Many people have a tendency to get overwhelmed and stressed. This stress occurs for a variety of reasons (circumstances, personality, pressure, etc.) Sometimes it can be almost impossible to get rid of stress. Fortunately, there are certain activities and choices that reduce stress and promote a healthier lifestyle. The following fifteen suggestions are great ways to reduce stress.

Ways To Reduce Stress:

image via (Flickr)

1 – Meditation and Breathing Exercises

First, try meditation or breathing exercises. These activities promote a healthier mind and increase a person’s emotional health. Yoga, in particular, is a great meditative activity that can significantly combat stress.

2 – Do Something That You Love

Next, make time to do something you love. Too often, life is filled with responsibilities and work. These activities, while important, can increase stress. Those who make time for activities that make them happy have an easier time reducing their stress and coping with life’s challenges.

3 – Spend Time Outside

Spending time outside is another way to reduce stress. Lounge in the sun or breathe some fresh air. These activities will allow you to distress and acquire some much-needed vitamin D.

4 – Service

Service also allows people to decrease their stress. Even better, there are a variety of service opportunities.

• Volunteer at a soup kitchen.

• Visit a friend in need.

• Clean up the neighborhood.

Even the simplest acts of service can help people to forget about their stress and focus on others.

5 – Exercise

Furthermore, make time to exercise. Physical activity is one of the best options to reduce stress. It eliminates harmful, stress-causing toxins in the body. In addition, exercise can also be rejuvenating to the mind and body.

6 – Relax

Sometimes relaxation is the best cure for stress. It is important to take a break from time to time. Relaxation promotes balance and often allows people to gain perspective that minimizes their stress.

7 – Turn Off The Phone And Computer

Another stress reducing solution is to turn of the phone and computer. These two technologies, while beneficial, often result in added stress. On occasion, it is nice to pull the plug and find joy in the simpler things of life.

8 – Spend Time With Positive People

When stressed, it is particularly beneficial to spend time with positive people. Those who are negative can increase stress. Optimistic people help minimize the stress and are often more proactive at overcoming challenges that cause stress.

9 – Learn To Say No

In addition, everyone needs to learn to say no occasionally. Taking on too much can be exhausting and particularly stressful. It is completely ok to realize that you simply cannot do it all. Learn to say no and find joy and power in doing so.

10 – Stop Procrastinating

Next, stop procrastinating. Determine now to do things today instead of waiting until tomorrow. Procrastination leads to stress and also causes discouragement.

11- Laugh

Those who are stressed also need to find time to laugh. Sometimes laughter truly is the best medicine. It can provide a temporary escape from stressful situations. Even better, it allows people to find joy in the simpler aspects of life.

12 – Think Positively

Positive thinking is another way to reduce stress. A can-do attitude enables people to overcome even the biggest stresses. Negativity only hinders progress and makes life even more stressful.

13 – Listen To Uplifting Music

Listening to uplifting music is another activity that can reduce stress. This uplifting music can be found anywhere – at home, online, or in the car. Good music can help you develop a happy tune that will anchor you during life’s challenges.

14 – Stay Healthy

Furthermore, make sure to focus on healthy living. Go to the doctor regularly and make healthy decisions. In particular, focus on developing a healthy mind that can enable you to overcome trials and handle the stress that comes your way.

15 – Forget About Yesterday

Finally, forget about what happened yesterday. Many people waste too much time, stress, and energy on the past. Remember that you cannot change the past; however, you can change tomorrow. This mentality allows you to minimize your stress, and it allows you to realign your priorities.

Everyone has stress. It comes in all shapes and sizes- even parenting stress. Fortunately, stress can be reduced with the right activities and choices. Those who learn to reduce and control their stress are often healthier and happier.

Guest post by Missy who writes for Solstice Med – she loves to write about health, diet and fitness topics.

Parenting can be a double edged sword – rewarding yet riddled with anxiety and stress. From the moment your child enters the world, nothing will ever be the same again, and neither will you. It is an emotional rollercoaster with all of the ups, downs and loop-the-loops you can think of, but unlike a rollercoaster where you can see the track clearly in front of you, life as a parent is simply not something that can be predicted or anticipated.

Defining Parenting Stress

Part of being a parent is being able to juggle a million demanding and important things all at the same time. This pressure can start to become stressful after a while, especially if it is not managed effectively. Parents are just human after all, and when it feels like all you do is run around and put out a number of ‘’fires’’ all day, it’s time to reassess your stress levels as a parent.

