Author: Ivana - Orbis Marketing

What I wore this summer, 5 days of fashion

Fashion

Although I do dress up occasionally, my daily uniform is comfy and casual because my whole life is casual. I don’t like uncomfortable clothes, I don’t wear heels, and if I don’t feel comfortable in something I wear, I won’t look good in it too.

Without further ado, let’s see some of my summer looks. Autumn is here (in Europe) but it’s spring in some other parts of the world. And if you are from the United Arab Emirates (hello Dubai) by any chance then you have an amazing weather all year long.

Day 1 – Black with details

My favorite black leather ballet flats worn with fishnet socks

I love long comfy and black summer dresses. They are so versatile pieces. You can add as much as you want jewelry, you can add colors and various accessories. Put on a nice little cardigan or a jean jacket on it’s colder outside and you are ready to go.

Shoes? Sneakers, flats, ballerina shoes, sandales or even heels, it’s up to you. When it comes to black dress, there is no limit in styling it. You can even add a hat!

Day 2 – Colorful Tuesday

For a long time I avoided color and patterns. I don’t know why. But few years back and I rediscovered my love for colorful patterns, flowers, and colors. And I think it looks good on me.

Day 3 – Pink and Stripes

Nothing reminds me more of a summer than stripes. I love that pattern a lot and I really don’t care whether those stripes are horizontal or vertical. It’s all in our heads anyway and you can wear whatever you like. It doesn’t matter who likes you, it only matters that you love yourself.

When I wear a simple dress like this one, I love colorful nail polish and some jewelry. Ok, let’s be honest, I always love to wear jewelry but you know what I mean. Right?

Day 4 – Is it Cranberry or Strawberry?

I love to pair dress like this one with my Converse shoes. It looks so much better to me than when I wear it with sandals, ballet flats or some other type of shoes. The bag I carried is Trussardi Jeans. I bought it this spring and it was the best buy of the whole year. Such a cool and versatile little bag but fits a lot of stuff.

I opted for gold jewelry, of course. I think it goes great with this cranberry colored dress. Few years ago I only wore silver jewelry and white gold. Now I only wear yellow and rose gold. Who knows what I’ll like next year.

Day 5 – Stripes and Biker Shorts

I couldn’t believe when I saw biker shorts back in the stores. Last time I saw them (apart from the sport shops) was back in the 90’s when this piece of wardrobe was very popular. Later, for decades you couldn’t find them for the life of you and now they are back.

At first I thought I’ll never wear them again. But I bought my first pair to go under a very short dress and was instantly hooked, of course. So now, I’m again into biker shorts, have them in many colors and can’t wait summer to wear them again.

This one is super simple combo for friday, hot day and running errands. I can’t describe you how I love to be comfortable and to wear something I like at the same time. Sneakers are my favorite type of footwear. I wear them for the most part of the year. Maybe I should do a post dedicated only to them? Let me know in the comments below.

What is your favorite look?

Relaxing Properties of Nature – 10 Reasons Why Being in the Nature is Good for You

life hacks, Lifestyle

Are you feeling a bit stressed lately? Tired? Irritable? Anxious? Maybe even a little depressed? Sluggish? It’s ok, autumn is here, winter is coming, days are colder and shorter and this year has been incredibly frustrating and strange.

Let me ask you another question? How much time have you spent in nature lately? The answer to this question may give you simple explanation of why are you feeling a bit down and under the weather lately. It’s not a myth, spending time in nature can help relieve stress and anxiety, improve your mood, and boost feelings of happiness and wellbeing. Whatever you call it , forest walking, ecotherapy, hiking, mindfulness in nature, green time or the wilderness cure, humans evolved in the great outdoors, and your brain benefits from a journey back to nature.

The way you spend time out in nature can affect how much your physical, emotional and mental health will benefit from it. So go outside to relax, relieve stress or anxiety, focus your mind, and improve your health and well-being, you definitely won’t regret it. You will even benefit from it.

