Thursday, October 18, 2023

Tips for Decorating a White Flocked Christmas Tree

Snow Christmas tree

Tips for Decorating a White Flocked Christmas Tree

Christmas tree flocking first became popular during the 1940s. Back then stores sold Christmas tree flocking kits that families could buy to give their Christmas trees the look of being covered in snow. Today, it is usually more common for people that are interested in a flocked Christmas tree to purchase one that already has the flocking applied to it. Decorating a white flocked Christmas tree really isn’t that much different than decorating a regular green Christmas tree. There are some tips you can use, however, that can help give your flocked Christmas tree a more polished look.

 

  • Choose a color theme for your white flocked Christmas tree. Although the Christmas tree ornaments you normally use can still make a nice showing, many people find that a white flocked Christmas tree generally looks better when there is only one or two colors used on the tree. Consider unusual colors, such as purple, yellow or pink to really make the ornaments on the tree stand out against the white flocking.

 

  • Coordinate the color of your Christmas tree lights with the color of your decorations. If you are using only one color of tree ornaments, you may find that white Christmas lights work best since they won’t make the tree look too “busy” and distract from the color of the ornaments. If you are using an assortment of colors for the ornaments, avoid using multicolor lights and instead consider single colored lights that are red, blue, or perhaps gold. These colors pair well with a white flocked Christmas tree and actually make the “snow” glow with the color of the lights.

 

  • String the Christmas lights through the Christmas tree by laying them across the part of the branch that is closest to the center of the tree. Since the Christmas tree is white, lights near the center of the tree will illuminate the flock and glow through the branches of the tree. If you are using two or more color schemes, you may wish to place one color of lights towards the center of the tree and a second color on the outer part of the branches. This gives the Christmas tree a more dimensional look.

 

  • Consider adding bows or ribbon to the branches of the Christmas tree. Cloth bows or ribbon can give a Christmas tree a more traditional appearance. Select bows or ribbon that are the same color as your Christmas tree ornaments or choose a color that compliments them. Tie the bows on the tips of the branches, at different intervals around the tree. Use the cloth ribbon as garland to wrap around the tree, starting at the top and working down to the bottom. It is usually best to avoid using both bows and ribbons at the same time, however, as this can detract from the beauty of your Christmas ornaments.

 

  • Complete the look of your white flocked Christmas tree by adding a tree skirt that matches either the Christmas ornaments or the color of the lights on the tree. If you are using blue Christmas lights, you will find that a blue skirt under the tree will visually pull the look together. You can also achieve this same pulled together look by using a tree skirt that matches the color of the Christmas lights as well.

 

 

Thursday, October 11, 2023

Packaging Gifts

A Guide to Sending Long-Distance Gifts

Most of us have experienced being far from home during a special occasion – be it a birthday, holiday, wedding, or baby shower. And most of us would love to be able to send a gift that will make our loved ones feel as if we were really there. Sending wrapped gifts is perfectly okay with the post office and UPS as long as they are packaged in another box, but your gift is almost guaranteed to be in worse shape when it arrives than when you send it. If you want to avoid shredded wrapping papers, crushed items, lost packages, and the urge to give up and send a gift card, here are a few ideas.

 

 

  • Consider a gift box. These days, a variety of elegant and sturdy gift box options are available with no wrapping paper required. Not only will they hold up well in the mail, your package will arrive looking sophisticated and undamaged – which is important for occasions like graduations, or maybe a long-distance wedding you couldn’t make it to.
  • Don’t overwrap. Place your gift in the box you are sending it in and surround it with something to cushion the empty space, such as newspaper or packing peanuts. When done correctly, even a ribbon or a bow can be cushioned. Avoid using too much tape or any extra overwrap that can damage your gift box.
  • Don’t forget the card. Include some pictures or magazine clippings – anything that makes your entire package more personal. The more time you take putting it all together, the more it shows your loved ones how much you wish you could be there with them.
  • Invest in package insurance. Many people skip over insurance options, whether with the post office, UPS, or FedEx, but they all have insurance available up to thousands of dollars, and if you you’re sending one gift or many, you want to protect what you paid for. It also gives you some extra peace of mind, especially during the holidays or after a long-distance move.
  • Make sure you send on time. Keep in mind the distance your gift or gifts have to travel as well as the time of year, and allow plenty of time for delivery. Whoever is shipping your box can give you a good idea of when it will arrive, but keep your receipt and tracking number so you can track the progress of your package online if you have concerns.

