10 Domestic Habits We’ve All Mastered

When young adults live on their own for the first time there’s a lot to learn. How much laundry detergent do I use? How often should I wash my curtains? How do I setup utilities? By the time most people are thirty and have lived on their own for several years they have mastered many domestic skills! How many on this list have you mastered? Would you add anything to this list?

1. How to prep and paint walls
2. Keeping basic kitchen items stocked
3. Keeping your home tidy and neat enough in case guests pop in
4. Having a well-stocked cabinet of cleaning supplies
5. How to host a get together (with enough food and drink for guests)
6. How to setup utilities and manage bills
7. The right way to paint, stain or refinish furniture
8. How to make your décor match
9. Making food in multiple servings
10. How to use basic tools (a hammer, screwdriver, power drill etc.)
11. The proper way to iron a shirt
12. How to remove a stain from any material

5 Tips for Keeping Your Car Clean

Clutter doesn’t just build up in our homes and offices – it can collect in our cars too! Whether you’re swimming in piles of receipts or your toting water bottles and clothing everywhere you go, our cars can sometimes look like we live in them. Here are some tips to keep your auto looking and smelling brand new!

1. Make a rule not to eat in your car. If you’re someone who likes fast food or eating your breakfast on the way to work, start quitting this habit now! If you eat in your car you’re more likely to accumulate trash (think napkins, cups, straws).

2. Keep plastic bags in the console for trash. If you find yourself always piling receipts in your door or putting empty coffee cups in all of the cup holders, this tip is for you! Pull out a plastic bag and throw any trash you’ve accumulated into it each time you’ve finished your day. Bring the bag of trash into the house with you to get rid of instead of letting it pile up in the car.

3. Wash and vacuum on a regular basis. We tend to only want to wash our cars when the weather is nice, but it’s very important to keep them clean all year round. Salt can damage the outside of our cars and tracking snow and dirt in on our shoes will make the floors a mess. Treat your car to a bath at least once a month.

4. Stock up on air fresheners. Keep them in the glove box and replace them each time they get old. If your car smells nice you might be inspired to keep the rest of it clean too!

5. Don’t neglect the trunk. Sometimes our cars look clean, but that’s only because our trunks are full of all of our clutter. Don’t let the trash and junk pile up in a place you can’t see it. Instead, keep things you keep in your trunk (i.e. flashlights, cables, sports equipment) organized by putting them in plastic bins or boxes for storage.

Tips for Cleaning Your Dishwasher

It doesn’t take long for soap scum, leftover food and other debris to build up on the inside of your dishwasher. Chances are it doesn’t get cleaned as often as it should. Next time you’re cleaning your apartment or house make sure to add the dishwasher to your “to do” list and follow these tips.

1. Mark it on your calendar to clean your dishwasher once a month.
2. Check the drain first to make sure there is no food caught which would hurt your dishwasher’s cleaning efficiency.
3. Put white vinegar in a dishwasher safe cup and put it on the top rack. Run the dishwasher with a hot water cycle with the vinegar cup inside.
4. When the cycle is done, sprinkle baking soda on the bottom of the dishwasher and run another quick hot water cycle. This will remove any discoloration.
5. Check the edges of the dishwasher where the door closes. Use a sponge to clean up any additional gunk or grime that remains.

10 Homemade Valentine Gift Ideas

You don’t have to spend a ton of money to get the perfect Valentine’s Day gift for your Valentine. Instead, try making something yourself! A DIY gift is guaranteed to be cherished much more than the typical flowers and chocolates! Try one of these great ideas this Sunday.

1. Make your own photo scrapbook or album
2. Bake a batch of heart-shaped cookies
3. Make a mix CD or playlist
4. Knit a blanket or a scarf to keep them warm
5. Cook a delicious 3 course meal
6. Serve your Valentine breakfast in bed
7. Write a poem
8. Draw a picture (this one is perfect for the kids to give mom or dad)
9. Make a homemade coupon book for your valentine to redeem house chores
10. Write a list of 100 reasons why they’re you’re Valentine

5 DIY Projects That Use Chalkboard Paint

Ever find yourself in the mood to do a DIY project but not sure where to start? Buying a can of chalkboard paint is a great step because there are so many things you can do with it at home! Keep reading to find five DIY projects that can be done with chalkboard paint.

1. Paint the base of a set of wine glasses with chalkboard paint. Your guests can write their names in chalk so they don’t mix up their glasses.

2. Put chalkboard paint on one side of a couple of coffee mugs. Write a good morning message to your family or friends when you serve them a fresh cup.

3. Paint the inside of one of your cabinets to turn it into a hidden chalkboard. Write down important recipes or cooking measurements you don’t want to forget.

4. Use the chalkboard paint to have an instant chalkboard wall on any wall in your house. This is especially fun in children’s bedrooms or playrooms.

5. Paint the top of a wooden coffee table so the kids can draw chalk art right in the living room.

15 Activities for Your Winter Bucket List

The temperatures are feeling more spring-like than winter-like this week and we’re not complaining! We still have over a month of winter left so we’ve put together a winter bucket list for you! How many items on this list can you already cross off and how many do you plan to cross off before spring?

1. Go ice skating
2. Build a snowman
3. Go skiing
4. Photograph the snow
5. Go sledding
6. Drink hot chocolate (with marshmallows)
7. Light a fire or sit by one with a good book
8. Have a snowball fight
9. Make a crock pot soup
10. See a movie
11. Bake cookies (from scratch)
12. Make snow angels
13. Host or attend a Super Bowl party
14. Learn to knit
15. Make mulled wine