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Home is Wherever You Hang Your Hat

February 23, 2010 by Lynn Edwards | Comments (1)

For those of you who have read my Rachel Ray blog you know I’m culinarily challenged, but love those food shows. I’m equally as inept at home design & décor but I love me some Design on a Dime (although I don’t actual DO either). I love the word “home.” I grew up in a small rambler with seven people, one bathroom and no dishwasher, but it was home. My Dad still lives there and it’s amazing how it feels sleeping in that house. It’s awesome when we all go home with our families, the bathroom line is just a little longer now with 23 people. After college I became a vagabond and lived all over the world, followed by 18 years as an army spouse. The Army has this cute little sign that says “Home is where the Army sends you.”

Needless to say, my “home” has been a stinky room the size of a closet, a grass hut in the middle of a rice paddy, an apartment on the 75th floor, a condo near a strip mall, a large sprawling tudor style, and approximately 5000 hotel rooms. I love all that cool stuff you get for your home when you get married but I made a critical mistake and had a really small wedding. Turns out I received three place settings of my formal china. When we’d have another couple over the fourth person had to eat off a plastic power ranger plate. I’m so home décor challenged I have lived for months with no pictures on the wall, have gone 20+ years without buying window treatments and I don’t have more than two bath towels the same color. When people ask me what “theme” I have decorated my homes I answer with a mid-modern century “pot pourri”.

As a joke one year my friends bought me an entire set of holiday plates. I now have salt & pepper shakers with snowmen on them…so stinking cool! I think chicks that wear hats are fashion forward stars, those with holiday-themed china are domestic goddesses….now I’m one. There are some staples I love that seem to make a house a luxurious home…a million pillows on your bed & lots of thread count sheets, a system to organize your plastic wear & lids, real flowers on your kitchen island, and that’s living. Oh, and whoever invented that electric fire place switch needs a raise…big time! I love huge tubs but have spent little time in them. The time I did spend was usually jockeying around to get comfortable around all those hot wheels in there with me. I did build a water feature on my deck once. I loved it, yeah for Lowe’s. I looked like a landscape architect genius just by putting part A into part B and firing up the hose. It was great to fall asleep to but it made me have to get up and pee all night long.

Oprah says make your home an oasis…take a look around and think about what you can do to make your house a little more “homey”…even if it’s just a $2 apple pie scented candle.

Put a Spring in Your Step with these Hot Colors

February 22, 2010 by Madeline | Comments (1)

When we think of spring we think of pastels and floral prints, but those just seem a little too passé and boring. What will you be wearing this spring to spice up your wardrobe? Here are some of the color trends that you won’t want to miss out on. Pick up a few bright accessories that are both trendy and timeless.

Turquoise – We’re pretty sure this is on EVERYONE’S hot-list, along with other aqua-colored hues. This vibrant color turns every outfit up a notch, making you just exude that cool confident aura that will make you the center of attention. Splurge on a Jamie Joseph brightly colored stone ring. We love this Sea Blue Chalcedony Ring for a beautiful eye-catcher.

Light Pink – More specifically, champagnes and corals are two “light pinks” that won’t have you gagging on pastel and cotton candy. Champagne is the closest you can get to a nice neutral color while adding a little pop! And for coral, try some of Cara Lyndon’s hairpins, we recommend Coral Wheel . Whether your hair color is light or dark, this feminine flair will turn heads.

Yellow – In every shade and size. Add a dash here or there or a big bright bag to have everyone around you smiling. Evoking sunshine and happiness, everyone could stand to integrate this cheerful color into their wardrobe or even their home. Try a bright throw pillow to add to your living room, we like the yellow Gloria pillow from Henry Road. The great thing about throw pillows is, when spring is over, you can just throw them back into the closet until spring comes again!

Finding Light in the Dark Months

January 18, 2010 by Melisa | Comments (0)

Our definition of winter is more or less “the dark time”. Clouds, rain and 4pm sunsets have a way of draining all the energy out of you until you almost can’t remember what the brightness and warmth of the summer months felt like. If you happen to live in a northern country, you probably know exactly the feeling. We spend a majority of the fall months gathering, celebrating and being thankful with family, good food and colorful warm lights. What a perfect time of year for whole cities to light up and fight the darkness. But come January 2^nd, the plug is pulled. The family is gone, the diet starts, the work resumes, the lights go out and you’re left alone. Some people even suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, a mood disorder that causes depressive symptoms in the winter months. Here are just a couple of ways to bring the light back into the dark months.

