Blog Archives

Desert Steel Mantel Sculpture & Stocking Holder $325 giveaway!

11/30/2018

This post contains affiliate links. This means if you make a purchase through my link I make a small commission at no additional cost to yourself. Thank you for being such wonderful and gracious readers. I am truly thankful for you all!

There's not too many cacti growing outdoors in Buffalo, NY this time of year.

Okay, that was a joke. A lame one but my best attempt today. Because cacti are so far off our radar in Western New York that it's ridiculous.

So if you live in a colder climate and seek cacti and southwest charm, you'll have to invest in non-living decor to spice up your space.

Enter: Desert Steel. Once again saving the day.

I have a southwest themed room in my home. With a woodburning stove it's the apple of my eye.

This Christmas is a southwest one with my new prickly pear mantel sculpture from Desert Steel!

I am equally beguiled for you and your chance of winning the exact same one to hang your stockings on or just to enjoy year-round as a unique showstopper sculpture.

How to enter to WIN!

Fill out the easy peasy SweepWidget form at the bottom of this post. Good luck!

14 Comments

13 foolproof tips to pick the perfect live Christmas tree

11/26/2018

Do you have a Charlie Brown Christmas tree complex? That's my struggle each year.

The sad, pathetic and wilting tree calls my name because otherwise it won't have a home for Christmas.

Then I have to stop. Pause. Think. Be rational. The tree is not a pet. It does not have feelings. I'm not doing myself any favors by hauling home the worst one on the lot.

Besides, live Christmas trees start at $50. The nicer ones are over $100 now. In many cases you pay by the foot so I might as well get the best tree for my dollars.

But what do you look for when selecting the perfect Christmas tree?

These are my top tips so that your live Christmas tree doesn't sap your holiday cheer or curdle your eggnog.

57 Comments

The Gardener's Gift Guide with Garrett Wade & $100 Gift Card Giveaway!

11/23/2018

As a former English teacher the only thing I like better than alliteration is giving a great gift to that gardener in my life.

Gardener's are picky about gifts! Maybe it's because we tend to be frugal in general so saving money is paramount. That's partly why we even bother to grow our own food.

With limited resources, I want to give a gift that I "know" the recipient will use and cherish for years to come.

So it's my pleasure to reintroduce you to Garrett Wade, a company that thrives on real and riveting gifts that will rejuvenate that gardener on your Christmas list this year!

Even more thrilling is the $100 Garrett Wade gift card they want YOU to win!

And here's a secret you don't want to keep to yourself! Free shipping to all Raise Your Garden readers with purchases of $50 or more. Order over $100? You get free shipping and this luxury 23 oz. Garrett Wade thermos (a $20 value!)

Use Code: RYGARDEN at checkout. Offer expires 12/23.

How to enter to WIN!

Simply fill out the easy SweepWidget form at the bottom of this post.

And I have a foolproof gift giving tip that will satisfy even the fussiest recipient on your list now.

Before I forget...here's your chance to meet my extended family here!

9 Comments

Boring backyards and what to do about them

11/21/2018

There's a load of reasons why you might not spend much time in your backyard. Those people who aren't very green fingered often close the door and never look back.

Other people may work too many hours to spend any real time here. Others again may find their outside space too overlooked. And then, there are those who don’t go outside because they find their backyards boring.

You know how it goes; you open the curtains, and you wish you could shut them straight up again. There’s nothing wrong with your bare patch of lawn or your paved outside area.

It’s just that they don’t exactly fill you with excitement. They’re like a spare room with grey walls and bland furniture. They serve the purpose, but you wouldn’t necessarily choose to spend time there.

7 Comments

Easy Vegan Pumpkin Spice Banana Ice Cream with just 4 ingredients!

11/18/2018

So I'm eating this vegan pumpkin spice banana ice cream for dinner as I write this post.

Multitasking as usual.

It's not that I'm trying to loose weight during the holidays. It's more that I'm avoiding excessive weight gain Thanksgiving through New Year's.

But the sweet tooth must be satisfied. I stumbled across this recipe in my local paper and have been dying to try it for months now.

The frozen bananas that kept falling out of the freezer hitting my feet each time was a real motivator.

It was time.

Time to try this recipe. Time to clean out the freezer. Done. And it's a slam dunk winner.

I can't believe that this vegan pumpkin spice banana ice cream could satiate my appetite at a fraction of the calories and fat of "real ice cream." No fake or phony ingredients in sight!

Now the ball is in your court. You have to try this one! Vegan pumpkin spice banana ice cream is a party in your mouth.

6 Comments

$380 Tanami stainless steel fire pit giveaway with Desert Steel!

11/12/2018

Can't beat the intoxicating smell of a good fire. Right?

We enjoy our wood burning stove all winter. Totally different than the smell of burnt popcorn drifting from our kitchen.

Come spring, summer and fall, we are equally thrilled over the smoky smell from our fire pit.

There's nothing quite like kicking back with the family and roasting around a good old-fashioned fire.

Summer evenings are for the simmering and savoring of s'mores! And fall and winter are for the shivering who embrace the soothing comfort of a fire.

Nothing beats nestling up with the family as the embers slowly die away. Besides, there's something almost magical about the snap, crackle and popping glow of a natural fire.

So I'm thrilled for your chance to win the Tanami stainless steel fire pit from our old friends at Desert Steel!

How to enter to WIN!

Scroll down to the bottom of this post and fill out the the easy SweepWidget form.

Tell us the last fire you lit in the comments below. Contest ends December 27th!

54 Comments

Garden prep ~ How-to smother weeds with cardboard, newspaper and compost

11/6/2018

Tom and I delay cleaning up our garden beds for as long as we can.

It's not because we are procrastinating or lazy. It's because we are hoping to leave every last tomato on the vine until we are ready to harvest.

So we wait.

But November is the perfect time to smother weeds and plants that are starting to look shabby.

It's also the ideal time to amend the garden beds. Remember those veggies have depleted the soil of nutrients and it's time to replenish those minerals.

This is the technique Tom and I use to make the gardening kickoff in spring a breeze. Our garden beds are willing and waiting to be planted in come Memorial Day!

No weeding required!

53 Comments

Landscape border patrol with EcoBorder & $231 rubber edging giveaway!

11/1/2018

It all boils down to this....

EcoBorder is easy. It's that simple.

Quality rubber landscape edging that is easy to install. I can do this myself folks. Tom who?

And if you think people aren't looking at your landscaping comparing it to theirs, you'd be wrong. We all compare. Fact!

So I'm thrilled today if you are the winner of the (3) 6 pack EcoBorder "L" in brown, red or black. You'll have 72 feet to work with! Over $231 value!

How to enter to WIN!

Scroll down to the bottom of this post and fill out the Rafflecopter widget. Easy peasy.

Tell us what color you'd choose in the comments below! Contest ends December 15th!

44 Comments