Let's face it: Times are tight and budgets are shrinking. But there are ways to stretch, and even (gasp!) have fun doing it! This blog is about finding ways to get more from every household dollar, and enjoy every precious minute.
With summer produce at its peak, it’s wise to practice storage
techniques that will help prolong the fresh taste of this season’s
fruits, vegetables and herbs. From berries to greens, here are a few
tips that will help preserve your produce life, while preventing food
waste...
Almost everyone loves a tasty, colorful beverage, especially when
there’s berries involved! This recipe for an Iced Berry Refresher is a
cool, afternoon summer treat. Whether served with dinner or on its own,
it’s sure to bring some smiles to your children’s face...
Perfect for summer holidays, this recipe for Black Bean Salsa is a quick
and easy fix sure to please your family and friends. Serve this salsa
as a healthy appetizer, or as garnish alongside grilled chicken, pork,
shrimp or salmon...
Summer has finally arrived which means picnics, outdoor dinners and
lakeside lunches. My three kids and I are so excited for summer
activities, relaxation and light, refreshing food. This recipe for Dill
Potato Salad is one of my children’s favorites...
There are many traditions in the South, from serving Spiced Sugary
Pecans during the holidays to displaying wind chimes on front porches in
the summer. I recently decided to join in on the southern wind chime
tradition by creating my own using bamboo and seashells that I found at a
local beach....
S’mores are a classic summertime cooking activity and the perfect late
night snack, especially if you’re camping. It is said the name “s’mores”
was actually derived from “some” and “more" because of the constant
requests for more, which I can completely understand...
We worked to spruce up our home and clear it of clutter during the
spring season and now it’s time to organize and prepare our homes for
the fun summer months ahead! Follow my simple tips below for an
organized and relaxing summer season...
Occasionally, when inexpensive items wear out, we simply replace them.
When possible it’s better to revamp or upgrade those items ourselves,
turning them into something nicer than what can be purchased....
Growing up, my family never went camping. The thought of sleeping so
close to nature scared me. I'm just not what you'd call, “an outdoor
kind-of-girl.” My husband never went camping as a child either, so we
were a little surprised when our daughter started talking about camping...
Summertime can get expensive with camps and activities, eating out and
vacations. As a mom of three children, I am always looking for ways to
save money, especially around this time of year. As my kids grow older,
these budget-friendly, summer activities have stayed on the top of our
list throughout the years...
...Although the closet had a full-sized window, which brought in plenty of
light, the window had a paper shade taped to its frame providing little
privacy. I wanted to do something different to set my space apart from
the rest of the townhouses on our block...
During the summer months when craft fairs, street festivals and outdoor
markets take place, consider the importance of purchasing handmade items
to help support the local artist and handmade community. You never
know the treats you might find for yourself or loved ones...
Last summer my wife tasked me with turning our pantry door into a
chalkboard door. She insisted it would help her to keep track of our
family’s grocery needs and to-do lists. Aiming to save money on this project, I remembered our local Habitat for Humanity had a home goods store that is outfitted with...
Muffins are a perfect summertime treat. Not only does this recipe for
blueberry muffins make a great snack or breakfast item, it can also be a
fun activity to make with your kids on a rainy day. This recipe uses
non-fat, Greek yogurt, which helps add moisture and gives them a fluffy texture and adds some protein to each bite...
From the time my oldest daughter was a toddler, we always encouraged her
to pick up her toys. Luckily, this everyday request taught her to enjoy
cleaning. Although having her help usually means that tasks can take
twice as long, we have always allowed her to...
Creating to-do lists has been a habit of mine since I was a little girl.
My mother always said I would make a list for anything and everything.
To this day, my passion for lists continues to help me stay organized
and keep me on track when days get hectic...