Archive for October, 2008
How to Save Space in Your Kitchen
Lisa Parker asked:
In most homes, the kitchen tends to be one of the busiest rooms. Traffic flow is high because this room is generally where food is stored in cabinets, on pantry shelves, and of course in the refrigerator. Many meals and snacks are prepared here, and some families dine on those meals seated around a table placed in the kitchen. With so much activity occurring in the kitchen, space is always a premium. Having the space needed for preparing those meals and snacks as well as having a kitchen with an uncluttered look to it, is of prime importance for many people.
Your kitchen can easily become a “drop zone” for things that do not really belong there. You are likely to have at least one drawer in the kitchen devoted to storing items that could be stored for use in other rooms. You should go through cabinets and drawers and clear them of these things so that items you regularly use for cooking and baking can be stored in them. This frees up precious needed counter space and keeps the kitchen from taking on a cluttered appearance. Consolidating foodstuffs with the addition of shelves and inner-door cabinet baskets is also valuable to your efforts to save space in your kitchen.
A lot of your counter space is lost to loose spice jars, coffee mugs, paper and plastic shopping bags, foods like fruits and vegetables, and other things that can make your kitchen cluttered rather quickly. It is amazing how one mug quickly turns into a collection and they slowly begin taking up your valuable space making it more difficult to prepare a meal or snack, read a cookbook, place groceries on, and so forth. Many space saver solutions exist to help you solve the problem of loose items eating up space you need. They can also help make your kitchen more attractive. Coffee mug trees, spice caddies, vegetable bins and baskets, towel racks, hooks, and many of the other space-saving solutions that are available, can make a big difference in added space and order in your kitchen.
The appliances and gadgets that you have in your kitchen for meal preps, as well as for cooking, baking, serving, and storing foods, can also take up a lot of kitchen space. Even some furniture used in the kitchen, should be swapped for furniture that uses less space and provides more function. Smaller kitchens may not have enough cabinets and shelving to store cookware, bakeware, utensils, dishes, nonperishable foods, and other things properly. Therefore, they end up all over the kitchen, stacked precariously on countertops, and in cumbersome totes on the floor, and elsewhere throughout the kitchen. This not only makes it harder for you to use your kitchen, but it can pose a physical hazard to everyone entering the kitchen as well. Storage containers, servers, bag caddies, shelving, and other similar products can help put order to your kitchen and reduce risks of injury from cluttered pathways and objects falling off counters.
You really need to take inventory of what you have in your kitchen and evaluate if the space they use up is space worth surrendering, because they serve their necessary purpose well. Even appliances, which you use daily, are available in smaller sizes that do not take up as much of the space that is such a premium in most kitchens. Do you really need a full-size coffee maker on your countertop everyday when you do not drink more than a cup or two in the morning: and a space saving coffee maker can brew that amount of coffee without stealing space you need for other things?
Move full sized appliances that you only use on special occasions or when guests visit to other storage areas such as the attic or basement. You can easily retrieve them when they are needed, but in the meantime, this can save space in your kitchen. Consider smaller appliances that serve the same purpose as their larger counterparts for ones that you do use regularly.
An online site offering quality made and reasonably priced space saving products is a good place to learn more about how to save space in your kitchen. There is a large variety of products available in many designs and colors. These products allow you to discover the perfect solution to your kitchen storage needs. Choose those space saving products that compliment the theme of your kitchen for an even more attractive room. An uncluttered kitchen with pretty and smart designs along with eye pleasing colors is excellent to consider. A kitchen that is well organized is an excellent place to cook meals because it eliminates the stress and frustration of misplacing important kitchen accessories.
In most homes, the kitchen tends to be one of the busiest rooms. Traffic flow is high because this room is generally where food is stored in cabinets, on pantry shelves, and of course in the refrigerator. Many meals and snacks are prepared here, and some families dine on those meals seated around a table placed in the kitchen. With so much activity occurring in the kitchen, space is always a premium. Having the space needed for preparing those meals and snacks as well as having a kitchen with an uncluttered look to it, is of prime importance for many people.
