CasaSugar

Good, Better, Best: Red Cross Medicine Cabinets

CasaSugar — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 09:10:03 -0700

We've all got bathroom essentials to store that may not necessarily be for all eyes to see (you know what I mean), and of course we've got to have a healthy supply of first aid supplies. There's no reason, though, to throw them in a messy drawer, or let them pile up on the bathroom counter. With these red cross medicine cabinets, you can bring a little bit of pharmacy chic into your home without compromising your counterspace, and you don't have to be Swiss to own one.

Good:

This HEAL's Cross Design Medicine Cabinet ($91) keeps your essentials under lock and key, and out of the hands of small children. It's wall mountable, so you can view all of your goodies at eye level, and it comes in iconic red & white or cool aqua.

Two even better medicine cabinets follow, so read more

Better:

You can put your first aid supplies on display but out of kid reach with these glass and aluminum BisCross medicine cabinets ($480), which are fastened with a lock and key. You can choose from red, orange, green or blue glass and "O," "+," "ll," "=," or "X" detailing, but of course I prefer the red cross.

Best:

This whimsical cross cabinet ($649) was designed by Thomas Ericksson for Cappellini in 1992. It's classic, simple, and immediately recognizable as a collector's item for its high style. It's constructed of lacquered metal and is available in red or white, and has three shelves to hold all the expired meds you'll never use.

Source, Source, and Source

Ready-Made Emergency Kits

CasaSugar — Thu, 23 Aug 2007 09:30:12 -0700

Yesterday, I gave you a primer on making an emergency preparedness kit. Whether you live in hurricane alley, earthquake country, or anywhere in between, there are essential items you should have around in case of a disaster.

Fortunately, a number of companies and non-profits have started offering ready-made (and sometimes quite stylish) emergency kits to help you along. Some of these have everything you need to get by, while others are meant merely as "starter kits," so it's still a good idea to make sure you have everything on the Red Cross's checklist. To see some of the best ready-made kits I've found, just click on the photos below.

Source

How Would You . . .

CasaSugar — Sun, 15 Jun 2008 08:24:22 -0700

For this week's How Would You, I'd like you to look at this rather humble Red Cross Pine Chest ($750). How would you integrate it in your home? Would you paint it? Refinish it? Leave it as is to reflect its history? What would you store inside it? What room do you see it in?

Tell me by commenting below!
Source

Coveted Crib: Liane's Cozy, Thoughtful Home

CasaSugar — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 08:30:18 -0800

While I've featured many coveted cribs that boast sprawling square footage and designer furnishings, my favorite coveted cribs are those that display a true sense of identity and homeyness.

That is definitely the case with the lovely dwelling of blogger and Etsy seller Liane, whose house is truly a home, thanks to many personal touches, unique art, and an overall sense of cozy welcomeness. Liane writes, "My home is mostly thrifted, passed down, antique and handmade. We live in an old New England farmhouse. We've done most of the renovations ourselves. It's fairly simple in decor mainly because I don't like to add anything unless I love it, so it's a slow process."

Take a tour of her wonderful home when you read more.

If you like what you see here, definitely check out Liane's blog Enhabiten, and also see what she has for sale at her Etsy shop. (Oh, and Liane is currently donating $5 to the Red Cross for every order from her Etsy shop, so order away!)

View 28 Photos ›

Trend Alert: Union Jacks

CasaSugar — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 09:00:29 -0700

The Union Jack flag is the official flag of the United Kingdom, and it's also an officially hot decorating must have. Here's a little history, since most of us Yanks don't know the background on the flag. By the early 1700s the flag was called "The Union," and since it was flown from a jackstaff on Navy ships, popular legend has it that the flag got its full name, the Union Jack, from the jackstaff. When Northern Ireland became part of the United Kingdom in 1801, the St. Patrick's flag, a red diagonal cross on a white background, was added to the Union Jack, giving us the flag we have today. Check out some of my favorite uses of this fab flag, as well as some of my favorite Union Jack home accessories.
Source

View Slideshow ›

How-To: Reduce Winter Heating Bills

CasaSugar — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 08:30:51 -0700

Recently, heating expert Chris Cooper shared some advice for thrifty Winter heating. He's back, with some hints on how to cut your heating bills or to assist other families with their high heating bills. Chris notes that, "Research compiled by the National Fuel Funds Network proves that fuel poverty leads to 'heat or eat' situations, [where] families strive in vain for a safe balance between paying for food and paying for energy."

To find out how you can help out, or find assistance with your heating costs, read more.

