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Top 30 Homemaking Blogs

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Whether you learned the art of homemaking sitting at your grandmother’s table, mimicking your mom or studying at school, the internet is now where you go to find the answers to the little things. This is especially helpful if you are up in the middle of the night baking cookies for tomorrow’s bake sale and it’s too late to call your mom about a substitute or how long to bake something.

Here’s a list of 30 top homemaking blogs to get your started.  Tell us your favorite in the comments.

  1. 3 Boys and a Dog – Based out of Mobile, AL, 3 Boys and a Dog provides homemaking and homeschooling tips, tricks and freebies for busy moms.
  2. Frugal Family Home – Based out of the Pacific NW, it provides easy recipes, homemaking tips, simple and frugal living advice, as well as sprinkling in a few gardening tips and easy DIY projects too.
  3. This Old House – Provides expert advice on home improvement, renovating, gardening and decorating. Its mission is to demystify the home improvement process and to celebrate the fusion of old world craftsmanship and modern technology.
  4. The Hippy Homemaker – This a blogger writes about aromatherapy, herbalism, DIY beauty, holistic health, green living, and more.
  5. The Humbled Homemaker – A Christian homemaking blog that encourages women to pursue grace-filled, natural living in mothering, cooking, alternative health, and living on a low income.
  6. Cutefetti – Based in Ocala, FL, Dawn is a creative lifestyle blogger who shares home hacks, food, crafts, DIY and easy slow cooker recipes.
  7. A Cultivated Nest – Based in Georgia, you will find all sorts of frugal living tips, budget decorating ideas, gardening tips, recipes from scratch, up-cycling ideas and more on this blog.
  8. Artful Homemaking – It’s goal is to revive the art of homemaking, and inspire women to live beautiful and creative lives. It provides DIY tutorials, free printables, and help for your home and life.
  9. Homemaking Organized – Here you will find a little bit of homemaking advice, some deals and sales, and all the in between. It also provides resources for keeping your home organized.
  10. Welcome to the Woods – Based in Minnesota, this blog features decor, DIY projects, crafts, and design tips for your home on a miniscule budget. It also includes many ways to save money, financial advice and parenting tricks to improve your overall life. If you’re a DIY-er, a decorator, a parent, or just like to save money, you will love this blog.
  11. The Happier Homemaker – Want to make cleaning and organizing your home easier? This blog makes modern homemaking easy, with simple recipes for the everyday cook, household tips and cleaning tricks, and DIY home decor projects.
  12. Heavenly Homemaker – Offer daily encouragement for women in the areas of faith, healthy eating, family friendly recipes, menu planning, gardening, parenting, and fun.
  13. Passionate Homemaking – Based in Portland, OR, the author of Passionate Homemaking and her family are on a mission to be homemakers that cultivate simplicity, grace, joy and being intentional in every aspect of their lives.
  14. The Frugal Homemaker – Based in Atlanta, GA, this blog is your guide to turning your house into a home, one DIY project and yard sale find at a time. Christina is a homemaker at heart who loves all things simple and beautiful.
  15. Raising Arrows – Raising Arrows is all about large family homeschooling and homemaking. Amy Roberts is a blogger, author and conference speaker.
  16. Awe Filled Homemaker – Join the family of Laura Prater in their crazy awe-filled adventures from homemaking, parenting, homeschooling and military life.
  17. A Proverbs 31 Wife – You will find posts on homemaking, natural living, marriage and motherhood. Kendra’s goal is to uplift and inspire Christian wives and Mothers.
  18. Homan at Home – Provides simple and budget-friendly ways to make your house a home. The author of this blog is learning to make things nice for her growing family with the skills (and the budget!) she has.
  19. Domestic Deadline – Domestic Deadline is all about attempting to learn the art of homemaking and all the crafts that get in the way.
  20. Brooklyn Homemaker – A blog about home decor, interior design, an obsessive love for furniture & pretty things, entertaining & party planning, schnauzers, marriage, amateur photography, product reviews, rants, raves, strong opinions, cocktails & drunkenness.
  21. Imperfect Homemaker – Imperfect Homemaker is all about Christian homemaking, homeschooling, and natural living.
  22. Mrs. Happy Homemaker – Crystal is a blogger who covers mostly food, but she also shares posts with diy, lifestyle, & anything else she cares to throw in between.
  23. The Laidback Homemaker – Based in Minnesota, get great ideas for recipes, organization & cleaning tips, lifestyle hacks, crafts & restoration ideas, do it on the cheap ideas, and much more!
  24. The Latina Homemaker – Jesenia Montanez shares homemaking tips, frugal living advice, recipes and more.
  25. Gluten-Free Homemaker – Linda Etherton provides recipes & tips for the gluten-free diet. She loves to share gluten-free recipes from a variety of bloggers as well as her owns. You’ll also find links to other related content such as menu plans and relevant news articles.
  26. Biblical Homemaking – Biblical Homemaking is a website about desiring to glorify God in everything women do. It focuses on living for Jesus through homemaking, marriage, parenting, home remodeling, fitness, food, and more.
  27. Humorous Homemaking – Because Managing a Home shouldn’t be dull. Humorous Homemaking will help you learn to manage your home without losing your mind!
  28. Vintage Kitty – Vintage Kitty is a blog that celebrates a fun, hands-on approach to homemaking that marries traditional elements with modern style. Let’s play house!
  29. Simple Made Pretty – Melanie is a homemaker, DIYer, craftaholic, home organizer, minimalist, writer, thirty-something mom of two amazing children, a fur-baby, and wife to an incredible husband of 8 years. She strives to create simplicity in homemaking tasks while providing DIY ideas that spark creativity.
  30. The Seasoned Homemaker – The Seasoned Homemaker is where Leslie helps you find balance and beauty with a needle and thread.

