Child-proofing your home is a tedious task, but it is one that is much needed to keep your kids safe. In addition to hiding the bleach, putting sharp objects up higher and locking every cabinet, an important thing to consider is furniture. Kids are curious, and they climb and jump all over the place. It’s necessary to not only get furniture that is safe for your kids but can also withstand all of their activities. Here are a few of the places to get good deals on kid-friendly furniture in the Houston area.

Baby’s & Kid’s 1^st Furniture
Not only is it sturdy and safe, but the furniture sold at Baby’s and Kid’s 1^st Furniture is also environmentally friendly. The furniture, manufactured by Young America, has been certified by GREENGUARD. This ensures the safest environment for children and reduces the threat of indoor air pollution caused by chemicals. You can find every piece of furniture to complete the look of your child’s bedroom, including their Built to Grow pieces. Built to Grow cribs can be converted to fit your child as they grow from infants to toddlers, tween to teenagers.
Where: 5575 Richmond, Houston, TX 77056

IKEA
At IKEA, there are lots of items to choose from to create the perfect room for your child. The beds come in many different shapes, sizes and colors, and most come with a side rail to prevent your kids from falling out of their beds at night. Some of the beds at IKEA also extend, so as your child grows, the bed can, too. For your kitchen and dining areas, the store also has chairs for your growing child, which are sturdy and can be cleaned up easily. While you’re there, don’t forget to check out all of the items to help protect your baby and kids – from bathtub mats to safety gates to corner bumpers.
Where: 7810 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77024

USA Baby
This chain store has everything you need for your kids. Whether you’re preparing for a newborn or you’re looking to get your teenager new furniture, there is plenty to choose from at USA Baby. Check out their website or visit their store, and you can sign up for the USA Baby Rewards program where you’ll receive coupons every few weeks. This is a one-stop shop for child-proofing your home. You can purchase high quality, sturdy furniture, as well as window guards, cabinet latches and other safety items.
Where: 2222 Fm 1960 West, Houston, TX 77090

Star Furniture
The selection at Star Furniture can’t be beat. There are lots of items to choose from, including bedroom furniture for your kids. Another perk of Star Furniture is the discounted prices, but the quality is never compromised. If your child’s bedroom has limited space, there are plenty of beds with storage built in for toys, clothes, etc. There are also daybeds to choose from with a trundle underneath for when your kids have sleepovers. In Houston, there are two clearance locations, including one on I-45 North and one on the North Freeway.
Where: 16666 Katy Freeway, Houston, TX 77094

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Where to Find Kid-Friendly Furniture in Houston

If you’re looking to avoid the malls this busy holiday season but you need an excuse to get out of your house, try to catch a movie at the local movie theater. There are movies that will help you get into the holiday spirit, but there are also action movies to get your mind off of the stress that comes with the holidays. Whatever your preference may be, here are a few of the new releases coming out this holiday season.

New Year’s Eve
More than a dozen big named movie stars, such as Halle Berry, Jessica Biel, Ludacris, Robert De Niro, Josh Duhamel, Ashton Kutcher and Sarah Jessica Parker, got together for this romantic comedy. The movie celebrates love, hope, forgiveness, second chances and fresh starts during one of the most exciting nights in New York City – New Year’s Eve.
Release Date: Dec. 9

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows
A Game of Shadows follows the brilliant Sherlock Holmes – played by Robert Downey, Jr. – on an adventure to figure out how the Crown Prince of Austria died. However, we are introduced to a new criminal mastermind, Professor Moriarty – played by Jared Harris – who is Holmes’ intellectual equal with a capacity for evil, couple with a complete lack of conscience. Moriarty always seems to be one step ahead of Holmes.
Release Date: Dec. 16

Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol
Tom Cruise is back with a new film in the popular series. It’s not just another mission; Ghost Protocol is initiated when the Impossible Missions Force (IMF) is shut down when it’s implicated in a global terrorist bombing plot. Ethan Hunt – played by Cruise – and his new team, including characters played by Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton and Simon Pegg, go undercover to clear their organization’s name. This intense mission has to be done completely off the grid without any help or contact with others.
Release Date: Dec. 16

Alvin and the Chipmunks – Chipwrecked
This new installment in the Alvin and the Chipmunks series is a great movie to take the entire family. The Chipmunks and the Chipettes are vacationing and turning a luxury cruise liner into their personal playground. They are having a good time until they become “chipwrecked” on a remote island. Follow along as the Chipmunks and the Chipettes come up with various schemes to find their way off the island.
Release Date: Dec. 16

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
The movie, based on the literary blockbuster, is the first film in the three-picture adaptation of the “Millennium Trilogy.” The movie stars Daniel Craig and Rooney Mara. The movie follows journalist Mikael Blomkvist (Craig) on a search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years.
Release Date: Dec. 21

