LA Eats: Top 10 Coffee Bars in LA

Now that the days are getting colder, a delicious cup of coffee to warm you up sounds really nice. The ambiance of the coffee shop is just as important as your cup of joe. We selected 10 coffee bars in the Los Angeles area that we feel will not only get you the best coffee in town but also that homey autumn vibe that makes us all feel warm and snug this time of year!

1. Coffee Commissary
Location: 3121 W Olive Ave, Burbank, CA 91505 (& six others)

The Burbank location is the only branch that has a full kitchen, meaning you can find fried chicken sandwiches, breakfast burritos and impressive house-baked goods on a daily basis! The growing chain now keeps studio workers well-caffeinated throughout TV, film, and radio production. It roasts mostly West Coast roasters and serves all cups with foamy panache.

 

2. Eightfold Coffee
Location: 1294 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

This coffee bar looks like it is was made to appear on lifestyle blogs. The kind you just want to cozy up in with a book and a cup of joe, especially on these cold autumn days! The airy space, sports white walls (including white brick), a tile-backed marble bar, and wood-bench seating. Baristas brew Heart Coffee in vac spots, with a La Marzocco espresso machine. The cold brews are served in glasses big enough to keep you awake for two days straight!

3. Espresso Cielo
Location: 1431 2nd St, Santa Monica, CA 90401

Espresso Cielo has two locations, each just a few blocks from the beach. With an antique clock, marble countertops and sky blue styling this will quickly become your new coffee oasis.

4. Intelligentsia
Location: 3922 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90029

The coffee is roasted in nearby Glassell Park, the quality remains good given the high volume, and the signature Angeleno beverage is as popular as ever, featuring a quadruple shot of espresso shaken with milk, agave, and ice.

5. Rubies & Diamonds
Location: 6115 Sunset Blvd #150, Los Angeles, CA 90028

LAMILL co-founder Jean Shim went solo in 2015, debuting her fashionable coffee bar in Hollywood’s Columbia Square complex, in a space that features blue-grey and red walls lined with art and two elaborate chandeliers, including one crystal and another that resembles spaghetti. This coffee bar promotes BKON vacuum processed RAIN technology for coffee and tea, and they have nitro drinks!

 

6. Verve Coffee Roasters
Location: 8051 W. 3rd Street Los Angeles, CA 90048 (& two others)

This Santa Cruz import made a great first impression, with its first LA shop brightening an emerging part of downtown, and others popping around the city. The mid-city outpost on Third Street is the most ambitious to date, with a round copper and marble bar, exposed wood rafters and a Farm-level Bar in the back featuring rare coffees that showcase “ethics & excellence”.

7. Woodcat Coffee Bar
Location: 1532 Sunset Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90026

Reclaimed wood, box seating, and red walls give life to this neighborhood favorite. It also helps that this place brews expertly roasted beans from San Francisco’s Wrecking Ball Coffee Roasters on their sleek Faema espresso machine.

8. Bar Nine
Location: 3515 Helms Ave, Culver City, CA 90232

The owners of this coffee joint work with Ninety Plus Coffee Agents to source coffee beans from Panama and Ethiopia, and then roasts them in house. Bar Nine’s baristas use the shop’s high-tech Modbar system with Chemex coffeemakers to get the precise cup of joe. It’s all about the little details, too. You can’t help but “aww” at the adorable to-go glass jars with lids. Try the creamy hazelnut milk latte, and don’t forget about breakfast!

9. Paramount Coffee Project
Location: 456 N Fairfax Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90036

The concrete and wood space features a multi-roaster lineup that rotates beans from American coffee powers like Heart and George Howell, plus coffee from roasters back home. The food program is more ambitious than most coffee bars, featuring plates like a burrata that’s accompanied by pistachio dukkah, kale, and eggs; and a Superfood Bowl that comes with quinoa, candied beets, lebni, blueberry, and cocoa.

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10. Alfred Coffee & Kitchen
Location: Beverly Grove (& other locations)

Alfred’s iconic sign “but first, coffee” is Instagram post-worthy and reinforces the shop’s core focus: pumping out plenty of espresso drinks and cold-brew coffees, all using Stumptown beans.

12 Halloween Costume Ideas for the Whole Family

When trying to come up with ideas for a group Halloween costume, it is best to start with a theme! Costumes that have things in common can also work well together. The good thing is that they can be modified to fit your family size. You can easily and quickly put together a family costume with these ideas.

