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Travel

6 Things I Always Do When I Check Into a Hotel to Make My Stay More Comfortable

I tend to travel at least once or twice a month, whether that’s a road trip within a few hours of my hometown or a plane ride across the country (or even globe). Obviously, there’s so much prep work that goes into planning a trip—what outfits I’ll wear, which toiletries to pack, and some research on local activities or restaurants. Years ago, though, I learned that sometimes it’s just as important to do some tail-end work once I arrive at my destination to ensure all goes smoothly. Whether I’m staying in a quirky B&B or cozying up in a hotel or resort, there’s a checklist of things I always do that helps me settle in. I Do a Quick Cleanliness Scan I do not expect absolute perfection, but I do expect clean linens, towels, hot water, and vacuumed floors when I arrive at a hotel—especially if it’s a nice one I paid a decent chunk of change for. Rarely do I need to call the front desk for a cleanup or restock, but it has happened. I’ve also needed to notify staff that hot water wasn’t working, which is usually just a quick fix. It’s important to do this stuff right after arriving so you can have the issue tended to right away, or so you can move rooms easily before you unpack. I’ve also requested a room change if I’ve ended up right across from an elevator or ice machine. I learned the hard way that these high-traffic areas are extremely noisy with people, beeping, and ice dispensing, which is a recipe for awful sleep. I Unpack All My Belongings There was a past version of myself that figured if I left it all in the suitcase I’d have less work to do when packing up to leave—wrong. This method creates chaos every time I’d go to look for a garment, and the end result is still a messy suitcase that needs repacking. No matter how long or short the trip, I remove everything from my suitcase within an hour or two of arriving and hang whatever I can. (Sometimes this involves requesting more hangers, which is never a problem.) This really cuts down on wrinkles and allows you to visualize what you brought, helping you plan your outfits. I also take out all my toiletries, then tuck away my luggage out of sight for a less cluttered space. I Store My Valuables While unpacking, I’m careful to put all my valuables in the room’s safe, or I do my best to tuck them out of sight. This includes my passport and laptop, and any nice jewelry I’m not wearing that day. I don’t expect these things to be stolen even if they’re left out, but it does give me peace of mind knowing that even if I’m out all day, my most important items are secure. That also allows me to enjoy my traveling adventures more! I Create a Landing Zone Near the Door Oh, the number of times I’ve lost my hotel key card or a pair of keys. I have a landing zone at our front door at home, so I figured I might as well create something similar for when I’m traveling. This is a little area—ideally a basket or tray that was already in the room—for my hotel key card, sunscreen, chapstick, and car keys/valet ticket. Having a landing zone means these items always have a spot, and I’m way less likely to lose them. I Plug in All My Chargers Right Away We still live in a world of cords, which means things need to be plugged in and charged. Crawling around on the floor at night and shuffling furniture around to find outlets isn’t a great way to wind down, so I try to identify all the outlets and plug my items in shortly after arriving at a hotel. It’s such a tiny thing, but preventing the Great Outlet Search at midnight really does cut down on chaos and stress. I Photograph Important Details Maybe it’s just me, but when I’m traveling, I tend to forget important details like, say, my room number or where I parked my car! I’ve found these details are surprisingly easy to forget after a fun day of exploring, or even after the commotion of checking in and jetting off to get food ASAP. Along with photographing my room number, I’ll either take a picture of where I parked (if driving) or my valet ticket (just in case), a photo of the WiFi information, a picture of the hotel grounds/map, and even a picture (or screenshot) of the transportation map if I’m using public transit. All these habits help me enjoy my trip even more, and now that I have them down to a science, I’m never going back.

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Home Decor

Was My Custom Primary Bedroom Bed Worth It? And Do I Regret Selling It 8 Years Ago?

