Get The Right Gift

As an adult, buying a gift can be difficult and time consuming.  You want to get your friend or family member something they want, but also that they can use.  This is not always the easiest task.  Here are some great tips and tricks on how to get the perfect present for your loved one.  Keep reading and you can learn more at apartment therapy.


Waking up on Christmas morning as a kid was like, well... waking up on Christmas morning. Presents. Presents everywhere! But now as an adult, I know the old maxim to be true: It really is better to give than to receive. Nothing feels better than presenting a much-adored gift to a nephew, sister or friend that you love. Finding the right gift is all about knowing where to look.

The number one strategy for giving great gifts is simply to know your giftee. There's no substitute for a close friendship and knowing each others' tastes. But if you're stuck in a rut for ideas and a big birthday is looming on the horizon, here are a few places you can look to find the perfect present for your giftee:

1. Search for Their Amazon Wish List

If your intended gift-getter keeps a virtual wish list with Amazon, your job is already done! Consider it like an "anytime" registry; it's becoming more common for people who aren't expecting a baby or getting married to keep and share ongoing lists of gifts they love. Wish lists set to public are easily searchable, so head to the Amazon Wish List page and enter a name or email.

2. Find an Old Registry

Even if your giftee has been settled down for several years, their old wedding orhousewarming registry might still be active online. If there are any unfulfilled gifts lying dormant on the list, snatch them up for an unexpected gift you know they'll love. I wouldn't approach this technique blindly, though; think about how their life might be different now than when they registered and make sure your gift is still a good idea.



3. Pop Over to Pinterest

On my Pinterest page, among the photos of awe-inspiring interiors (that I will never own) and complicated recipes (that I will never make), I also keep a few pin boards of more realistic lifestyle inspiration, such as serving pieces I love or books I plan to read. If you can't turn up a wish list or registry for your giftee, their Pinterest page might offer some fresh ideas.

4. Examine Their Home and Wardrobe

Notice a favorite brand? A sports team they root for? Do all their books share a common subject? Looking into somebody's home is like looking into their brain. Try to find a theme in what a person already owns, then you can get creative from there. When you put some time and thought into finding the right gift, there's no way the person you're buying for won't love it.

5 Ways to Change the Feeling of Your Home

How do you currently feel about your apartment?  If you are looking for an escape, you might need to change your perspective in your apartment.  This does not mean renovating the entire space or buying all new furniture.  A few simple things can make your home feel brand new, and it will also help you learn to love your home that much more.  You can learn more below and at Apartment Therapy.


You could change your home or you could simply change how you feel about your home. Why not try a little of both? Here are five ideas to help you tweak your space so it's more comfy, inviting and happy, plus five ways help you have a more positive outlook so you'll enjoy spending time in your space no matter what.

Do This:

Change the lighting. We say it all the time: if you want your home to have a golden glow, good lighting is the easiest and fastest way to get there. Each room needs at least three separate lighting sources (and that ceiling monstrosity doesn't count). Here are some of our lighting tips to get you started.

Get a plant. Bringing a living thing into your space will help the whole place (and you) feel fresher and more alive.

Clean the windows. You'll be amazed at how much brighter (literally) your outlook on the world will be if you're not looking at it through a layer of grime.

Decorate with something sentimental. This is a great way to feel connected to your home. Adding some family history or travel souvenir with memories attached will give even a cold, impersonal space instant personality.

Buy a little treat. Something new (make it bright!) will give you a little lift and punch up your space. Treat yo'self.



Feel This:

Focus on one thing you love. Every room has something you love in it. Make a conscious effort to train your eye to go to that thing the moment you walk into the room. Those positive feelings will start to add up over time, really!

Relax and restart. Bursting through the door after a rough day doesn't start your evening in a good mental place. Don't take your bad mood out on your house! Rest, grab a shower, get yourself a snack, whatever you need to reset your attitude and begin the next portion of your day on the right foot.

Ignore the decor. There's so much more going on at home than simply pillows and paintings. No matter the state of your space, the people and pets will always be up to par. Hang out with them for a while and forget your house woes.

Get grateful. You have a lot to be grateful for so write it down. Seriously, get out a pen right now and write down one thing you're grateful for in your home (even if it's just that you have a home!).

Do something fun. Making memories is key to feeling connected and at home in your space. Like game nights? Go for it. More the quiet type? Curl up with a book and get cozy.

Tips for Living on Your Own

Do you live on your own?  Living on your own for the first time can be exciting and terrifying all at the same time.   The first time living on your own there are always ways to make you feel more comfortable while you get used to not having a roommate. 

These tips below can help you save money and prepare for the challenges of being the only person in the household.  Keep reading and you can learn more at Apartment Therapy.



1. ECONOMIES OF SCALE
Problem: Generally, the more you buy at one time, the cheaper it becomes. While a family of six cruises through a pot of chili, that much food can get wasted in a household of one. It's also more expensive to buy smaller quantities of toilet paper and other household supplies.
Solution: The Kitchn has some great tips for cooking on your own. For everything else, consider teaming up with a friend, family member, or neighbor to split that 24-pack of toilet paper. You’ll save money and space in the process.



