There are only two things that you need to do to make sure your leaves compost correctly: Always shred them before you compost them, and add nitrogen (grass clippings work well) to your compost pile when you add your leaves. Turn your compost pile at least once a week, and make sure the pile stays fairly damp.

That’s it!

If you haven’t created a compost bin yet, fall is a great time to start! Not only will annuals from your summer garden make great compost, but so will your leftover pumpkins! By springtime you’ll have heaps of rich soil to nourish your garden – for free!  Read Make a Compost Bin to find out more.

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Photo: My Ideal Home

Even if you’re not feeling chilly yet, a quick caulking mission can save you as much as 30 percent on your heating bill this season!

Plus, caulking is easier than you think. Seriously, you can do it while your kid is napping or your dinner is in the oven. All you need is a putty knife or scraper, a tube of caulk and a caulk gun.

1. Remove all the old caulk on the window with your putty knife or scraper.

2. Load the tube into your caulking gun using the instructions on the gun package. Once it’s properly loaded, cut off the tip of the caulk tube.

3. Apply the caulk at a measured pace along the cracks in your window seal. Be smooth and use consistent, light pressure. You want your caulk to be applied in one continuous line.

4. Smooth your caulk with a plastic spoon, popsicle stick or even your fingers.

5. Let it dry completely.

You’re done!

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In Your Kitchen. Do you make all of your cookies from scratch, or do you rely on Betty Crocker for your recipes? More importantly, does anyone give a hoot as long as you keep them in a stylish owl jar like this one? If you do travel down the homemade-cookie road, measure the ingredients for your delicious treats with these owl-shaped measuring cups. We can’t promise that they’ll improve the taste of your cookies, but they definitely can’t hurt, either!

During Craft Time. Families go through a heck of a lot of toilet paper! Instead of tossing your empty rolls, turn them into paper owls. This project is simple and impressive. Take a few rolls and paint them bright colors using markers or paint. Then, use a black permanent marker to draw the owl features. Get creative – your owls deserve some flare and personality! Lastly, pinch one end of the roll down to create owl ears. Voila! Enjoy your free and unique holiday ornament or bathroom decoration.

Under Your Feet. Rugs do more than look nice under your feet. They dampen sound, clean your boots, add insulation and, let’s face it, really make a room feel cozy. For an unexpected take on the classic rug look, go for an owl-shaped option instead of a rectangle or square. You’ll get all of the rug benefits with none of the boredom. Just be sure to clean your rug every once in awhile – rugs can become home to thousands of different species of bacteria (up to 200,000 per square inch) if they’re neglected.

On Your Walls. If the idea of repainting your kitchen makes you die a little bit inside, go for wallpaper next time. We’re not talking about the boring paisley of your momma’s era. No siree, designs range from mid-century modern to over-the-top faux bookshelves and everything in-between. Soaring somewhere in that range is this owl pattern, which we love. Paper up your kitchen with these little hooters, or add them as an accent to your child’s bedroom. For tips on wallpapering techniques, read: 7 Steps to Perfect Wallpaper & Modern Paper Options.

Photo: My Owl Barn

Photo: Gaelsong

Photo: Maiedae

Photo: All Women Stalk

Photo: West Elm

Photo: My Owl Barn

Photo: West Elm

Photo: Factory Direct Craft

Photo: Design Sponge

Photo: Natural Kids

Photo: Etsy

Photo: Better Homes and Gardens

Photo: Etsy

Photo: PBTeen

Photo: Wanelo

Photo: Say Hello

Photo: Squidoo

Photo: Modcloth

Photo: HGTV

Photo: Kerry’s Paper Crafts

Photo: Piewacket

Photo: Etsy

Photo: West Elm

Photo: Anthropologie

Photo: Houzz

Photo: Urban Outfitters

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Photo: Alaska-In-Pictures

Turn off your hose bibb. Remember, when water freezes, it expands. If your hose bibb isn’t frost-proof, your system is vulnerable to damage caused by water freezing in the pipes. Shut off your outside spigot before the first freeze to prevent leaks and a repair that can cost $100 or more.

