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Decorating With Washi Tape? Check Out These Sites for Craft Inspiration!

January 8, 2015 by

Washi tape is an incredibly easy craft tool that you may see popping up in your favorite craft magazines or on popular DIY blogs. This simple adhesive tape comes in a wide variety of different colors and patterns, and because it’s easily removable, it can be used to decorate your electronic gadgets, gift wrap, and even your walls—without damage! Here are a few sites that are filled with fun ideas for decorating with washi tape.

Pinterest
Pinterest is a major hub for all things DIY, and a simple search for washi tape turns up an endless list of ideas for the home. Lovely Little Life Blog’s washi tape board features ways to use the tape to cover clothes hangers, decorate hanging lanterns, and even create your own wall art.

Buzzfeed
In its usual list-article style, Buzzfeed has created a list of 56 different ideas for decorating your home with colorful washi tape. Adding a pretty pattern to your window blinds is just one of the best suggestions, while others cover party planning tips, dressing up your tech gadgets, and much more.

Design Sponge
Design Sponge is a well-respected interior design website, so you can likely guess that its washi tape ideas are a bit more sophisticated than most. Think intricate wall borders, DIY phone cases, and floating picture frames.

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Stock Your First Aid Kit With These 17 Personal Care Essentials

December 18, 2014 by

You never know when you’ll have a mishap in the kitchen or take a spill, and the best way to prepare for these types of at-home injuries is by preparing a well-stocked first aid kit. To be truly prepared, you should store one of these personal injury kits in your car, as well. Here are a few essentials that every good first aid kit should contain:

  1. A first aid instruction booklet in case of complex injury or illness
  2. Adhesive bandages in a variety of different sizes
  3. Adhesive cloth tape
  4. Sterile gauze pads for administering medications or creams
  5. Antiseptic wipe packets for treating small cuts or burns
  6. Roller bandages in a few different sizes for wrapping sprains or pulled muscles
  7. Sharp scissors
  8. Tweezers for removing splinters or other shrapnel
  9. An oral thermometer (non-mercury, non-glass)
  10. Non-latex gloves
  11. Acetaminophen and ibuprofen, for headache or other muscle aches
  12. Instant cold packs
  13. Safety pins
  14. Hydrocortisone cream (1%)
  15. Calamine lotion for poison ivy, sunburn, and insect bites
  16. A flashlight (plus extra batteries)
  17. A list of emergency phone numbers (include your physician, children’s physician, emergency contacts, etc.)

Anatomy of a First Aid Kit [Red Cross]
First Aid Kit [Kids Health]
First-Aid Kits: Stock supplies that can save lives [Mayo Clinic]

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Short on Time? Here’s How to Clean Your Home in 20 Minutes

December 4, 2014 by

Whether you have guests coming over or you’re simply exhausted after a long day at work, sometimes a deep apartment cleaning just isn’t in the cards. Don’t fret, because it is entirely possible to clean your living space without spending a lot of time doing it. Here are a few tips to help you clean your apartment in 20 minutes or less.

  1. Remove clutter. The easiest way to create the illusion of a clean apartment is by removing all of the unnecessary clutter. Hang up the clothes that are lying on the floor (or at least toss them in the closet), and gather up all of the food or magazines scattered around the living room.
  2. Empty the sink. A sink full of dishes is a sure sign of an unclean apartment. Even if you don’t have time for much else, wash the dishes!
  3. Take out the trash. Nothing will blow your clean apartment cover faster than a smelly garbage can. Empty the trash in the bathrooms, bedrooms, and the kitchen.
  4. Freshen up. Spray couches and chairs with a neutral scented fabric refresher, and place some candles throughout the most high-traffic rooms. Even if you didn’t clean every nook and cranny, this will make things feel fresh.

Clean your home in less than 20 minutes [She Knows]
9 Tips For Speed Cleaning [About Home]
30 Quick and Easy Cleaning Tips [Woman’s Day]
Speed Cleaning: Tips For Fast & Efficient Housekeeping [The Inspired Room]

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How to Display Your Child’s Artwork—Creatively!

November 20, 2014 by

If your budding artist creates so many priceless paintings that your refrigerator is looking a bit cluttered, it may be time for a new way to display his or her art. There is a wide variety of ways to hang kids’ art in your home, and they’ll still even help you to stick to your current design scheme. Here are some of the top things to do with kids’ artwork.

