Gettin' Dirty This Weekend

Spring and summer are my favorite seasons. Warmer temperatures and lots of sunshine lend delicious fruits and veggies. Over the last two years, my husband and I have built garden plots and filled them with the produce we eat most. As we have begun planning for our first 2013 planting weekend, I've been thinking a lot about past garden experiences, what worked and what didn't and how we can improve. Homemade Change is going HomeGROWN during this planting craze. My hope is that you can learn new tips or resources and learn from my mistakes and successes. Through the next few posts, I'll show you how to save money, eat healthier, feel better and maybe even have a little fun.

So let's recap last year for starters. Cedar, raised garden plots were a great choice. Conveniently pre-made and you can add more plots easily. Plus, you get a great workout breaking up the grass and soil.

Photo of our initial plot set up. OK that was a lie. We initially put it in what I deemed the ideal place for our garden. Aesthetically, I chose the spot that made the most sense with our yard lay out. Unfortunately, the sun didn't care much about my perfect blueprint and shone where it wanted to anyway. So, we had to move the garden---this would be a mistake not to make. I'll show you how to avoid it in an upcoming post.

 



We used organic soil, seeds or seedlings and fertilizers. Our workout continued while toting nearly a dozen of these bags.



 

So many plant choices!!In an upcoming post of the HomeGrown series, I'll give you some tips on how to choose your perfect veggie blend. Why go to the trouble if your garden isn't tailored to your family's needs?

 

First planting day: Lettuce options and herbs such as Sweet Basil, Cuban Oregano, Hot and Spicy Oregano and Rosemary.

 

Second planting after our local community garden plant sale. Multiple types of tomatoes and peppers. That photobomber is one of our four legged helpers, Marley :)

 

Potatoes are incredibly easy to grow in many various ways. Use a large pot or even a large, canvas bag and you can add soil as your potatoes sprout. For more details visit: http://www.organicgardening.com/learn-and-grow/7-ways-plant-potatoes

 



One of our biggest producers was this organic strawberry plant. Yum!

 

If you have never grown your own produce, I can't tell you how exciting it is to watch and more importantly eat the "fruits" of your labor. I use our homegrown herbs for nearly every meal at home. For ease and convenience, I purchased a multiple vase bud stand at a consignment store for 8 dollars:

From left: Sweet Basil, BBQ Rosemary, Cuban Oregano, Hot and Spicy Oregano. I have found using fresh herbs alleviates the need for additional salt, butter or other all purpose seasonings high in sodium. 

My favorite summer salad using all organic ingredients and some homegrown! Stay tuned for prep tips, grocery list and serving options for this outdoor BBQ or garden party favorite. Mater and Melon.

 

Check back within the next week to learn which veggies you should splurge and which ones can you afford to save on, recipes and further resources. My husband and I are playing in the dirt together this weekend. A cheap, productive and fun date! Wanna see our progress? Visit the Homemade Change Facebook Page for updates.

One Woman's Sell Pile is Another Woman's Wish List

The basic point that one woman's sell pile is another woman's wish list is the foundation of this process (get the full story at Homemade Change). Notice that I didn't use the classic “trash vs treasure” comparison. Trash is usually trash. I do, however, believe treasures are living in your home. Right now, they are probably hidden in one of three ways. Your treasures are disguised as “set abouts” (aka dust collectors), camouflaged by other items or completely MIA in storage. A lot of these items COULD be in your sell pile... which really means the items on your wish list COULD become your new treasures. Got your attention now?

OK...I love the cleaning out and the selling parts of this process. We all know it feels good to declutter. Recouping part of the expense or making a profit off of an item is rewarding. But for me, nothing feels as good as a new dress, the perfect, vintage storage piece I have been coveting or a night out with my hubby. I enjoy the rewards of this Homemade Change and I really think you will too.

