Now IS the Time to Remodel

I received a voicemail message from my client on Saturday... in a nutshell she was THRILLED that her Powder Room remodeling project was moving along smoothly and quickly. My client lives in a coastal community here in Orange County, where 12-18 months ago a 2-4 month wait was the "norm" for just about any type of remodeling work - from painting to plumbing.

This project by the way, was a major "rush" -- literally 6 days to schedule carpeting, painting, and plumbing upgrades ready in time for Thanksgiving dinner!  A feat to be accomplished with no less than three different contractors schedules, not to mention juggling delivery of fixtures and carpeting.  Usually, I would not lay odds that it could be accomplished in such a time schedule (unless of course you have the Extreme Makeover team handy...)  However, it seems the Recession/down economy has freed up some schedules of many local contractors, and has "hungry" vendors willing to go the extra mile to find products, even if that means driving it in from another warehouse 30 miles away.

Last Wednesday, after the wallpaper had been installed (that unfortunately was the one item we couldn't seem to rush), we went to a "wholesale to the public" store that sells bath fixtures available for pickup by the plumber in a 1-day turnaround. We then picked out an eco-friendly sea grass carpeting that was installed on Friday, picked up a fabulous 5 ft. mirror at another store, and scheduled the painter and plumber...all agreeing to be done by Tues. at 5 p.m.  Can't wait to hear what the Thanksgiving guests think!

If you are currently thinking of remodeling a room or rooms in your home and have the budget, there's a good chance you may be able to get your project done on time and without going over budget.  It's a win-win proposition for homeowners and local businesses that have seen a drop in their sales.

Some tips:

• If you can, pick up fixtures and hardware yourself, and pay on the spot. You'll save the contractor's markup and can be assured necessary items are in stock or can be pulled from another location.
• Stick to the schedules you arrange for delivery and installation.
• Make sure your contractors know you can pay in cash at the time the job is completed.

There's Centerpieces...and Then There's CENTERPIECES

I recently wrote an article to share some of the inexpensive Holiday centerpiece ideas I've used over the years. Having budget-friendly options seems more important this year, when so many are scaling back on seasonal entertaining.  

Creating an inexpensive holiday centerpiece for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table can be easily achieved with a few items from your garden or pantry.  With a little creativity, you can create works of art for your holiday table, with little or no money spent. Read more here


Now, having said that...I also want to showcase a cake designer on the East Coast that makes incredibly creative cakes for all types of gatherings, from birthdays to ... yep, you guessed it -- cakes that create a spectacular centerpiece for your Thanksgiving or Christmas table. Check out the Thanksgiving Cornucopia centerpiece cake from PinkCakeBox.com.

Whatever your Holiday budget - I hope you are inspired to create a beautiful centerpiece to share with family and friends.  It's all about the options isn't it? As a side note: I am REALLY thankful that PinkCakeBox doesn't offer shipping to the West Coast! ;)

Adventures in Aromatherapy

I've been using aromatherapy on some level for years, creating a sense of well-being by using essential oils to create moods at home, induce a sense of relaxation or healing in the bath and in massage.  Recently, I've been expanding my knowledge and use of essential and infused oils -- and am amazed at the depths of knowledge that is available.  Tonight is the last of the aromatherapy classes I've been taking as part of the certificate program for Holistic Wellness Practitioner, and I can truly say it's been one of the most informative and interesting classes I've taken in the past year or so. 

Here are three recent articles I've written on the subject of aromatherapy. I hope you have the opportunity to incorporate some of these ideas in the care of your home, your family and your self!

How to Make Herb Infused Oils
How to Naturally Disinfect Your Home
How to Lift Your Spirits with Aromatherapy

Note:  There is a significant difference between pure essential oils and fragrance oils.  More info is available at the National Assoc. for Holistic Aromatherapy

No Impact Week - Changing Your Lifestyle Strategies

In case you've missed the recent media coverage, No Impact Week will begin on Sunday, October 18th. What is it you ask?

Mission (via NoImpactProject.org)

To empower citizens to make choices which better their lives and lower their environmental impact through lifestyle change, community action, and participation in environmental politics.
The No Impact Project was conceived by Colin Beavan, aka No Impact Man, following the success of his blog, book, and film, which chronicle his family’s year-long experiment living a zero-waste lifestyle in New York City. Central to his thesis is the notion that deep-seated individual behavior change leads to both cultural change and political engagement. Living low-impact provides a clear entry point into the environmental movement. This thesis is the bedrock of the No Impact Project.


Regardless of your current shade of green, the No Impact Project week can be a great place to start living a lifestyle that is low-impact. You can also download the No Impact Experiment manual free at the website.

To get Colin's book of his year long zero-living adventure (with his family):



Want to do more with your family or community?
How to Be an Effective Activist

DIY Home Remodeling

Home remodeling stores such as Home Depot and Lowes have held their own in these recent tough economic times. Some have speculated that this is largely due to the Do-It-Yourself home remodeling trends that have seen an increase in homeowners completing more of the types of remodeling projects that they might have previously contracted out to others.

If you've decided to take on a few home remodeling projects, here's a few articles and resources that may come in handy:

How to Buy a Carpenter Tool Set 
If you're not sure what basic tools you'll need around the house, this is a good article to start.

Hearth-N-Home Remodeling & DIY Projects
There's articles for all types of projects from inexpensive upgrades for kitchen and bath, to installing a new doorbell and repairing copper pipes.

