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Simple Ways To Decorate For Halloween

Simple Ways to Decorate for Halloween

Decorating for the holidays is always fun, but storing decorations for the rest of the year…not so much. Simplifying your decorations can allow you to save precious storage space while maintaining the holiday spirit.

Pumpkins

Whether purchasing from the grocery store or venturing to the pumpkin patch, real pumpkins are a great staple, and if left uncarved, they can last a really long time depending on your climate.

You can also buy them in varying sizes and colors to create beautiful displays on a front porch, tablescape, or coffee table.

Mums

A beautiful flower that truly screams FALL IS HERE! Varying colors and sizes you can spruce up any space and they are not too expensive. There are some mums that are perennials and you can keep in pots over winter. If you have a green thumb and are diligent with your plants, you can keep them for years to come and save yourself a little money every fall on potted flowers.

Check out this article by Better Homes and Gardens on How to Grow Mums in Containers.

A fall front porch — The Lilypad Cottage

Stick on Bats and Spiders

These stick on bats are so cute and I think they are a trend that will stay for a while! They store very easily and the only thing you may need to purchase in subsequent years are extra stickies!

Decorating around an entryway mirror, bookshelves, or a window are fun ways to add a spooky but tasteful touch.

Candles

Again, easy to store or they smell decadent and you burn them up through the holiday. There are so many different styles, black tapered candlesticks, columnar candles for a coffee table or dining room centerpiece, they even have gorgeous skull shaped candles that are very fun.

Using a gold tray or black tray that you can use after the holiday is also a great way to repurpose decor but make it festive.

Artwork

An extremely simple way to decorate without bringing more bulky items into your house is to purchase some halloween, spooky prints that you can easily swap out your existing artwork with. If you have a gallery wall or any pictures on the wall in frames, quickly swapping the photos or existing prints out with holiday themed art is a classy and festive touch!

5 Simple Daily Tasks for a Clean Home

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5 Simple Daily Tasks for a Clean Home

Depending on the size of your home and the number of children you have, your house can get messy quickly. By following these 5 simple daily tasks, you can always wake up and start your day on a positive note.

Tidy up the kitchen

Tidying up the kitchen after dinner allows you to wake up and feel much calmer. Waking up to a sink full of dishes is not conducive to a productive morning. Whenever you are cooking, try to pick up as you go along, then there is much less to do after you have eaten. If it helps to light a candle or throw on some tunes, do it. Make it an enjoyable experience.

Run the dishwasher or do a load of laundry

Depending on the number of people in your family it may make sense for you to do both of these daily. Some utility providers charge you less for power during certain hours, typically later in the evenings. So, if you can run the dishwasher or throw that load of laundry in at night, you can even save money on your utility bill.

Make beds

Making your bed in the morning (and making sure your children’s beds get made) starts the day off just right. It is rather unpleasant to come home after a long day and get into an unmade bed. It feels slightly dirty. So, making your bed makes you feel productive first thing in the morning, and help you feel calm at night when you lay down to rest. On top of all that, it is one of the quickest tasks to complete.

Run cordless vacuum in main living areas

Quickly running a cordless vacuum through the main living areas, especially the kitchen and dining room, helps maintain your house throughout the week. Instead of feeling like you have to do a deep clean every week, you can maintain the floors and possibly do a deep clean every 2 weeks or once a month. Also, there’s nothing worse than waking up to get your first cup of coffee and all of a sudden you have crumbs stuck to the bottom of your feet.

Pick up toys and put loose items away

A simple tidying up of children’s toys (get them involved and ask them to help!) and putting away laundry or mail keep the home feeling much less chaotic. Saving this until the end of the day once the kids are done playing is ideal, otherwise, you will be picking up multiple times and that is not simplifying your day. When you come down in the morning everything is in its place and you can begin the day enjoying your spaces without the clutter.

