Best Vinyl Placemats for Indoors & Outdoors in 2024
Easy-clean vinyl placemats have come a long way in terms of style in recent years. Nowadays, you’ll even find these eye-catching placemats adorning tables in upscale restaurants and hotels. Looking to perk up your tabletops with easy-care, easy-clean placemats? To help kick-start your search, we curated a list of top-rated vinyl placemats in various styles, […]
The 5 Best Hard Floor Mops for Quick & Effective Cleaning in 2024
A pad-style hard floor mop makes it easy to get that satisfying squeaky-clean finish in just minutes. Here’s a quick look at the top pad mop sellers for so you can see which best suits your needs for effectiveness, durability, and convenience. Best Overall Hard Floor Mop: Swiffer WetJet Original Crowned the king of floor […]
The Best Drinking Glasses For Everyday Use in 2024
It’s a tall order to name the best drinking glasses sets out of the thousands of options out there. Luckily, I spent nearly two decades as a drinkware buyer for a top tableware retailer, so I come armed with a list of tried-and-true faves. For this review, I narrowed the field down to glassware brands […]
5 Easy Ways to Child Proof Blind Cords & Windowcoverings in 2024
Modern products like cordless blinds deliver an array of stylish solutions without the worry of dangerous dangling blind cords. Or, you can easily childproof existing blinds and shades with inexpensive blind cord cleats, cord wraps, and breakaway tassels.
Tritan Plastic Glasses: 10 Top Brands for 2024
Tritan plastic glasses are the latest innovation in plastic drinkware, offering a perfect combination of clarity and elegance with superior durability and easy care. Along with being unbreakable, dishwasher-safe and available in a wide selection of colors and styles, Tritan plastic glasses are also BPA-free, unlike their polycarbonate counterparts. 10 Best-Selling Tritan Drinkware Brands Here […]
Best Plastic Wine Glasses for Everyday Use in 2024
With so many choices of plastic wine glasses, picking the best line can be hard, and believe me, I know! I’ve worked with restaurant-quality plastic glasses for over a decade and have tried and tested all of the top names in plastic tableware. This review compares top-rated plastic wine glass brands for everyday use. Each line […]
The Ultimate Plastic Dinnerware Shopping Guide for 2024
Every year, a new round of plastic dinnerware and tableware sets hits the market. But to shop smart, you need to know which types of plastics are truly designed to hold up to daily use. We reviewed the various types of plastics used to make plastic dinnerware in terms of overall durability, break and scratch […]
Unbreakable Plastic Drinking Glasses: 5 Best Types to Buy in 2024
Unbreakable plastic glasses that truly live up to the name “unbreakable” are made from only three types of plastic – polycarbonate, Tritan, or polypropylene. Plastic glasses made from other types of plastic, like acrylic or SAN, aren’t unbreakable. They might be labeled break-resistant or shatterproof, but they can break when dropped on a hard surface. […]
Ultimate Guide To The Best Plastic Dinnerware 2024
Plastic tableware is an outdoor dining staple in most homes, and its popularity as everyday dinnerware is on the rise. Nowadays, plastic dishes come in a vast array of styles and colors, including dinnerware sets that mimic the look and feel of ceramic or stoneware dishes. Most plastic tableware is practically unbreakable and dishwasher-safe thanks […]
Best Unbreakable Glassware for Home and Bar in 2024
Virtually unbreakable glassware is made in one of three ways: tempering, annealing, or infusion–which combines glass with a metal such as titanium at the molecular level. Each method produces extremely break-resistant glass drinking glasses. While no glassware is truly “unbreakable,” glasses made using these methods withstand far more abuse than standard glass drinking glasses. If […]
3 Tips for Fitting Sofa Slipcovers with Loose Cushions
Finding and fitting slipcovers for sofas with loose cushions or pillows on the back can be challenging, but we found an easy way to get it done. This simple method works with most standard slipcovers, including loose-fit and stretch-fit styles from top brands like Surefit, Easy-Going, and PureFit. Our Loose-Cushion Sofa Slipcover Project This sofa […]
How To Make S’mores In The Microwave in Just 30 Seconds
Just when I thought it was safe to pull out my size 6 jeans, I find a microwave S’mores maker. S’mores, at home, without flaming marshmallows streaking through the air and landing on hapless siblings??? Happiness itself! If you have kids (or are still a kid yourself), and have a little extra storage space, it’s a fun and inexpensive addition to your kitchen treat makers.
