I gave you the sneak peek last week, and today I get to share the full reveal of this formerly unused space in my backyard! I was asked by my friends at Home Depot to create a fun DIY outdoor game as part of a new edition of their Style Challenge Series. Of course I absolutely adore a challenge that not only stretches my creativity but also benefits my little family! If I can work a project into something that also helps me add fun and function to my home, then all the better as far as I’m concerned!
I bring you my outdoor lounge area and the most fabulous badminton setup you ever did see. Or at least that I ever did see…
I will be sharing the sources and details with you shortly and of course life wouldn’t be complete without a few DIY projects in the mix, now would it? First on the list… Head on over to The Home Depot’s blog to get the full tutorial for creating your own DIY Macrame Badminton Net!
Here in this crazy yard of ours, it’s hot in the summertime. Too hot to actually enjoy, which is such a bummer when you have young kids who want to run and jump and play all the live long day. It’s also a pretty big bummer for this gal who loves to be outside and adores outdoor entertaining that doesn’t involve a sweat off as the designated group activity. With virtually no mature trees in the entire yard except for this little cluster of plum trees in the far corner, it’s fairly slim picken’s if you are hoping to nab a cozy spot in the shade.
And then it occurred to me… If I couldn’t bring the shade to outdoor living space, then perhaps the solution is to bring a new living space to the shade. And just like that my Outdoor Oasis was born, and she’s quite the star of the show.
Without wanting to incur the cost of an entire backyard renovation at this moment in time, I decided to improvise by using items that would create a non-permanent living space and one that I can bring in a store away during the wet season here. I used a heavy duty jute rug as the foundation and then built in the fun that would keep even the littlest occupied while the grown ups got down to business with some friendly competition. There were sword fights, bug stomping, fort making, and some good old fashioned r and r. I even managed to sneak in some healthy treats that are normally pretty tough to get these kids to eat. Of course it helped that it was 100 degrees plus in the sun and that I froze some of the fruit to give it just a bit of refreshing coolness. Anything cold and sweet is considered a popsicle to the Bird so he was on cloud 9 with the crazy good spread to choose from.
It makes me feel pretty damn good to finish another space here and to have created something that works overtime in the memory making department. We definitely don’t get as much of that as I would like… But now we have the Oasis to call our own and something fun for everyone to enjoy, regardless of their age!
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