Shut down your sprinkler system. Just like your outdoor spigot, sprinkler pipes can burst if they’re filled with frozen water. Avoid damage by draining your sprinkler lines and closing down your sprinkler system.

Clear your gutters. If you don’t remove the leaves and debris from your gutters now, they’ll become clogged with massive chunks of frozen muck, which isn’t good. Clogged gutters can create ice dams, an overflow of ice that forms along the ridges of your roof and can cause warping, roof damage and mold growth.

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Photos: Home Made Simple / How To: Simplify

Carved pumpkins:

Carved pumpkins will rot quickly, so it’s best to get them off your stoop and put them to work as soon as possible.

Compost it. Pumpkins are full of nutrients, which makes them a great fertilizer. Just make sure you remove the seeds before you add them to your compost pile (unless you want baby pumpkins cropping up in your garden next year).

Bury it. No compost pile? No problem. Simply bury your jack-o-lantern in your winter garden. It will decay quickly and enrich the soil.

Share it. You may be done with your jack-o-lantern, but the leftovers are a delicious snack for animals like deer, squirrels and birds. Place your pumpkin in a spot where you don’t mind a little wildlife activity and let the feast begin.

Uncarved pumpkins:

If you didn’t use a knife on your pumpkin this Halloween, there’s a ton you can do with it now. However, only cook and eat your leftover pumpkin if you used non-toxic paint and materials to decorate it.

Make pumpkin puree. This is an easy and popular pumpkin dish. Simply cut your pumpkin in half or in quarters, scoop out the seeds and guts, and place your pumpkin face down in a baking dish that’s filled with 1 cup of water. Bake for 90 minutes or until the pumpkin flesh is tender, then scoop it out and puree it in a food processor. You can use this to make pumpkin pie, cake, muffins or bread!

Eat the seeds. If you’re looking for a healthy snack to munch on for the rest of fall, look no further than your pumpkin! All you need to do is wash, drain and toast the seeds, then add the seasoning of your choice. For specific instructions, try this recipe from FitSugar.

Turn it into a planter. Post-Halloween pumpkins make for a unique addition to your winter garden. To convert it, cut a large hole at the top and hollow out the center. Then drill a small hole at the bottom for drainage and fill the pumpkin half-full with potting soil. Add some seasonal plants like pansies or thyme, water thoroughly and enjoy your seasonal planter!

Prepare for Thanksgiving. One fall holiday is over, but there’s another one right around the corner. Upcycle your Halloween pumpkin by turning it into a Thanksgiving centerpiece! As long as your pumpkin wasn’t damaged or munched on by animals during its stint on your doorstep, it should last for a few months before it starts to rot. If you want to give it a nice shine and preserve it better, rub some Vaseline into a rag and buff the surface.

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Cucumber Hummus Bites @ The Realistic Nutritionist

Homemade Fig Cookies @ Brown Eyed Baker

Cinnamon Apple Chips @ Rambly Blog

Popcorn Trail Mix @ Good Life Eats

Fruit and Brie Canapés @ The Realistic Nutritionist 

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds @ Skinnytaste

Fruit, Granola and   Yogurt @ Livestrong.com

Baked Eggplant Sticks @ Skinnytaste

Peanut Butter and Banana on English Muffin @ Midnight Snack

Peach Crisp @ Kori-Lynn

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Happy Halloween from your friends at BrightNest! We’d like to give you double trouble, and give you a trick and a treat to celebrate All Hallow’s Eve.

Trick: Clean your kitchen sink in twenty minutes (tops).

or

Treat: Make these no-bake tombstone pudding cakes for a delicious, crowd-pleasing sweet treat.

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Photo: Slate

1. Optimize your lighting. Since your front yard will be getting more foot traffic than usual tomorrow, it’s important to make sure your guests can see so they don’t take a tumble. If you don’t have any exterior lights over your front door, consider adding a few lanterns along your walkway so you don’t have children falling down in your yard.

2. Hide your valuables. This isn’t about robbery so much as accidental damage. If you have any delicate ornaments, flowerpots or statues around your front door, relocate them until November. That way, they won’t be damaged if that cute little mummy trips on his or her costume.

