Tackle-It Tuesday: Front Hall Closet

Every Tuesday, I tackle a different project around my home that's been bugging all of us!

I finally got tired of the mess that is our front hall closet. It's pretty small for how large our home is and for how many people live here, and it was time to take control of the chaos.

I had this 12-pocket organizer over the door for years, and it just wasn't working, as evidenced by the overflow in the closet.

It would not fit everything we had, which I lamented on Instagram, wondering (among other things) why I had 75 million hats when there were only 7 heads in my household. And you can't even see the inside-right part of the closet, where there were maybe 5 cheapo drawstring bags hanging.

So for under $10, I bought this 24 Pockets - SimpleHouseware Crystal Clear Over The Door Hanging Shoe Organizer, Gray (64'' x 19'') from Amazon (yes, just click on the link if you want to check it out).

Lessening The Enormity Of Moving Abroad

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Moving can be a stressful process in itself, only compounded by the fact that some people are courageous enough to move abroad. If moving from State to State, or to another city completely seems quite intensive and a large logistical effort, it’s not hard to see why crossing borders can also be seen as a difficulty.

Not only will you have to declare everything you’re bringing over and ensure all of your paperwork is up to speed, but it’s important to understand just what the pace of your new life may be, and what expected norms you will need to abide by when setting up your lifestyle in a fiscal and legal sense.

For this reason, even the most storied travelers can feel a little bit overwhelmed when following this process. But never fear. We’re absolutely certain you can make the most of this process, and come out of the other side in a phenomenal and exciting new setting. With some of our international moving advice below, you’ll see just how true that is:

Use Trusted International Movers

You shouldn’t have to worry about moving all of your belongings to another country, even if that can seem like a massive logistical task on the face of things. What’s important to remember is that there are many secure and trustworthy services out there for you. For instance, North American Van Lines Canada is here to help you not only pack and properly insure your belongings, but to help you receive them at your designated place in a reliable and timely manner. That takes out at least 50% of the stress you may have otherwise felt, and soothes it with professionalism.

Spend Some Time On Vacation There

It’s important to know where you’re moving to. Of course, you don’t have to fluently speak the language, know every restaurant or have a large network of friends in the country you hope to move to, but knowing a little about the culture is important. Knowing where to go for your grocery shopping is, and how to travel to your new job, and what the locals are like. Heading to this area on vacation (not just idly viewing homes and then returning) can help you get a taste of the culture, which will help you adapt to it more easily before you arrive.

Ensure The House Is Ready

The last thing you need to worry about, when moving all the way to a new country and bringing your entire family along, is to worry about what state the house is in when you get there. Making it livable in advance, and gaining the keys before you fully move in is surely a good idea, even if it’s a little more expensive. At the very least, having somewhere nearby you can stay is essential, be that a friend’s house, or a hotel. This way you need not have to worry about your personal requirements while waiting to move in, and you can do so with peace of mind.

With this advice, we hope you can more easily lessen the enormity of moving abroad.

Don’t Settle For Less With Your Home

For most people, the home is where we spend the majority of our days, or at least the most important parts. Everyone needs a place to go where they can wind down after a long day to relax, and if you haven’t put any time or money into your living space, you might be having trouble with that!

Finding the time and money to spend on your living space might not seem worth prioritizing, but when you start to consider how important the time you spend there is, it’s something that you should be making the most of! The last place you want to feel uncomfortable is your home, whether it be due to lack of personality around you, or damages that you never got repaired; invest in yourself!

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Fix-It Up

You may try not to pay too much attention to it, but that leaky tap or cold draught that you feel isn’t much of a problem can start to affect you a lot over time. It can be costly, but when you compare it to the discomfort that you have to deal with every single day, it’s well worth the investment!

If your home is cold, you might want to look into having measures installed to help keep the warmth in, and the cold out! From replacing window seals to installing insulation in a crawl space; you should be thinking about all it takes to achieve the comfort you deserve! It sounds pricey, but you’re there every day - and you deserve the best!

Add More Personality

Giving your home a new personality can be tough for people who have never adventured into decorating before, it’s a whole new world of creativity to explore. Spending some time to go and pick some new furniture and decorations that can make you feel more at home can be a fun activity for anyone; it’s exciting to find new ways to express yourself!

Style is important, but comfort should always come first; nothing beats a cozy corner to sit in when you need to get away from the world outside for a little bit!

Renovate

If you’re fine with spending a bit more money than you would usually, renovations are a great way to make your house a better fit for you! It can be expensive to have work done, but if you’ve always wanted to make changes around the rooms, it’s something you should finally have done! Renovations are a great way to have your home reflect on you personally, as the more you change it, the more it can start to feel like it belongs to you.

Light It Up

Lighting plays a significant role in how each and every room feels, and if you don’t know much about it; there’s no better time to look into it! Changing up your lighting is an inexpensive and easy way to bring more comfort into your living space, and it’s convenient to experiment with! Having a lot of natural light coming into your home is great during the day, but what about when you have to rely on your own lights? Set the tone of your house with different brightness and color bulbs to fit the right mood! Looking for a more cozy feeling? Try dim, warm lights. Brighter and whiter lights are great for lighting a room up, but sometimes that’s not always what you need!

Find Your Hiding Space

Whether you’re a bookworm or a binge-watcher, having a place to go where you can relax comfortably and uninterrupted is a must if you want to feel luxury in your life! This is arguably the most important part of decorating your home, as everyone needs an escape every now and then!

Get Assistance

If interior design really isn’t your thing, there are many resources you can find to help you out with this! Your first idea might be to look online to see what other people do for their decorations - this is a great way to find inspiration for your own spaces! If that doesn’t interest you, there are professionals who can help you out also! Though hiring a professional will cost more, you can trust them to help you find what’s right to fit your needs!

Show The Place Off

The best thing to do once you have a living space you’re proud of is show it off to your friends and family. Being able to host dinners where you live is a luxury that many people wish for, and it can become even sweeter if you’ve recently spent a lot of time and money on changing the place up! Having a living space you’re proud of is a great feeling, and if you’re the type who prefers having company, sharing that space is even greater! 

Investing in your home means investing in yourself, and when you think about it that way; what could be a better way for you to spend your money?

Common Diets Explained

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The new year is coming up and that means many of us are finishing the last of the festive food in preparation for detox in January. New Year's resolutions of getting fit are being made and you are probably wondering how to get there. You might have done some research and found that there is a myriad of diets out there that all seem a bit confusing. After all, you want to lose weight in a healthy way, you don’t want to lose too much too quickly or do something unattainable that means you get to your goal weight but can’t sustain it long term and end up right back where you started. There is a diet out there for everyone and it is up to you to decide on what is the best for you, your habits, and your lifestyle. As long as you are exercising, eating healthily, and are comfortable in yourself, then that is what is the most important thing in life. Make sure you don’t get too fixated on your weight and that you are sensible. Here are some of the most common diets explained so you can make an informed decision. And remember, if something doesn’t work for you, don’t be afraid to try something new!

Make Your Bed More Comfortable: Smart Ways to Do It

 You probably spend around a third of your time in your bed. If you're not sleeping in it, there are plenty of other things you might use it for. Because your bed is such an important part of your life, it's essential that it's comfortable and feels welcoming when you slide in at the end of the day. When your bed doesn't offer the comfort that you need, it can mean anything from restless sleep to a bad back or just general dissatisfaction. Everyone should get to enjoy a bed that feels like home, so why not think about how you can make your bed more comfy?