Candles are typically our go to item for creating a dramatic and moody table for special occasions and we know we're not alone in this. Floating candles are ideal for a number of occasions — holiday dinners, weddings, birthdays and romantic evenings at home. More

Remember a few weeks ago when I mentioned that my toilet paper was being taken over by bugs? Well there's been another buggy showdown. We vacuumed up the previous bugs and installed mosquito netting in our windows — but over the weekend a window without netting was left cracked open and this is what we returned home to! Ack! More

You've probably seen plastic bags filled with water suspended from string at some point in your life, on a patio or outdoor seating area at a restaurant. The movement and amplified color produced from the refraction of light on the water proves to be a potent pest deterrent, ushering away flies and some stinging insects. More

I finally moved into my permanent house in Saudi Arabia, and my husband and I are starting to settle into this slightly quirky space. One problem that has emerged relates to stray cats — the compound has a large population of feral cats and apparently the person who lived in this house before was feeding a few of them. In the weeks that the house has been empty, most of them seem to have found a new place to hang out, but there are two that persistantly refuse to leave. More

For the last several months my husband and I have had fans in our windows at all times. We had a hard time getting any breeze in them, but because the fans were in place, we hadn't had a problem with bugs and mosquitoes coming in. As the temperatures dropped this past weekend, we removed the fans and all sorts of creepy crawly and flying friends came in, so it was time for some screens! Off to the hardware store we went! More

Sometimes the process of sifting out bad chemicals from your personal care routine can seem daunting. Fear no more! The Environmental Working Group has given regular folks a powerful tool to weed out bad personal care products.  I use it constantly, and I hope you will too. It's called Skin Deep Cosmetic Safety Database -- don't let the word "cosmetics" fool you; both men and women will benefit from this database.  Read more for all the details.

Bedbugs. Creeped out yet? Prior to the mid-twentieth century, bedbugs were a common household nuisance, but the widespread use of DDT in the 1940s and 1950s pretty much eradicated them. But... now they're back, and more resistant than ever. The traditional treatment is a barrage of chemical sprays and dusting performed by a professional exterminator—a grim prospect for anyone concerned with their health and the environment. But there is another option that is gaining popularity for its effectiveness and non-toxic cred: heating! More

I appreciate the Frank Sinatra song referencing an ant's attempt to move a rubber tree plant — but I'm living with an infestation that could probably move a sofa if they set their minds to it! The heat and the desert here in Saudi adds a variety of ants (large and small) that defiantly resist eradication efforts. As I watch a trail of them march across my marble floor, I cannot help but hope that someone out there can help! More

Some kids collect rocks, others stamps, while others are more into crawly things&helliplike ants. The downfall to having something like an ant collection to study is that the container isn't exactly attractive. Although that's not really the point, it can't help to dress it up a bit can it? More

Bats may be cute for Halloween decorations and perfect inspiration for vigilante heroes, but they're not so awesome to wake up to in the middle of the night. Two nights this week we have had a special visitor in the form of a creepy little winged creature. Besides the fact that they are a little terrifying, bat invasions can cause messes in your home and can even spread diseases. So what do you do when one pays you a call? Here's what we did. More