Numerous research studies have shown that being in nature and looking at nature decreases stress, elevates mood, lowers blood pressure, and generally has a positive effect on human beings. That being said, it’s too bad that most of us live and work in homes and offices far removed from the outdoor experience. It is possible to change that, though.
How to Bring the Outside In
Decorate your home and office with products made from natural materials: wood, glass, water, or other plant materials.
Grow indoor plants in stylish containers. They’ll help clean the air, and add a bit of green to your daily activities.
Incorporate objects that represent something from the world around us—bird motifs, leaf motifs, flowers, and more.
Always keep cut flowers or branches on your desk or dining room table. An artfully angled branch can be just as beautiful as the most elegantly arranged bouquet.
Use earth and jewel tones for paints, fabrics and other accents. These color tones are more prevalent in nature than primary colors.
Take walks in your neighborhood or local park, and photograph the change of the seasons. Make a calendar or frame a piece of artwork to bring the experience home with you.
There are so many wonderful seasonal delights we look forward to every autumn: Gradually cooling temperatures, green leaves transitioning to crimson and ochre tones, and of course the wonderful fresh fall produce from our vegetable gardens. What is our favorite fall vegetable of all? Well of course it is the ubiquitous mascot of the autumn season- the pumpkin!
This year, we planted our Jack O’Lantern Pumpkin seeds in late May. This particular type of pumpkin is our favorite, since the fruits develop that beautiful deep orange glowing skin, and they grow to a hefty 10-18 pound size. Since they are so large, these pumpkins take 105 days to reach maturity, which means that they are just about ready to cut from the vines. Joy!
Each year we, of course, simply cannot resist carving a huge, gaping grin into at least one of our pumpkins. Jack O’Lantern carving is certainly a nostalgic little walk down the lanes of our memory. But this year, we’re reserving 5 of our proudly sown, grown, and harvested pumpkins for some cool and unusual uses. Check out these 5 unexpected uses for your fall pumpkins:
1. Pumpkin as a Flower Pot
A pumpkin can make a beautiful centerpiece or front step adornment when used as a flower pot or vase. To make your own, start by cutting the top off of your pumpkin. Cut around the stem to create a hole about 6 inches in diameter. It should be large enough to accommodate the flowers and/or foliage you wish to use. Scoop the goop and seeds out of the inside of the pumpkin. (Keep these and set them aside if you wish to use them for baking.) If you wish to use your pumpkin as a vase, place a glass vase, plastic cup, or empty coffee can inside the pumpkin. It should be filled 3/4 full of water and just a drop or two of standard bleach. You can then arrange your cut flowers however you would like them. If you wish to use a potted plant, lower your potted plant into the pumpkin. Make sure that neither a vase nor a pot will drain or leak into the pumpkin. It should be kept as cool and dry as possible.
2. Pumpkin as Potpourri
When you use a real pumpkin as a potpourri burner, it leaves your house smelling better than any scented candle could. A small variety, such as a Sugar Pie Pumpkin, works well for this project. To begin, cut off the top of your pumpkin in an even slice, and set this aside. Scoop out all of the seeds and goop. Carve circular vents into the sides and lid of the pumpkin using a hole cutter. (You can find one of these in a craft store- they are used by potters to make holes in clay, and look like a short metal tube with a cap on one end.) On the underside of the lid, rub on a bit of cinnamon, a bit of pumpkin pie spice, and insert a few whole cloves. Set a tea light inside, and place the whole pumpkin on a small plate or saucer. If you’d like to get creative, you can also set the pumpkin on top of a cake stand, or in the top of a teapot. When the tea light is lit, the spicy, pumpkin pie scent can last for up to 6 hours.
3. Pumpkin as a Bird Feeder
Making a pumpkin bird feeder is a cool way to use a small pumpkin along with its seeds. Plus, it is a fun way to keep your backyard songstresses fed when temperatures begin to drop and food becomes a bit more scarce. To make a pumpkin bird feeder, select a pumpkin that is no more than about 5 pounds in weight. Cut it in half width-wise and thoroughly scrape out the goop so that the inside feels relatively dry to the touch. Leave a 1/2 inch wall on the pumpkin. Place the pumpkin seeds into this wall so that they stick up and form a ledge around the outside of the feeder. (You may need to use a carving knife to cut a little groove for them to stick into.) For perches, poke small holes in the outside of the pumpkin and insert small twigs. To hang the feeder, knot together two lengths of twine, and tack the knot to the bottom of the pumpkin. Fill the feeder with bird feed such as nyjer seeds, suet cakes, or a fruit and nut blend. Try to hang the feeder out of direct sunlight, as this will help the pumpkin to last longer.
4. Pumpkin as a Cooler
Since large, wide pumpkins are naturally bowl-shaped, they make great receptacles for beer, soda, and other bottled drinks. Choose a nice hefty pumpkin and begin by cutting off the top 1/3. Thoroughly scrape out all the goop and seeds. Next, place a glass or plastic bowl inside the pumpkin cavity. This is important to help prevent the pumpkin from getting waterlogged. If you do not have a bowl, smear Vaseline on the inside of the pumpkin, then cover it with plastic wrap. Fill the bowl with ice and bottled beverages of your choice.
If you’re feeling really ambitious, you can try your hand at this customized pumpkin beer cooler from Extremepumpkins.com. It would definitely make a good conversation topic for any fall party. Just be careful- because a huge pumpkin filled with ice is going to be pretty heavy!
5. Pumpkin as a Stew
We received this pumpkin stew recipe from a friend, and we can’t wait to try making it ourselves the next time we entertain! Not only does this recipe make a delicious, comforting and hearty fall meal using fresh vegetables, but the stew is served in the actual pumpkin. How cool is that?
Ingredients: 1 pumpkin that is 10-12 pounds in size; 2 pounds of cubed beef stew meat (we always prefer organic beef); 2 tablespoons of olive or canola oil; 1 green bell pepper, sliced into 1-inch thick slices; 1 chopped onion; 4 potatoes, cubed with the skin on; 3 carrots, cut into 1 inch chunks; 2 cloves of minced garlic; 2 sticks of celery, cut into 1 inch slices; 1 15-ounce can of diced tomatoes, or 15 ounces of fresh tomatoes from your garden; 2-3 cups of water or vegetable broth; salt and pepper to taste.
Directions: Cut off the top 1/4 to 1/3 of the pumpkin to create a large bowl shape. Make sure the opening is large enough to fit a serving utensil and your hand. Remove the seeds and the goop. Set the pumpkin aside. In a large pot on the stovetop, brown the meat in the 2 tablespoons of oil. If you prefer a vegetarian stew, you can skip the meat and instead add root vegetables, such as parsnips and turnips. Add in the remaining ingredients, and allow this to simmer on low for one hour. Place the pumpkin inside a shallow roasting pan, and ladel the stew into the pumpkin. Brush the outside of the pumpkin with a light coating of canola or olive oil. Place the whole pumpkin in the roasting pan inside an oven preheated to 350 degrees F. (You will probably need to remove one oven rack and move one to the bottom to accomodate the large pumkin.) Allow this to bake for about 2 hours, or until the pumpkin is tender. Remove this carefully from the oven, and serve it while the stew is still hot. When serving, ladel out the stew and scrape at the sides of the pumpkin in order to include baked pumpkin flesh with each serving.
Mmmmmm… we’re hungry already!
Images courtesy of Tiny Farm Blog, Marth Stewart Living, Extremepumpkins.com, and Recipes.parajsa.com
When you’re throwing an outdoor garden party, create informal flower arrangements that compliment, rather than distract, from the surroundings. If you’re having a seated dinner, or small cocktail tables for guests to sit around, you also want to steer clear of towering (potentially unstable) arrangements. Bud vases provide easy floral design tools, and it’s quick and easy to create a pretty centerpiece.
We have a variety of bud vases in the aHa! Modern Living catalog, including our Glass Bird Vases, Cube Tube Vases, Jacks Vase, and the Windowsill Herb Holder. Here are a few ideas for each vase, and ideas for mixing these vases with other household containers.
Glass Bird Vases: These vases look best with delicate flowers and greens. Thin ornamental grass leaves, flax flowers, and other long-stemmed, delicate blooms look good in these birds.
Cube Tube Vases: You can display larger flowers in these sturdy vases. Their hard-edged lines are calling out for either 1) specimen flowers like a small sunflower on a short stem, a hydrangea, hybrid tea rose, or a large tuberous begonia or 2) wispy, floating ornamental grass stems, sprouting from the tubes in a cascading waterfall of greenery.
