Enjoying our Quality Time

We are done with putting the Christmas lights in our garden, but my husband suggested to add some decorations like the Christmas mini garden flag just to hype up the garden. I didn't know where he got the idea but its actually kind of cute and I somehow like it. He also suggested other decors, but I have to disagree because I want to keep things as simple as possible. He started to dig up some hole so that we could place the garden flag pole which is about 5 foot 6 inches tall. We were very delighted afterwards because the additional decor made my garden more attractive and every passerby would really take a second look on it. Some even had their pictures taken outside of our garden, they just love how we have set everything up.

We are also planning on having a barbecue party that day together with some of our friends but we were a bit exhausted, so we ended up ordering pizza and some fast food to be delivered at home. Good thing that we do not have to wait for hours because my son keeps on complaining that he is hungry already. After 20 minutes our order arrived and we all ate with a smile on our faces. I can't seem to contain my happiness because I am so thankful for everything that I have and still thankful for the things that I don't have. I feel so blessed having a husband who supports and loves me, as well as a son who respects and loves me in every that they can. 

Being a family means you are a part of something very wonderful. It means you will love and be loved for the rest of your life. No matter what. And family is not always by blood. It is the people in your life who want you in theirs; the one who accept you for who you are. The ones who would do anything to see you smile and who love you no matter what. 

- Mariecon Alvarez, Contributor

Cross Wreaths as Wall Decor

A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two lines or bars perpendicular to each other, dividing one or two lines in half. But, once we see a cross, we automatically think of our religion. It is a symbol of our Christianity and is one of the most ancient human symbols that has been used also by many religions. It is frequently a representation of the division of the world into four elements or cardinal points, or alternately as the union of the concepts of divinity, the vertical line, and the world, the horizontal line. It is not known when the first cross image was made; after circles, crosses are one of the first symbols drawn by children of all cultures.

Crosses are use as emblem and symbols, in heraldy, in several flags, as a design element and Christmas wreaths as decoration to every house's wall. Chritmas season is already felt, and the decorating ideas of people do not just stop at Christmas tree, Christmas lights, or a Christmas garlands. this year they can add a beautiful Christian Cross Religious Balsam Fir Fresh Wreath to their front door, that is to invite more blessings to their humble home. It is handcrafted by experts out of balsam fir bows, manufactured by Windowbox, an online seller of gardening tools, decorations, pots and planters, windowboxes and now wreaths, a newest addition to their products. At windowbox, you could buy all your gardening supplies and home decoration at the comfort of your home. 

For more details about wreaths and other gardening needs, you could visit their page online. They also have some great Christmas wreath ideas and Christmas wreath pictures that will help you make the perfect selection. Or you could call their toll free number to speak with a customer service representative about prices, orders and shipment details.

The Meaning Of Wreaths To Us

As a tradition in many other English-speaking countries, wreaths are hung or placed in walls or they are used typically as household ornaments. A wreath is an assortment of flowers, leaves, fruits, twigs or various materials that is constructed to resemble a ring. they are used in ceremonial events in many cultures around the globe and mainly as Christmas decorations to celebrate the birth of Christ. Wreaths have much history and symbolism associated with them. They are usually made from evergreens and symbolize strength, as evergreens last even throughout the harshest winters.

In the Greco-Roman world, wreaths were used as an adornment that could represent a person's occupation, rank, their achievements and status. Laurel wreath is commonly used because it embodies victory, achievement, status and later were used to crown victorious athletes at the original Olympic games. It is far different from today, since you won't normally see people walking around wearing wreaths on their head but they have many purposes especially that Christmas is almost here. One example is a Holiday spirit wreath, it has beautiful magnolia accents, incense cedar, and the majestic noble fir. All the trimmings symbolizes the welcoming of the yuletide season.

We could simply make our own wreath at home, if we do have our free time, we could check online for steps and materials needed. But for our own convenience, they could be bought online and gets delivered to our doorsteps within 2-3 business days or we can buy it at the bigger malls. It doesn't matter how big or how luxurious our wreaths are, the most important thing is that it has served it's purpose. The meaning and representation may vary or differ depending on culture, but for us, Christians, wreath are used to prepare for the coming of Christ.

