Archive for the ‘Holiday Stuff’ Category

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How to Use the Roost Hemingway Muddlers

Wednesday, December 15th, 2010

Obviously, they look super cool. But the Roost Hemingway Muddlers aren’t just for looks. A muddler is a handy bartending tool that can kick up your cocktails from “ho hum” to “oh yum!” Plus, they are totally fun to use- you get to use a groovy flick and twist o’ the wrist. Since we received our new Roost Hemingway Muddlers, we have been exploring all sorts of ways to use them. Here is our easy guide to using and caring for your muddlers.

How to Pick the Right Muddler

Here at AML, you’ll notice that when your order your Hemingway Muddler, you will actually receive a set of 3. Why? Well, because each one is a little bit different and serves a distinct purpose. The first muddler has a star tip and a narrow shape. This makes it ideal for reaching down to the bottom of tall, skinny glasses. The star tip is perfect for tearing into tough citrus fruits at the bottom of the glass, and releasing the oils from their peels.

The second muddler is smooth and sleek with a rounded tip. This one is ideal for muddling delicate mint leaves and other herbs. This way, you can get the herbs to release their oils without crushing or bruising them. In drinks, the point is not to tear into herbs or shred them into tiny ribbons. The point is to give them just enough abuse to get them to release their fragrant essence.

Lastly, the third muddler is the tallest one, with a smooth, flat tip. This makes it ideal for mashing soft fruits, such as papaya and mango, into the bottom of a glass. Plus, you can use a handy tip from mixologist Eben Freeman of Tailor Restaurant in New York City, and use this muddler to easily crush up ice cubes.

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Why Shop aHa! Modern Living for the Holidays

Tuesday, December 14th, 2010

Every year it starts a little bit earlier: the Christmas shopping rush. This year, we noticed that local lamp posts and retail store faces were adorned with twinkling lights and evergreen wreaths before we had even thrown our jack-o-lanterns into the compost heap. Each year, the holiday season arrives a little sooner, and this means time for holiday shopping is here before we know it.

Did that phrase, “holiday shopping,” cause your pulse to quicken and your palms to sweat? We know, no one likes trudging through malls that play Mariah Carey’s “All I Want For Christmas Is You” on a loop. This year, take all of the stress out of your holiday shopping experience. Make gift shopping easier than ever by shopping with us here at aHa! Modern Living.

Top 5 Reasons to Shop for the Holidays with AML

(1) You can shop with AML in your PJ’s

You can shop with us in your pajamas and big fuzzy bear claw slippers. We won’t judge. When you shop online with AML, you can access our great Gifts By Recipient section at any time of day or night. No need to bundle up in your winter coat, scrape off the windshield, sit in traffic, fight for a spot in the store’s parking lot, or expose yourself to the plethora of cold and flu germs that love to hang out on shopping carts and the store’s door handles. Shop in the comfort of your own home, or your cubicle. (Sssshhh…. we won’t tell your boss!)

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Creative Holiday Table Settings

Friday, December 10th, 2010

Christmas table setting design from shelterness.com

When it comes to the holidays, normal rules of entertaining don’t apply. You can feel free to be as over-the-top, tasteful, extravagant, subdued, creative or playful as you would like. This is one of the things that we love about this season- regardless of your entertaining personality, there are so many ways to express it.

Here at AML, we enjoy experimenting with ways to express our modern style through our holiday table setting. A well-planned table setting is also an excellent way to make your guests feel welcome and at home, as well as set the tone for your meal. Read on to discover some table setting ideas that will work for you, regardless of your holiday entertaining personality.

Budget Conscious Table Setting

Karen at The Art of Doing Stuff had an awesome idea. She created an entire table setting using items from the Dollar Store. And there is nothing cheap looking about it! It’s what she refers to as “casual chic.” We love the earthy element that has been added in with the artichokes, as well as the sophisticated look of the neutral tones. The Budget Conscious table setting is a good way to go if you don’t wish to use your “everyday” dishes, and plan to invest in a new set for the holidays. This way, you can do it without spending a fortune.

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Great Holiday Gifts For Everyone on Your List

Tuesday, December 7th, 2010

Have you checked out our new holiday gift guide here at AML? It is a total synch to use, and has everything you need to select the perfect presents for all of your loved ones. This year, you can get all of your shopping done at one place. And for all domestic orders over $50, we’ll ship your goodies to you for just a buck! How awesome is that?

2010 Holiday Gift Giving Guide

Gifts for Him

Shopping for the dude in your life can be a bit of a challenge. There are only so many pull-over wool sweaters, bottles of cologne, and colorful ties you can buy him. This year, get him something decidedly more interesting and unique. If he likes walking the dog or tossing a pigskin around outside, then he will love one of our sleek outdoor accessories, such as the Modern Nesting Box. If he lives for Sunday afternoons on the couch with football and a few beers, get him a Roost Menagerie Bottle Opener. These are cool enough to be kept out on the coffee table at all times. Or, if he’s a wiz in the kitchen, check out the super slick Roost Mortar and Pestle. We know he’ll enjoy putting a little elbow grease into his dishes, as well as exploring the many uses for this extremely versatile kitchen tool.

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Gifts for Her

This time of year, we are deluged by tv jingle that reminds us, “every kiss begins with Kay.” But you know what? If you get the special lady in your life a piece from Kay Jewelers, she will have already seen it on their commercial a hundred times. How predictable. If you’re gonna go for jewelry, go for something unique and special, like our Bean Sprout Earrings. Not only would these beautiful earrings match anything, but they also are modern, elegant, and decidedly more interesting than the same old pieces that are being sold at jewelry chains across the country. For a set, check out the Bean Sprout necklace, too. Perfection. Now if your lady already has gobs of jewelry and just needs a place to put it, then our new Roost Bronze Twig  Jewelry Stand (pictured at left) is the perfect gift. It keeps each piece of jewelry neat and tangle-free, while displaying it like a pretty dresser-top work of art.

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Gifts for the Gardener

Whether your gift recipient is an experienced or beginning gardener, nothing will help her out more than a set of really good quality gardening tools. Well-made tools make difficult gardening tasks a total snap. Like chopping through thick roots and tangled brambles, for example. This is the perfect job for the Hori Hori Garden Knife. And who doesn’t want to feel like a samurai ninja gardener? The Garden Hand Tool Set, with its groovy contoured handles, is both comfy and handy. Plus, the tools are made from rustless stainless steel, so your gift recipient is sure to appreciate that they will not need to be replaced any time soon. For the indoor container gardener, check out our new favorite plant accessories, the Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrariums, (pictured at left). Aren’t they so cool? Plus, they are totally versatile and can be used all year round.

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Gifts for the Kids

Ever since our cute Elephant Watering Can was featured in Fine Gardening Magazine in September, it has just been flying off our shelves. And we can’t say that we’re surprised- it is so irresistibly adorable! Plus, it is a great way to get any child involved in gardening, which then promotes a healthy lifestyle. For a fun way to use the Elephant Watering Can this holiday season, take a look at our Great Stocking Stuffer Ideas blog from last year. And don’t forget to check out the other fun little gift ideas there, too!

Gifts for the home-body

With temperatures hovering in the teens, we admit that during the winter we tend to become home-bodies, too. There is nothing like snuggling up on the couch with a blanket and a great book on a chilly January evening. Anyone who likes to hunker down on cold night, like we do, is sure to enjoy our selection of indoor gifts. Check out our array of colorful Ben Collection Bowls, which are just right for a choice of yummy snacks. Or to create a fragrant and soothing atmosphere in any room, gift a Parker Collection Soy Candle. They come in 3 delicious scents and are guaranteed to be the yummiest smelling candles your recipient has ever received. For a gift that is both pretty and versatile, check out our new Roost Copenhagen Carafe & Terrariums (pictured at left). Your gift recipient can use it for either purpose. As a terrarium, it is an excellent way to spruce up a drab winter room with some green life. As a carafe, it can hold a favorite beverage for some relaxing fireside sipping.

Still not sure what the absolute perfect gift is? Don’t worry, you can simply select one of our gift cards in the amount of your choice. Then your gift recipients can shop to their hearts’ content!

For more excellent gift ideas, check out last year’s blog, Gifts for the Gardener Who Already Has It All.

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Use Your Garden to Decorate for the Holidays

Thursday, December 2nd, 2010

Sometimes the words “holiday decorations” get a bit of a bad rap. This is because the first thing that comes to mind is the one crazy neighbor we all have who lines the entire facade of his house, from top to bottom, with blinking colorful lights. If you listen, you’ll hear that the blinking is synchronized to a constantly playing track of Jingle Bells. It is Christmas sensory overload.

Holiday decorations don’t need to be tacky, or big energy wasters. We think that the best decorations, and those that are most modern, come from your very own garden and backyard. They don’t consume electricity, and they are easy to design yourself for little to no cost. And when placed strategically, these holiday decorations can leave quite an impression.

Garden Inspired Ideas for Holiday Decorations

(1) Green your front door (Evergreen, that is)

Use these tips from Patti Bosket at Sunset Magazine to make your own wreath for your home’s entryway. She created this one using Ponderosa Pine, Oregon grape, wolf lichen, and redtwig dogwood. The result is a gorgeous mixture of colors and textures that will warm your guests before they even enter your home. We also love this bay and rosemary leaf wreath, which makes guests feel immediately welcome with its delicious herbaceous fragrance. A natural, homemade wreath on your front door is an excellent way to make guests feel welcome when they come knocking.

