The outdoor living of summer doesn’t have to end when the weather turns cooler.

Autumn is the new summer when it comes to outdoor living. From tailgating at football games and outdoor hikes on the weekend to Halloween and Oktoberfest, there are plenty of opportunities for gathering with friends and celebrating the bounty of the season outdoors. The outdoor living in autumn is easy, so fire up the grill and get the fire going in the firepit!

Outdoor Living Tips and Ideas for Autumn

1. Firepit

A fire is a must have when entertaining in autumn. Not only can a fire provide warmth and lighting, but nothing’s much better than homemade s’mores over a fire whether camping or in your backyard. If you looking to build a fire in your backyard, consider whether you want to purchase a firepit or build your own.

2. Pumpkin Everything

Autumn is the season of the pumpkin. While you may eschew the cult of the pumpkin spiced latte drink, that doesn’t mean that everything pumpkin is bad. Roasted pumpkin soup and pumpkin muffins are the perfect eats for those cooler nights out on the deck.

3. Outdoor Games

If you are having friends over, outdoor games are a fun way to pass the time. While you might not want to sit down to a board game outdoors (or maybe you do), games like flag football, tag, or cornhole are not only fun but can help keep the blood flowing and keep you warm and energized.

4. Warm Drinks

The cooler days and nights of autumn call for warming drinks. From mulled apple cider to hot toddys, the key to staying warm on cool nights around the firepit are “warm you from the inside” drinks. From hot chocolate to Irish Coffee, it’s all good!

5. Outdoor Seating

If you are planning on spending time outdoors chillaxing, the same seating that served you in the summertime may not do in the autumn. Consider swapping out those plastic Adirondack chairs for something that’s not going to be so cold to sit on–and consider adding some warm and washable throws to keep your legs warm.

6. Outdoor Lighting

While spending time outdoors in the autumn sun sounds nice, you may want to invite some guests over for an outdoor dinner party on the deck. That’s all well and good, but don’t forget that it does get dark earlier in the fall and you will need to provide light for your evening dinner. Everything from candles to camping lanterns will work, but just make sure that your guests can see their plates!

7. Autumn Garden

Don’t watch everything you grew over the summer just wither and die — be sure you’ve got some late summer and early autumn crops to tend to. Be that squash, corn, greens like kale or collards — there’s plenty you can grow before the first frost hits (and beyond). Plus, tending to your outdoor garden gives you an excuse to get outside. And what better for your outdoor dinner than fresh picks from your autumn garden?

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The post 7 Ways to Extend Your Outdoor Living Season Well Into Autumn appeared first on EcoSalon.

Spring is the season of celebrating. Throw your very own spring fling to start the season off right.

Now that it’s staying light later, the temperatures have warmed up, and the flowers, birds and bees are all at hard at work again, it’s time to take advantage of the best loveliness Mother Nature has to offer. That means we are all ready for outdoor entertaining again!

Whether you decide to do a casual outdoor barbecue or more of an outdoor dinner party, throw a spring fling and celebrate the season. Here are some easy DIY ideas to make your spring fling a perfectly spectacular success.

7 Easy DIY Ideas for a Spring Fling

1. Fire it Up – Whether you choose a backyard chiminea or decide to build a firepit, adding fire to any outdoor party is the way to go. The light, the warmth, and the communal atmosphere of a fire can make any party a success. Add marshmallows to make it even better.
2. Drink Station/Bar – It’s always nice to have a drink station outside, so you add your guests don’t have to keep running inside for a cold one. You could always have a tub of cold beer and bottled sodas or create a DIY outdoor bar from which to serve your signature cocktail and mocktails.
3. Flowers – A spring fling calls for amazing flower centerpieces. Turn the flowers, buds, twigs and more of the season into beautiful decorations with these easy flower arranging tips.
4. Tire Swing – If you have a large enough tree in your yard, consider adding a tire swing. Children and grown-up children both love a good old-fashioned tire swing. Learn how to DIY one here.
5. Cocktail/Mocktails – A great spring fling requires a special drink. Whether you decide to go with booze or go the booze-free route, make a decadent drink for guests to make the day more special. Anything with berries is spring appropriate!
6. Food – Peas are the perfect vegetable for spring parties. They are one of the earliest veggies to pop up each spring. Serve snap peas with hummus and other dips and make pea pesto to serve toasted baguette slices.
7. Decor – Don’t be afraid to be colorful and DIY up some fun spring fling decorations like a fabulous fabric bunting, bird silhouette place cards, or turn colorful bandanas into reusable napkins. Let your spring creativity run wild!

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Image: Empty Wooden Table with Party in Background via Shutterstock

The post 7 Spring Fling DIY Party Ideas to Celebrate the Best Season appeared first on EcoSalon.

Outdoor fall party ideas and inspiration help to celebrate the season in style.

Everyone thinks about summer when it comes to outdoor entertaining, but fall is our favorite season for outdoor entertaining and we have some fall party ideas for your inspiration.

