An Abundance of Flowers

Look around you in the scrapbooking idea books, galleries and magazines and you are sure to find dozens of pages laden with flowers of every type and every size. It seems that flowers have become an important and popular scrapbooking embellishment. The best part is that there are dozens of types of flowers, and plenty of materials that they are constructed from. From the every popular paper flowers, to silk flowers, to chipboard and card stock. Even acrylic and metal flowers are available everywhere. Even eyelets and brads come in flower shapes now. I walked into a large chain scrapbook … Continue reading

Home Based Businesses Can Be As Unique As You Are

This weekend, I was able to see first – hand a variety of products and services that are made and offered by home – based professionals. I took a trip to Maine to attend the Common Ground Fair, which is an event that focuses on sustainability and environmental awareness. There were many things to do and see, and as I went along I realized that many of the people selling food and other items at the fair are home – based professionals. There were many food vendors, and some of the vendors whose delicious dishes I tasted were home – … Continue reading

Homes for Bees: Creating a Bee-eautiful Garden

This summer, I’m teaching kids about pollinators. I love pollinators. So do you, even though you may not realize it. A third of what you eat is a product of a pollinator. Fruits and many things that we call vegetables were pollinated by a bee, a butterfly, or another creature that fertilized the flower and allowed that fruit to grow. If you have a garden at home, you need pollinators too. Even if you don’t have a garden, there’s a whole world out there that needs pollinating! Pollinator populations are dropping rapidly, since urban development has taken away wild sources … Continue reading

Creating Color: Dye Plants in the Garden

If you have children, you’ll know about some amazing dye plants. Tomatoes (via spaghetti sauce) are pretty good, as are blueberries and cherries, particularly when they’re mashed on a white shirt. While many of us run for the wash at the sight of these glorious fruits being mashed into clothing, some people actively seek out plants that dye cloth. I want to be one of them. I love dyeing silk, and I would love to dye some wool this year. Through my experiments, I’ve discovered a number of plants that make lovely dyes. Over the next few years, I’ll be … Continue reading

Cornucopia of Fun Fall Touches

The calendar may say November, but judging by the snow pack in my front yard, I would say that Old Man Winter has arrived and is planning to stay for a while. Unfortunately, the early and unwelcome dumping of nearly four inches of the white stuff has put a damper on my fall outdoor decorations. On the bright side, my indoor seasonal embellishments have fared much better. Tis the season to drape your home in oranges, yellows and reds. Then, add some leaves, acorns and berries, and you’ve got a fun and festive centerpiece to display on your Thanksgiving buffet. … Continue reading

How Our CSA is Saving Us Money

Each week, we get a bounty of organic produce for only $15. The result is that we are eating healthier meals and saving money at the same time. After a few weeks of participating in the CSA, I’ve learned a few things that can eliminate waste and increase the benefit of the savings that we have been experiencing. Here are my tips. Because the exact type and amount of produce can vary by week, it is important to be flexible and creative with meal planning. As I unpack the week’s supply, I start brainstorming how I will use what we … Continue reading

Getting Ready for Spring in Your Scrapbooking

The official first day of Spring is in just three short days. And Easter is this upcoming weekend. It seems as if Winter just flew by, even with all the cold weather and snow and ice everyone has been getting. Since it still doesn’t feel too much like spring time around here, I thought I would get everyone in the mood for those terrific Spring photo opportunities and scrapbooking pages. Spring Cleaning – Spring seems to bring everyone out of the cobwebs and caves and puts many in the mood to do some spring cleaning. But do not forget to … Continue reading

Scrapbooking Week in Review for March 10-16, 2008

Springtime is near and more than likely you are already getting the mixed up spring time weather in your neck of the woods. I adore being outside on the warmer days and enjoying the fresh air. On the colder days, I use them to get caught up on scrapbooking. What layouts have you been creating lately? I am getting ready to begin working on last years Easter pictures so I can get in the mood for the upcoming holiday, which is just around the corner. Hope you all have a wonderful week. Check out what has been happening in the … Continue reading

Baby Loves Disco!

Oh what a night, er, afternoon. On a recent Sunday, we hung out at Club Shampoo in Philadelphia and danced ourselves into a tizzy at the monthly Baby Loves Disco event. Baby Loves Disco is akin to a social movement; a grassroots effort, promoting and facilitating a unique variety of parent/child bonding that is popping up in what seems like more cities every month. Currently held in seventeen cities, from Seattle to Denver to Brooklyn, Baby Loves Disco throws mid-afternoon dance parties once a month for kids age seven and younger, and their adult companions. Now, I was never a … Continue reading

Marriage Secrets: How to Stay In Love

We talked about marriage secrets a couple of days ago, but let’s talk about a secret of marriage that we all want access too. This secret, of course, is how to stay in love. We all want to be in love with our spouses. Who wouldn’t want to be in love? Being in love is a wonderful feeling and it’s incredibly uplifting and it’s intoxicating. What can be more incredible and intoxicating than being in love with your spouse? So How Do You Stay In Love? The keys to staying in love begin with accepting that love doesn’t just happen … Continue reading