Holiday Tip: 10 Ways to Relax in 10 Minutes

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The idea of the holidays as portrayed by commercials and Christmas carols is to relax, enjoy time with your loved ones, and be happy. Unfortunately, the reality for many is that this time of year is the most stressful. Between traffic, shopping, unruly children, and debt, it is very easy to fall into a a pit of distress. Stress, however, is a surefire way to ruin your health and create bad memories during what is supposed to be a happy time. That is why Plumbtile would like to impart our top ten tips for relaxing in ten minutes.

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10. Dim the lights

Bright or harsh lights affect our brain in ways we may never realize consciously. It causes our brain to be more active and alert , which can be bad news when we are dealing with stress. To combat this, try lower the lights in the room you are in for 15 – 20 minutes. Don’t have a light dimmer installed? Try turning off the overhead lights and switching to elegant candlelight for a while.

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9. Sip a hot drink

Just the act of holding and slowly sipping a hot beverage can melt away the tension in our shoulders  – where most of us store our stress from the day. You can drink coffee, tea, hot cocoa, or even a warm cocktail to soothe your nerves in no time.

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8. Listen to something different

When our minds are traveling at a million miles per hour, the background noise around us can add to the chatter a really crank up the stress levels. Whether you are sitting in a noisy office or listening to another awful Christmas song remake, try putting on some of your own soft music or going to another area to change the noise. Sometimes we don’t even know what is bothering us until it isn’t there anymore!

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7. Buy small gifts to be opened right away

Believe it or not, this is still the season of giving, and doing something nice for yourself or others can really brighten your entire day. Instead of worrying about all the big ticket items you can’t afford, buy a few simple gifts that you can have loved ones open right away, or treat yourself to a small gift. This will re-center you back to the spirit of the holidays and remove you from the stress surrounding them for a while.

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6. Take a power nap

In many countries, businesses close down for an hour or two in the middle of the day for nap time…proving that you can never be too old for it! You may not have that luxury, but you may be able to squeeze in some shut-eye on your lunch break or just after work. Studies show that even 20 minutes of rest (whether you sleep or not) can recharge our batteries and eliminate stress.

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5. Meticulously plan your dream home

Escaping reality in favor of big dreams can be fun. Allow yourself an hour or two to go all out planning your dream home, kitchen, bathroom, den, etc. Lose yourself in the planning, magazines, products, and more. Just be sure not to use the time to compare what you have to what you want – this is meant to be an escape!

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4. Use the massage setting

Taking a shower is something most of us do everyday anyway, so why not allow yourself 5 – 10 minutes to completely relax while you do so? Whether its the end of your day or the beginning, indulging in the massage setting of your shower can do wonders for your mental health. Don’t have a massage setting? Then it might be something to ask Santa for! Consider a budget-friendly shower head with multiple settings.

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3. Organize your desk

Taking even ten minutes to organize your desk, dresser, or counters actually relieves stress in two ways. First, it allows you to forget about your worries and focus on the task at hand for a few moments. Second, seeing less clutter makes you feel instantly better. Taking ten minutes a day can build this stress-free habit up to become your saving grace!

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2. Do nothing

During the constant rush of the holidays, many people forget the kind of power that lies in just doing nothing. Even if you simply stop for five minutes, your mind is allowed to reset. Once you start up again, you will be able to function on brand new batteries. To get the most out of doing nothing, pick a room to retreat to, set a timer and sit or lie comfortably. Think to yourself only “think nothing” and concentrate on breathing in and out deeply.

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1. Take a hot bath

Just the act of running a bath has the ability to alleviate stress, and lying in one for even a few minutes allows us to just let go of the worries of the day. Be sure to step into a clean tub and maximize the effect with dim lighting and comforting smells such as lavender bath salts or holiday candles.

Affordable Shower Temperature Control is Within Reach

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Plumbtile has always prided itself on offering affordable luxury, and now with the help of California Faucets, we can bring you the best in shower temperature control at an affordable price.

Introducing California Faucets StyleTherm technology. StyleTherm is a revolutionary thermostatic technology which allows the ability to dial in your preferred temperature and independent control over multiple devices. StyleTherm also features a temperature override option, which is a safety feature that protects the entire family – including children and the elderly.

