Category Archives: Home and Garden

Is home where the heart is? Mayflower reveals where Americans are moving – and how location shapes our identities

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New survey finds 74% of Americans feel they have a hometown — and 58% think of their hometown as where they originally come from

There’s no place like home – but how do you find “home” after relocating? In new customer data and survey findings, Mayflower reveals how Americans are defining their identities in new places amid the great reshuffling across the nation.

Today, Mayflower shared the results of its new “Finding Home” data, indicating the top states and cities Americans moved to throughout the past two years. The data showed that, among locations where Mayflower supported 800 or more total moves, Idaho experienced a higher percentage of inbound moves than any other state from July 2019 to July 2021. In addition, Sarasota, Fla., saw a higher percentage of inbound migration compared to any other major metropolitan area during the same timeframe.

Alongside the migration data, a new survey from Mayflower, also released today, revealed nearly three-fourths of Americans (74%) feel they have a hometown. However, the meaning of “hometown” is in the eye of the beholder: 58% think of their hometown as the place they come from, while 42% think of their hometown as the place they’re currently living.

According to the survey:

  • Millennials (76%) are the most likely generation to consider moving back to a city they lived in before, compared to 66% of Gen X, 59% of Gen Z and just 37% of Baby Boomers. 
  • More than half (57%) are likely to adopt the professional sports team from their new location.
  • Nearly half (48%) of movers say the proximity to arts and culture venues helped influence where they moved to. Notably, this is higher among men than women (57% vs. 39%) and among Gen Z (58%) and Millennials (65%) compared to Boomers (26%).
  • Those in the Northeast (61%) are significantly more likely to cite arts and culture venues as an influence compared to the South (46%), West (45%) and Midwest (44%).
  • Roughly two thirds (67%) indicate the weather as a top influence, followed by proximity to parks, green spaces and nature trails (61%).
  • Roughly half of movers chose their own region as having the most delicious foods. Aside from respective regions, the South emerged as the second leading response across all regions, with 38% of respondents saying the South is home to the tastiest foods.
  • Those who feel they have a hometown are more likely to recommend it as a place to live.
Mayflower, America’s most recognized and trusted moving company, releases ‘Finding Home’ data.

On the regional front, New York style pizza was cited as the favorite Northeastern regional cuisine (63%), while barbeque (44%) topped the list of Midwestern food favorites. However, compared to other regions, Westerners were most likely to say their area had no well-known foods. When it comes to commonly used local lingo, the survey also found the most debated regional terminology to be “stuffing” versus “dressing,” with 38% preferring the former, 36% preferring the latter and 26% unsure.

“As the most recognized and trusted moving company in the country, Mayflower moves thousands of families each year, helping them settle into their new homes and begin to explore their identities in a new place,” said Eily Cummings, director of corporate communications, Mayflower. “With a broad network of more than 200 agencies, our recent data also points to the broader moving patterns we’re seeing among Americans during this time of great reshuffling.”

Where Americans are Finding Home

The top inbound states (with 800 total moves or more) from July 2019 – July 2021 were: 

  1. Idaho
  2. South Carolina
  3. Oregon
  4. Tennessee
  5. Florida

The top inbound metropolitan statistical areas (with 800 total moves or more) from July 2019-July 2021 were: 

  1. Sarasota, Fla.
  2. Wilmington, N.C. 
  3. Fort Myers-Cape Coral, Fla.
  4. Santa Fe, N.M. 
  5. Boise, Idaho

To learn more about Mayflower and access regionally curated welcome resources on Finding Home for those who have just moved or are considering one, visit Mayflower.

About Mayflower
Mayflower is America’s most recognized and trusted moving company. With headquarters in suburban St. Louis, Mayflower maintains a network of 200 affiliated agencies. For more information about Mayflower Transit and its services, visit Mayflower.com or find us on social at @MayflowerMoving or @MayflowerMovingCompany.

Good Things are Coming to Martha.com

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Martha.com is a direct-to-consumer online platform that combines Martha’s beautifully designed products and carefully curated goods with dynamic and engaging content all in one place

Marquee Brands announces today the expansion of Martha.com, a new online platform that includes housewares, kitchen goods, garden essentials, apparel and more from the point of view of the original influencer herself, Martha Stewart. The site brings products to life with the guidance and solution orientation of Martha and her team. As Martha.com is adding more products and experiences every week, consumers can not only shop Martha’s line of beautifully designed products, but also Martha’s personal favorite curated products all in one place, with the mission to inspire people of all ages to make their homes and lives more beautiful, more functional, and more meaningful. Martha.com provides high-quality products at a value, with superior function and innovation, all while having a beautiful design that elevates the home. The online platform will be constantly updated to feature new products, experiences, how-to content, recipes, organizing and planning guides, and classes – all linked to the right tools for the task at hand. 