There are undeniable benefits for your mental health when you spend time in nature, like lower stress and better memory.  But if you’re usually glued to a screen, computer, TV, or any other kind, you may have forgotten exactly how relaxing in nature works.

Here’s why it’s healthy and beneficial to spend some time outdoors and hug a tree or two.

You Feel Happier

According to one Finnish study, spending just 15 minutes sitting in nature helped people feel psychologically restored. If you spend time walking in nature, and not just sitting, the mental restoration happens even faster.

Walks In Nature Help Your Memory

Taking a walk is always a good idea, but one study from University of Michigan showed how amazing nature is. Participants who took a walk in nature versus a walk in the city performed 20% better on a memory test.

You Can Concentrate Better

Taking a break in nature can improve your concentration by giving your brain a well needed break. Leave your phone behind and let your mind unwind from the overstimulation brought on by modern busy life.

Nature Can Heal

One study shows that people exposed to more natural light healed faster from a spinal surgery and had less pain. Nature worked as a natural drug for them because they also needed less pain medications.

Nature Prompts Weight Loss

Being outside and enjoying a nature is not a magical diet pill, unfortunately, but it does tend to make exercise more enjoyable. Some aspects of outdoor exercise like hiking may help you lose weight in an unexpected ways. Spending time at higher altitudes can speed up your metabolism and decrease your apetite.

Vitamin D Is Good for You

Spending time in the sun helps your body create vitamin D – a vitamin that studies have shown may help prevent cancer, osteoporosos, and heart attack.

Nature Helps You To De-Stress

Being in nature can and will reduce stress in your body. Studies show spending time outdoors can lower your heart rate, help you relax and even sleep much better.

Nature Keeps You Youthful

Want to be forever young? Or at least to age gracefully? Going outside every day may be the key. One study showed those in their 70s who spent time outdoors every day had fewer complaints of common aging pains, like aching bones and poor sleep than those who didn’t.

Nature Brightens Your Mood

Nature helps you in many ways, including mental health. Multiple studies have linked nature walks with improved mental health.

Nature Boosts Your Immune System

A Japanese study showed women who spent six hours in the woods over a two day period increased their white blood cells, which fight viruses, and the boost lasted about a week after the experiment. Imagine what happens if you spend some time in nature every day!

Do you like to spend your time in the nature?

AHAs – Alpha Hydroxyl Acids, Find Your Favorite

Beauty and Skincare

Skincare ingredients can often be very confusing and hard to understand and because of that, it’s always a good idea to start with the basics.

Let’s answer this question – what is an alpha hydroxyl acid?

AHAs are water-soluble acids made from sugary fruits. They help peel away the surface of your skin so that new, more evently pigmented skin cells may generate and take their place. If you want younger-looking, smoother, more even-toned skin, you probably need AHAs in your skincare routine.

AHAs are primarily used to exfoliate. They can also help:

  • promote collagen and blood flow
  • correct discoloration from scars and age spots
  • improve appearance of surface lines and wrinkles
  • prevent acne breakouts
  • brighten your complexion
  • increase product absorption

There are six acids in the AHA family, so let’s learn more about them.

What’s your favorite AHA?

Traditional Recipes – Bosnian Kljukusa

cooking

Even those who love change tend to enjoy the things that are familiar to them. The things that remind them of childhood, family, summer vacations, travel, friends, or earliest ways of life. This is why home made meals and comford foods are so popular.

These are the foods we grew up on, and even when times are changing, we can count on our tasty classics to carry us along. Some foods simply say “home” to us, and they always make us feel better about life. But, finding the time and energy to prepare home-cooked meals can sometimes feel like a daunting task.

At the end of the crazy and busy day, eating out or ordering in might feel like the easiest option although not the healthiest one. But cooking at home doesn’t have to be complicated and can even take less time than eating out.

I believe that delicious, home made food need not be complicated nor take hours and hours. Just keep it simple. There are plenty of quick, easy and wholesome meals that just scream “comfort food”, you can cook at home in less time than it takes to travel to a restaurant or wait for a delivery.