We Bought a Zoo
This family-friendly drama is based on a true story about a single dad – played by Matt Damon – who decides to move his family to get a fresh start. The strange part about the move? He decides to move his family to a zoo. The family makes the most of the move by working with the eclectic zoo staff to renovate the rundown zoo.
Release Date: Dec. 23

War Horse
Director Steven Spielberg takes you on an epic adventure set in rural England and Europe during the First World War. The movie begins by showcasing the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man named Albert, who trains Joey. The movie shows the First World War as experienced through the journey of the horse, and you ride a rollercoaster of emotions – joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure.
Release Date: Dec. 25, 2011

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Movie Releases This Holiday Season

Put on some light springtime music, and start making your house sparkle. For most cleaning needs, a mixture of baking soda, vinegar and lemon juice will suffice, though you shouldn’t use it on wood furniture. Follow the basic cleaning steps listed below, then personalize each individual room’s cleaning.

Basic cleaning steps for all rooms
1.   Remove cobwebs.
2.   Dust windowsills and doors.
3.   Wash inside windows.
4.   Clean light switch plates, outlets (carefully!) and walls of fingerprints.
5.   Dust knick-knacks, wall art, lamps, furniture, light fixtures (in ceiling), ceiling fans and fake plants.
6.   Dust baseboards.
7.   Straighten the closet.
8.   Wash curtains.
9.   Move furniture and sweep, vacuum or mop the floor.
10.   Empty trash cans.

Kitchen
1.   Empty refrigerator and clean it thoroughly.
2.   Wipe inside and outside of microwave.
3.   Clean stovetop, inside of oven, fan and grease trap.
4.   Straighten drawers and cabinets.
5.   Clean under the sink.
6.   Clean pet dishes.

Dining room
1.   Straighten dishes in china cabinet and dust them if they need it.
2.   Clean doors of china cabinet with glass cleaner.
3.   Dust and polish china cabinet.
4.   Clean and straighten any drawer.
5.   Clean off top of dining table and polish it.
6.   Dust the bottoms of the chairs.

Bathrooms
1.   Wash bathmats, shower curtain and liner. Many can be machine-washed, but check the label.
2.   Clean hair off the floor with a static-cling dust cloth.
3.   Scrub toilet (inside and out).
4.   Clean shower stall and door (if applicable).
5.   Organize/clean out medicine cabinet, drawers and cabinets.
6.   Clean the bathroom scale.
7.   Scrub bath toys (if applicable).

Bedrooms
1.   Dust furniture, including headboard.
2.   Wash mattress pad and sheets.
3.   Flip mattress (if you don’t have a pillowtop mattress).
4.   Straighten shelves.

Home office
1.   Clear off the desk surface.
2.   Place unpaid bills and unfiled papers in a pile to separate later.
3.   Throw away pens that don’t work.
4.   Organize drawers.
5.   Dust the computer.
6.   Refill printer with paper.

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Get Started on Spring Cleaning

On Nov. 9, AmericanHomeGuides.com switched to a Ruby on Rails environment using Endeca, a leader in search applications. The new technology provides for better stability, listing exposure and functionality. Users should look for a more robust incoming data feed, clearer floor plans and builder information and simplified navigation, which will provide for an easier user experience.

In addition to enjoying the same benefits as AmericanHomeGuides.com users, advertisers will experience better listing exposure, improved mapping of banner advertisements between NewHomeGuide.com and AmericanHomeGuides.com and consistent lead capture.

Now that your search is even easier than before, start looking for your next place to live on AmericanHomeGuides.com today.

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AmericanHomeGuides.com Moves to Ruby on Rails Environment

1. Remove

Stagnant items, such as stuffed animals, baskets, magazine holders, rugs and other decorative items, often become glorified dust receptacles during allergy season. Remove any unneeded items, especially from bedrooms.

2. Clean

The best way to keep your home free of harmful allergens is to clean thoroughly and regularly. You don’t need fancy or expensive cleaners; rather, a solution with five percent bleach will work wonders. Just be sure to wipe down with water any surfaces that will come into contact with food.

3. Vacuum

Ideally, any carpet or rugs should be replaced with tile or hardwood surfaces. However, that probably isn’t an option in your home, so be sure to vacuum at least once a week, not forgetting to vacuum any fabrics on sofas and chairs. If you have a pet in your home and/or you have severe allergies, vacuum every other day, but protect yourself by wearing a mask. Also, make sure you’re using a high-quality vacuum that will gather and capture as many allergens as possible.

