Do you find yourself so busy in the days leading up to Christmas, that before you know it, the day comes and goes, and you didn't get to enjoy the holidays? This year is going to be different, because I'm sharing 9 ways to help beat holiday stress. How to Manage Holiday Stress Before we can manage holiday stress, it's important to understand what causes holiday stress. Common Holiday Stressors Extra responsibilities - We already have busy schedules which makes the extra ... VIEW POST
How to Beat Holiday Stress
21 Clever Ways to Repurpose Glass Jars
I never throw away good glass jars. From candle jars to salsa jars to pickle jars, every time we empty one, I remove the label, wash the jar and stow it away with the others because there are so many ways to repurpose glass jars. Reusing Glass Jars in the Kitchen Measuring Cups - The jars with measuring lines are perfect to use as a measuring cup. I keep a couple on hand for measuring liquids, especially if it's a small amount. Food ... VIEW POST
How to Store Cloth Napkins
Oh how I wish that we still gathered together for dinner in the dining room every evening, Downton Abbey style... But, we don't. At least, not in the Hines house. Most of the time our dining room serves as a study/office, but I still like to have certain things close by, ready for entertaining, which is how I happened upon a clever idea for cloth napkin storage. Clever Cloth Napkin Storage So, when I was reorganizing the kitchen, I moved the cloth napkin storage to the dining ... VIEW POST
19 Cozy Autumn Books to Curl Up With This Fall
Curling up with a good book is always a good idea, but there's just something about Autumn that makes it even more inviting. So, grab a blanket, get a warm drink, and pick a comfortable spot to settle in with any one of these cozy books. 19 Cozy Books to Add to Your Fall Reading List I've gathered a few new releases, some classics, and several titles from indie authors you should know about. This list of books, from fantasy to historical fiction to romance (and more), is sure to ... VIEW POST
How to Throw a Dinner Party at Home
Dinner party. Entertaining. Th idea of hosting a dinner party is enough to strike panic through the hearts of many, but it doesn't have to be. When I was single, I fantasized about being a socialite who could entertain her husband's important clients or host fancy dinner parties at a moment's notice. Something about gathering people in a well-decorated dining room with flickering candles and fancy food seemed so appealing, so romantic. Eventually, I learned that's not what hosting is ... VIEW POST
A Holiday Gift Guide for {Almost} Everyone on Your List
Every Black Friday, I'd join the crowds in the holiday rush to buy as many gifts as possible. The only problem was, I would spend all. day. long. shopping with very little to show for it. That's because I didn't necessarily know what I was shopping for. Now, I take the time to create a holiday gift guide well before I go shopping. Not only does it help me shop with intention, it takes some of the stress out of gift giving. A Holiday Gift Guide for (almost) everyone on your list I've ... VIEW POST
16 Fun Things to Do in the Fall
I’ve noticed an inner shift with the start of Fall. It's like the anticipating of cooler, crisp air is inviting me to enter into frivolity and calling me to nest all at the same time. I'm actually surprised at how much I'm looking forward to the Fall season since I usually struggle to let Summer go. But, realizing the fun I'd reserved for Summer can follow me into the new season seems to have given me permission to expand my horizons. Which I fully intend to do as I explore fun things ... VIEW POST
How to Declutter and Organize Your Kitchen Like a Pro
If "declutter and organize kitchen" is on your to do list, you're in luck. I'm sharing my best tips to take the guesswork and overwhelm out of such a big job. Not to mention simplifying your kitchen will help you be more present for all those special moments that happen in the heart of the home. Tips to Declutter and Organize Your Kitchen The idea of decluttering and organizing a kitchen can seem overwhelming. Rightfully so. The kitchen is one of the largest and hardest to organize ... VIEW POST
A Simple Kitchen Table Centerpiece
I'm a sucker for the office supply aisle at target. The owl thumb tacks and dog tape dispenser and gold stapler and the little chalkboard easel caught my eye every single time I was in the store. And, I'd stand there, admiring, looking, and wanting, but I couldn't bring myself to buy any of it, and I'd leave the store thinking, "Maybe next time." Well, next time finally came and so one afternoon, with me, myself and my gift card, I walked into Target and headed straight to the office ... VIEW POST
Holiday Entertaining Tips: How to Throw a Good Holiday Party
Although the gathering may be smaller and more intimate this year, many of us will be opening our homes to friends and family this holiday season. So, I've put together a guide of my top holiday entertaining tips to put you at ease and make your guests feel right at home. Holiday Entertaining Tips From having a place to put your guests' belongings to picking out an outfit for you, this guide includes all the important details for holiday party planning. Stress Free ... VIEW POST
How to Deal With Family Drama During the Holidays
We tend to cross our fingers and hope to avoid family drama during the holidays. I get it. I’ve been at holiday gatherings gone wrong. 6 Tips for Dealing With Family Drama During the Holidays I was feeling anxious about a particular holiday get together. I love the people, but wasn't willing to subject myself to the dysfunction I'd grown weary of. So, I talked to my then counselor about how to handle it. We came up with three tips for surviving the ... VIEW POST
Fall Decluttering Tips for a Cozy Home
The secret to creating a cozy home for Fall starts with decluttering. So, let's take our cue from the falling leaves to let go of what is no longer serving us and prepare for the season ahead. My simple fall decluttering tips will help you get started. Practical Fall Decluttering Tips Decluttering your home for the Fall is a great way to make room for family traditions and holiday celebrations. But how do you start decluttering? Grab some bins, bags, or baskets to collect items ... VIEW POST
Self Care Awareness for the Busy Mom
Everyone keeps saying you should practice self care. You know they're probably right, but as a busy mom, you feel like you don't have time for self care. You may even struggle with feeling like self care is selfish and wondering if it's really all that important. The short answer is, it is. So, let's dive into the world of self care awareness to answer your questions so you can start a self care routine. Self Care Awareness for Busy Moms Making time for yourself as a busy mom ... VIEW POST
7 Proven Ways to Get Back in a Routine
The past several months have all of us wondering how to get in a routine. I've actually felt that way on many occasions; with change of every season, when I quit my job, and more recently while my parents were living with us. The other day while I was running errands, I noticed I wasn't as anxious as I'd been over the past several months. Life felt a little more settled. I knew it was because I was settling into a routine. Something I've had to learn to do many times in my life. ... VIEW POST