Life

As if Chip and Joanna Gaines didn’t have enough on their plates, the “Fixer Upper” alums recently managed to squeeze in one more very important project. Along with Target, Chip and Joanna appeared in Memphis, Tennessee to celebrate children currently undergoing treatment at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.

I put so much pressure on myself to love New York and to be a “city” person that I didn’t even let myself consider if another, smaller city would make me happier.

If being on HGTV is your ultimate goal, it’s time to make that dream a reality.

If you want to get even more out of your personal rhythms, try writing them down.

The holidays are over and 2018 is upon us, which means the nonstop parade of food, drinks, days off, and parties is in the past. You’re likely back home and back to work, but something isn’t right. You feel sad, tired, and uninspired—and you don’t know why. This experience is known as the post-holiday blues, and it’s a feeling that often crops up during the month of January. “Post-holiday blues is usually a malaise,” says Elaine Rodino, Ph.

You’re mid-dream when the alarm starts blaring on your bedside table. You slowly open your eyes and see two options: stop or snooze. A few stolen minutes in your warm bed sounds heavenly—and hitting snooze couldn’t hurt, right? But then the alarm goes off again—and again—and you realize you’re running late before the day has even officially started. Sound familiar? If it does, you’re not alone.

If you have a Furby stuffed away in storage, it's time to bring them out because they could be worth thousands.

According to a survey of 1,000 people, those who claimed to have a consistent set of morning habits earned an average of $12,500 per year more than those who didn’t.

You might be surprised to learn that flowers are much more than a beautiful part of nature and a lovely home accent.

There’s a good chance you’re not experiencing the full internet speeds you’re paying for. A weak wireless connection is often the bottleneck between advertised maximum speeds and the reality of waiting for pages to load and files to download. So what’s the point of paying for all this speed if you can’t take full advantage of it?

Who thought social media would actually help you get your to-do list done?

They're designed to melt your heart.

Even though our family of seven rarely eats out without a Kids Eat Free promo, eating meals out at restaurants is expensive.

We've all been there. It's pushing dinnertime and you've barely touched the work assignment that's due by end-of-day. Fret not, my fellow procrastinators, there's hope to be had.

In case you're trying to outsmart a nosy partner, or just want to make sure Amazon understands that cat lady tote was a one-time gag gift.

At some point, we’ve all tried to make a comfortable resting spot out a tiny airplane seat—a place that simply couldn’t measure up to the coziness of a bed. From using a rolled up jacket as a pillow to turning a long sweater into makeshift comforter, none of these temporary fixes quite compare to this multi-functional travel blanket known as The Layover, a new product currently funding on Kickstarter.

All things just keep getting better, because our favorite Fab Five are returning to Netflix with an all new season of “Queer Eye.” Fresh off a cameo in Taylor Swift’s new music video for You Need to Calm Down, Bobby Berk, Jonathan Van Ness, Tan France, Karamo Brown, and Antoni Porowski will be making a return to your TVs sooner than you might think.

They weren't realistic, but they were cool.

Last summer, MTV hinted that they were interested in more stories from the Daria universe, and now we know what’s finally coming: A spin-off about Jodie Landon, Daria’s best friend, who will be voiced by “Black-ish’s” Tracee Ellis Ross. “Jodie” will take place years after high school and will follow the title character’s career at a start-up.

There’s something particularly gorgeous about a church that has been renovated and transformed into a residence. I’m charmed enough by the aesthetic that I long fantasized of purchasing a church instead of a traditional home and turning it into the spacious, high-ceiling-ed, reverb-heavy house of my dreams. When I was house-hunting for the first time about three years ago, I kept this in mind.

Live like the Monterey Five for a night.

We asked Apartment Therapy staffers for the best home tips they've ever gotten from dear old dad (and other father figures in their lives).

Although the official start date of summer isn’t until June 21, the hot seasonal vibes are well under way! And with the thoughts of summer comes thoughts of vacationing, which is probably why you clicked on this article. In reality, though, most of can’t just jet off to our dream destination without a care as to how much it would cost. That’s why we decided to search for the cheapest weekends to travel this summer, plus where you should be jetting off to for said cheap price.

Like politics, finances, and religion, sock-sleeping is one of those topics you want to avoid at the dinner table, unless you're ready for a heated debate.

