As soon as the sun shines again and the air warms up, we want to take advantage of the beautiful days of spring outside, in the backyard, closer to nature. To create a friendly atmosphere, to make the backyard a place where we feel good we like to fix it like we do any other place in the house. The patio becomes for many of us just another room, an extension of the house.

If you are in the process of setting up your patio you will find countless sites online that will offer all the necessary parts to make it a reality. Outdoor floor coverings, beautiful patio flower boxes, patio furniture designed to stand up to the weather and adapted for your conditions as well as conceived to meet all your individual needs.

If the patio was for many years a second thought in terms of comfortable and elegant furniture, things have changed. Today we no longer look at what old furniture we can stick outside, we have become demanding and want our outdoor furniture to be good looking, comfortable and long lasting. We demand value! From now patio furniture designers will have to provide us with tables, chairs, lounge chairs and others pieces that can adapt to the demands of their usage without sacrificing elegance and beauty. Aluminum, teak, colored wicker, are all elements that we find in today’s gardens. The forms are changing too, they are getting softer, colors can be bold or pastels… always modern and pleasant, with a wide array of choices to satisfy every need.

In the last few years new technologies have been developed to treat wood, to create man-made materials that will last longer and keep their original beauty, to weatherproof umbrellas and to light our summer nights. All these new improvement are evident in the large number of patio furniture being sold everywhere.

If you want to feel pride and display your good taste on your decks and patios it has never been easier. Choose good quality patio furniture that will resist the weather, and will show your personality. Enjoy your summer days in a garden where life is easy and friendships bloom.

Wrought Iron Patio Furniture An Old Time Favorite

The Vitamix® is truly a green machine.

Now that we are experiencing a very hot summer my Vitamix® is working overtime making smoothies and other frozen goodies.

I have had mine for about three years, but I must admit that I wanted one for a very loooooooooong time. I am here to tell you I really LOVE it, and so does my family. So here it is…

If you have never heard of the brand you are in for a treat as I review this fantastic machine for you. It is a “blender”… Well not like any other blenders. It is extremely powerful, and it crushes, grinds, mills, liquefies, (without oxidation as it does not heat), fruit, vegetables (even broccoli) nuts and more.

It is better than a juicer, because all the fiber and nutrition remains. The fiber is so pulverized that drinking the juices with a straw is not impeded.

You have to see it to believe how fantastic it is. You can easily make smoothies, slushes, daiquiris even soup (hot or cold)…! In an upcoming homemade video you will see children (starring my grand-child and her friends) making wonderful drinks without any adult help.

For now with the hot summer we are totally into smoothies… The kids love to come over and make their own, surprisingly all of a sudden they even swallow vegetables without a fuss.

As for me since I have been using the Vitamix® I no longer feel those mid-afternoon slumps. Not only that but, with all these healthy recipes, I have lost a few pounds it does prove that eating more fiber does help in weight reduction.

Here are some tips to make the most of your Vitamix® if you have one. If you don’t yet have one I am sure that should you buy one you will consider it the best investment you ever made for your kitchen and for your well being. You can even enjoy a Vitamix for 30 days at no risks.

Click here for details

First for the technical among you, here are some specs that will please the most demanding in quality.

What’s behind the power of a Vitamix®?

• A 2 horsepower variable speed motor that work in synergy with stainless steel blades to free nutrients from fruit and vegetables.

• A variable speed that can activate the blades from 11 m.p.h. to 240 m.p.h. In addition an electronic feedback-type regulates motor speed and torque for a smooth operation regardless of speed.

• The container is built of unbreakable BPA free Eastman Tritan copolyester. The base is sturdy and virtually indestructible, it will never crack or discolor.

• A patented Vitamix®  tamper is supplied to push food into the blades without risks of jamming or damage. It is ideal for making peanut butter, or ice cream. The tamper allows you to handle foods that you could never process in a blender.
• Maximum safety is assured with a 2 part lid that allows you to add ingredients while the Vitamix® motor is on.

• Lastly the company is so sure of its quality that you get a full 7 years warranty.

Tips to get the most of your Vitamix®

• Keep your Vitamix® on the counter. It is practical and in a few minutes you can enjoy a smoothie, a soup or even fresh peanut butter. You don’t have to spend a lot of time to make a nutritional meal that you can eat on the spot or take to work with you.

• When you puree fruits or vegetables with a Vitamix® the particles are divided and easier to assimilate. This is important as many people (specially older people and children) don’t chew sufficiently and have digestion problems.

• With the Vitamix® you can make raw food meals that are as delicious as they are nutritional. Everyone loves soups and smoothies, and you will have no difficulties introducing this type of dishes in your children or your family meals.

• This machine is ideal for families with children. Pureed fruit and vegetables are excellent baby food, and what you will make will far surpass anything you can buy.

• You should keep the mixing time to the minimum. When you puree foods, the particles are mixed with oxygen. This process create oxidation, which means that each particle is exposed to oxygen. Oxidation can reduce the nutritive aspect of foods. Learn to use your Vitamix® to unleash the maximum benefit from your food. Start at the lowest possible speed while adding ingredients, increase the variable speed, then use the turbo speed for a few second only. Come back to the minimum speed before turning off the machine. Reducing speed before turning it off will also insure that you have no unexpected surprises the next time you use it.

• Clean your Vitamix® as soon as you are done. The Vitamix® is extremely easy to clean. All you need to do is to pour a little water, a couple of drops of detergent and turn it on for 15 seconds. Then rinse and it is clean and ready for the next smoothie. If you wait, food will dry and it will be a big pain to clean, then you will think that it is too much of a hassle… The key is to do it right away, not in 5 or 10 minutes but as soon as you are done! Here is a quick video of my grandchild cleaning the Vitamix 5200.

• Try as many combinations as you can. Play with the flavors and discover what you really enjoy. In the following weeks I will add my favorites recipes. Sign up for email updates to get them all. But be your own creative soul and test the infinite possibilities.

•  Take your time to drink your soup or smoothie, remember that it is a meal not a simple drink. By consuming it slowly you give time to your body to better assimilate the nutrients.

I am very proud to have joined the Vitamix network of affiliates and users, and to show my appreciation I can offer a free shipping coupon code. Whether you order on line or by phone 440-782- 2303 (800-848-2649 Ext 2303) Please use this code  06-006512 to receive this free shipping. You can learn more about the virtues of the Vitamix on the official site.

Alessi Products have been around a long time. The business was created by Giovanni Alessi in 1921, and at the time he would go to the popular expositions to offer his work in copper, nickel and other materials.

The Alessi products of the 20’s were already innovative, but it is not until 1929 that Alessi specialized in table arts. In 1935 Carlo Alessi son of Giovanni took over the reins of the company. This is when there was a separation with the previous emphasis and Alessi products embark on artisanal industrial production.

The famous coffee and tea set is created in 1945 by Carlo Alessi. That is also the year that the younger brother Ettore joins the company.

Today Alberto Alessi runs the company and works with renown artists, designers and architects from around the world, to produce a product line that is original, modern and sometimes a little vintage.

In 2006 Alessi started a new way to promote its products, a 3 tier marketing:

• A di Alessi - this is a range of Alessi products that are affordable for the average consumer, and are widely available.
• Alessi - the primary collection
• Officina Alessi - experimental, prototypes and limited edition products.

Today’s collection of Alessi products is very extensive and everyone can find something to enhance the table, the kitchen, the bar or the bathroom. If you are an avid collector you will enjoy the exclusive products, and if you simply enjoy beautiful design you will not be disappointed. Furthermore the products are all of excellent quality and make excellent gifts.

Twelve of the Alessi products are exposed in the Museum of Modern Art.

Here are a few of my favorite Alessi realizations, however if you want more information about individual products you will be able to find articles one this site that look at them in more details.

Click on products on the image for information on specific objects.

A bedroom must be conducive to rest, and the many different shades of blue are considered calming colors for bedrooms.

A little history about blue

The color blue has been used ever since the antiquity as it was associated to the sky and the Gods. In the middle ages it was still a very difficult color to obtain, so it was reserved for the elite and royalty. Today blue is one of the favorite colors in the western world. In home decor it was often regarded as a rather cold (even sad) ambiance, and for this reason was hidden in bedrooms and bathrooms.

The fact is that today we have many ways to dress up blue, and blue paint colors for bedrooms don’t have to even hint of sadness. Blue can be complemented by many types of fabrics and furniture and is really a color made for a relaxing bedroom. You can paint the walls a sky blue to make the room look larger then add several different blues to spark it up: linens, pillows, curtains… One thing I can say is certain, blue in a bedroom will never disappoint you.

Different ambiences can be accomplished using blue. In one example above there is a small amount of blue not in the paint but in the curtains. In this case blue serves to tone down the very dynamic motif of the orange wallpaper. Both colors are united with white bedroom furniture and white bed linens.

For a trendy look you might use a deep blue, like midnight blue or sapphire blue. Other intense blues include cobalt blue, prussian blue… The different blues available will provide a nice palette to match the other decorative element of the room.

For a softer, calmer atmosphere light blue, a soft tone that you can harmonize with other colors like grey for example. possible blues would be pastel blue, slate blue, steel blue…

You can give a tropical ambiance to your bedroom, with tones of blue and turquoise, enhanced by a darker blue if you dare. For this look at cyan, turquoise, sea blue…

Blue when complemented with strong vivid colors can provide a backdrop for a Bohemian style that is dynamic and contemporary.

Remember that any one color that you choose is not enough to create an ambiance, and you must harmonize the other colors in the room. Sometimes when a room does not quite "feel right" it just needs a few accessories in the right colors.

Finally blue and white needs not be boring, play with textures and the diversity of motifs to create visual impact and contrast.

The images of blue bedrooms in the gallery will inspire you to create your own. Whether you use fabrics or blue paint colors, for a bedroom that is relaxing and also reflect your personality.