May 2004

BRING ON SPRING!

BEFORE & AFTER DECORATING

You could win $25,000 CASH!

Magazine subscription help is available online at www.bhg.com/service

1716 LOCUST

May

WASH GRAY SKIES RIGHT OUT OF YOUR HOME WITH SOUTH PACIFIC COLORS AND TEXTURES.

NESTING Instinct

A BULGARIAN ARCHITECT AND AN INCURABLE ROMANTIC TEAM TO CREATE AN UNCOMMON LIFE OFF THE BEATEN PATH IN OREGON.

CULTURAL Crossroads

COMBINING ARTIFACTS COLLECTED FROM ALL OVER THE GLOBE, CORBIN SEITZ TENPAS ACHIEVES WORLD PEACE IN HER MINNEAPOLIS HOME.

FOLLOWING NATURAL ORDER

A LOT OF CALCULATED PLANNING WENT INTO MAKING THIS TEXAS BACKYARD LOOK LIKE IT WAS DESIGNED BY MOTHER NATURE.

Cast Leaves

TAKE CUES FROM NATURE AND CAST SOME OF ITS MOST BEAUTIFUL ELEMENTS IN CONCRETE. MOLD YOUR FAVORITE FOLIAGE IN EIGHT SIMPLE STEPS.

WHAT WOMEN WANT

PRIME MOVER

IN STITCHES

REFLECT ON THIS

PRIZED PRESENTS

LICKETY-SPLIT DECORATING

PLAN A WINNING FAMILY GARDEN

Enter the 2004 Better Homes and Gardens Better Home Better Living Contest now and make an empowering commitment to improving your life at home. For a listing of all categories and prizes, plus other entry details see page 87. Ideas for the category "Best Family Garden" are explored here. Great family gardens do so much more than grow plants-- they nurture terrific kids and are friendly places where everyone can hang out. While plants usually prefer to stay put, children love room to zoom, places to go, and things to do. Even a modest backyard can be a whole universe to a child.

MINOR MIRACLE

A DESIGNER IN ARIZONA SHOWS THAT COLOR, STYLE, AND A HANDS-ON APPROACH CAN MAKE UP FOR SQUARE FOOTAGE.

LOVE TO MOM

Our collection of gifts (below) will spoil your mother every single day of the year. For another idea-- and no baking for Mom!-- see our Almond Pound Cake Gift on page 240.

SPACE ODYSSEY

BY REARRANGING FIXTURES AND ELIMINATING VANITIES, THIS ORLANDO COUPLE CREATED A BATH THAT'S FUN AND FUNCTIONAL.

GET ORGANIZED

IF IT'S KID CLUTTER THAT CONCERNS YOU, LEARN HOW TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF.

SURPRISING FLAVORS

GROW DIFFERENT TOMATOES AND THEN THROW A TASTING PARTY. IT'S FUN COMPARING SIZES, SHAPES, COLORS, AND FLAVORS-- FROM SWEET TO SALTY.

FOR OUR READERS ONLY: TOMATOES

FRAMED BOTANICALS

PIE BY DESIGN

PIE AT HOME; PIE TO GO

GLORIOUS GREENS

THE BETTER HOSTESS

TEA BREAK

PUFF THE MAGIC PASTRY

READ IT AND EAT

Forget about finding a message in a bottle. Words with meaning are printed, engraved, and stamped on everything for your table.

HYDRANGEA BREAKTHROUGH

FOR OUR READERS ONLY

FINDING TIME FOR Family DINNER

YOU CAN EAT TOGETHER AS A FAMILY MORE OFTEN. HERE'S HOW.

TAKING THE College Tour

TURN A TRADITIONAL CAMPUS VISIT INTO A FUN, INFORMATIVE ADVENTURE THAT YOU AND YOUR COLLEGE-BOUND TEEN WILL ALWAYS REMEMBER.

SAY THE Right THING

WHETHER A FRIEND HAS LOST A LOVED ONE OR A JOB, WORDS OF COMFORT CAN MAKE THEIR DAY-- OR MAKE THEM MISERABLE. HERE'S WHAT YOU SHOULD SAY IN FIVE TOUGH SITUATIONS.

PLAYING THE GARAGE SALE Game

BESIDES OFFERING INEXPENSIVE TREASURES FOR EVERYONE, GARAGE AND YARD SALES GIVE KIDS A FIRST GLIMPSE INTO THE WORLD OF BARGAINING AND BUDGETING.

The CAN-DO couple

THIS INTREPID PAIR SET THEIR SIGHTS ON A WAY OF LIFE ON FLORIDA'S GULF COAST, THEN USED PLAIN OLD HARD WORK TO MAKE THEIR DREAM A REALITY.

A HOUSE FULL OF HAPPY

A THOROUGH REMODELING AND A BUDGET-MINDED INTERIOR DESIGN INFUSE THIS 1960s CALIFORNIA RANCH WITH UPBEAT PERSONALITY.

NUTRITION INFORMATION

CHESS ANYONE?

Think of chess as push-ups for developing brains. Studies show that chess improves reading habits in kids, says Marley Kaplan, president of Chess in the Schools, a nonprofit organization in New York City whose members teach chess to 38,000 children every year.

PUMP UP YOUR BRAINPOWER

FOCUS YOUR FUZZY EYES

NEW WAY TO RATE CHILD SEATS

PROM NIGHT: MORE DANCING, NO DRINKING

When your teen walks out the door on prom night, in the back of your mind you're yelling a slew of warnings: "Don't drink. Don't drink and drive. Don't get into a car with someone who's been drinking."

CLEANSE THE PALATE, EAT LESS

ICE PACKS FOR BOO-BOOS

GARDEN HOSES AS DRINKING FOUNTAINS

SEND THE KIDS TO BED

BOOKS THAT BIND

I admit it-- sometimes I sneak around the house to see what my teenage boys are up to. I don't think they're creating mischief. It's just that Josh and Gabe let me into their lives only when hunger calls or they need money for a movie.