About House & Home: Prepare Your Home for a Natural Disaster

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor While Hurricane Irene makes her way north, residents of the East Coast are dealing with the storm's aftermath, much of which has affected homes inland as rivers rise and swell. While early preparation notices were issued, often a natural disaster arrives without much warning. The question many people are asking themselves this week is, am I prepared should a natural disaster strike? Get Your Yard Ready for a Hurricane Even though Hurricane Irene is behind us, the hurricane season has just begun and it's up to us to prepare as best we can for any upcoming storms. One of the areas that is most vulnerable to damage are yards and gardens. Find out what you need to do to ensure your property and home are ready for high winds and pounding rain. See More About:  preparing home for storm  storm safety  hurricane safety How To Assemble a Disaster Supply Kit Living on the West Coast for much of my adult life and with the imminent threat of earthquakes always looming, I'm used to having emergency supplies on hand. But having enough canned goods and bottled water is only part of what you need to do. Check out this guide to assembling and maintaining a home disaster supply kit that will ensure your family is well prepared. See More About:  home maintenance  home inspections  second homes Prepare Your Pets for a Disaster Animals need to be part of any household emergency plan, including preparing their own disaster supply kit and knowing which emergency shelters or area hotels will accept our beloved pets should a disaster strike. The list of things you need to do is outlined here with easy-to-follow suggestions and tips. Connect With Loved Ones After a Disaster I volunteer for our local Red Cross and have been involved in a number of area disasters. I've witnessed first-hand how families become separated during a natural catastrophe. Services that connect family members are the key to restoring communication, ensuring that loved ones are brought together as quickly as possible. See More About:  preparing for disasters  handling disasters  House & Home Ads Survival supplies Emergency kits Hurricane Emergency survival Emergency supplies Featured Articles Emergency Planning for Horse and Pony Owners How to Grow Agave Indoors What is the Cloud? Charity Sewing Projects How to Organize Kids' Schoolwork Mailbox Garden Ideas   More from About.com Favorite Summer Frozen Drinks Blended with ice or chock full of fresh fruit, these yummy drinks will liven up any warm-weather gathering. More> Best Frozen Summer Desserts Ten easy, delicious, make-ahead desserts that will cool you down on the hottest of summer days. 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: Home Renovations on a Budget

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor With fall quickly approaching, some of us are contemplating home renovations, projects that can be done inside as the temperatures start to drop and the daylight hours begin to fade. In our home, we're planning on updating our second bathroom and the kitchen, but like most people, we're looking to do it all on a fairly tight budget. And to do that, I went looking for help.... Cut Costs When Building or Remodeling a Home This is a great article to begin your home renovation plans as it takes you from developing a budget to cutting costs by replacing expensive building materials with more budget-friendly alternatives. See More About:  building costs  home construction  small houses 5 Tips for Green Design on a Budget My first goal of our renovation is to do it as inexpensive as possible, which in my mind doesn't mean skimping on its green-factor. Going green can actually equate to cost-savings if you know how to do it. And you will, if you check out these green-design tips. See More About:  green design  green shopping  air quality Easy, Fast, and Cheap Bathroom Remodeling That's what I'm talking about - easy, fast and cheap, yet stylish, too, without compromising quality, efficiency and function. Need I say more? See More About:  bathroom remodel shortcuts  tips for easy bathroom remodeling  renovate bathroom on a budget Save Money on Kitchen Cabinets In any kitchen renovation, the majority of the budget is usually spent on the cabinets. It's hard to imagine beautiful cabinets that aren't made of hardwoods, like cherry or oak, but as this article suggests, there are alternatives that will be just as long-lasting and look spectacular. See More About:  kitchen cabinets  kitchen remodeling  remodeling on a budget House & Home Ads Kitchen Cabinets Kitchen Remodeling Kitchen Renovations Bathroom Renovation Bathroom Remodeling Featured Articles Organic Weed Control Toothpick Flags for Scrapbooking Find a Vet for Your Exotic Pet How To Install A Soap Dispenser Top-Loading vs Front-Loading Washers Small Space Living   More from About.com Should You Go Back to School? Have you been thinking about resuming your education? These eight questions may help you figure it out. More> 5 Tips for Adult Students Whether it's finding the money or worrying about tests, going back to school can be stressful for adult students. 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: Beekeeping, Painting & Summer Stains

