Home sweet home.
Ahoy! I love the beachy look of nautical ropes used in the home. Unlike the standard boat, fish, and lighthouse motifs, rope details a pay homage to the high seas with a less kitschy tone. They can be subtly used on glasses and doormats or steal the show on standouts like this impressive Dock Glow Chandelier ($798). The detail on this chandelier is incredible — it literally looks like it was Read more
Ballard Designs' new Spool Side Table ($199) was inspired by actual spools used by French rope makers to display and sell their natural fiber manila rope. Crafted of mango wood and authentic manila rope, it's not the bulky side table it appears to be: its top lifts off for storage. While this design is quite clever to me, with an antiquey meets nautical vibe, I think I'd rather own the real Read more
Photographer Todd Selby recently toured the NYC apartment of music label director Keith Abrahamsson and stylist Kate Young, which is simply too cool for school. Under a backdrop of warm grays, the digs have plenty of high-quality furniture with interesting shapes and artsy elements, but the thing I love the most is that each room has something subtle and creative to notice. In the bathroom, I Read more
If you are a surfer in your heart and soul, nothing can compare to the freedom of gliding over ocean waves, with nothing but a board between you. But in the winter, your only option is to snowboard, but the feeling of being locked into bindings that are attached to a board, isn't much like surfing at all. Until now. Check out the noboard. No bindings. Nothing but you and your board. In order Read more
In case you didn't get the memo, jump ropes are still in style. Just because it was an activity you did as a kid, doesn't mean you can't enjoy it now. Jump rope is not only an amazing cardio workout — a 145-lb person can burn 132 calories in just 10 minutes if jumping at a quick pace — but it's also a simple, convenient workout as well. Celebrity trainer Tracy Anderson, includes skipping in Read more
Whether you're an exercise newbie or a fitness buff, jumping rope is a great option for fun, quick, and effective cardio. Though a jump rope is one of the simplest pieces of equipment available, shopping for one isn't easy because they come in various lengths and the quality can differ depending on materials used. You'll find that ropes differ in handle size and cord weight; I recommend staying Read more
No need to scour the Internet for the perfect sturdy, cool camera strap to take on your travels; just peek inside your closet. This camera strap DIY by Photojojo calls simply for a silk scarf or piece of cut silk fabric, sturdy key rings, and some basic sewing skills. Silk is an incredibly sturdy fabric, which makes it an ideal candidate to keep a precious DSLR safe. Silk rope is actually Read more
For Menna Pritchard, rock climbing, hiking, and surfing are a way of life —and she isn't going to let a lil thing like a baby get in her way of a great adventure. The single mama is at the center of a storm of controversy since turning to Facebook to post a photo of herself rock-climbing with her daughter Ffion, 2, strapped to her back. In the image, mama Menna is wearing a helmet for Read more
If Winter weather curbs your outdoor runs and steep gym prices prevent you from hitting the pool or a spin class, you'll need an inexpensive and easy way to keep up with your cardio sessions. You may associate a jump rope with school-aged girls, boxers, or those in the military, but jump ropes are a great tool to keep in your home gym and here's why. Cheap way to save time while burning major Read more
A solid warmup sets you up for a solid workout. When it comes to prepping for strength training, an active warmup primes the joints and muscles, prepping them for the heavy lifting. Lauren, my Equinox trainer, introduced me to these moves, and after a little light cardio — for me, it's five minutes running on a treadmill at a 6 mph pace, but the elliptical or a little jump rope would work — Read more
