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It can sometimes be hard to determine what will go well with southwestern style and what will fit well among southwestern pieces. Yet, you can save a great deal of time if you don’t have to take many pieces of furniture or rugs home with you to see if they fit.

One useful way of deciding whether or not something will fit with southwestern pieces is to see if the object in question has some of southwestern characteristics. Object with southwestern style often use clean straight lines, bright colors, rough and textured surfaces (almost as a mark of pride), and often are made by hand from natural materials.

An example of an object that has enough of these characteristics to fit well within a southwestern motif is a simple carved wood table. The table would be even better if the light blue paint is peeling off a little. However, as cool as that curvy aluminum chair may look, it probably won’t fit well in your southwestern motif.

Another example, and one that is not often associated with southwestern design, are apple computers. Many of their present designs involve very clean and straight lines. Their minimalist appeal can fit perfectly with southwestern pieces. This is also true with many Japanese designs. Often these designs use clean straight lines, and as such would fit well. The main point of contention between these two styles is the finish often used on them. Japanese minimalist style often utilizes highly polished smooth surfaces with a rather simple color such as white or black. However, in southwestern style almost the opposite is true; southwestern surfaces are rough and the colors are bright.

Another interesting style that southwestern design overlaps with quite a bit is the design of the caucuses. This is particularly apparent in the weavings that come from the area. The weavings from these harsh mountain climates often use straight lines and unflinching colors. A deep red rug can go quite well with southwestern floors made from flagstone or brick.

On the other end of the rug design spectrum are Persian rugs. These are amazing rugs to be sure, however, their extremely detailed curvilinear (or floral) designs do not often fit well within southwestern motifs. Another bone of contention between the urban Persian designs and southwestern design are the materials often used. Persian Rugs often use extremely high quality materials, such as silk, which does not go well with the rough edges of southwestern design.

There are many interior design styles that go agree with southwestern design quite well. Minimalist Japanese design and works of art, such as rugs, from the rural caucuses are some good examples of southwestern friendly styles. Knowing where and why these styles agree can save you a great deal of time when picking out items for your house or business.

John Geer runs the online rug store Hazaad.com at http://www.hazaad.com/ He is also a contributor to Hazaad.com’s blog (http://blog.hazaad.com/) and helps run Hazaad West, which specializes in southwestern rug designs, at http://stores.ebay.com/Hazaad-com-West

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Price : $39.99

Features

• portable, can be used anywhere and anytime
• lightweight, less than 3 pounds
• easy to use, sets up in seconds
• telescoping lightweight aluminum legs, from 12" to 29"
• expandable worksurface, great for laptop pc’s and portable projectors

Product Description

Based on over 100 feedback comments over last 12 months, have achieved a 4.6 out of 5 stars rating. If not completely satisfied with our TABLETOTE product, can return within 30 days for FULL REFUND. After reviewing alternative products, 85% of consumers purchase TABLETOTE. TABLETOTE is used by our military troops worldwide. Compare to other laptop stands selling for between $75-$100. TABLETOTE portable laptop and projector stand is perfect for professionals, students, speakers or anyone on the go needing a mobile, compact, light-weight, sturdy and adjustable work surface. Convenient workspace sets up in just seconds Can be used anywhere from boardroom to dormroom. Fits in most PC carrying cases, briefcases and backpacks. Transport size is 10 1/2 wide, 13 long and 1 1/8 thick, fully compacted. Self Contained Design. Extendable Platform * Slide bottom creates expandable work surface by sliding onto table top (from 13 to 23). * Telescopic fully adjustable quick twistlock legs. * Configure without tools to accommodate heights from 13 to 30. * Free mouse pad and document holder. Maximum load weight is 18 lbs. (9kg) evenly distributed. Lightweight (less than 3.5 pounds.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-07-21
It’s a great table if you don’t have to use it often and it manages to fit my 18" Dell laptop on it.

My problem with it is that I’ve kicked the legs once or twice by accident and the plastic cracked in the corner areas this could be fixed by some sort of metal bracing in the corners, the glue that holds the foam on the bottom wore out quickly and fell off but crazy glue fixed it.

I love to use this on trips especially when I’m at the airport and build myself this desk when waiting for the plane, I get all sorts of strange looks and I love it.

Overall, it needs to be made more rigid but for when your on the go this product will hold very well plus it fits just about anywhere!

