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Spring Cleaning and Organization with Dollar Tree

Abby H.

Over Spring Break we had guests. While our house is clean, it was definitely disorganized. I had reorganized the pantry and kitchen drawers not long ago, so it was my mission to organize some of the other areas of our home including the kids’ rooms, the front bathroom, and the living room.

The wallpaper I chose.

I headed over to Dollar Tree to grab some organizational items. If you haven’t checked out Dollar Tree lately, they have a great selection of baskets, totes, and boxes with lids to help with organizing your space.

I also checked out their peel-and-stick wallpaper to do some DIY bathroom decor.

I picked up a few square frames, removed the artwork, covered it with the peel and stick, and placed it back into the frames. It took less than ten minutes and it was super easy. The best part: they look really cute.

To make our bathroom countertop look a little nicer, after scrubbing it, I put down an edged mirror (also from Dollar Tree) and placed 6 battery-powered faux candles in different sizes on the mirror. 

I also bought a small two-drawer container to corral all of my hair ties and for Qtips. I decorated the top with decals meant for a glass jar. I think it turned out great.

I placed a basket on top of the toilet tank and filled it with an extra roll of toilet paper, wipes, and new washcloths. I scrubbed out the shower, placed down a shower mat (from Ross), and restocked the front bathroom shower with shampoo, conditioner, 2 body washes, a new pouf, a new back scrub brush, exfoliating gloves, and my absolute favorite body scrub from Tree Hut: Moroccan Rose (which does not smell like roses). I also spent time organizing the HBA stockpile under the front bathroom sink, condensing boxes, and half-filled bottles, and removing unnecessary packaging to make storage easier. I also went through the first aid kit and discarded all of the old, expired meds, ointments, and bandages that are no longer adhesive.

The kids love to draw and there are pencils and pens all over the house. I picked up a three-pack of small baskets and placed 2 of them on the kitchen tables, filling one with pencils, and the second one with ballpoint pens. Hopefully that will solve the “MOOOOOOM, where are the pencils???” Quandary.

Heading into the kids’ rooms, I reorganized Margaret’s room with a few baskets and plastic boxes with lids. The headband/hairbow situation had gotten out of hand, but it was easily wrangled with a plastic box with a lid. Now everything is all in one place. Same with underwear and socks. Separated into two baskets and stored on top of her dresser, which has been upgraded and moved into her larger closet. Yes, her room has two closets- one is very small, and basically is only used to hold clothes that need to be hung up. 

Back in the living room, I needed better storage options for our fidget/stim basket and masks. I upgraded to black woven baskets. We still have masks at home (for use when we go to crowded places or when we are feeling under the weather and need to leave home- Target Drive up, anyone?). These weren’t from Dollar Tree, but Dollar Tree Plus and Family Dollar both sell them. And yes, that’s a plastic shoe box with a lid from Dollar Tree next to them- Full of crayons.

So that’s how I spent the 1st three days of my Spring Break. Getting my home organized- It has made finding things a lot easier.

5 House Hunting Tips To Look For First Time Buyers!

Abby H.

Thanks to Cait Wilker from Cait’s Corner for this informative guest post about House Hunting! Especially in California, pricing is starting to decrease and inventory is stabilizing.

Purchasing a home can be some of the most exciting moments of your adulthood but it can also be extremely stressful. Although there are a few details that might look different right now, the overall process of buying a home remains the same and figuring out the key steps can help you reach your goal and make your dream a reality with just a few things. Regardless of when you actually plan to buy a home, there are a few tips you need to look out for. On average, looking for the perfect home can take roughly a few months. You need about 2-4 months to find the right house and then add another month to close. The process can also take a while as well such as looking at your credit and financing options, finding a real estate agent and making offers to negotiate the right price. 

Buying a home can be stressful during the best of times, and it might feel positively overwhelming during a pandemic. Although a few of the details may look different right now, the overall process of buying remains the same — and understanding the key steps can help you reach your goal and make your dream a reality.

