Our essential tips to ensure your pets are kept in the best care possible.
1. A simple vaccine can prevent kennel cough.
A simple vaccine can lower your dog's risk of contracting the pesky kennel cough, bronchitis that spreads quickly among canines in close quarters. Although the illness can be caused by a host of organisms, the bacterium Bordetella bronchiseptica and the parainfluenza virus top the list of common culprits.
2. Mature hamsters can't live together.
Hamsters are territorial. Put two in the same space, and one will kill the other. Sure, it's hard to imagine when you visit a pet shop, where a whole gang of hamsters scurries about in one cage. But that's only because the little guys are 3 or 4 weeks old. Give the animals a bit more time and the fighting begins. An easy solution exists, though: Buy two separate habitats.
3. Have your vet examine your feline's teeth for tartar during routine check-ups.
Just like humans, kitties accumulate tartar on the surfaces of their
Blog Posts by Country Living
7 Tips for Making the Best Pumpkins Ever
By Country Living | Halloween – Thu, Sep 29, 2011 4:56 PM EDTUse these carving and painting tricks to transform the ordinary Halloween decoration into something truly smashing this year.
Read More »from 7 Tips for Making the Best Pumpkins Ever
Plus, fun facts you didn't know about pumpkins!
1. Try Black and White Pumpkins
Savannah stylist Liz Demos skipped the carving knife and went straight for a paintbrush to fashion these graphic pumpkins. "With a stark black-and-white palette," Demos said of her trio of bold designs, "you can make any pattern, even creepy insects, look downright chic."
Complete how-to: Black and White Pumpkins
2. Create a Crescent Moon
Paul Lowe, a New York City stylist, found inspiration in a classic toy for his celestial creation: "I wanted to mimic the look of a Lite-Brite, so I punched holes to create a simple crescent moon - shaped image, then added a string of tiny bulbs to make it glow," he said.
Complete how-to: Crescent Moon
3. Make Lantern Pumpkins
New York City stylist Marissa Corwin put a cheeky spin on the very word jack-o'-lantern with her three glowingClassic Childhood Candies You Still Crave
By Country Living | Shine Food – Wed, Sep 28, 2011 5:24 PM EDTRemember these? From Charleston Chews to Mallo Cups, we count down eight of our favorite retro sweets.
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Plus, we've got these delicious homemade treats for you to try.
1. Candy Buttons
These sugary little bumps affixed to wax paper bring back fond childhood memories for many. They still come in three original flavors: cherry, lemon, and lime. ($1.19, oldtimecandy.com)
2. Charleston Chew
The chocolate-covered nougat bars were named after the Charleston dance back in 1922. These treats are especially yummy when they're frozen! ($.75, economycandy.com)
3. Chick-O-Stick
This honeycombed candy stick filled with peanut butter and rolled in toasted coconut was originally sold under the name "Chicken Bones"! Atkinson Candy Company changed the name to its current moniker in 1955. ($1.19, oldtimecandy.com)
4. 5th Avenue Bar
Named after New York City's fancy address, the 5th Avenue Bar was introduced in 1936 by the makers of Luden's cough drops. The new bars don't include almonds like the original7 Things You Didn't Know About Pumpkins
By Country Living | Shine Food – Mon, Sep 26, 2011 6:30 PM EDTThere's more to this fall gourd than meets the eye. You'll never believe these hidden facts!
Plus, we've got 40 pumpkin decorating ideas that you'll love!
1. Pumpkin pie wasn't always sweet.
Pumpkin pie dates back to the colonial period, when colonists filled a pumpkin's interior with milk, spices and honey. The concoction was then baked in hot ashes. Thank goodness the recipe has changed since then.
Here's one of our favorites: Classic Pumpkin Pie.
2. They used to be medicine.
Got a snakebite or a few freckles? Pumpkin will clear that right up! Or at least that's what people thought back in the 18th century when medicine men prescribed pumpkin as a cure-all.
3. Jack-O-Lanterns weren't always pumpkins.
Even though pumpkin carving is a huge American tradition, turnips, potatoes or beets were the original Jack-O-Lanterns. Can you imagine a carved beet?
4. They come in more than 50 varieties.
A pumpkin is a pumpkin is a pumpkin, right? Not so! While everyone knows the classic Read More »from 7 Things You Didn't Know About PumpkinsWelcome the new season with these yummy desserts the whole family will enjoy---and kids can help make!
1. Caramel Apples
These yummy caramel apples evoke memories of festive fall fairs. After dipping, decorate with sprinkles, chocolate and nuts for an extra sweet treat!
Recipe: Caramel Apples
2. Chocolate-Dipped Figs
For a simple treat that both adults and kids will love, dip figs into decadent melted chocolate.
More Homemade Halloween Treats!
3. Maple Cupcakes
Flavor these bite-sized cupcakes with real maple syrup, a fall favorite.
Recipe: Maple Cupcakes
4. Cookie Cutter Ginger Crisps
This recipe will yield plenty of cookies, which is perfect for baking big batches for trick-or-treaters or Halloween party. Or store the extra dough in the freezer and make smaller batches whenever the mood strikes!
Recipe: Cookie Cutter Ginger Crisps
5. Sweet Popcorn Balls
Raisins and chunks of dried
Read More »from 6 Fall Goodies Kids Love12 Simple Kitchen Makeover Tips You Should Know
By Country Living | At Home – Wed, Sep 21, 2011 6:41 PM EDTTransforming your kitchen doesn't have to break the bank, with our easy tips turn it into a room you'll never want to leave.
Read More »from 12 Simple Kitchen Makeover Tips You Should Know
1. The White Way
Unify everything with white paint. Ditch laminate countertops for affordable oak. A silver-plated tray strikes a luxe note and serves as a spot for holding recipes: Just add magnets!
2. Focus on the Wall
Create a sense of space with open shelving. In the kitchen, simple white planks and custom brackets set against a playful chalkboard-painted wall.
3. Experiment with Wood
A custom island, topped with sheet metal, echoes the home's barnwood beams. Why stop at the usual overheads? Additional sconces make any countertop an enlightened spot for prep work.
4. Simple Touches
A custom island, topped with sheet metal, echoes the home's barnwood beams. Why stop at the usual overheads? Additional sconces make any countertop an enlightened spot for prep work.
5. Add a Dose of Drama
This opulent chandelier and bright vintage refrigerator insertGet a head start on Halloween by planning costumes now. These outfits are easy to whip up with only scissors and a sewing machine, saving you money and giving your little trick-of-treater a custom look for their first Halloween.
1. Spring Chicken
Create an adorable costume for the smallest chick-a-dee in the roost. All you'll need are a couple of boas, kitchen gloves, a t-shirt, a few bits of felt, and some big, black buttons.
Complete how-to: Spring Chicken
2. Peacock
Dress up a turquoise onesie and orange leggings with feathers and sequined elastic to make this costume. Once you're done, you'll be proud as a peacock to see your little one strutting (or carried) around.
Complete how-to: Peacock
3. Octopus
Amusingly homespun, this octopus costume includes tentacles made of stuffed socks, buttons for suckers, and a hat made from a pair of leggings.
Complete how-to: Octopus
4. Godzilla
Your little cutie will be
Read More »from 5 Simple Homemade Baby CostumesForget ordering in! Our remarkably simple recipes have this crowd-pleaser covered-from the perfect crispy crust to homemade sauces to 16 amazingly fresh topping combos!
Read More »from Your Everything Guide to Pizza
Click here for step-by-step instructions on how to make our easy pizza dough.
Roasted Tomato Sauce
The secret to our outstanding tomato sauce: slow-roasting plump tomatoes with bell peppers and onions.
Click here for the recipe.
Homemade Ricotta
Our homemade ricotta is so rich and creamy that you'll never opt for the store-bought stuff again.
Click here for the recipe.
Fresh Herb Pesto
This mixture of herbs, pine nuts and cheese is so delectable that you'll be eating it on everything-bread, pasta and pizza all take well to this herbaceous sauce!
Click here for the recipe.
Arugula Salad White Pizza
Toss arugula and halved grape tomatoes with olive oil and red wine vinegar; season with salt and pepper. Wait until just before serving to top pizza. Also top with grated provolone, grated parmesan and dollops ofCountry Living's Editor-in-Chief Sarah Gray Miller stopped by the Today Show with cheap and easy party tips that will upgrade any summer event.
Read More »from 5 Budget-Friendly Entertaining Tips
More Tips For Hosting the Best End-of-Summer Bash
1. Disguise an Inexpensive Surface with a Chic Tablecloth
This witty, stain-resistant slipcover turns a cafeteria-style folding table into a trompe l'oeil-take on a fine Chippendale antique. ($68; Under Stella's Umbrella, 888-502-8882 for stores)
Read More: Quick Home Decor Projects
2. Try This Creative Centerpiece
Large vases usually require hundreds of dollars worth of flowers to look voluminous, but by placing smaller bottles inside a large vase with smaller arrangements in each, you can make a huge impact without spending a fortune.
Plus: An Elizabethan Vase Craft
3. Opt for Festive Napkin Rings
Use pinking shears to make cloth napkins from fabric scraps. Top them off with curtain rings to give them a polished finish. ($7.97 for seven 1 3/8-inch rings; homedepot.com)
See more Cute5 Ways to Transform Ordinary Objects
By Country Living | Work + Money – Fri, Aug 19, 2011 7:45 PM EDT
Read More »from 5 Ways to Transform Ordinary Objects
Turn ordinary objects into prized possessions with these project ideas for your home.
1. From Old Cable Spool to New Library Table
Step One: To build this brilliant "bookmobile" - crafted by Halligan Norris Smith and featured in Grace Bonney's Design*Sponge at Home ($21.24; barnesandnoble.com) - search a commercial salvage yard or sites like eBay for a wooden cable spool (usually under $50). You'll also need about 12 three-quarter-inch-thick wooden dowels that measure at least as tall as the spool when it's lying flat on either wheel.
Step Two Lay the spool on one of its wheels, then use a ruler to measure the distance from the top of the top wheel to the top of the bottom wheel. Use a handsaw to cut the dowels to this size, then sand the spool and dowels.
Read more quick DIY projects to transform your home.
Step Three: Measure the distance from one wheel's outer edge to the spool's core. Divide that number in half.
Step Four: Beginning at the outer edge of the top of the top wheel,
