Thursday, December 23, 2010
Wine.Woot.com
A friend told me about a great site to find deals on wine and I thought I would share it with all of you. Wine.woot.com is a website that offers different wines each day of the week at tremendous savings to you! Each weekday, a new deal on wine or wine related products is posted on the website. However, those deals are only available for that day while supplies last. Each deal is a one-time-only price so you check the site often so you don’t miss out on anything.
The site itself is wonderful. Each wine deal has detailed information about the wine and winery so there are no surprises. “A variety of premium, ultra-premium, and mega-super-premium wines from known wineries” are offered on the site. Wine.woot.com is not a club and does not require membership. There are no purchase minimums. Just check back each day and only buy the deals that look good to you!
Check it out: http://wine.woot.com/
Today’s Woot:
The site itself is wonderful. Each wine deal has detailed information about the wine and winery so there are no surprises. “A variety of premium, ultra-premium, and mega-super-premium wines from known wineries” are offered on the site. Wine.woot.com is not a club and does not require membership. There are no purchase minimums. Just check back each day and only buy the deals that look good to you!
Check it out: http://wine.woot.com/
Today’s Woot:
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Christmas Elves and Busy Bees
Last Wednesday was a busy day around here! It all started with the Interior Design Society meeting that morning at Mandola’s. Next was a Christmas Party at my son Shelton’s school, followed by the ladies of Robin Bond Interiors making our way around town to deliver gifts to some of our beloved vendors. Below are some pictures of my fabulous day!
December's featured Speaker, Donna Johnson of the Unemployed Entreprenuer and me.
Charitable Events Committee member, Debra Dunham and President Robin Bond with items for Foundation Communities.
Charitable Events Committee Chair Monica Pena with items collected in the last quarter of 2010 to go to Foundation Communittes.
IDS Meeting
IDS Meeting
Shelton and the Christmas Cookie he decorated
Peggy, Barbara, and I delivering a gift to Marylin Ketteman of Marylin's Upholstery
Thursday, December 16, 2010
Happy Holidays Texas Style!
I went to the Dallas World Trade center with Lisa Gaynor, Design with Consignment, last week and here is an interesting cactus Christmas Tree we saw at Rudy's in Waco on the way back home.
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
OPPORTUNITY NETWORKING GROUP!
You’re invited to the “OPPORTUNITY NETWORK GROUP” January 05, 2011 starting at 7:00 PM located at Mizu Restaurant.
COME ENJOY DINNER, CONVERSATION, & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES!
WE FEATURE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS EVERY MONTH!
Our special guest for January is Joy Hrobak from the Community Board. Come meet Joy and get your business listed on the Community Board.
Date: January 5, 2011
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Place: Mizu Prime Steak & Sushi
3001 Ranch Road 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78738
Cost: FREE to attend the Group. Just pay for your Dinner
For January’s meeting please RSVP to Lorraine Cook at lorrainecook05@att.net
COME ENJOY DINNER, CONVERSATION, & BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY!
INVITE YOUR FRIENDS AND ASSOCIATES!
WE FEATURE LOCAL BUSINESS OWNERS EVERY MONTH!
Our special guest for January is Joy Hrobak from the Community Board. Come meet Joy and get your business listed on the Community Board.
Date: January 5, 2011
Time: 7:00 pm – 8:30 pm
Place: Mizu Prime Steak & Sushi
3001 Ranch Road 620 South
Lakeway, TX 78738
Cost: FREE to attend the Group. Just pay for your Dinner
For January’s meeting please RSVP to Lorraine Cook at lorrainecook05@att.net
Thursday, December 9, 2010
Tuesday, December 7, 2010
Thank you to all who came to our Holiday Open House
We would like to extend a big thank you to everyone who came to our Holiday Open House last week, and another thank you to those who made donations to Helping Hands Ministry. The party was a great success! Everyone enjoyed the cocktails and food, especially the appetizers prepared by Chef Ryan! If you missed it, don’t worry! We are thinking of making this an annual event!
Pictures coming soon!
Pictures coming soon!
