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.

Notice the adirondack chair I’m relaxing in!

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.

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!

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.

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!

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.

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

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!

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

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.

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

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

If you were lucky enough to have a parent or grandparent who canned, you probably have memories of long, hot days in the kitchen, counters groaning under the weight of canning jars and tomatoes. For those of you who didn’t grow up in a canning family, you might just have romantic visions of a farmhouse kitchen, complete with a sturdy enamel worktable centered in the space. Whatever your understanding of canning, it couldn’t probably isn’t something you’d do in your own, 21^st century home.

Happily, canning is most definitely something that people are still doing and actually, it’s one of the hottest food trends around right now.

Most people think that in order to get started canning, they’ve got to invest a ton of money in specialty equipment. The good news is that as long as you have a nice, big stock pot, a small rack that can fit in the bottom of the pot, and some tongs, you’re well on your way to your first jar of homemade jam or pickles.

Things to know before you get started canning:

• First of all, set your fears aside. You won’t kill anyone with jam or pickles. They are both high-acid foods, which are perfectly safe for boiling water canning.
• Always keep a stack of kitchen towels around when taking on a canning product. They can mop up spilled water, prevent sticky drips of jam from spreading everywhere and double as hot pads in a pinch.
• Though you don’t need to buy much in the way of specialty equipment, getting yourself an inexpensive canning kits that includes a jar lifter and wide mouth funnel is a good way to make things far easier in the kitchen.

The basics of boiling water bath canning:

1. Remove lids and rings from jars.
2. Place the number of jars you’ll need on top of the rack in your stock pot.
3. Fill pot (and jars) with water to cover and bring to a boil.
4. Put your lids in a small saucepan and bring them to the barest simmer on the back of the stove.
5. While the canning pot comes to a boil, prepare your product.
6. When your recipe is complete, remove the jars from the canning pot (pouring the water back into the pot as you remove the jars) and lay them out on a clean towel on your counter top.
7. Carefully fill your jars with your product. Depending on the recipe, you’ll need to leave between ¼ and ½ an inch of headspace (that’s the room between the surface of the product and the top of the jar).
8. Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel or the edge of a kitchen towel.
9. Apply lids and screw the bands on the jars to hold the lids down during processing.
10. Carefully lower the filled jars into the canning pot. You may need to remove some water as you put the jars in the pot. A Pyrex measuring cup is the best tool for this job.
11. Once the pot has returned to a boil, start your timer. The length of the processing time will vary from recipe to recipe.
12. When your timer goes off, remove the jars from the water bath promptly. Place them back on the towel-lined countertop and let them cool.
13. The jar lids should begin to “ping” into place soon after they’ve been removed from the pot. The pinging is the sound of the seals being formed and the center of the lids will become concave as the vacuum seal takes hold.
14. After the jars have cooled for 24 hours, remove the bands and check the seals. You do this by grasping the jar by the edge of the lid and gently lifting it an inch or two off the countertop. The lid should hold fast.
15. Once you’ve determined that your seals are good, you can store your jars in a cool, dark place (with the rings off, please) for up to a year.

Happy Canning!

Marisa McClellan

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

This summer has turned out to be extraordinarily busy for me!  Isn’t this when we’re all supposed to go on vacation?  Well, until I am able to really get away, I’ll practice what I preach and find the opportunities to relax any moment I can. As I say time and time again, in the words of my father, Eduardo Sr., “it’s all about balance!”

For me that balance includes taking care of my career, my family, my friends and myself, and deciding when to give each area the priority!  For others, especially those having to deal with any kind of health issue, finding balance can be daunting.

Ten years ago, my sister Monica was diagnosed with lupus.  It’s a strange condition that still remains a mystery to those who have to live with it as well as to the medical community at large.  Lucky for my sister, she has been dealing with what seems to be a somewhat “manageable” form of lupus. Similar to others afflicted with the disease, my sister’s lupus seems to be triggered by stress. People with lupus have what are called “flare ups” when the immune system seems to go on overdrive and starts to fight itself.  Sounds complicated, right?  Well, my sister was in the midst of a flare up prior to getting married. I wanted to assist her in her planning to ease the stress, so I helped with much of the coordination.  I also composed some original music for her ceremony.

Over the last decade I have become an advocate of lupus awareness and have been doing what I can to support The Lupus Foundation of America.  They have been a great resource of information for my family. This fall, I will be honored to serve as host for their annual Butterfly Gala in New York City.

