What to Get for Someone Who Has everything?

Have you ever needed to touch up paint in your home and were not sure which color you used?

Have you needed some house facts - like square footage or year built - and had to guess?

Wouldn't it be nice to have, in one handy spot, a list of all the home improvements made throughout the years - warranties all in one place - samples of paint chips and fabrics - photos of each room.


That is the purpose of the "Homeowner's History Book" designed and created by Cozy Chic Design. The brainchild of Jen Griswold, the "Homeowner's History Book" in an expandable binder that holds house facts, information, records, photos and receipts. A handy place to document everything - from service providers to neighborhood facts -- and keep it all in one place.

At an "opening special " of just $15, the "Homeowner's History Book" makes a wonderful gift. This book placed on the counter of a home that is on the market, shows that the property has been well cared for.

Order yours today! Plenty of time for Christmas delivery!
707-447-0977 or 707-455-8265

Cheap and Easy DIY Chalkboard Labels

Ok, we've all seen many a cute idea in the Pottery Barn magazine. The following project is exactly that but you can do it yourself for a fraction of the price!

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Head to your nearest craft store to stock up on $1 unfinished picture frames (if you have their 40% off coupon this craft gets even cheaper). For my project I needed 8 frames and one can of chalkboard spray paint (around $4 with coupon). You'll also need chalk for writing.

Step 2: Paint the frame.

You can paint the frame with acrylic paint (I used some I had in the cupboard) to match your decor and paint the cardboard backing with the chalkboard spray paint. Wait to dry, reassemble the frame, and voile! You have the cutest and CHEAPEST little chalkboard label for your fridge, to label baskets, toy boxes, etc.



Step 3: Dress up the frame.

You can tie it onto a basket with raffia, ribbon, or twine. Or put an adhesive magnet on the back and display your latest goodies on the fridge. Enjoy the versatility of this project.....the possibilities are endless....all for only $1.00!!

Seasons of Life...What Season Are YOU In?

Seasons of Life

By: Rachel Krugh--Family-focused freelance writer from Puyallup, WA

With Halloween behind us, now is the perfect chance to take time to catch your breath before the busyness of the rest of the holiday season is upon us. Pack up all the witches and goblins, skeletons and pumpkins, and before you bring out the boxes of Christmas/Hanukah decorations, take some time to live with the empty spaces in their place. Take a good look around your home to see if the furniture in your home fits your needs, if the spaces and traffic patterns function well for the way you use your home, and if the things you have in your home speak to your heart and nourish your soul.

A wise man once said that you can chronicle the seasons of life by watching the furniture in the family room change. A young, newly married couple, with lots of love but little money, starts with a love seat. They make a little more money and want their home to reflect their sense of style, so they buy an expensive sofa and tchotchkes. They start a family and add a rocking chair – and soon after add a slip cover for the sofa and box up the tchotchkes. As the family grows, the trendy sofa, which wasn’t really comfortable anyways, is replaced by the sectional sofa. As the nest empties, they end up with “his” and “hers” recliners, which, of course, can be moved when they fold out the new sleeper sofa for the visiting grandchildren, who think the tchotchkes make great toys.

What “season of life” are you in? Does your furniture work to support you in the many roles you play to keep the household running? Do the pieces of art on your wall bring you joy, or remind you that you need to dust more often? Are you able to enjoy your most cherished treasures, or are they buried under piles of bills and clutter or stored in the back of a cabinet somewhere? Would a room function better if some of the furniture was removed? Do you have a comfortable space for celebrating holiday traditions with family and friends? Sometimes our lives and our living spaces can be too full – even if they are full of “good things.”

Now is a perfect time to try this experiment and see what happens: take everything off of the walls and horizontal surfaces in a room and box them up. Live with the space this way for at least a week. After the first week, start putting back your most cherished items, one at a time. You might find that you are content to leave half of the things in the box. If so, pass them on or donate them. You will be ready to start the rush of the holiday season with a clean slate. And maybe Santa will bring you some new tchotchkes!