Ideas & Tips — Seasonal

Nothing brightens your home or your day quite like a bouquet of fresh cut flowers. On the other hand, nothing is more frustrating than finding your blooms sad and wilted shortly after you bought them. Did you know that how you treat the bouquet can make a big difference in how long it lasts? Here are some tips for better-looking, longer-lasting flowers: Avoid the sun: It may seem counterintuitive, since live plants need light, but Woman's Day says direct sun actually hastens your flowers' demise. Keep them in a cool, shady area in your home.  Change the water: This is one of...

Whether it's a full-on centerpiece or a mason jar full of flowers from your garden, a flower arrangement brings a breath of fresh air into your living space, especially in the colder months when you're less likely to see flowers outside. Before you buy an expensive bouquet, consider choosing and arranging the flowers yourself. It's a relaxing creative activity that lets you match or play off of your existing decor while saving money. Here are some tips from Better Homes and Gardens and blogger Mateja Holter: First, create a grid in the opening of your vase with scotch tape, or...

Fruit baskets and bowls are beautifully versatile: they are some of the only things that can serve as an item of decor and also as a tasty snack for your guests when they get hungry. Having an artfully arranged fruit basket on your table is a welcoming, hospitable touch, and can also add a touch of color and freshness to the home as the days grow shorter. Here are some tips to help you create your own edible centerpieces: Choose the right basket. You'll want something that goes with your other decor and doesn't overpower the fruit in appearance. This brushed stainless...

If you're like most people, you probably make ambitious goals with the best of intentions but then find yourself struggling to meet them. Here are some tips for setting yourself up for success from sociologist, life coach and O Magazine columnist Martha Beck: Identify your goal: You'd be surprised how many people fail to clearly identify their goal. Rather than saying you plan "to lose weight," commit to losing 10 pounds.  Break it down: Next, Beck suggests breaking down your goal into a single daily task, such as exercising for 30 minutes. Then keep dividing it in half until it...

When you come back home after a long winter day, nothing feels quite like heating up a nice big bowl of soup, slurping it down and letting it warm you from the inside. If your soup repertoire needs a refreshment, check out these ideas for hearty, filling winter soups: Loaded potato soup: Following the inspiration of the baked potato, only creamier and better to fill a bowl with. Start out with an easy base of creamy potato soup, then add toppings like cheese, sour cream, green onions, bacon bits and hot sauce to really get the most out of this dense,...