10/25/2007

DIY: Customize a sofa slipcover with fabric paint

NATALIE CAUDILL/DMN

To add spice to the all-white faux-fur Kottla slipcover from Ikea (from $19 for a loveseat to $89 for our furry four-seater model), designer Laura Ford used Folk Art Fabric Paint ($1.59 each at Michaels) to make polka dots. And, she says, the process was so easy, anyone can do it.
Photos: Step-by-step instructions

10/01/2007

A better way: Clean wine glasses better

09/13/2007

Baby-sitter checklist for parents
Looking forward to a date without the kids, but worried about the baby sitter? Meri-K Appy, president of the Home Safety Council, offers some tips for parents:

06/26/2007

10 tips for propane-grill safety
When you fire up your propane grill, be sure to do it safely. Fires and explosions are most common when a grill is first used after a long period of storage and when a new propane cylinder is attached. Here are some tips.

05/29/2007

Get organized and stress less
Productivity expert Laura Stack, who has written about managing time at work, moves to the home in Find More Time: How to Get Things Done at Home, Organize Your Life, and Feel Great About It.

05/28/2007

Party destinations for kids
Your kid wants a super-cool birthday party, but you can't deal with all those kids grinding cake into your carpet? Here are some creative solutions.

5 ways to start loving your body
Everyone gets hung up about a certain body part once in a while, but if your body bashing occurs 100 times a day, you're probably attacking your soul. Here are five ways to curb the self-criticism and feel good about the way you look:

05/25/2007

Show your e-mail who's boss
Taking control of your electronic mail is just as important as dealing with the reams of paper that seem to overtake you at work and at home. The key is to have a plan and stick with it.

05/16/2007

First step to changing your life through organizing
Organize your bedroom closet with these ideas from Brook Noel, author of The Change Your Life Challenge: A 70-Day Life Makeover Program for Women (Champion, $16).

Recognize trouble behind the wheel
Does your car seem to shake and shiver when you're behind the wheel? If so, your car may require immediate attention from a mechanic.

05/11/2007

Makeup Junkie: Take care of your beauty stash

Makeup can be a lot of fun. Experimenting with different colors and textures allows for a lot of creativity. It can be easy to forget the potential threats hidden in beauty products. Bacteria like to grow in makeup cabinets if items aren't properly cleaned. Here's how to keep everything safe.

05/12/2007

Get your kids to help with the chores
When the kids help around the house, it's not just work off your shoulders -- it teaches them worthwhile life skills. Here's how to get them to do it, and what they can do at each age.

04/22/2007

How to discuss money, death and wills
Death planning – drawing up a will, designating someone for durable power of attorney, delineating a health care directive – is the family discussion that most would rather save for another day. And yet, with death as the most certain of life's events, it is a given that families are better off having that family meeting earlier, when the stakes are low, rather than when death is pounding at the door.

04/19/2007

For birthday parties at home, don't overdo
If you're planning a birthday party for your home, here are some tips: