Speed Through Household Chores With These Cleaning Shortcuts

The faster you get your cleaning done, the more time you’ll have to spend time with friends and family. The trick to quick cleaning is to have a system and to stick to it. Set a time limit for each room and you’ll be finished before you know it. Follow these tips for quick and efficient cleaning!

  • Keep up with daily cleaning tasks to help maintain your home's tidiness. By doing simple tasks every day, the cleaning will be much easier and not be so overwhelming.
  • Use a tote or bucket to keep all your cleaning supplies in. You can bring this from room to room and you won’t need to waste time searching for the supplies you need.
  • Use a vacuum to clean all of your floor surfaces. You should also use an extension cord for the vacuum to allow you to reach multiple areas without taking the time to keep plugging it in.
  • On your shower walls and door, use a squeegee after every use. This will prevent soap scum and water spots later on.
  • Focus on what you are cleaning and cut out anything that might distract you, e.g., your phone and the TV!

13 Tips to Help You Speed-Clean Your Home [Better Homes and Gardens]
Clean Your House in Less Than an Hour [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

Cipollina: An Austin Favorite for Italian Cuisine

Cipollina was established in 1999 and has since grown into the well respected restaurant that it is today. The restaurant has a rustic ambiance and a neighborhood feel that makes you always feel welcome.

The menu at Cipollina features classic and authentic Italian dishes, like pastas, locally sourced entrees, and their unique wood-fired pizzas. The kale salad is bursting with flavor and has a lemon zest, tart cherries, and crunchy pistachios to top it off. Be sure to try their signature Cipollina pizza, which is cooked in a wood-fired oven and includes mushrooms, sweet onion compote, balsamic and chevre. Be sure to save room for tiramisu for dessert!

With all of the food sourced locally, you can tell that they put a lot into their meals and make sure to find the freshest ingredients they can.

Cipollina
1213 West Lynn Street
Austin, TX 78703
(512) 477-5211
www.cipollina-austin.com

Happy Father’s Day!

Today is a chance for us to recognize some very important people in our lives. May this day bring you many reasons to smile!

Happy Father’s Day!

Add a Touch of Summer to Your Rental Home — Here’s How!

Summer is just around the corner, and even in a rental, you can't help but want to make some warm weather improvements to your home. Outdoor space or not, there are a number of ways to add a summer flair to your decor — and these stylish tips will show you how.

  • Let the light in. Take advantage of the brighter sunlight and longer days by making the most out of your home's windows. Replace your heavy winter drapes with light-colored, sheer curtains, and give your windows a good scrubbing inside and out.
  • Mix up your throw pillows. While cozy, rich hued throw pillows are great in the cold of winter, they feel stuffy and too dark once the summer rolls around. Store your usual throw pillows in plastic bags during the summer months and replace them with pillows that are bright, colorful and even a bit eclectic.
  • Keep the cold beverages on hand. Whether you frequently host guests on a porch or patio or you simply want to create a cool, relaxing place to hang out inside of your home, creating a well-curated bar cart is a must for summer entertaining. Stock yours with ice buckets, various types of glasses, cocktail napkins and your favorite libations (alcoholic or otherwise).
  • Fill your place with plants. Another great way to take advantage of the summer sunshine is by creating an indoor garden. Hang plants from the ceiling using macrame plant hangers, place them in pots on bright windowsills and even add larger plants to fill empty corners of a room.

Take in a Film at the Regal Cinemas Metropolitan 14

Screening all of the latest blockbusters in IMAX, RPX, 3D, and 4DX, The Regal Cinemas Metropolitan 14 is a great place to see your next movie with a friend, a date, or a group. The screens are large, and the sound is excellent. What's more, each theater offers stadium-style seating with recliner-style seats, so you can catch up with your favorite actors in total comfort.

Insider's tip: Be sure to join the Regal Club so you can enjoy a number of freebies from this cinema. The theater's website posts about special deals and promos, so be sure to check it out!

Regal Cinemas Metropolitan 14
901 Little Texas Lane
Austin, TX 78745
(844) 462-7342
www.regmovies.com/Theatres/Theatre-Folder/Regal-Metropolitan-Stadium-14-105

Have You Ever Considered Using Books to Decorate Your Home? Here’s How!

Books can add a pop of color, add a lot of character, and are a really simple way to improve any room. There are so many different ways to use them for decoration and another plus, they will never go out of style. You most likely have them lying around in your home, so follow these tips to find out how to use them!

  • Look for books with appealing covers. The colors can warm up your space while also adding a pop of color.
  • Pile up two or three books with different patterns on your coffee table.
  • Use a stack of books to add height to your tables or mantels.
  • Use books that are meaningful to you and your family. This will really make your space special and personal.
  • Cut out a rectangle section in a large book and use it as a pot for plants or flowers.
  • Use a stack of large, sturdy books to create a small side table or nightstand.
  • Invest in a tall, wide bookshelf to create an accent wall with your collection of books.
  • Cut your books into block letters to use as monograms to place on your shelf or dresser.

How to Decorate With Books [Ebay]
21 Chic Ways to Decorate Your Apartment With Books [Style Caster]
5 Ways to Decorate with Books [The Everygirl]

Revamp a Lampshade with these Fast and Easy DIYs

Finding just-the-right lamp to match your decor can be tricky. Why not get creative and style your own? All you need is a simple base and a shade of any kind that you can revamp. Follow these fun tips to create the lamp you've been dreaming of.

  • Using fabric to cover your lampshade is a beautiful and affordable way to revamp your lamp. All you need to do is make yourself a template with newspaper and cut it out to perfectly cover your lamp. Then, cut your fabric to match your template. Use fabric glue to place it on and you've got a unique, beautiful shade.
  • Line your lampshade with gold using liquid gold leaf paint and stained glass foiling tape. Make sure to use a lampshade with a plastic lining so the liquid leaf doesn't seep through the shade. Use a foam brush to paint it on and put a clear topcoat on so the paint doesn't tarnish.
  • Use spray paint to create a unique pattern on your lampshade. All you need is the paint and a fun stencil to use as a pattern. A chevron pattern can really transform your lamp and can go well with any kind of decor.

How to Transform a Lamp Shade with Fabric [Just a Girl and Her Blog]
Lampshade Decorating [Plaster & Disaster]
4 Creative Ways to Do a Lampshade Makeover [Bob Vila]

How to Make Any Space Feel Like Home

Making your space feel like a home can be a little overwhelming, but it doesn't have to be difficult. All you need to do is add your own personality to your space and make it feel more cozy. Follow these tips to make your space feel more comfortable and homey.

  • Decorate your space with people and places that you love and with items that have meaning to you. Use artwork that features places or maps of places that have a special meaning to you and your family.
  • A simple positive message can have a way of making you feel good and really bring up your mood. Use art that features a quote or phrase and hang it somewhere where you will be sure to see it every day.
  • Place a lot of throw pillows on your couch or bed. These will always make you feel nice and cozy. A throw blanket can give you the same effect as well.
  • Add a rug or two to your dining or living room area. A rug will make your space feel more complete and less empty or bare.
  • Add a lamp on your bedside table or on your desk to add a little bit of light to your home. If your space is too dark, you will never achieve that cozy feeling.

8 Ways to Decorate With Love and Meaning [Houzz]
8 Ways to Make Your House More Homey [Home Garden Vibes]
Decorating Tricks to Make Your New House Welcoming and Cozy [Freshome]

Happy Memorial Day

Today we remember those who have sacrificed their lives for our great country. We hope you have a great Memorial Day!

Turn Your Apartment Into a Happy Home With These 5 Mood-Boosting Design Tips

Your home should be a place for inspiration and relaxation, not just a place to store your belongings. Improve your rental's overall mood with these design tips that are sure to bring the "happy" back into your happy home.

  • Improve the lighting. It's no secret that natural sunlight improves your mood, so you want to maximize the amount of it that flows through your home. Switch out heavy draperies or blackout curtains with light, sheer curtains or bamboo blinds, and even replace fluorescent lightbulbs with modern bulbs that mimic the look of sunlight.
  • Create a place for everything. Target the areas in your home that collect clutter, such as the area around the front door or the always-overflowing recycling bin. Think of smart solutions for the storage in these areas to create a better flow throughout the home.
  • Add some plants and flowers. Studies show that adding some green to your home makes you happy, so fill small pots with leafy green plants, stylish succulents, or blooming flowers.
  • Redecorate in soft colors. If you're having trouble relaxing in your bedroom or feeling inspired in your home office, try switching up the color palette. Adding stark white bedding or soft colored throw pillows will create a calming effect in these frequently used areas.

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