Category: HOME

Short and sweet!

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOMELeave a comment
Image: BrevilleUSA.com

Ohhh is this sweet or what? I don’t have this, but it’s on my list for one day… It’s compact but apparently does well baking just about anything, which is just right for one or two people. Especially if you have a gas stove, it’s summertime and the sun is shining through the windows *sweat*, *sweat*… this may be the answer to cold salads every day for dinner!?? It got excellent reviews, I am looking forward to seeing one in person!

Are you looking for an oven that can toast, bake and keep your kitchen cool without sucking up ridiculous amounts of gas/electricity to bake a small amount? If so, you may want to check this bugger out??
If you get a chance, visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com  – catch you back here tomorrow!

Carries a heavy load with a smile?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image: LLBean.com

 A smile? OK, that may be a stretch, but the LL Bean Boat and Tote bag is an essential bag to have around the house. It performs a myriad of duties and all while looking it’s best! You can have the bag monogrammed with initials, name, company name, etc. stitched onto it. They come in a variety of sizes. I use mine mainly for groceries (especially milk and heavy stuff because the handles are comfortable), and if we take a trip I have those puppies packed full of stuff. They simply cannot be beat. They come in many different colors and I see on the LL BEAN website that you can even create a custom bag all with the colors you select! Kind of like Nike does with the shoes…

If you’re looking for a tote that can’t be beat check it out! Catch you back here tomorrow!

I am too comfortable to move…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image: Ekornes.com

Have you ever been too comfortable to move? Ha… This chair will make you so comfortable it’s actually difficult to move! Talk about relaxing. Everything hits you in just the right way, it reclines enough to make it heaven on earth! It’s a wonderful combination of leather and wood that will make your heart swoon (ok, so I’m dramatic… truly, is this the first time you realized that? ha ha). If you’ve never sat in an Ekornes Stressless chair I highly recommend it UNLESS you’re a couch potato trying to change your ways… We walk… alot… but at night when I hit this chair I’m out… Our walls are a deep milk chocolate brown so this leather looks beautiful as a contrast. Many furniture stores carry Ekornes, check it out sometime! The chair pictured is our model, the ROYAL, it comes in Medium and Large. We decided on the Large because Charlie (dog) likes to sit in it with me. Lucky me!

Catch you back here tomorrow!

If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Sleek and compact with a very impressive voice!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image: Bose.com

Have you had a chance to listen to a Bose radio? It’s impressive. How can that much sound come out of such a small body? Incredible! Instead of having speakers and wires (we are becoming a society obsessed with getting rid of wires, ha ha… I agree wholeheartedly!) you have a compact sounds system that you would think would be coming out of a large system.

The Bose system we have is many years old and still plays like a charm! So if you’re in the market for a new radio/CD player/alarm… take a look at it! Nice thing they do is they divide the payments on your regular credit card (at 0% interest!!). You don’t have to get a special card to take advantage of the offer… check it out… www.bose.com!

Catch you back here tomorrow!!

Totally hip. Awesome. GORGEOUS AND it comes with GREAT customer service!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image: ElkayUSA.com

Was I right? Isn’t this the most beautiful kitchen faucet you’ve ever seen? We’ve had it for years and I. LOVE. IT! Recently we’ve been having some problems with the lack of pressure coming out of our kitchen faucet. Our water company is flushing the lines and there is no way to get the sediment out of the faucet head. We called customer service and spoke to the nicest, most knowledgeable woman (Thank you Deborah!). Case closed. Problem solved. You don’t mind spending money on something so beautiful when you know that there is a company behind it that backs it up. It’s not just a pretty face folks… hee hee. This company stands behind their products and they want to be sure it works well for you.

If you’re in the market for a kitchen faucet, I highly recommend ELKAY, their faucets are beautiful… so are their sinks for that matter. We have a large stainless sink  that is perfect for large pans, etc. This faucet is the LK7420.

With all the options out there, it’s nice to find something modern that works well, great design AND backed up with great customer service!

Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com – catch you back here tomorrow!

One thing you don’t want to live without…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments
Image: lecreuset.com

If you’re like me and you like to cook… a good pan is essential. One that has worked for me for years and years is my Le Creuset French Oven. I have the 7.5 qt and that puppy is heavy, but that’s why everything that is cooked in it does so well. It’s great for big pots of soup, stews, just about anything… I’ve used it over and over and over, and I think it has now bit the dust. Partly my fault (boo hoo) I guess… The finish started to come off the bottom mostly, or so I thought… I took it to a local kitchen store, where they told me to clean it with Bar Keeper’s friend, and it would be good as new. They also told me it was OK to use regular stainless spoons, etc. I started scrubbing, the thought disgusted me that this was hardened cooked on food stuck to the bottom of my pot. UGH. I scrubbed and scrubbed and it started to come off… OHMYGOSH, like a new pot… then I started up the sides where it was about an inch high of the same and then I stopped dead in my tracks. This isn’t hardened food, this is THE FINISH. Oh, boo… the pot is no longer non-stickish… it’s super stick’ish. So I’ll save for another one day. For now I’ll wish I would have visited the LeCresuet website sooner!

