Make the most of a small kitchen

I recently moved into a new apartment that has a kitchen with about half the storage space—and floor space—as my previous one. For days, I was stuck unable to unpack several boxes because I simply had nowhere to store the gear inside. The kitchen has the distinction of being one of the most heavily used rooms in the house as well as usually one of the smallest. All that kitchen usage requires a lot of equipment. What can you do if your kitchen simply won’t accommodate yours? Here are a few ideas, all of which I am putting to good use in my own tiny galley. These … [More]

Summer Outdoor Living Ideas

Photo via Etsy.com/shop/Leonscreativememorie

Summer is around the corner. Are you ready to get the most out of the season? There are so many things—some little, some bigger—you can do to enhance your summer enjoyment at your home. What improvements can you make beyond the obvious things like increasing the time on the Slip ‘n Slide and eating popsicles every day? Here are some of the best summer-living ideas to get you thinking. Outdoor kitchens. Creating a proper outdoor cooking space complete with built-in grill is becoming increasingly popular. These spaces are usually centered on a patio entertaining space, meaning that everything about your meal, from the cooking to the eating, can … [More]

How To Organize Your Spices

We’re moving, and the new place has a smaller kitchen than I’m used to. We currently store our voluminous spice collection on a little set of bleachers on the counter, but there won’t be room for such indulgences in our new apartment. What to do with all those jars? A little poking around online told me there are many spice-storage options. The only question is which to choose? For a small place, a wall-mounted model is probably best. These come in a large variety to match your unique style flavor. Another option for those who lack counter space is the in-drawer rack. Some of them even expand to … [More]

Top 10 Ways To Store Your Shoes!

Shoes are one of those items that tend to defy organization. They are oddly shaped, come in pairs, and can be dirty. Each of those elements complicates matters, resulting in plenty of shoes dumped in the bottom of closets or kicked willy-nilly under the bed. Keeping shoes straight is made even more difficult by the fact that types vary so much in shape and size—a sandal is about as different from a hiking boot as a baseball cap is from a cowboy hat. Here are ten ideas for storing your shoes, from the usual to the exotic. Under-the-bed shoe storage is tried and true, but it’s … [More]

How To Find Your House-hunting “Sweet Spot”

I recently went house-hunting and discovered that it is very difficult to resist the pull of appealing elements that ultimately don’t matter to me that much. Ooh, is that a cedar-lined closet? Did you say the coffee shop is only a two-minute walk? Quickly, I realized I needed a little mental discipline in my search. Though we’d all love to be able to afford any house we want, the fact of the matter is most of us are priced out of a good chunk of our local markets. Sadly, we can’t all have the mansion on the hill, or even the three-bedroom in the nice neighborhood. Or maybe … [More]

How To Choose a Self-storage Facility

You’re ready to store your stuff but don’t know which facility to store it in. There seem to be so many; how is one to choose? Of course you can always just head to the one closest to your house, but not all storage places are created equal. So before you shove those boxes in the car, you first might want to consider the following questions. Is location important to you? If you’re going to be storing things you’ll need frequently, you’ll want to prioritize the facility’s location. That one closest to home might well be the best. But if you’re planning to stick your stuff in the … [More]

Upcycle Your Glass Bottles

What’s in your recycling container? If you have nice glass bottles that once contained soda, syrup or wine, it’s possible you aren’t finished with them yet! You may be surprised at the fun ways you can remake old bottles. Whether you call it repurposing, reusing, upcycling or recycling, the end result is the same – something new from something used. Upcycle a bottle and you may even save some money, and have fun too! Some of these projects lend themselves to the warmer temperatures we’re about to enjoy, so get ready to dive in. Bottles to Centerpieces Your next centerpiece for the table or eye … [More]

Top Gardening Ideas From Pinterest

Spring has sprung! Daffodils are blooming everywhere and the birds are starting to make a ruckus. Time to get out in the sunshine and get your hands in the dirt. Pinterest is a great place to look for gardening tips. I’ve picked out a few useful and appealing boards to offer you gardeners out there some great browsing material to get you ready for the great outdoors. For Beginners There are plenty of tips for those just starting out. The Learning To Grow page pins practical tips about making raised beds and how to build a rain-harvesting barrel. This page for gardening beginners features a lot of good … [More]

Motion Sensors Have a Place at Home Too

I’ve decided to allow technology to eliminate some parental nagging duties for me. No, I’m not talking about texting chore reminders. I’m referring to the usage of motion sensors to control indoor lighting. As many parents have probably experienced, kids don’t always remember to turn lights off when they exit a room. Even with frequent reminders, some kids still opt to leave the lights on. That bad habit can waste a lot of energy in rooms that aren’t frequently used. A solution I’ve adopted in my house is the installation of motion sensors (or occupancy sensors) that take the place of regular light switches. I’ve discussed how motion … [More]

Five Tips for Local Moves

Moving, even if just for a short distance, can be a massive drain on your time and finances. Early preparation, particularly in selecting a quality moving company and getting rid of unwanted possessions, can save you a lot of time and money. Moving Tip #1: Prepare Early Get your moving estimates early, particularly if you plan to move at the end of March or September, when many people’s leases expire. By getting your estimates early, you protect yourself in three ways: You have time to research companies and get references and referrals. The estimator will see that you are someone who plans in advance and isn’t desperate … [More]

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