Fun Outdoor Summer Entertaining Ideas

A giant umbrella shields party guests from the blazing afternoon sun, and hanging lanterns will illuminate the table come nightfall. Mix citronella candles with other colorful tea lights to keep away pests, and offer diners light cotton shawls to ward off a chill in the evening.

Tip and Photo: http://www.countryliving.com

Perfect for serving your guests out doors. Has wheels, so you can roll it to your backdoor or BBQ, load it up and bring it over right to the table. Great to use as a drink cart or dessert cart. 

Eco-Friendly,  All Weather.   

Veranda Serving Island

Turn a section of your patio into a giant Scrabble game board that will delight your entire family. Build a 5-foot square wooden frame, and either fill it with concrete that you can score into 3 3/4-inch squares, and later paint with water-base concrete stains, or set with small ceramic tiles. Cut 100 3 1/4-inch square letter tiles from baseboard trim, add adhesive or hand-painted letters and scores, and seal with spray lacquer. Create your own racks for the letters and store all of the game pieces in a plastic bin or canvas bag.

Tip and photo: http://living.msn.com

Adorable outdoor wooden box with lid. Perfect place to store items that you don’t want to be out during your entertaining.  

Keep your utensils and dinnerware inside until use. 

Place a small cooler inside for a nicer, neater look. 

Also great to use to store kids toys, pet toys or planting supplies. 

Insect and rot resistant.

Companion Box with Lid

Everyone loves fruit salad. A fun and healthy dessert to serve at your summer gatherings. Everyone loves the classic watermelon carved bowl to serve your fruit salad in...but it’s not always the easiest thing to do. Here is a, easier, yet fun alternative - Pineapple Fruit Bowl. 

Slice a pineapple in half, carve out the fruit and there you have a nice way to serve your favorite juicy mixed fruits for your guests to enjoy.

Make 2 or 3 bowls if needed.

Great to display as a centerpiece near your drink table or drink cart.

Haymaker's Ginger Switchel

This ginger punch is flavored with lemon juice and sweetened with honey and molasses. 

Use the season's freshest berries to garnish.

Haymaker’s Ginger Switchel Recipe

Fresh Grape Soda

Make your own grape juice by pureeing and straining fresh grapes for this sweet and tangy sparkling drink.

Fresh Grape Soda Recipe

Mint Tisane

There's nothing like the soothing digestive qualities of an herbal tea. Use fresh mint alone or in combination with lemon verbena. Once this tea has been sweetened and cooled, pour over ice and serve.

Mint Tisane Recipe

This is a fun way to present your side salads. 

Use different colored spoons or forks for a fun festive look. 

Great for the kids and keeping portion control.

Idea and photo: cdn.hostessblog.com

Not enough outdoor furniture for your guests?

Bring your inside furniture outside!

Our slip overs are great, they protect your furniture and give a new look to your décor. A fun way to change things up.

Most are machine washable and may be tumble dried.

Our collection of Slip Covers

Healthy Non Toxic Home/Garden

For your home and garden: 
Homemade cleaners and products you can purchase that will keep you, your children and pets safe and healthy. 

All-Purpose Cleaner: 

Mix 1/2 cup vinegar and 1/4 cup baking soda (or 2 teaspoons borax) into 1/2 gallon (2 liters) water. 

Store and keep. Use for removal of water deposit stains 

on shower stall panels, bathroom chrome fixtures, 

windows, bathroom mirrors, etc.

Idea/formula source: eartheasy.com

Photo source: www.bubblews.com 

Carpet Stains:

Mix equal parts white vinegar and water in a spray bottle. 

Spray directly on stain, let sit for several minutes, and clean with a brush or sponge using warm soapy water.

For fresh grease spots, sprinkle corn starch onto spot and 

wait 15 - 30 minutes before vacuuming.

For a heavy duty carpet cleaner, mix 1/4 cup each of salt, 

borax and vinegar. Rub paste into carpet and leave for a 

few hours. Vacuum.

