When you move into a new home there’s nothing more exciting than making it your own! You want to add all of your own personal touches and decorate in a style that reflects your personality! Here are five ways you can get the look you want without breaking the bank!

<strong>1. Update old furniture </strong>- Rather than buying all brand new furniture, consider updating old pieces. You can re-stain wood to gain a new look or reupholster chairs/cushions with fun, new fabric.

<strong>2. Make your own window treatments</strong> – Good with a sewing machine? Pick out a fabric that fits your personality and decor and make your own window valances or curtains. You will save a lot of money if you aren’t ordering custom pieces from a store.

<strong>3. Make spray paint your new best friend</strong> – Head to a yard sale or to your local goodwill and pick up pieces like frames, lamps etc and update them by giving them a fresh coat of paint! Many brands make spray paints that are gold/silver and give the look of an expensive finish.

<strong>4. Use natural pieces for centerpiece decor</strong> – Fill a vase in your kitchen with fresh lemons or add real pine cones to a bowl in your living room in the fall. Using natural items look beautiful and save you a lot!

<strong>5. Stay away from expensive department stores</strong> – When buying your accent pieces, try visiting stores like Home Goods, Ikea or Michaels Craft Store. They offer unique pieces that give your home the look you want at a fraction of the cost of other stores.

Sometimes we can get busy and forget about a utility bill or misplace our cable bill.
Follow these steps to sort out your bill paying system and you’ll feel much more organized!

<strong>1.Keep bills together in one area-</strong> Whether its a plastic tray on your desk or a basket on your kitchen counter, always place the bills you receive in one place. Receive e-bills for some of your utilities? Print them out and put them in your designated place too so you don’t forget about them!

<strong>2. Make a calendar-</strong> Use a small pocket calendar to mark the dates that your bills are due along with the amounts. Seeing this visually will help you keep track of your finances for the month.

<strong>3. Designate 2-4 days per month to pay bills-</strong> If most of your bills are due at the beginning of the month, you can probably get away will only paying bills once but most of us have them spaced out. Pick the days that you will sit down and write out your checks and put stamps on your bills to ensure they get out on time.

<strong>4. Record your paid bills immediately-</strong> As soon as you pay each bill, immediately record the payment in your check book (or spreadsheet). Don’t wait until later because if you do, there’s a good chance you will forget.

<strong>5. Prepare envelopes for reoccurring bills that you mail-</strong> If you pay a certain bill by check each month, write out 12 envelopes with the proper mailing address and put stamps on them all at once. Now you have a year’s worth of envelopes prepared and you don’t have to worry about being late with payment if you run out of stamps.

Every year over 5,500 cyclists gather from all over the country for the annual <a href=”http://www.pmc.org/”>Pan-Mass Challenge</a> (PMC) bike-a-thon. The PMC has raised over $414 million for adult and pediatric cancer care and research since 1980. 100 percent of the funds raised by riders is donated directly to the cause and amounts to over 50 percent of the Jimmy Fund’s annual revenue.

This year’s PMC was held this past weekend, August 2nd and 3rd. Princeton Properties’ President, Terry Flahive, is a veteran rider and this year marked his sixth PMC. Terry rode the two-day route, which covers 192 miles and runs through 46 towns across Massachusetts. The cold, wet and slippery road conditions on Saturday made this year one of the most challenging PMC rides in history.

“<em>This year, even more than the last five that I have ridden, seemed more important, meaningful, and unforgettable”</em> Terry said. <em>“I was really chilled and my hands had stopped working. I couldn’t use my fingers to shift gears and I had to get someone help me finally take off my helmet strap!” </em>

As if to put the whole ride into perspective, a cyclist passed Terry and said,<strong><em> “Tough day today, but better than a day of chemo.”</em></strong> Like Terry, thousands of riders, were committed to riding as long as it took, knowing that their efforts were helping to make a difference.

Every year Terry rides for a ‘pedal partner’ – a child currently receiving treatment at the Dana Farber Cancer Institute. This year Terry is riding for Jack, a two year old who is fighting for his life (pictured above with his parents and older sister). They cheered Terry on along the route and provided support early Sunday morning. <em>

“Every time I looked at Jack, all I could think of was how lucky I am to have three healthy grand kids and how hard it would be to have one as sick as Jack”</em> Terry said. <em>”Then, there were so many survivors and doctors and nurses out there with me, riding with all their strength to provide more money for more research. We know that with every little break through, someone is living a better life.”</em>

Cyclists put their physical, mental and emotional energy to the test, using their combined strength to bring researchers closer to finding cures for various types of cancer. The 2014 PMC has currently raised just under $30 million of their $40 million goal.

We’ve all heard the trick about adding multiple mirrors to a space to make it appear bigger but there are other steps you can take to give the illusion of more space!

