Five Tips for Reducing Clutter

It doesn’t take much time to go from a perfectly organized room to a cluttered, chaotic mess. Papers pile up on surfaces, coats and bags end up on furniture, shoe boxes and shopping bags get stuffed in the first place you can find. But if you’re proactive, you can avoid the common clutter traps. Here are five ideas for reducing clutter:

 1. Have a place for the things you bring into the house each day: Do what you can do create an easy place to put your outerwear, mail, keys, phone, and the other things you bring home each day. Coat racks, mail holders, and a catch-all basket give you an easy, consistent place to put your everyday items.

 2. Get a basket for once-worn clothes: There are some clothing items that may not need to be washed or put away immediately after one use, like sweaters or denim. These items often end up on the bedroom floor. Instead, put them in a specific basket for items that aren’t yet ready for the laundry room.

 3. Keep kitchen tools off the counter: It’s really easy to let items pile up on the kitchen counters, and all that clutter can be frustrating when it’s time to make a meal. To reduce clutter, use wall racks to keep cooking utensils off the counter.

 4. Designate a no-clutter zone: This one’s simple. Simply choose an important surface or space (like a coffee table), clear it of clutter, and focus on keeping that one area totally organized.

 5. Keep the dining room table set: Not only is a set table pleasant to the eye, but it also makes it nearly impossible for the table to gather clutter. Thanks to the plates and silverware, there’s no room for your junk mail.

Dunedin's Best of 2020

Dunedin, Florida is located on the Florida's Gulf Coast. It is home to stunning sandy beaches, the Dunedin Blue Jays, spring training for the Toronto Blue Jays, and numerous outstanding restaurants, shops, and locations. 

In the May/June 2020 issue of Tampa Bay Magazine, readers voted for their "best of" favorites. Over 25 businesses, restaurants, and locations throughout Dunedin appeared in this year's list providing additional reasons why if you haven't yet, a visit to Dunedin must be on your to do list, and with all that it has to offer, if you are considering a Florida move, Dunedin should definitely be on your list of possible home shopping locations. 

Best Art Center Dining - Palm Café, 1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin

Best Art Classes - Dunedin Fine Art Center, 1143 Michigan Blvd, Dunedin

Best Bagels - Dunedin Bagels and Deli, 716 Main St, Dunedin

Best Bakery - The Scone Age Bakery and Cafe, 332 Skinner Blvd, Dunedin

Best Boat Ride - Caladesi Island Ferry, leaves from the west end of Dunedin Causeway

Best Bookstore - Back in the Day Books, 355 Main St, Dunedin

Best Breakfast - Our Place, 1617 Main St, Dunedin

Best Cajun Food - Happy's Bayou Bites, 431 Skinner Blvd, Dunedin

Best Casual Seafood - Old Bay Cafe & Dunedin Fish Market, 51 Main St, Dunedin

Best Chinese Cuisine - Ha Long Bay, 2192 Main St, Dunedin

Best Cookies - Kookie Krums, 513 Main St, Dunedin

Best Dry Cleaners - Dunedin's Dry Cleaners, 304 Monroe St, Dunedin

Best Florida-Style Cuisine - Hog Island Fish Camp, 900 Broadway, Dunedin

Best Gastro Pub - Clear Sky Draught Haus, 680 Main St, Dunedin

Best Gourmet Pizza - Pan y Vino Brick Oven Pizza & Wine Bar, 369 Main St, Dunedin

Best Grouper Sandwich - Frenchy's Outpost Bar & Grill, 466 Causeway Blvd, Dunedin

Best History Museum - Dunedin History Museum, 349 Main St, Dunedin

Best Homestyle Italian Dining - Julian's Little Italy, 916-A Patricia Ave, Dunedin

Best Ice Cream - Strachan's Homemade Ice Cream, 310 Main St, Dunedin

Best Leather Repair - J&M Shoe Repair, 1107 Main St, Dunedin

Best Mexican Restaurant - Casa Tina, 365 Main St, Dunedin

Best Outdoor Dining - The Terrace Café at Bon Appétit, 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin

Best Restaurant on the Pinellas Trail - Cafe Alfresco, 344 Main St, Dunedin

Best Sandwiches - Marguerite's Cafe and Catering, 405 Plaza Dr, Dunedin

Best Waterfront Restaurant - Bon Appétit Restaurant, 148 Marina Plaza, Dunedin

Best Wedding Venue - Historic Andrews Memorial Chapel, 1899 San Mateo Drive, Dunedin

Best Wieners - Hot Dogs on Main, 505 Main St, Dunedin

As Tampa Bay Magazine's Best of 2020 shows, Dunedin offers a wide variety of locations that are loved by many throughout Tampa Bay. Come to Dunedin, fall in love! 

