From the category archives:

Balancing the Home Projects

Setting Financial Goals: What Dream are You Saving For?

February 15, 2010

When we built our house thirteen years ago, we purposely designed it in a colonial style because our dream was to have a large wrap around front porch. Not just a typical front porch, but more of a veranda.

mangolianmansion.com
A place where family and friends could gather and share life together. An environment where stress and [...]

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Balancing Blogging Goals

January 3, 2010

My life as a blogger has been incredibly surreal.

Reading my first blogs ever in the summer of 2008, I realized that there was this whole virtual “world” about which I had no idea. I couldn’t believe what I had been missing. Any topic I was passionate about connected me with some other amazing woman that was sharing her ideas on the matter.

I was hooked on reading…I am a voracious reader, but writing a blog? That didn’t interest me…for about two weeks. Had it been any other time of the year, I would have bypassed this new virtual world due to my over extended schedule, but it was SUMMER time.

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Last Minute Creative, DIY Gift Ideas

December 18, 2009

The final days leading up to Christmas holds the greatest tendency to make impulse purchases.

Don’t do it! Get creative!

Are you trying to think of last minute gift ideas, but your pocket book is stretched to its limit and pressure is mounting?

My “Do it Yourself” Earring Organizer will take minutes and only pennies out of the wallet. It’s so simple, and the creative possibilities are endless. All of you can probably put your hands on unused frames if you “shop your house,” and if you’re like me, the huge amounts of unused scrapbook paper from years of promising the completion of those baby books is just a closet away.

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Decorating with Ornaments

December 16, 2009

Scrambling to decorate last evening, minutes before my guests were to arrive, reality set in…it was not going to happen.

Think quickly, Jen. How could I add that holiday feel with only minutes to prepare, yet still give some decorating bang for my frugal buck?

Decorate with ornaments, and cut some greenery from the outside bushes, of course. (And since I’m a fancy schmancy photographer, you’ll see me sitting on the counter taking those two pictures. )

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Creative Christmas Decorating Ideas

December 13, 2009

You all know how I love to incorporate frugal, fancy, creative decorating ideas, so what better treat then a combination of my own creative inspiration and that of a place where dreams come true – Disney.

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Can you paint a metal tray?

December 6, 2009

Buying an ugly, old, tray and transforming it into something beautiful brings me joy.

I love simple pleasures, and taking something that was heading for the trash and turning it into a treasure for under one dollar is simple bliss.

When I saw this old tray at a yard sale, I almost walked right past it. But then the “thinking outside the box” mentality kicked into full gear, found out it was one little quarter, and I snatched it with joy.

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Pottery Barn Inspired Bedroom Decor

November 30, 2009

Hearing that a post has inspired both creativity and frugality in one of my readers delights me to no end.
When Cara emailed me that she had some Pottery Barn inspired bedroom decor and had conquered a Pottery Barn chandelier for under $10, I was delighted when she shared the pictures.

I am in the process (yes, the process has been stalled on quite a few occasions) of finishing my girls’ room with a Pottery Barn inspired butterfly theme. I can’t wait to show you how an entire Pottery Barn room makeover can happen for under $100 (with furniture).

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Inspiration for holiday festivities?

November 22, 2009

Knowing that many booths around me were calling my name, I finally snuck away for a few minutes and captured some inspiration to get me into the holiday mood. Yes, there were plenty of ways to be inspired for the holiday festivities, and this was from only 1/10 of the aisles.The weekend leading up to my trip to Ecuador, I was working furiously manning my Homemade Gourmet booth. Serving samples, sharing cooking tips for making “4 Meals in 4 Minutes” and encouraging people with unique family traditions. My weekend would not have worked with out the extra help from my family. They were troops and stepped up SO MUCH! My daughter was the main sampler maker and server. Who wouldn’t buy from someone who shared, ” I made those just for you this morning.”

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Easy Thanksgiving Table Decor

November 19, 2009

I am scrambling to highlight our Thanksgiving table with some quick, easy and frugal decor.

Our first step to easy Thanksgiving table decor is to “shop our house and yard.” As much as I desire a Better Homes and Garden look, a simple approach to decorating assures all of us that we don’t have to be designers to create a welcoming home. We can add much more glamor than what I am showing, butmy desire is to encourage everyone of you that with just a few extra minutes, you can set a beautiful table.

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Finding Thankfulness Through a Thrift Store?

November 18, 2009

…The melting pot mentality of America is embodied in a thrift store. One can look around the parking lot and observe vehicles ranging from BMW’s to Beretta’s, shelves stocked with both jewels and junk, while purchasers carrying either Amex Gold cards or Food Stamps stock up their carts. People have shared their life story with [...]