Today I have a contributed post for you all on why you should travel to New Mexico. Happy reading.
New Mexico is just one of those states that should be at the top of your USA travelling list. Trust us, it’s a pretty underrated travel destination, though it was the filming location of Breaking Bad, which draws in quite a lot of the cult followers of the show. However, New Mexico isn’t just a great place to visit because of its ties to the series, in fact, the list of other reasons to come here is an extensive one. We’ve noted some of the best sights to see in this exciting state, so read on if you want to know why you should get on that flight ASAP.
New Mexico is well-known for its lantern festival, and you just have to see this to believe it. Even watching short videos on the celebrations is enough to induce a sense of awe, so we can only imagine what it would be like to see this in the flesh. The meaning behind this festival seems to be down to personal choice, with some citing a tradition to honor Jesus, and others linking it to Asian culture.
The natural beauty of the White Sands gypsum dunes is enough to make any of us book a flight to New Mexico right now. Really, we are tempted. These beautiful dunes are (believe it or not) perfectly white, and are home to a whole host of different creatures. We don’t really know how else to sell this to you, but trust us, if you’re travelling to New Mexico, visiting this 275 square mile wonder has to be at the top of your list.
If you’re one of those travellers who always loves to take a trip to the nearest art gallery, the Georgia O’Keeffe Museum is certainly worth a visit. Much of her work was inspired by the landscapes of New Mexico, so you will really be able to see what influenced her work, where she loved to paint. Not only is New Mexico home to the best of nature’s wonders, but it is a cultural and artistic hub that you just have to explore.
The railroads in the US inspired many with the travel bug back in the 50s and 60s, from authors like Jack Kerouac to famous jazz musicians. Deming was named after the wife of one of the ‘big four’ who actually built the Central Pacific Railroad, which runs through the city. This is certainly worth a visit for lovers of literature and American history, so look into a hotel in Deming, New Mexico and experience the culture on offer.
So, if you’re thinking about visiting New Mexico, there is so much on offer here that goes beyond the cult following of Breaking Bad. From The Lantern Festival to The White Sands National Monument, and right down to The Georgia O’Keeffe Museum and the Deming railroads, there really is something here for every type of traveller. Pack your bags, and get on the next flight for the USA trip of a lifetime!
The space under our bathroom sink was messy. Really messy! I kept telling myself I’ll clean/organize it when we redo our bathroom. But, who knows when we will actually get to that project. I couldn’t handle the mess anymore. So, while I was recovering from my wisdom teeth removal, I got started to organize under the bathroom sink.
I didn’t really have a plan as to the best way to organize under the bathroom sink so that the mess never came back. But I had to get started, so I just went to the bathroom and took everything out. I used the principles of the KonMari method and went through every product we had stored under there. First I purged expired products. Next, I created a pile of products we don’t use, but would be useful for someone else or to donate. This mostly included perfumes. I have a little collection of perfumes that were gifted to me but I honestly never used them. Perfumes make my head hurt, and I prefer the smell of essential oil blends!
I then went to organize the products I had in categories:
Cleaning supplies
Travel toiletries – I usually collect samples, toothbrush/toothpaste from the dentist, floss, and anything else that is travel size that we usually use when we travel.
Extra toothpaste and toothbrushes and anything teeth related
Extra shampoo – we bought a bunch of our favourite shampoo when it was on a great sale at the Body Shop
My skin Care Products: I honestly don’t use many products in terms of skin care, but over the years I have collected a few products I’ve been trying to use up. I also enjoy the occasional face mask so I have a couple of those. Other things include deodorants, lotions, face mists, and my personal items.
Gursheel’s skin care products and anything else that is specifically his.
Oils – I have a huge collection of essential oils as well as carrier oils. Since I have thin hair, I try to test out different oils to help with strengthening my hair. I also like to experiment and create my own face, body and hair oils.
Gursheel’s beard products
Hair: As Sikhs, we don’t throw out our hair. We store the dead hair until we have a small collection and then burn the hair.
Once I had these categories sorted I out, I tried to think of and research storage solutions. I wanted something that worked well for us and also looked pretty (of course) 😛
I first purchased magazine holders and used them for half a year. They worked and looked great, however, since they were made of cardboard, they started to stain and absorb oils.
Now, just recently, I invested in some good quality containers I found at MUJI. These storage bins are stackable and slightly see through. They’re actually at a really great price point as well. I’ve had them for a few weeks now and I absolutely love how they look and function!
Next, I had to find the perfect label maker. I used this Sharpie pen for our pantry organization and it worked perfectly. However, since the containers are clear, the pen wouldn’t have worked well. I needed a contrasting label. I found this amazing label maker on Amazon and I love it! I love the sleekness of the labeled containers.
And there you have it. I honestly think the under bathroom sink area is a pain point for a lot of people. We have so many products and are constantly getting more. Although this isn’t the most beautiful space I’ve organized, I know it will function well for years to come. I hope you enjoyed this tutorial on how to organize under the bathroom sink and please share your before and afters with me if you do decide to tackle your bathroom organization as well!
