Meet the Team
It’s spring, which means it’s time to head outdoors and breathe deeply the fresh air. Along with that comes fresh inspiration for everything outdoors and everything home, which is where we come in. We want to inspire you and help you create your best outdoor living space ever … and that’s why we’ve invited design experts Annette Joseph, Brian Patrick Flynn, Evette Rios, and Courtney Cachet to help you get ready to move outdoors.
Annette Joseph is a photo stylist/producer with 20 years’ experience who specializes in lifestyle editorial images for national magazines. Her expertise includes photo styling for interiors, food styling and propping, and special production projects.
Her special production products include conception of projects and storyline. This can include anything from simple craft projects and organizing stories, to decor tips and recipe and entertaining ideas. From presenting the initial story idea to producing and styling the final product. Annette handles it all, bringing style and creativity to every project.
She lives in Atlanta, Georgia, full time with her husband and 2 children, and in Italy every summer where she and her husband have a second home.
Annette is a regular lifestyle contributor on The Today Show and Better Mornings Atlanta. She’s currently working on a television show and her first book. You can find her on Twitter, Pinterest, and Facebook.
Brian Patrick Flynn is an interior designer focusing both on residential interiors as well as production design. In 2009, he married both of these worlds by creating Decor Demon, a design blog with 100% original photographic and video content that is equal parts stunning and hysterical. From the initial concepts and ideas to the edgy, editorial writing, vivid art direction and unique prop styling, Decor Demon is made up entirely of Brian’s designer DNA. In addition to Decor Demon, Brian is the design producer for the hit HGTV reality-competition series, Design Star. A recent move to Los Angeles has rendered Brian bicoastal, with homes in Atlanta and in the Hollywood Hills. The fast-talking design dude would also like to add that he has a small white dog that looks like a pig mixed with a deer and an alien, knows how to say Smurf in five languages, and at age 35, still refuses to eat the crust off his pizza and sandwiches.
As a correspondent on ABC’s The Chew, Evette Ríos blends food and design with her own unique “Do-it-Yourself” spin. A craft and design expert, she also appears frequently on The Rachael Ray Show and Planet Green’s The G Word, where she shares her can-do attitude and off-beat sense of humor while showcasing easy and inventive ways to create budget-friendly projects that add to the décor of viewers’ homes and lives. Rios was previously a co-host and designer for Freestyle on HGTV and TLC’s home repair show, In a Fix. In addition to her television appearances, she is host of Better Homes & Gardens’ 100-Days of Holidays online video series. Fluent in Spanish, Rios is a regular contributor to Al Despertar on Univision and Siempre Mujer magazine. She is a life-long New Yorker and an avid traveler.
Celebrity designer and TV personality Courtney Cachet’s sense of style and vibrant personality can be found everywhere! This New York based decorating maven designs celebrity homes, several product lines and has large followings on NBC and Huffington Post Style as a regular contributor.
Courtney got her start a decade ago on WTVJ, the NBC affiliate in Miami, where her genuine personality was an instant hit with viewers. Soon, she was appearing as an on air expert for NBC, MSNBC, Headline News, DIY Network, Better TV, and HSN. TO date, she’s logged almost 1000 TV appearances worldwide. Now based in NYC with her family, she is one of the most sought-after style experts in the media, appearing on hit shows like Open House NYC, The Today Show, VH1 and all over the web. Courtney has become a go to decorator for celebrities who love her glam design style.
Courtney has been featured in Italian Vogue, Us Weekly, The Wall Street Journal, Women’s Day, First Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, The Rachel Zoe Report, and dozens of blogs. Not only is her taste impeccable, but her personality is down to earth and approachable.
When she’s not globe trotting or looking for the next best thing to share with you, Courtney’s at home with her A-List entourage: her husband Aaron and young children, Brooke and Ford. Because the best homes are filled with what you love the most!
Crown Jewels: More Spring Color Trends
The new neutral is darker, gray is big, and black and white are still going strong, but that doesn’t mean this year’s rooms are reading dull. In fact, all those dusky tones are the perfect backdrop for the jewels – jewel tones, that is – trending in 2012.
Purple Prose
Rich and regal, this year’s purple tones range from reddish plums to vibrant violets to soft lavenders, and the look goes from boldly saturated – monochromatic tones carried from an accent wall to accessories – to single centerpieces. Pair the modern Lashay Velvet Lounge Chair & Ottoman and Armen Living Centennial Purple Velvet Sofa for a complete look, or go minimal by layering the textural Jaipur Rugs Flux Area Rug in Tulip Purple over a hardwood floor.
Lashay Velvet Lounge Chair & Ottoman - Purple
Well Red
Against white, red becomes super-bright – it’s an almost pop-art effect, and so the marriage of red hues and mod, 1960s-inspired shapes seems totally natural. The Shape Chair in Red and the Sarabi Linear Bench in Industry Red are unconventional partners in the dining room. The Zuo Modern Alda Poly Decorative Centerpiece ties them together atop the dining table.
An intense color instantly updates traditional silhouettes, too. Available in glossy red – as well as a host of other bold and pastel hues – the Custom Color Dorsiere Mirror’s ornate frame brings a whimsical to the bedroom, bath, or entryway.
Sarabi Linear Bench - Industry Red
Golden Age
What’s a gem without a little gold? Whether metallic or opaque deep yellows, gold is a lush choice on its own or in combination with other jewel tones. Pair Jaipur Rugs Blue Area Rug in Golden Apricot or the Besa Gold Foil Tamburo Flush Mount Ceiling Fixture with plums, for example, or gild modern reds with the wonderfully eclectic Crystorama Ritz Chandelier. Or if you want just one golden accessory, the Jamey Metallic Golden Silver Club Chair is it – with subtly gleaming upholstery and studded trim, it’s elegant and tough and totally at home in neutral landscapes.
Jamey Metallic Golden Silver Club Chair
Tangerine Dream: The Color of 2012
2012 is looking bright – at least in the eyes of color authority Pantone, which named Tangerine Tango its color of the year .
“Sophisticated but at the same time dramatic and seductive, Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth to it,” said Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute. “Reminiscent of the radiant shadings of a sunset, Tangerine Tango marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow to form a high-visibility, magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”
One of the simplest ways to bring tangerine into a room is with a single, solid-hue accent wall – a coat of paint and your environment’s instantly warmer. Amp it up even further with tonal modern furniture like the Istikbal Kubo Rainbow Orange Microfiber Sectional Sofa, with convenient hidden storage, or the high-contrast orange-and-white Way Basics Modular 6 Cube Bookcase.
Istikbal Kubo Rainbow Orange Microfiber Sectional Sofa
Way Basics Modular 6 Cube Bookcase - Orange
Looking for something less intense? Bring in one or two vivid accents:
- The 1960s-inspired Ball Chair or Euro Style Julia Teardrop Side Table are majorly mod against navy blue, brown, and gray in the living room.
Ball Chair - Orange
Euro Style Julia Teardrop Side Table - Orange
- The Bellini Imports Adjustable Alfa Bar Stool adds modern flair to white, green, and soft blue kitchens.
Bellini Imports Adjustable Alfa Bar Stool
- Vintage art prints and contemporary pieces from artist Jenn Ski provide pop in bedrooms, bathrooms, and hallways – plus, they’re a cinch to hang.
Lire Dans Gil Blas Wrapped Giclee Canvas Print - 18W x 24H in.
- La Chablisienne by Henri Le Monnier Wrapped Giclee Canvas Print – 18W x 24H in
- The Microsuede Tangerine Squares Decorative Pillow is even easier to apply – toss a couple on the nearest sofa or lounge chair, and you’re colorfully current.
Microsuede Tangerine Squares Decorative Pillow
-Lindsey Baker
Secret Santa Sweepstakes
It is finally here, it is time for our Secret Santa Sweepstakes. We are giving away 25 amazing items that’ll make a great gift for you or a friend. Be sure to visit our Facebook Page each day to enter to win.
Looking for the Official Rules? Look no further. You will find all you need to know below:
Official Rules:
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING. FACEBOOK IS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THIS SWEEPSTAKES AND CANNOT BE HELD LIABLE.
The “Secret Santa Sweepstakes” contest is sponsored Hayneedle (“Sponsor”). The Contest is governed by these official rules (“Official Rules”). By participating in the Contest, each entrant agrees to abide by these Official Rules, including all eligibility requirements, and understands that the results of the Contest, as determined by Sponsor and its agents, are final in all respects. The Contest is subject to all federal, state and local laws and regulations and is void where prohibited by law.
The following terms and conditions (“Terms”) govern your submission of materials to the “Secret Santa Sweepstakes” contest (“Contest”). By submitting information requested (“Submission”) to the Contest, you confirm that you are eighteen (18) years of age or older, that you have read and understand these Terms and agree to be bound by these Terms. Each party identifying information appears in a Submission is considered a participant and must agree to and accept these Terms for your Submission to be valid and be accepted in the Contest. As such, if you are submitting your information Submission on behalf of yourself and another person, in order for the Submission to be eligible, you must ensure that such other person also agrees to and affirmatively accepts these Terms [by checking that you have read and “Accept” the terms and conditions]. You understand that Sponsor will rely on your acceptance of these Terms.
*ELIGIBILITY*
The Contest is open to legal residents of the United States and District of Columbia who live in the United States and District of Columbia, who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry who have Internet access and a valid e-mail account at the time of entry. Entrants must submit all required information to be eligible to win. Entries missing required information will be disqualified. Required information will be clearly marked on the entry form by an asterisk (“*”). Employees, officers and directors of Sponsor, and their respective parents, subsidiaries, agents and suppliers, as well as members of their immediate families (defined as parents, spouses, children, siblings and grandparents, also includes by marriage) and individuals living in the same household as those individuals are not eligible to enter or win. Sponsor and Administrator have the right to verify the eligibility of each entrant. Administrator reserves the right to disqualify entrants who display poor sportsmanship or other disparaging behavior on our sites or elsewhere.
*CONTEST PERIOD*
The Contest begins at 11:00 a.m. EST on December 1, 2011 and ends at 11:59 p.m. EST on December 25, 2011 (“Contest Period”). All entries (submissions) must be received on or before 11:59 p.m. EST on December 25, 2011 to be eligible.
Winner will be selected at random using random.org
Winner for each prize will be announced the following day at 11:00 a.m EST. Final winner will be announced December 26, 2011 at 11:00 a.m. EST.
*ENTRY CONDITIONS*
You can enter the Promotion through the Contests tab on the Hayneedle Fan Page on Facebook (the “Contest Website”). You may enter the Promotion by entering your email address. Entrants who enter through Facebook must first click on the “like” button for Hayneedle located on Facebook.com/Hayneedle and become a fan. You will receive one (1) entry into the drawing. There is a limit of one entry per person during the Contest Period.
Sponsor has no obligation to post or otherwise use any Submission and has no obligation to advise an entrant of an incomplete or otherwise non-compliant entry. Receipt of entries will not be acknowledged nor will proof of submission of an entry form be deemed proof of receipt. Sponsor and its respective parent, affiliate and subsidiary companies, agents, and representatives are not responsible for (i) lost, late, misdirected, damaged, stolen, altered, garbled, incorrect, incomplete, delayed, or undelivered Submissions, all of which will be void; (ii) any typographical or other errors in the offer or administration of the Contest, including, but not limited to, errors in any printing or posting or these Official Rules, the selection and announcement of any winner, or the distribution of any prize; (iii) any unauthorized third party use of any Submission; or (iv) the conduct of any participant or other person appearing in any Submission.
*GRANT OF RIGHTS*
You hereby grant to Sponsor the royalty-free, world-wide right and license to reproduce, distribute, transmit, publicly display, publicly perform or otherwise exploit, in whole or in part, and make changes to the Submission and all elements thereof in any manner, medium and/or format now or hereafter known, worldwide and in perpetuity, including, without limitation, on any websites, social media networks, or internet, mobile device or television programming, including for advertising, marketing, promotional and other purposes in connection with the “Secret Santa Sweepstakes” national ad campaign (collectively, the “Campaign”). You further agree that Sponsor may use your full or partial name, likeness, image, voice, statements, comments and biographical information in connection with the Campaign, without payment of additional consideration, and you waive any right of publicity or privacy in connection with any such use. Sponsor may assign, license, sublicense or otherwise convey the rights granted to it under these Terms in whole or in part to any person or entity, and the rights shall inure to the benefit of such persons and entities.
Disclosure Statement:
The information users provide will only be used for sending subscribers company updates and announcements. You can find hayneedle.com’s Privacy Policy at http://www.hayneedle.com/info/privacy.cfm?show_navigation=no By providing your email address, Hayneedle may email you company updates and announcements. You can unsubscribe at anytime
*WINNER SELECTION*
All eligible entries received during the Contest Period will be viewed by Sponsor. The winner will be randomly selected with the use of random.org. We will announce winners the following day that of when the product is released on or about 11:00 a.m. EST. Announcement and instructions for prize will be sent to the e-mail address supplied on the potential prize winner’s entry form. Each entrant is responsible for monitoring his/her e-mail account and postal mail for prize notification and receipt or other communications related to this Contest. If a potential prize winner cannot be reached by Administrator (or Sponsor) within fifteen (15) days, using the contact information provided at the time of entry, or if the prize is returned as undeliverable, that potential prize winner shall forfeit the prize. Upon the request of the Sponsor, the potential winner may be required to return an Affidavit of Eligibility, Release and Prize Acceptance Form and IRS W-9 form. If a potential winner fails to comply with these official rules, that potential winner will be disqualified. Prizes may not be awarded if an insufficient number of eligible entries are received.
*PRIZES*
List of 25 Prizes:
| Day | Sku | Retail | Category/Product |
| 1 | RFI012-1 | $ 94.98 | Radio Flyer Wagon |
| 2 | KF150-1 | $ 119.98 | Table Fountain |
| 3 | EMG369-1 | $ 59.98 | Popcorn Maker |
| 4 | HM098-1 | $ 59.99 | Foot Spa |
| 5 | ACB016-1 | $ 104.98 | Video Game Rocker |
| 6 | CELE248-1 | $ 129.98 | Telescope |
| 7 | WLW134-1 | $ 129.99 | Princess Play Tent |
| 8 | RTU013-1 | $ 179.98 | Patio Heater |
| 9 | EWB074-5 | $ 169.98 | Jewelry Armoire |
| 10 | UNB114-1 | $ 42.98 | Gift Basket |
| 11 | BPP020 | $ 119.99 | Pet Bed |
| 12 | TRCL003-1 | $ 119.99 | Luggage |
| 13 | UMC108-2 | $ 144.99 | Wall Mirror |
| 14 | CAPR056-1 | $ 59.99 | Coffee Maker |
| 15 | TGT064 | $ 109.98 | Cornhole Set |
| 16 | BGHF005-1 | $ 74.99 | Barware Set |
| 17 | GID018-1 | $ 84.98 | Compost Bin |
| 18 | CRY049-1 | $ 215.98 | iJuke Jukebox |
| 19 | KD234-1 | $ 129.98 | Dollhouse |
| 20 | PSA102-1 | $ 179.99 | Mixer |
| 21 | ACB001-1 | $ 69.98 | Kids Recliner |
| 22 | GLM003-1 | $ 99.98 | Ottoman |
| 23 | GG141-1 | $ 399.98 | Foosball Table |
| 24 | SII076-1 | $ 285.00 | Wine Cooler |
| 25 | LEC250-1 | $ 700.00 | Cookware Set |
Additional terms and conditions may apply to such prizes. Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed as part of a prize in these Official Rules and which may be associated with the award, acceptance, receipt and use of all or any portion of the awarded prize are solely the responsibility of the respective prize winner. No refunds or exchanges are permitted for any such prizes. ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE ARE SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.
All prizes are non-transferable. No substitution or cash equivalent of prizes is permitted. Prize redemption must be done in one order and can only be shipped to one address.
*CONTEST SUSPENSION*
Sponsor reserves the right to terminate, suspend or amend the Contest, without notice, and for any reason, including, without limitation, if Sponsor determines that the Contest cannot be conducted as planned or should a virus, bug, tampering or unauthorized intervention, technical failure or other cause beyond Sponsor’s control corrupt the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper play of the Contest. Any attempt to damage the content or operation of this Contest is unlawful and subject to possible legal action by Sponsor. In the event any tampering or unauthorized intervention may have occurred, Sponsor reserves the right to void suspect entries at issue.
*REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES*
You represent and warrant that the Submission is original and that you are the copyright owner of all aspects of the Submission or have otherwise obtained the full right and license to grant the rights granted to Sponsor for Sponsor’s use of the Submission in accordance with these Terms, without compensation of any kind or further notice to, or approval from, you or any third party.
*INDEMNIFICATION AND LIMITATION OF LIABILITY*
YOU HEREBY AGREE TO INDEMNIFY, RELEASE AND HOLD HARMLESS SPONSOR AND ITS PARENT, AFFILIATES, AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES, THE FACEBOOK PLATFORM, ADMINISTRATOR, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, AND ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS FROM ANY LIABILITY, DAMAGES, LOSSES, INJURY, COSTS AND EXPENSES (INCLUDING REASONABLE ATTORNEYS’ FEES AND DISBURSEMENTS) (“CLAIMS”) RESULTING IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, FROM YOUR PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, THE ACCEPTANCE, USE OR MISUSE OF ANY PRIZE THAT YOU MAY WIN, OR FROM SPONSOR’S USE OF THE SUBMISSION (INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY THIRD PARTY CLAIMS THAT YOUR SUBMISSION INFRINGES, MISAPPROPRIATES OR OTHERWISE VIOLATES THIRD PARTY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY OR PROPRIETARY RIGHTS). SPONSOR SHALL RETAIN CONTROL OVER THE DEFENSE AND SETTLEMENT OF ANY THIRD PARTY INFRINGEMENT CLAIMS. SPONSOR AND ITS PARENT, AFFILIATE AND SUBSIDIARY COMPANIES DO NOT MAKE ANY WARRANTIES, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO THE CONDITION, FITNESS OR MERCHANTABILITY OF ANY PRIZE. SPONSOR AND ITS PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, ADVERTISING AND PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, AND ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS DISCLAIM ANY LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE TO ANY COMPUTER SYSTEM RESULTING FROM ACCESS TO OR THE DOWNLOAD OF INFORMATION OR MATERIALS CONNECTED WITH THE CONTEST, AND YOU HEREBY WAIVE, ANY CLAIM FOR SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, INDIRECT, PUNITIVE, EXEMPLARY, OR INCIDENTAL DAMAGES (INCLUDING LOST OR ANTICIPATED INCOME, LOST REVENUES OR LOST PROFITS), ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE BREACH HEREOF BY SPONSOR OR ITS PARENTS, SUBSIDIARIES, AFFILIATES, ADVERTISING OR PROMOTIONAL AGENCIES, AND ALL THEIR RESPECTIVE OFFICERS, DIRECTORS, EMPLOYEES, REPRESENTATIVES AND AGENTS.
Turn Up the Style Dial: Exclusive Interview with Crystal Gentilello of Rue Magazine
Crystal Gentilello
Rue Magazine’s Editor in Chief Crystal Gentilello recently migrated to a hot new West Coast homestead that’s brimming with unique pieces and clever finds, including an array of lust-worthy pieces hand-picked from hayneedle.com. We caught up with Crystal for an exclusive one-on-one about the style and inspiration behind her to-die-for decor. Here’s what she had to say:
Talk us through some of the pieces you chose for your home and why.
I chose the ivory headboard because I loved the curvy shape and nailhead trim. I knew I wanted my bedroom to be a very feminine and romantic space and the headboard is definitely the crown jewel!
We love your choice for the headboard! What does that particular piece say about your bedroom?
Arch Nail Button Upholstered Headboard
The headboard is the statement piece in my bedroom. The ivory color offers a subtle contrast to the pale pink walls and the soft curves are perfect for the feminine feel I was trying to achieve. The headboard sets the tone for an unapologetically romantic space without feeling over-the-top girly. The ivory balances out the pale pink and makes the bedroom feel distinct from the rest of the apartment’s gray walls.
Also, the color of the headboard inspired the sheer curtains on the windows. The headboard makes for a beautiful focal point and everything else blends seamlessly into the background.
Tell us a little about your decision-making process for the dining table.
I chose the pedestal dining table because it’s elegant and neutral. The white contrasts the dark gray walls and the round shape encourages an easy flow of conversation at dinner parties. It introduces a round element to a rectangular room and really opens up the space for entertaining. I love that it can seat either four or six depending on who’s coming over. Because the dining table is white and the walls are painted a dark gray, I knew I wanted to introduce texture with burlap upholstered dining chairs that balance out those two colors. The result is a very intentionally layered look that I just love.
How does it affect the space?
The table defines the dining room, which is attached to the bedroom as opposed to the kitchen. Having a very clearly labeled space for eating and entertaining was essential since it’s not outwardly apparent.
You also chose two gray armchairs. What did you find appealing about them?
Stein World Wingback Chair
The two gray chairs in the living room are decidedly more masculine than other pieces in my home and I love the contrast they introduce. I wanted the living room to have a slightly moodier look and the gray upholstery definitely does the trick. Plus the nailhead detail gets me every time! They are so perfect in keeping with the moody palette I had used as inspiration for the space. They are comfortable and dramatic with brassy details that I just can’t get enough of!
The chairs definitely called for two oversized throw pillows to help them stand out from the gray walls. Simple striped pillows (a flea market find) are the perfect complement!
How would you define the “dramatic” look?
Dark paint, dark trim, and dark furnishings with plenty of natural light and sophisticated accents.
A huge thank you to Crystal for giving us insight into her decision making process and a look into her home. Read more about her home in the latest issue of Rue Magazine and check out Hayneedle to shop a selection of pieces hand-picked by Crystal.
Meet Hayneedle’s Stylist
Styling one’s home can take years – heck, even decades – to create and define. Hayneedle offers thousands of products to help you understand and build out your style. Defining your style is no easy task; sometimes it is even a mold of a few different styles and genres. Vallerie is Hayneedle’s stylist. She has been helping us create fun and inviting rooms and is here to help you.
To be a stylist one needs to have an understanding of materials, colors, and textures. It takes a special eye to understand how things relate and work together. You may have seen some of Vallerie’s work on Hayneedle.com. Some of our personal favorites are:
Want to ask Valerie some styling questions? Send your requests to social@hayneedle.com and she will answer your inquiries on our blog. Be sure to visit our Facebook page and catch some of Valerie’s tips when it comes to styling your home.
Hammock Day Giveaway
It’s our favorite holiday of the year! Hammock Day 2011 is finally upon us and we are celebrating the right way with a Twitter giveaway!
We want you to celebrate Hammock Day right, which is why throughout the day we are giving away eight different hammocks.
At the top of the hour starting at 8:00 am CST we are going to send out a tweet asking a question. Respond to our tweet with the answer to our question and be sure to include the hashtag #hayneedle. (If you don’t include the #hayneedle your tweet will not be entered to win). Winners will be chosen with random.org and announced prior to the next question.
There are going to be eight questions which means eight hammocks to be won. You can join in at anytime in the day.
Curious to know which hammocks we are giving away? Well wait no further. Here are the hammocks that will be given away. (Listed in order of what question they will be won).
Question 1 Prize: Island Bay Cotton Rope Hammock with Stand Set
Question 2 Prize: Byer of Maine Tahiti Fabric Hammock and Stand Set
Question 3 Prize: MAC Sports Oversized Portable Fabric Hammock Set
Question 4 Prize: Double Sun Lounger Hammock Bed
Question 5 Prize: XXL Mayan Hammock with Adjustable Stand
Question 6 Prize: Byer of Maine Aruba Jet Set Fabric Hammock and Stand Set
Question 7 hammock: Island Bay XL Rope Hammock with Metal Stand
Question 8 Prize: XL Brazilian Fabric Hammock with Adjustable Stand
To get the official rules please click here.
We hope you have a wonderful Hammock day and good luck!!
Hammock Day Giveaway: Rules
Official Rules
Hayneedle Hammock Day Giveaway
July 22 8AM CST – July 22 4PM CST
To provide fair and equal chances of winning to all participants the following are the rules for the Hammock Day Giveaway
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. A PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.
1. All winners must be 18 years of age or older and live in the United States. Employees, officers and directors of Hayneedle, Likeable Media (“Administrator”), and their respective parents, subsidiaries, agents and suppliers, as well as members of their immediate families (defined as parents, spouses, children, siblings, grandparents, and family by marriage) and individuals living in the same household as those individuals are not eligible to enter or win. Sponsor and Administrator have the right to verify the eligibility of each entrant.
2. Entering Giveaway and Choosing and Contacting Winners.
Winners of giveaway will be chosen at random from entries received. Entrants must send entries using the correct giveaway entry method, and any other specific information requested in the giveaway announcement. Hayneedle is not responsible for and will not consider incomplete or incorrect entries, or entries sent but not received by Hayneedle for any reason, as potential giveaway winners.
3. GIVEAWAY TIMING/DESCRIPTION: The Giveaway will begin at 8:00 AM Central Standard Time on July 22, 2011 and ends at 4:00 PM Central Standard Time on July 22, 2011 (the “Promotion Period”). Hayneedle will post a new question at the top of every hour using hashtag #Hayneedle. One winner will be chosen and announced at random every hour; 8 winners total.
