Author: Dana "Dee" Kuznar

Dana has been an online content creator since 2012. A serial blogger and entrepreneur, she's also the author of "You Can Make Soap!" Dana lives in beautiful northwestern Wisconsin with one hard-working husband and two lazy cats.
Happy woman relaxing on her couch in a freshly cleaned home.
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Why Keeping Your House Clean Matters: The Best Advice I Ever Got

True confession: I used to HATE cleaning my house. Like, would-rather-organize-my-tax-receipts kind of hate.  Sure, regular cleaning was something I did. But it seemed like a waste of time – and I resented it. After all, I had better things to do than clean a messy home again and again and again. I mean, we’ve…

Woman armed with cleaning supplies, getting ready to clean a messy house.

How to Tackle Cleaning a Messy House: A Step-by-Step Guide for Busy People

Does your house looking like a tornado hit? You’re not alone. If you’re wondering how to tackle cleaning a messy house when you’re already juggling work deadlines and side hustles – and maybe trying to remember if you fed the cat today – you’re in the right place. The truth? Every home gets messy –…

Scheduling a work-from-home routine in a daily planning notebook.

Perfect Productivity: Create Your Work-From-Home Routine

For most people, working from home sounds amazing. No commute, no dress code – and the coffee’s always just right. But without a healthy work-from-home routine, things can slide off the rails mighty quick. I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way) that productivity at home doesn’t just happen. It takes a little structure. A little rhythm….

Woman in blue shirt with two stacks of balanced block letters that spell work and life.

Blurred Boundaries? Finding Work-Life Balance While Working from Home

Yesterday morning, I found myself still in pajama pants at 9:30am, answering “just one more email” while sitting next to a half-eaten breakfast. The ridiculous thing is, I’m in the middle of writing this blog post about keeping work life/home life separate. The struggle is real. When your home becomes your office, setting boundaries for…

Happy remote worker in bright home office.

Energy Givers and Energy Takers: Avoiding the WFH Slump

Ever notice how some days you’re crushing your to-do list by 10 AM, while other days you’re staring blankly at your laptop screen, looking for motivation? If you’re nodding along right now, welcome to the club – we’ve got coffee and comfy pants. Working from home comes with amazing perks (hello, 30-second commute). But it…

Steaming coffee in yellow mug on kitchen counter, as part of the morning routine.

15 Productive Morning Routine Ideas for WFH Success (that Actually Work!)

Let me guess – you rolled out of bed this morning, shuffled to your home office in your PJs, and suddenly realized it was noon and you hadn’t even brushed your teeth yet. Been there, done that! When I first started working from home in our little Northwoods cottage, my mornings were a mess. No…

Deer standing in winter snow next to fence to keep deer out of the garden.
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How to Keep Deer out of the Garden All Year (with Minimal Effort)

When Randy and I moved to our wooded acres on Balsam Lake, I was so excited about all the gardening possibilities. I couldn’t wait to share my “garden oasis” with the woodland wildlife. Keeping deer out of the garden was the furthest thing from my mind. Then reality hit. Those cute deer? Complete garden destroyers….

Beautiful full sun, deer resistant Rudbeckia-Black-eyed Susan in summer garden.

7 Easy Full-Sun, Deer Resistant Perennials for Your Northwoods Garden

One of the biggest gripes of Northwoods gardening is having to share outdoor space with the local wildlife. Because while deer are beautiful from a distance, they can quickly turn your carefully planned garden into their personal buffet! If you enjoyed my article on deer-resistant shade plants, you’ll be happy to know there are plenty…

HOME spelled out on rustic wooden table.
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New Website Direction: A Simple, Work-From-Home Lifestyle

When I first envisioned Northwoods Oasis, I wanted to highlight this beautiful area that Randy and I now call home. After moving from a big city to the small town of Birchwood, Wisconsin, we were in awe. The lakes, the resorts, the endless trails, and—most of all—the friendly, hardworking people made this place feel special….

composting for beginners

Composting Facts: 10 Easy Steps for Beginners at Home

Composting is a fantastic way to reduce your carbon footprint and save money on your trash bill. It’s also great for your garden! If you’ve never composted before, you probably have questions. Where do you start? What can you compost? Never fear, we’re here to help. In this article, we’ll give you all the composting…