7 Ways to Prepare for Daylight Saving Time

It's that time of year again - we're almost ready to spring forward for daylight saving time,which this year falls on March 8, 2015.. While many struggle with the fact that spring's daylight saving change means losing an hour of sleep, it also means an extra hour of daylight in the evening and serves as a reminder that spring is just around the corner!

Although the daylight savings change happens twice a year, it never seems to grab hold of our lives in some way; whether it’s physically adjusting to the change, or coping with a case of spring fever.

Below are 7 tips on how to ease your way into daylight savings time in 2015:

1. Get Some Sleep!

After all the hard work you've done to prepare your house, get yourself ready for the time change by getting some extra sleep! A week before daylight saving time, start trying to go to bed about 15 minutes earlier to get your body used to the new schedule. That way, when it comes time to spring forward, you'll already be acclimated.

2. Get Regular Exercise

While it might be hard to force yourself into bed a few minutes earlier, making sure to fit in some exercise is especially important if you are trying to maintain a sleep schedule.

According to the National Sleep Foundation, people who report regular exercise sleep better than non-exercisers who sleep the same number of hours. In fact, it is reported that vigorous exercise isn’t necessary to get better sleep; simply walking, or even working in your garden can help you exert the energy you need to sleep better that night.

3. Freshen Up Your Garden

If it isn't quite warm enough for you to start planting your favorite spring flowers, you can at least freshen up your garden to get it looking healthy, happy and ready for new seasonal additions. On one of the warmer early spring days, head outside and start pulling weeds and pruning dead branches and plants. Then, spread a new layer of mulch around your healthy garden plants to keep them that way until you're ready to plant more.

4. Decorate the Patio With Some Plants

It's almost time to start spending your evenings relaxing on your patio, so do a little patio prep. Clean the furniture, change the lightbulbs, sweep the floor and add some container plants to make it look inviting and pretty. Start with some evergreens while the weather is still a little chilly, such as a dwarf Alberta spruce or a topiary juniper. As the weather warms up, add container plants that will thrive in the spring, like tulips and daffodils.

5. Clean the Grill

Are you looking forward to barbecue season? If so, scrubbing the dust from your grill should be an important part of your spring cleaning to-do list. Use dish soap to cut through any leftover dirt and grease that's been sitting on your grill all winter, and soon it'll be squeaky clean and ready for hot dogs and hamburgers!

6. Pick Up a Spring Centerpiece

Nothing says spring is coming like a beautiful spring centerpiece for your dining room table. Celebrate daylight saving time with a pretty bouquet of spring blooms, like carnations, tulips, chrysanthemums, gerberas or hyacinth. 

Teleflora's Polka Dots and Posies arrangement with vibrant pink roses and white daisies fits the season beautifully. Plus, they come in a cube vase that's tied with a cute polka-dotted ribbon that you can use as a spring centerpiece for years to come. Or, go for the Spring Sonata bouquet that includes colorful roses, tulips, asters, carnations, mums and seeded eucalyptus in a simple terra cotta pot. The Spring Sonata would look great on your patio table, as well!

Save 15% OFF on Flowers from Telefloral.com, Click here

7. Try a New Coat of Paint

A deep spring clean may be just the way to get your house feeling fresh after a long weekend, but if you're looking for an even bigger change, try a fresh coat of paint in your kitchen or living room. Paint is an inexpensive way to instantly change the look and feel of a room, so it's a great update to make without breaking the budget. Try a sage green or soft yellow that will get you excited for spring but look amazing all year-round.

5 DIY Home Remedies for Spring Allergies

At Teleflora, we love spring. Not only is the warming weather (and long hours of sunshine!) an amazing relief after the long winter season, but it's also the time of year when many flowers are blooming beautifully. And that, of course, is something we love to see. However, with blooming flowers and high counts of tree and grass pollens, spring is also often a frustrating time of year for some people: It's allergy season. Spring allergies are usually a reaction to the increased amount of pollen in the air, so it stands to reason that nature's favorite season is also the worst for allergies. 

But if you do suffer from this seasonal frustration, there are a few ways to fight back against the sniffling, sneezing and congestion you may experience. See our guide: Best & Worst Flowers for Allergy Sufferers. Read on for five do-it-yourself home remedies for spring allergies:

1. Limit Your Exposure to Allergens

The first remedy may sound obvious, but it's an important first step. During the spring and summer, pollen levels in the air are highest during the afternoon hours. So, you may want to enjoy an indoor activity during that time in order to limit your exposure to the pollen. If you do venture outdoors (and who could blame you for enjoying spring sunshine?), make sure to take some precautions. Protect your face with sunglasses and a hat, and change clothes immediately upon going home.

Get 20% OFF All Bouquets Sitewide at Teleflora. Just enter this Teleflora coupon code april 2015 at checkout on save on your order! Never miss such a chance!