4. Winners of the giveaway will be contacted at the Twitter account used to enter the giveaway, and the person receiving and replying to the winner announcement message will be considered the winner unless they specify another person within the reply message as the winner. The winner will need to email social@hayneedle.com with their shipping information. Hayneedle will mail the giveaway prize to the address supplied to the recipient of the winner announcement message.
5. HOW TO ENTER: To enter, you must have or create a non-private Twitter account. If you already have a Twitter account, you will have to sign into your account. If you are not an existing member of Twitter, you will be required to follow the directions and join Twitter. When you join Twitter, you are indicating that you have read and agree to accept the Twitter Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Membership to Twitter.com is free. To enter the Giveaway, sign in at Twitter.com, go to URL http://Twitter.com/Hayneedle and click “Follow” to follow @Hayneedle on Twitter. At the top of every hour, Hayneedle will post a new question using hashtag #Hayneedle, Eligible Participants must respond by tweet via @reply to @Hayneedle including the hashtag #Hayneedle. For each question, one (1) random winner will be selected before the next question is announced. Tweets must be received by the end of each hour. No person may enter any giveaway more than once using multiple accounts.
6. Entries will not be judged or scored. Entries become property of the Sponsor and will not be acknowledged. Twitter’s clock will be the official timekeeping device for the Giveaway. Entries will be deemed to have been submitted by the authorized Twitter account holder associated with the username used to enter via Twitter. The authorized account holder is designed as the natural who is assigned to a username by Twitter. You must enter using only a Twitter.com account subscribed to and registered in your name. The potential winner may be required to provide Sponsor with proof that he/she is the authorized account holder of the user name/Twitter account associated with the winning entry. Entries that are mechanically reproduced, copied, illegible, incomplete or inaccurate are void. Incomplete Entries or Entries not complying with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification. Entries that have been generated by a script, macro, bot or any other automated means will be deemed void. Entry must be in keeping with the Sponsor’s image, and may not be offensive, nor can it defame or invade upon the publicity rights or privacy of any person or otherwise infringe upon any person or entity’s intellectual property, personal or proprietary rights, as determined by Sponsor in its sole discretion. Incomplete entries or entries not complying with these Official Rules are subject to disqualification. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, incomplete, illegible, damaged or misdirected entries. Sponsor’s decisions are final on all matters relating to the Giveaway. Sponsor reserves all rights, including the right to edit, publish, use, adapt, modify, or dispose of any entry, proper names, likenesses, and photographs for advertising and promotional purposes in all media (including, but not limited to, the internet) without additional compensation, except where prohibit by law. If an entrant changes his/her Twitter account after he/she enters the Giveaway, it is his/her sole responsibility to notify the Sponsor by (postal) mail notice to Sponsor’s address to be received by the end of the Promotion Period.
7. Only one @reply will be accepted per question for each Twitter account used to enter the giveaway will be considered for giveaway entry. No person may enter any giveaway more than once using multiple accounts.
8. PRIZES:
Terms and conditions may apply. Incidental expenses and all other costs and expenses which are not specifically listed as part of a prize in these Official Rules and which may be associated with the award, acceptance, receipt and use of all or any portion of the awarded prize are solely the responsibility of the respective prize winner.
ALL FEDERAL, STATE AND LOCAL TAXES ASSOCIATED WITH THE RECEIPT OR USE OF ANY PRIZE IS SOLELY THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE WINNER.
9. For each question, one (1) random winner will be selected before the next question is announced. Tweets must be received by the end of each hour. Once they are announced, the winners will be expected to email social@hayneedle.com and Hayneedle will respond in order to get their shipping information. Failure to email Hayneedle shall mean that the winner forfeits the prize. Hayneedle is not required to award elsewhere any prizes forfeited by the chosen winner(s). Winners are solely responsible for all taxes and/or fees that may be incurred. Each prize winner must supply Hayneedle with his/her legal name, mailing address, birth day, and daytime phone number.
10. Winner may not request substitutions of prize winnings. All winners are solely responsible for any and all taxes and/or fees, and all such additional costs that may be incurred.
11. Neither Hayneedle or Hayneedle sponsors, nor employees of Hayneedle or sponsors may be held liable for any warranty, costs, damage, injury, or any other claims incurred as a result of usage of any winners of a prize once possession has been taken of the product by winner. Hayneedle is not liable for any loss arising out of or in connection with or resulting from any giveaway promoted by Hayneedle.
12. Winner list requests will only be accepted after the Promotion end date and not later than August 22, 2011 For the winner list, please send a request email to Claudia@likeable.com
13. Hayneedle reserves the right to alter any rules of the giveaway anytime
14. Sponsor. Hayneedle, 9394 WEST DODGE ROAD, SUITE 300, OMAHA NE, 68114-3319
Dog Days of Summer
The official start of Summer is only a week away. Make sure to take time to kick back and catch up on some much needed relaxation. There is no better way to relax than hanging with your feet up in a hammock.
What is your favorite way to kick back in the summer?
Barware makes the perfect gift
Tis the season for house warmings, engagements, and weddings. One of the best gifts one can give for these occasions is a beautiful set of barware. There are many styles of barware that a person can choose from. So if buying as a gift think of your friend’s decor and personality.
If the person you are buying for tends to be a bit more classical then consider something along these lines:
If the recipient is a bit more contemporary they might enjoy one of these sets:
If you are looking for the perfect gift for the wine drinker then here are a few wine accessories that might suit their fancy:
Remember to keep in mind the person you are buying for and you are sure to give them a gift that they are sure to love. You can find all of the above items on Hayneedle.com. Happy gifting!
Calling All Bloggers!
The days are getting longer and summer is right around the corner; there is no better time to enjoy your backyard than now. To help make your backyard the most enjoyable Hayneedle has launched our Backyard Escape application on Facebook. Now you can create your dream backyard using some of your favorite Hayneedle products.
The best part is that just by creating a backyard you are entered to win a $10,000 Hayneedle shopping spree to makeover your backyard! Each week we randomly draw two winners to receive $100 gift certificates.
Bloggers, Why should you be even more excited?
For those who blog about the contest we have sweetened the pot! When you create your backyard, blog about it, and send it to social@hayneedle.com you are entered to win an additional prize. Three bloggers will win $500 shopping sprees* to Hayneedle and five bloggers will win $100 gift certificates to Hayneedle. How fun is that!?
We are also going to highlight the backyards you create on our Facebook page and mention your blog to 106,000 (and growing) Facebook friends. All entries must be submitted to social@hayneedle.com no later than June 22 2011 at 11:59 ET. We will notify the winners of their prize on June 23, 2011.
If you are interested in more information please feel free to contact social@hayneedle.com or through Twitter, @Hayneedle!
*shopping sprees can only ship to one address and only one order.
Shopping? Mom’s the word…
As Mother’s Day approaches (and it is), take a moment to remember she who is responsible for your, well, being. Whether you’ll be shopping for your own mother, the mother of your children, or the mother of all gifts, there’s no doubt you realize how irreplaceable she is. To keep her in your thoughts as you search for special gifts this spring, we’d like to share some of our favorite quotes about mothers… enjoy!
“A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie.”
- Tenneva Jordan
“All mothers are working mothers.”
- Unknown
“God could not be everywhere, and therefore he made mothers.”
- Rudyard Kipling
Insanity is hereditary; you get it from your children.
- Sam Levenson
There is only one pretty child in the world, and every mother has it.
- Chinese Proverb
A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.
- Washington Irving
There’s still plenty of time to find the perfect gift for yo mama, so be sure to get it right. Whether you shop with us at Hayneedle or not, please make sure to remember just how special mothers are. Happy Mother’s Day!
It’s a Girl! Let the Decorating Begin!
I announced a few weeks ago that I am expecting my first baby in early August. My husband and I were thrilled to find out that a little girl will be joining our household, and that meant I could start planning the nursery.
I immediately started fawning over cribs, dressers, paint colors, and mobiles. I don’t know what it is, but the nursery is the first room I’ve ever planned out. My husband jokes that the baby room will be our first complete room, sadly I have to agree. I want a nursery that will transition from infant to toddler; for the room not to be overly pink; and for the room to include personal touches.
A tip for planning your nursery is to first pick out what your fabrics are going to be and then pick out the paint color and furniture. My mother-in-law is an amazing seamstress and is making our nursery bedding and decor. If it wasn’t for my mother-in-law, I’d be purchasing one of Hayneedle’s baby bedding sets. They have so many great options to choose from.
I went to the local fabric store and found this amazing pattern:
I paired this fabric with green walls and black polka dots. So far I’m loving the color combination.
The next step was to pick out the furniture. We immediately went to Hayneedle’s Nursery section and browsed through all of the crib options. If you’re planning to match all the furniture in the room, I highly recommend browsing through the Nursery Collections.
We were only in the market for a crib and a changer, so our searched landed us on the Graco Sarah 4 in 1 Convertible Crib Collection in Cherry:
We immediately put the crib together so we could see where we wanted it to live and so we could plan the rest of the nursery furniture around the crib. We still need to pick out our glider, refinish the dresser and shelves, and make the wall art, but here is a view of our nursery in progress:
As we make more progress, we’ll be sure to share the updates, but I want to know what colors are you choosing for your nursery? Share your ideas and comments below!
-Angie
Making the Outdoors Great
At Hayneedle, we love our outdoor furniture. You know this. We’ve got everything you need to create a beautiful, personal outdoor space that matches your home, personality, and entertaining needs. But, once you’re out there… what do you do? After a while, the same things that irk you or bore you indoors are going to catch up to you if you insist on merely lounging. After all, gorgeous weather and great furniture won’t make your friends smarter or your kids less “but Mooooommm…” So, whether you’ll be sipping Lemon Iced Tea while watching the kids or Long Island Iced Tea while kidding with friends, it’s a good idea to plan for some outdoor activity.
Make waves
If you’re lucky enough to have a pool in your backyard or ocean at your beach, the outdoor entertainment question is a no-brainer – swim! Pool games and pool floats make great additives to the big drink – splash in a dash of playtime for the kids and a kick of sports or tanning for adults. When your energy starts to sink to the bottom, dry out under an umbrella or on waterproof poolside lounge furniture.
Land the perfect shot
Alright, so you’re landlocked. A lack of water doesn’t have to dehydrate outdoor activity, though – leisure sports to the rescue! Games aren’t just for kids… in fact, some of the greatest backyard classics will look downright foreign to the 3DTV- and internet-addled minds of today’s youth. But a time-tested game like croquet or bocce ball is a great way to get the entire family or a group of friends up out of the patio furniture and into the yard. If your crowd is more into beer and bragging rights, try one of the newer, rowdier yard games like cornhole or ladder ball.
Drink it in
When in entertaining doubt, ply your guests with alcohol. Nothing spices up with sitting circle blues like a mojito or a margarita. Stocking your kitchen (or outdoor island, if you’re lucky) with glasses, blenders, serving trays, and a sturdy wine rack will make sure your patio never leaves your guests parched for conversation. Killer drink recipes or tasty microbrews aren’t hard to come by these days, and just may be the ticket to making your outdoor space hazily memorable.
Can you dig it?
Let’s face it – you imagine your patio to be always teeming with activity, but sometimes you’re out there alone. Getting into gardening is a great way to utilize your outdoor space, and requires visits only from sunshine and rain. A barren yard is often the result of poor planting – use the best garden benches, wagons, potting benches, and hose reels to keep your greenery green and your flowers fresh. When everyone does come over, they’ll notice you’ve been working out(side).
Now get out there!
Go Maintenance-Free!
This week at Hayneedle, we’ve been talking a lot about “maintenance-free” outdoor furniture. But what does that mean, exactly? The end of telling your chair that it looks nice every time it asks?
If you’re anything like us, you went to drag out the summer furniture at the first hint of warmth. If you’re really like us, the effort was totally premature and your hopes of fun in the sun have already been dashed at least twice. But if you unearthed the ole’ table and chairs to discover a world of rust, dust, and disappointment… there’s a better way. Maintenance-free patio furniture is what’s cookin’ this year, and it look better and lasts longer than you could possibly expect.
Just think about it – nice-looking cushioned chairs that you can blast with the hose or leave in the sun? A dining set you can drench that doesn’t look like the kids table? That’s a seriously relaxing summer in the backyard. To get there, you’ll have to forget about fancy woods and delicate wickers that need treatment, care, and general worry and embrace some new materials.
This stuff is made from aluminum, resin-wicker, and recycled plastic. Each of these materials is unique, but at least one of them is perfect for your yard and your style. Here’s a little background on each -
Aluminum
A super-lightweight metal that never rusts and can be powder-coated to take on the look of just about anything. You’ll find it paired with textilene slings and top-of-the-line outdoor cushions for the look that fits your life. A great choice for furniture that gets moved around or put away often.
Resin-Wicker
You know traditional wicker is comfortable and versatile, but you also know it cracks easier than an egg. Resin wicker never breaks, cracks, or deforms and can be crafted into any number of traditional or modern shapes. It’s good and heavy, making it a perfect solution for high-traffic or high-wind areas.
Recycled Plastic/Poly-Wood
It looks and feels like real wood, but it’s completely waterproof, fadeproof, and never expands or contracts. You’ll find Adirondack chairs, benches, and picnic tables made from recycled plastic. Seriously, we wish houses could be made out of this stuff.
So, as you start dreaming of the dog days and the outdoor fun they bring, consider your outdoor furniture situation. You don’t have to clean out the hardware store’s supply of Rust-B-Gone every spring, and you don’t have to spend another post-barbecue evening scrubbing down the table. With maintenance-free outdoor furniture, all you have to do is get the hose!
Be sure to check out our sale on all maintenance-free outdoor furniture featuring up to 30% off and free shipping!
From 2.5 to 3.5 – Oh, Baby!
I have been a quiet contributor to the Hayneedle Blog for sometime now, but I think it is time I come out of the shadows and start sharing a little more with you guys. First off, my name is Angie, and I’ve worked at Hayneedle for three wonderful years. A lot has happened in my time at Hayneedle; I got married, got a dog (Lander – so cute – I’ll share pictures later), and now am expecting my first child!
In the past I have written about buying the right baby furniture, decorating the nursery, and other various baby-related topics, but boy has my perspective changed. I have many nieces and nephews and coworkers who have started families, so I thought my research on the topic of preparing for baby was sound. I was confident that I would be the most prepared expectant mother when my husband and I decided to go down the path of starting a family. Now that I’m experiencing the fun (and stress) of planning for a baby firsthand, I have a humbled perspective of what it takes to get “baby ready.”
As I go through my journey of being an expectant mother, I’ll bring you along for the ride, from deciding which stroller/travel system is best to deciding how to decorate the nursery. Feel free to offer your opinions and parenting insight, or to ask questions. I look forward to going through this journey with you!
-Angie
Twitter : angiekub
Free Weeks of Fitness WINNER!!!
And…. Stretch! Free Weeks of Fitness is over! We hope you’ve enjoyed the last three weeks as much as we have – we’ve learned a lot about fitness, muscle building, healthy eating, and 101 different ways to make ourselves feel better. As you go forward in 2011, do your best to stay on top of your workout plan and make the most of this year. But for now… on to the big news – WINNERS! All winners chosen using Random.org.
Each of our Week 3 Winners will receive a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate, and they are…
Winner 1: Megan Wallace Rogers
Winner 2: A Marie Hj Saver
Winner 3: Alyssa Spencer McVey
Congratulations to Megan, Marie, and Alyssa! Use those gift certificates towards something to help you stay healthy, fit, and happy!
Aaaannnnd… it’s time for our Grand Prize Winner! Everyone who “Liked” every product during Free Weeks of Fitness was entered into the drawing for a $5,000 Hayneedle Home Gym Shopping Spree. With this much shopping power, the winner will be able to build the home gym of their dreams! Goodbye excuses, hello shiny new equipment! And the lucky winner is…
Maria Mertens!
Congratulations, Maria! And thank you to everyone who read along, participated, or won a prize during Free Weeks of Fitness. Just because the contest is over, don’t lose your fitness focus. There are tons of resources all across the web to help you get and stay fit just as we have. Have fun!
Whoa, Baby! Another Contest!
We’re proud to announce the newest addition to the Hayneedle giveaway family – the Destination: Nursery Giveaway! This little baby kicks off this Thursday, Jan. 27. All you have to do is write an essay – tell us why you or a friend deserves to win a Hayneedle Dream Nursery. Submissions will be taken until Feb. 3. On Feb. 4, the blog-reading public will vote on which essay they feel deserves the $5,000 Hayneedle Nursery Shopping Spree. Voting closes on Feb. 9, and the winner will be announced on Feb. 10. You only get one vote for who’s headed to Destination: Nursery, so be sure to make it count! More details to follow on our Facebook page.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 19
Today is Day 19 of Free Weeks of Fitness… the last day! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all five (5) products this week qualify. Go!
Also, this is your last chance to Like ALL of the products highlighted in the Free Weeks of Fitness. Like all the products by Sunday 1/23/2011 before we draw the winner of the $5000 Hayneedle Home Gym Sopping Spree.
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Today, Laura from Stretching in Heels is back one last time help you strengthen your core!
One of the most important parts of a workout plan is the core because it’s the stabilization point of the entire body. Without a strong core, the other parts of the body won’t function correctly and become injured easily. Have you ever had a lower back injury? If so, it probably wasn’t all because you strained your back, but could have been partially from a weak core. From crunches and sit-ups to planks, you can basically workout your core with anything.
Central Abdominals – Crunches are a great exercise to work your central abdominals. Simply lay on your back with your knees bent and contract your abs to raise your shoulders off the floor. You can cross your arms over your chest or put them behind your head for this exercise. You can also do a full sit up to workout the same muscles (bringing your chest up to your knees), but I wouldn’t recommend this unless your abs are strong already. Do three sets of 20-30 of these for a nice ab workout.
Lower abdominals – The reverse crunch is a great exercise for your lower abdominals. Get into a crunch position, but instead of lifting your chest up, lift your feet off the floor (knees bent) and bring your knees in to your chest. This can be combined with a basic crunch as well. Another lower abdominal workout is the leg hold or lift. Lay on your back with your hands under your lower back to help support it. Lift your legs about six inches off the floor and hold for 30 seconds. You can also raise and lower your legs for the leg lift version. Another three sets of 20-30 reps will give your lower abs a nice burn.
Obliques (side abdominals) – Crossover crunches are an easy way to work your oblique muscles. These are just like doing a crunch except you reach up and across your body to the outside of the opposite leg to work the outside of your abdominals. Just be sure you really cross over with the reaching shoulder to get a deep crunch. Three sets of 20-30 total are good for these as well. Side leans are another effective oblique workout. Standing with a 10 lb. weight in your right hand, lean to your left and squeeze your left oblique muscle. Release the muscle to lean to the right. This will work the left oblique with the contraction and lifting of the weight. Do three sets of 15 of these on each side and you’ll be feeling it tomorrow.
Total core – The plank is a great way to workout your entire core. Lay on your stomach with your forearms on the floor. Come up into the plank position, balancing on your toes and forearms and hold as long as you can. Be sure to keep your body nice and flat. It’s good to hold this exercise for 30-60 seconds doing three in a row with 30 second breaks in between. You can do a side plank as well, which is the same except you are balancing on one arm instead of two and working your oblique closer to the floor. Hold these for the same amount of time.
Remember that the core is so important in any training program and will help you avoid many potential injuries. So work that core!
Today’s featured item is the GoFit Ultimate Pro Gym. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 18
Today is Day 18 of Free Weeks of Fitness… we can see the finish! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all five (5) products this week. Go! Tomorrow is the last day of Free Weeks of Fitness. Make sure you’ve gone back and Liked all the products featured for your chance to win the $5,000 Hayneedle Home Gym Shopping Spree.
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Diane, from the Everything Yoga Blog, is back to share how to beat the winter time (aka snow shoveling) blues.
Snow Shoveling Backache Yoga
It’s looking like a winter wonderland from my back door. The upside of the snow – getting cozy in front of the fireplace, using the cold snowy weather as an excuse to tackle clutter inside, sledding on the grounds of the golf course nearby, and taking in the breathtaking beauty of the snowy scene before me. The downside of the snow – shoveling. And shoveling. And shoveling. There’s a lot of snow outside, so that means lots o’ shoveling to dig out. And even if you have a snow blower, you still have to push THAT heavy thing around!
All of that shoveling and pushing can be quite stressful on the back. I know that after hours spent clearing the driveway and walkway, I’ve come away feeling a bit stiff in my lower back area.
Here’s a short yoga practice to help with the rigors of snow shoveling:
- Single Arm Raises – Stand with your feet a comfortable distance apart. On an inhale, raise one arm up from the front above your head. On an exhale, lower the arm back down to your side. Do the same for the other arm (raising on an inhale, lowering on an exhale). Repeat 3x each side.
- Downward Dog Vinyasa — Come down to Child’s Pose (sitting on heels, forehead to the floor, arms resting in front of you on the floor with the elbows soft). On an inhale, come up onto all fours (gently raise your chin at the top of the inhale, feeling a slight arch in your back) and on an exhale, come into Downward Dog. Inhale back to all fours and exhale back into Child’s Pose. Repeat 6x.
- Chakravakasana — From Child’s Pose, inhale up to all fours (raising your chin gently at the top of the inhale) and exhale back down to Child’s Pose. Repeat 3x. NOTE: At the top of the inhale, your chin should be comfortably raised and you’ll feel an arching in your back. As soon as you start to inhale, lower your head and gradually come back to Child’s Pose (ending with your forehead on the ground as you complete your exhale). This isn’t a Cat/Cow movement – rather than the upper part of your back feeling the stretch, this movement works the lower back.
- Lying Alternate Knee to Chest – Lie on your back and take a few deep breaths. Inhale and then on an exhale, bring one knee to your chest (the other leg stays straight on the ground) and bring your forehead to that knee. Repeat with the other leg. Do each leg 6x.
- Urdhva Prasrta Padasana to Apanasana to Dvi Pada Pitham - From a lying position, bend your knees and rest your feet flat on the floor. Now take your feet off the floor and rest your hands on your knees. On an inhale, raise your feet to the ceiling and your arms up and back to rest overhead on the floor (Urdhva Prasrta Padasana). On an exhale, bend your knees while simultaneously lifting your arms off the ground bringing your hands back onto your knees (essentially, you’re returning to the starting position) and bringing your knees into your chest (you do this with your core strength rather than pull your knees in with your hands) [Apanasana]. NOTE: By the time your knees are in toward your chest, you should have exhaled all of the air out. As you do this feel your shoulders on the floor. Inhale your feet (your knees stay bent) and arms down to the floor and raise your hips towards the sky (Dvi Pada Pitham). Exhale and bring your knees towards your chest (hands resting on the knees). Repeat this sequence 4x.
- Savasanaaaaahh – Lie with legs straight or with knees bent feet flat on the floor and rest for 3-5 minutes. Feel your body melt into the floor. Relax in knowing that you’ve completed your snow shoveling for the day.
Whether you’re playing in the snow or working to clear it away, your back will thank you for a little extra care. And for those of you lucky folks who are in a part of the world in which you aren’t getting snow- that’s no excuse to neglect your back. They say that you’re only as young as your spine is flexible.
Namaste!
Today’s featured item is the Stick-e Forever Young Yogi Bundle. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (21 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 17
Today is Day 17 of Free Weeks of Fitness… the final stretch! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all five (5) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Today, Laura from Stretching in Heels is back, and she’s going to share a her take on cardiovascular training.
Cardiovascular training is a huge part of any workout and fitness plan. Whether it’s a brisk walk or running a marathon, getting your heart pumping is a great way to not only get in shape but also burn extra calories. As a marathon runner, getting my feet out hitting the pavement is the best form of not only cardio, but therapy. There’s nothing like going out for a morning run to get your blood pumping and start your day right. But if you’re just beginning to workout, you don’t have to be a marathon runner. The general rule of thumb is to do 30 minutes of cardio 3-5 days a week. So get out there and take your first step to a fitter you.
Going for a walk or run is often the easiest way to do cardio. You can do it anywhere and all you really need are shoes. Now, if you are living in an area without a temperate climate, this can be a challenge – which is where the treadmill comes into play. Whether you’re a seasoned veteran or not, the treadmill is an easy piece of equipment to use. Home treadmills are more affordable than ever, so you never have an excuse to not workout. When you run, try adding in some intensity by running hills or raising the incline on the treadmill.
Another popular cardio option is the elliptical machine. This is the machine that simulates running/climbing stairs while taking the impact off your knees. You can adjust the intensity and sometimes the incline to make your workout harder or easier. It’s a great way to burn calories without putting stress on your joints, and still get in a really tough workout.
Climbing stairs are a great way to tone your legs and glutes. If you can, try running stairs at a local high school or college track. A great workout would be to run the stairs on the straightaways of the track, up and down each flight, and then run the turns on the actual track. You could do this for a mile or two (4-8 laps) for a great workout. Stair climbers are a great indoor way to work your legs, as well. Try playing with the intensity/speed on the machines to give yourself a real challenge.
Biking is a cardio workout option you can do outside or inside. It can be a great exercise to do with friends and family as well. Try riding your bike on some rolling hills if you have that option. Or adjust the intensity of a stationary exercise bike to simulate hills. If you’re up for a real challenge, SPIN class is always a fun option. The classes are intense, but definitely worth the work.
There are lots of options for adding cardio to your current or planned workout routine, and no effective plan is complete with it. Remember, you don’t want to lift weights every day (muscles need to recover), and cardio is most effective when done 3 – 5 days per week. You can also incorporate cardio into your weight routine by adding some jumping jacks, mountain climbers, or burpies to your weight sets. Just put them in-between sets and you will see a real difference in the intensity of your weight workouts.
