The air is becoming crisp, colors are changing and cozy sweaters are starting to make their way back into your wardrobe's rotation. Autumn has arrived, and its natural beauty shines radiantly to warm the heart and inspire fresh crafting ideas.

"This fall season, warm colors, rich textures and creative details stand out," says Susan Atchison, manager of trend development for Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores. "Interest in homemade crafts and do-it-yourself decorating projects has never been stronger."

Clever crafts can help to create an autumn atmosphere that is simply elegant or pure fun for the family. When thinking about your fall DIY projects, try some of these ideas to capture your creative spirit when decorating your home or planning your next festive get-together:

As your older children board the bus to go back to school, it can be difficult for the younger ones. They're not only losing a play companion, but may feel they’re missing out on an exciting new world. But never fear, there are plenty of ways you can bring the wonderment of the classroom into your house so your younger children won't feel left behind.

More children are logging on instead of getting on the bus this back-to-school season. The economy, technological advances and parent demand for high quality public education alternatives have a record number of kindergarten through 12th grade students enrolling in virtual public schools for the 2009-2010 school year.

About 1 million children are learning online, and their ranks grow by about 30 percent each year, according to research by Evergreen Consulting. Currently, 44 states have significant supplemental online learning programs, or significant full-time programs, in which students take most or all of their courses online.

“One reason families are turning to free, full-time virtual public schools is that parents desire a more personalized public education for their children, where students’ studies are tailored to their abilities and interests, and they are empowered to work at their own pace,” says Dr. Steven Guttentag, senior vice president and chief education officer for Connections Academy, a leading online public school. “These schools are a great public school alternative for students who just aren’t thriving in a traditional ‘bricks and mortar’ classroom setting.”

Many families rely on over-the-counter (OTC) oral cough and cold medicines to help children feel better when they are sick, but we can never be too careful when caring for our kids.

"Grey's Anatomy" star Chandra Wilson, a mother of three, can relate. "As parents, we're in charge of our children's health, and as a mother of three, I take this responsibility very seriously," says Wilson. "It is our job as parents to understand how to safely give OTC medicines to our children when they're sick, and I am excited to be working on such an important effort explaining the safe and appropriate use of these medicines."

Wilson has partnered with the Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) on the "Treat with Care" campaign to provide parents with important tips that they should always follow when using children's OTC oral cough and cold medicines.

"Treat with Care" is a national educational campaign sponsored by CHPA, the trade association representing the leading makers of these medicines. The campaign's goal is to drive home the fact that OTC oral cough and cold medicines for children provide safe and effective symptom relief when used as directed, but, like all medicines, can have real risks if used or stored incorrectly.