2. HEAVY OBJECTS
Problem: You get an itch to decorate first thing on Saturday morning and find yourself stymied by your grandmother’s huge, six ton armoire.
Solution: Don’t hurt yourself by trying to lift things yourself. First, break the piece down in any way to make it manageable: empty contents, remove drawers or legs. If it's still too big or heavy, round up a friend or next-door neighbor to help you out on the fly. Otherwise, save up all your little odd jobs and hire someone one Saturday afternoon to knock out everything out on your to-do list that requires help.



3. LONELINESS AND BOREDOM
Problem: Even if you have tons of friends, a boyfriend/girlfriend, sometimes being home alone at night is a downer. Everyone likes someone to turn to to express outrage over Ann Coulter’s most recent comment, or to rub it in when you get that night's Final Jeopardy question correct.
Solution: Create structured ways to leave the house and regularly interact with others— especially if you also work at home — at the times you feel most alone. Sign up for yoga classes, or join a book club. Host regular dinner parties, or even low-key television watching sessions with another person who shares your love ofMad Men. Lastly, think about adopting a furry friend. (Because everyone talks to their pets, no matter what we tell others.)



4. FEAR FOR SAFETY OR WELL-BEING
Problem: Maybe you are scared of axe murderers at night. Or, you worry about falling down the stairs and having no one find you for days. These are very rare yet valid concerns that shouldn't be deal breakers.
Solution: Yes, there’s always LifeAlert. And the pet (dog) you adopted to thwart loneliness will also help deter any meanies. Otherwise, set up a check-in system with a friend/neighbor and agree to touch base with each other regularly via text or phone. Ideally, this person will live alone as well, so the benefits go both ways. If one party is suspiciously quiet, either expect a welcome knock on your door, or head on over to check out your buddy.



5. DELIVERIES AND REPAIRS
Problem: You're only one person, and can only be so many places at one time. If you expect a package during the day, or need something repaired, there are only so many times you can take off work to be there in the flesh. There's no one right answer for this problem: the solution depends on your unique situation and needs.
Solution: For mail, check out this post on How to Manage Home Deliveries. For repairs, arrange to work from home one afternoon (again, if this is feasible). Renters can often ask landlords to greet the person on site. If you know and completely trust your repairman or contractor, install a key safe outdoors, then change the combination once the work is done. If all else fails, and you have to take the time, try scheduling appointments first thing in the morning, or as the last slot in the day.

5 Tips for a Self Sufficient Pantry

Anyone is capable of making foods from scratch. Being prepared is half the battle to being able to make everything fresh.  These tips below explain how to preserve, prepare, and store food ahead of time to use later in the week.

These five time saving tips will help you have a self-sufficient pantry that will help you throughout the week.  This will allow you to cook all the meals you want without wasting extra time in your busy schedule.  You can learn more at The Kitchn.


When Lyn's friends hear about all the foods she makes from scratch, their first response is usually: how do you have the time? It's not an unreasonable question. Lyn works full-time as an Energy Efficiency Program Manager for the city of Boston, which means she doesn't have a lot of free time during the week to devote to cooking, preserving, and canning.

So how does she find the time for her many cooking projects? It's all about being smart with what you make and how you prep and store the ingredients you have. Here are her 5 time-saving tips for keeping a diverse, self-sufficient pantry that'll feed her any day of the week:




Lyn likes knowing that if for some reason she wasn't able to get to the grocery store for days or weeks, she'd still be able to feed herself with homemade food from her pantry and freezer. "I'm certainly not preparing for the zombie apocalypse, but having some self-sufficiency in terms of being able to make certain things [is really important]," she says. "There’s something to said for learning to make things from scratch… most of the things you buy in the supermarket, you can make yourself."

Lyn's 5 Time-Saving Tips for a Diverse Pantry That'll Feed You Any Day of the Week

The magic of the slow cooker. "Soak beans overnight, pop them in the slow cooker in the morning and have cooked beans for dinner. You can do grains and veggies in the slow cooker, too."

Prep ingredients ahead of time. "Prepare and chop ingredients one day a week and then use the prepared ingredients for the rest of the week."

Commit to a few preserving days during the summer. "One day around Labor Day for tomatoes, a day in July for blueberries, a day in June for strawberries, etc. All it takes is one day of work and you have tomato sauce, frozen blueberries, or strawberry jam for the whole year! A friend from law school does his preserving days with his whole extended family, and they include wine in October!"

Join a food swap. "I started the swap in Boston to diversify my homemade pantry. If you're the type who will tire of strawberry jam after a few months, take the jars you preserved yourself and trade them for someone else's blackberry preserves and last winter's grapefruit marmalade. That way you get a fun social event and homemade food out of the deal."

Learn the proper way to store fresh veggies. "With a farm share, I had to learn about correct storage of vegetables to ensure that they stay fresh and usable throughout the week. Helpful storage tips include using an ethylene gas absorber and putting a wet paper towel in your lettuce bag to keep it hydrated and crisp."

Happy Fourth of July and Trivia Answer

We hope everyone at Equinox has a great Fourth of July!  The answer to your trivia question is below.

Answer: Two

Did you get it right?