Decorating Ideas for Spring - Photo Gallery

I recently posted some ideas on how to update your house and home furniture for the spring and in an earlier post and I found the perfect set of spring decor phtos in this fun post titled "Small Doses of Color for the Color Shy." You don't have to copy-cat the most intricate decorating ideas in the photos but take tid bits that are more realistic and practical for your home and make it "you" :)

Guess Which Celebrities Have an Ivy League University Education

So not only do these celebrities have a talent in acting and/or modeling but they are also very intelligent! Here are 15 celebrities that are in the process of getting their ivy league degrees or have already graduated:

1. Meryl Streep - Yale 1975

2. John Krasinski - Brown 2001 (Jim from The Office!)

3. Rashida Jones - Harvard 1997 (Jim's ex-gf at The Office!)

4. Brooke Shields - Princeton 1987

5. Natalie Portman - Harvard 2003

6. Maggie Gyllenhaal - Columbia 1999

7. Ashley Judd - Harvard 2010

8. James Franco - Yale (in progress)

9. Julia Stiles - Columbia 2005

10. Edward Norton - Yale 1991Publish

11. Emma Watson - Brown (in progress)

12. David Duchovny - Princeton 1982

13. Elizabeth Banks - UPenn 1996

14. Amanda Peet - Columbia 1994

15. Tyra Banks - Harvard (in progress)

ANYBODY Can Afford a Headboard! 4 Cheap Ways to Beautify your Bedroom

I am really falling in love with Apartment Therapy. I came across a post that shows four cheap ways to create a headboard and be space efficient. What I love about these is that you can also change it up every once in a while without splurging a couple hundreds in a new bed frame. Check out "4 Idea for a Cheap Headboard Wall Makeover." I have been patiently waiting to find a cheap and beautiful headboard on Craigslist for a month with no luck yet but I think I may try one of these if I can't find my ideal new bedframe in one more month!

Spring is Here! Tips to Update Your Home

As we welcome the spring season, we should consider updating our house and home furniture to let the beautiful sunshine in. Here are some quick and easy tips to get started.

Gorgeous Vintage House and Home Furniture for Less!

I just came across these amazing pieces of furniture at Apartment Therapy and I wish I was nearby Washington DC to snatch these vintage pieces of house and home furniture. I am such an advocate of Craigslist, you can find anything there for less. I've gotten so many great buys through it and I wish everyone would consider buying second hand furniture to be more environmentally friendly and to save money while making your home look fabulous. I just found that Apartment Therapy has "Scavenger" Craigslist listings for vintage house and home furniture (look at the very bottom where the links to contact the Craigslist ad) and I think they help in narrowing the nice vintage furniture. Hope you find this a great find, like I did!

Today is World Water Day - Quick Tips to Conserve our Resources

Like many of you, I also didn't know that today is World Water Day. Check the Unwater website to get more information about this international water day. Here are some quick tips to take part in conserving our most precious resource:

1. Check your home for any leaks.

2. Shorten your showers - you can get an inexpensive timer to help as a reminder (which can help for a reminder for pretty much anything!).

3. Turn off the water faucet while brushing your teeth or washing dishes.

4. Use your washer machine and dishwasher only when needed and use it with full loads.

There are so many other ways to conserve water, one person a day can make a difference!

A Solution to Cleaning Out the Grime in Your Bathroom and Kitchen

Do you also share a slight hatred with the bathtub and sink? I detest that time of the month when I have to clean the bathroom and kitchen but we all have to do it at some ponint. I found this great post on a method on How to Clean a Porcelain Bathtub or Sink and I can't wait to try it! Usually I use bleach and some sort of detergent like Ajax or Comet but this method may help me avoid the strong odor of bleach...

Imagine how fun it would be to clean this tidy bathroom! I would need triple layer gloves and a full body suit with double layered face mask to get in this baby.

True Loyalty

This is an amazing example of true loyalty... Companions through better or worse.

"Is This Real Life?" - Little David

Just thought a light-hearted video would cheer us up... The innocence of children is priceless. There has been this video that's been pretty popular and even though I've seen it already, it still makes me smile. Little David is just off from the dentist and it looks like the anesthetics are having an effect on him. He asks, "Is this going to be forever?" and the dad reassures, "No, no, it won't be forever..." - David After the Dentist Video

Moving Out?

Considering the current natural disasters that occurred in Japan this past week, many of us would reconsider the area we live in. Is it safe? What type of natural disasters are you exposed to? If you have decided that it's time to move out for the safety of you and your family, check out some tips on how to move. It has crossed my mind to move but considering the state of the economy, it's very unlikely I will any time soon but for those new home owners and the lucky ones that can afford to move, good luck on your new journey and best of luck!

Volcano Shinmoedake Erupts

As if an earthquake, tsunami, and radioactive fumes weren't enough, now Japan has to deal with a volcano eruption at Shinmoedake. I have heard from a friend living in Japan how everyone has remained calm and collected, helping one another, and even those who have been ignored by society and homeless are offering their cartons for others to sleep on while waiting to return home. Japan has inspired so many and I only hope that we can react the same way when a disaster strikes and be there for one another. One love, one world. Keep Japan in our thoughts and continue helping in any way possible.

Nuclear Reactor Emergency in Japan

As Californians are worried about their expensive boats (which I may mention, who in their right mind thinks that they can protect their boat from a tsunami by standing next to it? I am not kidding that there are videos showing boat owners saying that they took the day off work to come out to the dock to protect the boat and you can literally see them standing around on the dock as the surges are coming in but I digress), Japan is now in a state of emergency with their nuclear plants seeping out radioactive gases (see this CNN article for more information). We reap what we sow and unfortunately, no matter how technology has come so far, Mother Nature will always win. Let's keep those affected by this earthquake and tsunami in our thoughts and continue helping them in any way possible. 

Japan's Tragedy 3/11/2011

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Japan and its communities. Also, to anybody who has loved ones in Japan. What a sad, terrible day. I can only imagine how hard it must be for those affected by this horrific earthquake and tsunami. Everyone should go out there and prepare an emergency kit just in case a tragedy like this occurs in your area. Also, make sure to discuss with your families your plan of action if an emergency like this were to occur. 

"Stay Hungry, Stay Foolish." - Steve Jobs

Wise words from Steve Jobs at the Standford Commencement in 2005. Do what you love and don't live under someone else's expectations of what your life should be like. I am so inspired...

Secret Millionaire

This is the most touching show episode I've seen in a while... It seriously made me cry and inspired me to look for volunteering opportunities to make a difference in my community... It's a must watch, hands down - Dani Johnson

Grantham Flood - Furniture Relief

Mother nature is in full force and many are helping the Grantham community to recover from this disaster. This is really touching - http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/02/16/3139969.htm. If you have any furniture to donate, please don't hesitate. If you have furniture that needs some retouching, check out my house and home furniture blog before donating.