Nine years ago, we designed this bed for our then-primary bedroom, and I have a lot of unresolved feelings about it. So Bold! So Fun! So Big! So Expensive! The reason we are talking about it now is that you may or may not know the custom bed that is in our current bedroom was actually designed for our guest room, not our bedroom, but the bed we had ordered for our bedroom was having some shipping delays so with the photo shoot looming (2 years ago) we put that bed in our room where it hasn’t moved and cancelled the one that was on its way. That’s all to say that I’m just now getting around to figuring out what is the perfect bed for our bedroom (I don’t love the design of the room as a whole) and I’m toying with the idea of doing something custom, which reminded me of this big bold lady that we had made almost 10 years ago. But as I was picking out fabrics, I remembered that I had some regrets/learnings with this one, so it deserved more of a deep dive, with the help of some hindsight. Before The Custom Bed… Prior to designing the new bed, I had recovered this vintage tufted headboard with a navy blue fabric. It was fun, but I suppose I wanted something even more fun, LOL. BOY DID I GET IT. The Inspiration Of The Shape I loved the idea of a modern wingback design, but fully upholstered – it felt cozy and simple. At the time, one of my design assistants, Remi, pulled the dimensions from a lot of these above to work off of. I went through a huge Rebecca Atwood phase (still love her so much) and my love of blue was perhaps at its peak (never gone away, TBH), and I LOVED this marble-y pattern so much. I don’t think I really debated it too much (I was a lot braver then, not sure why!) and make the final decision pretty quickly. The Drawings To Get A Quote Remi drew it all out for the guys to get a quote. This view was specifically important to see how the corners joined within the design that we wanted. The frame was solidly built and helped us visualize it more. I remember us debating how to orient the fabric, but not for long – it was pretty clear that the marble should run horizontally on the bed like water. Something to definitely think of for anyone customizing with patterned fabric. Installed, But Not Styled Here is what she looked like before we finished the room – it’s a lot of bed. I loved it, but I had some momentary fears of it being “too much”. It turned out beautifully and exactly how we had asked for it, but it wasn’t a quiet bed. She was LOUD. The details were really rad though… we did a good job designing it and our furniture guy executed it perfectly. The Styled Out Room When I revealed it on the blog, I think it was close to unanimous that it was awesome. Once styled out with everything more balanced it it still had a huge presence but worked a lot better. I can’t tell if this room is dated or not. I still love it! Sure, there is that still bright/airy midcentury vibe that was so big in the late 2010s but there is nothing in here I wouldn’t own again (and I still have those lamps, that painting, that bench, and that rug). So Why Did I Sell The Bed Only 1 Year Later/My Learnings? The easy reason is that we moved into our house in Los Feliz, where our room was much, much smaller, and the bed had to be in front of a low window. This was a high headboard, so even if we could get the bed into the room, it would look EXTRA MASSIVE. The way we designed the side rails and the “wings” added another 12″ overall to the bed, so I don’t think that would have fit with nightstands. But secretly, I was having a lot of internal doubt about my love of color and pattern, and felt insecure that what I liked was silly. This was 2016, the beginning of Amber Interiors, Studio McGee, and of course, the Modern Farmhouse vibe Joanna Gaines popularized. I think I felt like bold choices like this would look too amateur, young, and silly — not sophisticated, refined, or neutral enough like what was about to happen. Of course, that “warm, neutral California casual” vibe would reign supreme until 2021, where everything has certainly flipped (color and pattern are certainly back). I sold this bed for $1,500 – INSANELY LOW PRICE for what I paid and how new it was. And I’m not saying it is the exact bed that I would want right now, but I do love the boldness and the no apologies that it had. It made a statement with a big side of bravery. I think it’s pretty typical to let the outside trends of the world affect the opinion of your home, while I wish we didn’t. I’m obviously not placing blame on anything or anyone, the zeitgeist is just so strong and at times outside of our control (especially when we are young). I LOVE this bed now, it represents a time when I took chances in a really bold way. Of course, spending $3k on something that you might not love for 20 years is actually the biggest risk of all, and I tend to be a lot more cautious now (taking more risks in smaller pieces or art, rather than large custom patterned furniture).

