As we begin to recover from Hurricane Sandy, we realize that perhaps we aren't as prepared as we should be. Scary as it is, now is the time to take steps to ensure that if devastation hits your family, your house won't be one more thing to worry about. By Ava Feuer, REDBOOK.

Get flood insurance
Unless you live on the beach, protecting against water damage likely isn't your number-one concern. However, contrary to what you might expect, flood insurance does not come with most home insurance policies - sadly, many woke up after Sandy to learn that their homes weren't covered. Flood insurance can be bought separately via the National Flood Insurance Program, and the average policy costs only $600 extra per year. Depending on your risk level, it might be worth the additional investment since some experts claim storms of the century will now happen every 20 years.

Related: 9 Cheap and Colorful Home Ideas

Be safe under your roof
You work hard to always keep a roof over your head, and it'd

Hail to the chiefs! As Americans hit the polls, we celebrate all 44 of our U.S. presidents, one artifact at a time. Here's a sneak peek of eight.

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70+ Living Room Design Ideas You'll Love »

10 Ways to Design a Colorful Bedroom »

9 Easy Ways to Refresh Your Country Kitchen »

Reprinted with permission of Hearst Communications, Inc.

When we bought our last home, we knew what we wanted. But we are now in the process of house shopping again and -- since we have four kids -- things have changed. Knowing this has put a filter on what we should be looking for, since we plan on staying in our next house until the kids graduate (or we win the lottery). What are these things? Here are the top 7 things to ponder on before you make possibly the largest purchase in your life. - By Molly Thornberg

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Safety Alert

Our hearts go out to all our family members, friends, colleagues, and readers who are facing the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. If you're among the many experiencing a power outage please be careful to avoid carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning from portable generators, fire from candles, and electrical shock from downed power lines.

• The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Federal Emergency Management Association (FEMA), and US Fire Administration (USFA) are warning that you should never use portable generators indoors, in basements, garages, or close to a home, even if doors and windows are open. The exhaust from generators contains high levels of carbon monoxide (CO) that are in fact greater than that of multiple cars running in a garage and can quickly incapacitate and kill. Remember that carbon monoxide is odorless and colorless and can kill in mere minutes. Also be sure that any electrical cables you use with a generator are free of damage and labeled safe for outdoor

Toilet alarm saves you from your next 3AM swim!

Here's a familiar scene: It's 3:00AM and you make the one-eye-open dark detour to the bathroom in the middle of the night only to get there safely and fall right into the cold toilet bowl because that special someone forgot to put down the seat... again. Okay, maybe it's just familiar to us ladies!

It's no secret that nearing the top of a women's pet peeve list is a left up toilet seat (second only to hubbies not listening!). Finally, we can all save our breath, and our patience, because TipAlert is taking the redundancy out of bathroom banter and replacing it with peace of mind and dry derrieres!

TipAlert is a genius microelectronic device that simply attaches to the underside of any toilet seat and amusingly reminds a repeat offender of bathroom etiquette faux pas with sound and light.
Watch how it works here!

Whether it's your inattentive husband or your potty training toddler, TipAlert reminds them to place the seat down with a "Down Boy" or a happy tune. My favorite part?

A stylish coffee table instantly garners attention to the room. It is an important part of a room and is used for various purposes. This is why it is important to choose it carefully.

But, how does one choose the right coffee table? There are a lot of things that go into it. Given below are the ten most popular tips of choosing a coffee table.

Read more at BetterHealthBlog:

· 7 Steps to Organize a Kitchen Effectively

· Kitchen Design-Small Kitchen Planning

· Buy Suitable Business Furniture For Your Office

· Pick Your Most Energy Efficient Cookers-Gas Pizza Ovens

· Simple Kitchen Cleaning Tips to Keep Everything Smooth and Stain-Free

By Katie Meyers of MeyersStyles for GalTime.com
Happy Thanksgiving!
With Thanksgiving around the corner, it's time to start thinking about everything from food, to table settings, to home décor.

Start preparing in advance by following these simple steps to create an affordable, yet elegant holiday gathering.

1. Dress up your basics. No need to splurge on expensive new china for Thanksgiving! Your every day white dishes provide simple sophistication when paired with polished silverware. Simply top the plates with a crisp linen napkin and a miniature pumpkin. Proof that less really can be more!

2. Mix things up! Fortunately, the days of having to use perfectly matched china and décor are long gone. If you don't have white dishes, get creative with the mismatched plates you already own. Create an exciting table by pairing contrasting colors and materials such as wood with metal or vintage with modern. To take this eclectic look up a notch, pick up inexpensive plates at a local