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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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 (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.…
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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,…
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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…
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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…
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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 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…
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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:…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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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…
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Airbnb Guest Suite #1 Updates 2022
It’s been a couple of years since I started my Airbnb guest suites and I’ve made a few minor changes to my guest suite #1. Whether someone is coming for work or leisure they like to have a safe, homey place they can stay. New Barbecue. My newest Airbnb update to guest suite #1… I have added a little barbecue for my guests to enjoy. This update is one of the suggestions a couple of guests gave and I was finally able to acquire. This little 2 burner barbecue is an Expert Grill from Walmart and cost just over $100. So far, it’s been great. *(This is not sponsored or an affiliate link.)…
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Frozen Food Organization – From Freezer to Fridge
Are you wasting food and money when your perishables go bad before you can eat them? Whether you just have a fridge with a little freezer section or multiple appliances, everyone needs an organization system to store their perishable frozen foods for a longer duration. My Food Organization System is Born… When I got a new counter-depth fridge, I found that I needed another freezer. So, I bought a little upright freezer to keep in my garage, just outside my kitchen. Then last year I decided to get a freezer order from a local farm company and needed another small chest freezer. I decided to keep this freezer in my storage room because…
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Make Your Own 72 Hour Emergency Kit Bag
Are you prepared to leave your home suddenly if there is an emergency that requires you to evacuate for at least 72 hours? Being prepared for an emergency can give you peace of mind. This article is to help you if you have to evacuate your home and just need a basic, budget-friendly emergency “Grab’n’Go” or “Bug Out” bag. It is NOT about creating a wilderness survival kit although some of the suggestions may be useful in that situation too. What possible emergency scenarios do you need to consider? Where you live will dictate what you need. Are you in an urban or rural area? Is your area prone to extreme weather –…
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Emergency Grab ‘n’ Go Binder (free printables)
Why should you have an Emergency Grab ‘n’ Go binder? In an emergency, you may have to leave your home suddenly. Having all of your vital information in one place will provide you with peace of mind. It is best to remain calm in the face of an emergency, but not always our first response. With a grab ‘n’ go binder you will have the important documents to get benefits or help, if displaced, or be able to get replacements if destroyed. It may provide you with the proof you need to rebuild your life after a disaster. The information kept in the binder can also be used in your day to day…
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How to Get Rid of Stuff (Responsibly)
After all the decluttering we do, so many times we end up with piles of stuff in our garages or other holding spots. Months later they may still be there because we haven’t got around to getting rid of them. With spring right on our doorstep you may feel motivated to clean out those areas. Maybe you are anticipating a move or have plans to sell your house. You definitely want to get rid of those unwanted things before you put your house on the market or move. If you are having trouble with the “how” of getting rid of your stuff responsibly this is the article for you. *This is not a…