Fall Finds for a Cozy Home: Transition Between Summer and Fall

Fall is a great time to really start to focus on home. There's a cozy factor I think people fall in love with as the weather starts to turn and there is a real desire to take advantage of the cooler weather to feather your nest so to speak and get ready to enjoy being inside those four walls you've created. I know I always put off a lot of home projects during the spring and summer because I would rather opt to be outside, but this time of year always has me turning my focus back on home inside my walls. Here are some of my favorite fall finds.

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10 Habits of Lazy Women Who Always Have Clean Homes

We all have that one friend in our lives. They make cleaning their home look so attainable yet they are so lazy! It might feel like these women never leave the couch from their Netflix show, yet their homes are spotless! You don’t have to be a professional cleaner to have a clean home, in fact, here are habits of lazy women who always have clean homes that you can do yourself! 

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10 Things We Learned from Building a DIY Porch Swing Bed

When I was a kid, our house had a porch swing and it was one of my favorite things. We spent hours on that swing being rocked to sleep by my dad, swinging with friends, and sharing secrets on warm summer nights in the midwest. I have very fond memories of it, with the exception of the one time my dad was rocking my little brother, Ben, to sleep and as he carefully came back inside a bat flew in too. There was an evening of screaming and running from end to end of the house chasing a bat with a broomstick for what seemed like hours. In the end, no one slept much.

We have a covered porch area much like we did when I was a kid, and when I saw the plans from Plank and Pillow for an easy-to-follow DIY porch swing bed, I knew I wanted one! I had purchased outdoor furniture for the back patio about 11 years ago for $10 and had grown tired of it. I was able to sell it on Facebook Marketplace {check this post for more tips for selling your items}for $150, so we used some of the profit on the lumber because, hello, wood is expensive right now! 

Keep reading for 10 things we learned from building a DIY porch swing bed and how we made it our own.

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DIY Geometric Feature Wall on Textured Walls

When we moved into our current home ten years ago, there was one kid's room that was quite a bit bigger than the rest. Since our kids are far enough apart in grade and age that they just kind of trickle out, we decided to let each kid have a turn in that room, starting with the oldest. It's seen a little bit of rock n' roll for our musical oldest and then transitioned to a grey and glam bedroom for our daughter and for the past year, our youngest son has anticipated his sister moving out and has been formulating a plan for the day the room would be his! I mentioned one day that I think it would be cool to put in a geometric feature wall and he agreed! So I'm sharing how we changed a very girly glam room into a masculine teen boy room with some boards on the wall!

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10 Reasons to Stay in a VRBO Rental on Your Next Trip

Hotels have gotten expensive over the years, and I’ve found that many times, they are not worth the price! In a hotel, you are usually stuck with a single uncomfortable bed that was easily three digits, if not more, for your stay! If you travel with your family, no one is happy because everyone is on top of each other with no privacy or break from each other. This separation is the key to a happy family vacation with pre-teens and teens if you were wondering. Not only that, in the current state of the world, having space for your family that allows you a change of scenery from your four walls, a home rental from VRBO will also allow you the ability to get away in a safe way. If you are looking for a new way to stay, try giving a VRBO Rental a try on your next trip! It will change the way you travel. Here are ten reasons why you should stay in a VRBO Rental.

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8 Popular Cleaning Hacks that Don’t Really Work

We all want to make cleaning a little less painful. That’s why we’re always looking for short cuts and simple tips to make the task a little easier. And while there are a variety of amazing cleaning hacks that actually do the job they’re supposed to do, there are also tons of hacks that don’t work at all. That’s why I’m here to help separate the facts from fiction! Here are eight popular cleaning hacks that don’t actually work.

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Keeping Your Family Safe with OneLink Smart Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detector

Thank you Onelink by First Alert for sponsoring this post. Add smart protection to your home with the Onelink Smart Smoke & Carbon Monoxide Alarm.

