Posts

Showing posts from January, 2017

A Peek Inside the Kennedys' Summer Estate

Image
Photos taken at the compound in Hyannis Port reveal the private moments of America's de facto royal family. Getty Hy Peskin 1953 John F. Kennedy and Jacqueline are interviewed by LIFE Magazine. Getty 1971 Ethel Kennedy and children walk home after a day of sailing in Hyannis Port at Kennedy Compound Pier. Getty Bachrach 1935 A portrait of the Kennedy Family. Seated from left are: Patricia Kennedy, Robert Kennedy , Rose Kennedy, John F Kennedy, Joseph P Kennedy Sr. with Edward Kennedy on his lap; standing from left are: Joseph P Kennedy Jr., Kathleen Kennedy, Rosemary Kennedy, Eunice Kennedy, and Jean Kennedy. Getty 1980 John F. Kennedy Jr. during Labor Day Weekend. Ron Galella/WireImage/Getty Images 1953 John F. Kennedy, Jacqueline Kennedy and Edward Kennedy play football on the lawn. Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage/Getty Images 1981 Max Kennedy attends Robert F. Kennedy Pro-Celebrity Tennis Tournament. Time & Life Pictures/Getty Images 1960 Jacqueline Kennedy hugs Caroline

9 Things Your Painter Wishes You Knew

Image
Getty Tetra Images 1. We can tell if you're not taking our services seriously. When estimating a job, I dislike the assumption that my time doesn't matter and that I'm ready, willing, and able to offer advice at great length and at no charge. And then when I give the estimate, to be told, "No, I think I can get it done cheaper." A lot of people shop painters not just to compare price, but also to steal ideas that they then will turn around and do themselves, or ask their grandmothers to do for them. My antenna goes up as soon as I suspect it. I don't want to do that dance. 2. You get what you pay for. The most common mistake people make when it comes to choosing a painter is hiring the cheapest guy, and then expecting too much. Or hiring the guy you think you can take advantage of, and then having to make all the decisions yourself. 3. There's a reason we do so much prep work. The amount of prep work we require depends on how many moving parts a room h

This Brilliant Wooden Table Expands With Just a Twist

Image
YouTube Few things are annoying in quite the same way as having company over and then rooting around for the extra table leaf so nobody has to be exiled to the kitchen island. But you'd never have to worry about it again if you had this brilliant and mesmerizing table that simply expands when you twist it.  Designed by Scott Rumschlag — who also built what is quite possibly the world's best standing desk — this table is just a prototype, but an impressive one at that. Basically, it works by having all of its component parts sit on a corkscrew of a base, so that when you twist the table in the right direction, it's top parts go out and the bottom parts come up.  Practically, it's a lot more complicated than that, and I don't even have half a prayer of explaining it as well as Rumschlag can: Since it's just an early build the aesthetics are a little lacking, but even in its austere form it's an impressive piece of furniture. That transformation is one heck

The Breathing Trick That Puts You to Sleep in Seconds

Image
Getty Nothing is worse than lying awake at night, willing your brain to shut down so you can rest. Warm milk, lavender oil, and counting sheep — we've all tried them. But the new solution could be simply learning to breathe. What is it? The 4-7-8 breathing technique was pioneered Dr. Andrew Weill from Arizona, who describes the yoga-inspired method as "utterly simple, takes almost no time, requires no equipment and can be done anywhere." Dr.Weill claims that 4-7-8 breathing can help people fall asleep in just 60 seconds by acting as a "natural tranquilizer for the nervous system" that reduces stress and tension in the body. How do you do it? 1. Before you begin, place the tip of your tongue on the roof of your mouth just above your teeth and keep it there throughout the exercise. 2. Exhale completely through your mouth quite forcefully so you make a "whoosh" sound. 3. Close your mouth and inhale quietly and softly through your nose for a mental

10 DIY Ways to Show Off Your Favorite Instagrams

Image
Bring your stream to the real world. Put Them on Canvas Surprise: It's not hard to make your Instagrams look like insta-art. Pick up some miniature canvases from your favorite craft store and Mod Podge the printed photos to the top for a classy update to your standard print. Find the full tutorial at Hello Little Home » PostalPix Cut Out Cake Toppers Make your next brunch Instagram-worthy with these cute cake (or donut!) toppers, made by cutting out letters from your printed pictures. Well It's Okay Cube It With a wood block, some glue, and your favorite prints you can create this personalized paperweight, where each side tells a story about you. Find the directions at Well It's Okay » Ling Yeung Hang and Frame If "Do it for the 'Gram" is your life's motto, you might have a lot of photos you'd like to keep on display. Here's one solution: Create one large frame and string up your favorite shots inside, like this DIY from Ling Yeung B. Add

9 Fascinating Things You Didn't Know About Aloe

Image
Getty/David Madison 1. IT ORIGINATED IN AFRICA. And thrives in a hot, dry climate. You can find this succulent growing all over the Middle East and on islands in the Indian Ocean. 2. IN FACT, IT CONSISTS OF 99% WATER. Getty Hence it's killer ability to withstand extreme heat. 3. IT'S A MEMBER OF THE LILY FAMILY. Nicknamed the "Lily of the Desert," the biggest indicator that aloe comes from this family is the tubular flowers it produces every spring. 4. CLEOPATRA WAS A SUPER FAN. Ancient writings dating back to 1550 B.C. refer to the Egyptian queen using the plant's gel in her beauty routines. It's rumored she rubbed the gel over her body for softer skin. 5. THERE ARE MORE THAN 400 SPECIES. Getty De Agostini If you only know about the small household plant, you're missing out: The different varieties of aloe range in size from a 1-inch-wide succulent to a 50-foot-tall tree. 6. THEIR BLOSSOMS COME IN DIFFERENT COLORS. Getty/Wolfgang Kaehler Including

10 Nifty Things You Didn't Know About Daisies

Image
For starters, their name has the most charming origin. Getty Their Name Means "Day's Eye" Daisy comes from the Old English "daes eage," meaning "day's eye." The name refers to the way they close their petals in the evening, and open again at dawn, marking the beginning of a new day. Getty They Are Actually Two Flowers in One The yellow center's florets and the petals are actually different blooms (though we don't think either would be as cheery without the other!) Getty They Have a Lovely Meaning According to A Victorian Flower Dictionary (the Victorians loved their flower meanings), daisies signify innocence, and children of the era would make daisy chains to wear as May Day crowns. Getty They're Really Abundant They may be small blooms, but they make up for their diminutive size in group volume. Daisies make up almost 10% of all flowering plants on the planet. Getty They're Cousins With the Sunflower Daisies are a part of

10 of the Biggest Decor Trends Around the World Right Now

Image
From Japan to South Africa and back to the U.S., ELLE DECOR international editors shared the latest home trends they're seeing in their corners of the world. Spoiler: They're all fabulous. Giorgio Possenti Russia: A MIX OF OLD AND NEW "We are quite sentimental about the past. In many contemporary homes you will see owners dreaming about the faded grandeur of old estates, dachas and bourgeoise apartments of [the] Belle Époque. Vintage finds are properly mixed with art, fabrics and expensive antique objects." — Aleksey Dorozhkin, Editor in Chief, ELLE Decoration Russia Andreas Achmann Germany: NEW ELEGANCE This Art-Deco inspired trend involves lavish materials such as brass, gold and velvet. "Essential ingredients are: statement pieces such as daybeds or cocktail chairs (in gemstone colors), folding screens and dressing tables." — Christine Bürg, Deputy Editor in Chief, ELLE Decoration Germany Courtesy of Elle Decor India India: CRAFT REVIVAL Due to indus