Month: May 2012
(ARA) - Window boxes overflowing with blooms, decorative pots lining the driveway with striking colors, and even a flowering vine climbing up the mailbox - the growing season have arrived, and it is time to decorate the landscape. The latest gardening...
(ARA) - Imagine 40 pounds of dust spread throughout your home, pushed into the air for you and your family to breathe up to seven times a day, via your heating and cooling system. Pretty gross thought, right? Well, unfortunately there is a high possibi...
(ARA) - In the current economy, homeowners want to improve their home's exterior while saving time, labor and money. You can enhance your lifestyle by choosing options that extend product performance and add beauty and enjoyment to outdoor living. Th...
(ARA) - Summer means longer days, warmer temperatures, and more time spent outdoors. The pleasant weather brings more opportunities to improve your lifestyle and start a new commitment to wellness. With a few tips, you can be on your way to fit and fun...
(ARA) - Bruce Farrar didn't like what hard water was doing to his home. "Our dishes in the dishwasher were terrible," says Farrar, who lives in Newport Beach, Calif. "The inside of the dishwasher was just covered with calcium. Also, our showers had gl...
Finishing a basement is an ideal way to expand your living space without expanding your house. Since your basement already has the basics of a room in place - walls, floor, ceiling - it doesn't take a lot of time, effort or money to turn that generally...
Buying your first home will likely be one of the most exciting and scary times of your life. Beyond the basic considerations - location, number of bathrooms, ranch style vs. multilevel - there are a number of important financial factors to determine be...
(ARA) - Summer days do not have to be lazy. Children may be used to action-packed schedules in school, but by stepping up their planning, families can enjoy outdoor activities that are engaging and help keep children active. Whether camping or simply e...
(ARA) - Gardening creates fun and learning experiences through planting and cultivating seeds for small children who are inquisitive about everything. Feed their curiosity by growing with gravity. Gardening does not have to be just a row of carrots in...
Spring has officially sprung. That means it is once again time to start your spring cleaning. While you may not be motivated to clean your house, now is the perfect time to start preparing your backyard pond or water garden for the warmer months ahead....
(ARA) - While warmer weather brings many opportunities to enjoy outdoor living spaces, it also ushers in unwanted pests like ticks and mosquitos. A mild winter often triggers an early emergence and larger populations of these insects. Frequent account...
(ARA) - Summer vacation gives children a break from schoolwork, but for many, their participation in sports will continue in warm weather months. Parents, coaches and players need to keep injury prevention in mind to ensure sports stay safe and fun thr...
(ARA) - Buying a gift for the college-bound student can be a challenge, whether it's a high-school graduation present or a back-to-university purchase. While most young people would likely welcome a technology gift, it can be difficult to know what the...
(ARA) - Summer picnic season is upon us, and that means it is time to grab the sunglasses, cooler and sunscreen, and head outdoors. But people are not the only ones who want to enjoy the warm weather. Flying, stinging insects like bees and wasps are ab...
(ARA) - It's barbecue season, and no one's ever going to complain about a delicious cut of meat cooked over a hot flame, no matter how you slice it. But do you want to merely satisfy your guests' hunger, or have them talking for the rest of the season ...
(ARA) - Lighting is possibly the most powerful tool you have when it comes to interior design. It does not make sense to invest in beautiful furniture, rugs, paintings and accessories if they are in the dark. The perfect light fixture not only illumina...
(ARA) - Every year, an estimated 40 million Americans suffer from indoor and outdoor allergies, and managing everyday life can be challenging when also faced with troublesome symptoms, like sneezing and itchy, watery eyes. Long-time allergy sufferer ...
(ARA) - What do you get the man who's done everything for you - from spending sleepless nights changing dirty diapers to trading in his muscle car for a minivan - but asked nothing in return? This year, start paying dad back for all he's done by making...
(ARA) - While most people want to help the environment in theory, when it comes down to buying green cleaning products for their office or small business, many put concerns about effectiveness and cost above whether a product is "green." Close to 60 ...
(ARA) - What gardener doesn't find tasks like weeding and watering tiresome? To tackle recurring chores like these and more with greater ease and efficiency, consider some practical tools that offer two-in-one solutions. Watering well: For a new twist...