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Do it yourself with help from the Web
With spring finally here, you might be inspired to air out your home and office, clean out all the clutter that's accumulated over the winter months and begin some of the projects you've made a mental note to tackle.
Organize.com promises that anyone can spring clean fast and furious with their tips, articles and chore checklists available at http://organizedhome.com.
Once you've spring cleaned, it's time to prioritize your endless list of do-it-yourself (diy) projects. Visit DIY Network at http://www.diynetwork.com. This site organizes home maintenance by seasons and provides detailed instructions on projects like repairing your gutters and cleaning your air conditioning units. Dreaming of a new deck to host those summer pool parties? The Home Improvement section provides a list of tools, materials and step-by-step instructions for designing and building a basic deck and other outdoor facilities. The site even has a section on summer art projects for bored kids.
While the kids are busy making sand art or nature T-shirts, start cleaning out your back yard. Do It Yourself (http://www.doityourself.com/) features gardening and outdoors topics ranging from basic tips on weeding and mulching to how to build a pond in your back yard.
ReadyMade is a bi-monthly print magazine geared toward people who like to make their own "stuff." Its online blog at http://www.readymademag.com/blog/links/ features links to diy, design and craft projects. You'll find the "Reinventing X" section both humorous and insightful. Learn how to use duct tape to fix just about anything, even prom dresses!
Is too much clutter around your home or office preventing you from finishing any project in a timely manner? Take a look at http://www.lifehacker.com/ for suggestions about how to organize your professional and home life. Whether it's how to clean your office, back up your server or get a wine stain off your kitchen counter, this blog provides endless advice about how to make your life more efficient.
After you have sorted and cleaned out the clutter from your home, have a yard sale. There's always a chance someone else may uncover a treasure or two from your junk. YardSaleQueen.com (http://www.yardsalequeen.com/) not only advises on how to set up a sale, but also how to be a smart shopper if you decide you need more stuff to replace the items you sold.
Whether you're planning on building a new patio or just want to sort through your winter wardrobe, these sites provide great ideas to make the brief summer season more enjoyable.
—Laura Taddeo, University Libraries