Showing posts with label diy

Happy Friday and happy Spring friends! Are you excited to welcome in the season of growth, hope and renewal? I always look forward to spring and have been dreaming of all the flowers and herbs I’d plant this year, but at the end of the growing season last year, I knew I needed to find a better and easier way to keep the weeds from taking over and turning my gardening time into such a chore. Like a beacon of hope, I received a book called The Regenerative Garden, which has 80 DIY permaculture projects for the home garden and the biggie for me is a way to reduce weeding! Read on to learn more and to enter the giveaway to win a copy of the book!


Home Garden Help!


80 DIY permaculture projects for the home garden



Happy Friday dear readers. If you’ve followed this blog for long, you know I adore gardening and share lots of nature photos here and on social media.  However,  for today’s review and giveaway, lets go inside out of the sweltering August heat and have a house party! A Houseplant party by Lisa Steinkopf is a perfect book for houseplant lovers and those that want to be. Plus, there’s easy to make DIY projects to help you display your houseplants.


It’s time to Party!

Houseplant Party Book Review and Giveaway

One of the ways I invite each new season into my home is by changing up my tablescapes. I do this by adding seasonal touches like flowers in pretty vases and containers, textural items like raffia and ribbons and of course lots of color found in nature during the current season. When I received an invitation to work with Hy-Lite acrylic craft blocks, I immediately started thinking of festive, seasonal vases. I received three complimentary Hy-Lite acrylic craft blocks that I used to make a spring, summer, and fall vase that I hope will inspire you to try this fun DIY.



 Easy DIY Seasonal Vases with Hy-Lite Acrylic Craft Blocks


This may come as a surprise to some of you, but I love going to Home Depot! Especially with my husband. He knows all the local stores layouts like the back of his hand and can spot of great deal from a mile away. He waits for big ticket items like power tools to go on sale, much like I await furniture and home goods sales. Case in point, just last night, we were at Home Depot to purchase a new air compressor that was a pre-black Friday deal. While there, I started taking mental notes of other tools he was wishing he had. If shopping at Home Depot is on your radar this holiday season, my three tips to make the most of Black Friday shopping at The  Home Depot is for you.


Three tips to make the most of Black Friday shopping at Home Depot #ad

Wordless Wednesday: Shades of Blue

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, March 21, 2018



Fish Tank with Blue Fish




Take time to be creative this month

in , , , , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Wednesday, January 03, 2018
I adore January for a multitude of reasons. My youngest daughter was born this month.  Linens and home goods are on sale this month. I get to plan and organize a lot of things in January. Filling out new calendars and planners for the year is time well spent in my opinion. As I was organizing my stack of planners and notebooks, I noticed I had several craft and hobby books I needed to find a home for as well. That’s when I realized that unless I made time to be creative this month (and every month of the year), I would need to block out time to allow myself to enjoy hobbies and creative endeavors.  January is the perfect time to be creative! Dust off one of your hobbies, or start a new one. Read on for some creative ideas.


take time to be creative this month


Hello my friends! I've missed you. I took some much needed time off from writing and creating here to get my family and I prepped for summer, which officially starts tonight. Hello summer! Today I'm seeing red, a beautiful true red inspired from crazy good summer fruit like strawberries and watermelon. Take a look at my Color of the month for June inspiration and collab board below.


fresh sliced strawberries true red

It may be hard to believe, but the Smurfs will be 36 years old this September. I can remember watching the Smurfs cartoon on Saturday mornings with my nieces. While they liked Papa Smurf, it was Smurfette that my little nieces adored.  Fast forward to 2017 and Smurfette is getting ready to go on an epic adventure in Sony Pictures Animation 3D movie SMURFS: The Lost Village coming to theaters April 7th



This is a sponsored post on behalf of Review Wire Media for Sony Pictures. I received information to facilitate my review as well as a promotional item to thank me for my participation.


SMURFS:The Lost Village movie #swag giveaway



This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #yougottabekittenme #CollectiveBias

It’s important to me as a homemaker to make my home pleasant to be in.  I’m usually on top on my daily and weekly chores, but there was one area of my home that was, how shall I put this delicately, a total cat-tastrophe! Yes people, I’m talking about the often messy and smelly litter box area in my home! Thanks to today’s sponsors, Sam’s Club and Fresh Step Total Control litter with the power of Febreze  for helping me with this easy litter box area DIY!


Kitty approved litter box area DIY #yougottabekittenme #Cbias #ad



I’m happy to say this kitty-approved DIY project took me less than an hour once I got all my supplies in place. I love how clean and fresh this area is now, but that wasn’t always the case. This next photo is hard to share and is not kitty-approved.



Messy litter box area #yougottabekittenme #CBias #ad


I love my cats, but Dottie and Fiona make their litter box area a smelly, litter ridden mess zone! I try to stay on top of it, but honestly, I was ashamed of this out-of-the-way bathroom. We have three full baths in our home, so if company came over, I would quickly clean the cats’ box, spray air freshener and leave the door ajar only wide enough to allow the cats entry. 


