Self-care is not a trend; it is a lifestyle practice that varies from person to person. For some, self-care may involve sitting outside with their favorite crystals, and for others, it could be practicing meditation For some, self-care may be watching their favorite show while drinking a cup of tea and doing a face mask. If your best friend has expressed their love for wellness and mindfulness practices, why not surprise them with a unique gift?

The best gifts are the thoughtful and unexpected ones. Here are a few of the best wellness and mindfulness gifts for your best friend. 

Cards of Affirmations

Sometimes we need a boost of self-confidence and positive thinking. Cards of affirmations will help your friend feel good about themselves and their choices. These cards have thoughtful first-person quotes that are to be repeated aloud to refocus and motivate anyone to reach their goals. 

Tea Sampler

Encourage your BFF to sit back, relax, and turn on their favorite movie while drinking a nice cup of hot tea. When your best friend needs a moment to relax or ease their mind, they can turn on their kettle and drink one of the herbal tea blends. 

Herbal teas have many health benefits, such as:

• Boosting your immune system
• Reducing pain and soreness
• Helps prevent chronic diseases
• Improving your digestive system

Mindfulness Adult Coloring Books

If your best friend has a creative streak, surprise them with a mindfulness adult color booking! Adult coloring books are comforting and are a familiar way to ease the mind and body. Purchase a book full of creative, dreamy illustrations for your friend to express themselves with colored pencils, markers, and a nice glass of their favorite wine. 

Gemstone Tree

Gemstone trees have a long history of warding off negative energy, bringing abundance and bright energy to various areas of your life, and supporting dream manifestations. Gemstone trees are also a beautiful decor accent for your best friend's home or office. 

Himalayan Pink Salt Lamp

Everyone is obsessed with this lamp—and for a great reason! These lamps are perfect for the nights when your best friend wants to lay back and relax with dim lighting. They can add instant mood lighting to their room with a controllable switch. 

Calming Stuffed Animal

If your wellness-lover friend lives alone or expresses their need for extra snuggles, surprise them with a calming stuffed animal. They will laugh at you for gifting them a calming stuffed animal, but it will bring them great benefits and many cozy nights! 

These stuffed animals are soothing support for when your friend feels stressed, anxious, or alone. Some calming stuffed animals have sensors that respond to touch, and their "heartbeat" will help calm down yours.

The best wellness and mindfulness gifts for your best friend are the ones that come from the heart. Your friend will appreciate you surprising them with their favorite teas or a beautiful decorative piece! So, next time you are in the store, think of your best friend and gift them something meaningful they’ll cherish forever.

The home has two purposes: to serve as a sanctuary for you and your family and to provide a good first impression on guests. Visitors and neighbors see the exterior of your home, and they may come inside and continually evaluate you based on your home. Consider using these simple tricks to liven up your home this summer and achieve the right feel for your home.

Get Some Organization Bins

This tip may not sound like fun, but the minute you have some bins and start organizing, you will have a blast. There is something cathartic about taking all the chaos and clutter in a home and organizing it. This practice finds a place for everything and dramatically reduces any wasted space in your home. Everything will now have a place, and your home will feel much more spacious and welcoming rather than cluttered and claustrophobic.

Focus on the Outside

When the summer heat comes around, the last thing that anyone wants to do is work long, hard hours, working up a sweat. However, these minor renovations can make your home really pop, and thankfully you have many different options. Some easy ways to add character and charm to the exterior of your home include:

• Repainting the front porch
• Adding lighting elements
• Updating your railing
• Adding some seats
• Lining the walkways with flowers
• Adding a picket fence

Any one of these additions will turn your home into an oasis and a spot where people slow down to admire the view as they drive by.

Use Floral Elements in Decoration

Spring and summer are the times of the year when everything blooms again, and the grass turns back to a luscious green. You want your home to match the seasons, and you can use a variety of floral elements to take it there. Punctuate your living spaces with earthy tones, potted plants, and flower vases, and don’t be afraid to leave a window open and let the cool breeze air out your home. Any one of these elements can breathe new life into your home.

There are many simple tricks to liven up your home this summer, and they will stay fresh even when the season is over. Organizing will continually revitalize a home requiring some sanity, and a swell-looking home exterior will always go a long way in brightening up your day. Floral elements may come out of season, but you can easily replace them with the new seasonal foliage. Don’t hesitate to liven up your home!

Your home has a tremendous affect on how you feel. People who want to remain active will enjoy changing their home’s appearance. But even if you only make occasional interior design changes, these are some tips on how to make your home feel warm and welcoming.

