This pretty tomato came from my garden and I’m going to use it to make my favorite sandwich ever: Tomato and mayo on good bread. Lots of salt, a little pepper. Tomato still warm from the sun. Yum!

Food for thought from NY Times Lisa Belkin.  When should kids start being responsible for some household chores? Are they capable of more than we think they are?

So excited to see the sunflowers begin to bloom in my garden! They’re well over 6 feet tall! Next year I’ll plant the dwarf variety, too.

Listen to Amy’s tips.

Perk up your porch with color!

Start with a color scheme: If you don’t know where to start, here’s a never-fail way to create a compelling color scheme. Use 3 colors. Choose your favorite color on the color wheel, and use it and the color on either side of it. Like a little more contrast? Choose your favorite [Read more →]

Listen to Amy’s tips.

A front porch is an invitation to sit back, relax and watch the world go by. It’s also like a huge welcome sign- a preview of who you are and what’s inside your home. For the prettiest porch, combine these 5 elements:

Flooring: Consider painting the floor with high gloss deck enamel. You can get creative and stencil on borders, a black and white diamond pattern or even an all over floral pattern. Top your fresh paint job with an outdoor rug or floor cloth.

Furniture: Choose something comfortable, weather resistant and [Read more →]

Listen to the interview.

You know the old saying, one mans trash is another’s treasure. Well Sue Whitney wrote the book on it. She’s the author of Junk Beautiful: Outdoor Edition and she inspires us to look at junk with a new eye and guides in the ranformation from junk to gems.

Sue is president of Junkmarket, a company that focuses on teaching people how to turn old materials into home-decor items, and founder of the Web site Junkmarket Style. In the book, she collaborates with Kimberly Melamed, a member of Junkmarket’s creative team, to help the rest of us recognize the decorative potential in other people’s unwanted stuff.

Hmmm…. here’s something I’ve learned from this year’s garden experience: I don’t need to plant quite so many cherry tomatoes next year! Short of heaving ‘em at the neighbors, I’ve decided to make the most of my bountiful bounty and get creative. Here’s my latest cherry tomato project. Add these little beauties to pasta, salads,  or skewer then with a little piece of fresh mozzarella and a basil leaf for an instant hors d oeuvre.  Of course you can also just eat them by the handful!

Oven Dried Cherry Tomatoes

24 cherry tomatoes, halved (do as many as you need, but 48 halves fit nicely on one large rimmed baking sheet) [Read more →]

Listen to the interview.

1. Focus on form- and function Keep the emphasis on beauty that earns its keep when it comes to your kitchen. Be choosy about what you bring in. Potted herbs on the window sill add beauty and culinary inspiration, fragrant hand soaps and brightly colored dishtowels get the job done while keeping your spirits up.

2. No more wretched excess For a truly efficient kitchen, keep kitchen space for just the items you use everyday, or every week. Keep your counters clear of anything that doesn’t get used daily. Gadgets and knickknacks should be kept to a minimum. Do a quick scan of cupboards and drawers and donate items you simply don’t use. Stash holiday and other rarely used items in “deeper” storage, like the basement or attic.

3. A place for everything and everything in its place An organized kitchen saves time, money and stress. For a kitchen that’s both fun and efficient to cook in, create a place for everything – and keep it where you use it. Carve out a menu planning area with paper, pencils and cookbooks. Store baking pans near the measuring cups and spoons, cutting boards near the knives and cookware and utensils near the stove.

4. Make every inch count Try [Read more →]

“Small is the new big.” That’s what Libby Langdon, HGTV personality, interior designer, style maven, and author of  Libby Langdon’s Small Space Solutions: Stylish Design Ideas for Every Room—and Every Budget noticed on her home-front travels. With the economy down, more and more people—young couples, growing families, empty nesters and single urban professionals—are avoiding the upgrade to bigger dwellings or even opting to downsize to smaller ones.  Listen to the interview.

To learn more about Libby, visit her website

Libby’s Top Ten Design Mistakes You Can Avoid If You Live In a Small Space [Read more →]

From insect bites to cuts and  bruises, it seems like summer and band-aids go hand in hand. Do you have a  well-stocked First Aid  Kit?Here’s what you need:

Two pairs of Latex, or other sterile gloves
Sterile dressings to stop bleeding
Cleansing agent/soap and antibiotic towelettes to disinfect
Antibiotic ointment
Burn ointment
Adhesive bandages in a variety of sizes
Eye wash solution to [Read more →]