home.

brown kraft paper shopping bag with text overlay "20 awesome ways to upcycle brown paper bag"

Since the start of the pandemic, my local produce delivery service has turned to large brown paper bags with handles for delivery instead of the reusable boxes they had been using for years.

Not one to let these beauties end up in the landfill, I decided to make a list of all of the wonderful ways you can use them in the yard, for crafts, or even as home decor.

In the yard

leaves being raked with a brown bag nearby

Compost

Shred the bags and added to the compost pile to create wonderful nutrients for your garden. You can even get another use out of it by using them to collect leaves, grass and other compostable materials before adding to the compost pile. more details

Weed Barrier

A compostable weed barrier? Sure! The bags will break down with the combination of heat a moisture, but they can be used to provide a temporary weed block allowing other plants get established before being over run by weeds. more details

Gifts and Shipping

gifts wrapped in brown paper with string

Gift Wrap

"Brown paper packages tied up with string..."

Gift Bags

Decorate the bag (or leave it plain) put in a large gift like clothes, blankets, board games, etc. Add some tissue paper and a bow and you are done!

You can even deconstruct larger bags to make smaller bags. more details

Envelopes

Envelopes are pretty easy to cut and fold and the brown kraft paper will make your card stand out. more details.

Gift Tags

Stop buying gift tags and make your own. You can use these printable templates or search for an SVG file to use your die cutting machine.

Packaging Material

Do what the online guys do and use them as padding for shipping. Okay they use rolls of thin kraft paper, but the idea is the same: just wad them up and add to your box.

Get Crafty

Book Covers

Do kids still have to make these? I use to make mine from grocery bags then add photos of friends, comic strips inserts from cassette tapes, etc. Then I covered them with clear contact paper to last the entire school year. I still have a few - thanks, Mom!

Book/Journal

Instead of covering the book, make an entire book or journal with the paper for you or the kids. more details.

Baskets

Cut the bag into strips and weave them into baskets. more details.

Origami and Other Paper Crafts

Cut open the bags and use the paper to make fun paper projects like paper flowers and an origami snack holders and holiday ornaments.

Cut the bags into 12 x 12 or 8.5 x 11 sizes and use them with your favorite die cutting machine to make all kinds of things.

Craft Table Cover

You may not be a messy crafter but I am! Cut open the bags and cover your workspace to protect the table from paints, glue, glitter, etc.

Make Paper

Use up the scraps from other projects to make your own paper. more details

Home Decor

Place Mats or Table Runner

Cut the bag open, then cut into rectangles and decorate for rustic place mats. Or use them in the center of the table like this.

Planters

This is a spin on the woven basket above, except it is made around a plastic container that can hold a plant. more details

Paper Fans and Palm Fronds

If you have a tropical theme in a room you can fold them into giant palm fronds and fans to decorate the walls. more details

Cover Floors

Rip the paper bags into strips, glue them on a cement or plywood floor, then add polyurethane on top. WOW! more details

A Christmas Tree

Have you seen the project of turning lunch bags into a mini fall tree? This couple expanded upon the idea to make a full size Christmas tree.

And finally...

Donate them

I know some elementary school teachers that would love to have a bunch of bags for book covers, crafts, desk covers during crafts, etc.

Contact your local pet shelter to see if they can use them to shred for bedding.

Recycle them

If you can't think of anything else, at least make sure they go into the recycle bin instead of the trash.

Positive Self-Talk: the First Step to a Better Life

May 14, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Positive self-talk can be the first step to making the changes to achieve the life you want.

hands making a heart with text overlay "Positive Self Talk: the first step to a better life"

The way that you treat yourself in your own mind is more significant than most people realize. People often self-abuse or say nasty mean things to themselves out of habit, and the consequences of this are much farther reaching than they believe.

Last week was rough for me: I was beating myself up for being overweight, the worst wife and mother in the world, a lousy cook and housekeeper... you name it and I probably thought I was the world's worst.

While working on an assignment with my son, the universe told me to knock it off. He had to list 5 sentences he could use to keep a conversation going about bullying. One of his questions was "Do you bully yourself?" I think he meant to say "Have you ever been bullied?" but his actual question really struck home for me.

I do bully myself. And it makes things seem worse than they actually are. I would never tell someone else some of the nonsense I tell myself.

You yourself, as much as anybody in the entire universe, deserve your love and affection.

It is time to flip my self-talk around so I can achieve my dream life and be an example for others, particularly my son.

Positive Self-Talk Can Help You to See Yourself

When you look at yourself in the mirror, what do you tell yourself?

Whenever you tell yourself something really negative, you’re repeating powerful mantras that can influence everything about your self-esteem and how you see yourself in the world.

If everything you say to yourself is bathed in negativity. This makes it impossible for you to be able to be aware of yourself completely and it blocks you from being open to others.

When you spend your time saying uplifting things about yourself, you’re going to get a more complete picture of who you are.

This isn’t saying that's should avoid dealing with things you consider to be faults. It just means you see a lot more than those things alone.

Positive Self-Talk Gives You More Confidence

Speaking to yourself positively helps to boost your confidence. That's because you are directly acknowledging the things that are good about you instead of focusing on the areas where you feel that you fall short.

You’ll probably be amazed at how many ways you've been able to get past things using your own natural talents. If you've come this far on what you know now, then imagine how well things can go when you’ve continued to learn and improve yourself. Try to see where you will be in the future based on these positive things you’ve discovered.

Positive Self-Talk Helps You See a Positive Future

Now that you know that you have some great qualities, you can see how they might be able to help you in the future.

Are you a fast learner? Do you solve problems quickly? What are your strengths?

Having a better outlook will make it easier for you to see yourself accomplishing goals in the future.

As you go through life, meet the objection of your inner critic with confident self-talk. Tell that part of your mind to be quiet. Do whatever you need to do to move past momentary doubts.

Positive Self-Talk Helps You Control Emotions

It’s important to remember things won’t always be perfect. There can be all kinds of little snags that can push back your timeline for completing things. It’s important to stay level headed though, because when you spin out of control emotionally, things will begin to suffer.

Use positive self-talk to remind yourself of how resilient you truly are. Find inspiration in the progress that you’ve made to date. The more practice you have learning to control your emotions, the more success you will have. Just be sure to remain patient and kind to yourself, and you will get there.

Ways to Improve Your Positive Self-Talk

Talking to yourself positively is important for your mental health and future.... yada yada yada... but how do you flip the talk from negative to positive? Here are a few ideas.

Make a list of your strengths and weaknesses.

Create a physical list of your strengths and areas where you can improve. Reflect on each aspect, and think about the times in your life where those positive attributes have helped you to overcome something or solve a problem. How can those positive attributes help you to improve?

Daily Affirmations

Some people find great success by looking in the mirror and repeating affirmations daily such as "I am the master of my destiny."

Personally, I hear Stuart Smalley whenever I try it:

via GIPHY

And then I start to laugh, which releases endorphins which counteracts the cortisol created by stress and I end up in a happier place.

I am not knocking affirmations! Give it a try, it may work for you.

Create a Vision Board

Another great exercise you can do is to make a vision board. It helps to have visual representations of the things that you want to attain at some point. A new career, home, or vacation can be a long-term goal that you work towards.

Visit this post to see how I created mine and includes a download of some inspirational quotes you can print and add to yours.

"Where you are in 5 years is determined by what you read and who you associate with."

Surround yourself with positive people.

Like attracts like.

Have you ever noticed that people who complain about life and believe the world is out to get them and are generally miserable tend to associate with each other.

Successful happy people also tend to associate with each other.

Take a hard look at your social media habits and followings. Do you feel worse about yourself after visiting Facebook? It might be time to make some changes. I just unfriended or hid a bunch of people whose constant negativity was dragging me down. I unfollowed a few pages that often lead me to a negative self image.

Read positive books.

Well, you had to see that coming, right?

One of my favorite books for re-training my mind to embrace the positive is Master Key to Riches by Napoleon Hill. Think and Grow Rich is great, as is The Power of Positive Thinking written by Hill and W. Clement Stone.

Master Key is the follow up to Think and Grow Rich, which most people took as being solely about making money. In the second book he goes in to detail about riches being good health, a happy family and more. I am overdo to reread it and just downloaded it to my Kindle.

Flip the Script

Start being kinder to yourself right now. You deserve it.

You are good enough. You are smart enough. And doggone it, people like you.

3 Easy Ways to Practice Self Care Daily #MothersDayGiveaway

Apr 23, 2020 · 2 Comments

Self care is vitally important not just for stress relief but also for overall mental health. It can do everything from help after a bad day to improve your self confidence. Even small steps can make a big difference. Here are three simple ways to practice self care every day.

GIVEAWAY ALERT: we have a giveaway at the bottom of the post for $350 worth of gift certificates to be given away to 4 lucky winners. One of my readers won the last one, so be sure to enter! Imagine the self care you could do with that... or buy mom something so she can pamper herself. 😉

woman walking alone on path with text overlay "3 easy ways to care for yourself every day"

Schedule Alone Time Every Day

Make sure you have at least a few minutes each day all to yourself. I know, easier said than done. But we both know that it is necessary for your mental well being. Make an appointment with yourself to help you stick to it.

It can be a 30-minute walk that you go on after dinner, 15 minutes of meditation/prayer/bible study before bed, or just a 5 minutes in the morning before everyone else gets up while you enjoy your cup of coffee and watch the sunrise.

When my husband is home, I spend a little extra quiet time in bed in the morning while he gets up with our son. On days he works my alone time is often at night once the kid is asleep.

It might seem simple and minimal, but these little stretches of time where you are alone and just doing something for yourself, or nothing at all, can make all the difference.

Get Moving

Yeah, I know, you probably saw that one coming.

Exercise will make you feel better about yourself and raise your self confidence, which also helps your mental state. Plus, it will help to relieve your stress and the endorphins you get from it can be tremendous for improving your mood.

You don’t need to go to the gym for an hour every day. Something as simple as an afternoon walk or doing some stretching or weight lifting in the morning before your shower is perfect.

Take advantage of other activities that also include exercise, like taking your dogs for longer walks, doing some gardening, or goings hiking with the family on the weekend so everybody is exercising more.

Keep a Journal

Another excellent way to start practicing self care every day is to keep a journal. This is something you can easily keep with you no matter where you are, whether you put it in your purse or briefcase, or you have a digital journal on your computer. The physical act of writing can reduce stress so a journal and pen is highly recommended.

To get you started here are some free downloadable journal pages in two sizes: 8 ½ x 11 to put in a binder or notebook, and foldable half sheets to make a mini journal that can slide in your purse.

Mother's Day $350 Giveaway

Now on to the giveaway!

We are so excited to be giving away $410 in gift cards for Mother's Day to three lucky readers. The giveaway will run from April 26th – May 10th.

The prizes are:

1 - $125 gift card
1 - $125 gift card
1 - $50 gift card
1 - $50 gift card

Each winner will choose the gift card you want. Please choose a gift card which comes from an online store and can be paid by US dollars. EX: Amazon, Target, Walmart, Macy's, Kohls, etc. You may ask for more than one gift card but must add up to your prize amount.

Now its time to meet our co-hosts who have made this giveaway possible.

Please stop by and say hi to these wonderful co-hosts and their blogs.

The giveaway will end midnight on Friday, May 8th, a few days before Mother's Day. The winner will have 48 hours to respond to the email claiming their prize. If we don't hear in 48 hours, we will choose another winner. The giveaway is open to anyone over 18 years of age and able to receive e-gift cards from the U.S.

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Grow More with Succession and Companion Planting

Apr 20, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Succession and companion planting combine the efficient use of space and timing to increase the yield in vegetable gardens large and small.

tomato planted with marigold and text overlay "Grow More with succession and companion planting"

Many novice gardeners mistakenly believe that planting and sowing seeds is a one-and-done process that only happens at the beginning of the growing season. Just put the seeds and plants in the garden in spring and harvest a few months later.

This one and done approach to planting means a large amount of the same produce all at once and then you are often done for the year. Yeah! Your tomato plant produced 15 pounds of tomatoes... all in the same week and then it was done.

