It’s difficult to stay cool in the oppressive summer heat, but you can do some things to help turn your patio into a nice, cool oasis. That way, you can enjoy your beautiful backyard in the evenings while watching the stars come out or while enjoying a nice dinner with friends.
To create your cool patio oasis, you only need a few things. The first is patio furniture. You’ve got to have somewhere to sit, after all. You don’t have to spend a lot on this patio furniture—you can get folding chairs fairly cheap at most stores. However, if you plan on spending a lot of time on your patio, you may want to invest in a nicer, more comfortable set of chairs and perhaps a table as well. You could also purchase a glider or even install a porch swing.
You also need some lighting. While most homes have some kind of outdoor light above or near the patio, it’s often harsh lighting. You may want to get some outdoor lanterns or even some torches to light. Most torches double as insect repellant, which is handy. Candles can also make for nice lighting. If you have the budget for it, you may even want to invest in a small metal fire pit. While the heat these fire pits produce may not be exactly welcome in the hot summer months, they do give you the chance to make tasty S’mores to snack on.
Some nice green plants can put the finishing touches on your cool oasis. You may want to hang baskets of ivy or flowering plants like Moss Rose around the edge of your patio. Flowering plants in pots can add some nice color, and the fragrance from these flowers is always welcome. Of course, you can also add other small decorative touches such as bird feeders, wind chimes, and more. It’s your patio oasis—make sure it reflects your sense of style!
Everyone gets in a dark mood from time to time. Sometimes it’s a result of things going wrong. Other times we just seem to wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Whatever the reason, it’s always nice to get cheered up. We can even cheer ourselves up, and one of the ways of doing this is with flower therapy!
What is flower therapy, you wonder. Well, it has been shown through several scientific studies that flowers truly do make people happy. Whether it’s something to do with the scent, the sight, or something else isn’t quite clear, but what is clear is that flowers can make us happy and get rid of that dark mood.
Receiving flowers is the best form of flower therapy. When you receive flowers, it’s often as a surprise. A good, unexpected surprise like this can be all you need to change your bad day into a happy one. But the power of flower therapy doesn’t end there. Every time you see the arrangement, you’ll think of how happy it made you and how special you feel. You’ll also think of the person who sent you the flowers, and that can increase your happiness, especially if they can from a significant other.
Sending flowers to yourself can also help cheer you up. While you don’t get the surprise or that feeling of being special that comes from someone else sending flowers, you do get to enjoy the sight and scent of them. Adding a bright arrangement to your desk at work or to your kitchen table can go a long way to making you feel happy, and that’s the result we’re looking for!
While a romantic picnic outdoors is certainly nice, sometimes the weather doesn’t permit it. Other times, the bugs are just too much. However, a nice alternative is an indoor picnic, especially for those who aren’t exactly the outdoors types.
Planning an indoor picnic is easy. First, select the location. You can push the furniture out of the way and use your living room or dining room floor, or you can spread your picnic blanket over your bed and use that. Any indoor location works. For the small and intimate, you can even have an indoor picnic in your laundry room or in a large closet.
Next, decide on the food. Indoor picnics aren’t limited by cooler space or the transportation of food. You can have hot, cooked food right from your own kitchen, or you can go with sandwiches or other traditional picnic foods. Drink, too, is completely up to you—lemonade, water, soda, or something more romantic like champagne or wine.
That’s all you need. Just pick a time, invite your significant other over, and enjoy your indoor picnic!
Some people say romance is dead. But is it really? Perhaps it’s not dead but it has simply changed form. However, if you bring back the lost art of romance as it once was, you’ll find that you can impress your significant other like nothing else.
The first part of the lost art of romance is to set the mood. Today, many people simply cook up a quick meal or order in, but if you truly want to impress your significant other, you’ll need to pay attention to the details. How many people turn down the lights and eat by candle light any more? Set the table with some tapers and put some tea lights around the room. You may even want to play a CD of piano music or other romantic music, but remember to keep the volume down fairly low so that it doesn’t interfere with talking.
Flowers, too, are an important part of setting the mood and showing off your romantic side. Buy her a nice bouquet of her favorite flowers or set them on the table to surprise her. Remember, though, that you’ll want to move them off the table so that there’s nothing between the two of you that would impede talking. During dinner, you want to be able to see each other.
