Seasonal Allergies: Tips & Remedies!

It’s summertime and yet you keep on sneezing or sniffling at home? Even if you know that seasonal allergies are usually due to outdoor factors such as pollen, mold… and don’t last passed the spring, you wonder about the causes. Here’s an interesting fact - indoor allergies exist too! For one, you could be allergic to dust.

From your living room carpet, draperies and upholstered furniture to your bedroom; dust mites are everywhere in your home! Mattress, pillows, and bedding are their favorite hangouts. Even if no one can eliminate dust mites completely, one can put an end to their spreading. Here are some tips to keep you virtually dust mite-free!

Make sure you are using the right furniture!

Change your fur or high pile rug for a low pile that is washable, if you don’t wish to put it aside this summer. (Photo right –Ashley Rug)

Use a bed with a wooden or metal frame and get a mattress cover. If your mattress is old, 5 years + and you’ve considered buying a new one, then go with a foam mattress. Most of foam mattress materials are allergen-free; but still needs some maintenance! (Photo –Ashley Beds)

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Maintain good cleaning habits:

Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter to reduce dust and always use a damp cloth to remove dust on your furniture. It’s better to run your air conditioner to keep allergens out and use an air purifier instead of opening the windows and doors. Also, you should clean your air filters often. When the humidity level in your house stays between 30% and 50%, dust mites won't thrive!

Keep your bedding clean; wash your sheets every week in hot water to kill dust mites. Comforters, blankets or bedspreads should be washed once a month.(Photo –Ashley Bedding)

Some natural remedies…

Aromatherapy can definitely be an option to consider! Eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender or wintergreen oils can help you reduce dust mites! Apply one drop of eucalyptus oil when doing your laundry to kill your bedding dust mites.

Drinking herbal teas help -green or ginger tea with a teaspoon of raw honey provide great allergy relief if taken daily!

Clean your home with vinegar, lemon and/ or baking soda plus a few drops of natural oil! By making your own cleaning products, you can avoid indoor allergens and save on the cost!

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Throw Your Outdoor Party

We are entering the perfect season to spend the most of our time outdoors! Going for walks, relaxing in parks, enjoying time with friends and family while picnicking or simply barbecuing in your backyard- so many tremendous outdoor activities to keep us busy this coming summer! Let’s focus on today’s theme- How to throw your outdoor party? What are the much needed things to consider when throwing out an outdoor party?  

Place, decorations, and food are definitely the main elements to have in mind.

First, spot the perfect place. Then, get the furniture right!

Feel like making your bash in a park? Bring out your throw or blanket with you. Any colors will do, but we suggest you match it with your color theme if you have one!

Feel like staying close to home? Throw a party in your backyard without worrying about moving and shifting your furniture too far. If you don’t have any outdoor furniture: bring your dinette out!  This is a great alternative from 3 pieces to 7 pieces; our Ashley Furniture dinettes can accommodate most of your guests when eating on a table.Benches are also a good option for gathering lots of people around your table.

Smart decorating with simplicity

If you are a foodie, we have no doubt that your table will be full of unthinkable dishes, so forget about using any decorations on your table. Plenty is no plague! What about lighting?  You can set up a lively atmosphere with candles!  Lemongrass candles are so efficient - it will repulse mosquitos and give a great lemony fresh scent! The Kadeem candle holder is one of our “coup de Coeur”. This stylish holder can help set the mood with your party theme as you can incorporate stones, sand, pebbles or topiary touches thanks to its removable tray.

        

Food, food always!

The best part of outdoor parties is that you don’t need to make a complicated menu to please your guests. A BBQ is more than enough to satisfy meat or vegan lovers! Give yourself some time for preparation the night before or a few hours prior to ensure that you marinate your elements, so that you can relax and spend time with your guests. BBQ has always been a great woman’s cooking “runaway” as man loves being in control of the grill!

Let’s make the month of June the most outdoorsy partying time ever!

