About House & Home: What's On Your List?

House & Home In the Spotlight | More Topics |   from Diane Schmidt I've mentioned before that I'm not really big on the whole New Year's Resolutions, yet each year I make my list, swearing that this time I'll stick to it. It would probably help if some of the items were a little more reasonable. I mean, I'll never be a size 6 nor will I ever run the Boston Marathon. Instead, I should replace the impossible with things like trying to maintain the same waist-size and being able to run up the stairs without losing consciousness.   In the Spotlight New Year's Resolutions for Budget Decorators One of the things I swore I would do this year is pay more attention to the inside of our home, in particular, areas of the house that mean a lot to me. Like my office. I've decided that I'm taking back the space no matter whose things I have to impound.              More Topics What is the Best Day to Buy a Home? Home Buying / Selling Color Wheel Basics Quilting Green Grime Busters Flea Markets & Yard Sales What You Need to Know When Horse Shopping Horses How to Control Flies in Your Home Pest Control Fight a Cold with Echinacea Herb Gardens Projects for Your Kitchen Woodworking Top New Year's Resolutions for the Garden And like the inside of the home, our outside could use a little help, too. Even though I spent more time in our garden than I usually do, I still ignored some of its best features, like the little apple tree in the corner that never asks for much, yet it always provides us with such abundance.   Reduce Your Carbon Footprint in 2009 This is definitely on my list for 2009. We started by buying a Prius, which does help. But then I tend to think that I can drive more because of all the gas and emissions I'm saving. Crazy. So this year I've vowed to walk longer distances, take transit more often, and cycle rather than drive. Not only will it help the environment, but it'll save money and help me keep earlier resolutions about maintaining my waist-size.     Sponsored Links   Best Moves in a Bad Economy Save & Invest the Right Way Find out how to beat a bear market, make smart choices, and keep your cool even when the economy is unpredictable. House & Home Ads House Interior House Garden House Living Room House Designs Interior Designs Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Antiques Apartment Living/Rental Architecture Entertaining Home Buying/Selling Home Repair Interior Decorating Landscaping   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter as batman8672@GMAIL.COM. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=househomesl&e=batman8672@GMAIL.COM About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.

About House & Home: New Year's Eve Party Planning

House & Home In the Spotlight | More Topics |   from Diane Schmidt With Christmas festivities wrapping up tomorrow, the next event on the calendar is New Year's Eve. While I'm not one to dress up, I do like to do something special even if it's just a quiet night in with friends and family.   In the Spotlight Plan A Cozy New Year's Eve Party Every year I think that this time we'll celebrate the new year right with the perfect dress, the perfect date and the perfect party. But when I think of the most perfect thing to do, what always comes to mind is just staying home and sharing good food and wine with people we love.              More Topics 6 Tips for Perfect Holiday Photos Scrapbooking Make a Festive Container Garden Container Gardening Set Up an Aquarium in 10 Easy Steps Saltwater Aquariums After-Christmas Clearance Sales Home Theater How to Care for Holiday Poinsettias Houseplants 5 Great Stocking Stuffers for Car Lovers Auto Repair Holiday Safety for Your Home Furniture Top 10 New Year Resolutions for a Healthy Life For every New Year resolutions list I make, I place health and fitness at the top, thinking that if I write it down, talk about it to friends, then post it on the fridge for everyone to see, maybe I'll follow through. It never seems to work, but I keep hoping someday it'll stick.   Host a Stress-Free Holiday Dinner This year, we're planning a very casual dinner party to welcome in 2009 and while the menu keeps growing, becoming more complicated, I'm determined to have a stress-free night. Personally, I think that if the new year arrives when you're in a stressful state, you could be stuck there for the rest of the 12 months. Maybe I'm just being silly, but it's a risk I'm not willing to take.     Sponsored Links   Best Moves in a Bad Economy Save & Invest the Right Way Find out how to beat a bear market, make smart choices, and keep your cool even when the economy is unpredictable. House & Home Ads Nye Chicago Navy Pier Nye Nye Parties In Times Square New Years Chicago Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Antiques Apartment Living/Rental Architecture Entertaining Home Buying/Selling Home Repair Interior Decorating Landscaping   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter as batman8672@GMAIL.COM. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=househomesl&e=batman8672@GMAIL.COM About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.

