As I sit here looking out my window at the backyard, the birds are hovering in the pine tree against a strong wind and steady rain. The temperature is chilly today, and the calendar reminds me that we have left October behind.
October 1st
It seems that the housing crisis has made some interesting news lately.
Home Month in Review: September 2008
Has the weather turned cooler now that September has passed? Pretty soon, it will be time to get that heat turned back on! Meanwhile, check out all of the articles that were posted last month.
October 2nd
With the holidays only a month or two away, now is the perfect time to make sure that you are ready for guests, whether invited or unexpected. You can make your guests feel at home not matter whether you have a complete guest suite or just an air mattress. Here are some tips on becoming prepared. Trust me, it will make the upcoming season much easier.
Somethings are just too embarrassing to admit. Okay, so most of us have been there before. We’ve waited and wondered if it was the right time, or if we should just wait for a few more weeks. But some things happen even when you don’t expect them too.
October 3rd
Should You Get A Home Equity Loan?
If you have built up a good amount of equity in your home, you might be considering taking out a home equity loan, but is this a good idea?
October 6th
Home Week in Review: September 29th Through October 5th
Have you started thinking about preparing for winter? Cool morning and evening temperatures have prompted me to put extra blankets on the bed, but I still haven’t turned on the heat! How was your week?
Clean Up Your Garden Now in the Fall
As the fall sets in, the last thing you probably want to do is to clean out your summer garden. There is a good reason to pay it some attention, though. Cleaning out the garden now will save you a lot of headache when it comes to next spring, plus you can take the opportunity to do some fall planting.
October 8th
Have a Victorian Evening at Home
When we look back at the Victorian era we see it as a romantic and nostalgic time. While the people who were living it might not have thought so, there is still something magical about that time period, with its emphasis on children, family and togetherness.
Front Loading Washing Machines Promote Mold
If you have been considering trading in your existing top loading washing machine for a high efficiency front loading one, you might want to think twice. Mold is becoming a growing problem when it comes to these new washing machines.
October 9th
How to Modernize Your Bathroom for Less Than $200
Just because you are watching your budget, doesn’t mean that you have to live with an old and outdated bathroom. There are some great improvements that you can make that will cost less than $200 and in some cases even less than $100. So what are you waiting for?
October 13th
When looking at a kitchen renovation or remodel, the choices are endless. From countertops to flooring to appliances to walls to back splashes, tile, wood, paint, stainless steel, ack. You get the picture. Each little bit that goes into the kitchen has its own set of choices, and then you have to make sure that all of these choices can work together.
Did you know that you can go green for Halloween? No, I’m not talking about dressing your kids up as compost, but by making more environmentally conscious decision around your home and for your family this Halloween.
October 14th
Home Week in Review: October 6th Through October 12th
How has your weather been? Here we are having nice warm weather after a week of colder temperatures. Still, no matter how nice it is outside, I am reminded that winter is not far away. It is time to start thinking about fall maintenance and preparing for winter. Check back daily to learn more about this as well as read about other topics related to your home.
October 15th
All across the land, people are hiding a dirt little secret…their laundry. One thing I have discovered lately, is that people are reluctant to talk about how they do their laundry, when and how often they do their laundry and how they sort it all. Why is this? Keep reading and then share your thoughts.
October 16th
It’s not too late to put on a spectacular Halloween party at home. Invite your neighbors to come over after trick or treating, or plan the party for the day after Halloween and get a little more use out of those costumes.
October 17th
How to Find New Inexpensive Furniture
With the economy in crisis, and everyone struggling to pay for the basics of daily life, such as food, gas and housing, it is hard to justify spending money on furniture. But, whether you are just starting out or are more established, you may find yourself needing to furnish a room or replace furniture items that no longer function in your home.
October 18th
Brr, the temperatures today dropped from the comfortable 70s to 45 degrees this morning. it should warm up to the 60s, as the sun comes out, but there is no doubt that fall is really here. I heard rumors that it will soon drop down to 30 overnight.
October 20th
Home Week in Review: October 13th Through October 19th
Have your gone out and jumped in some leaves yet? In my household, I do most of the raking and very little of the jumping, but it is all worth it. Take a look at last week’s posts here in the home blog.
October 22nd
One of my first memories of my childhood is being a little girl and watching my mother put on some red lipstick. With a quick twist of the lipstick, all of this color appeared from nowhere. As she looked in the mirror and applied it expertly, I suddenly longed to be a grown up lady. I asked her if I could try some, and she handed me a closed lipstick, fully intending, I believe, that I would use the closed lipstick and “pretend” to make myself up. As she glided from the room, I had other plans, and wanted to try it for real.
October 23rd
Attack of the Stinky Trash Monster
“It creeps upstairs, alone or in pairs, what’s that horrible smell? A thing, a thing, a horrendous thing, everyone knows it’s stinky.” Does the stinky trash monster live at your house? Here is an account of my ongoing battle with this beast, and all of the ways I try to conquer it.
October 24th
Gone are visions of McMansions and large impressive houses with top of the line amenities. Instead, buyers and builders are looking toward smaller homes with tighter floor plans in an effort to bring home ownership and sales in line with the economy.
October 25th
Now that Halloween is this week, I may break down and let the kids carve their pumpkins. We have three small pumpkins for the kids to decorate individually, as well as one larger one for the family to do together. The kids have been begging us to turn them into jack-o-lanterns.
October 26th
If you are wondering whether you should reset your clocks today, you can relax. Daylight savings is on November 2nd this year. That means that you will just have to wait one more week until you can sleep in and enjoy the extra hour.
October 27th
Home Week in Review: October 20th Through October 26th
We spent a wonderful weekend enjoying the fall weather and our town’s pumpkin festival. There was free pumpkin carving, hay rides, scarecrow building, balloons, treat bags, snacks and much more. It was a great way to enjoy the season. What traditions or activities do you do in your home? I’d love to hear how you enjoy the season as a family! While you are thinking that over, check out last week’s Home Blog posts.
October 28th
Fall and Holiday Centerpiece and Decorating Ideas
Over the summer, Better Homes and Gardens published an idea for a nautical centerpiece that used an old lantern, some sea glass and a lemon. While it wasn’t exactly my style, I though the idea could really be adapted to fall and holiday decorating, especially with a few changes. The concept is very flexible, and you can adapt it to suit your own particular style.
October 29th
Fall and Holiday Decorating with Nature
Have you ever considered using a cut log as a decorative element? This is just one of the many ideas I have for fall and holiday decorating with nature. Fall is a wonderful time for gathering the bounty around you and using it to decorate. And for the holidays, there is often nothing quite as homey and bringing a bit of the outdoors in. It gives a sense of that old fashioned Christmas we all dream about.
October 30th
How to Make a Garden Tool Holder
With the fall comes a lot of yard cleanup, fall planting, and in some parts of the world, even some snow shoveling. Keeping all of those tools organized and in good shape can be difficult when the tools are just thrown in a garage or shed, or even worse, left outside. Brooms especially should be stored with the bristles facing up and off of the ground. Brooms, rakes, hoes, shovels, axes and anything on a post will be wonderfully organized with this idea for a garden tool holder.
October 31st
How many of us are at home on October 31st, Halloween night? There are several reasons not to be home. Where does your household fall?