BEAUTIFULLY MODERN ~ Singapore A 30-foot-long, red and yellow cloth dragon with dagger-like white teeth blocked our way as my wife, Shirin, and I strolled down Singapore’s famed Orchard Road, a tree-lined boulevard known for its upscale stores and hotels. Drums beat rhythmically as a dozen men maneu

GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICHES WITH OVEN-DRIED TOMATOES INGREDIENTS For the Sandwich • 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, at room temperature • 4 slices good-quality egg bread such as brioche or challah, or white sandwich bread • 2 slices white cheddar cheese, each about 3/4 ounce • 2 slices provolone cheese

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Life is not always what the brochure promises.” ~ Amb Alon Pinkas  AWAKE THE SLEEPING GIANT! So . . . which brochure have you been reading? Maybe it’s the one that promises “clear sailing” or “romantic sunsets” or “excitement guaranteed!” Maybe you’re into the financial broch

QUICK TIPS ON ADDING EASY, ENJOYABLE AND HEALTHY ELEMENTS TO YOUR FAMILY’S MEALS Feeding your family wholesome meals that everyone enjoys can feel like a challenge, especially on busy days. With different food preferences and limited time to cook, it’s easy to fall into meal ruts where you eat the s

New Ceiling Fan Updates Merge Cooling Power with Style When thermostats are turned up to conserve on energy, having air movement can make the stuffiest room seem cooler. One of the most efficient ways to deliver cooling air movement, or circulate the cool air in your home is with a ceiling fan, and

10 WAYS TO SQUEEZE MORE SPACE OUT OF YOUR CLOSET It’s true that you can never have too much storage. Homes with generous closet and drawer space are a dream. But what if your closet is shy on space? With some clever changes you can carve out more storage in your closets. 1. USE THE BACK OF THE DOOR

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “When people are highly motivated, it’s easy to accomplish the impossible. And when they’re not, it’s impossible to accomplish the easy.” ~ Bob Collings (Cited in BITS & PIECES) ASK “WHY?” Beginning in the late ’60s, a revolution of sorts began in this country. It was a revolu

UPDATING YOUR ACRYLIC SHOWER OR TUB ENCLOSURE There’s one holdover that’s common to a lot of bathrooms and that instantly dates your bath: the acrylic shower or tub enclosure. It’s expensive and troublesome to remove this piece. However, updating the enclosure is an easy and inexpensive project for

QUICK TIPS FOR KEEPING UNUSED MEDICINE AWAY FROM CHILDREN AND TEENS Some things in your medicine cabinet are more dangerous than others. When it comes to prescription drugs, opioid pain medicines can be addictive and even deadly. Do you have unused prescription opioids in your home? Keeping unused p

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement. Nothing can be done without hope and confidence.” ~ Helen Keller Breast Cancer Awareness Month in October The Breast Cancer Awareness Month, marked in countries across the world every October, helps to increase attention and su

INVESTORS THWART MANY FIRST-TIME BUYERS Q: Dear Jay, I am a single woman, not independently wealthy but doing pretty well for myself. I live within my means and save religiously; I still owe on my student loan but the debt is not unmanageable. My five-plus years in the same, well-paying job has paid

THE JOURNEY: 5 THINGS RETIREES SHOULD DO WITH THEIR CREDIT Whether or not you’re one of the 147 million consumers affected by the 2017 Equifax data breach—which resulted in a Federal Trade Commission settlement of up to $700 million last week—retirees need to stay vigilant about their credit profile

HOMEOWNERS ARE SITTING ON A RECORD AMOUNT OF CASH, BUT THEY’RE NOT REALLY TAPPING IT The combination of rising home prices and falling mortgage rates has U.S. homeowners sitting on a veritable fortune in home equity. The collective amount of money borrowers could pull out of their homes, while still

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Infinite patience produces immediate results.”  ~ Unknown TIRED OF WAITING? Have you ever wanted something special to happen in your life or desired to attract a person or outcome into your life? Maybe you laid specific plans that should have produced the desired results. May

KENNEDY SPACE CENTER UNVEILS APOLLO 11 ASTRONAUT STATUE, REIMAGINED APOLLO/SATURN V CENTER The Florida summer sun shone down on Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins as media and VIPs gathered for an event at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex’s Apollo/Saturn V Cente

5 TIPS FOR STRESS-FREE OUTDOOR ENTERTAINING Good food, great company and the beauty of the outdoors: Dining al fresco with family or friends is the perfect way to enjoy beautiful weather. For many people, though, the job of outdoor entertaining can feel somewhat intimidating. But it doesn’t have to

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “There is no reality except the one contained within us. That is why so many people live such an unreal life. They take the images outside them for reality and never allow the world within to assert itself.” ~ Hermann Hesse JUST ASK DOROTHY!  You’ve probably seen it a dozen ti

SEATING AND STYLE TO SPARE WITH POUFS When you think of adding accessories to your decor, the usual figurines, boxes or candlesticks might come to mind. But one accent that looks charming and doubles as furniture is the pouf. Sometimes called pouf ottomans, poufs are oversized pillows that sit on th

TIPS FOR CHOOSING AN AREA RUG From rugs that welcome you in the foyer, to a rug under a dining table or bed, area rugs can cover tired carpeting or worn floors, or even define your space. This is especially true for open-concept homes or lofts where the lines of where one room begins and another one

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Riches do not consist in the possession of treasures, but in the use made of them.” ~ Napoleon SEPARATE TRASH FROM TREASURE! Written by Dr. Fred Craddock, the following story was passed along: One of my schoolmates spent many years ministering in China. He was under house arr