5 Things to Re-energize your Space

Are you bored with the rooms in your home?  If you have had the same furniture layout or decor for years, maybe it is time you try to switch things up.  These five easy tricks can give new life to your home.  These are all ways to give your home a new look without breaking the bank.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Often I find myself tempted to buy things for my home not because I actually need new things, but because I suffer from ennui. I suppose it's the human condition: a space which seems exciting and fresh one year can seem a little same old, same old the next. But there are plenty of ways to make a space feel fresh and re-energized without pulling out your wallet. If your home is feeling a little stale, try one of these five strategies for refreshing your home without spending a dime.

1. Get rid of things.
Earlier this year I got rid of about half my furniture. I was sort of forced into it: I was staging my house to sell, and everyone knows that a house looks bigger with less stuff in it. My house did look bigger, post-purge, but what surprised me the most was how much more I liked my house. (It almost made me not want to move after all!) Getting rid of furniture meant that the pieces that were left were ones I really liked, and that they had room to breathe.

So try this at home: go into a room, and pick out one piece that doesn't really need to be there. Or just get rid of a little bit of clutter. Bonus: if you sell your old things on Ebay or Craigslist, you can actually make money while improving your home.

2. Move furniture (and art!) from room to room.
When I shot Sarah Hazel's house tour, she gave me a bit of advice for keeping your home feeling fresh: "I think that furniture gets bored staying in the same place all the time. Rearrange often." Sure enough, the next time I visited her home, furniture, art, and tchotckes had wandered all over the place. Even though it was the same stuff, I felt like I was seeing these things for the first time.

So shake up your house with a little re-arranging. Move a rug from your bedroom into the living room. Hang a big painting in the bathroom. If you're feeling really bold, you could switch two rooms entirely. You'll feel like you have a whole new house, but it won't cost you anything (except maybe beer for your furniture-moving friends).

3. Finish a project you've been working on for a long time.
Everyone who is even slightly DIY-inclined has a dirty secret: at least one project that lies moldering in a cabinet or garage, waiting to be completed. Want your home to feel fresh and new? Finish it! You've already paid for the materials, and finishing that project will free up space, add something new to your home, and give you the satisfaction of completing something you started.

4. Do a deep clean.
Yeah, yeah. Cleaning is boring. But cleaning, especially when your home really needs it, is also deeply satisfying. Tidy up, do a deep clean, open up the windows for some fresh air, and you may feel like you have a whole new space.

5. Change your perspective.
Don't feel like moving furniture? You can always move you. As I write this, I am sitting on the same side of the dining room table that I always sit on. On the other side of the table, there is a whole half of a room that I have never experienced. I think we all get into these house ruts — sitting in the same spot on the sofa, sleeping on the same side of the bed. Try changing it up. You may see your home in whole new way.

A New Kind of Pumpkin

Everyone craves pumpkin in the fall.  However, the pumpkin flavor is already starting to appear in our favorite foods.  Have you had a pumpkin coffee or beer yet?  There are many more pumpkin recipes that you can start trying now for fall.  Here is one of our favorites, and you can learn more at Allrecipes.

Labor Day Weekend

What do you have in mind this Labor Day Weekend?  We have gathered a list of some great events that are happening around our favorite city.  Take a peak and pick out which event you will be attending.  You can learn more at KVIA.

Here are a few things to do in Albuquerque this weekend while you're up there for the game.

Breaking BaD Trolley Tour

• August 31, 2014
• Location: ABQ Trolley Co.
• Hotel Albuquerque at Old Town, Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Phone: 505-240-8000
• Admission: $65

Rebel Donut Dash

• August 30, 2014
• Time: 8am
• Admission: $35
• Location:Balloon Fiesta Park - Multi-Use Sport Facility, 5000 Balloon Fiesta Pkwy., Albuquerque, NM 87113
• Phone: 505-768-5366.  Send Email
• http://www.facebook.com/rebeldonutdash

New Mexico Wine Festival

• August 30, 2014 - September 1, 2014
• Time: 12-7pm
• Recurrence: Recurring daily
• Admission: $5-$31
• Location: North Camino del Pueblo, 243 S Camino Del Pueblo, Bernalillo, 87004
• Send Email
• http://www.newmexicowinefestival.com

Exhibition: Digital Latin America

• Through August 30, 2014
• Time: 12-5pm
• Recurrence: Every Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday
• Admission: Free
• Location:516 ARTS, 516 Central Ave S.W., Albuquerque, NM 87102
• Phone: 505-242-1445, Send Email
• http://www.516arts.org

 Albuquerque Isotopes vs. Las Vegas 51s

• August 28, 2014 - September 1, 2014
• Recurrence: Recurring daily
• Location: Albuquerque Isotopes Baseball Club
• 1601 Avenida Cesar Chavez S.E., Albuquerque, NM 87106
• Phone: 505-924-2255
• Admission: $7-$30

Bachechi Open Space Workshop: Discovering Darkness

• August 30, 2014
• Location: Bachechi Open Space
• 9521 Rio Grande NW, Albuquerque, NM 87114
• Phone: 505-314-0398
• Admission: Free

 Hotel Andaluz 80s Prom

• August 30, 2014
• Location: Hotel Andaluz
• 125 Second St. N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87102
• Phone: 505-923-9006
• Admission: Free

 New Mexico Chile Bike Tour

• August 30, 2014
• Location: Routes Bicycle Rentals & Tours, Inc.
• 404 San Felipe St. N.W., Albuquerque, NM 87104
• Phone: 505-933-5667
• Admission: $50 per person with bike rental, $45 without bike rental

Quicktip: Get Gum Out of Carpets

Do you worry about stains on your carpet?  We sure do.  You always want to make sure you get your deposit back, and a stubborn stain can sometimes hurt you.  We have a quick tip on how to get gum out of carpet.  This might seem like a lost cause, but this trick will help you save your carpet.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

Every well-run home is teeming with tricks and shortcuts to keep it humming along. We're sharing our best quick tips — for cleaning, organizing and repairing stuff at home — to save you time and money. Click through for today's helpful hint, and links to tons more...

Gum in carpet is a tricky one. Many people use things like peanut butter or olive oil to get it out of your hair, but when it comes to your flooring, removing the stains those things can leave behind can be worse than the gum itself — enter VODKA. Start by trimming away excess gum with a pair of scissors (using your fingers to pull on it will push it further into the fibers). Next, pour a little vodka over the remaining gum. It actually begins to dissolve it, thus releasing its grip on the fibers of the rug. When used in combination with a soft cloth, it should pull free from your floor and leave things spot free.

No Fail Ways To Get Organzied

Getting organized can be a challenge.  However, Apartment Therapy has some great no fail ways to start the process.  These tips will help you start getting organized in your home in easy steps!  Keep reading to learn more!

As with so many things in life, organization is easier said than done. Despite the best of intentions, it's a lot easier to fall into old habits than to create new ones. I've found there are a few simple steps which go a long way to making me feel organized; I've listed them below, along with some top-notch tips from the Apartment Therapy archives.

1. Develop Good Habits
Sometimes, being organized is as simple as developing a few good habits. When I was growing up, my parents used to put misplaced personal items on the stairs in our front hall. Every family member had their own step, and woe betide anyone who went upstairs without taking their items back up to their room.

These days, that's morphed into a "Don't leave a room without bringing something with you that belongs elsewhere" habit, and I've picked up a few others, too. "Don't go to sleep without doing the dinner dishes" and "Always make the bed in the morning" are popular. Don't try ten new habits at once, but identify a few that would make a difference in your life, and stick at it until they become, well, habit.

2. Conquer the To Do List
Ahh, the To Do list. Sometimes these things cause more problems than they solve. We make endlessly long ones, with the misplaced belief that putting something down in paper means it's halfway done. Or worse, the "faux list", when we find ourselves adding previously-completed tasks to our list, for the sole purpose of checking them off!

For a couple years now, I've been keeping my To Do lists to just five items, a concept I picked up from Holly Becker of Decor8. If you think about it, five is the perfect number of important tasks to complete in almost any given stretch of time; enough to feel productive when you've checked them off, but not so many that you're overwhelmed. I'll often make a Top Five list for my week, and then another at the start of each day. I even apply the strategy to wishlists, as in "Top Five Things I Want in a New Job" or "Top Five Places I Want to Visit This Year".

