I was looking for a carafe that I can use everyday.  I am very clumsy so I prefer non-glass ones.  Then I found the Prodyne Acrylic juice jar.  It’s a clear carafe made of acrylic so it was perfect.  It comes with a screw-in lid either in white or black.  It also comes in two sizes: 56oz and 36oz.

When I got it, I was pleasantly surprised.  It looked like glass!  The lid is a screw-in so there are screw threads on the mouth of the carafe, but it still looks fine with or without the lid.  The lid has a little opening and a cover with a rubber stopper to seal it.  The cover does not open easily.  I guess it’s better tight that way so it won’t loosen so easily.  I flipped that carafe 360° several times (not slowly) to see how tight that seal was, and so far no spills.  The acrylic wasn’t very thick, but hopefully it lasts.  Unfortunately I can’t try to drop it to see how sturdy it is, sorry!  But I still highly recommend it if you’re looking for a non-glass carafe.

When I imagine the house that I would be living in, I never imagine navy blue on any of the walls even though I love navy and white.  But when I saw this bedroom at House Beautiful, I guess that will change.  The walls are beautiful.  And who would have thought shutters would make for a great headboard and bedroom decor?

Now that I’m about to embark on a new journey, a journey with the love of my life, I can’t help but rediscover my dreams.  Dreams not of white picket fences, but the turquoise ocean.

And here’s my first dream house find.  With all the Viking appliances, John was in-love.

Have a happy Easter everyone!

Martha Stewart

Pottery Barn

Better Homes and Gardens

Call your nearest Pottery Barn for times.

We’re not very creative at home when it comes to setting the table.  Most of the time, we serve ourselves.  Now that I’m getting married and looking forward to inviting friends and hosting parties, I decided to re-learn the right way of setting the table.

MyHomeIdeas has a very informative article on table setting etiquette. Don’t you love photos and illustrations? I love them! Click on images to enlarge/download.

Aren’t these luminaries gorgeous? They’re actually made using wax and balloon. Candletech.com has instructions including step-by-step photos on how to create your own beautiful wax luminaries.

1. Fill a water balloon with tepid water.
2. Melt your wax. Optimum working temperature for this project is 180 degrees Fahrenheit. Try to maintain this temperature for your wax while working by keeping it on a double boiler.
3. Slowly dip your balloon into the wax to just below the water level in the balloon. Warning: Do not dip the balloon into the wax past the water level. This could cause the balloon to pop.
4. Hold the balloon in the wax for a few seconds, and then slowly lift it out of the wax. Dip the balloon a few more times, allowing some time between dips to let the wax cool.
5. While it is still quite warm, carefully set the balloon down onto a piece of paper or a cookie sheet, making sure it is level. This will create a flat bottom for the luminary.
6. Dip your balloon a few more times until it is the desired thickness. A good target thickness is 1/4 to 1/2 of an inch.
7. Set the balloon on the paper or cookie sheet again and let it cool.
8. When the wax is completely cooled, hold the balloon over a sink or bucket, facing away from you. Carefully pop the balloon with a skewer or knife and let the water drain out. Throw away the balloon shards.
9. To level the top of the luminary, heat a cookie sheet on the stove and place the luminary top-down onto the hot sheet and carefully melt the edges until it is level.
10. Place a tea light or votive inside the luminary and burn on a candle holder in a dark area.

I love DIYing and I would love love to do this for my wedding.  Unfortunately, I think we’re doing a day wedding so candles are not really needed .

Casa Sugar

I bought the Underbed Shoe Chest from The Container Store to store the shoes that I don’t often wear. I thought it was a good idea to utilize the space under my bed. But do yourself a favor and buy something else.

• The Underbed Shoe Chest wasn’t “virtually indestructible.” After pulling it out under the bed just a few times, the handle came off.
• The dividers are only attached to the sides of the storage, not at the bottom. The dividers barely keep the shoes in their place and it was a mess.
• The spaces between dividers are tiny and only regular shoes fit, not booties or boots.
• For $14.99, I don’t think it is worth it.

From what I’ve experienced, I would recommend buying a hard shell storage rather than soft vinyl for under the bed. It’s easier to pull and does not get bent out of shape. Some hard shell storage also come with wheels.

Think before throwing away your stuff (or junk) that you want to get rid of. There are a lot of organizations and websites that you can go to or join to get rid of all those stuff you have.

• BookMooch – trade and receive used books
• EcoPhones – recycle cell phones, digital cameras, DVDs, laptops, MP3 players and get money back
• Freecycle.org – a network of Yahoo! groups around the world where members can donate and/or find stuff they need.
• Recycles.org – free computer and office electronics exchange network
• Rehash – swap clothes and accessories with others
• Salvation Army – global thrift shops where your donations are tax-deductible.
• Second Rotation – a online site where you can cash in your electronics and gadgets with market value or donate for proper recycling items with no market value, shipping is free.
• Donate to churches, schools, non-profit organizations.
• Resources: Earth 911, NYC Stuff Exchange, Share Technology, Used Computer

UPDATE:

08/08/13: Here are additional sites where you can get info on donating your stuff:

• Recycling for Charities – the organization donates the value of your donated electronics to the charity of your choice
• Apple iPod Recycling Program – bring your old iPod to an Apple store and receive 10% on the purchase of a new iPod

(image from Dance With Shadows)

Click on image to enlarge