 

Sloth and Tree Costumes

There’s no trick-or-treater too small for Halloween. The trick to this duo? We used a baby wrap carrier to disguise a smiling little one as a sloth slinging from a tree branch. To create this costume, print the template onto 8 ½ by 11 inch paper and cut out. Use the template to cut out felt shapes, then glues the pieces together and pin them to baby’s wrap and hat. Mom can wear brown and tuck leaves in her hair.

Bluebird and Birdwatcher Costumes

As an avid birdwatcher, your little bird is never far from sight with a pair of binoculars. Other than the hat and a canteen (available at camping-suppl stores), this costume can be assembled entirely from clothes from your closet. Choose an outfit that consists of neutral, outdoorsy pieces, such as the safari-style jacket and brown pants shown, and don’t forget a pair of sensible shoes. For the bluebird costume, use our pattern and basic sewing supplies to create a pair of detachable wings.

Under-the-Sea Costumes

For a family of little ones, the ocean still holds a depth of mystery and awe. Designate one of your kids as the Mermaid, encouraging her to make her own whimsical accessories like a seashell crown and a tail of satin, tulle and metallic trim. Meanwhile, the rest of the kids can dress up as their favorite undersea creatures: a goldfish, a snappy Lobster, an eight-legged Octopus or a Jellyfish. You can even join in the fun as a scuba diver or an ever-watchful lifeguard at the shore.

Three Musketeers Costume

All for fun, fun for all! A night of trick-or-treating awaits the dashing Three Musketeers. If you’re a family of three- or have three little ones – then why not embody the legendary literary trio? Give everyone a pullover vest, a collared cape, and a Fleur-de-lis insignia – and the evening will be full of swashbuckling adventure and candy treasures.

Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf Costumes

Embrace the charm of classic storybook characters with these easy-to-make costumes for Mom and Dad or son and daughter. For her, a gown and namesake hood are cut and sewn from a length of crimson jersey and tied with a wide ribbon at the waist. For him, the dapper wolf wears a suit with a red cravat, and his fur is styled from two shaggy wigs. (To make the wolf head, cut 2 large triangular sections – as ears – from one wig and hot-glue them in place to the second wig.) Faux fangs are the only sign of his true nature.

Storm Chaser and Tornado Costumes

As siblings, they can have an admittedly stormy relationship at times, but they complement each other well as a storm chaser and tornado. A younger sister can be a great storm chaser with some hair gel and a flipped umbrella. All you need is a tornado and that’s easy enough to create with a tomato cage and tulle.

Lion and Gladiator Costumes

They tussle in roughhouse play as it is, so why not personify their sibling rivalry? Dress one as the stalwart gladiator and the other as a courageous lion. Construct the gladiator’s costume using hardware store supplies: museum board, a window shade, and prong fasteners. Similarly, the lion’s costume is a clever assembly of fringe garlands and a hoodie. For both, there are no sewing skills required.

 

Napoleon and Josephine Costumes

For a sibling costume that is simple, as the French say, “incroyable”, pair brother and sister together as Napoleon and Josephine. He may not have learned his French history yet, but a boy would love dressing up in Napoleon’s regalia nevertheless. And, similarly, a girl will love dressing up in Josephine’s glamorous Empire-style gown with period jewelry and a fancy updo.

 

Lamb and Chicken Costumes

This funny farm duo – a chicken and a lamb – pair up together in the cutest costume idea for siblings, cousins or even best friends. Both costumes use wearable patterns in simple soft materials to ensure that the kids feel comfortable for a night of trick-or-treating. A parent can keep a close watch over the flock as they make their rounds through the neighborhood as Old MacDonald.

Tulip and Rose Flower Costumes

A blooming crepe-paper tulip cap and rosebud headband – each in pastel hues turn a mother-daughter dup into a sprightly pair.

Superhero Costumes

Every kid is a superhero and parents can join in as well. Start with t-shirts and leggings as the base for the costume. Then add headbands and belts and other accessories to make your own unique superhero.

10 Halloween Finger Food Recipes

Halloween is all about the eerie, scary and downright creepy. When you’re hosting a Halloween party, make a variety of sweet and savory finger foods for guests to enjoy – just be sure to get a little creative with the decorations atop these skull-tacular snacks.

Prosciutto- Wrapped Fig Hearts

Savor the taste of these rich and indulgent fig bites. They offer a sophisticated combination of tangy goat cheese, salty prosciutto, and sweet dried figs it for a Queen.

 

Wavy Grissini

Ready for a hair-raising snack? These breadsticks are nothing like the kind you’ll find at an Italian restaurant; mix the dough with black squid ink for a devilish hue and serve alongside Black-Tahini and Eggplant Dip.

 

Popcorn on the Cob

Popcorn balls are a popular snack to serve to trick or treaters. Give them a fall twist by forming the popcorn, marshmallows and colored candy into the shape of flint corn. It’s a simple, sweet treat perfect for the harvest season and just right for Halloween.

 

Crudites with Miso-Yogurt Dip

Swap out brightly colored vegetables for dark, creepy colors such as red cabbage, purple carrots, purple potatoes, and black olives. This appetizer has a seriously dark side.

 

Brain Cupcakes

This is a fun, freaky dessert that’s a Halloween must-make. Use Swiss Meringue buttercream to create the squiggles and wiggles of a brain on top of a rich chocolate cupcake.

 

Deep-Sea Specimens with Devilishly Hot Cocktail Sauce

This spooky presentation of elegant seafood looks like the crab legs and poached shrimp are coming alive right before your eyes. The spicy cocktail sauce may frighten your taste buds, but it’s so good that you won’t resist a double-dip.

 

Sweet Bones

No bones about it: These are some seriously spooky meringues. Dip in chocolate, or shape into ghosts and add chocolate chips as eyes.

 

Rest in Peas

Use Halloween-shaped cookie cutters – gravestones, bats, witch hats, skulls, and pumpkins – to create festive croutons for this most unusual dip. A creamy mixture of cooked peas mimic the appearance of graveyard grass, but tastes so much better!

 

Black-Widow Spider Bites

Real spiders would not be welcome at the Halloween celebration but this savory rendition – made with sweet potato chips, avocado, and olives – makes perfect horror d’oeuvres. Dig into this creepy crawling snack before it bites you back!

 

Caramel Apples

Caramel apples are essential to Halloween as ghosts and goblins galore. Sprinkling flaky sea salt on the rich caramel cuts the sweetness and adds a crunchy texture, making this a scary good treat.

Top 10 Halloween Movies

Grab a bowl of buttery popcorn, light the fireplace and cozy up in a blanket because it is Halloween movie night! We put together a medley of the best Halloween movies to date! Whether it’s a family movie night or if you’re looking to get seriously spooked, we have all the right choices for you!

 

Hocus Pocus (1993)

Rating-PG

Witchcraft, black cats, and one spooky neighborhood! Three witches (played by Sarah Jessica Parker, Bette Midler, and Kathy Najimy) return 300 years after being hung for their 17th-century spell work in Salem, Massachusetts. These three sinister women must take the life of a child and three kids who also happen to have resurrected the witches by accident. The kids go on a mission to stop the witches from returning Salem to the way it was when they first lived.

Beetlejuice (1988)

Rating-PG

After dying in a car crash, the ghosts of Adam and Barbara Maitland are informed that they have to remain in their house for 150 years. Which is fine, until the house is sold to a family they can’t stand. The Maitlands love their home and don’t want Deetz living in it! The couple hires freelance bio-exorcist Beetle Juice to scare the Deetzes away. See this family-friendly Halloween classic to find out what happens next!

Halloween (1978)

Rating-R

A serious spine-chilling suspense, this 70s classic will scare you out of your wits! You might want to keep a light or two on for this one. A murder, stalking, and institutionalization. Have you gotten goosebumps yet?

The Conjuring (2013) 

Rating-R

A freaky looking house in Rhode Island, and paranormal activity inside those four walls. What’s more? This movie is based on a true story. The Perron family moves into this frightening looking house. When increasingly scary things continue to happen to them, they call the Warrens to investigate. Their findings are straight out of your nightmares!

Halloweentown (1998)

Rating- PG

This classic is perfect for a family movie night. Marnie and her kids are in for a surprise when they follow their grandma home to Halloween town. They find out that they are from a family of witches! Halloweentown is the only place where supernatural beings can lead a normal life. With monsters of all sizes roaming the streets going about their daily lives. Marnie soon discovers that she and her family are involved in a fight against the very same evil that is threatening to take over the world.

