Taller work surfaces are good for a few situations. If your work area has a window with a really beautiful view, sitting up higher can afford you a better look. Be careful daydreamers, or you might not get much work done! The taller work table is also convenient if you need to stand or move around a lot during the work day.   

The home office kitchen can be considered the picture of efficiency or the poster child for laziness, depending on your perspective. It might also depend on the office's proximity to the kitchen. If it is in an upstairs bonus room or down in the basement, your work needn't be disrupted for a refill of coffee or a cold beverage. The home office kitchen consists of a mini-fridge, a coffee maker, perhaps a microwave or toaster oven, and some plates and utensils.  Its not a huge investment, and it could increase your productivity. 

There is an old saying that every room needs a touch of black. It frames and focuses the room and gives it some weight. But nowadays, black is being used much more liberally. Black rooms can be sexy, or they can look clean and crisp.

Black and White Office/Bedroom

Continuing on the home office theme, the use of black draws attention to the architectural details in the room. Notice this office is tucked under a bunk bed, and the storage drawers double as access to the bunk. This is clever use of a spare room, especially for those people who only need the bedroom occasionally.

Black and Gold Family Room

This family room has a bold look, but doesn't appear too dark and overpowering. Using glossy black paint and the shiny gold ceiling reflects and multiplies the light. This is also a great color option for a dramatic home theater.

Black Bedroom Accent Wall

This is one sexy bedroom, which keeps from appearing too dark because of the mirrored closet doors and the white bed and bedding. Plus, the black is only on the wall behind the bed, with white everywhere else.

Pink Bedroom with Black Accents

I couldn't resist adding some pink to the equation! Here is a model home bedroom painted pink for a teen girl's room. The black accents keep it from being too sweet, and the brighter pink pillows on the bed give an added pop of color. Every teenage girl needs a crystal chandelier in her room, doesn't she?

Congratulations to those who get to work from home everyday. It is the most environmentally friendly way to commute! To make working at home even more eco-friendly, consider adopting some of these habits:

Think Before You Print

Paper beats out everything else when it comes to the volume discarded in landfills. If your job involves faxing, consider using an online fax service and keep the fax stored as a file on your computer rather than on paper.Faxcritics.com offers reviews of online fax services so you can select the best one for you. When you absolutely have to print something, set your computer for narrower margins, and print on both sides of the paper.

Don't be a Tech Addict

People are driven to have the latest and greatest tech gadget as soon as  it comes out. Technology wanderlust is responsible for tens of millions of computers and other electronic devices being discarded each year, spawning a new term: "E-Waste". If you MUST buy a new electronic item, be sure to donate the old one.

Goodwill accepts used electronic items and is a free, easy and responsible way to discard electronics. Used cell phones can be donated to theNational Coalition Against Domestic Violence.  They will even provide free shipping!

Utilize Natural Light

If at all possible, position your desk near a bright window to reduce your carbon footprint by minimizing the number of hours you need to use an electric light. Also replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs (compact florescent lights) to reduce energy usage when you do need artificial light.

These are some simple examples for greening your home office, no matter how big or small it may be.

With Passover and Easter on the calendar this month, lots of people will be entertaining. An easy meal to prepare for a crowd is lasagna. It can be made in advance and simply heated up the day of your party. This an unusual take on lasagna, using lamb instead of beef since it is a traditional springtime food. According to JewFaq.com, this can be made for passover if you substitute matzah for the noodles and cottage cheese for the ricotta cheese. It is unique and delicious no matter which method you select!

Lamb and Feta Lasagna

1 1/2 pounds lean ground lamb

1 C. chopped onions

1 T. minced garlic

2 T. tomato paste

1/4 C. lightly toasted pine nuts

42 oz. canned, chopped tomatoes and their juice

1 tsp. oregano

1/2 tsp. rosemary 

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp black pepper

16 oz. ricotta cheese (or cottage cheese)

8 oz. crumbled feta cheese

1 1/4 C. grated Parmesan cheese

1 pound lasagna noodles, cooked (or matzoh)

In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the lamb and onions until the lamb is brown and the onions are soft. Add the garlic, tomato paste, canned tomatoes, oregano, rosemary, salt, and pepper and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to medium-low and let simmer for 30 minutes. Allow to cool.  

Combine the ricotta, feta, and 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese in a medium bowl. Spread a small amount of sauce on the bottom of a lasagna pan. Add a layer of noodles (or matzoh),  1/3 of the sauce, and 1/3 of the cheese. Repeat for 3 layers in all. Sprinkle the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese over the top. Cover with foil and bake in 350 oven for 50 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake 15 more minutes. Allow to sit for 15 minutes before serving. If made in advance, allow extra time for baking. 

Big Day at the Lake 7

Each year, over one hundred children and their sponsors from Big Brothers Big Sisters are invited for a day of boating fun on Lake Norman with a picnic at the Duke Energy Explorium afterward. This year's event is July 16th, and to make this another successful year we need boat owners to volunteer to take these Bigs and Littels on their boat, donations of food and beverages for the picnic, workers to staff the event, and donations of money to help support Big Brothers Big Sisters. Sponsorships are available at several levels. If you can help out in any way, please