Make sure to pick up the May/June 2020 Issue of Tampa Bay Magazine to learn more about all the winners in Dunedin and see the complete list with all of the fabulous winners throughout the Tampa Bay area. 

Stay Motivated! It's a New Month, New Week, New Day

Happy June! As we stride into a new month, one thing that probably rings true for all of us is that 2020 has not been an easy year. The last couple months have been bumpy to say the least. There have been a lot of ups and downs, laughter and tears, persevering and thoughts of quitting. Each and every day whether I hit a breaking point or not, I strive to be grateful again and again for the big and the small. 

As I have said before, when I am feeling down and hopeless, I reach for one of my many books of quotes. Within a few simple sentences, I know I will find the motivation to pick myself back up and keep going. Things are tough right now, but don't stop being grateful, holding onto the things that motivate you to put one foot in front of the other, and never forget no matter how bad it seems there is always some good in the world worth fighting for. 

All you have to do is be yourself and live the story that no one else can live -- the story of your own unique life. Be proud. Be confident. And, most of all, be happy.

To learn, you have to listen. To improve, you have to try. - Thomas Jefferson

Don't think too much. You'll create a problem that wasn't even there in the first place.

The flower that blooms in adversity is the most rare and beautiful of all. - Disney's Mulan

Here's the secret, kids. None of us can vow to be perfect. In the end, all we can do is promise to love each other with everything we got. - How I Met Your Mother

A good life is when you smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are for what you have.

Take a chance. You never know what might happen.

Living with a broken heart is hard, but it can never doom you to be a broken person.

We must all make the choice between what is right and what is easy. - Albus Dumbledore

You haven't lost your ability to do good things with life, even if it never loses its ability to do bad things to you.

5 Negotiating Tactics That Can Kill a Sale

Negotiation is a subtle art in real estate, but skilled negotiators can usually find some common ground that satisfies all parties. On the other hand, using the wrong negotiation tactics can sink a deal pretty quickly. Here are some negotiation tactics buyers (and real estate professionals) should avoid:

Lowball offers: Going far below market value when you make an offer damages your credibility as a buyer and can be insulting to the seller. The seller has a range in mind that they’ll accept, and if you’re not even approaching the low end of that range, they won’t even consider the offer.

Incremental negotiations: Don’t continue to go back to the seller with small increases in your offer ($1,000 or less). The constant back-and-forth can grow tiresome and lead the seller to consider other opportunities.

“Take it or leave it”: Try not to draw a line in the sand with your initial offer. The seller can get defensive and consider other offers if you immediately show that you’re unwilling to budge. Even if it’s true, don’t make a show of it.

Nitpicking after inspection: Obviously if inspection reveals a major issue, it should be factored into the final sale price. But insisting on a lower price for every minor repair can put negotiations in a stalemate.

Asking for more, more, more: Some buyers will request that the sellers throw in add-ons like furniture or appliances that weren’t included in the listing. Try to avoid giving the seller a reason to build up resentment and think that you’re being greedy.

Meet Dunedin's Sister City - Stirling, Scotland

The city of Dunedin, Florida was named by two Scotsman, J.O. Douglas and James Somerville, and the name comes from Dùn Èideann, which is the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh. The city continues to maintain and embrace its Scottish roots with the Dunedin Highland Games, the City of Dunedin Pipe Band, and as sister city to Stirling, Scotland.

Last year, I spent my birthday in Stirling, Scotland. Located about an hour from Edinburgh, Stirling is rich with history, was voted the safest city in the United Kingdom in 2017, and is considered one of the most affordable cities to live in the UK. It's renowned as the Gateway to the Highlands, and a recommended stop along the way.

Major battles during the Wars of Scottish Independence took place at Stirling Bridge, and fans of the 1995 movie, Braveheart, will recall the Battle of Stirling Bridge as the "Hold" scene. Today visitors to Stirling can visit the National Wallace Monument, a tower sitting on the shoulder of Abbey Crag, a hilltop which overlooks Stirling.

