Category: HOME

So You Think Money Is for Spending? We Need To Talk

It took me a dreadfully long time to understand this important truth: Money is not for spending. It is for managing first, and then for spending. It takes courage to believe it, but when you do, it will profoundly change the way you think about and manage your money. Imagine this: It’s Friday, a day…


Lessons From a 2-Year-Old

I gave my son and daughter-in-law lots of gifts when their son, Elijah, was born. But none has come back to bless me more than the gift of Friday. Since he was 6 weeks old, I’ve closed the door to work on Fridays to care for and learn from my grandson, Eli. In these two…


Install a Ceiling Fan

Energy experts agree that a ceiling fan will reduce your energy bills by providing additional cooling and better circulation so you can lower air conditioning costs. Before you choose a fan, measure the room’s length, width and ceiling height so you’ll choose the correct size fan for the space. You don’t want a fan to…


Design Recipes: Less Is More

By Cathy Hobbs From Tribune News Service Minimalism remains a strong design trend and preferred choice of many homeowners and apartment dwellers. For many, living with less creates calm and order. No longer are these environments considered sparse and sanitized, either—instead it can be a functional design choice. From foundations such as the Bauhaus style…


Unwanted Guests? How to Make Sure Ants Don’t Set up Shop in Your Home This Summer

By Lindsay Smith From The Wichita Eagle Summertime is quickly approaching, and while people may be hoping to spend more time outdoors, one insect could be paying a visit inside. Many parts of the country are home to multiple species of ant, including carpenter, pavement, ghost and acrobat ants, just to name a few. Professor…


Raising Backyard Chickens Requires Money, Time and Pluck. Here’s How to Do It

By Christopher Vondracek From Star Tribune (Minneapolis) Minneapolis—Only once did the chickens fly—or fence-hop—into Nancy Engberg’s neighbor’s yard in north Minneapolis. And no, it wasn’t just to cross the road to get to the other side. “I watched them go over,” Engberg said, describing a mildly alarming incident early in her tenure tending to an…


How to Plan the Perfect Patio

By Tim Carter From Tribune Content Agency Recently, I had the enormous pleasure to help my son achieve one of his goals. He bought a new home last year and quickly discovered how much he missed the stunning red-brick patio he grew up with at our last home. One day last fall, his mother and…


The Backyard Medicine Cabinet: Growing Your Own Medicinal Herb Garden

“I think everyone should have a medicinal garden in their backyard,” says herbalist Nicole Apelian, who also sells a seed kit in her online store. Here, she recommends her favorite, beginner-friendly herbs to grow. Whether you start with one or plan a full garden, be sure to “study your plants,” she says, “so you know…


4 DIY Herbal Remedies for Beginners From Herbalist and Survival Expert Nicole Apelian

Feeling under the weather? Herbalist Nicole Apelian has just the thing. Here, she shares some of her top DIY remedies for common ailments. Be sure to source your herbs from a trusted source—Apelian recommends Mountain Rose Herbs’s organic and wild-harvested herbs—or better yet, grow your own. For Colds, Flu, or Respiratory Illness: Elderberry Tincture My top…


Refinish an Older Linoleum Floor with Paint

Dear James: Our kitchen linoleum floor is discolored and worn but is still sound. Can a linoleum floor be refinished with paint, and can I do it myself?—Nora H. Dear Nora: Yes, a linoleum floor can be painted with a solid color or a unique pattern. People often rip out linoleum because it is scuffed…