I recently found a set of water goblets in a local consignment shop. Gorgeous, cobalt blue glasses on clear stems originally priced at Pottery Barn for $10 a glass. Though I saw them when they were first dropped off at the consignment store at $4.50 a glass--immediately knowing they would forever be described in my head as “entertaining show stoppers, yet I love to use them everyday”-- I resisted. See, this shop has an aggressive markdown schedule and every 25 days an item sits on the shelf, the sales price is reduced by 25%.

 

 Perfection of glass form and shopping strategies aside, I had perfectly nice plum colored glasses at home. I further reminded myself that I received these pretty and “perfectly good” glasses for free from helping a previous client clean out her storage apartment. No, no you read that right. I said storage “apartment” and not “unit.” This sweet lady literally paid a mortgage for a place, separate from where she lived, to keep piles of “stuff.” Stuff she never used, never needed, and never missed. Though she wouldn't accept payment for the few she offered me, she had a lot of treasures. (More on that story at a later time)

So, to my amazement the perfect glasses sit at the consigment store for 50 days (now, 50% off of the original price) and are moved to the bargain room. I'm contemplating purchasing them when I see two women with armfuls of blue and clear beauties, carrying them like treasures. MY new treasures. I wanted to scream. It was then that I knew I had made a mistake. I LOVED those glasses. AND STUPID STUPID STUPID I had “perfectly good” condition, pretty plum glasses that would be perfect...in someone else's kitchen. I also had ZERO investment in them besides elbow grease, sweat and a little muscle soreness from decoding clutter in the storage “apartment”. Before I could stop myself, I exclaimed, “Oh how pretty! I love those!”. And this thieving broad replied, “Me too, honey, but I only have room in my home for twelve so there are six left in the back.” I could have kissed her.

Now, this next part is a confession NOT a suggestion. I bought them. I HAD to! There they were in the bargain room. I practically skipped on my way to gather the six remaining goblets and purchased them straight away. Thoughts of “iced water with lemon wedges, the perfect contrast of the blue and yellow... cocktails in the summer...” danced in my head. No pestering little details or inward questions of where was I going to pull the money from to pay for them. See, it's not that we're poor, it's that my husband and I budget every dollar. We PLAN to blow some money every month (but we save a heck of a lot more) and that blown money is usually spoken for together.

NOPE, bought 'em. Sure, the deal was unbelievable and I loved them, but we are on a self imposed, planning to retire early budget. Luckily, I just happened to have a sell pile (plum glasses) and turns out they were on another woman's wish list.
 

 

I dropped my old glasses off the next day, they sold within a week and I made my $12.50 back. $10 a glass treasures for just a little over $2 a glass...success and fulfillment :). Mmmm that is the sweetest unsweet tea I have ever tasted.

 

 

 

For more, connect with Homemade Change on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Amazon. 
 

5 Small Steps that can Lead to Big Success

It really doesn't take much to make a world of difference. We usually talk ourselves out of starting a task because it seems too big to conquer at the moment. You already know you can accomplish more than you thought in Ten Tenacious Minutes, but where else can super small changes lend big results?

Before we get started, let's get inspired. Below are before and after photos of a mudroom makeover on www.apartmenttherapy.com

The mudroom acquired a few storage boxes & containers, a catch all, bulletin board on the wall and a cushion. Not rocket science, but effective.

Where can you make a HUGE difference with LITTLE effort? I'm talking mega bang for your buck....like almost stealing.  You will be surprised the difference 1 little bitty Homemade Change can make. Here are a few ideas. Pick the tip that speaks loudest to you and when applicable try it for a week:

Drink one extra glass of water a day: If you drink 0, drink 1. We all know we should, but who wants to give up sugary, caffeinated, yummy delights? So don't...yet. All you have to do this week today is drink one extra glass of water. I started with room temp cupful and just slugged it back to get it over with when I was first starting. You may want ice and lemon and a nice book with yours. Do it your way, but do it. Clearer skin, better functioning organs, and weight loss are just a few of the benefits. I now drink hot water, made in flash by my trusty coffee maker (Thanks Lisa!), every night after dinner. My tummy is warm and full without taking in calories or staying up all night. Just one extra glass today, and the day after that and soon..I bet before you know it...you will have done it for the week. By steadily increasing your water intake, you will save money (water is free besides a few filters here and there), feel & sleep better and lose fat & toxins. Drink up!

