posted09/03/10

Storing wine at the correct temperature

It’s crucial that wine is kept at the correct temperature for you to get the most out of its flavour, most people do not store their wine at the correct temperature, is yours? White wines can be too warm and red wines can be too cold, altering their taste. There is a solution to your wine storage problems, Liebherr have a range of advanced wine storage cabinets that incorporate the latest climate technology which provides precisely the right conditions for wines to mature and reach their top flavour.

The Liebherr Wine Coolers or cabinets have a state of the art electronic control system with unique compressors as well as a whole host of other specific design features, like special glass doors which feature UV protection and a specially activated charcoal filter. These design features enable you to store your wine for long periods of time to allow them to mature and allow for optimum flavour ideal for those who like to savour their wine and also those who like hosting and making sure their guests have the best quality wine.

As well as optimising the temperature of wines the Liebherr Wine Coolers are very innovative and versatile, some models have the ability to have two or three compartments that allow individual temperature setting so you can store different types of wines in one cabinet for ease. The cabinets also come in various sizes which can store anything from 12 to 180 and can be free standing, built in or go on counter tops and they all come with the special UV protecting glass doors so you can view your wines without the need to open the door. If you want to get the most out of your wines and start enjoying them at their optimum then you can do if you invest in a Liebherr wine cabinet.

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posted05/03/10

Types of massage therapy

Massage therapy is a manipulation of soft tissue for the purpose of normalizing them, practitioners can use a variety of physical methods including applying fixed or movable pressure, holding, or causing movement to the body. The basic goal of massage therapy is to help the body heal itself and to increase health and well-being, there many different types of massage therapy which are practiced like Swedish massage, hot stone massage and Thai massage London. Therapists primarily use their hands, but may also use their forearms, elbows, or feet.

Swedish massage
This type of massage therapy is the most common and considered a general form of massage therapy, most people opt for a Swedish massage if they want to relax and unwind and only have slight muscle ache. If you have never had a massage before this is probably the best to try first.

Aromatherapy massage
With this massage therapy scented plant oils are used whilst having a massage these are call essential oils. A massage therapist can select oils to help with a specific problem and can help relax, energize, reduce stress and balance, the essential oils used in an aromatherapy massage are best suited to help reduce stress related problems or conditions with an emotional component.

Hot stone massage
This type of massage therapy uses as you can see from the name, hot stones, which are placed on certain points on the body to warm and loosen tight muscles and balance energy centres in the body. The warmth from the warm smooth stones is very comforting and is good for people who prefer a lighter massage and who may suffer from muscle tension.

Shiatsu
This is a form of Japanese body work which is different to other types of massage therapy it uses localised finger pressure in a rhythmic sequence on acupuncture meridians. The therapist will hold each point for two to eight seconds to improve the flow of energy and help the body regain balance. This form of therapy is very relaxing with little soreness afterwards even though pressure is firm.

Thai massage
A Thai massage like shiatsu also aligns the energies of the body using gentle pressure on specific points it also includes compressions and stretches. A Thai massage London therapist will move and stretch you into a sequence of postures that will leave you feeling energised and also it reduces stress and improves flexibility and range of motion.

Thai massage

Thai massage

Picture courtesy of thomaswanhoff

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posted01/03/10

Personalised gifts for Mother’s Day

Mother’s Day or Mothering Sunday is coming up on the 14th March, so it’s probably a good time to start thinking about what you can get as a gift. Mother’s Day is an ideal time to give your mother a personalised gift or something that has meaning to show her how truly grateful you are to have her.

You can choose from a wide range of items that can be personalised however you want, like mugs or t shirt printing with a message of your choice on, specialist pictures or bags both with a message or picture on, there is no end to the possibilities. A great way to show how much you care is to use your own photographs for mugs and t shirt’s as it’s a great reminder plus depending on the picture may make them laugh. There are many companies on the internet such as Splash Logo who offer a wide range of things that can be personalised.

Gifts that are handmade are also another good idea it shows that time and thought went into the gift, you don’t have to be really creative either you can buy kits to make your own jewellery or packs to make your own collages and cards, sometimes just making a collage from photographs and framing it can be a cheap but effective gift that can be treasured.

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posted25/02/10

Kit for off piste skiing

If you have found a great ski deal where you can enjoy off piste skiing, you will also need essential kit for your holiday.

A pair of durable ski trousers with side-openings made from breathable material.
An outer shell jacket made of breathable material
Several thin layers of clothing between your skin and the outer shell are an approach that gives better heat retention and good flexibility. These tops are known as “mid layers”
Underwear with good wicking properties
Warm hat
Sun hat
1 warm pair of gloves
1 thin pair of gloves
Goggles
Sunglasses – UV factor category 4 recommended
35-40 litre backpacks
Minimum1.5 litre water bottle that won’t freeze
Sun cream and lip salve (factor 30 or higher recommended)
Tools you will need – A Harness, an avalanche transceiver, a shovel and a probe. Occasionally you might need glacier gear (crampons, ice axe).

You also need to make sure you insurance will cover you for off piste skiing and not just the usual skiing holiday related accidents.

