mobile drink station

easy access to food and drinks is a win/win solution for everyone in attendance. consider using a rolling cart with a shelf to store drinks and appetizers for hands-free hosting. a cart will save space and add flexibility when it needs to be moved around to accommodate guests. just load it up with a few condiments, ice, and a selection of different cup sizes, straws, or drink stirrers for a touch of style and personalization.

drink tags

drink tags put the red plastic party cups away and go green by using glassware you have at home to serve drinks and cocktails. use drink tags to help guests keep their drinks straight while guests mingle. instructions: use a pencil to trace the base of your cocktail glass onto paper stock. use a dime to trace a circle within your circle. cut around both circles, and snip across one side of the circle to the middle of the circle. write a guest’s name on each and you’re ready to attach them to a glass.

food guards

if the party food will be laying out for most of the day, consider using food guards to protect serving bowls from flies, ants, and other insects. plus, it’s easier to take on and off than saran wrap. instructions: use an embroidery hoop that’s slightly larger than the rim of your serving bowl. cut cloth to be 2-3 inches wider than each hoop. position the cut fabric inside the hoop to create your food guard.

tablecloth weights

the biggest annoyance at an outdoor party is a flailing tablecloth, and even with food on the table wind can cause a big annoyance. consider using homemade weights to hold instructions:down the tablecloth so that this doesn’t happen to you. use a badge clip holder that you can find in the office supply section of most stores and attach it to a shower curtain ring. slip a ribbon through a hole on a fishing weight, tie that onto the curtain ring, and you’re done. build 4 of them and attach each to an end of the tablecloth.

these useful memorial day party tips were inspired from pinterest. follow our journeys for more inspiration, gadgets, and more.

send your graduate off on a journey to celebrate their hard work and dedication. every graduate needs a little time off before starting a new job. after all, they did spend years memorizing facts and soaking up knowledge so why not let them soak up the sun instead. plan a well-deserved trip for a graduating student with these post-graduation journey ideas.

road trip across the northern california coastline

beaches provide the perfect atmosphere to relax. the northern california coastline, for instance, has plenty of different beaches to enjoy. one of these pleasures includes stearns wharf in santa barbara, california, which offers a beautiful view and a fresh ocean breeze. depending on the length of your graduates travels, they can find even more remarkable beaches around every bend of the pacific coast highway.

cruising the waters of rio de janeiro

rio will be a host for a few major events in the near future:  the 2012 earth summit, the 2014 fifa world cup, and the 2016 olympics. the city will be investing more money into renovations which will make it a hot spot for tourists and any graduate. give them a cruise that stops in rio and let them venture into the city for some fun.

backpacking adventure on the appalachian trail

the appalachian trail spans 2,180 miles and goes through 14 states stretching from georgia to maine. although it would take a single season to complete the entire trail, the hike can be broken down in a series of separate trips.

sightseeing in london

not only is london the host of the 2012 summer olympics, it’s also full of famous landmarks and wonderful culture. graduates can visit new olympic venues or landmarks in the area including the millennial wheel, buckingham palace, or the world famous tower bridge.

lacrosse

the main objective of lacrosse is to shoot the most balls in the opponent’s goal in the time allotted for the game. the trick is that players are only allowed to touch the ball with a lacrosse stick. the fast pace and intense action involved in this game makes this an exciting game for both the spectator and participant.

polo

the objective of polo requires the assistance of a horse (as if it wasn’t hard enough). two teams comprised of four players on horseback used a long-handled mallet to drive a small wooden ball in the opposing team’s goal.

most people would agree that a horse is not always readily accessible, especially in a city. as a twist, and alternative to the game, try using a bike. in fact, some horse polo players are known to practice on bikes. playing polo on a bike, as you may have guessed, is known as “bike polo.”

rugby

the objective of rugby is similar to american football, except rules are looser and the game is rougher (taking into consideration that players don’t wear protection). the ball can be moved up the field by carrying or kicking it. the ball cannot be passed forward to other players, and only the players carrying the ball can be tackled.

field hockey

think of field hockey as traditional hockey but without the ice. players can hit, push, or flick the ball into an opposing team’s goal using sticks.

a similar hockey-like game in inner mongolia (between russia and china) is known as “beikou.” in this game sticks are replaced by wooden branches and the ball/puck is replaced by a piece of apricot root.

do any of these sports make you want to jump into a game? let us know on twitter: @kijaro

the catchphrase, “there’s an app for that” jokingly implies that it’s easy to find an app for just about anything these days. here are a few recommendations that will serve useful for all your springtime journeys…

mapping trails…looking up gas prices…weather and pollen forecasts…there’s an app for that!

