Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary DVD-Halloween & Christmas Collection

Invite Mickey and Donald into your home as they bring laughs and merriment to not one, but two holiday seasons! Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary is available on DVD, and you’ll want to catch their Halloween and Christmas hijinks!

Get into the Halloween spirit as Mickey, Donald, and Goofy swap hair-raising Halloween stories. Then fast forward a couple of months to Donald’s first Christmas festivities with friends!  These new cartoons and bonus shorts from Disney animation are sure to be instant classics with your family! Don’t miss out on Mickey Mouse: Merry & Scary, a perfect collection to share through the holidays!

We were so excited to watch this DVD with our kids, it was great fun for our whole family. I really love these new classics. They will definitely be a new Halloween and Christmas tradition for us.

Ride a Tide of Holiday Hilarity with these Festive Episodes of Disney’s Emmy® Award-Winning “Mickey Mouse” Cartoon Shorts

MICKEY MOUSE: MERRY & SCARY

Bring Home the Laughs on Disney DVD NOW!

Whether You’re Trimming the Tree or Carving a Pumpkin,
You’re Going To Laugh Yourself Silly!

The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular!

For Halloween, Mickey has tricked out his house like a “tomb, sweet, tomb” and along with his pals Donald and Goofy, plans to tell hair-raising Halloween stories! However, his attempt at being scary falls flatter than a pancake. Can Mickey conjure up a truly terrifying tale before the stroke of midnight?

 Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…to migrate south for the winter! But Donald wants to stay put and celebrate his first Christmas with his friends. Mickey creates the ultimate list of everything to make Donald’s first Christmas great, but before you can catch a snowflake on your tongue, Donald has turned into a shivering, sneezing duck-cicle!

Voice Cast: Chris Diamantopoulus as Mickey Mouse/Vampire; Russi Taylor as Minnie/Huey/Dewey/Louie/The Witch; Bill Farmer as Goofy; Tony Anselmo as Donald Duck; Tress MacNeille as Daisy Duck; and Corey Burton as Professor Von Drake. Executive Producer: Paul Rudish

Episodes: Includes two 22-minute holiday themed episodes (Halloween & Christmas)

  • The Scariest Story Ever: A Mickey Mouse Halloween Spooktacular
  • Duck The Halls: A Mickey Mouse Christmas Special

 Bonus Shorts: Five 3-minute shorts

  • Ghoul Friend
  • The Boiler Room
  • Black & White
  • Entombed
  • Split Decision

Are you looking forward to sharing this fun DVD with your family?

 


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“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” Sails in Today on Blu-ray!

One of the things my kids like best about their mom being a blogger, is getting the newest Blu-ray releases before they are available to the general public.  Last weekend, they had a movie night with the brand new Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales on Blu-ray Combo Pack.

You don’t have to wait any more either! Today is the day this new Disney and Jerry Bruckheimer Film is available for purchase. Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales is a rollicking new tale of the high seas, infused with all the elements of fantasy, humor and action that have resulted in an international phenomenon for the past 13 years.

Johnny Depp returns to his Academy Award®-nominated role as the outrageous, swashbuckling scoundrel Captain Jack Sparrow, and is joined by Oscar winners Javier Bardem and Geoffrey Rush.

“Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales”—the fifth film in the now-iconic “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise— sailed home on Digital in HD and 4K Ultra HD™ on September 19, and  is sailing in today on 4K Ultra HD™/Blu-ray™ Combo Pack, DVD and On-Demand.

Check out the Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales Trailer Below.

Bonus material includes a collection of behind-the-scenes, making-of stories, including a conversation with directors Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg; a sit-down with the two young newcomers who play Henry and Carina; the secrets behind the menacing new villain, Salazar, and his ferocious ghost sharks; an on-set visit with Jack’s first mate from all five films; a chat with Sir Paul McCartney who appears as Uncle Jack; and a discussion about the franchise’s legacy; along with hilarious bloopers, deleted scenes and memories from producer Jerry Bruckheimer’s photo diary.

The rip-roaring adventure—packed with humor, suspense and jaw-dropping special effects—finds down-on-his-luck Captain Jack feeling the winds of ill fortune blowing strongly his way when deadly ghost sailors, led by the terrifying Captain Salazar (Bardem), escape from the Devil’s Triangle bent on killing every pirate at sea—notably Jack.

