All posts by: Monika Dziamka

Don't fear holiday food stains: Here's how to get them out

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on December 12, 2012 in

Stained tablecloth

You can always reach for the club soda, but stain removal these days is a serious science. Stains are generally classified into five categories. Determining whether the one you're dealing with falls under the proteins, tannins, oil-based, dye, or combination label is the first step to reclaiming the tablecloth or your favorite shirt, according to Dan Crane of Slate.com. And with waxy candlesticks, all things cranberry, greasy gravy, and a slew of other stain-makers lurking ahead in the holiday season, our breakdown on stain removal will have you ready for whatever splatters your way.

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8 ways to warm up without blasting the heater

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on October 5, 2012 in

Warm up

Fall weather can be fickle--one moment you're cradling a warm pumpkin spice latte, the next you're pining for an iced version. You've already weather-proofed your home for more serious cold ahead, but for those transition days, when the temperature dips and a sweater alone won't do the trick, save energy and money by resisting the urge to immediately blast the heat. Instead, try these simple solutions to make your space more cozy--and don't forget the effectiveness of pets and significant others!

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Beware the snowpocalypse: Weatherize your home now

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on September 15, 2012 in

Home Insulation

With temperatures reaching record highs this summer, it's hard to imagine cold weather just around the corner. According to early forecasts, however, an equally memorable winter is coming. Whether you are a renter or an owner, taking appropriate steps now to prepare your home can keep you warmer during the winter months and can significantly reduce your utility costs.

"Weatherizing your home is an important strategy, saving money by saving energy," says Lindsey Geisler of the Department of Energy. "On average, 15 percent of income goes to utilities for low-income families, so weatherization can really free up those funds for other important things." Read more

Spice up your picnic with 9 unique baskets

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on July 3, 2012 in

Picnic Table and basket

From dreamy Manet paintings to tailgating parties, eating outdoors has long been a celebrated pastime. With summer upon us, pack your favorite foods into the new guard of baskets--everything from eco-friendly, biodegradable ones to retro recalls to elegant cases Queen Victoria herself might have been charmed by. Read more

8 unique gardening tools

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on May 29, 2012 in

8 unique gardening tools

Just because good tools are essential for any gardener, it doesn't mean they can't be as appealing and eye-catching as your plants. A while back we recommended five gardening apps you could test out in your yard. Now you can thicken (or thin, whichever you're going for) your plot with these gadgets that are a bit more tangible and hands-on. Check out our slideshow of 8 unique gardening tools. Read more

Beyond the rose: 10 distinctive and long-lasting flowers for Mom

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on May 4, 2012 in

Flowers for mom

Your mother is resilient and strong; therefore, it just wouldn't do to give her flowers this Mother's Day that were anything less. Before you reach for the red roses, consider these 10 other flower options that will also capture Mom's uniqueness. Read more

Eight air-purifying plants

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on April 20, 2012 in

clean air

Dealing with headaches, sinus pressure, itchy eyes, or drowsiness? 'Tis the season for allergies, but before reaching for more medicine, consider getting an especially effective, cost-efficient, and very Earth-friendly air purifier: a houseplant. Read more

This just in: A paint collection from HGTV stars Cortney and Robert Novogratz

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on November 7, 2011 in

Paint on a roller

Cortney and Robert Novogratz, stars of the Bravo show 9 By Design and HGTV's Home By Novogratz just launched a line of interior paints called the Novogratz for Stark Paint collection. The limited palette of 39 shades speak to the design duos color-loving sensibilities. "These colors are meant to work in really any room in your home," they said. "We tried to pick out just the right colors for our paints, colors that we like for our own projects, to cut down the anxiety many people have finding the right hue."

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Your first toolkit: the essentials

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on October 11, 2011 in

Illustration of tool kit

Your first apartment is a right of passage, a noble step in achieving independence. Of course, along with this independence comes responsibility. You'll be the one putting together that Ikea furniture, hanging curtains and doing minor repairs around the house. So you're going to need the right tools for the job. Afterall, who knows how soon the super can come by and since you just moved out, do you really want to call dad? We talked to Arianne Cohen, author of Help, It's Broken!: A Fix-It Bible For The Repair Impaired, Lou Manfredini, ACE Hardware's Home Expert, and Jonathan Scott, host of HGTV's Property Brothers, to find out exactly what should go into the best tool kit for your first apartment.  We can already see your project list growing:

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The scoop on e-decorating services

Home & Garden
By Monika Dziamka on September 28, 2011 in

Fabrics and paint color schemes.

Staring at a wall hoping decorating inspiration will come can only take a person so far--sometimes professional help is in order. But the task of finding the right decorator (if you can even afford one) can be daunting. Now, with the growing popularity of e-decorating services, traditional challenges of budget, time and access restraints are no longer an issue. Even the least aesthetically savvy can create beautiful living spaces in no time.
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