Aug 23

Interior Inspiration: Best Publications to Improve Your Home’s Style!

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imageSeriously, there’s nothing I love more than flipping through a well-done magazine. Whether it’s showcasing the hottest trends for fall, or seeing all the fabulous editorial photoshoots — I love them! That’s just one of the reasons I love going to the bookstore and picking up a couple home design mags. For around $20, I can imagine all the ways I could change my place – paint this/move that, etc! My favorite is Elle Decor, because they have celebrity homes that are simply unbelievable. For instance, last issue, they showed Anna Sui’s abode – amazing prints and all! My favorite hardbound selection can sometimes be hard to find, but the Domino: Book of Decorating is great for determining your style, and solving different space solutions – like renting a tiny studio. Check out my slideshow for lots of great design inspiration publications!

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Aug 21

Hot In The Hive: Matryoshka Measuring Cups

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imageIf you happen to have a Ukrainian grandmother like I do, you may be able to relate to my childhood experience of having to kill seemingly endless durations of time at her house playing with her collection of silly Russian nesting dolls while she “babysat” me. Yeah, I was five, but I wasn’t easily amused enough to think that taking the little people apart and fitting them back inside of each other sufficed as a good time at Grandma’s. Although I was bored nearly to tears at the time, now that I’m technically an adult, I can’t help but be drawn to these cute Russian doll measuring cups, called M-Cups after their actual name, Matryoshka dolls. While the dolls themselves may be a completely functionless ode to the old country, when brought to the realm of cooking, they’re actually a brilliant idea in kitchenware organization and space-saving! Plus, with all my childhood practice, I could probably break a record with how quickly I’m able to stack them up and put them away after completing a well-measured recipe!

Price: $11.99
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the M-Cups to the Hive.

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Aug 21

Dorm Wall Decor To Add Pizzazz To Your Side Of The Room!

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imageAs much as you’d like to deny it, it’s time to pack those bags and head back to school! Whether you’re shacking up on campus in the dorms, going solo in your own apartment, or looking forward to a packed year in the sorority house, those blank walls can look pretty unfriendly. Even if you’re not the homesick type, jazzing up your empty wall space can do wonders in making you feel more at home in your new school-year pad, and you’re likely to find that even the most cramped or most run-down of places are a whole lot more bearable with a little added personality. Look back on fond memories of last summer while you have new fun times in the fall with a wall photo sleeve, or mark your limited territory over on your side of the tiny dorm room with an initial marquee light fixture. No matter what cool and trendy wall decor you throw up, it may never be a four-star resort, but hey — it’s home! Check the slideshow for some of my favorite fun and quirky wall hang-ups!

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Aug 18

Hot In The Hive: Ninja Star Coat Hooks

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imageDoes your prissy Hello Kitty-adorned apartment need a little roughing up? If so, I’ve got the best thing to make your pad a whole lot more bad-ass: Ninja Star Coat Hooks. Made of super-strong nickel-plated alloy, the star is shaped to easily install into your wall and look as if you’ve survived a sneaky ninja attack right in your own home. See? Bad-ass. In fact, you’re so bad-ass that after you survived said attack and dispelled the ninja from your pad, you decided to make a mockery out of his misfired weapons and hang your coats from them! True, most of your guests will probably assume they’re just fun little decorations that you bought online (’cause you did) and ask where you got them, but they’ll secretly be afraid to mess with you from now on, just in case.

Price: $12.99 each
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Ninja Star Coat Hooks to the Hive.

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Aug 17

Hot In The Hive: Reminder Rug

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imageIf I had a dollar for every time I’ve waltzed out of the house in the morning without my keys, wallet, or phone (or a tragic combination of all of the above), I’d probably have enough money to simply buy a replacement of whatever I forgot at home on the way out. Unfortunately, since there is no Forgetfulness Fairy to reward my flighty morning-rush behavior, I could use a little helpful reminder to make sure I have all my necessities before I dash out the door. Luckily, Urban Outfitters knows what’s up and came up with the brilliant Reminder Rug, designed to help start your mental checklist. It’s the perfect doormat (with nice, big lettering so your eyes can’t skip over it as you step), and even if you’ve never forgotten a thing in your life, it’s still pretty cute as a cheeky addition to your apartment decor!

Price: $18
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Reminder Rug to the Hive.

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Aug 14

Hot In The Hive: Vazu Foldable Vases

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imageThe forever-old custom of giving flowers as gifts would be a whole lot easier if you didn’t have to worry about the glass vase not surviving the car ride over to the housewarming party you’re attending. Vases usually aren’t cheap, they break too easily, and they take up lots of precious storage room when you’re too busy to keep them full of fresh-picked flowers. Apparently the masterminds behind the Vazu Foldable Vase had the same frustrations regarding flower-giving. The Vazu vase comes flat in its package and expands to form a sturdy, free-standing vase that you can fill with water and put on display with your flower arrangement. When you’re finished, it re-folds easily back into its package for simple storage, and at only $4.99, you can afford to give it as part of a gift — no broken glass and no lending out your grandma’s old vase with the chance you’ll never get it back! It even comes in a ton of colorful patterns that can coordinate with any bouquet arrangement. Check out the selection at the Vazu site!