If you are feeling tired, overwhelmed, mentally, physically and physiologically exhausted and the thought of cutting yet another piece of toast into a cheesy triangle makes you want to lie in a dark room and listen to the tap drip – then you will be delighted to know two things: One, you are not alone and two, it is possible to alter the amount of parental stress you are experiencing every day.

Why Does Stress Happen?

There are many different causes of stress, and in most cases, there is not one clearly identifiable cause, but a mixture of subtle factors working in unison. Listed below are some examples of why parenting can be so stressful:

1. A newborn: For new parents – especially during the first 6-12 weeks with a newborn baby – the exhaustion, frustration, inexperience and momentous changes all contribute towards massive parenting stress. Sleep deprivation is often the biggest culprit in the scenario, but after the first few months, new parents get into the swing of things and life as a parent becomes more manageable.

2. Single Parenting: Single parents are constantly under pressure and huge parental stress all the time.  And depending on the resources and help they have available to them, it may be difficult to manage the huge amount of stress they have. But people love to be needed, in fact they have an inherent need to be needed, and the biggest lesson a single parent needs to learn, to help them manage their stress, is to be able to ask for help.

3. Busy lives: A hectic schedule and no time to relax is one of the most common precursors to parenting stress. As is the case for most parents, they might have all the love in the world for their child, but fall victim to the intensive daily routine, the lack of sleep and the isolation.

4. Insecurity – Very much a modern cause of parenting stress is a parent’s insecurity over their own suitability as a parent, and the significance of their own actions in regards to the child’s future. With exposure to aspirational parent lifestyles in the media and societal pressure, parents often obsess over every tiny detail and let almost anything run them into the ground.

Understanding & Recognizing Stress

Stress is a very real and debilitating part of every parent’s life and if left unchecked, it can start to unravel to the point where the parent starts to take out their frustrations on their kids. When parents are having a bad day, their kids pick up on their anxiety and tend to play up even more; a bit like adding petrol to a fire after a long day.

Stress management is something that takes self-discipline and assistance, and parents need to understand that asking for help shows signs of maturity and strength. Being proactive enough to say ‘’ I can’t do this on my own ‘’ and getting the help and support you need, is not a sign of weakness.

Routine, clear family boundaries, help from other family members and quality family time, will keep your family team strong and healthy, and will reduce the stress levels significantly. If one parent or both parents feel like they are slaves to a demanding family who never help – and even 3 year olds can pick up after themselves – the stress levels are going to be high.

Part of effective parental stress management for any parent is planning ahead and being organized. Staying up an extra half an hour to pack school lunches or iron shirts, will greatly enable parents to feel less chaotic, rushed and frantic when schedules are tight and everyone is always feeling like they are running late.

Managing & Treating Parenting Stress

There are many different tracks to a stress-free life and what works for one set of parents,  may not be suitable for others.  It is a good idea for parents to take time to sit down together and work out a game plan for where they feel the big stress areas are and how they can work together to manage them. In this way they are able to implement change using a process that involves the whole family.

Parenting is often an unbalanced affair, with the parent putting in all the work but receiving little in the way of reward. To address this, the parent should set aside time where they can reward themselves. This could simply be an hour of relaxation, a dinner out, a massage or a movie.

A parent should never feel isolated. Indeed, isolation can cause stress in itself. Local community events that give parents the opportunity to communicate with others are important, regardless of whether the parent is facing stress or not, but unfortunately parents often avoid such events. People who think they don’t have the courage to engage in such events should remember the strength it takes to raise a child. It is good to talk with family and friends, but speaking with other parents who relate to your problems can be even better.

As your children gets older, relationship building becomes important for strong ties and emotional connections, which in turn helps to promote a healthy family environment and eliminate the build up of stress and associated family problems. The more effort that is put into the family relationship, the better the chance is for a happy and loving future.

Guest Post by…
Joanna Fishman writes for the Associated Counsellors website, of which she is a director, as well as contributing to various health blogs as a guest writer. Her interests include mental health, relationships and parenting skills, communication skills, intimacy and emotional intelligence. She is currently undertaking a Masters in Bioethics at Sydney University.  Follow her on twitter @counsellingtips

Summer time is my favorite time to go for a long drive along the coast.  No matter where I plan to go, for me it’s all about the journey, not the destination.  During my annual road trips in the USA, I explore the diverse scenic terrain whilst driving alongside the tide of the Pacific and Atlantic Ocean.  Here’s my round up of America’s best coastal routes for your next road trip.

