Garbino Can by Karim Rashid - Garbino Trash Can

Home November 23rd, 2007

The Garbino Trash Can by Karim Rashid is perfect for the home or the office - they arrive in bright colors, are portable and, best of all, are priced perfectly. We have 4 of them in my home!!
The Garbino Can by Karim Rashid is stylish, affordable and durable. Available in three exciting colors shown below.
Garbino Can Styles & Sizes:

Garbino Can Blue
10″ x 10-1/4″ x 13″ h

Garbino Can Amethyst
10″ x 10-1/4″ x 13″ h

Garbino Can White
10″ x 10-1/4″ x 13″ h

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Luxury Bath Towel Sets & Robes

Home November 23rd, 2007

Bath towels may be the hardest working members of your household. After all, we expect our towels and washcloths to keep us clean, dry us off, and add to the look of our bathroom. However, despite their versatility, towels are often underappreciated, with many people putting little thought into which type of towel they buy and bring home. But with a little knowledge, your towels will look, last and perform.

FABRIC

All towels have a fabric weight, measured with a GSM (grams per square meter) number. This refers to the density of the fabric used to make that particular towel. Lower GSM towels are lighter and thinner, making them a great choice for a gym bag or trips to the beach. You’ll likely want to save your heavier, thicker, higher GSM towels for use in the master or guest bathroom.

Most towels are made of cotton, but the look and feel of towels largely depends on what type of cotton is used. Towels designed and priced for everyday use are made of standard cotton, while Egyptian cotton and Turkish cotton is considered the crème de la crème of towel fabrics. These more expensive towels have longer, more-fibrous threads, meaning that each towel will have more moisture-sucking loops per inch.

SEA OF LUXURY TOWELS

Imported exclusively by Sea of Luxury, these traditional looped terry towels come from the Denizli region of Turkey which is legendary worldwide for its toweling of extraordinary thickness and absorbency. These genuine, 100% cotton Turkish towels have a 700-gram weight, making them among the heaviest, densest available. Their 1/4-inch thick pile makes them exceptionally soft while an abundance of tightly wound loops offer superior warmth and absorbency. Their softness is greatly enhanced with subsequent washings. The result is unsurpassed style and quality in every towel that we produce.

CARE

Bath towels of all types will look fresher and last longer if they are cared for properly. Manufacturers often coat new towels in a special fabric softener, which means the towels look extra fluffy and soft on the shelf but don’t absorb water well when you first bring them home. For this reason, it’s best to wash your new towels before first use.

Dark and brightly colored towels should be washed separately. For your special, more expensive towels, using Woolite or another gentle-care detergent will keep them at their fluffy best longer.

You have to jump in the shower once a day anyway; why not turn this daily necessity into a cause for celebration? If you love the simple pleasures of good quality and everyday luxury, you’ll idolize Sea of Luxury’s wonderful cotton towels.

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How To Shop for a Beach Towel

Home November 23rd, 2007

Beach towels come in all shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics (yes, they can be different). This guide will hopefully help you to pick out the perfect beach towel for you.

Size Matters

Size DOES matter. Beach towels range in size from 30×60 all the way up to something that would fit a queen size bed (also called beach blankets). Check the size of the towel you are interested in carefully, and make sure that you will be happy with the size. Keep in mind that some towels may shrink slightly after repeated washings. The better the quality, the less the shrinkage.

Velour

Velour towels are terry towels where the loops have been “cropped” or “shaved”. This is usually to allow the printed design to show up better, not necessarily a cheaper or less worthwhile towel. However, the cropping process does remove some of the towel’s ability to absorb liquid.

Most of the towels with popular designs printed on them are velour.

Woven vs Printed

Woven designs in a beach towel are generally referred to as “jacquard” where the design has been woven (not printed) directly into the fabric. Jacquard towels are generally heavier, larger, and more absorbent, because their loops have not been cropped. Jacquard towels generally have loops on both sides of the fabric as well, where the reverse of the towel is a “negative image” of the original design.

Printed towels are just that: screenprinted, much as a t-shirt is done. Most printed towels are velour, better to show the design. The back of printed towels generally are white, with smaller or no loops.

Terry vs Turkish

Terry towels have loops on both sides, Turkish toweling has loops only on one side.

Most jacquard towel are terry. Most printed towels are Turkish.

Worth Their Weight

The very best indicator of a towel’s worth is it’s fabric weight. While the general public isn’t as aware of this as beach towel manufacturers and retailers, a towel’s value is based on it’s weight. A towel’s weight is determined by how much a dozen of the same towel weighs.