Martha Stewart

Martha.com will also feature products and brands that are deemed “Good Things” which are an encapsulation of the three tenets of the Martha Stewart brand: function and innovation, quality at a value, and beauty.

Through a unique blend of Martha Stewart’s 30+ years of experience and best-in-class products, Martha.com aims to bring together everyday solutions for gardening, cooking, baking, collecting, decorating, organizing, celebrating, and more all from the woman who does it best. 

“Martha.com is a culmination of my vision for decades. It’s a place to buy products I’ve designed, curated and collected to help get anyone’s home, garden and kitchen tasks done efficiently, beautifully, and purposefully,” says Martha Stewart. “Martha.com is a limitless source of inspiration, all in one place and this is just the beginning. Much more is on the way – new tools, new applications, new products, and new experiences. We are planning to launch new innovations every month for the foreseeable future.” 

“With Martha.com, we are focused on using digital technology to extend and enhance the values that have built Martha Stewart into one of the most trusted brands in the world – bringing together a carefully connected set of Martha’s favorite products, lessons, and simple, practical advice,” said Neil Fiske, CEO of Marquee Brands. “The know how powering this site is more than 30 years in the making and now we’re shaping it to be even more useful and accessible through advanced technology. Martha has challenged us to re-invent digital commerce as she re-invented publishing — and that’s what we are going to do.” 

Martha.com currently has product assortments in the following categories:

  • Books
  • Fashion: Outwear, Footwear
  • Food & Wine: Fruit, Gourmet Gifts, Meat, Seafood, Wine
  • Good Things
  • Home: Indoor Plants, Kid’s Furniture, Rugs
  • Kitchen & Dining: Bakeware, Cookware, Food Prep, Tableware, Barware
  • Outdoor Living: Gardening, Grilling, Décor, Furniture, and Rugs
  • Partners: Amazon, California Closets, Canopy CBD, Easy Spirit, Macy’s, Martha Stewart Kitchen, Martha Stewart & Marley Spoon, Martha Stewart Wine Co., Pretty Litter QVC, Sur La Table and Wayfair

Stay tuned! In the coming months, Martha.com will expand its product assortment into Kitchen & Dining, Food, Fashion, Bedding & Bath, Gardening, Pet Care and more. A robust Holiday Shop will also launch later in the year, which will include everything consumers need for holiday entertaining, decorating, gifting and more. We can’t wait!!

Redfin Reports Balance is Slowly Returning as Homebuying Demand Recedes

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Price drops reached their highest level since 2019

The share of homes for sale with a price drop rose for the fifteenth consecutive week to 4.9%, according to a new report from Redfin (redfin.com), the technology-powered real estate brokerage. Home sellers are also beginning to notice that the market is no longer heating up, and buyers are seeing that homes are staying on the market a little longer—a median 17 days—as more homeowners are listing their homes and at more realistic prices.

Key housing market takeaways for 400+ U.S. metro areas:

Unless otherwise noted, this data covers the four-week period ending August 8. Redfin’s housing market data goes back through 2012.

  • The median home-sale price increased 17% year over year to $362,642, a record high.
  • Asking prices of newly listed homes were up 11% from the same time a year ago to a median of $355,389. This is down 1.6% from the all-time high set during the four-week period ending June 27, and the lowest since early May.
  • Pending home sales were up 5% year over year, the smallest increase since the four-week period ending June 28, 2020. Pending sales were down 10% from their 2021 peak during the four-week period ending May 30, a faster fall than the 5% decrease over the same period in 2019.
  • New listings of homes for sale were up 0.2% from a year earlier. The number of homes being listed is in a typical seasonal decline, down 9% from the 2021 peak during the four-week period ending June 27, compared to a 10% decline over the same period in 2019.
  • Active listings (the number of homes listed for sale at any point during the period) fell 25% from 2020—the smallest decline since the four-week period ending December 6, 2020—and have climbed 15% since their 2021 low during the four week period ending March 7.
  • 50% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within the first two weeks on the market, well above the 44% rate during the same period a year ago, but down 7 percentage points from the high point of the year, set during the four-week period ending March 28.
  • 36% of homes that went under contract had an accepted offer within one week of hitting the market, up from 32% during the same period a year earlier, but down 7 percentage points from the high point of the year, set during the four-week period ending March 28.
  • 53% of homes sold above list price, up from 30% a year earlier. This measure has been falling since the four-week period ending July 11 when it peaked at 55%.
  • The average sale-to-list price ratio, which measures how close homes are selling to their asking prices, decreased to 101.9%. In other words, the average home sold for 1.9% above its asking price. This measure is down 0.4 percentage points from its peak during the four-week period ending July 11, and up 2.9 percentage points from a year earlier.