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A Quick Summer Recipe

During the summer, folks have a tendency to lean toward lighter meals in the evening. In fact, they like to toss something relatively simple together. Summertime offers a myriad of local fresh produce and the opportunity to fire up the grill. A quick and easy meal will help you save the fuss of lengthy preparation and leave plenty of time to have fun in the sun. Here are a few quick and savory possibilities for summer dishes:

Grilled Shrimp Souvlaki

Ingredients:

1lb of large shrimp, peeled & deveined

6 tbsp fresh lemon juice (divided)

2 tsp olive (divided)

3 tbsp fresh dill (divided)

1 tbsp fresh oregano

¾ cup Greek yogurt (divided)

2 minced garlic cloves (divided)

2 cucumbers

Black pepper

1 pint of cherry tomatoes

1 red onion

4 whole-wheat flatbreads

8 romaine lettuce leaves

Directions:

1)     Preheat grill pan

2)    Rinse the shrimp well and make sure they are well cleaned. Then stir together 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tsp of olive oil, and 1tbsp of dill and oregano into a bowl. Add the shrimp and toss them in the mixture. Let them marinate for about 10 minutes.

3)    Mix ¼ cup of Greek yogurt with one minced clove of garlic, 2 tbsp of lemon juice and 1 tbsp of dill in another bowl. Then, with a vegetable peeler, cut the cucumbers into lengthwise ribbons and discard the largely seeded area. Add the ribbons into the yogurt mixture and pepper to taste.

4)    Mix the remaining ½ cup of yogurt with 2 tbsp of lemon juice, 1 tbsp of dill and the other half of the minced garlic into another bowl for raita sauce. Add pepper to taste.

5)   Combine cherry tomatoes and 1/3 inch rings of onions in remaining olive oil into a bowl. Grill the shrimp with tomatoes and onion in a lightly oiled cast iron skillet or grill pan. Cook for about 5 minutes or until shrimps are bright red, tomatoes are soft and onions are golden and tender.

6)   Grill flatbread until slightly crisp. Then top flatbread evenly with cucumber salad, shrimp, onions, tomatoes and romaine. Add raita sauce if desired. 

 Now you can sit outdoors and soak in the beautiful warm sunset. Enjoy!

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Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father’s Day is a day which fathers are honored and appreciated by their loved ones for their paternal bonds. Along with the celebration, it is customary to offer a gift. Are you out of ideas and need some inspiration for a great father’s day gift? Then throw those cliché gifts out the window! Rather than spending your money on dust collectors, why not spend it on something useful?

We all know many dads love to kickback on the sofa in front of the television in order to unwind after a long day. Most dads enjoy their “alone time” by watching their favorite sports and movies. Of course not all dads enjoy sports. Some fathers also enjoy gaming to detach from reality once in a while!

That being said, why not invest in a tv console that will enhance your father’s cinematic or gaming experience? There’s an idea! That way he can store all of his favorite movies, games and gaming console all in one place. Not only will he appreciate having all of his stuff neatly organized in one place, but surely mum will too! In fact, there are a variety of styles that Ashley furniture offers, in order to accommodate your home décor. Now there’s a gift that’s worth twice the deal!

See his eyes light up when you present him with an awesome gift that he will appreciate. Don’t forget a hug and a kiss! Happy Father’s Day!

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Outdoor Accessories

Your backyard resort is never complete without the associated outdooraccessories! Add a number of accessories that will make your outdoor lounging experience another level of comfortable and luxurious. Hello fun in the sun, and spectacular evening beneath the stars. Let’s take a look at a number of accessories that can make all the difference with your summer outdoor experience;

Patio Heaters:

First off, enjoy the warmth and enduring performance of an outdoor heater. On chilly summer nights, ignite the Hatchlands Outdoor Heater to enjoy a beautiful ambiance of dancing flames, while the heat emanated from the cylinder top will provide you warmth.

Umbrellas:

Nowadays, it is recommended to sit in the shade during peak hours of the day, as the sun emits harmful UV rays. Do you enjoy the sun, but want to be cautious between these hours? The perfect solution is a patio umbrella! The Oakengrove umbrella features a coral canopy with a slider mechanism that pivots as needed. The umbrella is perfect for shading adjacent lounge areas during the day. At night, it has solar-powered LED lights that shine below for an ambient-looking canopy.