Thursday, December 2, 2010
Don't Miss Our Holiday Open House Tonight!
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Tuesday, November 30, 2010
A Quote for Today and Everyday
Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate; our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
As we let our own light shine, we give other people permission to do the same; as we our liberated by our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Author
It is our light, not our darkness, that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, “Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous?” Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God. Your playing small doesn’t serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won’t feel insecure around you. We are meant to shine, as children do.
We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
As we let our own light shine, we give other people permission to do the same; as we our liberated by our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.
Marianne Williamson
Author
Thursday, November 18, 2010
Cranberry Chocolate Nut Pie
Ingredients
3/4 cup dried cranberries
1/2 cup brandy or orange juice
1 rolled refrigerated unbaked piecrust (1/2 of a 15-oz. pkg.)
1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled
1-1/2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1/8 tsp. salt
1 cup chopped walnuts
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 oz. white baking bars, chopped
Sweetened Whipped Cream, see below (optional)
Directions
1. In small bowl combine dried cranberries and brandy. Cover and chill for at least 1 hour. Drain and reserve 1 tablespoon of the brandy.
2. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Prepare pastry and line 9-inch pie plate.
3. In medium bowl whisk together butter, sugar, eggs and salt. Stir in walnuts, flour and chopped baking bars until just combined. Stir in drained cranberries and 1 tablespoon of the reserved brandy mixture. Spoon into crust-lined pie plate. Bake for 65 minutes, loosely covering the pie with foil the last 30 minutes of baking. Cool on rack.
4. Top with Sweetened Whipped Cream.
Makes 10 servings
Sweetened Whipped Cream
In chilled mixing bowl add 1 cup whipping cream, 2 tablespoons sugar, and 1/2 teaspoon vanilla. Beat with electric mixer on medium speed until soft peaks form. Refrigerate until ready to use.
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
Pumpkin Chocolate Cheesecake Pie
Ingredients
- 1 recipe Deep Dish Pie Pastry, below
- 12 oz. cream cheese, softened (1-1/2 8-oz. pkgs.)
- 1/4 cup granulated sugar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup finely chopped semisweet chocolate or miniature chocolate pieces
- 1 15-oz. can pumpkin
- 2/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tsp. pumpkin pie spice
- 4 eggs, lightly beaten
- 3/4 cup half-and-half or light cream
- Chopped chocolate (optional)
Directions
1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees F. Prepare and roll out Deep Dish Pie Pastry. Transfer pastry to a 9-1/2- to 10-inch deep-dish pie plate. Trim crust edge 1/2-inch beyond pie plate. Flute edge high. Line pastry with double thickness of foil. Bake 8 minutes. Remove foil; bake 6 minutes more or until golden. Cool on wire rack. Reduce oven temperature to 375 degrees F.
2. In medium mixing bowl combine cream cheese, 1/4 cup sugar, and 1 egg; beat on low speed until smooth. Spread cream cheese mixture in cooled pastry shell. Sprinkle with chopped chocolate.
3. In bowl combine pumpkin, brown sugar, and spice. Stir in 4 eggs. Gradually stir in half-and-half. Slowly pour pumpkin mixture on chocolate layer. To prevent overbrowning, cover pie edge with foil.
4. Bake 60 to 65 minutes or until knife inserted near center comes out clean. Remove foil. Cool on wire rack. Cover and refrigerate within 2 hour. Top with chopped chocolate.
Deep Dish Pie Pastry: In medium bowl, stir together 1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Using pastry blender or two knives cut in 6 tablespoons shortening until pieces are pea-size. Sprinkle 1 tablespoon cold water over part of flour mixture; gently toss with fork. Push moistened dough to side of bowl. Repeat, using 1 tablespoon water at a time, until all flour is moistened (5 to 6 tablespoons total). Form into ball. On lightly floured surface, flatten dough. Roll pastry from center to edge into 13-inch circle.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
A Little Color Can Make a Big Difference
Just putting a little color on your walls can really spruce up a room. Even neutral tones can turn a house from boring to beautiful. Take a look at the transformation paint made to this home:
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
Cocomosaic Tiles
A new product that we have come across this week is not only beautiful, but environmentally friendly. Cocomosaic tiles give your home a feeling of warm, natural, elegant style, and yet are very green. Cocomosaic tiles give you a more responsible choice in decorating walls, ceilings and floors while at the same time helping a greener environment by making use of otherwise wasted coconut-shell materials.
