Rita Pike

I love good travel gear. I love good inexpensive travel gear even better. Best of all, I love good inexpensive travel gear that makes life better overall.
And that’s why I’m mentioning the lavender eye pillow that I purchased for my husband for Christmas. I randomly found it tossed into the Christmas section at Target, where someone had obviously changed her mind about purchasing it and dumped it there. Thank you, stranger! I would never have found this item or thought to purchase it for Matt...

If you’ve ever dreamed of doing Machu Picchu, but you’re on a super tight budget that doesn’t exactly allow you to hit up five-star hotels and dine in elegant restaurants, you may think it’s out of reach. I’m here to tell you that it’s not. In fact, I’m here to tell you that you can get to Machu Picchu for well under $2000 if you simply plan properly and give yourself enough time to get there.
This kind of trip requires dedication, a bit of physical training, and advanced budgeting, but if yo...

We here in the Pike household are cat people. So we’re always on the look out for products and services that help our kitty and the cats of others.
And you see, our cat is adorable. She’s gray and fluffy and only weighs about six pounds, despite being fully grown. But this tiny ball of fluff has one of the most horrendous natural odors on the planet.
When I say horrendous, I mean blinding, soul-eating kind of horrendous. I wear a bandana over my nose and mouth when I change her litter box. An...

Welcome to the wild and woolly Windy City, where the town takes a nickname for all the blustering windbags and conveniently happens to have that lake effect wind.
We’ll be taking a brief tour through some of the creepiest, weirdest, and most haunted places of the city, as we pull that pea coat closer and huddle as we walk.
First off, let’s pause at the Chicago River and get a bit colder as we talk through three events and locations.
The Eastland Disaster
The Western Electric Company was doing...

Our six month old kitten is special. All kittens are, but Stardust is really something else. She’s high energy, a long leaper, and has a penchant for doing exactly what she’s not supposed to do. Including loving all things citrus and vinegar based. Aluminum foil attracts her instead of deterring her. The spray bottle takes no toll, for Stardust loves baths and water in all forms. Yep. Special.
And we’re on our fifth Christmas tree attempt this year. We’ve rearranged nearly every bit of decora...

A healthy lifestyle on the surface looks the same for everyone: proper nutrition, exercise, healthy weight maintenance, and emotional and mental support. But when you cut beneath the surface, we all have slightly different needs. And sometimes, it’s difficult to find those differences and what specifically works for you.
With all the advertisements out there trying to convince you that their gym, their personal trainers, their supplements, or their diet programs are the only way you’ll lose w...

When you’re a seamstress, you need a sewing table – someplace where you can work and create easily and fluidly without a lot of hassle.
Whether you need a sewing machine table for that awesome Hobby Lobby find or vintage machine from a yard sale, or you need a cutting or pressing table, this list of DIY tables will give you just about every style you could imagine, from hidden tables to tiny tables to giant tables fit for a costume shop.
Who doesn’t love a good Ikea piece? Better yet, though,...

Whether you’re collecting memorabilia for a family event like a wedding or you want to add some interesting décor to your home, a shadow box is a fabulous way to show your character and values.
For that reason, we’ve gathered a bunch of different options for doing this. Some are bright and cheery. Others are whimsical and wispy. Some vintage and elegant. But all make for a brilliant way to display things that mean a lot to you, your kids, or your friends.
This easy access wood frame shadow bo...

If you’re a book lover, then you know that bookends are a must-have for any library.
But finding ones that you like – or choose to actually spend that kind of money on – can be rare. The right color, the right texture, the right style – they can all be so elusive.
So instead of spending hours scouring online catalogs, you could just make your own from any of the simple to follow tutorials below.
Invisible Bookends
There are a ton of different ways of getting your books to stay in place. You c...

The center point of any family room or living room is the entertainment center. We just live in that era. TV may not be everything, but it is pretty important for relaxing after a hard day at the office or a long day on the farm.
If you’re ready for a new one that fits your family’s needs then this list of the 27 most interesting DIY entertainment centers and TV stands will give you some amazing options to consider.
Rustic Wood TV Stand
If you love the look and feel of rustic and simple wood ...

With all the iPhones, Fitbits, microwaves, ovens, and other electronic devices telling us the time, a lot of us forget that such a thing as a wall clock exists.
Of course, really nice clocks can get expensive. Or they just don’t look quite right in your space.
So, why not make your own? You can pick the materials to make exactly the size, color, and style you want, with just a little do-it-yourself magic applied.
Giant Electrical Reel Wood Clock
For the homeowner with big, open walls, this gi...

There are at least a million little pieces to planning the perfect wedding. You have to find the right flowers, the perfect dress, the most delicious cake.
One of the little details often overlooked is the wedding card box. And it’s no wonder. Who has time for crazy complicated projects?
Instead of spending loads of money and time on this simple piece, use these DIY wedding card box ideas to add that perfect touch to your big day.
Vintage Suitcase
For anyone who loves a travel theme with a to...

It’s one of those things that a lot of us don’t think about: the hat rack. Unless you’re totally obsessed with hats, you might not even realize you need one.
But if you look at that closet shelf sometime and can’t find that stylish beret hat for the clog of straw hats and boater caps, then you know it’s time to do something about it.
You could go out and buy a hat rack – but why do that when there are so many amazing DIY styles you can create on your own, for a few dollars and using items you...