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Have You Painted Your Ceiling in a Surprising Color?

Elka Karl — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 04:00:52 PST

This room is so dreamy, thanks in large part to that delicious blue wall color. But the effect is also aided by the lovely lighter blue on the ceiling.

To be perfectly honest, when I've repainted my living and dining room this past time, I've skipped the ceilings - they were in fine shape, and it seemed like a major hassle, especially when I was doing all of the work myself in between wrangling a toddler. However, the cozy, cocoon-like effect that these contrasting blues has created is tempting me to rethink my lazy ceiling painting.

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7 Things That Annoy Your Yoga Instructor

Jenny Sugar — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 15:59:40 PST

Yoga instructors are some of the kindest, most caring, most forgiving people on the planet, but that doesn't mean they can't get bothered by a student's behavior in class. Here are seven things you don't want to do in front of your yoga instructor.

Talking during class: It's disruptive and inconsiderate to the other students in class trying to focus and relax, but it also means you're not giving your own practice the attention it deserves. If you feel the need to catch up with a friend, make plans to do something after class ends.
Ringing cell phone, or worse - answering it: Everyone is quietly moving through Sun Salutations and all of a sudden a phone rings and shatters the serenity. Always remember to turn your ringer off. If you're expecting an important phone call that can't be missed, place your phone on vibrate next to your mat and be sure to take the call outside.
Coming to class sick to sweat out your germs: No one wants to breathe in your germs. The teacher especially doesn't want to assist you if you're sick and absolutely can't stand when you leave your snotty tissues on the floor next to your mat. Take this opportunity to explore your home practice; return to the studio when you're healthy.

Keep reading to find out what else annoys your yoga instructor.

Stealing Tips From the Mercedes Benz Fashion Week Star Lounge

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 06:00:34 PST

Inspired by Pucci's geometric patterns and Chanel's florals, interior designer Wesley Cadle returns for a second time to create another memorable lounge for Mercedes Benz Fashion Week. Custom details include hand-paint fabrics commissioned by artists from Porter Teleo Studio that cover the upholstery, walls, and ceiling. The result is a watercolor wonderland that mimics the beauty of a delicate silk scarf. Click through the gallery for tips on how to incorporate modern art techniques with hints of feminine romance to re-create the feel of Cadle's fashionable Spring enclave.

A Modern Romance: Reinterpreting the Color Red

Angela Swinderman Elias — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 14:02:57 PST

I have to admit that red isn't a color I usually gravitate toward when it comes to decorating, unless I'm using it in small doses. Yet after sifting through pages of crimson-colored interiors, I'm realizing how surprisingly versatile the color can be. Depending on the shade of red, the colors it is layered with, and the style of the room, the color can shift from classic and regal to subdued and almost calming. So while we celebrate the day of love, take a tour to see if your perception of this passionate color changes with each room it touches.

Kate Middleton Continues Her Liverpool Tour at a Children's Hospital

Allie Merriam — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:26:10 PST

Kate Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge, was in Liverpool today for her second-ever day of official appearances on her own. She started things off with a visit to the alcohol-free bar The Brink, where she sampled a honey and almond smoothie christened "The Duchess" in her honor. Kate was next off to the Alder Hey Children’s hospital, where she met with young patients in the oncology section. She watched as they made Valentine's cards, some of which featured pictures of the royal couple! Kate actually visited the facility last February as well with Prince William by her side. At the moment, however, William is across the Atlantic stationed in the Falklands. He's into his second week of a month-and-a-half-long deployment with a Royal Air Force search and rescue squad.

Kate's schedule isn't slowing down any time soon. Her next outing will be on Feb. 21 at the charity The Art Room, and the first week of March will see her attending events alongside her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth, and stepmother-in-law Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.

10 Kids' Chairs With Midcentury Modern Style

Kate Stahl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 13:02:01 PST

You've been coveting an Eames lounger, an Eero Aarnio ball chair, and a Knoll diamond chair for your living room for years, but why not take all that beautiful midcentury modern design into the nursery? All of those iconic chairs - and many more, like my personal favorite, the Philippe Starck Ghost Chair - come in kid-sized versions that will up your lil one's cool factor and give them a sweet place to sit. While these chairs still come with price tags that are only slightly less hefty than their full-size counterparts, they've all proven themselves to be classics. Keep reading to check out 10 mini mod chairs with seriously big style cred.

A Love Advice Columnist Has a Major Crush (on Her Home!)