Your kitchen can easily become a “drop zone” for things that do not really belong there. You are likely to have at least one drawer in the kitchen devoted to storing items that could be stored for use in other rooms. You should go through cabinets and drawers and clear them of these things so that items you regularly use for cooking and baking can be stored in them. This frees up precious needed counter space and keeps the kitchen from taking on a cluttered appearance. Consolidating foodstuffs with the addition of shelves and inner-door cabinet baskets is also valuable to your efforts to save space in your kitchen.
A lot of your counter space is lost to loose spice jars, coffee mugs, paper and plastic shopping bags, foods like fruits and vegetables, and other things that can make your kitchen cluttered rather quickly. It is amazing how one mug quickly turns into a collection and they slowly begin taking up your valuable space making it more difficult to prepare a meal or snack, read a cookbook, place groceries on, and so forth. Many space saver solutions exist to help you solve the problem of loose items eating up space you need. They can also help make your kitchen more attractive. Coffee mug trees, spice caddies, vegetable bins and baskets, towel racks, hooks, and many of the other space-saving solutions that are available, can make a big difference in added space and order in your kitchen.
The appliances and gadgets that you have in your kitchen for meal preps, as well as for cooking, baking, serving, and storing foods, can also take up a lot of kitchen space. Even some furniture used in the kitchen, should be swapped for furniture that uses less space and provides more function. Smaller kitchens may not have enough cabinets and shelving to store cookware, bakeware, utensils, dishes, nonperishable foods, and other things properly. Therefore, they end up all over the kitchen, stacked precariously on countertops, and in cumbersome totes on the floor, and elsewhere throughout the kitchen. This not only makes it harder for you to use your kitchen, but it can pose a physical hazard to everyone entering the kitchen as well. Storage containers, servers, bag caddies, shelving, and other similar products can help put order to your kitchen and reduce risks of injury from cluttered pathways and objects falling off counters.
You really need to take inventory of what you have in your kitchen and evaluate if the space they use up is space worth surrendering, because they serve their necessary purpose well. Even appliances, which you use daily, are available in smaller sizes that do not take up as much of the space that is such a premium in most kitchens. Do you really need a full-size coffee maker on your countertop everyday when you do not drink more than a cup or two in the morning: and a space saving coffee maker can brew that amount of coffee without stealing space you need for other things?
Move full sized appliances that you only use on special occasions or when guests visit to other storage areas such as the attic or basement. You can easily retrieve them when they are needed, but in the meantime, this can save space in your kitchen. Consider smaller appliances that serve the same purpose as their larger counterparts for ones that you do use regularly.
An online site offering quality made and reasonably priced space saving products is a good place to learn more about how to save space in your kitchen. There is a large variety of products available in many designs and colors. These products allow you to discover the perfect solution to your kitchen storage needs. Choose those space saving products that compliment the theme of your kitchen for an even more attractive room. An uncluttered kitchen with pretty and smart designs along with eye pleasing colors is excellent to consider. A kitchen that is well organized is an excellent place to cook meals because it eliminates the stress and frustration of misplacing important kitchen accessories.
Savage Garden – Two Beds and a Coffee Machine
tatze1986 asked:
I want to thank everybody for the nice comments and for the critics too. THANKS A LOT!!!
Lyrics
“Two Beds And a Coffee Machine”
and she takes another step
slowly she opens the door
check that he is sleeping
pick up all the broken glass
and furniture on the floor
been up half the night screaming
now it’s time to get away
pack up the kids in the car
another bruise to try and hide
another alibi to write
another ditch in the road
you keep moving
another stop sign
you keep moving on
and the years go by so fast
wonder how I ever made it through
and there are children to think of
baby’s asleep in the back seat
wonder how they’ll ever make it
through this living nightmare
but the mind is an amazing thing
full of candy dreams and new toys
and another cheap hotel
two beds and a coffee machine
but there are groceries to buy
and she knows she’ll have to go home
another ditch in the road
you keep moving
another stop sign
you keep moving on
and the years go by so fast
wonder how I ever made it through
another bruise to try and hide
another alibi to write
another lonely highway in the black of night
there’s hope in the darkness
I know you’re gonna make it
another ditch in the road
keep moving
another stop sign
you keep moving on
and the years go by so fast
silent fortress built to last
wonder how I ever made it
Check The Rating Of Coffee Machine Before Buying
Johnathan Bakers asked:
These days an essential part of life is coffee. Anything that becomes increasingly essential can be the cause of headache when you do not have it right or do not have it at all. For java that definitely is true. A day can become flavorless if the coffee is not of good taste and a gray day is a day with no coffee. This leads to the fact that it is essential to purchase the correct kind of coffee maker. By buying the coffee maker with thermal quality you can relieve yourself from any headache. You must check the thermal coffee makers ratings before finally purchasing one. The market study helps to know the price range and qualities of the thermal coffee maker.
In the market many other types of brewing machines are still available. Some of them are the hand press machines, old-fashioned drip machines and still older old-fashioned French presses. Shooting hot water all the way through the coffee pads just like the coffee machines in Europe, are the machines for pod coffee that serve individuals which are latest in the market. An espresso maker is something coffee connoisseurs can even now stick to. So, if you are unsure about your purchase, it is important to get the ratings on these as well as the thermal coffee machines.
The thermal coffee makers without any such fight may win you over with its ratings. The thermal coffee makers incase you did not know stay hot for hours. Preserving your coffee flavor this whole time without burning it is their best feature. For an office or large family kitchen settings a similarly sized drip machine faces tough competition from several thermal coffee makers, which have big dual carafes worth eight to ten cups. Best quality brushed stainless steel is used generally to make these carafes. To be operated independently or simultaneously some have dual wall thermal systems. To keep the coffee for hours at the correct taste and temperature these dual wall carafes are a help.
Filters with permanent platinum or gold, auto shut off, filter baskets that can be swung away and a timer that is digitally programmable for 24 hours are the other features the thermal coffee makers top. The system for you to remove the carafe, without spilling any during brewing if you cannot wait, is present in fine thermal coffee makers. To get various blends through the day, like decaf, regular and hazelnut look out for the additional color-coded lids offers made with some thermal coffee makers, as it is perfect if you have a big office.
These days an essential part of life is coffee. Anything that becomes increasingly essential can be the cause of headache when you do not have it right or do not have it at all. For java that definitely is true. A day can become flavorless if the coffee is not of good taste and a gray day is a day with no coffee. This leads to the fact that it is essential to purchase the correct kind of coffee maker. By buying the coffee maker with thermal quality you can relieve yourself from any headache. You must check the thermal coffee makers ratings before finally purchasing one. The market study helps to know the price range and qualities of the thermal coffee maker.
In the market many other types of brewing machines are still available. Some of them are the hand press machines, old-fashioned drip machines and still older old-fashioned French presses. Shooting hot water all the way through the coffee pads just like the coffee machines in Europe, are the machines for pod coffee that serve individuals which are latest in the market. An espresso maker is something coffee connoisseurs can even now stick to. So, if you are unsure about your purchase, it is important to get the ratings on these as well as the thermal coffee machines.
The thermal coffee makers without any such fight may win you over with its ratings. The thermal coffee makers incase you did not know stay hot for hours. Preserving your coffee flavor this whole time without burning it is their best feature. For an office or large family kitchen settings a similarly sized drip machine faces tough competition from several thermal coffee makers, which have big dual carafes worth eight to ten cups. Best quality brushed stainless steel is used generally to make these carafes. To be operated independently or simultaneously some have dual wall thermal systems. To keep the coffee for hours at the correct taste and temperature these dual wall carafes are a help.