Happy Reading!

 

Tips for Shopping Going Out of Business Sales

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The news is abuzz with the news that Toys R Us and Babies R Us are shutting their doors in Puerto Rico and the United States. Parents everywhere are in panic mode as to where they will find all the latest and greatest toys and kid trends in the coming years. But more than that, people wonder how to take advantage of the going out of business sales that began Friday, March 23rd.


These are some things to be aware of when shopping going out of business and liquidation sales.

Return Policy

Many stores modify their return policy when they enter the liquidation phase of their sales. Most purchases will be sold “as-is” with no returns or exchanges available.  If you are purchasing electronics or other high ticket items, ask to open the box and make sure everything is included and in working order.

It is also important to inquire about any warranties on the product and whether they will be honored.  If they will, how do you go about accessing services.

Shop Late in the Sale

There is a lot of money to be made during liquidation sales. As a result, there are a variety of discount games and gimmicks store will play.  In some cases, they mark up the prices of the products, then offer a general discount, resulting in no discount at all.

The real discounts come later in the sale. However, you will also face a limited selection of goods at that point.

How You Pay

ToysRUs.com has listed all the financial policies on their FAQ regarding the US Liquidation.  Important things to note include:

  • They are no longer accepting coupons or loyalty points.
  • Gift cards will be accepted through April 21, 2018. (You cannot redeem a gift card for cash.)
  • If you have items on layaway, you have 21 days to complete the transaction or you will forfeit your right to the product and it will be sold during the liquidation sale.

Shop Smart

Not all going out of business and liquidation sales are created equal. In this day and age, you have the power to price shop in your hands. There are many popular apps for comparing prices. Download them, use them.

The Bottom Line

“You should shop a liquidation sale the same way you shop a normal sale — with caution. By knowing your brands, comparing prices and verifying warranties, you’ll make savvy purchases. Don’t be fooled by the hype: Even bankrupt companies want to make a buck.” The Washington Post

 

 

Taking Care of Your Children and Your Wallet

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When it comes to raising kids, it’s safe to see you’ll have your hands full. Kids are the living embodiment of the saying “a blessing and curse.” After all, while they might be the best thing that’s ever happened to you and a beautiful dream, they’re also a list of worries for their parents. There are countless things that can, and often will, go wrong, and it’s your job to prevent as much of these tragedies as possible and do damage control in case something slips through the cracks. This can often cost you a lot of money, and that, in and of itself, could be another problem to add to the list. That’s why we need to find ways to take care of them and save money all at once. Here are some tips to help you out.

First and foremost, let’s talk fitness. There’s a health epidemic these days, and it’s a tricky one to avoid. Essentially, we have it too good. We spend too much time sitting and inactive, and it creates several problems. That’s why we need to be more active. And, that’s why, as a parent, you need to get your kid into an active lifestyle early. For starters, consider yoga. Despite its reputation, yoga is a surprisingly hardy workout, but it’s also much easier than some other comparable, but more traditional, workout regimens. In other words, it’s perfect for kids. Take this Manduka coupon and save on the gear you’ll need to share the benefits of yoga with your child.

