Welcome to week 3 of THE CLUTTER CHALLENGE! I am so excited for you to join me! How did week 2 go for you? Were you able to get a little or a lot of kitchen decluttering accomplished? For me, it felt really good to go through cupboards and drawers and pare down duplicates and […] The post The Clutter Challenge – WEEK 3 – Bathrooms appeared first on Clean Mama.
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I never knew much about built-in cabinet organizers, until I ordered my cabinets from Lowe's. Now, I'm obsessed... The post My New Built-in Kitchen Cabinet Organization appeared first on DIY Playbook. As one of the most popular holiday flowers, Poinsettias are Less Is Best As with many desert dwellers and plants of the southwest, Warmth and Light The Phoenix climate is perfect for Poinsettias as they need Poinsettias and Pets Almost everyone has heard that Poinsettias are poisonous to Not only are Poinsettias a long time holiday tradition Indian meal moths themselves actually don't do much damage as adults since they don't have the required mouthparts to feed on the items in your pantry. However, the real problem with these insects rises when they lay their eggs in your stored food products. Indian meal moth eggs and larvae are incredibly small and easy to miss. Many people don't realize they have a pantry pest problem until they find grown Indian meal moths flying around in their kitchen or pantry. Damage Indian Meal Moths CauseMost of the damage Indian meal moths cause occurs when they are in their larval stage. During this stage of life, the Indian meal moth larvae feed on flour, grains, pastas, spices, and cereals. As they feed they contaminate our food with excrement. Food sanitation becomes a major concern during an Indian meal moth infestation. Any food that has potentially been contaminated should not be consumed. How Indian Meal Moths Get Into HomesWhat many people don't realize is that Indian meal moth infestations most commonly occur when Terre Haute residents bring infested items home from the local grocery store. Pantry pest infestations usually start at the distribution company that provides products for food markets and grocery stores. Infested items are then stored on shelves for customers to purchase and bring home. Once on homeowners shelves that infestation is introduced to other stored products within that customer's home. How to Keep Indian Meal Moths Out of Your HomeMost Indian meal moth infestations are caused by bringing already infested products into your home, but they do find other ways in. Here are a few things you can do to help keep them out:
How to Rid Your Home of Indian Meal MothsAction Pest Control offers services to identify and eliminate Indian meal moths found in Terre Haute homes. The best preventative step you can take is to contact a professional pest control expert to handle your pest problems. With any different service options, we are able to take care of any pest problems you are facing. Give us a call to learn more about these options and what you can do to limit your exposure to these pests. The interior design of this unique new family home by Moor Design, is focused on minimalism, functionality and modern aesthetics. It features 5 spacious bedrooms, 4 bathrooms and a large 2 car garage on the back of the lot. Efforts have been made to allow the maximum amount of natural light to flow throughout the space and to connect the interior space to the exterior nature spaces that surround the home. The polished interior finishes feature high-end white oak flooring, european cabinetry, large-scale honed marble wall tiles and bespoke lighting. This three level family home in the trendy Fraserhood neighbourhood was constructed by Asanti Homes and won a second place award for Best 'Other Room' by the National Kitchen & Bathroom Association. Photo Credit: Janis Nicolay The post Minimalist Family Home appeared first on Decoholic. You are used to seeing ants scurrying around your patio or driveway, ant hills protruding out of your grass, and even ants who've made their way into your home marching in a trail toward your pantry in warm months. Seeing ants in your home in New England in the winter could signal a serious problem, though. What Happens to Ants in WinterIn the winter months, most ants go into hibernation mode. Their body temperatures drop and they become sluggish. They prepare their colony for winter, sealing up their ant holes and burrowing into the warmer ground or behind tree bark. How Ants Survive the WinterUnlike humans, ants can go for a long time without food. They eat a lot of food in the fall to fatten up and prepare for winter. They huddle in groups to stay warm and protect the queen in a dormant state. What It Means if You See Ants in the WinterIf you see ants outdoors in the winter, it's likely there's been a warm spell that tricked them into coming out to seek food. Once the temperatures drop again, they will go back into hibernation. If you are seeing ants inside your home in the winter, it likely means that they've formed a colony inside somewhere. While they won't come indoors from outside in the winter, they will certainly remain active if they are already there. Why You Should Call in the ProfessionalsWhile ants in your home at any time of the year becomes a