Collect your change in a Mason jar: I can hear it now, "But I use my card for everything and NEVER carry cash." OK for this tip you would need to make two small changes. I can attest that one of them will change your life forever if you let it. Over 8 months ago, my husband and I went to an all cash budget and have saved more money than we knew possible. We sit down at least once a week at the dinner table and discuss our budget, giving every dollar a name. Don't skip to the next tip! I am not suggesting you go that extreme this week-- just get out $50-100 in cash and make your small purchases with that money. When you break a big bill put the $1s and the change in your Mason jar. Do this every time you have $1s or change from your original withdrawal. At the end of the week, look at the money you saved. You may also notice that when you have to turn over cool hard cash your grip gets a little tighter. Swiping a card, whether it be credit or debit, just doesn't have the same effect as watching money deplete before your eyes. Warning: this may cause you not to buy crap you don't need.

Get up five minutes early to stretch: That's it. I don't want you to set your alarm for 4:30am to run 4 miles before work or sign up for a bootcamp 6 days a week. Just 5 minutes of concentrated stretching and breathing before starting your day can clear your mind and relax your body. No expert pretzel poses required. Take yourself back to elementary P.E. classes--"Arms up reaching for the sky, stand like a tree with arms to your side, reach down and touch approach your toes..." Breathe in and out deeply and steadily while doing so. Do this each morning and go ahead call yourself a regular ole' yogini! We have so much to do during our day.  Let's allow ourselves 3 to 5 minutes of peace before all hell breaks loose.

Get rid of one item: Sell it, donate it, trade it, give it away to a friend, walk it to the curb...whatever is appropriate and/or easiest. Get it out of your house and out of your life. It's not adding value. Best case scenario the item is taking up space and collecting dust. Worst case scenario the waste of space is in your way and weighing on your mind. Free yourself from it. In fact, make mama proud and get rid of a trash bag full. OK, OK sorry. Just one dern item...a day... for a week :).

Pat yourself on the back: This one should probably be mandatory. I'm willing to bet that 90% of you don't take enough time for yourself. I know I don't always. So this week we will. On at least 1 day this week, take a bath, do your nails, enjoy your favorite dinner or sweet. Do what makes you feel good simply because it feels good (within reason ladies). You spend a lot of your life tending to or looking out for the benefit of others...husbands or partners, kids, bosses, friends, coworkers, parents, neighbors to name a few. All I'm asking you to do is add yourself to the list. If you have kids and don't want to pay for a sitter, consider trading time with another woman in your life. She covers you for an hour on Tuesday and you return the favor Thursday. Reward yourself for the week's triumphs and forgive yourself for its mistakes. I don't mean reward yourself with a Dooney bag and forgive yourself for maxing out the credit card. Do one of the primping examples above or another inexpensive, yet pampering or indulging favorite. Pat yourself on the back for everything you do for everyone else and do a little something for yourself.

So which tip will you pick? Comment back with your experience or check in with me on Facebook or Twitter.

Homemade Change for FREE this weekend!

 

 

Making Money Fast and Decluttering Your Life is Possible-- Practical Advice helps readers Attain Goals in New Book Released on Amazon

Jessica Wall reveals how to make a profit and declutter in her new book, Homemade Change: Money may not grow on trees, but it Lives in Your Home: A Guide on How to Make Money from Home and Declutter your Life. W. Driftwood Publishing is offering this helpful tool for free this weekend, February 23^rd and 24^th, 2013.

