The NYT Magazine ran an article about a neighborhood that works, a close-knit block in New Haven. I emailed a lot of my friends, who happen to live on our tidy Midwestern block, and we agreed it sounds like home. We are so very, very lucky to live on our little street that happens to have a lot of the features mentioned in the story. It’s actually something I would pass along to anyone who is house hunting to help put a finger on those intangibles you can’t find on a realtor’s information sheet.

Michelle at Leaving Excess has some fun, simple, and useful tips lately. We had Chinese take-out just the other day, and this time I found a reason to save the sauces. If you read my BeCentsAble post today, you’d know that I like to freeze cheese when I find it on sale (brick or shredded, all thaws well). I know that lots of people freeze milk, but Michelle’s tips for actually doing it makes me more likely to give it a try. Thanks!

Ohdeeoh shares a cute family tree mat that can be purchased and personalized, but I think creating your own would be a very sweet gift, don’t you think?

Green Your Decor solved my paper clutter problem and my closet shoe and bag problem in one post. The featured literature sorter, made from recycled cardboard, is just what I needed, and then I picked up a bamboo shoe rack, too. I’d been searching for solutions to these household hot spots for months, to no avail, so I’m thrilled they’re on their way.