Home Management

Yes, I know — you’re not supposed to be “working” on Christmas Break. However, if you are anything like me, you LOVE to take advantage of any spare time you have and fit in a project or two!

So while I completely intend on relaxing and enjoying my Christmas Break, I’m also planning to tackle a few simple projects as well — especially since Dave has almost two weeks off from school and can help with Nora.

Here are some of the projects I’m doing over break:

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1. Defrost the Freezer: we actually already did this and it only took a couple hours. It’s an easy winter project for us because we just put everything outside for the afternoon and didn’t’ have to worry about anything melting or spoiling.

2. Laundry: I’m all caught up on our “regular” laundry, but it was time to wash the sheets, blankets, rugs, etc. again so I took a day to get all this finished before real life starts up again!

3. Freezer Cooking: defrosting the freezer was a great opportunity to take an inventory of everything we had in our freezer. I took several items out to eat during break or to bring to holiday parties, and then I made a list of a few things I wanted to make to stock it back up again. No, I’m not going crazy, just making a pot of soup, maybe a casserole or two, and some baked goods.

4. Rapid Purge: even though I’m always pretty diligent about purging anything we don’t need, want, use or love; the holiday season always seems to add excess stuff to our home! So, I usually take a couple hours and simply walk through our home — opening every drawer, every cabinet, every closet and quickly pulling out anything I know we don’t need, want, use or love.

I don’t spend any time organizing, just purging — and it really does make a difference!

5. Photos: I get easily overwhelmed by photos… I don’t know why, because I don’t even have that many of them!  However, now that we have Nora — I’m bound and determined to keep up with taking AND printing photos; as well as keep up with our digital photo albums.

6. New Year’s Card/Baby Announcements: Yes, we ordered, stuffed, and addressed all our New Year’s Cards/Baby Announcements during break {just one of the many advantages of sending a holiday card AFTER Christmas!}

I know this might seem like a lot to some of you, but remember, I’m still kind of on maternity leave so I don’t have nearly as much on my plate right now. Plus, Dave is home from school and is basically on “baby duty” most of the time! Also, we have TONS of family members who are on break and just dying for a chance to watch Nora or help out in any way they can.

Oh, and we’re definitely still finding plenty of time to relax. In fact, I think I’ve watched more movies and spent more time on our couch this past week than ever before in my life!

Do you have any projects you’d like to do over break?

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UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.

Congrats to:

Nicole {nchurch1@…}

Annette {derekannette@…}

I will email you all to get your information!

Do you have a smoke alarm in your house at this very moment?

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Are you positive that it actually works?

Did you know that you are actually supposed to have at least one smoke alarm in every bedroom, and at least one additional smoke alarm on every level of your home? {We have 8 smoke alarms!}

And did you also know that nearly 38% of fatal fire injuries occur in homes without working smoke alarms, while 24% occur in homes in which at least one smoke alarm is present but fails to operate? {Statistics provided by the National Fire Prevention Association}

Earlier this year, I posted about my seasonal maintenance routines and how I remember to do all the random quarterly maintenance tasks that need to be done when you own a home.

However, there are other semi-annual maintenance tasks that {obviously} only need to be done twice a year, so I remember to do those right around Daylight Savings Time — which is coming up in two weeks.

Three of the main semi-annual maintenance tasks we do every 6 months are:

1. Some good deep cleaning and decluttering {as if I really needed one more excuse!}

2. Clean up the yard {either getting ready for Spring planting, or raking leaves for Fall}

3. Checking ALL our smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors to make sure they still work and changing out the batteries.

When was the last time you checked your smoke alarm?

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I talk enough about cleaning, organizing, and yard work… so today, I’m focusing on smoke alarms. My goal is to motivate you to replace all your batteries and/or purchase new smoke alarms if necessary! It’s such a small investment if you think about the value of your home {not to mention your family’s lives!}

This year, the time change is on November 6 and Energizer and the International Association of Fire Chiefs are asking parents to take a vital step to keep their kids safe at home – Change Your Clock Change Your Battery.

This message is simple, but the habit can be lifesaving.

Throughout October, Energizer is inviting parents across the country to join the Energizer Bunny Brigade on Facebook for a chance to win free smoke alarms and batteries for their home; or a grand prize of a home fire safety makeover.