Review date : 2008-07-02
The table works as detailed. It is a bit cumbersome, especially if you come across a local Starbucks that happens to have an extra seat but no table area. It’s quite impressive after setup but during the before and after assembly required, it’s hard but to notice the few chuckles and laughs at your oblivious awareness to geek-ness! Great at the airport too btw, especially when you have to transfer in between flights and do not want to leave your designated gate for the next three hours or so!

Review date : 2008-06-22
The black plastic is flimsey. The legs don’t fit in securely. The table top isn’t level. I could blow on it and knock it over. My lap is much more stable. A waste of money.

Review date : 2008-05-31
It is light weight and easy to assembly, fit into my expectation for low cost/good product.

Review date : 2008-05-02
Product as described. You get what you pay for. If you want a portable work space the price is right. If you want high quality, don’t buy this product. Remember you get what you pay for.

Want to save yourself some time?

Collecting leaves with the aid of a garden leaf blower is considerably less time-consuming and less back breaking work when compared to using a garden rake or other such tools. The general idea of a leaf blower is pretty straightforward. A high-speed fan is surrounded by a cover. Tubes are then connected to the side of the fan to focus the air current (up to around 200 miles per hour in some units) in the direction you want to move the leaves.

What do I need to consider?

First of all consider the size of your garden and your exposure to fallen leaves. Do you have a large yard? If you have only a small garden and no trees or bushes then you will not need a garden leaf blower, but if you have a large garden and wish to have it looking clean at all times then a garden leaf blower would be a wise investment and a great time saver for you.You will want to bear these factors in mind when you consider the features of the different models.

Garden leaf blowers come in all shapes and sizes depending on their use.

Leaf blowers include both small one-hand models and powerful, professional types which can be carried in a harness on your back.Consider one with a harness particularly if you suffer from back or neck problems, as the harness will take a good deal of the load off your shoulders and arms.

Consider too, the blowing speed and air volume the different models put out, as a high blowing speed would cut down the time needed for the blowing operation. Most garden leaf blowers will have a rating of 350 to 600 cubic feet of air per minute (CFM).

A low vibration level would also be preferable with ergonomic handles and harnesses to help you to work more efficiently with less strain on the hands, arms and shoulders.

Handheld garden leaf blowers can be generally divided into two groups: those that can collect leaves and those that can’t. With a garden leaf blower you can do much more than just move leaves. It can also be used to collect rubbish, grass clippings, hedge clippings, and empty tin cans.

Your choice of garden leaf blower should have an efficient system to minimise vibrations in the parts of the machine that you or the user comes in contact with.

Make a note of the weight of each type of garden leaf blower too, as some blowers can weigh as much as 25lb or 12kg. You’d have to be doing an awful lot of blowing to be needing the 25lb model!

Consider too, a model with the ability to vacuum all you leaves into a bag rather than blowing them all away. Another great time saver when it comes to disposing of the leaves. An extra mulching feature is available on some leaf blower/vacuums. Mulched lawn debris can be used in compost piles or bagged for disposal. Most of these convert easily from blowing to vacuuming mode.

Making your choice between an electric or gas-powered unit isn’t always easy! Gas blowers are more powerful, but electric ones are quieter.The engine should be powerful and easy to start if you choose a gasoline model. Do you live in a busy neighborhood where a quieter operation would be appreciated? Or is your yard massive with lots of trees, making a powerful unit the only real option?

Choose a model within your price range with the best selection of features. You can expect to pay anywhere between $100 and $500 for a decent garden leaf blower, depending upon the specifications you choose.

Leonard Mutch is a keen gardener and author. You can read more of his tips and articles at leaf blower and subscribe to his gardening tips newsletter at gardening tips.

[tags]garden leaf blower, blow leaf, leaf blower[/tags]

There are some fundamental rules to follow on the day that will guarantee success. Make a pact with yourself that you will follow a plan of behavior to ensure the day is blessed with you arriving with the spirit of Christmas in your heart. So before you leave the house on the day here is your plan:

1. Don’t judge - absolutely imperative that you put your judgments and opinions to the side for this day. Better still leave them at the door.

2. Forgive - if you are harboring ill feelings about a family member, today is the day to let it go. Every challenge is an opportunity for growth. Choose to grow and move forward. You can let go of the past by choosing to see the learning in the challenge. What is the quality being presented that you don’t like? This is the quality you need to work on within yourself. This is the message being presented in this challenge. Be thankful for the learning and let it go. Remember you cannot change others you can only change yourself by choosing supportive thoughts. Make peace and free yourself to move forward this day.

3. Show interest in others - rather than talking lots about yourself, keep it short and ask questions to show your genuine interest in others on the day eg. ask about what they have been doing, what plans they are considering for the following year, what really stood out for them over the year.

