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Just DIY It: 5 Natural Cleaning Products

May 5, 2014 By CENTURY 21

You know the saying, “When life gives you lemons, make natural cleaning supplies?” Okay, we made that one up, but there are so many ways to make natural cleaning supplies using things that you may already have at home.

5 Natural Cleaning Products:

1. Toilet Bowl Cleaner (Yahoo Shine): You need a measuring cup, a toilet brush, half of a cup of baking soda, 10 drops of tea-tree essential oil, and half a cup of distilled white vinegar. Pour the baking soda into the toilet bowl, add the oil, then add the vinegar. Let the water sit for several minutes then scrub it with the toilet brush. Flush the toilet and voila you have a clean toilet!

2. Natural Air Freshener (How Does She): You need a spray bottle, eight ounces of water, and five to seven drops of essential oils. Simply pour the water in the spray bottle, then drop in the essential oils. Screw the top back on and spray away.

3. Natural Laundry Detergent (Wellness Mama): You can make natural laundry detergent using just three ingredients! You need Washing Soda, Borax, and a natural bar soap of your choice. Grate the bar of soap or mix it in the food processor until it is finely ground. Mix two parts washing soda, two parts Borax, and one part grated soap then store it in a closed container. Use between one eighth and one fourth of a cup per load of laundry.

4. Homemade Dishwasher Detergent (Happy Money Saver): You need one cup of Washing Soda, one cup of Baking Soda, three packages of unsweetened lemonade drink mix, one cup of Kosher Salt, and one cup of water. Mix all the ingredients together in a large bowl and start using your new dishwasher detergent. The lemonade makes it smell good and has antibacterial properties. We think that you could also try adding in a few drops of lemon juice.

5. Natural Multi-Purpose Citrus Cleaner (Lexie Naturals): You need a glass container, citrus fruit peels, one tablespoon of salt, vinegar, distilled water, and five to ten drops of essential oil. Cut the orange peels and put them in the glass container, add salt to the orange peels and let them sit for twenty to thirty minutes. Fill the containers with vinegar and water. You can do half vinegar and half water. Now put a lid on the jars and let it sit for two to three weeks. After you’ve waited two to three weeks, strain the solution and fill up a squirt bottle. If you want to add essential oils, you should add them now. Now you are ready to start cleaning!

These natural cleaning products will help you to save money and have a home that is both clean and green.

If you enjoyed this blog post you will also like our cleaning checklists:

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bathroom Bacteria Busters

-Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

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7 Reasons You’re Secretly Jealous of your Dollhouse Family

April 19, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Did you play with a dollhouse growing up? Were you just a tiny bit jealous of the tiny inhabitants of the teeny tiny houses? It’s okay if you were – no judgment.

Here are a 7 reasons to be jealous of your dollhouse family:

1. Someone bought their home for them and they didn’t pay a cent!

2. They don’t pay mortgages, rent, or bills.

3. Your dollhouse family can move easily without the stress of relocating and hefty moving bills.

4. Their clothes, furniture, and food are free. They don’t even have to use the Sims’ Rosebud !;!;!; cheat for more money.

5. They live forever and never look a day older. It’s like Benjamin Button, but better.

6. They have an interior designer, a maid, a chef, full-time security, and more! Daddy Warbucks would be impressed.

7. They don’t have to make difficult decisions or any decisions at all!

We hope you enjoyed this little walk down nostalgia lane!

For entertainment purposes only.

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We Asked, You Answered: Tips for First Time Homebuyers

April 17, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Buying a home for the first time can be difficult and overwhelming! You have to find a home you can afford and a home that you and your family love. There are so many factors like the price of property taxes, the school district, the crime rate, mortgages, and whether or not the home is a “fixer upper.” We posted a question on our Facebook page asking for your best tips for first-time homeowners. Read advice from CENTURY 21^® Agents and clients.

Here are five tips for buying a home for the first-time:

1. “Be realistic about what you can afford and what the home will look like within your budget. Don’t expect a $150,000.00 home to have all the bells and whistles a $300,000.00 home does.” – Susie F.

2. “Ask your C21^® agent for a reliable & trustworthy lender to get pre-qualified before starting your house hunt.” -Bill C.

3. “Get prequalified. Work with a REALTOR^® to find a great home. Once you find a home you like, visit the neighborhood in the evenings and weekends to see what it is like when more people are around. Check with local police department to find out about crime rates in area. After you have been prequalified, do not do anything that will adversely affect your credit score. Then be prepared to sign and initial a lot of paperwork.” - Audrey M.

4. “Find a GREAT CENTURY 21 Agent, get pre-qualified. Know what you’re looking for, but be ready to give a little if need be on your home expectations list.” -Lisa C.

5. “DON’T buy anything on credit until after you move into your new home.” -Eric G.

For more great tips, check out our Facebook post and buying advice on our site. Buying a home is an exciting milestone in your life. We hope that these tips will help you find your perfect home!

