Did you know, the concept of spring-cleaning comes from the days when households relied on wood-burning stoves to heat their homes? On the first warm day of spring, a thorough cleaning was conducted to remove the ash and soot left behind.
Thankfully, modern heating has eliminated that problem, but the idea of spring-cleaning has remained. When it comes time to spring-clean, I fill a plastic bucket with essential cleaning tools that can be carried from room to room. ... It's a 2 Bitches thing.
Call us today for your free estimate on your spring cleaning!
Friday, March 4, 2011
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
CLUTTER FREE FOREVER
I could tell you a lot about clutter...
...get rid of what you don't need or use...
...find a place for everything...
...and so on.
You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits of clutter clearing simply by imaging your life free of all the negative effects of clutter that we've explored in the past two issues of this newsletter: lack of focus and clarity; feelings of being professionally, creatively, spiritually, and/or romantically stuck; insufficient time and attention for self and family; increased stress, irritability and depression. Wouldn't it be great to be free of all these?
No matter what other factors may be dragging you down, I guarantee you that clearing your clutter will dramatically improve your mood and energy. And then any other problems you are confronting won't seem quite so bad.
When you first start clutter clearing you may be surprised at the emotions triggered by the simple act of dealing with your stuff. You think you're just cleaning out your home, but what you're really doing is rooting around in dusty corners of your psyche and coming eyeball-to-eyeball with unresolved business from the past. The personal relics that lurk within your clutter - college papers, family memorabilia, detritus from a long-dead marriage - can be easier to ignore than to carry to the dump, which is why they've been haunting the back of your closet for so many years.
As you persevere with clutter clearing a moment will come when you realize how much lighter and happier you feel. In the process of coping with your clutter, you've reconnected with your inner self, with dreams and wishes long ignored. Those you've outgrown can be released with a fond smile. Those that make your heart leap with recognition and longing... well, now you have the space, time, and energy to pursue them.
Clutter clearing gets you out of your rut. It shakes loose frozen aspects of your soul and allows them to journey into your heart where they belong and where you can listen to and act upon them.
Eventually, you will find yourself turning to clutter clearing instead of aspirin or caffeine when you notice that you're not as clear-headed, focused or insightful as you'd like to be. If you're feeling lethargic and don't want to exercise, you'll know to examine whether you've allowed a zone of stagnation to creep in around the couch (where you are most likely to be having lazy thoughts in the first place). If you can't seem to decide on priorities for your business, you'll realize it's time to clear off the desk and catch up on paperwork. And if you're not eating as well as you should, you'll remember that clearing off the kitchen counter and cleaning out the fridge will help get your eating habits back on track.
What this all boils down to is that managing your clutter helps you feel like less of a victim and puts you back in control of your moods and your life. You have greater confidence in your abilities and decisions, so you feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future. You respect yourself more, and will probably find that other people treat you better as well. You feel less stressed, and have more courage to try and do new things. You stop turning to material objects to make you happy, because you are content with less.
Clearing out your clutter creates space for possibility. You may find yourself deciding to go back to school, change your career, start your own business, go out on a date, take up painting or singing or ballroom dancing, try out for a part in a play, or... what's your dream? (No wonder clutter clearing can be a little scary! Suddenly there are no more excuses for why you can't pursue that dream.)
Your friends will say you look terrific. They'll wonder where that sparkle in your eye came from, and how you manage to look both energized and serene at the same time. It's because you have released from your life everything that is no longer useful to you. You have let go of the past and are no longer hoarding for the future. You have made space for living freely in the present, where peace resides.
( I may have posted this awhile ago..bear with me...I am working on a new blog! Love ya readers!!)
...get rid of what you don't need or use...
...find a place for everything...
...and so on.
You can get a pretty good idea of the benefits of clutter clearing simply by imaging your life free of all the negative effects of clutter that we've explored in the past two issues of this newsletter: lack of focus and clarity; feelings of being professionally, creatively, spiritually, and/or romantically stuck; insufficient time and attention for self and family; increased stress, irritability and depression. Wouldn't it be great to be free of all these?
No matter what other factors may be dragging you down, I guarantee you that clearing your clutter will dramatically improve your mood and energy. And then any other problems you are confronting won't seem quite so bad.
When you first start clutter clearing you may be surprised at the emotions triggered by the simple act of dealing with your stuff. You think you're just cleaning out your home, but what you're really doing is rooting around in dusty corners of your psyche and coming eyeball-to-eyeball with unresolved business from the past. The personal relics that lurk within your clutter - college papers, family memorabilia, detritus from a long-dead marriage - can be easier to ignore than to carry to the dump, which is why they've been haunting the back of your closet for so many years.
