You and Your Home

Computer Tips

2008-04-25T12:56:00.013-04:00

Are you looking for simple solutions to your computer problems? Frustrated trying to keep up with technology – wireless vs. wired, laptop vs. desktop, Microsoft Windows Vista vs. XP, not to mention spam, viruses and security?

Only the pros have all the answers. That’s why I’m bringing in computer guru Alan Leff to my showroom on May 17 for any questions you might have. Please stop by between 10 a.m. and noon for free computer advice.

Among his recommendations:

Use Windows Vista for new equipment only. There’s no need to upgrade.

Buy quality computer equipment from well-known manufacturers like Dell or Toshiba. You’ll pay the price in the long run if you purchase inferior products.

For more on:

home computers
DSL
cable
FIOS and other technology issues, here are the details of Alan’s FREE seminar:

“Home Computer Tips, Choices and Traps,” 10 a.m. to noon. Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in any time.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ). Map.

Visit our calendar for other dynamic speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. Any questions, comments or tips? To leave a message, click on the “Comments” link directly below.

Ladies Day Out – Mother’s Day Special Treat

2008-04-09T11:59:00.007-04:00

Are you looking for a Mother’s Day special “treat”? How about a boutique trunk show for a unique item that makes you feel pampered when the big day arrives? Or maybe you need an unusual gift for another woman in your life…

Wrap yourself in luxury when Pat Dallessio of La Femme Elegante displays one-of-a-kind wares the day before Mother’s Day at my central New Jersey showroom. Shop to your heart’s content for a signature piece – without the big store crowds.

There’s something for everyone in a variety of price ranges. Feast your eyes:

Designer Handbags -- Many Vintage Inspired, Including Glenda Gies!!! and other Original Designers.

Jewelry -- Fashion and Semi-Precious, Classic and Vintage-Inspired

Bonjour Fleurette Slippers and Flip Flops with Flowers -- Featured on Oprah!

Cosmetic Bags, Lipstick Holders, Compact Mirrors

From master crochet artist Shari White, whose hand-dyed yarns, mohairs and metallic pieces are to die for (featured in magazines and sold to pattern companies, including Coats & Clark.):

Hand Crocheted Scarves, Wraps, Shawls, Afghans, Baby Blankets and Sets (many one-of-a-kind and limited editions!)

Shopping Extravaganza details:

(Bring your friends for a ladies’ day out – come early for a great selection)

Saturday, May 10 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ). 908-901-9916.

You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. Click here for a list of our Saturday Seminars. For comments, questions, click on "Comments" directly below.

Reward Yourself the Volunteer Way

2008-04-09T11:36:00.006-04:00

Ever thought about sharing your time or expertise with others? There are people, places – and even little birdies – that need your help.

That’s right. Volunteers are needed in central New Jersey to remove nests from bird boxes so mama birds can build new homes. That’s one of the more unusual volunteer jobs, but there are plenty of other fascinating ways to spend a little time in one of the most rewarding pursuits in the world – volunteering.

Children, senior citizens, animals, streams, old buildings and even our feathered friends all need your help. There are scads of opportunities requiring just an hour or two in the evenings or on weekends, once a month or maybe once a year. You can even make your own hours if you’re donating marketing, management or computer expertise to organizations that’ll welcome you with open arms.

On Saturday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to noon, Lisa Galonardo of United Way of Somerset County will fill you in on the gamut of volunteer opportunities, plus how to choose what’s right for you and ideas for family volunteering.

Blood drives, therapeutic horseback riding, fundraisers, literacy tutoring, river cleanups….the list is virtually endless.

Details:

Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in any time between 10 and noon.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Visit our calendar for other dynamic speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki
P.S. To leave a message, click on the “Comments” link directly below.

Digital Photography Q&A (With Free Photo)

2008-04-09T11:23:00.005-04:00

What’s the latest in digital photography? Are you up to speed? If you need help taking better pictures or have any good tips to share, you’re in luck…

On Saturday, April 26, from 10 a.m. to noon photographer Scott Janelli will be visiting my central New Jersey showroom to answer questions and demonstrate some really cool software that can put your head on a different body, or alter the backdrop so you’re transported to a completely different place.

Not only that, he’s also going to be taking “fun” portraits, and everyone who attends will go home with a free photo. Don’t miss this!

Details:

Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in any time between 10 and noon.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Visit the calendar for other dynamic speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. To leave a message, click on the “Comments” link directly below.

Money and Happiness – Can You Have Both?

2008-03-28T18:17:00.004-04:00

It’s hard to pick up a newspaper or turn on the TV without seeing another depressing story on mortgages, the stock market or a potential recession.

And guess what? If you surround yourself with negative thoughts about money, you can easily become part of a negative cycle. According to “money doctor” Karen Monroy, Ph.D., we each have a unique relationship to money, based on our thoughts, beliefs and emotions. You can either create prosperity or be a financial victim.

“Dr. Karen” will speak at my central Jersey showroom Saturday, April 19, on “Money and Happiness – Can you Have Both?”

Expand your money I.Q.

With a doctorate in psychology, a master’s degree in business and 20 years in real estate investing, Dr. Karen knows just about everything there is to know about money. And she loves to share her knowledge -- with practical suggestions to help almost anyone “expand their money I.Q.,” as she puts it.

Want to learn about good debt vs. bad debt, improving your credit score and creating lasting wealth? Got any questions about money? Come into my showroom and fire away. Dr. Karen is there to help.

Seminar details:

10 a.m. to noon, April 19. Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in. Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ). Directions.

Visit our calendar for other fascinating speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there! Jacki

P.S. For questions and comments, click on the “comments” button directly below.

Parenting Teenagers – Walking the Tightrope

2008-03-20T16:08:00.032-04:00

The teenage years can be the best of times – or the worst of times – and probably a little of both. How can you guide them through the journey without being overbearing?

It's a tightrope act, often without a net. A few tips from Eric Harris, executive director of Family and Community Services of Somerset County, and father of three boys:

Pick and choose your battles. Avoid power struggles and don’t get baited into an argument.
Provide supervision, guidance and advice without excessive lecturing. Even if teenagers seem uninterested, they hear what you’re saying. Don’t give up -- your involvement is critical.
Let your teenagers know that you love them, even if they act like they don't love you.
Help them learn from their mistakes. Don’t rescue them. It’s important to let them resolve their problems and determine their own futures.

On Saturday, April 12, from 10 a.m. to noon,Eric will be at my central New Jersey showroom dispensing wisdom – and sharing some hard won battle scars. As a social worker, he has helped many parents survive the teenage years.

Do you have any questions or advice? If so, click on the “Comments” link directly below my name. I’d love to hear from you.

Seminar details:

10-10:45, Eric’s talk, followed by questions and private consultations until noon. Reservations suggested 908.901.9916, but feel free to drop in.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Hope to see you there!

Jacki
P.S. To post a comment, see directly below.

Pilates, Yoga and Zumba….De-stress and refresh!

2008-03-14T16:17:00.007-04:00

Have you heard about Cardiolates®? Neither had I until I ran across Jennifer Popper, who owns Studio Fitness in Warren, NJ. Cardiolates is a unique form of exercise that combines a mini-trampoline) with Pilates for cardio fitness, core strengthening and aligning.

Jennifer is a refugee from the New York publishing scene whose Pilates/yoga studio also offers sculpting, belly dancing, tai chi and Zumba®. (Zumba is a fusion of Latin and international music with a dynamic, exciting workout.)

Come see for yourself when Jennifer visits my central New Jersey showroom Saturday, April 5 from 10 a.m. to noon to speak about “Pilates/Yoga – Love at First Stretch.” Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to MOVE!

Do you have any fitness tips or advice? Favorite forms of exercise? What do you do to unwind? Go to the comments link below to leave a message. I’d love to hear from you.

Seminar details:

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in. Visit http://www.sophisticatedstorage.com/sat_seminars.html for other fascinating speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. To leave a message, click on the “comments” link directly below.

Scrapbooking 101 – It’s a Wonderful Life

2008-03-05T17:08:00.003-05:00

Are your drawers overflowing with pictures of family and friends, vacations, parties, weddings and graduations? Wouldn’t you love someone to swoop in and put your best shots into neat, gorgeous albums?