Today I will show you great, simple and delicious recipe for a traditional Bosnian meal “kljukuša”. Kljukuša or kljukusa is a traditional Bosnian dish made with potatoes, eggs and flour. Baked until crispy and golden outside and soft inside, it’s the best summer meal when you are in a hurry and crave some “comfort food”.

Kljukusa can be described as a hash brown potato dish, and if you like hash browns this is recipe for you. Make it, try it, taste it and let me know what you think about this dish.

How To Deal With Creative Blocks

life hacks

Follow these tips next time you are faced with creative block.

Identify the Problem

Next time you get a creative block write down what may be the root of it. Then look for patterns.

Create Quick Fixes

Have a list of quick fixes that you can fall back on when you are in an unproductive mood.

Optimize Your Productive Hours

When are you most productive? Reserve that time for projects that require deep concentration. When are you the least focused? Reserve that time for simpler tasks like checking email.

Have Systems in Place

Some of my systems include waking up at the same time everyday, working in spurts of 25 minutes, and having a design community that I can call upon for feedback. What are yours?

Trust that it’s Part of the Process

Every creative goes through this. Have faith in yourself and trust that there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Maskne – What Are They, How To Prevent Them And How To Get Rid Of Them Once And For All?

Beauty and Skincare

Even if you don’t suffer from them, you’ve probably heard of them. Maskne! Often referred as acne appearing under the area where the mask is worn. It mostly occurs when sweat, oil, bacteria and other debris is trapped under the mask mixed up with mask fabric friction, increased trapped heat and humidity creating a perfect breeding ground for breakouts and skin sensitivity issues. Those who are generally more blemish prone and suffer clogged pores are usually affected the most.

HOW TO PREVENT AND TREAT MASKNE?

Mask Fabric

– Choose natural breathable fibres (for example cotton) over synthetic fibres (polyester or rayon) as they are generally more comfortable and cause less irritation.

– Choose lighter smoother materials for masks in general.

– Look out for antimicrobial masks.

Mask Fitting

Make sure your mask is fitted properly and not too tight across the cheeks, as tight strings may cause friction and congestion around the cheek area.

Mask Replacement

– Apply a clean mask every day to prevent the build up of bacteria, oil, and makeup on the mask.

– Ensure you are washing your masks regulary with gentle cleansing agents instead of harsh detergents.

– Have 7 masks on rotation for the week to save time and effort washing midweek.

Facial Hair

Those with facial hair might want to trim it or if they are shaving to help the mask fit better they may notice some extra irritation. Keep the skin and hair clean and moisturised underneath the mask to help prevent dryness and ingrown hairs.

Clean Skin

Make sure you are cleansing your skin gently and effectively both AM and PM. I would recommend double cleansing in the evening just to make sure you are removing all traces of dirt, products, sunscreen, etc.

Keep It Simple

Avoid layering too many products especially around the mouth area as this increases the chances of moisture, debris and products clogging your skin. Stick to essentials around this area but don’t forget your SPF as most masks don’t have UPF protection.

Take A Break

Removing your mask after a few hours when it is ok to do so (at home, in your car, during your lunch break, etc) can give your skin some respite.

Hydrate And Build Your Skin Barrier

Don’t forget to replenish your skin with hydrators, ceramides, fatty acids to prevent skin peeling, dryness, and dehydration underneath the mask. Using the right replenishing moisturiser daily can prevent issues of dryness, especially if you are using more blemish control ingredients.

Use Salicylic Acid (BHA) to prevent breakouts as it is an oil-soluble ingredient that is able to penetrate deep into the pores to unclog. For specific acne prone areas, you can use spot treatments with sulfur/benzoyl peroxide/BHA/tea tree oil to prevent and treat breakouts. A face wash with some active blemish ingredients might be a gentle option for more easily irritated skin.

If you are already undertaking some treatments for your skin, keep up with it as this will help keep flare ups under control but definitely speak to your doctor for more personal advice.

Keep Your Makeup Light

It is better to avoid wearing thick and heavy coverage foundation or long wear foundations under this area. Opt for light tinted coverage, sheer, tinted moisturisers, and/or tinted SPF for some coverage instead. Avoid setting powder if you can as again, the more layers will increase the chance of congestion. If you can, avoid wearing makeup under your mask.

If you use lip products, it might rub onto your mask and back onto your skin and can cause some congestion, especially if your lip product or lip balm have comedogenic ingredients in them.

Anyone else experiencing more than the usual breakouts with masks?

13 skincare mistakes you should avoid at all cost

Beauty and Skincare

Hey don’t worry! Nobody’s perfect. We all make mistakes. To make thing worse, we rarely learn from those mistakes and often we have to repeat them a few more times until we learn. Am I right?

Skincare mistakes are nothing new, nothing strange or unusual, and are commited by us all. Most of the time, you don’t even know that some of your habits are damaging your skin. Proper skincare is extremely important in the summer thanks to sunshine, humidity, and heat but in the winter too.

We all want nice, beautiful, and healthy skin. Sometimes we’ll do many crazy and extreme things to achieve it. We’ll spend insane amount of money on serums and creams. We’ll get botox, fillers and facials. We’ll buy expensive makeup and follow 30 step skincare regimen.

The skincare industry can be a little (a lot) overwhelming but, you know what? Getting nice skin is not as complicated as you may think. One place to start is by evaluating which skincare mistakes you’re doing and then learn from those mistakes.

Not removing makeup before sleep (and exercize)

This is a very common mistake, but also one of the worst mistakes you can do to your skin. While we sleep our skin is renewing, repairing and producing skin cells so we can look radiant, fresh and beautiful. Imagine this – if you have a layer of makeup on your skin you are making it nearly impossible for those cells to repair and renew.

The makeup also attracts free radicals, and they break down the collagen production in our skin, speed up the ageing process, and our skin becomes dull and dehydrated.

To prevent damage, remove all your makeup before going to bed, but also before your workout because sweat and makeup don’t mix well.

Using filthy bedding

Just because your pillowcase doesn’t look dirty, doesn’t mean it isn’t dirty. Sweat, oil from skin and hair, and other residues from products such as shampoos, conditioners, hair oils and face creams, linger around on your bedding. Are you even aware of what this could do to your skin? Awful things and damage.

Solution? Wash your bedding once a week. Change your pillowcase. You could also consider giving up cotton for silk.

Using dirty beauty tools

Dirt attracts bacteria. Bacteria is very dangerous for your skin. Using dirty tools, sponges and brushes not only leads to to clogged pores, but also to skin infections. If you never (or rarely) clean your beauty tools, don’t worry, you are normal but you should also change that unhealthy habit and your skin will be grateful.

Invest in new brushes and tools from time to time. Also, clean your tools regulary. Water and gentle soap and you are done!

Touching your face

Do you know what’s the biggest mistake you could make? Touching your face too often. Just think about all the things you touch and your hands are exposed to over the course of a regular day. Now, imagine all of that transferred to your face.

Every day our hands come in contact with millions of bacteria and germs. If you touch your face, everything will stuck there. And trust me, it’s much worse than it sounds. As difficult as it might be, keep your hands off your face. Also, keep your hands as clean as possible. But even when you have the cleanest hands, still don’t douch your face. It’s the biggest skincare mistake you could make.

Overexfoliating

Exfoliation is still important (in moderation). But instead of a harsh scrub, you can try a chemical exfoliant made with acids like AHA and/or BHA. It’s easy to go crazy with exfoliating scrubs, especially when your skin is feeling off or dry. But it could be doing more harm than good. Exfoliating can cause tiny tears in the skin and can impair the skin’s normal skin barrier.

Skipping daily sunscreen

You really need sunscreen every day — yes, even when it’s cloudy, raining or snowing. Sun exposure causes sunspots, skin damage and can lead to skin cancer — and you don’t have to be at the beach to get too much exposure. Use at least SPF 30.

Picking your skin

You may not even realize that you do it, but constantly picking at the skin can cause irritation, inflamed skin and spread bacteria. Going overboard with this can lead to scarring, and may even make you break out since your hands usually have a good amount of bacteria on them. If this is a nervous habit, try and break it by keeping your hands busy with something else. 

You’re mostly using face wipes

Using face wipes causes you to pull and tug at your skin to remove your eye makeup. Not good folks. Cleansing cloths should only be used for emergency. If you’re so exhausted that you can barely stand in front of a sink, then face wipes will come handy. Heck, it’s definitely better than not washing at all. But don’t use them too often and definitely not every day.

You’re not layering your products right

If you’re putting your serum on after moisturiser, you may as well be pouring it down the drain. Serums contain targeted ingredients that need as much contact as possible with your skin to work their magic. Moisturiser, on the other hand, acts like a protective blanket over the skin – which prevents the active ingredients in your serum from penetrating through.

If ever in doubt, simply apply your products from thinnest to thickest formula. This should look something like toner-serum-moisturiser-oil. “But my moisturiser is thicker than my face oil!”, I hear you cry. Well ask yourself – would you down a bottle of olive oil on a sunny day to quench your thirst? No, you wouldn’t. So you shouldn’t quench thirsty skin with a face oil.  Moisturisers contain humectants to draw water into uppermost layers of the skin, but they can’t do that if you put your face oil on first. Always pat in your face oil last, on top of your moisturiser.

Regardless of how simple or complicated your skincare routine is, the order in which you apply your products really matters. If you get your order wrong, some products won’t be able to reach your skin. This way, you will not only be wasting product, but you won’t benefit from it either.

Skipping moisturiser

There’s a huge misconception in the skincare community that the last thing oily skin types need is moisturiser. 

No matter what your skin type is, everyone needs moisturiser. In fact, using a moisturiser can actually help your skin regulate its own natural oil production – resulting in less spots overall. The trick is making sure you’ve got the right ingredients to help keep your skin hydrated, without triggering a break-out.

You are Changing Your Products to Often

I know a lot of women make this skincare mistake. It happens all too easily when someone goes out and purchases a whole new line of skincare products. They’ve likely heard all kinds of good things about it and feel amazing buying them. Then just a few days after swapping out everything their skin looks and feels worse than ever! The problem is if you change too much at once you’ll never know what is working and what’s not.

Your Morning Skin Care Routine is Non Existent

If the first thing you put on your face in the morning is makeup your skin is really missing out!! Your skin deserves more than only taking care of it before bed. While a nightly skin care routine is crucial to removing buildup, excess oil, and the like before you sleep – a morning routine is important too. 

Rubbing Products onto Your Face

When you apply a product such as a serum or cream on your skin, do you rub it in to get it absorbed? If yes, this habit has simply got to go! The skin on your face is more sensitive than the rest of your body and needs to be treated gently. Rubbing your skin can cause a bunch of problems such as early wrinkles, and skin damage. What’s more, rubbing your product in does not help it get absorbed better at all!

The best way to apply your products is by gently tapping it in. By pressing it into your skin with a light touch, your product will absorb a lot better while the tapping motion will help improve your blood circulation, leading to healthier, glowing skin.

So are you guys guilty of some of these mistakes too? Let me know in the comments below and be sure to keep an eye out for my next post!

5 Ingredients For A Brighter Skin

Beauty and Skincare

Now that fall is upon us, we start implementing heavier products into our skincare routines. This is the season that skin starts to take on a more dull tone. We are not exfoliating as much as we were in summer, the heating gets switched, the air is colder and things generally aren’t in our favour for bright skin.

Skincare isn’t about finding a quick fix because it simply doesn’t exist. No, it’s about living a lifestyle that allows confidence, control and healthy skin. In order to maintain blemish free skin (and that is totally possible to achieve) clear skin is a daily commitment.

Healthy skin requires consistent use of the right products, along with conscious lifestyle choices, the right diet, supporting supplements, and good sleep that lead you to achieving your skin goals. In order to get clear, healthy and brighter skin, patience and consistency is key.