Elka Karl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 11:07:16 PST

Advice columnists are used to answering questions - though usually not about themselves. Today, love advice columnist Wendy Atterberry of Dear Wendy is revealing her crushes and love for all things home-related. Wendy lives in Brooklyn, NY, with her husband, Drew, their baby boy, Jackson, and their two cats, Simone and Miles (who make a cameo in the photos here). Keep reading to see what Wendy has to say about why she's majorly crushing on her home.

What she most loves about her home:

It's a tie for my favorite spot in my home between my bedroom (and specifically, my bed), and my "china cabinet" wall. My husband, Drew, and I painted all the walls in our place, inspired by the colors of the beach, so I love the shades of green in both spots. We have a king-size bed, which feels like a luxury, and I love Sunday mornings when all five of us - Drew, our new baby Jackson, our two cats, Miles and Simone, and I - all pile in the bed and read books, nap, and talk. Drew and I love to travel, so above our bed we framed postcards of all the places we've traveled together in the nearly six years we've known one another. The china cabinet in my other favorite spot of the apartment belonged to my great-great-grandparents and I just love it. It's filled with lots of glassware for entertaining, which is something we enjoy doing. Everything else in that spot is a second-hand buy, found at garage sales or thrift stores, with the exception of the gray wool blanket on the bench, which I found somewhere online.

What others love most about her home:

Probably our "bar," which is usually pretty well-stocked thanks to generous friends who bring bottles of stuff whenever we have get-togethers. People also comment that our place is "cozy," which could also be a euphemism for "small," but here in New York where most places are tiny, I like to think it's a genuine compliment.

What she'd love to add to her home:

Luckily, we already have most everything I'd want in a home - a walk-in closet, a big bathtub, a dishwasher, central air, and a washer and dryer. We even have a large balcony, which is pretty awesome in the warmer seasons. But if I could wave a magic wand and make this truly my dream home, I'd add one more bedroom (and maybe an elevator!); our second bedroom - now our baby's room - is awfully small and one day we'll outgrow this place, which will be sad. More realistically, I'd love to change the light fixture in the dining area, which is pretty ugly. We're renters, so it doesn't make sense to put any more money into the place, but if we owned, that would be the first - and maybe only thing - I'd change. Oh, and more original artwork. Oh, and a hammock! If only money were no object . . .

Need love advice? Head over to Dear Wendy for articles, advice, and much more!

Lil Links: Tips For Speeding Up the Breakfast Routine

Rebecca M Gruber — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:33:49 PST

Superfast breakfasts kids can eat en route to school - Parenting
Mom induces labor so her dying husband can meet their baby - The Stir
Ashley Simpson thinks her sister will make a great mom - Celebrity Baby Scoop
The latest advice on five different breastfeeding issues - FitPregnancy
Joy Williams of The Civil Wars is pregnant - Celebrity Baby Blog
Would you try for a baby after 40? - Momformation
Six mistakes room mothers make - Yahoo! Shine
New uses for old things, the family edition - Real Simple
The best kids activities for your buck - LearnVest

Dare to Decorate With Hot Pink!

Elka Karl — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 05:00:52 PST

There's nothing subtle about hot pink - it's a bold, brash, beautiful color. I know that adding this shade to your home may take a little convincing, so I've rounded up some great examples of how you can add it in large and small doses to your home. Be it the bedroom, bathroom, living room, or kitchen, there's room for hot pink in any room in your home.

Love Your Laptop: 8 Tips For Keeping it Healthy and Happy

Kristy Korcz — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 04:23:02 PST

Valentine's Day doesn't just have to be about giving affection to your significant other. It can be about showing your appreciation for the people and things that make your life awesome. Take your laptop, for example. Your window to the vast Internet, your laptop works really hard for you without asking much in return. Give your laptop a little TLC this Valentine's Day with these tips that will keep it happy and healthy all year long.

Clean it up - Giving your laptop (or desktop) a thorough cleaning is essential to extending its life. Back up any data you may already have stored (on an external hard drive or a portable flash drive), organize your desktop icons, empty your computer's trash on a regular basis, and clear out any programs you don't use. This will help free up space and keep you on the fast track to productivity.
Practice proper shutdown habits - Shutting down all open programs and putting your laptop to sleep instead of just closing the lid will help your computer stay cool and safe while in transport. But if you've had your laptop in a cold environment, let it warm up to room temps slowly before turning it on. This will keep condensation and dew at bay, which can ruin your computer's sensitive guts.
Protect your investment - If you're going to be lugging a laptop around, make sure it's protected in a padded case!

See the rest of my tips after the jump.