4. Dust

Dust and dust mites are the most prevalent allergy culprits. Dust attaches to surfaces all over your house and can float in the air for minutes before settling, so don’t simply push it from a shelf and into the air you breathe. Instead, use a damp cloth on all surfaces – careful not to miss any rarely used places – to remove dust particles and pollen. Also make sure your clothes are stored in drawers and closets, so they don’t gather extra dust.

5. Wash

Dust mites reside primarily in beds and bedrooms, so make sure you wash your bedding – comforters, blankets and quilts included – regularly in hot water. For children and severe allergy sufferers, bedding should be washed at least once a week. Do not place any bedding, pillows or stuffed animals on the bed if they cannot withstand multiple washings.

6. Separate

Pets warm our hearts, but they also aggravate our allergies. To stay healthy and keep your beloved dog or cat happy, create a space just for him or her. If your allergies are severe, you may need to keep your pet outdoors. However, another option is to designate a room or area for the pet exclusively. Bathe and groom your pet often, and keep him or her off of furniture and your bed.

7. Filter

Allergies can be kept at bay by breathing in clean air. Keep windows and doors closed, and use air purifiers with HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filters to remove allergens from the air you breathe in.

8. Dehumidify

Mold that accumulates in moist, dark places can trigger harsh allergy reactions. Rid your apartment of mold by regularly checking for leaks and ensuring that your home, especially the bathroom and kitchen, is well ventilated. Humidity should be between 40 and 50 percent, so consider getting a dehumidifier if the humidity in your house consistently stays above 50 percent. Also, keep the thermostat down, ideally between 68 and 72 degrees, and run the air conditioner often, as it will act as an additional air filter in the summer.

9. Trade

Consider replacing your normal bedding with mite-resistant materials, including latex mattresses, silk sheets and comforters, hypoallergenic bed casings and mattress covers. Avoid using feather pillows and bedding, as well as bulky quilts. In other areas of your home, try to buy smooth-surfaced furniture, such as leather, vinyl or suede. Install washable curtains, and consider dust covers for all of your furniture.

10. Demand

Cigarette smoke is an egregious irritator of allergies, so establish a strict “No Smoking” policy for your home. If visitors insist on it, have them smoke outside and then spray their clothing with a fragrance-less odor remover upon reentering the apartment.

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10 Ways to Eliminate Home Allergens

To offer continued support of the housing market, the federal government extended the length and depth of the 2009 $8,000 tax credit for first-time home buyers through the spring of 2010. The original credit ran from February to November 2009 and was then extended through April 30, 2010. Although buyers can wait to close on a home until June 30, 2010, they must have a contract signed by this Friday. The National Association of Realtors estimates that the credit spurred the purchases of about two million homes in 2009.

The qualifying yearly earnings also increased with the extension of the tax credit. Yearly income for eligible singles or married people filing separately increased from $75,000 to $125,000. For eligible married couples, yearly earnings increased from $150,000 to $225,000. There is still an $800,000 limit on home price.

Additionally, the extension expanded to include a $6,500 tax credit for repeat home buyers, so long as they have lived in their current primary home for at least five of the last eight years and are purchasing a new primary residence. The eligible yearly incomes for repeat home buyers are the same as for first-time buyers, as is the $800,000 price cap.

For more information on building your first or next new home, visit NewHomeGuide.com.

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Homebuyers Tax Credit Expires Friday

One of the most rewarding accomplishments you can achieve is buying your own home. Knowing that all the rent you have been used to paying out can go into securing a home where you can settle in comfortably and raise a family. A place where your children are free to wake up every morning and know that it is their home and they will be there for a long time as they go through school, play with their friends, and experience all of the things they want to.

There is more to wanting to buy a house, though, than just the dream. Proper planning of your future to be in a position to buy a home requires a lot of dedication, responsible buying and lending habits, and a strong commitment to keeping your eye on the prize.

Read the full article here impact of your credit score on a home loan and mortgage payment.

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How Your Credit Score Affects Your Mortgage Payment

Refinancing

Refinancing is simply swapping an old loan with a better loan using the same collateral as security. Refinancing is also another word for cash out (taking out the small increase in your mortgage amount in cash) or loan restructuring. Money wise, refinancing is a tool to help people get their finances in order, acquire assets, or reduce their loan term or loan amount because of lower interest rates.

Continue reading The Basics of Refinancing a Mortgage in our home mortgage section.

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Basics of Refinancing a Home Mortgage

Read Moving Checklist - Tips for a Succesful Move

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Checklist for a Successful Move

Read the complete joint press release from HUD and the US Census Bureau NEW RESIDENTIAL SALES IN JUNE 2009

Do you think the new homes market has hit bottom and will continue to recover? Tell us what you think.

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Rise in June New Home Sales is Good News for Builders