Staging Sells!

Did you know??

77% of people view homes first on the internet. Be sure that your home shows above the rest, by staging it first! (Source: 2005 National Association of Realtors ® survey)

Decluttering Tip - Using Gift Bags to Organize Your closet

A great way to organize your closets is with fun, decorative gift bags. This is also a great way to re-use those paper store bags. I use a number of different bags to store items such as my pedicure supplies, my craft supplies, paints, plastic bags, etc. It’s great for keeping everything you need for a project together, and keeps the closets looking clutter-free.

The best way to hang these great looking bags is with 3M command hooks. Let me first of all just start by saying that I do not work for 3M, nor are they a sponsor in any way, however I often feel like a spokesperson for them, as I absolutely love their command hooks. These hooks adhere to the wall with a plastic adhesive pad. They can hold a great deal of weight (each hook serves a different purpose and holds a different amount of weight – be sure to read the package carefully ensure you’re choosing the right one for your needs), and they remove from the walls without leaving any mark. I use command hooks to hang pictures for all my staging projects to avoid puncturing the walls.

Thrive Juice Bar in Waterloo

It’s not often that I find myself using this medium to promote a business not related to my industry, however since I do aim to live a life of health and wellness, I was incredibly pleased to find myself at Thrive Juice Bar in the Bauer complex in Waterloo a couple of days ago. I came to learn of Thrive from a recommendation from a colleague, and I eagerly invited a friend to a late lunch to check it out.

Thank you to  Johnny for providing such an amazing experience. While famous for their fresh juices, they serve fresh quality food as well. We tasted a delicious vegan soup, made fresh in-house, full of flavours and not dairy or gluten. Then we each tried one of 4 choices of sandwiches (they’re currently not named, but we called them #2 and #3). We had our choice of fresh organic breads as well as a gluten-free option. Our meals were served with complimentary cucumber water, which was a welcome refreshment. Finally we finished the meal with a dairy free vegan coconut sorbet.

While I have made several mentions here to their vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free menu, I assure you meat-lovers that you will not miss the meat when you dine here. There is so much to choose from, with all their foods bursting with flavour, you’ll forget that it’s actually good for you as well. Be sure to check it out soon!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Waterloo-ON/Thrive-Juice-Bar/109343865765229

Beautiful Bouquets of...Leaves?

That’s right! Create a beautiful arrangement of leaves fresh from your own yard or neighbourhood (if you plan to use your neighbours leaves, be sure to get permission first). Before the leaves have all changed and fallen for the season, be sure to enjoy them one last time. Fill a vase as you would with flowers, but instead use fresh leaves. Mix your greens with some colourful leaves if you have some available, such as from a Japanese Maple tree. Treat the leaves as you would flowers and cut the stems on an angle using clean, sharp scissors, then put in water right away. You can use leaves from your trees, or look to the plants in your garden as well. At this time of year, I know that my hosta leaves are big and bold, and I love to show them off. They’ll brighten up your house, and make for a great conversation piece.

Harvesting Your Sunflower Seeds

So you managed to grow some amazing sunflowers, congratulations! You’re probably now thinking that you would like to harvest these seeds, either to ensure that you get the same incredible crop for next year, or as a snack, or perhaps as bird feed. Whatever your use, here’s how to do it:

First, be sure your sunflowers are ready. Sunflower seeds begin to ripen on the outer edges of the seedhead first, but may not be ripe in the center for another week or two. Wait until the petals fade and dry before cutting the seedhead. If you notice birds are harvesting the seeds for you, then it means they’re ready to take down.

Cut down the sunflowers and hang upside in a dry area. Allow to dry out for a couple of weeks. Be sure to either wrap in cheesecloth, or attach a bag or container of some sort under the flower to catch any seeds that may simply fall out. As for the remaining seeds, the method that I found worked best for me was to use two sunflower heads to rub together to loosen the seeds. The seeds will fall out easily and can be caught in a container. Remaining seeds can then be rubbed out with a towel or picked by hand.

Now you can store away until next spring to plant, or feed to the birds, or to your family and friends. Consider roasting some with some pumpkin seeds as nice healthy treat!

Designing a Kids Room

Time to re-do the kid’s room? Check out House & Home Online for some great tips and ideas:

http://www.houseandhome.com/design/guide/kids-rooms-design-guide

Kitchen Tips - BTSH Around The House Tip - September 2010

From storage, to cleaning, to keeping food fresh, here are some tips that I have tried and tested, and am now ready to share with you.

Cleaning Odors from Your Cutting Board (and hands)
Fresh lemon, nothing works better! Cut a slice of lemon, and rub on your cutting board after using your board for strong odour foods such as garlic or onions.


Coffee Ice Cubes
Do you enjoy iced coffee drinks? Take unused coffee and pour into an ice cube tray and freeze to use as ice cubes in your drinks. Also great for black coffee drinkers that want to cool down their coffee quickly without watering it down.


What To Do With Bad Bananas
When you notice your bananas starting to turn brown, the best thing to do is throw them into the freezer while you decide what you would like to do with them. I enjoy smoothies and shakes all year round, so I’ll use the frozen bananas in these. If you peel and slice before freezing they’re even easier to use, but it’s not necessary. Another great use is banana bread. Most banana bread recipes suggest using over-rip bananas, and they’re easier to use once they’ve been frozen and thawed as no mashing is required. You can also use the banana peels in your garden. Bury in the dirt near your tomato plants or roses to add potassium to the soil.

How to Control Pepper Grinds
This tip actually came from my mother. She found a small, round glass dish, actually meant as a candle holder, and she placed this under her pepper mill. This is great for keeping pepper grinds from getting on your counter and table.

How to Clean Your Microwave—Naturally
Cut a lemon in half and place skins down in a bowl. Cover half the lemon with water, and place in the microwave. Microwave on high for about 5 minutes. After the microwave is done, leave the bowl with the lemon in there for another 5 minutes. Remove the bowl and wipe the microwave clean.

Keeping Onions Fresh
Once again, Mom to the rescue. She found me a great onion keeper, though unfortunately I’m not sure where she got it. I found a similar one online, and discovered that they also sell these keepers for tomatoes, and peppers. The keeper has a slightly raised, grooved bottom that keeps the onion fresher longer, while keeping the odour out of my fridge.

Written by Shauna Lynn, Beyond The Stage Homes
www.beyondthestagehomes.com