5 Reasons to Switch to a Smart Door Lock in 2024
If you still use a traditional key and lock system on your doors, it’s time to upgrade. Smart door locks offer many advantages over traditional counterparts, from convenience and peace of mind to increased security and curb appeal. You can find smart locks for all needs and budgets, from inexpensive keypad locks to Wi-Fi-enabled systems […]
Keep Fright Night Fun With These 10 Halloween Safety Tips
Spooky decorations, creepy costumes and candy-filled visions spur kids – and often the entire family – into a fun-filled frenzy on Halloween. But don’t let hidden dangers spoil the evening for your ghouls and booys! Here are ten simple Halloween safety and planning tips to help keep fright night from becoming a real scare.
Scare Up Some Fun With the Best Halloween Cake Pans for 2024
No fright-night get-together is complete without a spooktacular Halloween cake. Shopping for skull, ghost, or jack-o’ lantern-shaped cakes? How about a tasty 3D haunted mansion or frosting-oozing brains for your party centerpiece this year? These top-selling Halloween cake pans make it easy to whip up spooky snacks like these—and more. Several top-rated bakeware brands make […]
5 Best Margarita Blenders for 2024
The best margarita blenders have powerful motors and strong blades that get the ice texture just right. You simply can’t have a great frozen margarita without perfect crushed ice! Here’s a quick look at 5 top-rated high-performance blenders offering the powerful motor and high-quality blades needed to make the perfect margarita. Best Margarita Blenders At-a-Glance Clearly, […]
Best Bundt Pans & Bundt Cake Keepers for 2024
The best bundt cake pans cook evenly, release cakes cleanly and keep the fine details intact. Bundt cake pans come — quite literally — in all shapes and sizes. You’ll find heavy cast aluminum and thin-walled bundt pans, nonstick and uncoated surfaces, and plain and decorative styles. With so many choices, picking the best can […]
Best Glass and Plastic Stemless Wine Glasses for 2024
Multi-use stemless wine glasses are fast becoming a mainstay in homes, restaurants and bars. With the growing popularity of this drinkware shape, shoppers can now choose from a wide range of both glass and plastic stemless wine glasses in many shapes and colors. Here’s a roundup of our favorite stemless wine glass brands for and […]
Best-Selling Bundt Cake Pans – Bundt You Want Me, Baby?
Yes, it’s a shameful nod to an 80’s song, bundt I hope you will forgive me. That’s how much I love a good bundt cake pan! I simply love bundt cakes, and it’s no wonder. If you’ve seen the amazing cakes you can whip up using the fabulous decorative bundt pans from Nordicware, you’d understand […]
Fave! Michley Unbreakable Plastic Tumblers & Wine Glasses
The Michley collection is one of my personal favorites. It’s crafted from restaurant-grade BPA-free Tritan plastic and made to withstand the bumps, bonks and splats of busy bars and restaurants. So it’s sure to meet the demands of indoor and outdoor dining at home. Top Picks in the Michley Plastic Drinkware Collection When I first reviewed […]
Family-Friendly Home Decor Ideas
Any parent knows that managing a home with busy kids – from toddlers to teens – can pose decorating challenges. But having children doesn’t mean delaying the dream of a stylish home. Our family-friendly home decor ideas cover five simple ways to add easy-care style to any room, on any budget. 1. Start With Easy-Clean […]
Home Fire Prevention & Safety Tips
Each year, hundreds of thousands of household fires cause billions of dollars in damage to family homes. Damage occurs not only from flames but from smoke and the water used to extinguish fires. Even small fires can cause widespread destruction in a home. However, you can avoid fire dangers by following these home fire safety tips. The […]
Thanksgiving Prep: 5 Steps to a Stress-Free Holiday
I love hosting Thanksgiving, I think even more than hosting Christmas, and I have managed to sidestep house prep woes this year – but that has not always been the case! Here’s how I’ve managed to host Thanksgivings for more than 15 people on a working mom’s schedule and in a house that seats, say 12 on a good day.
