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Free Printable Red Envelopes for Chinese New Year

Jan 7, 2019 · 1 Comment

Free printable Red Envelopes for Chinese New Year to share the love with younger family members.

Chinese New Year is one of the world’s most celebrated holidays, but for many of us, gift-giving traditions can make it a stressful time. These printable red envelopes save you the time of finding your own to gift the young ones in your life. .

Read on to find out more about the history and significance of Chinese New Year’s red envelopes and to learn how to make your own printable red envelopes so you can start the celebration right.

It is a Chinese New Year tradition for older family members to give money to children tucked inside red envelopes for good luck. I also received them from a few of my superiors when I worked for a Chinese based company.

If you find yourself needing a few envelopes to start this tradition with your own family, just click on the button to download this free printable with all 12 zodiak signs with two envelopes to a page. Just pick the design for the appropriate year.

CLICK TO DOWNLOAD

This would look best printed on some glossy paper like this, but I printed mine on standard paper and they still look nice.

How to Assemble Red Envelopes

After you print, you just need to cut...

Then fold and glue the tabs marked "glue"....

And press together...

Leave the top open to add money. Fold over and seal with tape or a sticker or a glue dot if you want.

Chinese New Year Menu Ideas

For more Chinese New Year fun, I have plenty of easy recipes over on That Recipe for you to make for New Years Eve.

collage of Chinese food for Chinese New Year

新年好 / 新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo)
"New Year Goodness"

CoShedule's ReQueue is My Not So Secret Blogging Weapon

Jan 3, 2019 · 3 Comments

Learn how I use CoSchedule's ReQueue Placeholder Group feature to fill my social media channels with informative posts on a weekly basis in a fraction of the time of posting manually.

CoSchedule is one of the best blogging tools for getting more done in less time. It helps me schedule posts for three blogs, schedule newsletters, stay on top of activities for my clients and constantly fill my social media channels will relevant posts.

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

DISCLOSURE: This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission, at no cost to you, for purchases made through these links. full disclosure here

Why I love CoSchedule

I spent years trying to track my editorial calendar in Google calendar and using free media schedulers to keep up with the social media posting. Two years ago I tried CoSchedule upon the recommendation of one of my blogging buddies.

Before the first week of my free trial was over I was begging CoSchedule, "Just take my money already!"

It was good when I first subscribed, but it is even better now since ReQueue has been added. And it keeps getting better.

editorial calendar - check
social media scheduler - check
integrated email marketing - check
built in headline helper - check
task list templates - check
integration with Google Calendar, Evernote, etc. - check
workflow management - check
simplified team collaboration - check
integrated analytics - check

Don't take my word for it. CoSchedule offers a free two week trial to put it through its paces. And that's a truly free, no credit card needed, two week trial.

learn more

My new favorite CoSchedule tool: ReQueue Placeholder Groups

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. This ensures I don't have a Valentine's Day craft posting in October.

But, I have recently figured out how to use Placeholder Groups to further refine my social sharing. If you do a weekly or monthly social sharing post such as #TipTuesdays #FlashbackFriday etc. you will want to pay attention to this next part.

For That Recipe, my food blog, I share cooking tips on social media every Tuesday. I could just manually create a different social media post in each of the channels every single Tuesday.

But, with a Placeholder Group I don't have to.

First, I created 3 Placeholder Groups called "Tip Tuesday - Facebook", "Tip Tuesday - Twitter and "Tip Tuesday - Instagram".

There is one drawback to Placeholder groups that makes things a bit tedious for me. It only sends one message at the scheduled time, not one per social media channel, as I would prefer. But, having three groups makes for an easy work around.

You can schedule each group to post multiple days and times. For this example I only want once every Tuesday.

The next step was to create a new message in the Facebook group. I selected my Facebook, Twitter and Instagram accounts to create 3 messages at once.

After all three messages were created and placed in the Facebook group, I open the Twitter post, added some hashtags and moved it to the Twitter group.

Then I opened the Instagram post, added even more hashtags and moved it to the Instagram group.

It takes me less than 2 minutes to create each set of 3 messages, so in about 30 minutes I had enough messages for a new message to post every Tuesday for a full quarter in 3 different social media channels. And unless I tell it to stop, it will start repeating those messages.

Would you spend $10 a week to save 10 hours?

I am one of the cheapest people I know. I am far more inclined to waste copious amounts of time doing things for free instead of spending any money to do it in less time.

But, time is money. If you are building a business you can't afford to waste either resource.

CoSchedule saves me a minimum of 12 hours a week. Think about what you could do with 12 more hours in a week. Create more content? Spend more time with family? Sleep?

Go check out CoSchedule and see how it can help you be a better Blogger.

learn more

12 Kid-Friendly New Year’s Eve Games Everyone Will Love

Dec 10, 2018 · 2 Comments

New Year's Eve parties tend to be adults only events, but they don't have to be with these family friendly New Year's Eve party games that will help keep the fun flowing all the way until midnight.

New Year's Eve Charades

Charades is a game almost everyone can play. Divide the group into two teams, making sure there are children and teens on each. Give the teams about ten minutes to come up with ideas to be acted out. Think back over the past year and write down titles of songs, movies or books. Try to remember who made the news during the year. These pieces of paper will be folded up and put into two hats.

The hats will be traded and the first person will choose a piece of paper and try to act out what was on the paper. If their team can guess before the timer goes off, they earn a point. The other team would then get their turn. After a pre-determined amount of time, total up which team has the most points. They would then win the right to choose the next game.

Try a New Hat On for Size

Before the party, gather together a bunch of different hats. As the guests arrive, allow them to choose a hat. Then ask them to speak or act the way a person who would normally wear that hat would act or speak. For instance, if they get a cowboy hat they might speak with an accent and walk bowlegged like they’ve just gotten off a horse. Let the party-goers choose how elaborate they want to go with their new identity.

New Year's Eve Fashion Design

Ah, the classic bridal shower game. Have the following items on hand: stacks of newspapers, tape, pins, string or scissors. Divide everyone into teams of about six. Have one person act as the model. Give the teams about 5-10 minutes to come up with a paper costume. Anything goes as long they only use the materials they were given. After the time is up, the next person acts as the model. This continues until everyone has a new paper costume. Then you can have a fashion show to model their new outfits.

Printable Fun

Set up a table with pencils and some of these free printables and let the kids have their own fun.

New Year's Eve Mad Libs Printables

The Dating Divas

The Idea Room

Saving Money Living Smart

Felice Cohen

New Year's Themed Word Searches and more

Happiness is Homemade (word search)

Domestic Mommyhood (word search)

Super Heroes and Tea Cups (word search)

Teachers Pay Teachers (word search)

Kendall Rayburn (seek and find)

Tot Schooling (party hat coloring craft)

New Year's Eve Bingo

Print up some New Year's themed Bingo cards and play a round or two to keep the fun going. A few printable bingo cards you may like:

Campfire Marshmallows

Capturing Joy

Plucky Momo

Pin the Hands on the Clock

Cut a giant circle out of butcher paper and make the clock. Then cut some hands out of cardstock. Blindfold the players and let them try to place the hands as close to midnight as possible.

Glow in the Dark Ring Toss

Put some Glow in the Dark duct tape on some bottles and use glow bracelets for the rings, set it up in a dark corner or a room lit with a black light. Get more Glow in the Dark Game ideas from A Pumpkin and a Princess.

New Year's Eve Photo Booth

Would it be a party without a photo booth including fun props? Not these days! Set up a back drop somewhere out of the way (so people aren't constantly walking through the photos). Cheap plastic tablecloths or bulletin board paper work great. Add some fringe curtains, streamers and other New Year's decorations and place a box of props so people can take their own photos.

Here are some free props you can print.

Moritz Fine Designs

The Life of Jennifer Dawn

Cupcakes and Cutlery

Glitter and Spice

New Year's Themed Relay Races

Relays are always a fun way to mix up the guests and let the kids burn off some energy. Here are a few New Year's themed race ideas:

Baby Balloon Pop

I love this idea from Momtastic. Blow up a bunch of balloons, some which have a paper baby inside. Run back and forth getting a balloon from a pile and back to the start to pop it. The team with the most babies wins.

Dress the New Year's Baby

Get a few similar baby dolls dressed in the same amount of clothes. Take turns dressing and undressing the baby as fast as possible.

Party Blower Pom Pom Races

Loud and annoying but fun! There's Just One Mommy explains how to use party blowers to push a pom pom the length of a table. You could make this a relay by having the teams split up on either end of the table and pushing the pom pom to the other side and back again.

Don't Look Back

One person tosses pom poms (or cotton balls) to their team mates to catch in upside down party hats. The catch? They stand with their back to the thrower and can't look back.

These are a few New Year’s Eve party game ideas that nearly everyone should be able to play. A quick search on Pinterest for "minute to win it" games will yield even more ideas.

Regardless of how you plan to spend New Year's Eve, I wish you a healthy and happy New Year. Be sure to come back to the site for even more fun!

8 Easy Ideas for Christmas Table Centerpieces

Dec 7, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Make your Christmas dinner table shine with these simple ideas for creating fabulous centerpieces to fit your personal design style.

No matter what color or style you choose for your table many of these centerpiece ideas can be adapted to suit it. Just remember to keep it low enough so people can see over it to chat with the people across from them, or easily removable if you want it tall.

Runner of Greenery

Run some fresh or artificial greenery down the center of the table, add some pinecones, candles and candy canes or small Christmas ornaments and you are done.

Make Glitter Trees

Just spread glue and glitter on styrofoam cones in your color of choice and you have instant bling on your table.

Ornaments or Pinecones in a Big Bowl

Use a wooden, white, silver or even glass bowl. Fill it with pine cones or ornaments or both and add some lights to the mix.

Create Twinkle Light Mason Jars

Fill large mason jars with strings of twinkle lights. You can either get shorter strings that use batteries for the lights instead of being plugged in, or you can drill holes in the bottom so that you can pull out the lights and plug them in somewhere near the table. Just bring the cord underneath the table runner so it isn’t obvious, then connect them to a nearby outlet.

Create a Mini Village

If you want to have a Christmas village but only have enough for a small one, placing it on your dining table is perfect. Just add some snow (batting or white mesh), a few buildings, cars, and people, and your village is ready for Christmas.

Or remember the reason for the season and create a small nativity scene.

Use a Distressed Planter or Tray

Create a shabby chic look with an older wooden planter or tray filled it with some snow blanket, some Christmas decor, greenery and lights.

Float Some Candles

Candles are always beautiful on a table, but floating candles can make it look like you spent hours planning the decor. Truthfully, it can be done in minutes: just fill a few glasses or glass jars with some greens (fresh cranberries look great too) and add a floating candle then spread them down the center of your table.

Reflect the Light

Mirrors placed under your candles or lights will magnify the shine and brighten your holiday meal. I remember my grandparents had a mirror similar to this one (which may still be available on Etsy here).

You could also pick up some inexpensive mirror tiles like these at your local home improvement store and place them under candle or other lights.

Whether your style is modern or shabby chic we have some inspiration for a lovely Christmas table centerpiece that is sure to impress. Click to Tweet

It doesn't take much effort to create a lovely Christmas table centerpiece to help your guests feel special on this special day.

10 Ways to Use Tomato Cages to Make Christmas Trees

Dec 3, 2018 · 4 Comments

If you are looking for simple DIY Christmas decorations, check out this collection of Tomato Cage Trees, plus a few other ideas for turning a basic gardening implement into holiday decor.

Grapevine Tomato Cage Tree

This first one is mine. We made these years ago after trimming our grapevines. Within a day of trimming the vines, wrap them around an inverted tomato cage, hold the vines in place with twist ties or twine until they dry out and hold in place.

Then wrap with lights... lots and lots of lights, if you are my husband. We have used these several years in the rain and they have held up nicely.

Honeysuckle Branch Tomato Cage Tree

Grapevines aren't the only branches you can use. Scavenger Chic uses honeysuckle branches.

Evergreen Trimmings Tomato Cage Tree

You could also use trimmings from pine or fir trees like like this one on Home Talk.

Pine Cone Covered Tomato Cage Trees

Trendy Trees covered that tomato cage tree with pine cones and burlap for a country chic look.

Evergreen Garland Tomato Cage Topiary

I also have two evergreen topiaries on either side of my porch similar to these made by Gluesticks blog.

Deco Mesh Tomato Cage Christmas Trees

Just wrap the cages with deco mesh and add some decorations and lights like Sow and Dippity.

Feathered Tomato Cage Christmas Trees

This user on HomeTalk wrapped the tomato cage with some feathered boas.

Poinsettia Tomato Cage Tree

The Hallmark Channel explains how to cover the tomato cage in silk poinsettia blossoms for this striking tree.

Honeycomb Ball Tomato Cage Tree

How fun are these party trees Oh Joy! made by covering them in different sizes of Honeycomb Balls.

Turn a simple tomato cage upside down and it becomes the base for a DIY Christmas tree decoration. Click to Tweet

Simple Christmas Light Tomato Cage Tree

17 Apart keeps it simple by just covering the cages in lights.

Other Tomato Cage Christmas Decorations

No need to limit yourself to trees, you could also use tomato cages to create angels, snowmen or Santas.

Lighted Tomato Cage Angel

I am not sure how well the feathers will hold up in rain and snow, but this one on HomeTalk could be really pretty on my covered porch.

Deco Mesh Tomato Cage Snowman

There are no instructions on HomeTalk for this one, but you should be able to figure it out from the photo. I'd consider using a paper lantern or maybe a globe light cover.

Tomato Cage Santa Hat

Pinterest has a few photos of Santas without instructions, but here is an easy Santa Hat

More Christmas crafts you may enjoy:

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

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

Bird Family Grapevine Wreath Christmas Ornament

Christmas Tree Stair Raiser Decoration - decorate your stair risers for the holiday with this easy to customize idea.

Frugal Tips for a Thoughtful and Earth Friendly Christmas

Nov 26, 2018 · 1 Comment

Do you want to save money, protect the environment, reduce clutter, reduce stress and have an awesome Christmas? Here are some tips and tricks for a frugal earth friendly Christmas.

The Christmas Tree Debate

There is a huge debate as to which is more environmentally friendly, a real or an artificial tree.

Artificial trees are made from petroleum products, but with proper care can last for 10 years and do not present a fire hazard if you want to have one up for over a month.

Forests are not chopped down for live Christmas trees, they are grown on farms with the specific intent of them being cut down after a few years. While they are growing they absorb plenty of CO2 from the environment. But, since they are an agricultural product fertilizers and pesticides may be used in their production.

A potted tree that is planted in your yard after the season is another good option. We had one that grew to over 20 feet and became the centerpiece of our yard. The only drawback of this is you need a large yard to continue this tradition year after year.

My tree is covered in hand made ornaments, check this post for tutorials for over hand made Christmas ornaments

Shine Bright with Christmas Lights

Environmentally conscious folks can channel their inner Clark Griswold now that LED and solar lights are readily available. They use far less energy than the lights of old.

We just put some solar lights around the base of the tree at the curb this year, they work perfectly with one caveat. The placement of the solar panel can be tricky. It needs to be able to catch plenty of sunlight to charge, but get dark enough after the sun sets to turn on. Unfortunately, the light from the street light is so bright I have to flip the panel up towards the tree after dark and back down in the morning. (But yeah for the security provided by the street lights).

How many strands of half dead mini-lights are in your home? I have none now, thanks to this light keeper tool. I bought it years ago on clearance after Christmas and it has helped save many a strand of lights. This one only works on "mini-lights" but now they have an LED version.

Finally, put your strands on a timer to avoid having to remember to turn them on and off. I bought this one for Halloween and love its simplicity.

Conscientious Gift Giving

Many people are trying to declutter their homes these days. The last thing they need is more cheap junk to throw away. That includes kids!

Grandparents, aunts and uncles, etc.: my child loves you, but he does not love the bag of plastic crap from the dollar store that are destroyed by Christmas dinner. Consider the gift of an experience instead, a day out with you, tickets to a baseball game or theme park, a month of tennis lessons, etc. Just check with mom and dad first to make sure it is something they will enjoy to save everyone stress.