Your home is the most important place to fill with warmth and light. It’s where you go to get away from work or errands or anything that leaves you dealing with stress and the dark outdoors that always seem to encroach on your happiness. Don’t leave your home too dark. It’s easy to leave a light bulb unchanged for weeks  after it’s burned out because you just can’t seem to get around to it. You may be able to live with it, but you’d be surprised to realize how much the change in light actually affects your mood. Some psychologists suggest using full-spectrum lighting to help treat SAD. Full spectrum is a type of light that covers the entire electro-magnetic spectrum from infrared to near ultra-violet. This is the closest type of artificial light that man has been able to produce to emulate natural sunlight.

Stay connected with your friends and family. Have a summer-themed party in your home with tropical drinks and bright outfits to help remind yourself that summer is coming and your attitude is what you make it. You have the power to make yourself optimistic and so do your friends. When you’re down, shop in indoor malls or go to the movies and see a bright comedy (nothing gets you down more than watching a dark depressing movie in a dark theater in the middle of a dark nasty winter). Take a hot yoga class or just exercise at the gym instead of fighting the weather.

Exercise! It’s been proven scientifically that the lack of light and the cold temperatures of winter cause some people’s bodies to go into a sort of hibernation response where they are more fatigued, find themselves hungrier and actually have more trouble burning fat. Not only does exercise fight off the extra weight but the added oxygen flow to your brain is crucial in raising energy levels, stimulating your mind and boosting your mood.

Or if you’re like some of us you’ll just keep the Christmas tree up till February and leave the shades closed so the neighbors can’t tell. Whatever you do, the most important thing is to keep a positive attitude because spring always follows winter.

“Better to light a candle than to curse the darkness.” –Chinese Proverb

Spend the Holidays with Your Girlfriends

December 7, 2009 by Gina | Comments (0)

The brisk air is upon us, lit trees line the streets, and the feeling of giving is all around us. Oh, and did we mention the traffic, packed malls, and hectic shopping scene? This season, spend time with friends and family without any worries. Our advice: stay away from the malls and head out for some quality holiday time with your girlfriends. Here are some activities and ideas you can try this season for some holiday cheer.

Ice Skating
Most cities and towns open an outdoor ice skating rink surrounded by lights and holiday music. This is a great idea to do something active outside. You can usually rent skates at these locations, so don’t worry about bringing your own.

Tree Lightings
Check your community newspaper or online to find out when their tree lighting ceremony is. There are usually refreshments available, and of course, some great lights and holiday cheer!

Holiday Cocktails
Some restaurants during the holidays will have one or more special holiday drinks. Grab your girlfriends for a night on the town!

Holiday Shows
Whether it’s the classic Nutcracker or White Christmas, check to see what’s playing in your area and head to the theater. Make a night of it by going out for dinner first. Maybe the Rockettes are in your town—don’t miss that show!

Holiday Party
Throw a holiday party for a group of your girlfriends. Make cookies, egg nog, and holiday-inspired cocktails. Get the ingredients to make gingerbread houses and you can all make your own. Play Secret Santa or a Yankee Swap. A Secret Santa is when you put all your girlfriend’s names in a hat and you each pick a name. The name you get is the person you buy a gift for. Then at the party you exchange gifts. A Yankee Swap is when everyone buys a gift and brings it to the party. Then you put numbers 1-10 (or however many people you have) in a hat. Each person picks a number. Number 1 picks a gift first from the pile of gifts and opens it. Number 2 picks a gift from the pile and opens it, then has the opportunity to keep the gift or take Number 1’s gift. This goes on until you get back to Number 1 who then gets to pick from everyone’s already opened gifts.

Decorated Houses
Have a low-key night with your girlfriends. Take a warm drive around your neighborhood (cocoa in hand!) to see who has decorated their houses in lights. Some people go all out with so many lights you wonder what their electric bill is!

Holiday Shopping
Everyone has some shopping to do during the holidays, whether you’re treating yourself or giving to others. Avoid the malls, with their long lines and crazy traffic, and instead visit locally-owned shops this year. Some local boutiques have such unique gift ideas, including great clothes and accessories. Grab your girlfriends, map a route, and explore some local shops! Grab a CRAVE book to guide you along!

We hope these ideas inspire you to go out and enjoy this time of year with your best friends! If you and your girlfriends have any other holiday traditions, let us know by commenting below.

Happy Holidays!

Beyond the Bottle: Hostess Gifts

November 9, 2009 by Jessica | Comments (0)

You don’t have to break the bank on an expensive bottle of wine to show appreciation for your hostess.  All you need is a little creativity to come up with a fab gift. Here are just a few ideas to get the juices flowing:

1. Veggie bouquet made up of delicious garden delights. Pick beautiful fresh herbs, greens and veggies from your garden and place them in an old glass pickle or salsa jar.  Jars make a charming vase for your bouquet and are an environmentally sound way to recycle.

2. Custom mani-pedi set.  Put together a kit containing of all your favorite polishes of the moment.  Include manicure tools like tweezers, a large nail clipper, a small nail clipper, small scissors, a folding nail file, a nail cleaner, 2 eva foam white toe separators and an emory board nail file/buffer.

3. Infused Vodka.  (Recipe via about.com) Ingredients: 750ml bottle of premium vodka, 1 sprig of rosemary, 2 sprigs of lavender and infusion jar with tight sealing lid.  Preparation:  Rinse the herbs and place them a clean mason jar or similar jar with a tight sealing lid.  Pour the vodka over the herbs and shake a few times.  Seal the lid tight and store the jar in a cool, dark place for 3-5 days.  Test the flavor of the infusion everyday, beginning on the second day. Once the lavender and rosemary flavor is to taste, strain the herbs from the vodka using a fine strainer or coffee filter.  Wash the jar and return the flavored vodka to it.  Store as you do other vodka.

What is the best hostess gift you have ever received?

DIY Barware

November 2, 2009 by Jessica | Comments (0)

Hand-painted wine and cocktail glasses make excellent gifts and are super fun to make.  Invite your girls over for a night of creative camaraderie and follow the simple instructions below.

Step 1 Purchase inexpensive clear wine, martini or highball glasses, a variety of paint brushes, and paint designed for decorating glass. Most craft stores carry special paint that can be set by heating painted glass in the oven.  Find stencils, and and cut out clip art imagery you would like to apply to the glasses.

Step 2 Wash glasses thoroughly and stick stencils or clip art to the inside of the glass you are decorating with clear tape.

Step 3 Apply paint in a free form manner or follow the lines of the clip art you taped to the glass.

Step 4 Remove clip art and heat according to paint instructions.

Step 5 Let cool in oven completely before use. Wash by hand and they are ready to go!

pictures from www.girlygirlgifts.com

Party Blueprint: Preparing For Autumn Entertaining

October 26, 2009 by Jessica | Comments (3)

Dawn Sandomeno and Elizabeth Mascali are lifestyle experts and partners in Party Bluprints Inc, the first ever website to provide online electronic party plans – Partybluprintsblog.com.

Recently the talented entertainment mavens provided a killer blueprint to help ready your home for Fall entertaining. Check out excerpts below, or the full post.

1. First impressions are important – address your front door and entrance. Bring life to your entrance by planting flowers in the same vibrant hues as the changing landscape. Be selective in your plantings and they should last you through Thanksgiving. If needed, give your door a fresh coat of paint and accessorize with “door decor” (flowers, wreaths, plaques,etc.). Finally, provide an attractive welcome mat – stylish and functional what a winning combo.

2. A new season can inspire a fresh vibe in your home. Freshen up your interior by simply tweaking a few existing elements. Change the color of your candles and make sure you have plenty of them throughout the house – there’s nothing like candlelight to warm up a space (it also hides a multitude of sins). Given the “coziness” of the next two seasons, if you have a fireplace, make sure it’s ready to go (have it cleaned annually). Accessorize your hearth & mantle which are focal points.

3. Bring out cozy throws, we love faux fur blankets in chocolate and camel.

4. Swap your summer tablecloth and/or placemats for ones in a richer fabric and palette.

5. Spruce up your powder room by changing the color/pattern of your hand towels. Keep this “private room” smelling sweet with a scented candle in pumpkin or fall spice.

6. If you don’t have them already a “big bang for your buck” purchase is a variety of glass jars/urns. You can fill then with candles or seasonal items like, flowers, produce, candy, etc. and arrange them as a focal point. Small apples from the local orchard will be featured in ours. In a few weeks, the apples will be turned into homemade applesauce and fun candy will fill the containers for Halloween, just remember, the smaller the candy, the more you need to buy! As the season or your mood changes, it’s easy to swap out the contents for an instantly fresh look. These foundational “accessories” are extremely versatile and will serve your home well throughout the seasons and the years.

What are you doing to ready your home for Fall?

Lit Shades—Interview with the Artist

July 29, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (1)

Great lamps can completely invigorate an otherwise drab room, but are often impossible to find. Luckily, Dawn Bassett of LitShades is around to craftily rejuvenate, restore and transform lampshades to match your aesthetic desires. Dawn recently sat down with us to dish about her glorious work. Read her energizing interview below:

What was the inspiration behind starting your business?
Have you seen the lamp shades out there? Not much to choose from, some one had to change that!