Recently, I chose my sister’s backyard as the site for the webisode entitled, “Creating a Garden Oasis”.  But before we shot the webisode, I needed to do a bit of a makeover for her!  This is what the garden looked like before the makeover…

…and this is what it looked like after the makeover!

The changes were subtle and fairly inexpensive, but the difference was obvious!  It became the perfect garden oasis for our webisode and a place where my sister could relax!

My niece, Monet, makes a guest appearance in this webisode as my co-host!  Here we are walking Hazel in the park.

The whole experience made such a valuable impression on Monet, she decided to document it in a piece of art she made for me.  This is her artistic interpretation of being with me in front of the camera!

As I mentioned earlier, I composed music for my sister’s wedding.  One of the musical pieces is called “Velas”, which means candle in Spanish.  The piece of music is the background music for this webisode.  I hope you enjoy it!

List of supplies:

• Metal containers
• Stickers
• Spray sealant
• Loose rock, crushed aluminum cans, or packing peanuts
• Good potting soil (I use Miracle-Gro Moisture Control)
• Plants

Tools needed:

• Hammer
• Philips head screwdriver
• Block of wood

To start out with – I popped over to our neighborhood home improvement store and picked up a few metal containers from the paint section.  You can repurpose containers you already have or check out the Goodwill store or other stores.

This time I picked a long metal bin, a metal paint can, and a small metal bucket just like another I had at home and would use for this project.   I also dropped by the local nursery to pick up some unique plants – one is called “Dracula” – that I thought the kids would like.

I picked out some stickers from my sticker stash that we could use on the planters.  A variety of them is good – including alphabets, characters, animals, etc.  Then I sat the kids down to start designing.

I laid out some rules for where the stickers could go – some folks might not need any rules for this and that is completely fine.  Unfortunately my OCD will not allow the random placement of stickers – even on a project for the kids.  We compromised and I asked for symmetry on the fronts of the buckets and told them they could do whatever they wanted on the backs.  And yes – I have started a “counseling” fund for each of them.

Once the stickers were situated and resituated so that my eye wouldn’t twitch, my husband kindly pounded water drainage holes in the bottoms of the buckets using a wooden block inside and a hammer and screwdriver on the outside.  He would prefer I didn’t mention that he couldn’t find his cordless drill battery.  So let’s pretend I didn’t mention it.

After the holes were poked in the bottoms of the containers – I followed the directions on the can of spray sealant (you can find at your local craft store) to seal the outsides of the containers and the stickers.  Sometimes these will need to set over a 24 hour period before you finish them by adding your plants.

After the recommended waiting period – it was time to lay down some filler on the bottom of each one.  I used river rock because the wind can get pretty strong at our place (no sassy remarks here, please) and I get very annoyed when my containers tip over.  You can also use crushed aluminum cans (depending on your container size) or the non-dissolving packing peanuts.  This gives a layer at the bottom of your planter for water to drain through and out the holes without taking all of your soil with it.  It also takes up some space so you aren’t using an entire bag of potting soil on one planter.

Next, you’ll want to check the depth of the plants you’ve selected in their designated planters.  Is there enough space?  You want to have the top of the root ball covered by your potting soil.  Ideally you will also have some room between the top of the soil and the top edge of the container.

Break up the root balls of each plant with your fingertips.  Place the plant within the container and add filler potting soil around it until it reaches the top of the plant root ball.  Press soil down gently but firmly to make sure the plant is supported in its new home!

Water your plants – keeping an eye on whether or not the water drops the soil level in your container.  If it drops it significantly, you’ll want to add more soil.  Water the plant until water begins to drain out of the holes you made in the bottom.

You’re all done!

Alternatives to this activity:

Decoupage:  You can use paper cut out shapes, preferably from a thinner paper – not cardstock – and decoupage (I use Mod Podge) them onto the containers.  I used multi-colored 2.5” polka dots I had punched out of scrapbook paper and decoupaged them around the top half of an oblong metal bucket.  After the decoupage dried I followed the directions above starting with the spray sealant.  This was my favorite planter until my husband ran over it with his car.  And yes – I will bring this up until we are old and gray.

Painting:  You can use acrylic craft paints to paint a design on the containers – stripes, dots, or whatever the kids would like (unless you have issues like me – then perhaps a stencil is in order.)  Once again – you want to do that, let it dry, then begin at the “apply sealant” stage above and continue through the rest of the directions.  When I did my painted container I placed it up close to the house – where it remains in its original shape today – unmolested by heavy vehicles.

In honor of National Hammock Day and our very first store, Hammocks.com, Hayneedle is hosting a Hammocks Twitter Party.  Hayneedle will give away five amazing hammocks during the event!  All winners will be chosen at random via the RSVP list. You must attend the party and answer the questions correctly in order to win!