Kids don't need or want a bag of cheap plastic junk from the dollar store that will be destroyed by Christmas dinner. Click to Tweet

One way to put a green spin on Christmas is to make your gifts rather than buying them. Besides making less of an impact on the environment, making gifts will make less of an impact on your wallet as well.

Some people are crafty and are able to crochet or knit. If this is you, why not make them a scarf, cozy slippers ? Those who sew may want to make reusable sandwich bags or shopping bags or a cute stuffed animal. For those that enjoy hand stitching here's instructions for easy hand embroidered dish cloths.

Homemade cookies or candies can be a great holiday gift. Here are some cookie recipes to get you started. Make a few different kinds and put them in a cute box like this or a plate covered in plastic wrap with a bow on top.

Last year instead of baking for my neighbors I filled mason jars with Ree Drummond's hot cocoa mix, then added baggies of marshmallows and mini candy canes along with the instructions. Soups mixes, bread mixes, cookie mixes all fit nicely in mason jars and make lovely gifts

Bath oils, bath salts and sugar scrubs are great gifts to give to the women on your list. You can make your own relatively easily and for very little money.

Try to find local arts and crafts shows or festivals. You can find some unique locally made gifts at these events. Not only can you find great gifts, you’ll also be supporting the local economy. Gifts made close to home require less fuel for transport.

Green Gift Wrapping

Many of my gifts growing up were wrapped in the Sunday newspaper tied with kitchen twine. Comics for the kids, pink section usually for the women and the green section for men. Alas, many of us no longer subscribe to the paper. But, you can reuse other paper for a frugal and environmentally friendlier gift wrap.

Those 800 art projects your child has brought home in the last few months? Grandparents LOVE these!

If you shop on Amazon, chances are you have received at least one package stuffed with brown paper as filler. I know, I know. You have visions of tossing that from the last few orders you received. Leave it plain or decorate it (or let the kids decorate it), add some twine or raffia along with a clipping from your yard and voila a gorgeous, cheap and eco-friendly gift.

You could use part of the gift as the wrapping, a nice scarf or hand sewn (or not) cloth bag that can be used as a shopping (or beach bag) is attractive and practical.

Finally reuse those gift bags, ribbons and bows for the finishing touches from year to year.

Save money and the planet with these green Christmas tips. Click to Tweet

These are but a few of the many smart ways to put a green spin on your Christmas and save yourself some money.

8 Tips for Taking Awesome Family Portraits Yourself

Nov 19, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Tips and tricks for taking family portraits yourself that you'll want to share!

Of course, you want to share your wonderful family with everyone. For many people a professional photo session isn't in the budget. You try to take some yourself, but...

You don't need a fancy camera or lighting equipment. Use these tips to help you get the right shot at the right time that you really are proud to show off.

Lighting Is Critical

If you’ve ever watched Americas Next Top Model, then you know how important finding the light is. Find an angle where everyone's faces will be evenly lit. Light behind the camera is desired versus light behind the subjects. Sunset is usually preferred by professional photographers because it creates a soft golden light, but that isn't always possible.

Experiment with a few locations and angles until you get the results you want.

The photo above was taken rather late in the day in a shady spot so the lighting is a little flat, except on my tall husband. I had to tone down the highlights and brighten the shaded side.

Use a Tripod

This is especially important if you’re going to be in the photo too. You can pre-focus the picture on the other subjects, set the timer, and slide into the shot without worrying about it moving.

The photo of us in red was taken without a tripod, the camera was on a garbage barrel. Hey, a girl's gotta do what a girls's gotta do. I just picked up this 58" tripod as a business tool/early present for myself to avoid the situation in the future.

Tips and tricks to help you take share-worthy family portraits. Click to Tweet

Try Manual Focus

While auto focus works great, when it comes to home portraits you may want to try manually focusing on the subjects. This is because once you get into the shot, the camera might get confused and focus in the wrong spot. Refocus when poses change.

The photo in red was one of the few in focus. Even though I auto focused on my husband, me slipping into the picture and our constantly moving son confused the camera.

Be Goofy

Don't you feel sorry for the mother of that little girl? I love you, Mom!) Okay, this is a professional shot, but it stands out because I was being goofy. Me being me.

While you do want some serious family photos, let the kids go nuts and act goofy for some of the shots. It will make the experience a lot more pleasurable. Maybe add some props to help people relax and be themselves.

Help Everyone Pose

There is a saying in modeling and that is, “if it bends, bend it.” Do the same to make the photo more interesting. Standing there like sticks will not look good. Figure out and practice poses that make each person look their best.

Choose a Style of Clothing

You don’t want everyone to be matchy-matchy (my green dress in the photo above was made from the same double knit polyester as mom's jacket). But, you do want the colors and style to go together. You don't want one person looking ready for the beach and the rest in their Sunday best.

It works best if you pay attention to who is going to stand near whom, and make sure the colors don’t clash or blend in together too much.

Stagger the Heads

The best family photos offer a variety of things to look at, which is why most professional photographers stagger the heads. It keeps the photo more interesting and naturally takes advantage of the subject matter.

Dad is sitting on a box in the classic family photo above so he would be taller than mom's 1970's backcombed hair.

Get an Assistant

Someone who is not going to be in the shot is always a help, especially if you have small babies. You really want the children to look right at the camera so that their eyes are a main focus in the shot. The assistant can stay with the camera, grab the attention of the kids and give the family something to look at.

In the blue and black photo, J was looking at someone standing next to the photographer who was also taking pictures.

Taking family pictures should be a relaxed and fun activity that everyone in the family enjoys. Don’t try to be someone you’re not. If your family is normally dressed down, stay dressed down. If your family is formal, then be formal. There is no right or wrong way to be unless you’re trying to make everyone become someone they’re not.

Creative Ways to Make Wood Slice Christmas Ornaments

Nov 15, 2018 · 5 Comments

Natural Wood Slices Christmas Ornaments are simple to make and can be used in a variety tree themes. Below are three ideas to inspire you to make your own.

I made these ornaments as part of the Blogger Christmas Ornament Exchange. 48 bloggers were paired up to make ornaments for each other, and we are all sharing our tutorials with you today. You can see all of the ornaments, and share any ornament tutorials here.

I partnered with Kristin Harris of Tales from Home. She sent me an adorable golden reindeer ornament that shows you another way to use the natural wood slices. Great minds think alike.

Kristin’s tree is white, blue and other natural colors. Since her family enjoys hiking and being outdoors I thought the wood slices would be a great fit.

I have links at the bottom of the post for the supplies I used in these projects.

The pack of wood slices I purchased came predrilled, unfortunately a few of them were poorly drilled.

I could have drilled more holes, but decided to use them to experiment with before creating the final project.

Painted Wood Slice Ornaments

This is probably the simplest method… if you are an artist. Which I am not. I didn’t love how my sample (above) came out so I opted for a simple monogram with some holly.

Decoupage Wood Slice Ornaments

You can cut out scraps of old Christmas cards or napkins or material or even print a design from your computer and cut it out. Just water down some white glue and apply over the paper.

This is from a Christmas card.

And this is a screen grab I took of Kristin’s logo that is on the back of the painted monogram.

The finished ornament

String Art Wood Slice Ornaments

If you have never made string art before it is quite simple. Hammer some pins or nails in an outline of your design and then wrap string (thread or embroidery floss work well) around the nails.

Finishing the Wood Slice Ornaments

As a finishing touch I applied some clear glitter to give a little sparkle to the ornaments. Just dab on some glue and sprinkle.
To seal the paint I sprayed them all with a little polyurethane. The string art didn’t really need it, but I liked the touch of shine on the wood.
Attach some ribbon or twine for a hanger and they are ready to hang on your tree.

Supplies Used

Wood slices
Acrylic paints
Paint brushes
Scrap Christmas cards, fabric, napkins, etc.
Sequin Pins
Hammer
Embroidery floss
Scissors
White glue
Clear Glitter
Spray Polyurethane
Ribbon or twine

Learn how easy it is to make beautiful Christmas ornaments with wood slices. Great for rustic or shabby chic decor. Click to Tweet

2018 Handmade Ornament Tutorials Link Party

Nov 15, 2018 · Leave a Comment

This year, we have 48 talented bloggers sharing their Christmas ornament tutorials and helping to host the handmade ornament exchange link party! Let's meet the hosts of this year's 2018 Ornament Exchange Link Party!

My Pinterventures • Northern Feeling • A Purdy Little House
Create and Babble • 2 Bees in a Pod • Across the Boulevard
Simply Beautiful by Angela • The Inspiration Vault • Faeries and Fauna
Home on the Corner • This Autoimmune Life • Our Unschooling Journey
Rosewood and Grace • Shoppe No.5 • Domestic Deadline
Made In A Day • Intelligent Domestications • Cookies, Coffee and Crafts
Tales From Home • Munofore • Super Mom - No Cape!
Raggedy Bits • Christmas Tree Lane • C'mon Get Crafty
Making Manzanita • Mom Home Guide • From Evija with Love
Red Cottage Chronicles • Coastal Bohemian • Our Crafty Mom
Girl, Just DIY! • Halfpint Designs • Prim and Propah
Purple Hues and Me • Farm Girl Reformed • Eye Love Knots
Try It - Like It - Create It • Teadoddles • Two Purple Couches
Inside the Fox Den • Keys to Inspiration • Our Home Made Easy
Charleston Crafted • The Quiet Groove • Chicken Scratch NY
Jordan's Easy Entertaining • Mom Envy • Sparkle Living

If you have a handmade ornament tutorial, we would love for you to share it on the link party below ⇓⇓

An InLinkz Link-up

Use these Free Printable Christmas Planners to Get Organized +Giveaway

Nov 8, 2018 · Leave a Comment

These free printable Christmas Planners will help you stay organized this holiday season. Plus we have a huge Cash for Christmas giveaway with over $360 worth of gift cards.

If you are like me you have a lot on your plate at holiday time. To help make it easier for you to track it all, download our free printable planning pages. Print only the pages you need, and multiples if you need them (e.g. the self care checklist is meant to be a daily reminder page).

The kit includes:

2 monthly calendars to track all of the parties, school events, and more
a Christmas Card list
a Decoration Storage list to help you stay organized next year
a Christmas traditions list to make sure everyone's favorite activities are included
a letter to Santa template
a Christmas Gift Budget
a Christmas Gift Master list to track what has been purchased and wrapped
a Black Friday shopping list (more tips on Black Friday shopping here)
a self care checklist to remind you to take care of yourself

I also have some Christmas baking and meal planner pages on That Recipe you might like

Get organized this holiday season with these free Christmas Planning Pages. Click to Tweet

Cash for Christmas Giveaway

It's time for a Christmas giveaway! Are you getting geared up for the shopping season? Do you need extra cash for Christmas?? Don't we all!

We are so excited to be giving away $360 in cash prizes for you to use starting this Thanksgiving weekend.

Here are the prizes:

1 - $150 Amazon Gift Card
1 - $100 Target Gift Card
1 - $50 Walmart Gift Card
1 - $50 Kohls Gift Card
And 2 - $10 Starbucks gift cards as extra bonus winners!!

There will be 5 winners in this giveaway. Each winner will receive a gift card code to use on the online store or in the actual store.

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

Starting at the top row we have:

Please stop by and say hi to these wonderful ladies and their blogs.

The giveaway will end midnight on Wednesday, November 22nd, the night before Thanksgiving. You will have 48 hours to respond to the email claiming the prize. If you respond right away, we will get you the gift card code promptly so that you can shop with it on Black Friday! If we don't hear in 48 hours, we will have to choose another winner.

Open to anyone who can receive gift cards from Amazon, Target, Walmart, Kohls, and Starbucks

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Black Friday Shopping Tips to Get Great Deals with Less Stress

Nov 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment

If you’re looking for Black Friday shopping tips, you’ve come to the right place. My father was a retail store manager and I spent part of my career working for a computer manufacturer, so I have a little experience from both the supplier and retailer end of things that might help take away some of the stress of getting the best deals.

Black Friday has actually stretched into Thanksgiving, with many retailers opening up on Thursday evening. Some start advertising on Monday, others wait until Wednesday or Thursday to publish their deals. Heading out Friday morning, or Thursday evening, without a plan can be stressful and costly.

With a little planning you can have a successful day of shopping.

Black Friday Shopping Step 1: The Pre-planning Stage

If you want to get the best deals and stay within your budget with minimal stress, the time to start your Black Friday shopping is before the ads even come out.

* Set a budget and stick to it. The sales during Black Friday may be great, but unless you want to be paying for that new TV until next Christmas or longer, you need to know what you can actually afford to spend.

* Make a list of people you are shopping for and possible gift ideas. Click here to download our free printable gift and shopping planners:

* I give you permission to add yourself to the gift list if there is room in your budget. A new camera is on mine as well as an air fryer, but only if I can get great deals on them.

Get the best deals and keep your sanity with these Black Friday shopping tips. Click to Tweet

Black Friday Shopping Step 2: Create Your Game Plan

One Black Friday, a major retailer (who shall remain nameless), sold an exclusive model of our laptop computers for $400. The minute the ad hit, our sales team was fielding calls from our other customers irate that we gave such a great deal to their competitors. We didn't, the retailer took a loss of over $200 per unit. Crazy, right? Not really. Each store had only 3 available with no rain checks. They sold out within 30 minutes of each store opening and then upsold customers to a more profitable product.

The take away for you is each store will probably have a few of these "loss leaders" in different categories. If you really have to have that specific item, be prepared to camp out or miss out.

Once you get the Black Friday ads it's time to create your game plan:

* Look through the ads and decide which gifts you’d like to purchase for each person on your list.

* Make a list of items you want to buy from each store and mark the sales paper.

* Plan which stores you’ll go to first. You obviously won’t be able to get to each store as it opens since many will open at the same time. Prioritize your store list by those that have the most items you want or any must haves that could be sold out by the time you get there.

* After you have made your list, check online to see if the same offers are available online as in the stores. You may even be able to find some sales not available in physical stores.

* Ladies, now is also the time to plan which purse to take with you. The Security Diva has a great article about purse safety when shopping that is important everyday, but particularly on Black Friday.

Make the most of Black Friday with our planning tips. Less stress, more savings! Click to Tweet

Black Friday Shopping Step 3: Hit the Stores!

Shopping Time! Put on your most comfortable walking shoes and your smile before you head out the door.

Anyone that has worked retail can attest that Black Friday can be a tough shift. To make the day better for them, your fellow shoppers and for yourself don't be a jerk. The folks at the corporate office are the ones that decided to only put 3 computers at the store, not the sales associate on the floor Black Friday. The managers didn't even know the deal. The cashier can't do anything about the long lines or computer glitches.

Yelling at store employees solves nothing and makes everyone, yourself included, feel worse.

Make an employee's day and give them a smile and maybe even a "thank you". Be the change you want to see in the world.

Okay, enough lectures on to our last set of tips:

* Protect yourself while you’re out and about. Take only your driver’s license and the debit or credit cards you know you’ll use. You may also want to carry cash if you don’t use plastic and carry it in a pocket rather than a purse. Cover the panel when inputting your PIN and put the cards away as soon as you’re done.

* Be sure to take along the sales papers from each store you plan to go to. Some stores will match their competitor’s sales prices, but you won’t get the price if the store isn’t aware of the other store’s price. Of course, not all stores will match prices, but it's worth a try.

* Pay attention to or ask about a store's return policy on Black Friday sale items. You’ll also want to be sure to get a receipt for every item you buy. You definitely won’t be able to return an item without a receipt.

* After you get the items on your list, look around for unadvertised sales. Just remember your budget!

These Black Friday shopping tips may help you be more successful than if you don’t have a plan at all. Remember to be careful both in the store and in traffic. If you can, share the day with a friend or family to make the day more enjoyable.

Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas to Wow Your Guests

Oct 31, 2018 · 1 Comment

You can have a beautiful Thanksgiving tablescape with minimal cost and effort. Save your energies for the important part... the food! ha ha!

Thanksgiving was originally a time to celebrate a bountiful harvest. With that idea in mind, you can create thanksgiving table decorations with natural autumn colors and textures.

Thanksgiving Tablecloths and Runners

You can use a rich jewel-toned tablecloth such as deep red, golden yellow or orange. Add contrasting colored cloth napkins if you have them. Another fun yet inexpensive idea is brown craft paper, add some crayons or markers to the table to let kids, and adults too, doodle on it. Or just go with a bare wooden table.

A colorful runner down the middle can add elegance or shabby chic style - whichever theme you prefer.

Thanksgiving Centerpieces

Keep the centerpiece on the short side since people will be seated at the table. You want your centerpiece to allow you to have a conversation with the person across from you and to be able to pass food across. Of course, if you love a tall, dramatic centerpiece you can always remove it before the food arrives.

Candles of varying heights and widths can be added to the table. You can put the candles on a mirror for added interest. Or stagger them along the width of the table along with a simple cornucopia and seasonal squash and fruit, Indian corn, pine cones, acorns, etc.

Thanksgiving Place Settings

Stacking the main dinner plate on top of a golden charger can create a dramatic statement. It also helps the table look coordinated even if you need/want to mix and match plates. Here's an inexpensive 4 pack of plastic ones, or choose higher quality to last for years to come.

Create simple napkin rings by tying some fresh berries or leaves (or silk ones if you prefer) around the napkin with raffia or twine.

Free printable Thanksgiving name tags. Click to Tweet

For simple place cards, I have two free printables you could use. Print them on card stock, cut them out, add the names. Boom! done!

You might also like these free printable bottle labels:

Thanksgiving table decoration ideas don’t have to be elaborate to be beautiful. Think about the things you enjoy most about the fall and incorporate those ideas into your decorations. And remember the most important part is the time spent with loved ones.

Simple Thanksgiving Tablescape ideas that will impress your guests without breaking the bank. Click to Tweet

How to plant bulbs for spring flowers

Oct 22, 2018 · 1 Comment

Transform your garden into a vibrant haven of spring flowers by planting bulbs in autumn. Discover the optimal times to plant your bulbs and the key aspects of successful gardening. Welcome the spring with a dazzling display of color with some easy fall planting.

daffodils with text overlay "How to plant fall bulbs for spring flowers"

The difference between Bulbs, Corms, Rhizomes and Tubers

Gardeners usually use the term bulb to refer to true bulbs, as well as corms, rhizomes and tubers. But each of these are botanically different.

bulbs have layers like an onion (examples: daffodil, hyacinth, tulip)
corms are a solid mass (examples: crocus, cyclamen, freesia)
tubers sprout from eyes (like potatoes), can be divided so each piece has an eye or two (examples: dahlia, caladium, ranunculous)
rhizomes are modified swollen stems that grow horizontally (examples: canna lily, lily of the valley, bearded iris)

You can read a more scientific explanation of the differences here. For the rest of this article I'm just going to use the term bulb since planting and care is basically the same.

When to plant Bulbs for Spring Flowers

With a little effort in the Fall you can enjoy beautiful blooms all Spring. As with most gardening, the key is determining your frost dates. In general, you want to plant bulbs in mid Fall, when the ground has cooled but before it freezes. In Minnesota that could be by the end of October, where as in here in California we can plant as late as December.

If you miss the planting times, you can either try anyway and hope for the best, or wait for the Spring and buy flowering plants from your local nursery.

Where and How to Plant Spring Bulbs

Bulbs do best in full sun (minimum 6 hours a day) in well draining soil.

The general rule for planting depth is 2-3 times the width of the bulb. For a 2" bulb you would plant 4-6" deep. Plant true bulbs pointed up and corms, tubers and rhizomes with any visible roots on the bottom.

After planting, water the bulbs and tamp down to remove air pockets. Cover the area with 2 to 3 inches of mulch to keep them moist and hide them from hungry little critters.

Garden Design Ideas for Spring Bulbs

Bulbs look best planted in groups. In large public displays such as the Ranunculus Fields in Carlsbad, California, planting in rows can be desirable.

For most home gardens however, you will want to stagger the bulbs for a more natural display. If you want a display of several different bulbs, choose varieties that bloom at different times to extend the flower show planting taller varieties in the back.

Bulbs in containers

This is how I plant my bulbs. I have 4 containers of freesias that I hide in the backyard once they die back in late spring and bring back out on my porch once they start sprouting. Get more information from Better Homes and Gardens.

Grow Bulbs in Your Lawn

If I had a lawn I would consider this one. You create a meadow like effect by planting the bulbs throughout the lawn in Fall and then wait until after they stop blooming to mow for the first time in Spring. Get all of the information at Gardening Know How.

Mixing Bulbs with Other Plants

Bulbs look lovely as border plants and mixed throughout other varieties of plants. Longfield Gardens has some lovely examples to inspire you.

I'd love to know:

do you have bulbs in your garden?
what are your favorite bulbs

Let me know in the comments below!

You may also enjoy these posts:

Photos of the Ranunculus Fields in Carlsbad

Organic Gardening: 5 Ways to Make Ladybugs at Home

Chemical Free Ways to Control Weeds in Your Garden

5 Natural Methods for Reducing Stress During Menopause

Oct 15, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Natural methods you can use to reduce the increased stress experienced during peri-menopause.

Between hormonal surges, hot flashes, insomnia and the stress of work and family, the period of peri-menopause can be quite stressful for most women. Most women at this stage of life are busy with their careers, paying bills, maintaining a home and are quite often coping with raising children on one end and issues with their parents on the other. Earlier this year I was a menopausal sandwich between my son's Autism and my mom's delirium.

I know I am not alone in feeling this way. Some women may not mention it or even realize it is happening. But this stress can create a host of health issues and exacerbate pre-existing medical conditions.

Learn to Say NO!

Say it with me now, "No, I can't take on something else right now."

Not "Oh sure, I have no time for myself and am about ready to snap but I will do it."

Not "No, I'm really sorry, but..."

Give yourself permission to say NO to added responsibilities. Just be honest with people if they ask you to help out with something you simply don’t have time for right now.

If you can't say no completely, at least limit your extra activities. Not one parent wanted to step up in my son's 5th grade class to take on the responsibilities of Room Parent. However, five of us agreed to split those responsibilities. Less stress for all of us, and the job is still getting done.

You can't pour from an empty cup. Women need to learn it's okay to say NO to added responsibilities and stress. Click to Tweet

Reduce Your Caffeine and Alcohol Intake

Yeah, I know, what is life without coffee and wine?

Both caffeine and alcohol can trigger stress, as they are both stimulants. These types of stimulants might give you a short-term boost in your mood, but then when it wears off, you feel even worse than you did before. Not only are they bad for your stress and can actually make it worse, but they are also depressants.

Caffeine has also been shown to have a negative effect on the stress hormone cortisol, which is only going to make your stress worse. Plus, alcohol tends to affect the normal REM sleeping cycle.

Try gradually reducing your caffeine and alcohol consumption to see if it helps.

Get Moving

First I tell you to limit caffeine and alcohol and then I say to exercise. Next thing you know I will be telling you to eat healthier (oh wait, I did mention how that can help reduce menopause symptoms in this post.)

You don't need to join a gym, take up yoga or buy a bunch of exercise videos. You can start simply just by walking. You don't even need to buy a tracker, GASP! Start with a simple walk around the block 3-4 times a week, then gradually increase the time, distance and speed.

Exercise helps to relax you which will help you sleep, helps you lose weight and helps elevate your mood with production of endorphins. Win! Win! Win!

Improve Your Sleep

Well, pinning is cheaper than Amazon I guess.

If you are dealing with high stress levels while going through menopause, then you should really start focusing on getting better sleep. Insomnia is unfortunately a common side effect during menopause, so take your time and figure out what works best for you. This might be taking a relaxing bath with lavender essential oils, drinking a cup of herbal tea before bed, or doing your workout at night so that it can make you tired enough for adequate sleep before bed. Check out this post for tips on dealing with hot flashes and night sweats.

Do Something Good For Yourself

Easier said than done. But, if you learn to say NO to things once in awhile, maybe you can carve out a little time for you.

Many women find themselves overwhelmed with personal and work responsibilities, and rarely have time for themselves. If this sounds like you, then it is time to pamper yourself more. Schedule out time for yourself to get your hair done, get a manicure, go to lunch, or go for a walk on the beach.

Stress happens, especially during menopause. Here are a few tips for reducing it naturally. Click to Tweet

I am trusting the old adage "this too shall pass" and hope that eventually most of the joys of menopause, especially the stress part, will eventually subside.

Easy Scrap Wood Halloween Sign Gets You in the Spirit

Oct 10, 2018 · 1 Comment

This easy scrap wood Halloween Sign will get your yard in the "Spirit".

collage of front and back of a two sided Halloween sign

I needed a little something to hang on my front porch for Halloween, so I gathered some pallet scraps and paint and made this fun two sided sign so visitors have a friendly greeting both coming and going. We aren't much for the scary aspect of Halloween around here. But you could just as easily paint a more macabre sentiment if you desire.

I do not own a die cutting machine such as Cricut or Silhouette which would make this a bit faster. But, with an ink jet printer you can create the same effect.

Some of the links below are affiliate links, I may earn a commission from any purchases made through these links at no cost to you.

Scrap Wood Halloween Sign Materials

scrap wood
nails or wood screws
hammer or drill and screw driver
ink jet printer
paper or card stock
white matte paint
outdoor patio paints
paint brushes, large for the white and artist brushes for the details
black paint marker or permanent marker (aka Sharpie)

Scrap Wood Halloween Sign Instructions

Prepare the Board

I used three smaller boards leftover from the pallet I used to make photo backdrops. I tried to use wood screws, using a drill for pilot holes to make it more secure. But it wasn't happening. My two cross beams were too hard, and I didn't have the patience. So, I did a few with nails.

Paint the board

Since I was going for a shabby chic worn look, I slopped on some white paint thinly and unevenly.

Create the design

While the white base was drying I created my design on the computer. If your letters are thick you can print them on card stock and cut them to create a stencil. Just type them in Word and print.

To rub on the design instead, create your text as a Word Art and then flip horizontally (format|rotate|flip horizontally) then print in black on plain printer paper.

You can use whatever fonts and images you have, or check out what I used:

Paint the design

As I said above, you have two options to transfer the design from the paper to the board. If you are using the stencil method just cut and paint.

Otherwise place the design on the board, ink side down. With a pencil or the back of a paint brush rub the design until the ink rubs off on the design. You will need to press fairly hard, but you only need a faint imprint in order to paint over in your desired colors.

Hang and enjoy

I wrapped mine with a strand of colored lights to make it more visible. Or you could use a spotlight if you want.

You don't have to save this method for Halloween. I used the same technique on an old skimboard to make this garden sign that hangs on my fence year round.

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

Tips and Tricks for Carving Spook-tacular Jack O'Lanterns

Oct 1, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Everyone can carve a spook-tacular Jack O'Lantern with these easy tips and tricks.

Choosing a pumpkin

For a traditional Jack O'Lantern you will want to find a pumpkin with a stem on it to make removing the lid easier.

As far as the shape is concerned you can choose by one of two methods:

decide what you want to carve and pick a pumpkin that has the right shape
pick the pumpkin first then choose a design to fit it

Odd shaped pumpkins with blemishes can be great for scary themes.

Do not limit yourself to pumpkins, consider butternut squash, acorn squash, turnips, pineapples and more.

Clean a Pumpkin for Carving

The first step is to cut off the top of the pumpkin. Don’t cut straight down in a circle, as this will just cause the lid to fall in. Cut at angle, larger on the top and narrow towards the inside of your circle to allow the lid to rest on top when you are done carving. I usually carve a notch in or out of the circle to make it simple for me to fit the lid on in the semi-dark 🙂

After you cut off the lid, next comes removing the seeds and pulp. Last year I tried the beater on the drill trick that was sweeping the internet. IT WORKS! Just attach an electric beater to a drill and scrape along the insides of the pumpkin until you have removed all of the strings and seeds.

Tips for Carving a Pumpkin

When you begin carving the pumpkin, it really just takes some practice. However, these tips can be helpful:

Use a variety of cutting tools, from cookie cutters to different knives
Pin your template (if using) in place with push pins
Apply petroleum jelly to the finished design to keep it from wilting too soon

Tips and tricks for carving Jack O'Lanterns plus over 100 pumpkin carving stencils. Click to Tweet

Pumpkin Carving Patterns

Design your own

There is no reason you need to use someone else's design for your jack o'lantern. Use the following ideas for inspiration or just come up with your own ideas. Create a template using paper or card stock to make carving simpler.

Easy pumpkin carving ideas

If you are not a skilled carver (ME!!!!) or are looking for something creative but simple, here are a few fun ideas:

Pumpkin Carving Stencils:

There are thousands of stencils on the internet you can use. Here are a few sites to get you started:

The Pumpkin Lady - hundreds of stencils including: cats, dogs, Americana, Christian, famous faces and traditional Halloween

Real Simple - 8 very simple Halloween theme

Better Homes and Garden - emoji stencils (sorry no poop emoji) also wine bottle and glasses

Disney - all of your Disney favorites

Pumpkin Pile - video game themes (Mario, Sonic, Pokemon and more)

Orange and Black Pumpkins - Super heroes and villains, internet memes (GRUMPY CAT <3) and more

Lighting Your Jack O'Lantern

Traditional candles work okay, unless there is wind or your design doesn't allow enough air in the pumpkin for the candle to stay lit. Here are a few alternatives:

With these simple tips, you'll have a special jack o'lantern and wonderful Halloween memories.

Llama Loot Pinata Box Top Collection Box Makes BTFE Collecting Fun

Sep 24, 2018 · Leave a Comment

This Llama Loot Pinata makes collecting all of those box tops for education more fun. Or help children make it and fill it with their own loot.

Most crafters can just look at the finished product and know how to assemble it, but I go into a bit more detail for those that have bever created a pinata before.

I know it looks like a lot of supplies, but most of these you probably have in the house or can be rescued from the recycle bin. The actual Fortnight Llama Loot Pinata has a lavender head, but all I had that was close was dark pink.

Mini Llama Loot Pinata supplies:

4 toilet paper rolls
1 clean and empty raisin or small oatmeal container
tissue paper in lavender, light blue, dark blue, purple, and black
2 sheets scratch paper
scrap white paper
scrap brown construction paper
scrap card stock
brown ribbon
glue
masking tape
scissors
black marker

Mini Llama Loot Pinata instructions

Feet: Cut two of the toilet paper rolls in half and cut tabs ¼" tabs around one end.

Feet: Roll each foot into a cone shape with the tabs on the big end.

Feet: secure the feet with masking tape.

Neck: Cut one end of a toilet paper tube at a slight angle and cut tabs.

Head: cut large slits in one end of the last toilet paper roll and attach to the neck. Secure with tape.

Body: Attach the feet to the bottom and neck to the top of the raisin container (note: the feet should actually be closer to the edges than shown in the picture).

Body: Cut a hatch in the top for the box tops.

Body: Use the two sheets of scratch paper to pad the chest and rear and make them more rounded.

Decoration: glue dark blue tissue paper to cover the feet.

Decoration: glue two small scraps of card stock to create the ears. Glue lavender tissue paper to cover the head and neck.

Decoration: Cut 2 inch wide strips of tissue paper. Fold in half lengthwise and cut down the folded end about ¾ of the way.

Decoration: Glue the uncut part of the strips around the body, leaving the fringe unglued.

Decoration: Cut the tail in a similar way and glue in place.

Saddle Bags: cut a scrap of cardboard to fit over the top of the pinata and hang down the sides. Cover in brown construction paper. Glue two small rectangles of white paper on the sides and draw up arrows on them with the marker.

Attach the ribbon around the head and neck for head and neck.

Finishing touches: Cut oval circles from white paper and make eyes. Cut and shape the mouth, cover the teeth with white paper.

This Llama Loot Pinata makes collecting box tops more fun. Click to Tweet

Get more box top container ideas here:

And if you need some Fortnight gift ideas:

Menopause Monthly: Getting a Good Night Sleep During Menopause

Sep 21, 2018 · Leave a Comment

One of the things you miss most when you start experiencing peri-menopause is a decent night sleep. You grab as many zzzs as you can between the hot flashes, but inevitably insomnia starts to kick in and you begin stressing about not-sleeping which only makes things worse. Fear not, I have a few tips for you about getting a good night sleep during menopause from someone that has been through it: ME!

