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Today we’re celebrating Independence Day in the United States. Give yourself the day off to celebrate. Attend a local parade, check out a fireworks display, or enjoy a picnic outside. Don’t forget to proudly fly your flag!
Photo: Cottage and Vine
3 Incredible Storage Solutions from Ikea
I’ve shared moving tips in previous blog posts, and there is some great advice surrounding how to execute the packing and moving into another home. One topic that generally comes up after folks move into their homes is storage, or the lack thereof. It can be frustrating to find a linen closet that is too small, or an office without a closet!
The great news is that we have an abundant selection of clever storage solutions at our fingertips through the brilliant minds at Ikea. If you just moved into a new space, and are stumped with how to store different items in a room, these three Ikea pieces will help you out.
Photo: IKEA
KALLAX – The Kallax line at Ikea has several solutions for storage. It can be used as a room divider and an open or closed storage unit. I’ve seen this used in tiny New York City apartments to separate a living space from a bed. I’ve also seen this separate an office into two usable working spaces. Use each square wisely by adding coordinating baskets (BRANAS, or BLADIS,) or drawers (KALLAX drawers). Mix and max as needed.
Photo: IKEA
TJENA – This storage solution line has magazine files and four different size boxes with lids. The Tjena boxes and magazine file holders are perfect for storing office supplies and files. You can also use these storage boxes in the bathroom or kitchen pantry to separate and categorize similar items together.
Photo: IKEA
SORTERA – Making space for recycling can be an issue when you don’t have enough cupboard space in your kitchen or pantry. These are stackable and easy to clean, making them the perfect recycling solution. They can also be used in a child’s playroom to organize toys, or in a craft room to organize craft supplies.
Now, these are just a few storage solutions from Ikea, and you can bet there are a lot more. I’d recommend browsing their online catalog to see if you spot anything that might work for your space. Or, if you’re feeling ambitious and live near an Ikea store, pay the store a visit. You never know what storage solutions you’ll find, and even if you don’t find anything, the cinnamon buns are worth the trip alone.
5 Essentials for a First Aid Kit
It’s summertime, and often that means there’s a greater risk of accidents. From playing in the yard to riding bikes, kids are taking the outdoors by storm, which means it’s imperative that your home and car are equipped with first aid kits.
You can purchase fully loaded first aid kids from the Red Cross Store or stop by your local drug store to see what they offer. I prefer to make my own. The benefit of doing this is that you can design your first aid kit for specific activities such as hiking or soccer.
Whether you buy a first aid kit or put one together on your own, make sure these essential, but not-so-obvious items are in place!
- Soap or hand sanitizer – If you’re out camping and need to tend to an open wound, soap or hand sanitizer will help prevent an infection from starting.
- First aid manual – You might run into an uncommon situation, in which case it’s important to have a guide to show you what to do. What good is having the essentials if you don’t know how to use them?
- Plastic bags – You want to make sure you’re maintaining a sanitary environment. Use plastic bags to dispose of any contaminated items.
- Disposable non-latex gloves – Make sure you have non-latex gloves, just in case someone you treat is allergic to this material.
- Tweezers – I’ve seen this one come up time and time again. Tweezers are oh-so important for removing splinters or ticks.
Additionally, you should include any personal medications and emergency phone numbers. Be sure to check the first aid kit regularly to ensure nothing is expired, and contents are in usable condition.
As we approach the Fourth of July holiday, make sure your first aid kit is in tiptop condition. Having a safety plan can help ensure a happier vacation!
Photo: Mummy in the City
Ways to Manage Household Finances
It’s that time of year when those wedding bells start ringing! Oh yes, wedding season is here, and that means many will be starting out on the road of blending household finances. Today’s post goes out to those newlyweds who might be unsure of how to manage household finances. This is a tough topic for many, but it’s a conversation you must have with your significant other. Keep in mind that people have different schools of thought when it comes to this topic, so it’s important that you stay true to what works for you.
Below are a few tips to help manage your household finances:
- Option 1: Don’t change a thing – Simply divvy up the bills each month, and assign who will manage paying the rent/mortgage, utilities, and other bills each month. Keep track of monthly expenses through a shared Google document, and assign a day of the month when payments need to be issued to the other person.
- Option 2: Consider a joint checking account – Create one joint checking account where each person contributes the same amount. You can use this account to pay house-related bills such as rent/mortgage, utilities, groceries, entertainment, and other joint expenses. If there is a difference in what each person is making, instead of a 50/50 split, contribute a percentage based on salary. With a joint checking account, each person still has their own money to use on splurges without feeling like they have to justify the purchases. As a bonus, if the joint account and each individual account are at the same bank, online transfer is a breeze.
- Option 3: Going all in – If you’re comfortable and prefer streamlining the total household finances, create just one joint checking account. This will house all of your earnings, and you can pay all of your bills from this account. The advantage to this is you can easily track all finances in one place. On the flip side, if you have only one account, your partner can see all of your purchases, so planning a surprise might be more difficult.
After you’ve nailed down how you want to manage household finances, keep the financial conversation alive. It’s important to maintain a regular conversation about your finances so you’re both on the same page. Schedule a monthly meeting to discuss bills and long-term savings goals. By being transparent and communicative about finances, you can avoid surprises and set expectations.
Photo: Lifehacker
How to Catch a Buyer’s Interest When Listing Your Home
Thanks to our guest blogger, Tom Matthews from Gibson Sotheby’s International Realty. Tom and his team mate Joanne Taranto assist a wide selection of home buyers and sellers in the Lincoln, Carlisle, Acton and Concord real estate markets.
When you want to sell your home, nothing is more important than appealing to prospective buyers. After all, you might have the nicest home in the country, but if no one comes to see it, you won’t get any offers. Some of the appeal of your home is innate to it–its size, location, and neighborhood–but there are still many things sellers can do to optimize their chances of making a good sale.
The first way sellers can make it more likely that buyers will come to visit the house might seem obvious. Make it possible for buyers to come tour your property when their schedule allows, within reason. Overly restrictive showing times may dissuade some potential buyers from previewing your property, which could impact the number of offers.
But what about the buyers who don’t have time to tour several homes in person? For those buyers it’s crucial that you make your home available online. As part of our service we list your home on the local multiple listing service and other real estate websites and make your internet listings shine with clear, enticing descriptions and plenty of well-staged, professional photographs. Give buyers the sense that they’ve visited your home and they might just fall in love before they even walk through the door.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of word of mouth. Let your friends and acquaintances know that you’re selling, and make sure to share your pictures with them, too. When holding a public open house it’s very common to see neighbors show up. This is okay! Your neighbors probably know a lot about your neighborhood and they may have friends and family looking for their own homes. And to attract the buyers who want to do a little window shopping before jumping into the market, make sure your front yard is tidy and attractive. Curb appeal is very important.
Of course it’s important to make sure your marketing is top notch, too. There are a lot of opportunities to market your property, some of which include postcards mailed to the neighborhood, print advertisements, advertisements on the web and social media, broker open houses and more. Every property is different, so it’s important to build a marketing strategy that’ll work for each listing.
The more prospective buyers who see your home, the faster it will sell. It’s as simple as that.
Happy Memorial Day!
Memorial Day is more than just a day off from work. It was created to honor those lives that were lost fighting for our country. Celebrate by attending a parade or local veteran memorial. While you are at it, extend a thank you to a military family that you know or see. Enjoy this day with friends and family, and keep in mind the reason for this special day!
Photo: history.com
How to Maintain a Clean and Organized Car
If you can believe it, Americans have always felt the need to keep everything in their cars. Take, for instance, this old vintage photo! If you’re like me, you spend a lot of time in your car. From coffee mugs to gym bags, sometimes your car can start to feel like an extension of your house and start accumulating mess. Like your home, your car can also maintain a level of organization. To avoid a traveling pigsty, try these easy car organization tips. That way, you can rest assured that you won’t be one of those cars.
- Garbage container – Just as every room in a house needs a garbage bin, every car needs one as well. Keep it centrally located and get in the habit of using it for your trash. That way, you won’t have coffee cups, straw wrappers and other common car trash hanging around. Additionally, a great time to empty the trash is when you fill up your car with gas. You can also make sure do drop the trash in your outside garbage the night before your weekly trash pickup.
- No item left behind – If you brought it into the car, there is no reason why you can’t take it back out of the car with you when you leave. Sometimes we can feel tired after a long day of work, and get into the habit of leaving items in the car. This action can snowball into a car full of chaos, so it’s best to take out what you put in.
- Regular cleaning – At least one time per month, go through your car and remove any unwanted trash or items. If you are waiting at school for a kid pickup, kill the time by gathering trash in one bag and items that need to go back in the house in another. Keep a supply of wipes in the car to do a quick wipe down of the surfaces. Also, this step will go faster if you adhere to the tip above.
- Car organizers – These things definitely come in handy! Hang a car organizer over the back of your driver and/or passenger seat to store kid-related items like crayons, coloring books, books, stuffed animals and other designated items for your car. When you are doing your monthly cleanup, make sure the items go back in their place and make a mental note if you need to replenish any items.
Remember, just because you’re goal is to have a neat and clean car; this doesn’t mean it should be void of all essentials. Depending on the month or season, it’s best to keep extra supplies in your car to be fully prepared. For examples, jackets in the winter and sunscreen in the summer.
Photo: Etsy
Thinking ahead: Planning for the Summer
Attention New England parents. In about a month, school will be out for the summer! On one hand, it will be nice to spend quality time with your kids. On the other hand, most parents find that when the kids are home, they often lose their personal time and space. The key to providing your kids with the summer of their dreams, while ensuring you have the personal space you need rests in planning!
Make sure to start scheduling in day camps, sleep-away camps, sport clinics and other commitments. Then, once all of the big items are scheduled, you can start thinking about how you’ll spend your normal, summer days. Below are three tips to consider as you’re planning for the summer.
- Give your kids structure. Summer isn’t the time to allow your kids to wake up or go to bed whenever they want. To set expectations with your family, create a daily schedule so they know what to expect and what activities will occur on each day. Schedule a time at the beginning of the week to gather as a family to go over the weekly calendar. If everyone is aware of the schedule, you will be less likely to hear complaining and rants about boredom, or have your kids’ faces buried in their electronic devices.
- Make reading a part of the day. Summertime doesn’t mean that your child should be void of all educational experiences. It is important for your children to read during the summer, and keep their brains active. Make reading a part of the beginning or end of the day, and while your kids are reading, you will in turn have time for yourself. Additionally, you could also schedule a time once a week to discuss the book with your kids. This will provide more structure for your kids, and another great opportunity to connect with your children.
- Include your kids in your activities. One of the best ways to make time for you, while also providing entertainment for your kids, is to include your kids in your hobbies. Gardening is a great example. This is a great family activity and teaches the kids how to grow flowers and/or vegetables. This can be a household chore that is shared among the family, and when it is your turn, you can be alone with your thoughts and nurture not only the garden but also your mind.
Personally, I couldn’t be more thrilled for summer. It was a long winter, and it’s certainly something we all will enjoy. To sign off, I want to leave you with this quote from a great book by the brilliant John Steinbeck – Travels with Charley: In Search of America:
“What good is the warmth of summer, without the cold of winter to give it sweetness?”
Photo: Boston Parents Paper
6 Mudroom Essentials for Staying Organized
The mudroom is often the first point of entry into a home, and can quickly go from tidy to turbulent. Family members will take their shoes off, throw their backpacks on the floor, leave trash lying around…you get the drill. In order to maintain some level of sanity, there are some essential products you should consider to help tame the clutter.
- Pegs – These are essential to giving every hanging object a home. Hang handbags, backpacks, and shopping bags. By installing pegs or hooks, your floor will be clear of all of those bags (accidents waiting to happen) and easier to find. Hanging two sets of pegs at different heights may accommodate the backpacks on one level and handbags and shopping bags on the higher level.
- Charging station – How many times have you been wandering around the house, wondering…where did I put my iPad? Where is my iPhone? Most families I work with have multiple devices that need to be charged. The mudroom is a great place to have a charging station for your cell phone and tablets. Your electronic devices will always be by the door when you leave, fully charged, so there is less of a chance you’ll forget them.
- Shoe racks or cubbies – One of the best parts of a mudroom is that you can ditch those dirty shoes that typically track mud and gravel into the home. However, oftentimes these shoes can be strewn about the mudroom floor, and in complete disarray. The great news is that you can build in designated shelves or cubbies for each member of your family. Shoe racks can be tucked in the bottom of a closet or underneath an entry bench. Be sure to trim down the existing collection of shoes to avoid all the shoes in the entire house being stored in this area.
- Baskets and bins – Using baskets or bins that match your décor can really transform your mudroom, and provide much needed organizational space. Make sure to label them so it is easy to retrieve items, and most importantly, easy to put away.
- Message board – The mudroom is a central hub in the home, and a great spot to communicate with the rest of the family. You can install a bulletin board and/or white board as a “message center” for major announcements or even daily inspiration. If used appropriately, these boards are also a great location for notes and schedules.
- Trash & recycling bin – I’ve said this before, and I’ll say it again, I am a true believer that every room should have a garbage can. Additionally, you can add a recycling bin right where you enter the home to easily get rid of junk mail and anything you don’t want before it enters your home. Add a shredder to the mix and eliminate the potential threat of releasing personal information into the world.
Photo: Better Homes and Gardens
5 Things to Change TODAY to Become more Eco-Friendly
Each year, it gets easier to live a greener life at home. There are emerging, eco-friendly products, rebate incentives, and a wealth of information online to learn from. There are also small things you can do at home that really make an impact on your environmental footprint. Today is Earth Day, and as we observe the beauty of our planet, I encourage you to make just one change from the list below to help preserve our environment for future generations. If you set a realistic “green” goal each year, then overtime you will have a greater environmental impact, and also save money, too.
- Don’t run the water as you brush your teeth. Something as simple as turning off the water while brushing your teeth can make a difference. Turn the water on to wet your toothbrush and shut it off as you brush. Only turn the water back on to rinse the toothbrush. It’s amazing how much water that can save.
- Install occupancy and vacancy sensor light switches. There’s always one member of the household who neglects turning lights off. To help mitigate this situation, you can install occupancy and vacancy sensor light switches. They can be programmed to suit your needs and lifestyle. Install them in rooms where lights are frequently left on after someone exits the room.
- Use smart power strips. This technology is simple yet brilliant and shuts off electronic devices when not in use. Devices like your television, cable box, DVD player, and printer are great examples of electronics that can be shut off when in standby mode. It saves money and reduces your carbon output.
- Think fabric versus paper. Cloth napkins are nicer, but they’re also better for the environment. Ditch the paper napkins and invest in napkins that can be washed and do not require ironing. You can also take this one step further and start using cleaning clothes in the kitchen instead of always using paper towels.
- Ditch the plastic. We all know that plastic has a significant impact on the environment, but time and time again, because of convenience, we choose to buy plastic bottles of water at the store. Instead, invest in a few glass portable bottles to use along with a water filtration system. Not only will you be minimizing your carbon footprint, but you will also save money.
I hope you join me in adopting greener practices at home. As a professional organizer in Boston, I’m going to encourage my clients to make one or more of these changes. By working together, we can collectively make a difference.
Photo: Green Living Online