TECHNOLOGY - Television Wallpaper?

Photo Credit: The Lab on Flickr.com

Technology is leaping forward all the time, but TV wallpaper? It could be closer than you think. Toshiba are developing an organic material with a width of one billionth of a metre. They suppose we could use this new product not only to screen Television and films, but also as lifestyle content - e.g. a wall that looks like an aquarium, or a forest scene that can be changed to suit our mood.

Toshiba says this will use less energy than both LCD and plasma which makes it an eco friendly choice too. Hurry up and finish the research Toshiba, this sounds like a great idea.

Related Posts:
TIPS - Analogue Aerial Time
GADGET - Iconic Rubber Radio
GADGET - Get a Quikpod, Get in the Picture

DECOR - Naturally Natural

Photo Credit: Maui_Designer on Flickr.com

Crisp greens, wood, natural flooring, leaf motifs, soft browns and golds. I love the fresh and easy-to-live-with feel of the natural trend. This look is ideal for bedrooms and living rooms as it is comfortable and light. This is perfect for you if you want something striking but can't bear the bold, brash and busy patterns that can really overpower the senses.

Mix natural textures with modern accessories such as green perspex or glassware and silver frames. The mix of textures work really well within a neutral colour scheme. I love the high gloss against the rougher more rugged textures too. Keep the base palette quite simple and you can't really go wrong.

Photo Credit: ~ReRod~ [...] on Flickr.com

This lobby mixes stone, wood and greenery with soft lighting and rattan furniture.

Photo Credit:robleto on Flickr.com

I love the paint colour of this living room. Would love to see a big plant in here to really fit the sceme.

Related Posts:
WEBSITE - Tangletree Interiors
FLOORING - Heritage Flooring by Kährs
INSPIRATION - Changing Room Decor

PRODUCT - Inside Out Glasses

Check out this unusual glassware from online retailer Firebox. The Inside out glasses are a novel idea, ideal for a wedding gift or just impressing guests with something a little bit different to drink from. The martini glasses are my favourite but the champagne flutes are also effective. The cylindrical glasses contain an inner chamber which is filled with liquid, while the drinker holds the outside tumbler shaped glass.


Each set come as a pair and are completely dishwasher safe. They are also reported to keep drinks cooler as warm hands don't come into contact with the edge of the glass touching the drink.

Prices start at £34.95 at Firebox

Related Posts:
KITCHEN - GLASSeco Have got Some Bottle
DESIGNER - Alexander McQueen Hits the Bottle
PRODUCT - Sabai Wine Spritzer

PETS - Dog Friendly Places to Stay

Dog Friendly offers members more than 10,000 venues where pet dogs are welcomed as warmly as their owners. And now with the launch of the Dog Friendly books you can have on hand all the places to go and stay with your dogs.

More and more people are now holidaying in the UK, and there has never been a better time for hotels opening up their doors to our canine friends. The cost of putting your dog in kennels can can reduce your holiday spending money significantly.

Log on to www.dogfriendly.co.uk and fill out the registration form to become a member - the 3 options are outlined below.

Full Member plus any one Book - £9.99
Full Member - £5.99
Guest Member - Free (As a registered guest member, you will only be able to search our Dog Friendly places to stay databases by County)

Dog Friendly have also now launched a series of 5 paperback books:

• Dog Friendly Camping and Caravan Sites - £9.99
• Dog Friendly Hotels - £9.99
• Dog Friendly Pubs - £5.99
• Dog Friendly Days Out - £5.99
• Dog Friendly Beaches - £5.99

Special launch offer – Buy all 5 books for £32.95

Related Posts:
PETS - A Yoghurty Treat
PRODUCT - Cat Play House
EVENTS - Walkies with the PDSA

FOOD - Where Have all the Flowers Gone?

Did you know you can eat roses, chrysanthemums, violets, geraniums plus another 75 flowers and leaves?

Flowers have healing properties and can be used in cooking and as a natural, decorative addition to drinks, sweets and celebratory cakes. A selection of edible/culinary and medicinal dried flowers is now available to buy online from: http://www.eternalspring.org.uk/ starting from £3.95.

