Living & Home

Santa Ana, Calif. – September 29, 2026 -- OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) will host a countywide Community Compost Giveaway on Saturday, October 3, from 7:30 a.m. to noon, offering free, ready-to-use compost made from green waste collected across Orange County homes, while supplies last.

The compost will be distributed at three sites: Bee Canyon Greenery at Frank R. Bowerman Landfill in Irvine, Valencia Greenery at Olinda Alpha Landfill in Brea, and Capistrano Greenery at Prima Deshecha Landfill in San Juan Capistrano.

Residents must bring their own containers at two locations.

At the Irvine and San Juan Capistrano sites, residents need to bring their own containers or heavy-duty yard waste bags along with a shovel to load the compost themselves. At the Brea location, OCWR will hand out prefilled bags, limited to four per household while supplies last.

Milton – September 29, 2026 -- Homeowners planning a custom pool in Milton, Georgia, should budget six to twelve months from first design conversation to final walkthrough, according to a new HelloNation article detailing the construction timeline.

Design and permitting alone can take two months or more

Design development, material selections, and structural engineering typically require four to eight weeks for a standard project. Changes made after the design is finalized push the schedule back further, so concentrating decisions early helps maintain momentum. Permitting adds further uncertainty since Georgia requires building permits through the local jurisdiction, and some sites in the City of Milton and North Fulton County may also need environmental or stormwater review. Processing times vary depending on project complexity and how busy the building department is.

ALPHARETTA, Ga. – September 29, 2026 -- Homeowners planning a custom pool in Alpharetta, Georgia should expect a project timeline of six to ten months from the first design conversation to the final walkthrough, according to a new HelloNation article breaking down the construction process phase by phase.

Design decisions made in the first six weeks shape the entire schedule

Design development, which finalizes pool shape, size, depth, interior finishes, coping, tile, and equipment, typically takes four to six weeks for a straightforward project. Custom water features or integrated outdoor living structures require additional planning time. Completing these decisions before submitting for permits helps avoid delays later in the process.

New York – September 29, 2026 -- Ernesta, a custom rug retailer, has introduced nine new rug styles, including a seven-piece Modern Geometry collection and two additions to its Earth Tones line, all available now at ernesta.com.

Texture, not color, forms the pattern in Modern Geometry

The seven Modern Geometry styles -- Alya, Amos, Claudia, Dawson, Essie, Gemma and Isla -- use high-low pile, weave and construction to build pattern instead of relying on dyed color. Constructions include hand-knotted, hand-tufted and handwoven techniques in wool, jute and cotton, with pile height and pattern scale varying by design.

Omaha, Neb. – September 29, 2026 -- Halloween shopping has stopped being a one-night errand, with 49% of shoppers starting in September or earlier and total U.S. spending on track to hit a record $13.5 billion this year, according to the National Retail Federation.

The average celebrant will spend $115.14, and decorations alone account for $4.3 billion of the total. Retailers point to a simple shift: 74% of Americans now celebrate Halloween, and the holiday has expanded from a single evening into a season that includes early yard decorating, school parties in mid-October, church or neighborhood trunk-or-treats, and door-to-door candy on the 31st.

Fairfield, Conn. – September 28, 2026 -- Fairfield homeowners are increasingly treating their yards as design statements, choosing between clean-lined modern landscaping and organic, natural styles to shape their outdoor spaces. The trend was detailed in a new HelloNation article featuring insights from Andrew Becker, founder of The Becker Companies in Fairfield, CT.

Modern landscaping favors structure over sprawl

Modern designs rely on hardscapes such as stone walkways, geometric patios, and linear retaining walls to create a defined visual framework. Plantings are limited and intentional, often restricted to ornamental grasses, evergreens, and simple color palettes. Becker notes this style appeals to homeowners who want architectural clarity and predictable upkeep.

Richmond – September 28, 2026 -- Homeowners battling recurring drain clogs now have clearer guidance on choosing between two common repair methods, according to a HelloNation article featuring plumbing expert Dave Thompson of M.A. Williams Drain Cleaning & Plumbing in Richmond, Virginia.

The article explains that repeated drainage problems often signal more than a routine blockage. Identifying the underlying cause before selecting a repair method improves long-term results.

Drain snaking clears isolated blockages using a flexible cable

Drain snaking inserts a flexible cable with a cutting or boring attachment into the pipe to break apart or remove an obstruction. It is often effective for clogs caused by hair, soap residue, paper products, or small lodged objects.

Oshkosh, Wisconsin – September 28, 2026 -- Low water pressure at home can stem from a clogged faucet, a failing regulator, or corroded pipes, according to insights from plumbing expert Tony Kind of Kurt Zentner & Sons, Inc., published by HelloNation.

A single weak fixture usually points to a local clog

When only one faucet or showerhead loses pressure, Kind notes the likely culprit is mineral buildup or sediment inside the aerator or showerhead. A partially closed shutoff valve can produce the same effect.

Whole-house pressure loss often traces back to a valve or regulator

If multiple fixtures are affected, the issue may be a main shutoff valve that wasn't fully reopened after plumbing work. A failing water pressure regulator, also called a pressure-reducing valve, can also cause pressure that is consistently weak or fluctuates without warning.

St. Paul, Minn. – September 28, 2026 -- James Beard Award-winning author Hank Shaw has released a fully updated edition of his venison cookbook, Buck, Buck, Moose, ten years and more than 100,000 copies after the original launched.

The 336-page hardcover adds 30 new recipes and modern cooking methods

The reboot brings the total recipe count to 125, alongside roughly 200 color photographs and updated guidance for cooking deer, elk, moose, caribou, pronghorn and other antlered game. Shaw said the book needed to change because venison cooking itself has changed over the past decade, drawing on more hunting, cooking and teaching experience since the first edition.

Danvers, Mass. – September 26, 2026 -- Massachusetts homeowners can now access rebates of up to $8,500 through the state's Mass Save energy-efficiency program when upgrading to a heat pump, according to Danvers-based HVAC company Townsend.

The rebates, which range from a few hundred dollars to the $8,500 maximum depending on qualifications, are paired with 0% interest financing through Mass Save's HEAT Loan program and free home energy assessments that identify which upgrades a property needs.