Recipe Maria Lorena Recipe Maria Lorena

Lights, Camera, Popcorn! How to Make the Perfect Movie-Theater Popcorn at Home

Is there anything better than settling in for a cozy movie night? We think so—if you have a giant bowl of real movie theater popcorn. If you've ever wondered why your homemade popcorn never tastes quite the same, you’re not alone! It turns out, the professionals don’t just use regular butter and salt; they rely on a specific combination of secret ingredients that gives the popcorn that signature buttery-salty punch and bright golden color. Get ready to ditch the soggy kernels, because we're spilling the secrets to that perfect batch right here!

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Inspiration Maria Lorena Inspiration Maria Lorena

Creating The Ultimate Cozy Movie Night at Home

With the holidays approaching and the kids home, a cozy at-home movie night is the perfect way to make memories without the stress. It’s about so much more than just the film—it's about the ambiance, elevated snacks, and total comfort. Discover our favorite tips for ditching the harsh lights, perfecting your popcorn with secret seasonings, and creating a plush, distraction-free cinematic experience that your whole family will love.

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Organization & Cleaning, Organization Maria Lorena Organization & Cleaning, Organization Maria Lorena

Prep Your Laundry Room for the Holidays: A Stress-Free Cleaning and Organizing Guide

Don't let the holiday laundry avalanche turn your home's most chaotic room into your biggest source of stress! That mountain of guest towels, sweaters, and stained linens can be a major anxiety trigger right when you need to be relaxed. Instead of waiting for the madness to hit, it's time for a simple three-phase plan—Clean, Organize, and Stock—to take back control. Stop letting your messy laundry room suck up your time and energy, and learn how to create a highly efficient system that keeps you focused on family and celebration this season.

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Organization & Cleaning, Cleaning Maria Lorena Organization & Cleaning, Cleaning Maria Lorena

The Easiest Way to Clean Glass Light Fixtures (and Make Them Sparkle!)

You just finished cleaning your whole house—the floors gleam, the counters sparkle—but when you look up, you spot the one thing dulling all your hard work: filmy glass light shades. They're magnets for dust and cooking grease, making your whole room feel less bright! Don't let dusty fixtures undo your clean home aesthetic. Discover our simple, budget-friendly method—featuring one natural secret ingredient—to cut through the grime and make your statement lights shine like new again.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

High-Impact, Low-Cost: Our Entryway Makeover Under $200

Who says a home makeover has to break the bank? We just gave our entryway a refresh and didn't spend a fortune! You really don’t have to spend a lot of money in order to make impactful home improvements that will stand the test of time. With a little creativity and a smart budget you can go a long way.

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Inspiration Maria Lorena Inspiration Maria Lorena

Create Your Coziest Bedroom Yet: A Guide to Layering for Fall

Ready to turn your bedroom into the ultimate Fall sanctuary?Once that first crisp night hits, there’s nothing better than sinking into a bed that feels like a cozy, layered cloud. You don't need a total makeover to achieve this level of hotel-worthy comfort; it all comes down to mastering the art of layering your bedding from the foundation up. This simple guide will show you how to blend textures, colors, and weights—all on a budget—to create a personal retreat you'll never want to leave.

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

A Living Room Refresh: Creating a Warm, Layered Look

After struggling for years to warm up a vast, open-concept living room with high ceilings, the breakthrough came from embracing the layout and using smart design instead of fighting it. The key was to visually lower the ceiling with a dark paint color, layer lighting for coziness, and define the living area with an area rug while using consistent materials and color palettes to keep it cohesive with the adjoining kitchen.

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Roundup, Inspiration Maria Lorena Roundup, Inspiration Maria Lorena

Spooky, But Make It Stylish: Chic Halloween Decor Roundup

With Halloween just around the corner next month, it would be fun to share a roundup of some of my favorite Halloween decor for this year. This decor often sells out quickly, so if you’re in the market for it, it’s best to start shopping now. If you’re looking for some inspiration, stick around as I share my tips for decorating for Halloween without making it cheesy.

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Inspiration Maria Lorena Inspiration Maria Lorena

Create a Fall Container Garden for Your Front Porch

There's nothing like waking up in the morning and experiencing the first chilly morning of the season. It's my absolute favorite thing, and I love feeling the change of weather as the seasons change. As the air is getting crisper (well, sort of here in north Florida!), and the leaves are thinking about starting to change - it's officially fall! This is the time of year that I truly love to spend time outdoors and enjoy the crisp, cool weather we finally get. Even if we don't get dramatic fall foliage here, I still love to embrace the cozy vibes and rich colors of fall with a few updates to my garden. 

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

Fall Front Porch Refresh: Easy Updates for a Cozy Welcome

You know that feeling when you go into a store for one thing and leave with a cart full of possibilities? That’s exactly what happened on a recent trip to Walmart. I was blown away by their home decor selection and couldn't resist a few new finds. Before I knew it, I had a cart of gorgeous pieces that inspired a much-needed front porch refresh!

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Organization Maria Lorena Organization Maria Lorena

September Home Maintenance Checklist: 10 Tasks to Prepare for Fall & Winter

As the lazy days of summer come to an end, now is the time I turn my focus from lounging poolside to preparing my home for the fall and winter seasons. September is the perfect time to tackle several home tasks to avoid possible costly repairs down the line. It's never fun to do, but with a little planning and forethought, it can really save you from costly repairs down the line.

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cleaning Maria Lorena cleaning Maria Lorena

The Lazy Girl’s Guide to Keeping Your House Clean

Let’s be honest—cleaning isn’t everyone’s favorite chore. For some, the thought of spending hours scrubbing and organizing feels like cruel and unusual punishment. Personally, I need to be in the mood to clean or organize, and it often depends on the space. Cleaning the kitchen? That sounds like fun! But tackling the bathroom? Suddenly, I’ll pretend to be sick just to avoid it. Still, we all deserve to live in a clean and comfortable space, right? So how do we achieve that without sacrificing our precious time? Enter: the lazy girl’s guide to a clean house.

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Roundup Maria Lorena Roundup Maria Lorena

Amazon Roundup: Spring Stems

Today, I'm sharing my absolute favorite faux spring stems I've discovered on Amazon. These picks will add a touch of elegance to any room, and they're perfect for creating stunning arrangements that will last all season long (and beyond!).

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Mi Casa Maria Lorena Mi Casa Maria Lorena

From Lanai to Family Hub: Designing a Playful and Functional Family Room Addition

Creating a dedicated family room has been a top priority for our growing family. When we first enclosed our lanai, I imagined a split layout: half home office for me, half playroom for our then three-year-old son. As our family grew, (we now have a nine-year-old son and six-year-old daughter!), the space quickly and happily evolved into a full-time family room/playroom. My dreams of a dedicated home office in that space were happily replaced with a fun, laughter-filled family for everyone to enjoy.

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