About House & Home: Spring Garage Sales & Flea Market Finds

If you can't see this email, click here

House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor It's spring. Flowers are in bloom, grass is turning green and the neighborhoods are alive with the sound of haggling and bartering. Yes, it's the season of garage sales, flea markets and incredible finds. All you need is this week's newsletter, some stuff you want to buy or sell, and a little bargaining strategy. Garage Sale Shopping Guide This is the ultimate in garage sale-ing guides. With tips like setting your target, mapping your route and ways to score big and get out fast, you'll be sure to emerge a winner. See More About:  yard sale tools  yard sale routes  find yard sales How to Haggle Your Way to Big Savings I'm not a good haggler. Just ask the guy in Istanbul who tried to get me to barter with him over the price of a coffee urn. I was so bad at it, that he waved me away without taking a cent. Help! See More About:  haggle  how to bargain  discount How To Hold a Garage Sale I'm not any better at setting prices. I tend to ask for too little and never leave room for negotiation. This year I'm determined to fetch a good price for some of the stuff that's been collecting in our garage. But first, I'll need to read through this guide to ensure that the price I'm setting has enough wiggle room so I can practice my haggling skills. See More About:  re-using furniture  furniture sales  bargains How to Get the Biggest Bargains at Flea Markets This is an incredible list of tips for flea market shoppers (it's good for garage sale-ers, too), with everything from dressing for better bargains to tips on how to pretend you're not interested when you know you've found the deal of a lifetime. See More About:  flea markets  second-hand shopping  bargain shopping House & Home Ads Garage Doors Garage Repair Local Garage Sales Bouwtekening Garage Moving Sales Featured Articles How to Fix Exterior Paint Problems Aquarium Setup in 10 Easy Steps How to Deal With a Bad Neighbor Spring Cleaning with Feng Shui How to Plant a Shrub Automatic Transmission Help   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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 © 2011 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: Get Your Garden Started

If you can't see this email, click here

House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Now that spring has sprung it's time to start thinking about the garden. Like me, my garden has been dormant for the past six months, and while I'm just beginning to wake up now that the cold temps are retreating, my garden is yet to come fully alive. It's time to give it a shake and a stir with these great tips to get your garden started. Get Your Garden Started I'm so grateful that spring comes with renewed energy and more daylight. I'm going to need it to revive my sleepy backyard garden. First task? Test the soil to see just what kind of nutrients it needs. Then on to the fun stuff! See More About:  organic vegetables  vegetable gardening  organic vegetable gardening Get Your Garden Ready to Grow Before I even begin to think about planting, I need to clean up what's leftover from last year - perennials that I didn't get around to removing in the fall, annuals that need some special attention, then it's on to composting and preparing the soil. It's a long list, but thankfully this guide to getting your garden ready takes you through each step. See More About:  spring bloomers  spring gardening  seasonal plants How to Make Compost Making your own compost is so easy and such a great way to save money, while at the same time allowing you to control what goes into the mix. It's also a good way to cut back on the amount of curbside garbage you produce each week. And on top of all that? Your garden will thank you. See More About:  compost  soil amendments  compost bin Build a Clay Pot Hanger This year, I've started most of my seeds indoors, hoping that the weather will improve enough over the next few weeks that I can transfer them outdoors. I came across this wonderful pot hanger that would be perfect for all those seedlings. Not only does it look great, but it keeps delicate plants off the ground where frost tends to collect. See More About:  woodworking plans  outdoor woodworking projects  pine House & Home Ads Garden Furniture Home and Garden Garden Supplies Garden Designer Garden Magazine Featured Articles Pet Poison Prevention Week How to Connect With Loved Ones After a Disaster Free Bag, Purse and Tote Patterns Home Buying: Why Was Your Offer Rejected? How to Control Black Ants Inside the Home 10 Ways to Convince Yourself It's Spring   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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 © 2011 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: Your Official Guide to Spring

