Kitchen Roundup ::: open shelving

Are you bold enough to show it all off with open shelving?  Or do you prefer to keep things behind closed doors?  I'm pretty obsessed with this look right now and I'll tell you why.  I love the simplicity of having everything I need/use regularly out in the open, on display.  I think it will actually help me stay tidy and organized because I can't just shut the cabinet door and hide it away.  This might be the solution to clearing out the clutter.  Of course bulkier small appliances can be tucked into lower cabinets.  Think about showing off your eclectic coffee mug collection or the cake platter handed down to you from your Grandmother. The possibility of using your kitchen (the room you probably spend the most time in) as another area to show off collections or heirlooms really speaks to me.  I think it will make the kitchen that much more inviting!

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Eating Seasonaly

Eating what's in season means your eating produce at the peak of freshness.  It's nutrient dense and has undeniably better flavor. You're also probably supporting a local farmer, or at least a U.S. farmer. So what's it season now you ask?  I found this quick reference over on Style Me Green. Print it out and hang it on the fridge.  Use it as you're meal planning or making your grocery list for the week.  

To get you started, try this yummy recipe as a side with dinner next week. Use beets, sweet potato & parsnips. Click image for recipe.

Simply Recipes

Kitchen Roundup ::: farmhouse sinks

How much time do you spend in front of your kitchen sink doing dishes?  It doesn't end, right?  As soon as the kitchen is cleaned up from breakfast, someone is hungry for lunch and it starts all over.  I feel like I might enjoy doing dishes a little more if I had a spacious farmhouse sink staring back at me. Ok, to say that I would enjoy doing dishes is a little far fetched but a farmhouse sink could make it a little more bearable.  Our kitchen roundup this week is dedicated to this functional trend.  From fireclay to stainless, there is a style to match any kitchen decor.

The Ikea bargain! {via}

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Do you drink lemon water?

If you answered, no, why the heck not?  It's tasty, it's refreshing and it has some amazing health benefits.  If you're in a hurry I get that you don't want to take the time to wash and slice a lemon so check out this simple life hack the next time you have 10 minutes 5 minutes.

Step 1:  Buy a bag of ORGANIC lemons.  Buy conventional and who knows what is leaching into your water, blah.
Step 2:  Wash lemons and slice as thin or thick as you like. Remove the seeds as you slice.
Step 3:  Cover cookie sheet with foil and arrange sliced lemons.  It's ok if they overlap a little.
Step 4:  Place in freezer for 1-2 hours.
Step 5:  Remove from cookie sheet and place in freezer safe container, ie. freezer bag, glass pyrex, what ever you fancy.
Step 6: Enjoy a frozen lemon slice (or 4-5 if you put them in your Nalgene like me) in your water.



**Shameless plug, you should also follow us on Instagram.  If you did, you would have already received this little tip... 37 weeks ago**

Easy breezy, lemon squeezy!  Try it.  If the simplicity of this make ahead hack isn't enticing enough, how about 16 Health Benefits of drinking lemon water.  Full article found here.

1. Lemon is an excellent and rich source of vitamin C, an essential nutrient that protects the body against immune system deficiencies
2.  Lemons contain pectin fibre which is very beneficial for colon health and also serves as a powerful antibacterial 
3.  It balances to maintain the pH levels in the body 
4. Having warm lemon juice early in the morning helps flush out toxins 
5. It aids digestion and encourages the production of bile 
6.  It is also a great source citric acid, potassium, calcium, phosphorus and magnesium 
7.  It helps prevent the growth and multiplication of pathogenic bacteria that cause infections and diseases 
8.  It helps reducing pain and inflammation in joints and knees as it dissolves uric acid 
9.  It helps cure the common cold 
10. The potassium content in lemon helps nourish brain and nerve cells 
11.  It strengthens the liver by providing energy to the liver enzymes when they are too dilute 
12. It helps balance the calcium and oxygen levels in the liver In case of a heartburn, taking a glass of concentrated lemon juice can give relief
13. It is of immense benefit to the skin and it prevents the formation of wrinkles and acne 
14. It helps maintain the health of the eyes and helps fight against eye problems 
15. Aids in the production of digestive juices 
16.  Lemon juice helps replenish body salts especially after a strenuous workout session

New for 2016

Late last year we launched our much anticipated XL Shelf Coaster and SubZero® Door Coaster. Both are available exclusively on our website.

