Scissors get dull. Fast. Getting them professionally sharpened can cost a pretty penny, too. Rather than shelling out for a sharpening session or for a brand new pair of shears, I decided to learn exactly how to sharpen scissors on my own. I did a little research, and here’s what I learned: As all of these processes involve … Read more
Shutterstock / IMG Stock Studio Themed gift baskets make amazing, affordable, and memorable gifts. The key is to pick the items carefully and to pay attention to the presentation. Here is a complete list of our very favorite gift basket ideas for everyone on your list, plus money-saving tips and tricks on assembling DIY gift baskets! Who … Read more
Yep, the season is here and I’m ready to deck. those. halls. Each year, I lean more and more towards minimal Christmas decorations and I love simple black and white with splashes of metallics. I’m a huge fan of a banner or pendent. They are easy to hang and roll up small and compact to pack … Read more
Photo: Bruno Bornsztein It’s advent calendar time! As I write this post, the Midwest is being walloped by a snow storm. Nothing inspires holiday decorating like many inches of snow, and to stave off decking all the halls, I created a little diy advent calendar village for our children. Read on for the full tutorial. … Read more
HGTV It can be stressful planning out what your Thanksgiving table is going to look like. Do you want fancy? Do you want simple? Natural? The possibilities are daunting. Make your life a little easier by incorporating items found in nature! Small amount of work. Big impact. Everybody wins! Here are a few tips for … Read more
Photo: Adults & Crafts If you’re like me, you probably have a few artists, DIYers or crafters on your Christmas list this year. You might also be running out of ideas for gifts to give these creative individuals, especially if they’ve been on your nice list for awhile. In an effort to make your gift shopping a little … Read more
Photo: Repo Studio Landscaping can be pricey, but there are ways to lessen the expense if you exert a bit of extra effort and some ingenuity. Here are our favorite ways to landscape on a budget. 1. Choose plants with bright colored blooms for big impact. Flowering plants with big, bright blooms (as shown … Read more
As a gardener and urban farmer you come to appreciate and treasure compost, or as I affectionately call it, “Black Gold”. Composting itself is actually pretty easy and there are several methods and solutions. Whether you own a full-on farm, or live in a tiny apartment, there is no reason you can’t or shouldn’t be composting. … Read more
Garden pests eating my hostas! Perennials are springing up everywhere. And the herbivores are loving it. The hostas pictured above are always the first course. Around here, the biggest culprit of garden dining are deer. Don’t believe me? I took the following picture of our backyard two years ago. Apparently, we are living in the Grand … Read more
Photo: Lidy Dipert Is there a “right” option for curtain lengths? That depends on who you ask, and often just asking the question can leave you more confused than you were before. The long and short of it is (no pun intended): it’s up to you. But we’re here to help as you answer the question, “How long should curtains be?” We’ll be taking a critical look … Read more