Bring Some Green Inside With These 5 Unique Ideas for Displaying Houseplants

Instead of displaying all of your favorite herbs, flowers and succulents in simple terra cotta pots, create more artistic plant displays with these fun DIY projects. From the kitchen to the living room, these plant hangers and pots will show off your greenery in any room in the home.

Living Monogram Wreath [BHG.com]
Create unique wall art and a fun planter in one with this monogram frame. Simply line a plywood back with 2-inch cedar boards in the shape of your initial, then fill the inside with peat moss and cover with chicken wire. Plant succulents inside, and then hang the whole thing on your wall.

Copper Hanging Rod [morganours.com/]
Looking for a way to hang plants over the kitchen sink? Simply balance a copper rod across the tops of your kitchen cabinets (or any other type of cabinet). Hang lightweight plants or herbs from the rod using your favorite hangers.

DIY Rope Pot [nostalgiecat.blogspot.sg]
With this rustic DIY project, you can add colorful rope to your cheap terra cotta pots. Simply wrap a simple cotton rope with colorful thread in your choice of colors, and then wrap the whole thing tightly around various sized pots.

Eat Fresh and Local at the Riverview Farmers’ Market

The Riverview Farmers’ Market is one of the best in the area, providing not only fresh, local produce and foods, but also family-friendly events and entertainment. Located in Jersey City Heights, Riverview Farmers’ Market offers locally grown produce, grass-fed beef, homemade cheeses and butter, free-range eggs and chicken, and baked goods, as well as artisan crafts, soaps, candles and more. While you’re shopping the vast selections of the local farmers’ finest, grab a bite to eat from one of the many food vendors, such as Anita’s Guacamole, El Chilango, Gina’s Bakery, and more. You’ll find everything from Jamaican Jerk Meatballs and Italian desserts to handmade pastas, all available to eat while you shop.

It’s not only the food and shopping that brings people together at Riverview. Visitors can enjoy events such as outdoor yoga, cooking demonstrations, live music, kids’ art programs, and dance performances. Visit the website to learn about Riverview’s regular vendors and how to become a vendor, along with a schedule of events and programs.

Riverview Farmers' Market
1 Bowers St
Jersey City, NJ 07307
www.riverviewfarmersmarket.org

Step Back in Time With a Visit to the Steuben House

Let yourself be immersed in history, legend, and lore at the famous Steuben House, located right here in Bergen County. Built in 1752 in the mill settlement town of New Bridge, along the banks of the Hackensack River, the grand Steuben House stands as a national and local landmark, known to have played a critical role in the American Revolution.

Due to its key strategic location during the Revolutionary War, the Steuben House functioned as a fort, military headquarters, and an intelligence-gathering location. In 1780, George Washington himself used the Steuben House as headquarters, and the house is known to have survived more of the American Revolution than any other home in America. It is now preserved by the state of New Jersey and is open to the public.

Constructed of Bergen Dutch sandstone and filled with grand fireplaces, winding staircases, and hand-crafted details, the Steuben House is a sight to see both inside and out. Visit the website for the full history of the famous house, and plan your visit to this iconic and legendary home in New Bridge!

Steuben House
1209 Main St
River Edge, NJ 07661
(201) 487-1739
www.bergencountyhistory.org/Pages/steubenhsehistory.html

Latour: A Taste of Paris in Ridgewood

Rated among the Top 40 for "Best Food in New Jersey" by Zagat, Latour Restaurant has established itself as a premier culinary experience. After working as a chef in some of New York’s finest hotels, Chef Latour opened his namesake restaurant 13 years ago and has been perfecting his uniquely crafted blend of French and American cuisine for Latour’s guests ever since.

Those who come to dine can enjoy French classics with an American flair, such as the escargots a la bourguignonne, the French cheese souffle, medallion of beef au poivre, and coq au vin. No perfect meal is complete without a sweet bite at the end, so treat yourself to the famous crème brulee. Chef Latour takes pride in his dishes, serving them with beautiful presentations that you’ll almost regret eating, until you taste it of course. The warm, inviting, and romantic atmosphere is the perfect complement to a memorable meal.

Latour is open for lunch and dinner and is a BYOB, so bring your favorite wine to pair with your favorite French dishes. A four-course tasting menu is also available for more adventurous foodies.

Latour
6 East Ridgewood Ave
Ridgewood NJ 07450
(201) 445-5056
www.latourridgewood.com

How to Keep Your Desk Organized—Whether at Home or at the Office

Whether you work from home or in a traditional office, it takes no time at all for your desk to go from spic and span to dusty and disorganized. Even if you take special care to put things in their proper place, you need the right organizational tools to keep up a tidy workspace. Here are four hacks that will add both style and organization to your desk.

  1. Pick one pen and one pencil. If you're guilty of having an unnecessary abundance of pens and pencils—yet you can never seem to find one when you need one—it's time to downsize….your pencil cup. Pick just one good (working) pen and a single pencil, and keep the rest tucked away in a drawer. Put them in a specific spot and return them to their home as soon as you use them to avoid the clutter of multiple writing utensils.
  2. Hang cute clipboards for paper clutter. Stacks of paperwork aren't exactly a style statement, but hanging clipboards can be—if you decoupage them with scraps of wallpaper first. Then hang them in rows on your cubicle wall and assign each clipboard a specific job—one for junk mail, one for outgoing paperwork, etc.
  3. Organize office supplies with a pegboard. In a similar vein, you can hang a pegboard on your wall and stock it with pouches and pegs for various office supplies. Scissors, tape, maybe even a stapler can all hang in plain view, just keep the arrangement organized.
  4. Opt for accordion folders. Instead of constantly dealing with a slew of manila folders, make the switch to accordion folders. They come in cute colors and patterns, and they can hold the equivalent of many manila folders, which makes them much more useful for organizing.

