Picking calming colors to use in your home will help create an environment to relax and unwind. After spending a day overwhelmed by sounds, lights, responsibilities, screens, and so many other things, it’s important to have somewhere calm to escape to. If you’re looking to create a peaceful environment, these are the colors you should use. 

BLUE

via Apartment Therapy

via Apartment Therapy

via One Kings Lane

via Elements of Style

 GRAY

via Traditional Home

via Home Bunch

via Architectural Digest

via Apartment Therapy

GREEN

via Gravity Home

via Design Love Fest

via One Kings Lane

via Coco Lapine Design

 VIOLET

via Benjamin Moore

via Apartment Therapy

via Home DIT

PINK

via Apartment Therapy

via Style and Minimalism

via VKV Visuals

Don’t be afraid of going more bold with your colors. Pastels and pale colors aren’t the only way to have a calm room. Pick a color you love and create your perfect oasis!

Do you have calm colors in your home? Or do you prefer bolder rooms?

Baking (and eating!) cakes is kind of my thing.  You might say it's my love language.  Over the years, I have tested hundreds of recipes.  I've found that regardless of the recipe used, there is one simple secret to making the perfect, moist, delicious birthday cake.  Are you ready for this??....

FREEZE THE CAKE!

Yes, if you've never heard of this technique before this may sound strange, or crazy.  But, I promise you, it's the only way to go.  I'm not sure what the scientific explanation is, but something about freezing a cake literally changes the nature, and texture of the cake!  It comes out so moist and delicious, it'sjust incredible.  It's my fail proof go-to.

Here's how you do it:

1. Bake your cake, just like normal.
2. After pulling it out of the oven, let cake sit in tins for about 10 minutes to begin the cooling process, then remove them from pans and let them cool on racks or your counter completely.
3. Once cooled to room temperature, wrap cake tightly in 2 layers of plastic wrap.
4. Following the plastic wrap, cover with 2 layers of tin foil.
5. Place cake freezer.  

It's the easiest thing, but I promise you'll be completely and utterly wowed by the difference it makes!! The great part, is that you can keep it in the freezer anywhere from 8 hours to 6 months!  This is a game changer when it comes to party planning, or hosting a dinner party.  I think it's a great idea to keep several cakes in your freezer and then you are always prepared to serve a delicious dessert on the fly!  Just make sure to pull the cake out of the freezer 5 or 6 hours before you're going to be serving it, so that it can fully unthaw.  I have also found that frosting the cake while it's still frozen is a breeze because you don't have to work with loose crumbs!  

 
Also, for the record: this Coconut Cake by The Barefoot Contessa is amazing, and I like to pair it with this frosting recipe below.  It's so delicious, that even my husband requested it for his birthday this past week- pink frosting and all!

Sweet and Pure Strawberry Buttercream frosting
3/4 cup fresh strawberries
1/2 cup butter
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 pounds powdered sugar

Over a large bowl, crush the strawberries in your hands.  Allow juice and pulp to fall into bowl.  Add remaining ingredients and beat well with an electric mixer.  Frost cooled cupcakes.

Now go get baking!!

Do you have a boring front porch you want to decorate? At my house, we’ve decided to ditch the flower bed in the front of the house and make it into a front porch instead. I’m so excited to have a sitting area out there! I’ve been looking at different ways to decorate a front porch and have found some really good ideas I thought I’d share. 

via House of Turquoise

If you have a ceiling over your front porch, don’t forget about it! Cool lighting fixtures add a whole lot of charm to a house. I also love the idea of painting the ceiling a different color.

via Lolly Jane

via Lonny

If you have space, add an outdoor rug. Just like inside your house, rugs outside add energy and life to an area! Gather your chairs around an outdoor rug and you’ll feel as cozy as if you were inside your living room. If you don’t have room for a rug, a door mat can have the same effect.

via The House that A-M Built

Use planters and fill them with flowers. Even just one or two flower pots creates an inviting area.

via Christina's Adventures

Just because you’re outside doesn’t mean you can’t accessorize! Add outdoor pillows, paintings, end tables, stools, etc. A front porch should be an extension of your home, so don’t be afraid to decorate it.

via Jenna Burger Design

If you have the room, add a chair or two. Having chairs in your front yard is inviting and welcoming. It also is the best place to sit and take off any muddy shoes before going into the house. Win win.

via Lolly Jane

Change or add decorations for the seasons. It doesn’t have to be an extreme change, but adding pumpkins, a wreath, or bunting will make your home ready for whatever season or holiday is coming.

What do you think about decorating a front porch? I’m always afraid things will feel too cluttered, but I think a couple of chairs and some flowers will be perfect. What have you done to your front porch?

If you’re redoing your kitchen and are wanting to have a more traditional look, keep in mind these design elements.

via HGTV

Use natural materials such as wood or stone. Man-made materials like metal or concrete fit in more contemporary kitchens.

via HGTV

Cabinets should be ornate and detailed. They may even have glass or metal inserts to add interest.

via Decorating Free HQ

Wood is often stained or glazed to look distressed. Distressing your cabinets makes your kitchen feel timeless.

via HGTV

Incorporate a unique range hood. These can become the focus of the kitchen and add a layer interest to the room.

via Home Bunch

Details are important in traditional homes. Think about crown molding, arches, unique lighting, interesting hardware, and a variety of textures.

What do you think? Do you like traditional kitchens? 

Happy Earth Day! RC Willey is committed to not only providing a great product to our customers but also to doing our part in protecting the environment. Check out all the ways RC Willey chooses to “go green” every day below! 

1. We recycle your old appliances. When we come to deliver your new appliances and take your old ones, we don’t go to the dump. Instead, we take the old appliances to our Inter-Mountain Distribution Center where the freon, copper, and scrap metal are all recycled.
2. In all our warehouses and offices we have switched from fluorescent lighting to more efficient bulbs.
3. We recycle all the plastic, styrofoam, and cardboard that comes into our warehouses. Because of our focus on recycling, we only take about 2 trips to the dump per week instead the multiple trips a day we were taking before we started using recycling bins.
4. In our warehouses, we have motion sensor lights that turn off after 10 minutes of inactivity, helping conserve a lot of energy.
5. Our ads are printed on paper that uses less chemicals and energy in the manufacturing process. We also have a recycling program in our corporate offices.
6. We offer ENERGY STAR certified appliances. If you are interested in doing your part to go green, consider purchasing an energy efficient appliance.

For more details on how RC Willey has gone green, click here.

How have you gone green?

When you consider how much energy and money is required to run all the appliances in your home, it is important to consider purchasing energy efficient appliances. In 1992, the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) started a voluntary program called ENERGY STAR that identifies the most energy-efficient products on the market and labels them so that consumers are able to make informed choices to help save money and the environment. If you see the blue ENERGY STAR label, you know that product is one of the most energy efficient options available! It’s amazing what a difference it can make, both for the earth and your pocketbook. 

via RC Willey

If your dishwasher is older than 1994, you are wasting more than 10 gallons of water per cycle and paying an extra $35 a year on your utility bills. ENERGY STAR dishwashers are able to save water and conserve energy, which helps reduce air pollution.

via RC Willey

Your refrigerator is running non-stop to keep your food cold. Refrigerators that are over 10 years old use much more energy than newer fridges. You can use this calculator to see how much money you could save by replacing your old refrigerator with an ENERGY STAR certified model.

via RC Willey

Did you know that an ENERGY STAR approved washing machine only uses 13 gallons of water per load compared to 23 gallons other washers use? With an ENERGY STAR washing machine you would save over 3,000 gallons of water a year!

Check out this website if you are interested in reading more about ENERGY STAR certified products or come in and talk to someone at RC Willey. We have a huge selection of energy efficient appliances you can bring into your home! 

How are you conserving energy in your home? 

I've put a lot of time and energy into decorating our house to make it our own, but I realized the other day that I've been neglecting our poor entryway in a serious way. When we first moved in 7 months ago, I haphazardly threw a giant mirror on the wall across from our front door, and then moved on to bigger priorities. After the dust had settled, I decided it was time to show my entry a little TLC.  Can I just say, it has made all the difference in the world?!  It feels like an actual room now! 

