Will your New Year's Resolution be a #fail?

Everyone makes new year resolutions....
Who will hold you accountable for yours? I challenge you to hold yourself accountable!
Take just a minute or two to write down your plan to accomplish your goal. Include what your challenges are and who can help you reach your goal.
Every day, Tweet/Google+/Facebook something related to your resolution and hashtag it #resolution for 90 consecutive days.
  I challenge you! 

Haven't chosen your resolution? Here is a list of fifty nine new year's resolution ideas to choose from.

59 Ideas for your 2014 New Year's Resolution:

1. Smile at more random people
2. Eat more fruits and veggies
3. Watch less TV
4. Go to bed earlier
5. Learn CPR and First Aid
6. Make an active effort to connect with family
7. Stay fit by simply being active (drive less, walk more)
8. Don't be taken for granted
9. Stop fighting with your partner girlfriend, boyfriend, wife, husband or partner
10. Make better decisions
11. Stop complaining about how you've got less than what you deserve
12. Save for a tropical vacation next winter
13. Fight for what you think is right
14. Donate to a charity on a weekly or monthly basis
15. Quit an addiction
16. Pay cash to upgrade your technology
17. Accomplish all incomplete projects before start any new projects
18. Stretch every day
19. Pay down your debt
20. Get organized
21. Balance your life
22. Travel to new places
23. Freshen up your love life
24. Learn a language
25. Hug somebody everyday
26. Spend more time with your parents
27. Start a journal or diary
28. Get up to speed on the truth in politics, not just the media
29. Enrich your vocabulary with a word of the day
30. Be Optimistic: Vow to always view the glass to be half full
31. Schedule 15 minutes a day to be by yourself and breathe.
32. Take everything you haven't used in the last two years to the thrift store or the dump
33. Take a parenting class
34. Be sincere about punctuality and commitments
35. Make a career move
36. Make a will, get life insurance and update your financial files
37. Join a networking group
38. Send birthday cards to all your family and friends in the mail
39. Learn to cook
40. Get a home energy audit and go green where it makes sense
41. Learn to play an instrument
42. Grow a garden
43. Adopt a pet
44. Read a book a month
45. Hydrate: Drink 6-10 glasses of water per day
46. Move a grown child out of your house
47. Be Happy
48. Start a business
49. Get a home inspection to make sure you are addressing hidden concerns
50. Send care packages overseas or to local care facilities
51. Find church to attend
52. Spend more time with your parents 
53. Start a business
54. Cut up your credit cards 
55. Volunteer 
56. Repair your credit
57. Stop procrastinating
58. Save up the down payment for a house
59. Get a makeover - and keep it up!

Now get to it! :)

You are going to LOVE your home! PROJECT #8: Swap Out Your Windows

And we are on to PROJECT #8!

by +Sarah Marrinan - Keller Williams Premier Realty 

Swap out the old windows for dual-paned.
Switching out your old single paned windows for new dual-paned ones might make your home look better and it will definitely make your home operate more efficiently – and more comfortable. Dual-paned windows minimize heat-loss in the winter and keep the cool air in, in the summer, so you’re not trying to heat up and cool down the whole outdoors through the leaks in your windows. They’re also a must if you have street noise or other noise challenges around your home; the extra insulation traps noise before it can get to you, inside your home.

As with everything, costs vary by location and by the quality of window you choose, but you can use $200-300/window, installed, as a rough rule of thumb. Some older homes can require wood repair of rotted out window frames, in the course of switching to dual-paned, which can increase the project cost significantly. Also, many cities and states offer rebates for installing dual paned windows (and making other energy-efficient upgrades, by the by), which can dramatically defray the costs of this particular remodeling project. This is one of those $10K-ish projects that actually can pay for itself over time.


**Looking for tips on getting your home ready to sell?  Call me at 651-964-0289 for a personal consultation!
Sarah

You're going to LOVE your home! PROJECT #5: New Kitchen Appliances

Whether you love to cook and entertain or not, everybody wants a nice kitchen!

