Review of Backyard Dog (Paperback)

This book gave me a feeling of connection to the characters (puppies)while at the same time it taught me a lot about how people don't really understand how deeply their pets feel.As a proverbial optimist, I wantto believe in the best in people.After reading this book, I came to realize that some people really are not very sensitive nor kind.In fact, there were times when I wanted to reach into the page and grab a character to say, "You're dog is in trouble."I know that any animal lover will have a hard time putting this book down - it's a true grabber.

Product Description
When Risa receives a mysterious book from the Rainbow Bridge committee, the shelter worker is thrust into the life stories of ten German shepherd puppies through their journey from birth, their home lives and to the Rainbow Bridge, where all loved dogs wait for their owners to join them. Read about the lives of Helga's ten puppies as they share each personal story. Filled with humorous adventures, courageous acts and love, every pet lover will enjoy this book. About the author: 15+ years volunteer for rescue orgs and shelters; 5 yrs animal control officer. 2 Chapters: http://members.aol.com/wolfalpha9/newBYD.htm

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Review of Ultimate Guide to Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home (Paperback)

Merle Henkenius holds a master plumber's license and has extensive experience in home construction, so he's the perfect author to create a do-it-yourself plumbing guide in ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PLUMBING: COMPLETE PROJECTS FOR THE HOME, which appears in a new, expanded edition to provide basic step-by-step instruction for installing sinks faucets, showers and repairing all such fixtures. Color photos throughout accompany step-by-step instructions and flow charts which are easy to follow, making this an excellent pick for both do-it-yourself homeowners and libraries catering to them.

Diane C. Donovan
California Bookwatch

Product Description
Ultimate Guide to Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home is an updated and expanded edition of Creative Homeowner's comprehensive plumbing how-to book, which prepares the do-it-yourselfer to handle any plumbing task in the home, from replacing a washer in a leaky faucet to cutting and joining cast-iron vent pipes. The author's emphasis is on doing things correctly, so all the projects use only code-compliant techniques. The most up-to-date products and techniques are included. The book gives readers an overview of a house's plumbing system, including supply, waste, and vent piping, and explains the basic physics that keep everything working well. Readers learn not only how to plan and complete each project but how to spot and improve outdated or dangerous techniques and materials in their home's plumbing system


Book Description
Ultimate Guide to Plumbing: Complete Projects for the Home is an updated and expanded edition of Creative Homeowner's comprehensive, best-selling plumbing how-to book. Author Merle Henkenius prepares the do-it-yourselfer to handle any plumbing task in the home, from replacing a washer in a leaky faucet to cutting and joining cast-iron vent pipes. Strong emphasis is placed on doing things correctly, so all the projects use only code-compliant techniques. The most up-to-date products and techniques are included. The book gives readers an overview of a house's plumbing system, including supply, waste, and vent piping, and explains the basic physics that keep everything working well. Readers learn not only how to plan and complete each project but how to spot and improve outdated or dangerous techniques and materials in their home's plumbing system.




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Review of Simple Feng Shui: Ancient Principles to Bring Love, Joy, and Prosperity into Your Life (Hardcover)

Simple Feng Shui is a wonderful book.It gives you both a broad base for understanding what Feng Shui is and for realizing how you can use Feng Sui's concepts. This book also provides one with very clear direction on how to use Feng Shui to improve the balance, livability and character of one's home.The writing is deep without being pedantic and the approach brings much light to those of us who had not considered how to make our lives more balanced by improving our homes.

Product Description
Everyone seeks love, joy and abundance in their lives. Simple Feng Shui takes this ancient eastern concept of furnishing-for-success and shows how easily it can be applied to the American home or office.Author and leading feng shui consultant and practitioner Shawne Mitchell combines images with plain language to explain concepts that Americans can put to work immediately.Hundreds of practical tips, insightful stories, and life lessons help guide readers.Learn how to clear stagnant energy and change problem areas into zones of opportunity simply.

From the Inside Flap
Everyone seeks love, joy and abundance in their lives. Simple Feng Shui takes this ancient eastern concept of furnishing-for-success and shows how easily it can be applied to the American home or office.Author and leading feng shui consultant and practitioner Shawne Mitchell combines images with plain language to explain concepts that Americans can put to work immediately.Hundreds of practical tips, insightful stories, and life lessons help guide readers.Learn how to clear stagnant energy and change problem areas into zones of opportunity simply.

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Review of Energy Saving Home Improvements from A to Z: Real Estate Investor, Homeowner, Home Buyer and Seller Survival Kit Series (Paperback)

When my wife and I wanted to make a lot of repairs and upgrading to our home we read many books on the subject before starting the work or hiring contractors. This book was a great help since it contains a ton of expert advice, research, and information about the best ways to make repairs and improvements (both minor and major upgrading) in the most cost effective manner. The added bonus of the information in this book is that we learned how to reduce our utility consumption by about half! The topics show you how to make all the updating with energy efficiency in mind at no extra cost to do the work. That we a great bonus to the instructions. Some of the work opn our house were major updates and had to be done by professional builders and contractors. With what we learned from this book my wife and I were able to double check the estimates and work performed by the pro contractors to make sure they did everything the correct and most energy and cost efficient manner. We did detect some aspects of the job that we told the contractors to do differently from what we learned in the book(instead of them cutting corners to increase their own profits). All in all - great book and great choice for any home owner serious about make energy saving home improvements!

Product Description
Nemmar Real Estate Training is ranked as the most exclusive real estate appraiser, home inspector and real estate investor training service since 1988. Our real estate books, DVDs, CDs and Videos are rated number one in their real estate categories nationwide! Our products have taught thousands of home buyers, sellers, and real estate professionals worldwide. You too can learn everything you need to know about Real Estate - from Asbestos to Zoning. With this knowledge you will save thousands of dollars when you buy, sell, or renovate your home. You will also learn how to eliminate safety hazards and properly maintain a home. Statistics show an average savings of at least $4,700.00 per home for customers who have read our books. Our home inspection, appraisal, and home improvement books have been called the "Bible" of the real estate industry. Written by Guy Cozzi who has decades of experience as a licensed appraiser, home inspector, consultant, and real estate investor. This top selling author has been quoted as a real estate expert by the New York Times and many other publications. He has been a guest speaker on real estate investment TV shows and has taught thousands of people how to inspect, appraise and invest in real estate and provides advice to many banks and mortgage lenders.

Don't let your dream house be a Money Pit in disguise! Everything you need to know about energy saving home improvements from Asbestos to Zoning. "Don't buy, sell, or renovate your home without this!" Includes everything you need to know about making minor home improvements that increase the value of your home plus save energy and drastically reduce your utility bills from A to Z. You'll learn how to:

- Reduce your energy bills by 50% or more.
- Lower house maintenance and capital costs.
- Decrease environmental impact
- Dramatically enhance comfort and health for you and your family.
- Anyone can benefit from this book: home buyers, home sellers, home builders, home renovators, home inspectors, appraisers, builders, contractors, and all real estate professionals.

Every aspect of homes are covered:
- Home Renovations and Additions
- Appliances
- Heating
- Cooling
- Heat Pumps
- Fireplaces and Wood Heating
- Water Heating
- Water Savings
- Insulation
- Doors and Windows
- Roofs
- Lighting
- Landscaping
- Swimming Pools
- Solar Energy
- Everything under the sun and more!

The real facts other books don't tell you! You'll learn how to lower your utility bills by 50%, live more comfortably, and help the environment. Home builders and contractors "cut corners" to maximize their own profits when doing home repairs and renovations. This is unquestionably the only book of its kind that teaches you how to prevent those pitfalls. You get information that the professionals use to make you an educated consumer enabling you to negotiate a much better price on the purchase, renovation, or sale of your home. Whether you are looking to become a home builder or contractor, or just to buy, sell or renovate your own home - this book has it all.

Do you really know the true condition and energy efficiency of your home? Don't let your dream house be a money pit in disguise! This "A to Z Home Improvement" book will assist you with the biggest investment of your life - your own home. These products were originally designed to train top-notch, professional home inspectors, appraisers, investors, builders, contractors, and Realtors and are now available at a price affordable to everyone. All homes need to be inspected,appraised and updated for safety hazards, routine maintenance, and energy efficiency

This book has many pages of photographs and illustrations covering every topic. The photos are detailed to show you what to look for when making energy saving home improvements. By identifying any problem conditions before you buy, sell, or renovate, you'll be able to save a lot of money.

288 pages with 8.5" x 11" dimensions. This book and the Real Estate from A to Z series are now being offered at a very large discount via the Internet compared to our normal professional training school prices.

Key Benefits:
- Crucial Advice to Assist You: This book tells you the truth, unlike others that gloss over the hard facts. Aspects of home improvement and real estate investment that tell you the realities so you don't walk into it with your eyes closed. This information will be invaluable to you in a home purchase, sale or ownership.
- Safety Concerns: Eliminate safety hazards to make your home safe for you and your family. Help prevent accidents before they happen! Learn how to identify safety and health hazards around your own home.
- In-Depth Home Improvement Topics: You'll learn every aspect of energy saving home improvements. Whether you're a beginner or an expert, this book is easy to read and understand. Get all of the important information you need in just one book. Never buy, sell or renovate a home without this!



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Review of Simple Home Repairs: Storey Country Wisdom Bulletin A-28 (Paperback)

Where was this years ago? It has a lot of good help with around the house repairs with illustrations. I just wish it had more. This publisher never lets me down.

Product Description
Since 1973, Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins have offered practical, hands-on instructions designed to help readers master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. There are now more than 170 titles in this series, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

From the Back Cover
Since the 1973 publication of Storey's first Country Wisdom Bulletin, our commitment to preserving the arts, crafts, and skills of country life has never wavered. We now have more than 200 titles in this series of 32-page publications, and their remarkable popularity reflects the common desire of country and city dwellers alike to cultivate personal independence in everyday life.

Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletins contain practical, hands-on instructions designed to help you master dozens of country living skills quickly and easily. From traditional skills to the newest techniques, Storey's Bulletins provide a foundation of earth-friendly information for the way you want to live today.



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Review of 100 More Things You Don't Need a Man For!: Exterior Home and Yard Maintenance (Paperback)

100 More Things You Don't Need A Man For! by home improvement expert Alison Jenkins is a highly practical, "user friendly", exterior home and yard maintenance guide written especially for women, and useful for anyone who is unfamiliar with the basics of handling power tools, patching exterior walls, weatherproofing wooden garden furniture, and so much more. Practical instructions, full-color illustrations and diagrams, easy-to-understand terminology, and a touch of humor make 100 More Things You Don't Need A Man For! a superbly presented and highly recommended guide for any do-it-yourself homeowner -- regardless of gender!

Product Description
Alison Jenkins does it again with her latest in the 100 Things series. With answers to questions on exterior house and yard maintenance, readers learn the bare essentials of everything from roofing and siding to landscaping and getting outside help. The book's step-by-step, illustrated techniques provide confidence from the ground up.

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Review of 100 More Things You Don't Need a Man For!: Exterior Home and Yard Maintenance (Paperback)

100 More Things You Don't Need A Man For! by home improvement expert Alison Jenkins is a highly practical, "user friendly", exterior home and yard maintenance guide written especially for women, and useful for anyone who is unfamiliar with the basics of handling power tools, patching exterior walls, weatherproofing wooden garden furniture, and so much more. Practical instructions, full-color illustrations and diagrams, easy-to-understand terminology, and a touch of humor make 100 More Things You Don't Need A Man For! a superbly presented and highly recommended guide for any do-it-yourself homeowner -- regardless of gender!

Product Description
Alison Jenkins does it again with her latest in the 100 Things series. With answers to questions on exterior house and yard maintenance, readers learn the bare essentials of everything from roofing and siding to landscaping and getting outside help. The book's step-by-step, illustrated techniques provide confidence from the ground up.

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Review of Chix Can Fix: 100 Home-Improvement Projects and True Tales from the Diva of Do-It-Yourself (Paperback)

This book is amazing!I can't seem to put it down!I live with one of those "I'll do it later Honey" kind of guys and as you can imagine my "honey do" list was getting out of control with my patience right behind it!I heard about this book that gives you step by step process to all the projects that seemed so difficult before.Home Depot knows me by name now and my list has been shrinking by the days!Just the feeling you get when you accomplish projects that before you had to wait for the "man" of the house or a repair man to do!Not only did this book show me how to do the projects, it gave me the ability to reach down deep & realize I could do it which may have been the biggest struggle of all.I recommend this to ANYONE who is stuck in the rut I was once in or ANYONE who plans on doing any kind of repairs or home improvements.I am now kicking myself because of all the money I have spent on repairing things because I had to call someone to come out and now I realize I could have been doing it myself the whole time! Before my house consumed me and now I can finally say I consume it!Funny how only a few weeks ago I was frustrated and irritated that our house was in my mind falling apart...now I can say I am getting ahead of things!My husband just asked me the other day why I was tearing the house up and fixing things that weren't even broke...I said because I CAN!I think that was the best feeling of Power I have had in a really long time!Don't say "I can't do that" or "Call the maintenance man, something else is broke" until you read this book because you can and trust me you will!




Product Description
The Discovery Channel's Tool-Belt Diva urges women everywhere to drop the honey-do list and "Honey, do it yourself!"

With more than 250,000 women enrolled in Home Depot's Do-It-Herself workshops in the last two years, women are definitely taking the lead in America's home improvement game. Now that women are making more of the home improvement decisions than ever before, it's only natural that they would look to one of the most recognized home improvement experts on television-Norma Vally, the Tool-Belt Diva. But Chix Can Fix offers much more than just construction tips; it inspires women to take on home repairs-from wiring a light fixture to repairing drywall to fixing that leaky faucet for good-with confidence and gusto.

A comprehensive resource to common home repairs-including plumbing, electricity, walls, floors, doors, and windows-Chix Can Fix offers easy-to-follow instructions and more than two hundred illustrations for those who are new to plunging a toilet, as well as more intricate tasks for the seasoned DIYer, like installing a ceiling fan. Complete with safety tips, dos and don'ts, expert advice, quick shortcuts, and Vally's own lively commentary, Chix Can Fix is the must-have guide for the wannabe handywoman.

About the Author
Norma Vally is the star of the Discovery Channel's Tool-Belt Diva, which is in its second season and debuted this year as a radio show on the Sirius satellite network. Norma has appeared on Good Day New York and The Tony Danza Show and has been featured in USA Today, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, and CNN.com.

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Review of Terence Conran Kitchens: The Hub of the Home (Hardcover)

I love this book and found it very inspirational when I designed my kitchen. I had already thumbed through the various decorating house and kitchen magazines one might see at Barnes and Nobles. Most of those showed your typical cheesy American kitchen with lots of over-the-top materials badly paired together in one space. The kitchens in this book appealed to me because, as a generalization, they were a little arty, sophisticated and unexpected, without being kooky. I even borrowed a color them from one of the examples. Granted some of the kitchens didn't work but the majority did - and there was a lot of variation among those that did.

Product Description
Updated with all-new content for 2002, Terence Conran's invaluable reference on kitchens tackles the most complex design project in the house.

In many ways the heart of the home, the kitchen is a place where style and function can coexist magnificently. International style king Terence Conran shows us how to do just that in Terence Conran Kitchens. In terms of planning, the kitchen makes unique demands, and Conran covers both the overarching style concerns and the nitty-gritty practicalities of making your dream kitchen a reality. The book ranges from the basics of good design (whether you're starting from scratch or fitting new appliances into an old layout) to an encyclopedic look at all the materials (storage, lighting, worktops, and more) available to the kitchen designer today. As always, Conran provides case studies and floor plans, bring-ing the best kitchens within reach of every reader. No one embarking on the demanding task of redesigning a kitchen wants to do it without the right book for reference and inspiration. With up-to-date information on the latest styles and a thorough look at classic appliances and materials, Terence Conran Kitchens does it all.

From the Inside Flap
Updated with all-new content for 2002, Terence Conran?s invaluable reference on kitchens tackles the most complex design project in the house.

In many ways the heart of the home, the kitchen is a place where style and function can coexist magnificently. International style king Terence Conran shows us how to do just that in Terence Conran Kitchens. In terms of planning, the kitchen makes unique demands, and Conran covers both the overarching style concerns and the nitty-gritty practicalities of making your dream kitchen a reality. The book ranges from the basics of good design (whether you?re starting from scratch or fitting new appliances into an old layout) to an encyclopedic look at all the materials (storage, lighting, worktops, and more) available to the kitchen designer today. As always, Conran provides case studies and floor plans, bring-ing the best kitchens within reach of every reader. No one embarking on the demanding task of redesigning a kitchen wants to do it without the right book for reference and inspiration. With up-to-date information on the latest styles and a thorough look at classic appliances and materials, Terence Conran Kitchens does it all.

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Review of The Tuff Chix Guide to Easy Home Improvement (Paperback)

I purchased this book because I recently bought a new house and would like to lay ceramic tile flooring and make a kitchen backsplash.The cover specifically refers to laying tile, so I thought this would be a good choice.Tile is mentioned exactly twice, neither time telling you how to lay it.This book isn't really about home improvement, it's home maintenance - how to clean your gutters, fix a hole in drywall, etc.Fine if that's what you want.

Product Description
A fun and helpful guide for aspiringhandywomen

For every woman who wants to take home repair matters into her own hands, The Tuff Chix Guide toEasy Home Improvement is here to help. Paige Hemmis shares the tricks of her trade in this how-to book written especially for aspiring handywomen. Avoiding the dull, dry tone of typical instruction manuals, Hemmis provides accessible and easy-to-follow instructions on every aspect of home repair, complete with illustrations and helpful "Tuff Tips."

