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DIY Some Self-Care: How to Make a Soothing Chai Spice Tub Tea

by Marlene Sauer
How to Make Chai Spice Tub Tea
Images by Marlene Sauer

It's the most wonderful time of the year.

No, I don't mean the Big C. My absolute favorite time of year is -- fall!

Every year when autumn hits here in New England, my senses come to life. Crisp, clear air; leaves to crunch through; snuggly scarves; cozy lit windows on dark, chill nights; there are so many little daily luxuries to savor.

And this year I'm adding another one, which will also help in my goal of better self-care: DIY chai spice tub tea!

Keep reading to see how easy it is to make your own chai spice tub tea!          

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Try This: Mulling Spice Simmer Pot Recipe

by M.E. Gray

How to make your home instantly smell like autumn with this fall simmer pot recipe

We're getting to that time of year where two different things are happening: parties are picking up, and the cold weather is forcing us to spend more time indoors. So... basically the perfect combination for some cozy aromatherapy! The fall season has so many distinct smells associated with it - like crisp winds, earthy leaves, fresh rain - and one of the most recognizable scent combinations is that of mulling spices. Whether you have a dinner party coming up, or simply want to flood your home with the scents of the season, this quick fall simmer pot is sure to do the trick.         

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Seriously Useful Apartment-Friendly Closet Organization Ideas for Renters

by Erica Young
Seriously Useful Apartment-Friendly Closet Organization Ideas for Renters
Photo: Elena Elisseeva/Shutterstock

 

Most beautifully organized closets have one thing in common - built-ins. Whether it be custom shelving or even IKEA installations, a little (or a lot) of construction is needed. But what if you're a renter, and you can't make any permanent changes to your closet? Are you doomed to a single hanger rod and basically a hot mess? Luckily we have some solutions that don't require a power drill. Read on for renter-friendly ideas that will keep your closet nice and tidy.

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130+ Halloween Costume Ideas If You Have No Idea What You're Going to Be Yet

by M.E. Gray

128 Ideas on What to Be for Halloween

As an adult, you've got a lot of important decisions to make every year, but one of the most important is what to be for Halloween! We're only kidding - but sometimes it does seem like an overwhelming responsibility! If you're still scratching your head as to what to be, take a scroll down this list and see if anything tickles your fancy. We have costume ideas for couples, whole families and groups, or for a party-of-one. Asking yourself, "What should I be for Halloween?" Look no further. Happy Halloween!        

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Organize It!: How to Make Two Types of Drawer Dividers

by M.E. Gray

How to make a wood drawer dividers

Whoever invented drawers was a genius. A compartment where you can throw your stuff inside, shut it, and forget about it? Sign me up. What the inventor of the drawer did forget to consider, however, was organization. Toss your stuff inside a drawer, and you're sure to have to dig to find it again. You can buy traditional drawer dividers and organizers from the store, but what if your drawers are too small (or too big)? You're in luck - DIY drawer dividers are really easy to make yourself.            

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How to Fold Everything in Your Dresser

by M.E. Gray

How to fold everything in your dresser

There's nothing quite like the frustration of trying to find a shirt in a dresser drawer packed full of balled up clothes. There's no order, and everything is kind of just shoved in there. While it may be tempting to just close up your dresser drawers when they start to get chaotic, being able to have everything nicely folded and visible will make getting ready in the morning a million times easier. So, rather than just tossing that tee in the back of the drawer, fold it properly the first time so you can find it when you need it. Keep reading for the best way to fold shirts, pants, socks, even underwear!         

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Moving? Clean These 6 Commonly Overlooked Areas Before Your Lease is Up

by M.E. Gray
Moving? Don't forget to clean these 6 commonly overlooked areas

It's the end of the month, and if your lease is up and you haven't renewed, that means it's time to move! When relocating to a new apartment, you likely have a million things on your to-do list. Between trying to secure a rental truck on the same weekend everyone else is, and sweet-talking your friends so they'll help you haul all your stuff, the last thing you want to think about is cleaning. However, you don't want to forget about your precious security deposit! Your old digs needs to be spick and span if you want to get back every cent of your deposit. Read on for the common areas that are often overlooked or under-cleaned when renters are doing their final move out cleaning.            

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How to: DIY Graphic and Modern Wall Art for Under $10

by Lidy Dipert

 

How to: Make Graphic and Modern Wall Art for under $10

This summer is extra special because... I am celebrating my ten year anniversary with my husband! Seriously, it's crazy how fast time flies. To honor such a joyous occasion, we have decided to travel to Europe. Specifically, Paris and London! We have always talked about traveling more together, but that's always easier said then done when you have three young kids. And now, at last, we finally have a really good excuse to make that happen. I decided to create some graphic and modern wall art for our newly revamped kitchen to serve as a happy and positive reminder of our very special ten-day trip for our ten year anniversary and all for under $10! Do you sense a theme here? 

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How to: Turn a Baking Rack Into a Modern Grid Organizer

by Lidy Dipert

How-to: Turn a Cooling Rack Into a Grid Organizer

After the hustle and bustle of the season, I find myself going into this weird funk. Our home felt like it was going to burst at the seams with all the stuff we had accumulated. The last couple weeks I've been on major purge mode to help get things feeling peaceful once more. Plus it doesn't hurt to be more organized!  This simple project is all about making life easier when it comes to rearranging the home. And all it takes is breathing a...

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19 Things to Do Before Going on Vacation This Summer

by M.E. Gray

How to prep your home before going on vacation

Summer is synonymous with vacation time! Are you planning a big trip this year? Maybe it's a road trip across the country, or maybe it's a cruise. Perhaps an outdoor camping getaway or you're headed to a cabin by the lake. What ever the reason, if you're leaving your home unattended for a few days or even weeks. While your house can't actually get lonely without you, it will miss your maintenance. A few things need to happen inside and out so you can rest easy while you're gone. Here are 19 things you should do before going on vacation:           

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The Ultimate Guide to Road Trip Games

by Joel Selby

Road trip games: playing tic-tac-toe in the car.

Road trip games are a lifesaver, whether you're trekking cross country to sight-see or simply cross-county to see the grandparents, you're a college student on a butt-numbing quest to see how many states you can pin in a single weekend, or you're simply idling in traffic on the way to the airport.

Sure, you can flip through Facebook or have the kids watch Frozen for the 1,000th time, but why not use some of that road time to have a little fun while fostering a deeper connection with your fellow travelers? 

Read on for our ultimate guide to road trip games to get started!      

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An Easy Way to Make Beautiful Wall Art Without Breaking the Bank

by Stephanie Lee

Stretched fabric wall art: An easy way to make beautiful art without breaking the bank!

One of the best things about beautiful artwork is how it can instantly transform the look and feel of a room. Sadly, large scale wall art is often expensive, placing it out of many people's budgets (mine included!).

That doesn't mean we have to go without, though. Using just a piece of fabric and some wood, you can whip up your own statement piece of art in the space of an afternoon. And the best part of all? It doesn't come with a hefty price tag! Follow along below to find out how to make your own fabric wall art...             

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DIY 4th of July Popsicles, Two Ways: One for Kids and One for Adults!

by M.E. Gray

Recipe: 4th of July popsicles!

Here's a summertime tip: Always make popsicles. Summer is here, which means the Fourth of July is on the way and you probably have a barbeque to host. Whether you're holding a kid-friendly summer party or an adults-only celebration, popsicles will make everyone happy, including you! That's because they're ridiculously easy to make, you can prep them far in advance, and nothing tastes better on a hot day than a refreshing popsicle. We have two tasty recipes for you to prep this summer. The first popsicles are champagne-infused (adults only!), mimicking the colors in a bomb pop. The second are kid-friendly (but equally delicious) lemon-flavored fruity popsicles.        

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We Guarantee You Won't Kill These 10 Houseplants

by Lidy Dipert

 

Best Low Light Houseplants

Believe it or not, I use to be a professional plant killer. Turns out, with a little love and care, keeping plants alive is really not that hard! You just need to know a few key tips. So today I'm sharing 10 low light houseplants (I actually own all of these) that are tough to kill (because I haven't killed them yet!). So, if you want to introduce a few plants into your home, but you're not sure you can keep them green, here are some you might want to look into! 

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How to Furnish Your Walls at the Thrift Store

by M.E. Gray

Gallery wall made from thrifted items!

I have a hard time spending a lot of money on wall art. I feel horrible saying that. I got my Bachelor's degree in art, so I - of all people - totally understand the effort and talent that's required to create good art. Honestly, I'm just cheap. While I might occasionally splurge for a print or photo I really love, my home is hardly a museum. I can't afford to fill my walls top to bottom with one-of-a-kind art pieces. So yeah, I might be cheap, but I'm pretty dang thrifty, too! Whether it's sprucing up some existing wall art, or creating my own with found items, I can fill a wall for under $40. The best place to find forgotten and dirt-cheap wall decor is your local second-hand store (think Goodwill, Savers, Salvation Army, etc.). I set out to create a cheap gallery wall using only things I found at the thrift store, and here's how it worked out.          

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