Windowsill Herb Holder: Use this vase to hold your edible centerpiece of garnishes. In each glass cup, place herbs that compliment the taste of your appetizers. Dill, basil and thyme are all different enough, and will highlight most savory dishes. Alternatively, you could place cut stems of mint, lavender, and pineapple sage as garnishes for sweet items and drinks. (See “Grow your own Garnishes,” below, for more garnish ideas.)
Mix and Match
The fun of flower arranging with bud vases is that you really can’t make a mistake. Go out to your garden and snip cuttings of anything that catches your eye. You could stick with a color theme (cool colors: blues, purples, greens or warm colors: reds, pinks, oranges, yellows), or a shape (spiky, round, daisy-shaped), or just cut a riot of colors and shapes.
Cut the flower stems at different lengths (though, none more than three times as tall as the container itself), and start putting them in vases and containers. Bud vases look best when mixed and matched together, along with other glasses, jars, and tumblers from around the house. Part of the fun is the mixing and matching. The space around the vases, once they are arranged in their final place before the party, is also part of the design. Draw attention to the group of vases by placing a large hosta leaf under several of the containers.
Most importantly, have fun with your arrangements. A grouping of bud vases is a chic and simple table arrangement, fitting for most garden parties.
Cultivate Your Style
So what’s your outdoor entertaining style? Not sure? For inspiration, check out these images of some of the best outdoor spaces. Notice the placement of flower arrangements and potted plants, and how different arrangements can create or add to the style and atmosphere of an outdoor patio. We love the way simple additions of clipped or potted flowers, herbs, and succulents on or around outdoor tables can help to create a balanced, complete outdoor space fit for both entertaining and personal enjoyment.
Creating your own floral arrangements can be quite overwhelming at first. So why not start small? Bud vases let you bring nature into your home in little, easy-to-manage pieces. They fit smaller spaces that a larger vase would overwhelm, or can be used in a grouping to create a centerpiece.
Look to local farmer’s markets for fresh, cut flowers to create your own budding arrangements throughout your home. Gardeners, of course, have access to their own plants for flower arrangements. Restrain yourself from wanting to overfill bud vases with too many flower stems. In our opinion, a single bold flower, like a Gerbera daisy, makes more of a statement than a stuffy vase full of red roses.
How to Select a Fresh Cut Flower
Trust your senses when it comes to selecting flowers at the market. If the buds or blooms are browning, and the leaves are turning yellow, then keep looking. You’ll want to avoid flowers sold in stinky water, chance are they are old.
Buy flowers when they are closed or just partially open. Many flower varieties, such as lilies, have multiple blooms on one stem. Try to select a single stem with one bloom open and the others closed. That way, you will be able to watch the additional blossoms open and enjoy the flower longer.
Keep Cut Flowers Alive Longer:
Fill the container with water containing floral food.
Cut the flower stem to about twice the height of the vase. Strip the flower’s stem so that none of the leaves will be covered by water. Place the flower in the bud vase.
To give added support and beauty, add stems of linear bear grass or other linear foliage. Cut the foliage so that they are just slightly taller than the flower.
To give the bud vase an elegant, balanced look, insert greenery at the rim of the bud vase.
While large single-vase arrangements are the usual way to go at the dining table, Don Vanderbrook, a floral designer in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, likes to do a grouping of bud vases. “It’s an airier arrangement, and easier for guests to see and talk over,” he said.
Single Stems that Stand Out:
Gerbera daisies
Calla lilies
Gladioluses
Sweet peas
Daffodils
Tulips
Irises
Chrysanthemum
Roses
Spring blooming branches like forsythia
Keep Scale in Mind
Make sure the stem of the flower is at least as tall as the vase. Vanderbrook said the rule of thumb is that the flower should be 1½ times the height of the vase. So if the vase is 6 inches tall, the flower should be 9 inches high. Don’t go much taller than that scale, Vanderbrook said, because bud vases tip over more easily than conventional vases.
Also consider the scale of the space. A single bud vase won’t work on a 60-inch dining room table, Vanderbrook said. A grouping would work, though (see photo above).
If you have checked out our selection of Home Accessories, you have undoubtedly noticed the cool design of the Roost Mortar and Pestle. Unlike the traditional design, the rounded pestle nestles right down into the mortar, making it an updated version of a kitchen classic. It’s eye catching enough that it even recently caught the attention of the good folks at Herb Companion Magazine in their List of Likes feature.
Why do I need a Roost Mortar & Pestle?
Although the Mexicans originated the idea of the mortar and pestle somewhere around 5,000 years ago, there is nothing archaic about this versatile kitchen tool. You can think of your mortar and pestle as a manual food processor. But here’s the super great thing: because it is a manual tool, none of the delicate flavors or aromas are burnt off the way that they are in an electric appliance. Plus, because the mortar and pestle is a hand operated tool, it gives you complete control. Your touch can be as heavy or as light as you need it to be. The design of the Roost Mortar and Pestle gives you exceptional control with its ergonomic design. So the rounded pestle is not just pretty, it’s practical too.
What can I use my Roost Mortar & Pestle for?
A mortar and pestle has quite an array of uses – you’ll find that you discover more and more reasons to pick it up in your kitchen. The Roost Mortar and Pestle comes in two different materials, so that you can select the one that best suits your needs. The wooden design is best for dry ingredients, such as spices and coffee beans. The marble design in best for wet ingredients, such as berries and garlic. You can also use a mortar and pestle to pulverize pills and other chemical items. However, we would suggest that you buy a separate one specifically for this use. You don’t want to cross medicinal use with culinary use.
Top 5 Uses for Your Roost Mortar and Pestle:
Grinding spices, such as whole peppercorns and cardamom. Spices are most fragrant, tasty, and pure when they are freshly crushed. Try grinding your own spices for this wonderful Morrocan Coucous recipe. Your whole home will be filled with splendid aromas. (Not to menti0n, it’s super delicious.)
Smashing olivesfor tapenade. This is a terrific, easy way to please guests when you entertain. Serve fresh olive tapenade on bite-size pieces of baguette or crostini. Here’s a quick and easy kalamata olive tapenade recipe that you will love. Olives are heart healthy, too!
Pounding garlicfor aioli. We’ll bet you’re used to chopping or mincing your garlic, right? Well, all garlic lovers really must release the clove’s true flavor with the pestle. Try using your pounded garlic in this recipe for garlic aioli from Recipe Zaar. You’ll love it, (even if your partner doesn’t love your breath.)
Crushing basil for fresh pesto. Is there anything more fragrant and lovely than basil fresh from the garden on a warm summer day? We think not! Plus, basil tends to grow rather abundantly, and pesto is a terrific way to use it while it’s fresh. As this recipe in Reluctant Gourmet states, the traditional and best way to make basil pesto is with a mortar and pestle. The flavor will astound you.
Mashing avocado meatfor guacamole. We prefer our guac with some nice chunks of avocado, not totally pulverized. This is where the control you have with a mortar and pestle really comes in handy. You can make your guac as chunky or smooth as you prefer. And speaking of heart healthy, avocados rank pretty darn high when it comes to foods that will keep your ticker goin’. Try this terrific recipe for Mortar and Pestle Guacamole, courtesy of culinary guru Dorie Greenspan.
In ancient Mexico, the gemstone Turquoise was reserved for the gods; it could not be worn by mere mortals. Legend has it that some Native Americans believed that if Turquoise was affixed to a bow, the arrows shot from it would always hit their mark. By the 16th century, the cultures of the American Southwest were using Turquoise as currency.
Now, turquoise is the color of our daydreams; of the calm, glass-like ocean waters of tropical destinations. It is for both turquoise’s ancient significance and its modern power to invoke calming thoughts that Pantone has chosen turquoise as its 2010 color of the year.
In a recent press release, Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute®, stated, “It is believed to be a protective talisman, a color of deep compassion and healing, and a color of faith and truth, inspired by water and sky. Through years of color word-association studies, we also find that Turquoise represents an escape to many – taking them to a tropical paradise that is pleasant and inviting, even if only a fantasy.”
Turquoise is a wonderfully versatile design color, as it is appealing to both males and females. When incorporated into designs, whether it is fashion, home décor, or in the garden, turquoise has the ability to make every other color around it really pop. To invoke the naturally energizing, yet somehow correspondingly peaceful and tranquil properties of turquoise, try some of these inspirational ideas on for size.
