“Come on baby light my fire”. That song by The Doors is still a classic. And more and more people have fires worth lighting, whether it’s fire pits or barbecues, outdoor pizza ovens, or even chimineas.

Summer evenings are great times to hang out in the garden, but as the evening gets later, temperatures drop. If you want to stay out as late as you can, having a fire pit is a great idea – the fire provides a focal point as well as some warmth. Of course, you don’t have to wait till the evening to light a barbecue. Any time you feel hungry it can be brought into action!

Some people build their own permanent fire pits. But you can also buy fire pits ready-made. Beaten copper is a great look, while others prefer the sturdy appeal of cast iron.  Traditional fire pits are huge open bowls; geometrical sculptural shapes can make interesting accents in a more contemporary garden.

You can also get miniature tabletop fire pits. Granted they probably won’t keep you very warm, but they’re cute tabletop accents and you can toast your marshmallows on them.

A chiminea is another way of providing heat, but it’s not as open as a fire pit. Generally, a chiminea is a good way of heating a partly covered space, or one close to the house, as the fire is more contained and under control.

Think about what fuel you want. If you have a homestead in the country, a wood burner is ideal; if your home has just a small back yard, having a gas fired chiminea might be more practical. For barbecues, too, you get a choice of fuel, though some people claim food cooked on a gas barbecue never tastes quite as good as when it’s cooked on a real fire.

Barbecue grills, like fire pits., come in all shapes and sizes. An advantage of smaller grills, and those on a wheeled cart, is that you can move them about – and put them in the garage or basement over the winter for safe storage.

And you’ll want lots of accessories like pit tongs, a wood storage rack, maybe wooden chairs and solar lights for the area round your fire pit, lighter torches, roasting sticks, grill gloves, even maybe a big Dutch oven to make potluck soup. Buying a fire extinguisher or fire blanket might not be a bad idea, either.

But remember to look on Vipon for discounted offers before you splash the cash, or you could be burning your money!

VIPON Flash Sale! Are you looking for the best discounts on Amazon?

Get these fantastic products at Prime sale prices! That’s right, save big on the best Amazon products.

Vipon’s sale is exclusive, of course; it’s for Vipon members only. They are used to a great selection of money-off offers, so Vipon has to really pull out the stops for its sale. That means plenty of deep, deep discounts. Will you use them for a one-off luxury, or to grab savings on basics? That’s up to you!

We’re going to concentrate on four areas where you can make a real difference: 

For bedroom products, home storage, pillows, chargers, and more:

https://www.myvipon.com/post/747394/show-amazon-coupons

Air Beds, Camping Mats, Tents, Lunch Bags, Toys, Chargers, and more for huge discounts:

https://www.myvipon.com/post/747304/Deal-news-for-Prime-Day-amazon-coupons

Awesome LED Projection Lighting & Mood Lights At Pre-Prime Prices:

https://www.myvipon.com/post/747348/purple-amazon-coupons

Get headphones, computer accessories, Bluetooth headsets & more all at Prime prices:

https://www.myvipon.com/post/747300/Deal-news-for-Prime-Day-amazon-coupons

Most of us want to make our homes look nicer. Think about what’s missing and use the sale to fill the gaps. If you were frustrated last time you wanted to make cookies and your cookie cutter had disappeared, if your electric coffee grinder is dying or your dish towels are getting grubby, grab a discount offer! Or buy that French press you’ve been hankering for for a while.

You might want to take a leap up in quality and spring for a new Dutch oven, or a set of really good knives. Or you might re-equip your entire kitchen with new storage containers, to replace the motley collection of pots and jars that are cluttering your shelves.

Home decor will have lots of deep discounts, so deploy your funds on things that will make a real difference. Lighting, storage boxes, throws, pillows, and rugs are all ways to change your home environment without spending big money.

Buy a new accent lamp, or swap out your old bulbs for LEDs; or grab a light therapy lamp to get you through this winter without feeling that seasonal low. Use throws and runners to transform sofas, armchairs and dining tables; throws run from bright sunflower designs or green jungle leaves to faux fur, modern-looking stripes, or even skulls and Halloween pumpkins.

Pillow covers can make a big impact. If you have a mid century modern look, buy vintage style geometric patterns; if your apartment is a bit monochrome, grab something bright as an accent color.

Whatever you buy, enjoy the sale! And don’t forget… you can use those Vipon discounts to help cut the cost of your Christmas shopping too!