It started with a beep. I heard it after I walked out of the bathroom that's attached to my bedroom. It came from the carbon monoxide detector that had been sitting quietly in the corner for years. I picked up the detector and rolled it around in my hands. I looked for any sign that there was a low battery that was making it emit the beep but couldn't find any. The carbon monoxide detector had done its job. I called my husband, packed up the kids and we left the house. 

Our home was a few years old when we bought it, and we went through a thorough home inspection. I can only imagine it wasn't the homes first and yet no professional had detected the leak that was happening in our garage when a strange set of circumstances were occurring all at once. Turns out the vent from the furnace wasn't properly sealed and carbon monoxide was being leaked and sucked into our home. The same home we thought was our safe space. 

Things might have ended differently had we not had a carbon monoxide detector to warn us of the dangers and I'll be forever grateful that we had one to keep our family safe. Today I'm sharing everything you need to know about carbon monoxide and how you can protect your family. And why our family home will never be without one!

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How to Make a Large Frame Wood Sign for Under $10!

My favorite projects are always upcycled projects. If you've been reading along for any length of time this wouldn't be a surprise to you. It's part me being super cheap and part resourcefulness. I've always had a knack for being able to see something in a different way. Back when I started to DIY and craft Martha Stewart was big on the scene. I remember one time feeling inspired to create something she had shown on her show only to be disappointed that my limited budget couldn't {and didn't want to!} afford the supplies. I tweaked the project idea Martha Stewart had featured and used supplies I had on hand. The project didn't turn out exactly how Martha Steward had shown, but it had a Rachel flare to it that I liked better. 

I'm sure this is my own memory but it's my memory {and my blog, so roll with me}. One of the projects I remember reading about in the Martha Stewart magazine I flipping through at the library pre-thanksgiving the first year after I got married, had a project that required picking berries and then using them to create a dye that you would then use to color the tablecloth that you hand-stitched. I'm not kidding. I was crafty and resourceful but I wasn't crazy! And that's why I try to focus on real projects here.

It's why the final part of my tagline is real projects {real people, real projects, real life!}. I don't want you to feel like you can't make something. I never want you to feel limited based on your abilities or in your access to materials or heck, even intimidated by the process. The crafts and DIY projects I share are one-of-a-kinds, but they should also help you feel inspired to create your own, one-of-a-kind project using similar items, like this large wood frame sign. I see these all the time at thrift stores and garage sales so I know you have too. And if you don't shop second hand we can't be friends you might just have something similar hiding in storage.  Here's how I made a large frame wood sign for under $10 from an ugly castoff.

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Clean Your Gas Range and Oven Without Chemicals

I don't know of many people that decide to just clean their oven on a regular basis. Heck, to be honest, I haven't cleaned mine since we moved in 8 years ago. I actually bought a huge bottle of this toxic oven cleaner, sprayed it inside and let it sit overnight before I could get in there to do any cleaning. {to be honest, the oven cleaner is better suited as a furniture stripper!} That's probably why I haven't cleaned the range since then. No one has time for a multiple day cleaning project. No one.

But alas, I was pulling my Costco sized lasagna out of the oven and that thing went rogue on me and I spilled the whole thing all over the oven door and inside the racks. I wasn't done cooking the lasagna yet so that stuff got baked on. Awesome. Nothing like a huge spill to encourage you to clean your oven, so the next day I went to work. To be honest, I wasn't sure I could clean my gas range with just steam but dang it if I wasn't impressed. Not a single chemical was used and in under an hour, top to bottom, every nook and cranny was clean. Don't take my word on it, come find out how you can clean your gas range and oven without any chemicals.

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Best Ways to Clean your Refrigerator and Keep it Clean!

There is nothing quite as rewarding as having an organized and clean refrigerator. When a fridge is properly organized it makes it so much easier to navigate. Sometimes though, it just seems easier to ignore the chaos and the gunk. The sticky patch of syrup on the bottom shelf and the little pieces of dried up spinach in the vegetable drawer make you feel as though you might pull your hair out, but you don’t want to spend the time cleaning it. Instead, you just close the door and pretend it’s not there. I know I'm not the only one, so please don't judge my friends.

