I heart Valentine’s Day. But it’s not because I love to get lost in my lover’s eyes and reminisce about our magical life together … I just really like chocolate. Whether I’m flying solo, or synched to a suitor, chocolate has always stuck by my side (quite literally).

But, I could be persuaded to love February 14th for another reason: say, if someone showed up with something shiny. It is, after all, a popular day for proposals: 4 million Americans expect to propose/be proposed to over Valentine’s Day.

Shiny Stats

If you’re one of those 4 million, it might be interesting to see how much the average consumer spends on engagement rings.  According to a recent survey, 48% of single consumers feel that an engagement ring should cost between $1,000 and $5,000. Roughly 22% think $1,000 to $1,999 is appropriate, and 21% think a ring should cost less than $500. (Honey, you better not be one of those 21%ers!) And a fancy 5% feel that shelling out $10,000+ for a ring is perfectly acceptable. That sounds about right.

If you’re not interested in dropping 10 large on something so small, here are a few ways to slim down your bill without skimping on sentiment:

Get more bling for your buck

• Ditch the diamond. Non-diamond stones are much more affordable. Thanks, Kate, for making this a trendy option.
• Ring your ring. A ring of stones circling a smaller center stone will cost less without losing that big-rock feeling.

• Consider the cut. Emeralds have a larger surface area so the top looks bigger than it really is.

• Slim down a hair. A 1.9 carat diamond could cost $5,000 less than a 2 carat ring, and you probably won’t be able to tell the difference.
• Set out for a high setting. A high setting will make your diamond appear bigger.

For more tips on cutting the cost of those carats, check out the full article.

How do you celebrate Valentine’s Day? Are you expecting something shiny?

Football is not a female-figure-friendly pastime. It’s a sport centered around couches and beer, which don’t exactly scream “skinny” to me. (More like it burps “beer belly”) So, whether you’re hosting a Super Bowl party this weekend, or just kicking back with your own quarterback, here are a few figure-flattering dishes that’ll kick off your weekend right!

Skinny Beer-garitas

Beer is a mandatory requirement for Super Bowl viewing, but that doesn’t mean you can’t give it a girly spin.

Pico de Gallo Guac

Avocado is a healthy fat … right?

Pizza Hummus

Garbanzo beans are a great source of protein. So, don’t feel bad about finishing the bowl.

Black Bean Chili Dip

Black beans are high in fiber and protein. Just be careful about overdoing it with the musical fruit!

Chipotle Sweet Potato Fries

Sweet potatoes are a good source of mag­nesium, vitamin B6 and vitamin C. And it doesn’t hurt that they’re delicious!

Crispy Salt and Pepper Tofu

Overlooking the fact that this dish is fried, tofu is low in fat and calories, and high in protein and iron.

Even though I’m not a huge fan of football, I’m tempted to throw a Super Bowl party just to indulge in these skinny treats!

What’s your favorite Super Bowl food?

I hate awards shows. They just don’t hold my attention. But I tune in every year to catch the pre-show on the red carpet.

The only problem is that red carpet fills my head with sequins and shimmers without any gown-worthy event on my horizon. An elegant affair for me usually involves donning earrings and my “good” jeans. But now that I’m planning my wedding (granted, I’m not technically engaged … yet) I can incorporate these starlets’ styles into my wedding day look.

Here are a few red carpet trends that work well for weddings as well:

Red Carpet Trend: Mermaid/ Fit ‘n Flare

Fit ‘n Flare dresses are nothing new, but it’s good to know they’re still in style. There was a sea of Mermaid dresses at the Golden Globes this year.

Sofia Vergara in Vera Wang

Reese Witherspoon in Zac Posen

Elle Macpherson in Zac Posen

Red Carpet Trend: Pale Pink

Who says you have to wear white on your wedding day? I’m pale. Like, really pale. So, white just washes me out. I love these sophisticated, pale pink dresses that rocked the red carpet.

Piper Perabo in Theory

Charlize Theron in Dior Haute Couture

Jessica Alba in Gucci

Red Carpet Trend: Old Hollywood glamour

Neatly coiffed hair, impeccable makeup and sultry silhouettes emulated stars from another age, like Marilyn Monroe and Elizabeth Taylor.

Julie Bowen in Reem Acra

Kate Winslet in Jenny Packham

Angelina Jolie  in Atelier Versace

Where do you find your wedding inspiration?

