We’re experiencing a little bit of an upside down empty nest over here. My parents have just moved out of the man cave they’ve called home {aka. “the love shack”} for almost two years. We miss them horribly already and it’s only been two weeks. It’s quite pathetic, really. But because my husband is awesome, and because God knows I… Read More
4 Creative Gifts for Teachers {That Won’t Break the Bank}
Little potted expressions of gratitude, personalized coasters, {semi} homemade soap & the easiest of all…the Pencil Vase. These gifts are all pretty simple, fun & super affordable (assuming you make a lot of soap and give to everyone you know for a few months}. Eat your heart out kinda-sorta-artsy, frugal mommas…this is the way to give gifts! POTTED GRATITUDE This… Read More
Meal Planning {Printables}
I’ve had a few friends comment on the cute weekly meal plan I have framed on top of my fridge and my response is always the same…”yes!! I plan to get those printables on the blog…soonish!”. And, wouldn’cha know it…today is officially “soonish”. It’s only taken me 6 months to deliver. I realized that I hadn’t made them available yet… Read More
Homemade Laundry Softener
I feel morally obligated to tell you about this stuff, and how easy and cheap it is to throw together. I just can’t bear to pay $6 for a small bottle of lavender bounty any longer, no matter how wickedly delicious it smells. Recipes like this have been floating around on Pinterest for some time now, and with a new… Read More
The Basics of Healthy Eating {with Printable Encouragement Cards}
We have about 25 women who have joined forces to encourage each other {via a facebook group} as we work to cut refined sugars out of our diets in 2013. And it’s awesome! The journey is always more fun together. The shared wisdom, chin-lifting & recipe ideas are just beginning to take off and I’m excited to see how we’ll… Read More
Happy {Homemade} Christmas
It occurred to me last month, as Christmas crept sneakily toward us, that my desire to actually attempt some of the smashing homespun gift ideas I’d been pinning with passion, combined with my astounding ability to procrastinate, were a match made in hades. And then I promptly forgot that profound thought and continued on my way. As is common for… Read More
The T-Shirt {Ruffle} Scarf Tutorial
I pinned this fabulous scarf a few months ago on Pinterest, not having a clue just how simple, fun and easy it was to create, then promptly forgot about it. Ever do that? You pin something gorgeous, think “one day…when I’m courageous enough to attempt this elaborate endeavor”, forget about it for a few months, and then…in a moment of… Read More
{An even BETTER} Homemade Laundry Detergent
I stumbled upon a recipe for homemade laundry detergent back in 2010, made it, used it up and didn’t remake it. Not because it wasn’t cheap, and not because making my own laundry detergent didn’t make me feel like I should wear some sort of a cape, but because I missed really good smelling clothes. And the stain-fighting power of… Read More
C3 Cookies {Chocolate Chip Chickpea}
Garbanzo beans. Chick peas. Those hummus thingies. We like to call them “baby bottoms”. Because we’re weird like that. But mostly because they actually look like little baby bottoms. Take a peek, you just might become a word convert. As you may have noticed, we’ve blossomed into a slightly crunchy crew lately. Okay, pretty crunchy, with a splash of enthusiasm… Read More
Project: Declutter, Simplify & Maintain {31 Days}
“Our life is frittered away by detail… Simplify, simplify” ~ Henry Thoreau This mildly neurotic, type-A, control-freakish, list-loving organized gal has a thing for, well…organization. I love it! Cleaning house, especially without little loin-fruit under foot, is wildly therapeutic to me. With the right music, the right tools {gotta love Mrs. Meyer’s cleaners} , a little sunshine and a… Read More
All in a Week’s Whirl
It’s been delicious madness around here lately. Between fun and food and friends and farting children and family {please notice the pause between children and family} and…fesign fork…I haven’t had a moment to sit down and tell you all about it in mind-numbing detail, as I am accustomed to doing. {Clearly there’s no way to get ‘design work’ to start… Read More
Simply Soup {Pumpkin, Split Pea & Lentil}
While we haven’t experienced anything like our usual winter here in Michigan {and I am not complaining…the sunshine makes this gal one happy mama!}, if it’s not flip-flop weather…it’s soup season! Regardless of what the temperature gauge says. Soup is cheap, easy and oh so tasty! So I have three of our favorites thick, creamy soup recipes right here for… Read More