Posts Tagged ‘Outdoor Entertaining’
December 6th, 2011

Great Holiday Gifts from AvantGardenDecor.com

Do you have an outdoor entertainer or gardener on your holiday shopping list? With the holiday season moving quickly we thought we’d give you a hand and tip you off to ten great gift options. Check ‘em out!

CobraCo® Embossed Leaf Copper Hose Holder – The CobraCo® Embossed Leaf Hose Holder with Copper Finish decoratively holds a garden hose up to 150 feet in length. Drain holes are situated at the base of the holder to prevent leftover water from making a mess. Embossed leaf design and powder-coated copper finish.

CobraCo® Canterbury Basket Plant Stand - The CobraCo® Canterbury Basket Plant Stand has three curved legs to give it sturdy support.  It comes in an all-metal textured black finish and includes a coco liner.

CobraCo® Diamond Mesh Fire Pit and Bench Set – This all-inclusive set features a sturdy CobraCo® fire pit with a 39” black, steel-meshed bowl with an attractive diamond pattern. This fire pit has a convenient 5” wide table edge, and is seated on pit base with integrated air flow risers that maximize airflow to your fire.

CobraCo® Plant Sitter® Water System - The CobraCo® Plant Sitter® Water System is an automatic watering system that provides a healthy well-balanced diet of water & fertilizer for your plants. The CobraCo® Plant Sitter® provides drip irrigation for a houseplant up to 3 weeks, so it’s ideal for when you are away from home on vacation.

Gardener’s Blue Ribbon® Rolling Plant Caddy - Gardener’s Blue Ribbon® Rolling Plant Caddies are sturdy, durable and so easy to use! With four heavy-duty castors, they give strong support when you move heavy potted and container garden plants, while they protect your carpet, rugs, and floors.

Stocking Stuffers:

CobraCo® Ceramic Watering Sensors – The CobraCo® Ceramic Watering Sensors provides automatic watering of house plants.  The sensors come in a 3-pack and will work with any container of waters.  The drip time is approximately 6 to 10 hours per water sensor.  Keep your plants at the proper moisture level with these ceramic water sensors.

Gardener’s Blue Ribbon® 12″ Cork Mats – Twin Pack – Gardener’s Blue Ribbon® Cork Mats prevent surface stains and scratches on your furniture, counters, and floors. These tough, durable cork mats have so many uses in your home.

Safer® Brand Sticky Whitefly Trap – The Safer® Brand Sticky Whitefly Trap is ideal for use in the home or garden. This trap offers an economical and convenient solution to the annoyances of whiteflies, aphids, thrips, leaf miners, gnats and fruit flies.  This natural pest control product is fully disposable.

Gardener’s Blue Ribbon® Sturdy Vine Supports – Twin Pack – Gardener’s Blue Ribbon®sturdy vine supports are perfect for training and supporting all of your climbing vines. The kit contains 25 6” plastic-coated wire twists, 16 plastic discs and a tube of adhesive.

CobraCo® Fire Pit Chef’s Kit - Make cooking dinner a fun, family activity on your CobraCo® Fire Pit with the CobraCo® Fire Pit Chef’s Kit. This kit includes two 36” galvanized steel CobraCo® S’Mores Forks, that will allow you and your family to easily cook food on your Fire Pit from a comfortable distance.

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October 7th, 2011

Fall Fire Pit Giveaway!

Fall is the perfect season for sitting outdoors around a campfire or fire pit, enjoying stories of the season and warm treats! So this month we are excited to feature one of our favorite and most popular fire pits for a Fall Fire Pit Giveaway!  Our CobraCo® Round Cast Iron Copper Finish Fire Pit Bowl is a great way to extend your enjoyment of your backyard or patio when temperatures fall in the evenings or during cooler seasons when you normally stay indoors.

The CobraCo® Fire Bowl features a heavy duty cast iron bowl, durable steel frame, decorative wire screen cover, hand-crafted popular bronze finish, and protective vinyl cover – perfect for your outdoor affair.

Fire pits have become a popular addition to today’s patios and backyards. They add drama and charm to outdoor living and provide more entertainment options for the home. As a wholesome family activity, they provide an option for the popular “stay-cation” or just a fun way to enjoy leisure time and entertaining. With the addition of a fire pit, you can transform your home into a quiet oasis to enjoy quality time with family and friends.

To enter the Fire Pit Giveaway, you must post a comment on this blog post.
The comments will appear visible once the giveaway ends on Monday, October 31, 2011.
The winner will be notified by email before announced.

For an additional chance to win, be sure to follow any or all of the follow steps:

- Click “Share” on our Facebook Post about the Giveaway, and post to Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/AvantGardenDecor

- Mention @AvantGardenDeco and the Fire Pit Giveaway in a Tweet!
http://twitter.com/AvantGardenDeco

- Post a photo of your backyard to our Flickr Gardens & Yards Photo Album with the comment “My backyard needs a firepit!”
http://www.flickr.com/groups/gardendesign/

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June 28th, 2011

Weekly Garden Giveaway

Congratulation to Nadine H. – our newest Weekly Garden Giveaway Winner! We’re excited to hear all of your campfire stories this summer! If you missed out on the Giveaway but still have your eye on the CobraCo® Evening Sky Campfire Ring and S’Mores Fork Combo you’re in luck… right now there is a limited time site-wide offer for FREE SHIPPING! Happy 4th of July!

