Portable Reclining Outdoor Chair for Concerts, Picnics or Sporting Events

Posted on May 17, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Cushioned Stadium ChairsThink about the last time you went to a sporting event or outdoor concert. Were you sitting on the lawn or in the bleachers? I bet your back was killing you when the event was over. Picnic Time has come up with some great innovative seating that actually has the ability to recline. The avid outdoorsman and nature enthusiast will also love this recreational reclining chair because it is so lightweight and portable. The Oniva Seat has an adjustable shoulder strap and five adjustable positions for reclining. The seat cover is made of polyester and the bottom of the seat is black dimpled PVC so it won’t soil too easily. And don’t worry about the reclining chair being flimsy. These reclining outdoor chairs have a steel frame with a cushioned seat made of high-density PU foam, which provides hours of comfortable sitting.

So next time you decide to head to the beach, the park, jump on a boat or head to a sporting event, grab the strap of your portable chair and smile; you will be the talk of the event as you recline in your seat and participate in comfort while those around you will probably wake up with a sore back tomorrow.  These reclining chairs can be purchased in multiple colors, in sports themes like football, Baseball, Basketball, soccer, a motorsport design, or camouflage theme without or with a logo.

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Portable and Compact Sun and Wind Shelters for Beach or Picnics

Posted on May 10, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Portable Picnic ShelterThis summer when you are headed to the beach, local campground or even spending time at your local park you may want to take along with you a portable and compact sun shelter. Our family actually brought the Manta Sun Shelter with us on our last cruise so that when we got to the islands and were sitting on the beach, we would have some shade time too. It worked out perfectly, the sun shelter was not too big or bulky to carry and it pops open easily and folds in a neat little carrying case just as easily.

The Summerwinds Sun Shelter is portable and compact. Designed to set up in seconds, this open-front tent can be used wherever you might need protection against the sun or wind.  It also has a heavy-duty floor to act as barrier to the sand, hot cement, or wet grass. There is also a zippered mesh window which allows cross-ventilation.  Bring any one of these sun/wind shelters with you to the beach, the park, or the lake. You’ll be glad you did!  If you would like to see the Manta, the Cove or the Summerwinds portable and compact sun shelters visit us on line.  Instructions for folding up the Summerwinds shelter can be found on our ACreativeGift.com youtube channel.

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Compact Portable Folding Picnic Tables with Bench Seating for 4

Posted on May 2, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Ever wished you had more seating available when guests pop over for a surprise visit? Or how about when you are on a picnic and the ground seems just a bit damp and you really would like to sit at a table, but don’t want to lug a table and chairs with you? The compact and portable folding picnic table from Picnic Time is the answer to this dilemma.

Picnic Time’s portable folding table with bench seats is a compact fold-out table with seating for four that you can take anywhere. The legs and seats fold into the table when collapsed so the item is easy to store and transport. When folded the table measures 33.625” x 4” x 15” – small enough to fit in the trunk or walk down to the park.  This frame for this compact portable folding table is made from aluminum alloy for durability and has a maximum weight capacity of 250 lbs. per seat and 20 lbs. for the table. That means everyone will have a comfy place to sit. The seats are molded polypropylene with a basket weave pattern in the same color as the ABS plastic table top. The Folding Table with Seats comes in an array of colors and sports theme designs including football, soccer, and poker and is ideal for outdoor or indoor use, whenever you need an extra table and seats. Each portable table also includes a hole in the center of the table to accommodate a standard sized beach umbrella.

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Surprise Your Mom with a personalized gift this Mothers day

Posted on April 25, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Personalized engraved gifts from ACreativeGift.comMother’s Day is the special day to show your mother how much you love and appreciate her. Whether she is your birth mother, or an adopted mom she will appreciate a thoughtful personalized gift. Mother’s Day is the time to show gratitude for all the wonderful things she does for you and treasure the precious bond of love that you and your mother share.

While many will take their mothers to dinner or share the afternoon with them there are also some traditions that are followed as well. In the United States, Mother’s Day remains one of the biggest days for sales of flowers, greeting cards, and the like; it is also the biggest holiday for long-distance telephone calls. Moreover, going to church is also popular, yielding the highest church attendance after Christmas Eve and Easter. Many worshipers celebrate the day wearing carnations, colored if the mother is living and white if she is deceased. But if you want to make your mother feel really special, give her a gift that is personalized just for her with a message or personalize by engraving her name.

