Secrets to Living Well

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Living Well: 7 Secrets For a Successful Container Garden

May 15, 2013

How to Plant a Successful Container Garden - 7 Secrets! | Design Mom

Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Gardening is one of my favorite hobbies and has become such a source of happiness over the last six years. That’s right, it’s been six years since I planted my first container garden on the balcony of my second floor apartment. I was determined to make it work even if it was only a few herbs, lettuce, peas, chiles, and a cherry tomato plant.

Alas, it was almost a complete failure. I planted too many herbs in the same pot. The lettuce was horribly bitter. The chiles and cherry tomatoes both had blossom end rot (more on that later). Only the peas were a success that year. I was tempted to feel defeated, but I turned my failures into lessons and have continued to be more successful each year.

I can’t say I’m a Master Gardener, but I’m working hard to become one. I’ve talked with seasoned gardeners. I’ve read forums and researched articles online. I’ve chatted with the horticulturists at my local nursery. And I keep trying and keep planting. I wouldn’t call myself an expert yet, but I am on my way there. I hope you find my advice helpful and chime in with your own knowledge. Sometimes I think gardening is a team sport!

Now, back to the particular topic of this post: Container Gardening. I no longer live in a second floor apartment, but I still rely on containers to expand my growing area — and I like the way they look lining the back of my driveway.

It’s amazing what you can grow in pots! Containers can add a lot of interest in a landscaped yard, make apartment landings more beautiful, and make things cheery indoors.

As I’m sure you can guess, comprehensive information about container gardening is more than I can fit into this single post. So consider this an overview. We’ll cover prep, planting essentials, and miscellaneous tips to get you started.

Bonus: the information in this post applies to both vegetable container gardens and decorative ones (sometimes gardens can be both!). And it applies to indoor gardens as well.

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Living Well: 10 Secrets (Actually, Shortcuts!) For Better Cooking

May 9, 2013

10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking | Design Mom

Photos and text by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

I remember my mother wishing there were more hours in the day. So much to do! So little time! Now that I’m a grown-up and a mother, I totally understand what she meant. Our days are filled with many necessary tasks — laundry, dishes, running errands, helping kids with homework. And making meals. As much as I like spending time in the kitchen cooking and baking, I’m always looking for new ways to save time in the process. Anything to hurry dinner along is appreciated by me and my hungry children.

We live in a fast paced society and we don’t like to wait for things. Specifically, if you’re my children, you don’t like to wait for your dinner to cook all night. We have the internet at our fingertips giving us this and that instantly with the tap of a screen or press of a button. And it might feel like the drive-thru is the only way to get a fast, hot meal. But happily, it’s possible to make a healthy, wholesome, quick meal while cooking from scratch at home.

10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking | Design Mom

So this brings me to my 10 Shortcuts for Better Cooking. You may already know some of the tips I’m going to share with you, but even if you do, consider this a nice reminder. And it’s pretty great to have them listed in one place!

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Living Well: 11 Secrets to Cleaning Your Tech Devices

April 10, 2013

11 Secrets to Cleaning Your Tech Devices. Laptops, cameras, smart phones, etc.

Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

The arrival of Spring ushers in my deepest desires for a thoroughly cleaned house, inside and out. Shelves and cupboards organized. Base boards and walls washed. Windows that are streak free to let in the sunshine. But there are a few items I seem to forget about — the technological devices that I use every single day and might need sprucing up the most.

I hold my cell phone and home phone in my hands each day, touching the buttons and screens, holding it to my face. I allow my children, with their sticky little fingers, to play games and send texts to their dad or have a chat with grandma. My laptop screen is smudged by the same tiny fingers. Crumbs lurk between the keys. My camera and lenses shows signs of my last food shoot. Don’t get me started on the desktop computer! I’m not sure I can remember the last time it was properly dusted and wiped down.

Then there’s the television with diaper cream stuck in the speakers and even more smudges on the screen. (Or is this just my house?) I’ve read that these devices with their many buttons and screens harbor more germs than the toilet! Ew!

So how, and how often, should these things we use daily, these things we can’t seem to be without, be cleaned? No worries. I’m here to help. This post will cover the nitty gritty of keeping your technology dusted, clean, and smudge free.

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Living Well: 5 Secrets for Caring for Teen Skin

March 27, 2013

5 Secrets for Avoiding the Teen Acne Phase

Written by Deborah Harju. Photos by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Note from the Editors: In January, Deborah Harju was interviewed in a Living With Kids home tour. Deborah is an esthetician and she casually wrote, “I hope my kids will one day appreciate that they could go through their teenage years without the dreaded acne phase.” Well. The Design Mom inboxes lit up! Readers wanted to know more. Can you really avoid the acne phase? So we asked Deborah to share her secrets. Lucky us!