Now tell me, is dull skin getting you down? Look no further because the next 5 ingredients all have one thing in common – making your skin brighter! They trigger the epidermis to head into full remodel mode, reducing the appearance of fine lines, smoothing, undulling, and hydrating for renewed radiance.

They brighten the skin by clearing away dull, dry skin to reveeal a fresher appearance, but some earn extra points for the ways they take on excess pigment.

Here is the list of the best 5 ingredients for a brighter skin:

Mandelic Acid

Mandelic acid enhances brightness in two ways. It inhibits the melanin producing enzyme tyrosinase to block pigment from forming. It helps lift existing pigment by exfoliating dead cells from the surface. Mandelic acid has a larger molecular structure than other AHAs, so it is absorbed by the skin more slowly and doesn’t cause irritation that can trigger hyperpigmentation.

It also has antibacterial, antifungal, and anti-inflammatory properties. Mandelic acid is a particulary good choice for skin of color or sensitive types because of its gentle action.

The best products that contain mandelic acid 

The Ordinary Mandelic Acid 10% + HA $7
PCA Skin Pore Refining Treatment $60
Susanne Kaufmann Glow Mask $90

Kojic Acid

Kojic acid is a natural skin lightening compound derived from mushrooms. It works by blocking the production of tyrosinase, the enzyme responsible for melanin synthesis. It also helps exfoliate skin and stimulate cell renewal, which is beneficial for removing existing pigmentation, plus it has photoprotective qualities.

Kojic acid fades dark spots and prevents new pigment formation making it ideal for combatting melasma, hyperpigmentation and age spots.

The best products that contain kojic acid 

SkinCeuticals Discoloration Defense $98
iS Clinical Super Serum Advanced Plus $155
La Roche-Posay Mela-D Pigment Control Serum $53

Glycolic Acid

Glycolic acid disperses pigment on skin’s surface through the sloughing off of dead cells. It also works to directly reduce melanin formation by inhibiting melanin production. In addition to accelerating cell turnover, glycolic acid stimulates collagen production and promotes a smoother texture and more consistent tone.

Because of its small molecular size, glycolic acid penetrates more quickly than other AHAs, so it can be quick to produce results (but don’t expect the overnight results). It can also be more irritating.

The best products that contain glycolic acid 

Mario Badescu Glycolic Skin Renewal Complex $35
Dermalogica Sound Sleep Cocoon $64
Herbivore Botanicals Prism Natural Fruit Acids 5% Exfoliating Glow Potion $62

Ascorbic Acid (Vitamin C)

This antioxidant powerhouse interacts with copper to inhibit the melanin-stimulating enzyme tyrosinase, reducing the formation of pigment and encouraging a brighter, more even tone. It also has a potent photoprotective effect to reduce melanin triggers.

Vitamin C is essential to collagen synthesis, so it supports a firmer skin structure.

The best products that contain vitamin C

Lumene Nordic-C Arctic Berry Oil-Cocktail $25
Drunk Elephant C-Tango Multivitamin Eye Cream $64
Sunday Riley C.E.O Vitamin C Rich Hydration Cream $65

Vitamin A

Vitamin A is converted into retinoic acid in the body where its potent antioxidant properties get to work. It disrupts the oxidative process induced by enviromental stressors to prevent and repair cellular damage. Vitamin A also brightens skin by accelerating cell turnover, which removes surface-level pigmentation.

As a bonus, vitamin A boosts collagen production, thickens, and firms the skin. Vitamin A is often used in combination with other AHA brighteners to maximize results.

The best products that contain Vitamin A

Elizabeth Arden Ceramide Retinol Capsules £39.31


A+ High-Dose Retinoid Serum £70.00
Retinol 0.3% + Vitamin B3 Serum £38.00

Are there any you’re a fan of?

Want To Be Happy And Successful? Read These 5 Tips For Success In Everything You Do Especially If You Are An Entrepreneur Or Thinking About Starting Your Own Business

Lifestyle

“The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one.” – Mark Twain

When creating a plan to achieve long-term goals, people often become overwhelmed or intimidated by what appears to be a mountain of obstacles. To make the necessary changes, start small and keep it simple.