The Strangers (2008)

Rating-R

Kristen and James head out for a vacation stay in a cottage nestled in the woods. However, their stay turns out to be anything but peaceful. The eerie nature of this film is so spine chilling you may want to watch the lights on.

House on Haunted Hill (1999)

Rating-R

Stephen Price, a millionaire with theatrical tendencies invites several people to stay in a giant creepy building formerly an insane asylum. The millionaire is accompanied by his bitter wife Evelyn, Stephen offers a million dollars to anyone who can stay the whole night without leaving out of fear. Stephen and Evelyn become trapped with their guests and very angry spirits. 

IT Chapter Two (2019)

Rating- R

This time around, the grown-up losers must find a way to defeat IT and end its cycle of terror once and for all or else die trying. The sequel clocks in at just under three hours so clear up your evening and strap in for a scary adventure!

A Nightmare on Elm Street (1984)

Rating- R

A creepy killer who stalks you through your unconscious mind, scared yet? Caution: this movie may give you nightmares. The slasher film rests on the notion that not even your dreams are safe from Freddy Krueger.

Scream (1996)

Rating-R

This film is the perfect mix of funny, clever and scary, as fright-masked knife maniac stalks high school students in middle-class suburbia. Scream follows the character of Sydney Prescott, a high school student in the fictional town of Woodsboro, California who becomes the target of a mysterious killer in a Halloween costume known as Ghostface.

Out and About: Trick or Treating in LA

Trick or treating can be tricky, especially in a massive metropolitan area like our very own Los Angeles. We’ve handpicked the best neighborhoods to get your favorite treats! Gather your little goblins and ghouls, witches and princesses, Batman and Wonder Woman and get ready for buckets of delicious chocolate, candy and sweets!

1. Walden Drive, Beverly Hills

Walden Drive in Beverly Hills is the best spot for family-friendly trick or treating! The owner of the famous storybook “Witch House,” Michael Libow continues a decade-long tradition by handing out 5,000 custom-labeled chocolate bars.

2. Carroll Avenue and Douglas Street, Angelino Heights

Known as the Haunted District, Angelino Heights is the perfect setting for a spooky Halloween night. The street is lined with antique craftsman bungalows and Victorian mansions making it a great destination for families to go door to door to fill their buckets with candy!

3. Brentwood Glen

The Westside of Brentwood Glen, the walkable neighborhood is a slice of Americana. Residents are generous with their candy and their Halloween spirit, making it the ideal spot for little trick-or-treaters who are new to the tradition. Beware the spookily decorated homes and glowing carved pumpkins!

4. Grand Hope Park at the Fashion Institute of Design Merchandise, Downtown

Downtown is not the easiest place to go trick or treating, but the local community knows how to throw a great event! The Annual Halloween Party at Grand Hope Park is a fun-filled evening for the whole family! Bounce houses, caramel apples, “trick-or-treat-doors” and lots of candy! The event will be held October 31st, from 5 pm to 8 pm and tickets cost $8 in advance, $10 day of.

5. Dell and Venice Boulevard, Venice Beach

The canal neighborhood of Venice Beach goes all- in every Halloween. Take your little zombies and witches and walk around the bridges, soak in the spooky decorations and twinkly lights!

Home Tips: 10 Spooky Décor Ideas

Your front door is brimming with Halloween décor potential – all you need is a little imagination. Decorating your door requires a bit of creativity, especially if you’re hoping to forge a festive but sophisticated entry display. Here are ten somewhat spooky Halloween front door décor ideas that don’t sacrifice an inch of style.

1. Knock Knock

For a stylish, but a slightly spooky way to greet guests this season? This aged iron owl door knocker will be a real hoot with trick-or-treaters on October 31.

2. Spooky Greeters

A little lighting goes a long way when it comes to decorating your door to Halloween. This bat-clad light-up wreath is composed of rattan branches and features glowing LED lights for added eeriness.

3. Welcome to the Bat Cave

Out your current doormat for a festive style to welcome visitors on Halloween. This spiderweb-inspired half-round mat is mad of black coconut husk bristles so it’s every bit as durable as it is creepy.

4. Bat Attack

For a foolproof way to bring an unexpectedly spooky element to your front door this Halloween? These easy-to-use vinyl bats cling to the glass of windows and mirrors and don’t leave any residue behind.

5. Beetlejuice Inspired Banner

Your Halloween door décor to make a statement? This sleek-but-spooky banner will do the talking for you on your front door this season.