This is not a drill: IKEA is sending one lucky winner to Copenhagen for two weeks in September to find out if home is the source of happiness.IKEA Denmark is looking for a happiness hunter to uncover just what makes Danes some of the happiest people in the world. They will be sharing their experiences on IKEAHomeView.com and followed by a camera crew, who will be producing a mini documentary on their two week pursuit of happiness in Denmark.

Sure, the royal family may not be the sort you imagine letting their hair down and frolicking around a Jamaican resort. But if any spot could get the Queen Mother (also Queen Elizabeth, the current monarch’s mother) to relax and live their best life, we understand why it’s this one. The Little Hill Villa at The Tryall Club in Montego Bay, Jamaica, where she has luxuriated in Caribbean splendor, is officially on the market for $6.5 million.

Though they’re pretty ubiquitous now, the first guy to tote a U-shaped travel pillow on a plane probably got a few sideways glances. Alas, it’s not a perfect design, and many gadgets have since hit the market to try to maximize comfort during increasingly uncomfortable flying conditions. Here are five such products, silly though they look, that might just let you get some sweet, sweet sleep.

Having your family nearby can be be great. But as anyone who’s seen an episode of “Everybody Loves Raymond” knows, there’s a difference between being “nearby” and being too close for comfort. According to a new survey of more than 2,000 US adults from Ally Home, a digital financial-services company, the majority of respondents say there should be a 15-45 minute buffer zone between themselves and parents or in-laws.

I decided to majorly thin out my book collection—but to my surprise, it wasn't something that made me sad. Instead, I loved the library I was left with.

She also admitted her very unexpected celebrity crush.

100 percent of recent guests have given the location a five-star rating—and how could they not with Instagrammable views like this?

Whether being projected onto a big wall during a cocktail party, or played quietly in the living room during game night, a background movie can act as a conversation starter, art, music, and entertainment all in one. Plus it’s easy to pop a disc in the DVD player or call up a title from Netflix. The only hard part, of course, is finding just the right background film.

If you’ve ever felt like you just couldn’t with houseguests, I get it. Although I do like having people over, one of my chief reasons for liking it is pretty selfish: I like having a regular excuse to clean and at least pretend to look like I maybe have my life halfway together. But sometimes I just don’t feel up for it. It’s not an option. Neighbor kids will want to come play inside and I’ll flat-out deflect to the hose in the backyard.

You might have financial goals at this point in your life. Or, you might not. But here’s the good news: it’s completely possible to save money and still have a happy, fulfilled existence. You just have to adopt a frugal mindset, and put practices in place to help you succeed. To help you out, here are 100+ ways to get thrifty and reduce your cost of living… 1. 6 Tips for Creating a ‘Buy Better, Buy Less’ Budget 2. How To Have an Adult Apartment on a Budget 3.

If your daily routine could use a little optimizing, here’s a science-backed template.

While some decor catalogs might seem like mail clutter, truth be told, many are still a ripe source of inspiration—if you know which ones to look for. Filled with beautifully styled rooms and up-and-coming design trends, these catalogs are actually worth a look, unlike much of what hits our mailboxes. To prove our point, we’ve rounded up a few of our favorite store catalogs for your consideration.

Well, don’t do a ton of work to prepare for a garage sale and then not tell people about it! Half (actually, probably more than half) the success of a great garage sale can be contributed to good marketing of the event. So this week, consider your options, pick the choices that get you the most excited and decide how you’re going to get the word out! When you decide to start advertising your garage sale can be up to you.

Low budgets and a lack of time can put a dent in the fun of summer traveling, without doubt. But just because you can’t go far doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. Lovingly called a “staycation” by some, we call it being a tourist in your own city. Here are eight ways how to do it.

Whether you’ve lived in your neighborhood for years or have recently made the move, we bet there’s something you’ve never noticed before. Home is not just the few rooms you pay for and occupy — it spills out of your front door and stretches into the streets and businesses that surround your address. This weekend, with these tips, get up, out and explore your ‘hood.

Traveling on a budget isn’t necessarily easy, but it’s definitely not impossible — especially if you get a little strategic.