3. Decorate your door. To keep the mood going, set up some Halloween decorations on your front door or in your yard, and don’t hold back! The spookier the better. If you’re down to the wire on decoration time, try this super-fast glitter pumpkin project. Note: If you do decide to go with a lit pumpkin, make sure it’s placed well away from areas that trick-or-treaters will be walking through.

4. Buy plenty of candy. Nothing squashes a child’s hopes and dreams like knocking on a door that doesn’t have any candy left. To ensure the survival of youthful happiness in your neighborhood – buy plenty of candy. If you live in one of these extremely popular trick-or-treating neighborhoods, consider going to a wholesale store like Costco or BJ’s, just to be safe.

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Photo: Christian Science Monitor

For more information on this topic, visit FEMA’s comprehensive guide on what to do before, during and after a hurricane.

1. Be overly cautious. A lot can happen to your house during a hurricane: structural, electrical, gas and water damage are all potential problems. If you evacuated your home because of Sandy, you shouldn’t reenter until it has been examined by certified professionals. Even after they give it the all clear, be extra cautious of possible hazards.   

2. Gas leaks. High winds or flooding may have damaged gas lines or gas appliances during the storm. If you smell gas in your home (which will be similar to rotten eggs), leave your house immediately and alert the gas company and fire department. Do not turn on any lights or appliances because they could create a spark that leads to a fire. If possible, turn off your gas, but only if you can do it safely. For more information on natural gas issues, read: Check the Gases in Your House.

2. Electrical dangers. Flooding, wet appliances and frayed or damaged wires are all serious hazards. If your house has received a lot of water damage, and you can do it safely, shut off your main panel before exploring the rest of your house. Do not wade into standing water under any circumstances until your building has been checked by an electrician – even if your power is off, the water may still be carrying a charge that can shock you.

Also be sure to fully dry any appliances before you turn them on again. If they seem damaged, have them inspected by a professional.

3. Generators. If you are going to run a gas-powered generator, be sure to keep it outside so that you don’t release carbon monoxide in your house, which is extremely toxic and can kill you and your family.

4. Mold. Once your house is safe to inspect and explore, one of the most common post-hurricane issues is mold caused by water damage, so you want to address it as soon as possible. First, open all of the doors and windows in your house and let them ventilate for at least 30 minutes before spending an extended period of time in your house. Then, put on gloves, a facemask and long sleeve clothes to protect yourself. Even if your house only has mild water damage, it’s worth the time to carefully inspect for mold so you can identify any problems. Use fans and dehumidifiers to dry out any areas that are wet.

If your house received a lot of water damage, or you detect a musty smell but can’t visually locate any mold, you should contact a qualified professional to inspect your house for mold that may be inside your HVAC system or behind your walls.

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Go Paperless. If your mailbox is eternally filled with bills, it might be time to go paperless. Doing this is easy – just ask your bank, cable company and other bill-giving services how to sign up for it. Once you’re signed up, say goodbye to opening bills, writing checks and paying for stamps. Bonus: Most of the time, you can set up automatic payments directly from your bank account. Win!

Use Old Shutters. This project is as simple as hang and use! You can make your own system or just stick your loose mail in the slates – either way, it will look better than a scattered pile on the table. For some shutter-spiration, check out these beautiful options. You don’t have to de-shutter your house or wait until replacement time to try this project. Scour your local thrift shops for old shutters, or even look online!

Repurpose Paint Cans. If you’ve recently painted a room or two, you probably have a couple of old paint cans lying around. Use them to organize your mail! Paint “in” or “out” on the cans or simply slap a sticky note on the front. It doesn’t matter how you label them – it only matters that you make yourself go through each can once a week. After a few weeks of this, your mail will feel a lot less overwhelming!

Eliminate Junk Mail. Every year, the average household gets nearly 800 pieces of junk mail. Don’t you wish there was an easier way to stop the never-ending stream of snail mail spam? Turns out there is, and it’s called PaperKarma. Simply snap a picture of your junk mailer, and within 24 hours they’ll unsubscribe you from the spammer’s distribution list. To learn more, check out Reduce Junk Mail in a Snap With PaperKarma.

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