Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 154
March 20, 2013
Wednesday Trivia: Overheard Cell Phone Chatter
When you’re on a train or a bus, which would you prefer: Overhearing one side of your seatmate’s cell phone conversation, or two sides of a face-to-face chat? Most people would rather hear the in-person conversation. Two new studies shed light on the reason why. First, a study in the journal Behavior & Information Technology reveals that people speak louder [...]
Make DIY Stationery Using Washi Tape
How cute are those notecards? I came across this DIY for Glitter Neon Notecards on For the Love Of… via a round-up on Poppytalk, and while I tend to stay away from anything that involves loose glitter, I think I’ll have to give this simple DIY a try with all the washi tape that I seem to be accumulating. I love [...]
Today’s Thought
Get the daily thought in your inbox. See more inspiring quotes on our Pinterest board. What’s Hot on RealSimple.com Party Menu Planner 9 Best Chocolate Easter Bunnies 10 Boneless Chicken Breast Recipes Filed under: Daily Thought
March 19, 2013
Incredible Paper Constructions by Artist Vincent Tomczyk
We know you’re all fans of the paper constructions by Matthew Sporzynski used to do in the magazine every month (which you can still browse online here). So in that same vein, I’m guessing you’ll appreciate these amazing creations—all made completely out of paper—by artist Vincent Tomczyk. Take a look. Paper Eames Chair LCW Shirt & Tie See more of [...]
Why Your Mother’s Maiden Name is No Longer a Good Security Question
Frequently when you’re signing up for a new online account, you’ll be asked to choose a couple of security questions and answers to protect your account in case you lose your password. But in the days of Facebook, it’s time to think twice before selecting your mother’s maiden name as one of your security questions. Because so many people use [...]
The Positives of Toddler Play via Mom.me
With spring right around the corner, outside play dates are on the horizon—especially since my toddler is almost always in a better mood when taken outdoors (hmmm…maybe we need to start doing the dinner hour outside as well—why hadn’t I thought of that?) According to our friends at Mom.me, playing can significantly contribute to your child’s development. Plus, “Playing is a [...]
Protect Sweaters with Lavender Sachets
We all know that cedar blocks are better than moth balls (no chemical stink for one thing!), but did you know lavender sachets might even be better than cedar? One reason is that lavender will actually last longer than those cedar blocks or rings which will become less effective after about three months as their scent starts to fade. Lavender, [...]
March 18, 2013
Sharing Nail Polish at the Salon. What Would You Have Done?
On Friday night after work, I went to the salon to get my nails done. I spent my Saturday demo-ing crafts from my friend Sarah’s book, and well-manicured nails are a necessity when you’re teaching people how to sew all day long. As I normally do when I get my nails done, I brought my own polish—not because I’m overly concerned [...]
Smart or Silly: The Cake Vase
Have you ever decorated a cake with flowers? I never have, but there’s a new product that might make a little bit easier, if you do. It’s called the CakeVase. It’s a plastic disc that has indents to hold the flower stems atop your cake. It comes in several sizes; take a look: You can buy this set on Amazon [...]
How to Prevent Stains on a Wooden Cutting Board
A particularly messy knife task (like peeling and slicing beets) can permanently mar a beautiful wooden cutting board. How to eliminate that possibility? Do a deep cleaning. When you’re done cutting, sprinkle the board with coarse salt (such as kosher), and massage the salt into the board with the cut side of half a lemon. The acid in the juice [...]
