….formaldehyde and other toxic chemicals. Do you really want to sleep in that just to get a smoother sheet?

Look for 100% cotton or linen or even silk organic sheets instead. Higher thread counts will give you the smoothness you desire without poisoning you.

On March 29 between 8 and 9 p.m. the world will be recognizing Earth Hour (one time zone at a time). Last year the event was born in Sydney, Australia. This year it be celebrated world-wide (including dimming of the Sears Tower and Golden Gate Bridge as well as other landmarks). The result of the event will be raising awareness of the impact just using electricity has on the earth. According to Ideal Bite, “If 10,000 households turn off 10 lights tomorrow night for just one hour, we’ll avert the CO2 created by an average apartment in a whole year.” Check out the Earth Hour website which includes a running count down to the hour and lists of cities and celebrities that are celebrating the event. Here’s what they have to say about it:

“On March 29, 2008 at 8 p.m., join millions of people around the world in making a statement about climate change by turning off your lights for Earth Hour, an event created by the World Wildlife Fund.

Earth Hour was created by WWF in Sydney, Australia in 2007, and in one year has grown from an event in one city to a global movement. In 2008, millions of people, businesses, governments and civic organizations in nearly 200 cities around the globe will turn out for Earth Hour. More than 100 cities across North America will participate, including the US flagships–Atlanta, Chicago, Phoenix and San Francisco and Ottawa, Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

We invite everyone throughout North America and around the world to turn off the lights for an hour starting at 8 p.m. (your own local time)–whether at home or at work, with friends and family or solo, in a big city or a small town.

What will you do when the lights are off? We have lots of ideas.

Join people all around the world in showing that you care about our planet and want to play a part in helping to fight climate change. Don’t forget to sign up and let us know you want to join Earth Hour.

One hour, America. Earth Hour. Turn out for Earth Hour!”

Starbucks has a new site for us to tell them what we suggest they change, like maybe their high prices???? Probably not going to happen.  But are they truly interested in what we want?  Are they willing to make the changes we suggest?  We’ll have to wait to find out I guess.

There are two web sites out there that have great forums for letting us know about real deals to be had.  The first, http://www.fatwallet.com/tmm/community.php has topics like hot deals, deal discussions, product reviews, and REAL free stuff.  No advertisers here, just you and me talking about what we can buy for a fraction of retail prices.  The other site, http://forums.slickdeals.net/ has similar topics written, of course, by actual consumers who know a good deal when they see it.

We’d like to share the news on Rebuilding Together of Summit COunty. Every year we volunteer for this worthy day of helping. Due to a trade show and vacation, we sadly will not be joining in this year. Here is the scoop on the event.

“On Saturday, April 26, more than 400 volunteers representing dozens of organizations across Summit County will join Rebuilding Together Summit County to provide home repairs and modifications to 15 homes across Summit County. Homes in Copley, Green, Silver Lake, Stow, Akron, Barberton, New Franklin will be included in the event. During the day, more than $100,000 in donated volunteer labor and an additional $60,000 will be invested in materials and contracted labor.

Thanks to the support of many community organizations like Dominion East Ohio, the Nationwide Foundation, Barberton Community Foundation, Lowe’s, Sears Holdings, the City of Akron, Summit County, the Akron Area Board of REALTORS, the Home Builders Association Serving Portage and Summit Counties, Bridgestone, Home Depot, and Fifth Third Bank, the event promises to be a huge success. This is the thirteenth annual Rebuilding Day held in Summit County.

As Rebuilding Together continues its efforts to fund Rebuilding Day, the organization is presenting its second annual “Raising to Rebuild” Online Auction from April 22–28, 2008. Donations for the auction are still being accepted and arrangements for pick up can be made by calling 330-773-4100. Items for auction can be viewed beginning on April 22 by logging on to www.rebuildingtogether-sc.org.”

What: Rebuilding Day 2008
When: Saturday, April 26, 2008, 8:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m.

What: Raising to Rebuild Online Auction
When: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 – Monday, April 28, 2008

You can also learn more about each event by visiting the web at www.rebuildingtogether-sc.org.

Visit The Nelson Project Real Estate Blog for a FREE Home Staging Guide and to check out some great photography. The Nelson Project is a group of Austin, Texas real estate professionals doing things the “smart” way, plus they have a great blog. Check it out.

A Toledo, Ohio online newspaper reported a story of a Sylvania Township family with four young children that has been separated by the ugly housing market. Living in two residences (one in Akron) 135 miles apart from each other is the result of a home not selling. The article tells of other couples who have similar situations, some living in different states. Click here to read the full Toledo Blade article.

Do you know of anyone who has been affected by the weak market and the housing crisis? How would you handle this situation?

Barker and Hedges Real Estate Blog posted a list of the side effects that come with home staging. These may make you rethink putting your home up for sale in its current condition and whether or not you should have it professionally staged before showing it. Beware, the side effects are dramatic! Visit their blog to find out what might happen if you stage your home for sale.

To remove stains, yellowing, and smells from fragile vintage fabrics, Ki Nassauer and Sue Whitney of JUNKMARKET recommend Star Spangled Sampler Vintage Textile Soak. Don’t let the word “junk” in the name fool you, there is some good stuff on there. We found great info including a newsletter with over 30,000 subscribers. The successful retail business was started in 2000 and serves thousands of customers each year by transforming junk into desirable pieces. Read all about Ki and Sue by visiting their website.

The Akron Beacon Journal published an article on Saturday, March 22nd by Mary Beth Breckenridge that emphasized the importance of “preparing a home for sale for buyer visits.” Here it is:

“Attention to detail can mean the difference between a house that’s sold and one that lingers on the market. Here are some home-staging tips from Sabrina Soto, host of the HGTV series Get It Sold:

• Allow at least 3 feet of space so potential buyers can walk around freely. Take out unnecessary furniture to free space.
• Leave no more than two kitchen appliances on your counters.
• Remove area rugs on top of carpets. Buyers assume they’re there to hide a stain.
• Take all papers and photos off the refrigerator.
• Turn on all the lights during a showing, even if it’s during the day, and make sure shades or blinds are open.
• Avoid cooking a few hours before a showing, and don’t smoke indoors while your house is on the market.
• Pack seasonal clothing and organize what’s left in your closets so they look spacious.
• Put out fresh flowers to make your home feel inviting.
• Hide bills rather than leaving them out in a tray or organizer, and stash cleaning supplies. That gives potential buyers a sense of harmony rather than the impression that your home is expensive or difficult to maintain.
• Replace dated light fixtures. New fixtures need not be expensive, and they’ll give your house an updated look.|

What do you think of the article? We think it is great!