Filters with permanent platinum or gold, auto shut off, filter baskets that can be swung away and a timer that is digitally programmable for 24 hours are the other features the thermal coffee makers top. The system for you to remove the carafe, without spilling any during brewing if you cannot wait, is present in fine thermal coffee makers. To get various blends through the day, like decaf, regular and hazelnut look out for the additional color-coded lids offers made with some thermal coffee makers, as it is perfect if you have a big office.
Coffee Shop by Landon Pigg
cjoye09 asked:
I love you Pyry!
Unique Gift Baskets Strategy Hits the Bulls-eye
Brian Connors asked:
What do the themes of gardening, golf, casino, Italian food, coffee, chocolate, movies, auto racing, spicy food, tea and others have in common? The correct answer is that each one has unique gift baskets that can be sent to anyone, anywhere throughout the continental USA for whatever reason.
So why is this important? Well, everyone is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in this thing called life. Each one has his or her own different tastes, hobbies, interests and goes by the beat of a different drum. Hence, the need for a variety of gift giving ideas to suit the one that we would like to grant our attention and admiration. There’s bound to be unique gift baskets to match the lifestyle of any individual on our gift-giving to-do list.
Here’s another question. What do the occasions of new babies, birthdays, housewarming, thank you’s, weddings and pretty much any other event have in common? You would be on the money if you guessed that there is bound to be a gift basket with the intention of celebrating the listed happenings and more. Each one caters to the specific occasion with items that speak in that language.
The good part about the unique gift baskets idea is that there is a focus on something special that the lucky beneficiary can immediately identify with. The bad part is trying to locate the place to get them as well as having them delivered to the one that we wish to commemorate. So what’s the next move to make?
Glad that you asked. Go online to Google, Yahoo, MSN or whichever search engine suits your fancy and type in the keywords and keyword phrases that are relevant to your needs. For instance, phrases such as “golf gift baskets”, “unique food gift baskets”, “wedding gift baskets” may be good starting points for those circumstances. Use the ol’ noggin and get as specific as you need to be to get exactly what you’re after.
The next step is to find a respectable website that sells the desired merchandise to make a safe purchase. You can have the unique gift baskets delivered to yourself to hand over in person or you can have them sent to the doorstep of the actual gift recipient. Just let the website know who and where to send it to and by when. Fill in the credit card information on the safe website and it’s a done deal.
What have we accomplished here, my friends? We’ve narrowed our search to reach a desired end. We’ve found something that will speak to the heart of our friend or relative. We’ve arranged to have it shipped to an exact location by a certain date. We’ve made someone know that we are thinking of them and of our hope to make their lives more happy and fulfilling.
What haven’t we done? We haven’t experienced the burden of traffic jams on the way to the mall. We’ve graciously declined the invitation to compete for parking spaces with strangers that wish to beat us to them. We’ve avoided getting our cars dinged in those same parking lots. We haven’t had to undergo the stress of shopping in the stores with items that have been handled by heaven knows who or what for that matter. Know what I mean?
That’s why giving unique gift baskets online may be just the perfect strategy that you need throughout the year. Maybe you should consider this alternative down the road when it’s time to tell others that they are, indeed, very special.
What do the themes of gardening, golf, casino, Italian food, coffee, chocolate, movies, auto racing, spicy food, tea and others have in common? The correct answer is that each one has unique gift baskets that can be sent to anyone, anywhere throughout the continental USA for whatever reason.
So why is this important? Well, everyone is a one-of-a-kind phenomenon in this thing called life. Each one has his or her own different tastes, hobbies, interests and goes by the beat of a different drum. Hence, the need for a variety of gift giving ideas to suit the one that we would like to grant our attention and admiration. There’s bound to be unique gift baskets to match the lifestyle of any individual on our gift-giving to-do list.
Here’s another question. What do the occasions of new babies, birthdays, housewarming, thank you’s, weddings and pretty much any other event have in common? You would be on the money if you guessed that there is bound to be a gift basket with the intention of celebrating the listed happenings and more. Each one caters to the specific occasion with items that speak in that language.
