DIY

Here is a simple, all-natural way to dye your eggs this Easter! And it can be done with things you already have around the house. Start a new, beautiful tradition as you follow these steps: 1. Start with a dozen of your sister-in-law's fabulous "home-grown" eggs. (Well, at least my sister-in-law's. I'm lucky.) Aren't they pretty? If you don't have a family member who raises chickens, you can most certainly get a dozen eggs at the grocery store. 2. Take out a pile of onion peels from standard, yellow onions. Just save the skins of the onions you cook with (like I do) or go to a grocery store and ask if you can clean out their onion bins. They'll be...

Scarves.  Goodness gracious I LOVE me some scarves! I remember wearing scarves about 8 years ago teaching junior high students who relentlessly made fun of these funny looking things around my neck.  And I remember telling those shiny little faces, "You don't know warmth until you know a good scarf!" Scarves are still used for warmth, but now are a huge fashion piece!  My scarf hoarding reached its peak last Christmas.  It was a bundle of colors and fabrics and fringe all rolled into a big MESS!!  I set out looking for a way to help me organize these scarves so that I could see them displayed in all their glory.  If you are like me and are tired of rummaging...

Ok mammas, we are talking baby food!  With this post, I want to take you through the ins and outs of my baby food adventures.  The time spent, lessons learned, and the reward at the end of the day. First, a little back story....When I was pregnant with Kade, there were two things I had high hopes for: breastfeeding and making my own baby food.  I wanted to experience the feeling of being able to give my newborn bundle of joy his nutrition, help save a few dollars in our seemingly maxed out budget, and prove to myself that I could actually do it. A month into Kade's little life, lots of trips to the lactation consultant, and a stay in the hospital...

A few years ago, I decided to jump on the Elf on the Shelf  (in our house Jake) bandwagon, and I have never looked back. The original concept of the Elf watching the kids and reporting to Santa was definitely a draw, but this is a common misconception because the scout elf in the book also encourages good deeds. Regardless of telling good or bad deeds, I was sold on being an Elf family once I saw my kids' reactions to their very own Elf.  I admit that there have been times when I cursed the whole thing as I was walking to bed and remembered that Jake forgot to move that day, but overall I have been pleased with my decision to be pro-Elf. I'll...

For the past few years, our church has encouraged us to reach more into our imagination and less into our pocketbooks and give Christmas gifts that speak thoughtfulness and intention rather than throwing items into a cart last minute, wrapping them, and calling it a day. The notion of taking ourselves out of the spending machine that is what Christmas has become took a couple years for us to adjust, but I'm thankful to have the perspective shift. Now I really enjoy trying to think of unique and meaningful gifts to give people we love. If this sounds like something you would like to give a try, here are a few ideas for some specific people in your life. Spouse--A framed...