There are many gift ideas that can either be of a personal nature or something that she can display for all to see.  If your mother loves to entertain guests, a set of personalized serving trays or crystal bowls will be much appreciated. If she loves to receive flowers, give her a monogrammed flower vase or personalized bud vase. And if your mother is more private in nature, a simple brushed chrome compact mirror for her purse or a personalized lasting memories keepsake photo box with small treasures reminiscent of just the two of you and your life from childhood to adulthood will make her heart sing when you present these items on Mother’s day. 

No matter how you choose to spend your day with mom, make sure that she feels like she is appreciated and loved. Set aside differences with family, turn off the television, and turn on the quality time and really enjoy each other’s company. If you live far away, make sure that mom feels your presence with a phone call or virtual chat and if you feel the urge, a personalized gift sent in advance for her special day.

Visit http://ACreativeGift.com for more personalized gift ideas.

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Decorating To Compliment Your Architecture

Posted on April 18, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Our affordable Three-Character Architectural Name Frame from ACreativeGift.comBy Guest Writer Autumn Lockwood

The Staircase

Sometimes, the architecture of your home will help you determine where and how to hang your works of art. For example, hang a long vertical grouping of picture frames on the wall going from the one floor to the next at a narrow, winding staircase. Six botanicals in frames hung in pairs would be appropriate for such an area, as would three vertical black and white photos framed in beautiful black picture frames and hung one above the other.

An Exquisite Cluster

One of the nicest striking and lovely methods to display fine works of art is to cluster them together in six matching frames. The framed artwork does not have to be expensive; botanical prints or illustrations from gardening magazines can be elegant when presented properly. Dehydrated leaves and preserved flowers can also look great in frames. You may find some fantastic black or perhaps natural wood picture frames which will look great when you hang them in three rows with two frames each for a vertical group, or a couple of rows of three to make a horizontal cluster.

Having Fun with Shapes

Perhaps you have a big wall that you think is just ideal for a large, tall piece of art, but you only really have horizontal pieces. If you have three frames that are approximately the same dimensions and are all horizontal, then just line them up top to bottom on the wall, one over another, and leave roughly a three inch gap in between each frame. This will work best when the 3 frames are at least the same finish, although they don’t have to be precisely the same.

Living Art

You might not know this, but to a designer, windows are considered “living art.” This consists of not only windows, but in addition sliding glass doors as well as French doors. Frequently the French doors, sliding glass doors, a large picture window, or a row of large windows becomes the focal point of your room. That is why you will want to make sure that one of your large walls is left without art so that the eyes of the viewer will not be confused by too many places to look. When you accomplish this the room will also feel more peaceful. If you have a room that has lots of windows and doorways, it would be a great idea to hang only one large painting or a grouping of frames on just one wall and keep the rest of the walls bare.

Using Your Windows as a Creative Art Form

As mentioned above, you should avoid hanging artwork right next to a window, but this really is most important if you have a stained glass window. The artwork and your stained glass shouldn’t be competing for attention.

Proportions

If you’re hanging artwork (or even a mirror) above a table or dresser that sits next to a larger piece of furniture such as an armoire, hang a piece of art that is almost as tall as the table or dresser. This will give balance to the whole composition and will keep the smaller piece of furniture from looking too small next to the bigger one.

So try out some of these hints and you may be surprised by the beautiful difference you discover right away.

 
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The Advantages and Disadvantages of Getting Married Abroad

Posted on April 13, 2012 by CE Marketing Team Member

Guest Author Natalie Wingrove

With the growing popularity of weddings abroad, more couples than ever before are considering the option of jetting away and celebrating their wedding in a unique and fabulous location.

I know from personal experience the decision to get married abroad is not one you make lightly and there definitely are both advantages and disadvantages in having your wedding abroad.

So how do you know if getting married abroad is right for you?

Firstly, the most important factor to remember is that the decision to get married abroad is very personal and it’s not something anyone else can do for you – you will need to weigh up all the pros and cons and give each a measure of importance to you as a couple. For Sharon and Simon, the decision to have a destination wedding began after they started planning a traditional wedding in their hometown. As their plans progressed, Sharon commented that “it just didn’t feel right to us, neither of us felt overjoyed about this type of wedding”. During a planning session, her partner Simon casually mentioned that he would love to get married in a tropical rainforest and immediately they both knew this was how they wanted to celebrate their wedding day.