Today’s featured item is the Schwinn 420 Elliptical Trainer. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 16
Today is Day 16 of Free Weeks of Fitness… we’re SO close to reaching our goal! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all five (5) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Today, Laura from Stretching in Heels is back, and she’s going to share a few healthy recipes and cooking tips. Bon appetit!
Healthy Eating Tips and Recipes
Everyone knows that eating right is an important part of living a healthy lifestyle. But do you know how much of a factor it is in losing weight and staying healthy? Some people say that your diet accounts for 70% of your weight loss program. The other 30 is cardio and weight training. That’s a huge percentage of your every day effort to being healthy! The recipes you’re using and the foods you’re buying contribute to this percentage. Below you’ll find the top five things I do to keep my eating in tiptop shape, along with some suggestions of recipes for healthy eating!
- Track all your calories – you think you may be eating the correct amount of calories, but the truth is that most people overestimate their calorie intake by 30%. That’s a lot when you are trying to lose weight or maintain your current fitness level. So, keep track of those calories by either writing them down or track them through an online program or app.
- Drink LOTS of water – water is essential in helping your body work more efficiently and also aids in food digestion. Water is also essential for your body when you’re working out more. Adults should consume at least 64 ounces of water a day if they aren’t working out and more if they are.
- Plan your meals – planning your meals ahead of time is very helpful when it comes to snacking. If you pack your meals the night before or morning of your workday, then you’re more likely to eat what you have than eat things you shouldn’t.
- Eat smaller portions more often – You should eat 6 times a day if possible. Eating breakfast, snack, lunch, snack, dinner and evening snack are a good way to break up your meals. Just be sure you eat every three hours or so.
- Get rid of the stuff you don’t need – I know we all still have tons of bad things in our cupboards. Leftover candy from the holidays, ice cream in the freezer, that stash of candy for when you just need it. Well, it’s time to get rid of those things you really don’t need so you aren’t tempted to eat them.
So, how do you do these things? By eating healthy items and using healthier recipes, of course! Think about what you eat for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Here are a few of my favorite simple recipes for delicious meals.
Breakfast – One egg, two egg whites with turkey bacon on a sandwich thin – First, cook two slices of turkey bacon in a frying pan. Then scramble one egg and two egg whites in a separate bowl and add to the cooked turkey bacon. Make a simple omelet by folding the cooked eggs in half with the bacon. You can fold this in half again and place it in a sandwich thin and wrap in a paper towel for a delicious to-go breakfast. (280 calories)
Dinner – I love to make dinner in my Crockpot. And there are TONS of great recipes for low fat Crockpot meals. My favorite is for Jambalaya. Simply mix uncooked cubed chicken breast, turkey sausage (sliced), chicken sausage (sliced), fat free/low sodium chicken broth, diced tomatoes (low sodium), brown rice, chopped celery, onions and green bell peppers, some Cajun spice, hot sauce and a bay leaf to the crock pot and cook on high for six hours. You can really add whatever you want to it to make it your own recipe but using the low sodium products along with turkey and chicken will keep the calories down. (380-550 per serving depending on products used)
Snacks – I love to eat popcorn (low fat microwave), protein bars (watch the sugar in these), apples with reduced fat peanut butter, oranges, bananas, rice cakes, and other healthy snacks throughout the day. Just remember to keep your snacks at around 100-200 calories.
Bonn Appetite!
Today’s featured item is the DKN Technology Xg3 Whole Body Vibration Machine. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 15
Today is Day 15 of Free Weeks of Fitness… it’s the last week, we’re almost there!
Announcing our Week 2 Winners! Each winner will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to Hayneedle. Congratulations! Winners chosen using Random.org.
Winner 1: Simone Traverse
Winner 2: Nancy Hall
Winner 3: Tamara Bennington
Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all five (5) products this week. Go! Make sure you have liked all the products featured in Free Weeks of Fitness by the end of the week so you are entered to win the $5000 Hayneedle Home Gym Shopping Spree.
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here.
Now, let’s get into today’s post. Chris from Zen to Fitness is back.
5 Simple Tips to more Muscle
1. Work Out Less
This isn’t quite as it sounds – but it does apply to heavy lifting. Our muscles need time to grow and repair when we’re out of the gym. After reading work from Dr. Doug McGuff in his book, Body by Science, it’s clear our muscles only need a certain amount of stimulation to trigger growth. What’s optimal? I would say lifting heavy weights with intensity once or twice a week is more than enough. Other days, focus on cardio, sports, yoga, bodyweight circuits, running, and other fitness-building activities. You’ll notice not only real muscle-building, but that you’re starting to feel great!2-
2. Know When to Quit
When form and rep speed of your movements slips, it’s time to quit the set and rest up. I like going for 25 reps for a body part keeping weight fairly high and rest under 60 seconds. Go through as many sets as you need to achieve roughly 25 reps with the selected weight. Just remember to stop as soon as your lifting speed slows down or you lose that spring – lift explosively and do the negative slowly.
The same goes for sprinting. When doing sprints, it’s time to stop once you lose your explosiveness and your legs start to feel heavy. For me this is normally after 5-7 sets with about a 1 minute rest.
- Try 8 sets of 3 reps
- A Simple workout of 5×5 Squats and Pull-ups
- Make sure you try to progress with the weights you are pushing
The reason for stopping the set once your rep speed slows has to do with muscle fibers firing; there is simply no need to go further. Going beyond this point will only cause injuries and overstraining of the tendons rather than muscle growth and adaptation.
3. Intensity
This is key for me. Keeping things intense in the gym not only makes things fun but it’s the best way to work out. Make sure you work out with little or no rest this is great as it kills two birds with one stone. You will be working out your muscles and getting a cardiovascular workout at the same time.
The beauty of this is that you will empty out your muscle glycogen stores during the workout, plus you will increase your EPOC (excess post-exercise oxygen consumption, or afterburn). This means you’ll burn more calories over the next 24-72 hours, plus improve nutrient partitioning – allowing your muscles to act like sponges soaking up what you eat and putting it to good use. How CrossFit/Intensity Works
CrossFit is great at this. Their workouts usually take less than 15 minutes; they’re fun and intense and provide real benefits in a short amount of time. Check out SimpleFit for no-equipment workouts or the BrandX Scaled CrossFit workouts for some pointers.
4. Adequate Nutrition
In order to grow more muscle, you need to provide with well-balanced nutrition. This doesn’t mean eat as much as you like and try to force feed your way to muscle growth. Just eat when you’re hungry, and stick to whole foods. Another tip I like is to keep eating away from bedtime. This works in two ways – it stops fat gain (from experience, trust me it works) and it improves HGH release through your sleep as you won’t be tied up digesting your food during the first few hours of your sleep.
Keep your protein fairly high and eat lots of good fats (fish oil, avocados, coconut oil, salmon, sardines, eggs, nuts, etc). This will not only keep you full, but these foods are harder for your body to breakdown and therefore provide you with satiety and energy throughout the day.
Snack on things like carrots, strawberries, and other fruits and veggies. For a great healthy dip when snacking, I love a homemade guacamole or salsa using some cut up peppers for crunch.
5. Rest
How do you know if you’re not getting enough sleep? Check out this post I did on sleep a while back; it outlines some of the signs of a tired mind and how to get better sleep.
You don’t need to be getting 9-11 hours of sleep every night to grow or recover, but the more solid 7-9 hours of good sleep you get per night, the better. Do whatever you need to in order to get off to a good night’s rest. If that means reading a book, watching some TV before bed, or even having a small glass of wine after a stressful day then go for it. It’s not only muscle growth that you get out of a good night – you’ll also function far better mentally the next day. If you’ve had a day recently when you were easily irritated or more on edge than normal, chances are a tired mind and lack of sleep played a part.
So get plenty of rest and relaxation. If you can afford it, going for a neck and back massage once a week is a great way to promote relaxation and break away from stress. I also find a bit of old fashioned running or swimming a great way to relax on an off day. Sometimes I will just grab my running shoes and hit the road for 20-30 minutes – with a good playlist of music, I always come back feeling refreshed and relaxed.
Today’s featured item is the Bowflex PR3000 Home Gym. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (21 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 14
Today is Day 14 of Free Weeks of Fitness… feel the burn! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Today, Laura is back from Stretching in Heels, and she’s going to lead us through some stretching exercises.
Most people don’t realize it, but stretching can be one of the most important parts of your workout routine. Not only does it help with flexibility, but also keeps your muscles in tip-top shape so they can continue to tone and grow. Without stretching, your muscles are tight and unable to function to their potential – leading to injury or overcompensation of other muscles. Have you ever had pain in your upper back? Did you think it was just your back? Your chest muscles could have been tight, causing your back to overcompensate. As a marathon runner, I understand the importance of stretching. If our leg muscles are tight we can’t perform as well when we run. Today I’ve provided some simple leg stretches to help you loosen up after a workout.
You can start with a hamstring stretch. Standing with your hips shoulder-width apart and your knees relaxed, slowly bend and the waist to stretch the back of your upper legs. Remember to keep your legs slightly bent and don’t bounce in the stretch. Hold this for 30 seconds, and then stand up nice and slow. Next you can do a standing quadriceps stretch. You may want to hold onto something for balance. Standing on your left leg, bring your right foot up towards your glutes and grab your toe or ankle to hold your foot up behind you. Keep your knee in line with your body and close to your other knee, and your foot behind your glutes to maintain good form. Hold this for 30 seconds and then switch sides.
Your calves are next. You can stretch your calves by putting your toe up on a wall and your heel on the floor then lean slowly towards the wall. You can also do this by going into a forward lunge keeping your back heel on the floor to stretch the calf on your back leg. Hold these for 30 seconds and then switch sides. Now go into a lunge to stretch your hip flexors. When you go into your lunge you want to rotate your pelvis under by tucking your glutes under, essentially tilting your belly button up towards the sky. Maintain good posture with a straight back and your abs drawn in. You will feel this stretch in the front of the hip of the back leg. Hold it for 30 seconds and then switch. To make it a slightly deeper stretch, reach for the ceiling with the same arm as back leg.
Now get into position to stretch your glutes. Take a seat on the floor with your hands behind you and your feet out straight in front of you. Place your right foot/ankle across your left leg just above your kneecap so your right knee is bent and pointing out to the side. Now bring your left knee up so your foot is flat on the floor and your right leg is up off the floor and up in front of your chest. You should feel this stretch in your right glute. You can sit up taller or bring your left foot in closer to your glute to make it more intense. Hold it for 30 seconds then lower your left leg and switch sides.
Be sure you stretch often – before and after workouts – but be sure to warm up before jumping in. Stretching cold muscles can cause discomfort or injury. Happy stretching!
Today’s featured item is the GoFit 2500 lb. Professional Grade Core Stability Ball. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 13
Today is Day 13 of Free Weeks of Fitness! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Are you ready for a full body workout? Today we have a post from Sandra author of Exercise Well. She shares her perspective on the benefits of rowing machines.
Rowing Machines Give You A Good Workout And Cardiovascular Exercise
You will find that rowing machines give you a good workout and cardiovascular exercise. It’s an exercise machine you can use without creating too much harmful impact to your joints and muscles. Many older and younger people use rowing machines to great benefit, although they do take some getting used to. Something you’ll discover is that you have to learn how to properly coordinate your movements.
A rowing machine simulates the experience of rowing on the open water. You pull on the metal bars and move forwards and backwards on a gliding seat. Rowing machines offer you the chance to increase the tension setting and speed to find the right challenge for you.
While rowing, you burn an extensive number of calories, up to eight hundred calories per hour. That’s building up quite a sweat! The rowing machine will be excellent for your arms, back muscles, back, shoulder, and abdomen. Impact on joints and bones is greatly decreased from traditional workout, but you may notice some strain on your back.
Rowing machines are amazing for their gliding-on-water feel. They are specially designed to provide this ‘gliding’ effect, via the use of flexible graphite composite and water-filled flywheels. You can even find rowing machines with water sounds to enhance your workout experience. To make this even better, you can play music of the seashore or a small brook, orwatch some nature footage on TV while rowing.
Most rowing machines come with electronic gadgets like preset programs, elapsed time displays, stroke count, strokes per minute, and estimated calories burned. A good tip to remember when using rowing machines is to keep your elbows tight to your body. Check out rowing machines at Hayneedle and start getting an idea of what to look for and what’s right for you! Good luck!
Today’s featured item is the Body Rower BRW2000 Rowing Machine. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 12
Today is Day 12 of Free Weeks of Fitness… feel the burn! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Today, Chris from Zen to Fitness is going to lead us through another great way to train your body.
Minimal Upper Body Training
Fitness and training methods are always evolving, always changing. The theories about what is best and most effective will always be changing, but what’s important is that people keep pushing the boundaries and developing new techniques and ideas
“Minimimal Equipment, Minimal Space” – Scott Abel
Minimal Upper Body Simultaneous Training
This is a term coined by Scott Abel, who’s method of mixing resistance and cardiovascular work uses only simple dumbbells and a bench. Simultaneous training is an interesting to me for the following reasons:
It’s easy to get the hang of and works naturally. The movements all feel familiar, for instance the chest press is a sort of punching action and the bent-over rows are a sort of rope-pulling action. I was surprised at how, when first experimenting with simultaneous training, it felt really natural. Most people will also find the movements to flow nicely and seem to just work…
It’s different. The exercises are more metabolically activating than pumping up or stimulating a specific muscle. So you will feel your abs tense up, your shoulders burn and your heart start to beat faster. A real hybrid of resistance and cardiovascular work.
Metabolically Stimulating. There is no better way to empty out those muscle glycogen stores, trigger muscle growth, and raise the metabolism than some high-intensity resistance training. You will notice that after doing a short workout like this that your metabolism will be significantly stimulated; you will digest food better, feel warmer, and have a general sense of well-being.
It works to improve athletic performance. This to me has become a integral part of any weight-bearing exercise I’m doing. If it doesn’t improve functionality and performance, then it’s not worth doing. Simultaneous training is great in this way as it works on your coordination, balance, and hand-to-eye movement. The speed at which the exercises are performed is critical in mirroring how fast you would move during a sport like Boxing, Football, or Tennis…
Simultaneous training provides a real shock to the muscles. Whether you’re a seasoned lifter or a total novice, I guarantee this type of training will challenge you. It is something totally new that not many people have experimented with before. The muscles are worked in a whole new way, so the impact is not as specific and deep but more evenly spread.
Very little equipment is needed. A set of dumbbells of a standard weight is all you need to get started. A bench is recommended, but if you don’t have one, most of the exercises can be done lying on the floor. From there, you can cover all the upper-body movements like:
- Chest Presses
- Rows
- Upright Rows
- Should Press
- Lateral Raises
- Bicep Curls
- Triceps Extensions
In one hybrid of high-intensity training, you can blast all the muscles at once. Instead of doing all the exercises without a break like the video suggests, I found simultaneous training to be more effective when doing 3 exercises in a row for about 10-15 reps each side then taking a break (to catch breath) and moving onto another 3 exercises. Of course though this should be scaled to your own level of fitness – the more in-shape you are, the more exercises you can do without breaks.
Simultaneous training is safe. This is because the weight used is lighter than what you would normally use, therefore not forcing you compromise form. Remember to pick a weight that seems pretty light at first, you will notice as you get towards the last few reps and feel the burn that the weight will start feeling pretty heavy!
I would suggest giving simultaneous training a try once or twice a week. If you can only get into the gym one day a week, this would be a great way to spend your time.
The workout style is made for less equipment so if you have a set of dumbbells lying around at home give it a try. Simultaneous training is minimal, safe, and effective. Give it a try – I’m sure you’ll love it.
Today’s featured item is the LifelineUSA Power Pushup. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 11
Today is Day 11 of Free Weeks of Fitness… more than halfway there! Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Now, let’s get into today’s post. Chris from Zen to Fitness is back – this time to talk about nutrition.
8 Great foods You’re Probably Missing:
Sometimes we just turn a blind eye to some great produce. Not because we don’t like them, but just because we’re in the habit of buying the same groceries week after week. It becomes routine. Time for that to change, and to start trying out some healthy, often-overlooked products at the grocery store…
1. Beets – I love beets for their versatility. Superb in salad or with some goat cheese, or really nice to snack on. They pack a real anti-oxidant boost and are rich in folate. Try to eat them raw or cook lightly to keep the nutrients intact.
2. Canned Pumpkin - While anything canned should not be a staple, these are great to keep around the house. Add some butter, cinnamon, and a scoop of whey protein and you have a tasty high-fiber snack. This stuff is low in calories and full of Vitamin A in the form of Beta-Carotene, which is very healing for the spleen and helps with circulation. Pumpkin and other root vegetables are known as a Chi restoring food.
3. Sardines – Both tinned and fresh. These are great – packed with protein, calcium, and Omega 3′s – and both cheap and easy to prepare. I always keep a batch of tinned ones in my pantry and try to eat them fresh when they’re in season.
4. Frozen Berries – Recently I have been keeping a pack of frozen blueberries around. They’re cheap and pack a high ORAC score (total anti-oxidant count), plus they’re packed with fiber and phytonutrients. Great to throw over some hot porridge or in some good organic yogurt or cottage cheese.
5. Fresh Mint - We often overlook fresh herbs, and mint is a particular favorite. Great to brew an herbal tea after dinner to aid digestion. Simply hand-wash a bunch of mint and pour boiling water over, leaving to steep for 5+ minutes. I also like chopping up a big bunch and throwing it in a salad… makes for a refreshing twist.
6. Salsa – People normally go for ketchup (which is packed with sugar) when trying to add a zing to their food. Salsa is the ultimate healthy alternative. It’s usually packed with vegetables, spices, and lemon, which makes for a much more beneficial topping for your chicken or burger. Try and find a brand that is low in sugar and uses natural salt. These will normally cost a bit more but its worth it…
7. Coconut Flakes - Most health food stores carry these, and they’re a real gem. Packed with good fats and anti-bacterial properties, coconut is truly a superfood. Make sure you find a variety which has no added sugar and feel free to add it pretty much anything from breakfast to curries. Or just grab a handful as a tasty hunger-killing snack.
8. Tomato Passata - A good organic tomato passata is something we should all keep in the pantry. It can make home cooking so simple and packs loads of flavor plus lycopene, which is one of the most potent anti-oxidants about. This great post at Everyday Paleo shows exactly what I’m talking about…
I hope some of my ideas will find their way into your shopping cart soon! Have fun!
Today’s featured item is the j/fit Fit Stretch Stretching Aid. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 10
Today is Day 10 of Free Weeks of Fitness. Feeling buff? Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Now, let’s get into today’s post. Laura from Stretching in Heels and is a marathon runner and personal trainer. She’s here to lend an expert hand to help those of you who are just starting your weight training endeavors.
Beginning weight training
It’s the beginning of 2011 and that gym membership you signed up for is ready to be properly used. You’ve probably been to the gym a few times lately and hit up the cardio equipment. You may have tried out a few weight machines or done some stretching. Perhaps you’ve seen a few people doing exercises and mimicked what they were doing. Well, here are a few really easy workouts to get you on the right track with weight training. You can do these in any gym, or do the modified version at home with some weight equipment you can find on Hayneedle.
If you are just starting out with weight training, and don’t have a personal trainer or friend to walk you through body part specific workouts, a simple total body workout is the way to go. This will workout the main muscle groups of your body helping you to get stronger before you move on to more complex workouts.
Usually, larger workouts are broken-down into the following groups: biceps, triceps, shoulders, chest, back, quads, hamstrings, glutes, and abs. A total body workout would include an exercise for each of these groups, which makes 9 exercises total.
Start with a short cardio warm-up of 5-10 minutes. Riding a bike, walking on the treadmill, or hoping on an elliptical machine will work. Then go into your weight routine.
Bicep curls – using dumbbells, stand with your feet shoulder width apart and hold the weights in front of you parallel with the floor, palms up. Keep your elbows in at your sides and your shoulders relaxed. Lower them down close to your legs (about a 45 degree angle when looking at yourself from the side) and then lift up almost to your shoulders (about a 45 degree angle looking at yourself from the side). Do 3 sets of 15 reps. These can be done in any gym, or you can purchase weights and do them at home. Things to remember: keep your abs tight to protect your lower back, stand up straight, and don’t lock out your knees.
Triceps kickback – using a weight bench position your right hand and knee on the bench lengthwise. Position your left leg next to your right standing on the floor and hold the dumbbell in your left hand. Bring your left arm up so the back of your arm is parallel with the floor. Keeping your left elbow locked in at your side, lift the weight up towards your hip until your left arm is straight and parallel with the floor, lower back to starting position. Do 3 sets of 15 on each side. You can also do this at home with weights and a few chairs next to each other, or a bench around your house. Things to remember: keep your abs in to protect your lower back, and keep your back flat and straight (don’t arch up or down).
Lateral shoulder raise – using dumbbells stand with your feet shoulder width apart. Hold your weights at your sides, a few inches out from your hips. Raise the weights out to your sides to shoulder level and lower back down to within a few inches of your hips. When raising your arms, lead with your elbows to help keep your arms straight and your hands from going above them. Also don’t lock out your elbows, keep them slightly bent. You can do these at the gym or at home. Things to remember: keep your abs tight to protect your lower back and stand up straight. Do 3 sets of 10-15.
Push up – assume push up position on your toes or knees. Place your hands a little inside shoulder width apart. Start with your arms straight and slowly lower your chest to within about three inches of the ground and then press back up. Remember to concentrate on squeezing your chest when you come up. Do 3 sets of 10.
Back scaptions – Lay on your stomach with your arms by your sides and palms on the floor. Raise your chest off the floor by squeezing your back muscles but be sure you don’t push your chest up with your stomach. While contracting your back, rotate your palms to face out and point your thumbs up at the sky. Hold each for 3 seconds. Do 3 sets of 10.
Squats – With your feet a little wider than shoulder width apart, lower into a squat, as if you were going to sit in a chair. Be sure you keep your knees behind your toes and your weight in your heels. Do 10-15. You can do these with weights in your hands too.
Walking lunges – Start by stepping forward with your right foot. Then lower your left knee down to the floor, keeping your right knee behind your toe. Stand up out of the lunge and step forward with the left foot repeating the motion. Be sure you keep the knee behind the toe on your front leg. Do 16 total per set for three sets.
Hamstring curls – You can perform these on a hamstring curl machine at the gym, or with an exercise band in your home. At the gym choose a hamstring curl machine, set the weight, and perform the reps pulling your feet in towards your glutes. At home, you can tie an exercise band around a bedpost, pillar or something heavy/stable near the floor. Sit in a chair and put your ankle through the band so it’s tight. Pulling your foot under the chair stretch the band by tightening your hamstring. Perform 12-15 each for 3 sets.
Crunches – Lay on your back on the floor with your knees up in the air and feet about a foot from your glutes. With your hands either at your sides or crossed over your chest, slowly tighten your abs to bring your chest up off the ground. Lower and repeat this 20 times for three sets.
Remember, there are tons of other exercises you can do for all the muscle groups. These are just a few to get you started if you are new to the gym and weight training in general.
Read her blog Stretching in Heels to get more from Laura.
Today’s featured item is the LifelineUSA Jungle Gym XT. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 9
Day 9 is here! How are the Free Weeks of Fitness treating you? Are you starting to feel more fit? We sure are. Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. You don’t want to miss out on your chance to be one of 3 to win this week’s $100 Gift Certificates – but only those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts in once place, click here!
Now, let’s get into today’s post. Julie from Pilates for the People has over 11 years of full-time Pilates training experience. She’s here to lend an expert hand to help those of you who are just starting to discover the exciting world of Pilates.
Where to Begin?
With the start of a brand new year just around the corner, I have had many people ask if classes will start to pick up with clients making New Year’s resolutions. Thankfully, I have a wonderful group of dedicated clients that understand the importance of taking class on a regular basis year round. To them, Pilates has become a way of life… not just an exercise fad. If you’re planning on starting up with a Pilates program, here are a few things to keep in mind.
If you’re new to Pilates, the best place to start is with private sessions. One-on-one time is crucial to learning all the different elements in the Pilates method and being able to maintain proper form is important when first learning the exercises. This can also give you an opportunity to ask important questions, and your trainer can also help you construct a weekly program that will suit your goals and needs.
Pilates is most effective when done 2-3 times a week. Make sure that you vary your workouts with a variety of different classes. Take a mat class, an equipment class, and/or a private session. There are over 500 exercises in the method and mixing up the routine will help keep the body challenged. When you stick to just one class like an equipment classes or mat class you tend lose a ton of other exercises that are crucial to the method.
If you can’t make it to class for some reason have a few videos on hand and do your workout at home. One of my favorite video series is “The Method.” Precision Toning, Target Specifics, and The Lotte Burke Method are on the top of my list for great videos.
Have a happy and healthy New Year!
Today’s featured item is the Stamina AeroPilates Premier Studio Reformer with Free-Form Cardio Rebounder and Stand. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 8
Day 8 is here! As another week of Free Weeks of Fitness begins, we’re excited to announce our first week’s winners! Each winner will receive a $100 Gift Certificate to Hayneedle. Congratulations! Winners chosen using Random.org.
Winner 1: Bryan Truckenmiller
Winner 2: Anja M. Anjathisandthat
Winner 3: Eliza Chadley Labayen-Klinger
START OF WEEK 2! Be sure to “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway.To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts, click the tag above!