The Low-Income Housing and Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is one of the most effective programs in the battle against fuel poverty in the US. Since 1981, LIHEAP has provided funding to heat homes through the cold stretch from October to March, but officials there indicate that they only reach 20 percent of the population that requests their services. $5.1 billion is allocated to LIHEAP for Winter 08-09.
The Weatherization Assistance Program (WAP) addresses the fuel poverty problem from the pragmatic perspective of home conditioning, offering funds to help homeowners improve the energy efficiency of their property. During the last 30 years, they have served 5.6 million low-income families.
In addition to the help that federal programs provide, there are numerous organizations within close proximity of any community that reach out to Americans in need. Look for a Salvation Army, an American Red Cross, or a local advocacy center in your town or city. If you can, donate warm bedding, coats, scarves, gloves, and mittens to local community assistance organizations.
Most local electric companies offer assistance programs to their customers. The Upper Peninsula Power Company in Michigan, for example, offers a Winter Protection Plan that assures eligible elderly and low-income customers will not have their power turned off between Nov. 1 and March 31. In Massachusetts, local electric providers throughout the state contribute to the Good Neighbor Energy Fund which helps people who do not qualify for state or federal programs. Electric consumers can also contribute to the fund through donations sent in with their monthly payments.
You can engage public officials in your area regarding regional and state programs that promote affordable warmth. LIHEAP distributes a newsletter that keeps citizens informed about ways to lobby and support their campaign. The National Fuel Funds Network is organizing a Day of Action in Washington DC on Feb. 10, 2009.
Participate in home winterization initiatives in your neighborhood. Participating in initiatives that improve insulation, heating options, and living conditions for a variety of people may be the sort of grass roots movement that could reverse the terrible reality of fuel poverty in the United States.

Source

Primer: Making an Emergency Preparedness Kit

CasaSugar — Wed, 22 Aug 2007 08:26:16 -0700

Hurricane season is in full force, and here in California, there's always the chance of an earthquake. Even if you don't live in storm or quake country - but especially if you do - you should have an emergency preparedness kit stashed away.

The American Red Cross recommends having enough food and water on hand to support every member of your household for at least three days. They've also got a great list of other must-haves you may not have thought of, including bleach and a non-electric can opener. Tune in tomorrow, when I'll feature some ready-made kits you can buy. Until now, here's a checklist of everything you should have on hand.

Water. The Red Cross recommends one gallon per day per person, including pets. If you don't have any stored, why not make a habit of picking up a gallon or two every time you go to the supermarket?
Food. Concentrate on ready-to-eat canned fruits, veggies, juice, and meat, as well as protein-rich snacks like trail mix and granola bars. Don't forget vitamins and special supplies for any elderly family members, babies, and pets.
A first-aid kit with Band-Aids, latex gloves, gauze pads, a thermometer, over-the-counter drugs, and necessary prescription medications.

For the other essentials, read more

Tools such as scissors, tweezers, a sewing kit, a manual can opener, a knife, and a wrench to turn off gas and water.
Moist towelettes and antibacterial hand gel
Sunscreen
Paper cups, plates, and plastic utensils
A hand-crank or battery-operated radio, with batteries
Flashlights with extra batteries
Candles and matches
Cash
Small fire extinguisher
Toilet paper, feminine products, and garbage bags
Dish soap
Bleach
Blankets or sleeping bags
Rain gear
Important documents, such as wills, deeds, passports, family records, and a bank account numbers.
A list of important phone numbers

Source

Nice and New: Karim Rashid's Poly Chair

CasaSugar — Tue, 13 May 2008 13:00:46 -0700

Even though it would be rare to find one of his pieces that would fit into my home's Bazaar Style-oriented design aesthetic, I still can't help but admire Karim Rashid and covet his space-age designs.

I'm definitely loving his Poly chair ($340), which looks like a clever cross between my beloved Louis Ghost Chair and the Blu Dot Real Good Chair. Like the Ghost chair, the Poly is made of polycarbonate. Apparently, the chair was in the works for two years, with three different prototypes created to determine which design offered the most comfort, the perfect degree of inclination, and the most durability. The Poly has already won two international awards, the Chicago Athenaeum’s Good Design Award and the Red Dot Design Award.
Source

Deck the Haus: Urban Outfitters Charlie Brown Tree

CasaSugar — Sat, 01 Dec 2007 05:00:22 -0800

I've had a love/hate relationship with Charlie Brown ever since I was a kid. In fact, if truth be told, I probably relate more to Lucy and her football than Chuck and his constant anxieties. Still, I can't resist this Charlie Brown Christmas tree $24. An exact replica of the tree from the cartoon, made of bendable wire branches and plastic needles with a criss-cross wooden base, the set comes with one red Christmas ball ornament, because that's how Chuck would want it. Granted it's a bit of a high price to pay for some plastic and wood bits, but the true Charlie Brown fan will love you for this gift.

Source

Flowers 101: Ranunculus

CasaSugar — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 14:49:06 -0700

Ranunculus may be my favorite cut flowers of all time. In looks, they remind me of a cross between a poppy and a rose, but with a longer vase-life than the former and less pretension than the latter. These bulb perennials have bright yellow, red, orange, or white flowers (if white, they will have a yellow center). The Tecolote strain of ranunculus produce big 3”-5” flowers, straight, long stems, and best of all, a single bulb can produce dozens of ranunculus flowers.