Eric and Cindy share some ideas on how to decorate your home for easter

Watching The Stars with Your Own Lights, Cameras, Action at Home

It’s the glam of Hollywood that gets millions of us to tune in and see not only if our favorite Actor or Actress, gets an Oscar, but if the movie we loved in the theater is awarded that coveted statuette. Then again, face it, sometimes it just as much about what the celebs are wearing. So this is a fun way to get a group together and take it all in, starting with your own Red Carpet arrivals. Set the stage in your place so your friends, and family, feel they are getting that star studded treatment, red carpet, paparazzi and all, and then from food and snacks to drinks of the night, and swag, you will have a night that everyone will remember for years to come. Here are more ideas for your Oscar night viewing party!

Food

The Candy Bar – Set up theater candy in large glass jars or bowls and fill them with sour patch kids, M&M’s, Reese’s pieces, licorice and provide scoops and bags so guests can pick and choose.
Offer other movie theater faves, like big pretzels with dipping sauces like plum sauce for an Asian vibe and popcorn with flavorings and plates of nachos with cheese, sour cream, guac and salsa.

Décor

Create a way to display award nominees with a piece of black foam board with one for each award category.
Make your home look like a theater with track lighting – strings of lights to show the way to food, beverages and the exits to restrooms.

Games

Ballots for all of the nominees so guests can predict who the winners will be. Those who get it right go home with a bottle of champagne and dinner and a movie passes.

Included in this article: 

• Romantic dining – you got this
• Why it’s great
• The secret weapon

I’m here to help. If your drain’s clogged, I’ll tell you how to unclog it. If you need to hire a contractor, I’ll tell you what questions to ask. And if you want to give the love of your life a romantic evening she’ll never forget I want you to think of me as your virtual wingman.

You got this

My all-purpose tips will work just as well for an anniversary or even as a gesture of apology.  And while a diamond necklace might be equally suitable for these occasions, my idea for a simple, romantic dinner will get you the same results without putting that huge ding in your budget.

Step one: If you have kids, find a baby sitter. Better yet, work out a sleep over exchange with friends. You can pay them back later. This is an opportunity to show her how much you care so careful preparation to make her the center of the universe will give you a great return on your investment.

Romantic Dining Throw down the gauntlet and issue an intriguing invitation. I want you to really go out on a limb here; write the invitation in poetry. Don’t freak, just think of poetry as a form of code.  The whole point of this exercise in romantic dining is to do the unexpected, so go all in. This is no time to wimp out.

Slip the invitation into her purse or briefcase or leave it on her dashboard or pillow. You can even go old school and send her something in the mail. The point is use your imagination and capitalize on the element of surprise.

TIP: If she happens to be one of those people who keep their calendar packed with events, leave the date open and invite her to help select it.

Step three: Where?  You have choices. You can arrange for dinner at a restaurant, you can order in or you can shop and cook the whole meal. Trust me on this; the food is secondary to your impeccable thought and preparation so go with what you can afford and what sounds like the best time for her.

For romantic dining out, make a reservation. If the restaurant participates you can book your table easily via the Internet using OpenTable.com. When the big night arrives I want you to bust out the impressive romantic gestures: Help her into her coat, open her car door and pull out her chair. A little pampering will go a long way.

For romantic dining in.  This is entirely within your capabilities. Cooking a meal is not that hard.  Like construction, there are steps to follow.  Keep the food straightforward, tasty and beautiful to look at.  If you know your way around a grill, pick up some nice meat and have at it. Add a simple menu, then prepare courses in advance and heat them up for serving.  And naturally stick with her favorite foods.

TIP:  Clean the kitchen as you cook and plan to clean up the dishes after dinner as well. A pile of dirty dishes is about as romantic as your stinky socks.

If you want to dine in, but stay out of the kitchen, a great meal is as close as your phone.  There are many nice restaurants willing to prepare amazing meals and deliver them to your doorstep.  Put your efforts into setting the mood with an intriguing decor. Plate the food and like magic, you will have the perfect romantic feast.