<strong>1. Use light colors</strong> – Decorating in dark colors makes a room look and feel smaller. By keeping the walls white or a light neutral shade it will appear larger.

<strong>2. Make room for natural light</strong> – Open the curtains and blinds and make way for natural light! This will brighten up your space and having the windows open makes any small room feel bigger.

<strong>3. Reduce your clutter</strong> – Make sure you aren’t over-doing it in the decorating department and only display minimal decor. Having too many knick knacks and pieces of furniture in a small room will make it feel closed off.

<strong>4. Rearrange the furniture</strong> – Don’t stick with your original layout! Every once in a while its a good idea to rearrange the furniture in a room to see if there’s a better way to set up. Maybe you’ve been missing out on lots of extra floor space and you didn’t even know it!

<strong>5. Buy multi-functional pieces</strong> – Instead of having a coffee table, an ottoman and an end table in your living room, maybe search for a piece of furniture that can take on all three roles. This will save you both money AND space in your home.

We’re already in August…can you believe it? It always seems like the summer flies by and we don’t get a chance to enjoy the warmth and everything this season brings. Before September hits, try checking these things off your list to get the most out of August!

<strong>1. Pick your own fruit!</strong> Many local farm stands offer pick your own options and now is the time to take advantage before cold weather hits! You can pick your own blueberries, raspberries and strawberries for a delicious, fresh fruit salad!

<strong>2. Put your toes in the ocean!</strong> If you haven’t had a chance to hit the beach yet this summer, now is the time to start planning! You don’t want the end of September to hit and you realized you never got to feel the salty water and sand on your feet!

<strong>3. Visit your local farmer’s market!</strong> Many towns have farmer’s markets weekly throughout the summer but they close up shop once the fall hits. Take advantage now and buy some fresh produce, plants and other goodies from your local vendors.

<strong>4. Relax by the pool!</strong> There’s nothing like putting your feet up and reading a good book while sitting by the pool. Make sure you get in all the pool time you can in the next several weeks before yours gets covered up.

<strong>5. Go to an outdoor concert!</strong> Concerts in the summer are always a great time! Whether you purchase tickets online for a famous act or attend a free show locally, get out there after work and listen to some music in the company of great friends!

We’re all guilty of letting our closet get out of control every once in a while. To save yourself from making a mess and drowning in clothes and shoes in your closet, keep reading for our closet organization tips!
<strong>1. Get rid of what you don’t wear!</strong> Rather than letting old items take up space, clean out your closet at the end of every season and make a pile of clothes/items that can be donated.

<strong>2. Use baskets and hooks!</strong> Baskets on the shelves in your closet can hold smaller items like hats, gloves and purses. Hooks can be used to hold items like belts and scarves to keep them out of the way.

<strong>3. Get a shoe organizer!</strong> If you are someone who has a lot of shoes, try investing in a shoe organizer that hangs over the door to your closet to free up all of the space on the floor.

<strong>4. Avoid piles!</strong> If you fold clothes and start piling them on the shelves in your closet you’ll quickly start losing space! Pretty soon your pile will grow and become the home for items you don’t know where to store.

<strong>5. Use vacuum-sealed bags for storage!</strong> If you are normally keeping your winter clothes in the back of your closet during summer, consider investing in vacuum storage bags! You can store all of your sweaters and coats in the bags and then shrink the bags down and store on the shelves or on the floor to make space.

When we come home at night we want to kick off our shoes and relax in a place that is warm and comfortable. Does your home currently feel cold and uninviting? Try out these ideas for making your home a bit more cozy.

1. Invest in a soft throw rug. If your home has hardwood or tile floor, try adding a rug in the sitting area to make the surface softer and more comfortable to walk on.

2. Buy comfortable throw pillows. Sure those pretty pillows covered in sequins look nice but are they practical? Add some soft, fluffy throw pillows to your couch to maximize comfort.

3. Add a blanket. Whether it’s on the back of the couch or you have a basket full of them, make sure there are soft blankets available whether you or a guest want to curl up.

4. Think about scents. What smell makes you most relaxed? Is it lavender or sandalwood? Maybe it’s the smell of fresh baking apple pie. Add some scents using plug-in air fresheners or oil warmers to give your home a signature smell.

4. Low lighting is key. Try adding 3-way bulbs to your living room lamps so you can dim the lighting when needed. Low-lit rooms are more relaxing and cozy than bright, fluorescent ones!

Sometimes our homes can get cluttered and the mess can give us added stress that we don’t need! When living in a smaller space like an apartment, it’s important to keep things well-organized so you don’t feel over-crowded. Here are 5 tips for staying clutter-free in your apartment.