For example, a towel whose weight is 9.8 lbs/doz is an individual towel that weighs less than a pound. A towel whose weight is 12 lbs/doz is an individual towel that weighs one pound.

When comparing towel weights, be sure to factor in the size of the towel. A towel that measures 30×60 and weighs 10 lbs/doz is actually a heavier fabric than a towel that measures 32×64 with a fabric weight of 10 lbs/doz. When comparing towel weights, you must compare apples with apples (size does matter).

Print Quality

Not all dyes are created equal, and it is important to note the difference. Anybody can screenprint a towel, and the design will look great (at first). But, the best dye (and the one to look for) is fiber reactive dyed towels. Fiber reactive dyes actually form a covalent bond with the cotton fabric, they become “one” with the fabric, and will not fade, either in the sun or through the wash. So, if you are a die-hard Spongebob fan, you don’t want your favorite Squarepants to fade in the wash.

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Change Your Lifestyle to Change Your Weight

Home November 23rd, 2007

Dive In!

It is so easy to get caught up in the “excitement” of starting a new diet or weight routine. You picture yourself standing in front of the mirror trying to get the best view of your new tight behind. There isn’t anything wrong with that! The problem is keeping up that initial energy despite the lure of cheesecake! It is very hard to lose weight and keep it off. If it were easy, wouldn’t we all be buying size 8?

I’ve crashed and burned many a time when it comes to diets. I finally reached the conclusion that dieting is just a bad idea! Losing weight isn’t about a diet, it is about healthier choices and changed attitudes. It isn’t really that simple. But there are a few little tips that I have learned on my journey that may help you out too!
Get Started…

1. Meet the Measuring Tape. Yes, this is your new friend. Get out an index card and pen and start measuring. No cheating either! Don’t suck it in! Measure your biceps, chest, upper abs, waist, hips, thighs…whatever you want to see imporvements on. Write it down and date it. Measure again in 2 weeks.

2. Say “hi” to the scale. I avoided the scale for years. When I decided to give it a try, I was shocked and very upset. I felt sick to the see those numbers! Now I weigh myself every morning before breakfast It feels great to see a change, even a pound a week! It is important to remember that the body’s weight fluctuates from day to day, so don’t panic if you see a small gain here and there. This is just a tool to keep you from straying too far off the path.

3. Strike a pose. Put on a pair of shorts and a tank top and have someone take your picture. Not many of us like the way we look in photos, and this picture probably won’t be an exception. Put the picture on the refrigerator or pantry door to remind you of where you have been and where you want to go with your weight. Later, when you are looking hot, look back at the picture to see your new changes!
The Little Things…

1. Water. Bet you saw that coming! I really don’t like water. I would much rather have a tea or coke, but I always order water when I go out to eat and save the soda for a treat. I take on sip for every bite I take. I fill up faster and get my needed hydration. I carry a bottle around everywhere! Bottled water was getting expensive, so I bought a water filtration pitcher and use that water to keep my saved bottles full.

2. Don’t buy it! Never go to the store hungry, and try to plan meals ahead of time so you will buy your needed items only. If you know that you have a weakness, try to avoid it. But most importantly, just don’t touch it. Walk away!

3. Appetizers are such teasers! I love to eat out, and my favorite restaurants serve chips and salsa or bread sticks. I’m not going to deprive anyone else, but I just don’t want to go there. So I place the dessert menu and salt and pepper shakers, ect. between me and the tempting appetizer and push it as far from me as possible. It is hard sometimes, but it can become a habit.

4. Measure it! When I first started measuring my food, I was shocked to find that I was actually eating 3 servings of cereal for breakfast! It was very hard to get used to smaller portions, but now it is second nature. My body went through an adjustment period also, but I’m never hungry now. I still eat quite a bit, even sweets. I just don’t eat as much of them as I did before.

5. Do I have to have that? I used to see eating out as such a reward. It was all about a big, delicious meal. Then I realized that there would be plenty of opportunities in my life to eat all of these delicious foods. I don’t need to eat cheese enchiladas every time I go to a mexican food restaurant. I don’t need to eat fettucine alfredo every time either. I change it up and have dicovered meals that are healthier and don’t leave me feeling so guilty.

6. On the side, please. Cheese and dressing. I used to think that a salad wasn’t a salad until you added the “good stuff.” Too bad that good stuff is really the bad stuff. Now I ask for these items on the side, so I can decide how much I want on my salad.

7. Find a calorie counter. There are many websites that offer free calorie counters. I’m no slave to the calorie counter, but I do enter in my foods at least once a week just to keep me honest! The little things add up, and now I have a pretty good idea of how much I’m consuming without entering it in.