As you persevere with clutter clearing a moment will come when you realize how much lighter and happier you feel. In the process of coping with your clutter, you've reconnected with your inner self, with dreams and wishes long ignored. Those you've outgrown can be released with a fond smile. Those that make your heart leap with recognition and longing... well, now you have the space, time, and energy to pursue them.
Clutter clearing gets you out of your rut. It shakes loose frozen aspects of your soul and allows them to journey into your heart where they belong and where you can listen to and act upon them.
Eventually, you will find yourself turning to clutter clearing instead of aspirin or caffeine when you notice that you're not as clear-headed, focused or insightful as you'd like to be. If you're feeling lethargic and don't want to exercise, you'll know to examine whether you've allowed a zone of stagnation to creep in around the couch (where you are most likely to be having lazy thoughts in the first place). If you can't seem to decide on priorities for your business, you'll realize it's time to clear off the desk and catch up on paperwork. And if you're not eating as well as you should, you'll remember that clearing off the kitchen counter and cleaning out the fridge will help get your eating habits back on track.
What this all boils down to is that managing your clutter helps you feel like less of a victim and puts you back in control of your moods and your life. You have greater confidence in your abilities and decisions, so you feel more hopeful and optimistic about the future. You respect yourself more, and will probably find that other people treat you better as well. You feel less stressed, and have more courage to try and do new things. You stop turning to material objects to make you happy, because you are content with less.
Clearing out your clutter creates space for possibility. You may find yourself deciding to go back to school, change your career, start your own business, go out on a date, take up painting or singing or ballroom dancing, try out for a part in a play, or... what's your dream? (No wonder clutter clearing can be a little scary! Suddenly there are no more excuses for why you can't pursue that dream.)
Your friends will say you look terrific. They'll wonder where that sparkle in your eye came from, and how you manage to look both energized and serene at the same time. It's because you have released from your life everything that is no longer useful to you. You have let go of the past and are no longer hoarding for the future. You have made space for living freely in the present, where peace resides.
( I may have posted this awhile ago..bear with me...I am working on a new blog! Love ya readers!!)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
My Son has another love, and it's not grandma!
As parents, we are not very comfortable not knowing what is going on in our child’s life. But as your teen starts to date, you will need to take a step back and not try to know ‘everything’. You may at first have a hard time and feel like something is wrong. That is normal – your parenting role is changing. Change always feels awkward at first. On the other hand, your teenager may want to chat about the experience. He/she may have some questions to ask. If so, make yourself available. But remember to try not to ‘read into’ any of the questions and begin prying. (copied from another site)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Wednesday July 7, 2010
I found this information online, and copied it....interesting stuff.
How to Minimize Dust in the House
Whether you have allergies, asthma, or nothing at all, you should make an effort to minimize the dust in your home. Even if only for friends and other guests, keeping a dust-free home will minimize breathing trouble, allergies, and a generally unkept look. Keep reading for some basic tips on how to minimize the dust in your home or office.
Central Filter is Key
Many people choose to save a little money and go with a cheap, throw-away air-filter. These filters, however, do not do a proper job of protecting you and your family from harmful airborne particles. Instead, choose a newer, more modern filter. This will not only protect you by catching and holding onto much more of the dust, but they will also last much longer than other, cheaper filters.
Clean Consistently
One of the most common ways to build dust in your home or office is to avoid cleaning in general. Even a light dusting once or twice a week is vastly better than just letting it accumulate. If you have the time, be sure to clean and wipe down your furniture, countertops, electronics, and other stationary items. Don’t forget to check hard-to-reach places like cabinets, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Utilizing newer dusters will help you to accumulate the dust on the duster instead of just brushing it into the air.
Keep it Outside!
One of the most dangerous types of house dust commonly found in homes is the dust that gets in from outdoors through air leaks. To get into the house, a lot of air must pass through areas that can be dangerously full of contaminated pollutants. Because you could also be losing significant amounts of money on cooling and heating your home, it would be wise to have an infiltrometer door test done to your home to find any leaks.
Vacuum
Although you might group this with cleaning, consistently vacuuming is important all on its own. Because the floors are where most dust settles, it is constantly being moved around and kicked into the air and into your lungs. Using your vacuum on a weekly basis is necessary if you are trying to lower the amount of dust particles in your home or office. No matter what kind of vacuum you are using, be sure to cover all areas whether they are carpeted or not. Dust can collect anywhere! Also, it is wise to utilize the attachements that come with your vacuum. Using them, you can actually reduce dust in hard-to-reach areas of your home such as on top of tall cabinets and appliances, fabrics like curtains, and even the ceiling fan.
