Eliminate Your To-Do List

"Dawa's Designed To-do list" by Juhan Sonin is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Spring is quickly approaching, and it's the perfect time to get organized, especially if the kids have new activities starting. Whether your to-do list is digital or handwritten, there are ways to cut down on your time and increase your productivity. Follow these tips from Apartment Therapy and get those tasks crossed off today!

Include sub-tasks in your lists.

Getting things out of our heads and onto paper (or digital "paper") quiets the nagging anxiety that can creep up, that feeling of I have so much to doooo that can make us twitchy with stress and downright irritable. Channel the energy required to remember what you have to do into actually getting it done by freeing your head space through a list. Make your list detailed, including sub-tasks. For instance, instead of just Make key lime pie for office party also write everything you have to do to be able to make that happen: buy limes and whipping cream, make crust, etc. Your detailed lists give you the info you need to combine tasks and save time.

Combine tasks to save time.

The last thing we need to do is waste time. If you know what you have to get at the store for projects by having created a complete list, you can get them all at once rather than stopping by multiple times. If you're making more than one of something, combine these tasks as well. Sewing new curtains for two rooms, for instance? Buy all your fabric ahead of time, and parcel out the tasks across both projects into groups (for instance, all the measuring and cutting for both projects at once, before even getting out the sewing machine).

Multitask, multitask, multitask.

One excellent way to check a few items off your list — once you have a clear picture of what these items involve — is to work on a task while doing something else. Calling your great-great-aunt to wish her a happy birthday? Fold the laundry you need for your road trip while you're on the phone. Been meaning to have a get-together with some close friends? Turn it into a post-closet-clean-out clothes-swap party. You'll enjoy the company of loved ones and get the pleasure of finishing a task that's probably been hanging over all of you.

Use down times to update your lists and continue planning ahead.

Your list should be a constantly evolving road map of what you have to do. Crossing things off, updating notes (ask Sue to pick up the bread), and adding to it should be happening regularly so your list is always a snapshot of where you are and what you have to do to get where you're going. Use the time while you're on hold with Amazon, or while you're waiting for your bakery order to be filled to check your list again and again.

Where to See North Dakota Wildlife

The winter months are almost over, and with spring on the way, it is the perfect time to plan a family weekend trip to one of North Dakota's many wildlife refugees! From bighorn sheep to elk, see some of our native wildlife up close and personal! It's also a great educational opportunity for the whole family! North Dakota Legendary recommends these wildlife refugees:

National Wildlife Refuges 
North Dakota has 63 wildlife refuges – more than any other state in the nation and most offer visitors services. These are just a sampling of some of North Dakota's site to enjoy nature at its finest. Find them all online at www.fws.gov/mountain-prairie/refuges/nd

Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge Rolling hills mantled in short-grass and mixed grass prairie interspersed with numerous wetlands in the highly productive prairie pothole region that produces more ducks than any other region in the lower 48 states.

Arrowwood National Wildlife Refuge Made up of lakes, marshes, prairie grasslands, wooded coulees and cultivated fields. Managed primarily to attract waterfowl during migration periods, but also contains excellent habitat for ducks, geese, grebes and shore birds, along with many other forms of wildlife.

Chase Lake National Wildlife Refuge Established as one of the country's first wildlife refuges in 1908 by executive order of President Theodore Roosevelt. An important habitat for the native American White Pelican.

Audubon National Wildlife Refuge Thousands of waterfowl, sandhill cranes and shorebirds pass through the refuge during spring and fall migration. The refuge is home to 243 bird, mammal, five reptile, four amphibian and 37 fish species.

Tewaukon National Wildlife RefugeOffers many recreational opportunities for people who love the outdoors. Activities to enjoy include hunting, fishing, bird watching and wildlife photography.

Plan a Fun Night In

When the wind chills are in the negatives, the last thing you probably want to do is leave your home. Even though it's the weekend, and you may want to do something different, you can still accomplish this in the warmth of your own place. If you're tired of spending your evenings in front of the TV, Apartment Therapy has some ideas on how to have fun with your family or significant other.

1. Play a game. 
Dust off that old game of Clue, or Trivial Pursuit, or Monopoly (ok, maybe not Monopoloy unless it's a really long night) and challenge your housemates to some good old-fashioned intellectual competition. I always forget, until I'm playing them, how much board games can bring out people's personalities and show you new sides of people you already thought you knew. Just try not to let rivalries or hard feelings linger after the game's over. In my house, one of our rules is that the winner always picks up the game, which tends to take the edge off gloating.

2. Put together a puzzle. 
Jigsaw puzzles, I think, are incredibly underrated. Sure, working on a puzzle may not be as immediately gratifying as say, watching a car chase, but it has a certain slow joy that is a nice antidote to the chaos of modern life. When you're piecing together a puzzle, you can explore a bit, try different combinations, take your time. If you work on a puzzle with someone else, you'll wind up having all kinds of conversations that you might not otherwise have had. Puzzles are like alcohol. They relax people.

3. Have a cook-off. 
Cooking is fun: competitive cooking is even more fun. Rummage through your cabinets for random, leftover ingredients, and challenge one of your housemates to a cookoff, iron-chef style. Winner gets bragging rights, everyone gets to eat something.

4. Draw each other. 
No, this doesn't have to be some kind of sexy Titanic thing (unless you really want it to be). Some of the most fun I've had with friends at house parties involves just paper and pencils: turns out, drawing people you know is really, really fun. You can have one person pose and all draw that person, or just have everyone in the room draw someone else. And you don't have to all be Da Vincis: having participants with a range of styles and skill levels makes the end results especially entertaining.

5. Make something.
Crafts are like Sudoku for your hands. And you don't have to make a lifelong commitment to knitting to procure an evening's entertainment. Trying searching online for instructions for origami, or even towel art. Or heck, just decoupage something.

6. Bake something really difficult that you've never baked before. 
Make dumplings. Or macaroons. Or a pie-crust from scratch. Now's the time to try one of those notoriously hard recipes that you've heard takes forever. After all, you've got plenty of time. And, as a bonus, it makes the house warmer!

7. Build a pillow fort. 
You may think that you are too old to build a pillow fort, but you are wrong. Building pillow forts is a joy that knows no season, and when you're an adult you don't have to worry about your mom coming into the room and having a fit when she sees the couch standing on its side. Once your pillow fort is complete, you can sleep inside of it. Or eat macarons. Or play a board game. Or make towel art. The sky's the limit.

Create a Magazine-Worthy Apartment Home

"Luxury living room with a fireplace." by TNS Sofres is licensed under CC BY 2.0

You don’t have to have an eye for design or watch HGTV 24/7 to create and decorate a beautiful home. Most importantly, your space should reflect you and your personal taste! If you are feeling overwhelmed and in need of guidance, remember these decorating principles from Apartment Therapy and you’ll have a space worthy of a magazine cover in no time!

1. Cut the clutter.

The number one thing that sets blog-worthy interiors apartment from just plain old interiors is the lack of clutter. Over time, it's easy to let things accumulate in your home without thinking about it — and after a while, you can get to the point where you don't really 'see' clutter. Taking a photo of your space is a good trick for helping you see a room with new eyes. Once you've identified the trouble spots, check out our 10 Commandments of a Clutter-Free Life for some game-changing advice.

2. Leave a little space.

It can be tempting, especially when you keep finding pieces you love on the internet or at a flea market or in your neighbor's trash, to fill your space as full of furniture as possible. But often the secret to a more pleasing interior isn't more stuff, but less stuff. If you look at interiors in magazines, you'll notice that a lot of them have quite a bit of negative space. This lets each piece shine, and also makes the room feel more spacious. Try it out at home by removing one or two big pieces from a room — you may be surprised at how much it opens up the space.

3. Add a little texture.

A space without a variety of textures can feel dull and lifeless. This is an easy one to correct — a fluffy throw, an interesting rug, or even an old antique piece can all add a little interest to a room. Check out our advice for transforming your space with texture.

4. Use color judiciously.

Not every space needs to have a 'color' (as in, "what color is your living room?") or have everything match to be lively or interesting. A lot of beautiful spaces get interest from a variety of proportions and textures, and have very little in the way of color at all. Others manage to feel very colorful with just a few colorful pieces. When adding color to your space, try adding one or two pieces at a time and then judging their impact before adding more to the mix. You may find that a little goes a long way.

5. Pay attention to balance and proportion.

The same things that make a lovely, interesting photo make a lovely, interesting home — a mix of pieces of different sizes and proportions. Balancing heavy pieces with more delicate ones makes a space dynamic. Too many small items, without any larges ones to break them up, can feel chaotic and cluttered. This is another area where taking pictures of your own home can help. Pay attention to how your furniture and accessories relate to your space, and how they relate to each other.

Repairing Apartment Damages

"IMG_3432" by Jesus Rodriguez is licensed under CC BY 2.0

If you’re moving into a new apartment soon or have had a few minor accidents in your current apartment, there are many common types of damage that you can repair yourself without having to bring your landlord into the picture. From stains to scratches, accidents happen to the best of us. Learn how you can fix these problems with a little help from Apartment Guide.

Small Holes

After taking down the photos from your gallery wall, you probably noticed the many small holes left by nails that were used to hang the frames. Patching small holes left by nails, tacks and screws is simple and will leave the walls looking great again.

You’ll need some spackling paste, a putty knife and some sandpaper. Squeeze a small glob of the spackle into each hole, then use the putty knife to spread and blend it over the hole and wall. Once the spackle is dry, use the sandpaper to lightly sand the area, especially around the edges, to leave a smooth, flat wall.

Scuff Marks

Though scuff marks likely aren’t going to cost you any of your security deposit, they make the apartment appear dirtier than it is.

Since I seem to make an inordinate amount of scuffs on the walls of my apartments, I typically don’t try to tackle them all– just really noticeable and large ones. A magic eraser works wonders to get rid of them, so pick up a couple and your walls will be white again in no time.

Large Holes

Now it’s time to tackle that large hole you hid under your favorite painting. Mending large holes in drywall isn’t as easy as some of the other fixes, but it will most likely cost you less than if you were to let your landlord handle it and deduct it from your deposit.

Pick up a mesh repair patch at the hardware store to use with your spackle. Then, cut the patch so that it fits over the hole and the surrounding wall. Cover the patch with spackle, and after it dries, sand down the edges so they blend into the wall completely.

Broken Blinds

Another common damage issue I’m guilty of is bending or even breaking some of my window blinds. Before moving out, dust your windows and blinds, and make sure none are bent or cracked. If bent, do your best to straighten them out as much as possible.

If you can’t straighten them, or if one of the blinds is broken, look for blinds of the same size and color at your hardware store. Replace the broken slat with the new one, and your landlord won’t ever know the difference!

Carpet Stains

If you’re a red-wine drinker living in a carpeted apartment, you probably know a thing or two about removing carpet stains. Tackling stains before they get a chance to set will help your carpet look better overall, but before moving out, peruse the carpet for any stains you might have missed.

Try using baking soda or carpet cleaner first. If that’s not strong enough to remove the stains, consider renting a carpet cleaner from your hardware or grocery store. They’re easy to use, and your carpets will be unrecognizably clean when you’re done.

Scratches on Hardwood

Renters love apartments with hardwood floors because they’re much easier to clean than carpet, but they do have one common problem with them: Hardwood is easy to scratch. There are a couple of quick fixes for the shallower scrapes, though.

Many people swear by the walnut method, which involves rubbing a raw walnut along the scrape until the scratch blends into the rest of the floor. This method works well, just not on deep scratches and darker woods.

For deeper scratches, look for a wood-colored marker or pencil at the hardware store. These products are specifically made for filling in and disguising the scrapes.

General Dirtiness

Deep cleaning your apartment is generally recommended to ensure you get your full deposit back, and to give your landlord less of a headache when he or she is trying to ready the unit for the next renter.

Give everything a good wiping, sweeping and dusting, but spend extra time in the kitchen and bathroom. The refrigerator, microwave, oven and stove should all be thoroughly cleaned, along with the toilet, shower, tub and sink.

Football Party Beer & Cheddar Dip

Image courtesy Nealey Dozier, The Kitchn

When you think of football, food also probably comes to mind. From pizza to wings to beer, the unhealthier the food, the better it tastes on game day! Whether you're hosting a party or attending someone else's on Sunday, this beer & cheddar dip (courtesy of The Kitchn) is sure to please! After all, it's the best of both football food worlds--beer and melted cheese!

