(ARA) – If you’re simply sick of winter weather – from snow to slush – you’re definitely not alone. With snow storms hitting 49 out of 50 states, and many areas logging record-breaking snowfall and low temperatures, it may be difficult to avoid feeling down.
One way to avoid winter doldrums is to brighten up your home’s interior. Brighter surroundings help keep the blues at bay and make your house warm and inviting. And, don’t worry – you can do it on even the tightest budget. Creating a cozy space doesn’t require major construction or costs. Just a few small changes can make a big difference.
Paint truly is one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to brighten a room. Nothing transforms a seemingly dreary space more than a fresh coat of color. A high-quality wall paint also can hide any scuffs and scrapes caused by too much holiday cheer or during the “un-decorating” process.
“The right paint color can make a tired room look cozy and inviting,” says Peggy Van Allen, color specialist for Pratt & Lambert. “It also can serve as the canvas that ties the rest of your decorating scheme together – once you brighten tired walls, you can get inspiration for other design elements throughout the space.”
Consider selecting rich, saturated wall colors to warm up the space. Warm, burnished golds. Succulent reds and cranberries. Smooth mochas and bold French roast browns. Set off dark colors with a creamy, white trim for a soft, stylish effect.
When selecting paint, think about selecting a coating that has low odor and low VOCs (volatile organic compounds) so you can paint indoors, even in the winter – a time when you don’t necessarily want to open all the windows for extra ventilation. Stain resistance is another factor to consider in paint selection, particularly in high-traffic areas, such as kitchens and family rooms.
The Porcelain paint line from Pratt & Lambert offers both of these options, delivering excellent coverage and stain resistance in a low-odor, low-VOC formula that’s available in more than 1,000 colors.
Paint is just the first step, however. Once you have finished warming up your rooms with a fresh canvas, you can add some finishing touches to create a haven from the cold weather outside.
“Think of the month or two after the hectic holiday season as a time of rest, relaxation and recovery,” Van Allen says. “Chances are you’ll spend much of your time indoors during these months, so instead of bemoaning the fact the tree is down and it looks bare, make your rooms as cozy as possible.”
One of the first things you might want to do is rearrange the furniture in your most-used rooms to lessen the feeling of emptiness in the space. You can give your room a new look for free, simply by moving a few key pieces to new locations. Also, by moving furniture closer together, rooms can look particularly cozy on a cold day.
Next, think texture. If your window treatments are sheer and summery, maybe you’ll want to swap them out for some inexpensive velvet drapes or enhance existing blinds with a luxurious valance. Remove light-colored linen or cotton slipcovers and instead use heavier, winter-friendly fabrics in jewel- or fire-inspired tones. Accent them with fluffy throws and embellished decorative pillows for the look of extra warmth. Area rugs can reduce the stark look of a room. Pick rugs with bold colors and patterns that complement, but not necessarily match, your wall color.
In the bedrooms, replace light quilts with heavier comforters and duvets and consider using flannel sheets. Add a few extra pillows to the beds to further enhance the cuddle factor. Hang thick, plush towels in rich colors in the bathrooms and replace existing bathmats with ones that have a thick, luxurious pile. A new, fabric shower curtain also will go a long way toward warming up the space, despite all of that cold porcelain and chrome.
With a few simple and inexpensive changes such as these, there’s no need for you, or your house, to suffer from post-holiday letdown. Rich color, warm textures and clever room arrangements can keep your home looking spectacular and inviting throughout winter’s dreariest months – no holiday decorations needed.

(NAPS)—There are many good reasons to become a homeowner. In addition to the social benefits, the feeling of autonomy and sense of community investment, there are the tax benefits. One major tax benefit is the mortgage interest deduction (MID). The MID has been part of the federal tax code since 1913 and helps families offset the cost of homeownership.
The ability to deduct the interest paid on a mortgage can translate into significant savings come tax time. For example, a family who bought a home this year with a $200,000, 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage, assuming an interest rate of 4.5 percent, could save nearly $3,500 in federal taxes when they file next year.
“In today’s market, eight out of 10 home buyers must borrow money to buy a home,” said National Association of Realtors(r) chief economist, Lawrence Yun. “For aspiring homeowners who don’t have hundreds of thousands of dollars in savings to buy a home outright, tax benefits like the mortgage interest deduction help them begin building their future through homeownership.”
Of the taxpayers who itemize deductions, 80 percent utilize this benefit. This is true for people of all income levels. According to the most recent IRS tax return data available, 65 percent of the families who claim this deduction earn less than $100,000 per year.
“People who benefit most from the MID are first-time home buyers and younger homeowners,” said Yun. “These families can use the money they save to build their emergency fund, apply it toward their children’s future education or help them improve the quality of their lives right now. That’s just one of the ways owning a home can pay dividends.”
For more information about the deduction and other tax benefits of owning a home, visit www.houselogic.com.