Learn how to:
* Fix cracks of every kind
* Fix sticky doors
* Repair windows of all sizes
* Fix malfunctioning toilets
* Hang curtain rods

Whether you're fixing a deadbolt, replacing wall switches, or unplugging the kitchen sink, The TuffChix Guide to Easy Home Improvement is the one book you need to get the job done.

From the Introduction:
"Whenever I started a project, I wanted to know how hard it would be for a novice like me, what tools I would need, how much I had to buy from the hardware store, how long it would take and, finally, how much it would be to just hire someone else to do it. So... I'm passing this along to you...

This book is designed for anyone who wants to improve his or her surroundings in ways small and large. It's everything I wish I'd had when I started... You don't have to read this book from cover to cover. Use it as your road map. This book is designed to make your life easier, save you a little money, and give you the tools you need to take care of yourself."

About the Author
PAIGE HEMMIS, formerly an emergency medical technician, a race car driver, and a wedding planner, is an accomplished carpenter and skilled home builder who appears regularly on ABC's top-rated Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. A graduate of UC Santa Barbara, Paige volunteers her time to Keep America Beautiful's "Great American Cleanup" and Habitat for Humanity.

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Review of Home Comforts : The Art and Science of Keeping House (Hardcover)

I bought this book without knowing anything about it. As a thirtysomething single man who just bought his first house, I've been looking for thepractical information that I never got growing up (more my fault thanmom's), and after idly flipping through this book in the store, I wasconvinced that I'd found it. The amount of venom contained in many of thereviews here was frankly astonishing to me, and for a moment I wondered ifI'd wandered onto the wrong page by mistake.

Home Comforts is not"the fascists guide to spotless houses at the expense of friends,family, career, and joy". Indeed, the author repeatedly stresses thather methods and schedules are suggestions, nothing more, and goes to greatlengths to explain why each task should be done in the first place, and howto balance the effort against the benefits. I found nothing in it tosuggest that I, living alone in my brand-new house, should be forced intohours of weekly drudgery in order to meet an irrational white-glovestandard; what I found was a set of clear explanations that would allow meto make informed choices on how to set my own standards and keep up withthem in a reasonable and realistic way.

Attempting to read it from coverto cover in one sitting is indeed overwhelming, and I can see why it leftsome people feeling inadequate or with the false impression that the authorwas looking down her nose at the readers. I didn't know most of thosethings either, and much of what I thought I knew was wrong.

Some aspectsthat others find off-putting added to the charm for me. Who but a lawyerwould, when faced with the complications of laundry care labels, reachimmediately for the federal regulations governing them? The book gets a bitchatty, but if I didn't know what sort of person the author was, how wouldI know what motivated her advice in a particular area? I don't think I'dreached page seven before I was wondering "if there were any more athome like her", and not because I wanted to hire one as a full-timehousekeeper; Mendelson is a "rational romantic", mixing equalparts of enthusiasm and sensibility into her writing.

As for omissions,I'm hard-pressed to find any significant ones. Doesn't say anything aboutdoing your own plumbing or electrical work? Why should it? The informationit does supply is geared to living in a home, not repairing or renovatingone. For those who choose to do more in that area, she makes a point ofrecommending other sources. Personally, the only thing I've noticed so farthat it doesn't say anything specific about is getting stains out ofconcrete floors, something I'm willing to research on my own, since she'ssaved me the trouble for pretty much every other kind of floor and wallcovering I'm likely to encounter.

Oh, and I bought Mom a copy. Hopefullyshe'll take it the right way...

-j



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Review of Do It Yourself Home Improvement: Step by Step Guide to Home Improvement (Hardcover)

This is a very good book. However, no one book can cover all the intricacies of home improvement and construction. So it's best to try to look at the book you're thinking of buying before you purchase it. Try a bookstore or library if possible.
I have purchased the following books and found them to be very helpful to me:
Do It Yourself Home Improvement: Step by Step Guide to Home Improvement;
Ultimate Guide to Home Repair & Improvement (Ultimate Guide);
New Complete Guide to Home Repair & Improvement (Better Homes & Gardens);
Encyclopedia of Home Maintenance & Repair - This is a black & white book, but has very good explanations, especially of electrical.
Popular Mechanics When Duct Tape Just Isn't Enough: Quick Fixes for Everyday Disasters (Popular Mechanics) - This is kind of a "Hints from Heloise" for the home fix'r up'r.


Product Description
Covering everything you need to know for any home task. From quick-fix repair jobs to major construction, this is the ultimate visual guide to every aspect of home improvement. Including hundreds of expert techniques to repair, maintain, or transform your home. Unique, step-by-step, photographic approach shows you each stage of every task. Over 3,500 images clearly explain how things are put together and what goes where. This DIY features comprehensive coverage of all the tools and materials needed for every job. Get the know-how with the DK DIY show-how! Bridges the gap between the beginner and the experienced home improver, covering general, everyday tasks, but also provides comprehensive coverage for the expert. Fresh, modern design beautifully illustrated with full-color photography - more than any comparable title. "Shows you what other DIY books only tell you": exploded artworks illustrate the internal workings of your house and help you understand and work with its different structures and systems. Unique, step-by-step, photographic approach to all aspects of DIY actually shows you each stage of every task, from fixing simple problems to more advanced home improvements. Makes even the hard tasks appear easy. Content specially focused to cover the most common DIY tasks in depth: overall approach tailored to the typical DK reader.

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Review of The Clutter Diet: The Skinny on Organizing Your Home and Taking Control of Your Life (Paperback)

Lorie Marrero is no stranger to clutter. I know this because her blogs and website have helped me sort through four storage units (saving me hundreds of dollars each month!) and most of my condo. Comparing the clutter of our lives with diet makes a lot of sense. Diet...we don't gain weight overnight and we can't lose it overnight. Same goes for clutter. All we need is a plan. Lorie provides us a plan to release this clutter.

There are many excellent books on Clutter and organization. This is one of them. Lorie helps you understand how the clutter is aquired and how to get it out of your life forever. It's not an easy task but this book helps you each step of the way.

The book is broken down in to four main sections, Getting Motivated, Clutter Prevention, Clutter Reduction, and Maintenance. Prevention helped me as much as the actual decluttering sessions. I learned to see "what enough looks like" - sounds simple but I did not know. So my "homes" for my items were overflowing.I am now learning what enough looks like.

The final section in the book breaks it down to suggestions on a room by room basis. She suggest products to help you along the way but you don't need to buy anything (other than the book) to implement Lorie's system.

This book is very easy to read and well organized.

Product Description
Get your house in shape! Applying just an ounce of the advice in this practical guide saves you enough time and money to pay for itself. You will learn:

• The actual scientific law of nature that helps you get organized
• The cure for procrastination
• Ten types of High Calorie Clutter to avoid
• Where to start and how to tackle your projects
• How to successfully add new habits into your life

Praise for The Clutter Diet:
'As a successful organizing coach, I immediately related with Lorie's motivational concepts in The Clutter Diet. Applying these principles can change your life!' --Dorothy Breininger, President of Delphi Center for Organization, Dr. Phil Show expert and author of Chicken Soup for the Soul: Life Lessons for Organizing and Balancing Your World

'What an exciting book! Getting organized has never been so easy. Lorie provides great real-life tips and advice that anyone can implement. You'll walk away with everything you need to know to get and stay organized.' --Jim Deitzel, Rubbermaid, eMarketing Manager



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Review of Gustav Stickley's Craftsman Homes and Bungalows (Paperback)

Gustav Stickley is the most far-thinking American in the Arts & Crafts period. Like many others he designed house and furniture. But inlike many of them, he wrote about it and wrote lots. This volume is a collection of his three books of house plans, reproduced just as he published them.

It's a revelation of good design in houses.And a source of great ideas for our own homes.Looking at this book I found so much to admire and desrie and emulate.

I want to live in a Stickley house and, since that's not possible, I want to make my house look like one.

Product Description
Designs, plans, and illustrations fromthe leader of the Arts and Crafts movement inhomebuilding.

In 1901, Gustav Stickley began to create thefirst uniquely American style of furniture andhome design—known as Craftsman. Stickley'sprinciples of home design include constructionthat is in harmony with its landscape, openfloor plans, built-in storage, and naturallighting. He was a major influence on FrankLloyd Wright, and he remains one of the greatnames in American architecture. CraftsmanHomes and Bungalows showcases his work inan affordable, attractive new edition. Featuring hundreds of black-and-white photographs, linedrawings, and sketches of cabins, cottages, andbungalows from concept to finished product, itpresents easy-to-understand directions on bothhome construction and improvement. Thisresource, a combination of three of Stickley'sworks, is a comprehensive introduction to thedesign and building of beautiful Craftsmanhomes.

500 black & white; 55 black & white photos.

About the Author
Gustav Stickley (1858-1942) wasa leader and innovator in America's Arts andCrafts movement and published several books,magazines, and articles on the subject.