While the idea of thermostatic technology and temperature override are not new, the true development of StyleTherm is the pricing. Because California Faucets designed and engineered StyleTherm from scratch, they created a proprietary thermostatic valve of unmatched quality and performance that puts it within the budget of the average household.

This is a great gift idea for several people on your holiday list. Rather than a gift basket for your grandmother or restaurant gift cards for the in-laws, give a gift they can appreciate all year! You can see the complete California Faucets line available at Plumbtile here.

Congratulations Du Verre and Tips to Accessorize Your Home for the Holidays

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Plumbtile would like to congratulate Du Verre on their recent award-winning hardware designs. Erin Adams is an award-winning mosaic artist and interior designer. Erin brings her love of interior design and her strong eye for mosaics into this very intriguing line of hardware and accessories now available from Du Verre.

With the holiday season upon us, many are turning their attention to the state of their homes. There’s nothing like a steady stream of family, neighbors, and friends coming to you home to make you consider an update! One of the easiest and most affordable ways to do so it simply update your home’s hardware and accessories.

Many people begin with big spaces and gradiose dreams to update their home, but in reality the feeling of your home is in the details. Sure, a new $20,000 kitchen would instantly bring new life to the place, but for those who do not have $20,000 to drop before the end of 2011, try giving yourself a small gift. The top three “details” to consider updating are:

  1. Door/cabinet knobs and handles.
  2. Faucets
  3. Lighting

With just a few new home products and a weekend project, you could be hearing “oohs and ahhs” over more than just your family dinners!

Plumbtile Joins the Fight Against Breast Cancer

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Plumbtile‘s commitment to responsible business practices includes strong involvement and service to the community and philanthropy activates. Plumbtile believes in promoting social activism and volunteerism within our company. These team building volunteer projects like the Relay for Life and the Komen race for the cure are events which provide Plumbtile and its staff an opportunity to participate in the fight against cancer. Please see the links below for more info on two wonderful cancer awareness organizations and see how you too can contribute:

Sunday, November 6th saw Plumbtile in a sea pink – with 15,000 participants in the Komen San Diego Race for the Cure. It was a day overflowing with hope and gratitude.

Support of the Komen San Diego Race for the Cure provides the funding necessary for breakthroughs in cancer treatment – bringing us closer to the cure each and every year. Funds from many organizations also go to help under-insured people pay for the treatment and medication they need.

You have until December 6 to get all of your fundraising donations in for the Komen San Diego organization!

BLANCO SILGRANIT II for Designers and Consumers Makes Virtual Design Easy

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Whether you are designing your dream kitchen or planning a remodel, the tough decision making process just got a little bit easier thanks to BLANCO. Their new app “BLANCO SILGRANIT II Color App,” has recently been released free of charge to designers and consumers alike via download on iPad, iPhone, as well as on the Android Market.

We all know how difficult it can be to imagine what the end result of our vision will actually look like once it is all put together. The BLANCO SILGRANIT II Color App takes the guess work out of choosing the perfect kitchen sink and countertop combination. There are 9 different BLANCO SILGRANIT II kitchen sinks in 7 colors each available to choose from within the app. Once the app is installed on your device you simply choose the sink you think would look best in your home and then choose 1 of 26 different popular countertops. These include manmade, CaesarStone and Zodiaq designs. The handy application will instantly give you a preview of what the combination will look like once the sink is installed.

If 26 counter options are not enough, do not worry! The app comes equipped with the ability to snap a photo (as long as your device has a camera) of the selection of your choice and the sink you wish to preview will be set around the sample picture you took. Another great feature is being able to save your favorites to a folder to check out later or to save to show friends or family in order to get their input!

From the app you are able to search for retail stores that offer BLANCO products in your area. All you have to do is enter in your zip code and you will automatically get a full list of stores and showrooms nearby that you can make your purchases at.

So now that you have all the help you need in making your kitchen sink and countertop selection, it is time to have some fun and start putting together the perfect combination to make your kitchen just the way you have envisioned it!