Idea/formula source: eartheasy.com

Photo source: www.thriftyfun.com

Porcelain and Tile:

Baking Soda and Water: 

Dust surfaces with baking soda, then scrub with a moist sponge or cloth. If you have tougher grime, sprinkle on some kosher salt, and work up some elbow grease. 

Lemon Juice or Vinegar: 

Got stains, mildew or grease streaks? Spray or douse with lemon juice or vinegar. Let sit a few minutes, then scrub with a stiff brush. 

Disinfectant: 

Instead of bleach, make your own disinfectant 

by mixing 2 cups of water, 3 tablespoons of liquid soap 

and 20 to 30 drops of tea tree oil. It's easy!

Idea/formula and photo source: thedailygreen.com

Mangiacotti Florals Lemon Verbena Surface Cleaner

Fragranced with essential oil, this concentrated, plant-derived formula uses coconut extract as a natural degreaser. Vitamin E is added to leave your hands soft and moisturized. It’s packaged in a beautiful recycled plastic bottle and finished with coordinating ribbon and a unique pewter charm. Always the perfect hostess gift.

Fragrance Notes: A tart, juicy lemon fragrance with a distinct lemon citron top note, a verbena nuance and lemon rind base note.

Mangiacotti Florals Lavender Surface Cleaner

Just a spray or two of this concentrated naturally plant-derived formula on a damp sponge will clean an entire countertop and fragrance the whole kitchen for 4 to 6 hours. It’s packaged in a beautiful recycled plastic bottle and finished with a pewter charm. 

Fragrance Notes: Warm notes of Tonka bean soften the finish of pure essential oils from aromatic lavender flowers.

Homemade Weed Killer: 

1 gallon of white vinegar, 1/2 cup salt, Liquid dish soap 

(any brand), Empty spray bottle. 

Put salt in the empty spray bottle and fill it the rest 

of the way up with white vinegar. 

Add a squirt of liquid dish soap. 

This solution works best if you use it on a hot day. 

Spray it on the weeds in the morning, 

and as it heats up it will do its work.

Idea and photo source: 

fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net

http://pinterest.com/pin/151503974937342078/

Homemade sprays and solutions:

If other home remedies fail, make a general homemade insecticide solution. For centuries, gardeners have put soap on plants to repel insects. Try diluting a one-percent solution of a simple dishwashing soap with minimal dyes and fragrances. 

Spray thoroughly and repeatedly on plants. Another popular solution is a mix of onions, garlic and pepper, but it has not been scientifically proven.

Instead of loading up the yard with toxic insect killers, consider the wide variety of alternatives, including soap, marigolds, aluminum foil and non-toxic chemicals.

Idea/formula source: www.networx.com

Photo source: dfw.cbslocal.com

Ticks...bloodsucking, disease-spreading parasites.

You love gardening, biking on trails, camping in the 

woods and being outdoors. 

Ticks love you being in those places too.

Here is a Non-Toxic way to prevent ticks 

on you and your family and your pets. 

From Lori: Ticks and Lyme Disease: 

"From personal experience, it is not something you want to catch.

Unfortunately, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and I want to spread awareness as much as possible to as many people as I can reach."

What is Lyme Disease? (click here)

 Make sure you do a "tick check" everyday.

Repellent for Pets:

Add 1 cup of water to a spray bottle, followed by 2 cups of distilled white vinegar. Ticks hate the smell and taste of vinegar, and will  be repelled by this ingredient alone. Then, add two spoonfuls of vegetable or almond oil, which both contain sulfur (another natural tick repellent). To make a repellent that will also deter fleas, mix in a few spoonfuls of lemon juice, citrus oil, or peppermint oil, which will all repel ticks and fleas while also creating a scented repellent. Spray onto the pet's dry coat, don't get it in their eyes (or other sensitive areas).  Spray down your pet once per day if they are only going outside to go to the bathroom, spray them several times a day if they spend the entire day outside. 