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor Our neighbors started keeping bees this year. While a lot of people complained, worried that the insects would sting their children even though none of the neighborhood kids are allergic, I celebrated, knowing that bees are gentle creatures whose ambitions are only to collect pollen for the hive, and in turn, help our gardens flourish. How to Keep Bees Our local nursery sells bees. It's becoming more popular for both rural and urban dwellers to invest in a hive, not only to ensure bees' survival but also to help foster crop production. So, if you've always thought of keeping bees, this is the definitive set of articles that will take you from setting up a hive to collecting the sweet reward. See More About:  beekeeping  bees  honey Your Guide to Painting Kitchen Cabinets We just stripped our kitchen cabinets. They were a dark brown color that made the kitchen look dingy and always caused my husband to want to retreat back to bed. Now that we know what kind of paint to buy and how to apply it - thanks to this guide - we're on the hunt for the perfect shade that will be a welcoming sight first thing in the morning. See More About:  kitchen cabinets  kitchen remodeling  painting 17 Tips for Choosing the Right Paint Color This is an essential read for anyone who is contemplating painting anything - whether it's walls, floors or...kitchen cabinets. See More About:  decorate by color  painting  How to Remove Picnic Stains from Clothes I attended a family picnic on the weekend, held at a local beach. It was silly of me to where white, I know, and I forgot how sticky and dirty a four-year old's hands can get after eating chocolate birthday cake and ice cream then combing the sand for seashells. But this article came to my (and my dress's) rescue. See More About:  stain removal  fabric care  House & Home Ads Kitchen Cabinets Painting Walls Interior Painting Exterior Painting House Painting Featured Articles 10 Trends in Green Landscaping How Habitat For Humanity Works Silver Jewelry Price Guide Perennial vs Annual Learn How to Machine Quilt Advice from the Pros on Small Bathroom Designs   More from About.com Should You Go Back to School? Have you been thinking about resuming your education? These eight questions may help you figure it out. More> 5 Tips for Adult Students Whether it's finding the money or worrying about tests, going back to school can be stressful for adult students. 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: Back-To-School Survival Guide

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House & Home From Diane Schmidt, your About House & Home Editor I still remember my first day of school. I was so excited that I got up at 5:00 am, dressed myself in a new green tartan dress and white knee socks, and walked to the end of the lane to wait for the bus. Part of my excitement grew from all the preparation and anticipation long before I stepped on the yellow bus - the days spent looking for the perfect school bag, pencil case and lunchbox. Host a Back-to-School Party If children are feeling nervous about returning to school for another year, it's a good idea to host a party and invite school friends who may not have been around during the summer months. Seeing old friends, and potentially making new ones, is a great way to prepare kids for getting back into the swing of things. See More About:  children's parties  back-to-school party  party games How to Fit a Child's Backpack When I was a kid, there was no such thing as needing a large book bag to transfer my school supplies and texts each night. But today, a good backpack that fits well is essential for young growing minds and spines. See More About:  back pack ergonomics  ergonomics for older children  Save Money on Back to School Supplies The other day I overheard one mother complain to another about the price of back-to-school supplies. But if she took the advice found in this article, not only would she save money, but also the stress that the inevitable large credit card bill would bring. See More About:  back to school savings  bargain shopping  Dorm Room Decorating Ideas There's nothing like your first place away from family and all things familiar. To make it even more special, find out how to create the perfect space that reflects your personal style and at the same time feels a bit like home. See More About:  decorating dorm rooms  moving away from home  small space decorating House & Home Ads College Back to School Find a College College Dorm Rooms Request College Info Featured Articles Free Decorating Tools Pet Safe Homes Wood Finish Tips How to Form a Knitting Group Tips for a Better Garage Floor Get More Blooms From Your Roses   More from About.com 10 Bathroom Remodels There's nothing worse than a bathroom remodel that looks like it belongs in a gas station. If you're looking for inspiration, you'll find it in these luxe, lush photos. More> Inspired Bathroom Tile Choices New tile can transform your bathroom in countless ways, whether you're looking for a playful, colorful child's bath, a cool and elegant sanctuary, or a bold sophisticated escape. 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