9 Decor Ideas for Envious Kitchens

It's a normal; we envy those who have beautiful homes and kitchens. We assume that they are rich. We wish to have the same beautiful looking kitchens but don't know how to get it in the budget. This post will help you with some smart ideas of envious kitchens.

1. Some vintage cook wares and serve wares:

Do you have some copper or bronze cook wares and serve wares? May it be kettles, works, casseroles or even glasses? Maybe you don't admire them and prefer not to use it. A simple trick is to put it to use or display. Even if not in use, clean it up and leave it on the table or kitchen top for classy looks.

2. Add a little light:

Add a small lamp on the kitchen top. This will serve many purposes. While it will save stumbling if someone walks down the kitchen for water at night, if you add cheerful light then it will give cozier looks to the kitchen. Even if you are having a dim light late night movie time, then you don't have to turn on lights to move around looking for quick snacks.

3. Some must have kitchen cloths:

If you have a cute looking apron, then don't shy to display it. Hook it on the cabinet or kitchen door to flaunt it. Having a table cloths and you remove it every time after use? Leave it there. As long as it is clean it will give a fresh look. Similarly, pick up a dish towel you are proud of. Display it and replace it with you old ones.

4. Cookbooks:

Having some space in the cabinets? You can even custom-made an island to add some cookbooks you love. You can even use your refrigerator top for the purpose. These will help you with some handy recipes if you are looking to try something new while adding luxurious looks to your kitchen.

5. Fresh flowers:

Add a vase of fresh flowers on the kitchen top. This will add fresh looks to your kitchen. You can even add a small basket of fresh fruits to have the same effect. If your kitchen window or island has enough space for sunlight, add some fresh pots with growing kitchen herbs. While you are replenished with fresh herbs for your recipes these will give fresh looks to your kitchen.

6. Plate art:

Stacked with leftover single pieces of plates from the complete set and not sure what to do with them? Hang them on the wall as a decorative piece. First, mix and match them for the right composition on the ground so that you don't end up making extra holes on the wall.

7. Kitchen chairs:

Bored with the old looks of the kitchen chairs? It's amazing what cleaning and a coat of fresh paint can do. You can even swap them with dining chairs, dressing table chairs or from anywhere to keep the fun alive.

8. Window dressing:

You can dress your windows with classy and matching window blinds. Choose the fabric that is easy to clean because the kitchen is a place where they can be loaded with oil, grease and other stains. Prefer roller blinds for the smooth finish. If you have glowing sun or a beautiful view outside you can go for energy-efficient blinds or if the view is not so tempting then go for some other style to block the sun and its harmful UV rays.

9. Explore with chalkboard paint:

This is a new style introduced of lately. Add chalkboard paint anywhere you wish, a refrigerator, cabinet or even a small board. Use if for the menu, grocery, quotation, to-do list, reminder or any way you wish to. It is not necessary that you need to have a big budget to decorate your kitchen. It's just the creativity and the use of existing stuff is needed. Now as you are all set with loads of ideas to start with, it's time to style your kitchen with unique way.

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Exhilarating Ideas for Home Decor - Because Each Home Has A Story To Tell!

"I'm a designer who loves to decorate the home with utmost simplicity yet to display the grandeur; I take charge of the things in my life as well as in the home, showcasing my timeless love for perfection," say most women. Decorating your home the way you like only increases your affinity towards the things that you've chosen, thus creating a more personal touch to the interior.

"Home Decor is nothing but a method of alchemy, to mutate the generic, the quotidian, or just plain unworkable into- Something more beautiful, something rarer and something that's more usable!"

To establish a beautiful interior it is important to choose the right home pieces, things that will not only accentuate the existing but will also add an entirely new look to the home. Remember, each home has a story to tell and your home decor pieces do that for you.

Here are the home decor pieces that add a charismatic look to the interior-

1. Lamps & Lanterns - Add fervor to your home and life by introducing an exciting range of lamps and lanterns, a symbol light, optimism and of course ethereal beauty. Here's what you can buy -
Candle Stands - Prepare your home for a beautiful night with a marvelous collection of candles and candle stands, a unique home decor item, chosen by a few who love to embellish their home with masterpieces.

