Blog Posts by At Home The Shine

Susan Boyle has been on the rise ever since she won Britain’s Got Talent back in 2009. Having sold over 18 million albums in just three years, Susan recently released her 4th album, Standing Ovation, which showcases her love of musical theater (her favorite Broadway musical is the iconic Les Misérables). When Susan stopped by The Shine, we got the chance to talk with the international superstar about fame, her new album, and what it was like to work with her idol Donny Osmond.

Standing Ovation is a magnificent compilation of some of the most beloved tunes from musical theater, featuring amazing renditions of “Send in the Clowns”, “Bring Him Home,”, and “The Winner Takes It All”. In addition to duets with Donny Osmond, Susan also showcases a duet with the “Phantom” himself Michael Crawford. Without a doubt, Standing Ovation is a great album to add some joy to your home this holiday season.

When asked about fame, Susan says becoming famous came as a “very

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When you think of a tortilla, what immediately comes to mind? A taco, quesadilla, or an enchilada perhaps? Likely so, but chef and author of “Tortillas to the Rescue”, Jessica Harlan, is  proving that there are a variety of ways to incorporate tortillas into cooking in everything from breakfast recipes to dessert.  Jessica’s new book includes 100 easy recipes with tortillas, and we highlighted a few of our favorites on today's episode.

Let’s start by breaking down the different ways Jessica recommends to use tortillas. (Don't worry - all the recipes highlighted in this episode are available below).

1)  As a topper (like breadcrumbs) - One way to use tortillas is by grinding them into tortilla chips. They can be used to top foods like you would with breadcrumbs. For instance, try tortilla-crusted French toast.

2) As a crust - for instance, try broccoli cheddar quiche.

3) A stand-in ingredient - many cultures have a flat bread, pancake or other version of the

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The fierce ladies of Atlanta are back for another thrilling season of The Real Housewives Of Atlanta. With the new season premiering this Sunday November 4th, we had the amazing opportunity on “The Shine” to speak with two of the housewives – returning member Phaedra Parks and newbie Porsha Stewart. The ladies dished on what we can expect of season five, including budding new romances, lots of drama, and much more. Season 5 of The Real Housewives of Atlanta premieres this Sunday Nov.4, 9 p.m. ET on Bravo.

As we’re hearing, season five is a “whole new Atlanta”. As Phaedra tells us, there are two new ladies on the block – Porsha Stewart, husband of former NFL football player Kordell Stewart, and Kenya Moore, a former Miss USA winner. Besides the newcomers, Porsha assures us the drama continues to be heavy, and that it can get stressful when having an argument on national TV with another one of the housewives.

Of the many story lines that unfold this season, Phaedra, an

Read More »from The Real Housewives of Atlanta's Phaedra Parks and Porsha Stewart dish on the new season

It’s that time of year when we break out all of our holiday décor . We all know how easy it is to get carried away with holiday spirit.  Sabrina Soto, home décor guru, host of HGTV’s “The High Low Project”, and author of her new book Home Design points to two holiday décor items you should avoid at any and all costs. The first? As tempting as it may be, stay away from artificial floral arrangements, especially a wreath. They never look good! The second item to avoid: cardboard or paper holiday signs. Sabrina says those belong in classrooms, not anywhere in your home. Instead, try some budget-friendly DIY decorations to spruce up your home for the winter.                                                                                                                                                                                  Sabrina brought her simple, do-it-yourself winter décor accents to “The Shine” that will make a classy statement in your home, while going easy on your

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We all know someone like this: every morsel of space in their home is immaculately put together from the shoes in their closet to the linear arrangement of cleaning supplies under their kitchen sink. Yes, we mean those extremely organized people in our lives. Listen, let’s for a minute not let them drive us crazy and instead embrace the order they so naturally execute in their lives, and take a few pointers from their structure. Today on “The Shine” Carly Zipp of TheNest.com highlights a few key secrets of super organized people to help keep our own home’s in tip top shape.

Find a home for everything: When it comes to keeping a clean, clutter-free home, it’s important to find a designated resting or display location for everything you own. And if it’s a functional item that you use regularly, put it away once you’re done with it to avoid a growing mess. Even when shopping, think about where you’re going to put an item at home -- whether it’s a piece of furniture or a piece

Read More »from Secrets of extremely organized people

 

She’s one of America’s favorite celebrities, Betty White.  At age 90, the TV legend and "Golden Girl’s" star doesn’t seem to be slowing down. Between her roles on “Hot in Cleveland” and “Off Your Rockers”, Betty still devotes much of her time to animal rights, a cause she’s been passionate about for decades.

We caught up with Betty White recently at the American Humane Association Awards Gala in Beverly Hills, where she received two prestigious awards, The National Humanitarian Medal and The Legacy Award. “They’ve done so much to spread the word of kindness and protection, and I have been with them for hundreds of years it seems like. They’re very important in spreading the word of kindness.” 

White says she believes her commitment to animals has made a difference, “We’ve come a long way in the animal business. We’re more conscience of what a big role animals play in our lives. Even people who weren’t animal people before.”

And Betty White’s popularity continues to soar. Read More »from Betty White wins Humane Society's National Humanitarian Medal

For most people, the electric bill is a huge part of their monthly budget, but there are actually easy, budget-friendly ways to cuts costs on your electric bill right now. From the light bulbs you use in your home to the household appliances you buy, Carly Zipp, editor of TheNest.com has some savvy tips to make that monthly electric bill a lot less straining on your bank account.

Carly’s first tip: Stock up your fridge. A stocked refrigerator means it takes longer for the fridge to heat up which means it will take less time for it to cool down. Food will stay colder longer, and require less electricity. Easy breezy.

[Related: Energy Wasters In Your Home]

Next, Carly says use power strips and surge protectors for your appliances and electronics. Carly recommends a power strip and surge protector in one. "Plug in all your electronics, and when you leave your home, turn it off", says Carly. “A common misconception that we all have, is that when you have all your

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White. It’s pure. It’s simple. But, when it comes to decorating our homes, white can be intimidating. In fact, many actually avoid the color white at home all together. However, according to Sarah Gray Miller, editor in chief of Country Living Magazine, white is a beautiful color that can be both functional and elegant. Miller has some inspiring ideas on how to break the rules of white and incorporate white into our home decor. “It’s got so much presence. It can be so bold, and yet so comfortable. There’s really not a place where white doesn’t look great,” says Miller.

In this episode, The Shine's Host Allison Fishman is wearing:
Dress, Michael by Michael Kors
Necklace, Jessie Lane Jewels
Earrings, Rebekah Price (www.rebekahprice.com)
Shoes, Enzo Angiolini

More on The Shine: Check out our recent episode on how to take some stress out of cleaning

Starting with function, Miller says a great way to add white to a room is with slipcovers. Miller says, “You can just

Read More »from Breaking the rules of white