The Sunbrella fabric line is celebrating it’s 50th anniversary, while extending their fabric line from the outdoors, in. Beautiful new colors, design; paired with long wear and easy care. What a deal!
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There is almost nothing more gracefully beautiful than a blooming white orchid. They’re also an excellent value, since they’ll bloom in your home or office for a month or two. But what do you do with the plant when it’s finished blooming? Well, if you’re one of the fortunate few, you just place it in your temperature controlled orchid greenhouse. But if you’re like me, the chances of getting that orchid to bloom again are between slim and none. So, instead of tossing the greenery, cut off the old flower stem and replace it with a silk orchid stem! You’ll…
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Q: Do you want your bedding to look like it popped out of a matching “Bed in a Bag” set? A: No! Bedding is a wonderful way to express a bit of your own personality. Are you conservative, fanciful, modern or minimalist? You can change the look of a bedroom in minutes. With pillow inserts, it’s simple to change out you pillow covers, depending on your mood or the season. Instant-chango!! My longtime favorite pillow is the 26″ square pillow, double deep. Gives great height and a really plush look. Complementary duvet covers accomplish the same effect. My bed is…
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I try to grab every opportunity I can to surround myself with wonderful design, especially when I get a chance to spend some quality time with my daughter. Visiting Alexandria, the town where George Washington announced his bid for the presidency, and stepped down from the job, eight years later, is full of history. I was looking forward to exploring more of the city on foot, but with high temperatures hovering in the low 30’s, I was glad we had a beautiful hotel to rescue us from the cold. Happy trails to you, for a healthy, happy and beautiful 2011!
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It’s simple to create a centerpiece for your table, at half the price of what a florist would charge. (I spent about $20, picking up flowers at my not-so-cheap market) First of all, start with a low profile vase, so you’ll be able to see over the arrangement, while sitting at the table. Fill the vase with florist foam. Then, add greens around the perimeter of the vase, to frame your flowers. Now, insert your flowers into the foam, while continuing to turn the vase, so flowers are distributed evenly throughout the arrangement. Finally, fill in the arrangement with greenery…
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Well, now I’ve seen the best of San Francisco’s shopping meccas. We started our exploration at the “big box” fashion stores, in Union Square, followed by a trek to Nordstrom’s and Bloomingdale’s in the big Westfield mall on Market. While these stores are lovely, there’s just too much of everything! For my money, I’ll take the small, friendly boutiques on Fillmore, Chestnut, or Hayes any day, where you’ll often get waited on by the owners, who are really passionate about their selection. You’ll find everything, including small cafes, shoe stores, and men’s and women’s clothing shops, featuring unique, quality pieces.…
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While Christmas shopping at Union Square in San Francisco, I saw the beautiful, simple arrangements, that anyone can create. With cedar greens, red berries and white mums, an elegant, simple yet festive look has been achieved. I’m hoping I’ll be able to squeeze a trip to the flower mart in, before returning home.
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If there’s someone special on your shopping list, who loves their garden and/or making their home more beautiful, Hi Hand Nursery, on Taylor Rd., in Loomis, is worth a special trip. But don’t start anything this important on an empty stomach! Delicious lunches and dinners are served every day except Monday and Tuesday. And don’t pass up the desserts they make! For friends and family on your list, consider a fruit or Japanese maple tree. Maybe a topiary, succulent or water feature. This is by far one of the most meticulously cared for nurseries you’ll find, with a nice selection…
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