By Jane Magaro, Cheapism.com

How many times have you spent part of a Saturday in front of HGTV or Million Dollar Decorators, rather than redo your bathroom or even spruce up your walls with a new paint color? Rather than wait till you can afford to hire Martyn Lawrence Bullard or Kathryn Ireland, take a look at two other big names in home renovation: Lowe's and Home Depot. Cheapism sent a researcher to branches of both stores to find out which one deserves your DIY dollars. She compared prices, selection, customer service, and other features, and concluded that overall Lowe's is the best place to tackle your spring projects. The competition was stiff, however, so read on to find out which store might best suit your needs.

The aisles at Lowe's were easier to navigate.

Related: Lowe's vs. Home Depot

Prices

To compare prices, Cheapism took a shopping list of 39 items to outposts of both hardware giants. The totals amounted to nearly $2,000 but differed by a mere $1.27. The Lowe's-Home Depot price

Read More »from Home Depot Vs. Lowe’s: Who Wins the DIY Wars?

Recycled Glass Bangles

If people want to know anything about fair trade, they should know that its primary purpose is to alleviate poverty. What most people do not know is that a key principle of fair trade is to protect the environment. By using eco-friendly farming practices, raw materials found in nature or recycled materials; fair trade supports sustainable practices that minimize our environmental footprint.

Fair trade farmers adhere to internationally monitored environmental standards. Artisan cooperatives, like the ones whose products are sold at Fair Trade Designs, find solutions to protect their own natural resources. Because all these products are handcrafted, they are created in many cases without using electricity or fossil fuels.

Silk Scarf

April is Earth Month with Earth Day on April 22. Expect to read lots more about how fair trade is good for the earth.



So stay tuned, stay green, and stay fair trade!

Stephanie King
Fair Trade Designs

Turtle Journal

Read More »from Fair Trade is Good for the Earth

Italian Easter Recipes Years Past Traditions

Grandma's Easter Bread



Italian Artichokes



Escarole and Beans

Homemade Ravioli



Homemade Pizza is our appetizer Traditional Sunday Sauce



Leg of Herb Crusted Lamb





Pineapple Baked Ham




Honey Bourbon Glazed Ham




Bird's Nest for the kiddies




Easter Egg Art




Sfogliatelles




Italian Cassata


Wedding Tray Italian Cookies

 Eggless Tiramisu

BUONA PASQUA~!

Other Favorite Pasta Recipes We Enjoy At EASTER:

Homemade gnocchi
Homemade egg noodles
Homemade manicotti
Homemade orecchietti
Stuffed Shells
Mom's Lasagna

Italian Specialities

Upstate NY Greens
Tomato Read More »from Italian EASTER PAST and PRESENT RECIPES!

Eggheads are adorable decorations to sit on the edge of a shelf or table. They're easy to make, and kids can make them too. Since there is no yolk or white, it will rot slower.

Materials:
Eggs
Sharpie/ Pens
Pipe cleaners (optional)
Bamboo Skewer (A fork will do, but be extra careful)
Two small Bowls
Soap

Time: Approx. 30 minutes

Instructions:

1.Start with the first egg. Use the skewer to puncture the eggs on each end over the bowl. Make the hole on the wider end larger with the skewer. Wiggle it around inside the egg to break up the yolk. Blow in the small end. Repeat until you have as many eggs as you want.
2. Fill another bowl with water and soap. Put the shells in this bowl.
3. Use the sharpies to draw faces on the eggs.
4. (Optional) Use the Pipe cleaners as hair, legs and arms.

These are great as gifts to grandparents too!
Cool eggheads!

Read More »from Making Cute “Eggheads” for Easter

I am a 25 year old African-American male married to a beautiful black woman. For the most part things are great as long as I dont confront her. Yesterday when we were out i noticed that her hair looked like she didnt spend anytime combing it so i commented. I know she is sensitive about it so i tried to hint that we should look at hair magazines. When that didnt work i told her straight up that she should spend a little more time preparing her hair before we go out. She has a mini-fro and thinks all she has to do is wash it then walk out of the house. I understand the black woman have more difficult hair, but thats no excuse to not take the time to make it look presentable. Now she is mad and doesnt want to leave the house when she knows i hate staying in the house on the weekends.

I tell my wife she is beautiful at least once every day, so i dont think it should be a big deal when i tell her she is having a bad hair day. Am i wrong?

I wanna hear from you'all then i will reveal the secrets

The 5 Best Ways to Store Seasonal ClothesWinter's over, and unless you're enjoying disproportionately spacious closets, you're rotating your clothes for spring and summer. Away go the winter coats, wool, tights, and so forth. But where do you put them? How can you store out-of-season clothes in a way that's attractive and accessible? Here are 5 ideas for you.








Use Old Comforter Packages as Storage 1. Use Old Comforter Packages as Storage
Store clothes in old comforter packages, which will keep them dust-free and easily identifiable from the outside. You can probably even pick these up at the dollar store!












Store in Mod-Podged Suitcases 2. Store in Mod-Podged Suitcases
Eschew the plastic container for something with a bit more charm and personality: Mod-Podge old suitcases to fit your decor and taste!
Get the tutorial












Related: 15 ways to organize a small spaces


Sliding Roof Storage 3. Sliding Roof Storage
Out of sight, out of mind: build some tracks at the top of your garage and slide storage containers in the tracks to keep coats and out-of-season clothes!
Get the tutorial

Store Clothes in Stylish Storage Bins 4. Store Clothes in Stylish Read More »from The 5 Best Ways to Store Seasonal Clothes

See how these homeowners turned the (often hideous) kitchens they had into the kitchens of their dreams

Before
Reviving a Tudor Revival Kitchen
A '60s redo had nixed this kitchen's stylistic connection to the 1920s house.

After
Reviving a Tudor Revival Kitchen

The new great-room kitchen has lots of seating and open sightlines to neighboring rooms, as well as more than twice as many storage cabinets. Now the homeowners can monitor both their homemade Italian "gravy" and the kids' TV time from inside, and there's plenty of room for friends and extended family to gather. They capped the bay windows, richly stained cherry cabinets, and granite countertops with a detailed coffered ceiling. The result? A kitchen with 21st-century function tucked in a space with the finely crafted details of decades gone by. See more of this breathtaking transformation in Reviving a Tudor Revival-Style Kitchen.

RELATED: The Ultimate Open-Plan Kitchen

Before
$6,000 Kitchen Redo
Dingy vinyl floors, yellow laminate counters, and dark cabinets made this 1970s kitchen feel dated and Read More »from America's Ugliest Kitchens (and How They Became Beautiful)