<strong>1. Invest in a file cabinet and shredder</strong>- Have lots of bills, old insurance documents and junk mail laying around? Instead of letting a pile accumulate on the kitchen table, shred what you don’t need and file the important documents in a well-organized file cabinet!

<strong>2. Keep your sink dish-free</strong> – Sometimes dishes can get the best of us (especially after cooking a large meal) but to keep food odors away, spend five minutes after eating cleaning the dishes and filling up the dishwasher.

<strong>3. Have specified laundry days</strong> – Dirty laundry can really pile up making your bedroom feel smaller and smaller! Invest in a good size hamper to hide the dirty clothes and schedule designated days to get the laundry done. When the laundry is finished drying, fold it and put it away before it sits around and becomes wrinkled.

<strong>4. Make use of the space under your bed</strong> – Our beds take up a lot of room in our bedrooms. If your bed frame allows, start using that space for storage! Purchase air-tight plastic bags to store winter clothes during the summer or full a large plastic container with your blankets and shoes. Don’t waste the space just because you can’t see it!

<strong>5. Purchase baskets or bins for closet storage</strong> – Rather than throwing all of your toiletries and towels on shelves, try organizing your items by putting them in baskets! Hats and gloves can go in a basket in your coat closet and purses and accessories can go in baskets in your bedroom closet. Having designated spaces for items makes your home look and feel more organized.

By now the kids are all out of school and summer vacation is in full swing! Some days it’s too hot to play outside and some days the rain interrupts our plans. Here are ten ideas for activities you and the kids can try to stay entertained until school starts up again!
1. Visit your local library! A lot of libraries offer summer activities for children like story time or sing alongs. Take the kids and register them for a library card if you haven’t already. While there they can rent a few books to read over vacation!

2. Play mini golf! Mini golf is a fun activity for both kids and adults. Many establishments offer other fun activities like ice cream, bumper boats and live music too.

3. Visit a zoo! Whether it’s a small petting zoo or a large zoo full of wildlife, the kids will be sure to enjoy seeing animals in their natural habitats.

4. See a matinee! On a day when the weather isn’t cooperating, take the kids to see a movie during the day. Lots of local theaters serve a variety of lunch foods too so you can have lunch AND a show all in one!

5. Check out an indoor or outdoor playground! Depending on the weather there are both options! Maybe even call some friends and have their kids meet you so a group of you can all play together.

6. Plan a day at an amusement park! What kids don’t love rides, arcade games and delicious food? An amusement park has a little something for everyone in the family to enjoy.

7. Enjoy a pool day! Whether you live in one of our apartment communities that has a pool or your town has a local one, sitting poolside is always a fun summer time activity.

8. Create some art! Whether you do this at home or head to a local paint shop or pottery making class, the kids will enjoy unleashing their inner artist during their time away from school.

9. Visit a museum! Keep their minds moving over summer vacation by taking the kids to a local museum. Lowell has lots of textile museums and there are children’s museums in Boston and Acton, MA!

10. Check out the aquarium! Sharks, fish, turtles and penguins! There’s plenty to see at your local aquarium. Some places even have shows you can attend once you get there so you can see penguins getting trained and fish being fed!

Hurricane Arthur may be on his way but that isn’t going to stop us from celebrating the 4th of July up here in New England! Whether you are celebrating on the 4th or the weekend after, there will be plenty of cookouts and parties to attend! Want to bring a festive dessert with you? Check out these 5 Patriotic recipes!

<strong>1. July Fourth Flag Cake</strong> (<a href=”http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/flag-cake-recipe.html”>recipe here</a>)

<img src=”{filedir_2}flagcake.jpg” alt=”” height=”225″ width=”300″ />
2. <strong>Red White and Blue Trifle</strong> (<a href=”http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/red-white-and-blueberry-trifle-recipe.html”>recipe here</a>)

<img src=”{filedir_2}trifle.jpg” alt=”” height=”263″ width=”350″ />
3. <strong>Rice Krispie Treat Cheesecake bars</strong> (<a href=”http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchens/crispy-treat-cheesecake-bars.html”>recipe here</a>)

<img src=”{filedir_2}bars.jpg” alt=”” height=”263″ width=”350″ />
4. <strong>Blue Velvet Cupcakes</strong> (<a href=”http://traceysculinaryadventures.com/2013/07/blue-velvet-cupcakes-with-easy-vanilla-buttercream.html#.Udq29z7F3nI”>recipe here</a>)

<img src=”{filedir_2}bluevelvet.jpg” alt=”” height=”365″ width=”300″ />
5. <strong>Patriotic Whoopie Pies</strong> (<a href=”http://www.bakingbeauty.net/red-white-blue-whoopie-pie-recipe/”>recipe here</a>)

<img src=”{filedir_2}Patriotic-Whoopie-Pies-1-682×1024.jpg” alt=”” height=”525″ width=”350″ />