64 Most Recent Articles
Written By: Pamela Cole Harris

1	Teaching Your Child to Clean! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-02-28 | - Word Count: 561 | Viewed: 1140 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 2.00 When you call 911 because there is a distinct and suspicious odor in the neighborhood and the culprit turns out to be two pairs of sneakers, three pairs of underwear and a dozen or more hot dog remnants of unknown origin and vintage found under your child's bed, it's past time to get your child's room organized!
2	Stalking the Wild Divan Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-02-21 | - Word Count: 618 | Viewed: 924 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 1.00 You know it's time for a new sofa when the only visable pattern on your old one is the one made by your kid's kool-aid stains. Or when there is more stuffing outside of the sofa than inside. Or when your guests need help "getting out" of your sofa. Or when you find out your sofa was a "divan" when your grandmother bought it new. Finding a new one that is right for your family and your lifestyle is a daunting task, but here are a few tips to make that task a bit easier:
3	PB and Js And Licking The Bowl - The Joys Of A Kid Friendly Kitchen! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-02-14 | - Word Count: 554 | Viewed: 1194 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 4.00 Remember licking the bowl when you were a kid? Or making your own peanut butter sandwiches with grape, or better yet strawberry, jelly? Mmmmm... the smell of homemade oatmeal cookies! And they were even better because you knew you helped make them! Kitchens can be a place of special memories for kids of any generation. Are you building those memories with your children or do you view the kitchen as a dangerous place for kids?
4	Ten Creative Headboard Ideas for Frugal Decorators Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-02-14 | - Word Count: 406 | Viewed: 2062 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 2.83 Need a new headboard, but don't have a fortune to spend? How about using things you already have or things that others may want to discard to make a custom headboard that is not only stylish and creative, but inexpensive as well!
5	How I Lost 50 Pounds in Two Weeks and Gained a New Living Room! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-02-07 | - Word Count: 587 | Viewed: 1728 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 2.83 OK...I was spilling over, outgrowing everything, the beautiful bits hidden under mounds of muddle and it was time – past time – to lose it! I thought about using dynamite to blast it away, but that was too messy and probably illegal!
6	Teaching Your Child to Clean! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-01-17 | | Viewed: 1 | Votes: 0 When you call 911 because there is a distinct and suspicious odor in the neighborhood and the culprit turns out to be two pairs of sneakers, three pairs of underwear and a dozen or more hotdog remnants of unknown origin and vintage found under your child's bed, it's past time to get your child's room organized! When your child has gotten lost for hours in the mounds of clutter trying to find his way from the bed to the door, it's past time to teach your child to organize himself! But if you haven't reached that stage yet, there is still hope!
7	Stalking the Wild Divan Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-01-11 | | Viewed: 1 | Votes: 0 You know it's time for a new sofa when the only visable pattern on your old one is the one made by your kid's kool-aid stains. Or when there is more stuffing outside of the sofa than inside. Or when your guests need help *getting out* of your sofa. Or when you find out your sofa was a *divan* when your grandmother bought it new. Finding a new one that is right for your family and your lifestyle is a daunting task, but here are a few tips to make that task a bit easier:
8	Ten Creative Headboard Ideas for Frugal Decorators Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-01-09 | | Viewed: 1 | Votes: 0 Need a new headboard, but don't have a fortune to spend? How about using things you already have or things that others may want to discard to make a custom headboard that is not only stylish and creative, but inexpensive as well!
9	How I Lost 50 Pounds in Two Weeks and Gained a New Living Room! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2008-01-07 | | Viewed: 1 | Votes: 0 OK...I was spilling over, outgrowing everything, the beautiful bits hidden under mounds of muddle and it was time - past time - to lose it! I thought about using dynamite to blast it away, but that was too messy and probably illegal! I thought of calling a small third world county and telling them I had more than enough if they could use some extra - but that would probably cause an international crisis. So I decided to do it the hard way - one step at a time. Yes, it was time to de-clutter my living room!
10	Perfectly Easy! Repairing Damaged Vinyl Flooring Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | So you got the perfect refrigerator. For the perfect kitchen. Miles and miles of virgin stainless steel. Perfect width. A virtual soda fountain in the door. And as your husband (just a shade less than perfect) pulls it across the floor to that perfect spot wayyyyy on the other side of the kitchen, you hear a slight ripping sound. Can stainless steel rip? Not likely. Your husband gives it another pull. The same sound. Looking down to investigate (as any perfect homeowner would), you discover that your perfect vinyl flooring now has a wide, perfectly-jagged tear. Yikes!