8. Break out the “skinny” jeans. I just had another baby, and I know it will be awhile before I’m back in those stretch denim size 8s, but that doesn’t stop me from looking at them every once in awhile. I’ll pull them out of the closet once a week and know that I’ll be wearing these again one day. It may be awhile, but I’m not going to throw them out. That seems like it would be giving up.

9. Break out the “not-so-skinny” jeans. I love the fact that my first post-pregnancy jeans are starting to get a little bigger in the waist and backside. I wear them often still (because nothing else fits!), and I actually enjoy having to pull them up as I walk. I won’t throw these out either. These are going to be my little reminder of where I’ve been and how far I have come.

10. Feel proud. When you eat a healthy meal or put down the tempting (but unneccesary) treat, feel proud! It isn’t easy to make these changes.

11. Revamp your recipes. I love recipe exploration online. There are so many wonderful recipes on the web, many of which are already healthier. But don’t we all have our comfort foods, our favorites? I love to eat ice cream and chocolate cake (a habit passed down from my parents!) Below you can find my easy quick-fix Chocolate Brownie Sundae, remodeled!

12. Don’t do it alone. My healthy habits are just for me, they are for my whole family. I make meals for all of us to enjoy. I fix the same thing for us all. I’m not going to eat a separate meal and watch them eat something that is no better for them than it is for me. When I make recipe changes (such as fat-free milk instead of regular), they don’t have a clue anyway! Also, find some support in a friend with the same goals or even online in forums or discussion boards.

I hope that these few tips will make your change a little easier! It is so hard to break bad habits and change your way of thinking and feeling about food. I’m still a work-in-progress and will be for a long time… That is just the way it is. This is a challenge, but challenges can be conquered!

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Trash Can Buying Guide

Home November 23rd, 2007

Materials

The most common materials for residential waste receptacles are metal or plastic. You may be asking yourself which one of these materials is better for a residential area. The answer is that no material is better than the other, simply different. Metal or stainless steel receptacles are much sturdier, but can also be heavy and sometimes have more of a commercial look to them. Plastic receptacles are less sturdy, and will not last as long as a metal trash can. These receptacles will also be much lighter and easier to transport from room to room.

Type
Kitchen: These receptacles are generally larger and have special features such as hands free tops, odor seals, and liners that keep your kitchen smelling fresh. Many kitchen receptacles are made of stainless steel for a classic look as well.
Bathroom: These receptacles are generally smaller to fit under your bathroom sink or in a small corner.
Home Office: Office receptacles are a variety of sizes with a classic look to match your office.
Wall/Cabinet Mountable: Receptacles that can be mounted on the door of your cabinet or to your wall. These are great for small kitchens and offices.

Features
Fireproof: Our fireproof receptacles are mostly built from fireproof steel, and will keep the fire contained within the receptacle to keep it from spreading. For more information on fireproof receptacles - click here.
Odor Seal: Many of our receptacles are equipped with a special air tight lid that will create an odor seal which keeps unpleasant odors in the receptacle instead of permeating around your home.
Removable Liner: This feature is great for residential receptacles because it can be removed and cleaned quickly.
Trash Bag Fastener: You will never have to worry about your trash bag slipping down into your receptacle when you have a receptacle with a trash bag fastener. This simple feature keeps the trash bag fastened in place and keeps trash in the bag, not in the receptacle.
Touchless Lid: Hands free receptacles feature an infrared sensor that detects when your hand is near the lid. It then opens and allows you to throw out your waste, and closes when you remove your hand. This feature allows you to avoid touching the bacteria that is on your trash can.

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How to Have a Totally Great Bathing Experience!

Home November 23rd, 2007

A nice hot bath is pleasant. But if you have the time, why not go all out and make it even more pleasurable? Indulge yourself a bit and have a relaxing, refreshing experience that leaves you feeling less stressed and ready to face the world again.
The basic rule of thumb is to think in terms of appealing to as many of your senses as you can. Scented bath oil, for instance, appeals to your sense of smell while a bit of chocolate delights your taste buds. A flickering candle can be a pleasurable sight….and, well I think you get the idea.
Some suggestions:
1. If you like the soft flicker of candlelight, put a few candles near the tub, making sure they aren’t near the toilet paper or anything flammable. I like to put mine on a mirrored surface to enhance the light but any nonflammable surface will do.

2. Consider having something nice to eat or drink while you’re bathing - some dark chocolate (the tannens actually are supposed to be good for you) or something to drink. If you like sticky foods, go for it because the water will wash all the stickiness away. Toasted marshmallows, anyone?