Ideas on Gardening

Being a newbie in gardening, I must research and gather all information needed for my gardening skills to improve and also to make sure that every plants that I have planted on my garden will grow beautifully and healthily. Having the right kind of tools for different plants, flowers or trees would be the number one key to a successful gardening. Watering them from time to time, or if needed plus fertilizers are also a good combination for making sure that plants are given proper care. But the checklist doesn't end there, one must also make sure that the plants have no pests and  soil has the right kind of moisture.

Having your own garden is not just a simple tasks because of the maintenance that your plants needed to bloom and grow naturally. But, what if your kid found one of your tools for gardening and instead of cultivating the soil, he/she accidentally cut your flowers or the newly planted tree? Accidents do happen all the time, especially with kids around you, so you must make sure that the gardening tools are keep safe and away from those tedious kids of yours. You could put all your tools in a deluxe cedar tool holder and lock it in your basement or put in a place where your child or children couldn't reach. They say prevention is better than cure, so you must make sure that after using these gardening tools you need to put them away properly.

Whether you are new to gardening or have a wealth of experience, always remember that there's no such thing as as maintenance free gardening for natural plants because you would need more than an hour everyday to make sure that your plants are growing properly. For others, gardening can also be a means of outlet for you to release all the stress that they get from day to day activities at work. Plus, gardening provide an exercise that is actually fun and will giove you a variety of health benefits physically and mentally.

Spreading The Love This Holiday

Aside from gifts and Santa Claus, one of the many objects that represent Christmas is the Christmas tree. It is a decorated tree, usually an evergreen conifer, such as spruce, pine or fir, and is mostly associated with our yearly celebration which is Christmas. Traditionally, the decorations on the Christmas tree were all edible fruits, such as apples, nuts or dates. It was around the 18th century, when people began to re-decorate the Christmas tree with candles for illumination and with electrification the Christmas lights were invented and replaced the candles as time passed by. Today, there are a wide variety of traditional ornament that people could choose from and places them on the Christmas tree, such as garland, tinsel, candy canes, shiny baubles, ribbons and array of silk flowers.

The Christmas tree is the centerpiece of every home during Christmas season and has also been known as the Yule-tree, especially when discussing about it's folkloric origins. The main attraction of the tree is the star or the angel that is usually placed at the top of the tree, to represent the host of angels or the Star of Bethlehem from the Nativity. Everyone is celebrating Christmas in every location of the World, they may be a Catholic or Non-Catholic it doesn't matter, what's more important is that they believe in the true spirit of Christmas. Since, not all place have these evergreen conifer trees to cut down for the Christmas tree, good thing is that there are artificially made ones. Artificial Pine Christmas tree is usually the best seller amongst all of the artificial Christmas trees.

It's during the Christmas season that people would celebrate the Birth of Our Savior. People all over the world prepares food and meals at their respective homes. Families get together and enemies unite because it is during this season that love should be spread and forgiveness should be extended to those who have hurt us.

Gardening on Clay Pots

Cooking and Gardening are both my favorite hobbies after having a family of my own. During free time, I would love to visit my garden and check on my plants and different kinds of flowers too. Recently, I received a gift from my husband it's a three clay moss colored pots with wood crate and it's perfect for planting herbs that I could use for cooking. And the good thing is that, it has a wood crate so I could move all three pots at the same time, If I want to display them at porches or near windows. I was very happy and thankful because even if I don't say anything my husband knows what I really want and need. Clay pots provide a healthy environment for most plants. Due to the porosity of clay, it allows air and moisture to penetrate the sides of the pot.

There are advantages for indoor and outdoor use of clay pots. These clay pots have a thick wall that could protect plant roots from rapid changes in temperature which can be destructive. They also have a fair amount of weight and do not blow over as easily as some plastic pots. Although plastic pots are lightweight and flexible they do not have the wicking action that clay has making them excellent choice for moisture loving plants or for those gardeners who water infrequently. Since clay does have a disadvantage of drying quickly, avoid planting moisture loving plants like ferns or when attempting to germinate seeds.

Gardeners with a heavy hand at watering like me, always has a tendency to over-water, but using these clay pots, my herbs would really benefit from it. It would also lessen my grocery list since I don't have to buy from the market and it's readily available at home.