With that being said, I highly recommend this pot. You see all the chef’s use it, it’s quality stuff! Just don’t use Bar Keeper’s Friend or any other product that can scratch the surface INCLUDING stainless spoons… use wooden, ugh.

If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Who gets so excited about something like this?

On By Barbara StroudIn HOMELeave a comment
Image via Rubbermaid.com

Who gets so excited about a container to put flour and sugar in? ME, that’s who. My last set broke. Who has canisters break? Ugh. I’ve had it since September… it’s GORGEOUS lucite that is a site to behold… but, the latch broke, then the seal broke all within six months… *SIGH* so I’ve been on a quest for something to replace it. Up until yesterday…

I. FOUND. NOTHING.

I was bopping down the grocery store aisle when low and behold I saw this 16 cup container, rectangular and rather slim, whoa… this will give me ROOM in the cupboard. LUCKY. ME.

I got home, washed and dried it, opened a new bag of flour and tossed it in… and guess what… it fit… PERFECTLY! So if by some small chance you need a canister (I didn’t buy a set, just bought one, but went back today for another, my lucite sugar canister latch is on it’s way out as well!), go get yourself a Rubbermaid Modular Canister…  Mine is a 16 cup. They recommend a 21 cup for flour, but 16 works perfectly.

If you get a chance, check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

Happy Friday to y’all! Catch you back here tomorrow…

One sexy saucer…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Image: dwr.com

And you thought a saucer couldn’t be sexy? Ha. Look at the lines of this Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp. It’s a beauty. We’ve had one for years now, and it’s been moved from dining room, to dining room (ok, so we have a furniture moving around problem… ) and now it happily resides in the kitchen. Where it makes a nice quiet statement. It says… WE. AREN’T. OLD. YET.

I love lighting that makes a statement. This says hip but not crazy, a little funky and “with it” which is so nice paired with antique pine, traditional rugs, etc. A little of the unexpected amongst traditional (expected) is always a treat to the eye.
My opinion.
Happy Monday everyone… I’ll see you back here tomorrow…
Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com !

A big bold nice and not expensive wine…

On By Barbara StroudIn FOOD, HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
mcmanisfamilyvineyards.com

We were in Rockland, Maine at a neat little wine shop (future post). We asked for a nice Syrah that wasn’t too pricey and they suggested McManis Petite Syrah. Whew… it quickly became a favorite… very tasty, not in the under $10 category which is nice for everyday, well, the one glass a day, you know, for medicinal reasons… wish it was more than one glass though, hee hee… Fast forward to a few weekends ago, we went to Total Wine hoping to find this a tad cheaper, they don’t carry the Petite Syrah, but they did have Syrah… well, I’ll try it! And… YIPEE, it’s great, and it’s in the under $10 category. You could tell me it is an expensive bottle of wine and I would never know the difference. So if you like bold wines (at least in my book it’s bold) give this one a shot!

From the McManis Family Vineyard website:
 2008 Syrah
“Do not overlook this incredibly reliable and tasty Syrah as a great choice for everyday drinking. It is ripe and open, about mid-size in depth and full enough on the palate to let you know that you have a wine of reasonable substance in your mouth, and it will comfortably hold its own with burgers and other savory picnic fare when a wine that will go down in a gulp is in order.”   86 Points Good Value
Connoisseurs Guide to California Wine March 2010

Remember to visit my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com ! Until tomorrow…

Neat little shop in Charleston…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS4 Comments
Image: http://southofmarket.biz/

What a beautiful weekend in Charleston, SC! WOW! We got out and went to a few shops. Fred noticed that South of Market, a neat little shop in Charleston, SC had those wonderful cotton canvas throws that we love so much… ON SALE! This is a neat shop, but you really need to pack the plastic… it’s not cheap, and I can’t remember there being many sales, but woohoo… we bought a red throw ON SALE!  (I know, not a color we EVER would have picked, but this is a GORGEOUS washed red. It looks like an old favorite throw that you’ve had for years and perhaps left in the sunroom part of the time. I LOVE WASHED RED… ) .

This photo is from their website http://southofmarket.biz/ … this is a great room, I love all those windows! So if you’re in the neighborhood, pop in to South of Market on King Street downtown, and while you’re there pop into the Sylvan Gallery which is also right there… GREAT GALLERY!

Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com Until tomorrow…

Swans Island Blankets – simply stunning!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME2 Comments
Image: SwansIslandblankets.com

One of the most beautiful blankets you can buy is from Swans Island Blankets located in Northport, Maine. If you’re ever in the area, STOP BY, you can watch them weave blankets and they have a sample blanket of each and every style, along with an assortment of other things such as throws, scarves and more recently, their own yarn! We splurged several years ago and bought a rare wool blanket like the one pictured here. What’s so rare about it you ask? Here’s a blip from the Swans Island website:

Swans Island Rare Wool blankets are made from naturally occurring brown and black sheep. These sheep aren’t common, and after three or four years, their fleeces tend to go grey, so we are only able to weave a limited number of rare brown and black wool blankets each year.

