http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden Read the Smarter Home & Garden Blog for great ideas on home decorating, gardening, entertaining, home improvement and much more. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:32:00 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en We all want to save a little money while still being festive while we prepare for the holiday season, but how does "green" or "organic" living fit into either of those categories? Sometimes it's hard in the throes of winter, to remember that greenery, though covered in snow, still survives. ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/20/green-outdoor-lighting/ I woke up this morning wrapped in my blankets like a torpedo. Or a burrito. Or a "brrr"rito, as my blanket-wrapping was in reaction to the frosted windows and frosty weather outside. Heat distribution in my house is very hard to regulate: while the kitchen and the living room get ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/19/seasonal-highlight-space-heaters/ We all have a case of the Mondays from time to time, when that alarm goes off at 7:55am (or 6:55am, or 5:55am) and all you want to do is hit the snooze, hit the hay, and fall back asleep before your head hits the pillow. I'm guilty of the ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/17/affordable-coffee-makers-wake-up/ "For Maryalice Huggins, old things — particularly fine antiques — are living, breathing beings. Some radiate irresistible allure. Auctions might as well be singles bars."- NYTimes.com Home and Garden feature article, 11/13 Maryalice Huggins, besides having a beautiful name, loves the artisanal and sumptuous quality of fine antiques and priceless heirlooms. ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/16/maryalice-huggins-the-new-and-the-old/ Today's special deal of the day is for savings found on Drs. Foster & Smith, the veterinary supply store that covers everything from household pets to farm animals. A pet can be a wonderful addition to any family, but sometimes the cost seems to overwhelm the value of the pet ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/13/deals-on-pet-supplies-at-drs-foster-smith/ Springs are for flings, but what are falls for? What type of classy affair do you have in the fall, and winter transitional, to make the weather even more delicious? I suggest some high class, parental-only soirees with some throwback martinis. To make the best martini, you really do need ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/11/fall-party-ideas-martini-mixer/ Walmart.com's Clearance sale has a perfect selection of outdoor garden and lounge furniture. Think of happier days when the weather was not getting colder every minute--what would you do to be sitting outside, sipping margs with the neighbors in some beautiful teak or wood furniture? Here are some clearance specials ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/09/deals-and-steals-at-walmartcom/ NYTimes.com article on the Home & Garden section today talked about revolutionary architect Roald Gundersen, who builds structures, furniture, and whole houses with entire branches and trunks of trees. He bends and manipulates the trees to make beautiful organic structures that liven up any home and give it an earthy ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/06/celebrity-spotlight-building-with-trees/ We all want to save a little money, but not thin down our quality of life. Electronics eat up a lot of power and money, so wherever you see an opportunity to save a little money and do things the "old-fashioned" way, I recommend doing it. Wash the dishes instead ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/05/save-money-energy-by-using-drying-racks/ Nothing's better than waking up in the morning and wrapping yourself in something fleece to start the day. May it be your luxurious bathrobe or your comforter, mornings need a little extra padding to get you from the bed to the shower, at least for me. I think there should ... http://blogs.smarter.com/homegarden/2009/11/04/snuggle-up-with-fleece-throws-this-winter/