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Take the Mystery Out of Serving Wine this Holiday

Wednesday, November 17th, 2010

Fall gatherings and Thanksgiving dinner parties are best squired by the perfect selection of wines. Okay, so therein lies the question: With so many wines from which to choose, how do you know which are the perfect ones for your event, whether it’s a Thanksgiving dinner for 25, or a cozy evening in with your 3 best girlfriends and some hors d’oeuvres?

Selecting from hundreds of different varieties and origins can be quite puzzling and intimidating. But armed with a few basics, you can be well prepared for your trip to the wine store, and equipped with the knowledge to pick the very best wine for your event.

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How to Host a 100 Mile Thanksgiving Dinner

Tuesday, November 9th, 2010

Modern Thanksgiving table design from ohdeedoh.com

Have you ever stopped to think about what kind of energy and environmental footprint your annual Thanksgiving dinner makes? Where did your frozen turkey come from, and how many miles was it trucked to reach your local grocery store?

Since Thanksgiving is such a cherished holiday, we may tend to overlook this consideration among others, and continue preparing our holiday feast using ingredients from our local Super Generic-Mart. But here at aHa! Modern Living, we think it’s time to start a new Thanksgiving tradition. This year, we are feeling greatly inspired by the goals and actions of the 100 mile Thanksgiving, a national movement to bring Thanksgiving back to its roots, and prepare only foods that have come from a 100 mile radius of our homes. Rather than preparing a frozen Butterball turkey that probably came from the world’s largest turkey processing plant in Mount Olive, North Carolina, and unmolding some jellied cranberries that were likely canned at the Ocean Spray factory in Nevada, we are going to be preparing Thanksgiving dinner with all local ingredients. We’ll be doing all of our grocery shopping in our own garden, and at our local Farmers’ Markets.

How to Host A 100 Mile Thanksgiving

Are you motivated to host your own 100 Mile Thanksgiving, but not sure where to start? Try using this cool and easy feature on the Local Harvest website. All you need to do is click on “Farmers’ Market,” then type in your city and state or zip code. The website will reveal a whole list of Farmers’ Markets in your area. You can also try searching for CSAs and Co-ops, which are terrific sources of local foods as well. Co-ops are also excellent places to shop for baking staples such as flour, corn meal, salt, olive oil, and butter. If these products are not produced in your area, purchasing them at a Co-op is still a great way to support your local economy.

Cool season produce such as kale, pumpkins, carrots, cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower are fresh and delicious in November. Many fresh herbs, such as rosemary, continue to grow in chilly weather as well. Don’t be bashful about asking the farmers for their favorite recipes and ways to prepare their wares. Thanksgiving is an opportunity to try new flavors, cooking methods, and dishes. Your guests will undoubtedly love an unexpected little twist on the norm.

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Perfect Hostess Gifts for Every Occasion

Wednesday, November 3rd, 2010

As autumn temperatures continue to decline, and the fall season begins to transition into winter, we find ourselves at a time of year that we love. Suddenly, our wall calendars are filled with hasty scrawls: “Dinner party at Katie’s,” “Wine tasting at Ellen’s,” and “Potluck at Brian’s.” It is the time of year when we tuck away our gardening gloves and instead slide on a sparkly cocktail ring; the time for holiday celebrations and social engagements abound.

Now if you’ve ever hosted a dinner party, wine tasting, or potluck, then you know just how much work they can be. Even if you purchase a stack of pre-made veggie and deli trays to cut down on food prep, you still have to take the time to clean the house, pick out music, send invites, wash all the dishes… the list goes on. Hosting a party is a lot of work. And it is your responsibility as a guest to let your host or hostess know that this does not go unnoticed.

A simple gift is a classic, and classy, way to let your host or hostess know that you appreciate all of the hard work and time that goes into entertaining. Some people seem to think that this is an outdated tradition, but as TV personality and etiquette expert Clinton Kelly explains in his book Freakin’ Fabulous, “bringing a small token of your appreciation is certainly not uncouth.” So while you start to complete your Christmas shopping this year, make sure to also stock up on hostess gifts. aHa! Modern Living has some great ones from which to choose.

Choose the Perfect Hostess Gift

An overnight stay- According to the Emily Post Institute, which has been the go-to etiquette expert since 1946, a hostess gift for an overnight stay is mandatory. The size and grandeur of the gift may vary according to the length of your stay. In this case, it is also appropriate to send the gift after the tenure of your stay, along with a heartfelt thank you note. This gives you the opportunity to select a gift that matches your hostess’ living space. Check out our Modern Decor section for some fabulous options. Wouldn’t a Parker Collection Fragrance Diffuser look lovely in the guest room where you slept? We think it would be a perfect thank you gift for your weekend stay. Or how about the Window Sill Herb Holder for your host’s kitchen? He did make you that delicious tomato and basil fritatta for breakfast one morning, and this would be the perfect place for him to store his fresh herbs while he’s cooking.

