November 1994

Between friends

For Families Las Vegas

Parents pushing strollers, joined by grade-schoolers clutching Mommy's and Daddy's hands, gather round a domed ceiling in the MGM Grand hotel to watch clips from The Wizard of Oz. Thunder booms. The sunny Kansas sky turns black, and a cyclone whisks away Dorothy and Toto on the ride of their lives.

Teaching Children Manners

DO YOUR KIDS NEED A CRASH COURSE BEFORE THE HOLIDAYS?

Violent Hallways

One student doesn't like the way another looks at him. A girl is bumped in the hallway between classes. A classmate finds another student's T-shirt offensive. You may remember situations like these from your school days.

Help for Tired Eyes

Shed more light on your rooms when your eyesight starts to fade. Beginning at about age 40, eyes have a tougher time focusing on close-up tasks, adapting to sudden changes in light intensity, and tolerating glare, says University of Minnesota lighting specialist Dee Ginthner.

Cut Your Medical Bills Now!

SIX SAVVY STRATEGIES TO SAVE UP TO 50 PERCENT

Fat Clogs a Natural Weapon

Looks Great--But is it Safe?

The last number you want to dial during the holidays is 911. But if the cook isn't careful, someone could get sick enough to need a doctor. To keep your holiday feast carefree, follow these food safety precautions.

Giving from the Heart

Each holiday gift you order will help us help homeless families through the efforts of The Better Homes Fund. Most of the products on pages 77 and 78 were handcrafted by homeless people, working through organizations dedicated to helping them earn money and get back on their feet. To order these items, call toll free at 800/962-4676, or use the coupon on page 78. Also see page 78 for information about ordering a free catalog featuring even more products created by homeless families. On page 80, you'll find information on how to order beautiful miniature roses.

Nature's garden

With frost on the pumpkin and turkey roasting in the oven, November seems a strange time to think about bird-song carried on warm spring breezes and fledglings trying their wings for a first flight. But these late autumn days are the perfect time to add a birdhouse-building project to your winter to-do list.

Gardens of the world

You don't need a passport to visit gardens from faraway places. You just need to plan a tour of the World Showcase at Walt Disney World's Epcot. This spring, the 11 countries of Epcot '95 will burst to life in a showstopping garden celebration. To inspire you to plant your own international gardens, we've gathered our favorite container gardens from the 1994 festival last spring.

Make your home your own

No one but Lori Morris herself could have designed her family's relaxing digs in Pagosa Springs, Colorado. She knew exactly the kind of casual, durable, and comfortable attitude she wanted. And, boy howdy, did she succeed with a rancho getaway for her husband, Michael Greene; their children, Sage and Winston; and herself.

We gather together

Even if Thanksgiving had never been created, we'd no doubt find reason to gather family and friends in our homes at this time of year. What better excuse than autumn's chill to feast or lounge before the fire on a cold evening, to chat over coffee in a snug kitchen on a brisk morning, or to settle back with tea for a leisurely visit on a rainy afternoon? Come share some of our favorite settings. They're filled with decorating ideas to help you set the scene for your own cozy gatherings as the temperatures fall.

Gifts from the heart

Holiday cookies, warm hugs and kisses, a brand-new bike-- gifts from the heart can be expressed in so many ways. For crafters, this special expression comes in the giving of something handmade and one of a kind. Let one of these ideas inspire you.

Tips on Room Arranging

Certain rooms exude natural grace and a feeling of comfort. Their inviting arrangements draw us in, coaxing us to stay awhile. Such rooms spring from timeless decorating principles that have long guided room-shapers. For gracious rooms of your own, take these rules to heart and home.

Naturally Luxurious Bath

Look beyond this bath's handsome facade and you're sure to glean some big ideas for remodeling your small master bathroom.

A Low-Cost Kitchen With Sleek Styling

You can create a dramatic upscale kitchen without breaking the bank. Here's how Anthony and Janine Pagano did it.

A Backyard Home for Birds

A Graceful Colonial

Who says a new house can't have the character of old? This well-detailed Williamsburg-style colonial offers the charm of an earlier era thanks to its distinctive front porch, graceful arches, and dormer windows. This brick-clad beauty opens to a free-flowing floor plan with three bedrooms, a large and sunny living room, a spacious kitchen, and a sunroom ideal for sipping iced tea on a summer night. High ceilings and French doors punctuate the main living spaces. The master suite features a window alcove, access to the porch, and an oversize bath with a garden tub. A 1,000-square-foot attic expansion space allows this home to grow with your family.

Save a Tree: Build Green

Until recently, homeowners hoping to purchase environmentally sensitive building materials faced a frustrating search.

Dates to Remember

Eaten out of hand or snipped into your favorite foods, dates offer sweet little nuggets of fruit flavor. With no fat, cholesterol, or sodium, dates are a healthful snack or ingredient. Plus, dates contain a fair amount of fiber, averaging about 3 grams in 5 dates. Here are a dozen ways to use this chewy fruit.

For the Birds

A FLOCK OF TIPS ON CHOOSING AND RAISING A PET BIRD

Countdown to the holidays with BH&G kids

IT'S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR. FAMILIES COZY UP TOGETHER INSIDE THEIR HOMES AND SHARE TRADITIONS THAT HAVE BEEN PASSED DOWN THROUGH GENERATIONS. CREATE SOME NEW TRADITIONS AS YOU CELEBRATE THE SEASON WITH THE BH&G KIDS ACTIVITIES WE'VE PLANNED JUST FOR YOU. HAPPY HOLIDAYS.

Rocking Horse

Auto update

Chrysler is building again on its new LH design, already a hit with the Neon, Concorde, and other models. The sprightly Cirrus is aimed squarely at young families and singles who fancy a compact-to-midsize sedan and expect the handling ease and attention to detail once considered the exclusive territory of the imports.

The Shopper's Mart

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

The man next door

Hardware store owner Dale Goebel, who found himself seriously overstocked with leaf rakes and pruning shears this fall, has reluctantly conceded drat the wholesaler obviously is a better salesperson than he is.