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Budget-Friendly Ways to Decorate Your Home at Savannah Lakes

August 18, 2016 by

While you can’t make permanent renovations in a rental, there are a number of ways to add your own personality to the space in a truly budget-friendly way. Here are just a few ideas for decorating your home at Savannah Lakes — even if you’re on a budget!

  • Spraypaint large, wall-sized canvases (or a series of two or three) from the local art supply store in bright, bold shades. This is an easy way to add a pop of color to your walls that mimics the effects of a new paint job, and it makes it affordable to create your own simple artwork.
  • Mix and match furniture from the local resale store to create a kitschy, cool effect that looks straight out of a design magazine. This is also a great way to save a good bit of money on big ticket items, such as sofas and lounge chairs.
  • Bring in elements of the outdoors to create a warm, natural look throughout the home. Fill vases with stark branches, add seashells to small bowls, or fill a large jar with pinecones for seasonal dwcor.
  • Create your own headboard by simply covering a flat, wooden board the size of your bed with a high quality fabric. Leave the top open and stuff it with pillow filling, and then add tufted details or nailheads along the outer edges.

32 Budget-Friendly Home Decorating Ideas [Country Living]
Budget Decorating [HGTV]
20 Low-Cost Decorating Ideas [Real Simple]
20 Thrifty, Frugal & Inexpensive Decorating Ideas [Apartment Therapy]

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Calling All Teachers: These Pinterest Boards Are Head of the Class!

May 19, 2016 by

Being teacher is an incredibly fulfilling job, and Pinterest is one of the most beneficial tools on the Internet to help make the most out of your classroom. From funny quotes to creative lesson ideas, the Pinterest teaching community offers something for all types of educators. Here are three of the best teaching boards on Pinterest.

Classroom Management
Teaching a class isn’t all fun and games, and this helpful board offers a number of tips and tricks for organizing your classroom and keeping everything running smoothly. Here, you’ll find creative ways to motivate your students, plus fun decorations that double as educational resources and printable worksheets to bolster your lesson plans.

Classroom Organization
Any teacher will tell you that staying organized is the key to a happy classroom, and this board is filled with ideas to help you do just that. Creative sign-out sheets will help you to keep track of all of your students, while bins and cubbies make great spaces for organizing all of your classroom supplies. There are even printable labels, worksheets, and calendars that all teachers will love.

Teacher Quotes
At the end of the day, teaching is all about maintaining a sense of humor. These inspiring and often hilarious quotes are filled with inside jokes that only fellow teachers will understand.

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No Green Thumb? No Problem! Grow These Houseplants at Savannah Lakes!

March 17, 2016 by

Even if you haven’t had the best luck with plants in the past, that’s no reason to give up on having a greenery-filled home. While certain houseplants are very finicky and seem to die as soon as you glance in their direction, others are hearty, resilient and made for people whose thumbs aren't exactly green. Here are just a few.

  1. Succulents. The desert native succulent plant is beloved by many for its very sparse watering schedule. Because it only needs watering once a month or so, this trendy houseplant is perfect for forgetful owners.
  2. Aloe plants. The unique looking aloe plant is another one that doesn’t need much watering (or even much sunlight). Simply give it a bit of water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
  3. Cast-iron plant. There’s a reason this great plant has a name that’s tough as nails: the cast-iron plant can tolerate everything from low light to changes in the atmosphere like a champ.
  4. Snake plant. The high-reaching snake plant (sometimes called mother-in-law’s tongue) not only offers a stylish, impactful look, it can also survive in low light and with sporadic waterings.
  5. Jade plant. This gorgeous plant will live for years without much care at all, eventually growing into a small tree with a large enough pot.