Today’s workout is focused on creating and maintaining a strong core. Chris from Zen to Fitness is back with his favorite exercises to help you focus on your core values.
Rockstar Abs: Unconventional Abdominal Training at its Best!
I decided to title this post “Rockstar Abs” because I aim to show you simple, unconventional ways to achieve strong, functional abs – not blocky and bulky midsections the magazine’s workouts will get you. Also, it sounded cool. Most of these training methods can be done without a gym and integrated into your existing workout.
Negative Chinups
These are definitely one of my favorite ab exercises, they are done simply by:
- Jumping up the the chin-up position on a bar
- Lowering yourself slowly (10 seconds)
- Repeat for 8-12 reps
As you get stronger with these, start hanging weight – but don’t sacrifice your form or how slow you lower your body. I guarantee you a set or two of these will get your abs burning, as well as your back and biceps.
Stomach Vacuum
Your abs and lower back are made to stabilize your body, not much else. So when you suck in your stomach, like I did as a kid on the beach, your whole midsection starts to activate its stabilization instincts. Vacuums are especially important if you suffer from lower back pain as it activates the transversus abdominis, the deepest of your abdominal muscles.
Here’s how to do it:
- “Lying on the floor, exhale completely, forcing all the air out of the lungs/ diaphragm with your abdominal muscles. Next, instead of inhaling, suck in your gut, pulling it in so far that you can imagine your abs actually touching your spine. Since there’s no air in your lungs, you should be able to suck your stomach way in, which will contract your transversus abdominis.”
- “Practice holding this vacuum for longer and longer periods of time. Eventually, your waist will get smaller, providing you don’t stuff yourself at meals and bloat with massive amounts of liquids between meals.”
- “After you have achieved a sense of control in the lying position, next practice the standing position. Initially, it will be easier to achieve the vacuum if you press your palms against your upper thighs after exhaling and sucking in your gut.”
- “The final step in doing the ultimate vacuum is to start practicing with your hands behind your neck, which is what T used to do at competitions to good effect. This particular vacuum ain’t easy, but keep at it.”
I like to do this after workouts when my abs are already weak, usually holding the vacuum for around 20 seconds and then taking a break before repeating.
Hold something heavy over your head
This is one of my favorites, but it requires a gym or a heavy barbell.
- Push press a heavy weight over your head (not too heavy – be sensible)
- Hyperextend your arms, contract your midsection, and stand
- After about 10 seconds you should start to feel your midsection weaken and shake, this means your abs are working full-out to stabilize your body
- Repeat for 2-3 sets of 20 seconds
Throw something heavy
This is another great one, but requires a heavy medicine ball A big rock will do, if you’re ready to go primal.
- Head out to a park or playing field with a medicine ball
- Throw the thing as far as you can
- Run towards it and repeat
- When you feel your abs weaken your work is done
Dumbbell Pullovers
This is another of my favorites – I figured it out a few years back when a friend showed me how to do DB pullovers as a lat building exercise. However the following days would leave my abs unbelievably sore. This is a great exercise (a favorite of Arthur Jones and Art Devany), and should be part of everyone’s full-body training regime. It’s old school, but it works!
Streamline Functional Abs
Function is what we should ultimately strive for. Forget the crunches and conventional abdominal training, the only way to build abs for real is to do real exercises that will benefit your body’s functionality in the real world. I guarantee you a combination of these techniques will get your mid-section sore and feeling deeply worked out.
The great thing about these training methods is that they will get you results and they can all be done easily with minimal equipment. Doing a 5 minute circuit of all the exercises after finishing a workout in the gym is ideal.
Today’s featured item is the Ab Rocket. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 7
Day 7 is here! And with it, the end of the first week of Free Weeks of Fitness!
END OF THE WEEK! Be sure to “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaway. This week’s $100 Gift Certificate winners will be drawn tomorrow – but only from the names of those who’ve “Liked” all seven (7) products this week. Go!
To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts, click the tag above!
Today let’s focus on working out the legs. Check out this advice from Chris from Zen to Fitness and work on perfecting your lunge.
In the past few years I have taken the emphasis away from weighted exercises for my legs. I’ve worked, instead, with an emphasis on bodyweight movements – especially the bodyweight squat and lunge. In doing this, I have not only realized just how effective they can both be, but also how many variations of the lunge exist and how it can work as a total body exercise…
In this post, we’ll go over some of the best lunge variations I’ve found, linking some videos and hopefully showing you a few new tips and tricks. My inspiration for this article actually came from another post called “One Move to Improve your Athletic Prowess” which emphasizes the effectiveness of the walking lunge with rotation.
“There’s one move that’s a time-tested winner for improving performance in just about every sport; one that has helped countless fighters, dancers, golfers and tennis players – pro’s to Joe’s – improve their game: the lunge with rotation.”
They included a pretty good explanation of technique too:
To perform the movement, begin standing with your hands together or around a medicine ball tucked under your chin. Take a step forward into a lunge. As soon as you’re stable in the bottom position of the movement, extend your arms straight out and rotate as far as you can to the side of the lead leg. Be sure to not let your shoulders and upper back round. Rotate back, bring your arms/the ball back in and return to the standing start position. Repeat the same process with your other leg. That’s one rep.
The beauty of the rotation lunge is how effective it is with no weight just using your outspread arms to add resistance. For a little extra resistance, holding a light medicine ball is a great way to progress and get some extra core strength. To see how to do a rotation lunge, click here.
This really is a great bodyweight exercise as it forces your total body to work in a functional sense. The key form point for this and all lunges are:
- Keep your Back and Torso upright and tight
- Move as an elevator (up and down) and not an escalator (see video below)
- Take a wide enough step to put weight on the front leg
- Don’t let knee go past the toe (as this puts extra stress on the knee)
These are nice basic lunge variations that most anyone can do. If you are more athletic and want a bigger challenge there are several variations I like….
Alternating Jumping Lunge — This is the same as a conventional lunge but instead of stopping and doing each rep individually you will jump from one lunge to the next, alternating. This doesn’t allow the muscle to rest and also integrates a explosive element which is great for improving athletic performance.
Diagonal Lunge - The diagonal lunge is an excellent movement - again, it works your body naturally, the same type of motion found in a sport or everyday activity. It is done simply by just lunging out at an angle, but beware. The diagonal lunge can be a bit more stressful on the knee joint, so if your knees are susceptible to injury, take it easy. The linked video shows a diagonal lunge with a reach, which is a great way to add some bodyweight resistance to the movement.
Here is my Lunge Workout:
- 20 Reps of Alternating Jumping Lunges
- 20 Reps x 2 sets of Lunge with a Rotation (Using a 4-7kg Medicine ball)
- 20 Reps of Diagonal Lunges alternating sides
This is a great way to work the legs without risking injury and making them “too” big, which can be a problem for some people when they start weight training with legs. I find once legs grow too large via heavy squatting, leg presses, and extensions, one can have trouble not only fitting in jeans, but athletic performance can actually suffer. This is just my personal opinion, but for most people I recommend bodyweight movements or light weights when training the legs. Sure, I still occasionally do some weighted squats or leg presses but I use them to shock the muscles or change things up rather than as a routine.
Also, lets not forget that the lunge is a great full-body exercise, making the upper body stabilize to keep things together, which is why it should be one of the first things on your workout plan.
Today’s featured item also focuses on the legs – the H2O Fitness RX-750 ProRower Home Series. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 6
Day 6 is here! We’re nearing the end of our first week of Free Weeks of Fitness!
REMINDER – Make sure you “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaways. Every Hayneedle product page has this button – make sure you give it a click! To see all of the Free Weeks of Fitness posts, click the tag above!
Today is a day of rest, so instead of focusing on putting our bodies to work, let’s consider what we’re putting in them. Chris from Zen to Fitness is back, and today’s article is all about Vitamin C.
What is often forgotten about Vitamin C is that it performs several important functions in the human body:
- Anti-Oxidant
- Helps Production of Neurotransmitters and Hormones
- Forms Collagen
- Boosts Immune System
- Prevents Cardiovascular Disease
First, Vitamin C works in conjunction with Vitamin E to function as a potent anti-oxidant, reducing free radicals in the body. What’s especially cool about Vitamin C is that it works directly against Nitrates and Carcinogens (the nasty stuff we find in burnt/charred foods and processed meats like salami and other deli meats).
When it comes to hormones and neurotransmitters, Vit C is often forgotten. A good regular dose of Vitamin C is needed for the conversion of Phenylalanine to Tyrosine, which in turn makes up all of our Adrenal and Thyroid hormones and Neurotransmitters like Dopamine and Melanin. These are the hormones that collectively allow us to regulate our metabolism, deal with stress, and relax. So, pretty important stuff. Adrenal health is just one of the ways Vitamin C is vital to your body’s well-being.
Collagen is the stuff that makes our skin stretchy and allows it to appear youthful and radiant. It also protects our joints from overuse and impact and helps wounds heal. Without Vitamin C we cannot make Collagen.
We’ve all heard about Vitamin C and immunity, but don’t make the mistake of thinking that’s its main function. Vitamin C basically works on the immune system by helping to produce anti-virals and increasing the integrity of the mucous membranes which help us filter out bacteria and viruses from entering the body.
Vitamin C is a great Cardiovascular Protectant. This is done in several ways – first, Vitamin C decreases LDL’s (the bad cholesterol) by turning it into bile which also helps your digestion.
It also increases carnitine synthesis, which is a fancy way of saying it helps your body prioritize using stored fat as fuel/energy. Also, going back to collagen formation, it allows your heart’s arteries and veins to maintain their elasticity – which is obviously a big help in preventing CV diseases.
As you can see, Vitamin C scores 5 huge points for your body. Unfortunately, Vitamin C often gets branded as a one trick pony and is simply known for its anti-oxidant properties. Now that you know more of what this baby can do, the big question is… should we supplement and just how much vitamin C do we need?
Luckily, the answer isn’t too complicated. If you can manage to eat Vitamin C-rich foods on a regular basis, a supplement shouldn’t be necessary, especially not the conventional type we see in stores today (more on that to come).
Vitamin C-rich foods are pretty easy to find. Some favorite sources are:
- Citrus Fruits (oranges, lemons, grapefruit etc…)
- Kiwis
- Tropical Fruits
- Bell Peppers
- Broccoli and Kale
- Berries
- Tomatoes
Basically anything plant-based with a strong color and tangy flavor is likely to have a good hit of Vitamin C. For a more comprehensive list, see here…
Supplementing Vitamin C? I do supplement Vitamin C. I feel that in today’s world, with pollution, chemicals abound, and nutrient-starved foods, it’s important to really value Vitamin C for it’s many vital functions within our bodies.
What is important, though, is to steer clear of conventional Vitamin C supplements – or more specifically, those made of Ascorbic Acid. These have been much popularized in recent years, as they are easy to create and inexpensive to sell. The problem with these supplements is that they are extremely acidic, and will cause our bodies to leech minerals like calcium and magnesium to neutralise the excess acidity. This is especially unfortunate when we take into account that most people nowadays are already acidic and deficient in key minerals, and the process puts stress on the body in general.
I recommend paying slightly more for Vitamin C and opting for another form made from a mineral chelate. This form is not only far more easily absorbed by the body and will not cause your body to leech minerals to compensate for acidity. Another tip is to look out for a Vitamin C formula which is combined with things like Bioflavnoids, Bilberry extract, and Rutin, which mimic how Vitamin C is found in nature.
When to take supplemental Vitamin C: I would recommend using a supplement when you maybe prone to infections, like while traveling or experiencing a period of prolonged stress. Also, those who are recovering from any major trauma – emotional or physical (surgery, recovering from illness) – will really benefit from extra Vitamin C. Those who live in polluted cities and are eating on the go most of the time should also strongly consider supplementing.
So in a nutshell, Vitamin C is hugely important for the human body in a multitude of ways. You don’t need to exhibit any real clinical signs or symptoms to benefit from a little extra in your diet. When we take into account that we need Vitamin C to do just about every kind of healing and bodily process, it’s apparent that prioritizing Vitamin C-rich foods or supplements is one of the most beneficial things we can do.
Today’s featured item is the Teeter EP-950 Inversion Table. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 5
Today is Day 5 of Free Weeks of Fitness!
REMINDER – You’ve gotta “Like” each day’s featured product on Facebook (not the blog post, but the item itself) to be entered in the giveaways. Every Hayneedle product page has this button – we want to be your friend!
Yesterday was all about using your body as your weight. It’s time to clear the mind and do some yoga. If you feel as good as we do, you’ll definitely dig today’s article. Our guest writer is Diane DeGiorgio Cesa, author and creator of The Everything Yoga Blog.
Keeping Your Yoga Practice Fresh
If you’ve ever been in a relationship, you know how things can start feeling stale after a while. Sometimes it’s that you take the other person for granted or that you’ve forgotten what you loved about the person when you first got together or maybe you simply stopped putting effort into the relationship. Whatever the reason, you find yourself feeling a sense of dissatisfaction, disconnection, and discontent. Same goes for your yoga practice. Yes, without proper care and feeling, your yoga practice can start to wilt like week-old Kale.
Does Your Yoga Practice Pacify or Purify?
My over-a-decade-long yoga practice has sure had its ups and downs. Just last week I was having lunch with a dear friend and she shared with me something her teacher said to her. Brace yourself for this little gem of wisdom – yoga practices either pacify or purify. This makes perfect sense to me. After all, don’t we gravitate towards the type of yoga practice that suits our personality, that feels comfortable? For example, a Type A personality who is always pushing herself gravitates towards a strong yoga practice that physically challenges her.
It’s totally natural, of course, to be drawn to a style of yoga that compliments your personality and makes you comfortable. The question is – does this comfort cost us? Would it serve us better to practice a style of yoga that makes us uncomfortable?
Getting Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
If we want to change, we must accept that there’s a price to be paid. That price is this – we have to accept the fact that we’re going to be uncomfortable. Anytime we do something outside of our comfort zone, we’re going to feel it, resist it, get antsy about it. Speaking from experience, the times in my life that I’ve grown from the most are the ones in which I felt the most uncomfortable. There were times I had to fight through some serious resistance to get to the other side, let me tell you – but these are the most valuable experiences.
Now apply this to your yoga practice – if you’re wanting to change yourself from the inside out (to use my friend’s teacher’s words – purify), you need to practice not only yoga that you like but also a style that makes you uncomfortable. If you’re someone who likes to be challenged physically, perhaps try Yin or Restorative Yoga. If you’ve been practicing gentle yoga, perhaps it’s time to challenge yourself with something more difficult.
Balance it Out
Does this mean that you should force yourself to practice yoga that you don’t enjoy? No. Rather, I think it’s more of a balance issue – try something new on a regular basis to keep things interesting, to learn something about yourself, and to, perhaps, transform. Not only does this keep your yoga practice fresh, but it gives you some insight into yourself. I, for example, enjoy a fairly vigorous, flowing yoga practice. I practiced nothing but this style of yoga for years. What I realized was that my yoga practice was only pacifying – and perhaps contributing to – my monkey mind. I then started to mix in slower, more mindful types of yoga into my daily practice. Sure, I resisted at first, but as time went on, I noticed subtle changes in my life regarding my peace of mind. I also noticed that my meditation practice improved.
Do a Little Self-Inquiry
I’m not suggesting that you turn your yoga mat into a hotbed of resistance. I am suggesting, however, that you use it as your own personal lab in which you can experiment. Start with a little self-inquiry:
- Does your current yoga practice purify or pacify?
- Do you think that your current yoga practice is serving you in a positive way? How does your practice make you feel?
- What could you do to balance your yoga practice out – what could you add and what could you take away?
One of my favorite poets, David Whyte, offered up a bit of wisdom that I still remember years after listening to his Clear Mind Wild Heart CD. I’m paraphrasing here, but he said something akin to this: “That which doesn’t bring you alive is too small for you.” He then poses this simple question – how have you made your life too small for you? Again, apply this to your yoga practice – how have you made your yoga practice too small for you?
Neither Good Nor Bad
Just to be clear – I’m not saying that you only grow when you force yourself to do a yoga practice that you don’t particularly like. I’m just saying that it’s a good idea to take a long hard look at your yoga practice on a regular basis to determine whether you can make changes to keep it fresh. It could be as simple as working your way up to a particularly challenging posture. You don’t always need to push your edges by doing a practice that makes you uncomfortable and it’s certainly not bad to do a practice that you enjoy. Simply stay open to making some tweaks now and again to keep things fresh and to keep you on your toes.
Just recently I made a change to my own practice. I realized that I was getting too hooked on a particular yoga practice that was playing into a habit of mine that I want to change. While I continue with that particular practice, I’ve cut back on the amount of time I do it and I’ve added in a practice that makes me a bit uncomfortable. Suffice to say — I’m not bored. I’ve also noticed that I have an even deeper appreciation for my daily practice. It’s like I said about relationships earlier — taking something for granted can lead to a feeling of disconnection, dissatisfaction, and discontentment.
Treating your yoga practice like you would any relationship – a little bit of work, a little bit of love, and a little bit of reigniting the spark – could just lead to personal transformation that you wouldn’t have expected. It also keeps your practice fresh and out of danger of getting into a rut. Sometimes being uncomfortable isn’t a bad thing.
Namaste!
Be sure to follow Diane on Twitter at http://twitter.com/dianecesa.
Today’s featured item is the Manduka Black Mat PRO. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 4
Day 4 of Free Weeks of Fitness already? If you missed the first few days (or just forgot to do the Facebook part), be sure to catch up here. We’ve had a day of rest – how are you feeling? If you feel as good as we do, you’ll definitely dig today’s article. Our guest writer is Chris, author and creator of the blog Zen to Fitness.
If you ask most people how to get stronger, they immediately recommend weight training, using barbells, dumbbells, or kettlebells. If you are starting from a very low level, pushups or situps might be recommended, but these are only as preparation for the serious business of heavy lifting. The truth is that weight training is not the only way to get stronger, and it isn’t even the best way. The world’s strongest athletes, those who demonstrate extremely high levels of strength in a range of positions and orientations, are gymnasts, acrobats, and martial artists. All are well-known for their bodyweight training regimens. Even old school strongmen, those who trained in the 1930s, used bodyweight movements for developing strength while demonstrating it on external weights. The problem is that most people are not aware of the higher-level bodyweight strength progressions.
Once you’ve mastered the pushup, where do you go from there? You can elevate your feet, but that adds only marginally to the movement and leads to minimal strength gains. A better solution is to learn the advanced bodyweight progression. For the pushup, learning how to do multiple reps of straight body, one-arm pushups will usually do the trick. Compared to a heavy bench press, a one-arm pushup – done correctly – requires much greater levels of muscle tension and nervous activation. While you might not get massive pecs, you’ll have equivalent or greater pushing power, not to mention some amazing core strength and shoulder stabilizers.
Benefits of Bodyweight Training
The benefits of bodyweight training are numerous. First of all, because all you need is your own body (and maybe a pull-up bar or tree branch) you can train literally anywhere you have room to lie down. More advanced movements can utilize some equipment, such as hanging rings, but the cost of this equipment is far less than that of a full set of weights. Developing strength in the entire range of motion and more angles also helps protect the joints more reliably than weight training. Because you have to use your bodyweight to adjust the difficulty of exercises, you learn how to utilize your entire body in any given movements. While a bench press is largely an arm exercise, a one-armed pushup requires the entire core and hip musculature in addition to the pressing arm.
Principles and Methods
Most people don’t realize that strength is much more than simply the amount of load a muscle can lift. Muscle tension is combined with stabilization and focused force to generate strength in any given movement. Additionally, neurological elements, such as clarity and strength of the nerve signal, can enable relatively small muscles to generate tremendous amounts of force. Traditional weight training methods neglect the development of these factors.
The reason is simple: weight training relies on moving a load in the most efficient manner possible (a straight line), while bodyweight training tends to distinguish itself by utilizing disadvantaged positions. By using such awkward positions, you force the muscles involved to learn how to create more tension that they would normally have to in order to move the weight. The principles of bodyweight training are slightly different than weight training. In weight training, you simply have to increase the weight slowly over time and wait for your muscles to adapt. Bodyweight training still relies on increasing load to develop strength, but the ways this is done is mainly through decreasing the leverage of the muscle group involved.
As an example, take the L-sit, a movement in which the athlete holds their legs out at a 90-degree angle from the body. This movement can be made much easier by allowing even a slight bend in the knees, but locking the legs out will make it an extremely difficult abdominal exercise. A few centimeters can make a huge difference. Another way to alter leverage is by keeping your hands or legs in a particular range of motion (doing a diamond pushup instead of a regular pushup, for example). The other way bodyweight training increases the load on the muscles is by training a single side at a time. This has the benefit of not only increasing the load on the muscle being used, but the unilateral nature of the movement forces the rest of the body to stabilize and the working limb to focus its force output.
Whew! To get more from Zen to Fitness be sure to visit Chris’s blog.
Today’s featured item is the Maximum Muscle Gym All-In-One Doorway Chin Up Bar Package. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Remember, you must do this part to be entered in the giveaway!
Free Days of Fitness: Day 3
It’s Day 3 of Free Weeks of Fitness! If you missed the first couple of days (or just forgot to do the Facebook part), be sure to catch up here. Yesterday’s workout guide was all about cardio, but today you need to give your body a rest and focus on hydration and stretching. Our guest blogger is personal trainer and physical therapy assistant Mike Hahn.
It’s smart, in any workout plan, to take time to let your body rest and recoup. Just because you aren’t working out today, don’t forget to stay hydrated. It’s important that you drink 8-10 glasses of water every day, but especially when focusing on getting healthy. Also, don’t use this day as a slack day in your diet. It’s okay to reward yourself from time to time, but don’t let every rest day be an excuse to fall off the wagon.
Stretching your muscles is important even on off days. You want to try and keep your body loose and relaxed. You can do stretches on your own or with help from an exercise ball or machine. If you don’t have an exercise ball, here are some stretches you can do at home, gym, or office:
An exercise ball is not only great for strengthening your core, but also for assisting in stretches. There are dozens of posters out there that can show you step by step how to use the exercise ball for stretching like this one:
My personal favorite stretch is when you lay face up on the ball with your arms relaxed to the side. You roll down till the neck and back are supported and you hold for 4 breaths.
Enjoy the day off!
- Mike
Today’s featured item is the Gaiam Balance Ball Chair with Pump. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Remember, you must do this part to be entered in the giveaway!
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 2
It’s Day 2 of Free Weeks of Fitness! If you missed Day 1, be sure to catch up here. Yesterday’s workout guide was geared to strengthening your back and shoulders, but today you need to give those muscles a rest and focus on your cardio plan. Our guest blogger is personal trainer and physical therapy assistant Mike Hahn.
Everyone should be doing at least 30-60 minutes of cardio every day. This could be anything from running to walking to riding your bike. My tip for those of you just starting a workout plan is to focus on time and build up speed – not the other way around. When starting a workout plan, focus on doing 20 minutes of continuous exercise. Doing a regular cardio routine not only increases the strength of your heart, helps you lose weight, and reduces your risk of heart disease; but it also will make you feel so much better. Trust me.
If you are looking to run/walk on a treadmill for your cardio fix, here are a few tips:
- Start with a slow walking pace at a 0° (flat) incline. As you get more comfortable, slowly increase speed to a pace you can maintain.
- Make sure your heel hits the platform as your foot comes forward. For a visual, check out this great video on running technique.
- Stay relaxed and make your movements natural. Try to keep your hips and shoulders facing forward as this will help you avoid injury and maintain balance.
- Use your arms to help with your momentum.
- Don’t overdo it – you don’t have to be running at an incline of 6 at a 9.0 speed to get an effective workout.
- Mix up your workouts on the treadmill. The incline levels on a treadmill help simulate hill effects. Changing the incline will help strengthen different muscles and keep your workouts interesting.
When doing any cardio workout make sure you have plenty of water available to stay hydrated, always do a warm up and a cool down, and don’t forget to stretch out those muscles. Have fun!
- Mike
Today’s featured item is the Horizon Fitness T202 Treadmill. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 1
Happy New Year’s, Readers!
We hope your celebration was both safe and happy and that 2011 finds you in the comfort of family and friends. We’re incredibly excited about the year to come – and more than ready to get it GOING!
This is the time of year when “gym” becomes the most searched-for term on Google. But taking on a healthy resolution doesn’t have to mean sharing equipment with strangers or driving in the cold to the gym – there’s another way!
This year, Hayneedle is taking fitness seriously. We have an enormous selection all of the fitness and home gym equipment you could possibly need to get your 2011 body into the shape you want. We’re celebrating our commitment to your commitment with a new Hayneedle Blog Giveaway Event, starting today!
Get ready for fitness advice from real experts, equipment product features, and HUGE weekly giveaways that’ll make you sweat. All of this is starting. Right. Now.
To kick things off we’ve asked our friend Mike Hahn, a personal trainer and physical therapy assistant, to offer up some tips before you start on your journey towards a more fit you.
Here are Mike’s 10 tips:
- Eat a well balanced diet and drink lots of water (8-10 glasses a day)
- Eat a small meal or snack a half hour before your workout to kickstart your energy and metabolism
- Before any workout do a 5 minute warm up on a bike, treadmill, or elliptical then stretch
- Don’t workout areas of the body days in a row (Ex. if you do an ab workout today don’t do one tomorrow), your muscles need time to recover
- Don’t speed through your weightlifting exercises. Count to five to complete one rep.