Lamps - To complement the urban and rural touch, a lamp is all you need to add to your list of decor pieces for your home. Buy traditional lamps and bring them in symphony with the contemporary look of the home.

2. Wall Decor - To create decorative and pleasing walls it is important that you choose the right wall decor pieces, each casting its unique look and importance in the room. Here's what you can buy -
Photo Frames - Your life is full of heartwarming memories, and each picture that speaks of those memories deserves to be displayed in an absolute photo frame.

Wall Hangings - As beautiful as the name, the wall hangings are not only used to hang you keys and clothes, but also to add a somewhat appealing look to the mundane walls of the home.

3. Decor Seating - Giving your guests a generic yet pleasing place to settle down definitely wins a lot of compliments for you, and the adequate decor seating is exactly what it takes. Here are the options for you -
Stools - Traditional as they sound, stools are a perfect decor item for homes that want to stick to the generic touch or even for homes that like to blend the old and the new.

Ottomans & Pouffes - Adding colorful ottomans & pouffes in your home will certainly add a majestic touch to your interior because these colorful units add brightness and sparkle to the empty home.

4. Antiques - Antiques are always pleasing, taking you down the memory lane and helping you memorize all those beautiful days that you've lived. Here's something that might please you a bit -
Magazine Racks - Buy antique magazine racks for your age old collection of magazines, and every time you pull out a magazine from the rack, you'll think of the many ways this rack has simplified your life.

Figurines - Add a classy ambiance to the room with a few figurines, each exaggerating the look of your house, decked for almost any occasion.

5. Antique Furniture - As I said earlier, antiques make you remember the old, and if it's all about fond remembrances, then what can be better than adding antique furniture pieces to your home decor list.
Antique Table & Antique Chairs - For the undocked look in the house, it is best that you add a few antique chairs and a table to your list of home decor pieces. These antiques create a striking look at the house with a lot of ease, thus creating a sophisticated yet ethereal look in the room. It is recommended that you choose the right antique chairs and an antique table for your living room for the fabulous look.

Adding one of more of these decor units mentioned above will indeed add a charming look to your home, thus developing a more positive outlook in your life, simply because each unit has a story to tell. So bring out the designer within you and buy these units to make the house look like "Home".

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Respect Is?

My kids don't respect me. My boss doesn't respect me. My employees don't respect me.

When we make comments like these we are trying to demand respect. When we demand respect we get what we deserve... not much! Our goal is to command respect. There are two aspects to commanding respect. Both are simple. You just need to shift your thinking just a touch.

Key #1: Do you respect yourself?

I always tell my members, if you don't respect yourself no one else will respect you. Respecting yourself is just a matter of doing what's right for you as long as it's not harmful to yourself or others. Let others have their opinions about what you "should" do.

How do we make sure we respect ourselves? This is actually simpler than you think. Take five minutes and write your values down on a piece of paper. Not sure what you value most? One way to figure this out is to look at your daily actions. Not the things you say you want to do or think you should do, but what you actually take action on. Those are the things you value. Another way is to look at the things you detest. You value the exact opposite.

When you respect yourself people may not agree with you, but they will respect you for your conviction to your choice of action. During the Civil War, not everyone agreed with General Robert E. Lee's actions, but he was one of the most respected leaders by both the Confederate AND the Union Armies. He was a man of honor and character.

Key #2: Do you listen with your ears, head and heart?

What does it mean to listen with our ears? Listening with your ears means you're not making assumptions about what's being said. Your child says to you, "I want to go there," as they point to the patio door. You assume "there" means outside. You sternly tell your child "no" because it's -30 degrees outside. To the child "there" meant in front of the door so he could sit in the sun.

How do we make sure we hear the right words? By asking a simple question. "What do you mean exactly when you say... " In the above example, it would quickly resolve the assumption, and avoid the disheartening comment.

What does it mean to listen with our head? Listening with our head means discovering the "why" behind another persons request. It means asking questions like, "Why is this important?" or "Why is this necessary?" As Stephen Covey wrote in the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People we must seek to understand before being understood.

The greatest leaders and most respected people always look to understand where people are coming from. They've never walked a mile in their shoes so don't assume to understand the other persons experience.

What does it mean to listen with our heart? To be able to empathize with others. You don't have to agree with another, but empathizing with them will garner a high level of respect from that person. In turn, they will be much more likely to listen and try to understand where you are coming from. As Thoreau once said, "It's never to late to give up on prejudices."

This simple question for listening with your heart, "What if our roles were reversed?" Commanding respect is about commanding your own thoughts and emotions.

Respecting yourself IS the path to commanding respect.

Be sure to teach your children this valuable lesson. As you do you will see the areas you need to work on. As we teach we grow!

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/9329255

Money Is A Part of Our Everyday Life

Money Is A Part of Our Everyday Life

Money Is A Part of Our Everyday Life
Money Is A Part of Our Everyday Life

Money Is A Part of Our Everyday Life

We all have memories of our experiences with money when we were children. Some of us had piggy banks and many of us got allowances. On special occasions, a silver dollar or a check in a card for our special celebrations was always welcome and ex- citing. However, we had a very limited view of what money was and what it can and cannot do.

The older we got the understanding of how money works started to intrigue us and the wheels of our mind would start churning to what we could now want instead of only thinking of what we need. We all grew up and money management grew right along with us or so we hoped it would. We could save some, spend some, give away some and with enough effort a new house, car, or vacation was in our means. Maybe – however with what is considered “plastic” money, we were tempted and even encouraged to “live beyond our means.” If we wanted something that old adage of hard work and saving could be tucked away in a drawer until we enjoyed life, and did what we wanted and when we wanted to do it.

The world was cooperating with us because new credit card offers filled the mailboxes of even high school students. You could be free to not only dream but to have your dream and enjoy it while you were still young. Christmas gifts were a lot more expensive and elaborate, and weddings and other important events cost more but we were definitely worth it. Why even a funeral with all the trimmings could be put on a plastic card and slipped through the machine which made everything okay.

The world is now different and while our needs and expectations have changed along with our lifestyles, we are now a part of the global economy and what happens in countries across the world now affects us. It’s a bit sobering to realize that trade deficits, futures and QE programs can and will make a difference in our money goals and dreams. We can take a class to learn more about these terms but that won’t give us the confidence that we are totally in charge of what we have, what we earn, and what our future monetary world will be. We are part of a world economy whether we like it or not. Taxes, referendums, government fees and other costs do rise and we must pay them. Age brings with it life changes including medical, housing, and family needs. Our pay check can be divided up and a dozen hands come out to take their share before we even get the check home. We begin to realize that our needs are now coming to the forefront and our wants are many times put on the back burner. Why is this happening and how will it all turn out?

The main word in a changing and sometimes confusing money world is “be prepared.” This once was a scouting byword and now it can be our lifesaver if we realize its strength and its possibilities. Every person has different circumstances and many may be in a position more restrained and compromising then others, but whatever you face, being prepared at least can smooth the path and iron out the wrinkles of whatever financial headache we may encounter. It is never too late to sit down and find out where you stand in your money world, and what the challenges might be. There are solutions and there are ways to cope but only if you take the time to realize that while money should never be your goal in life, it can be a means to an end. Taking even small steps in your debt, your necessities, and your responsibilities to maintain what has to be done can relieve some of the anxiety. With each further step, the “extra” items can be factored in and handled. This is the time to use abilities, innovation, creativity and self control so that not only are today’s “money” situations met but tomorrow’s needs are handled and peace and serenity can reign in your heart, your home, and in your grown-up “piggy bank.”

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Sewing Through The Years

I started the day with a sewing project.

For me, this is not done lightly. My expertise with the needle leaves much to be desired so I usually bring clothes that need repairs to a professional seamstress. But this was an emergency. Tonight we are going to an event that requires dressier clothes, the kind I only wear once or twice a year.

