Browse by Topic

.wp-container-1.wp-container-1,.wp-container-5.wp-container-5,.wp-container-9.wp-container-9,.wp-container-13.wp-container-13,.wp-container-17.wp-container-17,.wp-container-21.wp-container-21,.wp-container-26.wp-container-26,.wp-container-30.wp-container-30justify-content:center;.wp-container-4.wp-container-4,.wp-container-8.wp-container-8,.wp-container-12.wp-container-12,.wp-container-16.wp-container-16,.wp-container-20.wp-container-20,.wp-container-24.wp-container-24,.wp-container-29.wp-container-29,.wp-container-33.wp-container-33flex-wrap:nowrap;

Source: mint.intuit.com

Apache is functioning normally

You don’t have to be a tree-hugger to want to embrace a more green commute. Not only does going green in your commute help your environment, it can also help your wallet. Considering the current gas crisis and the rising prices at the pump, wanting to go green has never been more been more beneficial.

75 percent of Americans get to work by driving solo — so green commuting offers an opportunity to make a big difference for the environment. And with many cities offering a “Guaranteed Ride Home” program to bikers, carpoolers and public transit users, there’s no reason not give one of these options a try. In fact, several communities are actually making the most of green commuting options

It’s impressive that military-based communities such as Colorado Springs, Biloxi and Bremerton have embraced the green commuting lifestyle. While larger city neighborhoods such as Koreatown, NY, Hudson Exchange, NJ, Boston’s Beacon Hill and Dupont Circle, DC might come as no surprise given the city’s large transport infrastructure, it’s surprising to find that a smaller city such as Ann Arbor, MI would also make the list.

Are you one of America’s green commuters? Think your area does a lot better than one of these? Comment below and let us know.

Apache is functioning normally

Working from home is here to stay after the COVID-19 pandemic, and if you’ve spent the past three years working from your kitchen table or makeshift office in your bedroom, you may be wondering how to decorate a home office that’s more suitable for your longer-term work.

Research from the Office for National Statistics’ Opinions and Lifestyle Survey found that 14 percent of adults continue to work exclusively from home long after lockdown restrictions lifted, while a further 24 percent have adopted hybrid working between their home and the office. With many employers set to keep homeworking as a permanent business model, there’s never been a better time to get your working from home setup in order.

Whether you have a dedicated home office or have a desk space within another room in your house, there is still lots of potential to create a home office that is practical, full of personality, and improves your productivity. We’ve rounded up 15 home office décor ideas to inspire you on how it should be done…

15 home office décor ideas

1. Subtle sophistication

If you’re lucky enough to have your own personal home office, make the most of your space and place your desk front and centre, sticking to sophisticated neutral tones for a workspace worthy of any CEO. Open shelving to display books and ornaments add a touch of character, while panelled walls and a sleek cream rug provide the perfect finishing touches.

SHOP: 14 best home office chairs that are stylish and comfortable

2. Bold and bright

If calming neutrals aren’t your thing, perhaps a splash of bold colour will inspire you. Go for all out maximalism with bright cobalt blue, pops of yellow and jewel-tone accents for a home office that’s full of personality and character.

3. Go for traditional heritage prints

Mixing prints across your curtains, blinds and wallpaper are a surefire way to ensure your work from home space is anything but boring. A stylish desk, ladder shelving and luxurious gold and velvet accessories combine to create an opulent feel in this home office.

4. Go muted

© Cuckooland

If you’re easily distracted or working within your bedroom or another space, you may find that it’s best to keep things simple by decorating in muted tones, and allow your accessories such as an oversized vase or eye-catching desk lamp to add interest. 

5. Opt for industrial monochrome

© Dunelm

You can’t go wrong with black and white, and we love how this black wall panel and shelving contrasts against the plain white walls, providing a space to showcase your favourite wall art, books or work accolades.

6. Go traditional

© Cuckooland

For a more timeless and traditional home office, a brown leather chair and oak desk are the ideal choice. Accessorise with a vase or decorative items in complementing neutral and metallic tones to add a contemporary update to this classic aesthetic.

MORE: 30 home office must-haves that make the best working from home gifts

SEE: 12 genius dressing tables that double up as desks

7. Pick pretty prints

Feminine florals, scalloped details and pretty prints combine to create a beautiful home office space that will have you eager to get to your desk in the morning.

8. Think industrial

A wall desk is both practical and on-trend, providing space for you to store books and display photos, while creating a modern industrial vibe in your working from home space.

9. Light and bright

Avoid distractions and maximise light in any office by decorating all in white. Wooden panelling across one wall and the ceiling add interest to a monochrome room, while open shelving and storage will mean you always have everything you need close at hand.

RELATED: 10 real-life home offices of Instagram that will inspire you to work

10. Going green

Calming and cheerful, green is a great colour choice for a home office, whether you go for one statement wall or decorate your entire room in the perky hue. Paired perfectly with sleek black furniture and grey and white accents, this is a home office you’ll love to show off on your next Zoom call.

11. Beautiful Biophilic

© Furniture and Choice

If your desk is located within your bedroom, creating a room divider with open shelving filled with lush plants and blooms is the perfect way to separate the two spaces and ensure your bedroom is still very much your sanctuary after a busy day of work.

12. Create a home office nook

You don’t need a lot of space to create a functional and fabulous home office; utilising an alcove or nook within your bedroom or living room can allow you to work from home without impacting on valuable floor space. Add shelving above your desk to store your books and display your favourite photos and ornaments.

13. Feeling neutral

Neutral tones never go out of style, so try mixing soft tones of cream, beige and grey for a classy and understated vibe. A glass-topped desk is a great way to make a statement, while plants and carefully-curated artwork finish the look to perfection.

14. Get playful

© Furniture and Choice

There’s nothing mellow about this yellow and white home office – and we love everything about it. Neon signs, fairy lights and colour pop accessories add a playful touch to this workspace, while a grid or pegboard provides a great way to display photos and prints, and keep on top of your to-do list.

15. Make it modular

A modular desk system is great for smaller spaces, providing space for all of your home office essentials while giving you the flexibility to move it around as required and truly make it your own.

Want to keep up to date with the latest stories? Sign up to our HELLO! Newsletters today.

Source: hellomagazine.com

Apache is functioning normally

The place you lay your head to rest every night should be valued as highly as the load it carries.

Not to overstate things, but what you choose to rest sleep on determine how well-rested you are, which has mega health consequences in your everyday day.

Without a good night’s sleep, there’s less energy during the day to spend on all the activities that bring joy to your life and keep you happy and healthy.

So now that we’ve established how important your sleep is, let’s go into setting up your bed for optimal comfort and rest.

And no, I’m not saying that you should start thinking about renovating your bedroom. Technically, it’s you bed that should feel like your happy place, the place you go back to at the end of every day.

Your entire body should be comfortable throughout the night. The mattress should encourage better sleep postures and boost breathability.

When choosing your bed and shopping for a mattress, your top factors should be comfort level, size, quality, longevity, to mention the first few.

If you are wondering which mattress would be a top choice to look at, consider the natural bamboo mattress. Here are a few of the main reasons why this might be the best decision you make:

Pro-environment

Going green is great for the entire world. If there is anything we can do to help sustain and protect nature from harmful human intervention, we’re all for it.

Bamboos are natural resources that grow quickly but are also eco-friendly. In comparison to other material like cotton or timber, bamboo releases a lot more oxygen into the environment.

Variety in sizes

Like you would expect of any other type of mattress, bamboo mattresses come in different sizes. This means that you can quickly order 3 of the best king size mattress options for back pain at mattressgenius.com without any fails.

You can also get the Queen Size, twin size, or even, California king size. Thanks to these varieties, the natural bamboo mattresses make the perfect beds for side sleepers, back, and also front sleepers.

More comfortable than cotton mattresses

In comparing natural bamboo mattresses and cotton mattresses, you will notice that bamboo is softer than cotton.

This means that it is also a lot more comfortable for users than cotton mattresses. Besides, the comfort of the natural mattresses is not dependent on the seasons or weather changes.

Most people who opt for natural bamboo mattresses attest that they are incredibly comfortable, and unmatched by none in the market.

Hypoallergenic

People who struggle with allergies have the hardest time finding the right mattress to suit their needs. With the natural bamboo mattress, you do not have to go through the hassle of purchasing a non-allergen cover to help with your allergic triggers.

In fact, bamboo mattresses are known to be hypoallergenic. These mattresses are made with antibacterial and anti-microbial properties, which help prevent the formation of harmful bacteria and fungi that can cause allergic triggers.

