Are You Dreaming of a White Christmas?

How About Cashing in on the after-Christmas “White” Sales?

In 1878, John Wanamaker of Philadelphia department store fame decreed January to be the time for a white sale. Bed linens, which were then available in white only, were sold at a discount. It is believed he might have done so to keep linen makers in business during a slow time of year.

Today, white sales usually revolve around household items. However, they no longer only involve items that are white in color, and they are not restricted to take place in the month of January!

In today’s economy most of us are watching our dollars when it comes to extras – and that includes home improvements and repairs. Particularly note-worthy sales, according to Forbes Magazine, can be had between Christmas and New Year’s, (as well as in the month of January,) when retailers are trying to show Wall Street what a good quarter they had! Some ideas for things to look for right afer Christmas:

Electronics are generally offered at cut-to-the-bone prices right after Christmas, including laptop and wide screen TVs. Both online merchants and stores are keeping the prices uber-low.

Christmas supplies are obviously a key big seller after the holidays. Stock up on lights, wrapping paper and related items if you have a place to store them. Now is the time to plan ahead for next year’s holiday decor!

Appliances are often offered post-Christmas, to make room for the new season of offerings in the Spring. Look for deep discounts on Washer/Dryer sets and Refrigerators right after the holidays.

Thinking ahead to plans for your yard? Playsets are often deeply discounted for year’s end, as well as things like grills, patio heaters and odds and ends of outdoor furniture.

If you are are like many of us, once the Christmas decorations come down, and the house is back to “normal” there is a letdown. Things look bland and uninteresting; you feel the need for the punch of color, texture and warmth that the holidays provided. Now is the time to cash in on savings for paint and accessories, and give your home a makeover in time to start a new year fresh and beautiful.

Check your local newspapers, or online storefronts, for coupons, rebates and store-centered savings. It pays to take the time to evaluate what you need, outline your dreams and plans for the new year, and get a head start on repairs and remodeling jobs while the weather keeps you inside.

Been longing for that specialty tool for crafts, or that wet-dry vac to keep your garage workshop tidy? Check Ace Hardware, True Value, Lowe’s and Home Depot for great discounts on power tools in December and January before the manufacturers roll out new items in February.

Let The Fix-It Professionals help you make the most of your dreams and plans – AND the post-holiday sales – by putting us on your team!

A bit overwhelmed? No need to be frustrated by your long holiday to-do list. Hand it over to your friendly handyman and electrician, John Silva. Contact us today for help with your outdoor lighting installation. Check out our value added coupon on our website today.

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We Wish you a Merry (and SAFE) Christmas!

Create Beautiful Christmas Decor SAFELY

Creating a beautiful Christmas decor is part and parcel of the winter holiday experience. However, for many of us, safety is not at the forefront of our minds with all the other distractions of the season; the frenzy of putting the lights on the house, getting the tree trimmed and wrapping all those presents. But did you know that Christmas lights on a single home is at a record number of over 1 MILLION?!! That’s a lot of lights put up on one home each year!

Whether you have one strand or 500, the key to enjoying the process is safety. As the excitement of the season sets in with decorative displays and festive celebrations, people are inadvertently exposed to greater risk of becoming the victim of a fire or electrical accident, such as shock and electrocution. Recent statistics show that there were over 150,000 fires during the winter holiday season in the US, directly attributable to Christmas lights. These fires claimed over 600 lives, and caused more than 2,500 injuries, costing over $935 MILLION in property damage. Whew!

Don’t be a statistic. Follow these basic steps in safety, and check our tip of the week for some quickie ideas.

ELECTRICAL SAFETY, INDOORS AND OUT

* Before decorating, determine how many outlets are available and where they are located.

* Avoid overloading electrical outlets, which can overheat and cause a fire.

* Loose connections may cause a serious shock or start a fire. Carefully inspect each electrical decoration. Cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires should NEVER be used.

* Use lights approved for safe use by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.

* Follow the use and care instructions that accompany electrical decorations.

