Do you ever find yourself not purchasing something for your home because you second-guess yourself or come up with various objections? You are NOT alone!! Disclosure: This post contains affiliate and sponsored links. Scrolling through Instagram and Pinterest, it’s easy to feel like everyone else has it together, but really, they don’t. Most people have the same insecurities about home decor that you do. Why do you think that there are so many home and garden shows on TV and the checkout stands are filled with decorating magazines? Because nearly everyone, even the pros, is … [Read more...]
Inspiration to set a pretty but simple moss green St. Patrick's Day table and thoughts on why I enjoy celebrating this Irish holiday. Do you love to rearrange your furniture with the seasons or on a whim? I have many friends who do that, but that's not my style. I work hard to find a permanent furniture placement and instead of changing up my room arrangements I change up my decor with the seasons. If you've been hanging around here for any time, I'm sure you've noticed my love for seasonal home decor... especially on the … [Read more...]
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Martin Luther King, Jr. Download an 8x10 of this image here. Today we honor a man who made a difference. A man of influence and leadership and passion. A man most notable for being a change agent. A thinking man. A man who counted the cost and was willing to pay the price for equality between the races. Martin Luther King, Jr., a man who loved God, who sought to live a Christlike life, and follow God's will and calling on his life, no matter what. And it's for … [Read more...]
In case there was ever any doubt, I LOVE fresh evergreens at Christmas. Did you purchase an evergreen wreath or two for your home and now, the week of Christmas it's crunchy? It happens. I wonder how far in advance commercial wreaths are made. Besides that, if you hang your wreath in a place where it receives the warm air currents and do not spray it regularly, it WILL dry out. One of my friends always buys a wreath on Black Friday to use on her coffee table. It looks amazing, but come Christmas it's pretty dry. If that's you... you can make a fresh evergreen wreath … [Read more...]
It's not too early to start making your own natural Christmas tree ornaments. May these fabulous ideas inspire you to get your craft on. My rustic nature-inspired Christmas decorations are my most popular posts. The best part of using the fruits of Mother Nature in your Christmas decor other than the beauty is that it is usually inexpensive. Take some time now to create without the pressure of the season and enjoy the process. We all have good intentions, I don't want you to get caught on Thanksgiving weekend wishing you'd had a bevy of handmade natural … [Read more...]
Welcome to Part 2 in our three-part journey of how to create a home office that's budget-friendly, serves you well, and is uniquely YOU! (You can revisit Part 1 here.) You don't want to waste time and energy getting your space just right. Let my experience save you from the pitfall of a potentially expensive mistake. Thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this post. The two MOST important things your home office needs… Let's start with the NUMBER ONE THING you need for your workspace. Ahhh. You FINALLY get to focus on your “new” home … [Read more...]
Have you been thinking about turning that junk room or guest room into a home office? Though you may have been forced into the whole “work from home” thing along with many recently, I had been working at home on my little online business for more than eight years. With a laptop computer, we can work almost anywhere. The couch, the bed, the kitchen table, a little corner somewhere in the house, and in the past maybe the coffee shop, would serve as mini offices. Where do you set up and go “to work” when you're at home? After moving to this little apartment, my couch was my office for … [Read more...]
Are your summer containers still looking good, or are they starting to show their age? As long as it's still warm(ish) you want to keep enjoying what you have by making a few little updates so your container plantings on your patio or your entry keep looking GORGEOUS! Here are a few tips to help you fresh what you have beautifully and easily. I have a thing for mums. Garden chrysanthemums to be exact. These perennials which we usually treat as annuals are a fabulous and inexpensive way to paint the stunning colors of fall across my apartment's balcony … [Read more...]
Wouldn't you love it if you could easily invite friends or family over to your home for an impromptu celebration and pull it off easily? You totally can! First of all... it's a mindset. And like the choo-choo train... if you think you can... YOU CAN! Honestly... this isn't rocket science. It's more about the want-to than ANYTHING else. If you want to freely open your home for celebrating around the table you have to decide that you can do it and then prepare. Mindset and preparation will make you a hospitality rock star. … [Read more...]
