http://architecture.about.com

About.com probably isn't the first place that you, the reader, might think to visit when gathering information about architecture. If it was, I wouldn't be writing this review right? However, you may be surprised by the quality and quantity of information that can be found at Architecture.about.com.

The design of the site is a bit haphazard and ad heavy, but after sifting through it expect to find great info under categories like:

• "Articles & Resources": Look here to find information ranging from famous architects and buildings to different theories and design approaches.

• "Essentials": Find out which buildings are the tallest in the world and using the Paint Color Guide choose the appropriate colors to paint a house.

• "What's Hot": This features articles about important figures or movements in the architectural field which are extremely concise and well-written.

The real bonus of this site is the sub-categorization of topics. If you visit the "Famous Architects" link under "Articles & Resources" you'll find listings for women architects and African American architects. When searching "Great Buildings", you have the option of looking through specific structures like bridges, castles and lighthouses.

Whether you have five minutes or two hours for architecture research, you would be wise to spend it at Architecture.about.com.

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Brian Seguin

Like Mary Poppins, Garden Design is practically perfect in every way. The magazine is consumer friendly in that both the weekend gardener and the professional will find information and pleasure in its pages. It covers all growing zones, from Arizona to Maine , with advice in their regular feature, "Growing", for everything from cacti to rhododendrons.

Other sections include:

• Décor
• Style
• Abroad
• Dirt
• Sage Advice

"Décor" gives examples of exterior decorating in various spaces -- courtyard, patio, even a driveway -- with furniture, plants and accessories, while "Style" gives you the sources of selected furniture and décor. "Abroad" is a sometime feature, visiting landscapes and gardens in foreign countries. "Dirt" surveys all the supplies a gardener might need, from books to nurseries to pruning shears and "Sage Advice" is just that -- a question-and-answer column.

Each year Garden Design sponsors the "Golden Shears Award" for garden design/landscaping; both the amateur and professional are invited. Winning entries are shown in the magazine.

Even the non-gardener will get pleasure from this lovely magazine, full of glorious color and fascinating information. Again and again the photos and articles make you think "I could do that!"

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Elizabeth Lady - S.F.

20 Years Of Donna Karan

Donna Karan is, without question, one of the world's most accomplished fashion designers to date. She has revolutionized the way a woman dresses in modern day society. Through her dedication in simplifying an individual's wardrobe options, she has solidified a committed clientele that is constantly on the rise.

The Journey of A Woman: 20 Years of Donna Karan offers the reader a deeper perspective of what makes, moves and inspires her. Through the use of personal quotes from Donna, comments from friends, and a one-on-one interview, this book accomplishes to capture how a fashion star comes to be. Yet behind the glamour and the press, stands a woman who feels like all of us, who has the same insecurities as many others do and who has lived life for all it's worth.

Filled with a vast amount of photographs, Donna shares both her personal and business life. From her travels to different parts of the globe, her daughter Gabby, her committed relationship with her soul mate who she lost to cancer, and a career worth a thousand words, The Journey of A Woman spans decades, truly, a journey of a woman.

Reviewed by R & RC Staff Member - Francisco Murillo