Bonus features include*:

BLU-RAY & DIGITAL in HD:

  • Dead Men Tell More Tales: The Making of a New Adventure – Get unique access into the making of this exciting new “Pirates of the Caribbean” movie with this collection of revealing and entertaining stories that you can view individually or as a “play all.”
    • A Return to the Sea – Two talented filmmakers, Joachim Rønning and Espen Sandberg, team up to bring “Pirates of the Caribbean” back to the screen. Hear how this new chapter of the tale was developed.
    • Telling Tales: A Sit-down with Brenton & Kaya – Meet Brenton Thwaites and Kaya Scodelario, the young actors behind Henry and Carina. The two sit down together for a revealing conversation on becoming a part of the “Pirates of the Caribbean” film franchise and its continuing legacy.
    • The Matador & The Bull: Secrets of Salazar & The Silent Mary – Oscar-winner Javier Bardem reveals more about his menacing new character and the foreboding ship he helms.
    • First Mate Confidential – Go on-set along with Kevin McNally, the affable actor behind the feisty Mr. Gibbs, Captain Jack’s reliable first mate from all five movies.
    • Deconstructing the Ghost Sharks – Peer below the depths at how these ferocious, mythical monsters were designed and brought to life.
    • Wings Over the Caribbean – Captain Jack has a memorable encounter with Sir Paul McCartney – rock ‘n’ roll royalty.
    • An Enduring Legacy – Take one more look at the “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales” experience and the impact of “Pirates of the Caribbean” — the movies, the ride and beyond.
  • Bloopers of the Caribbean
  • Jerry Bruckheimer Photo Diary
  • Deleted Scenes
    • Highwayman
    • Henry Turner Learns a Lesson from Captain Jack
    • A Whale in Poseidon’s Tomb
    • Alternate Coda: Murtogg & Mullroy “Flogging”

DVD:

  • First Mate Confidential

You can connect with the film on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and on their website. Let me know if you are excited about this new release.

 

 


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You’ll Never Believe What You Can Do With Reclaimed Wood

Using wood and other natural materials, is huge in interior decor this fall. It’s with good reason, too. Wood finishes are the perfect way to bring the look of any interior design concept together as well as, adding a personal touch to the family home.

Wood finishes add a sense of warmth, richness and comfort to whatever colors, finishes and materials they’re paired with. The sheer range of woods available makes this material extremely versatile. Pale ash, for example can give a room a fresh yet neutral tone, while a deep mahogany adds warmth and prestige to any living space and oak is perfect for more or less anything.

While many of us love to use wood in our interior design, few are aware of the benefits of reclaimed wood. Just go ahead and look at Plank and Mill’s website and you’ll see the distinctive finish that reclaimed wood has, as well as its enormous variety of applications. Using reclaimed wood is not only good for the environment but is also perfect for a wide range of interior uses, including…

Headboards

The bedroom should be a restful, tranquil place decorated with neutral tones and unimposing natural materials. Thus, a reclaimed wood headboard can be a subtle yet distinctive addition to the bedroom. The type of wood you choose to use will depend on the overall aesthetic of your room and the other tones and types of wood already present in your bedroom furniture.  For example, a headboard made of reclaimed driftwood can strike the difficult balance between making a statement and compromising the soothing neutrality of the room.

 

Feature walls

Every now and then you’ll want to call attention to a particular wall and neither paint nor wallpaper will quite cut it. For an accent or feature wall that’s little more distinctive, reclaimed wood creates a pleasing contrast with paler tones elsewhere in the room. It’s important to remember that wood has a tendency to absorb light, so it’s best utilized in spaces where the furniture and decor is light and airy. Wooden feature walls can be dressed up or down, recreating either a rustic log cabin feel or a more sleek, contemporary look. While versatile, reclaimed wood is, of course, unique meaning that your reclaimed wall will look like no other anywhere in the world.

Dining tables

If you’re looking for something truly unique, a dining table made of reclaimed wood is a wonderfully distinctive piece of furniture that doubles as a fun conversation piece among dinner guests. The great thing is that you’ll never need another dining table as the look of the finish will change subtly with age. While a reclaimed wood dining table is seldom cheap, it may well be the last one you ever buy.

Flooring

If you’re aiming for a rural, country effect, distressed reclaimed wood will look (and feel) fantastic under your feet. However, if your tastes lean towards the classic and elegant, a darker tone will give the room warmth and grandeur while subtly complementing any antique furniture you may have in the room.

This is a sponsored post that may or may not represent the views and ideals of Mommy Ramblings. Photo Credit-Plank and Mill’s website

 


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New PJ Masks: “Time to Be A Hero” DVD & app #Giveaway

As a PJ Masks Official Blogger, I am happy to let you know there is a brand new PJ Masks DVD, Time to Be a Hero, available now!

Time to Be a Hero features six action-packed episodes from the hit preschool series airing on Disney Junior. This new release also includes the PJ Masks Feeling Great sing-a-long music video as well as exclusive activity sheets for little heroes to have even more super fun at home. Specially marked packages even include an exclusive PJ Masks sticker set!

Do you want more great news? Of course you do! The new Time to Be a Hero app is now available on  iTunes (Google Play coming soon)!

This app is so much fun! Kids can dress up like their favorite PJ Masks Character by choosing their character mask and photographing themselves as Catboy, Owlette or Gekko. Users play games help capture those pesky villains-Romeo, Luna Girl Night Ninja and the Ninjalinos- who have been let loose around the city, and practice their super powers to help save the day!

The new app features include:

  • Unlock an augmented reality game and see the characters in your own environment
  • Take a photograph with a PJ Masks character, Catboy, Owlette or Gekko
  • Unlock additional character masks for the PJ Masks, so kids can see themselves as Romeo, Luna Girl or Night Ninja
  • Play on the rooftops and at PJ Masks HeadQuarters
  • 15 mini games

And in more super news, you and your kids can check out the adorable and engaging activities that are now available on the PJ Masks website! Have a blast when you download special missions, printables and sticker sheets for hours of heroic series-inspired fun.

We are planning to have a family movie night with this new PJ Masks DVD and our kids cannot wait. I will be posting more on that soon but we will also have some fun themed activities for movie night fun, so stay tuned.

Giveaway:

Giveaway

Grand Communications is sponsoring a giveaway on Mommy Ramblings. One lucky winner will win their own PJ Masks: Time to Be a Hero DVD!!! Thank you to Grand Communications for the review DVD and for sponsoring this amazing giveaway!!! Open to US residents in the contiguous 48 states. Good Luck!!!

PJ Masks: Time to Be a Hero DVD Giveaway on Mommy Ramblings Rules:

Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below. Good Luck!!!

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5 Tips For Your Home Improvement Project

There are many reasons why you might embark on a home improvement project.  Maybe you are the owner of a new house and want to add your personal touch. Perhaps the house you bought was a fixer-upper, and you are ready to start tackling those renovations. Certainly, some homeowners opt for home improvements to increase  the value of their homes. Whatever the reason, here are a few tips to help you with your next home renovation project.

Start With A Detailed Plan

A home improvement project can be complex, and the best way to make it easier is to have a specific plan about what you want to achieve. What is your budget for this renovation project? According to PlumbingFix, whether you want to buy new plumbing fixtures or renovate your kitchen, your plan needs to include a budget.

Are you planning small improvements you can do on your own or will you hire a professional? What is the time line for your home improvement project? When do you want to start? It seems simple enough, but lack of such a plan may back you into a corner. So, think it out and set your thoughts on paper before you begin.

Your Budget

How are you going to fund your home improvement project? While making home improvements are a great way to change the look and feel of your home, you need to be smart when deciding what areas to focus on based on what you can afford. Taking out a loan to cover home improvement expenses is not a wise move in most cases.

If you’re sure you want to move ahead with your home improvement project, set aside some savings in advance to put towards it. This way, you will not end up straining yourself or having to stop the project halfway through because you are over budget. Even if you have adequate funds for your project, being prepared is critical.   

The DIY Option

The trend in home improvement has been leaning heavily towards do-it-yourself projects. One benefit of this is that it will save you on costs. The flip side, however, is that if you are not a professional, you might end up doing more damage than good. If you have set your mind on doing it yourself, then two things will serve you well.

