Life

Your little efforts are just as valuable and worthy of your time and focus as any meeting.

New year, new goals.

We can feel the relaxing vibes from here.

160 trees, to be exact.

Working from home is a win, especially if you can set your own hours.

Let’s talk about the elephant outside the room.

But do they have Hawaiian shirts?

According to the experts.

These virtual tiny houses look better than our actual houses, to be honest.

If you’re shopping for a bargain, here’s an expert-backed cheat sheet.

If you’re a serial killer, you can just skip this article.

These tweets about seasonal depression serve as a reminder of just how typical this disorder can be.

Turns out, it could be a sign of affection that translates into the three words that we long to hear.

This week, I was introduced to the wonders of TV for cats.

Meet your next vacation spot.

Not only do you get to live on a remote island, but you get to do it with a plus one.

Choose from 14 cat breeds and more than 90 dog breeds (oh, and a rabbit).

It could be the chance of a lifetime for you and your community.

The official “Cheese Suite” is the ultimate getaway for someone who eats, sleeps, and breathes the dairy staple.

If you're in the market for a new magical gadget or school robe, this is the place to shop.

We can’t wait to move our virtual characters in.

It also made me want to run home and declutter, as is expected.

I felt something different and equally as meaningful.

It’s no secret that clutter and anxiety are linked.

Her reaction to seeing the items in his desk: priceless.

We talked to the inventor of the “spark joy” translation to get to the bottom of it.

We call it the year of Kondomania.

Find out how Kondo keeps things in order after she gets to the hotel room.

As the Australian bushfires rage on, the local design community is helping out the best way they know how.

We talked to some personal trainers and at-home workout aficionados to find the best workout equipment that still fits in a small living room.

Are these soooo last decade?

I love the symmetry of a New Year’s resolution, but it's hard for me to make it work. So over the last few years, I’ve started a different New Year tradition: I share my goals and intentions for the year ahead, along with what I'm most excited for in the year ahead.

I woke up every morning with my phone near my head—until this charger came into my life.

It’s a slow and steady start to the new decade. And the self-guided speed at which we choose to travel will define the very quality of the ride.

Say hello to the Barbet and the Dogo Argentino.

And they don't even need to be bribed with treats to do it.

“A living room workout might not have been your first choice, but look at the positives: You get to play your own music and have the ‘gym’ all to yourself!”

One Twitter user describes the aesthetic as "cursed by a Disney witch."

These changes might seem small, but little decisions add up—especially when they become routines.

By this point, you’re probably really ready to stop seeing “new year, new you” articles. January is a month that many industries thrive off of when it comes to marketing, and can you blame them? The start of the new year means a fresh start for everyone, and many people look at this as a way to revamp their personal or professional life. But sometimes the biggest mistake anyone can make going into a brand spankin’ new year is to think too big.

With factors like cost of living, co-working spaces, and even WiFi speed, not all states are created equal.

One can only tolerate so many dating profile photos of guys holding giant fish before throwing your phone in a lake.

It includes 2,688 Waterford crystals and more than 32,000 LED lights.

"We can bring our own bags."

It offers improved comfort, and more privacy, too.

It's a healthy way of looking at stress.

Including Amazon devices and a treat-dispensing dog camera.

It's okay to return or regift. It's not okay to be a jerk.

Including later expiration dates, and more.

There's nothing uglier than pollution.

What's cuter than a dachshund in a Christmas sweater?

Elf on the Shelf is way cuter with dogs involved.

Cue Mariah Carey's Christmas album.

There are currently 6 reported incidents of the glass jars shattering, causing fire damage to nearby items.

Ugly sweaters and Christmas dinner included.

They've heard everything.

Free books, classes, and more.

Good news for those who feel like they can never get the folds right!

You'll sleep sounder—and be way more comfortable—with these tips.

Cats climbing in Christmas trees takes the idea of a “cat tree” to a whole new level (perhaps literally).

Looking to turn up the sexy this Valentine’s Day? Last week, I was invited to learn how to make nipple pasties by Rogue Burlesque, and I’m here to tell you, it’s just as fun (and not as hard) as you might think. You’ll be shaking your sparkly bits in no time. Brandy Wine is the de facto pasty artist for Rogue’s burlesque dancers, and she also makes bedazzled bowties for those who’d prefer their sparkle north of their nipples.

