Outdoor Living

Like to spend time outdoors... but still at home? We do too. Here, homeowners are sharing their favorite outdoor living tips -- everything from keeping your swimming pool, spa, and grill clean and running efficiently to getting the most enjoyment out of your backyard, seasonal outdoor projects, and clever ways to use Scrub Daddy sponges and Magic Erasers outside the house.

First Time Chicken Owner Tips From Someone Who’s Been Raising Chickens For Over 20 Years!

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!

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…

Are Home Depot Tuff Sheds Good? My Wood Tuff Shed Review [With Comparisons To Heartland Sheds From Lowes]

Are you trying to compare Home Depot Tuff Sheds vs. Heartland Sheds from Lowes? I did all the research so you don’t have to! Before I bought my wood Tuff Shed, I thoroughly explored all the options regarding Home Depot sheds and Lowes sheds. In this article, I will answer the following questions: How much does a Tuff Shed cost? Do you need a permit to put up a Tuff Shed? What are the similarities and differences between a Home Depot Tuff Shed and a Heartland Shed from Lowes? Are Tuff Sheds good and would you buy one again? What is the Tuff Shed installation process like? Why is a wood shed better than a metal shed or plastic shed?

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.

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!)

Things You Should Know Before Converting Your Swimming Pool From Chlorine To A Salt Water System

See how a swimming pool that’s been converted to a salt water system, rather than a chlorinated system, fares after 3 years. You might be surprised! If you’re thinking of converting to a salt water swimming pool, read this first to see a list of pros & cons that you probably haven’t thought about!

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.

My Tips For Making DIY Dryer Lint Fire Starters For Your Fireplace Or Campfire

I like to repurpose things whenever I can, and I’m always wanting a fast easy way to start a fire in our fire pit — so I came up with this simple idea for DIY fire starters using dryer lint, tealight candles, and toilet paper tubes. It’s a good way to repurpose dryer lint and cardboard tubes from paper towels & toilet paper. Plus, these dryer lint fire starters work really well! Here’s how I make them…

DIY Boot Rack Tips: See How To Make A Boot Rack & Bench From A Wooden Spool

See how I made this DIY boot rack / bench out of a $5 wooden spool, some scrap wood, and paint. It’s the perfect solution for keeping wet, muddy boots outside without getting water inside them. It’s also useful for hanging kids muddy clothes on — right outside the door!

One Mom’s DIY Little Tikes Outdoor Climber Makeover: See How To Paint Plastic Outdoor Play Sets To Make Them Look New Again

I found a Little Tikes outdoor climber for FREE on Facebook Marketplace — it just needed a little TLC. See what I did to give this old outdoor climber a new look. Here’s how to paint plastic outdoor play sets + My tips for making the job quicker & easier.

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.

Scrub Daddy Uses: 50+ Creative Ways To Use A Scrub Daddy Sponge

The Scrub Daddy sponge, a popular kitchen scrubber, gets SOFT in hot water and HARD in cold water. Plus it doesn’t hold onto food & odors. Lots of fun uses here!

Mr. Clean Magic Erasers: Creative Uses For These Household Cleaning Blocks That Truly Work Magic!

A list of a zillion great uses for Mr Clean Magic Erasers from people who actually use them. See what makes a Magic Eraser cleaning block work so well & what this magic sponge is made of. What’s the secret that enables Mr. Clean Magic Erasers to work miracles?

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.

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.

12 Lawn, Garden & Home Projects That Should Be On Your Fall To-Do List

There are so many things that need to get done around the house before the snow starts falling. This list of reminders will help you get a head start on your fall chores…

Getting To Know Our ThermoSpas Hot Tub: From Delivery To Daily Spa Therapy

Here’s some inside scoop about the ThermoSpa hot tub delivery process. It wasn’t exactly as we thought it would be. That doesn’t mean it was a ‘bad’ experience — just different than we initially thought.

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…