Step four: Create the perfect romantic atmosphere.  Move the table outside to a patio or balcony, or even set it up in the bedroom. Throw on a nice tablecloth, cloth napkins. Break out the good china and silverware. Think candles, flowers and a romantic music playlist to run in the background. If you have a fireplace, light it up.  Start the evening with a first-rate bottle of wine or champagne poured into crystal glasses and end it with something sumptuously chocolate.

Step five: You’ve made it this far; bases are loaded. Now it’s time to hit one into the bleachers. This is the most important part of the equation; you want to give her your full attention. Let her direct the conversation and practice being a good listener. There’s nothing more romantic than having someone hang on your every word.

Hopefully, your evening will score big. The fact that you made this astonishing effort should insure that.  And if you think you only need to do this once… I say think about once a month… or once every three months… but definitely not less than once a year.

Be sure to read some of our other articles that may help you out, too, such as: SHABANG!  YOU DID IT YOURSELF!;  What Every Man Wants (not sex) Tools!  and  WHAT EVERY WOMAN WANTS (besides communication) MANAGABLE PROJECTS!

Cindy and Eric’s Countdown to the Holidays!

We are always looking for ways to get more done to the spaces you call home, without feeling overwhelmed or stressed. With the holidays coming up in a matter of weeks, here is our 10 To Do’s List to tackle every week so you are organized, and not maxed out this season.

Click here for our 10 To Do’s Download List

Click the player below to listen:

We’ve created planners to help you through the holidays! Put these pages into a ringed binder for safe keeping and better organization. Much more information coming very shortly…

To Make A Ringed Binder:

• Right Click Here and “Save As” to Download the Cover
• Right Click Here and “Save As” to Download the Spine

Planner Pages (click to download as PDF):

Getting Ready for House Guests

Included in this article:

• Plan ahead
• Four simple things to remember
• Special touches

It doesn’t matter whether it’s your old college roomie, a favorite gad-about aunt or [whimper] your mother-in-law, when you have a houseguest coming you want to make the very best impression possible. And the way to do that is with flawless preparation… I have a few useful tips to get you started. (Read more.)

It pays to plan ahead.

The whole point of inviting friends and family to come visit is so you can leisurely enjoy their company. Breakfast, lunch, dinner, rental movies, family game night, and late night hot chocolate – you’re in it to win it. But the visit won’t be very relaxing if you’re running around the whole time trying to get things done so advance preparation is key.

Think S.T.A.Y

1. Space. You need a place for your guest to sleep. An extra bedroom is a luxury but if you don’t have one you can even put your guest up on a sofa and make her comfortable. Give everything a good dusting, including sofa cushions. Wash the bedding, and take blankets or comforters outside for a little air. Stash papers and clutter. Arrange things in a way to provide some empty space in the closet and bathroom; this will go a long way to making your guests feel at home.
2. Taste.  Do a little research. What does your guest like? Is she a morning person who craves orange juice, bacon and the morning news? Or is she a night owl who prefers a good mystery novel and a cup of hot cocoa?  Either way, stock up on her favorite items and she will be amazed at your attention to detail.
3. Activities. Most visitors will want to do a little sight-seeing in addition to your house or apartment. Make up a list of local activities; include closing times and transportation accommodations in case you won’t be able to go along.
4. You. Your guest is coming to stay with you so make yourself as available as much as possible. If you can’t take off work during her visit at least try to plan time for special activities.

Special touches

Buy new pillows and high thread count bedding if possible. You can find these things on sale cheap enough these days and it’s more than just a luxury.

Stock up on small versions of toiletries such as toothbrushes, soap and shampoo in case your guest happened to forget these items.  Place an extra box of tissues and additional rolls of toilet paper in an obvious spot.  When getting ready for guests, it’s the small things that make a difference.

