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(ARA) - Vibrantly colored flowers, lush grass and stone pathways are wonderful accents for any backyard. But to truly elevate a backyard to the status of "garden," few features make a bigger splash than a pond.

Ponds can create a focal point, serve as a restful oasis and add the soothing sound of water to an outdoor space. Many homeowners may shy away from building one, thinking it will be too difficult to do themselves and too costly to hire a professional to build. Yet creating a backyard pond doesn't have to be difficult - if you prepare properly and use pond supplies that are intended to make the job manageable for most do-it-yourselfers.

(ARA) - Now that the weather's turned cooler and you're spending more time indoors, there's no better time to paint. It's one of the easiest and least expensive ways to change the look of your home. It's also a project that even the most inexperienced do-it-yourselfer can do with confidence. With thousands of colors from which to choose, it's the perfect way to express your unique style and personality at a fraction of the cost of other home improvement projects. Yet even experienced do-it-yourselfers sometimes neglect the first and most important step in achieving the perfect paint job.

(ARA) - Maybe you've watched one too many home improvement shows. Perhaps you're still stinging from that holiday guest's comment about how your kitchen countertop has seen better days. Or maybe you're just really tired of the same old, same old every day.

Whatever the reason the remodeling itch has settled into your brain, before you bring in a contractor - or pick up a hammer - you should consider two important questions: How will you fund your project? And will it be worth it in the end?

(ARA) - Home, safe home ... but is it? Home-related injuries result in nearly 20,000 deaths and 21 million medical visits every year, according to the Home Safety Council (HSC). The top three culprits include falls, poisonings, and fires and burns.

Since we know these leading injury causes, we should be able to avoid them - right? Unfortunately, that's not the case. A recent HSC survey showed that while 92 percent of homeowners think about home safety often, only one-third were able to name a precaution they had actually taken at home.