Ahh...home. Do you remember it? A mystical haven where t-shirts washed themselves. A flawless paradise where two different flavors of ice cream could be found in the freezer. A land where 20$ dollar bills seemingly grew on the trees in our neatly trimmed backyards. And all these luxuries were provided by the two beings we took for granted the most - our parents.

We all dreamt of living on our own. When that day came, we stopped washing our socks. The sweet, sweet memories of "home life" are now in our past, and as the future nears, we miss them more and more. But don't panic...I'm here to tell you exactly how you can re-live those memories. Simply follow the following five role models, and you'll turn that filthy apartment of yours into "home sweet home."

The Pillsbury Dough Boy: He's cute. He's a hunk of dough. He giggles when you poke his tummy. He can also turn your "house" into a home. Just follow his example - bake more! Baking warm, homemade cookies is the finest way to add a little hominess to that house of yours. A kitchen filled with the aroma of fresh baked cookies is much cozier than the greasy scent of microwavable, Totino's pizza rolls, wouldn't you agree? So throw out those pre-packaged Keebler Elf cookies and pick up some Pillsbury cookie dough next time you're shopping. Fifteen minutes and 350 degrees later, you'll have a brand new home.

Mr. Clean: He isn't quite as cute as our cookie dough compadre, but lets face it, Mr. clean can clean! He sports impeccably white t-shirts, a shiny pewter earring, and his bald head is more luminescent than a Lite-Brite - he is the epitome of cleanliness. If you've got a forest growing in your bathtub and a stack of slimy dishes piled in the sink, it may be time you started listening to the bald guy. Spotless counters, sparkling floors, and crystal-clear windows will have you on your way to achieving that much desired coziness. Not to mention, Mr. Clean's multi-purpose cleaner is now available in the dazzling Ultimate Orange. Excited?

Snuggles the Bear: Laugh if you will, but I didn't even know how to start a washing machine or a dryer until my first year in college. Snuggles the Bear has assisted me since then. Moving hundreds of miles away from home taught me two things: 1) Mom isn't going to wash my jeans forever. 2) Taking the initiative to do your own laundry is harder than it looks! A clean, comfortable home is a home filled with the scent of Sunkissed Breeze fabric softener. "Febreezing" that smelly laundry won't get you far, but a couple cycles of rinsing in the washer will work wonders. Take it from the bear that knows best.

Martha Stewart: Yes…the K-Mart queen herself: Martha Stewart. She's a domestic diva who paints with pastels, gardens pansies and tulips on a daily basis, and can probably cook okra 165 different ways. It's frightening. She's the definition of "home living," and despite her knack for getting in trouble with the government, is the perfect role model when it comes to redecorating. Candles, picture frames, exotic plants, pillows, and a new paint job are all painless ways to add some spice to your home. So visit www.marthastewart.com and get started now!

The Payless Shoe Source Lady: You're asking how this woman can improve your home, correct? Well, she can't directly, but her frugal shoe-shopping habits do set a good example. Most parents discontinue our hard earned allowances when we move out (a tragedy). This is why scoping out the best deals and saving ourselves a few bucks can be beneficial. The more cash we save, the easier home life will be. So spend your money wisely. Buy one get one 1/2 off.

It's simple. The dough man, ripped bald guy, snuggly teddy bear, all American home decorator, and chunky shoe shopper can all transform your houses into homes. Who would've thought? I challenge you to follow the examples this diverse squad sets. Begin building a comfy home today, and relive the memories of your childhood home tomorrow.

Comment to us, the editors. Simply email
service@enliv.com.