Every year about this time, when the chaos of holiday planning, partying and the pressure of trying to get everything done for the holidays overwhelms us, we find ourselves vowing that next year will be different and then a few months later, our resolutions have fallen by the wayside. Rather than make a long list of resolutions this year, we'll start with two.
As the Grinch learned in the classic tale, the spirit of this holiday season doesn't come from a store. Which is a good thing for those of us who are feeling less than flush. The articles that interested us in this week's Los Angeles Time Home & Garden section speak to that sentiment, doling out creative ways to do-it-yourself or bring a little more of your own twist into things. There's a card hanger and some gift wrap you can make yourself; creative things to do with a string of fairy lights; holiday decor made from office supplies and some tips, gleaned from a selection of popular Bed & Breakfasts, for welcoming guests into your own home. 
• Cure Clock: This is it!





Somehow in our house, December is a mess of wires, plugs, cords and blown fuses. From the fairly lights to the Wii, most of what we want, buy, use and receive for the holidays seems to be electrical in nature. But, with only three sockets in our living room and only one socket per room in the rest of the house, it's an obstacle course of wires running every which way, an accident of some kind just waiting to happen. We rounded up some solutions. 





Breakups are painful enough without having to go through the added pain of wrestling over your mutual possessions. But if you're not living together, you're in the clear on this point, right? Maybe not. We have a friend who, in an attempt to wipe the slate clean of any memories, gets rid of everything from clothes to furniture, when she breaks up with someone.
Thanksgiving is about home as much as it is about food. It's about hanging out at home, with family, friends and guests, figuring out ways to occupy the kids and where to put the extra guests. This week's Los Angeles Times Home & Garden section swirls around these questions, from a close look at Todd Oldham's new book, with crafts geared towards the modern kid, to ways to section off and create privacy for guests. Plus, there are two house tours, one of which was originally posted here! Links to these stories on the LA Times website and more, after the jump.
We've never been participated in the madness that is Black Friday although we're very intrigued by the idea. It's one of those crazy phenomenons that, being the culture-mad person we are, we feel we should experience once in our lifetime. Our favorite shopping partner has offered to plan the whole day and even take us for breakfast at our favorite spot afterwards. Or maybe we should just stay home, chill out, snack on leftovers? To help us (and you) make a decision, we've rounded up some of our posts that make a case for both sides: the best deals if you're in, ways to spend the day if you're not. 
Packing, traveling, where to board the dog, put the extra guests, baking another pie, making room in the coat closet, cleaning out the car so you can transport the pies, ordering wine. ARGH! The to do lists this week are coming to a fever pitch. Somewhere between running around and doing for others, it's important to find time for yourself. With that in mind, we've rounded up some of our best tips on ways to pamper yourself this week...
A home that looks like it came out of a catalogue, from decorator's head, where you can't imagine flopping down on the couch with the dog, don't interest us. Personal, one-of-a-kind, DIY, handmade, unique, livable, whimsical even - these are the goals for how we'd describe the homes we're drawn to. With that in mind, take a look at some of the articles from this week's Los Angeles Times Home & Garden section: A pendant lamp made from straws; a camera that shows your garden growing in fast forward; a shop that pumps new life into old stereo speakers; and, an architect's family's home in Silver Lake. Links after the jump... 





