Thinking of becoming a first time chicken owner? I’ve been raising chickens for over 20 years. I’ve put together this comprehensive guide to help you prepare and care for your new backyard chickens! All my best tips for raising chickens + Answers to the most common questions beginners usually ask. From what you need to know before buying egg laying chickens… to how many chickens you need for eggs, how many chickens to a coop, and how to keep your chickens healthy. Start here for beginner tips!
Decorating Inside & Out
Here, homeowners share their own clever ideas for decorating a home -- inside & outside. See photos & examples, helpful tips, and things we've learned firsthand before you try to do the same thing yourself. You'll benefit from our mistakes and get inspired to try new things! Use these inexpensive DIY home decor ideas to jazz up your indoor & outdoor living spaces.
Make Your Bed Quickly Like Hotels Do – Here’s How To Do Triple Sheeting And Eliminate The Need For A Duvet Cover!
Love sleeping with a down comforter, but hate washing and changing the duvet cover? (Me too.) I recently found a quick way to make your bed AND have fresh bedding as often as you like! Try these hotel bed making secrets for a faster, more luxurious way to make the bed without the need for a duvet cover. Turns out the best way to make a bed is to do triple sheeting! Here’s how…
Outlet Cover Night Lights: These Space-Saving LED Night Light Outlets Replace Your Regular Outlet Covers (Leaving Your Outlet Plugs Free For Other Things!)
I found the most modern night lights ever! You can replace a regular wall outlet cover with an LED night light outlet cover… using just a screwdriver. I did! No more plug-in night lights — so all my outlets are still free for other things! Here are 3 things to know before you get an outlet cover night light.
Ring Video Doorbell Review: Our Ring WiFi Doorbell Turned Out To Be A Simple And Affordable Home Security System!
We received the most wonderful housewarming gift for our new home: the Ring Video Doorbell. See what I like best about the Ring WiFi Doorbell in my Ring Video Doorbell review…
See When It’s Safe To Start Planting Flowers For Spring, Based On Where You Live (My Spring Flowers Are In Full Bloom… Despite Last Night’s Frost!)
My husband and I take our flower planting tradition quite seriously each year. On the first day of Spring, we spend a fortune on colorful flowers and pray for weeks of warm (no-frost) weather! Here’s how to find the best day to plant Spring flowers where you live — so you’re guaranteed that frost won’t damage your plants.
Need A Makeshift Doorstop? Simple DIY Door Stops You Can Make Yourself!
Doorstops are easy to make! See 10 of my own makeshift door stoppers using everyday household items, 7 DIY door stop tutorials from other clever people, and 16 of the most unique door stops on Amazon.
Luxury Vinyl Flooring Pros And Cons: See How Vinyl Tile & Vinyl Planks Compare To Natural Stone & Wood Floors [My Experience As A Flooring Installer]
Without question, the one part of your house that gets beat up every single day is your floor! Shoes, boots, heels, and cleats are just a few of the menaces that torture your flooring. Moving chairs and other furniture also add their fair share of damage. When you consider these factors, combined with damage from moisture getting on the floors from spills, stains, rain, mud, and snow days… eventually you’re going to be faced with replacing your old flooring. But what type of flooring should you put down? As a flooring installer, I have some thoughts about luxury vinyl flooring including — 1) How durable, waterproof, and scratch-proof vinyl tile and vinyl plank flooring is, 2) How to install luxury vinyl as a DIY project, 3) How to clean vinyl plank flooring, and 4) How vinyl tile & plank flooring compare to natural stone and wood flooring.
Hampton Inn Hotel Pillows… Worth Every Down-Filled Moment!
We bought 2 sets of down pillows from Hilton Hotels — because we LOVE the pillows every time we stay at a Hampton Inn hotel. But here’s a TIP… don’t buy them from Hampton Inn online. Buy them from Pacific Coast instead. They’re cheaper! Here’s what you need to know…
Tree Planting 101: How To Plant A Tree Step By Step + Expert Tips For Planting Trees And Caring For A Newly Planted Tree Yourself
Planting a new tree in your yard? You can save money by doing the tree planting yourself… it’s easy! (I know because I just planted a new elm tree in my backyard myself.) See how to plant a tree step by step — in just 4 steps!
