Category: Lifestyle
Tips for Hosting a Great 4th of July Party
We can’t believe Independence Day is right around the corner! If you are planning to host a celebration for the 4th keep reading to learn our tips for throwing a great 4th of July party at your home!
1. Decorate in red white and blue – People love getting decked out for the 4th of July so make sure your home is looking Patriotic for the event. Get red, white and blue tablecloths and cups and blow up matching balloons for color.
2. Set up an activity for kids – Remember this post we wrote last year? (DIY 4th of July Parade Wands) Take a look and learn how the kids at your party can make some 4th of July parade wands to stay busy.
3. Have plenty of cold beverages – July 4th is notorious for being hot! Make sure your guests have plenty of cold drinks available to them to stay hydrated. Fill a few coolers and label them with what’s inside so people don’t have to dig through them to find what they’re looking for.
4. Make festive desserts – A red, white and blue trifle or star-sprinkled cupcakes? Why not make both? Your guests (especially the kids) will love devouring these.
5. Make room in the shade – Have plenty of umbrellas and shaded areas available to your guests so they can step out of the sun if needed.
6. Add a sunscreen and bug spray station – If your party is going to take place outdoors, think about filling a bucket with sunscreens and bug sprays for your guests to use. Place them in a central place that’s easily accessible.
7. Dress the part – Pick up some fun items from your local party store for your guests to wear. Think beads, glasses and hats that are inspired by Uncle Sam!
5 Tips for Keeping a Tidy Workspace
Whether it’s your desk at work or the one in your home office, it’s important to keep your work space clean! Stacks of paper, pieces of mail and other items can really start piling up causing a cluttered mess. Follow these five steps to keep your desk neat and tidy every day!
1. Clean your cluttered piles weekly. Designate a time of the week (maybe Friday after lunch) to spend some time going through your piles of paperwork and other clutter and put things back in their place. Shred anything that is unwanted to get rid of it for good.
2. Make sure everything has a home. You can purchase stack-able, plastic holders for all of your desk supplies at your local office supply store. You will feel much tidier if all of your pens, flash drives, notepads etc have a place to call home.
3. Clean your keyboard and wipe down your work space weekly. Use an air duster to clean the keyboard and wipe down your desk and phone with a disinfectant.
4. Use file cabinets. Misplacing important documents can be easy to do if you don’t have a proper filing system in place. Hang some folders and start organizing your paperwork to keep it out of sight.
5. Start labeling. Whether you like to use a label maker or you trust your own penmanship, having things labeled will certainly give your workspace a sense of organization. You can label your trays for outgoing mail, our drawers on your file cabinet and your folders.
15 Beach Day Essentials
The official start to summer is only days away which means there are many sunny beach days ahead of us! If you like spending your weekends relaxing on the sand, keep reading to find out what is on our list of beach essentials. Keep these items in a bag and in your car so whenever an impromptu beach day presents itself, you’ll be fully prepared!
1. Sunscreen
2. A beach chair
3. A good book
4. A cooler
5. A big hat to keep the rays off your face
6. A towel and a beach blanket
7. Sunglasses
8. An umbrella to shield the sun
9. Toys for the kids
10. Snacks
11. Wet wipes to clean sand off your hands
12. A change of clothes
13. A sweatshirt or long sleeve shirt just in case
14. Flip flops or sandals
15. Bottled water
20 Fun Ways to Celebrate Father’s Day
Father’s Day is coming up fast and we’ve put together a great list of fun things to do with your dad this year! Forget wrapping up a neck tie and instead consider taking your father out for a fun day he’ll never forget! No matter what your dad is into, we have a list of great ideas you can try this year.
1. A day of golf
2. A brewery or winery tour
3. A picnic
4. A trip to the beach
5. Sunday brunch
6. Mini golf
7. Fishing
8. A BBQ lunch
9. A museum tour
10. Go kart racing
11. Hiking
12. A baseball game
13. Bowling
14. A bike ride
15. Visit a historic site
16. Play catch at the park
17. See a movie
18. Dine at his favorite restaurant
19. A whale watch
20. Go to a concert
7 Daily Chores to Maintain a Tidy Home
Keeping a clean house can be both tedious and tiring. Sometimes when we let our messes take over they can get out of hand and we spend hours of our free time cleaning. Keep reading to find out seven household chores you can do quickly each day to ensure a clean house all week long.
1. Make the bed first thing in the morning. When your bed is made right after you wake up your bedroom will instantly feel tidy and you will get a simple task out of the way bright and early.
