Shake it Baby

There’s no end to the varieties of gift baskets to choose from.  Bed and bath, wine, fashion, you name it.  It’s no surprise then to find that chocolate gift baskets are pretty popular.  Who doesn’t like chocolate?  The cacao plant has hundreds of compounds, many of which target the pleasure centres of the brain.

As with any other gift basket, the chocolate variety comes in a wondrous array of creations.  You may want to go for a more light-hearted, fun approach.  In which case selecting childhood favourites is a great idea.  Alternatively you may prefer a more grown-up assortment full of gourmet chocolates.

If you gravitate towards dark chocolate you’ll also be getting a load of healthy antioxidants.  Who says a chocolate gift can’t be good for you?! Dream about those intoxicating truffles?  The only downside is they’re unlikely to stay uneaten for any great length of time if other people are around.

Ready Made?

If you’re in a hurry or simply don’t know what to buy you can purchase a ready-made basket complete with chocolates and wrapping.  You may favour a set of gourmet chocolate-drenched cookies surrounding a centrepiece of to-die-for delectables. Or, you may enjoy a carefully arranged geometrical display of Swiss whites.

Pure Indugence

Does the person you’re buying for need a little bit of TLC?  Then go for the ‘Junk Food’ option.  It’s all about indulgence and not giving a stuff about anything.  Prefer an elegant hint that someone special has been thinking of you? Go for the Valentine’s Day-inspired chocolate mounds, surrounded by red heart-shaped paper messages.

Corporate Choccies

You don’t even have to buy a large gift basket, a tiny basket can be given to dozens of corporate business associates. Or select a huge, multi-chocolate array for that special person who just did you a great favour.  Worried that the receiver might actually get sick of the sight of chocolate?  Then mix the chocs in with nuts, fruits and even wine.

Whether your tastes run to a fine Ghiradelli dark or that whitest of superb Swisses, you’ll find an endless array of choices.  It doesn’t matter if the chocolates are intended as a gift to a close friend or for a corporate event, there’s a chocolate gift suitable for every occasion.  Chocolate is probably preferable to gift cards any day.  Tip:  if this is a Christmas gift, you should consider adding a christmas poem on the gift card for that something extra special.

No Comments » Posted by April / Gifts

Go into any shop that sells plants you’re more than likely to see the Phalaenopsis genus of orchids.  The main reason for this is that they’re very easy to care for.  Most orchids are thought to be very difficult to tend but the Phalaenopsis is an ideal for choice for most people.  Plus the flowers are simply gorgeous.

Light and Temperature

They like a little bit of bright light however if you place them in direct sunlight for even just a few minutes, this can damage their leaves.  They prefer light which has been filtered through curtains or outside trees because in the wild they grow on trees which provide natural shade.  If you put them in a south facing window, make sure they are shaded.

Phalaenopsis orchids prefer a warm climate where during the day temperatures are around 75-85F/24C-29C.  But they’ll do best if the night time temperature dips down to produce a 15-20 degree Fahrenheit difference, not too much more nor less. For areas where the summer nights can cool off to 45-55F (7C-13C), it’s best to keep them indoors or in a greenhouse.

Watering and Humidity

As with most orchids, Phalaenopsis like humidity levels to be around 60-70%  This is too humid for most humans so you can increase the humidity for the plant by using a humidity tray.  All this means is that you should place the pot on a tray of watered pebbles.  You can also use a mister to spray the plant.

Some orchids don’t like a lot of water however the Phalaenopsis is an exception.  Make sure that their roots are kept wet.  Make sure that the roots don’t dry out.  Normally watering the pot once a week is suffice.

Feeding and Potting

Feeding once per month with a high nitrogen fertilizer is ideal. Just dilute one teaspoon in a gallon of water and you’ll have plenty for weeks.

Use a medium-grade wood bark in the form of chips as a growing medium to provide support to the plant.  Re-potting is only needed every other year although it’s unlikely that you’ll need a larger pot as the roots generally grow upwards.

When the flowers die and drop off after three months, cut the stem back halfway.  It can take a year for them to re-grow however these plants often produce blooms twice per year.

Provide simple care and you’ll be rewarded with huge flowers of pink, white and other colours.

No Comments » Posted by April / Home and Garden

Tooth whitening is becoming more and more popular as so many celebs are having it done. It is of course a completely cosmetic treatment which improves the appearance of the teeth by lightening the stains. So why have your teeth gone stained and yellow? It’s most likely to be due to smoking, drinking coffee, tea and cola. The pores on the enamel take hold of these stains which is why regular brushing can’t remove them.

What Causes Discoloured Teeth – Discolouration can also occur with age. Stains can even develop from the inside out due to excess fluoride and certain medications. Tooth whitening will deal with the stains on the outside of the teeth and needs to be done on a regular basis.

Whiten Your Teeth at Home or at the Dentist – You can whiten your teeth either at home or at a dentist. Home kits can be bought from your local chemist or you can use custom-made trays and solutions that are prepared by your dentist. Each requires a series of whitening procedures of varying lengths. If you’re interested in having your teeth whitened, it’s a good idea to discuss with your dentist the benefits and disadvantages of each method.  Check out LumaArch Teeth Whitening.

Before going ahead with having your teeth whitened, they need to be cleaned by a dentist and cavities should be filled. If you have receding gums you should have this looked at as the roots may be exposed. Because there’s no enamel on roots, whitening won’t take hold. Whitening also won’t work on teeth that have crowns or veneers.

How it Works – A solution made with hydrogen peroxide is put into trays which are similar to mouth or night guards. The trays are placed over your teeth and are left to do their job for one or two hours. If you are doing this yourself then you would leave it in overnight.

Sessions can be shorter when done at the dentist’s office, but the patient needs to return for several visits. When done in the office, the dentist is right there to monitor the process. When opting for the DIY method you need to be careful about inserting and wearing the mouth guards because any leaked solution could irritate the gums.

The idea is that the longer the solution is in contact with your teeth, the whiter they become. Unfortunately, not all stains and discolouration can be removed. There are some whitening products that are only activated when they come into contact with a light or heat. Those are best used under the supervision of your dentist.

Teeth whitening is not a permanent solution, it will only last one to 6 months. However the more you do to prevent staining the longer lasting the results. You may experience gum sensitivity although this should just be temporary. Overall the process is very safe however those who are pregnant should avoid teeth whitening. There haven’t been any studies as to whether the unborn baby will be affected.

No Comments » Posted by April / Health