Participate in the Greener Living Tour

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Plumbtile is happy to report that Good Housekeeping and LG Electronics have partnered to promote healthy eating in a practical way. The “Greener Living Tour” is making appearances throughout the National Farmers Market this fall. On each stop of the tour, a different chef will demonstrate how to cook healthy foods using locally grown produce. They will also highlight LG’s super-capacity French-door refrigerator and how it efficiently stores much of this produce keeping it fresh longer.

With so many products on the market today making claims of excellent performance, Good Housekeeping strives to identify products that stand out from the rest. They do this with the Good Housekeeping seal of approval. LG’s super-capacity French-door refrigerator is one of the products that has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval for its innovative features.

LG’s super-capacity French-door refrigerator has storage of 31 cubic feet and special freshness features. It is a excellent choice for storing a great amount of raw vegetables and produce as it holds up to 20% more than a standard refrigerator. This means that you will have to take less trips to the store to keep your fridge stocked with healthy food choices. And, it also has excellent energy star ratings that ensure the product will be kind to our environment over time.

Anyone who attends the event will be given the opportunity to make the “Change the World, Start with Energy Star” pledge to take a look at their lifestyle in order to save themselves some cash while saving the environment at the same time. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is sponsoring this national campaign to encourage all American’s make changes in order to protect our planet. By making this pledge, you will be entered into a drawing for your very own LG super-capacity French-door refrigerator. Stop by the tour to gain great healthy recipe ideas, learn how you can save money and join the fight to save our precious environment, as well as have a chance to win this great appliance that has the Good Housekeeping seal of approval.

Plumbtile Introduces Aquabrass

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At Plumbtile we understand that function and design must work hand in hand to bring together a well finished room.  That is why we have partnered with the top designers in the industry to bring hundreds of quality products to our valued consumers.  It continues to be our goal to identify and partner with designers that strive to be unique and have an edge in this competitive market.  That is why we are proud to introduce our outstanding line of Aquabrass products.

Aquabrass is created by a team of talented and innovative designers that find inspiration in many places like nature, music, architecture, art, and even social environments. These designers have come together from all over the world to create a line of unique products that are both eye catching and purposeful.  We offer a selection of Aquabrass products including bathroom faucets, shower heads, kitchen faucets, wash basins, bathtubs, and a variety of accessories.

With so many unique products, it is difficult to highlight just a few.  However, we would like to share a some of the great products that caught our eye.

Superior Aquabrass Rainheads

You can enjoy the convenience of a shower with the relaxation of a soak in the tub with an Aquabrass rain head.  Not only do these ceiling mounted fixtures come in a variety of shapes to give your bathroom a unique look, but they also give you the feeling of standing in a serene rainfall.  And best of all, they come in a range of finishes to match the style and decor of any bathroom space.

Distinctive Bathroom Faucets

The Aquabrass design team broke the mold when they put together their exceptional product lines of bathroom faucets.  You can compliment your space with a classic faucet from the splendor line of products. The blueprint line has many great products to choose from as well.  If you are looking for something unique, you will want to turn to the x-clusive product line. With Aquabrass, there is virtually a faucet for every design preference.

Accessorize Your Space

Everyone knows that the finishing touches in any space are the accessories.  That is why we offer a vast selection of bathroom accessories by Aquabrass.  Functional does not have to be bland, and no one understands that better than Aquabrass.  Whether you are in search of primary features like a vanity mirror, or small accents like just the right mountable soap dish, our line of Aquabrass has something for you.

Take a look through our online catalog of Aquabrass products today!  You will be impressed.

Bathroom Showcase: Top 5 Bathroom Trends of 2011

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There is no doubt that 2011 has been an innovative year in bathroom design. Creativity and function have shined this year to bring forth several trends that we believe will hold strong in 2012 and even beyond. From aerated shower heads to natural building materials, here is our showcase of the top 10 bathroom trends of 2011.

1. Spa-like Tubs

This year one of the driving factors of all bathroom design has been to add a bit of luxury. So many spa-like elements have been boosted in 2011, but perhaps none quite like the spa-like tubs we have seen. Tubs like the MTI Atlantica which offer multiple jets, whirpool action, and air bath technology. These options are usually customizable to provide you with the ultimate in personal relaxation.

