If you have been assigned to bring a dish to Thanksgiving dinner, or are even hosting the whole thing, check out this humorous flowchart courtesy of Chow. Who doesn’t love “The ancient marshmallow yams of sorrow”?!

Image courtesy of Chow.

Help this blogger out!

Last night, I had an unexpected visitor of the rodent variety. Unbeknownst to me, a mouse was running around my dining room floor, scurrying into the kitchen upon being noticed. After taking a moment to compose myself, I decided to figure out how to deal with this problem — sadly not uncommon in older apartments and houses, especially as the weather gets colder.

Although I want to rid myself of my mousy friend, I’d rather try some green repellent solutions first before resorting to poison and traps and dealing with mouse corpses.

I started by scrubbing the kitchen down (you could eat off my floor now!) and throwing out my store of paper and plastic bags — less places for the little critter to hide.

Today, after some Internet research, I purchased some Fresh Cab, the only EPA-approved botanical rodent solution (it smells like a Christmas tree!), as well as some devices you plug in that emit a high-pitched noise mice hate (humans can’t hear it).

I’ve also heard a lot about using peppermint essential oil as a mouse repellent; apparently mice can’t stand the smell, but it’s pleasant to people. There are recommendations of using peppermint to keep the rodents away, either by soaking cotton balls in the oil and placing it around your home, or mixing up a solution in a spray bottle of water and peppermint oil and spraying it wherever mice might be.

I hope my mouse will disappear (and my home will smell pleasantly minty), but what else should I be doing? What are some other green tips to drive the mice away without having to trap and dispose of them? Should I replace my lidless trash can under the sink with a lidded one? Does Borax work as a mouse repellent? Would anyone like to lend me a cat or a barn owl? Leave a suggestion in the comments!

Image courtesy of Brian_Kellet on Flickr

We often share videos from Lou Manfredini’s HouseSmartsTV program here on MLuxe. They’re chock-full of great tips and advice for home improvement, household products, working through a remodeling process, and more.

Occasionally, viewers write in to HouseSmarts and have Lou help them with their questions and problems. In this installment of “Ask Lou,” viewers ask about termites, a squeaky dryer and backed-up drains. A little something for everyone!

Be sure to check out the HouseSmartsTV YouTube channel and future MLuxe posts for more tips from Lou.

We have spent the past 2, maybe 3, years hearing about the collapse of the housing market. Every day we hear about the bad numbers in the market, high unemployment and just general bad news about our economy.

Well, I would like to offer some advice: Stop watching the news, reading the newspaper and going on the Web (except for this blog). We have become too focused on the daily changes in everything in our lives. Remember when we thought getting a fax was really fast? Now it’s an email to our smartphones.

The key to success in everything is long-term commitment. Whether it’s your career, your relationships or even your home. (See how I brought that back to housing?)

Seriously, while so much of the news is bad, there are still positives to pull from. The three sectors in our world that we will all need forever are food, clothing and shelter. Your home is your shelter, and yes, it has lost value and if you have to sell, that will have a direct effect as to the amount of money you get to keep. But when you go to buy your next house, that one will have lost value, too, so in essence we are trading dollars.

That means that keeping your home up to date has never been more important. You will see stories about how kitchens and bathroom updates or remodels do not retain as much value as they did in the past. Bully! I would argue that the numbers they reported 5-7 years ago about the worth were inflated, just like property values.

Update your kitchen, your bathroom, your windows. Finish your basement. Your home will be worth more, and you will enjoy living there more, as well. In particular, if you plan on staying in your home for the next five years, investing in the overall look and feel of your home is a great place to put your money. No stock broker needed!

Many cultures consider hospitality to be a sacred obligation. We all want to treat our guests well, but sometimes things fall through the cracks. It’s especially difficult when you have guests staying overnight or longer.

The ever-helpful House Beautiful offers some tips about “What Your Houseguests Won’t Tell You” that are awesome. Check them out, and here are some more from us.

