Outdoor Fire Pit Ambience - Propane Fire Pit Review

It's a great time to try an outdoor firepit! I've wanted one, like, Forever! Last summer I broached the subject to hubby that I wanted to try a DIY brick firepit. I even went so far as to research the types of bricks to use; the size of the firepit and where to construct it in our backyard.

My biggest problem with putting a firepit in our backyard, is placement. Ideally, I would have located the firepit right in the middle of our yard, but there was one thing holding me back. A huge tree.

If you saw my DIY rock garden video, you might have seen glimpses of the tree in question.

This tree was not only an obstacle for my firepit placement, but it provided so much shade that we ended up with huge bare spots all around it. I can't tell you how many times we have talked about cutting it down. Okay, only I was talking about cutting it down, but hubby thought he would make one last ditch effort to grow grass around it. And with prayer and a lot of TLC, the grass grew!

So what about my outdoor firepit?

Thank goodness I found a sleek firepit that's portable enough to fit on my backyard deck. This one is powered by propane which attaches to a line.  It's so simple to operate. Ignition is as easy as pushing and turning a knob.  The flame is adjustable and can be set at high or low. It's smokeless and ash-free.  It's a great alternative from the wood-burning outdoor firepits.  

Our new firepit adds instant ambience to our outdoor space.  On chilly evenings, we've cuddled on our deck, warmed by the flames and lava rocks from our new firepit. When not in use, we just cover our new firepit with its weatherproof cover and set it aside.  We love it! It's a great alternative to the wood-burning firepit or the in-ground DIY that I originally planned.

If you love outdoor firepits or bonfires, drop me a line! I'd love to hear from you!

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Thrifted Clothing Is Hard to Style: Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting

Thrifted Clothing Is Hard to Style:  Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting. When I thrift for myself, I look for clothing that fits my style. My style is conservative. Nice lines. Silk blouses, tailored blazers and slacks. I shy away from tight-fitting and revealing clothing. As I thrift for myself, I think about how I can style my thrifted finds and how they would compliment my existing wardrobe. That's one strategy.

Here's another strategy: Some people thrift for clothing that they can totally re-imagine. They envision that a blouse can be worn as a skirt and a long cardigan can be belted and worn like a dress. This requires a little imagination. I get that. But a quick how-to is as close as your smartphone.

I've seen thrift hacks that are absolutely amazing! Youtube and Instagram have tons of tutorials on how to style thrift finds. There is a popular Instagram influencer that does AMAZING clothing transformations by using safety pins and rubber ties. She's very crafty at tying and tucking so that the item takes on a whole new look. She's an expert at taking vintage skirts and dresses and totally revamping them with a little roll here and a little tuck there. Let me tell you, this girl's hacks will really inspire you!

So, let's recap. I've given you two strategies for styling thrift finds:

1. Look for clothing that compliments your existing wardrobe, or
2. Check out a few styling hacks before you go thrifting. Then use your imagination! Remember, roll, tuck and pin!

I hope these tips inspire you to get back out there!

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Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size - Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting

Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting: Thrift Stores Never Carry My Size. Most people understand that shopping at a thrift store is about the hunt. Unlike retail, you'll rarely find more than one of anything. That's the nature of thrifting. In my opinion, that's also the beauty of thrifting. Finding that unique item. That one-of-a-kind. I have a few recommendations if you have difficulty finding thrifted clothing in your size.

TRY SIZING UP

I always recommend that you try multiple sizes and departments when you're hunting for thrift clothes. For example, if you usually wear a size Medium, go up the rack a little to the next size and check out the inventory. If you know your actual measurements, you will find that items labeled as Large sometimes fit like a size Medium. And there's the possibility that some pre-owned clothing has been altered by the previous owner, so you cannot always rely on labels.

Here's a tip: Take a tape measure with you when you thrift. It comes in handy when thrifting for clothing (especially if you don't like to try on clothes) or hard goods like furniture and wall art.