The start of a new year brings many changes and goals, but often we are left to our own devices and strategies to accomplish these tasks. Not so for readers who take advantage of the free promotional period for this new author's book, Homemade Change:Money may not grow on trees, but it Lives in Your Home: A Guide onHow to Make Money from Home and Declutter your Life . The foundational book in the Homemade Change series is already improving lives and fattening pocketbooks.

The purpose of this book is to take the guess work out of creating home organization, removing clutter from your home and making money fast in the process. Through years of personal experience and thousands of dollars worth of success decluttering her own home, the author shares her hard earned tips providing a guide to making money with minimal effort. Jessica's methods are tried and true and can be tailored to fit all lifestyles. She provides ideas for making money for various personality types through numerous avenues.

“Anyone is capable of turning clutter into real change,” Wall promises, “In ten minutes a day, you can change your home, your life and your bank account. I know because I did it.” Read more about her Ten Tenacious Minutes principle through Jessica's HomemadeChange blog.

HomemadeChange: Money may not grow on trees, but it Lives in Your Home: AGuide on How to Make Money from Home and Declutter your Life allows readers to personalize the process and create an income from home based on his or her needs. In a warm and honest voice, Wall gets straight to the point and specific on the actions needed to obtain success and fulfillment through items you already own. After a short and pleasurable read, you too can make money fast without enormous effort and this weekend you can do it with zero money out of pocket. Download your free copy through Amazon this Saturday and Sunday.

TEN TENACIOUS MINUTES-- that, my dear,  is all you need...

     I have often felt that a huge stumbling block to accomplishing what we would like is time. Interestingly enough, this time issue can be completely inaccurate. In our minds, a task can be daunting because we feel it is going to take much longer than it actually will. For example: I have put off washing the dishes, cleaning out a drawer, folding laundry, reorganizing a closet or running an errand many times because of the fear of how long it will take. So the task or errand clutters up my to do list (mental or actual) for hours or even days or weeks--Don't worry it didn't take me weeks to do the dishes. Only to realize after accomplishing said errand/task that it took much less time than I had anticipated a.k.a. dreaded. In my book, HOMEMADE CHANGE: Money may not grow on trees, but it lives in your home- A guide on how to make money from home and declutter your life, I recommend starting your possibly enormous task with small, simple steps. In my experience, Ten Tenacious Minutes can lend big results.

What can be accomplished in Ten Tenacious Minutes?

     There are many tasks that fall within this time frame. I have listed a few examples below and have separated them into categories based on frequence of occurence. Feel free to apply these principles to the chores that linger on your list.

A) EVERYDAY Simple, frequently required chores:

Starting or switching the laundry: Lucky for us we don't have to actually wash the clothes anymore. All we have to do in this century is gather them, sort them, throw them in, add detergent and turn the machine on.

Doing the dishes: See laundry note above and know that the same rule applies here. With the exception of my cast iron skillets and a few other specialty items, it's a “throw in and go” type of situation. If your kitchen is organized efficiently, you can put up the dishes in Ten Tenacious Minutes with five minutes to spare. If your kitchen's current configuration will not allow you to put up a load of dishes in ten minutes, there is a problem with the set up. For help, read “Declutter One Cabinet/Closet/Room/Home at a Time” Email me at HomemadeChangeInfo@gmail.com for a FREE copy.

Cleaning the bathroom: NOTE- Ten minutes refers to maintenance cleaning. It will take you longer than ten minutes if you have put it off so long that you have hard soap scum and mildew. With that said, it will take you less than an hour and then you can do the ten minute wipe downs moving forward.

B) WEEKLY/MONTHLY Required less frequently than daily, but at least once a month:

Writing out your grocery list: If you do this you will spend less and get more. You will spend less money because you have a plan and are not just grabbing everything you see. You will choose healthier foods when Little Debbie and Dr Pepper aren't making the decisions for you in the store. You will also spend less time as you will no longer be wasting it figuring out what you need. Saving time when shopping allows more time for other activities.

