Substance of Living

Homemade Vegan Butter - It Melts! Are you tired of spending more than your fair share at the grocery store because you purchase vegan products?  If you're like us, we try to purchase vegan as much as possible plus we have to purchase gluten-free products.  So you can imagine our grocery bill. One of my Foodie Bucket List items was to figure out how to make vegan butter that tastes, melts, and does everything else that real butter does but without all the added chemicals or those really difficult-to-pronounce ingredients. DH and I have been using Earth Balance for our creamy butter spread.  The ingredients are all pronounceable and it has a nice flavor.  It also acts just like margarine - creamy, spreadable, makes great grilled cheese sandwiches, and works in baked goods.  The price at our local grocery store is $4.49 for a 15 ounce tub. Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Earth Balance Natural Buttery Spread Although we found a great produ...

Do you ever think about decorating your chairs when hosting an event or gathering?  I'm beginning to think that chairs are like jewelry.  The outfit (room or table) is beautiful but the chair (jewelry or accessories) make a statement and complete the ensemble. Decorating a chair can be as simple as tying a sprig to the back of a chair or as elaborate as a floor-length "dress". Mistletoe / Holiday Chair Cover Rosemary Sprigs and Burlap Chair Cover Bride and Groom Chair Covers E mbroidered Bride and Groom Chair Covers Wouldn't it have been "THE BEST" if you showed up at school on your birthday and had a special cover over your desk seat?  How cool would that have been?  Or how about draped over the restaurant chair?  Can you imagine having been able to sit at the head of the table - not only that but with a special chair cover giving homage to you and the day? "Happy Birthday" Chair Cover I actually found this next pic...

If you think about planning a wedding or at least the reception part as another party, a lot of the stress vanishes.  Also, remember to try to see your party from your guests' perspective.  They won't notice that there are nine crystals in the arrangement instead of 10.  Your guests are there to help you celebrate a very special day. With all that being said, let's save some money planning your wedding day.  We have already shown you how beautiful of a wedding and reception you can have by shopping your local thrift stores .  Now, we'll show you what you can do at the dollar store. Choose a theme or at least a color.  By doing so, a lot of your choices will be simplified. Purchase plain card stock and envelopes and print your own wedding invitations or purchase simple wedding invitations.  Then embellish your invitations with lace, ribbon, a button or rhinestone. Dollar Store Wedding Invitation This table setting is so simply designed that...

Minimalist Wardrobe When did my closet become no longer a place of respect for dresses, pants, shoes, tops, and become a dumping ground?  Somewhere along the line, I became a hoarder of clothes. It is time to finish the 7-7-7 Challenge and start it anew.  Hard earned money purchased all those items that are now sitting in my closet.  Seriously, with our move last year, I'd hoped to have completed this challenge. Thankfully there is still time in the year to act on this year's word - RELEASE . Not that I've mistreated my clothes, that's not it at all.  I don't wear them and that is neglect.  Every couple years it seems as though my tastes and lifestyle changes and yet clothes of the past remain.  That's not fair to the clothes. Do you still respect and love your clothes from two or more years ago?  Are they still your favorite go-to?  Does that dress that used to make you feel so slim, beautiful, and sexy still make you feel that...