Graduation Gifts get a Modern Twist

Whether you are attending a high school or college graduation ceremony, the same old standard graduation gifts still apply in today's world. Just be sure to check out these finds to make sure your gift is still relevant in the modern world:

Briefcases are still a great gift for grads, just make sure it is designed to safely transport a laptop, which is an essential part of any student or professional's world. This one has a feminine design and looks just like a handbag!
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Friday Fun with Beach Decor

It's almost beach season! Whether you live on the coast or in the middle of the country, adding a touch of the beach to your home design can be fun and refreshing. As always when changing up your home decor, start small and work your way up to a fully redecorated room.

Here are some great beachy-decor finds for every area of the home:

What a beautiful alternative to a traditional towel hook! These Coast Hooks are made of natural sea stones which are then replaced for sustainability. Use them in the bathroom, kitchen or entryway to hang coats, towels and more.
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Over the Door Hooks - Six Different Ways

Sure, we've all heard of Over the Door Shoe Racks and Coat Hooks. But there's simply more to closet storage than just that! When space is at a premium in your home, look to the backs of your doors for extra hanging and storage space. Whether it is the hall closet, bedroom or back of the bathroom door, there is an over the door organizer out there to solve almost any storage dilemma.

Here are some of the more unique forms of Over the Door Racks you will find:

Video Game Storage on the back of the door? So smart. Anyone with kids knows how quickly video games and their related equipment can take over your life. This one is perfect for the kids' bedroom door, pantry or wherever else they like to hang out.
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Get more "Zen" out of your Garden Decor

Whether you are are a student of meditation or simply like an Asian-inspired space to relax, there are ways to make any outdoor living space more "Zen". You don't have to say "om" or even incorporate Buddha into your design. Simple swaps for items you already have in the yard can be made for a more calming, spa-like feel.

Here are the Best in Asian-style Garden Accents for the Home:

Rock Cairns guide your way through the garden with peace and ease. Purchase or make your own!
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Outdoor Entertaining Fun

Be ready for outdoor entertaining fun, just a month away, with the newest gadgets and tools in outdoor comfort! Here are our picks to help you achieve outdoor entertaining pro status:

This set of 12 Stackable wine glasses is made of acrylic plastic, crystal clear but unbreakable. Great for enjoying a favorite "glass" of vino with friends and family!

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What's New in Lighting Your Home (for under $100)

It really can't be said too often that changing up the lighting in your room's decor is one of the easiest ways to get a new, refreshing look. Fortunately, next to a good dose of new paint on the walls, it is also one of the most affordable.

Here's what's new in lighting, with each piece ringing in under $100* to keep you on budget:

Pendant Lights offer a unique opportunity to drop light down (literally), highlighting a particular area such as a kitchen island or dining room table. The Fedora Ceiling Pendant has great color too, and features a soft glowing red when lit from within.

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Organization on Ice

When it comes to making food last, I’ve long been a fan of the freezer. Whether it’s bread or pasta sauce, freezing food can be a great way to make sure you always have certain items on hand. Frozen sliced bread simply has to be toasted to be ready to make a sandwich, and hard cheese is actually easier to grate when frozen. For those little cans of tomato paste that you’re never able to use up all at once, I like to put individual spoonfuls in a plastic bag and freeze them so I have the exact amount I need ready to go next time I have a recipe that calls for it. It’s also nice to have frozen vegetables around, like peas or broccoli, to make any meal healthier.

What this has meant for my freezer though is that it is always a disorganized mess of bags and containers falling out every time I open it. It was time to get my freezer organized, but first I had to find the right storage.
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Breakfast Treat

Just printed out this recipe from Camillestyles for a will-try this weekend! No yeast or rising required!

Find great food and recipes on pinterest with us!

Ending the Battle with the Bathroom Sink

It would seem like having a lot of counter space in your bathroom would be a good thing. You say to yourself, a pedestal sink is so pretty but it is so much more sensible to have a counter. Until the day you don’t have a counter anymore because it has been overtaken!

It all starts out feeling harmless. A soap dispenser, a toothbrush holder, maybe a jar with cotton swabs. You congratulate yourself because you hung the hairdryer on the wall. But then the lotions and potions, your husband’s aftershave, a candle, and a few hair products arrive.
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A Pretty Desk Organizer

Would be great next to the phone in the main living area of the home as well.

Check out Matt's picks on pinterest!

Crown Molding: Drama Queen

If you've already painted the interior of your home and are looking for an additional upgrade that you can do yourself (or maybe you are just a DIY-junkie like me), crown molding is your next step. It is truly the icing on the cake when you are designing or redecorating a room, and is pretty simple if you have even mediocre sawing skills. (Fair Warning: You will mess up a few pieces at first so buy a little extra!)
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Smart Backpack

What a great idea - a backpack with a ball net built in - perfect for the sporty kid!

See my picks at pinterest!

