Plans for The 4th of July?

These pictures from BHG.com definitely get me in the spirit to celebrate the 4th of July. This year, we'll be hosting our first 4th of July BBQ at our house. How will you be celebrating the 4th?

Time Saving Tips For Your Move Part 2

As Realtors, we are often asked for moving tips. Today we are sharing our final 5 Time Saving Tips For Your Move.

Tip #6: Make your current residence move-out ready. Be sure to unplug appliances and lighting fixtures if you're taking them with you. This will speed things along for your moving company. Create clear paths to allow for easy moving.

Tip#7: Pack your everyday necessities in an easy-to-find box. If you've moved before, you know how easy it is to lose everyday things, and you also know the frustration that comes with it. Help avoid this by packing your everyday essentials, such as toiletries, medications, important documents, etc. and keeping them with you, rather than in the moving truck where they might get mixed in with all of your other boxes.

Tip #8: Get your new home in "move-in" condition before you start moving your belongings in. If you need to paint, clean, replace carpeting or make other improvements to your new home, do them while your house is still empty.

Tip #9: Put together your floor plan. Plan how you want to arrange your furniture prior to moving into your home. Take dimensions of your new home and your furniture and create a space plan. This way, when moving day comes, you can put things in their place quickly.

Tip # 10: Change your address before you move. You're going to have your hands full once you move, so help yourself out beforehand by picking up the phone or going online to contact all of your vendors, such as phone, cable, Internet, power, gas, water and garbage. Update your address so there isn't a disruption in your service or bills.

Time Saving Tips For Your Move

While moving can signify an exciting time in your life - perhaps you are buying your first home, moving up to a larger home or downscaling after the kids head off to college, it can also be exhausting and stressful. There are several things you can do to help make your moving experience more pleasurable. The next time you are preparing for a move, keep these tips in mind:

Tip #1: Make a moving schedule. To help yourself stay organized and avoid getting overwhelmed, plot out your moving plan on a calender. Assign specific tasks to specific days and stay on track.

Tip #2: If your budget allows, hire a quality moving company. You often get what you pay for, so really do your research when it comes to hiring a professional moving company. You can check out any prospective company's credentials by contacting the BBB and the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Interested to see what other customers have to say about the company? Log onto yelp.com and check for reviews.

Tip #3: Go through everything you have and scale down your possessions. One of the great things about moving is the chance to go through everything you own and get rid of things you really don't need. Consider giving your unwanted items to family or friends, donating them or selling them to a consignment shop. Having less items to pack for your move and unpack later will help save you precious time.

Tip #4: Pack like a pro. Package all of your items neatly within boxes. If items are breakable, use bubble wrap or newspaper to prevent breakage. Seal up boxes and clearly indicate where the box should go (i.e. kitchen, bedroom, bathroom, etc) to save you time later on.

Tip #5: Have plenty of packing supplies on hand. Make sure you have enough boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, etc. for all of your items. You can also get creative and use things you already have. Suitcases, duffel bags, laundry baskets, blankets, towels and pillows can do double duty as moving supplies and help cut down on the cost of supplies.

Tomorrow, we'll share 5 more Time Saving Tips For Your Move.

A Sweet and Fruity Post

One of the greatest things about summer is picking your own cherries and strawberries! It's a fun activity for those of you searching for ways to keep your kids from being bored over summer break. It's also a fun thing to do as a couple. Pack a picnic and start picking!

Whether you prefer strawberries . . .

or cherries . . .

You'll find the freshest, sweetest fruit ever!

It will be hard not to eat all of the fruit on your way home!

On the Fence About Building a Fence? Read This!

Having a corner lot gives us a very large side yard. When we purchased our house, the side yard was not fenced in and the area wasn't being used at all. We finally found the time to build a fence, and I have to tell you, I wish things had gone better. Read on to find out what we wish we had done differently while constructing our fence.

First, we checked with our city to make sure that we would be meeting all of the rules and regulations with our fence measurements. Then, we carefully measured the area and used chalk spray to mark where our posts would be.
Then, we rented a Two Man Post Hole Digger and dug all of our holes for our posts. This part was loud and annoying.

Once the holes were made, we cemented all of the posts in place, (making sure each post was level, of course). After the cement cured, we began to construct our fence.

And here is the final product!

Now, you may be wondering why there are no photos of us building the actual fence. No photos of us nailing each and every fence plank into place. Well, that's because . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

THIS happened.

Yes, Joe nearly sawed through his hand while building our fence. After hours of surgery, the doctor was able to reattach his tendons and put him back together. After this bandage is removed, he'll be in a cast for about 6 weeks while his bone heals.

So, if we could do it again, we'd probably pay someone else to build our fence for us.

Our Ikea LACK Table Redo

I've had this black table from Ikea since I was a starving student living in L.A.. For a long time, it's been sitting outside, hoping for a second life.

We decided that it should stay outside, but that it definitely needed a new look. (We all need a new look every few years or so, right?) So, we found a pattern that we liked, printed it out on thick cardstock and used an x-acto knife to cut it out.

Then, I placed it on the table and spray painted away!

Some of the lines were not as crisp as I had hoped, so Joe ran to the store to buy a black Sharpie. Then, I used the Sharpie to make things a little bit more defined. And now we have a table that we love!!!

We can't wait to show you our entire backyard remodel!!

How Does Your Garden Grow?

When we bought our house, we were really excited to start a garden. This year, we are growing . . .

Pumpkins!

Several different varieties of tomatoes.

And so many different types of peppers!

Do you have a garden? What's your favorite thing to grow?

Cleaning Au Natural Part 3

This is our last installment of "Cleaning Au Natural" and today our household item is Salt!

Here's how you can use it -

Glassware: Add some salt to your sponge for stubborn stains. It won't scratch the way a scouring pad can.

Greasy Pots and Pans: Sprinkle salt on cookware to absorb excess grease. Dump out the salt and wash as usual. This isn't recommended for nonstick cookware.

Oven Spills: Pour salt on the spill to soak it up. When the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge.

Stained teacups and coffee mugs: Sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel, then rub the affected area until clean.

Cleaning Au Natural Part 2

Today is Part 2 of our Cleaning Au Natural Series and our household item is . . . Vinegar!

Here's how you can use it -

Dishwasher: Disinfect the interior of the machine by pouring 1/2 cup vinegar into the reservoir or place a small bowl filled with vinegar on the bottom rack and run an empty cycle.

Drains: Pour vinegar down the drain and flush with cold water after 30 minutes.

Glassware: For spotless hand-washed glasses, add 1 cup vinegar to the rinse water.

Moldy Walls: Spray vinegar on the affected areas, let sit. Rinse after 15 minutes and let dry thoroughly.

Showerheads: To combat mineral deposits, pour vinegar into a plastic bag and tie onto your showerhead so that it's immersed in the solution. Let it soak overnight and rinse.

We're Featured!!

Today we're featured on one of my very favorite blogs!! If you haven't already checked out Lindsey's blog, Better After, you really should swing by! Her blog is packed with wonderful Before & After projects. Maybe you should set aside a few hours, because you'll want to see everything!