There's no excuse for having bare, totally uninspired walls when there are so many things you can hang beyond pricey, daunting-to-find paintings or prints. One of our favorite ideas involves mounting mismatched plates, which can actually look a lot more interesting (and cost you a lot less) than the usual framed artwork. They also allow you a lot more flexibility in covering wallspace, since you can arrange them in any pattern you want, whether that means positioning them in a grid, or in a row (almost like a 3-D wallpaper border) or else it's fine to opt for something totally asymmetrical. Here's how to pull it off:

Start collecting china. Comb local thrift stores, antique malls, flea markets, and/or eBay for vintage dishes. Since you're buying strays as opposed to sets you should be able to find dishes inexpensively. Source pieces with a like palette as the unifying theme, but beyond that it's great to vary the sizes. It's ok to mix up the silhouettes too, with scalloped and

Pop stars Pete Wentz and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz opened up the $4.5 million Beverly Hills mansion they share with 15-month old son Bronx in this week's InTouch Magazine, revealing a ritzy-if not slightly eccentric-oasis. While the home has all the trappings we've come to expect from any celeb dwelling

Fresh flowers are one of the most gratifying investments you can make for your home. They instantly make any space feel more vibrant and fresh-and as uber-decorator Nate Berkus pointed out, in the dead of winter, it's especially nice to bring nature inside. To make sure you're getting your money's worth, here are a few simple guidelines to extend the life of any bouquet.

Slice stems at a 45 degree angle. This leaves a larger exposed area so blossoms can absorb as much water as possible, and also allows stems to stand on point, so the cut side is fully exposed to water (as opposed to if stems were flat against the bottom of the vase). Re-trimming the stems every couple days can also help prevent wilting.

Remove all the lower foliage. You don't want any leaves submerged in water, which encourages bacteria to form that not only makes water smell foul but shortens flowers' lifespan.

Make your own preservatives. If you don't have those little powder-filled packets that often

When you become a parent, it's easy to start to feel like your entire home was furnished by a child.

Wipes and diapers in every room. Stuffed animals and little plastic pieces in every other room. Not to mention a bulky high chair or ride-on toy that has commandeered the better part of your living space.

And while you may not be able to take back the house, you can at least try to leave your bedroom kid-free as much as possible. (In fact, it's probably not a bad idea to work really hard at making it YOUR space.) Think 'adult'. Think 'restful'. And, go ahead, think 'sex life'.

To create an ambiance that screams "Oh, Mama" instead of just "Mommy!" try these tips:

• Place a small vase of flowers or a blooming plant and a candle on your dresser.
• Play soothing and sexy music you'll want to snuggle under the covers to.
• Use warm colors for the walls and bedding, soft lights, and some favorite photos of you doing something besides parenting.
• Pull out your

If you don't already have a cast iron skillet, consider rectifying that ASAP. For starters, they can be used for just about anything, from frying bacon to melting grilled cheeses to sautéing vegetables to searing fish to baking frittatas or apple crisps-the possibilities are endless, seriously. And then beyond that they last forever, and in fact get even better as they "season" with age, you hardly have to wash them, and they're really affordable. They're weighty-you're basically doing bicep curls every time you lift them on and off the stove-but this is what lets them conduct heat so evenly and effectively, which gives you beautifully browned meats and veggies, and you never end up with hot spots that burn half your food. A 12" model will set you back $18.97, which is a total steal, especially considering how versatile and long-lasting these things are.

I like the brand Lodge-it's a family-owned company based in South Pittsburg, Tennessee (population 3,300!) that's been making cast

Taylor Swift and Sheryl Crow aren't the only ones plunking down roots in Nashville . Radaronline.com reports that American Idol alum Kellie Pickler just shelled out $1,435,000 for this leafy estate in the country music capital. Take a spin around her newly built four bedroom, four and a half bath home right here.

You don't need to be an expert skier to relish the fantasy of hanging out in one of these ridiculously cushy, Lifestyles of The Rich and Famous-worthy lodges. They're located in the most gorgeous mountainside settings and equipped with every amenity you could possible imagine (and some you'd probably never even think of, like an underground grotto finished off with cascading waterfalls, or the granite Presidential Seal embedded in the entryway floor in the former home of President Gerald R. Ford). Here, check out toptenrealestatedeals.com's round-up of ten mind-blowingly luxurious retreats, all of which also happen to be up for grabs at the moment from $3.9 to $35 million dollars.

Check out even more glamorous back-country estates in our tour of country stars' homes.

Our favorite country stars have loads of laid-back charm, so it's easy to forget that they aren't exactly just like us. We got an inside peek at some of the most famous country stars' homes--from Billy Ray Cyrus to Sheryl Crow--and what you see here might surprise you:



First up, there's musician Clint Black and wife Lisa Hartman, who hang their hats in this posh Nashville estate. They're not the only ones living well in the city: Country and Christian singers Vince Gill and Amy Grant have a mansion nearby.

By comparison, Wynonna Judd and her brood have much more "down home" digs, in a modest ranch-though neighbor, mom, and fellow famous person Naomi kicks things back up a notch with her massive 250 acre farm.

As the country music capital, Nashville is also home to a slew of other stars, and we've got the scoop on Martina McBride, Emmy Lou Harris, and Toby Keith's homes as well. And of course there's Dolly Parton, who brings some Hollywood glitz to the South with the addition of