Page 26 THE VILLADOM TIMES II & IV • April 27, 2011 ����������������������������� (ARA) Mothers seem to instinctively know the importance of creating a special nursery space where they can bond, interact, and love every moment with their babies. In fact, a recent survey from PlaytexBaby found that an overwhelming majority of mothers (87 percent) agree that it is essential to put time into making the nursery a great space for their little ones. Yet often times, creating a nursery can be daunting, as mothers strive to ensure this space provides functionality, while also conveying a certain style. To help simplify the process, celebrity nursery designer and founder of Bratt Decor, Mary Bauer, provides expert tips to help mothers get started. “Moms are spending so much time in the nursery each day, so they want to create a room that is fun and stylish, but also one that’s functional -- and you can have both,” 3-2-11 karen/janine said Bauer. “By following a few simple tips when creating HomeImpDecBanner6x a nursery, moms can ensure that their journey is easy and 6 x .75” enjoyable, and that they end up with the ideal nursery.” Bauer’s tips include: Make the most of your room size: If you have a small space, avoid using small-scale furniture. Instead, use a few normal-sized pieces, and choose furniture that can Guide to creating a stylish and functional nursery do double duty, like a changer that’s a dresser, or an ottoman with a storage compartment. Using soft, cool tones will also make the room feel larger. Create a convenient changing space: Ensure that your changing table is well-stocked with baby wipes, diapers, and an extra set of clothes right at your fingertips, so you never have a reason to leave your baby unattended. Position your diaper pail right next to the changing table and choose a pail that makes the whole process as easy as possible. For example, the Diaper Genie II Elite Pail offers a convenient foot pedal, allowing you to hold your child and dispose of a diaper at the same time. Make it personal: Adding personality to your decor doesn’t have to be expensive. Create your own personal touches in your nursery to make it meaningful to you. Include vintage photographs, your baby’s silver cup, framed family heirloom christening gowns, or anything else that means a lot. This gives heritage to a brand new space, and makes it all your own. Secure your sleep haven: Whatever your budget is, don’t scrimp on the crib; it’s the place where your baby spends the most time without you and should be a safe and comfortable space. Check out new crib regulations released by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission before making a purchase. Create a timeless feel: No one wants to redo their rooms every year with the changing trends. Keep furnishings, which are the big ticket items, timeless in design, and add trends with more affordable accent items like bedding and paint. DESIGN • INSTALLATION • REPAIR Member N.J.L.C.A & N.J. Turf Grass Assoc. Home Improvement Contractor # 13VH 02695300 SINCE 1982 START-UPS AS LOW AS 49.95 201-447-LAWN (5296) RESIDENTIAL • COMMERCIAL • INSURED • BONDED www.landscapeworks.net (ARA) It’s planting season -- a prime time to share your love for nature with your entire family and spend quality time together in the garden. Getting kids excited about gardening is simple if they are involved with the planning process, which promotes a fertile imagination. Gardening is fun at any age. With a little help, even toddlers and preschoolers enjoy planting their own little posy or veggie patch. Kids love a theme. Get together with your children to plan and plant a themed garden. Center the theme on foods they already like, such as pizza or salsa, so the fun and learning experience of gardening combines with eating and enjoying what they’ve grown. What you plant in your pizza garden will depend on your family’s preferences, but tomatoes, purple and yellow peppers, oregano, and basil are staples for any pie. For your salsa garden, choose tomatoes, red and green bell peppers, red onion, cilantro, and hot peppers. A butterfly garden is another theme that appeals to children who love flowers, not to mention bugs. Planting sun-loving flowers like bee balm, purple coneflower, black-eyed Susan, and butterfly weed are sure to attract plenty of butterflies. With luck, the adult butterflies will leave eggs behind, so children will witness the insect’s amazing life cycle firsthand. Give them the tools. Brightly colored small spades, totsized trowels, and a watering can are beginner gardening staples. Equip children with tools that fit their smaller hands and appeal to their sense of adventure. Scotts Feed creativity with fun garden ideas Miracle-Gro and Peachtree Playthings have teamed up to offer a line of gardening kits that incorporate products that have been helping adults grow successful gardens for decades. Ask your local nursery about the 3-in-1 Gardening Set, the Miracle-Gro Kids ModPots, Kids Terrarium, or the Grow-A-Plant set. Whether your family garden will be in the backyard or in containers on the balcony, porch, or patio, involving everyone makes gardening enjoyable. Let the kids select a garden site. Choose a place that is easily accessible with adequate sunlight - six hours a day - and good drainage. Children also like to choose what they want to plant. Often, they pick well-loved vegetables and flowers such as pumpkins, potatoes, daisies, or geraniums. Feel free to suggest easy-to-grow new plant ideas like zucchini, purple peppers, dill, chives, or tomatoes. During the summer and fall months, as your family comes up with ideas for next year’s garden, be adventurous and explore developed gardens where children can see what the plants look like. Cut out pictures and have kids make a collage of garden ideas. Visit friends and family gardens, tour a botanical or community garden, or simply stroll through the local nursery. Bring along a plant identification book and journal to write down the names, colors, scents and, if appropriate, tastes of the plants you like. Children will come up with plenty of planning activities for the long winter months as they begin dreaming of spring, planting, and tasting once again. The Scotts Annual Program Provides Nutrients Your Lawn Can Grow On! Scotts 4-step annual lawn care program 4-13-11takes the confusion for pat/janine and guesswork out of caring LandscapeworksIrrigationColor2x3.5(4-13-11) your lawn. Each step provides 2 your lawn with a constant x 3.5 supply of nutrients throughRev1 growing season, and out the at the same time, takes care of problems like crab- grass, weeds and insects. Best of all, the average 5,000 square foot lawn takes about 30 minutes, March/April May/June four times a year. Imagine a great looking lawn with only a 2-hour investment in time! 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