DIY Life

Face it; your furry friends are as part of the family as anyone, and this year, keeping them safe is top of mind. Just the same, keeping your Christmas tree safe is a priority, too. Holidash shows us how to protect both Fido and the christmas tree this year! Read on!:

* That pan of water that is keeping your tree from drying out can be very attractive to thirsty pets. But that sticky water can also make them very sick. Discourage drinking by cutting a piece of screen or other sturdy mesh fabric to fit and duct tape it over the pan. This will keep little tongues out while still allowing you to replenish the water supply.
* Cats love to bat balls around -- especially bright, shiny ones that are attached to a Christmas tree. Prevent breakage and possible injury by decorating your tree with plastic or wooden ornaments.
* That little metal stand that is holding your tree in the vertical position is no match for a rowdy pet with a running start. Get rid of it and invest in a large, sturdy tree stand. For extra protection, attach a string of fishing line from the top of the tree to a small hook in the ceiling.
* Puppies like to chew on things and those lower limbs of your Christmas tree may prove irresistible even to the most well-behaved little dog. Surrounding your tree with a baby pen might not be the most attractive solution, but is surely the safest. Otherwise, don't allow your puppy to be alone in the same room as the Christmas tree.
* Avoid tinsel. Cats find it delicious and fun to chew, but it can cause serious damage to their digestive systems.
* To discourage chewing on your light cords, spray them with bitter apple. Unplug the lights when not in use.
* Clean up fallen needles regularly. Some dogs will eat just about anything and these sharp pine needles can cause internal injuries if ingested.
* Don't decorate with edible ornaments. If it smells like food, a determined pet will find a way to reach it.

Swine flu is top of mind at the moment, but very few of us are willing to give up our wine and spirits over a measly cold. Here's how to enjoy your holiday party (flu-free!) while staying safe, straight from the experts at Holidash:

Common Sense
If you're feeling under the weather, do not host or attend a party. It doesn't matter if you were supposed to bring the Jell-o mold -- everyone will forgive you if you keep your germs to yourself.

Food
Think individual portions rather than large, communal bowls of chips and dips (oh, will somebody think of the double dippers?). This is an opportunity to get creative! Use shot glasses, little glass votive holders, paper sno-cone holders, Chinese takeout containers, small espresso cups and ramekins to serve small snacks and dishes. And, if you're serving dinner, make the plates for your guests rather than doing a buffet. If possible, keep the food covered before serving.

Drinks
Again, personal servings are best, so forget the punch bowl (and definitely forget the beer pong). Help your guests hang on to their glasses by offering wine glass charms or colored rubber bands to go around beer bottles. If you're using plastic cups, offer markers and stickers so people can personalize their own, even if it's just with their initials.

Meeting and Greeting
Some experts recommend greeting guests with an elbow bump rather than a handshake, but I think that if you're that concerned about germs, a party isn't a great idea for you (unless that's just normal for you, in which case, carry on!). Maybe avoid the kissing and long, lingering hugs, and skip the mistletoe this year.

Yep, it's time to start counting down the days until turkey time! ShelterPop shows us how, step by step:

Your three-week checklist:
• Set a rough budget for everything: food, drinks, and decorations.
• Invite your guests, if you haven't already.
• Plan your menu, including snacks, the main meal, dessert, and drinks. Be aware of various dietary restrictions your guests may have, and try to be accommodating (but also realize that people are grownups and don't have to eat everything in front of them).
• Decide how you will be cooking your turkey, and what kind of turkey you'll buy (fresh, frozen, organic, etc.). Thinking of ordering a fresh turkey? Check out organizations like Local Harvest to find a turkey farm near you.
• Assess the decorations you have and decide if you're going to buy more, or go DIY (all part of your budget breakdown).
• Begin putting up outdoor décor; if you did a Halloween display, repurpose as much as possible (such as pumpkins).

Your two-week checklist:
• Get a firm commitment from guests if they're coming or not.
• If children are coming, think about what kinds of simple kids' activities you could offer (go old school: a table with crayons and coloring books/other crafts, or board games)
• Plan your table settings and centerpiece. Pull out linens and make sure they're clean.
• Polish your silverware.
• Assess your serving pieces: do you have enough plates, cups, bowls, and platters? What can you borrow from friends?
• If you're buying a frozen turkey, you can buy it now (if you haven't already). Not sure how big your turkey needs to be? The USDA offers this guide for buying and preparing turkey.
• Begin to buy drinks (and if you're serving wine, make sure you've got enough wine glasses)
• Assess your coffee situation. Will your coffeepot suffice, or do you need a larger one (which hopefully you can borrow)?

One week before:
Now, your attention really turns to the food. "You're going to need to go to the grocery at least twice," Coelho says-once for dry ingredients/non-perishables and again a day or so before for your fresh things. Plan your time.

Weekend before Thanksgiving:
• Before you shop, take the opportunity to clean out your fridge and freezer so that you have space for groceries.
• Make your shopping list, and buy as many non-perishable items as you can.
• Begin making what you can ahead of time (relishes, for example).
• Do a thorough cleaning-all the places you don't hit up regularly (behind the couch, your crown molding, and that forgotten, filthy space between the dishwasher and the wall).

Monday
• Make your pies: pumpkin pie will easily keep (and maybe even taste better).
• Depending on its size, you may need to start defrosting a frozen turkey. Refer to the USDA guidelines again.
• Make a list of each dish, how far ahead it can be prepared, and set a schedule for the week. Remember that things like broth for stuffing and gravy can be made ahead (even frozen if necessary).

Tuesday
• Buy your perishables, like fresh fruits and fresh veggies, and lettuce for salad, at the market.
• Now is a great time to buy any fresh flowers, or create fresh flower arrangements, or arrangements with pinecones from your yard.
• Finish up any last minute décor projects (such as writing names on place cards).

Wednesday
• Time for spot cleaning: tidy up things like books/magazines, kids' rooms (get them involved in as much as possible), dusting, vacuuming, and cleaning the toilets and sinks.
• Put clean guest towels in the bathroom.
• Chill beverages.
• Give your table linens a good pressing.
• Set the table (so that you can focus on cooking tomorrow).
• Set a cooking schedule for Thanksgiving day: know the timing of when everything is going in and out of the oven.

Morning of Thanksgiving
• Follow the cooking schedule you've laid out for yourself.
• Don't forget to pour yourself a glass of wine, and enjoy your guests and the delicious meal!

Thanksgiving games are a ritual for some families. My family is immensely sedentary, especially when it comes to the annual tryptophan coma that we so love to indulge in. Yet this year, I'm planning to spice things up with a few exciting games for the whole family, courtesy of our friends at Holidash!:

1. Name That Turkey Tune
Make your guests sing for their supper with this family-friendly game. Each player takes turns singing their favorite songs by replacing the lyrics with the word 'GOBBLE.' The first player to correctly identify the tune is the new 'gobbler' and the fun continues.

2. Thanksgiving Bingo
If you can't pull your family away from the tube, why not make them work while they watch? Family Fun has a few printable bingo cards for Thanksgiving Day's TV watching, so hand out a few sheets and pencils and go to town. Loser has dish duty!

3. Apple Paring Game
In case you didn't quite get enough dessert, bring in the family for a fun, reward-driven game. Each player gets an apple and a peeler or knife (for adults) and has sixty seconds to peel the longest apple strip they can muster. Winner gets to take a fresh-baked apple pie home for Black Friday!

4. Toilet Paper Thanks
Pass around a roll of toilet paper to the entire room and ask them to tear as many sheets off as they'd like (but don't tell them why they're doing so!). After every player has chosen their desired number of sheets, announce that they have to share one thing they're thankful for... per sheet they ripped from the roll. Those greedy folk won't know what hit them!

With a few of these easy-to-implement games, your family will be so energized they won't even need their annual turkey nap!

You shop the sales. You've already reduced your holiday spending budget. But let's face it: the holidays are still going to cost you. Really smart budgeters contribute small amounts all year round to holiday savings accounts. For the rest of us, it's not too late! Here are some last minute ways to put money aside for holiday gifts.

1. Open a holiday account. No, it's not too late. Do you have any free funds sitting in your checking account? If so, transfer them immediately to your holiday fund. It's a start.

2. Cut the lattes. Yes, it's annoying when budgeting experts keep reminding us not to fritter money away on expensive little luxuries. If you like to indulge in little treats for yourself, however, now's the time to go cold turkey. Not forever. Just for the next few weeks, and put that money aside. It will add up over the next few weeks.

Yep, our friends at Holidash even have you covered this Halloween. Whether you're a lover of DIY or a lover of TV (or perhaps a lover of John Krasinki, which is ... umm, every girl I know), Holidash has a tip for your 'The Office'-inspired costume. Which character will you be this year?

Read on!

It seems everyone I know has a love/hate relationship with The Office. I'm on the love end of the spectrum, perhaps because I'm living vicariously through the show. After all, I work in my pajamas at the kitchen counter, so wouldn't it be fun to channel my inner office employee for the day?

For me, that day is October 31st, where I plan to trick-or-treat with a few friends as our favorite characters from The Office. Want to see the list?:

Jim Halpert
Wear: Harness your Halloween look with 3-hole punched Jim, or go as everyday Jim with a long-sleeved Oxford shirt and tie.
Carry: A messenger bag and your heart on your sleeve.
Finishing Touch?: A perfected Stanley impression and a few emergency packs of Jello.

Pam Beesley
Wear: An outdated work outfit, preferably button-up and longer skirt. Oh yes, and loafers.
Carry: A 6-pack of Mixed Berry yogurt.
Finishing Touch?: A half-up permed hairdo and plenty of harnessed flirtation.

Michael Scott
Wear: A business suit and receding hairline.
Carry: An unhealthy affection for your boss, Jan Levinson. And, of course, keys to your Sebring convertible.
Finishing Touch?: Add a spare head on your shoulder to harness Michael's Halloween look.

Dwight Schrute
Wear: A yellow, short-sleeved Oxford shirt with a mismatched tie, brown slacks and glasses.
Carry: A grudge against your nemesis, the 3-hole punched paper, Jim Halpert.
Finishing Touch?: Pit stains. You didn't grow up on a beet farm for nothing.

Kelly Kapoor
Wear: Anything from Bebe.
Carry: A perfectly-coordinated clutch purse to match your well-manicured nails.
Finishing Touch?: Grab a random guy and make out with him. You know, to make Ryan jealous.

I love everything artist Nikki McClure creates, and her latest pumpkin carving for Sunset Magazine is no exception. She's kindly provided the stencil for those of you who weren't born with Nikki's mad illustrative skills (which is basically everyone, right?). I can't wait to tackle my own Nikki'o'Lantern! Sure beats the usual Martha Stewart pattern...

Here's how to do it!:

1. After downloading, tape the template to a clean, dry, and hollowed-out pumpkin.

2. Using a pushpin, prick closely spaced holes along the outline of the design, making them deep enough to be seen when you remove the template.

3. Remove the template. Following the pinpricks and taking care not to cut all the way through, use a small carving chisel or linoleum cutter to outline the design. With a larger linoleum cutter, remove the rind within the outlines and scrape out some pumpkin flesh (the deeper you go, the more light will shine through). Add texture and dimension by varying the direction and depth of your carving.

4. Light your pumpkin. A votive candle is traditional, but for more illumination, use a battery-powered or outdoor-rated electric light; carve out a hole for the cord if necessary.

That's it --- happy carving, and thanks, Nikki!

OK, you officially have two weeks to dream up how you'd like to celebrate your Halloween. Chances are, candy and pumpkins are included, but have you remembered the most important part? That's right --- your furry friends! After all, Halloween is one of the few times it's publicly acceptable to dress up your dog (unless you live on the west coast, that is).

This year, I plan to throw a Howl'O'Ween Party for my pups, and in fact, I detailed the planned experience over on Holidash. Whether you want to throw a bash for your beagle or a party for your pug, I've made a handy little list for all included!:

1. Host your party at a park, or a home with a large, fenced-in yard to give the dogs plenty of space to run around. A happy dog makes a happy guest, and a happy guest makes a happy host!
2. Send out invitations (addressed to the dogs, of course!) to no more than six of your closest pet-toting pals. Too many pets in one place is never a good idea, and do your best to choose dogs that are socially-adapted.
3. Keep a lidded garbage can, pooper scooper and trash bags handy for unexpected "treats."
4. Purchase a few Halloween-themed dog treats (I love these adorable carob dog cookies!) and invite a local dog trainer to come teach your old dogs new tricks!
5. Plan a fun, entertaining game such as a pet costume contest or craft. Award the winners with extra treats (or tricks, if you're feeling naughty!).

Of course, you'll have to start planning wardrobe necessities right away, and we've got you covered in that arena, as well. I love this sweet little bumblebee costume and think it would be just perfect for my Yorkipoo, who, aptly enough, causes my head to buzz.

Moral of the story? You've got two weeks to plan a fun and eventful evening with your four-legged friends. At the end of the night, your dogs will go home exhausted, leaving you to enjoy your Hallow's Eve bark-free. Woo-hoo! I'll howl to that!

I have a massive procrastination issue. I believe it started somewhere in university, where you could often find me face-down in a pile of unfinished classroom notes and study guides -- cramming for that inevitable 9 a.m. exam.

Not much has changed in recent years, although rather than the aforementioned study guides, you'll often find dinner party recipes, article deadlines, and -- this month in particular -- costume ideas for that dreaded Halloween party.

This year, I've vowed to change my ways and am getting started early. Yet, for those of you with chocked-full schedules that are anticipating a very late Halloween Eve, feel free to check out these last-minute costume ideas that have saved my procrastinating buns in the past. Each costume requires very little craft knowledge on your part, and should be easily compiled with household items. Ready? Let's get started!

1. Static-Cling
What You'll Need: Dress normally and pin a few pairs of panty hose, a dish towel and dryer sheets to your clothing.
Bonus: You'll get a few laughs, and will be the comfiest (sans pins!) in the room.

2. Paper Shredder
What You'll Need: A stack of paper. When someone asks you what your costume is, tear a piece of paper in half and proclaim "I'm a paper shredder!"
Bonus: You can use your spare paper for all of those phone numbers you'll be sure to get.

3. Nudist On Strike
What You'll Need: Dress normally and create a sign out of posterboard, cardboard, or whatever you have on hand. Poster should say "Nudist On Strike."
Bonus: Trust us -- no one wants any other kind of nudist at their party.

4. Aircraft Carrier
What You'll Need: Steal a toy airplane from your little brother, or make a paper airplane of your own. When someone asks you who you're dressed as, hold the airplane high and announce "I'm an aircraft carrier!"
Bonus: You still have one spare hand to hold your drink!

5. Refrigerator Magnet
What You'll Need: Spray paint a shoe box black and attach it to the back of your shirt. Instant refrigerator magnet!
Bonus: Your sense of humor just might magnetize a new date.

Proof that Halloween can be both fun -- and affordable -- this year, with or without the late night procrastination! For more Holidash highlights, head on over to Holidash right here.

So. Halloween is inching closer and closer and I'm dreaming of throwing a sophisticated dinner party for the occasion... or at least dressing my home in festivities. Yet I'll admit -- I hate the traditional black and orange "ghoulish" decor. I can't handle skeletons in my home, absolutely despise scarecrows and wouldn't be caught dead (no pun intended) courting the thought of a Frankenstein head as a centerpiece.

So what's a gal like me to do to ring in Halloween? Shall we just skip the occasion and go straight to turkey decorating? Never! I've rounded up a few great ideas that are as easy on the eyes as they are on the budget. And don't worry -- you won't find any dead fingers amidst these looks.

Gothic Black/White Graphics:
I love the Thomas Paul collection of Gothic melamine plates, and luckily, with a few pumpkins and black candlesticks strategically placed, the look can be quite Halloween-esque, but still perfect year-round. Good deal, right?

