Author Archives: simplyjess

Top Tips for Making Your Own Décor

Home décor ca n be incredibly expensive, and if you’re like a lot of people, you may not be finding everything you want in retail stores. However, you probably don’t know what to do to combat that and just buy what you like – if and when you can find it.

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There is one alternative to simply buying from retail home d cor stores though. You can make your own home décor items. Use this guide to help you learn more about the benefits of making your own home décor and to find out which pieces could best suit you.

Use Familiar Materials

When you’re going to make your own home décor items, you need to pick materials that you have a working knowledge of. For example, it might seem like a great idea to construct your own coffee table because that’s what you need, but if you’ve never worked with wood before, you’re not going to do a particularly good job.

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Materials that can be ideal for beginners include basic cloth for making things like pillows. Embroidery projects with instructions are also ideal for many people who know how to sew or have a history stitching.

In addition to cloth and embroidery projects you can also make a lot of things out of leather without being an expert. Just make sure that you get a book or tutorial to help you make the item that you want if you’re going to be doing it alone.

Ethnic products that showcase your heritage are also an ideal way to start crafting since you’ll already be familiar with how your item is supposed to look as you near the completion stage.

Know Your Budget

When you’re picking out items to start working with it can be easy to get in over your head. You don’t want to spend $200 or more and not be able to make something that really works for you. However, some craft and DIY projects require a serious initial investment.

When you’re first starting out, make sure you set a budget for supplies and materials. Otherwise, you could end up spending a whole lot of money when it could have been cheaper to just buy a throw pillow or blanket that you like!

Stores and online craft stores often have sales too, so if you’re just starting out, taking advantage of these sales can be helpful.

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Narrow Down your Los Angeles Hotel Search with a Checklist

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Los Angeles is a city known for celebrity sightings, high-end shopping and some of the top rated restaurants in the country. Given that there are hundreds of Los Angeles hotels to choose from, creating a checklist helps narrow down the best options for your needs and desired budget. The more specific you are with your requirements, the better the hotels meeting your criteria will be.

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Why you need a Checklist

Creating a checklist helps weed out sub-par hotels, those with few amenities or those that are not within the vicinity of your scheduled activities. It also helps you narrow down your search to a specific area of the city with better access to public transportation, locating restaurants within walking distance and the closest locations to your favorite shopping venders.
Items to Include

When creating your checklist it’s best to break it up into sections. These sections should include pet policies, luxury amenities, on-site shopping/restaurants/spas, children’s accommodations and security. Within these sections, break down your needs by category. For instance, if you are traveling with your children, include adjoining rooms as a requirement if necessary. Under the pet policy section, include what you need for your pet such as breed allowance, weight allowance and a dedicated dog run space.

The idea of this list is to decide what you really need from your hotel since Los Angeles is a big, busy city; you are not likely to spend much time in the hotel. Consider your absolute needs for comfort while staying at the selected hotel.

Finding Discounts and Hotel Savings

Now, finding a hotel in Los Angeles on a budget. That is where things may seem tricky. There are smartphone applications, travel packages, websites and physical publications where you can search for deals. Once you’ve narrowed down your options to about three or four, search for discounts or price breaks at those specific hotels.

In some cases, hotel and entertainment combination packages may be available.
Being in the heart of Los Angeles is part of the reason for visiting. Keep in mind that the closer your hotel is to major attractions and the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), the more expensive the hotel accommodations will be. Attempt to book hotels, flights and rental cars together in one package as it is often less expensive to work those items together than it is to purchase them separately.