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A Brief Look At Our New Home

September 1, 2008 1 Comment

Above is a picture of our new house. Disregard the 2002 date stamp. The photo was taken a few weeks ago by my stepdad…I guess he wasn’t paying attention. I’ve always liked houses built in this style, with the porch going across the front. It’s very cute and simple, and sort of country looking, which I like. We still have to paint the porch and the shutters, and we’re probably going to break up the “walk way” that comes out from the middle of the porch and just let the grass go over it. And we’re going to build new flowerbeds, but we probably won’t do that till next spring.

All in all, it’s a very nice house, especially for a “starter” home. And of course it has its pluses and minuses.

Pluses: Big back yard, Huge outbuilding, Brand new laundry room (just added on to the house), Big kitchen/dining area, 3 bed rooms, 1 1/2 baths, Has a living room + the previous owner closed in the garage to make a den area (this room will be our office), Large deck area. Plus we’ll have new appliances, fans, carpet, and paint.

Minuses: The bedrooms & bathrooms are small. Lack of closet space (I sense a post coming on this). The outbuilding needs some work. No garage/carport. (but we have room to build one off to the right of the house, or we could use part the outbuilding to park cars.) Also, not sure how energy efficient the house will be.

My Favorite Feature: The Kitchen Area or the den/office room.
My Husband’s Favorite Feature: The Den/office. His second favorite feature is the outbuilding aka his “Man Cave” or “The He-Man Woman Hater’s Club.” (he’s a Little Rascals fan)

I’ve been imagining where all the furniture will go and how all our stuff will be arranged in cabinets…but imagining just isn’t quite the same as actually doing. I can’t wait to move in!

Filed Under: Home/Garden, moving

Lighting for Your Backyard Parties

June 2, 2008 1 Comment

I’ve been looking up different party ideas when I found these really cool solar lanterns. These look very nice, and unlike a lot of alternatives, you don’t have to deal with bunch of ugly wires, and you don’t have to go through a huge installation process. You simply hang these outside in the sun so that they can charge, and when the sun goes down these handy little lanterns will give off a nice glow.

But if you live in a shaded area, or you’re just looking for something of a different style,there are a lot of great choices when it comes to lighting for your outdoor party. Some popular choices include Candles, Flaming Torches, Strings of Christmas lights or novelty lights, Electric wall laterns & post lanterns, strings of paper lanterns, etc.

Here are a couple of cute choices, followed by some links:

Flower Lights

Flipflop Lights

Sunsetter Patio Lights

Colored Lights

Cherry Blossom Lanterns

If your in the market for some party lights, here a few links you may be interested in:

Ivillage – for more info on solar lights

Offthedeepend.com – They have a fun variety of light strings

Nextag – cool lights here

Japanese Lantern lights

If you get creative with the lighting and decor, you can create a fun & unique atmosphere for your summer barbecue or pool party. And if you shop around, you can usually find some good deals on this stuff too! Have a good day!

Filed Under: decorating, Home/Garden, party ideas, summer

Spring Cleaning: The Living Room & Den, Part 2

April 14, 2008 Leave a Comment

Just a few more cleaning tips to spruce up you living room area and den:

-Dusting: Remove items from your entertainment center, coffee table, etc. and dust your furniture to give it a clean shine and eliminate allergens. Also, take a moment to dust picture frames and knick knacks, and dust/clean lamps, ceiling fans, and lighting fixtures.

-Eliminate Clutter by Creating a Space – De-clutter your living room by creating a space for room-cluttering items. Purchase a media cabinet for movies, video games, etc. Purchase a toy box for quick storage of kid’s toys in the living room. Or purcahse a hall tree to hang coats, umbrellas, etc.

-De-clutter by getting rid of unwanted knick knacks and decor.

-Controllers and game clutter- Come up with a place to store video game controllers and tv remotes so that they are out of the way. Perhaps place them in a special bin or basket that looks nice or hide them away in a media cabinet.

Creating a work & hobby space – If your living room is used as a game room, hobby room, or work space, or home office/family computer area, create a designated space that is just for this purpose (perhaps in the corner), and make an effort to de-clutter and organize it.

