While I’ve settled on which artwork we’re using in the room, I thought I’d share my favourite prints with you.
I love the bright colours our Australian native flowers bring into our suburbs. From the cheerful yellow of wattle to the deep pinks and reds of grevillea. No matter your colour scheme, there is bound to be a native artwork for your home.
I’ve chosen bright artworks because we embrace colour in our home. I also love how the artists have used colour to give our native flowers even more vibrancy. My personal favourites are Hayley Wills and Kim Hoggan and their prints are on my must have bucket list.
I’ve listed the link for each artwork and the prices will vary depending on what size print you order.
If you’re after an artwork which is both bright and shows off the best native flowers our country has to offer, check out these prints.
Our Zip Hydrotap is the boiling chilled filtered water tap I can’t live without in my kitchen.
Our Hydrotap is the tap that keeps on keeping on. We’ve had our Hydrotap for 15 years. It was a refurbished commercial model, so it’s older than we’ve had it, but it was like new when we first installed it in our first house. When we sold our house, we took the unit with us and installed it in our current kitchen.
Whenever I have friends over to our home and I offer a cold drink of water, I always get asked, ‘I want one of those for our kitchen. How much are they?’
And I fumble with a price because I know the price of the commercial models, but they would be overkill for a residential kitchen. The domestic models are less expensive and a great option if you don’t have a chilled filter water dispenser from your fridge.
The only maintenance with our Zip has been regular filter changes. which happen once a year. Sometimes longer if I’ve been slack in organising the replacement.
We’ve also had to have pumps replaced and various parts over the years, but it just keeps on keeping on and out of all the appliances in my house, it is a favourite. Once you have a Zip in your kitchen, you never look back. But you sure as heck feel it when it stops dispensing.
The Benefits of having a Boiling Chilled Filtered Water Tap
Convenience and ease of accessing boiling and chilled water from the kitchen sink.
The Zip Filters remove micro-plastics from the water as well as chlorine, lead, rust, asbestos fibres and volatile organic compounds.
You drink more water as it’s readily available from the kitchen.
Best for all round health when cooking with the water.
Best water to diffuse essential oils in your diffuser.
Has a child safety lock to avoid dispensing hot water on little hands.
The Cons
It does require an investment in cost to purchase and install.
Does require regular filter changes and services depending on how often the tap is used.
Tips
Always keep a backup filtered jug of water or bottles of water in the fridge if you ever lose power. If the unit breaks down, it’s also good to have a spare kettle to use in the interim.
Costs
There are a variety of configurations, tap styles and finishes available depending on your personal needs and kitchen aesthetic.
If you already have a mixer tap, go with the classic Hydrotap BC starting from $4795. You will need to ensure you have enough room around the sink to core a hole through the benchtop, and of course space under the sink for the unit.
There are cheaper models with ambient filtered water starting from $2595 if chilled water is not your preference.
Alternatively, you can get one tap models where filtered tap water, chilled and boiling water are dispensed from the one tap. You can also get a sparkling water inclusion too.
I’m also loving the new Zip Micro, perfect for small office kitchens where there is limited space under the kitchen sink.
To choose the right Boiling Chilled Filtered Water Tap for you, head to the Zip Water.
Lack of bathroom storage is often a pain point in the family home.
While we love the look of a wall hung vanity, it does compromise on storage.
Lack of storage can cause products to overflow on top of the vanity bench, causing it to look cluttered and messy.
Our semi-wall hung vanity has never been big enough for all my stuff. The one in the kids’ bathroom is even smaller. I will need to be clever on how to store their products when they’re older!
I’ve used a wire trolley to hold my makeup, hair appliances, toiletry bag and sanitary products because the vanity has minimal storage. The wire trolley was one my husband owned when we first started dating. I worked out it’s at least 20 years old!
I have been meaning to upgrade it for a while, but it hasn’t been a priority.
Until recently, I was over looking at the mess and decided it was time to find something new.
Now can you remember when I decorated my desk into a Gingerbread House as part of a competition at work? Well I won… with two other colleagues. I got a $50 voucher and rather than spend it on my kids, I spent it on me and bought a new shelving unit for the ensuite.
I like to have my makeup, hair dryer and straightener within easy reach so I bought a makeup organiser from Kmart ($9) to sit on the top shelf.
I culled my makeup and toiletries to only the essentials. And the space on the top rail allows for my hair dryer and straightener to rest when not in use.
Before
After
The shelving unit comes as a flat pack, but it was fairly easy for me to put together.
It’s also removed the hair dryer and hair straightener off the vanity. I do allow my straightener to cool down before placing it on the bamboo rod.
As with all things new, it’s great to walk past and see the order. Now to keep it that way!
If you’re looking for more bathroom storage ideas, check out this post.
Kitchen styling is something I admire, but am not always good at upkeeping. At present, our kitchen plants have been thriving, but one succulent has thrived a little too much and we’re thinking of putting this in the front garden somewhere.
To me, if I’m going to style my kitchen, it has to be more about practicality than style. Thankfully some of the inspiration I share with you today ticks both of these boxes.
When I’m cooking, I like to have everything I need within hands reach. Utensils, knives, trivets and chopping boards are all things I like to have near when I’m cooking dinner at night. Generally, I have spaces in the kitchen where I store these items. But last week, when I was cooking a few different things at once, I thought about having everything on the bench, so I wouldn’t have to leave my standing spot by the cooktop.
And so, I did a search in Pinterest for kitchen styling ideas, and here are a few ideas you could incorporate in your kitchen.
2. Think about what you use all the time when cooking and also items you should cook more with, but don’t, because they’re too far away to reach. These things should be part of your kitchen styling.
3. Have a tray or chopping board to hold all your everyday cooking items together.
4. A vase can make a unique looking utensil holder.
5. Think about mixing textures – wood, glass/clear acrylic, bamboo and black acrylic.
6. Create different heights through the use of wooden boards, utensils, salt and pepper mills and bowls.
7. Have a planter with herbs to add some greenery to your styling. This can be added to your cooking.
8. Use what you already own, before you buy pieces to style your kitchen.
If you’re renovating or building a new bathroom this year, you’re going to be interested in reading what the bathroom trends for 2020 are.
I wrote a presentation about this topic July last year to be presented to architects and interior designers in Malaysia. After reading what I had collated for the presentation, the trends are certainly evident in bathrooms being shared on social media today.
Now I always preface these types of posts with… choose what you love, not what’s on trend. Remember you have to live with your bathroom for the next 10 -15 years.
It requires a large investment of time and money to get the bathroom right. The planning is crucial when designing your new bathroom. If you need some inspiration with your planning, check out what is popular for 2020.
Bathroom Trends for 2020
Design
The desire for a day spa look in the bathroom is not going to wane. In fact, bathrooms are going up a notch with introducing urban jungles or ‘living walls’ to bring the outside in.
Work and information follows us home due to the advancement of mobile phones and having the internet at our fingertips. While it can be convenient, it can also lead to fatigue. So it’s even more important for the bathroom to be an escape from technology. It’s no longer just a place for hygiene, it’s a place for rest and retreat.
Skylights and natural light are essential in bathrooms for 2020. Large windows backing onto a garden or a lush tree backdrop are essential. They are a more practical alternative to the living wall.
The inclusion of plants is going to increase for bathrooms that don’t have a garden outlook. Natural world colours of green and blue will be highly favoured.
Bathrooms on the whole will become smaller due to the decrease of floor space in newly built houses. Less is more when approaching a small bathroom. There will be an increase demand for interior designers and/or architects to ensure the design will work for your needs. Renovators will be keen to get it right the first time.
