Misc Resources
Living Simply Information
Holiday decorations from fabric scraps  You´ve just finished a holiday project. How about reusuing, or using up those ends of balls of thread/yarn, or scrap fabric and ribbon? A Recycled Christmas - Reused Gifts Are Better  There are plenty of reasons to buy used for Christmas presents, and only one reason not to: you probably think it looks bad. Here´s why you should buy used gifts and encourage the same from others. All Free Crafts [offsite link] One of these clever craft projects includes recycling your old light bulbs, and another teaches you how to make a faux hurricane lamp using lids from your mayonnaise jars and aspirin bottles... a fun way to reuse and recycle. Being Thankful  Thanksgiving is around the corner. What can we possibly be thankful for? This article will help you turn to your inner self to cultivate that awareness of gratitude. Bizarre Stuff You Can Make In Your Kitchen [offsite link] Let the mad scientist in you or your children come out and play! You might even make something really useful. At the very least, you´ll learn something and have fun. Can of Chili Recipes  Canned chili is a convenient ingredient for dozens of great meals. Cleaning Hints  Want to know which housecleaning products work? How to clean more quickly with less effort? Which natural and homemade products actually tackle the dirty work? Cleaning topic at BellaOnline  Jill´s other topic, on the subject of cleaning. Remember, it´s easier to keep a simple life if your surroundings are clean. And it´s easier to keep things clean, when you have a more simple lifestyle! Cleaning Up the Flu  virus-proof your home and body Composting at Home in Iowa City [offsite link] A simple and clearly written guide to setting up your own simple composting pile. Composting For Home Gardens [offsite link] A guide to backyard composting, with illustrations that are quite helpful in visualizing how your finished pile will look. Desperately Seeking You  If you’re constantly seeking, seeking, seeking and not finding, perhaps it is time to take a hiatus from your outer studies and turn to inner studies. Do It Yourself.com [offsite link] If you are faced with a home repair, you probably have questions about how best to take care of it. This link takes you directly to a list of ´how to´s´ that might be of assistance. Easy Coupon Tricks  Saving money with coupons is irresistible but can be more effort than it’s worth. Here are ways to make clipping coupons work for you. Electronic Christmas Cards  Save a tree, save the planet with e-cards this year. Office Max offers a free version that is irresistibly cute. Establishing Rhythm and Routine  Looking for routine and rhythm once the school year begins? Foraging for Food 
Free Printable Cards & Labels [offsite link] I stumbled on this site, and had to share it. Alenka also has good quality items for sale, so browse around the rest of her site. This link takes you directly to an index of recipe cards, canning labels and more, ready for you to print. This could be a way to make use of heavier paper stock left over from other printing projects. Free tools for tatting which you can make yourself  BellaOnline´s Tatting editor Gillian Buchanan penned a great article about creating your own tools for tatters and finding reusable containers for your tatting supplies. Remember, you can also find those cosmetic bags she mentions at thrift stores - for a song! Fresh Ginger Tea Recipe  Soothing to the stomach, invigorating to the senses, fresh ginger tea is simple to make at home. Frog Holler Farm - A Family Living Simply [offsite link] Take a tour of the King family´s 153 acre farm-plus in Michigan. Learn about what´s working for them, and hear their thoughts about the challenges they face daily. Frugal Living at BellaOnline  Living Simply and Frugal Living go hand in hand. Lili Pintea-Reed´s site here at Bella gives you the information and resources you´ll need. Check out her informative articles and links. Halloween Costumes from a Bed Sheet  Need a quick, easy and cheap costume? Grab an old bed sheet! Home Cooking at BellaOnline  You´ve worked hard to grow the best food crops you can. Now, how to cook it? Sandy Moyer has lots of comforting recipes just waiting for you. Homeschooling at BellaOnline  Many homesteaders are also homeschoolers. I feel this is truly a ´sister´ site to Living Simply. Terrie Bittner has the resources and information you´ll need to successfully homeschool your children. How to Let Go of Too Many Things  You don’t have to be a hoarder to have too many things that clutter your life. How to Make Your Own Soap Scrap Sack  Make the most out of small bits of soap by making your own soap scrap sack. Here are two different styles to craft easily. How to Make Your Own Sun-Dried Tomatoes  Delicious tomatoes preserved by the sun can be pricey in gourmet shops but making your own is simple—and cheap. Improve Indoor Air Quality  In the wintertime, things are generally chilly to downright cold, keeping you indoors, with the windows and doors shut! This is a good time of year to focus on creating a healthy indoor environment. InterGarden [offsite link] This is a huge collection of text files on lots of topics of interest, from soapmaking to beekeeping and a lot more. Just browse the directory structure to see what´s hiding inside. Labor Day Fun  Want to have one last hurrah before the summer is over? You'll find simple tips here for Labor Day! Learn Online: Learn to be Clutter-Free [offsite link] Learn how to conquer the clutter and simplify your life through this online course, taught by Linda DePaz. Living Simply Newsletter  Sign-up today to receive newsletters from BellaOnline's Living Simply site. You will receive weekly updates of the latest