April 1991

THE SOLUTION TO POLLUTION IS IN OUR HANDS

A while back, Tom Jackson, our Environmental Editor, and I were talking about the problem of motivating ourselves and others to recycle.

SENSATIONAL Side yards

When backyard space is at a premium, break new ground and transform your neglected side yard into a cozy garden hideaway. Here's a sampling of side yard strategies that show how easy it is to reclaim forgotten land.

TWO BEDS ARE BETTER THAN ONE

A TIP FROM THE SOUTHWEST

A SNOWY SUMMER AHEAD

DESIGN A DREAM GARDEN

HOME AND FAMILY INFORMATION GUIDE

You can get useful ideas and product information by mail. Use the coupon in this section to order your choice of literature listed below.

THE PATH TO GOOD PARENTING

Overwhelmed by the thousands of books on raising a child, many parents have been spooked into thinking that parenting is a difficult, highly complex job requiring great amounts of intelligence and sacrifice. Actually, raising a child should be a relatively simple matter-- most of the time. Its success depends more on common sense and self-confidence than sacrifice.

STARTING OVER

STARTING OVER Smart strategies for changing careers

GOOD FOOD/GOOD HEALTH

At first, the experts got us all churned up about butter. Now a study questions margarine's role in heart disease risk. Are you in a quandary over which product to choose? This overview may help you decide.

THOROUGHLY MODERN ILLNESSES

Every era in history has had its own special illnesses, maladies triggered not by bacteria or viruses but by the way we live and work. From Elizabethan times until the French Revolution, for example, trendy Europeans whitened their skin with lead paint and died in distressing numbers of lead poisoning.

THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE

THE BENEFITS OF MASSAGE Ancient relief for today's stresses

STYLE STORIES

Forget about function (but only for a minute). Have some fun first!

Living with YESTERDAY'S Treasures and how to get them

You may not have inherited Great Aunt Edna's china cabinet or Grandma Lizzie's armoire, but you can adopt these affordable ways to warm, charm, and comfort your home with vintage designs.

REMODELING WITH AN ARCHITECT

Remodeling your house is like getting fitted for a suit of clothes. Only a skilled tailor can make a suit fit you to a T, and only an experienced architect or architectural designer can create exactly the kind of space you're after. How do you find the right designer for your project, and what do you gain by working with a pro?

DECORATING CONTEST $75,000 IN CASH AND MERCHANDISE PRIZES

If you've turned a beast of a room into a beauty, we'd love to see your decorating work of art. Whether you've finished a complete makeover or facelifted a space, your efforts may be prize-winning material!

MIXING PATTERNS AND PRINTS

Pattern, properly used, adds dash to a room's decorating scheme. The trouble is, many of us feel muddled when choosing, using, and mixing patterns and prints. If you're among the puzzled, follow these pieces of advice.

HOMELESS FAMILIES

Once homeless, the moms on these pages are just a few of the many who have been helped by programs that received grants from The Better Homes Foundation, thanks largely to donations from our readers.

Lighten Up BRIGHT NEW ADDITION FOR A DARK OLD HOUSE

Gaining more room may be the prime reason to add on, but why settle for raw square footage? New space can take years off a dark old house if you use design ploys that open it up to the light.

OH, baby!

Oh, baby, we've got what it takes! From beautiful bibs to bathtime buddies, pull-along fish to cuddly quilts, we'll make that babe in your life giggle, coo, and smile.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

With each recipe, we give nutrition information. We list the calorie count per serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, cholesterol, protein, carbohydrate, fiber, and sodium. We also include the percent of calories from fat.

EARTH-FRIENDLY family

What makes this family so earth-friendly? Simply this: they shop smart, plan carefully, and practice a few easy-to-acquire habits.

BRUSH UP ON GROOMING

How to keep your pet looking and feeling great

BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS GUIDE TO family travel

Plain pools are passe. Swim into your fantasies with waterfalls, lagoons, fountains, twisting slides, and flowing rivers. Here are some of the best places to make a splash.

Shopping editor's choice

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

THE MAN NEXT DOOR

"The truth can sometimes hurt," declares the Rev. George Hall, "especially when filling out your income tax form."