If you want your garden to produce an abundant supply of fresh produce all season long, you need to plan ahead for it. Don't worry it is easier than you think.

Succession Planting Starts with Planning

To create a successful succession-planting plan for your garden, you need to take a number of variables into account:

how long to reach maturity
how long it produces once mature
companion crops (which crops can be planted in the same space)

Most of the information will be on the seed packet or plant tag, and a quick online search can help you with companion planting suggestions.

Before you start digging, you’ll want to decide what you plan to grow. Start by making a list of which plants you want to grow. The best choices are what your family enjoys eating.

Once you know what you’d like to grow in your selected space, decide if you want to focus on growing the same crop throughout the season or if you want to try inter-planting more than one variety.

Lettuce and other greens are great for repeated sowing all season long. Plant a few heads every week and you will have fresh salads over and over instead of 10 heads of lettuce all at once.

Planting one determinate tomato variety and an indeterminate one will get you a quick crop from the determinate one which will then be done, but then the indeterminate variety will probably start to produce ripe fruit and then will continue producing for awhile.

However, if you want to try more than once crop, try to find a couple of recommended companion plants for your favorite choices.

If you need more information on companion and succession planting, there are tons of great resources and books available on this topic. A few books I would recommend:

Ideal Plants for Successive Planting

Lettuce and other salad greens are perfect choices for successive planting thanks to their fast growth cycle. The same can also be said for many herbs, such as basil and cilantro. The primary benefit to planting new seeds or seedlings every few weeks is that it ensures a continuous supply of fresh produce all season long.

Temperature preference is another factor to consider when choosing two or more plants for successive planting. Some plants thrive during cooler seasons, while others are more tolerant of hot summer weather. By understanding what conditions your plants prefer, you can make the best use of your available growing space.

For example, you can plant cool weather crops like radishes and carrots early in the year and then again in late summer or early fall. In between, you can fill those beds with more heat-tolerant transplants such as eggplant or hot peppers.

Crop rotation can be beneficial for the soil as well. Just do some research, because if you repeatedly plant the same type of plant in the same bed you can deplete the soil rapidly and share diseases and pests from one crop to the next. The nightshade family (tomatoes, eggplants, potatoes, peppers) are notorious for this.

Selecting Plants for Simultaneous Planting

The key to a successful simultaneous planting or companion planting is to choose non-competing plants with different maturity dates. You’ll also want to note what type of root structure they have (shallow versus a single, deep tap root), how much water and sunlight they need, and which nutrients they require.

The most famous example is the three sisters: corn, pole beans and squash. The corn provides the stalk for the pole beans. The beans provide nitrogen for the other plants. And the squash acts as a ground cover to prevent weeds.

Free Printable Succession Planting Planner

To help you get started I created a little packet of printable pages to help you track the information. It's free, just click the download button below, save the file and print as many copies of each page as needed.

download

Although succession planting may seem complicated at first, you’ll be amazed at how quickly you can make it work for you. By applying the principles of succession planting to your own backyard garden, you’ll soon be growing more fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs than you ever thought possible.

Go Vertical to Maximize Your Garden Space

Apr 9, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Learn how you can gain extra space in your garden by growing vertically.

Many gardeners only focus on the area under their feet when planning their garden. Given that most plants are grown in soil, this line of thinking makes sense. However, you can break free from this limited line of thinking once you decide to “look up.”

For every square foot of ground space in your garden, you actually have another 6 feet of valuable gardening space above it! If you take advantage of all that untapped vertical space, you can grow so much more than you ever thought possible.

Grow Vertically and Save Space

Take the Burpee Mini Piccolo seedless watermelon for an example. Each plant should be planted 5-7 feet apart. But, if you let the vine grow up a trellis and use a hammock like this (or make your own with panty hose like I did below) for the fruit you can easily shrink that to 1-2 feet apart.

Grow Vertically for Healthier Plants

Many gardeners find that vertical gardening leads to healthier plants in general. There are a number of reasons for this. For starters, plants grown vertically have a lot less direct contact with soil, which translates to fewer problems caused by soil-dwelling pests and diseases. If garden pests do attack your plants, the problem will be easier to see and treat if the plant is elevated off the ground.

In addition, vertically grown plants have better exposure to light and air than those allowed to grow freely along the ground. This, in turn, leads to better ventilation and food absorption. The end result is a healthier plant that is more resistant to disease and better able to produce at peak capacity.

Grow Vertically for Visual Appeal

Plants grown vertically can add to the visual appeal of your yard in many ways.

Plain fences can be boring, but add some plants (in this case grape vines) and it becomes an attractive backdrop.

You can hang pots or baskets on a wall or fence.

Wire or netting can be placed along many structures then train the plants to grow up them.

Trellis and arbors can create walls and dividers within your yard.

The following photos are larger scale farms, but you can easily grow a few edibles vertically with teepees, wires and the like.

Ideal Plants for Vertical Edible Gardening

There are a plenty of fruits, vegetables and culinary herbs you can grow in your newfound vertical gardening space.

In addition to pole beans, you can also grow other vining vegetables such as cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, squash and gourds.

Smaller, more compact plants like herbs and edible flowers do well in smaller spaces like hanging baskets or wall-mounted units.

By “suckering” or removing side stems from tomato plants, you can train them to grow in a more upright fashion. In addition to saving space, this process can also help your tomato plants stay healthy and become more productive.

Make your yard more attractive and productive by growing plants up instead of just out.

The Many Faces of an Autism Parent

Apr 2, 2020 · Leave a Comment

An Autism Mom offers humorous advice for interpreting the facial expressions of parents with children who have Autism.

eggs in a carton with faces drawn on them and text overlay "The Many Faces of an Autism Parent"

Every parent has "the look". You know the one. That look that freezes your offspring in their tracks and warns them to immediately stop talking, complaining, whining, crying, breathing...

But, when your child has autism, they may not understand "the look". Or any facial expression for that matter. My son had to be taught that when your mouth goes up it means you are happy and when you cry three tears you are sad... exactly three tears, mind you, because that was what it showed in the picture.

Oddly, many of us autism parents find that others cannot understand our facial expressions either.