Don’t get me wrong. This doesn’t always get done but when I keep up with this I always feel like things are less chaotic around the house and I can focus on other tasks and, most importantly, work! It’s important for me to keep the house picked up or else I will constantly be distracted while working from home.

Do you work from home? How do you keep up with your housework?

Simple Sustainable Products You Need To Try

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Simple Sustainable Products You Need To Try

Finding products that are reusable and sustainable are a great way to eliminate excessive waste and can spruce up your home and daily routines.

Reusable Straws

Reusable straws are great for so many beverages. Whether it’s a homemade iced coffee or a beautiful cocktail/mocktail. They are better for the environment, give you the feeling of a classy drink at a restaurant without the soggy paper straw. Save the environment and feel good while doing it.

Dryer Balls

Dryer balls are a great alternative to dryer sheets. They alleviate static while also reducing drying time as the balls lift the clothes while cycling. You may be worried about losing the wonderful scent that the dryer sheets provide to your clothes, but you can always add a few drops of your favorite essential oil to the dryer balls before tossing them in.

Reusable Paper Towels

Although paper towels are great for picking up unpleasant messes or assisting with cleaning bathrooms, reusable paper towels are a great replacement for a regular roll of paper towels for everyday kitchen and dining messes. These are also great for other cleaning tasks like glass, dusting shelves, and polishing tables. Even if you can eliminate a roll or two a month from your waste with these, that is a positive impact on the environment and our landfills.

Washable Makeup Remover Pads

Instead of using disposable cotton pads, try these reusable cotton makeup remover pads. This item comes with its own laundry bag so the pads don’t get lost in the laundry. A simple switch that will, in time, make a large impact.

Reusable Food Storage Bags

There is a great convenience to ziplock bags but the amount of plastic waste that comes with those is astounding. By switching over to reusable food storage bags you not only get a sturdier product, but you can easily clean them.

Refillable Soaps and Cleaning Products

Finding soap dispensers that you love for your bathrooms and kitchen is a great way to eliminate the number of plastic bottles you consume. Purchasing large containers of soap that you can use to refill your dispensers will create consistency and then you know you always have backup soap when you run low. The same goes for cleaning products such as all-purpose cleaners and disinfectants.

Using glass spray bottles is also a great way to create an aesthetic cleaning supply, by throwing on some beautifully made labels you can standardize your cleaning supplies for ease of use. There are some great brands that are implementing sustainable cleaning supplies such as tablets that are added to water. Take a look at these brands: Blueland and Grove Co.

What sustainable products have you been using to limit waste?

Simple Guest Bedroom Must Haves

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Simple Guest Bedroom Must Haves

If you enjoy company, maintaining an oasis for your guests will keep them coming back again and again. Here are some very simple must-haves to maintain a beautiful guest bedroom space.

BEDDING

Having fresh linens will do several things. First, it will make the bed look cozy, inviting, and clean. Second, it also assists with making the room smell nice. Spritzing some fabric spray over the bed before they arrive will also enhance this. Third, you want your guests to have a good night’s sleep and a clean and comfortable bed will help with that.

Personally, I love to have two sets of sheets and blankets for my guest bedroom. There have been countless times where I have guests back to back and being able to strip a bed and throw on an already clean set of bedding has saved so much time. Then I’m not rushing to get laundry done before the next guest arrives. Especially if it’s during a work day.

Crisp, Clean Sheets

300 Thread Count Temperature Regulating – $85

300 Thread Count Organic Cotton – $65

100% Cotton Sheets – $45

Duvet Inserts

A good duvet insert can be a game changer. I have found three at different price points that I think are good choices for anyone! Utopia – $26 is a great budget-friendly option, Apsmile – $132 is pricier but very luxurious!, Alanzimo Goose Feather – $129 and this one has a 30% off coupon bringing it down to $90.

Duvet Covers

Waffle Weave

Textured Chambray. I love a little bit of texture to a start white bed.