Video DIY: 5 Easy Steps to a Party-Perfect Buffet Table in Any Size Space
Ever been to a party with great food on a beautifully arranged buffet table all served up by an unruffled host? If you’re like me, you’ve probably left a few of these parties wondering just how they pulled it off. While the host who throws perfect parties time after time may seem a magician, there’s […]
Tips for Picking the Best Wall Paints for Kids
Over the years, we’ve been asked about the best paint for children’s bedrooms, nurseries, and busy family spaces. While we’re not professional painters, we seem to make a hobby of painting, re-painting, and re- re-painting our homes, so we feel very qualified to tackle this question. Happily, it’s an easy answer… Paint formulation and finish […]
Make-A-Plate Kit by Makit: Make Your Own Artwork Plates, Bowls & More
Make-a-Plate, the same company that made those draw-it-yourself plate kits eons ago when we were young, is still cranking out priceless keepsakes. If you’ve never heard of Make-a-Plate kits but are looking for a nifty gift for kids, or anyone for that matter, here’s how Make-a-Plate and their other kits for Mugs, Travel Tumblers and Photo Plates work…
5 Yummy Recipes Using Tortilla Chips
Another Superbowl is in the bag, party cleanup is done, and thanks to the generosity of our guests, we have about 10 bags of leftover tortilla chips. Now I am a true Texan and chips and salsa practically runs through my veins, but even I am hard pressed to eat 10 bags of chips in […]
Video DIY: Set Stylish Holiday Tables on a Budget
Is the party at you house this year? Decorating a festive table doesn’t have to cost a fortune. You can easily set stylish holiday tables on a budget that look like a million bucks! Take a look at these great table settings that are holiday-ready for any type of get together, from casual to festive […]
DIY Budget-Friendly Holiday Gift Bag Ideas
Here are some super easy DIY fun holiday gift bag ideas. They’re fun ways to go green – and even save a little green – when it comes to gift bags this holiday season. DIY Christmas & Holiday Gift Bags Instead of buying new or holiday-specific gift bags this year, why not make your own […]
Video DIY: Make Easy Christmas Ribbon Garland
Here’s a stylish twist to a Christmas tradition. If the kids want to make looped garlands this year, instead of construction paper, give them some sparkly Christmas ribbon. You’ll end up with garlands with a bit more bling – and the kids will love contributing to the decor! Our video shows how easy it is […]
Video DIY: Thanksgiving Kids’ Tables Made Easy with These Simple Tips
Ah, the kid’s table… the spot where, if lucky, you might corral busy youngsters for a whopping seven minutes during Thanksgiving dinner. It’s always just enough time for them to smear potatoes across their face, drop their plate on the floor, then materialize at the grownups’ table just as you’re getting seated… But we can fix that!
5 Easy Ways to Add Color to Fall Decorating with Inexpensive Silk Leaves
Fall seems to be a time of decorating quick-change. Within 60 days, we move from spooky Halloween décor, to russet-hued fall colors, to Christmas sparkle and shine. Add to that holiday entertaining, parties, shopping and kid’s school needs, and the holiday season becomes busy indeed! That’s why I look for easy and quick decorating options, […]
Faves! Vintage-Look Toys for Playful Decor Style
Retro- and vintage-look toys are a great decorator trick for adding kid-friendly, whimsical charm to busy family spaces. These fun, stylized toys complement many looks from casual to eclectic, and since they’re modern toys, you can be sure they’re safe to display around little ones. Antiques vs. Reproductions True antique toys offer well-loved charm that’s […]
Fave! Star Wars Mania Craft Book by Amanda Formaro
My online buddy Amanda Formaro (author of the fabulous CraftsbyAmanda.com blog) just published her latest, and perhaps greatest, craft MANIA book — STAR WARS MANIA! Chock-full of Star Wars-inspired crafts and activities, it’s sure to inspire little paduans and Jedi crafts-masters alike. May the creative Force be with you! Most of her Star Wars crafts are […]
Tips for Packing a Family Emergency Kit
Disaster can strike anywhere, at any time. And though you may have little or no control over events in a given situation, you can better protect your family with a little planning and preparation. As the kids start back to school and new schedules are being made, now is a great time to review your […]
Summer Safety and Sanity for Families on the Go
Welcome, summer! School is out and families are looking forward to spending a little quality time together – usually away from home enjoying the great outdoors. Whether it’s a three-week vacation camping in the mountains, a week at a theme park, or a weekend at grandma’s, you’ll always need some comfort and safety basics close […]
Poison Safety – Avoid Accidents with a Few Simple Precautions
