Canux : Home Sweet Home

Archive for November, 2010

Sometimes it just seems like too much trouble to go into the kitchen to get a drink or a snack, so it is nice to be able to keep these in various locations around the house. This is where a frost free compact refrigerator would come in handy. These are also great for dorm rooms or if you have a small office. The most compact refrigerators require manual defrosting and are a bit cheaper, but it is nice to have something slightly larger (though still compact) that is easier to care for.

One of the smallest sizes of frost free compact refrigerators is the Frigidaire

Hurricane Season is just around the corner, Tornado Season is already here, we have seen the spring flooding in the Midwest, and the ice storms and blizzards of this past winter are quickly becoming a memory. In the event of a weather-related emergency, are you prepared? Could you live without convenient access to food, water, electricity, gasoline, and other necessities for a few days?

Regardless of where you live, what type of weather you have, or how populated your local area happens to be, the time can, and most likely will, come when you are without basic services. Contrary to popular belief, it is not nearly as easy as you may think to manage for a couple of days, or even a week or more, without a certain amount of advance preparation.

While there are some excellent “survival kits” available at many online (and offline) retail outlets, there are also several other preparations you should make in order to survive both safely and comfortably:

Do you have an emergency cash fund? Is it safely tucked away, yet where you can access it quickly should the need arise? In a world where most of us don’t even carry cash anymore, having an emergency stash of actual cash (in smaller bills) somewhere in your home may seem unnecessary, however, in the event that your local area is without power for any length of time, this emergency cash will be your only way to purchase any type of goods or services. Without power, there will be no way to access credit card processors, financial institutions, or your local ATM machine, and while your local grocery or gas station may have a generator, and reopen fairly quickly, cash will most likely be the only form of payment that is accepted until full power is restored.

Do you know where to turn off the electricity, the water, the gas, etc. for your home or apartment? If not, you should immediately locate and learn to operate any and all shutoffs for your dwelling. In any type of weather-related (or other) emergency, you may find that a pipe bursts, and you need to shut off the water, or you have an electrical short and need to shut down the circuit, or worse. Knowing where these shutoff valves and boxes are located and how to operate them can mean the difference between minimalizing damage and losing your entire home.

How much gasoline is in your car? Do you regularly run on fumes? If so, you may not be able to leave your immediate area, should the need arise. In the event of a power failure, many gas stations will be closed, or even if open, there will be either long lines or shortages will occur quickly, as others who also have empty tanks are trying to fill up their vehicles. Even though it requires a bit more attention on your part, it is far better to keep at least a half a tank of gas in your vehicle all the time, than to not have any at a time when you really need it.

How much bottled water do you have on hand? How many canned goods are in your pantry? Even with your survival kit, you should always have at least a case or two of bottled water, and a few days worth of food stored in your home, more if there are several people in your family. Especially during weather related emergencies, when basic utility service is disrupted, having ample food and water on hand is absolutely vital to your survival.

Do you take prescription medicines that are vital to your survival? And, if so, do you refill a week in advance or wait until the final day’s dosage until you make a trip to your local pharmacy? What would happen if your pharmacy was closed for a few days, and you had no way to get those medications? If your answer to that question means serious illness or even death, then you need to rethink your prescription refilling habits, and have that week’s worth of pills on hand at all times.

While there are literally dozens of things that every individual, every family, needs to consider in the event of an emergency, these are five of the most basic needs that you will encounter during a short or long term disruption of services, and you should be prepared for these five regardless of the season, the locale, or living arrangements. Emergencies can and do happen every day, and unless you have made some provisions for dealing with those emergencies, you may quickly find yourself in the dark, out in the cold, or worse.

Are you looking for exclusive and reliable automotive cooling fans? If you would like to avail the best of automotive cooling fans then SPAL fans are the way to go.

SPAL is an established company and is considered as a worldwide leader in the world of automobile cooling products. SPAL is well known for all types SPAL cooling fans and accessories and supplies quality products to meet today’s rigorous cooling requirements. Founded in 1959, today SPAL is considered as one of the most respectable companies on the web for your requirements on high performance cooling fans.

If you’re looking to assemble the perfect bedroom or only update one thing, you’re in luck because there are hundreds of things you can do. Not only will finding the right furniture be fun, you will get a chance to be creative and explore yourself.

Who will primarily be using the room? If it’s kids, you can go with a standard twin size of full bed, or if you have a couple children, consider a bunk bed. You can either buy them, or get plans to build your own. Canopy beds are usually popular with girls. Then, when they get older and go to college, they will love the idea of a lofted or captains style bed, especially for the extra storage it allows. A bookcase, desk, and futon can fit underneath.

For adults, the choices on beds are more varied. You can get queen, King, and California king sizes along with a slew of different frames made from different materials. You can get an oak sleigh frame with a leather padded headboard, for example, other options are cherry, pine, or maple wood with an upholstered tufted headboard. You could even go for a more classic look and get a black or white iron frame. These types are quite common on daybeds. Don’t forget memory foam mattress to go along with this.

