May Featured Space: Outdoors - Sandbox Shade

As Annie sang it, "The sun will come out tomorrow!"  And thank goodness because we heart the sun oh so very much!  However, the sun doesn't heart our skin.  Therefore, along with protecting my little ones with loads of sunscreen, I also invested in a little shade for their sandbox time.

I always dreamed of having one of those incredible covered sandboxes that either cost a small fortune or would take some extra DIY weekend time and potentially some sewing skills, which I have NONE of....

{image courtesy of potterybarnkids.com}

So, I decided to go for a cheaper and easier alternative.  Enter this fantastic guy:

It's a beach umbrella.  If they are good enough for protecting us at the beach, then I figured they would be good enough to protect us in our sandbox in our backyard.

And SO very easy to install!  Just screw a base into the ground:

And stick the umbrella in!  I wish all projects were that easy!

And when the sun goes down or a storm comes around, then the umbrella comes down also.  It has an attached strap that wraps around it to keep it closed securely.

Why IHeart it:  Because of it's ease of use, ease of installation, cheap alternative to the expensive ones and it protects the ones IHeart.

Cons:  Completely out of any one person's control, the sun switches directions all day long, so there are periods of the day where the umbrella has to be altered to accommodate.  Typically the only time it's really a concern for our clan, is late in the evening {as pictured here at around 6:00 p.m.} when the sun is lower, however, the umbrella can always be tilted as needed!

This gets me dreaming of a day trip to the beach, and IHeart that the weather is finally getting to the point that we can start to talk about planning one!  Anyone else have a handy idea of covering the kiddos sandbox?  How about inspired ideas typically meant for places away from home, that are being used at your dwelling?  Spill the sandy beans!