Posts Tagged ‘that’
Why Your Divorce Can Be The Best Thing That Ever Happened To You
Friday, December 25th, 2009Decorating a Bedroom – How to get that Put-Together Look
Sunday, October 4th, 2009Like any other room in our home, we want our bedrooms to be put-together and stylish. But we also want our bedrooms to be a real heaven, very comfortable and cozy – after all it’s the first and last thing we see every day.
Your bedding is what I call your ‘anchor’ in the room – the largest piece of fabric and the most important pattern in the room. If you want a coordinating, put-together room, you need to make sure your window treatments compliment (they may or may not match) your bedding. You CAN bring your room together whether you’re buying ‘ready-mades’ or ‘custom’.
For the DYI’er.
1. If you’re in the process of shopping for new bedding, I would strongly suggest that you purchase the coordinating window treatments as well. Most often, the retail stores do carry coordinating accessories with their assortment of bedding – so if you’ve already found the pattern that you like, it’s easy to just purchase the whole set. You can always get more information on ready-made curtains at www.CurtainHowTo.com.
2. If you’re happy with the bedding, but unhappy with the type of the window treatments available, you can always purchase them anyway, and then just use the fabric to make up any other window treatment you like (you will be getting into some custom work here)
3. If you’re happy with your current bedding and are looking for just the window treatments here are a couple of tips:
a. Be sure to match the main color pallet from both the bedding and the treatment. Not all colors have to match, but the most prevalent one does.
b. If your bedding is highly patterned, it’s easier to select solid drapes (this works the other way around too).
c. Purchase an extra panel and make up a pillow – even a little touch like this can make a difference. Your local cleaner can make one up for you.
d. If you want to be really audacious, purchase several panels, and use the fabric to make a bed skirt and several pillows or shams. This might be a bit too advanced for a local cleaner and you’ll have to find a seamstress.
4. Purchase an extra panel and use it as a throw at the foot of the bed. While there is nothing wrong with mixing patterns, it will be easier for you to use a solid throw on a patterned comforter (and the other way around).
Custom work.
As with anything with custom, the sky is the limit, but here are your basic considerations:
1. Be sure to select the fabric for your bedding first. It is your anchor and all other elements are derived from it. As such, make sure you really love it!
2. It’s best when your comforter fabric and window treatments fabric do not match. That’s right, I said do not. Because both will use such a large amount of fabric, seeing the same pattern in 75% of your room will just be too much of the same thing. Of course, having said it, some of design is subjective and personal – if you really love it, go for it!
3. Choose at lease three patterns: one main one and two secondary. If you love high pattern and not afraid to try, go for five or six.
4. It will be easier for you to select a solid comforter fabric and use various patterns for pillows and shams.
5. Custom bedrooms look best when completed with a bench at the foot of the bed.
If you’re completing your bedroom through a retail store, there are some simple steps you can take to make your bedroom beautiful, put-together, and on the budget. If you’re making custom treatments
, decide how much risk you’re willing to take with your patterns and what feel you want to accomplish. The designer will help you with selecting the right fabrics.
Tips For a Hollywood-Themed Sweet 16 That Won’t Break the Bank
Sunday, September 20th, 2009Inexpensive Interior Design Ideas That Look Great
Sunday, September 6th, 2009
Good interior decoration comes at a heavy cost. Well, this is a myth that will soon be cleared as you go through this article. There are many inexpensive interior design ideas that will be revealed to you, so that budget-conscious people do not refrain from rejuvenating the look of their house.
The biggest mistake that people do in the task of interior designing is that they try to change everything from the very start. The best way to approach a task especially for those who have a limited budget is to improvise on their exiting things wherever possible.
The foremost thing is to paint the walls. The colors chosen by you must be in accordance with the mood you want to invoke in that particular room. However, if your wall has cracks or holes, try covering them by hanging fabrics such as cotton or silk.
Another alternative is to hang a tapestry or an interesting painting. You may also make your own creations to adorn the walls. Or you may pick up an interesting piece of fabric or map. Now get it framed and your inexpensive wall hanging is all ready! Similarly, instead of fixing the imperfections on your floor, you may cover them by carpets or designer floorings.
With constant usage, storage cabinets may also have lost their finish. Replacing them is surely an expensive affair. But if you just want to make it as new as ever, why not simply paint it again? You may also consider changing its handles and glass. This would give you new cabinets without spending much money. For the task, you may approach a refurbishing company or consult a professional.
Furniture is also very expensive, if you wish to purchase a new set. However, you may use slipcovers instead to get rid of the boredom in your room and change the look of your furniture. You may also have different slipcovers made for different seasons. For instance, you may have yellow or white colored slipcovers for summers and for fall you may like brown or green colored slipcovers and so on.
Lightning is another important factor of interior designing. By adding on a few flow lights in order to bring focus to the new wall hangings and accessories incorporated by you will definitely change the look of your home drastically. After all, there is nothing old and worn out that you will now notice from flooring to walls.
Hence, there are various inexpensive interior design ideas that can be utilized to enliven your home. In fact, the same affordable ideas can be equally useful to rejuvenate even a home office, restaurant, or any other business set up by making a few amendments to these ideas.
A Christening Gift that Lasts a Lifetime
Tuesday, September 1st, 2009A silver napkin ring is still one of the most popular and lasting gifts given to babies at their Christening. This may seem an odd choice since, sadly, fewer and fewer families eat together on a daily basis around the dinner table and the majority of those that do will use a paper serviette in preference to a linen napkin. But the tradition of napkin rings as Christening gifts endures.
Before the 19th Century, napkins were tied with a strip of colored ribbon or named tape. This was a purely practical response to domestic life at the time. Since washday took place only once a week, linen napkins were only washed once a week, so each individual napkin had its own unique tie to identify its owner. The idea of using the same napkin for a whole week may not appeal to us now in more hygienic times, but, as we can see, the simple napkin ring was born of necessity, not for decoration.
The first recorded examples of napkin rings made from silver date from the early 1800’s, but it was during the later Victorian period that the silver napkin ring came into its own. For middle and upper class Victorians, the display of wealth at the dinner table was an essential declaration of status. The more ostentatiously decorated your table, the higher up the social pecking order you could place yourself. A sort of Victorian “Banqueting Bling”. Of course the Victorians would never admit to being so overtly brash, so their blatant bragging had to be passed off as etiquette – a social nicety.
So there, amongst the candelabra, elaborate table centres and ornate cutlery, you will find the humble napkin ring doing its bit for Victorian propriety. The silver napkin ring became yet another “must have” gift for Christenings and weddings in Victorian and Edwardian society.
The arrival of disposable paper napkins and serviettes should have sounded the death knell of the napkin ring at dinner tables everywhere, but this traditional piece of tableware is becoming ever more popular. In a world where everything is disposable and transient, the napkin ring is a personal possession that is treasured for life. The napkin ring presented at a baby??s Christening is highly likely to appear at the dinner table on their 80th birthday.
Napkin rings come in all shapes and sizes, from round and oval to octagonal and square. Plain or ornately decorated, they are often engraved with the owner??s initials and, sometimes, their date of birth. As such, napkin rings are very personal possessions. Every member of the family can identify their own napkin ring. Silver napkin rings have become popular as Christening gifts for this very reason. There are few presents that are so personal to the individual and that can be used and treasured for a whole lifetime.
The napkin ring has little religious significance (you are highly unlikely to have found one at the Last Supper) and it can make no major aesthetic claims for beauty and design, but, if you are looking for a Christening gift that will stand the test of time ?? look no further.
Some Companies that Manufacture Great Home Safes
Sunday, July 26th, 2009There are a lot of home safes on the market from which to choose. They come in many shapes and sizes and range widely in quality and price. When you buy a safe you are presumably trying to secure something. Obviously, you have something you are interested in protecting either from fire or water damage, theft, or just for general safekeeping. Making a decision about which safe is best for you starts with asking yourself some questions about what it is exactly that you want one for.
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I suggest you start your search for home safes by identifying what it is you are trying to protect or secure. Is it your handgun, jewelry, cash or other valuables? Maybe its data disks, life insurance policies, passports or other important papers. Only you know what it is you are trying to secure and protect. So, once you have identified your needs you can start to match those up with what is available. Let me just run through some of the manufacturers of home safes that I think you should know about.
- American Security Products Company has been providing beautiful, strong, quality safes and security products since 1948. They have a reputation for being a world leader in the home safes market. They have a wide selection of gun, vault, wall, floor, fire resistant, and home security safes. The quality materials and features of their home safes are top notch. No matter what you require, you are sure to find something made right from this well established company.