Cocktail party- A bottle of wine is an appropriate hostess gift for a cocktail party. But don’t bring a plain ol’ bottle- dress it up with a fun accessory, like a Felt Wine Sleeve. The sleeve is pretty darn handsome looking, and as a bonus, it will keep your hands dry and your bottle secure on the car ride over. Now if you give a gift of wine, Kelly has a couple rules of thumb to point out: First, don’t expect the wine to be served to you at the cocktail party. Consider it a gift to your host for later consumption. Kelly points out that a conscientious host will have already chosen wines for the evening based on what will pair well with the hors d’oueuvres. Secondly, never take an unopened bottle of wine back home with you at the end of the night. This goes for a cocktail party, wine tasting, or pretty much any other event!

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The Roost Hanging Terrarium: A Cool Plant Accessory All Year Round

Tuesday, October 19th, 2010
Roost Hanging Terrarium

Roost Hanging Terrarium

“Siiigggghh.” Yes, we admit it. We’re enamoured with our Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrariums, and we fully intend to gaze upon them with delight all year round. You can enjoy your own Roost Recycled Glass Terrarium (in the small size, or large, or both) all year round, too.

Check them out! Not only are they eco-friendly because they are made of recycled glass, but they also quite literally redefine the term “hanging planter.” Their design is so simple and elegant- we think they create a look that is entirely clean and uncluttered, while still being positively eye-catching.

Tips for All-year Hanging Terrarium Use

Fall

If you read our blog “Time to Spook-ify Your Garden For Halloween,” then you know that we consider the entire month of October to be Halloween Month. And this year, we have the the dang coolest idea for Halloween decor. We are going to turn our Roost Hanging Terrariums into mini hanging graveyards. We got the idea from L. Brandt in Utah, who sells these awesome Terrarium Decor Headstone Picks in her Etsy shop. They are going to look just perfect stuck into some Spanish Moss. Spooktacular!

Winter

For wintertime, when our gardens are brown and gray, we love the idea of adding a splash of vibrant green to our homes. We think that Club Moss is just the plant to get the job done. Club Moss, or Lycopodium clavatum, thrives in cooler temperatures and low to moderate light. So it can handle the chilly temps and gray days that winter tends to bring. It also grows well with plenty of air circulation, so the open design of the hanging terrarium will really allow it to flourish. We can’t wait to see how this creeping plant looks as it crawls down and out of the terrarium opening, creating a pretty waterfall of foliage. What a way to brighten up a winter day!

Spring

When winter transitions to spring, we turn our thoughts to all things flowery and refreshing. It’s time to shed heavy winter wear and replace it with all things light and airy. This makes it the perfect time to plant an air plant. Air plants, also known as Tillansias, don’t require soil to grow. We’ve seen many a person do a double take at a hanging air plant- they’re a bit unexpected in a terrarium, and definitely turn the glass bubble into a gorgeous piece of modern art. Try placing a mini purple Aeranthos in the small Roost terrarium, or a brightly colored Concolor Paucifolia in the large one.

Summer

“Summa, summa, summa tiiiiime…” We all know that summer brings warmer temps and plenty of sunlight, so it’s time to plant something in your Roost Hanging Terrarium that will thrive in these conditions. For summer, try planting an Earth Star, Flame Violet, or Golden Pothos. Each of these does well in bright, plentiful indirect sunlight and warm, humid conditions. For a little summery twist, why not try adding in some pretty aqua colored marbles, or some sea shells from your vacation?

10 Steps to Plant in Your Roost Recycled Glass Hanging Terrarium

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New Ways to Use Fresh Autumn Apples

Monday, October 18th, 2010

Colorful, smooth-skinned apples are an irresistible sign of fall, and a treat that we look forward to annually. These little beauties make a perfect quick snack, and of course a terrific present for teachers everywhere. We love eating apples plain, just as they are, and enjoying their crisp, crunchy bite and sweet juiciness.

Did you know that people have been munching on apples for millennia? The great-great grandfather of the modern apple, the Malus sieversii, still grows wild in Kazakhstan, where it originated. Today our favorite type of apple is the Rome apple, which originated in Rome, Ohio. We love eating these apples right off the tree- their thick skin and hint of tartness makes them delicious on their own. But this year, before we gobble up all our freshly-picked apples, we’re going to try out some new ways of using them, in both culinary and decorative applications. After all, apples are truly versatile and there are many ways to enjoy them. So while we love apples plain, just as they are, we are excited to try out some of these new ideas below:

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