Is there a self-help group for people who are obsessed with home decorating? If so, point me in the direction and sign me up because Houston, I think we have a problem here. You know when you put a power tool (a sander, to be exact) at the top of your wish list for Christmas, you might be a little “caught up”.

It started so innocently when I ran across the blog Southern Hospitality. This talented woman has a knack for thrift and estate sale shopping like nobody’s business. The way she transforms someone’s cast-offs into a thing of beauty just leaves me in awe. I wish I could do that. I want to do that. She has inspired me. That? Is the mark of a successful blog in my book.

Her links took me to more blogs with equally talented people who are literally transforming their home interiors (and exteriors, too) on a shoestring budget and lots of elbow grease. I’ve attempted in the past to take on some small DIY projects. Although I dont get to do those things nearly as often as I would like, I enjoy them so much and I’ve decided to make a point to take on some more smaller projects using what we have and whatever I can find as innexpensivley as possible, because half the fun of doing these little projects is finding them for free or dirt cheap.

My feedreader is now overflowing with more fantastic blogs that are currently inspiring me to make the space around me as inviting and relaxing as possible, so I thought I’d share with you all these great blogs I’ve recently discovered. Is there one I haven’t listed? If so, please share with me in a comment. There’s always room for more in my reader! Are you working on any projects around your home? I’d love to see them.

Southern Hospitality
A Beach Cottage
Susie Harris (Bienvenue)
Caro’s Thrifty Adventures
Centsational Girl
The Decorated House
Joys of Home
The Lettered Cottage
Me & My House
Our Suburban Cottage
Reinvented

See that pretty little kitty up there? She is now ours. Although we are still heartbroken over Bonnie and miss her terribly, we decided to open our home to another cat that really needed one.

This is Pearl and she is 4 years old. (Mugshot courtesy of the shelter) Pearl’s owner surrendered her to the local animal shelter because the owner was elderly and had to go live in an assisted living home and she couldn’t take Pearl with her. This lady had raised Pearl from a kitten and Pearl had already been spayed, declawed in the front, and was up to date on all of her shots.

I found Pearl online while visiting Petfinder.com and she sounded like a perfect addition to our home. Since bringing her home Tuesday afternoon she has been a complete joy to have around. She is shy, but very, very loving. She also purrs like nobody’s business.

And Clyde? Well, he is slow to warming up to Pearl. I know he still misses Bonnie and is probably confused. There have been a couple of hissing staredowns with Pearl, but he is slowly coming around and we hope they will come to be close kitty friends.

I know it seems too soon since Bonnie’s death to adopt another animal and most people we have told think we were nuts for doing it, but Pearl has brought some smiles and comfort into our lives and that’s enough for us.

Has the Swine Flu outbreak reached your community yet? It has definitely become a serious concern of mine as more and more cases of it in my state are being reported daily.

According to Dr. Erika Schwartz, Medical Director of Cinergy Health, as kids gear up for back-to-school, adults may be leery about health concerns. The recently CDC reported 436 deaths and 6,506 hospitalizations nationwide associated with Swine Flu. No one knows what this school year has in store, so what must be done to make sure your child’s classroom is Swine Flu safe?

Here are some practical Swine Flu tips for teachers and parents alike:

Teach your students to wash their hands throughout the day.
Keep anti-bacterial pumps accessible in the classroom. Explain what the pumps are and when it’s appropriate to use them.
Remind the students not to touch their eyes, nose and mouth with their hands. Germs are spread when a child touches something that is contaminated and then touches her or his eyes, nose or mouth. Also they spread when kids sneeze and cough without covering
Sharing food and drink will also spread germs.
Explain to students the importance of getting at least 8-10 hours of sleep a night. Make them aware of how it affects how they feel, their energy level, their moods, etc. the next day.
Teach your students to eat three full meals and several snacks a day which are balanced complex carbohydrates, protein and are chock full of fruit and vegetables. Stay away from pre-prepared, high sugar, soda and preserved foods.
Keep children hydrated. Kids should be drinking 4-6 glasses of water a day. Help them choose water over sugary drinks.
Dissuade children from sharing cups, straws and bottles (anything they have direct mouth contact with will spread the germs).
Make sure the children are getting sufficient exercise. Children should be doing aerobic activity at least 5 days a week during recess, gym class or after-school sports.
Don’t send sick children to school; likewise, send them home if they get sick at school. Allowing children to stay in school is the fastest way to spread germs and illness.
Send a “Flu Prevention Tips” letter home with students to give to their parents. The same tips should be practiced at home to assure a healthy school year.
If you notice a child with the beginning symptoms of a flu or cold, let their parents know immediately. Helping prevent the flu or cold developing with vitamin C, hydration, rest and chicken soup is critical.

How to NOT go “over board” with Swine Flu Prevention:

There is no need to frighten the children by wearing a mask or using gloves. If they see their teacher being hysterical or nervous they will imitate and results will be counter productive.
There is no reason to explain in detail the symptoms or effects of the flu to children. Younger children will not understand and adolescents will get scared. Teaching them to maintain healthy lifestyles is all they need to learn from you.

Dr. Erika Schwartz, Medical Director of Cinergy Health is a general internist, an authority on preventive health and a patient advocate. She is a 25 year health industry veteran, working in both an ER as well as a private practice.

Click here for more info.