When it comes to affordable art that still feels unique, Pop Chart Lab is one of our favorites. The Brooklyn-based print company turns charts into art, with cheeky infographics on everything from the taxonomy of typography to a flow chart of all the ways you can make and consume coffee.
There aren't a ton of excellent restaurants where I live. But there's little traffic, I run into people I've known all my life at the grocery store, and my friends have been my friends nearly all my life, so for what it lacks in dining, it makes up for by simply being the place I want to be.
But good lord, trying to find a decent salad a shade more interesting than a Caesar is a struggle, which is why I've had to really brush up on my at-home salad skills. Nothing has made them more delicious than this quickie two-ingredient salty, herby nut topping.
There aren't a ton of excellent restaurants where I live. But there's little traffic, I run into people I've known all my life at the grocery store, and my friends have been my friends nearly all my life, so for what it lacks in dining, it makes up for by simply being the place I want to be.
But good lord, trying to find a decent salad a shade more interesting than a Caesar is a struggle, which is why I've had to really brush up on my at-home salad skills. Nothing has made them more delicious than this quickie two-ingredient salty, herby nut topping.
Posted To: MBS Commentary
April was a bummer of a month for the bond market. Actually, it was decent through the 11th, but it got ugly quickly after that--especially during the past 2 weeks. Contrast that to March, which was decidedly, albeit mildly positive. If bonds stick to this same pattern of clearly delineated monthly trading themes, the rest of the week could be interesting . Today, however, was sort of a dud. One barrier to excitement will be the "Golden Week" holidays in Japan, keeping the biggest Treasury trading contingent out of the office during Asian market hours. Actually, it's more fair to say that Golden Week is a barrier to volume early in any given trading session. We can still see exciting moves occur in lower volume. The 8:30am PCE data was fairly uneventful with the Core year-over...(read more)
Posted To: MBS Commentary
April was a bummer of a month for the bond market. Actually, it was decent through the 11th, but it got ugly quickly after that--especially during the past 2 weeks. Contrast that to March, which was decidedly, albeit mildly positive. If bonds stick to this same pattern of clearly delineated monthly trading themes, the rest of the week could be interesting . Today, however, was sort of a dud. One barrier to excitement will be the "Golden Week" holidays in Japan, keeping the biggest Treasury trading contingent out of the office during Asian market hours. Actually, it's more fair to say that Golden Week is a barrier to volume early in any given trading session. We can still see exciting moves occur in lower volume. The 8:30am PCE data was fairly uneventful with the Core year-over...(read more)
Between 2014 and 2016, I moved six times: Into a studio with my boyfriend, then to a summer sublet alone. Next, to a garden apartment, then a fourth-floor walk-up Brooklyn sublet, then back in a two-bedroom with the same boyfriend above, then back out again to my own apartment where, thankfully, I am trying out single living with no intentions of moving for at least the next couple of years. While this was all physically and emotionally exhausting, I did have one thing I could rely on each time to make this all so much easier (and if you're using context clues, it was NOT my boyfriend!): The Ikea FRATKA.
Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch
Mortgage rates didn't move much today , which keeps them right in line with last week's lowest levels. That sounds pretty good! Unfortunately, any time prior to last week, those "lowest levels" would have been the highest in more than 4 years. To make things simple , look at like this: rates didn't move more than an eighth of a percentage point (.125) for most of March and early April (lenders typically divide rate sheet offerings in 1/8th increments). Last week brought rates a quarter of a point (.25) higher at its worst, and now we've recovered about an eighth. In other words, we're right in between the March plateau and last week's highs. The rest of this week brings several important economic reports including Friday's big jobs report (The Employment Situation, aka "Nonfarm Payrolls")....(read more)
Posted To: Mortgage Rate Watch
Mortgage rates didn't move much today , which keeps them right in line with last week's lowest levels. That sounds pretty good! Unfortunately, any time prior to last week, those "lowest levels" would have been the highest in more than 4 years. To make things simple , look at like this: rates didn't move more than an eighth of a percentage point (.125) for most of March and early April (lenders typically divide rate sheet offerings in 1/8th increments). Last week brought rates a quarter of a point (.25) higher at its worst, and now we've recovered about an eighth. In other words, we're right in between the March plateau and last week's highs. The rest of this week brings several important economic reports including Friday's big jobs report (The Employment Situation, aka "Nonfarm Payrolls")....(read more)Name: Natasha
Location: The Annex, Toronto
Size: 190 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
A historic mansion in Toronto is a book and history lover's dream and for Natasha, it's also home. Well, one small bit of it is home: Natasha rents a 190-square-foot studio apartment in the building. And though teeny, she finds her living space less congested now than when she lived in a house full of roommates. For Natasha, small space living is "cozy and clever" — a liberating change of lifestyle that has forced her to streamline her possessions down to the essentials.
There aren't a ton of excellent restaurants where I live. But there's little traffic, I run into people I've known all my life at the grocery store, and my friends have been my friends nearly all my life, so for what it lacks in dining, it makes up for by simply being the place I want to be.