The Ultimate Holiday Gift Guide For Homebodies: 30 Items They Probably Won’t Buy For Themselves And You’ll Definitely Want To Keep For Yourself!
As someone who works from home and spends a lot of time in my house — I LOVE receiving clever (and useful) home gifts. If you know someone who recently moved into a new house or someone who appreciates owning one-of-a-kind items… then you’ve come to the right place to find something special for them this year! I own most of these items myself and I know that your friends and family members are going to enjoy them too!
Once You Try Candleberry Candles, You’ll Never Burn Any Other Candle!
It wasn’t until I tried a Candleberry candle that I discovered just how ‘average’ most scented candles are! No joke. Candleberry is the only company I’ve found that makes scented candles that truly last… AND the scent fills the entire house!
Do’s & Don’ts When Making A Rain Barrel For Rainwater Collection
Tired of paying high water bills? Have you heard of the ways you can use a rain catcher to lower those bills? You probably also didn’t know that 623 gallons of water can be harvested from 1 inch of rain on a 1,000-square-foot roof and as far as rain barrels are concerned, a typical 1/2-inch rainfall will fill a 50- to 55-gallon barrel. I’m sharing everything I know about making rainwater collection an efficient way to lower your bills and help the environment.
DIY Outdoor Curtain Rods For Porch Curtains: Here’s How To Make PVC Pipe Curtain Rods For $15
See how I made some really inexpensive PVC pipe curtain rods to hold long, sheer porch curtains for around $15. After getting all the supplies at Lowe’s, I was able to measure, cut, and install the outdoor curtain rods and hang the curtain panels on my front porch in about 1 hour myself. They are holding up perfectly (even after storms and heavy gusts of wind). And they look great!
My Sorbus Hanging Daybed Swing Review: A Kid-Friendly Family-Style Hammock Swing Chair For Indoor/Outdoor Use
See how easy it is for one person to assemble and hang the Sorbus hammock swing chair. Once you try a hanging daybed swing, you’ll want one for inside too! Here’s my review, photos, video, and tips for hanging and using this tree hammock swing.
Plastic Ultrasonic Diffuser vs. Glass Nebulizing Diffuser For Aromatherapy: I’ve Used Both And Prefer A Nebulizing Diffuser For My Essential Oils. Here’s Why…
I’ve used essential oil diffusers for years. I used to use the plastic kind (aka ultrasonic diffusers), but I’ve learned that a nebulizing diffuser is SO much better – because the scent fills the room quickly, you get the benefits of aromatherapy right away, and it looks beautiful! Here’s a point-by-point comparison, and my experience using glass nebulizing diffusers vs. plastic ultrasonic diffusers.
DIY Tree Swing Tutorial: See How I Made This Trampoline Swing (aka Saucer Swing)
My toddler son and I love to spend time outside. I decided to make a saucer swing from a small trampoline. Here’s my DIY tree swing tutorial… with lots of photos! (Bonus: This nest swing is portable — you can take it down and set it up on any tree… anywhere!)
DIY Lamp Tutorial: How To Make Your Own Glow Lamp From Old 45 Vinyl Records (A Color-Changing Wireless Bluetooth Speaker Lamp!)
Here’s a really cool way to repurpose old 45 vinyl records into a DIY lamp that changes colors and plays music. Yep, this DIY glow lamp is actually a color-changing bluetooth speaker lamp! See how I did it…
DIY Repurposed Drum Set: See How I Turned A 4-Piece Drum Set Into A Cool Piece Of Home Decor With LED Lights!
Got any used drum sets sitting around? See how I turned a 4-piece drum set into a fun light fixture! (Much better than standard LED drum lights.) My repurposed drum set tutorial…
Softub Hot Tub Pros & Cons: My Family’s Review Of The Softub 220 Legend Outdoor Hot Tub
Overall, I think the Softub is a fun outdoor hot tub that is therapeutic, convenient, economical, and best of all… portable! But there are a few things we don’t like about it. See our review, plus photos of our Softub hot tub in use.
Cuddledown Bed Pillows Review: Our Old Down Pillows Lasted 10 Years… It Was Time For New Down Pillows From Cuddledown
Time for a new pillow? Have you tried down bed pillows yet? Here’s why I’ll never sleep on anything but a down pillow. And see why I like Cuddledown pillows the best…
DIY Porch Makeover: See How I Turned Our Small Front Porch Into A Cozy Outdoor Living Space With Breezy Porch Curtains!
