Kirk V. Hamlet

It's Christmas as the studio! Since we can't put life on hold, let's ignore the unfinished projects and enjoy a festive look at the holiday cheer in a mostly finished space. A place where we share DIY home ideas and creating a beautiful home begins with a healthy environment.   Remember that Succulents & Spruce Christmas tree ? It's a beautiful focal point to the studio living room area. I love the colors and rustic nature vibe in this space.    A grapevine star against a window in the daytime is hard to photograph but trust me, it makes for a perfect topper! And I love the pop of color from these coppery-orange ornaments.    Gold glitter feathers! My favorite sparkle accent for this nature themed tree.  There's lots of extra leafy garlands to give it a fuller look too. Did you notice?    And there's Northern Lights Black Spruce essential oil in the diffuser ornament giving it a beautiful pine scent! When you can't have fresh pine, this is a great opti...

Your clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house. Turn these 10 tips into habits, and you'll see the difference in your bill. We all know that line-drying our laundry under the sun is the green thing to do. Some of us actually enjoy it. But what if you live in a city apartment? What if it's been pouring rain for two days straight? What if you just can't cope with wrangling 75 clothespins today? Thank God for modern appliances. Just keep in mind that your clothes dryer is one of the biggest energy hogs in your house, often using more electricity than a newer refrigerator and dishwasher combined. Nationwide, according to Green Building Advisor, clothes dryers account for a whopping 6 percent of all household electric use! Here's how to dry with less energy - and less money. You can turn these 10 tips into habits in no time. 1. Get as much water out of the clothes as possible If your washing machine has the option, go with the fastest spin cycle. (Front-l...

Are you a last minute shopper? I try to shop early, but with the busy-ness of December, I'm always scrambling for last minute gift ideas. Especially for teachers, kids' friends, and the family member that drops in unexpectedly. Instead of scouring the drug store shelves on Christmas Eve, here are some thoughtful gifts that will impress anyone on your Christmas list. Last Minute Gift Ideas Amazon Prime (Same Day Delivery) Y'all know how much I love Amazon Prime. Depending on where you live, you can get same day delivery of thousands of items. Last year my husband had gifts delivered on Christmas Eve that he ordered that morning. If you have Prime , same day delivery can be delivered for free. Photo Gifts Photo gifts are probably my favorite gift to give and to get. Thanks to same day printing at Walgreens and CVS, gifts like photo books and posters can be ordered and picked up the same day! Last year I gave posters to some of my children with their "year highlights....