February 1993

EDITOR'S LETTER

During the recent presidential election campaign, we heard a lot about family values and family issues from both sides of the political fence. Now that we have a new president and new Congress, the time has come to see how our newly elected officials will act on their promises.

Glorious Color

Blossoms are just a bonus when you consider the year-round rewards of landscaping with flowering shrubs. Spotlighted alone or combined with other plantings, these dependable bloomers will brighten the bare spots in your yard without demanding the care that many flowers do. Look beyond the blooms and you'll see how effectively shrubs soften foundations and screen lot lines. After their brilliant opening acts, many shrubs offer autumn encores of colorful foliage or berries. This spring, consider planting one of our favorite flowering shrubs.

NEW WAYS TO LEARN

Checked out your child's elementary classroom lately? If not, get ready for an eye-opener. Students don't sit passively at their desks anymore. They dart around, ask questions, and work in groups-- sometimes with children several years their junior or senior.

FAMILY FORUM

You, the readers of Better Homes and Gardens, are the voices for mainstream American families. Answer the questions on these pages, and I promise you that we'll make your voices heard by our new president and Congress. And, watch for Family Forum in the months to come for more chances to tell our leaders in government and business what you want for your families.

HELPING YOUR CHILDREN SURVIVE DIVORCE

Divorce is an unsettling experience for a child. Even under the best of circumstances, your kids are bound to get caught in the middle of disputes between you and your former partner.

POST-EXERCISE BREAST MILK

STOMACH OF STEEL

Welcome to the battle of the bulging stomach-- that post-holiday, beginning-of-the-year contest to gain control over your girth.

HIGH-TECH TRAINING

RISKY BUSINESS

A HANDY FITNESS TOOL

PICKING A HEALTH CLUB

Ten million Americans have already joined a health club in the 1990s, and 50 million more will join. How many will stay in a health club for longer than the trial membership? That depends on how much time these folks spend choosing the right club.

Tradition with a twist

a '90S house with colonial ties... Few housing styles have stood the test of time as well as the New England colonial, and it's easy to see why. This new home near Boston couples bright, airy interior spaces with an honest elegance that comes down to us from our eighteenth-century forebears: clean lines, classically proportioned gables, and the quiet symmetry of twin bays and a columned entry.

Sun -splashed baths

You're not a generic person. So why put up with a generic bath? Here are three sun-welcoming bathrooms just brimming with character. In each case the colors, textures, and materials evoke delightfully different personal moods.

Uptown Country decorating

Happy news from the country! Decorating just got easier. The idea: Pare down, simplify, relax. Do what this smart-ened-up country scheme does-- start with solid basics. Like a navy blazer, a striped wing chair walks into an uptown or down-home gathering with equal ease. Ditto for Shaker wood pieces: well-cut and well-bred, they're at home anywhere. Sound inviting? Turn the page for more ways to ease up.

QUICK-FIX HOME FACELIFTS

Give your home a new look with an exterior facelift. Here are two examples with dozens of good ideas, large and small, that can make your home look better without extensive remodeling or high costs. In the first example, small, clever details transform a "sawed-off" tract home. The second example gracefully blends an old ranch-style home into its tree-shaded surroundings.

DECORATE TO SAVE MONEY AND TIME

Go ahead with your decorating dreams even if you're low on money and time. For creative, low-cost, timesaving decorating solutions, think revive rather than redo.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Our seal assures you that every recipe has been tested in the Better Homes and Gardens Test Kitchen. This means that each recipe is practical and reliable, and meets our high standards of taste appeal.

7 MONEY-SAVING CAR MAINTENANCE TIPS

Tools: Funnel, clean rag Time: 5 minutes, weekly Materials: Quart of oil as specified by your owner's manual

DISNEY Hotels

Going to Disney World and wondering where to stay? Our insider's guide unlocks the secrets of Disney's 12 resorts. We'll show you where to hang your mouse ears if you long to lie on a white sand beach, want a special program for the kids, desire a quiet getaway, or need to be kind to your wallet.

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 world may be moving toward a service economy, but Aunt Opal called last week to report that her neighborhood laundromat, the nearby service station, and the shopping-center supermarket are increasingly "do-it-yourself!"