It’s time for another Avant Garden Weekly Garden Giveaway, and summer seems to be in full swing! This inspiring campfire ring, featuring moons and stars, is perfect to take along to a campground or set up in your own backyard. The CobraCo® Evening Sky Campfire Ring and S’Mores Fork Combo will bring added joy to any campfire occasion or outdoor event along with extra fun as you roast marshmallows or hot dogs on our s’mores forks.

The CobraCo® Evening Sky Campfire Ring features a matte black finish. It has 4-piece construction and is easy to assemble – all the hardware is included for your convenience. Dimensions are 36″W x 9”H.  Does not include a screen or vinyl protective cover. Please be sure to follow safe fire rules.

The CobraCo® S’Mores Fork is constructed from durable stainless steel and is just right for roasting marshmallows, hot dogs, or for making delicious treats like s’mores!  Use it for a backyard get together or take it on your next camping excursion.

Measures 36″ L x 3″ W.  The fork’s leather thong on the solid wooden handle makes storage easy.

Use Your Backyard for Family Camping

family camping

Family camping can be one of the best ways for families to bond while having fun in the backyard. Pitch a tent, light a fire in a fire pit or campfire ring, and enjoy some treats under the stars before bed.  Young children love family camping in the backyard because they feel secure knowing that if they get scared of the dark, their bedroom isn’t far away, and mom and dad are close-by.

So what do you need for family camping?  While you don’t have to have a tent, family camping is more fun if you do, and a lot more comfortable. Blankets, pillows, and a telescope are also items you may want to think about before family camping.

A campfire is an absolute must for family camping fun. Portable fire pits or bowls are perfect for a long-lasting fire while family camping, and can be used anywhere in the backyard for family camping – as long as it’s a safe spot.

CobraCo® Fire Pits and Fire Rings are a great way to socialize with family and friends – all year long! Each fire pit and ring is easy to assemble and comes complete with hardware. Our fire pits and rings are made of heavy-duty construction that will last for years.

In order to enter the Weekly Garden Giveaway, please leave a comment on this blog post.  All comments will be visible after the contest ends on Wednesday, 6/29/11.  The winner will be notified by email.

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May 26th, 2011

Expert Tips on How to Make S’mores

how to make smoresThe original recipe on how to make s’mores appeared in the American Girl Scout Handbook in 1927. This recipe utilized Graham crackers – first invented by Sylvester Graham way back in 1829, before anyone knew how to make s’mores – plus chocolate and marshmallows.

If you ask anyone today how to make s’mores you might get the original recipe that tells you how to make s’mores, or you might be told how to make s’mores a completely different way.

Here are some tips on how to make s’mores the traditional way:

•    Use Graham crackers which are more like cookies than crackers.

•    Get the crackers and chocolate ready before you toast the marshmallows.
You can ‘roast’ them over a stove burner or use long metal forks for roasting
over an outdoor fire pit or grill.

•    Marshmallows are ready when slightly brown outside and runny inside.how to make smores

•    Sandwich chocolate with a toasted marshmallow between a halved cracker and squeeze together gently.

Other fabulous s’mores recipes:

The Mexican S’more: use flour tortillas with crunchy peanut butter, chocolate chips and marshmallow.

The Chilled S’more: spread peanut butter and instant chocolate pudding on Graham crackers and add whipped topping instead of marshmallows.

The Elvis S’more: spread peanut butter on the Graham cracker, add chocolate and banana… marshmallow is optional!

Tell us… what is your favorite recipe for making a s’more?!

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November 10th, 2010

Free When You Purchase a Fire Pit From Avant Garden

Limited Time Offer!
Make a purchase from our extensive line of Fire Pits and get a FREE S’Mores Fork.
It’s Easy!
Add your selected Fire Pit to your Shopping Cart.
Add The CobraCo® S’Mores Fork (Model #SMF100) to your cart.
Proceed to checkout.
Hurry! This Offer Will Not Last Long.
Go to: http://www.avantgardendecor.com/store/fire-pits

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July 15th, 2010

Fire Pit Safety

Fire pits have become a popular addition to today’s patios and backyards. They add drama and charm to outdoor living while providing an additional functional area for family and friends to gather. They offer a fun way to enjoy leisure time and entertaining, but always remember to exercise caution and practice safety so a good time won’t turn tragic.

Every time you light a fire, remember that basic safety precautions can prevent a tragedy. Here are a few tips to help you enjoy your fire pit safely and with peace-of-mind.

The first decision to make is where you want the pit to be situated.  Do not pick an area that is near or too close to structures, trees or overhangs.

Always place the fire pit in an open area on a solid surface to prevent it from tipping read more

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July 1st, 2010

Popularity of Fire Pits

What’s the hottest topic these days in outdoor living, decorating and entertaining? The answer is one as old as humankind… fire. The ability to control fire marked a dramatic change in the habits of early humans. These days, fire pits are a popular addition to backyards and patios as a cosy gathering spot during outdoor time with friends and family or to add drama and charm to twilight and evening hours.

The addition of a backyard fire pit can be a great enhancement to your outdoor decor. Home owners across the country have added a fire pit as a garden feature, as a centerpiece for evening entertaining, or for cooking. It’s a great way to extend your enjoyment of your backyard or patio when temperatures fall in the evenings or during cooler seasons when you normally stay indoors.

You can dig your own fire pit as our ancestors did, of course. But if you want to add read more

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