Fall brings about many changes – crisp cool air, new school schedules and holiday visits. These are just a few of the things that change the family routine and – believe it or not – increase the risk of accidental poisonings! Here are a few hints to help protect your family from harm this season. […]
Easy DIY Daybed Dust Ruffle Decorating Project
We bought a white iron daybed for my then-three-year-old daughter’s “big girl bed.” Daybeds are decorative and functional choices in kids’ rooms for many reasons. First, without the trundle unit underneath, daybeds provide ample out-of-the-way storage for children’s toys, etc. Second, as children get older, adding the trundle unit provides stow-able bed space for sleepovers […]
DIY Decorative Book Baskets for Kids Rooms
Kids books come in many shapes and sizes which can make storing them on shelves or between bookends difficult – not to mention messy and often hard for little ones to manage! Our solution? We made handy DIY decorative book baskets to help kids easily sort and store books and keep them within easy reach. […]
DIY Easy No-Sew Fleece Pillow for Halloween — or Anytime
It’s So Easy it’s Spooky! Two simple polar fleece panels come together without a single stitch to create a cuddly no-sew fleece pillow perfect for crisp fall weather — and scary stories! This is a great family craft project. Anyone who can tie a knot can join in! Match it with our No-Sew Fleece Throw! […]
DIY Homemade Recipe In a Jar Gifts
Homemade recipe in a jar gifts with beautifully layered ingredients topped with a flourish are a thoughtful and economical way to treat friends, coworkers, neighbors or teachers to the flavors of the season. And making them is easy and fun – especially if you get the kids involved. Jar recipes for everything from cookies to […]
DIY Easy-to-Update Family Photo Gallery
Got a little extra wall space? Showcase your snapshots, favorite family pictures or gotta-see-it candid shots in a great-looking family photo gallery that’s easy to change and update as your photo collection grows. Materials: Gallery-style photo frames (front-loaders work best for quick updates) Favorite photos (5×7 and 4×6) Nails Hammer Tape Paper Step 1: First, […]
DIY Super-Duty Refrigerator Magnets
If your refrigerator serves as a combination community information board, modern art museum and play area, you need strong, unbreakable magnets. We searched for good looking (or at least fun) magnets that fit the bill, but finally gave up and made our own using colorful, lightweight foam stamps and self-adhesive magnet strips, both easily found […]
DIY: Spice Up Your Kitchen with a Window Herb Garden
A few basic shelves and spare containers turn any sunny window into a garden spot! Fresh herbs brighten any meal, from simple soups to gourmet dinners. But how many busy family cooks can step away from simmering pots and active kids to harvest a last-minute touch of tarragon? Here’s a better idea. With an attractive […]
Easter Decor DIY: Egg-cellent Easter Wreath
Our Easter Wreath is an inexpensive, easy-to-make twist on the classic grapevine wreath and adds a festive Spring-fresh Easter touch to a door or wall. It also makes a great centerpiece on your Easter table as a fun “nest” for a stuffed or chocolate bunny or as a complement to an Easter floral arrangement. Since […]
Faves! Ten Easy Home Storage Solutions for Busy Families
Whether you’re chasing a busy toddler or are an empty-nester, homes can sometimes feel ready to burst at the seams. But a little creativity and a few repurposed pieces can easily add space and help organize the things you just can’t live without. Here are ten easy and inexpensive home storage solutions perfect for busy […]
Slipcover Shopping Guide
We’ve helped thousands of customers choose the right slipcover solution for their home, and have made or installed countless slipcovers ourselves. Though we no longer sell ready-made furniture slipcovers, we’ve compiled this slipcover shopping guide to help you pick the slipcover solution – from ready-mades, to custom, to do-it-yourself – that best fits your home, […]
Childproofing Checklist: Safe Trekking with Toddlers
As any parent knows, taking young children for visits away from their childproofed, kid-friendly home can be stressful – sometimes downright unnerving. New surroundings inspire kids to touch, test and even taste whatever they find. Such curiosity is natural. But for guests and hosts alike, it can make a visit anything but relaxing! You can […]
Beyond Babyproofing: Fireplace Safety Tips and Hearth Safety
Fall winds and rustling leaves foretell of cozy family evenings around a crackling fire. A warm hearth is a welcoming spot in any home and a few simple fireplace safety precautions can help ensure that your fireplace, chimney, hearth or wood stove does not present a danger to tots and other family members this season. […]
Beyond Babyproofing: Shelf Safety & Stylish Options for Busy Family Homes
