Well hello there November, and hello craziest traveling time of the year! Now’s the time to access your travel gear – before the day of your flight – because there some great deals out there this month. Maybe you’re someone who wheels their bag or maybe you’re the hold it by the handles type, either way we have a carry-on that’s right up your alley!
And just for good measure, 9 fast tips for packing like a pro.
1. Wear your biggest pieces (i.e. coat, sweater, boots) on the flight.
2. Plan out your outfits so you don’t overpack.
3. Roll your clothing rather than fold it to avoid creases and save space.
4. Tuck socks and other small things into your shoes.
5. Place shoes in shoe bags or plastic bags to keep your clothing clean.
6. Pack an extra plastic bag (or the like) to stash dirty socks and underthings.
7. Add a dryer sheet or two to your packed bag to keep everything smelling fresh.
8. Place liquid toiletries in individual snack-sized baggies to avoid a mess if they spill.
9. If you’re staying somewhere unfamiliar pack a travel sized favorite candle for a familiar scent.
Tell me, do you change up anything in your home with the seasons? I do, but like to keep it minimal. Swapping out the bedding is usually first, followed by the rug and textiles in the living room. And boom, done. You don’t have to do big things to get an impact.
This autumn I chose a few pieces from Burke Decor to get my living room into cozy mode. The lifestyle and home furnishings company has a beautiful inventory, full of things inspired by design, function, and form curated from designers and artisans the world over. Spelled out: you can easily achieve a look that matches your aesthetic.
As you can see, I have a fair amount of color in my living room – mainly books and art – balanced out by neutral tones on the walls and furniture. I wanted something durable for the floor that could stand up to my dogs’ wet winter paws and roughhousing ways. When I saw this Natural Cape Cod Rug from Safavieh I knew it was a match. It’s soft and textural but woven of sustainably harvested sisal and sea grass that can take a beating. I really like how its pattern doesn’t compete with the others in the room and blends in with the flooring, keeping the space feeling bright and open.
I’ve been getting bolder when it comes to using pattern, but I usually stick with black and white because they mesh easily. These Avila Onyx Pillow by Villa Home feature handcrafted embroidery and the softest linen backing. (Bebe is clearly a fan!) They add a layer of textural interest to my basic navy/grey couch that it needs.
Here you can get a big picture peek at three of the four patterns in the living room, the other being this throw that’s been in high rotation. I think each piece comfortably holds its own while making you notice the others at the same time. Success!
As I mentioned, this throw is constantly out. I’ve also been using my salt lamp more and more as the days get shorter and shorter. And my favorite candle is back in the rotation for cooler weather, tobacco and patchouli.
I’m certain this will be the cleanest the entry will be until April! I recently hung a new mirror and have been taking full advantage of the small shelf it features, setting small vases (this one’s actually a beaker) full of flowers and small seasonal decor on it. That coat rack is bound to be overflowing soon.
Did you spy my Halloween decorations in some of the other photos? I tend to stick with a few favorite pieces indoors rather than go overboard. A few owls on the mantel, a garland, a few pumpkins and skulls. Oh, and a spider on the coffee table, because every house needs one of those.
I hope you’re hunkering down as the weather cools and are just as cozy as we are!
Product for this post provided by Burke Decor. As always, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help Design Crush create fresh content!
My current shower has sliding glass doors, and while they’re nice I find myself missing the ability to change up the personality of the room with a shower curtain. Of course that means I find curtains I love around every corner. But just because I can’t take advantage that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t – take a peek at these 13 shower curtains by clicking on each, plenty are on sale!
Have you noticed the trend of one large, statement making piece of art in the bedroom? Usually placed above the bed and sometimes even in place of the headboard itself. That’s my bedroom above, and I’m definitely considering removing the iron frame and lowering this piece on the wall a bit.
Don’t worry, gallery walls are still thriving. But one large piece of statement art commands all of your attention, which is an especially lovely look if you’re into minimalism. The bedroom should be a place that’s both relaxing and cozy – a retreat. For that reason I chose a piece of art with lots of moody blues, Stormy Drive by Smile Peace Love from Minted, that measures in at a whopping 54 x 40″. Can’t you imagine you’re in the car driving down the highway into this storm? For me it’s palpable.
Here are ten other bedrooms doing statement art right, as well some large scale art recommendations for your own boudoir.
I thought I’d hate crème brûlée right up until the very moment I tried it. That was back in 2002 in a little boutique hotel’s restaurant in San Francisco, and it was chocolate. My eyes just about rolled back in my head with the first bite and ever since it’s been one of my favorite desserts. A few of the recipes below are small twists on what’s become a classic while others are further departures, but I’m betting every last one is delicious.
Click on each image to go to the recipe. All photos copyright of their respective sites unless otherwise noted.
I can never get enough pumpkin when autumn shows its pretty face, no matter the form. So today I’m happy to take part in the #virtualpumpkinparty organized by Sara from Cake Over Steak with a cocktail recipe I’ve reached for a few times this month.
While experimenting I really wanted to accomplish two things:
1. Quick and easy to pull together.
2. Showcasing fall flavors.
Pumpkin was a no brainer, and so was bourbon as far as I was concerned. My favorite lately has been Hudson Whiskey Baby Bourbon, a 90% corn and 10% malted barley combo that’s the first whiskey made in New York since Prohibition and the first bourbon ever. All of the ingredients are sourced within 60 miles of the distillery, with the end result being a little smoky with notes of vanilla and caramel. The perfect choice for this cocktail.
Ingredients
• 4 C water
• 6 oz Hudson Whiskey Baby Bourbon
• 1/4 C pumpkin puree
• 4 Tbsp pure maple syrup
• 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
• 20 whole cloves
• medium apple, sliced
Combine all ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat on medium, stirring occasionally, until gently boiling. Drink while hot, garnish with apple slices or cinnamon stick. Serves 4.
Check out the rest of the nearly 100 other recipes being featured in today’s #virtualpumpkinparty listed over on Cake Over Steak and Twigg Studios!
A special thank you to Hudson Whiskey for providing a bottle of their Baby Bourbon for use in this recipe!
I always decorate for Halloween, but there’s no formula. Some years it’s only a porch full of pumpkins and others it’s something a little more. This year I decided that the windows in my guest room were begging for eyeballs.
And that’s how it started, with six dollars worth of poster board and a pair of scissors. My first thought was that I’d like for them to be a bit larger, maybe even bigger than the windows themselves, but I was happy. I shared this photo on Instagram and Facebook as an afterthought.
And that’s when the design by committee began! Several friends and followers suggested that the large living room window directly below needed teeth. And they were 100% correct, so back out came the scissors and leftover paper scraps.
A window full of neon yellow snaggleteeth later and more suggestions came pouring in. Friends who live in town started driving by with their children in tow and I even caught a few snapping photos.
The last suggestion that I entertained was the addition of some mean eyebrows with the last two scraps, which definitely made this DIY Halloween house monster complete. All-in-all it was a blast to create and I can’t wait to see the looks on trick-or-treaters’ faces in a few weeks!
Halloween was always played up as the best holiday at my house as a kid, which is probably why it remains my favorite to this day. I love the childhood innocence involved, as well as the more macabre side you learn about a few years later. My house is all decorated – maybe you’ve already seen it on social media – and I’ll be sharing more about that tomorrow. But for now here are four dozen All Hallows’ Eve treats I think you’ll love!
Do you ever get an overwhelming feeling to toss everything and start over? My last big clean out was two years ago during my last move, and over the past few months I’ve had a visceral feeling that it was time to go through everything again.
I’m currently over halfway through the Marie Kondo-ing of my things – the kitchen, living room, guest room, bathrooms, and master bedroom have been sorted. About half of the castoffs have been given away and the rest are sitting in my finished attic waiting to be sold or donated.
But the room I was dreading was my office.
As a blogger I work out of a home office, and it often ends up as the room where submissions, samples, and products for projects get tossed. In other words: the Dump Room. Just walking into it made my anxiety jump a few levels, which definitely isn’t conducive to productivity.
We’ve written about Poppin before, and you might’ve seen them yourself in some big box stores. The New York-based brand is a leading manufacturer of workplace furniture, as well as those brightly colored supplies you’ve likely seen, supported by the belief that everyone deserves to work happy. (That’s something we can all get behind, isn’t it?) Their well-designed, clean-lined pieces were a perfect match for my office, and I chose two white Stow 3-Drawer File Cabinets to tackle my biggest issues: organizing and decluttering.
These powder-coated steel beauties showed up completely assembled and ready to rock – all of Poppin‘s furniture is always in stock and ready to ship asap – and I got right to work storing office supplies in one and craft and tech in the other. A bonus: one lock protects all three drawers! I chose white to match my desk, but the Stow Cabinets also come in a bevy of other colors.
Everything else went into boxes on these shelves – notecards, notebooks, washi tape, etc are all hidden away nice and neat. The only things left out are the ones I need access to often, like pens, markers, and greeting cards.
Tip 1: If you forgot you owned it – toss it.
I came across plenty of things that I either never remembered purchasing or thought I’d thrown out long ago. You’ll never have an easier decision.
Tip 2: If you don’t use it on a weekly basis – store it.
There are lots of items you own that are only get used occasionally. Tuck those things away in drawers, closets, or pretty boxes that are preferably labeled.
Tip 3: Don’t keep duplicates.
Extra supplies (Sharpies, tape, etc) excluded, you usually don’t need more than one. Get a new printer/camera/coffee maker? Get rid of the old one right away.
Tip 4: Donate it.
Guilt played a huge role in my entire decluttering process. My mom gave me this. I remember what I was doing that one time I wore this. I could maybe use this again if… Pass on your wealth by donating these loved but unneeded items.
Tip 5: If it’s broken, throw it away.
You’re not going to fix it. In fact, if it’s that important of an item you’ve probably already replaced it. To the trash can you go, end of story.
This post sponsored by Poppin. As always, all words and opinions are my own. Thank you for supporting the brands that help keep Design Crush creating fresh content!
