Cleaning Your Home Naturally

Spring will be here before we know it, and in honor of this time of year approaching, I'm sharing my top 4 all-natural home cleaning tips as well as a very easy to digest guide on cleaning your home with essential oils!

Declutter and detoxify your home by cleaning and removing stains with things you always keep stocked in your kitchen: baking soda, lemons, vinegar, & coffee filters. By ridding your home of unhealthy, chemical-laden products, you'll pave the way to a healthier, more streamlined household that stays Spring-clean year-round!

Baking soda: Keep all your stainless steel appliances sparkling with baking soda. Simply mix with water and scrub the appliances until they sparkle then rinse with water. 

Citrus: Place lemons in the garbage disposal to get rid of unwanted scents and keep your kitchen smelling citrus clean. 

Salt & Vinegar: Use salt and vinegar to bring stained copper pots back to their former glory. Simply sprinkle salt and scrub with vinegar, then rinse with water to make them look brand new. 

Coffee filters: The best way to keep wine glasses polished for the next dinner party is with coffee filters. Prior to polishing, swirl hot water in the glass, empty, then polish to get the glass crystal clear. 

How To Create Your Own Succulent Garden

Succulents are an ideal choice for your home garden -- they are the perfect match for California's climate and our current ongoing drought. They require minimal watering and thrive in high temperatures, making them the perfect plant to keep your garden vibrant during this dry spell. Succulents come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Echeveria variety, to Graptopetalum and Dudleya; they add a touch of sophistication and refinement to any outdoor space while requiring very little effort from you... what could be better?

How To Care For Your Succulents:

1/ Water once - twice per week, and make sure to soak the soil each time.

2/ From Spring - Fall, you can add a fertilizer that has been diluted to 1/4 of its strength when watering. 

3/ As outside temperatures cool, increase the amount of time between watering.

4/ If your succulents are receiving too much light, they might become a washed out color. If they are not receiving enough light, they may literally grow int he direction of the nearest light source. Make the transition to more light gradual, though, as they can become scorched if they are suddenly in too much sunlight. 

Which variety is your favorite?

-- Melanie Hane

310. 528. 5164.

mmhane@gmail.com

Pops of Color Done Well

The world isn’t all black and white, so why would your home be? Colors breed creativity while bringing a touch of personality to your space. Have fun and experiment with variations of palettes -- pastels can create a sophisticated twist on a more traditional room, while jewel tones, for instance, add an instant dash of dramatic, glamorous flair to any space. Your home is yours and should be a place that wholly reflects your personal style and everything that inspires you. Never be afraid to add a pop of color, especially to a home office, as you never know when inspiration will strike! Trends change as swiftly as seasons, but timeless taste never goes out of style. I’ve selected a few trends that demonstrate chic, nondated ways to add a vibrant pop of color to any room.

1. Kim Salmela Dynasty 20x20 Velvet Pillow

2. Eloise 87" Camelback Sofa 

3. Easton Nightstand

4. Melrose Table Lamp

5. Marsala Pocked Sized Classics

6. Holmes Accent Chair

7. Julien Tufted Ottoman

-- Melanie Hane

310. 528. 5164.

mmhane@gmail.com

Happy New Year!

Ringing in 2017 At Home... The Ultimate Guide

A new year means a fresh start and new opportunities, but tonight we celebrate! It's time to end 2016 with a big bang, and start 2017 with a soiree to remember. With a cocktail in hand and confetti in the air, cheers to this year ending and next year beginning! Here are a few of my favorite tips to make this New Year’s Eve party your best yet.  

Drinks: But First Champagne

Champagne is the classic new years drink, so why break with tradition? However, since it’s a new year why not put a new twist on a classic? Here are some recipes to keep the champagne flowing this New Year’s Eve.

Blitzen's Bubbles from Terranea Resort

Ingredients:

 .5 oz Benedictine

.5 oz pomegranate juice

4 oz sparkling wine

6 muddled raspberries

Raspberry/mint skewer for garnish

Instructions:

Muddle raspberries in shaker, add all ingredients but sparkling wine. Shake and double strain into a chilled flute. Top with sparkling wine and garnish.

French 75

Ingredients :

3 ounces gin

3 ounces fresh lemon juice

4 teaspoons superfine granulated sugar

1 1/2 cups ice cubes

1 cup chilled champagne

Lemon twists for garnish

Instructions

In a cocktail shaker, combine gin, lemon juice, sugar, and ice cubes and shake to chill. Strain cocktails into 2 champagne flutes and top off with champagne. Garnish glass with a lemon twist.

Decorative Touches

Clocks are a great addition to the party decor because it's all about the countdown.

Start off 2017 with some sparkle(rs!) -- distribute sparklers to your party guests around the two-minute countdown and light them at midnight. 

What are some traditions that you love to liven up your NYE festivities?