Americans split their attention in 2010 between the antics of their favorite celebrities and sports heroes with news-making events like the BP oil spill and corporate recalls. Sites like Bing.com saw a shake-up in search rankings with a rash of new names or brands that cracked the top 10 in various categories for the first time. Here’s a look at how the pop culture landscape shifted based on the votes people cast with their clicks.
Today’s TVs can do more than most of us could have ever imagined, from displaying 3D images to connecting to the Internet. But those advances in technology have also made it more complicated for the average person shopping for a new television. Are you having trouble telling the difference between LED and Plasma TVs? Perhaps you could use help with some of the technical terms used to describe the TVs right now.
Put on your garden gloves and join in the fun because “gardening with a purpose” is taking root. The purpose may be to grow your own food or create urban sanctuaries, but planting for a greener good is changing neighborhoods and communities – one garden at a time.
With real estate sales still sluggish across the country, curb appeal is taking on a new meaning for many homeowners. While an attractive home exterior can still boost potential resale value, homeowners are also looking at curb appeal as a way to enhance the enjoyment of their homes. Fortunately, many curb appeal-enhancing projects can be cost-effective too, yielding significant improvements for a modest investment.
Do you ever worry about where the money is going to come from to pay off the latest charges on your credit card? If this sounds familiar, you are likely among the 43 percent of U.S. families who spend more than they earn, according to a Federal Reserve study.
Small business operators know that every second and every dollar is valuable. While large corporations have the ability to allocate plenty of time and money to marketing efforts, small business owners don’t always have the same resources.
You’ve heard for years about the importance of going green, but with all the information you receive, it can be difficult to figure out where to begin. The good news is that making your home more energy efficient is not something that needs to be done all at once.
As the weather warms, gardeners are gearing up to shape this year’s outdoor utopia. But spring also brings opportunity for a common garden pest – voles. Also known as field mice or meadow mice, voles can foil a gardener’s plans by snatching up bulbs before they have a chance to sprout, or by gnawing on roots and stems during a plant’s developmental stage.
Handy tool belt, equipped with all the essentials? Check. A vision of what the end result will look like? Check. A sense of adventure and determination? Check. Sounds like you’re ready to tackle your do-it-yourself project. Or are you? There’s one more tool you need to have a handle on before you begin – your credit.
As spring approaches and the winter snow begins to melt from your roof and lawn, now is a great time to step back and survey what you can do to improve the look of your home for the warm summer months, and for years to come.
When spring finally rolls around this year, families everywhere will be ready to embrace the season and all it has to offer: sunny days, higher temperatures and finally getting back outside. But a long winter means your home has some serious spring cleaning needs. If you share the responsibility for chores, they’ll not only get done faster, but there will be less stress for the whole family.
It is best to make useful improvements that will appeal to a wide range of buyers down the road, say experts. Proceeding cautiously, homeowners are therefore thinking twice before undertaking major projects. When they do decide to remodel, they are sticking with smaller, tried-and-true improvements – like adding a bathroom.
Nothing beats relaxing in the shade or entertaining a group of guests on your own private deck. When you take the time to plan your deck for the way you live, the result can be a versatile living space and a value-boosting addition to your home.
Most homeowners rarely venture up to their attics, but as winter approaches, many will make the annual trip upstairs to put away warm-weather items and retrieve holiday decorations. While a home’s attic is ideal for storage, smart homeowners realize that their attics also represent a great opportunity to save money.
Improved resale value, more space or better use of the space you have, and a brand-new room to enjoy – it may be hard to imagine a downside to renovating a kitchen or bathroom. But you could discover a dark side to remodeling – if you decide to finance the project by borrowing before you check your credit.
As winter weather moves on, the urge to clean, unpack, unclutter, dust and polish moves in. This desire to freshen up our lives and sweep away the winter chills signals that spring cleaning season is officially here. When creating a spring cleaning to-do list, it’s important to remember the home office.
As the weather warms up and home improvement projects are at the top of many to-do lists, many people opt for do-it-yourself renovations rather than professional remodels. However, home renovations can be dangerous if you are unaware of the risks. Many older homes may contain asbestos, a harmful substance used in insulation and other building materials.
Winter may cause many homeowners to contemplate a new heating system or other major investments, but some small, smart investments can often go just as far toward protecting your home and saving you cash. Through the proper home maintenance techniques, you can keep typical damage caused by snow, ice and rain at bay and avoid major home repairs.
“Season creep” is a meteorological fact – spring arrives earlier than it used to, making homeowners scramble to protect tender new plantings when a sudden but short-lived frost arrives. So like farmers, homeowners need to figure out how to adapt to extreme weather conditions in order to get the long-lasting and beautiful flower beds, yards and gardens they want.
Falls are a leading cause of hospitalization among aging Americans, and most at-home falls occur in the bathroom. By upgrading their bath with some products designed to facilitate aging in place, baby boomers and mature homeowners can continue to enjoy their bathrooms, with less concern over possible safety risks.
Are you afraid to turn up the heat in your house this winter because you consider your electric bill – and your carbon footprint – to be big enough? Saving money and reducing your carbon and water footprints are worthy goals you can spend many years striving to achieve. But here are a few ideas to help you get started reducing your energy bill and being eco-friendly.
The roof is one of the most critical ways a family can protect the investment and comfort of a cherished home. Innovative composite technology is delivering the best of all worlds: beauty, durability, sustainability and maintenance-free living.
A beautiful bathroom can help potential buyers overlook other flaws in a home. And the bath is one room where homeowners can be confident their renovation dollars will yield not only improved home value, but enhanced enjoyment as well. Fortunately, you don’t have to spend lavishly to elevate the luxury quotient of your home’s bathroom. Here are five “luxury” upgrades that can be done on a moderate – or even modest – budget.
There’s more to home insulation than just that layer of pink stuff in the attic. From weather stripping around doors and windows to the type of blinds you choose, your home’s insulation has many components, all of which can help you save energy when heating and cooling your home.
More and more, people are taking up gardening to supplement their groceries with healthful, homegrown produce, but yard space sometimes is a problem. However, a raised-bed planter can be tucked into just about any corner of your yard.
Bathroom remodeling remains America’s most popular – and profitable – home improvement. Recession aside, homeowners – and prospective buyers – still want stylish bathrooms that offer a relaxing, comfortable place to recharge and rejuvenate.
Most Americans say they have foot pain at least some of the time, and more of us have pain in our feet than in any other part of our bodies we consider vital to health, such as skin, teeth or even the heart, according to a recent survey by the American Podiatric Medical Association. Yet feet rank lowest on the list of body parts and functions that Americans consider important to their health, the APMA study shows.
Been to the grocery store lately? Filled up your vehicle with gas in the last week? It’s not your imagination – many of the items you use most often are getting more expensive. And near the top of the list of price increases are the building materials that go into remodeling projects and new home construction.
For many homeowners, the return of warm weather signals that time of year to launch the long-awaited home remodeling or backyard patio project. Doing your homework upfront and being crystal clear in your dealings with a home remodeling or landscaping contractor will reduce miscommunication, frustration and expensive errors.
