The self-proclaimed "#1 Avoidance Expert" tells all in this outrageous, smart, and practical compendium of tips, hints, and secrets for maintaining a spotless home without lifting a finger.

er*go*nom*ic (er-ga-'na-mik) adj: designed to allow people and the things people use to interact in the safest, most effective, and most comfortable manner

You work indoors. You're not on your feet all day and you do no heavy lifting. You have escaped from the brutal nature of most human labor. And yet at the end of the day you feel exhausted. You have vague aches and pains that you are embarrassed to mention to your doctor. If you do, the doctor gives you some equally vague advice: take it easy; don't push yourself; get more rest. If that doesn't work, maybe you're a whiner, a hypochondriac.

Or maybe you're being attacked by your possessions.

Perhaps you've been making do with a worn-out old mattress in the bedroom, an office chair that won't let you sit up straight, and a computer screen that you struggle to read with your bifocals. You bought a desk and a file cabinet whose colors complement each other perfectly, but you had no idea how downright irritating ordinary furniture can get if the only choice you bother with is matching style and color.

Somewhere in this world is a reading light, chair, bed, perhaps even a keyboard and desk, built just for you. This book will show you how to find them.

HOME

How to Enter Your Home

The Child-Friendly Home

How to Prepare Food

How to Relax

How to Sleep

OFFICE

Territory

The Inner Circle

Ambience

Storage

The Personal Computer

The Information-Age Habitat

Today's environmental concerns have led to a new generation of high-tech stoves, designed to burn cleaner and more efficiently than ever before.
"The New Woodburner's Handbook"is the essential layman's guide to both the latest improvements and the age-old wisdom of heating with wood. Chimney sweep Stephen Bushway presents first-time and long-time woodburners with all the information necessary to heat a home economically and safely, while safeguarding the environment for ourselves and our children. Topics discussed include: selecting the right home for your home and your lifestyle; tips for insulating and conserving energy at home; installing a woodstove safely, catalytic, noncatalytic, and pellet stoves -- pros and cons; masonry heaters -- an ancient and unsurpassed way of warming.
New federal regulations and air-quality laws make it more important than ever that woodburners know about all of the options available to them. "The New Woodburner's Handbook "helps you apply the latest developments in the industry to your specific situation and decide for yourself how heating with wood makes sense in your own home.

Through a mixture of the contemporary and the traditional, this book makes for a fascinating, personal insight into Judaism. Tens of thousands of copies have found their way into homes and libraries. A very popular selection for prize and presentations. This is the standard work on Judaism and how to live it.

"Bonnie's Household Organizer" is an essential handbook for anyone - mothers, fathers, students, roomates, or working singles - who wants to get organized at home. more than a collection of helpful hints or cleaning techniques, this remarkable book offers workable systems of organization. It begins by showing how to apply proven principles of time management to the home, moves through work habits, shelving suggestions, methods for training children to work, and ways to save money (especially on food), to the basic problem-solving process as it applies to home problems. Each chapter ends with practical suggestions for applying the ideas and techniques to your particular circumstances.

Whether you live in a twelve-room home or a studio apartment, have seven children, or a roomate who never cleans up, you'll find immediate help and direction in Bonnie's clear, practical, enthusiastic advice.

With The Natural Home, you'll discover how to clean everything in your house the healthy way with just a few inexpensive, easy to find products using tried and true cleaning methods that have been around for centuries. Organized by product and location in the home, the book includes an in-depth explanation of natural products like vinegar, lemon, and baking soda which can be used to clean most areas in your home. There's a cleaning guide by room; tips for maintaining materials like marble, stainless steel, and wood; solutions for every stain; natural fragrances for your home; laundry tips; and natural products for pets. Also included recipes for cleaning products you can make on your own that will help disinfect, whiten, deodorize and remove even the toughest stains in bathrooms, kitchen, carpets and clothing. Beautifully designed with two-color interiors and filled with dozens of illustrations, The Natural Home is a charming gift book that shows you how to keep your home sparkling, green, and healthy.