If you haven’t already started planning your beach getaway, what are you even doing with your life? Perhaps you’re paralyzed with indecision from looking at all the wonderful beach vacation options (because how can you possibly choose one location?) or you’re scouring the internet and cringing at how expensive summer travel arrangements are. Fortunately, there’s an antidote to both of these issues: Vrbo’s breakdown of best value beach destinations for 2019.

Imagine it’s 2:30 p.m. on a Friday and your flight is at 5 p.m. It usually takes about an hour to get to the airport, but it just dawned on you that you’re going to hit rush hour traffic. You get into your Uber and the GPS ETA says 4:10. Is your initial reaction a.) hands are getting clammy, anxiety is at an all-time high, you regret not leaving earlier; OR b.) you feel adrenaline pulsing through your veins and the pressure is exhilarating.

Amazing news for those who can’t get enough Harry Potter (is there such a thing?): four new Harry Potter reads will be coming to an online store near you this summer. But before you get too excited that we’re getting a new look at Hermione and Ron’s adult life together and the houseplants they do (or don’t) successfully keep alive (surely they’d get Neville’s help with that, though, right?

If our binges of Marie Kondo’s popular Netflix show have taught us anything, it’s that cleaning is good, but mindfully tidying up is so much sweeter. In the process, you inevitably discover the items that truly bring you joy and say farewell to those that don’t. But what if tossing unnecessary items could bring you joy and a stack of cash? If your tidying has unearthed treasures like vintage Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, you could be in for a solid payday.

Glamping has taken us to many far-flung places. You can bed down in a tented eco-retreat in Mexico or a cozy pod in Sweden. There’s even a glamping experience in Calistoga wagon replicas to get a taste of the Wild West. The glam camping trend shows no signs of stopping, and I’m here for it!This summer, glamping is truly hitting new heights—the top of the Watergate Hotel in Washington, D.C., to be exact.

Experience the couple’s legendary, empire-building style for yourself.

In honor of National Composting Day on May 29, we spoke to some experts to help break down common myths about composting, including how to do it in an apartment.

I live in an apartment in New York City, where—quite honestly—no one really cares to get to know their neighbors. While I’ve morphed into a New Yorker in some ways since moving from my small town in Connecticut (less small talk, more yelling at cars), this is one trait I have not inherited. The core reason: I think having neighbors is wonderful.To prove my point, I turn to some of the most popular shows in the history of television.

There's more than one way to create a home that feels comfortable and content—and a lot of it happens outside your own four walls.

What happens to your body during barre class doesn't seem to make sense, but that's part of the charm—and it totally works.

If you’re living in a tiny house—or are just squeezed into a micro-studio—there’s no room for oversized anything. To that end, we asked some folks who are square foot-challenged to share their fave space-saving and/or double-duty Amazon purchases. All seven are excellent small-space problem solvers you can steal if your real estate is relatively tiny, too:Ah, the Instant Pot.

Their videos will make your day.

If you want to boost your photo game to the next level, there’s a simple way to take balanced, professional-looking iPhone pics.

We rounded up a five of the funniest ones in the bunch to make shopping for your next white elephant party a breeze.

Name: Andrea Bellamy and Ben Garfinkel, their daughter Lila, and Schnoopette the cat Location: Vancouver, British ColumbiaYears lived in: 5 yearsAndrea Bellamy and Ben Garfinkel grow plants in every nook and cranny they can find around their urban townhouse. Potted tomatoes and herbs grace their balcony and front patio, the couple share raised beds with their neighbors above their parking garage, and they planted a woodland garden in their cozy back patio area.

If Belle from “Beauty and the Beast” were to live in our modern times, she’d be all over this charming treehouse. About 300 miles south of Paris is this incredible treehouse rental, just an hour outside the historical, charming town Brive-la-Gaillarde. The treehouse is the most idyllic escape that will make you feel like you’re hiding away from reality.The house sleeps four, complete with two bedrooms: one with a queen-sized bed and the other with two twins.

At the onset of the final season of “Game of Thrones,” Joybird created a quiz so that you could finally figure out which of the nine main family houses—Stark, Targaryen, Lannister, Tully, Tyrell, Baratheon, Greyjoy, Arryn, and Martell—you belonged to. Are you a ruler who craves power or the love of your people? Would you be loyal to your friend no matter what, or ask questions before sticking your neck out for them?

