Home & Garden Blog

4 Tips To Make Valentine’s Day At Home Memorable

brock — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 19:28:07 +0000

You’ve read my previous articles, so you know exactly what you are having for dinner on the big Valentine’s Day night and you know to go light on the red and pink, but you still have to bring your romance A-game if you’re going to make this the perfect night.

Making your significant other feel special is a Valentine’ Day imperative, otherwise you’re just cooking a fancy dinner. Here are some ways you can make your romantic night at home unforgettable.

Candles

Nothing is more romantic than the glow and flicker of candlelight. There should be one or two candles on the primary dinner table, depending on the size, and several placed throughout the home. The goal is to provide enough light to see, but still keep it low and romantic. You don’t want to go too few or else you may end up bumping into everything, and there is a fine line between candlelight romance and a weird Voodoo shrine. If your home looks like a cave, then add a few more. If your home looks like a flaming inferno, then tone it down.

Rose Petals

These flowers will be in high demand this holiday, so try and grab fresh flowers a couple of days early and keep them safe in nutrient rich water (you can also used boxed loose rose petals). Pull off the petals and place them around the dinner table. If you think you might have a “romantic” evening, then place them around the bed as well. I’ve never been a fan of the treasure trail of rose petals, so a little goes a long way. As an added bonus, clean up the petals when you’re done — don’t leave it for her to clean up in the morning. That’s just rude.

Fragrant Oil

You can always buy scented candles, but I have found them to be a little hit and miss. Either the smell is overpowering or too subtle. I like to use heated scented oils because their scent is pretty steady. You can use an oil heater that you can purchase at a store, or a candle heater also purchased at a craft or decorative store. Keep the fragrances simple like rose and other floral scents. Stay away from citrus and fruit smells because you don’t want your house to smell like Mr. Clean was just there.

The Dance

We all want Valentine’s Day to be perfect, so take the time to make it that way. A great dinner is only the start. Beforehand, clear a spot in the living room and, when dinner is over, put on a little “At Last” by Etta James (or whatever your special song may be) for a little slow dance. For those few minutes, the world melts away and it’s just the two of you. What can be more memorable than that?

Selling Your Home? Consider These Home Staging Tips

guest — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:30:39 +0000

Megan Gates is an active blogger who provides written work to the blogosphere pertaining to NYC Real Estate, Hamptons Homes, home improvement and the latest architecture, design, fashion and travel. Follow her on twitter @MEGatesDesign

If a person wants to ensure that their home will soon be sold once it has been released on the market, they need to take part in the art of home staging. If you are unfamiliar with the term, home staging refers to organizing a home in order to show its potential to buyers. Poor staging can ruin the experience, while good staging can bring about a sale. Inspect your home from the bottom to the top, bringing in family members, friends and even neighbors to provide extra eyes and opinions. Once the process is finished, sit down and think about what you need to do.

Get Rid of Clutter and Organize

In order to successfully sell a home, the seller should want potential buyers to see themselves in the space. That means getting rid of many personal touches from the previous owner. Nobody wants to see the owner’s pile of unopened mail, a half-eaten sandwich on the kitchen counter, or scattered toys. This is something that many sellers and homeowners do not think of; yet, a room that appears messy and unclean can only repel buyers.

Rearrange and Rethink Space

In order to help the home sell, it is important to help small rooms appear bigger in their scope. This means removing furniture that is bulky, along with large decorations such as vases and framed paintings. You do not, however, have to buy new furniture or rent something just to make the space appear nice. Instead, you can throw in small extras, such as throw blankets, scented candles and even a mirror or two. Mirrors can help add space to a small room, making it appear more accommodating.

Personality and Color

In order to sell a home quickly, it is important to ensure that the personality of you and other members of the household do not come through too strongly; at least when it comes to the color scheme. While you may adore bright blue colors or neon greens, a new homeowner may not have the same enthusiasm. Go to your local hardware store and pick out a simple, neutral paint to use on the walls. Doing this can change a room to something more widely accepted and mainstream.

Unlike what some people may believe, you are going about it all wrong if you simply pack things away into your closets. People who visit the home will not be able to understand the potential and how much storage space they actually have to work with. If you cannot fathom the idea of throwing some things away, store them in another place. Rent a storage space or ask a friend to care for them for awhile. If you need money, hold a garage sale. With the extra money you can better stage the home or put it towards moving expenses.