I remember the first time I bought a solar charger for traveling. That was back a few years, and I was disappointed to say the least. It took days to charge and my laptop used up all the juice within a couple of hours.
Things change fast in technology and while I still regard solar-powered baseball caps as a ridiculous fad, other solar-powered devices are a lot better than they used to be.
Solar lamps, for instance, are now cheap and effective. If you go camping or sometimes take the RV places where you might not get an electric hookup, a solar lamp transforms the evening’s activities from hunting for stuff with a torch or headlamp to sitting in a nice diffused glow and being able to relax. At least, it does if you remembered to charge the lamp.

Solar lamps are also great for the garden. You can get some really pretty colored glass lights to hang over a table or in a pergola, which are great for extending the evening a bit longer. No wires mean there’s nothing you can trip over, and hey, no utilities bill either.
More practically, small solar lights are useful for the edges of paths. You can get solar lamps activated by a motion sensor, too, which come in handy for areas you don’t use a lot after dark – for instance, a garden shed or other outbuilding.
Solar chargers for off the grid power have really advanced over the past few years. Which you choose will depend on whether you need them for hiking or camping, or for off-grid power for a garden room or RV. There are some great lightweight foldable charging panels for camping, and even some designed to fit on a backpack; as long as you’re not walking into the sun, you’ll charge as you go. Water-resistant chargers are best for hardcore hikers – though if you’re a fair-weather walker you won’t likely need one.

Remember, though, you’ll need a battery or a power bank to get the best out of the charger. And don’t forget to check the reviews – one reviewer worked out a common solar charger would take ten days of ten hour sunshine to charge fully!
More and more gadgets are going solar. I thought a wireless solar keyboard was a gimmick, but apparently not – keyboards are low power users, so as long as the battery charges up occasionally, you’ve stopped having to worry about pesky AAA batteries.
And you can get solar bluetooth speakers, which mean wherever you are, you can have music – out in the garden, in the boat, or at the beach.

Best of all for those of you with “sweet blood”, you can get solar powered bug zappers, so while you’re drinking your evening cocktail under those twinkly solar lamps, you don’t provide a meal for mosquitoes.
Even full RV solar kits can be ordered from Amazon these days – but before you head off to the site, check out the latest coupons at Vipon to see if you can save a bit of money.
By the way, in Mumbai right now a start-up is developing a solar powered streetlight and EV charger. Not available on Amazon as yet… but I reckon it’s a question of time!

The weather is getting hotter. So you’re going to want to keep cool. And you’re going to want to keep your food, and particularly your drinks, cool as well.

Even if you have an ice maker, you’ll want some ice cube trays. Ice is nice, but fancy ice cubes are even better. You can make ice cubes with coffee or fruit juice, or include lemon slices, rose petals, or herbs in the ice; or you can get an ice ball mold to make balls, which melt more slowly and look more stylish, rather than cubes.

You can also have fun with zip lock bags. Put wine in them, then put them in the freezer, and you’ll end up with lovely wine slush.

Alternatively, you could get some reusable ice cubes, whether those are soapstone or stainless steel cubes or plastic cubes full of silica gel or water, which will cool your drink down nicely without diluting it.

Or you might want to invest in insulated glasses instead. Vacuum flasks are yesterday’s product; nowadays you can get vacuum insulated low ball glasses and tumblers, or insulated coffee cups that will keep your ice coffee or ice tea cool now, and do double duty to keep your coffee hot when winter comes around.

Bottles and cans need a different approach and here, you might decide to buy a bottle cooler or a cooler bag, which can look very smart at a drinks party, or koozies for beer cans for a more informal gathering. Craft beer fans can even get an insulated growler that will let them pick up the draft beer of their choice and keep it the right temperature for drinking al fresco.

If you want to keep a whole picnic cool, you’ll want a cool box. That might be a thumping great camping cool box made of steel. Or you could get a lightweight cooler backpack if you’re going to be hiking out to your picnic site. There are even floating coolers that you can tow behind a kayak or dinghy.

A cool box that fits in the trunk of your car is also real useful when you’re headed to the grocery store. It’s particularly helpful when you’re buying frozen foods and need to get them home without them thawing out.

So grab some products to help keep your cool this summer. And don’t forget to check Vipon first to see if you can grab a deep discount, because if there’s one thing cooler than “Martini, shaken not stirred” it’s “Martini, half price”!

The dog next door has a lovely new outfit. Its human just bought it a bright red leather harness that’s just right to give a black Labrador a touch of glam. If you have a canine companion, you’ll want them to have the best, and there’s a lot to choose from.

First and foremost a dog needs a good collar and leash. Dogs often outgrow their collars, so check the fit.  A quick-release clasp helps ensure your dog’s safety, and you’ll want a sturdy ring to attach the leash. If you walk your dog after dark, neon or fluorescent collars will also keep him safe.

You might also consider swapping the collar for a harness. Dog harnesses are becoming more popular, as they transfer the pressure of the leash to the dog’s front quarters rather than pulling around its neck. They also look real smart.

A sturdy leash is another necessity; of course, how sturdy it needs to be depends on your dog; a chihuahua has less ‘pulling power’ than a Great Dane! Extendable leashes are much liked, but for urban walks a double handled leash with a loop half way down gives you tighter control in crowded situations.

The jury’s out on whether dogs need raincoats, but some short haired dogs aren’t well protected in low temperatures, while raincoats can also prevent shaggy and long haired dogs getting matted, dirty hair.

Dogs are energetic creatures, so dog toys are important to use up some of that excess energy. Kong toys are fun; they’re made of strong rubber, so when you put food inside your dog will spend hours trying to extricate it. Rubber balls, balls on a rope, and chew rings will also keep a dog interested. Make sure to read the reviews and buy long lasting toys that other dogs couldn’t destroy!

Necessities for the home include a dog bed, and a dog crate if you want to ensure your pup is kept out of trouble overnight. Messy eaters will need a silicone food mat to protect the floor from spills, and other messes can be avoided by using a litter tray or even a “dog doorbell” which lets your dog easily signal that he needs to use the outdoors. You might also need poop bags for when you go out.

But crucial to living with a dog is a good dog brush and a good brush for defurring your sofa, carpet and clothes. The FURminator brush comes recommended for giving your dog a really efficient grooming.

There are a couple of genius products available, too. For outdoors types, a dog water bottle which squeezes water into an integral drinking bowl is a great way to keep your mutt hydrated. And for indoors dogs and their owners, the Furbo is great. This electronic gizmo lets you spy on your dog all day, has a barking alert, and lets you toss treats on command, wherever you are. It doesn’t come cheap, though, at $170 or so.

Even if you don’t buy a Furbo, dogs can be expensive. So do yourself a favor and track down the best deals on Vipon. You can always split the saving by giving your faithful companion a few more dog treats.

It’s such a hassle when your vacuum cleaner cord is just a foot too short to reach where you’re trying to clean. Whoever thought of making cordless vacuum cleaners was a genius.

Early versions had limited power. You might say they sucked. That problem has been solved, and now the only thing you need to watch out for is the battery charge, which won’t last much more than an hour.

With no wires to worry about, there’s no trip hazard when you’re cleaning the stairs. And you won’t manage to pull over a vase of flowers on the coffee table with the cable.

It’s worth thinking about making other appliances cordless, too. In the kitchen, cordless mixers and blenders can save a lot of hassle and give you much more freedom to work wherever you need to. Small cordless choppers also make life easier: you can chop your tomatoes right next to the pan for a pasta sauce, for instance. Cordless devices are easily stowed after you use them.

In the office, cordless mice and keyboards are pretty much standard these days, but other computer peripherals are also better cordless. For instance, with cordless speakers you can put them where they sound best; not just where the cord reaches! That’s also a lot fewer cables to worry about (and they always seem to pick up far more dust than anything else in the office).

Using a cloud printer is another way to transform your life – particularly if several of you want to share. No more need to move data around with SD cards or emails; just use your wifi network to print from any of your devices.

Cordless fans are a boon in hot weather; whether you’re in the living room, home office, or bedroom, you can put cold air exactly where you need it. However, they may be limited in battery charge, so if you want a cool breeze all night you may be better off with a corded version.

And perhaps not exactly ‘cordless’, but solar lights for the garden give you the same benefits. There is no need to trail wire all over the place. And of course electric garden tools come in cordless versions, too.

So start liberating yourself from cables and cords, and take a look on Vipon to snag a great deal at the same time!

Father’s Day is coming up on June 19th. And most of us still haven’t got round to getting Dad (or Dads, in the case of some families) a present.

Buying for some Dads is difficult. You’re never quite sure what to get. Of course if Dad’s a sports fan or a connoisseur of great Bourbon, you know what to get him. And you probably get him the same thing every year. But why be predictable?

Why not buy some accessories for the fire pit, like tumbleweed fire starters, or a heavy duty meat thermometer, or a pair of really good barbecue gloves? Or a pack of different artisan made relishes to try? If you’re lucky, you get to share.

For keeping drinks cold, an insulated Koozie is a great idea; it can be used as a pint glass, or to fit a 12 or 16 oz can of beer. An insulated wine cooler sleeve also makes a good present. There is no need to grab ice cubes, just slip the sleeve over the bottle. (For keeping drinks hot, rather than cold, an insulated travel mug makes another nice present, get one that fits the car’s cup holder if you can.)

In the old days Dads never cooked. Modern Dads do. So look for something a bit special to bring some zing to the kitchen. A fermentation kit that will let Dad make his own kimchi, a sauce making kit, or a pack of different hot pepper sauces, for instance. You might think about getting him a bamboo chopping board or stirring spoons, or a really good sushi knife, or even a pasta maker.

For Dads who have a caffeine habit, a French press, a Chemex or Bodum pourover, a better coffee grinder (adjustable for different grinds, from fine espresso to coarse French press grind), or even a ruggedized and lightweight coffee grinder for hiking and camping use.

And … you know… I didn’t tell you this… but some men actually like chocolate. 80% pure cocoa single estate blend dark chocolate will hit all the right buttons.

But while Father’s Day comes once a year, you can deliver a present every month if you get Dad a subscription package. A crate of craft beer every month, for instance, or a pack of different coffees, or a subscription to National Geographic.

Now you don’t necessarily want to tell Dad you got a discount deal, but you probably want to take a look on Vipon before you head out to the mall or buy stuff over the web. After all, if you find something you couldn’t normally afford, but it’s half price, you can get him an even better present… and who knows, you might find a little something for yourself, as well.

Now it’s nearly summer it’s time for the grown ups to come out and play. For some, their exercise will be a standard sport but if you’re looking to have a bit of fun along the way, consider playing a game that’s geared to amusement rather than effort.

Yard Yahtzee, for instance, takes a regular indoor game but transfers it outdoors and you’ll get a bit of exercise throwing the super sized dice. Giant Jenga is huge fun, and compared to tabletop Jenga makes a really scary noise as it comes crashing down at the end.

Outdoors Twister is another game guaranteed to give you exercise. It’s better than a yoga classfor bending your body into weird shapes, and you can have a laugh which is something you might find in short supply at some yoga classes.

Or you could take some of the great European outdoor sports. Petanque is played in France where many villages still have a petanque pitch. The ‘cochonnet’ or ‘little pig’ is thrown on to the pitch first, then the players throw their larger balls to try to end up closest to the pig and the closest wins.

Bocce ball is better known in the US, but it has a different technique – the balls are bowled instead of tossed. The big advantage of petanque is that because the balls are tossed, you can play it on the lawn, on sand, or on gravel; it really doesn’t matter. With bocce ball, you need a smooth surface.

Croquet apparently was once the same game as golf before they went their different ways. It was the Scots who made it into golf, and the Irish who made it into modern croquet. Trying to drive the ball through all the hoops in turn and hit the post in the middle before the other team sounds easy, but don’t forget, the other team can hit your ball out of the way, so you’re always at risk of being sent right back to the beginning.

Kubb was allegedly invented by the Vikings and it’s noisy and brutal, the way it was played was that you throw wooden clubs at the skittles to try to fell them. You’ll probably want to play it on the lawn, but it can be played on any surface. Swedes play on snow and ice if they have to.

Come up to date with a game of laser tag, where you lie in wait to shoot your best friend or hold a shootout with your kids. Or if you really want a workout, get yourself a spikeball set. It’s like a cross between soccer keepy uppy and volleyball, you take it in turns to smash the ball into the net with your hands (or any other part of your body), and you win when the other team can’t return the volley. The playing area can be as big or as small as you like and unless you want to compete, you can change the rules to suit yourself.

Personally, I still think a good game of frisbee is the best exercise and the most fun you can get but you do need a lot of space to play it.

Whichever game you want to play this summer, you’ll find equipment on Amazon and you should definitely check out Vipon’s money off deals first. Spending less money on your game equipment means more money for half time refreshments!

The days of shaggy beards and straggly hair are over. Male grooming is a big thing these days, and companies like Blind Barber, Anthony, and Detroit Grooming Co have built that businesses on the modern male’s requirement for great hair and skincare. So let’s look at what’s available, and what you need, to be the best groomed man in the room.

If you have a beard to look after you can’t just snip the end every so often. You really do need a beard trimmer to give it some definition and keep it from getting straggly. You’ll also need a good small pair of scissors and a comb, particularly for keeping your mustache looking good.

Your beard, like your hair, needs nourishment as well as cleaning. That’s why many men use a beard conditioner; if your beard is scratchy, try some out and you may be surprised  what a difference it makes.

Your skin needs care as well. This is something men traditionally have not done, and most moisturizers on the market were aimed at women. But there’s no excuse today; there are loads of good moisturizers aimed at male customers. You’ll need to find the right moisturizer for your skin type, particularly if you have oily skin or dry skin; and remember that your skin can change its character over the years, becoming drier, so you might need to take that into account at some point.

