Pampering Your Pets

Every now and then our pets deserve a day to be pampered just like us! They are always there for us to listen, love and cuddle with. Here are a few of my favorite ways to show appreciation for your furry friends...

Spa Day

Kick–start your pet-pampering day by taking a trip to the salon for a day of much-needed grooming.  Aside from your daily or weekly brushing, a good grooming will not only have your pet looking and smelling fabulous, but feeling great as well. Not only is it a great treat, but also a necessity that the entire family can appreciate.  Schedule your next appointment at Lucky Dawg Pet Grooming or South Bay Dog Grooming.  If visiting the groomer is too much for your fun-filled day, give your pet the most luxurious bath you can give in your own tub. Dr. McGrath’s and Opie and Dixie are both terrific brands that offer the highest quality, natural ingredients. Here are two of my favorite products:

Dr. McGraths: 100% human-grade, PH balanced products for dogs, cats, & horses; free of sulfates, phosphates, & dyes

Concentrated Conditioning Animal Shampo

Opie & Dixie: All-natural, organic and vegan grooming aids for the holistic care of dogs and cats.

Organic Healing Paw Balm

Stay-cation

A marvelous stay-cation is a must when planning to pamper your pet. Send them to a luxury pet resort like AMG A Pet Resort where they can get walks, group play, special treats, and so much more. If you don’t want to board your pet, plan a trip to the beach or a nice dog park for you and your best furry friend to run around and be carefree for a day. 

Retail Therapy

Showering your pet with gifts is another good way to show your pet just how much you love them. Just like when we feel we have done a job well done buying a nice treat for yourself is a great way to pat yourself on the back.  So whether it is a treat and a toy from Pet Foods Market or a cute outfit from D.O.G Boutique, your pet will definitely enjoy the retail therapy.

An adorable chew toy from D.O.G. Pet Boutique

Whether it’s a spa day, a quick road trip or a shopping spree, showing your pet how much you love them by pampering them for a day is a great way to make the bond between you two even stronger. Only you know exactly what your furry friend will enjoy so if all else fails, dedicate the day to your best friend. Sometimes, being with your best friend is all the therapy you need.

Cleaning Your Home Naturally

Spring will be here before we know it, and in honor of this time of year approaching, I'm sharing my top 4 all-natural home cleaning tips as well as a very easy to digest guide on cleaning your home with essential oils!

Declutter and detoxify your home by cleaning and removing stains with things you always keep stocked in your kitchen: baking soda, lemons, vinegar, & coffee filters. By ridding your home of unhealthy, chemical-laden products, you'll pave the way to a healthier, more streamlined household that stays Spring-clean year-round!

Baking soda: Keep all your stainless steel appliances sparkling with baking soda. Simply mix with water and scrub the appliances until they sparkle then rinse with water. 

Citrus: Place lemons in the garbage disposal to get rid of unwanted scents and keep your kitchen smelling citrus clean. 

Salt & Vinegar: Use salt and vinegar to bring stained copper pots back to their former glory. Simply sprinkle salt and scrub with vinegar, then rinse with water to make them look brand new. 

Coffee filters: The best way to keep wine glasses polished for the next dinner party is with coffee filters. Prior to polishing, swirl hot water in the glass, empty, then polish to get the glass crystal clear. 

How To Create Your Own Succulent Garden

Succulents are an ideal choice for your home garden -- they are the perfect match for California's climate and our current ongoing drought. They require minimal watering and thrive in high temperatures, making them the perfect plant to keep your garden vibrant during this dry spell. Succulents come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from the Echeveria variety, to Graptopetalum and Dudleya; they add a touch of sophistication and refinement to any outdoor space while requiring very little effort from you... what could be better?

How To Care For Your Succulents:

1/ Water once - twice per week, and make sure to soak the soil each time.

2/ From Spring - Fall, you can add a fertilizer that has been diluted to 1/4 of its strength when watering. 