Color Your Home & Garden with Turquoise
If you’d like to incorporate some natural turquoise color into your garden, you’ll love the Himalayan Blue Poppy, one of the most vivid turquoise flowers you’ll find. This bright bud is originally from the Himalayan Mountains. It will grow best in zones 6-8, and in semi-shaded spots. If you live in a warm zone, you should avoid planting these in a spot where they will receive sun at the warmest parts of the day. Just look at that brilliant color. Gorgeous!
Check out these ideas from the House of Turquoise blog. These are a terrific example of how turquoise can truly fit into any color scheme when it comes to home and garden decorating. A turquoise window here, a turquoise door there… these shades of turquoise are light, fresh, and very airy.
The House of Turquoise Blog:
For more saturated color, choose richer shades of turquoise. These deeper shades inspire thoughts of royalty, while brighter shades are warm and energizing.
If you’d like to mix turquoise with other bold colors, rather than neutrals, designer Amy Butler is a terrific place to look for inspiration. Her fabrics prove that turquoise matches literally any other color! Against brown, it creates a cool, earthy effect. But when used as a backdrop for fuschia, mimosa, violet, tangerine, and lime, these colors burst with life. Just take a look at some of her new prints in her Love collection. They are positively vibrant.
February and March are excellent months to try forcing branches to bloom inside your home. Why? Well, because by this time, outdoor temperatures have probably risen just above freezing. We all have a major case of spring fever, but all of our trees and shrubs are not yet blossoming. So with a little bit of gentle prompting, we can “force” them to bloom indoors.
How to Properly Force Branches
1. Cut the Branches
When temperatures have risen above freezing, carefully cut some branches off of a tree or shrub in your yard. Select a branch with several plump buds. Cut a couple extra branches, since not all of them will successfully bloom indoors. Make sure to use a sharp blade when cutting branches, and make a smooth, clean cut so as not to disfigure your tree. The Spear & Jackson Bypass Pruners are an excellent tool for this task.
2. Bring the Branches Indoors
Once you have brought the cut branches indoors, use your Hori Hori Garden Knife to carefully create a slit in the cut end of your branches. The slit should be between one and four inches long on each branch. This is so that your branches may absorb the water in which you are going to place them.
3. Trim the Branches
Fill your sink or a large container with warm water. Using either your pruners or your garden knife, cut a one-inch segment off of the bottom of each of your branches. This will help to prevent air from entering the stem through the cut end, which would then block water intake. Another tool that is great for this trimming task is the Gardener’s Multi-Tool.
4. Place Branches in a Vase
Place your branches in a tall pitcher or vase filled with warm water. Depending on the size of your branches, you may wish to tie them into a small bundle with a piece of twine. You may also wish to add a floral preserve, or just a teaspoon of bleach to the water to help control bacteria. We recommend the beautifully sleek and versatile Ivy Pitcher and Vase for your branches. Remove any buds that will be underneath the water level.
5. Place the Vase in a Warm Room
Place your vase(s) of branches in a warm room that is maintained between 60 and 70 degrees F. Do not place them in direct sunlight. Make sure you check the water every day to make sure it is clear. You will need to replace it with fresh, clean water every 2-3 days. Your branches may begin to bloom within one week, or they may take as long as 8 weeks, (depending on how close they were to their natural bloom time when you cut them.)
Great Plant Picks for Forcing Indoor Blooms
According to Susan Grupp, a Horticulture Professor for the University of Illinois Extension in DuPage County, the following plants will respond well to forcing. You can cut these branches from your own yard, or purchase branches from your local florist:
Redbud
Japanese or Flowering Quince
Flowering Dogwood
Vernal Witch Hazel
Hawthorn
Forsythia
Honeysuckle
Saucer Magnolia
Star Magnolia
Apple and Crabapple
Flowering Almond, Cherry, and Plum
European Pussy Willow
Spirea
Lilac
Viburnum
We will be “growing” our Grow Category this February, so check back soon for new products! Or why not make it easier on yourself? You can receive updates on new products, special promotions, earn aHa! Customer Rewards, and unique content you won’t find on the blog, by subscribing to our new aHa! Modern Living E-letter. Take a peek at our December issue.