Let the Light In

A sunlit room is a great first step when it comes to a welcoming first impression. A bright room is naturally inviting and lightens the mood. It makes guests feel more welcome and invited than they would in a dark or broody room. Opening your blinds or incorporating French doors to add more style to your entryways will make your open areas more appealing. For smaller areas, implementing mirrors into your room design is a good way to make the room feel more spacious while taking advantage of the natural light available through reflections.

Use a Happy Color Scheme

Light pastels or colors that blend—like whites, grays, or shades of beige—are a good way to create a warm atmosphere in your home. These color schemes are excellent for enjoying a more fluid mixture of stylish and welcoming designs. Lighter tones make a room more open and free while making it harder for dark corners to form as the day gets darker. Whether you desire more color in pastels, or a more muted feeling from subtle color tones, integrating these colors into your furniture helps make things flow without feeling out of place.

Play With Scents

Using different smells helps create a mood for you and your guests. From floral spring notes to scents of pumpkin spice in the fall, these smells play a role in the story your design tells. Smells also make a room more memorable to less frequent visitors and aids in the narrative you wish to create for your home.

Having a home that helps prepare you for brand new experiences is helpful for those who need more than caffeine to get the day rolling. By considering a few of these tips on how to make your home feel warm and welcoming, you avoid having a home that does not excite you or get you ready for the day. Tell a story or create a safe space that is welcoming to all. Regardless, your design preferences are yours to take charge of for each space in your house.

There are many reasons why a person might want to upgrade to a garage door. Whatever the case, this choice will significantly increase the value of their property overall.

An automatic garage door is one of the best improvements you can make to a house today, so take advantage of it. Read on to learn more about why automatic garage doors are a great investment for any home.

Good Return

The primary reason why most people opt to get an automatic garage door is as an investment. Homeowners who make this choice know that they will get back what they paid whenever they decide to sell the home. When the market is good, you can increase the value of your home significantly without spending too much money.

Save on Electric

One massive advantage of having a garage door in place is the insulation and protection that it provides. With a vast steel door as a fortified structure in front of your home, you can easily block out a lot of winter’s wrath. The added insulation lowers electricity bills and leads to a more energy-efficient home. This is also a perk that people look for when house shopping.

Lower Maintenance

They say that you get what you pay for, and it’s mostly true. Automated garage doors aren’t cheap by any means, but that’s OK. If you go with a quality brand that has proper installation, you can count on your door to remain structurally sound for the first decade at minimum.

Better Security

Quality automatic garage doors lock snug and tight. Once your automatic garage door is grounded, there is a locking mechanism in place that automatically locks, which connects to the main housing of the engine. This feature means protection at all times.

There are even doors now that you can sync to your smartphone to tell you the status of the door, allowing you to ensure it’s locked even when you’re away.

These are many things you need to know before purchasing a garage door. One factor to consider is your overall investment. Automatic garage doors provide reliability, security, and added market value, making this option one of the best available.

With an understanding of why automatic garage doors are a great investment, you can determine if this amenity is right for your property.

Cooking in a cluttered kitchen takes the fun out of the process and makes the experience more overwhelming than it needs to be. On top of organizing your kitchen cupboards, pantry, and fridge, redesigning your kitchen into a modernized space enhances your cooking experience and creates a clutter-free room.

Modern home designs produce sleek, luxurious, and welcoming spaces. They add effortless style and radiate a clean and minimalistic appearance. Implementing modern influences into your kitchen creates an ideal cooking space that makes hosting dinners and the cooking experience more enjoyable. Here are some ways to modernize your kitchen in style.

Multi-Purpose Designs and Features

The modern movement strives toward multiple ideals, including streamlining various processes. Multi-purpose designs and features give you a one-stop shop for various functionalities, such as all-in-one kitchen islands featuring storage, counter space, dining, and seating options. Built-in features like a dishwasher, sink, and stovetops are popular modern kitchen additions due to their multifaceted functionality. Implementing the best flooring option for your kitchen further provides a multi-purpose, durable, and functional design feature fit for your modern kitchen space.

Space Saving Organization Solutions

Modern ideals aim to achieve and create a minimalistic lifestyle in line with streamlining those processes. Along with multi-purpose features, space-saving organization solutions further minimize clutter and the need for various items. Space-saving organizers come in various forms, from racks and shelving to dividers and multi-level stands. Creating additional storage on the back of doors, under shelves, and through added levels and divided sections within open-space cupboards maximizes your existing space.

Modern Aesthetic Attributes

Various statement designs comprise the modern aesthetic’s ambiance. Neutral colors formulate its color palette, creating sleek, simple, and versatile looks that nod to numerous qualities of the modern design style. Textures like marble and wood help achieve the modern ideal of integrating with nature. Metallic fixtures and accessories express the industrialized symbolism of humanity and modern futuristic influences, further complementing the philosophies of the modern aesthetic. Other modern design elements include large windows, cool-toned lighting, minimal statement pieces, and coordination and cohesiveness between furnishings and interior designs.