3/ As outside temperatures cool, increase the amount of time between watering.

4/ If your succulents are receiving too much light, they might become a washed out color. If they are not receiving enough light, they may literally grow int he direction of the nearest light source. Make the transition to more light gradual, though, as they can become scorched if they are suddenly in too much sunlight. 

Which variety is your favorite?

-- Melanie Hane

310. 528. 5164.

mmhane@gmail.com

Sensational Scents for the Holiday Season

Deck your halls with luxurious, cozy fragrances this holiday season. I've rounded up the loveliest, most holiday-worthy candles that are deserving of a spot in your home. They are sure to not only brighten your house with holiday cheer, but make it feel like a lavish escape at the same time!

Let the scent of warm gingerbread welcome your guests…

Delicious Spices Candle

DIPTYQUE

Perhaps the smell of sweet, sweet peppermint is your favorite?

Peppermint Boxed Votive Candle

ARCHIPELAGO

If an edible treat is not quite your taste, opt for this warm scent, reminiscent of a wood-burning fireplace…

Winter Haus Candle 

WINTER HAUS

Let the rich, vibrant scent of delectable berries envelop the room... 

Lafco Berry 

LAFCO

Here are two gift sets of mixed fragrances that simply cannot be beat -- both are sure to make anyone on your list giddy!

NEST Holiday Trio Set 

NEST Fragrances

Jo Malone Set

Jo Malone 

The Best Energy-Saving Appliances

When enhancing your home with any upgrade, big or small, it’s essential to consider how much of your investment you’ll ultimately receive in return. When most homeowners consider upgrades, the first priority that comes to mind is the kitchen, which leads to appliances. Investing in the best quality energy-saving appliances on the market will not only increase the value of your home, but also save you ample money on a monthly basis.

Heating and Cooling Units

By Far, central heating and cooling units use up the most energy in homes – it takes significant amounts of energy to maintain the perfect temperatures you desire. By finding a central air unit that strikes a balance between being an energy saver and being a good price, you can add additional value to your home. Consider systems that also have easy to use interfaces so that setting up the thermostat is a breeze. Coleman’s Echelon HC8B has quite a high 18 SEER value, is quiet, and comes with a touch screen display for programming the temperature. The Dave Lennox XC25 A/C unit has received top remarks for its silent efficient operation, as well. For a comprehensive guide to what an energy-efficient air conditioner is, and how to choose one, click here for IceBlast’s guide.

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are often major focal points when designing or renovating a kitchen. Seeing a current, large fridge sets the tone for evaluating a kitchen’s design. Although most are stainless steel, variations in door types (a French variety, for example) add small hints of unique design palettes. Most refrigerators on the market with modern designs use larger amounts of energy because of the placement of the freezer, but if you’re looking for a comfortable balance between the two, try Fisher-Paykel's Active Smart RF201ADX. It boasts a beautiful French door design, has a generous amount of space, and is a smart buy in terms of energy efficiency. You can also sift through 2015’s best fridges to make choosing the right one for your home an easier task. 

Washing Machines

This third appliance that contributes to your energy bill has a doubling effect on your bills; washing machines use both electricity and water. By updating to a more efficient model, with larger space and more efficient cycles, you can cut down on how long it takes to do your laundry, lower how much water is used over time, as well as minimize how often you wash your clothes. The LG WM4270H is an example of an efficient low-cost upgrade to your washing machine; it even has an intuitive LED display and settings that wash a full cycle of clothes in just under 30 minutes!

If you’re not quite ready for new appliances, consider a smaller change, like installing Energy Star windows, to help lower your energy bills. Be mindful of all options available to you when upgrading – it’s key to making the right choices. Whether your goal is to create a more aesthetically pleasing environment by ridding of anything out of date, or if you are trying to conserve energy and lower your monthly household bills, there are a bevy of energy-saving appliances worth researching —and installing—!