(ARA) – Although spring and summer are typically the seasons we focus on home improvement projects, there’s no reason to put off projects or planning throughout colder months. If anything, it’s the perfect way to spend time while hibernating indoors. From winterizing windows to laying new flooring, there are plenty of ways to keep improving your home year round.
When the seasons change, one of the best things a homeowner can do is an energy audit. Though it’s nice to keep the windows open all summer, drafty doors and windows can amount to hundreds of dollars wasted on home heating costs during winter. An energy audit will help you find and fix problem areas, letting you save money for other projects.
During an energy audit, a contractor may use blower door tests to measure the air tightness of your home, infrared scanners to pinpoint heat leaks or even a simple walk-through to find places to improve your home’s efficiency. Once problem spots have been identified, hanging plastic sheeting, caulking gaps and further insulating areas will translate to big savings on home heating costs.
While auditing the heat efficiency of each room of your house, keep an eye out for the quick fixes and small projects often put aside during the summer months. Though it is great to get outside and build a deck or retaining wall, big projects often overshadow simple tasks such as fixing outlets and sealing cracks. Use winter as time to knock the little things off the list.
For those who can’t wait to get started, there are plenty of projects that can completely change your home without removing walls or installing an addition.
Introducing new color to a space will help fine-tune an interior’s design or even completely reinvent a room. Winter is the perfect time to modernize your home’s feel with new window treatments, lighting or flooring. New flooring will add both color and character to a room, and is easy to install during any season. Lumber Liquidators offers contemporary and timeless patterns for hardwood floors like Dream Home Plymouth Plank or Bellawood Brazilian Redwood, which can be installed year round.
Because winter may limit a homeowner’s ability to complete some projects, it’s a great time to plan for spring and summer home improvement projects. There are online tools such as the Home Renovator Suite from BobVila.com and Lumber Liquidators’ Room Designer that allow homeowners to easily pull together their dream homes.
After all your projects, big or small, are completed, use the colder months to set a schedule for spring cleaning and home improvement. Setting an agenda will help you avoid having to rush through the summer to get projects done, and ensure you have the time to enjoy the rewards of your hard work.

(Grand Rapids, MI) – Radon gas is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and is responsible for about 21,000 lung cancer deaths every year. You can’t see, smell, or taste radon, so what can you do to protect your home? Get it tested. Test kits are inexpensive and can be purchased from local hardware stores or from the Environmental Health Division of the Kent County Health Department (KCHD). The Health Department is located at 700 Fuller NE, Grand Rapids.
“Protecting indoor air is a vital part of maintaining a healthy home,” said Cathy Raevsky, Administrative Health Officer for KCHD. “With 16 percent of homes tested in Kent County having an elevated radon level, it is important for homeowners to take action. Getting tested is a simple way to protect your family.”
Radon is created by the breakdown of uranium in soil. It finds its way into homes and other buildings through passages like cracks in the foundation, and is second only to smoking as the leading cause of lung cancer. It is estimated that one in eight Michigan homes has an elevated level of radon. January is National
Radon Action Month and is an ideal time to test your home, because chilly weather means windows are closed, air is stagnant, and if radon is present, it will be more concentrated.
The test kits are easy to use and include confirmatory testing and referrals to approved radon contractors if necessary. The kits cost $5. To date, KCHD has received nearly 8,000 test results from homes across the county. For more information, visit www.epa.gov/radon.

Simple tips for home concrete care

Family Features

A few hours of work now could save homeowners hundreds of dollars — or more — in costly concrete repairs come spring.
Freezing rain, ice, snow and deicers, as well as freeze/thaw temperature cycles have the potential to wreak havoc on concrete surfaces if left unchecked. Not only does the saturation and freezing of concrete surfaces accelerate crack expansion and surface deterioration, but the spreading of deicing salts also causes severe damage to the aesthetic and structural integrity of unprotected concrete.
Precautionary measures such as repairing and sealing cracks and damaged concrete surfaces are cost-effective solutions homeowners can do themselves to prevent expensive replacement projects in the future.
Waterproofing sealers offer a reliable, durable finish for a variety of surfaces, including concrete, masonry, stucco and brick. Sealers, such as Quikrete Acrylic Concrete Cure & Seal — Satin Finish, offer a highly water resistant coating that protects the surface from cold weather freeze and thaw cycles — a common cause of surface cracking and spalling over time.
If properly maintained, concrete can last generations. The repair and maintenance is easy if you know what to look for and use the right products.