If you are worried this could be you FEAR NOT! I have compiled this helpful (and hopefully humorous) guide to understanding the hidden meaning behind the facial expressions of autism parents.

No, my child does not need to be beaten

Let's start with the biggie.

An autism meltdown is NOT the same as a toddler tantrum. His brain is overloaded with stimuli and emotions and he can't cope. Anything can trigger it, he could be tired, your cologne may be overwhelming him, things are not where they should be, he submitted his math homework with one problem incomplete, the moon is in retrograde... only he knows. And his brain will not allow him to explain at the moment.

"Giving him a smack" will only make it worse. Soooooo much worse.

And for the record, I am not going to keep him locked away at home so you won't potentially witness a meltdown. He has autism not leprosy! Welcome to 2020!

If you see this face: RUN!!!

Yes, I have tried it... or would never try that.

Are you a board certified health professional who has examined my son and his health history? Then you are not qualified to give me medical advice. PERIOD.

I don't care if you best friend's second cousins' neighbors' dog groomer used XYZ and it worked wonders. Chances are I have already tried it or at least discussed it with his health provider.

If you see this face: gracefully change the subject to anything else.

Haven't seen it or read it.

I may be alone among my fellow autism parents, but I have not seen most television or movie portrayals of characters with autism. I saw Rain Man, once decades ago. M'eh, never was a huge Tom Cruise fan.

But if you start talking about Parenthood, The Big Bang Theory, or The Good Doctor, or any other more recent depictions in an attempt to relate to me I am at a loss.

Most of the time the last thing I want to do after dealing with autism all day is watch more about it.

Now if you want to talk about Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries or The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, let's dish!

If you see this face: again, feel free to change the subject.

No, he can't count cards in blackjack.

Stereotype much? If you have met one person with autism you have met one person with autism.

It is a spectrum of individuals all with unique talents and abilities. Sure there are some common characteristics, but not every person with autism has a photographic memory.

Although, my son does have the unique talent of being able to tell you the day of the week of any date in the recent past or future. "Your birthday is December 11? Hmmm, that will be a Friday this year."

If only we could find a way to profit from that my husband could retire.

If you see this face: ask what his interests or talents are or just change the subject.

There's tired and then there is autism tired

Ask any special needs parent what they want for themselves and I bet sleep is near the top of the list. The physical and emotional toll of coping with the needs of their child and the world at large is daunting.

My darling talks 24/7... yes including in his sleep. He thinks sleeping past 6 am is torture!

I get him into bed and asleep, which can take an hour of talking, clean up and get prepped for the next day then crawl into bed just to have my brain replay the day over and over. Rinse and repeat.

If you see this face: don't be offended if I yawn or doze off mid conversation, it's me not you.

I am overwhelmed.

This is my usual expression after a meltdown, parent teacher conference/IEP, or listening to YouTube videos of the calls of all Gen 6 Pokemon for the 10th time that day.

If you see this face: offer me chocolate and talk quietly about happy things.

I am about to lose it.

Like my son, sometimes the emotions are just too much. Sleep deprivation, IEPs, homework, therapies, meltdowns, worrying about the future... in a seemingly endless cycle can wear even a stoic like me.

If you see this face: the best way to help is let me get it out. Don't offer advice or platitudes (God gave him to you because you are so special!) just give me the space to let it out. Though a bit of chocolate always helps.

I hear someone in the back whispering "But, Audrey, those are all kind of obvious."

Yes. Yes they are.

Autism parents are not anything special, though we often deal with special issues. Treat us as you would anyone else, just like we ask you to treat our children.

If you can be anything, be kind.

Are Victory Gardens Primed for a Comeback?

Mar 18, 2020 · Leave a Comment

With all of the uncertainty in the world, there has never been a better time to plant a Victory Garden. It will provide you and your loved ones with fresh produce and improve morale as well.

vintage Victory Garden poster with tixt overlay "Are Victory Gardens Primed for a Comeback?"

Years ago upon the recommendation of my mother and brother I read Earth Abides by George R Stewart. It is about a man coping with the aftermath of a global pandemic in the early 1950s that kills almost the entire world population. Oh yeah, light happy reading.... NOT!

The book annoyed me for many reasons, mostly because I am not a huge fan of the post-apocolyptic/dystopian genre. I often found myself yelling at the survivors as they lived on canned foods pillaged from the grocery store and cows that just wandered around town because they had no natural predators (?!) FOR DECADES! At one point, 20 or so years after the pandemic, the main character finally gets around to trying to plant a vegetable garden. It fails, so he just gives up and they keep eating decades old canned foods. Mmm plenty of nutrition there!

The first thing I would have done after finding myself alone is get my hands on all the seeds and a good supply of mason jars and get planting and preserving. Okay, I probably would start with preserving all of the produce and meats still good in the market and then garden.

This is the perfect time to plant a vegetable garden

I have gardened since I was young, learning from my parents who learned from theirs. Even in my apartment days I had potted herbs when possible.

So, I might be a bit biased towards the necessity to have one.

Victory Gardens were started during World War I and II to supplement food rations and to boost morale. My grandparents did their part for the war effort by planting and tending their vegetable patches. It was just what people did growing up in the Great Depression and then into adulthood during World War II.

Vegetable gardening is great physical exercise, mood enhancing and you get fresh tomatoes! Seriously, if you have never eaten a vine ripened organic tomato straight from the garden in mid summer you are missing one of life's great pleasures.

There has never been a better time to do something positive towards your physical and mental well being.

Gardening Posts to Help You Plan a Garden

If you have never planted an edible garden, you may be intimidated. Don't be.

Even if your garden doesn't produce a single edible bite, the positive action and physical activity will do amazing things for you mentally. And you can compost the failures for a better garden next year.

Plus, I have a bunch of articles to help you create your own organic vegetable garden. C'mon, you had to see that coming, didn't you?

woman digging in garden with text overlay "stressed, depressed, anxious? try gardening"

kids planting strawberries in a container

Trowel applying compost to a grape vine.

tomatoes on a vine with text overlay "10 easy tips for growing more tomatoes"

Instead of spending hours on end stressing out watching tv and getting the latest updates on your phone, take a distinctively positive action.

Unplug from the negative for awhile. Get outside in the fresh air and plant your own Victory Garden.

10 Things I Learned from Adults with Autism

Mar 12, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Listening to adults with Autism is the best way to understand how they perceive and deal with the world around them. We can learn about their challenges, hopes, and goals. By doing so we are better able to include them as an integral part of our society.

teal pineapple with pink sungalsses and headphones nd text overlay "10 Things I learned from adults with Autism"

Many times in a special needs community, others speak for the individuals. If you want to know what it is like living with Autism in society today, who better to ask than someone living with Autism?

I am not going to waste space defining or describing Autism. If you need more information you can read more at the Autism Society site.

My son is a middle schooler with Autism. I rarely post about how Autism effects my family on the blog. But, I recently attended a panel discussion by six adults with Autism discussing how it impacts their life and I wanted to share with those that could not attend.

This post is a bit of a brain dump of a three hour discussion. I promise I won't be offended you don't want to read the entire thing, and choose to skip to the final takeaways.

The Panel

There were six adults on the panel. They are in no way indicative of the entire community of adults with Autism. We like to say, if you know one person with Autism, you know one person with Autism. However, there are many commonalities.

Some items of interest about the panel:

3 males and 3 females
5 verbal, 1 non verbal that spoke with a communication device
age range 25 - 35
of the 5 verbal adults, the age range of learning to speak was 4-8 years old
at least 2 live independently (they are roommates), 3 live with their parents and I don't remember the 6th mentioning it
1 has an Associates degree and was going back to school for a different degree, 1 has a BA, and 3 others were in college.
1 mentioned she has her driver's license a few mentioned car pools.
all of the verbal adults have jobs; a few are under employed at the moment and are working to change that with continuing education and job searches/interviews.

On the Spectrum, Autistic or with Autism?

So what is the preferred way of referring to a person with Autism Spectrum Disorder? The topic never came up.

This could be something the general population worries about more than they do. It could be that they felt they had more important issues to discuss with us. The literature promoting the event and the panel all said "with Autism" so that's what I am going with here.

But, that might not be what every individual prefers. When in doubt, listen to the term the person uses or ask what they prefer.

Disability versus Difference

All 6 panelists said Autism was a disability for them in some ways, but wanted others to view it as a difference.

They all feel the disability aspect when it comes to communicating with others. Reading emotions, understanding sarcasm and metaphors, knowing when others are joking and knowing what to say and do to start and carry on a conversation are things they all struggle with today.

They all want to be treated as just someone with a difference. They also all emphasized the following:

DO NOT BABY THEM! Talk to them like you would anyone else, even if they are non-verbal or don't appear to be paying attention.
Do not talk down to them as if they were a child. Ask questions directly of them and not anyone with them.
Look at them, but understand they may not be able to look at you.

I have lost count of the number of times I have been asked "does he want" or "does he like" with my son standing right next to me. Doctors and nurses, who should know better, used to do it with my Mom too when she broke her hip. ASK THEM DIRECTLY!!!! This is so rude to do to anyone with a perceived disability. If they cannot answer you directly you will figure it out in a few seconds, but at least show them them respect to talk directly to them first.

The Impact of Sensory Processing

It was only in 2013 that sensory processing issues was added to the list of symptoms to diagnose Autism. But those living with Autism can tell you it has a huge impact on their lives.

I have been told this video helps us "normal" people get a better understanding of the daily sensory overload many feel.

One woman gave the following analogy: Imagine you are at an all day rock concert, with the noise and lights and people. Afterwards you are probably exhausted and need downtime from all of the stimulation. Many people with Autism feel this way just going through daily life, sometimes all of that input gets to be too much and their brain is overwhelmed and shuts down.

On the other end of the spectrum some are hypo-sensitive and do not feel things that "normal" people do. She likened it to when you have a shot of Novocaine and poke your face because you can't feel it. Which explains why sometimes they feel the need to hit or hurt themselves.

Have you ever seen light streaming through a window and noticed the dust? A few mentioned they can see light waves like that all the time!

Smells can overwhelm and trigger them. One mentioned she hid under the desk when the teacher's perfume was too strong, but she didn't have the words to express her distress. The teacher just assumed she didn't want to do her work.

High pitched noises and minor keys were both mentioned as sounds that caused a fight or flight reaction.

Why did it take the American Psychiatrists so long to formally recognize this aspect of Autism? When I think back on my son's meltdowns and bad days, most were probably due to sensory overload and lack of sleep (which was probably due to sensory overload). We often feel compelled to leave places early to avoid a potential meltdown due to over-stimulation.

The Nemesis that is Communication

Obviously the woman who was non-verbal had communication issues. She had pre-typed the answers to the questions before to speed things up. Her responses were quite eloquent! She almost brought me to tears a few times. Her inability to speak does not mean she is stupid or doesn't have her own thoughts, wishes and desires.

In the Q&A session her mother told the story of the first time she got the communicator (a keyboard with oversized keys and an iPad to speak the words). The first thing she said was she wanted her own pizza. Her brother had his own piece, but mom was sharing a piece with her.

Besides having difficulty translating facial expression and vocal intonation into emotions, others conversation challenges were mentioned.

Some had trouble knowing how to initiate and continue a conversation even though they wanted to.

Some couldn't come up with the correct words so their brains repeated something they had heard before. And repeated it. And repeated it. How often do babies and toddlers repeat themselves when learning to speak? That is how the brain learns.

Eye contact can be extremely difficult. One panelist said "eyes are the scariest part of the human body." Don't be fooled though, just because they may not appear to be looking at you it doesn't mean they are not paying attention or do not understand.

My son can look people in the eye but often needs reminders to do so. He will randomly walk up to people and start talking about Pokemon and then just walk away. He will say "Hi, what's your name?" even if he already knows the individual or the person has just said their name.

Interests and Obsessions

People with Autism can be very passionate about a favorite subject to the point of obsessions: cars, history and geography, baseball, video games. It is a way for their minds to create order.

Oftentimes children and teens can be interested in shows and activities that are created for younger ages. Their brains weren't ready to handle them at the intended age. One example given was wanting to play tag in middle school. Her brain and body weren't ready for it at elementary age but were at 13, but by then it was "inappropriate behavior".

The irony of perception of propriety was brought up. The popular kid can wear a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle t-shirt or carry a My Little Pony back pack in high school and it is considered stylish, but if a teen with Autism does, it is babyish.

Routine and order are critically important. Disruption to their routine can be very disconcerting and hard to overcome.

Oy! If my son does not have his ID card, school bracelet and watch his entire day can be ruined. Even though he doesn't really need them to function throughout the day, not having them disrupts his entire sense of order.

If you ask him about Pokemon right now he can probably name all 807! Trivia: the creator of Pokemon has Autism.

Friendships and School

The panel all felt alienated at school (my word not theirs). Other students did not understand or accept their differences. If they were lucky they were ignored. One was bullied relentlessly and was told by adults to just ignore it.

One said he didn't know if the other kids were making fun of him or not because he couldn't understand the social cues. He usually preferred staying to the edges of the playground at recess because the noise and activity was chaotic and overwhelming to him.

One mentioned having a friend in high school that helped teach her how to have a conversation and they were still best friends today.

Most of the panel have friends now as adults, including each other. A few date, and one even had a girlfriend until they broke up recently.

My son is so blessed to have been placed in the perfect kindergarten class with kids who all accepted him and look out for him to this day. That may be due in small part to a conscious effort by my husband and me to make sure he attends their games and plays and talks with them afterwards. But I think it is just that those kids and their parents are awesome. And hopefully that Autism is becoming less "scary" to those that don't deal with it on a daily basis.

Let them Stim and Repeat!

Stimming behaviors such as hand flapping, spinning, rocking, etc. may seem odd to many of us when observed, but they are coping mechanisms for those with Autism. They help them focus and handle all of the sensory information around them.

One found a discreet way to stim by clenching his fingers together under the table, which he admitted he had been doing all afternoon.

All agreed that while stimming may be distracting to others, it is important for the individual to continue otherwise overload could be imminent.

If they are trying to tell you something and constantly repeating, let them get it out. Especially if they seem anxious. Sort of like talking about a bad dream to make it go away.

My son talks non-stop and repeats himself when he is anxious. For the 5 minutes between agreeing to have a shot and the nurse bringing it in he asked us repeatedly how big the needle was, how many were there, where it was going to go, etc. We'd answer, he'd ask again.

How Parents Can Help ... and Hurt

Some had strained relationships with their parents who felt they did not understand and support them. One feels his parents are continually lecturing him and refuse to see things from his point of view and never apologize to him.

One woman mentioned her mother told her that morning her 3 inch platform heels were not appropriate to wear to the panel. (This mom thought they were very stylish, and was a bit envious she can't wear shoes like that anymore without her ankles hurting).

One suggested introducing new things (foods, situations, ideas) gradually and repeatedly. Sometimes it is the newness that is off-putting.

Another explained his parents found volunteer opportunities for him in high school to help him learn to socialize.

My Takeaways

Here are the main ideas about treating individuals with Autism that I took away from this panel discussion.

Treat them as an individual whose brain may function differently than yours. Nothing more nothing less.
Do not talk down to them as if they are incapable of understanding. Talk directly to them in an age appropriate tone.
If you want to have a conversation with them, find out their interest and discuss that.
You may need to initiate conversation or be accepting if they repeatedly ask your name or say hi. Their brain is struggling to find the right words.
Understand they may not look you in the eye or be able to understand social cues or figurative language.
Their senses may easily become overwhelmed. Sights, sounds, smells and touch may either be blown out of proportion in their brains. Or they may not perceive these stimuli.
Obsessions, structure and order are one way they make sense of their world.
Ignore stimming behaviors, recognize that it may mean they are anxious. Let them finish stories even if it is just repeating phrases over and over.
Be patient and accepting.
They have a lot to offer our society if society will give them a chance.

It is vital that we let the voices of those with Autism self advocate. Take the time to get to know individuals with Autism in your life by treating them just as you would anyone else, but with a bit more patience and understanding for their differences. They want to belong. They want to contribute. Take the time to listen.

Create an Organic Vegetable Garden in 4 Easy Steps

Mar 9, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Creating an organic vegetable garden doesn't have to be complicated. Just follow these easy steps and start growing your own healthy produce!

Planting a vegetable garden is one of the most rewarding things you can do. When you grow your own garden, you can harvest fresh seasonal fruits, veggies and herbs as you need them. And there are physical and mental benefits to gardening besides just the end results.

Here are four simple steps to planning an planting your organic vegetable garden.

Pick a Location for Your Vegetable Garden

Some people want to jump straight to picking the plants, but that's like buying new furniture before you know the size of the room.

Just like in real estate, planting a successful vegetable garden is all about location, location, location. If you want your plants to thrive, here are a few things to keep in mind:

1. Sunshine. Pick a sunny location with at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day.

2. Water. Make sure the location you choose has easy access to water. You will need to water your plants whenever Mother Nature refuses to cooperate, so make sure you have a convenient source of water nearby.

3. Accessibility. Gardens need care, so position your vegetable garden in an area that is convenient to get to with the tools you need to work in it. If you place it too far from the house or garden shed where you keep your tools or in an area difficult to reach with a wheelbarrow, you will make tending it a chore.

4. Good Drainage. You may have to do some work for this one, especially if you live in an area with heavy clay or compacted soil (ME!!!!). If you find the area you want to plant tends to collect standing water, you will want to build your beds up to protect your plants from overly wet feet.

Decide What You Want to Plant

This is the fun part. Start by making a list of all the recipes you frequently make. Note which vegetables and herbs you use over and over again, because this will tell you not only what you should plant, but also in what quantity. If your kids won't eat spicy foods planting 4 kinds of hot peppers doesn't make sense.

Once you've made a list of plants you want to grow, collect mail order catalogs, search online or stop by your favorite garden center to find seeds and transplants.

Before buying calculate how much space each plant will need to determine how it will fit in the area you have. Square foot gardening, companion planting and vertical gardening can all help you fit more plants into limited space.