Cocomosaic tiles are made of coconut-shell chips. The coconut chips are cut from natural coconut shells which are abundant and found in many parts of Indonesia. Coconut chips are lightweight, durable, natural and beautifully decorative. They are easy to care, easy to design with and have exotic looks. Now by using cocomosaic tiles, we can have the style we need while being environmentally conscious and active in our choices.
To learn more visit: http://cocomosaic.com/
Cocomosaic tiles are made of coconut-shell chips. The coconut chips are cut from natural coconut shells which are abundant and found in many parts of Indonesia. Coconut chips are lightweight, durable, natural and beautifully decorative. They are easy to care, easy to design with and have exotic looks. Now by using cocomosaic tiles, we can have the style we need while being environmentally conscious and active in our choices.
To learn more visit: http://cocomosaic.com/
Thursday, November 4, 2010
Introducting Lito Morin, Designer
Robin Bond Interiors is growing! Things are getting busier and we have decided to expand our team. We would like to take this opportunity to introduce you to our newest designer, Lito Morin.
As early as the age of 10, Lito Morin started drawing the interiors of houses. He realized that if he imagined taking the roof off of a house and looked down into it, he would be able to see how the walls separated the house into specific rooms. What he didn’t realize at that young age was that he was actually imagining a floor plan. This innate childhood pastime and passion has turned into the career that Lito chose to pursue as an adult.
After graduating from a small high school in south Texas, Lito moved to New York and attended Parson School of Design for interior design. After 7 years in New York, he moved to Los Angeles and started up his company in Beverly Hills called M Group Interior Design. During his residence in Los Angeles, Lito’s client roster included executives of Fortune 500 companies, screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors. He was asked to film an episode and be a guest designer on a design show called “Area”, on the Style Network. Shortly thereafter, Lito was asked to film a subsequent episode.
Lito had a successful business in Beverly Hills for 13 years and realized he was ready to leave Los Angeles and begin a new chapter in his life. He was offered and accepted a position at Beson Kading Interior Design in Minneapolis, MN. He had several featured write-ups in local magazines and began his new career. Being born and raised in south Texas, he soon realized that the Minneapolis weather proved to be more of a challenge than expected. After 4 years, his urge, craving, and desire to return to Texas, combined with the desire to leave the Minneapolis winters behind, Lito decided to relocate to Austin, TX to be closer to family and friends.
Lito is now one of the newest designers at Robin Bond Interiors, Inc., and is eager, anxious and excited to continue his career in Austin and central Texas.
If you would like to book an appointment with Lito, please call our office at 512-358-7200.
Welcome to the family, Lito!
As early as the age of 10, Lito Morin started drawing the interiors of houses. He realized that if he imagined taking the roof off of a house and looked down into it, he would be able to see how the walls separated the house into specific rooms. What he didn’t realize at that young age was that he was actually imagining a floor plan. This innate childhood pastime and passion has turned into the career that Lito chose to pursue as an adult.
After graduating from a small high school in south Texas, Lito moved to New York and attended Parson School of Design for interior design. After 7 years in New York, he moved to Los Angeles and started up his company in Beverly Hills called M Group Interior Design. During his residence in Los Angeles, Lito’s client roster included executives of Fortune 500 companies, screenwriters, producers, directors, and actors. He was asked to film an episode and be a guest designer on a design show called “Area”, on the Style Network. Shortly thereafter, Lito was asked to film a subsequent episode.
Lito had a successful business in Beverly Hills for 13 years and realized he was ready to leave Los Angeles and begin a new chapter in his life. He was offered and accepted a position at Beson Kading Interior Design in Minneapolis, MN. He had several featured write-ups in local magazines and began his new career. Being born and raised in south Texas, he soon realized that the Minneapolis weather proved to be more of a challenge than expected. After 4 years, his urge, craving, and desire to return to Texas, combined with the desire to leave the Minneapolis winters behind, Lito decided to relocate to Austin, TX to be closer to family and friends.
Lito is now one of the newest designers at Robin Bond Interiors, Inc., and is eager, anxious and excited to continue his career in Austin and central Texas.
If you would like to book an appointment with Lito, please call our office at 512-358-7200.
Welcome to the family, Lito!
Tuesday, November 2, 2010
Robin Bond Interiors Holiday Open House
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Robin Bond Interiors | 9600 Escarpment Suite 745-22 | Austin | TX | 78749 |
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Not all Rugs are Made Equal
Traditionally, rug making was and still is an artistic outlet in many countries with the rug actually telling a story.
Choosing a nice rug will depend on many factors, you should take in to account the fiber with which the rug was knitted, and the rug color which should better compliment your home design, also the rug shape and size should fit well in the place where you plan to put it.
Budget will play a big factor, since a 5 X 7 rug can start out as low as under $100.00 and go well into the thousands of dollars depending on the type rug it is and so many other variables. Whatever your budget a rug is a great way to add color and pattern to a room.
Types of area rugs:
HAND KNOTTED RUGS:
Hand knotted rugs are by far the best area rug you can buy, depending on the knot count per inch. It is also the hardest category to acquire. It takes many years to learn the different origins and meaning of the symbols used when making a hand knotted area rug. Once you get interested in rugs, it is like getting interested in art. They are true pieces of artwork and they wear like iron! These rugs are meant for wear and tear. They will literally last your lifetime and then be passed down.
If you invest in a hand knotted rug for the first time, you will completely understand the reason why these beautiful rugs cost more than the other alternatives. Because they are handmade, each rug is unique in its own way. It is nice to know that no one else will have the exact same rug as you.
The manufacturing process is made up of woven threads going up and down called the warp and while the threads going side to side are called the weft. They are intertwined together to create a base structure to weave the rug. After one row of knots is finished a mallet is used to condense the pile. This will be repeated time and time again to ensure the pile is as dense as it can be. The tightness of the pile affects the wear ability of the rug. The more knots per inch, the longer it will last and give you years and years of enjoyment.
HAND TUFTED AREA RUGS:
You’ll always know how to distinguish a Hand Tufted area rug because it will have a cloth like muslin backing. A Hand Tufted rug is kind of made like a latch hook. It is punched in with a gun or by hand one tuft at a time. The cost of hand-tufted area rugs is impacted by the type of wool they are using, and how many tufts per inch. The more tufts per inch and the denser the pile the higher the cost. This also impacts the memory the rug will have, meaning it won’t crush the pile, so it will wear longer.
With a Hand Tufted rug, glue is used on the back of the rug to hold the wool pile in place. So you will get some shedding, but how much depends on how dense (tufts per inch) the rug is, and what type of wool has been used. Because the tufting process does not produce the fringe that is more common with hand-woven rugs (where the fringe is the end of the warp strings that run from one end of the rug to the other), separate fringe (usually woven as a tape) is often glued or sewn to the ends of a tufted rug.
The hand tufted area rug will rarely wear as well as the Hand Knotted rug because the wool is almost always a cheaper grade and the glue used tends to be the inexpensive latex glue which becomes brittle and deteriorates over time.
A Hand Tufted rug has resale value equivalent to a machine-made wool rug of the same size. But there are really nice hand-tufted wool rugs out there. You just need to know what questions to ask and what to look for when selecting a hand tufted rug. One way to tell the quality is to run your hand across the pile to test shedding, and remember the softer and the denser the pile is, the better the area rug.
MACHINE MADE AREA RUGS:
When looking at a machine made rug you usually can see the white stitching on the back, and the lines are always perfectly straight, because they are mass produced by a machine.
The fluctuation in pricing for a machine made rug is impacted by the type of wool that is used and its density. The New Zealand wool has long been considered the best wools and will cost a bit more because of their softness and resistance to shedding. A carpet made of New Zealand wool will always have a fen mark on the label. Only carpets that pass more than 20 demanding tests related to fiber content, appearance, retention, color-fastness and appropriate environmental performance carry their name. New Zealand wool creates the most colorful machine-made rugs in the world. New Zealand wool is the whitest, cleanest, purest wool in the world. This in turn will make the colors appear more rich and vibrant in color. Wool carpets and rugs are fire safe, providing beautiful peace of mind.
Choosing a nice rug will depend on many factors, you should take in to account the fiber with which the rug was knitted, and the rug color which should better compliment your home design, also the rug shape and size should fit well in the place where you plan to put it.
Budget will play a big factor, since a 5 X 7 rug can start out as low as under $100.00 and go well into the thousands of dollars depending on the type rug it is and so many other variables. Whatever your budget a rug is a great way to add color and pattern to a room.
Types of area rugs:
HAND KNOTTED RUGS:
Hand knotted rugs are by far the best area rug you can buy, depending on the knot count per inch. It is also the hardest category to acquire. It takes many years to learn the different origins and meaning of the symbols used when making a hand knotted area rug. Once you get interested in rugs, it is like getting interested in art. They are true pieces of artwork and they wear like iron! These rugs are meant for wear and tear. They will literally last your lifetime and then be passed down.
If you invest in a hand knotted rug for the first time, you will completely understand the reason why these beautiful rugs cost more than the other alternatives. Because they are handmade, each rug is unique in its own way. It is nice to know that no one else will have the exact same rug as you.
The manufacturing process is made up of woven threads going up and down called the warp and while the threads going side to side are called the weft. They are intertwined together to create a base structure to weave the rug. After one row of knots is finished a mallet is used to condense the pile. This will be repeated time and time again to ensure the pile is as dense as it can be. The tightness of the pile affects the wear ability of the rug. The more knots per inch, the longer it will last and give you years and years of enjoyment.
HAND TUFTED AREA RUGS:
You’ll always know how to distinguish a Hand Tufted area rug because it will have a cloth like muslin backing. A Hand Tufted rug is kind of made like a latch hook. It is punched in with a gun or by hand one tuft at a time. The cost of hand-tufted area rugs is impacted by the type of wool they are using, and how many tufts per inch. The more tufts per inch and the denser the pile the higher the cost. This also impacts the memory the rug will have, meaning it won’t crush the pile, so it will wear longer.
With a Hand Tufted rug, glue is used on the back of the rug to hold the wool pile in place. So you will get some shedding, but how much depends on how dense (tufts per inch) the rug is, and what type of wool has been used. Because the tufting process does not produce the fringe that is more common with hand-woven rugs (where the fringe is the end of the warp strings that run from one end of the rug to the other), separate fringe (usually woven as a tape) is often glued or sewn to the ends of a tufted rug.
The hand tufted area rug will rarely wear as well as the Hand Knotted rug because the wool is almost always a cheaper grade and the glue used tends to be the inexpensive latex glue which becomes brittle and deteriorates over time.
A Hand Tufted rug has resale value equivalent to a machine-made wool rug of the same size. But there are really nice hand-tufted wool rugs out there. You just need to know what questions to ask and what to look for when selecting a hand tufted rug. One way to tell the quality is to run your hand across the pile to test shedding, and remember the softer and the denser the pile is, the better the area rug.
MACHINE MADE AREA RUGS:
When looking at a machine made rug you usually can see the white stitching on the back, and the lines are always perfectly straight, because they are mass produced by a machine.
The fluctuation in pricing for a machine made rug is impacted by the type of wool that is used and its density. The New Zealand wool has long been considered the best wools and will cost a bit more because of their softness and resistance to shedding. A carpet made of New Zealand wool will always have a fen mark on the label. Only carpets that pass more than 20 demanding tests related to fiber content, appearance, retention, color-fastness and appropriate environmental performance carry their name. New Zealand wool creates the most colorful machine-made rugs in the world. New Zealand wool is the whitest, cleanest, purest wool in the world. This in turn will make the colors appear more rich and vibrant in color. Wool carpets and rugs are fire safe, providing beautiful peace of mind.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Thankfullness
Thanksgiving is coming up in just a few weeks. To get everyone in the spirit I would like to share some great quotes about thankfullness and gratitude.