So after many long discussions, Sharon and Simon made the decision to cancel their big affair in their hometown but were very apprehensive about informing their family and friends of their change in plans. Sharon said, “We had needlessly put ourselves through a lot of anguish, pondering whether cancelling was the right decision, and about the reactions we would receive. Everyone surprised us saying it was a fantastic idea, and gave us their full support, so we worried needlessly about pleasing everyone all along”.

From her experiences, Sharon advice to all couples is that if the idea of breaking with conformity, and disappointing family and friends is hindering your decision to have a wedding abroad, my advice is go for it. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised at the reaction you receive from those you inform. Once you take the plunge, your wedding takes on a whole new magical feel and then your choices are limitless”. So what do other couples say that have had their wedding abroad?

The following list of advantages and disadvantages comes from the real life experiences of couples who have had a destination wedding.

The Advantages of Getting Married Abroad.

• Our choice of destinations and locations was endless.

• We had our wedding in a unique and spectacular setting. The photos were amazing!

• The cost of getting married abroad was significantly cheaper than if we’d of had our wedding at home.

• The planning was easy and stress free because we hired the services of a wedding planner.

• We didn’t get caught in the conveyer-belt of the traditional weddings, where couples often find themselves having the same format and style as every other wedding simply because there is no scope to do anything else.

• Our families had a special week on holiday together, it made our wedding more than just a day, and it ensured that only our nearest and dearest attended, rather than the 150 guests at the evening reception made up of the obligatory people from work and our parents’ friends.

• Our friends and family were really relaxed and they enjoyed it so much more as it was a holiday for them. The atmosphere was amazing and the weather was perfect.

• The entire day & location reflected our personalities. It was also more intimate and a lot more relaxed than it would have been at home.

The Disadvantages of Getting Married Abroad

• Some loved-ones simply couldn’t attend, and their absence was really felt.

• It may cost your guests more to attend your wedding abroad and you do need to be mindful of this. Some guests may feel a little resentful about this fact.

• You have to go with the flow a bit more when you get married abroad. If you are using a wedding planner or a tour operator, it is not always possible to be as hands on as you may like.

• Logistically it can be quite hard. When I planned my table decorations and favors, for example, I forgot that I had to actually ship them all to the venue!

• If you’re using foreign suppliers you may not get EXACTLY what you want. For example, my bouquet was slightly different to what I expected, but it was still beautiful.

• You may be taking risks with suppliers. I booked our chapel, hair & makeup, photographer and restaurant all over the internet based on recommendations picked up in wedding forums! It was risky but it all came off perfectly. If you can handle the risk then go for it!

About The Author

Natalie Wingrove successfully planned her own wedding abroad. In order to share her experiences and offer valuable advice, hints & tips on destination wedding invitations she has created the website Weddings-Abroad-Guide.com
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How to Put Together a Home Tailgate Party

Posted on September 7, 2011 by Najla

Vulcan Portable tailgate grillWhether your team plays college football or NFL or maybe they play basketball instead, there is no better way to prepare yourself and your friends than by hosting a Home Tailgate Party in your backyard.

A Home Tailgate Party is all about good times, good friends, plenty of food and drink and lots of laughs. All you need to do is hit the local sporting goods stores for a canopy tent and your favorite internet retailer for the grilling equipment and outdoor chairs, many that are theme oriented. Don’t forget the portable radio for the pre-game and definitely don’t forget the cooler with lots of ice. Tailgate parties are more fun when the adult beverages come out of the cooler instead of the refrigerator; there is more of the feel of actually being at the game.

Throw some brats on the grill or some burgers and hot dogs, fill up the cooler with your favorite adult beverages and some less abrasive drinks for the small fans in tow and you will have yourself a nice little Home Tailgate Party. There are lots of finger food recipes available on the Internet and you can also request that everyone bring something to add to the atmosphere. If you don’t already have one, you can also rent a big screen television from any number of local rental companies to help get your game on. 

There is no better way to cheer on your favorite sports team than by hosting a Home Tailgate Party. Whether it is Saturday afternoon college football or Sunday afternoon NFL, it is all about good times, good food and drink and lots of laughs with your friends. Fire up the grill and stock up the cooler and don’t forget to wear your favorite team’s jersey. No matter what the weather is, rain or shine, hot or cold, the warmth of friendship and laughter trumps all as you prepare yourself for the thrill of victory or the agony of defeat. As they say, winning isn’t everything but when it is all you are used to, the loss is only bearable while in the company of friends. Get the portable radio and get your game on.