This is part of a series on dealing with menopause, peri-menopause, pre-menopause, etc. Previously, I have talked about dietary changes and herbs, supplements and essential oils that may help relieve the symptoms of the menopausal period. Those tips can also help you to sleep better during this time.

Before you book a room at Sweden's Ice Hotel or invest in separate beds a la Lucy and Ricky Ricardo, consider some of these suggestions that have helped me improve my sleep as I inch ever closer to crossing the menopausal threshold.

Some of the links below are affiliate links. I may receive a commission for purchases through the links at no extra cost to you to help buy my black cohosh. 😉

Make Sure You Hydrate

If you are struggling with hot flashes and night sweats during menopause, the culprit might be dehydration. Many women drink water throughout the day, but aren’t drinking enough of it. Remember that you need extra water when exerting yourself during workouts or when it is especially hot out. If you are spending more time outdoors, you need to increase your water intake.

My travel mug goes with me everywhere and is almost always filled with ice water, even at night. When a hot flash wakes me up, I have found taking a few sips of water helps me to cool down faster, even if it is only a psychological effect.

Menopause Sleeping Tip: Just Breathe

Just take a deep breath and relax if a hot flash wakes you at night. Okay, I laughed when I read that the first time. Sure let me break out my labor breathing again now that I am no longer going to be able to have children. Just take a deep breath and it will go away. What sort of new age mumbo jumbo is that?

No one in the history of calming down has ever calmed down because someone told them to calm down.

Deep breathing and meditation may not be your thing normally, but I promise you getting upset and frustrated in the middle of the night is definitely not going to help you get your rest.

Slow down, breathe through it, look at your peacefully sleeping bed mate under their thick pile of blankets and wish them bodily harm if that helps. Just try to focus your mind on relaxing and going with the flow. Fighting it won't help. Neither will getting mad at your spouse for having the gall to sleep, by the way.

Tips for better sleep during menopause. Click to Tweet

Menopause Sleeping Tip: Wear Breathable Clothes

Many times you will barely notice the hot flashes during the day because you are busy and moving about. But once you are trying to sleep and that intense heat hits, you are miserable. And then the night sweats follow and your night clothes are drenched. One way to combat this is by wearing loose fitting breathable fabrics. Skip the tight, heavy layers and fabrics and look for ‘cooling’ clothing materials. My favorites are bamboo and cotton.

I was always a nightshirt kind of gal, but once the hot flashes started, I was miserable if my skin was touching my own skin. I got these pajamas a few years ago and it made a tremendous difference. They are lightweight, loose fitting and breathable. If I could wear them around all day I would.

Menopause Sleeping Tip: Change Your Sleeping Environment

Your bedroom itself can also be what is making the heat worse at night.

When I heard some millenials do not use a top sheet I had to laugh. That is all I use. Meanwhile, my poor husband is in sweats with two blankets and a thick comforter to keep his teeth from chattering. I was joking about the separate beds before, but there are some nights I did sleep downstairs just so he wouldn't be frozen.

Buy the best sheets you can afford, preferably cotton or bamboo. Why? Like with the pajamas, cotton and bamboo are breathable so the heat is not trapped against your skin. The reason to buy high quality is all of your tossing and turning trying to find a cool spot on the bed will wear down cheap sheets quickly. You will end up spending more in the long run. Most nights you won't want more than the sheet on top of you, but it helps to have a thin breathable blanket nearby in case you get chilled after a night sweat.

After you buy expensive sheets, you may want to invest in a cooling mattress pad and pillow. Yes, I am telling you to spend more money. Think of it this way, a $60 pillow that keeps your head cool and allows you to sleep well for 5 years is ... hold on a second... carry the one... then divide... $1 a month. It's worth it.

Ideally you want a nice cross draft blowing across you at night. If that isn't possible because of the weather or your room lay out, try to keep a fan blowing on you. There are a few potential problems with this, especially overhead fans: it can dry your sinuses, make your muscles ache in the morning and make your bed mate miserable. Consider a small fan like this, positioned so that it blows only on your body (not your head). It is quite refreshing when you are sweating.

Is it possible to get a good night sleep during pre-menopause? Click to Tweet

Hopefully these simple strategies will help you get more sleep during menopause which will hopefully decrease the mood swings and irritability as well. Sweet dreams!

Fun and Frugal Halloween Games for Kids from 3 to 93!

Sep 19, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Whether you are planning a class Halloween party, or a family party with participants from toddlers to adults we have some frugal Halloween games to keep everyone participating and having a spook-tacular good time.

Dress Up Halloween Games

Mummy Wrap

All you need for this game is either a few rolls of toilet paper or white crepe paper. Divide into teams and pick one person on each team to be the mummy, and the others will wrap him or her. The team that manages to cover their mummy first wins the game. You can also add to it by having the mummy run to a finish line to win.

Crazy Dress Up Race

Have a box of extra-large clothes for each team (for example a hat, sunglasses, scarf, jacket, pants). The first player puts everything on, then takes it off handing it to the next player, who then repeats the process until the last person on the team has put everything on and taken it off. Variations: 1) level the playing field by making older kids button and zip everything properly, 2) burn some of those Halloween goodies off by making the players run to a cone and back before taking off the clothes for the next person.

Blindfolded Halloween Games

Bob For "Poison" Apples

This is a fun apple-bobbing game, but with a twist. Put all green apples and one red apple (or vice versa) in a large bucket or bin of water. The red apple is going to be the ‘poison’ apple from the Evil Queen. The twist is that the winner is the one who manages to get the poisoned red apple.

Pin the Wart or Pin the Smile or Pin the Spider

Put a Halloween spin on Pin the Tail on the Donkey. You need a large printout of a witch's face or a giant jack o'lantern without a smile or a spider's web. Players are blindfolded then try to pin the wart on the witch or smile on the jack o'lantern or spider in the web.

Fun party games for kids of all ages. Click to Tweet

Throwing Halloween Games

If you have players of different age and skill level you can level the playing field by having players toss from different distances.

Candy Corn Ring Toss

Put a Halloween spin on classic ring toss by painting some orange cones with a little yellow and white on top to look like candy corn. Instead of traditional rings use glow necklaces.

Pumpkin Bowling

Draw some ghost faces on rolls of toilet paper for the pins and stack them in a pyramid on top of each other. Take turns rolling small pumpkins to knock them down.

Tarantula Toss

Stretch out fake spider webs along a wall. Players take turns trying to toss plastic spiders onto the web so they stick. This one can be tricky since brute strength and accuracy don't guarantee the spiders will catch in the webbing.

Get Up and Move Halloween Games

Burn that energy!

Skeleton Race

Create a skeleton poster and cardboard bones for each team with the same number of bones for each (e.g. skull, two arms, two hands, torso, two upper leg, two lower leg). Set the bones on one side and the players on the other side with the skeleton poster. Players run to the other side grab a bone, return it to the starting line, and tape it up in the right spot. They keep going back and forth until the first team with a finished skeleton wins.

Obstacle Courses

Use your imagination and set up a Halloween themed obstacle course. A few ideas:

a slalom of pumpkins or candy corn cones
crepe paper spider webs that have to be crawled through without touching
ring toss or corn hole toss
complete a course while sweeping a pumpkin
complete it while balancing a pumpkin on your head
walk like a zombie or Frankenstein's monster

Easy Halloween games for kids that won't cost a fortune. Click to Tweet

Sitting Halloween Games

Sometimes you want to slow things down a little at a party, or maybe you have some guests with movement issues. Here are some fun games that can be played sitting down.

Halloween Bingo

Here are some cute Halloween Bingo cards you can download for free. And to keep the Halloween theme going, use candy corn for the markers.

Spider Races

Participants are each given a straw and a plastic spider. They place the spider on a smooth surface and the first one to blow their spider across the finish line wins. Alternatively you could turn it into a relay type race with teams lined up with half on each side of a table facing each other. One side starts and blows to their teammate on the other side, back and forth until everyone has gone.

Spider Search

Fill a bowl (or two or three) with rice and mix in some plastic spiders or candy corn or mellow cream pumpkins. Each player has 30 seconds to pick out as many spiders as they can with a pair of chopsticks. The winner is the one that finds the most. Variation: add all three items and assign different points to each one (1 for a pumpkin, 5 for a spider, 10 for a candy corn) and make them add the points too. Math and fine motor practice, what fun!

Get your guests in the spirit of Halloween with these fun party games. #kidspartygames Click to Tweet

Get in the Spirit DIY Family Friendly Outdoor Halloween Decorations

Sep 10, 2018 · 1 Comment

We are "those people" that get our front yard geared up for Halloween on October 1st. We bypass the gruesome blood and guts as well as the pricey inflatables and have made most of the decorations ourselves. If you need some inspiration for family-friendly Outdoor Halloween decorations that aren’t too scary, keep reading.

Create a Pumpkin Fairy Garden

If you have kids that love fairy gardens, they will really enjoy this decoration! It can even be a craft the family creates together. Instead of putting the fairy garden in a large bowl or pot, use a plastic pumpkin.

See a sample and get basic instructions on Joann.com

Make Spooktacular Yard Signs

A fun way to decorate your yard or the front of your house for Halloween is by making yard signs. These should be the names of different Halloween or spooky places with arrow-shaped signs, as if they are showing the way to those places. Stick them on stakes in your yard or attach them to a large tree in front of your house.

Check out Bird and Soap's post for more information

Add Parking for Witches Brooms

This is one of my favorite decorations every year. Find a gnarled tree branch about 4-5 feet long for the broom handle. Use raffia to tie on some straw (I use dried ornamental grasses that need to be trimmed back this time of year anyway). I picked up the sign for a dollar or two, or you can make your own.

Make a Pumpkin Totem

Sitting next to the Witches' Brooms above is the Jack O'Lantern Totem. This is the side showing in October. In September and November I turn it around as in the photo below.

Pumpkin totems are pretty simple to make. You just cut a few holes in the plastic trick or treat buckets, run a pole through it and fill with silk or real potted flowers. For the base, I use a large pot filled with gravel that I wrap in burlap.

Flip for these Tomato Cage Ghosts

We have done this project for years. Flip over a tomato cage, put a milk jug or styrofoam ball over the spokes, add some wire arms and white lights then cover with a sheet. Alternatively you can hang it from a tree with fishing wire to make it look like it's floating.

Get detailed instructions on Bird and Soap's post

Turn Your Bushes into Monsters

I will be making these this year because they are cute and so easy. Cover styrofoam disks with fabric and add skewers (or paint wooden disks) then stick in your bushes.

A Girl and Her Glue Gun has a tutorial here.

Decorate your yard with these easy Halloween projects for family friendly Halloween fun. Click to Tweet

Make these Sweet Lighted Halloween Candy Garland

So "berry" easy to make. Groan! But, these really are. I made them for Halloween and Christmas last year. Clear lights, plastic clamshell containers (the ones used for berries are perfect) and some orange and black colored cellophane.

Get the details on Over the Big Moon.

Turn Your Garage into the Biggest Decoration

Did you see this one a few years ago? I think this may be the year we try it ourselves:

Are you feeling inspired to make your own Halloween decorations this year? Or do you just enjoy the labors of others, haha?

Score a Victory Royale with these Awesome Fortnite Gift Ideas

Sep 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Looking for a gift for your favorite Fortnite fan? Get inspired with this fun collection of Fortnite gift ideas and score a Victory Royale when it's time to open their gifts.

What is Fortnite?

Some people, like my mother, want to know what a game or show is about before they buy a gift for someone. Basically, Fortnite is one of the most popular online shooter game from Epic Games. Because of the violence it is rated for over 12 years old.

Technically it is two different games depending on the system you play it on. In Save the World, the player battles zombies trying to save the survivors in a post apocalyptic world. In Battle Royale players run around the world alone or with a team, building forts and trying to shoot all of the other players to be the last one standing. There is a flying bus and parachuting and llama pinatas and dancing and plenty of other references that only players of the game will understand.

I think it is a load of fun, but if you morally object to games with guns, feel free to close this guide and select another gift.

The links below are affiliate links, I get a few pennies for any purchases made through the links at no additional cost to you. More details here.

Fortnite Clothing from Head to Toe

Fortnite-Horde Adjustable Vintage Washed Denim Baseball Cap

There are 7 different colors to choose from of this denim baseball cap all with the same logo.

Battle Royale Pajamas

They are probably dreaming of Fortnite anyway, so why not let them dress the part with these Battle Royale problems.

#1 Victory Royale Llama Pinata T-shirt

I admit it, I am a sucker for the cute Llama Loot Pinata, so when my guys asked for Fortnite shirts this is the one I picked.

Llama Pinata Fleece Hoodie

You will definitely stand out in a crowd with this bright hoodie. And look, there's that cute pinata again.

'Do Not Disturb' I'm Playing Fortnite' Funny Ankle Socks

Keep their feet warm while they play with these cozy ankle socks complete with a "mom warning" on the bottom.

Fortnite Room Decor

Fortnight Room Sign

In case you can't tell from their shouts, they can post this sign on the door to let you know when they are battling and should not be interrupted for petty things like chores or meals.

Do Not Disturb Fortnite Door Knob Hanger

Same as above, but this one slides easily over the door knob. It's made of sturdy PVC so it will last awhile.

Two Fan Art Fortnite Posters

You get two 24x36 inch posters in this pack to help them decorate their own fort with their favorite game.

Fortnite Light Switch Cover

Swap out those boring plain light switch covers with some Fortnite fun. Unfortunately all of the rooms in our house have at least two switches so this won't fit.

Fortnite 2 Custom Name 3D Personalized Wall Decal Sticker

Create a custom wall decal with their name or game name. They have several sizes to choose from starting with 8" high letters.

Decorative Fortnite Pillow Cover

Decorate the bed or chair with these Fortnite pillow covers. There are several options to choose from. Note: these are the cover only, you will need a separate 20" pillow to put inside.

Chug Jug 3D Light

Add a fun glow to the room with a 3D Chug Jug light or Fortnite logo light. Each light has the ability to shine in 7 changeable colors.

Fortnite Accesories and Books

Fortnite Strategy Guide Set

Get them the tips and tricks they need to be a top player in Fortnite with this strategy guide set. Available in paperback, Kindle and audio versions.

Fortnite Novels

Is it only my son that thinks reading is torture? Get them to read instead of just play with these Fortnite novels.

Battle Storm Battle Royale: Secrets of the Island

In this series of Fortnite novelizations, follow Zane, Jax, Asha, Jin, and Blaze as they seek out adventure, uncover mysteries, and battle to become the ultimate winners of the Battle Royale.

Fortnite Royal Deathmatch

After being dropped from the bus, Garrick must now fight for survival among 99 other players on a remote island.

How to Draw Fortnite: Learn to Draw Skins

If they like to draw, how about a book teaching them to re-create their favorite costumes from the game.

Llama PopSockets Phone or Tablet Stand

I have seen these little gadgets around and IF we ever let my son have a cell phone I think this would be one way for him to hold on to it a little easier. Or maybe I will just get one for me.

#1 Victory Royale Car Decal

They can put this decal on their car, or maybe their golf cart, to show their love of the game.

Fortnite Llama Key Chain

Everyone needs a llama pinata key chain. Maybe it is just me. This would also be great to slip on a backpack or luggage to make it easy to identify at a glance.

Score a Victory Royale with any Fortnite fan with our awesome gift guide. Click to Tweet

Fortnite School Supplies

Fortnite Backpack

They can carry all of their gear in one of these sturdy bookbags. There are 22 designs to choose from so you are sure to find one they will love.

Fortnight Insulated Lunch Box

Keep their lunch warm or cold with this insulated/waterproof lunch box. Four styles to choose from.

Collection of Zippered Pencil Cases

There are four different designs so they can take a different one every day or use them for school supplies, travel and more.

Composition Notebook

They can keep track of their Fortnite strategies, or class assignments, with one of these composition books. There are plenty of designs to choose from with some of the most popular characters.

Fortnite Sticker Collection

Your Fortnite fan will be as excited opening these gifts as they are a Loot Llama. Click to Tweet

Fortnite Cosplay Gifts

Light up Boogie Bomb

They will have everyone dancing with this fun novelty lights and plays music just like in the game. A must have for cosplay.

Rainbow Smash Pick Axe

Every player has to start with some kind of pick axe to collect materials for fort building, this one just happens to be one of the most fun.

