Kristin van Ogtrop's Blog, page 68

Festive Reception Décor from Loverly

[Photo by Katie Osgood Photography on Society Bride] Ready to celebrate? (We’re actually referring to your wedding day…but this idea is pretty appropriate for New Year’s Eve, too.) Besides the much adored confetti toss, these mini magical pieces can also transform tablescapes. For an elegant look, sprinkle metallic confetti on reception tables for an extra festive and captivating flair. See […]

Today’s Thought

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Forget to Give Someone a Holiday Card?

If you received season's greetings from someone you forgot to put on your list, don't fret. Plenty of people never get around to sending out holiday cards (isn't there enough to do?!).

A Quick Way to Boost Your Mood

If you regularly find yourself feeling sluggish and bummed in the early-to-mid afternoon, it’s probably because that’s typically when your levels of serotonin (a brain chemical that helps regular mood) takes a nosedive, according to Eric Braverman, a New York City-based physician. To beat the blues (which regulating your blood sugar, too!), have a small snack that’s rich in mood-boosting […]

A Clever Tip for Sticking With Your Fitness Goals

Making exercise resolutions for 2014? You may want to invest in a new TV show, too—research shows that watching a personal television while exercising allows people to move at a much higher intensity (thus burning more calories) than those with no entertainment. Celebrity trainer Harley Pasternak recommends choosing a show on a video streaming service like Netflix, and making a […]

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A Clever Way to Use a Lemon

With New Year’s Eve parties coming up, I thought I’d share one of my all-time favorite Real Simple entertaining tips. Here’s a party trick that’s both fun and practical: When you’re serving up hors d’oeuvres on toothpicks (bacon-wrapped dates, meatballs, cubes of cheese), place a lemon on the table to collect all the used picks. You’ll avoid gathering up stray […]

Best Recipes of 2013 from Sunset.com

Our colleagues over at Sunset.com have pulled together their favorite Test Kitchen dishes of 2013. I don’t know about you, but after overindulging in sweets and party foods the past few days, I am ready for something healthy like this Shaved Honeycrisp Apple and Kale Salad. To see the full list, click here. More from RealSimple.com: 11 Superfoods You Should […]

Ideas for Leftover Candy Canes

Fun fact: December 26 is National Candy Cane Day—perfect timing for making use of the leftover candy canes you might have hanging on your Christmas tree. A few low-maintained ideas for candy canes are using them as stirrers to infuse drinks with peppermint or creating heart cupcakes with them (perfect for Valentine’s Day!). Looking to incorporate the sweet treats into […]

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Get the daily thought in your inbox. See more inspiring quotes on our Pinterest board. What’s Hot on RealSimple.com 4 DIY Party Platters Unique Wedding Guest-Book Ideas Make Your Beauty Treatments LastFiled under: Daily Thought