Posted on May 9th, 2008 by LB
How would you like to save money on dry-cleaning and reduce the time you spend ironing? With the click of a mouse, you can start doing it today.
A featured product at the fabulous Absolute Home, the Whirlpool Fabric Freshener will reduce trips to the dry cleaner. It works by relaxing wrinkles and removing odors in clothing. Just hang clothes in the garment bag-style appliance, touch a button, and in 20 minutes, you’ll have dry-cleaner fresh clothing without the travel or the cost.
Freshen up to two garments at one time in the Fabric Freshener, which retails for $200. Cycles include steaming, gentle drying, and cooling. The package includes an eight-foot cord with storage wrap.
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Posted on May 8th, 2008 by LB
May is National Barbecue Month. It’s time to pull out the grill, clean it, and fire it up. Or if you’re shopping for a new grill, you’ve come to the right place for ideas.
According to the Hearth, Patio and Barbecue Association, we bought 17.4 million grills last year. Most of those grills were of the gas variety, but consumers bought charcoal and electric grills, too. Each type of grill has its pros and cons, and which one you choose depends on several factors.
For example, if you’re concerned about the environment, electric and gas grills are cleaner than charcoal grills. If you want to maintain precise control over the heat, a gas grill is a solid choice.
National Barbecue Month is as good a time as any to invest in a new grill. Click over to Absolute Home and shop for grilling accessories. Whether you need new long-handle forks and tongs, aprons, grill covers, food thermometers, or flavored charcoal, Absolute Home has it all.
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Posted on May 7th, 2008 by LB
Mother’s Day is Sunday, May 11. Have you bought her something nice?
There’s a vast universe of products available for mothers who love to cook. If your mother is a fan of TV chef Rachael Ray, surprise her with some of Ray’s high quality kitchen products like a pasta pot, cutlery set, and fabulous food processor.
Does she like stir-fry? A stove top wok will offer her the chance to prepare her own stir-fry meals. When was the last time she bought herself a new set of dinnerware? A 46-Piece Dinnerware Set by Claremont Whiteware ($45) will put a smile on her face. Or choose a gorgeous set of dinnerware by Napoli.
Does Mom like to bake? She could probably use new cake pans or a Bundt cake pan. Go for the gold and buy her a new KitchenAid mixer. This unit is a five-quart stand mixer powerful enough to mix heavy bread dough. The ergonomically designed handle makes this mixer easy to use. The 10-speed mixer, which retails for $300, includes a Wire Whip, Flat Beater, and Dough Hook.
These are only a few ideas to get you started on your Mother’s Day gift-hunting task. Happy shopping!
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Posted on May 1st, 2008 by LB
Featured prominently on the Home Décor category page at Absolute Home are Natura Rugs. These elegant, hand-made rugs are for indoor use. In contemporary and classic styles and multiple colors, these versatile area rugs are made of the finest New Zealand yarn. They even won first place in the Handmade Category of the 2006 Magnificent Carpet Award, sponsored and presented by Architectural Digest during the 2006 International Rug Market in Atlanta.
Shop for Natura brand area rugs and choose from several sizes, ranging from 2′x3′ to 9′x13′. Well-made and well-designed, Natura rugs would add a touch of sophistication to any home.
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Posted on May 1st, 2008 by LB
Ideally, there would be no home invasions. Less ideally but better still, everyone would be able to afford high-tech home alarm systems. But people who can’t afford such systems have options to keep their homes burglar-free.
Door alarms are relatively inexpensive and serve several functions. For example, they can alert homeowners if someone is trying to break in. They can also serve as door and fence guards for parents who want to make sure small children don’t wander outdoors. Caregivers of the elderly would find door alarms beneficial for similar reasons.
While installing durable door bolts on doors is a good idea, door alarms will provide even more protection. The Door Alarm & Door Chime Vibration Sensor to Detect Entry vibrates and emits a chime to alert you when someone has opened a door. The Keypad Controlled Door Alarm sounds a 120-decibel alarm. It has an exit delay of 45 seconds and entry delay of 30 seconds. Users have the option of alarm or chime mode.
If you don’t have the budget to invest in a high-tech security system, consider buying door alarms, designed to give you peace of mind.
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Posted on April 29th, 2008 by LB
According to Consumer Reports (CR), room air conditioners have improved. They’re more energy efficient and affordable. Also referred to as window air conditioners, they are ideal for cooling one room at a time. Some models are made with a quiet-run feature.