About House & Home: Preparing for Winter

House & Home In the Spotlight | More Topics |   from Diane Schmidt I went to a holiday party last week where I met a woman who loves winter. At first I didn't believe her until she told me how depressed she is all summer and can't wait until the first snowfall. She then explained how she moved as far north as she could without losing the finer things in life like malls, bookstores and four-star restaurants. I told her she was a freak of nature.   In the Spotlight Design A Comforting Winter Home The one thing I do like about winter is coming home to a warm cozy house where I can cuddle in front of the fireplace and dream of warmer climes.              More Topics Home Winterizing Checklist Home Repair Christmas Hand Soaps Candle & Soap Making Winter Holiday Safety for Cats Cats Architecture Toys for Grownups Architecture How to Set Up a Worm Bin Organic Gardening Selling Your Home During the Holidays Home Buying / Selling How to Break a Lease Apartment Living / Rental Prepare for Winter Power Outages We keep candles and matches on alert all winter. My husband also has a wind-up radio and flashlight that he loves to pull out once in a while and pretend that we don't have any electricity. I usually just roll my eyes then turn on all the lights in the house.   Don't Ignore the Lawn Just Because It's Winter Our front lawn is covered in snow. It wouldn't be so bad if we weren't living on the west coast where snow is supposed to stay in the mountains. So we really didn't prep our lawn for a foreign invasion of white stuff. After reading this article, I realized that I haven't been giving our lawn all the TLC it so deserves. Let this be my first New Year's resolution.     Sponsored Links   Best Moves in a Bad Economy Save & Invest the Right Way Find out how to beat a bear market, make smart choices, and keep your cool even when the economy is unpredictable. House & Home Ads House Magazine Lease Document Winter Snow Holiday House Lease Rental Home Lease Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Antiques Apartment Living/Rental Architecture Entertaining Home Buying/Selling Home Repair Interior Decorating Landscaping   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter as batman8672@GMAIL.COM. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=househomesl&e=batman8672@GMAIL.COM About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.

About House & Home: Holiday Travel Tips

House & Home In the Spotlight | More Topics |   from Diane Schmidt This year our family has decided to spend the holidays driving along the west coast. Usually, we're flying to see relatives or taking endless ferries to visit my in-laws, but instead we agreed that a road trip might be fun and a great way to spend time together without other distractions. At least that's how my husband sees it. I'm hoping that we make it through the trip without too much hair loss.   In the Spotlight Save Money When You Fly Flying keeps getting more expensive, which is one of the reasons why we opted to do a road trip. Then again, it might be worth the extra cost just to hold onto a bit of sanity.              More Topics Prevent Frozen Water Pipes Home Repair Choosing a Christmas Tree Trees and Shrubs Get Ready for Guests Furniture Gifts Kids Will Love Housewares / Appliances Outdoor Holiday Decorating Pool & Patio Woodworking Gifts for Under $50 Woodworking Are Hedgehogs Too Prickly To Pet? Exotic Pets Top 10 Travel Activities I'm all for road trip games. Keeping everyone busy, entertained and laughing tends to postpone any pinching, screaming and taunting that seems to hit after just an hour on the road.   How to Travel With Your Dog Growing up, we always took our dog with us on family trips. Of course he was better behaved than we ever were, that is, if you discount the times he barked frantically at the livestock that we happened to pass. For some reason he severely disliked cows, but only brown cows - not the black and white kind or the ones who were all black with white faces. Nope, just brown.     Sponsored Links   Best Moves in a Bad Economy Save & Invest the Right Way Find out how to beat a bear market, make smart choices, and keep your cool even when the economy is unpredictable. House & Home Ads Home Decorating Interior Design Tips Living Room Designs Bathroom Ideas Interior Decorations Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Antiques Apartment Living/Rental Architecture Entertaining Home Buying/Selling Home Repair Interior Decorating Landscaping   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter as batman8672@GMAIL.COM. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=househomesl&e=batman8672@GMAIL.COM About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.

About House & Home: Lend a Helping Hand

House & Home In the Spotlight | More Topics |   from Diane Schmidt Now that the recession has been made official, most of us are thinking of ways to cut back. Charities are worried that some of those cut-backs will include donations just when they need them the most. But giving to others doesn't mean that you have to forgo the presents; instead, check out these great ideas for helping others that won't break your budget.   In the Spotlight Support Valuable Services & Find Bargains Galore I love thrift stores. I think I like the thrill of the hunt, finding great deals and one of a kind items. Of course, it's also rewarding to know that my donations and purchases help support the local community, too.              More Topics Holiday Help for Needy Cats Cats Top 10 Do It Yourself Home Improvement Mistakes Home Buying / Selling Plant Bulbs in Your Lawn Gardening Create Your First Scrapbook Page Scrapbooking Create a Home Budget Apartment Living / Rental Gifts for a Secret Santa Exchange Entertaining Garage Storage Ideas Garages & Storage Spaces Help Others with Your Stitches I've tried knitting and I usually don't get very far. So when I heard that a neighbor was knitting up a storm for charity, I decided to dust off my needles to see if I could help out. Not only did I manage to knit a straight row (and more than one!), and create some much needed baby booties, but I also found some like-minded friends.   Feed the Hungry: Season of Suppers When most of us think about food donations, we rarely remember the pets of people in need, yet so many of us who treasure our animal companions can't imagine having to give them up because we can't afford to feed them. So here's a great way to give a little back.     Sponsored Links   Best Moves in a Bad Economy Save & Invest the Right Way Find out how to beat a bear market, make smart choices, and keep your cool even when the economy is unpredictable. House & Home Ads Landscaping Design Magazine Centerpiece Ideas Entertaining Antique Magazine Advertisement     Visit Related About GuideSites: Antiques Apartment Living/Rental Architecture Entertaining Home Buying/Selling Home Repair Interior Decorating Landscaping   Search About      Sign up for more free newsletters on favorite topics. You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter as batman8672@GMAIL.COM. If you wish to change or remove your email address, please visit: http://www.about.com/nl/usgs.htm?nl=househomesl&e=batman8672@GMAIL.COM About respects your privacy. Our Privacy Policy. Our Contact Information. 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2008 About, Inc.