Lisa Hoover

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Stay safe this hurricane season
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Jul 14th 2008 1:00PM
- Filed under miscellaneous, seasonal, recalls and safety

Don't assume you'll have time to make preparations "if the needs arises." Of course, we all remember the devastation of Hurricane Katrina. And in 2004, Hurricane Charley was expected to head into the Gulf of Mexico and collide with Tampa. At the last minute, it made a sharp right turn and landed substantially farther south, obliterating entire neighborhoods and barrier islands.
If you live in a hurricane-prone area, and haven't yet made preparations in case one heads your way, here are a few of the most important steps you can take to keep you and your family safe this summer. You may never need to activate the plans you have in place, but it's good to know they're there.
Continue reading Stay safe this hurricane season
Say "I do!" to these wedding tips
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Jul 3rd 2008 4:00PM
- Filed under wedding, crafts, jewelry-making, entertaining, gifts
If you're getting married this summer, it's probably a little late to start planning your big day right now. If you're tying the knot next year, however, or just looking for some last minute tips then -- wow! -- have we got some ideas for you!
Blushing brides learn what to do with treasured wedding mementos, hopeful grooms get pointers on the perfect proposal, and if you're the maid-of-honor, you'll be her hero for suggesting economical ways to make table center-pieces and party favors!
Continue reading Say "I do!" to these wedding tips
Tips for a great Fourth of July
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Jul 3rd 2008 10:00AM
- Filed under food, seasonal, crafts, staying green, entertaining, knitting and crochet

Whether you plan to grill steaks, burgers, fish, or even corn on the cob, there are a few things you can do to make sure your cookout is red, white, blue, and green. If you're feeling really creative, you can build your own BBQ pit, but no matter what grill you cook on, you're still going to have to clean it.
To keep uninvited pesky guests away while you're cooking (and eating!), build this useful trap to snare wasps, and follow these tips to keep mosquitoes at bay.
Want more cool tips? Keep reading!
Continue reading Tips for a great Fourth of July
Clever ways to honor Dad this Father's Day
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Jun 11th 2008 3:10PM
- Filed under kids, miscellaneous, art, crafts, sewing

The ties that bind - Dad's probably got enough neckties hanging in his closet and doesn't need another one. If you can get your hands on an old one he doesn't wear anymore -- or one you wish he didn't -- then make him a protective sleeve to fit around his hot coffee cup. As an alternative, you can always involve the kids in a making a skinny tie cake, or just send him a virtual tie to wear while he plays virtual video games.
Picture this - Even thought they might not come right out and say so, dads love to show off pictures of their family just as much as mom and grandma. We've got loads of ideas on how to package your favorite photos besides the standard wood frame from the local department store. How about a frame made from Legos, puzzle pieces, or nuts and washers?
Stylish! - If you're handy with a needle and thread or paintbrush, why not make Pop some monogrammed cufflinks or custom-painted BBQ accessories?
Clever ways to honor Dad this Father's Day, page 2
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on Jun 11th 2008 3:10PM
- Filed under kids, miscellaneous, organization and storage, DIY with Dad

Don't forget the romance - Fathers deserve to be spoiled on their special day, and we've got seven ways to romance your man and let him know that you think dads are sexy.
Offbeat ideas - This year Dad might be expecting typical gifts like golf balls and car accessories. Why not surprise him this year with an unexpected present, like a family key keeper or his very own nightlight?
New traditions - Maybe Pop is feeling like handymen are a dying breed, but you can let him know that's not the case. This year, start a new tradition based on our DIY: With Dad series. No other gift in the world will make Dad happier than spending time with his kids, even if it's just pushing a rock across the backyard.
How to live with curly hair
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on May 16th 2008 2:00PM
- Filed under miscellaneous, beauty and skin care
You know how it is: gals with straight hair envy their curly-haired friends, and ladies with straight hair wish they could have bouncy ringlets. As a member of the curly-hair club, I've always envied the people I know whose stick-straight hair looks terrific first thing in the morning -- and doesn't go frizzy at the first sign of humidity. After years (and years, and years) of trying to wrestle my locks into submission, I've learned to embrace the corkscrews and go with the flow. With a little patience, you can learn to love your locks, and here are some of the best tips I've found:
Continue reading How to live with curly hair
How to remove the label from a wine bottle
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on May 16th 2008 10:00AM
- Filed under household hacks, miscellaneous
Though I love a good wine, I'm not a wine snob. Part of the fun of choosing a wine at the store is looking at all the whimsical labels. Sure, a bottle's design doesn't tell you much about what's going on under the cork but if the wine turns out to be not-so-great, at least you have a nice label to look at, right? I like to keep the labels from some wine bottles that are of particular amusement or sentimental value to me. Here are a couple of tricks I use to get the sticky little buggers off with out wrecking the paper or scraping it off with my fingernail.
Continue reading How to remove the label from a wine bottle
Clever ways to honor mom this Mother's Day
- by Lisa Hoover (RSS feed) on May 7th 2008 3:00PM
- Filed under miscellaneous, seasonal, crafts, jewelry-making, gifts, health and wellness, beauty and skin care
Mother's Day is right around the corner, but if you don't have a gift yet, there's no need to panic. We've rounded up a bunch of posts to spark your creative juices and make your mom feel like a queen.
If you're planning to give mom flowers -- or if you get some yourself -- keep them looking fresh for a long time with these simple steps. Some, like changing the water daily, you might already be aware of, but did you know you should also trim a bit of stem off each day?
Looking for a perfect Mother's Day craft for little tykes? How about terracotta flower pots covered with handprints of the grandkids? Older kids can take a crack at making roses out of maple leaves or coffee filters.
Moms, if you get roses from the kids this year, keep the fallen petals as they drop and make rose petal beads. The project will take some time, but in the end you'll have a beautiful necklace that smells great and will always remind you of Mother's Day 2008.
Speaking of flowers, if your mother likes the look of fancy framed professionally photographed exotic plants, but doesn't care for the price tag, make her one yourself. You don't need to be a photgraphy expert; just use these tips to take some professional-looking pictures, get them developed and framed, then watch Mom smile.
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Do Life! DIY Life highlights the best in "do-it-yourself" projects.
Here you'll find all types of projects, from hobbies and crafts to home improvement and tech.
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