Other other leading indicators of homebuying activity:

Asking prices have eased back to where they were in May, and while they are still being bid up half of the time, homes are selling for less of a premium above list price than they were last month. Overall, the market is becoming more balanced and following typical seasonal trends. The scales are still tipped in favor of sellers, but not as dramatically as they were in the spring.

“For the first time in over a year, homebuyers don’t need to feel rushed,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “Although the market still feels tight and competitive, the number of homes for sale keeps creeping up as more homes are listed. Those home sellers are adjusting their price expectations or seeing their homes sit on the market. There could be even more listings coming on the market as mortgage forbearance ends and homeowners with missed payments decide to sell. And mortgage rates remain near all-time lows with no signs of an increase on the horizon.”

To view the full report, including charts and methodology, please visit:

RedfinDataCenter

New Homeowners Can Spend Nearly $30K on Unexpected But Common Projects

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New research from Thumbtack and Zillow finds millennial home shoppers are most excited about personalized projects, like interior painting, and least excited about high-stakes projects, like roofing repairs.

Projects most excited to undertake

 With millennial first-time buyers taking advantage of record low mortgage rates and jumping into homeownership, many are likely unaware of the projects they may have to undertake to get their new home move-in ready. New research1 and survey data from Thumbtack and Zillow find a typical for-sale home could need nearly $30,000 of work, which could come as a shock to the large majority (65 percent) of active home shoppers who are not seeking a fixer-upper.2

To help first-time buyers feel prepared for the home-buying journey, Zillow compiled a list of the most common projects its teams tackle after purchasing homes through Zillow Offers, a service that allows sellers to skip prep, open houses and showings by selling directly to the company. Zillow handles the prep work, including repairs, so buyers can feel confident they’re purchasing a move-in ready home that is clean, safe and functional. Using that list of common repairs, Thumbtack, the modern home management platform, calculated the national average costs to complete each project.

According to the new survey of 1,000 homebuyers, the average millennial expects to pay between $10,000 and $15,000 to make a home move-in ready, when in reality, the data shows new homeowners should actually expect to spend about $26,900 on these projects. Evaluating, repairing or replacing HVAC systems is the most expensive move-in project, costing $3,615 on average nationwide.

Projects least excited to undertake

“This research suggests first-time homebuyers typically underestimate the costs of the unsexy projects they may have to tackle before they even move in,” says Amanda Pendleton, Zillow home trends expert. “That sticker shock may be increasingly common in a competitive market where buyers are dropping inspection contingencies as a strategy to win a bidding war. Make sure to factor in these unexpected costs when making an offer to make sure you can afford them, or nail down the tradeoffs you’re willing to make for a move-in ready home. That way, you can focus on the fun, personalized projects that make a new house feel like home.” 

Homebuyers say they’re most excited about improvement projects that allow them to express their personal style and make a home feel like their own. Millennial homebuyers are most excited to tackle interior painting ($385/room), followed closely by wallpaper installation ($530/room) and kitchen updates like remodels and renovations ($7,445). 

“We know homebuyers are most concerned about the hassle of home maintenance and repairs. It feels overwhelming to know where to begin, but also, who to entrust with your most valuable possession,” says David Steckel, Thumbtack’s home expert. “Thumbtack makes it easy to care for your home from top to bottom. We help bring to life the joy of homeownership by connecting homeowners with skilled local professionals who can make their homes a haven, fit for relaxing, working, entertaining and more.”