You’re invited to Hayneedle’s National Hammock Day Twitter Party

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

When: July 22 at 8pm CST.

Where: Twitter using hashtag #Hayneedle

How can you join? Well, that’s simple!  RSVP using the link below, and start following:

Follow Hayneedle on Twitter. @Hayneedle
Follow @hayneedleyards
Follow @hayneedlegreen
 Follow @hayneedletots
Follow @hayneedlepets
“LIKE” Hayneedle on Facebook!

TWEET! @Hayneedle is having a Hammocks Day Twitter Party! Join us 7/22 at 8pm CST! To RSVP & see the prizes go to http://hayn.tl/30

RSVP HERE TO ENTER

:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

@hayneedle will ask the questions.

@hayneedleyards will pick the winners using Random.org via the RSVP list.

If you’re a winner, you will DM @hayneedlegreen to let her know what you won. Be sure to include your shipping information and a phone number!

Look carefully at the products and websites listed below, as answers will come directly from our sites.  Your teachers were right- studying is important!

All winners are chosen at RANDOM.  We will NOT go by 1st answer, 5th answer, etc. To give everyone a fair chance, we’re leaving it up to random.org.

If random.org picks someone who answers the question but is NOT present during the party when winners are announced, we will re-draw until we find someone who is present and participating!

These are bigger prizes, so keep in mind we may try to stump you with the questions!

We hope to see you there. Be sure to RSVP, otherwise you won’t have the chance to win these awesome hammocks:

Island Bay XL Rope Hammock with Metal Stand & Pillow

• New and improved for 2010!
• Our top-selling hammock 6 years running
• Room for 2 people; 450-lb. weight capacity
• Heavy-duty 14-gauge steel stand in choice of colors
• Newly available with our custom faux woodgrain stand!
• Choose 100% cotton or polyester
• Pillow available in several color options
• Heavy-gauge powder-coated steel stand
• Overall hammock length: 13 ft.
• Stand measures 13 – 15 ft. L x 4 ft. W x 3 ft. 9 in. H
• Retail Value $174.98

Island Bay Seagrass Quilted Hammock with Stand

• Hammock, stand, pillow, and hanging hardware
• 450-lb. weight capacity
• Heavy-duty 14-gauge steel stand in choice of colors
• Weather-resistant fabric
• Overall hammock length: 11 ft. 5 in.
• Stand: 13-15 ft. L x 4 ft. W x 3 ft. 9 in. H
• Retail Value $199.98

XXL Mayan Hammocks with Adjustable Stand

• Handmade from durable and soft cotton or nylon
• Includes XXL Mayan Hammock and Stand
• 350-lb. weight capacity
• Durable powder-coated steel frame
• Diamond weave for remarkable strength
• Choose from a variety of beautiful hammock colors
• Fabric weave surrounds metal ring for increased durability
• Overall hammock length: 14 ft. 8 in.
• Stand: 11.5 – 14.5 ft. L x 3 ft. 3 in. W x 3 ft. 10 in. – 4 ft. 6 in.
• Retail Value $168.99

Island Bay Sienna Stripe Quilted Hammock with Stand

• Large enough for 2 people; 450 lb. weight capacity
• Stand is made from heavy-duty 14-gauge steel
• Striped hammock in weather-resistant fabric
• Overall hammock length: 6 feet 5 inches
• Stand dimensions: 13-15L x 4W x 3.75H feet
• Hammock, stand, matching button-on pillow
• Quilted, weather resistant polyester fabric
• Classic stripes in various shades of orange and brown
• Room for 2 people; 450-lb. weight capacity
• 14-gauge steel stand with powder-coated finish
• Stand offered in several color options
• Hanging hardware is included
• Overall hammock length: 11 ft. 5 in.
• Stand: 13 – 15 ft. L x 4 ft. W x 3 ft. 9 in. H
• Retail Value $199.98

Island Bay Nautical Quilted Hammock with Stand

• Hammock, stand, matching button-on pillow
• Quilted, weather resistant polyester fabric
• Classic stripes in various shades of blue
• Room for 2 people; 450-lb. weight capacity
• 14-gauge steel stand with powder-coated finish
• Stand offered in several color options
• Hanging hardware is included
• Overall hammock length: 11 ft. 5 in.
• Stand: 13 – 15 ft. L x 4 ft. W x 3 ft. 9 in. H
• Retail Value $179.98

Get signed up for the Twitter Party and tell your friends. Please help us make our first Twitter Party a blast!

