SUNCREAT - July 11 2022
#What We Create: Blaze Family
Blaze family, known as @ourfamilyadventures on Instagram with over 100,000 followers, loved and have traveled the world with many memories. We were excited to know their colorful experience and opinions about travel and outdoor activities!
Here's our interview:
Hi, we've followed you on social media, but please introduce yourself to everyone, especially new friends.
We are the Blaze family! I’m Tiffany, and my husband is Jacob. We have 3 kids: Taylor (23), Ocea (7), and Cedar (5). We typically travel 4-5 months of the year, but our home base is in Franklin, TN.
What countries and cities have you been to? Which place do you like best and why？
As of this month, we have been to 48 states with our two littles. We just took them to Minnesota, and we loved it so much we are already planning our next trip back. My husband and I have been to several countries individually, but we’ve taken the little ones to Canada, Iceland, and Mexico so far. We are dying to get them to Ireland because that’s been our absolute favorite.
What made you want to take a camera to record your life and post them on social media?
I naturally love taking videos of my kids to have when they’re older. Combine that with a love of photography, and that’s how we ended up here. It’s also been really fun to share our story and remind others that it is possible to travel with kids. It’s actually super enjoyable!
What does outdoor life mean to you? What is the most memorable time you spent outdoors?
We believe an outdoor life is a life well-lived. From the fresh air to the scenic views, it’s a perfect place for our children to explore God’s creation. I’d have to say one of our most memorable days would be the day we took a boat out on Lake Powell. I remember our whole family being in awe the entire time.
SUNCREAT - Nov 16th 2022
How to clean and maintain a fire pit for long service life
Probably beyond your usual impression, fire pit has behaved not only a tool for making fire, but also a good carrier for social communication. A beautiful backyard deserves an equally beautiful fire pit. Enjoy moments of bonding around the fire pit while you have good times with friends and family.
After use, the ashes in the fire pit soak up moisture vapor from the air, so letting the ashes accumulate will create rust to the steel fire bowl.
Therefore, the fire pit needs to be cleaned and maintained regularly to avoid metal corrosion inside. Just like the cleaning and maintenance of household appliances, regular maintenance of the fire pit can extend the working life.
Tools you need:
- Pliers: to remove large fragments
- Shovel or trowel: to remove the rest ashes from the fire pit
- Mild soapy water, clean water, soft cloth, heat-resistant spray paint
- Fire pit spark screen: to ensure safety and avoid rust
- Fire pit cover: when not in use, the fire pit can be covered to protect against moisture
How to clean steel or metal fire pit
- Wait until the ashes in the pit are completely cool and then remove the ashes and debris from the fire bowl after each burn.
- Use hot, soapy water and a soft cloth to scrub the fire pit. Make sure you get every surface. Do not use abrasive deter-gents or pads.
- Rinse the soap and water thoroughly and use a dry cloth to wipe the fire pit dry.
Note: Steel should not be wiped down with a damp cloth as it will promote rust unless wiped down with a dry cloth immediately after.
IMPORTANT! Sitting water will cause a steel fire pit to rust, so make sure not to leave water sitting after rainfall or cleaning.
- Turn the fire pit upside down and let it air dry. Usually it takes 48 to 72 hours.
- Wait until the fire pit is completely dry and repaint it completely with high heat paint (including grill and fire pit mesh cover).
- After you have painted your fire pit, cover it with the provided waterproof storage cover until you need to use it again.
- Store your fire pit in a dry location.
More tips
- As with any outdoor grill, periodic maintenance is required to return painted steel surfaces to their original appearance.
- Remove any rust with sandpaper or a steel brush, and repaint all parts with grill paint suitable for high-temperature surfaces.
How to maintain the fire pit
- When not in use, the fire pit shall be covered in order to extend the working life.
- While using, control the flame. Otherwise, the fire pit especially the spark screen may melt and deform.
- Do not pour cold water on the hot flame. Drastic temperature changes would cause metal to crack, paint to peel.
- Use dry split wood to make a fire.
- Clean and store the fire pit when not in use for a long time.
How often should the fire pit be cleaned
It is recommended to remove ashes after each use. The fire pit should be cleaned at least twice a year.
What to do with ashes produced after use
Actually wooden ashes are not worthless. Instead, potassium in the wood ashes can improve acidic soil, or it can be used to remove driveway stains, melt ice, or even make soap! Timely maintenance of the fire pit can make it have a longer service life. If you want to purchase a fire pit or update your old one, the above tips may help you for reference.
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When was your last backyard makeover? What updates did you make?
We are actually working on that now since we recently moved. I love creating an inviting space that says, “Psst, it’s more fun out here than inside.” I want my family and friends to want to hang outdoors when they visit.
What originally made you want a hammock? Why did you finally choose SUNCREAT?
I really enjoy snuggling up with the kids and reading books to them. We also love finding shapes and pictures in the clouds. It’s one of my favorite memories from my childhood, and I want to share that experience with them. I did some research on hammocks and loved the SUNCREAT’s reviews and styles. We are loving our hammock and so happy with our choice.
When do you find yourself using the hammock most often? Weekend or weekday? At your leisure or after a busy day?
Our absolute favorite time to lie in the hammock is just before dinner time. I take each child out individually for a one-on-one, and we lie in in it searching the clouds and chatting about their favorite part of the day. They almost always say, “right now.”