Adolescence is a pretty tough transition period for any child. Unpredictable hormonal changes on the inside! Crazy physical changes on the outside! And us parents? We are learning to adjust our parenting techniques right along with them.

Amidst all these changes, one of the toughest things teens deal with is acne. Oh ACNE! At the peak of their self-doubt, our poor kids get this dumped on them. As a parent, we may feel powerless when it comes to our child’s acne but the truth is, we don’t have to just sit back and let acne run its course.

Although acne can be genetic (children are more likely to suffer acne if a parent suffered from it), there are still many things we can do as parents to keep it manageable. Although I have personal experience with my preteen, I have treated adolescent acne as an esthetician for over 12 years and have found that these tips can be effective in navigating these troublesome years.

NOTE: These tips alone will not address the concerns of cystic acne, which is acne defined by very painful cysts or fluid-filled lumps beneath the skin. I would refer any client with cystic acne to a doctor, (preferably a dermatologist), who can prescribe oral antibiotics. If your acne is severe, an esthetician alone will not be enough. These tips can be effective in managing all other types of acne — even adult onset acne.

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Living Well: 5 Secrets to Perfectly Hard-Boiled Eggs

March 20, 2013

How to Perfectly Boil an Egg

Text and photos by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

In March and April, eggs go on sale at the market, so this is an ideal time to learn, or improve, our egg boiling skills. You may have big plans to dye some Easter eggs, or maybe you’re just craving an egg salad sandwich. Either way, knowing how to perfectly hard-boil an egg is a skill everyone should have.

How to Perfectly Boil an Egg

Do you ever peel and cut open an hard-boiled egg only to find a pesky grey-green ring around the yolk, or that the yolk is still a little raw? I’m here to help! And soon you’ll be an egg-spert and be able to show all your friends how easy it is to hard-boil eggs.

Click here for all the secrets.

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Living Well: 10 Easy Secrets to Greening Your Home, Part 2

March 13, 2013

This post is sponsored by GLAD®. Small changes can make a big difference.

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Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

A few weeks ago we talked about 10 Easy Secrets to Greening Your House, and today I’m back with 10 more easy tips. There are just so many things we can do! This time, I’m going to focus on secrets to cutting down on waste and using less — things I bet we could all improve on.

Some things you may have already heard, and some might be new things you’d never even thought of doing. All of them are small, everyday changes that are simple and easy to make, but make a big difference.

Secret #1: Replace light bulbs with energy efficient, longer lasting bulbs. Fluorescent bulbs use about 1/4 less energy than incandescent bulbs. Halogen bulbs are another alternative to incandescent.

You might be wondering about the difference between halogen and fluorescent bulbs and which one to buy. Halogen lights are more energy efficient than incandescent bulbs, but they do emit a fair amount of heat and don’t save as much energy as fluorescent. The light from halogen bulbs is warm and yellow-reddish. Halogen bulbs are much smaller, provide a good amount of light, and last a lot longer, but they are expensive.

Overall fluorescent bulbs are cheaper to buy and use and are cooler. Fluorescent bulbs are especially worth considering if you want to keep your air conditioning bill lower during the summer or if you live in a warmer climate. Daylight balanced fluorescent bulbs are available if you don’t care for the blueish tint given off by traditional fluorescent bulbs. The daylight balanced bulbs create a more natural looking light indoors.

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Living Well: 10 Secrets For Extending The Life of Cut Flowers

March 6, 2013

Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Nothing brightens a room quite like a vase of fresh flowers. Also, nothing smells quite as nice (with the exception of a few flowers maybe — I’m looking at you, Easter Lilies!).

I love walking by a vase of freesia. It reminds me of being someplace warm and sunny, preferably tropical, with the breeze blowing through my hair. Roses remind me of my great-grandmother’s rose garden and her gorgeous Peace Roses the size of small dinner plates. Hydrangeas bring back fond memories of my time living on the East Coast. Then there are peonies. My maternal grandmother had so many growing in her garden. They are cheerful and happy and make me think of summer and bare feet in the grass.

Whether it’s a bouquet of gorgeous roses from your significant other, a friendly bunch of birthday daisies from your bestie, magenta peonies fresh from the garden, or that impulsive bunch of tulips you grabbed on your way through the grocery store check out line, there are some helpful concrete things you can do that will keep them fresh, lasting longer and looking their best.

