Just Plain Joy

I created this little jar of fun activities for my daughter to get us motivated to watch less t.v. Whenever she asks to “watch something,” I redirect her to one of the activities in the jar. Little did I know she would love the jar more than any of the activities inside. She carried it [...]

BEFORE The other day my daughter and I were happily playing peek-a-boo with a blanket on the couch. She must have found a blue pen hidden in the cushions because while I thought she was busily hiding under the blanket she was actually scribbling all over the couch. When I finally got curious enough to [...]

My cousin made these adorable party favors for her daughter’s first birthday! It was a great way to recycle baby food cups, as well as those tiny wallet photos that you always have left over! She taped the photos on the lids with clear packing tape and filled the cups with Skittles and M&Ms.

Living in a rural area, many of our stores don’t open until 10 a.m. This makes it challenging to run errands before work hours. And, although I should have learned by now, somehow I never seem to remember which stores open late and which open before 10 a.m. The best example of this is the [...]

I love the Starbuck’s “make your own” tumblers, and I am always looking for new ways to use them. I have given them as graduate presents with personal photos. I have made collages of family pictures. And, I have used colorful scrapbook paper. Recently, I found one of my daughter’s books that had beautiful illustrations [...]

My faithful readers know that I try to avoid collecting stuff, but sometimes the holidays inspire us to splurge and a little decorating is in order. This can cause a dilemma – what do you DO with those decorations after the season is over? My recent solution is…edible decorations! Every year, I host a Halloween [...]

My husband and I were married two years ago, and one of my good friends was kind enough to make me this laminated photo for my wallet. I didn’t realize how useful it would become until my husband went to get a haircut. He mentioned that he wanted the “wedding haircut,” and we were trying [...]

Problem: Match boxes in every drawer and cupboard. Solution: The match box vase. Somehow over time my husband and I have collected a plethora of match boxes. Most of them are from weddings and bars, and we definitely have more than we will ever use! Following a tried and true organizing tip – keep like [...]

I recently posted about how much I have been enjoying bath time lately. Here is another simple solution that has made bath time easier. I use a colander to collect all the little wet toys when bath time is over. They dry quickly and easily, and it seems cleaner than the wet moldy net that [...]

I’m super excited about my new binder! As I mentioned in a previous post, I am a big fan of dining out. But it has been a little more difficult to eat out with a little one at home. Lately I am relying more on take-out when I’m in a pinch. So, my new binder [...]