Project # 5. New kitchen appliances.

by +Sarah Marrinan - Keller Williams Premier Realty 

In terms of sheer functionality, new kitchen appliances can create an overwhelming upgrade to your family’s everyday life.

A new fridge will run you anywhere from $350 to $2,500 on average (though French door, custom and commercial versions can cost upwards of $10,000 or more); a new stove/oven range can run anywhere from $300 to $6,000 (with the commercial, 40-inch ranges running from $9,000 to $20,000+) and an appliance store dishwasher will cost you somewhere around $150 to $1,600.


Go Green.  A smart move is to include energy efficient appliances, windows, doors and more. Not only will these add-ons help you save money on energy, but there may also be tax breaks that you can take advantage of. For example, EnergySTAR products are eligible for a 30% tax break, making going green a financially and ecologically smart move.

Check back next week for the next tip!

**Looking for tips on getting your home ready to sell?  Call me for a personal consultation!
Sarah
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10 Non-Toxic Cleaning Recipes

Would you like to be a greener cleaner? Try these can non toxic cleaning recipes!

Doesn't it feel good to be a
"Greener Cleaner"?

Soft scrub - 

Add enough dishwashing liquid (dye-free, fragrance-free if possible) to ½ cup baking soda. Stir until it forms a paste. Perfect for tubs, tiles and toilets.

Fabric softener - 

Pour ¼ cup white vinegar into the final rinse cycle. Caution: Do not use vinegar if you use bleach.

Glass cleaner - 

Add ¼ teaspoon of natural dishwashing liquid and 3 tablespoons white vinegar to 2 cups water in a spray bottle. Just shake, spray and dry. Recycle old newspapers to dry for a streak-free shine. Caution: Wear gloves when using newspaper so you do not stain your hands.
All-purpose spray cleaner - Combine ½ teaspoon washing soda, a dab of liquid soap and 2 cups hot water in a spray bottle, then shake.

Furniture polish - 

Mix ½ teaspoon oil, such as olive or jojoba, with ¼ cup white vinegar or lemon juice in a glass jar. Dab solution with a cloth and wipe wood surfaces.

Air fresheners – 

Open the window ;)

Disinfectant - 

Add 1 teaspoon of essential oil, such as clove or tea tree, to 2 cups of water in a spray bottle; or add 20 drops of grapefruit seed extract to 1 quart water.

Oven Cleaner- 

Sprinkle baking soda over the bottom of the oven. Spray with water. Let sit for 8 hours. Next, scrub and rinse clean.

Drain cleaner - 

To open clogs, pour ½ cup baking soda down drain, then pour ½ cup white vinegar and cover the drain. Caution: Do not use this method after trying a commercial drain opener.

Silver Polish – 

Use a natural toothpaste; preferably one without baking soda so it will not scratch your silver. Just rub, rinse and dry!


FOOD RECIPES  |   HOME MAINTENANCE  |  MORE NON-TOXIC CLEANING

Save Money with a Free Energy Audit!

Leave no rock unturned when looking for ways to save money in everyday life!

A home energy audit is often the first step in making your home more efficient. An audit can help you assess how much energy your home uses and evaluate what measures you can take to improve efficiency.

Did you know that many energy providers offer free energy audits of their customers' homes? A power- and water-saving home will conserve your money now, and is more valuable in the long run. Call your utility companies today!

Tips for reducing your energy consumption

Conserving the electricity you use often boils down to what's plugged in. You can generally assume something plugged in is ALWAYS sucking electricity even if it's not in use.  Here are some tips to help you reduce your energy consumption.

Use a power strip for your computer, printers, and other computer equipment. This can protect the devices during electrical surge, and provides an easy way to unplug all those energy sucking electronic devices in one pull.
Electrical appliances, such as toasters and coffee makers, as well as cell phone and other device chargers continue to draw small amount of electricity even when off or not charging. Hence, it is best to unplug them after use.

