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Showing posts from October, 2015

8 Romantic Christmas Traditions From All Over the World

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It's the most wonderful romantic time of the year and diamond retailer Vashi enlisted illustrator Marie Muravski to highlight how different cultures celebrate it. Read on to see which eight tickled us the most, and check out the full list here. Illustrations by Marie Muravski United Kingdom Kissing underneath mistletoe may be practiced all over the world these days, but the tradition actually originated in England during the 18th century. Illustrations by Marie Muravski Poland During dinner on Christmas eve, many Polish families place straw underneath a tablecloth, before taking turns removing a single strand. A green piece is indicative of luck or the possibility of marriage, while yellow means another year will be spent single. Illustrations by Marie Muravski Japan In Japan, Christmas is treated as a holiday for couples, and many people head out to dinner for a romantic date to celebrate. One of the most popular locations is the fast food chain KFC. Illustrations by Marie Mu

This Suburban Home Is Hiding a Colorful Surprise Inside

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If you passed this boxy white house on any suburban street, you'd probably assume you'd find beige walls, maple cabinets, and a lot of wall-to-wall carpeting inside. Maybe a fireplace, if the homeowners were lucky. Little would you know that one of the neighborhood's most delightful secrets is hiding right inside. The building was actually once a set of apartments, but Kochi Architect's Studio essentially removed a chunk from the middle of the structure (like you'd remove a Jenga piece) to turn some the units into open, communal space. Newly formed angles and walls were then painted in a rainbow of hues, creating a playful kaleidoscope effect across the interior. We're sure the pop-art inspired design would takes some getting used to, but it might be worth it to see your neighbors eyes bug out the first time you invite them over. Take a look inside: [via designboom More from Good Housekeeping: • This Cottage Is Hiding a Surprise in the Backyard • This Hous

This Game Might Make You Question How Well You See Color

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Courtesy Playbuzz It's official: Color guessing games are the latest thing to fascinate the Internet (we blame "The Dress"). First, we had Kolor, a color matching game that's much harder than it looks — and completely addicting. And now this new quiz from Playbuzz is gaining steam. According to PopSugar, it's been shared more than 300,000 times! The game tests how well you can distinguish between like colors by asking you to choose one hue out of a group of eight that's slightly different than the others. It starts out easy, with standout shades you're likely to spot quickly. Playbuzz But gets trickier as the levels climb in difficulty: Playbuzz This quiz isn't scientific, and don't worry question your eyesight if you're not spot on (in fact, the quiz is ultra-forgiving: We purposely made a few mistakes, and it still made us feel pretty good about our eyesight). But it is fun to see how sharp your color-minded eye is — and make you feel b

23 Reasons Fall Is Better in the Country

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Getty Images There's really no hiding it: We're absolutely obsessed with everything autumn. And from cooking seasonal food to taking in the gorgeous scenery, fall is just better when enjoyed in the countryside. 1 There's always such anticipation waiting for the leaves to change colors. Getty Images You've been talking about it with your neighbors for weeks (okay, months) already. 2 Seasonal decorations are the best excuse to give your porch a fall-ready makeover. Getty Images Pumpkin-lined steps? Yes, please! 3 Your local harvest festival is the best way to kick off the season with some family fun. Getty Images There's nothing better than a quaint small town tradition to bring people together. 4 Watching the vast greenery surrounding your house light up with reds, oranges, and yellows. Getty Images The nature around you is a reminder of why you love living in the country. 5 It's the perfect time to give your scarecrow a seasonal makeover. Getty Images Afte

13 Tricks for Organizing Your Chaotic Linen Closet

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The most cluttered spot in your home is about to become the tidiest (really). Courtesy of Organized Mom Add Towel Bars to the Door Stash a couple sets of ready-to-grab towels on the inside of your closet door to make it easy for guests or young kids to find the ones they can use for their next shower. Courtesy of Delineate Your Dwelling Use Clear Containers for Storage We're not saying to abandon handy labels — but pair their power with a container you can see through. It will make finding the new box of tissues before your sneeze erupts much more likely. Courtesy of Code Red Hat Optimize Your Towel Folding Not all shelves are the same — some are deeper, while others are wider. So if you fold towels in match the shelves they sit on, they're way less likely to topple over onto the floor when someone pulls one from the pile. Get the tutorial at Code Red Hat » Courtesy of Beneath My Heart Set Up an Ironing Station on the Door Hang your board, iron, and spray on the door