- Create a workout plan that matches your lifestyle. The best part of a home gym is that you can break up your routine if you can’t do a workout all at one time.
- Set achievable goals and reward yourself. Once clients and I create a goal, I often suggest they treat themselves once it’s reached. You know, like that pair of shoes you’ve been eyeballing…
- Talk with your doctor before setting up a plan. When planning to make a drastic change to your lifestyle, you should always consult your doctor. You want to make sure you know your limits or what you’re capable of doing. It will also give you real benchmarks to work towards versus creating unrealistic goals.
- Find a friend or family member to help keep you on track. This can be a workout buddy or just someone who helps keep you motivated.
- Always use good posture when lifting weights. It’s easy to injure yourself if you don’t watch your form. Make sure you look online or talk with a personal trainer to ensure you are doing the exercises properly.
Those are my ten tips for starting a workout plan. I hope this helps you all get in the mode to kick of the new year in a healthy way. Today’s featured exercise equipment will help you tone your back and shoulders. Be mindful when you are lifting to tone your shoulders, as these muscles are actually quite delicate. Start off slow, and at a weight you can manage, and you will see results quickly.
Today’s item is the Body-Solid Best Fitness Sportsmans Gym. Follow the link, check out the item, and hit the Facebook “Like” button - you’re on your way to be entered to be 1 of 3 weekly winners of a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate (be sure to like all items for the week through Sunday to be entered). Stick with us through all Free Weeks of Fitness (19 articles and products), and you’ll be entered to win a $5,000 shopping spree to outfit your some gym. Get all the details here.
Free Weeks of Fitness Contest Details
This is the legal stuff. To find out more about the contest, read “Free Weeks of Fitness: Day 1″ or click here for details.
NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN EACH CONTESTS.
ELIGIBILITY: Contests sponsored by Hayneedle on WordPress during 2011 are open only to legal residents of the contiguous United States, who are 18 years of age or older at the time of entry. Employees (and their immediate families or those living in the same household) of Hayneedle (“Sponsor”) and its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, divisions, parent and related companies, suppliers, printers and advertising, promotional and judging agencies are not eligible to enter or win.
HOW TO ENTER: On the beginning date of each contest, you may enter by logging on to Hayneedle’s Blog http://hayneedleblog.com and follow the entry instructions. If you are a winner of the contest, you will receive one of the prizes specified in Paragraph 3 below.
PRIZES AND APPROXIMATE RETAIL VALUE: The prize(s) in each Contest are described on the Hayneedle Blog. The value of the grand prize to be given away will not exceed $5,000. Persons winning a prize will be notified by telephone, e-mail or mail service. All federal, state, and local tax liabilities are the sole responsibility of the Winner.
Prize conditions: If necessary due to unavailability of a certain prize, a prize of equal or greater value will be awarded at the discretion of the Sponsor. If a notification is returned to Sponsor as undeliverable or if a recipient is found to be ineligible or declines acceptance of the prize for any reason, an alternate recipient will be selected. By entering this Contest and/or accepting the prize, you hereby consent (except where prohibited by law) to the reasonable use by Sponsor of your name, age, photograph, voice, likeness and/or image, and hometown address without any further compensation for any future promotional activity related to this Contest.
CONDUCT OF PARTICIPATION: By entering the Contest, you affirm that you have read and agree to abide by the Official Rules. Sponsor reserves the right to disqualify any person acting in violation of the Official Rules or found tampering with the entry process or with the operation of the Contest or the website. The Contest is governed by the laws of the United States and, by entering; all Winners and entrants hereby submit to the jurisdiction and venue of the federal, state and local courts located in Nebraska. ANY ATTEMPT BY AN ENTRANT OR ANY OTHER INDIVIDUAL TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE ANY WEB SITE RELATED TO SPONSOR OR THE CONTEST OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS, AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, SPONSOR RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK DAMAGES FROM SUCH ENTRANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY LAW.
LIMITATIONS OF LIABILITY: Sponsor and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, and their respective officers, directors, shareholders, employees and agents, are not responsible for any incorrect or inaccurate entry information, theft, tampering, destruction, or unauthorized access to, or alteration of entries; printing or other errors; and any entries which are late, lost, delayed, incomplete, misdirected, stolen, mutilated, illegible, postage due or any combination thereof. Sponsor reserves the right to modify, suspend or terminate the Contest in the event that it becomes necessary due to circumstances beyond Sponsor’s control. In the event the Contest is terminated early, a winner will be selected from among all eligible entries received at the time of termination.
RELEASE OF LIABILITY: By participating, participants agree to release, discharge, indemnify and hold harmless Sponsor and each of its respective affiliates, subsidiaries, parent corporations, and their officers, directors, employees, representatives and agents from and against any claims made by the Winner, entrants or any other third parties related in any way to the operation of this Contest, as well as any other claims, damages or liability due to any injuries, damages or losses (whether alleged, threatened, or actual) to any person or property of any kind resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession, misuse or use of any prize or participation in this Contest.
WINNERS LIST: For a copy of these Official Rules, send a self-addressed, stamped envelope to: Hayneedle “Hayneedle Blog Contests” – OFFICIAL RULES, c/o Marketing Department, 1129 12720 I Street, Omaha, NE 68137.
OFFICIAL RULES: Every day a product will be mentioned on the Hayneedle Blog (http://hayneedleblog.com). In each post users will be asked to Like the product mentioned. The contest start date is January 3, 2011 and end January 23. On Monday January 10, 17, and 24 we will announce the 3 weekly winners for those who have liked all 7 of the prior weeks’ product. On Monday January 24th we will announce the final 3 weekly winners as well as the one grand prize winner of a $5000 Home Gym Shopping Spree to Hayneedle.com.
To be eligible to win weekly prize of a $100 gift certificate to Hayneedle.com user must Like all the products from the prior week from Monday to Sunday. For users to be eligible for the grand prize users must Like all the products mentioned in the contest.
SPONSOR: Hayneedle, 12720 I Street, Omaha, NE 68137.
THIS CONTEST IS VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW.
© 2010 (Hayneedle). All rights reserved.
12 Days of Fun!
THANK YOU!!!
Like parents swimming in a sea of wrapping paper late on Christmas Day, we ‘ve been struck by a stunning realization – 12 Days of Giveaways is over. But don’t dive desperately into an egg nog binge just yet – there are more contests yet to come!
If you’re like us, December overindulgence lives on in the form of January mirror avoidance. Hayneedle has toned up our selection of home fitness products, so expect another awesome contest on THIS BLOG in the beginning of the year. Until then, keep reading for more great tips, hints, sales and articles.
OUR FINAL 12 DAYS OF GIVEAWAYS WINNER:
Julie Patterson Davis found the Prince Baseline Table Tennis Table, posted it to our Facebook page, and “PING, PONG, PING, PONG” can hear the silver bells ringing already. Congratulations!
Happy Giveaways To All, And To All A Good Night!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 12
Sound the trumpet! Rev up the snow machines! Hide the holiday ham in the back of the fridge! It’s finally Day 12 of 12 Days of Giveaways and Santa Claus is comin’ to town. You know he’s hungry, you know he gives presents, but did you also know he likes Hayneedle? It’s true, and you should, too! For more great contests, deals, and variety shenanigans like this contest, be sure to “like” us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter, and check this blog on the regs.
We know you’re in this to win this, but don’t forget ’tis the season of giving. Be sure to give your friends a heads -up to our little contest to get yourself entered in our refer a friend giveaway. Every time someone enters our contest and names you as their referrer, you’ll get entered in a separate drawing for a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate! This is the last day so jingle your bells and get everyone over here!
But let’s not forget our Day 11 winners. Looks like Crystal Allen has more friends than you, or at least plied more of them with cookies, because she has won a $100 Gift Certificate from our refer-a-friend drawing. And Angela Akinniyi rounded up the Charm Blonde Rocking Horse with Movement and Sounds, posted it to our Facebook page, and keeps going back and forth on whether she likes cowboys.
Remember, the “I Found It” button is a little bit harder to find these days. You’ll have to look in the “Details & Dimensions” tab of the item to find it.
This is a fast-paces season – if you don’t keep your wits about you, you could lose a fight for the last Tickle Me Elmo, fall for a counterfeit mall Santa, or decorate your spouse and buy a gift for the tree. Today’s giveaway might be a game, but really it’s an all-out reflex-fest perfect for honing your Christmas skills. Go ahead, your serve.
Today’s giveaway…
- Has a better green flat-top than anything seen in the 80′s
- Facilitates quick back and forth between individuals or teams
- Serves up a miniture Wimbledon every time
- Is a real “Prince”
*Hint*
Wether you hold your paddle right-side-up or crazy like the professionals, it’s probably best to start your search here.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person for giveaway – unlimited referrals. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 11
It’s Day 12 Eve, also known as Day 11 of 12 Days of Giveaways! Get those sugarplums out of your head, this is no time for daydreaming! No, this is the time to scour the house for the largest net you can find, tack it firmly to the fireplace opening, slather yourself in Christmas tree-colored body paint, and wait patiently for your present-bearing prey to bumble into your trap. Or, you can join our little contest – whichever sounds simplest.
Don’t forget, you can also refer a friend to be entered in our secondary giveaway. Anytime someone enters the contest and names you as their referrer, you’ll be entered in a separate daily drawing for a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate. No limit on referrals or entries, so fire up your social media siren and blare it across the internets.
But first, our wonderful winners! Leslie Gosney has won a $100 Gift Certificate from our refer-a-friend drawing, proving that having friends really does pay off. And Kelly LaChance Guertin is today’s 12 Days of Giveaways winner. Kelly found the Kennedy Jewelry Box, posted it to our Facebook page, and suddenly wishes her jewelry collection was more than just candy necklaces.
Remember, the “I Found It” button is a little bit harder to find these days. You’ll have to look in the “Details & Dimensions” tab of the item to find it.
If you’re like us, you love kids. You might even have one! If your funny farm is filled with junior cowpokes just waiting for the Christmas rodeo, you’ll love today’s giveaway. Help them make the “neigh”borhood kids jealous.
Today’s giveaway…
- Is furry, friendly, and fitted with a red bandanna
- Is perfect for the little one who likes to “stirrup” trouble
- Has movement and sound – just like the kids!
- Ships the very next day – so you can make this Christmas rock.
*Hint*
Whoa, there, pardner. Hayneedle’s an awful big place… it’s best you start looking here.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person for giveaway – unlimited referrals. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 10
Come one, come all, to Day 10 of 12 Days of Giveaways! Santa’s sleigh is nearly loaded and the holiday is creeping ever closer. Since we’re sure most of your preparations are done (eh… right?), it’s time to start inviting friends over! For the last 3 days of the contest, we’re introducing the ability to refer a friend.
Tell someone you know about 12 Days of Giveaways – when they enter on Facebook, have them write “I Found It!” and “Referred by *Your Name*.” Every entry referring your name will enter you in a separate daily drawing for a $100 Hayneedle Gift Certificate. There is no limit to how many referrals or entries you can get for this contest, so get social and get started! We’ll announce today’s winner tomorrow – same bat time, same bat channel.
Congratulations to yesterday’s giveaway winner Carreen Krapf! Carreen found the Powell Vintage Modern Cedar Chest – Walnut, posted it to our Facebook page, and proved that every contest does have a cedar lining.
Remember, the “I Found It” button is a little bit harder to find these days. You’ll have to look in the “Details & Dimensions” tab of the item to find it.
Are you attending the poshest Christmas party in town this weekend? Hosting it? Being dragged to it? If any of these apply to you, you either need today’s giveaway or your partner does. Use it to store and protect your valuable wearables from damage or tipsy looky-loo relatives.
Today’s gift…
- Has spaces for necklaces, rings, and other things from a particularly romantic Santa
- Is finished in dark mahogany with gold accents
- Opens only to the one who holds the key
- Has a presidential namesake (maybe Jackie O used it!)
*Hint*
Before you get all gussied up for the party, start looking here.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 9
We were going to do Day 9 of 12 Days of Giveaways, but got sidetracked on a lovely song-and-dance in the Vermont countryside with some old military buddies. Bing and Danny sent their best, and also these clues, in an idyllically snow-covered envelope.
But first, yesterday’s winner! Sharon Hetrick Morrow found the Classic Playtime Play Table and Chair Set, posted it to our Facebook page, and is practicing her Goldilocks re-enactment.
Remember, the “I Found It” button is a little bit harder to unearth these days. You’ll have to look in the “Details & Dimensions” tab of the item to find it.
Guests coming? Guests that you like? Better get out the bedding for the guest bed/couch/cot/floor/hovel. If those sheets and pillows smell more like goose than down, you could probably use today’s giveaway.
Today’s item…
- Has a rustic wood aroma that everybody loves
- Is an ideal spot for bedding, games, or hidden presents
- Boasts clean vintage lines and a walnut finish
- Is a brand-new Hayneedle Exclusive
*Hint*
Baby, it’s cold outside! Stay warm, start here.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 8
On the 8th day of Christmas my true love gave to me… eight maids-a-milking? It’s hard for us to imagine how we’d pull that off, or even if it’s legal these days, so we’re just going to do Day 8 of 12 Days of Giveaways.
First things first: today’s winner. Jami Dow found the Monarch Walnut Chess Set With Storage, posted it to our Facebook page, and sends money to Australia every time someone says “checkmate.”
From this point on in the giveaway game, the “I Found It” button will be buried under a bit more snow. You’ll have to look in the “Details & Dimensions” tab of the item to find it – so get out your lined gloves and start digging!
The halls are decked, the chimney is greased, and most of the home’s cosmetic issues have been merrily swept under the rug. There’s just one more thing – remember all those great Hayneedle gifts you bought? They ain’t gonna wrap themselves. Today’s giveaway might help take the strain off the dining room table during Martha-esque wrapping sessions with the kids.
Today’s giveaway item…
- Is sized perfectly for kid- or elf-sized projects
- Will make everybody wish they sat at the kids table
- Proudly boasts the “Hayneedle Exclusive” banner
- Is a true playtime classic for any activity
*Hint*
Our nose doesn’t glow red, but we know the way. If Santa chose us, we’d start here.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 7
The sale we tipped you to at Hayneedle starts today! Promo code “BESTGIFT” will get you $11 off any order from $100 to $399, and $41 off any order over $400. Check it out!
O Holy Night! Day 7 of 12 Days of Giveaways already? It’s not quite time to start feeling like the guy in the back of the Furby line, but your chances are dwindling.
Sadie Beery has a little less shopping to do as today’s giveaway winner! Sadie found the Celestron AstroMaster 114 EQ Reflector Telescope, posted it to our Facebook page, and already mistook a Red Giant for a sleigh.
If you’ve got in-laws coming this season, you’ve already wiped that smirk off your face and purged your home of all dust and vice. Today’s giveaway might be a good way to match wits with a visiting old curmudgeon during a holiday lull.
This gift…
- Is the game of kings, but queens can play too
- Has a Monarch both in the middle and in the product name
- Is a Hayneedle best seller, and for good reason
*Hint*
Don’t do all the hunting yourself – send your pawns out for you. They should probably start at Gifts for Him for Under $100.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 6
Day 6 has arrived! We’ve reached the middle of our giveaway event – the juicy center, if you will. We’ll dig into that in a minute, but first this – don’t forget about our unannounced sale. Promo code “BESTGIFT” will get you an extra $11 off any purchase from $100 to $399, and an extra $41 off any purchase of $400 or more. It doesn’t start until tomorrow,
First, a tip of the Santa hat to Dan Drenchek for winning yesterday’s giveaway. Dan found the Wall-Mounted Wooden Jewelry Armoire, posted it on our Facebook page, and has sworn to protect the family jewels.
It’s Saturday, are there kids home today? If so, they’re probably poking around for presents, so be sure to use today’s giveaway to keep a CLOSE watch on things.
Today’s Item…
- Would be ideal for SantaWatch 2010
- Will lead you to a heavenly body
- Won’t mind if you look at it’s AstroMaster
*Hint*
Gifts for Kids is good place to start, but it’s a great gift for adults, too!
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 5
Today is Day 5 of 12 Days of Giveaways, which we’ll certainly get to, but first – a blog-exclusive sneak peek at this weekend’s unannounced Hayneedle sale!
Beginning THIS SUNDAY, get an extra $11 off any purchase from $100 to $399, and an extra $41 off any purchase of $400 or more. The promo code will be “BESTGIFT”, but it won’t work until Sunday. Shhh… don’t tell your non-bloggy friends, it’s a secret!
But today there are more pressing matters – kudos to Erin Cox for winning yesterday’s giveaway. Erin found the KidKraft Kayla Dollhouse, posted it on our Facebook page, and has already borrowed the machine from Honey I Shrunk The Kids. Moving day!
This is a big weekend for holiday parties – make sure you’ve got plenty of egg nog in the fridge and enough novelty antlers for everyone. Today’s giveaway item would also help any merry mama get ready to look majestic under the mistletoe.
This gift…
- Would be a great place to store your jingle bell earrings
- Provides a place for pre-holiday party reflection
- Mounts on the wall to show the fairest of them all
*Hint*
Gifts For Her would be a brilliant place to begin.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
Doggie Dream Holiday Wish List
Looking for the perfect present for your furry best friend?
Want to get a great gift for the dog lover on your list?
Look no further!
From the Modern Dog to the Pup Princess at Hayneedle you are sure to find an amazing gift for any pup personality. Here are some of my favorite picks to get you started!
The Modern Dog
- Contemporary canines will snooze in style with the Modern Dog Bed. This bed is sure to be a classy yet comfy conversation piece for this pet pal.
- Add some flair to doggie dining with this contemporary Raised Double Bowl Diner – a high dining experience for even the most delicate pup palate.
- The Zen Haus Black Crate is one decorative den that will be sure to keep fido cozy and safe when he is ready for some rest and relaxation. This crate has so much style it doubles as an end table!
The Pup Princess
- Every princess needs a throne and this Posh and Pink Pet Tent is sure to make any pup princess feel like royalty.
- No bland wire crates for this pup! The Pink Two Door Pro Valu Crate will make it clear a princess has arrived.
- When the weather outside is too hot, too cold or too rainy a true pup princess will be sure to resist a trip outdoors. For those dainty debutants try The Pet Loo – an easy to clean indoor pet bathroom system made of synthetic grass!
The Sporting Dog
- After a long day out and about, this dog needs a cozy place to rest his tired paws. The Fatboy Doggie Lounge is sure to send him right to dreamland. Since this bed is moisture resistant and has a removable cover (available in 10 fresh colors) you will be sure to love it too!
- When your car doubles as a travel kennel, convert your hatchback or SUV into roomier accommodations. This Vehicle Pet Barrier has a door built in which is perfect for a quick pat on the head when your backseat passengers can no longer resist those puppy dog eyes!
- Any owner of a sporting dog knows that some days it can be virtually impossible to keep this dog cooped up inside for long. The Dog Palace Heated Dog House will give this dog a warm place to rest when he’d rather stay outside and play on those cold winter days.
Need ideas for the other pets in your life? From Fish to Ferrets, Birds to Rabbits Hayneedle Pets & Animals selection has everything their heart desires!
Enjoy your pet pal!
Happy Holidays,
Lisa E
I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 4
A merry “Congrats” to Alex Johnson for being yesterday’s giveaway winner! Alex found the Classic Playtime Toy Chest – Pecan, posted it on our Facebook page, and is going to hide inside on Christmas Eve. Surprise, Santa! This picture’s goin’ on the internet!
Have our previous clues turned your brains to figgy pudding? Don’t worry, there are nine more chances on the way. Let Day 4 of 12 Days of Giveaways begin!
Today’s giveaway…
- Could be from “Extreme Makeover: Mini Edition”
- Is perfect for your little girl’s even littler girls
- Has the balcony palm tree you always wanted
*Hint*
Starting in Gifts For Kids will make others pink with envy.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 3
Congratulations to Addison Kat, yesterday’s giveaway winner. Addison found the Nodor Supawires Bristle Dart Board, posted it on our Facebook page, and hit the bullseye in our random drawing. Way to go, Addison!
Put the French Hens in the coop, it’s time to get to work on Day 3 of 12 Days of Giveaways! Today’s winner not only gets the giveaway item, but gets to call themselves “Head Elf” for the remainder of the holiday season. Families be warned. Go!
Today’s giveaway…
- Provides a place for both Barbies and Bakugan to rest
- Has storage, seating, and a safety lid
- Is exclusive to Hayneedle, but useful to everyone
- Sports a seasonally-appropriate pecan finish
*Hint*
Even if we didn’t already know the answer, we’d start looking in Gifts For Kids.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. One entry per person. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 2
Congratulations to Sharon Stevens Hudson, yesterday’s giveaway winner. Sharon found the KidKraft Vintage Play Kitchen, posted it on our Facebook page, and will be cooking up faux Christmas dinner in no-time!
Are you ready for Day 2? Put on your round little Santa glasses and get ready to look closely, because this one’s a little tougher. When you find it, post it to our Facebook page and be entered to win it for your holiday. Only one entry per person.
Today’s giveaway…
- Rewards you for hitting it right in the eye
- Has more bristles than Kris Kringle’s beard
- Hangs on the wall, but it isn’t a stocking
- Doesn’t just have wires, it has “Supa” wires!
*Hint*
Gifts For Him might be a good place to start.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
12 Days of Giveaways – Day 1
Ho ho ho! It’s time to kick off our 12 Days of Giveaways, so put on your stocking cap, make sure you’re wearing cozy slippers, and get ready to search high and low for today’s item. Remember, when you find it, post it to our Facebook page and be entered to win it for your holiday.
Today’s Giveaway Is…
- Red, retro, and sized juuuuust right
- The perfect toy for a budding Paula or Rachael
- Has everything included, even the kitchen sink
*Hint*
Our 3-Day holiday sale, Elf Droppings, might be a good place to start.
Remember, this is what you’re looking for:
Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm tonight. Winners will be announced tomorrow on this blog along with tomorrow’s giveaway. Good luck and happy hunting!
Hayneedle’s 12 Days of Giveaways!
The turkey’s gone, the in-laws are gone (for now), and visions of sugar plums are beginning to form. All of this can only mean one thing… Holiday Shopping. But before you stand shivering in line at the mall, put this in your corncob pipe – we’re making present planning more pleasant with a little scavenger hunt.
Beginning Monday, Dec. 6, we’ll blog clues every day to lead you to a featured Hayneedle product. When you find it, post the answer on our Facebook page and get entered to win that item! The following day, we’ll announce the winner and clue you in to the next item. Be sure to tell your web-savvy friends – more participation might just mean more giveaways!
Here’s how it works –
When you see this on a product page,
you found it! Post that product on our Facebook page and you’re automatically entered to win it.
Each daily giveaway item will be announced at 10:00 am. Submissions will be accepted via Facebook until 11:59 pm that same night. Winners will be announced the following day on this blog at 9:30am.
Good Luck! See you Monday!
Holiday Decorating
Sometimes I like to get experimental with my holiday decorating. For example, I have a really interesting piece of art that is basically a big piece of driftwood hanging on the wall of my dining room. Last year I strung the art piece with holiday lights and everybody really seemed to like it. One of the great things about holiday lights is that you can use it instead of your regular lighting to create an intimate vibe.
Lighting can make any room feel festive, but garland really ups the ante. My mother loves to string garland through the handrails of the staircase at her house and she usually puts one on the mantle of the fireplace as well. Garland adds an element that is festive and fancy at the same time. With the large varieties available, I’m sure that you can find a few garlands that fit your style!
With the garland hung and the Christmas lights twinkling I suggest adding a few more decorative pieces that can warm our hearts. Nothing does this more during the holidays like a nutcracker! Every time I see a nutcracker I think of the ballet. Not that I get to see the ballet every year, but if I have an actual nutcracker, it’s kind of like the next best thing!
Now that you have your fireplace all decked out, you’ll probably want to get a fire roaring in the fireplace to finish setting the scene. While fireplaces are warm and inviting one item I highly suggest purchasing is a fireplace screen. Not only are fireplace screens ornamental, but they also will help keep the little ones from getting too close to the fire.
Well, it’s been quite a journey preparing our home this holiday season. I hope that I was able to give you some tips you can use to not only make your home more beautiful for your guests, but for you as hosts as well! So now go make your gift list so we can get the presents under the tree! Happy Holidays!
Holiday Decorating Done Right
Thanksgiving is days away and that means December holidays are coming right up! So by now I’m sure your dining area is completely set up, your guestroom is all made up and ready for your guests to arrive. Did you get something new for the entryway??
Well now it’s time to get into the spirit of the holidays and put up some lights, tinsel and garlands! While some people really have a good time of decorating for the holidays, other people can tend to get a little stressed out. A little advice that can really help you get the most out of the experience would be to consider making decorating an event. Invite some family and friends over and make a day out of it. That’s what we do in my family. Also, you may want to choose a theme or color scheme. Too many different decorations can overwhelm a room. Select a few key items and tie them together by color or style for the greatest impact.
For many years, I’ve been a fan of having a “real live” Christmas tree, but this year I’m all about “going green” in a different way. Be environmentally friendly and buy a Christmas tree that you can use over and over again! You can even get a tree that already has the lights on it! Remember what a chore it used to be to string the lights??
I’m hoping most of you took my previous advice and bought a new welcome mat for the front door. Now don’t forget to complete the welcome with a wreath! Perhaps you might consider getting two wreaths; one for fall (Thanksgiving) and another one for Christmas! No matter what your choice is, a wreath hanging on your front door will immediately inspire your guests with wonder and holiday cheer!
