Clarizze @ Home

Archive for the ‘Shopping’ Category

After searching for days in city shops for various storage boxes for daughter’s Womens Ski Jackets, dresses, and shoes, we turned to the Internet in the hopes of finding the exact items we are looking for. And, indeed, the Internet solved our problem. Finally, daughter’s shoes are a lot more organized now than it was before. Thanks for these shoe boxes that we had find and ordered at ebay.ph.

Stackable

Shoe boxes come in different sizes. Most of the times, few pairs are too bulky it can take a lot in such a small space.  What’s to love about these shoe boxes is that they are stackable and it has an opening right in front of the box where shoes can be pulled out without getting the box out. We arranged the shoes under the daughter’s vanity shelf and look at how tidy they look than yesterday.

Clear view of the shoes

Honestly, at 26 PHP a piece ($0.65), frugal me find it a little pricey for a shoe box. But, then, after receiving the package just this morning and see for ourselves how usable will they be, we easily find an alibi to love this storage shoe box. It’s clear plastic made will enable us to see what shoes are in each box.

As a trial purchase, we only ordered a pack of these clear plastic shoe boxes. A pack of 16 @ 26 Php each.  What say you? How do you stack up your shoes?

Are you looking for wall panels for your homes? Wall panels could provide as an adornment in your homes or it could be provided in a place where you want to separate (as division between two rooms) between rooms. It’ll add character to every home space.

I find a lucrative sale of wall panels with decorative decals at a popular website. Every item is up for grabs at 50% discount. Go check out the sale at cashcashpinoy.com before the deal runs out.

Who wouldn’t love sale? Much less 70% discount?

There were really cool stuff -home items, decors, kitchen items and more-  that I have been eyeing. But I had to control myself. It’s so much fun shopping for the items you like especially when it’s up for huge discounts. Let’s see…

With so many electronics in the home or office, it can be difficult to remember what cables go to which products. When cables get lost or damaged, it is always a hassle to sort them out. Triangle Cables provides a wide variety of cables, adapters and networking items. This allows anyone looking for a replacement cable to find it easily. Triangle Cable’s online store is very organized, which helps shoppers find the correct accessory for their product. Major brands have their own sub-category, so as long as you know the make and model of your electronic, you can find the replacement. Easy navigation will lead you to quickly find printer ink cartridges, TV Satellite multi-switches, PC Hardware accessories, power cables and adapters. All of the products are brand new and never refurbished. Triangle Cables gives customers confidence as they shop. Over 132,000 customers have been satisfied over the online shop’s lifetime. These customers have all experienced Triangle Cable’s easy-to-use services, fast shipping and hassle-free return policy. This makes Triangle Cables one of the more trusted sites to work with. Plus, they are always available to answer any questions potential buyers may have with a customer service phone number and live chat.

Blogging away from home.

I saw a pretty red love seat at a home depot inside SM Baguio. Fell in love with its design. I have been dreaming of a love seat for a while now. I knew it would be perfect in one corner in our living room. I mean to replace a wooden settee over that space and perhaps a soft love seat would add character and warmth into that space.

Unfortunately, the love seat was a price too heavy for me. $450 for a love seat is too superfluous for me. Wish I could find better deals the next time.

Over the past few years, the use of Italian decorative plaster has become increasingly popular. It is used in homes, hotels and office buildings across the world, and it is incredibly versatile as to where it can be used

to create interesting, and eye catching dramatic wall and ceiling designs. It looks amazing, feels amazing, and has a global appeal – not only in Italy!

What Is Italian Lime Plaster?

Italian lime plaster generally contains a thin layer of slaked type lime putty, which in turn is then mixed with quartz, or in some cases marble, or kaolin. After this process has been completed, it is then coloured with a pigment. It can then be applied in many different ways to produce a room with character and class. This technique can be used for room treatments, and it closely resembles rooms in Italy that have a vintage charm about them.

Old Is Now the New

Italian lime plaster is most commonly used in northern Italy, and has been used for thousands of years. Lime plaster is one of the world’s oldest building materials. It dates back over 9,500 years, and it originated with the Romans. They began to mix and create lime plaster with fine marble dust to create a delicate application over rough types of sand aggregate. This is strikingly similar to the technique commonly used in modern decorating styles, and it is especially famous in parts of Italy and Europe.

Venetian Plastering Effects

One of the familiar and common phrases used when discussing Italian originating plasters is the word Venetian. It is used nearly all the time to refer to techniques of different decorative plaster work. In America specifically, Venetian plasters not only refer to slaked lime, but also to lime plaster that has been transformed with Acrylic Polymers. Most types of plaster have a long life span, but a number of Venetian plasters that are sold mainly in home improvement stores or DIY shops hold little or no resemblance to original Italian plaster work, made with synthetic materials to replicate the true materials that are traditionally used. No American company makes Venetian lime plaster like the Italians. Regardless of what type of Italian plaster you choose, you can still use it to create amazing and beautifully stylish effects if the work is done correctly. It is important to talk to a person who knows what they are doing when it comes to plaster work, so that you can make sure it is carried out in the correct way, for example John Anthony Plastering is a company in the UK that specializes in decorative plastering (see http://www.johnanthonyplastering.co.uk).  Even when you are looking for different types of plaster to use in your home or building, it is good to talk to the experts so that they can tell you what would work and what wouldn’t work.

I have a friend who ask me what should she buy : an electric oven or a gas oven?

