END OF SUMMER

Published on September 1, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE. 0 Comments

Eduardo Xol

The end of summer is approaching, although you wouldn’t know it by the temperatures. From the east coast to the west coast, it seems that the rays of summer are still vibrant and warm!  Since my last post, I took another trip to New York, but this time it was upstate for a family wedding. I was able to spend a few days relaxing and enjoying the beautiful weather in Saratoga and Lake George. This was the view from the house on Lake George.

Lake View

Boat House

Notice the adirondack chair I’m relaxing in!

Eduardo Xol in a adirondack chair

Since my return, I launched my non-profit group’s first after school program. The ALUMI Media Group was asked to develop a full lifestyle curriculum.

Eduardo's chairty

One of the workshops will be on Healthy Lifestyles – we’re going to be teaching the kids how to be self-sustainable by growing a raised vegetable garden.   The best part about it is being able to order the raised bed online and have it delivered directly to the school!

Raised Garden Bed

As the summer draws to a close, I want to ask all of you to take what you’ve learned from me this summer about outdoor living and take advantage of it all year around if and when you can. Staying close to nature will greatly improve your quality of life.

Eduardo's Table Setting

Thank you for letting me guide you through this summer as we made our backyards feel like home together.  I want to send a special heart felt thank you to everyone at Hayneedle.com, from the executives to the customer service representatives taking the orders from the many winners of my summer giveaway.  I want to thank my team at home in Los Angeles and all of the crews that help make “Hayneedle Your Home with Eduardo Xol” possible.   It’s been a real pleasure.  I know you’re going to enjoy the last webisode of the series, “Dining Al Fresco” as you get to know my family a little better.  I can only hope that you will continue to enjoy your family throughout the rest of the summer and the rest of the year as well!

Salud!

Eduardo with Family

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Part II of the Veggie Garden

Published on August 24, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE. 0 Comments Tags: , , , , , .

Thanks to everyone who watched the video about the setup of my raised garden bed and vegetable garden! I started out using the bamboo hooks with the intention of using wire to string the tomato plants for support.  But some friends who grow veggies thought that could be cumbersome and a lot of extra work. While they were still small enough, I switched out to tomato cages.  I’m so glad I did because WOW, did these tomato plants grow big!

Frame-It-All 8 x 8 Rectangle Polyethylene/Wood Fiber Raised Garden

I live in Nebraska, which means unpredictable weather.  A couple of weeks ago we had quite the thunderstorm with super high winds. I was at my step-mom’s house when a storm struck (we were making a pesto pasta dish out of fresh basil from the garden). After the storm passed I called home to Jason to see if our power was still on and if everything was okay. The words I was dreading came out: “Your garden looks destroyed.”

I came home after the storm had passed and ran out to the garden to see all of the tomato plants blown over. Thank goodness for the tomato cages; none of the plants broke! The winds did break a metal tomato cage, but I was able to wire it together. I have to tell you, these plants are pretty resilient.

Vegetable Garden

For my first garden I’m feeling pretty lucky to have so much success.  I really think the compost soil mix helped to get the young plants what they needed to grow.

I’m excited to tell you that I got my first tomatoes from the vegetable garden about 2 weeks ago! I never really appreciated the fresh taste of a tomato until now. I can’t stop eating them. The first day when we got the tomatoes I’m pretty sure I ate about 10. Rather than hogging all of the tomatoes, I brought some in to work to share. I’m pretty sure you eventually could get a stomachache from eating too many tomatoes, but I’m taking my chances.

Now that I’ve grown some amazing vegetables I’m going to try my hand at canning. Stay tuned!

-Cayden

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Dog Days of Summer

Published on August 17, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE and PETS & ANIMALS. 1 Comment Tags: , , , , , , .

Whew! It’s been a hot one so far this August. With kids heading back to school soon and Husker football just around the corner, it would seem that summer is coming to an end…sigh…until you go outside. As I type, the heat index for today (and the rest of the week) is a refreshing 110 degrees. Viva la Summer!

While we humans can wear shorts and tank tops to help stay cool, imagine how this heat feels to our furry and fuzzy buddies. Here’s how to help your best friend stay cool and comfortable while outdoors this summer:

Relief from Summer Heat
A dog’s normal body temperature runs from 100.5°F to 102.5°F. Considering he’s covered in fur, he can get hot very quickly. If your dog is outdoors for long periods during the day, provide access to a shaded area for relief from the heat either under a tree or in a dog house. Make sure there’s plenty of fresh, clean water left in a shady area available at all times. If your dog is a longer haired breed, a summer cut can help provide some relief. For those times when your dog wants to be really stylish about staying cool, a cooling bandana might be right up his alley!

Dog in Dog House

Sunburn
Mom always said to wear sunscreen, and remember that dogs can get sunburned too. Dogs with light coloring, pale noses or shaved short summer hair cuts are especially prone to sunburn. There are several pet safe sunscreens available, so be sure to choose one that won’t be harmful if it gets licked off.

“I’ll Just be a Minute”
Many people bring their dogs with them while running errands. I understand you love your dog and want him with you as much as possible! Unfortunately, though, in the summer this practice can be deadly. A dog can only withstand a high body temperature for a short time before suffering nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, brain damage or even death. In only 10 minutes the temperature in a car can rise an additional 19°F! Cracking your car windows has little effect on the vehicle’s internal temperature.* DO NOT leave your dog in the car in the summer heat, even for “just a minute.” If you see a dog left in a car, don’t be afraid to call your local Humane Society or police department.
*Source MyDogIsCool.com.

Keep these tips in mind and familiarize yourself with the signs of heat stroke to help keep your dog safe, healthy, and happy for many summers to come!

