Product Description

Better Homes and Gardens is the vibrant, down-to-earth guide for the woman who is passionate about her home and garden and all that they encompass.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #558 in Magazine Subscriptions
• Formats: Magazine Subscription, Print

Customer Reviews

Tired of trying to find the articles through the advertising
I have been a fan and subscriber of bhg for years, but the advertising has increased to the point of excess. I took the time to actually count the ads in the last two issues. They totaled more that 62% of the magazine, and that didn't include the postcard inserts or bhg's advertising of exclusive products. I'm tired of wading through all of the ads trying to find the magazine. I'm cancelling my subscription in favor of magazines with less advertising and better layout.

Easy living for women and their families
Better Homes and Gardens is really about easy living. Each issue includes articles about friends and family, gardening, interior design, building, family matters, food, health, and shopping. This is the magazine I reach for between work and errands because the articles are easy to read and brief yet interesting and inspiring. A few feature examples: window box herbs, dieting myths, cooking scones, what's new in family cars, and more. Better Homes also emphasizes family by incorporating activities for children or for the whole family from season to season. Better Homes is a good magazine for holiday ideas, too, with recipes and crafts to decorate your home and enjoy with your children. Although there are more sophisticated home magazines out there, I'm glad I have Better Homes lying around when I have a minute to relax.

cluttered but nice
This magazine has a lower cover price than some of its competitors, and makes up for it with a massive amount of ads. A few ads contain coupons, for those that like to cut those little things out (unfortunately they are hardly ever for anything I want !). The paper is also a lot thinner than the higher priced home/garden publications, and the photographs do not reproduce that well on it.
On the bright side, there are many nice décor ideas, and simply terrific recipes.

Taking the October 2003 edition as an example, Fall colors and produce are the theme. It has some ideas on how to display gourds, and an article on a community pumpkin patch, from the June planting by 140 neighbors and friends in a 6000 square ft. area, to harvest time.
There are numerous articles on remodeling, "Foolproof Potted Plants", on the joys of having hardy succulents in your home, and a lovely piece with lots of photographs on actor Peter Strauss' gorgeous Ojai, California garden.
The best article of all, is "The Magic of Soup", and some of these recipes are so good they might end up in your family for generations. They are simple to prepare, with easy to find ingredients, and will make a healthy, hearty meal for those frosty days ahead. Also included with the recipes is the preparation and cooking time, and nutritional statistics.
As someone who writes a lot of notes and cards, I appreciate the final page which is about letter writing, and how this vanishing form of communicating is good for the soul.
All things considered, this magazine gives good value, and is meant for those of us who do not live in a mansion or have hours to devote to a single recipe.