Shelves of every variety are a decorating and organizing staple that fulfill numerous roles throughout the home. Aside from how they look and how they’re used, most people don’t really give them a second thought… until a small child is introduced to the scene! Suddenly shelves are redefined as either a safety hazard — or […]
Beyond Babyproofing: Candle Safety & Worry-Free Flameless Options
If you enjoy the ambiance and great scents that candles add to a home, you’re not alone. Candle sales are up and they’re more popular than ever in home decorating, but there are a few things to remember before you light up…. especially if you have little ones running about. According to the National Fire […]
Beyond Babyproofing: Surprise New Grandparents with a Baby-Ready Gift Basket
Give new grandparents the tools they need for keeping busy grandkids! New grandparents play a special role in the lives of children, but they sometimes get overlooked amid the fuss over parents and a newborn. So why not shower grandparents with a little attention and a gift or two? There are many items that new […]
Faves! Bar Tools & Wine Accessories
I have one rule when it comes to testing a bar or wine tool. I should be able to use it after a drink or two. I think this is a sensible rule and one I put into play on several buying trips. As a Texas-based buyer, the big homewares market at the Dallas Market […]
Faves! Battery-Operated Candles & Lighting
Safe, smart, worry-free, and smoke-free — battery-operated candles are a great way to enjoy candlelight wherever and whenever, without the danger of an open flame. Whether you’re shopping for home decor candles, outdoor lighting, or party lighting, you’ll find a variety of flameless candles on the market these days to fit any need — along […]
Faves! Kitchen Tools
I love to cook, and since I’m often rushing home from work to feed the family I gravitate toward tools that make prep and cleanup simple and quick. I’m a bit of an addict in this area, so naturally the kitchen tool showrooms always top my list when shopping the homewares markets. You wouldn’t believe […]
Fave! Strahl Unbreakable Plastic Drinkware
Strahl plastic glassware is a Top Tableware Fave in my book for style, quality and durability. I know the line very well since we stocked and sold it for over 15 years, plus I’ve used it in my own home even longer than that. Strahl is sold directly through Amazon so we no longer stock it, but I still highly recommend it. […]
Faves! Plastic Drinkware: Cups, Glasses & Tumblers
If you’re in the market for plastic glasses or tumblers of any sort you’re in luck. Plastic drinkware is no longer a seasonal line. We retail buyers source it year-round and it commands a proud place as an everyday essential on store shelves and kitchen tables. Chalk it up to busy lifestyles, the rise of better quality […]
Faves! Serving Essentials
Who doesn’t love a good party? That’s an easy one — the party host who doesn’t have the right serving tools! Talk about misery — shuffling through cabinets, searching for platters, trays and bowls big enough to serve a crowd. You know what? I just described my first come-one-come-all family Thanksgiving as new bride. But […]
Faves! Recipe Organizers
Ask any cook what they love to collect and recipes are sure to be a top answer. From magazine clippings to computer printouts to well-loved recipe cards handed down through the years, organizing recipes in their many forms can be a daunting task. Luckily there are numerous recipe organizers to suit just about any collecting […]
Fave! Forever & Grand Plastic Drinkware by Prodyne
We stocked Prodyne brand kitchenware for many years and their Forever & Grand unbreakable plastic drinkware lines are tops in my drinkware Top Faves. We no longer carry Prodyne since they sell direct on Amazon now, but we sold it for over a decade, so I know it well. I definitely recommend Prodyne’s Forever and Grand […]
Fave! Napa BPA-Free Plastic Wine Glasses & Stemware
The plastic stemware collection we once sold under the Napa brand now goes by many names — Sonoma, Leadingware, even Wine Enthusiast on occasion. But whatever the name, these plastic wine glasses are a Top Fave in my book. They’re simply the closest match in size, style and feel to quality glass wine stems — […]
Cuddle Weather is Coming! Make a No-Sew Fleece Throw to Fight off the Chill
Our no-sew fleece throw blanket and pillow is a quick and easy DIY project to whip up for yourself and a cuddle buddy. We made ours for Halloween, but the options in polar fleece are limitless! You can finds patterns for everything; baby, teens, sports teams, hobbies… you name it. Best of all, you can combine two for a […]
Fave! Clarus Brand Plastic Drinkware
The Clarus plastic drinkware collection is a Top Tableware Fave in my book for style, quality and durability – and I know it well since we stocked and sold it since its introduction nearly 10 years ago. Clarus is now sold direct from the manufacturer through Amazon so we longer stock it, but I still […]