Gilding Pumpkins:
Turns out that a can of spray paint takes an orange staple in the Halloween decor industry up one notch to chic, understated glamor. That's right; the pumpkin gets a facelift with gold and silver gilding. This entryway is definitely my kind of autumn decorating, and I can't imagine trick-or-treating with anything else.

Raven Silhouettes:
I know, I know --- I said no tradition Halloween decorations. But the raven, although spooky and understandably ghoulish (you saw Birds, right?!), isn't altogether Halloweeny, right? Because a raven silhouette in a glass casing is a trend I could really get behind...

Autumn Centerpiece:
Although I'm not usually a supporter of the silk flower movement, seasonal decorations sometimes call for faux arrangements. In this case, the bright marigold and daisy palette is both inviting and classic, creating a gorgeous centerpiece worthy of Halloweens across the globe. The orange screams "fall" without screaming bloody murder. My kind of Halloween!

Overall, there are so many ways to infuse your home with seasonal decor --- with or without the witch's broom. Get creative using items around your own home to complete an eclectic, fall-inspired aesthetic that won't break the bank -- or your superstitions.

OK, I usually don't go for the "household item" craft projects... oftentimes, they look just like what they are. The pasta necklaces? They're nothing but macaroni on a string.

Better Homes and Gardens has changed my mind, though, with their pasta tree centerpiece project. This fancy little number is hip and funky, and doesn't look like old pasta at all.

All you need are a few simple materials; BHG promises that the project will cost less than ten dollars.

S'mores are traditionally melted over a blazing camp fire. I enjoyed these summer evening treats when I was younger, and want to pass on the ooey-gooey tradition to the sweet toothed kids in my life. We just can't get out in front of a campfire this year, but that isn't going to stop us from indulging in the graham cracker goodness.

When I first heard about microwave s'mores, I was horrified at the whole idea. I really thought that s'mores should be left where they belong: on the campgrounds.

After trying them, it's all I can do to not microwave one for myself right now.

Summer vacation keeps rolling along. How long until your kids go back to school? Are they spending too much time lounging on the couch? Here are a bunch of summer projects to trick your kids away from their air-conditioned sanctuary and out into the great outdoors of, er, your backyard.

Okay, okay. So the backyard is not the great outdoors. True. But the main thing is to get the kiddos out in the fresh air, learning about nature, and learning about the noble pursuit of maintaining a garden.

Getting their hands dirty
1. Ask them to help with the weeding. Pay them a small amount of pocket money for their time.

So, the Fourth of July is upon us. That means fireworks, beer, grilling, beer, and oh, did I mention beer? But I digress. Let's talk grill hygiene. What's tackier than a grill with chunks of last week's burgers on it? Cleaning the grill doesn't have to be a big chore.

A picture is worth a thousand words, so a video must be worth, what, a million? The creative folks at Howcast have created a great grill-cleaning how-to video that makes the job a piece of cake. You'll need aluminum foil, a grill scraper, and a bit of patience.

There's also a great tip on making future clean-ups easier -- spraying the grill with non-stick spray while it's still warm. It reminds me of seasoning my cast iron pan. But that's a tip for another blog post!

[Via Howcast.com]

Easter is upon us. While the majority of us will be coloring our hard boiled eggs with the kiddies this weekend and putting up all the kid crafted holiday decorations, some of us will be blowing out our raw eggs to make pretty decorations and gorgeous works of art.

Instructables user KaptinScarlet has awesome directions and pictures that tell us how to blow out an egg and get it ready to paint into an awesome Dragon's Egg. After you puncture the holes, and the egg is washed, give the egg to your pint sized person and have him or her blow out the contents of the egg for you.

You'll need plenty of patience, hot glue, spray paint in various Dragon colors, and acrylic paint to give the egg a distressed look and also to make it look like it has been around gathering dirt for about a gazillion years. You'll also need a cocktail stick to pop in one end of the egg so that you have something to hold while not gluing your fingers together.

Once your egg is completed and gorgeous enough that a Dragon would want to steal it, check out KaptinScarlet's other projects on dadcando.com. He says you'll need a special egg stand to display your egg, and a special box to keep the Dragon's Egg in.