Latest news with #summer
CTV News
2 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Mosquito repellents put to the test – which work best?
The onset of warmer temperatures means shorter clothes and more time spent outside, but it also brings with it the emergence of small, buzzing bloodsuckers that leave itchy bites. CTV's Pat Foran has the latest on which mosquito repellents which work best.
Fox News
9 hours ago
- Business
- Fox News
Spring-ready outdoor furniture that can transform your deck and yard
Whether you live in the Northeast, West Coast or anywhere in between, transforming your outdoor spaces into a hosting haven is essential for memorable spring and summer gatherings. Thoughtfully selected outdoor furniture enhances the appeal of your patio or deck and provides the comfort and functionality needed for entertaining guests. Modular furniture and water-resistant materials are gaining popularity, offering versatility and durability to suit various outdoor settings and climates. To assist you in curating the perfect outdoor retreat, here are 10 furniture pieces that combine style, comfort and practicality to elevate your outdoor living experience. Most parties involve food, so an outdoor dining set that accommodates multiple guests is a must. This Mainstays 7-piece set at Walmart includes a tempered glass-top table and six stackable chairs, all with durable steel frames and a weather-resistant finish. The neutral tones complement various outdoor themes and its stackable chairs offer convenient storage options for the off-season. Consider this outdoor dining set if you prefer resin over metal, which potentially involves less maintenance depending on your situation. A sectional couch is a popular indoor choice, so why not get one for your outdoor space too? This modular sectional by Birch Lane at Wayfair features handwoven resin wicker over a rust-free aluminum frame, ensuring longevity and resistance to the elements. The Sunbrella cushions provide comfort and have fade-resistant properties. Its modular design allows for customizable configurations to fit your space. If its price tag is above your budget, consider this similar set from Costway at Walmart for under $1,000. Don't forget to grab an umbrella too! Many consider Adirondack chairs a backyard staple, especially around a fire pit. Crafted from recycled plastic lumber, this Adirondack chair offers the timeless appeal of wood without the maintenance. It's resistant to various weather conditions, including rain and sun, ensuring durability. The folding feature allows for easy storage and portability. If you're an Amazon Prime member, you can get these items to your door ASAP. You can join or start a 30-day free trial to start your shopping today. This expansive Hampton Bay offset umbrella at Home Depot provides ample shade and features built-in solar-powered LED lights to enhance evening ambiance. Its cantilever design allows for versatile placement without obstructing the seating area and the durable aluminum frame helps it withstand wind. If your mind is on accessories, you might also consider picking up a resin storage box for storing cushions, throw pillows, outdoor toys and whatever else you might need, like a colorful indoor/outdoor rug! You'll likely always need extra chairs if your guest count exceeds what your table allows. These Style Selections Pelham Bay stackable chairs are space-saving and feature a rust-resistant steel frame and a comfortable sling seat. Their neutral design complements various table styles, making them a versatile addition to any outdoor dining setup. Also, if you want a more casual setup, you can put the chairs around this Style Selections coffee table, add an end table or two. This budget-friendly set by Mainstays at Walmart includes a table, four folding chairs and an umbrella, offering a complete dining solution for smaller spaces for around $100. The steel frames and weather-resistant materials ensure durability, while the folding chairs provide easy storage options. And it comes in several different colors if you're looking for a more colorful option! If you prefer the earthy and chic look of rattan instead, check out this Costway set, which is more expensive but delivers a refined look. This sleek sectional by AllModern at Wayfair features thick cushions and bold lines, offering both comfort and a modern feel. The Sunbrella cushions are known for their durability and resistance to fading, making them a reliable choice for outdoor use. You can customize the configuration of this couch to suit your outdoor space best. What is the best accent for your fancy new sectional? These colorful outdoor throw cushions! They're waterproof and a set of four is under $20 on Amazon. This stylish wicker egg chair adds a contemporary and cozy touch to any outdoor space. Made with weather-resistant wicker and a sturdy steel frame, it includes plush cushions for maximum comfort. Its unique design creates a cozy nook for relaxation. Add an ottoman to kick your feet up for the ultimate backyard lounging experience! Bring your own book and beverage. Love the comfort of a sectional and the functionality of a dining set, but don't have space for both? This versatile set at Walmart includes a sectional sofa, dining table and two ottomans in durable wicker. The sectional provides ample seating with plush cushions for comfort, while the ottomans offer additional seating or can serve as footrests. The dining table features a tempered glass top, making it easy to clean and perfect for outdoor meals. This set's modular design allows various configurations to suit your space and entertaining needs. An offset umbrella is the ideal complement; you can even add a heat lamp for chilly nights! For more deals, visit Enhance your outdoor gatherings by huddling around this smokeless fire pit, designed to provide warmth and ambiance without the hassle and mess of traditional fire pits. Its compact size makes it suitable for various outdoor spaces and the included stand ensures safety on different surfaces. Don't forget the S'mores kit!