A quick perusal of the Valentine’s Day aisle at the convenience store warrants unsatisfactory results. There you’ll find nothing but chalky conversation hearts, goop-filled chocolates, cheap stuffed animals, and cheesy perfumes endorsed by even cheesier celebrities. And you don’t want to give your sweetheart the same old crap. You want to give your love something special, unique, and meaningful to commemorate Valentine’s Day, right? Right!
Here at aHa! Modern Living we have chosen our top 5 Valentine’s Day gift ideas to make it easy and fun to select a Valentine’s Day gift for your significant other. All of these items are sure to say, “you’re special, so I picked something special for you.” We think our gifts are a welcome change from the “same ole same ole,” and we’re sure your honey will think so, too.
(1) Owl Salt and Pepper Shakers
What better way to say “whooooo loves you, baby?” The Owl Salt and Pepper Shakers are a great gift for the eco-conscious recipient, since they are made from water buffalo horn. We love the idea of giving a gift that can be used and enjoyed every day. This is a terrific gift for the man or woman who loves to cook, or host dinner parties. Whether you choose to take a cue from the nakedness of the owls is up to you.
(2) Cacao and Spice Hand Lotion
Want to give something chocolatey sweet without inducing a tummy ache? Daub and Bauble presents a delicious solution with its luxurious Cacao and Spice Hand Lotion. This delectably scented, creamy hand lotion is fragranced with a rich chocolate and cinnamon, and formulated with softening Vitamin E and Aloe Vera. For a perfect set, select the Cacao and Spice Hand Wash as well. Then deliver with the following simply sweet message: “I wanna hold your hand.”
(3) Birdie Necklace
Now it’s definitely true that most women would love to receive some gorgeous new jewelry for Valentine’s Day. But when it comes to jewelry, make sure you don’t fall into “the trap.” That is, don’t buy your wife or girlfriend the necklace that has been advertised by all the national jewelry store chains for 3 months now. That’s just boring, and she’s already seen it on television a thousand times. Instead, take a look at this creative and beautiful Birdie Necklace. It’s the perfect way to say, “you make my heart sing.”
(4) Eggling Seed Starters
Want your love to blossom and to grow? Then give your honey an Eggling Seed Starter. They come with all the essentials, so all your schnookums will need to do is crack open the top, add the seeds, and water. It is perfect even for those who claim to kill all their houseplants. Plus… who knows… maybe the Eggling Seed Starter will help you to start your own little somethin’ somethin’.
(5) West County Garden Gloves
There is no better way to say “I glove you” than with West County Garden Gloves. These gloves are particularly unique because they are the perfect blend of both functionality and fashion. They are a great choice for work around the lawn and garden, and even have a mesh back that makes them light and breathable. Remember, though, that it’s Valentine’s Day. Don’t let the gloves do all the dirty work!
When it looks like this outside, it's definitely time to bring some green into your home. Image source: Andrew Prokos Landscape Photography (http://andrewprokos.com)
With the frigid months of winter upon us, it’s all too easy to find ourselves sitting around and twiddling our green thumbs. We can’t wait to dig our hands into some spring soil, but alas, months of frozen earth lay ahead. And our mood is starting to reflect the gray, black, and brown shades of our frozen gardens.
What’s the perfect cure for the winter blahs? Bring some green indoors! After all, nothing brightens up a room like a cheerful indoor plant. As a bonus, houseplants also help to clean the air by taking in carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen, which is a definite plus when it is too darn cold to open the windows and get some fresh air in your home. There are numerous Benefits of Decorating with Houseplants; click here to learn all about them.
When the weather prevents you from gardening outside, some friendly and perky houseplants can come to the rescue. They also make the perfect hostess gifts, as they are considerably more creative than the obligatory bottle of wine. Our favorite houseplants here at aHa! Modern Living are cheery, low maintenance, and easily portable.
Check out the Perch! Campy Planters
These simple yet stylish handmade planters come in three different vibrant color combinations: green and turquoise, gray and green, or white and yellow. We absolutely love their mini size; each planter stands just 6 1/2 inches tall. They can fit even on a small space such a bathroom sink or nightstand.We love the idea of planting a succulent in a Campy, which is pictured on the left. This is super low maintenance, since succulents can survive for long periods of time without water. Perch! Campy Planters also have a perforated bottom for water drainage, which is integral for healthy plants.
