For those who would like to give the colors of their home a "face lift", here's an eye candy for you.



Monochromatic Color Scheme
A monochromatic scheme uses different values (tints, shades, tones) of only one colour, with the possible addition of white, black, and grey. Monochromatic schemes are easy to get right and can be very effective.

Monochromatic schemes with large white areas give a  fresh, serene look – e.g. white walls and ceiling, bleached timber floor, and furniture in variations of the same colour.

Cool monochromatic schemes are soothing and peaceful, and make rooms appear larger than they really are. Use  different values – from light to dark – to create interest and give depth to the interior.

Warm monochromatic schemes are energetic and vibrant, and have more visual weight than cool schemes. Add white to make the scheme lighter.

Use neutrals (grey, off-whites) with light pastels to create calm, airy interiors.

Use black, white  and grey to create elegant, calming interiors.  Any color that you introduce in a black and white interior will draw the eye and add interest.

Analogous Color Schemes
Analogous colour schemes use 2-3  colours close to one another  on the color wheel. Adjacent colours are naturally harmonious, and are usually more interesting than monochromatic schemes.

While cool colors are usually easy to live with, warm colors – especially red and orange – can feel overwhelming, both for their visual weight and for the energy they convey. If you like warm colors but want to retain tranquility, use them only as accents against a neutral background.

Complementary Color Scheme
Complementary colors are colors located opposite each other on the color wheel; when used together, they enhance and complete each other. In complementary color schemes, you usually choose one colour as your main color, and its opposite as an accent. For an elegant look, use a saturated color against a muted one; if you prefer bold schemes, choose intense  colors against a neutral background.

Triadic Color Scheme
The triadic color scheme uses three colors equally spaced around the color wheel. Use this scheme if you want  your room to offer both a strong visual contrast and a balanced, harmonious look. In the first picture, the triad consists of blue, magenta (red-purple) and yellow (gold in  cushions and fabric). In the second picture,  the yellowish pine flooring  completes the triad blue – magenta – yellow.

Split-Complementary Color Scheme
A variation of the complementary scheme, the split-complementary scheme uses one color and the two colors adjacent to its complementary. Use it if you want to retain high contrast but prefer a more serene look.

Color schemes are meant to offer a guide, but don’t feel like you have to follow them too strictly. Sometimes you can choose variations of colors that are not exactly  part of a color scheme, but still work well together.

In this sitting area, green, blue and purple create a vibrant yet balanced combination – although not adjacent on the color wheel, the color used are still close enough to be harmonious.

In this dining area, the yellow chair adds vibrancy to the delicate cool pastel colors; the scheme works well because all colors have light values.

When in doubt, take your inspiration from nature. A couple of examples? Lime green and orange are part of the same citrus family, and work really well together; purple and green are at home in a vineyard, and look  striking in any interior.

Photo and article source: Positivelybeauty.com

While Anton and I both work for a living, we still believe that wise spending must not be overlooked. I know that there are tons of people out there who think that a frugal way of living is associated with scarcity and cheapness; however, Anton and I believe that stretching our earnings can be an enjoyable experience. For some, living in a penny-pinching lifestyle is embarrassing, but I really don’t see any reason why these people are humiliated and won’t admit to anyone that they are keeping within their means.

For one, being frugal doesn’t equate to scarcity; as a matter of fact, we can still buy our “wants” apart from our “needs”. Our purchases are carefully taken into account to make sure that we get our money’s worth, and because we’re practicing thriftiness, we get to appreciate each and every item that we acquire.

It isn’t cheap when you’re practical, and surprisingly, you could be spending more money at first, but after a while, this is when you realize that you’re indeed saving a huge amount of cash. I always have this judgment that “you get what you pay for”, but being able to plan for our very own wedding for a year has made me realize that not all reasonably priced stuff provide poor-quality outcome. Practically all our wedding vendors had exceeded our expectations, having rates that do not come close to the amount that many popular wedding suppliers would normally charge their clients. I’m not talking about wedding preps; my point here is clearly stated: I was wrong to say that when it’s cheap, it isn’t good.