nuisance that you don't want to deal with, ants in your home in the winter is a much bigger problem. Having an ant colony infest your walls, attic, basement, or even pantry, can be damaging to your family and home. At a minimum, ants can invade your pantry and spoil your food. At worst, some ants, like carpenter ants, can actually cause structural damage. Our professional technicians are experts in dealing with ants in New England homes. We will work with you on exclusion techniques to eradicate the colony and rid your home of these pesky ants. Call us as soon as possible if you suspect a winter ant infestation! It's January! There's something about the promise of a new year that always gives me extra motivation to tackle tough projects. January feels like is a fresh start, and it's no wonder that we get the urge to refresh and get organized! Christmas is over, and it's time to get back to work. For me that means heading back to my home office since I work from home. And this January I decided it was finally time to tackle the project that I had been putting off for the past few years. …..creating my dream home office! Last January I reorganized my pantry with the help of Better Homes & Gardens products from Walmart and it turned out amazing. Last summer I reorganized my boy's study space using Better Homes & Gardens products! So it's no surprise that when I think of organizing on a budget my first stop is Better Homes & Gardens products at Walmart. Julie and I are honored to be part of The Better Homes & Gardens at Walmart Influencer Network. We love representing a brand that provides quality style at affordable prices. We receive compensation for our time and efforts in creating this post. Our convenient shopping links help support our blog work but add no additional expense for you. All our opinions are authentically our own, and as always we hope you enjoy.
The ObstaclesMy office has been on my to-do list for years. And for years I had been making up excuses. Beautiful photos had been catching my eye on Instagram and Pinterest, photos of beautiful pristine stylized work spaces that made me lust after a home office space of my dreams. But these photos also stopped me in my tracks for several reasons:
Do any of these problems sounds familiar? Every time I lamented about how messy my office was I found myself stuck with too many road blocks and excuses that kept me from creating the space I craved. Here are a couple of “Before” photos to give you an idea of how desperate the situation was! When a space is unorganized it can quickly become a “dumping ground” for everything that needs to be stored!
My Dream Office GoalsSince the office inspiration photos on Pinterest wouldn't work, I started thinking about what would work. I needed my office space to include:
And all of this I needed to achieve within a budget of $500 or less. It seemed a daunting task.
Dream Home Office: 3 Step Planning ProcessStep 1: Evaluate Current FurnitureFirst of all, ask yourself, which of your current furniture pieces….
Step 2: Re-imagine The SpaceWith these decisions made I started to re-imagine the space. With some pieces gone what space, if any, was free? And what pieces could I imagine in these spaces? I wanted to try to keep the desk and design around it. With the spaces empty to either side of the desk I started to imagine creating symmetry on both sides of the desk and both sides of the large window. I knew what would be perfect. Cube organizers from Better Homes & Gardens are the greatest things ever! I measured the space and went to Walmart.com to shop for the cubes that would fit my space. It was so easy because they have cubes to fit any space in all different configurations. I went with two 2 x 3 cube organizers. They fit perfectly. And I bought them in white to contrast with all the dark furniture in the room. They have them in lots of colors and finishes to fit any decor theme you might want. Step 3: Work With What You HaveI knew I couldn't afford to buy all new furniture. And some of my existing shelves were already providing some useful storage that I really needed. My question was how to use what I had but make it look and feel more organized. My solution? Organizing bins! The big black computer armoire was too useful in terms of storage to get rid of. And the dark wood shelves were also useful storage pieces. In a perfect world I might have considered buying new furniture, but budget constraints forbid it. I also thought of how much I would love to paint all three pieces just to brighten up the room. Alas, I didn't have the time to take on that project at the moment. Instead I added cream colored fabric organizing bins from Better Homes & Gardens to the shelves to give a much more stream-lined, organized look. The light fabric instantly brightened up the dark shelves and brightened up the room. I also used some wire frame baskets with cream colored liners. These add a fun industrial-farmhouse vibe without breaking from the black and white color theme.
Next, it's time to get to work! Now that the planning stage is complete it's time to make it happen. 5 Steps to Your Dream Home OfficeStep 1: Take everything out of the room.This may seem extreme but you need to deal with EVERYTHING and create a blank slate so that you can rethink the space.
