Shut Down For Some Shut Eye

(Image courtesy of Javier Aroche)

We know you’re all busy. With an endless list of things to do and places to be, technology like cell phones and iPads keep us connected to everyone at all times. During the day being connected can make our work and social engagements easier, but at night it can mean the difference between a goodnight’s sleep and no sleep at all.

Instead of sacrificing your sleep, why not separate yourself from your cell phone? One blogger did just that - at night she began putting her phone away in order to get the optimal level of sleep. In this blog fromapartmenttherapy.com she takes a look back at the last four months to document how her routine has changed. Keep reading to find out what she discovered:

About four weeks ago, I declared that I was going to stop keeping my iPhone at my side overnight. I'm happy to stay that I've stuck with the plan, and the results have been positive across the board.

First, thanks to everyone who expressed support for the idea. Telling you about the plan and knowing I wanted to report back were key in getting me to stick to it.

These days, my lonely little phone spends nights on the TV room coffee table, or on a particular window sill in a well trafficked hallway of my house. On the few nights where I've gone on autopilot and brought the phone into my bedroom, I've tucked it into the top drawer of my dresser so I won't be tempted to waste time looking at social media feeds before sleeping or when I first wake up. I've used my laptop from bed at night once or twice more than I would have before, but never for as long as I'd use my phone (which I'd attribute to the device's size).

While I expected to notice the change the most at night, the morning has been the biggest improvement. Using a dedicated alarm clock has actually helped me get up earlier. I'm hitting snooze less often; the alarm has only one, pretty annoying sound. But really, it's the peacefulness of letting my mind ease into wakefulness, rather than checking to see who's shared an interesting photo of flowers or dogs, that makes me happiest about reshaping my habits.

What do you think? Would you be able to unglue the phone from your hand to help your sleep schedule? Leave us a comment and let us know!

Stirred, Not Shaken

(Image courtesy of Ken Johnson)

If you’re like us, you know it’s the little details that bring any great social gathering together. Of course it’s important to have a great menu but it’s the little details that let your guests know that you really took the time to prepare for them. Though they may not say it, all guests love to feel appreciated!

For that reason, it may be a fun project to craft your own stirrers for your next cocktail party. Adding a little unique flair will help a little fun - not to mention your guests may be able to tell their drinks apart! These ideas courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com are sure to give you the inspiration you need to get started. Keep reading to learn more:

The Crafted Cocktail Stirrer

While this may take some arts and crafts experience and a trip to the art store, it will also create a fun project for you to do over an afternoon before a get together or a party. First, you will need pieces of wood or plastic as your actual stirrers. They must be long enough to reach the bottom of the glass and still stick out of the top of the drink by a good few inches so that stirring can actually be done. Ideally, nothing should be added to the portion of the stirrer that will be immersed in the drink itself, as this could come off in the drink. But above the drink line, if you will, there’s nothing but creative freedom. Maybe attach rubber pencil holders to the end of each wooden stirrer, or small different colored puff balls of yarn for a fun addition to each drink. The creative crafting is only limited by imagination here.

Edible Cocktail Stirrers

Being able to eat your cocktail stirrer is a whole new level of drinking, if that makes sense. This has been done with specific drinks before and is always fun, as long as it adds to the flavor of the drink itself. For bloody mary’s, for example, consider using celery as your cocktail stirrer. For a sweeter drink, like a white Russian, consider using a stick of hard chocolate as the stirrer, though this might ultimately dissolve if left in for too long. A toothpick of olives works well as a stirrer for a martini, as does a strip of carrot, which will make a delicious bite or two after the drink is finished. This might take some experimentation to totally get right, but it’s very memorable when you do.

Found Cocktail Stirrers

There are items at your disposal that will work well as cocktail stirrers. Small plastic or wooden gardening dowels actually make excellent cocktail stirrers—just let your guests know they are totally sanitary. Long dull nails could also work, though they should be stainless steel and clearly cleaned to assuage any fears of unsanitary stirring conditions. These are more extreme ways to come up with your own cocktail stirrers, but if used with the right drink and the right crowd can be really cool.

Our Vision For The Views

(Image courtesy of Kenneth Hagemeyer)

Because we love the views around San Diego so much, it’s important to remember all the little steps we need to take each day to preserve our environment. You may not think your carbon footprint is very big, but by making a few small adjustments you can shrink your impact on the earth even further.

By being aware of the effects of many of your small, day-to-day routines, it will be easier to be kinder to the earth.These quick tips, courtesy of renters.apartments.com, will have you showing your green side in no time. Keep reading to learn more:

Adjust the Thermostat

Just because the heat is included in the rent does not mean you should crank the thermostat up to eighty, turning your living room into a warm-weather Jamaican resort. According to the Department of Energy, by turning your thermostat back 10° to 15° for 8 hours, you can save 5% to 15% a year on your heating bill -- a savings of as much as 1% for each degree if the setback period is eight hours long.

Avoid Plastic Bottles

Have you ever stood in the water aisle at the grocery store and wondered where all those plastic bottles end up? Just for starters, many of them end up in landfills where they take eons to break down; others end up floating around in the ocean. However, you can go green, cross the case of plastic water bottles off your grocery list, and attach a filter to your water faucet or purchase a filter pitcher, which does the same thing. For the best results, however, be sure to change the filter every three months.

Streamline Your Electricity Usage

Sometimes it’s difficult to remember to turn off the light every time you leave a room. If it’s a struggle to do that, chances are it will be a challenge to streamline your electricity usage by unplugging phone chargers, coffee makers and other appliances and gadgets when they are not being used. Many of these household items are electricity vampires. Once you get the hang of it and begin to see a significant difference in your electric bill, however, unplugging the unused appliances and gadgets and turning off the lights will become part of your daily routine.

Seriously, Don’t Forget the Plants

While turning your apartment into a sub-tropical jungle isn’t really feasible, or practical, incorporating plants into your living space is a great way to go green. Plants are more than decorative filler. While they are said to have a soothing effect on people, they also help clean the air. By absorbing carbon dioxide and emitting oxygen, plants cleanse the environment. They also remove toxic emissions like ammonia and benzene. The next time you're wondering how you can make your apartment more eco-friendly, all you have to do is take a trip to the local nursery.

Choosing A Color Palette For Your Apartment

(Image courtesy of Valerie Everett)

The color of a room can greatly affect the energy and the mood of the room. The energy from red walls can make it difficult to fall asleep in your bedroom, while a calm blue color could make you sleepy in your home office. With all these Do’s and Don’ts it may seem like there are certain decorating risks that are just too high to take - and this can leave your creativity dwindling.

You don’t have to feel like these “mood colors” dictate your decorating choices - instead learn how to offset the mood certain colors inspire with a few decorating tricks. These tips courtesy of apartmenttherapy.com will walk you through how to decorate with any color combo that you want without the worry of throwing off your feung shui. Keep reading to learn more!

1. Black can make a room feel smaller, but black can also be cheerful and airy.
The rules for black:

• Ease in with shades of gray.
• Show a lot of floor.
• Keep other elements cheerful, feminine and bright.
• Balance black with white.

2. Red adds a lot of energy and passion, but red can be calming in the right space.
The rules for red:

• Use small doses.
• Try less saturated shades.
• Keep everything else white.

3. Blue makes a room more calming, but blue can also be energetic and lively.
The rules for blue:

• Go electric with accents.
• Choose a bright blue or turquoise.
• Keep everything else white.

4. Brown is a cozy and dull color, but brown can be bright and open.
The rules for brown:

• Use brightly colored accents.
• Let in tons of natural light.
• Keep the ceiling and trim white