6. Pretty Pumpkins

Said Halloween décor can’t be chic has never seen these hand-punched ceramic pumpkins. Place a couple of these terra-cotta candleholders on your front porch to create a warm, ambient glow on All Hallows Eve.

7. Enter at Your Own Risk

Underestimate the impact of a creepy front door wreath on Halloween. This eye-catching metal wreath is decorated with dozens of individually crafted and welded black bats – with red eyes to boot.

8. Halloween Charm

For a wreath that captures the playfulness of Halloween? This nostalgic wreath made of natural air-dried maple leaves comes clad in vintage-inspired ghosts, candy corn and jack-o-lantern ornaments for added charms.

9. Go with the Classic

You can always count on pumpkin-shaped planters to make a festive statement at your front door on Halloween. These faux pumpkin planters are composed of weatherproof plastic so they’ll look great on your porch all season long.

10. The Witch is in the Details

Spooky scary goblins, spiders and bats aren’t your thing, keep your décor classy with a fun little message for visitors.

Weekend Events: March 29-31

With all of the hustle and bustle in Los Angeles, narrowing down your weekend activities can be more of a jam than traffic on the 405. Thats why at Rodeo Realty, we sort through the event clutter to provide you the top choices. So add some spring to your step as you dive into LA’s best weekend events happening this Friday, March 29 through Sunday, March 31st!

Discover your inner Angeleno

Friday, March 29

LA Dodgers vs. Arizona Diamondbacks(Friday Night Fireworks)

Location: Dodger Stadium

The Dodger’s new season officially kicked off this week and with that a line-up of home run game-day events. Enjoy a Fireworks spectacular as you cheer on the Dodgers to victory this Friday. Read through our Out & About: Dodgers Game Day Guide for how to spend your day at the old ball game!

Click here for more info.

Maren Morris- GIRL The World Tour

Location: The Wiltern

Watch country music’s newest star Maren Morris take the stage at The Wiltern this weekend only. After rounding out a worldwide tour as Taylor Swifts special guest, Morris leads her first solo World Tour. Cassadee Pope is also in the lineup as Morris’s special guest.

Click here for more info.

7th annual Latin Food Fest

Location: LA State Historic Park

The 7th Annual Latin Food Fest returns to LA Historic State Park to celebrate hispanic culinary excellence. Don’t miss Fridays kick-off party “Chefs Night out” where you’ll enjoy cocktails, music, a silent auction and raffle to attend Saturdays “Gran Tasting”.

Click here for more information.

Saturday, March 30

Grease: 50’s Prom presented by Street Food Cinema

Location: Million Dollar Theatre

Grease is the word this Saturday at the Million Dollar Theatre. Hand Jive your way downtown for a 50’s Prom themed screening of the Hollywood classic with special guest and Pink Lady Jamie Donnelly in attendance. The event will feature food from the Grand Central Market, speciality cocktails, prom photo booth, DJ and more!

Click here for more info.

Native American Festival

Location: Shoreline Village

Native American Festival comes to Long Beach this Saturday for it is annual family friendly celebration. The festival will include live performances, dream catcher making for kids, artist exhibits and other activities. The event is free and open to the public.

Click here for more information.

Half The Story: Self Portrait Workshop

Location: LAMAG, Los Angeles

“A picture is only ever half the story”. Join LAMAG, David Alekhuogie and Mariah Garnett as they create a mixed media self-portrait of your personality, talents and experience. The programming supports the solo exhibitions of both artists focusing on the various perceptions of the self through photography.

Click here for more info. 

Sunday, March 31st

Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival

Location: Columbia Park, Torrance

Spring bloom is everywhere-meaning it’s cherry blossom season! The Torrance Cherry Blossom Cultural Festival takes place this Sunday. Don’t miss an array of crafts and fun centered around the blooming cherry blossom. The event will also feature delicious cuisine, performances and activities like origami making.

Click here for more info.

Pasadena Festival of Tea

Location: Storrier Stearns Japanese Garden

It’s Festival season! No not the palm springs party kind, we’re talking about the cultural line up closer to home. Pasadena Festival of Tea returns for their third annual celebration of tea and garden lovers alike. Local vendors will be serving up tastings alongside tea ceremony demonstrations, artists exhibits and a tea marketplace of course.

Click here for more info.

