Loving Our Home | Home Tips, Advice, and Easy Recipes

Simple Home Tips and Solutions

3 Good Professional Cameras Under $250

By Leave a Comment

Here are reviews of 3 good professional cameras under $250 that you can start out with in photography.

I grew up with my parents always taking pictures — whether it was a birthday, picnic or a family affair with relatives.  I always enjoyed looking at the dozens of photo albums that were accumulated over the years.  It was enjoyable because I always saw something new in the photos every time that I would look at them.

As an adult I love taking pictures as a result of my parent’s influence.  I am always noticing a great shot for a picture when I am out gardening, hiking and swimming.  I realized that I needed a upgrade from my cell phone camera to capture a more vivid and expressive picture.  So I have started my search for a good professional camera under $250 that was easy to operate, stylish and affordable.  It also had to take amazing pictures showing all the the colors and surrounded scenery.

My cellphone camera lacks the ability to show a clear and detailed picture.  I love to hike trails in my area and take pictures of birds, trees and all sort of scenes in nature that go overlooked.  For example, on the trail where I hike there is a large tree that I always pass with a hollowed out hole where a large snake lives.  I need a camera that has the ability to zoom in, so that I don’t have to get close to that rather large snake to obtain a detailed picture of its home.  I also need the camera to have great resolution, to be able to capture the morning dew on a leaf or display the wonderful colors of a butterfly.

So here are the results of my search for all of the above on Amazon:

1) Sony Cyber-shot DSC-H300/B Compact Zoom Digital Camera

To me, this is the consummate professional-level camera for someone who’s just starting out in photography. It’s compact, has a zoom-lens and even comes with a kit for professionals (including a tripod and carrying bag). The price is also very nice (about $210 as of this posting) considering the very high rating it gets from users.

2) Samsung WB1100F 16.2MP CCD Smart WiFi & NFC Digital Camera

This is a very modern hi-tech camera that also happens to be very affordable.  I like the color (deep red) and that it allows you to share your photos instantly with family and friends.  The camera’s zoom capabilities is amazing — it can take long distance shots very easily. It also allows you to film HD-quality video footage as well (maybe it’s time to try my hand at shooting some movies in addition to photography? We’ll see).  It’s an awesome deal with many positive reviews from users.

3) Olympus Stylus SZ-15 16MP 24xSR Zoom 3″ Hi-RES LCD- Silver + 8GB SDHC + Deluxe Case + Extra Accessories

This camera is a nice pick if price is a bit of a concern in addition to quality.  As of this publishing it’s on sale for $99.99 and includes free shipping.  I was impressed with all of the added accessories included (tripod, cleaning kit and more).  I also liked that it comes with an 8GB memory card as a bonus. Another impressive feature is the camera’s ability to capture panorama shots.

Honorable mention: The Canon Powershot ELPH 150 IS Digital Camera
This camera was stylish, lightweight and has all of the capabilities that I require, though it might not be considered a professional-level cam.  It’s very affordable and has a high rating on Amazon.

Scanning these choices, I believe that I like the Samsung camera best. It seems like a solid choice if you’re looking for good professional cameras under $250.

Have fun taking photos!

Posted by Eve

3 Beautiful Flowers to Plant & Grow this Spring

By Leave a Comment

I remember my parents always planting such beautiful flowers in the spring.  I mostly enjoyed watching the flowers grow from seedlings to mature plants.  The colors are still vividly present in my memories.  I recently decided that I was going to plant spring flowers of my own as a sort of an homage to my parents.  I wanted to grow the flowers from quality seeds, so I decided to do some research on Amazon to find the most beautiful flowers to plant that would enhance my small garden.  Here are the three that I found:

1) Mickey Mouse Tulip Seed Pack
I love tulips so, I chose this seed pack.  It is very affordable so I’ll grab more than one.  My plan is to also grow them so that they will be blooming around Easter.

2) Hydrangea, Red Hydrangea Seeds
I never thought about planting Hydrangea’s before, but when I saw the bright color and size of the mature flower, I was impressed.  I liked that the aroma would be fragrant and that it would blossom and fill a large area in my garden. They have a choice of either red, white or purple flowers.

3) French Marigold “Tiger Eyes” (Tagetes Erecta) Seed
I have always loved looking at marigolds.  I think I found the perfect marigold for my garden.  They are colorful and attractive.  More importantly they don’t attract bees.  The orange and yellow colors are so vibrant. I loved the fact that it’s blooming season is from spring through fall.

Happy planting!