However, YOU have another opportunity to win a free Energizer Smoke Alarm prize pack right here… today!

The Giveaway:

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Today, two lucky Simple Organized Living readers will win an Energizer Smoke Alarm prize pack that includes:

• One Smoke Alarm
• Two Energizer 9 v. batteries

How to Enter:

1. Leave a comment. When was the last time you checked your smoke alarms?

2. Like Simple Organized Living on Facebook and/or join the Energizer Bunny Brigade on Facebook, and then leave a separate comment letting me know you did.

If you are reading this in your email or feed reader, please visit the actual blog post to enter. Email entries, Facebook comments, and Twitter messages will NOT be counted.

Prize:

(2) Energizer smoke detector prize packs as described above.

This giveaway ends at 10:00 pm on Monday, 10/24/2011 and is open to all U.S. residents 18 years or older. I will use And the Winner Is to select the winning comment at random. Winners will be notified by email and noted at the top of this post. Winners must respond within 48 hours of notification to claim their prize or I will choose a new winner. Please see my full disclosure policy and contact me with any questions you have. Good luck!

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Here in West Michigan, the past 10 days have been absolutely sweltering – with heat indexes above 100*F, and humidity in the 70-80%. We are SO thankful that our old farmhouse has a good air conditioning unit — and that it works!

However, if you have not been so fortunate with your heating and cooling systems, the following post, written by Abby Snyder from FurnaceCompare.com, will offer you some helpful tips.

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Many people give little thought to their heating and cooling systems unless they encounter a problem. We usually expect our home systems to perform flawlessly through thick and thin weather even though experience has taught many of us otherwise!

However, there are ways to ensure our air conditioning and heat units will hum happily for years on end with just a little attention and it’s not a complicated effort:  Add reminders to your home maintenance checklist. You’ll increase your household savings each month in the process.  You’ll also feel relief when it comes time to pay your heating and cooling bills.

Consider these five steps for heating and cooling maintenance:

1. Change Air Filters Regularly

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This is one of the simplest and most beneficial projects related to your home’s air system.  Air filters should be checked each month and changed at least every three months. Allowing dust to enter your system can cause it to function less efficiently and may cause system failure at some point.

Change your filters! It’s easy to do, just follow the instructions that come with your brand, or the filters themselves.

2. Yearly Check-up by a Professional

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Your heating and cooling system needs an annual check-up just like you do. Hopefully you have a trusted technician; if you don’t, try asking friends and family for referrals. Someone with training and skills will be able to spot trouble before it can occur and will keep your system operating trouble-free for years to come.

3. Seal Heating and Cooling Ducts

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Duct work can be sealed in your attic or wherever it is located to prevent warm or cool air from escaping. Duct tape itself should not be used; consumers can look for metal tape or a special sealant for ducts. Check the connection points to make sure they are sealed together. Also, keep your ducts sealed so your system can efficiently direct air to where it is needed.

4. Use a Programmable Thermostat

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Programmable thermostats are a great was to save money on your energy bills. You can set your system to certain temperatures for when you are at home, away from home, and sleeping. Your heating and cooling system will actually operate more efficiently if it is not set on the same temperature all the time.

5. Seal Air Leaks

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Check for air leaks around windows, doors, and also in attics, basements, and crawl spaces. Foam or caulk can be used to seal any holes that you find. Your heating and cooling system will thank you when all of its hard work is not escaping outdoors.

Sometimes it just takes paying attention to the needs of the household heating and cooling system to ensure their longevity.  And if keeping track of the basics involved in their smooth operation means tracking just a handful of tasks then it’s probably time well spent.  At least that’s the case at my house!

What are your best tips for saving on heating and cooling?

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Abby Snyder writes for FurnaceCompare.com on how homeowners can save money on their heating and cooling bills.  Furnace Compare provides comprehensive, unbiased data and consumer product information on air conditioners, boilers, and furnaces.

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Have you ever wondered…

• “When was the last time I changed my toothbrush?”
• “How long has that food been in the freezer?”
• “Does my car need an oil change?”
• “Do I need to change the furnace filter?”

Me too!

After we got married and were “out on our own” there were so many little home maintenance chores that we honestly never even thought of. I think we went almost a year before realizing we should change our furnace filter {seriously!}. And I don’t think I washed any of our windows for at least 18 months!

All those little chores just seemed to fall through the cracks because they weren’t something that required weekly, or even monthly attention…so we forgot.

But then I came up with a system to remember:

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Every time I pay my quarterly business taxes {one of the negative things about running your own business} I also try to accomplish a whole bunch of “seasonal home maintenance chores” that same week.

Taxes are due on March 15, June 15, September 15, and December 15 — so I just mailed my second quarter payments today and have already tackled a few of the things on the list below.

For example — every quarter I try to:

• rotate our mattresses
• change our toothbrushes
• open a new tube of mascara
• wash the rugs
• change the bag in the vacuum
• put a new box of baking soda in the fridge
• wash the blankets and comforters — I wash the sheets much more regularly than this
• quickly wash the windows — I have the kind that flip in so they’re really easy to wash
• dust the baseboards
• dust the ceiling fans and light fixtures
• take inventory of our freezer and make a plan to eat up some of our stock pile
• change/clean the furnace filter
• get the oil changed in our cars

I could go on, but I think you get the idea!

I know it’s crazy, but for some reason, paying my quarterly taxes always reminds me to do these tasks!

So, for those of you who don’t have to pay quarterly taxes, let ME be your reminder to take care of these seasonal home maintenance tasks

Another good way to remember is by following the start of each new season {March 21, June 21, Sep. 21, and Dec. 21}. Or you could write reminders on your calendar, use your kid’s birthdays, holidays, or I supposed you could just have an amazing memory and remember to do them all on your own!

What are your tricks?

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How do you remember these random, but very necessary, “chores”?

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Last week at this time, I was in Chicago for the 2011 Home and Housewares Show.

I was there to learn all about the new Hoover products, but I also had plenty of time to brows through the THOUSANDS of other companies and products.

There are SO many cool new products hitting the shelves this spring — I can’t wait to try them all out. In the meantime, I’ll just tell you a little bit about my favorites…and let you drool!

1. Hoover’s New Max Multi-Cyclonic:

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I already told you about the other REALLY cool Hoover and Dirt Devil products…but I wanted to “save the best for last”. This is Hoover’s newest vacuum and it will be coming out in store later this year.

I could probably go on and on about all the great features, but for now, I’ll simply say that it’s the best, it has a TON of totally awesome features, and I’ll hopefully be trying it out in my own home later this year. {I’ll give you the full review then!}

2. Kitchen Aid Mixers:

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I know, these aren’t new…but just look at them! Gorgeous!

I have the gray one {because I’m obsessed with neutral colors} but I’m definitely attracted to their new metallic collection too…so pretty!

3. EarthPan:

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Lately, I have been doing a lot of research about pot and pan safety because I keep hearing how “bad” the Teflon and non-stick pans are. And even though I LOVE the look of stainless steal, they are more difficult to clean and I really don’t want to give Dave any reason NOT to do the dishes!!

However, I came across the EarthPan — and I think it might just be a perfect mix between the two.

Not only do these pans look absolutely gorgeous, they are also completely non-stick, dishwasher safe, and they have no toxic fumes, no PFOA, no PTFE, and no blistering or peeling! Plus, they’re really affordable! I believe the EarthPan collection is available wherever major kitchen brands are sold.

4. Aladdin Products:

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It’s official, I am OBSESSED with every product this company offers — every single one!

Aladdin has been around since 1908 and is the creator of the original character lunch boxes you remember as a kid!  Over 100 years later, they now have a hugely expanded product line of all kinds of lunch related items, beverage containers, and food storage products.

The main reason I love their products so much is because they are sustainable, stylish, and functional.

One of my favorite Aladdin products is this small 12 oz watter bottles. They are the perfect size for any purse or bag because they aren’t too heavy. Plus they are dishwasher safe, BPA free, and ONLY $7.99!!

And I can’t wait to tell you about their new lunch collection that should be hitting store shelves later this year. Seriously, I know you are going to LOVE it as much as I do!

5. Grayline Organizing Products:

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There were hundreds of different companies with all kinds of organizing products, but I was drawn to Grayline because of their huge line of inexpensive cabinet and drawer organizers {I’m a sucker for drawer organizers!}

Grayline is a subsidiary of Panacea Products Corporation – a family owned company for over 40 years. And even though you probably won’t see the brand “Grayline” in most stores, their products are all available at Bed, Bath, and Beyond, Target, and other similar stores.

