Fall into great tabletop decorating ideas

(BPT) - Saying goodbye to summer doesn't have to be a sentimental ending when you consider it's also a beginning - the kick off to autumn and the holiday season. The promise of fall is in the air. It's a great time to dress up your home for fall entertaining; whether that means friends gathered around the television rooting for your favorite team or the ultimate traditional Thanksgiving feast.



"Decorating trends for this fall are really fun and functional," says visual merchandiser John Griffith. "Colors that evoke a sense of nostalgia and family are a really big part of the visual design message for autumn. Reds, golds and oranges are trending this fall. These hues are not only warm and comforting; they're reflective of the season."



Griffith and teammate Julie Robbins add their own unique spin on the latest trends to create seasonal design vignettes for Replacements, Ltd., the world's largest retailer of old and new china, crystal, silver and collectibles. Whether you are planning a casual family gathering or an elegant dinner party, Robbins suggests easy ways to mix in great fall colors. This can be as simple as adding a charger plate or colorful serving pieces.



"Using colored glass is fantastic way of infusing autumn colors to create a seasonal feel," says Robbins. "Amber colored glass is really popular this fall because the rich, warm color goes with so many patterns and designs. I'm big on the pressed vintage patterns; depression glass, coin glass and sandwich glass are all very lovely and nostalgic. We're actually mixing and matching patterns from historic American glassmakers including Federal, Indiana Glass and Fostoria on our tables. It looks great to mix designs which share the same colors or combine an array of colors within a place setting."



Metal serveware is another popular trend this fall.



"We're incorporating metal serveware into many of our displays because you can do so much with it from a design standpoint," says Griffith. "These are great accent pieces you can dress up or down, plus it is family- and football-season friendly. Metal serveware is also very functional. Once heated, the alloy retains warmth to keep food warmer longer or cooler if you chill these pieces. Plus it is easy to clean and doesn't have to be polished. We're using a lot of fun shapes, like leaf-shaped pieces and turkey platters."



Fall's bountiful harvest translates into the home this season. Robbins is using natural elements in her table designs that evoke a sense of the first Thanksgiving.



"I suggest filling vases, glasses or serving bowls with dried beans, acorns or even kernels of dried deer corn. Not only does this look pretty, you can also mix in candles or flowers and use these natural elements to hold those items in place."



Robbins adds apples, gourds, pumpkins and green pears are among fruits and vegetables you can use on your table or anywhere in your home to create a brilliant splash of color. She says you can find more decorating ideas at Replacements' YouTube channel and Facebook page.

Applying to college? Practical advice for finding your dream university

So what factors should college-bound teens consider when making their wish list? It's not the school with the best parties, weather or where their best friend or boyfriend is applying.



According to one of the nation's top college admissions consultants, Dr. Katherine Cohen, CEO and founder of IvyWise and LinkedIn Higher Ed Expert, it all comes down to academic, social and financial fit.



"Imagine you're starting college tomorrow," Dr. Cohen says. "Which courses would you take? Who would you be excited to study with? Are there research, internship and study abroad opportunities offered in your areas of interest? Which extracurricular activities would you take advantage of on and off campus? Have you had an open conversation with your parents about their expected financial contribution?"



If they do their research correctly, students should end up with a list of 12 to 15 good-fit schools, a balance of reach, target and likely schools, any of which they'd be happy to attend, says Dr. Cohen. For students who aren't sure exactly where to begin, she offers the following tips:



Get your computer, tablet or smartphone and get online



It's never too early for students to begin researching schools. Thanks to the Internet, students have a wealth of information readily available at their fingertips. They can visit college websites, page through online course catalogs and even take virtual campus tours. Students can also get a real student perspective and good sense of campus culture by reading the school newspaper and blog online.



LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network, provides aspiring students with the opportunity to make informed decisions on which universities, majors and skills will help them achieve professional success - making college matchmaking even easier. The company's newly launched LinkedIn University Pages allows higher education institutions to have dedicated pages so they can build their community and directly engage with prospective students, current students, parents and alumni. University Pages allows college-bound teens to access important information on colleges, such as the cost of tuition, notable alumni and more. They can also gain valuable insights on what it's really like on campus by connecting with current students and recent graduates, and trace the educational and professional paths of notable alumni by following the most influential business leaders and company pages.



Be a student on campus, even if for a day



Students will likely be spending four years of their lives at college, and nothing beats the gut check that comes with an in-person campus visit. Students should plan on visiting the schools that they are considering seriously while school is in session. It's important to attend both the official information session and the campus tour, as it shows demonstrated interest in the school. However, students should also make time to explore the campus and local community on their own.



Do's and don'ts of a campus visit: Do forgo the urge to stay in an expensive hotel and eat in a four-star restaurant. Don't miss the opportunity to have a meal with current students in the campus dining hall, audit a class in a topic of interest and spend a night in a campus dorm room. Do take lots of photos and copious notes. Don't let mom and dad ask all the questions. Do wear comfortable shoes.



Alumni networks, a secret weapon



Alumni networks are a great resource for college-bound students that often go untapped. Students should talk to their college guidance counselor and see if there are any alumni from their high school who currently attend or have recently attended the colleges that interest them. These alumni often come from a similar background and can talk about what the transition to the college was like for them. They may also be willing to host an overnight stay.



Not sure what to study or major in? Network in a field of choice or in a few that are of interest. Professional associations for undergraduates and LinkedIn can help students connect with people who can provide insight into a profession - and who may be potential employers in the future.



Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all college. If students take the time to do their research early on in the admissions process, they will be happily attending a good fit college come orientation.

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Little hands inspire creative kitchens: How to encourage kids to cook

Parents can always use an extra pair of hands, and when encouraged, kids can enjoy spending time cooking and preparing meals. Plus, helping in the kitchen teaches useful skills that will last long past dinnertime. The good news is nine out of 10 children help in meal preparation at least once per week, according to results of a new nationwide "Coaching Kids in the Kitchen" survey conducted for global home appliance brand LG Electronics. One in five parents prefer to engage their children in the kitchen during the summer and winter months, to help keep their child's mind sharp and occupied during breaks from school.



Have little sous chefs in the making? You might be wondering what activities are appropriate for what ages. Setting the table and retrieving ingredients from the pantry or refrigerator are good activities for younger children who might not have the skills necessary to prepare food. Parents indicate age 8, on average, is the appropriate age to start participating in meal preparation.



If you want to get your kids motivated in the kitchen, and help them learn about food preparation, healthy eating, math and measurements, try these helpful tips from Chef Peter Thornhill, LG's executive chef, who himself caught the cooking bug when he was a child. Your kitchen will be transformed into a family fun cooking school in no time.



Grocery discoveries. Take the kids grocery shopping with you to jumpstart creative cooking juices. Picking out ingredients is the first step in cooking a meal, after all. Plus, when children are involved in picking out new foods, such as an exciting new vegetable, they're more likely to try (and like) new things, helping to expand their palate.



Easy access. Keep your kids' favorite ingredient items in easy-access areas around the kitchen. Ninety-seven percent of parents agree that keeping greens and healthy snacks in easily accessible areas of the refrigerator is an important part of teaching your child healthy eating habits. LG's super-capacity fridge with a built-in magnetically sealed door within a door is perfect for easy access to commonly used cooking ingredients and small, healthy snacks kids are able to retrieve themselves.



Party in the kitchen! Don't let meal preparation seem like a chore. The more excited you are to cook with your kids, the more excited they will be, too. Turn on some music, have a giggle, and share tidbits about your day as you whip up something delicious.



More pepper? During the cooking process, taste the food and talk with your kids about alterations. This will encourage them to engage their palate and analyze the flavors they taste. Just watch as your little rosemary-lover or garlic connoisseur blossoms.



Clean machine.As your child gains more experience in the kitchen, allow him or her more control over recipes, cooking methods and cleanup. Start with simple cleaning tasks like clearing the table and loading the dishwasher to emphasize the importance of cleanliness and kitchen upkeep. To spend more memorable moments with your kids in the kitchen, parents can look for new ways to save time and tackle even the toughest tasks from greasy pans to dirty ovens. For example, LG's EasyClean ranges have a quick and easy clean-up for mess inside the oven - just spray water into the oven, press a button and wipe away any residual grime 20 minutes later.



Armed with these tips, consider trying this kid-friendly recipe from Chef Thornill and gather your whole family in the kitchen for some cooking fun.



Recipe:



Mixed Fruit Flatbread



It's always tough to get kids to adopt healthy eating habits with all the unhealthy items that are presented to them at school, in restaurants and in advertising ... and yet these are the foods that they clamor for. Bringing a healthy angle to their favorite foods is a great way to point them in the right direction.



This recipe is easily adapted to the kinds of ingredients that you have in your house and gives your kids the opportunity to play with different flavors. You can easily make a large batch of the flatbread dough in advance and freeze smaller portions for individual use. Store bought pizza dough and flatbread (or naan bread) work great, too.



