Fresh decorating and decluttering advice for the modern family—a must-have book to help those who are merging their hearts, lives, and homes. When merging households, one plus one needs to equal . . . one. The path toward that fundamental fact, however, is not so easy. With the same warm, narrative tone that made Downsizing the Family Home such a success—and using her own story of marriage and merger in midlife as a backdrop—Marni Jameson guides you through the turf wars and transitions, so you understand what matters and what doesn’t, and can discover a style that suits you both. Along the way she interviews psychologists, designers, and couples who’ve made it through the process, passing along tips, tricks, and marriage-bolstering advice. The wise advice includes: If you want to transform a space from me to we, the fastest, cheapest way is with paint. Look around you for the five or so nonnegotiable items that ground you, items that tether you so you’re not adrift. Give those a place in your remodeled space and build on them. The old marital bed is a charged item, as are family photos of the former spouse or partner. A new bed is ideal, and new bedding is a must. Injecting a contemporary rug or piece of art, or a modern lamp or sculpture is a safe way to start moving toward modern in a room full of traditional furnishings. Buying furniture together is a great way to invest in your look and your future. Start with something big in your combined style.

Sensitively counsels readers on how to downsize a family home filled with a lifetime of memories, sharing practical recommendations for strategies based on the expertise of antiques appraisers, garage-sale gurus, professional organizers and psychologists.

You can’t take it with you, but you can ensure that what you leave behind has value and meaning. Whether you want the fruits of your life’s work to benefit your family, the environment, science, human rights, the arts, your church, or another cause dear to you, one thing is certain: It won’t happen unless you plan. What to Do with Everything You Own to Leave the Legacy You Want is a step-by-step, DIY guide to turning your money and “stuff” into something meaningful that will outlast you—whether you are in the prime of life or your later years, single or partnered, have kids or not, are well-off or of modest means. With her trademark practical wisdom, downsizing expert Marni Jameson offers plenty of comfort (and even some laughs) as she guides you through the following: Identifying whom you want to benefit from your legacy Navigating wills, trusts, and other paths to your goals Heading off potential family conflicts Making the best plan for your material assets This book will encourage and inspire you through every step of your final downsizing project, helping you make a positive impact on the people and causes closest to your heart.

The cupboards are overflowing, the linen closet holds towels and tools, and your once tidy family room might as well come with a ringmaster. But that's called living, right? Wrong! Marni Jameson is here to prove that you can turn a hectic home into a haven--and do so without being voted off the island. With chapters such as "Kids are Great--They Only Dismantle Your Home One Piece at a Time," you'll laugh as you learn whether to opt for solids or patterns; what constitutes "indestructible flooring"; how to organize your house from top to bottom; and how to decorate so home appeal goes up and blood pressure goes down. House of Havoc is that indispensable guide for making the most of the house you have without driving everyone around you nuts.

Join lovable Mina Starsiak Hawk from HGTV’s hit show Good Bones as she brings her signature humor and heart to this warm and welcoming story about families of all shapes and sizes. Gather around for this celebration of diversity and acceptance as you are reminded just how wonderful it is to be part of your own unique family. Strong families, like strong houses, have sturdy foundations built on trust, love, and a whole lot of TLC. And like houses, no two families look exactly alike. After reading Built Together, children will learn: There are countless ways to be a family—including adopted, divorced, single-parent, or blended families About diversity and acceptance of not only your own family, but families that look nothing like yours Built Together: Is great for readers ages 4-8 Features bright, playful illustrations that bring this inspiring story to life Is filled with the vibrant community spirit of Good Bones, with instant appeal to long-time fans and new friends alike Is a great resource for teachers and parents to help teach children the importance of acceptance and family Drawing on her own stories of starting Two Chicks and a Hammer with her mom, working with her stepfamily, fostering her niece, adopting her rescue dogs, and playing with her son, Mina invites readers young and old to join her in discovering how we are all stronger together. Because, in the end, families are built as well as made.

Wondering what to do now that the kids have flown the coop? Look no further than Turning Points for Empty Nesters, wherein answers to the questions and challenges now facing you reside. Fuel-for-the-journey chapters address issues such as redefining and rediscovering yourself, deliberate downsizing, dealing with depression, balancing new responsibilities, becoming part of the sandwich generation, living with a renewed purpose, and so much more. Filled with sage advice and practical, biblically-based guidance, this unique volume will help you devise a new flight pattern as you navigate your way through the rest of your fabulous life.

Today, "social entrepreneurship" describes a host of new initiatives, and often refers to approaches that are breaking from traditional philanthropic and charitable organizational behavior. Nowhere is this more true than in the United States—where, from 1995–2005, the number of non-profit organizations registered with the IRS grew by 53%. But, what types of change have these social entrepreneurial efforts brought to the world of civil society and philanthropy? What works in today's environment? And, what barriers are these new efforts breaking down as they endeavor to make the world a better place? The Real Problem Solvers brings together leading entrepreneurs, funders, investors, thinkers, and champions in the field to answer these questions from their own, first-person perspectives. Contributors include marquee figures, such as Nobel Laureate Muhammad Yunus, Ashoka Founder Bill Drayton, Jacqueline Novogratz, Founder of the Acumen Fund, and Sally Osberg, CEO of the Skoll Foundation. The core chapters are anchored by an introduction, a conclusion, and question-and-answers sections that weave together the voices of various contributors. In no other book are so many leaders presented side-by-side. Therefore, this is the ideal accessible and personal introduction for students of and newcomers to social entrepreneurship.

Sustain loving relationships and set yourself up for emotional wellness in your fifties, sixties, and beyond with this valuable collection of advice from two psychology experts. "Drs. Mayer and Jacobs use their clinical wisdom and story-telling abilities to bring to life the challenges for couples as they age. Their advice will help strengthen long-term relationships to combat the rising trend of Gray Divorce."--Janis Abrahms Spring, PhD, author of After the Affair and Life with Pop With couples divorcing at higher rates than any generation before, and longer lifespans leaving people unwilling to settle for an unsatisfying partner, it's more important than ever to refocus and strengthen your relationship. The only question is: how? In AARP Love and Meaning after 50, husband-wife psychologist team Julia Mayer and Barry Jacobs -- with 50+ years of experience between them -- identify the 10 most common challenges to sustain loving relationships: The Empty Nest * Extended Family * Finances * InfidelityRetirement * Downsizing and Relocating * SexHealth Concerns * Caregiving * Loss of Loved Ones AARP Love and Meaning after 50 offers insights and anecdotes, do it yourself assessments and follow-up exercises, and tips for connecting through the difficult times. With this book, you'll find deeper meaning and greater satisfaction for the decades ahead--together.

Finding the right fit to match aging adults with the best caregiver to assist them in their home can be fraught with challenge. In today’s pressurized world, the process involves overstressed family members and a shortage of great caregivers. So many adult children are seeking a helping hand and a friendly, experienced voice to guide them through this emotionally charged rite of passage. Aging with Care: Your Guide to Hiring and Managing Caregivers in the Home, takes a personal, professional, and sometimes humorous approach to the challenges, benefits, pitfalls and problems of hiring in-home caregivers. Here, two geriatric care experts explore the essential credentials and experience a home caregiver should have, pitfalls to avoid, hiring options and managing costs, and the decisions that go into finding the right fit for your loved one to be able to age in place. Sharing stories and insights from interviews with caregivers and elders, as well as industry experts, they walk you through the ins and outs, and provide you with the tools necessary to making the best care choices you can for the ones you love.

More than 7 million readers of Marni Jameson's weekly home design column have already discovered how Jameson entertains and inspires, while imparting well-researched and personally validated DIY advice. Now, in her first-ever book on home improvement, she offers a compulsively readable, zanily humorous, yet also completely practical guide to a headache-free home makeover for everyone decorating a new house or updating an old one.Jameson has designed, built, and decorated three homes from the ground up. In The House Always Wins, she brings us along as she decorates, furnishes, and landscapes her current home. Though rooted in her own experience, this is no navel-gazing memoir. Rather, Jameson is like a favorite sister who has learned it all the hard way and is now here to prompt and inspire you to figure out your own personal style, make a design plan, and create your (almost) perfect dream home-one step at a time. With Jameson as our guide, we navigate through the seemingly endless maze of choices and decisions every home improver faces: wall color, flooring, cabinetry, window treatments, furniture, bargain hunting, home accessories, rugs, kids -- spaces, special purpose rooms (like the garage and guest, laundry, and mud rooms), landscaping, outdoor living spaces-and that's just to start. Along the way, Jameson injects insights into the relationships and realities that dog every home improvement project. She also pauses to share hard-won secrets and money-saving tips distilled from her own redecorating experience and from interviews with dozens of renowned home-design experts.For anyone dealing with budgets, time constraints, unreliable contractors, a cheap spouse, kids, and pets-and who would appreciate having someone to commiserate with about the unattainable perfection featured in glossy magazine spreads-The House Always Wins will comfort (it can always be worse), inspire (who knew?!), and be absolutely indispensable.