Tomboy Tools Traveling Tool Box Hits the Road!

Tomboy Tools is hitting the road and we may be coming to a city near you!

We'll take our tool box packed with business opportunities, party ideas and themes, coaching and hosting best practices, hands-on product training, and so much more and hit the road for our first Traveling Tool Box Tour. 

We’re opening up our tool box beginning on February 9^th in Dallas, TX, then making our way to Austin on February 10^th, and finally tooling over to San Antonio on the 11^th for the last of the Texas tour. 

We will provide fun and interactive party training for Tomboy Tools Consultants and guests. 

Some key takeaways on our tour include:

·         Closing New Consultant Prospects with Confidence

·         Coaching Your Host at the $800 Party Level and Above

·         Tomboy Tools “Inspire & Desire Gathering” Party “LIVE” - Featuring Janet Rickstrew, CEO of Tomboy Tools with hands-on demonstrations

We hope to see you tooling around with us in one of these stops! 

Registration is required for each event. 

Dallas, TX

Date:                Thursday, February 9, 2012

Location:          Holiday Inn Express

                        6055 Lyndon B Johnson Freeway

                        Dallas, TX 75240

Time:               4:00-6:00pm

Cost:                $15

*Limited space available.  Register by Wednesday, February 8^th or until space is full.

Click here to register for Dallas, TX

Buda, TX (Austin Area)

Date:                Friday, February 10, 2012

Location:          Holiday Inn Express

                        15295 Ih-35

                        Buda, TX

Time:               4:00-6:00pm

Cost:                $15

*Limited space available.  Register by Thursday, February 9^th or until space is full.

Click here to register for Buda, TX (Austin area)

San Antonio, TX

Date:                Saturday, February 11, 2012

Location:          Holiday Inn Express San Antonio I-10 Northwest

                        4800 Woodstone Blvd.

                        San Antonio, TX 78230

Time:               9:30am-12:00pm

Cost:                $15

*Limited space available.  Register by Friday, February 10^th or until space is full.

Click here to register for San Antonio, TX

2012 Interior Paint Color Trends

New Year, New Hues

One thing is for certain, the economy is going “green” and this is no different in the trends for 2012 interior paint colors. Consumers want colors and products that are healthy for the environment. Society is definitely becoming more earth friendly and there is no exception when it comes to paint. The color may be green as well. But what people want to save is their green, that is, the dollars they want to keep in their pocket. We all want a nice looking home but budgets are constrained.

Therefore, consumers are looking for the best deals when it comes to the paint. They want it to work the best and cost the least. Paint companies are meeting the challenge of these needs and stepping up to the plate. Often you will hear the buzz words in their advertising.



How to Pick your Interior Paint & Colors? Here are some tips & ideas. It is quite easy and coming from experience of talking folks. Paint that is environmentally friendly and that can make the consumer feel relaxed and soothed as well as all of those who visit their home, are definitely “in” in 2012.

What type of effects that the paint has on the environment, is on the back of the consumer’s mind as they make their purchases. Knowing how to pick interior paint colors that are environmentally friendly can be as easy as just asking the sales associate.

Trendy interior paint colors are leaning towards the more relaxing and soothing shades. We are seeing paint colors from light, pale pink to yellow on one hand and then on the other, we are seeing more earth tones that help to reflect the “green” side that people are feeling.

Bringing the outdoors in with browns, tans, greens and so on is very popular in 2012 interior paint colors.

Other shades that are reflecting the souls of the consumers are black, white, and even grays. White adopts that clean and fresh feeling that everyone loves and if accented correctly, can make the room feel alive with color. Black and gray is reflecting other natural elements, as in stone and minerals. Again, the “green” feeling is shown here.

These colors may sound drab and dull but with the correct elements and within the right amounts, your home will seem like a masterpiece to all who visit. Remember, you do not have to paint an entire room with the same color. Interior painting trends are showing that by providing an accent wall with the dramatic hue and accenting the room with various elements can pull everything together and create an environment that anyone would be proud of. Black is a perfect example of a color that could be placed on an accent wall. Or how about various painting techniques that could “spice” things up, like faux techniques?

2012 is the year to definitely try something new as in terms of non-traditional shades. Picking Interior paint & color is about the right fit at the right time. It is also the year to become environmentally conscience and to learn about how paint affects the environment. You want to feel good about your home and relaxed while you are there and what better way to do it than going “green”?


Source:  KitchenKool.com

Perfect Paint Color Do's & Don'ts

Do: Go au natural.
Your son says he wants his room painted his favorite color: green. Tell that to the paint store assistant and he’ll give you a few shades to choose from—or rather, a few hundred. When in doubt, opt for colors that Mother Nature created. Natural colors call less attention to themselves and generally better compliment other elements of the décor — furnishings, artwork, etc.—than manufactured colors.

Don’t: Be afraid to go bold.
Choosing a natural color doesn’t have to mean choosing one that’s subdued. Rich, saturated colors can transform a room and create a dramatic backdrop for your décor. A room that gets ample sunlight and is decorated with light colored items won’t feel overly dark with bold paint.