Water Is Life

There are many essentials when it comes to gardening. You need to consider a lot of things for your garden to bloom beautifully. One of which is a good watering system. Water means life, that is why every living thing in this world needs water to survive humans, animals and plants alike. In traditional ways of gardening we use pail and dipper and garden hose to water our plants in the garden, but nowadays we don't have to exert that much effort in watering the plants thanks to the decorative water sprinklers. All you have to do is turn that switch on and the sprinklers would do the watering for you. These decorative sprinklers are sold by Windowbox, a leading source of gardening tools, seed kits, pots and planters, gardening decorations and most of all window boxes.

Plants need large quantities of water for growth and the most important factor that drives water movement is the process known as transpiration. The loss of water from plants in the form of vapor or evaporation is called transpiration. Water is also one of the components necessary to carry out photosynthesis and make glucose. It is a solvent to move products of photosynthesis throughout the plant including down to the root system and is also a medium for biochemical reactions. These are just some of the importance of water to the plants that I have sited. Always remember to water your plants and the decorative sprinklers are the best solution for everyone who has their own garden at home. 

For more details about these decorative copper sprinklers, you could visit their website at windowbox.com. you could purchase them online or you could their toll free number for orders and additional assistance. Pricing and estimated shipping time are also available online.

Plant Sconce For Your Living Room

Are you thinking of redecorating your living room? or change your interior decorations at home? Were you considering on changing you wall decor too? Well, on this blog I'll be introducing to you one of the many creations of Windowbox that would definitely be a head turner to any guests that will visit your lovely home. Primrose meaning "first rose", though it is not closely related to the rose family and is one of the earliest spring flowers in much of Europe. The flowers are typically pale yellow, though white or pink forms are often seen in nature. They grow best in moist but well-drained soil in light shade. The primrose can cover the ground in open woods and shaded hedgerows. It is also common on motorway verges and railway embankments where human intervention is restricted that is because in some populated areas it has sometimes suffered from over collection and theft.

Windowbox created and designed these lovely Primrose plant sconce in coffee cup, they are made from white earthenware clay that produces an off-white bisque finish and is then clear glazed on both the inside and outside to protect the finish of the sconce. You could send them as a perfect gift for those who loves flowers and likes coffee or tea at the same time. Plus, you won't have to worry where to place these decor, unlike the natural plant that you make sure to put them near a window to give them the light they need to grow, and since hanging plants tend to dry out fast you also have to make sure to water them regularly but at the same time prevent water damage or overflowing of the water from the container. 

There are different plant sconce designs and flowers that you could choose from. For more details about the primrose plant sconce, you could always visit their website and for orders and shipment you could also call their toll free number to talk to a customer service agent.

Knowing What Our Kids Need

Gardening is a hobby that not everybody loves, especially because one needs to have contact with soil. Although nowadays, there are already gardening gloves to protect our hands but it is still different when you have a feel of the soil. It also requires your time, energy, and effort, since you will be growing live plants. your knowledge and skills as a gardener also grows together with your plants. I could still remember how I used to hate gardening when I was a kid, but because of my grandmother's teaching and advices I have come to realize that it is not a bad hobby after all. I then swore to myself that someday if I have my own family and kids, I would influence them to love gardening because it is a very relaxing activity plus it helps our environment and it adds beauty not only in our house but in our world as well.

When I first introduced gardening to my son , I know that he had little to no interest at it. Good thing that there are now gardening tools and seed starter kit available for our little ones. It would definitely help them understand that their actions have greater impact not only in our society but on the larger scale of the world. I was once told that when I see my kid running around and doing all kinds of stuff and trying everything that they are curious of, I should not stop him, instead just trust him that on the process he is learning. So it is also the same in gardening. Little by little they would somehow understand and would help them become better persons in the future, it will shape them to who they will be in the future. 

There is no better way to spend time with your kids, than in the garden except from playing of course. Playing is their number one priority and other stuff comes next, they really don't care what the second priority is because they are too busy thinking about their playtime.