Common projects for new homeowners and costs

Homebuyers are least excited about making roofing repairs, which cost an average of $800 to evaluate and complete. This is followed by general plumbing repairs ($335), painting the entire home exterior ($2,415) and repairing damaged floors ($315-$1,245, depending on the type of floor). These projects tend to be more time consuming or require a deeper level of expertise to complete, which can make homeowners feel out of their comfort zone.

One way to manage costs when purchasing a home is to work with the seller’s agent to negotiate compensation for repairs and updates in the offer terms. By working with a trusted agent who can help identify unforeseen issues, and springing for a pre-inspection, buyers may get a better idea of the necessary projects a for-sale home could need before submitting an offer. Thumbtack can then help estimate the costs of these projects and connect homeowners with the right skilled professionals in their area to get each project done and done well. For those seeking a move-in ready home, shoppers in 25 markets can also filter their search on Zillow for “Zillow-owned homes.”

Methodology

  • First, mapped the Zillow list of projects against Thumbtack categories based on keywords
  • Filtered out projects that were too specific and that did not have a sufficient number of matching data points with Thumbtack
  • Cleansed the job values by removing outliers or amounts that were far too high compared to normal
  • Averaged the amounts per Zillow Category and Thumbtack’s top designated market area (DMA)
  • Top DMAs were chosen according to the availability of data points across all Zillow projects
  • All prices shown reflect the national average across the U.S. Prices may vary by city depending on supply and demand, price of materials, etc. For data on specific regions, please go to thumbtack.com/prices

About Zillow Group
Zillow Group, Inc. (NASDAQ: Z and ZG) is reimagining real estate to make it easier to unlock life’s next chapter.

As the most-visited real estate website in the United States, Zillow® and its affiliates offer customers an on-demand experience for selling, buying, renting or financing with transparency and nearly seamless end-to-end service. Zillow Offers® buys and sells homes directly in dozens of markets across the country, allowing sellers control over their timeline. Zillow Home Loans™, our affiliate lender, provides our customers with an easy option to get pre-approved and secure financing for their next home purchase. Zillow recently launched Zillow Homes, Inc., a licensed brokerage entity, to streamline Zillow Offers transactions. 

Zillow Group’s brands, affiliates and subsidiaries include Zillow®, Zillow Offers®, Zillow Premier Agent®, Zillow Home Loans™, Zillow Closing Services™, Zillow Homes, Inc., Trulia®, Out East®, StreetEasy® and HotPads®. Zillow Home Loans, LLC is an Equal Housing Lender, NMLS #10287 nmlsconsumeraccess.org

About Thumbtack
Thumbtack is a technology leader building the modern home management platform. Through the Thumbtack app, homeowners can effortlessly manage their homes — confidently knowing what to do, when to do it and who to hire. Bringing the $500 billion home services industry online, Thumbtack empowers millions of homeowners to fix, maintain and improve their most valuable asset. The company is backed by Sequoia Capital, Tiger Global Management, Javelin Venture Partners, Baillie Gifford and CapitalG, among others.

1 Source: Thumbtack Home Project Data
2 Source: Thumbtack and Zillow Millennial Home Buying Survey. A sample of 1,000 U.S. adults was surveyed between June 11, 2021 and June 14, 2021. DKC Analytics conducted and analyzed this survey with a sample procured using the Pollfish survey delivery platform, which delivers online surveys globally through mobile apps, the mobile web and the desktop web. No post-stratification has been applied to the results.

SOURCE Zillow

Sotheby’s International Realty Launches First Transcreational Global Advertising Campaign

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“Nothing Compares” Reinforces Brand Promise to Elevate the Home Buying and Selling Experience Amidst Historic Market Demand

NEW YORK, April 21, 2021 — Sotheby’s International Realty is pleased to announce the launch of its “Nothing Compares” digital-first advertising campaign, supporting the brand’s commitment to providing an incomparable and consistent real estate experience around the world. The debut marks the brand’s first transcreational campaign which goes beyond standard language translation, ensuring that the concepts consider cultural norms and native languages, allowing the campaign to be immediately implemented in the 75 countries and territories where the luxury real estate brand currently operates.

“Nothing Compares” will come to life with a global portfolio of media partners across film, digital, and print.

As the global real estate market continues to top its own records, the “Nothing Compares” campaign is representative of the Sotheby’s International Realty® brand’s promise to its clients to invariably provide a stellar experience.

“Sotheby’s International Realty agents around the world consistently deliver white-glove service and I am continually inspired by their efforts,” said Brad Nelson, chief marketing officer for Sotheby’s International Realty. “This campaign broadens our marketing messaging beyond where we represent property to how we can help you get there.”