Occasionally, it is nice to give your whole refrigerator a good scrub down to get all the yucky stuff off. While emptying the entire fridge can seem overwhelming, it is sometimes a necessary evil. The temporary stress you will feel is far more than worth it once you can marvel at your clean fridge. Make that time spent worthwhile and keep your fridge clean longer with these easy tips.

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Grey and Glam Teen Bedroom Makeover DIY

Am I the only one that slowly transforms a room? Please tell me I'm not. I guess they say slowly and surely wins the race right, so if there were a decorating race I'd be coming out ahead maybe. Here's hoping! When we purchased our home nearly eight years ago, there is one of the bedrooms that is quite a bit bigger than the others. Each of our three kids were told that they could take a turn in the big bedroom, with our oldest son having first dibs. He moved out two years ago, and in came my daughter who was ready to make some changes. Once you see the before and after you will see why. It's been a slow transformation over time, but I think the latest update pulls it all together. Come see what we did in this grey and glam teen girl bedroom makeover.

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Selecting the Perfect Dark Navy Paint Color for Your Walls

Without a doubt, I knew that I wanted to paint my dining room with dark navy paint. I'm not afraid of color but after talking to some people who had painted their rooms a bold color, the hardest part of finding the right color is making sure that the color you want actually looks like the color on the walls throughout the day. I wanted my walls to look navy blue. Not navy greenish or navy with purple undertones, I wanted it to be navy blue. Surprisingly, I had a harder time picking a neutral beige than I did a bold color. I'm pretty sure though, I found the perfect navy blue. So if you are thinking of going bold with a navy, I've got the perfect color for you!

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Painting Your Stairway the Easy Way

disclaimer: this post is brought to you by HomeRight. All opinions are 100% my own. 

Paint is one of my favorite ways to transform a room. It doesn't cost a lot of money but it makes a huge impact in a space. That said, painting is not my favorite thing to do. It takes time and some prep work, neither of which I like, but after it's done, the results are long-lasting and I'm always glad I did it. That's not to say that I'm not always looking for an easier way to do it and I think that HomeRight has figured it out for me. Especially when I tackled the stairway in my home recently. I was having panic attacks thinking about our two dogs running through trays of wet paint tracking cute little doggie paws all over our carpet. Not to worry, there was not a single paint tray involved and far less back and forth because of this, the greatest painting invention ever. 

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Master Bedroom Closet DIY Built-In Transformation

My master bedroom closet has undergone the most transformation of any room in our whole house since we moved in nearly eight years ago. It was the one space that had me scratching my head the most. You see, my husband and I both have our own walk-in closets and it's delightful. My husband's closet is in our bedroom and mine is off of our master bathroom. It's long and spacious and bigger than some New York City apartments. But it had these cheap wire rack shelves that made the space nearly unusable. I knew it had potential, and slowly I've been tweaking it so that it can live up to its potential. Why not take a look with me and check out my master bedroom closets transformation. If you have any desire to put in built-ins, this will help answer some of your questions.

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How to Clean a Front-Loading Washing Machine

This post is brought to you by HomeRight. All opinions are 100% my own.

I transitioned from a top-loader to a front-loader about seven years ago and I haven't really looked back.  I don't love that the front-loading washing machine comes with some cleaning and maintenance, but I do love that it's high-efficiency and it uses less water, which is a big thing since our family of five does a LOT of laundry! So why do you have to clean a front-loading washing machine? Because over time residue from your laundry detergent clings to the inside of your washer, especially to the rubber door seals. Those seals grow mold and mildew and that build-up can create an odor that can cause your washing machine to smell and that smell can even transfer to your clothes. And that my friends is why you need to clean your front-loading washing machine. But how? Well, I'm sharing how I quickly and easily clean my front-loading washer with zero chemicals and little to no elbow grease.