Your skin needs care as well. This is something men traditionally have not done, and most moisturizers on the market were aimed at women. But there’s no excuse today; there are loads of good moisturizers aimed at male customers. You’ll need to find the right moisturizer for your skin type, particularly if you have oily skin or dry skin; and remember that your skin can change its character over the years, becoming drier, so you might need to take that into account at some point.
A good moisturizer should also come with sunscreen of SPF factor 30 upwards. It reduces wrinkles and also reduces the risk of skin cancers, so it’s not about looking good now, it’s about still being here and still looking good in a few decades’ time. Try brands like Aesop, Jaxon Lane, or Lab Series.

You should also remember to use a good moisturizer or cream on your hands. While you don’t want your finger pink and baby-soft, having flaky, rough skin on your knuckles is not masculine, it’s off-putting. And get a good pair of nail scissors and a file – again, you don’t need a full-on manicure and nail job, but having neatly trimmed nails should be part of every man’s basic grooming routine.
You should make a practice of giving yourself a good face scrub every week or so, too, to get rid of dead hair cells and stimulate your skin. Bullfrog and Tom Ford make good exfoliating scrubs, so treat yourself. You’ll feel great afterwards.
Use a good shampoo, and remember to use a conditioner – without it, you’re going to dry your hair out. And know what hair products you need and what you can – and even should- go without. Unruly hair needs wax or pomade; don’t use it on fine hair, which needs oil-free, matte finish. Plus, it goes without saying, don’t skimp your visits to the barber.

Yes, the barber costs money. So economize by looking for discounts on your grooming products. Why not take a look on Vipon for deep discount offers on Amazon products? Then you can get a great new haircut to go with the great new products!

If you were born with green fingers, but you live in an apartment or a townhouse with only a tiny yard, you may feel you’ve missed out on the chance to have a garden. But gardening without a garden isn’t impossible – you just need to find the right plants and the right way to grow them.

An obvious first start for many people is window boxes. Use a box as deep and wide as you can fit; that will help keep water in the soil and stop it drying out too fast. Window boxes are heavy, so make sure they are firmly attached to the window sill, or fixed on brackets, particularly if you are on an upper floor.

Some people use window boxes just for summer flowers, but you could have greenery all year round if you plant ferns, or evergreen plants such as alpines. You could also use window boxes to grow herbs, and even strawberries in summer – not having a garden doesn’t stop you growing your own food.

You can use your indoor windowsill too, of course. Because it’s a warm and sheltered place it’s a good home for succulents and cacti, which you’ll want to grow in a dry medium (mix compost with grit). Mix different styles of pot for a good display – you can even use teacups for the smallest plants!

If you have a balcony or a tiny yard which has been concreted, you can grow plants in containers. Use your imagination and there are some fantastic possibilities. You could try training climbing plants up the wall, hanging small containers on the wall or having them in tiers on a stand, or even hung from the rungs of a ladder to make a tiny herb garden. If you have a reasonably large watertight container you can even grow waterlilies. A strawberry pot lets you grow strawberry plants in several pockets on the side of the pot, making it easier to pick the fruit.

Bigger containers will let you grow small trees, or tall herbs like rosemary. Or you might decide to get slates or shallow pots for bonsai landscapes – though those take a lot of care to grow well. Use mosses, ferns and other evergreen plants to keep your ‘un-garden’ looking bright even in winter.

A terrarium is a fascinating indoor garden – start one in a bottle, a fish tank, a special terrarium vase, or even in the glass coffee jug from a filter coffee machine that’s died. Because a terrarium is pretty self-contained, it won’t need watering too often, and just needs a little liquid fertilizer from time to time.

Some plants don’t even need soil. ‘Lucky bamboo’, moss balls, coleus, spiderwort, and sweet potato vine will grow in just water – so will hyacinth bulbs; some plants will grow in air alone, though they’ll need a good soak in water for half an hour or so every week. (In nature, they live in conditions of high humidity and get what they need straight out of the mist.)

So the thing you really need is to get the right pots. Galvanized containers look beautiful against greenery, while glass vases can hold a cactus at the bottom in very little soil, while the sides protect the cactus from drafts (and you from the cactus!). ‘Pocket’ style pots are made to hang on a wall; some people prefer classic terracotta, others, blue or celadon glazed pots.

Take a look on Vipon to see what kind of containers are available at a discount right now, and get your garden-without-a-garden started!

What is your favorite plant? Comment down below to let us know! You might have a chance to win our garden kit!