8th Annual European Car Show

Location: Petersen Automotive Museum

The 8th Annual European Car Show drives into the Petersen Automotive Museum this Sunday. Presented by California Car Cover, dub-nation Events and HRE Wheels is an amazing lineup of cars, raffle prizes and more. The show is open to all European automobiles new and old.

Click here for more info.

 

LA Eats: March Madness Sports Bars Edition

March is many things. Spring…Leprechauns…and for sports fans March Madness. With the highlight of College Basketball Season kicking off and our brackets breaking down potential winners one question remains. Where does one watch the big game? Read below for LA’s best sports bars to cheer on your team because this round-up is a guaranteed 3-pointer!

Clearman’s Galley

Location: San Gabriel, CA

San Gabriel bar and restaurant Clearman’s Galley is not only offering tons of TVs for catching all the March Madness action, they’re also doing a bracket that customers themselves can enter, with the winner earning a $200 gift certificate to the restaurant.

Rocco’s Tavern

Location: Pasadena, CA

With locations from Westwood to Pasadena, Rocco’s Tavern is obviously doing something right. The Green Street location in Pasadena is small but mighty, and for March Madness is doing limited happy hour deals starting at 9 a.m. Thursday for the early games.

Mr. Furley’s Bar

Location: Glendale, CA

Inexpensive cocktails, comfort food, and lots of TVs make Mr. Furley’s a natural place to catch all the college basketball action in Glendale.

Barney’s Beanery Burbank

Location: Burbank, CA

Barney’s Beanery is a staple mini-chain across Southern California. The places are always bustling with sports fans and casual drinkers just in for a nightcap, and the hearty familiar fare keeps everyone happy.

Common Space Brewery and Tasting Room

Location: Hawthorne, CA

Common Space is one of the more talked-about breweries in Southern California right now. The casual Hawthorne warehouse space is kitted out with lounge seating, communal tables, and a few well-placed TVs for catching the action. Everyone loves the beer too, of course.

The Fields LA

Location: Los Angeles, CA

There may be no better place to catch the NCAA tournament action than at the Fields, attached to LAFC’s Banc of California Stadium just southeast of Downtown. With multiple vendors to choose from, loads of TVs, and the upstairs Free Play restaurant from Tim Hollingsworth, this place has it all.

Hi Tops

Location: West Hollywood, CA

San Francisco export Hi Tops is now in West Hollywood, turning on the TVs for big night games and offering a variety of cocktails and beers in addition to some pretty awesome nachos.

Bludso’s Bar & Que

Location: Los Angeles, CA

Bludso’s is a must for any sports fans. The casual spot for brisket, sausage links, and drinks is wall-to-wall with televisions, and it’s not uncommon to find fans of different teams crowded together around the same tables, yelling at the action on the screens.

Busby’s West

Location: Santa Monica, CA

Busby’s is synonymous with Westside sports watching. The anchor bar has for many years seen fans come to cheer on their squad, especially during the busy March Madness tournament.

Beer Belly Long Beach

Location: Long Beach

Long Beach has really embraced the second location of Beer Belly. The popular comfort food and craft beer corner spot isn’t as rowdy as some other local hangs for watching the games, but the menu and design still make this place a must for locals looking to watch some college basketball.

 

Courtesy of: Eater LA

10 Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Home

Now that spring is officially here the time to tidy up around the home has also arrived. As cliche as it sounds to “Spring Clean” there is no better time to clean house and spruce up in and around your abode. That’s why we have rounded up 10 of the best tips to clean your home for the Spring Equinox!

 Bye, Bye Dust Bunnies!

  • Use a sticky lint roller to clean dirt and pet fur off the lower parts of drapes. For a deeper clean, take the drapes down, remove the hooks and run them through an air-fluff cycle in the dryer with a damp towel for 15 minutes. Rehang immediately after.
  • Dust blinds often with a microfiber cloth, swiping left to right and blade by blade from top to bottom on each window.
  • Spring is allergy season so dust end tables and shelves in your home thoroughly to keep allergies at bay.

The Rinse Cycle

  • Wash out trash cans. To really clean garbage cans, spray them thoroughly with a hose and then dump the water out. Afterwards use a disinfectant spray on the inside, then scrub the trash can with a handled brush and rinse it out again. Leave the trash can upside down to thoroughly dry.

