Kari_Altadena's Profile

Consider what you want to do in your yard. Entertain? Play area for kids or dogs or both? Grow vegetables? Then look at your layout and decide which areas would work best for how you would like to use it. How much sun each area gets is a big factor, as are existing plants and structures, and access to the house. Then you can start considering any hardscaping you want to do now (or later) to help define the areas. At the end I would start thinking of plants to fill in the area. Landscaping can be expensive, so come up with a long term plan based on your inspiration boards and work in stages. Good luck!

My last resort, but better than a donut from the coffee cart, breakfast is a protein bar and a cup of tea, eaten at my desk after I get to work. I keep some at my desk for those days when nothing seems to go right in the morning and just getting the kids to school and myself to work on time is a major accomplishment.

You don't mention if you have a sprinkler system, so I am assuming you don't.

I would plant low water plants around the house and patio and in your containers. Looks like that is a shady spot, so get some that will do well for that (aloes, other succulents). I would first hit up Home Depot/Lowes for the cheapest selection. Even better if you have friends with some in their garden who will let you take the offshoots for free. Add thick mulch between plantings. You need to keep the grass in the front part for the dogs, right? I would look at products that help eliminate the urine burn. Then I would get some paint to spruce up the furniture, maybe add fun string lights/thrifted accessories to add character.

For the back part, I would recommend you get a weekly service to come in to mow/keep the pine needles under control. I would also remove any plants that are dying or just not doing well. Then I would suggest using whatever money you have left for a play structure for the kids. You might get lucky with Craigslist or garage sales.

Good luck!

Repurpose my daughter's spare (yes, she has two!) closet from random storage to an area where she can have her new cd player and karaoke machine and cds easily accessible (lower half) and also a place to store the games/craft supplies that still need supervision (upper half).

The mirror is too high on the wall because every wall is tiled to about 4 ft and the mirror is mounted above so our children can't see into it without climbing on the counter.

Also, how to neatly and compactly store all the headbands/hair accessories my daughter can't live without? Currently they are in a drawer and it is a tangled mess and always a chore to find the exact one she wants.

We installed hooks for the kids' towels and I think they work better than the bar for ours. And I bought a mesh laundry bag for the bath toys, which has been a much cheaper, less mildewy, option than those devices made to store them.

Hah! I just left a stack of used but good condition moving boxes on the street and within 20 minutes someone had taken them away. This is pretty standard in many working class Los Angeles neighborhoods. I've given away old furniture, garden pots, etc... Only once has something not been taken.

I love my BioBrite SunRise clock. We sleep in a completely blacked out room and the slowly increasing light is all it takes to wake us up naturally, which is so much better than a blaring sound or music.

http://www.biobrite.com/products.php?category_id=1