The first step to my DIY was to stop the odor and litter tracking, so I switched back to Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter and even upgraded by purchasing the 42 pound bag of Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter, which is currently available only at Sam’s Club. If you are a Sam’s Club member, this litter is really easy to find in the store. In my Sam’s Club, it’s in the back of the store nearing the bakery.  


Fresh Step at Sam's Club #yougottabekittenme #Cbias #ad


Sam’s Club members receive a discount of $3.50 off their purchase on this item in May. This savings is offered in the Instant Savings book and is already loaded to your member’s card. Savings and convenience? Thank you, Sam’s Club! And a huge thanks to Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze for upgrading their litter!

Did you know that Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze includes Borate Technology for superior ammonia control? Plus, it acts as an antimicrobial agent to inhibit odor-causing bacteria and clumps to ease litter tracking! Seems this company knew just what we cat parents needed to help stop those awful #yougottabekittenme moments!  You can learn more about Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze by visiting their site here


The second step to this litter box area update was to pick up new items. I wanted the kitty bathroom to look clean and fresh like my other baths, so got bought a new shower curtain, shower floor liner, scented trash bags, a new litter scoop and a cute caddy for all the supplies to fit into.


#yougottabekittenme litter box area supplies #CBias #ad



The third step was to clean the litter box area. Ugh. That was a chore, but so well worth the effort!

Clean litter box area #yougottabekittenme #CBias #ad


The fourth step was fun because I got to pretty up the space! I cut my liner to fit the floor and added a piece on the shelf for an extra splash of color and to keep the kitty supply caddy from slipping. I hung the light and airy shower curtain (that I can partially close when company comes), and then put the litter box back in its proper location.


The fifth step was organizing the kitty supply caddy with all the supplies needed to keep the litter box clean and smelling fresh. I placed the area air freshener up out of the cats reach, added a scented trash bag to one of the caddy’s holders for the litter scooper, put in the scented bags and added a gallon size bag of Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter to the supply caddy so anybody in the family helping with the cats can add a scoop or two of litter as needed without having to heft up a 42 pound bag of litter.



Voila! My easy DIY litter box area is complete.

clean and fresh litter box area #yougottabekittenme #CBias #ad



Now I have a clean and fresh kitty bathroom that I won’t be ashamed of if company decides to peak down the hall. And thanks to Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze litter this area smells as great as it looks! 



I'd also like to give my sponsors Fresh Step Total Control with the power of Febreze and Sam's Club another big round of applause for providing me $100 to donate to a pet-related organization of my choice! I participated in a local charity event called the Big Pay Back where my $100 donation to The People for Animals was doubled! This will help many cats and dogs in my community have better lives. Thank you, thank you!



Please share in comments: Do you have cats? How do you keep their litter box area clean? 
March is a perfect time to start a new hobby as the days get longer and warmer. For me, nothing soothes the soul quite like making something with your hands. Whether your craft style leads you to the kitchen to cook, the kitchen table to craft,  or to the garden to work in the soil, everybody can be crafty. Yes! Even you! 

This post contains affiliate links and I may receive compensation depending on your actions.

Some of my friends don’t think they have the time or skills to do a craft properly, so I wanted to share some amazing free mini-courses offered online at Craftsy. 


DIY Chalkboard supplies crafts, supplies, fun
Easy Chalkboard Craft

At Craftsy you can:

“Explore DIY classes with hours of professionally-produced content for free! Learn a new skill in art, cooking, photography, knitting, crochet, quilting, sewing, woodworking, gardening, cake decorating and much more.


For instance, in March my thoughts turn to gardening and sprucing up our outdoor space. I logged on to Craftsy, went to gardening and found this great free class on transforming your garden design, something I really want to do this year since my front flowerbeds have grown and matured since we moved here years ago and need help.


Free gardening design class online



If gardening isn’t your thing, you’ll find over 40 different free classes available. I found a beginner cooking class that will help any beginning cook feel better in the kitchen. Some of us seasoned cooks could probably find helpful tips from this lesson as well.


Free cooking class fix cooking mistakes



I love all that Craftsy offers, from their helpful FAQ’s, instructors who are so willing to go the extra mile to help you, to their Guarantee.



Craftsy class guarantee, never expries



Win It: National Craft Month Giveaway at Craftsy!


National Craft Month Giveaway


In honor of all of us who love to make things with our hands, Craftsy is giving away a special mystery box full of craft supplies, valued at $700! Entering is easy when you join and there is no purchase necessary. 

Head on over to Craftsy.com now and follow their instructions.  


Good luck and happy crafting! 




Please share in comments: What is your favorite craft and have you started on a project this month?

Easy DIY Flea Deterrent

in , , , , , by Linda A Kinsman, Tuesday, August 26, 2014

Somehow our home and pets managed to get fleas this summer.  We are unsure where the original fleas came from because we have had indoor cats in our family for close to a decade and never had a flea problem. Regardless of how we got them, I had to make them go!  I started researching safe methods of killing fleas without harming cats, family and belongings. 