One is to do your research on how to go about it. The second is to make sure you have the proper tools before you start. With the right information in your hands and the professional equipment needed to complete your home improvements, you can do it! However, always start with smaller improvement projects and keep things simple.

Why Hiring A Professional Matters

The type of home improvement contractor you select can either make or break your home improvement project. There are endless cases of people getting scammed by contractors who end up doing a horrible job. To avoid this, spend some time looking for the right contractor. They should be licensed, insured and experienced in doing the type of improvements you want.

Just like you would choose pest control Morristown NJ based experts to eradicate pests, you need a contractor with proven expertise in offering home improvement services to homeowners in your area. A professional ensures a thorough job, offers you great ideas and does the best job based on your budget.

Get Inspiration

Finding inspiration for your home improvement is easy. Look online or go to open houses and see what other homes look like. The bottom line is, with a picture of what you want your home to look like, it’s easier to go ahead with your home improvement project with a little help.

This is a sponsored post, it does not necessarily represent the views and ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

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Is Your Home A Target For Thieves?

The way you keep your home could be making it a target for thieves. While security systems can help, there are a few other ways you can make sure your home is secure against the threat of a burglary.  

Thieves like to window-shop

Can your valuables be seen by people walking by if they look in your windows? Placing expensive collectibles on the windowsill or hanging a flat screen TV opposite a window can make your living room a lucrative target.

You could rearrange these items, or you could find a way to obscure the view into your windows. You may want to consider home window tinting to stop thieves from being able to see in. Alternatively, you could install window treatments like curtains or blinds and make sure you close them at night.  Thin sheers or drapes can be used to stop people from peering in your windows during the day, while still letting in natural light.

Thieves like to work in the dark

If you are lacking exterior lighting around your home, it will be easier for thieves to try to break in at night undetected. Security lighting that is constantly on can consume a lot of electricity as well as, being a nuisance to your neighbors. Instead, choose motion sensitive lighting fixtures that only turn on when someone approaches them.

Tall front hedges also help to hide thieves in the act

Do you have tall hedges or large bushes in front of your home that act like a wall? While they work well to  prevent thieves from peering in your windows, they can also help conceal them when they are in the act of breaking in your home. Beyond that, they will prevent your neighbors from being able to spot a robbery in progress. Consider trimming your hedges and bushes to make it harder for intruders to go undetected. 

Open windows and unlocked doors are a thieve’s best friend

This is an obvious one – leaving windows open or doors unlocked when you go out, will make it easy for thieves to rob your home. Loose hinges on doors or windows are another thing thieves look for, because they provide easy access for them to break-in. Make sure that any damaged windows and doors are fixed. You may even consider adding additional locks to windows and doors for extra security. 

Thieves will check to see if your home is empty

Leaving noticeable signs that your house is empty makes it a tempting target for thieves. Some intruders are so sly that they may monitor your home for a while to get an idea of your weekly routine. By observing your home they can gather important information including how many people live in your house and when everyone leaves to go to work/school. Throw the thieves off by occasionally leaving a TV or radio on or keeping a light on at night. Thieves don’t like noisy or ferocious dogs. Even if you don’t own a dog, hanging a ‘Beware of the Dog’ sign outside can be an effective deterrent.

When you go on vacation, consider having someone house-sit or simply come by every other day to inspect the property. Try not to advertise the fact you’re on vacation by posting it across social media, as this is how many modern thieves find their targets. Posting ‘Off to sunny spain for 2 weeks’ is the worst thing you can do because it tells thieves exactly where you are and how long your house will be empty.

This is a sponsored guest post and does not necessarily reflect the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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“Baby Chomper’s Bath Time” Blog Tour & Giveaway (Win a Dyson Hair Dryer)

Our dog Zoey is a West Highland White Terrier, but most of the time she is not white because she loves to dig in the dirt, chase critters and get dirty. When we give her a bath, if we don’t keep an eagle eye on her, she will run out into the yard and roll in the dirt.

Do you know what a wet Westie looks like after rolling in the dirt? If not, they look more like a Scottish Terrier. It is something we have grown to understand, we know she will need to be bathed a lot, and that we will have to deal with her terrier behaviors that make her white coat black.

