After a summer of nonstop travel, I thoroughly enjoyed my four weeks at home.
Though I’m back on the road again (Iowa City-bound for work, then to San Francisco for a wedding weekend), I relished my days working in my pajamas, enjoying a glass (or three) of wine with my Dad at the end of the day, cooking up a storm, hanging with my nephews, and finally getting my room in order.
I picked up a few tricks during the past month that, while random, are quite helpful.
- Sharpies are a girl’s best friend. Mine have been scribbling to-do lists and addressing wedding invitations, labeling folders on my desk, coloring in scratches on my dark Ikea furniture, and provided a much-needed creative outlet in my Sharpie sketches.
- The best way to heat up a pizza is on the stovetop. Place a slice in a frying pan over medium heat. Cover for about 3 minutes, and nuke it in the microwave for an additional 10-15 seconds if the cheese isn’t melty. This technique produces perfectly crisp crusts and gooey cheese. Nom.
- When giving yourself a home manicure, hold a tennis ball in the hand you’re polishing, then apply the varnish. This trick arranges your nails in an easy-to-paint gesture. If you stabilize your painting arm on a table, you’ll have more control over the nail polish. Apply a base coat before the polish, and don’t forget to brush cuticle oil over your nails every other day to extend your manicure’s life.
- The door frame above a walk-in closet is a great way to display clothes when organizing your closet or packing for a trip. Viewing all your options at once helps assemble outfits with the fewest number of items. Also, save the plastic wrapping from dry cleaners and tissue paper from gifts to wrap wrinkle-prone clothes.
- For sore feet, prop a pillow under your feet before you sleep. The elevation helps alleviate the pain. Roll your feet over tennis balls when sitting upright to strengthen your arches (bonus – this massages your feet as well!).
- For a perfect cup of tea, pour water in your mug and insert the teabag. Nuke the mug in the microwave for 1.5-2 minutes.  Your tea will be piping hot and steeped. Add necessary accoutrements (I like lemon and honey in my PG Tips).
Just a few hours in, and I’m already missing the comforts of home.
