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Save on Taxes With Energy Rebates Shrink that tax bill and help the environment, too!

As the year draws to a close, you might be preparing for holiday parties, but you may also be casting an eye forward to the dreaded 15 April deadline that, like death, comes for all of us. If you're nervous about how much you might owe Uncle Sam this time around, have you considered squeaking in some last-minute energy-efficient upgrades that may qualify you ... Read More »

10 Uses for Twist Ties

Does anyone else feel like the junk drawer is exploding with twist ties? They come with every box of garbage bags, they keep your bread bags shut (if they aren't clipped with plastic), and they seem to multiply like rabbits whenever you turn around. It's tempting to periodically sweep up the lot of them and dump them in the trash, especially if you're ponder ... Read More »

How To: Make a Gingerbread House From Scratch

1. Choose a Template and Make Your Dough You can easily find gingerbread recipes and gingerbread house templates on the Internet, free of charge. Select your favorite recipe and template, then set to work. Remember that gingerbread dough is very sticky, so it’s easiest to work with when it’s chilled. Keep lots of flour on hand for your rolling pin and work ... Read More »

Im Dreaming of a White...Kitchen: 10 Bright Beauties to Behold

Simple Serenity In this light-filled space, the snowy white cabinets and work island stand out against pale gray walls and lightly stained wood floors. A fun mix of details, including a crystal chandelier and ultramodern stools, adds a playful note to the room. White Appliances Although stainless steel appliances are the standard in many American kitchens ... Read More »

Your Holiday Electrical Safety Guide

The lights are ablaze this holiday season, but you definitely don't want your house alight along with them, because that is a sure way to ruin the holidays. Instead, follow some basic safety tips from Networx and organizations like the Electrical Safety Foundation International to keep the season bright, cheerful, and safe for everyone, including kids, pets, ... Read More »

Whats the Best Choice of Firewood?

Ah, winter. Whether snow is just starting to stick, the skies are threatening rain, or you're basking under a Florida sky, the season is turning, and for many of us, it's going to feature wood fires. Those without the latest HVAC systems may be using solely wood heat to keep the temperatures stable in their homes, while others of us may be lighting up decora ... Read More »

Create folk art-inspired ornaments for your holiday tree

Colonial Williamsburg employees Jan Gilliam and Christina Westenberger spent 2010 experimenting with handmade Christmas tree ornaments. They crafted felt snowmen, aluminum and copper star garlands and scherenschnitte birds. Recycled materials were used to fashion many ornaments, like metal hearts out of juice can lids, snowflakes out of pages from old books ... Read More »

Make Your Home Secure for the Holidays

The holiday season can be marked by an uptick in crime as people are away from their homes to visit family and friends, attend parties, and be present for performances and social events. The criminal element is well aware of the numerous opportunities presented by the holidays, and it's up to you to be ready with the right home security measures. What works, ... Read More »

10 Ways to Reuse That Christmas Tree

Many Networx readers will be putting up some form of Christmas tree in the coming days or weeks, and while there are lots of alternatives to the traditional cut conifer, these holiday classics still dominate the landscape. The only problem is what happens at the end of the Christmas season, when that once-proud tree is a brown, dessicated remainder of its fo ... Read More »

Cold Weather Painting

Not long ago, all it took was an unexpected cold front to throw a project off track: most exterior latex paints could be applied only at temperatures above 50° F. Painting contractors in the cold or mountainous regions of the West were used to curtailing their exterior painting seasons, turning down late season contracts and waiting until spring was well alo ... Read More »