Beer & Cheddar Dip

Serves 4-6

1 cup (8 ounces) evaporated milk

2 eggs

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1/2 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce

10 ounces extra-sharp cheddar cheese, shredded

1 cup amber beer

2 tablespoon cornstarch mixed with 2 tablespoons water

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Bacon crumbles and green onions, for garnish (optional)

Pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités, for serving

In a medium saucepan over medium-low heat, whisk together evaporated milk, eggs, mustard, Worcestershire sauce, and half of the shredded cheese. Once the cheese sauce begins to warm, add the beer and cornstarch-water mixture (aka the slurry). Whisking frequently, gradually add the remaining cheese and cook until the sauce reaches desired thickness, about 10 - 12 minutes. Season generously with salt and pepper. Keep warm over lowest heat setting, stirring frequently, until ready to serve. Garnish with bacon crumbles and green onions and serve with pretzels, pretzel bread, or crudités.

What are your favorite Super Bowl snacks and recipes?

Non-Destructive Wall Decor

"Great wall" by Sal Taylor Kydd is licensed under CC BY 2.0

Do you have a vision for how your apartment should look, but can’t achieve that vision because of restrictions by your landlord or property manager? Where there is a will, there is a way! You don’t have to worry about destroying the walls in your apartment with these ideas, courtesy of Apartment Guide, because they don’t require nails and won’t damage the surfaces you attach them to! Let these ideas inspire you and make your vision a reality!

Frameless Wall Gallery

Not all pictures require a classic, ornate frame to provide an impressive appearance. You can take all of your favorite artistic landscapes, and even your cherished selfies, and hang a montage or collage of images that tell a story about who you are and what you love, all without chipping the paint.

No nails are required for this wall gallery–simply print out your images on reusable, adhesive-backed paper and decorate to your heart’s content. Websites likeWeMontage can provide this service for you or you can order the specialty paper and DIY. Another, even more affordable option is using poster putty or painter’s tape.

Washi Tape Design Series

One of the most popular ways to add color and pattern to just about anything–including walls, notebooks and furniture–is with washi tape, which is a pretty, lightweight masking tape that originated in Japan. This adhesive tape comes in a stunning assortment of colors, prints, patterns and sayings from the basic to the bold. Think leopard prints, polka dots and mini mustaches.

Washi tape is available at craft stores and online, and is inexpensive. Scoop up the styles that appeal to you, and use the tape to make a faux frame around a picture, “draw” a shape on the wall or add colorful edging to bookshelves. The best part about washi tape is that it’s washable and removes easily–perfect for that no-nails stipulation in your apartment lease.

Vinyl Decals

Vinyl decals are a relatively new way to add elegance to walls without painting or using framed artwork, and they’re available in every shape and style imaginable. Vinyl decals, sometimes called cut outs, are removable adhesive images that can be stuck and replaced as many times as desired with no harm done to the wall, furniture or other item on which they are applied.

These decals come in a variety of designs, including trees, woodland creatures, monograms, heart-warming sayings, chandeliers, or just about anything else that you can conceive. Vinyl decals can be a bit pricier than some other options, but they are long lasting, don’t require nails and won’t violate your apartment lease terms.

Temporary Wallpaper

Though paint may not be an option for most renters and removable wallpaper can be pricey, adding color to the walls is still possible if you get a little creative with fabric. By using a simple combination of starch and water, you can quickly and easily “glue” your favorite bolt of fabric to the walls for an instant wallpaper or paint-type effect.

Best yet, you’re only limited by the selection of prints and patterns of available cloth. Make sure you measure your wall carefully to get the right amount of fabric. You’ll also want to get a bit more than you think, as the starch can cause some shrinkage. When moving day arrives, simply pull the fabric away from the wall and wash off the starch with a sponge and warm water.

Repurposed Decor

Not all decor ideas have to involve attaching anything to the actual walls. Some renters can bypass strict lease restrictions by repurposing unexpected items in fun, playful ways.

For instance, an old, beat-up ladder may not be safe for climbing, but it can lean against the wall and provide a shabby chic accent that also holds blankets, magazines, small potted plants and other trinkets. You can even paint the ladder a bright color for a statement piece.

Another example is old shutters, which can be turned into letter holders, or you can add hooks to the slats and hang a variety of items, from cooking utensils to accessories such as jewelry or purses.