Happy Pi Day – and no, I don’t mean that kind of pie!

March 13th (3/14) of every year marks the commemoration of the mathematical constant Pi! Pi is the ratio of a circle’s circumference to its diameter. This is approximately 3.14159. Hence, it being celebrate of 03.14 of every year. Pi has been calculated to over one trillion digits beyond its decimal point. As an irrational and transcendental number, it will continue forever without repetition or pattern. If you’ve never celebrated the day before, you can start by eating a slice of pizza pie or baking a pie pastry! Have an infinitely great Pi Day!!

Read the original here: sixdifferentways.com

We can definitely feel the chill outside here in New Jersey but the days still have a warm sun overhead to enjoy until fall really comes down on us. It got me thinking how nice it would be to have a picnic at the park or even in the backyard especially once the leaves begin turning beautiful red, orange and golden hues.

Obviously, one of the most important aspects of having a good picnic is the food! But I was thinking of one of the fundamentals that can sometimes be overlooked – what are you having your picnic on?

I came across this wonderfully stylish and comfortable picnic blanket to lounge out on called The Fatboy Picnic Lounge – this spacious rug comes with four over-sized red pins to keep grounded (in case of a strong breeze!) and a brush to keep clean from debris and fallen leaves. It is made from weather resistant material and has a water-repellant coating. There is a convenient pocket attached to it providing space for your phone and keys. The strap allows you to easily roll it up to easily transport your picnic to anywhere you choose.

Fatboy Picnic Lounge

Fatboy Picnic Lounge Includes (4) Large Pins and Brush

Fatboy Picnic Lounge Easily Rolls Up For Picnics On-the-Go

Fatboy Picnic Lounge

Fatboy USA is well-known for Fatboy the Original, a versatile beanbag designed by Jukka Setala. However, Fatboy USA also offers an assortment of other contemporary furnishings including dog beds, hammocks and beanbags, many of which can be used both indoors and outdoors.  Fatboy USA products come in variety of vibrant colors and patterns definitely worth checking out!

Excerpt from: sixdifferentways.com

My sister recently gifted me a beautiful, glass loose tea pot for my birthday and I absolutely love it! With the pot, she included a bag of her homegrown chamomile tea and a bag of loose black chai tea. I have always been curious about the different effects of tea, but it wasn’t until yesterday night that I experienced it.

The past two weeks I have had some difficulty sleeping, a lot has been on my mind and I can’t seem to relax once my head hits the pillow…so it got me thinking…. maybe a warm glass of chamomile tea (which is supposed to produce a calming effect and is excellent for anxiety) would do the trick…and it did!  It worked so well, in fact I was sleeping like a baby by 11:00pm and I felt fully refreshed when I awoke in the morning.  It inspired me to write about 6 different teas that could offer a natural alternative to some mental and/or physical health issues you may be experiencing:

Loose Glass Tea Pot

1. Chamomile Tea / Chamomile Mixed with Lemongrass – Calms the body, relaxes the system, helps with anxiety, serves as an excellent sleep aid

Chamomile and Lemongrass Loose Tea Blend

2. Green Tea / Black Chai Tea – Contains a healthy dose of caffeine, promotes energy, productivity, focus, concentration, alertness and enhances work performance

(Peppermint Tea also promotes focus and energy without the caffeine).

Green Tea

Black Chai Tea

3. Lemon Verbena Tea / Lemon Balm Tea/ Rooibos Tea – Natural mood boosting properties, helps with the “blues,” soothes nerves, relieves tummy aches, rich in vitamin C and antioxidants

Lemon Balm Tea

Rooibos Tea

4. Ginger Tea – Excellent for digestion, can help with nausea, vomiting or an upset stomach due to motion sickness, combine with lemon juice and honey for a powerful germ fighter

Ginger Tea

5. Rosehip Tea – A perfect immune system booster, excellent source of vitamin C, vitamin A and vitamin E, produces a calming effect on the nervous system

Rosehip Tea

6. Ginseng Tea – Can help lower blood pressure and stimulate the production of serotonin which can greatly help with symptoms of depression

Ginseng Tea

Excerpt from: sixdifferentways.com

Call me old fashioned but I am still a fan of listening to vinyl records,  but these days it is certainly not as convenient as grabbing your MP3 player or iPod for music on-the-go. I have seen hundreds of vinyl records being given away for free on Craigslist or you can pick up a stack for cheap at your local thrift store. You may even have vinyl records lying around your house that are scratched, warped or unlistenable for reasons other than just damage (perhaps your musical taste has evolved!) Instead of just tossing them aside, you can reuse them for decorative or functional pieces for your home décor!  Here are a few of my favorite ways to creativity use vinyl records:

1. Canvases

You can use vinyl records as canvases to paint on. If you want a smoother surface to work with you can spray on a couple layers of primer before you paint.  I like to use acrylic paints but you can explore and experiment with different paints to get the effect you want. If you are apprehensive about painting free-hand on your vinyl canvas, you can also use a stencil. Vinyl records make cheap, effective and beautiful canvases!