The “Nothing Compares” campaign concept was developed by global experience design agency, Huge, utilizing a digital-first approach to align with the Sotheby’s International Realty brand’s commitment to technology and innovation. The ad campaign will be available in 16 different languages and can be fully localized by each of the brand’s 1,000 offices.

“This campaign was created with flexibility in mind because it needed to make an impact internationally with a digital-first audience,” said Bryan Lee, creative director of Huge. “The short, on-brand messaging will resonate with audiences worldwide while also working in the social and digital spaces. Our goal was to ensure ‘Nothing Compares’ could be easily customized to celebrate the architecture and lifestyles offered in every local community. It’s truly a global campaign in every sense.”

“Nothing Compares” will come to life with a global portfolio of media partners across film, digital, and print. Video assets will be advertised on Architectural Digest’s Open Door digital series and connected TV advertising, signifying the first time the brand will air on streaming platform, YouTube TV. The campaign will also include print advertisements in Architectural Digest and The New York Times and digital programs with Curbed, Frieze, The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, Financial Times, Nikkei, The Australian, Google, Facebook, and Instagram.

The announcement follows the brand’s recent US$150 billion global sales volume success in 2020 and comes at a time many consumers are redefining “home.”

To learn more about Sotheby’s International Realty, visit www.sothebysrealty.com.

Source: Sotheby’s International Realty

Pure Farmland™ Celebrates National Gardening Day With Year Two Launch Of Its Pure Growth Project Grant Program Supporting Gardens Across America

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As Part of the Pure Growth Project, the Plant-Based Protein Brand is Also Partnering with Cooking Matters to Help Provide Easier Access to Fresh Food

SMITHFIELD, Va., April 14, 2021  — Pure Farmland™ believes that good things are grown from the ground up. That’s why the brand launched the Pure Growth Project in 2020 to support gardening in the community and at homes throughout the country. In 2021, Pure Farmland’s commitment to help gardens big and small continues on. Through financial support to neighborhood gardens and eligible food projects via its grant program and by way of its Grow a Meal, Share a Meal program with Cooking Matters, the brand aims to increase the availability of locally grown fruits and vegetables in communities everywhere.

Pure Growth Project grant program aims to increase community access to locally grown produce for second consecutive year.

As part of the brand’s pledge to keep “growing good” across America, Pure Farmland is kicking off year two of the Pure Growth Project grant program today on National Gardening Day. As a holiday that’s all about encouraging current and aspiring gardeners to pick up a shovel and begin a year of homegrown bounty, the day’s mission aligns with Pure Farmland’s quest to ensure gardens continue to flourish all season long, and beyond. Throughout the year, grants will be awarded to qualified community farms, gardens, and nonprofit organizations – particularly in urban areas where access to fresh produce and green space can be limited – through an open application process launching today and ending on June 15, 2021, subject to terms and conditions.

“At Pure Farmland, we’re constantly inspired by the organizations, communities, and individuals across the country who make it their life’s work to not only ensure that neighbors have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, but to protect these much-needed green spaces that are the source of connection and sustenance for so many,” said Erin Thacker, brand manager for Pure Farmland. “We are proud to continue the legacy of the Pure Growth Project to keep supporting those in our local communities who are creating change and continuing to sow good.”

In the initial year of the Pure Growth Project grant program, 167 applications were received from community gardens and farms across 31 states, and 50 organizations were carefully selected to receive grants, providing a total of $100,000 in financial support to nurture these unique neighborhood spaces. In 2021, in the spirit of continued growth, Pure Farmland has increased its financial commitment by 25%, providing $125,000 via grants in hopes of positively supporting as many community green spaces as possible.

The brand has also launched its Grow a Meal, Share a Meal program to motivate consumers to plant and grow their own gardens at home. Together with Big City Gardener Timothy Hammond, Pure Farmland created four easy-to-follow garden plans that produce fresh ingredients for dishes that pair well with its flavor-packed plant-based protein products, creating a satisfying, affordable and healthy meal that’s homegrown. Garden plans include Tex-Mex, Burger, Italian Dinner, and Breakfast.

