Yet, with a wide range of home layouts, and an even wider range of décor options to compliment your ideal oasis, you may become overwhelmed trying to create the perfect summer escape.

With this in mind, our friends at MSN Living have compiled a list of 18 porch and patio décor themes that’s sure to add some flavor to your favorite warm-weather retreat.

The motifs, ranging from a boathouse deck to a gravel patio, give you several ideas for your own DIY summer project.

To view the photos and read more about the 18 porch and patio themes, head over to MSN Living.

You probably remember an article I posted a while ago about the NAHREP Hispanic Homeownership Report, this Bloomberg article reinforces the fact that the demographics of the U.S. are changing fast.

This trend has grown so much that the government plans to revise its Census projections for 2040. Back in 2009, the Census Bureau estimated that non-Hispanic whites will become a minority after the 2040 Census, but looking at the numbers now, these projections may become a reality sooner than we thought.

Another interesting fact is that Hispanic growth is driven by native births rather than immigration, according to the Pew Hispanic Center. In fact, they reported the net migration from Mexico has stopped, and may be reversing.

While this trend seems to be moving at an accelerated pace, the U.S. has proven its ability to accept a changing demographic. According to Jeffrey Passel, senior demographer for the Pew Hispanic Center, “If you go back 100 years, groups that are now considered part of the majority white population were perceived as minorities…Over time, we’ll change the way we perceive these categories.”

Pretty interesting stuff, right?

Check out the full article here.

Now, imagine you’re sitting at home on a seemingly uneventful evening, petting your cat or dog, as you always do, when suddenly you are overcome by a sneezing fit so intense, the neighbors come knocking on the door to see if everything is alright. At first, you think it’s a fluke. The sneezes, red, watery eyes, and wheezing must be a simple cold. Surely, it will soon be long gone. Until, it’s not.

This is exactly the scene that played out in my house a couple of years ago when my husband suddenly, and without any previous issues, developed cat allergies. We never saw it coming, especially since we had two cats that had lived with us for a couple years already. Our kids loved them. We loved them. We were heartbroken, but we had to take action.

Here are a few things to consider when your furry friends have you feeling sick:

Get tested. 

It was months before we figured out what was causing my husband’s “endless cold.” One trip to the doctor was all it took for them to draw blood and test for many common allergens in his system. The test not only confirmed his cat allergy, it also gave us a sense of other irritants, such as dust and pollen, that may be aggravating his condition.

Alright, I’m allergic to Mr. Mittens, now what?

Ok, this is the hard part. Once you can attribute your mystery illness to that cute little fluffy face, you now need to decide whether to keep your animals and look for a solution to your health woes, or find them a new loving home. If you’re like me, then you take pet ownership very seriously. I found it difficult to walk away from the commitment I made when I brought our animals into our home, but I also cringed every time I would hear my husband go into a sneezing fit. There’s a lot to consider here. 

The Good

There are many health benefits to having pets in your home, including a decrease in your blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Also, it’s just nice to have that little guy there to hang with and who will love you unconditionally. Whose heart doesn’t go pitter-patter when you walk through the door after a long day at work to welcoming meows and barks? Pets can also raise your activity level by getting you outdoors for a nice walk or run in the park.

The Bad

On the flipside, living with allergies can be pretty awful. It really is like walking around with a cold that never ends, and the doctor-recommended solution is to remove the allergy-inducing pets from your home.

If you’ve weighed all your options and decided to keep your animals, all hope isn’t lost! There are certain steps you can take to minimize the effect allergies have on your health:

• Consider hardwood floors or frequent vacuuming to clean up those allergens that gather in carpeting and upholstery.
• Clean frequently to remove collections of dust and dander around the house. Wipe down the blinds and windowsills, and get into those corners and crevices. HEPA air filters strategically placed around the house will help ensure your air quality is top notch.
• Make your bedroom a safe zone, which means no animals allowed under any circumstances. Wash all curtains, sheets and bedding thoroughly, and consider using allergen-proof covers and pillowcases.
• Is immunotherapy an option? Getting one or two shots weekly over several months may help your body develop immunity to the allergens. Also, cat owners may soon have reason to rejoice; there is a promising new vaccine on the horizon that is being developed to eliminate cat allergies altogether.
• Bathing your pet every week will help reduce the allergens on their fur. Ask your vet for shampoo recommendations, as well as some tips on the best technique to get Fido properly cleaned.

As always, be sure to consult with your doctor regarding your individual health needs and requirements.

Have any more recommendations for those with allergies trying to live in harmony with their animal friends? Let us know!

Romaine Lettuce – Lettuce is the last thing I would think to put on the grill, but maybe I’m just not that cooking-savvy. Apparently these groovy greens get a great smoky flavor when you grill them. It’s the perfect barbeque treat for the vegetarian in your life. First, brush lettuce heads with olive oil, salt and pepper, and cut the lettuce head in half lengthwise. What kind of salad would taste good with grilled lettuce, you ask? According to Reader’s Digest, after grilling on medium-high heat for 1 to 2 minutes, simply sprinkle with Parmesan cheese and red wine vinegar and serve. I’m drooling on my desk just thinking about it.

Cheese – My question here is how do you achieve this without making one big mushy mess? I guess it’s kind of the same idea as saganaki. Reader’s Digest suggests using thick slices like aged provolone, and drizzling with olive oil. This can be served as an appetizer with bread and fruit.

Cake – Cake?! Can it really be improved upon? Well, I guess we can try. The thinking here is that grilling will warm up the interior and give it a sweet crust. Reader’s Digest suggests using angel food or pound cake. After slicing it, butter both sides and grill on moderate heat for about two minutes per side, or until golden. I can only imagine the dessert creations I would make out of grilled cake. Golden cake towers drizzling with whipped cream, chocolate syrup, chocolate sprinkles, ice cream, frozen strawberries - the list goes on and on. I will be making a pound cake tonight just so I can grill the leftovers.

Eggs – I make scrambled eggs all the time, but who would have thought you could just slap a raw egg on the grill? You can cook up tasty smoked deviled eggs, or even use a muffin tin to get those eggs grilling. Simply coat the tin with cooking spray and crack an egg into each hole. Cook them as long as you want, and that’s it! You can even dress them up with onions, peppers, cheese, or whatever you like on your eggs.

Pineapple – Pineapple is one fruit that’s great on the grill. This recipe suggests marinating it in honey, brandy, and lemon juice, and grilling for about 10 minutes or until the pineapple is hot and caramelized. This sounds even better than ice cream, but it isn’t the only fruit you can grill. Reader’s Digest suggested brushing slices of watermelon with olive oil, minced onion, salt and pepper then grilling until caramelized. I also found a variety of recipes for barbequed peaches, apples, and more! You name it; you can probably grill it!

Well, get out there and fire up the old barbeque! I wish you a wonderful weekend and many happy grilling adventures!

What’s Up on Wall Street?

All of the U.S. stocks closed in the green yesterday as reports revealed better than expected earnings from U.S. retailers. The Dow Jones Industrial Average closed up 135 points (1.09 percent). Also, the Nasdaq Composite closed up 68.42 points (2.46 percent). Finally, the S&P 500 closed up 20.77 points (1.60 percent).

All of this could only mean one thing: it’s garage sale season. While I used to enjoy roaming my neighborhood in search of the best deals as a kid, I grew out of that phase when I purchased a game for my Nintendo, only to discover it didn’t work when I brought it home.

While I’ve never hosted a garage sale, perhaps it’s time for that to change. My lease at my apartment in Essexville runs out at the end of this month. In preparing to move to a yet-to-be-determined location, it was brought to my attention that I have a lot of junk.

Whether it’s jeans I haven’t worn in years, or books that most likely went unused during my college days, it’s safe to say my apartment resembles a junkyard more than it does a human living space.

But, as the saying goes, “one person’s junk is another person’s treasure.” With that in mind, calling my apartment a junkyard may have been a little harsh. Instead of hauling countless bags out to the dumpster, I’m going to see if anyone is willing to pay me for my junk.

Now that your garage is organized, consider hosting a garage sale! Here are a few steps you can take to ensure your sale is a success.

1. Figure out what you have to sell. Use common sense. Don’t be the person selling broken stuff (I’m still mad that I wasted money on a game that didn’t work). Popular items that sell include children’s clothes, tools and toys. Chances are you have your own stash of items you aren’t using anymore. It could be an old set of golf clubs or a set of patio chairs you no longer use because you don’t have a patio. Whatever it is, there’s no reason not to try to make a little extra cash while cleaning out your home.

2. Determine a price for each item. Be flexible. Garage sales are supposed to be more about getting rid of your old stuff than about making money. The less money you ask for each item, the quicker it will disappear. When pricing your items, keep in mind how much you would pay for each if you were shopping at a garage sale. Make things easy for everyone involved by placing stickers on each item with your asking price.

3. Set up. After figuring out what you plan to sell, decide how many tables you’ll need to display everything. Designate a small space for checkout. Make sure there is a calculator within reach to help with difficult transactions (if you’re as bad at math as me, every transaction is a difficult one).

4. Organize. If you plan to sell clothes, consider hanging shirts from a rack. Make the layout as simple to follow as possible. You could display items in order based on price or by category.

5. Spread the word. Some neighborhoods designate a particular week for garage sales while others leave it up to individuals. If you take the route of planning your own sale, you could advertise in the local newspaper. Large signs that are placed in the front yard and at different intersections close to your home also help draw a crowd.

6. Get spare change. You’ll want rolls of various coins, dollar bills, fives and tens. Most people wouldn’t expect you to have change for anything larger than a 20-dollar bill if their purchase is only a couple dollars.

7. Enjoy the process. Think about it. Not only did you clean out your home, there’s a chance you’ll make some coin. Be courteous and welcome anyone that stops by. Make yourself available to answer any questions customers may have on items.

8. Bag up leftovers. It’s time to let go of anything that didn’t sell. If you were willing to sell it in the first place and nobody was interested, it must be real, legitimate junk. Treat it as such. Either donate it to the local Goodwill or just trash it.

Do you have any other tips on how to run a successful garage sale? If so, let me know!

When I size up my credit card statement, I ship it all back.

Needless to say, I have become a seasoned returner. In a world where the coupon codes are oh-so-fabulous, and your purchase is only a mouse-click away, you’re bound to purchase some items that don’t work out. While I usually shop at companies like Zappos or Nordstrom that offer free return shipping or in-store returns, shipping costs are sometimes unavoidable. So without further ado, here are a few tips I’ve come up with to minimize those wasted return-shipping dollars.

Ship it slow – Many times I’ve gone to a local shipping center with a package and been met with, “Would you like to upgrade to express shipping for only $$$?” Unless you’re cutting it close to the return deadline, just say no! Paying for express services can double or even triple shipping rates. For example, with USPS express mail, you’ll pay about $44.15 to ship a 5-pound package from a post office in Michigan to an address in Alabama. Priority mail, the 2-3 day service, is only $14.55. So the moral of the story is, don’t save your returns until the last minute, and you won’t have to upgrade to that ridiculously expensive shipping option.

Print your own labels – Some companies offer ship-from-home services. The same 5-pound package in the last example will cost you $14.55 to ship if you take it into a post office, but if you print your own label, you’ll pay only $12.50. It might not seem like much, but every cent counts when you’re looking for cheap shipping!

Take advantage of special services – USPS has a lot of cool ways to ship, like flat-rate boxes and media mail. I’ve personally used flat-rate boxes on many occasions because they don’t use weight to calculate the price. If it fits in the box, they’ll ship it anywhere. This is especially useful for small but heavy items because they can often beat out other rates. If you select media mail, on the other hand, you can ship educational materials such as books and CDs for a low price. The rates are phenomenal.

Condense your packages – This might seem like common sense, but it’s worth mentioning; there’s usually a minimum fee for each package, so it’s cheaper to send a slightly bigger box instead of two smaller ones.

Save the box – When things come to me in a cardboard box, I almost always save the box. Now, this may be more out of pure laziness than anything else, but it comes in handy! If you save the packing materials, you won’t have to buy any of your own – and that saves money. If you don’t have the appropriate materials to ship a package, companies like FedEx will pack your box for you for as low as $4.99.

The squeaky wheel gets the grease – This is a life lesson from my mother, and I have to say, she’s right. Was an item defective or somehow not what you expected? Was this the fault of the company? Call and complain, because you might just get a free return or exchange. Companies will go a long way to make sure they get your business again, and the worst that they can say is no.

Compare rates – A helpful clerk at UPS once told me that the Postal Service is the best carrier for packages under 5 pounds, but other carriers will beat out USPS for packages above 5 pounds. He was right – for a 15-pound package, USPS was the most expensive, but it was the cheapest for 5 pounds and under.

If you do a lot of shipping like me, comparing rates can save you tons of money. Shipping rates can vary with many different factors such as destination and package dimensions, but following some of my tips will help you save some money, especially if you make as many returns as I do!

It all started with last week’s superb installment of Markets and Musings, which I would strongly recommend you watch if you haven’t done so already.

Most recently, he sat down with Gregg Greenberg from the popular finance website The Street to discuss hot topics such as the current state of the housing market and whether or not the government is doing enough to help homeowners who are underwater.

Bob explained, “I think the state of the housing market right now is one of recovery, but we’re still not there yet. We’ve still got to work through the pretty substantial foreclosure inventory and that’s really what’s holding things back from significant growth. But it still is regional. We’re definitely seeing regions where things are getting better, and we’re seeing some where things are still lagging.”

HARP 2.0 has been another hot topic, and whether or not more government action is needed to help underwater homeowners refinance.

Bob said, “I don’t think they’re yet doing enough. They’re absolutely trying. The HARP program, for example, there are iterations of that program that are much better than before and many more people are being helped. However, I think we, as an industry, and the government are underperforming to the opportunity. I think there are many more people that can be helped and there are a number of things that can be done to open that access to the HARP program.”

View the rest of the Bob’s interview with The Street via the embedded video below or click here.

If you don’t currently own energy-efficient appliances, chances are you’re a victim of energy theft via old appliances.

There are many energy-efficient household products such as energy-saving light bulbs, micathermic space heaters, and solar radio systems that are environmentally friendly and may also lower your monthly utility bills.

While the higher cost of an energy-efficient furnace may persuade you to reconsider your options, these furnaces can save their owners hundreds of dollars annually on utility costs.

Websites such as Buy Energy Efficient assist frugal homeowners in lowering their monthly utility bills by educating them about the wide range of energy-efficient household products available. By purchasing energy-efficient products, you can help save the world while saving money on monthly utility costs!

Here is an awesome infographic from our friends at WellHome comparing the different amounts of energy used in old home appliances to new energy-efficient home appliances, as well as your potential savings.