Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Home Sweet Home

Loving your apartment isn't just about the things that you put into it. To transform your new abode from a simple apartment to a home you enjoy spending time in you only need to add a few things. These tips courtesy of Apartment Therapy will help you learn to love your space even more than you already do!

Letting Go: It's possible to focus so much on decor, design, and picking the perfect furniture to reflect your personality and interests that can turn your house into a place of stress. How about taking a quick breather and switching gears for a sec and not allowing that stress to enter your home? Trust it will all eventually come together and just let it all happen when it does. Try cherishing your home in all its different quirky stages. Your mind and wallet will thank you for it in the end.

Make It a Refuge: Do you have a place you go to in your mind that's a no-stress zone? A place that you sneak away to that just calms you down and clears your mind? For me it's when I step into a yoga studio — the outside world just seems to melt away. Now wouldn't it be incredible if that place was your home? How can you make that happen for you? Maybe try taking a few deep breaths before you open the door, or leaving all the negativity outside on the front steps. What can you do to eliminate stress and worry from your house and make it a peaceful, happy place?

Spend Time There: This seems like a no-brainer, right? But it's not all that easy. How much time do you just spend in your home enjoying it? Do you hang out there and get to know it better? Or do you run out every chance you get? The more time you actually spend in your house, the more you may grow to love it. Even if it's not your ideal space, you can start to appreciate it and make it work for you.

Share It: Do you share your home with others you love? Do you have friends over often for dinner or a movie? Or do you very rarely invite guests over because your house isn't perfect? The more happiness and laughter that enters your house, the more it is going to feel like a home.

Make Memories: This is a direct result of the previous tip. If you fill your home with people and laughter, you will be making memories all along the way. Filling your house with memories will quickly turn it from a mere dwelling into a home. You may not look back and remember this house for its amazing picture windows, or french doors, or balcony to the pool, but you will remember the birthday party where your best friend baked their first three layer cake and then the dog promptly knocked it off the table resulting in impromptu ice cream cookie sandwiches with candles stuck in them.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Steve Soria's 5 Tips for the Very Best Banana Pancakes

Who doesn't love pancakes? Especially banana pancakes!? We know we do, but sometimes making pancakes with a little something extra can be a challenge, so check out "Steve Soria's 5 Tips for the Very Best Banana Pancakes"!




Steven's 5 Tips for Perfect Banana Pancakes

  1. Add a splash of bubbly water to your pancake mix. Steven uses whatever pancake mix he has available and makes it to the spec with one additional ingredient: a splash of bubbly water to add lightness and air!
  2. Don't over-mix the batter. Over-mixing leads to tough pancakes because the gluten in the flour begins to develop as soon as liquid touches it, and the more you mix, the tougher the gluten becomes.
  3. Make sure your bananas are perfectly ripe. They need to have just the right amount of brown spots — somewhere around 5%.
  4. Have a very well-greased skillet. This is key for optimal cooking!
  5. ALWAYS do a test run! There will have to be a pancake(s) sacrificed. It's inevitable. This is when you adjust the temperature up or down as needed. If your pancake is scorched on the outside and raw on the inside, turn down the heat. Note: Always make a little extra batter just in case you sacrifice too many cakes.





Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/what-i-cook-steves-5-tips-for-perfect-banana-pancakes-kitchen-tour-201989

Wednesday, July 9, 2014

Clean Up While You Green Up

(Image courtesy of Dan Brady)

Do you know what happens to the chemicals in your common household cleaners when you've rinsed them down the drain? Often times they end up in our water and soil effecting the environment around us. Who would've thought cleaning would leave such a mess!

You don't have to worry about threatening the earth in order to keep your home and clothes clean and smelling fresh with this one simple idea: instead of opting for store bought, chemical-laden cleaners, simply make your own at home. This article from apartmenttherapy.com has all the tips you need to get started!

  1. Get all the ease of laundry pods with these DIY laundry bombs that include vinegar, epsom salts, and essential oils. From Savvy Sugar.
  2. I haven't used dryer sheets in years, but I'm tempted to try this smart, inexpensive option from Radical Possibility.
  3. If you're going to make your own spot remover, you may as well try a recipe created by the mom of a preschooler. From The Prairie Homestead.
  4. Make your sheets smell especially nice with this floral-scented linen spray fromStyle Me Pretty.
  5. Bleach is terrible for the environment; give it up and keep your whites white with this homemade solution instead. From Nourishing Joy.

Do you have a favorite DIY cleaning idea that we've missed? Leave us a comment and share it with us!

Friday, July 4, 2014

4th of July

We'd like to wish everyone a happy 4th of July!


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