Take a Road Trip:   Best Coastal Routes in the USA

Maui’s Hana Highway 360 Coastal Road Trip

Hawaii’s most stunning highway spans 52 miles from Kahului.  It has over 50 single-lane bridges, roadside waterfalls and spectacular views along the cliff.  This rugged and dangerous coastline is only meant for brave souls and also runs through deep jungle valleys with 620 curves. Go for a swim at Hana Beach Park, snorkel at Waianapanapa State Park or venture 10 miles south to Haleakala National Park where you can see the sunrise.

Pacific Coast Highway 1 Coastal Route

Running through Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, San Francisco and Mendocino, Highway 1 totals 500 miles. The highlight of the drive is the stretch between San Luis Obispo and Monterey. The inland side is lined with Pine trees while the cliff side overlooks the Pacific Ocean.  Attractions include the Museum of Natural History in Morro Bay State Park.

Visit two of America’s best bayside towns Carmel and Monterey Bay.  Carmel has lovely art galleries while Monterey Bay Aquarium has diverse aquatic life and the world famous Lone Cypress Tree.  Pacific Grove is home to the famous Monarch butterflies and the Pebble Beach Golf Course is along the 17-mile drive.  You can also stop at Cannery Row, a vibrant dining and entertaining district.

Outer Banks, North Carolina, Highway 12

This 100-mile drive stretches from Corolla to Ocracoke Village.  The coastal landscape starts at the northern end of Highway 12, where the pavement turns into sand at the Currituck Banks Estuarine Reserve.  You’ll reach the bypass road Route 158 which travels through Kitty Hawk.  Follow Route 158 to get back on Highway 12 at Whalebone Junction where you can enter the Cape Hatteras National Seashore.  Stay on it all the way to Ocracoke Village to take the car ferry from Hatteras Village to Ocracoke Island.  The two-lane route essentially runs straight, crossing beach villas and beautiful views of the Atlantic amid the sand dunes.

Cape Cod, Massachusetts, Route 6A

Also known as ‘The Old Kings Highway’, Route 6A stretches along quaint resort towns, rural scenery and beautiful Atlantic shorelines.  Start your east coast road trip with Alamo car hire and drive along this 160-mile route that begins at Cape Cod Canal and takes you through some of America’s oldest villages.  This vintage town is a seafood lover’s heaven and boasts miles of waterfront delicacies at lobster and clam shacks.

Continue along the northern coast until Provincetown, then south to Orleans and further south to Chatham.  Head back westward toward the mainland via Hyannis and Falmouth.  Attractions along the way include museums and gardens, Nickerson State Park, Cape Cod National Seashore and Yarmouth Port.

U.S. 1 Key Largo to Key West

This overseas highway begins in mainland Florida and extends more than 100 miles southwest into the city of Key West.  With 42 bridges, it connects the chain of islands known as the Florida Keys.  Along the 7-mile bridge you can see under water coral reefs, hand feed tarpon and enjoy burgers and margaritas at beach bars.  Fun attractions include snorkeling, fishing and beach resorts.  There are also museums, historical forts and national parks along the way.

What is your favorite coastal road trip that you have ever taken?

Guest post by Amna Alam. Amna suggests you use Alamo car hire to avoid putting the mileage on your own car. Amna is a London-based freelance writer who enjoys travel, film and interior design.

If you broke a nail, would you go straight to the emergency room?  It may sound silly, but we constantly do the same thing with our food! It’s all too easy to assume we can’t achieve a home-cooked meal quickly without the emergency help of boxes, cans and processed food.  False!

Get Fresh with Your Food

Let’s start by kicking the cans out of our lives!  Admit it: how many varieties of “food” have been sitting on your pantry shelves this month? You can find summer peaches and winter pears all year round in the canned goods aisle, but concentrating on fresh seasonal produce doesn’t have to mean limiting your diet – in fact, your meals will get a boost in both flavor and nutrition! When fruits, veggies and legumes are packed into cans, tons of sodium, sweeteners and artificial preservatives go in with them, and they are stripped of much nutritional value in the process. Organic frozen or canned produce is better than the conventional stuff, but if you really want to get the best nutrition (and taste!), buying fresh and in-season from a local source is the natural way to go.