The good part about the unique gift baskets idea is that there is a focus on something special that the lucky beneficiary can immediately identify with. The bad part is trying to locate the place to get them as well as having them delivered to the one that we wish to commemorate. So what’s the next move to make?
Glad that you asked. Go online to Google, Yahoo, MSN or whichever search engine suits your fancy and type in the keywords and keyword phrases that are relevant to your needs. For instance, phrases such as “golf gift baskets”, “unique food gift baskets”, “wedding gift baskets” may be good starting points for those circumstances. Use the ol’ noggin and get as specific as you need to be to get exactly what you’re after.
The next step is to find a respectable website that sells the desired merchandise to make a safe purchase. You can have the unique gift baskets delivered to yourself to hand over in person or you can have them sent to the doorstep of the actual gift recipient. Just let the website know who and where to send it to and by when. Fill in the credit card information on the safe website and it’s a done deal.
What have we accomplished here, my friends? We’ve narrowed our search to reach a desired end. We’ve found something that will speak to the heart of our friend or relative. We’ve arranged to have it shipped to an exact location by a certain date. We’ve made someone know that we are thinking of them and of our hope to make their lives more happy and fulfilling.
What haven’t we done? We haven’t experienced the burden of traffic jams on the way to the mall. We’ve graciously declined the invitation to compete for parking spaces with strangers that wish to beat us to them. We’ve avoided getting our cars dinged in those same parking lots. We haven’t had to undergo the stress of shopping in the stores with items that have been handled by heaven knows who or what for that matter. Know what I mean?
That’s why giving unique gift baskets online may be just the perfect strategy that you need throughout the year. Maybe you should consider this alternative down the road when it’s time to tell others that they are, indeed, very special.
Twin Peaks Coffee
chrismishek asked:
Twin Peaks Coffee
Choosing the Best Coffee Maker
Roland Jefferson asked:
If you’re an authentic coffee drinker, choosing a quality coffee maker is a decision that should not be taken for granted. If you are planning to mix your favorite coffee on your own, you will need a coffee maker that has all the features you need. Although most coffee machines look alike, each functions differently to provide varying tastes.
The most common coffee maker is called the percolator. These types of machines work by filtering the boiling water through the coffee grounds. Used usually with lightly roasted coffees, percolators remain the traditional way of making coffee. Although many people love these types of coffee makers, some people don’t fancy the bitterness in the coffee because of prolonged boiling.
An automatic drip is the most convenient coffee maker, which is designed to work on its own. After adding cold water into its reservoir, the device heats up to a specified temperature. It then pulses repeatedly through the coffee grounds that rest in the filter. Some automatic drip models have switches that slow down the pulsing of water, allowing you to balance the taste of coffee without over-boiling.
Higher-end models of coffee makers claim to provide you with excellent reliability, state-of-the-art designs, practical features and most importantly, the accurate brewing temperature. The problem with most coffee makers is that they cannot achieve proper temperature, resulting in bitter-tasting coffees due to over boiling.
Coffee Maker Features: What Do You Really Need?
The features of the coffee maker you buy will largely affect the taste of your cup of coffee. Although there are different features offered by various brands, you need to identify what you need, from those you can live without.
Some coffee makers have programmable timers, clocks and auto shut-off. These are ideal for people who usually forget that they’re brewing coffee. Since over-boiling could change the taste of the beans, these features allow you to customize the time of boiling and program the machine when to shut down.
The water reservoir and filter basket are two important things you should look for in a coffee machine. Some models provide a large water reservoir, while others only supply a small space for water. Filter baskets have different shapes and sizes – choose between a swing-out or slide-out models.
Adjustable water temperature is an ideal feature for coffee makers because you can customize the level of hotness your coffee would turn out. The most ideal water temperature needs to be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choosing the coffee machine for your home or office will depend largely on your budget, size needed, brand and features offered. If the coffee maker fits your personal or household needs, then that is the best device for you.
If you’re an authentic coffee drinker, choosing a quality coffee maker is a decision that should not be taken for granted. If you are planning to mix your favorite coffee on your own, you will need a coffee maker that has all the features you need. Although most coffee machines look alike, each functions differently to provide varying tastes.
The most common coffee maker is called the percolator. These types of machines work by filtering the boiling water through the coffee grounds. Used usually with lightly roasted coffees, percolators remain the traditional way of making coffee. Although many people love these types of coffee makers, some people don’t fancy the bitterness in the coffee because of prolonged boiling.
An automatic drip is the most convenient coffee maker, which is designed to work on its own. After adding cold water into its reservoir, the device heats up to a specified temperature. It then pulses repeatedly through the coffee grounds that rest in the filter. Some automatic drip models have switches that slow down the pulsing of water, allowing you to balance the taste of coffee without over-boiling.
Higher-end models of coffee makers claim to provide you with excellent reliability, state-of-the-art designs, practical features and most importantly, the accurate brewing temperature. The problem with most coffee makers is that they cannot achieve proper temperature, resulting in bitter-tasting coffees due to over boiling.
Coffee Maker Features: What Do You Really Need?
The features of the coffee maker you buy will largely affect the taste of your cup of coffee. Although there are different features offered by various brands, you need to identify what you need, from those you can live without.
Some coffee makers have programmable timers, clocks and auto shut-off. These are ideal for people who usually forget that they’re brewing coffee. Since over-boiling could change the taste of the beans, these features allow you to customize the time of boiling and program the machine when to shut down.
The water reservoir and filter basket are two important things you should look for in a coffee machine. Some models provide a large water reservoir, while others only supply a small space for water. Filter baskets have different shapes and sizes – choose between a swing-out or slide-out models.
Adjustable water temperature is an ideal feature for coffee makers because you can customize the level of hotness your coffee would turn out. The most ideal water temperature needs to be around 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
Choosing the coffee machine for your home or office will depend largely on your budget, size needed, brand and features offered. If the coffee maker fits your personal or household needs, then that is the best device for you.
If you vote, Starbucks buys your coffee
starbucks asked:
What if we all cared enough to vote?
Not just 54% of us, but 100% of us?
What if we cared as much on Nov. 5th as we care on Nov. 4th?
What if we cared all of the time the way we care some of the time?
What if we cared when it was inconvenient as much as we care when its convenient?
Would your community be a better place?
Would our country be a better place?
Would our world be a better place?
We think so, too.
Celebrate the election today by coming into any Starbucks and well proudly give you a tall cup of brewed coffee. On us.
You and Starbucks. Its bigger than coffee.
Limit one per person. Good while supplies last. Void where prohibited by law.
© 2008 Starbucks Coffee Company
********UPDATE********
The song in the song is called, “Trillium Glance” by Michael Montes, for those that are asking.
How To Make A Cheap And Easy Gourmet Gift Basket For Mom
Helen Hecker asked:
Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift whether for Mother’s Day or any other time of the year. Moms love to receive gift baskets. Making your own gourmet ‘mom’ gift basket is cheap and easy. You can fill your gift basket with a variety of inexpensive quality items; you have lots of choices.
I’ve put together a few great tips and ideas for making ‘mom’ gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget. You can easily customize each basket to your recipient.
First make a list of the mom’s hobbies and interests. List everything you can think of that might possibly pertain.
Suggestions: sports, books, television shows, in-house hobbies, outdoor recreation, camping, workshop, tools, golf, fishing, computer-related, environment friendly, golf, tennis, relaxation, food, chocolate, wine, spa, bath and body, fruit, cookie, etc. These are just a few ideas.
You can find many inexpensive items and products for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores and even at garage sales providing the items are new, etc.
For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, purse, tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, red hat or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.
Other items: extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, colander, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.
For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, or fabric pieces.
For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.
