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If dads can have their “man caves,” then moms should also have a place to retreat and relax, right? Enter the growing mom cave trend. The trouble is, most advice on putting together a mom cave centers on carving out a tiny space: a window seat, a shared room, even a closet! Say, what? Men get entire rooms, a run of the basement or that second garage and women get … a nook? I’m proposing some new thinking on this emerging trend: some mom cave ideas to rival any man cave.

Claim your territory

To begin, you need a “cave-worthy” space. Consider a windowed enclosure over the patio for a beachy Hamptons feel. Bump out a second bathroom to make room for a dressing room, a seating area and an extra deep tub. Convert a storage shed into a private garden retreat. Or, replace that aging garage with a two-story number (guess who claims the second floor as their personal studio space?).

Trick it out

Next, dress it up with what you love. Man caves make serious investments in tech and sports gear; mom caves should do no less. Install a flat screen TV and surround sound speakers for those marathon Mad Men sessions; lay down a hardwood floor and add light dimmers for an in-home yoga studio; or install cubbies, a standing desk and plenty of task lighting for the ultimate crafts room. And after you spend precious time and money creating your own personal space, make sure you protect it with personal property coverage. Don’t hold back (the boys never do). Here’s some side-by-side thinking if you need an extra dose:

Man cave theme: Cigar lounge or tailgate party

Mom cave theme: Hamptons beach retreat

Man cave seating: Leather recliner

Mom cave seating: Velvet loveseat

Man cave diversions: Darts. Pool. Air hockey.

Mom cave diversions: Magazines. Crafts. Yoga mats.

Man cave drinks: Full bar with a beer keg

Mom cave drinks: Juice and wine bar

Man cave tech: Flat screen. Sound system. Sound proofing.

Mom cave tech: Flat screen. Sound system. Sound (toddler!) proofing.

Want more ideas? Check out this Pinterest board. Mom caves of all kinds are gaining in popularity, too. Check this preview of a show on HGTV called, of course, Mom Caves.

Whichever way you go, don’t forget to catalog all the changes. Beyond the obvious build out, everything from the artwork and furniture to the laptops and other tech gear should be added to your home inventory. Take pictures of your new retreat, then compile receipts and stash them with your insurance files or keep a convenient digital record of it all.

Enforce the zone

My last bit of advice: keep it sacred. This is a mom cave we’re talking about here. I suggest a deadbolt.

Do you have a mom cave? Do you want one? Share your thoughts!

Are you still using traditional incandescent bulbs in your home? If you haven’t made the switch to energy-saving light bulbs yet, don’t worry. Like you, I knew that switching to compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) could result in significant energy savings, but I wasn’t sure where to get started. Between wattage ratings, lumen ratings and coloration, I felt overwhelmed just looking at the light bulb aisle! Good news: even if you’re like me, picking the brightest, most efficient bulb is actually pretty easy. Follow these tips to get started.

Q: Does switching to energy efficient bulbs really make a difference?

A: Absolutely! Just swapping out a few bulbs in your home could save you up to $500 a year. Now, imagine the impact on energy use if EVERY home in the United States did this. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, if every home replaced just one incandescent light bulb with an energy efficient bulb, the energy savings would be enough to power 3 million homes for one year! That’s the equivalent of $650 million in annual energy cost savings. Swapping out bulbs is also good for the environment – replacing one bulb in each American home would result in 9 billion pounds of greenhouse gas emission savings. That’s the equivalent to taking 800,000 cars off the road!

Q: How do I select the right energy-saving light bulbs for the light fixtures in my home?

A: To get started, you will need to determine the wattage of your existing incandescent light bulbs. A watt is a measurement of energy consumption. Your bulb also produces a minimum light output, known as a lumen. When switching from traditional, incandescent bulbs to energy-efficient CFLs, you will need to look at both the wattage and lumen measurements for your light bulbs. For example, your bedside lamp at home may currently use 60-watt incandescent bulbs.

