My kids are all college age and there aren’t any young children in our neighborhood so I don’t really bother decorating the yard for Halloween anymore, but I still like to celebrate the season around the house. For example I change the front porch sign for each season and this It’s Frickin Bats in Here porch sign is a great description of our place!

This beautiful black and silver spiderweb tissue box cover actually glows in the dark! It helps bring some festive spooky vibes to my desk and hides my tissues during sneezin’ season.

A mini retro disco ball pumpkin (or a few) add some jazz to a foyer table or some fun to a bathroom shelf. I like to add a few simple holiday themed touches to our main spaces without going overboard.

Another quick and easy way to decorate for the season is with a holiday themed doormat like my new favorite “Welcome Foolish Mortals” custom coconut fiber mat.

Blown glass pumpkins fascinate me so I find myself buying a new one each season and I’d be thrilled to add this gorgeous Purple Licorice Hand Blown Glass Pumpkin to my collection. They’re beautiful as centerpieces on the table and you can leave them out through Thanksgiving!

Since we’re all batty here at our house I love the idea of carrying the theme from the front porch sign through the house with these wood matte black bat door toppers.

We have a long dark (at night) hallway that leads to the bedrooms and I think it would be a blast to put up these creepy hand wall candles now that the kids are older! They come with flickering LED candles and a remote.

Our guest bathroom has a couple funny signs that I enjoy changing out for different seasons and holidays and this gothic “Please don’t Summon Demons in the Bathroom” sign is perfect for Halloween.

Check out Etsy’s Halloween Guide for many more amazing Halloween decor ideas!

Somehow I find myself with more hanging plants than I have hooks for, so I searched Amazon and elsewhere for a solution but couldn’t really find anything affordable with as much space as I needed so I decided to make my own!

It took less than $50 worth of materials and about an hour to put together this two level, six-foot wide hanging plant stand that has plenty of space for all my plants and makes them so much easier and more convenient to water. To make one of these for yourself you’ll need the following:

Materials List:

• (3) 10′ length one inch PVC pipes
• (2) elbows
• (4) tees
• (4) caps

Side Note: I had no problem getting the ten foot long pipes home in my mommy van, but am SO grateful to the cashier for wrapping my pipes together with plastic at each end so they didn’t go flying around the car on the way home.

Using PVC pipe cutters, cut the pipes as shown in the cutting guide above so you have the following pieces:

• (2) 6′ lengths
• (4) 3′ lengths
• (4) 1′ lengths

Connect two 1′ pieces to a “tee” and add caps at the ends to form a leg. Repeat with the remaining 1′ pieces. Gently tap the pieces into place with a rubber mallet.

Set a 3′ piece in each of the leg “tees” and tap into place. Place a “tee” at the top of each then add a 6′ cross bar and tap into place once you’ve aligned all of the pieces.

Add the remaining 3′ pieces to the side “tees”, place an elbow on top of one then insert the top 6′ crossbar before completing the stand with the final elbow. Again, gently tap all pieces into place with the mallet.

I didn’t bother to use PVC glue on my hanging plant stand because I’d like to be able to take it down and move it in case of hurricane or perhaps put it away for the winter. Feel free to adjust the size to fit your space, however I wouldn’t recommend going any wider than 6′ unless you also insert a 1/2″ PVC pipe of the same length into each crossbar for support.

There’s nothing quite like a day at the beach with the kids! The warmth of the sun, the coolness of the water and laughter from the kids makes the day wonderful. Enjoying the beach with younger kids isn’t always beautiful though, sometimes it can be quite overwhelming for a parent. Today I’m going to share some tips on how to enjoy a beach day with younger kids so you can all get the most out of your beach day.

Had so much fun with the kids at the beach today! We spent a couple hours body surfing then collected lots of great shells before turning @sarahohoyle into a mermaid. Think we are all gonna sleep well tonight. . . . #greatdayout #funtimes #beachday #funwiththekids #pensacolabeach #pensacolaflorida #pensacola #dopensacola #mermaid #850 #gulfcoast #shelling #quads #quadruplets #quadsplusone

A post shared by Denise Hoyle (@sdenise) on Jun 11, 2018 at 6:13pm PDT

1) Plan Ahead

Having a beach day with younger kids will require some extra planning. Things to think about are – how to get food to the beach, how to handle bathroom breaks, how to take care of the kids’ safety near the water and what supplies are necessary for a full day at the beach. Make a checklist of items and concerns so that you’re able to fully prepare.

