We went out of town recently and stayed at our neighbor’s beach house. Our family had a wonderful, technology-free weekend! While lighting a fire to cozy in, I came across this wonderful use for an old claw foot bathtub foot – a holder for matches. It's very clever and makes good use of the space… Continue reading Decorating Ideas: Re-Purposed Claw Foot
Strategic Frugality: Living a Frugal Life by Choice
Frugality usually falls under two categories. People live frugally either out of necessity or because of a choice. Strategic frugality is living frugally by choice. Living life the way you want to live it and having chosen to do so. It is a type frugal living that is thoughtful and decisive. It is a conscious… Continue reading Strategic Frugality: Living a Frugal Life by Choice
Kids and Cooking
Parenting is a big job. Along with everything else in life, we’re supposed to teach our kids how to be responsible and have good life skills. That’s no easy task. One program that we’ve tried and had success with is having our kids cook dinner. Each child gets to cook a dinner once a week,… Continue reading Kids and Cooking
Field Trip Fun in SE Portland
If you missed the field trip on Wednesday to “The Bins” as I like to call them, I’m sorry. We had a good time and the Goodwill Outlet Store in SE Portland wasn’t too busy. The best news? I came home with two new cotton sweaters – one is a practically brand new Ralph Lauren… Continue reading Field Trip Fun in SE Portland
Exercise at Home and Skip the Gym
During the month of January, gym memberships increase like crazy. Everyone has the best intentions at the start of the year with exercising and eating well. Sometimes just getting to the gym can be a barrier to working out. I say, exercise at home and skip the gym. You’ll save money, time, and resources by… Continue reading Exercise at Home and Skip the Gym
Catalog Choice: To Receive or Not To Receive
Receiving catalogs in the mail used to cost us money. Even though I wasn’t actually purchasing anything from the catalogs, just looking at the non-tattered, cord-free, cleaned-up pictures made me think about how our gently used, well loved furnishings were showing a little wear and tear. When looking at catalogs, everything is so shiny and… Continue reading Catalog Choice: To Receive or Not To Receive
Synthetic Grass Installation: DIY Project
Our backyard has been a work in progress over the years. We recently had blue star creeper planted in between the stones in our backyard. During the winter months, the plants would freeze and die. In the summer, the plants would burn up and die. Bottom line? I was going to the nursery and being… Continue reading Synthetic Grass Installation: DIY Project
Kitchen Tip: Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
I’m sharing all of my favorite recipes here but before I can do that, I have to share with you some of my super-secret-ingredients. This is my favorite. Chipotle peppers in adobo sauce. It comes in a can and a little goes a long way. Unless you are just crazy with your spice needs, one… Continue reading Kitchen Tip: Chipotles in Adobo Sauce
Ping Pong Table: DIY Project
Our dining room table gets used a lot and not just for dining. We eat at our dining room table nightly but after the dishes get cleared, let the ping pong games begin! We turned our dining room table into a ping pong table. You can do it, too, by following these easy steps. Ping… Continue reading Ping Pong Table: DIY Project
Green Living: Once-a-Month Garbage Collection
Our family is celebrating 10 years of once-a-month garbage collection. Everyone always wants to know the secret of how a family of four can do this. Well, there is no secret just some simple steps you can take to reduce the amount of trash you generate each month. You and your family should give it… Continue reading Green Living: Once-a-Month Garbage Collection
Go Gingham 