At Home

Warm blankets, crackling fires, and hot chocolate create a cozy home during the harsh winter months, but once that cold wind turns to warm breezes, it’s time to do a little spring cleaning and spring decorating. 

As my first entry for BSCENE magazine, I wanted to say how excited I am to be able to connect my passion for design with my hometown of Tyler in East Texas.

Andrew Brininstool’s work has appeared or is forthcoming in Barrelhouse, Five Chapters, Third Coast, the Tin House blog, and Best New American Voices 2010. His stories have also received the Sherwood Anderson Fiction Award from Mid-American Review and the Editors’ Prize from /nor.

How important is art in your life? Do you remember coloring with crayons and finger paints in your kindergarten class? We have the freedom to express ourselves through music, painting and other art forms. But what about those who don’t have that freedom?

It’s that time of year. The leaves have changed and fallen, pumpkin spice lattes are being replaced with eggnog and people are constantly coming over. There’s nothing better than having family and friends around, admiring your beautiful home. And you’ve prepared for them, haven’t you?

Many Americans are in the process of reassessing their spending patterns, and boomers and seniors are no exception. Seventy-three percent of adults over age 50 started saving more or cutting back on spending last year, compared to 2010, according to a November 2011 report by the AARP.

When an industry goes through a rough stretch, it tends to contract a bit. Managers look for ways to cut overhead or change production processes. They renegotiate deals and seek out better and more efficient ways of doing the things they must do.