June 1990

HAVE YOUR NEXT REUNION ON US

As I hope you've noticed over the last few years, we at Better Homes and Gardens® magazine have been encouraging you to hold family reunions. We've published articles on how to organize a family reunion, as well as several major food features with great recipes for family gatherings and recipes from family reunion cookbooks.

HOME STYLE

Dive right in-- the selection's fine. Pick any of these summertime finds for a splish-splashing good time.

CREATING A PARENT--CENTERED FAMILY

To raise happy kids, make your marriage the centerpiece of the family.

GOOD JOBS WITHOUT COLLEGE

Tracking down the right training after high school can lead to a solid job

CATCHING THE SEAFOOD HABIT

"We should eat more fish, but I never know how to fix it."

FINALLY--'FAKE FAT' FOODS

Can you have your ice cream and eat it too? You can with the new fat substitute, Simplesse. In fact, if other "fake fats" are approved, you could have your cake and potato chips, too.

WATER THE CHILDREN, TOO

TAKING THE HEAT

BLISTER CARE

THE POSTPARTUM PUSH

The battle of the postpregnancy bulge need not be a war story. Here's why:

BORED WITH EXERCISE?

THE AGING MIND

SODA POP AND EXERCISE

ODD SHOE EXCHANGE

NEW THINKING ABOUT HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Millions of Americans are unaware of the dangers of high blood pressure. But even more of us haven't heard about the progress that's been made against this silent, symptomless killer. We asked medical experts for the latest news about high blood pressure-- what doctors call hypertension-- and here's what they told us.

JAVA JIVIN'

THE TOOTH FAIRY LIVES

DON'T TOSS YOUR GLASSES--YET

TRAVELER'S REVENGE

BALLOON SAFETY

THE BREAKFAST OF LOSERS

STOPPING CHILDHOOD DEPRESSION IN ITS TRACKS

Jack is only 12, yet he has something that seems more suited to a grown-up: Depression. Most of us forget about young children when we hear that word. Yet mental-health surveys tell us that one in 50 elementary school children suffers from depression that would benefit from treatment.

TINY URBAN OASIS

THE GIUSTINAS ESCAPE TO THEIR BACKYARD WHEN THEY WANT TO "GET AWAY FROM IT ALL."

UP ON THE ROOF

SERENE HIDEAWAY

IT'S ONLY NATURAL THAT JOY STINGER FINDS REFRESHMENT IN HER BACKYARD. HIDDEN AMONG THE TALL TREES OF HER SUBURBAN ST. LOUIS NEIGHBORHOOD, JOY'S PRIVATE OASIS OFFERS THE SHADE AND SOLITUDE OF AN UNINHABITED FOREST, AND THE COOL, CLEAR WATER OF A WOODLAND POND. COMFORTS THAT ONLY HOME CAN PROVIDE COMPLETE THE SERENE SCENE.

GAZEBOS TO BUILD

Here are five of our most popular gazebo designs that you can build in your own backyard this summer.

NARROW ESCAPE

MOST FOLKS GATHER IN THEIR BACKYARD TO RELAX AND PLAY, BUT CRAMPED CONDITIONS ON A CORNER CITY LOT FORCED NANCY FISKE TO BEND THE RULES FOR HER FAMILY. WITH BORROWED SPACE FROM THEIR SIDE YARD, NANCY AND HER THREE YOUNG CHILDREN NOW ESCAPE TO THEIR SLIM-AND-SLEEK WRAPAROUND RETREAT FOR OUTDOOR FUN IN THE SUMMER.

SWIMMING POOL SAFETY

On a hot summer day every kid loves a refreshing dip in the backyard pool. Unfortunately, in many states, accidental drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children under 5 years of age. If you own a swimming pool, safety should be your primary concern.

WINNING AN UPHILL BATTLE

WARM CALIFORNIA WEATHER CATERS TO YEAR-ROUND OUTDOOR LIVING. "WE, HOWEVER, HAD AN UGLY YARD THAT WE TRIED NOT TO LOOK AT, MUCH LESS VENTURE INTO," SAYS SHARON HAVEN. ONCE A WEED-INFESTED CATCHALL FOR THEIR KIDS' ABANDONED TOYS, THE HAVENS' REDESIGNED SAN DIEGO BACKYARD IS NOW THE HEART OF THEIR HOME, THE CENTER OF FAMILY FUN.

CLASSY COURTYARD

AT YOUR LEISURE

The New and the Notable in Outdoor Furniture

OUTDOOR FURNITURE UPKEEP

PATIO FURNITURE FABRICS

PATCHING THE HOLE IN THE SKY

How to eliminate ozone-damaging chemicals from your home

BUILD YOUR OWN PUTTERING SHED

Escape the crowds at the mall this summer by rediscovering the joys of puttering-- turning scrap wood into a wren house, reviving an old bookshelf with a fresh coat of paint, or separating your day lilies.

WIN A FREE FAMILY-REUNION VACATION NEXT SUMMER!

Enter the BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS® $100,000 Family Reunion Vacation Sweepstakes NOW!

Good News for Gardeners

In a pint-size vegetable garden, interplanting is one of the best ways to maximize yields...

PETER PICKS PEONIES

FINANCIAL PLANNING

6 STEPS TO FINDING THE RIGHT ADVISER FOR YOUR FAMILY

WONDERFUL WATERWAYS

THERE'S SOMETHING WONDROUS ABOUT FLOWING WATER THAT'S UNEQUALED BY ANY OTHER FEATURE OF THE LAND. IT CALMS OUR SPIRIT AND THRILLS OUR HEART AT THE SAME TIME. EVEN AS WE ARE ENCHANTED BY THEIR SPLENDORS, RIVERS OFTEN TAKE US TO PLACES WE COULDN'T REACH OTHERWISE. HERE ARE FIVE RIVERS THAT OFFER IDEAL FAMILY VACATIONS.

1990 HOME IMPROVEMENT CONTEST

We'd love to pin a blue ribbon on your next home improvement project. Whether you're fixing up indoors or out, adding new space or face-lifting the old, your ideas and efforts may rate a top award-- and a feature in our magazine!

Shopping editor's choice

Discover the ease and pleasure of shopping by mail. Order from the convenience of your own home with complete confidence.

HOW TO ORDER

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

The problem these days, grumps Ned Carter, is that good old American know-how has been replaced by good old American know-who.