There are a lot of things that go into keeping a homestead in good shape, and there's almost always work to do. If you've never lived in the country or ran your own homestead, you might be surprised at the extensive list of projects that your average homesteader keeps going in the back of their mind! This month, we'll get a sneak peek at the spring to-do list of longtime homesteader and forum member, Gina, who has a beautiful homestead in Southern Texas where there are always more projects ... [ Read More ]
Budget Homesteading Supplies
I'm decent at budgeting, but like everyone, there are times when things just don't go according to plan: an unexpected expense comes up or I miss a receipt somewhere and end up with mystery money disappearing from my account. So, obviously, it's important to make every dollar count, especially if you're trying to be self-sustaining or simply live a little more simply. Over at Imperfectly Happy, I read this fantastic blog post outlining Dollar Store Home Supplies, and I just had to share it ... [ Read More ]
Homemade Windshield De-Icer
This winter has been a rough one for some places in the US and further north, and I doubt we've seen the last of winter. Where I live, we're getting the first big snow of the year this week, so I thought I'd post a quick recipe for a homemade and chemical-free de-icer for your windshield! You can either use this the night before or spray on top of the ice to help it melt a little faster when you warm your car up in the morning. ... [ Read More ]
White Chocolate Raspberry Muffins
If you're looking for a special breakfast for your sweetie this Valentine's Day, then look no further than these decadently sweet white chocolate raspberry muffins! They are delicious paired with coffee and, I haven't tried it, but I bet that you could substitute the raspberries with blueberries or even strawberries and it would taste divine! ... [ Read More ]
Create a Valentine Date Jar
In this hectic hustle and bustle life, I think that people sometimes forget how to have a good old-fashioned (and inexpensive) date night. While there's nothing wrong with splurging on an expensive evening, I've found that my favorite memories came from spur-of-the-moment, inexpensive dates. So this year, why not create a fun Old-Fashioned date jar for your loved one and fill it with cheap date ideas to do year round! To create your own date jar, find a pretty jar at the thrift store or ... [ Read More ]
Old Valentine’s Day Traditions
Valentine's Day is just around the corner, so I wanted to shoot out a quick post about some of the fun old fashioned traditions associated with the most romantic day of the year. For example, did you know that it was commonly believed that the first bird (or small animal) a woman saw on Valentine's Day would predict what her husband would be like or do for a living? Here are some examples: ... [ Read More ]
DIY Seed Starter Valentine Gift
So, I admit I'm pretty terrible at doing Valentine's gifts for my loved ones. I never know what to get. If you're like me and trying to find something that's both inexpensive and unique, then check out this freaking adorable little Valentine's seed starter from Hands Occupied!! You can get the full instructions and DIY walkthrough here. Personally, I am not the biggest fan of mason jars (I know, I'm awful) so I'd be more tempted to just go to the thrift store and find an adorable cup, glass, ... [ Read More ]
10 Best Homemade Kids Valentines Cards
As a kid, my favorite part of Valentine's Day was finding the perfect little valentine to give to all of my friends and classmates. While you can purchase a whole pack of valentines at just about any store, instead why not have some good old fashioned fun at home and make homemade valentines? Not only will they mean more, but your kids will have a blast making them! Here are 10 of my favorite homemade valentines ideas from around the web: ... [ Read More ]
Homemade Lip Balm Recipe
Well, according to the wisest groundhog in the US, we are in for another six weeks of winter this year, which means cold weather and plenty of chapped lips! One of our awesome forum members recently discovered this fantastic recipe for lip balm and gave it her stamp of approval! I haven't tried it yet, but you can bet I will be soon with all of the cold weather we're expecting this week! The recipe requires: beeswax pellets coconut oil Vitamin E oil Essential oil(s) of your choice ... [ Read More ]
Groundhog Day Winter Weather Predictions
Groundhog Day is this coming Monday, and on that day Punxsutawney Phil, the most famous groundhog in the US, will peek out of his hole in Gobbler's Knob at exactly 7:25 a.m. and predict whether we can expect an early spring or six more weeks of winter. Historically, Phil seems to prefer early winters and has predicted 101 of them since this tradition started in 1887. There are a few years that we don't have any record of Phil's predictions, but he has only predicted an early spring 17 ... [ Read More ]