Times are tough. With the economy the way it’s been people are spending cautiously. I hear on the radio every week that unemployment rates in my state are on the rise. I know a lot of people that looked into mortgage refinancing, just to save any money they could. For those that don’t know, mortgage refinancing allows you to pay off one mortgage in order to create a new one, as well as combine two mortgages into one. Sometimes people combine other bills into their new mortgage, to cut down on monthly spending. The oddest thing I ever heard of someone adding in was a minivan. Have you ever refinanced a mortgage? Did it help you?

I recently took a trip to Florida. I spent one night in the Boardwalk resort, which is a resort with an old fashioned seaside resort style. The room managed to make everything look like it was from the period without using antiques. The sofabed was really modern furniture, it unfolded in a way I’d never seen before and the pillow stowed away within the frame. I liked the color of the décor, all tones from the sand and sea. This is one of my Mom’s favorite resorts, because she can go right into two of the parks directly. I liked the appearance but think I would have enjoyed it a bit more in warmer weather, as the wind was really whipping off of the water.

I’ve heard of heated floors but I’d never heard of heated doormats until recently. Did you know that there are doormats that have a heated electrical element built in that will help keep your porch safer? A mat like this one says it will melt two inches of snow in under an hour. That would cut down the time you spend shoveling snow and preventing ice from forming. I’d love to know if it works well. If you have one please leave a comment and let me knowhow you like it.

Digital cameras have become increasingly popular and highly affordable. You don’t have to be a photographer to use one, they’re also pretty user friendly. Something some people don’t think of using the camera for is for the home. If you’ve ever seen a look you really liked you know that you try to keep it in your head until you can adapt it to use in your own home. Forget remembering, we’re human and our memories aren’t always clear. Just take a picture and you’ll have every detail. Then when you’re ready to design you’ll have a picture of your inspiration to work from.

Need an affordable and stylish storage option in your kitchen? Maybe in another room? Consider a bakers rack. I got one at Target a couple of years ago for the kitchen and love it. I love it so much, in fact, that I got a second one for the living room that is part of my work area. I also picked up a second smaller one for the dining room. My husband calls them bread racks, and teases me that one day he’s going to just fill them all with bread to shock me.