The holidays. They bring on thoughts of warm family gatherings, sparkling decorations, delicious food. Wait. That’s a Hallmark movie background. In real life, the holidays often bring up feelings of anxiety, stress and overwhelm. This article will help change all that. One thing … read more

The Pacific Northwest is home to the native blue orchard mason bees. Often mistaken for houseflies due to their blue-green, iridescent bodies, these solitary bees are distinct from social bees because each female independently lays her own eggs, finds her own nest and … read more

The spring cleaning season is always such a great time to refresh your home and everyday lifestyle. Are you already planning to deep-clean your carpets and rugs, clean all of your home’s windows and wipe down all counters and cabinets? These are all … read more

Making your own all-purpose household cleaner is an easy alternative to store-bought chemicals. This version of a homemade cleaner is environmentally friendly and less likely to cause irritation. You can also control the strength of the cleaner by rationing the ingredients while knowing … read more

Last year, over 50,000 new homes with decks were built in the United States. Clearly, homeowners love having a deck to enhance their backyard and enjoy outdoor living. To get the most out of your deck, you need to ensure you take good care of it … read more

Maple leaves and tree needles are starting to pile up. Do you have a plan for what to do with the excess leaves? Now is a great time to sign up for compost service. Curbside compost service is available to many homes in … read more

Your home should be a sanctuary to take refuge from the world, relax and recharge. However, keeping a home clean and tidy can be difficult when life gets busy, especially when transitioning from summer activities and resuming back-to-school schedules. Now that kids are … read more

Between the pool, beach, lake and the various other ways to stay cool, plus the stifling humidity and warm weather storms, summer is one of the top moisture-filled times of the year. This season brings a few extra problems that may not be … read more

Summer is an exciting time filled with beach get-togethers, lovely afternoons spent poolside with friends and family, road trips — and decluttering! And I don’t just mean putting the snow sleds and snowboards in storage and finally ridding all kitchen countertops of scattered … read more