Yesterday, we came home and there was a flower delivery sitting on our front porch. My job sent flowers because my grandmother passed away earlier this month and I was just returning from a two week trip to California to be with my family. Seeing that beautiful arrangement and the touching note that came with it just brought me such comfort.
No matter the occasion or circumstance, flowers just have a way of bringing joy, peace and comfort and no one knows that more than the diva of style, Martha Stewart. Now you can order Martha Stewart inspired flower arrangements from 1800flowers.com. Ordering online is easy, simply browse through the selection of tastefully arranged bouquets paired with Martha Stewart inspired vases or baskets and your gift can be delivered the same day you place your order. There doesn't have to be an occasion to send flowers either, it could be 'just because' you were thinking of someone and want to brighten their day.
I have my flower arrangement sitting atop my dining table right now and it just lightens my heart everytime I pass by and see it or when I catch a whiff of its sweet bouquet. Flowers just bring so much light and air to a room especially on days such as this when one is feeling gray inside and the weather seems to be doing the same thing. Bring a smile to someone special by sending them a tasteful and stylish floral design from 1800flowers.com
Happy New Year! How did you ring in the New Year? When I was young, it was always an event to wait for midnight and counting the gongs on the grandfather clock. We don't have a grandfather clock anymore so sadly, that tradition is foreign to my girls who only know of clocks as the silent, unobtrusive objects on the wall good only for telling time.
We didn't have one of the full sized grandfather clocks, my parents had one of those that sat on the mantel. It still had to be wound in order for it to keep ticking and it did gong every hour on the dot, one for every hour of the day. Midnight and noon were special because we had to wait for all 12 beats, counting along with it.
Those were special times and I wish I could repeat it for my children too. I have been wanting one for our den but I was thinking we should get a more contemporary style to go with our decor. Luckily, contemporary style grandfather clocks are available now. You don't have to go with the ornate antique ones unless you're lucky enough to have inherited one. Now there are grandfather clocks with more sleek and modern designs that will go with your decor.
Check out the more contemporary makes of grandfather clocks at 1-800-4clocks.com and see if there is a design that will suit your home. I'm sure you'll find something. They carry brand names such as Howard Miller clocks, Ridgeway clocks, Kieninger clocks and Hermle clocks. If you don't have room for a full sized granfather clock, they also carry mantel clocks, wall clocks and atomic clocks.
There are beds you sleep on and then there are beds you want to spend all your time in even have meals in. Does your bed make you wish you've never gone to sleep? Do you regret even laying down on it? If you do, then it's probably time to get a new one.
Whether you prefer it soft or firm, a good bed should make you feel good from the time you lay down to the time you get up. It also helps when your bed room is well kept. It doesn't have to be design room worthy, but it should be clean and visually pleasing. Peaceful to the eyes, as they say. Your bed and your room should be a place where you can have breakfast, or dinner, or lunch in bed and not lose your appetite. It's very relaxing to be able to enjoyably linger in bed without feeling like you have to immediately jump out of it as soon as you wake up.
Time4Sleep has a wide selection of beds to choose from. Styles from traditional to contemporary, these beds will make you want to spend as much time in them as you can. They have a sale going on now where you can get up to half off. And if you live in the UK, they will deliver for free if you buy anything over £499. They carry a variety of beds from storage beds, French style, antique style, and children's beds. Check them out and see if they have a bed you can have breakfast in.
One of the quickest way to spruce up your home for the holidays is with vinyl shutters. Larson Shutter Company has affordable exterior vinyl shutters, composite shutters and premium quality wood shutters. While most shutters nowadays are for decorative purposes, Larson's shutters can provide shutter hardware to make them functional.
These shutters are custom sized to fit, made from a variety of materials such as solid composite wood, vinyl and premium wood and come in a wide range of colors. Check out the different styles of shutters on their website. You'd be surprised how much they can enhance the curb appeal of your home. If you order online before the end of the year, you are eligible for FREE shipping.
Grandfather time is waning this time of year, but not so for grandfather clock. I have been seeing more modern homes lately that have clocks as a centerpiece in their home decor.