Tapware
Brushed metallics will reign in tapware in 2020. The most popular is brushed gold.
Photo by Fido Projects
Wall mixers and wall mounted tapware allow for more bench space and elevates the eye. It allows for these finishes to stand out against a tiled splashback. Matte black and brushed nickel are also popular, but the gold, brass and copper tones will reign in preference this year.
If you have a small bathroom, the freestanding vanity is also a trend we’ll see more of. With a focus on upcycling and reducing waste, that buffet or sideboard could be converted to a vanity, making it unique a focal point in the bathroom.
Baths
The freestanding bath still reigns supreme. Higher the end, the better to allow for relaxation and the ability to fit into a small space.
We will see deeper baths with inspiration from the Japanese soak tubs where full body immersion is possible.
Showers
The focus on showers still remains the same with the integration of two shower heads – a rain shower head and hand-held shower. A single plane of glass to protect the bathroom from water offers a minimalist yet practical approach for water spray.
Shower niches will become more prevalent to remove unnecessary accessories from the bathroom.
Tiles
The patterned black and white tile will be overtaken by Moroccan concrete tiles. Larger tile surfaces will still be classic for their minimal grout lines, but grout is making a comeback.
Earthy colours of rust, terracotta and mustard are popular in patterned tiles. Whether they will date quickly… it’s anyone’s guess. Black and white patterned tiles are classics which won’t wane.
Materials
Natural stone, marble and terrazzo are key players in bathroom materials. While timber is popular, a vanity with a neutral stone benchtop offers clean lines and is less susceptible to water damage.
Which bathroom trends for 2020 will you be incorporating into your bathroom?
The intent was not to alarm, but to have a resource available for myself to check off a few inspections I had put off over the years. My personal home maintenance to-do list is actually 3 x A4 pages long!
Now that the girls are in school, I’m going to tackle my child free days with work… but also ticking off the checklist. It’s going to be a slow process. I thought I’d share with you what we got done in January.
Home Maintenance in January 2020
Termite Inspection
I got a termite inspection by Checkmate Pest Control to check for termites. We are all clear, but the infrared picked up moisture near our air conditioning unit and in some parts of our roof. This could have been from the hail storm last year or could be another issue. We’ve had a look up there and nothing seems to be damp. I might organise a professional roof plumber to inspect see if there is something we’re not seeing.
We also requested a quote for a termite treatment so we know what to save for.
Removed Limescale From Shower Head
My shower head was driving me batty with its misdirecting flow. I fixed it up with this hack.
Tested Wasabi Six to Remove Mould
I tried a new a product to remove mould from the hard to clean areas of the bathroom. I got mixed results. You can read my review here.
Cleaned the Skylight
I hate to admit this… but we haven’t cleaned our skylight since we moved into our house. Mainly cause I had no idea how to remove the dome to clean it inside. A google search and Youtube video later, I had the skylight cover off and gave it a good clean. It was full of dust and dead insects. Couldn’t believe how much light came through the room after cleaning it.
Decluttered the Playroom and Bookshelf
Our playroom was getting overrun with toys. We’ve decluttered, sold or donated items the kids no longer played with. This is still a work in progress.
Painted the Playroom
Painting the playroom was a BIG job. We didn’t realise there were 7 doors off this room alone! The prep took the longest. It always does when painting.
Jacob tackled the walls and ceilings, I did the cut ins and architraves. We’ve yet to finish the doors.
Once the room was painted – and dry, we moved the furniture back. I’ve yet to purchase new artwork, a rug, some plants (of course!) and something to organise our craft and drawing supplies which are in two storage containers.
Made a LEGO Coffee Table
The LEGO Coffee Table was also completed on the Australia Day long weekend. This has been a big hit with the kids.
Planned Maintenance for February
We still have 4 doors that need to be repainted, I need to finish styling the playroom and I need to organise an inspection on our air conditioner. But it’s also an expensive month with two family Birthdays. And being a short month, I’m not sure how we’ll go. I’ll keep you posted though.
Did you get up to any home maintenance projects in January? Got any projects on the go at home at the moment?
Last Friday night I was after a bath salt soak recipe to help relieve pain and possible swelling in my knee and foot.
After dropping Phoebe to her classroom, I was quick to walk out the school to get on with my day.
Unfortunately, the tip of my sandal caught the lip of the top step outside the school office and I tripped forwards and fell over. I landed hard on the black grip dots on the concrete step with my left knee, and my hands caught my fall. I’m lucky I didn’t break anything.
I grazed both palms, my left knee, my right shin and I hurt the top of my left foot.
After hobbling back home (a 2km walk), I got on with my day, but my knee was painful to walk on and it hurt when I sat down.
After the kids went to bed that night, I looked up how I could make a magnesium spray… without magnesium, lol.
Instead I came across a bath salt soak using Epsom salts and Bi Carb Soda. I learned that Epsom Salts were a form of magnesium! I also researched which essential oils to add to the bath because I love good scents, but I also wanted ones which would support my sore knee and foot.
I added 1/3 cup of Epsom salts, ¼ of bi carb and a few drops of Siberian Fir, Peppermint and Eucalyptus. I also added some castile soap, in the hope it would make bubbles. It didn’t.
The bath smelled amazing though. After reading for half an hour and immersing myself into the hot water, I had a really great sleep and I noticed my knee wasn’t as painful to walk on the next day.
This bath salt soak recipe is more powdery than course – which many bath salts tend to look and feel like. I like this recipe as it disperses well into the water, avoiding grit at the bottom of the bath which makes me feel like I’m bathing with sand.
I enjoyed the bath so much, I made a batch to put into jars to make it easier to draw the same bath in the future.
I thought I’d share the recipe with you. I’ve outlined the reasons why I added different ingredients and oils to make the bath salt soak more tailored for my needs. You can change the oils for your preference. I got most of the ingredients from Oils for Life Australia.
The oils I added to my bath were
Siberian Fir: good for muscle and joint support, can soothe minor skin irritations and offers a calming and relaxing scent.
Peppermint: can soothe soreness, assist with shock.
Eucalyptus: can soothe tired and sore muscles.
Epsom Salt is a form of magnesium, which the body can absorb when dispersed into a bath. Epsom salts can help relax sore muscles and flush out lactic acid build up.
Bi Carb Soda: Can soothe irritated skin, relax sore muscles.
Mix all the dry ingredients together and then add the wet ingredients. Use the back of the spoon to mix the oils to create a ‘wet sand’ yet powdery consistency.
Scoop into jars and keep a tight lid as salts can absorb moisture in the air.
Use within 3-6 months. Add ½ to 1 cup to a bath or more if needed.
This DIY LEGO Coffee Table with Storage was a project we put together on the Australia Day long weekend. The purpose was to save my sanity with LEGO being strewn all through my house. It was also to create a place for building and imaginative play with the made up sets we received for Christmas.
At the moment, we are updating the kid’s playroom. We’ve been painting, sorting, decluttering and selling stuff we no longer need in this space.
I’m trying to update the room so it’s more in line with our girls’ ages and interests. Gone are the Little People Sets and Kindy paintings which I stuck to the wall. In are the Barbies and LEGO Friends and LEGO Disney sets. (a before and after post will be shared once it’s complete!)
Our girls are at an age where they love to play with LEGO and build new designs out of the pieces they own.
Unfortunately, a lot of the sets we’ve received over the years have got pieces missing (most probably sucked up the vacuum cleaner). It’s been a tedious job sorting what we have and what we need to put those sets back together.