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When Should I replace my Windows? Four Signs you Should Look For

This post is sponsored by Sears Home Services. All opinions are 100% my own.
Windows provide more than a view to the outside and light to the indoors. Most of us don't even think about replacing our windows until there is a problem. Did you know that replacing or upgrading your windows can not only increase your home's value but it can also make your home more comfortable and save you money.  I've got some signs that will help you know when it's time to replace your windows.

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Tips and Tricks to Help You Organize Your Cleaning Supplies

This post is written by me on behalf of HomeRight. All opinions are 100% my own. I wouldn't tell you about something I didn't love.
I have a confession to make. I'm a closet hoarder. If I can close a door or a drawer, I'm happy to let the clutter build. I try to clean and organize but in no time things are a mess again. I read something not too long ago that said if you keep cleaning and organizing the same spaces then that's not your problem. The problem is that you have too much stuff. This was my light bulb moment and I started thinking about the areas I have cleaned and organized and those spaces that I have had major purges in, I've noticed have continued to stay clean; places like my desk and my master closet. So I have started the purge and I started in my cleaning closet. I had cleaning supplies scattered through four different areas of my home and now I have them in one location and I'm sharing with you how I organized my cleaning supplies. I'm letting you in on what worked for me and maybe it will work for you too!

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Getting the Most out of Your First Home Security System

This is a sponsored post for MONI Smart Security. All opinions are 100% my own. 

One time, my dad was painting the dining room when two police officers suddenly appeared inside the house. We had just moved into a new home with a security system and had not a single clue how to use it. My dad had pushed the window open for some air and a silent alarm went off, alerting the police. This happened not just once but twice before my parents decided to cut the service. We just couldn't figure out how to make a security system work for our family; we had too many false alarms. Fast forward to several decades later, I now have a home and three kids of my own and it's my desire to make our house a safe and secure place for my family to land. We want to be able to have worry-free holidays away and feel secure when we are at home. I'll be honest though, there was a little bit of an adjustment, but here are some tips on how we learned how to get the most out of our first home security system. 

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DIY a Modern Tree Stump Natural Wood Lamp

I was wandering the aisles of Target like any suburban mom does and I saw a wood vase just sitting there. It was telling me that it wanted to be a lamp. Well, it didn't speak audible words, I'm not crazy. But I looked at it and turned it all around in my hands and was like where the heck is the rest of this? It was just darn near begging to be turned into a lamp. There was a little knot in the bottom back of it that had a hole that would be perfect for the cord to go through and dang, it looked like something I would find in a high-end store. I just knew I could make it without the high-end price and that is what I did. Well, I didn't as much as I instructed my husband to make it. But I supervised. I love how it turned out and wouldn't you know it, a quick google search found similar modern teak lamps for hundreds and thousands of dollars. Now, I wouldn't spend that on a lamp, but you get the point. Why not DIY one and get the look? And that is what I'm going to do. I'll show you step by step how we created this modern tree stump teak lamp and how you can make your own.

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My Mom's Classic Banana Bread Recipe

I remember when I was a freshman in college, my mom came up for a visit and brought a loaf of banana bread. It was gone in a matter of minutes. I never realized how good it was until I was eating dorm food and I had a more refined palate towards anything that didn't taste like cardboard apparently. So maybe that doesn't sound like a ringing endorsement, but I promise you, this classic banana bread recipe is the only recipe you will need. It's always been a crowd favorite and my family often requests it. In the past week alone, I've made four loaves and not a single piece has gone to waste! 

I think some of the best recipes come from vintage cookbooks. I'm especially fond of Betty Crocker cookbooks. This one was a hand me down from my mom. Some of the pages are sticking together and you can flip through and find coupons slipped inside from 1970, but the one recipe I flip to time and time again is this classic banana bread recipe. I'm calling it my mom's classic because this is the recipe she used and now I've passed it on to my family. I promise you, your family will love it too!

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