Change Your Sheets
The bed is one of the most common places for dust to collect, in part because of the shedding of human skin cells throughout the night. You must keep in mind that even though you don't see it, it can still be there. To lower your dust count, change your sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis. Brush and dust off blankets, cleaning them occasionally as well.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-minimize-dust-in-the-house#ixzz0szue3OJk
How to Minimize Dust in the House
Whether you have allergies, asthma, or nothing at all, you should make an effort to minimize the dust in your home. Even if only for friends and other guests, keeping a dust-free home will minimize breathing trouble, allergies, and a generally unkept look. Keep reading for some basic tips on how to minimize the dust in your home or office.
Central Filter is Key
Many people choose to save a little money and go with a cheap, throw-away air-filter. These filters, however, do not do a proper job of protecting you and your family from harmful airborne particles. Instead, choose a newer, more modern filter. This will not only protect you by catching and holding onto much more of the dust, but they will also last much longer than other, cheaper filters.
Clean Consistently
One of the most common ways to build dust in your home or office is to avoid cleaning in general. Even a light dusting once or twice a week is vastly better than just letting it accumulate. If you have the time, be sure to clean and wipe down your furniture, countertops, electronics, and other stationary items. Don’t forget to check hard-to-reach places like cabinets, ceiling fans, and light fixtures. Utilizing newer dusters will help you to accumulate the dust on the duster instead of just brushing it into the air.
Keep it Outside!
One of the most dangerous types of house dust commonly found in homes is the dust that gets in from outdoors through air leaks. To get into the house, a lot of air must pass through areas that can be dangerously full of contaminated pollutants. Because you could also be losing significant amounts of money on cooling and heating your home, it would be wise to have an infiltrometer door test done to your home to find any leaks.
Vacuum
Although you might group this with cleaning, consistently vacuuming is important all on its own. Because the floors are where most dust settles, it is constantly being moved around and kicked into the air and into your lungs. Using your vacuum on a weekly basis is necessary if you are trying to lower the amount of dust particles in your home or office. No matter what kind of vacuum you are using, be sure to cover all areas whether they are carpeted or not. Dust can collect anywhere! Also, it is wise to utilize the attachements that come with your vacuum. Using them, you can actually reduce dust in hard-to-reach areas of your home such as on top of tall cabinets and appliances, fabrics like curtains, and even the ceiling fan.
Change Your Sheets
The bed is one of the most common places for dust to collect, in part because of the shedding of human skin cells throughout the night. You must keep in mind that even though you don't see it, it can still be there. To lower your dust count, change your sheets and pillowcases on a weekly basis. Brush and dust off blankets, cleaning them occasionally as well.
Read more: http://www.doityourself.com/stry/how-to-minimize-dust-in-the-house#ixzz0szue3OJk
Monday, July 5, 2010
Summer Storage tips for a small space
"A place for everything and everything in its place." Wouldn't that be ideal? In the perfect home you'd have a place to put everything where it would either look beautiful or be out of sight until you needed it.
If you have more "things" than you have space you'll find some great storage ideas here. You'll get suggestions for making the most of the space you have and find ways to create storage areas where you might not have thought.
Instead of opening a cupboard and finding a pile of things that do not go there, you can be so organized in your home that you could open a cupboard or door and find exactly what you're looking for. When you're finished using the item, you would be able to open the door again and put the item back. Case closed! Storage should be easy. Is it easy in your home?
Or are you just waiting to move into the more perfect home that will have more closets, a bigger garage or attic, or perfect built-in storage?
Don't wait for a day that may never come. Use some of our storage tips and strategies right now to get your things in order.
You should start your storage project by deciding what you really need in each room.
Everything that you don't need should be moved out of the room. Either throw it away, give it away, or move it into the garage or basement, out of sight.
Once you've decided what you really want and need in each room, look around the room for areas of storage. Is there any open, empty space? Don't just look on tables or closets. Look up, look down, under, and next to - your furniture, your bed, your closets, your cupboards. Any open space can be potential storage space for you.
For example, do you see an open space in a china cabinet, under a sofa table, or under an entry table? Use this space to stack wooden chests, beautifully covered cardboard boxes, or lidded baskets to store memorabilia, magazines, family photos, games, videos or computer disks.
•Look Up
There is probably nothing higher than 5 feet in your room, but there's lots of space above. Install shelves 12" to 18" below the ceiling to display collectibles, plants, hats, or photos. (Note: You can buy ready-made shelves and mounting brackets at any building supply store. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, be sure to use a sticky wax product to hold your collectibles in place.)
•Over the Window
Mount a shelf above the windows of the room for displaying things you don't use but love to look at.
•Wall Space
Find standard open wall shelves of any size at a home improvement center for an inexpensive storage solution for books and decorative objects. A structured wall unit or entertainment center can house books and electronic equipment and provides space for decorative displays. If you're going to stay in your home for a while, you might want to invest in custom-made shelves or cabinets. Any of these solutions gives lots of storage space without protruding too much into the living area.
