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Looking for a Unique Design Element? Try Decorating With Citrus Fruits!

June 17, 2016 by

Now that summer is here, you're likely looking for fun, colorful ways to brighten up your home. If you want to add a pop of color and a burst of freshness to your kitchen or dining space, try decorating with something a bit out-of-the-ordinary: citrus fruits! Here are a few ways to decorate with oranges, lemons and more.

Dried Citrus Ornaments
While these types of dried citrus ornaments are normally used around the holidays, they look (and smell!) just as great in the summertime, too. Try drying your fruits and hanging them on a garland of eucalyptus over the kitchen window, or forage some branches, pop them in a vase and hang the ornaments on the ends.

Lemon Centerpieces
Planning a dinner party or a weekend brunch? Create your very own centerpiece made with bright, fresh lemons! If you're pressed for time, simply fill an attractive bowl with whole lemons for a subtle scent and a pretty pop of yellow. If you have a bit more time to spare, try filling a glass vase with water. Cut lemons into thin slices, and then submerge them in the vase for a more unique look.

Preserved Lemon Jars
This one plays double-duty as both a decoration and a helpful baking ingredient. Quick-preserve your lemons using just lemon juice and kosher salt, and then store them in large jars around the kitchen for a rustic, farmhouse-inspired look. Reach into the jars whenever you need something to zest up a pasta dish, roasted chicken or even a dessert!

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Bottoms Up! How to Drink More Water Every Day

June 10, 2016 by

Did you know that there's a miracle drink that helps to improve your skin tone, promote weight loss, and even prevent headaches? It’s true—and it’s water! Drinking enough water is very important, and not just to keep dehydration at bay. Here are a few simple ways to drink more water every day.

  1. Invest in a refillable water bottle that you’ll actually want to use. There are a number of different kinds on the market today, and some even contain cages in the middle that you can fill with fresh fruit to make your own all-natural flavored water.
  2. Replace your coffee with an herbal tea. Because teas like chamomile and mint don’t contain caffeine, they won’t detract from your water intake in the way that coffee does.
  3. Replace soda with sparkling water. You’ll still get the same refreshing, bubbly taste without all of the added sugar and calories.
  4. Eat more fruit or drink fresh fruit smoothies. Because fruit is filled with water, you’ll get a double dose of healthy each time you eat it.
  5. Make your own infused ice cubes by filtering fresh herbs and fruit through some water using a strainer or French press, then freeze in your usual ice cube tray. Pop them into your glass of water for an extra kick of flavor.

How to Get More Water in Your Daily Diet [Healthiest Life]
How-To Get More Water Into Your Diet [Skinny Ms.]
Benefits of Water: How to Incorporate More Water into Your Diet [P&G Everyday]

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Three Awesome Ways to Decorate With Maps

June 7, 2016 by

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]

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Blank Wall, Blank Slate: How to Transform a Wall into a Focal Point

June 3, 2016 by

Plain, bare walls are blank canvases just waiting to be filled with accessories or décor. Hang almost anything on your wall and your space will instantly feel homey and more personal. Follow these tips to bring some life to your bare walls.

  • Use a variety of different patterns or colors of washi tape to create a custom design on your wall. This is great because you can easily switch it up if you get bored of the same design and want to switch it out for something new.
  • Add an oversized photograph or piece of art that is almost as big as your whole wall.
  • Hang or lean a large mirror with a detailed frame to your wall. They make a really strong statement and can make your room feel larger.
  • Frame a large chalkboard to write messages on, display photos, or to write recipes. You can even use unique frames or frames to match the rest of your framed photos on your wall to bring the whole look together.
  • Give your wall an elegant touch by hanging a large, oversized clock.
  • Add character to your wall by hanging modular shelves. Not only do the shelves look great, they also provide space for more decor. Use them to display your photos, vases, candles, books, or more.

​25 Ways to Dress Up Blank Walls [HGTV]
http://www.elledecor.com/design-decorate/how-to/g451/blank-wall-solution/?How To Decorate A Large, Blank Wall [Elle Decor]
Wall Decor: How To Fill Your Blank Walls [Style At Home]

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4 Affordable Online Stores With Bedding So Comfortable, You’ll Want to Hit the Snooze Button

May 27, 2016 by

Even if you're unable to splurge on the fancy Egyptian cotton sheets favored by four-star hotels, that doesn't mean that you can't create a hotel-quality bedding setup in your own bedroom. Here are a few great sources where you can shop affordable, stylish bedding online.

IKEA
Everyone's favorite affordable home goods store also offers an equally expansive selection of bedding for children and adults. From bright, colorful patterns and traditional floral prints to knitted throw blankets and even plump pillows, you'll find everything you need for any budget.

Overstock
Budget-conscious shoppers love Overstock for its ever-changing selection of furniture and home goods, but the site also sells complete bedding sets that make it much easier (and more affordable) to invest in new bedding. You'll find name brand bedding for up to 80% off of the original price.

Target
With stylish bedding from designers like Nate Berkus, Target's selection is one of the best bangs for your buck. Purchase a complete bedding set or mix and match affordable separates on your own.

Wayfair
With its popular "bed-in-a-bag" selection, Wayfair offers one of the best deals on bedding that you'll find online. This is also great for those pressed for time, as it makes it easy to cover your whole bed in one step.

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Decorate Your Walls On the Cheap With These Affordable Art Websites

May 20, 2016 by

While you may not be able to afford a priceless work of art for your walls, that doesn't mean that you can't decorate your home with beautiful paintings and inspiring prints. From works by independent artists to reproductions of well-known pieces, there are a number of smart ways to turn your home into your own personal gallery. Here are just a few great websites that sell affordable artwork online.

