With three daughters ages five and under, the idea of spring cleaning is almost comical. I’m also a freelancer without childcare, so free time is basically nonexistent. Despite these challenges, I have recently found realistic ways to get my house under control.  Make it fun This is not a trick, I promise. Get the entire family involved. Sometimes, my family has a dance party while putting toys away or while the adults clean the kitchen. Music also helps make the process more bearable, even if you’re cleaning solo. There’s something about lighting a candle that motivates, too.  Add a ..read more

The Backstory This 1935 Dutch Colonial is in a great location close to downtown Annapolis and Spa Creek, but was not quite ready for a family who liked to entertain and enjoy the outdoors. The kitchen was cramped, bathrooms outdated and not enough bedrooms for four kids. COVID stalled all renovation progress. Once construction could begin again the project took two years to complete.  The Plan Originally the plan was to convert the back porch into the master bedroom, but closer inspection revealed that there was no foundation under the porch. Since a foundation was required for the much n ..read more

Nutritious eating, including smarter snacking, is important to protect your heart and maintain overall health and wellness. While many people understand the basics of healthy eating – avoiding too many sugary treats, for example – some are confused about important food categories that can impact nutrition. According to a survey conducted by The Harris Poll on behalf of the American Heart Association, U.S. adults are least knowledgeable about refined vs. whole grains compared to other food categories like fruits, vegetables and proteins. Whole grains are, in fact, a key feature of the Associati ..read more

5 tips for school night meals that will make you a hero. It’s one of the busiest times of the year, meaning managing mealtimes can be tough as families navigate the school year hustle. Between school, work, extracurriculars and social activities, figuring out what to eat and when can be overwhelming. Put your worries aside and become a true after-school hero with these timesaving, delicious meal-planning strategies while giving back to communities in need. Conquer Your Next Grocery Trip When it’s time for a grocery run, write down everything you need, perhaps on your phone’s notetaking app, be ..read more

Proper care of your lawn can also be good for the Chesapeake Bay. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has partnered with experts from the University of Maryland Extension to produce an educational video highlighting best practices for lawn care. This instructional video, available on the department’s YouTube channel, answers commonly asked questions about best practices for healthy lawns and cleaner streams. “Homeowners, like farmers, have the power to safeguard the Chesapeake Bay from its biggest threat—excess nutrients that fowl water quality and fuel the growth of harmful algae blo ..read more

Wallpaper has long been an elegant and creative way to enhance the aesthetics of interior spaces. Over the years, two trends have captured the imagination of designers and homeowners alike: the rise of removable wallpaper and the timeless allure of floral patterns. In this article, we delve into the world of interior design by exploring the captivating fusion of these trends—removable wallpaper adorned with exquisite floral designs. We’ll uncover the benefits of removable wallpaper and delve into the enduring appeal of floral patterns, highlighting how this combination is revolutionizing the w ..read more

By Lauren Burke Meyer Built in the 1960s, our Colonial-style home’s miniature coat closet was not cutting it for our family of five. Read on to see how my husband’s DIY project for a nautical coat rack saved the day.  The Backstory If I had to give a Yelp review for buying a home during the pandemic, I would give it a one out of five stars. Do. Not. Recommend.  With low inventory, plus sky rocketing list prices and even higher sale prices, it was a “Hunger Games” era of real estate. In 2020, my family thankfully landed our dream home in the highly coveted Chartwell community in Sever ..read more

Gardening can be a simple way to beautify your yard, relieve stress and provide delicious fresh fruits and veggies to your table. Get these 7 budget-friendly gardening tips and save money so that you don’t get carried away buying unnecessary equipment. Gardening Tips Fun, frugal and environmentally friendly, these tricks can help you create a cost-effective garden: Use a yardstick and permanent marker to mark inches and feet on the handle of your rake, shovel or hoe. The next time you plant, simply lay the marked handle along the row to create perfectly spaced holes for seeds. Line the bottom ..read more

Act now to reduce mosquito populations by reducing standing water on your property, recommends the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s Mosquito Control Program. Aside from being nuisances, mosquitoes can also carry a number of diseases that are harmful to humans and animals, including West Nile Virus and Eastern Equine Encephalitis. Eliminate Mosquito Breeding Sites “Protect yourself and others from mosquito-borne diseases by eliminating potential mosquito breeding sites on your property,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “If you start now and do it for five mi ..read more

Great job, you’ve done it! You’ve decluttered, sorted through, and cleaned out that room. What do you do with all of the things you don’t want or need anymore? Rather than put more items into the local landfill why not sell, donate or repurpose your excess.  By the way, it looks amazing – so much brighter and cleaner! I bet you feel very accomplished and proud of yourself, as you should. It’s a task that takes pre-planning, time, a fair amount of elbow grease, and of course, the motivation to get it done.  So now the question is:  What’s next? What is the next step to complete t ..read more