Isabella Guajardo -also known as Girl With A Truck™- has been creatively organizing homes since 2007. Today, her home organizing company Bella Organizing in collaboration with Girl With A Truck™ residential move management company is the San Francisco Bay Area's favorite "get it done" duo. Isabella and her team enjoys working directly with clients to make their space comfortable, functional, and stylish.
It’s time to turn to fresh, healthy, delicious organic food! I volunteer at the MEarth Organic Garden & Kitchen in Carmel Valley, California. Tuesday mornings I excitedly wake up, put on my gardening gear, hop in the truck and drive 20 minutes from our house in Monterey to Carmel Valley to be at MEarth by 8am, home of one of the most amazing volunteer-run gardens I’ve had the pleasure of getting dirty in.
MEarth is an environmental education nonprofit in Carmel Valley, California and is growing the next generation of environmental leaders through education, collaboration, partnerships and community action. They are located on property adjacent to Carmel Middle School, and so students here and from K-12 schools and colleges around Monterey County participate in MEarth programs.
Take a look at this map to get an idea of Monterey County’s spread:
Sustainability practices and principles are the foundation of MEarth’s programming and curriculum. They teach students that all of their actions – from the clothes they wear, the food they eat, the cars they drive, and the homes they live in – have a direct impact, not only on their own lives, but also on our planet’s health. MEarth provides innovative hands-on instruction to students of all ages.
Most programs are run at the Hilton Bialek Habitat (the garden) and in their state-of-the-art “Green Building” and kitchen, shown below:
MEarth state-of-the-art “Green Building” and kitchen, where classroom learning, community workshops, and cooking takes place.LEED – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design award
On Wednesday, May 15, MEarth staff held an appreciation dinner for the many volunteers who work in the garden, kitchen, and with the kids…parents, teachers, local landscape designers, and community volunteers…like me! If you like what you see, I’ve included links to many of the recipes kindly provided by MEarth staff.Beautiful dinner table settingThe MEarth staff harvested, cooked, and served volunteers an AMAZING thank you dinner.
Guest trickling in, snacking on hor’devoures and getting to know each other.
Fresh from the garden! House Salad + Roasted Beets, Roasted Carrots + Balsamic Honey Glaze, fresh-made croutons.
The main course was a choice of 2 kinds of quiche: Potato + Fennel + Spinach + Onion + Thyme (vegetarian) and Bacon + Mushroom + Spinach + Onion + Rosemary (meat lovers’). Here’s the basic recipe just customize the veggie and meat ingredients!Dessert: Raw Strawberry Puree + Cashew Cream. Made with fresh strawberries from the garden.Lemon Ricotta Cookies + Lemon GlazeHappy volunteers enjoying a wonderful dinner. – Photo by MEarth staff
The dinner table setting included artichoke plants, garlic bulbs, and flowers from the garden such as this soft and velvety lambs ear with carrot tops in mason jars.
Succulent gifts for volunteers to take home.
I chose this one, it’s on my coffee table beautifying the house. Let’s take a walk through the habitat, where many of the nights’ delicious menu items came from…
Main entrance into the garden.
Outdoor oven where pizza, breads, and lots of yummy goodness is baked.
Peruvian lilies…my favorite in the garden. They make great cutting flowers.
pom pom flowers
Fresh strawberries…where dessert came from!Fresh fennel tops and roots..soo good!
mmm…onions!I helped make these structures and plant the potatoes. They’re growing! Yay!
A well-stocked and organized garden shed.Greenhouse
Solar energy
Where seedlings from the greenhouse “harden off” before planted in the garden.
The cutest caterpillar in the world!
Me with Cassie, the garden goddess, Carmel Valley native, and Americorps member that runs the garden. She gets things done! To find out about volunteer opportunities at MEarth Hilton Bialek Habitat, visit their website.
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READ MORE BELLA ORGANIZING TIPS, IDEAS & TRAVELS HERE.
Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Living in Oakland and Monterey, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula. She shares simple and creative ways to stay organized and stylish while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook. Gift certificates are available.
Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.
This spring I volunteered at the MEarth Organic Garden in Carmel Valley. I arrived this morning to find it was harvesting day. There was A LOT of kale to harvest. What else can it mean but KALE CHIP PARTY!
A perk of volunteering is that I get to sample what is grown when there’s extra, so I brought a few bunches home. I’m going to be working in the SF Bay Area for the rest of the week so I don’t want to let these wonderful greens to go to waste.