* Always unplug electrical decorations before replacing bulbs or fuses.

* Do not mount or support light strings in a way that might damage the cord’s insulation.

* Never connect more than three strands of incandescent lights together.

* Turn off all indoor and outdoor electrical decorations before leaving home or going to bed.

* Fasten outdoor lights securely to trees, house walls, or other firm supports to protect the lights from wind damage. Use insulated staples, or run the lights through hooks.DO NOT pierce the cord with nails, staples or anything else!

* Make sure all products used outside are marked for outdoor use.

* Keep all outdoor extension cords and light strings clear of snow and standing water.

* Make sure spotlights used to highlight decorations are well-ventilated, protected from weather, and a safe distance from flammable items.

Some of these suggestions are basic common sense. However, many times in our hurry to get things done, we overlook them. It is your safety that is most important; you and your family’s safety. After all, isn’t enjoying the holiday one of the reasons we invest our time and energy into decorating?

A bit overwhelmed? No need to be frustrated by your long holiday to-do list. Hand it over to your friendly handyman and electrician, John Silva. Contact us today for help with your outdoor lighting installation. Check out our value added coupon in the newsletter today.

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“Ah ah, Oh No, Don’t Let the Rain Come Down…”

Are You and Your House Ready for the Rain?

Are you ready for the rain? Ready or not, here it comes. It reminds me of a recent PBS special on the Folk Music of the 1960’s, which one of the songs sung by The Serendipity Singers, made me think of how ready we might be (or not) for the rain.

The chorus is quite charming, in case you don’t know it, and certainly could be the ‘mantra’ you may be singing if you aren’t ready for the deluge of water!

With the chorus:

“(Ah, ah) Oh, no, don’t let the rain come down
(Ah, ah) Oh, no, don’t let the rain come down
(Ah, ah) Oh, no, don’t let the rain come down
My roof’s got a hole in it and I might drown
Oh, yes, my roof’s got a hole in it and I might drown” (hear it here…)
Songwriters: E. Hickey and Ed Miller

With all the rain we have had lately you might feel as if you are living in that kind of house. While we don’t offer roof work here at The Fix-It Professionals, we are highly qualified to help with gutter problems, window sealants and keeping weather outside, where it belongs! In addition, we are certainly familiar with the feeling that sometimes your house is coming down around your ears. With the flurry of activities, and expenses, of the holiday season, it is easy to lose track of household fix-its. It’s not too early to start planning ahead for necessary repairs, nor is it too late to ask for help! One of the best ways to keep up to date with new products and specials is to read our newsletters regularly. Our Quick tips and Do it Yourself ideas can save you time and money! Take advantage of our monthly specials, and be on the look-out for our first coupon of 2011 – it’s going to be a doozy!

Right now we are busy helping install Christmas decorations and outdoor lighting. Be sure to see the Coupon here, for a great offer, now through December 23rd.

Other things to look forward to in future newsletters are one time special savings for those offering a quick tip, do it yourself idea or testimonial that is selected to be in a newsletter. Also, watch for future expansion plans, as Joan gears up for Lifestyle Coaching and Money Advice and Coaching. Did you know that one of the greatest helps for Adult A.D.D. (Attention Deficit Disorder) is personal coaching?

As we look forward to the upcoming projects, we want to do what we can, TODAY, to help you have the house, apartment or condo that you have always dreamed about. Like Santa, start by making a list (or three!) and checking it twice. Then give us a call – working together, with you, we can help establish an action plan for your home repairs, projects and electrical work. Together we can make it happen! We are here to help.

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Are You Organized for the Holidays?

Guest Writer – Lynne Wilson, Professional Organizer
Clutter Solutions by Lynne

Fall decorations to put away, Holiday decorations to get out, presents to buy, shopping for special food, getting the house ready for guests….the list goes on and on. Does this time of year make you cranky?

We all feel a bit more stressed during the Holidays. Yes, we’re spending more time with friends and family. We’re planning and attending more activities. But having all this fun happening in such a short period of time can be stressful.

With a few simple changes, we can make a big difference to enjoying the Holidays.

Here are a few ideas for organization:

Decorations:

When repacking autumn decorations and taking out Holiday decorations, do you have “stuff” left over in the boxes that you haven’t used for two or more seasons? Do you have some boxes you take out and not even open?

If the item is broken, tattered or ugly (your Great Aunt meant well when she made that needlepoint wall hanging!) toss it. You’ve had some use out of it but now it’s just taking up precious space.

If it’s just no longer your style, donate it. Folks who cannot afford decorations will be so thankful. Call your local Hospice Shop, women’s shelters or Goodwill and drop off the unused items at their sites.

But what about all those handmade ornaments the kids made? If you don’t use them, ask your grown children if they’d like them. If not, photograph the items to keep as a memory and either toss the item or donate if appropriate. Kids still at home? Sort through the ornaments, decide which ones to keep (really, you don’t have to keep them all) and store in a separate box from other decorations.

Clearly label all boxes. Plastic boxes work best for just about everything regardless of what they contain. That jumble of lights for inside, outside, the tree, the mantle? On a length of masking tape write a description and attach to each cord. Next year, you’ll be so glad you took the time to label this year!

Dishes, mugs, tablecloths, napkins:

So now you’ve got all the Holiday dishes and tablecloths out of the storage box and piled on the dining room table and counters. Where do you keep it all for the next few weeks?

If you get out 10 Christmas mugs take 10 mugs from your everyday dishes and put them in the storage box. Do the same with table cloths, books, knick-knacks and large serving dishes. Now you have created more space and less clutter.

Toys:

Very likely your child will be getting more toys for Christmas or Hanukkah. With your child, sort through his or her room and closet now. Put toys and games that are no longer played with or that are inappropriate into a box.

Include the child when you take the boxes to a non-profit like Hospice Shop or Goodwill. Explain why it’s important to pass along playthings to others: some children don’t have many toys, it helps save us all money and it helps save the Earth!

Gifts:

Have you been buying and/or making and squirreling away gifts all year? Good for you! Find where you’ve hidden them and wrap them early in December.

Are you just starting your shopping? That’s OK too. Wrap them as you buy them. And purchase a few extra small gifts. When wrapped, add a blank gift tag and a post-it with a description so you’ll remember what’s inside. When a visitor drops in with an unexpected present for you, you’ll be prepared to reciprocate.

Food:

Where is that special cranberry chutney recipe? Start accumulating your recipes as you go. Put them on a clip board. Make a master list of needed ingredients.

Shop early for non perishable items. This serves two purposes: The cost will be spread out over several shopping trips and when you start to cook you will have that unusual spice on hand. No late night runs to the market!

As you open sugar, flour, spices, etc, mark on the package or box the date opened so you won’t have to guess in the future. Always keep a marker handy in the kitchen for this purpose.

There are so many cookies and breads that can be baked, wrapped and frozen. Even some main courses can be prepared now and frozen. Check websites like Real Simple or Cooking Light for suggestions. Just defrost when ready to give or to serve. Remember that unexpected visitor? Now you have something to offer.

Aren’t you feeling more relaxed already? Good! That’s the idea of being organized at this time of year and every time of year… Enjoy the holidays!

Lynne Wilson

Clutter Solutions

925 683-9270

cluttersolutionsbylynne@gmail.com

“Perhaps too much of everything is as bad as too little.” Edna Ferbe

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About Lynne Wilson ~ A native Californian, I’ve lived in Danville, CA with my husband, son and daughter for 28 years. Our family has expanded to include a daughter-in-law, son-in-law and a grand daughter.After retiring from AT&T as a National Account Project Manager, I became a professional residential organizer. Juggling an intense, technical job and the many daily activities a family entails provided me with the skills and desire to pursue my present career.

Member NAPO/National Association of Professional Organizer

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