Vinyl Record Canvas – Paint

Vinyl Record Canavas – Paint / Stencils

2. Bowls

You can turn your old records into really stylish bowls. I would choose a record you actually enjoy but might be damaged or a record with a cool label because the labels can be seen at the bottom of the bowl. These vinyl bowls make great fruit bowls, catch-all trays, and containers for potted plants. You can even hang your record-bowl design as wall art.

Vinyl Record Fruit Bowl

Painted Vinyl Record Bowl

3. Cake and Dessert Tray

Using 3 to 4 vinyl records of varying sizes or the same sizes and a few plastic cocktail glasses, you can create your own musical dessert tray. This is a great idea for themed parties or to simply show off your amazing crafty side!

Vinyl Record 3 Tier Dessert Tray

Vinyl Record Cupcake Serving Tray

4. Side Table

You can easily create a sturdy vinyl record side table. All you need to do is hot glue the vinyl record (the top of the side table) to a plant stand (the base of the side table) and VOILA! You can enjoy your newly vintage vinyl table!

Vinyl Record Side Table Materials

Vinyl Record Side / End Table

5. Earring Holder

Use a vinyl record to make a stylish earring holder by heating a metal skewer and poking it through the vinyl record. This earring holder is a great way to beautifully display your earrings as well as keep them organized. No more tangled messes!

Vinyl Record Hanging Earring Holder

Vinyl Record Earring Holder

6. Wall Art

You can cut interesting and fun shapes out of vinyl records and hang them throughout your home as art installations or 3D wall decals. Vinyl record wall art makes great conversation starters and adds a touch of edgy design to your home.

Vinyl Record Butterfly 3D Wall Art

Yes, we are all a part of nature, that much is true but wouldn’t it be wondrous to actually live IN nature?  These beautiful tree houses bring out the exploratory child in all of us but with a real grown-up flair of luxury and style.  Tree houses feature building schemes that include scenic and natural views, use of organic materials and preserving existing tree canopies.

Incorporating salt crystal lamps into your home’s interior design not only adds a beautiful and natural element to your décor but they can be beneficial to your health too!

Salt crystal lamps are made from salt crystals from the Himalayan mountain regions and are over 250 million years old. Salt crystal lamps are natural ion generators. They generate negative ions into the atmosphere which restore and neutralize the air quality in your home. Many appliances such as televisions, computers, air-conditioners and countless other electronic devices emit positive ions that when in high doses can negatively affect our moods and energy levels making us prone to crankiness, exhaustion and depression.  By keeping a rock salt lamp in areas of the home where electronic devices are polluting the air space, it can help to neutralize and/or balance the positive/negative ions in the atmosphere.  It has also been noted that rock salt lamps can help with symptoms caused by asthma, allergies and other illnesses.

Not only are the salt crystal lamps beneficial to your health and well-being but they add an earthy and natural look to your home décor as well.  The mined crystals come in many different shades including white, pink, orange, peach and red. They can also be sculpted in various shapes such as spheres, pyramids or cones and are typically mounted on a sturdy wooden base. In addition to their appearance, they also serve as a gentle and subdued accent light ideal for meditation, mood lighting or for use as a nightlight.  These beautiful treasures are perfect functional pieces offering better health and functionality without skimping on style.

Link: sixdifferentways.com

If you live in a studio apartment, a small space or just need to section off an area of your home, a great way to accomplish this is by using a stylish room divider or partition. Partitions are also perfect if you would like divide a room into sections but want to keep the space open. There are beautiful partitions you can browse through from extremely affordable to luxurious but pricier finds, explore your options and see which works best for you. Below are some beautiful examples of room partitions used in the home:

August 6th marks the birth date of a legendary figure in the Pop and Modern Art Movement – Andy Warhol

Warhol’s art encompassed many forms of media, including hand drawing, painting, printmaking, photography, silk screening, sculpture, film, and music. His art flourished throughout the 1960s’s and although he passed on in 1987, his unique style continues to inspire many contemporary artists today.

No Title, 1967

Liz No.5 (Early Colored Liz) 1963

Campbell's Soup Cans, 1962

Marilyn Diptych, 1962

Gun, 1981

Moonwalk, 1987

As we enter into August, the last month of summer in New Jersey, I am soaking in every second that I can be outdoors enjoying the warm sun and robust natural landscapes in full bloom.  Some of my favorite places to relax are the wonderful spots around my friend’s homes that are absolutely perfect for this summer weather. Beautiful gardens and backyards are a wonderful touch to any home décor, the exterior is just as important as the interior especially during these summer months when we love to gather with friends and family outside. Landscape is an important feature to your home garden but outdoor furniture accents can really breathe new life into a backyard as well.

Japanese Rock Garden (Zen Garden)

Lovely Garden Pond

Beautiful Flower Garden

Wooden Canopy, Lounge Chairs and Outdoor Fireplace

Outdoor Home Theater

If you missed the chance to create your own outdoor sanctuary this summer, no worries, the summer season shall return!

The rest is here: sixdifferentways.com