Swoopdeal Blog

The living room is truly the heart of the home. It is where families gather in the evenings, where bachelors can put their feet up after a long work day, where friends and guests make themselves comfy during hosted parties, where you watch your favorite show, and the list goes on. You can snuggle up under a blanket with a good book or host a board game night. However, if your living room isn’t cozy and designed to your liking, you may not end up spending any time in it at all.  If it’s time for an upgrade in your house, below is some great inspiration to get in the furniture shopping mood. We’ve got a ton of living rooms for you to look through, plus ways for you to get the look without breaking the bank!

COZY AND RUSTIC LIVING ROOMS

This comfy, light gray-blue-and-brown living room is perfect for the lounger who enjoys a good book on a sunny (or rainy) day. It’s a bit beachy, but also sophisticated and the kind of place you want to leave all the windows open and relax. Airy fabrics, soft throw blankets and rustic wood and wicker furniture give this tiled paradise a calm, soothing atmosphere.

Shop the look: Curtains, Wicker Chair, Chaise Lounge, Oak Coffee Table, Tribal Vibe Rug

Cozy cave meets cabin in this next rustic living room, with exposed ceiling beams and stonework fireplace. Not everyone is lucky enough to have this hip designed room, but you can simulate a similar vibe with dark browns and leather, creating a space great for long, late-night chats over beer or relaxing with a cigar after a long day of work.

Shop the look: Leather Chair, Cozy Den Rug, Rustic Tray Table, Cabin Checkered Curtains

BRIGHT AND ECLECTIC LIVING ROOMS

Bold colors are all the rage, so let your creativity fly. This orange and blue accented living room is perfect for those who want to show their knack for color without overdoing it. Soft, white and off-white furniture is a wonderful contrast to the vivid deep blue and zesty orange that creates a welcoming happy atmosphere that everyone will enjoy.

Shop the look: Orange Throw Pillow, Coffee Table, Contemporary White Sofa, Teal ‘Amalfi’ Paint

Another fun way to bring in a vibrant feel is to keep one dominant color while mixing and matching various patterns like this fun blue living room.

Shop the look: Zebra Arm Chair, Modern L Shaped Sofa, Turquoise Area Rug, Patterned Drapes

This next lounge is a true party space, complete with plushy armchairs and sofas to lounge on while drinking and chatting. It’s not concerned with perfectly matched furniture and decor, showing instead a taste for bright colors and unique furniture.

Shop the look: Paisley Curtains, Decorative Glass Bottle Set, Red Floral Feldman Chair, Fuschia Tufted Sofa

LUXURIOUS LIVING ROOMS

Have you ever wanted to live like Zsa Zsa Gabor? Take some inspiration from this lavish pink room and make your space fit for a movie star. Fashion printed pillows and fuzzy throws add character to this room, so get in touch with your femininity when you’re planning this new space!

Shop the look: Stitched Edge Sheer Curtains, Anabel Art Print, Pink Mid-Century Sofa, Pink Shaggy Throw Pillow, Tufted Storage Ottoman, Marble Coffee Table

We’re sure the decorators of this room sprung for custom upholstery, but you can make a match of similar China inspired patterns and colors without adding the extra cost (slip covers are your friend). Keep the walls painted a light color so your decor stands out, and it will really open up the room.

Shop the look: Round Mirror, Cobalt Blue Print Pot, Ivory/Blue Patterned Area Rug, Blue Floral Paisley Sofa Cover

MINIMALIST & SCANDINAVIAN LIVING ROOMS

Calm, simple and bright, this wood and rose-colored room is great for people who want avoid any clutter. You might need to hold a yard sale, but you can achieve this minimal look without sacrificing your personality.

Shop the look: Drop Pendant Floor Lamp, Nesting Tables, Chic Pink Sofa, Diana Wood Dresser

Instead of painting the walls, substitute plants for a fresh, green accent to a subtle muted color palette. This look is perfect for the studio apartment-dweller who needs to do a lot with only a little space.

Shop the look: White Ladder Shelf Bookcase, Oval Planter Stands, Mid-Century Loveseat, Polka Dot Linen Pillow Cover

Sleek and modern, this room is perfect for artsy types who like their furniture simple and their unique decor to stand out. Keep it minimal with only a few cushions, a simple throw blanket and a muted color palette. Grey is in, pretty much all the time, so don’t worry about being unstylish.

Shop the look: Louise Coffee Table, Bubble Hand-Woven Area Rug, Grey Throw Pillows, Contemporary White Sectional

Use these options and choose your favorite style and get a hip designer living room you will never want to leave!

