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Below are the 20 most recent journal entries recorded in
Backyardbargain's InsaneJournal:
- You don’t want to hear a tinny sound when you run water in your copper sink.
- Thin copper can actually dent, which would damage the beautiful looks of your sink.
| Thursday, July 21st, 2011 | |
| 6:00 pm | Candle Holders Bring Glamour and Style to Any Occasion We often use candle holders for special occasions such as Christmas, Easter, Weddings, Birthdays, etc. However, we can use candle holders to light up every single day! Candle Holders have endless power to exude charm and elegance throughout our homes. Whether it is a family occasion or a public event, candle holders simply add to the exquisiteness of the occasion. It’s important to choose the perfect candle holder for our home décor or special occasion to have the right lighting.  Check out BackyardBargain.com for the gorgeous silver mercury candle holders. Use the red mercury candle holders to create a romantic candle light dinner for your special someone. The copper mercury Candle holders can go into any room because they match all home décor. The best things about these decorative pieces are that you will be the envy of all your friends and family. Mood lighting is so important and candle holders from BackyardBargain.com are where to find it. Copper candle sticks, pewter candle sticks, bronze candle sticks and wrought iron candle holders add a traditional feel to important occasions. You can find candle holders in such a wide variety of shapes and sizes. Tall, short, glass, wood and pillar, copper or bronze candle holders are just a few classic designs BackyardBargain.com has to offer. Votive candle holders can add the perfect touch to for events or just for everyday use. Make the perfect arrangement of votive candle holders around your bathroom for the next time you jump into your bubble bath. Weddings and large events usually require candle holders or candle sticks that make a bold statement. Backyardbargain.com has several options of candle holders and candle sticks you can choose. Depending on your wedding theme, you may want to choose tall copper candle sticks as centerpieces. You could go for a more modern look and choose the pewter/silver candle sticks. Glass candle holders are make classic arrangements on table and for any type of wedding. BackyardBargain.com has every color candle holder to match almost any wedding theme. There are so many sizes and shapes in candle holders that your only issue will be which ones to pick!  Your Home will never be the same after you set up Drapery rods and create some beautiful Charm. Home decor items like Outdoor Torches and Decorative Pillows for your home or restaurant. For Information about quality Candle Holders,Outdoor Pillows,Outdoor Torches,Tiki Torches,curtain rods,drapery rods, window coverings,decorative pillows Visit the site Backyardbargain.com |
| Wednesday, June 29th, 2011 | |
| 3:39 pm | Give Beautiful look for your home with Best Window coverings Decoration really wins the hearts of the guests and visitors: This is mainly because window is something that let you to have a refreshing view outside as well as fresh air inside. Other than this, you have these windows for enhancing your interior’s look and feel. It is always wonderful to see those majestic drapery panels hanging from an equally wonderful curtain rod. One must admit that this amazing piece of decoration really win the hearts of the guests and visitors.  Importance of window curtains and coverings: If you understand and value the importance of window curtains and coverings, you never feel lazy about decorating your windows well. What are your real concerns? One is, of course, the color and design theme. You cannot simply bring informal drapery for formal looking interior. More often than not, your main hall accommodates those stuffs which are out of the ordinary. This is because you want all the elegance and class to your living room and you don’t want to leave a stone unturned. Here, you utilize the best drapery possible. By and large, you can see layered draperies with valance in the hall rooms. After all, why should you shy away when these formal looking, first quality window coverings provide you all the charm you yearn for your home? Choosing any of them depends upon your individual taste and utility: Though window shades, shutters, blinds may be a rage at the present and used by many, the drapery panel never lost its identity. Even after the influx of such modern window devices, the significance of curtains and drapery panels still has a top place in the home décor and window treatment ideas. After the color and design theme, your attention may go to its decorative value. You may choose an ornate window cover for your living room while you may opt for simple curtains for studies and kitchen. This is understandable as each room has designed for specific purpose. Therefore, each window needs to be covered differently as per its practical need. There you have lined window curtains as well as unlined curtains. Choosing any of them depends upon your individual taste and utility. Also you have valances and laces which help you in adding a personal touch your window treatment. Taking a look at an internet retail store would be a perfect idea: No matter what you choose as a Window Coverings, it should have the amicability to go with the color and design scheme of your interior. Other than that, you need to look into the quality aspects. Whether you use silk, cotton, or any other material that give you enough comfort, you should take care of the quality.  Make sure that you have purchased your window coverings from only trustworthy retailers. Taking a look at an internet retail store would be a perfect idea. There, you can find a wide variety which makes your job really easy. You can know about the different Shape and Color of Drapery rods available in the market at the Backyard Bargain. It is a nice place to explore numerous models of home decor items like Candle holders. For Information about quality window coverings, drapery, decorative pillows, tiki torches , and candle holders, you can visit the site, http://www.backyardbargain.com/ |
| Monday, June 13th, 2011 | |
