Does your home have a boo-boo?

the following is the quiz apartment therapist Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan puts to clients before helping them fix their apartments -- making them more comfortable, soothing, efficient, pleasant spaces that best reflect their owners' personalities and meet their needs.

The Quiz (you can substitute house for apartment, if need be) . . .

Favorites
List your favorite in each category:

• actress
• actor
• artist
• writer
• music
• restaurant
• automobile
• television show
• clothing (designer or store)

How would you describe your style (3 words)?

1.  
2.  
3.  

Personal History
Where have you lived?
      Where you were born:
      Where you grew up:
      As an adult:

Whom would you consider a role model?

What three adjectives describe the qualities that you admire in this person?

1.  
2.  
3.  

Apartment
What is the problem with your apartment (3 words)?

1.  
2.  
3.  

If your apartment could speak, what would it say is the problem?

What one thing would you like to do or do more of in your apartment?

Eight weeks from now, when this project is done, if friends came to visit, how would you like them to describe your home (3 words)?

1.  
2.  
3.  

Key: Answering quickly = quick decision maker (need directing)
Answering slowly = extremely careful decision maker (need pushing)
Leaving blanks = weak sense of personal style (need to imitate)
Too many answers = want to fit a lot in, may have trouble with clutter (need editing)
Answers are very eclectic = style may not be focused or you may be conflicted about how you want to be perceived (need to be clarified)
Difficulty naming an artist or clothing = more analytical and less visually oriented (need to look at a lot of pictures to improve visual knowledge)


Analyzing the Whole of Your Home (answer yes or no)
Head (the purpose of your home)

1. Does your home support everything you want to do?
2. Do you use your home often?
3. Is there a room for everything you want to do at home?
4. Is there a good space for what is most important to you?

Heart (the emotional life of your home -- the elements that give it passion)

1. Do you consider your home beautiful?
2. Do you feel you have a sense of style?
3. Does y our clothing express your sense of style?
4. Does your home express your style?

Breath (the arrangement of your home -- the flow through each room and how you make space for each of the activities that you want to take place within them)

1. Do you consider your home comfortable?
2. Do you sleep well at night?
3. Is your apartment organized?
4. Is it easy to clean and declutter?

Bones (the physical structure of your home)

1. Do you consider your home to be in good shape?
2. Is everything in good working order?
3. Do you take care of repairs quickly?
4. Do you clean your home often?

FINAL SCORE (number of yeses):

Key (number of times you answered yes):

12–14: Excellent health. Invigorating. Occasional updating and ongoing maintenance are all that is needed.

9–11: Health. Comfortable. Could use improvement in at least one area and toning all around.

4–8: Weak. Energy drain. Visible problems in need of work have probably been put off for a long time.

0–3: Very ill. Depressing. Serious problems that are harmful to your health.

from Maxwell Gillingham-Ryan, Apartment Therapy: The Eight-Step Home Cure (New York: Bantam, 2006).

Shit's getting real, yo

 

#PatrickBateman

Please do not go to the trouble

i should hate to think of your exterting yourself entirely on my behalf . . .

#No,Really,PleaseDon't

Pinterest Rorschach

so, clearly My Style is sufficiently "sad granny" that pinterest thinks i will find the following awesome:

 

and i'm all, "eff you, pinterest! i'm too YOUNG for a calcium deficiency!"

but then they go send me this . . .

. . . and it's all good.

#MoreThanMeetsTheEye

One day when I plant my garden . . .

 

information for the UK, so modify planting times per your growing zone.

Do YOU believe in life after love?

TRUE STORY: when i first saw this pin, i thought, "well, SOMEONE is a fan of Moonstruck . . ."

 

#ReadingComprehensionForTheWin

Baaaaaaaaffling

i don't have to understand this pin to know it's awesome.

#ReasonForTheSeason

At this point in time . . .