If you can't see this email, click here

House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Spring makes its official launch in a little under a week and as far as I'm concerned, it can't come soon enough. Where I live it hasn't been that bad, it's just that I'm tired of the long, dark days. I need a little color in my life to add a little spring in my step. And our Guides have the cure to do just that. Complete Spring Cleaning Checklist I've decided that I can't let color into my life if I don't clean the windows first so the sun can actually find it's way into my home. Plus, cleaning makes everything sparkle just a little more. See More About:  spring cleaning  seasonal chores  cleaning a room Spring Decorating on a Budget This is the perfect guide for adding color and spring accents to your home, all within a manageable budget. I like that. Especially because I tend to go a little crazy in spring time, like wanting to paint the entire house green or yellow or Easter egg purple. This guide will keep me on track and on budget. See More About:  spring decor  budget  seasonal decorating Top 10 Painting Tips and Tricks Every time I threaten to pick up a paint brush, my husband reminds me that with every great paint color comes great responsibility. Okay, so I'm not the best painter. But I think all I need is a strong, yet kind guiding hand to help me through. Which is exactly what I found in this article. See More About:  painting  decorating with color  diy projects 5 Tips for Starting Seeds Indoors Planting seeds is a great way to add some freshness to your home while at the same time jump-starting the gardening season. This year, I'm mastering the art of seeding indoors with the help of these five easy-to-follow tips. Like the self-watering system that I can make myself. Genius! See More About:  plants for sun  diy container gardens  container gardening videos House & Home Ads House Cleaning Home Painting Exterior House Paint Interior Painting Painting Decorating Featured Articles How to Bond With Your Bird Make Your Own Candles Feng Shui Office Tips DIY Appliance Repair Projects Irish Potato Candy Recipe Top 5 Best Places to Retire in the US   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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 © 2011 About.com   Advertisement

About House & Home: Every Shade of Green

If you can't see this email, click here

House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Yes, I do celebrate St. Patrick's Day. Besides the fact that it's really difficult to pass up green beer, the day is filled with symbols and fun that most of us could use a little more of...like a lucky four-leaf clover, dancing to Celtic music and leprechauns. Add in the other shades of green, from recycling old junk to urban gardening, and you've got a recipe for all things green and glorious. How to Catch a Leprechaun I'm not sure what I would do with a leprechaun should I catch one. But of course I have to catch one first. And I can do just that with these ingenious traps that will provide hours of fun for the whole family. See More About:  saint patrick's day  recycling crafts  making toys How to Remove St. Patrick's Day Stains Green beer. Green icing sugar. Green curry. Green face paint. All things green can be removed with these easy-to-use laundry tips that will allow you to wear your favorite shirt on St. Patrick's Day without regret, worry or fear. See More About:  stain removal  fabric care  appliances Go Green with Trash to Treasure Makeovers Turning trash into treasure is the ultimate in recycling, and clever folks around the country are doing just that. These makeover photos are proof that one person's trash is another person's treasure. Tips for Urban Gardening Turning a patio, balcony or backyard space into an urban oasis is easier than you think and with snow finally melting, it's time to do just that. All it takes is some planning, tools and this guide to urban gardening for every kind of space. See More About:  urban gardening  small garden design  container gardeng House & Home Ads Backyard Landscaping Patio Design Patio Ideas Backyard Ideas Backyard Designs Featured Articles Why Coral Changes Color America's 10 Best Flea Markets 5 Tips For Pricing Plumbers Computer Set-Up Guide Knit for Charity How To Program a Garage Door Opener   More from About.com Discover the Disney Dream Disney's newest cruise ship has something for every family member, from the Aqua Duck watercoaster to adults-only lounges. More> Cruise the Celebrity Eclipse The Eclipse features luxurious interiors, a spa, and the "iLounge" where guests can check email and create their own photo books. 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 © 2011 About.com   Advertisement