Archives at Zinester: The Dot Com Woman Ezine. The Dot Com Woman. Women, Fashion & Beauty

The kitchen is the heart of a home, a central gathering place to tackle the family finances, plan schedules and oversee homework. As a temporary workspace, the kitchen table can convert into the command center until the next mealtime. Eliminate the chaos and shuffling of projects and papers, with a kitchen office.

Here are a few tips on how to make these space saving features pack extra punch into a small kitchen office:

* Keep the surface area clear with mounting hardware to hang a computer monitor from under the cabinet or attach to the wall with a Single Axis Mount. The mount rotates a full 180 degrees for full viewing from any angle and a keyboard and mouse can be placed on a pullout platform for an easy retrofit solution.

* Hide the equipment. To make the keyboard and mouse even less obtrusive, tuck it behind a false drawer front by using hinged drawer slides to customize an existing drawer. Even the CPU can be tucked away with an under-the-desktop computer mounting system.

* Corral the wires on top. Eliminate the unsightly mess of cords and wires by using grommets to guide power cords and cables through the countertop. The grommets come in a variety of metal finishes or in hardwoods to match existing cabinetry.

* Corral the wires down below. Another eyesore is the tangle of wires and cords near the outlets. Keep this area safe and clutter free by using Wiretracks wire management. This system works with your existing or new construction baseboard molding and keeps the wires neatly tucked away and out of sight.

* Use proper task lighting. Adequate lighting is important for any work area and is sometimes overlooked. A simple solution for retrofitting is to incorporate low voltage Xenon lights for under-cabinet lighting. These lights create less heat and last twice as long as halogen lights and they can be attached to the cabinetry surface or installed as an insert.

* Consider cabinetry with pullout shelves. Supplies and bulky equipment like a printer can be stored out of sight, but still readily accessible. Install pull out shelves or drawers in an existing cabinet. Full extension drawer slides will give you full access to the drawer.

Incorporating a few pieces of specialized hardware lets you turn an underutilized space into a kitchen command center that is organized, easy on the budget and pleasing to the eye.

For more ideas and information, visit www.rockler.com.

Courtesy of ARA Content

Experts agree that in order to establish an effective skin care regimen, it is important to first identify your skin type. From pollutants to weather changes to hormonal fluctuations, there are a variety of factors that can influence your skin � making it, at times, difficult to understand.

Often, people confuse their skin type with a skin condition. Sensitive skin, for instance, is a skin condition that can display itself in a variety of ways like dry, itchy or inflamed skin. It can occur in combination with any skin type and should be cared for with a gentle skin cleanser.

� Normal: The appearance of this skin type is even tone with smooth texture, but normal skin can also be slightly oily or dry.

� Oily: Characterized by an oily sheen or shiny surface with pores that are generally enlarged, this skin type is often dehydrated due to harsh cleansing.

� Acne-prone: Skin that is prone to frequent or occasional breakouts but is not necessarily oily.

� Dry: Often feels tight and drawn without moisturizer and can be enhanced by seasonal factors such as wind, sun and air conditioning.

� Combination: A mixture of oily skin in the centre of the face (or T-zone) and normal or dry skin on the cheeks.

After determining your skin type, finding the right product for your skin can be a challenge. So why not turn to the experts? Skin care lines that are recommended by dermatologists are always your best bet. A brand like Cetaphil offers a complete line of cleansers and moisturizers that provide essential care for all skin types and conditions. Visit their website at www.cetaphil.ca

Wedding Planning tips and ideas and photo galleries for hairstyles, cakes, wedding decorations, flowers and bouquets etc.