Time to Serve Your Guests
Serving your guests efficiently and smoothly and making sure they’re satisfied should be a host’s top priority. It’s a lot easier to ensure your guests are happy if you’ve thought out the organization of your kitchen and dining spaces.
In my blog, “Holiday Spirit”, I went into depth about the best and most efficient way to think about setting up for a party that would be more casual. So this time, let’s talk about the sit down dinners we’ll be having. I know that I’ll likely have more sit down dinners than casual parties, but that’s my personal preference. Each host should do what feels fun for them!
The size of your dining table will surely be determined by the amount of people you are regularly planning on having over, but don’t forget also about placemats, table cloths, napkins and other decorative items to make your table look perfect. While shopping around online, you may likely find a great selection of dining table accessories or you can always be creative and make some table settings that you can then personalize.
Once again, don’t forget that if you have space in a closet inside your house, purchase some folding chairs. My parents just bought some really nice folding chairs that match perfectly with their traditional cherry dining room set allowing them to sit up to fourteen people. Unless you look closely, you can’t even tell that they fold up!
A few years back, my bother cooked a Turduncken in a fryer. It’s a small chicken stuffed into a medium sized duck that is then stuffed into a large turkey. He then cooked it in a fryer! Talk about comfort food! It was a great way to bring that good country cooking into the holidays and we didn’t make a mess inside. For those of you that are interested in cooking outside, consider making your holiday meal out on a grill or in a smoker! I promise you that you’ll guest will be pleasantly surprised!
Comfort Food
The holiday season is the one time of the year that I say should really be about comfort food! Take a break from the diets and the worries of how many calories your taking in and allow yourself to indulge and enjoy!
Let’s first make sure that your kitchen is prepared for the basics. Think about what you plan on cooking this holiday season and be sure that you are set up to throw your guests a fantastic feast! Perhaps your kitchen is large enough to consider adding an island. I personally love islands that are on wheels and mobile. You can easily increase the options of your working space, or serving space for that matter because an island can be multifunctional!
I’ve mentioned espresso makers before, but perhaps a coffee maker is best four your lifestyle. No doubt that in the months that follow, as it starts getting colder, more people will be inclined to indulge in a hot cup of joe! Purchase a coffee maker that expresses your personality so that when your guests go to serve themselves, they won’t just be pouring themselves coffee, they’ll be introduced to a new element of design. Yes, even appliances should be looked upon as elements of design.
A great example of an appliance as a design element is a hand mixer or blender. On my last episode of Extreme Makeover Home Edition, I used a bright green hand mixer reminiscent of a few decades ago. Green was a color I had chosen for one of the accent walls and many of the accessories so the mixer fit into the design really well!
Another seldom thought of, but very practical appliance is a rice cooker. Whether your cooking white rice, brown rice, basmati, or a multi grain, a rice cooker cooks your rice for you perfectly every time. With your meal’s starch taken care of, you will have time to focus on other dishes you would like to prepare for your guests!
Remember when entertaining guests this holiday season, you can create delicious meals, but do so in style.
Holiday Cheer
Last time I talked about creating a festive holiday spirit I focused mainly on how to throw a more casual party and how to use the different areas in the house as serving stations. Let’s not forget that hanging around and relaxing with family and friends create much of Holiday cheer. The family room is the perfect place to enjoy each other’s company. If you plan on having guests, be sure to include comfortable seating like recliners to make your guests feel like they’re at home. T.V. and other serving trays will make it easy for your guests to gather together and enjoy some of that holiday cheer while sitting on the couch or chairs. As I mentioned previously when talking about dining, folding chairs are always a great idea to be sure that there is plenty of seating for everyone!
I don’t know about the rest of you, but my family has really grown over the years and my cousin, Mary Lou, was the first one smart enough to consider using her garage to entertain her guests. She laid down some rugs, put in some comfortable seating, decorated the walls and purchased some fun games to create a separate activity and game area for the kids as well as many of the adults. In fact, over the years she has created a kids area in her garage and an adult’s activity area in her den.
In her garage she had a foosball table and an air hockey table, but if you want to save space, you can get a game table that converts and turns into many games. This past fall, in New York, one of the game tables we showcased was the three in one table that rotated. That’s just one example of what’s available when you shop Hayneedle.
In the den, for the “kids at heart”, she put a dart board and a billiards table. Since this was a more adult area, she included a wine cooler there as well and used this room to store any gifts that were being exchanged. She used wine and games as the theme of this room and had these really cool wine cooler bookends that held books about games. It was a clever idea to create a theme!
Start the Holidays off in Good Spirits
Although I love to entertain and sit down dinners, I also enjoy having a few informal or more casual parties. For many of you, the thought of throwing a formal party may be cumbersome so perhaps a more casual party is your speed. What kind of host/hostess are you?
One of the things that I highly recommend when throwing a more casual party is dividing your home into stations and using as many areas in your home as possible. For example, since you won’t be using your dining room table for traditional seating, use it as the primary place to serve all of your savories, whether it is snacks, appetizers or main dishes.
If you already have a bar, turn it into a hangout spot and decorate it in the style you love. Use your bar as the primary place to serve all of your beverages and be sure that you provide everything your guests need to serve themselves. Pull your bar stools away from your bar to allow for easy access, but don’t forget to use your barstools to create other conversation areas. You may want to consider purchasing extra barstools if casual entertaining is more your style.
If you don’t have a built in bar, consider purchasing a home bar to establish your theme. Home bars range in style, from classic to ultra-modern. Use the home bar as a space to display your personal accessories or photos. You can even add a simple vase with fresh flowers on the serving area to add fragrance and a pop of color. Also, don’t forget to buy matching bar stools to complete the look of your entertaining area.
If you don’t desire to have a bar in your home, a good alternative might be to buy a wine and beverage cooler that you can keep in the kitchen. You can place your new beverage cooler by the kitchen sink and make that space your beverage area. Remember to keep plenty of towels handy.
Use a different part of your kitchen counters as a dessert station and have an espresso machine handy for your guests to make themselves various coffee drinks. This is also a good place to have dessert liquors available for some after dinner cordials.
Having multiple stations around the house allows for you to space your spread out from food to beverages. It also gives your guest ample room to mill around and enjoy one another’s company.
-Cheers-
Brighten Up Part 2
One of the best and most cost efficient ways you can brighten up your home this holiday season is to purchase some new indoor lighting. Lighting significantly influences the tone of any space both indoors and out. There are so many options to choose from whether it be ceiling fixtures, table lamps, swing arms or sconces. Changing a light or two will redesign a space in a way that can be subtle to the eye and subtle to the pocket book as well.
The easiest and most cost effective investment is a table or floor lamp, or both! Coordinate your new purchase with your existing ceiling and wall fixtures for a “pulled together” look, or go against the matching by being eclectic and choosing different designs that still work together! This fall, I’m purchasing a new floor lamp and table lamp for my living room and I will be going with a matching set. The reason being that most of my furnishings do not match and so I feel that making this choice will help my guests feel more comfortable in a the space.
If your budget allows, a new chandelier over your dining room table will add ambiance to your dining experience. I would also recommend to replace conventional light switches with dimmers allowing you to create different moods!
From the top of your home to the bottom, there are many options to brighten up your space in fun and creative ways. For example, regardless of what flooring already exists in your living areas, consider new rugs to spruce up the space or perhaps to break it up into different sitting areas.
There might be an abvious “void” in a room where the room is not big enough to completely divide into two sitting areas, but this can still be the perfect opportunity to create a smaller sitting area and use a rug to define the area.
One of my most notable tips from my design book “Home Sense”, and one that was also featured on “Good Morning America” was the concept of using a rug to delineate “an area within an area”, especially if you have a larger sized “great room”. For those of you with smaller spaces, or how about those of you that live in a home with wall-to-wall carpet, why not place a rug over the carpet? It’s a creative and inexpensive way to add new design this holiday season! My bedroom is carpeted, but I get new smaller rugs at least twice a year to change the look of the room!
So tell me, what do you think will brighten up your home??
Brighten Up Part 1
With Halloween approaching and the kids in school, keeping a budget this coming Holiday season is on everybody’s minds. Well, likely everybody except the kids! Regardless, I believe that there is a way for all of us to continue to brighten up our homes, get ready for our guests, make the house beautiful for the holidays, and do it all while staying on a budget!
First, as I say with any design project, create a wish list of what you want to brighten up your home. Break it up into categories making sure that your guests are your first priority! Once you’ve done that, create a realistic budget to work with. Make sure to balance out your larger ticket items with smaller accessories because often times those items are what will bring your guests the most comfort.
For example, what better way to welcome your guests than to purchase a new outdoor rug for your entryway? I have many family and friends that have held on to their welcome mats for far too long! Do you know anyone like that? Is it time for you to welcome your guests with a new welcome mat? Whether you want it to be plain, say “welcome” or perhaps have a more detailed design, it will be a good representation of your family’s personality, will cost you very little money and will set the stage for your guests before they step foot into your home. I just recently purchased a plain sea-grass rug for my front door!
Once they’ve stepped in the door, consider a new rug in the entryway! Previously I had spoken about a nice piece of furniture to help your guests store their accessories so why not get a rug to match!
Another outdoor element that will help welcome your guests and won’t break your wallet is solar lighting. In an era where we should all be energy conscious, outdoor solar lighting let’s your guest know that they will be staying in an eco-friendly home this holiday season!
Set the Scene with Eduardo Xol, Part 2
Now that I’ve got my plan in place for where my guests are going to sleep and relax this holiday season, I need to be sure that they are being properly entertained.
What type of environment do you want to create for your guests? I love to entertain people, and many of beliefs about designing a space carry over to entertaining. Just as good design must encompass all of the senses, the most successful entertaining must excite your guests on every level. You, as the host, really have to think about what you’re going to need to create the best entertaining experience for your guests.
I love to host dinner parties on a regular basis, so when I have guests in from out of town, I will offer to host dinner parties for them and their special group of family and friends. With so many extra guests visiting this season, I’ve decided it will be necessary for me to invest in a new expandable dining room table that will seat twelve people comfortably! After doing my fall cleaning, I have found some extra storage space in the closet that is closest to my dining room. I’ll be able to store my table leaves there, and I’m also going to invest in a set of folding chairs to allow for more guests when I expand my table to fit the most amount of people, which will probably be sixteen! What is the most people you generally like to have over for a sit-down dinner?
If you don’t have the extra storage space, you may consider getting a pair of armchairs to place at the heads of your table. The chairs can then be pulled away to another part for the house when not in use for dining and the need for extra storage is minimized. Also, some expandable tables can store the leaves inside and require significantly less storage space.
It seems that with the extra dinner parties and the many guests coming to visit this season that I will be spending a lot of time accompanying them out of the house. Obviously, there will be much more “in and out” foot traffic. With that in mind, and in order to assist my guests in being practical, I’m considering a piece of furniture in my entryway that will allow for easy storage of items like scarves, hats, and bags. Perhaps a storage bench or an interesting armoire with a mirror will work! First I need to take measurements so I make sure I’m looking for the right piece. Does your entryway warrant a new piece of storage furniture??
Set The Scene with Eduardo Xol, Part 1
This fall, I decided it was time to give my extra room a makeover. This extra room functions as both my guest room and my home office. Truth be told, most of the year it tends to function more like an office, but it seems like this year I have an especially large number of guests visiting for the holidays. Does anyone else seem to think that our family and friends want to visit with us more often this year?
Well, with that in mind, it’s only fitting that I practice my own philosophy and make the guestroom as comfortable as I would my own. The guestroom is a place where our guests should be able to relax and feel completely at ease as they spend time in our homes. Don’t forget, when a guest comes to stay with you, the room where they stay is their “home away from home.”
This fall I’m purchasing new bedroom furniture, and priority number one will be the bed. Be sure to take the time to choose your guest’s bed as if it were your own! Our bed is where we spend most of our time, so choose the mattress and furniture you are thinking about with care. I know that when I stay at someone’s home, the way that I sleep and the bed that I sleep in make the biggest impression on me. A good host must always keep this in mind!
If you find yourself in a similar situation, with a guest room doubling as an in-home office, you may want to consider a trundle or daybedto make the best use of your space. I’ll be looking for something contemporary with clean lines to match the furniture that’s already in the room, but keep continuity in mind no matter what kind of bed you put in your extra room. Coordinating with what you already have will make a big impact on your guest’s experience.
Your next priority is going to be storage. Be sure to have a dresser and side table that you are able to dedicate to your guest. If you have a lot of space, go for a full-size bed that has storage built in. This will provide plenty of space for your guest as well as for all of your extra storage needs, especially if the room you’re using has more than one purpose.
If your extra room is completely dedicated to your guests and you have the space, you may want to consider turning a corner into a reading or sitting area. This can be easily and attractively done with one or two small chairs, a table, and a dedicated area rug underneath to delineate the space. Use the table as a way to showcase accessories like small pieces of artwork, photographs, or a table lamp!
Organizing with Eduardo Xol
The leaves keep changing and the preparations for moving back indoors continue. Next step – organizing!
Last time I talked to you it was all about getting cleaned up for the fall. Well, now that you’ve gotten your home clean, it’s time to get it organized!
First things first – organize your outdoor area and put away your summer accessories you won’t be using, especially if you live where the cold is REALLY cold. If you haven’t already, you may want to consider purchasing some outdoor storage, especially if you don’t have room anywhere else. Put away your outdoor pillows, umbrellas, and toys and cover your furniture and grill.
Once you’re done outside, remove all of your indoor summer decor and store it properly. I usually use plastic containers I can keep in my garage, in closets, or under my bed and swap out accessories and decorations seasonally. At the very least, you should consider swapping accessories and small items out twice a year in the fall and spring.
If you have a lot of “non-seasonal” pieces, consider simplifying your home by putting some of these items away as well. The less clutter you have, the more your fall decor will stand out as you prepare to celebrate the holidays with family and friends.
If you have a lot, perhaps you should consider purchasing some indoor storage pieces at this time. There are several options for attractive furniture that doubles as storage, allowing you to keep track of the other seasons as you prepare for the holidays.
Having a garage or yard sale is a great way to clean up and get ready to organize for fall, will help create space for redecorating and entertaining guests during the holidays, and will help you increase your budget as you shop for new furniture and accessories! This year, I am selling some of my older items and donating half of what I make to charity.
However you choose to organize, the key to all of this is timing. If you start the project now, while the weather is still manageable and the house is clean, you can really simplify things as you prepare for company.
Countdown to Company with Eduardo Xol
Start getting the home ready as you move back indoors by cleaning!
Getting ready to move indoors is all about transition to me. Summer is all about fun and vacation and enjoying the outdoors. Winter to me is more defined by hibernation, unless you are a winter sports person – then you’re outside any time of year. But I feel that fall, much like spring, gives you the opportunity to get re-organized and create a period of transition.
Think about fall as a great time to clean up and prepare for spending more time indoors. Since you probably spent a lot of the summer living both indoors and outdoors simultaneously, your home was probably “open” a lot of that time and any deep cleaning you didn’t get to the prior spring should probably be done in fall.
Think about cleaning every room in your house, but focus on the public rooms such as the living room, family room, entryway, and guest bath so that no matter what, your home will be ready for guests when the holidays approach.
Let’s first start with the basics and do a thorough cleaning of your upholstered pieces. Vacuum your furniture and any drapes you might have that you’ll be keeping throughout the year. Pollen and dust will collect on upholstery, especially if you have pets, so take the time to really make sure your upholstered pieces will be clean enough to last until the following spring.
If your budget allows, have your carpets and rugs cleaned, or better yet, rent the equipment and do it yourself! I’ve done it before, and it’s not too difficult. It takes a little bit of time, but it’s well worth it!
Depending on what the weather is like in your neck of the woods, consider doing a good cleaning of your windows. Definitely do the inside, and perhaps the outside as well. Clean windows make a huge impact on the overall feeling of a home!
Once your home is clean, you will be ready for the next step…organization!
Eduardo is Back
Hello friends,
Well, I hope that you all had a wonderful summer. Many parts of the country experienced great temperatures for being outdoors, and I’m sure many of you took advantage of that. But now that it’s starting to cool down, many of us are starting to retreat indoors. And, that’s a good thing!
The leaves are starting to change colors, a mist is developing in the mornings, and I bet some birds have already started making their trek southward. And, with the kids back in school, I imagine many parents are enjoying a sense of relaxation. With all these changes, one would think that it’s time to wind down. Not at all! It’s the perfect time to get your home ready for company!
After a successful summer campaign, Hayneedle.com has once again enlisted my support as we move from the outdoors in. This is the perfect time of year to spruce up around the house and consider re-designing. Whether it’s a big furniture purchase or simply changing out the accessories, making these changes at this time of year will prepare your entire home to receive guests in a welcoming environment, especially as the holidays approach.
Over the summer, I assisted many of you in creating your personalized backyard space. Well, this fall I’m going to continue my communication with you by giving you great tips and ideas for inside your home. My hope is that by the time the holidays are in full swing, you will have expanded your design sense and looked at new ways to prepare your home to receive guests at anytime of the year.
I look forward to hearing your specific questions as we embark on this journey together. Feel free to comment on this blog with anything you’d like to see addressed.
How we live and what we do on a day-to-day basis has a huge effect on our lives, health, and our happiness. How we design our home is not only an expression of who we are and how we live, but how we share that experience with our guests. So, let’s move into fall energized and get ready to prepare. Your guests are on their way!!
Abrazos,
Eduardo
Eco Mom
Here at Hayneedle, we have a forest of products to help you take on the task of eco-conscious living. There are a TON of products and strategies to help you minimize your negative impact on the environment and bring up Baby in a better world.
Whether you’ve already embraced the trend or are just beginning to “go green”, check out these tips for becoming an Eco-Mom.
Being an Eco-Mom may sound scary at first, and making the transition may seem overwhelming. You may find yourself thinking, “Do I need solar panels, a hybrid car, what?” Well, fear not – I’m here to tell you to start slow and don’t worry about saving the world on the first day. There are a million easy ways to start going “green,” and every small change you make starts to make a big difference!
One of the easiest – switch to eco-friendly light bulbs. Don’t’ worry, there’s no need to go out and buy all of them at once, simply begin making the switch as your old ones burn out. It takes a while – maybe even a year – but eventually, all the lights in your home will be contributing to the cause. Added bonus – in the long run, these bulbs save you a lot of money. Eco-conscious light bulbs use 80% less electricity and can last up to 9 years.
For the gardening Mom looking to lower the water bill, a rain barrel is an ideal way to conserve. These awesome accessories collect and save hundreds of gallons of water, which you can use on your lawn or garden at absolutely zero cost. I have this rain barrel at my home, and simply wouldn’t live without it! You would be shocked how quickly a rain barrel actually fills up. Just a half-inch of rain falling on a 1,000-square-foot roof yields 300 gallons of water, and that’s just during one rainfall. Of course, if a rain barrel seems too daunting, just remember to turn your water off when you’re brushing your teeth. Every small change, remember? It’s easy!
Composting is huge right now. You may recall the large, smelly, backyard heaps of our parent’s time, but the equipment and strategies have changed. Check it out, and don’t be afraid to try something new. I’ve been running one, and I couldn’t tell you how much I love my compost tumbler.
We get asked a lot of questions about worm composting, compost bins, compost tumbler, and electric kitchen composters. There are all kinds of composting, but here is my best advice – be fair to your life. What material do you feel you waste the most? Is it food, yard waste, or something else? What kind of time do you have to commit to composting? Different types of composting accommodate every option and lifestyle, and finding the right one will help you be successful. If you have a lot of kitchen scraps, the Nature Mill Kitchen Composter might be ideal for you.
Now, for the truly Eco-conscious Mom, enter the world of Cloth Diapers.
Cloth diapers? Like my grandma? Not even close – cloth diapers are widely popular right now, way easier than you think, and come with a long list of benefits. Making the switch to cloth diapers will save you money, for sure, but guess what? They’re also better for your baby. Cloth diapers do not contain the chemicals found in disposable diapers and reduce the risks of diaper rash. Trust me – cloth diapers are back and easier than ever. No pins, no leaks, no worries!
Last, but not least, we come to the crib. Your baby spends a lot of time in there – is there possibly a way for a crib to go green? Is there an Eco Crib? Yes! Argington brand cribs are made entirely from sustainable forests. Oh yeah – they’re stylish, too!
Now that’s a lot of green!
Cribs, Car Seat, Strollers OH MY……
When I was pregnant with my son, I can remember after the shock, tears, and all the many phone call to let everyone knows, one thing started to loom on my mind. And that was a list! The list that you start of ALL the baby items you need. What car seat do we get, what about a crib, will I need a stroller? So you make a list if you where anything like me your list got longer and longer before you even got one item. I can remember spending many sleepless nights worrying if my son going to be happy in the crib I got, or should I get that black crib instead? Now I do know that my son really didn’t care if his car seat was at the top of the leader board, he still hated to be in it. The crib well he liked it for the first ten months the decided he wasn’t going to sleep in a crib anymore. So when I pregnant this time I had my list but it wasn’t nearly as long until the unthinkable happened the one word no parent every wants to hear…. RECALL!!!! Yep that’s right the first email I got was for my crib, Dear Mrs. Odair we are sorry to inform you that your crib is being recalled, please stop using it and return it the store as soon as possible. Now this was just not any crib, but a $550.00 one that had a built in changing table that I loved. They do not tell you that when it is recalled they will only give you half of the crib worth, so yes that means I only got $225.00 for the crib. In today’s world that is hardly enough to buy a crib let alone a changing table. Well I have been able to review one of the most beautiful cribs I have seen in a long time from Hayneedle.com, but more about that later! Next email I got was for my car seat, guess what it has been recalled, but this time I was told that we will not be able to get anything in return but 25% off a new car seat. My eyes started tearing up as we have spent the 250.00 already on a new mattress, and diapers for our son. Now that little list I started has gotten somewhat bigger. Here is a little of what is on my list.
1. Car seat
2. Stroller
3. Bedding
4. Diapers
6. Bottles
7. Bouncing chair
8. Swing
9. High chair
10. Glider or rocker
Now like I said this is just a few items and not the whole list! I know what most are you are thinking isn’t this your second baby? Well yes you’re right, but first off I had a boy first and now I having a girl. There are certain items a girl cannot wear, or use that a boy did. Second we never thought we were getting pregnant so quickly that I gave most of my baby items to my sister in law for her boy! So yes I am like a first time parent again looking at all the reports on what I need to buy. My next big item we will have to get is a car seat, but maybe someone will take pity on us and get one for us at my baby shower. (Hint hint) No really this time around buying for the baby is not about what is the best, but more about what will last longer and of course a little girly. So if I could give any first time parents advice on this it would be make your list check it twice, and ask someone who has gone through this if you really need a wipe warmer, or if it is just some item you may use for a week, then forget about! Also everyone needs to go to the new Hayneedle.com nursery and see that you can get all your baby items in one place.
Decorating for Baby?
Painting the Baby’s Room
Painting can seem like an undesirable chore, but – if you go about it right – painting the baby’s room can actually be a fun step during the “expecting” process. What’s even more exciting is that, these days, it’s conventional to defy convention. Get creative, and move beyond light blue and pink to the bubble-gum cigars. People everywhere are starting to experiment with bolder colors and adding murals and creative artwork to nursery walls. I’ve written a short guide to help you select baby-safe paint, exciting colors, and fun wall decals.
The Paint:
Selecting paint can be a cumbersome job. When choosing paint, make sure it’s low-VOC (Volatile Organic Compound). Volatile Organic Compound is a key component of the composition of oil-based paint, and even shows up in some traditional latex-based paints. Exposing a baby to paint VOC’s can trigger asthma attacks, eye irritation and respiratory problems, nausea, and dizziness – among other symptoms. Prolonged exposure has been linked to kidney and liver disease and even cancer. Some great low-VOC paint options: Green Seal Standard GS-11 paint, non-toxic paints, natural paints, and ceramic wall paints.
Colors:
Contrary to evidence found at Grandma’s, baby pinks, blues, yellows, and greens are not the only options when it comes to decorating the baby’s room. Don’t be afraid to go bold, bright, and patterned. When selecting the color you wish to paint your baby’s room think about the mood you want to convey.
Warm colors portray intimacy, relaxation, and warmth. Reds and oranges also stimulate and excite people. Affectionate people and those who love to read and relax are complemented by warm color schemes.
Light cool colors can have a calming effect. Cool colors can also make a small room seem more open and spacious. Earth tones tend to ground the viewer and are a great choice for hyperactive children. Mixing and matching different color pallets can help balance the feeling of a room.
Themes:
Fifty percent of expecting couples choose to wait until the birth to find out the sex of the baby. If you don’t know, choosing a theme when decorating the baby’s room can be a challenge. Luckily for you, today’s nurseries are full of fun, funky, and often gender-neutral colors and accessories. Wall decals make it easy to add character and charm to any baby room. You can easily add trees and animal prints to a neutrally-painted room. Earth tones allow you to choose more adventurous patterns and décor. Add bright drapes to the room to help contrast the walls, or get inventive by using multi-colored frames and shadow boxes to encompass numbers, letters, and pictures.
Whatever color scheme you choose, if you put a little bit of yourself into the decoration it ‘ll be perfect for the little one you love. Don’t be afraid to let your inner decorator come out – it’ll be worth it in the end.
Check out these amazing resources to learn more about how to decorate, color meanings, and room décor inspirations.