Lisa E

I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets

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Bringing Variety to America – a Post by Eduardo Xol

Published on August 11, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE, PATIO & GARDEN and The Backyard with Eduardo Xol. 3 Comments

I will be enjoying what’s left of this  summer in different parts of the country.  I was just in New York with the executive team from Hayneedle for the 2010 Hayneedle Home Showcase, where we took over the Midtown Loft and Terrace on 5th Avenue. We created several vignettes to showcase a selection of products available at Hayneedle.com, including this modern sitting lounge set by Alphaville designs.  Notice the white pot on the table is the same one I used in my first “Hayneedle Your Home with Eduardo Xol” webisode, except the one I used was brown.

That’s a great tip – always look and see if something you love might come in another color to better match your decor. If everything about the item is perfect, except the color, it may still be possible to get an ideal match. If you’re willing to invest the small amount of time it takes to paint or refinish an accessory piece, not only will you get the complement you want, but you’ll also enjoy the satisfaction of customizing your own space.

One of the items that received a lot of attention at the Hayneedle Home Showcase was this artificial tree. Designed for the holidays, this “Cherry” tree has low voltage LED lights, and I could see a place for it year-round, indoors or outdoors. Another great tip to keep in mind – don’t limit yourself when it comes to “seasonal” decor- with a little imagination, it could look wonderful and intriguing in your home any time of year!

The Home Showcase was created as a way to celebrate the anniversary of Hayneedle.com’s launch a year ago and to introduce their huge variety of products to the media.  Here I am talking to Kate Hallett of People magazine about design for young people dealing with college and new careers.

When speaking with Kate, I placed an emphasis on modular furniture. These versatile furniture options are ideal for students, young professionals, or anyone who might move frequently, because these pieces can easily be fitted into virtually any environment. I also talk about using modular furniture outdoors in my upcoming webisode, “Creating an Outdoor Lounge.”

Kathie Lee Gifford was also on hand as a Hayneedle partner in support of one of her favorite non-profits, Childhelp.  We also had guest appearances by Bethenny Frankel of “The Real Housewives of New York City” and Kelly Rutherford of “Gossip Girl.” Here I am with Kathie Lee and Bethenny on the terrace.

As the end of summer draws closer, I’m also preparing for two projects in the fall.  The most important is the beginning of the school year for my nonprofit organization, The Alumi Media Group (www.AlumiMediaGroup.com), which launches its first-ever after school program in Los Angeles. We will be creating a series of lifestyle curriculum for students age k-8.  We’re really excited about it!

I’ve also been asked to design an outdoor lounge in Los Angeles for an event called Opportunity Green (www.OpportunityGreen.com), which is bringing together some of the brightest innovators leading the new green economy.  Always remember you can go green in nearly every room of your home. It just takes a moment to see how your items were made, and to consider that in your decision-making. Here’s one of the spaces where I was asked to create a lounge for a party.

For now, I’m off to a family wedding, and I’m using it as an excuse to take some time off.  I hope that you all continue to enjoy a beautiful summer, and continue to think of yourselves as designers. You can do it, with a little help from your friends at Hayneedle.com.

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Canning Peaches

Published on August 2, 2010 in HAYNEEDLE. 0 Comments

Post 2 brought to you by Marisa McClellan from Food In Jars:

This time of year, the peaches are abundant. However, their season is far too short, so it’s important to save a bit of that juicy deliciousness for the cooler months. Here are two of my favorite ways to put up those precious peaches.

Peach Jam

  • 10 cups of peaches, peeled and chopped
  • 6 cups of sugar
  • 2 teaspoons cinnamon
  • ½ teaspoon grated nutmeg
  • 2 lemons, zested and juiced
  • 2 packets (1 box) liquid pectin

Fill your canning pot with water and begin to bring it to temperature. Wash your jars and rings in warm soapy water and set aside. Put your lids in a small pot of water and heat (but do not boil) in order to soften the sealing compound.

Add peaches and sugar to a large, non-reactive pot. Bring to a boil and add cinnamon, nutmeg, lemon zest and juice and let jam continue to cook for about fifteen minutes. If the fruit hasn’t broken down much after that time is up, use a potato masher or immersion blender (taking care not to burn yourself with hot jam) to break down the chunks. Add pectin and bring to a rolling boil for a full five minutes.

Turn off the heat under the jam and fill jars. Wipe rims and apply lids. Screw on the bands and lower into the water. Process in the hot water bath 10 minutes. When time is up, remove from water and cool on the counter. When the jars are cooled, check the seal by pressing on the top of the jar. If there’s no movement, the jar has sealed. Store up to one year in a cool, dark place.

Makes 6 pints

Canning Peaches

Canned Peaches

  • 10 peaches, halved and peeled
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 4 cups water
  • 4 wide mouth pint jars, rings and lids

Combine the sugar and water in a medium size pot and heat to a simmer.

Place your four jars in a large pot and fill with water. Bring to a boil and let jars heat at a boil for five minutes. Remove jars from pot and pack the peaches, cut side down, into the jars. You should be able fit five halves (two and a half peaches in total) into each jar.

Pour the sugar syrup into a spouted measuring cup and pour over the packed peaches, leaving half an inch of headspace. Run a butter knife between the peaches and the jar, in order to remove any air bubbles. Wipe rims, apply lids and rings and lower into the hot water bath.

Process in the hot water bath for 20 minutes. When time is up, remove from water and let cool on the counter top. When the jars are cooled, check the seal by pressing on the top of the jar. If there’s no movement, the jar has sealed. Store up to one year in a cool, dark place.

Happy Canning,

-Marisa McClellan

* To see an extensive list of Hayneedle’s canners go to PressureCookersandCanners.com

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