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Football Season Is Back! How to Host an Unforgettable Game-Day Soiree

September 20, 2016 by

One of the best things about fall is inviting all of your friends and family over to watch the big game, but it can be quite difficult to organize the food, drinks, and seating arrangements for that many people. Whether you’re playing host to 5 or 50 people, these fun DIY ideas will show you how to make sure your game-day bash scores a touchdown.

  1. Decorating cheap mason jars makes it easy (and festive) to dole out drinks to all of your guests. Simply use white electrical tape to create those familiar stitches normally found on the side of a football, and once your party is over, you can easily remove them and repurpose the jars for something else.
  2. To get your guests excited for the game, purchase some silly hats, masks, and noisemakers from your favorite local party store. Set them out on a table and let your guests choose their own fun costumes.
  3. To avoid awkward scrambling for seats after the guests arrive, create a comfortable seating area beforehand. Toss some pillows on the floor in front of the sofas, or pull kitchen chairs and arrange them in places where everyone can easily see the screen.
  4. Set the food out buffet-style so that guests can easily grab snacks between quarters. If you’re planning a more sit-down meal, schedule it at halftime so that everyone has time to eat.

Big Game Party Ideas [Flamingo Toes]
Top 10 Football Party Ideas for Game Day at Home [Party City]
Great Football Party Ideas: How to Host a Football Theme Party [Party 411]

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

June 17, 2016 by

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.

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How to Simplify Your Spring Cleaning Routine

April 5, 2016 by

Spring has sprung! It’s time to open the windows wide, scrub the floors, and replace your heavy, winter down comforter with something light and fresh. These three tips will help you plan your spring cleaning attack.

  1. Stock your cleaning supply kit. There’s nothing more frustrating than going to polish your furniture and realizing that you’re out of wood oil. Before you begin your spring cleaning, make sure that you have new bottles of window cleaner, bathroom scrub, oven cleaner, white vinegar, baking soda, and all of the brushes, towels, and sponges that go along with them.
  2. Begin by de-cluttering. Throw away or donate anything that you no longer use, and pack away heavy winter coats or large blankets that you won’t need for the next few months. This will give you more elbow room for deep cleaning.
  3. Get the whole family on board. Spring cleaning is a task that’s much too large for one person, so plan a day when the whole family can help. Plan it in advance to ensure that everyone can take part in the action, and assign tasks to stay on track with your plan.

Top 10 Spring Cleaning Tips [HowStuffWorks]
Ultimate Spring Cleaning Guide [BHG]

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What Are Your Favorite Spring Recipes? Here Are a Few to Try This Season!

March 11, 2016 by

As the days get longer and springtime (finally!) rolls around, you likely start to crave lighter meals made with bright, fresh ingredients. Retire your usual favorite spring recipes in favor of something new and exciting with these delicious dishes from around the web.

Grilled Artichokes [oprah.com]
Create a tasty side dish for chicken, steak, or fish with Oprah’s recipe for flavorful grilled artichokes. Grilling these layered veggies on a stovetop grill gives them a bit of a blackened taste, and the homemade dipping sauce that goes with them adds even more flavor.

Sautéed Fiddlehead Ferns [localfoods.about.com]
Fiddlehead ferns come into season during the spring, which makes this dish very fresh and delicious. This recipe also takes just 10 minutes to prepare and 10 minutes to cook, so it makes quite a quick last-minute side dish on busy weeknights.

Risotto With Prosciutto and Peas [realsimple.com]
If you’re looking for something heartier and more filling, this rich, creamy risotto recipe is the perfect choice come spring. Thin prosciutto adds a salty taste, while the sweet spring peas make it perfect for warmer weather. Cook the risotto in white wine and chicken broth to add a deep, complex flavor throughout, then serve it with your favorite grilled meats or as an entree with a fresh salad.

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What’s in Season? Your Handy Guide to Autumn Fruits and Veggies

November 3, 2015 by

The autumn season is known for its bountiful harvests of sturdy root vegetables and tart fruits, which provide a welcome change after months of summer produce. If you’re already planning the next few months of fall recipes, this handy guide will show you which fruits and vegetables are in season.

  • Apples. Perhaps the most popular autumn fruit, apples can be used in pies, tarts, ciders, and even as a healthy handheld snack while on the go.
  • Broccoli. Although broccoli grows year-round in most climates, it becomes sweeter and less bitter when harvested in the fall.
  • Brussels sprouts. This hearty vegetable can be prepared a variety of different ways and is becoming increasingly popular in the gourmet food world.
  • Root vegetables. Carrots, sweet potatoes, parsnips, and other root vegetables are common during the autumn season and can be used in soups or roasted in the oven.
  • Cranberries. Although cranberries usually take center stage during the wintertime, they’re harvested throughout New England during the fall.
  • Figs. These sweet, chewy fruits have a second season later in the fall.
  • Garlic. If you prefer to use fresh garlic in recipes as opposed to dried or canned, the fall is the best time to purchase it.
  • Artichokes. Top your salads or pizzas with flavorful artichokes, which produce a smaller second crop in the fall.

Fall Fruits and Vegetables [About Food]
The Best Fruits and Veggies to Eat This Fall [Greatist]
What’s In Season? Fall [More Matters]

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Bring Spring in Bloom with These Crepe Flower Tutorials

June 2, 2015 by

Whether you’re decorating for a bridal shower, a child’s birthday party, or you simply want to spruce up your home for the spring season, crafting crepe flowers is an easy project that really makes an impact. These blossoms look beautiful, but they last a lot longer than the real thing! Here are three great tutorials for creating crepe flowers at home.

