HomeY Treats

Check out this Huggy Armhair from Lago. I like this product because its practical and can be used in two ways - an armchair or a mattress to sleep on. It looks comfortable for me. Knowing that its a mattress, definitely its soft. Its best for those places or houses that has little space. You can also use its wooden base as a table, just turn it upside-down.

This beach house, by Andrade Morettin, has a roof measuring six metres high, with a surface of 18x8 metres and was built using a prefabricated timber structure with galvanized steel joints. This summer house began with the idea of a big shelter, a “shell”, under which they could locate the programme and protect from the intense sun and frequent rains, without blocking the permanent natural cross ventilation.

The architectural design of this beach house really impressed me. It is generously open to the scenery. You will see everything out there...so relaxing...so refreshing. You can enjoy the views even indoors. Below are some shots of the RR Beach House taken by Nelson Kon.

Earlier, I was thinking what to cook for dinner knowing that there's really nothing to cook. Food cabinets are empty and the refrigerator had only 5 pieces of tomatoes. I can't cook anything using barely tomatoes, right? Then my father arrived from an out of town trip carrying with him a bag of squids. I think it weighs for about 2 kilos. After I saw the bag of squids, instantly, a good recipe pops up my mind. I get the bag from him and place it on the kitchen sink so I can prepare it for cooking. When I opened the bag, I found that the squids are not yet cleaned. For me it’s a big problem because not any of us have the idea how to do the thing and my mother is not around to teach me how. So I have to do something. I searched through net and found this site (actually it’s a Blog). It was really a great help for me. It provides the step-by-step procedure of cleaning a fresh squid together with some images that makes it easier to understand. I follow the steps and ooh-lala, I did it. Now I’m posting this Blog to return the favor to Miss Lilian(the blogger). Thanks to her blog. You could also visit Best recipes, foods and travel to see it yourself.

I blog and post about lifestyles, homes, interior designs, family and foods so I visit websites and blogs related to these terms most of the time. But sometimes, accidentally, I open sites not related at all and got hooked up reading on some articles. If I find those posts interesting I continue reading. I also read on my newly link friends at socialspark.com. These are the list of blogs I was reading lately:

--> Houseblogs.net
--> Mumblings
--> Mary's Madness
--> Monika's Corner
--> Roxiticus Best Blogs
--> Sawickis

Want to have a spot on the list? Trade your links with me.^^

I was looking for easy to do crafts when I saw this project from Better Homes and Gardens. I find it interesting to do but the image that was posted in the website doesn't look so attractive (actually, it is shown below). I posted the project thinking that someone may want to try it and send me pictures of his/her finished craft. I'll be very glad to post those pictures if the sender allowed me. I'll also try doing this when I have enough free time and I'll show you a better craft of it.


What You'll Need

* Drill
* Bits
* 18-gauge wire
* 3-inch-thick pieces of wood or logs
* Strong adhesive (such as E6000)
* Wire cutters
* Dripless taper candles

Make It

1. Using a drill bit to fit the wire, drill an off-center hole in each wood piece.
2. Cut an 18-inch-long piece of wire for each candle. Glue one end of the wire into the hole. Let the glue dry.
3. Wrap the wire around candle. Shape the wire end into a curlicue.

Tofu-rific dishes is my term for terrific tofu dishes. My family even my boyfriend loves tofu. Tofu is made by coagulating soy milk, and then pressing the resulting curds into blocks. It is low in calories, contains beneficial amounts of iron and has no saturated fat or cholesterol. It may also high in calcium and magnesium depending on the coagulant used in manufacturing. Below are two recipes of tofu that you could try at home.

TIP: Try to use tofu as soon as possible or if you need to store it, make sure it is put in a covered container with water to keep it moist.

Tofu and Shiitake Mushrooms in Oyster Sauce

Ingredients:

1 tbsp cooking oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced ginger
2 stalks leeks, cut into 1-inch slices
10 pcs fresh shiitake mushrooms, sliced (you can use dried shiitake but
soak them first in water until soft. You can also use canned shiitake if you wish)
1/4 cup thinly sliced carrots
1 pack Japanese tofu, drained and cubed
1 tbsp oyster sauce
1 tbsp cornstarch
1 cup water
salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

1. In a pan, heat oil and saute garlic and ginger.
2. Add the leeks, shiitake mushrooms and carrots.
3. Carefully add in the cubed tofu and oyster sauce. Simmer for a few minutes.
4. Dissolve the cornstarch in the water then add to the pan. Cook until sauce thickens slightly.
5. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Japanese Tofu Steak


