One of my favorite gifts I found for my daughters this past Christmas was a sunlight print kit at a wonderful local bookstore, The Toadstool Bookshop. I’ve been hoping to do this project with them for quite awhile now and given their ages, 6 and almost 4, I was sure it would hold their interest. […]
Wash the Shower Curtain Squirting and scrubbing a filmy shower curtain can take a lot of time, but there’s a faster way to remove pesky soap scum. Just pull it down off its rings and toss it in the washer with a few towels, which will do the scrubbing for you. Stop the washer before […]
Five minutes is all you need to tidy up even the messiest bedroom, says Barbara Webster, president of Nice N Clean Maid Service in Miami. Here’s her five-step whirlwind formula. Got your running shoes on? Make the bed: Pull up the cover and straighten the pillows. Collect all the clothes that are flung about the […]
Electronics were a hot ticket this holiday. iPads, iPhones, Kindles and Nooks — anything with a touch screen was a big hit! To keep your reader safe from the elements, make a tablet cover from felt. This will not only protect your screen, but also allow you to carry your new device in style. Instructions […]
Is clutter overtaking your kitchen? Are you out of space in your cabinets? If so, follow these tips to organize pots and pans in the kitchen. Pots and pans eat up a lot of room in kitchen cabinets. The first step to organizing that space is to get rid of any pots, pans or gadgets […]
Snowy days call for ice skating, hot-chocolate picnics, and sledding parties. But even the hardiest New Englander needs a bit of shelter from the cold. Sling this repurposed flannel quilt over your shoulder, and when the winter chill seeps in, unfurl its warmth and snuggle up! Try using soft old shirts and blankets for the […]
Save money on Christmas decor by incorporating nature into your decorating scheme. Collect pine cones and acorns when walking in the woods, and then dress them up for the season following these simple steps. 1. Wipe them clean with a paper towel or soft rag and keep them in a dry place. 2. If you […]
If you have water dripping under the sink, you have to locate the source before you can fix it. Chances are that the leak is so small that it’s hard to tell exactly where the water is coming from. Find the source of the link in three easy steps: 1. Dry the pipe. 2. Smear […]
As much as I love wrapping gifts in pretty papers, I have a hard time justifying the waste of all that paper, much of which can not be recycled due to the dyes used. Store-bought gift bags can be reused, but eventually those will wear out. I’m striving for a paperless holiday, with all of […]
Wrapping terra-cotta pots in fabric adds a bit of visual pop to your home. Best of all, it’s easy to match the season or your mood with the wide selection of fabric patterns that are available in the marketplace today. To make decorative fabric-wrapped pots, glaze the inside of the pots and avoid using them […]
Our new house was built in 1920 and is the oldest house I’ve ever owned. I feel like I should turn in my Yankee credentials to admit that fact, but there it is. My childhood homes near Hartford, CT were built in the 1940s and 1980s, respectively. When my husband and I bought our first […]
Before you clean your TV screen, turn off the set and wait till it’s cool. If you don’t, the act of wiping the screen can cause static buildup that will discharge back to your TV, resulting in severe damage. Even if the set is off, don’t touch the controls immediately after cleaning your set. Instead, […]