2) Rolling Carts

This beautiful creation, a rolling beach cart, is a life saver when having a beach day with younger kids. Be sure to invest in a rolling cart that has tough, durable wheels to roll through the sand as well as the parking lot and boardwalk. There’s nothing worse than having to go back to the car for something with a bunch of younger kids in tow. A rolling cart will let you bring all supplies down to the beach at once, ours is big enough to carry a large cooler, umbrella, chairs and kids toys while we throw beach bags over our shoulders.

3) Don’t Forget Favorite Items

Sometimes younger kids will still need their naptime, yes even if you’re having a beach day. Plan ahead by bringing along their favorite naptime items. This will help your younger kids to relax for naptime even when they’re on the sandy beach and want to play all day. Bring a portable blue tooth speaker or MP3 player that can play soft music to allow the younger kids a reasonable nap at the beach.

4) Think About Shade

You’ll need to bring along a beach umbrella or a pop-up tent for shade during your beach day. Most beaches don’t have an area for shade and younger kids will tire quickly and heat stroke is possible if in the sun too much and not properly hydrated. Be sure to bring along products that will help create shade in an area near your beach day location.

5) Stay Near the Lifeguard

Pick a beach day location earlier in the day near the lifeguard. This will make sure that you have a secondary eye on the younger kids. It’s always nice to feel like you have a second set of eyes on the kids at the beach. Water can be dangerous and accidents happen too quickly. Being near the lifeguard allows the younger kids to wade in the shallow water more safely as both you and the lifeguard will be nearby.

These simple tips to enjoy a beach day with younger kids are sure to make the trip more enjoyable for all! What are your tips for a fun beach day out with the kiddos?

Sport-Brella Portable All-Weather & Sun Umbrella, 8-foot Canopy, Turquoise

Amazon

Last update was in: October 03 2024, 1:31 am

Buy this item

During the holiday season many of us will be on the road more than usual with all the extra shopping and trips to visit family. Of course car seat safety is important all year long but this busy travel season is a great time for a checkup. Here are a few tips for keeping kids safe while riding in cars:

Kids Ride in the Back Seat

The back seat of a vehicle is generally the safest place in the event of a crash so children are safer there. Additionally, if your car has passenger side airbags, it’s important that all children under 12 always ride in the back seat.

Use the Correct Car Seat

Children grow so fast that it can be hard to keep up, but it’s essential to always use the appropriate car seat based on the child’s age and size. Rear facing car seats should be used until the infant is at least 20 pounds and 1 year of age. After both of those milestones are reached you can switch to a front facing car seat. Keep the child in a car seat with a safety harness until they are at least 40 pounds. From 40 to 80 pounds it is best to use a booster seat with an adult lap and shoulder belt.

Know Your Car’s Latch System

Latch stands for Lower Anchor and Tethers for Children.  According to Cars.com those anchors can be hard to find, so you should check your vehicle’s manual as well as the manual for your car seat to make sure that it’s attached properly.

If you’re unhappy with the state of your smile, there are cosmetic dentists who can help. But what if you don’t know where to find them? Or what if you aren’t sure of the criteria that you should be using to hire them? Here are just a few things to consider as you seek a cosmetic dentist.

Understand Who They Are

Cosmetic dentists are focused on the appearance of teeth: their color, size, shape and alignment. These dentists might or might not provide functional services too, but filling cavities and fixing broken crowns don’t usually fall under the umbrella of “cosmetic” procedures. If you’re looking for someone who is professionally recognized as a cosmetic dentist, find an office registered with the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD).

Read Reviews

This is one of the easiest ways to gauge the worth of a dental office. What do previous patients have to say about them? Do people seem happy with the services that they received? Are there any complaints that crop up over and over again? Make sure that you’re looking at third-party reviews and not just testimonials featured on the company’s website. You’ll want to read full, unedited and unbiased accounts that no one was paid to write.

Find a Specialist

Cosmetic dentists can specialize in dozens of areas. For example, they can be experts in veneers for people who want their teeth straightened, or they can be bleaching pros with lots of experience at whitening a smile. Union Square Dental is one such practice with extensive expertise in the veneers treatment. If you’re hoping to have a specific procedure done, look for someone with a background in that particular area. Instead of a “jack of all trades,” find a well-trained expert.

Check Their Availability

Don’t be afraid to ask a dentist about their schedule. If you need extensive work that will take multiple sessions to finish, you don’t want to bind yourself to a dentist who has a full appointment book for the next two months. You’ll also want someone who can fit you in between the demands of your own schedule. If you can only get away during your afternoon lunch breaks, it’s no use making plans with a dentist who is only available in the mornings.

Talk About Price

It might be awkward to bring up money matters with your dentist, but it’s worth the trouble. Some insurance plans won’t cover cosmetic procedures like bleaching and bonding, and if this is the case for you, you’ll want to know in advance. Take heart, however: A lot of dentists are willing to work out payment plans with people who can’t afford to pay a big bill all at once. Ask their financial department for more information.

Call Their Office

You can learn quite a bit about a dental office by talking to its receptionist. For example, if they’re rude and unpleasant over the phone, they’ll probably be rude and unpleasant during your actual visit. If they seem disorganized when you ask for prices or available appointment times, they probably aren’t employed at a very efficient business. These warning signs can be valuable hints about the state of the office, so don’t ignore them.

Ask for a Preview

Before you spend a lot of time and money on a cosmetic procedure, ask your dentist if they can provide a glimpse of the future. They might have digital imaging software that can show you what your finished teeth will look like, or they might be able to provide before-and-after pictures of other patients to give you an idea of the procedure’s general results. You’ll never know unless you ask.

Compare and Contrast

If you’re considering multiple dentists, this is the best way to whittle down your options. Look at all of the services, prices and reviews of local cosmetic dentists, and figure out how they stack up against one another. Which office is the cheapest? Which has the best reputation? Which has dentists with the most impressive educations and backgrounds? Make a list of potential dental offices; then cross them out one by one when they fail to live up to their competitors.

Schedule a Consultation

At the end of the day, nothing will replace the value of a face-to-face meeting with your dentist. You can’t be sure that you enjoy their company and trust their skills until you’ve actually been in their chair. If you find that you don’t like or trust them, you’re free to leave without letting them poke around in your mouth. This is the power of scheduling a consultation before an actual appointment.

These are just a few tips for finding a great cosmetic dentist. Your smile is an important part of your first impression, so make sure that it’s a good one!

Disclosure – These great tips have been provided as a sponsored guest post. 

If you enjoy using coupons when you shop and rely on them to stretch your budget like I do, you should know that Target is one of the best places to redeem your coupons. Target has a generous coupon policy (will vary from store to store, so be sure to check your local store for specific policies) and with the right strategy you can save some serious cash. Check out these tips for how to plan the perfect Target coupon strategy, so you can buy all of your Target favorites for less.

1) Download the Target with Cartwheel App

First, download the Target app, now with Cartwheel included instead of two different apps. This free app offers all sorts of deals on items found at your local Target store including sheets, pillows, holiday décor, food items, and more. Most of these are percentage off coupons, and redeeming them is as simple as scanning your phone!

2) Print Coupons at Target.com

Next, print off coupons from Target.com. These coupons are distributed by Target and can be stacked with Cartwheel offers. Did you hear that? You can STACK these two savings on top of each other. So if you find a 10% off Cheerios coupon on Cartwheel, you can stack it with the $1/1 Cheerios coupon found on Target.com!

3) Clip Manufacturer Coupons

Are you ready to keep strategizing? Now, look for coupons in your Sunday circulars! These can also be stacked in addition to your Target.com and Cartwheel coupons. That means if you find a $1/1 Cheerios manufacturer coupon, you can stack it with the $1 Target.com and 10% off Cartwheel coupon for even more savings.

4) Stack Coupons on Gift Card Deals

Sometimes Target offers a $5 gift card if you buy a certain amount of designated products. So let’s say they are offering a $5 gift card if you buy 3 General Mills Cereals. Since Cheerios is General Mills, you can use the Carthweel, Target.com, and manufacture coupon on this purchase, helping you get to that $5 gift card for even less!

5) Use Gift Cards from Your Last Haul on Future Purchases

You can’t use your $5 gift card on the current purchase, but you can use it on your next purchase. So find another Cartwheel/Target.com/Manufacture coupon trio you can stack in order to get a great deal, then use your $5 gift card to get your final walkout price down even lower!