SHOP IN THE MEN'S DEPARTMENT

The men's department is a treasure trove! Often overlooked by women shoppers because, well, because it's the men's department. But why can't we wear men's sweaters and jackets? You can!

Don't sleep on the men's department! If you're ever at a loss and not finding what you want in the women's area, like a sweater, shirt, jacket or even slacks, check in menswear. I've found beautiful tailored jackets and shirts that could easily transform any wardrobe. It just takes a bit of imagination.

You got this!

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Thrift Stores Are So Messy and Unorganized: Unpopular Opinion About Thrifting

Unpopular Opinion: Thrift stores are messy and unorganized. Not all stores. Many thrift stores are neat and organized. You'll find items tagged and organized by size and sometimes by color. In most cases, thrift stores use shelves, bins and clothing racks to display items.

I've shopped at some well-kept thrift stores that resemble vintage boutiques. The items were curated and displayed in such a way that at first glance it was hard to tell that the store was selling second-hand goods.

So before painting all thrift stores with a wide brush, try a few shops in different areas of town. Venture outside of your neighborhood to get a flavor of how different thrift shops are organized. I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at what you find.

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TableTop Pre-lit Christmas Tree

 

If you're planning to scale back on your Christmas decor this year, let me recommend a tabletop pre-lit Christmas tree. It makes a great statement and is mobile enough to fit on your coffee table, counter top, entryway display or inside a bay window.

This 18-inch Christmas tree is adorned with cute pine cones and berries. A battery-operated timer controls the sparkling string of lights.

If you are not scaling back for the holidays, this tabletop tree will add just the right sparkle to your holiday decorations.  Placing several around the home or office instantly ushers in the holiday spirit. 

I'm loving my tabletop tree on the center island in my kitchen. Surrounded by a couple of cute Christmas decor pieces, it's perfect for the holidays!

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Terrariums For Beginners

I'm not good with plants, so I jumped at the thought of making a terrarium. I mean, you buy a few succulents and stick them under glass. Right? 

Can you go wrong with succulents? I had heard that they were pretty resilient and hardly needed any attention. That's right up my alley since I've been known to be quite challenged in the gardening area. 

My first stop was to my local Dollar Tree where I purchased three different types of stones.  My research indicated that placing stones at the bottom of the terrarium allows for proper drainage and keeps plant roots from sitting in wet soil.  

My next stop was Home Depot. They have a nice selection of succulent plants--some for a little as two dollars. I already had potting soil in my garage, so no cost there.

So let's recap.  Here's what you'll need:

1)  Stones. Use a variety of stones if you want a more elaborate layering effect. I like the mixture of dark and light stones.  The contrast looks great through the glass terrarium!

2)  Potting soil. Place a piece of weed block over the stones and then add about an inch of potting soil, or enough to sufficiently cover the roots of your plants. 

3)  Succulent plants. Add plants that have similar water and sunlight requirements. I chose a variety to cactus plants. They love the sunlight and need to be watered every 2-3 days. After you remove them from their pots, use your fingers to break apart the roots. Plant them in the soil and add more soil to ensure that the roots are covered. Finally, add another layer of stones. This is where I used the white stones from Dollar Tree.  You can repeat the layering process as much as you like, depending on the size of your vessel.

   

This was such a satisfying project!  My terrarium, from Ferrisland®, is shaped like a glass house.  Its pitched roof opens up and has an arm that lets the roof stay in the open position. I like that everything is contained in this glass vessel. Really cute! Some of the other highlights of the Ferrisland® terrarium are:

• High-quality geometric shape, made of framed transparent glass.
• Makes a great decorative piece on your desk, table, shelf, etc.

Can you say "low maintenance"? A terrarium is a great alternative to anyone who wants a little greenery in their life without the commitment of larger plants. I love it!

Use Caron10 for a 10% off coupon code.

Disclosure: Links may contain affiliates. When you buy through one of our links we will receive a commission. This is at no cost to you. Thank you for supporting Life on Greenwood and allowing me to continue to bring you valuable content