February 1996

between friends

Instant headboards

Smart ideas like these go straight to the head of a classy bed. Mounted to the bed frame or self-standing, all four headboard styles get high marks for their stylish use of readymade fencing and trellises.

Hearts & crafts

A passion for charms and pretty notions puts frill to these five sweet gifts. Kissed with romance, they'll woo your heart, captivate your hands, and delight the ones you love.

Embroidered Everlastings

Candlestick Compositions

Cutting Back on TV

WHENEVER THEY SEEMED LACKING FOR SOMETHING TO DO, THE TELEVISION WAS TURNED ON. AND THERE THEY SAT. AND STARED.

Advice for Busy Parents

Bee-utiful Candles

Breast Cancer

One in nine. This ominous statistic haunts women with a foreboding promise-- one in nine of you, your friends, or family members will develop breast cancer sometime during your lives. No other cancer comes close to this statistic. Granted, this number reflects total, lifelong risk, not a woman's day-to-day risk, but the threat remains very real.

You Can Stifle a Side Ache

Jump into Shape

Active Lifestyles Can Lower Risk of Colon Cancer

Going Up Can Get You Down

Striking a Balance

No, your sofa's end tables don't have to be a perfect match. But you should create a graceful balancing act. Here's how.

TEST garden TIP

EDITOR'S CHOICE

Looking Good

FOUR-SEASON BOUQUETS

The 4 season garden

Any day now, you might see Phyllis Cole hip-deep in the Massachusetts snow, her cold nose buried in fragrant witch hazel blossoms or her arms encircling a lichen-coated black locust in a breathy bear hug. For Phyllis, as you can see, not only loves her garden, she appreciates it-- endlessly-- every day of the year. And her garden rewards her throughout all four seasons. Spring, summer, fall, and winter, there is color. Here's how she does it.

A Suite for the Kids

You won't find signs of an empty nest at Karen and Rodney Gilbert's vacation retreat, even though their children are grown. In fact, you'll probably find the place buzzing with family activity.

Designer tricks of the trade

Pssst! Want to know a secret? A trade secret, that is? Like any of us with rooms to fill, interior designers are always on the lookout for stylish shortcuts and budget-happy decorating solutions. In fact, when we asked some of our favorite top designers what they would do to get the most design impact for the fewest decorating dollars, it was difficult to narrow down the ideas that spewed forth.

All the Comforts of Home

Home improvement contest

Here's another batch of winners from our 1994 Better Homes and Gardens magazine and NAHB Remodelors Council Home Improvement Contest. We featured three top winners in our November issue.

Keeping room kitchens

Revived from the colonial era, the keeping room is back. Originally a combination sitting/eating/cooking space, the keeping room was the only room sure to have a fireplace. The family gathered here not only to eat meals prepared at the hearth, but also to keep warm.

A Marble-ous Master Bath

Room Arranging Dos and Don'ts

Nutrition information

With each recipe, we give important nutrition facts. You'll find the calorie count of each serving and the amount, in grams, of fat, saturated fat, cholesterol, sodium, carbohydrate, fiber, and protein. You can also check the levels of each recipe serving for vitamins A and C, calcium, and iron.

Really Con Queso

Mexican food is hot, and we're not just talking jalapeños. Aficionados of authentic south-of-the-border flavor long for true Mexican cheeses to create the dream dishes they've read about or tasted on the road. The good news is that a growing number of American-made Mexican cheese is available in supermarkets this side of the customs booth.

Quick Fixes For Mixes

Baby Those Buttons

Parmesan: The Grate One

Snow Fun!

Have you ever noticed that some people get grumpy when it snows? Usually, it's the grown-ups. But in some places, even the adults hold a childlike enthusiasm for each snowfall. Minnesota is one of those places. With its long winters and many snows, people of all ages find ways to celebrate every flake. Take a cue from the Minnesotans. When it snows, have fun.

DO YOU KNOW?

GETTING INTO HOT WATER

When your water heater goes belly-up, it's crisis time and you won't likely focus on environmental complexities. You'll just want to know the easiest, cheapest choice so you can get back to showering, dishes, and laundry.

RAY GUN VS. LEAD PAINT

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

Grandpa Hillis says he's at the "A&P" stage of life-- aches and pains. For the past few months, the exercise bicycle in our bedroom has been used as a coatrack, prompting Christine to say that a new treadmill "would be a lot more fun not to use."