| 12:10 pm | Get Great Impressions and Appearance With Decorative and Throw Pillows Decorative and Throw Pillows—Give a New Look to your Bedroom.The popular belief is that cozying up a bedroom requires a few extra bedding, comfy mattresses, and a smooth bed spread.  However, are they just enough to bringing a striking visual appeal? This is a genuine question that may crop up in your mind. Along with these comfy factors, there you have many things to take care of. The color theme, patterns, accessories, the decorative pieces used, all these undoubtedly contributes to enhance the bedroom facade. People are growing more conscious about their interior and each one wish to create a bedroom which is only one of its kind.  Decorative Pillows and throw pillows have already caught the imagination of home designers. They find it as a wonderful item which helps marvelously well in adding some zest to any living space. Perhaps, you have seen decorative pillows in the living rooms. They are hugely popular and people use it commonly. The traditional decorative pillows with classy artwork catch every one’s attention. If you are the one who have went after a modern color theme already, no worries, decorative pillows only add to its charm. The decorative pillows come in an impressive variety. There are tasseled decorative pillows. Another variety is fringe, which gives lasting impression with its modern look and vigor. Tapestry, tufts, cording and other hand woven decorative pillows too are often found in the living rooms. The bedroom decorative pillows are the new craze. The cute pillows stacked on the bed give a different appeal to the bedroom altogether. The throw pillows are another addition which just gives a causal appeal and dynamism to any room. There are various shapes and sizes available. There is huge variety available in prints too. This actually is a huge relief as you never need to worry picking up the matching decorative pillow or throw pillow for your bedroom or living room. You have modern as well as classic prints and artworks therefore choosing some pillows which gel with your interior is going to be an absolute fun activity for you. There are embroidered decorative pillows which were a favorite choice in the past. You must have come across them in your grandparent’s house. However, recently new patterns and styles are available along with various shapes and sizes. If in case, your interior is done already and you fear that the new additions would go bizarre. When you surf through an internet store for decorative and throw pillows, you realize this was wrong assumption because you get the right pillow you require. After all, you want to be the cut above the rest. You get the exact shades you want. Also the patterns and prints are available in huge number which makes your job really very enjoyable! Go ahead and have fun browsing these cute pillows, you will never repent spending time on it. If you have a kid at home, then don’t forget to bring some fruit shaped or flower shaped pillows for them. They are going to love it! Your outdoor gatherings will never be the same after you set up Drapery rods and create some beautiful atmosphere. Additionally, numerous models of home decor and outdoor decor items like Curtain Rods and Candle holders for your home or restaurant.  |
| Monday, May 30th, 2011 | |
| 10:58 am | Different between Curtain Rods and Many Different rods If you want to add the real touch to your bedroom or any other room, you ought to be a bit resourceful. If you do not feel confident, then asking for expert help is quite practical, or else you have the option of reading a few articles on window treatment. A house has different rooms with different purposes and you treat every room differently, especially when you go and decorate them. You have clear norms about its characters and features and want to decorate accordingly. For instance, you may never try a heavier decoration for your kitchen or study. Likewise each room has its own features and this is one reason you need to find out different types of Curtain Rods. Here are a few varieties which you can identify and utilize for your purpose.  Single rod curtains As the name suggests, such drapery rods comprises of a single rod which holds up the window cloth. Though they come as single rods, you get a variety of styles including different shades and patterns. If you are creative, you can go ahead and give an artwork on to the rod with some paint or any other appropriate material. The best thing about this curtain rod is that they are easy to use with pocket curtains or tie top ones. This type of rods can be used in wash rooms, studies, kitchen, and store rooms. Transverse curtain rods If you have a home office, a transverse curtain rod can style the window perfectly. This rod has a pulley system with which you can open and close the drapery effortlessly. This provides convenience to the user. As you are not pulling the cloth every so often, it remains fresh and intact. You may find a wide spectrum of traverse rods easily and you can find out the one which goes well with the window pane designs.  Double/triple rods Well, this is designed for heavier drapery which usually adorns your living room or hallways. This will help you to have layered and patterned curtains. By selecting this decorative curtain rod, you are bringing a great style to your room. They look classy and elegant. This is commonly used for living rooms and bed rooms. Tension rods This type of rod is made with springs which help; the drapery to say in its place. Also, there are no worries about drooping or sagging. They perfectly remain in its place and give a decent look to the drapery panel. This is a type of rod that can be used anywhere you want provided you select the one which holds up the weight of drapery. Magnetic rods If you choose to use a metal frame for your window, then it is great to have magnetic rods. For such rods, strong magnets are used so that they help in supporting the draperies perfectly. However, light weighted fabrics would be appropriate for magnetic rods. This rod is good for kid’s room or study room. Your Home will never be the same after you set up Window Coverings and create some beautiful Charm. Home decor items like Drapery rods and Candle holders for your home or restaurant. |
| Friday, May 20th, 2011 | |
| 5:38 pm | What You Need to Know About Curtain Rods In Enhancing Your Window Treatment ? A window pane with gorgeous drapery which hangs from a stylish rod adorned with finials and rings! Wouldn’t they seize the attention of anyone around? Of course it does. This is one reason why designers give a lot of emphasize on windows and its accessories. For example, earlier, Curtain Rods were mere an object for hanging window cloths. But now the scenario has changed drastically. They have adopted a chic, urbane appearance which faultlessly complements the entire room decoration. Like any other show piece, window treatment can be a fancy object of your home. Windows have a lot of importance in a home and at the same time decoration on window plays a crucial role in enhancing the look of the rooms. Thus, no amount of effort goes useless when it comes to treating your window as strategic decorative piece. Whether it is choosing a mind-boggling window drapery, or a rod with amazing finials and rings, you ought to have your own personal style and taste. You cannot ignore the curtain rods any more. If you think the draperies are a wonderful part of your interior decoration so are the curtain rods. The transformation of the drapery rods is noteworthy. The new varieties are already catching the attention. There are designs inspired by many ancient cultures and that gives a class and elegance. The modern patterns are equally astonishing with its care free style. Those who follow the modern interior style would certainly benefitted by these modern styled rods. The designs start from simple shapes to complex patterns. The simple patterns are mostly consists of rods with round ball