What factors should you consider when investing in a room air conditioner? The first step is to figure out how many BTUs you’ll need by measuring the room to get the square footage. According to CR, rooms of 100 to 300 square feet require units with BTUs between 5,000 and 6,000. A room 250 to 550 square feet requires 7,000 to 8,200 BTUs, and a 350 to 900 square feet space requires a room air conditioner with 9,800 to 12,500 BTUs.
Consumers should also consider the direction of a unit’s air flow. You may need air to blow more to the right than left, up or down, and directional flow varies between models. Is the unit energy efficient? To determine this, make sure the air conditioner has been certified by a third-party organization like the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, and look for an Energy Star rating indication.
As always, your budget will determine which room air conditioner you’ll end up buying.
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Posted on April 24th, 2008 by LB
The Boutique section at Absolute Home carries a selection of products, such as American With Disabilities Act-complaint toilets and faucets, Energy Star rated ceiling and ventilation fans, and Michael Graves brand kitchen and bath faucets and lights.
The Boutique section also carries a number cookbooks for all levels, whether amateur or pro, gourmet specialist or newbie. Add New Orleans-style cooking to the dinner menu with the Cook’N Ca’Jun Cookbook, which features 192 pages of recipes and color photographs.
The BGE Cookbook/Manual will help you navigate your new Big Green Egg Grill with set-up instructions, hints, and recipes for owners.
If you adore smoke-grill food or always wanted to try it, get some help from The Art of Smoke Cooking Cookbook, which contains 66 pages of color photos and recipes. Learn easy smoke-cooking techniques and get advice on which smoke cooker to buy.
Browse other helpful guides in the Boutique book section at Absolute Home.
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Posted on April 23rd, 2008 by LB
If you’re a fan of hash browns and mashed potatoes, but don’t like all the work involved (or lumpy mashed potatoes), a Potato Ricer will make the chore easier.
With a Potato Ricer, making smooth mashed potatoes is a snap. Create the perfect hash browns or even spaetzle dumplings, too. The Potato Ricer is also great for making baby food. Most ricers are safe for the dishwasher and feature firm grip handles. Some even have interchangeable blades for more precise mashing and straining.
The Endurance Jumbo Potato Ricer features a comfortable grip and pot rest extensions for easier handling. Kitchen gadgets like Potato Ricers make cooking chores simpler and more efficient.
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Posted on April 22nd, 2008 by LB
Having a tiny backyard and small home improvement budget doesn’t mean you have to skimp on luxury. Create your own backyard paradise even if space and money are limited.
The Boston Globe featured a woman named Kate Bowers who managed to create an oasis of her own in a small backyard, one that offers tranquility and style. She wanted privacy, greenery, a garden, and a place to lounge, all in one space. Bowers added an outdoor table and chairs for eating and working set on a diagonal bluestone. She added a tall fence and bird bath. Surrounding this scene are lush bushes, flowers, and other plants.
Take a look at the story’s photo to see the finished product, then surf over to Absolute Home to purchase products to help make your backyard paradise dream a reality. You’ll find a selection of outdoor furniture suites, benches, and fountains.
Lawn and garden décor products, which include garden bridges, hammocks, and trellises, go a long way toward aiding homeowners in their quest for an oasis. But don’t stop there. Shop for a small grill to complete the backyard living space. The possibilities are endless!
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Posted on April 18th, 2008 by LB
Forget pre-packaged microwave popcorn. There’s nothing quite like the taste of popcorn prepared old-school style in a skillet or popcorn popper.
Back in the day, most people made popcorn on the stovetop in a skillet dashed with oil. Some still prefer popcorn prepared this way, but there’s a more convenient way to make it.
Popcorn makers, like any other appliance, come in different sizes and price ranges. The Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper by West Bend is a family-sized electric popper that features a motorized stirring rod. As with other electric poppers, the top doubles as a serving bowl. With a built-in butter well and non-stick surface, the Stir Crazy Popcorn Popper is a great alternative to microwave popping.
The Orville Redenbacher Popcorn Popper makes the tasty snack with hot air for healthier popping. It makes up to 18 cups of popcorn in 2 ½ minutes or less, 40 percent faster than other air poppers.
Even if you don’t like pre-packaged microwave popcorn, you can still prepare this treat in a microwave oven. For instance, the Powerpop Popcorn Popper makes popcorn old-school style but with the convenience of a microwave instead of a stovetop.
If you simply can’t live without popcorn on your next camping trip, take along a Popcorn Popper by Camp Chef. Fill the popper with popcorn and hold it over the campfire. Shake as the corn pops, and serve fluffy and hot.
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