Along with their huge line of  organizing products, they also offer home & garden products, and even craft products.

I told the Grayline representative that I should probably buy stock in his company because of all the products I purchase!

6. Michael Graves Squeegee:

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OK, so the real reason I stopped at this booth was to look at the huge wall of cleaning products…I just couldn’t help myself!

But then I came across this awesome Michael Graves Squeegee {which is seriously the best squeegee I’ve ever used}. Plus, I found out that all Michael Graves products are available at Target!

7. Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day Products:

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Oh, I just LOVE Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products!

Here’s why…

Mrs. Meyer’s Clean Day products provide an effective alternative for people who are concerned with the environmental effects of conventional cleaning products. Our formulas combine natural essential oils with leading-edge cleaning know-how to provide an enjoyable, safe experience for our customers. — Quote from their website

Believe it or not, there really is a “Mrs. Meyer” — you can see her video clip here.

And if you want to try your own Mrs. Myer’s cleaning product, they’re running a 20% off sale until March 20 — hurry!

8. Oliso Smart Iron and Vacuum-Sealed Food Storage Bags:

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Yup, the same company makes an amazing steam iron AND awesome vacuum-sealed food storage bags.

Dave does all the ironing around our house…and he doesn’t like our iron. So I told him that he can have this new smart iron if I can have the food storage bags! {Sounds like a pretty good deal to me!}

So I’m really interested in trying both of these products, and if I do, I’ll make sure to report back with my opinions. In the mean time, head on over to the Oliso website to learn all about these fun new products!

9. Innovia Automatic Towel Dispenser:

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Yes, you read that right! Innovia Home has come out with a super sleek, stainless steal, automatic paper towel dispenser!

Their booth was a huge hit because they offered me a gooey chocolate chip cookie — which then made my hands messy and allowed me to try out their hands-free paper towel dispenser.

It’s a tad modern for our home, but seriously — this thing is cool! It’s basically like the motion-censored dispensers in public restrooms… but SO much prettier.

Plus, it’s really smart. It can sense {and remember} if you’re using small or large sheets of paper towel and it will automatically spit out the right amount. And if you don’t use all the paper towel, it will simply “suck it back in” within a few seconds!

10. Semco Products:

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This was honestly a company that I had never heard of before…but I was really impressed with their amazing product line.  They have so many great organizing tools and household products — and they are all so sleek and stylish.

But the ONE product I was most excited about is this…

It’s an Ear Bud Cord Organizer!!

See how I used it to wind up the ear bud cord so neat and organize? Yup, we’re going to need a few more of these!

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So obviously, there were hundreds of amazing products at the 2011 Home and Housewares show, but these are just a few that immediately caught my eye.

I’m certain ALL of these products will help me simplify and organize my life — so I wanted to share them with you too!

Do you use any of these products already?

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If not, which ones would you just LOVE to try?

Linked to Top Ten Tuesdays over at ohamanda.com

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It’s that time of year again… time to start preparing my home and garden for cold West Michigan winter.

This is not necessarily something I look forward to — but it saves me lots of time the following spring when I want to get outside and start planting flowers. The whole process really isn’t THAT bad, and we spread it out over a few weekends.

Need a few ideas to get started?

Here are a few things we do to prepare our home and garden for cold months ahead.

1. Clean up the Yard:

I always do a final weeding, cut down any dying perennials, pull out my annuals, and spread another layer of Preen before it gets too cold. We lower our mowing deck to get the grass nice and short so the morning dew will evaporate faster and the grass won’t rot. Our mower also sucks up all our leaves so we usually don’t have to rake!

It’s also a good time to trim back your shrubs and prune your trees.

2. Clean up your Home Exterior:

Have you checked your gutters lately? We always get a bunch of leaves in our gutters so we try to clean them out each fall.

I also like to quickly sweep off my porch and wash some of my bigger windows before it gets too cold. Even though they will get dirty again, it’s nice to let the sun shine in through a few clean windows!

3. Attack the Shed and Garage:

You might be tempted to leave your shed a mess; after all, you won’t be using it again until next Spring. However, won’t it feel great to walk into a nicely organized shed after a long winter and get right to work?

If your garage is a mess, clean it out now (before it gets too cold) so your vehicles can actually park inside!

4. Bring it Inside:

Bring in your outdoor furniture, terracotta planters, tomato cages, etc. You don’t want your furniture to get all grimy or your favorite pots to freeze and crack.

5. Hibernate your Gardening Tools:

It’s a sad day when I put my gardening stuff away, but it has to be done. The fall is a great time to clean, fix, and sharpen yard tools. While your at it, toss the ones you no longer use. Don’t forget to drain your garden hoses and bring those into your shed so they don’t freeze and split.

Wipe down your lawn mower, sharpen the blades, empty the gas, and change the oil so it’s ready to go next spring.

6. Keep the Cool Air Outside:

Check the caulking on your windows and doors and put up some weather stripping or door strips under the outside doors. These little things will help lower your heat bills this winter.

7. Check the Furnace and Filters:

Have you changed the filters in your furnace lately? I remember the first year in our home…neither of us even thought about changing the filter (I don’t even think we knew how!) My dad came over and showed us how to do it — let’ just say the filter was definitely well used!

If your furnace is older, it might not be a bad idea to have it checked or at least cleaned. It will work more efficiently and keep your heating bills down.

8. Get your Winter Wear Out of Storage.

We limit our clothes to one closet each, but if you have multiple closets, now is a great time to switch out your seasonal clothes and organize your entryway to make room for all your mittens, hats, scarves and jackets…oh and don’t forget the boots!

As you go through your winter wear, take the time to donate anything that you don’t want, use, need, or love.

9. Put up Exterior Holiday Decor:

There is nothing worse than trying to string lights or put up exterior decorations when it’s FREEZING outside (believe me…I’ve done it!) Pick a sunny fall afternoon and get things set up now. You don’t have to turn the lights on…but at least they will be ready to go when they holidays arrive.

Plus, I know I’ll have better things to do the day after Thanksgiving (shopping anyone??)

10. What did I Miss?

What do you do to prepare your home for Fall?

4 comments →

Things have been pretty crazy around the Dekker house lately.

To make a VERY long story very short — we’re moving! I’ll share more about the old, OLD farmhouse we’re buying later!

I’ve never really moved before…this is totally new territory for me.

I lived in the same house my entire life. Sure, I “shuffled” a few of my belongings to and from college each semester, but I never moved. Even when I got married, we hardly had anything to move. However, over the last 4 years, we’ve managed to accumulate a nice little stock pile of stuff! Can you relate?

I’ve already started purging and as I was going through some of our stuff I remembered a recent conversation I had with our insurance agent.

She asked me if we had an up-to-date home inventory — I answered “No”. She went on to explain how important it is to have an accurate home inventory to protect our assets in the event of theft, fire, flood, or other natural disaster.

So I started thinking; since I will be going through all our stuff anyway, now might be the perfect time to create a home inventory. I’m not going to get all crazy and document every single thing {our stuff isn’t THAT valuable!} But I did create an Excel spreadsheet and I’m planning to take a bunch of pictures.

Apparently a home inventory can make a huge difference on an insurance claim — and like knowing that we are protected…just in case.

Here are a few helpful tips from our insurance agent:

• Conduct a complete home inventory every year or two
• Document everything in writing, with photos, and/or with video
• Organize your assets by category (clothes, electronics, kitchen, tools, vehicles, etc)
• Include serial numbers and other important phone numbers or certificates of authentication
• Take pictures of every closet, cabinet, and any valuable collections
• Pay special attention to antiques, jewelry and other highly valuable items
• Keep all information, pictures, etc. on a USB drive and store it in a fire-proof safe
• Make another copy of your information and store it outside your home (a relatives home or in a safety deposit box)

Here are a few helpful resources from the web:

• What is a Home Inventory?
• Getting Started — How to Create a Home Inventory
• How to Make a Video Home Inventory
• More Tips for Making a Home Inventory — some great tips!
• Make a Home Inventory and Declutter Your Home
• Home Maintenance Organizer
• Quicken Home Inventory Software ($29.99)

If you don’t have a home inventory,  take some time this weekend to create one. Hopefully you will never need to use it…but it’s always better to be safe than sorry!

Photo Credit

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