  1. Hang a clothesline of art. Using a thin, clothesline-style rope, you can easily hang your little one’s paintings on the wall and transition them as often as you please. Simply fasten the rope at either end, attach a few clothespins and hang the artwork freely throughout.
  2. Turn a painting into a postage stamp. If your home is already filled with your child’s artwork, why not show his or her paintings off in other creative places? There are a number of different sites that enable you to scan and upload any photo you choose to a fully functional, U.S. Postal Service-approved postage stamp.
  3. Create a matching series. Give your child some watercolor paints in a few complementary colors and let him or her go wild. Afterward, frame the paintings in elegant white frames to create a gallery-worthy series that’s perfect for display.
  4. Turn it into a large canvas. Through the magic of the Internet, you can now scan your children’s artwork and have it printed on a large, high quality canvas in any shape you choose.

3 Ideas for Displaying Kids’ Artwork [Real Simple]
Kids + Art! [Babble]
What to Do with Kid Art [Parents.com]

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Here’s Where Families Can Find Halloween Costume Inspiration

October 16, 2014 by

Get creative this Halloween by putting together a group costume to wear as a family. Whether you’re going to a Halloween party, a costume contest, or just door-to-door while trick-or-treating, these websites will provide you with major inspiration for a family-style costume.

Popsugar
Popsugar assembled 33 group costume ideas that can accommodate both the adults and the kids, and they range from sweet and cute to witty pop culture references. Ideas include a whole family of Raggedy Ann-style dolls, a super family of comic book characters, and even creepy costumes from your favorite scary movies.

HalloweenCostumes.com
This one-stop shop for online Halloween costume shopping offers both inspiration for family costumes and links to where you can buy them on the site. Sizes range from the smallest babies all the way up to adults to accommodate every member of the group. Ideas include characters from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Star Wars, and much more.

Huffington Post
This popular news site is also a great place to search for the perfect Halloween costume for you and the little ones. Ideas include Greek gods and goddesses, the Westminster Dog Show, and the characters from the Mario Brothers video games.

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Keep the Kids Busy With These Easy Fall Craft Projects

September 18, 2014 by

When the kids are home on fall break from school, you’ll likely need fun activities to keep them entertained. These fall-themed craft projects are perfect for keeping the kids busy as the days get shorter.

Plastic Cup Crow [craftsbyamanda.com]
The kids will love this simple crow craft that is much more silly than scary. As a bonus, all it takes is a small bathroom cup, construction paper, glue, and a few other supplies that you probably already have around the house.

Toilet Paper Roll Leaf Stamp [craftymorning.com]
If you feel wasteful throwing away all of those empty toilet paper rolls, start saving them to make this colorful fall art project with the little ones. Cut the rolls into handheld sizes, bend them into leaf shapes and encourage your kids to go wild with paint in shades of red, yellow, and brown.

Fall Leaves Garland [abeautifulmess.typepad.com]
Let the kids help you decorate the house for fall with this adorable garland DIY. Children of all ages can trace leaves onto colorful felt (the more the better!), and you can let the older kids cut them out with child-safe scissors. Sew them together with embroidery thread or let a beginning sewer help with this part, too. Hang the garland anyplace in your home that would benefit from a bit of fall charm.

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Want to Travel Light? Don’t Pack These Items!

August 21, 2014 by

You think that you packed your suitcase pretty efficiently—until the scale at the airport tells you otherwise and you’re met with a huge baggage fee. We’ve all been there before, but there are a few things that you can do about it. Eliminate these three items from your list of things to pack, and you’ll likely be amazed at how much lighter your suitcase is.

  1. Toiletries. They may be essentials, but until you actually arrive at your destination, toiletries are just taking up space in your suitcase. Instead of filling your bags with heavy shampoo bottles or, even worse, having your toiletries taken away by airport security, opt to buy the same products in travel-size versions once you arrive.
  2. Snacks. This one is very common with international travelers. If you’re a creature of habit who prefers to eat the same foods every day, it may be tempting to bring your favorite snacks with you on vacation. Even a box of cereal can take up quite a bit of space, however, so opt to instead immerse yourself in foreign culture and try the local cuisine.
  3. Books. Many people like to relax with a good book on the beach or in the hotel room, but it’s very easy to over pack reading material and weigh your suitcase down. Invest in an e-reader instead, or bring just one book and swap with a friend once you finish it.