Storage Boxes:

Coordinate your fire pit and other propane fueled accents with the remainder of your stylish outdoor space. The Hatchlands propane tank storagebox features a richly grained wood look, while acting as a secondary handy accent table or plant stand. It’s the perfect way to conceal a propane gas tank and to ensure all outdoor décor ties in together!

All in all, the outdoor accessories will make your summer a memosrable one. Sit outdoors in comfort and luxury, just as you would expect in a 5-star resort!  

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Outdoor Lounge Seating

Are you looking for comfortable furniture that is ideal for lounging on sunny days? Ashley Furniture introduces their new contemporary outdoor furniture to blend with any style and budget. Create a space for chatting with friends and family or for hosting gatherings. When picking outdoor lounge seating, begin by selecting the configuration of the seating and the number of people you intend to seat, in order to accommodate your needs. Then you can make a decision about budget, design and comfort. Let’s take a look at some examples of outdoor lounge seating configurations;

First is a sectional. This is a classic choice among people who like to entertain or simple have the space for extra seating in their backyard. Take the Peckham Park 4-piece outdoor sectional set for example. Drift away in the deeply cushioned comfort of this 4-piece outdoor sectional set. It’s sleek l-shape, along with the matching ottoman, are made for entertaining, reading or taking a nap on a beautiful sunny day. Driftwood-hued wicker, mixed with high performing cushions and throws will create an enhanced setting.

Next, is a sofa or loveseat configuration which seats between 2-3 people. The Partanna loveseat will treat friends and family to rest and relaxation with its motion feature. Constructed of a durable aluminum frame and a chevron-woven wicker, the rocking base adds a delightful experience that will allow you and your guests to rock for hours. Get that country-feel right in your backyard!

Finally, the last configuration to consider is a lounge chair. The Partannaoutdoor motion lounge chair will have you while away in peace and tranquility for hours. A lounge chair is perfect for relaxing if you happen to be a lone wolf, and can be paired easily with any other form of seating as the easy addition when in need!

What kind of lounge seating do you see yourself choosing for your very own backyard resort?

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Outdoor Dining

Ashley Outdoor Dining

The moment you’ve been waiting for is finally here! Ashley Furniture has released their Outdoor Dining Furniturecollection. Bring the same indoor elegance to your outdoor space and create your own  little bistro right in the comfort of your own backyard. Spruce it up with ornate, stylish and comfortable pieces that will be sure to last you for years to come! Now that you have your hands on affordable outdoor dining, narrow down your choice based on whether you plan to entertain a large group or if you intend to enjoy a quiet meal alone. A variety of sets are available to you to meet your needs! Hello morning lattes, delicious cocktails and gourmet meals in the sun!

Choosing a table

First and foremost, choosing a table that best suits your needs is a must! Depending on whether you plan to entertain or if you’re just looking to sit outdoors to soak up some rays, your intention will determine the size of table. Most outdoor dining tables are either rectangular or round. The number of seating ranges from 4-10 people. If you’re leaning toward a rectangular table, then you may want to consider the rustic Peachstone rectangular dining table. Its rectangular shape has a woodsy look you will love in a resilient rust-resistant aluminum frame. If you’re leaning toward a round-shaped table, opt for the beautiful Carmadelia round diningtable. Its glass tabletop is hand-painted to resemble leather, which is quite the visual treat.

Chairs or benches

Next, you need to choose your form of seating. The current trend is either dining chairs or benches. If you’re looking for a more traditional look, then chairs are the way to go! Benches have a tendency to be on the modern side. If you want to go for an eclectic look, you can always opt for a mix of both!

Of course, there is always the option to buy the matching dining chairs for the Peachstone & Carmadelia dining tables. You can always spice up the Peachstone seating by throwing a bench into the mix! The Moresdale bench is the ultimate option in terms of style and comfort. Its plush cushion will have you comfortable for hours!

Don’t miss out on the release of these great outdoor dining furniture pieces. Make your backyard a beautiful retreat this summer!

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