Where I grew up, one of the most common phrases someone uttered come Friday was, “I’m going to the lake this weekend.” The proverbial ‘lake’ means many things to many people – anything from a lot to park their RV to a full-blown cottage to pitching a tent in one of our plentiful provincial parks. No matter the case, I’ll bet that friend / neighbour / child / cousin / parent / sibling of yours would love something to make their literal home away from home a little more cozy. And with that, I bring you a collection of gift ideas designed for those heading out of town for the weekends.
BLACK+DECKER 3-N-1 Compact Mower / Trimmer / Edger – $169 @ Canadian Tire, Rona, Lowe’s and Home Depot
How clever is this compact device? It packs three lawn maintenance functions into one model, making it an ideal fit for small lawns (like those at a cottage) or tricky lawns (like a sloping waterfront property with a small incline). It’s available in both cordless and corded models, the former of which is actually battery-operated, making this a clean, green way to manage your greens. A foot pedal makes it easy to go from mowing to trimming / edging, while an adjust feature allows you to raise the mower height to one of two levels. Because it snaps apart, you can even hang this lightweight model on the walls of your garage or storage shed – making it an ideal ‘fit’ for spaces short on storage. And if you already own a Black & Decker 12 inch swath trimmer / edgers, you can actually pop it right into the base of this brilliantly designed machine.
Color Block Stripe Picnic Throws – $49 each @ West Elm
I think one of the cool things about decking out your summer home is you can afford to be a little more playful and punchy with your colours. That’s why I love these neutral beach blankets infused with bright pops of colour – they’d look gorgeous thrown over your outdoor patio set, but also serve a practical purpose as you grab one to wrap around you while sitting by the campfire or for a picnic in a nearby meadow. Available in three colours, plus personalization options – consider this a great choice if spending a week at a friend’s place as a houseguest.
Headdemock – $669 @ Fatboy Canada
After reinventing the beanbag chair to actually be comfortable, the design wizards at Fatboy set their sights on other forms of lounging – like the hammock. Their headdemock promises extreme comfort and durability: this baby is sturdy enough to seat two full-grown adults or a small posse of little ones. Tuck it under a shaded tree for a perfect mid-afternoon nap spot or bring it down to the beach for your own swinging slice of heaven on the shore. Available in over a dozen colours, this is a wonderful wedding or housewarming gift for the cabin dweller.
Nantucket Tray (Small) – $75 @ Lakehouse Home Store
Since you’re unlikely to serve up a three-course meal while living at your lakeside property but you ARE likely to have company over, having beautiful and functional serveware is a total essential. I love the rustic feel of this planked serving tray – no two pieces will look or feel exactly the same and it would look great with other DIY-style pieces, like mason glass jars or a hurricane lamp on the table. Need more space? It also comes in a larger model for $105.
Antique Bottle Glass Hummingbird Feeder – $18.59 @ Amazon.ca
Summertime means plenty of time to sit back on the porch and watch the birdies flit and float by. If you want to attract those jewel-hued hummingbirds, may I suggest this delicate beauty? Made from an antique glass bottle and featured four feeding ports, this vintage-themed birdfeeder will look absolutely at home hanging from the awning or a tree. Plus with this amazing price, it’s a perfect houseguest pick when spending a weekend with friends.
Grimm’s Elemental Stacking Blocks (Earth, Air, Water & Fire in clockwise order) – $36.95 @ Ape to Zebra
Keep the littlest ones entertained for hours with these low-tech nesting toys, inspired by the four elements. Made from natural wood, these striking stacking blocks actually look equally cool when placed on a coffee table – don’t be surprised to see your guests playing around with them while having a chilled out conversation. A particularly cool choice if you happen to know a little one’s birth sign, as a cabin-specific birthday gift.
Man, simply writing this post has made me anxious to chill out by the lake – how about you? If you’re heading to cottage country this season, I’ve got some extra exciting news! I’m giving away a BLACK+DECKER 3-N-1 Compact Mower / Trimmer / Edger! Here’s how to enter:
1) Leave me a comment by June 29 telling me whether you’ve got plans to head to the lake / cottage / cabin / camping this summer. Which of these gift ideas would you most love to bring along (or gift)?
2) Entries are limited to one per person / per email address / per household (or more if you score bonus entries). A random draw will be conducted on or around June 30, 2014 to select the winner(s), who will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen in their place.
3) Entries are limited to Canadians that have reached the age of majority in their province. Quebec is not eligible for this promotion.
4) Bonus Entry: Follow @Black_DeckerUS on Twitter and Tweet about the giveaway (tagging them & me @cdngiftguide) up to three times over the course of the contest. Leave a link back each of your Tweets below to score up to three bonus entries. One Tweet per day please.
