Urban Mamas

Start cleaning your houses, basements, and garages of unwanted items and hard to recycle (non-curbside) recyclables so you can bring them to the annual Richmond Neighborhood Clean-up!

Did you know that the Richmond Cleanup is a win-win event for everyone involved? Not only do YOU get an affordable, centrally located location to get rid of unwanted items such as obsolete electronics or bulky block Styrofoam, but the Richmond Neighborhood also gets the opportunity to fundraise and support the neighborhood events you enjoy throughout the year!  Every car (or bike trailer!) that comes to the parking lot that day helps raise funds to support events such as Movies in the Park!

Don’t have any stuff to get rid of? Well you should still plan to drop by because back again this year are the ever-popular Plant Sale/Swap and U-Price it Sale!  The Plant Sale/Swap gets bigger each year and is a great opportunity to get affordable plants for your yard. The U-price is sale is an enormous neighborhood garage sale that overflows with usable household items that need a new home! Both are not to be missed!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED. This event is only possible thanks to the fabulous support of our neighbors who give their time on Clean-up day to help divert people and stuff to their appropriate locations. We are always looking for enthusiastic folks who want to help out so please get in touch so we can add you to our list! (We’ll provide tasty food and beverages for your time!)

The details:

When: June 9,  2012    9:00 am – 1:00 pm

Where: Central Christian Church Parking Lot - 1844 SE Cesar Chavez Blvd, Portland

Items Collected: Bulky waste, metal, wood, non-curbside plastics, yard debris, styrofoam, computer monitors & accessories, televisions, small appliances, electronics, reusable household items, carpet pad, bicycles, & reusable remodeling materials.

For more information or to get on volunteer list: Email richmondcleanup@gmail.com or call Sabrina at 541-753-1027

ABSOLUTELY NO hazardous materials, paint, sod, or concrete

No curbside recyclables either please! (Take your cardboard, plastic plant pots, kittly litter buckets and paper out to the curb each week please!)

Visit my website: genevievesnaturalcleaning.com 

email: genevieve@genevievesnaturalcleaning.com

Are you still ignoring the drip, drip, drip of that leaky faucet ? You know you should fix it but where do you start?

In recognition of Fix a Leak Week, start by visiting the Portland Water Bureau’s Web site for information on fixing basic toilet and faucet leaks. Or, if your fixture requires replacement, hire a professional to install a WaterSense-labeled model. WaterSense fixtures are 20 percent more water-efficient than average products and are independently tested for performance.

Did you know that in an average household 22 gallons of water are lost to leakage each day costing $80 in annual water and sewer charges? This daily leakage volume is about equal to the amount of drinking water a family of 3 needs for two full weeks! The Environmental Protection Agency’s Fix a Leak Week exists as an important yearly reminder to Americans to check their plumbing fixtures and irrigation systems for these costly leaks.

Order toilet leak detection tablets and other water conservation devices by calling (503) 823-4527 or visiting the Portland Water Bureau’s Web site.

Hi, this is Hiromi Ogawa from hiromi ogawa architects.  We've been looking forward to telling you about our new service, One Room at a Time, but it's been a super busy summer (which is a good thing!) and so, here's a summary of what we want you to know.

One Room at a Time is a turn-key, fast-track, design-build service where we transform a room (or two) for instant gratification.  We have teamed up with a great builder to provide a one stop shop for you to get your project done quickly and easily.  The response has been great, especially since we establish a hard cap on the budget, and then work backwards from there; we're only doing as much as you can afford, not a penny more.

You know what I'm talking about - that bonus room you've wanted, the kitchen that needs a facelift, an unfinished basement or attic with so much potential.  And you keep hoping that you'll have time next weekend to work on it, right?  Maybe you think the project is too small or the budget too tight for a builder, much less an architect?

Well, let me tell you a little bit about our approach.  My lifelong motto for practicing architecture has been to make the world a beautiful place, one room at a time.  I feel it is my responsibility as an architect to ensure that everyone has access to good design expertise.  Small decisions (what paint color?  Which window manufacturer?  Where to go to buy a light fixture?) add up to define the quality of your space.  We've been shopping around, accumulating a resource library, drawing details, refining room layouts for our entire design career, so that we can help you with those decisions.  In order to make our services more user-friendly, and make the whole process easier to approach, we decided to package our services with a dedicated contractor.  You establish the budget, and we help you streamline design and construction, every step of the way.  The projects are small enough that we can go from our first design meeting to move-in ready in a few weeks.  We can even time the construction so that you are on vacation while it happens.  We meet, we draw, we build, and PRESTO!  You are done!