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Living Well: 7 Secrets To Caring For Unmentionables

February 27, 2013

Text and photos by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Lingerie. Bras and panties, slips, hosiery, camisoles, bustiers, nightgowns. Unmentionables.

They are often silky, satiny, lacy, and ornate. They are feminine and beautiful. As a little girl I loved watching my mom gently wash and care for her undergarments and was always fascinated by the little bit of extra time and effort she put into it. I couldn’t wait until I was old enough for my first bra and I could trade in my Strawberry Shortcake underwear for pretty, grown-up panties. I took notes while I watched my mom and learned a few tips for taking proper care of my underthings. It not only keeps them looking beautiful, but they last longer too.

So lets talk about those silky, sexy unmentionables and the secrets to keeping them properly washed and looking lovely. (And I’ll try not to blush!)

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Living Well: 10 Easy Secrets to Greening Your House

February 20, 2013

This post is sponsored by Green Works®. You don’t have to compromise to be clean when you use hard working, plant-based cleaners powered by The Clorox Company.

Images and text by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Spring is just around the corner. I can feel it! This time of year always gets me thinking about ways I can be more green. We all know it’s important to reduce, reuse and recycle. We know saving energy is a very good thing. But sometimes it can seem daunting or overwhelming and you might wonder where to start.

And sometimes, it feels like no matter what efforts we make we’re somehow doing it wrong or not doing enough. (Remember the fascinating comments and discussion on this post?) But I’m here to reassure you. I’m not perfectly green by any definition, but I do know there are simple things we can do, habits that we can form, that have a positive impact. Nothing extreme. Nothing that will stress us out or have us feeling guilty. I’ve got 10 simple things everyone can do, no matter where they live, to make their home greener.

(By the way, if you’re ever felt like attempting to be green has turned into a competitive sport, you might get a kick out this video.)

I live in a desert climate, so saving water is always on my mind. There are so many simple things to do to help conserve water on a daily basis. Here’s one of the easiest — and it doesn’t cost any money at all. Secret #1: Place some small pebbles In the bottom of a plastic bottle (like a used water or soda bottle), fill it with water and place it in the tank of your toilet. Most toilets use 3-7 gallons of water with each flush. That’s a lot! The plastic bottle will displace some of the water in the tank and save you gallons of water a day.

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Living Well: 9 Secrets to Tasting Chocolate

February 14, 2013

Text and Images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

Do you remember the first time you had a really good piece of chocolate? I mean the good stuff. Not the sort you steal from your child’s Halloween stash, and certainly not the kind you share freely during play dates. I’m talking about the kind of chocolate that melts slowly on your tongue, and tastes like berries or citrus, maybe even with a hint of coffee at the end. Once you’ve tasted it and found your favorite, this is the chocolate you’ll secret away in a too-high cupboard. One square of the stuff will get you through the witching hour just before dinner, homework time, any end-of-the-day playroom mess you can imagine, and all the deadlines looming before you. Maybe chocolate’s not that magical…but it is delicious.

Tasting chocolate has become an art form, a lot like tasting wine and cheese. There are books, classes, and societies all devoted to the art of tasting chocolate. Learning to distinguish between candy chocolate and fine chocolate isn’t as hard as you might think, but it does involve all five senses, and by the time we’ve finished you’ll have developed a sixth sense for understanding, appreciating, and tasting chocolate.

So let’s forget everything we’ve heard about dark chocolate being bitter, let’s dream beyond a Mars bar, and get acquainted with the art of tasting chocolate. Real chocolate. This will be fun! I’ve got some helpful secrets to help turn you into a chocolate-tasting pro. (And, trust me. This is a very fine skill to have!)

All the secrets, straight ahead!

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Living Well: 11 Secrets to Choosing the Perfect Perfume

February 6, 2013

Text and Images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

You’ve probably met a handful of people in your life whose scents have stayed the same for so long that they’ve somehow become part of their very essence. Your mom, who smelled of vanilla and dark chocolate. Your boyfriend-turned-husband who smelled of whichever Ralph Lauren cologne was current and cool. Your ballet teacher who smelled…French. Signature scents are more than pretty; they’re your calling card to everyone you meet and comfort for everyone you love. Finding yours is our goal today. I know it’s out there, and I’m going to break down the basics of perfume to help you sniff out the perfect scent for you.

Before you head to the counter, here’s a little guide (and some terminology) that will help as you’re choosing a perfume and keep you focused on what you want amidst ever-spritzing aromas!

