Author: Nikki

I've been writing since I was in kindergarten where I Crayola-markered an epic tale of a tiger and a balloon on a stack of lined papers folded into a booklet and stapled along the edge (carefully, and by my teacher). I love DIY, sewing, folksy music, animals and getting out to look at and listen to nature.
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Been a while..

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Hey, reader! I’ve long neglected this site. I’d have shut it down entirely if it weren’t for the chalazion post and the one about dogs and hyperkeratosis as those are the two main ways readers end up here and they seem to still be relevant, which is always nice. We’ve had some major family losses over the past few years and sadly I don’t think I got to mentioning them as my posts have been regrettably lax. In January 2019, we lost our beautiful fluffy … Continue reading

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Quickly stop pain from bee stings & bug bites

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Hi again, everyone! I hope that you and those close to you (physically or not) have been healthy and safe these past months. I’m not posting here much these days but I thought this was a pretty helpful tip and I wanted to share it as it’s just about that time of year again. Our part of the province moved into Stage 3 of reopening this past Friday, which allows children to play on playgrounds once again. Our son was sort of hesitant to play … Continue reading

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A tasty home remedy for sore throat, congestion & more

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In our little lake-surrounded alcove of Ontario, September through June seems to be perpetual cold, flu and allergy season. At least once a year the young son and I each ice the health cake with some sinus infections. (July and early August are typically fantastic though!) This year I decided after much recommendation to try turmeric lattes to soothe my sore throats. Turmeric lattes are sometimes referred to as golden milk. After constantly forgetting to buy the dry spice forever, one day I noticed a … Continue reading

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When to use a knit foot instead of a walking foot

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A while ago I wrote a post on the 32 piece presser foot set that’s full of all kinds of cool feet to help you sew many different types of projects without going for broke. We love Amazon Prime at our house because we’re ‘last minute’ people. We run out of stuff at the last minute, we break stuff when we need it most; basically… we’re a family. I recently noticed that the 32 piece presser foot set is no longer offered with Prime but … Continue reading

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DIY: Upcycle your old t-shirt into a kid’s raglan!

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Sew a kid's raglan with this free pattern!

Here’s a free, fun project for you and your sewing machine/serger! But first: Are you having a great summer? I hope so. I love this time of year for so many reasons — walking on the beach with your feet in the warm sand, hiking, gardening — and not needing to bundle up to enjoy the outdoors! (That last one’s really all I need.) Another great part about August is it’s peach season in Southern Ontario! Peaches are probably the fruit I look most forward … Continue reading

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The ONE kit you need if you love to sew

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32 piece presser foot set for sewing machines

Recently a friend of mine asked me what he should know in order to take up sewing. Well, that’s a can of worms. It got me thinking of all the stuff I wish I’d known when I first began sewing. Things like: Do not try sewing Velcro onto your very first project without the right needles, or they’ll turn to shrapnel and you could lose an eye Do not attempt to start and finish your first project halfway through the evening before you plan to … Continue reading

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Stop your dog’s tummy pain with 1 ingredient

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Junior

Today I’m going to talk to you about something close to my heart — my best brown dog. Just over a year ago, our boxer, Junior, started having severe tummy issues. He had always had slight stomach problems but they peaked last year with him starving himself and then vomiting bile and specks of blood. It was terrifying. (By contrast, we also have a yellow lab named Casey who once ate a whole box of steel wool pads and managed to survive without much of … Continue reading

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2 easy ways to grow your own spider plants — no green thumb needed!

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Not long ago in my post about making cute ombre plant hangers I mentioned my love for spider plants. Well, today I’m going to finally make good on my promise to teach you how to cultivate baby spider plants and grow them into big mama spider plants! Spider plants are excellent air purifiers, removing up to 90% of formaldehyde from the air. The fresh air provided by a spider plant promotes better sleep, so they’re great to keep in your bedroom. The reason I chose … Continue reading

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DIY: Make a rug into a cute beach tote!

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Upcycle a small IKEA rug (or any rug!) into a cute beach bag!

Hey there! I hope you’re doing well. Here’s that beach tote DIY I promised you. This post contains affiliate links. I earn a small commission from products purchased, and that helps keep my blog alive.  The admittedly mild winter and chillier than usual spring had me dreaming of summer early on this year. That’s why, I assume, when we went to our local IKEA during one of winter’s last blasts, I saw an unlikely item and thought “Hey, that’d make a cute beach bag!” And … Continue reading

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Make a sturdy beach bag for cheap!

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Make a small IKEA rug into a beach bag

Hi again. Not sure about where you are but here in Niagara, it’s been hot! I know that because my makeup is sliding off my face and our young son is a grump without a popsicle in hand. This week may have been the first time we’ve gone to the beach together and done more than dip our feet in the water. The kid really enjoyed ‘swimming’ (AKA lying on his tummy and splashing like mad) and I got to cool off too. Win! AND … Continue reading

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