shaped finials, tulip shaped finials, conical, square, and semi circle shaped finials in the end. As the intricacy grows, you have got stacked styles, mixed designs and elegantly crafted rods. The most recent designs are inspired by the ancient roman, Indian, and Italian architecture which appears amazingly suitable for an interior that follows the line of ancient styles. For instance the Mughal, chakra, ball roman bronze, trophy burgundy, Kamrak etcetera are those which provide an elegant look to any window pane. Here, you undoubtedly got a big variety to select from. Along with this, you should have the taste to bring the right one for your window drapery. As you know, the window treatment is something which influences the entire design of your rooms. This is why designers carefully select the rods and finials for hanging the window coverings tastefully. And as a house owner you need to have more information about these items. The best thing is that you have got a lot of information out there if you are willing to explore it. Just go through some internet websites that deal with curtain rods. If in case, you feel you need to get more information on curtain rods and window accessories, you should check out these websites. You can make sure that you got the idea to pick up the one that suits your personal style and interest. Your Home will never be the same after you set up Window Coverings and create some beautiful Charm. home decor items like Decorative Pillows,Curtain Rods for your home or restaurant. |
| Friday, May 6th, 2011 | |
| 12:32 pm | Marvel Your Private Gatherings Using Fancy Candle Holders Candles have a true trait of stimulating one’s fancy and imagination. They have an immense power of bringing a cherubic ambience to your private moments. You may be planning a romantic candle light dinner with your beloved or celebrating an event which is close to your heart. Here, creating a classic and beautiful ambience is very important because this is something very special for you. Undoubtedly, you are accessible to a range of decorative pieces but beyond doubt each has its own significance and this is what we expect from candles and Candle holders for a special meeting or a gathering. This is not only the candle is going to marvel your table top, there is candle holder too which is going to be a breathtaking accessory. You can create that extravagance with those simple items which are easily available these days. The overwhelming variety is one thing which helps you in picking the exact one you desire to have. A lot of thing can be talked about candle holders. An impressive variety of sizes, shapes, colors, and materials are waiting for you. Have you planned a romantic candle light dinner already? Well, if so, just don’t hesitate to include a few candles on a breathtaking candle holder. This act of yours will be greatly appreciated because the ambience is going to change implausibly. Now seriously, you need a bit of imagination to get into the mood. Going for crystal glass candle holder is the finest choice. Place a red candle on it, you absolutely going to create an atmosphere that you yearn for so long and the moments would live in your heart forever! Well, let us move on to a bigger gathering such as a birthday party or a Christmas family gathering. Will it be complete without those gorgeous candles and its heavenly light? Never! And this is one reason every household rush to get the candles on these occasions. Remember, you have an irresistible variety to choose from. The material used range from wood, silver, aluminum, glass, bronze, crystal, wrought iron, beaded ones, or echo-friendly bamboos. You may just take care of the suitability factor. If you want to use it as a permanent decorative piece, then go for the one that complement your interior decoration. After all, you have such an awe-inspiring variety and you don’t need to care more about it! If it is a birthday party or festival occasion, forget about everything else, just bring those fancy candles to accessorize your party spot and make sure that you have got the sturdiest holders because it may be handled a bit roughly unlike at a candle light dinner! For bedrooms, you prefer nothing but scented candles. Well, that is a great choice. They just give you the motivation and inspiration. You feel like you are rested and relaxed in your bedroom with a lot of great thing around and the carefully selected candle holders are just going to do its job wonderfully. You get the utility as well as the visual appeal. However, you got to think many times over about the safety and often a covered holder is going to help you to get rid of your concerns. Your Home will never be the same after you set up Curtain Rods and create some beautiful Charm. home decor items like Decorative Pillows,Candle holders for your home or restaurant. |
| Friday, April 29th, 2011 | |
| 4:13 pm | How To Select The Perfect Curtain Rods What is in a curtain rod? One’s thought might go this way when there is a talk about curtain rods. Well, it is true that at earlier times, the role of the curtain rods had been limited to a material that holds up the drapery properly. However, with the progress of time, this concept has replaced to a more positive attitude towards the curtain rods as people find out the decorative value of curtain rods. Also, the fact is that if you are the one who looks forward to decorate your window treatment impeccably, you cannot just ignore the decorative value of curtain rods. They help you enhancing the overall look of your drapery and the room in general. Let us see how we can choose the best Drapery rods from a vast array of available options. As the demand for decorative curtain rods increases, the manufacturers are coming up with new, fresh, and innovative curtain rods which actually help the consumers to own the perfect piece of rods that go well with the rest of the room design. Weight of the drapery The first thing you should consider before selecting a curtain rod would be the weight of the drapes. This is certainly a practical idea with which you can decide on the right curtain rod which would give the absolute support to the drape you are going to use. Every room needs different sort of drapery. When your living room and bedrooms have heavy and fancy draperies, you opt for lighter ones for your study and kitchens. As there is variation in the weight of draperies, you have to pick up the rods that are going to be perfect support for the drapes. Select the apt style Before you rush to buy curtain rods, you need to look around your interior design. Is it favoring the modern architecture or is it designed with a traditional touch? Whatever it might be, you cannot bring a modern styled curtain rod for a traditional interior design and vice versa. One doesn’t need to have a lot of wisdom to understand this simple thing. You have a variety of options when it comes to style. There are decorative curtain rods, concealed rods, traverse rods, customized rods, and many other styles that you can choose from. Care about the material As you are well aware, there is a variety of materials used for making curtain rods. What would you like to have for your home? There is wood, glass, wrought iron, ceramic, silver, aluminum and the rest. You simply need to select the one that would be a perfect match for the design of your home. All these materials ensure you enough sturdiness. What you need to care about is the appropriateness of the material and the ability of the material to give the ultimate style. Other small things to consider Don’t worry about the shades and colors—you have a variety of shades to choose from. Also you have accessories to enhance the rods that are called finials and rod pockets. Choose the matching accessories for the rods which are going to add the beauty of the window treatment. Your Home will never be the same after you set up Curtain Rods and create some beautiful Charm. home decor items like Drapery rods, Candle holders for your home or restaurant. |