Do you have a second refrigerator or freezer in the garage?  It may be costing you hundreds year in electricity just to store excess beverages and bulk groceries.

Laptops use less energy than desktops. If your desktop is ready for replacement, consider the versatile laptop.

Other draws on your electric bill are related to heating and cooling your house. Keeping your heating and cooling units clean and maintained will save money on energy.  If your furnace or AC unit are older, getting them replaced with an Energy Star until maybe a good return on your investment.

This is not a comprehensive list, just a few points to get you thinking about your energy usage.  There are books you can buy that dig deep into this topic. If you want a full professional evaluation, get an energy audit.  Some utility companies will offer them for free and some states will reimburse you the cost if you have to pay.

Happy conserving!
Check out more ways to GO GREEN!

Environment... Recycling, etc...

10 Basic Ways to reduce your own waste:

1. Bulk Stores rule! No wrapping, no packaging, no frills – just about anything you may need sits in large bins, ready to scoop. From pasta to peanut butter (self-ground) and anything in between. Just go easy on those chocolate chips.
2. BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag). Bring a cool-looking tote to take your groceries away in, and forgo those plastic carrier bags that stay around for the next few millennia.
3. Recycle. (See below for more links about recycling)
4. Compost your kitchen scraps. Your flower beds will be happy
5. Lug Your Mug for take-out coffee; many places will even give you a discount for it.
6. Avoid take-out food. I know, that can be a challenge on a Friday night. But all those plastic and foam take-out boxes produce a big stream of toxic garbage.
7. Eat home-cooked meals. Okay, another potential mine field here, but let’s face it: all those plastic and aluminum trays that those frozen dinners and prepackaged meals come in don’t really compensate for their overload of sodium, saturated fats and missing vitamins.
8. Drink tap water instead of bottled water. Evian and Perrier are no longer cool.
9. Repair, don’t throw out. Need I say more?
10. Buy durable. Sure, it may be a little bit more to get the better quality product, but it will last much longer and always pays for itself in the long run.

Reuse Revolution
All these things will also help reduce stress in your life by reducing clutter!
1) Thrift Stores: One of the best places to find items for reuse is at your local thrift store. From clothing to furniture, thrift stores are an inexpensive and eco-friendly place to nab just the right new-to-you item.
2) Shop At Home: Before any outing that may involve a potential purchase, be sure to check your house thoroughly for the items you need. Items from tape to picture frames can often be found lurking in a box in the closet or the murky “everything” drawer in the kitchen. Avoid impulse buying.
3) Swapping: Another great way to stave off the urge to shop and give yourself a great excuse to throw a party is to organize a swap with friends. Depending on your interests and needs, almost anything is fair game - clothes, books, toys and CDs are all popular items at a swap. Ask friends to bring some snackables and drinkables as well, and you will easily have yourself a fete, all without a new purchase. You can also check out the many swapping websites that easily and inexpensively allow members to swap books, CDs and DVDs online.
4) Free Stuff: There are many ways to “shop” online without ever spending a dime. Websites such as Craigslist, Freecycle, and Freebootr have myriad free items that are yours for the taking.
5) Lending and Borrowing: If you do find that you need a necessity such as a book or a tool, ask your friends if they have what you need first (and offer what you have in exchange when they need it). As we all learned in the sandbox, sharing is a great way to extend and expand the use and variety of resources. Don’t forget about the library too; after all these years, it’s still a good place to find a book!
*And rental centers - what a great place to get lawn chairs, tables, punch fountains and other things that are not for daily use when you need them!


What can you recycle?
*

-->Recycle Paper, Glass, Aluminum and more! *Recycle Grass Clippings
*Disposing of Hazardous Chemicals/Waste
*Interesting things about recycling you may not have thought about!
*Print and keep this recycling guide!
Want to know more? Visit the EPA website.