It’s January: Time to pack up your tacky tinsel, finish off that peppermint fudge and set your sights on the year ahead. If one of your resolutions this year is to take steps towards owning a home, real estate experts have some good news for you.

A PERFECT PRICE STORM

Mortgage rates have greeted the New Year with an all-time low of 3.94% and low rates are expected to continue at least through the mid-year, according to Freddie Mac’s chief economist, Frank Nothaft. CNNMoney reports that median home prices are expected to fall another 3.6% by the end of June. It’s a perfect storm of low home prices and low mortgage rates.

National averages are all well and good, but what does this mean for your area? CNN Money’s home price tracker provides local forecasts. Simply select your city and state for a forecast through 2013.

HOUSING MARKET FORECAST

Trulia chief economist Jed Kolko also foresees a good year for home buyers. Here are just a few of his housing predictions for 2012:

1. We should see a gradual economic recovery in the housing market this year. The key word is “gradual,” so you still have time to snag a deal.
2. Delinquencies will go down, but foreclosures will go up. Fewer borrowers will fall behind on their payments, thanks to the strengthening economy and refinancing, but we’ll see a new wave of foreclosures that’s long overdue. So, consider taking a gander at some foreclosed homes.
3. Rents will rise. With fewer people buying homes, the rental market is only going to get tighter, especially in New York, DC and San Francisco. This is great motivation to ditch the rental and buy a home.

Check out the rest of Kolko’s predictions here.

Are you looking to buy a new home this year? What’s holding you back?

If you’re planning a winter wedding, chances are you’re a bit of a rebel. You’re not afraid to gamble with Mother Nature. You’re not swayed by snow storms or bitter temperatures. So, it’s only fitting that your reception has a bit of an edge as well.

WINTER WEDDING TRENDS: COLORS

Set the mood with the right winter hue. Sure, you could go for traditional cold weather color, like a rich red or a complete whiteout…

… or add an edge of navy blue, grey, gold or silver. But don’t just take my word for it. For some professional inspiration, check out Vera Wang’s winter wedding dress colors, which include nude, champagne, and soft charcoal with black and gold accents.

WINTER WEDDING TRENDS: DESIGNER COMFORT

I went to a wedding this Fall that served breakfast … for dinner. Think Bickford’s, but with class (and a plethora of mimosas!). If my friends can make bacon classy, then there’s nothing stopping you from serving your favorite comfort foods during your reception.  Ditch the Campbell’s and Velveeta for shots of tomato soup with grilled cheese croutons or mac ‘n cheese lollipop fritters with truffle aioli.

All you need to turn comfort food into a classy affair is top shelf ingredients, dainty serving sizes and a personal twist. Instead of your mom’s plain old meatballs, serve lamb meatballs with a fresh mint sauce.  If you love pie, but don’t want it to overshadow your wedding cake, serve pie pops.

Don’t forget to give your cocktails a twist of comfort, too. Serve warm Appletinis or white hot chocolate shots. And end the evening with a hot cocoa, coffee and churros bar.

WINTER WEDDING TRENDS: FAVORS

Obviously, you’re budget conscious if you chose to have a winter wedding, since they’re notoriously the cheapest season for nuptials. Cut the cost even more by creating your own themed wedding favors like s’mores kits, cocoa ornaments or cookies in a jar.

Create personalized ornaments like these that do double duty. They’re escort cards and wedding favors.

I never really considered having a winter wedding, but now I’m inspired. I mean, when else can you have a cocoa bar without getting weird looks? It definitely doesn’t work for a spring affair.

Are you planning a winter wedding? What’s your top inspiration?

In January, Hatch My House will greet the new year with a new design. We’re simply ecstatic to release our new product to all of you.

New Team

It’s been a long process to get to here. A little more than a year ago, Robert Frank, professional illustrator, painter and Academy of Art teacher professor, joined the HMH team. Using custom styles and patterns in Photoshop, he created a variety of new houses, interiors and settings for users to design their dream home.  In August, Paul Martinelli, Co-Founder and former CTO of Intraware, Inc., joined the team to re-build the site in its entirely. He’s made HMH into a real machine that is not only updated with the latest technologies, but scalable and bug-free.

