S’Mores Caddy {With Printable Label} (she: Brooke)
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S’Mores Caddy {With Printable Label} (she: Brooke)

I always want to make summer vacation a fun, memorable time for my boys, and that usually means I have to start thinking about it NOW! Not to say I sit down and plan every minute of every day during their break, but I do like to have a few things set and organized just to make the three months run a bit more smoothly, and be as enjoyable as possible. Organizing our treats in this S’Mores caddy is one little thing I can do to make my life easier.

what to do with all your digital photos
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What To Do With All Your Digital Photos (she: Lindsay)

How do I backup my photos? How should I organize them? Where should I print my pictures? What should I do with all my digital photos?

Although digital photos have made it possible for anyone, anywhere to document their life stories through photos (which is amazing), it has also created a problem where we have SO many photos and no idea how to manage them or display them in a meaningful way. I initiated a Picture Display Movement (because sometimes I give myself authority to start my own movements) hoping to inspire others to do something with their photos. And I wanted to take some of the ideas from there to give you a quick-and-dirty guide on what to do and where to start with all your photos after you take them. I present to you, what to do with all your digital photos:

antique window makeover

Antique Window Makeover (she: Kristi)

Antique Window Makeover – making it in the mountainsIn our old home, I had this lovely vintage window hanging over our fireplace. It’s so full of chippy rustic charm and I really love the personality that it injects into the room! Right from the start, I liked the white paint on the front, but I have to admit, I wasn’t exactly fond of the dark green colour on the side and back. Time for a makeover me-thinks!

DIY spring wreath
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DIY Spring Wreath (she: Susan)

Hello! Susan from Love of Home here, I’m so happy to be bringing some Spring inspiration today. I have a simple DIY Spring wreath to share with you. This is an inexpensive way to freshen things up. I always try to make our home warm and welcoming. I think a wreath on the door or in the entry does that perfectly. This one was created for our mudroom. Do you need inspiration for your wreath? Try looking through a magazine, or check out Pinterest. I love to start with a simple grapevine wreath. The one I used is from the Target’s bargain aisle for only $3.00.

decor on a budget
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Add Color to Your Decor on a Budget (she: Carmella)

I don’t know about you, but I am officially over winter! Spring fever is hard to catch with all this cold and snowy weather we’ve had (and I live in the south!) but I’ve started to dream of green grass, flowers, and bright and sunny days anyway.

I love adding a little extra color to our home this time of year, it gives me hope that color is soon to be on they way 🙂 Today, I wanted to share some quick ways to add color to your decor on a budget.

traveling with kids
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Traveling with Kids Tips (she: Liz)

Hi there! It’s Liz again, from Liz on Call. My family and I just recently returned home from a trip to Disneyland! We had such a fun time and I can’t wait to see what Disney will reveal in celebration of their 60th Anniversary. I have 3 young children, and if you’ve even had to go on a road trip with one child, you know it has potential for disaster. Today I’m excited to be sharing some fun tips for traveling with kids.

conversation heart inspired wreath
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Conversation Heart Inspired Wreath for Valentine’s Day (she: Aimee)

Hello, hello! My name is Aimee and I blog craft projects for kids, my home, and holidays over at The Elephant of Surprise. I’m super excited to be part of Mariel’s fabulous team this year here at Or So She Says . . .

Valentine’s Day is a favorite holiday of mine, for sure. It’s a bright, fun, and girly holiday, and I think it’s what helps get me through the rest of winter! So today I’m sharing a really easy Valentine wreath to brighten up your door or any corner of your home. This conversation heart inspired wreath is very straightforward and you can even get the kids involved.
Read on to see how to put this together!

houseplant care
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Houseplant Care – And a Giveaway! (she: Becky)

Hi Or So She Says readers! I’m Becky from Bite of Delight, and I’m so thrilled to be a new contributor here! I’m a Utah girl married to my best friend, and together we have four little buddies. I love to cook and I spend most of my time in the kitchen. We don’t eat elaborate meals every night, but we do eat together as a family every night. I love reading and Sunday afternoon naps and a clean house. Things that I miss since having 4 kids, but they’re all slowly coming back into my life!
Normally you’ll find me in my kitchen elbow-deep in bread dough or chocolate, but for my first post here, I want to talk to you about houseplant care because…it’s Houseplant Appreciation Day! When I found out about this fun day, I talked to the nice folks at Western Gardens and they agreed to help me out with a giveaway just for you! (Keep reading for details!)

DIY Canvas Art- Turn Kid Art into a Personalized Canvas (she: Carmella)
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DIY Canvas Art- Turn Kid Art into a Personalized Canvas (she: Carmella)

Hey there, and Happy New Year!! It’s Carmella back again for another year of fun on OSSS. I hope you all had a very Merry Christmas and happy holidays too! My kiddos and I have settled into a nice Christmas break routine of lazy, pajama days that have involved lots of crafty projects too. And if you know me, those are my favorite kind of days. 🙂

Our ten year old is our resident artist, she’ rarely ever seen not doodling something. Do you have one of those too??

Today I am sharing how to turn some of those precious doodles into personalized artwork you can hang on your walls… It’s a DIY canvas art project that’s a lot easier than you may think.

simplify your life
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Simplify Life – 9 Simple Ways (she: Lindsay)

For my first post here, I get to share some of my tips to help you simplify your life. A very fitting topic as we enter a New Year and probably have ambitions of making this our best year yet. I have been thinking a lot about this topic lately, of simplifying, and have been working hard at doing just that in every area of my life. Sometimes I fail miserably. But I think I’m making baby steps towards living a simpler life.

So. Here are 9 strategies I use to simplify life. And this all comes with a disclaimer that my life is anything but simplified and easy. But I do what I can to simplify where I can so I don’t get sent to the crazy bin.

Thanksgiving Kids’ Table Idea – Scavenger Hunt (she: Carmella)
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Thanksgiving Kids’ Table Idea – Scavenger Hunt (she: Carmella)

Hey there! It’s Creative Carmella here to share some fun ideas to make the kids’ table at Thanksgiving fun! Send the troops out into the yard on a scavenger hunt, and they will find everything you need to decorate! This Thanksgiving kids’ table idea is nice because it gets the kids involved, but out of the house. So you can focus on getting all the yummy treats ready for your meal without worrying what they littlest guests are up to.

Kids’ Thanksgiving Table Decor – Lots of Printables (she: Brooke)
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Kids’ Thanksgiving Table Decor – Lots of Printables (she: Brooke)

Happy gratitude month everyone! It’s Brooke from Blissful Roots. It has been an eventful few weeks here at our house. We welcomed baby boy number four at the end of October, and brought him home to a houseful of the stomach flu. Luckily, it passed him by, but hit everyone else. We’re very grateful to have that long week behind us!
I’ll have more on our newest addition at the end of the post, but for now I have some fun ideas for your kids’ table decor for Thanksgiving. I’ve always been drawn to beautiful table scapes! I love how elegant you can make a Thanksgiving table, but the teacher in me also loves any excuse to decorate for the kids! Here are just a few of my latest favorite ideas for setting up the perfect Thanksgiving table for the little ones: