Home mixology is having a moment right now, and rightfully so: why pay $10 or more for a cocktail at a local bar, when you can mix up something equally delicious for much less? But being your own bartender does come with its limitations, and you may still need to rely on the liquor store or your favorite bar for more complicated or obscure ingredients. So which cocktail elements should you DIY, and which should you leave to the pros? Find out!

1. Simple syrup: Got sugar? How about water? Then you’ve got yourself a batch of simple syrup! If you need syrup fast and don’t have time to wait for it to cool, try this trick: combine equal parts sugar and cool water in a container with a lid (like a mason jar), and shake vigorously until it starts to combine. Leave it be for a minute or two, then give it another shake; repeat until the sugar is dissolved.
2. Grenadine: Homemade grenadine is a cinch to make, and the resulting syrup is tart and flavorful. It’ll add more depth to your drinks than a splash of supersweet Rose’s will.
3. Flavored liquors: If you're wary of investing in an entire bottled of flavored liquor, this one's for you. Skip the bottle of citron vodka, and make your own instead. You can use any flavors you want, and make it as strong as you want. Try making your own gin or mixing up a batch of limoncello this way, too!
4. Ice: This one may seem like a no-brainer, but be honest: how many times have you had to put your mixology on hold to make an ice run? Do yourself a favor and keep a few full ice cube trays in your freezer, or even a shallow pan filled with water. Dump the frozen block into a Ziploc bag and whack it a couple times with your muddler, and you've got instant (and free) crushed ice.
5. Sweet and sour mix: Don’t be fooled by the plastic bottles of sweet and sour mix in every liquor aisle; the mix is really just simple syrup with citrus juice added. Make your own sweet and sour for a fresher, less cloyingly sweet result.

Keep reading to find out which cocktail ingredients may be best left to the pros!

Now that you know where to find hip but affordable artwork online, it's time to get to hanging. Decking out your rooms with artwork can be a daunting task, especially once you've invested in some special pieces — you're not just tacking posters up in your dorm room anymore! But don't let that keep you from finally getting art up on your walls. Follow these five tips for gallery-worthy displays in no time.

1. Choose a theme. To keep your artwork from looking haphazard, settle on some kind of theme before you select which pieces to hang. Your theme can be a color, subject matter, style, artist — anything, as long as it ties all the pieces together in that room.
2. Let your artwork guide your frame choices. If the style and color of your artwork is all over the place, choose coordinating frames to keep it cohesive. If you've chosen multiple similar pieces from the same artist or the same series, try mixing up your frame color and shape so the end result isn't too matchy-matchy.
3. Consider the vibe of the room. Your space is your own, and you can choose to hang whatever artwork you like. But in order to keep from regretting your decision a month or two down the road, bear in mind the vibe of each room as you're selecting pieces. You may want to avoid hanging grotesque pieces in the kitchen, racy pieces in the living room, or creepy pieces in your bedroom.

More tips, right this way!

Pop quiz: how many Facebook friends do you have right this second? OK, now question two: how many of them are actually friends or family members you're close to and interact with regularly? According to research performed in the '90s by anthropologist Robin Dunbar, that number should be somewhere around 150.

Dunbar has studied groups from ancient hunter-gatherers to GORE-TEX wet-suit factories, and in every situation, the number of meaningful relationships people are able to maintain maxes out between 100 and 200. And new research from Indiana University focused on Twitter followers reaches the same conclusion. The reason for this, Dunbar says, is that at 150 relationships, our brains stop being able to keep track, and we reach a saturation point.

The Dunbar Number isn't an exact science; the number definitely varies from group to group, and even from person to person. So, take a good look at your social network and tell me: what's your Dunbar Number?

A bride's bachelorette party isn't really just about one last drunken night of debauchery. Let's face it, if she's marrying the right guy, she'll have plenty of those on the horizon! A bachelorette bash is more about spending the kind of intensely girlie quality time with friends that it's hard to find the time or space for once she's happily hitched. So if you're planning a bachelorette party for a friend — or someone is planning one for you! — ditch the clichéd trip to Vegas and plan a truly memorable event that will allow for plenty of QT.