I was determined for all LEGO sets received at Christmas to be made and kept intact. Our existing bookshelf was a great way to display the sets, but not so great for play. We needed a table to make it easier to play with and somewhere to store the spare pieces.
So I looked for ways to DIY a LEGO Coffee Table with storage.
Kmart has recently released a construction table with storage which I could have purchased, but when I looked at it, it was bulky and not as big as I needed. I also didn’t like how the base plates had to be moved, to get more pieces. That screams LEGO Pinata to me.
I also wanted to utilize the storage containers bought from Spotlight on Boxing Day to keep coloured pieces sorted.
Craft Storage Container from Spotlight
IKEA had released a new white LACK coffee table with a shelf underneath. I knew it was going to work as soon as I saw it. It fit the storage containers and was big enough to have all the LEGO Friends Theme Park sets placed together for play.
Before we bought the IKEA Table, we measured an area on the floor and placed the LEGO sets within the confines of that area to ensure the coffee table would be big enough.
When we were confident the coffee table would work, we bought it and set it up.
For the top base, we wanted LEGO base plates, but I couldn’t seem to find the number I needed to fit the top of the coffee table. I ended up just buying Kmart branded base plates, which worked well and were one third of the price of the LEGO ones.
We used sticky dots to keep the bases in place. Jacob was very meticulous in measuring where to place the base plates. We knew there would be an equal strip of white each side of the coffee table.
Once it was complete, the sets were placed on the coffee table and the craft containers were placed on the shelf underneath. I also have another container holding the LEGO manuals.
The girls have LOVED playing with it. We’ve got all the LEGO Friends theme park rides set up. Whenever we’ve had friends over, they’ve headed straight to the LEGO table. No need for me to get toys and activities out. The coffee table is an attraction in itself.
There are so many clever LEGO table projects on Pinterest. What I like about our table though is if the kids ever get sick of their LEGO, we can put it back to a coffee table again.
A Wasabi Six Mould Remover Gel advertisement came through on my Facebook newsfeed in the week between Christmas and New Year’s. Like all cleaning trends, I like to test them for myself. Some are sadly too good to be true or hyped up to be more than what they are.
And that’s how I felt after buying Wasabi Six Mould Remover Gel.
Mould in Bathrooms
I try to keep on top of mould in the bathroom through regular cleaning and wiping surfaces dry when they’re damp.
I also keep the exhaust fan on to remove any moisture
But even though I’m vigilant, mould still comes up in the corners of the shower, around the basin plug and waste and in the grout lines in the shower.
I’ve used a number of natural remedies in the past which have worked on mildew, but hasn’t removed the black marks left from mould.
And this is my gripe with natural cleaners – they may kill the spores, but I can still see the black spots. I want all evidence of mould gone.
So when I saw the Wasabi Six Mould Remover and it was ‘non-toxic and odor free’, I was intrigued. The formula would also prevent mould growth. I bought a bottle to try it out. I had nothing to lose… except $20.
I’m assuming it came from Japan being a Japanese formula. It took two weeks to arrive.
I put it to use the next day to see the results.
First Impressions
One thing I learned at a low-tox cleaning workshop was to look at the ingredients on the packaging. When some things are said to be ‘non-toxic’ or ‘natural’, it’s not always the case.
I was keen to read the bottle of my new Wasabi Six. Unfortunately, everything was in Japanese – even the instructions on how to apply it. I had to look up the website to find out exactly how to use the formula.
When I took off the lid and gave it a whiff, it definitely has a smell. The same smell you’d expect in a mould cleaner – bleach.
I wasn’t impressed as the advertising clearly says odor free. The real test was in the application though and how it would make my bathroom mould-free.
I put it to work and I got mixed results.
Essentially, you have to dry the area, apply using the nozzle – kind of like squeezing craft glue from a bottle, but with the consistency of toothpaste or silicone. Once applied you need to allow it to sit for 4 hours.
After 4 hours, use a cloth and water to wash away. It becomes a crystalised formula which requires scrubbing to be removed.
Where I applied Wasaba Six
The first place I wanted to apply Wasabi Six was around the plug and waste in the basin. This is area is notorious for mould growth. Sometimes, it’s because the wrong silicone has been used (must be sanitary grade for use in bathrooms and kitchens), sometimes its because that’s where water sits after the basin has been used. I forgot to take a before shot, but you can see my silicone was yellow with the application, and then after it was back to white.
Before – with Wasab Six appliedAfter
Another area I tested was the silicone at the bottle of the shower screen. I was skeptical it would work on here and it definitely didn’t remove the mould after four hours. It does say to reapply if the mould hasn’t gone the first time, which I could try.
I did try the grout lines in the shower and around the bath. Again, mixed results here as it did remove the mould in the shower grout lines, but around the bath.
Shower Grout lines beforeShower Grout Lines After
Application and Smell
You can smell the bleach smell (not sure if it’s bleach cause I can’t read what’s in it) as soon as you apply the Wasabi Six… but the noticeable difference is with a spray, the smell can fill the bathroom and it can burn your throat. Wasabi Six contains the smell so after the gel is applied, your house doesn’t smell like it’s been bleached.
The other thing I liked was the application. You can squeeze the gel to sit on grout lines and silicone corners. It’s not going to run down the shower waste or onto areas it’s not meant to. It’s a more direct application rather than a spray.
Wasabi Six Mould Remover did not bowl me over, and I think you could get similar results with a mould spray.
To finally all three in school – one drop off! We made it!
All three in school
Until it all changes when my eldest goes to high school and I will become an Uber once again.
I’m grateful for all those drop offs and pickups though. It’s part of raising a growing family. Those seasons were necessary to get to this point right now.
Phoebe has been ready for school for a year or more. I don’t know how many times I’ve lost her in the school grounds while she’s gone to find a sister, say hi to a teacher or play on a playground. She walks the school paths as if she owns them.
And so it was no surprise to see her ready with her school uniform and new shoes laid out on the bed the night before.
A quick kiss and cuddle at the classroom door and she knew what she had to do. She’d seen her sisters do it before her. No tears, just smiles and a wave. She was happy for me to leave.
The one drop off is a season I can get used to. It was easy in and a breeze to get out.
But come Thursday, it will be strange not having a little hand hold mine as I walk out the school grounds.
Today I had Jacob with me as we took the girls together. Tomorrow I’m in the city for a career day. Thursday will feel different as will every school day from now on. I walk in with three kids to drop them off, and then I walk out alone.
I’m sad about the seasons we won’t ever experience again… but I’m happy to get to this new term of independence and learning. After every end, there’s always a new beginning. I’m just wary these new beginnings may go quicker than the years before.
How was the first day of school for your kids? Remember what it felt like to have three in school/or all your kids in school?
What do you do when work is s-l-o-w? Outside forces and new changes can impact the flow of work for your business. Here are some tips to keep active and positive when work is not as easy to come by.
Before I became a plumber, I used to be a telemarketer. I took the role seriously because I had a quota of appointments I had to set each week. Being a perfectionist, if I didn’t get my quota, it would affect my sleep because I’d be worried I’d lose my job.
Most weeks I would meet my quota, and other weeks I wouldn’t. The times I didn’t meet my quota weren’t because of lack of trying. I’d make the same calls and still get a different result.
In the end, my boss explained that he knew I was putting in the effort and not to worry about it. My quota was really just an aim and not necessarily a performance assessment.
Fast forward to my current customer service role and there are quotas I need to meet in order to be successful in my job. Meeting these is not only important for my confidence in doing my job, it’s mandatory to maintain it.
In the building and trade industry, KPI’s are important to ensure the success of the business and all it’s employees.