  1. Credit Score: One of the biggest tips to helping you house hunt is knowing what you can actually afford. Your credit score has a lot to do with this. A credit report is pulled from data from three major credit reporting agencies including Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. In this report, it shares both your FICO score and your Vantage score. The higher your credit score, the lower the interest rate you’ll receive. Generally speaking, a credit score of 720 or higher will get you a good interest rate on a conventional loan, but qualification criteria depends on the specific lender. For FHA loans, you can usually get approved with a credit score of 580 or higher. If you are unhappy with your score there are a few ways to impact your score including the type of credit, length of your credit history, total debit and payment history. 
  2. What Can You Afford: Once you are pre approved a lender will tell you the max amount you are able to borrow. Once you have a budget in mind, make a list of some of your must-have home features. Your price point will dictate the size , location and amenities of your future home. Below are a few ideas to keep in mind such as the type of home, preferred location, square footage, number of bathrooms and bedrooms and school district. 
  3. Location: Next to finding out what you can afford, location is the biggest thing first time homeowners look for. If you can’t find or afford a home in your ideal neighborhood you’ll want to look at one that fits your budget, your needs and your lifestyle. Remember, your home’s location cannot be changed so take time to really look at them and where you’ll be the happiest living for a few years. 
Image: Brazilian Wood Depot

4. Protection: One way to keep your home, your loved ones including your kids and pets safe and protected is putting in a fence in your backyard. When looking at various fences, you want something that keeps you feeling secure, looks great with your home as well as its longevity. One company called Brazilian Wood Depot to help you make such a big decision. This business offers composite vs brazilian wood fences as well as wood options including Ipe or purplewood. There are so many ideas so it would be wise to talk to them to see what would work best with your audience. 

5. Keep In Mind Needs Vs Wants: There’s a big difference between wants and needs, so create two different lists when searching for a home. For instance, a shorter commute may be a must-have, but smart home features are a nice-to-have. Practicality and functionality should always take priority over the bells and whistles! 

As you begin your house hunting tours, keep these tips in mind, do your best to find one that fits the must wish list and also see what you can afford but don’t feel as if you need to purchase a home at the top of your budget. Again, you can always work on cosmetic items and go slow when making this house a home. 

 

Thanks again to Cait for this post. All content in this post and any opinions are solely of the author.

Sunday Care Tasks: Setting Up Your Week For Success!

Abby H.

One thing I’ve been doing is reframing chores and tasks around the home as Care Tasks. This makes them morally neutral. There is no shame, no guilt. These are tasks we do to take care of our home and our family. Thanks to KC Davis (You may know her as Domestic Blisters on TikTok, her website is Struggle Care).

Sometimes I do these tasks on Saturday, but usually, I do it Sunday morning all the kids are watching cartoons or playing video games. It takes about 90 minutes to 2 hours, but I find that carving out a little bit of time could really help frame the start of the week in a positive light.

  • Go through the kitchen inventory (pantry/fridge/freezer) to meal plan. Chop vegetables, make a salad, make food for adult lunches. Our produce comes on Mondays, but usually by late Saturday or early Sunday I still have stuff that needs to be used up. In that case, I roast a tray of veggies or make up a quick salad, or if I don’t think we’re gonna be able to eat right away, I will prep them for the freezer. I try to meal plan around the food that will expire or go bad first. Meaning that we tend to have green salads first, then followed by other foods.
  • I repack the snack box for the week.  I buy larger snack/lunch food for the kids and fill the snack box. I have a “secret” (at least to the kids) location where I store large boxes of snacks. This is the kids from devouring all of the snacks quickly. 
  • I update the family calendar as needed. We have a wall calendar in the kitchen that I update weekly/as needed when there are things the kids need to know are happening. I also update the calendar in my bathroom on the vanity, and both kids have wall calendars in their bedrooms with events/holidays they need to know about.
  • I make sure all the laundry is put away: I hate doing laundry, it’s my least favorite chore. So usually Saturday night after the kids are in bed or on Sunday I will make sure that all of the laundry that has been washed over the past few days is dried, folded, and put away on Monday morning, I don’t have to hear the screams of, “I don’t have anything to wear! “
  • Take out the trash. Also not a favorite task (it’s heavy and I have tendonitis in my right elbow so carrying is tough), but getting it done helps the week feel a little easier to get started.
  • Clean out/repack the kid’s backpacks. This includes plugging iPads to charge, checking folders for anything that needs signatures, refilling water bottles, and checking lunch bags for any mystery food left from the last week. 
  • Update my care task list for the upcoming week. It is in the notes section of my phone, and it’s a checklist that I can easily check off completed items.