Resources: About.com, DecoratingKidsRooms.net, http://weedecor.com/, http://www.thelaboroflove.com.
Are You Ready for Baby?
As you prepare for your new arrival, the list of “things to consider” seems endless. A huge chunk of this list is dedicated to the daunting task of readying your home for a little one. With that said, there are literally HUNDREDS of articles and books to read on the subject – which means a cache of information large enough to make you spit up. To help push the planning process through, I’ve taken the liberty of reading a bundle of these articles and pulled what I think are pivotal points to help you prepare for adding one more to the brood.
For most parents, getting the home ready for baby is an overwhelming experience. Here’s what I’ve gathered that will help you stress less about what to do in the coming months:
First Trimester:
- You are pregnant! Enjoy the excitement and work on stocking healthy foods in the house.
- Start planning a budget for adding the baby to the household. Try calculating the costs with this handy resource: http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm
Second Trimester:
- Evaluate your space. Where will the baby room be located? Where will you store the baby items? You will want to have this mapped out before your first baby shower.
Start buying diapers as they go on sale in different sizes. You should plan to go through about 70 diapers per week.- Assemble crib towards end of the second trimester or beginning of third trimester. Babies are unpredictable, and the last thing you want is to come home from the hospital with an unassembled crib. When choosing a crib select one with slats no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Make sure the crib isn’t painted with lead or varnish. Cribs made after 1989 meet these safety rules.
- Take stock of your medical equipment, and be sure to get what don’t have. You’ll want to be prepared for anything that comes up after your baby arrives. You’ll need a rectal digital thermometer (not a mercury thermometer) and lubricant (petroleum jelly). Thought it sounds unpleasant, a rectal digital thermometer gives the best temperature reading for newborns. You’ll need non-aspirin liquid pain reliever for infants (such as acetaminophen), rubbing alcohol to help clean the umbilical cord stump, cotton swabs, saline drops to help relieve a stuffed nose, infant nail clippers, and a suction bulb for a little nose.
Third Trimester:
- Make your home extra clean. You’ll want to make sure you bring Baby home to a sterile environment. Since Mom to be will be tired, Dad to be should be willing to help around the house more. If cleaning isn’t his forte, think about hiring a service to help you get the down-and-dirty cleaning complete.
- Have meals prepared in the freezer. This will be great for when you get home from the hospital. Odds are neither of you will feel like cooking much; having casseroles, pastas, stews on deck will make both your lives easier.
- Stock up on household necessities. The new baby will throw off your routine and your minds might be a little scattered (thus not realizing you are out of toilet paper until you need it).
- Practice using the car seat- You can even have a certified instructor put your car seat base in your vehicle for you. Hospitals will not allow you to leave with your wee one if you don’t have the car seat properly installed.
Make sure your stroller fits in your car. Some strollers are bulkier than others, and may not suit your needs like the photo makes you think it will. Ensure the stroller is functional for your lifestyle.- Schedule someone to watch your house, pets, and/or children when the moment comes. Have this lined up before the baby comes, so if your bundle of joy decides to come early you already have a game plan.
- Wash baby clothes in a light detergent (Dreft or Ivory Snow) a few weeks before the baby comes. Between your own shopping and friends/family/shower guests, you’ll probably end up with oodles of outfits for your baby. Wash only necessities (baby onesies, burp cloths, socks, hats, blankets, few outfits). The trick is only take tags off a few items at a time – your baby will grow quickly and may outgrow outfits before even one use. If you save the receipts and leave on the tag, you’ll be able to exchange for a larger size when Baby becomes BIG Baby. When it comes to baby clothes, you should have: 6-8 T-shirts or onesies, 6-8 sleepers, 4-6 pairs of booties or socks, 4-6 receiving blankets, and a few washcloths and towels. Disinfect bottles in hot water.
- Make sure to disinfect any baby equipment such as bottles and pacifiers in hot boiling water.
I hope this list helps you as you ready your home for baby. Parents, I’d love to hear your feedback – anything missing from this list? Is there something you swear by that you’d be willing to share? Your experience is invaluable, please leave your comments below!
Resources:
http://www.babycenter.com/babyCostCalculator.htm
http://www.pregnancyetc.com/bringing-baby-home.htm
http://www.marchofdimes.com/pnhec/298_26822.asp
Pet, Meet Baby. Baby, Meet Pet.
Whether it’s a doggie or a kitty, your pet was probably your very first baby. Many couples bring a pet into their lives before having a child of their own. Although it’s not exactly the same as the real thing (way more fur) – pet-parenting can be a great first step towards starting a family.
When it comes time to welcome a baby home, there are usually valid concerns around how a pet will react to the new smallest member of the family. Here are a few things you can do before and after Baby arrives to help make the transition a safe, happy, and smooth one for every family member.
Before Baby Arrives…
- Sights, Smells, Sounds
Begin getting your pet used to the sounds and smells that come with having a baby around. Play a tape recording of a baby crying. Put baby lotion on your hands before interacting with your pet. If possible, have a friend or family member with a baby or small child come over for short visits to see how your pet reacts. Make sure your pet is also used to having its paws, tail, and ears touched regularly.
Routine
Even though your time will likely be monopolized with caring for Baby it is still important to fit in time during your day to interact with your pet. Start getting your pet used to variations in their routine before the baby arrives. Try walking your pet at different times of the day. Change up play and training times and get your pet used to shorter, but perhaps more frequent, petting sessions. Change up feeding times slightly. This will help your pet begin to adapt to daily changes, since it’s doubtful that Baby will be adhering to anyone’s schedule for quite a while!
Baby’s Room
Have Baby’s room set up well before Baby’s arrival so your pet can get used to and explore the area. If there are items or areas that you don’t want your pet to have access to, this is a good time to start setting and enforcing those boundaries and limitations. Installing a screen door or pressure gate on the room is a handy way to keep your pet out while still offering them the ability to observe what is happening in the room.
Training
For dog owners, the time before baby arrives might be a perfect time to brush up on obedience classes to ensure consistency of basic commands like Sit, Stay, and Lay Down.
Toxoplasmosis
For cat owners, Toxoplasmosis might be a concern. Toxoplasmosis is a rare parasitic disease that can cause birth defects. While pregnant, women should avoid contact with cat feces. This does not mean you need to give up your cat, but it does mean that cleaning the litter box should be added to your husband’s “Honey Do” list. Learn more about Toxoplasmosis here.
Bringing Baby Home…
- Ask a friend or family member to bring a blanket or item of clothing with Baby’s scent on it so your pet can get used to how Baby smells before your arrival home.
When Mom arrives home, have someone take Baby into another room so Mom can have a few quiet, calm moments to greet the pet before they meet the baby.
When your pet is around Baby have treats handy to reward good behavior. Be sure to speak in positive tones around the baby so your pet can begin associating positive feelings with being around Baby.
Be sure to spend some quality time with your pet when Baby is napping so they don’t get lost in the shuffle.
Enjoy the time with your growing family!
Lisa E
I welcome your feedback. Just click into this post to leave comments, questions or suggestions.
Follow me on Twitter! @hayneedlepets
I Wish I Would Have Known, Part 1
The following is a collaborative post by two of Hayneedle’s own moms, Cat Koehler and Cate Adcock.
Cat and Cate are also mom bloggers and they thought it would be great to ask some moms out there “What do you wish you would have known about having a baby?”
The following is a collection of wisdom from several of our favorite mom-bloggers on pregnancy and childbirth. We would love to have you join the conversation, too. Share your own parenting wisdom with our readers by adding your thoughts in the comment section!
“What I wish I would have known about pregnancy…”
- That you are just along for the ride! – Liz, from “a belle, a bean, & a chicago dog”
- Not all women have a lovely glow during pregnancy. You will get a giant rear and maybe acne and barf for months…or not. There are no guarantees in this crap shoot, people. – Kathryn, from “The Coastal Chick”
- That it would save a lot of time, anger and frustration to just buy the shirt from cafepress.com that says “No, it’s not twins. Yes, they are sure. No, I’m not over due. Yes, they are sure” and “You can touch my belly if I can punch your face.” – Megan, from “Newly Wed Newly Bred”
- I wish I had known that people will make horrifically inappropriate comments to me. Constantly. I would have carried a knife with me at all times. – Veronica, from “Crunchy VT Mommy”
- You shouldn’t be held accountable for any and all irrational breakdowns. – Wanda Mae, Twitter id: @piggytailmommie
- Is that it would be the one time in my life I did everything right. Eating, drinking the right stuff (water, no caffeine, etc). – Alana Morales, from “Domestically Challenged”
- Gynocological math was calculated by a MAN! How else can 9 months = 40 weeks? And, heaven forbid if you are in week 42, which according to my doctor, “is well within the accepted time frame” for the little sucker to remain in utero. This is a LONG time to go without a margarita! – Cindi
“What I wish I would have known about Labor & Delivery…”
- The thing is, you have every right to beg mercilessly for pain medication, because they will try to steer you away from it, but in the end if you are persistent, your life will be a lot easier. Especially if you are getting no sleep just to have a baby arrive and then you REALLY never see the bed again. – Roxane, from “Roxane’s Days”
- Drugs are not bad…drugs are amazing and if I could have gotten my spinal in the parking lot I would have. Kathryn, from “The Coastal Chick”
- That everyone and their Mom will see your who-ha and be up in your business! And that it’s much easier to just roll with it, and have no shame! And that you’ll pretty much be wearing a diaper for the next 3-4 weeks, following that little bundle of joys arrival! – Megan, from “Newly Wed Newly Bred”
- I wish I had known that things can progress very quickly. I was incredibly unprepared to handle contractions that came one right after the other with no time for recovery. – Veronica, from “Crunchy VT Mommy”
- The ultimate goal is getting the baby out. Even if they come out of the curtain instead of down the chute. – Alana Morales, from “Domestically Challenged”
- That the “delivery” movie doesn’t really prepare you for labor pains. If someone would have said that labor pains are menstrual cramps times one million, then I would have known exactly what I was feeling at 3 in the morning. – Cindi
So, there’s a little perspective from some of our favorite mommies on pregnancy, D-Day, and some of the little things that often go unsaid. I’m sure we missed a few things, so give us your two cents below in the comments section. Don’t forget to stay tuned for future installments of “I Wish I Would Have Known”. Next, we’ll tackle what really happens when you bring that bundle home and have to feed it…all by yourself.
Cate Adcock shares stories of her funny, messy, frustrating and delicious life at Real Life With Kids. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/RealLifeWKids
Cat Koehler writes about everything mommy, even the things we don’t want to talk about every Monday at Momaha.com. Follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/Netlady29
Cocktails for Moms-To-Be
Congrats, you’re expecting! This is a time to celebrate the growth of your family with the people that you love. But while others enjoy a cocktail to toast your little bun-in-the-oven, you probably find yourself struggling to find a mommy-friendly beverage toast the occasion. But you are not alone – there are many, many moms-to-be discovering the world of mouth-watering mocktails. We’ve done a little research and can’t wait to share some recipes that are both safe and delicious.
If the uncertainties of impending motherhood have you hankering for a highball or Harvey Wallbanger, Alyssa Gusenoff’s got your, er, belly.
Her forthcoming book, Margarita Mama Mocktails for Moms-to-Be (Quirk Books, $13) offers more than 60 creative and often wildly-named alcohol-free cocktails for women drinking for two.
Recipes include a grape juice-laden sangria; a coffee, raspberry, grape, and chocolate mixer called the Bulging Belly Button; and the grenadine-spiked Materni-Tini.
And while Gusenoff obviously has fun playing with the maternity theme, these drinks would work nicely for anyone avoiding alcohol.
Give the book a test run and mix up a Raging Hormone:
RAGING HORMONE
- 6 to 7 fresh mint leaves
- 1 ounce lemonade
- 2 ounces cherry juice
- 4 ounces ginger ale
In the bottom of a tall glass, muddle the mint leaves with the lemonade and cherry juice.
Add ice, then pour in the ginger ale.
Makes 1 serving.
Preggatinis: Alcohol-Free Cocktails for Moms-to-be
Mixologist Natalie Bovis, also known as the “Liquid Muse” shows how to make preggatinis – the perfect drinks to make for a baby shower!
Mamarita
From Preggatinis by Natalie Bovis-Nelsen
Ingredients
1 ounce agave nectar
1/2 ounce freshly squeezed lemon juice
1 ounce orange juice
3 ounces organic limeade
1 lime wheel
rimming salt
Directions
Rim a margarita glass and set aside. Stir agave nectar and lemon juice in the bottom of a mixing glass until nectar dissolves. Add orange juice, limeade, and ice, then shake vigorously. Strain into the margarita glass, and serve with a lime wheel on the rim.
Miami Mommy Mojito
1 heaping tablespoon diced strawberries
1 tablespoon torn basil
1 lime, cut into small chunks with peel on
4 oz. Fre White Zinfandel alcohol-removed wine
Splash of lemon-lime soda
Muddle strawberries, basil and lime in the bottom of a tall glass. Add ice. Fill with alcohol-removed White Zinfandel and finish with a splash of lemon-lime soda.
Sparkling Pomegranate
2 tablespoons granulated white sugar
1 sugar cube
Dash blood orange bitters
1 1/2 ounces pomegranate juice
3 ounces Fre Brut alcohol-removed sparkling wine
1 teaspoon pomegranate seeds
Rim a champagne flute with sugar. Place the sugar cube into the bottom of the flute and soak it with the bitters. Add pomegranate juice and alcohol-removed sparkling wine. Drop in pomegranate seeds.
Citrusy Red Sangria Punch
1 orange, cut into slices with peel on
1 lemon, cut into slices with peel on
1 lime, cut into slices with peel on
1/2 cup tangerine juice
1/2 cup pear cider
2 tablespoons sugar
2 bottles Fre Merlot alcohol-removed wine
Place cut fruit in a punch bowl and stir in tangerine juice, pear cider and sugar. Slowly add alcohol-removed wine. Cover and refrigerate at least 3 hours. Ladle it into wine goblets or punch cups when ready to serve.
Garden Rose
1 heaping tablespoon diced cucumber (peeled and seeded)
1 ounce rose infused simple syrup
3 ounces Fre Premium White alcohol-free wine
Splash of soda water
1 rose petal
Gently muddle cucumber and rose-infused syrup in the bottom of a mixing glass. Add ice and wine, then shake and strain into a cocktail glass. Top with soda water. Garnish with white rose petal.
To see more recipes visit our Facebook page to get in on the discussion!
Congratulations, again, and “Cheers” to you and baby!
We’re having a WHAT? Dealing with the news of a lifetime.
As we mentioned, we’ll be having an expecting mom write for us over the next few weeks. We’re proud to introduce Amanda from Barefootmommies.com – She’s had a little surprise come her way, and this is the start of her story:
I have been asked by a couple of people now why we decided to have a baby, and what my reaction was. I have been putting it off, thinking that no one really wants to know. When Hayneedle asked me if I would be a guest baby blogger and tell my story, I thought “Hmmm, I guess it is time to let everyone know how it happened”.
After having a hard time getting pregnant with Logan and then all the complications I went through to get him here, my husband and I thought no more babies for at least three years. Well, as we all can say sometimes, there are other plans for us!
I went in for a yearly woman’s examination, where you are asked all kinds of questions. Normally, I’d just laugh at everyone – until they asked if there was any way I could be pregnant. I looked at the nurse and said plainly, “No, I am on the pill”. She said it’s not 100%, you know, and if I thought there was even the slightest chance, to please just take a test. I honestly took the test to please her. I gave her the test and waited patiently for her to come into the room. Imagine my shock when she tells me I am pregnant. I honestly thought it was some type of joke, and said “Come on, that’s not funny!” She assured me it was no joke and to come with her to try to see when I was due. The walk to the office seemed eight miles long.
The whole time I am crying not knowing what to do. I would never get rid of this baby, but man – was this wrong timing! As I sat in the office listening to everything they were saying, the tears kept coming. At this point the nurse said to me, well, I am sure we can give you the pill to make it all go away if that’s what you want. It was at that very moment that I knew, no matter what, this baby would be loved and cared for. That this baby will know that even if it was not the right moment for her parents, it didn’t matter. I looked at the nurse and said, “This baby will be a joy in our lives”. I thanked the nurse and went home.
On the drive home, I said a prayer out loud asking for help to tell my husband. I pulled into the drive and was happy to see that our son was asleep. I walked in with tears in my eyes and found my husband. I just said “Honey there is something I need to tell you”. He looked at me and knew – “You’re pregnant, right?” I was shock – how did he know? When I told him it was true, he said that it explains why I’ve been tired and crying all the time. He then went on to say that it would all be OK, that we will get through this somehow.
I could not believe that he was so OK with it. I mean, didn’t we make a plan? Our son would only be 28 months old when this baby is born. How can this be so easy for him? As I sat there still in shock, my little boy woke up and hopped on my lap and said “I love you”. It was there, at that moment, that I knew why my husband was so calm. Look at how lucky we are – already with a healthy boy. So yes, we were unprepared, and yes, there are so many things we will have to do before this baby, but in the end we knew it would all be for the best.
Many thoughts go through your head when you find out you are pregnant, but the one thought that never goes away is, “How am I to care for this little one?” But somehow, we are able. Think of all the other children in the world who are born to parents who do not want them. Knowing that my two kids will never have to go through that makes all the morning (all-day) sickness worth it. All the food cravings, the constant need to”go” – all worth it!
We all know what we are getting into when we have a baby, and this time was no different for me. I will say it is a lot less scary – but I am staying healthy and making better choices to keep this baby in me longer. I am so excited to share my journey to motherhood with you guys. Watch for more posts over the next three weeks!
-Amanda
Baby Announcement
*Ding, Ding* We’re clinking our glasses and are proud to announce that we have a new baby – The Nursery, brought to you by Hayneedle! This little baby has everything that an expecting family needs! From diapers and cribs to high chairs and monitors, this is your one stop shopping destination for all things baby. Over the next few weeks we will not only be offering AMAZING pricing on our nursery items, but we’ll also be offering up some fun content from an expecting mom, an expecting dad, advice from a couple of pros, and much more!
Not only are we bringing you unbeatable deals to help bring your baby on board, we want to give you a chance to win the nursery of your dreams! We ‘re teaming up with iVillage.com to give away a $5,000 nursery! Then, get ready for September 23 – at 8:00 PM ET we’re due to host a Baby Shower Twitter Party with TwitterMoms.com! We will be giving away seven great items that will help you prepare for your new arrival. Stay tuned for more details.
Over the next couple of weeks, this baby’s really gonna grow. Follow Hayneedle on Twitter and Facebook for your opportunity to win amazing prizes from The Nursery!
END OF SUMMER
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!
Part II of the Veggie Garden
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!
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
Dog Days of Summer
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!
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
Bringing Variety to America – a Post by Eduardo Xol
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.
Canning Peaches
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
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
Canning- Can You?
We’re thrilled to have Marisa McClellan from Food in Jars write a guest post on the Hayneedle Blog. She is an accomplished canner and has some great insights to share with us. She will contribute with three posts over the next few weeks. We hope this helps anyone in need of canning advice… it is that time of year!
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, 21st 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:
- Remove lids and rings from jars.
- Place the number of jars you’ll need on top of the rack in your stock pot.
- Fill pot (and jars) with water to cover and bring to a boil.
- Put your lids in a small saucepan and bring them to the barest simmer on the back of the stove.
- While the canning pot comes to a boil, prepare your product.
- 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.
- 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).
- Wipe the rims of the jars with a clean, damp paper towel or the edge of a kitchen towel.
- Apply lids and screw the bands on the jars to hold the lids down during processing.
- 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.
- Once the pot has returned to a boil, start your timer. The length of the processing time will vary from recipe to recipe.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
Creating a Garden Oasis
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!
DIY Kids Projects for Summer
I think any time of year is fun to do a DIY project with the kids – but summer offers more flexibility for outdoor type crafts. To that end – the kids and I decided to make some planters to sit on our front stoop that would showcase a special plant for each of them and a mélange of little green ones for me.
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.
Hayneedle’s Hammock Day Twitter Party
The sun is hot, the shade is cool. Lounging in a hammock is a great way to beat the heat this summer! You don’t have a hammock? Well, you are in luck!
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
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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
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@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!
Expanding Your Home’s Square Footage Outdoors
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!
Summer Pet Safety Tips
Summer is a great time for being outside with family, friends, and your dog. After spending the holiday weekend at the lake with family, I was inspired to write about some of the safety hazards that many adults see as common sense when it comes to children, but seem to overlook when it comes to the family dog.
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
Cayden’s First Garden
Checking in with Cayden’s Green Experience, we can see that it’s not just her interest in a more eco-friendly lifestyle that’s growing. Her first garden seems to be taking off as well!
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!
Into the Pool! – by Eduardo Xol
Into the Pool!
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
All-American Summer
I won’t say variety is exclusively American, but Americans may be the best at embracing it. The dill-covered salmon curing in my refrigerator is what brings this to mind. Our melting pot of cultures makes for a stew rich with traditions, and one of them- a Swedish Midsummer celebration- is what’s dominated my household this week. But like any week in this fair country, it could be any of 10,000 other things worthy of celebration.
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.
Making the Best of Awkward Spaces – by Eduardo Xol
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!
Hayneedle Pets
Hi, I’m Lisa. I’m a member of the PPC Search Marketing team for the Outdoor and Pets & Animals sites at Hayneedle. I was recently invited to be a contributing writer for the Hayneedle Blog and to tweet for our @hayneedlepets account on Twitter.com. As an animal lover, I am so excited about the opportunity to contribute and share the experiences I’ve had as a pet owner, volunteer dog walker, and my time spent working as a CSC at a local vet.
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
Angie’s Electric Bike Test Ride
Hayneedle-what does that even mean?
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.
They Grow Up So Fast
I started writing for Hayneedle over 5 years ago, well before we changed our name from “NetShops” and launched the Hayneedle brand. In fact, we weren’t even yet NetShops during my first months on the job. We were just a modest but ambitious handful of outdoor specialty stores, like PorchSwings.com, PatioUmbrellas.com, and Hammocks.com.
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.
Outdoor Living Rooms- by Eduardo Xol
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!
Escape! The Next Chapter in “The Green Experience”
Wow! Well, now I have a worm composter. Great, but what to do next? I found out the answer the first time I went down to the basement to check on my little worms to discover… I have ESCAPEES! I retreated upstairs until I felt brave enough (I may have had a glass of wine) to go back down to the basement and clean the worms.
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!
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!
We Can All Be Designers – a post by Eduardo Xol
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.
Binocular of the Year Awards
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.
Hayneedle’s Memorial Day Sale
Everybody around the office is planning various and sundry Memorial Day blowouts … ok, some of them involve more napping than anything else, but no matter what you have planned, take some time to enjoy up to an additional 25% off your purchases from Hayneedle, now through May 27. Whether you visit The Backyard at Hayneedle and score a sweet new hammock, or finally start your basement redecoration this weekend and need some bar stools for inspiration, you’ll find it all here. Remember, our Memorial Day Sale ends May 27, so shop shop.
Hayneedle Appears On The Ellen DeGeneres Show
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
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.
Setting Up a Worm Composter – A Green Experience Blog Post
As familiar as I was with the expression “a can of worms,” it did nothing to prepare me for the parcel I received for my worm composter. Our supplier thought it would be really nice to send me extra worms. You REALLY only need to start out with 1,000 to 2,500, so when I opened a box filled with 5,000 squigglers, I don’t know if grateful is the best word to describe how I felt.
I was a little excited and quite a bit nervous to set up my worm composter. I knew the worms could would be okay in the box for up to 10 days, but I wanted to get the composter set up so I could move them into their new home; I would have felt guilty leaving those poor little worms in the box any longer than necessary.
My daughter Chloe helped me with the set-up process. We watched the instruction video a couple times to make sure we knew what we were doing. We laid the bottom tray on the kitchen counter placed a piece of newspaper on the tray before preparing the bed. Next we added water to the coco coir, making it wet but not too wet (when you squeeze the coco coir after adding water only a small drop of water should come out). Then we added a couple handfuls of newspaper to the coco coir.
Here’s Chloe intently watching the instruction video:
Pretty easy, right? Next you grab a couple handfuls of food so the worms can get chomping. I started with lettuce. We put a handful of food in each corner. Now-or-never time to add the worms… this was the most exciting and nerve-racking part! Luckily for me and Chloe, James, a generous and strong-stomached Hayneedle employee, came to my house to help add the worms to the composter.
Welcome home, worms!
The last step was to add a wet newspaper to the top to keep the worms moist. Phew, that was it! Now the question was where to put it. I decided our basement was the best place to put the worm composter, since ideal temperature for the worms is 40 to 80 degrees. I can tell you that putting 5,000 worms in the basement was a great idea. Check back later to find out why!
From Hayneedle’s Celebrity Designer, Eduardo Xol
Summer is upon us!
I can’t believe that we’ve passed the first quarter of 2010. Summer is upon us and it’s time to get ready! This last year has been one of those years where everyone around me has been working really hard. My friends, family, colleagues, all share the same story. But I remind myself and those around me about the importance of balance and about the fact that we must take the time to relax with friends and family and celebrate life, which is why I’m really excited to announce that I am partnering with Hayneedle.com on their Backyard Summer campaign! I’ll be helping to bring variety to America’s homes, one backyard at a time, creating backyard escapes where people can celebrate and relax together.