The recession may have put your bigger dreams on hold, but that just means you need a little sanctuary in your house - a room you love - now more than ever, to escape the gloomy economy, and the colder months ahead.  Your quality of life could greatly improve by having one beautiful room in your house for you and your family, a place where you can (finally!) entertain your friends and be yourself.

It only sounds like a sales pitch because I am not very eloquent at telling you how much I believe in spreading good design.  Good architecture is for everyone.  And we want you to have it, one room at a time.  Give us a call or send us an email, and let's get started!

Hiromi Ogawa Architects :: 107 SE Washington Street Suite 150 :: Portland, OR 97214

tel: 503-477-7075 :: email: info@hiromiogawa.com :: www.hiromiogawa.com

We are moving to combine forces with the grandparents and will be offering our home for rent. It's been a wonderful family  home so we thought we'd offer it up to another UrbanMama family. We have been neighbors for ten years so it is bittersweet for us--but we'd invite you to enjoy a field trip/weekend retreat with us on our new 40 acre plot on the Columbia River.

Rare Home for Rent: Close-In SE Clinton Home, 3 br, 1 b $1795 ($1750 w/ year lease)
Available May 1st
VIEW SE CLINTON HOUSE (www.mothertreebirth.com/ClintonHouse.html)

Enjoy the best of SE Portland in our beautiful Victorian on 16 & Clinton. With tons of unique character and just blocks from New Seasons, People's Coop, Hosford/Abernathy School, New Day School, 1 block to the Division/Downtown bus line, Legare's Coffee Shop, Ladd's Addition and Clinton Retail Hub (Zenana Spa), much more!

Two spacious bedrooms upstairs, large 3rd on main floor that could also be a 2nd living room--includes office nook with separate entrance.  Partially finished basement allows for a roommate or home office with separate entrance. Includes gas range, refrigerator, dishwasher, wash/dryer, hard-wood and stone flooring throughout.  Private Deck and large corner lot with fenced yard safe for kids or small pet. Fruit trees (cherry, fig apple, blueberry, huckleberry, grapes) and english garden, raised beds, bird sanctuary.

Small dog okay. No smoking or cats. This home has been 100% owner/occupied so looking for someone who will love it as their own.

$1795 ($1750 with year lease) 1st & Last. Utilities not included.$300 refundable security fee + credit check fees ($40).

For application and viewing by appointment, please contact Jesse & Nick Henderson at jesse@mothertreebirth.com or 503-407-4732.

Kimberlee Jaynes is holding a FREE seminar given at Landfair Furniture in the NW Portland Design district on March 15th from 10 am to 11 am. Please visit her web site at http://www.kimberleejaynes.com/ for more info on me.

The seminar will address 2008 trends in lighting, window decor, how to hang art, how to display collections,color, fabrics,wallpaper, accessories,area rugs,kitchen and baths etc.

She is a past Home & Garden show speaker and LOVE interior design.

She is giving away her secrets.  Space is limited! RSVP Landfair Furniture 1636 NW 15th & Savier 503 245-4222.

I'm in the market for new windows (and installation) for my 1916 bungalow. Have any urbanmamas had a great experience with a window company?

I need help finding a decent carpet installer for our rental property.  We don't need the expensive schmancy kind because it's just a rental.  But we are a busy family so convenience is a factor.  Will they come to my house to show us samples?  Will they show up and finish when they say they will?  Etc.
Thanks guys! 

This is not mamas related at all but I am wondering if any fellow Portlanders have had any good experience with any arborists/tree specialists in town.  I have a couple trees that I think need to come down but I want to make sure its done right and safely.  I have had an unbelievably hard time finding someone I trust to do the job.  Thanks!

Did you buy a home For-Sale-By-Owner?  Did you sell a home FSBO?  Can you help a mama out?  Margaret at mothernotes[at]gmail[dot]com seeks advice:

We're seeking some advice regarding purchasing a house for sale by owner.  While we would prefer to work with a realtor, we have found an ideal house for us and have reached a verbal sales agreement to purchase an estate near our current house.  We will be signing a legal sales agreement in the next day or so and then will proceed with the inspections (house/property, sewer, and soil).  However, we aren't exactly sure how the paperwork and legal process works after that.  Would love to hear for others who have been buyers of a for sale by owner transaction.  And/or if you know or could recommend a good real estate attorney.   Thanks!