Bring Rio to Your Home

By Beds for less

The largest international multi-sport event will take place in Rio de Janeiro this August. Since it is international, you can imagine the number of eyes watching worldwide. It’s a time that everyone unites together to cheer for their respective country. That being said, it’s also a great opportunity for you to host a gathering with family and friends, in order to cheer on the crème de la crème athletes around the world. Let’s take a look at how to organize your party:

Bring Rio to your home

Begin by decorating your home with colorful lanterns, tiny palm trees and miniature parrots to bring the tropical feel that Brazil has to offer. It will certainly get everyone in the right frame of mind. For a moment, they might just forget where they are!

Food, food, and more food

If you’re going to have guests over to watch the opening of the Olympics, or to view one of your favorite sports, then food is a must! Set up a table with different foods. Try to be creative by assembling cold dishes that resemble flags!

The right accommodations

Perhaps the most significant element is to have the right furniture to accommodate your guests. Obviously, the larger the group, the more seating that will be needed. Ideally, a large sectional would definitely do the trick! If you are planning on serving savory tropical drinks, then a coffee table or ottoman would definitely be handy! That way, you have somewhere to rest your tray. Finally, a tv stand would be optimal to keep the tv at perfect eye level.

Team spirit

In order to stir up some team spirit, you may want to create a scoreboard to record how many medals your favorite team is receiving. Also, encourage your guests to wear something that supports the team(s) you are cheering for!

Now that you have your party outlined, you’re all set to have a good time! Remember, “Every champion was once a contender that refused to give up” – Rocky Balboa. We can all learn a little from these hard working athletes!

Father's Day Gift Idea

By Beds for less

Father’s Day is a day which fathers are honored and appreciated by their loved ones for their paternal bonds. Along with the celebration, it is customary to offer a gift. Are you out of ideas and need some inspiration for a great father’s day gift? Then throw those cliché gifts out the window! Rather than spending your money on dust collectors, why not spend it on something useful?

We all know many dads love to kickback on the sofa in front of the television in order to unwind after a long day. Most dads enjoy their “alone time” by watching their favorite sports and movies. Of course not all dads enjoy sports. Some fathers also enjoy gaming to detach from reality once in a while!

That being said, why not invest in a tv console that will enhance your father’s cinematic or gaming experience? There’s an idea! That way he can store all of his favorite movies, games and gaming console all in one place. Not only will he appreciate having all of his stuff neatly organized in one place, but surely mum will too! In fact, there are a variety of styles that Ashley furniture offers, in order to accommodate your home décor. Now there’s a gift that’s worth twice the deal!

See his eyes light up when you present him with an awesome gift that he will appreciate. Don’t forget a hug and a kiss! Happy Father’s Day!

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Treat Your Mum This Mother’s Day

By Beds for less

Are you wracking your brain for mother’s day gift ideas? Don’t fret, you’ll have it under control in no time! Rather than spending money on cliché gifts, year after year, why not do a nice gesture that will leave an impression on your mother. Here are some great ideas to help you get started!

Bring your mother to Paris for breakfast:

Paris? “How am I supposed to pay that with my allowance?” – you ask. Kidding aside, the idea is to bring this romantic city to your home. Paris is truly conducive to romance because of its charming little-knowns. Your eyes simply won’t know where to gaze, everywhere you go. In order to recreate that beautiful scenic setting, think of an endearing French bistro with a view of the Eiffel Tower. First, begin by setting up a bistro-style table with a parasol on your balcony/deck. Ashley`s Nola dinette or a similar style is representative of a typical outdoor bistro set in Paris, but can be equally used indoor. Next, decide on a menu to serve your mother and write it out on chalkboard.

In order to recreate the Eiffel Tower, if you have access to a projector, get your hands on a caricature of the Eiffel tower and project it on a large mural. Then, trace the outline of the tower on the mural. Go over the outline again to darken it and add some color to the mural if you wish. And voilà! You have your Parisian background! As a final touch, despite being a little stereotypical, it might be fun to wear a beret while you serve your mother her meal.  

Pack your mother a delicious picnic:

With the same train of thought, if you have a little less time to prepare, here is another worthy suggestion. Consider putting together a beautiful picnic for your mother, right in your backyard. Ideally, a picnic table would be more comfortable, rather than sitting on a blanket. Ashley`s Freimore dinette set looks just like a picnic table that you would be able to use for this occasion and reuse indoor as well.

Next, pack your delicious menu of choice in a basket and make sure to prepare disposable utensils, napkins and plates, as one would use for a picnic. Finally, to create the setting, use a red plaid tablecloth and add a vase of fresh flowers on the table. Then all there is left to do is enjoy the fun in the sun!

Happy Mother`s Day!

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Show Your Love on Valentine’s Day!