Happy Independence Day to all my fellow Americans! To celebrate, I dressed up a small sideboard in my dining room. You might have seen glimpses of it in the background of the photos where I shared how to set a star-studded 4th of July table. It's funny how I didn't think I had much that was red, white, and blue with which to decorate. Surprisingly I had plenty. The festive red, white, and blue banner was given to me by my blogging pal, Mary Beth from The How to Home. It sets the perfect backdrop to the vignette. If you wonder … [Read more...]
Every home needs to have a connection with the outdoors through the seasons... even if all you have is a small apartment with a tiny patio or balcony. Is your home summer ready? As I prepare my home for summer, one of the first things I love to do is to make my little apartment balcony both an oasis and an extension of my indoor space. No matter how large or small your spaces are, making them ready for summer enjoyment is worth the doing and I'm here to help. Thank you to Wayfair for sponsoring this post. I loved choosing all these lovely items that make my small outdoor space so … [Read more...]
Whenever we're short on time or having friends for the weekend... and I need an absolutely delicious but quick to prepare dinner, I always turn to my amazing and easy beef taco meat recipe. It's always a favorite and I love how those who try it for the first time are surprised and delighted by the unexpected ingredient. The main ingredient in standard taco fare is usually ground beef. I make a delicious southwest chicken meal, too. But for the beef lovers, this is a standout with a myriad of wonderful flavors. Since tomorrow is Cinco de … [Read more...]
Simple easy tips for transitioning your home from winter-weary to spring-fresh. The trees are leafless and there's still snow on the ground. Yet soon, there will be wildflowers along our paths and a canopy of green overhead. While Mother Nature takes her sweet time transitioning her wardrobe, I'm going to jump ahead and pretend that spring has arrived and transition my inside spaces, making them fresh and happy and welcoming AND walk through the process with you. This post is sponsored by Wayfair. All thoughts and creative ideas are my own. What's the first color … [Read more...]
EASY and almost FREE... Kitchen Cabinet Organizer Ideas It has been said that necessity is the mother of invention. Out of desperation, I created some cute kitchen cabinet organizers for almost free using common items from around the house. Chaos may seem like a strong word to describe my kitchen cabinets. You know the feeling. You're cooking dinner and need one more herb or spice and before you know it, you've pulled out half of the little bottles looking for the RIGHT one! The counter is covered in seasoning containers while you hurry … [Read more...]
The EASY way to make an ice skating centerpiece for your impromptu winter party. Growing up in Michigan, I started ice skating when I was a little girl. There wasn't anything better than the freedom of skating as fast as I could at our local ice arena. And then my dad signed me up for figure skating lessons. JOY! That meant that I could be on the ice nearly every single day! As a mitten state girl, I enjoy winter sports, but between the weather and my schedule and life, I'm not doing them so much anymore. I still LOVE figure … [Read more...]
If you listen to today's news or watch images of violence and hate flash across your screen it's easy to become discouraged. Maybe that's why this quote from the 1600's by English Puritan and clergyman, Thomas Manton, struck me. It's incredibly relevant for the 21st century... more than 400 years after it was first penned.What an excellent ground of hope and confidence we have when we reflect upon these three things in prayer ~ the Father's love, the Son's merit, and the Spirit's power. --Thomas Manton Click HERE to DOWNLOAD this free 8x10 Thomas Manton QUOTE Printable for personal use. Slip it … [Read more...]
You know that phrase, "He/She is a pain in the neck." It's amazing how debilitating a neck pain can be. This week my neck was so tired that I felt like it could hardly hold up my head. It sounded like I had gravel in my neck when I turned it and it was painful, too. So I called the chiropractic office to see if I could get an appointment. Fortunately, I could get in that same day. That afternoon, the doctor massaged my neck before manipulating it. After he finished the adjustment, he suggested that I think about those muscles in my neck that he just worked on and … [Read more...]