Pure Farmland is encouraging consumers to download the plans and share their own garden photos at puregrowthproject.com. For every video watched, garden plan downloaded, or photo submitted with the brand tag @purefarmland through June 25, 2021, Pure Farmland will donate $5 to Cooking Matters, with a guaranteed minimum commitment of $75,000 and maximum of $100,000. Each donation will help to support Cooking Matters’ programs that teach parents and caregivers with limited food budgets how to shop for and cook healthy meals.

“We’re so grateful to be partnering with Pure Farmland during this critical time when so many families are struggling with hunger due to the pandemic,” said Leigh Ann Edwards Hall, Managing Director for Cooking Matters. “Together, we’re helping families access healthy, affordable food.”

To submit an application for the Pure Growth Project or to learn more about eligibility, guidelines, and the selection process, visit puregrowthproject.com.

Source: Smithfield Foods, Inc.

Sprucing up the outdoors for spring

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Your front porch and flower garden are the first things your guests see when they arrive. Make sure they are gorgeous!

IMG_5775I don’t have a lot of space in my backyard, which limits my gardening to containers. As I began working on my patio garden blueprint, I headed outdoors to take stock of my garden containers. I needed to weed out the old, dead plants and check for cracks or breakage of my pots after our freezing northwest winter weather.

My back patio was in a deplorable state. Moss and general “grunginess” had taken over my herb and floral containers. It’s not something I probably would have spent too much time worrying over, but the hard freezes this year and taken a toll on a couple of my terra cotta’s, so I headed out to Lowe’s to purchase new ones. When I returned home with them and set them beside my seasoned pots, the contrast was too noticeable to walk away from. Cleaner, rags and a hose in hand, I went to work.

FullSizeRenderEarlier this year Mean Green had asked me to be one of the ambassadors for their brand. I had not previously tried the product and they sent me an assortment to test. The patio furniture sat out in the snow and was covered in a light green layer of dirt and moss. Every accessory, container, planter and piece of garden and patio furniture received a scrubbing and we are ready for barbecue activity. I love this product and it made my backyard patio garden gorgeous again.

Spring cleaning generally seems to be an indoor activity. While we tackle windows, cabinets and clean out dusty closets, our outdoors needs a good scrubbing as well to get ready for backyard cookout activities and evening cocktails on the front porch. While I was out checking my pots, I had also noticed my front and back doors were loaded with dirt. They received a good scrubbing as well.

IMG_5777Additional things to consider while cleaning the outdoors for spring and summer:

  • Clean out last year’s growth from the flower beds and turn over the dirt. Even if you aren’t ready to plant, this freshens up the yard.
  • Containers are a great way to add spots of color and are easy to move around the yard as needed. Set in cut florals or plant flowers already in bloom for instant beauty.
  • More ideas below!

MeanGreenHouse-withcopy.jpg

Please Note: We did receive product and yes, this is a sponsored post written by Karie Engels. While we do publish posts that are sponsored, this site will not ever represent or write about a product we do not believe in and we proudly represent Mean Green as one of their product Ambassadors.

 

January Cleaning with Limoneira Citrus

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Use Limoneira citrus to revitalize and clean any home – without any of the harmful chemicals found in many store-bought cleaners

It’s not quite spring yet, but a bit of “pre-spring” cleaning wouldn’t hurt. It’s no secret that store-bought cleaning agents can be full of hidden and harmful chemicals that are best left outside the home. Therefore, this month Limoneira spokesperson and founder of Healthy Grocery Girl Megan Roosevelt has put together a bevy of cleaning tips and easily assembled DIY methods for keeping the home sparkling and fresh year round.

For a demonstration, you can view Megan detail her fresh Spring Cleaning tips and recipes here on the Limoneira YouTube channel. Don’t forget to subscribe – videos with more wonderful tips and tricks not detailed in this release will be added to the channel each Friday throughout the month.

Beginning this past January and continuing throughout 2017, Megan produced weekly videos that demonstrated fun, easy and healthy tips to make the most out of your year.

Limoneira has also linked with additional global cleaning experts that share their knowledge with the customers of our grocery and food service partners around the world. Their biographies can be found on Limoneira’s website.

Take a look at some great new examples below.

Grapefruit Multi-Purpose Cleaner – Multi-purpose cleaner is the answer to keeping the home looking and smelling fresh. Follow these easy steps for a DIY solution that skips chemicals in store-bought cleaners!

grapefruitYou’ll need:

  • Peels from multiple grapefruits
  • Small glass jar with lid
  • White vinegar
  • Empty spray bottle

Directions: Separate the peel from the grapefruit (or the citrus peel of your choice). Using a small glass jar, place the peel inside, packing as tightly as possible. Fill jar to the brim with white vinegar. Cover jar with lid, and let sit for two weeks. When the infused vinegar is ready, fill a spray bottle with equal parts filtered water and grapefruit-infused vinegar.

