5 ways vinegar can make your home gleam and smell fresh

Lifestyle

Feb 26, 2014

Plain old white vinegar has the ability to clean your home from top to bottom. It brings up a great shine on tiles and silver and has amazing deodorizing properties.

Use vinegar in the following ways for an economical and thorough way of cleaning your home.

1. Tiles
Mix vinegar with some warm water and use on your tiles to bring up a great shine and get rid of stains.

2. Microwave
Use vinegar to shift those tough stains in your microwave.

3. Stainless steel hob
Using vinegar on your hob will make the silver gleam and break down any food residue.

4. Drains
Because of its incredible deodorizing properties, vinegar can clear up any lingering smells caused by your drain. If mixed with some baking soda it can also unclog your drains.

5. Smelly rooms
Whether it’s smoke, wet dog or perhaps that salmon from last night, vinegar is the solution! Simply place a bowl of vinegar in the area that smells and wait for an hour or two. Although it will smell like vinegar for a while, once you throw it away all the offending smells will have disappeared! Magic.

5 things to collect that will look good in your home

Lifestyle

Feb 24, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Collecting things is fun, they can look good and it’s a way of making memories. These items will make your home cute and kitsch.

1. Books
Books entice everybody – guests will love scanning your shelves and seeing what you like to read. There are so many great ways to put your books on display, you’ll easily find one to suit your home.

2. Teapots
Teapots are homely and there are so many beautiful ones out there. Put them on display or even out in the garden with flowers in them.

3. Seashells
Collect seashells from every beach you go to. When you have enough, you can create a framed display with the name of the beach underneath. Perfect for the bathroom.

4. Clocks
Clocks come in so many shapes and sizes, hang them on a wall for a unique presentation. They will have to be for aesthetics only though, unless you want to go crazy from all the ticking!

5. Teacups
Teacups are always cute and give a soft, feminine touch to your home. Collect them in all colours and patterns for a shabby-chic feel. Use them as quirky pots for small plants for your windowsills.

Lauren Conrad sells her Laguna Beach home for how much?!

Lifestyle

Feb 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It looks as if Lauren Conrad is cutting ties with her hometown and moving on!

Her beach house in Laguna, pictured below, has now been listed on the property market for $2.795 million and is a three bedroom house with a bright and spacious kitchen and living room. Built in 1966, in a Cape Cod inspired style, this home was bought by Conrad in 2009 for $2 million.

The reality star, who recently became engaged to William Tell, currently resides in a property, pictured below, in Brentwood, California which she purchased last April.

Laid-back ways to see if your crush likes you

Relationships

Feb 21, 2014

by Amber Saunders

The last thing in the world any self-respecting young woman wants to do is come across as, *whispers* desperate.

In order to move things forward, you need to find out if he likes you too and this involves adapting a few juvenile tactics. So, it’s a little Transition Year, but who cares! We have to look after number one. Here are some easy ways to get a little closer to him .

1. At work
If you work with him, tell him you are running to the coffee shop and ask if he would like anything. If he is into you and isn’t too busy he might even offer to come with you – perfect! If not, at least you have the coffee to deliver on the way back. And if he growls no and waves you out of his office, do you really want to date him anyway?

2. In your building
If you live in the same building as him, call around one Sunday and say you are baking, dropped an egg and could you maybe steal one of his. While he fetches it, have a quick scope around for girly things. If you see none then call around during the week with a replacement egg for him – cute and quirky excuse to see him again.

3. On your commute
This one is a little more tricky because you need to not come across as a stalker. As in, don’t say: “I saw your name on your work badge and you look so different in a tracksuit rather than shirt and tie in your Facebook photos”. Eek. If he is reading ask him if it’s any good and that you were recommended it before.

Food all Irish people crave when living abroad

Feb 20, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It’s no secret that when we go abroad we become more Irish than ever before. Even if you were a raw macrobiotic vegan at home, you will find yourself scouring the internet for Milky Moo’s or begging your mam to send more Lyons tea.

Here are the things you’re most likely to crave:

1. Club Orange/Lemon
Tommy’s favourite.

2. Tayto sandwich
Yes, you can now get Taytos most places but does it taste the same without Brennan’s bread and Kerrygold butter? No, no it doesn’t.

3. Bacon fries
A thousand empty packets scatter the pub’s tables every quiz night.

4. REAL butter
None of this “We can’t believe it’s not butter is it not no it tastes like real butter but it’s not” butter.

5. Barry’s or Lyon’s tea (no fighting please) with Irish bainne.
We’ve tried to recreate our homely cup of tea and it turns out the secret is in the milk.

6. Floury potatoes
With a load of salt and butter please.

Impractical things we really want in our dream house

Lifestyle

Feb 19, 2014

by Amber Saunders

These features are either ridiculous or ridiculously expensive – so why do we want them so badly?

1. An aquarium sink

2. A swing-set table

3. A bathroom with a terrifying glass floor

4. An indoor slide

5. A town in a kid’s room

Furnishing your home with wooden pallets

Lifestyle

Feb 17, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Who knew these wooden pallets could have so many great uses? And we’re not even sure what they’re for in the first place, to be honest.

