Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Life

Category: Seasonal

  • Simple Summer Backyard Barbecue Tips

    If there’s one thing that goes hand-in-hand with summer, it’s a backyard barbecue. With the sun shining and the weather forecast predicting temperatures that are in your favor, there’s no better time for freshly grilled meats and refreshingly cold drinks. Any good host knows that a successful summer barbecue takes a lot more than slapping some meat on the grill and serving cold lemonade on a tray. The good news is that it doesn’t take much to host a memorable summer meal with your loved ones. Grab your notepad because you’re about to become a barbecue expert with a few easy outdoor barbecue ideas.

    Prep and Plan Beforehand

    The key to hosting a summer barbecue you can also enjoy is organization. Get the planning done well before the grilling date to ensure you’re not running around day-of, or worse, during the barbecue. After all, you’re hosting so you can sit down and enjoy mouth-watering foods with your friends and family. Put these outdoor barbecue tips into action so you can kick back and relax during the barbecue:

    • Select your guest list, send out invitations and track RSVPs online by creating a private event on social media
    • Determine how much seating is required and borrow or rent any extras well before the barbecue date
    • Decide on activities or games to keep the children entertained and gather applicable materials as needed
    • Check the weather and plan accordingly
    • Double, triple and quadruple-check your grilling supplies and propane

    Provide Dietary Options

    When it comes to food, no two taste buds are the same. Everyone has his or her own preference for flavor. While it was once acceptable to give the option of a hotdog or hamburger, times have changed. Some people are vegetarian, some are vegan, others have allergies and the list goes on. Fortunately, you can easily keep all of your guests happy and their hunger satisfied by sticking with barbecue classics.  Here is a complete meal plan that caters to all palates, diets and lifestyles to ensure everyone can happily and comfortably enjoy your backyard barbecue:

    • Fresh fruits, vegetables and dip for vegetarians, vegans and those with gluten or dairy allergies
    • Beef and veggie burgers, chicken and hot dogs for all, including children
    • Potato chips, pretzels and trail mix
    • Soda, water, juice

    Set up a Comfortable Lounge Area

    Uncomfortable folding chairs surrounding a plastic foldable table is not ideal for long periods of sitting. Enhance the relaxation and enjoyment of your summer barbecue by creating a comfortable lounge area. Doing so will allow your guests to sit back with a full stomach, kick their feet up and socialize while also creating memories together. The good part is you don’t need to purchase anything extra; just use what you have with these outdoor ideas:

    • Remove the long foldable food tables once the meal is over and open up the space for some rest, relaxation and conversation
    • Stage chairs around focal points in your backyard, such as a patio table, fireplace or pool
    • Offer different seating options, such as lounger chairs, camper chairs, benches, etc. to ensure everyone finds a comfortable seat

    Create an Ambiance with Subtle Lighting and Soft Music

    Your summer barbecue is about to start. You have your chairs set up, the food prepped and a headcount of who’s attending, but there’s one thing missing – atmosphere. One of the best barbecue tips to think about is how you want your guests to feel while attending. The perfect tunes and subtle lighting can be everything you need to create the ideal ambiance for the evening. Here are some of our favorite ideas:

    • String colorful lights and play popular music for a dance party appeal
    • Light lanterns and candles and play music at a low volume for a laid back, relaxing feel
    • Use tiki torches to light paths and focal areas for a dramatic, mellow theme accompanied by some light tunes

    All the tips you need to host a memorable backyard barbecue are right here. With some prepping and planning, careful considerations and little tweaks, you can host the best summer barbecue of the season!

     

  • How to Plant Your Perfect Herb Garden

    Herbs bring plenty of happiness. They’re delicious and nutritious. These green delights can transform your living space into a breath of fresh air. Little plants add a splash of aroma to your home, and you don’t even need to have a green thumb to enjoy them. Growing the perfect herb garden often takes more knowledge than talent. Follow a few easy steps to create a flavorful garden where your palate and palace will flourish.

    Start Simple with Pre-Potted Herbs

    Unless you’re a garden aficionado, you’ll want to start simple with pre-potted herbs. Growing any plant from seed can be a tedious and daunting task. It takes time and practice to learn what makes the seed grow into a delicious herb. Unless you want to spend several weeks trying to figure out the roots of your herbs, stick with the simple solution: pre-potted plants. Most grocery stores, nurseries, and health food stores have them. If you plan on switching the pots out for something more decorative, you should do so with care. Herbs need to drain properly in order to grow efficiently. Make sure your pots have stones, gravel, or holes in the bottom for proper drainage.

