Ceiling Fans: Yay or Nay
Ceiling fans get a real bad rap in the design world. Many designers view ceiling fans as a huge design faux paux and no no, but I completely disagree.... especially if you live in a hot or humid climate! My ceiling fans are literally my saving grace- I wouldn't be able to survive without them any time of the year! I love pretty design, but I firmly believe that function and comfort should always come first!
I will admit, historically speaking, they haven't been the prettiest things in the world--in fact, bulky, outdated, dusty, and hideous are words that come to mind if I'm being really honest. The good news is that ceiling fans have come a LONG way over the past few years. They come in so many different finishes and styles, and many of them are reasonably priced- there is something for everyone. I'm covinced that ceiling fans are a NECESSITY in every home! Check out the beautiful examples below to see how ceiling fans have moved from gross to gorgeous....
via studio mcgee
via pinterest
rejuvination via pinterest
via studio mcgee
via apartment therapy
Amber Interiors via pinterest
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How To Style Book Shelves
A beautifully displayed book shelf might appear to look effortless, but chances are it was very carefully curated and not haphazardly thrown together! It can be tricky getting it just right, and so here are 8 steps to help you style your book shelves like a professional designer...
1. Gather everything you want to use in a pile
This includes books, artwork, small accessories, vases, antiques, little plants, family heirlooms, etc.
2. Start with the tallest/largest items.
Place the biggest items that will take up most space very first. This makes it natural to then work your way down to the smaller things.
3. Add Books
Nothing makes me cringe more than a book shelf void of any books! After all, this is a book shelf! I'm not saying every shelf needs to have them, but if you want to create a pretty bookshelf, it better have some beautiful books as part of the display! You can make things a little more interesting by putting them in different formations. Create stacks with big books, and display others vertically.
4. Add Artwork and Small Accessories.
This is the fun part. The frosting on the cake, if you will. Add things that are unique to you and your family, and that show your personality.
5. Edit.
6. Edit again.
7. If you think you're done, take three more things away.
8. Okay, now you are probably really done!
BIGGEST TIP: Let your book shelves breathe! A very common mistake I always notice is when book shelves are SO packed with books and accessories and gadgets that it's completely overwhelming to the eye. You don't even know what to focus on and it just looks and feels like wayyyyyy too much!
And now, check out these lovely book shelves for some inspiration...
via Studio Mcgee
Amber Lewis via Hunker
glitter guide via pinterest
Caitlin Wilson's home via Style Me Pretty
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Monochromatic Rooms
A few weeks ago I posted a blog about monochromatic walls, and today we are taking it a step further: whole entire monochromatic ROOMS. If an entire room based on one color sounds boring to you, don't worry- you are not alone! It might be a surprise to learn that monochromatic color schemes are a lot harder to execute than they sound. Good designers will go to great lengths to take what sounds stale and lifeless and actually create a visually interesting room-- with just one color! Here are two tips to help you put together a fantastic monochromatic space...
1. Pick a color, and then it's extremely important to use a variety of different shades, tints, and intensities of that color! This will help to keep things interesting!
2. Texture, texture, texture. In a monochromatic room, texture is literally everything. A good variationg in textures will help to keep the color of the room from falling flat.
Check out these gorgeous monochromatic rooms, and you just might want to incorporate one into your home, too......
via apartment therapy
via apartment therapy
via pinterest
via pinterest
Architectural Digest via pinterest
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Stacie's Fresh Salsa Recipe
Today you guys are in for a real treat! In my opinion, there is no better snack in the world than chips and fresh salsa, and my sister's salsa recipe is arguably the best I've ever had! And that's saying something because I'm a salsa junkie. She graciously agreed to let me share her tried & tested recipe with the world, which is a real blessing for humanity. I'm not even trying to be sarcastic here! Whip this up in no time with the last of your fresh, garden tomatoes, and you will love me forever....
Stacie's Fresh Salsa
2 28 oz can whole peeled tomatoes, drained (or same amount of fresh tomatoes if available!)
1 15 oz can fire roasted diced tomatoes w/ green chiles
3 Anaheim peppers
1 Jalapeno pepper (seeded or not, depending on how hot you want it)
1 medium onion
1 bunch fresh cilantro
6 cloves garlic
2-4 Tbsp lime juice
1/4 cup sugar
1/2-1 tsp. cumin
1 1/3 tsp. chipotle chile pepper
1 Tbsp. salt (add to taste)
Put all ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth. Enjoy!
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How to Stock Your Pantry
You know that feeling. You're in a time crunch throwing together dinner and you're positive you have everything on hand...only to find at the last minute that you are short 1 or 2 essential ingredients and have to make a dreaded trip to the grocery store. Isn't that the worst? It's basically the story of my life. In an effort to live a simpler, less frazzled life, I'm on a mission to create a well stocked pantry. I found an awesome guide made by Eating Well that gives you a run down of some of the best items to keep in your pantry so that you're ready for anything! If that means no last minute trips to the store with three babies, I'm in! Check it out...
