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Fall and Holiday Decorating with Nature

Have you ever considered using a cut log as a decorative element? This is just one of the many ideas I have for fall and holiday decorating with nature. Fall is a wonderful time for gathering the bounty around you and using it to decorate. And for the holidays, there is often nothing quite as homey and bringing a bit of the outdoors in. It gives a sense of that old fashioned Christmas we all dream about. I talked a little bit about using nature in yesterday’s post about centerpieces and decorative items, but let’s expand to cover little touches … Continue reading →

Fall and Holiday Centerpiece and Decorating Ideas

Over the summer, Better Homes and Gardens published an idea for a nautical centerpiece that used an old lantern, some sea glass and a lemon. While it wasn’t exactly my style, I though the idea could really be adapted to fall and holiday decorating, especially with a few changes. The concept is very flexible, and you can adapt it to suit your own particular style. For example, why not substitute the nautical lamp for a hurricane lamp? This may give you a more homey, New England or country feel to the decor. Actually, any type of container that has some … Continue reading →

Simple Solutions for a Nondescript Room

You can give your room a bit of personality without being bold or brash or a design star. Just a little fabric switch or moving a new piece into a room can change the attitude of the room and give it a new look without the need for a major makeover. Here are some simple solutions that will help you make your nondescript room more inviting. I am familiar with the nondescript room, since both my husband and I tend toward neutrals when it comes to decorating. Too many neutrals can make a room boring. We also suffer from the … Continue reading →

Personalizing Your Outdoor Living Space 2

Do you have an outdoor porch or patio space that you love to enjoy in the spring, summer and fall? What does it look like? This outdoor space often functions as another room of your home, but is it rather plain and generic? Why not personalize it with your own sense of style and make it a welcoming and comfortable space? Here are some MORE ideas. Personalized pillows are a fun way to dress up a porch or patio. A cute idea is to display your house numbers on the pillows. I like this idea for staging a home to … Continue reading →

Personalizing Your Outdoor Living Space

Do you have an outdoor porch or patio space that you love to enjoy in the spring, summer and fall? What does it look like? This outdoor space often functions as another room of your home, but is it rather plain and generic? Why not personalize it with your own sense of style and make it a welcoming and comfortable space? Here are some ideas. One of the great assets of our current home, is the large screened porch in the back. On that porch, we can enjoy fragrant spring breezes, cool off in the summer and enjoy fall’s bounty … Continue reading →

Planning Your Frugal Summer Travel

I know that we just reached spring, but summer won’t be far behind. And now is a perfect time to start planning your summer vacation. With the economy the way it is, many people will be choosing to stay home this year. That is great for you, because being frugal, you’ll still be able to “afford” a nice summer vacation, and everything will be less crowded. Here are some tips to help you plan your frugal summer travel. Try your hand at home sharing. You basically trade homes with another family. Each of you gets free lodging in a new … Continue reading →

Home Week in Review: March 24 – 30

Here are this week’s articles, just a click away: Spring Cleaning: Postponed Considering the intense weather we’ve been having, the weather is playing a big role in my decision to postpone spring cleaning… Our yard and washed out driveway are going to need attention before I can begin washing walls and tackling other spring cleaning tasks, after recent flooding. Read on for Spring Cleaning tips: Don’t worry, I’ll be following my own advice at some point, just at a later date. I’m postponing spring cleaning, not canceling it, although the thought has admittedly crossed my mind. Basic Emergency Supply Kit … Continue reading →

No-Cost Tricks to Freshen Your Home

Now that spring is here, wouldn’t it be great to freshen up your home? Unfortunately, changes in decor and even paint can cost money, something that most of us are trying to save these days. Fortunately, I have a few tricks up my sleeves for freshening our comes without paying a dime. Try these tricks for a new look. Rotate your artwork Just changing the art can make a big difference. Sometimes we get so used to art that is in our homes that we just don’t even notice it anymore. Sometimes, we just pile on the art, whether it … Continue reading →

Secret Sources of Free and Low Cost Paint

While painting is a relatively inexpensive way to improve your home, the price of paint and supplies can really add up. However, there are a couple of frugal tricks to getting free and low cost paint. Ask Friends and Neighbors Chances are, there are plenty of garages all over your neighborhood where paint is hiding. Primer, interior paint and exterior paint, it is all there. Most people are only too happy to pass it on to someone who will use it. People tend to overbuy paint because they are afraid they will run out. They don’t realize that with computer … Continue reading →