Checking The Mail & Keeping It In Check

It comes in waves, you know it does.  You may dread opening the mailbox, PO box or checking the floor inside the front door.  It's ok, and everyone has it: mail.  Catalogs, bills, advertisements, coupons, letters, cards and other numerous marketing materials come into your mailbox and can clutter up your new home.  So, what can you do about it?  It's the little things that will keep it in check and under control.
...

Read more...

posted on: 1/10/2008 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Furniture Remix

You've moved into your new home.  Now it's time to play "shuffle the furniture".  In a perfect world, we'd all have the time to measure, map out and plan our rooms before we even pack the moving van.  But , this is real life - the children are running around, taking toys out of the boxes ("Mommyyyyy.... why are you packing this?"), work is calling and life just plain marches on.... oh, except that you're moving.  Add that to the endless list and perfect utopia-land sort of disappears.

Once you get into the new house, you may have one of two problems:
1) the furniture you have for each room isn't fitting (either too big or small) or ...

Read more...

posted on: 1/3/2008 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Your New Life In Your New Home

It's moving day, and you're about to walk into your new home.  You hold the key in your hand, insert it in the lock and turn.  The whoosh of the door opening for the first time is a breath of fresh air of your life about to begin in this new place.  Walking in, you notice the walls are bare and ready.  Cabinets are open and cleared out and the entire place is a clean slate.  Moving into a new home is a time of imagination and opportunity.  This is now where you will live your life and make memories.  A house (or apartment, flat, condo) is just an address until you make it your own and it becomes your home.  It's a backdrop for your life.  It's the place that nurtures you, houses you, protects you and is your soft place to rest.  ...

Read more...

posted on: 12/27/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Simplify Your Holiday Light Setup: 3 Easy Steps

I love driving around and looking at holiday lights.  It's fun to see the creativity and differing displays of lights and seasonal displays.  It could be I'm a December baby, but something about those twinkling lights makes me want to bust out "White Christmas" (Ok, so I play that movie at least five times through the holidays).  I have to admit putting up our own lights doesn't always give me such a warm fuzzy feeling.  Maybe it's like a coffee drink tasting better when I'm paying them to make it for me...
...

Read more...

posted on: 12/13/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Organized Closet Bliss

So, you've started packing, and you're already visualizing your new closet and how all of your clothing will go in it.  However, the reality is that your new closet only has one hanging rod and not much else.  Setting up your new closet now, while it's empty, is the best time.  There are many alternatives to creating an organized closet. 

1. Use what you have: If you have a low budget (or no budget) look at what you have to use in your closet.  Inexpensive crates can hold shoes, and a hanging rod like this one (click to link) can double your hanging space.  ...

Read more...

posted on: 12/6/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Moving "Calendar" Tool

Getting ready to move can be stressful!  It's hard to know where to begin with so many things to do before a move.  A friend who is preparing to move in the next few months described it as "swimming with a brick tied to my ankle".  Yikes! 
...

Read more...

posted on: 11/29/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

A ''Baking Zone'' for the Holidays

The holidays are just around the corner and moving into a new home at this time of year can be an arduous task.  Celebrations, parties, concerts and making memories with loved ones are all part of this time of year.  So are gingerbread houses, plates of delectable goodies and spiced apple cider.  Baking is often a favorite pastime during the holidays.  If you love to make homemade treats for the holidays, a designated and well organized ''Baking Zone'' makes your holiday baking more enjoyable.    The best place for a ''Baking Zone'' is near the oven.  You'll need everything close at hand to help your recipes come together smoothly  If...

Read more...

posted on: 11/15/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Rethink Your Formal Living Room

Hidden potential could be hiding in a room intended for a specific purpose.  The way we use a room can change according to our needs.  For example, formal living rooms are common in many homes, both old and new.  For some, it's hard to imagine something different in this space.  So, how could you use it differently?  Today I'll give you some ideas to use this widely unused and unappreciated space for things other than a black hole or some sort of mysterious dumping ground.  Here's how:
...

Read more...

posted on: 11/8/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Making A "Parts Box"

Moving brings on lots of pieces and parts.  When you dismantle your home and disrupt your daily life, there are a lot of little parts that seem to appear.  A box designated for holding them all can really help.  (This is especially important for movers who will have their things in storage for any length of time.)  One central location for "parts" makes it easy to find what you are looking for in one place, instead of opening 27 boxes and still not knowing where that set of hardware is!

Supplies you need to make your "Parts Box": ...

Read more...

posted on: 11/1/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving

Restful Bedroom = Good Night's Sleep

I was an exchange student  in Japan during high school.  I was fascinated by how restful most Japanese homes are - less is definitely more.  My husband (also Japanese) has been very educational about ways rooms "should" and "shouldn't" be put together.  So, I thoughtfully submit a list of things you can choose to use in your bedrooms in your new home.  :

1. Do not use your bedroom as a dumping ground.  It's hard to get restful sleep in a room with piles of all around.  The worst offender, in my humble opinion, is a canopy bed sans canopy and used as a clothing hanger.  Not restful, not restful at all.  ...

Read more...

posted on: 10/25/2007 1:30:00 PM  by Brandie Kajino
category: Moving