Doorway Curtain Cuts Drafts, Heat Loss

Put a curtain in the doorway cause I feel I'm going to freeze. This isn't a CCR mashup. It's a solution I invented to combat our incredibly drafty back mud room. Drafty is an understatement. It's a frigid arctic ice station. The "walls" are a patchwork of drywall, panel, and Styrofoam, presumably for insulation. There are inch wide gaps between seams. I'm surprised the cat can't squeeze through.  Read on Put a Curtain in the Doorway Cause I Feel I Am Going to Freeze

Free Printable Jesse Tree Coloring, Ornaments for Advent

Are you Catholic or protestant Christian? If you celebrate a Bible Christmas, you might want to try this idea. Set up a Jesse Tree. During Advent, many Christians decorate their homes with religious holiday decor. The Jesse Tree is an ancient symbol that traces the lineage of Jesus through the Bible. It comes form the passage "A root shall spring up from the stump of Jesse's lineage'. This Bible passage foretells the birth of the Messiah. During Advent, symbols are hung on the Jesse Tree to represent the story of Jesus. For free printable Jesse Tree devotional activities and ornaments, read on.Free Printable Jesse Tree Coloring, Ornaments and Activities

Recycle Maps, Book Jackets, Magazine Covers for Wall Art

Holiday decorating is the perfect time to start thinking redecorate or remodel. While you're about the task of moving furniture and cleaning, make your work multitask. Plan your post holiday decor. Here are green, recycled options for wall art: maps, book jackets and magazines.

I am a map-ophile. I should have been a cartographer, surveyor or navigator in another life. I could stare at maps all day and now I can when I rehang maps as wall art or wall covering. Save old maps and pull out maps from National Geographic, Conde Nast, Smithsonian and other travel/culture magazines. I was given several years worth of National Geographic. Besides making fabulous lesson plan material for homeschool and my classroom, I collected about two dozen maps. Hang maps from different regions and time periods. Maps are large enough to use for entire wall coverings. Paper the den, office or bathroom with maps for a bold, literate decor. Green Spring Cleaning and Decor Tips: Recycle Maps, Book Jackets, Magazine Covers for Wall Covering 

Tightwad Mama's Common Sense Christmas Shopping

I have a long shopping list of people to buy for at Christmas. I buy several church giving tree gifts. I'm also a tightwad mama. Here are penny pincher shopping tips to save money, keep costs low and buy meaningful gifts for everyone. Lesson number one if you decorate for Christmas or any holiday, keep it simple. Make your own decorations. Use recycled materials. Print decorations from the internet. Make them with kids and old folks. Everyone wins. Read on Tightwad Mama's Common Sense Christmas Shopping Tips

Printable Halloween Party Decorations, Banners, Streamers, Table Decor

Hosting a kids' Halloween party? Looking for ways to decorate the house
for trick-or-treat? Want to decorate your classroom for Halloween? Here are free printable Halloween decorations. We got your witch, pumpkin, ghost, black cats, monsters, bats and more.   Free Printable Halloween and Trick-or-Treat Party Decorations, Banners and Streamer

Electric Paint Sprayer for Masonry Bricks

My husband is a jack-of-all-trades and master of some. His handyman prowess has saved us tens of thousands in repairs and professional services. So whatever new tool he needs or wants, he gets. He's very frugal--too much so, worrying about buying himself what he needs. I remind him that we're saving like 80 percent having him do it and he shouldn't cut himself short on supplies. His current big project is painting the house. We had the top half (wood) sided in aluminum but were advised to paint the bottom half which is masonry. If you're planning to paint any brick work, here's a tip: buy an electric paint sprayer. Why? Several reasons. Painting Brick, Masonry--Use an Electric Paint Sprayer

Appliance Cleanups to Lower Energy Use, Save Money

Home maintenance isn't just about decorating. You've gotta take care of that pretty house once you've done the work to make it nice. And appliance maintenance is an important part. Malfunctioning appliances can damage homes, cost you money, even endanger the family. We recently discovered a little disconnect that caused big problems with our air conditioner. Maintenance was nothing more than cleaning something overlooked. It costs energy and money when simple steps are skipped. Here are commonly-overlooked cleanups to improve appliance performance and save cash!  Appliance Cleanups to Lower Energy Use, Save Money