PetSugar

The Germiest Places at Home

FitSugar — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 05:50:43 -0700

I know that I've been a little obsessed about germs lately, but it's flu season and I'm trying to get through this one unharmed. I'm washing my hands constantly, not touching my face - I'm even making my own hand sanitizer. The Hygiene Council just released this year's findings of its annual home hygiene study, and the results have me motivated to do some serious Fall cleaning. Here are some of the germiest places found in the home, in case you want to get your cleaners out too.

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Su Casa: Schoolhouse Rock

CasaSugar — Wed, 21 Nov 2007 15:01:04 -0800

Lydia Daum posted pictures in the Su Casa group of Chateau Wilmarth, the schoolhouse she owns with her sister.

Lydia writes:

My sister Luci and I have the tremendous good fortune of living in a turn-of-the-century school building. Back in the early 1990s, the local school district was going to tear down all the neighborhood schools, but chose instead to sell them to individuals or businesses. Thank god, 'cause they're on the National Register of Historic Places, for pete's sake. Over the years, we've made some changes here and there. Most all the remodeling and decorating has been done with recycled, reused, thrift store, and estate sale treasures. Luci and I live and work here, making art and roller skating from room to room. Hope you like the pics!

To check out a gallery of photos, just read more

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Want to share your photos? Here's how to post in the Su Casa group.

Blogs I Love: SouleMama

CasaSugar — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:00:20 -0800

I have been a big fan of blogger Amanda Blake Soule and her lovely blog SouleMama for quite a while now. Her posts about her family, home, and creative projects are always a huge inspiration, and her artful photos of domesticity always wow me. Recently, Amanda's been posting fall photos that resonate wonderfully with our hibernation theme, and she happily agreed to share the photos with us.

If you're a crafter or would like to get creative with the kids in your life (whether you're a parent, sister, aunt, or grandparent), definitely pick up Amanda's super-awesome book The Creative Family, which is available for pre-order through her site. Meanwhile, take a peek at these photos of her creative family and beautiful home.
Source

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Bella Brand: Apothia

BellaSugar — Fri, 02 Nov 2007 08:00:43 -0700

Meet Apothia Aromatic, a California-based company that creates home fragrance candles, diffusers, and bath and body products inspired by Los Angeles experiences. All products are blended and made from premium ingredients, and both the home and personal fragrance lines feature sleek, award-winning packaging.

I had the chance to sit down with Apothia's founder, Ron Robinson, a couple of years ago. He was warm and friendly, and genuinely excited about his line. (Really, he was like a giddy kid unwrapping presents as he told me about each product.) He's a perfectionist when it comes to finding the precise notes to create the scents, and his work pays off-the fragrances are multifaceted and genuinely unique.

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For a detailed description of each of the Apothia aromas, read more

If you've shopped at Barneys New York, you've probably seen the line of home candles ($46), which burn for 60 hours. I have one and find that to spread the scent to my apartment, I only need to leave it burning for 20 minutes or so. The rest of the Apothia Collection consists of aromatic diffusers ($78), eau de parfum ($30–$75), body wash ($28) and body lotion ($30). These are the available scents, but note that not all of them are available in all forms.

VELVET ROPE is inspired by a dry martini, spiked with notes of vanilla, jasmine and grapefruit. (I have this in a candle, and my guy friends always ask about the smell.) It's available as a candle and in the body care/personal fragrance line.
IF is more distinctly feminine. It's largely a citrus scent, but it builds to a floral, then finishes with musk. It's available only in the body care/personal fragrance line.
L is for all my Sapphic girls out there. Inspired by The L Word, it's something of an earthy scent, with notes of green violet leaf and woods. It's not available as a candle, but it's available as a fragrance.

PLUSH is made from citrus notes of mandarin, lime and pomelo.
WAVE is symbolic of a morning at the beach, smelling of driftwood, flowers, sea grass, white grapefruit, mandarin and yuzu.
SCENE is the ultimate urban guilty pleasure. Think glittering lights and sexy flashes of skin. This scent is made from fig, juniper berry and pear nectar.
CHRISMUKKAH reminds me of the OC! It smells of fresh green fir, clove, and ocean air.
SPIRITUAL is meant to be calming and peaceful, with hippie-chic notes of patchouli, amber, sandalwood, green mint and basil.
SOUL sounds really sexy to me. It has notes of African ginger, mahogany, Taboti wood and Grains of Paradise.
JUICED is all about health. This fresh scent is energizing, with notes of sparkling red currant, geranium and tomato leaf.
BRONZED is the perfect name for an LA fragrance, yes?Orange flower, petitgrain, bergamot and jasmine make up this scent.
CASA is something I'll have to tell, uh, Casa about. It is made from Casablanca lilies, newly cut grass, and fresh air.

Designer Spotlight: Toss Designs

FabSugar — Tue, 29 May 2007 09:30:33 -0700

I know I'm not the only one with travel on the mind now with Summer upon us. Toss Designs is a one-stop shop for uplifting travel gear, home goodies and pet stuff. The designs are intended for a "life-on-the-go" gal with its innovative styles, quality materials and updated basics. With sassy prints like animal print, polka dots and cotton candy stripes these designs are also very well priced! This Moc Croc Domino Set, $40, makes me want to take up dominos for the sheer cuteness of it. Enjoy!

For more fun stuff, read more

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Simply Fab: Plates with Purpose

FabSugar — Wed, 02 May 2007 14:28:22 -0700

To encourage you all to go go green, I thought it would be timely to share with you these Plates with Purpose, $36-$88. These are not your average plates. Each one, whether it's 5x10, 9" or 14", is made of post-industrial/pre-consumer recycled glass, which means, unlike the glass plates you have sitting in your cabinet right now, it won't take a million years to decompose. With these unique plates, you can eat more comfortably knowing you're helping the environment. Plus, they're dishwasher and microwave safe. YumSugar would love these. Chic and beneficial - tres genius!

To see more eco-friendly plates, read more

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