Redesigning your entire home decor can be a scary but necessary part of life. No decor lasts forever, no matter how beautiful or modern, and every home tends to begin looking tired at some point. Even just a few changes to spruce up the home can make a huge difference and ensure the people who live in it fall in love with it all over again!
Below, you’ll find 12 things you should do before redesigning your entire home decor if this is something that you’ve been thinking about doing. By ensuring you take the below steps first, you’ll get it right and ensure your new decor lasts a long, long time. Read on to learn more!
Create A Mood Board To Get Ideas
Start by creating a mood board to get ideas for your new decor style. If you haven’t really got a good idea of what you want to do with your decor yet, then this can help you. A mood board can be created online using a platform like Pinterest, or even by using magazines if you prefer to get creative in person.
By creating a mood board you’ll get an idea of the general feel you want to go for, as well as colors, textures, patterns, themes…the list goes on! You’ll be able to spot any repeating patterns in what you have used too, so you can see if there’s a particular style or element you want to include.
2. Figure Out What You Need For Your Lifestyle
Although you want a home that looks tremendous, you also want to figure out what you need for your lifestyle. You should think about layout before buying anything. What is going to be most practical for your living situation? What should you buy/get rid of to make sure that this new home decor stands the test of time and works well for your family? Make a list, and make sure you fulfill it to make your home as liveable and satisfying as possible upon completion of your project.
3. Consult An Expert
If you’re a little anxious about redecorating your home in its entirety, don’t hesitate to contact an expert. There are numerous experts who can help you to redesign your home in a way that really works. You could go with a painter/decorator to make sure your home is painted to perfection, for example, or even an architect if you want to add some interesting structural elements. Hiring professionals will be more than worth it in the long run. If you try to do it yourself or hire people who are simply not qualified or experienced enough, you could end up spending far more in the long run.
Knowing your budget is also super important before you get started. When would you like your project to be completed, and how much money can you dedicate to it? Knowing your numbers will mean you are able to divide money between different aspects, for example, an envelope for accessories, another for paint, another for furniture, etc.
5. Think About Whether You’re Planning On Selling Up In A Few Years
Seriously consider whether it’s likely you will sell up in a few years. You’ll want to keep up with property news to figure out if this is an option – if it is, you’ll need to bear this in mind as you decorate. You don’t want to do anything that will jeopardize the sale price, so nothing too ‘out there’ that will be difficult to change before house showings. If you do plan on making structural/architectural changes, make sure you know how much you stand to make when selling your home and figure out if it’s worth it. Remember, if these things are done poorly, you stand to lose money.
6. Get Rid Of Any Clutter
If you have clutter in your home, then you’re taking up valuable space that attractive, useful items could be taking up. Now is the time to tackle your clutter before you decorate so you can start with a blank canvas. Here are some pointers that should help you:
Only keep something if it’s beautiful or useful
If you haven’t used something in 6 months or more, you’re probably safe to get rid of it
Get rid of duplicates
Leave things you are emotionally attached to until last
Get help from friends and family so you can look at your items objectively
Something else that may help you is watching Marie Kondo’s program on Netflix (she also has a book). You could pick up some useful tips and in no time you should find your home is perfectly organised and clutter free. Check out how I organized my closet using her method as well.
7. Pay Attention To Color Psychology
Color psychology will help you to pick suitable color schemes for each room. The psychology behind each color is worth paying attention to, or you might not get the desired effect you’re looking for in a room. Purple can be mysterious, but red can be energetic. If you use colors in the wrong room, you’ll end up regretting it.
8. Do Your Measurements
Whether you’re measuring for curtains or furniture, measure, measure, and measure again. Make sure you have 100% accurate measurements so that you can buy what you need without having to send things back. Getting your curtain measurements wrong can be extremely expensive, especially if you’re going for custom options. You don’t want to have your heart set on a piece of furniture either, only for it to arrive and it not fit in the room you wanted it in.
9. Incorporate Lighting
Always consider lighting in a new decor plan. You’ll need main lighting and then likely mood lighting to complete the look. In the kitchen, you’ll need to plan for task lighting, but you can afford to have more mood lighting in the living room.
The very last thing you should do is accessorize. You should have everything else sorted first. Your furniture, walls, and floors, should all be completed to perfection before you start bringing accessories in. Don’t be afraid to take your time, otherwise you can end up with pieces that don’t really suit your overall aesthetic and end up being more of a nuisance than something beautiful to enhance your home.
11. Allow Your Personality To Come Through
Whatever you do, don’t just allow your home to look like a show home, or something you pulled straight off Instagram. Allow your personality to come through! Show off your souvenirs. Show off things your kids have made you, and things you’ve made yourself. Make your hobbies known. You should want people to know that you live there!
12. Prepare To Buy Quality Items
Make sure you plan to buy quality items. You can get away with certain items that are cheaper, such as throws and cushions, but your curtains, furniture, and other main pieces should be high quality. You want these items to last; you don’t want to have to replace them every few years, or wear them down. Trying to save a quick buck often means spending even more than you intended in the long run. Of course you should think about expensive purchases carefully, but don’t be afraid to spend more if you really want something. You should even budget a fair amount for artwork that you really love, as beautiful artwork lasts forever!
How will you begin redesigning your entire home decor? Let us know below and thanks for reading!
