NewlyWoodwards

an unconventional home

Summer In Style Outdoor Edition: Our comfortable family porch

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We have officially hit the early summer sweet spot in the Midwest – the approximately two weeks of the year that the weather is perfect – sunny, breezy and beautiful. And since it’s a pretty short time frame for perfection, we’d best enjoy it. And that means we are spending almost all of our waking hours outdoors. Luckily for […]

Six ways we cut down weeds in the garden

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This year, I’m determined to have gardens that aren’t overtaken by weeds. And this is not something that comes easily to me. Because I get bored and lazy and just let the weeds take over. But while I don’t love to weed, I would sure love beautiful gardens to enjoy. Wouldn’t you? We are about a month into this experiment of […]

Clearing your home of clutter (again)

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Do you ever look around your home and wonder how you even managed to acquire all this stuff? You don’t have to qualify for an episode of Hoarders to feel like it’s all just a little too much. Your home could look beautiful and organized to those around you. You may spend plenty of time picking up clutter […]

Sprucing up the front porch for spring

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After a Midwest winter, our front porch was long overdue for a scrub-down and spruce-up. I’m sort of ready for one, too. (Facials and massages, anyone?) But that’s going to have to wait for another day. It was well worth the time it took to spruce up the entry for spring. Some elbow grease, soap and […]

Favorite garden plants for all-year color

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I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to have a garden, I basically want it to look great all year. And I’d prefer plants that don’t require constant upkeep or whispered sweet nothings to grow. I want it to look awesome all the time with very little upkeep. Is that so much to ask? And, […]

Today’s the day to make your yard list

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Today’s the day! It’s National “Make a list of all the outdoor projects you’ll never finish” Day. Have you heard of it? That’s because I just made it up. But I figure that almost every day brings some sort of crazy national celebration. I mean, National Siblings Day? Pizza Day? Cake Day? Pet Appreciation Day? (Isn’t […]