Wild Rose Buds are an affordable luxury, full of vitamin C they help boost the body’s immune system, alleviate depression and restore energy and vitality. Add a couple of buds to black/Pu’er tea for a fragrant sweet health drink or use as a culinary aid in lamb dishes, cakes, puddings, jams, jellies, champagne and fruit punch.

For a natural gentle diuretic, try Snow Mountain Chrysanthemum. Rich in minerals, amino acids and vitamin A, D & E, chrysanthemums help with cystitis and water retention. A cheaper and natural alternative to problem skin, simply boil flowers in water for 15 minutes, cool and use as a rinse for spotty skin. You can also use in tea, stir-fries, rice’s and desserts.

Spring into springtime with delicate Peach Blossom, originally associated with longevity, Peach blossom has significant calcium, phosphorous and iron content. It helps cleanse the body of toxins especially after a debilitating illness.

I am not sure I would add these to my everyday diet, but it could be good as a little extra every now and again. Eternal Spring also stocks Pu'er Tea, which was featured in Grazia magazine as a celebrity slimming favourite.

Eternal Spring do advise people to take care never to use any flower as a medicine or culinary aid unless you are a 100% sure of its identification and origin.

Related Posts:
FLOWERS - Organic Bouquet at By Nature
FLOWERS - Standing Ovation for Ovando

LIGHTING - Bluma Decorative Pendent

BLUMA DECORATIVE PENDANT

The new season is upon us and Laura Ashley has a new catalogue. I am loving this ceiling pendent. The piece features hand-crafted flower fretwork and suspended glass crystals that catch the light beautifully. This pendent is one of Laura Ashley's best sellers, so I am not alone in my like of it. You can also now view the new home catalogue online.

Related Posts:
TIPS - Fairy Lights
5 OF THE BEST - Wall Clocks
WANTED - Tea Cup Chandelier

TIPS - Take Away the Healthy Option

Don't deprive yourself by dieting too hard, just make better choices. That is the advice that many experts swear by. But which are the more healthy options?

A survey of 1078 of Just-Eat.co.uk customers shows that selecting a healthier choice takeaway is part of a plan to complement weight-loss plans - The top ten most popular healthy takeaway options are as follows:

1. Chicken Madras with boiled rice (Indian) – Boiled chicken is high in protein and low in fat. Boiled rice has approximately half the calories of a fried portion of rice and madras sauce has been proven to prevent people from overeating, due to its spiciness.

2. Thin crust Margherita (Italian) – As far as pizza goes, a Margherita is the healthiest option and the best selling. Specifying that the restaurant use less cheese will ensure that the tomato based pizza is lower in carbohydrates and therefore calories than many other takeaway options.

3. Rogan Josh and boiled rice (Indian) – Rogan Josh is cooked in a comparatively low-calorie tomato based sauce and comes with vegetables which are full of fibre.

4. Salmon and tuna wasabi (Japanese) – Fish is low in carbohydrates and extremely high in protein which through aiding with the growth and repair of muscle tissue raises your metabolism.

5. Prawns with ginger and spring onions and boiled rice (Chinese) – Prawns are high in protein, with ginger providing taste without dramatically raising the calorie count.

6. Grilled chicken wholemeal kebab (Greek) – Grilling chicken ensures that there is little fat, whilst the wholemeal bread helps lower the grams of carbohydrates per serving.

7. Chicken and Lemon Sauce with boiled rice (Chinese) – A simple takeaway meal high in protein and low in carbohydrates.

8. Chicken with arrabiata (Italian) – arrabiata is a tomato based penne pasta dish, which can be substituted at point of order for wholemeal pasta to provide even fewer calories.

9. Crunchy tofu salad (Japanese) – Tofu is a high protein and low in fat vegetarian option.

10. Chicken in oyster sauce with boiled rice (Chinese) - Oysters are one of the most nutritionally well-balanced of foods, containing protein, carbohydrates and lipids (fats).

Just-Eat.co.uk provides an average of more than 30,000 meals for customers in any given 24 hours. The service supplies customers with a large directory of varied restaurants and eateries in their area, with a full, up-to-date menus including prices, a great resource for those looking to make a better choice with take aways.

Related Posts:
RECIPE - Lemon Drizzle Cake
FOOD - Chef Prepared Ready Meals
VIDEO - Supermarket Shopping in 1962

CAR - Put the Petal to the Metal

To commemorate their 50th Anniversary, Lilly Pulitzer created a limited edition Jeep Wrangler in an iconic print (named “petal to the metal” of course!) for New York Fashion Week.

The Lilly team knows that Fashion Week means one word, schlepping! Lilly Pulitzer extended an invitation for one FULL day of complimentary, colorful rides for a select group of editors, stylists, and VIPs to shuffle between shows- after all, black cars are SO last season. Lilly treated them to a taste of sunny Palm Beach during a New York winter, and let the Lilly-clad chauffeurs do the driving (how could anyone refuse?)

What do you think of the cheerfully decorated jeep? It is a little bit much for me but if you fancy one, they are for sale.

Related Posts:
THE GRAPEVINE - Celebrity DUI
FREE 'YOU GET IT BACK' KEYRING
THE GRAPEVINE - Drive-through Chemist Opens in Essex

HEALTH - Have a Happy Heart

Did you know that every two minutes, someone in the UK has a heart attack?

Heart disease remains one of the nation's biggest killers, so while we think of love hearts this Valentine's Day, we should also spare a thought for the health of our own heart. If you would like to find out more about how to take care of your heart, visit NetDoctor.co.uk and read Dr Henderson's article, 'Don't die of a broken heart'. You will find a great explanation of what causes heart disease and how you can help prevent it.

Related Posts:
HEALTH - How Happy are we?
FITNESS - Frugal Fitness Tips
FITNESS - Get on Your Bike

KITCHEN - Biscuits for One

Biscuits for one - Lakeland - £1.75 for pack of 2

Fed up of buying a pack of biscuits only to have the rest of the office devour them before you even get a chance? Keep the biscuits at home and portion them up for work (or the kids' lunchboxes) with this handy 'Biscuits for one' case. No danger of a crumbly mess as your favourite snacks are protected and you can hide them away until lunchtime. Sharing is all very well, but times are hard - be selfish.

Related Posts:
KITCHEN - Snazzy Spoon Design for Olives
ORGANISATION - The Wonder of Yoghurt Pots
FOOD - Sugar & Spice From My Secret Kitchen

IDEA - Quick and Easy Touchnotes

Stuck for a Valentine's idea... perhaps those generic card shop gifts are uninspiring to you. What if you could make a card online in minutes using your own photo and have it sent direct. No need for shopping or stamp buying.

Touchnotes are a great way to get creative and give your cards a personal touch, using your own digital photos. Simply upload your picture onto the Touchnote website (or pull one across from your Picasa Web Album), add your personal message and within minutes, the card can be printed and sent directly to friends and loved ones anywhere in the world.

“These days, it’s all too easy to send an email or text to say thanks, and while there’s nothing wrong with that, there’s no denying that it’s so much nicer to receive a real card that someone has taken the time to write and send,” said Raam Thakrar, Co-Founder and CEO, Touchnote. “Touchnote is a great way to send a personal thanks and it also lets you show off and share all those photos taken with friends and family. It takes no time at all – simply upload your photograph, add your text and you’re done.”

I tried this out and they look really nice. If you have an image that will mean a lot to the recipient then it is an ideal option, especially if you are far away from each other.

Related Posts:
STATIONERY - Keep Calm Note Cards
BAG - Alphabet Tote Bags
ART - Acrylic Prints from Your Photos

NEWS - February Brand Gossip

Watch your supermarket eggs. New plans may mean that organic farms can produce non organic eggs without losing their organic status. This would be a temporary measure while sales are so low due to careful consumer spending. Marketing Week reports that sales of other organic produce have not been hit so hard by the recession, partly due to celebrity chefs like Jamie Oliver who continue to campaign for good quality, ethical food.

Waitrose is launching a loyalty customer club with a stronger focus on price motivations of consumers. ‘good food honestly prices’ is what Waitrose aims to convey. I personally like the store, but don't shop there regularly. There just isn't the same choice.

Look out for limited edition 3 inch high MaltEaster bunnies in the run up to Easter. These will make a great, small treat for kids, and although Easter isn't a big deal for me, I still want to try one.


Related Posts:
VOTE - Wacky New Walkers Flavours
FOOD - Chef Prepared Ready Meals
DRINK - Glacéau Vitaminwater...How Refreshing!