Another great indoor option: Eggling Seed Starters
At just 10 bucks a pop, you can afford one as a gift for each of your friends and still treat yourself. Check out both varieties: basil and chrysanthemum.Eggling Seed Starters are simple as pie to use. All you have to do is crack open the top, and water the soil within, which is already filled with peat mixture and seeds. One thing that we really love is how easily the Eggling may be transferred from the indoors to the outside. After 5 months, the whole egg can be planted outdoors. This way, your Eggling can brighten up your home all winter, and come spring it will be ready to take root.
Looking for something a little bit quirky and fun?
Then you will love the iGrobot Planter. Again, we just can’t help but love how fool-proof this planter is. It comes with instructions, two measures of peat, and a packet of rye grass seeds. Once your grass sprouts, you can trim it into a mohawk, or any other shape you may desire. We are sure that it will make a fun addition to your home or office space, not to mention a great gift for any techie.
New aHa! Monthly Newsletter
We will be “growing” our Grow Category this February, so check back soon for new products! Or why not make it easier on yourself? You can receive updates on new products, special promotions, earn aHa! Customer Rewards, and unique content you won’t find on the blog, by subscribing to our new aHa! Modern Living E-letter. Take a peek at our December issue.
When you hear the word “centerpiece” the first thing you probably think of is a floral arrangement, right? An elegant flower arrangement has the power to transform a simple white tablecloth into a lush and beautiful setting. However, floral arrangements are not particularly practical in the winter. Unless you’re fortunate enough to be living in a tropical climate, it’s not an option to snip an arrangement of buds from your backyard. While your garden hibernates, here are a few ideas for modern winter centerpieces, sans flowers.
1. Centerpiece Using Candles
If you’re going to use candles as a centerpiece, make sure to use soy candles. Why? Well, first and foremost, paraffin candles are made of oil. We all know that oil is not a renewable resource. The United States is the number one producer of soy in the world, so when you purchase soy candles, you are purchasing a renewable resource and you are supporting American farmers. Another factor to consider is that soy is clean burning. If you are going to be eating with lit candles, you definitely do not want the fumes from burning paraffin to interfere with your taste buds.
Parker Collection Soy Candle in Lime Blossom
Have you seen the soy candles that we have here at aHa! Modern Living? The Parker Collection Soy Candles produce hardly any smoke or soot, so there will be nothing offensive combating your meal. They are available in three delicious, delicate scents, too. For an easy centerpiece, try placing a candle in the middle of a bowl or platter, then scattering fresh cranberries and limes or lemons around it. Or, for a cool effect, place a few candles on top of a mirror. Try grouping the candles in an odd number, such as 3 or 5, since this adds visual interest.
2. Centerpiece Using Greenery
Pine branches are a classic and treasured symbol of Christmas and wintertime. But depending on which region you live in, you can add some other gorgeous sprigs of green to your centerpiece as well. If you live in Northern California, you may be lucky enough to find some European mistletoe, or Viscum alba.It crept into this region by way of an apple stock from Europe. If you live in North or South Carolina, you may have already noticed people on the street corner selling large bunches of North American mistletoe, or Phoradendron. Mistletoe is the floral emblem of the state of Oklahoma, too.
For a pretty green centerpiece, try placing some little sprigs of mistletoe in the fun and modern Cube Tube Vases. So simple, so chic. Just make sure to keep the vases out of reach of pets and small children. The waxy white berries on mistletoe are delicious to birds, but poisonous to humans and other animals.
Mistletoe + Cube Tube Vase
3. Centerpiece Using Branches
For a really cool modern look, you don’t need any greenery at all. Just borrow this great idea from the photo below and snip some branches off of a tree. If you want to, you can lay the branches out on some newspaper and give them a quick coat of metallic spray paint. We think they look just as pretty left au naturel, because it’s really about the shape here and not the color. A bunch of thin, twisting branches grouped together in a vase makes a big impact. The higher your celing is, the taller you can go with the branches. Try placing them in the Ivy Pitcher and Vase. Stunning.
If you’d like to incorporate some natural turquoise color into your garden, you’ll love the Himalayan Blue Poppy, one of the most vivid turquoise flowers you’ll find. This bright bud is originally from the Himalayan Mountains. It will grow best in zones 6-8, and in semi-shaded spots. If you live in a warm zone, you should avoid planting these in a spot where they will receive sun at the warmest parts of the day. Just look at that brilliant color. Gorgeous!