3. Tidy Your Space(s)

You know the phrase "Tidy house, tidy mind"? It definitely rings true for me; I'm much more likely to concentrate on the task at hand if everything in the vicinity is neat and organized. So take the time to tackle a few big projects around the house, either the places where you spend the most time, like the living room or kitchen, or those that have been in the back of your mind, nagging you to clear them out (bedroom closets come to mind).

Don't neglect your workspace, either. Having a good tidy at the office can do wonders for the way you approach work each day.

4. Use Appropriate Tools

Whether you're hi-tech or old-school, there are an abundance of tools out there to help you stay organized. Day planners, diaries, digital personal assistants, calendars- the choice can be overwhelming. I like to keep it relatively simple, sticking to iCal for appointments and deadlines, the ever-popular Evernote for all manner of lists and note-taking, and a mini Moleskine diary for on-the-go jotting. Any more than that and my tools start to manage me, instead of the other way around. The trick is, find the tools that work for you, and leave the rest.

Clean Your Freezer

How is your freezer looking this summer?  Cleaning your freezer is an important chore to make sure you periodically check up on.  This can help keep items cold, prevent damage, and it can be a way to clean it out every few months.  Keep reading to check out some great tips on how to give your freezer a new life.  You can learn more at Apartment Therapy.

What You Need
Large cooler
Rubber gloves (optional)
Mild, fragrance-free dish soap
Hot water
Vinegar
Sponge
Wash cloth
Paper towels or dish towel
Baking soda (optional)
Toothbrush (optional)


Instructions
1. Turn off the freezer: Switch your freezer off or unplug the unit — whichever is easiest.
2. Empty the ice: Empty any ice trays into a bowl and place in the cooler. Soak the trays in a sink full of warm, soapy water.
3. Unload the freezer: Take out all the frozen food and put it in the cooler.
4. Remove and wash all detachable drawers and shelves: Let the units come to room temperature before cleaning to avoid cracking. Once they've warmed up, wash them in a sink full of warm, soapy water. It's best to use fragrance-free dish soap if possible to avoid transferring any scents back to the freezer, which can be picked up by food. Rinse thoroughly and set aside to dry.
5. Make a cleaning solution: Make a solution of equal parts hot water and vinegar OR 1 quart hot water with 2 tablespoons baking soda. Transfer to a spray bottle and liberally spray the inside of the freezer.
6. Wipe the inside: Wipe out the freezer with a sponge or dish cloth. Reapply the cleaning solution as needed. For stubborn, stuck-on food particles, spray your cleaning solution on a paper towel and place it over the sticky area. Let it soak for 10 minutes, then wipe away. If necessary, use an old toothbrush to gently scrub the area.
7. Wipe down the doors and door seal: Don't forget to wipe down the freezer door and the surrounding seal! You may also find a toothbrush helpful here.
8. Dry the inside: Dry the inside of the freezer thoroughly with a paper towel or dish towel.
9. Replace the shelves and drawers: After the inside of the freezer is completely dry, replace the shelves and drawers.

10. Replace all food, ice, and turn the unit back on. Take a look through your frozen foods as you place everything back in the freezer. Toss anything that has developed freezer burn and organize your remaining frozen foods by priority. Don't forget to turn the freezer back on!

Do You Want Some Healthy Ice Cream?

Did you know that healthy ice cream is real?  We do not mean if you eat it in moderation.  We have found a recipe for creamy healthy ice cream for you to try.  This easy recipe involves delicious fresh bananas.  Keep reading for the recipe and check out The Kitchn for more great cooking ideas.

A few years ago I shared my favorite magic trick in the kitchen: creamy ice cream made with just one ingredient. Yes, that's right: just one ingredient — and no ice cream maker needed!

What is this one magic ingredient that can be whipped into rich and silky ice cream, with no additional dairy, sweeteners, or ingredients needed whatsoever?