Latex Llama Mask

Instead of finding the llama pinata they can be the llama with this colorful mask.

Battle Royale Logo Dog Tags

#1 Victory Royale is imprinted on the reverse side of this sturdy metal necklace.

Loot Llama Plush with bonus key chains

If you don't know by now that I want this for me, you haven't been paying attention, ha ha! This cute little guy is almost 8" high and comes with two bonus key chains.

Did you find some inspiration in this guide for your Fortnite fan? I'd love to know what you picked and how they liked it.

Shopping for a Fortnite fan? Check out our collection of fun and unique Fortnite gifts. #fortnite #giftideas Click to Tweet

White-Wash a Pumpkin for Shabby Chic Autumn Style

Sep 3, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Use these tips and tricks to create some lovely white-wash pumpkins that will blend beautifully with a shabby chic or beach themed decor. They are also perfect for those tired garish orange plastic or foam pumpkins that have been sitting in your Halloween stash and need a face lift.

This post contains affiliate links. I may receive a commission at no cost to you for any purchases through these links, helping me to bring you more projects and recipes.

Supplies to white-wash pumpkins

pumpkins *
black acrylic paint
white chalk paint
paint brush
sponge brush
Mod Podge, optional
wooden stem or stick, optional

* You can do this with real, plastic or foam pumpkins. Keep an eye out at thrift stores and garage sales for artificial pumpkins that are still in pretty good shape but may have scratches.

White-wash pumpkins step 1: the base coat

To start with, it is recommended that you paint the pumpkin black. If you leave it orange, you are going to have to use many coats of white to cover the orange color, which then takes away from the stressed look you are going for. If you don’t mind solid white, that might be okay, but for a white-washed pumpkin that works with shabby chic décor styles, starting with a black pumpkin is best. Cover the pumpkin in black paint, then let it dry completely.

White-wash pumpkins step 2: layer on the white paint

White chalk paint will give this an old and worn look without even trying, but you could use white acrylic paint if you prefer. Either way, add the paint with a sponge brush, making sure the coats are a little uneven and do not completely cover the black pumpkin in white.

Silence your inner perfectionist for this project. You want it to look old and distressed, so don’t worry about having perfect painting strokes.

White-wash pumpkins for shabby chic Autumn style. Update old orange foam or plastic pumpkins and give them new life. Click to Tweet

White-wash pumpkins step 3: make it shine

This step is optional. Real pumpkins have a natural shine to them. White chalk paint does not. A simple coat of Mod Podge after the white paint is dry will do the trick. It will dry completely clear, and leave behind a smooth and shiny sheen on the pumpkin. It still has the shabby chic look, but has more of a natural pumpkin appearance as well.

White-wash pumpkins step 4: add a wood stem

Another optional step. You can paint the plastic stem if you wish, but to make it more realistic use a wooden stem purchased from a store or head out to the garden and find a nice stick the same thickness as the plastic stem. A little motivation to do some Autumn yard work, ha ha! Just cut out the plastic stem, then push the new stem into the top.

And there you have it, some lovely white-washed pumpkins to display around your home for a toned down Autumn look that will work throughout the season.

Other Autumn decorating ideas you may enjoy:

Autumn's Beauty Wreath: Using seed pods and dried flowers and fruit to create a fall door wreath. Autumn Door Wreath. California Native Plants.

Easy Craft: Candle Holder for All Seasons: candle holder made with clothes pins that can be redecorated every season. kids craft — Autumn Candle Holder

Sudden Dementia in the Elderly Can be Life Threatening

Aug 29, 2018 · 3 Comments

If an elderly loved one is mentally alert one day and confused or delirious the next it may not be Alzheimer's Disease. Sudden signs of dementia is one obvious symptom of a considerable number of medical conditions that are potentially life threatening if untreated.

If you notice symptoms of delirium in a loved one that develop suddenly, over a day or two, call their doctor immediately. Or better yet get them to Urgent Care or the Emergency Room.

elderly woman in the background and text "Sudden Dementia Could be Life Threatening."

I recently went through this with my sharp as a tack mother. After breaking her hip and staying in a skilled nursing facility for several weeks she was severely confused and disoriented upon check out. She knew her name and birthday, but couldn't tell you the name of the street she lived on and was even struggling to come up with the right words and lost her train of thought mid-sentence. Absolutely nothing like her normal state.

At first I thought they may have given her the wrong medication at the skilled nursing facility, but after a call to her insurance company nurse line I took her to the Emergency Room in the middle of the night.

They kept her for 6 days treating a urinary tract infection, hypercalcemia and lacunar strokes.

Sudden Dementia in a loved one is cause for immediate concern.

Dementia versus Delirium

To the lay person dementia and delirium are basically the same thing: the person isn't thinking clearly or making sense.

If you found this article via a search engine using the term "sudden onset dementia" you likely confused the two as I did the first time I started searching too.

Dementia is a decrease in memory, problem- solving ability and judgement that progresses over weeks or months. It still needs to be addressed by a doctor, but if the symptoms are severe overnight it is probably not Alzheimer's.

Delirium is a sudden change in the person's mental state.

He or she may be confused, groggy, agitated, withdrawn, delusional, paranoid, etc. This is usually a symptom of something physically wrong with the person.

If it isn't Alzheimer's, what could it be?

Many of us would be relieved to know our loved one isn't suffering from permanent dementia.

My Grandma Ruth had Alzheimer's. She knew my son was born and then slowly over the next few years forgot him, then me, then mom and eventually even herself. It sucks. It is excruciating for loved ones to watch.

So, please know that I am not belittling that experience. Alzheimer's and dementia are rough, but they are not immediately life threatening.

If the delirium (sudden dementia) comes on within days there are numerous serious medical conditions that could be causing it. Chances are most of their brain function will come back, but it is urgent to get to the root cause.

When I tell people that a urinary tract infection can cause dementia-like symptoms in the elderly I get two responses

You're kidding right?
I knew that because I went through it with my... grandparent, parent, etc.

Most people do not know unless they have seen it in a loved one. So, now you know and hopefully aren't worried about a loved one as you are reading this.

A few medical conditions that can cause temporary confusion and delirium:

head injury
stroke
reaction to medication
infections
pain
diabetes
malnutrition
electrolyte imbalance

That's some scary stuff right there, isn't it?

You can read more on WebMD.

But, if the symptoms are severe I highly urge you to get your loved one to urgent care right away. You can always continue reading while you are waiting for the pros to run their tests. If it turns out to be nothing serious, then you are out a few hundred dollars perhaps. Isn't the piece of mind worth that?

Be prepared before something happens

Until this happened recently, my mother was 100% mentally capable despite her rheumatoid arthritis and few other physical issues. Luckily, she had done quite a few things to make things easier for me just in case this happened.

Before the unexpected happens, have the following information available to you about any elderly relatives that you may be called upon to make decisions for:

current medications list
medical insurance information (copies of Medicare and supplemental insurance cards)
names and phone numbers of doctors
have them list you as a contact with the doctors and insurance companies (otherwise they may not talk to you)
contact information for anyone else they may want contacted
living will (aka advanced medical directive)*
power of attorney*

*These legal documents need to be prepared by a lawyer. There are DIY kits available online. Luckily, my brother deferred to me on all decisions with no animosity between us. This might not be the case in your family. If there is a chance family members will debate the decisions of the loved one in an emergency, have the loved one consult an attorney while they are mentally able.

checklist for elderly to have before an emergency

However you want to store the information is fine. Scan it and keep it on the cloud. Have hard copies in a safe place at your home and theirs. Just be sure you have it all taken care of while the loved one is able to do it and no one is under any pressure or stress.

How about you?

Do you have an advanced medical directive done yet? (It's on my to do list now). Have you ever dealt with this with a loved one? Did I miss something? Any other documents or information to keep on file? Share your thought below.

Help Your Home Smell Fabulous this Autumn with Homemade Potpourri

Aug 27, 2018 · Leave a Comment

One of the best parts of Autumn is the smells. Cinnamon, cloves, apples, pumpkin, oranges, lavender, vanilla – they all bring to mind the wonderful fall season along with the cool rush of air that signals the coming of the fall holidays. Make your own potpourri to fill your home with your favorite Autumn smells.

Personally, I love the smell of cinnamon, but those cinnamon scented pinecones at the door of every grocery store this time of year make me want to run straight for the anti-nausea medication. To me it is completely overpowering and I can't even imagine what it would be like in my home.

Ingredients for Homemade Potpourri

Making your own potpourri allows you to customize the smell to your liking. Use dried flowers, zests, cloves, cinnamon sticks, apples, pumpkins, and other fall-scented plants.

To be frugal you can dry flowers and fruit at home instead of buying them. Hang flowers upside down in a dry place where they will not be disturbed. Or you can also use a food dehydrator if you have one, or line a baking sheet with parchment paper and bake at 250 degrees Fahrenheit for several hours until the fruit or flowers are completely dried.

You can use essential oils if you prefer, or even make your own like this ridiculously easy cinnamon oil recipe from Food Network's Michael Chiarello.

Ways to Use Homemade Potpourri

Potpourri bowl

The simplest way to use and display potpourri is in an attractive bowl placed in an area that gets some air movement. You may want to place it where a heater vent will blow on it slightly to warm it and disperse the fragrance. Otherwise you can stir it around a bit once or twice a day for a subtle aroma.

Simmering potpourri

You can simmer the potpourri in water in a small pan on the stove, in a small slow cooker or try to find an old potpourri warmer at a yard sale/thrift store. Just keep an eye on the water level and refill as needed for an all day aroma-fest.

Lighted mason jar potpourri

My sister-in-law gifted me with one of these years ago and they are so simple to make.

You will need

a quart sized mason jar
a strand of 35 light mini lights
an attractive cloth cover for the jar (a doily works nicely)
ribbon or raffia
potpourri

Put the lights and potpourri in the jar so the lights are spread evenly through the potpourri. Leave the plug and some of the wire outside of the jar. Cover with the cloth and tie with ribbon to secure it. When plugged in the lights slightly warm the potpourri, releasing the scent.

Give as a gift

Put the potpourri in a bag like this and tie it with some ribbon or raffia and you have a thoughtful hostess gift or maybe even a teacher gift (from experience I can tell you 5th grade boys can get stinky after PE 😉 ).

Make your home smell fabulous this Autumn with these easy homemade potpourri recipes. Click to Tweet

Autumn Potpourri Recipes

The possibilities are really endless. You may want to add some pods or flowers that do not smell but have an attractive look to them to make the potpourri more interesting appearing.

Here are three different Autumn potpourri blends to get you started.

Lavender and Spice and Everything Nice
1 bunch dried lavender
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
1 tablespoon whole cloves
1 stick cinnamon
2 cups water

Add to a small slow cooker on low, and let it simmer all day adding water as needed.

Dried Apple Spice Potpourri
1 cup apple slices, dried
2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
2 tablespoons whole cloves
¼ tablespoons allspice berries
10 cinnamon sticks
10 small pinecones
Cinnamon oil

Combine into a jar big enough for the pinecones to fit, put the lid on tightly and shake. Add as much cinnamon oil as you think you need to make it smell as you wish. After a couple of weeks, you can remove the pinecones with tongs and allow to dry. The smell should stay. Put in a basket and leave on a dresser or bathroom counter to bring fall smells inside.

Orange Spice Potpourri
10 slices freshly dried oranges
1 bunch of pinecones
¼ cup star anise
10 cinnamon sticks
¼ cup whole cloves
Display bowl

Combine all the ingredients in a bowl using as much as you need to fill the bowl that you’re using to help impart the scent to the house. You can add whole oranges, flowers, rocks and other elements to the mix to make it look extra special for the fall.

How would you use homemade potpourri?

Your turn! What are your favorite Autumn scents? Have you ever made your own potpourri at home? What combinations have you made or would you make? Let us know in the comments below.

Herbs, Supplements and Essential Oils for Menopause Relief

Aug 20, 2018 · Leave a Comment

When coping with perimenopause symptoms one of the first things many women turn to is herbs, supplements and/or essential oils. They can help alleviate many of the most bothersome symptoms such as hot flashes, night sweats and mood swings.

This is the second of our Menopause Monthly Series. Our first post discussed dietary changes you can make to ease the menopausal symptoms and increase overall health at this stage of life. We will have more discussions coming every month.

In general herbs, supplements and essential oils can be a safe natural way to cope with menopausal symptoms, but if you have any other medical conditions, or are on any medications you want to check with your doctor first. All are readily available at your neighborhood drugstore or online.

Natural Herbs For Menopause

Herbs can provide many health benefits, from lowering your cholesterol to easing mental health disorders. They also work great as a natural remedy for menopause. Aside from sage, you probably won't be adding these to your meals but instead look for them in the tea aisle.

Sage

Sage is an amazing and beneficial herb. The menopausal side effects it primarily helps with are hot flashes and night sweats, both of which are not only uncomfortable, but can cause stress because they interrupt your sleep. There are some different ways to get more sage into your diet, from adding the herb to your cooked foods, to making a peppermint tea with a little sage added to it.

Wild Yam

Wild yam is not the delicious tuber you serve at Thanksgiving diner, but actually a wild plant that contains nutrients to help with your menopausal symptoms, including the phytoestrogen diosgenin. This herb can help to balance out your hormones, which is how you can reduce your menopausal symptoms. Though like all herbs, you should discuss it with your doctor before using it.

Valerian

The last herb you should try out if you are going through menopause is called valerian or valerian root. This is another herb that has been around a long time in different parts of the world, but is becoming more popular as a way to treat medical conditions. Recently, it has been used for menopause by helping you with anxiety, insomnia, and some of your hot flashes. The great thing about valerian is that you can get the root in herb form for cooking or adding to a healing tea, or you can get it in supplement form.

Try these 3 herbs to help you cope with perimenopause. Click to Tweet

Supplements to Help With Menopause Relief

Supplements can help provide menopause relief and provide proper nutritional support for your body's changing needs.

Omega-3 Supplement

Omega-3 fatty acids are an important nutrient no matter what stage of life you are in, but they are particularly beneficial in the peri-menopause / menopause stage. They improve heart health, reduce inflammation and assist with memory function. Of particular interest to those of is in the menopausal stage is it assistance with fighting depression and anxiety. They are found naturally in a variety of foods such as fish and flaxseeds, but you probably aren't getting enough that way so consider a supplement. That is because these fats can help smooth out your skin and reduce inflammation, which also have a positive effect on many of your menopause symptoms.

Black Cohosh

Black cohosh is technically an herb, but I put it in the supplement section because that is the easiest and most common way to find it. This is probably the first thing women recommend to each other for facing hot flashes and night sweats. It is also one of the most studied supplements for menopause relief, though the jury is still out on its efficacy in traditional medical circles.

Vitamins B and E

Some vitamin supplements are also recommended when you have menopause, whether you just started or have been dealing with it for a while. The first is most of the B vitamins, which are all water soluble and can help decrease stress related to your menopause. You should also have plenty of vitamin E, which can help a lot with your hot flashes. Try to get about 400IUs of vitamin E each day, which comes in a supplement pill form.

4 supplements you should start taking before menopause hits. #womenshealth #menopause Click to Tweet

Ease Your Menopause Symptoms With These Essential Oils

Essential oils are oils that are extracted from flowers and leaves of various plants. These essential oils provide a lot of amazing health benefits, including helping you to ease your menopause symptoms.

WARNING: some essential oil enthusiasts claim it is safe to take essential oils internally. Others state essential oils are absolutely not for ingestion. I am in the "better safe than sorry" camp. Use them in a diffuser or apply topically with a carrier oil, but don't add them to your food and drinks.

Some essential oils to get help with your menopause.

Peppermint Oil

Peppermint oil can help ease cramping, as well as hot flashes and night sweats.

Basil Oil

Basil essential oil contains a natural compound that works similar to the estrogen hormone, so it can help balance out your hormone levels naturally.

Lavender Oil

Lavender essential oil promotes relaxation and calmness and is also known for boosting your mood naturally.

Geranium

Geranium essential oil can help to balance hormones and relieve anxiety, stress and depression.

4 essential oils to help those pre-menopause symptoms. Click to Tweet

These natural remedies may be very beneficial for women in the peri-menopause and menopause stage. But, just as every woman experiences menopause differently, these remedies may not help or may make symptoms worse. Consult a professional and experiment carefully, with a few at a time, just to be safe.

