iPhones, iPads, iPedicures...Oh My

If have ever had a pedicure or manicure at a busy nail salon you know that the conversations usually centers around celebrity gossip, People magazine and recipes. Well this week I was left speechless by the conversation....


Saturday afternoon there were 6 ladies in the salon ranging in age from 55 to 75. Everyone had an iPhone or an iPad on their lap while getting their pedicures, fills and manicures. As I sat back and listened, I realized that the very animated conversations were about the new features on of the iPhone 4S, Skyping with grand kids at college and how to download Apps.  


Baby Boomers are changing the world and they using technology to do it. What is next the iPedicure?


In the spirit of the Nail Salon Chatter:  


Eye Reader - Stop squinting at restaurant menus or trying to read your theater program in the dark. The Eye Reader lets you use your iPhone 4's LED light to magnify and illumine small print. (iPhone4; 1.99)


G Park – For those times when it comes to finding your car in a huge parking lot or deck. Just set your location before you leave your car and the app will get you back with pinpoint accuracy. Great for the Airport! (iPhone; .99)

It Takes A Village to Age In Place

What will it take to successfully Age In Place? It will take a village.

NextDoor.com is a social networking site that has incredible potential for people of all ages. Many communities around the country have initiatives to connect residents, but this site allows neighbors to communicate in any weather and from the safety of their homes when mobility is an issue.  

• Does anyone have a tool?
• Babysitter needed...
• Can someone help change my light bulb?
• How are you doing in this storm?

I live in a rural area where I rarely get to see my neighbors. This would be a far more effective way to stay in touch, find lost pets and increase neighborhood safety. The world is changing and here is technology to make every community feel a little more "small town".

Is your Haunted House Accessible?

Make sure your Haunted House is Accessible for all of your guests

by including Great Grabz's Glow in the Dark Grab Bars.

Friday Photos

1600 Dots....2000 More to Go

In the Field on Firday

An Abbie Joan Job



Have a Great Weekend!

8 Great Bathroom Makeover Ideas

 Here are some 8 great ways to update a bathroom of any size. Every bathroom can look fashion forward with a bit of color and design.

 1. Remove old medicine cabinets and install decorative tiles with glass shelves for guest amenities. $$$

 2. Install a decorative wood frame around your mirror. Picture frame molding can give the mirror a look of elegance. (Tip - Paint the back of the wood black to avoid a shadow line.) $$$

3. Remove old glass enclosure and replace with clear frameless glass doors. $$

4. Cut out a few of your field tiles and insert decorative tiles to give a pop of color to a solid shower wall. 5.Repaint the room in a warm color tone. This gives everyone a healthy glow. $$

6. Replace dated Hollywood lighting with a new decorative lighting sconces. Your local home stores probably carry a great selection of cost effective lighting. $$ 

7. Install new bathroom accessories and decorative hardware. Have fun with this! Sports, animals, flowers there are so many options. $

8. Buy new bath towels to add a big pop of color. $

For more great design ideas visit http://www.abbiejoan.com/


Key:
$ - Fast and Cheap.
$$ - DIY over $50
$$$ - Requires Professional over $150

Design/Build Remodeling...More than 1 Man and a Truck

Today’s savvy homeowners are looking to make good spending decisions on their remodeling projects. They are no longer satisfied by the tradesman who uses his sledge hammer first and then… pulls out his pencil from behind his ear and starts to calculate costs. This method often results in a project that is poorly designed and notoriously over budget.

A Design/Build Remodeler is the perfect professional to work with the new breed of homeowner who is looking for a great project, an enjoyable process and an exceptional value.

The Process:

• Initial Meeting – This is the time to get to know one another, survey the existing home, honestly discuss budget desires, and talk about needs both present and future.
• Idea Sharing – During the exchange of ideas, the remodeler and the client can see if they are a comfortable match. Can they work together to accomplish the clients goals?
• Design Stage – This is where the magic happens… Design ideas are presented, mulled over and agreed upon as a team. Material choices are presented, options are explored and budgets are established. This phase often takes time and requires a series of meetings. Choices are much easier to change on paper then in the field and this is the time to do it.
• Construction Documents –When all designs are complete they are put to paper and both remodeler and client sign off. Clear and detailed documents make good projects.
• Time to Build – With all of the preparation done it is time to bring in the crews. There are clear cut directions from construction documents and the plan can be executed.

Good value in a remodeling project does not mean cheap. It means that money is well spent and the design and function exceeds expectations.