Bulgur wheat is the star of one of my favorite Mediterranean dishes. The savory whole grain shines as an alternative to rice (it has more than twice the fiber of brown rice) and is so easy to prepare as either a main dish or on the side. The tomatoes and peppers are also chock-full of vitamins A and C!  Restocking your fridge and pantry may take a little effort, but once you do, you’ll be surprised how easy it is to throw together a delicious dinner, like this Tomato Bulgur Wheat Pilaf, from the ingredients you now keep on hand.

Tomato Bulgur Wheat Pilaf Recipe:

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 medium onion

1 medium bell pepper in your favorite color (or mix colors!)

1 cup coarse bulgur wheat (often labeled #3)

1 cup pureed fresh organic tomatoes

1 tablespoon organic tomato paste

½ cup liquid of your choice: chicken stock, vegetable stock, or water

Sea salt

Black pepper

Tomato Bulgur Wheat Pilaf Directions:

Rinse and drain bulgur wheat and set aside. Peel the onion and dice it and the bell pepper finely. Place a pot over medium heat on the stove; once hot, add olive oil and reduce heat to medium-low. Sauté the onion until translucent. Add diced bell pepper to onion and continue cooking to soften. Add bulgur wheat and stir to combine evenly.

Pour in your chosen liquid, tomato puree and tomato paste, add seasonings to taste and cover the pot, turning the heat up to medium-high. When the liquid boils, turn the heat down to low and simmer, covered, until the bulgur wheat is tender and all the liquid has been absorbed. Serve the Tomato Bulgur Wheat Pilaf with a green salad or next to your favorite fish filet and enjoy!

Remember, the best healthy changes are ones you can stick to in the long-term.  That means taking it gradually and doing your homework.  I spent years researching every ingredient and tool in my kitchen to find the optimal healthy lifestyle and was inspired by the wonderful results to share it with others.  My book, Health On Your Plate, is the quick guide to everything you need to know, from the healthiest cookware and appliances, to essential spices, produce, and ingredients every kitchen should have and how to shop for them. I even uncover eye-opening, little-known food mysteries that will help keep you and your family healthy and safe. And you can look forward to my easy, versatile recipes that help you get creative in the kitchen to make incredibly healthy and delicious meals!

Guest post by Yara Shoemaker who is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary appetite for knowledge about healthy living. She decided to dig deep into the facts of nutrition and health to learn how every bite would affect her and her loved ones. As a result, she created an ideal lifestyle centered on natural nourishment with real flavor. The principles are simple: savor the things you love and keep everything in proportion to be healthy and happy.  Find mouthwatering recipes, healthy advice and more at her blog: Yara’s Way!

I was recently offered the chance host a review and giveaway of Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life (Sterling Children’s Books, April 2013).  I don’t do book reviews very often but I can’t resist a good educational book and with over 200 marine species beautifully illustrated and accompanied by fascinating descriptions and facts such as size, weight, length, and where you can find these sea-dwellers, well, I couldn’t resist.    Author Jim Arnosky’s award-winning nature books delight children, parents, and teachers.

Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life Book Review

I was a biology major and I want to pass on my love for critters and nature so I was very excited to receive Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life to share with my kids.    Shimmer & Splash captures the endless variety of spectacular aquatic creatures, which include stingrays, dolphins, blue marlins, man-o-war, swordfish, a green moray eel, manatee, and a great white shark, along with many true-to-life size illustrations of fish and the teeth of a variety of sharks.

“Arnosky’s prose is both solidly informational and lyrical as it introduces each animal: ‘Some jellyfish such as the moon jellyfish and upside-down jellyfish can swim from place to place by undulating their bodies.’ Shaded pencil drawings of sea life with brief, handwritten descriptions add to the sense that readers are in the field alongside Arnosky. His descriptive accounts of his wild adventures—such as photographing sharks by moonlight—are intimate and exciting; his respect for the natural world, contagious.” —Publishers Weekly

From the beautiful coral reefs inhabitants to unusual jellyfish, I love reading Shimmer & Splash to my kids and watching them learn about their world.  They love the seven beautiful fold out pages and they love learning the trivia and astounding me with facts they remember later.  My daughter has also been inspired by the sketches in the book to try some of her own sketches.  I think this book makes a great addition to any children’s library!  It is available at most bookstores and online.

Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life Kids Book Giveaway

One lucky reader will receive one copy of kids book- Shimmer & Splash: The Sparkling World of Sea Life by Jim Arnosky. ($14.95 value)

Shimmer & Splash Kids Book Giveaway Dates:  May 13- May 27, 2013 Midnight CST

How to Enter: Enter through Giveaway Tools- just sign into the widget and click the entries you want to complete.

Giveaway Announcement:
Winner announced above in the Giveaway Tools widget on May 14, 2013. Winner will be selected through Giveaway Tools and I will notify by email. Winner must respond within 4 days or the prize will be forfeited. Your email will not be shown and will be kept private.

I did receive a copy of Shimmer& Splash with the hopes that I would share my honest opinions. I did not receive monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.

Your little girl is growing up and entering that scary phase between child and adult: adolescence. You may notice many changes in your now adolescent daughter. There are phases and interests your teen will go through in this stage that you won’t feel like you can share together.

This is the result of the famously dreaded distance that often grows between mother and daughter during adolescence. You may find yourself trying to accommodate your teen’s growing interest in makeup and cosmetic products. But this doesn’t have to be the scary change it may appear to be at first.

Beauty products and feminine hygiene is the one blooming interest of your teen’s adolescence that you can share together. If you join your daughter’s foray into the cosmetic world rather than fight it, you can help guide her to use these products wisely and responsibly.

Now that you are ready to make this stage a shared experience for you and your teen, it’s time to get informed. Cosmetic and beauty trends are always changing. The styles and options for teens and tweens may be different from when you were an adolescent.

Celebrity Fragrances
Believe it or not, your teenage daughters haven’t grown out of playing dress up. The rules are just a bit different. It’s subtler, now. Instead of disappearing in lacy dresses too big for them, they will be more selective. Teens play dress up by emulating their favorite celebrities. The best way to avoid seeing your teen wearing a meat dress à la Lady Gaga style is to offer something just as glamorous, but with a bit more subtlety.

Perfume can be a perfect middle ground. Most celebrities have their own fragrance lines. Nicki Minaj, Kristen Stewart, Rachel Bilson, and Carrie Underwood are just a few celebs that have branded perfumes your teens will recognize. This also gives teens a vast array of choices and glamorous packaging. If you don’t think they’re quite ready to dress like their favorite stars, they can always smell like them.

Glitter
You might be surprised to know glitter is just as popular as it always was with tweens and teens. But glitter applications have evolved. It used to be body glitter. But now it can be found in lotions, shower gel, and eye shadow.  Glitter may have been used by your child in pre-school arts and crafts. Maybe this is what set them up to love it for life. Either way, there is something about glitter that always gets tweens and teens excited.

Skincare
Every teen’s skin is different. This is where your daughter will need the most guidance. No teen wants to have oily or uneven skin. So guide your daughter to finding the right daily wash, basic moisturizer, and gentle makeup remover. These are the skin care basic essentials every teen will need.

Nail Art
Every girl loves decorating her nails at any age. But nail art is especially trendy with teens right now. Impress your daughter and her friends with your nail chops by trying out a few of the many ways to use scotch tape to make unique nail designs.

What are some of your favorite natural beauty products for teens?

Whether you’re having a rough day or could just use a laugh, here are 17 random facts that are guaranteed to make anyone smile:

1. Smiling is contagious

According to Yale Scientific, a team of Swedish scientists has discovered that smiling can be contagious.

2. Ahoy!

When he invented the phone, Alexander Graham Bell wanted people to answer it by shouting “ahoy!” According to an NPR report, Thomas Edison was the man behind the “hello.”

3. Forgetful squirrels may boost the world’s oxygen supply

Every year, thousands of squirrels forget where they bury their nuts. According to Squirrels.org, these buried nuts grow into trees which in turn create oxygen.

4. Lions and pigs, may be having more fun than you think

Although humans are one of the few species who get intimate for pleasure, scientists quoted in the San Diego Reader have discovered that some lions mate up to 50 times daily while many pigs enjoy 30-minute long orgasms.

5. Mating partners for life, otters hold hands to stay together while sleeping

When otters are rafting they hold hands so that they don’t drift apart from each other while they’re sleeping, according to the National Wildlife Federation.

6. Money can’t buy happiness so in Bhutan they only measure the latter

According to the Guardian, officials from the kingdom of Bhutan decided to stop measuring GDP more than 40 years ago. Now, they measure happiness instead as part of their Gross National Happiness Index.

