Thursday, June 26, 2014

DIY Party Decorations

Are you attending or planning a summer party? Here are some great DIY decorations that you can incorporate into your theme. These are all budget friendly and can be made in your home. You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.




1. Burger balloons
There's just no way your barbecue can't look better with burger balloons. These cute DIY ones spotted on Studio DIY.









2. DIY Happy hour marquee
This is perfect for a chill cocktail social this summer (but also cool enough you might want to leave up all year). Spotted on A Beautiful Mess.








3. DIY eucalyptus chandelier
A gorgeous natural chandelier of eucalyptus will bring good looks and good smells to a Sunday brunch table. Seen on Inspired by This.








4. Marbelized and metallic placeholders. Perfect for setting the table at a Sunday brunch. Seen on tuts+.

5. Cool drink stirrers
These DIY drink stirrers made out of old jewelry will add detail to a chill cocktail social. Seen on A Side of Sweet.








6. A DIY Mini Pennant Banner In any colors you want to set the mood, make a few or make many to create a festive feel to your space, indoor or out.








7. DIY Ideas: 10 Party Lighting ProjectsMood lighting is perfect for sparking conversation. DIY some fun lights to hang and add instant creativity to a room or outdoor area.








8. DIY floor pillowsFunctional and fun? Perfect for a sci-fi outdoor movie night, yes, but also great for extra seating. Pair this project with fun, silly or colorful fabric and it becomes even more festive.








9. Photos as festive art
Whether you make some oversized posters (maybe sci-fi movie posters?) or create a festive grouping of small photos that fit a party theme, photos can add a festive feel to a party.








10. Welcoming pineapple piƱata Silly? A little. A blast? Definitely! Make a few for hanging in a backyard for a barbecue. Via Studio DIY.









11. DIY Paper flowersA beautiful brunch is made even more beautiful by flowers, but if you don't want to splurge on the real things, consider DIY paper flowers.








12. Party Decorations for (All) the AgesWill numbers play a theme for your summer gathering? DIY decorate accordingly.








13. Oversized Balloon with FringeNothing says party like a balloon! These DIY oversized ones with fringe are a bit more sophisticated and definitely fun. You can use any colors that fit your party's theme!

Friday, June 20, 2014

Graduation Gifts




High School Graduations are always around this time of year. This means many people have endless trips to graduation parties and gifts to hand out. It can be hard to come up with unique gifts for each person, but these are some great creative ideas. There are gifts that can be funny to gifts that will be handy in their studies.





Yahoo has come up with ten great creative gifts for the person that is tired of handing out money. There is everything from a joke gift of dice to the working girl survival kit. Keep reading to learn more.




10- The Working Girl Survival Kit : WishingFish.com is home to this neat little invention. Life's little snags sometimes get the best of ladies on their average work day. In this 10" x 3.5" case, is a plethora of tools for the average new working woman. The Working Girl Survival Kit contains toothbrush/paste, lip balm, stain remover, band-aids, tissues, lotion, and many more extremely helpful items. The container itself is a snazzy-looking silver briefcase, that will more than likely become your graduate's best friend.

9- Student Decision Dice: Graduates with a healthy sense of humor will love the "Student Decision Dice." This little silver pair of dice carry the options: Sleep, Go to Class, ATM, Party, Study, or MTV. Costing at around $12, this is a neat present to add to any graduate's gift basket.

8- Memories and Moments Celebrated Through Art: If you happen to be very close to your graduate, then the "Memories and Moments" tribute is the perfect present. Created by MemoryLane.com, this customized piece of art is comprised of all the memories, symbols, and artifacts from your graduate "giftee's" life. The print itself is created from keyword information that you supply to the artists. They then take the keywords and create a "Memory Lane" out of them. It'sthe perfect gift for the quirky individual who's not a huge fan of sappy sentiments.

7- One Share of Microsoft Stock: What better gift than a piece of the "rock." Snatch up this creative gift from OneShare.com. With Microsoft currently being the world's #1 software company, there are fewer innovative ways to bestow congratulations upon your graduate gift recipient. The share comes with an engraved stock certificate, and costs around $70. What's more, your giftee will receive an annual report, dividends, and ONE shareholder vote.

6- Money Maze Bank: This present is actually fun for any age. This clear cube houses a ball which must be guided through the cube's internal maze, in order to open the door, and release the prize (cash, or other monetary gift) inside. The maze-cube itself costs $13 or so. The monetary gift you place inside is up to you!!

5- Leather-bound Journal: Memories are best documented in personal journals. And for $22, this leather bound, artisan made journal is the ideal gift for graduates. Whether he/she decides to leave home, or pursue opportunities close to home, this journal reeks of sophistication. The traveling journal comes from Renaissance Art, and is gift wrapped in a handmade chenille pouch.