Where to begin? A couple of tips from master scrapbooker, Chrys Longman: Use top loading pages for quick changes…and don’t be a slave to chronology. Create a scrapbook page whenever the mood strikes. You can always change the order of the pages later.

On Saturday, March 29, Chrys will demonstrate some fabulous scrapbooking ideas and answer any questions about this wonderful hobby at my central New Jersey showroom.

Do you have any scrapbooking tips or advice? If so, please go to the comments link below and leave a message. I’d love to hear from you.

Seminar details:

10-10:30, Chrys’ talk. 10:30 to noon, questions and private consultations. Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in.

Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS navigation, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Visit http://www.sophisticatedstorage.com/sat_seminars.html for other fascinating speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet, pantry, home office, laundry room or garage makeover.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. To leave a message, click on the comments link directly below.

The Anti-Alzheimer’s Connection -- Piano

2008-02-28T15:55:00.009-05:00

Looking for a way to unwind while stimulating your brain -- and having a lot of fun in the process? Try playing the piano.

Piano isn’t just a relaxing musical pursuit, it’s also good for your health. Studies have shown that:

playing the piano activates both sides of the brain and improves spatial reasoning.

people who keep their brains active have a very low incidence of Alzheimer’s.

What do you think? Do you play the piano, and how has it helped your life? (Go to the “Comments” link directly below my name to post a response.)

On Saturday, March 15, long-time piano teacher Katherine Newcomer-Scarano will talk about “The Joys of Piano for Adults – Never Too Late to Realize Your Dreams” at my central New Jersey showroom. With more than 25 years in the field, Kathy is passionate about sharing her love of music with people of all ages.

Seminar details:

10-10:30, Kathy’s talk. 10:30 to noon. Questions and private consultations.

Reservations suggested (908.901.9916), or just drop in. Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Rd., Bridgewater (for GPS: 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook).

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

P.S. To leave a message, click on the “Comments” link directly below.

Green alert: Home cleaning products

2008-02-19T22:16:00.009-05:00

Alarming news! I recently found out that home cleaners, cosmetics and other household items may be harmful to the environment and my health. Everyday products such as bleach, toilet bowl, glass and oven cleaners are being linked to asthma, cancer and birth defects, among other things. Meanwhile, formaldehyde is in many cosmetics, toothpastes, antiperspirants and other products I use every day.

Better news! You can protect yourself and the environment (from the harmful toxins in our drains!) by learning which chemicals aren’t safe and then reading the labels on your cleaning products.

Great news! On Saturday, March 8, during a seminar at my New Jersey showroom, Donna Clark will be naming specific chemicals to watch out for. She’ll also talk about nontoxic ways to clean our homes, including Shaklee’s Clean Green Kit, recently featured on Oprah.

Help defend our planet. It all starts at home. Got any advice, comments or questions? Would love to hear from you.

Seminar details:
10-10:30, Donna’s talk. 10:30 to noon. Questions and private consultations.
Reservations recommended (908.901.9916), but feel free to drop in.
Sophisticated Storage Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ).

Visit www.sophisticatedstorage.com/sat_seminars.html for other fascinating speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series. You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet or other home organization project.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

10 Piece Wardrobe with Image Consultant Janet Cargill

2008-02-13T13:59:00.004-05:00

Want to look great all the time? You may think you need a huge wardrobe, but you don’t. Ten carefully chosen pieces are all you need to create more than 75 fantastic outfits, according to image consultant Janet Cargill, author of “Look Damn Good, At your Age, In your Body, On your Budget."

Start with high quality fashion classics in a complementary color scheme and you can look like a million dollars all the time. See for yourself on Saturday, March 1, between 10 a.m. and noon at my central New Jersey showroom and get a private fashion consultation with Janet during the free, new Saturday Seminar series. Click here for directions and other speakers in the series.

Can’t make it? Send fashion questions, problems and dilemmas and we’ll answer them here as well as at the seminar. Meanwhile, if you have any tips of your own, we’d love to hear from you.

Decluttering your Home Office

2008-02-13T13:17:00.004-05:00

Does your home office cry out for organization? Are you buried under in paperwork, mail, bills and whatever else magically winds up on your desk?