The Magic of Bananas

If you guessed BANANA, congratulations! You're right! What? You didn't know that bananas can make pretty fabulous ice cream, all by themselves? Well, I didn't either until my sister mentioned that she had been freezing bananas and pureeing them into ice cream.

"That's the sort of thing you discover," she sighed, "when all your friends are vegan, gluten-free, dairy-allergic, and you're on a no-added-sugar diet."

Her discovery, it turned out, was one that has been known for a long time in health food circles (although still magically new to us). It turns out that frozen bananas are good for more than just dipping in chocolate. If you freeze a banana until solid, then whiz it up in a blender or food processor, it gets creamy and a little gooey, just like custard ice cream.

I was surprised at this bit of kitchen wizardry; I assumed that a blended banana would be flaky or icy like other frozen fruit. But no — it makes creamy, rich ice cream, thanks to its high pectin content.

And That Was Only the Beginning.

My sister has been experimenting with adding in another ingredient or two, like a tablespoon of peanut butter and another of honey, and since we first published this most basic of recipes, I've also played around with versions of banana ice cream that include Nutella, cocoa powder, and strawberry. (My favorite, though, has a touch of sweetened condensed milk and cinnamon.)

Have You Tried It Yet?

Have you ever tried frozen-banana ice cream? Has it entered your easy dessert repertoire since we first published it a few years ago? It's an easy way to stay cool and use up overripe bananas at the same time.

In case you're new to this really marvelous treat, here are step-by-step instructions to get you in on the banana ice cream secret. Isn't it time you gave it a try?

Start with ripe bananas: They should be sweet and soft.

One-Ingredient Banana Ice Cream

Makes 2 servings, about 1 cup

What You Need

Ingredients
1 large ripe banana

Equipment
Knife
Cutting board
Airtight, freezer-safe container
Small food processor
Spatula

Instructions

1. Start with ripe bananas: They should be sweet and soft.
2. Peel the bananas and cut them into coins: It doesn't matter what shape or size the pieces are in, as long as they are chopped up into evenly-sized and somewhat small pieces.
3. Put the bananas in an airtight container: A freezer-safe glass bowl like this one is fine, or you can use a freezer bag.
4. Freeze the banana pieces for at least 2 hours: Freeze for at least 2 hours, but ideally overnight.
5. Blend the frozen banana pieces in a small food processor or powerful blender: Pulse the frozen banana pieces. We've found that a small food processor or chopper works best.
6. Keep blending — the banana will look crumbly: At first the banana pieces will look crumbled or smashed. Scrape down the food processor.
7. Keep blending — the banana will look gooey: Then it will look gooey, like banana mush. Scrape down the food processor.
8. Keep blending — the banana will look like oatmeal: It will get smoother but still have chunks of banana in it. Scrape down the food processor.
9. Watch the magic happen! Suddenly, as the last bits of banana smooth out, you'll see the mixture shift from blended banana to creamy, soft-serve ice cream texture. Blend for a few more seconds to aerate the ice cream. (If adding any mix-ins, like peanut butter or chocolate chips, this is the moment to do it.)
10. Transfer to an airtight container and freeze until solid: You can eat the ice cream immediately, but it will be quite soft. You can also transfer it back into the airtight container and freeze it until solid, like traditional ice cream.

Recipe Notes

• Food processor vs. blender: We've found that a food processor works best for this, with enough room for the banana to get fully creamy and a little bit aerated. Some people do make it in a blender, but be careful; make sure your blender is powerful enough to process the frozen bananas.
• Making a bigger batch: Yes, you can make a bigger batch with more than one banana! Just make sure your food processor is big enough (and powerful enough).

Mix-In Ideas

While the one-ingredient aspect of this ice cream is a big part of its charm, we don't think that loses much when it becomes two or even three ingredient ice cream. Here are a few favorite mix-ins to make it even more awesome.

• Spoonful of peanut butter
• Drizzle of honey
• Handful of chocolate chips
• A few almonds
• Dollop of Nutella
• Scoop of cookie butter
• Tablespoon of cocoa powder
• Half a teaspoon of cinnamon, cardamom, or ginger