Decorate for Every Season with these 6 Easy DIY Cushion Covers

Aug 6, 2018 · Leave a Comment

These six DIY Cushion Covers allow you to add a pop of color or redecorate a room with minimal expense and effort. They are so easy to do you might want to make some for every season to switch up the look of the room every few months.

Here are six different cushion covers to choose from: two no-sew, two simple straight line sewing and two that are only a small bit more than simple straight lines.

No-Sew Pillow Case

All Day Chic has some great directions for no-sew pillows that you can use as accents in the living room on chairs and the sofa. Just pick your fabric color, cut it in squares, and layer it in triangles then tie a knot. It’s easy to do and looks great.

No-Sew Pillow Covers with Hemming Tape

These no-sew pillow covers are easy to make thanks to the directions on the Made2Style website. You will just need the fabric, some hemming tape and an iron.

Repurposed Dress Shirt Pillow Covers

Ann from On Sutton Place shows you how to make cushion covers using old dress shirts. A great way to use a special shirts to make beautiful pillow covers that will not only look great and transform your living room, but also add a touch of memories from the past.

DIY Dropcloth Cushion Cover

A drop cloth can make some lovely textured pillow covers as Meagen Mackenzie shows in this YouTube video. I might add some design and color using fabric paints. You can use the same technique with other fabric as well.

Easy Faux Upholstery

If you want to cover your entire sofa, you can when you know how to create what Jezze calls "upholstery for the lazy girl". You can make a huge difference in your décor if you think outside the box and realize that everything doesn’t have to be perfect to look rich and fabulous.

DIY Drawstring Seat Cushion Cover

Kovi Fabrics has a great tutorial for making Drawstring Cushion Covers quickly. If you can cut fabric, measure and sew, you can build these drawstring cushion covers to transform your couch.

Redecorate your room easily with these six DIY Cushion Covers. Click to Tweet

You can sew a little or not at all to make beautiful cushion covers and transform your living room for any season. Use any of these ideas with the right fabric to make a lot of changes to the look of your living room - without a lot of work.

Mission San Diego: Where Religion, Art and History Combine

Aug 3, 2018 · Leave a Comment

If you are looking for an enjoyable and educational experience in San Diego, CA I highly recommend a tour of Mission San Diego.

In 4th grade most US students learn about their states' history. Here in California, the Mission Period is usually studied for at least a quarter. Most classes will take field trips to at least one of the missions founded by the Catholic missionaries from Spain.

Since we are practicing Catholics we decided to follow up on what our son had already learned about the history portion of the missions and give him a little lesson in our faith with a visit to Mission Basilica San Diego de Alcala, the first of the California missions.

mission san diego portico — Front portico with sweeping views of the city.

cassette player with tour information mission san diego — Ancient relic! You press the play button down and the wheels turn inside and you can hear a man describing the sights. 🙂

mission san diego bell tower — The bell tower from the meditation garden

mission san diego stairs to bell tower — I had to get a closer shot of the stairs to the bell tower. They don't make them like that anymore.

mission san diego boy in front of statue of Father Junipero Serra — J goofing in front of the statue of Father Serra.

mission san diego statue of st. francis of assisi — J making a wish on the coin before offering it to St. Francis of Assisi.

mission san diego acorn grinding stone — Some artifacts from the Kumeyaay (acorn grinding stone).

san diego mission — And some artifacts from the Spanish.

boy in front of cross san diego mission — I overheard him saying his act of contrition and quietly back stepped away to give him privacy.

mission san diego fountain — beautiful fountain in the courtyard

Exploring San Diego: the beautiful Mission San Diego de Alcala Click to Tweet

Do you need to be Catholic to appreciate it?

Not at all. If you are in to history, archaeology or architecture it has something for you. I would ask that you are respectful when you explore the actual sanctuary, this is still an active parish.

How long will it take to explore?

Only an hour or two, a little longer if you choose to attend a service.

We paired it with another visit to Old Town San Diego for lunch and shopping, a 10-15 minute drive depending on traffic. Or you might want to explore the San Diego Presidio which was the military installation of the period. Balboa Park is also a short drive away with museums and gardens waiting to be explored (some of our favorites include the Model Railroad Museum and the free Spanish Village Art Center).

All in all it was a lovely day and well worth the trip for us. You can get directions and more information on the mission website.

Kids Crafts: Handmade Beaded Bracelets, Anklets and Foot Jewelry

Jul 30, 2018 · Leave a Comment

Crafting handmade beaded bracelets, anklets and foot jewelry is a simple project that reaps beautiful results that can be a stylish personalized accessory or a great gift for family and friends.

If you’ve ever walked into a bead store, it’s an amazing experience. Shelves line the walls and each shelf is filled with hundreds of different types of beads. Metal beads, shells, glass beads, colorful beads, simple beads, a bead for every taste, personality and jewelry type. Creating customized jewelry is a simple task, and kids can express their creativity and style with the bead selection.

Choosing and stringing the beads can be accomplished by toddlers and preschoolers depending on the size of the holes. It is a great fine motor exercise and you can work in some color and shape identification as well. For younger kids you may want to use elastic beading cord for a slip on bracelet.

Older boys may scoff at the thought of making beaded bracelets at first, declaring it be too "girly". But, if you pick up some letter beads along with sports themed beads or maybe these cool hand carved bone beads they will probably be more interested. Even the 5th and 6th grade tough guys in my catechism class wore the WWJD bracelets they made themselves (after they tried to arm wrestle over the bead colors). Or you can just give them some pretty beads that you like and tell them to make you (or Grandma!) a present. 😉

Pro tip: learn from my mistake, make sure the beads fit on the wire or thread before giving them to easily frustrated children. It also tends to look best if all of the beads have the same size holes, though this is not imperative.

Making your own beaded bracelets is a fun and cretive craft for kids of all ages. Click to Tweet

Beaded Bracelets or Anklets

You'll need:
• Wire or nylon thread. Wire is more durable; however, it is less flexible. If you want a lot of movement in your bracelet you may prefer nylon thread
• Crimp beads – the little beads you place on the end to keep the other beads from falling off
• Crimp pliers
• Beads of your choice
• Clasp

Step #1 Plan your design. Lay out your beads the way you’re going to place them on your bracelet.

Step #2 Cut your wire or thread. Add a few inches on the ends so you have enough room to work with.

Step #3 Slide a crimp bead on one end of the wire and slide it through one end of your clasp. Then slide the end of your wire back through the crimp bead so you’ve created a loop with the clasp in the loop.

Step #4 String your beads.

Step #5 Add your crimp bead and the other end of your clasp and you’re done. You now have a custom piece of jewelry you created yourself.

Caribbean Foot Jewelry

If you have a lot of smaller beads or you’re ready for a more difficult beading project, you can make foot jewelry aka barefoot sandals like this.

You’ll need:
• 50 - 75 small glass beads (seed beads)
• elastic beading cord, about two and a half feet
• white glue
• 4 silver or gold 4 mm beads

Step #1 Stiffen the ends of your elastic with white glue and let dry.

Step #2 String 12 glass beads on the elastic to the center of the cord. Make sure you have enough to go around your toe (the long one next to your big toe).

Step #3 Slide both ends of the elastic through a 4mm bead. This will create a loop around your toe. You may want to position the elastic around your toe as you create the jewelry to make sure it sits where you want it and fits how you want it to.

Step #4 String about 1" of beads on each end of the elastic. Make sure they mirror each other and are the same length.

Step #5 Again, push both ends of the elastic through a 4mm bead. Repeat this process a few times until you’re up next to your foot. Then slide your beads on in a pattern until you’ve reached the back of your ankle.

You should now have a circle of beads around your ankle and a chain of beads extending down to your toe. Tie off the back of the bracelet with a double knot and trim the loose ends.

Making your own beaded jewelry is a fun and easy crafts for kids of all ages that they can wear or give with pride.

Easy Homemade Natural Beauty Treatments from Head to Toe

Jul 27, 2018 · 1 Comment

Nature is the newest trend in skin and hair care. For years, we’ve been putting toxic chemicals into our bodies that build up and make us feel tired and sick, regardless of whether we eat them or if they seep though our pores. And people are finally catching on that natural is better.

Most stores now have a line of “natural” beauty products. Unfortunately, they often come with a big price tag attached too. Often times many of these products are not actually “natural” so it does pay to do your homework to ensure you are getting what you pay for.

Fortunately actually making beauty products yourself isn’t too difficult. So if you want beauty products that you know are natural and are also inexpensive, just make them yourself. Here are some quick and easy recipes you can make at yourself.

Face Mask

Eating good food helps give you the right nutrients you need to look good. You can get more of these vitamins and minerals by putting the good stuff right on the skin.

Combining a mashed carrot, mashed avocado, and a beaten egg with a few tablespoons of honey creates a great face mask that provides vitamins, and improves the tone and texture of your skin. Just stir well, apply, let sit for about 15 minutes, and then wash off with cool water.

After you’re washed and nourished your skin, you can use grated cucumber or diluted lemon juice as a toner to help tighten your skin and close up your pores to close your pores and keep your skin looking great.

More ideas:

12 honey face masks from Alluring Soul

10 amazing 2 ingredient face masks from The Indian Spot

Shampoo and Conditioner

Many people pay a lot of money for a conditioner that actually makes your hair look and feel good. Here’s a great natural recipe to save you money and help your hair.

Just mix an egg yolk with a tablespoon of castor oil and apply to hair. Let sit for about ten minutes and rinse out. You can use this every so often as a conditioning treatment for healthy shiny hair. If you like being experimental, you can try mixing other kitchen items, herbs, and natural items with eggs for healthy, shiny hair.

More ideas:

Homemade Rosemary Mint Shampoo from Wondermom Wannabe

6 Hair Masks for different hair types from Hairfinity

Hand and Foot Cream

A quick face mask will help make you look great in not a lot of time, but hands and feet require extra care.

Use ½ cup of olive oil mixed with natural sea salt and massage into your hands and feet. Leave a few minutes to soak and then rinse off with warm water.

More ideas:

DIY Body Butter from Feeling Fit

Lavender Rosemary Sugar Scrub from That Recipe (that's me!)

Lip Balm

For a simple lip soothing treat, melt together 2 tablespoons each of beeswax, shea butter and coconut oil and add a few drops of essential oil if desired. You can put it in lip balm tubes like these or a small container and just dab it on with your fingertip.

More ideas:

DIY Donut Lip Balm from Kim Spired DIY

18 Ways to Make DIY Lip Balm from Poise and Purpose

Milk Bath

If you need want to soothe aching muscles and dry skin, combine ¼ cup powdered milk and a few tablespoons of Epsom salts to a hot bath. Add some ground oatmeal or baking soda for itchy dry skin. You can get more add-in ideas in this post.

More ideas:

Bath Bombs and Shower Fizzies from Ruffles and Rainboots

Natural Homemade Bubble Bath from Wondermom Wannabe

Be a natural beauty from head to toe with dozens of easy homemade natural beauty treatments #homemadebeautytreatments #naturalbeautytreament Click to Tweet

When it comes to natural beauty products, these recipes are just the start. You can find hundreds of different combinations in natural beauty books, magazines, and on the internet. Or you can go to your kitchen cabinet and make your own special creations.

Homemade Paper: Fun and Easy Craft for Kids of All Ages

Jul 23, 2018 · 1 Comment

Making homemade paper is a wonderful craft to do with kids of any age. It is also a great way to recycle waste paper into exciting new items.

To alleviate boredom one summer day, and to make some cards for grandmothers, we recycled paper into paper.

You can use any scrap paper for this project, and it can be fun to experiment with different materials. See what's lying around your house or in your recycling bin. You can try using unprinted computer paper, newspaper, magazines, egg cartons, old cards, napkins, construction paper, or anything else you can find. We used junk mail, and the ink bled leaving it a grey color in the end.

I couldn't find a picture frame I wanted to sacrifice for this, so I just stapled together some scraps of plant stakes I had lying around. Just make it fit the size of your plastic tub.

To make homemade paper you will need:

scrap paper
sponge (this grout sponge was perfect)
window screening
wood frame
plastic basin large enough to immerse frame into
blender or food processor
staples or tacks
fabric or felt squares
two cookie sheets

Rip up the paper and put it in the blender until it is about half full. DO NOT PACK DOWN! (learn from my mistake).

Fill the blender the rest of the way with warm water. Start the blender. Start slowly at first, then gradually increase the speed. Blend until the paper pulp looks smooth and well blended. This will take about thirty to forty seconds. If any pieces or flakes of paper are still visible, blend it a while longer.

To make your paper mold, stretch the window screening across the wood frame and staple or tack it as tightly as possible.

Fill the basin halfway with water. Add several blender loads of pulp and stir the mixture.

Put the mold into the pulp. Level it out until the pulp on top of the screen looks even.

Very slowly, lift the mold until it is above the water. Let the water drain from the pulp on top of the screen.

Use your sponge to gently press out as much water as possible.

When it stops dripping, carefully flip the mold onto a piece of felt or fabric, with the paper directly on the fabric.

Lift the mold off of the fabric. The new sheet of paper should stay on the fabric. It may take some practice to get this part right.

Repeat the above steps and stack your fabric squares on a cookie sheet. When you have one square left, save it to put on top of your last piece of paper. Use the second cookie sheet to put on top of the pile and squeeze out the remaining water. (We skipped this step and used a rolling pin to squeeze out more water and make sure our paper didn't have holes in it)

After all the water is squeezed out, separate the sheets to dry. When they're dry, peel off the fabric, and you have your new, homemade paper.

When you're making paper, the important thing to remember is to have fun. Experiment with different kinds of paper. You can even add other items after your paper is blended, such as scraps of yarn, pieces of tin foil and seeds. If it doesn't turn out, just try again. See what you can create!

6 Easy Dietary Changes to Make Menopause Manageable

Jul 16, 2018 · 1 Comment

Dietary changes can help reduce menopause symptoms and reduce possible health complications post-menopause.

Menopause sucks. Well, that isn't technically accurate. My family is complete so the cessation of my fertility is quite welcome. It is all of the changes that go along with it that can be downright brutal. I am in the later stages of peri-menopause (hopefully!) and have been going through symptoms for quite a few years now.

Much of the information out there, while informative, doesn't always seem to be written from the "Been there done that, got the breathable moisture wicking bamboo t-shirt" perspective. So, I thought I would start a monthly series of articles to help other women in the peri-menopausal to post-menopausal stage deal with some of the issues in a natural way.

Does that mean I judge women who use hormone replacement therapy? HECK NO! I am sure most women and their doctors considered other treatment methods before that option. And even if they didn't it ain't nonna my business.

The posts are going to cover some of those other options such as dietary changes, supplements, stress reducers and more. I am not going to cover the definitions of peri-menopause, menopause and post-menopause. Not am I going to rehash the symptoms and increase in risk of health conditions post menopause. Head over to MayoClinic or WebMd

We are going to start with the most obvious change to consider: diet.

No, you do not have to adopt an all kale diet if you don't like kale, but kale certainly has it's benefits.

If you want to go through menopause in the healthiest way possible, while also working to lower some of the side effects during the transition and health risks after menopause, dietary changes are an easy place to start.

Here are some recommended dietary changes to make.

Reduce Consumption of Fatty Foods

The first thing you need to do if you want to make dietary changes for the relief of your menopausal symptoms is to reduce the fatty foods you are eating. This might be hard at first, but small changes are totally fine. Just remember not only will it help with your menopause, but with overall health as well.

Fatty foods that are loaded with trans fats like margarine and vegetable oil are not good for you and can increase your cholesterol. Try to stick to healthy fats, and you will feel much better.

Shameless plug here: I have an e-guide on healthy fats for subscribers over on my recipe site. It is completely free to subscribe and you get access to a bunch of other subscriber only material plus bi-weekly food fun in your inbox. (end of sales pitch 😉 )

Reduce Sugar and Salt

I didn't say eliminate, I said reduce. Weight gain is usually an issue in menopause and that extra cupcake might help you cope with the momentary mood swings, you probably don't need the extra calories. Treating yourself occasionally is fine, but like with the fatty foods, start by making small reductions and you will soon notice a difference.

