Tag Archives: Tips

How to Know When to DIY or Hire a Professional

Posted on February 17, 2015 by Julie

As I write today’s post, a drywall contractor is working on our Jack and Jill bathroom upstairs.

We hired him to texture the walls after I removed all the wallpaper myself. (I blogged about the plans for this bathroom here.)

Although texturing seems like a simple enough task (I seriously considered DIYing it), it was a job I had never done before and I was afraid of messing it up. Yes, it’s costing us more to hire someone but, in my view, it’s money well spent.

I’m not afraid of tackling a lot of DIY projects but if there’s one thing I have learned over the years it’s that sometimes you need to call in the professionals.

Here’s what I consider before spending money on a contractor: (more…)

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POSTED IN: bathroom reno, Tips

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Keeping Your House Clean with Pets {Sponsored Post}

Posted on October 10, 2013 by Julie

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of BISSELL Homecare, Inc.. All opinions are 100% mine.

As you may recall from my recent post about our newest family member, I have four pets. Yes, four. All of whom have hair that sheds to one degree or another.
Just like my human children, I am tackling messes my furry kids make each day.
Here are 5 tips to keep your house looking and smelling clean with pets:

Vacuum floors at least twice per week and make sure you get in to all the corners, using your vacuum’s hose and tools. (Hint: If your children aren’t old enough to help with vacuuming the floors, give them the job of doing the corners – it’s a great way to keep them busy and involved)
Vacuum your fabric furniture at least once a week Vacuum attachments with brushes are especially good for removing pet hair. Remember to get down in to the corners and lift up the cushions while you’re at it!
Scoop the cat litter once a day This is especially true if you have 2 or more cats like I do. (Hint: This is another great job for your kids!)
Keep the cat litter fresh with baking soda Whenever I scoop the litter, I add a small amount of baking soda to absorb the smell. True, some litters already have baking soda in them, but I add a little extra to keep the odor neutralized. I also use a plug-in air freshener in the laundry room where the litter boxes are kept.
Place a mat or small rug in front of the litter box Doing this helps keep the litter scatter at bay. It doesn’t collect it all, but it definitely helps! (I also use an enclosed litter box which helps a lot too!)

To help you keep your home looking it’s best, BISSEL is providing a $20 off coupon plus FREE SHIPPING on the following products when you use the promo code POWERGLIDE:
PowerGlide Pet Vacuum with Lift-Off Technology – 2763
PowerGlide Pet Bagged Rewind Vacuum – 38631
PowerGlide Pet Vacuum – 1044
Valid 9/12/2013 – 11/30/2013

You can go to their website for more cleaning tips and you can also enter to win a BISSEL PowerGlide on their Facebook page.

Sharing at:
Living Well Spending Less

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POSTED IN: cat litter, Cleaning, pets, Tips

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Fall Favorites Friday {10 Tips for Creating an Inviting Thanksgiving Table}

Posted on November 9, 2012 by Julie

I can’t even believe Thanksgiving is a week and a half away! (Well, not quite…) How in the world did that happen?!

The fact is, it’s here, it’s going to happen, and I have to get ready!!

I’m hosting Thanksgiving at my house this year so I’ve got to start thinking about my table (among other things). I’m pretty excited about it because I have a new (to me) dining table that will seat 10 people! Woo hoo!

I want to make it pretty and inviting so I’ve been browsing fall tablscapes and I ‘ve gotten a lot of great ideas. Today, I’m sharing 10 Tips for Creating an Inviting Thanksgiving Table.

Let’s get started!

1. Use nature — Twigs, pumpkins, gourds, wheat…it all looks so beautiful and inviting in a Thanksgiving tablescape.

Source: Dear Lillie

Source: Pinterest

Source: BHG

2. There are no rules — meaning, you don’t have to have placemats, chargers, fancy china or dinnerware to make it beautiful. Sometimes a few simple things you already own combined with some creativity are all that’s needed to make a welcoming display.

Source: Everyday Occasions

3. You don’t have to use typical fall colors — pops of blues, greans,whites and a hint of red make this table sing. I especially love the blue and white bowls — so fresh and lovely! I don’t think I even need to mention these gorgeous flower arrangements. I mean, WOW!

Source: The Lettered Cottage

The picture below is from the Life in Grace blog. She called it her “Bohemian (Rhapsody) Thanksgiving Tablescape.” It’s so alive and full of color — love it!!

Source: Life in Grace

4. Candles make it cozy — whether it’s a simple votive candle or several tall candlesticks, candles set a warm, cozy mood that makes everyone feel good.

Source: BHG

Source: Good Housekeeping

5. You can never go wrong with silver — Look how beautiful this silver looks with the gorgeous dishes. Now look a little more closeley…it doesn’t match! Still looks great, doesn’t it?!

Source: Vignette Design

Pottery Barn’s use of mercury glass pumpkins, silver chargers, silver napkin rings, silverware and silver candlesticks make this table pop.

Source: Pottery Barn

Keep in mind you don’t have to buy everything from Pottery Barn or other expensive places. Estate sales, garage sales, clearance bins, Goodwill — they’re all great sources for a lot of these perfectly good, shiny items. Don’t forget, a can of silver spray paint can go a long way to add a little sparkle to your table!

6. Use stuff you find outside for free — This is always a favorite tip for me. The possibilities are really endless! Twigs, horse apples, magnolia leaves, evergreen branches, apples, pears, pomegranites, acorns, nuts — you name it! Wherever you live there is something that can be used to decorate your fall table for FREE!

Source: (2 pictures above) BHG

7. When in doubt, use white or cream as your main color. I’ve seen a lot of beautiful tablescapes and some of the most beautiful use white as their main base layer of color.

Source: BHG

Source: Country Living

8. There really is no substitute for fresh flowers. If you can afford to splurge on some fresh flowers, it’s totally worth it. One simple display makes a huge impact.

Source: Vignette Design

9. Cloth napkins class up the joint. Sure, it creates additional laundry but they look so nice – don’t you think?

Source: (all three photos above) Everyday Occasions

I love how she showed the same place settings with three different napkins and a different embellishment.

(Cloth napkins can be totally home-made, too. Can’t sew? Cut inexpensive fabric and fray your edges on purpose!)

10. Placecards, menus and food labels give the table and side-board that extra special touch.

I have never done this before but I love the idea. It really makes the table special, I think.

Source (2 pictures above): Dear Lillie

Source (2 pictures above): Martha Stewart

The cute pilgrim card sets above are available in Dear Lillie’s online shop.

There’s nothing like a beautiful, well set table. I hope these little tips gave you some inspiration.

Also, I’d love to see your holiday tables. If you have a blog, please share your links in the comments. If you don’t have a blog, please share a picture on my Facebook page. I’d love to hear from you!