Ugh. Remember the apartment the first guy you dated after college lived in? Wait a minute -- what am I saying? Of course you remember it, because you can probably still smell it! Aside from a few select dudes who really know how to throw a room together or are just complete and total neat-freaks, bachelor pads are typically pretty gross.

But bachelor pads aren't strictly limited to guys who have never lived with their girlfriends before. With divorce rates among married couples still high, there are more men, and in particular dads, who suddenly find themselves living in a new place without the faintest idea of how to make it look and feel like a true home. Don't get me wrong, there are some men out there who have a better eye for decorating than women, but the majority of dads I know leave that sort of thing up to their wives. 

No, I'm not planning to decorate a nursery again, but I have several friends with growing bumps who are in the midst of deciding on all the sweet details of rooms just for baby.

I love putting together a nursery because you can have fun with it and be a bit brave in your choices. Here I've rounded up six gorgeous nurseries that all have something in common: eye-popping patterns on the walls. I love them and hope you do too. 

Even if it's cheesy, I love getting into Valentine's Day. Whether it's making valentines with my kids, scheming up a sweet gift for my husband, or crafting festive decorations for the home, I think it's fun to celebrate. Now that February is here, I'd better get cracking. Here are some projects I'd love to try out this year.

First, I want an entire ceiling full of these darling hanging hearts made from book pages. 

Okay, for those of you who didn't feel the last nursery I featured was girly enough, I hope this one pleases your desire for pink. Yvonne decorated this nursery for her little baby girl with a splash of bright green on the walls and pink accents throughout.

I love that it all looks so doable -- in case you wanted to replicate some elements for yourself. See what I mean with more photos below.

January always brings a feeling of renewal, but I find that it quickly fades once February hits. So this year I'd like to make regular changes to my space that keep me inspired, and keep me feeling like the first of January never left. Here are five fairly easy ways I hope to freshen up my space in 2012.

Freshen up tip #1: Add color. Whether it's dining room chairs, a painting, or a throw pillow -- color always brightens a space. 

Tonight is the first night of Chanukah! You know what that means? While you Gentiles still have time to get overnight shipping on your last-minute gifts and decorations, we Jews are totally screwed!

I realized last night that my sisters and their families will be stopping by tonight for a little light-up-the-winter cheer. Though it's not a big to-do, I did want to make some cute homemade Chanukah decorations. I scoured Pinterest for stuff that wasn't shaped like dreidels and candles (come on, people, surely we can do better than that) and threw together these neat-o ideas in only a few hours. (Note: A quick color-change can make these decoration appropriate for Christmas, too.) Take a look:

There's nothing quite as pleasant as a leisurely breakfast on a sunny morning. Maybe it's because it's very much a rarity here or because maple syrup is so delicious, but I would be content if that was my Christmas present this year. Of course, I would ask for one of these breakfast nooks to go along with it. Don't they look wonderfully cozy?

Congratulations to our winner, mamakin616!

When it comes to home decorating, I love heading to my local Lowe's because it has everything I need in one place. Sure, I might get lost in the massive warehouse while looking for that extra can of semi-gloss paint, but hey, that's half the fun of it, right?

Now that the holidays are here -- Lowe's is the perfect spot to snag great gifts for everyone on your list. That's why we're giving one lucky Stir reader a $100 Lowe's gift card. Whether you're looking for carpeting, window treatments, or that fun doodad your father-in-law just has to have this Christmas, Lowe's is sure to have it all.

To enter to win, simply tell me: