Kamfy Living

5 Easy Ways to Transform any Space

02.21.19

Hi friends! A couple months ago I did a poll on what kind of content you’d like to see more of on the blog and many of you wanted more design related posts. Not just room reveals, like our bedroom reveal, but also things I do to even design a room. Although I’m no interior designer, I do have a love for design and am always looking for ways to transform any space. As you all know, I love to do things on a budget or do DIYs wherever possible. So, today I’m going to share with you 5 easy ways to transform any space. These are simple, realistic things you can do today, not the more intensive ideas like ceiling tiles, that do make a big difference but are out of budget right now for me.

our bedroom reveal - affordable decor

5 Easy Ways to Transform Any Space

Fresh Coat of Paint

In any room I do, I first love to give the room a fresh coat of paint. Usually, I like to opt for a shade of white, since it gives a room so much freshness, however, any color will give the room a fresh look. Even if you paint the room the same color again, you’ll notice a huge transformation.

our bedroom reveal - affordable decor

Blinds/window treatment

Second, I love to think about the windows and the light that they bring in. I love rooms with big windows since they bring in tons of natural light. However, regardless of the type of window in your room, there are a few ways you can jazz it up. First, I love to add curtains, drapes or shades and you can usually get nice affordable ones from IKEA. You can even get some great selection from Ambition Blinds. And if you’re looking to spend a little more, I would even suggest getting new windows. Glow Glass has a great selection. I can’t stress how much difference having nice windows makes in any room. Natural light just elevates the look of any room you work on.

our bedroom reveal - affordable decor

Add plants

If your space is looking a bit boring and needs some personality, add in some plants. Plants bring so much life and color to any space. They instantly make a room look designer. Also plants always make me happy, so there’s that too 🙂

our bedroom reveal - affordable decor

Textiles

I believe it is texture, not necessarily color that brings a lot of dimension to a room. And textiles are a great way to add texture. Add in things like throws and cushions to your bed or a chair or even a sofa and you’ll instantly make the space look inviting and cozy. Throws and cushions also serve a practical function, since you can always grab one to stay warm or cozy up with a book.

our bedroom reveal - affordable decor

Pictures/frames

Finally, you need to make the space truly yours and the best way I think is to add framed photos around the room. You can put pictures up in a strategic way to make it go well with the room. I like to decide what pictures I want beforehand based off the color scheme and size of frame. You can create a gallery wall or just hang frames individually. I love to frame Gursheel’s photography, since he has so many great shots, however, you can always find great prints on Etsy or even frame your special moments in life.

Kamfy Living

My Evening Routine – Weekday Edition

02.16.19

My Evening Routine

You guys seemed to love my morning routine post and many of you messaged to see my evening routine. So, here it is! You’ll notice once you read my morning routine (which has now been slightly updated) that I accomplish quite a lot compared to my evening routine. That’s because I like my nights to be relaxing so I can wind down from the day. Okay, let’s get started

Oahu Travel Guide

The commute home

Once I get off work, I head towards the subway for my 50 minute commute. I first take the subway (which is around a 30 minute commute) in which I read my book. Currently I’m reading The Water Cure and it’s quite interesting. I then take a bus which is around a 15-20 minute commute. This is the time where I do my Rehraas Sahib. Once I reach my stop, Gursheel is there to pick me up.

On our drive home (which is around 20-30 minutes), Gursheel and I chat about our days, what we learned, anything interesting that happened, plans for the weekend, etc. We make an effort to not listen to anything, but just talk and catch up.

Dinner Prep

We usually get home around 5:15 pm. And I get started on dinner right away. Most of the food I make, be it Indian or non-Indian food, first involves a saute step and then a cooking step which is usually a waiting step. I spend that time in the cooking process to start washing all the dishes (usually it’s just the lunch containers). This allows me to wash the dishes, finish the dinner, and wipe down counters by 6 pm. If you’re looking for a dishwasher repair company, check this one out!

I always prepare a weekly meal plan in which I make 2 Indian foods, 2 non-Indian foods, and burgers and fries on Wednesdays. (My mother in law has been away for the past two months, however, when she is home, she usually cooks some delicious Indian food). It’s so much easier and faster to make dinner when I know exactly what I’ll be making for dinner that day. If you’d like to see a detailed meal plan, leave me a comment below.

Working Out

At around 6 pm, I head upstairs and change out of my clothes into my workout clothes. I then spend 30 minutes doing various workouts from YouTube. We have a TV in our room, so I love to screen share from my phone onto the TV and do a workout. I don’t stick to a particular YouTube channel. I love change in terms of exercise, so I like to incorporate different workouts. Some of my favorites are barre, pilates, etc and some of my favorite channels are Blogilates and Fitness Blender.

Vegan Mediterranean Salad with Quinoa Salad Dressing

Dinner Time

Around 6:30 pm, I head back downstairs and it’s time to eat dinner. If we are eating Indian food, then I make roti and Gursheel helps plate the daal/sabzee and dahi. We then make ourselves comfortable in front of the TV and watch something as we eat dinner. We usually complete an entire show as we eat. Right now we have been loving the Man in the High Castle.

At 7:30 pm, we start cleaning up. Gursheel washes the dishes, while I pack lunches for the next day. We always take dinner leftovers for lunch the next day. The day we have burgers and fries, I usually make a sandwich for lunch. If we don’t have any dinner leftovers, I always have frozen burritos in the freezer that make the perfect lunch. I also do a quick wipe down and sweep of the kitchen and get a pot of tea brewing. Check this post for my favourite way to have tea.

8 Ways to Feel Better Fast When You're Sick and Cold

Wind Down/Self Care

At 7:45 pm, I am done everything for the day and now the wind down begins. Gursheel and I drink some tea as we watch some TV. At this point we usually like to watch something light – animal documentaries and design shows are our absolute favorite. Most days we also have some dessert with our tea – usually a date, biscuits, or a piece of besan. Sometimes I like to bake some frozen cookie dough (usually takes 10 minutes to bake). We just cozy up with tea and a blanket and chill on the couch until 9 pm.

8 Ways to Feel Better Fast When You're Sick and Cold

We head upstairs to our room and I like to brush my teeth, wash my face and do a face mask as well if I feel like it. I usually do a mask every other day. Check out my skin care routine for some of my favorite products. Another product I’ve recently started using and adding to my evening routine is charcoal toothpaste. I’ve only used it for a few weeks (I alternate every other day as well) and I have noticed I have some whiter teeth. It’s a messy product to use but I have seen a difference in my teeth color.

We’re usually in bed by 9:20 pm and this is when we do our Kirtan Sohila. We have also been trying to do Simran every evening as well for however long we can focus for. I like doing Simran at the end of the day because it really helps me clear my head and leaves me in a peaceful state. We’re usually asleep by 9:30 pm and get up at 5:15 am the next day and repeat the entire routine all over again!

Although every day is different, I am pretty good at sticking to my schedule. But, there will always be days where I won’t have time to workout or I’m not feeling up to cooking. And, I’m learning to be okay with that.

Hope you enjoyed my evening routine, and let me know if you’d like to see a weekend routine next!



Collaborations

Sustainable Travel – How to Inspire Travelers to Be More Sustainable

02.15.19

Today I have a guest post all about sustainable travel. Hope you all enjoy 🙂

backpack, bag, blur

Traveler by Porapak Apichodilok via Pexels.com under CC0 License

How to Inspire Travelers to Be More Sustainable – Sustainable Travel

As one of the world largest and most influential industries, tourism has a range of economic, environmental and social impacts. Tourism that takes full account of these implications is known as ecotourism.

It’s important that tourists are aware of their travel behavior and the effect this has on the environment and local cultures. When tourists make conscious, educated decisions about how they travel, they can make a positive difference in the world.

While the basic practices and principles of ecotourism are beginning to spread, there is still a lot of progress to be made. There are many ways to become a more sustainable traveler. Here are a few eco-friendly travel tips that all tourists should follow.

Supporting the Local Economy

Sustainable tourism is not just about protecting the natural environment, but about improving the well being of the local people. Tourists can do this by providing support to the local economy. In order for local cultures to continue their ways of living, tourists must do their part by supporting locally owned businesses and products. This is one of the most rewarding and meaningful ways to be a more sustainable traveler.

Opting for smaller, locally owned accommodation as opposed to international hotel chains is a great way for travellers to support the local people. Not only does this help out small business owners, but it usually provides a more authentic way to experience the uniqueness of a particular culture.

Art, Crafts, African, Market, Souvenir, Tribal, Travel

Souvenirs by sharonang via Pixabay.com under CC0 Creative Commons

Travelers can also assist the local economy by purchasing locally made crafts and souvenirs. These types of products make unique family gifts and are much more genuine than those made on some assembly line far away.

animal, diving, reptile

Turtle by Tanguy Sauvin via Pexels.com under CC0 License

Responsible Wildlife Tourism

Many of the world’s most beautiful animals are at risk of becoming extinct due to irresponsible human behavior and activities. Some of these animals include incredible marine life like the Hawksbill turtle, one of the ocean’s most admirable creatures. The Hawksbill turtle and other endangered species provide great tourism value and are a valuable source of income for local residents. However, it is crucial that tourists always follow the right practices when viewing animals in their natural habitat.

Responsible wildlife tourism plays an important role in the protection of endangered species. The greatest ecotourism initiatives aim to create a peaceful coexistence between humans and animals. By encouraging tourists to appreciate the natural environment and its animals in the most responsible way, it is possible to conserve the world’s most vulnerable creatures.

It’s important that tourists support eco-friendly tours that make a real effort to protect wildlife. These responsible tour operators have strict rules and regulations in place for viewing animals and can help educate people about the issues involved in its conservation.

Reducing Waste

Tourists no doubt contribute to a large amount of waste on their travels. Tourists must be more conscious of the type of products they pack, use and dispose in order to reduce pollution and protect the environment as much as possible. Things like choosing environmentally friendly skincare and body products can make a huge difference.

There are many easy ways travellers can reduce waste while travelling. Simple practices such as recycling, using reusable bags, and avoiding packaging can make a big difference to the amount of waste generated.

Much of the responsibility falls on the accommodation that hosts tourists. Hotels, motels and campsites have the power to raise awareness about sustainable travel. In fact, many hotels and tour providers are adopting eco-friendly practices such as water-conservation schemes, recycling programs, energy-efficient lighting and safe waste disposal. Travellers should take this into consideration when choosing their accommodation. Staying at accommodation has an interest in protecting the environment is key to responsible travel.

Hope you all enjoyed today’s guest post about sustainable travel. If you’re looking for more travel related posts, check out the Kam Travels section of the blog.

Author’s bio:

Cloe Matheson lives in the lovely South Island city of Dunedin, New Zealand. She enjoys writing about responsible and sustainable living and supports eco-friendly local businesses such as Fuso. Discover more of Cloe’s work here.