Simple Living

Everything's a bother

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:14:51 -0500

Lazy boy.

Photo by my hubby B.U.M

Handmade Warmer Idea

Wed, 30 Jan 2013 18:07:14 -0500

So simple and cute :-) Let’s try!

drying flowers

Wed, 02 May 2012 17:36:34 -0400

one more hobby I recently falling in love!

(those are ping&purple hydrangeas hanging from the ceiling)

My homemade STB :)

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 03:16:20 -0400

Try this healthy homemade STB (Spicy Tuna Bowl)!!!

- Sushi rice, seaweed salad, 1/4 avocado, spicy tuna (small diced tuna+chopped scallions+chili oil), salted cucumber(few slices), ginger, spout, and sesame

Lovely birthday gift ever!

Wed, 27 Jul 2011 02:58:36 -0400

Can u believe only one pair of sox was used for this cute catty???

3 Trends/Themes of My Blog

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 21:22:00 -0500

1. DIY (Do It Yourself)

DIY means ‘Do It Yourself’. It is a term used to describe making, modifying, or reforming of something without the aid of experts or professionals. Young people have strong individuality and seek for something different or unique one-of-a-kind stuff. They are rather making or creating their own things instead of chasing the same thing. To keep pace with this trend, there are many DIY-related magazines, TV programs, or Internet blogs. My blog introduces 100% Handmade, craft stores and home decor ideas.

- Etsy: Etsy is the world’s most vibrant handmade, vintage marketplace. Anyone can sell or buy items and share stories.(www.etsy.com)

- DIY Wedding: The DIY trend is slowly becoming a part of many weddings. Instead of spending lots of money to hire out for each individual service, people choosing to do it themselves and creating unique event. (www.diywedding.org)

- One-of-a-kind Show: The site features an endless selection of handcrafted items created by talented artists and craftspeople. (www.oneofakindshow.com)

- DIY Network: From remodeling to decorating, anyone can be an expert for your house. (www.diynetwork.com)

2. How To

Along with the DIY trend, ‘How To’ is also very popular term these days. Even though we are not an expert, there are a lot of “how to do everything by myself” blogs, websites, and articles so that we can easily follow step by step. I am suggesting easy and useful home decor, organic cooking tips or green living ideas with a small budget.

- eHow: This website has over 150,000 ‘How To’ videos and articles. (www.ehow.com)

- Howcast: The site offers useful ‘How To’ information. Like YouTube, anyone can upload their own ‘How To’ videos so that they are sharing and engaging each other. (www.howcast.com)

- WikiHow: This is the world’s how to manual. You can learn from here, write your own ‘How To’ and share with people around the world, and even work together and make a better ‘How To’ for everyone. (www.wikihow.com)

- How To Video: There are a lot of ‘How To’ videos on YouTube site from professional site (like Etsy) to personal up-loadings.(www.youtube.com)

3. Eco-Chic

Due to some serious issues of the environmental impact of pollution, people become conscious of living in healthy environment. People pursue more green, eco-friendly life for a sustainable future, and try to reduce, reuse, and recycle things. Green Living is pretty popular now. People eat organic food, shop eco-friendly goods. I named my theme ‘Eco-Chic’ because even though we are reuse or recycle items, we can reform them more unique and stylish.

- re-nest: This blog provides abundant healthy, green living tips and designs. (www.re-nest.com)

- EcoWedding: Useful tips for eco-wedding like, paperless invitation, organic food, eco-honeymoon plans, and other people’s eco-wedding stories.(www.ecowedding.org)

- Econscious Market: The site offers various green products and they donate up to 10% of each purchase to Non-profit organizations. (www.econsciousmarket.com)

- Viva Terra: “Living in Harmony with Nature”, Viva Terra is an eco-shop made by organic, earth-friendly, and the purest ingredients. The shop also has recycled items too. (www.vivaterra.com)

Delicious Artwork

Wed, 17 Nov 2010 22:56:00 -0500

“Fried chicken recipe- Ingredients “

One of my Etsy’s favorites is “lucileskitchen’. She is a French illustrator living in Paris and sell beautiful food artworks (mostly watercolor). She has also a website; www.lucileprache.com, so check that out if you guys are interested :D Every time I see her works, I feel so warm and happy! {Bobin}

[Source: Etsy-lucileskitchen]

Nkuku Bansi Jute Bag

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:30:16 -0500

These bags are the skillful work of artisans in Rajasthan. They are hand woven from jute on traditional hand-looms using age old techniques that have remained unchanged for centuries. Available in two sizes the smaller is great for carrying heavy shopping or as small log or storage basket; the larger is perfect for logs, toys or to roll up a few extra throw rugs. The thickness of the weave makes them sturdy when filled and the base is deliberately designed to stand flat when full. Jute is a great Eco product as it is made from natural vegetable fiber that can be spun into coarse strong threads. This makes it perfect for creating strong, durable storage bags.