If you want to be successful in everything that you do, or you are reading this because you’re thinking of starting your own busineess, these 5 tips will help you achieve your goals.

1. Choose something you’re passionate about

Whether you’re a writer, an inventor, an artist, a chef – loving what you do is essential if you are thinking about becoming your own boss.

Not only will you be doing a lot of it, you’ll be marketing your enterprise to others – and they won’t believe in what you do if you don’t.

Do you have something you’re passionate about?

2. Prepare to fail

Failure doesn’t neccesarily mark the end of a journey. In fact, if you are willing to learn from your mistakes, it can make your future endeavours all the more successful.

Just make sure you are willing to change whan you realise whatever you are doing isn’t working. Flexibility, humility, ability to change, adapt and learn – remember this as those are important in life and every business ecpecially in a young business.

Are you good at learning from your mistakes?

3. Stay hungry

Having a growth mindset is very important for a startup or independant business. It’s important in life in general. While it’s fine to relax a bit once you feel you are doing well, it’s important to keep pushing yourself to learn, grow and evolve.

Being your own boss may sound like the dream, but it’s definitely not an easy path to take.

Are you willing to keep pushing yourself?

4. Be willing to take risks

This goes along with the growth mindset, but if you want your business to suceed, you are going to have to take some risks and think big – especially at first.

This doesn’t mean throwing your life savings into an idea or quitting your day job right away, but it does mean getting out of your comfort zone.

Would you be willing to take risks?

5. Be ready to make sacrifices

This could mean less time for yourself or your family. It could mean financial sacrifices, it could mean late nights and stress – the point is starting a business isn’t easy, and you have to be willing to work really hard (especially at first) in the hopes that it will all be worth it in the end.

Would you be willing to sacrifice your time and sleep?

Are you ready?

How To Prepare Your Kitchen For Fall In 11 Fun And Creative Steps

Living

As the temperatures drop and pumpkin craze begins, prepare your kitchen for the season of celebrating roasted vegetables, spices, warm muffins, hearthy stews, and sweet potatoes for every meal. It’s time to welcome fall with open arms—and a clean kitchen. Autumn means crisper weather, foggy mornings, changing leaves, and cozy flannels and sweaters. Oh and boots!! Can’t wait to wear my Doc Martens and Uggs again!

If I could pick one season to live in year-round, it’d be autumn—and not just because of hot coffee and cinnamon apple everything either. I prefer fall to every other season because it gives me the perfect, guilt-free excuse to stay indoors. As the season changes and the temperature drops, I find myself wanting to be cozied up inside more often and cooking more frequently. Wrapping up in a warm blanket, sitting on the couch for a Netflix binge-session, and eating a big bowl of something comforting is an ideal autumn evening for me.

Do you agree that kitchen is the coziest place in your home? Kitchens are for more than just cooking, being the room where you talk, laugh, and share memories with the ones you love. September is the month where I start to prep my house, especially my kitchen, for fall and the upcoming holidays. 

As the summer comes to an end, your attention may turn to getting your house ready for the cooler fall and winter weather so it’s important to make your kitchen clean, cosy and beautiful.

So if you’re ready to say goodbye to summer and get ahead of the changing of the seasons, here are few easy steps that will help you get your kitchen ready for fall in snap:

Deep clean your shelves

You’ll be amazed by the rogue grains of rice and flour dust you’ll find. Kitchen is the busiest room of the house and it can get disorganized the fastest. As the weather turns colder, I’m in the kitchen more cooking and baking, so this month is a good time to go through each cabinet and get rid of the clutter.

It doesn’t have to be overwhelming. Take one cabinet at a time or a small section of your kitchen a day at a time. Empty the cabinet of everything, wipe it out and only put back the items that you actually use.

Free up some freezer space

It’s a good idea to sift through your freezer at least once a year and toss out expired, improperly stored, or freezer-burned foods. But more than that, you can get your freezer ready for fall by completely clearing out one or two shelves. What do you think? Can you do that?