If you don’t win a job, it’s just not yourself who loses out, it has a ripple effect within the company and those other business who rely on it.
The pressure to win jobs when pricing is SO tight is ridiculous but if you don’t win work, you don’t make money and when you don’t make money – you know how the sequence ends!
What to do when work is S-L-O-W?
DON’T go below cost
If a client has been given a price which is below your costs, abandon the project. Don’t bother trying to negotiate. Explain why your price is the way it is. Encourage the client to check the wording on their quote. Has anything been missed from the other submission/s?
Don’t give up
Remember every ‘no’ from a client is closer to your next ‘yes’! If the no’s are constant, review what’s happening and is it time to pivot? What can you do differently which adds value to the customer’s needs?
Lower business costs
Look at overheads and reduce. Do you really need to lease an office building? How much admin staff is necessary for the work coming in? Can you outsource some admin tasks to another business rather than hiring an employee? Make a habit to get the best prices on supplies to build profit.
Reach out to existing clients
Approach all old clients and consultants to find out what work they have available? Are there any tenders you could have the opportunity to quote on?
Upskill and branch out
Make a note of any trends in the workplace which you can upskill in and provide a solution to. If blocked drains have become a big issue, can you invest in the latest equipment to tap into that client base? What is a service people can’t find?
Attend networking events
Building your network has the potential to bring in new opportunities for quoting and building relationships. Word of mouth is not just beneficial for customers, it’s also advantageous in the workforce with likeminded business owners.
Pray
For me, this would be the first step in this list of suggestions, but I can’t make the assumption everyone believes like I do.
However, when I am faced with a deficit or a need to build income, I pray for the right opportunities to come my way. God is a provider and I’m always amazed at the way he brings people into my path at the right time. I can’t count how many times a prayer has been answered from simply asking for His intervention.
1 Peter 5:7 ‘Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.’
It’s my hope when work is slow, you are able to see it as a season.
To enjoy a better shower experience, having a shower head clear of calcium deposits or limescale is important. I’m going to show you how to clean a blocked shower head from limescale, without removing the shower rose.
In the last week I noticed I had a few stray streams of water hitting the back wall and window of my shower. You can check out my Instagram post below with a video of before and after.
Upon inspection of the shower head, I could see white deposits that needed to be cleaned.
I could have taken off the shower rose and used CLR.
But not everyone has a bottle of CLR in their house, and often, not everyone has plumbers nylon tape either.
So this hack is one you can do yourself if you’re experiencing the same problem, with a few items you should already have in your house.
Materials
Zip lock bag
Rubber Band
Vinegar
How to Clean a Blocked Shower Head from Limescale
First, dry the shower head. I have a wet wall behind because I took the video of water spraying the wall.
Fill your zip lock bag with vinegar.
Bring your shower head down and place the bag of vinegar over the head of the shower.
Use a rubber band to fasten it to the shower rose arm and let it sit for a few hours. (I left mine like this for 4 hours)
Remove the bag and give the shower head a good wipe with a dry cloth.
The mineral deposits were removed. No need for scrubbing or using a toothpick.
If your shower head is really blocked with deposits, allow it to sit in the vinegar overnight and use a toothbrush afterwards to give it good scrub. You could also soak it in CLR and see how that works.
This tween girl bedroom update is a project we tackled last year in October, but I just haven’t had time to share it on the blog.
Like most parents around the country, I often get frustrated with the state of my kids’ bedrooms. I do like to see them tidied at the end of the day, where everything has its place.
Tween Girl Bedroom
Esther is officially a tween now, and we needed to update her bedroom to remove some of the clutter. More specifically the soft toy and beanie boo clutter.
Bedroom Before
We are overflowing with stuffed toys, and the only solution I’ve come up with this problem is to fill a beanbag with the 100 or so soft toys the girls have received since they were born.
That beanbag is going to become a toy time capsule of sorts one day, when the contents is emptied and memories flood back around Hoot the Owl and whatever other beloved characters I’ve stuffed inside.
We bought a new white chest of drawers from IKEA, plus a plant and a lamp. The plant sits perfectly inside the lamp base. I don’t think that’s the purpose of the base, but it works well because the lamp itself is quite light in weight.
Photo taken at night, so not the best light.
I also wrapped copper wired lights around Esther’s noticeboard. She loves putting this on at night and for less that $5, it was an affordable update to make.
A bit of decluttering, some storage hacks and a few new pieces helped make Esther’s room feel less messy. Minimalism is the key to a tidy dresser I think.
Sadly minimalism is not embraced by the younger sister as Esther’s discarded toys ended up relocating to a new room.
Phoebe had open arms for all the new goodies her sister no longer wanted. We were going to donate to charity, but Phoebe insisted on new ownership. At least the toys are getting played with a second time around!
Do you go through your kids bedrooms often? Are you overflowing with soft toys too?
If you’re after a home maintenance checklist which can be done throughout the year, this post is for you.
2020 is the year of home maintenance in The Plumbette HQ. It’s actually been ongoing since we moved in 12 years ago, but this year, there is more to be done.
Our home is 15 years old and while we’ve changed taps, replaced the hot water unit, replaced the ducted air conditioning, added solar, changed lighting, painted and the list goes on, there are PLENTY of jobs I need to get on top of this year.
The benefit of buying a home is the security of never having to leave and being able to change the interior and exterior to how you please.
But one undesirable aspect is the cost and time to maintain the property to keep it in good condition. If you don’t maintain the upkeep of a home, it can become quite a costly job to tackle when a problem does arise.
One way to keep on top of it is to have a home maintenance checklist. You can place dates next to each as they’ve been done.
In September, I walked around the house with my dad and made a list of things to get done.
There are downpipes to be replaced, painting to the exterior and interior, old gardens to be removed and replaced with new, the driveway needs to be fixed, plastering, lights need to be replaced, silicone removed and replaced, room furniture rearrangements and a whole lot of organising and decluttering. The actual list is a little overwhelming, but I know we can get it all done this year. And I’m hoping it can be done during child free hours and on weekends.
I drove through the back of the garage wall. Dad was over seeing it every time he came over and offered to patch it up.
I’m going to share what I get up to in the house as I know it will be great content for the blog.
So if you need a bit of motivation to get some things done around the house, let this blog be your inspiration. I’ve also seen Katrina Chambers share tips on the best white paint which is a great place to start if you’re looking to brighten your walls.
In the meantime, here is an Annual Home Maintenance Checklist. Now some of these inspections can happen every couple of years, but from my experience, if it ain’t broke, it doesn’t get attended to so aiming for yearly is our goal – especially if it hasn’t been done fore a few years. Sometimes it’s lack of funds or it’s pushed down the list of priorities. Either way, this list is a great place to start as a way to check off each area if it’s applicable to you.
Annual Home Maintenance Checklist – Tradies and Professional Services Required
Hot water unit service. This ensures connections and valves are working and calcium build up removed from instantaneous gas units. Flush out storage units to ensure they are working at capacity.
Smoke detectors tested. Batteries need to be replaced or detectors replaced to bring up to new standards.
Annual Maintenance – Visual Checks and Cleaning You Can Do
Check roof, gutters and downpipes
It’s important to do a visual and tap test for rust or blockages. Rusty downpipes and gutters will crumble when tapped. They won’t hold water when you need them to during a summer storm or hail. If during a heavy downpour, you have a water mark on your ceiling, it’s time to call a roof plumber to investigate the source of the leak.
Clean the BBQ and check gas connections
The BBQ often gets a workout during Summer. It makes sense to give it a clean and check the gas connections. For LPG gas, it’s a simple as changing the bottle over when empty, for natural gas, organise a gas plumber to check and test all gas connections in your home – including the one to your BBQ.
Clean solar panels and check inverter and credits on bill
Your solar power lose effectiveness by up to 30% when the panels are dirty. You can get a professional solar panel cleaner, or if you have a single storey home, clean the panels yourself but have a safety harness, wear sneakers with good grip and clean first light of a morning, not in the middle of a summer’s day. Always check your inverter is in working order. Don’t make our mistake by going through a whole summer and not converting the solar.
Repair damaged fences and gates
Fix any panels that can allow vermin in and ensure gates shut.
Clean any chimneys and fireplaces
Best to do this after winter in spring or early summer.
Pressure clean outdoor areas and roof
A pressure cleaner is great for removing dirt and dust from large outdoor surfaces. If in drought, use a broom instead to clean away dust from outdoor areas.
Oil your deck
Maintain your deck by oiling it. This will extend the life of the timber boards.
Patch holes or cracks in plasterboard
Use gap filler to fill in holes. If they reappear, you will need to call in a professional plasterer who can give a quote to replace coving. (this is on our list to get done!)
Inspect exterior of house
Check for peeling paint, cracked render or loose weatherboards. A visual inspection can determine whether the job can be fixed by yourself or needs the expertise of a professional.
Maintain gardens
Check for overgrowth towards the foundations of your home and remove plants if necessary. Some plants are protected, so do check with council on what plants can or can’t be removed.
Clean windows
Clean windows – inside and out. Also repair flyscreens to keep insects and other animals out of the home.
Check all grated drains outside and inside your home
Inspect all the grated drains. Use a torch to see if there is a water trap seal to prevent sewer gases entering your home. If the water level is high – or near the top of the grate, this means you have a blockage. If you can see no water and the bottom of the trap, you need to refill with water to replace the water seal. This seal will prevent bad sewer gases.
Clean ducted air conditioning vents
The space around your ducted air conditioning vents can create a ring of dust where the air blows out. Clean the vent and the ceiling. It is a sign to get your air con unit serviced and the filter cleaned.
Clean and test ceiling fans
If you have dust or cobwebs hanging off the blades, get them clean. If your fan no longer works, organise a maintenance check by a licensed electrician.
Clean out skylights and dust light bulbs
This will ensure their efficiency. Skylights can’t let much light in when they’ve full of dust.
Clean your dishwasher every month
The inner parts of the dishwasher and hoses can build up with food and residue. Commercial cleaners ensure the efficiency of your dishwasher and keep all hoses clear from blockages.
Replace faulty fridge and freezer seals
These seals on your fridge and freezer ensure the efficiency of your appliance. Check the water connections to water and ice dispensers. Replace the filter when alerted to do so. Call a plumber or fridge sealer to repair.
Clean the oven each year
The buildup can make this job harder as each year goes on. Keeping your oven clean ensures it works at its optimum and will extend its life expectancy.
Clean exhaust fans and rangehood
Most bathrooms will have an exhaust fan and the kitchen stove top will have a Rangehood. The bathroom exhaust is usually covered in dust and the rangehood with oil and grease residue. Cleaning these will ensure their efficiency in the home.
Clean washing machine yearly
Read your washing machine manual to see what the manufacturer recommendations are. Remove lint from the dryer after every use.
Check all taps and all flex hoses for leaks and drips
Leaking taps are easy to spot and get fixed. Flexi hoses on the other hand require a visual inspection and checking if the hose has frayed wires. If you can see rust or unraveling of wires, you need to organize a licensed plumber to replace these straight away.
When you get a tradesperson out to fix a problem, get them to inspect and test all areas of expertise at your home during the same visit. Get more bang for your buck and make the most of their call out fee.
If you read the title of my post and thought I was going to share the profits and losses of financial investments last year… sorry to disappoint you. It’s actually a reflection post. It’s a post sharing how I went with the investments I wanted to work towards in 2019.
If you’ve never written down your intentions for the year ahead, may this post encourage you to do so.
This time last year I wrote a post on investments I wanted to make for 2019. You can read it here.
When I read back through the post a few things stuck out for me.
Firstly, this time of year is a downer for me emotionally and physically. It was interesting to reflect on how some of the feelings and questions I’ve started the year with, have repeated again this month. Coupled with the bushfires and what’s going on with Iran…and the constant stream of opinion on social media it’s been an eventful start to the year and one where everyone will need to dig deep to initiate change for the future and helping each other.
But I digress.
I thought I’d share how I went with last year’s investments. It’s a very self indulgent post, but one I’m happy to share and reflect on with you. Please scroll away if it’s not your cup of tea.
On reflection, some investments weren’t achieved. The main reasons for this was because
I had too many things going on
I wasn’t intentional
I was tired often gave into my feelings
The only way 2020 is going to be different is if I’m intentional and make some investments in my health. Easy to say, hard to swallow.
2019 Investments – How I Went Last Year
Investment 1 – Spend more time with God – Tick
The first investment I made for myself was to spend more time with God. I’ve now made a habit of grabbing my bible before my iPhone when I wake up in the morning. This has become out of necessity for my mental health of late. I was proud of myself for reading all of Luke in December as it was an advent calendar challenge I saw on Facebook. To make bible reading easier for me, I read The Message version. I also followed a Joyce Meyer devotional.
Investment 2 – Invest in my Marriage – ½ tick
I find you need to be super organised to have date nights and a bit of cash to splash to enjoy dinner out. Date nights can be simple of course – but again you have to be intentional to organize time together.
We didn’t do as many date nights because by Friday night, we would both be exhausted.
But we did have some great nights out – and one outing every couple of months is better than nothing! It also helps when the kids ask grandma when can they come over next for a sleep over… sometimes half my work is done organizing babysitting.
Some date nights we got to do
Dinner and a cocktail at the Emporium Rooftop BarDinner under the Storey Bridge at Howard Smith Wharves
Two dates we did together which were firsts for me were only possible because of my part time job.
At Suncorp Stadium to see the Broncos
I received free tickets to the NRL and AFL from work due to performance and it allowed Jacob and I to enjoy two new experiences we’d never done before, together. I’ve never been into attending live sport, but after getting those tickets, they were some of my best memories from 2019.
Catching public transport together and chatting with no kids interrupting – well it was bliss.
Investment 3 – Invest in experiences with Phoebe and one on one time with my girls – Tick
Definitely did this with the girls last year, and Phoebe and I did have some fun times together.
At Fun House painting an LOL
Sometimes, it was nice just to hang out at home and craft together or head to our local sushi station where it wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg paying for 3 kids.
This is going to be something I intentionally do this year with all three girls at school. But I’m also looking forward to helping out in the classroom too. My child free days were limited time to do work… but now that I have more child free days, I can spend a morning to volunteer at school.
Investment 4 – More experiences, less stuff – Tick
We definitely did that last year. We had a mini weekend away to the Gold Coast, headed to the beach for day trips, went to Alstonville (for a family funeral but spent time together as a family), went to the EKKA, went to Eat Street Markets and of course went to New Zealand. I’m going to make sure 2020 will be more of the same.
Investment 5 – Invest in my personal development – ½ Tick
I said yes to more blogging work last year which was an intention I had back in 2017 (proof that good things take time to achieve). I have created content for May Gibbs, Katrina Chambers, The Interiors Addict, Be a Fun Mum and various plumbing and interior related small businesses. I have loved writing the articles, but sometimes I may have said yes to too much. It’s a juggle writing for others, for yourself and then running a household and working part-time. 2020 is going to be the year where I change a few things so I’m not juggling so many balls.
I didn’t write any books or publish any videos which I intended to do for the blog in 2019. Although, I just remembered I did do filming for the Today Show and had my 5 seconds of fame in an internal work video. So while I didn’t do videos for the blog, I did them for others.
Investments in Friendships 6 – No Dinner Parties – Fail
An intention Jacob and I had for last year was to have more dinner parties. We failed on that front.
But, we did connect with our neighbours more by having a street party.
And I caught up with friends when I could. There were dinners and shows – Hugh Jackman and Chicago. I also had some friends over for my Birthday.
Can’t forget how I attended some special Birthdays for friends too. Dressed up as Mario, and just went as myself to another.
While the dinner parties was a fail, making memories with friends was definitely part of my 2019. Some catchups had no photos of proof. And that’s ok because being in the moment is more important than showing off it happened.
Dinner parties take a lot of organisation because there is always something on. We probably won’t achieve this investment till 2030 – ha! But catching up with friends is always time best spent. Definitely more of that this year for sure.
So there is my reflection on the past year. Now I need to write what I intend to invest time into this year. Some of the list will be the same, but there will be other projects on the list, which will naturally be blogged about.
How did you go with your goals or investments last year?
I don’t know about you, but I’m feeling weary this Christmas.
2019 has certainly been a year of ups and downs, unexpected curve balls, testing and everything else in between.
This time last year, we had just flown back into Brisbane from America and I was going to host Christmas lunch the next day. As crazy as that reads, the year has followed a similar way.
Earlier in the year there was the diagnosis of my meningioma and I wasn’t sure if I was looking at having immediate surgery. Thankfully, it’s a monitor and wait situation.
I had an MRI last week and won’t know the results till the girls go back to school in the new year. It will be interesting to see if there has been any change or growth. I’m praying there hasn’t been any.
We’ve also finished the year with Christmas parties, Christmas performances and work shifts literally back-to-back.
The bushfires are a worry and tomorrow when I wake up with Jacob and the kids to open presents, it won’t be the same for households down south and out west.
I thank our volunteer fire fighters for sacrificing time spent with family and even work in these past weeks, to help save homes and families from these fires. They truly are a testament to the Aussie spirit and should be compensated for their time and bravery.
I will definitely be thinking of families who have lost everything in these fires, experiencing a somewhat different Christmas to how they imagined.
With fires moving and opinions escalating, it’s been a testing time for our country.
It was good to bring Christmas cheer to Brisbane though.
My older two girls were involved in the Christmas Extravaganza at Southbank. Maggie was a reindeer and Esther was an elf.
The lead-up was chaotic dropping the girls to practices while navigating work shifts, however it was an experience my girls will never forget. Nor will I. Their smiles to the audience while they danced and waved gave me tears of pride. I was so proud of their hearts and energetic smiles. It reminded me the effort was worth it. It beat watching the Christmas parade and house lights, which are traditions we just didn’t get time to do this year.
Another thing we didn’t get time to do was get a ‘real’ Santa photo. Well, we did get a free one, but Santa looks more weary than jolly (he is a wonderful bloke in real life!). Note to self: be more organised to pay for a Santa photo in 2020.
And while I may be weary – and I still have 1 night shift left tonight, I’m thankful for the family I have around me.
I’m thankful for the wonderful community I have here at The Plumbette.
I’m thankful for my job and the opportunities I get at work to help people.
The list is endless for all that I am thankful and grateful for.
Most of all though, I’m thankful to God for how he has protected our family this year. How he has created connections for me this year with finding the right health professionals, to even bringing new work opportunities I haven’t had to seek.
And the greatest gift of all, I’m thankful for Christmas. While I am quick to notice negativity in the world, I am also aware of my own shortcomings and failures and I’m grateful for the new promise of hope that Jesus’ birth brought for myself and all humanity.
And so, it’s my prayer this Christmas that you have those dear to you, near to you. If they are far away, may you feel loved from afar. And for those who have members now residing in another realm, may you know how deeply you’re loved and may memories with those loved ones be treasures you hold onto dearly.
I have a good feeling about 2020. I like even numbers. But like any new year, I love the anticipation of a new slate. New dreams to accomplish, more people to bless.
And so, I wish you and your family a Merry Christmas.Thank you for reading my blog and for all your prayers and support in 2019. I’m grateful for every single one of you. Be blessed. x
Has it been a big December for you? It has for me. So much so, I’ve had to make some tough decisions about the workload I take on next year. I do love the mix of what I do and I will have all children in school next year, which technically means I will have more time…but there are new avenues I want to explore and sometimes you have to let go of a few things, to make way for the new.
December has been a big month and I can’t believe its 10 days till Christmas and that we’re in the middle of the month. This time last year, we were on a plane to America. Where has the year gone?
I thought I’d share what has happened over the last month or so.
Let’s wind back to November, because December starts in November now. It’s the start to the end of year craziness.
Work
I work part-time from home and I also work for myself as a freelance writer. I enjoy the mix of work and while I’m not on the tools, I still keep in touch with plumbers and also help some with their social media and blog content for their websites. It helps that I know what to write because of my plumbing background and because The Plumbette is my resume.
I’ve also been helping create content for some of my favourite interior blogs too, which was a goal I had 2 years ago. I haven’t sought these opportunities, they’ve literally fallen into my lap through networking. I’m so grateful for these opportunities.
With my part-time job, recognition is always celebrated. On Melbourne Cup, I received an award for my conversations with customers. It was lovely to be taken out for lunch and given an award.
I was also nominated for an experience where you could spend a day with a head of in our company. I was nominated while in New Zealand, and came back to an email to say I had been chosen. I spent the day in Central Plaza 1 with Head of our Contact Centres, Cath Stewart. It was a day of back-to-back meetings and getting to see our city contact centre.
It helped me understand directions delivered from the leadership when assisting customers and some of the issues discussed were items I had an opinion on because I’d experienced them in the frontline of the company. It was a great day and again, you can never underestimate the power of networking.
Family
Life has been busy on the family front too. These past two weeks have been full of celebrations, catch-ups and end of year events.
Last weekend, we celebrated my grandparents 60th Wedding Anniversary.
Such a wonderful occasion to celebrate, although it hasn’t been easy going to get to this milestone. They never had a cake when they got married, so it was special to have this cake made for the day by JoJo’s Treat House. After that celebration, we drove down to Ballina to see Jacob’s side of the family. There have been health issues on multiples sides of the family which have prevented travel interstate.
Unfortunately, due to work and having the girls involved in Christmas performances, we only had a small window of opportunity to catch up before Christmas Day. I’m glad we were able to get down to see them.
Kids and End of Year Events
This week, Phoebe graduated from Kindy. I had to be in two places at once and busted a sweat – literally – to make both events.
Coming in to see what Maggie has done at school in Grade 1
While I was sad it would be the last time ever being at Kindy, I also felt sweet relief. Next year is the first year of the 1 drop off instead of 3 or 2 sometimes 4 if Jacob’s bus to work decided to not show up.
Phoebe is so ready for school. She had her transition afternoon and I was excited to see parents who I’ve known in our street, or have recently met, have their kids in Phoebe’s class.
I had to bribe Phoebe with banana lollies to put on school uniform for next year…
Phoebe was happy to be in the same classroom Maggie was in Prep. Me, not so much as it’s one of the furthest classrooms in the school. But, the extra walking may help with the extra 5kgs I’ve gained from doing the quick drive thru drop off and pick up.
