Laura Moreno

Jim R. Bounds/Bloomberg via Getty Images The numbers:  The S&P/Case-Shiller 20-city index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% in the three-month period ending in November compared to the same period ending in October, and was up 6.4% compared to a year before. The national index rose a seasonally adjusted 0.7% for the month, and 6.2% for the year. What happened:  Both annual increases were higher than in the prior month's release. The 20-city index rose 6.3% in the three-month period ending in October, for example. Surging prices are all about limited supply of homes to buy. But there's another interesting development. The cities "that enjoyed the fastest price increases before the 2007-2009 financial crisis are again among those cities experiencing the largest gains," said David Blitzer, chair of the index committee at S&P Dow Jones Indices. Blitzer named San Diego, Los Angeles, Miami and Las Vegas. Big picture : Home prices continue to surge well ahead of inflat...

Happy "It's That DIY Party" day!  That DIY Party DIYShowOff weekly recap:  Let the renovations begin! The first blog post in a new series #helloredreno is up! As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen. Let the project diaries begin!  #helloredreno Fun DIY Valentine Ideas … Party time: Share your creativity in the link party below or browse the links for inspiration!  1. Please use the button above or text and link to this post to share the linky love. Here is the link:  http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/that-diy-party/ . 2. This blog linky party is for YOUR DIY projects only and YOUR IMAGES ONLY. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only. Please do not link giveaways, linky parties, promotions or a collection of inspiration that isn't your own DIY project. 3. By joining the party, you give permission for your project to be featured and 'shown off' via blog highlight, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, G+. ...

Happy "It's That DIY Party" day!  That DIY Party DIYShowOff weekly recap:  Let the renovations begin! The first blog post in a new series #helloredreno is up! As soon as I saw you, I knew an adventure was going to happen. Let the project diaries begin!  #helloredreno Fun DIY Valentine Ideas … Party time: Share your creativity in the link party below or browse the links for inspiration!  1. Please use the button above or text and link to this post to share the linky love. Here is the link:  http://diyshowoff.com/category/other/that-diy-party/ . 2. This blog linky party is for YOUR DIY projects only and YOUR IMAGES ONLY. Links not related to DIY will be deleted. Please share your link one week only. Please do not link giveaways, linky parties, promotions or a collection of inspiration that isn't your own DIY project. 3. By joining the party, you give permission for your project to be featured and 'shown off' via blog highlight, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, G+. ...

The United Kingdom last week created a new government leadership role, naming Tracey Crouch the world's first "minister of loneliness ." While the idea might lend itself to punchlines, the role is designed to address what has become a surprisingly serious public health crisis. Loneliness contributes to addiction, depression, heart disease, and dementia; its long-term mortality effect is on par with smoking 15 cigarettes a day . READ MORE »

Steeping ginger tea at home is a practically effortless process, since it only calls for two ingredients: sliced ginger root and hot water. There's no need to buy prepackaged, dry ginger tea when you can make the fresh, fuss-free version. While you can scrape the skin off the ginger with a spoon if you'd like, I leave the root as is and rely on a fine mesh tea filter to prevent the papery ginger skins from getting into the tea. Talk about easy! When is the right time to drink ginger tea? Consider ginger the anytime tea for any ailment, whether it's a cold, stomachache, migraines, or general fatigue. Drinking ginger tea at once invigorates like a strong cup of coffee and soothes like a lavender salt bath. Here's a quick tip in terms of buying ginger: if you have access to Asian markets, then buy your ginger there. The ginger will be plump and fresh from the high turnaround, and it will be sold at a fraction of the price. This large piece would have cost me upward of $5 a...