As for the salt, it can be a contributor to skeletal and heart issues at any time of life, but these both are much more of a concern post menopause. The easiest way to reduce your sodium intake is to consumer fewer processed foods.

Eliminate the Caffeine and Alcohol

Wait, I thought you said these changes were easy?

The experts want to suck out every last drop of enjoyment out of our lives. How can I be expected to function without my morning cup of coffee and glass of wine at night? Do as I say not as I do!

Studies have shown that both caffeine and alcohol can contribute to hot flashes, urinary incontinence and mood swings. Try eliminating or cutting back your intake and see if it helps alleviate the symptoms.

I am not going to lie to you, I am team moderation on this one. Trust me, my mood swings would be worse without my morning coffee. But that is pretty much it for caffeine for me.

Which foods should you eliminate for a healthy menopause? Which foods should you increase? Click to Tweet

Increase Your Calcium

One of the more important nutrients to have in your body when you are going through menopause is calcium, but make sure you don’t have too much of it. You want to aim for no more than 1,000 mg a day of calcium between supplements and natural food sources. Natural is always better, so first try to get your calcium from your diet, such as with dairy products or non-dairy milk like coconut milk, as well as vegetables like leafy greens, like KALE! ; )

If you don’t get enough through these sources, then take a supplement every day.

Get More Iron and Fiber

Two more nutrients that are important to include in your diet for menopause are iron and fiber. Both of these help women who are in the menopausal period of life, reducing your symptoms overall and making you healthier.

Iron is often found in eggs, leafy greens (kale again?!), nuts, and red meat, so whether you are a meat eater or not, there are options available to you.

To get more fiber, try whole grains, fruit, pasta, and vegetables.

Eat more Fruits and Veggies

You probably know by now that you should be eating a certain amount of fruits and vegetables each day. This is not only important during menopause, but for overall health at this stage of your life as well. Try to have 5 servings or 2 cups of fruits and veggies every day, more if it fits within your daily diet.

Six important dietary changes every woman should consider for a healthier menopause. Click to Tweet

Think Lifestyle Changes Not Temporary Quick Fix Diets

For an easier transition through menopause to a healthier lifestyle post menopause you need to abolish the weight loss diet mentality and embrace permanent lifestyle changes. Giving up everything for one month may help shed a few pounds, but if you bounce right back into bad eating habits you are not doing yourself any favors.

Start by making a few changes at a time. Cut back on sugar, salt and caffeine. Increase the fiber, fruit and vegetables. Every month try to do a little more.

Like most things in life, no one experiences menopause the same way. There is no single best eating plan for menopause. Start with these guidelines and see what works best for you. And if you don't like kale, you don't have to eat it (though I have some great recipes if you are interested).

Create an Easy Faux Stained Glass Window to Brighten Your Home

Jul 12, 2018 · 1 Comment

Stained glass is beautiful, there’s no doubt about it. However, finding an original piece of stained glass to fit an existing space can be quite expensive. And commissioning a piece from an artist can also be quite expensive and time consuming. An easy solution is to create your own design.

A real stained glass window is a mosaic of small colored pieces of glass soldered together. But you can created the same look with a few simple supplies from your local craft store.

You can buy a new glass picture frame, use one you have around the house or use my parent's old trick and hit your local thrift store to find a frame you like and discard the print. You could even paint a window in your home, but this is a bit trickier.

Just about any artwork can be used for a pattern. Some people might want to choose something as detailed as The Rose Windows of Notre Dame Cathedral.

But you probably want to opt for something a bit simpler, especially on your first try. There are dedicated stained glass window patterns, but a coloring book can also be an excellent pattern source.

Or you can search online images for "your favorite subject" coloring pages or stained glass pattern.

Make your own faux stained glass window to add color and style to your home. Or make some as gifts for family and friends. Click to Tweet

Faux Stained Glass Window Supplies:

glass paint
liquid leading
glass picture frame or glass window
printed pattern
caulk (if using a glass picture frame)

Faux Stained Glass Window Instructions:

Step #1 Gather Your Supplies

The first step is to find your pattern and to choose paint colors you want in your pattern. Enlarge or reduce your pattern to fit your desired area. Gather the rest of your supplies.

Step #2 Prepare the Glass

It’s easiest if the glass you’re going to be painting is lying on a horizontal surface. If it’s hanging or upright your paint may drip. To paint an actual window in your home, remove the window from the casement if at all possible and lay it on a table where you can position the pattern underneath.

If you’re using a glass picture frame, remove the glass from the frame and place it on a flat working surface

Step #3 Set the Pattern

Place the pattern on the backside of the glass and secure it (painter's tape works very well).

Step #4 Outline Your Pattern

Trace the pattern with your liquid leading and let dry.

Step #5 Add the Color

Fill in the pattern with your glass paint and let dry.

Step #6 Hang your window

For the glass picture frame, run a bead of caulk in the groove around the backside of the frame so the glass stays in place then hang it in front of your favorite window.

Or return the window to the casement if you used an actual window.

Step #7 Enjoy!

And there you have it!

This simple faux stained glass window technique creates beautiful projects for your home and make excellent gifts for family and friends.

Keep Cool with These 12 Funny Heatwave Memes

Jul 5, 2018 · Leave a Comment

In honor of the heat and humidity that is rolling in to my neck of the woods the next few days, I have some funny heatwave memes to help me cope with the excessive heat warnings.

I'm not saying it's hot, but....

I'm not going outside for any reason.

That'll teach him to leave the window open in the furnace room.

MOOOOOM, my ice cream melted!

What a world, what a world.

Mmmm! Popcorn!

I don't wanna do anything...

Mmmm! Bacon!

An intorvert's nightmare.

The walk from the car almost kills me.

Genius level 10.

Mmmmm! Cookies!

Keep hydrated, keep cool and keep laughing. We'll be whining about the cold soon enough.

Need more summer funnies?

Share these hot memes with a friend! Click to Tweet

Silk Plants Brighten Your Home with Minimal Effort and Care

Jun 25, 2018 · Leave a Comment

The silk plants in this review were provided courtesy of the good folks at CSI PoshFelt, a creator of beautiful, innovative, and affordable wall panels that redefine physical space. All opinions and project descriptions are my own.

A review of silk plants may seem odd from an avid gardener like myself, but there are times when they can add the perfect touch to a room when real plants would not be able to thrive.

A few places I use silk plants to decorate are:

on top of my kitchen cabinets (too hard to water)
on the TV console (watering plants near electronics is a scary thought)
in the bathroom with only one small north facing window (every plant needs at least a little light)
seasonal decorations that are rotated out over 4-6 weeks
on my front door...

Which is exactly where this beauty now hangs to welcome guests for summer.

I received two of these and gave one to my mother which she immediately hung in her dark apartment entryway next to a print of Claude Monet's Bouquet of Sunflowers. Perfect match!

Silk Plants Direct

The wreaths were from Silk Plants Direct. These are definitely not your dollar store flowers. Look at the detail and craftsmanship on them.

They have so many types of silk plants to choose from including individual stems, wedding bouquets, floral arrangements, potted trees and topiaries as well as choices for use outdoors. Seriously, I think they have anything you could possibly imagine in the area of silk plants and flowers. My husband is eyeing a few of these lighted palm trees for our annual Christmas light extravaganza in our front yard.

Shipping was very quick and they came well packaged in double boxing with no signs of any damage, save a few grapes that were easily slid back on and wouldn't have been noticed if I hadn't replaced them.

The wreaths were ready to display as is, but I wanted to personalize mine a bit so I crafted a simple burlap bow to give it just a little something extra.

And as a bonus for my readers, Silk Plants Direct is offering a 10% discount on everything except custom product. Use coupon code BLOGGER10 at checkout.

Caring for Silk Plants

Silk plants require minimal care to keep them beautiful. Just a simple dusting or even wipe them down with a damp cloth if needed.

Silk plans do fade if displayed in direct sunshine. My front door gets a few hours of direct light each afternoon, so this will not be kept outside long term. But, it should hold up quite nicely if I rotate it with some of my other seasonal wreaths.

Silk plants add a beautiful touch to home decor in areas where real plants might not thrive or caring for them could be difficult or hazardous. Click to Tweet

Silk plants and flowers can be a great alternative for people with black thumbs, or for when you want a plant in an area that is not conducive for growing a plant or one that accidental overwatering could be a hazard. And if you want high quality silk plants and flowers, be sure to check out the products at Silk Plants Direct.

5 Chemical-Free Ways to Control Weeds in Your Organic Garden

Jun 18, 2018 · 5 Comments

The Internet is full of recipes and tips on how to kill weeds organically. Unfortunately, many of these recommended methods simply do not work, and in some cases, they can cause much more harm than good. All hope is not lost, however. You can still enjoy your organic vegetable garden without it being overrun by unsightly weeds.

When it comes to weed control, the old adage “an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure” holds true. With a little planning, you can create an inhospitable environment for these unwanted garden guests without exposing your soil, plants, pets, and your family to toxic chemicals or questionable home remedies.

Here are four completely chemical-free ways to control weeds in your garden this summer:

Method #1: Create a Physical Barrier

One way to prevent weeds from becoming established in your garden is to place a thick layer of newsprint down around your vegetable plants. Then, add a two-inch layer of organic compost or mulch on top of the newsprint, being careful not to mound the mulch up around the stems of your plants.

This barrier serves two purposes: It helps protect your vegetable plants and it makes it more difficult for weed seeds in the soil to ever see the light of day. As the growing season progresses, weed seeds may drop on top of this barrier, but they should be easy to pluck out before they become too much of a nuisance.

Method #2: Give Crowd Planting a Try

Rather than planting your vegetables in neat little rows, try planting them closer together instead. The key here is to minimize the amount of empty space left between each plant without overcrowding them. Crowd planting creates extra competition in your garden for the nutrients each plant needs to survive and thrive. This makes it more difficult for weeds to get established in the first place.

Search for "square foot gardening" for tips on how close you can plant your vegetables.

Chemical Free ways to combat weeds in your organic vegetable garden. Click to Tweet

Method #3: Use Raised Garden Beds

Building your garden soil up, instead of digging down into the ground, offers several advantages when it comes to weed control. For starters, building your soil up above ground level means you won’t be tilling dormant weed seeds up to the surface where they have a better chance of germinating.

Plus, the soil in raised or lasagna-style garden beds tends to me much looser than the compacted soil in the ground. That means that any weeds that do manage to take root in a raised bed will be much easier to pull out by hand.

Finally, raised garden beds made from cedar boards or another material present a physical barrier to the surrounding area, which also serves as a natural deterrent to weeds becoming established in your beds.

But, I will admit I had one problem with this method when the neighbors wisteria grew under the fence and found very hospitable ground in my raised bed. Eventually, it choked out my plants and I had to move my bed after a few years.

Method #4: Boil them

This is not a method you want to try near plants you want to keep. I use this in my walkways and in the cracks in the cement. Heat a pot of H20 to boiling then ladle it right on top of the weeds.

After I finish canning in a boiling water canner (my 10 quart stock pot) I have plenty of boiling water which I could wait for it to cool down then pour down the drain. But, if I have weeds in the driveway cracks I just drag the pot outside and boil them. It works very well on broadleaf weeds like dandelions and thistles

If you occasionally clean your coffee pot by brewing a pot with white distilled vinegar you can use that on the weeds in the cement cracks, but absolutely not any where you will eventually want plants to grow. The vinegar could mess with the acidity of the soil.

Method #5: Lend a Hand

Last, but not least, don’t overlook the value of putting your own two hands to work in your garden. Fortunately, if you follow the tips outlined above, you’ll find it will be so much easier to stay on top of weeds in your organic vegetable garden. If a weed or two does happen to pop up, be sure to deadhead it before it sets seed. Then, wait until after a really good rain shower, or create your own shower with the sprinklers if you have dry summers like we do in California, and pull them out root and all.

Yes, all of these methods take a little more work than spraying with traditional weed killer. But, many of those name brands are considered dangerous to pets and people and they wreak havoc with the soil for years to come. Besides one of the joys of gardening is getting your hands dirty, right?

How to Make a Planter from an Old Gas Grill

Jun 4, 2018 · 2 Comments

Is it time to replace that old dangerous and rusty gas grill? Before you toss the old one into the landfill, take a look at this fun planter I repurposed from our rusted out gas grill.

When I say ours was rusty and dangerous, I wasn't kidding. I considered replacing some parts and keeping it. But, this one was a bit beyond repair at this point.

Affiliate links ahead! I may receive a commission at no cost to you for purchases through these links.

Disassembling the Gas Grill

Recommended equipment:

drill with Phillips screwdriver bit or hand held Phillips screwdriver
good work gloves (like these)

I had a few ideas I could make with it, but first I wanted to remove the lid and side shelves. I could have used a standard phillips screwdriver, but the screwdriver bit and drill made short work of it. The flame tubes come out a little too easily with no tools needed.

Cleaning the Gas Grill

Recommended equipment

wire brush with scraper (like this)
steel wool pads
nitrile gloves (like these)

Notice I said recommended equipment, not what I actually used. I couldn't find the wire brush so I used a broken trowel and a wire scrubber in addition to the steel wool. It took me a good hour of scrubbing to remove the rust and black gunk inside the grill.

Making the Old Grill Pretty

What I used for painting:

nitrile gloves above
pale green spray paint
1 quart Valspar Denim Blue chalkboard paint

I knew mine was going on my covered porch so I risked it with the chalkboard paint to be able to write seasonal messages and decorations on it. We'll see how it holds up.

I decided to plant in the well, but I didn't want the potting soil to go through the holes so I used a little landscape fabric on the bottom to allow water to flow through, but not the soil.

Turn your old rusty gas grill into a fun planter. Click to Tweet

Planting your Plants

Equipment needed:

work gloves (above)
high quality potting soil
plants or seeds

Since I had to paint inside, I was a little nervous about planting edibles in it. Instead I opted for red white and blue annuals.

The Finished Product

Here's a top down view of the flowers

And on the porch with my potted herbs.

Other Ideas I Considered

Instead of planting flowers inside the grill well you could

fill the well with ice and drinks at party time
cover the top with a sheet of wood or plastic to make a party table
cover the top with a sheet of wood or plastic to make a potting table
make a miter saw stand

Do you have an old grill in need of an upcycle? What other ideas do you have to make with it? Let me know in the comments below.

A Blogger's Challenge: knowing when to DIY and when to spend

May 21, 2018 · 4 Comments

One of the biggest challenges I face as a blogger is overcoming the fear of spending money. I always want to do it myself without paying. There must be a post online about it somewhere to show me how to do it for free, even if it takes me 10 hours to do it.

Sometimes, DIY is the way to go, other times it is a better use of time and talents to let the experts handle it and devote your time to other tasks.

Here are a few ways I have wasted dollars trying to pinch pennies in blogging.

Some of the links below are affiliate links and I may receive a commission for any purchases made through the links, at no additional cost to you.

CSS, HTML, Action Hooks and Headaches

One of the big things I refused to spend money on was a theme. I spent hours (days, months) trying to get free themes to do exactly what I wanted and not what they were pre-programmed to do.

I scoured support forums, copied and pasted and tweaked. Eventually, I learned quite a bit about CSS (Cascading Style Sheet - the code that makes your site look pretty) HTML, action hooks and more.

But, that was time I could have been spent writing posts, trying to get sponsored posts or promoting affiliates. For the price, I would have been better off buying a theme so I could get personalized support, and/or paying someone to do the back end for me.

If you are curious, this blog actually uses a free theme called Graphene, which is very customizable. They have a paid version available with even more customizations. For That Recipe I chose Foodie Pro, a paid theme based on the Genesis Framework. And it was worth every penny!

Do you spend money on your blog or try to do it all for free? Click to Tweet

Themes, Plugins and Hosting: Why can't you all get along?

Transferring to a new host by myself? Getting plugins to play nicely together and not lock me out of my site? Fahgettaboutit! My technology lessons ended with CSS and Action Hooks. If I never have to go back into CPanel again I will be one happy blogger.

Most recently, I tried to switch to https by myself and took down my entire site in the process with some kind of endless loop. Don't ask me how I managed that. I have no idea. Somehow there was an errant punctuation mark... or something like that.

