photo by henry bloomfield
Souvenirs can be expensive. I suggest bringing home pieces of the scenery, such as rocks, sand or shells, to display in mason jars or in your garden. Or press flowers and leaves. Of course, check that there aren’t any rules against taking these items. You can take plenty of photos, and bring home maps, magazines, postcards and menus. Remember that gift sets can be broken up into …

photo by boboroshi
Frugality isn’t cheap living or voluntary poverty. Whether you’re frugal by choice or necessity, you make the most of your hard-earned money and waste less, too. When you strip away the excess in your life, you discover a sense of truth and authenticity. Your identity is less involved. It can be an eye-opener to realize how much emotion is wrapped up in the items you buy and own. …

It’s time to spring clean. One overwhelming task can be organizing toys. It can be next to impossible if your child knows what you’re up to. Suddenly, toys that have been long since forgotten become precious novelties. And, as a parent, you don’t want to be the meanie who threw away a childhood favorite toy and hear about it for years to come.
Here are a few suggestions.
GATHER AND SORT: Get …

photo by dunham
Chicken again? Sometimes you have to change things up a bit, or meals become dreaded chores. You can make your dinner familiar but offer a new take on it. Everything but the salad is baked in the oven at the same temperature, so you can time it perfectly. You can swap out the broccoli salad with coleslaw or a tossed salad, the potato wedges with rice or mashed …