Next up, there’s diet. The modern American diet is all too rich in processed foods, and for good reason. After all, these items are cheap and convenient, the perfect storm for many of us, especially kids and their parents. However, they’re also chock full of fillers and preservatives that rob them of much of their nutritional value, so you’ll want to indulge in them sparingly, as an afternoon snack or for a special treat. Otherwise, try to stick to home cooked meals made with fresh ingredients. Again, you’ll want to get your kid into the habit of wanting and choosing the healthier alternative whenever possible.

New Additions to the Family? How to Create More Room Yourself

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A new bundle of joy is headed your way and you’re over the moon except for one thing—you’re wondering where to put said bundle. If you’re in a home you love and don’t want to move, it might be time to get creative with the space you have. Have a new addition or additions to the family? Read on for ways to create more room for yourself and your new wee boy or girl. Planning for a baby can feel overwhelming, but we can help.

Bunk Up

If an addition or move is out, it might be time to sit down with your current children and break the news that it’s time for some bedroom cohabitation. We say “break the news,” but the truth is, you can make creating a “big girl” or “big boy” bedroom fun and exciting. Let them pick out bunk or other beds they love that will work together in the same room. Throw a move-in party for them. Push their bed time back by half an hour. Do anything you can to let them know this is a good thing.

Get Lofty

If you’ve ever spent any time watching shows on HGTV, you know that lofts can not only create a lot of space, but they also can look amazing. Lofting beds to create more room doesn’t just have to be what one does when they go off to college and hit their tiny dorm rooms. Adding a mezzanine is another technique that works. As this Houzz article notes, “Building a mezzanine (an in-between floor) or loft level for your bed is a fantastic way to increase the floor space of a compact flat.” The article goes on to note, “It effectively adds another room, as well as increasing resale value.” Having a baby is an amazing thing but, between the inevitable crying and the many baby items you’ll have strewn about, your house that once felt quite large can quickly feel claustrophobic. This is one way to help with that.

Consider an Addition

If you’ve got the financial means, the time, and the energy level, an addition can be just what you need to avoid moving while also making enough room for your new little bundle. But you can’t just tack on an extra room willy-nilly and call it a home addition. As this HGTV article notes, there are four steps to an addition. First and foremost, consider your options. You might find that you can avoid this hassle by getting creative in other ways (like what we’ve already mentioned here!). Next, you’ve got to plan the build, including your demolition strategy. You obviously need experts on hand for this. Thirdly, choose your materials. And, lastly, get your project done by hiring people who know how to see something like this through to fruition. When selling homes, the masterminds at Frontier Properties LLC will often consider who they are catering to, and will make the necessary additions to ensure the homes they sell work for families in Denver.

Because this is a huge undertaking, you likely want to do it as soon as you discover you are pregnant. Taking this on as the date approaches can add a lot of undue stress, especially because you’re likely keeping in mind the need to save money for the baby.

Get Creative With Your Storage

Babies come with a lot of stuff. From baby blankets and pacifiers to endless diapers and clothes that need constant changing, these tiny humans require a lot of room in comparison to their itty bitty bodies. Consider putting your beds up on stilts to enlist the room underneath for storage. Build storage units in places like empty areas under stairways. Use the storage underneath the changing table and baby’s crib, as anything under the latter will be hidden by the bed skirt you choose. Simply walk around your home and observe where there are areas that can serve more than one function. You’ll be so glad once your babe makes his or her big arrival.

Think Vertically

Many designers will advise you to do this when trying to create space. From baskets that shoot straight up to crates that can be stacked, going vertical is a great and efficient way to make more storage areas in any room.

Don’t let a lack of space detract from the exciting news that you’re bringing home a new member of your family. Use any or all of these creative ways to make more room and you’ll be able to enjoy every last baby giggle.

 

Fears About Screen Time – And Why They Aren’t True

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Keeping children occupied while you’re working can often be a challenge.  For a lot of parents, the answer is screen time. That said most parents know instinctively that putting kids in front of a screen can have negative outcomes including obesity, decreased emotional regulation and learned violence.

But, are these fears really true?  Not so, says Sara DeWitt.

Below is an interesting TED talk given by DeWitt in April of 2017. Essentially, DeWitt is saying that the content the child interacts with matters far more than screen time itself.

For more of our great articles, consider reading: