The guru of the green lifestyle is on the phone and we're going to talk. There's some bathroom humor involved. But mostly we want to chat about how to green up the place where you scrub up.
In the ''good'' old days, back when I was renovating a house from top to bottom, I learned early that if you had a job that involved putting a lot of screws into something, a hand-held old-fashioned screwdriver was not what you needed.
Whether you find doing laundry relaxing or were born to live with an overflowing laundry basket, the reality is that it's the chore that won't go away. The website of the Soap and Detergent Association (www.cleaning101.com) has basic tips -- and some new tricks -- for washing your clothes.
Q: My ficus hedge is dropping a lot of yellow leaves and I see small whitish flies flying around my plants. What can I do? A.P., Miami
With Americans' credit scores plunging following record numbers of mortgage and credit card delinquencies, companies that promise quick fixes -- eliminating negative information in credit bureau files -- are proliferating, federal officials say.
EVENTS Butterflies of Biscayne: Exhibit of art, photos and posters on the species found in Biscayne National Park. Includes information on butterfly life cycles and ways to attract butterflies to home gardens; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Nov. 15; Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead; free. 305-230-7275 or www.nps.gov/bisc.
Everything in our lives these days seems like too much. More work at the office. More annoying interruptions from e-mail and cellphones. More, more, more. It's no wonder that South Florida designers say overworked, over-connected folks are looking for less clutter and more serenity when decorating their homes.
Fashion Week in New York is held twice a year, highlighting the latest styles and trends in fashion. But the week sets the tone for more than just the future of fashion, it also guides what we'll be seeing in home decor.
When you're swinging in a hammock on a breezy fall day, eating dinner with your family in the shade of a wise old oak or barbecuing with friends, you probably don't want the world looking in on your backyard scene of splendor.
How difficult is it to hang pictures on a wall? Just about anyone can succeed on the most basic level. All you need is a hammer, a roofing nail and enough coordination not to smash your thumb.
The old form is now required twice in home loan applications.
Q: I've lived here since 1926 and never saw such a critter before. My frangipani is being eaten by huge caterpillars with bright yellow stripes. They have a small tail, too.
To celebrate National Kitchen & Bath Month, select showrooms in the Design Center of the Americas will open to the public Saturday.
EVENTS Butterflies of Biscayne: Exhibit of art, photos and posters on the species found in Biscayne National Park. Includes information on butterfly life cycles and ways to attract them to home gardens; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. daily through Saturday; Dante Fascell Visitor Center, Biscayne National Park, 9700 SW 328th St., Homestead; free. 305-230-7275 or www.nps.gov/bisc.
Karin Fields of Fort Lauderdale is enthusiastic about the potential of her yard. She's not going for a fluffy, lush lawn. At least not in the usual sense. Instead, she's happily swapping out sections of grass for artichokes, broccoli and onions.
Even small changes can ramp up your home's curb appeal. Here are some ideas from ShopSmart magazine for projects that can be done in a weekend, each for $150 or less:
Pillows are a perennial way to give your living areas a burst of color and texture each season. This fall, look for vintage touches and handcrafted details, such as crewel and embroidery, in a range of designs -- from traditional botanical to modern geometric. Photos are by Ross Hailey of The Fort Worth Star-Telegram.
Q: For a year I've been struggling with a mango tree. Someone said I was watering the tree too much. I stopped the watering, but the branches are still dying off.
EVENTS Back to Nature Farmers' Market & Pines Garden Show: Fresh vegetables and fruits, native plants, trees, flowers and orchids. Gardening demos on how to attract birds and butterflies, native ferns and frogs, lawns and landscaping, care and trimming trees and growing vegetables and flowers while conserving water. Also includes children's art activities; 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday; Pembroke Pines City Hall, 10100 Pines Blvd., Pembroke Pines; free.
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