My two oldest girls have thrived in their second semester of school. When I received their report cards this week, I swelled with pride on their results, but more so their behavior and application to studies.
We had end of year parties and the school concert. I didn’t get photos because of the rush and being too far away from the stage. I took photos of food though. You can see the fruit platter I made, and the Rudolph Treats, which were able to be stored in a fridge before serving to the kids.
I was looking forward to my work Christmas party, which was held at the Brisbane Convention Centre on Friday night. I organised a hotel room at Ridges Southbank and what a great way to celebrate a big year, with colleagues I trained with when I first got my job.
Clockwise: Me, Sarah, Mands, and Tash
In fact, I first met Sarah and Tash in the foyer, outside the lifts while we waited to go through for the group interview. We got along instantly and how fabulous it was to find out we all got the job.
I met Mands when we started training and we were meant to be friends. We don’t see each other very often due to working from home and being in different teams, but we had the best night and how good is it being with other mums who understand balancing work and family life?
From now till Christmas, we have Christmas performances at church and Southbank Piazza. I have another team Christmas party to go to, an MRI and back to back work shifts right till Christmas Eve. It’s still busy, but what blessing spending time with those we love.
People to keep in your prayers
While it’s a busy month for all of us, it can be an emotional month too. The loss of family members, a marriage breakdown or the unexpected health diagnosis can remind us life is fragile. Life can change in one moment. It’s important to be grateful and celebrate wins, but it’s also important to look out for others and offer care and assistance to those needing it.
For some of my friends, this Christmas will be the first without a special member of their family. Send them a kind thought and prayer to let them know you’re thinking of them.
I’d love for you to pray and if so inclined, help my friend Lauren and her husband Marcel. It was only a few years ago I had Lauren over in our playroom and were catching up about life. She shared their family dream of owning a dental surgery. That dream came to be, but an unexpected diagnosis and immediate surgery has thrown a spanner in the works for this family. If you want to help a family with medical costs due to an unexpected medical diagnosis, a go fund me page has been set up.
The recent volcano eruption in New Zealand has also had a ripple effect on friends and work colleagues who knew victims from the event. Such a horrific event that makes my own heart ache at the loss, and unexpectedness of it all.
In amongst the busyness, I pray for eyes that see. There are many hurting amongst us and sometimes I can be blinded by my own agenda, and forget there are people aching – needing a smile, hug, prayer, encouragement, meal, Christmas gift or some time out because they’re struggling with burdens God never intended for them to carry.
Life can be a mixed ride for all of us, but we’re in this together, and knowing someone sees what we’re going through… I think it can make all the difference.
This easy Christmas Tree Fruit Platter saved me a lot of hassle yesterday when I had to be at two places at once and time was not on my side. The photos were taken in the early morning daylight, so they aren’t the best, but they show what you need to see.
I generally love Christmas time and making a festive platter for all the end of year ‘bring a plate to share’ events. I usually share these ideas on Be a Fun Mum, but will hopefully compile a blog post with all of them together.
With the extreme heat in Brisbane this week, the chocolate treats I’d usually do, weren’t going to cut it. Plus I didn’t have the time to fiddle around with chocolate.
Easy Christmas Tree Fruit Platter
So enter, my easy Christmas Tree Fruit Platter. It took me minutes to put together and was easy to transport from home to Kindy.
Ingredients
1/4 Watermelon
1/4 Rockmelon
1 Strawberry
Small Grapes
Blueberries
Method
The method is pretty self explanatory, but basically I placed the watermelon wedges first on the platter to create a tree shape.
I used a star fondant cutter to cut out the rockmelon shapes and placed these accordingly. Excess fruit was cut up into my older two’s lunchbox that day.
I cut a strawberry in five sections and placed into a star shape at the top. I also scattered small grapes and blueberries for the ‘baubles’.
Super easy and it was well received on a hot, Kindy day.
I usually cut grapes in half when I serve them to kids, but I purposefully picked off the small grapes which were blueberry size to avoid any choking mishaps.
What is your signature platter when you have to bring a plate to share?
If you have a blockage on your property, chances are you have a blocked ORG. Here’s what you need to know about Overflow Relief Gullies (ORG) and what you can do before you call the plumber.
On Saturday morning, while I was cleaning the house to get it ready for Esther’s Shopkins party later that afternoon, I noticed the water from the sink was taking a lot longer to drain.
A quick inspection outside and I noticed our overflow relief gully (ORG) was full of water.
Which meant one thing. We had a blockage. But what was the blockage caused from? Too much paper down the toilet or had someone removed the grate and decided to fill it with rocks?
It seems the latter was the culprit.
Maggie had taken off the grate and filled the drain up with surrounding rocks that we have on the side of our house.
The only way to unblock it was to get my hand and arm down there and pull out as many rocks as I could reach from the bottom of the trap.
I quickly changed out of my pj shirt, put on a tankini singlet and grabbed a latex glove to prevent breaking off one my fake nails. I honestly didn’t care about the look, but I did care about the pain. I don’t know how many times I’ve nearly ripped one of the nails off my fingers. I was taking no chances with the rocks!
I then reached down as far as I could go to scoop up the rocks from the ORG. There were a fair few of them and the brown water reached up to just below my shoulder. It stank and had sediment which was a little gross but not as gross as some jobs I’ve been on.
I got as many rocks as I could and was able to unblock the ORG. There were still some I wasn’t able to reach though.
What is an Overflow Relief Gully? (ORG)
I’ve written about ORG’s on the blog before but not a lot of people know about them and so I thought I’d share a bit more information on them.
All properties in Australia require an Overflow Relief Gully (ORG). It’s simply a grated drain that acts like a relief valve, located outside (usually outside the laundry or kitchen) that prevents a blocked sewer emptying its contents into your home. An ORG has a grate that pops out and allows the sewerage to overflow freely outside if you have a blockage in your plumbing.
Usually the ORG is at least 100mm (although Queensland Urban Utilities state 75mm) lower than the lowest waste outlet in your home (eg. basin, shower or toilet) and at least 150mm above the surrounding ground to prevent storm water flowing into it.
It’s really important to inspect your ORG every so often to make sure that it’s not full of water (which means a blockage) and that it hasn’t been covered up. Downpipes and storm water should not be connected into the ORG as it can back up the sewer system which is not designed to carry storm water.
Houses built pre-1976 won’t have an ORG, but if it’s been renovated or you’re looking to renovate the house, the plumbing council won’t approve plans unless the plumbing has been brought to code and an ORG is installed. To be honest, I wouldn’t live in a house without one. No house is ever immune to a plumbing blockage so to not have an ORG on your property means you could find yourself with a nasty mess to fix up and an insurance claim. It’s a stinky debacle you really want to avoid.
In my situation, I have to tell my girls NOT to fill our ORG with rocks. I think Maggie got the message last Saturday when she saw the colour of my arm and wrinkled her nose asking why I smelt.
Miss Maggie, I smelt because of you!
One thing to do after reading this post is locate your ORG and check that the grate is installed properly and that there isn’t a high water level. If the ORG is full of water, you may find you have a blockage down the line or it’s been filled with foreign matter that shouldn’t be there.
If the fixtures in your house don’t drain properly, a quick inspection of your ORG will tell you if the blockage is on the main sewer line or just the pipework from that particular fixture. If the ORG is clear, this indicates the blockage is in the pipework to the fixture itself.
I recently had to get Salmon Plumbing out to use a scoop tool to remove the remaining rocks I wasn’t able to retrieve. A blocked ORG is not going to be an issue anymore.
Do you know where your ORG is located on your property? Ever had a blocked ORG?
I turned my work-at-home desk into a gingerbread house and I CAN NOT wait to work there tonight for my first shift of the week.
As you know, I have a part-time job working from home as a customer service rep. The other half of my time, I write for my blog or for other websites for their blog content or social media management.
I work full time hours, but around my kids at home. Although this is the last year I have one child at home. Everyone is in school next year. I’m looking forward to only having one drop off. Praise BE!
Anyway, one of the benefits of working from home is you don’t have to travel into an office to work. But you do miss out on some of the antics in the office, like the interior decorating for holiday events and Christmas.
Back in October, work set out a competition to decorate your work-at-home desk for Halloween. Now we don’t generally celebrate Halloween in our house and you can read my stance in this post.
BUT, I am all about community and I’m all for giving to others and being a light. We personally stand out on the driveway at Halloween to give lollies to all who pass our house. It’s a great way to catch up with those in the neighbourhood.
Anyway, I decided I’d take part in the Halloween competition at work. I didn’t go down the track of death, but more the scary animal stuff like spiders and bats. I also ensured there were treats which means I haven’t been on a diet since October. That bucket of lollies went down a treat, literally.
I didn’t win. But it didn’t matter because taking part and being creative was right up my alley. It’s also important to show that even if you work from home, you don’t have to miss out on having fun with season events.
Now that it’s December, the competition is on again for the best decorated desk. In the lead up, I have been asking friends and business owners for all their boxes to make the gingerbread house around my desk.
Unfortunately, they weren’t big enough, so an appliance store near Jacob’s work allowed us to raid their bin for any boxes to use for our project.
Jacob came back with a massive square box which was PERFECT for the roof.
I got the girls involved by colouring in the lollies and making the paper chain. All the decorations were made by hand and stuck on by tape. The icing on the roof was made from the border of paper plates. The inner round sections were coloured into candy.
There was little rubbish as we tried to reuse whatever was cut out. I also had old decorations from Esther’s Frozen party, which were added to the inner part of the roof.
I also reused the webbing from Halloween, to make snow on the top of the roof and gutters. The only thing I bought was the Christmas Tree Lollipops, which were part of another blog post and wire string lights from Woolworths.
It’s not perfect, but I’m happy with the result. I work in our bedroom, so it’s quite the Christmas spectacle in our bedroom corner.
I’m working all through Christmas this year, but at least I will have a cool desk to work from.
Do you decorate your office for Christmas? Ever turned your desk into a gingerbread house?
I tackle my own Christmas shopping with buying something fun and something practical. The challenge is keeping within budget.
Any type of sales can certainly help, and I have no doubt if you missed the Black Friday sales, there will be more sales leading up to Christmas.
With that said, here are some ideas to consider for your family and friends if you need some inspiration.
Vouchers
No matter what anyone says, I think vouchers are ideal for anyone who is difficult to buy for. It saves time finding the perfect gift and prevents false emotion from the recipient if the present is off the mark.
If you have the Suncorp App with Suncorp Benefits or RACQ membership, you can get discounted vouchers. They can be physical gift cards or digital vouchers which you can print and place in a Christmas card. No one needs to know you didn’t pay the full amount loaded onto the card.
Another voucher idea I’ve seen in my Facebook feed is personalising a Bunnings Gift card with a family photo. It costs $1 to upload the photo and a couple of dollars extra for postage.
Board Games
Some of my favourite get-togethers with friends have involved a board game. There are some very clever adult only games which will have you laugh and also question how people see you. Stores like Kmart, Target and Big W are great to peruse, but Sanity also offers a great range of board games. You can personalise the gift by choosing a board game themed around a favourite TV show or movie.
Puzzles are a great way to get the family together. There are some stunning puzzle images which can be framed as a work of art. Here are some to consider:
More and more of us are becoming aware of how our habits and behaviours affect the environment. Purchasing an eco friendly gift can help the recipient make wise choices too. Napkin sets, straw sets and reusable smoothie cups are great gifts that can be used everyday. It will save one less item going to landfill.
I love a practical gift if it’s going to help me in some way. A lunchbag, bottle bag or a tray organiser are budget friendly gifts for those of us who like something practical. A picnic rug can encourage getting outdoors more.
A homemade gift is always well appreciated. It can also come under budget too. I will be giving away a few DIY gifts this year. I’ve made tassel earrings and Christmas decorations for teachers this year.
Adding a feature bath in your bedroom is reliant on your personal tastes and how the design works in with your lifestyle.
I rarely use the bath… although I do love the luxury of having one available in the main bathroom. So for me, having one in the bedroom is not something I’d consider for myself. But for others, it speaks luxury, convenience and offers a point of difference in the master bedroom.
Having a bath in the bedroom is often more common in hotels or boutique resorts. It was quite the up and coming bathroom trend in 2017.
It may feel luxurious to have a bath in the bedroom, but for others the look can feel overdone or dated. Sometimes, it can also look out of place.
If you’re keen, yet undecisive on whether to have a bath in the bedroom, read these considerations.
Ensure you have the right plumbing installation
Your plumber will ensure the installation meets the Australian standards and any local laws which will govern how the bath must be installed.
A bath needs a water seal to prevent the sewer gases from coming through the waste opening so it’s important the waste pipe underneath the bath is connected correctly to prevent sewer gases from emerging through the grated opening. No one wants to have that smell in their bedroom.
Most bath wastes are installed to a floor waste (grated drain in the bathroom).
If you choose NOT to have a floor waste in the bedroom, the bath waste must be installed to a Disconnector Gully or Overflow Relieve Gully where there is a trap seal of water and easy access to the waste pipe should it ever get blocked. While your plumber will know these plumbing by-laws, it’s important for a designer and home owner to understand these laws as it will affect the placement of the feature bath in the bedroom. You may want it in a particular corner, however your plumber may advise a different position to ensure the installation meets code.
A new build will allow for the new waste pipes to be installed accordingly, but a renovation may require some investigation work on the existing location of the sewer.
It is recommended a floor waste should be installed if a bath is placed in a bedroom. It acts as a safeguard for overflows and also allows for easy access for cleaning and maintenance when the bath drain blocks up.
And yes bath drains do block up from time to time with soap and hair.
Unfortunately, you can’t hook a bath waste to a floor waste in an adjacent room. It’s against the plumbing standards.
Of course, having a floor waste in the bedroom may not look ideal either.
Talk with your plumber and builder to get the installation correct the first time.
Consider how often you’ll use the bath in the bedroom
Consider if you will use the bath in the bedroom. Like spas, people can spend money on installing something they won’t use. There is no point wasting money, time and effort to create a look that won’t be beneficial to you.
Rather than having a separate bath in the bedroom, why not integrate an open ensuite to the bedroom but have the bath closest to the entry point? Again, it’s personal preference for some to close off the ensuite with a door. But not everyone has the same tastes. Integrating your ensuite can give you the best of both worlds as the plumbing won’t look strange and the zones can be designed accordingly.
Will you be able to handle bath odours in the bedroom?
After some time, a drain smell can become prevalent from the bath drain and it’s caused by a mix of soap, hair and matter that settles at the bottom of the drains. Most people will use drain cleaners or other fittings to remove or block the smell. But this is something worth mentioning if the drains aren’t maintained. Can you live with that smell in your bedroom? This could be the straw that breaks the camel’s back, so to speak.
Not everyone will gravitate towards the open bathroom look. Some people prefer their privacy and like an enclosed bathroom. It all comes down to what you feel happy to live with and what works with your lifestyle.
Would you add a feature bath in your bedroom? Yay or nay for this design?