Need to do a load of laundry and have no detergent? Is your mirror all full of toothpaste splatters you need to get off but have no glass cleaner? Just need a general cleaner for the countertops but you’re all out? DIY house cleaners are not only a nifty and cost effective alternative, but an immensely healthier option for you and any pets you may have at home. These DIY cleaners are free of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that are usually found in traditional cleaning products.

VOCs can cause shortness of breath, coughing, and wheezing in healthy adults and children, and these symptoms are worst for people with chronic respiratory conditions like asthma. To reduce these nasty VOCs in your home, try out these DIY cleaners from cleaning expert Leslie Reichert’s “The Joy of Green Cleaning.”

Concentrated All-Purpose Cleaner

Ingredients

• 3 drops liquid castile soap
• ¼ cup washing soda, not baking soda
• 1 cup white vinegar
• ¼ cup vodka
• 4 drops tea tree oil (available at most drug stores)
• 8 drops essential oil for scent (optional)

Microwave vinegar until boiling. Add washing soda and stir until totally dissolved. Add castile soap, tea tree oil, vodka and essential oil. Then shake.

Place mixture in a closed container for storage. When ready to use, mix one part cleaner to four parts water. This mixture is great on counters, sinks and more.

Bathroom Powder Scrub

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup borax
• 1 cup baking soda
• ½  cup sea salt (If using scrub on fiberglass tubs, omit salt to prevent scratching)
• 6 drops essential oils for fragrance, optional

Mix dry ingredients.

Add essential oils for fragrance, if desired. 

Store in a shaker container, like an empty cheese container.

Apply using a sponge or scrubby. Disinfect sponges after each use by microwaving wet sponges two to three minutes. If you don’t have a microwave, boiling water can work, or just replace the sponge if you want to be safe. Personally, if a sponge I’ve used has been in a toilet, that sponge’s new home is the trash can. But it is up to you!

Laundry Soap

INGREDIENTS

• 2 cups soap flakes
• 1 cup baking soda or soda crystals
• 1 cup borax powder
• 1 cup washing soda, not baking soda

Soap flakes are available online, but it’s easy to make your own. Simply grate a bar of soap on the large-hole side of a grater or cut into chunks and grate in a food processor. 

Mix all ingredients thoroughly.

Place in a plastic or glass container with a lid. This soap works best with hot water. For top-loading washing machines, use ½ to 1 cup or 2 cups for very heavily soiled clothing. For front-loading and high-efficiency machines, use 2 tablespoons. Now you can have clean glorious clothes all natural!

Glass and Mirror Cleaner

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon dish soap
• ½ cup white vinegar
• 3 cups distilled water

Place all ingredients in a spray bottle. Spray directly onto windows and mirrors. Squeaky clean to see your beautiful face in, no longer flecked with toothpaste splatters.

Leave a comment and let us know how your endeavors with these DIY cleaners went!

College is over, and the real world is calling. You’re building a career, making an income, and are on the verge of building an entirely new network of friends and colleagues. Appearances matter, and shoes in particular are noticed surprisingly often. So if you thought you could get away with those cheap looking black leather shoes you bought for your fraternity formal, think again.

Buying dress shoes can be a daunting process, but as a young professional, it isn’t too hard to avoid making these 7 obvious mistakes.

1. Avoid Excessive Stitching and Brogues

Brogues are those little perforation patterns you see on some dress shoes. Unless you want to look like a 60 year old on purpose, stay away from shoes with Brogues or excessive stitching. While some wearers manage to take the overly intricate detail of these shoes and pair them with socks and outfits that give off a hip modern look, it’s a completely unnecessary and risky level of effort. Don’t risk Brogues, even quarter Brogues and be cognizant about excessive stitching as well.

2. Square Toed Shoes

The square toed shoe tombstone reads some date in 2012. It’s not universally hated, and some designers have managed to pull it off, but generally speaking, the square toed shoe has largely become a common component of a fashion train wreck. Whether there is any rhyme or reason squared toed shoes have become the butt of many a fashion joke isn’t particularly relevant:  The square toed shoe is officially a fashion faux pas and should be avoided.

3. Rubber Soles

Rubber soles have their place, but if you’re looking for an all purpose dress shoe, steer of rubber soles. While they are more durable, they are considerably less formal and elegant. Furthermore, rubber soled shoes often protrude excessively which brings us to Faux Pas number 4:

4. Shoes Without Tight Soles

One of the easiest dress shoe mistakes to make is buying a shoe with too big a sole. In addition, soles that protrude too far outwards from the shoe and around the toe cap make a shoe look cheap and amateurish. Many dress shoes will have a sole that protrudes a small amount as a thicker sole increases longevity, but there’s little point in a long lasting ugly shoe you shouldn’t be wearing in the first place! The shoes pictured below are a good example of a tight soled shoe:

5. High Heels

Dress shoes aren’t intended for a 70s disco party, so don’t pick shoes that would fit into one. Heel height should be around 1″ and never exceed 1.5″. Not only does an excessively high heel look unprofessional, it can impact the fit of your pants. The extra height gained by a high heeled shoe just isn’t worth it.

