I just spied this inventive idea on
Real Simple and couldn't help but pass it along, considering that my gadget cords all look like a messy ball of yarn. If you're anything like me, and you've got cords for your camera, iPod, computer, BlackBerry, blow-dryer, speakers, television, DVD player, etc. clogging up your outlets, God bless you.
If you're thinking about redecorating your
kitchen, take a tip from designer Miles Redd, whose home was
recently featured on Domino. Here, he extended the wallpaper to fit across the backsplash, which unifies the space while providing an unexpected visual quirkiness. You can find similar wallpaper to this from the wide-striped paper from the walls to the backsplash to unify the room.
Long before I started registering for gravy boats and Tiffany silverware, I lived in a studio that, let's just say, was a little light in the furnishings department: a couch, a table, one cloth napkin, one wine glass (highest return on investment!), and a Pyrex pan that doubled as mixing bowl. So, if you're looking in your cabinets thinking "How the heck can I feed 15 people with only six plates and six chairs?" then I empathize.
Small arrangements such as this one look lovely in a pretty water glass. Just cut your flowers on a short stem to prevent toppling. This is especially pretty on a bedside table in a guest room, especially when, as in this picture, blooms are placed in
Fleur-De-Lis Glassware ($44.90-59.90).
Do you spend too much time ensuring that all of your coffee-table books maintain perfect jackets? In a
recent LA Times article, Trey Russell, owner of Laguna Beach gift boutique
Aris tells you to ditch that thinking — and those jackets. Russell maintains
that "Book jackets just get torn, anyway, you might as well get rid of them .
Good news! For those of us who do all of the
house cleaning without help from maids or cleaning services, we're saving more than money. We might also be extending our lifespans!
If you've got stubborn adhesive labels on any of your home purchases (bottles, plates, books, etc.) or gifts, there's a simple way to remove them that doesn't involve picking at them with sticky fingers. Just blast your hair dryer onto the label for a few seconds, and then use a basic craft blade to scrape it off. The heat from the dryer will loosen up the adhesive, making it a cinch to peel off the label.
Thinking back on all the scrapes and bruises I acquired simply from falling down my stairs as an overly energetic kid, I cringe a little. But there was no stopping me, especially on the days (most) when I was late to school. If only my parents had thought to install some sort of no-slip system, I mightn't have been so black and blue.
One smart move I made when
planting my Winter garden was to mix my radish seeds and my carrot seeds together. I used
Easter egg radishes and
Chanterey carrots for the garden, which are both known for their mild flavor. I also favored the Chanterey carrots because they are short, and thus suited for raised beds that might not have as much soil depth as some gardens.
Last weekend, I received a beautiful mixed bouquet of flowers from a dinner party guest. The flowers lasted for almost a week, and as I was getting ready to
compost them last night, I realized that not all of the flowers were drooping or dead. In fact, there were enough left in the bouquet to make a second, smaller arrangement.
