Household Rules - Then v. Now

(Image courtesy of David K)

We all remember those rules from our childhoods that seemed to always stop us from having the maximum amount of fun - “No jumping on the bed!” “Don’t lay on the couch!” “Inside voices!” among others. Though at the time we may not have understood the reason for such austere behavior (I think we can all admit we broke them from time to time,) now those rules seem to make a little more sense. 

Writer Dabney Frake from Apartment Therapy takes a moment to break down a few of the more popular rules from our childhoods that we may not have understood at the time - but definitely understand now. Keep reading for a quick trip down memory lane. 

1. Making Your Bed

Then: Why bother? I’m just going to use it again tonight!

Now: Making your bed every morning correlates with better productivity. It has also been suggested that making your bed boosts happiness.

2. No Wearing Shoes in the House

Then: But I’m going back outside in 10 minutes!

Now: Once you think of the dirt that gets tracked in with every footfall, you also think of all the time you spend vacuuming the floor. Multiply that by all your family members’ shoes, and slippers or bare feet sound like a much better idea.

3. No Television After 10pm

Then: But Mom!?! Fantasy Island is on!

Now: Today, it’s not just TV but phones, iPads, video games and computers. Taking time to detox from tech, especially right before bed, reduces anxiety and helps you sleep better.

4. Turning Off Lights

Then: What’s the big deal?

Now: It’s the little things that add up, and turning off lights when you don’t need them is the first baby step to saving money and energy. It’s a new world of consumption, we have a new mindset about wasting energy.

5. No Elbows on the Table

Then: But it’s more comfortable to sit that way!

Now: Originally, elbows off the table prevented diners from hogging space and minimized the effects of bad hygiene (think stinky medieval times, before regular bathing was a thing). Now, it’s all about sight lines and letting people on either side of you talk without have to lean way, way back in their chairs. Plus, many still think it’s rude, so why offend your fellow guests at a fancy party?

6. Hanging Up Your Jacket

Then: Sorry, I forgot!

Now: A day’s worth of jackets on the backs of chairs, and shoes on the floor, accumulate quickly, which can rapidly turn to a house disaster zone. And, if the mess and clutter don’t stay in check, you can’t focus on the million other things you have to do. Today it makes sense to take a second to hang up your outerwear, and ask others to do the same.

Did your family have any rules you hated, but understand now?

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Recipe: Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric

Leave your blues behind with this tasty smoothie, check out "Recipe: Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric" and get a summer vibe going on!

Sunshine Smoothie with Coconut, Clementine and Turmeric

Serves 1

1/4 cup old-fashioned rolled oats
1 cup chilled unsweetened coconut water
2 tablespoons unsweetened coconut milk
Fresh or frozen segments from 2 clementines (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/2-inch fresh turmeric, peeled and roughly chopped (or 1/2 teaspoon ground), more if desired
1/2-inch fresh ginger, peeled and roughly chopped
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon honey or agave nectar (optional)
1 tablespoon maca powder (optional)

Place the oatmeal in a blender and process until finely ground. Add the remaining ingredients to the blender and process until smooth. For a thicker smoothie, let it stand for about 5 minutes before serving.

(Image credits: Emily Ho)

Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-sunshine-smoothie-with-coconut-clementine-and-turmeric-recipes-from-the-kitchn-199347

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Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups

Look good to you? Grab a baking dish and get ready for some tasty food. Check out "Recipe: Spinach Lasagna Roll-Ups"!

Spinach Lasagna Roll Ups

Makes 4 2-roll servings

8 lasagna noodles
2 cups finely chopped baby spinach, from about 3 ounces
1 cup low-fat cottage cheese
2/3 cup shredded cheese, such as mozzarella, Romano, or a blend, divided
1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, finely minced
1/2 teaspoon salt
Freshly ground black pepper
1 cup spaghetti sauce

Preheat the oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9x9-inch baking dish.

Cook the lasagna noodles in plenty of salted boiling water according to package directions. Remove when they are al dente and lay out on a clean towel to dry and cool.

Mix the spinach, cottage cheese, 1/3 cup shredded cheese, Parmesan cheese, garlic, salt, and a generous quantity of black pepper.

Divide the spinach and cheese mixture evenly between the noodles, spreading the mixture over the entire length of each noodle. Roll up the noodles from bottom to top, and place in pan, side by side, touching. Pour the tomato sauce over the rolls, and sprinkle the remaining 1/3 cup shredded cheese over top.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until heated through and the sauce is bubbling.

(Image credits: Faith Durand)



Original Article Here: http://www.thekitchn.com/spinach-lasagna-roll-ups-recipes-from-the-kitchn-96780

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Put Down the Paintbrush: 10 Ways to Add Color Without Painting

When painting is not an option, there's still ways to add some color to your living space. Check out "Put Down the Paintbrush: 10 Ways to Add Color Without Painting"'

1. Go for big, colorful art. An oversized piece (like the one in the bedroom above, from Okologi, or the living room pictured up top, from Sköna Hem, via Design Milk) instantly brightens a room.

2. Hang a colorful tapestry on the wall. 
Like this one from Beatrice & Ramsey's Cultured Echo Park Casa.

3. Use colorful pillows and throws. 
As seen in Christina's Comfortable, Collected Austin Abode.

4. Eschew neutrals and go for curtains in a crazy color.
Or two crazy colors, like these from vintage Domino via the Paris Apartment.

Or shades in a crazy color, like these malachite ones in a Belgian home spotted on Elle Decor.

5. Invest in a colorful couch. 
The red couch in Katie's Hillside Bungalow makes the room.

6. Or a colorful rug. 
Like the Turkish kilim in Natalie and Kevin's Perfect Parkdale Perch.

→ Real Room Inspiration: Adding Color With Rugs

7. Upholster a set of dining chairs in a vibrant rainbow of colors. 
Image from Nuevo Estilo, via Apartment Therapy.

Or just paint them, as in this interior by Ilse Crawford (via Lauren's Style Library).

→ Painted Furniture for When You Just Can't Paint Your Walls

8. Fill your home with plants. 
Like Adam and Ashley did. Green is a color.

9. Cover the back of your bookcases with colorful paper.
Sure, this isn't a traditional bookcase (it's a stack of IKEA boxes), but you get the idea. Photo from Marie Mersier.

10. Combine any of the above strategies for maximum color. 
Bonus points go to Alex and Alina for pairing a colorful rug and colorful art in different shades of blue.

Bonus points also go to the creators of this interior (photoraphed by Logan Photography for Period Living), who have combined colorful textiles and pillows and accessories and furniture into a room that, despite being white, is bursting with color.

(Image credits: Sköna Hem; Okologi; Pablo Enriquez; Adrienne Breaux; Domino; Elle Decor; Katie's Hillside Bungalow; Abby Cook; Nuevo Estilo; Ilse Crawford; Jaclyn Campanaro; Marie Mersier; Nicole Crowder; Period Living)

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