6. Non Leather Materials

Leave crocodile skin for attention seeking B-list celebrities. As a young professional, you want to appear professional. Leather material is not only the most versatile for a variety of occasions, it’s the most professional. Furthermore, avoid unusual colors: dark browns and blacks are the most useful and can be worn with the largest variety of suits and pants. Don’t venture out to reptile skins or even suede until you have a solid leather option on your shoe rack. This isn’t to say there is never a place for Reptile skin, but don’t show up to an interview with a pair of shoes like these unless you’re auditioning for an 80s hair metal band:

7. Uncomfortable Shoes

Your shoes can look great, but if they are uncomfortable, you won’t want to wear them, much less walk in them. Appearances matter, but looking uncomfortable isn’t a great look either. Make sure shoes you wear fit snugly but not too tightly, aren’t painful on the heel or the toes, and ideally don’t require a shoehorn to squeeze into them. Always evaluate comfort with both shoes on. Most people have slightly different sized feet!

Don’t Ignore Your Personal Touch

While we hope this article helps you choose the right dress shoe, we don’t think anyone shouldn’t leave their own personal touch on their fashion purchases. Fortunately, the world of dress shoes is broad enough to give you ample maneuvering room to express your own individuality and style without compromising well established fashion guidelines.

Do you have any clothes you like but that just don’t have the right cut anymore? Have a cute print shirt you love but that doesn’t fit you anymore? Customizing and altering your old clothes is a fantastic way to upgrade your wardrobe without having to drop any dough on new pieces, as well as have a completely unique piece you can ensure you won’t see someone else wearing and have that awkward eye avoiding moment while crossing the street in the same exact outfit. Even if you don’t own a sewing machine, you can still easily transform items into brand new pieces.

If you’ve been looking for some fashinspiration, take a look through the list of clothing upgrades below! Whether you are skilled in sewing or not, there is a project for everyone that can be customized to suit your unique style and flair.

1. DIY Twist-Back Top

2. Painted Tee

If you want to customize a plain shirt, using fabric paint and a pre-made stencil (you can find all sorts at Michael’s or on Amazon) is a quick, affordable option.

You can just use a household sponge to apply. If you want to ensure the stencil doesn’t move, just use a spray adhesive (make sure not to get a permanent spray adhesive) and it will keep the stencil in place and won’t leave any pesky residue.

3. Pattern Material Refashion

Adding a fun, patterned back to an old boring t-shirt can completely transform it into a snazzy one-of-a-kind piece.

4. DIY Shredded Tee

You know how you’re not supposed to pull at loose threads on your clothing? Well, throw that rule out the window for this hip DIY!

5. DIY Halter Top

Turn a regular plain t-shirt into a light and breezy halter top with this simple and easy to follow tutorial.

6. Fringed Festival Tank Top

A few cuts and a bit of dye can create an entirely new top into a summery hippy tank.

7. Graphic Word Tee

Iron-on transfers are another great and easy option for anyone who wants to customize an old drab tee.

8. Cut Out Pearl T-Shirt

Just because you’re wearing a normal t-shirt doesn’t mean it has to be plain and boring. Glam up any piece with some plastic pearls and a pair of scissors for a chic and refreshing look.

9. Peplum Top Refashion

If you are on the handier side of a sewing ability, this one is for you. Turn any drab oversized t-shirt into a perfect feminine peplum top with this tutorial.

10. Dip Dye Ombré Tank

Ombré hair is all the rage, why not ombré your shirt? This is an incredibly easy way to update a plain shirt, tee or tank.

Grab your plain old t-shirts and your crafting supplies and start upgrading that wardrobe!

 

Are you normal? Do you look in the mirror and think “I look just like a nice ordinary guy”? Are you sick of your appropriate hair cut and your actually prescription glasses that you need to see? Do you enjoy eating at mainstream restaurants like Olive Garden with your infinite garlic rolls and not sit there thinking about how LeJames Artisan Organic Rustic Pizza Emporium has way better organic farm fresh onions on their pizza? Are you wondering why in this infinite normalcy you feel like an alien surrounded by hipster plebes? Well fear no more. When you need to go out and socialize and don’t want anyone to know you are just a normal nice human, there are ways to disguise yourself so that you too, can be a millennial hipster doucheba–cool guy.