Simple and Clean

Comforters

Great if you despise pulling off and putting on duvet covers! I am guilty of this and therefore only reserve duvets for guest beds because I don’t have to do it every week or two! We’ll see if I change my mind since I love the look of duvets. For something lower maintenance, check out these comforters!

$62

$69

$85

Blanket

Having a blanket, even in the warm months, can provide much needed weight for someone when sleeping. You’d rather provide enough layers than not enough and leave someone cold!

Waffle

I love the pattern and texture. This would be a great summertime blanket for the added weight without the excess heat.

Cooling

Bedside Lighting

Bedside lighting that is easily accessible to turn on and off at the bedside is important. You don’t want to have someone fumbling across the room in the dark trying to reach a light switch, especially when they may have their suitcases out on the floor.

$56

$72

$51

Bedside Charging

Providing bedside charging for your guest is a nice touch. They will likely be plugging in several products (ie. phone, watch, laptop, etc) and having an easily accessible port on each side of the bed will make them feel like they are at a resort.

$15

$15 – but there’s a 10% coupon!

$22

Basket of Travel Sized Toiletries and Toothbrushes

A cute basket with complimentary toiletries (full size or travel!) as well as some extra toothbrushes is a warm welcome for your guest. There are so many cute ways that you can display these in the guest room, and having a larger basket filled with towels and toiletries can make it feel like a little goodie bag!

Wicker Baskets – $35 for a 2 pack

Woven Storage Box – $30

Woven Basket – $50 set of two!

Towels

Clean, quality towels are a must. Always ensure you have these cleaned and laid out in their room, as well as extras in the bathroom they will be using. This should include large bath towels, hand towels, and washcloths. Whether you use on or not, having all of the standard options is important when you don’t know your guest’s preferences.

Cotton Ribbed – $45

Stripe Texture – $45

Classic Luxury – $50

Wifi Information

How many times have you gone somewhere and had to ask what the wifi information is? Having it on display in their room is a nice feature and allows them to connect on all of their devices without asking you several times.

Customizable

Acrylic Farmhouse Style

Wooden Tabletop Chalkboard

Hair Dryer

A hair dryer is just one more bulkier item that your guest doesn’t want to pack. Having one available for them is just a nice gesture. Also, they may be wanting to try a new styling tool and you may just have provided their new favorite!

$11

$48

$43

Creating an oasis requires you to look inward and think about what makes a vacation or a stay away from home relaxing and comfortable. What items do you like to be provided when you stay somewhere?

The Beauty of Minimalist Decor

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The Beauty of Minimalist Decor

Without having a minimalist design, you can have minimalist decor. This can be great, especially when you have kids that love to get into and touch everything. In this case, less is more when it comes to decor. This can also help simplify your cleaning routine because there is typically less dusting to do.

Artwork

Try hanging more of your art on the walls, instead of cluttering counter space with trinkets and picture frames. This is not to say that you can’t have any decor, but if you do, keep it larger and on higher shelves to draw the eyes up and avoid sticky child fingers or mischievous pets. See some of the digital print shops and frames I love below.

Storage

Look for baskets and cabinets in order to hide toys, books, and other cluttering items around the house. This gives you a dedicated place to store items and also keeps them out of eyesight. Simplify the aesthetic without giving yourself more work, ie organizing or tidying up items that are constantly in view.

Bed, Bath & Storage For Less – Baskets & Bins Under $10

$9 at Targ et

Check out the Brightroom line at Target

HomeGoods

2 for $49.99 at Amazon

Clean Lines

Creating clean lines in your home can help you feel organized and tidy. This can be particularly impactful in the kitchen. Avoid cluttering your countertops with trinkets, particularly if you have a smaller kitchen. Some things will be unavoidable and you also want to keep out items you use daily in order to simplify daily processes, but the beauty of a cleared countertop makes cleaning easier and allows for more prep space. Check out some of my favorite countertop essentials.

