Canopies and Pop-Ups

When the summertime comes, there’s nothing better than heading outside for a swim and enjoying the warmth of the sun. One way to enjoy your day outdoors even more is by installing a poolside canopy. A poolside gazebo canopy provides shade for those hot summer days when you want to relax by your pool, entertain guests, or barbecue poolside while enjoying the view. Take a look below at the many reasons to consider installing a poolside cabana that you can enjoy all summer long.

What Is a Backyard Gazebo?

A backyard gazebo is an open-air structure that can be built in your yard for entertaining guests or relaxing with family and friends. These structures can be freestanding, wall-mounted, or even designed for shelter while grilling outdoors.

Gazebos are a great way to add outdoor living space to your home. They offer shade and protection from the elements, which makes them a perfect spot for enjoying a meal, relaxing with friends, or ducking into the shade by the pool. Gazebos are also a great place to entertain guests and even have an outdoor wedding ceremony. Available in a variety of styles and materials at affordable prices, poolside cabanas are a must if you have a pool in your backyard — and once you have one, you’ll wonder how you ever got by without it.

Every year, when Thanksgiving comes around, most of us spend a lot of time in the kitchen getting ready all the dishes that will leave us needing individual wheelbarrows to get us back to our beds at the end of the day. The main draw of the Thanksgiving meal is undoubtedly the turkey. That alone takes plenty of time, starting with picking it out, cooking it, and then stuffing and carving it.

Almost everyone knows what an excellent roasted turkey should taste like. However, there's no reason that you have to repeat the same method of preparation each year. 

Do you want to try something different this Thanksgiving? Don't worry—we aren't talking about Tofurkey. Instead, how about a fried or smoked turkey versus the classic roasted turkey? In this article, we dig into the turkey and the various ways you can safely prepare it for your family.

Ways to Cook a Turkey and How They Differ

Roasting a turkey is the typical way to prepare them for the Thanksgiving season. Roasting is a pretty drawn-out process, particularly if you want to stuff the turkey. You will need to have a stuffed turkey in the oven at 350°F for 15 minutes per pound of turkey. For example, when preparing a 12-pound turkey, you need to keep it in the oven for about three hours.

Fried Turkey

However, there are other options when it comes to turkey preparation. For instance, you can fry the turkey. A deep-fried turkey will likely appeal to the younger generation of Thanksgiving attendees. However, the succulent skin you get when you have a fried turkey will appeal to almost anyone.

Pros of a Fried Turkey:

• Frying a turkey is likely one of the fastest ways you can get this bird cooked. That means if you wake up late on the fateful morning, you can still have the turkey deliciously cooked through in no time. Compared to the 15 minutes per pound for a roasted turkey, the cooking time of fried turkey is about three...

When you need to take your backyard BBQing to the next level, it’s time to invest in a meat smoker. There’s hardly a better way to get delicious, juicy, fall-off-the-bone meat than a slow-cooking smoker that infuses an iconic smoked flavor into your meat. Even a cheap cut of chuck beef can end up becoming a delicious, tender roast that will impress your guests — and you can keep the price of your meal your best-kept secret! 

This guide will discuss the six types of smokers, how to use them, where to use them, how long it takes to smoke meat, and the health benefits of smoked meats. Also, you’ll discover how hardtop shelters are a must for protecting your meat smoker from the elements. 

What Is a Meat Smoker?

A meat smoker is a device that cooks meat slowly through a tried-and-true method of cooking meat under low heat and smoke. This art has been passed down from generation to generation and was once one of the only ways to preserve meat without a refrigerator. Not only was smoked meat vital for survival, but its delicious flavor has also kept it in BBQ cookbooks long after refrigerators became mainstream. There’s no denying the quality and texture of smoked meat that can only be produced by a meat smoker. 

Depending on your abilities and needs, there are several types of smokers to enhance your BBQ game...

The fall is a fun time to get outdoors and have a great time with the people you love hanging out with. But your fall fun doesn't have to be limited to festivals, fairs, and fishing holes: there are plenty of ways to entertain right in your own backyard.

Whether you want to have an intimate gathering with the family or a blowout party with your neighbors and friends, we have some ideas in mind. Here are our top 5 fun fall backyard activities, which can also be adapted for gatherings of any size.