Living Simply news. Living Simply Word Scramble  Can you make sense of the jumble? Living With Intention [offsite link] Encouragement for using the mind-body connection to attract the experiences you want. Make Your Own Tabletop Fountain  Bella´s Feng Shui host, Stephanie Ogle, shows you how to build your own indoor fountain. Making A Wooden Whistle [offsite link] Learn how to carve a simple whistle from a twig. Soon you´ll be making them for every kid in your neighborhood! Modern Day Food Foraging [offsite link] There are ideas in this article that you may not have considered, especially if you thought you couldn´t forage in an urban area. Mother Earth News [offsite link] Subscribe to this info-packed magazine online. You´ll also find plenty of articles and resources right at their website. No Stress Thanksgiving  Focusing on the true meaning of this holiday removes the stress and pressure. Open Air Living Book Review  How to live like an Impressionist painting: snoozing, bathing, entertaining and spending your spare time in an "outdoor room" of your own design. Organize for Fall  Fall is the time of year when many begin to spend more time indoors. Enjoy your space more with these tips. Organize Photos and Albums  A cross-over article between the Photography and Living Simply websites - help on organizing your paper photographs! Original Country Clipart By Lisa [offsite link] All the graphics you could ever need for your home crafting, canning and recipe card projects. Preserving Food Safely [offsite link] A searchable database based on the USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, provided by the Michigan State University Extension. Re-used Ornaments and Decorations for the Holidays  Here are a few ideas to help you decorate on a budget this year, with an earth-friendly consciousness (as opposed to "Crazy Christmas Consumer Mentality") Reuse Your Leftovers  Read this great article from the Home Finance editor, about ways to make magic with your leftover food. Now you can have less waste, less gargage to throw in landfills, and can learn to extend your food budget in creative ways! Setting Priorities  Looking for ways to achieve work-life balance? Maybe you don't need more time, maybe you just need fewer tasks. Deciding what really moves you or fits with your life goals can help you set priorties and find the balance you want. Should Give Up Your Dream?  A dream can be a goal, distraction or excuse. When is it time to let go of a dream and feel content with the life you lead? Simple Cracker Candy Recipe  Buttery crackers and brown sugar make an easy brittle-like candy. Good enough for gift-giving or everyday enjoyment. Simple Halloween  Simplify the Fall and Halloween season with these easy to follow tips. Also, you will save money, too. Simple Harvest Decorations  Why buy and store expensive autumn decor when nature provides the real thing for free? Simple Holiday Baking  Baking is one of the most favorite holiday activities. Don't become overwhelmed and make it complicated. Baking can be fun and festive while being simple as well. Here you will find tips on simple baking as well as fun ideas to package your goodies! Simple Homemade Ornaments  Have some fun this holiday season by making your own holiday ornaments! Simple Power Bar Recipes  Power bars make a great meal-on-the-go. They’re simple to make, too. Simple Pumpkin Carving Ideas  Not an artist? Here are some easy ways to create fun jack-o-lanterns without a lot of skill. Simple Weddings  A simple wedding can still be a lovely and memorable experience. The bonus - you save energy and stress, so you actually get to enjoy your beloved and your big day. Simply Handmade Gifts and Decorations  The title of this book is actually Simply Handmade - 365 Easy Gifts and Decorations You Can Make. The pages are just FULL of great pictures and ideas. The book is user-friendly with tabs at the top for either the "make it in minutes" or "step-by-step" plans. Slowing Down and Getting More  Tips for being deliberate about creating the life you want. Thanksgiving Leftovers  Easy, tried-and-true ideas for leftover turkey. The Joy of Being Alone  Looking for clarity or a chance to refuel your spirit? Find it in solitude. The Simple R's of Living Simply  Reduce, reuse, recycle, renew, return - a guide to more ecological shopping Three Five-Ingredient Fresh Pasta Sauce Recipes  Not including salt and pepper, there are only five key ingredients in these fresh sauces Tortilla Roll-up Sandwiches  Think of versatile tortillas as roll-able bread that makes a great foundation for endless fillings. Vegetarian Food at BellaOnline  Connie Boyd has some great ideas for delicious meals using those fresh vegetables, herbs and fruits you´ve gathered in, as well as good information on living a vegetarian lifestyle. What is a Simple Life?  Regardless of the lifestyle you choose to live, a simple life is free from stressful complications that rob you of peace and joy. When You Are Done Visiting Us... [offsite link] There is only one logical place to go after you are done browsing BellaOnline´s Living Simply website. And then, you may rest. Why Eat Wild Food? [offsite link] Besides the pricetag (free), there may be many other benefits to picking your own wild foods. Your Earth Friendly Christmas Tree  The tree itself: live or fake? The source of many family arguments. Here is MY opinion, for what it´s worth, on trees, from most-to-least earth-friendly tree options, plus some ideas on how to create your own new tradition for decking the halls! Links marked with the [offsite link] designation point to websites not associated with BellaOnline.com. BellaOnline.com is not responsible for the material found there.
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