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Everyone can use a little help battling what can be almost unbearable summer heat, and everything that goes along with it, so here are a few must have gadgets to get through the summer.

An insulated thermos that holds beverage cans comes in real handy as it can store any 12oz can of beer (or soda for the younger ones) and keep it cold three times longer than it would on its own. It can also be used to store hot beverages when the cold weather returns.

The best thing you can have in your arsenal against those blood sucking critters called mosquitoes is an electronic repellant. Female mosquitoes are the only ones that will attack humans and the male mosquitoes actually scare off the females, so these electronic gadgets actually imitate the sound of the male mosquito’s wings perfectly which scares the blood thirsty females away.

If you have a small space, room or cubicle that you would like to keep cool without having to refrigerate the rest of the office or house then you should check out the “Kool Zone”. This gadget cools up to seven feet in front of it with no installation necessary; all you do is add some water and plug it in while a two speed fan, which is actually very quiet, pulls the warm air out of the room and pushes it through a cooling chamber at about 70 cubic feet a minute.

For a little more personalized cooling check out the CoolWare Personal Cooling System which weighs about 10oz (14 when filled) and uses a small fan to cool the aluminum plates that go against your neck. Perfect for gardening, hiking or fishing.

Ok, for those individuals, which is just about every male in America, who take their grilling seriously the next must have summer gadget is a BBQ Tool Set. There is a stainless steel set that includes everything you could possibly need and some you probably didn’t know you needed. Including, but not limited to, a turner, skewers, fork, knife, tongs and spatulas all inside of a great durable case. Perfect whether you are grilling for two or the entire neighborhood.

Perhaps one of the most important parts of summer is the relaxing and that can be hard to do when traveling, camping or just puttering around the house looking for that perfect spot for a nap. So, consider the purchase of a portable hammock, they are usually about seven feet long and can hold about 250 pounds. Of course the key word here is portable so you can take it everywhere your summer travels take you and still find that perfect napping spot.

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• Friday Gadgets: Summer Fun in the Sun (foodservicewarehouse.com)
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• 20 Awesome Gadgets To Take To The Beach (businessinsider.com)
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As far as sports go Labor Day weekend is about both football and baseball; baseball is entering the home stretch towards the play-offs and football is just getting started. So, while it may not be a particularly busy sports weekend it is good for setting the stage for fall and winter. However, there are plenty of other things that you can do for Labor Day:

How about an ultimate Labor Day party, complete with the requisite bar-b-que and beer; of course it is always fun to add few activities and if your party consists of adults there are some great games that you can play.

For example, why not try a game of “Pole in the Hole”…ok it sounds x-rated but it is not although it can get quite funny.  You will need a pole (you can use a piece of PVC or even the stick part of a plunger) and either rolls of toilet paper or paper towels. It is best played as teams, couples work well but it can be more interesting if you mix the couples up; one person stands with the toilet paper or paper towel roll between their knees (up as high as comfortable). Their team member then places the pole between their knees and then they have to stick it into the hole of the toilet paper or paper towel roll without using their hands. Have to couples race at the same time and whoever gets it in the hole first wins.

While a piñata may only seem appropriate at a child’s party if you fill it with things geared towards adults, gift certificates, or if your guests have a sense of humor you can fill it with small items that you purchase from an adult store, then you have a perfect game for your next adult oriented party.

If you are more into tradition then you can play horseshoes, but not just any horseshoes try a round of “redneck horseshoes” where you use metal pipes pounded unto the ground and instead of the normal horseshoe use toilet seats; you have never seen ringers like these!

If you are looking for garden design ideas you have more options than just driving around neighborhoods or looking at magazines you also have the choice of checking out online landscape designs. The most professional and detailed choice for online landscape designs seems to be landscape design drawings, they can be anything from simple garden design ideas to a complex complete renovation; in both instances you would get a done to scale drawing. This means that either you or a contractor would have to perform measurements on everything to ensure an easy installation.

