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DIY Pumpkin Window Cling

We love to decorate for holidays and Halloween is no exception. This DIY idea makes fun window clings with simple ingredients for a one of a kind look this season!



The kids are excited about Halloween this year! As soon as they saw Halloween decor popping up in stores, they were ready to buy something! Seeing how cute they are, I couldn't deny them their wish. But, I did draw the line at 2 items. We placed a cute ghost on our door in mid-August...

Luckily, the fun of Halloween is still going strong here! The kids and I made some adorable window clings that I can't wait to share with you guys! Today we will go over how we made these cute and easy Pumpkin Window Clings!






Supplies

Transparent Contact Paper
Scissors
Black, Orange and Green Construction Paper



Have the kids tear the orange paper into little strips and bits.




Then cut the pumpkins face out of the black paper. Tear whatever black remains into small bits and strips.

Peel the backing off of your contact paper and lay it sticky side up.

Place the face of the pumpkin on the sticky side of the paper.



 Next outline the shape of your pumpkin in orange.





Then fill the outline in with orange paper.


Next tear one small bit of green paper for a stem and add it to the top of the pumpkin. Begin to fill in the rest of the area with black paper.


Then you can stick this right to your window. The little areas that aren't covered with paper will adhere to the window, but not so much that it makes peeling it off a bother. You can reinforce the edges with tape if you need to or desire.




And there you have a really easy, fun and cheap way to make a window cling! My kids had a lot of fun with this idea and I think yours will too!


You can find all of my Halloween crafts here

Glam Pumpkin Makeover

Paper Plate Witch




5 Ways To Save On Your New House Windows

5 Ways To Save On Your New House Windows
Windows are an integral part of a house which enhances the curb appeal, brighten up your home’s
interior and save a great amount on energy bills. Good choice of windows is extremely important
especially when you go for replacement windows or buying them for your new house. There are various
factors that you should keep in mind while staying within your budget. It’s not like you have to pay
expensive bills to get energy-efficient and best windows, there are several ways which can help you in
saving money on your new house windows. Read further to know these ways.
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/SXVBfhjZGlU
1. Don’t Get Additional Features in Windows
Some window companies have this strategy of attracting customers by showcasing them the additional
(most of them are useless. features that you can get in the windows. Many customers think of it as a
great and innovative thing but these are just the ways of making money. So, in order to save money on
windows, make sure you don’t go for any futile features that add more digits in the payment receipt. 
2. Get Bids from Various Companies 
Once you visit a window market, you would see an overwhelming number of window companies out
there with different window prices. The stupidity would be to visit a single company and sign a contract
with it without caring if it is as per your desire or not. A pro tip is to visit different companies, tell them
exactly what you are looking for, share your budget with them and get their offers. After you have
gathered quotes and offers from various companies, sit down and compare each one with others. At
last, pick the one that you think is the most reasonable with all your demanded requirements. 
Source: https://unsplash.com/photos/2UE1givDiPM
3. Negotiate 
Never underestimate the power of negotiation. Whichever company you choose to get your windows
made from, don’t just give the amount that the contractor asked you for. Negotiate the double glazing
cost with them properly and calmly, you never know if they can give you a discount. Moreover, you can
also ask for some deals or packages as that helps a lot in saving some money on windows. 
Source: https://images.unsplash.com/photo-1493895565436-93db25637518?ixlib=rb-1.2.1&ixid=eyJhcHBfaWQiOjEyMDd9&auto=format&fit=crop&w=1050&q=80
4. Don’t Choose a Complicated Style 
More complicated the style, the more expensive it is. So, stick to a standard but appealing style of the
windows. If you are thinking about the curb appeal of your house, you can spruce it up with other ways
as well. Go for a simple but stunning piece of windows as they are low on cost as compared to the
stylish ones. 
5. Install the Windows Yourself 
Window contractors can charge so much money just to install windows in your house, especially if the
house is new. So, do some basic research on how to install windows, grab all the necessary tools and
start the work along with all precautionary measures. 
Add beauty to your house by adding beautiful yet cost-saving windows by following these simple ways
and save a valuable amount of money from your budget.

Is Garden Landscaping Expensive?

