Easy to Grow Shade Loving Perennials for your Garden

Shade gardening doesn’t mean you can’t have a lush colorful garden. There are several easy to grow plants that will thrive in shady conditions and provide a powerful punch of color in your garden.

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Company’s Coming – How to Prepare for Overnight Guests Without Killing Yourself

Do you dash around like a crazed person trying to get everything ready the day your guests are arriving? Are you an exhausted mess by the time they show up at your front door? Taking time a few days prior to their visit to make small preparations will really pay off in a big way. It will allow you to relax and actually enjoy spending time with your guests. Plus, your guests will enjoy their stay all that much more! If you are happy and relaxed, they will be happy and relaxed as well.

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Kitchen Essentials – 10 Tools Every Home Chef Needs

Whether you are baking a pie for the holidays, making soup or cooking a big batch of chili, having the right tools is critical to making good food.

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Nancy’s Marvelous Macaroni Salad

A simple recipe that produces an outstanding salad. The secret ingredient gives it a wonderful tanginess that is sure to please! Thank you Nancy for this wonderful recipe!

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How To Easily Summer-ize your Bedding

Learn the formula for creating a bed that is ready for any season, quickly and easily.

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Easiest Most Adorable Birthday Cake Ever!

Want to know how to make this adorable cake? If you are not a master baker but want a cake that won’t take you hours upon hours to create. When you want something a little more special that will impress, then this is the cake for you!

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Lemon Chicken

Tender melt in your mouth chicken cutlets cradled in a bed of creamy mashed potatoes and topped with a tangy, rich, velvety lemon butter sauce. It doesn’t get much better than this recipe!!!!

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How to Cook Bacon

Knowing how to cook bacon is almost as important to master as boiling water! Once you get comfortable with preparing it you can add it to almost anything and make it better. Bacon, in my humble opinion, like butter, has mystical powers.

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The 3 Things You Must Do Before You Start To Decorate Your Home

So there you are standing in a big empty space. It is so exciting to start with a blank slate; it is an opportunity to create a space that you have always dreamt about. Your mind is filled with all the possibilities; so many choices, so many options, it is all so exciting! However, because there are so many choices and so many options, it can quickly become completely overwhelming!

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From Frumpy to Fabulous: 5 Things You Can Do for Free to Update Your Home

Having a beautiful home that you love does not necessarily mean you have to spend a lot of money. There are a few simple things you can do right now that won’t cost you anything. A few simple changes that will make a huge impact on how your home looks and also change how you feel about your home. Are you ready to love your home again?

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How to Paint Wood Furniture Like a Professional

Is your home filled with dated wood furniture? Not the cool vintage stuff, but with dated 80’s yellow oak or knotty pine? Do your dining room chairs look anything like this? Have you been thinking about painting them but not sure how to do it to get the best results? Read on for step by step tips to get a professional finish.

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Is your Home Summer Ready?

Is your home ready for summer? If not, it’s time to lighten things up! Not sure where to start? Keep reading for easy ideas to give your home a summer vibe.

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Are you a Renaissance Woman?

Do you still not know what you want to be when you “grow up”? Have the demands of personal responsibilities forced you to give up something you enjoyed and left little room in your life for you to pursue it? Yet it is always there at the back of your mind making it impossible to forget about it?

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Is Your Kitchen Ready for Summer?

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen like I do, you want easy ideas for bringing summer into your kitchen. Nothing fussy or contrived, just simple, beautiful, practical decor.

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Old Fashioned Stovetop Popcorn

No fancy equipment needed to make this big bowl of light, fluffy, tasty popcorn. Sometimes the old fashioned way really is the best. And everything is just so much better if you add enough butter!

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Are You a Serial Rotator?

I have a deep dark confession to make. Are you leaning in…? Yes, the rumors are true, I am a self-professed “serial rotator.” What exactly is a serial rotator you ask? Do you suffer from this condition as I do? Fortunately, there is no known cure for this ailment. Once you have been stricken with this syndrome, it is incurable. Read on to see if you exhibit any of the telltale symptoms that perhaps you too, suffer from the same condition that I do…

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Amish Fried Apple Turnovers

Who doesn’t love a fresh baked apple pie? I can’t get enough of the cinnamon and apple flavor, I just love it! Problem is, most of us don’t have time to bake a pie from scratch when we get a hankering for a slice of pie. Don’t settle for a mediocre store bought pie. These turnovers will satisfy your apple pie craving with little fuss.

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Master the Formula for Setting a Beautiful Table

Today I want to share the formula I use for setting a pretty weeknight table. A formula that works equally well for a simple weeknight meal for your family, or a fancier dinner for entertaining friends. What if I told you it only takes a few minutes to create a lovely table for any occasion? Are you interested? Are you ready to give it a try?

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Spam Fried Rice

That iconic canned meat, SPAM. How do I love thee? Fried, definitely fried! Adding Spam to fried rice? Turns out it’s a super tasty addition!

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Adding the Secret “Wow” Factor to Your Home

What if I told you that you can take your home from ho-hum to fabulous by adding only one thing. What if I told you it only takes a few minutes and will cost you little to nothing to achieve? In fact, you probably already have everything you need. So what is this magical thing that will take your home from ho-hum to fabulous with just a few minutes of your time? Read on to find out…

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Spicy Chicken Noodles

A surprisingly tasty simple meal to prepare that packs a flavorful asian punch. This meal comes together in about 20 minutes using ingredients you probably already have on hand in your fridge and pantry.

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Affordable Master Bath Room Remodel

They say that bathrooms and kitchens sell a home. Renovating a bathroom takes a lot more time, energy and money than other rooms in the house. If you have the energy, and some basic skills, most homeowners can tackle the majority of a bathroom reno themselves, and save thousands of dollars. Read on for tips on how to make a bathroom reno a reality…

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Mama Rita’s Amazing Salsa

Do you ever find an appetizer at a party that is so unexpectedly amazing, that you indulge in way more of it than you should? It’s so darn good, you just can’t stop eating it? Well this is one of those recipes and it’s made with the most unexpected ingredient.

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Hungarian Goulash with Sour Cream Chive Biscuits

Add drop biscuits to Hungarian Goulash for a delicious twist on a perennial classic Hungarian dish. If you can get your hands on some authentic Hungarian Paprika it will make this dish even better! My mother’s was the best, but this recipe comes pretty darn close to hers!

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How to Add Architectural Details to Create a Craftsman Inspired Bathroom

Paint has the ability to transform a space like almost nothing else can. But taking a little extra time and effort to add some architectural details to your space can result in a stunningly beautiful room that won’t cost you an arm and a leg.

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Sesame Chicken Noodles

This healthy meal comes together in the time it takes to boil the noodles. A tangy asian inspired meal, with a touch of heat. You can leave out the chicken for a vegetarian meal or customize with your choice of fresh veggies. Simple ingredients that pack a powerful punch of flavor. Give this one a try, I’m betting you’ll love it as much as we do.

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BEER-GA-RITAS AKA STRIP & GO NAKED’S

Today I want to share one of my all-time favorite drink recipes! Beer-ga-rita’s, aka, Strip & Go Naked’s. I’ve been making them for years when we entertain and they are always a big hit! They are tart, tangy, refreshing and so, so easy to make! They go down really smooth, so be careful! You’ve been warned! 

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Beefy Taco Bake

Try this tasty Mexican dish for Cinco de Mayo. It’s also perfect for those evenings when you want to serve something that your family will love but you are short on time. A few simple ingredients come together quickly to make an easy, delicious, Mexican inspired dinner. Ole!

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All About Awesome Artichokes

I always wonder about the brave soul that figured out how to eat an artichoke. So much of it is inedible, but the edible parts and the heart? Heavenly!

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How to Make the Perfect Baked Potato

The lowly spud, often maligned for its carb laden deliciousness. Oh, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways…baked, roasted, boiled, fried, mashed…

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Day 19 – Elevate the Everyday

Are you a night owl or an early bird? When was the last time you stopped long enough to enjoy a sunrise?

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Day 18 – Elevate the Everyday

Appealing to your sense of smell is a great way to elevate your day. Do you like to burn scented candles? Bake cookies? Open the windows to air out your house? What is your favorite way to make your house smell good?

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Day 17 – Elevate The Everyday

If you are on a budget and don’t have an affordable car wash in your area, you can easily do it yourself in under an hour…

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Day 16 – Elevate the Everyday

Is your closet a disaster? Do you keep the doors closed because you are holding back an avalanche? Today I am challenging you to finally tackle organizing your closet…

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Day 15 – Elevate the Everyday

Studies show spending 30 minutes a day outdoors is good for you! What is your favorite outdoor activity?

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Day 14 – Elevate the Everyday

The ultimate splurge, hand crafted soaps that look and smell good enough to eat!

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Day 13 – Elevate the Everyday

Whether you are a bath person or a shower person, every so often it’s nice to make time to indulge in a leisurely hot soak in the tub.

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Day 12 – Elevate the Everyday

Pull together a small grouping of seasonal items to create a vignette that will bring a smile to your face for days to come.

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Day 11 – Elevate the Everyday

God puts on the most magnificent light show everyday, but we get so busy we often don’t even notice.

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Day 10 – Elevate the Everyday

Time to put away the boots and shoes and pull out the sandals. Go elevate your day, and pamper yourself with a pedicure to get your feet looking sandal ready!

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Day 9 – Elevate the Everyday

I love the smell of freshly laundered sheets and using a linen spray keeps your bedding smelling fresh between laundering.

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Day 8 – Elevate the Everyday

Are you always wishing for something else in your life? It’s easy to get focused on all the things we don’t have, and all the things we would like to have and forget about all the blessings we already have in our lives.

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Day 7 – Elevate the Everyday

Using cloth napkins instead of paper towels at each place setting instantly elevates your table even when it’s only a casual al fresco meal.

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Day 6 – Elevate the Everyday

Pamper yourself or treat your sweetheart this weekend by having breakfast in bed! Go on…start your day today by elevating your morning!

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Day 5 – Elevate the Everyday

There is something so decadently wonderful about drying yourself off and wrapping yourself in a big white fluffy towel. It’s even better when it’s just been laundered and smells clean and fresh.

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Day 4 – Elevate the Everyday

Adding a few small touches will make an evening meal with your family special. You might be thinking, ain’t nobody got time for that! But I think you do!

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Day 3 – Elevate the Everyday

Are you burning your candle at both ends? When is the last time you spent a few minutes alone to recharge your batteries? It’s hard to find time in our busy days for ourselves, so let’s make the few minutes we have at the end of the day a little more special.

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Day 2 – Elevate the Everyday

There is something special about having fresh flowers in your home. Pick your favorite pitcher or vase to display your bouquet.

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Day 1 – Elevate the Everyday

Are you in the make your bed everyday camp or the what’s the point, its just going to get messed up again tonight camp?

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Elevating the Everyday

Why is it that we save our nice things for company? Why do we not use these beautiful items everyday for ourselves? By doing this are we subconsciously telling ourselves that everyone else is more important than we are? Maybe it’s high time to stop doing this.

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