Dough



1 packet instant dry yeast

1 teaspoon sugar

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup warm water

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon olive oil



Directions



1. Combine water, yeast, salt and sugar in the bowl of your stand mixer and let sit for five minutes.



2. Add flour to mixture and place dough hook attachment on mixer. Combine ingredients on low speed for 30 seconds, then turn onto medium speed for 3 to 4 minutes more, or until dough is smooth and no longer clings to the sides of the bowl.



3. Rub top of dough with olive oil, cover with plastic wrap and a tea towel. Store somewhere warm for one hour.



Topping



1/4 teaspoon cornmeal

2 tablespoon Raspberry jam

1/2 cup frozen peaches, thawed

1/2 cup frozen strawberries, thawed

1/2 cup apples, sliced thin

1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon honey



Directions



1. Preheat oven to 500F with a cookie sheet or pizza stone positioned on center rack.



2. Divide dough into three pieces, set two aside (you can freeze these and use later or make multiple pizzas).



3. Using a rolling pin, evenly roll dough to 1/3-inch thick. Place dough on a smooth surface, sprinkled with cornmeal.



4. Spread jam evenly over entire surface, then top with peaches, apples and strawberries, lightly press these down for better adhesion.



5. Sprinkle cinnamon and drizzle honey over the fruit.



6. Slide pizza carefully onto preheated pan or pizza stone and let bake for 6 to 8 minutes.



7. Remove from oven, let stand three minutes, cut into six pieces and serve.



The LG Coaching Kids in the Kitchen Online Survey was conducted by Ebiquity, formerly Echo Research, between June 7-13, 2013 among a total national sample of 2,515 U.S. adults with children age 4-17. Overall the results have a margin of error of ± 2.0 percentage points at the 95% level of confidence.

A few tips when fitting wooden flooring

Laminate and wooden flooring looks great in almost any room. If you are considering fitting the wooden flooring yourself then there are a few tips that may help you to fit it easier and may add a more professional finish to it. With some hard work, patience and the right flooring tools it may not be as difficult to achieve a good finish as you imagine.



Before laying the laminate or wooden flooring ensure that your under floor is in good condition and is as flat and bounce-free as possible. Uneven areas should try to be repaired. The flatter the surface the better the wooden flooring will look.Ideally you will want the new wooden flooring to run length-ways along your room as this looks better than width-ways, however if your existing floorboards also run length-ways it is a bad idea to fit them directly together as this can lead to joint separation and unevenness. If this is the case then fit plywood over the entire floor surface so that you have a flat surface to then work on.



Once your existing floor is ready, lay an insulating membrane across the entire flooring area. This keeps heat in the room and dampens noise when the wooden flooring is walked upon and is highly recommended. Once this has been laid you are ready to lay your new wooden flooring panels. The easiest way is to work from farthest wall from the door inwards as this is the most seen part of the room. If possible remove skirting boards and door architraves so that you can work from the wall. If this isn't possible then beading can be fixed to these areas afterwards to give a tidy finish.



When laying the flooring panels always stagger joints by using random length flooring pieces as this will add to the strength of the flooring and the aesthetics. Ensure that all pieces are firmly locked together before re-applying skirting and architraves or adding beading. Flooring can contract and retract based on the heat of the room and moisture levels so do not fix skirting or beading to the floor. Fix skirting to the wall and fix beading to the skirting.



by: Xander Palmer

http://www.articlecity.com/articles/home_improvement/article_6471.shtml

Avoiding five mistakes that even good homeowners make

But next time, you might not get so lucky. A simple "uh oh" could lead to thousands of dollars in damage to your home.

"We recommend homeowners adopt a mindset of thinking about the consequences of things, of what could go wrong," says Dr. Tim Reinhold, senior vice president of research and chief engineer for the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety.

Here are five tips to avoid common homeowner mistakes:

Tip 1: Clean out the filter on your clothes dryer

Why? Fire. Those wads of lint that get caught in your dryer's filter can pose a major fire hazard. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that dryers cause more than 15,000 fires a year.

Your strategy: Be sure to completely empty the lint trap every time you use your dryer. Also, make sure your dryer ducts are metal, since they're less likely to sag and allow lint to build up.

Tip 2: Trim tree branches that hang close to your home

Why? Roof or other property damage. A storm or high winds could sweep through your neighborhood and knock those branches onto your roof, causing serious damage.

Your strategy: Consult an arborist or tree surgeon about any trees in your yard that might present a hazard.

Tip 3: Don't put cardboard boxes from recent big-ticket purchases out on the curb with the garbage

Why? Theft. By placing boxes in a visible location, you're sending a signal to burglars that you have valuable items in your home.

Your strategy: Cut boxes up and put them into the garbage or recycling bin.

Tip 4: Make your house look occupied when you're on vacation

Why? Theft. An empty home can be an easy target for thieves.

Your strategy. Have your mail and newspaper deliveries suspended or have a trusted neighbor retrieve and safeguard them until your return. "Not only do piles of mail signal that a house is vacant, but thieves can sift through letters to steal your identity," says Joe Vahey, vice president at Erie Insurance. "You also may want to arrange for someone to maintain your lawn if you'll be gone for more than a few days, and consider installing central alarms, motion detectors, or timed lights that will illuminate the area around your house at night."

Tip 5. Check appliance water hoses

Why: Water damage. Hoses for washers and refrigerators wear out and need to be replaced before they spring a leak. The water supply line to the icemaker can also be a water leak waiting to happen.

Your strategy: Replace washing machine hoses every five years. If you see the plastic line along the back of the refrigerator becoming discolored (yellow or brown), have an appliance repair expert check it out.

Despite your best efforts to properly maintain and protect your home, accidents and mishaps still happen, which is why it's also important to know what your homeowners insurance does, and doesn't, cover. For example, no homeowners insurance will cover flood damage from natural disasters, so you may want to seek federal flood insurance if you live in an area prone to flooding. In addition, check to see if yours is a guaranteed replacement cost policy, which would pay to rebuild your home if it's severely damaged or destroyed. The coverage is rare, but some companies like Erie Insurance include it in their standard homeowners policies.



For more information on homeowners insurance, visit www.erieinsurance.com/homeowners.

Back-to-school resolutions

(BPT) - With kids across the country heading back to school, a common question at family dinner tables will be: "What did you learn today?"



Kids will be learning reading, writing and arithmetic as they head back to school, but what about lessons involving money? For most people, our relationship with money is based on our childhood experiences, and many children look to their parents for these important lessons. Yet, according to a recent Capital One survey of parents and teens, less than half of teens have worked with their parents to develop a budget for spending and saving their money.



As students prepare for a new school year, it's a great time to start fresh with new resolutions around spending and saving. Talk to your kids about wants vs. needs, saving, budgeting, using credit wisely and other money management habits that can last a lifetime.



Here are a few ways to get started:



* Crunch numbers together and establish a budget. As your teen starts earning an income through a job or an allowance, ask him or her to pitch in and contribute toward purchases he or she might otherwise take for granted. Create a budget together totaling your teen's contributions and what you can afford to contribute, and then stick to it when you head out to the stores.



* Only shop for what's needed. Sit down together to make a list of what essentials your teen already has, what is needed and how much is budgeted for this shopping trip. This comes in handy for back-to-school shopping as well as the holiday shopping season.



* Do your homework. This is a good way to show your teen that homework extends beyond the classroom and well into adult life. Researching the items on the shopping list before leaving the house allows your teen to comparison shop, looking at prices and the quality of the items. For teens on-the-go, there are also a great deal of apps available that can easily compare pricing of items. And not surprisingly, you might discover your teen has different priorities than you when it comes to deciding which items to purchase. Only 22 percent of teens surveyed considered the price of an item to be the top priority, whereas 46 percent said style and appearance were more important. Run a calculation of how much money could be saved between the lower-priced items and the items on the "want list."



* Set financial goals. Remind your teen to look beyond high school and discuss what items he or she would like to own in the future. It might be an electronic product, a car, paying for a future vacation, or helping to pay for college. The survey found that 83 percent of teens plan to attend college after high school, but 51 percent of those teens were not saving money to help pay for it. Help your teen set up a plan for how they will spend and save the money they earn or receive as gifts.



* Lead by example. Encourage good financial behavior by teaching your teen how to write checks, the use of credit cards and their associated fees and the importance of paying bills on time. Have them around the next time you pay your monthly bills, so they can see how much is spent on utilities, auto insurance and even food. This gives them a good picture for their future and how they might need to make financial decisions to cover essential expenses.



* Introduce investing basics. Open a custodial account and help your kids pick the stocks they like most. Contribute a portion of their allowance or agree to match your teen's contributions, and watch the account grow together. Set monthly meetings to review investments, make changes and pick new stocks to purchase. Beginning the stock discussion early will empower your teen with the comfort and knowledge they'll need when they are an adult.



By taking time to discuss spending, saving, budgeting and investing, you can help your teens save money now and point them in the right direction for a successful financial future.



To find additional financial tips as well as information on Capital One's financial educational programs for teens and adults, visit www.capitalone.com/financialeducation or @TeachingMoney on Twitter.