garden maintenance

On Monday, I gave the garden some much needed maintenance. I weeded, picked off any yellow leaves or those that were too close to the base of the plant and removed a few spots of soil where it looked like some fungus was starting to grow.  

I also tripped off some flowering buds from the basil as I was told that the flowering will change the taste. Finally, I rotated my flower pots as the amount of afternoon sunlight varies a good amount from the left to right side of the front porch.

I am still concerned about inadequate drainage so I might try to create more holes rather than just expand the ones we already have. Otherwise, I think the plants are doing pretty well. Fingers crossed! Any other tips for me?

closet makeover

This past Friday, I spent the day with my good friend, Jenn, reorganizing her closet. Jenn is a clothes person and she has some great pieces but they were getting lost (to say the least) in her closet. I will just say it how it is or rather was - her closet was a disaster. But I am very happy to say that after a few hours of work and a couple of purchases, it is a beautifully, organized space for her fantastic collection of clothing. Here is the play by play:

We began by taking everything out of the closet and removing the hangers. We needed to get rid of all the dry cleaner hangers as they are not intended for long term storage and tend to get stuck on things. I also wanted to dispose of all the color hangers and just use white ones. White hangers fade into the background allowing her clothes to stand out while color hangers tend to create more clutter (for men's clothes I would recommend using black or wooden hangers). 

After removing all the clothes and shoes, we vacuumed, cleaned the shelves and sorted out the white hangers. I did a quick sketch with measurements and then we headed to Target and The Container Store to get a few key organizing pieces.  

The main area in Jenn's closet that wasn't being utilized was the tall space to the left and right of the built in drawers. I wanted to find something that would allow her to store her accessories (purses, belts etc.) but was narrow as the space is only 11" deep. We ended up finding stackable open bins and pairing them with a wireframe basket (both white). We also bought 180 white hangers (not that I was counting or anything). 

We returned to the house and began filling the closet. Clothes and purses were organized by color while shoes were sort and placed by frequency of use. When organizing heels, we discovered it is much more space efficient to put one shoe facing out and one shoe facing in. We also decided to store some of her winter items. Here is how it turned out!

vacuums

Booker, our dog, sheds a lot - like an obscene amount. Sometimes, I literally feel like I live with six dogs instead of just one and while he does have any amazingly soft coat that is very un-smelly, I really wish he would just shed less. However, I realize this is a dream that is not going to come true and that I must just learn to manage it - bath and brush him regularly and vacuum more often. 

 Our vacuum works ok but not great. Probably replacing the filter would do wonders but it is also just old so we decided we would register for a new one. I did a quick google search for "best vacuum for pet hair" and found a few contenders. 

1. Hoover WindTunnel T-Series Pet UH30310
Recommended by Consumer Reports, this model is one of the two pet specific vacuum cleaners to receive high marks. However, in reading the user reviews opinions are very mixed which is a bit concerning. Also it is not bag-less which I am pretty sure we want. 

2. Miele S 7260 Cat & Dog
Consumer Reports' pet model number two, this model is almost five times more expensive than the Hoover WindTunnel which puts it out of the running. 

3. Hoover Windtunnel T-Series Pet Rewind UH70210
I am not sure where I got directed to this one but its is bag-less and got good reviews. I did read about some issues with the belt needing replacement so that makes me a bit worried however it is covered by warranty.

4. Dirt Devil UD70095 Power Reach Cyclonic Pet Bagless Upright
This is one of the more economical models and got really good reviews. A lot of users seem to compare this model to the Dyson Animal (one the most well-known pet vacuum but also probably the most expensive)  stating that it performed just as well if not better for a quarter of the price. 

I also think it might be super convenient to have a battery operated, handheld vacuum to use in between weekly full vacuums. Two models that came up repeatedly are:

1. Bissell Pet Hair Eraser, Refined Bronze/Magenta, 94VFA
This model is economical and got a mix of reviews. My main issue is really how ugly it is...not that vacuums are attractive but the pink and bronze might be more than I can take.

2.  Hoover Platinum Linx Pet Cordless Hand Vacuum, BH50030
This make got very good reviews however it costs almost as much as some of the uprights so I am not sure it is worth it.

Any readers out there really love their vacuum? Or know of other models we should consider?