My project is a black sleeveless top that I had bought on sale a year ago. But when I tried it on at home, I realized it was almost a size too big on me. I couldn't return it so it had hung in my closet all this time, waiting for me to decide whether to donate it to Goodwill or bring it to a seamstress for repair (which would cost more than the top had cost). So I decided to give it my "quick" treatment.

I still remember my first sewing project. I was in my first year of high school and all the girls had to take cooking for half the school year and sewing for the second half. The boys took wood working which I would have preferred; however, this was 1955 and the women's liberation movement was still 15 years away. I breezed through cooking; something I had done a lot of at home but the sewing class literally tied me up in knots!

The first project for the class was an apron. We chose our material, then learned how to cut out a pattern, thread a needle and make small, neat strokes through the fabric as we sewed it together. I struggled with each step, watching as my classmates completed their aprons and moved on to a skirt. I can't remember if I ever finished the apron but I did learn to hate sewing and promised myself that I would avoid it at all costs.

However, I was enticed back when I inherited my grandmother's treadle sewing machine. We didn't have Barbie dolls in those days and I wanted to dress a favorite doll in grown-up clothes. I searched for bits of material around the house and designed some kind of outfit for the doll. After some experimenting, I learned to use the old machine. I loved the feel of the treadle, peddling it back and forth with my feet while my hands maneuvered cloth through the needle. The clothes I made had a short life span but I learned that sewing could be fun if I could choose the project.

My mother had taken sewing lessons at one point but the table sewing machine she had bought was soon tucked away in its case and stored in the back of the closet. The sewing projects stopped with the class and my mother was reticent to get rid of such an expensive purchase. When I got married, she saw the perfect home for the sewing machine and sent it to me. I ignored it until early in my first pregnancy when I thought I could save money by making a few maternity clothes.

I bought a pattern, material and thread and went to work. My project was a two piece outfit; a skirt and long top. I tried to follow the pattern, cutting a hole in the front of skirt to accommodate the baby's growth. I think I wore it once or twice but by the time I was five or six months pregnant, I discovered that the hole in the skirt came down too far and the jacket was too short, exposing my pregnant belly to the world. Those were the last clothes I ever made.

But I did get into other projects. Years later, with three growing children, I felt the need for an art project. I decided to make quilts for my daughters' beds. Out came the same old sewing machine, still in pristine condition after years of abandonment. I bought four colorful sheets, cut them in squares and sewed the squares together; then backed them with a soft, fuzzy material and filled the interior with stuffing. Then I repeated the process for our second daughter. For a month, our dining room table was covered with fabric, thread, and stuffing - all presided over by the old table sewing machine. Because the kids took so much time during the day, I stayed up late into the night, obsessively working on the projects. When both quilts were done and spread out on the girls' beds, the sewing machine went back in its case and retired to its home in the storage closet.

Since that time, I have sewed hems and pant cuffs (simple ones that only have to be turned over), a few buttons, the occasional ripped shirt or pants, and immediate projects like the one today. I hadn't done much sewing for some time until my granddaughter asked me to teach her how to sew. When we visited a few months ago, I brought a book on learning to sew for children and a small sewing basket filled with all the necessities. She and I spent most of one day working on a small stuffed dog (or cat or bear; I was never certain). She tackled the project with determination and did most of the work herself. However, she had energy to burn when we finished and I was exhausted, ready to go to bed! But it was great fun and exactly what I always thought being a grandma was all about.

The sleeveless top I worked on today was too long, both in the shoulders and in the length. So I pulled up the shoulders, folding the fabric over until the neckline hit me where it was supposed to. Then I pinned it and did the same on the length, folding the hem up until it hit my hips. A search through my sewing kit proved that I had every possible color of thread except black. I called a neighbor and an hour later, I had a spool of black thread! The finished project was very imperfect - lumpy shoulders and bulky hem - but it won't be obvious when it's hidden under a jacket. Another sewing project, another day!

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