I read several stories of success using plain table salt.  The instructions sounded simple enough: Cover your carpet with table salt and leave it on for three days. The fleas eat the salt, which so severely dehydrates them that they die. You leave the salt on the floor for three days, then wait 24 hours and do the whole process again and supposedly, within two weeks’ time, your home is flea free. 


Our Princess Cat Dottie
Dottie

I liberally doused our carpeted rooms with salt, assuring my curious cats that this was for the greater good.  They were dubious at best.  

Six or seven hours into day one of Salt O’ the carpet and my oldest Cat Dottie, took to higher ground, refusing to walk on any salted/carpeted area. She would run at break neck speed from point A to point B and stayed on hardwood -tiled surfaces when at all possible. I felt so bad for her. 

My husband and kids didn’t care for the crunchy feel of salt between their toes either, so by day two, I vacuumed up the salt. We did see a small difference in the fleas, so I knew I’d have to come up with a better solution. That’s when I decided to combine the Carpet fresh product my cats and family don’t mind with salt to see how it worked.


DIY flea deterrent #salt #carpetfresh


This is a super simple DIY project.

  • Use at least 1/3 box of Carpet Fresh Pet Fresh to make room for salt.
  • Add regular table salt to fill the box of Carpet Fresh. I used a small kitchen funnel aligned to the holes on the top of Carpet Fresh box.
Add salt to carpet fresh #DIY flea deterrent


  • Shake well to mix ingredients.
  • Sprinkle the mix liberally on carpet and let sit for as long as you can. I aim for at least 30 minutes.
Shake on liberal amount of #DIY flea deterrent


  • Then vacuum up.


Vacuuming daily, or at least every other day is a major key to breaking the fleas’ life cycle, as is the salt. We are using this method in conjunction with Flea medicine recommended by our Vet to combat these little biters. The Vet warned us that this could be an ongoing battle all summer. But at least we aren’t getting bit and our cats seem to be doing better. 


Our little kitty Fiona
Fiona


Now if I could just get them not to be afraid of the vacuum!

Please share in comments: Has your cat or dog ever had fleas? What did you do to get rid of them?


Happy January everybody, I hope this finds you all safe and warm. I have been anxiously awaiting this first working Monday of the new year to share this awesome giveaway with you! If you want to upgrade your kitchen faucet, then you will be as happy about this giveaway as I am. I want to sincerely thank Pfister for sponsoring this giveaway by sending me the faucet shown below free of charge to try. All opinions are my own and may differ from yours. 

About Pfister Slate Pasadena Faucet:
MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: Pfisterfaucets
Pfister recognizes a trend in mix and match kitchen design and launches a first to market Slate finish for faucets saying:
In line with the current design focus on finishes and mixed metals, Pfister rounds out the updated kitchen look by introducing its Pasadena faucet in Slate. Slate, a warm, grey metallic finish complements any existing kitchen color palette simply and naturally. Another significant benefit is its Pfinish Guard offering, an innovative matte surface that resists the frequent build-up of fingerprints or water stains. The combination of style and convenience makes the Slate finish ideal for design enthusiasts and homeowners alike.”

Features of the Pfister Slate Pasadena Faucet:

MyWAHMPlan.com
Courtesy: Pfisterfaucets
  • Pull down Faucet with Accudock advanced spray head technology.
  • Secure, tight connection to faucet spout.
  • Two function spray head with stream and spray.
  • Installs with or without deck plate.
  • Complements GE Slate appliances.

I invite you to learn more about this faucet and Pfister by visiting their website HERE and following them on FacebookTwitter and Pinterest.


Our Review:

This is one sleek, stylish faucet that will instantly upgrade your kitchen’s look and feel. My husband had it installed in no time. He was impressed with the high end look and extra touches Psifter added like including the deck plate that has an integrated seal at the bottom which will cover up the extra holes you may have in your old sink and keep it from leaking.

I enjoyed the Oohs and Aahs our new faucet received from family at Christmas! It really does look wonderful in our kitchen and goes well with our Stainless sink. 

Here’s our sink before our upgrade:

MyWAHMPlan.com


And After:


MyWAHMPlan.com


Doesn’t our new Pasadena faucet look great? Want one for your kitchen? Then enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway below. Entering is easy. Once you click on the first “easy entry” option, other entry fields will become available. No purchase necessary. Open to U.S. residents 18+. My WAHM Plan is not responsible for prize fulfillment.
a Rafflecopter giveaway


Good luck!

Please share with me in comments, what do you love about your kitchen? For me, it's the view from my window and being able to have a table and chairs in the main kitchen area.


Disclosure: I received one or more of the products or services mentioned above for free in the hope that I would mention it on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be a good for my readers. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's 16 CFR, Part 255: "Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising."
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