With winter fast approaching, the sun has been rising later, which means by the time you wake up in the morning, it’s nearly pitch black! I don’t know how you feel about this dilemma, but I don’t think stumbling down a long, dark hallway should even be an option. You can easily mitigate this problem by adding a few strategically placed wall sconces in your hallway. Wall sconces perform two functions, one being lighting in your hallway, the other being a stylish wall accent that will help give your home a little bit more personality.

The great thing about wall sconces is you can find them in a bunch of different styles and finishes. If your home decor leans more toward modern and contemporary, no problem! Select a simple sconce with a stainless steel, aluminum or brushed nickel finish with glass accents. Avoid fixtures that feature a lot of ornate detailing, as those tend to be bit more old fashioned. Designer George Kovacs has a great line of modern lighting, manufactured by Minka. If your tastes are more traditional, then you might want to look for a design with ornate detail work in bronze with a bronze or brass finish. Tiffany-style wall sconces are also a great option. These lights feature beautiful stained glass elements that will add a pop of color to your hallway. Whatever your design aesthetic, there’s a wall sconce for you!

While I recommend hiring a licensed electrician to install your wall sconces, there are lighting options for those of you who don’t want to go through the extra trouble. Wall plug sconces make are a good idea if you have a shorter hallway to illuminate. The downside, of course, is hiding the ugly cord. Kichler and Lite Source make some nice wall plug sconces that you may want to consider.

Going “green” is a big trend right now, and for good reason! With rising energy costs, gas prices and the overall deterioration of the environment, it’s important to cut costs wherever you can. When it comes to finding eco-friendly wall sconces, it’s all about the bulbs! While your standard incandescent bulbs tend to be cheaper, it’s definitely a good idea to invest in some compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs). These guys can save you money in the long run. If ever American home replaced one single incandescent light bulb with a CFL, we could potentially save enough energy to light more than 3 million homes for an entire year! What’s more, CFLs emit a much cleaner, brighter light which will help brighten up your space more effectively. Additionally, you can look for light fixtures with that little “Energy Star Qualified” logo on the packaging and know that you’re making a smart choice. Oh, and just because you’re going green, doesn’t mean you have to skimp on style! There are plenty of fashionable sconces available in this eco-friendly style.

By having adequate lighting in your hallway, you make your home more inviting for holiday guests, you make your trips to and from the bathroom or kitchen much safer and you add style and personality. What more could you ask for in a purchase?

GIVEAWAY CLOSED!

How many of you store folders and folders of great and memorable photo in your laptop and do nothing about it? I know I was guilty of doing just that but not anymore! If you nodded your head to my earlier question, I’d recommend you to create a EuroBook with all those wonderful digital photos of yours. After all, they are certainly not memories that you want to forget.

EuroBook is a new service provided by dotPhoto which gives user the ability to create customized, hardbound digital photo books, which in turn can be ordered online and delivered within 6 to 10 business days. EuroBooks are available in more than 200 configurations that vary in sizes, features, and price. What makes Eurobook software stand out from its competitors is the fact that it has a feature that groups photos together by colors, textures and matches background – giving the photo book a professional design look.

The Eurobook software is FREE to download and available at www.dotphoto.com or www.eurobook.us. Another advantage of using this software is you can create the photo books offline without worrying about Internet connections.

ORDER NOW : EuroBooks resemble “coffee table”-style books with high-quality professional binding as well as 135 pound paper. Pricing begins at $9.95 for the 5×5 inch, 26-page book. The popular Classic 8×11 inch EuroBook starts at $19.95. The Deluxe 11.6×11.6 inch EuroBook, which is perfect for special occasions and presentations, starts at $68.95. Pricing is also based on the number of pages and choice of cover material: soft cover, hard cover, linen, premium linen, booklet and faux leather.

Get your Eurobook in 3 simple steps:
• Download the free EuroBook software
• Create your book from your digital photos
• Place your order online

WIN IT : Thanks to dotPhoto, I am giving away two gift codes of up to $100 each for creating Eurobooks to two very lucky readers (one EuroBook each up to $100).

Here are the rules to participate:

• Visit www.eurobook.us and let me know in the comment section below which EuroBook will you spend your $100 gift code on.
• 3 additional entries if you Stumble This Post with a review
• Contest is open to US shipping addresses only
• Winners will be selected using the Random.Org number generator. Contest closes on 17th September 2008.

With the development of modern technology, it is now possible to purchase goods from anywhere in the world. However, sometimes there are certain products that are more suited to their own country of origin than to others and some people may argue that this is the case with outdoor clothing. Take for example, the Bergaus brand of outdoor wear, which was initially designed by Peter Lockey and Gordon Davison, two people with a passion for climbing from the North East of England. As keen and knowledgeable climbers they decided to develop and manufacture outdoor clothing, the type of clothing that would be suitable for people just like themselves – climbers from Britain. They were pioneers in the area as back in 1966 when they first decided to go into business, it could be argued that they became the first suppliers of specifically tailored ‘performance wear’. The added bonus of founding a business upon their hobby meant that they were experts in their field and were able to tailor their outer-wear to their specific needs. This meant that when developing their products, they primarily considered the British climate with all its unpredictable extremes.