Open Space Floor Plans and Layout

A huge kitchen island takes center stage in all modern kitchen designs. Designers open up the kitchen, remove the walls that once separated the cooking area into an alcove, and blend the dining room and living space with the kitchen. Open space floor plans and room layouts seal the deal in transforming your kitchen into a modernized space. They coincide with the modern aesthetic’s goal of creating spacious, clean, clutter-free, and sleek room designs.

Modernizing your kitchen gives you a welcoming and aesthetically pleasing space that offers plenty of room and inspiration to cook up something good to enjoy by yourself or with others. A modern kitchen enhances your home with a luxurious room design that appeals to many.

You have many options about what you can do with your basement. Usually, it is a large open space that provides room for different activities. Take advantage of this and design a room where you will want to spend time. Here are five elegant ways you can upgrade your basement without having to hire contractors, movers, or planners.

1. A Home Movie Theater

Because basements are underground, light does not enter them like in the rooms. This makes a basement perfect for a movie theater. There are different ways you can achieve this. The first is to purchase a rotating pull-down screen, attach it to the ceiling close to a wall, and use it only when needed. Another option is painting one of your walls white so that it can double as a screen for your projector. Both options work well. Get a couple of long couches to fit everyone and enjoy.

2. A Home Gym

This is an excellent way for you to use the space. Set up a place where you can get some cardio and weight lifting accomplished. Get a screen TV down there as well. Make sure the Wi-Fi connection is strong and stream all the best workout videos. A gym at home will make your basement elegant and functional instantaneously.

3. A Game Room

A room where everyone can have fun is a great idea. Game rooms are easy to achieve, depending on the games you want. A pool table will transform the space. Other games like board games, darts, Nintendo, and table chess will provide hours of endless fun. For features that might not get as much attention, such as window wells, consider installing a decorative window well liner to complete your game room with some graphics and visuals.

4. A Basement Guest Room

A basement may feel cold and isolated, but not with the right accessories and equipment. A comfortable basement is perfect for guest bedrooms. Elements to make an underground guest bedroom comfortable include:

• Colorful rugs
• Touches of wood
• Warm light fixtures
• Many pillows

5. A Wine Cellar

The most elegant way you can upgrade your basement is by turning it into a wine cellar. A round table for eight people fits perfectly and provides seating for everyone on a wine tasting evening. Building a wall shelf for all the wines would be ideal, but anywhere you can place and keep them will do.

There’s a variety of sustainable siding options for home-builders and everyday homeowners. If you’re exploring eco-friendly siding options for your home, it’s important to assess which types of exterior will provide the best return on your investment while doing their part to protect the environment. Using sustainable siding on your home doesn’t have to mean exceeding your budget or forgoing your aesthetic preferences. Go green with your siding by exploring these three eco-friendly siding options for your home.

1. Brick

Brick is a long-standing option for siding and other home elements. The longevity of brick makes it a sustainable option that exceeds the risk of flammability, rot, and fading. Using brick for your siding requires professional installation, but the investment will pay itself off for years to come.

2. Stucco

Stucco is made from all-natural elements such as water, sand, lime, and cement. Its natural composition ranks this option highly for eco-friendliness. You even have the option to remove the cement element to further improve its sustainability.

3. Fiber Cement

Fiber cement also has a natural composition of sand, cement, and wood pulp. Using these natural resources means the siding of your home won’t release toxic emissions into the atmosphere. Fiber cement is also fire resistant, ranking highly as a durable building material similar to brick or stone. It’s also one of the most versatile sustainable options for siding. It offers a broad range of styles, and it can even have an aesthetic similar to that of wood if you’re searching for a longer-lasting alternative.

When you’re evaluating siding options for your home, finding one that’s both sustainable and suitable for your design preferences can feel challenging. While weighing your eco-friendly siding options, be mindful of what the installation process entails and if the additional costs will be sustainable for both the planet and your budget.

Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 | Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff

No matter what project you’re working on, from constructing furniture to replacing a door, knowing what fasteners you need will save you a lot of frustration. Bolts are some of the most versatile fasteners on the market; we will look at the most common types of bolts and their uses so you can discover what you need for your next big project.

Hex Bolts

Hex bolts get their name from the hexagonal-shaped head adorning their tip, and are fundamental in DIY and home renovation projects. Hex bolts are traditionally for securing heavy materials such as wood, metal, and plastic. The hexagonal shape makes loosening and tightening these bolts with a spanner or wrench easy. Still, when performing intensive at-home projects like door installation, many prefer to attach a hexagonal drill bit to a power drill for convenience.