But good lord, trying to find a decent salad a shade more interesting than a Caesar is a struggle, which is why I've had to really brush up on my at-home salad skills. Nothing has made them more delicious than this quickie two-ingredient salty, herby nut topping.
If you're one of Cara Delevingne's 41.1 million Instagram followers, you'll notice that she's usually jetting off somewhere. That doesn't mean the 25 year old model didn't want a place to call her own when in her hometown of London—and just like her, it's the opposite of cookie cutter.
The feats accomplished with 3D printing just get more impressive by the minute. The latest mind-blowing project is this 3D-printed house which a portable robot built in 48 hours.
If you think Texas real estate is all ranches and mansions, this Houston abode will blow away all your stereotypes about the Lone Star state. This refined, masterfully renovated home has an elegant (if unassuming) exterior, but on the inside, it's full of huge windows, beautiful built-ins and sophisticated finishes.
If you've ever worked while on vacation, you're definitely not alone. According to a recent study, 60 percent of Americans admit to working at least somewhat on their last trip. And while the desire to relax and the need to keep connected can be at odds, the trend of workcations don't seem to be going anywhere.
Name: Talia Braude and her son
Location: Bedford Stuyvesant — Brooklyn, NY
Size: 1200 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, owned
Although architect Talia Braude (of Braude Pankiewicz Architects) initially found it challenging to fill the 1,200-square-foot Brooklyn brownstone she bought last year, since she had previously been in a small apartment. But, she's managed to do a fantastic job of putting a bold and personal stamp on the space. She did so by including fun items from friends and family... and by going all out when it came to her home's color scheme.
The latest collaboration between millennial stationery giant Rifle Paper Co. and chef-favorite culinary company Hedley & Bennett is debuting just in time for Mother's Day — with matching kitchen-pro aprons in Rifle's iconic floral prints for your favorite mom and her mini-me.
For years, well-intentioned renovators have been painting over wood trim of all kinds. White trim was good, or ever colored trim or even black. But wood trim, of the kind found in so many beautiful old houses, was deemed heavy, old-fashioned. Well, I'm happy to report that the pendulum seems to be swinging back in the other direction. So before you paint over that woodwork, take a look at these beautiful examples of wood trim done right.
Fact: There are several steals at Costco that are so cheap and versatile, it's almost a shame not to buy them. While I don't allow myself to buy the 10-pound tub of organic coffee every time I go (I know I'd never drink it all before it turned rancid), there are a few things I always buy. Bonus: They're all $10 or less, and they help me stick to a healthy diet between trips.
Read about my favorite finds — and how I use them — below.
Posted To: MND NewsWire
It wasn't much of a gain , even missing analysts' predictions, but given the recent performance of the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), any positive change is a relief. The National Association of Realtors® said the PHSI, which measures new contracts for existing home purchases, managed an 0.4 percent increase in March, bringing the index to 107.6. At the same time, the February PHSI was downgraded from 107.5 to 107.2. While it was the second straight monthly gain, following a 3.1 percent increase in February, it was the third straight month that the index lagged on an annual basis. This time the shortfall was 3.0 percent. Analysts polled by Econoday had expected a 1.0 percent month-over-month increase, but the results fell short of even the most pessimistic of forecasts. The range was...(read more)
Posted To: MND NewsWire
It wasn't much of a gain , even missing analysts' predictions, but given the recent performance of the Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI), any positive change is a relief. The National Association of Realtors® said the PHSI, which measures new contracts for existing home purchases, managed an 0.4 percent increase in March, bringing the index to 107.6. At the same time, the February PHSI was downgraded from 107.5 to 107.2. While it was the second straight monthly gain, following a 3.1 percent increase in February, it was the third straight month that the index lagged on an annual basis. This time the shortfall was 3.0 percent. Analysts polled by Econoday had expected a 1.0 percent month-over-month increase, but the results fell short of even the most pessimistic of forecasts. The range was...(read more)
The hall bathroom in Mary Ann and Frank's Upper West Side apartment was a bit of a Monet: cute from afar, but kind of crumbly and weird up close. The apartment was built in 1929, and all the fixtures in the bathroom were original. This meant that the tiles and tub had both seen better days. After living in their apartment since 1992, Mary Ann and Frank were ready for a bathroom that was a little more 'wow' and a little less 'it'll do.'
Posted To: MBS Commentary
This week brings several top tier economic reports as well as a Fed announcement. Combine that with today's month-end trading process, it makes for a robust and evenly-distributed slate of potential market movement. The caveat is that we haven't seen any pronounced reactions to economic data recently. One notable exception is the NFP reading from the beginning of the month (the one that came in at 103k), which helped bonds rally after 3 days of selling (and perhaps to stave off the negative trend seen in the 2nd chart below. The top portion of the chart relates recent movement to horizontal pivot points. Most notable among these (as far as this week is concerned) is 2.96. It acted as a clearly-defined ceiling earlier in the year, and now stands a chance to become a floor. While yields...(read more)
Posted To: MBS Commentary
This week brings several top tier economic reports as well as a Fed announcement. Combine that with today's month-end trading process, it makes for a robust and evenly-distributed slate of potential market movement. The caveat is that we haven't seen any pronounced reactions to economic data recently. One notable exception is the NFP reading from the beginning of the month (the one that came in at 103k), which helped bonds rally after 3 days of selling (and perhaps to stave off the negative trend seen in the 2nd chart below. The top portion of the chart relates recent movement to horizontal pivot points. Most notable among these (as far as this week is concerned) is 2.96. It acted as a clearly-defined ceiling earlier in the year, and now stands a chance to become a floor. While yields...(read more)
It's no surprise that moving across the country means that not all of your things can necessarily move with you. For my partner and me, area code hopping from Toronto to Vancouver meant forsaking all of our home furnishings to make room in the car for keepsakes and clothing. So where do you start when you sign the lease and you have nothing but wardrobe changes and some family photos? Having been down to the bare essentials and back again, here are the five things to buy first when you move to a new city
Posted To: Pipeline Press
Demographics will tell you that it makes more sense organizing populations by how they live – rather than where they live – is a much more precise way to talk about the world. People are human so we all tend to gravitate to those with similar interests and personalities. Every lender knows that people need a place to live, and it's nice to build equity, have stability, and pound a nail into a wall without having to tell the landlord. The Census Bureau tells us that the homeownership rate rose from the prior year for the fifth consecutive quarter in 2018. It held steady at 64.2%, unchanged from the prior quarter and its highest level since 2014. The share of Americans who own a home rose from the prior year, from 63.6% in the first quarter of 2017. Nice when ownership increase...(read more)
Posted To: Pipeline Press
Demographics will tell you that it makes more sense organizing populations by how they live – rather than where they live – is a much more precise way to talk about the world. People are human so we all tend to gravitate to those with similar interests and personalities. Every lender knows that people need a place to live, and it’s nice to build equity, have stability, and pound a nail into a wall without having to tell the landlord. The Census Bureau tells us that the homeownership rate rose from the prior year for the fifth consecutive quarter in 2018. It held steady at 64.2%, unchanged from the prior quarter and its highest level since 2014. The share of Americans who own a home rose from the prior year, from 63.6% in the first quarter of 2017. Nice when ownership increase...(read more)
Every once in a while, I get to visit a truly grand home in which every piece is obviously there on purpose, nothing is cobbled together, and there are no placeholders. I love these homes—especially because I love their residents—and have tried to find ways to incorporate what makes them work into my own decidedly more humble abode. Here are five ways to fake fanciness, without looking cheap.
Name: Nathan Miller
Location: Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah
Size: 758 square feet
Years lived in: 1.5 years, renting
My day job is in healthcare marketing. On nights and weekends, I'm a print-making, Polaroid-taking, road-tripping, 20-something-year-old with a mild plant-buying addiction. My apartment is located on a side street in Downtown Salt Lake City, and sits above a row of local shops, artist studios and small businesses. The century-old, converted warehouse offers many unique features, like tall ceilings, exposed brick, and a back loading dock that now serves as open patio space to the building's tenants. Seconds from great food and drinks, and minutes from amazing skiing, the location is equally as important to me as the actual living space.
Preparation is the key to success. The next time your favorite sweater shrinks or you smear sauce on your sleeve at dinner, instead of furiously Googling for a solution, you'll remain cool, calm and collected because you committed these five in-a-pinch laundry hacks to memory.
Is there anything worse than the sun in your eyes? Feeling the sunshine on your skin is amazing, but looking right into the burning gas star will make you want to claw your eyes out. Now, imagine living somewhere that no matter the curtains you bought, the sun just beamed right into your house and blinded you daily.
Name: Lucia and Jose
Location: Valencia, Spain
Size: 1291 square feet
Years lived in: 1 year, renting
Natural light bounces off of the high ceilings, patterned tile floors and other dazzling architectural features of this Spanish apartment, which serves as both the home and workspace for a creative, world-traveling couple. Lucia and Jose run Anker Prod, where they create videos for advertising and weddings. And though they're lucky to live in beautiful Valencia, they are also fortunate to get to travel the world for their work, as well.
Sure, that old Victorian home seems great now. It has original floorboards and the crown molding is so charming. But once you purchase, every creaky step will send a shiver up your spine: One wrong move and the whole place could crumble down faster than you can say "poor house." It's a scary thought, but you're not alone. In fact, threat of costly repairs is the number one stress for homeowners.
Command strips are game changers for renters and dorm residents — or really anyone really who doesn't want to do damage to their walls. We love all the ways they are handy around the house, use them all the time in our studio for photoshoots, and have learned a thing or two about best practices. If you haven't cracked the Command strip code, and still have issues making them work for you, avoid these six common, but preventable mistakes.