| 4:03 pm | Decorative Pillows To Enhance The Beauty Of Bedrooms And Living Rooms “Home is where my heart is”—this is something you have heard many times! As a matter of fact, we all have this idea of dolling up our homes distinctively. Each of us likes to hear compliments from our friends and guests about the home decoration. Whenever you visit a friend’s or relative’s house, you too look around and notice several things about the home design and quite often the smaller and cuter things attract you the most. Well, the ideas are endless when it comes to home decor! Here, you have the Decorative Pillows and throw pillows to bring the desired beauty to your own home at anytime! Give a makeover to your living room Though a number of things can add to the excellence of your living room, nothing can be as cute as soft pillows stacked over a wooden table or nicely arranged on a sofa set. When you arrange decorative pillows on your seating, don’t forget the fact that they act as a comfy factor for those seated on that therefore, one needs to be careful about the fiber and fill used for the pillow. Don’t get carried away by the mere look, you need to be cautious about the filling of the pillow so that you can make sure that your seating is finally done with supreme comfort that anyone would be pleased to sit on it. 12 x 18 inch square shaped throw pillows are ideal for any living room arrangement. Bolsters too are the best choice for decorating a living room. Bolsters are suitable for handless sitting arrangement, mostly used for spending time in an informal, relaxed way. Deck your bedding with fine looking decorative and throw pillows You know that, these days, pillows are not merely an item for resting your head while sleeping. Other than that, they act as a wonderful piece of decorative item for any space at your home; however, when you bring them to our bedroom, the value just goes up—they make your home really very gorgeous. Like in living rooms, the decorative pillows require to have some cozy elements such as softness and suppleness. It is not tough to find pillows with quality fiber and fillings. Other than decorative pillows, you can use these throw pillows as an accessory for your bedding. They are going to give a fabulous design and pattern to your bed. You can create a great pattern with striking beautiful colors. If it is for kid’s room, again, a huge variety is available starting from animals, birds, football, sports and transport shapes. Quality, cost-effectiveness, and convenience. With an overwhelming variety of decorative pillows and decorative throw pillows, it has become really so easy to pick up the one with best quality, cost-effectiveness, and convenience. Online stores are great source for you because they display images of these pillows and you can find out the features by simply reading the description. You can find a variety of pillows with attractive designs, soft filling, quality material, as well as zipper on sides or the back of the pillow. Your Home will never be the same after you set up Curtain Rods and create some beautiful Charm. home decor items like Decorative Pillows, Candle holders for your home or restaurant. |
| Wednesday, May 26th, 2010 | |
| 11:33 am | Super Bowl Season: A Hot Time in the Cold with Fire Pit Want to put one through the goal posts for this year’s Super Bowl party? It’s easy: have an outdoor party! Yes - ask your friends over and light up your fire pit to stay warm. What you’ll need: Fire pit Any fire pit will do - all you need are flames and warmth for this party. But you’ll do best with a portable pit to move to the ideal location in your yard - you know, like close to an electrical outlet for the TV. There are many styles available so you can get one that will fit well into your outdoor space. Most local stores put their fire pits away for the winter, so if you’re shopping for one look online. Check out sites like BackyardBargains.com - they have great selections, and you’ll even find shipping deals (like free shipping for some things). TV You can transport a TV out to the deck just for the game. Before the big day select your party location. Find a spot close to an electrical outlet, that’s level and you can place your TV stand (that may be a bench, table, chest, etc.)… and not too close to the fire pit This is an important step - don’t wait till the morning of the Bowl to scope out your options because then it may be too late to solve any problems you run into. Chairs Go ahead, pull out the summer deck chairs. Set them around the fire pit and in front of the TV. Everyone will have 50-yard-line seating with no big columns in the way! If you live in a cold climate and your chairs don’t have seat padding, you may want to put cushions in the seats for a little extra warmth. Heated cushions are an even better idea and available in sporting goods stores. Drinks Live way north? You can have the usual game brews and keep them cold in the snow banks. Whatever you serve in glasses, have a couple coffee pots for coffee, hot water, hot chocolate, hot spiced rum, etc. Food With your guests seated around your fire pit you’ve got some great food options. You can do the usual hot dogs, or put a grill rack over the flames and cook up burgers, wings or steaks. Or make up kabobs for guests to grill whenever they want during the game. Here’s another idea: grab those grilling sticks from the garage and give one or two to each guest. Set out a bowl full of individual grillers: cubed seasoned steak, quartered marinated onions, buttered/seasoned bread, marshmallows (of course!), and whatever else you can skewer. There you have it, the basics for your outdoor Super Bowl party around the fire pit. Now you’re ready to call your buddies and let ‘em know they’re watching the Big Game this year at your place! we also use tiki torches for outdoor decor and home decorating we use curtain rods and window coverings. Current Mood:  cheerful |
| Friday, May 14th, 2010 | |
| 4:31 pm | Free Shipping: Sweet Words for Online Buyers Years ago I lived in Alaska, too far from stores to make regular buying trips. Every few months we’d make a run to town to stock up. But what about those times between trips when I needed something? I learned to do a lot of non-food shopping through catalogs. And it didn’t take long to learn the real costs of catalog shopping are in the shipping charges. I’d have given anything to get free shipping to Alaska! Online shopping is like Tiki Torches the same as catalog shopping. One of the most important issues facing online buyers today is how much it really costs: most shipping charges add 7 to 20% to the total cost of your purchases. That can add a lot to your bottom line, and savvy buyers know that’s where the real savings can be, especially if they find the jackpot: free shipping.  But does free shipping really exist? Yes… but it’s not easy to find. Retailers will sometimes offer free shipping on <href="http://www.backyardbargain.com/c-167-1-14-inch-curtain-rods.aspx">curtain rods</a> in conjunction with a sale or as a promotional offering to entice shoppers to look their way. It works - the shopper gets a deal even if the products aren’t on sale, and the retailer gets exposure to new customers. It’s a win-win for everyone. Now consider this: bigger and bulkier products cost more to ship than, say, a pair of shoes or a doll, right? So when a retailer like BackyardBargain.com offers free shipping on their products - Outdoor torches, curtain rods, fire pits and window coverings - it’s a really great deal. Almost seems like they’re getting the short end. Makes me wonder how they do it - but they do, and it’s a real sweet deal for you and I. Sure, it’s not on all their products all the time, but hey, it’s worth every dime saved when it is offered. So next time you’re browsing the Web looking for deals be sure to check out a few of my favorites. BackyardBargain.com of course, TikiTorchBargains.com and CurtainRodBargains.com. They all offer free shipping often enough to add them to your Favorites list. I’ve got an online order filled out for my holiday shopping this year, and thanks to my favorite online retailers and free shipping, I’m actually saving money. I’ll bet that’s just what you’re going to do too! Current Mood: amused |
| Thursday, April 1st, 2010 | |
| 11:52 am | Tiki Torches in Purple and Green The Hottest Colors this Summer! Green - it’s so pc to be green today. That’s the recycling-environmentally-friendly shade of green. And purple - what can anyone say about this color? It’s been the favorite color of kings and little girls for ages. When these colors combine you may think they create brown, but they really paint the hottest summer yet. How? Okay, first get out the tiki torches. Now grab your jug of Purple Skeeter Beater - what? You don’t have any?? Well… this is going to be fun! The Purple Skeeter Beater is a new fuel for tiki torches and is available online at BackyardBargain.com. And it may look purple, but it’s really green because: Purple Skeeter Beater is made of 100% recycled vegetable oil It contains citronella, which means you get tiki torch lighting and mosquito protection Purple Skeeter Beater burns twice as long as standard tiki torch fuel, so it will save-save-save fuel and money  It won’t harm your grass, flowers or any of your landscaping Purple Skeeter Beater burns clean - it’s environmentally friendly - no pollution at all! Match this great new fuel with durable tiki torches and you have years of summer lighting ahead of you! The new line of tiki torches isn’t like the old torches: flimsy, easily breakable and usually only good for a few seasons. Nope. Some tiki torches are made of metals and built to last as long as your backyard. The really great part, though, is the selection. Styles, colors, size… every square yard of your yard has its tiki torch match! So if you have tiki torches from BackyardBargain.com and light them with Purple Skeeter Beater… well, you’ve just turned your little world as green as it gets! Now can you see how purple can really be green this summer? Go ahead - make your yard even greener! Current Mood:  accomplished |
| Monday, March 29th, 2010 | |
| 4:48 pm | How is Your Outdoor Decor? A beautiful yard is like a fabulously decorated home: well thought out, purposefully designed and carefully put together. If the impression your yard gives is as important to you as the interior of your home, you’ll want to invest time and thought into this outdoor extension of your living space. You’ll enjoy the rewards of your efforts for many years - and receive many compliments along the way! Okay, to start: you’re the landscape architect - pull up a chair and let’s get to work! Let’s start by deciding: What you want to use the space for. This can be single or multi-purpose. Talk to everyone in the house and brainstorm together. You may want to keep the entire space in thick, green grass just for putting practice (single-purpose). Or you may want to have a space for the kids and another for adults (multi-purpose). Do you cook outdoors? Want a flower bed? How about an area for your pets?  The other thing that goes hand-in-hand with this is considering what you’re working with. Is your land flat, hilly, rocky or full of trees? How much sun/shade does each area get at different times of the day - and will it make a difference for that area’s purpose? Do you have a noisy neighbor? You probably wouldn’t want to put a meditation corner near them. Safety should be the first consideration for children’s play areas. Place them away from streets and alleys, don’t position the slide to end in the pond (unless that’s what you want) and keep Fido’s pooh-pooh area far away from their little feet! Now get out a pencil and paper - or landscaping software - and map out the spaces, keeping in mind the “lay of the land” and other pertinent factors. For now just make general circles or squares to mark the space for each purpose.  What style you want to use. Is it formal, informal, country, eclectic? And don’t forget to consider what’s already there, like the architecture of the house or the style of existing fencing. Consider the style of existing structures that will stay and how those styles will fit in your plan. What color palate you’ll use. Of course you must consider other existing colors: siding and trim on existing buildings and fences, landscaping colors, maybe even the color of a neighbor’s garage if it’s butted up to your yard. My house is blue with white trim, and that’s what I chose to use for the outdoor decor: my chair cushions are a great blue floral, the stone deck is colored blue-gray and I just planted one of those gorgeous blue hyacinths next to the neighbor’s white fence. Now, I could have gone with a green palate because there’s so much green in the yard already (grass, trees), but that’s just me. Now comes the fun - uh, I mean the hard part: shopping for everything you need. And color coordinating it. And making sure the styles coordinate. And having friends over to analyze the work (over food and drinks of course). And somehow, somehow managing to hold up under the enormous amount of praise and compliments you’ll receive for your labors. It’s a tough job. But someone’s got to do it. Might as well be you! Current Mood: cheerful |
| Tuesday, March 23rd, 2010 | |