2. Empty all garbage cans. By collecting all kitchen, bathroom and bedroom trash before you head out for the day, you’ll ensure an odor-free home when you return.
3. Make sure the dishes don’t pile up. If you refrain from throwing dirty dishes in the sink by either hand-washing them or putting them in the dishwasher they will never pile up.
4. Pick up after yourself during the day. If you tend to leave a trail of clutter, make sure you put items in their place when you’re done using them. (i.e. put your shoes in the closet, hang your keys on a hook, fold your blanket and put it away in a closet).
5. Don’t let the laundry build up. If you have a house full of people, make sure to do one load of laundry daily. This way your dirty clothes will never get out of hand and overwhelming.
6. Run the vacuum. Once you’ve had dinner and the day is winding down, take five minutes to vacuum the floors (especially if you have pets!)
7. Wipe down bathroom surfaces. Before you hit the sheets at night give your bathroom a quick wipe-down. Make sure there are no toothpaste or soap stains left behind on the sink!
How to Make Your Flower Arrangements Last Longer
Whether you cut flowers from your own garden or pick up a bouquet at the local grocery store, flowers always look great inside the home. It’s a shame when our arrangements start to wilt and look withered after only a couple of days. Here are some tips for making those beautiful arrangements keep their beauty a bit longer.
1. Add a little soda. This may sound crazy but the sugar in sodas (clear ones work best) will help your flowers live longer. Next time you have a glass give the last sip to your flower arrangement!
2. Aspirin. A common and well-trusted method of keeping roses and other cut flowers fresh longer is aspirin! Crush up a tablet and dissolve it in the water before adding your flowers.
3. Boiling water. This trick doesn’t work for all cut flowers but hydrangeas for example are known to wilt quickly. If yours are looking sad, remove them from the vase, put them in some boiling water for 30 seconds. Replace them back into the vase and within a few hours you’ll see them come back to their original beauty.
4. Flower food. This one seems obvious but it certainly works! Typically flower bouquets will come with a packet of flower food but if not you can purchase some at your local flower shop to have on hand.
5. Just add ice. If your flowers are starting to droop, try cleaning the water and adding an ice cube. The chill will perk your arrangement back up in no time.
Creativity Corner Presents….DIY Twine Wine Bottle Vases!
Watch the video below to learn a quick and easy DIY project that will add a crafty touch to your home…
How to Throw a Cinco de Mayo Party
Tomorrow is the fifth of May which means it’s time to celebrate Cinco de Mayo!
Go ahead and invite your friends over to enjoy the holiday together. We’ve come up with some great tips for hosting the perfect Cinco de Mayo party right in your home.
1. Nothing says Cinco de Mayo like a delicious margarita. Fill up some pitchers in your refrigerator with margaritas so you don’t have to stop and make each drink individually as guests arrive.
2. There’s no need to sit down and have a formal dinner. Instead, cook up some simple Mexican appetizers for your guests like quesadillas, taquitos and chips and salsa (don’t forget the guacamole!)
3. In order to feel like you’re in Mexico you need to dress the part! Head to your local party store and pick up some sombreros for your guests.
4. Create a great playlist of music to play as you mingle. Just hookup your iphone to some speakers and enjoy! Don’t forget the Gypsy Kings or Santana when you’re downloading your new tunes.
5. Create some entertainment for your guests. What’s more fun than a traditional pinata? Set it up outside and let your friends take a whack at it for the chance to win some candy or prizes.
How to Prep Your Outdoor Space for Warm Weather
With warm weather finally upon us there’s nothing we love more than to spend our time outside! If you have an outdoor space to use for entertaining friends or just relaxing after a long day at work, here are some great ways to get it ready for the season.
1. Pull out those outdoor cushions from their winter hiding place and give them a quick rinse with the hose. Let them dry in the sun and tie them back on their outdoor chairs and couches.
2. Have an outdoor umbrella? Make sure it still functions properly if it wasn’t stored indoors. The winter we had certainly was damaging! Give the umbrella a quick rinse and set it up now.
3. Bring the broom outside and give your patio or balcony a good sweep. Hose it down and scrub away any stains that winter left behind.
4. Dig out your planter boxes and pots and plan out where they will go and what floral arrangements you’ll be planting this year.
5. Like to eat outside? Pick up some plastic dinnerware at the store you can use safely outside! Already have some? Unpack them and start cleaning them up so they’re ready for the first night you want to dine al fresco.
Creativity Corner Presents….DIY Easter Carrot Snacks!
Watch the video below to learn an easy DIY for Easter that the kids will love!