Create Your Garden Beds

Once you’ve identified where you want your garden, you will need to decide where you want the individual beds within it. As you are doing so, keep in mind the orientation of the sun throughout the day because taller plants or those growing on trellises can shade plants behind them.

To create the individual beds, many old school gardeners swear by the traditional practice of removing heavy layers of sod, then tilling and amending the soil beneath it before planting your vegetable plants.

Although this method will certainly work, you simply don’t have to work that hard. Instead, you can use the Lasagna Gardening method of building your beds UP instead of digging down to create them. This methods works equally well with raised garden beds or directly on the ground.

To get started, add flattened cardboard or a thick stack of newspapers on top of the ground and then add alternate layers of peat, topsoil, aged manure or barn litter, organic mulch, yard clippings and/or compost.

You can either prepare these beds months in advance or right before you plant. Either way, the layers will meld together into a beautiful, rich soil for your plants.

This year I am trying a variation known as Hugelkultur, with logs and branches on the bottom and building it up to form a hill that can be planted on both sides. Because of the sun exposure in my yard mine may not be actually mounds, but sort of a lasagna Hugelkutur hybrid.

Start Planting!

Once your beds are ready, it’s time to start planting! Sort of.

Once you have decided the plants you want, you will need to decide if you are going to sow seeds directly in the ground, start them indoors or just plant transplants. All have their benefits.

Some plants require direct sowing, while others need to be started indoors several weeks before the frost-free date in your area in order to perform well.

While you are creating your list of plants you want to grow, make a note of the growing requirements for each so you can give your plants the best chance of survival and have them ready when you want them. In Southern California if I want pumpkins for Halloween, I do not need to plant them until May or June. But this may be different in your climate.

Even reading through these steps you may feel overwhelmed by starting a vegetable garden. But, with a little research, planning and effort you will soon be rewarded with an abundant supply of fresh and healthy produce. Plus, you’ll have the added satisfaction of knowing you did it with your own two hands.

You Can Stay Fit While You Sit

Mar 5, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Learn why sitting all day can be dangerous to your health and how you can start to stay fit while you sit.

woman stretching in an office with text overlay "How to Stay Fit While You Sit"

I often joke about having "blogger's butt" from sitting behind the computer for long hours at a time. But weight gain is only a small part of the problem. Studies show that sitting raises your risk of heart disease, diabetes, stroke, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol among a variety of other health issues.

Some people don’t have a choice, however. They might have limited mobility, which makes a traditional workout difficult. My mother's crippling arthritis left her unable to even walk for long distances

It is possible to maintain strength and flexibility regardless of age provided you choose the right exercises. It’s even possible to lose weight if you make smart choices when developing your own workout routines.

Choosing the right workout

There are a variety of workouts you can do sitting down, such as:

aerobics
stretching
weight lifting
tai chi or yoga
and more

Seated workouts will vary depending on where you are sitting, the type of chair or seat you are using, and whether or not you are disabled or lack strength in your legs.

If you have trouble standing up and walking on your own, or are usually in a wheelchair, for example, it is still possible to get a good workout, but you need to plan ahead as to what exercises and equipment you will use.

You can research a variety of workouts on YouTube to sample what may be interesting to you. A few channels to try are POPSugar, BeFit, and Mindful Chair Yoga.

Choosing the Right Equipment

You can do upper body calisthenics, on their own, or add light weights or resistance bands to boost your results.

You don’t have to have a lot of fancy equipment. Some cans from your pantry, or bottles of water, can serve as light hand weights you can use at your desk, while sitting on the sofa, etc.

Or you can invest in some small hand weights like these; or consider a set of resistance bands like these. Resistance bands are basically giant rubber bands that offer resistance for your workout.

You can also get an exercise ball for your workouts. Using it as a desk chair will also improve your core muscles just from sitting.

You can get a good work out sitting down. This post is the first in a series to help you research the right exercise for you and get you on the road to a lifetime of wellness.

How to Plan an Attractive and Productive Kitchen Garden

Mar 2, 2020 · Leave a Comment

A well-planned kitchen garden is a beautiful edition to your yard and an enticing way to incorporate more fresh fruits, vegetables and herbs into your diet.

The following tips will help you plan a productive and practical kitchen garden that will make your yard beautiful and your table filled with fresh organically grown produce.

Tip #1: Pick the Perfect Spot

When choosing a location for your kitchen garden you obviously want a place that is close to your kitchen, so it is easy to reach while you are preparing meals.

You should also take into consideration the kind of environment your plants prefer. Choose a sunny location that receives at least 6 hours of direct sunlight per day. If you live in a really hot climate, you may find a bit of afternoon shade is nice to have, as well.

And don't forget to ensure the location has easy access to water. Who wants to drag a heavy garden hose around or lug watering can after watering can around your yard in order to keep your plants hydrated.

This is the biggest challenge for me. The ideal choice would be the patio right off of the kitchen, except it only gets about 3-4 hours of morning sun and then my house blocks it the rest of the day.

Tip #2: Pick Your Plants

The easiest way to decide what you want to grow in your kitchen garden is to think about what you like to cook.

Kids can’t get enough of your homemade salsa? Plan to have a steady supply of fresh cilantro and juicy tomatoes nearby. Have a penchant for pesto? Make sure to plant a few basil plants and some garlic as well.

You want to stock your kitchen garden with the fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers you use in your day-to-day cooking. These are the items you will want to have convenient access to throughout the growing season.

Items you plan freeze, can or otherwise preserve for later use are ideal for your regular vegetable garden.

Herbs, tomatoes and maybe a pepper plant or two are a must for me. Some lettuces and greens (like kale) are also great for a quick salad.

Tip #3: Make the Most of the Space You Have

Due to their proximity to the house, many kitchen gardens are confined to a relatively small space. If your proposed kitchen garden has a small overall footprint, don’t get discouraged. Instead – look up!

Take advantage of as much vertical space as possible to maximize your growing area. Consider hanging baskets, trellisses, plant teepees and the like to grow up instead of out.

If your potager has a blank wall with good sun exposure, you could add a ladder-like series of shelves for pots of herbs.