Step 2: Purge and sort into three categories.
Step 3: Put together your dream home office.Now let's put the room back together. This is when all your hard work starts to pay off. It's so rewarding to see the new space emerge. Hang in there! You're almost done. Don't forget what this space looked like before:
And after…..
Step 4: Deal with displaced items/trash.Next up: Dealing with displaced items. Once the room is clean you need to get rid of or repurpose everything that came out of your office. Don't delay in this step. It can be tempting to just focus on your beautiful new room and put this step off, but don't! Otherwise you're trading one mess for another. The feeling of accomplishment is so well worth the effort.
This is where the beauty of the bins really comes into play. They provide the perfect way to organize but they hide the items from view! And you can't beat the price: $11.34 for a set of 2!
Step 5: Decorating your dream home officeThe final touch is to add style. Of course this is the fun part. Add just enough to make it feel finished, but not too much so it feels cluttered. Just how much is a matter of personal preference. Enjoy letting your personality shine through these details. Can we just pause for a moment and talk about these AMAZING lamps?? Oozing style, these lamps are a statement! Gorgeous, affordable…I might need more of them…just sayin'!
A plush white rug with a simple modern pattern brightens up the room and freshens up a dull carpet. Layering rugs really makes a room feel complete. This particular rug is both Julie's and my favorite. We each own several. It's stylish, affordable, doesn't shed, wears well, and is super soft! My Dream Home Office Decor ChoicesTo continue the feeling of organization I wanted to use symmetry and keep decor simple and streamlined. Modern lamps are the perfect accents. They provide a style statement, but they are also functional.
Two round mirrors also add style and increase light without distracting the eye too much. I also love how they continue the simple geometric theme of the room.
Sleek faux plants add a touch of organic detail while keeping things streamlined. The plants and containers I chose fit the modern, minimalist style of my dream home office.
Modern minimalist style really works in an office because the focus is on simplicity. Keeping surfaces open and clear of clutter is the best decor element for any office. Now I have room to work and space to think!
Time to Create Your Own Dream Home Office!Let 2019 be your year to stop making excuses and get to work creating the home you dream of. Take lessons from me and don't allow obstacles to stand in your way. What I learned from this project is that my dreams are attainable! Images of Pinterest perfection should inspire, not discourage. Using Better Homes and Gardens products available at Walmart I've shown you that great style doesn't have to mean high prices. I hope this transformation motivates you to tackle your own home organization projects. Because the home office of your dreams awaits! Happy Organizing, Friends! With love & gratitude, Jodie & Julie
The post How to Create Budget-Friendly Dream Home Office appeared first on The Design Twins | DIY Home Decor Inspiration Blog. COME TO OUR DESIGN TALKS ON THE CAESARSTONE STAGESunday, January 20, at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
Trends 2019: What's In And Out For Your Home This Year12 p.m. to 1 p.m.Lynda Reeves and designer Brian Gluckstein discuss the hottest looks for interiors, the paint colours they're loving, and the fads to avoid. Plus, discover favourite rooms from Brian's new book, Brian Gluckstein: The Art Of Home.
Design's Next Direction2 p.m. to 3 p.m.Editor-in-chief Beth Hitchcock and H&H Designer of the Year, Nam Dang-Mitchell, talk travel-inspired decorating, how to find your style in the Instagram era, and the new kitchen looks they're loving.
Retail Therapy4 p.m to 5 p.m.Lynda Reeves chats with Ali Yaphe of Y&Co and Denise Zidel of Snob Stuff, owners of two of Toronto's hottest home stores. Learn about their bold, creative styles, their best decorating tips, and their must-haves for 2019.
FOLLOW H&H ON SOCIALDiscover show highlights and finds starting Thursday, January 17, on:
Use #HHSTYLE and #IDS19 in your posts! BUY YOUR TICKETS NOW!Tickets available online; talks free with admission. Tickets $19 in advance or $22 at the door. Opening night tickets $56 in advance or $61 at the door. Learn more about the show at interiordesignshow.com. The post IDS19: Join Us On House & Home Sunday At The 2019 Interior Design Show appeared first on House & Home. At DIYControls, we have been finding great products and proudly serving our customers for over 60 years! Our focus is on do-it-yourself products designed to protect you and your home and business, and to keep your entire family – including pets, children, and seniors– safe and secure in and out of the home.
