Hidden Magnolias

I just got back from my trip to Savannah. It was wonderful! I could bore you with tons of pictures, but I think I will just add my favorite for now. Of course, I spent a ton of $$$ but I had saved up for the trip so it really didn't hurt. But once I got home, I begin to feel a touch of guilt and decided with the holidays coming up to pinch some pennies. I have always been pretty frugal by some standards: I rarely buy Starbucks or other fancy coffees. I always bring my own coffee to work. I never buy bottled water. Our water in our town is really good and if I run it through my fridge filter, it beats anything in a plastic bottle. I take my lunch more often than I don't. And I use small soap slivers until they die. ( see post here ) But can I do better? So, I turned off the radio during my morning commute -- they were just going on and on about the usual -- so I missed nothing. And I pondered. What could I do? With Christmas coming up, I know we will s...

Ok, I know I am a bit behind.... Everyone else has posted an opinion about this... Took me a while to soak it in.... Pantone's Color of the Year: Why is the Pantone color of the year important? Well, decorators will use it in their designs;  fashion designers will use in their clothes; paint stores will have this in their paint collections. It will be splashed every where -- purses, shoes, scarves, pillows, sheets, sofas, chairs, draperies, tee shirts, stuffed animals, and maybe cars, who knows? If you love this color, you will be happy. If you dislike this color, just wait a year and Pantone will pick another color.

With the New Year and having to be inside because of the weather, comes the urge to clean and freshen the house.  The web is full of clever, interesting, frugal ideas for organizing and cleaning. I thought I would share some I have found with you. Mary Beth at Cupcakes and Crinoline  shares an easy, inexpensive soap scum remover. Looks like a winner to me. Angie at The Country Chic Cottage shares a clever way to hide and organize toys. I don't have small children, but I have often seen houses with toys strewn everywhere. And I know some of you have small children or grandchildren. Her ideas here are really clever and decorative. Beth at Home Stories A to Z shows 21 ideas for tidying up that pantry. Now this is one I really can use, my pantry is a wreck. And Carrie, owner of NeatsMart , has a great blog full of ideas for organizing just about anything. I really like her Pinteres...

Every now and then I run across a website that touches me. I found this to be true with 31 Bits .  31 Bits began after a girl, Kallie Doval, had a dream about changing the world. Specifically, by bringing joy and liberation to women living on the other side of the world. From the website: " 31 Bits Designs is a socially minded business designed to give internally displaced women in Northern Uganda an opportunity to counter poverty. By giving our beneficiaries access to the international market, they are able to earn an instant income, providing homes, food, and education for their families. Our program equips women by providing literacy education, financial and vocational training, holistic care, and strong support systems, empowering individuals to further their careers and attain social equity." 31 Bits is not only changing lives but is delivering a beautiful product that I, and I bet you, will love. Scroll to botton to view the video. ...

I have recently read several blog posts, articles, etc. about Happiness. There are small things we can do everyday to increase our satisfaction with life in general. There is even a grassroots movement based on the book by Gretchen Rubin, called The Happiness Project . I haven't read it yet, but it is on my list. I want to share a few things that I do that I think increase my happiness. I am sure there are many more but I am limiting my list to five. 1. Make your bed. Making your bed makes the overall appearance of your room tidy. When you come home from a long hard day and walk into a messy bedroom, your whole attitude becomes one of defeat and despair. Just a made bed provides just enough visual organization to your room to prevent this feeling. And for me, the few times I haven't made my bed, seems like I have drop-in company. Grrr.... 2. Clean your sink. Years ago, I discovered Flylady.net . Her original web...