You’ve heard that old saying, “It is better to give than to receive.” But when it comes to the perfect wine lover’s gift, I believe it’s better to receive! When you have friends and family who love and good wine, the art of elegant gift giving is easy! You know a bottle or two of…
Shopping for Christmas gifts can sometimes be a bit daunting, so it’s nice when you get a little bit of inspiration to help with your gift selection process. This happened to me when I was shopping at Walmart the other day. I’d heard about the Amope Pedi Perfect™ recently and wanted to give it a…
Do you remember the first time you baked a pie? I sure do! I was a nervous wreck. It was back in my high school home economics class. Our teacher was explaining the intricacy of making pie crust and all the mistakes that could be made. I thought for sure I would fail our pie-making test…
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of COUNTRY Financial® for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Someone once pointed out the irony that being a parent is about the only job that requires no training. It’s one of the most important jobs the majority of us will face, yet we don’t spend…
What a weekend! I spent at least 10 hours each on Saturday and Sunday decorating the house and photographing it for my holiday home tour this Wednesday! I have over 70 photos and need to pare down the selection. Since I can’t use all of them, I’ve decided to share some of the Christmas decorating…
I should have been an architect. I love looking at historic homes and buildings, but I also love contemporary structures too. My cousin is an architect in Vermont and he designs green homes. My favorite small town for taking a walking tour of historic homes is my birthplace of Geneva, Illinois. There’s such a great…
PAM Cooking Spray sponsored this blog post. The opinions and text are all mine. Cooking is something I’ve enjoyed doing ever since I took Home Economics in 6th grade. I thought it was so cool that we actually got to spend time at school cooking stuff! That class whet my appetite for being creative in…
This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of The Illinois Lottery for IZEA. All opinions are 100% mine. Are you feeling lucky? I want to let my readers know about the Halloween Millionaire Raffle from the Illinois Lottery, which is a fan favorite! A drawing randomly selects three winners of $1,000,000 each on…
Tiny houses are popping up all over the country as more and more people are downsizing and simplifying their lives. Small houses have a charm all their own, no matter what the style. They’re smartly designed to make the most of every square inch of space. If you’re interested in small house living, you’ll enjoy…
A house is a very personal thing. It’s where we build memories and it’s often a respite from the world. Many of us try to create both comfortable and beautiful surroundings in our home, to help us relax and lift our spirits. We all have our personal preferences when it comes to colors and finishes…
Do you like mason jars? You know … for crafting, canning, arranging flowers in? I’m guessing that if you read my blog regularly, you’re a mason jar lover like me! Today I’m super excited to give away a copy of the Mason Jar Crafts for Kids book on my blog because it’s authored by friend and…
Have I told you the good news yet? My daughter Bridget is expecting her first child in November, and we know it’s a boy! I remember when I found out the first time I was pregnant. Although I was happy, I was scared to death that I wouldn’t be able to afford a baby. I…
This post is part of a social shopper marketing insight campaign with Pollinate Media Group® and EDWARDS®, but all my opinions are my own. #pmedia #EdwardsPies http://my-disclosur.es/OBsstV I don’t know what it is about summer, but I love cooking from scratch this time of year. Perhaps it’s because I get excited about my vegetable garden…
Celebrating 4th of July means one thing … parties! Parties that celebrate our country’s independence. Parties that celebrate family and friends. And when you have a party, you gotta have food and beverages to enhance the celebration. We’re celebrating 4th of July with Gloria Ferrer wine at a friend’s house. This 4th of July is…
One of my favorite summer activities is going for walks with my hubby and taking in the sights of pretty curb appeal created by mindful homeowners. I’ve never understood why some people don’t plant any flowers for the season … I guess I’m a bit of a flower freak and enjoy adding color to the…
Today’s charming home tour features Robin from Happy at Home. When I look at photos of her house, I think she’s achieved exactly what her blog is about … being happy at home. She has a pretty yet practical style, pairing vintage finds with homemade decor. Her garden is gorgeous too, and I can’t wait…