The campaign will begin at the end of May and run throughout the summer. Earlier this week I did two radio tours lasting about 4 hours each day. What this entails is me sitting in a radio studio in Los Angeles and the engineer patches in DJs from all over the country for me to talk to. You’ll be hearing them on the air very soon. Here I am sitting in the studio …
Last Mother’s Day, I celebrated with my family as we got together for our annual reunion. My mother is the youngest of seven women.
Needless to say, we have a big family and they all live in the Los Angeles area. This is the one day out of the year when all four living generations of my family get together to celebrate our mothers, ourselves, each other, and the importance of family. Every year it’s held at my parents’ house in the beautiful town of Montebello, California, just East of Los Angeles. Here is a picture of me dancing with my mother, Mirna.
I’m going to let you in on some personal details. The party is still held in the house that my brother, Ernesto, sister Monica and I were all raised in! It is the family home. But I’ve been bugging my parents for years to update their backyard. They built a beautiful pool when I was a kid. My father has created, and still maintains, a beautiful garden, including his collection of bonsai, but the furniture and accessories are completely out of date! I’ve gone shopping with my mom and when she sees the products in the stores, she always tells me that everything looks the same! I’m very excited to introduce my parents to Hayneedle.com! I’m going to completely makeover their backyard and I can’t wait! Stay tuned for before and after pictures coming soon!
For more about Eduardo Xol, visit EduardoXol.com. Be sure to check out his personal blog for more content from the designer and entertainer.
You can also find Eduardo on Facebook.
Hayneedle’s Summer Campaign
In our mission to bring variety to America one backyard at a time, we’ve lined up a summer full of extra special events. We’ve mentioned The Backyard, where you can find everything you can imagine to create your backyard paradise, and here’s what else is happening:
Do the Hayneedle Hustle! You could win $15,000! We’re celebrating the moment you find that perfect thing for your backyard or home – with a video dance contest! You can upload a vid of yourself doing the Hayneedle Hustle, and if our judges pick yours, you’ll win a $15,000 shopping spree at Hayneedle! Go here for the details.
Over 195 media outlets are spreading the word about our campaign, so you’ll be hearing about Hayneedle all summer. Most recently it’s mentioned on one of our favorite home improvement blogs, Bob Vila’s On the Level.
Hayneedle’s Celebrity Designer: Eduardo Xol. Known for his outdoor creative designs on Extreme Makeover: Home Edition, Eduardo Xol is joining forces with Hayneedle. He’ll provide tips, ideas, and advice on making your backyard your perfect summer getaway. Check back often to read Eduardo’s blog entries and more throughout the summer. He’ll also be on the most popular radio stations across the country, making over backyards and helping us give away prizes.
This is just a taste of summertime at Hayneedle. Stop back often and experience all of our exciting summer events as we bring variety to America … one backyard at a time.
Mother’s Day Report Card
Hi! I’m Cate. I’m part of the team at Hayneedle and the mom of 3 funny kids – “Itchy” (12), “Scratchy” (10), and “Trouble” (6.). I am also the author of the blog “Real Life with Kids.” I’m really excited about being a guest blogger here on the Hayneedle Blog! My first post is a subject close to my heart, Mother’s Day.
I thought it would be fun to take a look over my most recent year of motherhood and grade some of the highlights. One thing a year in the life of a mom never lacks is variety…
First Day of School: A+
Cons: I didn’t take pictures of them on the first day with their new teachers or old friends. I didn’t send them with sack lunches with “I love you” written on a napkin.
Pros: I got all three of the kids to their 2 schools before the bell rang and as a bonus – all were completely dressed and had their teeth brushed. Also – while doing a “pat down” prior to leaving home – I did stop Scratchy from bringing the full size, completely filled water balloon to school as a “gift” for his new teacher. Probably I should get some extra credit for that one.
Halloween Class Party: B-
Cons: I was late because I was in a meeting that went over. The kids at my table used frosting extravagantly on the pumpkin sugar cookies I helped them decorate. They also made a really big mess with glitter. One of the moms said, “Who’s the amateur who brought glitter?”
Pros: I didn’t use profanity or sprinkle any glitter on the “too smart for glitter” mom (you know I brought the glitter, right?) I have always been a firm believer that glitter in your underclothes at the end of the day is a sure sign of a day well spent. I encouraged the extravagant use of frosting. My son and his friends had an awesome time – as evidenced by the orange and black frosting all over their hands and faces with sparkly glitter stuck in it.
Christmas Teacher Gifts: B+
Cons: The last day of school before Christmas break snuck up on me and I had no gifts for the teachers.
Pros: I got my fabu hubby to stop and get donuts for all the teachers on the first day back after break – because seriously – that is when teachers really need some love.
Band Practice: D
Cons: I lacked any motivation to encourage my son to practice his trumpet regularly. I thought he should take up the dog whistle but I was informed that this was not an option in elementary school. (does that mean it might be an option in middle school?). With varying practice days at school each week we probably got Scratchy and his trumpet to school on the same day as practice about 62.5% of the time.
Pros: I got Scratchy and his trumpet to school on the same day as practice about 62.5% of the time. Not one of those times did I bring the trumpet and forget Trouble or Itchy. Sometimes I amaze myself.
Talent Show: A+
Cons: Scratchy wanted to participate in the talent show with two of his friends playing drums, trumpet, and I can’t remember the third instrument.
Pros: Scratchy wanted the $5 I offered him more than he wanted to participate in the talent show.
The beautiful thing about being a mom is that kids are funny, forgiving, and fortunately forgetful. I asked Trouble yesterday, “Do you know you’re my Sweetie?” He came up and gave me a sloppy kiss and a big hug and said, “Yes, Momma, I know I’m your Sweetie.” At the end of the day I think that averages out to a 4.0.
Happy Mother’s Day to moms everywhere!
Come Play in The Backyard
New sites, new products, new promos and sales … we love new stuff. So we’re really excited about our newest site, The Backyard at Hayneedle. Our company started with Hammocks.com, and since then we’ve added a bunch of outdoor-focused sites, such as PatioFurnitureUSA.com, PatioUmbrellas.com, AdirondackChairs.com, GrillsDirect.com, and more. All of them are full of terrific stuff you’d love to have in your backyard … so we decided to make a big ole’ site that has ALL of our outdoor products in one spot. It’s called the Backyard, and it’s awesome. Go there and you can find everything you need to make your ultimate backyard paradise. Grills, fire pits, patio sets, you name it. Plus we’ve got all kinds of special things happening this summer, so visit often, friend us, follow us, etc., etc. Shop The Backyard, make your backyard as unique as you are, then go outside and play …
So It Begins: The Green Experience
Hi. I’m Cayden, a buyer with Hayneedle. I started buying for two of our eco-friendly specialty stores, CompostBins.com and RainBarrelSource.com almost 2 years ago. Before I started buying compost bins I was not the greenest person in the world. I did not compost, have a rain barrel, or even recycle. But as soon as I started buying compost bins, I felt compelled to at least start recycling, and now I’ve finally made the leap to owning a compost bin, too- pretty exciting stuff!
Yet, I still feel pretty green-challenged and would like to take more steps toward a greener lifestyle. That’s the concept behind the Green Experience- through blogging, Twitter, and YouTube, I’m going to put my going-green experience out there. Follow me as I make a few changes!
Just a few weeks ago, I received my Worm Factory Worm Composter. I got the bin before I got my worms, so (lucky me) I did not have to make a temporary worm bed. I’m not going to lie, I’m not necessarily the type of person to go out into a field and start digging for worms. So it’s a good thing they just showed up at my door!
It was Friday, April 9th and I had been out for drinks to see off a colleague on her last day. I got home around 8, and that is when my boyfriend, Jason broke the news. “I think your worms are here,” he said before even saying hello. I can say that this is the moment when I started to understand what I was getting myself into. Or at least the moment when I wondered if I was getting in over my head…
Cayden's worms get familiar with their new digs.
The Green Experience
Now that Earth Day is officially over the hill (Happy 40th, Earth Day!), we think it’s time to make every day a little eco-friendlier. Our country actually has a green-minded resume that predates Earth Day by 100 years- it started with Arbor Day in 1879. With humble beginnings in Nebraska, Arbor Day gained observance in every state by the 1920s, and our country is a greener, shadier place for it. Once a wind-swept expanse of Sandhills and prairie grass, Nebraska today has three National Forests to prove it. Seriously. There’s are three National Forest in Nebraska. Cool, huh?
Nebraska National Forest
At Hayneedle, we’re trying to rekindle some of that pioneer spirit with something we’re calling “The Green Experience.” Think of it 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 a few weeks ago with a compost bin and 2,500 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.
Check out what Hayneedle employees are doing to tread a little more lightly.
Planetary Alignment
While our planet does its part to sustain life no matter what the calendar says, April is the month when we take a little time to consider our role as environmental stewards. For most, the reflection and celebration is encapsulated in Earth Day, which falls on April 22. An increasing number of cities around the world have decided to extend their observance to a full week. “Earth Week,” as its known runs from April 16 to April 22.
Since 2010 marks the 40th anniversary of Earth Day, we at Hayneedle have decided to extend the celebration even further. Welcome to Earth Month! For 40 days, we’ll be posting tips for on how to tread a little more lightly.
We’re not talking about running out and buying a hybrid or installing windmills and solar panels to get off the grid. Nope, just simple things that anyone can do, things that in the long run will conserve our resources and save you money. Like- here comes a shameless plug for one of our less sexy sites- remembering to change your furnace filter! (Plan to change it on the first day of each season, but check it every month just in case.)
Maybe you’ve seen a few of these tips on our Facebook and Twitter pages. Become a fan or follow us if you haven’t already. Besides staying save-the-planet savvy, fans and followers are usually the first to know about exclusive deals and discounts. So go ahead, hop on the social networking wagon. Just remember to set your computer to sleep or hibernate when you’re done socializing.
The Random Act of Kindness Sale
Supposedly it was peace activist Anne Herbert who coined the term “Practice random kindness and senseless acts of beauty” when she wrote it on a placemat in Sausalito, circa 1983. The idea, often distilled to “random acts of kindness,” has seeped into media and our psyches, even providing the gist of the movie Pay It Forward, a Kleenex-fest starring Haley Joel Osment as a translucent-skinned sickling with a heart of gold. So what better name for our weird little 14% off sale, right? It’s a random act of retail kindness, and we did it to make you smile.
Our Random Act of Kindness Sale lasts through April 15. It features 12 of our top stores, all offering 14% off. Who says consumerism can’t be laced with a little kindness?
Maybe today you’ll be inspired to commit your own senseless act of beauty, whether it’s paying for the latte next in line at the coffee shop, or picking up that piece of litter on the sidewalk instead of walking by, or taping a page of poetry to the wall inside the elevator of your building (our personal favorite).
However it manifests itself, a little kindness goes a long way.
Every Bunny Wins
Open expanse of green(ing) grass: Check.
Pastel plastic eggs spread far and wide: Check.
Mildly terrifying adult-sized bunny costume: Check.
A riot of kids, ready to get cracking: Check.
That was the happy, hoppy scene in the Hayneedle courtyard last Saturday morning thanks to our non-marshmallow peeps on the Activities Committee, who put hours of thought and effort into organizing the Hayneedle Easter Egg Hunt. Giddy kids and smiling parents proved that yet again, the annual eggs-travaganza was a success.
Poached eggs? Looks like Matilda (center) is exceeding the posted limit. Kittrick (wisely leaving the frame) knows when it's time to distance himself from illegal hunting.
Seeing all this fun firsthand made me realize that Easter-ish festivities and springtime fun shouldn’t be confined to just a weekend or two each year. If you have kids and are on the lookout for constructive kid-friendly activities, raising rabbits and chickens is an increasingly popular option. And it’s not hard to see why.
Kids get their pet fix. Parents don’t have to commit to a traditional “house pet” and all the responsibility that entails. In the case of chickens, the whole family gets fresh eggs, year round. As for rabbits, we don’t recommend coney stew, but plenty of warm, fuzzy companionship makes for a satisfying alternative.
With chicken coops and rabbit cages designed in all sizes and price ranges, raising fur and feathers has never been more affordable. If you can picture your children chasing chicks and bunnies across the lawn, these hobbies pretty much sell themselves.
Happy Easter from all of us at Hayneedle!
Nerds at Work
Disclosure: some of us at Hayneedle are giant nerds. But here’s the thing, we wear the distinction as a badge of honor. You could even say that we revel in our nerddom.
We nerd out about a lot of things: grills, telescopes, green living products… everything we sell, really. Behind every one of our specialty stores is a wonky team of experts who make it their job to know everything there is to know about the products we offer.
Picture that for a second. We’re not a huge team of baby crib experts. We’re an amalgam of aquarium geeks, model plane enthusiasts, radar detector whizzes, and then some. And since we’re an Internet company, you’d better believe we have some computer nerds here, too. But we’re all living here in relative harmony, in the world of variety that our sites promise.
So what if we’re a little outside the norm? Of course there is another word for all this geekiness. It’s “passion.” It’s about finding something you love and immersing yourself in it. Nerdy or not, we think that’s pretty cool. And we like to think that when you take a look at our sweeping variety of stores, you’ll inevitably find something you think is pretty cool, too.
Photo by Clark J., Hayneedle employee and StarParty member
It’s Here
Despite the disorienting weather patterns of late, some folks in the know are insisting that spring is finally here. After the winter we’ve had, could you blame anyone for falling for such a huckster’s promise?
But here’s the thing: the calendars around our office are suggesting that the rumors are true.
A little Internetting adds final proof: spring is scheduled to spring on March 20, 2010, at precisely 1:32 P.M. EDT (though perhaps in many places without its usual torque). That’s tomorrow, folks!
With no fear of stating the obvious, we love spring. Colors come forth, and the world resumes its beckoning inhabitability. There’s no better time to emerge from our four-walled winter fortresses and spend a little time in the room with the highest ceilings.
Yep, we’re talking about your deck or patio. Remember that little slice of outdoor paradise?
It’s time to take it back.
With specialty stores like PatioFurnitureUSA.com, Hammocks.com, PatioUmbrellas.com, and dozens of other outdoor living specialty sites, Hayneedle is the world’s premier seller of patio furniture and outdoor decor products.
Everything you need to furnish your ultimate room with a view is at Hayneedle.com. Come see what we have in store, and get ready to get out more. Spring is in the air!
Hear It? Carpe Diem …
Similar to the movie Dead Poet’s Society, which upheld the same theme, our Seize the Day Sale has been a hit. We started at 20% off for one day, then each day the percent goes down a point, so it behooves you to be – and shop – in the NOW. Our top sites are participating, and it’s been a lot of fun.
You can save on your order from hammocks.com, patiofurnitureusa.com, porchswings.com, benches.com, Adirondackchairs.com, esoccergoals.com, croquet.com, patioheaterstore.com, and more. There aren’t many days left for the Seize the Day Sale, so get all Eckhart Tolle and use the power of now, yo. After all, yesterday’s history, tomorrow’s a mystery, you’ve only got today. So carpe diem, and you’ll carpe dime! Ok, ok, enough. You get it. Go on with your present self.
Happy to Help – Hayneedle Makes Impactful Donation to D.A.P.
Our commitment to service goes beyond providing exceptional care to our customers. That’s why Hayneedle recently donated $300,000 worth of merchandise to the Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards Silent Auction and to the Desert AIDS Project’s (D.A.P.) consignment shops, Revivals. Proceeds from the auction went to the D.A.P., which provides medical care and comprehensive services to people living with HIV/AIDS.
The star-studded awards gala, hosted by Richard Chamberlain and Stephanie Powers, was held on Feb. 27 in Palm Springs, California. It was a celebratory evening that recognized noteworthy activists for lifetime contributions and for outstanding humanitarian work over the past year. 2010 marked the 16th annual Steve Chase Humanitarian Awards, which works to further D.A.P.’s humanitarian cause of fighting HIV/AIDS through direct services and advocacy, while also working to prevent new infections through education and outreach.
While we at Hayneedle are honored to contribute to a cause dedicated to making lives longer and healthier for those suffering from HIV/AIDS, we’re also excited at this special opportunity to add a little spice to those lives with our brand of true variety.
Waiting for a Sign of Spring
While temperatures across most of the continent have settled stubbornly below normal, one undeniable sign of spring shines through. The light at the end of this icy tunnel is daylight itself, and we’re getting more of it by the day. And though it’s still plenty cold out there, we’ll gladly take an accumulation of sunshine over snowfall every day from here till the next solstice.
Winter will recede. The gray landscape will grow green and pop with color. After one of the coldest, snowiest winters on record, it’s fixing to be one epic spring. And since spring really is just a few weeks away, it’s time to start thinking outside those four confining walls.
Your deck or patio may look pretty uninviting at the moment, but we’ve got a simple three-step plan to help you reclaim it:
1. Reserve your seats.
Finding the patio furniture you’d like to sink into won’t be difficult at Hayneedle. With exclusive patio sets, custom fabrics and finishes, and new collections for 2010 already available, now’s the time to order so you don’t miss a day of spring.
2. Keep ‘em warm.
Get out earlier and stay out longer with patio heaters, fire pits, chimineas, and more. Adding heat to your deck or patio is a surefire way to extend the outdoor season.
3. Make it yours.
Choose from an endless variety of outdoor decor and accessories to make the outdoors yours. From planters to wind chimes and bird baths to outdoor rugs, you’ll find everything you need to put a personal touch on your little slice of paradise.
We Love Being in Collections
You know when a vision of something sprouts in your brain, and then it becomes a mission for you to find it in real life? Say, for example, the perfect little black dress except in chartreuse and with a kick pleat, or that beige leather sofa except you’d like it in purple and you’re vegan so let’s faux up the leather … we get that.
In fact, we have a couple of buyers on staff who are always fancying new ideas for products, so in typical Hayneedle fashion, they decided to create their visions themselves, and thus was born our exclusive Hayneedle collections. Patio furniture, indoor furniture, kids room essentials … you’ll find Hayneedle exclusives in nearly every category.
With an easy, casual style, the name “Hampton” fits our most popular indoor line. (That’s half the fun, coming up with names. A few of us are huge Grey Gardens fans, so we’re especially fond of Hampton, dahling.) The Hampton Collection features an interesting X design element and sleek lines. It’s just contemporary enough to blend well in practically any room, in any home, and we’re adding a bookcase to the collection in March … be sure to visit us often, as we’ll be adding new pieces, finishes, bells, and whistles to our collections. Plus it’s nice to know you can come back to us and expand your room designs with additional pieces when it makes sense for you.
Our collections for kids are some of our favorites and best sellers, too. From the Classic Playtime storage pieces to activity tables and chairs, we’ve designed kids furniture based on highly scientific findings and feedback – mostly from our own kids, so you know it’s good stuff.
It’s all good at Hayneedle.
Eat, Work, Love
With most of the mid-Atlantic is socked in with record snow and much of the country is still mired in winter, we best begin with something to warm the soul. At Hayneedle, chicken soup doesn’t quite cut it, which is why we combat the chill mid-winter with our annual chili contest. This year’s winners, Brad Cundall (traditional), Sandra Brennan (non-traditional), and Jim Engebretson (spicy), tossed a total of over two dozen different ingredients into their chili pots. Other entries showcased ingredients ranging from chocolate to chicken gravy to homebrewed “Audacity of Hops” India Pale Ale. In other words, we don’t just talk variety at Hayneedle, we eat it, too. Congrats, to our winners!
Jim Engebretson, 2010 Spicy Chili Winner
In other news, Hayneedle is also proud to announce the opening of our distribution center in Monroe, OH, located just outside Dayton. We’re currently filling positions at the new distribution center and at our corporate headquarters in Omaha, NE. To view the latest employment opportunities with Hayneedle, check out the Careers tab on hayneedleinc.com.
There’s also the matter of Valentine’s Day to address. Love or loathe this occasion of obligatory romance, it’s hard not to fall for the delicious offerings at GiftBaskets.com: wine baskets, spa treatments, beer and barbecue, coffee and tea, and loads of chocolate, for starters. Gifts like slippers, jewelry boxes, and wine racks are always in good taste, too.
So whether you’re reluctantly shopping for the perfect Valentine’s Day gift or you’re counting the days until you can top pink pillows with doily-wrapped chocolates without arousing suspicions regarding your sanity, look no further than Hayneedle. It’s where you’ll find gifts that say “love” (traditional), “like,” (non-traditional), or “deeply desire” (spicy); like an office chili contest with samples for all, everybody wins.
Baby Boom
For several years running, January has been the month to find remarkable deals on nursery furniture and baby gear. While retailers and savvy shoppers take the annual sale season for granted, this curious blogger can’t help but ask: why January?
A non-scientific analysis might look to the birds and bees of spring. Wouldn’t, as the just-made-up saying goes, “April flings bring January dumplings”? While this theory holds true in Europe, the stork doesn’t seem to abide by this flight pattern in the U.S.
Over the past two decades, September (National Baby Safety Month, not coincidentally) has most often taken the birthday cake for the most new arrivals, usually followed by August and July. This suggests a heightened amorousness around the holidays in America. Silly us, we figured everyone was shopping.
So why celebrate babies in January with reduced prices on nursery furniture and baby gear? Well, besides being National Hobby Month and National Oatmeal Month, January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month. But those don’t exactly lead one to conclude that it’s time for a huge sale.
Perhaps, with the arrival of the New Year, it’s a natural time to turn our thoughts toward new beginnings and fresh starts. Or maybe September’s new parents finally have a handle on what baby stuff all those 4-month-olds really need.
Whatever the reason, the savings are real. And you’ll find the greatest variety of baby essentials like cribs, baby swings, play pens, high chairs, strollers, diaper bags, and more at Hayneedle.com. Even if you don’t have a baby or grandbaby of your own to raise or spoil, we’re willing to bet you know someone who does. So spread the word about the savings and variety at Hayneedle. After all, it takes a village.
Here’s the Deal
If you haven’t checked out Hayneedle’s Semi-Annual Clearance Sale yet, this is your chance. Our stores have a fair bit of inventory left from the holiday season, and it’s time for us to move units. That’s why we’re aggressively cutting prices on select items. With savings of up to 70%, you can find some pretty amazing deals on our huge variety of home and outdoor living products.
This may be letting the cat out of the bag, but there’s an email going out later this morning announcing further price reductions- up to 80% off! So if you happen to be awake after midnight, reading this blog as you lament (or applaud if you’re a Leno fan) the impending departure of Conan O’Brien from the Tonight Show, you might as well console yourself (or celebrate) with some savvy shopping.
You can find most of the clearance savings at the Hayneedle Outlet, or “Hay-O” as the store’s growing fan base has affectionately dubbed it.
Take the popular 7.5-ft Red Ashley Full Pre-Lit Christmas Tree, for example. While it may not be for everyone, it’s an eye-catching yuletide alternative for the most festive among us. And right now you can get one of the few that remain at over 40% off.
How about the crowd-pleasing All-Seasons Oversized White Down Comforter? It’s currently priced at $49.99 with free shipping for savings totaling over 60%.
Perhaps one of the best under-the-radar deals is Hayneedle’s Classic Playtime Pink Stackable Toy Storage. This exclusive item was one of our most popular items throughout the holiday season, receiving praise from satisfied customers for its quality construction, versatility, and value price. Well, that was back when you could choose the bin or shelf unit for $129.99. Now we’re letting them go for $79.98 each (plus free shipping), just because pink wasn’t quite as popular as we’d predicted. All you have to do is mix, match, and stack these units to create a custom storage space for all the kids’ Christmas loot.
But you know how to shop, so we’ll let you get to it. Just remember that if you don’t find what you’re looking for at the Hayneedle Outlet, you’ll find plenty of special sales going on in our 200+ specialty stores as well. That’s what true variety is all about.
Put on Your Sunday Best
The middle of January is upon us. As we plod our way through what’s left of winter, we have memories of the holidays and the first, quiet thoughts of an approaching spring to keep our spirits warm. Unfortunately, fuzzy thoughts won’t melt the ice and shovel the snow that cakes so much of the country. That’s why we have football.
It’s officially okay to start making plans for the Super Bowl. At Hayneedle, we know football’s not for everyone. But we also know the Super Bowl is about a lot more than football. It’s about getting together with friends and family, indulging in a gigantic spread of food, and showing off your place as you throw first great party of 2010. Of course the Super Bowl’s also about the seventy-billion-dollar commercials, the quasi-legal gambling, and perhaps the year’s only appropriate Monday hangover, but we’ll focus on the part we do best: entertaining.
Let’s start with some food tips. Experiment with pizza crust recipes and toppings (prosciutto and arugula, chicken and mushrooms with truffle oil) at home; this way you won’t be at the mercy of unreliable Super Sunday pizza deliveries. Make a giant sandwich (try a Cuban or a Monte Cristo) using baguettes, and cut it into small portions. If you can locate your grill beneath the frozen layers of winter, check out our list of 7 Grill Masterpieces and Beers That Go with Them. If you can’t find your grill,maybe it’s time for a new one.
With all this food, you’re gonna need a way to dish it in style. Hayneedle’s got you covered with serving trays and carts, kitchen islands, and banquet tables. For extra seating, we’ve got everything from bar stools to bean bags, including leather sofas. For the main event, showcase your screen with one of our entertainment centers or TV stands. You’ll even find loads of options for halftime and post-game entertainment for the kids (or for those who adults who still act the part) with foosball tables, dartboards, table tennis, game tables for poker, and more.
Heck, with such an endless variety of at-home entertainment options, who needs a football game in the background?
