Anne's Blog

Heres everything you need to know about Mid-Century Modern design.

Combining modern materials with traditional craftsmanship, mid-century modern architecture was uniquely designed to cater to the lifestyle of suburban families in America.

Exhibiting flat or low-pitched roofs and sweeping, horizontal lines, mid-century modern houses benefit from an abundance of natural light.

In addition to lots of glass, popular materials include wood, stone and brick.

Its quite common to see bright colors infused through furniture or accent walls.

Furnishings with geometric patterns and sculptural lines are key to mid-century modern interiors.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

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Is your homes medicine cabinet full of expired drugs or medications you no longer use? It might be time to clean out the clutter. However, because a drug that was safe for you might be harmful for someone else, its important to dispose of your expired, unwanted or unused medicines in the safest way possible.

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), there are two ways to dispose of medicine at home, depending on the drug.

Some prescription drugs"such as powerful narcotic pain medicines and other controlled substances"could be especially harmful to others and have specific directions to immediately flush them down the sink or toilet when theyre no longer needed. This reduces the danger of overdose from unintentional or illegal use.

To see if your medication should be flushed, check the label or the patient information leaflet with your medicine, or consult the FDAs list of medicines recommended for disposal by flushing. Notably, the FDA says theres been no sign of environmental effects caused by flushing recommended drugs.

Meanwhile, almost all other medicines can be thrown into your household trash. These include prescription and over-the-counter drugs in pills, liquids, drops, patches and creams.

To safely throw drugs out, remove them from their original containers and mix them with something undesirable, such as used coffee grounds, dirt or cat litter. This makes the medicine less appealing to children and pets and unrecognizable to someone who might intentionally go through the trash looking for drugs.

Put the mixture in something you can close, such as a resealable zipper storage bag, empty can or other container, to prevent the drug from leaking or spilling out, and throw the container in the garbage. To protect your identity and privacy, scratch out all your personal information on the empty medicine packaging before throwing it away, as well.

Outside the house, drug take-back programs are also a great option to properly dispose your expired or unused medication. The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) sponsors National Prescription Drug Take Back Day nationwide, and many communities also have their own take-back programs. Check with your local law enforcement officials to find a location near you or with the DEA to find an agency-authorized collector in your area. You can also check with your pharmacist, as some pharmacies have mail-back programs and disposal kiosks for unused medicines.

Using these methods to clean out your cluttered medicine cabinet will not only help free up some space, but also help ensure you do it in a way that keeps your family safe.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

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Published with permission from RISMedia.

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While world peace is a great idea, if you want to add a touch of calm to your life, begin with your bedroom. Your room isn’t merely the place to rest your head, it’s where you wake, and the vibe of your room can set the tone for the rest of your day. Below are five tips for bringing a peaceful vibe to your bedroom.

Choose calming colors. While red or orange may be your favorite fiery hue, when picking shades for your room, choose soothing, calm colors like light blue or a gentle gray.

Pick minimal patterns. Keep the fun, funky patterns for the living room throw pillows. Busy patterns can make us feel crowded and overwhelmed, so minimize zany patterns in your sleep space.

Clear the room of clutter. Create a sanctuary in your bedroom by keeping it clear of clutter, from laundry to oversized furniture. Spend a few minutes before bed each day storing any items you pulled out, close the closet doors, put the books back on the shelves and dive into bed with a clear head and space.

Bring in nature. Houseplants can boost mood and pump more oxygen into the room. Choose a few easy-to-care for plants, like a fern or a ficus, and place them where you can see them when you wake.

Select the right lighting. While blackout shades can be great for blocking disruptive light, it can also negatively impact your sleep patterns by keeping your body from waking at its natural time. Find a set of blackout curtains that filter light but allow you to wake in the morning naturally.

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Here are four reasons you need an air purifier.

Air Pollution

Air purifiers can significantly reduce airborne pollutants that find their way into your living space and are unsafe to breathe in.

Pets

We love our furry friends, but their fur and dander can cause allergies and odor. Air purifiers remove these and keep the air fresh.

Pollen and Dust

State-of-the-art systems are an effective solution for eliminating pollen and dust particles.

Viruses and Bacteria

An air purifier is the perfect way to combat germs that cause colds and viruses and circulate fresh air into your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

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