Some positive thoughts for the day!
http://www.jongordon.com/newsletter-031510-feedthepositivedog.html
Friday, June 25, 2010
Monday, June 7, 2010
The Hideout is Awarded "Gold Star Community" Status
The Hideout recently received the Gold Star Community Award in recognition of excellence from the Community Association Institute (CAI), a national association that represents condominiums and community associations. The Gold Star recognition is awarded to communities that maintain high standards, encourages community participation, maintains fiscal stability, and positively impacts the quality of life for residents.
The Hideout was one of only three communities across Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware to be recognized by the CAI.
Let's hear it for The Hideout - a great place to grow, live and enjoy life!
The Hideout was one of only three communities across Pennsylvania, southern New Jersey and northern Delaware to be recognized by the CAI.
Let's hear it for The Hideout - a great place to grow, live and enjoy life!
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Winning the clutter wars - Part 2
In our last “Homeowner Tips” we defined clutter as anything that is out of place, broken, unused or just something you really dislike. Today we are going to start in one small place (a closet or junk drawer will do nicely) and put things in order!
First, you will need 4 cardboard boxes and a large trash can. Label the boxes as follows:
* Put away
* Fix
* Set Free
* Mementos
Set an alarm clock to go off in 1-2 hours. You don’t want to overdo things! Open the closet or junk drawer and select the first object. Now we will use the four definitions of clutter to help us decide which box to use for each item.
* The trash can. You will find plenty of stuff that is absolutely unusable. Be ruthless.
* The “Put Away” box. Anything goes in here that is out of place and would be better off in a more convenient location. As soon as the alarm clock goes off you will take 10 minutes or so to put all the items in this box where they really belong.
* The “Fix” box. If the item is damaged or missing a part, but you are certain you would use it regularly if repaired, put it in this box. Objects can only reside in the fix box for one week before they have to change residence! If you do not repair the item by week’s end it must go into the “Set Free” box.
* The “Set Free” box. This box will hold items that you dislike, things you haven’t used in more than a year, orphaned gifts from friends and family (when you said, “Oh, you really shouldn’t have!”), things that still have some good use in them, things that will surely fit again “someday.” This box will go in the trunk of the car. You will take the box to a local resale store or to a charity center. Many charities will even pick up this stuff at your front door—what convenience! You will be doing a good thing, since someone will be getting some good out of these items right now.
* The “Mementos” box. This one can be a bit tricky. It’s for things that have true sentimental or family heirloom value. You will want to invest in a cedar chest or other similar sized permanent storage unit. The items from this box will go into that permanent storage. But remember, that cedar heirloom chest will fill up rapidly if you are too casual about “what’s an heirloom.” Consider passing on some of these things to extended family members right now—don’t wait 20 years!
Now you are one closet closer to having a serene, uncluttered home! Next week take this same process and tackle another corner of the house!
First, you will need 4 cardboard boxes and a large trash can. Label the boxes as follows:
* Put away
* Fix
* Set Free
* Mementos
Set an alarm clock to go off in 1-2 hours. You don’t want to overdo things! Open the closet or junk drawer and select the first object. Now we will use the four definitions of clutter to help us decide which box to use for each item.
* The trash can. You will find plenty of stuff that is absolutely unusable. Be ruthless.
* The “Put Away” box. Anything goes in here that is out of place and would be better off in a more convenient location. As soon as the alarm clock goes off you will take 10 minutes or so to put all the items in this box where they really belong.
* The “Fix” box. If the item is damaged or missing a part, but you are certain you would use it regularly if repaired, put it in this box. Objects can only reside in the fix box for one week before they have to change residence! If you do not repair the item by week’s end it must go into the “Set Free” box.
* The “Set Free” box. This box will hold items that you dislike, things you haven’t used in more than a year, orphaned gifts from friends and family (when you said, “Oh, you really shouldn’t have!”), things that still have some good use in them, things that will surely fit again “someday.” This box will go in the trunk of the car. You will take the box to a local resale store or to a charity center. Many charities will even pick up this stuff at your front door—what convenience! You will be doing a good thing, since someone will be getting some good out of these items right now.
* The “Mementos” box. This one can be a bit tricky. It’s for things that have true sentimental or family heirloom value. You will want to invest in a cedar chest or other similar sized permanent storage unit. The items from this box will go into that permanent storage. But remember, that cedar heirloom chest will fill up rapidly if you are too casual about “what’s an heirloom.” Consider passing on some of these things to extended family members right now—don’t wait 20 years!
Now you are one closet closer to having a serene, uncluttered home! Next week take this same process and tackle another corner of the house!
Monday, February 15, 2010
Winning the clutter wars
In the next two articles I will be sharing with you some great tips on how to de-clutter and organize your home. If you missed the last installment (Homeowner’s Declaration of Independence) please just give me a call and I would be happy to send one out to you.
The first step in winning the Clutter War is to de-bug your own mind! Most of us don’t recognize clutter when it falls out of the closet onto our heads, so how in the world will we conquer it? Let’s start by defining what clutter is. Clutter is anything in your home:
* That is out of place.
* That is broken.
* That you have not used or worn in more than a year.
* That you dislike.
Now don’t panic. I won’t be telling you to throw everything away that falls within the above definition of clutter. BUT, once you get a clear picture in your head of what constitutes clutter you will be better able to deal with it! In the next installment we still start in one small place to give you some practice in sorting through all that clutter.
Check out my website http://www.roseknows.net/
The first step in winning the Clutter War is to de-bug your own mind! Most of us don’t recognize clutter when it falls out of the closet onto our heads, so how in the world will we conquer it? Let’s start by defining what clutter is. Clutter is anything in your home:
* That is out of place.
* That is broken.
* That you have not used or worn in more than a year.
* That you dislike.
Now don’t panic. I won’t be telling you to throw everything away that falls within the above definition of clutter. BUT, once you get a clear picture in your head of what constitutes clutter you will be better able to deal with it! In the next installment we still start in one small place to give you some practice in sorting through all that clutter.
Check out my website http://www.roseknows.net/
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
A Clutter Free Home
As a longtime homeowner I have had to deal with my number one enemy - the monster that lurks under every bed and in every closet - CLUTTER! Nothing will interfere with your enjoyment of your home as much as disorganization and clutter.
Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some tips on how to simplify your household and get organized. But first, let's look at some ways to prevent the clutter in the first place. You can call this your Homeowner's Declaration of Independence.
Over the next couple of weeks I will be sharing some tips on how to simplify your household and get organized. But first, let's look at some ways to prevent the clutter in the first place. You can call this your Homeowner's Declaration of Independence.
- Garage sales are events you stage, not events you attend. Unless you are a professional junk or antique dealer, there is no reason for you to ever attend a garage sale.
- Discover the joys of borrowing. Let's be honest. There are some things you might only use two or three times a year. You don't need to buy these things. Your friends will be happy to dig them out from their garage or the bottom of their closet and lend them to you.
- Throw away all those full color store ads in your newspaper and mailbox - do NOT browse them first. Those ads exist for one reason only - to make you think you need more stuff. I know, you think you are just window shopping, but that is the first step to buying a juicer with ten attachments or a bigger and better George Foreman grill.
- Treat ebay and other internet shopping sites like disaster areas - steer clear of them. You will not escape unscathed. Clutter will leap into your shopping cart of its own volition!
- Finally, if you absolutely must buy something, do it only to replace something you already have. It's okay to replace your grill, your vacuum cleaner or the refrigerator - just don't multiply them!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Selling Your Home In The Winter
Selling a home during the winter months can be a challenge. Dreary, cold weather can keep buyers away and heighten fears of your home staying on the market longer than expected.
If you are serious about getting your home sold, you should realize that this is actually a great time to sell your home. You may think you should take your home off the market because there are fewer buyers out at this time of year. That is true, however, those buyers who are out home shopping in the winter are very serious buyers. During the slack time in the market, the less serious buyers drop out. So show your home now to those serious buyers, especially as at this time of year they have less homes to choose from, lessening your competition.
There are a few thing that you should do to increase your home's appeal during the winter. Staying on top of winter maintenance and chores is a sure-fire way of adding value to your home. A neatly shoved driveway and cleared walkway are a must. Don't forget to shovel by the side doors, the garage and decks. It is fine to
If you are serious about getting your home sold, you should realize that this is actually a great time to sell your home. You may think you should take your home off the market because there are fewer buyers out at this time of year. That is true, however, those buyers who are out home shopping in the winter are very serious buyers. During the slack time in the market, the less serious buyers drop out. So show your home now to those serious buyers, especially as at this time of year they have less homes to choose from, lessening your competition.
There are a few thing that you should do to increase your home's appeal during the winter. Staying on top of winter maintenance and chores is a sure-fire way of adding value to your home. A neatly shoved driveway and cleared walkway are a must. Don't forget to shovel by the side doors, the garage and decks. It is fine to
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