Many travelers, like myself, venture to Stirling to tour Stirling Castle, one of the largest and most important castles in Scotland. Sitting atop Castle Hill, it is easily spotted when driving into the city.

Prior to exploring Stirling Castle, we walked a little into Old Town to see a little of the city and for a quick breakfast. A short walk through this area and you are quickly surrounded by centuries of history. It is hard not to wonder about the past story of every building you stroll past.

Once inside Stirling Castle, prepare to spend hours exploring every inch of the castle grounds. Even knowing it was one of the largest castles in the country, I was still amazed by the fact that every turn delivered more and more to explore.

As you walk around, you will find throughout that there are walls and hills you can climb atop to be treated to some breathtaking views of Stirling and the surrounding area... even on a cloudy day. Some of those hills can get a little steep and slippery when wet (and let's face it, it's Scotland so rain is almost a given), so I recommend wearing hiking boots or something similar with great traction. I happened to have my hiking boots on because we were planning to drive the hour to Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park, and I am so glad I did. One of my favorite experiences at Stirling Castle was standing in the middle of a large hill and being treated to 360 degrees of amazing sights.

Besides climbing hills and staircases to the top of walls, be prepared for descending steps and crawling through some smaller spaces during your exploration of the castle. If you are like me and want to see every corner of a castle, make sure to follow every path and turn, and you are certain to discover some intriguing and often quiet area that others missed. Additionally, there were at least eight sieges of Stirling Castle, and damage from these can still be spotted on walls.

Of course, you will also find yourself in the Royal Apartments, the Chapel Royal, and the Great Hall (make sure to have your royal moment sitting on the throne). Throughout these areas you will spot Scotland's national animal, the unicorn.

It was a memorable visit full of exploration and history to the sister city of my current home. If you ever find yourself in Scotland be sure to include Stirling Castle on your Must See List. You will not be disappointed.

It's Monday - Stay Motivated

We are weeks into quarantines and stay at home orders. The economy in several areas are starting to slowly reopen, and many of us are starting to safely venture out more returning to a new normal. Even as each day seems a bit better, the sun shines a little brighter, some of you may be feeling the same as me - struggling without your usual structure and adapting to changes. In that regards, as I have said before, sometimes a few motivational quotes will help change my mindset and keep me going. Start your Monday off on the right foot, with a few more of my favorite quotes.

Be in the business of being awesome.

Be the Leslie Knope of whatever you do.

Do what is right, not what is easy.

Expectation is the root of all heartache. - William Shakespeare

If someone doesn't want to play with you, it's okay. Go find someone who does and who appreciates what you offer. - Sandra Bullock

If you're not helping to make it right, stop complaining about it being wrong.

Life has a funny way of working out just when you start to believe it never will.

I believe that when you find love, you hold on to it and cherish it because there is nothing finer, and it may never come again. - Mr. Feeny, Boy Meets World

Take it all one day at a time and enjoy the journey. - Kristi Bartlett

You cannot life your life to please others. The choice must be yours. - Alice in Wonderland

Priority To Do List for Moving Day

Moving into a new home is an exciting time, and you’re probably daydreaming about decor and paint schemes and new furniture. But before you get into the fun stuff, there are some basics you should cover first.

Change the locks

Even if you’re promised that new locks have been installed in your home, you can never be too careful. It’s worth the money to have the peace of mind that comes with knowing that no one else has the keys to your home. Changing the locks can be a DIY project, or you can call in a locksmith for a little extra money.

Steam clean the carpets

It’s good to get a fresh start with your floors before you start decorating. The previous owners may have had pets, young children, or just some plain old clumsiness. Take the time to steam clean the carpets so that your floors are free of stains and allergens. It’s pretty easy and affordable to rent a steam cleaner—your local grocery store or hardware store may have them available.

Call an exterminator

Prior to move-in, you probably haven’t spent enough time in the house to get a view of any pests that may be lurking. Call an exterminator to take care of any mice, insects, and other critters that may be hiding in your home.

Clean out the kitchen

If the previous occupants wanted to skip on some of their cleaning duties when they moved out, the kitchen is where they probably cut corners. Wipe down the inside of cabinets, clean out the refrigerator, clean the oven, and clean in the nooks and crannies underneath the appliances.