Ready to refresh your planters for fall but tired of the same old mums that barely last through the season? While the selection of fall plants can seem more limited compared to the abundance in spring, here’s the good news: there are still plenty of easy-to-find plants that transition beautifully from summer to fall. These hardy options not only thrive in cooler weather but also look fantastic together—and are still readily available! Whether you’re sprucing up your porch or updating your garden beds, these alternatives will bring vibrant color and texture to your space with minimal effort. In this post,...
Misc Tips and Topics
Streamline Your Display Stand Build: Essential Tips and a Step-by-Step Tutorial
Ever spent hours building something, only to realize it could have been done in half the time? Don’t let this project drain your energy. Benefit from my “trial and error” to building a stunning, sturdy display stand in record time with these tips and a straightforward tutorial that even beginners can master. These stands were initially used to display children’s outfits and to be used as a centerpiece! So, the stand needed to be pretty as well! MATERIALS base I used a candle pedestal as the base for my display stand. I had 2 at home but found 5 more...
Adorable Baby Shower Attendee Gift: The Perfect Candle
When it comes to baby showers, everyone looks forward to the delightful and thoughtful favors they get to take home. One of the most charming attendee gifts you can offer is a beautiful candle. Here are four elements that make this candle an adorable keepsake: 1. Vessel: A Touch of Elegance The vessel of the candle is the first thing that catches the eye. For this baby shower, we chose an iridescent glass jar. The pastel hues give it movement and interest. The glass sparkles in the light, making it a lovely decorative piece even after the candle is used....
Storybook Style Baby Shower: How ChatGPT Inspired the Theme Name, Invitations & Backdrop
Planning a baby shower is always an exciting endeavor, but it can also be quite challenging to come up with a unique and memorable theme. When we (my sisters and I) started brainstorming ideas for Baby Carmela’s (my grand niece) shower, we wanted something charming, yet memorable. That’s when I decided to turn to ChatGPT for some creative inspiration. The Spark of an Idea We had the initial centerpiece idea, but we weren’t sure what to name the theme of the shower. The aim was to create centerpieces using baby girl clothes on display stands. The outfit themes were initially...
Thoughtful Customized Gift Ideas for Moms of Younger Kids this Mother’s Day
As Mother’s Day draws near, it’s the perfect time to celebrate the incredible moms in our lives, especially those with younger children. While traditional gifts like flowers and chocolates are always appreciated, why not consider something a bit more personalized and heartfelt this year? In this blog post, I’m sharing a few customized gift ideas that I have gifted or just thought is a great idea for the mom of younger kids on her special day. 1. Personalized Jewelry:Give mom a gift she can cherish forever with a piece of personalized jewelry. I gifted these Little Words Project bracelets to...
DIY Spray Paint Workspace Must Haves
If you are a DIYer there is a good chance you are painting in your garage. I love a sprayed finish, so I mostly use a paint sprayer to apply paint. Over the years, I have found several tricks that work well when setting up your painting area. paint booth If you are spraying smaller pieces, this DIY spray booth is easy to make and assemble/disassemble as you need it. I used it to paint kitchen cabinet doors and it worked well as I was painting a cabinet door at a time! From time to time, I spray larger furniture...
Homemade Pizza (Really semi-homemade!)
This semi-homemade pizza recipe is super easy and does not disappoint! I have been making this pizza for over 20 years and family & friends love it! It is a great meal for any occasion. We have this every Friday during lent (without the sausage!) (Some affiliate links) Note: This pizza has no sausage. It’s a plain cheese pizza with a bit of mushroom. These slices of mozzarella and parmesan made it extra tasty though!
Puzzle Lover Gift Guide | Cavalini & Co. & eeBoo
I am a puzzle lover! I heard a couple years ago that doing jigsaw puzzles increases your IQ – not that I ever had my IQ tested or plan to! In any case, I find it relaxing and helps with concentration. Above are a few of my favorite puzzles from Cavalini & Co. I have framed several of them. They also make fun wall decor!(Check out my blogpost for “how-to’s.) (I may earn commission through some of these links. No additional charge to you!) LINKS Cavalini National Parks | Cavalini Vintage Dogs | Cavalini Travel | Cavalini Bike | Cavalini...
Black Friday Favorites
Hope you are enjoying your Thanksgiving! I am sharing with you just a few Black Friday Favorites as you sit back after a big dinner! (I earn a small commission on a few of these so thank you for supporting.) Bissell Little Green | Game | Hair Dryer | Heated Jacket The Bissell Little Green Machine has been a lifesaver for spot cleaning and for cleaning upholstery. I use it quite often and LOVE it! The Taco Cat Goat Cheese Pizza game is on my purchase list but it’s been recommended to me and in my shopping cart! The Ryobi...
Gift Guide | Fitness
Whether you are a fitness enthusiast, just try to stay active or need to buy for someone who is, these fitness gear items are some of my favorites. (Links provide a small commission. No additional cost to you!) Shorts with Liner | Hoka Shoes | Socks | Earphones | Walking Running Fanny Pack | Pickleball Paddles | Sunglasses | Running Shorts Pockets No Liner | DIY Bike Computer Stand shorts I don’t know about you, but I like a longer short with pockets. And, depending on the workout, I like a liner in the short as well. It has become...
Best Chocolate Chip Cookies Ever
I bake weekly and this chocolate chip cookie recipe is my favorite. I have made these cookies for years and I don’t remember where I originally got it. At this point, I have committed the recipe to memory. ingredients 1 2/3 C bread flour 1 2/3 C cake flour 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 1/4 C unsalted butter room temperature 1 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 1/4 C light brown sugar 1 C sugar 2 eggs 2 teaspoons vanilla 16 oz chocolate chips (I use Ghirardelli) directions Sift together flours, baking powder/soda and salt. Set...
Panko Chicken Recipe
With the temperatures getting cooler in Chicagoland, it is great to have a tasty alternative to grilling. This Panko Chicken recipe doesn’t disappoint! My sister, Colby, taught me how to make this – but, she still makes it the best! ingredients Chicken breasts halved, length-wise 2 eggs All Purpose Flour Lemon Panko Bread Crumbs Butter instructions