Cleaning out the fridge/freezer: For health reasons alone, this is worth the ten minutes. However, it can also save you time in other instances of your life. Making the grocery list is easier if you can see what you have and what you need, putting away groceries is quicker if you have the space for new items, using containers to store leftovers (money saver) is more successful if said containers are not all being used in the freezer already or turning into science projects in the fridge due to fungal growth.

Washing the dog: Just do it. You and he/she will feel so much better and your house will stay cleaner longer. And trust me I know. One of my three dogs loathes baths, but I spend less time cleaning the house if they all stay relatively clean.

C) SELL Your items (and make more money for them) in Ten Tenacious Minutes:

Locating your items: As you are using your ten minutes to clean out a closet, throw any unwanted items that could still hold monetary value into a bin. Later you can sort them into different ways to make money from home and declutter. For more on this read, Homemade Change: MONEY may not grow on trees, but it LIVES IN YOUR HOME- A guide on how to make money from home and declutter your life.

Cleaning your items: You can improve their appearance with a quick wipe down. Because many of them will not have been frequently used, they will probably need to be dusted or scrubbed to look their best. This is very little effort for a little more reward.

Painting your items: Did you come across a brass fixture that could be updated easily by bringing the color into this decade? A can of Oil Rubbed Bronze spray paint can totally update an item in ten minutes. This is a bit more effort for considerably more reward.

D) Taking Ten Tenacious Minutes FOR YOURSELF This is the most important set of examples. You have to take care of you before you can take care of others. Taking care of you can be allowing more time for yourself by creating more time in your day. Saving time is creating opportunities for other activities.

Making dinner: Yes, I'm serious. You can make dinner in 10 minutes IF you prep one day a week such as Sunday. By prepping (cutting, sorting, mixing, possibly marinating) foods AHEAD of time you save yourself A LOT of time. If this sounds too daunting, cook larger portions in a slow cooker (HUGE time saver) and freeze it in separate containers. This morning, I pulled a container of homemade potato soup out of the freezer and allowed it to thaw throughout the day. Tonight it took me 10 minutes to warm up, plate (well in this case...bowl), garnish and serve.

Applying Make-up: This is a big one for me. Some days I feel I don't have the time to do this step that makes me feel better all day. In ten minutes, I can wash my face, use a little cover up, apply foundation/powder and/or bronzer/blush, curl my eyelashes and finish with mascara. Add some lip gloss and Voila! You don't wear “all that make up?” Great! It will take you even less time. Fresh and awake face instead of “ahhh I look scary” feeling all day. Your hurdle (issue, sticking point) may be fixing your hair. Look on Pintrest-- there is one creative “do” you CAN do that looks better than a rat's nest. My favorite is the sock bun; long haired beauties tired of the pony tail should google this NOW. Small price to pay for feeling better about yourself.

Working out: Don't believe me? Check out this 6 minute workout at www.fitinheels.com. The author, Katy, is fantastic and provides helpful workout tips through her blog as well. (Warning: Language on this blog is hilarious, but could be offensive and may not be suitable for all readers). This workout is not meant to be the ONLY one you do, but what a great way to get started in the new year! A less than ten minute work out is a great option for one of those tight schedule or “just don't feel like it” days.

BONUS: Organizing your closet. OK maybe not the whole thing. But what if you took just 10 minutes to go through your white blouses. Or if your closet looks like mine did in the beginning of this process, then consider your white short sleeve blouses. What if you moved on the next night to your blue shirts or long sleeve white? It may take you a week or two if you do it every day. My thought is once you start you will probably keep going and finishing your closet in a week or two is better than the 3-6 months or longer that you have been putting it on your list of things “to do”.

So take the next Ten Tenacious Minutes and accomplish a goal, errand or task. And use a sharpie to slash that sucker off your list.



Hello...Homemade Change!

I recently wrote a book. I know! Crazy, right? It has been an amazing experience thus far.

