Barbara Ballinger
Barbara's Articles
Learning from a Master: How Kathy Ireland® would decorate your house for the holidays
Kathy Ireland® Once Upon a Christmas Holidays offer countless entertaining possibilities and a chance to bring family and friends into our homes. We want them to look their best. But such gatherings also present challenges. Do we have enough comfortable seating, have we made the house look joyous and festive, are we on-trend with colors,.....
Winter Wisdom: 13 Steps to Heed
We all know winter weather is unpredictable; we rarely know how mild or wild the winter season will be. Nature can unleash her fury when least expected. Preparing our homes for variations in weather is one of the prime challenges of home ownership. Browse the helpful information below, even if you thought you covered everything.....
Stunning Resort Locations when Buying a Vacation Home
Second-home destinations come in many locations, sizes and styles – and today’s discerning buyers and renters are escaping stress-filled lives to share some incredible new amenities. Current trends have a common ingredient – innovation. Today we find luxury resorts have added staff to take visitors on hikes, provide demonstrations on how to garden, or teach.....
Pampering Our Pets at Home
We love our pets, and we spend willingly on all sorts of stuff that makes them—and their owners—happy. The number of pets at home in the U.S. is increasing. The American Pet Products Association’s 2021-2022 National Pet Owners Survey revealed that 70 percent of U.S. households own a pet, which translates to about 86 million.....
Homeowners Insurance
Reduce Out-of-Pocket Expense, Increase Support and Guidance What if your home literally goes up in smoke or incurs major damage from flood waters, hurricane winds, tornadoes, ice storms or other disasters? Where do you turn if an intruder carts off your most valuable possessions, and even some not so valuable but sentimental to you? Homeowners.....
Home Garden, Plant Small and Reap Big
Not everybody wants or has a large garden. Some view it as an expense to plant and maintain on their own or with professional help. But they know its numerous advantages. Almost any green space can help increase the value of a home according to a report from the National Association of Home Builders. In.....