Shared with cats

Introducing a Dog into a Cat household

2010-06-04T11:30:00.008-04:00

Yes. Yes cats can live with dogs and yes a dog can live with cats. I have 2 young cats that have never lived with a dog. I recently invited a large dog into my life and was surprised how quickly my 2 cats adjusted to the situation. The dog had lived with cats before so there was never a threat from him. My cats did take some time to get used to him, but it has been over a month now and they all get along beautifully. I am very impressed.Pics of the real critters to come as this pic is courtesy of Eran from Flickr.

For more information:
Introducing Dogs to Cats
Introducing Dogs into a Home with Cats
Dog Tip: Introducing a New Dog to a Resident Cat

How to approach home renovations

2009-12-14T10:23:00.004-05:00

Photo by Greencolander

Sometimes you are simply day dreaming when you start thinking of all the things that would make your home perfect. You start to dream of that perfect kitchen that includes a dishwasher, how nice it might be to have a fireplace, that extra bathroom; maybe even a second or third floor! Then at some point you realize if you had the foggiest idea how much some of this stuff costs, you might stop dreaming and start planning!

Costs
Speak to friends and ask them how much their renovations cost, and search online (which of course you are!) for resources such as the great renovation cost breakdown sheet I found here and this great article on creating a budget, determining costs and subsequent value of what you intend to do. There's some excellent stuff out there and I'm a gonna share it with you!

Contractors
Ask friends, family and neighbors for their renovation references, experiences and lessons learned. Also look on http://homestars.com/on/toronto for good local resources with good reviews, search http://www.handycanadian.com/ for contractors near you that are also customer rated! Go to http://www.ontariocontractors.com/ for research, to find contractors use great planning tools and more. Always get several references.

Licenses and permits
Take initiative and know what is required for your job and ensure you or your contractor take responsibility for these and permits. Read this about building permits and approvals and these FAQs about licenses and permits.

Insurance
Ask to see their insurance certificate and feel free to call their insurance company to ensure they will be insured during the time they are doing the work for you. Make sure they have workers compensation and liability insurance for everyone on the job. Also look for damage insurance of around $2 million. Your home insurance will not cover worker injuries, damage to your home or a neighbors, damage to your valuables and many other things. If your contractor does not have insurance there is temporary insurance they can obtain for the duration of your job. Read Why and how your contractor must be insured.

What you can do yourself
Always recognize what you can and cannot do yourself -take a hard look at what you are really are capable of. If you are not a professional electrician, plumber, drywall er -you might be safest to stick to the grunt work as you don't want to end up costing yourself more money and hardship in the long run by messing up a job you you never had the skills to handle in the first place. Always discuss work you plan to do yourself with your contractor, but do this after they give you initial estimates so you can ensure your plan will save you money.

More useful resources
Ontario Contractors
TrustyGuides.com: Home Renovations
CMHC home renovation FAQ
Home renovation tax credit explained
Department of finance -Home renovation tax credit
Return on investment information
Renovation and building costs
CMHC home renovation financing options
CMHC sample home renovation contract

Chalk board Ikea hack

2009-12-10T11:19:00.006-05:00

Very cool, easy, cheap, pretty Ikea hack.
See the complete and simple how-to post on ikea hacker here.
See the actual frame from Ikea here.

Basically you buy a nice pretty frame -like this one from Ikea, pop out the glass, paint the frame with nice white acrylic paint and then paint the right side of the glass with a glass primer and then chalk paint (both come in spray paint options). Voila -pretty, cheap and functional. I like it!

Musty Washing Machine

2009-12-03T20:00:00.006-05:00

Photo by, kassandrapoised

I was looking for a solution to the musty smell in my washing machine and found information quite easily. Here is what to do to get rid of it!

How to get rid of a musty smell in your washing machine

Always leave the lid up after a wash to air the machine out**
Don't overload your washer to ensure it can spin and drain properly
Run a hot water wash with 1 cup of white vinegar -do this as often as you need to to get rid of the smell
Alternatively -do the same with a cup of bleach
Run a cycle with Glisten or1/4 cup of any dish washing detergent (yes I mean DISH washing) -this has been recommended for really suborn smells
Try using Fleecy

** extremely important ;-)

When your washing machine won't drain!