Tip #4: Make It Beautiful

Your kitchen garden is an extension of your home and will likely be visible to your family and guests. So, making the area as attractive as possible just makes good sense.

Balance, symmetry and repetition are components of any good garden design. To incorporate balance and symmetry into your potager, try adding two matching brightly colored containers filled with herbs and place them on each side of the entrance.

For repetition, add multiples of the same plants throughout the garden. For example, a group of 3 cherry tomato plants in attractive containers will have a stronger visual impact than a single plant.

You can also create a sense of order by planting lovely borders of edible flowers or fragrant herbs along walkways. People often bump my sage plants as they walk by them sending a lovely fragrance thoughout the area.

Add some whimsy with sculptures and garden art:

Make your kitchen garden inviting as well as functional so you want to spend more time in an area that nourishes both your body and soul.

What is a kitchen garden and why do you want one?

Feb 24, 2020 · Leave a Comment

Learn how a kitchen garden differs from a traditional vegetable garden and why you want both types, if you have the space.

A kitchen garden also called a "potager" (pronounced puh-ta-zhay), is a special kind of edible garden with a rich history tracing back to old English and French culinary gardens.

A kitchen garden is a chef’s delight filled with delicious fruits, vegetables, herbs and edible flowers. It is a celebration of fresh ingredients and delicious home cooked meals.

Both kitchen and traditional gardens offer a sense of satisfaction coupled with tangible rewards for a job well done ... and homegrown tomatoes.

So, what is the difference between the two? Convenience, size and beauty

Kitchen Gardens are Convenient

Kitchen gardens make it easy to grab the items you need to your prepare your daily meals. Therefore, a potager should be located as close to your food preparation area as possible.

Imagine you are in the middle of preparing dinner when you suddenly realize “this marinade could use a little more rosemary.” Rather than trek out to your main vegetable garden while you have pots simmering on the stove, wouldn’t you rather be able to reach right outside your door to snip a couple sprigs?

With a kitchen garden, the easier it is to grab what you need while you are cooking, the better.

Kitchen Gardens are Small

Kitchen gardens are smaller than traditional gardens because they are situated close to the house.

Small is relative, of course. The Portager du Roi at Versailles Palace (below) is nine hectares. King Louis XIV had a few more people to feed than you probably do.

If you only have limited space available to plant a kitchen garden, think of it this way: a regular vegetable garden is about planning for the future, while a kitchen garden is about enjoying today.

The fruits and vegetables you plan to preserve for future use or crops such as corn, that take up a lot of space, are good choices for a traditional vegetable garden where space is at less of a premium.

Instead, kitchen gardens are normally filled with the items you prepare and eat while immediately. Think containers of fresh herbs, compact cherry tomato plants and edible flowers for your potager. Kitchen gardens are a great option for those with limited space.

Kitchen Gardens are Beautiful

While a standard vegetable garden is all about utility and production, part of the charm of a kitchen garden comes from its ornamental aspect.

Due to its proximity to the house, a kitchen garden is harder to tuck out of sight than a traditional garden. Therefore, they are often designed to add a sense of beauty to your home, as well. Instead of rows of crops, kitchen gardens group several plants into attractive layouts.

Some herbs, such as lemon thyme, can be used to create a beautiful and fragrant border around plants and containers. Edible flowers, such as violas and nasturtium, can be incorporated to add a splash of color. Compact blueberry shrubs are also highly ornamental and make a wonderful, yet functional border.

Kitchen gardens offer both convenience and beauty in a compact space. The best part is it doesn’t take much to get started. All you need is a few pots, some fresh herbs, your favorite compact tomato plant and lettuce varieties and you’ll be on your way!

How CoSchedule's Calendar Views Keep me Focused

Jan 16, 2020 · Leave a Comment

CoSchedule offers customized views to help you focus on the most important aspects of your business. Learn how I create and use them to stay on top of all of my blogging tasks.

busy calendar with text overlay coschedule calendar views keep me focused

I make no secret about loving CoSchedule. When I first tried it upon the recommendation of a blogging buddy years ago, I signed up less than halfway through the two week free trial.

And that is a legit, no credit card needed free trial, by the way. Not one of those you have to remember to cancel or you are automatically subscribed ones. But, if you did need to remember you could schedule a task in CoSchedule to remind yourself. 😉

learn more

CoSchedule Tips and Tricks

CoSchedule is pretty intuitive to use, but I have learned some tricks to customize it for tracking my 4 websites, social media scheduling, newsletters and more. If only it could back school lunches and put away laundry.

One of my favorite features is Requeue that lets me create a social media post once then CoSchedule reposts it for me. How many hours would that save you?

I explain the basics of how I use ReQueue to segment my automated social media sharing by season in this post on the International Bloggers’ Association and I explain how I use ReQueue Placeholder Groups here to set up special days like "Tip Tuesdays".

Customized Calendars Keep Me Focused

CoSchedule lets me do so much that my calendar can be overwhelming, even with color coding the labels.

Luckily you can easily create customized calendar views that lets you focus on a smaller amount of items at once. Here's my current list of customized views.

Team tasks: I am a team of one, but this lists all of my tasks for each post.
Posts only: Most of the time I only want to see what posts I have coming up since my tasks usually stem from those.
Social: All social media posts for all of my channels (I often remove one or focus on only one)
Everything specific to one of my blogs.
Requeue: so I can monitor what CoSchedule is posting and make adjustments.

How to Create a CoSchedule Calendar View

Setting up a customized calendar view is so simple. First click on these 3 lines to get MORE.

Then select "create new saved view" from the bottom.

Click on the words "New View" to change the name of your view. I forget this step every time and have to go back in and change it. #truestory

Filter the views to chose exactly what you want to see. If you want to see just your social media posts, for example, click social profile and click the ones you want. I post to Pinterest at least 20 times a day so it can clutter my view.

Before clicking Done at the top, check the "View Settings" section and customize it some more.

Then click Done and check it. You can always go back and tweak it until it is just what you want. Just hold your mouse over the name and then click on the pencil to edit.

Having an app that can track a variety of information is very handy, but it can be distracting to have too much information at once. Use CoSchedule's Calendar views to help you focus on the most important details at that moment.

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