Society6
With art for everyone from the minimalist to the bohemian, Society6 is one of the most modern and varied art websites. Not only can you purchase framed and unframed prints in all sizes, you can also buy the same designs in the form of smartphone cases, T-shirts, and even tapestries.

AllPosters.com
If you still love the look of hanging a poster of your favorite movie or band on your walls, try All Posters. This expansive online store offers high-resolution posters of almost any pop culture icon, as well as reproductions of classic works of art.

Etsy
Etsy is well-known for its handmade jewelry and quirky vintage apparel, but you'll also find handmade art from little-known artists. Browse abstract paintings, original photography and colorful prints for very affordable prices.

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Spring Is In Bloom! Bring the Springtime Into Your Home With These Flowering Houseplants

May 13, 2016 by

Now that the weather is warm again outside, you may want to brighten things up inside as well. This means freshening up your decor with beautiful blooming flowers and plants that will add a pop of color to any room. Here are just a few of the best springtime blooms to display in your home.

  1. African Violets. With their signature purple hue and their low-maintenance care, African violets are some of the most popular indoor flowers. While they look especially pretty in the springtime, they bloom well all year round.
  2. Hibiscus. Looking for a flower that smells as good as it looks? The hibiscus is a tropical plant that will add a lovely scent to any room. The hearty shrub also blooms from late spring through summer, which means it's perfect for warm weather.
  3. Peace Lily. The peace lily blossoms in low light and low humidity, which makes it an easy plant for those who don't have much of a green thumb. Despite its low-maintenance tendencies, its elegant white flower and dark green leaves make a big impact in your home.
  4. Jasmine. Jasmine is one of the most recognizable springtime flowers, and there are many different types to choose from. They need plenty of light for their small white flowers to bloom, so this is a particularly good choice for rentals with lots of natural light.

24 Beautiful Blooming Houseplants [Better Homes & Gardens]

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3 Healthy Weight Loss Tips for Men

May 6, 2016 by

No one ever said that it'd be easy to lose weight, but that doesn’t mean that the process has to be miserable, either! If you’re finally ready to make the commitment to a healthier lifestyle — and, in turn, a lower weight — these simple tips will help you to get started.

  1. Jump-start your workout routine in the first week. Because your weight loss plan will involve a combination of diet and exercise, you’ll need to work out every day of the first week in order to get both your body and mind in the routine. This doesn’t mean that you have to go all out every single day, however; simply start out with a combination of light cardio and body weight workouts for 30 to 60 minutes each day.
  2. Keep a food diary. Instead of hopping on the bandwagon of a fleeting fad diet, begin a healthier relationship with food by keeping a food diary of everything that you eat. This will hold you accountable for every indulgence, and it will help you to monitor the amount of fat and calories that you consume.
  3. Be realistic. If you have a big event in the next two weeks, you won’t be able to force a full-body transformation by that time. Instead, focus on realistic weight loss goals that will produce results over time.

Men's Health [WebMD]
How to Lose Weight in 4 Weeks [Xfinity]
7 Weight Loss Steps for Men [About Health]

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Clear the Air With These Air-Purifying Houseplants

May 3, 2016 by

You might think that, in order to breathe truly clean air inside, you'll have to invest in an expensive air purification system, but that's not so. There are many houseplants that eradicate airborne toxins, and you can pick them up at any major home improvement store. Here are just four of them.

  1. English ivy. According to the scientists at NASA, there's no plant better at purifying the air than English ivy. It helps soak up any formaldehyde that could be floating around in your air, and you definitely don't want to be inhaling the stuff. Plus, it's almost impossible to kill them.
  2. Peace lily. The peace lily may be beautiful, but beauty can be deceiving. Don't fall for its game; this is actually a powerful plant. Harmful chemicals like xylene, ammonia, formaldehyde, benzene, and trichloroethylene will all decrease in your air when a peace lily blooms nearby.
  3. Red-Edged Dracaena. Named for the strips of bright red that run along the edges of its thin, long leaves, the Red-edged Dracaena is more than just a pretty plant. It also gets rid of xylene, trichloroethylene, and formaldehyde when you feed it enough sunlight.
  4. Golden pothos. If you really want to make a statement with your new houseplant, consider buying a hanging pot for the golden pothos. When positioned properly, its leaves will snake their way down to the floor in beautiful vines.

7 Plants That Purify Indoor Air [Rodale's Organic Life]
This Graphic Shows the Best Air-Cleaning Plants, According to NASA [Lifehacker]
10 Best Houseplants To De-Stress Your Home And Purify The Air [HuffPost Home]

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Host Your Own At-Home Wine Tasting With These Pro Tips

April 29, 2016 by

Having a wine tasting in the comfort of your home is an inexpensive and simple way to find new wines you might love. Invite a few friends over, gather a group of bottles, a cork screw, and maybe some food to pair with the wine, and you’ll be good to go. Follow these simple tips to help host your next get together!

  • Gather a white tablecloth, big wine glasses, spittoons, crackers, and some coffee grounds to use as an odor neutralizer between wines.
  • Prepare your wines to their ideal temperatures. Serve white wines at around 50 degrees and red wines at around 60 degrees. Open the bottles at least 30 minutes before you plan on serving.
  • If you’re planning on serving a variety of different wines, be sure to start with the least refined and work your way to the most refined. You should always start with the lightest wine first.
  • Pour the glasses an inch below the equator, or the widest part of the glass.
  • Don’t rinse the glasses between servings, as water can dilute the wine.
  • After tasting all of the wines, discuss with your guests the aromas and tasting notes of them all and your likes and dislikes.
  • After listening to everyone’s thoughts, re-taste the wines to see whether they have changed with aeration.

How To Have The Perfect Wine Tasting At Home [The Huffington Post]
How to Host a Wine Tasting Party [Real Simple]
How to Host a Wine Tasting [Food & Wine]

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