Articles by Anne Colby

Kids seem to get more homework with each passing year. You can make children’s study time at home more pleasant and productive with a homework area or desk designed for them. These 20 study areas in bedrooms, shared spaces and reading rooms can provide you with plenty of ideas and inspiration.

When you work at home, even part time, you discover that a makeshift desk area on a kitchen counter or the dining table isn’t the best setup. Having a dedicated home office, even if it’s compact, makes a big difference in comfort and productivity. Once you’ve chosen a room or area for your home office,…

Vacations away from home can be fun, but they aren’t always relaxing. And most of us can get away only two or three weeks a year at best. Then there are spa resort vacations that are designed to help you unwind, but they can be pricey. And what do you do the rest of the year when you need…

How well do you know your neighbors? If the answer is “not well enough,” consider organizing a block party to help people in your neighborhood get better acquainted. Now is a great time to begin. This guide will tell you how to throw a block party, give you checklists of things to do and…

Block parties — street gatherings that bring together neighbors for socializing, shared meals, games and entertainment — have been around for decades. But some cities today also see block parties as an important tool to help create safety nets for their residents and make their communities…

Block parties — street gatherings that bring together neighbors for socializing, shared meals, games and entertainment — have been around for decades. But some cities today also see block parties as an important tool to help create safety nets for their residents and make their communities…

Block parties — street gatherings that bring together neighbors for socializing, shared meals, games and entertainment — have been around for decades. But some cities today also see block parties as an important tool to help create safety nets for their residents and make their communities…