Tag: summer

Make Summer Memories Without the Clutter

Posted on by Jordank

#Summertime is ripe for making #memories. People are out and about, taking time off from work and school, and visiting with friends and family at all sorts of warm-weather events. They’re also often buying #stuff they don’t need.

The good news is that you don’t need to buy a lot of #junk or spend a lot of #money to have fun. There are lots of #thrifty ways to enjoy summer and preserve the memories without adding a ton of #clutter to your home.

Let’s say you’re on a budget (and with prices on everything from hamburger to gasoline rising fast, who isn’t?) and have #kids at home. Take advantage of the public pools, playgrounds and parks in your area, or choose from a range of low-cost activities from Modern Parents, Messy Kids.

Brainstorm a list of ideas for your perfect summer and get the family involved, says Smart Mom, Smart Ideas. Then, “eliminate anything you can’t afford, eliminate things [that are] too far away and eliminate things with too many constraints” to create and your bucket list and plan events.

If a summer #vacation is on that list, keep #costs and #clutter at a minimum by skipping most of the souvenirs. Instead of plasticky gewgaws, bring home small, useful gifts such as local spices or handmade items, suggests Saskia’s Travel Blog: “I collect moments, not magnets.”

Make preserving your summer memories simple by taking photos and printing a few favorites for display. Keep a scrapbook to organize tickets, maps and papers. Learn a local recipe for later use, or buy exactly one special item that you can’t get anywhere else. If you must buy a souvenir, make it #sustainable and consumable — the local crafts or foodstuffs, for example.

To maintain memories without adding to the piles of stuff in your home, #minimalist Jules Acree says to write about your experience or take a photo. Only buy and keep #things that you use regularly, would pass down to your children or would grab “if your house was on fire.”

You can make summer memories without creating clutter. And nothing lasts like a memory!

A Vegetable Garden Suitable for Beginners

Posted on by Jordank

If your interest in #gardening leans toward the edible rather than the decorative, many #vegetables and #fruits are easy to grow and yield plenty of good-for-you produce, Shifting Roots says. Lettuce, for example, sprouts fast from seed and keeps growing after you cut it. Similarly, kale and Swiss chard take off even in shady spots, providing healthy greens throughout the summer. Beans, potatoes and zucchini require very little attention, and root vegetables such as carrots, onions, beets and turnips mature underground without much attention to the above-ground foliage. Broccoli and cauliflower are less forgiving to the beginner though. #GardeningTips

Plant a Garden That’s Low-Maintenance

Posted on by Jordank

Use low-maintenance #plants to beautify your outdoor space without a lot of fuss or labor, says The Middle Sized Garden. Start with shrubs and ornamental grasses; most need to be trimmed only once a year. Avoid annuals, which tend to be high-maintenance. Pack plants closely to inhibit weeds; you can always thin them out if things get crowded. And limit the number of varieties you plant and group them together for big swaths of color and texture. Or you can “rewild” your #garden to make it virtually self-sufficient, trimming only rarely to allow self-seeded plants, flowers and shrubs to take over. #GardeningTips

Plant a Garden That Doesn’t Need Much Upkeep

Posted on by Jordank

#Garden upkeep can get overwhelming if you pick #plants that die quickly without human intervention, says Pioneer Woman Ree Drummond. Pick a garden style that suits you and your situation to keep things easy-care. If you live in a dry climate, try #planting a selection of drought-tolerant #plants such as cactus or yarrow. Bulbs, perennials and self-seeding flowers and plants will return year after year with little care, often thriving and spreading to fill space. Many wildflowers attract birds and butterflies and don’t require a lot of care. And if you don’t have much space, a container garden can keep things manageable while beautifying your home. #GardeningTips

Plant a Garden That Takes Care of Itself

Posted on by Jordank

#Gardens don’t have to be difficult to be beautiful. Simply prioritize plants that thrive in your climate, soil type and water distribution pattern to guarantee success, says Fine Gardening. If you can base gardens on native perennials and “allies” from similar climate zones, gardens can actually get easier to care for every year. As plants get established, you’ll do more thinning and splitting than mowing, trimming, edging, watering and feeding. Feed your soil, mulch to prevent weeds and maybe rethink how much space you dedicate to a grass lawn. You’ll soon have a #garden that practically takes care of itself! #GardeningTips