The XL Shelf Coaster is 30% bigger than our standard Large Coaster.  Perfect for refrigerators with sliding pantry drawers or oversized shelves.  If you have a really large surface you need covered, simply place two side by side.





The XL Shelf Coaster is available in a 2 pack.  You pick the color & pattern!  Retail is $11.00

Shop the XL Shelf Coaster here


The SubZero® Door Coaster.  All our SubZero customers probably assumed that we forgot about them because this size has been in the works for a while.  We had to measure, measure and measure again, all of the SubZero® models out there to get the perforation lines in exactly the right spot.  We finally have the answer to all those long skinny door bins out there.  Woo-hoo





In preparation for our new size launch, we were fortunate enough to do a photo shoot in the brand new SubZero® showroom here in Charlotte. Let me tell you, it was gorgeous!

The SubZero Door Coaster is available in a 2 pack.  You pick the color and pattern.  Retail is $7.00

Shop the SubZero Door Coaster here

Coming SOON to a store near you...

Oh, hey there!  Yes, we're still alive, although very snowed in at the moment.  It's been a crazy start to the year and we wanted y'all to be the first to know about all the stores that are currently selling or will be selling Fridge Coaster® in the next 30 days!  How awesome!  Here is the list so far...

Accents & Interiors -- Urbandale, IA

Adorn -- Indianola, IA

Blackhawk Hardware -- Charlotte, NC

Beladagio -- Bakersfield, CA

Circuits & Bumps -- Bradenton, FL

Complements For Your Home -- Prospect, KY

Cook's & Company -- Galesburg, IL

Culinary Concepts -- Enterprise, AL

Cutler's -- Petoskey, MI

The Coastal Cupboard -- Mount Pleasant, SC

Dizzy Blondz -- Britton, SD

Dragonflies -- Wilmington, NC

Dreier Pharmacy -- Shawano, WI

Fun Stuff -- Fish Creek, WI

The Garden Company -- Santa Cruz, CA

The Home Merchant -- Mapleton, ND

Home Essentials -- Frederick, MD

Heart's Desire -- Frisco, TX

Homeport -- Burlington, VT

Kiwi Cottage -- Cedar Point, NC

Leon & Lulu -- Clawson, MI

The Market On The Square -- Cookesville, TN 

Pelican's Pouch -- Hilton Head, SC

Purple Dragonfly -- Ormond Beach, FL

River Birch Gifts -- Locust Hill, VA

Storables -- Portland, OR

Southern Traditions -- Cleveland, TN

Top It Off -- Greenwood, SC

The Teapot -- Summit, NJ

Zupan's Markets -- Portland, OR

We'll have many more retailers to add to the list when we get back from the International Home & Housewares show next month in Chicago.

Top 5 uses for Fridge Coaster {besides the fridge}

We all LOVE Fridge Coasters in the fridge to absorb to messy drips and spills but did you know there are many other places in your home where they are incredibly useful?  Check out our top 5 list.

Fridge Coasters are great under laundry detergent to catch those drips and spills.

We all know it can get pretty nasty underneath the kitchen sink.  Save yourself some scrubbing time by using Fridge Coasters to protect your cabinets.  

Have trouble keeping things standing up in your pantry?  Problem solved.  Fridge Coasters provide a sturdy surface so your groceries stay put.  No more soup cans tipping over here.

Meal prepping?  Fridge Coasters give you a flat, stable surface to freeze soups and stews.  No more Ziplock bags drooping through the wire shelves.  

I don't know about you but my make up drawer gets a little messy.  I love having Fridge Coasters in there for two reasons. 1. If something leaks my clean up is a breeze. 2. LOVE the pop of color and fun it adds.  Makes getting ready in the morning just a little bit better.  

They're awesome in the linen closet too.  When freshly folded towels and sheets go in, you can rest assured they won't come out with lines from the wire racks imprinted in them.  Makes life just a little bit neater.

Did we miss anything?  Share your favorite uses for Fridge Coaster in comments.