​The key to success is simplicity.  Do these 5 steps each week to create a simple and easy meal plan & grocery list:

1. Survey what you already have.  Review you fridge, freezer and pantry for foods that are nearing their expiration.  Use them as the base for meals next week.
2. Select 3-5 meals.  I know you are busy so let's be realistic and start by selecting 3-5 meals that you will prepare.  Use the ingredients from step 1 to come up with these meals.  If you need inspiration, search "Recipes with zucchini" and find new recipes to try.
3. Use this template.  In the first column, write down what meals you will prepare which days.  Then review the recipe and record the produce needed in the second column, dairy & refrigerated items needed in the third column, and so on.  
4. Shop with ease.  When you are at the store, simply look down column 1 while in the produce isle and gather all the veggies and fruits you need for each meal you selected for the week.  Do the same in the dairy isle, meat isle, etc.
5. Stick with the plan.  Make the meals you selected and enjoy!  If you find you aren't doing it, determine what got in your way.  Sometimes we simply over estimate the time we will realistically dedicate to meal preparation.  I like recipes that are ready in 30 minutes or less personally.  

I have a love/hate relationship with my phone (I have an iphone).  It's an amazing organizational tool but sometimes I find myself zoning out on it and losing precious time.  One thing I love is using Siri to remind me to do things later.  I simply hold the home button and say "remind me at ____ o clock to ____."  I use it all the time!  It lowers my stress levels to know that I don't have to mentally remember everything I have to do.  I ask for reminders daily for taking vitamins and throughout the day for various things...including writing this blog post.  If you haven't tried this tool yet, you should check it out!

Excited to share that I have been re-certified!  Yay!  If you are interested in learning more about Evernote, let me know and we can set up a session to get you oriented and set up!

If you have a busy family the best way to eat well is to meal plan.  It doesn't have to be fancy or time consuming.  Designate a time each week to select approximately 3-5 meals.  Make a grocery list of all the ingredients needed.  Shop and follow the plan.  It saves unnecessary stress during a busy week.

I'm not sure who coined this definition but it's ingenious.  "Clutter is delayed decisions."

TRUE, right? 

Look around a cluttered room and you will see a bunch of stuff that is not done.  Either things just haven't been put away or haven't been sorted, haven't been taken somewhere, or have been there so long, they have been forgotten. 

Pick up an item.  What decision needs to be made about it?  After you make the decision, does an action need to occur?  If it takes less than 2 minutes, do it now.  If not, and you don't have time to do it now, start a list.  Continue the list with tasks that need to be done.  Now take that list and "calendar out" when you will make time to do each task on the list.  Listen to your calendar, do all the things, and voila...done.  Try it!

Home staging is the process of preparing your home for listing.  The goal of any seller is to sell their home quickly and for the highest possible price.  A staged home will appeal to many buyers and will therefore lead to a quicker, higher priced sale more often than an un-staged home.  Home staging can be as simple as rearranging and refreshing existing furnishings and décor in a way that will highlight your homes best features.  Some home staging projects include major home renovations.  No matter the extent of the work, or the size of the budget, the intent of home staging is to create a home that most buyers can see themselves living in.

Our Expert Stager, Michele Ketcham, has compiled a list of DIY staging tips.  Here are 10 tips to get you started. 

Do-It-Yourself Staging Tips

1.  Declutter, declutter, declutter:  

Let’s face it, we all have too much stuff.  Decluttering, downsizing, and organizing each room in your home, including closets and storage spaces, is always the first step in preparing a home for listing.  Make a plan, tackling one room at a time.  Decide what items you will take with you to your new home.  Designate a staging area for unwanted items to be donated, sold, or discarded.  Remember, the more stuff you move, the more costly your move will be.

2.  Sell the storage space: 

Efficient and well-planned storage space is at a premium when it comes to prospective buyers.  Removing excess from storage spaces will make those spaces appear more spacious and appealing.  Pack and store out-of-season clothing.  Clean out what you don’t need from under sinks.  Go through your kitchen pantry and toss expired food.  Donate kitchen gadgets and items that you never use.  The added space from all this decluttering will show off the ample storage space and make your home more desirable.

3.  Good old-fashioned elbow grease:  

That’s right.  It may not be glamorous, but good old-fashioned elbow grease goes a long way in selling a home.  From the buyer’s perspective, a clean home is also a home that was cared for and well-maintained.  Every window, floor, baseboard, countertop, appliance, fixture…the list goes on and on…needs to sparkle!  If you have the time and energy, go for it!  Otherwise, it may be worth every penny to hire a professional cleaning service to do the deep cleaning for you.

4.  Lighten and brighten:  

Exterior and interior lighting are equally important when staging your home.  Exterior fixtures should provide adequate lighting in regard to safety. Make sure all sidewalks, pathways and entryways are well-lit in the event of evening showings.  Additional exterior lighting is a great way to add curb appeal to a front porch, tree or architectural feature.  Interior lighting should make a home feel warm and welcoming.  Ambient, task and accent lighting all add to the appeal and mood of a room.  Turn on interior lights to cast a warm glow for those evening showings!

5.  Furniture and accessories:  

Most homes have too much furniture, which makes a room look smaller and more cluttered.  When staging your home, you want to create the illusion of spaciousness, no matter the size of the room.  You may need to remove about half of the existing furnishings and rearrange the remaining furniture so it highlights the desired focal point.  Decide whether you want to move the extra furniture to your new home.  If so, store it in an off-site storage unit.  Donate or sell extra furniture you decide you don’t need. 

Less is more when accessorizing a staged home.  Opt for a couple large items of impact per room versus many smaller grouped knickknacks.  The same goes for accessorizing walls.  One large print will make a room appear bigger than several smaller prints grouped together.

6.  Depersonalize:  

An important concept to remember when staging a home with existing furnishings is the concept of depersonalization.  The intent of home staging is to make the home appeal to as many prospective buyers as possible.  To do that, we suggest depersonalizing.  We recommend removing personal taste from your décor so buyers can envision their belongings and themselves in your home.  This can be especially difficult for a seller still living in the listed home.  Some items you will want to pack and store are:

• family photos and portraits
• trophies, certificates, and awards
• memorabilia
• books (especially political and religious topics)
• old magazines
• teenage posters
• knickknacks and collections
  

Remember, these items can be moved to your new home where you can again display and enjoy them.  They can be packed and stored in the meantime.

7.  Kitchens and bathrooms:

Prospective buyers love updated kitchens and bathrooms.  The kitchen is still the heart of the home and command central for many buyers.  Additionally, many buyers look for multiple bathrooms that are well maintained.  Sellers could potentially spend a lot of money renovating these spaces to entice buyers.  However, decluttering, organizing, cleaning and a gallon of paint (or two) can go a long way in the kitchen and bath if budget is a concern.  In most cases, you will get back any money you put into improving the functionality of your kitchen and bathrooms so plan wisely.

8.  Stage a home office:

Given the times, we would be remiss if we didn’t include staging a home office.  Many prospective buyers have recently been forced to work from home indefinitely.  If your listed home does not include a dedicated office or work space, now is the time to be creative and turn a cozy corner into a work space.  Find a quiet area with appropriate outlets/phone/computer access.  Stage the area with a table or desk, comfy chair, shelves or small bookcase, desk or floor lamp, and laptop.  A folding screen could lend visual privacy if needed.  Be creative and have fun!

9.  Curb appeal:

Curb appeal is the first impression a prospective buyer has of your home so make it a good one!  Curb appeal includes the home exterior, the landscape, the front and side yards, the driveway and walkway leading to your front door.  The house exterior needs to be welcoming and appealing so buyers want to come inside.  Here are a few items you can do to increase your home’s curb appeal:

• Trim shrubs and greenery
• Weed and mulch flower beds
• Touch up all peeling exterior paint
• Sweep the walk and front entry
• Maintain the driveway
• Remove weeds from walkways
• Mow the lawn
• Put away toys, bikes, gardening tools and sports equipment

First impressions are powerful!

10.  Not everyone loves your pet:

Not all buyers have pets, and some are allergic to them.  Prior to a showing, remove all indications of your pet.  Store food dishes, leashes, pet toys and pet beds in a bin stored out of the way.  Vacuum areas where pet hair has accumulated.  Clean and sanitize any areas where accidents occurred.  Use air freshener where needed.  Clean up after your pet outside since may prospective buyers like to walk the property.   Bring your pet with you, or have a friend or relative pet sit during the showing. 

And lastly, give your pet lots of hugs and treats once you are all back together!


You want your home to look its best before listing and presenting it to prospective buyers.  These Do-It-Yourself staging tips represent a small portion of what goes into preparing and staging a home for sale.  The intent is to give you a few ideas to get you started on your way to selling your home.  Remember, hard work pays off!  We wish you all the best!! 

-Michele Ketcham, Home Stager & Redesign Consultant 

The most common question we get asked..."Where do I start?"  Clutter is overwhelming.  When we are overwhelmed, we can't see things as well and we can't do our best thinking either.  Can you relate?  Start where you feel the most uncomfortable.  Choose a space you visit often.  Do something small in that space.  Sometimes is just getting started that's the hardest part.  

Once you have your kitchen organized, how are you going to maintain it?  

Here are a few tips to help you maintain your masterpiece:

• Do dishes immediately after meals.  (Your future self will thank you in the morning!)
• Purge old and expired food regularly. Consider reviewing everything in your pantry, food storage cabinets, fridge and freezer quarterly.
• Keep healthy food stocked and at eye level.
• Place an inviting basket of fruit on the counter.  Its visibility may tempt you to eat it, rather than sweets and treats. 
• Pre-washed, cut & proportioned vegetables and fruits in plastic baggies in the fridge make grabbing on-the-go lunches a breeze.
• Remove healthy pre-packaged snacks from their boxes and put them in small baskets or bins in the pantry for ease of access.
• Create a deli box in your fridge, by adding everything you need to make a sandwich. 

When your kitchen is clean and organized you are more likely to choose to eat healthy. Additionally, eating healthy away from home takes planning and organizing.  Stock healthy options like nuts, energy bars, and fruit in your car, purse, and/or office so you have something to eat on the go.  ​