Category Archives: Innovative Solutions

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Portable Fun

Portable Tailgating Grill Brings Swing to the Game

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Portable Grill for Tailgating

Getting the most out of tailgating this season means having the right equipment for the job.  Standard portable grills are a handy accessory for tailgating, but many grilling enthusiasts wish they could bring along their trusty full-sized gas grill so there’d be more space for their favorite grilled meats and veggies.  It’s possible to combine the best of both worlds — portability and full-sized grilling capacity — thanks to the Weekender Tailgating Grill.

This portable grill is especially built for tailgating.  It has a full-sized cooking area and comes with a heavy-duty steel swing arm that attaches the grill to any vehicle’s standard receiving hitch.  What’s nice about this particular grill is that you can drive to your destination — whether that’s the game, the campground, the beach, or the neighborhood block party — with the grill attached securely to the outside of your vehicle.  After grilling is done, there’s no need to clean the grill before going home or worry that a messy grill will damage the interior of your vehicle.  The mess remains outside until you remove the grill at home.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Living Spaces

Wanted: Door Mats with Good Looks and Rugged Personalities

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Outdoor Door Mats

Finding just the right door mat for your front or back porch, patio, or boat can be a head ache, and finding a door mat that will last for more than one season can be an even bigger challenge.  Over the course of a year, rain, mildew, insects, and heavy use can take their toll on even sturdy door mats, leaving them looking worn out and ragged far sooner than you had expected.

Paying close attention to the details when you buy your new door mat will pay off.  Look for a door mat that is made of 100% polypropylene — natural fibers are not the way to go if you want your door mat to last a long time.  Natural fibers attract insects and can mildew and deteriorate quickly in moist or humid areas.  Insects are not drawn to polypropylene, and the quality of this material is unaffected by moisture or harsh weather conditions.

Door mats made with tightly woven polypropylene are highly effective in removing a significant amount of debris from the bottoms of shoes as people wipe them on their way into a home.  These door mats stand up beautifully to years of vigorous foot traffic, and they continue to look good over the long haul because they are easy to clean and maintain.  Shake any loose debris from the door mats first, then squirt them with a hose to remove any caked on mud or other dirt.  Door mats air dry quickly and look as good as new.

One final tip:  If you are buying a door mat for in front of an entry way door, be sure that the mat is a little wider than the door itself.  A slightly wider door mat makes the entry way look larger and more welcoming.  Plus, it provides visitors with more area on which they can wipe their feet.

Healthy Ideas, Innovative Solutions

Pet Beds Bring Comfort and Relief to Furry Friends

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Dog Beds and Cat Beds

My dog loves to spend as much time as he can outside — chasing chipmunks, barking at birds, but especially lounging around and enjoying the breezes blowing through his fur.  Unless it’s summer, that is.  My dog is what you might call a walking ball of super-heated fur.  His coat of fur is thick and black and generates a significant amount of warmth (even when clipped short), so summer is not his favorite season for spending very much time outdoors.

Helping my dog stay cool enough to be outdoors, though, has been as easy as providing him with a Coolaroo Pet Bed.  This portable, elevated bed allows air to circulate underneath, which naturally cools any critter laying on top.  The fabric cover on the pet bed is breathable, weather-proof, and super easy to clean with the squirt of a hose.  The pet bed also makes a comfortable place for older dogs to rest their weary bones and joints.   Coolaroo Pet Beds come in a foldable pet bed variety, too, which makes it easy to store or take along on vacations.

Any dog (or cat, for that matter) can appreciate the cool comforts of his own pet bed.  And, if your pet is as hot and hairy as mine, he’ll enjoy using his pet bed even in the dead of winter.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining, Shade Solutions

Enjoy Peace of Mind with a Wireless Wind Sensor

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Wind Sensor for Retractable Awnings

Adding a retractable awning to your deck, porch, or patio increases the value of your home and allows you to enjoy your outdoor spaces in most kinds of weather.  When windy weather strikes, though, it can feel a bit nerve-wracking to keep your retractable awning open.  Awnings left open can act as sails in the wind, and on particularly windy days, they may become damaged by strong gusts.

If you have a motorized retractable awning, though, rather than a manually operated one, you can have peace of mind thanks to a nifty little gadget called a Wireless Wind Sensor.   Based on settings that you choose, the wind sensor monitors the effect of the wind on your retractable awning and closes it automatically when necessary.  So, when you are away from home or fully engrossed in at-home projects, the Wireless Wind Sensor will take care of your motorized retractable awning should the weather take a turn for the worse.

Innovative Solutions, Outdoor Entertaining

A Screened Enclosure You Can Afford

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Having a screened-in porch is on the top of my wish list, but it’s at the bottom of my “things I can afford” list.  So, I was particularly excited when I learned that I could have my screened-in porch, and pay for it, too.  A Universal Screen Enclosure is an easy to assemble screened room that can be mounted to an existing deck or concrete patio.  It can even be mounted to the ground, so you can create a wonderfully bug-free, outdoor room in the middle of your yard, next to your garden, or at a campsite.  A Universal Screen Enclosure would be ideal to use, too, over your spa or small pool.  Anywhere you want to keep the bugs out while you enjoy the fresh, outdoor air is a good place for the Universal Screen Enclosure.  The only downside?  It’s not big enough to cover my entire yard.