The entryway isn't really at the tip top of the list when it comes to rooms you want/need to makeover, but it's the very first impression you give people of your home!  Whether it's a friend, your neighbor, girl scouts selling cookis, or the mail man- you are giving them a sneak peak into your world!  It's kind of a big deal!  What does your entryway say about you?  Is it warm and welcoming?  Does it reflect your style, and entice people to want to come in and see more?  Or is it cold, boring and easily forgetable.  

Read on to learn about 10 things to do/incorporate in your entryway that will bring it to life in a big way!  

1. A place to put your keys
The greatest of entryways are just as functional as beautiful.  If you use your front door regularly when leaving the home, make sure you have a spot carved out to store your keys.  Whether it's a little bowl on a console table, or a hook on the wall, I promise it will make your life ten times easier because you won't have to search the house regularly for missing keys!

via pinterest

2. Storage for Shoes 
I really like having my kids take their shoes off when they come into the house, but I hate hate hate (no loathe!) tripping on random shoes strewn about the floor.  It looks messy, and cluttered, and makes me crazy!  An easy way to tame the shoe chaos is to incorporate bins or baskets in your entryway. Cute on the outside, but they can also hold shoes inside and make your life simpler.  
 

via pinterest

3. A place to sit to take off/put on shoes
A bench or little chair gives off an inviting vibe, and it's always nice for guests to have a place to sit while taking off their shoes or setting down their bags.

via pinterest

4. Hooks for jackets, bags, hats, etc.
This is kind of a no-brainer.  Look how cute and functional these hooks are....

via pinterest

5. Great Art
Just because it's an entryway, doesn't mean you can't hang up fabulous art.  In fact, you definitely should!  Like I said before, first impression!

via pinterest

6. A Mirror
I am a firm believer that it's always a good idea to hang a mirror in the entryway, so that before you go anywhere you can pause for a moment to put on lipstick, and check yourself (say no to food in your teeth!) before heading out the door.  Also, mirrors give off more light, and make spaces look larger than they actually are! If you have a small entryway that you'd like to feel bigger, a mirror is a must!

via pinterest

7. Wallpaper
Wallpaper is an obvious choice when it comes to entryways!  It's an easy way to add personality and flair to a room.  Plus, it can serve as a great conversation starter.
 

via pinterest

8. Greenery
Bring the outdoors inside and try to display something green.  A beautiful plant or flower can go a long way in bringing balance and harmony to an entry space.

via pinterest

9. Patterned pillows
A patterned pillow is such a simple thing, yet it can often be the difference between a stale and vibrant entryway.  The brighter and more colorful, the better! 

via pinterest

10. A great rug
Whether you have a large enough entry to boast a big area rug, or you only have room for a teeny tiny runner, don't skip the rug!!  A good rug feels nice under your feet, stops dirt from being tracked through the rest of the house, and serves as a solid anchor for the rest of the room.  

via pinterest

And there you have it, my friends!

What elements have you added to your entryway to spruce things up?

Have you ever tried weekly meal planning? My goal for this year was to actually meal plan and base my grocery shopping off of that plan. On the weeks that I actually follow through with my meal plans grocery shopping is a cinch and my overall stress level related to what I make for dinner is much lower. I’ve also noticed that our grocery bills are lower when I actually have a plan and am not buying everything that catches my eye as I walk down the aisle. On the weeks I slack off and don’t plan we end up having quesadillas and spaghetti every night. Meal planning is definitely worth it!

Whether you’re a master meal planner or have empty cupboards because you hate grocery shopping, keep reading to get some hints and ideas for weekly meal planning. 

1. Spend time looking through recipes, whether they’re in cookbooks or on blogs, and save anything that looks good. It’s so much easier to meal plan if you have a large selection of recipes options.

via Rifle Paper Co.

2. Save recipes you like so you can put them in your rotation. Everyone has a different way of saving recipes, but I write out recipes I like and save them in this recipe box. I only write down recipes that have been approved by the whole family, so I know that every recipe in the box will be a hit.

3. Write down what you are going to make and on what days. You may want to check the weather so you aren’t making soup on a hot day before you start calendaring. I write my meal plan in my planner so it’s visible every time check my schedule. Don’t forget to leave a space for leftovers!

