House Calls: The Home and Food Blog at iVillage.com

This lovely kitchen was designed by GardenWeb user katieob. In spite of its predominantly white color, she was able to keep it warm and welcoming by mixing woods and soapstone with the white marble and cabinets. A coat of soft blue-colored paint above the sink and in the adjoining family room helped to keep the kitchen from feeling cold.

See more pictures of katieob's kitchen and get the details on the products she picked.

photo: GardenWeb user katieob

If your former spouse is having trouble paying the mortgage on the home you once owned together, you may be wondering if you'll be responsible for some of the debt if the house goes into foreclosure. Don't worry, says CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich, if your ex was awarded the house in your divorce settlement, then he was most likely also made responsible for the mortgage. Check with your divorce lawyer to confirm the terms of your settlement.

I've been searching for Valentine's Day decorations that are a little more substantial than paper cupids and foil hearts. I found a few that are nice enough to use all year.

Happily Ever After Pillowcases ($40, Gumps.com)

Limited Edition Trellis Pillow with Insert ($49, BallardDesigns.com)


See 8 more charming decorations that will add some romance to your home

photos: Gumps.com (top) and BallardDesigns.com (bottom)

The February Pottery Barn catalog came over the weekend and, as I was thumbing through it, I found myself craving some of their new pillow covers. Here are a few that I'd love to curl up with.

This Faux-Sheepskin Pillow Cover looks so soft. ($19, PotteryBarn.com)

The Sweater-Knit Pillow Cover reminds me of my favorite old sweater. ($39, PotteryBarn.com)

The Paper Crochet Pillow Cover is made by hand from strips of paper that are tightly twisted and crocheted. ($39-$49, PotteryBarn.com)

Hydrangea is one of my favorite flowers. I can wait for my bushes to bloom this spring. With these Hydrangea Embroidered Pillow Covers, I almost feel like they already have. ($49, PotteryBarn.com)


photos: PotteryBarn.com

Borrowing money from family can present a myriad of problems including causing serious damage to the relationship. That's why the borrower often puts a lot of pressure on herself to pay the debt back as quickly as possible. Don't let your emotions interfere with your plan to get out of debt, says CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. Focus on paying your debt with the highest interest rate first. Once you've paid done that, devote the money that you were using to pay off your credit cards to pay back your family.

I just got a sneak peak at Waverly's Spring 2010 fabrics. Check out a few of the colorful patterns from their new Classic Companion XIV Collection.

Cheri Flamingo (673532)

Cheri Turquoise (673531)

Tres Chic Flamingo (670682)

Sally Stripe Nest (651861)

photos: courtesy of Waverly

Are the long, dark winter days starting to get you down? This time of year lots of people start suffering from the affects of the lack of sunlight. For some, it's just a decrease in energy or a little weight gain, but for others it can develop into a serious case of Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). Brighten up your décor, as well as your mood, with a new lamp. Here are a few whose sunny colors and natural materials remind me of a tropical island.

Modeled after the glass floats used by Japanese fishermen, the Float Table Lamp is made from hand blown glass and knotted jute rope. ($200-$249, PotteryBarn.com)

The Sissone Wood Table Lamp is made from natural mango wood. Top it with an 18-inch Seagrass Couture Hardback Lamp Shade for a beach-cottage look. ($119 for the base and $50 for the shade, BallardDesigns.com)

The Optic Sea Glass Table Lamp looks like glass that's been tumbled in the waves. ($89.95, CrateandBarrel.com)

Add some cheer to your office with a vibrant orange desk lamp. ($49.95, CrateandBarrel.com)

The citrus-colored Fruiteria lamp is just what the doctor ordered. ($298, Anthropologie.com)

photos (top to bottom): PotteryBarn.com, BallardDesigns.com, CrateandBarrel.com (2) and Anthropologie.com

Orange isn't the only color being paired with blue for a fresh new look this season. The combination of green and blue keeps popping up in products from bedding to bathroom accessories. Check out some of the accessories that can be found in this new palette.

Springmaid reversible decca sea mist and beechnut coverlet ($55.99 for queen, Sears.com)

Limited edition trellis pillow in green arden with insert ($49, BallardDesigns.com)

Floral and dot embroidered pillow in carafe brown ($29.95, Pier1.com)

Cottage stripe cotton rug in fisher ticking ($28-$385, GarnetHill.com)

Waverly toothbrush holder ($9.99, Burlington Coat Factory stores)

photos (top to bottom): Sears.com, BallardDesigns.com, Pier1.com, GarnetHill.com and Waverly

The tech blogs have been buzzing for days about Apple's latest innovation. Rumors have predicted everything from a bigger version of the iPhone to the next must-have tool for students and business people. Well the wait is finally over. Today Apple unveiled the iPad. With a 9.7-inch touch screen display that is only .5-inches thick, this gizmo is small enough to fit into a handbag. It will let users browse the web, play games, watch videos, listen to music, read books and magazine and more. There's even a new app called iBooks that lets users download content from many of the major publishers including HarperCollins, Penguin and Simon & Schuster. All this comes with a hefty price tag, though. The 16GB version with Wi-Fi will set you back $499, while the cost goes up to $629 if you want 3G. Will this slim, lightweight computer replace the Kindle or the Nook—or even paper? You tell me.



photo: courtesy of Apple

Managing money is a skill that children need to learn. From building a budget and balancing a checkbook to saving for retirement and making investments, eventually they'll need to start making their own money decisions. If your kids are starting to ask questions about the stock market, take advantage of their curiosity to teach them a little bit about finance. Start by making sure they have a well-funded savings account, suggests CNBC personal finance expert Carmen Wong Ulrich. Then, if they can afford to lose it, let them take a little bit of money to invest on their own. Index Funds and Exchange Traded Funds are great places for beginners to start. Online brokers like TDAmeritrade.com and ETrade.com can help them get started. Watch the video to see Carmen explain.