There’s nothing better than fresh laundry.
Well, except for winning the lottery, vacations, chocolate cake, and new cars. But if you don’t count those, fresh laundry tops the list. And we’re all about enjoying the little things.
Which is why it really grinds our gears when we pull out those fresh linens and they’re covered in a half a pack of Big Red…and so is the dryer.
To maintain your zen-like “don’t sweat the small stuff” mentality:
Calmly wet a dryer sheet and rub it over the melted gum. It may leave some residue, but nothing that can’t be wiped off with a paper towel.
Now stop pretending that laundry helps you relax and read a book or watch TV like a normal person.
You can’t lie to us.
Why else would you be brushing fingerprints off with as many different methods as possible, if not to crack that big case? And we’ve caught you trying to gather DNA from various liquid spills, too. From juice and soda to even blood.
The thing is, we’re not buying your recent investigation fascination. So if you’re having a hard time getting spills off of your white cabinets, we’re here for backup.
Try a baking soda/water mixture. Wipe it on with a warm, damp sponge, and you can remove most food remains, grease, and other stains without damaging your paint. For harder stains, try a white vinegar and water solution. Or if you’re feeling brave, make a (very) diluted bleach and water combo. Just make sure to use a damp clean rag to get the remains of the bleach off.
Oh, and if your crime scene kit is still out, use that toothbrush to get at the crevices of your cabinets. Or you could just give us the whole kit. We want to get confessions, too.
With a desk set-up like this.
I’ve been sneaking glances at this particular photo throughout my day today, and I think I love it more each time. Granted, I’m a total office nerd. Is it weird to play office when you’re little? Cause if playing businesswoman is wrong, 8-year-old me didn’t want to be right.
There’s something about a luxurious, and in a lot of these examples luxurious doesn’t mean expensive or tons of square footage, office that makes the drudgery of answering emails, research, or paying bills that much better. (I’m probably lying about the “paying the bills” thing.)
Either way, Real Simple drafted up this awesome slideshow of home offices that range from stealing an under-utilized corner to full-on office to simply using an armoir in a totally different way.
Check it out for your 8-year-old play work self. Or for your frazzled real-life work self.
http://bit.ly/dpYZev
Photo courtesy of http://www.realsimple.com
Yurts, right? Maybe it’s just a joke to us home improvement insiders – and what’s funnier than a home improvement joke? – but people are always using yurts as examples of some craaaazy home trend.
But for the most part, people have no clue what a yurt is. And that is a travesty. OK, maybe not so much a travesty as just being normal. Either way.
You’re most likely out of the loop because yurts are from central Asia. And typically used by nomads. (Nomads!) However, sometimes they creep into the U.S. (hippies), and have even become popular for vacations or camping (Inside camping = always a better choice.)
With no further adieu, some yurt examples:
Your standard yurt in a meadow.
A little yurt village? Family?
With ads like these, how can you say no?
Image courtesy of http://www.yurts.com
Not just for humans! This guy doesn't seem scared at all.
Image courtesy of http://www.blog.craftzine.com
Don’t say we never show you anything cool.
Then you need to bust out the big guns.
Though dust bunnies may not seem that dangerous, in the harsh winter months, they can turn into monster, mutant-sized, killer bunnies set to attack your homes across multiple levels.
When the windows are closed and doors aren’t opened regularly, the dust that escapes daily from your vents becomes breathable air, which is never good for business. This is especially true if you have hardwood floors, as the dust forms dust bunnies and cycles into the air instead of getting trapped in carpet fibers. [click to continue…]
There’s nothing I love more than a little design innovation. (Ok, that’s a lie. I really like just about any chocolate dessert. And Lost. Big Lost fan. Who’s excited for the kickoff to season 6 in a few days? …whoops, I digress.)
But I do really like design innovation. I’ll be the first to admit that I’m the person that walks into someone’s house or apartment and gets either really impressed or thinks to herself, “Snore.” It’s the place you live. The place you spend, though probably not as much time as you’d like, a big chunk of your life. Not to mention, this is the place that defines who you are and what you like to the world. So why not make the most of it? Why not take a little extra time to make it uniquely YOU?
But I get it. Money is often a factor, and so is space. A lot of people see a weird layout or a small room and just don’t know where to begin. I’ve been there many times, especially in my tiny apartment days. But luckily our friends at Better Homes and Gardens have featured a slideshow today about just this issue: how to make a small space work. And some of their ideas are really great. I personally love the idea on slide 11 of hanging a big, hefty mirror over a sofa in a small room. Small rooms don’t need to be filled with small things. In fact, that’s kind of creepy.
So definitely go check it out and get inspired. You’d be surprised at how easy some of these can be. In the meantime, I’ll go personalize my house with a couple of Lost posters. (kidding. sort of.)
http://www.bhg.com/decorating/small-spaces/strategies/smart-decorating-ideas-for-small-spaces/?page=1
Image courtesy of Better Homes and Gardens – www.bhg.com
Not to get all Debbie Downer, but winter is getting old. Real old. And sure, this may not be the most unique thought you’ve read today, you know you’re thinking it too. But the end of January and February, I know I’m begging for mercy and looking up trips to places like the Maldives or the Greek Isles like it’s free.
Even California is getting torrential rain and bad weather. Where are we supposed to escape to?
So not to rub it in, but check out this house. I love that it’s stressed that it’s in an anonymous location in Mexico because, let’s be honest, we’d all bumrush this house if we could. With a pool on the roof, an outdoor shower, and crazy ocean views, this place has got it all.
So in the interest of a little mid-day brain vacay, take a look through some of these pictures. Though you probably can’t recreate a house this cool or luxurious, the use of concrete and wood is an interesting way to make the place look natural and fit in with its surroundings and could be an interesting addition to any home.
Have at it:
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/boston/look-universe-beach-house-in-mexico–106514?image_id=1065940
photo also from: Apartment Therapy Boston