Office Organization Ideas for Disaster-Zone Desks [Martha Stewart]
10 Good Things for a Highly Efficient Home Office [Martha Stewart]
12 Tips for an Organized Desk [Productivity501]

See What Makes Cooktique a Must-Visit Shop for Bergen County Foodies

As the name implies, Cooktique is the boutique for cooks in Bergen County. This gem of a shop has everything you need for cooking, serving, and hosting, from utensils and glassware to French presses and cake stands. Shop luxury housewares brands, like Michael Aram Bittersweet Collection, Vietri tabletop pieces, and artistic handmade Nambe pieces made from the finest materials. Along with stunning centerpieces, high-quality bakeware, beautiful hand-painted serving dishes and more, you’ll find a wide selection of gourmet teas and foods, such as Italian-imported pastas and olive oils, jams and honey, and French-imported chocolates and biscuits.

Cooktique also offers cooking classes, such as the Adult Hands On Summer Series, where you’ll have the opportunity to refine your culinary skills and impress your family and guests at your next dinner party. Cooktique is a warm and inviting shop with personable customer service willing and able to help you find the perfect addition to your home. Visit the website to see some of Cooktique’s collections, as well as a calendar of upcoming classes and information about registries.

Cooktique
9 W. Railroad Ave
Tenafly, NJ 07670
(201) 568-7990
www.cooktique.com

Three Awesome Ways to Decorate With Maps

These days, mobile maps can definitely be more useful for traveling than a paper map. However, paper maps are beautiful to look at! So why not use them in your home decor? Here are three creative ways you can decorate with a map.

  • Use a map to revamp your lampshade and give it a warm, vintage feel. All you need to do is find an atlas with pictures of beautiful maps inside, a lamp with a shade, and a few craft items. Make a template for your shade and test it out to make sure it fits perfectly. Then, just lay out your template on top of your map pages and make the pages match the size of the template. Finally, use some rubber cement to glue your map on and you're finished!
  • Cover the drawers of your plain-looking dresser with a map. You're pretty much going to use the same process you did for the lamp. Make sure to measure everything out perfectly and remember to cut out tiny circles for the knobs.
  • Give your living room a unique, vintage feel by covering the top of your glass coffee table with a map. If you have a large enough coffee table, you may even be able to see the whole map.

Vintage Map Lampshade [Pretty Handy Girl]
10 Ways to Decorate Your Home with Maps [Babble]
7 Ways to Decorate with Maps and Globes [Conde Nast]

Lotus Café: Classic Chinese Food

Whether you eat in or order take-out, if you’re a fan of Chinese food, you’re sure to find something to please your taste buds at Lotus Cafe. This friendly, family run spot receives rave reviews from fans, who appreciate their consistently well-prepared, authentic dishes. Favorites are the Salt & Pepper Shrimp, Scallion Sea Bass, Beef Pan Fried Noodles, General Tso Chicken, South Pacific Shrimp, and Sweet & Sour Soup. Stop in for lunch to partake of budget saving specials. They offer free delivery within a designated area with a $12 minimum order. Lotus Cafe is open every day for lunch and dinner.

450 Hackensack Avenue
Hackensack, NJ 07601
(201) 488-7070

Clear Clutter from Everywhere in the Bathroom With These 4 Tips

If you’re short on space in your bathroom, it can be difficult to keep things neat and organized. Since many renters share their bathroom with guests, however, you’re likely always looking for ways to clean it up quickly. These 4 tips make it easy to banish clutter from the bathroom—and keep it clean for good.

  • Consider the essentials. Most renters store much more than they actually use every day in their bathrooms. Go through the contents of your medicine cabinets and under-sink storage areas and get rid of all of those specialty products and expired items (or at least find somewhere else to store them).
  • Add additional storage where it’s needed. If you can’t find enough storage in your bathroom after you purge your essentials, it may be time to create your own. Add wall shelves, a storage unit over the toilet or even just a few baskets under the sink.
  • Invest in matching sets. If your bathroom is often filled with mismatched towels, get rid of the ones you don’t use and attempt to create a matching set. By replacing those old, faded towels with bright, fluffy new ones (and cutting down on the amount of towels in general), you’ll reduce unnecessary clutter.
  • Add over-door storage. Hang an additional towel rack over the back of the door to give wet towels ample room to dry.

Decluttering the Bathroom [HGTV]
Small Bathroom Ideas: 5 Effective Decluttering Tips for a Tidier Space [Apartment Therapy]
Cut Clutter in the Bathroom: Easy as A-B-C! [Organized Home]

Explore 146 Acres of Outdoor Space at the Van Saun County Park

Need a place to unwind and escape the rigors of everyday life? Head to Van Saun County Park in Paramus! The park spans 146 acres and is popular among residents of all ages.

Van Saun County Park is well liked among families with young children due to an oversized playground and convenient location. There’s a kid-friendly train ride and ponies for riding, as well as a carousel. One of the park's most popular attractions, however, is the Bergen County Zoological Park, which hosts a small collection of animals on display. There’s a small entry fee for the zoo and some of the other activities, but there are also traditional free activities, like hiking and fishing. The park also offers complimentary use of public barbecue grills and picnic tables.

Van Saun County Park is open every day until 4 p.m., and activities rotate based on weather (go sledding in the winter months!). If you’re a Bergen County resident, some activity fees are discounted.

Van Saun County Park
216 Forest Avenue
Paramus, NJ 07652
(201) 261-7312
www.co.bergen.nj.us/index.aspx?NID=852

Pin It on Pinterest