If you go out, be sure to hold doors for her and, if at a restaurant, pull out her chair. These small touches of chivalry may be lost on some women, but others will truly appreciate the extra lengths you’re going to. Just be sure she’s going to appreciate them—if you know your girlfriend or wife isn’t into these types of things (some women aren’t), then don’t do them.
Romance may be something of a lost art in today’s break-neck speed lifestyle, but if you slow down and do a little work, you’ll find that you can bring it back and truly make an impression.
Wondering what to do this Fourth of July in Kansas City? Well, the people of KC certainly know how to celebrate our nation’s day of independence. They have a number of different events you can attend and, of course, many of them feature fireworks.
More than 20,000 people attend the annual Parkville Fourth of July Fireworks and Festival every year. Things start on Tuesday morning with a parade followed by an all-day carnival at English Landing Park. At 9:30 p.m., fireworks are shot off over the Missouri River.
Berkley Riverfront Park is host to the KC Riverfest, one of the most popular fireworks shows in the KC Metro. There are a number of things to do before the fireworks show, but you don’t want to miss the grand finale. This fireworks display is actually choreographed to live music!
Worlds of Fun, one of Kansas City’s popular theme parks, will be hosting its own Fourth of July celebration. This event is one of the longest running annual fireworks show in Kansas City, and it all starts around 10 p.m.
For those wanting to spend a little time with nature before watching fireworks, the Booms and Blooms Fest at Powell Gardens is exactly what you want. Stroll through the beautiful gardens, maybe even take a picnic dinner, before settling near the lake to watch the fireworks. This event is actually held on the third, not the fourth, so you can attend it and then plan to see another fireworks display on Independence Day.
Finally, Corporate Woods Star Spangled Spectacular is another amazing Fourth of July event full of funnel cakes, a free concert, and a huge fireworks display that is one of the biggest in the area. It all starts at 4:00 p.m. and lasts until 11. Note that parking is a concern with this event, so be ready to walk.
Summer is the perfect time for outdoor entertaining. Whether you’re just having a few friends over or hosting an outdoor party for your entire family, getting out of the house and enjoying an evening outside can be a great change of pace. Of course, you do have to do a little planning before hosting an evening outdoors, and that includes decorating.
Since you’re going to be outdoors, why not take advantage of the décor already there? Setting up your table near your beautiful flower beds or garden can be a great way to bring in the greens and other bright colors. For your table, cut a few fresh blooms from these flowers and place them in a vase. Alternatively, you can order a nice arrangement that compliments the colors of your garden and flowers.
You can also bring the summer flower décor indoors. If your guests will need to go through your home to get to your event, place a few vases of summer flowers around your home. If they’re coming in through a gate, you can put a small table near the entrance with summer flowers on it. If you need to put a sign up directing guests to the back yard, you could attach a few flowers to it or put several pots of flowers around it.
By letting your summer flowers spread out from the table, you’ll be creating an overall motif that will really impress your guests and show off both your gardening and your decorating skills.
Treat Dad like a King this Father’s Day with our list of great ideas to celebrate dads in Kansas City this June!
Father’s Day Week at Paradise Park
June 14-20, 10:00, Paradise Park.
Celebrate dads all week in the Children’s Edutainment Center. Register to win a Father’s Day golf package and a FREE Family Adventure Pass. With every registration, Mom gets a FREE Max Pak Unlimited wristband to entertain the kids on Father’s Day, June 20. 816.246.5224 www.Paradise-Park.com
Father’s Day Bass Pro Boat Show
June 19-20, Titanic Museum (Branson).
Cruise on over to Titanic Branson this Father’s Day weekend and check out the dream boats. Bass Pro Shops Tracker Boat Center will dock some of its hottest, most popular brands right in Titanic’s parking lot from 9:00 to 6:00 each day. Free. 800.334.9500
Father’s Day Card Making
June 19 11:00am-12:30pm, Whole Foods (Overland Park).
Every Dad deserves a special card on Father’s Day! Come make him a one-of-a-kind, just from you Card!
Father’s Day Zoo Fun
June 20, 10:00-3:00, The Kansas City Zoo.
