Pat Starnes' Snippets

My 2011 New Years Resolution is the same this year as each preceding year--to put my house in order. I spent New Years Day dismembering the Christmas tree, sweeping out artificial pine needles, and organizing both my home's interior and my garage. Everything was neatly arranged in the new storage boxes and modular shelving I purchased for the garage. By the end of the day, Christmas boxes were stashed in the attic, and my entire home resembled a more respectable version of itself.

Did you know  "getting organized" ranks #15 out of the Top 20 New Years Resolutions ever? I thought it would rank higher, but there were other resolutions (quit smoking, quit drinking, lose weight) that took priority. You can see where your New Years Resolution ranks here.

If you are selling your home this year, try to maintain a well-organized home. Your home will show better, it will appear to have plenty of storage, and you'll probably receive higher offers than a disorganized, cluttered home might receive.

And if by chance your New Years Resolution is to buy a new home in the Jackson metro area, (#8 on the list of Top 20 New Years Resolutions ever) I know someone who can help with that!

Happy New Year, everyone! And Happy New Year Active Rain!

I dislike waste and hate to throw anything away that might be repurposed. I've been frugal and resourceful all my life and there is no stopping me now.

So, when I closed on a foreclosure last week, the living room had a floating (laminate) floor in excellent condition, but not to my liking. It had a natural oak finish and appeared to be a high-end product, but it would have clashed with my decor. The price of the house justified my desire to remove and replace the floor with hardwood planks.

Not wanting to toss the floor in a landfill, the laminate was removed and stacked neatly in a spare room. Luckily the boards were not glued and came apart with minimum breakage.

Two days later, the floor looked great in my son's home. It was a win-win situation for all of us. I didn't contribute unnecessary waste to the landfill, nor did I have to pay a dumping fee. The only cost involved was in the removal and reinstallation of the floor.

The next time you are involved in a renovation project, think about how you might donate unwanted items or use them in a different way.

Reduce, reuse, and recycle...don't just think about it. Do it!

My newest project, a fixer-upper, needs to be repainted. The living room, 15 feet by 23 feet, has 12 foot ceilings. I wondered how much paint to buy.

By searching Google, I found a website that has a paint calculator. The site, MIstupid.com, provides a lot of useful information. If you have time to spare, you can read about vitamins,  use a currency converter, and much more. Surf the content section for information on sports, history, geography, health, technology, etc.

Back to my dilemma and how much paint to buy... According to the chart, I'll need 4.56 gallons of paint for two coats. I would have guessed (hoped) three gallons would be enough, but I would have underestimated. Instead of racing back to the store for another gallon or two, I'll save time AND money, and buy a five gallon bucket. I'd rather have a little extra than not enough. With any leftover paint, I can always continue down the hall.

Written and Published by Pat Starnes, McIntosh and Assoc., LLC