Different Uses of Moss

Mosses are non-vascular plants in the land plant division Bryophyta (a paraphyletic group of plants formerly regarded as single division but now split into mosses, hornworts, and liveworts). Botanically, they are small phylum of soft plants that are typically 1-10 centimeter tall, and commonly grow close together in clumps, or mats in damp or shady locations. They are herbaceous (non-woody) plants that absorb water and nutrients mainly through their leaves and harvest sunlight to create food by photosynthesis, unlike the vascular plants, these mosses do not have water-bearing xylem tracheids or vessels. These mosses reproduces using spores and not seeds and they also do not have flowers. In the modern world that we are living in, uses of mosses are are not immediately obvious but they do have an important and subtle ecological role, both in water-retention and stabilizing mobile surfaces like, landslips, sand dunes, and scree slopes.

Moss is often considered a weed in grass lawns, but is deliberately encouraged to grow under aesthetic principles exemplified by Japanese gardening ( are traditional gardens that create miniature idealized landscapes ). In old temple gardens, mosses can carpet a forest scene and is often thought to add a sense of calm, age and stillness to a garden scene. Moss is also used in Bonsai to cover the soil and enhance the impression of age, as well as, shelter and humidity for a remarkable diversity of invertebrates. Windowbox, is a leading manufacturer of window boxes, pots and planters, gardening tools and solutions and many more gardening needs and decorations, created a 15 inch Moss Pyramid Hanging Basket with Chain and Moss Ball Plug. These are hanging baskets that are covered in the greenest of green preserved moss which would be perfect for your flowers or plants and they do not need the use of liners.

For more details about their products, availability of the stocks, prices and shipment details, please visit their website at www.windowbox.com. You can be assured that all products are delivered at your doorsteps within 2-3 business days and what you see online is what you will get.

The Botany of Orchids

Time flies indeed, I used to be that little girl who follows my grandmother around, or wherever she goes I make sure that I should be there by her side. Now, I already have a family of my own and things have completely changed but, one things for sure that will never change, it is my love for flowers and gardening. It was my grandmother who instill in my mind that plants are just like humans, who needs to be taken cared of because they too are precious. Without these plants, things would have been so different and our world would never be a perfect place to live in. I remember my grandmother has these special type of orchids and every morning she would check up on them and even speaks to these yellow orchid flowers. Yellow phalanopsis orchid is the name of the flower and one doesn't need a green house or you don't need a degree in botany to be able to help your orchids thrive.

These orchids just needs a sunny window, or an open space in your garden where it is free to grow, a spray bottle and a yearly potting are the little requirement to grow these beautiful flowers. You don't have to worry a thing in growing these orchids, you could simply sit back and relax and let nature do it's thing. Windowbox also offers these orchids and is available for pick up or delivery. With Windowbox you are assured that these flowers are of the highest kind and is perfect for your home and it could also be a great table top decoration in your office. There are more than 20,000 separate types of orchids existing on Earth and it all depends on you on finding the right flower or orchid that will match up or represent you as a person.

For more details about these orchids or live plants, as well as different pots and planters and window boxes or garden decorations and gardening tools, you could always visit www.windowbox.com. You could find a lot of helpful stuff on that page especially for those who are beginning to love gardening and it just starting to have their own garden at home.

Convenience of Getting a Flower Box Liner

My husband who installed the window boxes at home is still not satisfied with his works. Since it's already rainy season, he is afraid that all the flowers he had planted on the window boxes might die because of the overflowing water because on the south wing of the house almost all the flowers already died. So he decided to look for an alternative way or a solution to his problem. We check out the website where we bought these window boxes to see if they offer anything that could help us with our problem. He needs to change the flowers on the south part of the house, I told him to just move the flowers indoor, and when the rainy season is over he could just put the flowers back to where they should belong. But he still insisted on looking for other ways to solve our problem.

Then we came across with these window box liners, and ordered for a heavy duty poly-pro flower box liners. We were both wishing that this could be a solution, good thing that these flower box liners had a detailed information of the size, price and the shipment information. We we're looking forward to receive the shipment within two to three business days and we chose the polypropylene because it's cheaper but still a heavy duty plastic liners that can stand for several seasons. and we can easily punch holes or pierce holes at the bottom for outdoor use and it's very light weight so it is much easier to move them. I also read through some bloggers advice that we should first plant the flowers indoors until such time that they have fully grown and ready to be left outside in our window boxes. There are other options as well but we choose to have the plastic liners because they are much convenient and inexpensive too.