� - BioMETRX is a manufacturer of really high tech safes that are secured by fingerprint access control. How cool is that! You just place your finger on this little pad, and in about a second, you have access to your things. You can even designate who gets access. It can recognize up to 50 authorized fingerprints. Safe, secure, quick, and cool! BioMETRX makes home safes like the BioVault 2.0, which provides safe storage and easily controlled access for handguns, ammunition, jewelry and other valuable items including: pharmaceuticals, coins, stamps, stocks, bonds, critical data and important documents.
- SentrySafe is a family owned company that spans three generations and 75 years. Their formula has always been to make quality products at reasonable prices through innovative engineering. Theres a good chance youve either seen, or already own one of their products. They manufacture a wide variety of fire-resistant chests, home safes, security storage containers and gun safes. They are definitely one of the big boys in the home safes market. I own one of Sentrys smaller home safes for securing my vehicle titles, passports, and a few other important documents. I like mine because it is portable, lockable and fire-safe.
Overall, if you can identify why you want or need a safe, then you will be able to find one that works for you. If you purchase a safe that is made out of quality materials, with the features you require, and is backed up by a reputable company, then you will probably be happy with your purchase. Not all safes are the same though, so remember to consider the wisdom of the age old adage, you get what you pay for. In the home safes market this is certainly true. Whether you are spending $50 or $3000, if you do as Ive suggested and make a thoughtful purchase you will ultimately make a choice that works for you and will allow you to be happy with your new safe for years to come.
Buying Children’s Clothes That Last
Monday, July 13th, 2009Thoughts of buying childrens clothing begin even before baby is
born. Usually at a baby shower and then shortly after baby is born,
parents receive some clothes as baby gifts. Often these are small sizes
that the child will outgrow rather quickly. With this in mind, you can
easily see that buying children’s clothes is an ongoing task for
parents.
Infants will change sizes every few weeks because of the rapid rate
at which they grow. With this in mind, be sure to buy durable clothing
in washable, comfortable fabrics. Babies have many accidents so make
sure you buy clothes that are easy to clean. Buying several onesies and
sleepers are your best bet when shopping for clothing for an infant.
All in one outfits are also a great find, as they are easy to put on
and take off for all those diaper changes!
As children grow and reach the toddler stage, their clothing needs
will change. For example, during potty training separate tops and
bottoms are best to dress children in.� This makes training easier for
parents as well as encourages the toddler to be independent. It is a
very good idea to buy clothes that are easy to put on and take off so
the child can learn to dress him or herself. Buying clothing that is a
little big will ensure that the child won’t grow out of it too soon.
When shopping for children’s clothes, keep in mind that designs and
fashions are ever changing, so it’s important to keep up with the
latest fashion trends so your child is in style. Even newborn apparel
is has changed and is trendier in style these days. Sometimes you will
spend a little extra on good quality childrens clothes but remember,
children play hard and can be quite rough on their clothing. You want
to make sure that what you buy will last through whichever stage
theyre in. If you have younger children of the same gender, or if you
plan to have another baby soon, keep unsoiled clothing put away for the
next child. The money you spend on good quality childrens clothes
will go a long way because they last. If you store clothing in an
airtight storage bin, the clothing will stay clean and fresh and with
just one wash will look as good as new!
Remember, you can find beautiful clothing for children that they will feel comfortable and that will withstand the test of time!
Find the Owner of That Mysterious Phone Number
Saturday, July 11th, 2009Did you ever find a piece of paper with nothing but a phone number written on it and wonder whose number it is? And what about a phone number on your phone bill that you don’t recognize – been there, done that?
You probably don’t want to call it because what if it is someone that you don’t want to talk to?
You can now find out whose number it is by using a reverse phone detective.
It’s easy to use. All you do is enter the phone number and with one click of the mouse your reverse phone lookup service will return all of the information you need, which includes the name of the person who owns the phone number and the other people in their household.
It will even tell you the other phone numbers they are using and the names of their neighbors. It can give you their address and their previous addresses and the phone carrier if the calls are of a harassing nature, so that you can take measures to report them.
So, now that the reverse phone lookup ‘detective’ has told you whose phone number it is, will you call them?
It could be that the number belongs to someone really hot, that you may have met when out with friends – but you just cannot remember their name.
Now you have it, and if you play your cards right you could have a date. But don’t wait too long or they may not remember you.
That mysterious phone number on your bill might just belong to your best friend from college – the one you lost track of years ago.
Now you know where he lives and how to get in touch with him. Perhaps he is across the country, but maybe he is ringing to let your know he is coming to your town. No point in waiting, ring back soon or you might just miss his visit.