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posted21/02/10

Bathroom renovations

If you’re looking to renovate or refresh your bathroom you need to consider what needs completely replacing and what just needs an update. Some things are easier and cheaper to renovate than others, when budgeting it’s important to look at what needs replacing out of necessity and what just needs a slight update. Below is a list of things to consider when renovating your bathroom;

If your bathroom suite needs replacing consider making a few changes, if you have a bath/shower suit do you have room for a separate bath and shower enclosure either in that room or another.

Do you need to install new fittings such as taps, showerheads, water controls and radiators or towel holders.

Do you need to completely retile your bathroom, if the tiles are in good condition and just dated then how about repainting them a bright modern colour.

You can also give new life into a bathroom by replacing dated bathroom cabinets with modern ones at a cheaper cost.

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posted18/02/10

Reasons to use t-shirt printing

If you’re looking for an individual t-shirt a design that no one else will have then t shirt printing is a great idea. You can use your own designs and have the printed onto t shirts hoodies vests and bags.

Printing is a reliable way to get your images onto clothing and www.splashlogo.co.uk offer a huge range of clothing and accessories that you can print your designs onto. They use various techniques such as Digital Transfer, Embroidery, DTG-Printing, and Screen Printing enabling you to get the exact appearance you wanted at a great price.

Digital Transfer uses a heat press controlled by computer to produce single or multiple colour transfers in a wide variety of materials, with digital transfer there are no screen or set up costs involved and the resultant transfer has superior durability and can be industrially washed, dry cleaned, tumble dried and ironed.

DTG-Printing uses technology from the US call Direct to Garment printing where you can do short runs of four colour printed t shirts which means you have fast turnaround of jobs – 48 hour normal service, no set-up charges, advance T-shirt samples for proofing, high quality re-production, no “crazing” of image when stretched or washed and no nasty textures.

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posted16/02/10

Benefits of Electric underfloor heating

If you are thinking about updating your current heating system why not invest in underfloor heating to save yourself some money and the environment.

It can lower your energy bills by as much as 40% and requires less energy to heat your space compared to traditional heating methods that can lose heat through duct leaks.

Having electric underfloor heating means you will reduce damp air in your home, it is also clean and allergy friendly.

You will find after it in your home you will no longer have cold spots in your house.

Electric underfloor heating is safe and easy to use and it can be fitted into any room with any type of flooring so you can tailor make it to your specific needs.

There are no leaks unlike conventional radiators, and once installed you don’t see it or any pipes and it makes no sound.

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posted13/02/10

Benefits of an en-suite bathroom

An en-suite bathroom is a welcomed addition to any home, it gives you extra space and time the whole family can enjoy, instead of on a morning every one battling to use the only bathroom. En-suite bathrooms don’t have to be large at all, all you need to fit in really is a toilet, sink and a shower enclosure.

Shower enclosures don’t take up as much room as a full on bath with overhead shower, they can neatly fit into most spaces with shower trays coming in numerous shapes and sizes fitting the most awkward of spaces. Once you have your enclosure fitted you can easily fit a sink and toilet in and if you still have room you can add a towel rail or radiator. Then when you roll out of bed on a morning you can go straight into your en-suite without having to queue.

en suite

en suite

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posted11/02/10

Wardrobe basics

If you’re not interested in following fashion or not that bothered about clothes and shudder at the thought of buying any sort of men’s and women’s clothing, you still should have the following wardrobe essentials that will keep you covered.

Womens clothing

Womens basic clothing

Vest top – A staple for both men and women ideal in winter underneath other garments and on hot summer days good to keep cool. Vest tops are also very popular for exercise clothing with many sports specialist developing new materials for enhanced performance.

T-shirt – The humble t-shirt where would we be without it, developed in the late 18th century from a one piece garment became popular choice  for miners who worked in hot stuffy environment, then was used as part of the US Navy in tropical climates. The adaptation of the t-shirt from men’s clothing work wear to the most popular item of clothing is thanks to its versatility and durability.

Long sleeved top – Next along after the t-shirt, this wardrobe staple is ideal wear during colder months and into spring, great worn with jeans long sleeved tops come in various styles so they generally go with most things great for a comfy casual look.

Hoodie – They may have come under bad press recently thanks to the government’s blame of crime and disturbance of young people in hoodies however they are a useful and durable item of clothing. Ideal for lounging around the house in or as a warm outer layer of clothing hoodies are both versatile and practical.

Mens Clothing

Mens basic clothing

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posted09/02/10

Underfloor heating and tiled floors

If you are considering installing underfloor heating you will be glad to know that it works ideally with stone tile flooring in areas such as bathrooms, kitchens and utility rooms. You probably have become used to stepping onto a cold tile floor in your bathroom however when you lay underfloor heating beneath it the stone tiles they retain the heat much better than carpeting. Both water and electrical underfloor heating work well and neither need much maintaining.

There’s nothing better than stepping out of your hot shower or bath onto a nice warm tilled floor, there are also other benefits to the underfloor heating on tiled floors because they retain heat much longer you will find that once your heating is off or lower the room still keeps warm thus reducing your energy bills.

floor tiles

floor tiles

Picture courtesy of DefeatEd2k4

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