Citrus Pan Scrubber – Fun fact: orange halves can be miracle workers for getting stains off of kitchen pans.

orange-treeIngredients:

  • Orange or lemon halves
  • Coarse table salt

Directions: Once the pan in question has cooled, add a few tablespoons of coarse salt. Take citrus halves (for added usefulness, juice them first and use the juice as you wish) and scrub away. Since this cleaner is completely non-toxic, simply wipe off or rinse with water after cleaning.

Lemon Microwave Cleaner – Microwaves can be a hotbed for unsavory smells… and worse. Lemons are here to help.

lemon-halfIngredients:

  • One lemon, halved
  • Microwave safe bowl
  • 2 cups water

Directions: Place water and lemon halves in a microwave safe bowl. Cook on high in microwave for 3 minutes. The hot lemon steam will coat the inside of the microwave, and allow for easy removal of debris and food remnants by wiping with a damp cloth.

Each month, Megan will be featuring another wonderful facet of citrus living. Subscribe to Limoneira’s Youtube channel for more information on the many ways this endlessly versatile fruit can improve life inside the home and beyond.

About Limoneira®
The Limoneira Company was founded in Ventura County, California in 1893. Today, Limoneira has evolved into a global company whose mission is to preserve and promote its tradition, heritage and legacy in agriculture and community development.   With 11,000 acres of agricultural production, Limoneira is the largest provider of lemons and avocados in the United States. In addition to agriculture, Limoneira has a long history of community building. Finally, sustainability has been woven into Limoneira’s fabric for over a century with strategic investments in water, solar, soil, and integrated pest management.  For more information, visit Limoneira®

About Megan Roosevelt and Healthy Grocery Girl ® 
Megan Roosevelt is an internationally published author, cooking show host and producer as well as a nutrition expert for regional and national television and magazines. In addition to being a plant-based Registered Dietitian, Roosevelt through Healthy Grocery Girl® provides her extensive audience with on-line cooking videos and says “I love helping people get healthy in ways that are realistic and fun”.

Roosevelt is the spokesperson for Limoneira’s Lemons for Life™ campaign and says “As one of the largest growers of lemons in the United States, the partnership with Limoneira made a great deal of sense”, she said. “It’s synergistic. We all know that lemons are among the healthiest products people can integrate into their diets”. Lemons for Life ™ highlights a variety of ways that lemons can be integrated into consumer’s lives. These include recipes, natural cleaning, beauty and health tips as well as lifestyle applications.

6th Annual MA+DS Seattle Modern Home Tour Showcases Residential Works of Architectural Art

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Modern Home Tours returns to Seattle as the new Modern Architecture + Design Society, to showcase a new selection of modern homes on Saturday, April 29. Seattle Architecture Foundation is local non-profit partner.

The Seattle MA+DS Home Tour returns on the last Saturday in April, giving Seattleites the opportunity once again to explore a curated selection of homes that exemplify modern architecture and design, right in their own city. Visitors will get the inside scoop from homeowners on what it’s like to live in a modern home, and talk to the architects to find out from where the inspiration for design comes.

Last summer, Modern Home Tours LLC became the Modern Architecture + Design Society (MA+DS) – a new multi-media entity that aims to create a vibrant, global community of modern architecture and design enthusiasts. The goal: to deliver and provide a unique experience and opportunity through multiple platforms that inspire engagement with the people, places, and things that define the “modern” movement and enrich the collective appreciation of modern architecture, design, and style. Still the heart of the MA+DS operation, the self-driven and self-paced MA+DS Home Tours provide rare inside looks at some of the most stunning, privately-owned modern homes in cities across the continent each year.

The Seattle Architecture Foundation has been named the tour’s local non-profit beneficiary, continuing a solid partnership for a fifth year in a row. They will help staff the event, in return for a donation and the opportunity to use the tour as a fundraising vehicle.