Spring Inspiration: Minty Green Decor

Belinda — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 23:22:33 +0000

When it comes to spring colors, you can never go wrong with pastels. They are sweet, classic and the go-tos for spring. But this year there is one shade from this bunch that stands out above the rest: Mint Green. It’s refreshing and soft, and looks just as great when combined with bursts of warm and bright hues (like magenta and tangerine) as it does with soft and clean neutrals (like beige and white). Spring is the perfect time to renew your home decor and lighten the mood in the atmosphere, so why not give this seafoamy green a try this season? We’ve hand-picked some perfectly minty green decor items to help inspire your next home makeover.

Beef Burgundy: A Valentine Classic

brock — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 17:59:01 +0000

There are few dishes that are more commonly served on Valentine’s Day than beef burgundy (also known as boeuf bourguignon). It has a few factors that make is preferred: it’s full of meat to make the man happy and is not easy to make, which translates to you worked hard on it.

Traditionally, beef burgundy is served over noodles. That only requires you to boil some type of noodles after the beef is finished. The dish is large enough that if you don’t want to make any sides, then you can make this the primary dish. (Just don’t forget an elegant dessert.)

Ingredients:

3 tablespoons of olive oil
2 pounds of cut round steak
3 tablespoons of flour
2 cups of beef broth
1 1/2 cups of a dry red wine (the drier the better)
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 teaspoon of crushed dried marjoram
1/2 teaspoon crushed dried thyme
1/4 teaspoon of black pepper
2 1/2 cups of mushrooms
3 finely chopped onions

Whew, that’s a lot of stuff, but don’t worry, you’ll be fine. It’s intimidating, I know, but it’s not as complicated as you think.

Get out your biggest pot and place over medium heat. Add the oil and let it get hot before adding the beef. Spread flour over the meat to keep it from sticking and use tongs or a spatula to turn the beef and make sure it gets good and brown on all sides.

Once the beef is browned, add the broth and red wine as well as the salt, marjoram, thyme and black pepper. Bring the pot to a boil, reduce the heat and cover. Let the dish simmer for about 1 1/2 to 2 hours, making sure to stir to keep things from sticking and burning to the pan.

Once the pot reduces down to where the liquid just barely covers the beef, add the mushrooms and onion. Now would be a good time to start boiling the noodles. Cook the dish until the onions are soft and — voila! — it’s done.

Place the noodles on a plate and cover with the beef burgundy. It has a great taste, which goes well with many dishes. You’ll be a hit with your loved one if you serve this on Valentine’s Day or any other special day.

Easy Ways To Bring Color To A Bathroom

brock — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 19:20:58 +0000

We don’t like to admit it, but we spend a lot of time in our bathrooms. Especially after spicy taco night at your favorite restaurant. Unfortunately, unless you are able to spend a ton of money, the fixtures, bathtub, etc. are all white.

It’s hard to paint or wall paper a bathroom because of all the moisture created from bathing and showering, but when you get a rumbly in your tumbly and need to visit the facility, you want to be comfortable. Pale white walls and fixtures just add to the anxiety.

Luckily for you, there are ways to introduce a little color into the bathroom that won’t break the bank.

There are numerous bathroom rugs available in various colors and styles at most department stores. They can be the kind that fit around the toilet, or a more traditional rectangular rug depending on how much room you have in the bathroom.

You can also add matching or complementary bath towels. Most bathrooms have a towel rack which only gets used a few times a day. Why not take advantage of the space by turning it into a useful decoration. Bathrooms are notoriously small and bath towels don’t take up much space.

The walls are horrendous. If you were lucky to get an older house, then you could be staring at a pea green that would give Linda Blair a childhood flashback. The moisture from the shower makes it difficult to keep up wall paper and paint tends to bubble and crack after a while, or get moldy. Place a few tasteful paintings on the walls to bring in some cover and help cover up those walls. Please be tasteful, no pictures of teddy bears on toilets or anything else like that.

Many bathrooms have at least one window. It may be frosted so lookie loos won’t see your business, but you can place some drapes or curtains to bring in some fun colors. The only thing to remember about cloth, such as carpets and drapes, is that it must be washed regularly. If your drapes get wet from condensation, then they can develop mold.

You can always hang some shelves and add some colorful knick knacks, or use the existing shelving — such as the sink — to place some vases. One place I would avoid is the toilet tank. When you’re in the midst of a plumbing emergency, the last thing you want to have to do is take a bunch of items off the tank so you can get the top off.

A Quick Guide To Pairing Wine With Food

brock — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 19:40:42 +0000

You’re planning a wonderful romantic dinner for Valentine’s Day and everything is nearly set. You’ve picked out an amazing meal and dessert, but are stuck on choosing the right wine. You know certain foods go better with certain wines and you don’t want to ruin the meal because you bought a dry wine when you needed something sweeter.

