Get Your Porch Organized and Decorated for Fall

Fall is fun! There is nothing like the crisp air, the bright colors, and the last push for outdoor adventures before the cold winds of winter start bringing everyone in doors. While you can still enjoy the outside, why not get your porch organized and decorated for Fall? Fall is a great excuse for decorating, but who has the motivation when the front porch is filled with clutter and debris? This area sets the first impression whenever anyone visits your home. Start by removing everything from your porch, so you can clean the floors. Shake out those rugs, use a … Continue reading

Light Your Home for Less: 4 Ways to Save

The lighting of your home is so important. The proper lighting schema can make tasks easier to do, create a mood, highlight artwork and the wonderful features of your home, and keep your home warm and inviting on even the darkest days. New strides in technology has made it easier than ever to save money on lighting costs, but to really save, you’ll need to employ a little knowledge, too, or you may actually spend more money in your quest to save money. Here are four ways that you can light your home for less. 1. Off or On? Many … Continue reading

Spend Less, See More

Thank goodness for my neighbor. Each year he decks his halls and the rest of his property with thousands of holiday lights. It’s a dazzling display that my family gets to enjoy viewing without having to travel far or pay the outrageously high electric bill. Massive holiday light displays are being erected around the world right now, and the best part is that you don’t have to break the bank in order to soak up the seasonal scenery. Some of the most popular include: California: Newport Beach is home to one of the most unique holiday light displays. The city’s … Continue reading

Blog Find-Buy Modern Baby

I’d like to start looking for some great baby blogs for you. There are a lot of them out there! But, wouldn’t it be great to have someone else do all the work and find a blog that can help you along with a new baby? Time is precious, right? I think so. The world today is full of Mommy bloggers that are showing off their Mom skills both in how they decorate the nursery, to how they parent. I love them. Of course, being a blogger myself, I’m a little addicted to blogs. I found one the other day … Continue reading

Decorate with Words

Spring is right around the corner, which means wedding season is about to begin. There are a number of wedding shows scheduled in my neck of the woods this weekend. No doubt there will be at least a few scrapbook vendors hawking their wares in an attempt to show brides-to-be how they can showcase their wedding photos in elaborate memory albums. My wedding scrapbook is quite fancy, thanks in large part to my aunt and cousin. They worked tirelessly to craft the entire book. While the photos speak for themselves, one of the most touching parts of the album are … Continue reading

Celebrate a Tie-less Father’s Day

Forget about the traditional tie and golf ball gift set this Father’s Day and give dad something a bit more personalized. My 6-year-old suggested giving Pops an Aluma Wallet until I explained the idea behind customized gifts that can be made from felt and googly eyes rather than crush-resistant material. If you have younger kids who still get excited about crafting homemade presents, then consider the following easy to make Father’s Day gifts: Sports blanket: Help your kids piece together a no-sew fleece blanket for dad that features logos from his favorite sports teams. Pops can use it while he … Continue reading

Graduation Party: Less is More

With unemployment a current epidemic, gas hovering near $4 a gallon, and food prices soaring, it’s no wonder so many families are being forced to scale back on graduation parties. Fortunately, you don’t have to dig yourself deeper into debt in order to celebrate your son or daughter’s big day. There’s a way to have fun with a budget-friendly party, as long as you follow these simple tips: 1. Skip the fine china and opt for disposable plates, bowls and utensils. 2. Consider a potluck and ask friends and family to bring a dish to pass. 3. Double up on … Continue reading

It’s BOGO Time At Payless

The weather is changing from Winter into Spring. Those of you who have stopped wearing bulky sweaters and boots in favor of light, colorful, Spring clothing, may be ready for some new shoes to go along with the new styles. Now is the time to shop at Payless. They are having a Buy One, Get One half off sale on everything! Personally, I know that I will need to buy a brand new pair of shoes fairly soon. I’ve been asked to be a bridesmaid, and my best guess is that the bride will disapprove of the idea of me … Continue reading

Home School Blogger Spotlight: Mama Smiles

Authored by Mary Anne, Mama Smiles, is a blog about parenting, crafts for children, and the daily life of engaging three young children in the world. Mary Anne is a well educated young mom with a PhD in Medicine, a Masters degree in Education, and a BA in Music. She uses these skills in her adventures of her new professions; a stay at home mom to three children. That gives a mama a lot to smile about! Mama Smiles allows you to enter into this lovely world of Mary Anne and her adorable children. The blog is truly focused on … Continue reading

How to Decorate for Less

You’d like a showcase worthy home, but you just can’t or won’t spend thousands of dollars for great pieces to make a room. Here are some tips that you can use to bring down the cost of decorating your home. I’ll give you specific examples for different areas and how you can save on each one. Lighting Lighting can be different things, depending on the room and even the area of a room. Lighting can be practical, such as task lighting, or mood setting. You can use lighting to attract or enhance different elements. But lighting is definitely one of … Continue reading