If I don’t get everything done at one time, I break down them into what needs to be done. Kids need clothes for school, charged iPads, and food/snacks. Everything else can wait until I have more energy or some help.

There is no shame in asking for or hiring help (if that is available to you). If you find yourself in need of some care or gentle coaching on how to organize and clean while you are feeling stressed, I recommend KC Davis’ Book, How to Keep House While Drowning: A Gentle Approach to Cleaning and Organizing.

Tryazon: Give a Room a Refresh with Deflecto

Abby H.1 Comment

It’s time to love your space with the Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Deflecto. Featuring storage and floor protection products to transform your home. Stackable cube organizers make organizing easier, clean up the clutter, and stack to save space. The Deflecto FashionMat floor protectors come in three unique designs and are great for hard floors or flat pile carpets. Update your craft room, child’s room, or home office!

Tryazon has 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack valued at $300+ with a variety of Deflecto products to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here. 
We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

SDG&E: Save $500 on a new water heater!

Abby H.

Are you an SDG&E customer? Do you need a new water heater?

Energy Star

Now through 12/31/2021, SDG&E customers can save up to $500 instantly when you purchase a qualifying electric heat pump water heater, plus additional savings:

  • Energy Star
  • Save up to $350* per year on energy bills
  • Up to $3,750* in savings over the operational lifetime
  • Efficient and environmentally friendly

To take advantage of this deal:

  1. Visit sdge.com/rebates for eligible models and participating locations.
  2. Rebate will automatically be deducted during checkout.

Additional savings may be available through tax credits.

Check your eligibility before purchase.

*Based on the average family of four. ENERGY STAR®. March 19, 2020. US Environmental Protection Agency and US Department of Energy. See website for full details.

Offer is available only to SDG&E® residential customers. Coupons may only be redeemed for the product you preselected at the retail or distributor location chosen during coupon sign-up. Offers and deals differ by brand and by-product.

This program is funded by California utility customers and administered by SDG&E under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission. Rebates and incentives are provided on a first-come, first-served basis until program funds are no longer available.

Tryazon: Puzzles and Princesses

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Piece together a fun and memorable game night with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Spin Master Games! Featuring puzzles from the wonderful world of Bluey, a tea party game with all your favorite Disney Princesses, and more! With Spin Master Games, there’s something for everyone!

They have 100 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with a variety of Spin Master Games to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/spin-master-puzzles-and-princesses-party/ 

 

Tryazon: It’s Kids VS Parents in New Game Night Opportunity!

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

It’s time for Kids vs Parents game night with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Spin Master Games! Featuring five great titles including  Beat the Parents, Jumanji, Hedbanz Blast Off, and more! Turn up the fun, hilarity, and antics with Spin Master Games!

They have 250 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with a variety of Spin Master Games to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here.

Tryazon: Aerodynamic Football Party Opportunity

Abby H.

We’ve been participating in Tryazon events for three+ years. We’ve gotten to try all sorts of fun toys, games, and food.  You can learn more about Tryazon here.

