From the bedroom mattress and pillows to daily cleaning products for the kitchen and bath, toothbrushes, and even furniture and clothing, toxins are embedded in many products and items used regularly in the home--and they are making us sick. Home Detox is a practical, accessible guide to understanding the problem and how we can address it in our own homes in a manageable and affordable way. Daniella Chace, a professional toxicologist and health writer, teaches readers how to identify potential toxins, with an easy-to-follow, room-by-room evaluation of the "Toxic Ten" in each space. She explains the connection between toxins in everyday objects and chronic health issues such as headaches, asthma, high cholesterol, skin problems, and sleep problems and offers strategies for eliminating toxins, along with easy recipes for effective homemade cleaning solutions using essential oils, baking soda, vinegar, and other ingredients that are natural, affordable, and effective.

Start your personal planning any time of the year with this stylish, undated monthly calendar. This desk pad features twelve customizable, perforated pages that offer plenty of room to schedule appointments or meetings each month, and useful space to jot down important to-dos or notes. It's a great way to stay organized throughout the year.

It seems almost too good to be true: make high-value organic compost while generating reliable combustion-free heat. But it works, and this book is your practical introduction. With detailed case studies of large scale engineered systems and plans for constructing small DIY systems, you'll find step-by-step illustrations and photos to guide you through the process. A review of calculations to help you estimate the heating capabilities of various approaches and other planning tools make this book invaluable for compost heat recovery on any scale.

Learn to master the proportions of a classic Martini or effortlessly put the finishing touches on a Moscow Mule with this essential guide to making classic cocktails. With the guidance of master mixologist Nick Mautone, anyone can learn to create these classic cocktails at home. With recipes taken from Raising the Bar (Artisan, 2004), this jam-packed cocktail handbook will teach readers liquor fundamentals, basic mixing techniques, how to prep certain drinks ahead of time, and what drinkware to use for each cocktail. Within the pages are brunch staples like the Mimosa and Bloody Mary, but also cult favourites, including the Cosmopolitan and Margarita, and spirit-forward cocktails that never go out of style, like the Old Fashioned and Sazerac. With all these favourite recipes at their fingertips, home bartenders can rely on Classic Cocktails for foolproof, easy-to-make cocktails anytime.

A charming checklist for decluttering. In this whimsical yet practical guide to sorting through the too-much-stuff of modern life, the premise is simple: on each page, a delightful illustration of items that fill our lives--novelty ice cube trays, a manual typewriter, game pieces, that souvenir snow globe. And beneath each drawing, two little checkboxes: Yes and No. Look at the object. Note your response. Act accordingly! Additionally, the book is filled with dozens of tips and ideas for what to do with things that may be hard to part with, like children's artwork. An inspiring gift!

"Pocket Neighborhoods: Creating Small Scale Community in a Large Scale World "introduces an antidote to faceless, placeless sprawl -- small scale neighborhoods where people can easily know one another, where empty nesters and single householders with far-flung families can find friendship or a helping hand nearby, and where children can have shirt-tail aunties and uncles just beyond their front gate.

The book describes inspiring pocket neighborhoods through stories of the people who live there, as well as the progressive planners, innovative architects, pioneering developers, craftspeople and gardeners who helped create them.

Sarah Susanka, author of the best selling "Not So Big House" series, wrote the Foreword to the book, placing pocket neighborhoods within context of the contemporary trends in housing and community. Ross Chapin begins the book by outlining the shifts in the scale of community and the American Dream over several generations, leading to super-sized houses in a sea of development, then describes a solution to help restore healthy, livable communities. The first section of the book looks at historic precedents of pocket neighborhoods, from 15th century hofje almshouses in the Netherlands, to a 19th century Methodists Camp Community on Martha's Vineyard, to early 20th century Garden City models and Southern California Cottage Courtyards. The second section covers a wide range of contemporary pocket neighborhoods, including New Urban communities, affordable housing, houseboat communities, eco-neighborhoods, and Ross Chapin Architects' own pocket neighborhood examples. The third section focuses on 'cohousing' communities, from Danish origins in the 1960s, to examples across America, Australia and New Zealand, including a chapter on senior cohousing. The fourth section looks at retrofitting pocket neighborhoods within existing communities. Throughout the book are series of "Design Keys" that highlight the essential principles of pocket neighborhood planning and design, and short stories about "Pocket Neighborhood Pioneers" who blazed new trails. The book is filled with rich photographs, drawings, illustrations and site plans, and a Resources section at the end provides leads for the reader to explore the topic in further detail.

Every year, the world produces more than 300 million tons of plastic. These products will never break down and will endlessly pollute our oceans, air, land, and food chain. But the good news is that there are many steps, small and large, we can take to change our plastic-using habits. This illustrated book offers more than 100 suggestions in an accessible visual and gifty package. The introductory chapter walks readers through the different types of plastic and terminology. Then, starting with two of the most prevalent problems - the plastic water bottle and the plastic shopping bag - the book continues with the actions we can take each day to achieve a plastic-free life, organised into thematic lifestyle categories covering food, health and beauty, home, special occasions, and more. The information is presented in short actionable text, and the entries include facts to help the reader understand why the change is a good one. Swap your to-go cup for a reusable mug or invest in metal straws; learn how to DIY your cleaning products, party decorations, and grocery bags; incorporate alternatives to plastic wrap, take-out containers, commercial cosmetic products, cotton balls, and water filters; find out how to avoid the toxins released from the plastic in your refrigerator, shampoo bottles, clothing, and office supplies. Living Without Plastic is an appealing and attractive guide to help readers end their relationship with plastic for good.

As the modern world changes and evolves, so does the modern lifestyle. Our levels of home comfort, desires, and overall life satisfactions are being defined in new ways, often contrasting with notions of the 'traditional' house design. We aim to live simpler lives yet somehow manage to have more material possessions than before; and we opt to reside in open-plan homes that provide a sense of freedom. All too often traditionally designed homes are no longer able to satisfy our contemporary living needs. The restoration of living spaces is usually to restore existing buildings that may have become impractical over time, if not outdated. These days, the challenge is how to adapt and transform these existing buildings to modern standards, all the while maintaining what may still be useful, special features or design characteristics, or what we like most about the space. This book showcases a selection of examples of how people from around the world have ingeniously refurbished an old house to meet their needs for a modern lifestyle. With vivid descriptions, detailed drawings and rich photography (including befores and afters), this book provides designers and architects, as well as owner-builders of old houses several excellent strategies on how to approach their restoration, and how to convey a modern life concept, revitalizing, and refreshing the houses for the next generation.

The essential ingredient for full enjoyment of your river, lake, pond, or oceanfront property.

If you're fortunate enough to own waterfront property, you know that a dock is essential for realizing maximum value and enjoyment of that land. Now you can build your own dock, or repair an existing dock, with this comprehensive, easy-to-use guide -- the only book devoted exclusively to residential docks.

The Dock Manual contains 10 complete plan for stationary and floating docks -- each with materials and tool lists, and simple, illustrated construction techniques. You'll also find step-by-step instructions for analyzing your shoreline and choosing the right dock for your needs.

You'll refer to The Dock Manual throughout the year for expert advice to help you:

* Make repairs and upgrades

* Winterize your dock

* Build angle, roller, and stair ramps

* Paint, stain, and treat your dock

* Deter and repair decay to wood and plastic

* Incorporate design options like trims and colors

Filled with practical advice as well as history, Blu Greenberg's book is a comprehensive guide to the joys and complexities of running a modern Jewish home. How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household is a modern, comprehensive guide covering virtually every aspect of Jewish home life. It provides practical advice on how to manage a Jewish home in the traditional way and offers fascinating accounts of the history behind the tradition. In a warm, personal style, Blu Greenberg shows that, contrary to popular belief, the home, and not the synagogue, is the most important institution in Jewish life. Divided into three large sections-"The Jewish Way," "Special Stages of Life," and "Celebration and Remembering"-this book educates the uninitiated and reminds the already observant Jew of how Judaism approaches daily life. Topics include prayer, dress, holidays, food preparation, marriage, birth, death, parenthood, and many others. This description of the modern-yet-traditional Jewish household will earn special regard among the many American Jews who are reexploring their ties to Jewish tradition. Such Jews will find this book a flexible guide that provides a knowledge of the requirements of traditional Judaism without advocating immediate and complete compliance. How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household will also appeal to observant Jews, providing them with helpful tips on how to manage their homes and special insights into the most minute details and procedures in a traditional household. Herself a traditional Jew, Blu Greenberg is nevertheless quite sympathetic to feminist views on the role of women in Jewish observance. How to Run a Traditional Jewish Household therefore speaks intimately to women who are struggling to reconcile their identities as modern women with their commitments to traditional Judaism.

"Waste not, want not" with this guide to saving money, taking heart, and enjoying the simple pleasures of life.
Nowadays, many of us "outsource" basic tasks. Food is instant, ready-made, and processed with unhealthy additives. Dry cleaners press shirts, delivery guys bring pizza, gardeners tend flowers, and, yes, tailors sew on those pesky buttons. But life can be much simpler, sweeter, and richer-and a lot more fun, too! As your grandmother might say, now is not the time to be careless with your money, and it actually pays to learn how to do things yourself!
Practical and empowering, How to Sew a Button collects the treasured wisdom of nanas, bubbies, and grandmas from all across the country-as well as modern-day experts-and shares more than one hundred step-by-step essential tips for cooking, cleaning, gardening, and entertaining, including how to
- polish your image by shining your own shoes
- grow your own vegetables (and stash your bounty for the winter)
- sweeten your day by making your own jam
- use baking soda and vinegar to clean your house without toxic chemicals
- feel beautiful by perfecting your posture
- roll your own piecrust and find a slice of heaven
- fold a fitted sheet to crisp perfection
- waltz without stepping on any toes
Complete with helpful illustrations and brimming with nostalgic charm, How to Sew a Button provides calm and comfort in uncertain times. By doing things yourself, with care and attention, you and your loved ones will feel the pleasing rewards of a job well done.

Praise for The Three Big Questions for a Frantic Family

"A guidebook for frantic families who want to reduce stress, tension, and pressure, and make the adventure of family life more exuberant."
--Frances Hesselbein, chairman and founding president of Leader to Leader Institute, formerly the Peter F. Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit

Management; former CEO, Girl Scouts of the U.S.A.

"This is terrific. Just like he does in his business books, Lencioni combines great fiction with uncommon wisdom and practical advice. He provides simple toolsthat will help any family reduce stress and increase vitality."
--Tim Tassopoulos, senior vice president, operations, Chick-fil-A, Inc.

"By interjecting concepts like strategy and organizational values into families, Lencioni may just revolutionize the way we see our roles as leaders at home. This should be a classic."
--Jim Levine, author, Working Fathers: New Strategies for Balancing Work and Family

"Finally, a family book that doesn't bore me with academic jargon or make me feel inadequate as a parent. I loved it and put it to use immediately."
--Patty DeWitt, school teacher, wife, mother of three

"Patrick's delightful story is as engaging as it is powerful. He elevates the difficult role of managing a family to the place where it belongs."
--Elisa Morgan, CEO, MOPS International; publisher, FullFill

STUFF. It's everywhere. Lurking in corners and closets, spilling onto counters and coffee tables, creating havoc everywhere we look. And it's not just the physical clutter that weighs us down. Oh no, it is the stress of overbooked schedules, and the weight of life that sometimes feels oppressive and totally out of whack. New York Times bestselling author Ruth Soukup feels your pain--she has been there too. Through personal stories, Biblical truth, and practical action plans, she will inspire and empower each of us to finally declutter not just our home, but our mind and soul as well. Unstuffed is real, honest, and gets right down to the question we are all facing--how can we take back our lives from the stuff that is weighing us down? In this book, together we will: Create a comprehensive vision for our homes and make instant changes to improve its overall function. Discover that more closet space is not the solution and instead learn how to set strict limits for the stuff we bring in Overcome the frustration of dealing with our kids' influx of stuff and implement practical solutions for keeping the chaos at bay. Recognize the pitfalls of an overstuffed schedule BEFORE it gets out of hand and instead learn to combat the culture of busy that keeps us running from one thing to the next. Finally conquer that mountain of paperwork that threatens to tumble down around us at any moment. Let go of the guilt that gets attached to gifts and instead learn to separate our loved ones from their stuff. Begin to cultivate our real friendships while eliminating the toxic relationships that weigh us down.

Designer and TED star Ingrid Fetell Lee explains how to cultivate a happier, healthier life by making small changes to your surroundings.

When did you last feel joy? Changing your surroundings is the most easily accessible source in finding joy, says Ingrid Fetell Lee, former Design Director of IDEO New York.

In Joyful, she explains it's time to open our eyes to the physical world. By making small but powerful changes to the things around us, we can live happier, healthier lives.

Her TED talk has been viewed over 10 million times.

‘This book has the power to change everything’ Susan Cain

‘A completely original treatment of a completely new and original idea’ Arianna Huffington

"Jen Robin is not just an organizer-she is a teacher and a healer. As she helps sort our 'stuff' she is also sorting our values, emotions, relationships, and dreams. She is a magician and this book will work magic on your home and life." - Glennon Doyle, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Untamed In this essential guide, the creative force behind the popular organization company Life in Jeneral reveals her emotionally engaged approach to decluttering-a unique process that empowers people to re-envision their spaces to suit their evolving needs. Life is about connection, not collection. Jen Robin's company, Life in Jeneral, focuses on the "soul work" of home organization-the psychological and emotional foundation necessary for creating a streamlined and sustainable lifestyle. For Jen, change comes from within-a process that to succeed, must begin with the heart. Americans are spending more time at home than ever before, and many have come to realize that their living spaces aren't serving them. We have too many things, resulting in physical and mental clutter. And the organizational strategies we try only go so far, leaving us feeling disconnected and disheartened. Life in Jeneral helps you build healthier mental habits that allow us to break free from the clutter, while providing traditional strategies to get-and stay-organized. Beautifully designed and featuring examples from Jen's personal experiences and those of her clients, Life in Jeneral teaches us how to: Flip common mental blocks that prevent us from organizational success Identify and tackle "clutter magnets"-the spaces where things seem to gather Discover common emotional baggage keyed to specific types of clutter Organize and evolve specific spaces in the home, room by room Life in Jeneral offers a holistic approach to organization; once we understand what we want from our spaces-how they can nurture and support our emotional well-being-we can create a home that feels both practical and joyful.

In the DONE IN A DAY series, a step-by-step instruction book containing twelve basic projects for the garden, each of which can be completed in one day. Each project can be personalized by variations and is illustrated with photographs and exploded diagrams.

The restoration of historic homes has gained immense popularity lately. Unfortunately, there are just as many lost to demolition and unsympathetic alterations. That is not Fairview’s story though – because it was love at first sight when the Benkensteins walked through the historic Georgian house for the first time. Against all advice, they bought the 1861 property and opened the doors of their newly restored family home to guests.

But running a guesthouse is not all moonlight and roses. Philda shares honest insights into the life of the guesthouse owner. The ups and the downs. Memories, anecdotes, inspiration, the wonderful and sometimes the more difficult guests and a few tried and tested recipes. To quote Nikos Kazantzakis in Zorba the Greek. ‘Wife, children, house, everything. The full catastrophe’. More than twenty-eight years of experience in the hospitality industry demands a story or two.

This entertaining memoir is as much about the stories of the people who call Fairview home, and home away from home, as it is about restoring a long-neglected historic dwelling and creating a plant collector’s garden. The Standers lived at Fairview from 1894
to 1974, and an account of this old house could only be complete by mentioning the lives led within the Fairview walls in those times.