FLOORING - Heritage Flooring by Kährs

Ideal for both traditional and contemporary interiors, Kährs Heritage Collection combines high performance with an authentic aged look. Offered with a choice of six nature oil prefinishes, all wood floors feature a distinct brushed surface and bevelled edge. Meanwhile, Kährs eco-friendly multi-layered construction provides stability throughout the seasons. Much better than your DIY store laminate and a darn sight more hard wearing too.

The Heritage Collection includes six one-strip wood floors: fresh, white-washed Oak Valois; contemporary, grey-toned Oak Plantagenet; elegant, conker-brown Oak Romanov, dark-toned Oak Charlemagne, vintage Oak Altavilla and classic, natural toned Oak Asturian.

Even better, all floors from Kährs are offered with a 30-year guarantee. For more information and a copy of Kährs 107-page brochure, contact Kährs (023) 9245 3045, email or visit www.kahrs.co.uk

Related Posts:
FLOORING - Hot Rocks Pebble Floor
FLOORING - Cut a Rug up
TRENDS - Bright is Right

TIPS - Analogue Aerial Time

With the "switch-off" of the TV analogue signal starting to roll out nationally, it's time to invest in a new digital aerial to replace the old analogue one on your roof. Even now, if you live in a weak signal area, there's no reason for your television reception not to be clear, sharp and beautifully defined.

The One For All Digital Antenna gives you a cost-effective solution to bringing outdoor terrestrial signals into your home - and it's "future-proof" too! Part of a range of aerials, the One For All SV 9355 is a Digital Terrestrial aerial (DVBT / Freeview / TNT) and is HD ready. It's easy to install in just three steps - or you can have it professionally installed at a specially discounted price.

One For All are offering a reduction of £30* on the cost of installation. Using the Fitting Voucher (found inside the box) installation will only cost £69.99 (normal price £99.99).

For full details regarding the digital switchover, visit www.digitaltelevision.gov.uk Your current aerial may need to be replaced or upgraded to receive digital TV through your aerial after the switchover.

Related Posts:
WEBSITE - I Want One of Those
GADGET - Iconic Rubber Radio
GADGET - Cybook

ACCESSORIES - Sweet Tapestry Cushions

Add some retro chic to your home with a unique tapestry design from Leaf & Tree Tapestry. Each design in the new range can be turned into an impressive wall hanging or fashioned into an eye-catching scatter cushion. So if you have some time on your hands and are feeling a bit crafty, grab a tapestry needle.

Current designs:

• Allsorts: Nostalgic, comforting imagery makes a striking modern art statement in the town house, or sets the scene for toasted crumpets by the fire in a rural retreat

• Seaside: Reminiscent of childhood holidays that seemed to go on for ever, this beautiful design is as subtle as an Impressionist painting, yet uses only 15 different colours

• Shells: Designed to suggest the simplicity of a whitewashed cottage by the sea, ‘Shells’ evokes cool blue and grey minimalism, striped fabrics and painted wood interiors.

• Roses: A rich design that’s as fitting in a chic black, grey and white urban space as it is in an old country house

• Tulips: A stylish, minimal statement for a modern take on a traditional theme. Sophisticated-yet-fun, in luscious colours that demand attention.

• Beach Huts: Soft blues, whites and purples capture this well-loved feature of the British coastline.

Fusing a traditional crafting technique with modern imagery, Tapestry kits cost £38 each and come complete with: a printed cotton canvas (15” by 15” when completed); Anchor wool; a tapestry needle and full printed instructions. They’re all made in England and contain only top quality materials. Each kit is packaged in a sturdy, recyclable box – making them the perfect gift.

All kits are exclusively available www.leafandtreetapestry.com.

FLOWERS - Organic Bouquet at By Nature

Just in time for Mother's Day, By Nature is launching its new flower delivery service with a gorgeous selection of freshly cut UK grown seasonal blooms. From the end of March 2009 an organic bouquet will be added. A great selection bound to please anyone questioning where their flowers are coming from and how they are grown.

By Nature is an online retailer specialising in organic and ethical products. The store offers a wide selection of products such as eco fashion, bath and bed products, gardening, dining, children, beauty, eco gadgets, books and travel accessories as well as an Ethical Wedding List.

Find out more at www.bynature.co.uk