. . . this house represents my style very, very well -- a super simple palette of whites, charcoals, blacks, and tans; tons of patina, especially through black-painted trim, aged and abused wood, and shots of metals (preferably brass); and a curated but not overstuffed look.

i like so very much of this house.

from http://www.housebeautiful.com/decorating/house-pictures/black-victorian-screen-door#slide-1

Organizational catnip

i adore reading about organizing and cleaning, so my joy was express when i stumbled upon this lifehacker article:

How to Kick Your Clutter Habit and Live in a Clean House Once and for All

1. Work in reverse: what would you replace if you lost everything? They suggest tackling this list somewhere restful outside the home -- like a library or a favorite coffee shop.
2. Declutter in small, focused bursts: make each cleaning session a sprint, not a marathon. They suggest that targeting a specific area of your house for a thirty-minute session will be much more effective than attempting to deep clean your entire home. And be sure to reward yourself for a job well done.
3. Think of your things in terms of utility first and sentimental value second. Ask yourself the following questions: (1) "What does this item do for me that nothing else does?" (2) "Do I have something else that does this better or at least does something else as well?" (i.e., choose multitasking over single-purpose items.), and (3) "Does this have sentimental meaning to me?" The best items will hit all three categories.
4. Use the four-box method. Sort everything you own into keep, sell/donate, trash, or store boxes. Be ruthless.
5. Find new ways to keep the things you love. (1) Digitize photos and documents, (2) digitize movies and music, (3) take a picture of something sentimental before letting it go, (4) give items to family members or friends who will value them, and (5) think about the money you'll make when you sell that junk.
6. Don't be seduced by gadgets and containers. It can be counterproductive to spend money on items that only help hide your unneeded junk.
7. Organize, but don't forget to change the habits that got you here. Be ruthless before bringing anything new into your house, asking yourself whether or not you truly need it and whether or not it will add significant value to your life.

viva la clean!

Bargain!

reduced from $34.00 to . . . $34.00.

Where's the "star I wonder"

 

mio albero di natale.

i need my guy to put up the stella, though. i'm too stumpy to reach.

Best miscellaneous- and bargain-shopping web sites

overstock.com
Designer clothes and shoes, furniture, sporting goods, electronics, luggage―what doesn’t this site carry? Everything is discounted, and almost all the merchandise qualifies for free shipping.

smartbargains.com
A veritable bargain bazaar. Normally pricey goods (like cashmere scarves and Egyptian-cotton sheets) can be picked up at a fraction of their cost elsewhere―up to 70 percent off.

Miscellaneous
duluthtrading.com
Once upon a time, this company was all about tools for construction workers and longshoremen. Now it offers everything from grooming products to toys to toothbrushes for dogs―and tradesmen-tested gear―with a real commitment to customer service.

minimus.biz
Thousands of mini-size products―three ounces or less―make travel a breeze. A brilliant idea.

organicbouquet.com
Pesticide-free blooms from organic farms, some with an added bonus of proceeds going to nonprofit groups partnered with the site.

seacloth.com
Fabrics in poppy tones (and a small collection of home goods) are organized by color, so it’s easy to find what suits your palette.

seejanework.com
The most stylish office supplies and organizational tools ever. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best gift-shopping web sites

bestcrystal.com
The kind of wedding presents (Waterford, Lenox) you would buy at department stores but often cheaper and with free shipping, no tax, and personal customer service.

dwellstudio.com
Quiet simplicity is the hallmark of the bed linens, table linens, and children’s gifts you’ll find here. Wonderful for out-of-the-ordinary wedding presents.

etsy.com
The place to buy (and sell) one-of-a-kind gifts and inexpensive handmade arts and crafts.

fredflare.com
This stylish emporium offers low-cost clothing, accessories, and home goods, all with a sense of humor.

spoonsisters.com
A much loved source for gifts of a whimsical nature, including―you guessed it―spoons of all kinds.

