1) A surprisingly high number of you don’t have microwaves, but all of you have opinions about them. Laura says: “We haven’t had one for almost 10 years for a number of reasons. 1) food doesn’t taste as good and nothing gets crunchy (we use a small toaster oven to do small reheats) 2) it would make us lazy when cooking in the kitchen 3) don’t totally trust that they’re okay. I figure we get enough of the unknown from our cell phones.” What do you think?

2) Removing a price sticker isn’t just good for aesthetics; it’s good for family harmony. Julie says: “Here in MI, it is law that items have to have the price labeled – so so annoying. Especially before my parents come to visit and I’m in the fridge peeling off prices so my Dad won’t say ‘you’re paying THIS much for organic milk!!’” See the easy way to remove them here.

3) Sometimes we like cauliflower best when it’s barely there. Tracey says: “I added cauliflower to a chicken/rice/broccoli bake I made last night, and you are right, add enough cheese and other goodies, and the cauliflower fades away!” Read about making your own mac n cheese n cauliflower.

4) Our parents sometimes have the coolest stuff. Tiffany S says: “My mother has ‘Museum’ spelled out in butterflies under glass, but I think it’s falling apart. So sad. Where would you find a butterfly restorer?” Any suggestions for Tiffany? See the beautiful butterfly cabinet here.

5) The love for living walls is growing. DJ Says: “I’ve admired this idea since I first heard of it a few years ago… I’d love to have living ‘paintings’ in my home… a wonderful alternative to pots full of houseplants cluttering up the horizontal surfaces.” See Erica’s roundup of living walls here.

Did you covet Amelie’s bedroom when you saw the movie? Casa Sugar will help you get the look (including some splendid wallpaper).

Want more looks for less? Check out this huge list (with photos!) of ways to go designer without the prices, at Decorpad.

This is a great tool that will help you find specific plants for your yard — groundcover or grasses, for instance — according to region, so you know they’ll grow. It’s Sunset’s plant finder tool (via AT).

You like the Dry Soda, but nevertheless, soda sales have been declining for four years, says Treehugger.

Check out Holly Becker’s inventive home at Cookie.

Are there a lot of ugly condos going up in your town? Now there’s a place you can vent. (We’re too dainty to print the name of the site here, so be warned — NSFW applies.)

Besides new buildings, what can you stop spending money on? The Wall Street Journal has a list of seven things.

Here’s a teakettle that only gets more gorgeous when the water comes to a boil, at MoCo Loco.

Jessica at The Window Ledge couldn’t find a frame she liked for her Seattle poster from Ork. So the DIY-er came up with an ingenious solution: she used vintage skirt hangers. I love how it looks so crisp, provides the poster with a nice graphic framing of its own, and is a great way to keep the poster from curling up on the bottom. I am impressed! –Mary T.

P.S. Be sure click through and see the rest of Jessica’s wall decor ideas.

I continually ask myself why no one has thought of a better way to price items in a store than using a sticker that will without a doubt be a giant pain to remove. We send men to the moon and we can’t find an alternative?! At least we have these ScrapeRite Plastic Razor Blades to make life easier in the meantime. David King offers a great description and testimonial over at KK.org. Pick up a pack at Amazon for $3.99. –Erica P.

A few weeks ago we did a post about how to makeover a vintage dresser into a glam changing table for a nursery. A few coats of white paint and some new hardware usually does the trick to transform just about any drab piece into something fresh. This photo over at Marthastewart.com has us totally rethinking that always-go-to white paint. Look at how gorgeous a buttery yellow can be? Match that creamy base with a brighter shade on the trim and on top, and suddenly you’ve got a real showstopper.

Living walls have gone to the masses and frankly, I’m psyched. When I saw that Smith & Hawken is now offering a version of a vertical garden, I sighed with contentment. The trend is catching on and that means I’ll find an affordable option in no time. I’ve been dying for a living wall in my own little urban space since I first saw them. Not sure what I’m talking about? Environmental Graffiti has a great roundup of some much larger scale projects to get you excited. Then, check out the photo gallery at ELT Easy Green of some living walls in everyday spaces. I dare you not to want your own! –Erica P.

I knew I wasn’t the only one who ever mused about recycling a huge, bold street banner into art for my home, and BetterWall proves it. The company sells street banners that once promoted shows at museums in nine major American cities. You can search for banners you like by color, artist, and style. It’s a neat way to reuse and to make a huge graphic statement in your home. But they’re not exactly cheap — most are in the $300-400 range, and a few go up a few hundred from there. –Mary T.

Do you remember the February cover of Real Simple? It featured a gorgeous photo of a healthy version of my favorite comfort food: macaroni and cheese with cauliflower. Though the “with cauliflower” part gave me pause, I had to give it a go anyway. And, I have to say, the results were pretty darn good. I barely even noticed I was eating one of my least favorite vegetables. This is mainly due to a sauce made of sharp cheddar, onion and some Dijon mustard. Also, low fat sour cream and milk are the base. Toss in some whole wheat pasta (unlike me, who went for the traditional stuff) and you’ve got yourself a healthy meal that hits at the heart. Click here for full recipe. — Angela M.

As psyched as I am for the warmer weather, I could live without the rain that comes with it. Since there is no avoiding the grey skies, to gear up for the wet spring months I’ve pulled together some of my favorite rain gear for you and your house. To start, take a look at the amazing collection of umbrella stands over at Design*Sponge. My favorites are the Marcello Umbrella Holders from Z Gallerie. You’ll want a great umbrella to store in your stand, so why not pick up this bright polka dot number from Target. Or, go for a more aerodynamic pick with this super sleek Senz umbrella. According to the site, the smart design will not invert even in the strongest of wind gusts. Don’t leave home without sliding on some rubber rain boots like this pretty blue Tretorn pair. — Erica P.

If you like decorating with vintage style, why not expand it to your home and garden DIY projects, too? Sunset magazine has been publishing how-to books for several generations, and you can find a surprising number of them on eBay. Starting at just around $3, you can learn how to build 1960s-era patios and gardens, add a deck, and landscape with lawns and groundcovers. And check out the amazing-looking book on patio roofs from 1974. You can find a lot of vintage Sunset books on topics like cooking and crafting, too. As you can see from the photo above, we’ve collected a few Sunset books for DIY inspiration ourselves. –Mary T.