    Picking the Plants

    Choosing the herbs that’ll fill your home is one of the most important steps to creating a perfect herb garden. There are many different varieties of herbs, from soft, delicious ones that add a subtle hint of flavor, to woodsy, pungent ones. Some herbs need more care than others, such as soft herbs like basil. Woody herbs are a little tougher, handling more extreme conditions such as a cold winter season.  It is important to do your research to ensure you plant the herbs that are going to fulfill your planting aspirations as well as your palate.

    Placing the Perfect Herb Garden

    Now that you have your pre-potted plants, it’s time to place them. If you’re locating your herb garden outdoors, the plants can be put right into your garden. Otherwise, a windowsill that gets an ample amount of sunlight is sufficient. However, it is important to consider the types of herbs you’re growing, as different kinds have varying requirements. Some herbs need more sunlight, whereas others can stay in the shade for most of the day, requiring only more room to grow. If you are moving your pre-potted plants into a garden or larger pot, remember to give them enough room to breathe and grow.

    Harvesting the Herbs

    When your herbs are ready for harvesting, it’s the most exciting time. Not only are your gardening efforts paying off, but your dishes throughout the next week are bound to be nutritiously flavorful. All you need is a sharp pair of clean scissors and you can start snipping away at the ends.

    Planting an herb garden is a decision that’ll bring a punch of flavor into your interior and meals. This is one of the easiest gardens to grow, and it can be done right on a window sill. If you’re just dipping into the world of green thumbs, this is a great place to start.

    The Golden Rules to Growing a Herb Garden

    Your herb garden needs to be watered daily. Since they take in a lot of water, drainage via a variety of pot types keeps them from drowning. Remember to add a sufficient amount of space in between each herb to deter them from overcrowding and dying off. Herbs also need regular trimming to stop them from growing flowers. Although this is a beautiful sight, regular pruning prevents issues with flavor and the quality of the leaf.

  • Great Thanksgiving Hosting Tips to Help Your Holidays Run Smoothly

    Thanksgiving is one of the best holidays of the year: You eat delicious food with your friends and family and create memories that will be treasured for a lifetime. However, hosting Thanksgiving isn’t as carefree as attending a Thanksgiving dinner. In fact, it can become stressful if you don’t have any practical hosting tips under your apron. Fortunately, all of the Thanksgiving hosting tips you need can be found right here:

    bhgrelife.com - Great Thanksgiving Hosting Tips to Help Your Holidays Run Smoothly1. Check Your Oven Before the Big Day

    You may think your oven is top-notch, but if you forget to check it, then go to cook the turkey only to find out it’s lacking heat, Thanksgiving won’t be a fun experience – for anyone. Always make sure your oven is in great working shape before the big day.

  • Cozy and Colorful Home Decorations for Fall

    It’s time to prepare for the coziest season of the year. Fall has officially arrived, which means big comfy knits, pumpkin spice aromas, beautiful foliage, and cozy nights. If you’re wondering how these warm and comfortable elements can be used to enhance your home this season, it’s time to check out these cozy and colorful fall decoration ideas.       

    bhgrelife.com - Cozy and Colorful Home Decorations for FallTrade Out Flowers in a Vase for Leaves

    Fall foliage is arguably one of the best things about the season. Add those stunning and warm hues to your interior by finding an empty, clear vase and putting it to good use as a showcase for a vibrant fall leaf collection.

  • 7 Halloween Recipes that are Frighteningly Delicious

    Halloween isn’t just about dressing up in fun and spooky costumes; it’s also a time to dress up your food. Pair your costume this year with some of these spooky yet delicious recipes bound to frighten (and delight) your guests. Hopefully, they are daring enough to taste them!

    To help you in your spooky process, we have compiled a few recipes to scare and impress your guests:

    7 Halloween Recipes that are Frighteningly Delicious - bhgrelife.comPumpkin Cheesecake Truffle Mummies Bake from Creme de la Crumb

    This particular dish is pretty spooky, complete with mummy faces and eyes on the end result! Not only is this recipe cheesecake-based, which is always a fan-favorite, but it also incorporates a favorite seasonal flavor: pumpkin. Combined together, they make a delicious mummy bite-sized snack. In addition, this is an easy-to-make, no-bake treat.