Kitchen Kleanse

  • To clean glass, chrome or steel appliances, fill a spray bottle with a mixture of 50 percent rubbing alcohol and 50 percent water. Then use a dry cloth to polish and clean the surfaces to remove spots and fingerprints.
  • The refrigerator can become an unexpectedly cluttered place. Organize it once it’s had a thorough cleaning. Keep highly perishable food front and center and sort the longer-lasting ingredients and toppings by category.

 Scrubba-Dub the Tub

  • Maintain the tile surfaces of your bathroom, especially the shower by spraying the surface with generous amounts of cleaner. Allow the cleaner to sit while cleaning the rest of the bathroom, then go back to start scrubbing. If the grout is dirty with mold or mildew, make a paste of washing soda and peroxide to deep clean and disinfect.

Bedhead

  • On average we spend about 3,000 hours a year in our beds, almost the equivalent of four months to be exact! With that in mine, keeping our mattresses clean is as easy a flip of a coin. Rotate your mattress a few times a year and vacuum the surface. Afterwards sprinkle a mixture of baking soda and a few drops of essential oil. Let the mixture sit for a couple hours then vacuum the mixture away.

Office Space

  • Spend the day getting your files organized and space decluttered. Aside from going through papers on your desk, you should also take the time to back-up files on external or cloud devices so they’re secured. Have a lot of documents to toss? Make sure to shred anything personal before throwing it in the bin!

Outside and over Yonder

  • Cleaning your outdoor furniture is incredibly simple, but easily forgotten. While the rain can wash away some dirt and pollen, a thorough wipe down with a mild detergent goes a long way. Make sure to check your furnitures manufacture guidelines if a special care routine is required.

 

 

 

 

The Benefits of Solar Panels for your Home

Here in California, we lead the forefront in the nation for our clean energy initiatives and green living. It should come as no surprise then, that so many people are switching over to Solar Power for their homes. Sunny California is home to the top two solar installers(Telsa/SolarCity) as well as the world’s most efficient solar pane manufacturer(SunPower). Factor that in with the state’s high cost of electricity  and notably lower solar prices and its a no brainer. Read below for our tips on switching over to Solar Power and save your energy of searching the web on your own!

 

1. Compare all your options: get as many quotes as possible

If you are considering installing solar, research and consider every option that you can. Various resources such as the National Renewable Energy Laboratorythe California Solar Initiative and others can offer pricing data. Additionally, there is a long list of companies in the state that can provide free PV quotes.

2. The largest installers will not necessarily offer the best price

Although large companies will often bring out superlatives like ‘biggest installer’ in their sales pitches, this does not mean that they offer the best value. The premise is simple: massive installers already have market share and brand awareness and thus do not need to offer the best prices and value. When small installers compete in a price auction, on the other hand, the result is some of the lowest bids you can find in the U.S. for a PV installation. Make sure you price compare to ensure your getting the best value!

3. Different products for different people

Just as a Lamborghini might not be the right choice for everyone in the market for a car, the same concept applies with solar. Not everyone needs to shop for the most expensive solar PV equipment. There are many different types of solar panels and inverters for different needs and preferences. For the price-oriented, value-focused consumer, it is easy to save thousands simply by choosing standard solar panels instead of a premium top-of-the-line brand.

There is a hefty list of solar panel brands that offer a wide range of features and prices.

How much could I save?

Solar panels offer homeowners a wide range of financial benefits. This is largely based on the sizes of the rooftop solar systems, average electricity rates, and local incentives.

As an example, let’s assume that you live in Los Angeles and fit the average profile for an L.A. homeowner:

  • You are paying 20.3 cents per kWh (48.2% more than the national average)
  • You’ll purchase 7,200 kWh of electricity each year
  • You pay an average of $92 per month for your power bill (but that’s climbing)

If you were to install a 2.4 kW solar power system on your home, you could see the following savings over the course of the system’s 25- to 30-year lifetime:

  • Monthly Savings: $80-$145 (more over time depending on rate hikes)
  • Lifetime Savings: $25,000-$43,000 (more over time depending on rate hikes)

Investing in your home

Saving on power bills isn’t the only financial benefit to going solar. A commonly overlooked personal benefit is how it affects your property value.

While some expect rooftop solar to devalue a home, it actually increases your home’s value. Most homebuyers save on electric bills with a solar home and are willing to pay more for it.

The National Bureau of Economic Research found that solar panels add, on average, between 3% and 4% to a home’s value. In fact, it’s one of the smartest investments you can make on your home.