If you have any questions on Design/Build Remodeling please feel free to contact me at Abbie Sladick, CGR, CAPS or visit our website http://www.abbiejoan.com/

Hotel Design Trends

New hotel trends you’ll see popping up include:

Multipurpose Lobbies- Reaching out to the younger generation. Hotels are redesigning their lobbies to have their guests come for cocktails, coffee, or just a place to check their emails and hangout with the family.  I recently noticed this with my trip to Charlotte NC. The Marriott Hotel in South park had many lounge areas sectioned off for guests to choose from.  Along with scented candles and various pitchers of fruit infused water.  It was such a welcoming environment that guests were taking advantage of daily.

Source

No More Tubs- Many hotels, like Marriott are doing away with bathtubs, and opting for showers instead.  Marriott is “advising our newly built hotels to put showers in 75% of their rooms.”* New technologies in grout allow them to be easier to clean than in the past and color tile options add a new element of creative design for the bathrooms.

Pump Dispensers- Hotels are also beginning to get rid of those cute little bottles of shampoo and conditioner, and installing soap dispensers instead. While including soap dispensers would be easier for those with limited hand mobility, I would imagine that many people- myself included- will miss those tiny bottles that travel so well.

source

Electronic Check In- Similar to the kiosks you see at airports, hotels are adding electronic check in spots for guests. Some of Starwood’s Aloft hotels are offering “Smart Check In” that will text a guest on the day of their stay with information on getting into their room- bypassing the line at the check in counter.** 

Energy Efficient- Looking for ways to save on their energy costs, hotels are adding technology that requires guests to use their hotel keys to keep the lights on.  I experienced this at the Platinum Hotel in Las Vegas.  I had to place my room key next to the door to keep the lights going in the hotel room.  It was really not an inconvenience in anyway and saved me from unnecessarily leaving any lights on while I was out of the room.  Many hotels are also considering adding a motion light detector for the hallways to keep them from having to stay lit all day.

 Sources:

Construction Writers

Naples News

What hotel changes would you like to see?  Which ones will you miss?

Celebrate the First Day of (Do Not) Fall with a Free Grab Bar!

Wear White after Labor Day!

____________________________________________________________________

INTEROFFICE MEMORANDUM

____________________________________________________________________

TO:                  ALL GREAT GRABZ STAFF

FROM:            ABBIE SLADICK, PRESIDENT

SUBJECT:      LABOR DAY 2011

DATE:             08/30/2011

____________________________________________________________________

Here at Great Grabz, we are constantly reinventing the way the world views style and safety.

This fall, I call upon each of you to break your Grandmother's Fashion Rules

• Wear white shoes after Labor Day
• Don't wear pantyhose to the office
• Pull out that Red Lipstick, even during the day.
• Have long hair after 40.
• Mix Black and Brown when you feel like it.

We are creating bathroom accessories that make our customers feel Sexy, Strong and Safe. Be empowered by your surroundings and let our customers know that we are committed to doing the same for them.

Have a great Autumn!

5 Places You Never Thought to Put a Grab Bar

1. Entry of Shower-  Many people place a grab bar on the long wall of their shower, but this can leave a large unsafe gap from walking into the shower and actually being in the shower.  Adding a small vertical grab bar at the entrance is great to assist with entry and exit. This is especially needed for tub/shower combinations when someone is required to step over the tub's edge.

2. Near Handheld Shower-  The upward motion of  removing and returning a handheld shower head to its cradle can cause you or your loved one to become unbalanced. Having a small vertical grab bar near the handheld shower head offers a place to hold.

3. Next to shower seat- For those who may have trouble standing up from a seated position, having a grab bar placed next to a shower seat or bench is a great assistive device. This is especially beneficial when the floor is wet and traction is hard to obtain.

4. In place of a towel bar- Let's face it, when you are about to fall you are going to grab onto whatever is in reach.  Instead of installing traditional towel bars into your bathroom, which easily rip out of the wall, use Horizon grab bars instead.  They have enough room for even the fluffiest of towels to dry, while having the strength of a grab bar.

5.  By the front door- A small vertical grab bar placed near the front door is a great place for someone to hold on to while bringing in groceries, removing shoes, or unleashing the dog.  (The 10" Hand Hold is also a great place to hang a dog leash!)

Unique Touch Decorative Acrylic Grab Bars - 20% off Coupon

Great Grabz is offering

20% off of their Unique Touch Products 

if you purchase from them at

GreatGrabz.com

use coupon code UNIQTOUCH55

at checkout to receive discount.

*limit one per customer, good until 08/31/11

For more information on this line of

beautiful acrylic grab bars and bathroom accessories

check out this video:

Meet Bunkie

In honor of Take Your Dog to Work Day I want to introduce you to

Great Grabz's favorite employee-

Bunkie

I adopted Bunkie 5 years ago from Domestic Animal Services in Naples, FL.

She has been working at Great Grabz for the past 4 years. She wakes up every day excited to work- ready for what the day may bring.

Her job is to greet everyone that walks in the door, and to keep the workers here smiling.

She loves her job, and the flexibilty it offers for her busy sleep schedule.

and they pay is good.

"It's a ruff job but somebody's gotta do it."

Memorial Day

And I'm proud to be an American, where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died, who gave that right to me.
~Lee Greenwood

 

source

Products from the Kitchen and Bath Show

Last week Great Grabz unveiled their new line of Signature Acrylic grab bars.  These acrylic bars are available in 20 finishes and are paired with metallic fixtures for a look that really pops.

http://www.greatgrabz.com/

Here are some other great products we saw at the show:

Pulse Shower Spas

www.pulseshowerspas.com

These shower spas are available in a variety of styles and finishes. They are affordable and easy to install.

Jason International

Their new MicroSilk Hydrotherapy is a revolutionary patent-pending process where billions of microbubbles penetrate pores providing a deeper clean while moisturizing the skin.

CLICK HERE for their informational video

or visit them at http://www.jasoninternational.com/.

Aptations

http://www.aptations.com/

These LED magnifying mirrors are the perfect accessible mirror for any bathroom.

Don't be a Fool

"The wise do at once what the FOOL does at last." - Baltasar Gracian

Pop Quiz: #1 When is the proper time to install a grab bar?

A- Before a fall in the bathroom

B- After a fall in the bathroom

Correct Answer: A

Unfortunately for many, grab bars are usually thought of only AFTER a fall has occurred. There are so many times I receive a phone call from someone who is looking for a grab bar because they have ALREADY fallen in the shower OR they are recovering from an injury that has resulted from a fall and need a grab bar to keep them steady.

While a grab bar is a great thing to add for both of those situations, wouldn't it be a better idea to install one as a preventative measure? The trouble is, most people do not think about the impact a fall can have on their lives.

Pop Quiz: #2 Soap + Water + Tile =

A. A safe and secure area to bathe

B. A slippery surface in which a fall can occur

Correct Answer: B

Let's face it; the shower/bathtub is a slippery place that can be a potential hazard. What IF you fell in the shower and injured yourself? How would this affect your life?

I am a healthy 30 year old woman currently training for my 2nd half marathon by working out 6 days a week. I have 2 dogs that I walk 2 times a day. I live on the 3 floor of my condo that does not have an elevator. I also drive a manual transmission car that requires both my legs and arms to operate.

A fall in the bathroom for me would critically change my daily routine and quality of life. I simply cannot afford the limitations that a sprained or broken bone would cause. My decorative 24” Wave grab bar is perfect for me; it provides just enough support to keep me steady while in the shower and its decorative style looks great in my bathroom.

I challenge everyone, to think about your day-to-day routine. How could a fall affect these activities? Beyond medical bills, have you considered the costs involved?

Guest Blogger Ashley Armstrong is the National Sales Manager for Great Grabz- www.GreatGrabz.com

Spring Cleaning - How to get rid of Sentimental Items

Yesterday was the first day of spring. For many this is the time for Spring Cleaning.

De-cluttering your space not only keeps your home safer and more organized, but it also allows room to bring good energy into your home.

I look forward to a good spring cleaning every year. Going through my home and tossing out what I no longer use, is not a problem for me. I live by the “one year rule” of tossing out any items I haven’t used or worn in a year. There is something very liberating about rummaging through old magazines, books, junk drawers, closets and pantries to get rid of items I no longer use.

The only items I do have a problem with parting with, are the sentimental ones. So many times we feel obligated to hold on to items we don’t use or even like in some cases, because we have placed a sentimental value on them.

• Your teenagers 4th grade art project

• A gift from your neighbor

 • Items from a deceased loved one

• Nik naks that have accumulated over time

• Souvenirs purchased on vacations

I’ve scoured the web and found 5 great tips to help you get rid of sentimental items:

1- Take a picture – This idea, from Making this Home, is to take a picture of the item you love so that you can have the memory of it, without actually having the item in your home.

2. Keep only what nourishes your soul- In this month’s issue of Whole Living Magazine, they suggest asking yourself “does this sentiment nourish your spirit?” If it does, then keep it otherwise free up the space for new energy to arrive.
Read more at Wholeliving.com: Embracing the Art of Decluttering

3. Understand the Sentimental Mind- This is a great blog post that offers 2 new mentalities to adopt to help get rid of items you no longer need or use. #1 Trust in Yourself and #2 Things want to be Used.

4. Only hold on to a few things- In this blog, Rachel suggests that keeping only a few items is what makes them more sentimental. She also offers specific advice for items people tend keep.

5. Keep only three boxes per family member- Blistree.com offers several tips on cleaning out sentimental items, one of them being; keeping only three boxes per family member. Giving yourself a limit allows you to determine what is really important to keep.

•  What are the sentimental items you keep in your home?
• If you have tips on how to get rid of sentimental items we would love to know! 

Happy Spring Cleaning!