Christmas is a time to celebrate and although things are a bit different due to circumstances we all are too familiar with, we still look forward to Christmas. We, might not feel safe enough to travel as much as we used to but, no one will stop us from celebrating this festive season! We must bring positivity and share the Christmas Cheer.

How can one make this Christmas special?

Well, for starters the decorations are a must! But, let’s not just put them up and that’s it, let’s make it a family activity. Make your own decorations, make it a meaningful process. This way, you will remember Christmas for the family activities and not just Christmas day.

Where to start? 

You can take it in two different ways:

1. Christmas is about the birth of Christ (it even has His name in it) so start by taking out your Baby Jesus or Nativity set. Qronfla have many different types for all budgets. Did you know that there are many different traditions around the baby Jesus?
2. Put up the Christmas tree as a family. Get the tech guru in the family to take care of the lights, then let the children place a few baubles wherever they please (you can fix them up later). You can take care of the ribbons and bows, they cover a lot of mistakes. Finally the star or angel on the top should be a prize for the youngest! Did you know that the Germans were the first to decorate the tree?

What ever you start off with make sure it is meaningful and not in a rush. Don’t stress this Christmas, we are here to assist you with more blogs on decorations, traditions, ideas and even recipes! We’ve got you covered as Qronfla are the experts for Christmas. Let’s start the countdown! Get in touch if you require further assistance or need some ideas to start your decorating days.

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On an August Summer day, we sat down for a quick chat with some of the Staff at Qronfla.  As we spoke about future projects in the pipeline, the chat swiftly shifted towards problem solving, and how important customer satisfaction is to the company that has stood for the past 150 years.  They explained how everything is possible, and that somehow there is a solution to everything. A motto they have principled their lives and work around. A staff member calmly recounted how they had solved a recent experience.  

What happened exactly?

  Picture this. The busy summer wedding season is almost over and we are gearing up for the Christmas season at a very rapid steady pace. With just 3 weeks to go for the opening of our Christmas shop, the loads and pressures were growing immensely. That same week we had had some very long working hours stretching up to full days at the office, so much as 22 hours in single days working to secure all shipments with our foreign suppliers in Europe and the far East.  

It’s a Friday morning slightly before 9am when the office phone rings; on the line was a wedding planner that we work with very often. They had called to confirm if all is well for the wedding the following day, Saturday. We denied having any bookings as we didn’t have anything listed on our diary nor on our orders. We were wrong!  A booking had actually been made months before and this was confirmed. The order had somehow been misplaced, and not filed appropriately with the other orders we had. We vividly remembered meeting the couple and we knew that this was a very sensitive and emotional moment for the family. We couldn’t fail anyone; the wedding planners that trusted us blindly, the couple who trusted the flowers for their special day to us and our company’s reputation that has been standing for ever so long. An unsolved mistake like this could be disastrous on everyone!

What was special about this wedding?

The problem was that the chosen flowers were not common flowers one would find inside our flower shop, or that any regular flower shop would import on a daily or weekly basis in Malta. The chosen flowers were very rare and specific. These flowers were specifically chosen by the bride to remember a family member that had tragically passed away years before.

What were your initial actions?

  As you could imagine, we worried, but it’s useless pointing fingers and wasting time thinking on what went wrong, or who had made the mistake etc… We had to act fast and precisely. There was no more room for error left. We started our search by trying our luck with other local vendors and other florists in the market, but this was unfruitful.  At the same time, we were trying to find a way to bring in the flowers in by airfreight to Malta by Saturday morning, but unfortunately the only flight that would make it near was an Air Malta flight landing at 2:30pm from Amsterdam on Saturday, however this was too late as the wedding ceremony was meant to start at 4pm. 

  Changing the flowers was not an option and so we called our suppliers in Amsterdam to prepare the order for us and wait for our instructions for delivery.   

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Beyond plastic, paper, and glass

Use durable products: Swap disposable razors for reusable ones. Choose reusable taper-ware over plastic wrap or tinfoil. Make use of rechargeable batteries over the conventional single-use kind. This may seem obvious but you would be amazed at how full landfills are with products that are used once and discarded.

Buy recycled products: Be on the lookout  for products with the greatest percentage of post-consumer recycled content on labels. These are often paper based products such as foolscaps, cardboard, printing papers and tissues.  Choose food items like cereals and crackers packaged in recycled cardboard.