For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket – in this case a mom. Here is a small random sampling to give you a few good ideas:
Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, scented oils, scented massage oils, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, fragrant candle, matches to light candles, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD, handwritten poem, perfume, cologne, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, bath and body products, ****** and body scrubs, handmade soaps, fragrant soaps, shampoos, hand and foot lotion or fluffy towel.
Flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea, biscotti, tea infuser, healthy snacks, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, homemade cookies, homemade brownies, homemade jams, popcorn, caramel corn, giant-size boxed candy, candy canes, suckers, lollipops, apple, pear, orange, persimmon, mango, papaya, chips, pretzels, nuts, gourmet pasta, gourmet olive oil, pre-packaged food items, pancake mixes, brownie mixes, cookie mixes, wooden spoons, your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, Italian recipes, Mexican food recipes or other ethnic recipes, coffee mug, or potholders.
Garden trowel or other garden tools, garden gloves, work gloves, cold weather gloves, leather gloves, garden picks, seeds, hand lotion, flower pot , small tools, gadgets, playing cards, travel-size games, small puzzles, t-shirt, tickets to events,
small plant, disposable camera, a small book,
Computer-related items, mouse pad, yarn, painting or artist supplies, golf balls, golf tees, golf knick knacks, tennis balls, tennis knick knacks, key chains, small calendars or desk calendars, barometer, outdoor thermometer, science gadgets, electronic gadgets, health-related items, auto-related items or cinnamon sticks.
For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or better yet, cellophane wrap. If you’re going to use a lot of cellophane you can purchase it in large rolls wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.
Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.
For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bow is easy and a better presentation if you can do it. Use a huge beautiful bow.
Assemble all your gift basket items, the tools you need, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Then stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.
Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)
Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in small open spots.
Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and/or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.
Tuck a personalized card in the ribbon and that’s it!
General tips: You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco — especially in the fall prior to Christmas or around holidays but often throughout the year in most stores. You can shred colored paper in a paper shredder.
Try to use non-perishable items except, of course, when making fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items; packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.
You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales cheaply. If you buy ‘picks’ wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.
Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket.
Also there’s nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share it with your children, other family members and friends. You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a gourmet mom gift basket can be cheap and easy.
Gift baskets are always popular and a great idea to give as a gift whether for Mother’s Day or any other time of the year. Moms love to receive gift baskets. Making your own gourmet ‘mom’ gift basket is cheap and easy. You can fill your gift basket with a variety of inexpensive quality items; you have lots of choices.
I’ve put together a few great tips and ideas for making ‘mom’ gift baskets, complete with instructions on how to make them. You can make inexpensive gift baskets or expensive gift baskets depending on your budget. You can easily customize each basket to your recipient.
First make a list of the mom’s hobbies and interests. List everything you can think of that might possibly pertain.
Suggestions: sports, books, television shows, in-house hobbies, outdoor recreation, camping, workshop, tools, golf, fishing, computer-related, environment friendly, golf, tennis, relaxation, food, chocolate, wine, spa, bath and body, fruit, cookie, etc. These are just a few ideas.
You can find many inexpensive items and products for use in making your gift baskets or filling your gift baskets, at ‘dollar’ stores, craft stores, party stores, discount outlets, flea markets, close-out stores and even at garage sales providing the items are new, etc.
For gift containers you can use: any type of basket, wicker basket, straw basket, bucket, laundry basket, plastic container, purse, tin, seasonal container, large tea pot, large upside-down hat, red hat or plastic storage container-put lid underneath.
Other items: extra-large coffee mug, boot, potted plant holder, wire basket, large pasta bowl, large popcorn bowl, cooking pot, clay pot, colander, skillet, antique trunk, champagne bucket, hamper, Asian-style trunk or picnic basket.
For gift basket liner you can use: tissue paper, shredded paper, shredded newspaper, tea towels, dish towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, colored towels, colored napkins, placemats, or fabric pieces.
For gift basket filler you can use: shredded colored paper, straw, Easter basket grass, crumpled newspaper comics, a bed of wrapped chocolates or other wrapped candy.