Here’s a great tip for overcoming one of the biggest causes of clutter – the mail – from personal organizer Adrienne L. Graf. Set up a “mail center” near your front door for handling every piece of mail. Toss the junk mail first, winnow out the bills and other high priority items and then create a system for dealing with the rest.

Do you have any tips for tackling home clutter? Questions?

Please share your ideas in this blog so everyone can benefit. Adrienne can also answer your questions during a seminar on Saturday, Feb. 23, at my showroom in central New Jersey. Drop in between 10 a.m. and noon to learn more about:

Creating a personalized system for handling clutter
Finding more time for yourself
Staying on top of calendars and schedules
Home and business records – what to keep and for how long
Managing schoolwork and kid’s art

You might even win a $100 gift certificate toward a custom closet or home organization project. Sophisticated Storage Solutions is located at 7W Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater, NJ (for GPS, use 60 Chimney Rock Rd., Bound Brook, NJ). Call 908-901-9916 or visit www.sophisticatedstorage.com/sat_seminars.html for other fascinating speakers in our “Saturday Seminars – You and Your Home” series.

Hope to see you there!

Jacki

"You and Your Home" New Saturday Seminars

2008-02-08T14:47:00.005-05:00

Great news! If you're looking to simplify your life and learn some exciting new ideas, I've got just the ticket ... my brand new Saturday morning seminars, starting Feb. 16.

It's all about better living and getting more fun out of life. Here's a sample:

Dig out from under your paperwork ... and reorganize your life.

Turn 10 articles of clothing into 75 smashing outfits.

A few more:

Home computing tips
Delicious 29 minute meals
Clean green (as seen on Oprah)
Housing for baby boomers

Here are the first four speakers:

Feb. 16 --
"Baby Boomer Housing - Tips and Trends." Downsizing, moving to a 55+ adult community or finding a more cosmopolitan setting. With Long-time realtor Kathy Mulvaney.

Feb. 23 --
"Decluttering Your Home Office." Personal organizer Adrienne L. Graf will cover how to simplify everyday living by creating a personalized system to keep track of mail, filing, home and business records, family schedules and children's artwork.

March 1--
"10 Piece Wardrobe and Book Signing" with Janet Cargill, author of "Look Damn Good, At your Age, In your Body, On your Budget." Learn how to turn 10 coordinated wardrobe pieces into a show-stopping 75 outfits. Janet is a highly sought after motivational speaker and image consultant.

March 8 --
"Clean Green and Save our Planet." Everyday cleaners are being linked to numerous health problems, including asthma, cancer and birth defects. Meanwhile, antibacterial soaps may be contributing to new strains of bacteria that are resistant to antibiotics. Healthier cleaning tips with Donna Clark.

Drop in between 10 a.m. and noon at our showroom, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater. (For GPS, use 60 Chimney Rock Road in Bound Brook.) Reservations are recommended. Call 908.901.9916.

Visit our calendar for more listings. Hope to see you there!

Have any ideas to share about any of the above topics -- or home organization in general? Would love to hear from you.

Jacki

Baby Boomer Housing Tips/Trends

2008-01-30T11:39:00.004-05:00

If you’re a baby boomer and your kids are leaving the nest, you may be considering a lot of options: a smaller home or condominium in a more cosmopolitan environment; a 55+ adult community with lots of social life or even a more rural spot where you garden and enjoy the great outdoors.

One of the most important things during this crucial life transition is to take stock of where you’d like to be in the next 10 to 15 years, and start looking at how different housing options fit into your ultimate life plans.

On Feb. 16 from 10 to noon, real estate expert Kathy Mulvaney will be coming to my New Jersey showroom to talk about:

Adult 55+ communities -- what to look for
How to stage a home when it’s time to sell
Getting top dollar in today’s housing market
Step-by-step stages of the moving process

Drop in between 10 a.m. and noon at Sophisticated Storages Solutions, 7W Chimney Rock Road, Bridgewater. (For GPS, use 60 Chimney Rock Road in Bound Brook.) Reservations are recommended. Call 908.901.9916 or write information@sophisticatedstorage.com to reserve your spot.

Visit our calendar for more listings.

Hope to see you there!

Can’t make it? Send questions to Kathy and we’ll answer them here and at the seminar. Meanwhile, have any tips/advice to share? Would love to hear from you.

Jacki