Recipe for one bunch of kale:
1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
2) Clean and dry kale (use a dry kitchen towel or salad spinner if you have one). Cut into bite size pieces.
2) In a small bowl, mix one tablespoon olive oil with a splash of salt and a dash of your favorite seasoning to taste.
“Massage” the olive oil, salt & seasoning into the kale with your hands. Mix it up good. Be one with the kale. Spread it out on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. I use unbleached parchment paper, which is why it is brown.
Bake for approximately 10 minutes, or until the sides start to turn brown, but not too much. Don’t let it burn. Keep a close eye, the leaves are fragile in the oven and get crispy fast. When it’s still a bit soft and green, take it out of the oven. Transfer the chips with parchment paper onto a wire rack or cool surface so the hot baking sheet stops cooking it. Let sit for a few minutes, then enjoy fresh.
READ MORE BELLA ORGANIZING TIPS, IDEAS & TRAVELS HERE.
Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Living in Oakland and Monterey, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula. She shares simple and creative ways to stay organized and stylish while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook.
I took my first Fashion class this semester at Monterey Peninsula College. Learning to sew on a machine is something I have always wanted to do, but with my busy travel and client schedule between Monterey and the SF Bay Area (I live in both places and work here, there, and everywhere in between) I never thought it possible to just plop a solid semester class down in my schedule book for a four month period. Being a professional organizer, I should also be able to manage my time, right? So I just did it. I set aside Tuesdays as “sewing class day” and led my life and business around it. It was a treat to myself that I’m grateful to have experienced.
During the semester the instructor Carla of Carla Renee Couture took us on field trips around the Monterey Peninsula to visit shops that exemplify sewing craft & creativity. One of these places was the bright and colorful Tessuti Zoo in Pacific Grove, Calif.
Tessuti Zoo inside[clear]Just peer into the front windows and gasp at the abundance of unique gifts, clothing, jewelry, art quilts, furniture, dolls, toys, books, and home décor. It’s full of hand-made treasures that will make you happy just looking at them.
The owners name is Emily Owens, and she took our sewing class on a personal tour through her in-store studio, which includes shelves of the most delightful fabric I have ever seen.
Emily Ann, owner of Tessuti Zoo in Pacific Grove, CA
Emily uses uniquely designed fabric to sew dolls, quilts, and re-upholster old chairs, making them beautiful once again (see the one to her lower right in the photo). Some of the fabric she sews with is made by Kaffe Fassett, a fabric and color design artist out of Big Sur (now living in London) that creates knit, needlepoint, patchwork and painted patterns of repetition and repeating motifs. See Kaffe Fassett: Dreaming in Color.
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Felts, feathers, beads and buttons adorn the one of a kind hand-made dolls at Tessuti Zoo. Functional designs by local artists can also be found there. I picked up the cutest turqoise mermaid clock that now lives in my Oakland kitchen.
Halloween creatures at Tessuti Zoo
Fun clocks at Tessuti Zoo
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It’s in my nature to want to see how creative people store their craft supplies, so I just had to know how she organizes hers. Emily kindly let me around and to my glee she reuses glass jars to store her beads! I LOVE repurposing food jars for just about everything, and here she uses large and small mason jars to display beads so she can find them with a glance.
Small see-through drawer organizers house different types of buttons by color and take up little space. You can find them at many home and hardware stores.
Bead storage in the Tessuti Zoo Design StudioButton storage for all colors and varieties
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There are oodles of supplies required for sewing and craftwork…clasps, zippers, velcro, feathers, ribbons, tools… all of which need to have little homes of their own. Emily repurposed an old library card catalogue box and labeled accordingly.
There’s a lot of jewelry to choose from at Tessuti Zoo, all creatively displayed on organizers and display racks she made or found throughout the Monterey Bay (that’s me in the mirror.)
Craft supply storageDisplayed jewelry
This field trip was a fabulous example of how a sewing skill, passion, and creativity can evolve into just about anything you want, and for Emily Owens it is Tessuti Zoo.
Tessuti zoo inventory is one-of-a-kind and constantly changing, so Emily’s website is informational only. Visit her store in Pacific Grove, a small town adjacent to Monterey, next time you’re in the area to visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium.
