Articles tagged: Ask_Betty
home & garden: Worst Valentine's Day gifts: Don't do it!
Posted: Feb 13, 2013“You shouldn’t have. You really shouldn’t have.” Not exactly what you want to hear when he opens your Valentine’s Day gift… And yes, it is possible to give such a bad gift that giving nothing ... Read more »
home & garden: Sorting client's memorabilia is reminder that it's people who matter
Posted: Mar 28, 2012Fess up, now. Where do you keep all your important family photos and letters? In neatly designed scrapbooks and photo albums? Or are they in more modest trappings... say, maybe like shoe boxes? Don’t worry, ... Read more »
home & garden: Prepare your cat or dog for winter storms; create an emergency kit for pets
Posted: Feb 24, 2012Most Michiganders know how to prepare the family for a coming winter storm. But don't forget about your pets! Among the many things we do for clients, The Betty Brigade offers pet care. Here are ... Read more »
home & garden: Missed Valentine's Day? There's still plenty to celebrate in February, from spunky old broads to expecting success
Posted: Feb 16, 2012If Valentine’s Day blew by you in a blur of lace doilies and truffles, take heart. It's not too late to prepare for other festivities this month. Did you know that February is National Return ... Read more »
Home & Garden: What does it mean to be organized?
Posted: Jan 20, 2012January is National Get Organized Month, so the question is pertinent: What does it mean to be organized? Author A.A. Milne said, "Organizing is what you do before you do something, so that when you ... Read more »
home & garden: Organizing tips for people who hate step-by-step tips
Posted: Jan 11, 2012"I don’t know where to start. It’s overwhelming!" That’s what most clients say when consulting on an organizing project. It can be daunting, but it’s like any large undertaking. How do you eat an elephant? ... Read more »
home & garden: Christmas tree alternatives: Thinking outside the boxwood
Posted: Dec 22, 2011photo by Ovation PhotographyLots of folks are caught up in the annual debate over which is greener -- or at least less ungreen: a real Christmas tree or an artificial one? That’s what my last ... Read more »
home & garden: Which is greener - real or artificial Christmas trees? The debate goes on...
Posted: Dec 09, 2011courtesy sxc.hu It used to be pretty clear-cut: real evergreens were never green! Thinking we were being eco-friendly, we bought faux firs to avoid chopping down real trees. But the evidence seems to say chop ... Read more »
home & garden: Use the good dishes and set a lovely holiday table
Posted: Nov 23, 2011In my time at the Betty Brigade, I've been in many a home in which the kitchen cabinets house the chipped and cracked "everyday dishes," while the fine china sits in dusty boxes in the ... Read more »
home & garden: Being organized allows for more leisure and time with family
Posted: Nov 15, 2011Photo by Donald Adiska, Ovation Photography The lunch room buzz at the Betty Brigade grew day by day, as more Betties experienced the vision. “You’ll hear angels sing!” they promised. The legend grew, and one ... Read more »
home & garden: Remove or encapsulate torn asbestos pipe wrapping to prevent inhaling airborne fibers
Posted: Nov 06, 2011“Toxins for 400, please, Alex.” “It was once touted as a miracle substance, but has now proven deadly,” Trebec prompts. “What is arsenic?” BZZZ! Trebec should add that it’s a natural substance used as far ... Read more »
home & garden: Prepare your car for upcoming bad weather by checking it out and creating emergency kit
Posted: Oct 21, 2011Ready? What do you get from sitting on a glacier too long? Yes, I’m starting with a joke — to break the.... ummm... ice. My problem is that it’s not that funny, so I buried ... Read more »
home: Are you a hoarder or a collector? Here's how to tell the difference
Posted: Oct 11, 2011You name it, somebody collects it — from baseball cards, stamps and corks to staplers, naval fluff, even barf bags. Enough people collect overdone comestibles that there’s actually a burnt food museum. The Phallological Museum ... Read more »
Refusing unneeded items makes zero waste possible
Posted: Sep 22, 2011Library of CongressOkay pop quiz! What is green paper? a. a tentative government report of a proposal b. paper made of post consumer waste c. money Answer: none of the above. Truly green paper ... Read more »
home & garden: A few organizing techniques can tame school backpack chaos
Posted: Sep 13, 2011Pencils, books, teachers’ dirty looks... And paper, paper, PAPER! They're back to school! The school year begins with pressed uniforms, sharp pencils and empty notebooks. But remember looking in that backpack in mid-November... yikes! The ... Read more »
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