"Have you ever tried sewing a rag rug? It’s not too hard, and it’s easy on the budget. You just need some fabric in your stash that you don’t mind ripping up. If you want a new rug made from fabric, check out these instructions for making your own!" Comment from SewCanShe
Rag rugs are so beautiful and an excellent way to use up your fabric stash. I also love the round ones.
Click here to go to the SewCanShe tutorial page.
"Whether you're celebrating the holidays on the coast, in a cabin, or right at home, let the decorations around the room and outside the window inspire you to create a picture-perfect, unique Christmas tree display. Read on for our best Christmas tree décor ideas that will revamp your tree this holiday season." Comment from Southern Living
This article provides lots of Christmas decor inspiration. You'd be surprised how the smallest thing can bring a wealth of inspiration.
Click here to go to the Southern Living article.
This article from Southern Living brought back so many memories of my first Christmas with JR. Christmas was so important to both of us and the Christmas tree and ornaments equally important. We bought so many ornaments for the whole tree and one ornament was not the most favorite, they all were.
These memories are happy and sad since the storage shed that held all the Christmas stuff was smashed by a huge tree a week after JR passed away. Everything gone. This is the first time I have thought about the first Christmas decorations for 20+ years.
One of the ornaments I remember had the year and said "our first Christmas" . . . another was Santa riding a red bike which started the theme of ornaments depicting toys featuring Santa or other Christmas characters. So maybe those two ornaments were the favorites since I remember them distinctively.
Through the years, every Christmas we would go crazy buying more and more Christmas stuff. When we bought our house, then it included outdoor stuff. I don't know where our old Christmas photos are, but when I find them, I will post them to this page.
Using a famous quote, "thanks for the memories" Southern Living. It brought a really big smile on my face and touched my heart to think of happy memories with JR. We had a special, happy marriage and after all this time, getting married a second time and all, I still miss him so much and think of him every day. Now I have two husbands I think of every day.
Click here to go to the Southern Living article and see if it brings up happy and touching memories for you too.
If you are not a thrift shopper, you may be lost when you go shopping in a secondhand shop. No problem, take the advise of a professional thrift shopper and shop for your Christmas decorations like a pro.
Thrift shopping has always been one of my favorite things to do. There is nothing like the feeling you get when you find a super bargain.
Click here to go to the article from Martha Stewart.com.
"They look so good, all decked out with Christmas lights and candles tucked in among them. I found one garland that even had real pinecones in it, making it look even more realistic." - Comment from Holiday Magic Hub
Whether they are real or fake, they are so festive and beautiful. Great Christmas decor idea!
Click here to go to the article page. You must check out the website if you love Christmas!
"Natural wood cabinets were popular for decades before falling out of favor as all-white kitchens became desirable due to minimalist design trends. But replacing outdated wood cabinetry is an expensive and costly project that not everyone has the time or budget for. Luckily, there are many ways to refresh wood cabinets without ripping them out." - comment about outdated cabinets from Martha Stewart.com.
It occurs to me that in all the years I have lived in my house, I can't tell you how many times I have repainted the kitchen cabinets. Yes, you can make them look decent without spending a ton of money.
Click here to see what the people at Martha Stewart.com have come up with to remedy the situation.
"The soft glow of holiday twinklies delivers some of the coziest vibes imaginable. It’s tempting to just go to bed without flipping off the switch on your Christmas tree or strands of garland, and sometimes you may even accidentally forget to do so. But is it safe to leave indoor holiday lights on overnight, or is it considered a fire hazard? We went to safety experts for the final word." comment about the article from Real Simple.
It sure is pretty! Good question I always used to wonder about when I put up a Christmas tree and sometimes I left them on and sometimes not. It just depended on my mood!
Click here to find out what the experts have to say.
"Christmas tree decorating is more than just knowing how to put lights on and digging into the assortment of decorations from years past. Your Christmas tree decorations help set a tone and give you holiday decorating ideas for the rest of your space." - comment about article from Real Simple.
This article will surely give you Christmas inspiration, even if a little bizarre. But everyone has their individual creative inspirations and even the most bizarre will give you some type of inspiration. Maybe like . . . don't do it!! Anyway, lots of inspiration for your consideration, just add your creativity to make it yours.
Click here to go to the article and be inspired.
"Whether you're hosting guests for the holidays or just trying to perfect the art of Christmas tree decorating for your own holiday cheer—we have some tips to help guide the way" . . . description of the article from Real Simple.
This article has more than just a few guidelines. It has a wealth of information and inspiration to help you create your own stunning Christmas tree in your style.
Click here to go to the article.
Great idea, especially if your budget does not include a Christmas tree and all the decorations that go with it. When I moved into my first apartment, I was young and on a strict budget. The alternative Christmas tree thing is what I did for a few years. It can be very festive, very inexpensive and so cute.
The article comes from Good Housekeeping and some ideas are cute, but it is a good starting point to inspire you to put your own spin on it.
Click here to go to the article.
Holiday lights to me are magical. Tacky is good for the holidays, but not so tacky on a permanent basis would be worth the investment in my opinion. I see houses with subtle permanent holiday lights that are awesome looking.
House Beautiful has an article with the pros and cons of permanent holiday lights. While I have not read the entire article, I think it is interesting from what I have read.
Click here to go to the article.
"If you're in need of a little inspiration, we've curated a list of 30 Christmas tree theme ideas that are all so delightful, you'll be set for the next few years" from House Beautiful.
Click here to go to the article. Some great ideas, some not so great, but a great article to be inspired.
We always need a sunglasses or eye glass case. This case looks quick and easy. You can even use your fabric scraps by making a piece of fabric first. Love this project!
Click here to go to the article from Beginner Sewing Projects.
Regardless of what anyone else would suggest, I would always have a good supply of little food gifts on hand and take with me to any gathering. The host or hostess, no matter what the relationship, would always appreciate something they could add to their appetizer or dessert table.
Speaking of those little food gifts . . . I have and will be listing many items you can make at the beginning of the season to have on hand for gift giving of all kinds. Whether someone comes to visit you and brings a gift or if you visit someone or you are invited to a holiday gathering. Always have little gifts on hand for all these type of occasions. Check out my food blog, Gina's Italian Kitchen.
Southern Living's article is about the question of whether you should bring a gift for a family member who is hosting the holiday meal. The question should be for anyone in a number of situations.
Click here to go to the article.
As much as we pay for stuff anymore, we should find more ways to use them. The featured article surprised me with all the other uses for dryer sheets.
Check it out . . . click here for the article.
The little pin cushions are so cute and look so easy to make. I do a lot of hand stitching and I could use some of these.
Click here to go to the tutorial from SewCanShe.
