These stunning pieces will light up any outdoor kid-free gathering.



TABLE SERVICE | Stone Forest's Vesta FIRE TABLE with granite top and stainless steel base creates a sculptural fire element for your patio, (888) 682-2987, stoneforest.com.



FEEL THE FIRE | Let Brasa's portable centerpiece fire lamp shed some light on your next summer soiree. $185, brasafire.com.



FIRED UP | John T. Unger combined beauty and sustainability to create this fire bowl fit for the finest backyards. $1,875 (shipping included), through Susan Langone, Inc., Piermont, NY, 917-863-2084, johntunger.com.

A TOUCH OF CAMPFIRE | Check out this collection of candles from Himalayan Trading Post. Each eco-friendly soy wax candle comes in a beautifully painted terracotta jar. And of course, they smell great too, in scents like campfire, orange grove and mistletoe. $12-$20, available at Passports, Salisbury, (860) 435-8855, and himalayantradingpost.com.

PLUS:
Amazing One-Room Makeovers
Stunning Japanese Basket Art
Stunning

Bert Meadows/Fitness MagazineBy Christie Griffin

To get the best results from your workout -- and stay safe, too -- you can't keep ignoring the necessary upkeep and replacement of your most important items. "It's worth it, especially since most gear is fairly inexpensive and other gear may have useful upgrades," says Corey Twedt, NordicTrack Research and Development Manager. "You should always check your items for tears, cracks, or yellowing, and replace them so you can prevent injuries." Here's how to know when it's time to pony up the dough for a better performance.

Tanks, Pants, and Other Apparel

When to replace them: Varies

Must-know info: The lifespan of your apparel depends on each garment's type of material and the manufacturer's specific instructions (which can be found on the tag, the information/price tag, or inside a pocket). Fabric softener diminishes the breathability, water repellency, and wicking ability of performance fabrics -- so those items will lose their power within months if you

My husband and I get teased about being frugal (by certain family members), but we're saving ourselves a lot of money by being this way! We don't just walk into a store without a plan. Check out some of our methods of saving:

Grocery shopping
1. Use coupons
Check store circulars, the newspapers and the internet for coupons. Sometimes you can even double up.
2. Apply for a store discount card
It only takes a minute to fill out the application and the savings can make a huge difference.
3. Look for good deals
Look for buy one get one free deals, but be careful because sometimes the stores advertise those deals but the fine print says you need to spend a minimum amount or you need to buy several to get the free product.
4. Buy generic/store brand items
Usually the more expensive products are on one side and the less expensive on the other. Look from left to right. Also look for store brand or generic products. They are exactly the same thing but without the brand name and much

We've made your cleaning chores easy and stress free with this weekly checklist.

MouseWhen mice invade the home, the instinct to kill can overwhelm many a homeowner.

But beyond being cruel to critters just trying to live, a lot of the poisons commonly used for years are so toxic that the Environmental Protection Agency recently moved to ban the most toxic products, as well as most loose bait and pellet poisons, and even started legal action against some manufacturers.

Why? These pesticides resulted in thousands of calls to poison control centers annually, and because they weren't contained in tamper- and weather-resistant bait boxes, pets and wildlife were also killed.

What's more, research has shown that pesticides used in and around the home can linger for years.

In addition to banning the use of loose baits, the EPA is banning the use of poisons called "second generation anticoagulants" that kill by causing internal bleeding after a single dose. (These new rules apply to products marketed for home use, but licensed pest control professionals may

"...rolled the stone away..."



"Suddenly there was a violent earthquake; an angel of the Lord came down from heaven, rolled the stone away, and sat on it."
(Matthew 28:2)

This past Sunday many Christians celebrated the most important holiday of our year, Easter. Leading up to and during the day there were probably millions of Easter eggs hidden and found during various festivities surrounding the holiday. Eggs and chicks (along with rabbits) have long been symbols of the holiday, representing the new life for us in Jesus' resurrection. The biblical stories in the four gospels relate how the tomb that once held his body was broken open and God's love sprang forth in the resurrected Jesus. It's easy to see how a chick breaking forth from its shell could symbolize this new birth of life in all its possibilities. God's love is so powerful that not even a tomb could hold it.

This Easter during the time with the children that's part of our Sunday service of worship I proposed that we

by Healthy Child Healthy World
www.healthychild.org

There was a time when doctors told pregnant mothers it was okay to smoke and drink alcohol because their babies were protected. Obviously, now we know otherwise-but many women are still misinformed about the dangers of the common contaminants that their fetuses are exposed to. Last week, a new study published in Environmental Health Perspectives found that "an expectant mother's exposure to commonly used pesticides might pose risks to her developing fetus comparable to those long associated with tobacco smoking [such as lower birth weight and earlier labor]," according to the Huffington Post. The study subjects were not agricultural workers: "These are women exposed primarily through diet and perhaps pesticides used in and around the yard," said Dr. Bruce Lanphear, a study researcher. Should doctors recommend women avoid pesticides during pregnancy as they do cigarettes and alcohol? We think so.

Pre-Tween Puberty

Is puberty before age

5 Affordable Ways to Upgrade Your Home GardenI took a landscape design class several years ago for fun, and one thing that they emphasized was that the outdoor space of your home is just as important as the indoor. Especially if you like to spend time outside or host any garden parties. I don't do that, but I might if I had a nice place to entertain! Here are 5 ways to upgrade your home garden, even if you're on a budget.









Pallet Table 1. Pallet Table
This gorgeous outdoor table was made by painting old pallets and adding casters.
Get the tutorial







Mushroom Stools2. Mushroom Stools
The tops of these mushrooms are actually spray painted salad bowls with white duct tape spots.
Get the tutorial







Related: 7 ways to revamp your backyard with a garden

Clay Markers3. Clay Markers
Use polymer clay and stamps to make modern garden markers that look way better than the plastic ones that come with your plants.
Get the tutorial












Refurbished BIrdbath4. Refurbished Birdbath
This birdbath is a beauty made of leftovers. The base is a candlestick, and the top is made from a pot lid!
Get the tutorial