Blog Archive

The Art of Hanging Art II – Methods   So. You’ve assembled all the beautiful things and are ready to get them up on the walls. What are the next steps? How can you ensure you hang art without damaging your walls and/or your pride? What tools will you need? We’ve got you covered. If
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Petiquette For Perfect Pups   If you are a pup parent, chances are you think that your pup is perfect. Mine certainly is. Seriously one of the best dogs there ever was. As hard as it is to believe for us dog lovers, however, not everyone loves dogs (GASP!) and not everyone thinks your pup is
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It’s An Easter Eggstravaganza! Easter is on April 17 this year – late enough that spring bulbs will be in full bloom, flowering trees will be in bud, grass will have turned a vibrant green, and perennials will be pushing their way through the soil. Days will be milder, and hopefully we’ll see much more
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Get Moving; Stay Active Spring is just around the corner! If, like many of us, you made a New Year’s resolution to become more active but found that hard to do in the middle of a cold dark winter, now is the time to jump-start your fitness plans. Getting – and staying – active doesn’t
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Cleaning as DIY Preventative Maintenance It’s never any fun when stuff in your home doesn’t work the way it should. Of course, if you live in an apartment, there’s maintenance service to handle any issues. However, there’s still a certain degree of effort on your part – making the call, taking time to be a
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How To Clean Mini Blinds   Not all cleaning jobs are created equal. Some are quick, easy, and satisfying – like removing all the toothpaste and water splatters from the bathroom mirror and polishing it up to a flawless and streak-free thing of beauty.  Others are ones we dread because they are hard (washing windows),
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How, oh how, to get a good night’s sleep? We’ve all been there. Tossing, turning, unable to settle your mind. It could be because you’re too hot, too cold, it’s not quiet enough, its too quiet, it’s too bright, and you just can’t stop thinking about…that important meeting tomorrow, that stupid comment you made, things
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Sometimes, even though we know better, we decide to drive despite precarious winter road conditions. My worst driving decision occurred a few years back. It was two days before Christmas during a snowstorm. I was stupidly determined to travel from Ohio to New Jersey for the holidays despite there being six plus inches of snow
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Warm, Cozy & Pampered It’s the middle of January. Cold. Gloomy. Typically, it’s quiet month without a lot to look forward to; the complete opposite of December. Spring seems a long way away. Did I mention cold? Short days with – here in the Midwest – just 10 hours of daylight.  I don’t know about
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Baby, it’s cold outside. But that doesn’t mean you should be cold inside! After once residing in a drafty 1890’s apartment, I had to learn fast how to keep warm. Hope my lessons learned keep you warm and cozy in your apartment this winter. Light How we dream of a bright, warm sun all cold,
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I’ve lived in many places over the course of my life. I’ve lived in many kinds of places, too. Apartments, condos, and single-family homes both in urban and suburban neighborhoods. I’ve lived in these places as single person, with a roommate, and as part of a family. In the suburban neighborhood in which I currently
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I’m half Italian. My dad’s father was born in Calabria, Italy. He arrived as a boy in the United States in 1900 through Ellis Island. He was travelling with his father, his pregnant mother and three siblings. The family settled in a duplex in a small town in New Jersey. My great grandfather and great
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I am not happy with whomever invented Clean Out Your Fridge Day which is “celebrated” on November 15. Do we really need to be reminded that although the rest of our place looks presentable, there’s probably something creepy, hairy, stinky, and unknown lurking in the back corner of the crisper drawer? Clearly, we do, or
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In a past work life, I staged model apartments. While there was a ton of legwork (shopping, assembling, searching for perfect accessories to complement the furnishings, spending someone else’s money LOL), there was a great sense of satisfaction in creating an environment that showcased the best features of the home and making it desirable for
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  Perhaps you’ve just moved into your first apartment (congrats!). Or maybe you’re sick of eating carry out and frozen dinners (I feel ya!). Or, maybe you want to add a little spice to your culinary life by creatively seasoning your food (now we’re talkin’). These are all great reasons to invest a bit of
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