Three Things That Every Home Design Needs

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Designing your home is a great way to express yourself. Plus, you can choose from hundreds of styles and themes when creating your space. Every element you add to your home design is just another way to make your house a home. Whether you choose a monochromatic theme, a rustic, farmhouse-style design, a contemporary styling, or even your own individual design style, there are three things that every home should include in their design. While design is expressive, these three elements work in every atmosphere and can help tailor your home even more to your style. Let’s take a look!

Pictures

If you do not have pictures or wall art in your home, you are missing out on an excellent design opportunity! You can cover those bland walls with some beautiful art. This is a chance to create a focal point in your room or guide your theme. Adding pictures to your design is a crucial element in any home. Plus, there are thousands of genres and styles of pictures. From hand-painted masterpieces to landscapes and modern art, each picture has a new opportunity to amplify your design.

Plants

Plants can be facilitated in any home. They help improve air quality while looking great. Plus, there are thousands of plants to choose from when adding them to your home. Succulents, cacti, flowers, trees, vines, and everything in between are just a few great examples. First, decide what kind of plants will grow best in your home. Do you want low-maintenance plants or plants that do not need to be directly in the window? You can even consider growing herbs for your kitchen as well. Get creative with it and tailor your plant choices to your personal design. 

Fragrance

Home improvement and design go beyond the eyes. In fact, one of the most powerful senses we have is our sense of smell. Therefore, this sense should never be neglected in your design. Candles and essential oil diffusers are great for creating the scent you want in your atmosphere. Just remember not to mask unwanted smells but eliminate them completely before creating your own fragrance.

These design tricks are essential for any home. What are some of your favorite elements that you have added to your own design over the years? Let us know below in the comment section.

Spring Gardening in Arizona

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Spring is right around the corner as we enter March. The average temperature throughout the month of March ranges from 71-84 degrees but can drop into the mid-50s at night. This favorable weather is the perfect time to start planting some vegetables outside your home. However, living in a desert means the planting season can be a little different than the typical seasons. To help, here are several vegetables you should consider planting this spring:

Cilantro

Cilantro is the leaf from a coriander plant. Cilantro is a very popular herb used in many Spanish cuisines. In fact, living close to the border, many of these popular dishes become household favorites. Enlighten your food by adding this powerful spice. This herb is also an excellent remedy used for medicinal purposes to remove hazardous metals from the body and is often given to cancer patients.

Potatoes

Arizona offered some of the most diverse plant lives for gardening. From citrus fruits to starchy vegetables, many delicious fruits and vegetables can be grown in your own backyard. Another great option to include in your home garden is potatoes. Potatoes are great starchy, hearty vegetables that go great in many food dishes. So be sure to add this American classic to your own garden this spring.

Carrots

Add some color to your garden by growing some carrots. This crunchy root is another highly nutritious option to add to the garden this spring. It is a great source of potassium, antioxidants, vitamin K, and beta carotene. Carrots can be a great way to help lower your bad cholesterol and improve your eye health. 

Spinach

Another great leafy green vegetable that loves the Arizona spring weather is spinach. Spinach is excellent for bone health and packed with vitamins. Plus, it goes great as a lettuce alternative for burgers or salads. When growing spinach, make sure to space your rows about a foot apart. The seeds will germinate in about a week and be ready to harvest in just under two months.

Remember, Arizona has two main growing seasons: fall and spring. Take advantage of the weather and grow the right plants and vegetables during springtime. Thanks for reading!

How to Create Tabletop Vignettes

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While nice furniture and quality flooring can add style to your home, it is also the smaller details that matter. Perhaps one of the most effortless ways to add sophistication to your home’s decor is by stylishly arranging vignettes on the tabletops and shelves. Creating such grouping is a form of art that, when done correctly, can be eye-catching.

You can use all kinds of accessories to form eye-catching vignettes. Plus, vignettes can be reinvented as the season changes or when you find a new piece or simply at your whim. To help you master vignettes, here are some tips for putting together great arrangements?:

Select an Anchor Piece

Start off by selecting an anchor piece. Your anchor piece is what makes a bold statement. Since this will serves as the center of interest, you must select an item that has value to you. Choose an item that has some visual width and height. Mix up the texture of the items as well. That means hard and soft, shiny textured items can all be displayed together.

Give Consideration to Visual Structure

Visual structure is everything; therefore, arrange items into a form. This type of structure will prevent things from looking thrown together. The shorter objects should be positioned at the outer edges. Linear arrangements only work if there is a relationship between the selected pieces. There should also be a hint of contrast.

Use Odd Groupings

To make a dramatic impact, try arranging similar objects in odd number groupings. For instance, objects arranged in groups of three and fives are more visually appealing.