Posted by Eve

3 Must-Have Black History Month Books to Buy Your Kids

By Leave a Comment

Growing up in a predominately white suburb as a non-white person was eventful.  As early as I can remember, my parents always spoke of the importance of remembering our cultural past with regards to race and slavery. They encouraged us to read books and celebrate Black History month all year long.

As a young adult I realized that what they accomplished coming up in the 50s and 60s. They wanted us to never forget the struggle, injustice, determination and will of our forefathers to become free people who were treated as equals and not second class citizens.  I passed these traditions onto my own children so that they would know the importance of understanding our past and now, it’s time to teach my grandchildren these same important lessons.

So I did a search for Black History books on Amazon.com because they are the premier retailer for books that appeal to all ages.  These are the books that I thought were interesting:

81GMUE57e0LFor my youngest grandchild, I chose a book titled, Escape North: The Story Of Harriet Tubman.  I knew that it would keep her attention because of the excellent illustrations and use of words that she would comprehend, when read to her.  I appreciated that it was offered as a paperback and on Kindle, for such an affordable price of only $4.00.

For my second grandchild, I chose a book titled The Story Of Ruby Bridges by 511ipO06XsLRobert Coles.  I wanted to show my grandchild that for a time in our nations history, schools were segregated. Also teaching that it was a law only 50+ years ago.  My purpose was to awaken their desire to succeed and learn, when our ancestors could not.  They are selling this book new and used at an affordable price from $2.00 to $10.00.

51-sI4-6DLLAs for my oldest grandchild I chose a book that was filled with history and has plenty of crafts that could be done alone or with adult supervision.  It is called A Kids Guide To African American History by Nancy I. Sanders.  I found it to be affordable and a great way to share some bonding time with my grandchild.

I believe that celebrating Black History month with great, educational books will be a tradition that they will continue to share with their future children.  I believe it is our responsibility (regardless of color or background) to NEVER forget our ancestral struggles by educating our children about the past.

Posted by Lorraine

How to Get Free Stuff & Coupons from Your Favorite Businesses

By Leave a Comment

Here is a simple tip for how to get free stuff (including coupons and discounts) from the companies that you love.

There was a fast food restaurant in my old neighborhood that normally had very bad, slow service. Every time I left, I was sorry that I ever went! It was that bad.

But then one day I went in and everything was completely different. The clerks were nice, the service was lighting fast and the fries were very fresh and crispy. I decided to write the fast food chain headquarters a nice letter about how much I appreciated the change to that location.

A few weeks later, I opened up my mailbox and there was a letter from the fast food chain’s headquarters. Inside was a bunch of coupons for free food! I was so excited.

I learned a crucial lesson that day: positivity trumps negativity any day. I have sent negative feedback to businesses in the past — some didn’t ever send a reply and some did, but never can I remember getting such a great reward from it.

So if you want to increase your chances of getting free stuff, coupons, benefits and special deals from the companies you LOVE, take the time out to write more letters to tell them how great they’re doing. Here’s a quick step-by-step list of what to do:

  • Make a running list of all of the major businesses (medium to large companies) that you love and appreciate. Think of all the places that you visit each day, whether it’s the coffee shop, a restaurant or the gym. Include their name, corporate address and email address on your list (use a spreadsheet if possible).
  • Write a standard letter for each company. Here’s a simple format:
    1. Paragraph 1-describe the purpose of your letter (you recently visited the business and had a great experience and wanted to say thank you)
    2. Paragraph 2-include specifics about what happened at your recent visit that was so great.
    3. Paragraph 3- thank the company again and wrap it up.

As you can see, the only paragraph that you’ll probably have to edit in each letter is #2 – the rest can be the same or similar. A handwritten letter is a special touch — it shows that you put extra time and effort into the task.

  • Include your address, phone number (optional) and email address in the letter so that the company will have a way of contacting you back.
  • Drop your letters in the mail.

That’s it. Add to your list and do this as often as you’d like, but please remember one thing: make sure that your feedback is genuine and true.

The potential of getting free stuff and coupons isn’t the only benefit of writing positive feedback to the companies that you love. The more you take the time to do this (spreading positive energy), you may find that more and more positive experiences begin to happen when you patronize businesses in your area and beyond.

Happy writing!

Posted by Jade

Have a Meaningful Valentine’s Day for Under $200

By Leave a Comment

Here is a concept for a special and meaningful Valentine’s day with your love without breaking the bank. Everything suggested here will cost under $200 for both of you!

Step 1: Book a Hotel $100

This is the most expensive but most important part of your meaningful Valentine’s day by far: book one night in a hotel room. There’s something that’s just delightful about spending a night at a hotel instead of in your usual room or apartment.