Treat your dad to a day at the Kansas City Zoo. Dads receive free admission and a free Johnsonville brat or hot dog. 816.573.5800
Dads Get in FREE at Cosmosphere
June 20, The Kansas Cosmosphere and Space Center.
Dads get in free (an All-Day Mission Pass) with any paid admission on Father’s Day. Regular admission applies for guests. www.Cosmo.org
Dad’s Ride FREE: Belton, Grandview and KC Railroad.
June 20, Ride the rails like your grandparents.
Dads ride free with a paid child’s admission on Father’s Day. 816.331.0630 www.BeltonRailroad.org
Father’s Day FREE Admission at Truman Library
June 20, Truman Presidential Museum & Library.
Fathers receive free admission at the Truman Library when touring June 20. Mr Truman (Niel Johnson) will greet visitors from 1:30 to 3:30. 800.833.1225
Father’s Day Performance at Powell Gardens
June 20, 2:00, Powell Gardens.
Powell Gardens salutes dads everywhere with a family-friendly afternoon performance out in the Gardens by the Doo-Dads. Regular admission: $9.50/adults, $8.50/seniors and $4/children 5-12. 816.697.2600 x209 www.PowellGardens.org
Father’s Day Fishing Derby
June 20 4:30, Heritage Park Marina.
Take dad fishing! A picture-perfect event for the whole family. Held rain or shine, so dress appropriately. Bait and refreshments provided; bring your own tackle. Pre-reg, $5-$6. 913.685.6030 www.BlueValleyRec.org
From: KCParent Magazine
With the hot summer heat about to hit, it’s important to remember that your flowers are going to need a little extra attention. What can you do to make certain your outdoor flowers survive the summer heat when the thermometer starts reaching triple digits?
Watering your outdoor flowers is very, very important, obviously, but don’t just water your flowers whenever you feel like it. If you water them between noon and 5:00 p.m., most of the water will simply evaporate in the heat. This not only leaves your flowers dry and thirsty, it also wastes water. Watering after 6:00 p.m. or even later will insure that your flowers absorb as much water as they can.
Use a sprinkler to make sure that all your flowers, plants, and lawn get as evenly covered as possible. Move it as necessary around the flower beds and garden until everything has been watered.
Check the weather to see when rain is expected. You may not need to water your flowers if it’s going to rain the next day. This helps save water and keeps from over-watering. Too much water can be just as bad for some flowers as too little water.
These watering tips will help you keep your outdoor flowers happy during the summer and will help conserve water as well.
You’re at work or doing chores around the house, and suddenly you realize it’s your sister’s birthday or, worse, your anniversary! You need to send a gift right away or risk making a family member, friend, or your significant other upset. But what can you do when you need to send a gift today? If you live close enough to the person, you may be able to pick up something from a nearby store and deliver it. However, if you don’t live nearby, that’s not an option.
Instead, you can send flowers! Many florists will deliver on the same day if you get your order in early enough. Flowers and the small gifts that florists have (balloons, stuffed animals, and candy) can usually work for just about any occasion from birthdays to sympathy to congratulations. With today’s online capabilities, many florists have even networked with others around the country or even around the world so it’s possible to send flowers anywhere. All it takes is a few minutes online and your gift of flowers will be off to convey your message to the recipient.
Few people grow lucky four leaf clovers, but that doesn’t mean you can’t make your own luck with your garden. With a little planning and preparation, you can make your garden look incredibly green and beautiful. Others may think you’re incredibly lucky, but you’ll know that it was all skill and knowledge.
Know when to plan: some flowers prosper when planted while the ground is still a little chilly. Others need to be planted in the spring so they can take advantage of all that great spring rain. Knowing when to plant your flowers can make a huge difference in how your garden looks.
Know how to take care of each and every plant. If you know which plants and flowers need direct sunlight and which ones don’t, you can arrange your flowerbeds so that all of your flowers are getting exactly what they need. Also pay attention to how much water each type of plant needs and, if possible, group like plants together. It makes it easier to water them.
Cut off the deadheads and dead leaves periodically. Ideally, you’ll do this about once a week. Just getting rid of the dead foliage will keep your garden looking nice.
Just knowing a bit about the various plants you have in your garden will allow you to make it look much greener and prettier than you might expect. You don’t need good luck to have a beautiful garden—just a bit of knowledge.
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