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Travel

How to Prep Your Car for Winter So You're Safe and Ready for Anything

Slick winter weather can cause hazardous driving conditions and increase the chances of accidents. While you must learn how to drive in winter conditions and learn winter emergency preparedness, your car should also be up for the challenge. One of the most critical maintenance tasks is to have the vehicle serviced and change your oil to a winter-grade, lower-viscosity oil. Doing so can keep your engine well-lubricated even as temperatures drop and reduce the risk of damage to the car's hardware. There are also several other tasks you should complete before winter hits to make sure your car is ready. Here are expert tips on how to prep your car for winter to keep you safer during colder weather conditions. Ensure tires are winter-ready Well-maintained tires are essential to ensure traction and grip on wet, snowy, or icy surfaces. So it's important to check tire depth and treads before temperatures drop. Keep close watch over air pressure and wheel alignment, too. "Make sure your tires are winter-ready, not too worn down, and are properly inflated," advises Alex Mario, personal injury attorney at the Carter Mario Law Firm. "Bald tires will cause bad traction, and deflated or overinflated tires are more likely to tear. Both are recipes for disaster." You can find the recommended tire pressure in your car's user manual or inside the driver's side door. If you live in a place that experiences freezing winter temperatures, consider installing winter tires and making sure your donut (or spare tire) is also winter ready. The rubber compounds in non-winter tires typically harden when temperatures are consistently around or below freezing. Winter tires are engineered to resist hardening, thus providing better traction in icy or snowy pavement. Inspect the brakes Brakes are a key part of vehicle safety. During the winter time more than ever, you need them to react quickly to sudden stops and starts. "Make sure to get your brakes inspected around this time of year," Mario says. "Too-thin brake pads or low brake fluid could be the difference between being able to stop a catastrophe." Also, check the belts, hoses, spark plugs, wires, and cables. While these could go bad any time of year, you especially don’t want to end up stranded in freezing temperatures. Remember to check your lights (signal lights, high beams, and blinkers) to ensure they are working correctly, too. Replace bulbs or fuses if necessary. Install winter wipers and washer fluid Snow, sleet, ice, road salt, and rain can dirty your windshield and significantly reduce visibility. For icy areas, swap regular wipers for heavy-duty winter-specific ones equipped with a rubber that keeps ice from collecting on the blades. Remember to replace the washer reservoir with winter-grade washer fluid that resists freezing. A single snowstorm can exhaust the reservoir, so refill it frequently to avoid running out in the middle of a storm. If you’re unsure if the washer liquid is the right formula for low temperatures, add anti-freeze to the reservoir. “Check your windshield for any cracks and address them before the weather gets cold," adds Jeramy Sibley, president of Glass Doctor, a Neighborly company. "Exposing your vehicle to extreme temperatures can cause the crack to expand quickly.” Test car batteries A dead battery can also be a nightmare in the wintertime. "Cold weather can cause batteries to drain," says Mario. "Testing your battery at the start of the winter season can give you some peace of mind and avoid conking out on the side of the road." The risk of your car breaking down during winter increases if the battery already has problems. A battery at or above 600 cold cranking amp (CCA) is ideal for optimal winter performance. Corrosion build-up on battery posts and terminals can result in hard starting problems in cold weather, preventing your charging systems from recharging the battery. Ensuring your battery terminals are cleaned properly is another vital task in preparing your car for winter. Reduce future corrosion by applying a battery terminal protectant spray. Check the cooling system Coolant is a mixture of water and anti-freeze that pumps around your engine to cool it down. You need an appropriate coolant-to-water ratio to guard against corrosion and potential freezing. Consult a technician or mechanic to confirm your car's specific needs ahead of winter. Keep the gas tank at least half full Cars tend to use more fuel in both heavy traffic conditions and while heaters are running inside the car. Thus, a full tank will ensure you don't run out before arriving at your destination. A full tank also reduces condensation, preventing gas line freeze-ups. If you are stranded in the winter, you can keep the engine running to keep warm until help arrives. If you're using an electric or hybrid vehicle, remember to map out unfamiliar routes so you always know where you can recharge. Inspect the weatherstripping "Repair or replace [the weatherstripping] to help keep heat in and cold air out,” Sibley says. You can lubricate window tracks to prevent freezing water from seeping in and creating drag. Wiping silicon lube onto your door, locks, and latches can help keep freezing air from getting inside the car. Pack a winter safety kit Emergencies happen, so it's always smart to keep your car stocked with a number of items that will help you deal with a car breakdown or accident in the middle of winter. Sibley suggests stocking your car with an ice scraper, snow brush, shovel, road flares, flashlight, first aid kit, jumper cables, and spare gas. Mario also suggests keeping food, water, and extra warm clothing in the car. For traction, keep sand bags or kitty litter in the trunk to get out of a bad winter weather situation.

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Home Decor

My “Kitchen Kid Clutter Drop Zone” Problem, SOLVED (ish)

When we designed the house and put the kitchen here (because it’s the best southern light) we knew that we were asking for kid clutter. My genius plan to train the kids to go around the house to the mudroom (expertly executed by locking the kitchen door and giving them candy each time they dropped their stuff in the mudroom) lasted approximately 2 days. Not because they didn’t want the candy or because they couldn’t be trained but because they, like many kids, would hold it all day if you know what I mean, and getting inside IMMEDIATELY was the priority. Plus when it’s raining this entrance just makes more sense. Also, if they did drop everything in the mudroom, in the morning when we are scrambling to get them out the door, they would have to go backtrack to get their stuff, walk around the house, and blah blah. We are always scrambling so adding inefficiencies doesn’t make sense. That’s all to say that this is our defacto kids drop zone and it’s not just them – twice a week we have anywhere between 4 and 7 kids over to play. So this area has to work MUCH HARDER than other areas in the house to help my sanity. How We Styled It For The Reveal When we styled it for the OG photo shoot a year or so ago, I styled it to be pretty also not knowing how much use it would get. You see since the outside was under construction until last June we couldn’t even ask them to go around the house to the mudroom (and the plants helped mask the construction out the window). But yeah, that big plant quickly died (under my sister’s watch, sorry Katy to publicly out you LOL) and while I loved the other stuff there, we needed the space for backpacks and coats. The Kid Clutter Problem SOLVED (LOL, It’s Never Solved But BETTER) So here’s what we did – First, we hung those hooks into the fridge cabinet (which I was terrified to do, TBH). I bought this vertical hook set last year from Target for the front entry but since no one uses that door, I stored it and then installed it here. The lower ones are great for the kids and since there are multiple we can really load it up (and we do). The shelf is for their Gabb watches which they pop off as soon as they are home, stick them on their chargers, and the last thing they put on before they leave the house. The bench is now for their bags (no pretty tray for mail, that happens in the pantry and our vintage secretary). These three baskets have SAVED US. Two are for shoes and one is for our day-to-day sports stuff that we are ALWAYS scrambling to find (basketball shoes, cheer shoes, ultimate frisbee gloves, frisbees, basketball, cleats, etc). Does that mean that the kids always put things away in the right spots? NOPE. But they are so much better. And when I go to put things away I can re-org the sports stuff which sets us up for a better week (when we had just one basket it was all too mixed up). Now obviously it doesn’t look like that – there are usually 4-6 coats on the rack and big bulky backpacks on the bench, but the kids had those at school and I’m a stylist so there was no way I was going to style with ugly coats and hats. Sorry! Here is what it looked like before I did this all: On the left is what it looked like on a random Sunday and on the right was the clean version later that day. I was NOT set up for success, y’all. I thought that the coats blocking the window might bug me, but it doesn’t AT ALL (we clearly have a lot of light in here). The only thing that still happens is that longer coats can knock the kid’s Gabb watches off their chargers easily. But with a few cord tacos and velcro stickers, the chargers stay in place without falling off or looking messy. The plant pot is a recent Target purchase (SO CUTE) and the new to me vintage rug actually goes in the hallway but I wanted to show it off because it’s so beautiful (thank you Sheba from Blue Parakeet!). All in all it’s a solid 60% better. I still have to remind the kids to put their shoes in the basket, and not just throw their coats on the bench but it’s just so much less of a thing. And if you are wondering if we are glad that our mudroom is where it is, we sure are – we need it for all of our pasture boots on that porch (full of mud and literal shit) and its where the kids dry off and hang their towels after getting out of the hot tub. While the first shot is more eligible to be in a magazine and is more fun for your eye to look at, the third is far more functional for our family. CLUTTER PROBLEM (mostly) SOLVED.

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