Rising Popularity SUP Boarding, or Stand Up Paddle Boarding, is gaining popularity in the US and all over the world with participation rising each year. In fact, SUP Boarding is currently the fastest growing water sport in the world. While certain groups of people have used similar forms of stand up paddle boards for centuries to travel between villages, fish and simply have fun, it’s only been since the early 2000’s that SUP boarding has entered American consciousness. This sport has such a wide appeal because it is accessible to people of all ages and skill levels. Even better, small passengers such as children and dogs can come along to…
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Bougie on a Budget: Backyard Ideas for Lounging Like Royalty
Whether your slice of the outdoors is a small humble patio or a large manicured garden, you can create a posh space that looks and feels luxurious with just a few affordable additions. To begin, select a couple feature items to build your design around—patio furniture, sun shades, and other large pieces are a great place to start. Once you’ve chosen your favorite centerpiece items, integrate your personal style by embellishing with patterns, pillows, plants, art, chachkies and anything else that elevates your experience. Go ahead and live it up (you deserve it!) and enjoy the following design ideas to help you create a lavish (and affordable) patio space. …
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Wedding Tent Ideas for a Fraction of the Cost of Rentals
Tents and gazebos not only keep your guests happy, but greatly enhance the aesthetics of your event. Bring your wedding or outdoor party to the next level by setting up a party tent, which you can decorate with lights, fill with seating, and embellish to complement your theme. When I was planning my own wedding, the cost of wedding tent rentals was one of the most stressful items on my list. It turns out that you can buy a wedding tent for a fraction of the cost of tent rentals. With just a bit of imagination and a fun supply of inspiration, you can create a beautiful event tent that…
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DIY Inspiration: 10 Ways to Use Wire Mesh
Do It Yourself’ers take notice – this is for you! While most people don’t think of wire mesh when considering craft supplies, there’s an expansive amount of projects and applications for this unique material. Below we’ve selected 10 DIY projects that you, too, can create – all you need is a little imagination, inspiration and a roll of wire mesh to get started! >Check it out: ALEKO Wire Mesh 1/10: Home Office Memo Board This modern-styled memo board is ideal for your desk space; hang inspirational quotes,…
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Nine Tips to Increase the Curb Appeal of Your Home
When you increase the curb appeal of your home, you not only create a space in which you love to spend time, but also give yourself the opportunity to express your personal style. It doesn’t have to cost of a fortune; even small adjustments can have a huge impact on the way you experience your living space. Below are nine things to consider when improving curb appeal and ultimately creating a home that is entirely customized for you! Driveway Gates One of the most dramatic changes you can make to the exterior appearance of your home is adding a driveway gate with a matching fence. This idea is at…
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Choosing the Best Sun Shade Product for Your Home
Adding a cover to your patio area, whether it’s a retractable awning, a simple shade sail, or a freestanding pergola, will increase the usable square footage of your home and give you the opportunity to spend more time enjoying the outdoors. Below we have highlighted ALEKO’s three types of sun shade options; it is our hope that you find the coverage that is most ideal for your home. Retractable Awnings ALEKO Retractable Awnings Awning Origins Retractable awnings are a traditional favorite for sun and rain protection. The first known awnings originated in the Middle East and Africa, where people hung woven fabrics and animal hides on poles to escape the…
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Gear Up for Spring!
With spring on its way, there’s nothing more enticing than getting back outside! While staying inside is restorative during the winter months, the act of getting fresh air literally improves the brain’s ability function. At ALEKO, we’re gearing up for spring with a range of fun and useful outdoor items to get you outside, including inflatable hot tubs, patio furniture, camping gear, fishing equipment, and so much more. A Few Benefits of Going Outside: –Higher levels of oxygen in the brain. We’ve all heard that getting fresh air makes people feel better, but did you know that it has a physiological impact on our brains? The brain is hyper-sensitive to…
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Create Your Dream Desk Space
It makes all the difference to have a place you’re excited to show up to—a work space that brings you excitement, joy, and contentment. If your current desk area leaves you feeling stressed out or if you’re not as productive as you wish, then an aesthetic change could be just what you need. Having a clear, yet inspiring work space is essential for increasing productivity and improving your overall wellbeing. Even a subtle difference in atmosphere can have a huge impact on the way you feel about your work. Clear it Out The only sure way to transform your work space is to start fresh. Remove everything from the top…
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Groundhogs are Really Just Big Squirrels–And Other Fun Facts!
Fun Facts About Groundhogs Punxsutawney Phil is the name of the celebrity groundhog who predicts the seasonal outcome each year A typical weight is 13 pounds Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks and whistle pigs Groundhogs are actually the largest member of the squirrel family Groundhogs are one of the 14 species of marmots Groundhogs dig multiple underground chambers with sharp claws and their iconic incisor teeth to create a complex system of burrows and tunnels Burrows can be up to 6 feet deep and 20 feet wide, including a separate “bathroom” chamber Groundhogs remove dirty bedding material and exchange it for clean, fresh bedding on a regular basis Hibernation begins…
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5 Storage Solutions to Declutter Your Home
Words like “shirts” and “nick-nacks” and “books” don’t capture the feelings that we associate with our favorite items. A tee shirt from a trip to Japan in 1980 or a stack of yearbooks hauled from home to home—we keep these items because their presence instills within us a deep feeling of nostalgia. According to Randy Frost, a professor at Smith College in Massachusetts, “our possessions all have magical qualities. Many, if not most, of the things we keep have an essence that goes beyond the physical character of the object.” From personal experience, many of us know this to be absolutely true. While our possessions may bring us great joy,…