4. Avoid politics - best to keep the conversations light today.

5. Limit your alcohol - too many drinks have ruined the good spirit of the day by people saying things they usually would not have. Don’t put yourself in a position where you are not presenting at your best.

6. Help over the day - pick up a plate and offer to everyone around the room, poor out drinks, make some coffees, take some plates into the kitchen. Show care and kindness.

7. Spend time with the children - even just a few minutes face to face talking with each child will make a world of difference on the day. It shows to them and the parents that you really care and are interested in their experience of Christmas and in showing them love and acknowledgement.

8. Young and old play a game together - bring a board game, basket ball or a cricket bat and ball. After the festive meal suggest to have a fun game together where the children and adults can create some joyous memories on the day.

9. Show gratitude and thanks - at the end of the day a few simple words can really show your love and good Christmas spirit.

10. Spend some special time with your spouse and children - on such a busy day of visiting extended family don’t forget to spend some special time with your immediate family together. Do something special for 5-10 minutes before you leave your home. You could serve a Christmas fruit drink and all make a wish together for happiness, love and joyous surprises over the coming year. You can all raise your glasses and toast to the beginning of new life, new beginnings, forgiveness, unity and a new start. For this is the meaning of the birth of Christ being celebrated today. This will also ensure you all leave the house with a great attitude and with the spirit of Christmas in your heart.

Enjoy the day!

Visit http://www.HoHoHoChristmas.com for tips and tools for reviving the fun, magic and real meaning of Christmas every day of the year. You can also subscribe to our f*r*e*e 10 day e-course with audio on how to enrich your Christmas experience today from The HoHoHo Expert, Bernadette Dimitrov, author of The HoHoHo Factor!

[tags]Christmas,Holidays,Inspiration,Revitalise,Success,SelfImprovement,Happiness,Gifts,selfhelp[/tags]

Youve made the big move! Youre finally in the home of your dreams! Let the fun begin.its time to decorate. Torn pages from magazines are stacked neatly in your file titled Dcor Ideas for the day that has arrived. So, where do you begin?

The next door neighbor, family, and friends know the perfect interior designer to help you coordinate the placement of your belongings..and at a price that will fit your low budget The furniture style and the fabric selections are made and the home of your dreams is coming together piece, by piece.

Then, its time for the accent pieces. Your designer suggests the placement of dcor items that look like they were purchased from your local retail dcor store that is well known for selling mass produced pottery, glass, and art and wants to charge you a fortune for them. Sound familiar? This is a very important stage of asking yourselfDo I want to decorate the home of my dreams with these types of accessories?. Of course you dont! Imagine your fantastic ceramic vase that was handed down to you from your great grandmother sitting next to a $25 accessory..I dont think so. Ok, so youre sayingBut I dont have the budget to purchase items with historical meaning or artistic value. Sure, that might be true. The solution? Decorate over timeroom by room. Dont get in a mad rush and scurry over to those well known, low quality, low priced home dcor stores (you know the ones Im talking about) and buy up every accessory you need for each room the minute you move in to your house.

Be creative! Visit your local art galleries and art shows. Get familiar with artists and designers of today and yesterday. Plan to decorate with these types of accessories and youll be glad you did. Your home will become filled with conversational pieces for those special gatherings and youll have fun seeking them out. Also, if you purchase wisely..your items may have potential for a higher resale value than the original purchase price. Unlike the above mentioned $25 accessory that ends up at your garage sale with a price tag of $5 on it! Decorating with the right pieces over time may actually save you money in the long run.

Alice Krueser is the Gallery owner of the newest concept for marketing decorative art online. You can find an array of decorative art at http://www.AccessoryHut.com There you will find home dcor with yesterdays and todays artists in mind as well as displays of all types of art medium in the Directory of Artists section of the site. Artists who consign their artwork at this online shopping gallery pay no commissions to the gallery - making it easier to obtain for the budget conscious interior designers. The site also contains articles and many links to other sites about art history, museums, and galleries to help educate the buyer.

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Price : $31.60

Features

• Pruner with convenient built-in garden tools
• Features bypass pruner and other all-steel tools
• Non-slip handle and bumpers for solid grip and reduced hand fatigue
• Built-in tools include wire cutters, weed remover, saw, screwdrivers, and more
• 8.13 inches when open; 4.74 inches closed; 25-year limited warranty

Amazon.com Product Description

Pruners that Work as Hard as You Do: The Hybrid Line from Leatherman
Gone are the days of carrying quality bypass pruners and multiple tools and having to search for them one-by-one. With the new Hybrid pruner, gardeners have the stainless steel pruners they need with the most commonly used tools-of-the-trade right in one convenient location: on their belt loop. With quality carrying sheaths designed to accommodate individual hobbies and users, this new line of pruners from Leatherman is truly a cut above.