Price: $4.99 each
Who Found It: moderntribe was the first to add the Vazu Foldable Vases to the Hive.

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Aug 13

Hot in the Hive: Homo Sapiens Caveman Kitchen Tool

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imageI like to cook. “Like” as in I watch Food Network and enjoy flipping through cookbooks (but only the ones with pictures) and am particularly inspired to whip things up when there is chocolate involved, or perhaps a dough I can repeatedly test (for quality control- I’m very thorough). Michael Pollan would disagree and say that what I actually like is food and not the process by which it is prepared. He would not be wrong. His recent cover story for The New York Times Magazine not only points out cooking’s transformation from obligation to fascination, but also the idea that cooking actually helped our ancestors evolve and develop a culture rather than merely grunting, gnawing, and chewing all the live long day. And so, in the spirit of getting back to those simpler times, I am seriously pondering this caveman kitchen tool from ThinkGeek. It grinds, grates, mashes, flattens, and even sharpens your knives, and the best part is that it’s not the least bit daunting, so you don’t have to worry about your tools being more sophisticated than you are. The other best part is that you can make noises like “oog” and “grog” as you pound your way to your next meal!

Price: $39.99
Who Found It: lisannebee was the first to add the caveman kitchen tool to the Hive.

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Aug 07

Hot In The Hive: Spinning Bird Jewelry Stand

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imageLet’s get something straight — I am not high maintenance. In fact, I could easily cut my getting ready time in half if I didn’t ever-so-frequently end up spending 20 or more minutes untangling my jewelry from the heaping pile sitting atop my dresser. No matter how often I try to keep my accessories free and separated for easy access, there’s just some freaky inanimate mutual attraction that forces all necklaces and earrings and bracelets and chains to magically knot themselves into an impossible tangled mass. The solution? A handy spinning jewelry stand, similar to those organized revolving earrings displays you see on countertops at the mall (but much cuter for your room, of course). This one is shaped like a birdcage and has plenty of holes to hang your earrings from and keep your studs, hoops, and chandeliers with their matching pair partner and away from potential tangles with other jewelry. I’d run out and buy one now if I wasn’t too busy looking for that other silver hoop of mine…

Price: $32
Who Found It: xgalexy was the first to add the Spinning Bird Jewelry Stand to the Hive.

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Aug 06

Create An Outdoor Oasis With A Hammock Or Swing!

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imageSummer is the perfect time to go on an exotic vacation, lie on the beach and sip fruity cocktails. Though typical me forgot to request vacation time off and plane tickets (and baggage fees!) are still kind of ridiculous, I’ve decided to stay home instead. Who knew that my front porch, backyard or even my living room could transform into a vacation worthy spot? All it took was a swinging hammock or other hanging chair. I love the Palmetto All-Weather Wicker Hanging Egg Chair from Pottery Barn that I can totally use as an outdoor reading nook. Kids (and grownups) will go wild over the Giddyup! Tire Swing made of recycled tire swings. Hang it on a sturdy tree branch and your backyard will soon become the go to destination for outdoor parties! Take a peek at my slideshow for more hammocks and swings!

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Aug 03

Hot In The Hive: SurfMonk’s Perfect Beach Blanket!

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imageSummer has been speeding by, but it’s not quite time to pack up the BBQ grills and sundresses just yet! You’ve found the perfect swimsuit, learned how to do minimal make-up to avoid melting in the sun, found products to use for “beachy” hair, and don’t have to worry about getting sun-burned because, by now, you are a bronzed goddess. So I’m going to throw one more tip on summer fun at the beach or poolside your way! Lather up the SPF, adjust that bikini, order yourself a refreshing drink and relax and lay back on … the sand?! The hot, plastic lounge-chair that’s been sitting in the sun all day? No thanks. But no worries, because we may have just found the perfect beach blanket for you! SurfMonk is a company that specializes in all things surf and swim. They happen to have an awesome beach blanket, and here’s why. First, it’s huge. It’s long enough to cover the entire lounge chair so none of your body has to get burned on the hot vinyl, and it can fit two people comfortably laying down! Second, it feels amazing! SurfMonk uses a special blend of bamboo (the new “it” fabric) and cotton to make their terry cloth, leaving the blanket super-soft and plush to the touch– plus, they include built in straps to help tie your blanket to a chair or post in case of wind. Then, as if that wasn’t reason enough to by this ultra-comfy, eco-friendly beach blanket, the thing even has pockets! Now you can store your keys, cell-phone or wallet right inside your beach blanket and not have to worry about it being stolen or buried under the sand.

Price: $99.00
Who Found It: idabone was first to add the SurfMonk: Beach Blanket to the Hive.

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