-
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 massive job like this and looking for some inspiration. If so, read on. Front Entrance – After Apartment Entrance Hall Makeover… The first thing one noticed when entering the apartment was the smell. I’m not sure what exactly caused the odor – dog urine or fly feces (plus something else?) – probably all.…
-
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 the holidays the less stressed you will be. Keep Your Holiday Plans Simple… The last couple of holiday-seasons were very low-key for most people. In-person family gatherings and events were almost non-existent. Whether you have a large family or a small one, simplifying things can dramatically reduce your stress. Skating anyone? What are…
-
Budget Shed Makeover Before & After
Do you have a shed in need of a makeover? My shed was long overdue for some repairs and a facelift. It was a dilapidated, ugly brown eyesore with worn shingles, some rotten wood and damaged doors. Wanting to keep it budget-friendly, the repairs were done over time, some salvaged materials were used and a lot of DIY. Before Shed Makeover Pictures… Broken wood at top of door by hinge. East side section. West side section -doors very hard to open. East side – before. Driveway view from east side. West side back view. East side back view. Prioritize Shed Makeover Repairs… Last year I had the shingles replaced and some of the…
-
More Travel Tips – What I Learned on My First Trip in Years
Looking for more travel tips? As many of you know I recently flew on my first trip in several years to Vancouver Island and learned some new things. What worked and what didn’t? Even with doing extensive research into an area you are going to, there are bound to be surprises. Some nice, and some not so nice. For the most part my trip went smoothly but I thought I’d share what I learned. (If you haven’t seen my previous post you can click on the link below.) Click here to read Stress-free Travel Tips (Airline & Budget-friendly) Travel Tips…Flying…What worked First, the online check-in process was super-easy on both ends. They sent…
-
Stress-free Trip Planning (Airline & Budget-friendly)
If travel is back on your agenda, you might be looking for some tips to make it as stress-free as possible. It’s been a number of years since I went anywhere on a plane and there have been some changes since then. Trip planning research…Step One First – where are you going? And will it be for business, pleasure or some other reason? Research as much as possible about every step of the way. A lot can be found online, but sometimes it’s helpful if you know someone where you are going. Your short-term rental hosts, family and friends may have invaluable suggestions that can save you time and money. The last time…
-
Extreme Decluttering Shared Spaces – Sheds – Part Two
If you are extreme decluttering your shed or other shared space, you may have a challenge on your hands. It’s not bad enough that you have all of your own crap to sort out, but you have to wait for others to do their part. You can’t declutter anyone else’s stuff, but you can set limits and offer help. Son #1 Shed “My Shed” Son #2 Shed Tips for decluttering shared spaces… I have a triple shed which can be a blessing or a curse. Two of my sons have been storing their excess stuff in two of them. One of them has his own shed and garage so there is no reason…
-
How to Extreme Declutter – Garage – Part One
Do you have a space that needs an extreme declutter and organization? Maybe a garage, shed, basement or junk room? Anyone who does any renovations or DIY, can relate to the mess that ends up in my workshop/garage, I’m sure. No matter what the space though, the process is the same. Where to start with your extreme declutter… There are different ways to approach a mammoth decluttering project. Break it down into small manageable pieces. It may take a week, a month or longer, depending on the amount of stuff and the time you have available. But where do you start? Start with one section and work your way around the space. Pick…
-
How to Deal with Different Clutter Types
There are many different clutter types and understanding what they are can help you decide how to deal with them. We can get very attached to our stuff and have trouble letting things go even if they are no longer serving us. Our emotions sometimes get in the way of having good sense. Why are you keeping things that no longer serve you? Recognize why you have difficulty and then you can work through the decisions for what to keep. Different Clutter Types… Trash clutter…One Man’s Trash is another man’s treasure… Obvious garbage or recycling that for some reason keeps hanging around… Why? Are you forgetting to put it out? Do you need…
-
Pre-Teen Boy’s Room Reset – Game On!
