It’s August! Rather than being dismayed at the end of summer fun, it’s time to take advantage of the hot deals available this month. As everyone prepares for the crisp fall season, retailers are anxious to unload outdoor gear and there are screaming good deals to be had. If you want to save some cash [...]

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Packing lunches is a great way to save cash and eat healthfully: No running out for a $9 fast food lunch or succumbing to the temptations of the office vending machine for you, and no mystery meat school lunches for your kids. But all those plastic sandwich bags (or Saran Wrap, for that matter) are [...]

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Sunday night was the premier of Season 4 of Mad Men. I adore this show not only for the fab dialogue and story lines but also for the style! America’s fascination with mid-century style has really taken off over the last three years, and it’s fun to see so many stores offering remakes and offshoots [...]

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If you have kids, pets, a house or a garden, then you have a use for TubTrugs. These flexible, lightweight polyethylene tubs are washable, bendable, crushable and just about indestructible. They come in 14 bright colors and six practical sizes to make just about any storing or carrying job a breeze. In the garden:The large [...]

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Although I am a huge fan hard surface floors (tiles, stone, wood, laminate) because they’re low maintenance, I find myself always shopping for the perfect area rug to soften up certain living areas in the home. The kitchen often poses a particular challenge because you need something that looks good and is also easy to [...]

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This summer seems to be the season of buying housewarming gifts. Not sure why so many of my friends are in transition, but I’ve attended at least four housewarming barbecues, cocktail parties and brunches in the last couple of months. I love a good party, but in these cases I’m also faced with the challenge [...]

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I hate to mop. Who doesn’t? While I spot clean when necessary, my kitchen floors haven’t been cleaned in a LONG time; I was thinking of hiring a cleaning person just to avoid the watery, grimey mess of mopping. Then I bought the Europro Shark Steam Mop. I’ve been wanting one for a while, and [...]

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I’m a casualty of the east coast heat wave, and lately all I can think about is staying cool. I don’t have air conditioning, and while it would be easy enough to pop over to the hardware store to pick one up, a part of me enjoys finding ways to beat the heat without it. [...]

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Expecting a crowd? Check out Sur La Table’s amazing summer sale, which features a number of cool items for serving! Aren’t these cute? Le Creuset’s virtually non-porous stoneware is fired at 2156°F, giving it superior strength and durability—and making it resistant to chipping, cracking and staining. These little stars are $8.99 each. Great for individual [...]

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I saw this room scene in the Wisteria catalog recently and thought it was one of those rooms that has a timeless element to it. Cozy, worn-in furniture (has the look of hand-me-downs) and graphic accessories are set against a neutral backdrop. The oversized America flag becomes a bold focal point behind the sofa. Although [...]

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