5 Little Treats for Your Home That Can Make You Smile

Great motto to follow in life is “give and you shall receive”!

Now the “give” doesn’t necessarily have to be directly to a person. So let’s expand on the quote “Give to your home and you shall receive comfort.” Ahhhh, now isn’t that directly refreshing.

If the current economy has you a bit scared to spend, then instead of decorating your entire home, try “sprinkling” decorative treats around your home that are sure to make you smile when viewed. Basically, decorate to cheer your heart. 

If you feel that you are too busy to make changes within your home, then you will find time flying by quicker than you expected, and perhaps sadly not see or feel different year after year (as opposed to feeling invigorated, excited, alive!!!). Slow down by creating activities or placing items within your home that remind you to SMILE.

Here are 2 kitchen activities at home that I personally find very relaxing and invigorating (I don’t cook much; some may even say that this is actually “Ada’s idea of cooking”, but hey it makes me happy):

1. (for breakfast) I enjoy preparing fresh squeeze orange juice in the morning

2. (for weekend brunch) I enjoy preparing fresh squeeze lemonade in the summer and spring seasons

Both takes less than 5 minutes to prepare and are delicious to my soul since the few mninutes I dedicate brings me peace and yumminiess to my tummy.

Besides the delicious fresh squeezed tastes, I love being surrounded in the kitchen with vibrant colors of lemons and oranges (cheery sunshine colors!!!!). As busy as I know the day may get, I give myself time to create, appreciate, and savor each day. This is my way of making “luxury out of lemons”.

Below are 5 SIMPLE, economical sprinkles that you can treat your home with and indirectly help yourself feel good every time you view it: 

 1.      Change all your electrical light switch outlet covers for each room (my favorite covers are mirror covers .. very ohh la la chic). Perhaps buy different outlet designs for each room, and every time you reach over to turn the light switch you can’t help but smile at the design.  Prices can vary from as low as $0.99 per cover.

 2.     Add new seasonal pictures in your current picture frames:

·         but don’t remove the old pictures; keep the older pictures (and each season that you go back to add a picture you will get a fun flash from the past peek)

·         this is also a great motivator to change your room seasonally (with new pictures).

·         Um, and who says that you have to print pictures from a professional printer? Not I. Buy photo paper and print from your office (I won’t tell on you!) or your home printer - selecting the size perfect for your current frames at home and wala SAVE MULA!

 3.    Change your kitchen cabinet or bedroom dresser pulls and handles. Maybe even choose  a wrought iron spoon and fork handles which reflects a traditional style (wrought iron) décor with HUGE splash of fun (spoon & fork design). Other fun designs are:

-     flags

-     baseball

-     flowers

-     mosaic tiles

-     fish

And no, these aren’t designed for kids in mind, but for EVERYONE that loves to have their home shine with their personality. One of my favorite resources is www.niftyknobs.com.

 4.     Change or add creative wall hooks. Wall hooks aren’t just for holding coats, get creative wall hooks for:

            - bathroom towels, robes, gym clothes

            - jewelry (bracelets and necklaces)

            - scarves , belts, ties

            - kitchen towels (how cute are the gloves from http://www.giftitwomen.com/hoglinpigifr.html

 5.      Buy and use luxuriously fluffy hand towels. Are you the type that hide the “good items” for then company arrives? If so, stop it! Treat YOURSELF great, not just others. Try getting Egyptian cotton, or pima cotton and when your body touches the towels you will feel transported into a spa. 

Again, take a few minutes to give to your home so it can give you something in return: comfort, and even a huge smile.

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