Not just for cakes, bicarbonate of soda has long been recognised as a hero ingredient for anyone looking to make their own eco-friendly cleaners and beauty products. Made up of tiny crystals, bicarb's natural structure makes it the perfect gentle abrasive for home cleaning, and its natural antacid properties are ideal for tackling heartburn or creating antibacterial cosmetics at home. With our increasing awareness of reducing exposure to chemicals and the importance of keeping things natural, as well as the ever-growing realization of the environmental impact of disposable plastic packaging, there has never been a better time to go back to basics, embrace natural ingredients and regain control of what we are putting in our homes and on our bodies. The Natural Apothecary: Bicarbonate of Soda opens by exploring what bicarbonate of soda is made up of, and how it can be both naturally occurring and manufactured. The following pages are broken into sections on home, health and beauty, containing over 40 simple recipes for all-natural, home-made products that allow you to utilize the power of bicarbonate of soda with ease; make a soothing drink to ease indigestion, an all-natural exfoliating scrub to smooth your skin, or a simple but effective stain remover to leave your clothes looking like new.

Do gentlemen wear shorts? What are the rules regarding interior decor in a high-security prison? Is it ever acceptable to send Valentine's cards to one's pets? The twenty-first century is an age of innumerable social conundrums. Around every corner lies a potential faux pas waiting to happen. But if you've ever struggled for the right response to an unwelcome gift or floundered for conversation at the dinner party from hell, fear not: help is at hand. In Rules for Modern Life, Sir David Tang, resident agony uncle at the Financial Times, delivers a satirical masterclass in navigating the social niceties of modern life. Whether you're unsure of the etiquette of doggy bags or wondering whether a massage room in your second home would be de trop, Sir David has the answer to all your social anxieties - and much more besides.

In Granny's day there were few labour-saving devices or fancy cleaning products. So when it comes to getting stains out of the carpet or keeping her laundry sparkling white, she still prefers tried-and-tested techniques handed down through the generations. Many people nowadays would prefer to use natural, traditional cleaning methods, rather than chemicals that can be harmful to our health and the environment. So why not follow in Granny's footsteps and try her effective, green and surprisingly simple household hints? Learn how to keep your home spotless using common ingredients found in your kitchen cupboard, like lemon juice or bicarbonate of soda. You'll be helping the planet and your wallet too ... Granny would be proud!

The definitive guide on how to prepare for any crisis--from global financial collapse to a pandemic
It would only take one unthinkable event to disrupt our way of life. If there is a terrorist attack, a global pandemic, or sharp currency devaluation--you may be forced to fend for yourself in ways you've never imagined. Where would you get water? How would you communicate with relatives who live in other states? What would you use for fuel?
Survivalist expert James Wesley, Rawles, author of "Patriots" and editor of SurvivalBlog.com, shares the essential tools and skills you will need for you family to survive, including:
Water: Filtration, transport, storage, and treatment options.
Food Storage: How much to store, pack-it-yourself methods, storage space and rotation, countering vermin.
Fuel and Home Power: Home heating fuels, fuel storage safety, backup generators.
Garden, Orchard Trees, and Small Livestock: Gardening basics, non-hybrid seeds, greenhouses; choosing the right livestock.
Medical Supplies and Training: Building a first aid kit, minor surgery, chronic health issues.
Communications: Following international news, staying in touch with loved ones.
Home Security: Your panic room, self-defense training and tools.
When to Get Outta Dodge: Vehicle selection, kit packing lists, routes and planning.
Investing and Barter: Tangibles investing, building your barter stockpile. And much more.
"How to Survive the End of the World as We Know It" is a must-have for every well-prepared family.

Find clarity on everyday green-living dilemmas to maximise your sustainability Are paper bags always more environmentally friendly than plastic? How much better for the planet are electric cars? What saves more water - using the dishwasher or washing up by hand? We all want to do the right thing for the planet, but with so many factors at play it can be difficult to work out which is the greenest way. With answers to the everyday green-living questions, Is it really green? cuts through the confusion and gives you the facts. Inside the pages of this book about eco-friendly living, you'll discover: - Answers to more than 140 everyday green-living questions - Advice on making all aspects of your home green like your kitchen, bathroom and wardrobe - How to shop sustainably - The big issues surrounding the climate crisis and what you can do about it - Practical advice on living green everyday including transport and travel as well as managing family and relationships Get to the heart of each eco-conundrum, interrogate your instincts, and make informed decisions to reduce your ecological footprint. Combat Everyday Eco-Dilemmas This book sheds light on the consequences of our everyday decisions and helps you feel empowered to do what you can to make a positive impact on the future of our planet. Whether it's choosing a vegan lifestyle, taking steps towards zero-waste living, or cutting down on travel, every small adjustment to the way we live counts. The book itself has also been made as sustainably as possible, using recycled paper and locally based printers to reduce air miles. It is the perfect gift for the environmentally conscious.

The original Japanese edition of The Art of Discarding, titled Suteru! Gijutsu, was published in 2000 and became an overnight sensation - selling a million copies in six months and inspiring a young Marie Kondo. The book has since become a multimillion-copy international bestseller, but it has never been translated into English, until now. In this guide to living a calmer, more ordered life, renowned author Nagisa Tatsumi teaches us how letting go of unwanted things will transform our day-to-day happiness. The book offers practical advice and techniques to help readers learn to let go of stuff that is holding them back, as well as tips for acquiring less in the first place. It's time to live with less.

Cut the clutter, live better with less, give yourself headspace, and enjoy life more. Create Space shows you how to turn chaos into calm and discover the health and wellbeing benefits of living in an organised home. Dilly Carter from BBC One's Sort Your Life Out, is here to provide you all the tips and tricks to declutter your mind and home. Inside the pages of this informative, minimalism book, you'll discover: - A room-by-room guide to organising your home - Step-by-step guides and quick tips for simple sorting and storage solutions - A fresh, relatable take on the link between mental wellbeing and decluttering - The author and founder of Declutter Dollies, Dilly Carter's inspirational personal story A master class in detoxing your home Packed with practical solutions, advice and techniques, this book will teach you how to declutter your home, simplify your living space, and find a more organised and peaceful life. Explore step-by-step methods that you can adapt and sustain for your own needs so you can live better with less. Discover the connection between outer order and inner calm in this self-help book. By clearing out your home, you can also clear your mind, improve your relationships, and enhance your wellbeing. When you stop allowing your life to revolve around mess and clutter, you instantly gain energy to focus on the things that matter. Get Ready to Reclaim Your Space, Your Time, and Your Mind Today! It's never too late to reorganise your home into a place of sanctuary. This book will give you the motivation to get rid of your mental and physical clutter, and will help you to get back on track in all areas of your life. Hailed as "London's Marie Kondo", Dilly Carter from Declutter Dollies offers a refreshing book that's perfect for any interior design lover, or homemaker.

Unleash your creativity to design a home you love - a space that is distinctly yours and works in perfect harmony with your lifestyle. Author Lizzie McGraw, the founder of interiors boutique Tumbleweed & Dandelion, has had the honour of designing many different styles of home for all kinds of people. She understands that, when designing a space, one should thoroughly understand the lives of its inhabitants. The creative process is fun and adventurous, though it takes patience, imagination and self-awareness to transform your home into your sanctuary. In Creative Style, Lizzie begins with the basics - textiles, furniture and accessories - and then opens the doors to 12 of her inspiring interiors projects. They include her own 1920s cottage in California, which she has lovingly restored and furnished with flea-market finds and upcycled vintage pieces. This once-neglected building is now light, airy and full of character - a testament to the power of creativity.

A concise guide to managing your digital life. Today, we collect and store an ever-increasing volume of digital personal information on convenient portable devices and create substantial amounts of personal textual and visual digital information on their personal computers. We have become accustomed to using a variety of tools that involve interactive social activities. Because of social media, there is a large amount of user-generated content related to all aspects of our lives and there is no way for creators to save it all and invaluable content ranging from personal notes to photos to medical information may be lost. Because we may lose so much information, it is helpful to find out as much as we can about how we can manage our personal digital information. This book is a primer to preventing that loss. Here is an introduction to Personal Information Management (PIM) intended for a lay audience. The basic premise is that everyone needs to manage their digital information. This book introduces readers to the kinds of tools people most commonly use today. It will also consider the pros and cons of each of these tools. This book cover he concepts associated with preserving and managing personal digital information. Visual and textual examples illustrate how to use best practices to ensure the longevity of information, while considering current solutions to the problems associated with personal information loss. The book is a detailed guide to the steps involved in managing information and images of all kinds: Receiving Generating Keeping Using Organizing Re-finding Sharing. Most of us don't know how to prevent information loss; this book introduces tools that will ensure the longevity of our digital lives.