New Websites to Unveil

I've been working hard (and collaborating with several fellow writers from eHow and Associated Content) to get FOUR new websites up and running over the last month or so. Each has a distinct theme, and features lots of articles and resources. Check 'em out when you can.

Hearth-n-Home:
Hearth & Home contains a variety of resources and articles designed to help you make your home and family the best it can be. Topics include green living, remodeling projects, hobbies and crafts, health and nutrition, travel and pets.

Small Biz Digest:
Whether you are a current small business owner trying to stay afloat, considering a start-up business, freelancing after a layoff, or are a work-at-home entrepreneur, we've got plenty of info, tips, articles and more to help you succeed in the world of Small Business.

Joy Upon Request:
Joy is available to All. We need only invite it in. Topics include Spirituality, holistic wellness, inspiration and global change.

For Women By Women:
FWBW's articles are all written by women. Topics include work & career, motherhood, beauty, and health.

I hope you'll bookmark the sites, as we will be adding content to them every month!

Maximizing Your Home Value

The recent downturn in the real estate market has meant for some that the value of their home or neighborhood is nowhere near what it was 18 months ago. Home sellers that might not have worried as much about their home's current condition before, are now realizing they'll need to do everything humanly possible to sell it at a decent price (or even sell it at all). If this applies to you, check out these articles:

How to Maximize Your Home's Curb Appeal
There are many ways you can maximize your home's curb appeal, that fit budgets big and small. Maximizing your home's curb appeal adds value to both your home and your neighborhood. Here are a few ideas to consider...

How to Maximize Your Home Appraisal
The home appraisal can directly affect dollars in your pocket, either through the sale of your home or by receiving a requested home loan, both based on the appraised value of your home.

Check out Hearth-N-Home's remodeling section for a few more tips that can help maximize your home.

It's All About the Driving

Planning a road trip for the upcoming long weekend? Thinking of including the family dog? Or perhaps, you're looking for a few ways to stay safe and sane on your daily commute. Check out this week's road-related articles:

How to Drive Smarter
Driving smart can save you money, wear and tear on your car, and even help you stay stress-free

How to Choose the Right Vehicle for a Road Trip
Most planning is centered on destination, budget and activities. In general, the question of what vehicle to use is not often discussed. However, here are a few tips to consider that may make you reconsider which car or truck to take on your next road trip.

How to Plan Road Trip Fuel Costs
If you are planning a road trip for a family vacation or even a weekend trip with friends to Vegas, most likely fuel costs will be one of the largest expenses to consider. Here are three ways you can calculate gas costs for your next trip.

How to Travel with Your Dog
Most dogs love hanging their head out the passenger window, blowing their ears back in 50 mph winds, and making new friends every time you stop at a light. But what about long-distance road trips, or even airplane rides? As with people, you have to have a dog with the right temperament to enjoy traveling. Here's a few tips to help you and your dog make the most of your next trip together.

Combating the Challenges of Small Business

This year so far has been a challenging time for almost every family and small business owner that I know. From printing shops to online crafters, work-at-home moms and thrift store owners - I've seen many struggle (including myself) to find a balance between costs and profits that keep your business running, and your customers or clients coming back. Here are a few articles that may help you find a balance in your own small business or "extra money" venture.

How to Raise Prices Without Losing Customers
Approaching price hikes with a strategy can help you combat rising costs without losing your customers. Here are a few tips to help you create a plan that can offset rising costs and keep your business doors open.

How to Build a Better Credit Score
Knowing your current credit score, along with a few simple debt-to-credit limit ratio calculations can help you improve your personal and business credit score.

How to Calculate Etsy Profit
Etsy is an online showcase where artisans and crafters can go to buy and sell their vintage and handmade items. It can be a profitable small business for many work-from-home entrepreneurs, if your products are priced to make a profit.

More resources and articles can be found at the Small Biz Digest.

Time, Family and Organization

Time management refers to a range of skills, tools, and techniques used to manage time when accomplishing specific tasks, projects and goals. This set encompass a wide scope of activities, and these include planning, allocating, setting goals, delegation, analysis of time spent, monitoring, organizing, scheduling, and prioritizing. Initially time management referred to just business or work activities, but eventually the term broadened to include personal activities also. A time management system is a designed combination of processes, tools and techniques. Source: Wikipedia.org

The beginning of a new school year can be a perfect time to implement a little organization and time management to make your daily life run a bit smoother. From budgeting and organizing your bills to streamlining the grocery shopping and chores, here are a few resources that can help:

How to Budget
For many, learning to budget their money is a new experience, and can seem overwhelming. From college students out on their own for the first time, to families that have been affected by recent layoffs, learning good budgeting skills can be lifesaving...

How to Manage Your Finances
How we spend money is related to each of our own value systems. Couples and families set goals based on their values, yet money is among the top five reasons couples argue. Often, this means everybody's not really on the same page, and have conflicting goals.

How to Create a Family Chore List
Are you having trouble remembering which task was assigned to which kid? Or better yet, are your kids acting as if they have no idea what's necessary to keep the house clean and your household running smoothly? Consider creating a Family Chore (or Task) List to keep it all straight.

How to Make Grocery Shopping Easy

Grocery shopping for most is a time-consuming necessity, that many of us would prefer to avoid. Here's a few tips to make your next trip to the grocery store quick, easy and relatively pain-free.