Long Weekend To Do List

With summer coming to end and most of busy with work, and kids and back in school Labor Day can be the perfect time to tackle those To Do list tasks. With summer leaving we can expect cold weather to follow. Now is a good time to get some winter prep started. Here is a short list to help get things going.

Bathroom update. The bathroom is the perfect place to do a remodel that doesn't have to cost a lot or take a long time. A fresh coat of paint, some new rugs, a nice shower curtain and some cool space organizers and you're set.

Clean out the garage, closets and junk drawer. We all know those areas are the where all the junk ends up. Clearing out the junk can be the best place to start any to do list.

Yard winter prep. Getting your yard ready for winter is very important to ensure your yard stays healthy all year long. Look online if you don't know what to do to prep your type of trees or plants.

Be sure to leave yourself plenty of time to rest and enjoy the Labor Day weekend. Call us if you need a bin.

Top remodel for 2018

Here is a list of the top 4 things homeowners are doing to remodel their homes this year.

Smart home systems:  You can control your home with the push of a button on your phone. Set the temperature, control lights, Unlock and lock doors and monitor security systems. The benefits of a smart home are endless and allow you to stay connected and in control with no effort.

Rooftop patios:  Many people are starting to utilize the space on their roofs and tops of houses. Apartment buildings have been using their rooftops for many years but now residential homes are starting to see the benefits as well.

All white: Seems like a nightmare to me to have a house that is wall to white, furniture, walls, accessories etc. But this all white trend is taking off and more and more interior decorators are utilizing all hues of white to create gorgeous spaces. I will admit it looks very pretty and clean, however, parents with small children or black dogs might be hesitant to try this trend.

Open shelving:  This trend is one I love! Having open shelves in the kitchen can really be lovely. The only caveat is that you may become obsessed with keeping things neat and tidy. No more chipped dishes or old ugly looking spice jars.

Recipes that you'll all love

I hate using my stove or oven when it's super hot outside! Here are just a couple of the no cook recipes my family enjoy.

The first is a recipe for a snack the whole family loves and I love my kids eating because of the health benefits.

Power Balls:
1 c. old fashioned oats
1/2 c. peanut butter
1/2 c. ground flax seed
1/2 c. chocolate chips
1/3 c. honey
1 tbsp. chia seeds
1 tsp. vanilla extract

combine all the above in a bowl. Let it chill in the fridge for 30 mins then form into 1 inch balls.


The next recipe is for an easy ready to take breakfast:

Overnight fridge oatmeal:
1/4 c. uncooked old fashioned rolled oats
1/3 c. milk
1/4 c. vanilla yogurt
1 and 1/2 tsp chia seeds (I add extra since I love chia)
2 tsp maple syrup
1/4 c. blueberries

Mix ingredients in a small jar, secure the lid and shake until well mixed. Place in the fridge overnight and your yummy breakfast is ready for you first thing in the morning.

Time to clear up space in the garage

Our garage used to serve one purpose, that was store and hold our junk. Boxes full of stuff that never got unpacked from our move, bins full of old holiday decorations, bags full of clothes meant for goodwill, you name it and it was in there. After enduring a hot summer and cold winter I was sick of getting in a hot car that was showing sun bleaching, and scraping ice and snow from my car. 

We decided to tackle the garage and organize so I could park the car inside. It took a few days to go through everything and clear out the junk. Things were made much easier by making a plan first. A bin to haul off the old junk, plastic bins to store and organize the stuff we were keeping, shelves and hooks to store everything. One thing we had to do was to make sure we only kept stuff we knew for sure would be needed and used often. It's very easy to get sentimental about stuff but usually if it's sat collecting dust it may not be that important, or if it is it should be stored away properly in an airtight sturdy bin. 

Give us a call if you need help hauling away your junk, and enjoy your clean garage. 

Summer time and fire pits just make sense

One of my favorite memories is sitting around the fire pit with my family sharing laughs and yummy s'mores. A lot of people think a fire pit is a huge expense and a lot of money. However, this doesn't have to be the case. All is takes is a little internet research and you can easily find the right style that fits your yard and your budget.

If you want to get creative you can design your own pit. Just keep in mind safety and airflow and the rest can be up to you design. The two main styles of fire pits is above ground and below ground, both have pros and cons but for safety reasons most people prefer an above ground pit.

Some people may not be ready to commit to built in fire pit so a portable pit may be perfect for you. There are plenty of options to buy ready made pits for your yard but its always so much more fun and satisfying to build your own. I found tons of design options online that fit different budgets and needs.

I hope you enjoy planning your next backyard project, as always feel free to give us a call if you need some waste removed.

Yard cleanup made easy

Spring is here and now is the perfect time to get out in the yard and start cleaning up and prepping for any new projects. Yard waste can quickly build up. Especially if you are hauling away dirt and rocks which weigh more than you'd think. Don't do damage to your truck, give us a call and we will help you pick the right size bin for your project and budget.

Bring The Spring

Bring the spring

Every spring I start my to do list for outside chores. Before I put in any garden I ask my self a few questions to make sure I buy the right plants and supplies that will work best in my yard.

I learned the hard way that just going out and buying whatever plants and flowers I like best usually results in dead gardens that never really grow as I imagined. What I figured was that I needed to get to know my yard a little better. Here is my list of questions for a successful garden.

First- Where do I want my garden? I like to sketch a drawing of my yard, so I can visualize where it will look best.

Second- I plan to spend all day outside so I can write down how much sun each spot gets. This way when I pick the plants I can make sure each plant will be getting the right amount of sun.

Third- How much water does each spot get? Some plants are drought tolerant and others need frequent watering. If I know how much each spot gets I can pick the right plants or gets supplies to provide adequate water for that area.

Fourth- Do I need to get plants that are kid or pet friendly? Things I might avoid if I have curious kids or pets is thorny bushes, or toxic plants.

Fifth- What is my soil like? Some soils are nutrient rich on their own, but others may be missing a key nutrient for plant success. Your local ag. Department usually has a soil test kit for free or you can purchase one for cheap.

Now that you are more acquainted with your yard you will be able to plant gardens you know will do well.  Give us a call if you need to rent an affordable residential friendly bin to haul off your waste.