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Archive for July, 2013

Every year at this time of year I look forward to an annual camping trip. It’s a wonderful feeling to take a break from your hectic busy life and enjoy the serenity of the forest and nature. You want to pack lightly yet you don’t want to be stuck camping without any of the essentials. Here are some quick ideas for a great camping experience:

food and tablecloth for camping

You need to be organized if you want to have a good trip. Make a camping check list before your trip so you don’t make a mistake of bringing food for the barbecue without the grill or bringing a tent without the stakes.

Figure out if this will be a backpacking trip or one that you’ll take a car or RV. Many more items can go into an automobile that in a backpack.

Think ahead. You need to know where you are going so you can plan accordingly. Bring insect repellent for areas with ticks or other insects. Bring rain gear for rainy or wet areas and warm clothing if the weather will get cooler.

tablecloth for a camping trip

Here is a basic camping supplies list:

Flashlight/Batteries

First Aid

GPS/Compass

Credit Cards/Cash/Permits for fishing-camping if needed

Sleeping Gear-Tents, sleeping bags, blankets

Clothing

Water, Food

Misc Toiletries

camping tablecloth

A great idea would be to bring a vinyl tablecloth along for your camping trip. It’s lightweight and easy to carry around yet strong enough to fold up and reuse as you move along. Its wipe clean cloth will give you a sanitary place to prepare and eat your food. I love the tavern checks design and they come in many colors options. There are also other fabulous vinyl tablecloth prints for you to choose from.

Planning ahead and bringing along the necessities that is needed will make for a great trip. Be careful of any bears, snakes and know what to do if you encounter one. Have fun, stay safe and when you return, let us know how enjoyable your experience was.

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It sometimes feels like summer will never get here but when it does, you need to take full advantage. Now is the time to lighten the feel of your home décor. Dress your home in a cool and chic way by using our market stripe and parchment stripe table runners.

Table runners are a really great way to dress your kitchen or dining room table. The main advantage of a runner over a tablecloth at this time of year is that you aren’t covering the whole surface which looks lean and clean. It leaves the surface uncluttered. Table runners on a bare table provide some extra color while coordinating placemats protect the table at each place setting. You can also use smaller table runners on coffee tables and dressers, and placemats on small side tables.

Sampler Placemat

A nice idea for when it’s hot outside is to choose a market stripe or parchment stripe table runners to create a cool fresh feeling in your home. Using bold and bright colors when the temperature is rising may be fine, but natural and earthen colors are much better when you’re looking to relax and chill out.

The parchment stripe table runners have an alternating band of color in light and dark “truffle” shades which lends them visibility and contrast. Market Stripe Table Runners borrow the look of antique grain-market sacks in tasteful neutral shades, adding soft, pleasing color to your home. Similarly the Sampler table runners and matching placemats  offer you a natural and sumptuous palette of muted-stripes.

Parchment Stripe Placemat

Don’t forget that these table runners and place mats can form the basis of a fabulous summer look. Capitalize on the earthen tones by adding terracotta pots filled with fresh  potpourri or plants. Alternatively display fruit and flowers in basket wear. The colors of the reddish terracotta and darker brown basket weave will complement the tones of the table runners beautifully, and the items that you choose to decorate with will lend color to your display. Remember however, to keep the overall look quite simple and fresh.

In fact, why not spoil your picnic table with a whole farmer’s market look? Choose from either the Parchment Stripe, Market Stripe or Sampler table runners and matching place-mats as the basis of this look. Again, decorate with pots, baskets, wooden bread boards, plates and bowls, and display fine and wholesome seasonal produce in as much abundance as you can afford. Hard-boil some free range eggs, leave them in their shells and add to a bowl. Fill a basket with salad and tomatoes.

Freshly bake some bread (or buy fresh) and display on your breadboard with real butter and an assortment of good cheeses. Create a meat platter of thinly sliced meats, and set it next to some bowls of pickles and relishes. Finish the whole look off with wild summer flowers arranged in empty aluminium cans.

Market Stripe Table Runner

Once the season is over you can employ table runners and place mats by placing them over a coordinating tablecloth. This can add an extra layer to your look and means that you aren’t restricted by the season. For now though, enjoy the weather and enjoy the cool and muted fresh summer look.

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July 4th is a day to celebrate our freedom with family and friends. Here are some great July Fourth ideas for you to enjoy.

Decorate your table with the classic red white and blue. Spread out a red or white tablecloth and then add accents to your taste. Add something blue such as a blue napkin, place mats or a table runner.  Place red white and blue ribbons to the flower vase, or tie a ribbon around your cloth napkins as a napkin ring.

ribbon decorations

 

After you have finished your dinner its time to bring out the desserts. These July Fourth Flag cake pops looks irresistible. You can also create this flag by scooping out sorbet or ice cream scoops for a refreshing dessert. Here is the link for the recipe:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/menus-holidays-parties/all-holidays/4th-of-july/cake-ball-flag-cake

 

July Fourth cake pops

 

Cupcakes have been quite the rage for the last few years, and now Push-Up Cakes are taking the cupcake world by storm. These are a huge hit with any crowd and are deceptively easy to make. Here is the link for recipe:

http://www.bettycrocker.com/menus-holidays-parties/all-holidays/4th-of-july/fireworks-push-up-cakes

 

July Fourth push up cakes

You can always add something healthy to your cupcake dessert by adding some fresh fruit  that are plentiful this time of year. A fresh fruit platter with strawberries, cherries, raspberries, and blueberries make a healthy presentation and refreshing after a big meal.

July 4th cupcakes

 

 

 

 

Last but now least have a game or an activity prepared for the children (or adults!) to do. It can be something simple as bringing some crayons along for them to create a picture or this cool twist on the classic hopscotch game. It makes a get together much more memorable and a great ice breaker when an activity is done together as a family.  Wishing you all a happy July 4th and a great weekend.

hopscotch

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