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Living Well: 12 Secrets To Planning Menus

January 30, 2013

Text and Images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

There are two ways to answer that dreaded five o’clock “What’s for dinner, Mom?” question: one includes the phone number of your neighborhood pizza place, and one requires a little more planning. I promise that the latter option is so worth it, and I have a few secrets to ensure that your local delivery people never learn your name! It should be noted that I love planning menus, and I love grocery shopping; it’s honestly all about the planning.

Secret Number One is identifying all of the main dishes and side dishes your family likes to eat. The less surprises, the less scowls and growls! Sit down with a notebook and make a list of all of these foods — everything from spaghetti to stir fry. Be sure to ask each member of the family for their input.

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Living Well: 4 Secrets To Making Goals & Resolutions You’ll Really Keep

January 17, 2013

Click here to find out all the secrets.

Oh, man I love making goals each new year! It feels like a fresh, clean start.

I used to throw out traditional goal-making in favor of one all-encompassing goal: Be Better. And while that seems worthwhile, I never really knew if I had accomplished the goal. When was I finished? When could I mark it off my list? So I decided to take another look at goal-making and found two methods that work really well.

Grab a notebook and pen (Write it down. Make it happen!) and let’s get started.

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Living Well: 7 Secrets To a Beautiful Cheese Board

December 20, 2012

All the secrets, straight ahead!

If you’ve ever stood in the cheese section in any grocery store, you’re well aware that creating a fantastic cheese plate can be super intimidating. There are literally thousands of cheeses from all over the world! And apparently, some of the very best ones smell awful! How do you narrow it down? What cheeses go well together? How in the world does one pronounce Gruyère?

I might not be able to help you with your French accent, but I’m here with a guide to creating a cheese plate extraordinaire. I promise it won’t be so intimidating once we cover a few basics.

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Living Well: 4 Secrets to Wrapping a Present

December 6, 2012

This post is brought to you by Method. Get Method Holiday Happy, and win fun prizes by joining Method in their first ever Pinterest contest. More details below!

Text and images by Lindsey Johnson for Design Mom.

We covered tying bows last week, now let’s talk about wrapping the presents themselves. I get a little giddy thinking about all of the combinations of paper and ribbon bows. So much prettiness this time of year!

It’s an assumption that every person in the world knows how to crease the wrapping paper just so and wrap a gift, but I’ve been surprised on several occasions to hear friends confess they never actually learned, and that they buy gifts based on shop gift wrapping services or accessibility to gift bags. : )

In case you are in the same boat, or in need of a little refresher, I’m here to help. And I have a few secrets to make wrapping more enjoyable.

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Living Well: 4 Secrets To Tying a Perfect Bow

November 28, 2012

Click here for all the secrets.

I confess I hoard ribbon. I have a big basket chock full of all kinds of pretty ribbon I’ve been collecting over the years. To me, a pretty bow on the top of a gift is almost as important as what’s inside! But a bow is a bow is a bow, right? And it’s no different than tying a shoe, yes? Well. Yes and no.

I’m going to show you three bow-tying techniques — each one achieving a slightly different look for different purposes. I’m also going to show you the trick to getting your ribbon to lay flat on the bottom of your gift box. Professional gift wrappers use this very same method. (Fancy!)

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Living Well: 4 Secrets To Tying a Necktie

November 20, 2012

Knotty tutuorial ahead. Click away…

Friends, we’ve covered a few basics like ironing dress shirts and polishing shoes, and now that the Holidays are upon us, I’d love to show you — with some help from my expert husband — the proper way to tie a necktie.

The two basic knots everyone should know how to tie are the Four-in-Hand knot and the Full Windsor knot. If this sounds a little intimidating, don’t worry a bit! I’ve got lots of pictures demonstrating each step. You’ll be an expert yourself in no time at all.

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Living Well: 4 Secrets To A Well Stocked Holiday Pantry

November 15, 2012

Click here for all the secrets.

Can you believe Thanksgiving is only a week away? Hannukah and Christmas are right around the corner too! I’m getting excited. Maybe even a little too excited for holiday baking. Confession: I am a Holiday Bake-a-Holic. Sure, I get excited for the gift shopping and the decorating, but my real love lies in stocking my kitchen with goodies for Holiday baking, cooking and entertaining.

Grocery stores run all sorts of specials on pantry items at this time of year, so this is when I love to stock up on essentials — and a few special items to make the Holidays extra festive and memorable.

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Living Well: 7 Secrets To The Juiciest Thanksgiving Turkey

November 7, 2012