About House & Home: Plan a Fun and Festive July 4th

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Who doesn't like a good birthday party, especially when it includes scrumptious food, warm company and summer fun? Kick off your July holiday with a festive gathering to celebrate the fourth - in style. Plan a Fun and Festive July 4th The July long-weekend is really the first chance we get to sit back, relax and enjoy the summer offerings. So whether you like to host a large gathering or a romantic night for two, this extensive guide to your July 4th holiday has everything you need for a perfect celebration. Host a Classic July 4th Barbecue Nothing says July 4th like a classic barbecue with all the fixings. With these easy recipes you'll find yourself spending more time relaxing than worrying about feeding your guests. Patriotic Quilt Patterns After the food, games and summer sun has waned, it's time to enjoy the fireworks and starry sky, cuddled beneath a warm quilt that celebrates the holiday with a beautiful design and patriotic colors. Decorate with Red, White and Blue I've always liked the color combination of red, white and blue, but wondered how to incorporate them into my home decor. Now I can with these great tips on how to decorate your home with colors that not only show your independent spirit, but sense of style, too. House & Home Ads House Floor Plan Garden Magazine Magazine Virtuale Industry Magazine 4X4 Magazine Featured Articles Fireworks Safety for Pets Herbal Dry Rub For Beef Summer Scrapbooking Resources Summer Safety Survival Tips 30-Minute Organizing Projects Green Lawn Care   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: Summer Road Trips Made Easy

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Now that summer is officially here, it's time to start planning for the annual summer road trip. There's something about hitting the open road with everything you need on board, the wind in your face and a wrinkled map in your lap. For me, it's the taste of freedom and the possibility for new adventures that might be waiting just over the next hill. 10 Ways to Have a Greener Road Trip While I love being on the road, there's another part of me that feels somewhat responsible for the mess in the Gulf because of my reliance on oil. I've struggled with this for a while now, but I feel better knowing that, while on the road, I can do all I can to reduce my carbon footprint. Keep Kids Happy with Free Travel Games And Crafts Kids and long car trips just don't go well together, yet it's often the cheapest way for a family to travel. So what's a parent to do to keep sane? Check out these great (free!) games and crafts designed especially for the road that will keep your child entertained so you'll never have to hear that old familiar phrase from the backseat: "Are we there yet?" Stay Healthy on the Road When we think about road trips, we usually concentrate on essentials such as maps, food and boredom-relieving-games. But what about our health? Even though you're far away from a desk or workspace, you're still sitting for long periods of time - time when joints seize, muscles ache and necks grow tense. Find out how to stay healthy on the road with these easy-to-follow ergonomic driving tips. Can I Really Feng Shui My Car? Okay, so you've planned your road trip and think you've covered all your bases. But have you thought about the hours you'll spend locked in such a tiny space? Feng shui can help you achieve a calming and positive space so you can sit back, relax and enjoy the adventure of being on the road. House & Home Ads House and Garden Home Magazine Parent Magazine Day Trips In Magazine Launch Featured Articles What to Plant in June Top Choices in Closet Organizers Make Freezer Jam in 3 Easy Steps Fish Nutrition 101 Small Bathroom Designs Blankets for Baby   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: 10 Reasons Not to Buy a Home

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor I'm a big believer in lists. I make them all the time - on napkins, on old envelopes, and even on the back of my hand. I really don't know how people live without them. But rarely do I make a list of not-to's, which some would say are just as important as have-to's. So this week we're looking at some of the best not-to lists in our Home and Garden Channel, and we start with reasons not to buy a home. 10 Good Reasons Not to Buy a Home Our family moves frequently, and because of that it's always a toss-up whether or not to buy a home when renting often makes a lot more sense. There are other reasons you should reconsider purchasing and it's good to know what they are before you make a decision that might not be right for you. 10 Mistakes to Avoid in Home Landscape Design This is the go-to list of what not to do when designing your front or backyard. I'm guilty of mistake number one, three, four...well, let's just say that I need to keep this list tacked to my refrigerator door as a reminder of what not to do. What Not to Do to Keep Your Cat Happy Cats are funny creatures, ours in particular. One minute you can be petting them and they'll be purring and asking for more, and the next second you get a swat and a flick of the tail that tells you to stop torturing them. Give your kitty the love and attention they deserve by following this list of what not to do to keep your feline happy and content. 7 Ironing Mistakes and How to Avoid Them I'll admit it. I hate ironing. Usually my husband does it, but lately I've forced myself to take over the ironing duties as a way of teaching myself patience. So I was glad when I came across this list. It's helped me avoid those nasty ironing mistakes that used to be scorched into my husbands' shirts, mistakes that screamed: I hate ironing! House & Home Ads Jogos 10 10 ΚΙΛΑ VS 10 Download Garden Magazine Agence 10 Featured Articles How to Celebrate Your Unique Dad How to Refinish a Wood Deck Make Your Own Summertime Essential Oils Antique Chair Styles How to Shop for Used Furniture Get the Most from Your Potting Soil   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: Top Gift Picks for Dad

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Fathers are difficult to buy for, at least that's what friends concluded over drinks last week. It seems most of us are unsure what dads like so we opt for the proverbial gift certificate from a favorite store. While gift certificates have their place, nothing expresses how you feel more than a gift that you spent time contemplating about, searching for and finally securing in time for Father's Day. Top 15 Houseware Gifts for Dad Dads these days are a different breed than generations past. I'm pretty sure my father would've rolled his eyes if I'd given him a professional knife set or an outdoor gas grill. Today, a lot of guys love to cook and we love them for loving that. So, feed that love with a gift from this extensive gift list. Top 11 Outdoor Gifts for Dad Under $40 After perusing this incredible list of gifts for dad, I have to admit that I now want a Jessie Steele BBQ apron. It comes ready-to-serve with lots of pockets, utility hooks and a bottle opener. All under $40. But then again, I also love the Garden Shark Ground Hog Mulch Rake... so many choices! Top 10 Woodworking Gifts for Dad My father-in-law has specifically requested tools for his new wood-shop. Neither my husband and I are very handy, so naturally, the gift buying has been left up to me. I'm just glad I came across this list of top 10 tools for woodworking dads or I'd be giving him a - eek! - gift certificate. Top 10 Home Theatre Gifts for Dad This is the list my husband refers to whenever I mention the words "father", "day" and "gift" in the same sentence. House & Home Ads Unique Gift Ideas Gifts for Dad Romantic Gift Gift Husband Wife Xmas Gift Featured Articles What's Computer Vision Syndrome? How to Wash & Care for a Swimsuit How to Plant a Tree Gallery of Modern Houses Good First Fish Benefits of LED Lighting   More from About.com Plan a Unique Vegas Wedding The minister, music and champagne are just the beginning -- why not get married aboard a helicopter or have a pirate swing in to deliver your rings? Arrrr! More> Join About.com's User Panel! Share your opinions and help us make About.com more relevant, informative and enjoyable to use. More>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About House & Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 249 West 17th Street New York, NY, 10011 © 2010 About.com   Advertisement