11	Finishing Your Basement Walls: At Home with Furring, Shims and Plumb Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | In the past, many homes were built with unfinished basements and the homeowner used those dark, bare, usually damp spaces for storage, laundry, or large collections of spider webs and dust bunnies. You may have bought one yourself and now, with the high price of new housing, you are looking to expand your current house to meet your family’s needs (do your covenants really allow 10 story ranch houses?). That unused basement seems be the answer!
12	Five Easy Steps For Arranging your Living Room Furniture Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | If you are hopelessly lost when thinking beyond shoving your furniture against a wall, or if you've recently bought a six-foot sofa for an eight-foot room, you need help! Here are some easy tips for arranging your living room furniture in ways that make the most of your space:
13	Five Keys to Remodeling on a Budget Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | We would all love to remodel our home. The evidence? Just look at the profusion of new programs dealing with remodeling rooms, houses, or yards by neighbors, mothers, complete strangers or your Uncle Mort on a $1000, $500 or $1.98 budget. If you, upon viewing one too many episodes of Trading Spaces, have decided to take the plunge, here are a few tips to ensure your remodeling project is completed under budget.
14	Five Easy Steps For Arranging your Living Room Furniture Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | If you are hopelessly lost when thinking beyond shoving your furniture against a wall, or if you've recently bought a six-foot sofa for an eight-foot room, you need help! Here are some easy tips for arranging your living room furniture in ways that make the most of your space:
15	Perfectly Easy! Repairing Damaged Vinyl Flooring Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Looking down to investigate (as any perfect homeowner would), you discover that your perfect vinyl flooring now has a wide, perfectly-jagged tear. Yikes! Here is how you can make the perfect repair:
16	Five Keys to Remodeling on a Budget Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | We would all love to remodel our home. The evidence? Just look at the profusion of new programs dealing with remodeling rooms, houses, or yards by neighbors, mothers, complete strangers or your Uncle Mort on a $1000, $500 or $1.98 budget. If you, upon viewing one too many episodes of Trading Spaces, have decided to take the plunge, here are a few tips to ensure your remodeling project is completed under budget.
17	Five Easy Tricks for Handling Problem Rooms Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Do you have a room that’s just too much? Too long? Too narrow? Too tall? You can camouflage that problem space with a few visual tricks!
18	Out %$#@ Spot! Eight Magic Secrets to Removing Stains From Your Upholstery Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Grape Kool-Aid! Spaghetti! Chocolate! Pizza! As much as you try to avoid it, chances are good that one of these foods will sooner or later come to rest on your favorite chair or sofa. Since plastic covers for furniture are out of style (sweaty and sticky!), the only solution is learn to remove that dastardly spot! Here is a general guide to removing stains from your upholstered furniture:
19	Six Ways to Furnish Your Home From Your Backyard Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2006-05-07 | Do you need to furnish your new space but your budget is so tight you can't squeeze a nickel between the paycheck and the checkbook? Then bring the outdoors inside! Outdoor and garden furniture and accessories can make your room look bright and cheerful without spending a fortune! Here's how:
20	How to Decorate Your Home on EBay Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-09-14 | If you are on a budget (and who isn’t?), a wonderful place for find home decorating accessories is auction sites like eBay. But before you go a’baying, here is some advice...
21	Down and Dirty Real World Clean Sweep for Work at Home Women Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-06-24 | For those who work from home, sometimes clean and organized lags behind paycheck and deadline. Here's some ideas for quick down and ..ummm...dirty cleanup (and a few ideas for items to have on hand for future emergency cleanups!)
22	The Ultimate Yard Sale Guide for Home Decorators Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-06-15 | Visiting those yard sales is one of the most inexpensive ways to add new life to your home decorating style. The piece that doesn't fit in someone else's home may be just what you were looking for! - And at a fraction of the piece of a new piece!
23	The Home Decorator's Guide to Wall Repairs Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-06-09 | Everybody has had one or two. You know, those little hole or indentations in the walls – behind a door, or behind a picture. If you live in a home, hang a picture, or have children – accidents happen! But repairing those accidents is easy.