6) Look for Peelies

Last but not least, look for the peel and stick coupons found on many food and health care packages. If you don’t have a manufacturer coupon for an item, you can use one of these peel and stick coupons. Since these count as a manufacturer coupon, you can use it with a Cartwheel deal and Target.com coupon. You just can’t stack it with any other manufacturer coupon.

As you can see, you can easily stack your way to big savings! Download the Target with Cartwheel app, head to Target.com for more coupons, and be sure to check out those Sunday papers for even more savings. When you stack and take advantage of gift card deals, you are sure to enjoy some serious savings! 

My two daughters and I all have long hair and our hairbrushes can get pretty clogged with hair very quickly. It’s not always easy to get rid of all the excess hair, especially with my round brushes. I use these ceramic core brushes to help dry my hair faster but I don’t think they work properly if they’re so clogged that the warm air can’t get through. I’ve tried everything from scissors to combs to help pull all the hair out but it always takes quite a bit of effort and time to finish the job.

Well I was reading an old article about the many ways to use dryer sheets and one of the uses they mentioned was cleaning hairbrushes so I thought I’d give it a try. All you have to do is find a glass or jar that your brushes will fit in, cover them with water, cut a dryer sheet in half and throw it in. Walk away and in about an hour you can pull out the brushes and the hair comes right off like magic! Easy breezy with very little effort. They come out looking like new!

I used Bounce dryer sheets but any brand should do – they all work to get rid of wrinkles and static and apparently those same ingredients help loosen and soften the hair so that it comes off the brushes easily. I decided to do a few brushes at once so I put them in this glass vase with a full dryer sheet and it did the trick. When I was finished I realized that I still could have used just half a dryer sheet even in the bigger container of water.

Check out the before and after pictures below – there was an amazing amount of hair that came out of them as you can see in the photos above and I’m thrilled with how easy it was to remove the hair after the brushes had soaked for an hour. It only took a few seconds to pull the hair off as opposed to the 20-30 minutes I used to spend cutting, pulling and scraping the hair out of the brushes.

Do you know of any other handy  uses for dryer sheets? I’d love to hear them!

[Upgrade] BIBTIM Round Hair Brush Twill with Boar Bristle for Blow Drying, Curling & Straightening, Professional Salon Styling Brush, Nano Technology Ceramic for Perfect Volume & Shine (2 inch)

Amazon

Last update was in: October 02 2024, 9:02 pm

Buy this item

There are lots of cheap or free methods you can use to help protect your fruit trees and shrubs from pests like squirrels and birds, such as hanging aluminum pie plates or old CDs from the trees branches to scare them off.  You can also buy reflective bird tape to hang from the branches or place an owl decoy nearby to scare away birds.

We have quite a bit of time and money invested in grapes, blueberries, limes, lemons and satsuma trees and its a fight every year to keep the birds and squirrels from stealing most of our delicious crops so I’ve tried all sorts of things to keep these rude invaders away. All of the above methods are helpful in keeping birds and squirrels away from your fruit trees and shrubs, but they’re not foolproof and the critters are smart and get used to these tricks after awhile. I really wanted to cover my fruit trees and bushes completely to keep everything out so we devised these simple domes using irrigation tubing to use as a framework for wildlife netting.

To create these domes to cover the plants we used 5/8″ irrigation tubing, T posts, zip ties, clamps and wildlife netting (1). Place four of the T posts around the tree or bush to be protected (2), leaving enough room for growth, then attach pieces of irrigation tubing to the tops of the T posts (3) criss crossing them at the top (4). We had to use pliers to squeeze the tops of the T posts a little bit so the tubing would slide over them, then secured the tubing in place with clamps (5) from the plumbing department. A zip tie at the top (6) helps stabilize the framework and we also used zip ties to attach the wildlife netting to the frame.

We used the same technique to cover this loaded blueberry bush but since it is much lower to the ground we used 1/2″ PVC pipe instead of the T posts that we needed to add height to protect the fruit trees. You’ll need four 2-foot pieces of PVC pipe, hammer them about halfway into the ground, then slide the irrigation tubing over them and complete your dome as described above.

After covering the blueberry bush in the previous photo I decided that we needed more so the kids and I planted four more of them and adjusted the dome to make room. All we had to do was rearrange the two original pieces of tubing, cut one more and place it over two more pieces of PVC pipe as shown in the photo. Once we’ve harvested the fruit we’ll store the tubes and posts in the storage building until next year and use them again!

Do you have any tips or tricks for protecting your fruit and veggie crops?