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Review of Messies Manual, The: A Complete Guide to Bringing Order & Beauty to Your Home (Paperback)

Ok, I admit, I am a MESSIE... I throw stuff down wherever it lands, I "stuff and shove" in a hurry to make my home presentable, I loose things continuously, I have too much and I am overwhelmed by it all!
I really hate the clutter around me, but haven't known how to change and make it stick.

I've read other books and still hold to much of what I have learned there, but I NEEDED to learn more, more about myself- what makes me tick- and how I can work with my own unique personality (Ok, so not so unique after all!) to not just "clean the house"-- but to kick the messie habits and reform.

I am in the process of "recovery."Cleaning out places that haven't seen the sunlight in 10 years.I am learning (with Sandra's help)- to SIMPLIFY, SORT and STORE- sounds easy doesn't it?NOPE!but easier with her help and tutoring.

This book is part of my journey- not just to a presentable house today, but to a truly peaceful home and lifestyle. I recommend this book to anyone who has tried and failed and is ready to try again.


Product Description
This is the book that started it all! First published twenty-five years ago, The Messies Manual has helped over 350,000 people get rid of their messy habits. Sandra Felton's foolproof advice on organization has made this book a proven best seller that has helped organizers of all ages overcome a lifetime of messy habits. Expanding on the hot, new trend of home improvement television shows, this updated edition includes a new foreword and loads of insightful ideas. Presented in an easy-and fun-to-read format, this practical and perceptive book will help readers-organize activities-pay bills on time-keep a clean house-enjoy spare time without feeling guilty-and much moreFelton's compassion, humor, and practical tips will help anyone make chronic messiness a thing of their past.

From the Back Cover
Do you constantly misplace books, keys, bills, shoes, pets, or . . . children?Are you tired of fighting an avalanche every time you open a closet or cabinet door? Do you never answer the phone because you can't find it? Welcome to the world of a "messie"! Before you run home and apply for a home makeover, let The Organizer Lady™ turn your anxiety into inspiration. Sandra Felton's practical advice will make your dreams of an orderly lifestyle become reality.Whether you are the "messie" or are living with one, The Messies Manual provides loads of resourceful tools that will help you- organize your activities- pay bills on time- keep your house clean- enjoy your spare time without feeling guiltyWith over 350,000 copies sold, The Messies Manual has a new foreword and a wealth of insightful ideas that will help you make chronic messiness a thing of your past!"Sandra expresses powerful ideas in an easy and fun to read format. I laughed and cried as I recognized myself in these pages."-Marsha Sims, president, Sort-It-Out, Inc."Felton has done it again! The Messies Manual is a fun book to read, filled with practical advice and a voice of compassion that rings through in every chapter."-Judith Kolberg, director, National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization



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Review of Affordable Remodel: How to Get Custom Results on Any Budget (Paperback)

Love the book. Very detailed, great photo's. Great ideas! This book is very easy to read and understand because they are shown with photo's which really help. it is so well written that I will look at doing projects that I hadn't thought about doing. There are so many things that I do love and the book is so accurate. Page 194 shows a sink refinished with a coating and shows a before and after picture. My friend actually did this to her bathroom tub and tile and it looked NEW afterwards. The mirror trim is awesome too (mirredge) page 198.


Product Description
Call him cheap, but Fernando Pagés Ruiz enjoys luxury remodeling that doesn't pull at the purse strings. Now he shares his hard-won secrets, revealing the full range of money-saving options available to homeowners today. Many of these techniques and materials the author developed remodeling his own properties over the past 30 years. Others he got by interviewing top remodeling contractors around the country. With the power of insider knowledge, readers too can achieve the home of their dreams without busting their budget. Ruiz simplifies the frustrating complexities of remodeling and points out the sometimes obvious, often hidden, but always effective ways to cut costs.



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Review of How to do just about anything (Paperback)

I just bought a house and it may have completely fallen apart if I hadn't had this book.When my ancient solar water heater broke, I brought out the book and found a diagram of the collector. When the sewage backed up, it described the repair procedure.When the rose bushes needed trimming, the fireplace needed cleaning, and the gutters needed flushing the book described how to do it all.In fact, I haven't yet referenced it and not found what I was looking for. The book is very diverse. It covers not only home repairs.It discusses just about everything we do, almost every day.I couldn't find anything comparable at any bookstore or online site and I can't live without it.

Product Description
From home and auto repair to health and beauty care, from gardening and cooking tips to financial and legal advice, an A-Z guide to 1200 ideas, techniques and innovative solutions for getting everything done faster, better, and cheaper.

