Dagmar’s Home: thrifty home decorating, DIY, parenting, green and frugal living, vintage treasures and handmade candles.

How Do You Balance Time for Yourself and Your Family?

by Dagmar Bleasdale on May 18, 2013

{Dagmar’s Home aims to provide unbiased editorials. However, I wish to disclose that from time to time I may receive free products or other compensation from companies for blogger reviews.}

Finding time to take care of yourself while raising a family is a challenge.

I don’t know about you, but I’m always so busy that even scheduling a special treat for myself is a challenge.

I work full-time and don’t have a babysitter, so once I pick up L from the school bus, I spend time with him for the rest of the evening.

I’m lucky that my work is flexible and that I work from home so I can go right back to where I left off when Don takes Landon after he comes home from work or after L goes to bed.

But working from home basically translates into never being done, so in a way I feel like I have less time to myself than other moms who work outside of the home. I often work six or seven days a week.

Can you relate? I wonder if you can relate to the moms of the new Lifetime reality show Pretty Wicked Moms.

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How to Make a DIY Mason Jar Pendant Light in Minutes

by Dagmar Bleasdale on May 16, 2013

Ever wondered what it would take to make one of those awesome Mason jar pendant lights you see all over Pinterest?

I finally bought a pendant light kit for $15 and went to town.

Ten minutes later I had a Mason jar pendant lamp! Here is the tutorial.

Where would you hang a Mason jar lamp in your home?

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Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery Offers 10 GF Summer Camp Scholarships and a Big $100 Picnic Giveaway

by Dagmar Bleasdale on May 15, 2013

Do you have a child that needs to be gluten-free? It’s a big challenge for both the parents and the child to be gluten-free, and Rudi’s Gluten-Free Bakery has decided to make it easier and created the “Happy Camper” contest during May, which is Celiac Awareness Month. {click to continue}

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Wordless Wednesday With Linky: Apple Blossom Hayride

by Dagmar Bleasdale on May 14, 2013

Two weekends ago we went to Harvest Moon Farm & Orchard and took a hayride through the apple fields. The apple blossoms were so beautiful, and I just love that place.

Country music in their cute store, yummy fresh donuts, coffee, free-range eggs. What else could one want? Plus I get to sell my candles in their store.

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DIY Project: Adorable Pom Pom Garland

by Dagmar Bleasdale on May 13, 2013

I remember making pom poms as a little girl, and I really wanted to make them again, so I did the other week.

This pom pom garland would look adorable in a little girl’s room or as kid’s party decoration!

Here is the tutorial. All you need is some thin cardboard, scissors or an X-Acto knife, yarn in your desired color(s), and a little bit of time.

Once you know how to make pom poms yourself, you can add them to all kids of other DIY projects.

I want to make this adorable burlap table runner with bunnies, for example.

If you’d like to buy this garland, you can! I will be adding it to my Etsy store for $9.95 plus $5 shipping.

Check out some of my other DIY projects:

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Mother’s Day: A Poem, Donkeys, and a Walk Into Town

May 12, 2013

I was expecting a lot of rain for Mother’s Day, so in my mind we weren’t going to do anything special today. But when I rolled out of bed, the sunshine was steaming through the window. It was absolutely beautiful outside! I didn’t get breakfast in bed, darn, but Don made pancakes and L picked [...]

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Celebrate Moms on Mother’s Day With the #SocialBlackout

May 11, 2013

{I participated in a campaign on behalf of Mom Central Consulting for MetLife. I received a promotional item as a thank you for participating.} Are you looking forward to that cute, hand-drawn card and maybe (fingers crossed!) breakfast in bed for Mother’s Day on Sunday? I might just have to put the idea of breakfast [...]

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DIY Project: Bleach Art Fabric Napkins

May 10, 2013

Can’t find the fabric napkins you are looking for? Make your own design with bleach art! This was another easy DIY project, just don’t make these when the kids are around.I get nervous around bleach and don’t want L near it. I’m not crazy about bleach and don’t use it for our laundry, but a [...]

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Giveaway: $50 Gift Certificate for Minted Paper Goods

May 9, 2013

I have a bit of an addiction to pretty stationary, what about you? One can never have enough in my view. Minted contacted me to try out their paper goods. This global community of independent graphic designers and online store that prints and sells the best of their designs is truly unique. I knew I [...]

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Wordless Wednesday With Linky: Those Eyes

May 7, 2013

Oh, those eyes melt my heart. I’m so blessed to be his mom. More Wordless Wednesday hosts to check out: Live and Love Out Loud, Dear Crissy, Project Alicia, Better in Bulk, and Verena’s Schoene Welt. It would be great if you could spare a click and vote to help me be one of the [...]

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The Mother’s Day Gift That Doubles to Help Moms in Africa

May 6, 2013

I’m honored to announce that I’m part of a group of 11 bloggers who have been named as the Mothers2Mothers Influencers. The other 10 ladies are very accomplished bloggers and entrepreneurs, and I’m thrilled to be working with them for m2m. We will not get paid for our involvement — we all just want to [...]