2. Take Extra Vitamin C

Vitamin C has many health benefits, from increasing the effectiveness of your immune system to supporting your overall skin and eye health. The nutrient is also a natural antihistamine, making it great for relieving some of the symptoms of allergies. Eating foods high in Vitamin C like fruits and vegetables might help a little, but you may also want to consider taking supplements to really make a difference.

3. Try a Neti Pot

If you've ever used a Neti pot, you know just how well this DIY remedy works to loosen up congestion and clear out allergens. To use a Neti pot, you first have to make a saline solution out of salt and warm purified water (don't use tap water, since it might contain bacteria or other dangerous organisms). Then, fill your Neti pot with the solution, and use it to pour the saline water into one nostril. During the process, tilt your head to the side and allow the solution to go in one nostril and flow out of the other. Then, repeat the process on the other side. You'll be cleared up in no time! A similar remedy people often use is saline spray, which can be spritzed into each nostril to help clear up congestion. The spray is simple to use, a little more gentle than Neti pots and very effective.

4. Use Spices

Some spices have been found to reduce allergy symptoms immensely, including cayenne pepper, chili pepper and turmeric. Cayenne and chili peppers are natural decongestants, since they both contain a component called capsaicin. Turmeric is a popular spice used in Indian cuisine,  and it has an ingredient called curcumin that naturally reduces inflammation. This can help your inflamed sinuses and nasal passages return to normal.

5. Drink Herbal Tea

There are a few types of herbal tea that may also help you reduce your spring allergies, including peppermint tea, green tea and nettle tea. The menthol found in peppermint tea can have an immediate effect on your congestion, while green tea has a compound called methylated epigallocatechin gallate that could help with allergy symptoms. Nettle leaf is another natural antihistamine that can be consumed as tea or in capsule form. As far as allergies, it's best to avoid drinking chamomile, which can actually sometimes cause allergic reactions.

Tipping Tips: Do I Tip a Flower Delivery Person?

When it comes to tipping etiquette, there are some services that everyone knows how to tip and others that people often forget about tipping altogether. Flower delivery men and women often fall into the latter category. However, since they provide a service, tipping them is considered polite and conventional. You wouldn't let a pizza delivery person leave without a tip, would you? No! If you aren't sure who to tip or how much of a tip someone requires, a good rule of thumb is to give 15 percent of the total. You can also call the person's employer and ask a representative there what's considered good etiquette. Here's what you need to know about tipping a flower delivery person:

How Much Should I Tip a Flower Delivery Person?

Flower delivery men and women warrant a $2 to $5 tip for normal-sized bouquets, plants and arrangements. If they're bringing multiple arrangements, large plants or other difficult-to-carry items, the tip should be more like $10. For huge deliveries, say for a wedding or another event, the tip should reflect the amount of work they're doing. It's also considered polite to tip more if there's bad weather or if the delivery person goes above and beyond in some other way.

20% OFF On Tulips

Enter code at check out and get 20% OFF On Tulips at Teleflora! Shop through March 31 for discount! Click here

Why Should I Tip a Flower Delivery Person?

Remember that it's considered good manners to tip anyone who's assisting you in some way – even if it's part of their job. At Teleflora, all of our bouquets and arrangements are hand-delivered, which provides a more personal gift than a bouquet that's delivered in a box. However, that can make the delivery person's job just a bit more difficult, so it's important to show them appreciation. If you're unhappy with the delivery person specifically, or they've damaged your arrangement in some way, it's OK not to tip.

5 DIY Holiday Decorations for St. Patrick’s Day

St. Patrick's Day is a lot of fun, whether you're celebrating with your kids or hosting a party at home. The day, marked by green decor and clothing, leprechauns and the luck of the Irish, is meant to celebrate St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. People celebrate the fun holiday with classic Irish symbols, including the color green, shamrocks and even the traditional Irish dish corned beef and cabbage. If you're having a St. Patty's Day celebration this year, or you just want to decorate for fun, take a look at these five cute and easy DIY holiday decorations:
1. A St. Patrick's Day Wreath

You can make this St. Patrick's Day decoration with a basic foam wreath from a craft store and any number of decorative materials. Consider wrapping the foam wreath with green yarn or ribbon for instance, for something simple and elegant. You can also use real plants to create a more natural wreath. Try wrapping a foam or wire wreath in moss, leaves or even green and white hydrangea blooms for a beautiful and rustic look.
2. A Colorful Bouquet

Use green, white and yellow blooms to create a perfect centerpiece bouquet for your St. Patrick's Day table. Springtime flowers that are ideal for a decorative bouquet may include carnations, daisies, mums, roses, Asiatic lilies and alstroemeria, all of which can be found in the appropriate colors for celebrating the holiday, For some extra charm, arrange the bouquet in a vase painted with shamrocks or green and white stripes.
If you want to send someone a St. Patrick's Day bouquet as a gift, consider Teleflora's Emerald Elegance or Brightly Blooming bouquets. Either arrangement will put a huge smile on anyone's face.
3. A Lucky Shamrock Charm

