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 of  Window Coverings. 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 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 on tiki torches.

save over curtain rods

But does free shipping really exist? Yes… but it’s not easy to find. Retailers will sometimes offer free shipping 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 – tiki torches, curtain rods, fire pits – it’s a really great deal.

Tiki Torches

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!

 

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 like  Furniture as a Curtain Rods, 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?

Curtain Rods

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!

 

Curtain Rod Rings: Useful Helpful Delightful Things You Need to Know About

Curtain rods 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.

curtain rods

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,  window Curtain Rods 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 rod rings. Want proof? We’ve compiled a short list of uses for curtain rod rings, just enough to feed your own inspiration.

 

winter-discount at backyardbargain.com

Curtain Rings

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… and Window Coverings 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 rods 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 note cards – now you have an easier way to keep them in view: clip one to a curtain rods  ring and hang it on anything around the mirror.

Curtain rods

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?

Nickel Curtain Rings

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!

 

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!

 

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?)

Crystal Glass Wall Sconce

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…

 

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.

 

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 pits, 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!

 

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.