• Head to the beach: For a party that's all about location, location, location, take things beachside. What better venue for relaxing, working on your prewedding tan, and knocking back a cocktail or two than a warm, sandy beach? If you can round up enough girlfriends, forgo the often-skeevy beach motels and rent a house near the sand instead. Need more inspiration? Take a cue from this community member.
• Take it to the Ace: All of the Ace's hipster hotels are perfect for a weekend of relaxing — and partying — with your girls, but as one community member found out firsthand, the Ace Hotel Palm Springs is especially well-suited to a bachelorette weekend. Lounge by the pool, indulge in an adult sno-cone, and never even have to leave the premises.
• Wine country weekend: A trip to wine country can be almost as relaxing as one to the beach, but, you know, with wine. Rent a house or apartment for the weekend if you can to cut down on costs. Then stock up on a few of your favorite bottles as you're tasting during the day, and skip the pricey wine country dinner that night; instead, bring an assortment of cheese, charcuterie, and fruit back to your digs, and continue the tasting on your own.

More ideas, after the break!

Buzz just got ahold of the new trailer for I Don't Know How She Does It, a film adaptation of Allison Pearson's book by the same name, starring Sarah Jessica Parker. The movie's got a great cast (Christina Hendricks and Busy Philipps, to name a couple), and it looks pretty funny and heartwarming — almost what we'd imagine Carrie Bradshaw's life might be like a few years down the line from where we last left her, juggling a loving husband, small children, and a successful career.

SJP's character is frantic and harried, focusing on everyone else's needs above her own, and at one point the trailer asks, "How do you keep life together, without losing it?" But that got us thinking: maybe we should be asking a different question altogether. That is, not just if a woman can have it all, but whether that's even what she should strive for. The idea of a "superwoman" who can juggle an unbelievable number of responsibilities without dropping a single ball is unrealistic, and in some cases, maybe even unhealthy.

I haven't read the Pearson book the movie is based on, so this isn't a spoiler, but we certainly get the impression from the trailer that SJP's character really can't have it all, and will have to let something go in the end. And while that seems like a reasonable compromise to reach, I get the sense that we're supposed to feel regret and pity that she couldn't, actually, do it all.

What do you think? Is the idea of the woman who does it all actually a myth, perpetuating an unhealthy ideal? Or are plots like these simply acknowledging the reality of many women's lives in a funny and touching way?

Neighbors are a fact of life, but if you live in tight quarters or a noisy area, it can sometimes feel like they're ruining your life. While there are plenty of soundproofing options out there, many of them are, shall we say, less than chic. But even if you share space with a musician or live next door to the neighborhood bar, you don't have to sacrifice style to get a little peace and quiet. Here are five ways to soundproof your space that are so discreet, no one will even realize you've done it. Except you, as you're snoozing blissfully.

• Heavy curtains: If you're dealing with noise issues, it's time to stow away your light, airy curtains and invest in a heavy-duty set instead. These thick, cotton-lined Pottery Barn Velvet Drapes ($109-$369) will help block out outside noise drifting in through your windows, and will help absorb noise within the room.
• Thick rugs: If the source of the problem is below you, add a layer of insulation between you and your noisy neighbor. Look for a thick, high-pile rug that covers as much floor space as possible, and if you have hard floors, add a thick rug pad underneath. The big, plush loops of West Elm's Pebble Rug ($70-$550, reduced from $89-$699) should do the trick, plus it'll feel heavenly underfoot.
• Build a barrier: If the offending sound is coming from a shared wall, create a barrier along that wall. Install floor-to-ceiling bookshelves and fill them up, or if you really want to fight back, consider building a wall of speakers like this room from the Kips Bay Decorator Showhouse.

More tips after the break!