Welcome

I love cooking food and decorating spaces. I have spent many years learning and refining my skills for the things I am so passionate about. With my blog I want to share suggestions, tips and ideas with hopes to inspire you to become a savvy host and house proud yourself. I am passionate about anything food and home decor and have always thought that the two go hand in hand. My background is Italian and I get my inspirations for food from a family of great cooks. I love to experiment with old favorites and add my own touch to make it new, lighter and healthier. I love coming up with new dishes by just looking in the fridge and using up whatever is in there that day. Some of my best dinner parties were simple foods prepared with passion and the right ambiance and then share it with really great people . I would welcome any comments, ideas or questions.

Check out my other Blog: "Stagionista" for Staging tips and pics http://stagionista.blogspot.ca

Rose Arangio


Monday, June 27, 2011

Garage Sale Missions

Having a yard or garage sale is a great way to de-clutter your home and earn some extra cash at the same time. Its very easy to accumulate stuff, we all do it, it's normal, BUT we have to get rid of things once or even twice a year so things don't get out of hand. Cleaning out your closets and cupboards should be done often so it doesn't become a horrible chore. Get the family involved. If kids are old enough they can be in charge of their own things and keep their earnings as an incentive.

The easiest way is donating, just simply put gently used clothing and household items in a bag and take them to your local goodwill and they will handle the rest.

Re-purposing is also good if you have things that you don't use maybe there is a way to turn it in something you will use again. Saves the environment and keep things from the landfill.

Having a sale is a great way to give a new home to your unwanted items and earn some moola at the same time.

Preparation when having a sale is a must.
1: Start a week before by putting all your items in one area of your home.

2: Group all like things together.

3: Price things individually or as a group with stickers(you can get them from the dollar store). Price things low if you want to get rid of them.

4: Put out bright signage the week before to alert passer buys and you can even post an ad in your local paper.

5: Set things up on tables in the garage the night before so you can just carry them out on the morning of you sale day bright and early. (people drive around and start looking for sales around 7 am)The early bird catches the worm.

6: Be friendly and be willing to haggle with people in order to get the sale.

7: Reduce whats left items by 10am because sales usually last only until 12 or so.

8: Donate left over things, so your not bring the clutter back inside your home.

9: Count your money and treat your selves to something like dinner a renovation or savings for a vacation fund.I just had one and used the cash to build a pergola in my backyard. I will post pictures when it is fully complete. It felt great to clear my space, make some money.


The after picture is above, what a difference it makes, for now I used dollar store mats that we nailed inside the rafters and are rolled up in the picture. I roll the mats up and down and tie them and are for added sun shade protection as we are west facing in the back and get a lot of sun at dinner time. In the future we will add something more permanent. My backyard has been in the making for several years, this being the final and almost complete project.