It could be your ex that keeps changing her phone number in order to continue stalking you. There are laws against that, you know. You can use the information you received from the Reverse Phone Detective to report her to the proper authorities and make the harassing behavior stop once and for all.
Don’t be tempted to stalk her back because she may take this the wrong way and the next thing you know she will be knocking at your door wearing nothing but an overcoat and stilettos. Okay, push that image out of your mind, you don’t really want to go there, do you?
But, see how a top notch reverse phone lookup service can be of help?
Structured vs. Unstructured Play– Is That What Really Matters?
Saturday, July 4th, 2009You may have heard the terms ’structured’ and ‘unstructured’ play and wondered–which is better for my child? That’s a bit like asking, ‘Which is better: fruits or vegetables?’ Someone who eats healthy is going to have both without even thinking about it. If you are providing plenty of playtime opportunities for your child, then both kinds of play are taking place.
Structured play has a set of rules with specific objectives. Most games fall under the category of structured play: card games, board games and classic outdoor games like red-light green-light and tag are all structured activities. Putting puzzles together is a structured activity. So is following directions to assemble a toy, model airplane or Lego theme set. Organized sports-soccer, hockey, tennis, etc.–are all examples of structured activities. Generally speaking, when your child is engaging in structured play, she is seeking the most efficient way to achieve pre-existing objectives.
Unstructured play is open ended with unlimited possibilities. Playing with blocks is unstructured play. So is coloring, drawing or painting on blank paper. Deciding how to play with a toy airplane or doll is unstructured play. Inventing games to play is unstructured activity. So is running around the playground or park. Generally speaking, when your child is engaging in unstructured play, she is in the process of establishing her own objectives.
A consideration more important than structured vs. unstructured play is to ask whether the activity holds your child’s full attention. When your child is fully engaged in an activity, she is arranging and absorbing its meaning. She is finding reward in the act of understanding. She’s enjoying figuring it out, whether the “it”–the activity–is structured or unstructured. If you make a habit of providing quality playtime to your child, she’ll make a habit of taking ownership of an activity and applying her ingenuity and creativity to their fullest. That’s a valuable habit–a lifetime learning habit that does not have its origin in structured or unstructured play, but rather in quality play.
Don’t Make Promises To Your Kids That You Cannot Keep
Tuesday, June 30th, 2009“But Mommy/Daddy, you promised!” Heard those words a time or two with your kids? When you are a divorced parent, your helter-skelter, demanding existence seems to involve a lot of cajoling on your part to get your kids moving in the direction you want them to move. So, you promise them something to motivate them, right?
Your children remember every single promise you make to them. Because they haven’t learned to reason yet, they have a tendency to live in their feelings – their emotions – and these emotions create brilliant visualizations of what you’ve promised them: an ice cream treat; a trip to the park; some toy they really want. They can see it in their mind’s eye, because their mind created it for them.
And to that they have added “trust” because their daddy or mommy said it and they implicitly trust you. And they expect you to DO what you said you would do. It would destroy your child to make promises you have no intention of keeping, so use “making promises” only when you intend to follow through meticulously.
Your children can learn wonderful lessons when you keep your promise to them. They can learn to trust, to love, to be secure, to be safe, to reach their potential. But if you try to side-step what you promised, your children can be affected in a negative manner. They can experience anger, disappointment, depression, helplessness, and distrust. You certainly don’t want those results, so consider keeping the promises you made them.
What does “I promise” mean to you? To me, it means “I intend to follow through and do what I’m saying to you.” And then I do it. My kids could always trust me to tell the truth to them and they could trust that my word was worth something. I wanted their words to have value and trust, too. So, if you keep your promise, they can count on you. If they keep their promise, you can count on them.
You have to mean the words you say, and only say them when you fully mean them. Here’s another aspect of promise-keeping you might not have considered: “Tommy, wash your hands and come to the table to eat.” He doesn’t do that. You say it again “Tommy, wash your hands and come to the table now.” He ignores you. “Tommy, if you don’t come to the table now, I’m going to [insert some promise]. I can guarantee you, if you are a promise keeper in other areas, Tommy is right now in the bathroom washing his hands.
I can also offer you this little tip: there is more meaning and more conviction behind what you said the third time than what you said the first time. If you could weave more meaning and conviction into your promise, make sure you have his full attention (a touch on the arm works) and then deliver the promise, you’ll only have to say it to your kid one time.