The Friday Post

I’m still fist-pumping the air in celebration of the upcoming launch of the Blake Hill House Podcast. In case you missed it, the big day is Wednesday, September 5. Now that the announcement is out in the world, I feel nervous. I hope everyone who listens to the podcast enjoys it as much as I enjoyed creating it.

This week, I rounded up a few interesting and useful bits and pieces to share. Just so everything is on the up-and-up, this post does contain affiliate links.
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30 Projects in 30 Days

Last September, I challenged bloggers and readers to try to finish thirty small projects during the month of September. The name of the challenge was 30 Projects in 30 Days, and it had its own hashtag (#30projectsin30days). This year, while I will still be working on projects for the challenge, I won’t be hosting a blog link-up. Feel free to post your progress in the comments all month, and use the hashtag on social media. I look forward to hearing about your accomplishments. It is a good feeling to get those nagging little tasks off of the to-do list.

Mail-order Paint?

Have you heard about a new company called Clare? It is a mail-order way of sampling and buying paint created by interior designer and entrepreneur, Nicole Gibbons. Fast Company wrote an article all about it titled, The Warby Parker way of ordering paint is here. Say Goodbye to the Hardware Store.

The large stick-on samples would solve the issue of trying to imagine how a tiny paint chip color will look in an entire room. I always struggle with that.

Photo Credit: Clare

What do you think? Would you use this service? On one hand, it’s convenient. On the other, there is the environmental impact and the price to consider. If you decide to give it a go, let me know what you think about the service and the paint quality. I am definitely intrigued, and I love the color choices.

Simplifying

This week, I went on a computer cleaning spree. First, I filled up the memory card on my camera which meant I had to dump everything onto my laptop. Then, the laptop got sluggish and messed up my podcast editing session. Things went downhill from there.

I had to take a quick trip to Target where I picked up a one terabyte backup drive. Finally, I was able to funnel all of those space-hogging photos through the laptop and onto the backup drive. Now, the computer is running like a dream again. It still amazes me that I can get one terabyte of storage in something that measures 2.5″ X 5″. I remember trying to buy an entire computer with enough megabytes to be useful.

Although the whole thing was a time-consuming pain, I should have been caring for my photos like this all along. Isn’t that the way it works? We never think we have time for tasks until we are forced to do them.

More Nova Scotia Dreams

This adorable fixer-upper caught my eye this week:

Photo Credit

It may not look like a lot from the outside, but take a peek at complete the real estate listing. Be warned that the video tour might give you vertigo. This house has so much potential, and it is listed on the register of Canada’s Historic Places.

Ever since our trip to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island in June, I keep daydreaming about owning a house in that part of Canada. The price is right and the location looks decent too. Now, I just have to convince Andy that we need a vacation house/rental in another country and a plane ride away. Wish me luck! (It’s not going to happen.)

A Book Recommendation

This book: Why We Sleep: Unlocking the Power of Sleep and Dreams by Matthew Walker, PhD is a fascinating look at the importance of sleep. We all know sleep is important, but the consequences of not getting enough can be devastating to our health.

I have been especially motivated to change my bad sleep habits after reading the current research on the effects of good sleep and the prevention of Alzheimer’s disease and dementia. This research is referenced in the book. My grandpa suffered from dementia, and it was hard on him and everyone who loved him. If I can avoid or postpone dementia for as long as possible, I will do whatever it takes.