Last night I turned on the tap to let the water heat up before I did the dishes. After a few minutes I absentmindedly stuck my fingers under the water to test the temperature. Well the water got hot a lot faster than I had anticipated and, let’s just say that a string of expletives followed. It’s so easy to forget that your tap water can hurt you. Did you know that every year thousands of people are seriously burned or even killed after being scalded by hot tap water? Neither did I until I had a chat with the helpful people at the Home Safety Council. They gave me some great suggestions for preventing hot water burns and told me about a new product that is pretty cool, especially if you are bathing young children. If the water gets dangerously hot the H2otStop anti-scald tub spout reduces the water flow to a trickle. When the water temperature cools to a safe temperature, usually in less than 30 seconds, the water flow resumes as normal. What an easy way to make sure your children are safe from burns when they’re in the tub.

My kitchen designer came back with this fabulous new design for my kitchen. (Thank you Peter, from PHC Kitchens.) It solves all my storage and counterspace issues and I love how the new design is so open. All in all, he did exactly what I asked him to do. Unfortunately, the estimate for how much it would cost to actually implement this design is well over my budget. So now I have some decisions to make. Where do I cut back? We were going to completely gut the kitchen and start over. Do I cut back on the construction costs? Do I scrimp on materials? Do I forgo the island? Tell me what you think.

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We just moved into a new office building in the suburbs and it’s a little impersonal, especially after the excitement of New York City. In an effort to help us personalize the space and add a little color, the HR Department gave us little pots of grass seed to grow. They’re actually kind of cute and would make a great party favor, since you could have the packaging personalized with a fun message or date.

It’s a fairly well known fact that indoor plants help improve the quality of the air in a home or office, so I’ve decided to try my hand at growing grass. Here’s what my project looks like on day 1.

According to the directions, my seeds should sprout in 7 to 10 days. I’ll let you know how it goes.

I’m going to go home tonight and meet with my kitchen designer, who is helping me to give my kitchen an entirely new look and to make it far more functional. This is very exciting to me and to my husband since, right now, every time I cook I tell him how much I dislike my current kitchen. Like any home renovation project, however, there are so many details and decisions.

Before you start your own kitchen redesign, ask yourself how much do you really know about kitchen renovation? Here are three questions you can ask yourself to help you get started

The standard depth for cabinets is:
A. 21 inches
B. 21 and 1/2 inches
C. 24 inches

What is the conventional kitchen "work triangle"?
A. Sink, fridge, and stove
B. Stove, fridge, and dishwasher
C. Sink, dishwasher, and stove

Which of the following is not a countertop surface?
A. Concrete
B. Paper
C. Blue jeans

Find out the answers and see how you scored and check out some of these ideas for ways you can scrimp and save on your renovation.

I’ve been feeding my dog Milk-Bones for as long as I can remember. My mom used to buy them when I was a kid for our family’s dogs and I still buy them today for my dog. I tried buying gourmet dog treats at the local dog bakery for my baby, but he’s surprisingly particular for a canine. He won’t eat the freshly baked goodies that cost me so much money, but he’ll never turn down a Milk-Bone.

This year Milk-Bone is having its 100th birthday. I don’t know why that surprises me, considering how much my dog loves them. In honor of this, they are looking for their first-ever spokesdog. If your dog is star material, send pictures or videos of you and your pooch sharing a special moment and your dog could win it’s very own modeling contract. Find out more at Milk-Bone.com.

I associate moving with cleaning, since whenever I move into a new space I like to give it a thorough cleaning before I start unpacking. That’s why these tips seemed particularly appropriate for me today. Everyone knows that baking soda is an essential tool for baking and for getting rid of funky smells in the fridge, but here are 26 other things that you probably didn’t know that you could do with baking soda, courtesy of the people at Arm & Hammer.

1. Wash fruits and vegetables
2. Shine silver
3. Clean microwave
4. Clean countertops
5. Clean and deodorize carpets and upholstery
6. Clean children’s toys and equipment
7. Deodorize drains
8. Deodorize shoes
9. Deodorize garbage cans
10. Clean marks on walls and furniture
11. Clean tile floors
12. Freshen and whiten laundry
13. Care for the pool and pool toys
14. Clean barbecue grills
15. Clean lawn furniture
16. Clean camping equipment
17. Wash the car
18. Deodorize cat litter
19. Deodorize pet bedding
20. Clean pet toys
21. Give the dog a bath
22. Clean and whiten teeth
23. Clean retainers and dentures
24. Exfoliate skin
25. Give a pedicure
26. Soothe itching from insect bites

I'm frantically trying to pack up my desk by the end of the day for our move to a new office building. In honor of that here are a few helpful ideas for all of you who are going through the same chaos in your own homes and offices.

Try these moving tips from realtor.com to help you get organized.

This Moving.Kit Organizer from Uncommon Goods has everything that you need to help you make your move smoother, except the keys to your new place.

 

The New York International Gift Fair is a pretty cool place. Twice each year hundreds of exhibitors show their products in one enormous space. I love to go and walk the aisles looking for new trends in colors, pattern or materials. The latest show took place earlier this month and, while there was so much to see, one of the things that I noticed was an unusual use of paper in home accessories. This lamp from Artecnica is a very cool example. It's essentially a pop up book with a small, but functioning, paper lamp powered by a low voltage adapter. I'm not sure how they fold it up into that tiny package, but it would look lovely on my coffee table.

If you've been wondering how you're going to get your toddler away from the television and outside to play come spring, one of their favorite shows has an idea. Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and the National Gardening Association are helping preschoolers discover how much fun gardening can be with the Wuzzleburg Preschool Garden Awards.

Have your child's preschool or day care center submit a plan for a garden that will be planted and tended by the children during 2008. 75 schools will each receive $1,000 worth of garden tools and garden- and nature-oriented teaching materials from NGA's Gardening with Kids Store.

What better way to help your child experience your love of gardening than by tending a garden of his or her own?

It looks like spring is in the air at Target. They're adding some fun seasonal products from some great designers to their stores. In addition to this beautiful bird-themed “Perch"comforter from DwellStudio, designer Cynthia Rowley's new Whim Collection includes a fun, hot pink garden hose, so you can look very stylish when you're watering the spring buds in your yard.

I'm so tired of the cold, gray days of winter that I keep looking for signs that spring is almost here. Last weekend, it was the very welcome sight of daffodils at the supermarket. Today it's these colorful placemats, napkins and table runners from Anna William.

Their pretty colors and floral theme got me thinking about spring decorating, but if pink and green don't fit into your color scheme, it's no problem. Visit the Anna William website to choose your own fabrics and matching trim. There are combinations enough to suit any decor.

Enjoy
Michele

Are you in need of a new look for your family room but aren’t sure where to start? Designer Thom Filicia wants to help. You may have seen Thom making over homes on Bravo or the Style Network. Well, the next room that he redesigns could be your family room.

 

Submit pictures of your family room and a description of your problem on Thom’s website before March 4, 2008 and he might come to your home and redecorate.

 

 

Before I met my husband I used to dread Valentine’s Day. It’s a hard day to be a single woman. Now that he and I are married, it hasn’t gotten any easier to find time for a romantic evening, especially in the middle of the week. That’s why I was happy to get some suggestions for planning a special day from designer Libby Langdon. Whether you are single or part of a couple these ideas will help make your last-minute Valentine’s Day planning easier.

Libby’s party ideas:

For singles:

Throw a Saturday Brunch "Mixer." Ask single gal pals to bring a single, straight guy that she thinks is great (in a "non-romance" kind of way).

Invite all your single girlfriends over for a spa night and hire a manicurist and a masseuse to come to your home. (Tip: If you're low on cash check out your local beauty school).

For couples:

Serve a romantic dinner for two complete with a romantic setting, fine china, candlelight and soft music.

If you and your sweetie aren’t the romantic type, try comfort food and a movie instead. It’s a good excuse to snuggle on the couch under a soft blanket with the lights on low.

For a group:

A cocktail party is a great excuse to get together for a good time. In this case, Libby recommends a "Must Wear Pink to Drink" theme.

Invite friends and family to an outdoor ice skating lunch.

Visit Libby’s website for more of her party and entertaining ideas.

Happy Valentine's Day

Michele

	Whether you’re sending or receiving any of the 150 million roses that are delivered on Valentine’s Day, choosing the right florist and knowing how to care for the flowers can extend the holiday happiness beyond a chocolate box sugar buzz.    Organic roses are popular this year and several online florists, including Organic Bouquet, will ship velvety blossoms that are as kind to the environment as you are to your sweetheart.    Recently, two dozen fair-trade certified roses were delivered to me.  The flowers came from a distributor that donates part of their proceeds back to the growers in Ecuador, and not only were the blossoms absolutely stunning, they smelled fantastic.  You can order them online, or pick some up the next time you’re at Sam’s Club   Surprisingly, those roses latest for over a week without any extra attention.  I’ve heard the usual tricks for extending the life of flowers: cutting stems on an angle, adding aspirin to their water, or using the packet of preservatives from the florist, but I don’t really know if they’re effective. A horticulturist from the University of Missouri suggests an unusual concoction made by combining 12-ounces of lemon-lime soda, 12-ounces of water and half a teaspoon of bleach.  Apparently the clear, sugary soda feeds the flowers while the bleach prevents bacteria from growing in the vase.  Does it work?  I’m going to test it on my own Valentine’s bouquet so stay stuned!   Rachel

 

 

 

 

Fellow iVillage producer and stationery enthusiast, Victoria, had some great picks for Valentine's Day cards, so I insisted she share the love with you. 

 

Read on for her recommendations and have a great weekend!

Rachel

 

Valentine’s Day is less than a week away, but you still have time to send your favorite people a little love. After all, there’s nothing sweeter than discovering a pretty valentine in the mail among the bills and catalogs. Get inspired by the charming designs by Alicia Peck at Bella Muse. Alicia’s delightfully offbeat toothbrush valentine is adorable. If you and your man have to be apart this February 14, send him this simple valentine that says it all beautifully.

 

Paper + Cup is another personal favorite for greeting cards and stationary, and this Valentine’s Day they have a cheeky number that is sure to make you smile: Tell your sweetie he's okay by you!

 

Of course, the holiday isn’t just for lovers – remember how much fun it was to make cards in grade school?  Surprise your friends, coworkers, neighbors, relatives—whoever strikes your fancy—with these adorable retro valentines from One Good Bumblebee. 

 

Did you happen to catch these gorgeous velvet finds? Nothing helps to warm up a room like heavy fabrics, and these luxe couches, chairs and pillows are worth checking out for some inspiration.  How beautiful is that French mahogany rose velvet chair? 

Enjoy, 
Rachel  

 

 

I really enjoyed our community’s discussion on kitchen helpers they can’t live without.  A lot of the must-have gadgets mirror these thirty time-saving kitchen tools, which actually left off my all-time favorite kitchen appliance: coffee maker with built-in grinder. Automatically set to grind beans and brew a perfect cup of Joe as I’m waking up, year after year, this machine keeps me caffeinated and out of the long, morning lines at Starbucks.

 

What tools, gadgets and helpers would you add to the list?

 

Enjoy,

Rachel

Forget that it’s freezing out, if you’re still celebrating the Giant’s big win or drowning your sorrows over New England’s loss, a frozen drink maker is totally an appropriate appliance to want.  Make some icy-alcoholic drinks with this frozen concoction maker, a finalist for a Housewares Design Award – the Superbowl of the appliance world, if you will.  A handful of outstanding, efficient designs have been nominated, check back on Wednesday to see which take home the honors.

 

Enjoy,

Rachel

 

The concrete jungle of New York City is famous for its skyscrapers, not so much for its trees.  However, the role of a 230-year old elm tree in the city’s campaign to plant one million trees in the next decade, is creating quite a buzz.  As the National Trust for Historic Preservation's blog reports today, this monstrous elm, which has grown to 110 feet, is being preserved by cloning. Cuttings from this tree, and 25 other native varieties, will be grafted onto roots to create new trees and planted throughout the city.  What a great way to go-green, NYC.

 

Have a great weekend.

Rachel