Mellow Yellow : Yellow Orchid

It’s my first entry… nice to join this meme! I have this beautiful yellow orchids in my front yard.

Make Your Own Wall Gallery!

Are you still looking for an idea to decorate your wall? Painting is beautiful thing and it’s perfect for home decoration; but it can’t be so expensive. Instead of investing in one massive piece of artwork for the space, why don’t you consider on creating a gallery of smaller works. Depending on the pieces and frames you choose, the look can range from polished and cool to original and cozy. The process is easy, and chances are you probably already have enough miscellaneous prints, postcards, sketches and photos (including your own masterpieces!) to get started.

I’ll share here guidance to make your own wall gallery; written by Meryl Levin. Check it out…

Step 1: Choose Your Art
Any image is fair game. If you want a streamlined, modern look, keep the artwork uniform, such as all black-and-white photographs, or all illustrations by the same artist. For a more eclectic display, mix a wide range of styles and media (photos, sketches, etc.). Even if you’re going for an eclectic effect, try to keep most of the pieces in the same basic palette, adding one or two contrasting images to keep the display dynamic.

Get creative in your search. Include postcards and snapshots you’ve taken yourself, or images clipped from books, calendars or magazines.

Step 2: Frame Your Art
Custom framing can be pricey, and choosing art in standard sizes -- 4x6, 5x7 and so on -- will enable you to find a variety of affordable frames anywhere (Exposures has a good selection). For an odd-sized piece, order a custom matte from a local frame shop or online (try pictureframes.com) and put it in a standard-size frame. The simplest approach to framing is to use the same style for every piece. Whether you choose black, white or metal frames, the look will be clean and unfussy, and will place emphasis on the artwork.

Step 3: Arrange Your Gallery
Before you put anything on the wall, place the framed works on the floor or a table, and play with the arrangement. Try to keep the spacing between pieces similar throughout. Once you have a layout you like, take a picture so you don’t forget what went where.

Step 4: Make a Template
Trace each frame on contact paper and cut out the shapes to make templates. On the front of each template, mark with a Sharpie the spot where the hanging hardware should go.

Step 5: Adhere Your Templates to the Wall
Remove the backing and adhere your templates to the wall in the arrangement you’ve chosen. This is your chance to adjust placement, spacing and leveling (use a level for best results).

Step 6: Hang Your Art
Once the contact-paper version of your gallery is perfected, use the markings to install hardware. Nails can be hammered through the contact paper and the paper cut away; for screws, poke a hole and use a pencil to mark the wall underneath so you’ll know where to drill. Carefully hang each piece, then step back and admire your gallery!

Source:ivillage

Planting a Vegetable Garden Tips

There are many tips on planting a vegetable garden that will help you find success, whether you're growing a wide array of vegetables or just want to grow the best tomatoes in the neighborhood.

Finding your place
The most important thing you can do to ensure success for your vegetable garden is to locate it in the best place in your yard. The vast majority of things you will want to plant in your garden like full sun best, so planting your garden in a sunny spot will go a long way toward ensuring the success of your crop.

Of course sunny spots are often dry spots as well, so if you have a sunny spot that holds moisture well without being soggy, that's a good place for your garden. If all your sunny spots tend to be dry, however, you can always amend the soil to make it more hospitable for your plants.

If you're going to plant some things that like less sun or need a cooler environment, such as lettuce, consider planting your lettuce under a plant that will get tall and cast shade on your seedlings.

Preparing the soil
The most important tips on planting a vegetable garden don't really have to do with planting—preparing the soil before you plant gives your vegetables a good head start.

If you don't know much about the quality of your soil, a soil test kit can give you a lot of information about what's going on down there. You can do the tests yourself or give a soil sample from the area where you would like to put your garden to your local cooperative extension service. They can recommend soil amendments based on the types of vegetables you want to plant.

In general, most vegetables like a well-balanced and well-drained soil. Use of a conventional or organic fertilizer, as well as any amendments needed to change the pH of your soil should be done before you plant. Most common vegetable plants thrive in soils with a pH of five to seven.

To make the soil more friendly to vegetable plants, it's a great idea to add compost or manure to your garden plot as well as the other soil amendments. You can't really add too much compost, as it provides nutrients and a good home for beneficial microbes, as well as aerating the soil and improving its drainage.

If possible, till these amendments into the soil a few weeks before you want to plant your vegetables and water the soil well after adding them.

Another tips:

• Planning the design of a vegetable garden will take a lot of your time when you are getting ready to plant. You need to know what vegetables you are going to plant, what kind of light requirements they need and when they should be planted for best results.


• Knowing what planting zone you are in will tell you when to plant different items, or find out your area's frost-free date from the county Cooperative Extension Service. Most plants can safely be planted after that date, but some cool-weather plants like broccoli may need to be planted before that date to get a good growing season.


• Mulching the vegetable garden is a good idea, because it helps cut down on weeding and keeps the plants moist. Mulch in combination with a drip-irrigation watering system will lower your water bill and ensure that more water is going to the roots of the plants, where it is needed most.


• Pest control is very important after you have planted your vegetables. Do a regular inspection of your plants and remove unwanted insects that you can see, or spray with chemical insecticides or use organic methods when necessary to get rid of pests.


• If you have a dog that likes to dig or other wildlife that is encroaching on your garden, try fencing in the garden space so your animals can't access it. You can also buy netting to help prevent the birds from eating your berries.

Site selection, soil preparation and planting your plants at the appropriate time for where you live are the most important tips for planting a vegetable garden. Controlling weeds and pests and ensuring that the garden is well-watered will go even farther to make sure you get to enjoy the fruits (and vegetables) of your labor.

Source: here

Get Rid of These from Your Kitchen !

Ellen Sandbeck, the author of Organic Housekeeping, mentioned six hidden danger in your kitchen. I think it’s very important information that you should aware; for the sake of your whole family’s health! Check it out…

1.Teflon-Coated CookwareStudies conducted by the Environmental Working Group have shown overheated nonstick pans emit a toxic mixture of chemicals that may cause cancer, birth defects, immune system suppression and increased risk of heart attack and stroke. The chemical culprits are fluorine compounds, which are used in water-and stain-repellent coatings on carpets, clothing, ironing boards, ovens and pots and pans.

2. Aluminum Pots and Pans
You need to get rid of any aluminum pots and pans because that aluminum has been linked to Alzheimer's disease. These pans are light, often cheap and are reactive. Storing salty or acidic food in an aluminum pot will pit the surface of the metal and contaminate the food with aluminum. Instead, use clay, stainless steel, ceramic, glass, porcelain or cast-iron cookware. One of the advantages of cast-iron is that it can actually provide small amounts of iron, a necessary nutrient.

3. Plastic UtensilsIt melts when it gets hot! A hot frying pan is an unsuitable location for a plastic spoon or spatula. Instead use stainless-steel spatulas, wooden spatulas, bamboo spatulas, wooden spoons, stainless-steel spoons, stainless-steel ladles, and glass or metal measuring cups.

4. Plastic Containers
Many plastics start to break down as they age and when they are heated, scrubbed or subjected to harsh detergents. Bisphenol A is the main ingredient in polycarbonate plastic, which is commonly used to make baby bottles, reusable milk bottles and reusable water bottles. Bisphenol upsets natural hormone levels and causes genetic damage and miscarriages in lab mice. To minimize your exposure to the chemicals found in plastics, when you bring groceries home, remove the plastic packaging and wrap all your cheeses and meats in freezer paper or waxed paper before putting them in a plastic bag or container.

5. Raw Meats
Diners who eat raw or undercooked meat, fish, shellfish, or poultry can end up with tapeworms, toxoplasmosis or trichinosis. Avoid cross-contamination by using different cutting boards for meat and produce. Also try this homemade spray system: Take two spray bottles and fill one with distilled white vinegar and the other with hydrogen peroxide. After washing meats and produce, spray vinegar first and then the peroxide on your countertops — no need to rinse.

6. Metal Containers
Acidic foods such as tomatoes, sauerkraut, fruit, lemonade, fruit punches, carbonated beverages, tea and wine can react with metal in containers and become poisonous.
Avoid these and use glass instead:

• Zinc: galvanized metal containers may leach toxic amounts of zinc into the food.


• Copper or brass: Makes lemonade, wine, tea, coffee and tomato sauce toxic.


• Lead: Traditional pewter contains 25% lead and 75% tin. Many antique ceramics have lead glazes. Avoid using them for serving food. Also be wary of lead crystal.

Source:ivillage

Affordable Funky Furniture

If you want to decorate your home in style without spending lots of money, finding affordable funky furniture. It can be the key to your decorating success. You can outfit your home with stylish pieces that are comfortable and practical, while also making your living space uniquely yours.

I share here several designs of funky furniture for your inspiration.

Retro Chair with Step Stool.
For a retro touch in your kitchen or bar, consider adding a few matching retro chair and step stools.

Flip Top Bench Table
A flip top bench table is a terrific addition to your backyard or patio furniture collections, as well as for a child's bedroom or playroom.

Compact Breakfast Set
A breakfast set with stools that tuck away is an outstanding choice for a small kitchen.

Storage End Table
A storage end table is an attractive and practical addition to the décor of any room at your home.
Source : furniture.lovetoknow.com

Using Slipcovers Tips

This post still mention about slipcovers. Using slipcovers is a really adaptable option when it comes to changing the appearance of a room. If you like the idea of using fabric in your interior decorating, here are some ideas that may inspire you to experiment with slipcovers.

Modify the style of your furniture simply by fitting a slipcover. For instance, use a slipcover with a straight or pleated skirt to hide wooden sofa legs, or use form-fitted stretch slipcovers for a smooth, tailored look.

Improve the look and feel of your room by using slipcovers to coordinate mismatched furniture. If the floral print on that old secondhand sofa clashes with the checks on your favorite arm chair, then using matching sofa and chair covers is a cheap and effective way to give them a stylish new image.

Have fun with color. Changing your slipcovers according to the season or the occasion is a simple but effective way to introduce different colors into your home décor, without the expense or work involved in reupholstery. You might want to use light or pastel shades during the hot summer months, while darker warm and rich colors are great for creating an inviting scene in autumn and winter.

Experiment with texture. Slipcovers can be made from all kinds of fabrics, from denim and twill to damask and chenille. You can have a lot of fun and come up with some great results by mixing and matching different textures. You could try adding unique touches and details to your slipcovers by attaching tassels or sashes, trims or buttons.

You're not just limited to the living room when using slipcovers. Ready made dining chair covers are excellent for beautifying your everyday dining chairs for special occasions such as a dinner party or the holidays. And they are easy to wash. So, not only do they look elegant, they can help protect your upholstery from food and drink spills. Dining chair slipcovers can even be used on chairs with wooden backs – you can easily add padding by draping an old blanket over the backs before fitting your slipcovers.

Source:getslipcovers.com