New Illustrations

We know users will be excited about our new houses, interiors and settings. Currently, we have a Craftsman style home and a Brownstone. We’ll be updating both of these and adding a Victorian, a Modern (by popular demand!), a Tuscan and a Cottage.

These six homes can be placed in one of five settings: suburb, country, beach, mountain and city. For the city setting, users can choose a generic city, San Francisco or New York.

New Features

The new site will also include some added functionality. Users have often requested that they be able to set their own prices for items in their houses. Not only will our new site enable recipients to select a low, mid-range, or high price level, but it will allow gift givers to change any price of any item in the house! This means that if Aunt Betty desperately wants to buy you a flowerbox, but wants to give more than $25.00, she can do so!

We can’t wait to show off our new site in January. If you have any questions, comments, or feature requests about the re-design, please contact us. We’re eager to hear from you!

The holidays are officially here. We’ve fueled up with turkey sandwiches, pumpkin pie and spiked cider. Now it’s time for Operation: Douse your house in holiday cheer.

While you’re busy embracing traditions, decking the halls and sipping some eggnog, think about adding a little extra green cheer this year. Rather than string up those old lights, consider investing in LEDs.

I had some FAQs about these light-emitting diodes, so I took to the internet for some enlightening.

Aren’t LEDs expensive?

I always thought LEDs were expensive, but prices have been steadily falling. Today, a strand of LED holiday lights typically goes for $20. Well worth it when you figure in the eventual savings.

LED lights use 70% less electricity than conventional incandescent light strings. If all the halls in America were decked with ENERGY STAR lights this year, we’d reduce greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to those from about 100,000 cars, according to Energy Star.

They also last much longer. LED lights can last up to 10 times longer than traditional incandescent strands, meaning you’ll have to replace them less often.

How safe are they?

These lights are cool to the touch, which means they’re less likely to cause a fire. And you can safely connect up to 87 LED holiday light strings, totaling 1,500 feet, according to Trulia. Normally, you shouldn’t connect more than three traditional light strings.

Do they come in color?

When I think of LEDs I think of those annoyingly bright white lights. But, LEDs are available in a wide range of colors and styles, from icicles to snowflakes. You can even find LED lights in “warm white” if you’re attached to the traditional tint of your old incandescent. Check out other options to deck the halls at Dailygreen.com.

What should I do with my old lights?

Recycle them! HolidayLeds.com will accept any retired strands for recycling. They’ll even send you a 15% coupon.

Do you deck the halls with LEDs? Send us pictures of your house all dolled up!

Wedding centerpieces can cost a pretty penny. According to Tigerlilyweddings.com, the average price of a centerpiece ranges from $75 to $175 …. each! Since the average number of wedding guests was 141 last year, according to the Wedding Report, that could mean you’re spending upwards of $3,000 on centerpieces alone.

You can easily cut costs with a crafty alternative. Don’t worry if you’re not overly artistic or handy – I’ve found some super simple centerpieces that look far more impressive than they really are.

DIY BRIDE: DRINK IT ALL IN

No glue gun required here. All you need is a wine glass, votive candle and a flower. Flip the glass over the flower and use it as a stand for the candle. Don’t stress out trying to find matching glasses – a mix of shapes and heights will add to the appeal of this look.

DIY BRIDE: BOTTOM’S UP!

Leave it to me to find a project that requires you to drink a lot of wine first. After you’ve imbibed your way through a good deal of wine, peel and clean the empty bottles. Then pick out paint colors that match your wedding theme and spray away. Again, don’t worry about drinking all the same kind of wine. The paint colors will unify the different shaped bottles.

DIY BRIDE: MAKE BILL COSBY PROUD

If you can make Jell-O, you can handle creating this centerpiece. Just combine six boxes of Jell-O (the color of your choice) with half the amount of water required. Put the mix in a glass vase and leave it in the fridge for half an hour. Then push flowers into the semi-firm Jell-O.

For more centerpiece suggestions, check out last year’s HMH post on DIY centerpieces, which includes an actual fish bowl centerpiece!

Are you a DIY bride? What DIY projects have you done?

When you’re looking into buying your first home you have to learn the lingo. But there’s no Rosetta Stone for real estate and I found out the hard way that “escrow” isn’t a fancy French appetizer.