1. everytrail

category: travel
cost: free, apple

function: this app is a digital travel guide, allowing you to create interactive trip maps while you bike, run, hike, or by other means of outdoor travel. useful stats such as distance, speed, elevation can be displayed through the interface. you can also search a trip database from other global travelers around the world.

2. gasbuddy

category: travel
cost: free, apple/android

function: locate gas stations near you and see their current gas prices. it’s the perfect app for impromptu road trips.

3. allergy advisor

category: medical
cost: free, apple/android

function: one of the few downsides to springtime is the pollen! if you’re sensitive to allergies, this mobile app will give you weather and pollen forecasts for your area along with other helpful alerts. don’t let puffy eyes and a runny nose hold you back from a journey!

4. myweather mobile

category: weather
cost: free, apple/android

function:  if you’re ready to enjoy the beautiful springtime weather, this app will keep you updated on all the places you care about. this weather app is more extensive than the default weather app installed on most apple compatible devices. you can get push notifications, severe weather alerts, radar and satellite maps, and more.

pretty handy list, if we do say so ourselves. we hope you find one of them useful! and like always, journey on…

1. st. patrick’s day parade, savannah, georgia

savannah is known for hosting one of the largest st. patrick day parades in the united states. the annual tradition has been around for almost 200 years, so expect to have some good ol’ irish fun while you’re there. remember to rep your green while you’re on historic river street, you can even bring along an ireland green swivel stool just to be safe.

2. niagara falls, niagara falls, new york

this year niagara falls will be dyed green as part of a global “greening” initiative from tourism ireland. the view will be visible on both the u.s. and canadian sides so that more spectators can enjoy the magical sight. this natural wonder should be even more breathtaking in green.

3. empire state building, new york, new york

during st. patrick’s day the empire state building will glow a bright, festive green that is sure to stand out against the new york skyline. the building looms over the city at an impressive 1,454 ft high. if you want to venture off into the city, make sure to stop by and celebrate new york city’s 2012 st. patrick’s day parade in honor of america’s veterans.

4. the white house fountains, washington d.c.

it’s not everyday that you see a splash of color on the north and south lawns of the white house. the white house fountains has been dyed green to commemorate the irish holiday since 2009. if you’re in the mood for celebrating st. patrick’s and learning some u.s. history at the same time, this would be the perfect place to spend the day.

5. chicago river, chicago, illinois

every year the chicago river is dyed an environmentally-friendly green to kick off the annual st. patrick’s day parade. if you want to see the dyeing process, be sure to secure a good viewing spot before the 10am ritual. other celebrations in downtown chicago include irish heritage festivals and other “green” activities throughout the city.

and there it is, kijaro’s top 5 recommended places to celebrate st. patrick’s day!

here are two christmas cards designed exclusively by the kijaro team for all our wonderful friends on the web.

click on the picture icons to download the pdf directly to your computer. both cards are fit to greeting card size and set to print on  8.5″ X 11″ copy paper. fold the card in half, personalize the inside with a handwritten note, and send it off in a envelope to your friends and family. journey on…

which design is your favorite? let us know!

be a fan or follow us:

click image to open and print pdf

innovation defined by webster’s dictionary is the introduction of something different; a new idea, method or device. in the lifestyle of tailgating, innovation is the first one with the cool stuff to the party and the last to leave.

one of the reasons we launched tailgater monthly was innovation. we recognized that groups were showing up to their tailgates with unusual and fascinating  items like motorized  coolers, grills made from garbage cans,  gutted school buses  rebuilt into party palaces, stereos that would make ac/dc proud. rv’s and trailers that where built with tailgating as its sole purpose. we started providing a platform for innovative ideas and products so that tailgaters from all over could check out what other tailgaters do. in fact many manufactures started to reach out to us as well as the tailgate community to understand and develop the right strategy for product development. the question we tried to get answered with all of this is why this passion for being innovative?  we discovered that all the ingredients for creativity were available to all.

we recognized that portable power improvements and technology over the last decade have moved tailgating from the standard charcoal grill and cooler to setting up a complete living room with kitchen in the parking lot in 15 minutes. rv’s, suv’s and trucks are now made with tailgating and outdoor activity in mind. outdoor furniture that inflates, unfolds and can stand up to all the elements mother nature can produce, lights, camera, and action there is no limit today to tailgating set ups. innovative ideas and products are all around any tailgate and tailgaters leave no stone unturned in the desire to surprise and enjoy. manufacturers are now producing product that fits the lifestyle and retail stores both online and walk-in are delivering.

don’t forget food. innovative portable grills, smokers, and outdoor kitchens along with recipes have opened the door for some of the best bbq, steak, chicken, pork, wild game, and fish dishes with all the fixings’.  food is king and with all the innovation you will find the best available at any stadium parking lot, racetrack infield, and backyard on any given weekend across america.

tailgaters love the “wow” factor. if they can get you to stop and point at a gadget or gizmo or sample a bacon wrapped jalapeno or a blue cheese burger, they win.  innovation 1, boredom 0.