Eating Well's Healthy Pantry List
Oils, Vinegars & Condiments
- Extra-virgin olive oil for cooking and salad dressings
- Canola oil for cooking and baking
- Flavorful nut and seed oils for salad dressings and stir-fry seasonings: toasted sesame oil, walnut oil
- Butter, preferably unsalted. Store in the freezer if you use infrequently.
- Reduced-fat mayonnaise
- Vinegars: balsamic, red-wine, white-wine, rice (or rice-wine), apple cider
- Asian condiments and flavorings: reduced-sodium soy sauce, fish sauce, hoisin sauce, mirin, oyster sauce, chile-garlic sauce, curry paste
- Kalamata olives, green olives
- Dijon mustard
- Capers
- Ketchup
- Barbecue sauce
- Worcestershire sauce
Seasonings
- Kosher salt, coarse sea salt, fine salt
- Black peppercorns
- Onions
- Fresh garlic
- Fresh ginger
- Anchovies or anchovy paste for flavoring pasta sauces and salad dressings
- Dried herbs: bay leaves, dill, crumbled dried sage, dried thyme leaves, oregano, tarragon, Italian seasoning blend
- Spices: allspice (whole berries or ground), caraway seeds, chili powder, cinnamon sticks, ground cinnamon,coriander seeds, cumin seeds, ground cumin, curry powder, ground ginger, dry mustard, nutmeg, paprika, cayenne pepper, crushed red pepper, turmeric
- Lemons, limes, oranges. The zest is as valuable as the juice. Organic fruit is recommended when you use a lot of zest.
- Granulated sugar
- Brown sugar
- Honey
- Pure maple syrup
- Unsweetened cocoa powder, natural and/or Dutch-processed
- Bittersweet chocolate, semisweet chocolate chips
Canned Goods & Bottled Items
- Canned tomatoes, tomato paste
- Reduced-sodium chicken broth, beef broth and/or vegetable broth
- Clam juice
- "Lite" coconut milk for Asian curries and soups
- Canned beans: cannellini beans, great northern beans, chickpeas, black beans, red kidney beans
- Canned lentils
- Chunk light tuna and salmon
Grains & Legumes
- Whole-wheat flour and whole-wheat pastry flour (Store opened packages in the refrigerator or freezer.)
- All-purpose flour
- Assorted whole-wheat pastas
- Brown rice and instant brown rice
- Pearl barley, quick-cooking barley
- Rolled oats
- Whole-wheat couscous
- Bulgur
- Dried lentils
- Yellow cornmeal
- Plain dry breadcrumbs
Nuts, Seeds & Fruits
- Walnuts
- Pecans
- Almonds
- Hazelnuts
- Dry-roasted unsalted peanuts
- Pine nuts
- Sesame seeds
- Natural peanut butter
- Tahini
- Assorted dried fruits, such as apricots, prunes, cherries, cranberries, dates, figs, raisins (Store opened packages of nuts and seeds in the refrigerator or freezer.)
How does your pantry look? My plan is to make one big trip to the grocery store to get a bunch of it bought, and then to get into the habit of buying an extra can of everything I buy at the store for food storage. How do you do it??
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Persian Rugs in the Kitchen
One of my very favorite design trends right now is putting persian rugs in the kitchen. It's been happening for a little while, and I don't think it's going anywhere soon! Persian rugs are back in a huge way! Sound crazy? Here are 3 reasons why you need a persian rug in your kitchen...
1. Stains are Easy to Remove!
At first I thought people were insane for laying down expensive rugs right in the walkway of their kitchens, but after speaking with a persian rug dealer, I can understand why. He told me you can basically wipe any stain you can think of out of a persian rug- red wine, spaghetti sauce, etc. As long as you wipe in the direction the wool is going (similar to wiping spaghetti sauce out of dog hair), it will come out easy peasy!
2. They Last Forever!
Persian rugs literally last a lifetime- over 100 years, easy! Sure, they are more expensive than running to Target and spending $25 bucks on a kitchen rug, but they are an investment that you can pass on to your children and grandchildren. Go for quality.
3. They Add a Burst of Life!
I love a clean, white kitchen- especially when paired with a little pop of bold color! Persian rugs add an unmatched element of personality, brightness, and fun! You can find them in any and all colors, and they bring life to a space.
Check out the beautiful kitchens below to see what the fuss is all about...
Studio Mcgee via pinterest
via pinterest
Don't you love it??
Check out this beautiful runner RC Willey sells!
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How to Train Yourself to Wake Up Earlier
My kids and I have gotten into the questionable habit (its kind of awesome, but kind of awful) of sleeping in this summer. Most days nobody wakes up until 9:00 am (I swear we are permanently on Utah time from our visit last month). It's all fun and games until next week, when school starts again. I'm seriously worried about how we will fare waking up two hours earlier than normal! I'm on a quest to train myself (and my kids) to wake up earlier naturally, and I want to share five ways you can do it too!
1. Create a Relaxing Bedtime Routine
Focus on getting better sleep, and then you might not need quite as much of it (read: 8 hours instead of 10!). Take thirty minutes or so before you want to be asleep and do something relaxing to help wind your body and mind down. Take a bubble bath, read a book (the paper kind) in dim lamp light, do some quiet meditations, etc. Put your smart phone down and turn off the tv. Avoiding screens for the hour leading up to bed is one of the best ways to signal to your body that it's time to sleep.
2. Go to Bed Earlier
This one is a no-brainer, but it can be really hard to do! Start small. Go to bed 15 minutes earlier than normal for a week, and then go to bed 15 minutes earlier than that the next week. If you make gradual changes little by little, it won't be so hard on your body, and before you know it you'll be going to bed an hour earlier than you used to and it will feel normal.
3. Put Your Alarm Clock on the Other side of the Room
It's way too easy to hit the snooze button or turn your alarm clock off altogether if it's sitting on the nightstand next to you. A warm bed will always win! Make it harder for yourself and your changes of staying out of bed are much higher!
4. Give Yourself a Good Reason to Wake Up Early
Waking up early because it's a noble thing to do will typically not be a strong enough reason to get you out of bed when you'd rather keep sleeping. If you have a buddy you are meeting at the gym, an early morning walk planned, or a quiet breakfast on the patio by yourself before the rest of your household wakes up? Now those are things worth making the sacrifice for.
5. Adopt a Morning Person Mantra
Did you know that so much of who we are is created by the thoughts we have? Stop thinking "I'm not a morning person" or "I'll always be a night owl" to "I'm becoming a morning person", or "I'm so productive that I can wake up in the morning". Simply changing your mindset can do a lot in the way of helping you create your future!
For all of you early risers out there, what are some of your tried and true tricks?? Please share! And, if you don't have an awesome mattress, RC Willey can help you fix that! A new mattress can do wonders for the body!
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Favorite RC Willey Sofa's
If you haven't figured it out yet, RC Willey doesn't only sell furniture your grandparents think is awesome! (Not that there's anything wrong with furniture your grandparents dig, but you know what I mean.) In fact, in the past several years I've been over the moon at all of the many contemporary and mid-century modern choices that have become available. We are in the market for a new sofa, and so I decided to peruse the website for ideas, and I came up with my top 7 favorite sofas. They are good, you guys! If you are in the market for a new sofa check these beauties out. And walk, don't run to your nearest RC Willey location....
Casual Contemporary Oatmeal Sofa
Mid Century Modern Olive Green Sofa
Mid Century Modern Blue Sofa- Patchwork
Magnolia Home Furniture Linen & Burlap Sofa
Mid Century Modern Chestnut Brown Leather Sofa
Aren't these incredible??
If they aren't your cup of tea, check out all of our other sofa's!
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15 Ways to Avoid Mediocrity
I was reading Ben Behunion's book, "Put a Cherry on Top: Secrets of Creating an Artful Life", and there was a huge section on refusing to settle for mediocrity. It really resonated with me. It's a principle I'm trying to teach my children, and also apply in my own life- and I think it's important that we talk about it! In our society it's so easy to do just enough. Once we are done with school, or in the career we worked hard to get to, how do we continue to motivate ourselves to do our very best in all aspects of life?
"I am calling for a very directed rebellion---- against complacency, mediocrity, unquestioned traditions, ignorance, thoughtlessness, hopelessness, and all other forms of ugliness. I am calling for a rebellion against the fences that you believe are holding you back, that are keeping you from becoming the person you want and hope to be. Stop relying on others to validate who you are. You now who you are......Re-open your mind to possibility-----all of them.....Realize now that life will definitely not go the way you plan. And that's okay, because if you're flexible and creative, it will go way better than you imagined."
Check out 15 of my favorite suggestions Ben gives to avoid mediocrity....
1. Focus
2. Spend your time becoming something awesome.
3. Only read the best books.
4. Remember you are a child of the universe.
5. Don't hang out with people who do ugly things.
6. Eat good chocolate.
7. Go on long walks.
8. Make friends with people who challenge you to be better than you are.
9. Move out of your parents' house.
10. Take risks only after you have looked at them from all angles.
11. Work hard. Play hard.
12. Save your money.
13. Remember that in today's world, for all but the most deprived, ignorance is a choice- no one can force it upon you.
14. Think for yourself.
15. Do the math before taking out a loan.
What are your best tips for avoiding mediocrity in life??
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Paint Sheen Guide
Selecting paint colors for a home remodel or room makeover can be difficult, but then on top of that you still have to pick a paint sheen! It might sound like a trivial decision, but believe it or not, the sheen you choose will have a HUGE impact on the finished paint job. It's amazing just how different the same color can look in two different sheens of paint! So how do you know if you should go with flat or eggshell? Satin or semi-gloss? There is no one steadfast, across the board rule, but check out the helpful guides below to give you some good direction....
via pinterest
From my experience, I like to do eggshell for walls, satin for cabinets, semi-gloss for trim & doors, and flat for the ceiling!
What are your go-to paint sheens?
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