Do you have an over abundance of fabric scraps that you are holding on to, “just in case”? Cintia from My Poppet was doing just that, and then she came up with the clever idea of turning her scraps into pretty twine. You can find the simple tutorial below. Scrap fabric strips in assorted lengths (max 1″ wide) Something to wind your twine on to Scissors For more pictures and the full tutorial, head over to My Poppet.

Name: Lorenzo Diggins Jr/The Essential Man Location: The Unique Space | Downtown Los Angeles (Arts District) Size: 180 square feet Years lived in: A little over a month — Rented Last week I took a visit to the new Unique Space in downtown LA, where I met Lorenzo Diggins, creator of The Essential Man and got a tour of his new workspace.

Name: Evelyn LeeLocation: Williamsburg, Brooklyn, NYSize: 1,185 square feetYears lived in: 2 years; OwnedMeet Evelyn and her cat, Sam. Evelyn’s Williamsburg apartment was her first project directly out of Parsons’ Interior Design program (yes, she’s LEED accredited); and where she was able, she used sustainable materials to create a relaxing haven she calls home.

Name: Nancy and Robert SalzLocation: Berkeley, CaliforniaYears lived in: 25 Nancy Salz says her home is devoid of architectural interest. But over the past 25 years, she and her husband Robert have embellished their three-bedroom family lair with lovingly crafted DIY projects and intriguing collections, making it one of the most colorful and creative homes in Berkeley, California. The first floor flows easily from room to room showcasing vibrant surprises around every corner.

Name: Megan & BJLocation: Chatham County, NCSize: 1,800 square feetYears lived in: Renting for over 2 years Traveling homestead? you ask. Isn’t that an oxymoron? Well, in the case of BJ and Megan’s 1917 farmhouse, that’s exactly what it is. After contentedly nestling itself into the soil of Burlington, NC for the better part of a century, the owner had it relocated 30 miles away to save it from demolition in 2002.

Name: Holly, Ryan and their son AugustLocation: Portland, OregonSize: 1200 sq ftYears lived in: 5 Holly is one of Portland’s most celebrated fashion designers. After photographing the sweet shop she co-owns, I had a hunch that the qualities I found in her clothing line—romance, inspiration from past eras and subtle palette—would be echoed in her home. I hunched right! Join me for a tour of a mellow, beautiful home. Holly and Ryan have a great touch in their home.

Name: Penelope, Nathan and Bell MillerLocation: Portland, OregonYears lived in: 2 Penelope and Nathan turned a broken down house in North East Portland into a handmade palace full of personality and joy — the perfect spot to raise their 20 month old daughter, Bell, and even have leftover room for guests and grandparents. When Penelope needed a bit of peace and contemplation, they built an outdoor lounge room completely from reclaimed, tossed–aside materials.

Image: Bob Coscarelli for CS Interiors magazineName: Tereasa Surratt and David HernandezLocation: Wandawega Lake Resort, Elkhorn, WisconsinYears lived in: 8 Author Tereasa Surratt (A Very Modest Cottage) and her husband David Hernandez know about reusing and recycling with style. In Tereasa’s new book, Found, Free & Flea: Creating Collections from Vintage Treasures, she shares her style advice, using the couple’s idyllic lakeside getaway as a setting.

Name: Andrew CorrieLocation: Shelter Island, New YorkSize: 2,400 sq. ft.Years lived in: 6 Andrew’s Shelter Island home has just weathered two storms – first, Hurricane Irene, and second, the constant motion of three children under the age of four. Yet between the casually simple style and the sweeping water views, the home feels tranquil, “part beach shack, part Scandinavian cottage.

Name: Lyndsay Caleo and Fitzhugh KarolLocation: Brooklyn, New YorkSize: 1,350 sq/ftYears lived in: 4 years, owned Lyndsay and Fitzhugh have always loved designing interiors. When the artistic couple graduated from the Rhode Island School of Design, they tackled their first joint project: their own home. Flooded with light and studded with rich woods and soft stone, the airy apartment feels like a summer cottage in the city.

Name: David Florimbi and Nancy SimonLocation: Santa BarbaraYears lived in: 6 Nancy and David moved into a single story ranch style home in the hills of Santa Barbara, California six years ago. They preserved the bones, but opened up many of the rooms and gave the whole thing a coat of fresh white paint. The open floor plan, combined with large windows and a vibrant color palette, give this home an air of exotic getaway.