Houseplants for People Who Can't Grow Houseplants [This Old House]
How To Choose the Right Houseplant [Bayer Advanced]
Houseplants for the Forgetful Gardener [Better Homes & Gardens]

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How to Create a Chic and Stylish Bar Cart

January 7, 2016 by

Bar carts are the types of finishing touches that add a major pop of designer flair to any room in the home. From the living room to the dining room, adding a well-curated bar cart will really give your home the type of 1950s style that is right on trend. Here are just a few tips for creating a truly chic bar cart.

  1. Start with the perfect cart. Scour flea markets and thrift stores for an authentic vintage bar cart. If you can’t find one there, try purchasing one at an affordable furniture store or even using a small three-tiered bookshelf.
  2. Choose your spirits. The types of spirits that you add to your cart really depend on your personal preferences. Investing in three or four bottles of common spirits like vodka, gin, and bourbon is a good place to start.
  3. Add your glassware. Next, invest in new or secondhand sets of wine glasses, low tumblers and martini glasses. You may even want to add decanters to fill with mixers or to trade out unattractive liquor bottles.
  4. Add the accessories. Fill a glass jar with stirrers, add a small cutting board for slicing lemons and limes and even add stacks of mixology books for the finishing touches.

How to Style a Bar Cart [The DIY Playbook]
How To: Create and Stylize the Perfect Bar Cart [Guest of a Guest]
Assembling the Perfect Bar Cart [Primer Magazine]
How to Style the Perfect Bar Cart for Any Party [HGTV]

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How to Style Your Own At-Home Bar Cart

November 19, 2015 by

Vintage-inspired bar carts are one of this year’s most popular interior design trends, and the best part about them is that they can be customized in an endless amount of ways. Whether you want to create a modern mixology station or a coffee cart for the kitchen, these tips will show you how to style your very own bar cart just like the pros.

  1. Pick the perfect cart. First, decide what type of bar cart to go with. Yard sales and flea markets are great places to score authentic vintage carts, or you can opt for a modern version from an affordable home goods store.
  2. Divide the cart into zones. Before you start cramming things onto your beautiful new bar cart, plan how you want things to look. Dedicate one area for cups and glasses, another for ice buckets, stirrers, and other accessories, and leave the top free to display bottles. Use trays to corral smaller items if necessary.
  3. Choose pretty pieces. When choosing the items for your bar cart, make sure you stick to a theme. Use a matching set of glasses for a seamless look, and invest in spirits and mixers with attractive packaging.
  4. Add some finishing touches. Once you have all of the essentials on the cart, fill in any gaps with patterned napkins or a small bud vase. Be sure to fill the walls around the cart with artwork, and place it somewhere where it’s easily within reach.

How to Style a Bar Cart [HGTV]
The Intentional Apartment: Assembling the Perfect Bar Cart [Primer]
How To: Create and Stylize the Perfect Bar Cart [Guest of a Guest]
Styling 101: How to Style a Bar Cart [The DIY Playbook]

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The Internet’s Best DIY Photo Album Sites

October 22, 2015 by

Nothing can give a space a personal touch quite like framed photos of friends and family. Whether you're looking to spruce up your home or give a personalized gift to that special someone, these two photo service websites are for you.

Shutterfly
Arguably the internet's most popular photo service site, Shutterfly makes it easy to create custom photo albums, collages, stationery, calendars, and much more. Simply upload your favorite photos from your computer and start designing. The gift portion of the site allows you to design mugs, canvas prints, totes, tees, smart phone cases, magnets, mousepads—even blankets!—using your favorite photos. Better still, the website's prices are affordable, and frequent online coupon codes promise even more bang for you buck.

Snapfish
Whatever the occasion, Snapfish likely has a commemorative gift with which to remember it by. Create a wedding photo album, design graduation announcements, or put a personal touch on greeting cards and stationery. Like Shutterfly, Snapfish also offers a wide variety of photo gifts, from mugs and calendars to blankets and jewelry. Or you can just keep it simple and order standard prints!

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How to Squeeze Every Last Inch Out of Your Closet Space

July 23, 2015 by

No matter how large your closet may be, if you're a clothes horse, it can still be difficult to store everything neatly and efficiently. If you can relate, use these design-savvy tips to make your closets more organized than ever before.

