EDUCATIONAL ELEMENTS

12HOME FRONT9EDUCATIONAL

ELEMENTS 10 10 11SIMPLIFY COVET WHO KNEW? 11BOOKMARK

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Edited by Liz Hunter & Rachel Morgan

9JANUARY 2015 HOUSE & HOME

To really extend the life of your flowers and vegetables, start seeds indoors in a few easy steps.

n When to start: This can depend on the plant, but mostseeds can be sown indoors approximately six

weeks before the last frost.

n How to plant: Fill a cleancontainer (seedling flats,peat pots or egg cartons)

with seedling mix. Do not usepotting soil. Moisten mix withwarm water, and then follow

the seeding instructions. Mostseeds can be gently pushed into

the dirt. Make sure to poke holesfor drainage and place in a shal-

low tray.

n Watering: Cover containers looselywith a plastic bag to hold in humidity

for germination. Once plants sprout,uncover them and water from the bot-

tom by pouring water into the tray. Neverwater seedlings from the top as it can lead

to disease or damaged sprouts.

n Keep them warm: In thefirst stage of germina-tion, warmth is more important than light. Placecontainers on top of a refrig-erator or dryer for gentleheat. Once they sprout, moveto a room with a temperaturebetween 60 and 70 degrees.

n Light the way: Placing seedlings ona sunny, south-facing windowsill isideal, but those in the Northeast should use indoor lights, suchas T-12 or T-8 fluorescents found at home improvement stores.Hang lights 3 to 4 inches above plants and keep on for 16 to18 hours a day, with a rest from light at night.

n Pay attention: Check your seeds daily to see if they areready for the next phase. If growing on a windowsill withnatural light, turn plants to prevent them from bending toward the light.

n Best seeds to start with: Tomato, basil, marigold, zinnia, cos-mos and nasturtium. These are quick to germinate and don’trequire a lot of fussing. For beginners, expert gardeners rec-ommend limiting yourself to no more than 10 types of seeds.

What to know about ... starting seeds indoors

Seedlings are sensitive to excessive moisture—ensure that they have the right growing environment

by using seedling mix—not potting soil.

11KIDS CORNER

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HOUSE & HOME JANUARY 2015 10

SIMPLIFYTips & products to declutter and de-stress

Odds and EndsNew year, new resolutions. How did you do last year? Did you hit the gym?

Order less takeout? How about organizing your home? Getting organ-ized ranked second in the top 10 resolutions of 2014, according to a

study by the University of Scranton. If you still have some naggingodds and ends that you just don’t know what to do with, here

are a few that can be checked off in one weekend:

Family paperwork: Whether it’s homework, bills or maga-zines, every person in the family brings in their own paper

trail, cluttering up valuable counter space. We suggest sorting them in hanging mail bins. Secure to an open wall in

the kitchen or on the side of the fridge and simply place eachperson’s clutter in their designated bin. No more missinghomework!

Pin it: Now that you have a place for your papers, takeit another step further and organize within the mailrack. Label clothespins with the words: paid, unpaid, urgent, save, toss; and clip everythingtogether fitting those categories.

Pop the cork: The insides of cabinet doors are an untapped market of stor-age space. Put a thin layer of cork board on the back of the door and easilypin up things like coupons, recipes and takeout menus for easy access.

DEEBOT D77 The Jetsonswere on tosomething whenthey imagined robotshandling our housework.While this intelligent vacuumfrom Ecovacs Robotics doesn’tresemble the cartoon Rosie, itacts like a maid and getsanother chore off yourchockfull to-do list. TheDEEBOT D7 Series is athree-dimensional cleaningsystem, equipped withanti-drop sensors to prevent itfrom taking a fall down thestairs, and dust sensors thatrecognize how much dust is inits path and adjusts cleaningmodes as necessary. Its low

profile allows it to easily slideunder beds and cabinets, anddual side brushes create anextra wide cleaning path. The vacuuming robot is alsoself-aware: automaticallyreturning to its dock to emptyits own dust trap and recharge.The DEEBOT retails for$699.99 at Bed Bath &Beyond and Home Depot.Find out more atEcovacsRobotics.com.