There are now hotel booking apps that offer last minute deals, like Hotel Tonight. It’s so easy to find a room for $100 or less (even on V-Day). In fact, some sites offer special discounts for Valentine’s and other holidays at discreet but beautiful hotels.

With the Hotel Tonight app, you’ll receive $25 for signing up when you use the code NNONE9, so you just might find a hotel room for well under $100 including tax.

Step 2: The Decorations $25

Check in time for your hotel room will be around 3pm. Get there about an hour before that and try to check in early so that you’ll have more than enough time to decorate your room for your love. Keep it simple:

  • 4 red balloons (two tied to either side of the hotel bed)
  • A red comforter or satin sheet (if the hotel can’t provide, bring one of your own!)
  • A red table cloth or runner (you can find these at the Dollar store) for your champagne and goodies)
  • Rose petals shaped into a heart somewhere in the room (and some waiting by the bathtub)
  • A wall sticker with a message of love (these can easily be peeled back off in most cases)
  • A CD player or iPod playing soft and romantic, yet meaningful music (something like Beck’s Grammy award winning Morning Phase)
  • If you want to step it up a notch, install a portable bed canopy with a red or white sheer curtain.

Step 3: The Feast $40

There’s no need to order room service and rack up a large bill. Just bring a delicious feast that you can eat on ice or at room temperature. Here are some ideas for a Valentine’s feast in your hotel room:

  • Shrimp cocktail (find a large one at BJs Wholesale Club or Costco)
  • A hero sandwich shaped like a heart (also sometimes available at a wholesale club)
  • Deviled eggs
  • Sushi
  • Box or basket of candy / chocolates or cupcakes for you to share…

1 day shipping

Step 4: The Bath Together $20

One of the most meaningful and special moments you’ll have together on Valentine’s Day is a lovely, warm bubble bath together in your hotel tub. When you’re both fed and satisfied, run a hot bath with relaxing, romantic soap (if your love has sensitive skin, make sure it is the right formula) and sprinkle the rest of your petals on top. Light a fragrant candle on a safe place on the sink and enjoy. Take this time to tell each other something that will bring you even closer. For example:

  • What was the moment that you knew you loved this person?
  • What were you thinking about each other when you first met?
  • What is your favorite thing about your beloved?

Everything that happens after this point is up to you! Leave any and all negativity at the hotel desk. Have fun, be safe and love one another!

Posted by Jade

3 Good Cappuccino (Espresso) Makers Under $75

By Leave a Comment

Almost every time I visit a coffee shop, whether it’s Starbucks or a neighborhood cafe, I get an extra shot of espresso in my cup. I really enjoy it and it gives me a boost for my day and when doing work. Yet, what I do not particular enjoy is the cost per cup! I decided to browse Amazon.com for an affordable, durable and stylish cappuccino maker that I could put on my kitchen counter and use every morning. Here are the 3 interesting espresso maker machines, all under $75 (as of the publishing of this post), that I’m considering:

Krups XP 1000 Steam Expresso Machine With Frothing Nozzle For Cappuccino

Krups cappuccino machine.This machine resembles an “old school” coffee pot, only much smaller. It has a 3-way switch to adjust the strength of your cappuccino and froth the milk. The brew time is just 3 or 4 minutes. It’s a very compact espresso machine that will probably tuck comfortably into a small nook on your kitchen counter.

Hamilton Beach Espresso Maker

Hamilton Beach Espresso and Cappuccino machine.I like this machine because it looks a lot like the machine you might find in Starbucks or another popular coffee shop. It advertises “café quality results,” which is definitely what I’m looking for. It has a 15 bar Italian pump that presses out the espresso, and steams and froths the milk for a perfect white-topped cappuccino. It also can brew two individual cups of espresso at the same time, so you can make one for you and one for your love. A nice way to start the day.

Bialetti 6800 Moka Express 6-Cup Stovetop Espresso Maker

Bialetti Stovetop Espresso Maker.This is a traditional espresso maker that’s popular in Italy. You add water and your favorite coffee to the bottom compartments and the espresso brews its way up to the top compartment in about 5 minutes. It’s comes in a 1, 3, 6, 9 or 12 cup size depending on how much you like your espresso. While this doesn’t make cappuccinos, it is considered the premier way to make an authentic strong cup of espresso, takes up little space, and can be carried from room to room for serving to guests. It’s also reasonably priced at about $30.

I was really impressed at the choices and prices for these cappuccino maker machines on Amazon. I’m currently leaning toward the Hamilton Beach Espresso Maker because it’s right in the middle and gives me every option I’m looking for.

Posted by Jade