Don’t worry, it’s not the end of the world. You’ll be the king of culinary design if you follow a few simple rules. One rule that needs to be shared throughout is that you don’t drink a single wine through the entire meal. Ideally, you have a different wine for each course, but if not, make sure to at least change the wine with the dessert. A dry wine and sweet dessert is disastrous.

Fish

For fish, you’ll want a wine that is pretty low in tannins, which don’t react well when they come in contact with seafood. These tannins will create a heavy metallic taste that many find unpleasant. Instead, use a nice subtle white wine with fish or a red with low tannins such as a light Burgundy or Cabernet Blanc.

Poultry, Pork, Veal

They say that white wines go with white meat and, for me, the best option is a Chardonnay. The flavor of the wine mixes well with the meat, but you also have to consider what is going with it. If you have sweet sauce with the meat, then you may want to go with a less dry variety. Sweet food and dry wines tend to clash together.

Steak

When it comes to pairing wines with steak, you have to consider how you cook the meat. A rare fillet goes well with a Pinot Noir or Burgundy, while a rare sirloin goes best with a Cabernet or Merlot. If the steak is well done, then opt for more fruity wines. This also depends on the various cuts and sides, as well. If you want to play it safe, then use a Shiraz or Tuscan red.

Pasta

With pasta, the noodle isn’t as important as what is going on it. If you’re planning a cheese or cream sauce, then go with a Chardonnay, but if you’re using a tomato-based sauce, then used a Sauvignon Blanc.

Appetizers

The appetizer isn’t often thought of for wine, but when you are mingling at a party and the appetizers are being served, everyone has a wine glass in their hand. The best wine for most appetizers is a Riesling because it has a lot of body, but is also somewhat sweet. Appetizers are a preparation for the main meal, and go well with a full bodied wine.

Dessert

Dessert deserves a completely new wine from the rest of the meal. If you don’t want to change wines, then pair the dessert up with a flavorful coffee. My favorite type of wine to pair with dessert is Moscato. This is a very sweet wine and complements the sweetness of the dessert. One thing you will want to avoid entirely is wine and chocolate. It is almost impossible to pair these together, so either avoid the chocolate or avoid the wine.

Made with Love: Great Homemade Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

brock — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 19:11:29 +0000

We’re living in tough economic times, and as Valentine’s Day approaches, you may consider lowering your standard gift allowance in exchange for something more important such as food and electricity.

Many people believe that they can save themselves cash by crafting a gift from scratch and counting on their own creativity and effort to make up any monetary loss. For the most part, this is a valid assumption. People — men and women alike — enjoy knowing that you spent a considerable amount of time crafting a gift that is unique to them.

The key to this equation is effort. Unless you’re 6 years old, a macaroni necklace isn’t going to make up for a diamond bracelet — no matter what kind of pasta you use. If you are going to make a gift, then you’re going to have to put some serious effort into it. Your standard arts and crafts aren’t going to cut it for Valentine’s Day.

Here are some options:

Art

If you have a creative streak in you, then invest in some paints and canvas and create an original piece of art for your loved one. It doesn’t have to be a Rembrandt, but you need to have some natural talent, especially if you hope to showcase it on the living room wall. If painting isn’t your thing, then photography is another artistic option. Have a few pictures of the two of you professionally framed and create a specific area for them on the wall.

Scrapbook

You’ve had a lot of years together and done some pretty amazing things. A scrapbook could include vacations, parties, births, pregnancy, etc. Use a scrapbook to create a timeline of yours and your significant other’s life together. A good scrapbook will take several hours to put together and will show your softer side. All too often, couples accuse each other of taking one another for granted and not communicating, so a scrapbook shows that you not only remember, but treasure your time together.

Culinary

If you have the artistic ability of a banana-throwing monkey, then try your hand at cooking. Cooking is another talent, but there are countless recipes out there which show you in detail how to craft delicious treats. This is Valentine’s Day, so meatloaf and mashed potatoes isn’t going to feel special. The meal needs to be amazing. You need to have an appetizer, salad, main course, side dish and dessert. Each piece should be made from scratch. The meal cannot just taste good, it has to look amazing as well, so spend some time working on presentation.

If you put significant effort into a gift, then it will show and will be a hit. If you do it at the last second, then it will look like a hastily put together gift. Remember, your relationship is precious, so treat it as such this Valentine’s Day.

Outdoor Entertaining: Take Advantage of Weather Changes

brock — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:02:00 +0000

In the Midwest, it’s still winter, but we’ve had a few days of 50 degree weather bringing a much needed break to the cold winter winds. As I brought my children home from school, leaving my winter coat at home, I scanned over to my neighbor who had dusted off his barbecue grill and was making some heavenly smelling hamburgers.