Ingredients:

8 pcs. Japanese tofu cubes
cornstarch for dredging
oil for deep-frying
20 grams shiitake mushrooms
10 grams button mushrooms
2 tbsp. butter
1/8 cup yakinuki sauce

For the yakinuki sauce:
2 tbsp. sesame seed
2 pcs. bell peppers, quartered
1 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp. rice vinegar

Direction:

1. Coat tofu with cornstarch. Deep-fry in hot oil until light golden, and set aside.
2. Saute tofu with the mushrooms in butter. Transfer to serving platter. Pour yakinuki sauce over the mixture.
3. To make the yakinuki sauce, combine all ingredients in a saucepan. Lat boil, then lower heat and simmer for a few minutes.

Whether we are aware of it or not, color has different effects on our psychological and emotional well-being, one of that color is red. Red color suggests happiness, joy and good luck. The bright and and splashy shade is associated with feelings of passion, cheerfulness and exuberance. It can also be very seductive. Red is exciting and attention grabbing, so use it sparingly to achieve the look you want. Here are some home decors and accessories that will surely brighten up your homes!

Never lose track of time with this funky modern clock from the well known quality clock maker Karlsson. It features a metal and red dial with digits denoted with red balls. Get it from Contemporary Heaven.


Add a different ambiance to your room with this unique coloured table light by massive featuring a satin metal base and stem with a hand blown red coloured glass lamp. Grab it for a price of £35.00


Dispaly your flowers and give it a hot look on this attractive vase. Take a look on it at Home Temptations.


Fire up your bedroom with sizzling bed linen set from Debenhams.



Soft Harlequin Whirl floor rugs has an abstract circular pattern available in 2 colour varieties to give a definite sense of style to your room.

When it comes to bath fixtures, faucets and showerheads do the talking. Kludi and THG exudes style and cutting-edge technology in this field. Take your pick from a wide-range of products-from classic to high-tech.

Lavatory Faucets come in different styles such as centerset, widespread and wall-mounted, so choosing one depends on the sink to be used. The number of holes is a critical factor, as some sinks and vessels cannot be drilled at all. Below are images of the stylish faucets I was talking about. I personally like the fourth one. It is a single-hole and single-handle faucet from THG which you would get at the price of $1,272.oo






Tub faucets are also called tub fillers so don't be confused, they are often chosen to match or complement a tub. They have a much higher flow rate than kitchen faucets, with which they cannot be interchanged with even if they often look similar. They may be wall-mounted, deck-mounted or freestanding. The first image is another product of THG which comes from their Waterfall Collection, the Niagra. Its a contemporary deck mount tub filler in chrome color (also available in other colors). The second image is a four-hole bath and shower mixer from Kludi.


If I were to be asked what bath fixture is my favorite, I would answer showers. These provide a spray of water that washes our bodies quickly and easily without the need for a long soak. There are many types of showers and one of the simplest is the showerhead. This is installed in a fixed position, usually above shoulder level. Other shower types are hand-held, body spray and shower tower. I admire the first shower from Kludi for its slim and discreet, yet confident and modern style. The second one looks unique for me because of its dramatic shape.

This Pigeon Light is cute and adorable. A wall-mounted light made from 3mm vacuum-formed Acrylic. It is available in white (with white flex), grey (white or orange flex), pink (white flex), orange (white flex), yellow (white flex) and black (black flex). Pigeon Lights are designed by Ed Carpenter for Thorsten Van Elten. Though this dinky, bird-shaped lamps are cute, I don't feel displaying it on ordinary days. I prefer to display it on Christmas season because of its fancy and colorful look.

When we say kitchen we refer to the room, area or part of the house we use for food preparation including cooking. Kitchen is an important part of the house. A modern kitchen may possibly equipped with basic furnitures and appliances such as stove, cabinets, and refrigerator. It also has sink with running water used for cleaning food, washing dishes, or providing water to cook with.

I always dreamed of stylish kitchen for my dream house. I like the idea of an organized, multi functional and of course stylish as I have said. I posted images of kitchens that I personally like and suits my taste. You can take a look at this post at least to get some inspirations. I get this kitchen inspirations from Latini Cucine and Virs.

When i was watching TV, I got hooked up by the art in furnitures of this designer. His name was Kenneth Cobonpue, a well-known Filipino designer. Most of the materials he uses in his creations are abaca, bamboo and rattan.

The Croissant Collection fascinated me for the unique and intricate design. These pieces of furniture are made of strands of abaca rope that are tied down by translucent nylon wires over a hand sculpted frame of light steel.