Luckily, Trulia has come out with a cheat sheet for post-recession real estate terms. I snagged a few of my favorites:

REO:

Real estate owned. This refers to homes that were foreclosed and repossessed by the former owner’s bank. Buying this property will almost always mean taking the place in as-is condition. But it also could mean a great deal.

Coveted:

Expensive. Even in today’s market there are recession-proof neighborhoods that have been fairly immune to the foreclosure epidemic and have seen home values continue to rise.

BOM:

Back on the Market. This is a home that was in contract to be sold, but is now back on the market. It is often accompanied by the phrase “no fault of the house,” which may describe a situation in which the buyer failed to get final loan approval. Or it could mean something wrong with the home or the asking price.

OO/NOO:

Owner-Occupied and Non-Owner Occupied. Some bank-owned property sellers will consider offers from owners who plan to occupy the home as much as a week before they will look at NOO or investor offers.

Fannie, Freddie:

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These federally controlled company/agency hybrids back most non-FHA (conventional) home loans, and thus provide the guidelines most Conventional loans must meet, including guidelines around seller incentives like how much closing cost credit a buyer can receive.

FTH/FT:

First-time homebuyer/First-time buyer. Cities, states and large employers like universities tend to be the last bastion of these programs which offer mortgage financing or down payment assistance, usually to people who have not owned a home in the relevant city or state anytime in the preceding 3 years.

HFA:

Housing Finance Administration. This acronym refers to a loose body of state and regional agencies which offer financing and counseling programs, from down payment assistance to foreclosure relief assistance for unemployed and underwater homeowners.

Check out the rest of the list here.

What weird real estate terms have you come across?

If you’re saving for a down payment on your first home, you’re probably trying to pinch all your pennies. Most experts say your down payment should be 20%. So, you’re going to need $40,000 if you’re looking at $200,000 homes.

Saving isn’t really all that complicated, right? Just stop spending. But who really wants to live on ramen and rice? There’s got to be a way to save a good chunk of money without sacrificing too much. Here are a few tips that helped me buy my own condo at the age of 25.

SCRAP THE CAPP … UCCINOS

I know. Those pumpkin spice lattes at Starbucks are addictive. But at $4 a pop, you’re spending over $100 a month on coffee! Instead, pick up Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Spice Coffee for just $8.99 and you’ll spend just 30¢ a cup. That’s a savings of $1,000 a year!

I’m not saying you can never step foot inside Starbucks again, but make those java jaunts a splurge and not a habit.

NIX NETFLIX

If you’re anything like me, you’ve been using the same DVD as a coaster on your coffee table for the past month (or two). You plan to watch it, but never do. And when you are in the mood to watch a movie, it’s not the one you’ve got. Save a chunk of money by cancelling that Netflix account and hitting up Redbox once a week. You could still save over $50 a year.

DISCOUNT DATE NIGHT

Adult beverages add up fast when you’re dining out. Sometimes you’re spending the same amount on a glass of wine as you would for the whole bottle at a liquor store. So, why not bring your own? Look for restaurants in your area that allow you to bring your own bottle. Just beware of corking fees, which can be as much as $10 per bottle.

If you’re hitting up the cinema after dinner, check out your local theatre for discount movie nights. The movie theatre near me sells $5 tickets on Tuesdays. So, I see the same blockbuster movie without the blockbuster price – plus I don’t have to share my cup holder with a stranger.

BROWN BAG IT

I know this isn’t a novel idea, but if you eat out for lunch every day (say $10 a meal), you’re spending roughly $2,500 a year on salads and sammies. Make lunch at home and you could cut that cost in half, saving over $1,000 a year.

SUBCONSCIOUS SAVINGS

Trick yourself into saving. Change your direct deposit to put a certain amount into your savings account from every paycheck. Whether you’re putting $20 or 20% into the separate account, you probably won’t even feel the pinch.

And at the end of the day, dump all your loose change and one dollar bills in a piggy bank. You’ll lighten your load and save without sacrificing. If you saved $2 a day, that’s over $700 a year.

WHAT’S THE POINT?

Save money by spending it. Find a credit card that gives you points and use that card for all your purchases. Redeem your points and you could fly somewhere for free! Just make sure to pay it off every month.

Some supermarkets offer their customers gas points. If you’re buying bread and milk anyway, you might as well save on gas at the same time!

How do you save money without sacrificing all the fun?