Repellent for You:

In a spray bottle, mix 2 cups of distilled white vinegar and 1 cup of water. To make a scented solution so you do not smell like bitter vinegar all day, add 20 drops of your favorite essential oil or bath oil. Eucalyptus oil is a calm, soothing scent that also works as a tick repellent, while peppermint and citrus oils give off a strong crisp scent that also repel ticks. After mixing the solution, spray onto clothing, skin, and hair before going outdoors. Reapply every four hours to keep ticks at bay.

Source: wtaq.com

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4th of July Summer Fun, DIY & Entertaining

Inspired by turn-of-the-century celebrations, these seven joyful tributes to red, white, and blue harken to a time when impromptu hats were folded from leftover newspapers, and marching bands, firecrackers, and lawn games marked the day

Step 1: From blue crepe paper, cut a strip 8 inches wide and 20 inches long.

Step 2: From a clean newspaper, cut a narrower strip of paper. Lay it down in the center of the blue strip, gluing in place. Repeat, cutting an even narrower strip of red crepe paper, then gluing in place.

Step 3: Fan-fold across the narrow width of the strip. Fold in half lengthwise.

Step 4: Open out on either side of the center fold you just made to create a circle; glue. Print "Happy Fourth"; cut out around the letters in a circle with pinking shears. Glue onto rosettes.

Step 5: Cut 8-inch pipe cleaners in half. Use one to form a loop; slip through another to form another loop, and so on. When chain is complete, glue a pipe cleaner loop to the back of each rosette, first passing it through a chain loop, then gluing in place.

Idea and photo: www.countryliving.com

Taylor Linens
God Bless America Pillow - As seen in Country Home Magazine
Hand-embroidered on an ecru ground. 100% Cotton. 

Machine Washable. 

Filled with a white goose feather pillow. 20" x 20" 

SHOP NOW

Taylor Linens
Denim Flag Porch Pillow 20" x 20"
100% Cotton. Machine washable. Hand-embroidered.

SHOP NOW

Ingredients:

• Strawberries, sliced
• Blueberries
• Pineapple, cut into star shapes
• 2 bottles dry white wine
• 1 cup Triple Sec
• 1/2 Cup berry-flavored vodka
• 1/2 cup fresh lemon juice
• 1/2 cup simple syrup

Combine the ingredients in a large pitcher and stir. Chill in the refrigerator for at least four hours.

This is obviously a beverage intended for you and your adult guests, but you could whip up a kids version by replacing the wine and hard liquor with white grape juice or Sprite (or both!).

Recipe and photo: decorfortheholidays.com

Red, white, and blue bands of sand dress up votive candles to make flickering lights that are cheerful and fun. Designing a candle is as simple as pouring layers into a glass. Make several, and create a patriotic centerpiece to coordinate with china or linens for outdoor dining.

• Sand

• Votive candle

• Drinking glass

• Clear glass vase or jar

• Funnel

Fill a clear drinking glass with enough sand so that a votive candle placed on top falls just below the rim.

Idea and photo: www.marthastewart.com

From: White Lily Flour and The J.M. Smucker Co.

Makes: 12 servings

Ingredients:

Nonstick cooking spray

3-1/2 cups bleached all-purpose flour

2 cups sugar

1-1/2 tsps. baking powder

1-1/2 tsps. salt

1 tsp. baking soda

1-1/4 cups buttermilk

1-1/4 cups all-vegetable shortening OR 1ø sticks all-vegetable shortening sticks

5 large egg whites

1 tsp. vanilla extract

1 tsp. almond extract

1 tbl. red food coloring

1 tbl. blue food coloring

Garnish:

Fresh blueberries and strawberries, optional

Marshmallow Buttercream Frosting:

2 cups butter, softened

2-1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp. almond extract

1 (13-oz.) jar marshmallow cream

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat three 8-inch round pans with nonstick cooking spray. Line bottom of pans with parchment paper, cut to fit. Coat paper with nonstick cooking spray.

2. Whisk together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt and baking soda in large bowl. Add buttermilk and shortening. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed for 2 minutes. Add egg whites, vanilla and almond extracts. Beat an additional 2 minutes, scraping sides of bowl as needed.

