When to Get Botox, First-Time Homebuyers and Interior Design Tips: Maryland Blog Spotlight

Here are the best of this week's Local Voices posts from our Patch sites all around Maryland. Want to share your thoughts on local politics, sports or entertainment? Scroll to the bottom of the page and click "Start a Blog" under "Post Something" on your Patch homepage. If you need help getting started, email community editor Susan Jenkins at susan@patch.com.

If you're looking to change up the look of your staircase, consider painting on a runner—an option that is cheaper than carpet. "They are perfect for the traditional house, a country-style home, or a vacation retreat," according to Flair Interior Design's Blog. Click for instructions: Painted Stair Runners.

"Don't make October about Pink, make it all about awareness, get the word out, any way you can!" writes Crofton resident and breast cancer survivor Beth Kaufman. In her latest blog post called "October Is Here And So Am I!," she writes about the journey she's taken in recent years. Click here to read all of the posts in Beth's Blog.

Interested in learning more about the process of buying a home? Let blogger and Realtor Sarah Garza take you along on the Journey of First Time Home Buyers in her blog on Patch. The Anne Arundel County-based agent details her relationship with a couple she met at an open house and writes about what they went through before putting in an offer. Stay tuned to see what happens in the Real Estate Today with Sarah Garza blog.

Cooler weather is an ideal time to get outside and exercise—but you may find yourself injured and not sure what to do next. “Would you let the injury derail your hopes of staying active or would you find someone to help you get back to doing what you love?” writes Bill Cox in his blog. See his advice in the post: Chiropractic Care For Sports Injury.

Do you see lines creeping on to your face, prompting the question: When Is the Right Time to Start Botox? “Everybody ages differently, so it is difficult to give an exact age of when to start Botox treatment for everyone considering it,” writes Maryland plastic surgeon Brent Birely. However, he has some suggestions for those considering procedures in his blog Artistry in Plastic Surgery.