The Fourth of July weekend was filled with family, friends, sun and fun.  I enjoyed a nice balance celebrating each day with a different group of people.  I was also celebrating having completed my eight-webisode series for “Hayneedle Your Home with Eduardo Xol.”

I also helped to celebrate the culmination of the census for 2010.  I was asked by the mayor’s office of Los Angeles to be one of the 100 voices of the city to educate the public on getting counted.  I taped a public service announcement in both English and Spanish, and as it turns out, Los Angeles is the number one major city to turn out in terms of participation.  I’m proud to have performed my civic duty.  Here I am with the executive Director of LA Counts 2010 at the culmination party in downtown Los Angeles.

There was another reason to celebrate with my family recently.  My nephew, Rodrigo, graduated from kindergarten!  My family has definitely grown to understand the importance and value of an education, so we try to encourage my niece and nephew by celebrating their accomplishments whenever possible.  My niece, Monet, is a year ahead of my nephew. Monet, along with my sister Monica, will be making a guest appearance in an upcoming webisode.  She was wonderful to work with!

In webisode #5, “Expanding Your Home’s Square Footage Outdoors,” we shot at the home of a newlywed couple who I’m doing on outdoor makeover for. Here is a picture of their back patio space shortly after purchasing their home, but before I started putting my hands on it.

Since they already had the frame for the perfect outdoor patio, I convinced them to pour a new floor of a charcoal grey concrete while removing the planters.  Here is a view of the new newly poured patio.

As part of the master plan, I convinced the couple to add a pergola to cover the area and make it a an outdoor lounge, but the timing for shooting the webisode wouldn’t allow us to complete it in time. In the end, we broke up the project in two phases to fit the client’s schedule as well as mine.  I’ll be documenting the process in a “behind the scenes” how-to webisode later in the summer, so stay tuned for that.

For “Expanding Your Home’s Square Footage Outdoors”,  Michael Anthony Clements, who co-produced my summer web series with me, convinced me to hang sheer curtains as a way to frame the room and complement the Tahara All Weather Wicker Conversation Patio Set we used on the patio.  The results are beautiful!  Take a look!

Whether you are grilling, swimming, or just enjoying the great outdoors, many pet owners like to include their dogs in these summer pastimes. Here’s how to make sure your pet stays safe this summer.

Grilling
The smell of burgers and hot dogs cooking is even more irresistible to dogs than it is to us, so don’t forget to keep an eye on pets when grilling out this summer. Before you know it they can try to sneak food from the grill just like they might with food on the counter, resulting in burnt paws, noses, and tongues. Be especially mindful of smaller camping grills that sit lower to the ground.

Walking
During the summer months, pavement and sand can get extremely hot and burn the pads of your dog’s feet. Try taking your dog on walks in the morning or evening when the pavement is cooler. You can also encourage your dog to walk on the grass or try dog booties to help protect his paws. If it is too hot for your bare feet, it is probably too hot for their bare paws. Always bring water on your walks for both you and your pet. Some dog walkers suggest bringing a collapsible cup for your dog to drink from. Be aware of signs of heat exhaustion in your pet and stop in the shade for a break if you or your pet have any symptoms.

Swimming
If your dog likes to swim it can be a great way for him to get some exercise and cool off from the summer heat. It is important to keep an eye on your dog when he is in the pool or lake, just like you would with children. Make sure there is a place available for your dog to get out of the water easily when he is ready. Dog friendly ladders are available for the pool, dock or boat so your dog can easily get out of the water. Dog life jackets are also available to help make sure your dog stays afloat if he should get too tired to swim. Also, make sure kids know never to hang onto or try to “ride” your dog while it is in the water.

Photo by puppypfd

Stay mindful so both you and your pet can enjoy the activities summer has to offer!

Lisa E

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

If you’d like to follow Cayden’s transition to a greener lifestyle, follow her on Twitter @HayneedleGreen, and check back here for more blog updates on The Green Experience.

How about adding a little green variety to your life? There’s no better place to start a garden or to find eco-friendly products than at hayneedle.com.

From all of us at Hayneedle, have a safe and happy 4th of July weekend!

The summer holiday season is officially underway, and the 4th is right around the corner.  To celebrate the season, I continue to host dinners in my garden on a regular basis.  While my guests are sitting in my garden,  they seem to forget that I live right in the middle of Hollywood, just a few blocks from the famous Melrose Place.  The best compliment I get is when friends say they feel like they’re “somewhere else” or “on vacation”.  That’s what a backyard should feel like!