Beyond that, think about what you’re want to do with the nightstand and dresser. If you want a very modern, contemporary look, you could try to find unfinished furniture. This is the kind that has knicks or bad paint spots in it. You can also mix and match different pieces for a very unique look. Obviously, you have the same kinds of materials to choose from as you did with the bed frame, and if you get a set you won’t have to worry about matching. However, you could try to get all different pieces and match them separately as well.

After reviewing the best Down Feather Pillows, those of you who demand comfort and relaxation from your pillow should consider the Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company.

When researching the down feather pillow products offered by The Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company, the first item which caught our attention is the The Double Down Around Pillow. The Double Down Around Pillow comes in three sizes. The “Standard” size measures out at 20″ x 26″, he “Queen” size measures out at 20″ x 30″and the “King” size measures out at 20″ x “36″. According to the Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company, the Double Down Around Pillow is it’s best selling Pillow design.

The Double Down Around Pillow is unique as it is actually a Pillow inside of a Pillow. The outer Pillow is rather fluffy which provides a “cradle” effect. This outer layer consists of double the amount of down which allows you the ultimate in comfort. The inner pillow is comprised of small feathers which provide an exacting amount of support, guaranteeing you an unparalleled level of relaxation.

Because of the high quality materials and craftsmanship used in the manufacturing process, the Double Down Around Pillow has become the Pillow Of Choice for premier hotels and resorts worldwide.

Hoteliers such as Marriot, Ritz Carlton, Hilton and Hyatt feature Pacific Coast Feather Pillow products in their guest rooms, allowing travelers the very best bedding experience. In fact, Pacific Coast Pillows can be found in over 500,000 guest rooms across the nation, creating a unique sleeping experience.

The Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company is the leading supplier of premium Down Pillows, proudly made in America of imported materials. If you are in the market for the ultimate Down Pillow, this reviewer highly recommends that you consider the Double Down Around Pillow offered by The Pacific Pillow Company.

The Double Down Around Pillow comes with an excellent guarantee for your piece of mind. Because The Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company strives for 100% customer satisfaction, they will allow you to try their exclusive Down Pillow for thirty nights. If you feel that the Down Pillow does not meet with your complete satisfaction, you can return it for a full product refund (less shipping and handling).

If you are in the market for the ultimate Down Pillow, this reviewer highly recommends that you consider the Double Down Around Pillow offered by The Pacific Coast Feather Pillow Company. You will sleep better for it! Until next time, sleep well!

A crazy quilt is a quilt that is made from scraps of fabric. The scraps come from different types and colours of left over fabrics from old clothing or other sewing projects. Usually there is no pattern or design to the quilt, giving it a very abstract look. A wide variety of stitches are used, which also contributes to the abstract look. The scraps are sewn onto a larger single piece of fabric, which will form the backing of the quilt. Unlike most other quilts, crazy quilts usually don’t have any batting in the middle.

To start making your crazy quilt, first select some muslin fabric, which will be used for the backing. The muslin will be cut into blocks of the same size. The blocks can be any size you wish, such as 12 inches by 12 inches, or larger. Complete one block at a time, until you have finished as many blocks as you need to form a quilt that will be the size you desire. Once all the blocks have been completed, you will attach them together to form the finished quilt.

Next, gather all your left over scraps of fabric together. Sort the fabric scraps into three separate piles or containers by size – small, medium and large. Smaller scraps are best suited for smaller pieces, such as pillow cases, or to be used as embellishments. Larger scraps are preferable for large quilts.

Since we are making a large quilt, bring the container with the large scraps close to you. Choose the pieces at random to attach to the muslin fabric, using the “sew and flip” method. Begin by choosing the first scrap and place it right side up anywhere on the muslin. Next, select a second fabric scrap and place it over top of the first scrap, wrong side up, so that at least one edge lines up.

Now either hand or machine sew along the edge and through all three pieces of fabric, so that they will be attached together. Then flip the top piece over, so that it is right side facing up. Select a third piece of scrap fabric. Again, place it wrong side up over one of the other scraps so that the edges line up. Sew it in place and then flip it over. Repeat this process of selecting one scrap of fabric at a time, sewing it in place and flipping the top piece over.

Once the block has been covered with scraps of fabric, it is time to have some fun by adding embroidery to the quilt. Go over each seam in the quilt and place a fancy embroidery stitch over the seam. Each seam can have a different stitch, so this is the time to learn and practice new stitches. Some common stitches that you can use are the chain stitch, the feather stitch, fern, herringbone, the chevron stitch and many more. As well, feel free to change the colour of the thread every time you do a different stitch. Don’t worry about being perfect, that’s part of the charm of a crazy quilt.

Now that you have finished your blocks, it is time to attach them together. Line them up and arrange them in an order that you find pleasing to the eye. Sew the blocks together, one row at a time. Once you have finished two rows, you can sew them together. Once you have sewn all the blocks together, the front of the quilt is finished.

The last step is to sew the front to the back. The back can be a single piece of fabric, or several large pieces sewn together, depending on the size of the finished quilt. You don’t need to add batting to a crazy quilt. To attach the front and back, simply baste the edges together before permanently binding them. Once you have finished binding, simply remove any excess threads and you are done.

Take a step back and admire your work. Show if off with pride and remember to congratulate yourself on a job well done!