Everything’s Coming Up Roses: 10 Popular Spring Flowers

April 15, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Spring has sprung! We can’t wait for picnics, baseball games, dining al fresco, and gardening! You know what they say, April showers bring May flowers. We’ve rounded up 10 popular spring flowers that are perfect for your garden, centerpieces, or bouquets.

1. Daffodils: Plant daffodil bulbs in the fall and they will bloom in the spring and summer. Daffodils are bright and cheery flowers! Learn more about caring for daffodils here. William Wordsworth was fond of daffodils. Read his beautiful poem, I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud.

2. Roses: Roses come in a wide variety of colors and forms. They look beautiful planted or climbing a wall or fence. Stop and smell the roses! Learn more about roses, and how to plant them from Lowes.

3. Lilacs: Lilacs come in red, pink, yellow, blue, purple, and white. Plant multiple colors to add a pop of color to your garden. Learn more from Almanac - then start planting!

4. Tulips: Tulips come in a wide variety of colors including beautiful multicolor flowers! Tulips are perennials so they will grow back year after year, saving you time and money. Marianne Williamson once wrote, “A tulip doesn’t strive to impress anyone. It doesn’t struggle to be different than a rose. It doesn’t have to. It is different. And there’s room in the garden for every flower.” Learn how to plant tulips here.

5. Hydrangeas: Hydrangeas come in red, pink, blue, purple, and white. Sometimes the different colors show up in one plant! Hydrangeas are a classic, preppy, flowers that are commonly seen in beach towns like The Hamptons and Nantucket. Learn how to plant and care for them here.

6. Camellias: Camellias are beautiful! It has been said that there are 3,000 different types ranging in size, color, and form. Camellias are the official flower for Alabama. They are beautiful in gardens and bouquets. Camellias were frequently mentioned in the classic book, To Kill a Mockingbird. Learn how to garden Camellias here.

7. Peonies: Peonies come in red, pink, yellow, and white. They are perennials and some have been known to live for 100 years! The famous writer, Henry Mitchell once wrote, “The fattest and most scrumptious of all flowers, a rare fusion of fluff and majesty, the peony is now coming into bloom.” The Almanac has great tips for planting these beautiful blooms.

8. Dahlias: Dahlias come in all different colors and varieties. The poet, Lord Holland once wrote, “The Dahlia you brought to our isle your praises forever shall speak ‘mid gardens as sweet as your smile and colour as bright as your cheek.” Learn how to plant them here!

9. Irises: In Greek mythology Iris is the personification of the rainbow and messenger of the gods. Irises are perennials. They attract butterflies and hummingbirds and look beautiful in flower arrangements. Learn how to plant them here!

10. Azaleas: Did you know that Azaleas are called, “the royalty of the garden?” There are white, purple, red, orange, pink, and yellow azaleas. Bicolor azaleas have different patterns on the same plant! The Azalea Society of America has interesting facts and tips about azaleas.

Fill your home and your garden with fresh flowers this spring. Read our Recommended Reading to learn more ways to style your home with your favorite blooms!

How to Style a Bookshelf

April 13, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Marcus Tullius Cicero once said, “A room without books is like a body without a soul.” We agree! A bookshelf is a great place to store your books and, when styled correctly, it can be a great tool for decorating your space!

Here are four simple tips for styling your bookshelf:

1. Shh…don’t tell any librarians but we recommend skipping The Dewey Decimal System in favor of organizing books by color, height, category (i.e. fiction or non-fiction), or alphabetically by author or title. Extra Credit: Do all of the above!

2. Don’t limit your shelves to just books. Add other items like your favorite pictures, small framed art, topiaries, small statues, vases of fresh flowers, or jars of candy! No one likes it when books fall subject to the domino effect, incorporate bookends that are quirky and fun or sleek and sophisticated.

3. Use your favorite paint color or wallpaper to decorate the inside of your bookshelf and create an unexpected pop of color or pattern!

4. Now that you’ve styled your bookshelf beautifully shine a spotlight on your work by invest in bookshelf lighting.

We hope you enjoy our tips!

For More How-To’s:

Centerpiece

Coffee Table

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Color Palette: Ginger Jars

April 12, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Use this color palette to create the spa-inspired look you’ve always wanted!

What: This palette was inspired by cookies and ginger jars!

Where: This color palette would be delightful in a bathroom. Light colors make a room feel larger, so paint your walls horizon. Create the perfect base of neutral color for a relaxing suite Paint the tiles shades of moonshine. Buy a burgundy vanity to create a balance with the neutral shades you’ve incorporated in the room. Add an azure patterned rug and oxford hand towels to tie the look together seamlessly!

Why: This color combination creates a sophisticated, tranquil room that you’ll enjoy for years to come. Ginger jars are Chinese jars that were historically used to hold ginger and other spices. Ginger jars are thought to have been from the Tang Dynasty (618-907) (Chapin House). They are commonly used for home decor because of their ability to be used as vases, storage vessels, and purely decorative pieces around the home. They are steeped in history and add a decorative element to the modern home!