Nothing feels more like summer than going to pool parties or parties by the beach, which is why my next webisode focuses on poolside living.  We shot the webisode at the beautiful home of a friend of mine, a successful director and producer, and the fortunate owner of a picture-perfect pool in the Hollywood Hills. Here I am with my cameraman, Nick Oberlander, scoping out a shot of the pool from the second level of the house.

It was a spectacular day to shoot webisode #4, and I was forced to get into the pool!  I say that sarcastically, of course!

We’ve recently completed the rest of the webisodes for our summer series- with a total of four more to be released, so be on the lookout.  The response from all of you via e-mail has been amazing!

Speaking of which… many of you have asked questions about the pavers used in the last webisode “Utilizing an Uncommon Space,” so I wanted to respond to some of the most common questions here:

• The space I finished is approximately 96 square feet.
• The pea gravel was already there, but had it not been, I would have purchased 4-5 bags at a cost of approximately $5 per bag.
• I used 81 pavers at approximately $1 per paver.
• Approximate total cost was $150.

Note:  Depending on the soil/surface underneath, a layer of sand may be needed before laying the pavers and gravel.

This is an easy, economical way to create a patio, and anyone can do it themselves.  It also looks great and is a steady surface for furniture and appliances.  If you haven’t already seen the webisode, check it out!

I hope you are all enjoying your summer. Stay cool!

Salud!

Eduardo

Speaking of celebrations, you’re invited to save up to 50% at Hayneedle’s July 4th Sale!

I can hardly wait to watch the fun unfold in my backyard tomorrow. American barbecue alongside the undeniably Swedish lutefisk. Bocce and ladder golf while waiting for my turn in the next game of kubb. Kids caroming in and out of the bouncehouse. What better way to work off all that pickled fish and make room for strawberries and cream? Or, if my guests prefer something more definitively American, they can always hold out for fire pit s’mores.

Whatever you’re celebrating, be it a wedding or the World Cup, a cookout or the College World Series, these June weekends are loaded with options. Heck, if you’re looking for a reason to get together tonight, just remind your friends that today is Log Cabin Day. For real. It’s Log Cabin Day.

For the fest of the season, or just the happy hour of the day, Hayneedle has all the essentials you need to entertain. From grills to canopies, from conversation sets to outdoor lighting, it’s all here. And in every one of these categories you’ll find an abundance of options, along with a powerful filtering system that lets you narrow your choices based on what you want. That’s true variety, and that’s how we know you’ll find what you love and love what you find.

We are well into Summer!  Here in California, we’re experiencing a bit of “June Gloom”, as they call it when the fog rolls inland during the morning hours.  Generally this keeps the temperature really nice once the fog burns off.  As I speak to my friends around the country though, I can tell it’s already really warming up everywhere else.

I recently completed shooting my third webisode, “Hayneedle Your Home with Eduardo Xol”.  For this webisode I focused on awkward and uncommon spaces.  I have one of these spaces- a long, narrow one right outside my dining room- so I thought it would be a perfect place to practice my philosophy.  Notice the concrete pavers I set into the gravel to create the “room”. Once I did that, I placed the Sandstone Akro Hose Pot/Planter next to the water faucet.  This would dictate where everything else would go.

Next you can see me shooting the “10 Second Tip” as we get ready to place all of the furniture.  You can’t tell by this picture , but there were a LOT of people filling that small space to shoot the webisode.  To see the video and get more information on the great products I used to transform it into a functional space, click here.

I’ve also been preparing for future webisodes, including one I will shoot in my sister’s backyard, since I’m already giving her a bit of a makeover.  Many of you might know that my sister was diagnosed with lupus several years ago.  It’s a very mysterious condition.  An important element in maintaining the symptoms at bay is relaxation.  On Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I help people in need all of the time all over the country, so when I’m home, I really do my best to help my own family out when I can.  My sister is a busy, young mom who works as a teacher, so I want to give her a space where she can relax and find personal health and balance.  Here’s a picture of the space I have to work with. Stay tuned for this webisode to see the makeover!

Speaking of personal health and balance…I’m doing my best to do the same as I manage a very busy summer schedule.  If I’m not committed to attend a public event, I tend to my plants and garden almost every day before dinner.   It really does keep me in check!

On the nights I have an event, and there seems to be many these days, I have to get myself cleaned up.

The next webisode coming up will be about poolside living.  I hope everyone continues to enjoy the summer!

My past experience with animals has helped grow my interest in animal welfare and admiration for the bond between pets and their people. My goals are to research and share pet related tips, topics, product reviews and specials I hope you’ll find interesting and fun.