Time has always held a certain fascination for me so I guess it's only natural that I've also developed an affinity to timepieces. It started when I was single and didn't have my own home yet. I started collecting watches then jewelry timepieces. When I finally moved out of my moms house and got my own condo, one of my most treasured housewarming gifts was a crystal mantel clock. My condo didn't have a fireplace much less a mantle, but that didn't matter much. It was perfect atop the credenza in my dining room. As I got more comfortable with my new space, I added more embellishments here and there including a huge wall clock that dominated one wall in the living room.
It's been a few decades since those early days. I've moved several times since then but I always took my clocks with me. Now we're in a home that I think we'll be in for quite a long time, at least until the girls are out of the house into their own. The house we're in is an old house and we've done a lot to improve it and modernize it. There is one thing that I have been wanting to add but hadn't in our ten years living in this house and that's a grandfather clock. I think having a grandfather clock would nicely cap off my collection of clocks and it would just look terrific in this old house.
Even here in the office the holiday decorations have started going up. The siliness seems to be increasing too. One of my office mates just redecorated her office and she has two beautiful baskets full of colorful Christmas balls that she said she got from the dollar store. Not a new idea, but definitely always a great one.
Just hope you don't have too many smart alecks dropping by. Here's some comments regarding said decor:
"Oh! I wish I had balls like that!"
"I just want some balls period. She's got too much already"
"I have balls envy."
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No, not turkey dressing. Not yet anyway. We'll get to the turkey stuffing later.
The holidays, besides the food galore, also means dressing up our homes. Most of us do our entertaining during this season so we clean up, dress up and redecorate. When you anticipate a crowd for the holidays, keep in mind that a crowd generates a lot of heat. So help out your heating bill and your guests by not overheating your house. There is nothing more uncomfortable than a party where all your guests are sweaty.
It's weird when you think about it at first, but winter is actually the best time to use Ceiling Fans. They keep the air circulating, especially when you have all the windows closed. They drive the warm air down, saving you from cranking up the heater.
Decorative Style Ceiling Fans are the rage, just check out the Ceiling Fan Warehouse and browse through the different styles and designs available. These are not the ceiling fans of old; you know, the brown laminated stuff you remember from childhood. Speaking of which, you should see the selection of kids ceiling fans. Kids that get these won't have the ceiling fan aversion most kids from the 70's have. Whether you prefer modern, traditional or exotic, there is a ceiling fan that is sure to fit your decorating need.
One of the things I have been wanting since we moved to our house are some nice window treatments. Right now we only have store bought curtains because that is what we can afford and you know how those types of curtains look...
Nothing like the kind of custom window treatments you find at Robert Allen Fabrics, that's for sure. When you get quality fabrics, you can tell the difference not only in their weight and feel but also in the way they look. They just have that luxurious, graceful and elegant look to them. The patterns are unique and when you get anything custom made, they just have the "right" look and feel.
It would be heaven if we can get custom draperies in all the rooms. I just love fabrics. Even now, most of our furniture is covered in fabric. I have never been too crazy about leather or vinyl or any of the synthetic stuff. Cloth has a way of comforting and warming one's soul
Robert Allen Fabrics offers not only the finest fabrics, they also offer furniture, art and accessories to make your home not only beautiful but also comfortable. Check out the website and browse through their inventory. I'm sure you'll find something that will enhance your home.
If someone told you 10-15 years ago that one of these days you'll be able to buy anything you want from your computer, would you have believed them? Early in the nineties, someone told me that I should hook up my computer to the internet. You can shop and find all kinds of businesses on there, they said. To which, I responded, why? I can find anything I want on the yellow pages. LOL! Now we say, yellow pages what?
Now you can even buy cumbersome items such as Couches and Sofas, on the internet! BuyCouchesOnline.com, for instance, specializes on selling just different types of couches: Reclining Couches, Sectional Couches, Fabric Couches, Home Theater Seating, Loveseats and Leather Couches. They have a huge selection of finely crafted and designed seating of all sorts for your living room or home theater.
Actually, when you shop online, you are more likely to compare what's available in stores and from manufacturers than if you went to a showroom directly. On the internet, you can visit as many showrooms as you like without wasting a whole day and expending too much energy walking around and driving around from one place to another. Visit BuyCouchesOnline.com and do your shopping from home. They monitor internet prices constantly for the same quality couches to be able to bring you the best deals possible and if you find one that is comparable in quality at a lesser price, just let them know and they will match the price. They also have a 14-day no hassle guarantee where you are allowed to return or exchange your couch should it be not what you expected. If you have any questions before placing an order or even after, they have customer service representatives that you can contact by phone or email.
When we first got these TriScents air fresheners, we started in the kitchen. After all, the kitchen is the culprit of many a strange smells in our home. Sure, when you're hungry, any smell that emanates from the kitchen smells good. But if you've ever walked back in the house after a delicious dinner of fried chicken of fried fish, all that's left in the air is the unpleasant aroma of grease. That's not good. Actually, it can be a huge turn off. I don't know about you, but when I've walked into homes where there are still cooking smells hanging around, I am always inclined to think unfavorably of the home owner.
So I'm really careful about not letting any cooking aromas linger longer than their appetizing moment. When that's passed, I'd like the cooking smells gone too. These Renuzit TriScents are the kind that you plug into the wall. It comes with three scents in three separate containers. You can rotate the scent that is released or you can use them up one at a time. You can also adjust the intensity of scent to be released. The one we have in the kitchen is cranked up to maximum but we have one in each of the bathrooms that is on a lower setting.
We loved our TriScents and have since bought re-fills to keep the sweet smells going. Each refill, even cranked up to maximum lasted a little over thirty days. I like these so much better than the aerosol sprays. They last longer, and you don't have to be sprayed with the scent. I have my own perfume, thank you.
If you'd like to try these out, visit http://www.triscents.com and print out a coupon for a started kit. I think you'll enjoy them in your home too.
"Home is where the heart is", we've often heard it said. The older I grow, the more I realize how true that saying is. Home is not the structure that you live in, home is where you establish a sense of place and space and it doesn't always involve a roof.
There is a place online that claims we are all 'growers and nomads' and essentially, I suppose we are. GrowersandNomads.com is a place "where you can talk to others like you; a place to talk about how home is a metaphor for life" according to their About Us page. Anything to do with house, home and living is discussed on the website. There are various articles from cleaning windows to building a house to planting a garden all written by people who are as passionate about living. There are do-it-yourself guides and then there are also philosophical articles like the one about "The House that Saved My Life". There are articles on how to live greener and then there are those that talk about "How Color Affects Your Moods".
Home Improvement Tools, literally or metaphorically, I suppose would be a good way to describe the Growers and Nomads website. Visit the website and see if it's a community you'd like to be a part of; meet the growers and nomads team and maybe even join their featured bloggers team.
I haven't seen too many grandfather clocks in new homes but there was a time when having one was a status symbol. It meant you were doing well enough to be able to afford one. My grandparents had one. They had a small one. When we visited some of their more affluent friends, a huge, booming grandfather clock was usually a centerpiece in their parlor. Then they went out of fashion and everyone started hanging those gilded decorative wall clocks instead.
Now, just like the mini skirts and bell bottoms, grandfather clocks are making a comeback. You don't have to spend for an antique clock either, there are newer, more contemporary designs to choose from. Whether you are sticking to modern design or going for a more conservative redesign idea, their vast selection of grandfather clocks, mantel clocks or wall clocks will have something that will fit it just right.
Clock lovers and designers alike will find something suitable for their design job, I'm sure. For instance, these Howard Miller clocks are ideal for a more contemporary design. As soon as I get my living room back, which has been taken over as my husband's art studio for the meantime, I would love to be able to redesign it. We'll be getting new furniture since the sofa and love seat that were in there and were relocated to the den are just about falling apart. I'm thinking a grandfather clock in the corner would be a nice addition.
This Waste-Not-Want-Not Chopping board may soon be coming to a store near you. Isn't it cool? On one side is a catcher for waste and on the other side is a container for what you're going to keep. This is one of those things that make you say, "Now why didn't I think of that?"
I mean I've done this with my cutting board numerous times. I'd put one container on one side for the scraps and on the other side, another container for the things I'm keeping. why didn't I think of designing something like this?
This chopping board with magnetic side catchers is designed by UK-based designer Peter D'Alessandro.
Visit our new blogs:
Amoores.com
Cooked from the Heart - our new food blog
Our New Backyard - garden & photo blog
Found Not Lost - about all the things we 'find' worth talking about
All cooks love their kitchen and when something goes wrong to keep us out of it, it's a major crisis. Believe me. I know. I had to stay out of our kitchen for a week earlier this year and it was hell! It was early January when our kitchen pipes decided to take a leak. Not some minor leakage mind you, it decided to simply give out and gush out. We had a heck of a time looking for a plumber that wouldn't charge an arm and a leg to fix it. After all, it was right after Christmas and we just spent all our money on gifts. Yeah, not smart, I know.