Faves! NordicWare Plastic Microwave Cookware & Dishes
NordicWare Plastic Microwave Cookware is amazingly versatile, offering many specialty pieces that take full advantage of microwave cooking patterns. We stocked most of the line here for well over a decade and still use it daily both in our office kitchen and in our own homes. It’s definitely my Top Fave for plastic microwave dishes […]
Fave! Cakepops Made Easy with the Cake Pops Baking Pan
If you’re a fan of cakepops (and really, who isn’t?), then you’ll love this kitchen fave. It’s the Cake pops Baking Pan, proudly made in the USA by bakeware leader, NordicWare. Making cakepops usually involves rolling crumbled bits of cake together with frosting to create the “pop”. While this method works, it’s a messy process […]
Faves! Tailgating Party Essentials for Sports Fans on the Go
The tailgating party is a main attraction on game day. Whether its a parking lot potluck or a snazzy sit-down affair complete with RV, canopy and outdoor kitchen, tailgating is always one thing — a party! And we’ve found some great ways to serve up your favorite fans in style. Kick off serving with mingle-friendly […]
Video DIY: Easy to Make Wine Glass Charms
Help party guests keep track of wine glasses and other stemware with these easy-to-make wine glass charms. A pair of needlenose pliers and a quick trip down the beading aisle at the craft store is all it takes to make these stylish and inexpensive dangles. They make a great gift, too! Best of all… NO crafting skills […]
Faves! Disposable Partyware
As if you don’t have enough to worry about when planning a party! Have you SEEN the vast array of disposable tableware options online? Not to mention the number of places selling disposable partyware and dishes? My head spins. Frankly, I say hit the dollar store for most party needs these days. Our Dollar Tree […]
Faves! Plastic Stemware & Specialty Glasses
If you’re in the market for plastic martini or margarita glasses, champagne flutes, or specialty stemware like hurricanes or dessert dishes, you’re in luck. Once considered summertime wares, plastic stemware is now available all year long, and with ample choices to fit any need. We sold many different plastic stemware lines for years, but most […]
Faves! Durable Plastic Mugs for Beer, Coffee & More
If you’re in the market for plastic mugs that look great and hold up to years of use, check out my reviews and top picks below before you go shopping. For over 15 years, we carried a nice variety of beer and beverage mugs in durable, dishwasher-safe plastics. Most of our lines (in fact, all) […]
Faves! Easy-Clean Pillows for Kid-Friendly Style
As one of the easiest, quickest and least expensive home decorating solutions, throw pillows are a particularly easy way for parents to add a dash of style to busy family rooms without worry.
3 Super-Easy Super Bowl Party Menu Ideas
The last place any Superbowl party host wants to be on game day is stuck in the kitchen wondering about the latest score. Since we host annual Superbowl parties with upwards of 60 guests I have, in the past, found myself stuck in the kitchen doing just that. But no more! Now I serve up […]
Easy Hummus Recipe: Better Than Store-Bought
The best hummus recipe! 5/5 Hummus… this versatile dip essential to middle-eastern cuisine is moving mainstream. Rich, creamy and protein-packed, it’s a great way to add a healthy and flavorful kick to your next party or get-together. Store-bought hummus is delicious but is often made with far more fat than needed, so I always make my […]
Super Easy Guacamole Dip Recipe
I’m a born-and-bred Texan, so guacamole is essentially my fifth food group (together with salsa and queso). It’s a staple as necessary as olive oil in my kitchen. Seriously, what’s not to love about this healthy, yummy, easy-to-make dip? Loaded with nutrition and healthy fats (yes!), it spices up or cools down any number of […]
Faves! Washable Area Rugs Perfect for Busy Family Life
Have an area in your home that needs a style refresher or a pop of color to liven things up? Area rugs offer a quick and easy room makeover. In fact, they’re often the first thing professional decorators pull out of their bag of tricks. But what if your home plays host to busy kids […]
The Miracleware Microwave Rice Cooker: Easy Cooking Instructions
If you’ve lost your MiracleWare or PrepSolutions Microwave Cookware Instructions and need a replacement copy, you can find them below. MiracleWare and PrepSolutions plastic microwave cookware collections are made by a terrific brand — Progressive Intl. — and we stocked and sold it ourselves for years. We recommend both collections if you’re looking for durable […]
Fave! Lead Test Kits Make it Easy to Prevent Lead Exposure
Lead-contaminated childrens’ products have topped the recent news stories… and for good reason. Lead exposure can have a very profound and long-term negative affect on childrens’ health. So lead exposure is, and should remain, a concern to parents.