As a company, Hayneedle prides itself on dedication to specific niche sites. As we all know, Pets & Animals require more than dedication. The products on these sites are much more than just items for your home, they are items for your pets; your furry, feathered or scaly family members. We understand you want the best for them and we devote time and resources to not only finding unique and quality products, but also to providing interesting and helpful pet related content and tips.

Hope you enjoy!

Lisa E

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

To me it means fun, variety, and something more exciting than other stores you’d  find online or down the street.  As a company, we offer products that are not always mainstream- products that are fun and completely different.

This brings me to one of Hayneedle’s newest stores, ElectricBikeSuperstore.com.  This site recently launched, and I had the pleasure of riding the Liberty Black 26 Inch Classic Electric Bike.  Not going to lie, at first I was a nervous, but was convinced by coworkers that I’d love the bike in no time… turns out they were right!

Now, my poor husband gets to hear me come up with all the reasons on why I now need this bike. It rides just like your standard bike, but is just more fun and effortless! If I could let you take a demo ride I totally would, but since we don’t have a physical store, you can settle for watching me ask Steve Page- an avid road biker and Buyer for ElectricBikeSuperstore- a few questions about the bike and take my first spin.

With a little luck, I survived with no wipeouts despite attempting to ride in high heels.

Hammocks.com on my first day… like the perm I had in college- pretty bad even at the time:

Hammocks.com today… more of an oh-so-pretty Justin Bieber flop:

When I see what Hayneedle has become, and the attention we’ve received over the past few months, I allow myself to indulge in a few morsels of pride. Here’s what I’m talking about:

• Kathy Lee Gifford has partnered with us to raise funds for Childhelp, a leading national non-profit dedicated to the prevention and treatment of child abuse. When you buy a hammock from Hayneedle, a portion of your purchase goes directly to Childhelp. And the timing is nothing short of perfect- is there anything that says summer (or Happy Father’s Day) better than a hammock? That it’s for a good cause makes it even easier to relax.

• You may have seen Eduardo Xol’s outdoor design posts here on HayneedleBlog. As part of our summer campaign, Eduardo is taking timeout from ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition to help Hayneedle customers create their own backyard paradise. The Backyard at Hayneedle is the place to start.

• Hayneedle was recently featured on The Ellen Show in what turned out to be a, well, let’s just say “memorable” version of Blindfolded Musical Haystacks.

• More and more people are doing the Hayneedle Hustle for their chance to win a $15,000 shopping spree. Radio and TV stations across the country are talking about how Hayneedle is bringing variety to America, one backyard at a time.

Heady stuff aside, one of the most satisfying aspects of all of all this is when I get to answer those unavoidable so-what-do-you-do questions at gatherings this summer. Instead of the “What’s that?” response I heard for 4+ years, it feels pretty good to finally hear, “Oh, yeah! Love your stuff.”

Excuse me while I grab one more taste of pride before going back to work. Gotta look good for next year’s pictures.

My Memorial Day weekend was really nice.  I guess someone told Mother Nature to help us kick the summer off right because the weather in Southern California could not have been better.  I spent Saturday in my with friends.  We cooked out, ate, drank and caught up on life.  I try to do a bigger party about two to three times per year, usually during the summer months.  Memorial Day usually marks the first one.  Around thirty people from different points in my life showed up to say hello.  Here is a picture of my friends Dinah and Rob enjoying the holiday with me:

Everyone loved my outdoor furniture, but I did run out of seating.  If you’re planning a large party, a simple solution to this problem is to have extra pillows on hand in case you run out of chairs!

I hope that by now you have all seen the webisodes I’ve been working on.  If not, you can catch up here.  Planning and production has kept my team and me very busy.  Since the webisodes are about outdoor living, we have our production meetings outside in the area where we are going to shoot.  Here I am with my executive producer, Andy McEntee and the crew discussing the second webisode we produced in my backyard:

And here is the same area staged for the shoot.  Shown is the Cabos Collection conversation set.  It’s one of my favorites and apparently my dog, Hazel, likes it as well!

Combine colors to create your custom designed outdoor area.  That’s what I did by mixing the khaki upholstery that comes with the Cabos set and the accent pillows in sienna.  I completed the look by coordinating the colors of the flowers in the vase to match the colors in the furniture.