2009-12-01T20:00:00.007-05:00

Photo by Cali2Okie

While I was doing some research for my musty smelling washing machine (post coming soon) I came across a lot of other interesting washing machine information. As it happens -I have a friend whose machine won't drain after a wash so I gathered information to help them out. Here is the information I found on that topic:
It seems the most probable issues are that the pump is broken or that there is some kind of blockage preventing the water from draining from your machine. Some washing machines have a pump filter you can inspect for blockages and debris and you should check the hoses leading to and from your machine for any blockages as well.

Before you do anything

Unplug your washer
Turn off the water to your washer

Check the hoses:

Follow the hoses from the tap to the back of your washer and unscrew the hoses from the back of your washer, have a bucket nearby to place the hoses in, and run the water to push out any debris
Hoses may have filters in the ends that CANNOT be removed -be careful with them while you inspect and remove build up, debris or blockages often caused by undissolved powdered laundry detergent!

Clean the pump filter:

Locate it -it should be at the front left or right bottom of your machine, it should be evident behind a small flap, but could be hidden behind a solid panel you may have to pop out and down using a screw driver to pop the panel out from the top -be careful as some are cheap and will break
Once you have the filter exposed you should find a retractable hose or pipe that you can pull out and allow remaining water to drain into a bowl (if you have a huge amount of water in the machine this may take a long time)
Grab a towel and place under the pump
Unscrew the pump filter counter-clockwise 1/4 turn and try to pull out or keep unscrewing until it comes out BE CAREFUL IF YOU HAVE SOME WATER STILL IN YOUR MACHINE -if this is the case have a large strong bowl ready to catch the water as it will pour out -push the filter back in and screw it on to stop the flow while you empty the bowl -repeat until the drum is empty
Once the pump filter is out -remove any blockages, shine a flashlight inside to inspect and reattach securely to the washer

Please read here for more complete details on these steps.

Inspect the pump:

See th is for instructions as this can get complicated and you may not want to do this yourself

Note:
Many people swear that using powder detergent; alone and particularly with cold water washes, will clog your pump eventually and prevent the water from draining.

Links for more information:
Washer troubleshooting tool
How to clean washing machine filters
Washing machine wizzard

Need a new roof?

2009-11-22T11:26:00.007-05:00

Photo by m_m_mnemonic

I need a new roof. I always knew I would have to invest in my roof. I was hoping that I would have a bit of time after moving in before having to shell out the cash for this, but alas... I am feeling that I should maintain this aspect of my home as soon as possible. Why?
Well I used to live in a basement apartment before I bought my home. It was lovely actually. It was mostly above ground in that only the back part operated like a typical basement apartment with the tiny windows near the ceiling. The rest of the apartment was dug down and the the front had wonderful floor to ceiling windows. I really enjoyed my time there actually -except for the basement flooding issues the homeowners had over the first several years that I lived there. They fixed it, but I became obsessed with humidity and detecting it. So -I know when a home feels damp. My new place feels slightly damp.

Trying not to set off alarm bells in my mind, I am taking a methodical approach to this. I have a hydrometer that reads between 65 and 71% humidity upstairs with all the doors and windows closed. If I open them it will drop to 55-58%. This still seems high considering I have a furnace also running. The most logical cause to me is my roof. We had an enormous amount of rain every day a while back and that is when I started noticing this. There is also a smell that I don't like when the house is all sealed up. That is another story as it actually turned out to at least partially be my washing machine. Still more to learn about and investigate is the general venting and air qulity in my home, kitchen (no current venting) and bathroom (new and well functioning venting exists) and a possible HRV system.

For now I am focusing on my roof as I know this needs to be addressed and it may help my situation, but it may not be the underlying issue at hand at the moment. I see no way to know for sure unless I open the roof and have it replaced.

Quotes

Get at least 3 estimates
Get your estimates in writing
Get and check references

I received 3 quotes for removing the current single layer of roof up there and replacing it with a new one. All quotes for this were from $6600.00 - $8000.00 tax included. I have a flat roof and these seem to be not as desirable as a peaked roof and more expensive to replace and maintain.

