Lifestyle Columns
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Countdown to New Year's EveDec 17, 2010 10:00 pm - Chicago Back to the future Of course, we're all looking forward to 2011 on New Year's Eve, but we don't warble “Auld Lang Syne” for nothing. Look back at the b...
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Restore credibility to the mortgage marketDec 16, 2010 10:00 pm - Mortgage brokers are an endangered species. Before the financial crisis, they touched almost three of every four new mortgages. Today, it is closer to one of four, and s...
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Dad's awake, waiting on his baby to come homeDec 16, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. I am a single dad who raised my (only) daughter alone since she was a baby. She began college this fall and is returning home for holiday break. She just turned 1...
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There are ways to thank your agent when sale never finalizesDec 16, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. We are moving to a rural area in another state. Last summer, we looked at houses there with a Realtor. She spent time with us and was very helpful and obliging, e...
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Acid stain of patio can reveal unsightly concrete imperfectionsDec 16, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. I had my patio power washed and acid stained. The acid stain turned out horribly, very uneven, etc. I need to do something, and I can't afford to spend $3,000 to ...
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Quick action by homeowners can trim upcoming tax billDec 15, 2010 10:00 pm - Homeowners who quickly pay their next mortgage or property-tax bill can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars when they file their return with the Internal Revenue ...
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Homemade Christmas tree preservative keeps your evergreen freshDec 15, 2010 10:00 pm - It's hard to believe it's time for the holidays again! This year, “green” means a fresh tree or, that is, a tree grown as a cash crop, either cut for use during the Chri...
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Home inspectors often can recommend a structural engineerDec 15, 2010 10:00 pm - Q. We have cracks on an interior wall in our basement, and they seem to be getting wider. I've tried to find a structural engineer who inspects houses, but the engin...
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Tasty holiday gifts from just around the cornerDec 13, 2010 10:00 pm - You have the best intentions. You clip recipes from the paper and even make a shopping list so you can create delicious gifts for the special people on your holiday list...
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Figgy pudding, and a cup of good cheerDec 13, 2010 10:00 pm - If you're in the market to adopt a new family tradition for the holiday table this year, Nancy Carlson's Figgy Pudding – without figs just may be the one. This dessert ...