Martha Stewart’s DIY Flowers [marthastewart.com]
Martha Stewart’s website includes a number of different ways to make various types of crepe flowers. The single-petal method produces lush, full blossoms, while the tulip version is great for creating a bouquet of life-like flowers to display in your home or give as a gift.

Crepe and Watercolor Flower Tutorial [craftberrybush.com]
If you’re interested in creating the most realistic crepe flowers possible, this is the tutorial for you. It involves first using crepe paper to form the petals themselves, then gently painting the petals with watercolor paints to create the gradation that you find on a real flower. By spritzing the petals with water, you can even get them to curl a bit in a truly realistic way.

DIY Crepe Paper Flowers [thebridescafe.com]
This simple tutorial is perfect when you don’t have a lot of time, but you still want to get beautiful results. All it takes is a bit of crepe paper, floral wire and tape and some microbeads to form the flower’s center.

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Spring Forward: How Start Your Warm Weather Workouts on the Right Foot

April 10, 2015 by

Whether you want to tone up before bathing suit season or you're striving to lead a healthier lifestyle, the spring season is a good time to begin an exercise routine. If you’re struggling to find the motivation to begin your spring workouts, these tips can help.

  • Put it on paper. If you write down your fitness goals and a loose schedule, it will help you to remain accountable and stay on track.
  • Start slow. Remember to keep your schedule light at first and work up to more difficult workouts. Begin with 30 minutes of moderate cardio exercise three or four times per week, and be sure to switch up your workouts to keep things interesting.
  • Enlist a partner. If you’re still feeling sluggish, ask a close friend to work out with you and help to keep each other motivated.
  • Invest in new workout gear. If your sneakers from last season have seen better days, invest in a brand-new pair that will get you excited to exercise.
  • Get outdoors. Now that the cold weather is over and the days are longer, you likely want to get outside as much as you can. Schedule early morning runs before work, go for weekend bike rides, or even sign up for yoga in the park.

Spring-Clean Your Exercise Routine [Health]
20 Ways to Spring Clean Your Fitness Routine [Shape]
Spring Clean Your Workout Routine: 21 Bad Habits To Toss Today [LiveStrong]

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How to Make Your Own Spring Floral Arrangement

March 13, 2015 by

These fast and easy tips will help you to create a florist-quality spring floral arrangement that you’ll be really proud to display in your home.

  1. Begin with the color palette. If you want to mix and match flowers to create your own bouquet, it’s best to have a color palette in mind. Stick with muted tones, a blend of bold primary hues, or variations of one color to create a cohesive look.
  2. Create a space for each flower. Cheat by creating a sort of grid guideline inside of the vase. Place a piece of chicken wire flat inside of the opening, or even create a crosshatch of durable florist tape across the surface of the vase. The goal is to have a series of 1-inch squares where you can place each type of flower.
  3. Start with the largest flower. Create a base by adding the largest flower (or branch or fern) in the center.
  4. Add the thickest flowers. Arrange thick, heavy flowers around the tallest one in the middle.
  5. Finally, add accent flowers. Add tulips, daffodils, roses or other eye-catching accents last.

DIY Spring Flower Arrangement by Ashley Woodson Bailey [Design Sponge]
How to Make a Cool Flower Arrangement: 8 DIY Ideas for Spring [Stylecaster]
Simple Spring Centerpieces [Better Homes and Gardens]

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How to Host a New Year’s Eve Party Your Guests Won’t Soon Forget

December 12, 2014 by

From the sparkling beverages to the twinkling lights, New Year’s Eve parties are some of the most festive (and fun!) of the whole year. Here are a few new ways to help you plan a New Year’s party that your guests will talk about all year long. (Please remember to celebrate responsibly!)

  1. Send out formal invitations. Even if you’re planning a laid-back gathering, sending out snail mail invitations will make things feel much more festive—and avoid confusion about important party details. Include an RSVP if you want to get a head count.
  2. Choose classic decor. Traditional New Year’s Eve decor never gets old, so decorate in shades of black and gold, scatter a few fun party hats and noisemakers around, and be sure that everyone gets his or her own champagne flute.
  3. Keep the food and drink flowing. Prepare more than enough finger foods, fancy hors d’oeuvres and festive desserts, make sure to choose things that everyone will enjoy. Whether you provide the drinks or make your party BYOB, be sure to let guests know in advance.
  4. Make a playlist. One of the most foolproof ways to get people dancing and having a good time is by creating a loud, lively playlist of great music. Then, simply push “play” on your iPod and have a blast!

Throw the Easiest New Year’s Eve Party Ever [Real Simple]
How To… Bring in The New Year [She Knows]
20 Last Minute New Year’s Eve Party Ideas [Ryan Seacrest]

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How to Make This Year’s Halloween Party Your Best Ever

October 24, 2014 by

So you’ve decided to throw a Halloween party at your home, but where do you start? Luckily, a spooky Halloween theme offers an almost endless list of decoration and refreshment ideas to make your party a ghoulish good time. Here’s just a bit of inspiration.

Severed Finger Invitation [marthastewart.com]
Give your guests a fright before the party even starts by sending them a severed "finger" in a box as a party invitation!

Spiked Witch’s Brew [celebrations.com]
For refreshments, serve a black cauldron filled with a spiked punch that looks like witch’s brew. You can even make it “smoke” by adding dry ice to the cauldron.

Monster Face Paint [marthastewart.com]
Entertain the little ones at a Halloween party by setting up a face painting station. Even if the party isn’t a costume party, they’ll love to wear their new monster face around all night.

Mad Scientist Party [rachaelraymag.com]
If you prefer to go all-out with a unique theme, a mad scientist party is one that your guests probably haven’t seen before. Decorate with beakers and test tubes, don a white lab coat and a wild wig, and turn your kitchen into a laboratory filled with experimental refreshments.

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