By Beds for less

Valentine’s Day is coming… This could be the worst day if you are one of those who have been desperately looking for a soulmate or can’t stand to be alone. Well, if you haven’t found a soulmate to take you out for a romantic dinner and don’t know how to spend it, here are some great suggestions! In a couple or as a single, it’s doesn’t matter; Valentine’s Day should be the day to show the most of your love. We can start by showing love to someone around us (family, friends, pets…). This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, so you shouldn’t run out of time and wind up organizing something at the last minute. Here are some original ideas to show your love:

Host a brunch! Invite all your beloved ones- family and/or friends to share the first meal of the day. It is always easier to organize a last-minute brunch- no need to cook a huge variety of dishes, that way you save time on grocery shopping. Besides, most of the time you already have the majority of the ingredients at hand in your home (coffee, tea, eggs, flour, tomato, bacon and bread!)

Our special, for ladies ….Take time to pamper the ones that carried you before you were walking- your Feet! Organize a pedicure or spa afternoon with your friends. On the agenda, you can expect: a relaxing moment, some pedicure/foot massage with almond oil and lots of laughs.

  

Activities with Kids. Bake cookies that they can share with their friends. Kids would love to decorate their cookies; a funny moment guaranteed!

End your day festively! Host a cocktail party at home with some friends. While drinking alcohol, don’t forget that you will be working the day after so drink moderately!

There are plenty other ways to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day…yet, you should try to extend them to the rest of year not only on the 14^th. Happy Valentine’s Day! 

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What To Do On Martin Luther King Day

By Beds for less

Everybody has dreams, right? And what if they come true? Martin Luther King Jr, a civil-rights activist had one some years ago, where all Americans, regardless of their background and cultural diversity would become equal.

As we celebrate Martin Luther King’s holiday on January 18^th; we should continue to put this dream of a “better world” into practice by:

1-     Take the opportunity to give some of your time as a volunteer in citizen action groups

2-     Spend quality time with your family and kids. What a great lesson it is to teach them what this day symbolizes and have them share their own dreams!

3-     Bring a bit of culture diversity to your ears by going to live-music tributes or listen to readings!

4-     Watch parades or go to museum exhibits; most of them are free on that day!

5-     Make a holiday dinner featuring cuisine from different countries or regions.

Whether you're a dreamer or hope to achieve a cleaner environment, a better dish, or the perfect tea party, this holiday should inspire you to move forward with your aspirations. With or without kids, appreciate the most of the diversity on this day.

Happy Martin Luther King Holiday!

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New Year’s Eve

By Beds For Less

Don’t drop the ball just yet! New Year’s Eve has a way of sneaking up on people, and if you haven’t had the chance to plan anything other than your guest list to a tentative party, here are some great last-minute ideas that will delude your guests into thinking you planned ahead! Of course, there are countless ways to spend the night, but here are a few ideas that serve as an alternative to the over-hyped and expensive ways to spend New Year’s Eve.

1)      Dress your best

Whether you are celebrating the New Year with that special someone or you plan to fill your home with your friends and family, this is the perfect occasion not to hold back.  Host an elegant soiree by encouraging your guests to wear their party clothes. You may want to throw in some fun props such as boas, tiaras, hats, noisemakers and horns for good measure. The extra amusement will not only accessorize apparel, but it will set the party atmosphere.

2)      Party Food Ideas

Make it a BYOA (bring your own appetizer) event. Ask your guests to bring some easy finger foods that require little preparation such as raw vegetables, fruit, nuts and cheese with crackers. This will keep you and your guests till you have dinner. As for dinner, opt for a romantic candlelit dinner following midnight. After the countdown and noisy fun, have your guests gather around the table to share a meal and their hopes for the New Year.

3)      A night for toasting

In order to be a thoughtful and gracious host, make sure to provide your guests with both alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, so that your guests who do not drink will not feel pressured. There is no need to be a mixologist to pull off impressive drinks. You can find a myriad of festive drinks online to cater to groups. Along with your drinks, be prepared to share a toast or two throughout the evening, so you can kick off things for your guests and have them participate.

Have a great New Year’s party! Remember to drink responsibly and to take it upon yourself as a host not to allow any of your guests drive home intoxicated. Happy New Year!

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Hosting For Christmas

By Beds For Less

Are you hosting for the holidays this year? As you know, hosts have a lot on their plates. This implies that your work will be cut out for you long before your guests arrive. In order to pull off an elegant get-together, whether it is a sit-down dinner or a cocktail party, you need to consider whether you will be in a position to accommodate your guests. The question remains, do you have the appropriate furniture for hosting this season? Here are some smart buys that have multifunctional use.

The sleeper sofa:

Are you looking to replace your sofa? Or are you having difficulty coming up with sleeping arrangements for guests that are coming from out of town? Then why not consider purchasing a stylish sofa that transform into a queen-size bed? Not only will you wind up with a beautiful sofa to seat your guests and that meshes perfectly with your home décor, but it would provide the perfect retreat for overnight guests. It’s a win-win situation.

Dining room hacks:

There are a few dining room hacks that can help you execute a successful dinner party. Ideally, the most accommodating dining table would have a leaf extension. That way, seating your guests will be a breeze. If you do not have such a table or cannot attempt to purchase one, contemplate buying a bench, especially since current trends favor mixing styles. This gives you freedom to purchase a bench that doesn’t necessarily match! By using a bench, you can maximize the seating around your table, as the other chairs being replaced by the bench will be additional seating. However, if you plan to host a self-serve meal to avoid the fuss of figuring seating arrangements, you may want to look at the practical “Trishelle” dining set. This set has shelving below the table, which can be convenient to pile plates, cups and cutlery below the food you want to display. There you have it, your perfect buffet sidekick! 