As for me and my newfound fashion sewing skills, I don’t think I’ll be making more clothing anytime soon. But now that I know how to hem my own pants and drapes you know what I’ll be doing in my free time! I’ll be utilizing these new skills to work on projects around the house…I certainly won’t let what I learned fade away.
Knowing how to sew is a skill I respect greatly after having experienced the challenges I did this semester and sewing a final project garment from scratch. Now when I choose something to wear for the day, I stop and take a close look at the material, seams, how it was put together, and am in constant awe at how much time and talent it takes to weave fabric and sew a garment. I appreciate the clothing in my closet and other hand-sewn items I own more than ever before.
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READ MORE BELLA ORGANIZING TIPS, IDEAS & TRAVELS HERE.
Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Living in Oakland and Monterey, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula. She shares simple and creative ways to stay organized and stylish while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook. Gift certificates are available.
Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.
10 Tips for Reducing Holiday Waste + Holiday Gift Ideas:
1. Visit a local thrift store or reuse center for creative holiday gift wrap and decorations.
Check out places such as the East Bay Center for Creative Reuse in Oakland, California for fun holiday decorations and creative gift wrap ideas & supplies that were once loved and are ready for another round.
2. Reuse gift wrap & packing or mailing materials.
When unwrapped carefully, gift wrap can be used more than once. You can also reuse and repurpose delivery boxes and packing materials. If you don’t regularly receive packages yourself, go onto your local Nextdoor.com and check around for unwanted packing or mailing boxes and materials.
3. Make a phone call.
Instead of buying cards, stamps and taking time to write and mail notes each year, make a quick telephone call to friends and loved ones to wish them a happy holiday. Save paper, a stamp, and rediscover why they’re special in the first place.
4. Compost holiday food leftovers.
It’s easy and turns into great fertilizer. Most outdoor green waste bins are also for food compost. Here is a recycling and composting guide for Alameda County residents living in the San Francisco Bay Area, California. Check with your local waste management department for more information if you are not within Alameda County.
5. Wrap creatively.
Use newspaper, old maps, pages from your college notebook (it’s about time you let them go,) fabric scraps, cereal boxes. It’s finally cool to reuse and recycle.
6. Give the gift of time or talent.
Make your own gift certificates and offer a personal or professional skill.
7. Keep it simple and useful.
Prevent your gifts from being re-gifted! Give a gift card to their favorite market or restaurant, or a pre-paid cash card and let them choose exactly what they want from wherever. They will think of you every time they use it.
8. Service-based gifts create less waste than product-based gifts.
Very few people want to clean or organize their own home and would prefer someone else to do it. Give your child and their room or your partner or friend and their clutter a gift certificate for a professional Bella Organizing half or full-day organizing session. Call (510) 229-7321 for more information and ideas on how to pick a gift card amount for the services they would appreciate.
9. Plan previously-loved or homemade exchanges.
Set up a swap with friends, family or co-workers with a focus on re-use, re-purposing or homemade gifts: used books, a garden plant in a tin can, COOKIES!
10. Bring out the fancy dinnerware.
Yes, this is the time. Do not be afraid to use the nice dishes, glasses and inherited silverware instead of disposable ware. Otherwise, why are you keeping it around?
Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals (NAPO). Based in Oakland, California, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, sharing simple and creative ways to stay organized while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook and Instagram. Gift certificates are available.
Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.
Prepare for your move with a personal moving checklist.
Six Weeks Before the Move
Start collecting unwanted things you are not moving to the new house for a garage sale or charity donation.
Organize the garage sale or contact a charity for date and time of pick up. Take photos and make an itemized checklist with estimated market value if planning to write off as a donation to charity. Save donation receipts & photos for tax records.
Make an inventory of everything to be picked up and delivered by the moving company if you’re concerned about things getting to its destination.
Contact at least three reputable moving companies, many will come out in advance for a free estimate. Know the difference between a licensed and insured mover and someone flying under the radar.
Select a mover. Be sure to ask about what they deliver, don’t deliver, wardrobes boxes, blankets or other freebies they may provide. Arrange for the form of payment accepted at the destination and tips -cash, check, cashier’s check, money order, credit card, etc.
Make arrangements with the mover if things need to be picked up and delivered to more than one location (i.e. the new house AND a storage unit).