It will be around for generations! It’s absolutely a work of art, no doubt about it!

Check out my Photo Blog if you get a chance, http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com – until tomorrow!

Whoa, a thing of beauty… an apple or…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTS2 Comments
Image: apple.com

Whoa, a thing of beauty, eh? So many decisions to be made… Mac or Dell? Desktop or laptop? Ok, I’m waiting to hear from those of you out there who have experienced both… which do you prefer? We have had a Dell for a very long time, like forever. I love Dell… my curiosity has gotten the best of me and I, like half of America has been pulled into the great marketing and awesome looks of the Apple products. When we get a computer we like to get one that lasts. Good question for y’all: Does a laptop last as long as a desktop? Or not usually? Other than the convenience factor of a laptop, what are the pluses? Minuses? I’m thinking it would do my brain good to learn something entirely new… I’ve got the iPad mastered, so maybe it wouldn’t be such a stretch to get an Apple computer? I have always had a desktop, I’m comfortable with them, they aren’t portable (are they? ha ha) . I’m like a sponge just wanting to absorb some information, so if you have it… and you have a moment, please share your thoughts!

Check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com if you get a chance! Until tomorrow…

Classy lighting… Circa…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment
Image via circa.com

One thing that can make or break a room is good lighting… Just my opinion. If you have nothing but bright light it gives the room a cold sterile feeling, if all the lighting is dim, it looks pretty at night but its difficult to see. All overhead lighting isn’t my thing, but if the light is on a dimmer it can work. We don’t have a huge house. We don’t have a table near every chair. We have lots of places to sit, but you can’t see well enough to read, knit, etc. in every seat. We think we’ve found a solution… Remember (well, maybe you don’t but I DO), those tension floor lamps that went to the ceiling, with lights hanging off of it? You could turn on one or all one, I think back in the 1960’s (wow, sounds like I came over on the Mayflower, doesn’t it?) ours had three lights. They’ve made a comeback (or perhaps they never left?), in a new sleek style. This image is of the ZIYI TENSION POLE LAMP. We are fortunate to have a Circa Lighting in Charleston! We can walk in and touch and feel and actually SEE what the lighting looks like and whether or not it would work at our house. This is on our list one day. Not sure where we would put it, so far we have many possibilities…

If you ever get a chance to check out Circa Lighting, do so! We always deal with Matthew and he is a pleasure! It’s so nice to talk to people so knowledgable about what they sell!
Their website is a good one! Go to www.circalighting.com to view all their lighting, they ship for FREE! You can’t beat that with a stick!
Don’t forget to check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com – until tomorrow!

Jump in a puddle, go ahead, you know you want to!

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

It’s raining, it’s pouring, the old man is… JUMPING IN PUDDLES! Long ago when my husband used to show horses I had a pair of LL Bean boots, they were the best, you could walk through anything, and at horse shows you did precisely that! From the stable to the puddles your feet were safe and dry. Today it’s raining, it’s pouring at times, yet I could don these LL Bean Rubber Mocs and go skipping through puddles with no worries (which is exactly what you want to do when you have these shoes on, well, maybe not the skipping part, but…). You can get these in a variety of colors and shapes, from tall boots to shoes, from plain ones like I have to the shearling lined for winter, they’re the ticket! If you’re in the market for a good pair of rain boots/shoes that will keep your feet nice and dry, and are comfortable to boot (hee hee, pun intended), check them out! LL Bean!
 
Hey, I think I’m taking the weekend off… If I run into a spare few minutes I’ll pop on a post, otherwise check back on Monday… Until then…
Remember to check out my photo blog at http://almostdailypic.wordpress.com! Have a great FRIDAY!
 
Images via www.llbean.com

A walk to remember…

On By Barbara StroudIn HOME, THOUGHTSLeave a comment

Move more – Eat less… it’s what the experts say we should all be doing… Well, we’ve been really good about moving more, that’s for sure (we could probably eat a little less, but…). Charlie (our Jack Russell) is instrumental in our fitness regimen… if we don’t get him walked at the bare minimum of four miles he’s wound up tighter than a tick (ick, what does that mean?)… Here are a few pictures from our walk today. We live near the West Ashley Greenway, it’s a great path that goes many miles out… Today we ventured out 2 miles and back 2 miles with a quick reward stop at Petco for Charlie… He loves to shop… then as we headed back down the greenway we detoured at Dolittles (another pet store with cool toys and treats) and then headed home. Hope you’re able to get out this weekend. It’s so nice this week, I’m looking at my Brookstone “weather station” and it’s shows 75 for Wednesday… holy cow, can you imagine August? Eek… for now, the nights are still cool, YAY!!! So a fire in the fireplace is what we look forward to! Have a great weekend… until tomorrow…