May is the last month of spring, and probably one of the best ones. We are already into the much-loved summer mood but we still have the time to enjoy this awesome summer-is-near feeling. New clothes, new mood, home redecorations (no, velvet is not acceptable in May) and the best of them all: garden makeovers. And if not garden, then patio, backyard, called it as you wish, it’s all outdoors and it all has to be beautiful and joyful, full of colors and aromas. In other words, whether you are a vegetable, flower, herb or even a barbeque person you have to make your home’s outdoor look stunning. And you have an amazing partner for the accomplishment of that exciting assignment: Burpee.com with an endless variety of gardening products together with an incredible Couponology exclusive 20% off Burpee promo code.
Gardening Essentials
The good gardener starts by gathering all the equipment needed before starting the action. You know, that equipment that you’ve probably missed somewhere in your garage, or these tools that spend all winter lost in your garden because you never minded storing them properly (look who’s talking now!). Trust me, starting over with dust and stain won’t get you anywhere. So, first off, you need a good pair of gloves (my fellow ladies out there wouldn’t dare to damage their mani) and a garden tool bag – with a 10% off discount – otherwise all these new tools you are going to buy today, will have the same end as the ones you bought last year: lost, stained, useless.
Then you need some tools to prepare but also to maintain your garden. I started with the Garden Tool Set that includes a dibbler, planter, fork, trowel and weed puller for just $43.95; but to be honest, it’s not only the great price that made me choose it, it’s just that is so much better having someone else collecting the five essentials tools for you. Then, I bought a spade, a pruner and a hedge sheers, which I think are the main tools you are going to need while planting and afterwards. All set to move on now!
Action!
You got the basics and it’s time to get into action. Start from preparing the soil, removing all unwanted plants from your garden, clean up the space so that it looks beautiful and ready to welcome all of your new seeds and plants. Now, it’s time for you to decide if you are going to move one with seeds, plants or maybe a combination of them. I chose the latter; plants to get a little bit of color and optimism that there is something growing in your garden and seeds so as to feel proud when the first leaves appear on the scene. For example, you can get some garden ready vegetables like the Baby Boomer Hybrid tomatoes which are not nice to see but they are also much easier to be consumed (you know, no cutting, just washing and the salad is ready). You can now get 3 pants for less than $17, and except for that, tomatoes is one of the easiest vegetables to plant and grow plus the current season is perfect for them. If you prefer vegetables that can grow in containers, you can go for the Burpee exclusive, the Pepper, Sweet, Tangerine dream that comes in a 3-plant package for just $15.95.
Vegetables and fruits are good, and they may look more useful than flowers – as long as you like a healthy diet – but for me, flowers is all that matters. A beautiful garden needs to be soaked by flowers of all colors, sizes and types. One tip here! I always choose to plant flowers that grow in different seasons in order to make our garden look nice all year long. The same can be done with planters on your terrace. The choice of the flowers is absolutely subjective so you can just have a look at the endless list and choose the ones you love. Me, I chose the gorgeous Sunflower Ms. Mars (another Burpee exclusive) because I love it when something is extraordinary and the color of this one, it’s absolutely that. Then, I got a couple of bulbs of one of my faves which is the Calla. I know a bulb can grow a bit slowly but it absolutely worth it! Also, this flower can be decorated indoors since it looks stunning in vases. No! Of course I didn’t stop here, but if I go on I’ll won’t stop.
That being said, just get online and choose among the greatest variety of plants and seeds. The day is longer, the sun is out and it’s the perfect period to start your gardening adventures. Boots, hat, gloves and here we come garden darling! 
It’s that time of year again–the chill is in the open air letting you know winter has arrived! That means it’s time to seize the opportunity to get the most out of outdoor winter activities. It might be freezing outside but if you love spending time in the beautifully wintry natural setting with your friends and family, as we do, then you’re in the right place! I’m going to help you choose the right gear and equipment for outdoor shenanigans that will match not only your needs and style, but your budget. Here’s a compilation of the best deals from REI, a leader in award-winning outdoor gear.
Getting Ready For the Mountain Slopes
No winter outdoor activities discussion can start without the two most popular winter sports: skiing and snowboarding. As naturalist John Muir once said, “The mountains are calling and (you) must go”! Here’s your snow sports checklist to make sure you’re never unprepared for those glorious white hills!
First off, a warm, high quality jacket is essential for protecting your body from the freezing temperatures. For our male friends, the Marmot Zeus Dablam down jacket should more than do the job. It comes in four colors colors and comes out to less than $150 with the REI coupon code for up to 50% off everything winter. For the ladies, I chose the NorthFace Denali fleece jacket in white–-I love bright colors in the winter- and saved more than $50. Check out REI online and choose from a myriad of styles and colors for men’s, women’s and kids’ jackets and slash up to half off sticker prices.
There’s no way to have fun in the outdoors unless your feet are warm and comfy in a good pair of winter boots. At REI.com you can browse a wide selection of premium quality winter and ski boots. For our stylish little girls I picked up the cute, warm and waterproof winter boot for just $41.93, and for our adventurous little boys, the Sorel Yoot Pac boots with savings over $20 with Couponology 30% off REI footwear coupon. For the real passionate ski- lovers we picked the Salomon Quest Access X55 W ski boot for women–both adorable and absolutely stylish–at 33% off! Finally, for our male athletes, the best choice is the sturdy pair of Salomon Impact 90 ski boots in black/nickel. Almost-best part? They’re 46% off!
I’ve set a starting point to get you ready for your outdoors activities but you have to experience the variety for yourself! Head on to REI.com for winter gear now and year-round gear later–who knows how long these savings will last?
It hasn’t been long since our last blog about gardening supplies, but hey, it’s the season to get everything ready. Just step outside and find out for yourself! It’s undeniable that the winter has been warmer than usual, and it seems like we will be getting into the spring season faster than we usually would.
You can’t let mother nature get ahead of you. Your garden needs to be ready for when the flowers start to bloom. To do that, you’ll need to have all the right equipment, and that’s where this Deal of the Week comes in.
The DotW will help you get everything you need to work your green thumb’s magic to it’s greatest potential. For our fantastic merchant, Garden.com, you can take $10 off any order of $99 or more!
