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Faux Roman Shades for the Kitchen
Does anyone else have a difficult time treating windows? And by treating, I mean window treatments, not cleaning or preparing for the elements. Making this decision is always a long process for me for several reasons: 1. They need to look good.2. Spending a lot of money is not an option.3. DIY is a preference.4. Easy is better. Meeting all…
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Baked Oatmeal
Now that everyone has started back to school, the rush is on to get kids out of bed, dressed, and fed before sending them out the door. This recipe is great for something different to eat during the week that doesn’t require a ton of work or time. And, it’s hearty and healthy! When I lived overseas, at various times,…
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Fettucini Alfredo with Sausage, Peppers, Onions and Tomatoes
Fettucini Alfredo is one of my favorite pasta dishes, but I rarely make it or order it at a restaurant because it’s so terribly fattening! However, I feel that if you make it at home, you know exactly how many calories you’re eating, and that makes me feel a bit better about it. Every now and then, indulging is okay–‘everything…
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Message On a Bottle
Whenever I went to the beach as a kid I always looked for bottles as I jumped through the waves. I thought it would be amazing to find a message tucked away in a bottle. It never happened, in case you were wondering. This project is really simple: dress up an old bottle and use it to send messages to…
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My First Canning Experiences
I’ve secretly always wanted to live on a farm with lots of land for vegetable gardens, an orchard, chickens, and fields of wildflowers. Maybe I’m living in the wrong era, but going out everyday with my basket and apron to collect eggs and pick the latest produce from the vine, sounds wonderful! My older sister used to tease me about…
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The Look of Linen for Less
Linen is my absolute favorite textile, both in home decor and fashion. Linen pants are super comfortable and somehow I always feel thinner when I wear them. And, regardless of what fabric store I’m shopping in, I always pick up linen fabrics first, whether I plan on it or not. Although linen is classic and beautiful, it also comes with…
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Brown Sugar Glazed Grilled Salmon
Last night was a monumental occasion for me: I cooked and ate salmon. It’s been about 9 years since I tried my first salmon, and nearly gagged it down. Since that dinner, I’ve refused to eat it but always secretly hoped that I would like it. I’m happy to report that I like it! Surprisingly, so did my toddlers. I…
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All Natural Air Freshener
An easy way to freshen up the scents in your home is to cook a little something on top of the stove. This is what you need: -Plums, or other fruit that is too mushy to eat, but not rotten-Water-Small saucepan-Fresh Mint (if you have it)-Cinnamon Place plums in a small saucepan and cover with water. Throw in a few…
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Easy Drapery Panels
The window treatments for every room in the downstairs of our home are now hanging and I am thrilled! Two adjustments need to be made, but I’m happy to say that it’s coming together. And, now that we have neighbors, I have to add some mini-blinds to the kitchen, so hopefully we’ll be getting those this week. Drapes are my…
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Meal Planning Part 2: Grocery Shopping
This is the second post of a 3-part series in which I will attempt to share some insights on how to plan meals. Planning for meals is a way to be more frugal, efficient and organized about something that takes place every day in your home. When I started thinking about doing a post on meal planning, I realized that…