We eat more than three times each day, and we get to delight ourselves with delicious meals at home and enjoy what’s being served to us in restos from time to time. We seldom eat at posh restaurants, where people pay thousands of cash for a small quantity of food, but I am proud to say that we are never deprived of anything that we want to eat.

Being frugal allows me to show my resourcefulness and ingenuity, not to mention the fulfillment and the adventure that it gives me. I am able to produce something nice and useful without the need to spend a lot of money; hence, what’s left in our pockets are often spent on more important things, such as utilities, groceries, and occasional spending on what we call our “simple luxuries”.

It’s true that doing things on your own is time consuming. From setting up the shelves to getting the broken items fixed all by yourself, lots of time are going to be spent, but for me and Anton, nothing is more rewarding than being able to do things together. For us, it is definitely much better than working for extended hours just so we can dine at expensive restos and buy even the most unnecessary items that will only sit somewhere around the house until we can think of something where these items are going to be used. I used to be this type of person, and I remember forcing my mom to buy whatever I want, be it something I’ll be using or not. I enjoyed my childhood years so much, because I was given everything that every kid longs to have. I used to be a prima donna, but hey, I’m not getting any younger, and now is not the right time to act like a diva of all sorts. Living on our own as a newly married couple has made me realize that being practical is of the utmost importance.

We don’t have “plastics”, as what people call it, but we live within our means, which is the most important thing. I don’t know about you, but here’s my opinion: being frugal, either because you need to, or you just want to, is truly satisfying; it’s how you look at it that makes the idea positive or negative.


Xoxo,

It's now time for me to put something on the wall, particularly in the dining area, so I decided to purchase a chalkboard, colored chalks and scrapbook embellishments to decorate the board. My main goal for our dining area is to have a splash of colors (which made me purchase pastel-colored placemats), so here's what I did with the chalkboard:

Please bear with my handwriting; I know that it kind'a ruined the beauty of the chalkboard, but Anton's handwriting is worse than mine, so I had no choice, but to write on it myself. Nevertheless, I find the quote really suitable for any dining area. These things actually are what I would like us to do whenever we sit down to eat. Each week, though, I'd write different quotes on this board to keep us inspired. :)

I'm almost done with the other DIY project I'm creating, so I'll keep you guys posted.


Xoxo,

I read this article 2 days ago, and I just thought it would be better if a lot of people are aware of how powerful (and uber affordable) baking soda is.

Baking soda is a chemical compound that appears as a fine powder. It releases bubbles of carbon dioxide when it interacts with an acid and a liquid. It’s most commonly used in baking, where it acts as a leavening agent. The following are 75 other uses for baking soda aside from making muffins soft and fluffy.

Health Uses

1. Use it as an antacid.

2. Use it as underarm deodorant by applying it with a powder puff.

3. Mix half a teaspoon with peroxide paste and use it as toothpaste.

4. Use it as a face and body scrub.

5. Add a cup to bathwater to soften your skin.

6. Relieve skin itch from insect bites and pain from sunburn.

7. Remove strong odors from your hands by rubbing them with baking soda and water.

8. Put two tablespoons in your baby’s bathwater to help relieve diaper rash.

9. Apply it on rashes, insect bites, and poison ivy irritations.

10. Take a baking soda bath to relieve skin irritations.

11. Heartburn? Take a teaspoon of baking soda mixed with one-half glass of water.

12. Freshen your mouth by gargling half a teaspoon of baking soda mixed water.

13. Relieve canker sore pain by using it as mouthwash.

14. Use it to relieve bee stings.

15. Use it to relieve windburns.

16. Apply it on jellyfish sting to draw out the venom.

17. Unblock stuffy nose by adding a teaspoon of baking soda to your vaporizer.

In the Home

18. Keep cut flowers fresh longer by adding a teaspoon to the water in the vase.

19. Put out small fires on rugs, upholstery, clothing, and wood.

20. Put an open container of baking soda in the fridge to absorb the odors.

21. Sprinkle it on your ashtrays to reduce bad odor and prevent smoldering.

22. Sprinkle it on your slippers, boots, shoes, and socks to eliminate foul odor.

23. Turn baking soda into modeling clay by combining it with one and 1/4 cups of water and one cup of cornstarch.

24. After feeding your baby, wipe his shirt with a moist cloth sprinkled with baking soda to remove the odor.

25. Wipe your windshield with it to repel rain.

26. Improve the smell of dishrags by soaking them in baking soda and water.

27. Suck it in with your vacuum cleaner to remove the odor.

28. Freshen the air by mixing baking soda with your favorite perfumed bath salts. Put the mixture in small sachet bags.

29. Restore stiff brushes by boiling them in a solution of 1/2 gallon of water, 1/4 cup of vinegar, and a cup of baking soda.