Get Yourself Some Contacts & Fake Glasses

You may be thinking, why can’t I just not wear my contacts and wear my glasses instead. This is unacceptable. God forbid those millennials know that you have actually impaired vision, the true purpose for the existence of glasses. No. You only wear glasses to be fashionable and look hip amongst your peers. Get yourself to Costco Optical and get some affordable contact lenses (I wouldn’t know because I have perfect vision like the other assho–cool kids, but Acuvue Oasys contacts are great……..I’ve heard.)

Once you’ve hidden your shameful terrible vision, go and find yourself a pair of non prescription glasses to wear. Ideally we want the most ironic style you can find. This typically means a style that was worn by actual smart people and techies 20 years ago, for which they were mercilessly mocked for wearing, that have now been misappropriated as cool and trendy by the very assholes that disparaged the original folks for wearing them; something good and “ironically” dweeby like these or these. Choosing this style shows that you are superior from those nerds because while you are allowed to ridicule them for wearing these frames, you, Mr. Cool Guy, get to wear them and be hip and trendy.  Lucky you.

Doesn’t get much cooler than that.

Throw Your PC in the Trash & Get a MacBook

You won’t dare be seen with any laptop but an Apple laptop. Having a MacBook Air or MacBook Pro is just a standard in this lifestyle. It doesn’t matter if you’ve custom built a Windows machine with the best video card on the market and more RAM than any Mac has ever seen, because all your peers can see is that glorious glowing Apple on the back of your laptop and decide that you are worthy or not. A $4,000 top of the line superior machine in the form of anything but a Mac will be treated like you are a weird horrible nerd from the nineties. Anyone who is anyone knows that only Apple computers can do anything.

Eat Only Gluten Free Organic Vegan & Take Up Smoking

Nothing quite solidifies your hip status quite like eating the most specific, demanding, and restrictive diet there is. Ham sandwiches are for trash people, you only eat gluten free cauliflower wraps with organic pressed tofu and artisan vegan sundried tomato hummus with essence of sesame dust and fresh basil shavings. You best hide your Subway sandwich punch card and pull out your Cafe Gratitude recurring member placard and get ready to eat a whole lot of kale. You can also casually mention your membership to things like Thrive Market, Sun Basket, and how you’ve definitely banned any price appropriate stores like Smart & Final due to their lack of organic selection.

Now, this insistence on eating as healthy as possible is a moot point unless you also smoke. Without the ironic juxtaposition of smoking with this vegan gluten free organic artisan craft lifestyle, no millennial will believe that you are serious about health. Now get your ass over here and buy yourself some cigarettes to get cancer with.

Get a Proper Hipster Haircut

Pokemon Go is all the rage these days, and hipster men know it too. They have all gotten the Pidgeotto haircut and you are nothing if you don’t get one too. Also, grow an enormous lumber jack beard. Girls, get as hideous of an old lady haircut as you can, and bangs that are too short for your forehead. Done and done.

Get Some Sweet Threads

Now clearly, one of the keys to looking the part is dressing the part. And part of dressing the part, is talking about how you got everything from Goodwill, and then wearing $600 boots and $400 sunglasses to accompany said outfit. Buying purposely ugly old clothes might look like you’re poor, even though you look cool in your “vintage” look. This would be akin to social crucifixion, so you must be sure to buy a pair of real leather (despite being “vegan”) distressed designer boots, where you pay someone hundreds to make your boots look old, but the Balenciaga label lets your hip buddies know how much you paid for them.  Also, any and every hipster needs Ray-Bans because Ray-Bans.

You Are Now Unique Just Like Every Shi–Cool Millennial Hipster

Look at you! Hip and millennial and unique in the exact same way as every single other millennial! Now no one will ever know that you are an actually interesting, self thinking individual with a brain of your very own, and you can go to that artisan organic non-GMO coffee shop without feeling the shameful glares of the millennials who are going to destr–advance and benefit society as whole.

Fashionable Jeans

A durable pair of Wranglers serve a purpose, but every man should own a pair of jeans that offer more than functionality and comfort. A fashionable pair of Jeans are easily the most versatile pair of pants you can own, capable of being word in casually for daytime activities, at night at a trendy lounge,  a Michelin Star restaurant, or even at a variety of business meetings and engagements.

What makes Jeans fashionable? Balance and color. Stick to darker shades and more conservative washes. Holes, excessive fades, and light colors work well in nightlife, but don’t have as much overall use. I favor medium-dark blues. In terms of cut, avoid bootlegs or extremely skinny jeans. However, slim is in, so you should be looking for cuts that fit close but comfortably around the thighs and don’t leave too much slack around the leg. Straight leg usually works best.

Dark Slacks

Jeans have become so mainstream that they are acceptable a wide range of semi-formal and business occasions. However, there are going to be situations where a suit or tuxedo isn’t mandatory, but jeans can’t be worn. For these occasions and others, you’ll want to have a pair of dark slacks.

Without a doubt, Khakis have a place in a mans’ wardrobe, but dark colors are almost always more versatile. Tan colored pants look less formal, especially with light color shirts, and since the main purpose of slacks is to take over when jeans simply wont cut it, the ability to look more formal is important.

I recommend dark grays, dark browns, or black with subtle pinstripes. Avoid pleats, and keep the fit snug but not “skinny jeans” tight.

Non-Athletic Shorts

Pretty much everyone has a pair of shorts for the gym. However, a surprising many don’t own a single pair of ‘regular shorts’. A pair of khaki or chino shorts are a staple item you’ll want to have in your wardrobe. These shorts aren’t just suitable for the golf course. Non-athletic shorts are extremely convenient for outdoor activities and are considerably more useful than a pair of basketball shorts which aren’t suited for many outdoor events and gatherings.

Khaki and Chino shorts can be worn with a wide range of footwear and look good with more than just a t-shirt. If you want to wear flip flops and a t-shirt with Chinos, you can. If you want to wear loafers and a polo, you can. Don’t force yourself to wear jeans in 90 degree weather because mesh shorts are too casual for the occasion.

There are so many softwares and websites that offer various coupons and cash back these days, that there is literally no valid reason to pay full price for anything ever. With a bit of financial finagling, you can save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per year, and if you stack up these various offerings, much like the tastiest baconiest club sandwich you’ve ever had, you can save even more. I have tried several of these sorts of services and I can say confidently that Ebates is by far the best, easiest, most accepted, and most reliable cash back service.

$10 Sign Up Bonus

Just for signing up – for free – you are given a free $10.  That is like being handed two free hot and ready pizzas just for walking into Lil Caesar’s, except you get this free money from the comfort of your chair at home just by moving your fingers a little.  And I am not exaggerating by this money being literally delivered to you because…

At $15 Your Money is Automatically PayPal’ed

By far one of the coolest things about Ebates versus other services is that when your cash back balance hits $15.00, the service automatically emails you, sets up a PayPal transfer and sends you your cash back money, without you having to request it or worry about if you will ever see that money (a constant worry and problem historically with cash back services). In a few months, I have already received several of these successfully, straight to my bank account.

Earn $50 Bonus for Friend Referrals

You earn $5 for every friend you refer, which in and of itself is amazing, as that is essentially a free foot long from Subway for sending some emails. More gloriously, you can earn a $40 bonus when two of the friends you referred join and each make a purchase.  That is an insane amount of money for helping your friends and family save and make money. What I’m getting here is that we are all making money.

Smartphone App for Phone Shopping

Another nifty point is that Ebates has an app so that if you are doing some shopping online on your phone while you’re out and about, you can still earn that cash. You are not tied to using this on just your one desktop computer at home, or just the computer at work. You can add this extension to your browser and log in and use it across as many computers as you want AND use it on your smart phone. Can you say #convenient? They are literally helping you make money, more often and more easily.

Desktop Notifications Option

Some people hate this sort of thing, but depending on what it is, I like having apps and services give me notifications for extra high cash back and promotions, so that then if there is something I have been eyeing to shop, but sort of holding off, that extra cash back can suddenly allow a purchase to fit into my budget. The rates on Ebates are already really good as far as I’m concerned, but then when they have promotions bringing it up to 12%-18%, that is some significant savings on whatever it is you are buying. Either way, it is super nifty to be able to choose to be alerted of these extra high sweet savings.

Why WOULDN’T You Use It!?

By just choosing to do a bit more of your shopping online, and scoping out various websites that have the same products and seeing which ones have the highest cash back, you can save yourself hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars per year on stuff you would already be buying. Don’t be a chump and pay full price, there is literally no excuse for that caveman nonsense. Ebates is free money and also makes shopping online a little more of a satisfying adventure when you scope around and find the thing you want to buy on a website with the highest cash back. Get it today, you will not regret it!

Cup ramen, lounge forts, shared bathrooms, all nighters. One of the most iconic parts of a college experience is the dorms. They’re both incredible and terrible, and basically a summer camp for adults without any supervision. You make friends that last a lifetime and you have never lived in closer vicinity to all your buddies. However, dorm space is some of the most limited and least private you will likely ever experience in during your adult life, as you only have 1 room, and for most people, just a section of this single room. Clever space saving and small must-have items are critical to making your dorm room cozy and maximizing living utility.