I now happily pay my host anything extra he wants to fix things for me. Shout out to Brendan and his crew at Infinus Technology. (no affiliate link, he is just awesome and the pricing is amazing).

Lights, Camera, Action: Photography and Video Production

In blogging, especially food blogging, photography can make or break you. Dark, blurry, uninspired photos will be skipped over on Pinterest.

Setting up a professional studio for photography and videography can cost thousands of dollars. Heck a professional camera can cost that much. I am still getting by with my beat up $200 point and click for now, along with my phone camera.

The big challenge has been lighting since my kitchen sits on the east end of our house. Light flooding through the windows in the morning and then dark in the afternoon/evenings. So, much fun in the winter. While I could move my food around the house for still photos, videos increasingly became a challenge. I tried some make shift lights, and got by for awhile.

Finally, this week I sucked it up and spent about $50 for this light kit.

Even lighting at last!

Other photo related items I spend money on:

Canva, the free version is great, but I have 3 blogs so I needed to have the greater flexibility in the paid.
Adobe Creative Cloud, I use Photoshop, Lightroom and Premiere weekly and got a nice discount thank to my educator husband.

Sanity Saving Schedulers

There are some good free options in the scheduling department, but I spend in this area too. My mother was just trying to figure out today why I was online at a strange hour. The reality is I only spend about 30 minutes on social media a day. But, I have posts scheduled throughout the day.

CoSchedule serves as my content calendar and also posts my Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and G+ posts for me. I sit down once a month to schedule out blog and social media posts for both blogs, plus other tasks like recipe videos for my clients as well as email newsletters. The ReQueue feature saved my bacon last week by automatically scheduling and reposting my cache of previous social media posts for me when I was too sick to get off the couch.

But, Tailwind has been the real game changer for me. As my Pinterest traffic goes, so does my website traffic. A quick glance at the jump in my blog traffic will show you when I started using Tailwind. I schedule once a week then Tailwind pins 20-30 pins a day, spread throughout the day. Just the way Pinterest loves it.

The best things in life may still be free, or at least frugal

But, I don't spend for everything. I am still DIYing quite a bit like:

my photo backdrops are the table, counter top or homemade (here's a post full of frugal backdrop ideas).
props are what is in the house, thrift store finds, dollar store, etc.
free stock photos for non-food related posts (click here for a great list of sites)
free music for videos (check this article for the legalities and a resource list)
scheduling Facebook reshares of others' content within FB

Blogging tools worth the price for this blogger. Click to Tweet

Time is money, but spend wisely

I still hate spending money, but more and more I am realizing that to make money on the blogging thing I need to invest in some tools.

If your blog isn't growing the way you want it to, you could throw around a lot of money on bells and whistles, but will it increase traffic and ultimately revenue?

Right now, I want you to pull out a piece of paper, or open a Word document or note program and jot down the answers to the following:

How are you spending your "blogging time"? Write down the different tasks (write post, images, research, etc.) and calculate how much time you are spending on them.
What are the top 3 challenges preventing you from moving to the next level of blogging?
What classes or programs or apps are available to help you blog efficiently and move to the next level?
What is driving the biggest traffic to your blog? What social media channels aren't worth your effort?
How much money are you willing to budget monthly for blogging?

Hey, look! You have the beginnings of a plan and budget. Get those free tools working for you right away and prioritize your spending on what is going to give you the most bang for your buck. Before you know it your blog traffic and income should start increasing.

Organic Gardening for Beginners: 5 Ways to Make Ladybugs at Home

May 14, 2018 · 2 Comments

Ladybugs are an organic gardeners best friend because they spend their days eating destructive garden pests, including aphids, whiteflies, cabbage moths, and mites. Thanks to their voracious appetites, ladybugs are considered beneficial insects by gardeners who want to control pest populations without using toxic pesticides.

One thing to understand about organic gardening is the idea of a balanced ecosystem. In a perfect dream world Utopian garden there would be no plant devouring insects. Which means the insects that eat them would have nothing to eat, which means the birds and amphibians that eat them would have nothing to eat and so and so on... the circle of life baby!

The organic gardener wants to attract ladybugs to control the pest insect population, not completelyt eliminate it.

Since ladybugs cannot read help wanted ads, gardeners need to make their garden enticing for the ladybug to call it home.

#1 Embrace Organic Practices

Toxic pesticides do not discriminate. They kill beneficial insects just as readily as the negative ones. Therefore, eliminating the use of any type of pesticide in and around your home is a good first step toward attracting more ladybugs to your garden.

The first thing my mother will tell you when she hears the word "ladybug" is how they all disappeared in our yard in the San Francisco Bay Area for decades after the malathion spraying in the early 1980's. The spray was supposed to combat the Mediterranean Fruit Fly infestation, but of course it killed far more than just that single type of insect. It threw the ecosystem out of balance for years.

#2 Provide “Decoy” Plants

Aphids are the primary source of food for ladybugs and they need a steady supply of these pests to survive. These opportunistic pests are happy to devour your prized vegetable plants, but they are attracted to certain plants, such as mustard and nasturtium, milkweed more than others.

Yes, I am advocating growing plants aphids like to keep them in your garden.

By planting these “decoy plants” in one section of your garden, you can entice aphids to target them instead of the plants you do not want them destroying (my artichoke plants!!!). This will create a concentrated all-you-can-eat buffet for ladybugs, while diverting aphids away from the rest of your garden.

If you kill all of the aphids the ladybugs will leave and then next spring the aphids will come back in force with no predator in sight to keep them under control.

Attract ladybugs to your garden to control the pest population. Click to Tweet

#3 Plant Pollen-Producing Plants

Ladybugs also love pollen, nectar and honeydew, especially in the Spring while they are waiting for their insect buffet to appear and multiply. They love culinary herbs, such as parsley, dill, and fennel, and flowering plants including angelica, marigolds, sweet alyssum, yarrow, and cosmos. Unlike their insect prey, they help pollinate these plants instead of destroying them.

Grow a variety of these plants in and around your garden to entice more ladybugs to stay. Which is a great reason to plant an herb garden to go along with your vegetable garden.

#4 Provide Adequate Shelter

Ladybugs are rather minimalistic creatures in that they don’t require a fancy place to live. Decomposing logs, adequate ground cover, or leafy bushes can serve as a place to hide from predators.

Which basically means they will live anywhere they can find food.

#5 Purchase Ladybugs if You Must

You’ll need a large number of ladybugs to control a large scale aphid infestation. If the natural population in your area is insufficient, you can also purchase ladybugs for your garden. But, if you have not taken care of steps 1-4, they won't be hanging around for long.

Remember, if you show your ladybug friends a little love, they will return the favor and protect your favorite plants.

What Non-EU Consumers Should Know About the GDPR

May 7, 2018 · 4 Comments

Have you noticed a sudden uptick in privacy policy updates recently? Have you seen references to 25 May, 2018 and wondered what was going on? Maybe you have received email newsletters asking you to confirm you still want to receive the newsletter. And suddenly every website you visit is warning you about cookies. And I don't mean the delicious kind that can expand your waistline. I mean that one up at the top of this page. Say hello to the GDPR.

GDPR, say what now?

The General Data Protection Regulation is a new law in the European Union regarding electronic data collection and storage that goes into effect on May 25, 2018.

And it is a good thing.

All countries in the EU now have one set of rules for dealing with electronic data. They are trying to protect the individual and his data.

Among the many provisions:

privacy policies have to be in simple language not legalese
companies have to tell you why they need data from you and what they are going to do with it
you must give consent for your data to be used
if you tell a company to erase your information they have to do it
if there is a data breach they have to notify authorities in 3 days.

Failure to do so means hefty fines for the companies.

But I am not in the EU so am I being effected?

The laws only protect EU citizens and residents, but....

Companies have the choice to apply one set of rules for those living in the EU and one for everyone else or just make the changes for everyone.

Hmmm. Which one do you think they are going to chose?

Think of it like GMO labels in the United States. A handful of states require that anything made with genetically modified ingredients be labelled. Is General Mills going to slap a label on every box of cereal or only those sold in the areas that require it. Ain't no one got time for that.

Large American companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, etc. that do business throughout the world are updating their policies and procedures to make sure data is safe for all of their customers regardless of where they live.

Even small American bloggers like me, with just an occasional visit from a resident of the EU ("bienvenu" if that's you), are still updating our privacy policies, adding cookie notices and deciding what information we really need to gather. We may be over-reacting, but most of us are just trying to do what we think is right.

What Consumers should know about the new GDPR even if they live outside of the EU. #onlineshopping #onlinesafety Click to Tweet

Did you say cookies are bad?

Eating too many cookies can be bad for your health. But, electronic cookies can actually be handy little bits of code.

Say you see this pin for my King Size Brookie recipe and you click through to my site because it looks amazing (because it is!).

When you try to leave my site, a pop up window asks if you are interested in receiving recipes via e-mail plus get a few ecookbooks for free. Whether you chose yes or no, a little bit of code is left on your device.

The next day when you are ready to make the recipe and come back to the site, the pop up program sees the cookie and says "This person has already seen this so I won't bug them again." Nice.

Ad companies use cookies to show you online ads they think you will like. Have you ever searched for something like "travel to Tahiti" and suddenly you see hotel and airline ads on every website you visit? Those are cookies at work.

Some people like the personalization, some feel their privacy has been invaded.

I am a blogger, what do I need to do about GDPR?

Use you favorite search engine and type in "GDPR for bloggers". Even if you are not in the European Union you may still want to take action.

I am an Internet User that doesn't have a blog or store anyone else's data electronically, what do I need to do?

Nothing.

Depending on where you live and what online companies you visit determines how much you are protected by the new legislation.

But, other than occasionally checking some extra "opt-in" boxes and having to delete a slew of privacy notices you don't need to do a thing.

Except, maybe bake some cookies, because I bet you are craving them now.

Why I Will Keep Amazon Prime Despite the Price Increase

May 1, 2018 · 1 Comment

Let's make this clear from the start, I am an Amazon affiliate. I make a few pennies when anyone clicks on a link from this page and then buys something on Amazon (<---links like that one). I was an Amazon Prime member long before I joined the affiliate program and I will renew my annual subscription even with the upcoming increase.

Why? For the same reason I don't go to Disneyland... entertainment value for my money.

Disneyland isn't magical enough to me

I know, I know I am practically unAmerican to not like Disney. I have 3 family members that work at Disneyland. And I have plenty of friends that have annual passes despite the repeated cost increases.

But, I have zero desire to go to the parks.

I do not enjoy crowds or standing in line. Disneyland isn't magical enough to make me want to endure that. I chose to spend my entertainment dollars elsewhere.

If Disney is magical for you, that's great! Enjoy! Life is short, be happy.

Even with the $20 price increase, Amazon Prime is still a great entertainment and shopping value. Click to Tweet

Despite the upcoming 20% increase, Amazon Prime is still worth the money to me.

There are plenty of benefits with Amazon Prime. My favorites are:

Prime Video: We got rid of cable last year and I have been binge watching some great TV series for free:

Downton Abbey
Psych
Dr. Who
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
The Tick

Prime Books: No cable plus a love of reading means Prime Books is a bonanza for me. Lots of great reads at no additional cost.

Prime Shipping: For someone that hates crowds, online shopping is ideal.

Plus it comes in awfully handy in certain situations. Like not having time to get to the store for Easter basket shopping before my son was out for school. Or when I need a somewhat obscure ingredient for a blog post, like the rose water for the Raspberry Rose Sugar Cookies. Free two day shipping to the rescue.

At this time we do not take advantage of the Prime Music or Twitch, but as my 10 year old gets older I am sure these will be used more.

I don't like price increases, but sometimes it's worth it.

I am not thrilled about having to pay an extra 20% for Amazon Prime. Hey, I could buy something fun on Amazon with that extra $20. But for me that $119 is worth it.

Welcome Spring with These Free Floral Graphics and Photos

Apr 2, 2018 · 1 Comment

Spring is here (at least where I live), and I am in the mood to create. While I was gathering things for me I'd thought I'd share some of my finds with you. Here is a collection of free spring floral graphics and photos. All come with a commercial no attribution license, at least at the time I am posting this. Be sure to check on the actual site before downloading.

Do not download from this page. The resolution has been diminished. Click on the photos for the full product.

Some of the links below are affiliate links and I could receive a commission at no cost to you for any purchases you may make in addition to these floral freebies.

Graphics

All You Need is Love

The only word graphic in the bunch this month.

Lucy Dahlias

Not sure what is "lucy" about them, but they are pretty.

Watercolor Flowers and Birds
I could see this for a wedding or some home decor like throw pillows.

Watercolor Flowers
I have used the elements in this bundle a few times including the social media graphics for this post.

Watercolour Flower Graphics
Another beautiful set of watercolor flowers

Watercolor Bouquet Builder
I will be creating something with these for Mother's Day soon.

Watercolor Bohemian Wreaths
I have used this numerous times (I have a sample below).

Postcard Flowers Frame
I just love the Victorian vibe from this one.

Floral Background
This would be fun for Spring or a 60s theme.

Free Watercolor Floral Pattern Set
So many possibilities for these, from fabric, to journals and more.

Celebrate Spring with this collection of free Spring Flowers Graphics and Fonts Click to Tweet

Photos

Crocus
I would be remiss not to have some flowering bulbs on this list.

Honey Bee on a Cherry Blossom
I'm a sucker for hungry bee photos.

Spring Nature Photos
And finally this collection from me. Take, use, enjoy. Though I'd love it if you'd tag me on social media if you make something with them.

Samples of uses:

Free Printable Mother's Day Cards

Get creative with this collection of free Spring Flowers Graphics and Fonts. Click to Tweet

Free (or Cheap) and Easy Photo Backdrops for Craft and Food Bloggers

Mar 29, 2018 · 4 Comments

You do not need to spend a fortune to have photo backdrops that make your creations stand out in your blog photos. Before you spend any money, look around your house for some of these items to make your recipes and craft photos pop.

[If the food makes you hungry you can click on the photos for the recipes 😉 ]

Fabric Backdrops

Check your linen closet before you rush to the fabric store. Tablecloths and sheets work very well. And bonus they will be large enough to drape over a box in the background to give your photos an infinite background like this.

If you do buy some fabric, buy smart. Check out the remnants section at the fabric store or the clearance clothing or linen section. A little piece can go a long way. Here's a chinoiserie remnant I use as a place mat on top of a yellow tablecloth.

This is a scarf I picked up in the dollar section at Target and I love the contrast it provides to otherwise bland looking white foods.

Paper Backdrops

You can use all sorts of paper from poster boards to tissue paper to the brown packing paper used to protect items shipped from a certain large online retailer.

I may have gone a little color crazy with this tissue paper choice, but the theme of the post was Florida, so I thought it fit.

Grilled Shrimp Tacos with Spicy Lime Sauce

This is just a sheet of black bulletin board paper (being a room mom has it's perks).

Don't spend money on photo backdrops for your blog photos. Look around your house for some of these instead. Click to Tweet

Wood Backdrops

Scrap wood can easily be repurposed for backdrops.

Here's an old pallet I cut up and white washed.

And this is some leftover laminate flooring from a kitchen remodel years ago.

Or you can purchase some inexpensive plywood planks or pressed wood and paint or stain them.

Tile Backdrops

I just rummaged through the garage and found boxes of different tiles from previous remodels.

So, I had to snap a quick photo to show you how it would look. Ooooh! I will definitely be using these again.

Vinyl Backdrops

Create a faux marble or stone look with contact paper or vinyl tiles. The big upsell of these for food bloggers is spills are so easy to clean.

I took a big piece of thick corrugated cardboard and stuck white marble contact paper on one side (affiliate link)

and emerald green marble contact paper on the other (affiliate link)

Metal Backdrops

This is one material I do not use often, unless we count metal baking pans.

Ham and Leek Pie on a metal baking sheet — Ham and Leek Pie

Maybe you have metal shelving in your garage for an industrial chic vibe. Or you can pick up metal sheets at the home improvement store for about $5.

Easy and frugal photo backdrop ideas for your craft and recipe blog posts. Click to Tweet

Did I forget anything?

Do you use interesting and frugal backdrops for your blog photos? Did I miss something on my list? Let me know in the comments below.

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新年好 / 新年好 (Xīnnián hǎo)
"New Year Goodness"