About Home: Summer Weddings, Graduations and Baby Showers

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor As spring turns to summer our thoughts turn to pinnacle events in our life, events to celebrate the love between two people, honor commendable achievements and to experience the joy of a new life. Find out how to create an extra-special occasion for you and your loved ones with these suggestions for sensational celebrations. Unique Wedding Gifts The onset of summer is also the beginning of wedding season. This year, we'll be attending one where the bride and groom are older with established lives. That's why the gift has me stumped. So I turned to this article on unique wedding gifts to find that extra special something. Search Related Topics:  appliances  coffee and tea  cutlery and knives 12 Seasonal Wedding Flowers If you're the one who'll be walking down the aisle this summer and need some inspiration, then look no further than this article on all things flowers. With tips and suggestions on the best flowers to carry, to adorn a cake along with the best petals to scatter, finding the perfect flowers will be the easiest task on your wedding to-do list. Search Related Topics:  summer wedding flowers  white wedding flowers  beach weddings Top 10 Home Theater Gifts for Grads If someone in your life is graduating, check out this list of the best gift ideas that will express how proud you are and at the same time give them something they can take with them no matter where life takes them. Search Related Topics:  home theater gifts  home theater systems  hdtv Baby Quilt Patterns Summer is also a time for baby showers and if you're tired of giving the same gift, check out these gorgeous quilt patterns that provide inspiration along with instructions on how to create a unique gift that will be treasured for a long time to come. Search Related Topics:  quilt galleries  color value  easy quilts Related Searches Wedding Flowers Wedding Gift Unique Flowers Gifts Free Baby Gift Beach Wedding Venue Featured Articles How Social Media Threatens Your Home Security 5 Reasons Your Lawn May Be Failing Choose the Right Trees and Shrubs for Your Yard Ticks Disease All About Hardwood Floors Country Cottage Bedrooms   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Summertime Begins this Weekend

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor With the first long weekend of the summer quickly approaching, it's time to throw off the winter sweaters, hats and mitts and slip on the flip flops, tee shirts and shorts that makes summertime living so very easy. This week, we've rounded up articles that will help you make the most of getting outdoors this weekend and all the weekends to come. Creating Seating Areas in Your Garden The first thing on your list to do to prepare for the long weekend is to get your outdoor space ready for relaxing. And what better way to do that than to create some comfortable yet beautiful seating areas in your garden with the help and inspiration of this picture gallery of outdoor spaces. Search Related Topics:  garden design  garden seating  shade gardening Who Makes the Best Natural Sunscreen? Where we live, the sun has been shining and hot for weeks. But while I've tried using the natural sunscreens and lotions, I find they aren't always the best buy. Wanting to ensure I'm protecting my family, yet not wanting to add more chemicals to sensitive skin, I took this list with me on my last shopping trip and was really happy with what I found - natural sunscreen that works! Search Related Topics:  green shopping  green baby products  green bath and body products Make Outdoor Citronella Bucket Candles While the bugs may not be too bad yet, you can be sure that in another few weeks the mosquitoes will be out and about looking for their next food source. So why not spend some time this weekend with your creative side, making these gorgeous yet functional bucket candles that will serve two purposes: create a romantic ambiance and keep pesky bugs at bay. Search Related Topics:  candle making supplies  candle making safety  natural mosquito control Get Rid of Outdoor Stains on Clothes With outdoor fun comes outdoor dirt, grime and grass stains. As a kid, I was famous for all three which had my mother constantly scrubbing and rubbing and trying desperately to get rid of the green marks on the knees of my jeans. Be prepared for all that cleaning to start this weekend, but with this helpful list of ways to get rid of stains, you'll be spending more time outside than in. Search Related Topics:  fabric care  stain removal  Related Searches House Cleaning Cleaning Clothes Beautiful House House Cleaners House Design Featured Articles How to Remove Skunk Smell How to Stay Cool in Your Apartment Home Security Planning FAQ How Email Actually Slows You Down Top 15 Ways to Sell Your Home in the Spring Easy Quilt Pattern with Linking Stars   More from About.com Run Your First 5K Even couch potatoes can be ready for a 5K with just a couple months of training. Read more...> Help! I'm Too Busy Time and stress management tips to help you feel as though you have more time. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Guide to Outdoor Living and Entertaining