Personally, I’ll be prejudice with my reply. Of course, without batting an eyelash, I did tell her to opt for gas oven. I was in the same predicament as hers when I decided I needed an oven as soon as I got back my interest in baking. I had done a lot of reading before purchasing. I had to consider why would I need an oven for when I have a free standing gas burner for my everyday cooking needs.

If you are stuck like my friend what to choose between an electric or gas oven, here’s few factors I had considered before in choosing what oven seems to be perfect for me.

Cooking or Baking

As I said, I renewed my interest in baking. So, my main purpose for buying an oven is mainly for baking purposes only. I learned that just as how important correct measurements in creating perfectly baked goodies are, finding the proper oven is also of great importance. Knowing how electric or gas oven function at heat distribution, temperatures, and power supply can help one to decide which to choose. Which oven to choose?

Power Outages

This is self-explanatory. The reason why I opted for a gas oven because, we are in an area were power outages happen so very often. I don’t want that to cause interruption when I am baking cookies. Because baking is not something you can finish using a conventional burner WINNER: Gas oven

Electricity

Since we are talking power supply, high cost of electricity is the number one reason why I easily narrow my choice for gas oven. While some would say there’s only a slight difference between gas and electric consumption, what concerns me was the fact that electric ovens takes longer time to heat up than a gas oven do. CLEAR WINNER: Gas Oven

Heat Distribution

Some suggest that electric ovens are far superior in distributing heat which allowed even cooking. And, since electric ovens use dry heat, it tends to protect the unit from rust as oppose to gas oven when moisture are build up inside the oven itself. However, as per baking is concerned, the moisture build up inside the oven tends to aid in baking process as it can help to make baked goodies crispier outside but moist inside. Both Winners

Temperature Control

Heat could have been more precise in electric ovens, but since it runs on electricity, temperature tends to fluctuate as oppose to gas ovens were temperature is maintained at consistent level. Of course, temperature may drop, too when oven door is opened. WINNER: Gas Oven

Cost to Purchase an Oven

When I began my search for my oven, I saw a significant difference in the price between an electric oven an a gas oven. Electric ovens are 25%cheaper than most gas ovens. Given the same distinct features. In this case, electric oven is the WINNER here.

However, citing all the others factors I have mentioned above, price is not only the determining factor in choosing an oven. Accuracy of temperature when baking and heat distribution should be on the top list when choosing what oven to purchase. After all, we all want to achieve  perfectly baked goodies at every try. Lastly, choosing what oven to purchase is a matter of personal preference.

Did I help you decide what oven to purchase?

Check mine here.

Summer time is here. However, I am not sure if I’ll be loving this season when I have three kids to attend to 24/7. Kids who are always hungry which leaves me staying more in the kitchen as ever. Kids who tends to make clutter faster than I can clean them up. I guess, I am more busier when school is off. Whereas, when all the kids are in school and the husband is working, I can have spare time to do what I like best to do -cleaning the house, rearranging furniture, decorating.

I have this notoriety in changing the decors more often. I don’t know. Maybe, it’s one of those SAHM-thing. When all the chores are done, I’ve got nothing else to do.

Move things. Here, there, back here, again

When I purchased these clay potteries in December, I placed them in the living room. Then, in January I moved them outside near the entrance door. But the blustery winds of the Amihan endangers one piece which makes me find a new home for them, again.

Here they are now. In a wall where in November, a table with my angel figurines sit here. Angels are relocated^^ to give these earthenware pieces a new place. Above them is a framed clock with my cross stitch-giraffe-design.

So there. The trio potteries find its way in our so-called entertainment/family room. I personally thought, they fit better there as the color of the wall is a cool green and the flooring tiles are a combination of olive green/grey/yellow. I thought the yellow pieces complement the colors in the area. Did they?

I don’t know how long will they stay there.

BTW, the three potteries cost only 1500 pesos. They’re made of clay and spray painted the designs. A friend referred the seller to me in December who hails from Ilocos.

While the husband is busy reading about lateral spring plungers, I get myself busy prepping our small kitchen window. The husband (always my critic^_^) disapproves my idea of placing curtain on that kitchen window. Saying, curtain will somehow make the area darker and feel smaller. I should let the natural light comes in, he says. It’ll make the room larger and airy, too.

Okay. You got a point there. I said. But, as always is the stubborn wife, I came home one day with a small curtain and surprised him when he came home one night and saw the window treatment.

What did he say? Just a half smile^_^.

99 pesos? Flimsy fabric?

I choose a sheer fabric because I want fresh air to come through the small window. And, I picked the safest color and design -white with touches of gold stripes to match the hardware and the tile borders- too bold a design will be too heavy on the eyes. Then, I found two unused curtain holders and used both to gather the ends and hang right into the curtain rods. This way, the fabric would not totally block the air, the light and the view coming from the outside.

So there it is. Small window treatment for my small kitchen.

How I wished my kitchen counter stays clean and clutter free forever. Kids’ vacation are coming. The place will be busier more than ever…

(#Wishlist2013: Kitchen Island! Come to me this 2013. Pretty please. )

Here’s my latest colorful nifty finds at a “tiangge”. Costing 15 pesos a-piece. I was delighted to purchased 4 pieces.

What’s not to love with these cheap and brightly colored faux butterfly.

I initially didn’t know where to put them when I purchased them. The little daughter would be delighted to have them and stick them to her room. But, when I get to the house and held them on the table, I suddenly think of a better place for them…

Guard and feed on these faux flower will yah, Mr. Faux butterflies?