Carriage Bolts

When looking at common bolt types and their uses, do you ever see bolts with perfectly rounded heads holding metal and wood together? The mushroom-like shape of the head makes it more difficult for these bolts to come loose, which is why carriage bolts are traditionally for construction. At-home projects utilizing carriage bolts could be a swing set in the backyard.

Anchor Bolts

While you won’t generally see them, anchor bolts stand out for their unique L-shaped appearance. As the name suggests, an anchor bolt’s job is to form an anchor, keeping things firmly secured to heavy materials like concrete. Once most of the bolt is secure, you only see the threaded tip coming out. Whether you need to secure something against a concrete wall or hold it down on your patio, anchor bolts are great for dealing with heavy-duty projects.

Different projects work best with different bolt types. Fortunately, it’s easy to get access to bolts in bulk to find what you need for your next big DIY fixer-upper. Just remember to consider the materials involved and the accessibility of your bolts if you need to make any adjustments.

Posted by Logical Position for Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 | Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff

Kitchens are one of the most used spaces in your home. Naturally, you want your kitchen to look as fantastic as it functions. Fortunately, all kinds of vintage trends are making a major comeback this year. Read on to discover a few kitchen design trends that are coming back in style.

Mid-Century Modern Design

One of the kitchen trends coming back in style is mid-century modern design. This design style was popular in the ‘50s and ‘60s and is making its comeback in kitchens all over the country today. You can recognize the mid-century modern style by its clean lines, functionality, wood and plastic elements, and the blending of traditional and contemporary features. Utilizing this trend in your kitchen creates a stunning minimalistic space that feels both retro and modern at the same time.

Farmhouse Sinks

Farmhouse sinks are another trend that we’re seeing come back in style. These sinks have roots dating all the way back to 17^th century England, so it’s safe to say that they’ve been around for a long time. Now that the rustic style is popular in kitchen design, these sinks are making a major comeback. These sinks are large, efficient, and a symbol of luxury in today’s kitchens. Anyone who loves to cook will want to invest in a farmhouse sink.

Colorful Cabinetry

The final kitchen design trend that is making a comeback is colorful cabinetry. For years, white cabinetry was the most popular style to see in kitchens. However, color is demanding its time in the spotlight. As a result, cabinets of all colors are making their way into homes and kitchens worldwide. All sorts of colors are becoming trendy, from bright blues to soft seafoam greens to burnt oranges. Even gray kitchen cabinets are back in style. So choose cabinetry in whatever color speaks to you, and you will be sure to have a showstopping kitchen.

Now that you know a few kitchen design trends that are coming back in style, you can start utilizing these trends in your home today. Don’t be afraid to get creative and make some bold design choices!

Posted for Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 www.i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 | Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff

Art is a beautiful addition to any home, regardless of its medium: paintings, sculptures, multimedia, etc. However, despite these many forms, they all have something in common; they are fragile, get dirty, and can break. Here’s how to keep your artwork clean and protected so that it lasts.

Keep It Protected From Sun and Humidity

Extended exposure to sunlight is not suitable for anything. It will quickly bleach art, and the works can diminish in value and luster. Avoid this by keeping pieces out of the direct sunlight and framing them with acrylic plexiglass rather than glass. This will filter UV light out so that it does not affect the art. Similarly, humidity, as well as dryness, can have negative impacts on your art. It’s important to monitor humidity levels in the home, as long periods of dryness and humidity can negatively affect the quality of the pieces.

Understand Your Mediums

Another thing that dramatically affects art quality is that the owners do not give them the proper, medium-specific care they require. Canvas art will need to be protected from hand oils and sun-bleaching, while bronze statues must be regularly dusted and polished. Understanding these medium-specific characteristics is essential to preserving their value and whatever they depict. Art will degrade over time without proper precautions meant to take care of them. Much of what sits in museums has been devastated by time, and only fragments remain of what were once beautiful murals, sculptures, and fabrics.

Give It a Safe Location

People can do plenty of things to preserve the quality of art over time, but if the owners do not place them in a safe and secure place, they can easily be damaged or disturbed. For example, sculptures in busy areas can fall over, paintings can fall, and fabrics can tear or get spilled on. Art is precious, and its owners need to treat it as such. If art is placed somewhere secure, it will be better preserved through time.

It is simple to understand how to keep your artwork clean and protected, but executing it is especially difficult. Each work needs specific care and attention, and when done correctly, it will stand the test of time.

Posted by Logical Position for Marla Stone, MSW REALTOR® License ID: 01823712 Nora Gallogly Group Beverly & Co. DRE#02078273 www.i-deal-lifestyle.com | Direct (949) 709-7000 | Connect with Marla on Instagram & Facebook! Marla is the Author of The Clutter Remedy: A Guide To Getting Organized For Those Who Love Their Stuff