Accommodate your guest by having an extra set of house keys made for them so you won’t have to worry about their comings and goings

A welcome communication

Plan a light schedule for down time as well as activities, but prepare to be flexible.  House guests generally only stay for a few days so even if your schedule is interrupted it won’t be forever. Lunch and dinner out can be event driven opportunities.  Plan a stop at a local attraction but skip that movie out.  You can go to a movie anywhere; instead try to show your friends something unique in your community.  Have a guidebook handy and flag places and activities that may interest your guests.

If you like to entertain, and your guests are in the mood for some social interaction, throw a barbecue and invite the neighbors.  For some more ideas see my journal entry on Outdoor Entertaining [http://cindydole.com/on-air/2009/9/8/outdoor-entertaining.html].

Enjoy

Most importantly, don’t get too obsessed.  Find time to chat, unwind and laugh.

For other information on getting ready for guests, take a look at this online resource from The Los Angeles Times:  The good host: Think of essentials and more for guests

Chalk It Up

Included in this article:

• Why it’s great.
• Game on
• Make Your Own Paint Recipe
• Ideas

Bottom line: when you have kids, you’re going to have chalk. Chalk is just a product that seems to come with the territory. And hey, when you consider the alternatives, chalk is not bad stuff to have around. It generally doesn’t stain or permanently alter a surface, (even clothing.) It’s generally non-toxic. And it can be quite useful under certain circumstances. (Read on…)

Game On

Tic-tac-toe, Hang Man, even table football, it’s easy to make a changeable game board with chalkboard paint. For some game board great ideas check out PencilAndPaperGames.com.

Chalkboard paint can be expensive, but thanks to Martha Stewart and the internet, DIY chalkboard paint is as near as your local home improvement store. You can make it in any color you like and it’s considerably cheaper than the over-the-counter brand.  

Chalkboard Paint Recipe

Using Martha’s recipe we can take an ordinary dorm trunk and turn it an awesome game center and storage space for a child’s room.

Supplies:
1 pints of Acrylic paint (black plus 3-4 bright colors)
Small bag of unsanded tile grout
Paint Stirrer
Dorm trunk
Stencils (optional)
Chalk
Eraser
Painter’s tape
Ruler
Pencil

Purchase the dorm trunk at a retailer like Wal-Mart for around $50. I found the one that I used on Craigslist.org for free. You can also place an ad on Craigslist.org in the “Wanted” section or check your local Goodwill.

Mix paint colors according to Martha’s recipe. I used black for my base color. Then I chose 3 bright colors for my accents.

Clean trunk and tape off any of the hardware. Apply base color to the top and four sides of the trunk with a roller or sponge type paint brush. (It is not necessary to paint the bottom.) Let the base color set for several hours until it dries completely.

Use accent colors and stencils to paint 3 or 4 simple games on the top.

Once paint is dry, hold a piece of chalk sideways. Rub the wide edge against the painted surface. Then erase it. This will condition the surface so the kids can write on it. That is all it takes to make a great toy box or storage area that doubles as a fun game center for your kids.

Organize a Craft Cabinet from McKay Designs

http://www.kmckaydesigns.com/projects/chalkboard-paint-ideas-and-recipe.html

Way to Score from Apartment Therapy

Chalkboard paint ideas for every room of the house

http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/dc/roundup/the-many-looks-of-chalkboard-paint-148357

Compost Tea is a  Cool Cuppa Grow

Included in this article:

• Fertilizer in a Tea Cup… Not
• Brew Up Some Compost Tea
• Eric’s Compost Tea Recipe

You’ve heard me talk about compost before. I love the stuff. It’s great on oatmeal – just kidding. Seriously, compost is like black gold in the garden. It’s an organic way to create a healthy soil environment where microbial life converts organic matter from your kitchen into nutrients that your plants will love. But there’s something even better than compost. It’s something I like to call Cuppa Grow.  Trust me on this, your plants will love every last drop. (read on…)

While this isn’t something you would serve in fine china it is good for your plants.  Compost tea is more than fertilizer. It involves all the good and bad microorganisms living in your soil. You already know adding compost to your garden enriches the soil and adds loads of nutrients to your plants. Well, compost tea is a concentrated solution of plain old compost, brewed into a liquid that can be poured around plants or sprayed directly on the foliage.

Studies have found the microorganisms literally explode when mixed into this special brew. Not only are those good microbes chomping away and creating nutrients, but also their vast numbers squeeze out the disease causing bad microbes.

Compost tea is not hard to brew up yourself. You can buy a commercial system and be ready to go in no time. Commercial systems usually come with a bucket or container for the tea, filters, compost tea catalyst and a pump to agitate the water. The aerating process seems to make the microbes grow faster and needs to run from 12 to 24 hours (definitely not something you’re going to do by hand). The cost can be anywhere from $50 and on up, depending on how large and fancy you want to go.  A good middle of the road system should cost about $100, like this one:  The Bountea Garden Brew Kit http://www.bountea.com/

Buying a whole system in one shot is an easy solution but you can also create your own system with not much work or expense. A five or 10-gallon plastic container should be fine.  Stuff the compost into a filter. Think of this as the tea bag. The leg of an old panty hose works well.  Add a bit of compost tea catalyst, generally a rich brew of seaweed extract and minerals, to enhance microbial growth. Check with your local garden center or order a catalyst online from Bountea as well. A little goes a long way, so follow the manufacturer’s instructions.

You’ll also need a small aquarium or fountain pump. Even a small 10-gallon an hour pump is sufficient for agitating the tea and should cost around $10.

Supplies:

• Five to 10 gallon plastic bucket
• Compost (from your own pile)
• Filter (one leg from a pair of pantyhose)
• String
• Small aquarium or fountain pump

Instructions:

1. Fill the container with water. If you’re using city water, it may have chlorine in it, so let it sit for about a day in order for the chlorine to evaporate. Alternatively, use distilled water so you can get to work right away.
2. Add the catalyst to the water and swish around. You can think of this as munchies for your microbes.
3. Stuff your filter (the leg of a panty hose) with good-quality compost. Tie it off with a string. Just like a tea bag, dunk the filter into the water.
4. Add the aquarium pump to the container and set to run for 12 to 24 hours. It’ll look frothy. That’s good because that’s where the nutrients and microorganisms live.
5. Pour the compost tea around the base of your plants or use it as a spray. Use the compost left over in the filter on your plants, too. Don’t let that good stuff go to waste.

Online Resources:

How to Make Compost Tea & Why You Should from Treehugger
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2011/02/how-to-make-use-compost-tea.php

Conquering the Entertainment Center

Included in this article:

• Supplies
• Sorting Movies
• Sorting Games

When I was a kid, our entertainment center was the backyard! Now, there is an explosion of things you can buy to entertain your kids. Some of it is even worthwhile. The problem is how to organize it. (Read on.)

In 2010 the movie Avatar sold over 10 million copies. That is a lot of DVDs. Factor in that nearly every household in America has some type of game system featuring controllers, floor mats, musical instruments, steering wheels. That’s a lot of clutter.

I see nothing wrong with enjoying a movie at home with the family or playing video games with your kids. I love the fact that video games like the Wii and XBox Kinect encourage us to get up and get active. What I’m not keen on is the mess. Follow a few simple steps and you can have a nice, neat entertainment center and maybe some extra cash in your pocket.

Supplies:

• 2 Boxes
• Marker
• Trash Bag
• Dust Rag
• Several Baskets

Sorting Movies

(Crystal, let’s include a cd/dvd binder as an organizational tool, too. Here’s one at Amazon… maybe find one at Walmart, too. http://www.amazon.com/Case-Logic-DVB-200-Liner-Capacity/dp/B000JJSQ3K)  and you’ll want to include this in the supplies. So maybe a paragraph on planning first. Figure out what you have the most of.  You can still keep the sort/give/sell, just cut it down because it’s very similar to the clutter article. In fact, you can mention it briefly and include a link to the clutter article. Less redundancy. Browse around and find some creative examples for storing/organizing stuff and include the links. You can give credit to the links. Look at Curbly.com

Also for rockband stuff check into the rock box… they have it at Costco and Walmart. We have one. It stores everything, including controllers.

Since the entertainment center is a place the whole family gathers for fun and games, cleaning it out should be a family event. Gather everyone together on a Saturday morning and rip into it.
Start by emptying the entertainment center. If it is a pretty day (no rain), you can spread a few blankets out in the yard. Place all movies (DVDs, Blu-rays, etc.) on one blanket. Place all video game consoles on another blanket. Then finally place all video game discs/cartridges on another blanket.

Take your marker and write “Sell” on one box and “Give” on your other box. Now comes the hard part. Deciding what to keep, what to sell and what to give away. Let’s start with the movies. As time goes by, I have come to realize that with all the many different ways I can obtain a movie or TV show for my viewing pleasure (i.e. Netflix, iTunes, Hulu, DVR, OnDemand) there is no need for any family to own more than a handful of movies. So, most of the movies in your collection will end up in one of your 2 boxes. To decide if they are to keep, give or sell, ask yourself some questions.

• When was the last time I watched this?
• Do the kids watch this often?
• Can I rent this for $5 or under?

The only movies that will go in the “give” box are VHS tapes or DVDs that were bought at a dollar store. These do not sell very well but can be given to your local Goodwill. All the rest can be sold individually or in lots. While you are sorting, keep in mind those questions. When we did this at my house I had a few family members who wanted to keep every movie. If you have movie hoarders in your family, you may have to give them a limit. Tell them to pick out 5 or 6 of their favorite movies.

When it comes time to sell your DVDs, you can sell them all at one time on eBay as a large lot or you can check out sites like www.sell-dvds.com or www.dvdpawn.com and sell them individually. Take the remaining DVDs and put them back in your entertainment center in alphabetical order for easy access.

Sorting Games

If you or a member of your family is an avid gamer, you may have more than one video game console. It’s okay to have a variety it’s not okay to be redundant. For instance, if you own a Wii and a GameCube, then you should know that all your GameCube games can be played on the Wii. So, you only need to keep the Wii. You can sell the GameCube console on eBay. Vintage video game systems sell fairly well on eBay. As for video games that people no longer play, GameStop has a great buyback program.

Sort through your video games in the same manner you did with the movies. Remember to ask yourself the same questions you did with the movies. Has it been played recently? Can I rent this for under $5? Remember, companies like RedBox and Gamefly both rent video games. It is not necessary to own every video game on the market. (too many ‘remembers’)

Once you are done sorting place consoles and controllers into their own baskets for storage. After you have put all the movies and games back resist buying new movies or games. Not only will you keep your entertainment center clutter-free, you will put more money back into your pocket.

For Video Game trade-ins http://www.gamestop.com/gs/specialty/tradeins/
RedBox Video Game Rentals http://www.redbox.com/games
Gamefly Video Game Rental http://www.gamefly.com/
Sell used DVDs www.sell-dvds.com  or  www.dvdpawn.com

For nearly 14 years, Steven Cometa and friends have devoted serious time, and creative energy to transforming his grandmother’s front yard and home into a creepy, frightening yet fun destination around Halloween time. For those who are really into this thing, it’s known as a “Halloween Haunt” and it’s a fraternity of pardon the expression “die-hard” enthusiasts who love not only to get scared but to design something with the effects, the set, the costumes and the bells and whistles to make their home the scariest on the block.

Steven talks about how you take your Halloween decor to new heights, starting with a theme. For Steven, this year’s House on Frankel street takes on a creepy carnival vibe.

Check it out at:
http://www.facebook.com/events/165684253555804/?fref=ts