From freeze alarms, pool alarms, remote monitoring solutions and automatic shut-off valves to phone thermostats, wireless security systems, All of us here at DIYControls take pride in offering exceptional and friendly customer service. We know our products inside and out, and love nothing more than helping you select the most economical and valuable protection. Our Staff Picks for Holiday GiftsWhen it comes to the holidays, we're as particular as you are about finding just the right gift for everyone on our list. To help you get a head start on your shopping, here are 12 things we would most like to give – or receive – this year! Bob: Home Protection During the HolidaysProtection is a priority for those like Bob who aren't always “home for the holidays.” With an automatic water main shutoff system like the leakSmart Automatic Water Shut Off System with Internet control, Bob can rest assured that his home and belongings are protected against water damage before it starts. Leaksmart's sensor-based system detects leaks throughout the home and shuts off the water in less than 5 seconds. The system hub connects to the Internet and sends audible and visible alarms as well as notifications via a smart device app. Bob's wish list also includes a professional grade DIY security system to safeguard his home against intruders and other safety hazards. A fee-free, internet based security system like Risco's WiComm Internet/Cellular Security System with a cellular backup option lets Bob use an iOS or Android smartphone or a computer to control the system from anywhere. He can also receive email and push notification alerts right to his mobile device . Dan: A Warm WelcomeFor ski and snowboard enthusiasts like Dan, the gift of an Internet thermostat lets him live the dream of arriving to a pre-heated ski cabin on cold winter nights. The Venstar T3700 Explorer Residential Digital Thermostat has seven-day, single-day, or five-and- two-day programming. A variety of lighting, language and temperature options allow Dan to customize the unit, and he can choose to connect remotely using either WiFi or Z-Wave technologies by adding one of Venstar's optional wireless modules. All for under $100! Laura: A Sound Sleep and Reminder to Take Her MedsThe Marsona Sound Therapy Machine is a thoughtful and unque gift for anyone who has difficulty falling asleep and staying asleep, especially those like Laura who suffer from tinnitus. It lulls users with relaxing sounds like falling rain, the ocean's surf or crickets chirping softly. This lightweight, portable machine plugs into a wall outlet or runs on battery power. It also features an automatic timer and sliding volume control. Laura would also appreciate finding a Med-Q White Digital Pill Box Organizer in her stocking. She can easily program the Med-Q with her medication time and it will flash the corresponding day slot with a bright red light. It also sounds an alarm that increases in volume. Features include 14 removable compartments, oversized buttons and large, digital display, and braille marking. Kris: A Smart Home UpgradeKris is wishing for an easy entree into the world of smart homes. The Samsung SmartThings + Leviton Home Automation Bundle gives her the ability to easily control the lighting in her home from anywhere in the world. The kit includes the SmartThings hub, a Leviton universal dimmer and a Leviton switch. And because this system is totally expandable and compatible with many WiFi and Z-wave sensors and modules, Kris can add any of hundreds of compatible devices to monitor and protect her property, including lights, speakers, locks, thermostats, sensors and more. Laura's Mom: Layers of Pool Safety for Her GrandkidsThe Safety Turtle 2.0 Child Immersion Pool Alarm System is the easiest way to protect little ones around a pool for open water. This “personal immersion” system uses water-activated wristbands that trigger a loud alarm when submerged in water. Laura's mom can use the Safety Turtle at home or carry it to wherever the grandkids will be swimming, including hotels, lakes, a friend's pool or on a boat. For an added layer of protection, the easy-to-install MagnaLatch ALERT Pool Safety Gate Latch with Alarm is a magnetic latch she can affix to vinyl, metal or wood gate posts. The top-pull model has dual electric warnings when unlatched – bright LED lights and an audible alarm – and a rekeyable lock for extra security and convenience. Lisa: Fewer Worries About Her New DogThe gift of an indoor pet cam would go a long way towards alleviating Lisa's worries about her new dog when she's at work or away from home. Motorola's Digital Wireless Indoor Pet Monitor with two cameras offers a convenient two-way communication feature that will allow Lisa to communicate to her dog without being in the same room. The video monitor has a full color LCD screen and infrared night vision for keeping an eye on things in very low light levels. Jim: Vacation Home Peace of MindA freeze alarm monitors the temperature