There are worse ways to spend your summer.

Welcome to Good News, a new column that’s part-link roundup, part-community gratitude journal where we can all share the feel-good moments from the past seven days and end our week on a high note.Congratulations, you made it to Friday! It’s Tara, your News & Culture editor, here to start your weekend off with some grade-A good news.

Is there somewhere you’re a regular? A place where, when the bell jingles as you walk through the door, you instantly feel at home? A spot where you’ve found your people? To find out what makes a regular, we’ve asked friends and Apartment Therapy staffers to tell us about their favorite haunts. Some folks love the personal attention of their “regular” status, while others are more contented by the vibe of a familiar space.

For many travelers, the perks that come with renting out an Airbnb for a getaway make it the obvious choice over a standard hotel. If you’re lucky, you land a stay at one of these dreamy Airbnb houses that comes with a cool, accommodating host and have an experience that easily earns a 5-star rating.

My generation grew up being told things likethere’s only one you. But I have to admit that it’s been jarring to discover—through astrology, enneagram types, and other fun personality quizzes—how much parts of me can be so eerily similar to everyone else.And isn’t that the value of personality frameworks? They give us parameters for understanding how we tick and help us navigate life with others and life in general.

While moms deserve kudos every day all year round for the hard work they do, Mother’s Day gives us the opportunity to go all out in their honor. It’s also a good excuse to reminisce about our favorite on-screen mothers and daughters. Sometimes, they make us laugh and other times, they make us cry. The best mother-daughter duos make us appreciate and love our own mothers that much more.No matter what they’ve endured separately or together, these duos prove that love prevails.

If you’re not quite ready to take the plunge and live in a tiny home full-time, how about renting one out for a getaway?

They raised 200% of their Kickstarter goal in under an hour.

It’s finally happened. We’ve got a garbage bag hanging from our front door knob. This is a sure sign of slipping into real urban slackerdom and more decay. We’ve become one of THEM.One of my pet peeves in NYC is the ubiquitous use of plastic shopping bags for easy garbage disposal instead of using the actual garbage bin. You know what I mean. It’s done all over town because its EASY. We’ve even been in SUPER fancy apartments and seen the same thing.

You might remember my argument for going back to the basics last year, which is why I fought the idea of a bread machine. But my boyfriend gave me one as a gift and in the last week I’ve been converted. Sure, you can accomplish some of this list by making bread the old-fashioned (or no-knead way), or by purchasing a fresh loaf at your local bakery.

Glass water bottles are not only eco-friendly (as they’re reusable and not made of plastic), but the glass won’t affect flavor or your health. Many glass bottles are made with borosilicate glass, a high-grade glass that’s more durable and heat-resistant than other types of glass, while also being lightweight. But which glass bottles are the best?

Flying (at least for us common folk in economy class) is perhaps one of the least glamorous parts of travel. Fighting for overhead bin space, cramped quarters, and an overall lack of personal space only scratch the surface of plane travel woes.So when we heard that even the ice served in drinks is a no-go (is nothing sacred anymore?!), it got us thinking about what other ways we could be inadvertently introducing germs into our system during air travel.

Name: Marcella de Boom Occupation: ArtistLocation: Cullinan, South AfricaType: Cob houseSize: 970 sq.ft.Years lived in: 9 >> Marcella de Boom is no ordinary woman, she has built her entire home with her own two hands. The inspiration was “creative poverty”, a wild dream of building a home, without spending more than $5000! The dream started to materialize when she met Interior Architect and Cob lover; Dawn McAdam by coincidence.

Name: Samuel and Barbara DavidsonLocation: Mercer Island, WashingtonSize: 260 square feetYears lived in: 30 years In the middle of beautiful Lake Washington, nestled amid four acres of wooded land, sits a tiny red caboose from 1949. Colorfully out of place among the giant evergreen trees and sprawling rhododendron, it’s a small jewel full of light and warmth.

A lot has changed with paints—even in the last year more paint companies have changed their formulas from high-VOC to low-VOC and even to no-VOC. And they’re probably not the big name eco-friendly paints you’ve heard about. Leave it Consumer Reports to put all the paints to the test, and find out their results after the jump.