COVETMust-haveproducts forthe home

JANUARY 2015 HOUSE & HOME 11

BOOKMARKAdd this to your bookshelf

Instant Wall Art - Botanical Prints:45 Ready-to-Frame Vintage Illustrations for Your Home DécorTry your hand at some DIYthis month with Adams Me-dia’s new collection of vintagebotanical prints. Featuring 45stylized, intricate prints ofplants ranging from Cape bluewater lily to the floweringpeach tree branch—and ideasfor framing and displaying—this is one title that will takeyour walls from zero to stunning in no time. (Adams Media, Jan. 2015, $14.05, Amazon.com)—Rachel Morgan

WHO KNEW?Unusual uses for common products

MilkNot only does it do a body good, milk can also:

n Clean and polish furniture:When mixed with lemonjuice, milk removes dirt andmoisturizes wood furniture,leaving it looking like new.

n Repair cracks in china:Place your fine china in aheavy-bottomed pan andcover completely with milkthen simmer for one houruntil it boils. The milk’sproteins will help close upthe cracks.

n Fertilize plants: Use onepart milk and four partswater to nourish plants andprevent fungus.

KIDS CORNERLiven up the little spaces

Kids Storage BinsSometimes, yourchild’s bedroom orplayroom can looklike a zoo. But, thanks to these canvasstorage bins from 3 Sprouts, you can tame their wild side withthe help of some friendly faces. Made from a durable canvas and

covered in cute ani-mal designs like elephants, hippos, monkeys, owls, goats,dinosaurs and more,these bins are theperfect catch-all fortoys, books or evenlaundry. It’s a kid–andparent–approved wayto add much-neededstorage to a room without sacrificing fun.Available at AllModern.com starting at $19.99.

Cage MatchForgo boring light fixtures infavor of the Quorum Birdcage4-Light 18-inch Wide RedPendant Light, unique in everysense of the word. This eye-catching, red-hued piece fea-tures a double gourd shape,rolling accents and four can-

delabra style lights onmatching red bobechesinside. It’s a dramaticstatement piece that willhave your dinner guests

tweeting. ($474,LampsPlus.com)

Face-framingAdd a subtletouch ofMarsala to

your livingroom with theexquisite

Marsala 30-inchHigh Oval Twist Wall Mir-ror. Handcrafted by artisansin California, this statementpiece also flaunts a beveledmirror glass edge, adding abit of elegance to an other-wise stylish piece. ($199.99,LampsPlus.com)

Country CharmCapture the rustic-chic feel ofwine country with the sumptu-ous bedding from the CoyuchiWine Country Collection. Featuring a mixture of deep,wine-inspired hues, paired withnatural linen and crochet-edged, 100-percent organiccotton, you’ll drift off intoa wine-soaked slumber inno time. (Available at TheUltimateGreenstore.com,pieces start at $32.)

UnwindFor those willing to embraceMarsala with open arms, thisOsaka sofa from BoConcept isright up your alley. Boasting arich, wine-colored hue and theperfect mix of modernity andtimelessness, this sofa is sure tobe a classic in your furnishingsfor years to come. (Availableat BoConcept.us, $1,695)

HOME FRONT

Drink it inWhen a well-known entity such as Pantone—provider ofpro fessional color standards for the design industries—announces its Color of the Year, everyone in fashion,beauty, home furnishings and décor listens. Marsala, thecolor of 2015, is both sophisticated and earthy. “Marsalaenriches our mind, body and soul, exuding confidence andstability,” says Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of thePantone Color Institute. “Marsala is a subtly seductiveshade, one that draws us in to its embracing warmth.” Makeroom for these Marsala-inspired products in your home.

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Soft TouchThese stunning COCOCOZY pillows from

Peking Handicraft with a modern floral design are the perfect accent to any room.

Choose from an array of colors, includingthe so-of-the-moment brown, rust and

tan option. And at 20 by 20 inches, they are the ideal size for any sofa. (Available at CocoCozy.com, $160)

12 HOUSE & HOME JANUARY 2015