Here are some images that I got via muleh:

Play and sleep pillows help you to fall asleep according to Maja Ganszyniec, the brain of this design. Instead of counting hundred sheep to fall asleep, you could try this one. Each pillow has a bead trapped in between the layers of a soft fabric of a pillowcase. It encourages a person to play with it, following the bead with a finger in smooth, repetitive movements (in circles or up and down), or in a free way in a giant maze embroidered on a surface of a pillow.The repetitive moves performed while using the pillow help to fulfill the need of caressing and being caressed. Just like playing with hair, these subconsciously repeated gestures are a form of inner caressing. Loosing the tension the person gradually relaxes, to fall into deep, calm sleep in the end. But still, it may not work to everyone. I think it may also develop mannerism since you'll be attracted to play on it every night.

It's very exciting to move into a new place - change of neighborhood, ambiance and a fresh new start. But one of the most exciting moments of moving is to fix up your new place according to your taste. But what if you are moving from a spacious house to a compact space apartment? Is that exciting? Here are some improvement solution for you that would be very helpful.

HOW TO MAXIMIZE YOUR SMALL SPACE?

1. Let go of your old things you might not need.

These old things might consume the space of your apartment. Remember that you have limited storage space in your new place. You can sold your old things on a garage sale or give it to the less fortunate. Earn money from it or do charity work.

2. Know what are your priorities.

Keep in mind your priorities. This will help you know what to retain or to put away. If you are planning to buy something new for your place, your priorities will be your guide.

3. Add some storage.

Storage is very important. It keeps your things organized. Choose storages that are good enough to fit in the place you plan to put it. It's better to buy a larger piece than a collection of smaller ones, which would look more cluttered.

4. Choose flexible furnitures.

Having limited space means no-no for bulky furnitures. Choose things that are flexible and multi-functional but fits to your taste.

HOW TO GET THE RIGHT LOOK?

1. Decide on the theme before you color.

For example, an industrial style will go well with cool, metallic colors like gray, blue and white. Portrait in your mind the color you will use and see if they go well together.

2. Choose basic styles for major furniture pieces.

If your concept is not so clear, stick to the safe side - keep the major pieces generic.

3. Pull the look together.

Unify a look through color, texture of material, or style of an era. You can use accessories to tie together different pieces of furniture.

I love desserts with fruits and Blueberry Cheesecake is one of those delicious desserts. But it would be a problem if you want to make one but don't have an oven to bake on. Since I have this same problem, I searched for a recipe that will solve my problem and craving. I found one and tried doing the recipe and it's really good. Actually, not just good, it's the best. I want to share this recipe with you...maybe you'll like it too.Enjoy!



Crust:

-1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
-2 tbsp unsalted butter
-1/2 cup brown sugar

Filling:

-2 (8 oz) pack cream cheese, softened
-1/3 cup sugar
-1 tsp vanilla extract
-2 cups cool whip topping, thawed (whipped cream will also do)
-1 jar of blueberry preserves (use as much as u prefer as topping)
-1 tsp unflavored colorless gelatin
-3 tbsp water

How to make No Bake Blueberry Cheesecake

1.Combine all the crust ingredients with a fork until well blended. Press in a 9 inch pie pan. Chill in the fridge for about 15 minutes.

2.Beat the cream cheese and sugar in a bowl with an electric mixer. Add in vanilla extract.

3.Dissolve the gelatin in the water and add in the cream cheese mixture. Beat until well blended and cream cheese fluffy.

4.Add in the cool whip and fold gently.

5.Spoon over crust and let chill in the fridge for about 3 hours or until set. Top with some blueberry preserves or fresh ones which ever you prefer. Can do your favorite fruit topping too.

Wine tasting is the sensory examination and evaluation of wine. Learning how to taste wines is a good adventure that will make you appreciate the wine you are tasting and the wine maker. It starts with having good senses --- looking, smelling and tasting. From this basic senses, it will expand to senses of a pro in no time. Keep in mind that wine tasting is a combination of smell and taste that allows you to distinguish flavor.

Here's How:

1. Look at the wine, especially around the edges. Tilting the glass a bit can make it easier to see the way the color changes from the center to the edges. Holding the glass in front of a white background, such as a napkin, tablecloth, or sheet of paper, is another good way to make out the wine's true color. Look for the color of the wine and the clarity. Intensity, depth or saturation of color are not necessarily linear with quality. White wines become darker as they age while time causes red wines to lose their color turning more brownish, often with a small amount of harmless, dark red sediment in the bottom of the bottle or glass. This is also a good time to catch a preliminary sniff of the wine so you can compare its fragrance after swirling. This will also allow you to check for any off odors that might indicate spoiled (corked) wine.