1. A Flexible Power Strip

Since space is a commodity in a dorm room, getting items that are flexible and can fit anywhere, even in an odd nook or cranny, is essential to get the most out of the space you do have. A flexible power strip can fit in any weird nook and also can accommodate various flat plugs and their direction specific wires.

2. Power Bed Riser

Bed risers are a MUST in a dorm room, where one of the keys to getting more space is adding vertical space. There are all sorts of risers to choose from to get that under bed storage, but a power outlet bed riser is fantastic to add yet more outlets, and have a close outlet for charging your phone, your laptop, your alarm clock, etc. Now, you may be thinking that your flexible power strip is enough, but in a dorm room where there is likely only 1 or 2 outlets on your side of the room, adding any power strips or additional outlets is a smart idea.

3. Laptop Locks

This is a must when you are living with someone who is ultimately, a stranger! Even if you know and trust your roommate, you don’t want to have to worry about locking your room door every time you need to just use the bathroom. Locking your laptop gives you a little more freedom with the door.

4. A Keurig Coffee Maker

Coffee is the lifeblood of college students, and you don’t want to always have to go out or run to the cafeteria to grab some. Single serving coffee machines are pretty affordable and compact. Just make sure to hide or lock your cartridges because you know you will be the envy of your dorm hall!

5. A Hand Steamer

It isn’t very realistic to lug an ironing board and an iron into an already cramped space, but that doesn’t mean you won’t have events where you need to look extra sharp. A hand steamer is a small and efficient little tool that will store easily, and do just as good, if not better, of a job getting your clothes to look crisp.

6. An eBook Reader

This is a commodity I would have killed for when I was in college. They now offer tons of textbooks as e-books, which is an absolute godsend for your back and shoulders in not having to carry around all those huge heavy hard cover textbooks. Even if they don’t have all your textbooks available, an eReader is still an incredibly nifty item for reading. There is nothing that saves more space on this list than an eReader in lieu of a bunch of books.

7. Amazon Fire Stick / Google Chromecast

Either one of these USB casting devices are clutch if you are bringing a TV to your dorm. You assuredly will not have cable, but you can have something almost as close using your Hulu/Netflix/HBO subscriptions from your phone and casting them to your TV with these devices.

8. Noise Canceling Headphones

A good solid pair of noise cancelling headphones will be an investment that pays long after and beyond college. Being able to block out noisy roommates during studying is just the tip of the iceberg and well worth the investment. Travelling back and forth to your hometown will be whisper quiet with a pair of these puppies on the plane, and every hotel room or apartment you’re ever in will be your own silent sanctuary.

9. A Crock Pot

You should check with your school first to ensure it’s allowed, but if it is, a crock pot you must have! You can toss a bunch of stuff into the pot, turn it on low, leave it for the day…and by the time you get back from campus, dinner is served! If your dorms have banned crock pots, consider an electric water kettle. Being able to boil water in dorm room is super convenient & clutch for all sorts of easy meals, like the ever iconic cup ramen.

10. Lap Desk

Let’s face it. The best place to do anything and everything is your bed, but for studying with notes and a laptop and books, it can be kind of a pain to NOT sit at your desk. Solve this problem by grabbing a lap desk and being able to be studious AND cozy. There are even ones with built in cup holders so you don’t need to worry about knocking over your glass of wi–tea.  Your glass full of non alcoholic, study conducive tea…..

11. Clip Lights

Any item that allows you to do what you want, while minimally annoying or disturbing your roommate, is clutch in a dorm. This is a simple necessity that can save many the passive aggressive door slams in response to roomie frustrations. If you need to stay up later than your bed neighbor, using a clip light on the side of your desk or bed will spare the other half of your room from having to suffocate under the covers or wear an uncomfortable eye mask. As such, it will spare you the door slam and bright lights in the morning. Keeping things respectful without being asked will promote that same behavior from your roommate, and back and forth that will go, making everyone’s lives more pleasant.

12. Mini Fan/Heater

If you’re lucky, you won’t have control over the thermostat in your dorm room (because I can say from personal experience, this can cause quite a war between roommates), so having a mini fan and heater is clutch in controlling your own temperature. Also, by having a personal fan or heater, it is a slight bit easier to keep yourself the temperature you want without it affecting your roommate.

13. Rolling Storage Cart

A portable storage cart is perfect for organizing your things, while having the ability to roll it in and out of a less accessible nook in your room. You are going to need those shelves, so why not get them on wheels so you have the ability to roll it out of the way, but still get to it when you need it? Plus, there are some very stylish little rolling carts that will add some pizzazz to your room.

