Blogcritics Author: Marie Jordan

Your Holiday Party: The Little Things to Remember

Marie Jordan — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 13:29:50 EST

Don't forget the little stuff.
Before your holiday party begins, there is a list of items you have to make sure you have in your house: Chairs, check. Food, check. Drinks, check. A table large enough to hold everyone, check check. Even with all of these items in your possession, it's possible you might forget some of the little things. Keep the following items in mind --...

Home Improvement Gifts for the Do-it-Yourselfer

Marie Jordan — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 12:57:58 EST

These gifts keep on giving.
With the holidays just around the corner, Christmas shopping sits center stage. Video games, DVDs, Ipod's, a 2008 Hummer - all kinds of people ask for all sorts of things. Teenagers are typically satisfied with clothes, sports zealots are typically happy with paraphernalia representing "their team," and kids are typically overjoyed by lots and lots...

Holiday Pet Safety

Marie Jordan — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:31:41 EST

Keep your pets safe this holiday season.
Just as for people, the holidays can also be stressful for animals. Not only are they wrought with the anticipation of what Santa is bringing them, but they are also stressed by the endless activity that's going on. It might be easy to overlook your pets, as making sure your mother-in-law is happy is more important than your poodle's contentment,...

Taking the Work out of Your Christmas Feast

Marie Jordan — Tue, 27 Nov 2007 12:03:05 EST

Make Christmas less of a chore.
Yes, the holidays: a time for family, friends, laughter, joy, and - dishes? It's true. It might be the season for trees and tinsel, but it is also the season for some hard work, particularly around the dinner table. If you (or your house) are routinely volunteered as host or hostess for your family's holiday gathering, you might be looking for a...

You're Outta Here: Tips on Snow Removal

Marie Jordan — Fri, 2 Nov 2007 14:49:30 EDT

Ditch the snow, keep your back.
Whether you live in a climate where snowfall is minimal or live in one where the ground is permanently white from October to April, shoveling snow is probably part of your winter plans. It can be a pain, it can be frustrating, and it can seem -- as Mother Nature dumps another foot of snow right after you've finished shoveling -- that the last...

Christmas Light Safety

Marie Jordan — Fri, 2 Nov 2007 12:19:08 EDT

Be sure your lights are decorative, not destructive.
Yes, it's almost that time of year again: the holidays. Reindeer, Santa, fruitcakes, stockings, visions of sugar plumbs dancing in our heads, and, of course, Christmas lights. Adding a sense of essence to a neighborhood house, Christmas lights are hung from chimneys and roof eaves with cheer. Remember, though, danger soon could appear. In order to...

Halloween Safety Tips for Your House

Marie Jordan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 23:14:37 EDT

Things that make you go Boo.
Ghosts, goblins, and hazards around the home: Halloween is filled with potential dangers. Not only do you have to make sure your kids are safe -- teaching them to stay in groups and checking their candy before they eat it -- but you also have to make sure your house is safe. Protect pirates, princesses, cowboys, and any other trick-or-treaters who...

Pack It Up: Moving Efficiently

Marie Jordan — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 22:20:50 EDT

Move frustration over with these tips.
It is estimated that the average person lives in eleven different places during their lifetime. This can include extraordinary moves, such as picking up in Ohio and setting down in London, or not so extreme, such as moving your inflatable furniture from college apartment 1A to college apartment 3B. Whether the move is big, small, or somewhere in...

Adding Luxury to Your Home Without Expense

Marie Jordan — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 16:28:38 EDT

Luxury doesn't have to cost an arm and a leg.
Whether you're a new homeowner, an old homeowner, or even a new old homeowner, there are several things you need in order for your house to work. Roof? Check. Front door, back door? Check, check. Couches, TV, and closet space? Check, check, check. These kinds of things are essential. It's hard to have a house without, say, an indoor...

Fighting Your Heating Bill

Marie Jordan — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 12:08:59 EDT

Stay warm, inside and out.
It's almost that time of year again, the time of year when we glance at our outrageous heating bills and swear the decimal point is in the wrong place. Heat, unfortunately, can cost an arm, a leg, and a toe or two. It's not an expense we can get rid of, though. Those of us who live in winter prone climates can't live in unheated houses....