Thanks for reading and enjoy!
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." ~Meister Eckhart
"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." ~Epictetus
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." ~W.T. Purkiser
"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." ~Gerald Good
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them." ~Chinese Proverb
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~ William Arthur Ward
“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” ~ The Hausa of Nigeria
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.” ~ Charles Dickens
Thanks for reading and enjoy!
"If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, 'thank you,' that would suffice." ~Meister Eckhart
"For each new morning with its light,
For rest and shelter of the night,
For health and food, for love and friends,
For everything Thy goodness sends."
~Ralph Waldo Emerson
"He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has." ~Epictetus
"Not what we say about our blessings, but how we use them, is the true measure of our thanksgiving." ~W.T. Purkiser
"If you want to turn your life around, try thankfulness. It will change your life mightily." ~Gerald Good
"As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." ~John Fitzgerald Kennedy
"When eating bamboo sprouts, remember the man who planted them." ~Chinese Proverb
“Let us be grateful to people who make us happy; they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” ~ Marcel Proust
"Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” ~ William Arthur Ward
“Give thanks for a little and you will find a lot.” ~ The Hausa of Nigeria
“If you concentrate on finding whatever is good in every situation, you will discover that your life will suddenly be filled with gratitude, a feeling that nurtures the soul.” ~ Rabbi Harold Kushner
“Reflect upon your present blessings, of which every man has plenty; not on your past misfortunes of which all men have some.” ~ Charles Dickens
Thursday, October 21, 2010
An Introduction to Fabric Shades
A well informed consumer should know that curtains are not the only window treatment available. Another decorative and functional way of dressing up your windows is to add fabric shades. Many types of functional fabric shades can not only block unwanted light, but can help reduce energy bills. Here are some descriptions of the more popular types of fabric shades:
CLOUD SHADES:
Fully functional shade with a gathered heading that falls into soft poufs which can be finished with or without a skirt.
BALLOON SHADES:
Fully functional shade with large inverted pleats for a more tailored look that is softened by billowing poufs.
FLAT ROMAN SHADES:
A versatile shade that hangs straight and falls into folds as it is raised. To add interest to the blind, use contrast bands, a scalloped edge, or a single permanent pleat at the bottom.
FOLDED ROMAN SHADES:
A folded Roman shade is designed with overlapping folds cascading down the full length of the shade.
AUSTRIAN SHADES:
A soft formal treatment created by vertical shirring between scallops. Use heavier fabric for privacy. Sheer or lace fabric for a more decorative look.
Source: Dream Windows, by Charles Randall and Sharon Templeton
CLOUD SHADES:
BALLOON SHADES:
FLAT ROMAN SHADES:
FOLDED ROMAN SHADES:
AUSTRIAN SHADES:
Source: Dream Windows, by Charles Randall and Sharon Templeton
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Garlic Chicken with Angel Hair
I experimented last night and came up with a quick and tasty dish that is also easy on clean up. Here you go:
Garlic Chicken with Angel Hair
6 Chicken Thighs
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
¼ C Flour
2 T Olive Oil
3 Cloves Garlic Minced
1 Bag of Prewashed Baby Spinach Leaves
1 Cup of Chicken Broth
1/3 C Lemon Juice
8 oz of Angel Hair Pasta
Season the chicken thighs with lemon pepper seasoning and dredge in flour. In a large frying pan, brown the chicken on medium high heat on both sides in the olive oil until nice and brown (about 15 minutes). Remove the chicken and set aside. Add the minced garlic and stir fry the spinach with the garlic until slightly wilted. Remove the spinach and set aside.
Reduce heat to low and add the chicken broth scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan to mix with the broth. Add the lemon juice and return the chicken to the pan. Cover the chicken and simmer for 45 minutes or until done. Top each chicken thigh with some of the spinach and heat through for five minutes. Serve over Angel Hair pasta cooked according to the package directions.
Garlic Chicken with Angel Hair
6 Chicken Thighs
Lemon Pepper Seasoning
¼ C Flour
2 T Olive Oil
3 Cloves Garlic Minced
1 Bag of Prewashed Baby Spinach Leaves
1 Cup of Chicken Broth
1/3 C Lemon Juice
8 oz of Angel Hair Pasta
Season the chicken thighs with lemon pepper seasoning and dredge in flour. In a large frying pan, brown the chicken on medium high heat on both sides in the olive oil until nice and brown (about 15 minutes). Remove the chicken and set aside. Add the minced garlic and stir fry the spinach with the garlic until slightly wilted. Remove the spinach and set aside.
Reduce heat to low and add the chicken broth scraping any bits from the bottom of the pan to mix with the broth. Add the lemon juice and return the chicken to the pan. Cover the chicken and simmer for 45 minutes or until done. Top each chicken thigh with some of the spinach and heat through for five minutes. Serve over Angel Hair pasta cooked according to the package directions.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Fettuccine with Sausage and Olives
2 tablespoons olive oil
6 ounces white mushrooms, sliced
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 pound of garlic link sausage, cooked according to package and thinly sliced
12-18 large sweet green Italian olives, pitted and sliced
1 pound fettuccine, cooked until al dente and drained
2 tablespoons butter
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
Salt and pepper
1 tablespoon grated lemon peel
- Heat olive oil in a sauté pan over medium heat. Ass mushrooms and cook until browned.
- Add garlic and stir for 30 seconds.
- Add sausage and olives, and cook, stirring, until well mixed and heated through.
- Combine sausage mixture with cooked pasta. Add butter and parsley.
- Check seasoning, adding salt and pepper if necessary.
- Add grated lemon peel, toss well and serve. Makes 6-8 servings.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Protect Your Home from Damaging UV Rays
Homeowners need to protect their drapes, furnishings, wood floors and carpets from the sun's damaging UV and solar radiation in order to keep their things looking nice and new. One great way to accomplish this is with V-Kool window films. Unlike all other window films, V-Kool is not tinted, but is a clear, almost colorless window film treatment. No other product matches the superior optical clarity, non-reflective aesthetics, and superior heat rejection of V-Kool.
V-Kool is the world’s first clear, spectrally-selective applied film, which transmits more than 70% of daylight while rejecting 99% of ultra-violet, and 94% of infra-red heat. Spectrally-selective films have transparent, metallized coatings designed to transmit, reflect or absorb different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. In the case of V-Kool, it is designed specifically to be light transmitting while rejecting heat without the “mirror” look.
V-Kool was first installed in the U.S. in 1991 and was originally invented as a specialty item for the U.S. government and was applied to the U.S. Military’s Stealth Bombers. Performance data was obtained using a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 9 Spectrophotometer in combination with the “Window 4.0 Fenestration Program” provided by the Windows and Daylighting group at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, the world’s foremost window science group. No other spectrally selective window film has been around half this length of time.
V-Kool technology has been chosen as one of the top 100 inventions of the past millennium by Popular Science Magazine (November 1999). V-KOOL is installed on the White House, the Texas Governor's Mansion and the Headquarters of the American Institute of Architects.
V-Kool cannot be compared to other competitive films because it is proven to be the most technologically advanced spectrally-selective coating in the world. Other films are classified as conventional films, meaning that they are either tinted or reflective films. Tinted films require significantly less sophisticated technology to produce; hence the cost is low.
Instead of looking at the initial cost of V-Kool, you should consider its life cycle cost as well as other intangible benefits. While there is a premium associated with the purchase, V-Kool reduces air conditioning operating cost, reduces fading damage to draperies and furnishings, allows occupants to use floor space near windows even in the direct sunlight because of increased comfort. Productivity and alertness are heightened in such comfort-enhanced environments. It is a long-term cost-effective investment.