7. Largest bubblegum bubble wouldn’t fit in a basketball hoop

The Guinness Book of World Records has reported that the world’s largest bubblegum bubble was 20 inches in diameter. An NBA basketball hoop is only 18 inches in diameter.

8. Daily intimacy may improve your commitment to marriage

According to an article in the Huffington Post, Pastor Ed Young says couples can increase their happiness while boosting their sense of commitment to one another if they pledge to be intimate on a daily basis. Pastor Young and his wife have taken a pledge to spend more intimate time with one another and improve their marriage and overall happiness.

9. Counting your blessings can make you happier

According to psychologists from Psychology Today, performing simple tasks like writing down kind acts, good experiences or funny things that happened during your day can actually make you feel happier.

10. Money doesn’t grow on trees, but spaghetti might if you’re gullible

In 1957, the BBC ran a joke story claiming that spaghetti grows on trees. Countless listeners fell for the joke and called the BBC to see how they could get their own spaghetti tree.

11. Better than a tree, the moon bears the initials of an astronaut’s daughter

Eugene Cernan, the last man to walk on the moon, etched his daughter’s initials in the sand. According to Nationalaviation.org, the three letters are probably still there.

12. Orphaned flamingos can be adopted

According to the San Diego Zoo, orphaned flamingos can be adopted by other adult flamingos who will feed them a sort of milk from their upper-digestive tract for the first few weeks of their lives.

13. It may have only lasted a moment, but when you were born, you were the youngest person on the planet.

14. Cuddling heals wounds

When you cuddle, your body releases a hormone called oxytocin. According to Holistic-Mindbody-Healing.com, this love hormone can actually help to heal wounds.

15. Moo, you’re my BFF

According to the Daily Mail, cows actually form such strong bonds with other cows that they often have best friends. Without their best friends, cows can start to feel sad.

16. Turtles Can Store Oxygen in Their Bums

When turtles hibernate they can store extra oxygen in their cloaca, which is an all-purpose opening for their digestive tract, sexual organs and urinary tract, according to Turtlecare.net.

17. Tickle a rat for laughs

Scientists have discovered that you can make a rat laugh just by tickling it, and they’ve posted their results on YouTube.

Looking to renovate and decorate your house? This time you should go for the living room that can meet the requirements of the members of the family. The whole family will enjoy your family room makeover  due to the exciting new colors, smart furniture choices and easy to organize solutions.

Tips to Decorate A Family Room:

Family Room Inspiration: Demi Room by La-Z-Boy

Following lines contain some of the inspirational tips that will help you to decorate your family room by combining style, function and comfort all in one.

• Family Room Fusion:

You can balance sophistication with family-friendly atmosphere by adding plenty of bright crisp colors and different chic patterns in your family room. Different patterns will impart a designer’s vibe in the room and bright colors are liked by both kids and adults. You can also include things like outdoor fabrics that are durable or slipcovers that are easily washable.

• Smart Furnishing:

Wide and open living space can promote family togetherness and love for each other. For instance, kids can play in the living area or do the homework on the table while mum and dad are working in the kitchen. You can keep these distinct areas together by using the uniform color scheme throughout. Furthermore, you can also divide the activity zone by interesting furniture placement.

• Dark and Light:

Dark colored furniture is stain resistant and stands to spills better than light colored furniture. Therefore, you can create an airy atmosphere by paining dark upholstery like a collage of photo canvas prints with both bright and light colors. Furthermore, it is also very exciting to induce a transitional piece that marks the transformation from dark to light for a seamless look.

• Family Friendly Storage:

Keep all the items whether of children or adults in easy access. Furthermore, it is better to use furniture that can multitask to avoid clutter and overcrowding of the surroundings. For instance, you can use a table that can double as coffee table for adults and toy storage for kids. However, you have to use desks or cabinets with low shelves for kids’ toys and books.

The ottoman above is great for storage. It is the Daphne Ottoman from La-Z-Boy and it has room for throws and board games and even my little boy when we play hide and go seek.  I love that it has a air valve as a safety feature for kids like mine who just love to climb inside.  I also love that it useful as a leg rest, extra seating when we have lots of company, a table for board games, and storage for any stray items that need a home.  It is great when things can serve multiple functions and help you get organized!

