Memorial Day Weekend

By Mikes Furniture

Watching city parades, visiting military cemeteries and memorials, commemorating the fallen with the US flag … there are so many ways to pay tribute and honor to the soldiers who fought in the war. How about you make some slight changes to your Memorial weekend routine and spend it differently for once?

Memorial Day weekend is a great time to remember our US soldiers, but also to spend time with family and friends. As Memorial Day also marks the beginning of summer and all outdoor events:

- many people go away for a short vacation or visit family and friends,

- others plan outdoor sport events

- visit a national museum of American history

All these outdoor activities can be so inspirational and influence your home style too!  The cottage style is the latest trend. Here are a few creative ideas on how to change your home and adopt the cottage style at least for this coming season:

Start by picking the right pastel colors- green, yellow, pink, cream or white! Now, you can play with your available home square footage. In doing so, you will make your home more inviting and optimize your home living space, while creating comfort at the same time!

Then get the right materials- wood, stone and all natural materials that will bring texture and emphasize your home coziness!

  

From the dining room to the bedroom ….it looks easy to set the perfect cottage tone and enjoy all the unique lived-in comfort a home can offer.

If the weather permits, then you should definitely set foot outside. Picnicking can be great during this season: all you need is a throw and to decide where to place it - in a park or in your backyard. You could also take your dinette furniture outside on your patio for a unique friends and family gathering!

Ensure that you make the most of your long weekend! Happy Memorial Day!

Gathering Ideas For St. Patrick’s Day

By Mikes Furniture

St. Patrick’s day, the patron saints’ feast is coming! No need to be in Ireland or Irish to celebrate it, as March 17th has become a cultural tradition spread all over the world. It is more of a religious holiday in Ireland where St. Patrick was known for converting the people to Christianity. In other countries, this day is a symbol of sharing Irish traditions and heritage. Some people would even say that it is their luckiest day!

Indoor or outdoor- lots of things are planned for gatherings on St. Pat’s! Here are a few ideas you will definitely crush on. No matter what mood you are in; get ready to see everything green!

Our indoors/ in-house suggestions!

If you decide to throw your own St Pat’s party, you will be rewarded as you can make a great party on a budget and enjoy the most of the day! 

Start by turning your house green with a green sofa and homeaccents or get few accessories like green leprechaun’s hat, shamrock!

Once the atmosphere is set, you can now get some drinks and food ready. If you are a great cook, you can attempt to cook some typical Patrick’s Day dinner with colcannon or Irish stew. Whatever you plan to make, just remember that “a room without potatoes is like a body without a soul.” Make sure you have potatoes!

Put some nice Irish music and start dancing!

Our outdoor /outside your house suggestions:

If you live close to the Chicago River, you might see the leftover of the river dyed in green the weekend prior to the D-day.

In the morning, you can start your day on a green foot – drink an Irish coffee and wear green clothes to fit in the Patty’s day mood!

Then, participate in a street parade in the afternoon. Eat the classic corned beef dish!

Continue or finish your day in a pub for a stout and just feel the Irish culture ambiance surrounding you!

So many things can be done to celebrate St. Pat’s but the best part is that you can share this moment gathering with friends and family.

Happy St. Patrick’s day!

Content provided by: @tailbase

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Nutrition Habits

By Mikes Furniture

We have great news for those obsessed with dieting - March is the national nutrition month this year! Nonetheless, we are not nutritionists and will not suggest what you shouldn’t eat nor give you any recipes – even if, these tips could help lots of us as spring is coming! Then why not talk about eating habits for once! What eating habits should we adopt to stay healthy and live longer? Here are our pieces of advice:

Time does matter!

Some American surveys reveal that 7.11 am is the ideal time for breakfast, 12.38pm for lunch, and 6.14pm for dinner.  Whether there is any best time to eat or not, when we are less active especially in the evening, it takes more time to burn calories- that’s a fact! Yet, what really matters is not at what time you eat, but how many times you eat on a daily basis.

Fuel up 3 times a day with a healthy meal and have some healthy snacks in between if need be. This is a great habit to develop. You don’t have to apply the famous phrase: “eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a pauper” as you know your limit. However, never overeat especially before going to bed! While eating, take your time to enjoy each bite!

Eat in the best room ever… It is always better to have a sit-down dinner than to eat on the go. Obviously, our dining room is arguably the best place to have your meals or as a second option, there’s always the kitchen! As long as you sit on a chair, you are in the right spot!

Keep the rhythm! Eating in the dining room is also great for sharing family moments. Families share about their day or/and make plans. We will always remember those times where we were all seated around the table, eating all kinds of food, even green vegetables and discussing! Everyone needs their daily portion of fruit and vegetables and if leading by example can help our kids, why not adopt this routine?  It will certainly reduce some health problems later too! So keep the rhythm…

As a last piece of advice, follow healthy eating habits more than 31 days. How long could we carry on with this challenge? You know the answer…Have the greatest and healthiest March ever!

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com

Valentine’s Day Celebration Ideas!