You will also be likely asked to provide pictures of the property and home together along with a survey; some of the online landscape design companies will take measurements of the property and house in lieu of a survey. For garden design ideas you will need to provide them with some idea of what you want; for instance, if you are looking for a complete design or foundation plants, a patio, an arbor or simply a walkway around a garden.

The online landscape designs normally will include an estimate and agreement for you to sign, professional grade drawings, a list of any type of paving material that may be needed, additional notes on the drawings that they feel are necessary, a lighting design if appropriate, where the drainage areas should be and a complete plant list that has not just the name of the plants, but the size and quantity that you will need to create the design.

There are also 3D online landscape designs which are pretty amazing since often times people can have some difficulty actually seeing a design. The 3D design will include not just the landscape design done in three dimensional form it will also have the actual architecture of your home. This means that you will actually be able to see a better picture of what the final results will look like.

Most of the online landscape designs come from a program called Sketchup for their 3D renderings; the Cad drawing is entered into the software program and it transforms even the simplest of garden design ideas into beautiful, highly detailed, full color 3 dimensional drawings. This produces a lifelike illustration that becomes available to you in a PDF format or if you prefer they can also transfer the images to a CD or DVD and have it sent to you.

If you plan on selling your home keep in mind that what is outside counts just as much as what is inside. Since the prospective buyer is not able to see inside right away one of the first things they will notice is your landscape design which can either peak their interest or send them running away. Hiring landscapers to renovate your yard can be affordable and not only does it enhance the chances of making a sale it can provide significant investment return. As property value increases so does the renovation investment return; anywhere from 26 to 74% of the cost.

A good landscape design offers curb appeal, however, with the current market the quality of the renovation and your own neighborhood are also important factors. Be sure that with the help of good landscapers that you are in the seller mentality since your particular taste may not be the same as someone else’s and a bad choice could actually be detrimental. You can always get an appraiser to assess your home’s value and then make some suggestions on how to increase the value. Even with the market constantly changing a good landscape design and renovation will aid in the sale of your home.

One landscape design that seems to be the best for increasing property value is the addition of a deck; this is because it means there can be further improvements such as outdoor fireplaces, kitchens, etc. You can even save some money by building it yourself just be sure that you are up to the job so that it will look good otherwise it is a waste of time.

Landscapers also suggest the addition of new sod as it can say quite a bit about the condition of the inside of the home. If the lawn is not well maintained people often make the same assumption about the inside of the home. This also includes planting trees and creating shade, another good selling point that increases the value immediately and will continue to increase it if they are properly maintained. When you combine them with shrubs it also provides more privacy, cuts down on the noise and creates a pleasing aesthetic look to the property.

If you are looking for low landscape maintenance there are several tips that landscape companies offer. Obviously mowing and watering your lawn take up the most time so one of the major steps that can be taken towards low maintenance is to reduce the amount of grass to be mowed and watered. There are ideas that can help you become more “water-wise” and perhaps introduce a few different plants that are a good alternative to grass.

Photo by: Ivan Prole

Landscape companies recommend considering “xeriscaping” for those that are interested in a low watering type of landscape; this is basically referring to a landscape that is tailored to stand up to drought type of conditions and it comes in several forms. For those in the southwestern area of the United States plants like cacti fit the bill as well as what they call extended patios. These are simply patios that are enlarged and take up the area where you would normally see grass; perfect for low landscape maintenance.  In other areas of the U.S., those that are not quite as low on water, the answer may be with using shrubs, ground covers and mulches.

Some suggestions by landscape companies for plants that would work well include succulents such as aloe or stonecrop. Succulents have fleshy thick water storage organs, storing the water in their roots, stems and leaves. With their amazing adaptability they have grown into a large variety of different plant forms and leaf shapes, like paddle leaves, trailing or busy columns of tear drop shaped leaves and tight little rosettes. They make excellent display plants and are the epitome of low landscape maintenance.

Another suggestion made by many landscape companies is to design a rock garden; perfect for a rocky or shaded spot and drought prone areas. If you are lucky enough to have a naturally rocky area then you have something to build on otherwise you will have to bring in your own stone or rocks. This can get expensive so you may want to shop around first or check out areas in the country where you may have notice them before, just check with the land owner first to avoid any problems. Again, this is perfect for those wishing to keep their landscape maintenance to a minimum.

