How to Light Your Home Like Hitchcock Would

When you walk into a room, what is the first thing you notice? For me, it’s the lighting. My mood instantly changes for the worse when I walk into a poorly lit space. It feels unwelcoming, even lazy. It’s as though the house doesn’t care anymore, its proverbial light has burnt out.

I get it, it does come off as a little odd that I have assigned a sort of humanness to space, but don’t we all do that? We appreciate space based on our experiences and conceptions. I associate the darkness with depression dereliction, and if you’re still reading, I’m going to venture a guess and say that you do too. So, what can we do to make our rooms more appealing. One way to go (and my personal favorite) is to highlight the architectural intricacies of my home with light, much like Hitchcock elevated feeling in his films using light.

Lights, Camera, Action!
Every area of the house is designated for a particular use, be it to eat, sleep, relax or bathe. We know what a room is used for based on the furniture and appliances stationed in the space, along with how the light is used in the space.

Kitchens are bright because we need to be able to calculate seasoning to tablespoon and chicken grease to counter space. It’s a functional space where we cook and eat and must keep clean. The living room is often warmly lit. This way we may sit comfortably in the space and enjoy playing a game of Yahtzee with our family or catching up on the piling Last Week Tonight episodes in our DVR. The bedroom is a little a more dimly lit, helping us to get cozy and ready for bed.

How does lighting design come into the feeling of our home? Isn’t it the furniture pieces that tell us how the space is used? Architectural lighting, such as with recessed, track and dimmers help us to create atmosphere. Alfred Hitchcock understood what lighting design could do in a space, and he knew how to change an audience’s perception of a character or a scenario in seconds. Let’s examine three of Hitchcock’s films and discuss how we can bring his lighting mastery into our own homes.

Rear Window, 1954
Hitchcock is known for creating menacing, suspenseful moments in his films through light manipulation. Movie buffs are quick to forget the scenes in which we’re first introduced to the protagonist of the story. The lighting is (to use an overused description) warm and inviting. The lighting gets us into the headspace of the character, into his emotional state. This is probably why the beginning of Hitchcock’s films are usually so engaging. In Rear Window, we are introduced to a man named Jeffrey, a news photographer stuck at home with a broken leg. When we first see Jeffrey in his apartment the interior is naturally lit. To get the “natural” look, Houzz suggests layering multiple light sources. Layering will bring attention to your furniture, wainscoting and other elements of the home. We can layer using recessed lighting (to provide the overhead light) floor lamps, (to provide the task lighting) and table lamps (to provide accent lighting). Layers of light create a “natural” looking light source, seemingly bringing daylight into a dark house.

Vertigo, 1958
In this Hitchcock film, the director focused on bringing a vivid and saturated color scheme to the forefront. In Midge’s apartment, in the flower shop and out at dinner, color permeates the space. To fill your living space with bursts of color, highlight a mustard, teal or sienna accent wall with a table lamp. Using an accent lighting source will bring the user’s attention to the space around them. You can also accessorize your space with colorful throw pillows or a rug to bring in texture and create mood.

Marnie, 1964
We are shown two different housing interiors in this film. One is the title character Marnie’s mother’s home, and the other is her husband’s family’s home. We see the societal differences between Marnie and her husband in the way the family homes are lit. The mother’s house is dark and sepia-toned, while her husband’s is bright and enchanting. Light and color can trick us into feeling particular moods. The darker somber home will make us quiet and reflective, while the brighter, cheerier home will enliven our spirits and bring out good energy. For a “positive vibes” space, layer task and accent lighting. This will create a mood of contentment and put you in a positive head space. If you have dimmer technology, use it! Using a dimmer gives you complete control of the lighting without needing to fill up your home with lamps.

It’s astonishing what a little light and color can do for a home. All it takes is a coat of paint and some new light fixtures to make it happen.

Giveaway $100 PayPal Cash or Amazon GC

We have teamed up with a great group of bloggers to bring you a fun giveaway. The prize is your choice of $100 PayPal or Amazon GC. It is back-to-school time and $100 would be a big help to offset the cost of school supplies and clothing. Or perhaps you're like me and have a wish list on Amazon of some items you have been wanted for so long. This is an awesome prize, isn't it? 

I am so curious to know what you will do with the prize if you are the lucky winner. Leave a comment and let us know, then enter through the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
This giveaway starts August, 1, 2016 12:00 AM EST and ends August 15, 2016 at 11:59 PM EST. USA, 18+. One winner will be randomly selected from all qualifying entries and contacted via the email they provide. The winner has 48 hours to respond or new winner will be chosen. The winner will be announced on the Rafflecopter after they have responded.

Save On Back-To-School Items And More With Groupon Goods

This is a sponsored post. All opinions are my own as always.

Do you love saving money? Of course you do! Who doesn't want to get the very best deal on items you need or even want. With back-to-school season here, many of you might be looking for electronics for your kids. In my case, my college daughters have never-ending lists of things they need. If you are searching for laptops, printers, headphones or just about anything else, Groupon Goods is your answer. I was browsing their site and was blown away by the amazing deals they offered. It made me kick myself when I saw the price of an activity tracker compared to what we recently paid at a department store. We could have gotten three for the price of one had we gone through Groupon.
::Insert the stunned, wide-eyed emoji here::

Look at these deals for a laptop computer and wireless printer.

If you are on a budget sending your kid off to college, this is a great deal. $200 for a printer and computer is unheard of. 

Another great thing I like about Groupon is that you can get local deals. This is perfect if you are taking a trip and need some discounts for local services, things to do or dining spots. I am going to Charleston, SC next next month and I am going to browse around Groupon to see what deals I can find there.

If you are looking for specific items, I urge you to check out Groupon Goods first. I am losing my mind over the kitchen appliances! I found an oil-less fryer and electric pressure cooker that is screaming my name! There are so many amazing products to choose from and the prices are so reasonable.

Be sure and follow Groupon on Facebook and Twitter for product promotions and updates.

Where Do The Smart Families Go When They Visit The UK?

Little old England. It’s a place that many of us want to visit at some point if we haven’t been already. But where should we go once we reach the island’s shores? After all, there are so many places to see and things to do crammed into such as tiny space. Here’s where the smart families go when they visit the UK.

Yorkshire

Why do so many visitors flock to Yorkshire each year? Well, there really is no place like in on Earth. Yorkshire is an area renowned for its strong identity and culture. This is a place where you’ll find some of the best restaurants and attractions in the country. In fact, there are more Michelin-starred restaurants per head here than in any other part of the country.

The great thing about Yorkshire is that it is full of wide open spaces and even a couple of wildernesses. North Yorkshire is far from the hustle and bustle of life in the South East. If you visit, make sure you go to the North York Moors. Here you’ll experience what it truly means to traverse an English wilderness. The Moors themselves are all but deserted. To the south, you’ll find little market towns, like Pickering and Malton. And you can stop off her for a classic pub lunch or fish and chips. The perfect finish to a family adventure.

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If you prefer, you can swap the bleak beauty of the Moors, for the lush, sweeping valleys of the Dales. The Dales are about fifty miles to the West of the Moors. Yet this is a landscape with an utterly different feel and character. It’s also the home of Wensleydale cheese. There’s a good lad, Gromit!

Blackpool

Blackpool has been drawing in the crowds for well over a hundred years now. And the coastal seaside town is still going strong as the UK’s most famous family resort. Blackpool tourism is fuelled by a combination of the beach, the attractions, and the rides. The seafront is littered with arcades and amusements for all the family. Many Brits make a habit of going to Blackpool every year because there is nothing quite like it. It’s a must-visit on any whistlestop tour of the UK.

But Blackpool isn’t just about getting an adrenaline fix or a tan. It is also a town that knows how to put on a show. Every year thousands of people flock to see shows on everything from magic to hypnotism. There is something for everybody in your family.

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Lake District 

The Lake District is the UK’s finest exhibition of natural beauty. Here you’ll find the country’s biggest lakes and tallest mountains. But you’ll also find a charm and at atmosphere which is verging on the magical. The Lake District, a couple of hours drive north of Blackpool, covers an area about twice the size of London. Packed into this small space are thousands of hotels and pubs, waiting to meet the needs of tourists.

This is the type of place that you go if you’re a family that loves adventure. Here you’ll find some of the best walking in the whole of Britain. You can walk around any one of a dozen lakes, including Windermere and Derwentwater. Or you can climb a mountain trail, what the Brits call footpaths, for stunning views. The best views can be had from the top of Catbells near Derwentwater and the Old Man near Coniston.

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The Lake District was a place that inspired the famous eighteenth-century poet, William Wordsworth. The grandeur of the lakes inspired Wordsworth to put its majesty into words. Now there’s a museum in the small town of Cockermouth, dedicated to his legacy.

Suffolk

If you want a UK beach holiday, Suffolk is the place to go. It’s far enough from London to avoid the crowds. And it hosts some of the UK’s finest seaside towns. There are no doubt, places in the world with better weather. But if you want to go to beaches with real history and charm, you can’t beat Suffolk. Frinton is a popular destination on the Suffolk coast. At this old Quaker town, you’ll find a sandy beach with a long promenade. There is a fish and chip shop, of course. And plenty of space to park. Go further up the coast, and you’ll end up at Southwold. This has a stony beach. But it’s an area famous for its amber jewelry.

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Finally, you can visit the Broads. Here’s a place where the family can get up close with nature. It’s one of the UK’s richest areas of wildlife. Here you can get up close with hundreds of rare species.

Ways To Help Your Teens Drive Safely At College #BeThereMoments

Today's conversation is sponsored by Michelin's Be There Moments campaign. 

Both of my daughters start their fall college classes in a few short weeks. This year, I have two student drivers that I panic  have great concern over. My older daughter has more experience under her belt, but my younger girl has very little. One of the things I have learned in my experience of being a mom to teen drivers is I need to try to worry less. I honestly don't know if that is really possible, but I try very hard.

Our girls are commuter students and make the drive back and forth to campus each day. I know they are already dreading the back-to-school traffic jams. They have to make sure to leave early enough each morning to secure a decent parking spot in the garage, as well as avoid getting stuck in traffic. I don't know what it is about a college campus that seems to make drivers really impatient (and crazy). I'm constantly telling my daughters to be mindful of their speed and allow enough space for sudden stops that they may have to make. Trust me, driving around a college campus means a whole lot of slamming on brakes will be happening daily. I've been on the road around the University during peak school hours and my nerves are usually shot.

This is why it is very important to have general safety checks before having them take the car back to school. We have a thorough inspection done on the brakes, tires, alignment, lights/signals, fluids and more. I think if you start with having peace of mind that the car is safe to drive, it helps your teens feel more secure. One of the biggest things I try to help the girls remember is that you have to keep a cool head when driving. Being one to get overly defensive about and angry over every little thing other drivers do that you don't agree with makes driving stressful. Calm and collected is the way to go.

Another thing we stress to the girls is not having distracting things that can obstruct your view from all angles. I know they love to show their school pride by sporting flags, decals, and other adornments, but this can backfire on you. If you can't see clearly, you are not going to have a safe driving experience. I know they get a tad annoyed with us, but we are all about safety first. Being cute doesn't matter if you're not being smart.

One more important thing to help your teens drive safely at college is to be sure they have an emergency kit packed in the trunk. Jumper cables, portable battery charger, and phone charger to name a few are helpful if your tire is low on air or the car won't start. The girls know that they should only use the phone in the car for emergencies. Calls can wait. Texts can wait. Both me and my husband try to be the best role models for all of our children and practice what we preach. We do not talk on the phone while driving. No matter how good of a driver you think you are, it is really easy to get distracted.

Ultimately, it is so important for parents with college students to instill values and the urgency of safety and following rules. Are you a parent of a college student or have a high school senior preparing for their next journey? You can share your stories or moments on social media using the #BeThereMoments hashtag and check out the stories on the Be There Moments website by Michelin.