• Feel Comfortable:

In your family room, you want to be cozy and comfortable and therefor you should arrange for your comfort and ease yourself. In this regard, deep couches are perfect for lounging. You need to pile them with plenty of cozy pillows so that family members could make them comfortable while sitting, cuddling and lying. You can also hang a piece of art such a wall canvas printing that can bring smile on your faces while enjoying in the living room.

• Family Room Flooring:

Hardboard floors are no doubt beautiful but not ideal for family rooms. Therefore you need to use an area rug to define the perimeters of the living room and allow the hardboard floor to shine around the room. A soft rug also feels very comfortable beneath hands and knees. You can use a gripper mat beneath the rug to prevent trips and displacement of rug.

• Pathways:

You need to pay special attention to pathway and traffic while placing furniture in family room. You need to make it simple for kids to play and move from room to room. For instance, you can place the sofa away from the wall to make access to the door easy and move around without cutting the main conversation area.

It is important to decorate your family room in such way to please all the members of your family. You need to care for individual needs and interests in order to create a family room that is perfect for everyone.

Wilsonart, maker of great countertop surfaces, has challenged me to design the perfect kitchen with the chance to win a prize. Well, I have sort of been designing the perfect kitchen in my head since we bought the house a few years ago so this is the perfect challenge for me! I will design the ultimate kitchen and share with you what really is beautiful, stylish and affordable in kitchen design.

For this kitchen design challenge, I have been surfing the net checking out the hottest kitchen trends for the year and collecting my dream kitchen design elements for this blog post. I have also made a kitchen design pinboard to store my inspiration as I went.

Dream Kitchen Design Ideas:

Dream Kitchen Wishlist:

 
countertop
integrated “no lip” sink
new stainless steel sink faucet
tile back splash
quality stainless steel appliances
wooden floors
pendant light fixtures
large island with butcher block top
big windows
painted cabinets

Pretty much every kitchen design element is addressed in my dream kitchen wishlist.
I have a couple elements completed like the wooden floors and the fabulous new energy star refrigerator I got from Amana.

The next big thing on my list is to bring some beautiful color into the kitchen. Green tones are trending really well right now and have a relaxing effect. I would love to have a beautiful glass backsplash with shades of green. I don’t like large tiles. I tend to like smaller ones with small shades in color variation that are pretty without being too eye catching.

New countertops are a must for me too. I think that a new countertop would add so much value to the appearance of the kitchen. I like the warm tone of “Mystic Gemstone” by Wilsonart HD® High Definition® Laminate countertops. I would also switch the sink out to an integrated sink like the one I pinned from Wilsonart® HD® Integrated Sinks and upgrade the faucet fixture while I was at it! I would add more color with some green pendant lighting to hang down over my passover bar that opens up into the dining room.

Next on my “must have” list are new energy star stainless steel appliances to match my new fridge. I need an energy dishwasher, gas range and hood.

A fresh coat of white paint on my cabinets would be lovely- so timeless and a nice complement for my light oak floors and my chosen green glass tile backsplash. I would also update my cabinet hardware to the brushed nickel that is so hot right now and gives a nice modern clean finish. I would finish up the look with a few new color matching accessories!

Wish list elements that I love but that just aren’t going to happen in my current kitchen- lots of great natural lighting, booth seating, big island with butcher block top, and a nice big pantry!

I think that the kitchen is the center of your home and you want to feel at home in it, equipped with everything you need to provide for your family and entertain your guest. I would love to show you my finished product but it is a work in progress!

Wilsonart wants to offer one of my lucky readers a chance to win a $50 Williams-Sonoma® Gift Card to make some fresh updates to their kitchen decor!

$50 Williams-Sonoma® Gift Card Giveaway:

Wilsonart will provide one lucky reader with one $50 Williams-Sonoma® Gift Card.

Williams-Sonoma® Gift Card Giveaway Dates: May 10- May 27, 2013 Midnight CST

How to Enter: Enter through Giveaway Tools- just sign into the widget and click the entries you want to complete.

Giveaway Announcement:
Winner announced above in the Giveaway Tools widget on May 28, 2013. Winner will be selected through Giveaway Tools and I will notify by email. Winner must respond within 4 days or the prize will be forfeited. Your email will not be shown and will be kept private.

Wilsonart did provide info and chance to win. Wilsonart will provide the prize. I did not receive monetary compensation and the opinions expressed are my own.