About Home: Easy & Fun Ways to Enjoy the End of Summer

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor It's hard to believe the summer is almost over. Sure, we'll have nice weather in September, but there's something so final about seeing the kids head back to classes. For me, that signals the time to put away the beach toys, sandals, shorts and tees - all things I love about the hot sultry days. But just because the summer is coming to an end doesn't mean you can't celebrate its departure by hosting a Labor Day party or preserving the fresh taste of summer to savor when the snow starts to fly or getting the kids involved in making their own back-to-school supplies with some fun and easy projects. Host a Labor Day End of Summer Party Not many people like Labor Day. It's probably because life returns to normal the next morning. Kids go back to school, parents return to work and the summer becomes just a faded memory. But it doesn't have to if you take my advice and host a end of summer party. Search Related Topics:  summer parties  dinner parties  labor day Preserve the Harvest I have enough tomatoes to sink a passenger ship. In fact, it's so bad that whenever someone sees me approaching, tomatoes in hand, they run screaming. And the neighbor kids call me "Tomato Lady". I guess that's why they invented canning. Search Related Topics:  dehydrating  recycling  pressure cooking Take a (Free) Landscaping Course Just because summer is coming to an end and fall will soon be arriving doesn't mean you should put aside your enjoyment of backyard life. In fact, fall's the perfect time to plan changes to your yard and you can do just that with this free and informative course on landscape planning and design. Enjoy Life More without Breaking Your Budget If you think the end of summer is the end of frugal fun, think again. This list of ways to enjoy life provides endless opportunities to celebrate the last week of summer without breaking the bank. Search Related Topics:  new year's resolutions  Related Searches Fun Kids Party Ideas Summer Fun for Kids Labor Day Canning Tomatoes Dinner Ideas Recipes Featured Articles How to Choose Your Carpet Color Common New Aquarium Mistakes Top Ways to Save Money on Apartment Living Kitchen Lighting Ideas Olmsted's Beautiful Schools How to Compost: 7 Easy Steps   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 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Cheap & Easy Ways to Pamper Yourself

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor My friend Mona decided that she'd had enough of not being pampered because of budgetary restraints, so she held a pajama party for her girlfriends. We spent the night giving each other manicures and other beauty regimes that we'd normally pay a fortune for. Even though my hair is a little more red (okay, a lot redder) than when the night started, I really felt like I'd been to a spa without spending a cent. Create a Home Spa in Your Bathroom Okay, so you don't have to throw a pajama party to create your own spa get-away. You can do it all from the luxury of your own bathroom. All you need are a few tips to get you started. Search Related Topics:  feng shui tips  feng shui bathroom  feng shui decorating How to Make Your Own Bath Bombs To add a little extra special something, check out this recipe for making your own fizzy bombs that will add some decadence to your evening bath time ritual. Easy-to-Make Soothing Eye Pillow After a long day, an eye pillow is the height of pampering as far as I'm concerned. I mean, a pillow for the eyes that calms, soothes and shuts out the world for a while - what more can I say? Search Related Topics:  throw pillow cover pattern  folded fabric star ornaments  folded fat quarter stars Create a Cozy and Relaxing Reading Space Personally, one of my favorite evenings consists of an early dinner, a long, hot bath (with bath bombs and eye pillow, of course) then hours spent reading a favorite book in a comfy chair, in a quiet, peaceful space. Ah, heaven. Search Related Topics:  decorating tips  reading nooks  home library Related Searches Spa Manicures All Day Spa Spa Spas Bath Spa Spa Party Featured Articles Can I Keep a Wild Bird as a Pet? How to Identify Antique & Collectible Glass Best Bargain Kitchen Flooring How To Start Your Own Compost Grow Flowers in Hot Dry Gardens Alternative Security Tools   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 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: Essential Back-to-School Guide

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor It's hard to believe the summer is almost over and soon we'll be seeing those familiar yellow buses, the crossing guards at every corner and kids carrying knapsacks stuffed full of books. So if you're getting ready for the fall, and it's starting to cause some stress, take some advice from our Home Guides and get organized before the hectic school schedule begins. Create the Perfect Study Environment If you want to motivate your child, one of the best things to do is to create a study space at home. This may sound dull, but it doesn't have to be. Instead, you can inspire creativity, enthusiasm and concentration. Search Related Topics:  workstations  study zones  Essential Back-to-School Gear When I was a kid, we carried our books in our arms. Of course, we only had a couple to contend with. Nowadays, it seems like kids have to read an entire cannon which has to be dragged home each night. Prevent injuries and make sure your child is properly prepared with this essential guide to back-to-school gear. Search Related Topics:  school supplies  ergonomics for young children  ergonomics for older children Fresh & Fun Dorm Decor Ideas If you're one of thousands of students heading back to a boarding school or college dorm - either for the fourth or first time - you've probably been thinking about how you can make your home-away-from-home more comfortable, cozy and fun, too. Check out this great list of ways to decorate your space to make it your very own. Search Related Topics:  dorm decor  small space design  decorating a dorm room 15 School Scrapbook Page Layouts Going back to school can be both an exciting time and one that some kids dread. To help, get your child involved in creating their own school memories with a scrapbook they can make and update throughout the upcoming school year. It's a great way to encourage kids to express their experiences in a creative and meaningful way. Related Searches Back to School Items School Supplies School Supply Stores Fun School for Kids School College Featured Articles The Magic Lo Shu Square Organic Weed Control Solve Separation Anxiety in Puppies Home Security Planning FAQ How to Store Shoes & Boots Best All-Purpose Cleaners   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 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement

About Home: How to Savor the Summer Harvest

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Home From Diane Schmidt, your About Home Editor With August here and dreams of summer waning, it's time to start thinking about the fall and all the good things that the cooler season brings. Like an abundance of vegetables fresh from the garden. This week, we're celebrating the harvest with harvesting and party tips for getting friends and family together to share in the bounty. Host A Summer Harvest Feast To get the most out of your backyard garden or to take advantage of all the locally-grown vegetables at your farmer's market, it's best to share it with friends and family by hosting a late-summer harvest feast. All you need is this handy guide, a table and chairs and a few friends - it's as simple as that. Search Related Topics:  dinner parties  summer harvest dinner parties  summer harvest menu All About Harvesting Vegetables Of course you'll also need some veggies to serve to your guests. With tips on when and how to harvest over 30 different kinds of vegetables, this article provides essential reading to ensure you get the most from your garden. Search Related Topics:  vegetable gardening  organic gardenin  when to plant Drying Your Herb Harvest Last year I found out that drying herbs wasn't as straightforward as I thought. And because I planted so many herbs this year, I thought I better turn to an expert on the subject to find out how to make sure my beautiful bouquet of basil doesn't end up in the compost. Search Related Topics:  herb gardens  culinary herbs recipes topiaries  garden tips Plan a Fall Harvest We live in a mild climate, yet I've never taken advantage of the weather here. According to this extensive guide to fall plantings, I could sustain our family right through to Christmas just by planting a late harvest garden. It provides information on all the zones, too, so just because your area might require more hearty varietals, doesn't mean that you have to forgo fall feasting. Search Related Topics:  sustainable farming  growing crops  season extension Related Searches Garden Vegetables Harvest Planting Vegetables Garden Summer House Indoor House Plant Featured Articles Top 5 Exotic Pets for Kids 8 Tips for REO Foreclosure Offers 5 Steps to Building Your New Home Recycled Bath Sinks Great Soap Making Recipes What to Do If You're Bit By a Tick   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 © 2013 About.com   Advertisement