A nice aesthetic garden has a delightful ambiance of its own. The green resonates the healthy and
growing aura of your house and gives pleasure to look at. However maintaining a garden is no cheap
task. They are very costly and not every landscaping idea is welcoming to everyone’s budget. If you
haven’t had much of an experience with landscaping or are out of touch with the landscaping rate, we
will fill you in with the most up to date costs to help you become realistic with your landscaping plans.
1. What factors will affect the cost of landscaping?
There are many factors that you must take into account before exploring the cost of your
garden landscaping

Learn more about adding trees to your landscape here:
  • The size of your garden
  • The span of the coverage
  • Special nurturing for exotic plants
  • Type of fertilizers and pesticides used
  • Cost of pants and mulches
  • Your gardener’s salary
2. How much do gardening services cost?
Gardeners have a lot to do with the size of your garden. On an average for an average sized house
garden; gardening services would range from £15-45 per hour. Another factor that decides the cost of
gardening is the efficiency of a gardener, their level of expertise and their experience. On an average
that would be around £150 - 300 per day for 2-3 hours of gardening every day. Gardening services
include weeding, weed removal, trimming, pruning, lawn clearance, lawn care, lawn mowing etc.
Source: http://azworks.co/wp-content/uploads/2018/12/landscaping-ideas-with-rocks-beautiful-river-rock-landscaping-ideas-rock-garden-landscaping-with-rocks-garden-landscaping-and-backyard-landscaping-landscaping-ideas-rocks-gravel.jpg
3. How much does garden cleaning cost?
Garden cleaning by a professional will cost you at around £35 -40 per hour.
4. How much does soil irrigation cost?
Most people tend to dismiss the irrigation, but the fact that water costs is not to be ignored. For
£8-10 per hour your garden will remain hydrated.
5. How much does maintaining a turf cost?
Turf maintenance is a chore not everyone has the time for. Hiring a professional to do will cost at
around £14 per square meter.
Source: https://i1.wp.com/www.mrright.in/ideas/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Small-garden-landscaping-ideas.jpg?resize=600%2C400&ssl=1
6. How much does bark mulching cost?
To keep your plants warm and well hydrated in summer time, you should consider mulching which has
an approximate cost of £12-38 per cubic meter.
7. How much does new plants cost?
For garden makeover you need plants, however, plants do not have a fixed price. The same plant you
buy on sale will have a massive difference from the plant you buy from a nursery. Plants are also very
dependent upon the area where you choose to do the plantation. The price will range from £30-40 per
square meter.
8. How much does fence installation cost?
Fence installation will cost you £40-50 per meter for close boarded and £50-60 per meter for a closed
board fence.
9. How much does paving cost?
Sandstone paving will cost you £80, while block paving being a slightly cheaper option will cost you
around £70-80.
10. How much does decking cost?
Softwood decking comes in cheap at £70-80 per square meter, while hardwood decking ranging from
£130-160 depending on the type of wood used.

4 Ways You Can Save When Moving To Your New House

Moving into your new house is both exciting and stressful process. It can be a costly process as well,
which should make you consider cost savings as well. Moving into a new apartment, office or a house
can indeed be expensive, therefore you need to watch yourself. You might have already spent your life
savings on a new place and you would not want your bank account to bleed more than necessary.
There is no doubt that the process of moving house can be tiring as well, but allow us to share some
tips to save up some money while moving.
Source: https://newtheory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/tips-for-use-before-moving.jpg
1. Planning
The first most important thing for you to do is plan. Planning your every move is not only going to give
you a clear direction but also organize everything and bring it within the budget. Considering all
expenses, costs and fees including that of removal companies will not leave you with a surprise at the
end of the day. The best way to ensure such things is to make a checklist. A checklist will remind you of
anything that is being forgotten or missing. After you have made sure, you can simply cancel out the item
or task on the list.
2. Think About What You Really Need
Thinking about what you really need is going to help you a lot with the moving process and also in saving
costs. Instead of thinking on the day of moving, think at least a month before about what you want to
keep and what you want to move. Furniture in this case needs to be considered carefully as you would
not want to end up realizing that the furniture does not fit in your new place. If you want to relieve
yourself off some furniture, the best option will be to put it on sale. Consider rent trends in Houston when
budgeting.
3. Search Sites for Deals
If you need movers, painters and house cleaners etc. you can sign up for emails that will inform you of
daily deals. In some cases, if your luck is working, you might end up getting a 50% discount. Before you
proceed with finalizing a deal, scour the internet to find reviews about the company. If you happen to
overlook that, expect some unprofessionalism and rescheduling at the last minute.
Source: https://183263-537949-raikfcquaxqncofqfm.stackpathdns.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/shutterstock_177378965.jpg
4. Move Some Things by Yourself 
Moving companies will charge you based on how much furniture you have. If possible, try moving
some things by yourself to lower the quote. You can also ask a relative and a friend to refer some
company they have used and that way you can end up with a discount as well. In addition to that, you
will have to make sure that the company has insurance. You will also have to be careful about what
type of insurance is covered, as in many cases, insurance will cover only a certain value. Things that are smaller in size and fragile such as lamps, pictures and crockery can be moved
easily by yourself so that you are less stressed about valuable and fragile things during the process.

The best advice for moving is to use the help of a cheap man with a van service. They charge less and
perform the moving quite swiftly. Wridgways international removalist is another great resource for how to move your belongings to your new house.