14. Cordless Hand Vacuum

Just because your parents aren’t there, doesn’t mean it is any less gnarly to not clean and vacuum your room. If anything, your room gets far gnarlier because you are doing everything in one room; studying, eating, relaxing, sleeping, midnight snacking, Netflix marathoning, gaming, the list goes on. A little wireless hand vac will make the difference of feeling like you are living in a frat house, and feeling like you are in your home.

Grab these items and some posters and your dorm room will be all set to be as cozy and useful as possible for your educational endeavors!

If your last Great British Bake-Off marathon made you suddenly want to take up baking, welcome to the club. Baking is a wonderful therapeutic way to cook, with the end result being a delicious guilt pleasure. However, not even the best chef can bake if you don’t have the baking essentials. Below are the 14 tools every baker, beginner or advanced, needs in their kitchen.

1. Oven Thermometer

Unless you have a brand new or regularly calibrated oven, your oven’s temperature is likely inaccurate. Incorrect temperature ruins baked goods and you waste hours spent on the recipe and money spent on ingredients. Inexpensive, but essential, place it in your oven so you always know the actual temperature and your baked goods will come out perfect every time.

Recommendation: Rubbermaid Stainless Steel Oven Monitoring Thermometer ($7)

2. HAND MIXER

For the beginner baker, a hand mixer with the various attachments is perfect. A stand mixer is fantastic if you can afford one, but a hand mixer will do the job just as well, with a bit extra effort. Hand mixers can be used for all sorts of things, baking or cooking alike.

Recommendation: KitchenAid 5-Speed Ultra Hand Mixer ($40)

3. FOOD SCALE

In baking, precision is key, and the most precise way to measure is with a food scale. It is still good to have measuring cups/spoons, but if you have to choose one or the other, go with the scale!

Recommendation: Ozeri Digital Kitchen and Food Scale ($13)

4. SILICONE BAKING MATS

These are one of the best things you can own for baking, as it can make any surface useable for baking purposes, is nonstick, and can even withstand the oven so you can save money not having to buy parchment paper. You can use them as an easy nonstick surface for pouring out my toffee or brittle to cool, after dipping candies and truffles (they release SO easily!), for rolling out cinnamon roll dough, pie dough, pizza dough, and more. The bottoms of your cookies will always be evenly baked and they slide right off the mat. Cleaning is a breeze and they’re even dishwasher friendly.

Recommendation: Silpat Silicone Baking Mats ($15-$25)

5. COOKIE SCOOPS

These are not just for perfectly shaped cookies! Get one in each size and use the large for cupcake/muffin and pancake batter, ice cream, and the prettiest mashed potato scoops. Use the medium for cookies, and use the small for truffles, tiny cookies, and as a melon baller. They’re infinitely handy!

Recommendation: Norpro Cookie Scoop Set of 3 ($30)

6. SIFTER

Some recipes require sifting dry ingredients like flour, sugar, chemical leaveners, and/or cocoa powder. That step is not just for fun or to make your life difficult. It aerates these ingredients and rids any lumps so your recipe turns out. It’s inexpensive and crucial!

Recommendation: Mrs. Anderson’s Hand Crank Sifter ($10) 

7. COOLING RACKS

Never let your cakes, cupcakes, muffins, etc cool in the pan set on the counter. The bottoms’ cooling rate is incredibly slow because no air is getting to that bottom portion of the pan. And for cookies? They must cool on racks, most certainly not on your counter or on the baking sheet. Cooling racks are imperative so that the cooking process stops and your baked goods cool evenly. These stackable racks are nifty for saving space if you’re cooling a lot of munchies at once.

Recommendation: Sunflair 3 Tier Stackable Cooling Rack ($27)

8. ROLLING PIN

An obvious essential! There are also pricier ones with rings that control the thickness of what you’re rolling, but a basic one will do just fine.

Recommendation:  Farberware Classic Wood Rolling Pin ($13)

9. BAKING PANS

There are a million different sizes and shapes of baking pans, but the essentials you must own are at least: 3 9-inch cake pans, 2 9-inch square pans, 2 12-count muffin pans, 1 9-inch pie plate, 1 9×13 baking pan, 1 24-count mini muffin pan, 1 9×5 inch (or 8×4 inch) loaf pan. There are all sorts of brands in varying design and quality, so you can start cheap, but invest in nicer ones that cook more evenly and reliably once you can afford it.