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Now that the temperatures are climbing higher and the sun is setting later, it's time to think about getting outside. To help you do that, we've gathered together the best of the best when it comes to outdoor living. These guides will take you from refinishing the deck through to furnishing and decorating your space so you'll be ready to entertain family and friends. Furniture for Outdoor Living and Entertaining This past weekend we bought a couple of plantation chairs for our front porch, thinking we wouldn't be using them for a few weeks. But the very next morning, I woke up to find my husband enjoying his coffee on the front porch - a space we barely used before. Furniture can transform not only how your outdoor space looks but more importantly, how you use it. Search Related Topics:  outdoor living  patio furniture  fire pit Budget-Friendly Outdoor Decorating Ideas Once the furniture is in place, it's time to think about how to decorate the space to make it work for you. This article is packed full of helpful ideas and suggestions that will take you from outdoor seating to outdoor cooking and entertaining all in one spot. Check it out. Search Related Topics:  craft decor items  decorating accessories  curb appeal Lighting Ideas for Your Outdoor Space Our neighbors just installed these beautiful outdoor lights that transform their once dull patio into a goregous magical space. While they did purchase some updated furnishings, it's the lighting that makes the space come alive. So the next shopping trip for me will be to use this guide to find the perfect lights for our backyard. How to Clean and Refinish a Wood Deck Before you purchase more furniture or lights or outdoor decorations, it's best to make sure the basic foundational pieces that make your outdoor space both functional and beautiful have been given the care they need. This includes the deck. A refinished deck will take your outdoor space from drab to fab in a matter of hours. Search Related Topics:  about spring cleaning  wood deck refinishing  Related Searches Outdoor Living Outdoor Wood Decks Outdoor Patio Ideas Outdoor Lighting Deck Designs Ideas Featured Articles How to Start Container Gardening Knitting with Cotton Before You Buy Pet Health Insurance How to Decorate with Old Photos Shade Tolerant Vegetables All About Kitchen Lights   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Last Minute Mother's Day Tips

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor Mother's Day is the perfect excuse to be pampered. So whether you're planning a special day or the one being planned for, these last minute tips will go a long way to ensuring a day of relaxation and bliss. Best Ways to Entertain Mom on Mother's Day If you haven't decided what to do for your mother this Sunday, then this list of ideas is the perfect place to start with suggestions for every budget and schedule. Search Related Topics:  mother's day  mother's day gifts  mother's day cakes Home Theater Gifts for Mom Home theater gifts aren't just for dads, moms like them, too. In fact, in our household, I'm the only one who knows how to work the SmartTV. So make sure you check out these gift selections - there's sure to be something she'll absolutely love. Search Related Topics:  home theater gifts  home theater systems  dvd players 15 Minute Cleanups for Every Room While presents are always a good idea, I often say that the best present anyone could ever give me is a clean house. Period. Search Related Topics:  15 minute cleanups  speed cleaning  cleaning a room Homemade Sugar Scrub Cubes So after she's unwrapped her gifts, admired the clean house, give her a little treat to remind her just how special she is. These homemade sugar cubes will not only make her skin smooth to the touch, but will give her a good excuse to take a long, hot, soothing bath. The perfect way to end the perfect day. Search Related Topics:  bath & body products  natural skin care  melt and pour soap projects Related Searches Mother 'S Day Gifts Cleaning House Tips Gift Ideas Gifts Gifts for Mom Special Gifts Featured Articles What are Mantiques? How to Start a Small Farm Buildings that Changed the World Sell Your House with Feng Shui Aquarium Setup in 10 Easy Steps How Color Affects Kids   More from About.com 10 Easy Ways to Look Thinner Don't wait until you've lost those first pounds to make these simple, slimming changes. Read more...> Create a Shared Photo Stream Sharing your photo stream with friends and family is a great way to keep in touch. Read more...>   Sign up for more free newsletters on your favorite topics You are receiving this newsletter because you subscribed to the About.com Home newsletter. If you wish to change your email address or unsubscribe, please click here. About.com respects your privacy: Our Privacy Policy Contact Information: 1500 Broadway, 6th Floor New York, NY, 10036 © 2012 About.com   Advertisement