For details about the window boxes and flower or window box liners, feel free to check the www.windowbox.com website. You could shop for different window boxes, pots and planters, gardening tools and many more, as well as get guides on how to grow and take care different plants and design your own garden.

-Contributor, Mariecon Alvarez

A Tour In Central London

 

Have you ever visited London? or to be more specific central London. If not, then let me give you a few details about Central London. Located in the innermost part of London, England, there is no official definition of it's area, but the characteristics of the place were understood to include a high density built environment, high values and an elevated daytime population. In many other respects the central area differs from areas that are farther out in London because of this, the rateable value of the central area became exceptionally high and enormous offices, hotels, and many more business establishments were recently developed, thus constituted to the additional population of the place. One of the ideal location for your London weekend breaks or for your business meetings and events, or as a Central London wedding venue, is the Corus Hotel Hyde Park.

Corus Hotel is a 4-Star Central London hotel which is listed in a 200 year old Georgian building that stands proud at the No.1 Lancaster Gate and is considered to be one of the finest hotels near Hyde Park, boasting about 389 rooms, two restaurants and several meeting rooms. It is perfectly located just a short distance from the shops of Oxford Street, Knightsbridge, Notting Hill, Shepperd's Bush, the Kensington Gardens or the Bright Lights of the West End. If you want to experience shopping galore and an electric mix of leisure and entertainment, you could always check in to the most accessible hotel in the area which is the Corus Hotel. You could choose a room that has windows and attach were the simple with clean look Lancaster Direct Mount Window Box for additional beauty of the hotel while enjoying the stunning view of Hyde park, which is the Largest Royal Park in London, at the comfort of your own room. 

Going on different Central London location is much easier because of it's easy access and just minutes away from the Padding Station, the Heathrow Express and the Lancaster Gate tube station. For inquiries about the Corus Hotel room rates and availability of the rooms, as well as the meeting and events place, you could either call their hotline or visit their online page.

Importance of a Window

A window is defined as a transparent or translucent opening in a wall, door, or vehicle that allows the passage of light, and if not closed or sealed, air and sound passes through it too. Windows are made for many reason, just like the doors and the walls of the house, they all serve their purpose. Ventilation and capturing the outside warmth are some of the reason why windows are needed. It is also a means of connection from the outside to the inside of the house, as well as promotes privacy and security all at the same time. While performing all of these roles windows must also be functional, opening and closing easily, locking practically and efficiently because if not, these windows will loose it's function or purpose. 

Homes that are light-filled are the ones that have more and bigger windows, in Feng Shui, the windows location are very critical since they are called the eyes of the home and are related, on an energy level to the owner's ability to see clearly in life. Keeping the windows in your home clean and clear, as well as, providing harmonious window treatments to allow maximum natural light during the day and gives privacy at night is the best Feng Shui. Improvements of these windows should add to the harmonious decor look in your home rather than take away from it. Fiberglass window box are also perfect for every window because they are flexible, they can adjust to any window type without loosing it's beauty and charm. Adding fabric curtains made of natural fabric or draperies and blinds will add softness to the energy of the bedroom too. 

In choosing the right or perfect home, one must take into consideration the design and the location of the doors and windows. Window design and placement are very essential and you must take into consideration the various aspects of a property that is important to you.

Turning A Dull Balcony Into A Lovely Space

Now who says that you cannot have your own garden in your condo or apartment because of the limited space you have in the balcony. Nowadays, restricted spaces are no longer a major problem for garden enthusiasts. You can create your own haven by using containers and modern planters to start your make over. Few tools must also needed to help you create your own little garden in your balcony.

First, you must have an idea about the plants and flowers that are best for your garden. Consider all necessary precautionary details, like the height it reach when it grows old, the location, and if it is ideal for containers. These are some of the details you need to consider before choosing the plants you wish to grow.

Tools may be very limited and simple for those who would like to grow a little garden in a limited space and would like to try container gardening. A small shovel for containers, watering containers, mix potting soil, fertilizer and gorgeous container will do. For this type of gardening, you may need to give a little investment for your containers since these are the permanent haven of your plants.