Nespresso $387

Oil Dispenser $20

KitchenAid Stand Mixer $379

Dish Drying Mat $11

Knife Block Set $350

Muted Tones and Pops of Color

Establishing a color scheme for your home that is consistent throughout can be helpful when choosing larger items and paint. This allows you to change up your decor ie. pillows, throws, and artwork with pops of color to line with the seasons or changes in style without feeling like you need to start a room from scratch.

Small Decor

When it comes to dining and coffee tables, simple staples such as books, candles, vases, and trays can be simple and clean. These elements can warm up a space and give an opportunity to present your unique style. Bringing in easy-to-replace items allows you to change things up throughout the year without feeling wasteful.

Candles are a great addition to a space and they have a purpose, bringing warmth, comfort, seasonal or holiday sensations, and can be absolutely beautiful. Candle jars can also be repurposed for use as planters, pencil holders, vases, or other crafting ideas.

You can be as minimalist as you like. As long as your space makes you happy, that’s all that matters. I am happy when I feel content and keeping things minimal, clean, and helps draw the eye around the room without being overwhelming, does that for me.

Simple Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home

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Simple Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home

Take out the trash regularly

Keeping your home smelling fresh and clean can be difficult with kids and pets (and messy ones at that). With constant cooking, activities, and running to and from events, odors can build up and cleaning may not be the easiest source of a refreshing smell. Here are some quick tips to keep your home smelling fresh and clean throughout the weeks.

You may have a great trash can, but emptying your trash regularly will greatly eliminate even the slightest of odors. Having a smaller trash can with bags that you take out more often will help a lot without wasting space in the trash bag. This will vary depending on your waste production, the size of your family, and the convenience of bringing your trash to the trash bin.

I love that this one is pet proof! Big problem in our house!

$129

You can’t beat those ratings!

$149

Love an under-the-cabinet pull out trash. I bought something similar from The Container Store (needed a shallow depth) and bought a second as a dog food holder!

$79

Fresh Air

Allow fresh air in whenever you have the opportunity. Some crisp cool air can eliminate any lingering odors in your home and help you feel refreshed as well. In the fall and spring, it helps set the tone for a beautiful candle.

Candles

Clean, fresh scented candles set a mood any time of day. Finding scents that you love can make a huge impact on a space. Check out my seasonal favorites in this post. Manly Indulgence candles are a year-long favorite of mine. Fresh Shave and Oak Barrel are my current go-to’s.

This jar is beyond stunning, and the scent is a beautiful floral springtime experience.

You can sometimes find these at HomeGoods for cheaper too! I always check when I’m in there.

Threshold Candles are great. I love the wood wick. It creates such an amazing experience with the crackling sounds.

Stovetop Potpourri

There are so many beautiful stovetop potpourri recipes on Pinterest. A personal favorite is the Williams Sonoma scent, however changing them out for the seasons is a great way to get into holiday spirits.

Fabric Spray

Spritzing a little odor eliminator or scent spray on some of your furniture can help lift pet odors and leave behind a fresh scent. Focusing on the main pieces in your house that have the most traffic will help maintain a fresh smell. Freshening up your bed in between sheet changes can also leave your bedroom feeling refreshed and clean.

Air Fresheners

Air fresheners are an easy way to keep a scent lingering throughout your space all day and night. With the ability to adjust the power of the device to distribute the smell, these can last weeks before the scent pod needs to be replaced.

Diffuser

Having a diffuser is great because you can concoct your own scents using various essential oils. On top of that, if you live in a drier climate, they also act as a small humidifier. There are so many kinds and sizes to choose from depending on the size of the room or the style you are looking for.

Having a fresh smelling home can make your home feel cleaner, even if it’s a mess!

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Simple Ways to Decorate for Halloween

Pumpkins

Mums

Stick on Bats and Spiders

Candles

Artwork

5 Simple Daily Tasks for a Clean Home

Simple Sustainable Products You Need To Try

Simple Guest Bedroom Must Haves

The Beauty of Minimalist Decor

Simple Tips for a Fresh-Smelling Home

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