Anyway, we finally got our plumbing problems fixed thanks largely to my husband who has a huge network of friends in all professions and is also pretty handy himself. Knowing a good, reliable plumber is very important. If you are in Texas and are looking for a Dallas Plumber consider the Dallas Plumbing Company first. And as their website says, you should look for plumbers before you need them. I agree, when you're desperate and just want to get something fixed right then and there, you don't always make the most intelligent decisions. Just like looking for a doctor to fix your own body plumbing, don't wait until you're in the emergency room, look for a professional before you need them.
I love clean lines and simplicity. That's why these NewWave Caffe pattern of Villeroy & Boch tableware grabbed my attention. While I'm basically a no-frills kind of girl, I do love having a nice table to present my dishes in. This design would fit perfectly. They look expensive and elegant, don't they? They are actually quite affordable and for the month of August, the NewWave line of coffee mugs are 50% off.
Start off with the mugs then look at the other pieces in the pattern. You will find that you can mix and match them until you have a complete dinnerware collection and some. While the design looks very modern and sleek, they are also totally utilitarian. They are very functional. You'd think the mugs would be difficult to handle, for instance, but they are very comfortable to handle and can be used for everyday. They are also dishwasher safe, so no special handling required. My kind of easy ware.
Visit the Villeroy and Boch and look at the other designs they have. You'll soon get the feel that you will be getting high quality and stylish dinnerware. Check out the line of cutlery and glassware and your imagination will start taking off with possible ideas for entertaining and cooking. I can already see dishes I would serve up in these beautiful dishes. I can see myself cradling one of those beautiful mugs full of coffee in the mornings. Can't you?
Oh, and if you're still not convinced, you've got to check out their glassware. I saw some very nice wine tumblers. Yeah, wine tumblers! Who says you can only drink wine from stemmed glasses? So get on over to the Villeroy & Boch website, start browsing and find just right style to bring some excitement to your table. 
When I was young, my grandfather's house had a grandfather clock and I thought it was called that because it was grandfather's clock. The first boing at the top of each hour would always startle me but I loved counting off the boings to tell the time no matter where in the house I happen to be sitting. When the boings start coming after the other at midday, you might as well start heading for the dining room because someone will be yelling lunch at any time. My grandmother promptly served her meals at the top of the hours. 8 for breakfast, 12 for lunch and 6 for dinner. We kids always knew when it was time to eat because of the gong. Well, that and because of all the good smells coming from the kitchen.
These days, I hardly see any grandfather clocks anymore unless I visit a really old house like my grandparents'. I kind of miss them and makes me wish I could have one in our house again. I don't think my girls have ever been in a house with a clock that makes its presence known. That's why thy got such a kick when they visited a friend who had a cuckoo clock. They just sat in front of it and waited for the little bird to come out and coo at them. You don't think about it, but little things such as a clock can make such lasting memories for children. Just like smells make lasting memories, so do sounds that we associate with memorable experiences.
If you're thinking about getting a grandfather clock or just curious where and how to get them, make sure to check out 1-800-4Clocks. They have a wide selection of clocks from grandfather clocks, cuckoo clocks, mantel clocks and many more. And remember, these elegant clocks do not just belong in the parlor anymore, we're actually thinking we'd put one in my husband's art studio.
I have a very small kitchen in a very small house so my recurring fantasy is to someday have a dream kitchen, the likes of which you only see in magazines. It would be a cook's kitchen in the Tuscan style with plenty of room for family and friends to hang out in. Oh wait, there I go dreaming again...
I get that way when I start browsing through kitchen designs like those at EW Kitchens. They have a team Kitchen Designers who will work with you from conception to completion in order to attain your dream kitchen. A sampling of their designs are available on the website and they range from traditional to contemporary including a category they refer to as transitional where the best elements from the traditional and the contemporary are blended to make a truly unique look.
If this is your first foray in kitchen design, they have a very informative resource center where you can learn the things you need to know when designing a kitchen and the questions you should ask when hiring a designer. They say that "luxury is not all about the price tag" and I agree. With good planning, excellent resources and an open mind, you can achieve the kitchen of your dreams and perhaps even more.
