Displaying 11 - 20 of 24 entries.

Garden Accessory Ideas

  • Posted on July 5, 2010 at 4:30 am

Creating the Garden of Your Dreams

"Cultivate the garden within."

Need some help adding color to your garden? Not sure which accessories to use for your precious plants? Look no further! Picking out the right pots, decorations, and posts can be extremely difficult, especially if your garden boats a wide variety of flowers and crops. From small vegetable patches to extensive botanical gardens—this list has something to suit both needs! Here are some decorative items and ideas that are sure to add style to your garden.

  • Stepping Stones – Make a mini natural trail around your yard with stepping stones. Easily add walkways or place garden stepping stones as decorations. Give your landscaping a classic look with charming accents.
  • Bird Feeders and Baths – No garden is complete without something for the birds! Attract friendly attention to your garden with copper, aluminum, or stone baths, crafted bird houses, or feeders.
  • Sculptures – Further accessorize your garden with statues. Try out a simple animal sculpture or an abstract masterpiece! Some of the most popular animal statues are turtles, swans, and deer.
  • Furniture – Give your garden a comfortable setting by adding a hammock or a swinging bench. Lawn chairs, benches, and wooded tables also make wonderful additions. Relax, and take in the view!
  • Fountains – For a fancier look, try adding a marble fountain! The pleasant flow of water helps block background noise and enhances the tranquility and peacefulness of your outdoor living areas and patios.

PS Be sure to join us on our next blog about South Carolina Gardening!

The Most Popular Flower Pots for Your Garden

  • Posted on July 2, 2010 at 4:30 am

Which Pot is Best For You?

The Three Tier Planter allows you to experiment with different flower combinations!

After you’ve made your final decision on what flowers to purchase, it’s time to start creating your garden!   However, before you begin, you first have to find the right pots to suit the needs of your plants and the style of your home.

With a large variety of pots and planters, finding the right pot can be even harder than picking out the flowers!  Here is a list of some of the most popular pots used in both large and small gardens:

Ceramic Pot

Made of ceramic clay and highly durable, this pot is perfect for indoors and outdoors and has a wide variety of colors and styles.  These are perfect for smaller plants and can be used to plant almost anything.  They are also easy to move and water, and are perfect for both beginning and advanced gardeners,

Terra Cotta Pot

This pot is perfect for growing herbs and succulents, and can even support the growth of small citrus trees.If you plan on planting a large arrangement, these pots are one of the best to choose because they allow good air circulation for the roots.

Plastic Pots

These are perfect for tiny plants grown in home or office, and can be used indoors and out.Though they tend to be simpler than some of the other examples, they are perfect for a practical and classic look and come in all sizes.

Hanging Baskets

These are beautifully crafted and are the perfect touch for fancier home gardens.  These are great for smaller plants, like petunias and will highlight any home.

Three-Tier Planter

This pot is a great decoration for both indoors and out, and allows you to experiment with different flower combinations.  It’s perfect for the patio or porch, and is sure to complete any garden with its uniqueness.

With a wide variety of choices, the possibilities are endless!  In the end, it’s important to choose the pot that best suits you.

P.S.: Check out our next exciting blog post, Garden Accessories ideas

The Essentials of Bridal Gift Registry

  • Posted on June 29, 2010 at 4:30 am

Time to Inform Your Guests of the Bridal Registrations!

The major advantage of registering at a bridal registry is that it gives your

Don't hold back, this is your chance to get everything you need!

wedding guests a great idea of what the bride and groom would like to receive as wedding gifts. The basic concept is to decide on a single store or a few stores, create the registry, select the items from the list, and finally notify the wedding guests.  Here are some points of interest you may want to inform your guests of in your newsletter mentioned in our previous blog.

The Best Places to Register

Expand your options by registering at a variety of stores, which gives a bunch of different of wedding gift ideas for your guests. It’s a good idea to register at one major department store (Macy’s, Target, or Bloomingdale’s), then one or two specialty stores (Bed Bath & beyond, or The Purple Rooster). Any more than that may make it difficult for gift buyers to remember.
Be sure to check the store policies, just in case you plan to return any items!
Also, make sure to inform your guests on any discounts or incentives for registering.

What Gifts to Register and the Amount

Think ahead and register for necessary items you plan to buy in the future. Most registries include all the items you will need for your home after the wedding. Some examples are kitchen utensils, flatware and cookware, home appliances, and home furniture.
Do not hesitate to add many items to your wedding gift registry as you see fit for your new home. You’ll need to add several gifts to give a wide selection of items to choose from. Don’t hold back, this is your chance to get everything you need!

The Best Time to Register

You should register at least six months in advance of your wedding date. Registering in advance will give your guests time to purchase bridal shower gifts and more. If you register earlier than 6 months, you run the risk of stores discontinuing some of the selected gifts.