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Portable Picnic Table and Games that Store in Your Trunk

Posted on August 31, 2011 by Najla

Have you ever taken a drive and the weather was so nice that you wanted to stop and have a picnic but you were missing all the ingredients? A portable picnic table that folds into a compact 33” x 4” x 15” is ideal to leave in your trunk for such an opportunity. If you have children, a portable Bean Bag Throw also fits easily in the trunk without taking up much room and can be the difference between an enjoyable day and one with the children throwing tantrums instead of bean bags.  Summertime is when you want to spend as much time outside as possible. You want to take advantage of the great weather and the opportunities to spend time with friends and family.

When you have the basic items in your vehicle, you can stop for a picnic, attend a concert or plan your next tailgate party and know that you will have extra seating at the ready, as well as something fun to do when you are bored, or want to give the kids something fun to do, while you talk with family and friends.

The neat thing is that many items are now being made to be theme oriented. You can select your favorite sports theme and coordinate this with your bean bag toss and the portable picnic table. The Bean Bag Throw is fun for the whole family. Use indoors or outdoors and play singles or doubles (2 or 4 players). The complete game usually comes with all you need for a day filled with friendly competition! The bean bag toss is great for tailgating, parties, the park or beach. The Bean Bag Throw and the portable picnic tables now come in five different sports themes including: Football, Baseball, Soccer, Basketball and Golf. Choose your favorite and let the games begin! Lately, we’ve even seen the bean bag toss games show up at outdoor concerts where they keep the kids occupied while the adults have time to listen to the concert and chat with their guests. This is a great way to keep everyone happy.

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What Should I Bring On My Next Camping Trip?

Posted on August 23, 2011 by Najla

Quality time in the great outdoors spent camping rather than being cooped up inside can be a great adventure for individuals, couples, friends and families to discover together.  There are a lot of different activities that can be done outdoors and so many new places to visit; this is one recreational activity that should never get boring.

There are a lot of wonderful places in the US to go camping, from small local campgrounds to national parks.  There are great places to camp in just about every state in the US.  Do you like the beach? Would you rather hike and learn more about nature? Does your group like adventure like white water rafting? These are just a few examples of things you should think about when planning your next trip.  You should use the aid of the internet to help you in your search. One place to start your search is http://www.recreation.gov/

When camping, it is important to bring the right supplies with you to make your trip the most pleasant outing you can have.  It is easy to remember things such as your tent and sleeping bag because they are what will be protecting you overnight while you sleep or in the case of bad weather, the rain and cold.  Some of the things that may make your trip easier would be a picnic backpack pre-filled with plates, cups, napkins and more, a portable grill that also doubles as a cooler and good quality sports chairs.  

If you are looking for an activity to get you outside away from the television and video games, setting up camp is a great way to go.  There are many great places to camp whether in a tent or RV and make sure to bring everything that you will need for a carefree enjoyable time.

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Must have items to take on a Picnic

Posted on August 10, 2011 by Najla

Take you picnic basket to your special placeThinking about taking the day to picnic in the park or venture out to the beach at sunset? Here are the must have items to take with you for a stress free picnic.   The most important item is the picnic basket or picnic backpack. Many of these come optimized from when our parents used to picnic with us in the park. Look for picnic baskets or backpacks, whichever you prefer, to come with service for 2 or 4. This means that each of these picnic containers will come with enough plates, cups or stemware, silverware and napkins for 2 or 4 people. They will usually have an insulated opening to hold hot or cold items, and the more expensive versions will come with things like wine openers, cheese boards with tools and a place specifically to hold your bottles of wine. Look for the picnic basket that best fits your tastes. The picnic backpack works best if you plan on hiking or biking to your picnic location and you can just put it on your back and get to your destination without carrying an awkward basket.

Once you get the basic items out of the way, here are a few you might not have thought about: a picnic blanket with an underside that is water-resistant to protect the blanket from dampness or soiling, mini salt and pepper shakers, wipes, bug repellent candles or spray, ice in an insulated tote bag and finally a bag to pack up your garbage.

In order to really enjoy yourself on your picnic it is important to pack smart.  You are going to want to make sure that you have covered all of your bases with items that you will need
while on your picnic.  Keep a record of the items like those mentioned above, as well as your own preferences including a list of finger foods, drinks, recipes and more in your computer.  Knowing exactly what to bring without having to think about it because it is all written out for you allows you to have a stress free picnic anytime you want to pick up and go.

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