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EPISODE #13 -
SATURDAY JUNE 27, 2009
Well summer is here and we are saying goodbye… Fusion is
leaving for the summer. We have had a great time bringing
you some wonderful stories and we are now looking at
returning in the fall of 2009. KOIN has been a great
partner for us and we are looking forward to returning to
channel 6 and CGN-7 for our next series of shows. Before we
fade into the sunset, here are some great stories for our
final spring show!
Eco-Products
The push for green has been the biggest trend in the home
this year. We stopped by
Bed Bath and Beyond
(503-624-9242) to
learn more about all the different products that are on the
market right now. Chase showed us that there are a plethora
of new products to help you get ‘clean and green’. We
started with the Meyer’s line of soaps and detergents.
These are bio-degradable and they smell great, like lemon
verbena. We then moved to the ‘Seventh Generation’ line of
products. The common line of thinking is that it takes 7
generations before the products we use are broken down by
the environment. These products are ‘free and clear’ of all
chemicals that will cause that. They should be gone in 1
generation. We then moved to bamboo. The bamboo products
like spoon and cutting boards are made from renewable
bamboo. The cookware that Chase showed us next is green
because of the way you use it. It has a special ceramic
coating that allows it to heat up quickly and not use a lot
of sprays or oils. The final product was the Poly-flax
cutting boards. These are made with recycled plastic and
flax seed and after a couple of years you can call a special
phone number and they will tell you where you can recycle
it. Bed, Bath and Beyond has a ton of stuff if you are
looking to ‘go green’.
Furniture for
Kids and Pets
If you have kids and/or pets you may think you have to wait
until they are gone before you can enjoy expensive, fancy
furniture. Esther Robertson from
Ashley Furniture (503-496-4210) joined us to tell us
that is not always true. Esther started by showing us some
poly-urethane, or vinyl, furniture. This will take a
beating and do well in the home. Next you want to look at
the stitching. Look for reinforced or baseball stitching.
That type of stitching will handle the wear and tear
better. You will also want to look for zippered cushions.
This will allow you to re-stuff the cushions when they get
old and flat. Leather is also an option for you, since it
is tough and durable as well. But what if you don’t want
the ‘leather’ look? We saw the latest in micro-fiber. This
is a wonderful woven fabric that can be easily cleaned with
soap and water. One more reminder… If you have pets you
want to keep their nails and claws trimmed. This will help
preserve and extend the life of your furniture.
Quick Tip –
Thread Count
If you
have ever been confused with thread count we stopped by
Bed Bath and Beyond (503-624-9242) to
learn more about it. Thread count represents the number of
threads per inch. Generally, the higher the count, the more
expensive the fabric. This doesn’t mean that you get a
better sheet by buying a higher thread count. Chase told us
about the ‘hand’ of the sheet, how it feels to you. You
might like the feel of a lower thread count sheet and that
may be the right one for you. In fact, some of the lower
count sheets may feel better on your skin. One more tip
from Chase… a higher thread count could mean a hotter
sheet. The 1000 count sheet may make you retain heat and be
more uncomfortable. Interesting! To find the right sheet
for you check out the huge selection at Bed, Bath and
Beyond.
Garage
Reorganizing
Spring and early summer is a good time to organize your
garage. Dan Lerma from the
Container Store (503-620-5700) walked Robin through the
steps for getting your garage in shape. The first step, sort
through the stuff in your garage. Get rid of the things you
don’t use and give it away to charity. This will help get
you started and also help people who may need your stuff
more than you do. Then tackle one wall. If you just start
with one wall the job doesn’t become too big. Organize
similar stuff together and then mount it on your wall using
a system like the Elfa system from the Container Store.
Sports items, garden tools, home repair tools can all be
organized and labeled. It may take you a bunch of weekends,
but you will be happy when it is done.
4th
of July Grilling
It is almost the 4th of
July and that means it is time to fire up the grill! Jerry
Yost from
Gartner’s Meats (503-252-7801) invited us to his
backyard to show us how easy it is to organize a holiday
cookout. Jerry pulled out the chicken and steak kabobs, and
some twice baked potatoes to heat up on the grill. While
they were cooking he showed us the assortments of salads and
breads that they also have for sale at the store. And don’t
forget the wide array of other meats you can try on the
grill. If you are looking to be the king of the party
this coming holiday, stop by Gartner’s and let them do all
the work!
Knife Tips
Chef Woody Bailey from
Oregon Culinary Institute (1-888-OCI-CHEF) joined us to
fill us in on knives. Chef Woody is also the owner of
Zen
Blades so he knows his knives! His first and most
important tip for finding the right knife, get the one that
FEELS right. The second question, what WORKS best for you?
If you take these two factors into consideration you will
have almost won the battle! The first knife you should look
at buying is a chef’s knife. Don’t worry about the cost, as
Woody said, this knife should last you a lifetime and it
will make your time in the kitchen more enjoyable. Some
other knives to consider; a bread knife, a boning knife, a
cleaver and a paring knife. Remember, don’t buy knives in a
set, buy them individually, you will get a better set of
knives that way. If you have any more questions, give Zen
Blades a call.
Morlan Mirror Product
If you have a mirror that is looking beat up and chipped around
the edges, we found a great product to fix that at
George
Morlan (503-224-7000). The Mirrorscapes product from Moen
(the faucet people) allows you to add a decorative edge around
those chipped mirrors without a lot of time or money. Dave
Charvet showed us how easy it is to attach the grooves and then
snap on the new edging around the mirror to give it that fancy
and elegant look. It takes a couple of minutes and you have a
brand new look for your bathroom or bedroom.
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