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Designing for Couples
This picture is a good example of how many of us feel when decorating with our spouse or partner. You want feminine colors and touches, while he wants a manly décor with dark colors and leather furniture. Of course not every woman wants pink, and there are men out there who don't want a man cave, but typically designing for couples can be tricky. There are even design shows dedicated to working with couples in designing a room that not only works for both of them, but...
Getting Kids Involved in Decorating
While we're not advocating letting your child loose with a paintbrush, we do think involving older kids in decorating decisions for their rooms is a good way to make sure they'll love to spend time there. Kids form their own strong opinions from an early age. From what they eat to what they wear to the colors and themes they like, kids will let you know what they love and hate. When decorating your kids' rooms or playrooms, involve them in the discussion on colors, accessories,...
Andie’s Day Out
Hi all, I had a delightful surprise this week. A mother reached out to me and shared a story so touching I just had to share with you here. I think you will be as moved as I was. Take a look at the email trail below. Clearly this is one very special family... On Sat, Jan 7, 2012 at 10:29 PM, Katie wrote: ... Hello, my name is Katie and I just had to send you an email to tell you how much you made my daughter's day today. Her name is Andie Grace and she...
Creating Traditions: Weekend Brunch
For our series on creating traditions and rituals in your life, next up is the weekend brunch. Our busy lives and schedules can make it next to impossible to get together for a family dinner during the week, let alone a meal with friends or extended family. Weekends can be the perfect time to plan a gathering. And brunch can be the perfect meal. Brunch on a Saturday or Sunday morning let's you have the rest of the day for errands, kids' games and perhaps even a date...
Containing Clutter in Children’s Rooms
For being small, toddlers and kids have a lot of stuff. Toys, games, books, clothes, and shoes all seem to multiply in the kids' rooms when we aren't looking. Besides regularly purging clothes and shoes that are too small, books that aren't read and toys that have been outgrown, organization is keep to manage the clutter that comes with having kids. Keeping clutter off the floor is a daily battle in most homes with kids. They come, they play, they leave. The toys and games...
Surroundings Magazine Feature
Andie Day was recently asked by Linda with Surroundings Magazine to give her impression of colors for the holiday season. Here is her response: "Depending on the mood you want to capture--fun and cheerful vs elegant and chic--the following combinations work well for most decors. A modern version of traditional green and red, teal and cranberry is energized and interesting. While white plus metallics, such as gold and silver, give a sophisticated feel to your holiday theme....
Andie’s Guest: Tamara Stephenson
Tamara Stephenson is a NYC interior designer, freelance writer and lifestyle expert journaling her experiences on her blog Nest. Today we are posting a blog that was featured on Tamara’s site, it’s a collection of holiday tablescapes and a story to follow. Enjoy! Visit her blog. This November I am recommending a new book each and every week, I'll bring you a glimpse of their pages and entice with the content. Check out interior designer Kathryn Crisp Greeley's new...
What A Woman Needs Challenge: Day 48 De-stress With Dinner Prep
by Melissa Cummings RN BSN Are you someone who uses exercise for stress relief? Unless you have a home gym, it is not always possible to work out all of your stress and even if you do have a home gym, family obligations tend to take priority.The other day I was making a pizza dough for dinner, and the act of punching the dough helped relieve stress. It is a form of physical activity that is a great way to take out stresses. Here are a few stress relieving recipes all requiring...
Share Dreams of Travel with Children
Do you dream of a time when you can travel abroad? Many of us do, but sometimes life gets in the way and we have to put that dream on hold for a bit. A terrific way of keeping your dream alive is to share it with your children. Their imaginations are so fertile you can easily plant a seed for wanderlust and watch their excitement grow along with your own. There are many ways to accomplish this, you may want to try one or all of the following. Read bedtime stories about far...
What a Woman Needs Challenge: Day 8 Workout with the Kids
Today was fun! I spent the whole day with my two children, aged 9 and 10. Instead of trying to get a full Tracy Anderson workout in and getting interrupted, I decided to include them and their interests in my exercise for the day. This accomplished four objectives: 1) I got to spend a fun day actively with my kids 2) I got plenty of exercise in to meet my 1 ½ hour requirement. 3) The kids got a good workout in too. 4) We all enjoyed a feeling of energy and well being. In the...