Throw like a Pro with this Tryazon Featured Party opportunity, from Spin Master,  featuring the Aerobie Sonic Fin High Performance Football. Officially endorsed by Russell Wilson, the quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks, this aerodynamic football puts the power of a pro in your hands. Compete against your friends to see how far you can make the football go with the #sonicfinchallenge!

Tryazon has 250 hosting spots open for this opportunity! Those selected get to receive a party pack with this brand new football and another Aerobie product to share with friends and family! Learn more and apply here: https://www.tryazon.com/aerobie-football-air-it-out-party/

Time for New Home Furnishings/Decor? Wayfair’s Got It!

Abby H.

After a year at home basically 24/7, it might be time to refresh. And by that, I mean buy new furniture, or a new area rug (that’s me!), or find some new home decor that brings you joy.

Wayfair has some crazy deals right now on all of those things! And if you are on a budget, fear not. Save up to 70% on furniture and decor at Wayfair.com. Sign up and receive promo code for 10% off.

I’m really looking forward to shopping for a new rug this weekend on Wayfair. Our current rug has been in our living room since (almost) day 1. 6 years is a long time for an area rug, especially one that was pretty inexpensive to start with.

  • Shop for a new look with our exclusive gallery of designer-decorated rooms.
  • Stay up-to-date on your account with the new MyWayfair, featuring notifications for exclusive promo codes and more.
  • Shop limited-time deals on furniture and decor at up to 70% OFF. New sales launch every day at noon.
  • Browse by departments, refine your search, and get inspired when you search by room.

 

 

Tom & Jerry The Movie Drops Tomorrow (02/26/2021)

Abby H.

If you follow me on Instagram, you know I received a HUGE box of goodies from Warner Bros. and Tom & Jerry to celebrate the release of their movie. Tom & Jerry The Movie comes to Theaters and HBO Max tomorrow 2/26/2021.

I grew up watching Tom & Jerry Cartoons, and I’ve shown some to my kids too. They love the crazy antics and adventures. We are looking forward to watching the movie Friday night on HBO Max.

About the Movie:

One of the most beloved rivalries in history is reignited when Jerry moves into New York City’s finest hotel on the eve of “the wedding of the century,” forcing the event’s desperate planner, Kayla, to hire Tom to get rid of him, in director Tim Story’s “Tom and Jerry.” The ensuing cat and mouse battle threatens to destroy her career, the wedding, and possibly the hotel itself. But soon, an even bigger problem arises: a diabolically ambitious staffer conspiring against all three of them.

An eye-popping blend of classic animation and live-action, Tom and Jerry’s new adventure stakes new ground for the iconic characters and forces them to eventually do the unthinkable… work together to save the day.

If you want to get into some mayhem and mischief, check out these awesome goodies and activities to get your family ready for the movie!

AR Lens 

Games

Activity Pack

Giphy Stickers

Zoom Backgrounds

“Tom and Jerry” stars Chloë Grace Moretz (“Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising,” “The Addams Family”), Michael Peña (“Cesar Chavez,” “American Hustle,” “Ant-Man”), Colin Jost (“How to be Single,” “Saturday Night Live”), Rob Delaney (“Deadpool 2,” “Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw”), Pallavi Sharda (“Lion”), Jordan Bolger (“Peaky Blinders”), Patsy Ferran (“Darkest Hour”), Nicky Jam (TV’s “Nicky Jam: El Ganador”), Bobby Cannavale (“The Irishman,” “Ant-Man and the Wasp”), Lil Rel Howery (“Judas and the Black Messiah,” “The Angry Birds Movie 2”), and Ken Jeong (“Crazy Rich Asians,” “The Hangover,” “Transformers: Dark of the Moon”).The film was directed by Tim Story (“Fantastic Four,” “Think Like a Man,” “Barbershop”) and produced by Chris DeFaria (“The LEGO Movie 2,” “Ready Player One,” “Gravity”).