inside the home and provides a warning if it dips dangerously low. It's an ideal gift for people like Jim, who owns a vacation home up north that he closes up for the winter. A call-out freeze alarm like the best-selling TempAlarm Dialer Pro sends Jim an alert via a phone call when the indoor temperatures in his home are falling. A local alarm like the simple-to-use Freeze Flash Temperature Warning Light lets Jim put his observant neighbors to work for him! All he has to do is set the low temperature, install the batteries and place the unit in a visible window. When the temperature goes below the set level, the light will flash and attract his neighbors' attention. Donna: Home Alone Security for Her DadThe Ring Video Doorbell is tops on Donna's list of gifts for her elderly dad, who lives alone in a town several hours' drive from her. It's like Caller ID for the front door and super-simple to use! When the doorbell is pressed or motion is detected, an alert is sent to her dad's smartphone along with streaming live HD video of the visitor outside the door. Ring Video also lets her dad converse with the visitor through the built-in microphone and speakers. Still looking for the perfect gift?Click on the Great Gift Ideas tab on the DIYControls home page for more suggestions. Use the lefthand column to shop by price, manufacturer, features and more. It's a handy resource for finding holiday gift ideas for everyone on your list!
The post 2018 Holiday Gift Guide – DIY Staff Picks appeared first on DIYControls Blog. One of the rules of frugal grocery shopping is to buy in bulk. Indeed, we're told to buy larger amounts of the things we like when they are on sale so that we save money in the long run. However, in some cases it's actually better to forgo buying in bulk. Here are 8 things where this is particular true: 1. NutsYou might be able to get a great deal on nuts, but they actually expire in between one and two months. Nuts have a high fat content and can go rancid sooner than you might expect. Seeds (flax, sesame, etc.) can also have the same problem. Before you stock up on these delicious snack, think about how often you really eat them, and make sure you can eat them in the prescribed amount of time. 2. Cooking oilsIt depends on what kinds of oil you are using, and where you store them. Olive oil will keep for about six months in a cool, dark place. Peanut and corn oil can keep for a year unopened, and for six months after being opened. Sesame oil and walnut oil are only good for a couple of months. You can prolong the life of cooking oils in the fridge, but they are likely to thicken in the fridge, so you will have to wait for them to warm to room temperature when you want to use them. 3. Brown riceBrown rice does not keep as long as white rice (which is too bad, since brown rice is healthier for you). It lasts only six months to a year, although you can lengthen the shelf life by putting it in the refrigerator. 4. CondimentsYou might be surprised how long it takes you to get through your condiments - and they're only good for between six months a year. Mayo, mustard and ketchup may all go bad before you use them if you buy in bulk. The same is true of peanut butter and jelly. (And Nutella.) 5. CerealRight now, we have a pantry full of bulk cereal that's about to expire. We bought it in bulk months ago, and we just aren't getting through it that fast because we eat other, healthier things for breakfast most mornings. Carefully gauge your cereal needs, and consider slowing down on the bulk buying. 6. Frozen foodsAfter a few months, frozen foods will get freezer burn. Even frozen meats won't last forever. Carefully consider how much space you have, and whether you will get through the frozen foods before they go bad in the freezer. You might find that it's better to keep a one to two months' supply at a time, and rotate it. 7. SpicesAfter six months to a year, spices start losing their potency. So buying huge bulk containers might not be the way to go - unless you cook a lot. Think about what you use most often, and whether or not you really need that much of each spice. 8. Nutritional supplementsWhether its a multivitamin, protein shake mix or a bottle of fish oil capsules, be aware of whether you will get through that big container before it expires. This goes for medication as well. My husband and I stopped buying massive bottles of Ibuprofen after we discovered one that was three years past its expiration date. Part of frugality is buying what you will use, and not buying excess that you throw away. Take stock of your habits, and pay attention to expiration dates. Good food storage is routinely rotated so that you eat things within their expiration date while having some months of food stored up. Making a plan can ensure that you have what you need - and that you aren't throwing spoiled food out on a regular basis. This article originally appeared on MoneyNing.com. Let us know what you think (or read what others thought) here. |