: how surprised were you when your name was mentioned in first lady, michelle obama’s speech at the young african women’s leaders forum in south africa, june 22, 2011?

robyn: well, being the white house they obviously wanted to verify that my story was true and that all the facts were correct, so i got a call a few nights before the first lady was due to speak in johannesburg from her speech writing office. i was so surprised i nearly dropped the phone. “hi this is (can’t remember his name now) from the first lady michelle obama’s speech writing office…” i just giggled like a little girl. however- the man on the phone did specify that she wasn’t definitely going to mention me, he said there was a chance. i was part of a group called the young african women leaders forum and there were 76 phenomenal women from across the continent- consisting of journalists, philanthropists, teachers, politicians etc who were invited to meet the first lady. i figured that their amazing stories would overshadow mine. when she did mention me i just kept telling myself to keep smiling and not cry. my heart was thumping so hard i was sure the women around me could hear it. but the waterworks were definitely turned on after the event! it was a surreal moment and i was very thankful and humbled!

watch video: First Lady Michelle Obama Addresses Young African Women Leaders
(regina mundi church: soweto, south africa- june 22, 2011; note: robyn is mentioned around the 0:31:30 mark)

: why is it important for you to write about controversial issues such as corruption and human rights abuses in your country?

robyn: my mum was a journalist, and since my first media class at tcu in fort worth, texas, i knew that’s what i wanted to be as well. i lived in the usa for seven years and really got an understanding of my rights as a journalist and tv reporter and how a functioning democracy should work. when i returned home to zimbabwe in 2007/ 2008 my country was in the midst of an economic and political meltdown. freedom of speech laws had been severely curtailed and i couldn’t bear to live there and not do my job. telling the truth is what we try to do as journalists, and that’s what i did. i reported on the human rights abuses, i told people’s stories, and i paid the price for doing so. i was beaten by police, my house was raided and i was forced into hiding. when the police couldn’t find me, they arrested my mother who spent four nights in prison. looking back, it wasn’t an easy time but i truly believe in the old saying – “the pen is mightier than the sword”.

: what kind of ideas do you have towards the future development of your country?

robyn: zimbabwe has immense potential. the people of zimbabwe are among some of the most resilient and friendly in africa, perhaps the world. we have enormous mineral wealth and beautiful tourist attractions. the potential is there, we just, in my opinion, need the right leadership.

: what are some of your favorite places in zimbabwe?

robyn: i love animals, and zimbabwe is still full of amazing animals. if you look hard enough you will undoubtedly see the famous “big five” [the lion, the african elephant, the cape buffalo, the leopard, and the rhinoceros] in some of our country’s world-class national parks. personally, my favorite places to visit are: the matopas national park in bulawayo, which is about 30 minutes from my family home. it’s made up of massive granite rocks. i love to just sit there and watch the sun set. we lie on blankets on the rocks, still warm from the sun’s rays.

i also love the victoria falls, which is one of the seven natural wonders of the world. lake kariba is another favourite of mine- a stunning place to fish, catch some sun and get away from the busy world. you also never know when you might be visited on the banks of the lake by a friendly elephant or kudu coming to drink!

journey on…

A couple of years ago on Independence Day in Hot Springs, AR, I was staying at a friend’s lake house. All of us (men) went to college together. It has become our annual get together. We were there for a couple of days doing what men do well…absolutely nothing. Don’t get me wrong, we weren’t completely useless. We did go grocery shopping, cigar smoking, grilling, and of course playing Settlers of Catan.

One sunny hot afternoon, we went for a cruise on the pontoon boat. Someone mentioned he had been to the “ice berg” part of the lake. As we approached the coldest part of the lake, we could feel the cool air against our skin. The sun was covered from the thick fog on top of the water. The scene was a bit surreal! For a second, I thought we were filming Friday the 13th. The pontoon boat stopped and one of the guys jumped into the frigid lake. Soon as he made contact with the water, he was huffing and puffing to get back on to the boat. His teeth were chatting as he swam back towards the boat. It was one of the funniest things I’ve ever seen. We were all committed and one by one, we made the polar bear plunge.

Guest Blogger,

Charlie

http://www.packrat.biz/