Price Ranges

Make sure to select from a wide price range of gifts to accommodate all your wedding guest’s budgets. Some buyers will prefer to purchase several lower priced items. Place some higher priced gifts for those guests who plan to pool in their money to buy gifts.

Keeping Your Wedding Guests Informed

  • Posted on June 27, 2010 at 4:30 am

How to Create an Exciting Wedding Newsletter

Here is the perfect example of a newsletter that would catch your guests' attention!

It’s important to stay in touch with all of the contacts that you plan on inviting to your wedding, and let them know of the list of stores that the bride has registered at. Having trouble catching your guests’ attention? Here are some tips on how to create an effective newsletter to forward to all of your wedding guests, keeping them informed and reminding them about the special memories that are about to come!

Information you might want to include:

· The date, time, and location of your ceremony and reception.

· Travel and hotel accommodations, or the name of a good travel agent who can make arrangements for them.

· Information about local area attractions and restaurants.

· Store registration locations.

· Interesting facts such as where you plan on going for your honeymoon or where you’ll be living after the wedding.

· Wedding plans and any changes that may occur during the planning process.

This newsletter is all about your big wedding day, so be creative! Don’t forget to include pictures! It’s best to send these letters 2-6 months before the wedding, so all guests will be able to receive them and have time to make hotel reservations. Keep you friends and family close while you prepare for the happy days that are ahead!

P.S.: Check out our next exciting blog post, The Essentials of Bridal Gift Registry!

Registering For Wedding Gifts

  • Posted on June 25, 2010 at 4:30 am

The Ultimate Guide on Registration

Oh, the possibilities!

Your wedding’s on the way, and now it’s finally time to create a registry for your guests!  Creating a memorable wedding registry can be one of the best parts about getting married! Here’s a quick guide and simple list to make the most out of your wedding registry with the least amount of stress:

– Register at a place that’s available for all guests
Understand that not everyone who will send you a gift will live close to you. Keep your long-distance relatives and friends in mind. Choose a store chain to register with that is big enough for them to get to locally, or has an easy to use online registry search.

– Encourage guests to pool their money
If you have several expensive items on your registry, then it makes sense to ask people to pool their money together.  If you need a new or expensive item or want some extra cash for your honeymoon, it’s much easier for everyone to split the cost!

– Minimize your registry
Keep it simple and only put the things you really want, so you won’t end up with assorted items that gather dust and take up space in your future garage. It’s better to register for fewer things that you really want than to have pages and pages of possible gifts for people to sift through when they print your registry.

– Be prepared to return duplicate gifts
If an gift you receive is undesirable, make sure you schedule a day to go around and return things for cash, or store credit whenever possible. If possible, keep the gift giver in the dark about it, they gave the gift out of their love for you, and it’s better not to embarrass them or make them angry over returning a gift.

Above all, remember that registering for practical items will serve you best. The intent behind wedding gifts is that in a way, they help give the new couple the foundation of their future home together. If you register for things that will not help you build your new home into a happy place, then both you and your guests will miss out on this opportunity.

What’s Hot in Wedding Shopping

  • Posted on June 23, 2010 at 4:30 am

The Best Kitchenware for Newly Weds

Surprise the newly wed couple with some decorative kitchenware!

When it comes to presenting a wedding gift for a newly wed, the sky is the limit! You can give sentimental gifts, expensive gifts, or gifts that will be useful in everyday routines.Young couples who will be moving into their first home need gifts that will help them turn their house into a cozy home.

This includes wedding gifts for the kitchen like useful household items, such as a set of cookware, a stove, a new La-Z-Boy, and more. A cookbook may also prove to be useful to the newly wed couple.
These wedding gifts are especially a great complimentary gift for young couples that enjoy cooking. Not only that, but they are also useful for couples who dislike cooking, because these wedding gifts make cooking quicker and easier.
If you’re still unsure of the right gift, take a look at some of our wonderful examples here at Purple Rooster!  We feature some delicate kitchenware that will complete any tableset, and make meals decorative and hassle-free.  You may also use our Bridal Registry to get started and receive free wrapping and coupons!
Happy shopping!

PS Be sure to read our next Bridal article on Registering for Wedding gifts

Discuss With Parents Who to Invite to Your Wedding

  • Posted on June 21, 2010 at 4:30 am

Tim to make some final decisions to perfect your wedding!

How to Decide Which Relatives to Invite to Your Wedding

Your wedding day is one of the most important days of your life. It’s vital to invite the people that you love and care about the most to share that day. The guest list can be the hardest task you will have to deal with during wedding preparations.

This is the time you have sit down with your parents to make some tough decisions. You also have the added burden of trying to figure out whether or not to invite distant relatives.  Distant relatives are those people within your family that are far away from your actual bloodline, for instance a third cousin would be a distant relative.

Here are some factors to consider who to invite:
  • Size and style of your wedding
  • How you are with the relative
  • Closeness of them to your parents
  • Closeness to of them to the other guests
Your wedding day is about what you want. If you want the distant relative at your wedding, then by all means, invite them. Don’t ever invite them out of guilt for leaving them out of the celebration.  The people that you invite to your wedding are the people that you want to share the best memories with for a lifetime.
p.s.: Check out our next whats hot in wedding shopping and be one step closer to completing your wedding preparations!

Bride and Mother Review List Together

  • Posted on June 18, 2010 at 4:30 am

The Top 5 Wedding Gifts

Having trouble selecting the perfect wedding gift for a bride and groom? Choosing gifts can be extremely complicated, especially when the two have different interests and personalities.Here are some fantastic gift ideas for brides and grooms courtesy of the Purple Rooster that all couples will be sure to treasure.

1. Photography Capturing Precious Memories

Reward the newly wed bride and groom with something precious! Surprise the couple with a nice video of them on the wedding night.
Both the bride and the groom will hardly realize how nice they look together or how well their future life reflects from their faces. You can astonish them with your skill of photography.
2. Money
If you’re not very tech savvy, money is the best recommendation as it can buy the favorite gift of the bride or groom. According to some it is too materialistic. So it is better to buy a gift and then gift it.
3. Jewelry
If you’re looking for a more expensive item, jewelry is the way to go!  It will last forever and along with their marriage.  With lockets, heart-shaped necklaces, matching rings… The possibilities for memorable gifts are endless!  So go for a piece of jewelry for him or her.
4. Sweet Getaway
If you really want to dazzle the couple, buy them tickets for a trip for somewhere romantic!  Nothing says love like an extra honeymoon. If that is a bit too much for you, then book a suite for them at a luxurious hotel in a nearby romantic place.
5. Wine
Last but definitely not least, wine and champagne are wedding gifts that stand the test of time. You can go for a bottle of nice scotch, or some other fine whiskey.  There’s no better way to celebrate the success of a wedding with this gift in hand.
p.s.: Check out our next exciting blog post on who to invite to the wedding successfully review the list and be one step closer to completing your wedding preparations!

Make A List

  • Posted on June 16, 2010 at 4:30 am
Whether you’re 18, 26, or 52, we all have to move out of our parent’s house eventually.

You may realize how little you have in terms of household items. You may discover that even have a glass to drink out of let alone a couch to sit on or a dining table to eat at.
Once you have your new place it will seem forever forgetting something else (oh yeah, lamps would be nice I guess…)
Maybe you will be moving into a new apartment soon and I am trying to make a list of everything needed but I am not sure of what to buy or what to put on the list to consider.
So far here is my list:


Couch
end tables
coffee table
bed
kitchen table and chairs
dishware
trash can
vacuum
towels and wash rags
soap
shampoo
bed spread
entertainment center
lamps
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Sponges
Dish soap
Dishwasher detergent
Toilet Brush
Cleaners
Water Jug

Online Coupons For Newlyweds

My local online PurpleRoosterOnline store offers downloadable coupons. This month I can download three coupons. The first is for $2 off any purchase over $10
(same as a 20% discount, well almost), the second is for $5 off any purchase over $20 (just about 25% off)
p.s.: Check out our next exciting blog post on how to mother and daughter review a list and be one step closer to completing your wedding preparations!

Inventory What Items

  • Posted on June 14, 2010 at 4:30 am

Maybe our South Carolina Wedding couple should consolidate their furnishings and take the advice of Airmen 6s model.

6S is a six-step process that stands for safety, sort, straighten, shine, standardize and sustain.

Through the 6S method

Airmen learn to see misplaced materials, equipment and information, and find the optimal setup that reduces waiting time, inefficient handling and waste.

6S is a tool of the Lean initiative being used by the Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century. Going “lean” is a way to remove waste and save money and time while improving quality.

Many people think this is just about cleaning up their bedroom or kitchen. But it’s really much more than that. It’s about organizing it to be more effective, and keeping it up.

At Travis Air Force Base, Calif., the 615th Contingency Response Wing and 60th Air Mobility Wing share a 3,400-square-foot warehouse. Using the 6S method they were able to remove 40 tons of unused equipment, recycle four truckloads of metal and aluminum, and find new homes for 117 pieces of furniture.

The end result was almost 2,000 square feet of newly available space.

The oldest item found was a picture dated from 1983, and the most interesting item found was a 4-feet-by-8-feet piece of aluminum with B-29 nose-art painted on it, The nose art was delivered to the Travis Museum; they were delighted to have it.

The 6S process got people to get rid of junk,Now the home is more organized which aides the personnel to do jobs more quickly.

Shops around the command purged themselves of unneeded items and moved frequently used office supplies to more central locations to provide quick and easy access for employees.

They even changed floor plans to make employee paths more efficient.

Once full of crowded hallways and supply rooms, underwent the 6S process. What wasn’t removed was labeled and organized into place.

The process also saved time.

It will cut down on the ‘hunting for parts’ that always comes with the inspection and packing of personal belongings.

p.s.: Check out the next blog making a list of which items are not on hand.