What was the biggest surprise you have had as a creative entrepreneur?
That it’s all about attitude. That people around you get as excited as you do. That a sole proprietorship involves a whole lot of people who want you to succeed.

What is your idea of fun? If given a choice to skip work for a day, how would you spend the entire day?
Making a new lamp shade out of some fantastic Osbourne and Little fabric-skip work for a day? Me and my pint-sized Papillion puppy ride my scooter down to the beach in Madison Park where we swim and sunbathe till sundown, then on to Captain Black’s for a cold drink and some onion rings…anyone is invited to come along for the ride.

Share some ways you stay motivated, encouraged or brave.
A “small business” can have fairly daunting problems. But I like to remember that a “small business” revolves around the small things; a cup of tea with the shop owner next door, a lamp shade made out a woman’s wedding dress to be used in her little girls room, the feeling of knowing only I can fire myself.

Share something you are excited about right now.
Besides a perfect Seattle summer?! Okay, I am to-die-for excited about a show I am collaborating on with Russian born artist, Alexander Kirillov, who makes these amazing lithographs that we are going to turn into a light sculpture/lighting installation. The show is set for August 13th and it will be epic.

COOPeration: Urban Farming 101

June 10, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (0)

From Beacon Hill to Brooklyn, people are buzzing about the joys of raising chickens in an urban environment. Seattle Urban Farm Company says,

“Many people don’t believe it possible to have this experience in the city, but laying hens’ small space requirements and pleasant dispositions make them a wonderful addition to any backyard. Managing your own chickens is an extremely rewarding experience. You’ll have a source of fresh, nutritious eggs right out your back door; and the satisfaction of knowing that your hens are fed a healthy, well-balanced diet and have plenty of space to roam and eat bugs, weeds, and grass. Chickens make a great pair with a garden, as they love to eat your vegetable scraps and leftover greens. Chicken care is a fun and educational experience for children, and will give them a connection to their food that they’ll never forget.

Chickens don’t require much space for a happy and healthy life. The more space you provide for them, the better; but 3 laying hens can live comfortably (with plenty of room for scratching, exploring, and roosting) in a 3 by 10 foot space. Many people are concerned that a chicken coop will have a strong odor, but a properly managed coop has almost no smell other than that of fresh straw.”

Interested in building a coop for your yard? Consult the experts:

Seattle Urban Farm Co. offers services ranging from planning and design to installations to monthly maintenance. They are happy to help you learn how to manage and care for your hens, and can provide you with local sources for organic feed and bedding.

Portland based readers can attend the 6th Annual Portland Tour de Coops on Saturday, July 25, 2009 from 11:00am-3:00pm. This tour is designed to educate Portland chicken lovers on urban chicken keeping and provide ideas for new and creative ways to house chickens in your backyard.

The Natural Gardener in Austin offers a wide range of helpful classes. Attend “Raising Backyard Chickens” with Carol Ann Sayle on May 16, 2009 at 9:00am.

Already on the bandwagon? We want to hear about your coop!

Maximize the Minimum: Layout Tips for Small Spaces

June 3, 2009 by Amanda | Comments (0)

The folks at Treehugger.com are all about livin’ large small spaces. Check out this list of tips for size challenged dwellings from Dirk Dieter, an inspirational industrial designer living in a 250 square foot house!

1. Nix doors that swing. Find cabinets with sliding doors, and use curtains or shades to partition off space. (Dieter’s “laundry room” is a nook stashed behind a natural-fiber shade.)

2. Multipurpose furniture, such as Dieter’s futon, and folding furniture, especially chairs, add flexibility. These pieces do not have to be ugly; Dieter has found modern and comfortable chairs at Ikea and Design Within Reach.

3. Put furniture on rollers for easy cleaning and access to partitioned areas. Some rollers come with brakes or locks, providing stability for beds and couches.

4. Build into the walls to create nooks and display areas, but don’t build into the room with molding, baseboards or even door and window frames. Even carpet intrudes on space; Dieter used bamboo on his floors. “Basically, everything that comes into the room, I’m taking away,” he said.

5. Make cardboard prototypes for possible additions to make sure they’ll fit into the scheme of everyday life. Dieter even put up a mockup of his range hood to confirm that yes, it really did need to be just 3 inches deep to ensure that it wouldn’t regularly meet with his head.

6. Think vertically. Narrow spaces between cabinets and appliances create storage for pans and cutting boards. An Ikea accessory that affixes to the ceiling and floor provides a full-length mirror and hat or coat hooks. Dryer stacks atop washer.

Dish about your small space solutions!

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