I can almost feel spring in the air, almost, it’s too cold to ACTUALLY feel it but I know that it’s there just around the corner. One of my favorite things about spring is that it is time to put in a spring garden- beautiful flowers, fresh fruits and vegetables.  So if you are dreaming like I am of sunshine, hands deep in the dirt, and fresh air but you are new to gardening I have gathered some of my best tips to get you started on your first Spring garden.

Figure out your zone

Each area of the U.S has been assigned a plant hardiness zone number, find out what yours is. This will help you determine what and when to plant in your garden. You want it to be successful so this is a very important step in your garden planning.

Find the right spot

Look for an area that gets plenty of sun (6-8 hours a day), is relatively level with only a mild slope for drainage, easy access to water, and

Test your soil

You can gather a sample from your intended garden spot and take it to your local extension office where they will test it and let you know what needs to be added or  reduced to make it ideal for growing your garden. They will test for things like pH and acidity levels.

Prepare the bed

Once you have decided how large of a bed you want you can begin to clear away grass, weeds, and aerate the soil well. If this is your first garden I recommend that you start with a garden bed no bigger than 12’ x 12’- if you go too large you may find yourself frustrated and with more than you can handle. Start small and gain some confidence, there is still time to add to your garden for summer and fall plantings if you find that you are a green thumb at heart!

Gather your tools

You don’t need a ton of fancy gear for a backyard garden but there are a few things you will definitely want on hand to make it easier. I came across this great set that contains just about everything you need in the way of hand tools and it even comes in a pretty sturdy bag.

Get yourself a good basic gardening book for reference with tips and tricks, this one has organic remedies,tips, and shortcuts for gardening.   This is another great reference for vegetable gardens.

Include the family

Make sure you get the kids involved too, give them their own little plot to work.  This is another fun tool for the kids (and you). As your garden grows outdoors you can get a sneak peak of what’s happening beneath the soil.

Do your research but above all, have fun. There is nothing like being outdoors with dirty fingernails as you grow food for your family! 

There is nothing more fun and stressful than taking a trip to a theme park with kids in tow. There is so much excitement for the day from both kids and adults that it can lead to meltdowns and more money spent than you intended. If you are looking for a way to save your sanity and your wallet, here are some theme park tips to save you time and money.

Theme Park Tips to Save You Time and Money

1) Get There Early With Full Bellies

If you know anything about theme parks, you know that they can get very crowded towards the afternoon. Get up early, well before the park opens, and eat breakfast at home or at the hotel, then head off to be there when the gates open. You will not have to deal with lines for at least a few hours and you won’t start getting hungry until you have been there for a while.

2) Go On a Rainy or Cloudy Day

If you are making a last minute trip to the theme park, you may have better luck on a rainy or cloudy day. Yes, it’s possible that some rides may be closed, but many times, they aren’t and you may find that you nearly have the park to yourself. This is also great to be able to see the indoor shows you always wanted to see but didn’t have the time for and if you are lucky, some parks even refund part of your money if the rain starts after a certain time.

3) Buy Your Tickets Ahead of Time

Buying tickets online can save you up to 50% depending on the park. You can often buy them at places like AAA, Sam’s Club or Costco as well in the local communities where the park is located to save even more. You will almost always get a discount for buying ahead of time.

4) Pack a Lunch

Pack a lunch and bring it, even if you can’t take it in the gates. Many parks are now allowing food from home to be brought in. Even if yours doesn’t, you can pack a cooler full of ice and stuff to make sandwiches and head out of the park to take a mid-day break and have lunch or dinner for far less than you’d pay in the park. Or simply save your appetite and eat in the car on the way home.

5) Don’t Go Express

Unless you are going on a majorly busy day, don’t buy the express passes. These passes are not always a good idea and unless you are going on a holiday, you will often find that the waits are not that long in most cases anyway, so the pass ends up being a waste of money.

6) Plan Your Day

Do your research and map out your day. If you know what attractions you want to see above all else, map them out ahead of time and do them first when the lines are not as long.

7) Bring Some Supplies

Make a list of what you may need in the park and bring it with you. Some items like this include sunscreen, rain ponchos, flashlights, a small first aid kit, and sunglasses. You don’t want to be stuck paying the high prices of these items in the park where you will pay 5 times or more what they could be purchased for elsewhere.

Photo Credit: © Yobro10 | Dreamstime.com – Walt Disney World Cinderella Castle Photo