Recommendation: Rachael Ray Cucina 4-Piece Bakeware Set ($34)

High End Recommendation: Williams Sonoma Goldtouch® Nonstick 4-Piece Set ($80)

10. RIMMED BAKING SHEETS

This is just an extension of the above, but rimmed baking sheets are critical. You can use them for baking cookies, sheet cakes, breads, pouring out toffee/brittle/bark, roasting vegetables, meat, you name it. The 12×17 inch size is perfection for holding a dozen cookies and the rimmed edges prevent any sauces/syrups from dripping off the sheet. Every baker should have at least 2.

Recommendation: Circulon Nonstick Bakeware, Baking Sheets ($25)

11. PASTRY BLENDER

Pie dough, biscuits, scones, streusel, and other delicious miracles are made with a pastry blender. It’s handy for breaking up cold butter into tiny little bits and pieces among your other ingredients– but not completely incorporating it. These cold butter bits = flaky dough. A metal pastry cutter keeps your butter cold where other tools (or your hands) might warm it, which is the exact opposite of what you’re trying to accomplish. Inexpensive and essential.

Recommendation: Orblue Pastry Blender Stainless Steel ($8)

12. SPATULAS & WHISKS

From stirring and mixing, to scraping the sides of bowls, spreading frosting, cooking, etc, you will use them for everything, everyday. Whisks are another often used essential and these silicone ones are far easier to clean and won’t scrape the bottom of your saucepan.

Recommendation: TTLIFE Silicone Spatula & Whisk Set ($23)

13. MIXING BOWLS

You obviously cannot bake if you have nothing to mix your ingredients in! Glass or metal bowls are essential because egg will not whisk up otherwise. It is also nifty to have bowls with pouring spouts for various batters, cake, pancake, cupcakes, what have you. If you only choose one though go for glass or metal, not plastic!

Recommendation: Finedine Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls ($23)

14. MEASURING CUPS & SPOONS

Measuring cups and spoons and liquid measuring cups are key for every baker. The best sets are the ones with lots of uncommon measurements, like 1/8 tsp and 1/2 tbsp and such. There are also nifty silicone bendable measuring cups for liquid other than just the standard pyrex ones.

Recommendation: 1Easylife Measuring Cups and Spoons Set of 15 ($27) & Pyrex 3-Piece Glass Measuring Cup Set ($15)

With these 14 items, you are all set to get baking and become your household’s very own Martha Stewart.  

Ready, set, bake!

No need to worry about not owning a fancy set of weights or an ab roller, you can use household items to do all sorts of workouts and save the money and storage space you would need for exercise specific items. You don’t need an expensive gym membership to work out, you just need a little creativity. These tips are especially great for college students or studio-living bachelor and bachelorettes.

Laundry Detergent

A full (or nearly full) container of liquid laundry detergent is a great alternative to hand weights. To put it in perspective, a 1.17 gallon tub is equivalent to 10 pounds – making it perfect for low impact moves like squats, dead lifts, bent over rows and standing wood chops. Even just carrying it up and down the stairs a few times will get your heart pumping.

Don’t have laundry detergent on hand? These household items also work:
• 1 Gallon Milk Jug
• Sack of Potatoes
• Paint Cans
• Kitty Litter

Hand Towels

Use hand towels to do various core workouts in lieu of an ab roller. You can also put them under your feet to do sets of high intensity mountain climbers. This is also a great alternative to normal mountain climbers if you live in an apartment and have downstairs neighbors you don’t want to disturb with jumping. Get in a plank position and get creative with all sorts of core engaging workouts.

All your hand towels in the laundry? These will also do the job:
• Paper Plates
• Paper Towels
• Plastic Lids

Wine Bottles

A standard wine bottle is just under 2 pounds. It may sound low, but it is still enough to feel the burn and add a slight bit of difficulty to your workout. Try some tricep kickbacks, bicep curls, and a basic row exercise. They key with these arm exercises is to maintain control over the movement and not swing your arms, so that you don’t cheat your muscle out of the work with momentum. Try also just holding them doing some cardio like jogging in place. It forces you to add that little bit of extra umph.

Drink all your wine during that last Game of Thrones viewing? No problem.
• Soup Cans
• Jars of Spaghetti Sauce or Mayonaise
• Bottled Water

Broom

A broom is a great home exercise tool when you’re looking for a quick core workout. Try some oblique twists by placing the broom across your shoulders on the meaty part of your back (just as you would with a barbell). Engage your core by pulling your belly button into the spine and twist your core to the right. Turn back to center and twist to the left. This incredibly simple move is extremely effective!

Your Pet

Not everyone has a pet, or even if you do, maybe not as chill to use, but cradling your cat over your shoulders adds some great weight for lunges, squats, or push-ups. Plus then you have your fluffy buddy with you while you get fit.

So don’t worry if you don’t have traditional equipment or a pricey gym membership, there are plenty of ways to get fit right around the house!