If there’s anything about your bathroom that your guests need to know, just tell them. There’s no need to be delicate. If you have a septic system that doesn’t allow most things to be flushed, let your guests know. Put up small signs in the bathroom as well — it’s always helpful to have a reminder. Likewise, if the handle needs to be held down until the toilet is done flushing, the bathroom door knob needs to be jiggled to the left to lock, or the shower needs to run for a minute before there’s any kind of water pressure, don’t leave your guests guessing.

Sleep in your guestroom! You can do this when your room is being painted, but you should spend a night in there every so often — at least every six months and preferably quarterly. How else are you to know that the box spring squeaks when you turn over, or the bar on the sofa bed digs into your back, or that the radiator goes crazy at midnight and heats the room to 90 degrees? Don’t depend on your guests telling you; they’ll probably be too polite.

Ask about dietary needs. Providing meals for a vegetarian or someone with a gluten allergy might seem daunting at first, but most people want to help you out with food shopping and prep. And of course, you as a good host don’t want your guests to be hungry. Nothing ruins a visit faster than growling stomachs!

What are your tips for being a good host and making your guests comfortable?

As summer is winding down, it’s time to start preparing for the fall and winter. One aspect you should focus on is how safe your home is. Small steps can pay big dividends. Here are some suggestions.

Have the right detectors in your home: We all know we should have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in our homes. What you may not know is that those units should be cleaned with a vacuum every month and replaced every 6-7 years. You should have one unit on every floor of living space in your home. And you should install an explosive-gas detector in the space where your mechanical systems live.

Door locks: Seems simple, but these can be easily opened using a trick called bumping where a special key and a well-placed bump can unlock a door. Look for door locks that have “anti-bump pins” to take away this threat. Consider upgrading to electronic keypad locks to remove the need for keys all together. It’s a great addition if you have children who must come home on their own and are prone to losing their keys. (Oh, wait, those are our kids.)

Security system and security cameras: If you have a security system, start using it. There is a statistic that says less than 50 percent of homes with systems get use those systems on a regular basis. Make sure doors have contacts and that windows are either contacted or there are motion sensors that can see movement. As far as cameras, go you can purchase Internet cameras that work off of your wireless network and allow you to see who is coming and going from your computer or even your smartphone. Those systems start at around $300.

Finally, a safe: You do not need to own the Pink Panther diamond to be in need of a safe in your home. A fire-proof and water-proof safe is a wise investment to hold important documents, passports, extra cash and, yes, jewelry. Just make sure it’s heavy enough and you have it bolted to the floor.

[photo]

Over at Apartment Therapy, they are talking about housewarming gifts. What a great topic! Whether you are renting or buying, moving is a big deal, and a few thoughtful gifts from friends can make the new place seem like home right away.

Apartment Therapy suggests the following as housewarming gift ideas: custom moving announcements, first aid kits, a (small) painting or photo, magazine subscription, return address stamps, Real Simple’s The Organized Home book, a ladder and cleaning supplies.

We also suggest:

• The book Home Comforts–you will never wonder how to clean anything again.
• A funky throw pillow–a new pillow can brighten up a room and it can go almost anywhere.
• A gift card to their favorite home store, whether that is the local home superstore or the hand-dipped candle store down the street.
• An offer to take them out to a neighborhood restaurant. This is especially appropriate if they have moved to a new ‘hood and are eager to try things out.
• A bottle of wine to savor at a later time–Champagne to celebrate perhaps?

Think about the way you inhabit your home. Sometimes, it can be messy.

Are you tidy and organized? Do you designate a place for everything? Do you take pleasure in perfectly parallel vacuum lines and the ability to see your reflection shine off your hardwood floors?

Or, more likely, are you a bit on the messy side? Kids, work, pets, life – keeping your home clean is a constant battle. But what does a messy home really say about you?

This was the topic of two recent posts on ShelterPop. The first explored the meaning of messes while the second factored the location of the messes. More importantly, each prescribed manageable ways of keeping spaces clear with a busy, on-the-go lifestyle in mind. Here’s a few examples:

Mess location: Closets
Chances are you are: Nostalgic — perhaps a bit too much.
Sam Gossling, author of Snoop: What Your Stuff Says About You notes the connection between old items and our ties to their past. If you’ve got an out-of-control closet, it doesn’t mean you’re a pig — chances are, you’re trying to hold on to past events and people through those small mementos.
How to change it: Letting go can be hard. Don’t put pressure on yourself to empty out the closet during a quick cleaning session. Instead, take some time to go through the items and identify what justifies keeping in a special place and what you can part with.