3. Pour ont-third (about 2 cups) of batter into prepared pan. Divide remaining batter into 2 medium bowls. Stir in food coloring to make one red and one blue batter. Pour batter into remaining pans. Tap pans on counter several times to remove air bubbles.

4. Bake 25 to 30 minutes, or until toothpick inserted near center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack 10 minutes before removing from pan. Remove cake and cool completely on wire rack.

5. For frosting, beat butter in a large bowl with electric mixer at medium speed until creamy. Gradually beat in sugar, 1/2 cup at a time, until fluffy. Beat in almond extract. Stir in marshmallow cream until well blended.

6. Place blue cake layer on cake plate and generously frost top. Stack white layer and generously frost top. Add red layer, frosting top and sides of entire cake. Garnish with fresh blueberries and strawberries, if desired.

Recipe and photo: unusual2tasty.blogspot.jp

Celebrity Chef! The Game ($30)

If you and your friends are Food Network junkies, check out Celebrity Chef! The game is designed for culinary professionals or home cooks, whose goal is to collect cookbook offers, television shows, restaurants, and endorsements by answering "Name That Dish!" and other questions. The player with the most points does not win a television show―only bragging rights. For more information, visitcelebritychefthegame.com

Idea and photo: www.coastalliving.com

Ahoy, matey! These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. 

Machine wash cold. 22"x22". Set of 4.

SHOP NOW

Nautical Décor for Indoors or Outdoors: Do YOU go crazy for JUTE?

Pine Cone Hill's fresh new nautical tote bags in easy-clean polypropylene, with adorable appliqued anchors on each side. Lightweight and roomy, with a wide opening and durable handles and bottoms. 

Fresh American Admiral Navy/Ivory Indoor/Outdoor Tote

A fresh new nautical design in navy and ivory, featuring Pine Cone Hill's easy-clean all-season polypropylene

Fresh American Navy Admiral Indoor/Outdoor Pillow

These anchor-print cotton/linen napkins pep up any table. 53% Cotton/47% Linen. Machine wash cold

Pine Cone Hill Fisherman Napkins/Set of 4

A sturdy anchor...on a blue background with rope border! Classic colors with a bold image sure to make you feel right at home. Hand hooked 100% New Zealand wool.

Anchor 31" Round Rug

WHAT IS JUTE?

Jute is a long, soft, shiny vegetable fiber 

that can be spun into coarse, strong threads.

"Jute" is name of the plant or fiber that is used 

to make burlap, Hessian or gunny cloth.

SHOP : OUR JUTE ITEMS

Boucle woven jute with double borders in fresh colors with mitered corners. 100% jute with latex backing.

Boucle woven jute 

Couture Dreams Enchantique Jute Window Curtains are what we like to call a French inspired Art Deco with a Modern Twist. Truly beautiful and unique these rustic chic jute window curtains are each hand printed with a large decorative motif. Offered in three different colorways and lengths, these curtains are sure to dress up any room. 

Couture Dreams Enchantique Jute Window Curtains 

Couture Dreams Chichi Tablecloths are truly one of a kind. A mixture of different textures and materials make up this unique table covering for a sophisticated and custom feel. Truly stunning, these tablecloths are sure to turn any table into a memorable setting. Each petal is individually sewn onto the skirt creating a beautiful array of soft cascading petals. The petals in juxtaposition to the jute make for an astonishing table setting.

Couture Dreams Chichi Tablecloths

Wingback chair with white linen and one-a-kind French jute insets. Inset is one of a kind and is always different. We will send you an image of the inset when you place your order for approval.

Wingback chair with white linen

Surya Poufs are super-fun, super-fashionable and super-functional! Use them as a footstool, extra seating or table when topped with a tray. Stack them for a dramatic effect or put several together for a fabulous focal point. Surya's pouf collection includes tribal textiles, animal prints, and fantastical textures and patterns, a perfect marriage of form and function!

Surya Poufs