2. Swirl the wine in your glass. This is to increase the surface area of the wine by spreading it over the inside of the glass allowing them to escape from solution and reach your nose. It also allows some oxygen into the wine, which will help its aromas open up.

3. Note the wine's viscosity - how slowly it runs back down the side of the glass - while you're swirling. More viscous wines are said to have "legs," and are likely to be more alcoholic. Outside of looking pretty, this has no relation to a wine's quality.

4. Sniff the wine. Initially you should hold the glass a few inches from your nose. Then let your nose go into the glass. What do you smell?

5. Take a sip of wine, but do not swallow yet. Roll the wine around in your mouth exposing it to all of your taste buds. You will only be able to detect sweet, sour, salty, bitter and umami (think: meaty or savory). Pay attention to the texture and other tactile sensations such as an apparent sense of weight or body.

6. Aspirate through the wine: With your lips pursed as if you were to whistle, draw some air into your mouth and exhale through your nose. This liberates the aromas for the wine and allows them to reach your nose where they can be detected. The nose is the only place where you can detect a wine's aromas. However, the enzymes and other compounds in your mouth and saliva alter some of a wine's aromatic compounds. By aspirating through the wine, you are looking for any new aromas liberated by the wine's interaction with the environment of your mouth.

7. Take another sip of the wine, but this time (especially if you are drinking a red wine) introduce air with it. In other words, slurp the wine (without making a loud slurping noise, of course). Note the subtle differences in flavor and texture.

8. Note the aftertaste when you swallow. How long does the finish last? Do you like the taste?

9. Write down what you experienced. You can use whatever terminology you feel comfortable with. The most important thing to write down is your impression of the wine and how much you liked it. Many wineries provide booklets and pens so that you can take your own tasting notes. This will force you to pay attention to the subtleties of the wine. Also, you will have a record of what the wine tastes like so that you can pair it with meals or with your mood.

* Wines have four basic components: taste, tannins, alcohol and acidity. Some wines also have sweetness - but the latter is only appropriate in dessert wines. A good wine will have a good balance of all four characteristics. Aging will soften tannins (see Tips for a more detailed description). Acidity will soften throughout the life of a wine as it undergoes chemical changes which include the break down of acids. Fruit will rise and then fall throughout the life of a wine. Alcohol will stay the same. All of these factors contribute to knowing when to drink/decant a wine.
* Here are some commonly found tastes for each of the most common varieties (bear in mind that growing region, harvesting decisions and other production decisions have a great impact on a wine's flavor character):

o Cabernet - black currant, cherry other, black fruits, green spices
o Merlot - plum, red and black fruits, green spices, floral
o Zinfandel - black fruits (often jammy), black spices - often called "briary"
o Syrah (aka Shiraz, depending on vineyard location) - black fruits, black spices - especially white and black pepper
o Pinot Noir - red fruits, floral, herbs
o Chardonnay - cool climate: tropical fruit, citrus fruit in slightly warmer climes and melon in warm regions. With increasing proportion of malolactic fermentation, Chardonnay loses green apple and takes on creamy notes, Apple, pear, peach, apricot
o Sauvignon Blanc - Grapefruit, white gooseberry, lime, melon
* Malolactic fermentation (the natural or artificial introduction of a specific bacteria) will cause white wines to taste creamy or buttery
* Aging in oak will cause wines to take on a vanilla or nutty flavor.
* Other common taste descriptors are minerality, earthiness and asparagus.

10. Match the glassware to the wine. Stemware/drinkware comes in a variety of shapes and sizes. The more experienced wine drinkers and connoisseurs often enjoy wines out of stemware or bulbs that are tailor-made for a specific varietal. When starting out, there is a basic rule of thumb; larger glasses for reds, and smaller glasses for whites. Austrian glassware company Riedel is the gold standard of drinkware when it comes to wine, but for the beginner, less expensive stemware will do.

11. Try pairing wines with unusual ingredients and note the how it enhances or diminishes the flavors of the wine. With red wines try different cheeses, good quality chocolate and berries. With white wines you can try apples, pears and citrus fruits. Pairing wine with food is more complicated than "red with beef and white with fish." Feel free to drink whichever wine you want with whatever food you want, but remember a perfect pairing is a highly enjoyable experience.

12. Ultimately, a wine should complement the food and cleanse the palate. So big, jammy, sweet wines will not do as well as ones with a more composed bouquet or aromas and high acidity.


Steps are adapted from http://www.wikihow.com/