Participants and homes featured on the 2017 Seattle MA+DS Home Tour include:

  • A contemporary home designed by Gloria Andrade and Mark Wilson, located in Madison Park
  • A new modern home on the west slope of Phinney Ridge by Coates Design Architects
  • An urban retreat designed by Lane Williams Architects that sits atop Queen Anne Hill
  • One of the “Residences on Fairview” homes, located on Wards Cove, designed by atelierjones
  • A modernizing update by Best Practice Architecture to a 100-year-old home in Roanoke Park
  • A renovation and addition to the “MTM Residence”, designed by babienko Architects, located near Woodland Park
  • A new home by Barcelo Homes overlooking Lake Washington, currently for sale by the developers
  • A modern home just completed by Dwell Development and JA Architects in the Mt. Baker neighborhood

home tourThe Seattle MA+DS Home tour is presented by Marvin Windows and Doors. Additional promotional considerations are offered by media sponsor Gray Magazine and 360Modern.com.

Participating homes in the 2017 Seattle MA+DS Home Tour will open their doors for viewing from 11AM – 5PM on Saturday, April 29th, in the Seattle area. All are invited to attend. Tickets to see all homes are $35 in advance online; $40 on the day of the tour. Details on ticket purchases and descriptions of all participants with photos can be found on the Seattle MA+DS Home Tour event page.

Presented by Lane Williams Architects, PC
Presented by atelierjones llc
Presented by Dwell Development
Presented by Coates Design Architects
Presented by Best Practice Architecture & Design
Presented by Barcelo Homes Inc.
Presented by babienko ARCHITECTS
Presented by AW Architecture - Interior Design

About the Modern Architecture + Design Society: Based in Austin, Texas, the Modern Architecture + Design Society was founded was founded by James Leasure in 2010 as Modern Home Tours, to introduce modern architecture and living to people across the nation. Through fun and informative self-guided home tours in dozens of cities across the USA and Canada, the group invites people into some of the most exciting examples of modern architecture and design in the nation. With carefully selected architects, neighborhoods and architecture, the MA+DS Home Tours are unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Not only will you learn about the cutting edge of home design while on our tours, but you might even get an idea or two for your next home project!

Dazzling Home Renovations Take Center Stage in New HGTV Series ‘Flip or Flop Vegas’

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bristolandaubreymarunde-flip-or-flop-vegasHGTV’s Flip or Flop phenomenon, which started with Tarek and Christina El Moussa flipping houses in Southern California, is expanding to include new duos and additional titles set in cities across the United States. The first new title in the franchise is Flip or Flop Vegas starring contractor and MMA fighter Bristol Marunde and his wife, real estate agent and designer Aubrey, as they showcase their home renovation and flipping skills. Premiering Thursday, April 6, at 9 p.m. ET/PT, the series follows the network’s newest pair of house flippers as they snag some of Sin City’s most rundown homes and transform them into sparkling showstoppers.

“In Vegas, the higher the risk—the greater the reward,” said Bristol. “Together, Aubrey and I are unstoppable. There’s no flipping project too hard for us to tackle.”

During the series, Bristol and Aubrey scour auction sales and real estate sites to score dilapidated homes in dire need of a full overhaul. The couple put their business savvy to the test as they face abrasive desert challenges and tight budgets in order to complete total renovations that bring in top dollar.

“We’ve successfully flipped more than 140 homes,” said Aubrey. “We manage every aspect of the flip and we’re willing to take on properties others won’t even touch.”

Viewers can visit here for a video sneak peek, photo gallery and more information about the hosts and can interact via social media using #FlipOrFlop. Additional titles in the franchise include Flip or Flop Atlanta, which will premiere this summer. Titles in the pilot/development phase include Flip or Flop Texas, Flip or Flop Nashville and Flip or Flop Chicago.

About HGTV
HGTV delivers the superstar experts, fascinating families, compelling renovations and stunning transformations that make all things home fun. America’s favorite way to get entertaining, relatable and inspirational home and lifestyle content, HGTV offers: a top 10 cable network that is distributed to more than 91 million U.S. households; a website, HGTV.com, that attracts an average of nine million people each month; social media platforms that engage nearly nine million users; HGTV Magazine, a monthly publication that reaches more than one million readers and exclusive collections of home-oriented products through the HGTV HOME™ consumer products line.  Viewers can become fans of HGTV and interact with other home improvement enthusiasts through Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram.  Headquartered in Knoxville, Tenn., HGTV is owned by Scripps Networks Interactive, Inc., which also owns and operates Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network, Cooking Channel and Great American Country.

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