Multifunctional living room pieces:

The dining room is not the only room you should examine when thinking about serving your guests. Your living room can feature convenient pieces such as an ottoman, which can serve as a foot rest for your guests would like to enjoy some television or as a tray to serve your perfect Christmas cocktail drink. The ottoman is not the largest purchase you can make, but it is quite nifty. Next is the famous coffee table that meets storage. The “Vennilux” coffee table is a masterful blend between style and practicality. 

 

This storage crate allows you to store pillows, throws and even poufs you may want to pull out for additional seating!

Happy hosting and more importantly, happy holidays!

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How to Throw A Last-Minute Halloween Party

By Beds For Less

Halloween is just around the corner. Are you a busy bee who can barely find the time to brush your hair, let alone plan a Halloween party? Then you`ve fallen on the golden goose of party ideas for the procrastinator.  So feast your eyes on these 3 simple steps!

Step 1: Set a date

First and foremost, set a date, compile a list of guests and give them a call. Make sure you nip this in the bud right away! In order to entice your guests to come to your spooktacular party, mention there will be fun games, special treats and a costume contest! Keep in mind that not everyone is comfortable with dressing up. Word to the wise; add that this is optional.

Step 2 – Decorate your home inside & out

Get ready to have a frightfully good time by prepping your home inside and out to celebrate in style! Here`s a list of thrilling decoration ideas to inspire you:

Outside:

1)      Transform the front yard into a graveyard.

2)      Board the windows

3)      Put a condemned notice on your front door. Try to make it look aged (you can do this by sponging a bit or tea or coffee onto the paper).

4)      Go crazy with some caution tape – this will give your guests the impression that your home is abandoned and unsafe… maybe even haunted.

Inside:

1)      Add as many candles as possible, especially if you have a visible staircase. To avoid a fire hazard, you can purchase battery operated candles at the dollar store. You can always use real candles in jars for extra precaution.

2)      Cover your furniture with drop-cloths or sheets. Nothing says condemned like a house full of covered furniture!

3)      Change the light bulbs for some vintage colored ones, to create a dim atmosphere.

4)      Spider webs – if your house is going to look condemned, don`t forget spider webs!

  

Step 3 – Entertainment

Entertainment, entertainment, entertainment!  A successful party has great entertainment and treats to go along with it. I mean, let`s face it. No one wants to see their guests yawning and looking at their watches. Here are some great ideas to keep the party going:

1)      Halloween charades.  You can find free printables on Pinterest.

2)     Murder Mystery Game. Good news – you have access to free murder mystery games online, complete with character descriptions and scripts, so your guests will dive into the game.

3)      Halloween movie trivia. If you`re a horror movie buff, and so is your circle of friends, then this is the game for you. Again, this is another frugal game idea. Yes, horror movie trivia quizzes can also be found online.

4)      Last, but not least, the costumes contest. The pinnacle of your party is the contest. Make sure to take the time to vote on whose costume won the challenge. To add a little excitement, throw in a prize. It doesn`t have to be anything pricy. A candy loot bag can do the trick!

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Get Crafty: DIY Decor with Squash

By Beds For Less

Who said decorating your home for fall had to be expensive? Check out some thrifty DIY ideas with the use of squash to add a touch of autumn in your home. Time to roll up those sleeves!

Antique your butternut squash:

There is something about decorating a home with antiquities, as it adds instant history and soul. If you have a fondness for antiquities, then this is the project for you!

For a dark & rich aged-look, use dark wax. You can purchase some Minwax Stain at your local hardware store. Apply the stain to your squash and try not to spread it evenly, in order to achieve a distressed look. Make sure it dries in a well ventilated area, free of humidity or cold. Once it is dry, feel free to add some finishing touches like hemp string that you can tie to the stem. If the mood strikes, you can go a little wild and add some artificial leaves along with your string. Voilà : the perfect antiqued squash for your home. Fall, come on in.

Pumpkin vases for your table escape:

Here`s another idea to jazz up your home for fall; pumpkin vases! Make a beautiful, yet simple table escape that is not only quick, but easy on the budget. First, hollow-out your pumpkin. Do not carve a large piece off the top, but just enough to slide a tall glass inside the opening. Then, spray paint the pumpkin white to soften the look of its deep orange coloration. You can also choose another muted color such as a pale blue or mint.  The idea is to tone down the color of the vase and draw the attention to the bouquet.

Once the spray paint has dried thoroughly, slide the tall glass through the opening of atop the pumpkin. Add some water to the glass and put together a beautiful fresh arrangement with flowers of your choice. If you prefer a low maintenance vase, then synthetic flowers are your thing. Don`t be afraid to use multiple colors, as it will add more character. There you have it, your very own pumpkin vase!

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