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March 17, 2008
Get Well Gift Baskets
Sending a flower gift basket when a person is not feeling well, is one of the safest gifts to give when you are not quite sure what would be appropriate. Everyone appreciates a get well flower gift basket, when they are out of sorts or ill. You can always add something special to your basket like a couple of books or even a puzzle to give them something to do if the are bed ridden for awhile.
You can never go wrong with flower baskets and the nice thing about these baskets is the person can use the wicker basket later on after the flowers have disappeared. These flower baskets can be a get well or feel better soon gift. The colorful flowers are a good choice for someone that gets the winter blues and can hardly wait for spring.
Although get well gifts are fairly easy to buy they are not so easy to send, GiftTree can hold your gift and ship it to arrive anytime.
Here Are Two Alternative Gifts
March 09, 2008
Coffee Maker or Coffee Brewer
You actually brew a pot of coffee because it takes longer and their is a process involved, you make a cup of instant coffee.
Manufacturers today try to get you to buy higher priced coffee brewers by adding more and more features that look cool but really are not necessary. These addons include custom brewing, coffee grinders and steel carafes built right into the machine, they are now becoming a standard feature. In reality though the difference in flavor does not warrant a 100 dollar difference in price. Flavor is governed on how much escapes through the top of the coffee pot while it sits. That's why your first cup which is normally poured as soon as it is brewed is better than the second cup. Flavor escapes immediately after and during brewing. Using a carafe does help but there is no substitute for a fresh cup of coffee. That is why French presses are becoming more popular.
You'll find manual-drip systems, coffee presses, percolators that brew individual cups or a whole pot full. These do have a lot to do with flavor. Percolated coffee is the best but takes longer to brew. Consumers buy more automatic-drip coffeemakers than these styles because they are faster. Black and Decker and Mr coffee are the two most popular brands made.
Coffeemakers come in all sizes from single-cup models to 12 cup and even larger urns for parties. At the low end are the single switch brewing and a plain metal hotplate. More expensive models have programmable timers, thermal carafes, water filters and possibly frothing capabilities. Most models make a pretty good cup of coffee. High priced coffee makers only have more features with nicer colors
Size of your coffee maker is dependant on how much coffee you like to drink. If you normally only have one cup of coffee before heading out in the morning a single cup machine or a two cup coffee maker is enough. You'll will use less coffee and waste less in the long run. Pod or the type that hold travel mugs are an option if you want just one cup at a time.
Most consumers buy two sizes of coffee makers, one or two cup machines (a coffee press makes the best cup) and a larger 12 cup machine for when having company. As with any kitchen accessory you should co-ordinate the color with the rest of your countertop appliances including accents.
March 01, 2008
Uncluttered Decorating
This is an article I was reading today and couldn't agree a more with it. Although I do publish information on home decor and decorating.
Decorating for the un-senses by Marni Jameson, For The Calgary Herald - Published:Saturday, March 01, 2008 she also has a book available - The House Always Wins
It starts out - Busy family homes need baking soda and soundproofing more than candles, soft throws and fountains. As a father of 5 teenagers at home I couldn't agree more. I really don't care if my kitchen is inviting me in, mind you if it did I figure it is possessed anyway.
As I help my wife in the kitchen (ok stop laughing now and lets just say thinking about helping) I realize its more about travel time and how many trips to the cupboard you have to take to get something. If you watch someone long enough doing a task even vacuuming you quickly see how much they are on their feet and how pretty little home accents just collect dust and get in the way.
The only real sensory feeling you need is what lots of bright light gives, thats what makes a room feel inviting and it doesn't matter if it's the bedroom, family room or kitchen or how expensive the decor is.
A home should be functional before anything else. Before you add anything in the kitchen you should ask yourself - will it save me time (cooking or travel). If it doesn't then look for something else. Let take pot racks for instance; if you have one hanging above the stove this can save you time from climbing in a cupboard for the pot you always use, but your kids seem to think it is supposed to be buried way in the back. This kitchen accessory is great if you have a sore back and can't bend as well anymore. You get the idea this is a useful item and can be very decorative at the same time.
Bedrooms need as little as possible to stay functional and organized, unless you enjoy clutter.Laminate floors with one area rug is the easiest to clean.
My thoughts (Marni Jameson broke it down like this)
Sight - A clean uncluttered floor adds a whole new dimension to a room.
Smell - If you like to use scented candles ( I don't allow them in my teenagers rooms). Choose a scent that is seasonal, spring, fall and Christmas time. Summer scents - well if you like the smell of cut grass go ahead on it.
Marni Jameson has a good idea listed in her article about noise. If you have a family room in the basement or a noisy bedroom beside you insulate the walls. You can have insulation blown in and this will keep the noise level down. Or buy all your kids mp3 players that only work with headphones.
The only point I disagreed on was "touch" the temperature in rooms. They should be kept on the cool side they usually heat up during the day anyway. My wife and daughters love soft blankets and pillows when watching TV. As long as the colors are co-ordinated with the other furnishings they will look good. What I had to do was add a blanket rack, because the throws were left just like that thrown on the couch.
For me food belongs on the kitchen counter unless you are entertaining or you have to make a special trip to the store at 10:00 o'clock at night because a few certain individuals seem to think you are only there to get them chocolate bars.
As far as bathroom lighting goes, the brighter the better. Side mirror lights are best, if you hear someone complaining about turkey neck. Having light shine from above a vanity creates a shadow under your chin and is not the best for putting on makeup. The most important part of lighting is not the design but the type
of light bulb you choose. I just want to add here that it is that time of year that we all should be out cleaning the garage. Treat this like you are decorating any other room in your home. You can read more about planning a garage storage area.