Find inspiration on how to cheaply and simply update your home for a rustic look – we love all of these!

Wooden pallets can be used as base for a sofa, a headboard, the base of a bed (if you can afford a mattress and not a bed this is genius!) or a lovely coffee table.

Creating the perfect office or study space

Lifestyle

Feb 14, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It’s difficult to study or work from bed (no matter how hard we try) because we associate it with sleep and rest.

In the same way, it is difficult to study or work in the living room because we normally watch TV and switch off mentally in there.

A space needs to be created in which you can stimulate yourself and be in full mental capacity. Use our tips to make your creative space a haven.

1. A window
A space with a window means you will be able to air the room efficiently and this will drastically improve your concentration. Rooms that are hot and stuffy may feel cosy but will also make you feel sleepy.

2. Plants
Having one or two plants in your study/work space will allow the air to be purified as well as aesthetically pleasing. See which plants require the least attention.

3. Inspirational quote
Hang up some inspirational quotes, either your own ones or famous ones, to remind yourself what you are working so hard towards and what you want to achieve.

4. Brightness
A bright room with lots of natural light will be more enjoyable to work in as well as more stimulating for the mind. Light coloured furnishing and walls will help you concentrate better than darker colours which are more associated with relaxing.

5. Noticeboards
Use one noticeboard for important reminders and another for more fun things like photos of friends and family, funny quotes, cinema stubs etc.

5 ways to make your home cosier

Lifestyle

Feb 12, 2014

by Amber Saunders

1. Warm colours
If your walls and furniture portray a warmth, you’ll notice an instant change. Oranges, reds, greens and browns are much cosier colours than whites or pastels.

2. Mixed fabrics
Mix your fabrics and patterns to add a sense of cosiness to your living room. Mismatched pillows and blankets will make the room instantly snug.

3. Plants, herbs and flowers
The addition of some nature into your home will not only purify the air but it is aesthetically pleasing.

4. Wood
The addition of wooden furniture, panels or floors to your home will make it feel warm. Think about the portrayal of cosiness you get when you think of the inside of a ski chalet. Bring that to your home!

5. Candles and scent
Candles give a home a dim, romantic light and calmness. Smell is also a very powerful way to give your home a cosy feeling, it’s as simple as putting some orange peel into a saucepan – click here to learn how!

6. Embrace your clutter
Cosy homes are ones that embrace book collections, duck figurine collections and all types of memorabilia. Cosy homes are not minimalist.

Bond star is moving to Dublin

Celebrity

Feb 11, 2014

by Amber Saunders

It looks like Daniel Craig will be setting up home on the emerald isle, for a while at least.

The 007 star and his wife, Rachel Weisz, are looking to temporarily move to Ireland while Rachel films her latest movie The Lobster here. Production is to begin in Kerry but the couple will base themselves in the capital.

The English actor has already been on the lookout for a new pad and according to an insider, the couple “got in touch with the estate agent as early as last December to look for properties that match their criteria”.

Apparently, Daniel and Rachel are looking at homes in south of the city, in particular Dun Laoghaire, because “it’s by the seaside and out of the city centre, yet close enough if they want to get to the airport.”

The duo would want to get a move on though as Rachel starts filming in March. Weisz will be playing the lead role alongside our very own Colin Farrell.

Indestructible houseplants

Lifestyle

Feb 10, 2014

by Amber Saunders

Plants are really important in a home not only to add atmosphere and decoration but also to help purify the air.

It can be difficult with a busy, hectic lifestyle to find the time to care for plants which is why they inevitably die.

We’ve chosen our favourite indoor plants that require little attention and maintenance while still getting all of the benefits of having greenery in your home – perfect!

1. Rubber Plant
This plant requires medium light and is quite a striking plant to have in your home.

2. Peace Lily
The perfect Irish home plant this requires low light and low humidity.

3. English Ivy
This pretty plant requires moist soil and a cooler temperature than many other indoor plants.

4. Jade Plant
This is a really long-lasting plant that requires little watering but bright light so keep it on a window sill for maximum growth.

5. Aspidistra elatior
This plant is nicknamed the “cast-iron” plant as it is virtually indestructible surviving in the hands of even the most negligent of owners. Low light and low humidity.

Which celebrity has the most elaborate home?

Lifestyle

Feb 6, 2014

by Amber Saunders

1.Oprah Winfrey
The talk-show queen is a billionaire and has a house to suit just that. The house has fourteen bathrooms and it’s very own tea room. Jealous? Us? Very.

2. Bill Gates
Worth an estimated $147.5 million, the founder of Microsoft and once the richest man in the world, has a beautiful mansion in Washington. If you happen to be a guest in Bill’s house, you get your own special pin that adjusts temperature, music and lighting to your preference. The driveway is also heated – seriously Bill?!

3. Hugh Hefner’s Playboy Mansion
Hef’s palace is often seen by the public due to reality TV shows and parties, but that doesn’t stop it being so amazing! Everyone’s heard of the famous grotto…

4. The Osbournes
The setting of the TV reality show The Osbournes, this beautiful mansion in California was sold last summer by the family.