About the 830556 Hybrid Pruner
The Hybrid puts convenient, high-quality, multitool capabilities right at your fingertips. The compact folding tool frees up space and cuts out unnecessary time spent searching for stand-alone tools, and its user-friendly design lets you access all the tools you need quickly and safely.

The Hybrid’s non-slip handles and well-placed bumpers provide a comfortable, solid grip that helps reduce hand fatigue, and the strong, ultra-sharp pruning shears deliver a quick, clean cut every time. Open or closed, the handle ensures smooth, easy placement into the belt sheath. These pruners have been tested and recommended by the National Home Gardening Club.

Multitool Capabilities:
 

• Bypass pruners
• Wire cutters
• Weed remover
• Grafting knife
• Bark lifter
• Phillips screwdriver
• Saw
• Flat screwdriver
• Sprinkler tool
• Bottle opener
• Ruler

Key Technical Specs:
 

• 100 percent stainless steel blades and tools
• Non-slip handles
• Length closed: 4.74 inches
• Length open: 8.13 inches
• Weighs 8.7 ounces

Optional Accessories (not included)
Add even more functionality to your Hybrid with a Removable Bit Driver. The set comes with a driver, five double-sided tool steel bits and a standard nylon or leather sheath.

Warranty:
Close inspection reveals the quality and attention to detail that make Leatherman products more useful and effective. Using the best stainless steel, ingenious design and rigorous tolerances, Leatherman makes the useful products that customers want, and backs them with a 25-year guarantee. A genuine Leatherman tool is always ready when you need it.

What’s in the box:
Leatherman Hybrid pruner and a nylon sheath.

Customer Reviews

Review date : 2008-07-21
As usual, Leatherman company designed an excellent tool. It is very convenient having a knife / saw pruning shears all in your hand at once.

Review date : 2008-07-11
Leatherman Hybrid Gardening Multitool with Nylon Sheath #830555

Fast service. Tool works great . Already used it on some pesty branches that are from a neighbor’s tree. Kept running into them when I mowed. No more!!! ((:>))

Review date : 2008-06-10
I just got this the other day and I’ve already put it into action. The knife looks pretty pathetic in the images on Amazon, but in reality it’s sharp and very effective. The pruning shears are also excellent with a very good spring. In short, this tool has the quality you’d expect from Leatherman.
I also want to praise Amazon’s delivery. I bought the tool with the Super Saver delivery option and they turned up just three days later.
Only one downside - they came with the wrong instructions. I got the "Vista" instructions by mistake. Of course it’s just a couple of clicks to download the right ones from the Leatherman site.

Review date : 2008-06-09
I had real reservations about buying this tool. After all, the most expensive pruner at the natons biggest retailer is only about $25. But, I have to say I’m pleased. The pruners work well. I use the saw often. The knife blade is handy for opening bags of sod, or whatever. I can see where the screwdriver bits would be handy in a pinch, but I use those three things almost every time. The weeder is the only one I don’t have much use for. With the saw, I even leave the handle extended (like this ___—~~~) and it works very nicely. Probably not how you should use it but it seems to work excellently.

In fact, I even took it camping. It was great for little projects! Cutting medium sized sticks for firewood, whittling wood when practicing making a "figure 4" trap, etc.

So, I’m very happy with it.

However, unlike other leathermans, it is MUCH more prone to getting dirty (obviously). I had to buy a special screwdriver so I could clean it, one like this one B001A89VGA (search for that). Anyway, if you are careful you won’t need it, but I tend to be sloppy sometimes.

Review date : 2008-06-04
I purchased this item recently…and returned it right away. While Leatherman offers excellent Multitools, this gardening tool is rather pathetic for anything other than extremely light use. I am an avid city gardener and purchased this product thinking I could have an all-in-one tool as I do my daily garden maintenance. However, none of the tools really measure up for any significant use. The pruners are average at best, much better bi-pass pruners can be had for less with much more comfortable handles (I concur with many of the other reviewers, the handles are terrible…not just uncomfortable, but not nearly strong enough for the job), the weeding tool is a joke! It’s not long enough to pull weeds unless you practically bury the handle in the ground…and then you’d have dirt clogging up the mechanics of the tool. The saw is completely impractical, and the other tools are hardly worth mentioning. Again, I normally like Leatherman tools, my husband cannot be found without his multitool on his belt, but this simply is not up to the task of serious gardening. If all you do is EXTREMELY light work and you like gadgets, then by all means give it a whirl. However, if you are looking for useable tools in the garden, I suggest looking elsewhere.

Wrought iron can be used to decorate any room in your home, including the bathroom. There are a variety of wrought iron items available for decorating your bathroom, from small accents to larger more noticeable products. In addition to the wide range of products available, these items are available in a variety of fashions for different decorating styles.

Small decorations available for a bathroom include wrought iron hinges, knobs, and handles for vanity cabinets; door stops attached behind the door to prevent putting dents and holes in the wall from the door knob; and a variety of hooks and hangers for holding back a shower curtain, hanging a shower curtain, or for holding a robe or hand towel. These wrought iron items may be small, but they can have a huge impact on the overall scheme of a bathroom’s d

One of the best ways to increase the value of your investment property is to undertake some home improvements. But where to begin? The following are a few tried and tested tips on what to improve in order to raise the value of your house.

1. Improve the property’s exterior

Always start with the outside of the house because that’s the most important part of the property. It is what potential buyers see first and it is usually what makes them decide whether they want or are interested in the property or not.

2. Dab fresh paint or set up new sidings

Would you believe that a simple paint job can increase the value of your property significantly? Only a few weeks ago, an effective re-painting job pushed the value of one of my investment properties to rise by $25,000.

3. Landscaping

This is also related to upgrading exteriors. Some people simply find landscaped lawns magical, especially the woman of the house. There is really something about a nicely-manicured lawn that is adorned with esthetically arranged plants, rocks and ornaments that makes people stop and stare.

4. Parking areas always matter

Parking is so hard to come by these days in a lot of places that having a house with parking space automatically makes it worth more.

5. Interiors are what make the house a home

When thinking of upgrading the interiors, the most sought-after rooms are usually the bathroom, kitchen and master bedroom. Start on these first. Think of a new bathtub, shower stalls, tiles and the like. Put up a full-length mirror. Paint the interiors as well as the exteriors. Try to have lots of space in your kitchen that can fit in a table, lots of storage space, counter top, double sink, garbage disposal system and the usual appliances. Good carpeting and tiles are a must, and it would be ideal if they were new. Carpets that are good to the touch make a good impression. The kitchen and bathroom should have quality tiles or tasteful vinyl rugs. A hardwood floor can add a lot of value to the dining area.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles on many topics including
Home Improvement, Shopping, and Home

[tags]Home Improvements, Interiors, investment property, exteriors[/tags]

Redecorating or refurnishing your home? By now you’re probably confused by the wide array of wall coverings, cabinets, furniture styles, flooring, window treatments and other products currently available on the home market. Don’t worry, where there’s a will, there’s a way. There are now interior design programs that let you decorate your home in a multitude of colors and materials right on your PC, complete with 3D renderings of every room, including kitchen and bath.

With these home decorating programs, you’re not designing from a sample book, you’re actually mixing and matching styles and colors in a virtual reality mock-up of your home’s interior. For example, Broderbund’s 3D Home Interiors is one of the original software releases that proves you don’t have to spend your entire life in a shopping mall, trying to envision how certain colors or styles would look in your home. Just boot up the ole PC.

3D Home Interiors is fairly easy to use, although somewhat time-consuming, and has plenty of features. There’s more than enough to get a real sense of how your room or rooms will look with a certain wall covering, flooring or furniture style. You can place objects exactly how you want them, within your home’s exact dimensions, and view the rooms from a variety of angles in full color.

The latest in the 3D Home Design Series, 3D Home Interiors lets you browse more than 100,000 home decorating products, according to Broderbund, most of which are actual items from leading manufacturers. You even get model numbers. The program lets you choose a manufacturer, then view each product in different styles and colors.

When reviewing the software programs, be sure to check out how many manufacturer and product categories are actually in the program. If your favorites don’t appear, that makes it hard to design from your preferences. Check the web sites of the software companies or supplement the choices from the web sites of the manufacturers themselves.

Make sure you have the necessary hardware, too. Graphics programs tend to monopolize lots of RAM so it wouldn’t hurt to install more than the minimum system requirement. Make sure you have up to 64 MB or more, to make the program run smoothly and to avoid freezing up.

American Homeowners Association (AHA)

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Price : $199.00