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Review of Help! Around the House (Paperback)

Wow! My parents taught me to help around the house. I knew it was important for my kids to learn to clean, and yet my husband and I usually have been doing 95% of it, with the kids "helping out" now and then. This book (I just got it and am only halfway through it) changed my way of seeing things, and made me realize I HAVE TO make my kids clean because it is everyone's job to clean the house. It is not mom's job that everyone helps mom to do. He tells you ways to motivate them, and has many ideas from other moms for how to get the kids to work. I always wondered what the secrets of some women were, who always had clean houses. Now I know! The secret, mom, is IT IS NOT YOUR JOB! Expect them to do it and take no guff. They live there, they use the dishes, they dirty the floor, they mess things up every day. If there are 5 people in the house over age 1, each one has to do his or her best to help keep it clean.

This is what motivates my 7 year old daughter: Do these things, and if someone (mommy trusts) invites you to play or sleep over, you will be allowed to go, or you can invite a friend over.If you don't do them, you will not go anywhere fun and will not invite a friend over.

This is what motivates my 5 year old son: Pick up one group of things, get 5 minutes of TV/ video games/ computer time (2 hour total limit on the media). Groups: All the clothing items, all the megablocks, all the Little People, etc.

My 2 year old likes to wipe up spills, put her dishes away, help load the dishwasher and clean up toys.

Lucky for me, my husband has always helped.



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Review of Haley's Hints (Paperback)

I hate cleaning, and must admit I'm not very good at it. Part of my dislike is wrought out of ignorance. I simply do not know what I'm doing. Cooking is also not a skill I have. I need help.

Haley's Hints teaches me to cheat my way though a lot of household problems. He covers cleaning and cooking tips, but that's just the beginning.

Like the old "Hints from Heloise" I read in the newspaper as a kid, Haley presents very do-able solutions to everyday problems. Unlike Martha Stewart's ideas, which seem unreasonable in the average income family, Haley seems to have considered the practicality of his hints quite aptly.

Whether is it is hiding food odors, discouraging ants or his various methods of removing gum from things, he has a trick to it here in his well organized book.

The guy is thorough. The sheer number of pages will provide plenty of ideas for your home. Besides making a great read for extended bathroom visits, it serves best as a reference. HThe index is impressive and easy to use.

I fully recommend "Haley's Hints: A Compilation" by Graham Haley.

Anthony Trendl
editor, HungarianBookstore.com

Product Description
The extraordinary guide to ordinary items and products with time- and money-saving uses. Over 2,000 of them!

In Haley's Hints readers will find:

€ Environment-friendly tips on cleaning and stain removal
€ Money-saving advice on pest control and pet care
€ Practical pointers for children, seniors, and gardeners
€ Recipe tricks
€ Laundry tips
€ Sewing hints
€ Workplace wonders
€ Plumbing, painting, carpentry, and electrical shortcuts
€ Plus a whole chapter on pampering themselves

All topped off with a comprehensive easy-find index to help readers find the exact solution they need-fast.



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Review of If I Had a Hammer: More Than 100 Easy Fixes and Weekend Projects (Paperback)

This is a must have for any homeowner that is all thumbs when it comes to home repair and home improvement. Designed for the novice, the book tells you exactly what tools and materials plus step by step instructions for the projects that anyone can understand. There are great tips, tricks and home maintenance information any homeowner can use. This book would make a great housewarming gift, especially to the first time homeowner.

Product Description

Have fun, save money, and improve your home with these easy step-by-step projects

Are you looking for a way to make your bathroom a little more beautiful? Or maybe you'd like to give your tired furniture a face-lift, improve your home's air quality, or fix a toilet. No matter your DIY needs and no matter whether you're a DIY novice or expert, home improvement guru Andrea Ridout, host of the nationally syndicated radio show Ask Andrea, has ideas, expertise, and advice to share with you.

If I Had a Hammer offers easy-to-follow instructions and illustrations designed to make home improvement simpler than ever. With a little help from Andrea, you'll be able to tackle repairs, painting and decorating, bathroom and kitchen remodeling, wood care for furniture and floors, and much more with projects that often take as little as an hour. Also, you can try a few of Andrea's energy-conserving projects that can dramatically improve your utility bill-Andrea's projects are friendly on the environment and on your wallet! With If I Had a Hammer, you'll have the tools to keep your home functioning and looking as good as-or even better than-new.

About the Author

Andrea Ridout is the host of the nationally syndicated radio show Ask Andrea and is a frequent renovation expert on national and regional television programs. Her articles and advice have appeared in Reader's Digest, Woman's Day Home Remodeling, and Country Home, among many other publications. She lives near Dallas, Texas.

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