This type of mattress is also resistant to dust mites, one of the most commonly encountered issue with regular mattresses. Thanks to this, you can enjoy a good night’s sleep without dust mites triggering your allergies.

Temperature regulation

Most people do not appreciate the fact that bamboo is a very porous material when used in its fabric form.

But it’s precisely this feature that makes it highly breathable by allowing free flow of air in and out. Instead of sweating through the night and coping with the challenge of heat trapped between your body and the mattress, enjoy a bamboo mattress that will let your body be cool throughout the night.

Besides, the natural bamboo mattresses come with the ability to absorb moisture. This means that even if you sweat into the night, you will not experience any type of uncomfortable pooling of the sweat.

The nature of the bamboo mattress ensures that the bedding does not stick to your body even after sweating. The pores of the bamboo mattress allow the sweat to evaporate quickly so you can enjoy a peaceful night.

Adequate spinal support

It is super important to have your back and neck laid out properly during sleep, for the sake of your spinal column.

Usually, the spinal column of your body has a natural curve that should be embraced for better spinal health.

A bamboo mattress will allow the proper inclination of your spine throughout the night, so make sure you pay special attention to this aspect when choosing your mattress.

More helpful tips for your home

10 Beautiful Tiffany-Style Floor Lamps to Light Up Your Home
Here’s Why a Womb Chair is the Perfect Addition to Your Interiors
The Benefits of Massage Chair Recliners and Why You Should Get One for Your Home
How to Successfully Integrate Smart Home Tech into Your Own Home

Source: fancypantshomes.com

Apache is functioning normally

It’s official. The holidays are here! In recent years the festive season has caught me a little off guard. I never felt ready, and like I couldn’t fully relish it all. Last year I didn’t even have a tree (this was my last second solution). But no more. This go round, I’m planning to learn from all my past mistakes and make the most of the most wonderful time of the year. Decking the halls, cookie making, tree decorating – you name it, I’m doing it. I’ve learned if you have a game plan, the holidays don’t have to get the best of you.

Case in point: the big holiday feasts. The menus, the table setting – it can all get overwhelming. I teamed up with Pints and Plates to share my top tips for setting the perfect holiday table without breaking a sweat. As you can see below, I’m going green with my holiday table this year. Visit here for all the details.

original photography for apartment 34 by delbarr moradi 

This content was created in partnership with Pints and Plates.

%%youtubomatic_0_0%%

Source: apartment34.com

Apache is functioning normally

This past month or so we’ve been highlighting savings tips for the summer, and we’ve talked about things like saving on food, saving at the movies, saving on summer travel and so much more (see the links below).

Before we end this summer savings series, however,  I thought it would be nice to highlight some of the summer savings tips that were submitted by our readers during our contest. There are some good ones here:

Summer Savings Tips From Our Readers

Here are a few of the tips our readers sent in on ways to save money this summer.

