Create a personal haven by putting together an inviting atmosphere for yourself. Start by asking yourself these 10 questions! Havens are wonderful places. They’re a retreat from the demands of the world. When life pushes in – when you have a rough day at work, when…
Trying to feather your nest on a tight budget? When you’re living on a dime, home decorating frustrations are pretty common. But relax … and try these 6 tricks! Have you ever watched HGTV or flipped through the pages of home magazines only to feel…
It’s easy to be critical or focus on what you don’t have. But by changing your attitude, becoming content with your home is possible. Not everyone lives in the home of their dreams. In fact, I’m willing to bet that most people don’t. (That’s why they’re called…
Growing up, my grandma taught me a lot about creating a haven for others. Here are five of her lessons… Everyone longs for a haven. But when you’ve actually experienced one, it makes you crave one – and want to create one – even more….
You can make your home smell great with these 4 simple tips. When I was fresh out of college and living in my first apartment, I tried so hard to make it smell wonderful. So I bought plug-in air fresheners for every single room and…
Life is too short to not enjoy every day. Start out by surrounding yourself with your favorite things. Growing up in the 1970s, my earliest memories are filled with shades of harvest gold, avocado green, and rusty orange. To my 3-year-old eyes, it all seemed…
When decluttering your home, these 2 simple questions can make your job easier. The thought of decluttering makes me a little twitchy. I absolutely hate the effects of clutter in my life and in my home, but decluttering always seems like such a huge undertaking….
As much as you may want to create a haven, four common obstacles may be in your way. Everyone longs for a haven. And you might even try very hard to create one for yourself or your family. But you may feel like you’re at…
Keep your health in mind when cleaning by wisely choosing to use safe cleaning products. When I first began caring for my own home – at the time, it was a two-bedroom apartment in the lower level of a house – I never gave a…
Break big homemaking jobs into smaller ones with this easy step-by-step guide! Reader question: Can you please help me? I’ll start a big job in my home, then have to stop part way, then have a bigger mess, then I don’t have time to get…
If you’re wondering how to prioritize what to do in your home, you’ll want to pay attention to these simple but helpful suggestions… Have you ever looked around your home and wondered what in the world to do? Or what in the world you should do…
Everyone longs for a haven. But what IS a haven? And how can you create one? Haven. Just the word makes me smile. When I think of a haven, I think of a safe place. Comfort in the midst of a storm. A welcoming harbor….
Choosing essential cleaning tools will help make your cleaning your home easier. These 14 are a great place to start! Cleaning your home takes more than elbow grease and time … it also takes products. Choosing the right products will make your cleaning go easily…
Ever wonder what to do when you know you don’t have time or energy to do it all? Raise your hand if you’re a woman who feels overwhelmed with everything that’s on your plate. Family, housework, cooking, job … all of it. (See my raised…
If you suffer from Homemaking ADD, your attention may be at the root of your homemaking challenges. Most days in my home, my homemaking tendencies look a lot like this: I know I need to stick a load of laundry into the washing machine. I gather…
Wondering how to add a little structure to your days? Try creating a daily routine! For several years as a stay-at-home-mom, I fought daily routines. My life revolved around my babies’ sleep schedules. I tried to fit in what I could on any given day…
Let’s face it. It’s not always easy to fit in family, home and work into everyday life. Finding – or creating – balance in life is a concept that seems like it should be possible. Since we all have 24 hours in each day, we could…
If you want to make a haven in your living room, here are 7 things to include … If you’re set on creating a haven, a great place to start is your living room – mainly because everyone who visits your home will most likely see…
Books about home (especially these 5!) can help a lot as you create a haven. I love Pinterest and all of the great home ideas you can find and curate. But there’s something special about books. Books about home – home design, home management – are…
Maintaining a clean home doesn’t have to be impossible. Try these 5 practical ways to keep your home picked up. A clean house. Ah. As I got out of bed this morning, I actually looked forward to walking out of my bedroom and seeing a…