June 30th, 2010
First came Memorial Day, then Father’s Day and now Fourth of July is upon us. Summer just provides us with endless reasons to get together with friends and family and enjoy the great outdoors. With all these excuses to throw parties or host gatherings, isn’t it about time to jump on the summer bandwagon and start having some events of your own? Here are some tips to make your backyard a little more summer friendly.
First and foremost, no Fourth of July, or summer in general for that matter, is complete without a full-scale, no-holds-barred, caution-to-the-wind and burgers-on-the-grill outdoor barbeque. A grill is a great excuse to have people over as well as a fairly easy event to hold. Turn the party into a potluck to save some time and money and recruit one of your guests or significant other to fire up the grill (using only compliments, of course). Lastly, decorate with a couple of American flags or star-spangled confetti to get in the spirit and let the good times roll.
The ultimate in summer luxury starts in the islands and while most of us can’t afford to hop on the next plane to Aruba, there is no excuse to not have a little taste of the tropics everyday at home. A large but empty backyard can be magically transformed into your own tropical getaway with a Tiki bar and matching stools. There is no better time to debut a new piece of outdoor furniture than by inviting family and friends over for Fourth of July. Have your guests dress for the occasion in Hawaiian shirts and sandals or American-themed outfits or both, put some ice and cold drinks in a cooler and feel the instant gratification of a new party centerpiece.
Fourth of July is all about celebrating the birth of our great country as well as the coming together of the people we love to spend time with. Whether you’re hosting a large scale event or simply having some people over during the day, remember to be safe, have fun and be thankful that we live in the United States of America.
Tags: fourth of july, parties
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June 30th, 2010
To all our Canadian followers, Backyard X-Scapes would like to wish you a very happy Canada Day. Eat, drink and be merry on this holiday as you celebrate the anniversary of the Canadian Confederation. Honor this day in traditional Canadian style by doing whatever you want! Canadians celebrate with everything from firework and air shows to citizenship ceremonies for new citizens. Choose your own style for kicking up your heels on July 1st or light up some tiki torches and celebrate island style. No matter what, spending time outdoors in these warm summer months is a good time waiting to happen.
Tags: Canada Day, parties
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June 18th, 2010
Father’s Day has officially snuck up on us. For those of you who still don’t know, Father’s Day is this Sunday the 20th. Caught off guard? Here are some great activities to do with Dad to let him know you care; he doesn’t even have to know the plan was last minute.
Parents spend countless hours and untold amounts of money documenting all our childhood milestones yet never seem to find the time to enjoy them after the fact. Take this Father’s Day as an opportunity to break out the family photo albums or home videos. Dad will appreciate a relaxing day on the couch with his most loved ones reminiscing about all the good times you’ve had together while simultaneously creating a new memory.
We all remember the numerous hours Dad has spent building, fixing, maintaining and securing all of our various tree houses, swing sets and other toys. Give him a break this Sunday and be his handyman (or woman) for a change. Keeping your skill level in mind, mow the lawn, do the dishes, sweep the patio or even change the oil in his car. He will love having the extra free time to do what he wants to do this weekend.
If Dad is the outdoorsy type, get the whole family in the yard or to a park and have a full scale water fight. Gather all the water accessories at your disposal: water balloons, water guns, hoses, even buckets or sponges and get soaked! You could even mix the fun with something productive like washing the car in your driveway. Either way, it’s a perfect way to spend a Sunday afternoon together, especially as the warm summer temperatures set in.
Most Dads never have enough time to watch their favorite sports. Provided that they’re in town, get some last minute tickets to your home baseball team’s Sunday game. No matter where your seats are, Dad will love spending the day outdoors watching sports with his family. Make sure he really takes the day off though; do all the snack and drink running yourself. If there’s no game in town, organize a family sport. Head down to the playground or park and play a rousing game of basketball, softball, kickball, catch or come up with your own sport.
Young children and adult family members will get a kick out of this indoor activity. Stage a production of a “What I Like About Dad” play. Have everyone come up with their favorite things about Pops and then act them out for him. All participants will have to take turns playing Dad, sure to bring a smile to his face.
No matter how old you are, Dad’s favorite thing to do is spend time with his children. Whether you are all grown up or need to plan an activity with the kids, Dad is sure to be happy simply spending quality time with his family.
Tags: activities, father's day
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January 4th, 2010
Happy New Year everyone! It’s that time again for resolutions, starting fresh and of course putting away the holiday decor, which for some reason always seems a lot more arduous then putting it up. This year before you pack everything up, or trash your tree and broken ornaments, support the green movement by re-using or recycling the holiday decor.
After each holiday season, one of the biggest items to unfortunately end up in the landfill is Christmas trees. The ideal solution is to promote the use of artificial trees that could be re-used or keep a tree planted that can not only be re-used but also grow with the family. If you have a cut tree that is in need of disposing of, look up local recycling centers that you can drop your tree, wrapping paper, paint and more to be recycled. If you can trim your tree down to smaller pieces, many areas now offer recycling pick up.
Over the years of holiday decorating, many of us end up with mis-matched ornaments or even broken ones from storing and moving. Rather than throwing them out, or purchasing new matching sets each year, take broken ornament pieces and fill a vase with other mixed ornaments to reflect color and create a surface centerpiece for any table.
(image from freshome)
Instead of buying new art, why not create it? Pick up a canvas at your local art store, spray with adhesive and sprinkle varying sizes of the broken ornaments to create an abstract and colorful art piece. Re-use your candles for dinner parties, as bathroom or even kitchen accents.
Holiday colors such as greens, reds, silvers and blues work wonderfully in contemporary color schemes.
(image from oregonlive)
Many home decor stores often sell pricey decorative balls to fill vases, accent bowls, or even hang from ceilings. They are made from wicker, bamboo, wire and more. Rather than purchasing abstract decorative items, save money and take the DIY (do it yourself) route. Take the string of holiday lights that have burn out bulbs, cut off the lights and use the green wire to create various sized balls that you can make into a wreath for the following year or just as a table or wall accent.
View the entire tutorial here.
Stringed lights can be used for more than just your roof and Christmas trees. Restaurants such as Rubios use white or colored LED lights to accent their tropical decor or dinner setting. You can line them under your Thatch Umbrella to provide dining light at night and add ambiance.
So with this New Year, in addition to your resolutions and plans, take time to support going green and re-use or recycle your holiday decor.
Tags: holiday decor, recycle, reuse
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December 21st, 2009
Wow did time fly by! It’s that time of year again to look back, give thanks and reflect on everything 2009 has brought us. Our re-launched website, Inc5000 Award, and new products are just a few of the exciting things that have happened this year. We’re hoping 2010 will be an even greater year.
With that Backyard X-Scapes would like to take this moment to wish you a warm and wonderful Holiday season and an amazing New Year in 2010.
Thank you for supporting us and allowing us to be a part of your projects, designs, decor and more. We will continue to strive to bring you quality products and provide ultimate service to you in the New Year.
Tags: christmas, holiday, new year, thank you.
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December 18th, 2009
Although eating and drinking are considered to cater to our sense of taste, it is undeniable that we eat first with our sense of smell and sense of sight. How a dish smells and how the food is presented, greatly affects the eating experience.
For centuries now, people have used the experience of eating to bring people together, celebrate important events and join in happy festivities. With the holiday season now here, we wanted to give you some no fuss, quick and easy tips on spicing up your table setting.
We always talk about how lighting is key to any home or garden design. Candles have been used for centuries as a source of light and to accent tables. By grouping candles together of different heights or colors, you can create a visual landscape across your table.
During the holidays, between wrapping presents, decorating the tree and your home, there is always excess material around. Ribbons make wonderful accents to table settings by inducing a bit of decorative flare. You can also tie ornaments to the ribbons and lay them along your table or around the candles. These cute little ornaments with ribbons can also be used as party favors for your guests to take home as a sentimental holiday treat.
No matter how hard we try to efficiently utilize wrapping paper, it seems that there is always so many strips wasted, that are either too narrow or too short. Grab a pretty vase, and with your excess wrapping paper, crumple them into small balls and fill the vase with them, to create a popcorn color effect. Complete the vase with a ribbon around the neck, or mix in holiday ornaments for added dimension.
To add a tropical flare to your table setting, add flowers such as Birds of Paradise or Hibiscus in place of Holly or Poinsettia. Also don’t feel limited to the typical holiday colors of green and red, use oranges, brighter greens and even yellows to brighten up the table and add some remnants of summer. It is best to stick to just a few colors and work around that theme.
Tags: centerpiece, christmas, decor, decorating, eating, holidays, ideas
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December 4th, 2009
The holidays are that time of year when spirits are lifted by jolly music and memories with loved ones are made. As much as the holidays are meant for a time of joy, there are stresses that accompany the festive season such as figuring out what to buy and where to get it. December is always one of those months with not enough days to stop at the store to get everything you intend to pick up.
