Snowy days call for ice skating, hot-chocolate picnics, and sledding parties. But even the hardiest New Englander needs a bit of shelter from the cold. Sling this repurposed flannel quilt over your shoulder, and when the winter chill seeps in, unfurl its warmth and snuggle up! Try using soft old shirts and blankets for the […]
Living
A couple remakes a ho-hum 1980s home into a cozy country-living cottage.
Maaike and Erik Bernstrom found the home of their dreams in Middletown, Rhode Island. Or, rather, they found the house that would become the home of their dreams through hard work and perserverance. Take a visual tour of their 1980s contemporary house turned shingled country cottage. See more work by photographer Nat Rea: http://www.natrea.com See […]
Flowers are the perfect holiday gift for the person who has everything, but nobody wants to give a present that’s going to die after a few days. Follow these tips to make flower arrangements last longer. 1. Purchase the freshest flowers possible. Avoid flowers that are weeping, have discolored petals or are fully open with […]
Save money on Christmas decor by incorporating nature into your decorating scheme. Collect pine cones and acorns when walking in the woods, and then dress them up for the season following these simple steps. 1. Wipe them clean with a paper towel or soft rag and keep them in a dry place. 2. If you […]
How To
Locate a Leak under the Sink
If you have water dripping under the sink, you have to locate the source before you can fix it. Chances are that the leak is so small that it’s hard to tell exactly where the water is coming from. Find the source of the link in three easy steps: 1. Dry the pipe. 2. Smear […]
Gardens
Force Amaryllis Bulbs to Bloom
Add a little color and beauty to your surroundings this winter by forcing amaryllis bulbs to bloom.
I took my three little boys shopping at the Co-op two days before Christmas and got many, many looks of sympathy mixed with envy. We made a mad spectacle that reminded people how much fun holidays can be when children are a part of the celebration. Nobody was whining, no one had a runny nose, […]
As much as I love wrapping gifts in pretty papers, I have a hard time justifying the waste of all that paper, much of which can not be recycled due to the dyes used. Store-bought gift bags can be reused, but eventually those will wear out. I’m striving for a paperless holiday, with all of […]
Wrapping terra-cotta pots in fabric adds a bit of visual pop to your home. Best of all, it’s easy to match the season or your mood with the wide selection of fabric patterns that are available in the marketplace today. To make decorative fabric-wrapped pots, glaze the inside of the pots and avoid using them […]
How To
Five-Minute Shadow Box
Our new house was built in 1920 and is the oldest house I’ve ever owned. I feel like I should turn in my Yankee credentials to admit that fact, but there it is. My childhood homes near Hartford, CT were built in the 1940s and 1980s, respectively. When my husband and I bought our first […]
How To
Safely Clean Your TV Screen
Before you clean your TV screen, turn off the set and wait till it’s cool. If you don’t, the act of wiping the screen can cause static buildup that will discharge back to your TV, resulting in severe damage. Even if the set is off, don’t touch the controls immediately after cleaning your set. Instead, […]