After doing his sibling’s back-to-school room resets, we finally got to my oldest grandson’s room. As a pre-teen young man, he is all about gaming and basketball. (He is a huge Raptor’s fan.) Closet cleanout already started. Room Reset Step One…Decluttering of course… It always looks worse before it gets better. The decluttering had already been well under way when I showed up. My daughter-in-law had already gone through most of Wyatt’s clothes with him and pulled out items that were too small for him. He had also already started going through his school supplies to fill his knapsack. A few of his toys were kept in the toy box, that had sentimental…
-
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 (link down below.) Cover Page. Supplies needed for your organized school binder… A 1″ binder, in the colour of your choice, is the first item you will need. If you have several kids you might want a thicker one. For each child you will need: Cover profile page. Three-hole pocket folder. Binder pouch.…
-
Boy’s Room Refresh – Less is More
After doing his sister’s room, my grandson was eager to get his room refreshed before going back to school. His room was twice the size, but he had some massive furniture and a MASSIVE Lego collection. To say it was a little overwhelming was an understatement. After scratching my head about what to do, where to start, we finally came up with a plan. Why do kids’ rooms usually end up a cluttered mess?… There are so many things that contribute to a cluttered mess in kids rooms but they all boil down to three things. There are multiple purposes for the space. Sleeping and getting dressed, storage of toys, crafts, books, schoolwork,…
-
Decorate & Organize a Tiny Girl’s Room – Top Tips
With back to school just around the corner, I thought it would be a great time to help decorate and organize my grandchildren’s rooms. We started with my granddaughter’s tiny room which had already been painted in her favorite pink and purple. Organizing and decorating small spaces can be particularly challenging. Left side of room – Before Right side of room – Before Closet and bedroom – before. Where do you start in a tiny girl’s room?…Declutter! Like all good organizing and decorating projects, you should start with decluttering. Depending on the age of the child, you might have to do this for them, but it is important to get their input on…
-
Back Patio Refresh 2022 (Budget-Friendly)
This year I finally got around to doing a refresh on my back patio for my guest suite #2. Everyone likes to have a nice place to sit and enjoy the sunset. What can you do to make a special outdoor area for yourself? Even small areas can be transformed to make your own special oasis and be budget-friendly. Back patio 2021. Back patio refresh basics…Paint and clean… As you can see in the picture above, the exterior siding was beige and the old concrete was very dirty. Last year I got the little loveseat and coffee table. Oops! This year my exterior siding and trim finally got painted and the damaged siding…
-
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 you just want to make a single batch, one large one will do. Sometimes, when doing a double batch, I will do one can diced tomatoes and one can crushed tomatoes. To make the sauce you will need: 1 lb. Ground Beef or meat of your choice. 1 can Diced Tomatoes. 1 can…
-
How to Make a DIY Planter Patio Umbrella Stand
I came across this idea to make a patio umbrella stand with a large plant pot on You Tube. My backyard gets unbearably hot in the afternoon and my middle patio area really needed some shade. I also didn’t want to spend a fortune on it and wanted to re-use things I already had. Waste not, want not. Planter Patio Umbrella Stand Supplies Needed… You will need to gather: Tall plant pot in style you prefer. (I chose one 22″ high x 14″ at the top. A piece of ABS 1 1/2″ pipe, cut to desired length A 30kg bag of concrete mix Spray paint in the colour of your choice. *Optional supplies:…
-
Car Emergency Organization Update
You never know when you are going to have an emergency when you are out in your car. An emergency is by definition an unexpected state or event that requires immediate action. Having a flat tire or mechanical breakdown or getting in an accident are a couple of possible scenarios. Getting caught in bad weather or some other reason that prevents you from getting home may also create an emergency. What will you need to help you in such events? Taloulah Tuscan Do you have a roadside assistance plan? Before I get into some of the “things” that can be helpful in an emergency situation, having a roadside assistance plan can save you…
-
Looking for ADHD-Friendly Organizing Tips?-Part 2-Organizing
ADHD-friendly organizing tips will help the chronically disorganized. After the decluttering of unwanted and unnecessary items is done you can get things put away where they belong. *Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This article is based on my personal experience and research in regard to home organizing and time management. It is not meant to diagnose anyone. If you suspect that you may have ADHD or ADD please contact your healthcare provider for a proper diagnoses and treatment. Use a planner to schedule your organizing. ADHD-Friendly Organizing Tip #1…Schedule the Time… Just like with decluttering, someone with ADHD needs to schedule the time to get organized. Whether it’s fifteen minutes or a…
-
Favorite Recipe – Rhubarb Meringue Pie
June is the month for my favorite rhubarb meringue pies. With my first crop of rhubarb, I made my first couple of pies and thought I’d share my recipe with you. Almost thirty-five years ago I got this recipe from my employer’s mother, Frieda Wright, a minister’s wife. I’ve tweaked it a little (I don’t think she used frozen pie shells) but it is essentially the same. (You can grab the free printable for the recipe in this post.) Fresh rhubarb. My rhubarb plant was transplanted from the original plant in my childhood home. Actually, the original plant was transplanted to my two previous homes first, before coming here. 4 Cups of chopped…
-
Looking for ADHD-Friendly Tips to Get Organized?-Part 1-Decluttering
Anyone who has ever felt overwhelmed by the clutter and disorganization in their lives can probably relate to someone with ADHD, or ADD, even if they don’t have it. Whether you are just crazy busy at the stage of life you are in or have been diagnosed with it or not, the ADHD-friendly organizing tips I am sharing with you here may help. Decluttering first is crucial – the less stuff to organize and manage, the better. *Disclaimer: I am not a doctor. This article is based on my personal experience and research in regard to home organizing and time management. It is not meant to diagnose anyone. If you suspect that you…
-
Airbnb Guest Suite #2 Updates Before and After
My Airbnb guest suite #2 had the biggest transformation over the last couple of years. From little repairs, to some new furniture and accessories, to a major kitchen renovation. As you enter my Airbnb guest suite #2… First the entrance door was replaced and I got a new screen door. Unfortunately, a windstorm wrecked the hinges on the screen door and bent the closer rod so I had to remove it. (I’m not sure if I’m going to replace it.) Then the old green, cracked tiles were replaced in the entrance hall. Original green tiles and door. New grey tiles Entrance hall and mud room. Airbnb guest suite #2 window… The only change…