11 Apple Crafts to Make with the Kids

I can't help but get excited about the end of summer, because it means that fall is near! Trips to the orchard with the family; lots of action in the kitchen, the temps are finally cool enough for baking! And of course, the crafting with the kids! How could I not get excited for fall!? 

This year I have 11 apple craft to make with the kids to share with you that I know you will have fun making with your little ones!

 Apple Crafts to Make with the Kids


Toilet Paper Roll Apple Stamp
Paper Plate Apple Craft
Caramel Apple Fall Craft
Apple Suncatchers
Take a Bite Out of Fall Craft
Apple Playdough
Button Apple Trees
Fruit Loop Fall Tree
Apple Tree Craft
Toilet Roll Apples
Stuffed Paper Apples


I love all of these ideas! I am hoping to make them all with the kids! We are planning to make these Apple Tree Window Clings again this year but we might make it a crafting marathon with these great ideas!

You can find my Halloween posts here

You might also like this easy homemade play dough recipe

Everything You Wanted to Know About Placenta Encapsulation – Should You Do It?

There is a growing number of new moms who are opting for placenta encapsulation. If you have ever seen
a National Geographic wildlife documentary involving an animal giving birth, you already know that
animals lick and eat their own placenta after the birthing process. As it turns out, there might be some
health benefits, which may help in recovery. The hormonal and nutritional content of the placenta allows
the animals to replenish their bodies.


While there is no evidence that prehistoric humans practiced placentophagy, the trend of moms eating their
own placenta after giving birth has been on the rise in the last decade. The trend was further popularized
when celebrities like Kim Kardashian and January Jones joined the movement.

In this post, we answer some of the most fundamental questions about this postpartum practice, so you can
make an informed decision.

What is Placenta Encapsulation?


Placenta in its raw form is not safe to ingest. Placenta encapsulation is a process where the placenta is
collected after the delivery, then steamed, dried, and powdered. This process kills the dangerous pathogens
and the dry powdered placenta is then put inside pills.  This entire process starting from collection to
transforming the placenta into pills is called placenta encapsulation.

What Are the Claimed Health Benefits of Placenta Encapsulation?

While there are still no studies that conclusively prove the health benefits of placenta encapsulation, there
are individual reports from thousands of women who experienced positive results. The following are the
most commonly reported health benefits of placenta encapsulation.

Faster Recovery: One of the most commonly reported benefits of placenta encapsulation is it helps the
mother recover. The nutrition and the hormonal content help the uterus to recover faster.

Reduction in Postpartum Depression: It’s reported by many women that consumption of placenta pills
after childbirth helped with reducing postpartum depression.  One of the theories behind why that might
actually be true is the fact that the placenta is rich in hormones. These hormones may trigger the secretion
of CRH, which is a known stress-reducing hormone.

Increased Milk Production: Women who had their placenta encapsulated also reported increased production
of milk. Women with multiple children often reported that the see a positive change in milk production after
having placenta capsules regularly.

Increases Iron Supply in the Body: Placenta is rich in iron and thus it helps in replenishing the iron supply
after birth. However, some scientists argue that the percentage of iron is not significant enough to make any
discernible difference.

Increase Bond with the Newly Born Infant: There is also reports that the practice of eating placenta can
improve the production oxytocin. This helps to bond  more with the newly-born child.


What are the Risks of Eating Your Own Placenta?

The biggest risk of eating placenta is the presence of pathogens. However, if a woman is having her own
placenta, she already has the pathogens in her body. Therefore, there is no new danger.

Treating the placenta is also very important. The steaming and pilling process kills off the pathogens and
drastically reduces the chances of complications. This is where a good placenta encapsulation service plays
such as vital role. 

You ideally want the encapsulation process done in a sterilized environment or be done at home, where
there is little chance of cross contamination.


3 Critical Tips When Choosing a Placenta Encapsulation Service Provider

Check Certification: Before selecting a placenta encapsulation specialist or hiring a company, be sure to
ask for their certifications. Make sure the person performing the encapsulation is a qualified midwife or a
doula.     

Do They Help with the Hospital Paperwork: Hospitals need to be informed and there is often paperwork
required for the placenta collection process. Ask the placenta encapsulation service provider, if they help
with that. Some hospitals may have strict policies about not allowing collection of the placenta after
childbirth. To avoid such instances, you need to contact the encapsulation specialist. They usually have a
list of hospitals that allow placenta to be collected.  

Will They Perform the Encapsulation Service At Your Home: One of the biggest risks of placenta
encapsulation is cross infections. The risk totally depends on the cleanliness and the safety measure of
individual placenta encapsulation facilities. The best way to avoid that is by asking specialist to perform
the encapsulation process at your home. Be sure to ask in advance as a lot of these services do not offer
at-home encapsulation.