Basing their products on their own experience of British weather meant that one of Berghaus’ primary focuses became on layering. With the ever-changing British weather it became essential that outdoor clothing could keep the wearer warm and dry, but could also be removed to help keep the wearer cool. Although many international outdoor clothing producers also utilise layering in their products, they are likely to focus primarily upon their own climate when designing their product specification. Therefore, a piece of outer-wear that is produced in America is likely to have been developed to resist different extremes of cold, warmth and humidity and as a result may not be as effective when worn in a different country. Alternatively, it may be as effective, if not more so due to America’s vast number of extreme climates, but the added features for coping with these climates may mean that it is much more expensive to purchase.

The same can be said for outdoor footwear, Bergahaus have developed their footwear specifically with the British terrain in mind. Generally, the British terrain has a handful of conditions ranging from rocky, grassy, hilly, flat or even boggy, this contrasts the American landscape where all of these terrains are present in addition to desert conditions and areas of extreme cold. Therefore, it is likely that footwear purchased from America has been developed to a different specification and will not be as suitable for someone who hikes solely in Britain as a piece of footwear developed for use on the British landscape.

Despite the fact that many brands of outdoor wear are now manufactured to extremely high standards and contain many modern technologies that not only provide the wearer with optimum comfort, but also help them to achieve optimum performance, it seems that if you intend to trek in the UK then purchasing outdoor wear from a UK based company, such as Berghaus clothing, is the right choice to make. The first reason being that because the company is aware of the climate it is likely that they have tailored their product to meet the demands of that particular climate. The second reason for opting for UK made outer-wear is that their local knowledge means that their footwear will have been specifically designed to meet the needs of the British wearer. And as a final thought, although it could be argued that outdoor clothing from other countries may have a broader range of climates that it can help the wearer accustom to, it is worth bearing in mind that this extra technology is like to cost more, therefore if you only intend to wear your outdoor clothing in the UK, then purchasing an item made within the UK is surely the best choice.

Keep The Bad Stuff Out and The Good Stuff In – In a nutshell, that’s what Gloves In A Bottle can do for you.

I have dry skin condition and as a result, also have mild eczema on my elbows from time to time. Thus, when I was offered to review Gloves In A Bottle, I was happy to try it out. I must admit, I did not really expect anything positive out of it as I have tried numerous products without much success.

For those who are not aware, regular hand and skin lotions only replace natural oils with artificial ones and offer temporary relief that does little to heal the skin. Therefore, constant use of these lotions can actually cause the skin to produce less natural oils.

Gloves In A Bottle is a shielding lotion and unlike regular moisturizers, it bonds with the outer layer of our skin and helps lock in the natural oils and moisture. Because Gloves In A Bottle becomes part of the outer layer of skin itself, it doesn’t wash off like conventional lotions. This is important for people like me who washes my hand constantly due to house chores. I do not need to deal with the hassle of reapplying moisturizers as this shileding lotion provides continued protection of up to 12 hours.

Verdict : I’ve applied Gloves In A Bottle to my troubled dry elbows for two weeks now and the eczema has somewhat subside. I am hoping to see more positive result on prolonged use of up to one month.

Meantime, for those who would like to try Gloves In A Bottle, you can request for samples or purchase it online here.

Call me paranoid but I am not a big fan of the last minute Christmas rush. So, to ease the stress of preparing for this year’s Xmas, I’m shopping for my Christmas Cards now!

I was really amazed that I could shop at my own pace and slowly browse through the variety of Holiday Greeting Cards available at sites like Cards Direct. Last year, all I could do was just grab whatever were readily available at Wal-Mart. For this year, I’m even considering having those personalized Holiday Cards done. Imagine being able to have your own choice of design, custom verse and even my signature crafted into the card! It’ll definitely save me plenty of time signing off those cards! LOL. Seriously though, personalized signature would be great for businesses but I still prefer the good old fashion way of signing. It’s the little personal touch that matters most.

Now, check out my favourite design below. Is it cool or what? Wait till you receive the personalized version in the mail from me and I bet you, you’ll go green with envy! By the way, did I mention Cards Direct is currently having a Sale with 10%-40% off? Oh yes, they are!

Slippers, sandals, flip flops….call it whatever you want and unbelievable as it sounds,  they are making a comeback among women in England. There is so much hype about the launch of Fitflops by sweaty Betty last summer that it has almost sold out!

Besides being super comfortable, what’s hot about this new range of fit flop is the fact that it incorporates micro wobbleboard™ technology which challenges hard to reach muscles and has been shown to have significant effect on toning the muscles of your thighs and bum. Imagine, working out while you are out running your errands! It’s definitely any busy woman’s dream come true.