In the process of writing, I struggled on and off with doubting myself. Did I really have anything to write about or to teach people that was worth while? Was there a point in sharing my experiences? I have heard, discussed with or been asked by other women a thousand times, "I hate my clothes, but can't afford a whole new wardrobe; I wish I could be organized, but I have no storage space; Where did you get that fill in the blank?; You get the BEST deals! I don't know how you do it!" I have gladly shared these answers, "You CAN afford new ones if you sell the ones you don't want and if you know where, when and how to shop; I live in home that was built in 1951...I understand little to no storage; I picked up this designer dress at my favorite consignment shop; I sell what I don't need, to find the items (at a discount of course) that I do have a purpose for and love!"

To further answer my questions and doubts, I simply asked the women I came in contact with daily. I heard a resounding, "Yes! I want this information!" With that knowledge, I moved forward, documenting my moves and gaining insight on what mattered most to women.  I kept the specifics of this book endeavour under wraps throughout the process . Although, several of my closest circles of friends knew "something was up."

A week ago, I announced my book release to my friends and family. The emailed newsletter read...

As many of you know, I have been working on a "project" as of late. Countless hours, ideas and edits have produced this "how to" on cleaning out and cleaning up (financially that is).

 A little back story:
This all started by innocently shopping at my favorite consignment store, Finders Keepers (www.FKconsign.com). As I perused and collected great finds, I began to look around my home at the items that were not so intriguing to me anymore, but still had value. What to do with these treasures? MANY of them found their way to one of the FK locations. Others were not quite the right fit for this avenue and again began to pile up. What was a girl to do?

Through my experience, I have gained knowledge on the best ways to rid my home of unneeded items without the pangs of guilt often associated with simply tossing them. AND I have made a significant amount of money to furnish my home, update my wardrobe and put a little jingle in my pocket. After talking with several friends about my journey, I found that many women want to do the same, but don't know where to start or how to go about it. Which brings us to date.

I have just launched Homemade Change on Amazon and would love for you to download and read it. You can use this link http://amzn.com/B00B2VMMWK. To download, you will need a free Kindle app on your device/phone or the Kindle Reader on your PC. Similar to eBay, Amazon has a scoring system based on customer feedback so please take a moment to review Homemade Change .

If you know someone who would benefit from receiving tips about organization, making money from home and decluttering her life, feel free to use the "Forward to Friend" button in the bottom left hand corner to share it with a friend.

Here's to us, all the tasks we consistently juggle as women and our triumph over our "stuff."

End Newsletter.

The response and results of my first book have been postively overwhelming.  Since the launch of Homemade Change on Amazon (http://amzn.com/B00B2VMMWK), it has ranked in the top 100 of 3 categories, was the #1 Hot New Release and received numerous 5 star reviews.

As I mentioned, I questioned my expertise on the subject. I mean...just who did I think I was? Recent developments and feedback have enabled me to say it out loud...I do know what I am talking about. After reflection, I realized I have been in the school of Deal Finder and Super Shopper since I was 8 (really as long as I can remember). My grandmother was the queen of good deals. I shopped with her and her friends when I was in elementary school. The shopping for and finding good deals piece is simply ingrained in me. And through trial and error, I have learned how to profit from the unneeded treasure I have obtained along the way.

Throughout the Homemade Change series, I will share all I have learned. A reader will understand all I have been taught and have picked up along the way. The foundational book, Homemade Change: Money may not grow on trees, but it lives in your home-- A guide on how to make money from home and declutter your life will teach you how to rid yourself of unused items and profit in the process. The following books and lessons in the series will be proven methods of obtaining items you truly want and need for the best price as well as organizing, utilizing and storing the items you have currently.
Thanks for reading. I hope you gain and benefit from this as much as I have. If you would like to receive my newsletter, please email me at HomemadeChangeInfo@gmail.com.   Please leave a comment and tell me about your success stories, nightmares or burning questions.