Get boxes and start packing, or make calls to schedule packers. As you pack, remember to mark each box with the name of the room it will be going to in your new home and it’s contents. If doing it yourself, you will likely need small, medium and large boxes, wardrobe boxes, electronics boxes, picture boxes, and other supplies such as inkless packing paper, bubble wrap, packing tape and dispenser, markers for labeling. Many packing companies provide and deliver these items.
Contact your insurance agent(s) (auto, home, renters, etc.) to transfer or cancel coverage as needed.
Check with your employer to find out what moving expenses they will pay.
Four Weeks Before the Move
Fill out change of address forms at the post office for your move date; currently they require at least 2 weeks notice to start forwarding mail. Contact vendors with which you may have a mail-delivery order in progress about your new address.
Start a running list of anyone that must be notified of your change of address immediately.
Check with your veterinarian for pet records and immunizations.
Contact garbage/recycling and other utility companies to set a start date at new place and an end date at the old place. Be sure to set an appointment NOW for Internet set up at the new place …they are known to be backed up for appointments AT LEAST two weeks.
Pick up clothing at the dry cleaners.
Collect everything you have loaned out. Return everything you have borrowed.
Service power mowers, boats, etc. that are to be moved; drain all oil/gas to prevent fire in the moving truck.
Check with doctors and dentists for family records and prescriptions if necessary.
Start collecting children’s school records. Schedule farewell play dates if moving long distance.
Plan to use the food in the refrigerator and freezer over the next few weeks.
Give away or arrange for transportation of houseplants. Some moving companies will not move plants, especially in winter. Plants can be sold at garage sales, given to neighbors or away to http://www.freecycle.org
Schedule a bulky trash pick-up from your local waste management company for any excess piles of garbage or broken furniture …they often pick up once per year for free. You can also arrange for a paid dumpster if there is lots to get rid of.
Two Weeks Before the Move
Cancel or transfer newspapers, garden service, etc.
Schedule a babysitter or plan to send the children to a friend’s house on moving day.
Schedule a move-out cleaner if you don’t plan to do it yourself. This may be the time to splurge on a professional cleaning service…especially if you’re trying to get back a security deposit. Schedule the move-out walkthrough date with the landlord if applicable.
One Week Before the Move
Prepare to transfer or close checking and savings accounts.
Have your car(s) serviced for the trip if driving them long distance.
Check and make an inventory of your furniture for dents and scratches. Notify the moving company of your inventory and compare on arrival at your new house.
Properly dispose of all combustibles and spray cans; don’t pack them as they can explode or burn. Collect unwanted household paints and hazardous waste, old batteries, lightbulbs for proper disposal at your local household hazardous waste drop-off center (they cannot go into a regular trashcan).
Pack a separate carton of complete cleaning supplies and tools (hammer, screw drivers, etc.) if you’ll be doing the cleaning, removing nails and such toward the end of your days at the old house.
Separate boxes and luggage you need for personal/family travel. This is everything that stays with you and will not go in the moving truck.
Review this list in entirety to make sure you have not overlooked anything.
Moving Day
Plan to spend most of the day at the old house.
Prepare for a few healthy sandwiches, snacks and refreshing drinks for the movers…this kind gesture will go a long way for your move.
Tell packers and/or the driver about fragile or precious items.
Make a final check of the entire house – basements, closets, shelves, cabinets, attic, garage- every closet and room for boxes or anything else left behind BEFORE the movers close the truck and leave.
Approve and sign the bill of lading. If possible, accompany the driver to the weigh station if applicable.
Double-check with the driver to ensure moving company records show the proper destination address. Verify the schedules delivery day, too.
Give the driver phone and cell numbers both here and at the new house so the company can contact you in case of a problem.
If applicable, get complete routing information and phone numbers from the driver so you can call the driver or company in case of a emergency en route.
Lock all doors and windows and advise who you should that the house is empty.
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READ MORE BELLA ORGANIZING TIPS, IDEAS & TRAVELS HERE.
Isabella Guajardo, also known as Girl With A Truck™, is a professional home organizer and a member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO). Living in Oakland and Monterey, she travels in her truck to work with clients throughout the SF Bay Area, East Bay, South Bay, Silicon Valley, Santa Cruz and Monterey Peninsula. She shares simple and creative ways to stay organized and stylish while reducing, recycling and re-purposing. Join Bella Organizing on Facebook. Gift certificates are available.
Call (510) 229-7321 to schedule a complimentary telephone consultation.