At one time landscaping was thought to be little more than just planting some flowers, weeding the garden and mowing the lawn; however, today there are landscape designers ready to help you make the most of your yard. A good landscape designer can help you add to the value of your home and even improve your lifestyle with some great designer landscaping.

Generally landscaping can be divided into three categories: lawn care companies, landscape maintenance companies and landscape designer companies. Obviously lawn care covers mowing, edging, raking of the lawn area and landscape maintenance companies are normally concerned with the periodic maintenance of flowerbeds and shrubs. Landscape designers will normally handle everything from decks, to rock gardens to fountains.

Many people have no real long term idea or plan for their landscape needs; normally it depends on which plants and accessories are on sale at their local nursery. Most often people will fail to create a truly satisfying area which is mainly due to minimal attention to the design. A landscape designer will help integrate many different types of aesthetic and practical considerations into one overall plan that will result in the effects that you feel are the most important. It doesn’t matter if you are trying to impress your neighbors, create an outdoor paradise or trying to attract more birds, landscape designers help to pull everything together to achieve a look that works for you.

Many people assume that designer landscaping equals big expenses but that is not always the case. A good landscape designer can help you by working within a budget and can help to implement the project in small stages that can be spread out over several different seasons if necessary. Many homeowners that work on landscaping themselves will end up having to redo some parts of it many times while trying to create the perfect look which ends up costing them more money; landscape designers will be able to help you come up with an approach that will not waste money or your time.

You can get several good ideas on designer landscaping prior to contacting landscape designers by checking out home and flower shows, nurseries, gardening and landscaping books and magazines as well as searching the Internet.

When it comes to residential landscaping hardscape design is becoming more popular. Hardscape refers to inanimate portions of your outdoor landscaping; this would include things made from stone, wood, concrete and brick.

For example, building a deck or patio is considered a hardscape design project; just like incorporating a stone wall, wooden fence or brick walkway. However, keep in mind that it is not just big items that make up the hardscape in residential landscaping any kind of non-living element in outdoor landscaping is technically considered hardscape.

Hardscape design is where you should start when you are planning your outdoor landscaping, as much like a house you need to start with the basics. You would not normally set out your accessories or hang your pictures without arranging your furniture; the same holds true here. Hardscape is usually the heaviest work involved the backbone of your residential landscaping project so its foundation needs to be laid first. Once this has been completed it will make the rest of the project flow much more smoothly.

It can be difficult for some to know how to integrate softscape with the hardscape design; one idea is to use something like a water garden. Because this is so impressive looking by itself and even more so when you add statuary or a fountain, the softscape aspect of it can be minimal. You can some aquatic plants, in containers, to your outdoor landscaping as a minimum or you can choose to be more elaborate with things like palm trees and bigger plants.

Another hardscape design to build the rest of your residential landscaping project around is to install a patio, gazebo or deck; this lays the ground work for the rest of your landscape so that your softscape items are displayed more favorably. A deck or gazebo is perfect for showcasing potted plants and window boxes; and a vine growing over the top of a wooden arbor appears to be more than just a vine as it beckons to you to pass through the arch.

Starting with a good hardscape design allows you to have more freedom in the choices that you make for the softscape portion of outdoor landscaping; use your imagination and create your own private retreat.

The mere thought of designing anything can sound a little intimidating, especially when it comes to your landscape; however, not everyone is able to hire a professional for their garden designs. There are some great tips for those that want to do it themselves that will result in a garden that is both beautiful and inexpensive.

In order to complete your landscape project you need to understand the basics of garden designs; these include color, line, form and texture. The form portion refers to the plant’s branching pattern as well as its shape and garden designs take into consideration the difference in these shapes.