24	Softening Your Walls with Color Wash Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-05-11 | If you like the soft look of watercolors, why not try using a color wash on your walls? In addition to a softer color, color washing can accentuate the texture of your plaster or stucco walls. And it’s so simple that even I can do it.
25	Creating a Faux Stone Finish for your Walls Using Old Newspapers Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-05-06 | If you have old newspaper lying around, you can have the look of stone you love – inexpensively! Here’s how:
26	Creative Upholstery Materials for Updating Your Furniture Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-04-01 | Reupholstering and updating your old furniture doesn*t have to cost a fortune (unless you want it to!) Using your imagination, you can easily come up with unique fabrics for your furniture redesign. Here are a few ideas to get you started:
27	Redesign Your Headboard with a Slipcover Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-03-22 | One easy (and cheap) way to change the look of your bedroom is to slipcover your headboard. Don’t worry! Its easy! Here are six easy steps to redesigning your bed.
28	Sweet Dreams – Choosing the Right Mattress Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-03-10 | A good night*s sleep is one of life*s greatest blessings. But, if your mattress is old and lumpy, that blessing can become a curse.
29	The Free Neighborhood Home Décor Makeover Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-02-16 | Watching home makeover shows can make us all yearn for spiffy new décor in our outdated rooms. But if Trading Spaces doesn’t call...
30	A Man's Guide to Home Decor Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2005-02-11 | There are a few men out there who simply cannot understand a woman’s need to decorate (and redecorate) their home.
31	A Primer of Popular Traditional Furniture Styles Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-12-14 | Whatever your individual style or taste, it is important to know how to identify each style. If your best friend brags about the “To-die-for Louis XV side chair, “dah-ling”,” would you know what the heck she was talking about? Well, here is a primer on furniture types that will help you appear to be an expert whatever your neighbor buys next!
32	Five Inexpensive Ways to Help Your Children Invest in Holiday Memories. Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-12-09 | Christmas memories are never dependent on the amount of money spent or the popularity of the toy. Memories are made up of amount of heart invested and given. This year, let your children invest their time and hearts in making Christmas memories for your family.
33	10 Ways to Keep Your Expectations From Making You Crazy This Christmas Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-11-30 | Christmas is a wonderful time! Everyone is full of good cheer, the milk of human kindness and 20 pounds of candy. All gifts are given with love, are exactly the right size, are exactly the right color, or exactly the right thing for exactly the price you could afford. Right?
34	Measuring Space - How Much Room Do You Really Need? Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-11-24 | When planning your home décor, it is vitally important to understand your space needs. Do you have enough room to open any doors? Can you walk from one side of the room to the other without climbing over the furniture? Here are some rules to keep in mind when you plan your room update:
35	Unique and Imaginative Wall Storage Ideas Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-11-10 | Everyone can use more organization in their lives (except those misguided souls who alphabetize their spices, canned goods and color-coordinate their laundry supplies!). Additional wall storage can help bring that organization into your home. And original and unusual wall storage ideas can help organization become décor pizzazz! Here are some ideas to get you started:
36	Painting and Decorating Tile Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-10-20 | Ceramic tile can be beautiful and elegant. But it can also be bland and uninspired. If you want to add a little color or creativity to your tile, here's how!
37	Five Easy Ways to Give Your Kitchen Designer Wow! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-10-12 | A beautiful kitchen is the heart of any home (even for those of us who spend most of our cooking time around the microwave!) Time spent together in the kitchen can bring a family closer together and make wonderful memories (although my own memories of doing dishes as a teenager are less than pleasant - something about dishwater being 'disgusting!') Turning your plain kitchen into something special isn't as hard as you might think. Here are a few simple ideas which can make your kitchen a designer showcase.
38	Budget Kitchen Makeover Ideas Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-08-26 | If your house is like mine, your family spends a lot of time in the kitchen (you remember the kitchen? The room where you microwave those TV dinners, pop the popcorn and open soup cans?) Contrary to what those up-scale style magazines say, you don't need to spend a fortune to update the look of your kitchen (unless you won the lottery, in which case, you are more than welcome to come update mine!). Here are a few simple and inexpensive ways to give your kitchen some pizzazz!
39	How Natural Light Affects Home Decor Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-08-23 | One of your best friends in design (or worst enemies!) is the natural light that filters through your home's windows. It can make that lavender color you chose in the store look dreamy and serene or like Barney's nightmare depending on direction your room is facing. Here are some tips on how natural light will affect your décor.
40	Encourage Reading by Creating a Cozy Reading Space Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-07-30 | The best thing you can do to help your child succeed in school is to encourage reading - no matter how young your child is! Research has shown that reading to your child not only forms a stronger bond between you, but also increases his/her cognitive, motor and social skills. And designating a space in your home as a cozy reading corner can make the experience comfortable and cozy for both of you.
41	Using Color Tricks in Home Décor Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-07-26 | Just as a painter uses color to fool the eye and to create mood in fine art, so the designer can use color to fool the eye in home décor. Here are a few tips for the creative DIY designer (that's YOU!) dealing with problem spaces.
42	The Complete Guide to Buying New (Or Old) Furniture Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-07-14 | If you are like me, your investment in furniture has to last! It has to be durable, beautiful and a good buy for my money. You all know that a good buy doesn't necessarily mean cheap, but it does mean that the value in years of problem-free use. I want to know that the furniture will last at least as long as it took to make the money to buy it! (And in some furniture I have seen, it was a distinct possibility that it wouldn't survive the trip home!)
43	Unique Window Hardware from Everyday Objects Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-06-13 | If you want sometime more unique than a curtain rod to hang your window treatments (you are my kinda woman! Or man!), there are many everyday household items you can use instead. Make your own wonderful and unusual window hardware with:
44	Top Home Décor Mistakes You May Be Making Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-06-07 | I am assuming my readers have good taste - no hay on the walls (what WAS she thinking!), cardboard lined bedrooms, or plastic egg covered bathrooms. And after all, you DO read my advice! Yet, even so, you may be making little mistakes that change your home décor from amazing to awkward!
45	Visual Weight in Home Decor Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-05-14 | Did you ever enter a room that *feels* heavy? (The first one that makes a comment about my ample bottom being in the room gets three lashes with a lava lamp!) Or walked into a room that gave you the impression of being too intense? Visual weight is another one of those design principles that concern your first impressions of a room, but it is one that - when used appropriately - can make your room pleasing to the eye.
46	Rhythm in Home Decor Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-05-13 | Think rhythm is only important in music? Surprise! Rhythm is also important in interior decorating and room design!
47	Handling Furniture Imperfections Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-05-05 | Any of us that have children or who live with those who received an extra helping of the awkward gene, know what it is to discover furniture nicks, dings and other marks on a daily basis. Since banning the offenders from the room is impractical (and besides, you love the offenders more than the furniture anyway, don't you?), you need a few tips to help you deal with those little imperfections. No! I'm not talking about the kids, because you know down deep - wayyyyy down deep - they are perfect! I'm talking about the furniture!
48	Let's Do Something Different For the Holidays This Year! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | ach year, for too many of us, the holiday season just doesn't live up to our expectations. Instead of joy, it brings stress; instead of peace, it brings tension; instead of love, it brings animosity. This holiday, let's do something different. Let's let ourselves and our family enjoy the season! Here's how to begin:
49	Exorcising that Purple Passion! Removing Your Old Wallpaper Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | What were you thinking? That wallpaper covered with a purple version of what seems to be paisley sperm was once cool. Now it's just…regrettable! Definitely time for a change! To remove that old wallpaper, follow these tips:
50	Five Ways to Make Your Home a Pueblo or Territorial Style Showcase Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | The Southwest is known for chilis (which I, being a natural-born chilihead, love!), sunshine, and the beauty of canyons and mountains and it’s architecture. The influence of its’s Spanish and Indian ancestors has resulted in two main styles of architecture – Pueblo and Territorial.
51	Pickle Green or Passionate Puce? How to select the right color for your room! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Did the yellow paint in your room seem like a wonderful, sunny choice two years ago, but now reminds you of two day old eggs? Is the harvest orange seem trendy? The dusty plum seem elegant? And did that certain shade of green that seemed restful yesterday seem faintly reminiscent of moldy algae? Then it is time to find the right color for your room!
52	Painting Concrete Floors Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | The first time I saw a painted concrete floor, I was amazed! It was beautiful! It is the perfect solution for an inexpensive floor that will last and last. If you want to try this money-saving technique in your home, here’s how (but I warn you, this is not a one-weekend project!)
53	Calling all Packrats! How to Turn *Stuff* into Style! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | If you are like me, you are always finding some treasure in a thrift shop or garage sale. A frame, a postcard, a pillow, a quilt, or some other knick-knack that catches your eye or touches your heart. But no matter how much you like the objects you find, they can become an all-consuming avalanche of *stuff!* But there are ways to use those objects to add style to your home without overwhelming your space! Here's how:
54	Spice Up Your Kitchen With a New Backsplash Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Tired of that drab, unimaginative kitchen? Need a remodel but can't afford to do the whole room? How about a colorful tile backsplash? Not only can it spice up a dull kitchen, it is practical for a messy cook. No wallpaper to ruin with the splatter of tomato sauce or grape juice! And you can install it yourself! All you need is courage, a willing friend and the following instructions:
55	From Stone to Wood – Choosing Countertops for Your Kitchen Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Are those funky pop-art brown circles that decorate the top of your kitchen counter just 10 years of coffee stains? Is that unusual stripes a result of years of cutting vegetables? If so, it's time to replace that old countertop and give you and your kitchen a lift!
56	Color, Rollers and a Little Bit of Spackling! Ready to Paint Those Kitchen Cabinets? Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | So you have decided to do it! Turn those dull and lifeless kitchen cabinets into a splash of bright color! Yellow! Red! Purple (What are you thinking)! You can make the job an easy one (well, at least not a grueling one!) by following these step:
57	Surviving A Living Room John Elway – Patching Drywall for Fun and Sanity! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Yes he did throw that touchdown! And, yes, it was a perfect Spiral! And your husband (otherwise known as The Stud) did catch the ball in rather spectacular midair fashion just past the goal post (otherwise known as The Lamp) on his way to the end zone (otherwise known as The Wall)! But the collision between The Wall and The Stud has left The Hole!
58	Creating A Dream Room for Your Child Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Lime green walls? Pink polka dots? A ceiling painted with daisies or purple dinosaurs (can they actually SLEEP with purple dinosaurs on the ceiling?) Whatever the motif, every child needs a special place of their own - some place that reflects their personality and their creativity. You and your child can create that space with a few dollars and a lot of imagination.
59	Chili Wars Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | The earthy heat and flavor of the Green cooked combined with pork and cooked for hours? Or the almost sweet warmth of the Red, using the added broth as a catalyst to explode into flavor? Which do you chose? Where do you stand in the Chili Wars?
60	Creating A Dream Room for Your Child Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Purple and green striped walls? A ceiling painted with daisies or purple dinosaurs (can they actually SLEEP with purple dinosaurs on the ceiling?) Whatever the motif, every child needs a special place of their own - some place that reflects their personality and their creativity. You and your child can create that space with a few dollars and a lot of imagination.
61	20 Ways One Person Can Change the World for Under $50 a Month Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | How can one person change the world? If not the entire world…then one person’s world? By taking positive action! Look around your community! There are needs every day…on every block. And you don’t have to be rich, talented or even *connected* to meet them. You just have to be willing to do a small amount or give a small amount every month. But that small amount can make a big difference in someone’s life. Here are some things you can do for $50 to change someone’s world:
62	Designer Secrets for Updating Your Home Décor On a Tight Budget Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Home décor seems to change every time you turn around! What was *in* yesterday, gives your visitors flashbacks to their childhood today! If your décor is stuck in the last decade and you don't have the budget for a complete makeover, you have two choices. Keep your decor the same until it comes back into style (only ten more years to go!) or update your décor for little or no money! Here are some secrets!
63	So You Think You Aren't Creative? Build Your Own Coffee Table to Discover Your Own Artistic Spark! Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | Nothing is more satisfying than creating a special piece of furniture for your home! And probably no major furniture piece allows more creativity than a coffee table. But you think you are about as imaginative (and colorful!) as white walls and a popcorn ceiling. Take heart! There are ways to release that little creative spark you are sure just isn't there!
64	Miracle Visual Tricks to Make a Small Room Appear Larger Written by: Pamela Cole Harris | Distributed: 2004-04-28 | If you can stand in the middle of your room and touch the walls on all four sides, then you probably need to add some visual space to your room (either that or see a surgeon about those gorilla arms of yours!). If the neighbor next door has a closet bigger than your room (and it's not a walk-in closet!), then you need a little help "growing" your small room! Here are some miracle visual tricks to make your room appear larger: