Home & Garden Blog » maureen

Has the sweltering heat gotten to you yet?  Here in Southeast Texas, it certainly has!  And although our region is known for barbecues & outdoor grilling, all I can think about is an ice cold lemonade, a cool breeze & shade.  The heat is definitely on, but these fun and functional outdoor umbrellas will definitely help.

Ballard Designs Tilt Umbrella: $359

We live near the gulf so once in a while, a breeze comes.  A tilt umbrella will certainly help that umbrella stay in place.

Frontgate European Sun Umbrella: $699 on sale (Was: $999)

Have to be different?  Umbrellas don’t have to be in the middle all the time.

Half Umbrella Grandin Road: $299

Ok, so not everybody has a huge yard, some of us have very small balconies or patios.  No problem!  The half umbrella is designed for your outdoor space!

Solar Powered Umbrella Plow & Hearth: $149.95 (Umbrella); $79.95 (Base)

It looks like a regular umbrella but Plow & Hearth’s version is the eco-friendly kind.  No need to put outdoor lanterns, this one already has lights installed in it!

So, enjoy summer & stay in the shade!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more patio umbrellas.

I hope your garden or patio is ready for summer because it’s definitely here!  If outdoor furniture is the first order to get your summer abode ready, then accessories are the ones that complete it.  From finials to planters, centerpieces to statues, but to create instant warmth, you have to have outdoor lanterns.

I’m in love with polished nickel ones.  Here are three of my favorite shops & their different takes on this accessory.

Amalfi Square Lanterns Restoration Hardware $15-$129

Arched Metal Lanterns West Elm $39

Seaport Lanterns Pottery Barn $39

I’m still trying to choose which ones to get, but whichever I choose I’m sure it’s going to be incredibly chic!  More summer outdoor decorating tips to come….

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more lanterns.

Ready for a mini vacation in your own home?  Not every one of us can jet set for the summer & lounge in a hammock overlooking a white, sandy beach in Aruba or sip cafe au lait at a lovely courtyard with a view of the Eiffel tower, or better yet, dine out in a cabana with flowy, white curtains in Santorini.  Try these outdoor oasis ideas & take a mini vacation just a few steps away from your living room.

1. The Bistro: Just two chairs and a table, a great book & maybe a nice glass of aged Spanish wine.   Accessorize it with a few candles & of course the lush garden you’ve been working hard on since spring.

2. Hang patio drapes: Your porch will feel like a summer getaway with outdoor panel curtains.  Summer’s hot but it shouldn’t be that hot!

3. Outdoor dining:  When the weather is beautiful, you can dine out anytime.  Weather-resistant furniture such as teak if you would like to go modern or cast iron if you would like to go romantic is so refreshing.  Have a pergola or trellis?  Hang chandeliers, lanterns, empty picture frames with ribbons above the dining area.  Lovely!

5. Copa Cabana:  Nothing evokes a vacation more than a cabana.  This wooden one instantly takes me to a tropical place.  Scatter colorful pillows, the more the better!

6. The Beach Chaise:  Get a comfortable outdoor cushioned chaise & matching umbrella in a wonderful pattern & vivid colors, sip an ice cold lemonade & you’re in your Caribbean getaway.

Any other mini vacation ideas? I’d love to hear about them…

Image Source: fromhousebeautiful.com and flickr

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for affordable patio furniture.

These green ideas are truly bright!  I didn’t realize being green can be so chic and even quirky.  Check out these ingenious lamps I found at Inhabitat.com :

These beach ball lamps are so much fun to look at!

Perfect for an eco-friendly, urban space, the eggcrate lamp.

I’ve always wondered what I can do with old, non-functioning light bulbs.

I’ve thrown one too many Tupperware pieces, but the makers of these lamps found a fascinating way to reuse them.

I hope this lamp is for outdoor use.

This looks vintage & I love it!

These lamps definitely fascinates me. It takes being green to the next level!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for energy saving light bulbs.

If you’re up with what’s trendy,then you must be an eco-friendly,”go green” loving and hooray to sustainable products gal.  Good for you as driftwood makes a scene in the home fashion world.  From wall art to sculpture, from coffee tables to consoles.

If you are a do-it yourselfer, you can get any floating wood that washes ashore & make it your own sculpture or furniture.  The most beautiful ones are those that has many network of tunnels (where animals bore holes or even algae & bacteria that has eaten most of the wood).  Of course, there is a treating & handling process & unless you are an excellent driftwood artist, your sculpture can be just another wood junk.  If you are not a do-it yourselfer, you can buy driftwood furniture almost everywhere now.

Blue Nature Driftwood Lamps

From DriftwoodFineArt.com

I think they’re absolutely beautiful! Reclaim & restyle!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more driftwood furniture.
Discounts on driftwood decor.

I’m longing to have a picnic overlooking the lake.  Although the traditional wicker baskets are so charming, these colorful new ideas feel retro but with a modern edge.

Crate&Barrel Picnic Basket: $19.95

Clean lines & so chic in lime green.

Pandora Designs Deluxe Plastic Flatware: $30.00

Plasticware never looked so good!

Translucent tumblers in any spring color you can imagine!

Hot Set Insulated Tumbler Set of 4: $12.99

And of course, you have to set the ambiance. These petal wax holders are so perfect for that spring picnic.

Petal Waxholder: $12.50

Enjoy and don’t forget to wear that perfect spring outfit for your retro-chic & colorful picnic!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more picnic baskets and plastic flatware.
Discounts on  plastic tumblers and candle holders.

Do you have spring fever? I know I do!  This spring, spruce up your home with the following spring decorating ideas:

1. Instead of the popular pastel egg wreath, go for this hydrangea soft pink wreath: $34.99 at WreathsGalore.com.

2. See flowers blooming everywhere with inspired throw pillows like this one pretty one from PillowDecor.com.

3. Tulip hooks are so spring!

4. Sweet tapered candles in colorful bunny candle holders:$18 at Williams-Sonoma.com

5. White is a major color of the season especially this four tier french vase.

Have a blissful spring & enjoy decorating!

Find at Smarter.com:  Shop for more candle holders & throw pillows.
Discounts on spring decor.

Very few people are not in love with the charm of French country. Even minimalists and enthusiasts of urban & modern decor enjoy quiet strolls in lovely streets filled with small boutiques and the aroma of cafe au lait in a quaint cafe.

French Country decorating does not have to be 100% romantic and full of shabby chic stuff. Just doing a few things would do the trick.

* Paint with golden yellows and deep reds reminiscent of the brilliant sunshine in Provence.

* Use dark accents and rusted materials, wrought iron & cast iron accessories are definitely popular.

* Natural materials such as a stone fireplace & distressed furniture will add authenticity.

* Use candles, fresh flowers & fabrics.

Beautiful and cozy, what a perfect combination!

I went to the Las Vegas Market recently & for some reason I got drawn to these liquid containers. Maybe because they were filled with tequila or vodka infused with orange and pineapple slices :). The cocktail was my escape from a stressful & tiring week. But back to these containers….

Forgive me for being clueless, I found out they are called a samovar. A samovar is an urn with a spigot or faucet used to boil water for tea. What one showroom did was place them in a round table & each samovar contained a different cocktail. They looked extremely charming & inviting as you can see all the fruit slices floating giving it so much color, perfect for parties or wedding receptions even.

They can get pretty pricey, almost $300 at retail but I think their look is timeless at any event.

Well, you need a perfect cocktail recipe for that samovar. Here’s one for you. Enjoy!

Tequila SeaBreeze

We’re getting ready to participate at the annual Mardi Gras parade where I live at. This is Southeast Texas, only a 45-minute drive away from Louisiana so this celebration is definitely big here. I’m still at a loss on what to wear but I didn’t have a hard time coming across these lovely gem-inspired decorative accessories in the colors of Mardi Gras.

Emerald green crystals in this lovely chandelier.

These leaf pattern candelabras in gold are totally adorable.

True to one of 2009’s color trend, purple royale is alive and just amazing in these tableware.

I never realized how the colors of Mardi Gras can be so fantastic in decorative accessories. Now back to what to wear…