Depending on the amount of glass and the orientation of your windows will determine the amount of energy savings. In most cases there is a 3 to 4 year payback period on your utility bills and it normally reduces 33%-50% of energy costs annually. History shows utility rates increase just about every other year, so your lifetime warranty is a sure money saver.
Locally, Stellar Energy Solutions can educate you on how to solve your heat, glare, fading, and utility bill problems with our premium professional films from V-Kool, the CLEAR "UN-TINT" Solar Control Solution. Visit them on the web at: http://www.stellar-nrg.com.
Benefits of Window Film
V-Kool is the world’s first clear, spectrally-selective applied film, which transmits more than 70% of daylight while rejecting 99% of ultra-violet, and 94% of infra-red heat. Spectrally-selective films have transparent, metallized coatings designed to transmit, reflect or absorb different wavelengths of the solar spectrum. In the case of V-Kool, it is designed specifically to be light transmitting while rejecting heat without the “mirror” look.
V-Kool was first installed in the U.S. in 1991 and was originally invented as a specialty item for the U.S. government and was applied to the U.S. Military’s Stealth Bombers. Performance data was obtained using a Perkin-Elmer Lambda 9 Spectrophotometer in combination with the “Window 4.0 Fenestration Program” provided by the Windows and Daylighting group at the Lawrence Berkeley Laboratories, the world’s foremost window science group. No other spectrally selective window film has been around half this length of time.
V-Kool technology has been chosen as one of the top 100 inventions of the past millennium by Popular Science Magazine (November 1999). V-KOOL is installed on the White House, the Texas Governor's Mansion and the Headquarters of the American Institute of Architects.
V-Kool cannot be compared to other competitive films because it is proven to be the most technologically advanced spectrally-selective coating in the world. Other films are classified as conventional films, meaning that they are either tinted or reflective films. Tinted films require significantly less sophisticated technology to produce; hence the cost is low.
Instead of looking at the initial cost of V-Kool, you should consider its life cycle cost as well as other intangible benefits. While there is a premium associated with the purchase, V-Kool reduces air conditioning operating cost, reduces fading damage to draperies and furnishings, allows occupants to use floor space near windows even in the direct sunlight because of increased comfort. Productivity and alertness are heightened in such comfort-enhanced environments. It is a long-term cost-effective investment.
Depending on the amount of glass and the orientation of your windows will determine the amount of energy savings. In most cases there is a 3 to 4 year payback period on your utility bills and it normally reduces 33%-50% of energy costs annually. History shows utility rates increase just about every other year, so your lifetime warranty is a sure money saver.
Locally, Stellar Energy Solutions can educate you on how to solve your heat, glare, fading, and utility bill problems with our premium professional films from V-Kool, the CLEAR "UN-TINT" Solar Control Solution. Visit them on the web at: http://www.stellar-nrg.com.
Benefits of Window Film
- 99% UV Protection
- Protects your furniture, flooring and window treatments
- Reduces Heat Buildup and Eliminates Home Hot Spots
- Lowers Energy Bills and Provides a Return on Investment
- Increases Home Comfort
- Reduces Annoying Glare
- Enhances Your Views
- Adds Value to Your Home
- Provides Additional Safety Against Broken Glass
- Privacy Can Be Provided by Some Films
- Provides Up to a 200 SPF and May Be Medically Prescribed
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Mediterranean Shrimp Scampi
1 ¼ cups uncooked orzo pasta (or rice)
½ package ( 16 ounces ) SeaPak Shrimp Scampi
1 zucchini, chopped
1 14 ounce can quartered artichoke hearts, well drained
¼ cup chopped sun-dried tomatoes
½ teaspoon capers
Juice of 1 lemon ( about 2 tablespoons)
- Cook orzo (or rice) according to package directions
- Heat a 12-inch skillet for 1 minute over medium high heat. Add frozen shrimp and zucchini to the pan and sauté for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Stir in artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, and lemon juice. Continue cooking, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, or until shrimp are fully cooked.
- Server over orzo (or rice). Makes 4 servings.
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