About.com

Best Outdoor Lighting: 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 04:27:55 +0000

Vote once a day, every day, Feb. 22 to March 21, 2012. Winner announced March 30.
Finalists are in alphabetical order.

Vote Now: Best Book, Outdoor Living and Design 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:51:31 +0000

Vote once a day, every day, Feb. 22 to March 21, 2012. Winner announced March 30, 2012

Finalists listed in alphabetical order

Vote Now: Best Patio Furniture 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 03:32:49 +0000

Vote once a day, every day, Feb. 22 - March 21, 2012. Winner announced March 30.

Vote Now: Best Pool Cleaner / Vacuum 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:56:30 +0000

Vote once a day, every day, Feb. 22 - March 21 2012. Winner will be announced March 30.

Vote Now: Best Hot Tub / Spa 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 02:23:00 +0000

Vote for one, once a day, Feb. 22 to March 21, 2012. Winner announced March 30.

Vote for Best Decking: About.com Readers' Choice Awards 2012

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 01:50:20 +0000

Learn more about the five Best Decking finalists. Vote once a day, every day, from Feb. 22 to March 21, 2012. Winner will be announced March 30, 2012.

Presidents' Weekend: A Historical Tour of the White House Yard

Thu, 16 Feb 2012 03:24:42 +0000

As you get ready to celebrate the birthdays of George and Abe this holiday weekend, it might be a good time to reflect on the White House itself. Specifically, outside the White House -- where presidents and their families have played, entertained, relaxed and celebrated milestones.

Jimmy Carter built a treehouse at the White House.

It was the United States' second president, John Adams, who was the first to occupy the White House. Since then, each presidential family has left its mark on the outdoor living spaces of the executive mansion, whether it's been through planting trees and gardens or adding swimming pools and outdoor sculptures. At various times, the White House has had indoor and outdoor swimming pools, a hot tub, reflection pools, fountains, ponds and all sorts of patios, balconies, colonnades and porticoes.

Ready to take a tour of the White House grounds? Enjoy historical photos and a few surprises along the way. And enjoy your Presidents' weekend.

20 fun facts about the White House grounds

White House pools, spas and ponds

Inside the White House grounds: slideshow

Presidential families and pets at play in the White House yard

Michelle Obama's White House garden

Photo courtesy: National Archives

Nominate Now: Polls Close Tonight for 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards

Wed, 15 Feb 2012 17:13:28 +0000

Just a quick reminder: if you want to nominate a pool and patio or outdoor living product or company for the 2012 About.com Readers' Choice Awards, the deadline is tonight at 11:59 p.m. EST.

The Pool and Patio site has seven categories: find out what they are and nominate now, then forward this to a friend or colleague!

Hurry, Nominate Now: About.com Readers' Choice Awards Pool and Patio

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:06:28 +0000

Have you stepped up and nominated your favorite pool, patio or home and garden products for this year's Readers' Choice Awards? There's just one week left to make sure that hot tub, outdoor toy, pool vacuum or patio furniture brand has been nominated in its appropriate category. It would be a shame if a deserving product or book went unnoticed because someone (you, perhaps?) forgot to nominate them!

For the second year in a row, About.com Pool and Patio is participating in the annual About.com Readers' Choice Awards. Nominations are being accepted in the following seven categories:

Best Hot Tub/Spa brand or manufacturer
Favorite Outdoor Toy
Best Pool Cleaner/Vacuum brand and model
Best Decking Material (real wood, composite or whatever else you might use for decking)
Best Patio Furniture brand or manufacturer
Best Outdoor Lighting
Best Book, Outdoor Living and Design

After nominations close on Wednesday, February 15, finalists in each category will be determined and voting for the winners will take place from Wednesday, February 22, through Wednesday, March 21, with winners announced on Friday, March 30, 2012.

Who Makes the Best Spa? Nominate Now, Readers' Choice Awards

Tue, 31 Jan 2012 22:55:04 +0000

It's chilly outside, and a soak in a hot tub would be invigorating. The dash from the house to the tub in a swimsuit -- even with a terry robe -- doesn't sound too enticing, but the idea of relaxing in that hot water makes up for it. Just think -- your toes could potentially wiggle again. What a sexy thought.

On that note, think about your favorite hot tub or spa brand. Maybe you don't have one, but the model owned by your neighbors must be pretty nice, seeing as how you're always inviting yourself over for a soak. Maybe that two-person hot tub you tried out at the local spa dealer is worth a nomination. Give it careful consideration, then nominate your favorite hot tub / spa in About.com's 2012 Readers' Choice Awards. After that, nominate products / books in the six other Pool and Patio categories.

No, you don't win a hot tub. If you want a soak in a hot tub -- well, that's up to you. Good luck, and nominate smart.