Recycle household goods: Donate used toys and clothes to charities, rather than tossing them in the trash. If garments are no longer wearable, use the material for other projects around the house or as cleaning clothes. Do the same with books, sell them on e-bay or swap and trade them with friends. Before throwing away that cardboard box, turn it into a project with your children.  Let your child turn it into a  dollhouse, space ship, robot, or secret hiding space for hours or days of earth-friendly fun.

Conserve water

Wait for a full load: Don’t turn on the washing machine or dishwasher until it’s full. Each washing cycle uses more than 90 Litres of water; make sure that every drop counts.

Fill the sink to do dishes: If you don’t have a dishwasher, you’ll still use a fraction of the water that’s used by leaving the faucet running. Same on the rinsing. If you don’t have a double sink, try to use a tub of clean water for rinsing.

Stop using the toilet as an ashtray or wastebasket.  

Every cigarette butt or tissue you flush away also flushes away 19 to 26 litres of water.

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth

Before brushing, wet your brush and fill a glass for rinsing your mouth.

Fix and plug Leaks immediately.

Leaks waste water 24 hours a day, seven days a week. An inexpensive washer is usually enough to stop them.

Grow a green garden

Plant an edible garden: A garden doesn’t have to be a huge space or field. You can grow your own salad greens, vegetables, and herbs in pots. A small garden can help reduce air pollution while also being a fun and relaxing hobby. Instead of toxic pesticides or chemical fertilisers make use of organic and earth-friendly garden products.

Compost kitchen scraps: Eggshells, tea leaves, coffee grounds, fruit and vegetable peelings and pretty much all organic matter can find a home in a compost pile or bin. Mix it with yard trimmings and water and voila – you have a nutritious soil enhancer, and you’re reducing landfill waste.

Water wisely: Use rainwater collected in buckets to water your plants. Water your garden in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler – water evaporates more slowly when it’s cool.

Household hazardous waste

Inside nearly every household’s garage, basement or kitchen sink cupboard lurk harmful substances like old paint cans, used motor oil, garden pesticides and weed killers, used batteries, old computers or electronics, harsh cleaning chemicals, or pest killers. If you dump this noxious stuff down the drain, you’ll pollute the water supply. And if you dispose of it in landfills, they’ll leak dangerous chemicals. Instead, do some research to find the best way to dispose of your household toxic waste. In Malta, domestic hazardous waste has to be taken to civic amenity sites. You can find a link to an article by Wasteserve regarding hazardous waste in Malta here

We encourage you to act on as many of these tips as you can. Even the smallest change to our daily habits can greatly influence our environment. Share this article to encourage your friends to do the same. 

The post 20+ Things You Can Do To Create a Green Home and Save The Planet – Part 2 appeared first on il-Qronfla.

Protecting the environment once meant separating plastic and paper in your recycling bin and using reusable bags at supermarkets. But Nowadays, there is a lot more you can do to create a healthy, green home.

“Going green” doesn’t have to mean expensive investments like solar panels, sustainable wood flooring, and nontoxic paints (Although these do help). Experts say that simple changes in everyday life are all it takes to make your home a healthier, safer and greener place to be. But don’t forget that we are creatures of habit, and it takes time to create change.  Start with small steps on the tips below and make a commitment to change just one habit every few weeks.

Il-Qronfla is committed to helping the environment so we have compiled a list of tips and techniques that you can use to turn your home sweet home into a home green home.

Save energy

Let the sun shine: Let’s start with the simplest option. The most environmentally  friendly and cheapest heat and light source is just outside your window.  We are lucky to get a lot of sun in Malta so open the curtains and drapes to let solar energy warm and brighten your home naturally.

Turn off the lights: If your household members are forgetful of lights, install movement sensors so lights only activate when needed. A great location for these are corridors, where you walk through for a few seconds but lights are often left on continuously. Another way to save energy is to install automatic timers for lights frequently left blazing in empty rooms. Keep in mind that sensors require movement to activate so bedrooms and offices might not be a good idea if you want to do some reading or studying.

Switch to eco-friendly LED light bulbs: Eco-friendly LED light bulbs are good for the environment simply because they use much less energy to run. The increased efficiency ranges between 25% and 80% in comparison to incandescent lights. On average, it is estimated that switching to eco-friendly light bulbs can save you up to €82 a year. It might not seem like a lot, but imagine how much less energy would be consumed if every household switched to eco-friendly light bulbs

Get unplugged: Electronic appliances, including TVs, computers, and Consoles can consume almost as much energy when in standby mode as they do during the relatively small amount of time they’re being used.

Use appliances efficiently: When using the washing machine, dryer, or dishwasher try to wait for a full load before turning them on to avoid unnecessary water cycles. Clear the lint filter after every dryer load and air-dry clothes when it is possible. Use the air-dry function on your dishwasher.

Use a microwave or a toaster to reheat food

If you can, avoid using the oven to reheat food. It takes a lot more energy to heat up an oven than using a toaster of microwave.

Set cooling temperatures correctly: The Fridge and freezer are probably the biggest electrical energy consumers in your house. Take steps to make sure they’re not working harder than necessary. Fridges should be set at around 4’C.  Freezers set at -18’C keep things nice and frosty. Ensure to close the fridge and freezer doors. Leaving them open for just a few extra seconds wastes a lot of energy as it raises their temperature and they have to drop it back down.

Stop leaks: Plug, insulate, replace, repair, or seal to make your home as leak-proof as possible – and watch your utility bills drop.

Clear the air

Don’t smoke inside: Away from the usual ‘Smoking is unhealthy’ , even if you smoke, the number one way to combat indoor air pollution and reduce longterm costs is to never smoke in your home. The chemicals can circulate in the air for much longer than you think and stick to the closest thing they find creating a heavy air and more washing cycles. Nicotine will also stain wall paint in the long run and turn beautifully painted walls into a murky brown.

Grow plants indoors: Live plants around the house act as natural air filters, and some plants are particularly effective absorbers of harmful pollutants emitted from carpets, furniture, and electronic equipment. So clean your indoor air and “green” your living space by filling your home. If you want to learn more about the specific plants, you can find our recommended list here

Eliminate toxic products

Use non-toxic cleaning products: Find eco-friendly alternatives to harsh chemical cleaners, which pollute the environment and can cause health problems. Several biodegradable, non-toxic cleaning products are available nowadays at natural grocery shops, supermarkets and chainstores. You can also make your own: Baking soda is a cheap and effective all-purpose cleaner, polisher, and fungicide. Switch to natural disinfectants such as tea tree oil or citrus oils.

Use cloths instead of cleaners: Skip the cleaning products altogether and switch to micro fiber cloths designed to attract dirt on their own. When damp, such cloths clean most surfaces like glass, stainless steel, brass, wood, and ceramics. When dry, they emit a natural positive charge, which attracts dust. Simply wash the cloths after cleaning, and you can reuse them again and again.

Kick bug spray out:  Philip Landrigan an expert from the Department of Community and Preventive Medicine in New York says  “You want to minimise the use of pesticides in your home – and that’s what insect repellents are” . Instead of using insect repellent, Landrigan suggests to keep insects out by sealing cracks and holes around doors, windowsills, and flooring. Keep food stored appropriately and kitchen and eating areas as clean as possible.

This is a far from exhaustive list so we will continue over in an upcoming article. You can find the second part of this list here. The journey does not stop here. We encourage you to share this article with friends and family or simply show them a trick or two. Alone we can make a small difference, together we can make a huge impact.

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Love Knows no Boundaries

Just like flowers, every love is unique. Just as flowers and plants give us oxygen, love gives us the spark and happiness to carry on for our loved ones. Without them, life would surely not be as beautiful as it is.

This Valentine’s Day, we wanted to do something special, something unique to each couple. Our idea was to create something that can be different for everyone. So we came up with a special card called “10 reasons why I love you”.

Do you remember how and why you fell in love with your partner?

Was it the way they smiled?…

Their eyes?…

or perhaps the way they held your hand…

These feelings are what make love so beautiful, and so different for everyone. So take a look back down memory lane and think of 10 things that made you fall in love with your partner.

If you look below, you can find the card attached, which you can print just in time for valentines day. We truly hope this brings a dash of happiness into your special day together, and remember, roses always make a great gift 😉

You can download the card for free below:

10 Reasons Why I love you!

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You might already have a pot or two lying at home for decor reasons however, certain plants not only look good but can also keep the air cool and help flush out toxins as well.

The air is cooled down because these plants lose water during transpiration, cooling the air around them and leaving it purified and fresh.

A professor at a University in Vermont Dr. Leonard Perry, adds that “a USDA estimate is that proper use of plants could decrease air temperature in an office by as much as ten degrees. Plus, the moisture released by these plants helps maintain indoor humidity in the human comfort zone of 30 to 60 percent, and helps prevent materials such as wood from cracking when dried out.”