Do: Pick your furnishings before your paint.
Choose a paint color that compliments your furniture, not the reverse. Is there a recurring color in your décor that the walls could compliment? Is there a hue in the fabric of your new chair that you’d like to bring out? Consider what’s going to be in the room before choosing what’s on the walls.

Don’t: Paint a room before furnishing it.
You can have paint mixed to match your new chair, but it’s much harder to have your chair upholstered to match your walls.

Do: Take advantage of the samples.
Start with the strips of color — bring home several, and tape them to the walls in various areas of the room and at times of day when the light changes and the colors may appear slightly different. When you’ve settled on a few options, ask for the sample size jars of paint that can be applied to the wall. Follow the same steps and consider them for a couple of days before deciding on your favorites.

Don’t: Assume that a color that looks great on someone else’s walls will work on yours.
Your friend’s bedroom may be the perfect shade of gray — for her house. But as much as you love how it looks on her walls, it may not look the same on yours. Some rooms receive more light than others, or are narrower or have higher ceilings. All of these factors and more can affect the way a single color of paint looks on different walls. Sample that divine gray before you find yourself living in a room that feels like an office cubicle.

Source: Parentables.com

Seal the Deal! How Simple Caulking Can Save Money and Energy

Caulking in your kitchen and bathroom is not a task to be overlooked. Caulking can keep water from seeping behind walls and into floors in the bathroom and kitchen. Any point of entry for moisture should be sealed, such as around sinks, between the tub and wall, and the area where the toilet meets the floor.

Any areas requiring outside sealing should be caulked inside as well for energy efficiency.

This includes woodwork around exterior doors, windows and receptacles such as dryer vents. A little effort goes a long way and can save you money!

Project Steps:

1.  Identify the area that you are caulking.

2.  Scrape away damaged and old caulk with a utility knife, mini scraper or 5-in-1 tool.

3.  Select a waterproof, flexible caulk because the joint will probably expand and contract with changing weather conditions. You will also need to take into account whether the caulk will adhere to aluminum or wood.

4.  Once you select the caulk, it is extremely important that you prepare the surface properly.

5,  Read the directions on the tube before beginning work because some caulks require that the surface be primed first. In addition, these directions will tell if you are dealing with toxic substances and should take safety precautions.

6.  Place your caulking tube into your caulking gun and identify the seam size before cutting the tip off your tube of caulk; cut tip at a 45 degree angle. A standard cartridge of caulk will give you approximately 25 feet of 1/4” bead.

7.  Caulk your seam with a steady and consistent movement. It gets easier with practice!

8.  Dip your finger in water then drag it along the bead of caulk on your surface for a sealed and finished look.

9.  When finished, plug the hole in the caulking tube with a large nail.

For more information, refer to page 99-100 in The Tomboy Tools Guide to Home Improvement.

Start 2012 with a Clutter-Free Living Space

Tired of stacks and heaps and piles and clutter? Does it feel overwhelming just to think about organizing your home? Here are a few quick tips that can help you get started organizing and feel great about it quickly. Organizing your home can take time and effort, but with simple tips from Tomboy Tools, your living space can become a clutter-free environment.

Organizational Tips:

1. Choose one drawer, one closet, one cupboard or cabinet in one room. Plan and schedule ahead for the next project areas.

2. Ask for help. Feel free to invite a friend or family member to help you, but not if they will distract you from your plans. Plan ahead to make sure this time will be undisturbed and without distractions.

3. Whatever is cluttering up the space you choose may not be what you even want there. Decide what this space is to really be used for before digging in.

4. Donate any old clothes, shoes, bags, toys, electronics, etc. that you haven’t worn or used in the last 18 months. You can donate to your local shelter, Goodwill or Salvation Army. Dress for Success will also let you know where you can contribute business wear to aspiring career women in need.

5. Go through your junk drawer and throw away anything that you no longer need. Anything that you still need, organize a little bit and use a little creativity in your organization. For example, if you have an empty checkbook box, use it to store pens, rubber bands, paper clips or batteries that you don’t want thrown away.

6. Prep boxes and containers and label them appropriately for the items that go in them.

7. Go through just one pile at a time. It’s motivating to see big empty spaces in a closet, or the surface of your desktop again. Make a decision about its place in your life.

8. If you’re reorganizing a drawer, dump it out on a cleared surface and pick it apart. If it’s a drawer of clothing, dump it all out on the bed and then pick and choose from there.

9. When finished, make sure to redistribute all of the designated boxes, containers and bags to where they need to go. Don’t leave prep tools sitting around and reschedule to finish as soon as possible if necessary.

10. Ninety percent of life is maintenance! Take 10-20 minutes daily to declutter your home, work station or desk.

6 Worst Home Fixes for the Money

It's the magic phrase uttered by almost anyone who's ever considered the cost of home remodeling: "We'll get it back when we sell."

Unless you keep those projects practical, though, you might just be kidding yourself.

For example:
• Steel front door: Good.
• Master suite addition costing more than the average American home: Bad.

Every year, Remodeling magazine looks at the hottest home upgrades and renovations and calculates just how much owners get back with they sell.

