Household Items to Set Up First Home

Household Items You want for your First Home

 I'm proud to share!

My son recently graduated from college with a degree in Electrical Engineering. He's lived in houses with roommates during college so the pots, pans, dishes he had are long gone, broken, and wrecked. Son is moving into a tiny house on his own. I'm making lists. If you know me, I love planning and writing lists.

I am thinking, what does he need to start. How to make his place feel comfy and self sufficient. Please add in the comments what I missed. Remember this is on a tight budget.

List of household items you may want to set up your first home or apartment

Bedroom:

He already has a mattress and frame

Need a dresser?  This is a garage sale or freecycle thing I'm hunting for

Nightstand? Same as the dresser. New furniture is pricey and we're budgeting.

I will buy an extra ­sheet set so you will have two. ­I'm a fan of Tuesday Mornings because I can find 700 thread count for cheap prices there. 

New comforter or quilt?­

Mattress pad­ ~ maybe it helps keep the mattress clean longer and makes it feel comfortable

Window treatments I think we wait to measure and see if the blinds operate. 

Clothes hangers/coat hangers - son has 100 matching sturdy ones and he donated a pile of clothing in his last move. Don't think we need these.

 Kitchen:

­Table and chairs  Wonder if my dining table from Pottery Barn is too large for your small kitchen. I have six rush seats that match the table. All these are in new condition.

Kitchen trash can ­- I will buy one with a lid

Sandwich bags or food containers - will ask family if they have extra plastic tupperware with lids. I will give him 4 Kerr canning style jars with lids. They are great for storing food.

6 Plates ­ I have this set of Poppytrail dishes with plates, butter dish, decorative items with roosters. Not certain he will like them as they are 1950's but however they are free

 

Cereal bowls ­maybe need some in cream or green to match?

4 Water glasses ­Got those

5 Mugs ­I have 20 mis matched ones and will box up a few to break

Set of 4 Fork, knife, spoon ­ got it boxed up

5 Dish towels got those in solid cream color to not be too busy

Coff­ee pot and/or kettle ­?? I only use a tea kettle and make single cup of coffee with filter need to check if his coffee press made it through college

Toaster or toaster oven ­- need to buy this. New house does not have an oven.

Microwave ­- wish I had not given my microwave to nephew last year, may need to purchase this as well

Hand mixer ­- since he doesn't have an oven, I think this is a no.

Blender ­

Crockpot or instant pot ­

Good Cutting knives and hand sharpener need to purchase

Cutting board ­I have an extra one to give

Measuring cups and spoons ­ I have many 1950's glass ones I collected and no longer need four large glass ones.

Mixing bowl ­-

Glass salad bowl/ also for fruit

Colander ­

Can opener - need to buy

Corkscrew and beer bottle opener :) 

­ Aluminum foil and cling wrap ­

Wood spoons, slotted spoon

Large stock pot ­ 2-quart saucepan ­

10-inch frying pan ­

Rimmed baking sheet that fits into toaster oven

­these are later when you have an oven: Cookie sheet ­ Large baking/casserole dish

­Salt ­ Pepper ­

Spices you cook with often ­ thyme is my favorite

Oil (vegetable, olive, etc.) ­

Granulated sugar ­

Brown sugar ­

When he later has an oven: Flour ­ Baking powder ­

Baking soda ­

Vanilla extract ­

Vinegar (white wine, balsamic, etc.) ­

Soy sauce ­ Teriyaki sauce ­ Ketchup ­ Mustard

­Dustpan and broom He has a vacuum ­

­ Multi-purpose liquid cleaner like Mr. Clean­

Micro clean rags and Paper towels ­

Trash bags ­

Toilet scrubber ­ 

Toilet bowl cleaning solution (can use baking soda and white vinegar) ­

Dish Soap ­

Sponges ­

Water filter ­ ­Does he still have that Britta pitcher?

Silverware organizer tray ­

Dish drying rack ­

Dish soap

Paper towel holder ­

Oven mitts

Laundry basket ­ Laundry detergent ­ Stain remover ­

­Comfy couch ­

Co­ffee table ­ also will search for used fun one

Television he has a small one

Bathroom Shower curtain ­

Bath towels ­

Toilet paper need I say as some new wave of the pandemic might end up with empty shelves where the toilet paper once sat. What did people do with all the tee pee rolls?

