Spring is almost here, but winter still has us in its grip. Get through these last few cold night by warming up with this white bean and bacon soup! It’s easy enough to make for a weeknight dinner, and would make a great frozen make-ahead meal. Make a big batch and bring some to work, or pack it in a thermos for lunch for the kids! This soup is delicious and is made from white beans, parmesan cheese, bacon, celery, garlic, chicken stock, and sage. Throw on that apron and let’s get cookin’!

White Bean Soup Recipe With Parmesan Cheese, Bacon, and Sage

Looking for some healthy comfort food? Try this white bean soup with bacon, garlic, parmesan cheese, celery, and sage!

Serve it up with crusty bread for dipping!

 Photos: The Clever Carrot.

This beautiful pinecone wreath is so easy and cheap to make, which is perfect for those low on time and on a budget! You only need a few basic supplies, along with a bunch of pinecones! Hang it up on your mantle or front door and don’t forget to decorate it with a big bow!

What You Will Need:

1) Pinecones

2) Wire hanger

3) Pony beads (or any regular white plastic beads)

4) Hot glue gun and glue sticks

5) Ribbon or fabric

6) White spray paint (optional)

Step #1:

Shape the wire hanger into a circle, leaving the hook part on top of the circle. You’ll use the hook to hang up your wreath.

Step #2:

Glue one pony bead to the bottom of each pinecone.

Step #3:

String the pinecones onto the wire and adjust them to make them fit together without leaving any gaps.

Step #4:

If you want your wreath to have a snowy look, you can give it a very light coat of white spray paint. Allow the paint to dry and decorate your wreath with a large bow or any decorations you like!

Photos and idea: Do it Yourself Divas.

We just love fudge, and what’s great about it is that it’s so easy to make! You only need a few ingredients, and it can keep for a while, up to three weeks! There are so many combinations of fudge, but we love the pink and white of this one. Make a few batches for your family, because we’re sure they’ll love it! This fudge also makes a great homemade gift.

A Very Sweet Christmas Peppermint Fudge

Photos and recipe: Shugary Sweets.

If you’re unsure of how to decorate your mantle this fall, take a look at this one! It’s simple, festive, and you can put it together on the cheap! Scroll down for more pictures!

The first thing we noticed about the mantle is the neutral backdrop. The mantle itself is a crisp white, which makes the fall accessories pop! For your mantle, choose fall shades that stand out. The bright oranges work great against the white, and if your mantle is more of a beige color, choose contrasting, but similar tones. Since the crisp white of the mantle is a cold tone, the fall accessories are as well. Choose what fits your mantle best.

The rustic crate makes the perfect stand for these flowers. To fill up the crate, a pumpkin nestled on top of leaves works great. The mini pumpkin, squash and pinecone look so cute inside, too!

One of the easiest ways to accessorize is with pillows! You can use slipcovers if you don’t want to buy new ones. For festive but cheap pillows, check your local Wal-Mart or Target.

Add warmth to your mantle with candles! Grab cheap candleholders and candlesticks at the thrift store and spraypaint them to match your mantle.

The top of the mantle is kept simple, with a salvaged piece of fence painted white, a leaf wreath, and more mini pumpkins. The garland adds a cute touch to the mini shutters, which can easily be replicated at a larger scale, if you like. You can make a large garland covering the entire mantle with burlap, which is a great choice for those on a budget.

Photos: The Frugal Homemaker.

Since almost all July 4th celebrations happen outdoors, getting our porches ready for the big day is a must! Dress up your porch with patriotic pillows, flowers, flags, and other accessories. The sky is the limit! Take a look at these festive July 4th porch ideas you can re-create yourself, and for cheap, too!

1. Get Creative

We’re loving this shutter painted with a star and stripes. The burlap garland draped over it gives it a rustic feel, and the DIY scrap wood firecrackers complete the display. Recreate the look yourself using a reclaimed shutter, and scrap wood or logs.

2. Budget-Friendly

To decorate your porch for next to nothing, try these tissue paper fan decorations! Dollar stores are a great place to find tissue paper on the cheap, and you can hang up the fans using tape. Try hanging them on twine for a fun garland. Tutorial here.

3. Add Flowers

Put together a few hanging planters with red, white, and blue flowers. Hang them up in groups for a more dramatic effect, and don’t forget to stick a small flag in the middle!

4. Use Palettes

Reuse that palette that’s headed for the landfill with this easy DIY! Simply paint on the American flag! Place it in a corner of your porch and decorate by adding potted plants.

5. Pillows and Cushions

Adorn your porch swings and chairs with festive pillows and cushions. It’s the easiest way to change the look of your porch instantly and add a splash of color. If you don’t want to buy new sets of pillows, make slipcovers!

6. Decorate With Vintage Flags

If you’ve got a few vintage flags in your collection, show them off by standing them up in a vintage bucket or pot. We like how in this rustic display the large flags take center stage, and the smaller ones adorn the outer edge.

Photos: Hoosier Homemade, Martha Stewart, Josie Jones and Co., Neftali Valadez, Gail’s Decorative Touch, Flickr.