Venting
The jury seems to be out about venting and flat roofs. Roofing code says you must vent, but with flat roofs it seems tricky. There often isn't space to vent effectively and in theory if you eliminate the space for air flow altogether some feel there really is no need to vent as there will be no air to vent. My concern is that there is evidence of past water if not present water in my roof. I want it dried out and sealed or vented if necessary. I want to make sure there is no mould up there now, and if there is I want it removed. I also don't have a lot of cash to spend on this and it is looking like I could spend 10k on this depending on what is found or done. This isn't what I was prepared for so early with this home.

Insulation
This is something else I always intended on investigating when the time came to replace my roof. I have also read some interesting concerns about insulating a flat roof -mainly around ventilation. Seeing as there is only so much space in a flat roof, you have to be careful with the type of insulation you choose to add. Apparently you want insulation that doesn't have to be ventilated. The last thing I want is a nice place for mould to grow. Just read this to see how challenging this all can be even for the professionals. I seems batt insulation needs ventilation and likely vapor barriers as well, but rigid polystyrene insulation does not need venting and there there is blown insulation which would seal of any air/ventilation possibilities negating again the need for ventilation. I think.

What to do when hiring a roofer
Did you know that if your roofing company does not have adequate insurance you are liable for any injuries on the job?

A note about insurance
When hiring a roofer or contractor or sub-contractor, make sure each carries public liability and property damage insurance. If you really want to make sure the insurance is valid -check with the insurance agency to verify that the policy is still effective and will be throughout the duration of your contract. If your roofer is a one man business -he/she may be exempt

Here are some things to make sure you follow-up on when you choose a roofer:

Ask to see a copy of their license and insurance
Make sure insurance covers all workers on your job
Discuss a time line for the job
Discuss removal of debris, protection of your gutters and landscaping, clear times when workers will be on your property (not too early or too late -weekends or not), materials used and their warranties -discuss the full job
Get these project expectations in a written contract

Notes

Only one roofer suggested insulating and venting were both absolutely necessary for my roof
They all described the basic work the same way, using the same materials and methods
One suggested insulating or venting was likely was not necessary and tricky and that venting could not be done properly on my roof
The third said they wouldn't know if insulation or venting was necessary until they opened up the roof
Only one said they could do a cover roof and not remove the current roof and apply a new roof over top -the other two did not recommend this
I still am unsure who to go with

Love thy neighbour

2009-11-18T16:21:00.018-05:00

This being my first home and all, I place huge stock in my neighbors. I was hopeful of a nice considerate reasonably quiet person who loved animals and was kind and respectful of them and me. My little house is, well, little and on a postage sized lot so we must be respectful of each others privacy. We also share a wall; this being a semi-bungalow after all. So, when I moved in I was extremely happy to meet my neighbor S. She was exactly what suited me for a neighbor. She has a lovely cat and a small dog, loves animals is a single quiet woman and extremely friendly. What more could I ask?

Well -S. decided to sell her home in this hot market and she moves out tomorrow! I am sad to see her go. Here's hoping my new neighbor is just as nice. I ran into S. while waiting for roofing folks to come around and give me some estimates to redo my roof. She very kindly said I could have some items she no longer needs -below are the pics.

PS -you will see that I ended up going with the Ikea Daybed for my den/spare room. So the Day Bed hunt is over. I decided to go with cheap and accessable. The other options were just far to expensive for my budget at this time.

The daybed is mine, but the nice wicker table in front is from S.!

This is a cabinet with a shelf inside and a hole in the back for electrical if I want to place a stereo or TV inside. It is lacquer and a bit beat up and chipped but I think it's still very nice. Not sure where this will live permanently as of yet.

Love this. It will be nice when the warm weather returns!

There is also a small bistro table with two chairs that will fit on my deck along with the chaise lounge. What a nice neighbor! I think a fresh coat of paint on the wicker will make those peices look new. I can always recover the cushon for the chaise lounge, as for the bistro table and chairs -all they need is some rust proof paint. The full list of freebe gifties includes:

1 Chaise lounge
1 Wicker table
1 Bistro table and 2 chairs
1 Asian inspired cabenet
2 blue and white Asian inspired vases
1 HUGE Asian ispired planter for a large floor plant
1 large clay enamaled cobalt blue plater for aother large plant (I see this on my deck or front porch in the summer)
1 very nice white duvet cover

How wonderful is she? Goodbye S. Hopefully we will keep in touch. Nice people are worth the effort. Good neighbors are worth their weight in gold.

How to add value to your home

2009-11-14T12:03:00.013-05:00

I can't believe how easy it is to gather lists upon lists of to-do's and nice-to-have's when you buy a home. There are lists of necessities and lists of decorating ideas and now I find myself considering what of my list items will actually add value to my home. These are becoming my priority right after my first priority which is essential maintenance.

Here are the results of my research on adding value to your home.
If I keep it here, I can refer to it and hopefully keep focused on where the cash should go.

Kitchens and Bathrooms. What they say about kitchens and bathrooms seems to be true. Everywhere I look articles espouse the value of a great kitchen and bathroom. Completely re-do them or simply reface cabinets, change hardware and paint. Update counters too if you can. Add storage to your kitchen because inefficient storage in this room can really reduce value.

Flooring. Hardwood, ceramic, slate, cork, bamboo flooring; granite counters -stick with natural materials when you upgrade.

Windows and doors. Bring in the light and keep out the cold! A well done and well placed sky light can also add value. Upgrade for energy efficiency. You will usually get extra safety as well.

Landscaping and curb appeal. Make the front of your home welcoming and the other outside areas beautiful and neat. A mature tree can also add value.

Bedrooms -make your master suite stand out. Create closets if there are none and add an en suite bathroom if you can -keep it clean, functional and spacious.

Make the whole home feel light and airy. Open concept seems popular -consider opening up areas of your home such as the kitchen/living areas or living/dining areas. Sometimes hallways can go and merge with living or dining rooms. Consider what you might loose as well. For example -my dinging/kitchen wall happens to house the majority of my kitchen storage solutions. Opening up my kitchen to my dining and living areas would automatically reduce significantly, my kitchen storage. Consider if your trade offs are worth the renovations.

Finish the basement. If you can finish your basement, it seems that everyone wants one finished and they will pay for it and your home will have an advantage over the competition without a finished basement!

Storage. Maximize storage where you have it and install it where it is necessary -such as closets in bedrooms if currently there are none. Insure there is adequate storage in your kitchen as mentioned above.

Maintain your home! Seems simple enough, but simply keeping up with regular maintenance cannot be undervalued as the expense of repairs and replacements down the road can be much more costly! Maintain your home and you maintain the value. This means fix your roof when it needs to be fixed or replace it if that is necessary, maintain walkways and driveways, downspouts and gutters, plumbing and electrical.

I feel that I am focusing mainly on my last list item above: Maintain your home. I noticed a small leak in my gutters, then I noticed some minor dry rot directly below that on my deck and my wood siding. These I must repair. I need a new roof and I've evaluated my furnace and home appliances. I suspect my clothes washer will need replacing within a year or 2.

There are so may choices when you buy the expensive items for your home such as heating, cooling and appliances. There are also differences in what people will choose if they plan to sell or live in the home. I suspect many of the choices for my home were made with the short term in mind. I have good heating and cooling systems and new kitchen appliances, however they are all basic models. I cannot expect the same longevity or functionality from them over time, that I would with higher quality models. My washer and dryer are functional, but old and the washer does have a nasty musty smell I am battling.

Maintenance will be on my mind for a while. This will keep me from devaluing my home and that is as important as looking at what will add value to me!

Handyman, contractor, service people -where do you find one?

2009-11-11T14:33:00.008-05:00

Photo by whiteoakart

Okay -I get a bit nervous with contractors and repair folks. Sometimes you just don't know who to trust. Firstly I have to mention that there is a website that is perfect for homeowners looking for handy people, contractors, roofers, gas services, plumbing, electrical -you name it, anything to do with your home repair and upkeep!
It is called homestars.com.

I wanted to have my furnace looked at by a professional before the winter came. I also had many odd questions about my gas stove, my AC unit the duct work in my basement and the humidity in my home. I found a great company called Climate Change Mechanical via Homestars.com.

