Hello! Its me again! Sorry I haven't posted in, like, three years,but you'll all be glad to know that I grew up quite a bit since then. In fact, my sister broke off her first engagement and marry an awesome guy she went to high school with,whom I'm calling Grunchkin (cross between a grizzly bear and munchkin). I got to be a bride's maid, but unfortunately not the maid of honor since I'm not old enough to paradise the bride around in bars or hire a male-stripper. Still not a big deal though. The wedding went pretty well, all I had to do is walk up the isle and walk down with Grunchkin's little brother, who I went to grade school with. Still, I'm going to be 17 this May 26th and on September 4th (my sisters b-day) Grunchkin will be leaving for basic training for the army, which is kind of messed up because he also has to leave for something else on October 15th which is their one year anniversary. Unbelievable,right? Anyway, that's it for now!! I'll keep you guys posted!!

Read More »from I'm Back :)

By Bianca Schlotterbeck, CNBC.com

They say that an Englishman's home is his castle. The phrase might not have literal meaning for most Britons, but buying a castle is not as unusual as you might think. For history buffs or buyers with a romantic imagination, a range of castles are on the market in Britain with the majority in Scotland. A lot of these castles also come with substantial grounds containing parkland, forests or rivers full of fish.

The following castle homes are for sale or rent in Britain and are presented in order of the least to most expensive. Many of the castles have ancient foundations and all of them are steeped in history once belonging to knights, royalty, aristocracy or the occasional rock star.

See the slideshow: 11 Beautiful British Castles Homes


The West Wing, Houston House, ScotlandThe West Wing, Houston House, Scotland Price: £699,000 (USD $1.12 million)
Bedrooms: 4 Bathrooms: 4
Square Footage: 3185.7 Grounds: 6 acres

Houston House was a castle originally built by Sir Hugh de Paduinan

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canby Healthy Child Healthy World

So many news stories that relate to children's environmental health, it's hard to keep up!

The FDA Rejects BPA Ban in Packaging

Late in the day last Friday, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA)announced that it would not place on ban on BPA in packaging because there wasn't enough scientific evidence that it harmed humans. We wonder whether they've missed the volumes of studies finding BPA associated with some cancers, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and reproductive disorders. Manufacturers are moving away from the chemical even without FDA action. Last month, Healthy Child Healthy World and the Breast Cancer Fund announced that Campbell's Soup was moving away from BPA in its cans, in part due to dropping consumer demand and public campaigns to eliminate BPA from foods targeted at kids.

Despite the FDA's decision, concerned parents are vowing to reject BPA in products.Lori Popkewitz Alper, a blogger at Groovy Green Livin' and a Healthy Child

Read More »from BPA, Flame Retardants & Toxic Jewelry

Source: Battle of the Cleaners: Bon Ami vs. Vinegar

I just received an all-purpose cleaner, courtesy of the folks of Bon Ami, a firm that prides itself on producing cleaning products with biodegradable cleaning agents and preservatives as well as other natural ingredients such as baking soda and Epsom salts. Basically, the items contain products you've heard of and not some unpronounceable chemical name. Heartened by the nontoxic nature of Bon Ami products, I decided to test it out against vinegar, a versatile and natural substance you can use in many different ways to cleanse your home. Here are the results:

Bon Ami: I used the Bon Ami cleaner to clean some of the cooking dirt off my stove, and one thing I noticed about it was the very pleasant citrus smell. I felt like it worked just as well as any regular chemical cleaner and did a good job of cutting through the grease. I was really happy about the fact that the ingredients were safe and not toxic. The only problem I had with it

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All this warm weather talk has me so anxious for summertime to hurry up and get here already! After seeing this image, I am convinced that I need to try and find a spot for a hammock because I can't think of a better place to spend a lazy summer afternoon, can you? Hammocks make me feel like I'm on vacation!

More from The Stir: 7 Amazing and Easy DIY Craft Projects for Easter

Find 5 other equally dreamy hammocks below.

Porch fan, open shutters, cold drink? Yes please!

When I imagine living in the South, this is what it looks like. I want to settle in with a good book and forget about the rest of the day.

More from The Stir: Say Yes to Stripes in the Nursery!

Everything about this room seems utterly warm and relaxing, the hammock included. But the materials make it feel adventurous and exotic at the same time.

I love how this patio is screened in with trees and ferns -- the whole thing feels so peaceful and zen. The indoor and

Read More »from 6 Dreamy Hammocks that Will Make You Feel like You're on Vacation

Mason jars are so versatile and iconic. Besides their original purpose of food storage, you can also use them for entertaining, decorating, gifts, and more. Here are 10 of my favorite ideas for using Mason jars.


Rainbow Tinted Mason Jars 1. Rainbow Tinted Mason Jars
This is a fresh take on Mason jars: Tint them! Follow the directions site to make a rainbow, or tint them only one color to match your decor. The possibilities are endless.
Get the tutorial









Related: 25 incredibly tiny houses from around the world



Spring Mason Jar Holders 2. Spring Mason Jar Holders
Need a dash of spring decor? This cute and easy -- and unique -- take uses Mason jars as key elements.
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Mason Jar Soap Dispenser 3. Mason Jar Soap Dispenser
Bought that giant jug of liquid soap from Target, but the dispenser doesn't match your decor? Try this fun idea for making your own with a Mason jar.
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Related: 25 ways to decorate with Peeps



Mason Jar Salads 4. Mason Jar Salads
This is a fun food idea for a festive dinner or for a party: Mix up your salads in a Mason jar. The

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Aries (March 21 - April 19) Save early and often is the mantra your parents used when it came to money; one you will do well to embrace today when it comes to saving documents on your computer, especially if a storm is causing power outages. Today's Aries Reading: Free Sample Daily Grind Reading

Taurus (April 20 - May 20) Two chairs, ample light and a space in the middle to hold a variety of reading material that pleases you and your partner are crucial right now. The ability to sit beside one another and do quiet things while still feeling connected is part of a solid relationship. Today's Taurus Reading: Free Sample Life Path Reading

Gemini (May 21 - June 21) Today you will accomplish more if you make a list of where you need to go and what you must get when you arrive. Otherwise you may be frustrated trying to

Read More »from Astrology.Com Daily Home & Garden Horoscopes -- Wednesday April 4, 2012

10 Ways to Decorate with Easter PeepsEaster Peeps are a classic. I have memories of eating them when I was little, loving that marshmallow sugary treat. Well, Peeps aren't just for the Easter basket anymore. They're in wreaths, garlands, flower arrangements… you name it. Here are 10 creative ways to decorate with Easter Peeps.

Related: 25 incredible facts you never knew about Easter candy




Sweet Peeps Garland 1. Sweet Peeps Garland
These are just like the real thing, all lined up in a fun garland.
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Related: 9 simple ways to save money on Easter dinner




Bunny Peep Straws 2. Bunny Peep Straws
Sip up your lemonade on Easter Sunday with these fun peep straws.
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Related: 10 ways to make your own homemade Peeps






Get Your Peeps On Printable 3. Get Your Peeps On Printable
Download this Peeps printable to frame and decorate your home.
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Related: The 20 most incredible tree houses in the world





Crocheted Peeps 4. Crocheted Peeps
Follow this pattern for creating a few sweet crocheted Peeps.
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Framed Peeps Art 5. Framed Peeps Art
This framed Peep project is Read More »from 10 Ways to Decorate with Easter Peeps