Gizmodo
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Gizmodo
The JBL PartyBox Speaker With Built-in Lights and Wireless Mic Is at Its Lowest Price of the Year
Summer is the best time to start hosting parties, and if you're planning on doing just that this year, you're going to want to make sure you have everything you need to throw some ragers. What's the most important thing you need for a great party in addition to the 'vibe'? Oh, nothing. Just some amazing music and a way to share it. Case in point? A party speaker that's up to the task that won't force you to spend all of your savings. Sound like a plan Head to Amazon to get the JBL PartyBox for $250, down from its usual price of $350. That's $100 off and a discount of 29%. See at Amazon Party all night for a great discount The JBL PartyBox is everything you need to get people moving and the party jumping. And it's powerful enough to fill your space with 100 watts of signature JBL sound. It's also compact enough to carry over your shoulder. It even comes with a padded strap so you can sling it across your back like a messenger bag. That makes it convenient for beach trips, park hangs, or just moving from room to room too. It also includes a built-in bottle opener, which sounds like a gimmick until you actually need one mid-party and realize how smart that feature is. Because someone's going to have to bring a drink with a lid that doesn't twist off, and that's gonna harsh your vibe. This is more than just a speaker. It's also a light show in a box, which you'll soon find out when you start using it in earnest. Whether it's a quiet night with friends or a full-on celebration, it's a small touch that makes a big visual impact. And if you're the karaoke type or know someone who is, you'll love the wireless microphone that comes included. Tweak the bass, treble, and even echo effects, which makes this speaker double as your own personal DJ booth or karaoke machine. It's also made to handle real life. With IPX4 splash resistance, it can stand up to light rain, poolside splashes, or accidental drink spills. The 6-hour battery life keeps things going long enough for most parties, and if you've got another compatible JBL speaker, you can pair them together for an even bigger sound experience. All this for under $300? You'll want to get yours as soon as possible before the heat wave and the summer parties begin. See at Amazon
The Drive
10 hours ago
- Automotive
- The Drive
Putting Wheels on a Snowmobile Makes for a Rowdy All-Terrain Trike
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Ever find yourself wondering just what sort of trouble you could get into with a snowmobile in the summertime? If you live in one of many parts of the country that winter has seemingly abandoned, you may find yourself pondering this more often these days. But what would it take to have some real fun on a sled when there's not a snowflake in sight? How about sticking a set of wheels on it? That's exactly what the YouTubers behind mycustomgokart did with this beat-up, 600cc Ski-Doo Formula III. As builds go, this one's actually fairly simple. The bulk of the fabrication work involved removing the snowmobile's track and creating a new axle setup for the rear wheel. A set of wheels with nice, knobby tires went over a set of custom bearings designed for the front end, mounting where the skis were removed. It made for a simple swap, but it makes the Ski-Doo look a bit like a demonically possessed landscaping cart, especially once they fit the 12-inch-wide slick to the new rear axle. With that all squared away, the Ski-Doo needed some mechanical attention. For starters, the engine was experiencing some sort of fueling issue that kept fouling the spark plugs, so a carburetor service was in order. The guys also suspected that the snowmobile's stock cooling system wouldn't be up to the task, so a new radiator was fabbed up and installed in the rear of the engine bay—not the best spot, granted, but it's what they had to work with. And with that, it's time for some testing. Sure enough, it works. Their fearless test driver (hardhat and all) needs a little time to get acclimated to this squirrelly snowmobile-turned-street-rod, but after some trial and nearly spectacular error, he manages