Upkeep is more popular than upgrades these days, says Sal Alfano, editorial director for Remodeling. These are the projects that often recoup the biggest slice of expenses at resale.

But prices and returns do vary regionally, he says.

Ever wonder what brings the lowest return when you plant that "for sale" sign? Think high-dollar, high-end and highly personalized add-ons that make you drool. Like a totally tricked-out garage built from the ground up. Or a super luxe master suite addition. Or the home office redo designed just for you.

Here are the six improvements that rank dead last nationally when it comes to getting those renovation dollars back at resale.

Home Office Remodel

Want to get an idea what today's office-away-from-the-office looks like? Walk into Starbucks.

These days, a home office consists of a multiple-choice combination of wireless laptops, smartphones, PDAs and touch-screen tablets. And that worker bee might be toiling anywhere from a home patio or a favorite restaurant to a park bench.

The standard home office renovation, meanwhile — complete with plenty of built-in storage and high-tech wiring — is this year's biggest loser in the resale value sweepstakes. Nationally, homeowners spent an average of $28,888 and can expect to recoup about 45.8 percent at resale, according to the report.

Return on investment doesn't reflect your enjoyment of the space, Alfano says.

He offers two tips for home-office remodelers when they sell. First, opt for something that can be easily converted back into a bedroom or den for (or by) the next buyer.

Second, when you're selling, call it a study, den or hobby room. "There's lots of call for multipurpose space. Don't lock yourself into that one use," Alfano says. Don't use words that invoke images of actual work. Or the office.

Backup Power Generator

You see a backup generator and imagine all of the comforts no matter what the weather.

But potential buyers hailing from outside your local area may not share that vision. (And a handful of those who do might have watched too many zombie movies.)

On average, when homeowners have a heavy-duty backup power generator installed, they spend about $14,718, according to the report. Going with a slightly less expensive model or having a less complicated installation could cut the costs significantly, Alfano says.

Average amount of the price recovered at resale time: 48.5 percent.

Sunroom Addition

Real estate agents will tell you that potential buyers want square footage, pristine condition and lots of light.

So a brand-new room that has the word "sun" in it, it has to be great for resale value, right?

Not necessarily.

Your first clue: The word "addition" — which means expanding the footprint of your home — indicates that this is not a renovation for the faint of heart (or wallet). "It's one of the more expensive projects," Alfano says.

While it seems simple enough, the national average for a sunroom addition is $75,224, according to the report. Homeowners can expect to recoup about 48.6 percent when they sell.

That doesn't mean that adding a sunroom is always a bad move.

If your home needs another common area, a sunroom could be the answer, says Katie Severance, co-author of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to Selling Your Home." An addition is best considered in the context of the whole home, she says. "The doctor has to treat the whole patient. You have to look at the house and say 'What's out of balance?'"

Upscale Master Suite Addition

Who doesn't want to wake up in a five-star-hotel-quality suite with an attached spa bathroom and a kitchenette that affords you coffee and pastries before facing the world?

Once you see the price tag, it won't just be the coffee keeping you up at night.

For a super-deluxe master suite addition — which adds square footage and uses only top-dollar materials — the average cost is about $232,062, according to the report.

That's 460 nights at a posh resort with enough left over to raid the minibar.

In years past, this project was "sort of a trend in vacation homes" that migrated to primary dwellings, Alfano says. Sellers can expect to recover about 52.7 percent at resale.

Your buyer can purchase a newer house with the same features as part of the original floor plan that "probably lays out better anyway," says Loren Keim, author of "How to Sell Your Home in Any Market."

So while the next buyer may appreciate your luxury accommodations (which could even tip their decision in your home's favor), chances are they won't want to pay the full tab for your remodel.

Bathroom Addition

Unless you're a hermit who never entertains, you've probably wished for an extra bathroom now and then.

But bathroom additions require serious coin. For a moderately outfitted addition with synthetic stone or plastic laminate surfaces, figure parting with about $21,695, according to the Remodeling report. Go upscale, with finishes like premium marble or fine tile, and you can easily spend in the neighborhood of $40,710.

Either way, you get about the same return: 53 cents on the dollar. "In the buyer's mind, the additional bathroom isn't worth that additional $20,000 to $40,000," Keim says.

Investigate a less-expensive way to get the same result without flushing quite as much cash. While additions usually cost more, pros might be able to reconfigure your existing space to add a bathroom for less, Alfano says.

Upscale Garage Addition

Instead of cleaning out the garage, how much would you pay to have a new one built from scratch?

This time, it would have all the organizational built-ins, and a durable, easy-to-clean floor to ensure it would never be messy again. And windows for natural light.

Oh yeah, and you could store a couple of cars in there, too.

The price tag for a top-of-the-line detached two-car with all the trimmings is about $90,053, according to the report. You can expect to recover about 53.6 percent of that when you sell.

"This one is completely decked out on the inside," says Alfano. "It's a dream garage."

And that's likely some of the problem with recovering the value at resale. Says Keim, "You've got a very small target audience out there that wants an upscale garage."

Resource:  Yahoo! Financially Fit, Dana Dratch

This article is part of a series related to being Financially Fit