Homestars.com is a review site strictly for contractors and home maintenance and repair companies. People post reviews and experiences with various service providers and rate them out of 10. I read several reviews for CCM and decided to give them a call. I wasn't disappointed. I don't know what people did before this site. I find it particularly helpful for me as I come from a small family with few experiences with home renovations and upkeep to recommend. I don't have a handy uncle or brother or sister (save for myself and I am pretty new at this!). The only other homeowners I know well are also new to the whole experience and are just as in the dark as to who is good and who isn't as I am.

Anyway -check them out -information is power and I had a great experience with the people I decided to go with.

Simple baked tofu

2009-11-09T09:52:00.009-05:00

Photo by lexikh

I like to cook. I stumbled across a really nice sounding baked tofu recipe on another blog. I thought I would post my simple recipe here and link to the new recipe I just found in the process.

I love baked tofu because it is simple to make, nutritious, affordable, very versatile to use and can be adapted to many flavor situations. Once I make it I can freeze cubes for salads and stir fries, throw some in soup, use in veggie sushi, add to pasta or take to work as a snack. I use a simple recipe based on one from one of my many treasured, Moosewood cookbooks.

It really is simple make: heat your oven to 350, cube your tofu and place in a large baking dish, splash 2 tbsp Tamari, Braggs or Soy Sauce, 2 tbsp olive or sesame oil, 2 cloves minced garlic and 1 tsp minced ginger in the baking dish with the tofu and stir. Make for 20 minutes -stir and then bake for 15 minutes more. You can get creative on your own, use chopped green onions and some sesame seeds, try Teriyaki sauce what ever flavors meet your recipe -go wild.

I saw this recipe on Domestic Affair:Redefining Domesticity. What a great blog! This baked tofu recipe also sounds wonderful, particularly the dressing that you pour over the tofu, cashews and vegetables when they are all cooked.

Sesame Baked Tofu with Cashews and Snow Peas

Home Maintanance: Checklist

2009-11-03T17:23:00.013-05:00

Photo by, Papa Plumbing

So -have I mentioned how many things pile up when you own your own home? It is Fall and I want to ensure I am taking good care of my investment. Firstly I would like to get my furnace checked. There are a whole host of other things I am finding that I must do in the Fall. I found this nice checklist from CMHC

This checklist has items you should check for each season. Here are some of the Fall items it lists -in my own words:

**Get a qualified person to service your furnace every two years if you have gas -clean your furnace every one or two years
**If you have an air conditioning unit -check that the drain pan is clean and draining
**You can clean your furnace yourself -but always turn the power off first; check the belts and clean and dust inside the furnace and the fan blades
**Replace your air filters each month while your furnace is runing -if you are using an HRV system which is runing all year round -change the filters once every month or two -sometimes they won't look like the need replacing, use your best judgement
**If you have an HRV (Heat Revovery Ventilation -what is this? CMC -how to maintain an HRV?) check that all the duct work is sealed and that there are no air leaks

It's all very good stuff! I want to explore the whole indoor air quality thing soon here as I've read so much about that lately. Stay tuned.

Here is another great list for Fall, from: Coughlan Homes

DIY coat hangers for hallway

2009-10-26T16:14:00.006-04:00

In my old apartment I made myself a nifty coat rack from a piece of scrap wood and several odd old hooks I had collected and carried with me since I lived in Montreal. I love the look of the old hooks and thought I should use them and show them off. They are different shapes and sizes so the look is rustic and eclectic. I still want to use them in my new place and plan to put them in my new entrance hallway as soon as I decide if I am going to change the current paint colour.

I found this nifty idea on Design Sponge that I think could bump up the creativity of my existing piece and help me to match the look and colour scheme I decide on for the hall.

Eco Friendly Painting and Staining

2009-10-20T10:37:00.024-04:00

I would like to paint my interior soon -particularly my basement where my bedroom is. I must use low VOC paint. I also have some pieces of furniture that I'd like to paint with Milk Paint. I love the look and the Eco factor. Something else that has been on my mind lately is my deck. I noticed some dry rot on some trim under my eaves. This is a concern as there is some dry rot also on the wood panel of the exterior of my house in the same area. Of course this leads me to think about my eves in general. WOW -owning a home kind of spirals into interconnected issues one must keep on top of doesn't it?!

I am fortunate to have some really good options for environmentally friendly options here in Toronto. Here is what I've been investigating recently.

