CasaSugar

How-To: Decorate With Rocks

CasaSugar — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 11:00:03 -0800

I was inspired by Danny Seo's rock project from earlier today, so I thought I'd see what other cool ideas I could find for decorating around your home with rocks and stones. From giant boulders to tiny river rocks, there's quite a lot to be found when it comes to rocking out in your home.

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How-To: Prep Your Bedroom For Valentine's Day

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 14:00:15 -0800

Sometimes, all it takes to get a bedroom Valentine's Day ready are a few special touches. Whether you want to go all out or add a tiny, special flair, there are plenty of ways to get your boudoir ready for this weekend.

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How-To: Keep Your Valentine's Day Bouquet Fresh

CasaSugar — Fri, 12 Feb 2010 06:00:00 -0800

If you're expecting a bouquet of flowers this Sunday, prepare yourself with a few of my tips on keeping them fresh and oh-so-pretty. If there's no man in your life to shower you with Valentine's Day gifts, treat yourself! You deserve it. If your beau brings you flowers every day of the week, you need not read further, and you really should be giving me lessons. Otherwise, to hear my tips, read more.

Do not put your flowers in warm water; this dehydrates them. So once you've cut them, place them in a clean vase filled with cold water.
Cut flowers can sometimes go into shock when they experience extreme fluctuations in temperature, causing them to die suddenly. So, keep them away from warm or cold air drafts, don't transfer them from a hot room to a cold one, and don't leave them overnight in a place (i.e. work) where the heating or air conditioning may be turned off at night.
The waterline on the stems shouldn't be any higher than about a half of a foot.
Some florists sell packets of "flower food" that kill bacteria growing on your flowers. It may work like a charm, but you don't need them: I have some easy household alternatives for you. One tried-and-true alternative is adding a couple tablespoons of lemon juice or white vinegar; the acidity will kill off bacteria. I just use whatever is handy. Pouring in a tablespoon of bleach should also kill off mold.
Cut the stems of your flowers every couple of days, and replace the water and flower food whenever you do this as well.
You should also make sure to pick off any foliage below the water line to prevent bacteria growth.
If your flowers have wilted, you can try to restore them by putting them in a vase filled with near boiling water.
Most florists receive their fresh flowers at the beginning of the week, so by Friday, they're already on their last legs. Buying your flowers earlier in the week will give you more time with them. On the other hand, most florists will give you a good discount on stems if you buy them on Friday.

How-To: Prep Your Bathroom For Valentine's Day

CasaSugar — Thu, 11 Feb 2010 07:00:34 -0800

Want to add a romantic touch to your home? Why not start with your bathroom? Whether you want to take a romantic bath or simply add a pretty touch with flowers or home accents, there's plenty of inspiration to be found in this slideshow.

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How-To: Curtain a Room For Under $20

CasaSugar — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 10:00:27 -0800

The other day, I tweeted about the awesome sale Ikea was having on some of its fabric. We're talking 99 cents a yard here, people! That is really, really cheap. And while I love my Amy Butler fabric, it often runs around $14 a yard. Since I've been looking for fabric for curtains for my soon-to-arrive baby's room, and since those five windows in the room require about 17 yards of fabric, it was hard for me to justify expensive fabric.

So, imagine my delight when I found this great graphic-patterned brown and white fabric. It's part of the Petronella line of fabric at Ikea, and is usually $5.99 a yard (on sale now for 99 cents a yard). While this fabric is quite narrow (18 inches wide), it's already hemmed on the sides with a contrasting brown border. This helped to make my curtain-making project a relative snap. In fact, the hardest part of the job was taking down the ugly white blinds that had been hanging prior to this project!

Tell me, do you buy fabric at Ikea? If so, what projects have you whipped up with it?

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How-To: Say Goodbye to Salt Stains

CasaSugar — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 08:00:23 -0800

If you live in a snowy climate, chances are that road crews are keeping the highways and byways of your hometown ice-free with the use of salt. It's likely that you, as well, are cutting down on ice on the steps and paths around your home by using salt. While salt can be a great tool, it can also wreak havoc on rugs and carpets inside your home - especially in the entry, where boots can too easily track salt all over these items.

Even if you've had salt stains on your carpets or rugs for most of this Winter, you can still banish them with some simple ingredients and a lot of elbow grease. To find out how to get rid of those stains, read more.