Mess location: The kitchen
Chances are you are: Adventurous
“Messes in this space that are due to things like unusual items…think rarely-used spices…or a cookbook for varying cuisines indicates openness to new experiences.”
What to do about it: Capitalizing on your interest in all things new and exciting is as simple as making sure spices and cookbooks are easily accessible. For the latter, use a step-style spice rack, which ensures that everything you need is in sight and in reach. And why not bring in a small bookshelf to store your culinary guides?

Mess location: The living room
Chances are you are: Tense
“Cluttered spaces…generate tension for humans because our eyes continually review our environment. With lots of stuff around, that process becomes more arduous. In addition, since our possessions are extensions of us, lack of care for them could also indicate, potentially, a lack of self respect-but it may also indicate a toddler is present, money is in short supply, or other similar things.”
What to do about it: Since the living room area tends to be the cluster zone for your family, it’s all a matter of finding space to hide the clutter. Utilize decorative storage bins and storage ottomans. Seeing a messy area will induce more stress and tension, so take that extra minute to keep things in allotted places. Then, recover from the visual tension by closing your eyes and listening to music.

[Photo from Flickr]

With all the coming and going in life, it seems no area of the home experiences more tumult than the entryway. Piles of shoes, mussed rugs, various scattered debris — it doesn’t take long for a clean entryway to go awry.

Think about the importance of an organized entryway, how it can be both inviting and functional at once. How can you find calm and refuge when the first few feet inside your home looks like windblown yard sale?

Over at Houzz, Erin Lang Norris offers some tips to bring order to your entryway and — just maybe — your fast-moving life. Here’s some highlights:

• Add a mirror. “Zinging back and forth through the house before leaving for the day will only be increased if there’s not a mirror next to the doorway. I’d suggest keeping it small and above the shoulders, as a larger one may contribute to second guesses and outfit changes.”
• Consider a cubby storage system. “When you think about how many things you lug to and from work, school and extracurricular activities, it only makes sense to have a place to drop everything when you get home for the evening. Bag, shoes, hat, umbrella, water bottle — the list goes on. And if there are sports involved, you’re probably well aware of the difficulties behind keeping everything together. Improve organization by giving everybody his own cubby.”
• Catchall — a space for everything. “A place to ditch things such as your keys, bag and mail can be a huge help. Not only do you have a place to set things when you’re toting an armful of groceries, but you’ll also save time in the morning when everything is in one place.”

What’s your secret to combatting a cluttered entryway?

No matter where you live or what type of home you live in, severe summer storms can quickly put your home out of commission. Being prepared, even just a little bit, is the smart thing to do. Here is a checklist and some advice to make sure Mother Nature doesn’t leave you in a lurch.

Flashlights, batteries and a good old-fashioned, battery-operated radio. This is the most basic of basic needs when the power goes out and the best way to keep informed on what is going on. It’s a good idea to have at least three working flashlights in your home with fresh batteries and a spare set for each one.

Back-up power, another useful asset to have in reserve, comes in many shapes and sizes. Portable, gas-powered generators can keep pumps, refrigerators and some lights going when the power is out. It’s important to buy the right size, place it at least 10 feet away from your home and never in an enclosed area. Also, you’ll need proper-sized extension cords — 12-gauge minimum to power a large appliance like a refrigerator or small AC unit.

These units can range in price from $600-$1,500. Whole-house installed generators are the easiest ways to keep your home running.  These systems kick on automatically and can power most if not all of your home depending on the size of the unit. They typically run on natural or propane gas. They range in price from $4,000-$15,000 installed.

Food and water: It might sound a little apocalyptic, but this is an easy one to do. Keep a six-pack of water for each person in your home. That’s about a two to three day supply and allows you some breathing room. As for food, keep it simple and choose things that can last — again, for a two to three day supply. Granola bars, canned fruit and raisins are just a few examples.

These few steps can keep you prepared and ready, and the best thing that could happen is that you’d never need any of this.

[photo]