-Windows – Take down curtains and blinds to be cleaned. Use a vacuum to clean the base of the window. Wash windows inside and out.

-Spruce up walls – Dust walls with a swiffer, wipe down base boards, and touch up scuff marks. And get rid of cobwebs in the corners.

-Rearrange: Change the look of your living room by rearranging picture frames, decor, or furniture.

-Mats & Rugs – Clean or replace rugs and mats in your living room area, especially those in high traffic areas and doorways.

Related Articles:
Creating a Shoe Station

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Spring Cleaning: The Living Room & Den, Part 1

April 11, 2008 Leave a Comment

When I think of spring cleaning, the living room/den area isn’t the first place that comes to my mind. I think this is because we typically don’t store things that get cluttered and need organizing in this room. And speaking for myself, I do a little bit of cleaning every day in the living room, sort of a “clean as you go” plan. Also, I think sometimes everyday-clutter has a tendency to just be natural to us. (like kid’s toys)
But I think that since we spend so much time in this room, (particularly our leisure time), we should make a special effort to keep it as clean as possible (while still maintaining a comfortable & relaxing atmosphere). So I got to thinking about some different ways to approach spring cleaning in the living area.

-Cleaning Carpets & Upholstery: Run the vacuum over your carpets and furniture upholstery. Use the hose and an attachment to get in between and behind cushions. If the cushions can be removed, take them off the couch and vacuum the bottom side of the cushions as well as the entire area underneath the cushions. If applicable, consider flipping the cushions over before placing them back on the couch. Take cushions outside for a while to let them air out, or sprinkle baking soda or fabric refresher on cushions before vacuuming to eliminate odors. To eliminate odors on carpets, sprinkle baking soda and leave it overnight. Then vacuum the next day.

-Afghans & throw pillows – If cleaning instructions allow, place these in the washing machine. Or take them to be professionally cleaned. Place throws and pillows that you do not plan to use again till next winter in a vacuum storage bag or other water-proof, moisture-proof container and store them in a closet, under a bed, or in the attic. -Buy or Rent a carpet cleaning machine: Once or twice a year my dad shampoos his carpets with a professional carpet cleaning machine. If you can’t afford one of these, you can rent one to use. They work extremely well, and you won’t believe how much dirt they keep up. And your carpets will look great. You also hire someone to professionally clean your carpets, but it’s much more cost efficient to do it yourself.

Related Articles:
Indoor Air Quality Articles
Eliminating Odors

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Spring Cleaning Must-Dos

April 9, 2008 2 Comments

Some of us don’t have the time (or the energy) to thoroughly clean up during the spring cleaning season, but the truth is that a lot of clutter can get built up over the cold winter months, and even if you don’t have the time to turn your house upside down this spring, you can do a lot of good by simply concentrating on a couple of problem areas. Here are a few suggestions that I consider to be must-dos for everyone’s spring cleaning to-do list:

Pantry/fridge – Empty your fridge/pantry. Go through all your food, throw out items that are out of date & any items that you know will never be eaten. Wipe down shelves, drawers, and other food storage areas. Then restock and organize.

Medicine Cabinet – Clean out your medicine cabinet. De-clutter by getting rid of expired medications. Clean the shelves and any storage compartments. Rearrange your medicine cabinet to make items more accessible and easy to find.

Closet – Clean out your closet. Get rid of clothes that do not fit, or are torn, items you haven’t worn in over a year, and anything else that you know you won’t wear. Arrange your closet so that like items are together. Move winter coats, dresses, and other items to an extra closet if you have one, or store them in totes or “vacuum” storage bags on a shelf or under your bed. I did a post last fall on storing summer clothes for this winter. This can also be applied in the spring: Storing Clothes.

Bathroom – True, you should clean your bathroom on a regular basis anyway, but when was the last time that you cleaned it thorughly? If you do nothing else for spring cleaning, you should give your bathroom a good cleaning. Scrub your sink, shower, tub, and toilet till they shine. Take down your shower curtain and wash it in the washing machine or replace it with a new one if needed. Do the same with bathroom rugs.

These are just a few spring cleaning projects that you can do to improve your home, even if you have very little time on your hands. And if these areas aren’t a problem for you, then find another problem area of your home and tackle it this spring. A little goes a long way.

Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden, organizing

Indoor Air Quality, Pt 1

November 8, 2007 Leave a Comment

Air quality is extremely important especially if you spend as much time indoors as I do. Maintaining good quality air in your home is especially important in the winter months because you stay indoors more, and your doors and windows are usually closed, preventing any fresh air from the outside from circulating into your home and preventing the escape of contaminants. In fact, on days when the weather is not too hot or cold you should try opening your windows and doors so that more fresh air can circulate through. Also, turn on the ventilators in your kitchen and bathroom. They will help to take out the pollutants.

One of the easiest things you can do to improve the air quality in your home by simply changing out your air filters on a regular basis. Air filters should be replaced or cleaned (depending on what kind of filter you have) every three months. If at some point before the three months is up, you noticed that your furniture is dusty, you may need to change the filters early. You can check to see if they need to be replaced by simply looking at the filter to see if it is dirty. You may also consider putting your hand over the air vent to see to be sure you have normal air flow. If you don’t feel anything, then the filter may be dirty. Either way you should check your filters on a monthly basis to make sure they are not dirty and replace them at least every three months.

Upon replacing your filters, take a marker and write the date somewhere on the filter so that a couple of months later on when you think to yourself, “gee, I wonder if it’s time to replace the filters…” all you will have to do is look at the filter and you’ll know exactly when you need to replace it.

Not only will changing your filters improve your air quality, but it will also help to lower your energy bills.

Inda.org is a website that you can go to for more information on air filters, including what kind of filters are right for your air system. You can also vist epa.gov for information on indoor air quality.
For more information check out Home Maintenance: How to change your air filter

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Filed Under: cleaning, Home/Garden

Use Your Windows to Help You Save Money

October 31, 2007 Leave a Comment

Electricity bills are always their lowest in the fall and spring, and your windows can help make them even lower and and help you to lower your bills this winter.

  • This winter open your blinds and curtains on sunny days, allowing the sun to warm your home, and close them at night to keep the cool out.
  • On mild days open your windows. Where I live at this time of year the weather can be unpredictable. In the morning I’m wearing a jogging suit and in the afternoon I may be wearing shorts. Rather than using your heating/cooling system, opening your windows can help you to maintain a comfortable temperature in your home. The sun helps to heat your home, and opening the windows allows a breeze to blow in, cooling your home and also airing your house out.
  • Repair cracked windows. You can save energy and money by making sure that your home is properly sealed. Check your windows for cracks, and repair them with caulk and weather stripping.
  • Replace old windows. According to the Alliance to Save Energy (ase.org) you should replace old, rattling single-pane windows. Old single-pane windows do not properly insulate homes. Replacing them can not only help reduce your heating/cooling bills, but it will also help reduce your risk of condensation and reduce the risk of the sun fading out your furniture and other fabrics.
  • Buy “black out” curtains. Black out curtains help to keep light out of your home. They can also help to keep your home warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

Filed Under: Home/Garden, saving money

The Importance of Cleaning Up Fall Leaves

October 28, 2007 Leave a Comment

Almost everyone loves the fall leaves: the way they color the trees, the crunching sound they make beneath your feet, but most people hate to have their yards covered with them. Often it becomes a toss up decision: What do I hate worse? All the leaves? Or having to rake the leaves? And this toss up usually determines whether or not we clean up our yards.

Sometimes, especially if you have a busy schedule, it is hard to find the time to rake the leaves, and it is especially annoying to spend an afternoon raking, only to find your yard covered in leaves again the very next day. This leads a lot of people to beg the question: Why bother?

Personally I do not have a problem with leaves to begin with, as we only have a few trees in our yard to deal with; however, if you have a yard with a lot of trees, the leaves tend to pile up pretty fast. But whether you have one tree or several trees, there are benefits to cleaning up the leaves.

The following link is to an article about why it is important to have a clean, “fall leaf free” yard, and it also tells you some things you can do with the leaves:
Why You Should Clean the Leaves & What to do with the Leaves

Also, check out this article about composting your leaves.
How To Compost Leaves

Filed Under: cleaning, fall, Home/Garden
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