4. Create your shopping list and make sure you don’t buy things you already have. A few of my first grocery lists were pretty long, but once I purchased some basic kitchen staples, my lists have gotten significantly shorter.

5. Try to use recipes that repeat ingredients. That way you can use all the chicken broth or cilantro you bought and not end up having it rot in the back of your refrigerator.

6. Have a template to help focus your meal plans. Think about what you should be eating and factor that in. This makes it so much easier to know what to look for and I can cater the recipes to fit what my family likes to eat. My week goes like this -

      Monday: Soup, Sandwich, or Salad

     Tuesday: Chicken

     Wednesday: Mexican food

     Thursday: Italian food or Asian

     Friday: Leftovers.

Do you meal plan? What are some of the tricks you’ve picked up to help you be successful? Any advice would be welcome!

Do you let your kids help you in the kitchen? I've talked about how important it is to have family dinners together but recently read an article about how important it is to have your kids help out in the kitchen as well. It made me want to get my daughter helping me cook as soon as possible! While there are definitely reasons it’s easier to have your kids somewhere else while you get dinner ready, having your kids help you in the kitchen builds lifelong skills. By helping you in the kitchen, your kids will learn to - 

• Try, and possibly like, new foods. Cooking together creates and easy environment where tasting something different is low pressure and fun.
• Understand what ingredients go into the foods they are eating. It will also help them to understand what ingredients shouldn’t go into what they are eating. This will set them up for a lifetime of healthy eating habits and help them understand the choices they are making when it comes to food.
• See math and science in action. Measuring out ingredients, noticing the change that happens when different ingredients are added, seeing the effect heat has on substances, and so many other things will give them real life application to things they learn in school.
• Appreciate eating at home and the person who makes the meal. If they can see that food doesn’t magically appear on their plate and that there is a real effort that goes into making it, fewer plates will **hopefully** be pushed away.
• Have conversations and problem solve. Cooking together is a time to bond without a screen in the way. This is the time to get to know your kids and let them know you!
• Be empowered! There is something liberating in seeing a plate of food and knowing that you could make it yourself. If they can do that, they can do other things as well.

For more information on the benefits of having your kids in the kitchen, as well as some tips for how to get started, check out this article.

via Decor it Darling

I want to get this stool and get my girl started in the kitchen as soon as possible! Check out all of RC Willey's cooking appliances to help get your kitchen ready for you and your family!

Do you let your kids help you cook? What are their favorite recipes?

I hope you all had a lovely Easter!  Ours was wonderful, but I'll be honest- I kind of want to kill the Easter bunny for bringing so much sugar to my house.  My kids are totally wired, and I'm dragging. Like, realllllllly dragging.  I think we probably need a week of no candy and lots of fruits and vegetables.

Also, let it be known: If I trip on one more plastic egg I think I might really lose it.  

I'm only half kidding....

We went to three Easter egg hunts this year, and as a result, we have an entire army of those cute little plastic colored eggs.  And that army is invading my house.  Here are the ones I have found (so far):

I discovered today that I have a love/hate relationship with plastic eggs.  The minimalist in me wanted to throw them all away immediately.  But once I had gathered them together I just couldn't get over the pretty explosion of color that was happeneing right before my eyes!  It just felt wrong and wasteful to throw them away, and I started racking my brain: How could I repurpose these eggs?  So naturally, the first thing I did was go to my trusy friend, google.  Turns out, people have pondered over this question for a lot longer than myself, and they've got tons of ideas to show for it!  Pop Sugar compiled a blog post featuring 36 ways to reuse plastic eggs- there are so many good ones!  I took an idea from there and ran with it to make an ABC matching game for my preschool aged children.  All it took was a sharpie, and about 10 minutes of my day, and voila!

 Cute, don't you think?

Here are a few other ideas from Pop Sugar that I thought were fun....

Marbled eggs via Pop Sugar

Moracas via Pop Sugar

Tea Lights via Pop Sugar

Tea Cups via Pop Sugar

Little people via Pop Sugar

Tea lights via Pop Sugar