  • Add drawers. You might think that dressers are meant for the outside of your closet, but adding another dresser inside the closet is a great way to create more storage space for folded items. Best of all, you can choose a cheap, non-decorative option since it will be tucked away behind closed doors.
  • Add more tension rods. If you have unused space between two closet rods, add another one using a temporary tension rod.
  • Stick adhesive hooks to the wall. The walls inside of your closet are often underutilized, so stick temporary hooks to them to create more storage space. These hooks can be used to hang jewelry, scarves, ties, or hats.
  • Organize by season. If you’re still short on storage space, switch out your closet depending on the season. Use flat boxes to store out-of-season clothes under the bed when they’re not in use.

How to Make the Most of Your Closet: 8 Easy Tips That'll Change Your Life [Teen Vogue]
Tips to Organize and Get the Most Space Out of Your Closet [Quick and Dirty Tips]
20 Ways to Organize Your Bedroom Closet [Apartment Therapy]
40 Brilliant Closet and Drawer Organizing Projects [DIY & Crafts]

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Want to Clean Your Oven Without Chemicals? Here’s How!

May 21, 2015 by

Your secret recipe for lasagna might be a smash hit within your family, but its cheesy, greasy droppings have left their mark on your oven. You don't have to reach for a chemical cleaner, however. Instead, rely on a little bit of elbow grease and these three steps:

1) Gather your supplies.
Here's what you'll need to tackle your oven's caked-on grease and grime: liquid dish soap, white vinegar, water, and baking soda. (You can add a few drops of scented essential oil to the mix, if desired.) Combine the ingredients to form a paste (recipe here).

2) Spread and sit.
Put on a pair of rubber gloves, and spread the paste all over the interior of your oven, avoiding the heating elements. For maximum effectiveness, allow the paste to sit at least eight hours—or longer, if possible.

3) Rinse and shine.
Using a damp cloth, wipe the paste from the oven. This will likely require several wipe-downs, so be sure to rinse the towel frequently throughout the process. Should grease remain in any particular area, reapply the paste mixture to the spot, allow it to sit an additional 30 minutes, then rinse. Repeat as needed.

How to Clean an Oven With Baking Soda and Vinegar [The Kitchn]
How to Clean an Oven Naturally [MNN]
Make Your Own Inexpensive Natural Oven Cleaner [YumUniverse]

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How to Use Rubbing Alcohol Around the Home

October 16, 2014 by

You likely rely on rubbing alcohol to treat cuts and scrapes, but did you know that this medicine cabinet staple has uses beyond the bathroom? Here are three lesser-known uses for rubbing alcohol:

1) Tackle tough ink stains
Pre-treat ink stains by dabbing the area with rubbing alcohol. It's also said that rubbing alcohol can prevent ring around the collar: Simply swipe your neck with a cotton ball dampened with rubbing alcohol before dressing. Note, though, that this can be drying to the skin, so apply sparingly.

2) Clean your gadgets
You probably already use alcohol to disinfect your toothbrushes and thermometers, but you can also use rubbing alcohol to clean your electronics. Dampen a lint-free cloth with a small amount of rubbing alcohol, and use it to wipe down your cell phones, keyboard, computer mouse, and tablets.

3) De-grease the kitchen
Rubbing alcohol makes easy work of removing grease from around the kitchen. Pour a small amount of rubbing alcohol onto a paper towel, and wipe down countertops and stovetops. The rubbing alcohol helps dissolve the grease and grime left behind by cooking.

12 Ways to Use Rubbing Alcohol [Reader's Digest]
25 Alternative Uses for Rubbing Alcohol [Daily Finance]
35 Uses for Rubbing Alcohol [Fluster Buster]
Rubbing Alcohol Uses: Ideas For Using The All-Purpose Household Cleaner [HuffPost Green]

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