30. Put it under sinks and along basement windows to repel cockroaches and ants.

31. Scatter baking soda around flowerbeds to prevent rabbits from eating your veggies.

32. Sweeten your tomatoes by sprinkling baking soda on the soil around your tomato plants.

33. Sprinkle it onto your cat’s litter box to absorb the bad odor.

34. Sprinkle it on your pet’s comb or brush to deodorize their fur and skin.

In Cooking

35. Use it as a substitute for baking powder by mixing with it with cream of tartar or vinegar.

36. Wash fruits and vegetables with it.

37. When boiling a chicken, add a teaspoon of baking soda to the water. Feathers will come off easier, and the flesh will be clean and white.

38. Soak dried beans to a baking soda solution to make them more digestible.

39. Remove the distinctive taste of wild game by soaking it in a baking soda solution.

40. Make a sports drink by mixing it with boiled water, salt, and Kool-Aid.

41. Remove the fishy smell from your fillets by soaking the raw fish in a baking soda solution for an hour inside the fridge.

42. Make fluffier omelets by adding half a teaspoon of baking soda for every three eggs used.

43. Reduce the acid content of your tomato-based recipes by sprinkling them with a pinch of baking soda.

Cleaning Purposes

44. Add a cup to the toilet, leave it for an hour, and then flush. It will clean the toilet and absorb the odor.

45. Use it to scrub sinks, showers, plastic and porcelain tubs

46. Spray it on walls, mirrors, and countertops.

47. Add a spoonful to your dishwasher to make scrubbing dishes easier.

48. Remove grease from pots and pans.

49. Dry clean carpets and upholstered furniture by sprinkling baking soda over the fabric and gently brushing it. Leave it for an hour or overnight, then vacuum.

50. Boost your laundry detergent’s cleaning power by sprinkling a handful on dirty clothes.

51. Combine it with water to make a paste for polishing stainless steel and chrome.

52. Remove scratches and crayon marks from vinyl floors and walls.

53. Clean your shoes with it.

54. Clean garbage cans with it.

55. Use it to wash diapers.

56. Clean the fridge with it.

57. Soak brushes and combs in a baking soda solution.

58. Mix it with water to wash food and drink containers.

59. Put three tablespoons of baking soda to a quart of warm water, then use the mixture to wash marble-topped furniture.

60. Absorb it with a damp sponge, then clean Formica countertops with the sponge.

61. Use it to get rid of stale odors from cooling containers and thermos bottles.

62. Run your coffee maker with a baking soda solution, then rinse.

63. Combine with hot water to clean baby bottles.

64. Sprinkle it on barbecue grills, then rinse it off.

65. Scatter it on your greasy garage floor, scrub the floor, and rinse.

66. Remove burned-on food from a pan by soaking it in a baking soda solution for 10 minutes before washing.

67. Clean your ashtrays with a baking soda solution.

68. Keep your drains clean by putting four tablespoons of baking soda in them each week. Flush it down with hot water.

69. Clean your shower curtains by soaking them in baking soda and water.

70. Put it on a small brush to rub canvas handbags clean.

71. Use it to remove melted plastic bread wrapper from a toaster. Sprinkle baking soda on a damp rug, then use the rug to clean the toaster.

72. Use it to clean your retainers and dentures.

73. Make a thick paste of baking soda and water, and used it to scrub enameled cast iron and stainless steel.

74. Mix four tablespoons of baking soda with a quart of warm water, and use it to clean the inside part of an oven.

75. Use it to unclog gas stoves.

The most amazing thing about baking soda is that it’s very cheap. You can do all these things for a very small cost. Baking soda is truly a miracle product, whether it’s used for baking or not.


Photo and article source: Lifehackery.com