•Behind Closed Doors
It's ideal not to have to look at the things you're storing, unless they're decorative. Increase available storage space by enclosing shelves and cupboards behind doors. Instead of using an open one, choose a bookcase with doors. A 12" deep shelving unit gives great storage without taking up much floor space. Choose a table for the end of a sofa or beside a bed that has a closed base with drawers or shelves rather than spindly open legs. Find a knee-hole desk with drawers for files and office items rather than an open writing desk.
If you have more "things" than you have space you'll find some great storage ideas here. You'll get suggestions for making the most of the space you have and find ways to create storage areas where you might not have thought.
Instead of opening a cupboard and finding a pile of things that do not go there, you can be so organized in your home that you could open a cupboard or door and find exactly what you're looking for. When you're finished using the item, you would be able to open the door again and put the item back. Case closed! Storage should be easy. Is it easy in your home?
Or are you just waiting to move into the more perfect home that will have more closets, a bigger garage or attic, or perfect built-in storage?
Don't wait for a day that may never come. Use some of our storage tips and strategies right now to get your things in order.
You should start your storage project by deciding what you really need in each room.
Everything that you don't need should be moved out of the room. Either throw it away, give it away, or move it into the garage or basement, out of sight.
Once you've decided what you really want and need in each room, look around the room for areas of storage. Is there any open, empty space? Don't just look on tables or closets. Look up, look down, under, and next to - your furniture, your bed, your closets, your cupboards. Any open space can be potential storage space for you.
For example, do you see an open space in a china cabinet, under a sofa table, or under an entry table? Use this space to stack wooden chests, beautifully covered cardboard boxes, or lidded baskets to store memorabilia, magazines, family photos, games, videos or computer disks.
•Look Up
There is probably nothing higher than 5 feet in your room, but there's lots of space above. Install shelves 12" to 18" below the ceiling to display collectibles, plants, hats, or photos. (Note: You can buy ready-made shelves and mounting brackets at any building supply store. If you live in an earthquake-prone area, be sure to use a sticky wax product to hold your collectibles in place.)
•Over the Window
Mount a shelf above the windows of the room for displaying things you don't use but love to look at.
•Wall Space
Find standard open wall shelves of any size at a home improvement center for an inexpensive storage solution for books and decorative objects. A structured wall unit or entertainment center can house books and electronic equipment and provides space for decorative displays. If you're going to stay in your home for a while, you might want to invest in custom-made shelves or cabinets. Any of these solutions gives lots of storage space without protruding too much into the living area.
•Behind Closed Doors
It's ideal not to have to look at the things you're storing, unless they're decorative. Increase available storage space by enclosing shelves and cupboards behind doors. Instead of using an open one, choose a bookcase with doors. A 12" deep shelving unit gives great storage without taking up much floor space. Choose a table for the end of a sofa or beside a bed that has a closed base with drawers or shelves rather than spindly open legs. Find a knee-hole desk with drawers for files and office items rather than an open writing desk.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Return order to your Kitchen
Keeping your kitchen hassel free may seem overwhelming at times. If your like me, in my own kitchen...I often say to myself -"no one is gonna look behind closed doors"... here's the problem with that....are you a no one? While putting away dishes, and pantry items, we look...and it bothers us. What bothers me the most is that I could spend time organizing my kitchen cabinets, only to have another family member come home, empty the dishwasher, and it seems like another tornando hit the drawers again! Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the help, but my family needs a lesson in organizing as well...if only they would read my blog!
Real Simple magazine is an easy read, and often has great tips to help us get and stay organized. They released a book called "The Organized Home"...it breaks down room by room in the house and offfers suggestions on cleaning and clearing your junk.
Real Simple magazine is an easy read, and often has great tips to help us get and stay organized. They released a book called "The Organized Home"...it breaks down room by room in the house and offfers suggestions on cleaning and clearing your junk.
Thursday, March 25, 2010
No More Wire Hangers!!!
After coming out of the closet (no pun intended) several times this week, I have hangers on my mind. Joan's fierce cry of "No more wire hangers ever!" quickly worked its way into my head.
The wire hanger, which has a simple loop of wire, most often steel, in a flattened triangle shape that continues into a hook at the top....continues to drive me crazy. Crazy no more Tara!!!
I have to thank my fabulous client Jackie for this. She presented me with the huggable hanger by Joy Mangano, bought online through the home shopping network. You have seen similar hangers at Target, or Bed, Bath & Beyond...buyer beware...not the same!!!
I have a new love...GOODBYE plastic, wire, and wood!
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