For more inspiration, visit A Day in the Garden: Color Palette!

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Game of Thrones Great Houses: CENTURY 21® Edition

April 6, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Game of Thrones is back! We couldn’t wait one more second so we found the CENTURY 21® homes that fit the mottos of The Houses of Westeros.

House Stark – Winter is Coming

Here

Protect your family by stocking your pantry with non-perishable food and buying salt and snow removal tools.

House Lannister - A Lannister Always Pays His Debts

Here

Use our Mortgage Calculator so that you can also pay off your loans.

House Tyrell – Growing Strong

Here

If you are lucky enough to have a yard full of old trees, don’t cut them down. They may be a source of protection.

House Greyjoy - We Do Not Sow

Here

Don’t sow. Build an outdoor porch.

House Tully - Family, Duty, Honor

Here

Spend time decorating a comfortable and classic family room that the entire family will enjoy from game nights to movie nights and everything in between!

Tune in tonight to watch the debauchery and deception continue.

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Spring Cleaning Checklist: Bedroom

April 4, 2014 By CENTURY 21

Your bedroom is one of the most important rooms in your home. There is something so wonderful about coming home to a clean and comfortable bedroom and our newest spring cleaning checklist will help you get there!

Stay tuned for the next checklist!

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How to Style a Coffee Table

April 3, 2014 By CENTURY 21

A coffee table is a focal point of any den or living room. Style your coffee table to show your personality and create an area that your family and guests will love!

Here is our list of essential items for your coffee table:

1. Box: Conceal clutter by storing remotes in a covered box.

2. Fresh Flowers: Fresh flowers make a big difference in a room. If you are hosting company, put a vase of fresh flowers on the coffee table. A succulent or cactus is a great year round alternative to flowers.

3. Coffee Table Books: You can find coffee table books in almost any bookstore. They are books that are intended to be a distraction or conversation starter for guests. They are usually large hardcover books. We recommend having a stack of three books on your table.

4. Candle and Matches: Burn your favorite candle and keep a beautiful matchbook nearby.

5. Photo Album: Place a small photo album on you coffee table so that your guests can look through your pictures and reminisce.

6. Paperweight or Figurine: Place a paperweight or figurine on top of the stack of books. Choose a conversation starter or something quirky that shows your personality.

What essential items would you add?

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10 Secrets for Making Your Bedroom Feel Larger

March 25, 2014 By CENTURY 21

In the words of David Bowie, you can make a few small “ch-ch-ch-ch-changes” to make your bedroom feel much larger with these ten tips.

1. Use Light Colored Paint: When Women’s Day author Kim Fusaro interviewed Sabrina Soto, one of Target’s Home Style Experts, she learned to paint rooms light colors because, “light colors reflect and multiply light, while dark colors absorb it.” Colors like “cream, beige, light grayish-blue and lavender” are good choices for making small spaces feel larger. (Women’s Day)

2. Incorporate Mirrors: Wall mirrors help to make a room feel larger, and making an entire wall a mirror, will make a room feel like it is double the size! (Lowe’s)

3. Use Sheer Curtains: Interior Designers at Pottery Barn recommend using sheer curtains to, “create an airy sense of openness.” If you would like opaque curtains for privacy and controlling brightness, “use a double rod to layer opaque drapes over sheers.” (Pottery Barn)

4. Combat Clutter: Clutter makes a room look smaller – combat clutter for once and for all!

5. Use Multipurpose Pieces: Use multipurpose pieces such as an ottoman with built-in storage. Other multipurpose pieces include beds with built-in drawers and benches with space for storage boxes. (Nest)

6. Add Extra Lighting: The team at Lowe’s recommend enhancing a small space by using recessed spot lighting, a torchiere light, skylights, and solar tubes.

7. Use a Monochromatic Color Scheme: According to the experts at Lowe’s you should, “use a monochromatic color scheme on the furniture, rugs, and walls.” They recommend using, “different shades and textures of your single color.” (Lowe’s)

8. Paint the Ceiling: The team at Apartment Therapy suggest painting ceilings a light color because, “Generally a light ceiling will allow your eye to pass upward without distraction and give the impression of a larger space, so a light ceiling will make your room seem bigger.” (Apartment Therapy)

9. Buy Large Furniture: Although it seems counterintuitive, having one large piece of furniture as opposed to a lot of tiny pieces will make the room seem airier. (Nest)

10. Utilize Vertical Space:Style at Home’s expert, Lynda Felton, recommends using vertical space. She explains that, “Whether you’re hanging art or shelves, or placing furniture, don’t let vertical space go to waste. Using it is practical, providing a display space for art, for example, and it also draws the eye up, making a space feel more expansive than it actually is.” (Style at Home)

We want to hear from you! What are your tips for making a room seem larger?

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