  • Our Favorite Easter Recipes

    One of our favorite holidays is coming up, and that just so happens to be Easter! Easter can be one of the best holidays of the year, due in large part to the various recipes and treats to make. Even better: these treats are enjoyed by both adults and kids alike, for an all-around family-friendly gathering.

    Here, we’ve compiled a few of our favorite recipes that are perfect for the upcoming Easter celebrations:

    Our Favorite Easter Recipes - bhgrelife.com

    Rabbit Bunny Buns for Easter from Dessert First

    This Rabbit Bunny Buns recipe is one of our favorite in the entire collection. We can’t help but love how adorable these rabbits look, too. The best part is that they taste just as wonderful as they look, and they are definitely a crowd pleaser. We hope you enjoy making them!

  • Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere

    It’s holiday time! You should be spreading yuletide decor and cheer, but you’re selling your house and haven’t closed the deal yet. Do you have people coming over? Do you want to decorate for the season and enjoy this time of year at home while the festivities begin? It’s all possible, without missing out on the holiday fun! Follow our simple steps to show your house successfully during the holiday season.

    Showing Your House? Don’t Let the Holidays Interfere - bhgrelife.com

    Decorate, without going to extremes

    Don’t stop yourself from getting into the spirit. Potential buyers will want to imagine themselves actually living in the house, so go ahead and decorate. Be sure to keep from going overboard, though. Everyone has unique tastes and will want to deck their halls differently, so you should leave room for buyers to imagine their own styles, too: think sleek and neutral decorations.

    If you’ve already begun the moving process and are running low on décor, consider placing throws on a piece of furniture in each room, for an understated means of livening up the space. If you’re still living there, don’t be afraid to host the celebrations—showcase your home’s ability to be the life of the party!

  • Spruce Up Your Home for Fall

    There’s a snap in the air and a distinct sense of possibility afoot. It’s finally fall—and your creativity is about to bust out in high autumn style. Seasonal decorating can be a fun way to spruce up your home, and the glory of autumn is no exception. Read on for some great tips on how to create gorgeous fall-inspired interiors, just in time for the season.

    Spruce Up Your Home for Fall - bhgrelife.com

    Bring the Outdoors In

    One of the quickest and most inexpensive ways to change the decor in your home in time for fall is to look to the great outdoors. After all, autumn is one of the most gorgeous seasons, full of rich colors and beautiful natural elements. Take advantage of the shifting seasons by bringing the outdoors inside.

    One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is with centerpieces. Centerpieces can be perfect for a holiday dinner or a simple weeknight family meal, as they can be ornate and lavish or toned-down and simple. To construct an eye-catching centerpiece, start with an assortment of decorative gourds and squashes in rich gold, green, and red colors, then display them in a woven basket for casual affairs or a classic silver or brass bowl for a more formal display. It won’t cost much, but your fall centerpiece will become a conversation piece as you’re serving guests.

  • How to Host a Fall Backyard Party

    Celebrate the beauty of autumn by opening your home and inviting friends and family to a fall-theme backyard get-together. Use gourds, pumpkins, apples and sweet potatoes for inspiration. These ideas for food, decorating and activities will infuse your gathering with the fall spirit and spotlight not just your hospitality—but your home’s beautiful backyard and property, too.

    How to Host a Fall Backyard Party - bhgrelife.com
    Celebrate fall with a harvest party. Use the bounty of the season in decorating your home and yard. Plan a few autumn-themed activities, invite some guests (young and old will enjoy this party) and get ready to toast the beauty of fall.

     

     

     

  • Add Color to Your Living Room for Summer

    Summer is the perfect time to rework your living room. Who wants to look at those dark earthy neutrals or sit on heavy fabrics when it’s hot outside?

    For new living room color ideas for summer, think about a change of pace to represent the changing of the seasons. Even if you’re not repainting every wall or replacing all your furniture, here are our tips to brighten things up for summer.

    by Jennifer Adams

    Add Color to Your Living Room for Summer - bhgrelife.com

     

    Use color throughout — from the floor to the furniture – to move your eye around the room. Keep your walls and carpets neutral or light colored.

    Swap your area rug for a brighter, inexpensive one with a large open pattern and a light background. Summer is a great time to get your rugs cleaned anyway!