This outdoor room inspired me to create a drink I call the Cabos Cocktail using the same color scheme! I’m pleased to say it was good enough to share the recipe:

Eduardo’s Cabos Cocktail

• 1 oz. vodka or tequila (spirits optional)
• 2 parts of your favorite Bloody Mary Mix
• 1 part fresh limejuice
• 5 drops Worcestershire sauce
• 3-5 drops habanero hot sauce
• Sprinkle salt and fresh black pepper to taste
• Serve in a martini glass with a salted rim
• Garnish with an olive, pepper and onion
• Enjoy the summer!

I called the vendor first thing the next day to explain the situation. It’s not that unusual he told me, especially if you’re starting out with as many as 5,000 worms. He then asked if I’d turned a light on for them. I had not left a light on for the little worms. (Instructions are important ) Easy fix. I will turn the light on. But what to do with these fugitive worms?

Luckily I knew Bruce, one of my coworkers at Hayneedle, liked to fish. I asked him if he was interested in about 2,500 worms, and lucky for me (and him?), he was. So I made a temporary bed for his worms and brought them in for him.

Now I was starting to feel extremely confident that this is going to work well. I did not overfeed the worms, they were starting to eat the lettuce, and things were really looking up. We had about 3 weeks of smooth sailing, until one night I went down to check if my worms were ready for more food, and I bet you can guess what I found: more ESCAPEES!

Again, I call the vendor first thing in the morning, and at this point he is just laughing. “You still have worms jumping out?” he asked.

Yes. Yes, I do.

Basically ,when worms keep jumping out of a compost bin, it means there’s something they don’t like about their new home. The vendor advised me to make a fruit cocktail for the worms. “They will love it,” he assured me.

So last night I prepared a fruit cocktail for the worms: a blended apple…yum. Let’s see how it goes. I’m really starting to get used to these worms.

About “The Green Experience”

Think of “The Green Experience” as a little slice of reality Internet, where anyone can follow one of Hayneedle’s own, Cayden, as she chronicles her transition to a greener lifetstyle on Twitter, YouTube, and Facebook. Her endeavor began with a compost bin and 5,000 worms in her formerly worm-free living space. Follow the “HayneedleGreen” handle on Twitter and check back here for her blog posts.  It’s bound to be messy for her, but ultimately a planet that’s a little cleaner for the rest of us.

My summer pledge: I pledge to stop making so many “Contingency Comments!”  A contingency comment is saying “As soon as….’blank’ happens, I will ‘blank’”.  For instance, “As soon as I have a vegetable garden planted, I will plant pumpkins.”  Seriously?  I’m pledging to you right now, People, that I AM GOING TO PLANT PUMPKINS THIS YEAR – even if it is in my landscaping!

How about this one, “As soon as we have enough saved, we’ll go on vacation.”  Over spring break DW and I took the week off to hang with the kids.  As there wasn’t enough saved to go on a big vacation, we decided to make spring break into a “Staycation” instead.  We let each of the kids have a day where they picked an activity (we gave them a list – go to the zoo, go bowling, go to a movie, go to the museum…) and a place to go out to eat.  We had a blast!  We had wanted to go to some of the places featured on Travel Channel’s Man vs. Food – because DW and the kids are BIG fans – but decided to make our own “BIG FOOD” at home.  You’ll be able to read more about this soon – when I post “Boy vs. Food” on my blog.

Sometimes our contingency comments are smaller… like, “As soon as I finish checking my email, updating my facebook, tweeting my tweeps – I will get down on the floor and play cars with you.”  “Honey, if I finish this laundry I will sit next to you and hold your hand.”  “Wait until I’m done brushing my teeth – then I’ll give you a hug.”  So what if you get toothpaste on them by hugging while still brushing?  How many times have you headed out the door with toothpaste or Cheetos or peanut butter smeared somewhere on your person?  Was it catastrophic?  Was the hug worth it? ABSOLUTELY!

How do I plan to wage this battle against “Contingency Comments”?  I’m going to start (you probably saw this one coming) by buying the pumpkin plants I have drooled over for years and planting them in my flower garden.  I love pumpkins in the fall and spend a stupid amount of money every year because I have rarely met a pumpkin I didn’t think was adorable and Must. Have. On. My. Porch.  NOW.  Imagine how much money I’ll save and even better the warm, fuzzy, happy, strawberry cupcake feeling I’ll have inside watching my own pumpkins growing.  (Let’s all assume for now that I won’t kill them.)

Next I’m going to make a schedule of time I’ll spend on the computer.  And that schedule is going to take into account that when my family is awake and around – they generally want and need and enjoy my attention.  (not when I’m on a cleaning rampage – then they wish I’d try to figure out Wordpress.org for 8 hours again).   And here’s a concept – I’m going to try to stick with that schedule.  I believe it was Stephen Covey who said in his book, “Seven Habits of Highly Effective People”, “Making and keeping promises to ourselves precedes making and keeping promises to others.”  That is HUGE.

Finally, I am going to make a determined effort to engage with my kids.  There are so many distractions out there – for kids and adults – that we can easily go days or even weeks without really engaging with each other in ways that don’t involve duty instructions or editorials on wardrobe.  DW and I were talking the other night about how easy it is to give all of yourself to folks at work and folks you are connected with on the computer and friends and to forget to give all of yourself to your spouse and kids.  (and dogs – sorry, Cooper and Catie!)

You are going to see evidence of the fruits of My Summer Pledge on my blog – where I will be working with the kids on their own posts and photographing the things we do together.  I challenge you to make your own “Summer Pledge”!  I’d love to hear about it!

A team member at Hayneedle and contributor to the Hayneedle Blog, Cate is the author of the Real Life with Kids blog – www.reallifewithkids.com – and would love to have you stop by for a visit!

Something I strive to help people understand is that we can all be the designers of our own lives, so it shouldn’t be difficult for us all to be the designers of our own backyard. And today it’s easier than ever.

This is a busy Summer for me.  I’m helping my parents and sister get their backyards ready for Summer as  I’m cleaning up my own backyard as well.  One of the things I love to do is entertain outdoors during the summertime.  I tend to always use tablecloths both indoors and outdoors.  I have a couple of fabric tablecloths I use, but one can also buy disposable tablecloths made out of paper with a plastic liner to give the same effect.  Whatever you use, it’s a simple, inexpensive addition that adds an element of comfort. Anyone can do it! Here is a picture of one of my recent al fresco dinners where you can see the table set.

Growing up I was lucky to get a pretty good education on plants and nature from my father. At least once a month he would take my family to different parks to experience plants firsthand.  Here is a recent picture I took of The Huntington Library’s Japanese Garden in San Marino, California.

Visiting the parks and gardens had a definite influence in my life. If you don’t know what plants are best for your backyard, take a trip to parks in your area to see what appeals to you. Snap a few pictures to bring to an area florist or nursery if you find a plant you love, but don’t recognize. Ask about plants and flowers indigenous to your area- these are eco-friendly options that are bound to thrive in your local climate. You’ll be pleasantly surprised how greenery and flowing plants will bring an air of natural beauty to any setting.

This Summer I’ll be shooting a web series called “Hayneedle Your Home” where I’ll be giving tips and advice on outdoor living.  This exciting outdoor design project just launched today! Be sure to check back throughout the season to see the latest videos, features, and design tips.

I’d love to hear your thoughts and answer your questions, so please, feel free to leave me a note. You can also read more about what’s going on in my life by going to www.EduardoXol.com.

Last Friday, Hayneedle’s binocular specialty store, Binoculars.com announced its first-ever Binocular of the Year Awards. It’s kind of a big deal and the response so far suggests that this was a pretty good idea.

On our staff is a team of optics experts, who also provide support for our telescopes specialty store Telescopes.com. These folks developed an extensive list of criteria for testing the performance of various binoculars in our most popular binocular categories, then they took to the field and conducted these tests themselves. Now the results are in.

The Binoculars of the Year Awards were developed to recognize outstanding products and to help our binoculars customers understand the latest technologies and how they translate to real-world performance.

Here are this year’s winners, just in time for the summer outdoor season:

Best Travel Binocular:
Leica Ultravid 10×25 Compact Binoculars

Best Birding Binocular:
Pentax 8×43 DCF SP Binoculars

Best Hunting Binocular:
10×42 Leupold Camo Cascade Binoculars

Best Astronomy Binocular:
Zhumell Tachyon 25×100 Astronomy Binoculars

Binocular of the Year (a.k.a. Best All-Around Binocular):
Nikon 10×42 Monarch ATB Binoculars with Dielectric Coating

The Best of the Best:
Swarovski EL Binoculars

Check out the full write-up on Binoculars.com to see why each of these models was selected.

Did you see it? Hayneedle proudly appeared on Ellen today!

We gave away a $15,000 shopping spree to the adorable audience member who won the “Blindfolded Musical Haystacks” game on the show.  Hayneedle put together an ultimate backyard display for the show, and along with the grand prize, we gave away $500 gift certificates to the runners up, and $100 gift certificates to all 400 audience members.  You can see it all here, including the cool stuff of ours that appeared on the show.  Partnering with Ellen, giving things away, making people happy … life is good.