Here is one of the quickest, easiest, and most clever craft projects ever—a free pet maze, courtesy of my sister. Many readers will remember her tutorial for creating a cat condo, which was the most popular pet post of 2014.

A very sweet reader named Janetta saw that post and emailed me, asking if I knew of a free craft that both cats and dogs would enjoy. Since I’m really not crafty, I definitely didn’t, so I turned to my sis for ideas.

Her solution was this incredible pet maze! While the primary user is her cat, Fury, it’s also enjoyed by Oscar the Chihuahua. The entire project can be completed in 30 minutes or less and only has 5 simple steps.

1.  Start with any size cardboard box. This works especially well with leftover packages.

2.  Trace circles onto the box, either free hand or with a stencil. The circles should be various sizes for best results.

3.  Check over the circles to make sure there are no sharp edges.

4.  Inside the holes, attach any toys your pet likes, such as rattling balls, fake mice, yarn, feathers, stuffed balls, or ribbon. For an extra kick, try a catnip sachet (to be used only with cats).

5.  Place the maze on a safe surface and let pets go wild, enjoying hours of playtime, for very little cost.

While I knew cats would love it, I was a bit skeptical about dogs. Oscar loved using it so much, he tired himself out to the point of exhaustion! Check out his yawn of exhausted bliss. He and Fury adore their new toy.

I can’t wait to make this for my cat, Pumpkin. I’ve had a dozen boxes—no joke–sitting in the hall closet since Hanukkah and now I can finally use them for something productive. (Plus, I know have the necessary inspiration.)

Isn’t it awesome to turn trash into treasures? Love it!

Have you ever made pet crafts?

Is there anything better than binging on British TV, courtesy of PBS? I can’t express my love for PBS strongly enough! My favorites have always been Masterpiece Theatre and cooking shows. Since both were on Sunday night, I was in heaven!

First up was the Season 5 premiere of the insanely addictive Downton Abbey. Since the very first episode I’ve been hooked on the Edwardian era soap opera that follows the trials and tribulations of the Crawley family. (Picture a more lavish version of Upstairs, Downstairs.) I’m dying to know the future of Lady Edith’s illegitimate daughter and whether or not Lady Mary will become the wife of Viscount Gillingham.

In addition to the premiere, there was a companion piece, Manners of Downton Abbey. It revealed the secrets of how the aristocrats dined, dressed, interacted with peers and servants, made money, and chose suitable marriage partners. Living during an age when every bit of life was so constricted must’ve been quite difficult—particularly for women.

Last but not least was the awesome The Great British Baking Show which features 12 amateur chefs competing to be the UK’s best. The chefs ranged in age from 17 to senior citizen, with an elderly lady that had been cooking for 60 years. Episode one focused on cakes. Did you know Swiss Rolls come in numerous varieties? (I mistakenly thought it was simply a chocolate cake filled with cream—inaccurate!) Some of the recipes were so creative it was incredible: strawberry, orange, hazelnut, and cardamom pistachio, and red velvet.

Talk about inspirational! I consider myself a decent baker, but these folks are light years ahead of anyone I know. Can you imagine the effort to hand paint those strawberries on the cake? Unreal!

After the Swiss Rolls, they were instructed to make the judge’s recipe for Cherry Cake. Sounds easy, except key components were missing! Here’s what it’s supposed to look like:

Most of the results didn’t. Some were really bad, but everyone of them deserves an “A” for effort. I can’t wait to watch Episode 2; they call them “biscuits,” we call them “cookies.” In either vernacular, they’re delicious!

Do you watch any British TV?

What a wild and wonderful time 2014 has been. Since I’m tracking my year-end stats today, I thought it would be fun to highlight the most popular posts, with a sampling from different categories.

Top post of 2014:  Huge list of birthday freebies

No other post I’ve written has even come close to the popularity of the ultimate birthday freebie list! Since everyone has a birthday and most everyone likes free stuff, I can see why it’s been so popular.

Top Jewish recipe post:  Matzo Toppings, 45 Options

Who ever would’ve thought a Passover recipe would be so popular? Certainly not me! Anyone who wants to try something new and fresh will like these options for matzo.

Top secular recipe post: No-Bake Peanut Butter Caramel Cheesecake

It seems I have a lot of readers with sweet teeth! This recipe is very in-demand at my house, since my guy is the world’s biggest peanut butter lover. We enjoy it so much, it even went on our Thanksgiving menu. Not only does it taste incredible, no cooking is required.

Top style post:  The Ideal Wardrobe – Jeans

Style and Beauty posts are some of my all-time favorites. Because I love these areas so much personally, it’s always a joy to discuss it with others.  Hopefully, you can pick up a few good tips, too.

Top Book post:  How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household

In all honesty, book reviews are not the biggest draw for my blog; however, I love to read and share important books that have influenced my life and mind. I’ll continue to share the best of the best, like this amazing guide written by the lovely Blu Greenberg. (FYI: Even the non-religious will benefit from a read-thru!)

Top Giveaway:  $30.00 Target Gift Card

Giveaways are always met with rave reviews! I love to offer great goodies and you guys sure love to enter. Rest assured, giveaways will always be a prominent feature at The Jewish Lady. (Many are planned for 2015, so stay tuned.) Since the Target giveaway had over 5,000 entries, I plan to repeat it!

Top coupon post:  How Cashiers Effect the Couponing Experience

As an extreme couponer, I’ve had my share of bad/disappointing experiences while chasing deals. I’ve found that befriending cashiers and frequenting the same store makes a world of difference. If you’d like to start couponing, or improve upon your skills, this post will be very helpful.

Top pet post:  How to Create a Free Cat Condo

The credit belongs to my sister, who is a master crafter! She constantly inspires me with all her creations, especially this tutorial on how to make a cat condo for FREE! Both her cat and mine loved these.

Have a favorite post that’s not on the list? Let me know!