These leg-slimming secret of women all over in England now comes in five colours and are also available for International shipping. If you want to tone, trim and tighten your muscles the easy way, hurry and purchase your fitflops at sweaty Betty before stock runs out.

My family practically tells me that I live on my laptop. It’s true that I am online almost 12 hours a day, so I can tell you, I have learned a thing or two about laptops. LOL.  Thus, I thought it was appropriate that I share a few tips with you on how to choose the right laptop screens. I do not want to be too technical about it, so this is going to be easy to understand. Not many people are aware that if you want to purchase the laptop that works for you, it is important to choose one with the right screen too.

1. What’s the purpose of the laptop?

• If it’s mainly used for work or research – choose a standard aspect ratio screen.
• If it’s meant for playing games, a standard aspect ratio screen will do, although widescreens will be an advantage.

2. Do you commute with your laptop?

• I travel a lot with my laptop and the fact that it has a 17″ screen is really frustrating because a large portion of the weight on the laptop comes from the screen. So, if you commute often, try getting a laptop with a smaller screen.

3. Display quality

• This one is pretty straightforward. Just compare the display on one laptop with another. Whatever looks better and is easier on the eye works for me.

Of course, there are other criterias to consider but these will be the very basic points to note if you are not a tech-geek. Works for me, so I hope works for you too!

I hate carpet cleaning, really I do! I had attempted to clean my house carpets myself a couple of years back but finally gave up doing that. Instead, I had resorted to hiring a carpet cleaning service to do the work once a year.

Many have asked me about my experience in hiring these carpet cleaners. So, here I am sharing a few tips on how to choose a good carpet cleaning company to do the job for you. Basically, you need to ensure that the company you select has carpet cleaners that are trained in complete carpet care and the chemistry of spot and stain. It is also important that the company is kept up-to-date on manufacturer cleaning recommendations and the staff doing the job are well informed in these areas. You can actually gauge their level of understanding and experience by asking a few questions like:

• What kind of chemicals do you use?
• Do fabric protectors really work?
• How do you treat pet stains and odor?

Finally,  when you call for an estimate, a quality cleaning service company will ask a series of questions which will help detect any conditions which may involve an extra charge. They will then evaluate the situation and let you know up front what is the cost to expect.

Other factors like professionalism when the staff attends to you and testimonials from their websites can also tell you how good they are. So, keep a look out on all of the above pointers and it will help in your selection process. Have fun searching!

Buying diamond jewelry should not be done without some thought. While this jewelry is impressively beautiful, and undoubtedly valuable, purchasing it without regard to your own personal style and tastes can leave you with a valuable piece of jewelry taking up space in your jewelry box. Buying a piece of jewelry on impulse can be a bad thing.

There are many types of diamond jewelry available, so finding the specific type that matches your style should not be difficult. However, knowing which styles lend themselves to certain personality traits can help considerably.

If you have a flamboyant personality, are very outgoing and friendly, you will probably like larger gemstones, with unique shapes and styles. These can be found to match any kind clothing style, as well. When choosing this type of jewelry, look for uniquely designed bands with different metals or combinations of metals and interesting gemstone settings.

If you are a professional, you can find understated diamond jewelry that will lend an air of quiet sophistication and savvy. This kind of jewelry is excellent for career oriented people that want to have the beauty of diamond jewelry, yet have a refined, professional appearance, as well. Diamond stud earrings, delicate white gold rings and many more items lend themselves to this.

Custom diamond jewelry lends itself well to those individuals who go their own way in all things. While custom designed jewelry can have any look that you want, the immense freedom of expression greatly appeals to artistic types that want to display their individuality in all aspects of their lives.

Remember, when choosing diamond jewelry, it is important to look beyond the specific piece and the way you feel at the moment. Leave impulse shopping to others and you will be able to complement your style and your personality with the jewelry you wear.

I have a weakness for gems and birth stones. I know it’s rather cliche, but they truly dazzle me. From the exquisite Amethyst, Aquamarine, to the dazzling Diamond, Emerald, and gorgeous Ruby, Sapphire and Pink Topaz, each is as lovely as the other.

I have a small collection of some of these stones but not all. I’m hoping to get more of them as gifts. Lol. For those who do not know much about stones, you can head over to GemznGold to learn more. This site is one of the best source to gain more knowledge about gems and gold as they have been designing and manufacturing fine jewelry in Los Angeles, California since 1985.  GemznGold stands out above their competitors because they are able to provide:

30 Days Money Back Guarantee!

With those guarantees, I believe not many companies are able to provide such excellent customer service! Whether it’s to purchase one for yourself or to buy a gift for your love ones, why not head over to GemznGold? Trust me, you can discover exciting and new designs ranging from bold and classical to whimsical lines of jewelry. Take your pick and have fun shopping!