Kids Sports Stuff - Tips for the Season

With Softball just starting up in our area this weekend, I am reminded last soccer season and all of the stuff that these extra-curricular activities bring into the home. You've got cleats, shin guards, uniforms, huge socks, and three kids…what do you do with them to prevent yourself from going bananas looking for little Suzi's shirt or little Fred's guards ten minutes before a game?

We tried many methods: A big plastic bin to dump everything into, special sports uniform drawers in the dresser, and even keeping all of the equipment in the car (don't know what we were thinking with that one since you can't really get dressed in the car).
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Beet Chips for Healthy Snacking

I love beets but I'm pretty limited in knowing what to do with them (pickled on my salad, please!) This recipe turns them into chips with avocado goat cheese dip (my other two favorite things to eat.)

See what healthy cooking ideas we are collecting on pinterest.

Spring, Spring, Go Away… I Haven’t Tackled the Garage!

For those of us who live in Southern California, spring may as well be here already. But I haven’t forgotten that most people around the world are still dealing with harsh winter climate. Believe it or not, I’m a little envious of those who are. I love winter and see it as a time to turn your energies inward and tackle the indoor projects. I really don’t want to be lured outside by the sunshine and warmth; I’m actually longing for a cold, rainy day where I can put on some records and organize my photo boxes.

So if I were to write to you about gardening or decorating your patio, I’m pretty sure you wouldn’t want to hear about it.
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For those who are icked out by compost…

Keep the food scraps in the freezer while they are in limbo between the kitchen and garden compost area.

Find out what my picks are on pinterest!

I've always wanted a coop…

Maybe now's the time to start! Great facts about eggs, just in time for Easter.

Find great tips and tricks with us on pinterest!

Let 'em write on the walls…

On a wipe-off-board, of course!

Find great tips and my personal picks on pinterest!

Yummy! Is it summer yet?

What a fun idea for kids birthday parties, baby showers and more!

Find all fun for kids ideas with us on pinterest!

Chair Sash Decoration

Use small frames to tie together sashes instead of a traditional bow.

Find great tips with us for entertaining any occasion!

Bedroom Clutter Solutions

The bedroom seems to be the last place we ever think to organize, but let's face it, we all have clutter, even in the bedroom. Yet this is the last thing you see before you go to sleep at night and the first thing you see when you wake up in the morning, so clutter in the bedroom is a recipe for a big headache for many of us.

Here are some real solutions on where to find more storage in the bedroom for a more calming, relaxing environment:

Painting Tip - Aluminum Foil

This tip from Real Simple may have just changed my weekend - wrap aluminum foil around awkward fixtures when you are painting instead of tape.

Find great tips and tricks with us on pinterest!

Easy Decor Upgrade: Area Rugs

For an instant upgrade to your home decor in just about any room, an area rug is hard to beat. Whether you already have carpet, tile or hardwood, the right area rug is simply the icing on the cake.

What to Know About Area Rugs:
-Affordable: You don't have to spend a fortune on a traditional oriental rug to get the benefits of this floor covering. There are many rugs to be found in the under $200 range that will fit your decor style.
-Define a Space: If you have a larger room or an open floor plan, an area rug can "tie together" a seating area. Place a sofa and two chairs (or other seating) in a U-shape around a floor rug to formally designate that space as a conversation area.
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Lemongrass for Every Garden

What a beautiful plant, and it also repels insects. Works great in pots too.

Find ideas for a great garden with us on pinterest!

Organized Crafts Room - You can say that again!

Something to strive for at least! Wow!

Check out our pins for an organized craft room and more!

Baby Closet Organizer

Cute! Love that it includes both long hang and folded clothes areas, it will grow with her well into the school years!

Find great tips for an organized kids room with us on pinterest!

Dryer Sheets as Cleaners?

Use a dryer sheet to clean sticky dust off of trouble spots like blinds and baseboards!

Find great tips and tricks for a cleaner, fresher home with us on pinterest!

Great Use for Dish Drying Rack

What a great idea! Solves that age-old problem of lost tupperware tops!

Find what great tips we are pinning and re-pinning on pinterest!

DIYer In Need of Painting Tips…

I'm about to paint the whole downstairs of my home, and I'm always looking for tips on how to make it easier. Here is a great article I found from doityourself.com with tips for saving money on diy paint jobs. I especially like the idea of using old sheets, blankets and towels instead of buying drop cloths - great tips! Have a wonderful DIY weekend!

Photo by woodleywonderworks via flickr.

For the Bathroom Short on Storage

I love the look of a pedestal sink in the bathroom. We have a powder room downstairs with one. The only problem is that while pretty, these sinks are lacking (or, to be more accurate, 100% useless) when it comes to storage. Since it's just a quick-stop restroom, we don't need makeup, medicine or hair products in there, but we do need to keep extra toilet paper and towels handy. And there are tools to consider as well (plunger, toilet brush).

Here are some simple solutions to add storage to your bathroom while still keeping the look fresh and tidy:

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