If like all of us you are looking to cool your house down, consider getting some of these specific plants, which can help lower temperatures.

1. Aloe Vera Plants

With its many great benefits, it’s not surprising that this plant makes the list. An aloe vera plant is not only handy when it comes to treating sunburns, but it is also capable of removing formaldehyde from the air while effectively cooling it down.

2. Areca Palm Tree

The Areca palm tree is one of the most popular living room plants. It is a natural humidifier while also posing as great living decor. The Areca palm is capable of removing trichloroethylene, formaldehyde and benzene from the air while also cooling it down.

3. Sansevieria

The Sansevieria plant, also known as the snake plant or the ‘mother in law’s tongue’, is another plant scientifically proven by NASA to help purify the air. At night the plant gives off oxygen,absorbing a large number of toxins in your home while also cooling you down.

4. Philodendron

For those that might not be so garden-savvy this plant is a great choice. It is extremely easy to take care of. It Requires little care and light while still being capable of keeping your air cool and purified.

5. Ficus Tree

The ficus tree helps to keep the air temperature cool, improves air quality and also reduces air pollution.

6. Fern

Scientists at NASA claim that the fern is one of the most effective air-purifying plants.This plant helps to not only humidify and cool down the air, but similar to aloe vera, it is also capable of getting formaldehyde out of the air.

Should you wish for more information about a specific plant do not hesitate to contact us on (+356) 21442600 or visit us on https://www.qronfla.com

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Check your flowers daily

Keep the vase, container or liner filled with fresh water. Even if the container has floral foam, you should keep the water level high to promote long lasting flowers. The container’s water has a fresh flower food added to it. If you completely change the water, you should also thoroughly clean the container. Add fresh water mixed with a commercial fresh flower food. These flower foods prevent them from absorbing water, encourage buds to open, and lengthen the life of the bouquet. It’s one of the best—and easiest—ways to extend the life of your flowers, but be sure to follow the directions on the package correctly. Improperly mixed flower food can actually do more harm than good.

Re-cut their stems

Every few days re-cut the stems by removing 3/4″ to one inch from the bottom of the stem and be sure to cut the stem at an angle to allow the flower the best chance to take up water. Use a sharp knife, cutter or scissor. Avoid smashing or piercing the stems, as this can destroy the water vessels in the stem. Remove any blooms or foliage that falls below the waterline in the vase.

Change Water regularly

Be sure to clean the vase before refilling it with water mixed with the proper amount of fresh flower food. Be sure no debris is floating in the water (such as leaves and stem parts) as this could promote the growth of bacteria which can shorten a flower’s life.

Display them in a cool spot

Most flowers prefer cool temperatures and are best displayed away from direct sunlight, heating or arconditioning, direct fans, or on top of televisions or any heating elements, as these can cause flowers to dehydrate.

Plant Care

Orchid

Despite their elegant, graceful appearance, orchids aren’t difficult to care for.
Keep your orchid in a well-ventilated spot with partial shade, away from radiators, air conditioning, and strong drafts. To help maintain the right level of humidity, set the planter in a tray of pebbles and water so that the pot sits out of the water.

Orchids gain their water from the relative humidity in the atmosphere, they do not absorb water in a traditional way from the roots and soil. Orchids require a period of dormancy during the winter in order to bloom again in the spring, so allow it to rest in a sunny spot, and don’t water it at all during this time. When its blooms are gone, cut the spike an inch above the foliage, leaving the old canes in place.

Hydrangea

Place your hydrangea in a sunny, bright spot that receives indirect light, and keep its soil moist by watering it thoroughly and allowing excess water to drain. In the fall, allow it to rest and lose its leaves by placing it in a cool, dark location without water. In January, bring it out again to a spot with plenty of light, and it should bloom in time for spring.

Spathipyllum

These plants can wilt easily, so it’s important to keep the soil moist, providing good drainage and emptying excess water from trays or saucers to prevent their roots from rotting. Display them in a spot with bright, indirect light. Low light slows their blooming cycle, and too much direct sunlight may cause burn spots on their leaves.

Poinsettia

Keep the soil of your poinsettia moist and allow it to dry out only slightly in between waterings. Encourage new blooms by pinching off spent blossoms and adding plant fertilizer when it’s actively growing new buds or leaves.

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