3. An over the tub rack with a book holder can be great for reading in the tub but if you prefer to simply soak your troubles away, perhaps some scented oil or bath salts would be preferable.

4. I really like those inflatable pillows that you can put behind your neck while bathing.

5. If the water tends to stay too low in your tub, you can get a special device that stops it from flowing out and have a deeper bath.

6. To complete the experience, make sure you have some nice, fluffy towels on hand and perhaps some comfry slippers and nice soft pajamas or a nightgown.

Then drift into bed, tension soothed away, feeling pampered and relaxed.

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Buying a Quality Curved Shower Curtain Rod

Home November 23rd, 2007

A quality shower curtain rod should be made of 100% STAINLESS STEEL to prevent any rusting. Not only should the rod itself be STAINLESS but all the hardware should be 100% Stainless too. The reason is obvious, if the hardware (Screws and mounting brackets) rust behind the covers the rust will stain walls, and tile. Also, parts could easily brake off and wind up literally going down the drain. And, make certain that you can easily shorten the rail. Most bath tub style showers are 60 inches wide but some are shorter, make sure the rod can be shortened.

And lastly, take a look at the manufacturer warranty, a quality shower rod will have a long duration and the manfacturer will always stand behind that kind of product. I hope this will help you make an educated decision on buying a Quality Curved Shower Curtain Rod.

Designing Your Dream Kitchen or Bathroom

Home November 23rd, 2007

You’ve finally made the decision that it’s time for a change and you are ready to get started with your design project. Unfortunately, getting started is often the hardest part of the design process. With so many different directions to go in, the process can seem overwhelming. With a few hints from a pro, hopefully the process will be more approachable, less stressful, and much more fun!

First ask, is the space working? When you look at a beautiful magazine photo of a room, you need to also envision that room with you in it! No one wants to create a beautiful space that doesn’t function-so make sure that it functions first. Think of how you envision using the room. Will it be used for entertaining? Will there be pets or kids running through it? Will it be a more comfortable or more formal room? How much maintenance do you envision? Answering these questions will help you to determine your functional design needs and start you in the right direction.

Determine how you want to feel when you are in the room. Your kitchen is the heart of your house, your community center, your meal preparation center. Do you want it to be a warm, inviting space for you to spend time with family and entertaining? Or perhaps if cooking is your passion, it should make you feel empowered to create the most exquisite cuisine.

Your bathroom can be the room that takes a beating with the constant use, or it can be the one area of your home where you can be alone to relax, even if only for a few minutes a day. Do you want a bathroom with storage and organization to make you feel not so crazed? Or perhaps it should take on a zen-like theme with candles and soft lights to make you feel peaceful and serene while soaking in the tub.

No matter how your rooms will be used, it is vital that these areas make you feel good. Design is a critical component of making your rooms enjoyable.

Get ideas! Look at pictures online or in books and magazines. Visit specialty stores, kitchen and bath showrooms or even homes of friends and family. Take note of what it is that you like and what is pleasing. Similarly, note what you don’t like and what it is that makes things unappealing. This part of the design process should feel like visiting an art gallery. So when you see a product that “jumps off the canvas” find a way to add it into your design.

All of these places are good starting points to get ideas and pull them together to see what would work for you. Be sure not to duplicate exactly what is in a magazine or in the design showroom, since that would not necessarily be a reflection of your personality. Also, be sure to look at ideas and styles that are not your normal tastes and be open to new ideas. You never know what might interest or inspire you.

Identify the starting point and visualize the end point. Now that you know how your room will function, how you want it to make you feel, and have started collecting ideas of your tastes, begin to visualize how you can implement these needs. Making a space plan will help to ensure that your room will function properly. Additionally, from an aesthetic view, many spaces benefit from having a focal point since it draws your eyes to an area and anchors the space. Focal points can range from a faucet, a key piece of furniture, an interesting piece of art, or you can create a focal point by painting a wall a different color than the other three. There are many ways to approach your focal point, but it’s important to plan it ahead of time.

Make a plan and follow it. ‘Measure twice, cut once’ is always a good motto to follow. Since there are many elements that can restrict you, planning ahead to visualize your end result will allow you to determine your restrictions, help the process to flow smoothly, and ultimately create a design that meets your needs and shows your personality.

Finally, have fun! Know that you are the boss of your design project. With today’s eclectic design styles, it is acceptable to design and create rooms that mix and match and add anything that inspires you. If a bamboo faucet inspires you, but you have traditional tastes, add it into your design for a spice of Asian flair. As long as you are happy with the outcome, your mission is accomplished!