For items in the container it’ll depend on the specialty or theme of the gift basket – in this case a mom. Here is a small random sampling to give you a few good ideas:
Gift certificate for massage or spa visit, scented oils, scented massage oils, gift certificate to favorite store, gift certificate for restaurant, loofah, fragrant candle, matches to light candles, CD of nature sounds, favorite artist CD, DVD of newer release movie, how-to video or CD, handwritten poem, perfume, cologne, watch, framed photo, inspirational book, spa pillows, bath pillows, spa supplies, bath and body products, ****** and body scrubs, handmade soaps, fragrant soaps, shampoos, hand and foot lotion or fluffy towel.
Flavored teas, green tea, specialty tea, herbal tea, biscotti, tea infuser, healthy snacks, fancy chocolates, boxed chocolates, chocolate bars, hot chocolate mix, specialty coffee mix, homemade cookies, homemade brownies, homemade jams, popcorn, caramel corn, giant-size boxed candy, candy canes, suckers, lollipops, apple, pear, orange, persimmon, mango, papaya, chips, pretzels, nuts, gourmet pasta, gourmet olive oil, pre-packaged food items, pancake mixes, brownie mixes, cookie mixes, wooden spoons, your best chocolate chip cookie recipe, Italian recipes, Mexican food recipes or other ethnic recipes, coffee mug, or potholders.
Garden trowel or other garden tools, garden gloves, work gloves, cold weather gloves, leather gloves, garden picks, seeds, hand lotion, flower pot , small tools, gadgets, playing cards, travel-size games, small puzzles, t-shirt, tickets to events,
small plant, disposable camera, a small book,
Computer-related items, mouse pad, yarn, painting or artist supplies, golf balls, golf tees, golf knick knacks, tennis balls, tennis knick knacks, key chains, small calendars or desk calendars, barometer, outdoor thermometer, science gadgets, electronic gadgets, health-related items, auto-related items or cinnamon sticks.
For gift basket wrapping you can use tulle netting or better yet, cellophane wrap. If you’re going to use a lot of cellophane you can purchase it in large rolls wholesale through the packaging specialty stores throughout the U.S. but should be easily found in craft stores.
Tie off the wrapped basket with ribbon. Wired fabric ribbon is best if you have it.
For bows: You can use pre-packaged bows but making your own bow is easy and a better presentation if you can do it. Use a huge beautiful bow.
Assemble all your gift basket items, the tools you need, etc. Now line your selected gift container. Then stuff the selected filler into the gift basket to give added height to your items. Place, layer and arrange your selected items on the filler in the gift container. Put the larger items in the back, the smaller items in front.
Fill in the holes or prop up with more filler (shredded paper, Easter basket grass, wrapped chocolates, napkins or holiday napkins etc.)
Also you can use ‘picks’ of artificial flowers to fill in small open spots.
Place your cellophane or other wrap under the gift basket. Center the gift basket on the wrap. Bring the cellophane or other wrap over the top of the gift basket and tie it with ribbon and/or a beautiful bow! Use ribbon and bows to match your theme colors.
Tuck a personalized card in the ribbon and that’s it!
General tips: You can find fabric or wired ribbon cheaply at Costco — especially in the fall prior to Christmas or around holidays but often throughout the year in most stores. You can shred colored paper in a paper shredder.
Try to use non-perishable items except, of course, when making fruit baskets. Use freshly packaged food items; packaged crackers and cookies can go stale in a couple of months.
You can find filler flower ‘picks’ at garage sales cheaply. If you buy ‘picks’ wholesale they are usually around a dollar each.
Try not to mix chocolate or other food fragrant items with non-food fragrant items in the same basket.
Also there’s nothing like learning how to make gift baskets from a video or DVD for making cheap and easy gift baskets. You can view it over and over again and share it with your children, other family members and friends. You can even charge for classes with your new-found knowledge and/or start a home based business if you so desire. In any event, making a gourmet mom gift basket can be cheap and easy.