to string together a few five-star donuts. Fearing that they may be drawing unwanted attention, they retreat to private property for some more playtime. After some off-pavement foolishness, the gang reconvenes to see how the sled is holding up. While it drives better than the team expected, the Ski-Doo is showing signs of distress after its first shakedown run. The mounting plates for the rear axle were welded to the rear tunnel of the Ski-Doo, which was clearly not designed to handle the kinds of load being thrown at it by sticky rubber on pavement. The entire structure has started to deform, so the guys set about shoring up their mounting plates with some lateral support, which they fab up from a piece of pipe. With a new, more terrain-friendly tire on the rear, it's time for some proper three-wheelin'. Believe it or not, it handles a lot like a snowmobile. Getting power down with the single rear wheel is a challenge, and each test driver spends about as much time getting the Ski-Doo's nose pointed someplace that won't kill him as he does actually putting any power down. It looks like a laugh, but certainly not the most effective way to get around off pavement. As the guys point out, a rear suspension would go a long way—that and a longer battery cable. Got a tip? Send it in: tips@
The Sun
11 hours ago
- General
- The Sun
A 5p hack has stopped slugs from ravaging my gorgeous hosta – it's grown huge & they've not eaten a leaf
A GARDENING fans has revealed the 5p hack she used to prevent slugs from ravaging her prized plants. With summer now almost upon us, and temperatures remaining high, gardeners may have noticed the pesky critters nibbling on plants and damaging greenery. 3 3 3 The unwelcome visitors love nibbling on tasty leaves and seedlings, and if you're not careful, could leave you with nothing come harvest season. 'The biggest concern is the emergence of young slugs,' Tom Clamp, head of technical at Doff Portland – a leading manufacturer of premium garden care products said. 'They're particularly hungry and are indiscriminate feeders, meaning they can quickly decimate tender crops like vegetable seedlings, strawberries and bedding plants while potatoes are also vulnerable.' The critters often feed at night, and can consume a whopping 40 times their body weight, often leaving a nasty surprise for gardeners in the morning. However, one gardening fan has shared a simple solution to keep them away from your plants. Posting to the Gardening tips and tricks Facebook, a public group with 21 thousand members, the plant lover beamed: "I've been using the garlic spray this year and so far so good." Attached to the post was a picture of her beloved hostas, looking completely intact and slug free. How to Make Garlic Spray To make your own homemade garlic spray, simply crush some garlic into a paste, and place it into a spray bottle with water. Then, spray it on to your precious plants, and wait for it to work its magic. The pungent odour released by garlic, keeps slugs away and also works for other pests like flies too. Gardeners stunned by £1.50 household item that banishes slugs overnight Garlic is super cheap, and you can pick a bulb up for around 50p, making each clove worth as little as 5p. Other gardening fans flooded the comments section of the post, to share their success with the hack. One person said: "It sure works mine were huge when I last did it." A second person said: "I distract slugs from my plants with cucumber slices dotted around and then go out collect them up and dispose them." Keep pests out all summer IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass. A third person said: "I need too try this my plants are eaten up." Another cheap hack you can use to keep slugs out of your garden is to plant daffodil bulbs, as the invertebrates are deterred by the flowers' alkaloid content. Plus, the stunning yellow petals brighten up your garden, with bulbs available to purchase for as little as £1. Gardeners have also been encouraged to bury empty glass bottles in their gardens, as this produces a humming sound that keeps slugs at bay. He told The Sun: 'People may be surprised to hear it, but beer is a really simple solution to a slug problem. It's also probably something you already have at home.'
