CasaSugar -- Home sweet home.

Casa Quickie: TP For Your Tech

casasugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 14:00:16 -0800

I just spied this inventive idea on Real Simple and couldn't help but pass it along, considering that my gadget cords all look like a messy ball of yarn. If you're anything like me, and you've got cords for your camera, iPod, computer, BlackBerry, blow-dryer, speakers, television, DVD player, etc. clogging up your outlets, God bless you. No really, if that's the case, then here's a trick for you. When you've finished a roll of toilet paper, just slide it over a collection of your cords to keep them contained and untangled. Or, you can use it to keep a single cord from coming unwound once you've folded it up for storage. This is particularly a great idea to keep in mind come Dec. 26 when you've got tree lights to store!
Source

Casa Quickie: Backsplash Alternatives

casasugar — Mon, 01 Dec 2008 07:45:00 -0800

If you're thinking about redecorating your kitchen, take a tip from designer Miles Redd, whose home was recently featured on Domino. Here, he extended the wallpaper to fit across the backsplash, which unifies the space while providing an unexpected visual quirkiness. You can find similar wallpaper to this from the wide-striped paper from the walls to the backsplash to unify the room. If you love this wallpaper, check out Sandberg, a Swedish textiles company, for similar designs.

Source

Casa Quickie: Abracadabra, Fully Furnished!

casasugar — Mon, 24 Nov 2008 14:00:23 -0800

Long before I started registering for gravy boats and Tiffany silverware, I lived in a studio that, let's just say, was a little light in the furnishings department: a couch, a table, one cloth napkin, one wine glass (highest return on investment!), and a Pyrex pan that doubled as mixing bowl. So, if you're looking in your cabinets thinking "How the heck can I feed 15 people with only six plates and six chairs?" then I empathize. But, when we get down to brass tacks, we all know that empathy won't save you from a paper-plate holiday dinner, and shopping isn't the answer in today's economy. So, my solution? Call on your friends and family who are leaving town for the weekend and hit them up for dinnerware, vases, table linens, spare chairs, etc. Then, come pick it up yourself and send a gift in return with a thoughtful thank-you note. You can bet your bottom dollar they won't be checking their serving dishes on the airplane, and they know you're good for it — I mean, really, who uses a gravy boat post Nov. 27?
Source

Casa Quickie: Use Water Glasses For Flower Arrangements

casasugar — Fri, 21 Nov 2008 06:15:00 -0800

Small arrangements such as this one look lovely in a pretty water glass. Just cut your flowers on a short stem to prevent toppling. This is especially pretty on a bedside table in a guest room, especially when, as in this picture, blooms are placed in Fleur-De-Lis Glassware ($44.90-59.90). It's the perfect way to welcome a Thanksgiving visitor. Source

Casa Quickie: Ditch the Book Jackets

casasugar — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 15:00:48 -0800

Do you spend too much time ensuring that all of your coffee-table books maintain perfect jackets? In a recent LA Times article, Trey Russell, owner of Laguna Beach gift boutique Aris tells you to ditch that thinking — and those jackets. Russell maintains that "Book jackets just get torn, anyway, you might as well get rid of them . . . It creates a more monochromatic, less chaotic look." Try it in your own casa, perhaps in a display similar to this one, from Russell's home.

Source

Casa Quickie: Scrub For Your Health

casasugar — Tue, 21 Oct 2008 14:00:17 -0700

Good news! For those of us who do all of the house cleaning without help from maids or cleaning services, we're saving more than money. We might also be extending our lifespans! According to an article in Prevention, by simply "vacuuming, mopping floors, or washing windows for a little more than an hour, the average person can burn about 285 calories, lowering risk of death by 30 percent, according to a study of 302 adults in their 70s and 80s." I like the sound of that. And now, I'm going to go get out the Dyson and do some vacuuming.

Source

Casa Quickie: Sayonara Stickies

casasugar — Thu, 16 Oct 2008 13:00:28 -0700

If you've got stubborn adhesive labels on any of your home purchases (bottles, plates, books, etc.) or gifts, there's a simple way to remove them that doesn't involve picking at them with sticky fingers. Just blast your hair dryer onto the label for a few seconds, and then use a basic craft blade to scrape it off. The heat from the dryer will loosen up the adhesive, making it a cinch to peel off the label. Ahh, if you'd only known . . .
Source

Casa Quickie: Nonslip Stairs

casasugar — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 15:00:50 -0700

Thinking back on all the scrapes and bruises I acquired simply from falling down my stairs as an overly energetic kid, I cringe a little. But there was no stopping me, especially on the days (most) when I was late to school. If only my parents had thought to install some sort of no-slip system, I mightn't have been so black and blue. Luckily, I've found the answer to these painful falls, thanks to Martha Stewart.

Want to know the secret? Then

Casa Quickie: Plant Carrots With Radishes

casasugar — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 05:30:46 -0700

One smart move I made when planting my Winter garden was to mix my radish seeds and my carrot seeds together. I used Easter egg radishes and Chanterey carrots for the garden, which are both known for their mild flavor. I also favored the Chanterey carrots because they are short, and thus suited for raised beds that might not have as much soil depth as some gardens.

But why did I mix the seeds together in the same row? What's the advantage, you ask? Well, radishes mature in only a month, which means that once you pull them, your carrots, which take at least twice as long to mature, will have more room to spread out and grow. Also, since the soil has been loosened, the carrots will have an easier time growing. Just make sure to pull out your radishes gently; you don't want to pull out your baby carrots before their time!

Source and Source

Casa Quickie: Don't Throw Out Those Flowers!

casasugar — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:30:08 -0700

Last weekend, I received a beautiful mixed bouquet of flowers from a dinner party guest. The flowers lasted for almost a week, and as I was getting ready to compost them last night, I realized that not all of the flowers were drooping or dead. In fact, there were enough left in the bouquet to make a second, smaller arrangement.

Before I pulled the flower bouquet out of its large vase, I carefully clipped the few still-fresh flowers at an angle on the stem, and then deposited them in a smaller vase. I mixed the water in the new vase with a bit of sugar and citric acid (you can use lemon juice), which will help to keep them looking fresh even longer. This way, you can stretch any flower arrangement, even a grocery bouquet, to greater lengths of time inside your house.