Fave! Wire Storage Cubes for Quick, Cheap Home Organization
From kids’ rooms and family areas to closets and bathrooms, I’ve been using these versatile wire-sided storage cube units with great satisfaction for years. Decades even. In fact, I recently put the bits and pieces that I managed to save from my first college dorm set to work in my closet. Happily, I was even able to […]
How to Cook Up the Perfect Easter Egg
Decorating and hunting brightly colored eggs tops many Easter to-do list, and it all starts with the simple boiled egg. Here are a few tips for cooking up the perfect egg without cracking shells, and how to keep them fresh so they don’t go to waste after Easter. To boil up the perfect Easter egg, […]
Easter Decor DIY: Fluffy Easter Bunny and Chick Topiaries
Kids will love creating and displaying these cuddly bunny and chick tabletop decorations — and making them couldn’t be easier! These friendly Easter critters are made using simple foam or cardboard cones, fuzzy pom-poms or cotton balls, and a few scraps of fun foam or construction paper. These go together quickly, so you can easily […]
Easter DIY: Egg-Cellent Easter Egg Tulips
Add a touch of springtime freshness to your Easter tabletop with our stylish (and inexpensive) Easter Egg Tulips project. Best of all, kids of any age can help with this easy craft and will be so proud to see their creation on display. In our project, we used styrofoam eggs from the craft store and […]
Beyond Babyproofing: Easter Safety Tips
Spring is here and with it comes Easter – a great reason to fill homes with fresh colors and whimsical accents in anticipation of a visit from everyone’s favorite bunny. Colorful eggs, chocolate rabbits, marshmallow chicks and bright centerpieces are tempting to all and irresistible to kids – though not always safe for the tots! […]
DIY Holiday Photo Frame Wall Hanging
This easy DIY Holiday Photo Frame Wall Hanging is a fun, easy-to-do craft project and a great gift idea any time of the year. Pick Spring colors and patterns for Easter and Mother’s Day, Patriotic for 4th of July, Bandanas for a western theme, or just use colors that match your everyday style. The variations […]
Baby Gate Reviews: Stairway Banister Installation Kit How-to’s
A professional babyproofer gave us the inside scoop on how to turn Cardinal Gates’ No-Holes Banister Clamps into a versatile kit that lets you install practically any baby safety gate onto stairway banisters. We sold this kit for years but since we quit selling gates due to shipping costs, we’re no longer stocking the kits […]
Video DIY: How to Re-Cover Chair Cushions
Have an out-of-date or dingy upholstered chair seat that’s seen one too many spills? Our DIY Re-Cover Chair Cushions video shows you how to easily re-cover dingy chair cushions — or just give them an updated look. Most chair cushions can be re-covered in just minutes and our video shows how to get nice, crisp, professional-looking […]
Baby Gate Installation Kit Reviews & Where to Buy: Metal Stairway Railing Installation Kit by Cardinal
For informational purposes only. If you’re unsure of your skills installing baby gates or other childproofing items, hiring a licensed installer is the smart choice! Cardinal Gates’ Metal Railing Installation Kit offers a quick and easy solution for installing baby safety gates onto stairways with standard metal ad decorative wrought iron railings – IF the […]
Four Quick Low-Cost Decorating Tips to Perk Up Post-Holiday Homes
You can create a new look, add pizzazz or a make decorative statement on even the tiniest budget. Just add your own creativity to some helpful tips from a few innovative decorators. Here are some great ways to make the most of shoestring-budget decorating projects.