Be happier, healthier and more empowered with Michelle Ogundehin’s step-by-step practical guide to creating a home that supports your well-being.

Whether that home is owned or rented, small or large, and regardless of how much money you have, Happy Inside shows you how to harness its potential in pursuit of becoming your best self. If you want to feel calm, content, soothed or energized, you must begin with what surrounds you.

This comprehensive guide covers everything from how to create more light and space to how to get a good night’s sleep; the path to a perfect sofa and why a dining table is your most vital piece of furniture. Plus, how to decorate to promote joy; the importance of play (and circular side tables); your definitive capsule kitchen kit; and why your hallway is where it all starts. Combining Michelle’s knowledge of Buddhist philosophy, mindfulness, colour psychology and good design, Happy Inside is your one-stop guide to living well.

Welcome to the healthy home revolution!

The Green Granny is the modern day Mrs Beeton, a real-life domestic goddess with more than just a few delicious recipes tucked up her sleeves! Brought up during rationing, she is armed with a whole host of practical life skills for modern-day living, like how to shop effectively, throw away less, cook once to eat twice, sew on buttons, darn holes, clean naturally, and all while caring for the environment. This is a treasure trove of wisdom and lost practical skills from the 'make do and mend' era. For families who want to do more for less, anyone about to branch out on their own, or just if you are sick of waste around the house, this practical survival guide will help with all the demands that running a home presents. With all the economic doom and gloom in the news, there has never been a better time to learn to tighten your belt and start saving money, time and the planet.

This title offers almost 3,000 time and money-saving tips, shortcuts, and quick fixes from the 'First Lady' of household hints. Whether it's unclogging drains with dryer sheets, raising the best tomatoes - with the help of panty-hose - or sharing hundreds of ways to make doing laundry better, cheaper, and faster, Heloise has the answer. More relevant than ever when time and money are tight, these shortcuts and solutions for cleaning up, entertaining with ease, making repairs, getting organized, and coping with nuisances guarantee a hassle-free home. Beloved by millions of readers around the world, Heloise's down-to-earth tips have been the backbone of the Hints from Heloise brand for more than 50 years. In Heloise's first new book in more than five years, she offers thousands of no-nonsense solutions that address: the worst (and best) day to do laundry; how to clean up a broken compact fluorescent light bulb; dusting baseboards without bending; and, deterring kitchen pests with crushed peppermint candies.

The name Heloise is synonymous with household hints. Today, more than 40 years after the original Heloise began her newspaper column, her daughter has carried on the tradition for dispensing reliable and practical advice, garnering a whole new generation of fans.

Now for the first time, Heloise's hints for getting and staying organized have been assembled in one easy-to-read volume.

From shopping and home bookeeping to travel and entertaining, Heloise covers every aspect of a busy lifestyle to give her readers the kind of guidance that millions of fans have come to expect.

With 23 years of publishing this guide under their belts, South African Decor & Design 2020 are equally proud of all that has been and excited about all that is still to come. The Guide has grown progressively over the years with the recent launch of their new website, the establishment of their digital platforms, and the ever-popular blog ‘Marcia Loves It’ collectively facilitating positive change through innovation and creativity. Once again they have compiled a remarkable directory of over 3000 key industry players, home décor specialists, interior designers, architects and lifestyle brands.

The Guide continues to facilitate networks between industry players and provide inspiration and valuable information to all their readers. As well as offering the latest trend inspiration, newest product collections and optimal brands, they also strive to be at the forefront of international exhibitions, events and shows, while embracing the rise of the social and digital spheres.

The choice of cover this year was inspired by all that is good about living in South Africa. We so often forget about the beauty of the country and are so inundated daily by all the negatives that go with living here that they wanted to create a shout out for all the reasons why we do live here. Credit goes to photographer extraordinaire DOOK for creating that exact image to portray their theme.

COMPETITION: When buying this book, inside you'll find details on how to enter and stand the chance to win a furniture makeover worth R 50,000.00.