3 DIY Eco-Hammocks

Is it brutally hot where you are? In New York, the temps are hovering around 100 degrees. The New York Times recorded these record-breaking temperatures in the Northeast: “The high of 103 in New York broke a record for the date. Baltimore hit 105, the highest temperature recorded since 1983, and in Boston, the temperature reached 100 degrees for the first time since 2002.” They also report little reprieve in sight. Some folks around here have taken to sleeping in their screened-in porches instead of cranking up energy-sucking air conditioners in the evenings. We have a hammock on our porch that doubles as an overnight accommodation. It’s not for everyone, but hammocks have been a staple in our family for years. Here’s a picture of my sister-in-law when she was a kid sleeping peacefully in womb-like comfort:

marti-hammock-443en

Whatever your DIY skills, just follow these  instructions, grab a book and a popsicle or a cold beer, and let the relaxing begin! CLICK HERE FOR MORE

Do you have an outdoor sleeping space?

Summertime And The DIY Is Easy: 10 Green Projects

Have you vowed to step off the fast-track and slow down this summer? With the emergence of hot days and long evenings, see it’s the perfect time to kick back, for sale unplug, viagra 100mg get creative and indulge in some summertime DIY. From whipping up a batch of natural sunscreen to creating a solar backpack, these 10 eco-friendly summery DIY projects are sure to get the creative juices stirring. CLICK HERE FOR MORE Artwork: Ben Scott

Glamping Makes Many Happy Campers

Blending the terms of glamour and camping, Glamping brings nature closer to tepid campers.

I've engaged in many years of highly enjoyable camping, backpacking and adventure trips. But, now I'm done with camping. Actually, I've been through with camping ever since I spent four soggy, cold days stranded on a tiny island with my family of four. Now when we venture far from the econest, I do my due diligence and research the eco-friendliness of the accommodations down to the mattresses. No camp grounds enter my search engine anymore. Even these snazzy solar tents couldn't get me to sleep on the ground. I know, it sounds kind of wimpy. But, like I said, "I'm done with camping." So, not much coaxing or conniving could get me to snuggle back into a sleeping bag, even if my kids traveled back in time and were the cutest four year olds again (which they were a long time ago). Until now…CLICK HERE FOR MORE

A Barefoot Home Makes Life a Breeze

I don’t know about your lifestyle, cialis but mine is pretty casual. From the clothes I wear to the informal home I live in, stuffiness is not an option. There’s no need to stand on ceremony when you enter my home. Just toss your shoes at the door, curl up your feet on the couch and relax. So, when Taunton Press sent me a book called, The Barefoot Home by Marc Vassallo, I was excited to find a book that shows us how to make barefoot living synonymous with a healthy home. The Barefoot Home celebrates dressed-down informal living in its best form. The photographs present the reader with examples of how to bring nature into your nest with a casual and comfortable breeziness. It begins with this manifesto: CLICK HERE FOR MORE Credit: The Barefoot Home

Magazine Love: Print vs. Online

I was in Toronto last weekend for my nephew’s wedding, there and while we were prancing around that lovely and lively city, treatment I ducked into a newsstand and spent the better part of a precious hour devouring the Canadian and European magazines. I no longer do that in the States unless I’m in a big newsstand in NYC. Many of my favorite magazines (Domino, House and Garden, Cottage Living, Blueprint, O at Home and Gourmet) have been served a swift death. Leaning against the shelf of magazines, I couldn’t help but wonder, “Has the American reading public moved on?" CLICK HERE FOR MORE