Texture is a visual aspect in garden designs which means you would rely on things like how the plant is perceived in relation to things around it. For example, the texture of one bedding plant might be considered coarser than a plant next to it simply because of the different leave sizes. The line element is a consideration because the eye movement of the viewer is usually governed by how the plant groupings flow or fit together in the landscape; both on the vertical and horizontal planes.

When it comes to color in landscape there are four categories: primary which are the yellows, blues and reds, secondary are purples, oranges and greens, tertiary are the mixture of secondary’s and primaries and neutral which are the silvers and grays. In garden designs the easiest way to obtain unity is by matching the cool colors, blue, green and purple to cool colors and warm colors, yellow, orange and red, to warm colors.

You can use this kind of color theory to influence the mood emitted from your landscape; the warmer colors will excite the person viewing them and the cool colors are much more likely to create a relaxing atmosphere. So in garden designs a blue color is a great choice for something along the lines of a meditation garden while a bright red is considered a natural focal point. A beginning gardener tends to just plant the colors that are their favorites in any placement while the more advanced gardener will use this color theory as a way of making their gardens really stand out.

With spring and summer fast approaching it is time to start thinking about your yard and gardening tools replacing or repairing as necessary. Backyard tools can only work so well without having any type of maintenance; if your hose leaks you will waste water and money, etc. Here are a few tips on what you can do to ensure that your yard tools are in good working order.

Start with the lawnmower as it is one of the major yard tools and change the filter if you have not done so since last year; if it is a paper filter then replace it, otherwise you can take it out and clean it with soapy warm water. After disconnecting the spark plug turn it over on its side and clean out the old debris and grass, using a screwdriver or something similar for difficult clumps. You can also use the water hose to help spray it clean; using a disinfecting cleaner if your yard had any kind of a fungus.

Another one of the backyard tools to check is the gardening water hose, check it carefully for cracks and holes. If you only have a minor crack or hole you can choose to repair it using something like plumbing tape but check it often to be sure that it holds and doesn’t leak. If you use more than one hose then be sure to check the washers where the two connect together; you can pick up replacement washers at any hardware or home store.

Weed-eaters are also yard tools that come in very handy; the amount of area that you need to edge and the number of plants or trees that you need to get around has a lot to do with the type of weed-eater that you should get. Your local home store can offer valuable advice on which model to get as well as the pros and cons of gas or electric ones. Just be sure that the base guard and the handle are on securely before starting so that they do not fly off or slip while operating it.

Your supply of gardening backyard tools should also include some kind of hedge clippers; to ensure that the blades are sharp use heavy gauge grit sandpaper or take them to a shop to have them sharpened in order to keep your shrub lines clean.

Gather your friends and family pop some popcorn and grab the lawn chairs then head to the backyard for a night at the movies. Backyard movies have become a very popular form of entertainment and when designed to fit in with your landscape movies done this way can also be visually pleasing.

The first thing you are going to need in order to show backyard movies is a projector; you need to consider two main factors: brightness and aspect ratio. The dimension of wide screen movies is 16:9 so you want to look for a projector with that ration. Depending upon the lighting in your backyard landscape movies generally look best at around 1,000 lumen for a smaller area and 2,200 for a larger one.

Your next concern is choosing a DVD player; normally hooking up a player to the digital projector is not a problem but just like any technology those that want to enjoy backyard movies may run into a glitch or two. Sometimes it is necessary for the projectors to convert a signal from the DVD player so that the pixels come out looking better. Try doing some research online to see which players and projectors work well together in order to get the most out of your movies.

Depending upon your landscape movies may have a different sound when played outside so if you are using a laptop in order to play the DVD’s you need to be sure that your sound card will support surround sound which is what many people prefer when enjoying backyard movies. For those that prefer it a little more simple you may want to consider getting some wireless speakers as it also makes it a little easier to walk around without having to worry about extra cords.

The screen on which you play the movies is also important and whether you want it simple or sophisticated can also mean the difference between an easy setup or a more difficult one. For some, backyard movies played on a white tarp draped over a fence or garage door is just fine while others prefer a real screen; in which case you can opt for an inflatable screen or you can purchase one specifically intended for playing movies outside.