While I am kidding about shaving your dog or cat, I am also a pet lover and know the on going battle of the shedding all too well. The options I have come across are to a. use a lint roller or brush. The Roller, with the sticky disposable sheets can become pricey if you have a lot to pick up, often. The brush works well on curtains, but I have had difficulty with it on horizontal items, but it might just be the one I have, and not all. Then there is the use of a regular sponge when both wet and dry, or a sponge picked up at the pet store that is marketed specifically for this purpose. The sponge has done the best job for me overall, but then I have large dogs whom I have to clean up after daily.

Yes, you guessed it, my passion for décor has been temporarily superseded by my lust for baked goods. Admittedly, when I got the craving for cupcakes, I could have just whipped up a an old standby recipe, but where would the fun it that be? Instead, I have gone for something s’more advanced, ok here I go inserting the play on words…I am making s’more cupcakes. First I would like to defend my choice by saying I already had all the ingredients in my cupboard.

All the Yummy Stuff the Recipe Calls For:

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 cup milk
2 eggs
2 tsps vanilla extract
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup cocoa
3/4 cup crumbled graham cracker
1 bag of regular marshmellows

So you can see, I am justified in at least being pragmatic with the supplies. And did I mention they only need to bake for fifteen minutes? As long as I do not make the ganache and graham cracker topping I should be done with this tangent in under half an hour, or maybe forty-five minutes is more practical. Guess it ultimately depends on how many I ingest upon completion.

I may have the most difficulty explaining the fact that I will end up with sixteen cupcakes. But don’t you worry about that, I’ve got a plan. I am going to give my client at least half of the cupcakes when I give her the update on those Silentnight Mattresses. This could actually be considered a part of my work depending on how one looks at it, as I am “preparing” them for an employer. Would it be too much to say this takes the cake?

However, with 3.4 million people in the UK now working from home[1], the energy and resources needed to run home offices is increasing. In 2008 it was estimated that 15% of household electricity was taken up by computers and gadgets, with this figure set to rise significantly by 2020[2].

Here is a useful guide to how you can cut back on your home office’s carbon footprint.

Switch off electronics

By turning off office equipment at the end of the day, you’ll be making your home office more eco-friendly and cutting the cost of your energy bills. Some computers have power saving settings that can help save energy, such as setting both your hard disk and monitor to switch off after 10 minutes of inactivity.

Recycle paper

By equipping your home office with just one waste bin, it is easy to throw everything in together and forget about recycling. By investing in an organised recycle bin, you’ll soon see how much of what you use can be easily recycled. You could also create a pile of scrap paper that can be re-used, minimising how much paper your office consumes and cutting costs.

Minimise printer waste

By considering whether you really need to print something, you’ll be minimising how much paper and ink you use. Many low cost printers now also feature a duplex option, which allows you print on both sides of a sheet of paper. When your ink cartridges run dry, avoid throwing them in the bin and take them to be recycled.

Cut down on e-waste

When changing or upgrading office electronics, make sure you dispose of your old equipment responsibly. Many electronics (particularly older models) contain hazardous materials and, as a matter of safety, should not be simply thrown away. If your PC is still in good working order, Computer Aid accepts and refurbishes old electronics to be sent to developing countries.

Go online

Request that you receive your statements and bills online, instead of a hardcopy in the post. Many banks and various service providers now offer this option to help cut down on paper waste and reduce the world’s carbon footprint.

[1] My deco, Make your home office green, http://mydeco.com/the-magazine/garden-and-eco/articles/the-guide/making-your-home-office-green/ (2008)

[2] The Sunday Times, Get a green glow in your home office, http://technology.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/tech_and_web/personal_tech/article3209431.ece (2008)

Then, to switch things up bring in layers of soft bed lines and blankets to convert the entire thing into a cozy sleeper. When dressing the bed in preparation for a guest to use it as their private retreat, centralize the pillows against on of the short ends to establish the equivalent of the head of the bed, and thus identifying the other end as the foot. Lay additional blankets at the foot end, and possibly even drape a quilt or structured covering over the arm on the foot side.

But, with things like curtains, pillows, bed linens, and rugs there can be a larger scope of mixing and matching to get your mind wrapped around. Many designers believe in the rule of three, in which you choose three colours to work with in a space. These are then broken down into certain percentages of seventy, twenty and ten.

The notion of working your colour scheme out according to a mathematical equation may be a bit intimidating, but it need not be so. You do not have to be precise, but aim for the three colours in these doses. This will help you to decorate in a way that will do your bedroom furniture justice.

One of the most creative spots is under the desk you work at, if it is concealed. Sure, you will have to crawl under it to get to the items housed there, but if you only store things you need from time to time then it works like a charm. Otherwise, you can hang this soft accessory from a curtain rod nearby. Thus you have constant access, and if maintained properly, a nice decorative piece.

With more than one company offering this service I imagine steep competition within the industry has brought this about, and this you have just got to love. Companies taking measures to stay alive in a world where so many are going under is much appreciated. This makes the day-to-day struggle feel more like one we are enduring together.

The companies indicate that lining of one sort or another is included, along with pleating. Again, I feel as though I should hold my breath until I see the final product myself, but the columnist, Allison Cork has my trust from prior experiences, so I felt compelled to pass on knowledge of such an outstanding offer. So, look into this, I know that I will because window treatments are normally quite expensive.

First, I have since seen first hand the virtues of vintage afghan patterns. The grace of the lagoon pattern, the texture of the sculptured block and the overall selection has captured my interest. Not to mention that so many of the knitting patterns can be acquired for free off the internet. It is a virtual soft textile goldmine.

No matter what your taste, a gorgeous throw flung over the edge of a sofa will appeal to you. In fact, if your colour scheme is out of hand, or gone a bit wonky, then an afghan can tie it all together. For many, the idea of making your own blanket is overwhelming, so a quick purchase will make do. But there is an additional draw to taking up the knitting hobby.

The second, and most compelling reason I found for knitting was that completed projects can be donated to worthwhile causes. The more blankets you can produce, the better for several non-profit organizations. Once you have gotten the hang of it you can pretty much do it while watching television. Think of it as multitasking for a good cause.

As a side note, my stepmother is no longer married to my dad, and for this I am pleased to no end. But, I still feel she deserves a bit of recognition for opening the door to the world of knitting to me. After all, she was the one who told me about the many donation projects in existence. Ultimately, this has led to the creation of over 15 blankets that I have donated, and two blankets that I have showcased in my home. I should also mention that those scarves she forced upon me have also been passed on, so unbeknownst to her, she also helped in the donation process.