Do Not Forget the Background

The background plays a vital role in the display. Busy wallpaper can cause the arrangement to look chaotic. It is vital that the background complements and unify the vignette. White walls are a neutral background. If you want to dress things up a bit, mirrored backgrounds can increase visual interest by magnifying light and color.

Build Around a Lighting Source

Your vignette will likely go unnoticed if you build it in a dark corner. Therefore, it is best to select a location that is well-lit so that your guests will be able to get the full effect of your arrangement.

We hope you found these tips and tricks helpful! Be sure to subscribe for more expert advice.

Five Tips for Timeless Window Treatments

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When you enter any well-designed room, your eyes will likely be drawn to the windows. In fact, your window treatments are inevitably a focal point of the room. Therefore, when shopping for window treatments, you do not want to purchase blindly. Since window dressings are an investment, you want to purchase something that is timeless.

Pick Current Colors

Do you want your window treatments to look stylish years from now? Then you should make sure to use colors that are fresh and current. Choose fabrics that embrace a Contemporary tone. Shades of green, neutral tones, and golds are timeless. You can also use cotton fabric prints just as long as they embrace a neutral color palette.

Warm vs. Cool Tones

In order for your window dressing to stay vibrant for years to come, they should complement the space. Smaller spaces should use drapes with cool colors to make the space appear bigger while warmer hued drapes should be used in oversized spaces to create an intimate feeling.

Neutrals Will Always Be in Style

Whites, taupes, grays, and blacks will always be trendy. In fact, neutral-based window treatments are timeless because even when you change up your furniture, wall color, and accessories, these window treatments will seamlessly blend into the design.

Natural Lighting

Whether it is the living room or the bedroom, natural light is everything. Whatever type of window treatment you choose should allow for some natural lighting to flow into the room. Pleated shades are also timeless because they offer privacy, and they let in natural lighting.

Plantation Shutters

Plantation shutters are a classic window treatment that can be a bit expensive but worth every cent. They bring elegance to a home that is hard to achieve with any other type of window dressing. We suggest wood crafted shutters because they will match your furnishing.

Less Is Always Best

Minimal will always be best when you are going for a timeless look. While heavy draperies are stylish, try stripping away the bulky window coverings and replacing them with simple shades or blinds. You can add . subtle interest by using upholstered cornice or flap valances. In addition, try selecting simple shades that have some sort of texture, such as bamboo or rattan.

We hope you found these six tips helpful, and be sure to subscribe for more expert advice weekly!

Mouthwatering Roasted Brussels Sprouts

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Are you like everyone else and just now falling in love with brussels sprouts? If so, the way you prepare them makes all the difference in the world! This recipe is so easy and has the added flavor of balsamic vinegar and tasty bacon. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

  • One pound brussels sprouts (Make sure you trim them) 
  • One tablespoon olive oil or extra virgin olive oil 
  • Two tablespoons balsamic vinegar 
  • One-fourth teaspoon black pepper 
  • One-eighth teaspoon sea salt 
  • Two slices bacon (Cook till crispy, drain the bacon and then crumble. To bake pork bacon, place slices next to each other on a rack in a foil-lined shallow baking pan with sides. Bake for eighteen or twenty minutes until bacon is crispy. Drain well on paper towels) 
  • Two teaspoons finely shredded, fresh lemon peel 

Directions:

  1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F. Make sure you cut large brussels sprouts into lengthwise quarters. If you have small brussels sprouts, cut them in half. Take a large bowl and mix together brussels sprouts with one tablespoon of the balsamic vinegar and the extra virgin olive oil until all of the brussels sprouts are coated lightly. Salt and pepper to taste and toss the ingredients and make sure everything is coated. 
  2. Place the brussels sprouts in a single layer on a baking sheet. Roast for about twenty to thirty minutes or until the sprouts are brown and tender (turning about every ten minutes). 
  3. Now transfer the brussels sprouts to a large bowl. Drizzle the leftover, one tablespoon vinegar, and sprinkle with the crumbled bacon. For personal preference, you can garnish with a fresh lemon peel. 

Note: The sprouts will take about twenty minutes to prepare and ready to eat in about 40 minutes. 

We hope you enjoy! Let us know what other recipes you would like to see by sharing your ideas with us in the comment section. Thanks for reading!

Best Places Throughout Arizona to Visit

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Arizona is one of the sunniest states in the United States. Plus, it provides a wide variety of diverse landscapes and travel spots. In fact, exploring Arizona is one of the greatest ways to learn about the state. With so many various attractions, there is a little something for everybody. Here are some great spots in Arizona that are worth the travel:

Sedona

Sedona offers a breathtaking and unique landscape. The red rocks and green vegetation make an incredibly scenic spot. Plus, Sedona has many trails and waterfront areas to explore. There are several great tourist attractions to do in-town like the Pink Jeep Tours, Scenic Lookouts, and visiting the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Downtown Phoenix

Downtown Phoenix is a very clean and vibrant cityscape. It is trending with many great restaurants, shopping, and nightclubs. Downtown Phoenix is also a very simple town to navigate, with most of the city being grid road systems.

The Grand Canyon

Another great spot to visit is the Grand Canyon. This natural phenomenon should be on everybody’s bucket list at some point. The Grand Canyon is breathtaking, spanning over 277 miles in length and 18 miles in width. You can find numerous activities such as mule rides or helicopter tours.

Jerome

Jerome is an old copper mining camp that has been referred to as the wickedest town in the west. This settlement has become a significant tourist attraction; however, today, it is loved for its legends of ghost and haunted mine stories. If you are into a spooky quest, Jerome should be at the top of your list.

Flagstaff

While Arizona is known for its scorching hot deserts, Flagstaff has a different appeal. Flagstaff is at the top of a high mountain, which allows for snow. If you want to see a dramatic weather change in just under an hour’s drive, visit Flagstaff. Try visiting Flagstaff during the winter to enjoy the snowboarding and ski resorts as well.

Tucson

Tucson is known as the City of Sunshine, with nearly 350 days of the year offering blue skies. Tucson has many great beautiful parks and outside trails to see some scenic views. Enjoy your visit to Tucson as well by stopping at the Reid Park Zoo and seeing a collection of exotic animals.

What are some of your favorite areas to visit throughout the state? We would love to hear from you! Let us know below in the comment section, and for more great spots to visit and the benefits of Arizona, make sure to subscribe.

Creating a Designated Sick Room for Cold & Flu Season

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Being sick can be a total drag on your daily routines. It not only affects us physically, but it can be emotionally disheartening as well. Fortunately, we can take some precautions to avoid illness; however, sometimes the inevitable catches up with us and bed-bounds us for weeks. Besides exercise, nutrition, and health habits, we can take other defenses to prepare us for these miserable times. If you have a spare room in your home, consider creating your very own sick room. You can stock this room with some medicines and other elements to help make your sick experience a little better. Here are some essentials to consider adding to your sick room to help speed up recovery and comfort during this time of need.

Bedroom Essentials

This bedroom should be more focused on functionality than design. All white sheets would be ideal so you can bleach them after each use of the room. You should have tissues readily available and a nearby trashcan with a lid. You may even want to include a bin in case someone gets sick and needs to vomit. Other additions to consider adding to the room would be a humidifier. Moist air can keep bacteria in it longer and keep the airborne virus alive longer. You may also want to have facemasks and hand sanitizer readily available. These can be worn by the “caregiver” who enters the room to help whoever is sick in the room. Do not forget to add standard bedroom essentials like a clock and nightstands as well. This room should provide superior comfort to help aid whoever is in the room ill.

Bathroom Essentials

Ideally, it would be best if you could have a sick room bathroom attached to the room. This bathroom can be used by the sick person in your household during this time. Stock this bathroom with a thermometer, trashcan with lid and garbage bag, and some common over-the-counter medicines. Make sure these medicines are out of reach of children and pets. Also, include cotton balls, rubbing alcohol, latex gloves, and measuring units to dose medicine. Generic medicine you may want to include would be Ibuprofen, Acetaminophen, or some Electrolyte solutions like Pedialyte or other brands. Remember to stay hydrated while sick. You may also want to have a unisex robe and slippers on hand.

It can be hard to want to drink or eat when under the weather, but it can help pass the illness. Being sick is no fun, so get plenty of rest to help you recover. By preparing a sick room, you can be better prepared for the tough times before they happen.

St. Patrick’s Day Cookies: Matcha Green Tea Shortbreads

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With St. Patrick’s Day being a month away, you have got to try our Matcha Green Tea Shortbread cookies. Yep, we are talking about fresh-baked, chewy, and soft cookies that are everso delicately flavored. It is a tea cookie inception!

Our cookie is not too sweet with the unique matcha flavor that is so delicate and special. These green tea cookies are soft, pillowy, and pair perfectly with tea. Please do not overlook the beautiful color that is just perfect for St. Patty’s Day cookies.

Ingredients:

  • 2 cups bleached all-purpose flour
  • 1 to 2 tablespoons Matcha green tea powder
  • 2 teaspoons salt or sea salt
  • 1 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
  • ½ cup powdered sugar (add more or less depending on personal preference)

Directions: 

  1. Sift the flour, matcha green tea powder, and salt into a bowl. 
  2. In a mixing bowl, beat butter and powdered sugar until fluffy. 
  3. Add flour mixture to a mixing bowl and mix slowly until dough just comes together. 
  4. Pull and roll dough together carefully into a log, about two inches in diameter. 
  5. Wrap dough logs in cloth or wax paper and place it in the freezer for thirty minutes or until the dough is firm to the touch. 
  6. Slice dough into ¼ inch round pieces and place 1 inch apart on a parchment-lined cookie sheet. 
  7. Bake in a preheated oven at 325 degrees for 16 to 18 minutes until cookies are a light golden brown around the edges – turning the pan halfway through the baking time. 
  8. Remove cookies immediately and place them on a wire rack to cool. 
  9. Store in an airtight container or wrap and freeze. 

We hope you enjoy your Matcha Green Tea Shortbread Cookies, and Happy St. Patty’s Day!

Ideas to Declutter Your Home

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How often do you walk past items that are stacked in a corner or piled up on a table? If you are like most people with busy lifestyles, it is almost a given. We get so busy with work, school, children, and home life that we start to ignore those messy spots and even program ourselves to walk past them.

Fortunately, winter is the perfect time to declutter and purge unneeded household items. Just by decluttering one room per week or month, you will be surprised at how much better you feel and how nice and tidy the house looks! Our easy tips and tricks are listed below for creating a better work/home balancing act just by decluttering. Let’s take a look!

The Bathroom

Start in the bathroom using a 40-gallon heavy-duty yard bag and begin cleaning underneath your cabinets and inside of your drawers. You will want to remove all old and unused bottles as well as expired beauty and bath products. Of course, with expired medicines, remove or mark out the identifying information. For the eco-friendly person, simply drain the remaining contents of plastic bottles and containers, rinse with water, and place it in your recycle bin. Just be sure to safety dispose of all old medicines.

The Kitchen

Next, head to the kitchen. We know the kitchen will take some extra time, especially if you declutter well. Begin in the fridge and check all the bottled and packaged items’ expiration dates on the labels. Next, move on to the freezer and do the same thing. Again, use a large yard bag or take the time for the environment and recycle the bottles and plastic containers, etc.

The Home Office

The unwanted paper around the house like junk mail, advertising flyers, old homework, and expired newspapers should be removed next. Again, place in a large yard bag or recycling bin, but make sure you use a shredder for anything that has personal confidential information.

The Playroom

Old, broken toys and sports equipment are always a given and should be discarded for safety purposes. Many of these items are large and take up a lot of room. Also, many of these are covered in dirt, and other things we do not want to think about that will most definitely contain bacteria. If there are items that are still in good shape, donate them, sell at a consignment store, or sell them online.

As always, please let us know how your task turned out, and please share your thoughts and ideas below in the comment section. Happy decluttering!

How to Clean Suede, Leather, and Microfiber Furniture

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It is a great habit to regularly clean your home to help kill germs and keep a cleaner living space. When it comes to many hard surfaces, a multipurpose cleaner can typically help get the job done. However, it can become a little more challenging to do soft surface furniture. Adding too much water or chemicals can quickly ruin many materials. To help, here are several common soft furniture finishes and the best ways to clean them:

Suede

It is important that you know your furniture is authentic suede. Suede is made from the underside of animal skin. Use a suede leather brush to brush away any debris on your furniture. If you have any spilled liquids on the suede, use a paper towel to absorb the liquid. Do not scrub the liquid because this can make it penetrate deep into the material and stain it. If you do have stain, apply a small amount of suede stain cleaner, suede eraser, or a diluted mix of white vinegar and water directly to the stained area. Blot away with a white paper towel or napkin and allow it to dry.

Leather

For leather furniture, you can start with the famous duo of soap and water. Use a washcloth to spread the soapy water to the furniture. Use another cloth to help wipe away the water after applying. Allow the coach to dry and then apply leather cream. Remember, leather is animal skin. Just like our skin, it can dry out and crack. A leather cream will help keep moisture in your leather.

Microfiber

Microfiber is a synthetic material made from polyester. Locate on your couch a manufacturer tag. The tag should have one of three letters: W (Water-based cleaner), S (Solvent-based cleaner), or X (Vacuum only). Start by vacuuming any debris off your sofa or furniture. When you know what cleaner your couch can use, test in an unnoticeable area of the furniture. Look for any bleaching or discoloration. Next, apply your cleaning product to any stains. Alcohol cleaners are known to dry out microfiber after they are dry. Use a microfiber brush to help the material go back to normal after it dries.

Do not be afraid to treat stains and clean the soft surfaces in your home. These areas can harvest unwanted germs and bacteria. Make sure you are keeping up on your home’s clean routines by adding these steps to the mix.