 

Being separated from a friend or relative by geography is no reason to miss an important moment in their lives. But with all the options available to us online, it’s easy to lose the personal touches to our gifts when we have to send them far away. The right kind of long-distance gift should represent you – it should send along a little piece of yourself to whoever receives it and improve their special day. With a little time and planning, it’s possible to send gifts that will brighten any occasion with thoughtfulness and love. There’s no better way to keep in touch.

 

 

LIsa Merritt writes for party blogs where you can find out more about Retail Packaging.

Monday, October 08, 2023

Perfect Salmon

Perfect Salmon

Pefect Salmon

Tips To Cook Salmon Fish Perfectly In Few Minutes

There are many people around me who are just fond of eating Salmon and cannot think about anything else when having an option of sea-food. As a matter of fact, Salmon is very difficult to cook. Unless and until it is perfectly cooked, the essence and taste cannot be achieved. Salmon is not only fatty, but also contains a lot of vitamins and essential minerals.

 

 

However, there are so many things that can go wrong while selecting and cooking a Salmon. There are number of ways due to which the whole essence of salmon recipes can go hay-waye in a matter of minutes. Some of the problems such as overcooked, chewy and dry can ruin the recipe and desire of the people waiting to have it. Therefore, it is very necessary to learn some quick tips and essentials of cooking perfect Salmon at home. The first and the foremost step to cook a perfect recipe is to carefully select the Salmon before cooking.

 

 

In this article, we will provide you with few simple and effective tips to select and cook and in short span of time. Let’s begin with the selecting process.

 

 

How To Select A Perfect Salmon

● Freshness is the key to select a perfect Salmon. Make sure you choose a perfect Salmon from the available ones. It should look bright and feel smooth. Avoid taking those with dull appearance and false smell. Ask the vendor about the time when it was caught. Also, make sure that you buy it from a reliable and reputed vendor in your locality. This is because they will always have a fresh stock because of their popularity in the area. People prefer to buy more from popular and hygienic stores and this is why they are always able to sell the entire stock on the same day. Thus, giving you an option of buying Salmon that would not be older than a day.

● It is always advised to choose belly fillets as it has more fat and thickness. It is better to choose a thick and fattier salmon as per your budget.

● Make sure you search for fresh Salmon and do not settle down for the frozen ones in the first shop itself. However, it case you do not get a fresh piece frozen ones can also work.

 

 

Now, we will guide you with few simple steps that will help you cook the Salmon perfectly in short time.

 

 

How To Grill Salmon In Few Minutes

1. Leave the skin and marinate the Salmon for 7- 10 minutes with your preferable method of marinating. Make sure you do not exceed this time; else the Salmon will start to break out in flakes. You can use your favorite factory-made fish marinade for marinating process.

 

2. By the time your Salmon gets marinated, prepare the barbecue to grilling purpose. Pre-heat it at a medium temperature ranging from 300 to 325 degrees F. Make sure you use non-stick grill. If not, then coat the grill with butter or nonstick spray.

 

3. As soon the 10 minutes of marinating are up, put the marinated Salmon on the grill. Grill it until it is slightly undercooked and flip the side.

 

4. Cook each side for about 3 and a half minutes each. Do not overcook. It can become hard and taste bitter when overcooked. Most of the salmon recipes  recommend cooking the Salmon until it’s medium-rare. A perfect Salmon feels firm on being pressed down.

 

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