Just think about it: in autumn, it’s not stinking hot, there are fewer bugs, the cooler evenings are perfect for outdoor fires, and you don’t have to worry about working around too many vacation schedules. There are also plenty of great autumnal opportunities for entertaining. From tailgates and soccer games to Halloween and Oktoberfest, we’ve some great fall party ideas to make your shindig a super easy success.

Fall Party Ideas and Inspiration

1. Lighting

Since it turns darker earlier, figuring out a lighting solution ahead of time is a necessity for those shindigs that will run later than the afternoon. String lights and mason jar luminaries can work to shed some light, as well as some atmosphere, on your get together.

2. Firepit

There’s nothing more perfect during the autumn season than sitting around a firepit. It’s one of our favorite fall party ideas because it serves multiple purposes–it provides warmth, light, and atmosphere. You can buy an already made firepit, or make a DIY firepit.

3. Signature Drink

Whether you plan on serving adult beverages, every party can benefit from a signature drink. Autumn Sangria is a thing right now; Hot Toddy’s are great on a cooler day, or how about a lovely spiked (or non-spiked) Hot Apple Cider? We also are loving Rob Roy’s now (a variation on the Manhattan) and the scotch is just perfect for the fall season.

4. Picnic Basket

If you are entertaining a small group of friends away from home (like at a tailgate) consider investing in a picnic basket with all the trappings. Not only can you pack favorites like figs, cheese, nuts, olives, crusty bread, dijon mustard, and wine, but you can have real cutlery too! Everyone hates that plastic stuff.

5. Outdoor Games

If you are entertaining outdoors with children, you must include kid-friendly activities for the day. Lawn croquet is fun and appropriate for all ages. A backyard scavenger hunt, cornhole game, and no-carve pumpkin decorating are activities that can entertain kids (and grownups) of all ages.

6. Baked S’mores

Among our fall party ideas, our latest obsession is for baked s’mores. This tasty treat has all the sweetness of over the fire s’mores with the mess. Simply pour one bag of milk chocolate morsels in a cast iron pan. Top with marshmallows and bake on 350 for 10 minutes. Guests can scoop up the goodness with graham crackers.

7. Highlight the Bounty

As far as food, keep it simple, rustic, and emphasize the bounty of the season. A cheese board with figs, nuts, and local honey always satisfies; individual baked apples are easy to make and easy to serve, and pumpkin hummus is a tasty twist on the classic party food.

8. Pumpkins!

Pumpkins are completely necessary at any fall party. They have many uses too. Hollow one out for use as an ice bucket. You can also make pumpkin soup and serve it in a hollowed-out pumpkin. Roasted pumpkin seeds would make a great salty treat (add them to the cheese board). And finally, a pumpkin carving contest would make for the ultimate autumn fun.

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Image: Pumpkin Ice Bucket via Shutterstock

The post 8 Fall Party Ideas for Throwing Awesome Outdoor Shindigs appeared first on EcoSalon.

The team at CasaSugar helps us celebrate outdoors.

If you’re planning on hosting a party for Fourth of July festivities, you’ll want to make sure that your backyard is up for the challenge. Choosing decorative elements that are multifunctional is key, but it takes a bit of preparation. To ensure that your Fourth of July bash is a beautiful success, get organized with this list of backyard entertaining essentials.

• Shop for extra seating that can be easily stashed once the party is over. Folding wooden chairs, benches, and garden stools can be stored or repurposed in other parts of the house after the party is over.
• Add a pretty and protective service to outdoor tabletops with tablecloths. Oilcloths are offered in a variety of patterns and colors and are ideal for easy cleanup.
• Set down the bug spray and keep mosquitoes at bay with beautifully packaged citronella candles. We especially love the classic, subdued elegance of glass votive citronella candles.
• Make sure your yard has ample lighting by adding temporary options that can be taken down at the end of the season. If you have trees, arbors, or other tall structures, use string lights. If not, look for tiki torches or stake lanterns.
• Avoid having guests make multiple trips in and out of the house for a cold drink by shopping for stylish tubs to fill with ice and beverages.

• Instead of washing dishes throughout the night or dumping plastic and paper dinnerware, consider using biodegradable versions that can be composted.
• If you’re expecting warm weather, be sure to provide shading so that your guests don’t overheat. Umbrellas, tents, and DIY canopies go a long way.
• Let guests know it’s a party by decorating with festive touches like flag bunting, tissue pom-poms, or balloons.
• Trays are a fantastic way to transfer and organize items, but they can also provide extra table surface. Look for trays that can rest on stands or be removed when you have to haul something.
• To avoid confusing beverages, provide a way for guests to mark their drinks. For a hassle-free but stylish way to identify drinks, set out a roll of cute washi tape and a sharpie pen and let guests mark their own drinks. Or set out tags with ribbons for wine glasses and bottles.
• For double-duty centerpieces, assemble shiny red apples in glass vessels or pot pretty blooms to set at tables.

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