Start by vacuuming the carpet to get rid of any dirt, grime, and extra salt.
Mix 1 cup white vinegar with 1 cup warm water, and fill a clean spray bottle with the mixture
Thoroughly spray the mixture on the stain, and let sit for at least 15 minutes.
Use a clean sponge or towel to blot the area - don't rub or scrub it, which could make the stain worse.
Repeat as needed. Allow to air dry each time.

Source: Flickr User lakbdesign/fergusandme

How-To: Banish Moths From Your Closet

CasaSugar — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 08:00:27 -0800

In the recent New York Times article "When Moths Make a Home in Yours," writer Arianne Cohen asked the experts about ways to banish the bothersome bugs from your closet - and prevent them from returning.

Of course, it's always best to stop moths' progress before it starts. However, if it's too late for that, there are some steps you can take to keep the winged invaders at bay. Check out some of the methods for keeping moths out of your closet when you read more.

Start by keeping your closet tidy and clean. Dirty clothes often attract moths.
Even if you do find moths in your closet, don't immediately panic. Out of the 15,000 moth species in the United States, only two eat clothing.
If you have moths already, dry clean everything made of wool or animal fibers. Wash everything else in 120-degree water.
Vacuum the entire closet, including floors, walls, shelves, and ceilings, to get rid of any moths or larvae.
To prevent re-infestation, keep clothes in airtight bags or plastic sweater boxes.
Cedar balls aren't actually as effective as you might think. Cedar must be used in high concentration to kill moths. Who knew?!
Try to avoid mothballs, as they are a pesticide and a suspected carcinogen (read: really bad for your health).

Check out the New York Times article for more ideas and quotes from the experts.

Source: Flickr User fotographix.ca

How-To: Keep Your Stovetop Clean

CasaSugar — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 14:30:55 -0800

One of my biggest pet peeves in my kitchen is a dirty stovetop. If you cook regularly, it's often hard to avoid spills and stains on the shiny surface of your stove. However, if you can keep up a regular regimen of cleaning it after you cook, you can ward off deeper cleaning sessions that may take an hour or more. Check out my tips below for keeping your stovetop clean.

Reserve one sponge (preferably with a soft side and an abrasive side) for stove cleaning. Every time you cook, get in the habit of cleaning your stovetop with some soapy water and the sponge after you've done the dishes and cleaned the counter. This will help to prevent crud buildup.
Every time that you have a bubbling or dripping pot sully your burners, clean the burners immediately after they have cooled down.
For trays and removable burners, pop them in the dishwasher.

If your stove is already dirty, find out about my favorite way of getting it clean when you read more.

I'm a big fan of using baking soda for stubborn stuck-on crud and stains. Simply sprinkle it onto the dirty bits and then wipe off with a wet sponge or cloth. For truly stubborn stains, use a more abrasive sponge, but be careful not to scratch the surface with it. I also sometimes use a vinegar spray, which reacts with the baking soda and helps to banish the stains.

Tell me, what are your secret weapons when it comes to cleaning a stovetop?

Source: Flickr User ILoveButter

How-To: Pot an Amaryllis

CasaSugar — Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:00:52 -0800

The savvy experts over at Gardeners recently posted an article showing their fans and customers how to pot an amaryllis. If you want to introduce some beautiful color into your Winter home, try potting amaryllis bulbs.

All you'll need is an amaryllis bulb, fresh potting soil, and a heavy pot with a drainage hole. Find out the steps when you read more.

Here's How to Do It

Use a pot that's large enough to accommodate the bulb, with a drainage hole. The pot should be at least one inch wider than the diameter of the bulb. Since amaryllis are top heavy, a heavy pot, which will offset the flower's weight, is best.
Moisten the potting soil before putting it in the pot, which will make it easier to get the bulb positioned in the pot. Then, fill the pot with potting soil.
When you place the bulb in the soil, leave the top third above the soil's surface. Pack the soil around the bulb, and leave about an inch of rim on the inside of the pot, so tit will not overflow when watered.
When the amaryllis bulb is potted, set in a cooler place in your house, that is bright. You don't need direct sunlight. Water intermittently until there is about two inches of new growth. Then, water the plant regularly and turn the pot to encourage the stalk to grow straight. Buds will appear and blooms will begin to open within five to eight weeks. To prolong the blooms, keep the pot away from heat and direct sunlight.

Source: Flickr User Per Obi Wiberg

10 Ways to Reduce Your Winter Heating Bill

CasaSugar — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 15:00:29 -0800

It doesn't necessarily take thousands of dollars and weeks of time to get your Winter heating bill in check. There are plenty of methods for pinching pennies this season.

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