Soap ­

Screwdrivers (Phillips and flat head) ­ Hammer ­ Nails and wall hooks ­ Power strips and extension cords ­ Batteries ­ Light bulbs ­ Measuring tape ­ 

Duct tape, yes always need a roll

­

First-Aid Kit

­Extra lighting such as floor and table lamps, maybe wall sconce or wall light as floor space is tight­

2 Storage bins

Window treatments ­this is going to wait

Decorative pillows ­- leave it to him to choose

Throw blanket ­ - extra fold futon for a guest- got these

Decor items such as wall art I will leave to him

Houseplants – two or three potted flowers for patio. I have many. I know he likes something that blooms.

candles- check check with holders that don't spill

vase - have many extra to give

­Plunger ­- well yes the necessary not glamorous reality of home

Storage solutions for your toiletries ­(I have little boxes)

­Reusable water bottle ­- he should still have a couple or some swag ones

Sewing kit ­

Iron and ironing board ­

­Space heater ­?

Window AC ­?

Umbrella ­

Scissors ­

Okay now what did I forget? Help me here. You notice I didn't use the word trousseau in the whole post, he would frown on the word...

Covid Vaccines Southern California

 

Riverside County California ways to register to get Covid-19 vaccine:

To receive the COVID-19 vaccines, you must schedule an appointment. Please register at the below website, where you will also find information about the vaccines and current availability.  

 

Riverside University Health System  

https://www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine 

 

Individuals 65 years and older who are unable to use the internet and as a result are having difficulty registering for the vaccine should call the Riverside County Office On Aging at 951-867-3800. 

 

Visit https://www.rivcoph.org under “Latest News”, as the appointments are announced the day before registration begins. 

 

Please MONITOR THE WEBSITE to find out the LATEST INFORMATION. APPOINTMENT SLOTS FILL RAPIDLY.  

 

AUTOMATIC NOTIFICATION when APPOINTMENTS become available IS NOT CURENTLY AN OPTION. 

 

For best results and a better experience, please use Google Chrome, MicroSoft Edge or Safari for the registration process. 

 

You can also visit the Community Partners and schedule an appointment with them.  

COVID-19 Vaccine Providers (rivcoph.org) 

 Orange County California:

As of today 2/9/2021

the only place to register is the Othello Website

Register your name date of birth (you need to be over age 65 as of today to get the vaccine but you still can register)

Check once a day- this is NOT a live manned website where people will call you. Results will show as follows:

1. thanks for registering ... email sent to you

2. "you are in the waiting room" It seems like this is a one to two week wait.

3. When appointments free up you will get an email but not until the following day. Return to website and scroll for next day and time available. Another confirmation email is sent.

Bring your identification, remember the email you used to login, the appointment goes very fast at Soka University, like total of thirty minutes. Relax when you get the injection. Do not take ibuprofen or acedominefin before the appointment those over the counter drugs can block your immune system from being the full mighty machine your body can be. Remember EVERYONE working at the SOD (the super site for vaccines) are volunteers. The volunteers are your neighbors who are lovingly standing in the cold or directing you. 

https://covid19.othena.com/login?redirect=patient-registration%2Fnew-appointment-bookinghttps://covid19.othena.com/login?redirect=patient-registration%2Fnew-appointment-booking

I worked the first weekend at the Disney site as a volunteer and am signed up for more. If we are to slow this virus down we must help each other. Wear your mask even after you get the vaccine. Give everyone more than six feet. Scrub your hands with soap after every time you touch stuff in public.

There are NO walk in clinics in Southern California

More sites and drug stores are rolling out. Stay tuned

If you are elderly and need help registering call me, if you need a ride call as well we have volunteers who are ready to help.

After you get the first shot your arm might be sore and you may have body aches and headache. Take it easy for a day, take a baby aspirin and lots of fluids. My mom who is 88 was so relieved about getting the vaccine that she said she could dance the next day on her bad knee, I guess the feeling of joy overcomes the ache. 

Potting Flowers

A variety of ideas for potting flowers in recycled containers.

Combining tall and vining plants in the same pot

Using driftwood (one of my favorite free containers for

succulents- just add sphagnum moss. I've even wired together

several pieces of driftwood and added pockets of burlap for the

succulents to grab on and grow.
 

This blue pot was the starter for succulent cuttings. They now crowd the pot with colors. Do not over water, the plants get long and leggy.

  

Install hooks in the ceiling to hang baskets and make a lush landscape.

Two views of a log which became the planter for a trailing house plant. Heart leaf philodendron is is nice choice for Valentines Day.

Maidenhair fern in a wine barrell

Bromeliads in pots trimmed in plate shards and grouted on is called Pique Assiette. This is colorful and cheerful with the neon reds, yellows and orange blooms that last and last.

This pink African Violet is looking out the window for light.

 I grew her from a cutting.

succulents in metal recycled bins
Even if your house is tiny, or you don't have lots of cash to spend on making home cozy adding flowers from cuttings, succulents from cuttings and sharing seeds that can be added to found containers can be beautiful and fun

Valentine For You

Ideas for potted flower combinations