Restock and reorganize your pantry

Throw out all of your expired goods, and take inventory of what’s left, making a note of any baking essentials (like all-purpose flour, baking powder, or vanilla extract) or dinner prep must-haves (like chicken broth, tomato paste, or rice) you’re short on. This will help you avoid making any last-minute trips to the grocery.

Without question, there will always be a few items in the pantry that just need to go, whether they’re expired or simply things you will literally never use. Oh, be sure to move all fall flavorings–cinnamon, nutmeg, ginger, cloves – to the front and center of your spice rack.

Clean your oven

To prep for your fall baking, you’ll also want to give your oven a deep clean. After removing everything inside the oven, make a paste with a 1/2 cup of baking soda and a few tablespoons of water. Coat the entire interior of your oven with the paste, using gloves if your oven is extra grimy. Allow the mixture to sit overnight, and in the meantime, clean the oven racks.

After at least 12 hours, wipe out the paste (and all the grime it lifted) with a warm, damp dish cloth. Spray with white vinegar as needed to remove excess baking soda, then wipe down once more with a clean, wet cloth.

Clean under the sink

After you give your pantry, freezer and oven a refresh, it’s time to take a look at your cleaning supplies. Empty out everything underneath the sink (or wherever it is you store your cleaners), give the cabinet itself a scrub, and replace whatever needs to be restocked.

Deep clean your refrigerator

Now is the time to say farewell to crusty summer condiments and expired food so you can make room for your fall ingredients! But first, give your refrigerator a deep clean. As a general rule, your fridge can use a refresh and good clean at least once a season, and at the beginning of a new season is a great time to hit “reset.” Take all the items out of the fridge, remove the drawers and shelves, and give them a scrub in your sink. For the walls and surfaces you can’t remove, spray with a solution of water and white vinegar, then scrub. 

Get to meal planning

Now that the kitchen is decluttered and organized, you can move forward with a clear head and thorough knowledge of what you’re working with in the kitchen. This means you can easily plan meals around what you have to utilize the ingredients you intentionally keep in stock. Simply make a list of the ingredients you have, plan a few menus around those items, and then make a shopping list for the handful of other items you may need to enjoy prepping cozy meals in your refreshed, orderly kitchen.

Decorate with pumpkins

Pick up an assortment of colorful pumpkins (orange, white, green…) at your local supermarket and then have fun pairing them with various fall offerings, like warm-toned foliage and seasonal fruit. Arrange them in a bowl and set them on your table for a centerpiece, or set them on countertops next to cozy candles.

Decorate with seasonal fruit

Seasonal fall fruits like pears, plums, apples, and figs make great arrangements on your kitchen table or countertops. Create a fall fruit bowl and place it on your kitchen counter to bring in the feeling of the season, or use fall fruit in an arrangement with other decorations to create a centerpiece for your kitchen table.

Embrace classic fall colors

Fall introduces a lot of earth-friendly tones, and these tones can be used to easily add coziness to a kitchen that is starting to cool down. Colors like burnt orange, chocolate brown, olive green, and mustard yellow are all fall-appropriate colors that will instantly bring warmth to your kitchen. Most fall colors can be found in nature, so anything goes to make your fall-kitchen your own. 

Flowers and herbs

Collect fall foliage from your neighborhood or farmers’ market, then pair elegant florals like roses or hydrangeas. It’s easy, fun, and inexpensive to arrange your own fall-themed bouquets to use as centerpieces around your kitchen. 

Fall is a great time to use natural herbs as decorations in your kitchen. Keep bundles of herbs like rosemary, thyme, or fresh sage around your kitchen to use as a decoration, for cooking, or simply as an organic air freshener. 

You can also use dried wheat bundles as a decoration captures the essence of autumn without the maintenance of taking care of it. Dried natural wheat gives any arrangement a rustic, earthy look that feels appropriately autumn.

What do you think? Is your kitchen ready for fall? If not, what are you going to do about it? I’d love to hear what you do to prepare your kitchen for the fall.