Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 441

Guest Post + Giveaway: Grow into Gardening from Burpee Home Gardens

Each Tuesday in May we will have a guest post from Jessie Atchison, brand manager for Burpee Home Gardens,
about how to start your own vegetable garden. They are also giving away
eight complete garden starter kits. Click here for the original post and giveaway details.

So you want to grow your own vegetables this year? Great!You're not alone. According to the 2009 Edibles Gardening Trends ResearchReport, nearly 7.7 million households were new to vegetable gardening in 2009. The key to a...

Is a Fear of Missing Out Contributing to Your Clutter?

My first semester of college, I had a difficult time going to sleep at a reasonable hour. College was full of so many opportunities -- there were inside jokes to be made, pranks to pull, conversations to be had -- and I couldn't experience them if I were asleep. Eventually, exhaustion and sanity won, and I started going to bed at a decent time. I found that I survived if I missed out on a few fun things with my friends, and, more importantly, I was a lot more entertaining to be around when I ...

House Rules: Sections One through Three

Hi again, Bookies! First of all, I have to say how much I loved reading your comments on my introduction post. What a wonderful array of favorite spots to read. While I was firmly entrenched at the beach this weekend diving into House Rules (and resisting the urge to finish the entire book in one sitting), I thought of many of you sitting back on your porches or at the park or curled up on a comfy sofa with a cup of tea.

I'm dying to hear what you all think of the book so far. Reader VaniSan h...

Fed Chief Tells College Grads Not to Choose a Job for the Money

With all eyes on the European debt crisis, who would have expected Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke to be talking about money and happiness this weekend? But there he was at the University of South Carolina on Saturday night, advising graduates not to choose a job or career simply for the money.

In his commencement address, Bernanke said: "We all know that getting a better-paying job is one of the main reasons to go to college. ... But if you are ever tempted to go into a field or take a...

Choosing My Religion

This past weekend, my almost 8-year-old son made his Holy First Communion. For Catholics, this is a big celebration, the culmination of a year of studying and is the second or third sacrament a Catholic child receives (the first being Baptism shortly after birth, followed by Reconciliation). My son received the Eucharist surrounded by his Godparents, cousins, aunt, uncle and Nana. For every person there to support him was another relative who was not, including family who live too far away an...

Keeping the Bathroom Organized

Two product-loving girls + one bathroom = lots of clutter potential

As I've blogged about before, my new apartment is great, but it doesn't come with a lot of storage. When my roommate and I moved in, the only storage in the bathroom was the medicine cabinet--and it's a tiny one at that, think barely enough room for our toothpaste and bottles of face wash. Not to mention the fact that we started out without any storage in the shower either.

So here are our solutions (and get ready, you know...

No Thanks, I Really Don't Want the Receipt

I've been traveling around a fair amount to promote my book, and while I've had a ball meeting new people (and what could be better than meeting a total stranger who says she loves your book?!?!? winning the lottery, maybe?), I've also noticed a disturbing new national trend.

I call it receiptism. Receiptism is a disease that has taken over every checkout at every store, kiosk, counter, or chain restaurant that sells so much as a cup of coffee. Oh, also newsstands everywhere, particularly in...

My Unlikely Path to Etiquette Expert

Hi. I'm Julie Rottenberg, Real Simple's Modern Manners columnist and now, to my amazement, blogger. You can check out my etiquette column in the magazine, which covers questions ranging from the logistical to the embarrassing, the mundane to the bizarre. As I've learned, no matter how seemingly innocuous the question, finding the "right" solution brings out people's most primal, emotional selves. In fact, I've gotten such passionate responses to my column, I've decided to start a blog so I...

How Does Your Art Make You Feel?

An easy, often affordable way to update a space is to add some fresh new art prints to the wall. You can even lean framed prints against the wall if you position them properly on a mantle or credenza. Art can do a lot to breath in fresh air to a space because often the introduction of pattern and color can make a noticeable difference. Additionally, art can also add personality and capture a certain mood that may make the room feel a bit more interesting which is why it is important to...

Sticky Gear for Sweaty Yogis

When the temperature rises, your ordinarily temperate yoga studio can turn into a veritable sauna. And unless you are a fan of Bikram yoga (where the room is intentionally heated to 105 degrees and about 40% humidity), the extra sweat can really be a bit of a problem when it comes to keeping your hands and feet dry and not sliding all around your towel.

While a hand-towel to the side can be good for a wipe or two, I recently tested out a great alternative—yoga gear that's guaranteed to keep ...