For many people, winter is bleak time filled with illness and cabin fever. When these rare days come up where Mother Nature takes a vacation, don’t sit inside thinking, “Wow, this is such a great day.” Get out and do something! My neighbor took the initiative, but why stop with just a good dinner? If you’re at work and you know that the day is going to be something at least bearable, if not perfect, call up some friends and have a winter break party.

There still may be snow on the ground, but with some good friends and a few adult beverages, you’ll be warming right up. There is just something special about spending time outside when the air is crisp and fresh after spending weeks — or even months — stuck indoors because of bad weather. With the snow melting, but still there, why not regain some of your youthful vigor with snowball fights, or even some snow football?

There aren’t going to be too many days like these and the cold weather will return, so take the time to have an outdoor party. I am actually disappointed in myself that I didn’t take advantage like my neighbor did. He sat outside with a cold brew in his hand and grilled his family a great meal in the middle of winter.

The day after, the temperatures dropped and he put the grill away probably for at least another month — maybe two. If you are a fan of entertaining and start getting that itch when you’re sedentary too long, then warm up that cell phone and start bringing people in for a one-night-only outdoor winter party.

Odds are they don’t have much else to do and they’re tired of sitting in front of the television watching reruns of Desperate Housewives. They’ll welcome the break and you’ll welcome the company.

Valentine’s Main Course: Honey Dijon Salmon

brock — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 18:21:07 +0000

In a couple of weeks, you’re going to need a kickin’ main course if you plan on having a quiet Valentine’s dinner at home. My wife loves it when I cook a special dinner instead of going out, because it means more to her when I put the effort and time into making a special meal.

Try this Dijon salmon recipe and she’ll be in love with you all over again. It’s simple, tasty and can be paired with a good wine and dessert. (More on that next week.)

Ingredients:

Salmon fillets

1/4 cup of melted butter

3 tablespoons of Dijon mustard

1 1/2 tablespoons of honey

1/2 cup of dry bread crumbs

1/2 cup of finely chopped pecans

4 teaspoons of fresh chopped parsley

Salt and pepper to taste

We start by preheating the oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the butter, mustard and honey into a bowl and stir until well mixed. In a separate bowl, mix the bread crumbs, pecans and parsley. Place the salmon fillets on a baking dish and brush each piece with the Dijon mix. A little goes a long way, so you can best be the judge on how much you want. Cover the tops with the bread crumb mixture.

It’s important to note that you are not coating the salmon in the mixture, but simply creating a bread crumb topping. Place the baking dish into the oven for about 15 minutes and season with the salt and pepper.

The salmon is a perfect dinner addition and this recipe creates a dish that not only tastes good, but looks great too. A perfect Valentine’s Day dinner isn’t just about how good it tastes, but also presentation. A few sides and you’ve got a meal she or he will remember forever. I would suggest garlic mashed potatoes; it’s a tried and true favorite that goes with just about anything.

Valentine’s Day Isn’t Just About Red

brock — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 19:06:06 +0000

All too often I walk into someone’s home in February and am assaulted with a visual massacre of red everything. Yes, the pun was intended. It looks like someone bled over everything and left hearts everywhere. Christmas has red, green and a few other colors. Easter has pastels. Valentine’s has red and its close cousin pink.

You don’t need to turn your home into a fiery red scene just because you’re brimming with love and affection for the holiday. You can tone it down by using other colors besides red and pink and, instead, focus on the meaning of the holiday and not the color.

If you want a few heavenly cherubs dangling from the ceiling or heart figurines dotting the landscape, that’s fine — but at least try to change it up with some greens and blues. You don’t have to be biologically accurate with your hearts, either. No one expects to look at a Valentine’s Day decoration and be able to identify the left ventricle.

Valentine’s Day is important for many people because it’s the day you’re supposed to show your love for your significant other. It’s not about a singing pink gorilla belting out Barry Manilow, or diaper-wearing angels with bows and arrows. Don’t make your home the centerpiece of Valentine’s Day; make your relationship the centerpiece.

Instead of making your home look campy, try making it look more romantic. You can add some candles and soft lighting, so that when you or your partner comes home, they get an immediate feeling of relaxation and…you know.

I don’t know about you, but walking into a Valentine’s Day wonderland of cupids and red everything makes me nauseous — not amorous. You have the opportunity to make February a month of love and compassion by choosing decorations that make you feel good. I don’t think there is a better Valentine’s Day decoration than a dim candlelit table, surrounded by a light sprinkling of rose petals and your loved one standing next to an expertly crafted meal with a look of pure love.

You both deserve to feel that way for the entire month; do make a conscious decision not to go overboard on the red this year and instead focus on what makes you feel all lovey dovey inside.