Posts

11 Essentials Professional Organizers Say Are Totally Worth It

Image
When a pro organizer goes to a client's home, they bring the tried-and-true products they know will get the job done right. If you're like us, you want those items in your home too. We tapped some of our go-to experts to find out which products they swear by. Utopia Home Velvet Hangers "Slimline flocked hangers are not only nicer to your clothes, but they truly do save space," says professional organizer Darla DeMorrow. "I held out for many years, but I don't consider a hanger upgrade frivolous anymore." They'll make picking out your outfit in the morning more fun too. BUY NOW: $$ for a 50-pack, amazon.com Fleck A Desktop Charging Station "Cord clutter is a killer in just about every household," says DeMorrow. "That's why multi-device USB chargers are so sexy." Keep yours where you charge your gadgets most often, whether that's on the kitchen counter or on your office desk. BUY NOW:  $$, amazon.com Cq acrylic Acryl...

6 Airbnb Guest Horror Stories

Image
Getty Airbnb, the hotel-alternative service that lets you rent rooms or apartments when you're traveling, is normally a very good time. I, personally, have stayed in Airbnbs from Italy to Japan and have had an amazing time at each and every location. However, as with any large business, there are sometimes problems that can arise.  Enter the Reddit thread on the most memorable Airbnb guests of all time. Hosts share some terrific (and some terrifying) stories of what it's like when you open your doors to a wide-swath of humanity. Obviously, it goes well the vast majority of the time, but when it doesn't? Well, the stories make for some good reading.  1. Guests who don't know how normal appliances work:  Everything was great until the last night. She called and said the house was very warm and she didn't think she would be able to sleep that way. So I said just turn the AC on. I didn't hear anything back from her until the next morning. She said ...

A Tiny House That's Big on Glass

Image
Derek "Deek" Diedricksen Tiny houses are, by nature of being small, easier on the environment than their more traditional counterparts. And when they're built out of scavenged materials, you've got a home even the most enthusiastic treehugger could love.  Derek "Deek" Diedricksen of RelaxShacks.com flexed that creative reuse muscle when he devised his newest cabin: the "Glass House" in rural Massachusetts.  It took Diedricksen and a crew less than $$,000 and  just four days  to build the quirky 140-square-foot structure from a  combination of reclaimed wood and recycled glass and windows. The rural (and definitely rustic-looking) retreat features a front wall of windows adorned with colorful lanterns and a sleeping loft with a railing made of tree branches. The roof is one big skylight, made of a polycarbonate material.  Without hookups to electricity or running water, this place is completely ...

17 Super Smart Ways to Keep Toys Organized

Image
Because there's nothing more painful than stepping on a Lego. Courtesy of Moosha Girl Outdoor Toy Bins Keep your yard clutter-free by placing bins with adhesive chalkboard labels onto a sturdy bronze shelf. Get the tutorial at Moosha Girl. Courtesy of Play Chic Interiors Tote Bag Storage Store items like stuffed animals or blocks in mounted tote bags. Monogram the totes to label what's inside or to differentiate between each child's toys. See more at Play Chic Interiors. Courtesy of Honest to Nod Magnetic Matchbox Car Mural A storage solution that doubles as a striking and colorful mural? We're sold. Get the tutorial at Honest to Nod. Courtesy of Craftiness Is Not Optional Dress Up Storage Those dress-up outfits are too cute to not show off. Display your kid's costumes with this wooden mini-closet that can be easily transported from a bedroom to a play room and back. Get the tutorial at Craftiness Is Not Optional. Courtesy of A Lo and Behold Life Matchbox Car ...

8 Essential (and Delicious!) Vodka Cocktail Recipes

Image
We teamed up with the brilliant mixology minds at New York's The Roof to create these eight drinks. With classics like the Moscow Mule, plus new ideas — like the refreshing Trouble Maker —vodka is never boring. Ethan Calabrese Rooftop Lemonade Light and crisp, this alternative lemonade is best enjoyed while gazing upon a beautiful view. Get the recipe: Rooftop Lemonade Ethan Calabrese Moscow Mule Make this Moscow Mule. You won't regret it. Get the recipe: Moscow Mule Ethan Calabrese Trouble Maker Now this is the kind of trouble you want to get into. Get the recipe: Trouble Maker Ethan Calabrese Vodka Gimlet Vodka beats gin in this spin on a classic. Get the recipe: Vodka Gimlet Ethan Calabrese Bloody Mary Heat up brunch with a spicy Bloody Mary. Get the recipe: Bloody Mary Ethan Calabrese Cosmopolitan Channel your Sex and the City -loving self and sip this perfectly pink concoction. Get the recipe: Cosmopolitan Ethan Calabrese Elyx Cup Refreshing and bub...

9 Fragrant Flowers That Bloom in the Evening

Image
Fill your garden with these knockouts, and enjoy a summer of sweet-smelling sunsets. Jupiter Images Brugmansia This small tree sports large hanging flowers that open for a week at a time with the full moon. Though hardy only to zone 8, Brugmansia 'Cypress Gardens' is ideal for containers and can be overwintered inside. TENDER PERENNIAL Getty Images Moonflower The vine Ipomoea alba grows to 15 feet, unfurling four- to six-inch-wide fragrant white blooms. Buy seedlings, since germinating seed is tricky, and provide ample sun and fertilizer. ANNUAL Andrea Jones Japanese Wisteria A woody vine, Wisteria floribunda is hardy to zone 5. This finicky plant can take several years before the white or lilac clusters emerge, so be sure to buy one that's already in bloom. PERENNIAL Olaf Rumeney Tuberose This richly fragrant bulb, Polianthes tuberosa, was a Victorian favorite. Plant in containers or beds, two to three inches deep. Gardeners in zones lower than 8 must dig up the bul...