10 Things You Should Never Pack in Your Checked Bag [Smarter Travel]
What Not to Pack in Bags When Flying [USA Today]
What Not to Pack: 10 Things You Really Shouldn’t Take on Holiday [Skyscanner]
What Not to Pack [IndependentTraveller.com]

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Channel Your Inner Interior Designer With These Helpful Tips

July 24, 2014 by

Whether you're working with the blank canvas of a new apartment or an outdated space that’s simply not functional, decorating your home is always intimidating. It may seem crazy, but by adhering to just two simple tips from professional designers, you can make your home look and feel a whole lot fresher. Here are two interior design rules that you should know.

  1. Make every room work for your needs. It seems simple enough, but many people get so caught up in the details that they forget about the function of the room itself. Is it an office? Make the desk the focal point, then worry about the wall hangings later. Are you decorating your living room? Get rid of that old chair that you don’t have room for, because it’s only taking up space. Focus on the things that you use every day, and the things that are pretty to look at will fall into place later.
  2. Maximize the lighting. Even if your apartment came with built-in light fixtures, don’t feel like you’re limited to the cold feel of overhead lighting. Add a few lamps with softening shades here and there to create a more flattering lighting effect, and always play up the windows to bring in as much natural light as possible. You’ll be amazed at the difference good lighting can make!

6 Basic Interior Design Rules [Suite]
The 3 Principles of Interior Design [HGTV]
The 7 Rules of Interior Design [Zillow Blog]
5 Rookie Mistakes You’ll Never Make Again [Apartment Therapy]

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Healthy Rice and Potato Dishes That Won’t Weigh You Down

June 19, 2014 by

Starches and whole grains are important for feeling energized, but if eaten in excess, they can make you feel heavy or weighed-down. These delicious and nutritious recipes from the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute incorporate rice and potatoes into your diet in a way that benefits your body and provides proper portion sizes.

Delicious Oven French Fries
Though fast food French fries are anything but healthy, this oven-baked alternative provides the same classic taste without the added fat and salt.

Wonderful Stuffed Potatoes
By stuffing a baked potato with low fat milk and cottage cheese instead of the usual sour cream, you can save calories and still get the same savory taste.

Candied Yams
The holiday favorite gets a healthy makeover in this fast and easy recipe, with sweet brown sugar and tangy orange juice for a boost of added flavor.

Scallion Rice
The addition of green onions and bullion gives this simple, low-calorie rice dish a little something extra, and makes it perfect for eating with a variety of meats, vegetables or stir-fries.

Sunshine Rice
Perfect for pairing with grilled chicken or for eating on its own, this rice recipe contains unique ingredients like hot sauce, almonds, and lemon juice for a distinctly flavorful taste.

For more healthy rice and potato dishes, visit the NIH website by clicking here.

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4 Inventive Side Salads to Spice Up Any Meal

May 14, 2014 by

Sure, a traditional salad adds extra nutrients and an additional serving of vegetables to your meal, but it certainly doesn’t add extra flavor. There are a number of more exciting ways to prepare salad, from sweet and fresh to hearty and spicy. If you want to make a truly unique side salad to complement your grilled fish or steak, you need to know which veggies, toppings, and dressings work well together. These four side salad recipes make it easy on any home chef.

Roasted Asparagus Salad with Goat Cheese and Bread Crumbs [Delish]
The earthy flavor of asparagus is offset by creamy goat cheese in this mouth-watering recipe. The bread crumbs impart an added crunch.

Tomato, Corn and Avocado Salad [Martha Stewart]
Delicious served with chips or as a topping for chicken, Martha Stewart's recipe receives added sweetness from corn.

Marinated Carrot Salad with Ginger and Sesame Oil [Food & Wine]
Ginger gives this recipe a spicy kick, while sesame oil ups the Asian fare flavor.

Orange-Pistachio Wild Rice Salad [Fitness Magazine]
Equal parts healthy and hearty, this recipe is the perfect match to your favorite meat and seafood dishes.

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