[Source: EarthLover]

my dining wall~

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:15:49 -0500

This is my dining wall :D I just started with couple of my photos but now I put everything I like. Bus tickets, my drawings, postcards, even restaurant menus… there’s no limits. It is just my little gallery. {Bobin}

[Photo by Bobin]

Recycled Rover

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:52:34 -0500

I LOVE ANIMALS!!!!!

No bark, no bite - our floppy-eared canine is all charm. Meet Rover, made from tightly woven and corded recycled newspaper from muzzle to tail, a noble beast with impeccable eco credentials. Guaranteed to leave no fur clumps behind the sofa cushion, your new best friend is flat-out adorable. Need a quick mood lift? Seat him beside you anywhere and in a whisker you’re certain to feel doggone happy. (11”L x 8.5”W x 17”H)

[Source: Viva Terra]

Recycled Bags

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:45:00 -0500

I love these colorful bags, created and hand painted by Brazilian artist Gabi Goncalves. Bags are made from recycled truck tarps! You can purchase this one-of-a-kind bags from at EarthLover Shopping.

[Source: Great Green Goods]

Recycled Cassette Tape

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:33:55 -0500

Incredible portraits created from recycled cassette tape by artist, Erika Iris Simmons, aka, iri5. These pieces are from her “Ghost in the Machine” series. Most of the work created by iri5 is made from recycled or found materials. In addition to these true to life portraits, she has some amazing collages using recycled paper on her website, http://www.iri5.com/. Her work can also be seen on flickr.com. She is definitely a force!! ..and one to keep an eye on.
Each piece is about $1500.00 to $2000.00 at iri5.com

[Source: Great Green Goods]

emily thompson wreaths

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:27:00 -0500

beautiful Thanksgiving floral decoration ideas

[Source: Design*Sponge]

Baby weekly photo project

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 17:15:16 -0500

Clara is their 6 months old baby and they have reached the halfway point their weekly photo project. It is such a cute and memorable idea! {Bobin}

Visit their website;

[Source: www.younghouselove.com]

Baby jaguar snuggling sleepytime toy after bowl of milk

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:22:00 -0500

12-week-old jaguar cub Morato after his bowl of milk, contributed to the Boing Boing Flickr Pool by Marcy Mendelson. The cute, it burns! Morato is the subject of this Flickr set, and he recently appeared on the Tonight Show with Jay Leno. More about the wild animal sanctuary where he is cared for here: cathaven.com.

[Source: Boing Boing]

Buildings Shaped Like What They Sell

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 16:13:12 -0500

The Longaberger Company, Newark, OH

Longaberger is known for its handcrafted maple baskets, so its headquarters are obviously shaped like a giant basket. Not just any old basket, though. It’s a Longaberger Medium Market Basket that’s been blown up to 160 times its normal size. The basket includes a seven-story atrium, heated handles that prevent ice formation, and two 725-pound gold leaf Longaberger tags. Want to take a look the next time you’re in Ohio? Longaberger has visiting hours!

Twistee Treat Ice Cream

Between 1983 and the mid-1990s, Twistee Treat opened 90 or so ice cream shops around the country, and each one is shaped like a delicious cone of soft-serve vanilla. Want your own towering cone? A completely stocked one in Zephyrhills, Florida, is on the market for a mere $475,000. Or, if you’re on a budget but good with tools, the same listing also offers “A Separate Dismantled Ice Cream Cone Building” at the bargain price of $40,000.

Kansas City Public Library’s Parking Garage

Parking garages are usually eyesores, but this one’s beautiful. The garage for Kansas City’s Library is cleverly concealed behind what look like the bindings of 22 giant books. What’s really terrific is that local residents got to help pick what books would get the nod for 25-foot renderings on the side of the garage. Some of the tiles that made the cut: Catch-22, Invisible Man, The Lord of the Rings, Silent Spring, andCharlotte’s Web.

The Hood Milk Bottle

This one’s a Boston institution. In 1933, Arthur Gagnon wanted to open an ice cream stand in nearby Taunton, and he designed his new business to look like a giant milk bottle. After several changes in ownership (and a sail from Quincy to Boston proper), the structure is now known as the Hood Milk Bottle and resides at the Children’s Museum. It’s 40 feet tall and could hold 58,000 gallons of milk.

United Equipment Company, Turlock, CA

United sells and rents heavy equipment like compactors and excavators, so it’s only natural that the company’s headquarters building is shaped like a two-story yellow bulldozer. The bulldozer building, which opened in 1976, is “using” its redwood treads and giant blade to move a pile of boulders.

[Source: mental_floss]

Interior Styling Inspiration

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:35:32 -0500

DIY Decor: Secondhand Spray Painted Plates

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:22:23 -0500

If you’re looking for artwork, it may be right under your nose! Plates aren’t just for the table anymore, hanging them as art is a fun, unique and resourceful way to make a custom wall arrangement. Whether you already own the plates or you’re buying second hand — this method of decor is both responsible and resourceful —

[Source: Apartment Therapy]

Creative Frame Ideas

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 01:08:00 -0500

The merits of hanging empty frames!

[Source: Apartment Therapy]

10 Nutrient-Rich Foods that Fight Disease

Tue, 16 Nov 2010 00:45:45 -0500

We love plants because they fight for us, literally.

The term phytonutrients (also called phytochemicals) refers to nutrients derived from plant material that can support the human body. Originally, plants produced phytos for themselves as a protective measure against things like disease, injuries, insects, drought, excessive heat, ultraviolet rays, and environmental pollutants - thus forming the plant’s immune system. And then our sprouted friends were kind enough to share the love, as we too can reap the benefits. It seems phytos are able to protect the body and fight diseases like cancer, boosting immunity, helping our heart health and acting as antioxidants.

What plant food should we eat? The answer is, all of them! Eat a variety of fruits and vegetables. Each class of phytos affects cellular well-being in different ways and there’s so much still to learn about them that you’re best bet is to mix them up. While some phytos may bind to carcinogens to keep them at bay, another may draw carcinogens out of a cell, and still another may grab onto free radicals before they are allowed to roam free in the body (yes antioxidants!), and still others stimulate the body’s own enzymes to break up potential cancer-causing chemicals.

Our top-five best-known phytos are carotenoids, flavonoids, anthocyanins, isoflavones and polyphenols, but hundreds, if not thousands exist, with varied effects. Highly colored vegetables and fruits tend to be your best bet, like the lycopene in tomatoes and pink grapefruit, the anthocyanins in berries, the isoflavones in legumes, carotenoids in carrots and flavonoids in chocolate.

And now our top ten phyto-dense foods:

Soy

Soy contains genestein which has been shown to have anti-cancer properties, as well as phytoestrogen, which has been shown to reduce the risk and spread of prostate cancer and isoflavones that do the same for breast cancer.

Tomato

Tomatoes get their vibrant color from lycopene, a carotenoid that may reduce or suppress the growth of some cancers while also strengthening eyesight, boosting immunity to disease and protecting against the effects of aging.

Broccoli

Broccoli is loaded with phytonutrients that work as antioxidants - thwarting those free radicals from infiltrating our DNA and cell membranes and also triggering the production of enzymes that can detoxify and clean free radical residues, toxins and other carcinogens.

Garlic

Garlic is an especially rich source of a group of phytonutrients known as organosulfur compounds that have anti-inflammatory properties, display antioxidant activities and may help cholesterol levels. Also, the phytonutrients in garlic have antibacterial and antifungal properties.

Flax Seeds

Flax is the best source of the phytonutrient lignans which can balance female hormones, promote fertility, lessen peri-menopausal symptoms, and prevent the onset of breast cancer. Lignans in the diet also help prevent Type 2 diabetes.

Citrus Fruits

The phytos in citrus fruit which include alkaloids, flavonoids, phenols and tannins have antioxidant, anticancer and anti-inflammatory properties. Consider chewing on some of that peel!

Melons

While each variety has a different phyto-profile, they’re all good for you! Watermelon has a high lycopene content that fights skin aging. Honeydew is rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, carotenoid phytonutrients integral to protecting vision and optimizing cardio-vascular health.

Blueberries

Blueberries are full of anthocyanins, a phytonutrient that gives the blue to this berry, and ellagic acid. The phytos in this fruit combine to reduce inflammation, protect against cancer, and recent studies show good effects in eyes, arteries, and brains.

Sweet Potatoes

Sweet potatoes contain carotenes that help improve communication between cells, as well as undertaking many of the same functions as other antioxidants.

Chili Peppers

The capsaicin in chilli peppers is responsible for their heat, and can boost metabolism, stimulate the release of endorphins, interfere with the growth of cancer cells and prevent blood clotting. Chilis are also high in vitamin-C, another well-known antioxidant.

We thought you should know how hard your fruits and veggies are working for you, so that maybe you’ll work a little harder to load up on a variety each and every day. Eat the rainbow!

[Source: Organic Authority]