Products

Homestead House Paint Company
http://www.homesteadhouse.ca/

They have a great selection of paints and colours and say they can match any paint colour from any other company. They also have wood stain and protective solutions as well that are non-toxic and environmentally responsible.

Contact:
Telephone: (416)504-9984
Fax: (416)504-9984
95 Niagara Street, Toronto, Ontario M5V-1C3

Services

Element Painters Inc.
http://paintcanadagreen.com/

These people say they specialize in low and no VOC interior and exterior painting services. They also stain and restore decking using Eco friendly methods.

Contact:
647-295-7994 or 416-462-3197
Email: info@elementpainters.com
276 Carlaw Ave Toronto, ON, Canada

Eco Painting
http://www.ecopainting.ca/

This company also claims to focus on environmentally sound painting practices. They do say that they also do deck work, but they do not specifically say that the decking stains and products they use are also environmentally friendly. It appears that they would be. A phone call could confirm this. They have interesting articles on their website and say they can even handle dealing with minor dry rot found in decking without calling another contractor.

Contact:
2100 Ellesmere Road, Suite 201A
Toronto, Ontario M1H 3B7
Tel: (416) 733-7767
Fax: (416) 733-7767
E-mail: contact@ecopainting.ca

Even more daybeds

2009-10-17T12:26:00.009-04:00

Okay -so the daybed I liked from West Elm doesn't exist in Canada AND all their daybeds will be discontinued soon. Here is the one they have:

Cost with mattress and cover shown here and tax is: $1589.91. If I want it shipped and assembled that would be an extra $160.00.
This is the Ikea option I have also been thinking about:

It doesn't look like much here, but with a bright coloured throw and some nice pollows I think it might work. This will set you back $499.00 plus tax and around $399.00 for a mattress -$1017.00 including taxes -roughly.

A Look at getting a Gas Fireplace

2009-10-15T09:34:00.001-04:00

I find my furnace to be extremely loud! I will post specifically on this issue soon -but this made me think of getting a nice quiet gas fireplace for my main floor. Thinking that I could turn down the furnace and heat with the fireplace in my small upper floor (about 500 square feet). Bonus -it would look pretty too! Some nifty features of the one below are a remote control, temperature settings, works during power outages (my furnace relies on electricity to start), you can set to automatically come on and go off!!! I love it already.

Here is a photo of one that I like:

It seems small enough to fit in my tiny living room along the wall that separates it from the Kitchen. I wonder how much it is, how much it costs to install and if it will affect my home insurance. I also want to investigate how this may impact my layout options.

Toronto Location Details of Seller:

Kastle Fireplace Gas Fireplaces
1960 Ellesmere Road, Unit 1
Scarborough, ON, Canada
M1H 2V9
Telephone: 416-289-0009 or 1-866-330-3315

Hours: Monday to Wednesday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Thursday, 10:00 AM to 8:00 PM
Friday, 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Saturday, 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM

Decorating: Room Planner

2009-10-14T17:18:00.003-04:00

Just found this great tool on hgtv.ca. I am kind of paralyzed with my decorating at the moment. So much I want to do. Where to start? How much can I afford? What big purchases should I make? What do I like? Mainly -where do I start?????

This may help: http://www.hgtv.ca/decorating/roomplanner/.

More daybeds

2009-10-14T16:50:00.005-04:00

I found this great article on HGTV.com about Small Space decorating and it had this beautiful daybed from West Elm.

You can find this in Toronto here:

View Larger Map

Toronto - Shops @ King, 109 Atlantic Avenue, Toronto, ON M6K 1E2‎ - (416) 537-0110‎
The American website is: www.westelm.com

A look at daybeds

2009-10-02T17:55:00.007-04:00

The front room continues to be completely bare. I need that to be office storage for stuff like my printer, paper, basic files and such. I also want it to be a comfy spare room/creative space. I am thinking of a day bed and perhaps an ottoman.

Inspiration photos for my front room:

I LOVE the half curtains and the curtain panels -nice look.

This Ikea day bed may work for me -it is more affordable than the Hemnes bed. But I like that too. If I get the Meldal day bed I will HAVE to get these baskets for under as well, mind the drawers on the Hemnes are tidier particularly when you have cats that shed a tonne like I do. But there is SUCH a price difference: $499.99 or $129.00 -I can't really ignore it. On top of the bed, there is the mattress expense: $499.00 for a twin, no box spring.

Before and After -Cabinet

2009-08-20T16:15:00.000-04:00

Here is another droolworthy before and after from bangs, a beard & ballyhoo featured on Design Sponge.

Here is her before:

Moving tips

2009-08-14T00:00:00.006-04:00

*Photo from Plil_B

I know I have to get packing so here are some things I want to keep in mind!

Gather all my supplies

Boxes: Lots of boxes, more than I think I will ever need
Packing Tape: Strong packing tape for boxes
Tape Dispenser
Black Marker
Large Garbage Bags: for covering clothes on hangers and for garbage -clearly label!
Notebook: For tracking what is in each box, create a packing/labeling system, some kind of method for keeping track of what is in each box
Newspaper: For packing breakables

Keep my stuff together

Keep all pictures with picture hooks, extent ions with appliances, computer and office stuff all together

Pack as early as possible

Pair down your living necessities, live out of a travel case for soap, toothpaste, shampoo and wash cloth
Pare down cooking utensils

Assemble a cleaning kit

This will be used to clean your old place before you leave
I think I'll clean and roll up my carpets early to make cleaning and packing them simpler

Keep important papers with me

I might use my money belt for my passport, birth certificate and important documents while I move
Place all current bills in a large envelope and put this in your purse
Gather all you closing papers, Realtor information and important bills and account information and move it myself

More information I found

Kitchen Inspiration

2009-08-14T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love the open shelves with dried goods in jars.

The cats

2009-08-13T08:30:00.000-04:00

I was without cats, sans cats for just a year after my 2 feline companions passed away of old age. I thought I would stay pet free for awhile and enjoy my lack of commitments. Admittedly, I am a soft touch when it comes to the furry creatures. I was minding my own business when out from under a car popped a little Kate. She was a kitten and all by her self. What could I do?? She made herself at home right away and I had no choice in the matter.

This is Kate:

She is all grown up now. Then came along Thomas. I found Thomas huddled in a dirt pit in a dog park on my way home from work. He was skin and bones, timid and didn't eat on his own for several days. He was also abandoned -but likely he was born to a street cat. Again -what could I do? I couldn't leave him once I saw him. He was not in a good state. I always intended on finding a good home for Thomas. So far, I have been putting that off.

Thomas surprised me when he went into heat. Thomas is in fact a she! The name has stayed. Here is a pic of Thom Kitty:

Before and After -Nightstand

2009-08-11T17:03:00.000-04:00

I love Design Sponge! What a great website. I had to write about this great before and after. This is a nightstand. The nightstand was painted, new hardware was added and new legs (a particularly special touch once you see it!) and they added an amazing molding touch to the front cabinet door. Such innovations! All together they add up to a spectacular look -topped off with a nice coat of white spray paint.

Here is the Before:

To see the amazing "After" click here..

Ikea wardrobe hack idea

2009-08-07T16:46:00.002-04:00

Ok -I love the idea off hacking Ikea furniture. I just purchased some Ikea furnature off the people who sold my house to me. I don't like the wood finish and think it is too dark for my small finished basement bedroom. I thought I would paint it white anyway and change the nobs, but I found this really cute example from Manhattan Craft Room. She took a plain Ikea wardrobe and turned it into something custom. Have a look:

Here is the wardrobe I plan to refinish. I will post once I do:

Hall and Entrance Ideas

2009-08-07T14:40:00.000-04:00

I am moving into my very first home at the end of this month and I waned a place to store my inspiriation, plans and progress. Really this is my log for my life at this time. Shared with cats -well, more on the title later, but 2 kitties will be moving with me into my first home. I am single and stereotypes be dammed!

I have a tiny hallway -3 feet wide only. Here is a nice narrow piece of furniture that I like from: Style at Home

Hallway ideas

Narrow peice of furniture with drawers

I love the mirror with the molding. This still may be too bulky for my narrow space, but I am thinking a mirror would be nice.

Idea from a magazine article on small space decorating
12. Line a hallway with bookshelves.