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Yard or Garage Sale Dos & Don’ts
Do you want to have a successful yard sale this year? Maybe you are getting ready to move or maybe you have just been decluttering and would like to make a little extra cash for your stuff. If you have a lot of things to get rid of, it may be worth having a yard sale. Donation centers can get…
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Spring Cleaning 101 Brief History & Tips
It’s that time of year again when our thoughts turn to refreshing our homes with a good spring clean. Spring time is a time of rebirth and renewal. After a long, cold, dark winter we want to embrace a brighter and more energized home. Deep clean all the areas that don’t normally get cleaned. Today we can deep clean our…
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Why You Should Go Through Everything You Own At Least Once a Year
Do you go through everything you own every year? Once upon a time we all had very little, just a few things our parents gave us. As time went on, we acquired more and more. You may have decluttered some over the years – clothes that didn’t fit you or suit your style anymore. Maybe some household goods or personal…
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Make a Meal Planning System
Meal planning can help you save time, money and maybe help you to eat healthier too. With the high cost of food these days, who can afford to let food go to waste? If you are a busy person, having a strategy can help you have nutritious meals and still get out the door in time without blowing your budget.…
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Ten Frugal Tips My Mother Taught Me
With real inflation going through the roof, you might be looking for some ways to save money. We have been spoiled with rampant consumerism and the ease of access to almost everything. My parents both grew up during the Great Depression and World War 2. They lived through rationing and adopted a frugal mindset that lasted their whole lives. Some…
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How to Do a No Spend/Low Spend Challenge
You may want to try a no spend challenge. You may have overspent a little over the holidays, or you may just have a hard time making ends meet. When you are trying to organize your finances, this can be a great way to reset or help you reach a goal. It may also help you to get to know…
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Planner Tips for Beginners
Planning is a crucial part of being organized. Are you a beginner to the planner world? (Yes – that is a thing.) Do you use a planner, or just keep it all “in your head”? Or do you write things down on scraps of paper, which you frequently lose? Maybe you use one for your work schedule and appointments only,…
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Christmas Gift Ideas You Can Make
There is something extra special about receiving a gift that is home-made. You know the person giving it put time, thought and effort into it. It may, or may not, be less expensive than a purchased gift… And some things you can’t buy in a store. Give the Gift of Your Time… Do you have any special skills or specific…
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Common Holiday Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
I’m sure everyone has been stressed out because of holiday mistakes. Knowing what those mistakes are is the first step in avoiding them. Holiday Mistake #1…Forgetting what’s most important… The reason for the season is not supposed to be promoting commercialism to the extreme. (Although I’m sure big businesses and banks would disagree.) It is being with the people we…
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Favorite Recipes – Creamy Tuscan Chicken
A new favorite recipe of mine is this creamy Tuscan chicken which can have variations to suite your tastes.. Tuscan chicken recipe ingredients… 4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced. 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil or butter salt & pepper ( *For a variation use pork chops instead of chicken.) For Creamy Parmesan Garlic Sauce: 1-2 cups chopped fresh…
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Chest Freezer Organization With IKEA Bins
Chest freezers are notorious for swallowing food (pardon the pun), never to be seen again…Or until they are way past their expiry dates and transformed into an unrecognizable crystalline substance. How can you organize it so you can easily get what you want and save money by not wasting food? See how I organized mine with IKEA bins. Why would…
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Car Organization – Assessing Your Needs
Whatever your circumstances, your car organization needs to reflect your lifestyle needs. For many people their car is an extension of their homes. As life goes, things change, so you need to continually reassess what you need. Meisha, a little Maltese terrier & chitzo recently came to live with me. Poo bags and hand sanitizer in center console for easy…
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Interior Car Detailing – 7 Easy Steps
This spring I will be doing interior car detailing for some family members. I started with my daughter-in-law’s car which is a Ford Flex. It ended up being a lot more work than a regular car because of the extra row of seats and numerous little cubbies. If you are interested in making your vehicle (almost) like new, do a…
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Life Changing Items for New Home Owners
As a new home owner you may wonder what items you will need to care for it. Over the years I have acquired new tools, equipment and gadgets that made caring for my homes so much easier and indeed, life changing. Where do you live and what type of home do you have (freehold, townhome, condominium, etc.)? The answers to…
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Organize Your Home to Minimize Cleaning Time
Did you know that having an organized home can minimize your cleaning time? Anyone who knows me, knows that I like a tidy home, but like many people, I don’t like cleaning! I know there are some rare people that actually do. There is also the satisfaction of a job well done at the end, even if you don’t. Laundry…
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Decorate Your Christmas Tree – Top Ten Designer Tips
For years I have struggled to decorate my Christmas tree to look beautiful and Pinterest worthy. I know it doesn’t really matter in the big scheme of things. There is beauty in all attempts to honor and celebrate this special time of year and I look back fondly on my childhood trees with bright coloured lights and sparkly garlands. I…
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Apartment Makeover Before & After
I recently gave one of my rental apartments a makeover to make it habitable for a new tenant. My long-time tenant moved out and the massive job of cleaning and “renovating” it began. We did repairs due to water damage and uncleanliness, and general “wear and tear”, as well as minor updates and paint. You may be faced with a…
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Organizing for the Holidays to Minimize Stress
Do you have your holiday plans organized yet? The gifts, the food, the events, the decorations, and card sending (if you do that)? I know some people put their tree and decorations up right after Halloween. Some people, not naming any names, leave all their gift-buying until December 24th and end up over-spending. The more organized you can be for…
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Get Organized with a Parent School Binder
With kids going back to school, a parent school binder can help you stay organized. When my boys were growing up they were notorious for, at the last minute, springing something on me. Permission forms needing to be signed, money needed for pizza day or supplies needed for a special project. I’ve made some free printables that you can use…
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Favorite Recipes – Eggplant Parmigiana
Eggplant parmigiana is one of my favorite dishes. If you like lasagna there’s a good chance you will like this too. It’s similar to lasagna without the pasta and a little twist with the unique flavor of eggplant. I hope you will enjoy it too. Eggplant Parmigiana Ingredients… I like to make a double batch with two eggplants, but if…