I had to chuckle when I opened up the new book, Baby Chomper’s Bath Time by Jeff Minich. It is about a little puppy that just like my Zoey, who does not like baths. One day, baby Chomper escapes from his house and does what he does best, gets dirty. Chomper rolls in the mud, dives into trash and gets sprayed by a very smelly skunk. When he returns home, stinky as can be, there is no doubt that baby Chomper needs a bath.

With nowhere to run, Chomper realizes bath time can be one of the most fun times of all! He uses his imagination and finds out baths don’t have to be bad. In fact, they can be really fun. He can imagine he is on all kinds of adventures while in the tub. He can dive into the deep blue sea, be the captain of his own ship and surf to a faraway shore.

This picture book teaches children a valuable lesson of looking at the bright side of things. It shows them, if they change their attitude, things might not be as awful as they think. The story provides the perfect springboard for discussion with your own children or in a classroom setting.

I really enjoyed this book and so did my kids. If you, would like to purchase it, you can find it on Amazon or Barnes and Noble and stay in the loop on Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest.

About The Author:

Jeff Minich is the author of the Nuggies illustrated children’s book series. Created in collaboration with illustrator Renan Garcia, the series includes Daddy Forgot My Dinner (Vol. 1); All the Other Nuggies (Vol. 2); A Very Scary Pumpkin (Vol. 3); Oui Oui, Gigi! (Vol. 4); and If I Could Climb Trees (Vol. 5). You can learn more about the Nuggies book series by visiting: GetNuggies.com

Giveaway:

Enter to win an autographed copy of Baby Chomper’s Bath Time, by Jeff Minich—plus a Dyson Supersonic hairdryer!

One (1) grand prize winner receives:

  • A Dyson Supersonic hairdryer
  • A complete autographed set of the Nuggies series
    • A copy of If I Could Climb Trees: Nuggies: Vol. 5, signed by Jeff Minich
    • A copy of Oui Oui Gigi: Nuggies: Vol. 4, signed by Jeff Minich
    • A copy of  A Very Scary Pumpkin: Nuggies: Vol. 3, signed by Jeff Minich
    • A copy of  All the Other Nuggies: Nuggies: Vol. 2, signed by Jeff Minich
    • A copy of  Daddy Forgot My Dinner: Nuggies: Vol. 1, signed by Jeff Minich
    • A copy of Baby Chomper’s Bath Time, signed by Jeff Minich

Value: $518+

Two (2) winners receive:

  • A copy of Baby Chomper’s Bath Time, signed by Jeff Minich

Value: $19.95

Giveaway begins September 26, 2017, at 12:01 A.M. MT and ends October 26, 2017, at 11:59 P.M. MT.

Giveaway open to residents of the fifty United States and the District of Columbia who are 13 and older.

Prizes provided by Jeff Minich

Good Luck!!!

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Budgeting For A Family Is Hard With Debt

Starting a family and raising kids is expensive. Being part of a family, and properly providing for everyone, isn’t something that generally leaves you with a lot of money to spare. Disposable incomes have largely dried up in the last thirty years. If you want to stay out of debt, you’ve got to be frugal.

Unfortunately, many people starting out don’t realize the costs involved in having a family. They continue to spend money the way they did before having children and soon fall into debt.

If you’ve already got debt hanging over your head, getting what you want requires going deeper into debt. Many understand this in an esoteric way, but it doesn’t hit home immediately. It is not hard to understand, how they  soon find themselves tens of thousands of dollars “in the red”, as the saying goes.

Living Beneath Your Means

The key to being debt free as a family is to live beneath your means. You want to prepare meals at home using ingredients that were purchased as cost-effectively as possible. You want to avoid making big purchases that will put you deeper into debt, and cut unnecessary spending.

If you live beneath your means long enough, you’ll be able to buy that new car or new appliances. On the contrary,  if you don’t live beneath your means, you will be lucky if you can finance an older car.

Many who have neglected living under their means, have found themselves in steep debt. If you want to get out, you’re going to have to exercise some serious discipline. You can start small. Cut out the fast food, cut out the expensive coffees and cut expenses related to entertainment.

Use the internet. Get a library card. Pursue cost-saving activities that don’t require a lot of money. If your family goes to Starbucks twice a week and gets a five-dollar coffee for everybody, a four-person household could be spending $40 a week on coffee alone, that is $160 a month. Cut that out, find a better way. Make the coffee at home.

Additional Areas Of Savings

Next, look at your other expenses. One drastic, but effective, step you might take, could be to sell the mortgage on your home. This may not be ideal, but a four-person household can comfortably live in a two-bedroom apartment. Additionally, you can get about the same floor space in a “tiny home”.

If you sell your mortgage and put the money into a tiny home, then all you’re paying annually are property taxes—which will likely be much diminished from what they were. You can do this for a few years to get out of credit card and loan debt, then upgrade to a larger house once the big debts are paid off.

You could also visit sites like www.debtacademy.com to find debt solutions so you and your family can live a debt-free life. Consulting professionals can help you identify areas of spending that can be cut from the budget, resulting in a quicker way out of debt.

Overcoming The Worst-Case Scenario

Still, there will always be situations where no amount of cost-effective living can overcome debt. In these scenarios, you may want to seek outside help through crowdfunding campaigns on Plumfund for example.

Between cutting unnecessary costs, seeking professional assistance, and getting funding through the crowdfunding when those methods don’t work, you can get out of debt; it just may take time.

This is a sponsored guest post that does not necessarily represent the ideals or views of Mommy Ramblings.

 


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It’s time to…dance – with PJ Masks! #PJMasksTimetoMove

Getting up, moving and grooving is so good for kids and adults. We don’ t want to be or raise couch potatoes, so taking time for some fun activities that get everyone up and moving are always welcome in our home. That is why as a PJ Masks Official Blogger and parent, I am so excited about the SUPER “PJ Masks:Time to Move” Dance Party!

We recently received a PJ Masks ukulele and microphone to make having our very own dance party even more fun! Having the right music to set the tone or should I say stage, is easy with the official PJ Masks YouTube channel. Check it out and find all the toe-tapping, singalong music videos you need for your own dance party. For more singalong fun, you can find lyric sheets on the Official PJ Masks Website.


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25 Ways To Personalize Your Family Home

Moving into a new home, or even just wanting to spruce up your current residence, can be a challenge. It takes time to make a house into a home, adding those essentials family touches help to transform it from a dull space into one with soul.

There are many different things you can do to personalise your home and make it your own, from adding a new coat of paint to hanging your family pictures on the walls. You can be as creative as you like and it doesn’t need to cost a small fortune. Here are 25 ideas you can use to add your personal touch to your home.

1. Paint The Front Door

The first thing anyone will see as they approach your home is the front door. It might not seem like the first place you would want to change, but painting your front door immediately adds character to your home. It gives any visitors a small insight into who lives inside.

2. Hanging Baskets

Once your door is looking brand new and shiny, you can decorate your entrance further by adding some plants. If you have the space either side of your front door, placing hanging baskets full of beautiful flowers is the best way to make your home feel inviting and well-looked after.

3. The Front Garden

If you only have a driveway, there’s no need to worry about this. If you take pride in what you home looks like to the outside world, tending to your front garden is an excellent way to make your home feel tidy and bright. Adding hardy plants such as Rhododendrons or Buddleia will make your garden spring to life without having to worry too much about the upkeep.

4. The Back Garden

There isn’t much which is more relaxing than coming home on a summer’s evening and sitting in the garden with your family enjoying a glass of wine. Having an inviting and open garden, no matter how small, is a great way to utilize extra space around your home. You can even include a swing set and trampoline for the kids!

5. Paint The Walls

If you are short on cash and want an easy way to add your own flair to a room: paint the walls. You can mix your own paint color or choose one from the store, either way; you’ll be adding your personality to the room.

6. Add Soft Furnishings

Throws and cushions are the easiest way to feel like an interior designer, adding new dimensions to your home. Picking up some boldly patterned cushions and placing them over a pastel sofa instantly creates an element of style in your living space.

7. Grab A Bargain

Gumtree is the perfect place to find local people who have secondhand furniture they want to sell. You could score a real bargain on a new table or chairs, and even have them delivered to your home. It’s a much cheaper way to spruce up your home than visiting traditional  retailers.

8. Seasonal Touches

Aside from the obvious festive decorations, you could also make your home more seasonal by adding some simple touches. Christmas bedding sets will transform your room into a winter wonderland, cute festive cushions and a new tartan throw will add that element of winter to your home.