| 4:54 pm | Curtain Rod Rings: Useful Helpful Delightful Things You Need to Know About Curtain rod rings… you know, there are many things in life you can go a long time, maybe forever, knowing nothing about. They’re usually the littlest things, the awful-est things, or the most mundane things. But then there are those things you wish you’d known about years ago because they’re so useful-helpful-delightful. And that’s the category for curtain rod rings. Now, don’t be mistaken - even though some of you will think so, curtain rod rings really don’t fall into the I-don’t-need-to-know-about-this-ever category. They’re actually amazing, and for more reasons than you can hang a curtain on. Why, you say, should I be interested in these, uh, ringy-thingys? Because, we say, your life will totally improve in useful-helpful-delightful little ways. Yes, curtain rings. Want proof? We’ve compiled a short list of uses for curtain rod rings, just enough to feed your own inspiration. In the kitchen. Recipe holder. Yes, you read that right. Clip that recipe card or magazine page to the curtain rod ring and hang the ring on a cabinet door knob… Pretty cool, huh? How about hanging a hand towel the same way? You can have it right where you need it while cooking or baking, and remove it when guests arrive! For fun, use a curtain rod ring to hold cloth napkins for diners – you can clip them to the tablecloth, chair, glass or whatever makes you smile! In the bath. Shower: on the curtain rod to hold extras: loofas, wash cloths, sponges, razors, etc. How about a Don’t-Knock-I’m-Busy sign on the door? Of course there are always those little affirmation notecards - now you have an easier way to keep them in view: clip one to a curtain rod ring and hang it on anything around the mirror. In the bedroom. In the closet: curtain rings are perfect to hold scarves, necklaces - why, you can hang them right next to the outfits you love pairing them with! In the closet: let’s take that first tip a little farther: some people actually have matching lingerie for outfits - really, we’re not joking - and a curtain ring would be a perfect way to keep them together. Easy to grab and no searching required. Again in the closet: how about those trouser socks? Since they’re so easy to lose in the sock drawer, why not hang them from a curtain ring in the closet? Still in the closet (yes, we know it’s not funny…): have an item that you just can’t fit anywhere, like that belt with the gigantic buckle? In the hallway. Kids’ mittens, hats, scarves - even the kids if they’re light enough! (Just kidding, of course!) What about that collection of green save-the-earth shopping bags you’re always forgetting to take along? Need a place to keep them where you’ll actually remember to grab them? And, of course, those fab designer handbags - now you can hang them in the hallway closet on a curtain ring so they’re at your fingertips when you’re ready to switch bags. In the car. The great thing about curtain rings is they hang easily on small knobs – and most cars have an abundance of those. Things you can hang from a curtain rod ring in the car: phone cords, travel tissue boxes, maps (almost things of the past), notes, grocery lists… Other ideas. Hang your curtain rod rings on chairs and clip balloons to them for birthday parties. Don’t forget the obvious: to hang curtains! So now you know all about the double life of curtain rod rings - one of the true useful-helpful-delightful things you need to know about! Current Mood: cheerful |
| Tuesday, February 9th, 2010 | |
| 3:14 pm | Simply Beautiful: Wall Sconces Add Interest and Beauty Wall sconces are coming back - they’re on the verge of being one of the hottest accessories in today’s home decorating arena. And you don’t have to wait until wall sconces are at their peak of popularity to add them to your home décor. You also don’t have to hire an electrician to hang a wall sconce in your home - just use sconces made to hold candles instead of light bulbs. The flexibility this non-electric sconce offers is unparalleled: you can hang a candle wall sconce anywhere you have a stable vertical surface! Wall sconces are popular for several reasons. They add immediate interest to a wall. They offer an alternative lighting source. They can be found in any style to match your decor: traditional, contemporary, Victorian, country, European… The interesting variety available today gives you the opportunity to create a whole decorating scheme around the great wall sconces you’ll discover!
They’re a safer alternative to candle holders set on tables. The safety features a candle wall sconce offers are incomparable to a candle holder if you have children or pets. Attached firmly to a wall out of reach, you never have to worry about curious fingers or wagging tails reaching your candles - and that means no spills, no breaks, no worries! Wall sconces are an easy way to add that final touch, the element of interest to your rooms. One great place for a wall sconce is up the stairway walls. If you have photos and frames hanging in your stairway, that’s even better – mix the wall sconces right in for added depth and interest. Another great location for a wall sconce is around your bathtub. It’s the perfect alternative to candle holders set on the tub’s edge: no worries about knocking it into the water. Oh-h-h, you can feel the bubbles and smell the fragrances as you begin melting into the soft lighting already! Wall sconces are so easy to use anyone can add them to their home decor with success, and anyone with decorating genius is hanging theirs right now. Go ahead; get in on the excitement of adding interest and beauty to your home today with your own selection of wall sconces! Current Mood: cheerful |
| 3:07 pm | Wall Sconces - Back in Style! I once rented an apartment that had electric light wall sconces. It was an ancient building, a real architectural antique. I loved those wall sconces; they were beautiful and really lit the room well. I miss them. I miss them because they were my “first”. Today I have sconces on my walls - but in a twist of fate I decided to go non-electric! It started out innocently enough… I’d decided to go all-out for an anniversary with my Significant Other, and wanted to try my hand at romance. Now, romance isn’t something that comes naturally to me so I did a little research and turned first to candles. Obvious and easy choice, but I was concerned about the safety factor. After all, I planned to have those candles burning at a time I wouldn’t be paying any attention to them. And you guessed it: that’s when I discovered wall sconces for candles! Not only are they a safe alternative to candles sitting on flat surfaces but they’re also permanent - you can be romantic any time. (Did you know you can get silk rose petals to scatter for those special anniversaries?) So that’s what started it. The next set of sconces was premeditated: when I was looking for sconces to match our bedroom décor I found these really crazy, really cool sconces and couldn’t forget them. I started looking around the house for a place they’d look great - so of course they’re hanging right there in the downstairs bath. (Did you know burning candles eliminates unpleasant bathroom odors?)
Then we had this great Mystery Party - you know, everyone comes in costume, plays out a mystery and guests have to guess who the villain is. We wanted “mysterious” candle lighting at the front entry, but without the danger of lighting a guest’s costume on fire. Enter more wall candle sconces! We love the lighting so much we use them all the time when we’re expecting guests. Of course the dogs were responsible for the next wall sconce purchase. They love spending evenings with us on the deck, but those tails are dangerous! We were having so much fun with our other new wall sconces we decided to put them on the deck too, and now enjoy lit candles well out of the reach of those wagging tails. Our neighbors caught the wall sconce craze and they’ve even attached some to trees in their yard - well below any branches of course! We’re not sure where the next wall sconce location will be, but we’re keeping our options open. I just saw some candle sconces done in a mosaic that would look great somewhere… Current Mood: cheerful |
| Monday, January 11th, 2010 | |
| 4:07 pm | Copper Sink Buying Tips Copper sinks are popular right now, and for good reason: they’re beautiful, durable and low maintenance. But like other products on the market, you can find inexpensive sinks and you can find sinks that cost more than all your kitchen appliances together. Most buyers aren’t looking to spend a small fortune on a copper sink, so how do you get a high quality sink at a reasonable price? Here are some tips to consider as you look around. GAUGE OR THICKNESS The first tip for buying a copper sink: look for thick copper. You’ll find copper sinks between 14 and 20 gauge – and be careful: 20 gauge isn’t the thickest, it’s the thinnest. For sinks you’ll want a 14-16 gauge copper. Of course the thicker the copper the high the price, so decide early how much you’re willing to spend and what gauge you want for your new sink. Why a heavy gauge copper for your sink? The two biggest reasons:
100% COPPER Another tip: make sure the sink is made of 100% copper, with no lead. Aha! Yes, some sinks are manufactured from copper mixed with lead. There can be two reasons for this. First, the copper isn’t purified so it still contains other natural byproducts like lead. Second, the copper is from recycled materials which also haven’t been cleaned up completely and contain lead. How can you assure your new sink is 100% copper? This is one of those basic know-who-you’re-buying-from answers: know who you’re buying from! Also, check the manufacturing country of the sinks. WELDED SEAMS Tip three: if there are seams on the unit make sure they’re welded, not soldered, for the greatest strength. And be sure they’re copper welds because other welding metals could change color over time, which could ruin the look of your sink. The difference between welding and soldering? Welding actually melts the two metals together, and soldering just joins them by forming a seam. Makes sense that a welded seam is the stronger seam. Okay, you’re ready to shop – take this information with you and start looking for your new, beautiful, low maintenance copper sink! Current Mood: cheerful |
| 4:01 pm | Outdoor Fire Pit: Grilling for the Big Game If you’re having a Super Bowl party at your place this year you’ll be serving up food to some hungry guests. How about making this a great party and using your grill for the food? If you really want to wow them, pull out your fire pit and use it for the food. In fact, you could sit around the pit and watch the game! That way the cook doesn’t miss anything. Here are some food ideas for your Bowl party. INSTANT REPLAY Chili Cheese Dogs. Let your guests cook their own dogs over the fire pit, then slap them in buns and add chili, cheese, onions and whatever else you want. (Then, of course, just wait for that instant replay…!) THE BLITZ How about a big plate of hot wings with celery and dip! Add lots of extras – like seasoned grilled onions, grilled potato wedges with dips, grilled kabobs. Keep the pre-cooked wings hot on the pit - everything else can be cooked on the fire pit and served right from there! TOUCH DOWN Set out a variety of apps: chips, dips, nuts – anything you can eat with your hands. If you’ve got a big group set out two bowls of each. Just for fun you can serve one batch of apps in the first half and get out different apps for the second half.
HOME FIELD ADVANTAGE What’s your local favorite? This is the time to serve it up! Barbeques, sausages, wild game, seafood – whatever your part of the country has an abundance of and serves proudly. Not sure? Ask your local grocer what they recommend. PIGSKIN MANIA What could be better than pulled pork sandwiches and hot baked beans? Both these dishes can be prepared ahead of time so you can enjoy the pre-game shows. You and your guests can grill your buns over the fire before making the sandwiches. Don’t forget the pickles, onions, dips – grilled potato wedges would be a great addition too. COACH’S CHOICE Steak, of course, and plenty of it. Be sure to throw some potatoes and onions on the grill before the steaks so they’re ready at the same time. If you’re not handy at grilling, ask the best griller in the crowd to oversee the steak grilling so everyone gets theirs cooked exactly how they like it. FAN MANIA How about letting your guests do their own grilling, make their own kabobs? Prepare a bowl full of foods cut and prepared for grilling: seasoned steak, marinated onions, seasoned bread cubes, etc. With grilling sticks for each guest you can all relax right around the outdoor fire pit for the game. One last idea: have all the makings for S’More ready. Those guests will love this sweet addition to the party. So let everyone know where the Big Game party’s at this year and plan to have a great time watching your favorite team play at the Bowl. Current Mood: cheerful |
| 3:58 pm | Freestanding Fire Pits: Now for Entertainment and Grilling Yes – you’ve got to see them: fire pits with grilling grates! Oh, just imagine the flavors and the fun you’ll have grilling over a real open flame. Fire pits – the beautiful freestanding pits available today – are a natural place to grill outdoors. We’ve all held roasting sticks over open flames with marshmallows or hot dogs skewered on the ends. But now we’re talking fire pits with grilling racks for the best of both worlds: use the sticks for the kids’ hot dogs while the steaks for the adults sizzle away on the rack. Whether you choose an open basin style fire pit or a modern version of a chiminea (Mexican-style outdoor oven), you can grill with enthusiasm and gusto. Cooking over an open flame is at once similar to and very different from cooking over coals. They’re both very hot and require close attention. But unlike glowing coals, flames can “lick” the flavors right out of your food and quickly leave a gray, ashen heap. Don’t despair – now’s the time to become the neighborhood guru in fire pit cooking, and here are some beginning tips to get you started. First tip: use dry wood. Wet wood smokes a lot. Another wood tip: use hardwoods, like oak or maple. Hardwoods burn longer and more consistently than soft woods like pine. (And you don’t want pine pitch seasoning your steaks.)
This next tip may sound like a no-brainer, but if you forget it you’ll have a tough start to dinner: build your fire with chunks of wood small enough to allow the grate to set properly in place above it. In other words, don’t use big chunks or ones with irregular shapes that will get in the way of the grilling rack. For convenience you may want to keep the smaller grilling wood separate from the larger “bonfire” wood. That way you won’t have to pick through the stack every time you want to grill. And it will save your back from constantly restacking the pile. If you’re going to grill food that cooks quickly like hot dogs you can set it right on the rack and turn it often to keep from burning. It’ll cook fast so watch carefully. And don’t walk away – wood fires aren’t as consistent as charcoal. You will probably move the food around a lot to keep it in an ideal cooking environment. If you’re going to cook food that takes longer like steaks there’s another way to set up your fire that’s just like cooking a large item on your charcoal or gas grill. This can be a bit trickier because wood burns faster and less consistently than charcoal. Have a good pile of short sticks ready. Use these short chunks of wood for this fire because once the fire is burning well you’ll want to push it to the sides of the fire pit, leaving an open space in the middle for a drip pan. Set your pan in place, lower the grilling rack and start cooking. Now for the tricky part: keep the wood burning hot around the edges. Just like cooking indirectly on a charcoal grill, you’ll need to add fuel – or wood – to the fire to keep it constant. Wood burns faster than charcoal so watch it closely. And you’re off to a great start! Soon you’ll be savoring the real flavor of wood smoked foods, and you’ll be the envy of your neighborhood. Enjoy! Current Mood: cheerful |
| 3:54 pm | Fire Pit: How to Keep Your Fire Pit Handy for Winter Use It may be the end of summer, but it’s not time to pack up the yard and head inside yet. Fall and winter are great times to extend the use of your fire pit and create more memories with friends and family. If you live in a white winterland climate fall is a great time to enjoy the outdoors and your yard before the snow flies. And if you don’t get snow in your part of the world you’re in an even better position to enjoy your fire pit during winter months: no shoveling! The ideal winter fire pit is portable, like the new copper pits on the market. If you live in a climate that regularly gets below freezing you’ll understand: digging out from ice and snow gets old real fast. But a portable fire pit can wait in the garage or slip under the eaves for easy access and use. When can you use a fire pit in the winter? Well, unlike summer, in the winter months it’s fun to light a fire in the middle of the day. Weekend, weekday . . . whatever suits your fancy. Here are some times you can get the flames dancing in the winter.
At the end of an afternoon of ice skating – even if it was at an indoor rink! On a “balmy” winter evening, just to shake things up. Over the holidays when everyone’s home . . . or not home. Have a winter birthday? What a great way to celebrate! You can serve S’Mores instead of cake. After you return from vacation, to re-introduce yourself to home before jumping into the usual work routine. When friends come over, when family stops by, when a neighbor drops in. At the end of an evening of entertaining, as your guests are thinking about leaving. It’s a great way to send them off. As a new family tradition: pot of great stew with fresh bread, and out to the fire together. After the Big Game, complete with hot dogs or steaks cooked outside. Tip: make sure your wood pile is accessible in the winter months. It would really stink if you planned a great outdoor New Year’s party and realized your wood was at the back fence under two feet of snow and ice. Another tip for winter fire pit use: have a stash of extra coats, hats, mits and scarves for unprepared guests - they’ll appreciate it. Want to go all-out? Get heated seat warmers and provide a place to set those insulated mugs. Sound like fun? If you don’t already have your own portable fire pit this may be the time to invest in one. After all, the memories will be . . . priceless. Current Mood: cheerful |
| Wednesday, November 11th, 2009 | |
| 3:19 pm | Copper Planters Offer Diversity for Outdoor Spaces What Got ice? BackyardBargain.com has the copper planter to hold it. Got beer? BackyardBargain.com has the copper planter to keep ‘em chilled. Got fireworks? BackyardBargain.com has the copper planter to hang on to them. Got fresh summer fruit? BackyardBargain.com has . . . well, you’ve got the idea! Copper planters are beautiful and useful. Not just for your favorite greenery anymore, BackyardBargain.com encourages its customers to take full advantage of these diverse containers. “One woman bought a dozen copper planters in different sizes for her outdoor wedding,” said Rajan Shah, BackyardBargain.com’s V.P.Operations. “She used them to hold live gardenias, disposable cameras, even cards on the gift table. And she’s just as excited about using them in her own garden after the wedding because she likes them so much!” A dozen copper planters may be a few too many for your yard, so BackyardBargain.com recommends starting with one or two planters. If you’re not confident in your decorating skills start by using them as planters. Then, as you enjoy them in your outdoor space, let your imagination go. Need a bird bath in that corner? Let’s use the copper planter! Oh, the family’s coming – put the kids’ yard toys in that other copper planter. How about chilling Uncle Joe’s lemonade in the other copper planter? BackyardBargain.com’s copper planters are available in three styles: fluted square, round and flared square. The unfinished copper will develop a beautiful patina over time, or can be polished to retain its natural color. The best part of using copper planters in your landscaping scheme? When the weather turns cold they can huddle beside you inside, still holding your favorite plants, magazines, beverages . . . . Current Mood:  creative |