2. Luxury Walk in Showers

Following in suit with spa-like tubs are the walk-in showers. These are not your typical, just-stand-there showers, though! Showers of 2011 have multiple water sources/showerheads, aerated water, and even seats. Everything in the design of these showers is geared towards providing you with a highly relaxing and rejuvenating experience every time.

3. Conserving Water

Every part of the home is getting a push toward green living, and the bathroom is no exception. With so much water being consumed in the bathroom on a daily basis, one of the largest and most important bathroom trends of 2011 is conserving water. From showers heads, to bath designs, smart faucets, and even toilets, every water-consuming element of the bathroom can be upgraded to a better, more green version.

4. Multiple Sinks and Mirrors

In continuing with the spa-like feel of 2011 bathrooms, many are choosing to add more than one mirror and sink. These can be delegated as his and hers, or simply used to make a room feel more spacious and classy. Luckily, it is also relatively easy, even if you have a small bathroom!

5. Toilets with Options

Technology in the year 2011 has made many things much smarter. Now toilets can also be added to the long list of innovative redesign in 2011. Just a few of the common features in these toilets of the future are heated seats, adjustable rear wash, MP3 jacks and even smart-touch remote controls!

Plumbtile Showcase: Native Trails

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As the kids head back to school and summer begins to wind down, Plumbtile is taking a look at some of the most memorable moments of the summer, and those we have to look forward to. This year has seen many strides in kitchen and bath design, function, and responsibility. New, eco-friendly, and glamours trends are gaining speed. There is one brand, however, who has always been at the forefront of our minds when we think “green,” Native Trails prides itself on hand-crafted products which are “one of a kinds works of art” and made of sustainable and recycled materials. Native Trails also showed up with very innovative and – as always – beautiful ideas at the Dwell on design showcase of 2011.

That is why we have decided to place Native Trails for today’s showcase. Take a look at the video below to get and idea of the artistry that is Native trails design!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4oEYliTAjvg]

If you would like to find out more about Native trails and the other eco-friendly brands that Plumbtile is proud to offer, check out our site here.

6 Tips For Choosing the Best Kitchen Faucet

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When you are thinking of the perfect elements for your kitchen, it is important not to overlook the kitchen faucet. It may seem small but the faucet has a lot of impact on the kitchen’s entire look and function. You will want one which is paired nicely with your kitchen design, and that gets the job done! Here are 6 tips to choosing the right faucet for your kitchen.

1. Choose the right finish

The finish you choose should blend well with the overall color and design of your kitchen. If you have a very modern kitchen with all stainless steel appliances and a basic black and white color scheme, then a brass finish on your faucet is going to cry out for attention in a very negative way.

2. Select the right faucet for the job

Many kitchens are equipped with only one sink, and it is mostly used for cleanup. This type of area is served best by a pull down faucet which will let you direct water where needed as you clean. Also consider a faucet with a higher clearance for filling pots easily.

3. Match the faucet to the sink size

Make sure that the faucet will sufficiently cover the entire area of the sink. Smaller “convenience” sinks will need smaller faucets, but the larger ones will need more coverage. If you really want and understated and tucked away faucet, consider one like Kohler’s Karbon faucet.

4. Choose the right product for you

Those with lower dexterity in their hands or who often have their hands full will want a faucet that is easy to turn on and off. Lever handles are traditional is this aspect, but there are also several emerging technologies to help out. Faucets with options like Brizo’s SmartTouch technology could even replace those handles completely.

5. Consider the installation

Different sinks require different types of installation, and some may not be convenient or even possible in your home. From wall mounts to single sink holes, you need to be sure you get a faucet that can easily be installed in your kitchen without ruing the over look or function.

6. Choose the best style for you

Finally, it is important to choose a sink style that not only flows with the rest of the room, but that you will love to use and look at. You may not realize just how much you use that faucet, but having one you don’t like will bring that to your attention very quickly. To find the right design, you may need to look online or in magazines and books to get  ideas, and then discuss your options and tastes with the retailer of your choice.

 

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