What we did is put together some of our own and some of our customer product favorites to compile a list of gift ideas this season.
Bamboo Rug
Available in four different sizes, this rug is versatile for both indoor and outdoor uses. Made out of eco-friendly bamboo and bound by a canvas backing, this rug is constructed to easily roll up or out for easy placement and mobility. The best part is that it is a grand gift that won’t put too much of a dent in your wallet. You can grab our smallest size, 24″W x 36″L for only $15.99.
Tiki Statue
Tiki Statues are the type of gifts that keep giving in many ways. Similarly to how a great coffee table book or piece of wall art contributes character to an area, Tiki statues spark conversation and add a tropical vibe to any setting. Promoting Luck, Love, Fortune, Family and even Happiness, giving a tiki statue is one way to send positive thoughts to someone you care about.
Thatch or Umbrella Kits
Sometimes the best gift is the one that helps with a design project. Especially since it’s the holidays, friends or family may be putting a design or landscaping on project on hold to shop for the holidays. You can help kick start their project by supplying with thatch, an umbrella kit or even bamboo.
Bamboo Borders
These borders are another exotic gift that is not only aesthetically pleasing but is also a functional gift that anyone can use. They are perfect for accenting garden beds, walk ways or even to mask old moldings along a wall. Wire loops on each end allow for easy connecting and flexible shape.
Buddha Accents
Tropical decor doesn’t always have to incorporate thatch or tiki statues. Some of our most popular items that always spark interest and awe are our Buddha statues. Many of our customers use them to compliment indoor and outdoor Asian infused decor.
Tiki Bar and Tiki Signs
Truly the gift that will be used year after year for every gathering! Our bamboo tiki bars are intricately crafted to instantly liven up any area and serve as the perfect focal point for hosting parties and serving up beautiful drinks adorned with an umbrella. Decorate the tiki bars with our tropical signs, or have the tiki signs adorn walls and hallways.
This holiday season you can avoid the craziness of the malls and get most of your shopping done online. Pick up something that will liven anyone’s home with a tropical flare, even in the middle of winter.
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November 27th, 2009
One of the greatest things about this time of year, that can also be stressful is the back to back holidays. Right after Thanksgiving, in addition to tasty leftovers and an abundance of sales, comes the bittersweet task of planning for Christmas and New Years. Prepping your home for the holidays doesn’t have to be an expensive, time consuming or brain wrenching project. Here are some ideas on how to get the most out of your holiday decor and save money at the same time.
Bright Lights
White twinkle lights are a perfect way to dress up your home or garden accents for the holidays and the best part is that they can be re-used all year round. Many gardens, restaurants and trendy neighborhoods use white lights to dress up trees and create a magical atmosphere.
To create your own backyard “candy cane lane”, line your thatch umbrella kit with lights to not only create a tropical holiday look but also light up a table setting or walkway. White lights, unlike the colored ones, are versatile to use all year long.
Decorate Creatively
Instead of going the traditional route, merge classic iconic holiday items with a tropical twist. Add Holly or Poinsettias to Tiki Statues to accent an area, or make a wreath out of Bamboo and Thatch for your front door.
Don’t want to clean up after the holidays are over? The classic popcorn garland can bring the family together to make a yummy decorative treat.
If you don’t have a fireplace to hang stockings from and don’t want to put holes in the wall, line your wall with bamboo fencing and use hooks to hang decor and various items from it. This way you can re-use the bamboo for both indoor and outdoor purposes.
Save a Tree
This year instead of buying a pricey tree that you will only use once and then dispose of, go green and use a plant or tree that you can use to decorate your home year round. Many smaller palms can be be decorated with lights and hold festive accents just like a pine tree can. Not only will you be adding a tree that can be reused to give your home a tropical feel, but you’ll be saving a tree as well.
This year remember that the holidays are about fun times with loved ones. Go green, be creative and find items that you can use throughout the year to make your purchase worth it. Also you don’t have to completely revamp the home for the holidays. Look into your closet to see what items from previous years can be re-used. Many dinner settings from Thanksgiving can be used for Christmas time as well.
Tags: christmas, decor, holidays, ideas, tips
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October 30th, 2009
With Halloween less than a day away, there are probably a million and one things you still have to get done. We recently posted an entry on “How to Boo-Tify Your Halloween Event” with ease and on a budget. Now to pair with those activity and decorative tips and tricks, here are some wonderful easy recipe ideas to spook up your treat platter this Hallows Eve.
Brainy Melon
One of the things we wanted to emphasize on this Halloween is that yummy treats don’t always have to be unhealthy or packed with sugar. For a visually batty and refreshing treat, pick up a mini watermelon and use pumpkin carving utensils to carve a brain. Start by peeling the skin with a potato peeler, but leaving a good portion of the white layer so that when you begin carving the valleys of the brain, the red from the melon will show through and look like flesh. To keep this melon as your centerpiece, buy a second melon to cut up and place on a platter with the main brain.
Cheesy Corn
There is no other candy that screams Halloween like candy corn. Going off of the holiday treat, you can make bite size pizza slices that look like candy corn. Most local grocery stores should carry frozen pizza dough that’s ready to bake. You can achieve the color variation that candy corn has by using three different types of cheese such as, American, Cheddar, Mozzarella or even Ricotta.
A Graveyard of Bites to Die for
One of the easiest ways to offer a variety of flavors to the palette is by upping the typical party platter by creating a theme. By spreading Hummus, cheese or any sort of ranch dip, you can can provide a thick base to prop food in. Vegetables such as Cauliflower and Broccoli can serve as the spooky trees, hard boiled eggs can be ghostly figures, crackers can be tombstones and you can line your grave yard with pretzels to act as the fence. Not only is this another healthy alternative, but it’s also a platter that will provide even zombies with a tasty array of flavors.
Mini Jacks
Another healthy alternative is creating mini jack – o lanterns filled will treats. Pick up oranges, and remove the inside fruit filling, which you can use for another dish or even this one. Then carve fun faces out of the oranges, and stuff the insides with your favorite fruit salads, candies or even a dark chocolate mousse (which is thick enough that it won’t come out of the cut out faces).
This Halloween, keep in mind that it’s about having fun, so you don’t need to spend hours in the kitchen in order to serve up a variation of haunted delights. Keep in mind that you can also make some dessert making treats into a group activity. So spice up this Halloween with some healthy ghoulish treats that will be delicious and have kids and adults both tricking for treats.
Tags: easy, halloween, quick, recipe ideas
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October 7th, 2009
Autumn not only brings in the crisp air and colorful leaves but also a string of holidays to follow. Kicking off the fall season is a holiday that kids and adults can enjoy alike. Halloween is the one day a year where ghoulish identities and sweet treats flood the streets once the sun has set.
This Halloween we’re gonna give you tips to creating a Tropical Scare-ground that will have your visitors dying to stay!
A Spell Binding Atmosphere
Creating atmosphere is one of the most important factors in throwing any get together or decorating for any themed event. For a “Tropical Halloween”, to start you want to think typical season colors such as Orange and Black, then expand upon that. Bold colors such as Red, Yellow with touches of Brown can also create an appealing flow for your color scheme.
Have a wooden or chain fence that clashes with the nightly warm atmosphere? Use bamboo fencing or thatch to line any surfaces. The greatest thing is that the surface textures will be great for holding any cobweb accenting, or dangling lights.
You can also use decorative pottery to evaporate dry ice to create the effect of a cauldron releasing smoke, or a dense fog along the ground. Tiki statues have novel expressions which will help add character to any surrounding.
Got a Tiki Bar? Use it to serve punch, candy or other bewitching treats.
Lighting the Dark
Although Halloween is about things that may go “boo” in the night, setting up ambient lighting can also create a haunting scare. The classic carved pumpkin with tea light candles never goes out of style and always works well outdoors along walk ways, stair cases and in the lawn.
For indoor or outdoor dinner lighting, try picking up a standing candelabra to hold your candlesticks. They not only create light off of the ground, but also have a Gothic appeal.
For those of you with kids or pets and are concerned about safety. Many decorative party shops carry “faux” candles as well.
Entertainment
The last thread tying all these elements together is the entertainment. There are many soundtracks out there that offer a tropical island spin to the typical Halloween music. You can also do a twist on naming classic games such as bobbing for “brains (gummy candy or grapes)” instead of apples, Scare and Seek, or Pin the Tail on the Bat.
Having a table for group pumpkin carving, building a scarecrow or a zombie scavenger hunt is also another fun way to involve the kids and adults.
Whatever your spell book may have conjured up this Halloween, add some tropical flavor to your theme that will have guests tricking for treats.
Tags: autumn, decor, fall, halloween, ideas, tropical
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