Designer Secrets

Here are some designer secrets as featured in House Beautiful May 2012 issue.  Happy decorating!

- If you're going to paint the walls white, you need art.

- When you're hanging a series of pictures together, keep the gap between then 2" to 2 1/2" to really utilize the wall space, and keep a minimum of 9" between the art and tops of sofas and chairs.

- If you have a painting that looks too small above your sofa, don't center it.  Offset it in a few inches to the left.  The negative space - called "ma" - becomes part of the image.

- The ideal height to hang your flat-screen TV is at eye level when you're in viewing position.  The ideal viewing distance is 1 1/2 times the size of your flat screen.

- Float something in the room - a sofa, a lounge chair - to avoid the "dance hall" look.  Think of it as an opportunity to show off the back (do something with the back".

- A bed should be 23" off the floor, no higher.

- Instead of a towel bar, mount 5 robe hooks 68" high for towels and robes.

- When it comes to bookcases, stick to books.  Nothing is more visually chaotic than 46 shelves of random stuff.

- Dining room chandeliers should hang 60" to 66" above the floor.

- Surprise the eye with scale.  Use one large lamp with a large lampshade, or an oversize ottoman.  One large-scale element takes a room up a notch.

- Measure the depth of your dressers, desks, and other furniture before purchasing a rug.  The rug should stop before the furniture in most cases.

- A dining room rug should extend a minimum of 3' from the edge of a dining table - dining chairs should always be fully on the rug - not two legs on and two off.

- The minimum break for drapery panels that hand to the floor is 1/2".  Anything less is like wearing high water pants.

- The only time white curtain lining should be used is with white curtains.

Lavender Bath Salts Recipe

I found this great recipe in Whole Foods magazine.  It smells fantastic and the bath was wonderfully relaxing.  The best part is that it comes out to be $1.45 per bath!!!

Here's what you need:

- 2 cups coarse sea salt
- 2 cups Epsom salts
- 8 drops of lavender essential oil (sold at Whole Foods)
- 5 drops of chamomile essential oil (sold at Whole Foods)
- 3 drops of eucalyptus essential oil (sold at Whole Foods)


Combine all ingredients in a large bowl and whisk until oils are evenly distributed throughout.  Transfer to a sealed glass jar for storing.  When you're ready for relaxation, add 1 cup to a hot bath and enjoy!

If you're especially crafty, transfer the mixture into cute jars and give out as gifts or party favors!

4 Cheap & Natural Cures That Work

I found this article in Glamour April 2010 mag and decided to share.

1) Lemon Juice on a Bug Bite

Acidic liquids 1 like lemon juice or 1 vinegar can act as powerful anti-sting treatments, says Evangeline Lausier,
M.D., director of clinical services at Duke Integrative Medicine in Durham, North Carolina.
Why It Works: Venom in stingers tends to be alkaline, so applying something acidic can counteract the poison,
preventing it from spreading. (Dab a drop or two on the spot as quickly as you can after you're bitten or stung.)

2) A Pinch on Your to Lower Anxiety

This acupressure move is often prescribed to reduce stress: Squeeze the fleshy portion of skin between your thumb and pointer finger (it should feel uncomfortable but not painful), and hold for three minutes.
Why It Works: Experts believe the pressure can raise levels of endorphins, your body's natural feel-good chemicals, says David Kiefer, M.D., assistant clinical professor of medicine at the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine in Tuscon. Western medicine doesn't fully understand acupressure's effectiveness, but we've had success using it for everything from stress and nausea to insomnia,"he says.


3) Honeyed Rum for a Cold
Before NyQuil, there was this cure for stuffiness and a sore throat: a toddy made with a few ounces of hot water, one tablespoon of rum, the juice of one lemon and three teaspoons of honey.
Why It Works: A small amount of alcohol can relieve pain and relax you. "Nighttime cold medicine devotees probably benefit as much from the drug's alcohol content as anything else, because it helps put you to sleep," says Dr. Kiefer. But that's not all this drink has going for it. Honey is antiviral and coats the throat, having a soothing effect, says Dr. Kiefer.

4) Aloe Vera for Tummy Troubles

Hawaiians revere aloe as a cure-all wonder plant:  Not only do they rub it on cuts and sunburns, they ingest the gel to calm upset stomach and and nix constipation.
Why It Works: According to some research, aloe gel may soothe ulcers and improve regularity, says Jamey Wallace, N.D., medical director at Bastyr Center for Natural Health in Seattle.  Be sure to buy the kind of gel that's meant for internal use; aloe gels for sunburn relief often contain ingredients like alcohol!  (You can find bottled aloe gel in health food stores like Whole Foods.)

Lovely Lace

I love the idea of a lace-printed mat, as featured in Martha Stewart's magazine.  I have some great picture frames, but I really don't like the matting, and this will be a great way to spruce them up.  Lace mat frame would also make a great gift!

Lace Frame How-To

1. Learn the lace-printing technique.
2. Carefully apply strips of painters' tape to the four corners of a photo mat, so the edge of the tape runs from the inner corners to the outer corners, enabling you to create a mitered effect. On two sides of the mat, make pencil marks on the tape to serve as guides so you can position the lace in a straight line.
3. Ink the lace and print borders on the two marked sides, using the technique described above. Peel off the tape while the ink is wet. Let dry 30 minutes.
4. Retape the four corners, this time exposing the other two sides of the mat. Repeat the process.

Resources

Alencon lace trim, from Lace Star, lacestar.com.

Feel Better Faster Tips

I found these tips in Real Simple magazine and some are really useful, so I decided to share. 

1) Cold sore - as much as we all hate them, most of us get them at least once in a while.  Real Simple suggests applying a petroleum jelly (likeVaseline) to keep the sore moist and to prevent cracking.  I also read somewhere that ear wax will heal it very fast.  The trouble with ear wax is that it's well...has an icky factor and since we clean our ears on a daily basis, we don't have much to keep applying on the cold sore.

2) Fever - Take acetaminophen (which is found in Tylenol) as directed to lower your fever temporarily until
the illness makes its way through your system.  Drink plenty of liquids. A fever can cause perspiration, and if -
you don't replenish those fluids, you could become dehydrated.  If you like more natural remedies, try Boiron Oscillococcinum Natural Flu Relief, it really does reduce the duration of fever like symptoms.  I use it as soon as I feel a little under the weather.

3) Minor burn - Immediately apply a cold compress or run very cold water over the area to decrease the temperature of your skin.  Apply an ointment with petrolatum (such as Aquaphor Healing Ointment) to keep the area moist, and cover it with a bandage.

4) Pulled or sore muscle - Follow the acronym RICE: rest, ice, compression, and elevation.  Gently stretch after severe pain is gone, to maintain range of motion and prevent stiffness.  Take ibuprofen to alleviate pain
and swelling for two to five days after the injury.  Try a topical analgesic cream (such as Tiger Balm), which can relieve pain.  Soak in a hot bath three or four days after the injury. Moist heat brings oxygen to the tissues and
helps loosen muscles.

5) Sore throat - Stir a teaspoon of salt into a cup of warm water, then gargle with the solution to reduce
swelling. Repeat every few hours.  Sip herbal tea. Suck on cough drops, lozenges, Popsicles, or even a spoonful of honey. These won't necessarily quicken healing, but they can soothe your throat, and honey has an antiviral effect. I found that warm milk with honey helps almost instantly and will soothe your throat for several hours.

6) Stomach bug - Sip ginger tea. (To make it, add a pinch of freshly chopped ginger to a cup of hot water.)
Stay hydrated by drinking clear liquids, like water, herbal tea, or a sports drink. Mmiting or diarrhea can lead to dehydration, which affects the body's ability to deliver blood to vital organs.  Stick to bland foods. Try easy to digest crackers, toast, or dry cereal. As you feel better, introduce soft-boiled or scrambled eggs or plain yogurt.

7) Cuts and scrapes - clean with warm, soapy water to remove germs and debris.  Keep the cut moist; this is key to promoting the rapid growth of new skin cells. Apply a thin layer of an antibiotic ointment. If
the cut is in a place where the ointment can rub off or get dirty, cover it with a bandage.

DIY Map Coasters

Yet another fantastic idea from Martha Stewart. DIY map coasters are so easy to make yet will bring such a unique look to your space. These coasters will definitely be a conversation piece at your next party. Moreover, it's a great way to recycle old/vacation maps that will always bring up good memories when you use them. I'm planning on making these out of FL maps that I used when vacationing with mom last year and giving them to her as a gift. See how to instructions here.

Make a chick bottle carrier!

What a great idea from Martha Stewart! Make this carrier and forget about holding your water in your hand. Use it when you go hiking, flea market shopping, to the park with your kids, or when vacationing. Check out how to make it here