Backyard Movie Night

Grab the popcorn, drinks, candy, some outdoor portable chairs, and some blankets, and turn your backyard into a movie theater! If you have a laptop and a projector, you can stream one of the latest movies onto a portable screen, a sheet, or the side of a shed. Better yet, if you have a Sojag gazebo in your backyard, you can enjoy the open air, have a roof over your head, and attach a screen to the posts or the eave of the structure. 

While a ...

If you’ve been part of the WFH workforce for a while, you might find yourself longing for a change of scenery. While skipping the morning commute is certainly convenient, it’s sometimes hard to stay productive with all the distractions happening inside the home.

However, if you’re lucky enough to have some backyard space, you can solve the problem with style! Backyard offices and studio sheds are a fun new trend that's catching on like wildfire. From an elaborate freestanding building to a simple shady spot on the deck, there are many ways to turn your outdoor space into a WFH space. Here are some of our top tips for creating an outdoor WFH space you’ll love.

Backyard Office Preparation: Evaluate Your Space

Before you get started, take a moment to evaluate your space. This will help you determine the ideal location for your new backyard office. One of the advantages of working outside is the ability to immerse yourself in nature. See if you can position your office so it offers you a view of your garden, a water feature, your pool, or an outdoor fireplace. You’ll also want to make sure it's located far enough away from your home and the street so you aren't distracted by noise. 

Don't forget to pay attention to where the sun is positioned at various points of the day. A little bit of sun is great, but you don’t want to swelter under harsh rays day after day.

In most cases, you won’t need a ton of space. An eight-by-ten-foot structure should work fine. Remember, many cubicles are only six feet by six feet. If you can come up with at least that much space, you can enjoy working outdoors!

Here are a few other things you'll need to consider as you plan out your space. 

Temperature and Shade

When designing a backyard office, choosing a cool, shady space is critical. Glare on your laptop will make working difficult and the eye strain can cause headaches. If you’re always hot and uncomfortable, you also won’t...

Outdoor upgrades are one of this year’s most popular home improvements. In fact, according to a recent survey, 90% of Americans agree that their outdoor living space is “more valuable than ever before.” Sadly, the survey also found that 88% of people are currently dissatisfied with their outdoor spaces.  

If you’re part of this majority, don’t fret. A backyard makeover is easier and less time-consuming than you might think. Whether you want to increase your curb appeal or create a completely new outdoor living space, there are many simple projects that will help you reach your goal. Best of all, you can complete most backyard projects in just a few days. Here are a few ideas to help you get started.

Refresh Your Deck or Patio

If your home’s deck or patio has seen better days, a simple refresh will go a long way. You can easily restore your deck by making repairs, cleaning the surface, and adding a fresh coat of stain. Not only will this improve the look of your deck, but it will also seal the wood, incre...

More people are spending time at home now than at any time in recent history. With the recent trend toward working and schooling at home, it’s easy for your space to start feeling a bit crowded. If you’re looking for ways to expand your home’s usable space, adding an outdoor structure, like a backyard gazebo, is an excellent idea! This functional, practical upgrade will add style to your space while also improving your property value.

There are many ways to use canopies and gazebos in your yard. Once you start using your imagination, the possibilities are virtually endless! The following guide will explore the most popular outdoor structures and offer some suggestions for how you can use them to upgrade your backyard space.

Freestanding Gazebos

When you’re looking for the ultimate in flexibility, freestanding gazebos are a great choice. They come in a wide variety of sizes and styles, making them appropriate for many different uses.

While there are many options to choose from, high-quality aluminum gazebos are one of the most popular. Not only are they cost-effective, but if you choose one that’s made from top-of-the-line materials, you can have the confidence of knowing it will stand up to the elements and look beautiful for years to come.

Creative Uses for Freestanding Gazebos

Patio gazebos are a popular option for homeowners who want to create a covered dining area or a DIY kitchen. It’s the ideal place to relax and entertain family and friends while enjoying protection from wind, rain, and the sun’s harsh UV rays.

We all need to plan time off from work to spend quality time alone or with family and friends and recharge our minds. However, taking paid vacation time is something not every American worker is doing. According to the U.S. Travel Association, American workers left an average of 33% of their paid time on the table last year.

National Plan a Vacation Day, which is the last Tuesday in January (this year, it’s January 26), reminds us to plan our vacation at the start of the year for the rest of the year. The earlier you plan a vacation, the more ready and relaxed you’ll be when your vacation time gets here...