INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Strength of numbers is the delight of the timid. The Valiant in spirit glory in fighting alone.” ~ Ghandi COMMITTEE COMFORT! It has been said that “a camel is a horse created by a committee.” You’ve probably witnessed the process yourself. You put any twelve decision-makers in a room together, and they […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.” ~ Goethe BE ALL THAT THEY CAN BE? On a recent A&E Biography segment, Oprah Winfrey was being interviewed. She was asked whether she considered all the competing talk shows to be a threat […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Far better it is to dare mighty things, to win glorious triumphs even though checkered by failure, than to rank with those poor sprits who neither enjoy nor suffer much because they live in the gray twilight that knows neither victory nor defeat.” ~ Theodore Roosevelt BETTER TO ATTEMPT AND FAIL… In […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Take your life in your own hands and what happens? A terrible thing: no one to blame.” ~ Erica Jong BAN THE BLAME! “The dog ate my homework.” Teachers hear that one every week. “Jimmy made me do it!” Parents hear that one often, too. Fast-forward a few years to the college […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Before I built a wall I’d ask to know What I was walling in or walling out.” ~Robert Frost BUILD A WALL OF HAPPINESS! To affect the quality of anything first requires action of some sort. Affecting is the opposite of passivity. In a passive state we can only BE affected, but […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Every conquered temptation represents a new fund of moral energy. Every trial endured and weathered in the right spirit makes a soul nobler and stronger than it was before.” ~ James Buckham  YOU’RE NOT DONE YET!  Ever noticed how great leaders often come from humble beginnings? From the devastating depths of silence […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “The only people to get even with are those who have helped you.” ~ Anonymous KEEP THE BALL ROLLING! Most of us can probably look back over our lives and careers and recall people who have either helped or hindered us along the way. Which group do you think is more worthy […]

INSPIRATION FOR TODAY: “Despair is the price one pays for setting himself an impossible aim.” ~ Graham Greene THE TORTOISE OR THE HARE? This weekly column often encourages you to reach high and focus your energy towards achieving your dreams. What happens when the dream eludes you, or you feel that you’re not measuring up […]

American Confidence in Housing at an All-Time High Fannie Mae just released the July edition of their Home Purchase Sentiment Index (HPSI). The HPSI takes information regarding consumers’ confidence in the real estate market from Fannie Mae’s National Housing Survey and condenses it into a single number. Therefore, the HPSI reflects consumers’ current views and forward-looking expectations of housing market conditions. […]

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 maneuvered the undulating dragon along the broad sidewalk. […]

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, each about 3/4 ounce For the Oven-Dried […]

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 brochures that read “no money down” or […]

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 same thing over and over […]

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 now it […]

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 […]

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 revolution that was irreverent at […]

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 most homeowners. So if the trouble and […]

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 prescription opioids is risky and can result […]

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 support for the awareness, early detection and treatment as […]

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 off in […]