What to look for

Homeowners can use the following check list and do a walk around their homes — if any of these trouble spots are found, it’s time to make repairs.

Cracks and missing concrete
Typically found in driveways, car ports and exterior walk ways. Cracks that appear small can grow in size with continued exposure to water and temperature changes over time.

Spalling
Occurs when the freeze/thaw cycles cause the water that has saturated the concrete to freeze and expand — eventually eroding away the surface layer of the concrete. Deicing agents create more freeze/thaw cycles for unprotected concrete to endure, causing further erosion. Damage to the concrete’s aesthetic and structural integrity is more likely to appear the longer spalling is neglected, increasing the likelihood of a more expensive repair.

Water leaks
Visible water leaks on masonry or concrete walls are an indication water is likely seeping from the outside. If left unchecked, leaking water can also cause extensive — and costly — damage to interior surfaces.
Depending on the size of a repair, companies such as Quikrete offer products that are specially designed to fix particular structural and cosmetic issues with concrete.

How it’s done

• Careful preparation of the concrete surface is essential for positive end results. Use a broom and sweep the entire area to remove all dust and debris. The surface and cracks must be clean, dry and free of grease, dust or loose concrete prior to any repairs.
• Clean the surface with a concrete and asphalt cleaner and then rinse with clean water. Do not leave any standing water on the surface to be repaired.
• For minor horizontal cracks or fractures (1/8 inch to 1/2 inch in width), use a flexible concrete crack sealant. Cut the tip of the bottle so the opening matches the width of the crack. If the crack is deep, fill to within 1/4 inch of the surface with a fine sand.
• Squeeze the repair material into the crack in 1/4-inch layers, over-filling slightly to allow for shrinkage. Additional layers can be applied after 24 hours as needed.

• A polymer-modified concrete patching product is best for thin repairs to cracking and spalling concrete areas up to a few square feet in size and 1/2 inch in depth. The special vinyl resins improve bonding characteristics that help the repair bond to the damaged concrete and creates a dense water-resistant surface that helps counteract the freezing and expansion of water in the concrete.
• Prior to applying the patching product, dampen the repair area with water — enough water should be used to saturate the surface, but any standing water should be removed (applying repair materials to a dry surface will weaken the bond and can cause shrinkage cracking). The product should be built up in layers using a margin trowel — the first layer should be pressed into the repair area using firm trowel pressure. Feather edge the mix out onto the surrounding concrete to create a smooth repair. Apply the patching material in 1/4-inch layers. If the hole is deeper than 1/4 inch, apply in stages and allow each layer to cure for several days before starting the next.

• If water is seeping through small cracks in basement walls, begin by clearing any loose debris from around the crack. The active leak can then be plugged with a fast-setting hydraulic cement material.
• To protect concrete surfaces from cold weather freeze and thaw cycles — a common cause of surface cracking and spalling over time — use a water resistant concrete sealer to protect the surface. First, clean the surface to be coated with a concrete and asphalt cleaner, then use a roller or garden sprayer to apply the sealer. One gallon should coat 150 to 250 square feet.
For additional project ideas and tips for these and other projects, visit www.quikrete.com.

(NAPS)—With little witches, warlocks and ghosts galore, the spookiest day of the year is just around the corner. But, why wait until nighttime to join the festivities?

This Halloween, celebrate from one spook-filled hour to the next with a variety of activities the entire family will enjoy.

Following are a few ideas likely to make your next Halloween celebration a real scream:

•    Don’t Throw Away the Seeds. Save the seeds from your pumpkin carvings and turn them into a healthy Halloween snack. First, let clean seeds dry on a paper towel for 10 minutes. Next, spray a muffin pan with butter-flavored, nonstick cooking spray, placing seeds in the cups and turning them to coat lightly. For a flavorful touch, let kids sprinkle on cinnamon and sugar, garlic salt or popcorn seasoning. Finally, bake in a preheated oven at 350˚ F, turning once, for 10 to 20 minutes or until brown and slightly crisp.

•    Make a Pumpkin Man. Choose pumpkins or gourds in three different sizes. Insert a dowel or garden stake through the center of each to hold them together and then add stick arms, clothes, a hat and fun facial features. Set your pumpkin man on the porch or near the front door to greet nighttime trick-or-treaters.

•    Prepare a Bone-Chillin’ Brew. Quench everyone’s thirst with an easy-to-make punch concoction that’s sure to keep the party alive. Start with Punch flavor Nestlé® Juicy Juice®. Mix it with frozen lemonade concentrate and lemon-lime soda and refrigerate. Next, pour water into plastic gloves and fasten with rubber bands or twist ties. Then line a baking sheet with paper towels and place filled gloves on paper towels. Freeze for three hours or until firm. Once the “hands” are frozen, cut gloves off and let the hands float in the punch.

•    Host a Hair-Raising Bash. Invite friends and neighborhood kids to celebrate the holiday with costume contests, monstrous music and freaky foods, such as this recipe for Spiderweb Munch. This crispy snack is topped with a layer of melted chocolate and decorated with a thin piping of peanut butter to create creepy “webs.” And don’t forget to add a candy spider on top for an even spookier flair.

For more Halloween activities and recipe ideas, you can visit NestleFamily.com and VeryBest Baking.com.

Spiderweb Munch

(Makes 12–16 servings)

2    cups (12-ounce package) Nestlé® Toll House® Semi-Sweet Chocolate Morsels
1    cup creamy peanut butter, divided
1⁄3    cup powdered sugar
3    cups toasted rice cereal

HEAT morsels and 3⁄4 cup peanut butter in small, heavy-duty saucepan over low heat, stirring constantly until smooth; remove from heat. Add sugar; stir vigorously until smooth.

PLACE cereal in large bowl. Add 1 cup melted chocolate mixture; stir until evenly coated. Place on ungreased baking sheet. Using small metal spatula, shape into 10-inch circle with slightly raised 1-inch-wide border. Pour remaining chocolate mixture in center of circle; spread to border.

FOR SPIDERWEB:

PLACE remaining peanut butter in small, heavy-duty plastic bag. Cut tiny corner from bag; squeeze to pipe concentric circles on top of chocolate. Using wooden pick or tip of sharp knife, pull tip through peanut butter from center to border. Refrigerate for 30 minutes or until firm. Cut into wedges.

Columnist Sarah Read shared with us some recipe ideas from her new blog, To Every Purpose, which has crafts, projects, recipes & activities for every season.

Sarah is the author of the Mercy in Mamahood column, and a former editor of the Post.

By Sarah Read

Spider sandwiches

These friendly, spider-shaped sandwiches couldn’t even scare Miss Muffet away! Your kids will delight in eating this fun and festive Halloween treat.

Cut bread into circle shapes with a round cookie cutter or upside-down glass and make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Lightly pinch around the edges. Use graham cracker sticks for the legs and Reeses Peanut Butter Cereal puffs for the eyes. Adhere with small dabs of peanut butter. Great to serve at a holiday gathering or just a new twist for your child’s lunch during October. They’ll be crawling back for more!

Spiced apple cider

Nothing makes fall like the spicy aroma of hot apple cider. Here is a simple recipe to make your next autumn gathering a big hit! Just pour a gallon of apple cider into a large crock-pot and heat it up with a tablespoon of whole cloves and 3 cinnamon sticks. A spice ball works wonders for this, but if you don’t have one, just retrieve the cloves and sticks with a slated spoon before serving. Let it heat for a few hours, one at the very least. Serve with cinnamon sticks for guests to stir with. Enjoy!

For more activities, ideas and resources, visit “toeverypurpose.blogspot.com”

(ARA) – Heating your home with a wood stove this winter? Now is a good time to ensure your wood stove will generate as much heat as possible while protecting your family’s health.

Wood smoke is a mixture of gases and particles, also called particle pollution, that isn’t healthy to breathe indoors or out – especially for children, older adults and people with heart disease, asthma and other lung diseases. Particle pollution can irritate your respiratory system, and is linked to health problems such as bronchitis and asthma attacks.

Replacing your wood stove with a model certified by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) can make a big difference. About 75 percent of the 12 million wood stoves used in the U.S. were built before 1990. These stoves put out about 70 percent more wood smoke than the EPA-certified stoves on the market today. These older stoves are also about half as efficient as today’s models, meaning you have to burn a lot more wood in your old stove to get the same amount of heat.

Several financial incentives are available for purchasing cleaner, more efficient wood-burning appliances. The federal government and several states may offer tax credits for buying a more efficient biomass stove.

If you’re not able to replace your older stove this year, there are still ways that you can reduce pollution, according to the EPA. The manner in which you operate a wood stove is important to help reduce pollution and maximize energy efficiency.

Follow these tips from EPA for a cleaner, safer fire:

1. Age all firewood at least six months to help it dry out. Dried wood burns hotter, cuts fuel consumption and reduces smoke.

2. Burn the right firewood. Split, stack, cover the top and store your wood for quicker drying. Never burn trash or treated wood which can release toxic chemicals into the air.

3. Keep your chimney clean. A clean chimney provides good draft for your stove and reduces the risk of a chimney fire. Have a certified professional inspect your wood-burning appliance and chimney once a year.

4. Follow instructions. Operate your wood stove according to the manufacturer’s instructions and follow all maintenance procedures.

5. Upgrade to cleaner equipment. EPA-certified wood stoves and fireplace inserts burn cleaner and more efficiently, emitting less pollution than older models. Stoves with solid doors (with no glass panes) generally are older and should be replaced and disposed of properly.

6. Start it right. Use only clean newspaper or dry kindling to start a fire. Never use gasoline, kerosene, charcoal starter or a propane torch.

7. Check your local air quality forecast. Make sure your area has not issued a No Burn Day.

8. Clean ashes. Excess ashes can clog the air intake vents. Be sure to dispose of ashes in a metal container away from the house or any flammable material to reduce the risk of fire.

9. Be a good neighbor. Follow good wood-burning practices and always remember to comply with state and local codes.

10. If you see smoke, there may be a problem. A properly installed and used wood-burning appliance should be smoke-free inside and out. If you notice a lot of smoke coming from your chimney or stove, your wood may be too wet or you may need a more efficient appliance. Smoke from a chimney can mean wasted energy.

Go to www.epa.gov/burnwise for more burn-wise tips and information about tax credit options for replacing wood-burning appliances. Go to www.airnow.gov for your daily air quality forecast.

The Department of Natural Resources and Environment and Governor Jennifer M. Granholm this week, October 17-23 as Radon Action Week.

Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is radioactive. Radon exposure is believed to be the second leading cause of lung cancer nationwide, causing approximately 600 new cases of lung cancer each year in Michigan alone.

Considering the high risks of radon exposure, and the low cost of testing for unsafe radon levels, DNRE Director Rebecca Humphries is encouraging all homeowners statewide to obtain a radon test kit from their county or city health department during Radon Action Week.

“Regardless of how old or new a home is, it could have a radon issue. In Michigan, it is estimated that as many as one in eight homes could have elevated levels of radon,” Humphries said.

Radon occurs naturally in the ground and normally does not pose a health risk, since it is diluted upon contact with the air. But in cases where radon is trapped under a building or home, it can work its way into the building’s indoor air environment and accumulate to levels that affect human health over time.

“Exposure to radon does not cause any warning symptoms, such as headaches or nausea. The only known health effect is an increased risk of lung cancer,” said DNRE Indoor Radon Specialist Sue Hendershott. “If unsafe levels of radon are detected, the levels can be reduced to protect your and your family’s health. But the only way to know if a problem exists is to take the first step and have your home tested.”

Inexpensive home radon testing kits are available from county and city health departments statewide, and some counties are even providing the kits for free during Radon Action Week. To find out where you can get a home testing kit, go online to www.michigan.gov/radon and click on Where to Get a Radon Test Kit, or call the DNRE’s Indoor Radon Program at 1-800-RADON-GAS for more information.

If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a new, more efficient wood-burning stove, you will want to do it before the end of the year. The federal tax credit to purchase one will expire on December 31.

The tax credit provides 30 percent (up to $1500) for the purchase of a qualified biomass-burning stove or fireplace insert between January 1, 2009 and December 31, 2010.

It covers any wood- or pellet-burning stove that meets the 75 percent efficiency rating qualifies.
Professional installation costs are included as long as installation is required for the proper and safe operation of the stove.
Must be your existing home and principal residence. Rentals and new construction do not qualify.
For more information, go to http://www.energystar.gov/ and click on “tax credits.”