We have a small front porch, but it gets a good breeze and provides a nice place for the baby and dogs to play outside. Outdoor living spaces are important to me — so our front porch is the first place I decided to tackle with a makeover! See how I transformed our small boring porch into a cabana-like space — complete with porch curtains, a walk-through baby gate, wireless speaker, area rug, and much more.
My Review Of The Sumo Bean Bag Chair: See Why I Love This Oversized Bean Bag Chair …And My Dog Does Too!
Honestly, I wasn’t sure this Sumo bean bag chair would meet my needs as well as it has — but I’ve fallen in love with it! Here’s everything you need to know about this oversized bean bag chair before you buy one for yourself or as a gift. See the pros & cons and who I think will enjoy it the most.
Get Your Money’s Worth With Longer Lasting Candles… Follow These 10 Little-Known Tips For Truly Long Burning Candles!
I’m a candle fanatic! In my years of buying candles and making my own, I’ve discovered some secrets for achieving long lasting candles — simple things you can do to make your candles burn longer and cleaner. Plus, see which type of candle wax burns the longest: paraffin wax candles, soy candles, or beeswax candles.
Cheap Home Decor: 20 Clever Ways To Use Carpet Tiles On Your Floors, Walls, And More!
Carpet tiles can be used on your floors, walls, even outdoors on the patio or deck! Unique ways to use carpet squares + tips and tricks to save time & money
White Wall Decor: 7 Temporary Decorating Solutions For Boring White Walls (Great For Renters!)
Got boring white walls? Renters who can’t paint the walls and homeowners who want temporary decorating options will appreciate these white wall decor ideas.
Metal Wall Art Ideas For Every Room In Your House
I like decorating with metal wall art. Metal is so rustic… and bold… and adds another dimension to home decorating. It’s not flat and 2-dimensional like most other aspects of art and home decor. Metal is 3-dimensional and adds a solid, timeless feel to the space. Here are some of my favorite metal wall art pieces.
Get 10 Trees For $10 And FREE Shipping For Arbor Day… Or Any Day!
Did you know that every state celebrates Arbor Day on a different day each year? In honor of Spring – and Arbor Day – here’s how you can get 10 trees for $10 — shipped for free to your door! You even get to pick the exact trees you want, based on the trees that will thrive in your area.
Best Picture Hanging Tips: How To Hang Pictures & Artwork On The Wall Like A Pro
If you’re like me, then making sure that all pictures hang straight on the wall is a huge deal. I hate it when I hang pictures only to spend forever adjusting and re-adjusting them in an attempt to get them all to hang just right. Here are all the best picture hanging tips to get things right the very first time you hang pictures or artwork on your walls.
Stylish Home Wallpaper Tips: Modern Wallpaper Designs + How To Hang Wallpaper Yourself
Here are the best modern home wallpapering tips for the do-it-yourself who has a sense of style!
Top 14 Yard Sale Shopping Tips To Score The Best Garage Sale Deals
Here’s everything you need to know in order to make out like a bandit and find the best bargains at yard sales!
Flower & Plant Zone Hardiness Maps Updated
Do you know which plant zone you live in? Did you know they recently changed the plant zone hardiness maps? So you may not be in the same plant zone you thought you were in!
Top 5 Reasons To Buy Soy Candles Instead Of Regular Paraffin Candles
I only burn soy candles exclusively now. Here are some of the reasons why people prefer soy candles over regular candles which are made of paraffin. Soy wax candles are so much healthier and cleaner, to say the least.
Not Using Your Inground Swimming Pool Anymore? A Pool Deckover Saves Money & Gives You Back Usable Space
If you’re not using your inground swimming as much as you once did, a pool Deckover puts an end to costly pool maintenance and gives you lots more usable living space in your backyard. Here are examples, costs, as well as pros & cons.
The Many Downsides Of Planting Bradford Pear Trees + Pruning Tips
Originating in China, the Bradford Pear — a variation of the Callery Pear tree — has lost favor with many gardeners. Check out these many reasons to reconsider planting a Bradford Pear tree on your property. Plus, tips for pruning Bradford Pear trees if you do.
Butterfly Gardens: How To Build A Garden That Will Attract Butterflies
Attracting butterflies to your garden is as simple as incorporating the plants and flowers that butterflies like to eat. Here are the basics for creating butterfly gardens.
Yard Sale Shopping 101: Tips For Finding Garage & Yard Sale Bargains
Here are our best garage & yard sale tips to help you find the best bargains at rock-bottom prices! Included are: the best free online yard sale map sites to help you plan your route, tips for finding the lowest prices on the best items, and how to haggle.
Are Red & Purple Salvia Plants The Ones Used When Smoking Salvia?
Salvia is both a popular houseplant and a popular drug. Here’s how to tell the difference. Plus a list of states where it’s illegal to grow, possess, or distribute Salvia Divinorum for the purpose of smoking Salvia.
10 DIY Fire Fragrances To Make Your Chiminea Or Fireplace Smell Really Aromatic
There are all sorts of things you can burn in your chiminea or fireplace that will give off wonderful aromas. And the best part: many of them are items you can find right in your home or in your backyard! Here’s how to make your own fire fragrance for your fireplace or chiminea.
Time To Replace Your Mattress? 8 Tips To Help You Find The Right Mattress
Did you know… if your mattress is 5-7 years old, it might be time for a new one! But before you spend a fortune on a new mattress, here are some tips to help you make an educated decision when the time comes to replace your mattress.
World’s Longest Yard Sale On Highway 127: A Review
Last year I went to the World’s Longest Yard Sale for the first time. I carried a notebook and took notes along the way, just so I could put together a review that might be helpful for those wanting to get a feel for what it’s like to actually be on the World’s Longest Yard Sale route.
Biggest And Best Yard Sales In America
The World’s Longest Yard Sale takes place each August and runs 654 miles along Highway 127 from Alabama to Kentucky. However, the ‘world’s largest’ yard sale isn’t the ONLY really big, really cool yard sale in America! Here are some of the best and biggest yard sales across the country…
All About Portable Space Heaters – Which One Is Best?
Before you buy a portable space heater, there are some things that you should know about electric space heaters, radiant space heaters, convection space heaters, and the differences between vented and unvented space heaters.
We Got A ThermoSpas Hot Tub… Our First Hot Tub Ever!
I never thought I would be the owner of a hot tub. Much to my surprise, I’m actually extremely glad that we got a hot tub, and a ThermoSpas one a that! Jim is, too. Here’s a little about how we became sold on ThermoSpas and felt that we just had to have a one of their hot tubs…
How To Do Cute Towel Foldings & Other Creative Ways To Fold Towels To Impress Your Guests
Some fun and creative ways to fold bathroom towels into unique shapes, including animals.
What Do Your Favorite Colors Say About You?
What are your favorite colors? What do those colors say about you, your personality, and your lifestyle? Here’s an online test that reveals what your favorite colors mean.
Special Touches That Can Result In More Sales And A Better Yard Sale Experience
Here are some ways you can go the extra mile to make your yard sale different from everyone else’s. Plus, these things will probably boost your sales too. Yard sale shoppers appreciate these special touches…
My Experience Planting Trees: Japanese Maple | Oriental Totem Pole | Pecan Trees
See how you can get 2 free tree seedlings, plus some highlights from my personal experience of replanting trees. We live in Tennessee, and the trees I mention here are: Japanese Red Maple tree, Oriental Totem Pole, and Pecan Trees. Great pictures and tips here…
How To Mix (or Blend) Essential Oils + Ways To Benefit From Aromatherapy At Home
By adding two or more Essential Oils together, you increase their effect considerably. For example, if Lavender and Chamomile are both good for anti-inflammatory purposes, then by combining them, their effect will be even greater together as an anti-inflammatory than either of them used alone. Here’s what I’ve learned about combining — blending — Essential Oils… specifically, how many drops should be used for various purposes.
How To Make A Unique Wall of Photos
Check out this cool system of hanging photographs using wire, pulled taut across a span, from floor to ceiling, with small hardware holding the photos in place.
10 Best Essential Oil Diffusers For Aromatherapy
Essential oil diffusers are an excellent way to freshen the air in a room while creating a welcoming atmosphere — without the use of any artificial chemicals. Here are a wide variety of diffusers for use in Aromatherapy…