When Life Gives You 100+ Degree Temps, Make Lemonade! Here’s a great recipe…
Hi ya’ll — from Texas! My car thermometer hit 100 for the outdoor temp when I parked a second ago, and I have a hankering to make lemonade. And yes, I do actually use the term “hankering” on a regular basis, so this is authentic me — Texas bred, baby! Homemade lemonade is really a […]
Fun DIY Fourth of July Centerpiece Adds Kid-Friendly Style to Tables
Add patriotic flair anywhere this Fourth of July with this easy flag finial project. It’s a great Fourth of July centerpiece and a truly KidSmart project that’s tough enough to handle bumps and spills from busy hands. We made it out of decorative pre-drilled wooden post toppers from the home improvement store. And it couldn’t […]
Video DIY: Make an Easy Summertime Centerpiece with a Galvanized Bucket
Dress up summertime tables or add a pop of color anywhere you need it with this super easy summertime centerpiece! Start with a plain galvanized bucket from the hardware store (or a fancier version from the crafts store), add a few bunches of faux sunflowers or colorful daisies, and finish it off with a ribbon […]
Video DIY: Fun Golf Themed Party Table Idea
Does someone in your life spend the afternoon chillin’ (or getting serious) on the back nine? If you’re scratching your head for ways to celebrate the love of the game, here’s a fun golf themed party table we put together for our friends at eHow.com to get your creative juices flowing! This table theme comes […]
RECIPE: The World’s Easiest Stuffed Bell Peppers
This recipe invented itself last night out of necessity and I’m so, so glad for it. I had a stack of beautiful red, green and yellow bell peppers left over from a video shoot Friday (used them in a vegetable centerpiece, fun!), and I thought, Yum! Stuffed bell peppers for Sunday dinner. Well, as usual, […]
Video DIY: How to Decorate a Table with Calla Lilies
We filmed a series of fun table setting videos for eHow.com recently and our How to Decorate a Table with Calla Lilies creates one of my absolute favorite table looks — elegant Calla Lilies paired with silver, white and green. I think it’s a great look for summer weddings or special occasions… elegant, formal and […]
Safety Checklist: Top Tips for Creating Family-Friendly Homes
Simple changes, from the arrangement of items in a room to choices in homewares, can make a big difference in a home’s safety, ease of care, and even parental sanity! The following tips can help you create a home that’s safe for small children… yet still welcoming to grown-ups.
A Truly Tea-Riffic Tea Infuser for You Tea Lovers (and Me, Too!)
I love tea. Truth be told I love coffee too, but that’s a morning love affair. A nice cup of tea is what I crave for an afternoon pick me up that won’t keep me up all night. Problem is, I really like to explore teas and drift towards the loose leaf varieties — and […]
Under the Heading: I LOVE IT When I’m Right!
A few weeks ago I posted this DIY decorating video for Fabric Panel Wall Art, an easy and eye-catching wall hanging project. As I say in the video, I think it’s the perfect glass-free option for dressing up walls just about anywhere in a busy home, but especially in those high-traffic spots like… oh, let’s […]
Video DIY: Decorate a Fun Basketball Themed Party Table
Here’s a fun Basketball Themed Party Table idea we were asked to do for eHow.com. It’s so easy to put together and fun for any game day table, complete with an interactive basketball centerpiece sure to please any fan. Our basketball goal centerpiece centerpiece works great on both sit-down tables and buffet tables if you’re […]
Video DIY: Girls Dance Party Table Ideas
Got Ballerinas? Here are some fun little girls dance party table ideas that will make any ballerina-princess spin with glee! We were recently asked by eHow.com to come up with some fun and easy party table ideas… including this one for a little girls’ dance party. Here’s how we did it: Table runner: Just cut […]
Video DIY: How to Make Fabric Panel Wall Art
Easy-to-make, inexpensive fabric panel wall art dresses up any area of your home with a pop of color, without the worry of a heavy frame or breakable glass. In this video, we show you how to make one large statement panel with a themed print, but the options are limitless! Try combining 3 coordinating graphic […]
Faves! 3 Fun Ways to Teach Kids Greener Habits
Green Living… Eco-friendly… Earth-Wise… You really can’t open a magazine, blog or browser these days without hearing about new ways to save the Earth. I must admit, I’m probably not the greenest gal on the block. But I do like to do my part where I can, and it’s surprising how easy it is to incorporate greener […]