2jane.com
Based in Britain and quirky, this site features inventive items you may have a hard time giving away.

wrapables.com
Gifts for the home, for the jewelry lover, and even for pets and their owners. Fun and extremely affordable. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best cooking- and food-shopping web sites

chefshop.com
Picture an online supermarket with the most delectable gourmet items. A highlight: Batch’s Best Cherries, which can be ordered all year but are shipped only in July, at the height of their perfection.

ecookbooks.com
A comprehensive depot of cookbooks―more than 14,000 titles―all offered at discount prices.

froghollow.com
The California-based fruit purveyor (its gorgeous peaches have reached icon status) sells delicious fruit spreads and pastries as well.

ginnys.com
Cookware, appliances, and more on a site with reasonable prices and a friendly vibe.

kingarthurflour.com 
A wonderful source for bakers of all levels. It’s famous for flour, but you can also find cake and bread mixes, molds, pans, liners, chocolate chips, books, and more on this cheerful site.

wmboundsltd.com
Pepper mills (and the peppercorns to put in them) are the specialty here, from a company that has been producing the tools for more than 40 years.

zingermans.com
Unusual, old-fashioned, and delicious food finds from all over the country and the world. 

courtesy of Real Simple

Best home-goods shopping web sites

allmodern.com
One-stop shopping for contemporary home goods in an easy-to-browse, simply designed site.

ballarddesigns.com
This sprawling site, with a vast inventory at reasonable prices, is a favorite resource of interior decorators.

brocadehome.com
From Restoration Hardware comes a site full of sexy, curvy, ultra-feminine furnishings.

circalighting.com
Indoor lights, outdoor lights, table lights, floor lights, ceiling lights―and shades―all with free shipping.

designerplumbing.com
A wide-ranging collection of tubs, sinks, vanities, and more to redecorate your bath. Fabulous prices―there's even a section of "blowout specials"―and top-notch customer service.

hableconstruction.com
This sister-owned textile company offers totes, pillows, and other high-quality goods in fun, colorful prints.

homeinfatuation.com
If you're lucky enough to have a patio and a yard, you'll find everything you need to furnish your outdoor space―furniture, umbrellas, grills―here.

laylagrayce.com
Home furnishings (plus clothing for women and children) from around the world, all with a romantic sensibility.

moderndose.com
Reasonably priced reproductions of modern furniture classics, with free shipping and a money-back guarantee.

2modern.com
As streamlined as the modern furniture it carries, this site features the work of eco-conscious designers.

thpcollections.com
Decorative accessories and furniture with a global viewpoint, from sources as equally far-flung.

ugallery.com
Original artwork at every price. A view-on-wall feature lets you try before you buy, so you have an idea of how a work of art will look in your home.

unicahome.com
An eclectic roundup of modern, vintage, and kitsch from big names like Knoll and Herman Miller.

velocityartanddesign.com
Simple, clean, and graphic designs―from artwork to wallpaper―at affordable prices.

wisteria.com
Bright and simply laid out, this site features new, antique, and artfully weathered imports from across the globe. 

courtesy of Real Simple

To Eusebia, life is a bed of roses

ten zillion thanks to sweet 'netta for the bei fiori! ti voglio molto bene, cara. sei l'ottima. anche Eusebia lo pensa.

Creamy delight

this recipe for homemade butter is from Amazon's preview of Home Made Winter by Yvette van Boven.

 

Maybe it's me, but I find homemade butter much tastier than butter from a store. It's just . . . creamier. It could also be that I find it tastier because I've made it myself. Oh, whatever. It's good! And fun and quick to make. 

You know what's also good? To mix it with flaky Maldon sea salt or very fine salt and little lavender flowers. Spread it thickly on warm toast and eat with a soft-boiled egg.

 

4 1/2 cups (1 l) cream for a long time, with a mixer, until it looks like scrambled eggs.

the cream into a clean dish towel that you've placed over a strainer. Collect the whey (the liquid) in a bowl; you can use it to make soda bread (p. 23). Wring the butter as much as possible.

it in a bowl of ice water, changing the water 2 or 3 times, until the water remains clear. This step is important, because if there's any whey left the butter can quickly turn rancid. 

two wooden spatulas in another bowl of cold water. Use them to shape the butter into a nice bar. Wrap your butter in parchment paper and store in the fridge. It will remain fresh for at least 2 weeks! This recipe will yield about 3/4 cup (300 g) butter.