  • Joey – My summer savings tip – Use coupons when buying my groceries. Every little saving makes a difference.
  • The Happy Rock – Get your air conditioning unit checked and tuned up to help save on energy costs.
  • otherdeb – Know that bicycle that’s been moldering against your back porch/in your attic/in your garage, etc? Get it out, get it checked over, and start using it for local errands!
  • Rachel – For a cheap sun burn treatment that won’t require an extra trip to the pharmacy, freeze some of the lotion you already have on hand on a piece of tin foil. Once it’s frozen, it cools and soothes the burn and also moisturizers to ease peeling and blistering. Works great too for those who are allergic to Aloe Vera like me! Source: top10pharma.net
  • Sam – Turn you thermostat up to 80 and use your ceiling fans or box fans.We also turn off the AC at night and just use our ceiling fans.
  • finaidgirl – Since we’re moving 1000+ miles with a car and moving truck, I’m concentrating on more gas-friendly driving habits, like driving the speed limit or slower, braking more slowly and steadily, not idling, and paying to tune up the car before the trip to prevent any big issues from happening on the way.
  • RachaelfromNJ – Sometimes items that you own just need a good cleaning and they will look like brand new. Alot of men don’t realize that their baseball caps can be cleaned, in the dishwasher. Go to any Walmart, Target, Footlock, or any store that sells hats and you can get this plastic thing to put the hat in and all you have to do is place it in the dishwasher to clean it. It will make the hat nice and clean and save your man alot of money in buying a new hat everytime it gets dirty!
  • ThatOneCaveman – Vacation in or near your hometown. There are often a lot of cheap or free ways to entertain yourself – you just have to look for them. We’ll be visiting a few local museums (free entrance + free air conditioning), the zoo, the lake, and a few parks this summer – all for free!
  • Cindy – I’m saving money in a number of ways this summer. The first way is riding my motorcycle to work every day it’s not raining. I use about half the gas I would in my small car.
    Some of my co-workers, who live closer than I do, are riding thier bikes to work. That’s free and they’re getting excercise to boot, a double benefit.
  • Diana Corlett – Combine going green with economizing. Be inventive…come up with new ways to use and re-use. Repair what you have instead of throwing it away and buying new. Make a hobby out of garage sales…you never know what treasure you might find.
  • Christin – Dry your laundry on a rack outside. This saves $$ and your clothes will last longer too!
  • Mercedes – This summer I have decided to quit driving my kids around for activities and stay local. I have been lucky to have found things to do in the small town that I live. So far I love this simple summer life. I am kicking back and enjoying the nice weather without a hectic lifestyle.
  • Melinda – Continue to start our summer vacation (December here) 2 weeks before summer school holidays officially begin. No crowds at the amusement parks, lower airfares & greater discounts on accommodation
  • Morgan – Go on a long walk with your significant other on a nice summer evening. This is a great way to get exercise, communicate, and not spend money.
  • Bunny – Use ceiling fans instead of AC. Dry your laundry outside under the sun. Go to the parks for nice family outings.
  • EL – My summer savings tip is to use the community pool, if you have one. It’s a great, cheap outing for hot days, great exercise, and keeps you from using the air conditioner.
  • Lauren – I’ve planted a vegetable garden to help save money at the grocery store, not only for the summer, but into the fall and winter months as well thanks to the joy that is freezing and canning!
  • CelticBuffy – 1)Keep the ceiling fans going to make the house feel cooler.
    2)Close the curtains on sun-facing windows to cut down on the amount of heat coming into the house
    3) Grill out or eat “cool” evening meals as using the oven can really heat up the house.
  • Mrs.Micah – My tip is to try wearing as little as possible indoors to help keep the need for a/c down. We didn’t turn ours on until mid-June when a heat wave hit DC and I found this a useful part. Of course, if you have kids what you can get away with is probably warmer than what you can if you don’t have kids. And it requires shutting the blinds/curtains, but that’s probably a good idea anyway for reducing heat in the house.
  • Donna V -My husband and I have been trying to save money on our date nights this summer. We love going to the movie theater and have saved money by going on Saturday before noon when tickets are $4-5 depending on the theater.
  • Shawna – My tip – hang dark colored sheets/blankets over your windows to prevent the sun from coming in and warming it up too much inside (and prevent the AC from running too much). I take push pins and put one on each side of the window at the top, then I take binder clips and put one on each side of the blanket and hang them that way so that it is easy to take them down. The setting sun really heats up some of my rooms and I do this with success.
  • Christopher – Go out and have a family day. Go to the zoo, the park, the beach, or another inexpensive place. Pack a picnic lunch to avoid the overpriced concession stands. Play games like volley ball or baseball, build a sand castle, or ride the swings.

So there you have it!  Submit your own tips in the comments below!

Money Saving Posts From The Summer Savings Series

Have your own tips?  Leave a comment with your tip, or a link to your own post!

Source: biblemoneymatters.com

Can Missing Just One Payment Affect Your Credit Score?

By now you’ve probably begun, or perhaps even finished, your Christmas shopping. And while December is a month filled with countless distractions one thing remains crystal clear, which is that you cannot forsake your obligations to lenders just because you’re distracted. I just returned from a trial in Pennsylvania where one of the parties made

The post Can Missing Just One Payment Affect Your Credit Score? appeared first on MintLife Blog.

How Apartments Are Going Green: 7 Environmental Design Features to Look For

Make the earth-friendly investment that is living in a green apartment community.

The post How Apartments Are Going Green: 7 Environmental Design Features to Look For appeared first on The Rent. Blog : A Renter’s Guide for Tips & Advice.