Personally I like buying containers from shops that make valuable containers for plants. I do not buy these from local department stores because most of these are made from cheap materials and some are toxic to plants. Rustic bark planters of windowbox.com are unique containers I saw online. The materials take from squares of authentic tree bark and turns them into a gorgeous garden accent. These bark planters include a plastic liner that protects it from damp soil mix and since it originally comes from the bark of the tree it fights mold and mildew - definitely! a gorgeous and ideal home of your lovely flowers and plants. If you are planning to plant herbs for cooking, these are ideal containers too.

If you already verified all the things you needed, consider recurring activities that are very important to maintain and to grow your plants. Watering is the basic need of your plants and they need to be treated with enough water everyday for them to grow graciously. But overdoing it will also kill your plants. Just make sure that the soil is damp and moist all the time. Some plants may need your attention every now and then. Just make sure you know your plants well.

A Place We Call Our Own

A house is a place where we live, and it is a place where love and building of character happens. I remember when I was younger, my parents and I used to lived with my grandparents house because they can not afford to build a house just yet. At that time, my uncle and his kid's are also staying at the same house as ours, Having 3 families under one roof has always been happy but at the same time complicated. We were the first to move out of our grandparents house, my mom and dad decided to rent a house since they were just starting . After 3 years of renting, and mom and dad were able to save up some money, they have decided to build a house of our own. 

They bought a land and started to build our new home. We were all excited for the house to finish because we wanted to move in immediately. It took months for the house to be fully furnished, and at last, the day has arrived for us to move into our new home, a place we can call our own. We had separate rooms for reasons I don't understand since I was still young. But, I'm happy because I would have a space of my own and I could just hide in my room if I don't feel like talking to anybody or If I got scolded by my mother. I like our new house because it's very cozy and we can do whatever we want unlike staying at our grandparents house our movement is very limited, since we need to consider the feelings of others. 

My room is parallel to our parents room, while my brother's room is located just beside mine. Every Saturday is our general cleaning day, since mom is also working, she do not have ample time to clean our house. She had assigned a specific task for me since I am a girl and I need to be familiarize with the household chores. After cleaning my room and our living room, I would water the flowers on my window. The flowers are planted on a scroll window basket with a coco liner, the flowers fits my windows perfectly. reminiscing all of those happy moments would bring tears to my eyes, a mix emotion of happiness and regret at the same time.

Magnifique Marseille

Are you looking for a place of absolute well being and optimal relaxation? If your answer is a definite Yes, then you need a vacation even for just a few days and I have a perfect place that fits your needs. It is also a place where you could unwind, and at the same time run away for a moment from all the problems and stress that your work and your demanding boss had given you. It is located in the second largest city in France, after Paris, and is on the Southeast coast of France, Marseille. Paris is known as the City of Love, while Marseille has a rich culture and history that they should really be proud of. Marseille is for people not afraid to discover a real place with real people. From colorful markets that will make you feel like you are in Africa, to the Calanques ( a natural area of big cliffs falling into the sea ), from the Panier area ( the oldest place in town and historically the place where newcomers installed ) to the Corniche ( a road along the sea ) and the Vieux-Port (old harbor ). Marseille has definitely a lot to offer. 

Discovering the beautiful place of Marseille maybe tiring and you need a place to stay in at the end of the day. Hotel Sofitel in Vieux-Port is the best place for you, with 134 guest rooms that will take you on a panoramic journey around Marseille, it's like a yacht entering a harbor. Hotel rooms have wooden venetian blinds and a french window box cage with pots of flowers installed. Behind each windows lies a view of city life that you can enjoy at the comfort of a Sofitel MyBed. If your also looking for a place to dine-in, you do not have to go far, you called either call for a room service or go to the hotel's restaurant, which is the Les Trois Forts. They have the best fine-dining spot and offers Mediterranean cuisine by Master Chef Dominique Frerard. If you would also like a few drinks before going into bed, you could drop by at the Le Carre, a bar where locals and guests meets for a coffee, a light meal or a signature cocktail. 

For those who wants to know more about Sofitel Marseille, Vieux-Port you could always visit their website and check for online promos and room rates, as well as the different events, leisure and services, and their rejuvenating spa. Life is magnificent, enjoy it while you still can.