9. Lighting

Spotlights, LED lights and fairy lights are excellent additions to your home, making it feel cozier and adding ambience to your home effortlessly.

10. Make It Cozy

On cold winter nights, the most satisfying feeling is to snuggle up on the sofa with your family. You can take this a step further by lighting scented candles around the house, turning on some soft fairy lights and cuddling up under a thick throw.

11. Buy New Mugs

A cute way to put your stamp on the kitchen, is to buy new mugs for you and your family. Let your children each choose their favourite mug, and store them on a shelf in the kitchen. You and your family will automatically have a cute personal item to use every day.

12. Replace Your Faucets

Old, rusty faucets can make even the most beautiful room look dull. You can buy really beautiful chrome or brushed nickel faucets online and instantly make your kitchen and bathroom feel clean and new.

13. A New Mattress

New mattresses will help you sleep, relax your muscles and allow you to wake up in the morning feeling ready to tackle the day ahead. No matter what your budget, you will be able to find the right mattress for you and your family. There are details at mattress-guides.net for how to choose the right one for you.

14. Chalkboard Paint

To stop your children from drawing all over the walls, why not try painting some chalkboard paint on the inside of your cupboard doors? Give your kids some chalk, and they can doodle all they like without it being on display, and without it becoming a permanent feature in your house.

15. Wall Art

If you want to vamp up a blank wall, the easiest thing to do is hang some art. You could hang up your children’s drawings, a pretty watercolour or even an inspiring quote. Whatever you choose, it will liven up the space and give it some life.

16. Family Photos

The ultimate way to put your stamp on the home is the hang personal photographs. You could opt for a professionally taken family portrait, or a collage of candid shots from your family vacation.

17. Add Some Houseplants

Do you ever feel like there’s  a small space which needs to be filled in your home? Well, the perfect solution is to add a few plants. Plants not only add colour and vibrancy to your home but also produce oxygen and are proven to relieve stress.

18. Install An Herb Garden

If you love to cook, then adding a herb garden to your home is an excellent idea. You will have constant access to fresh flavours and never have to repurchase a dried sachet.

19. Make The Most Of Natural Light

Natural light is the most fundamental tool in decorating your home. It can make the smallest space seem huge and adds a beautiful ray of light to every nook and cranny in your home. Open up the windows by ditching the large curtains and opting for blinds instead. You’ll gain space and light instantly.

20. Keep It Simple

Although you may be tempted to go all out and make everything in your home a feature, try and refrain from doing too much. It can be confusing to the eye and doesn’t look as put together as a simple design. All you need is 2-3 colours for a room, one bold, one pastel, and black or white. If you stick to this rule you will see a huge difference in the overall feel of your living space.

21. Disguise Old Furniture

If you would rather avoid having to invest in a brand new sofa, you can disguise it instead. Adding soft furnishings such as cushions and throws will immediately give a dull piece of furniture a new lease of life. Find some great ideas on revamping old furniture, HERE.

22. Get The Kids Involved

If you have children, let them have some input on your decisions. You could let them design their own bedrooms, pick out paints, wallpaper and soft furnishings to make them feel part of the process. Although children might have some crazy ideas, it might be fun to let them have free rein on their own space in the house. It could mean that you end up with a Disney princess palace in your home, but to see the look on your child’s face when it’s ready; it’s all worth the effort.

23. Match Your Appliances

When you decorate the kitchen, you will usually get new cabinets, countertops, backsplash and new tile for the floor. Once you’ve implemented all of these changes, why not finish it all off by matching your small appliances to the theme of the room? Buying a kettle and toaster to match the decor of your kitchen is a simple and effective way to tie the room together.

24. Add Accent Walls

Accent walls can be a great design feature. Painting one wall a bold color, or hanging some wallpaper on one wall of a room can bring it to life and draw the eye to that area, making the room feel and look a little bigger than it really is.

25. A Book Nook

If you or your children love to read, why not transform a small corner of the room into a cute little reading nook? Add lots of cushions, a beanbag and storage for your favourite novels, and you’ve instantly created a personalized space for you and your family to enjoy quiet time.

This is a sponsored guest post that may or may not represent the views or ideals of Mommy Ramblings.

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