By Mikes Furniture

Valentine’s Day is coming… This could be the worst day if you are one of those who have been desperately looking for a soulmate or can’t stand to be alone. Well, if you haven’t found a soulmate to take you out for a romantic dinner and don’t know how to spend it, here are some great suggestions! In a couple or as a single, it’s doesn’t matter; Valentine’s Day should be the day to show the most of your love. We can start by showing love to someone around us (family, friends, pets…). This year, Valentine’s Day falls on a weekend, so you shouldn’t run out of time and wind up organizing something at the last minute. Here are some original ideas to show your love:

Host a brunch! Invite all your beloved ones- family and/or friends to share the first meal of the day. It is always easier to organize a last-minute brunch- no need to cook a huge variety of dishes, that way you save time on grocery shopping. Besides, most of the time you already have the majority of the ingredients at hand in your home (coffee, tea, eggs, flour, tomato, bacon and bread!)

Our special, for ladies ….Take time to pamper the ones that carried you before you were walking- your Feet! Organize a pedicure or spa afternoon with your friends. On the agenda, you can expect: a relaxing moment, some pedicure/foot massage with almond oil and lots of laughs.

  

Activities with Kids. Bake cookies that they can share with their friends. Kids would love to decorate their cookies; a funny moment guaranteed!

End your day festively! Host a cocktail party at home with some friends. While drinking alcohol, don’t forget that you will be working the day after so drink moderately!

There are plenty other ways to celebrate love on Valentine’s Day…yet, you should try to extend them to the rest of year not only on the 14^th. Happy Valentine’s Day! 

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com

Getting Ready at Home for Super Bowl

By Mikes Furniture

America’s most watched sporting event is just around the corner. Right about now, fans are planning their menu for the game. Buffalo wings? Beer? Pizza? Check! Hang on a second… something is still missing. Recliners! Football fans, watching the game without one is just not the same! Hurry and do your homework in time for kickoff!

Manual vs. Power reclining:

As we know, power and manual recliners both have advantages and disadvantages to them. Either type comes in a variety of shapes, sizes, colors and fabrics. However, the main differences lie in the price and longevity of the product. Let’s take a look at how they differ:

Manual Reclining	Power Reclining
Lower initial cost.	More expensive due to electrical components.
Mechanics go through more wear and tear.	Proven to last longer.
Good buy if you don’t expect it to last forever or don’t mind finding a cheap replacement.	Pricey, but worth the investment in the long run.

             

 

Fabric vs. Leather:

Of course, this is largely debated. Depending on your lifestyle and your needs, your choice should cater to these factors. If you have children and pets, perhaps it would be best to lean toward “forgiving” fabrics for all the spills and sticky hands they are subjected to. If you’re looking to purchase a fabric recliner, choose fabrics such as ultra-suede, twill, denim, velvet and wool. Ideally, choosing a natural fiber with a touch of synthetic will ensure durability. As for leather, it wipes clean, looks great and doesn’t sag. It seems to be a favorite among the gentlemen!

Now that you have the information you need on practicality and durability, you can make your choice according to your lifestyle and budget. Whatever your choice, make sure you have everything settled in time for the game, so you can kick back and enjoy the show!

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com

Relaxing Around The World

By Mikes Furniture

Suppose you are tired of the weather or overloaded with work and you can’t afford to travel this winter. Then, you will certainly enjoy reading about different ways to relax around the world. This is definitely a great escape for those of you with a chilly weather forecast - where snow has reaches the knees. On the other hand, there are others that are subjected to an overpowering heat- they too can grow tired of hot temperatures!

Relaxing implies multiple possible activities from spending time resting or doing something enjoyable with friends and family; enjoy the scenery, have a drink, meditate outdoors, or simply get cozy at home!  

Let’s go around the globe from the Americas to Europe, stopping by in Asia for a relaxing discovery tour.

Chill out in the Americas. If you were to choose rain or snow which one would you go for? In Canada, there is anything from rainy weather in Vancouver to snowstorms in Quebec.  Most Canadians try to get away to warmer places right next door like Florida! You will definitely get there faster by plane, but some would prefer driving! The route is longer on the road, but at least you can see the country.

The classic move…going to the Caribbean! Grab a novel, put enough sunscreen for a day and take a bottle of water. You’re all set for a beach day; it’s a common option, but still enjoyable in winter time!

Heading towards Europe…

There are nice destinations where you will relish the mild weather if you remain in the western part. Going up north to countries like Sweden would give you the opportunity to relax in a cottage and enjoy the Nordic spa lifestyle! You could also simply stay in a cabin and sit next to a fireplace with a hot drink in your hands!

Fly away to South Africa or Down Under – This is the perfect time to enjoy the scenery and have dinners outside! Sometimes, one forgets that winter in America does not fall at the same time in other parts of the world. January could be the coldest month for Canadians, but the hottest for Australians! So if you need Vitamin D and some lay back moments. then it is time for you to getaway.

Low -Budget Relax for free… as quoted by Jane Austen: “Ah! There is nothing like staying at home, for real comfort! ”. Whether you live in the northern or southern hemisphere, you have to best place to relax: YOUR HOME! Such a nice reminder to help us relax comfortably!

  

Now that you have a myriad of information on how to getaway, for all types of budgets, you can now make an educated decision. Remember, there are many places you can escape to for relaxation – it depends on your definition of what that means. 

Content provided by: @tailbase

www.tailbase.com