4- Tailgating Cooler With Grill: Football fans will adore this handy little invention. The portable kit contains an actual grill with small fold out legs. (The grill portion is stored inside the cooler.) It also doubles as a cooler for all your graduate's icy beverages. Accessories also include a (3) piece BBQ set, shoulder strap, and a waterproof compartment for food items. An ice pack, as opposed to loose ice cubes should be used in the cooler so as to reduce the weight, and preserve the physical integrity of the unit. For just $80, this is one gift that will keep on giving semester after semester.

3- Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit: Every young woman on the road (especially a new high school graduate) should have an emergency kit. The Safety Girl Roadside Emergency Kit, costing only $30,appeals to the stylish and eccentric survivor. Featuring such items as bottled water, safety pins, handy-wipes, and instructions on changing tires and jump starting a dead battery---your giftee will love the snazzy carrying case, and appealing look of the products inside.

2- Mini Money Stash Container: In times of need, the Mini Money Stash Container can be more than a lifesaver. This gift is essentially a metal container (brass, aluminum, or stainless steel) which attaches to the graduate's key chain. The container itself is able to hold rolled dollar bills (preferably large denominations, since it's not that large). In the event of an emergency, like a purse or wallet being stolen, it's a great idea to have some back-up emergency cash. What's great is that this engravable gift (from Sunshine Products USA) costs under $50.

1- Wallaby Trip Kit: Everyone knows that dormitory rooms and bathrooms are typically short on space. Unless your graduate is staying at home, or living on his/her own, more than likely an organized place for toiletries is in order. Magellan's Travel Supplies offers a Wallaby Trip kit which contains all the most necessary compartments for small toiletry items. This swiveling bag also hangs on doorways so that access to personal effects is quick and easy.

Thursday, June 5, 2014

Better Night's Sleep

What is keeping you awake at night?  There are five simple reasons in your home that could be preventing you from getting your nightly shut eye.   A good amount of sleep is crucial for staying healthy and active.   You can learn more at apartment therapy.


PROBLEM #1: ALLERGIES
Is your stuffy nose keeping you from getting shut eye? Seasonal allergies are one thing, but dust mites are with us all year round. Your bed is Disneyland for those little critters, who thrive on all the dead skin cells your body provides.
Fixes: Vacuum your room with a HEPA filter and clean your bedding as often as you can— including your pillows, which you can throw in the dryer for 15 minutes to kill off any existing bugs. Instead of scented detergent, use a few drops of eucalyptus oil in your laundry. Put hypoallergenic protective covers on your mattress and pillows. And lastly, strip your mattress before you go out of town to give it time to air out. (I won’t rile up pet owners by suggesting you ban furry loved ones from the bedroom, but it’s worth thinking about.) Read more onbedroom allergies here.


PROBLEM #2: LIGHT
Your room is too bright at night. Whether it’s coming from the outside, a nightlight, the television screen, or your blinking alarm clock, any light keeps your body fooled into thinking it’s not sleeping time.
Fixes: Buy really dark curtains, or add liner, to block out street lamps. Also turn off electronic devices and remove anything else that emits brightness. (If you’re worried about getting up in time, try covering your alarm clock instead.) Lastly, swap out higher watt lightbulbs in your bedside lamp for dimmer ones; these will aid the transition as you’re winding down from the day by reading in bed at night.


PROBLEM #3: TEMPERATURE
Some nights you're too hot, and other times, it's too cold. Sleep is induced when you are at rest and your core body temperature lowers. If your heat is on too high (or too cold for that matter), your internal thermostat fluctuates which leads to restless sleep.
Fixes: Everyone is comfortable at different temps, so experiment to find the right one for you. There's no right answer but cooler is generally better - start in the 65 degree range. There are always fans and blankets to help you regulate, but know that bedding material makes a difference too; memory foam pillows and mattresses, for example, are hotter than more traditional ones. If you are still having trouble staying asleep, look into bedding and pads that keep you cooler at night.


PROBLEM #4: NOISE
There’s the 5 am garbage truck variety that’s impossible to ignore. But when it'stoo quiet, the slightest disruption can reach epic proportions and you find yourself focused on that weird hum or dripping faucet. Either way, you need a way to soundproof your sleep.
Fixes: If it’s too loud, wear earplugs as a first resort. Or, try a white noise machine or app —or even a basic fan— to drown out any noises that violate your REM cycle. If it’s really bad, get as far away from the offending noise as possible. Either move your bed to another wall to dampen neighbor noises, or, if you have the option, try swapping your current bedroom with another room entirely. Read more on bedroom noise here.


PROBLEM #5: MATTRESS
Having a healthy, comfortable, supportive mattress is critical to a good night's sleep.
Fixes: Flip your mattress with the seasons, alternating between end-over-end and side-over-side rotation. If it's time for a new one, check out Danny Seo’sgreat tips on mattress shopping. A couple of years ago, Maxwell also experimented with different mattress brands for twelve months and wrote about it in his Year in Bed series.
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