Make a 3D shamrock charm that you can hang in the windows or attach to your wreath. Use patterned green fabric to cut out four shamrocks – they should all be the same shape but four different sizes. Layer the shamrocks on top of each other from largest on the bottom to smallest on top. Then, using a needle and green thread, stitch a straight line through the middle of the clovers to fasten them together. Fold them on the sewn line and iron them on the fold until a crease appears. When you unfold them, the shamrock layers will stick out for a three-dimensional decoration!
4. A Leprechaun Hat Bowl

If you're having a party, your guests will love this easy DIY project. You'll need an inexpensive plastic bowl (look for one in the relative shape of a bowler hat), some green craft paint, a paint brush, a sponge, a black ribbon and some gold construction paper or card stock. Paint the bowl green on both the inside and outside. Use the sponge to gently add texture to the wet paint on the outside of the bowl, then let it dry completely. Wrap a piece of black ribbon around the outer rim of the bowl, attaching it with glue or double-sided tape.
Then, cut out the shape of a rectangular buckle from your gold paper, and attach it to the ribbon – the bowl will look like an upside down hat. Now, just fill it with chocolate coins, and you'll have a hat full of leprechaun gold!
5. A Rainbow Chain

If your kids want to get crafty with you to celebrate the holiday, help them make a simple paper chain to hang from the ceiling. Use links of each color in the rainbow in order as many times as you want. Then, when the chain is long enough, cut out the shape of a leprechaun's cauldron from black paper and attach it to the end.

St. Patrick's Day Pot of Gold Savings! Use Teleflora coupon code 2015 and save on your flower gifts purchases! Ends March 17th. 2015!

First Day of Spring 2015: Outdoor Activities for Kids

March 20 is the official beginning of spring this year, and for many of us it can't come soon enough! Spring is a beautiful time of year, full of blooming flowers and seemingly endless hours of sunshine. One of the best parts about the season, though, is that it allows everyone to spend time outdoors. After a long winter inside, what could be better? If your kids are feeling some major cabin fever after many months spent inside, here are some great ideas for enjoying the outdoors with them this spring:

Make Your Own Bouquets

Have your kids pick out a plastic vase they love at the dollar store or out of your own collection. Walk through your neighborhood or a nearby park gathering wildflowers to put in the vase so that they can display their bouquets in their bedrooms or on the dinner table. Bring a flower book along so you can figure out what each flower is and learn about them. Avoid the blooms growing in your neighbor's gardens, though.
Go for a Bike Ride

A family bike ride can be a lot of fun, and a great way to expend some energy and get active on a warm weekend day. Try biking to a restaurant for lunch and sitting on a patio. Teach your kids about good bike etiquette, like some common hand signals they should know and how to use their locks when you get to your destination.
Try a Bug Scavenger Hunt

Make up a scavenger hunt or a bingo card filled with pictures of bugs and send your kids out to find them. Tell them they should take pictures of the bugs for proof, and have them race to see who can finish first. For littler kids, go with them, or set a boundary line – like the perimeter of your garden – so you can keep an eye on them at all times. Then make worms in dirt for dessert – just put gummy worms in a cup of chocolate pudding topped with crushed Oreos.
Check Out Your City's Botanic Gardens

Many cities have their own arboretums or botanical gardens, so go and check out your local one. Not only will you have a lot of fun looking at all the pretty flowers and cool plants, but the whole family is bound to learn a little something!
Plant Your Own Flowers

After a visit to the botanic gardens, you and your kids may even feel inspired to plant your own flowers. Cordon off a section of your garden just for them, and take them to the garden store to pick out some seeds or seedlings. Have them keep an eye on the progress of their plants throughout spring and summer and help you water and weed their area of the garden.
Play a Pick-Up Game

Get the whole family involved in a pick-up game of soccer, football or softball to blow off some steam. Even on cooler early spring days, playing sports will keep everyone running around and warm. If you can, make it a once-a-week tradition.
Make a Bird Feeder

Bird watching is a lot of fun and can help your kids learn a little about the birds that are native to your area. Get more birds coming to your yard by making a bird feeder you can hang on your porch or a tree. Bring pinecones, string, peanut butter and birdseed out to your backyard or patio table, so you don't make too much of a mess inside. Tie a piece of string or yarn around one end of each pine cone, then have your kids cover them in peanut butter. Roll the pine cones on a plate full of bird seed until they're covered completely. Then just hang them up and start looking for any winged visitors!

Enter Teleflora coupon code at check out and get 20% OFF On Tulips at Teleflora! Shop through March 31 for discount!