This means that the lamp provides a light output of 800 lumens. You can enjoy this same light output (800 lumens) with only a 13-watt energy efficient CFL. That’s a pretty big energy savings! When selecting a CFL replacement, look for the wattage and lumen ratings. Many bulbs include both a “soft white wattage” number (that’s the equivalent of your 60-watt traditional bulb) as well as a CFL wattage (13-watt). The lumen value will be the same, 800 lumens.

Q: Do CFLs emit a harsh, bright light?

A: This is one of the most common myths about CFLs, and a big reason why homeowners (myself included) are reluctant to switch out bulbs in light fixtures for the home. Sure, harsh lighting has its place in office buildings and classrooms, but when it comes to my bedside table, I want a nice, soft reading light. In reality, CFLs emit a wide range of light. Some bulbs do provide a bright white light, while others offer a softer light similar to traditional incandescent bulbs. What gives? CFLs are rated on the Kelvin scale. Bulbs closer to 2700K emit softer lights, while those at the higher end (6500K) emit a brighter, harsher light. When selecting your light, look for the Kelvin rating.

Q: My old incandescent light bulbs have not yet burned out. Should I wait until they do or replace them immediately?

A: There’s no need to wait! According to the U.S. Department of Energy, replacing your old incandescent bulbs is an energy-smart choice. For each bulb you replace, you will save up to $65 per year. Swap out a few bulbs in your living room and bedroom, and you could be looking at over $500 a year in savings! Save your old incandescent bulbs for use in a closet, where they would only be used for a few minutes at a time.

Q: I am having difficulty finding CFLs that work with my dimmer switches and recessed lighting. Where should I look?

A: A limited number of CFLs currently work with dimmer switches and recessed lighting fixtures (called ‘recessed cans’). These are available at major home improvement stores and can easily be ordered online, as well.

From Sean Connery and his Sunbeam Alpine to Daniel Craig and his Aston Martin DBS, every Bond needs a high-tech car with a license to kill. And when things don’t work out quite as planned, a few upgrades from Q’s lab – an ejector seat, cannons under the chassis or anti-aircraft missiles – are all Bond needs to take out the bad guys, save the girl and drive off into the sunset. His auto insurance rates must be sky high!

Welcome to Her Majesty's Secret Service

Now, Bond buffs and car lovers can get up close and personal with 50 vehicles made famous by the Bond series. With the latest James Bond film set for release this fall, England’s National Motor Museum is commemorating half a century of Bond movies, launching a Bond-themed exhibit celebrating the world's rarest cars. Also featured are the actual motorcycles, boats and helicopters used in the films, including the crocodile submarine from Octopussy.

The “Bond in Motion” exhibit at the Beaulieu, England museum is the first of its kind – bringing together an impressive collection of classic Bond film cars. From the 1964 Aston Martin DB5 to the 1937 Phantom III Rolls-Royce, exhibit visitors can see the world's rarest cars up close. These include “Wet Nellie,” the Lotus Esprit S made famous in The Spy Who Loved Me for its ability to fold up the wheels and transform into submarine mode.

Visitors can also catch a glimpse of Bond’s most famous cars, including The BMW 750iL from Tomorrow Never Dies, the Ford Mustang from Diamonds Are Forever and the Jaguar XKR (complete with its special effects weaponry) from Die Another Day.

Film production company Eon Productions, which produced the James Bond film series, is part owner to the car rights. Other famous cars in the exhibit are on loan through Aston Martin and the Ian Fleming Foundation.

Amazing, if improbable, vehicles have long been Bond’s secret weapons for success. Goldfinger’s Aston Martin DB5 – with its machine guns, bulletproof shield, radar and ejector seat – is perhaps the most quintessential Bond car. And while Bond had a brief dalliance with BMW in the late 1990s, Daniel Craig’s darker, brooding Bond is back with the muscular, understated elegance of Aston Martin. What car should Bond drive next? Comment below!

For more cool cars, check out our 'My Car' board on Pinterest.

* photo courtesy of www.seriouswheels.com